UPCOMING SERVICES AT NORTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMBER 5, 2010 and DECEMBER 12, 2010

We celebrated the first Sunday in Advent 2010 on Sunday, November 28, 2010. Many people helped decorate the church and the 18 foot tall Crismon Tree, Garlands, Advent Wreath, Wreaths, Bows and over 50 Poinsetta's are all in place. This season of the year is always a special and festive time at Norton United Methodist Church and there are many events scheduled during December and January.





On Sunday, December 5 Harpist Martha Painter will be performing Advent and Christmas music during the 11:00 a.m. service. This is the second Sunday in Advent, "The Season of Love" and it's Communion Sunday. This will be a rare and exceptional opportunity to hear the music of the angels, share in the fellowship of the church and meet up with your friends and family. If you are an early riser you might want to participate in the outreach worship at Mt. View Regional Medical Center each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.












On Sunday, December 12 we will celebrate the third Sunday in Advent with special guests, Jack Beck and Wendy Welch who now live in Big Stone Gap. The Celtic Christmas Fest will be at 11:00 a.m. with a fellowship lunch at noon. Everyone is welcome.

Jack is an acclaimed performer of Scots traditional songs and ballads. He is a recording artist and workshop leader with over 40 years of experience. Wendy, who holds a Doctorate in Folklore from Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a renowned storyteller and a published writer. She currently teaches folk-life programs at UVA Wise in SW Virginia and works for the Healthy Appalachia Institute.

THANKSGIVING SUNDAY AT NORTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, November 21, 2010

Join the folks at Norton United Methodist Church for a Thanksgiving Service of Worship on Sunday November 21, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. We are honored to have a guest musician Anna Ruth Wells who is a local and regional "Musical Treasure." She will be playing the autoharp and dulcimer and singing Appalachian Mountain Spiritual Songs and Hymns. It is always a pleasure to welcome Anna Ruth Wells to share her wonderful music. Following the service we will have a soup/salad/sandwich lunch and everyone is welcome. In the afternoon we will begin our church decoration project in preparation for Advent, Christmastide and Epiphany.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 and SUNDAY OCTOBER 10, 2010

Fall Song Fest, Saturday October 9 at 10:00 am for the residents and families of Mt. View Regional Medical Center. Everyone is welcome, expect good times, singing, dancing and a great time of fellowship with the residents.

Morning Worship, Sunday October 10 at 10:00 am (Mt. View Outreach Service) and 11:00 am at the Norton Church. Scripture for the day is Luke 17: 11-19 and the sermon is "Graditude and Grace."







Church Picnic, Sunday October 10 at 5:00 pm at David and Margaret's Place in Big Stone Gap. We will also be having a baby shower for one of our members. Everyone is welcome. The picnics are always awesome.

World Communion Sunday, 2009. Young People listen as Pastor Taylor tells the story of the first communion on the moon

On Sunday July 20, 1969 the first people landed on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were in the lunar lander which touched down at 3:17 Eastern Standard Time.

Buzz Aldrin had with him the Reserved Sacrament. He radioed: “Houston, this is Eagle. This is the LM pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way.”

Later he wrote: “In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit.’ I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute Deke Slayton had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O’Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly…Eagle’s metal body creaked. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”

NASA kept this secret for two decades. The memoirs of Buzz Aldrin and the Tom Hanks’s Emmy- winning HBO mini-series, From the Earth to the Moon (1998), made people aware of this act of Christian worship 235,000 miles from Earth.

Charge Conference 2010 September 30, 2010

I am old enough and Methodist enough to remember the days of the Quarterly Conference, although as I recall we only held 2 quarterly conferences per year in our church. There was a time when the majority of the business of the local church was conducted at four meetings each year. Gradually over time this structure was changed and at the present time there is one business meeting held annually called a Charge Conference. This meeting allows the church to have meaningful contact with the District Superintendent (called a Presiding Elder in the olden days), is a time elect church officers,set the Pastor's salary, recommend candidates for the ministry and lay speaking, and to present various reports related to the work of the church. Some folks dread these meetings and feel they are outdated and not necessary.

Here's what the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church says about the the matter,the Charge Conference “shall be the connecting link between the local church and the general Church and shall have general oversight of the church [in our case, Administrative] council.” The voting membership in a Charge Conference includes all attending people who are Administrative Council members, and any retired ordained ministers and diaconal ministers who hold their membership with a church. The Discipline encourages us to have the make-up of the council as inclusive as possible, to represent all segments of our congregation, including youth. A Charge Conference is required to be held annually. The district superintendent presides or may designate an elder to preside.

At our charge conference this year, the District Superintendent challenged the participants to answer two questions. There was a wonderful time of sharing and expressing joy about the ministry of the Norton United Methodist Church during the previous year.

QUESTION 1 Who are some of the "somewhere out there" people you and your church are reaching?

Each week 30 or more persons attend an NA group which meets at the Norton Church. The church provides this space but more importantly welcome and validation. From time to time the group is provided with snacks and they are always invited to church functions such as picnics and dinners. Members from the NA present a program and share with the congregation at least two times a year. We held a "Recovery Church" event this year and cooperate with "Celebrate Recovery" and other community outreach activities. On the night of the charge conference a "Recovery Walk" originated from the Norton Cinema and concluded with an evening meal at the Norton Church. Over 40 persons participated in the walk to show support for substance abuse recovery efforts.

The Norton NAMI was organized by two members of our congregation to meet the unique needs of friends and family members of persons who have experienced mental illness. The support group meets monthly an provides vital support, guidance and assistance but most of all understanding and acceptance. The Norton NAMI has plans to sponsor a clergy training event in the region to assist clergy and religious leaders in learning how to provie ministry to persons impacted by mental illness.

The weekly morning worship service at Mt. View Regional Medical Center attracts 20 or more residents each week. It is a unique blessing that some residents have family and friends who attend so that they can experience worship together. We lead a monthly singing event and this has created partnerships with other churches to expand the Christian influence and provide stronger and more effective outreach to the residents of the Center.

For the past to summers we have been in partnership with the First Baptist Church and the Norton Church of God to provide a city wide Vacation Bible School event. The Bible School attracts nearly 100 children and youth each summer.

We have been able to assist 15 families in need by providing tangible support, comfort and assistance. When the church receives a call for help from a community person, we always respond by providing supportive assistance, referral to other sources of help and tangible help if need is demonstrated.

We held a Gospel Singing "Bluegrass Gospel Winterfest" in February to raise fnds for the Wise County/Norton Food Bank. This event provided opportunities for fellowship, networking and worship in addition to money and canned for which was given to the food bank for distribution.

We are learning how to invite other people to attend and participate in the activities of the church. Last year 11 persons became new members of the church and all of these folks are continuing to be very active and involved. Recently a family brought a young man who was living in the domestic violence shelter, he came for 2 Sundays, seemed to really enjoy the fellowship and activity of the church. We are thankful for all opportunities to invite persons into the Kingdom of God.

Over 15 years ago the Norton Church started a community Thanksgiving meal outreach and this continues. Last year over 400 meals were provided. The project now has active involvement from many other churches and the project provides outreach and opportunities for fellowship and networking.

Remembering Worldwide Communion Sunday, 2009

The Methodists of Norton Invite You to the Table of the Lord, Sunday, October 4, 2009 11:00 am at Norton United Methodist Church, 8th Street at Virginia Avenue (downtown , near the historic Norton Hotel)


Sunday, October 4, 2009 should prove to be a phenomenal day for the two Methodist congregations in the city of Norton. The first Sunday in October is observed by many Christians around the globe as “Worldwide Communion Sunday”, an occasion that highlights the unity and solidarity of all Christians.

While both Blackman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Zion, located on Kentucky Avenue and the Norton United Methodist Church on Virginia Avenue were organized in the late 1800’s the two congregations have never held a service of worship together. Sharing a common heritage and connection to the Wesleyan Revival of the 1700’s the congregations are very excited about getting together for worship.
“Throughout the world churches of all denominations, in all nations, in many languages, will all be celebrating the Lord’s Supper and this opportunity for fellowship with Pastor French and his congregation couldn’t come at a better time” says Pastor Ken Taylor of the Norton United Methodist Church. “We need this time to remember that our Lord suffered for us all. The most memorable verse in the Bible begins ‘For God so loved the world…‘ The Lord’s Supper teaches us all about the necessity of unity and fellowship.”

According to Blackman Chapel Pastor Todd French , the church was established in 1892. The Church first met in a private home which was located in the section referred to as “the bottom,” the coke oven section company homes, southeast of Park Avenue between the two major train companies east of the train depot. In 1914-15, the trustees of the Church purchased the parcel of land where the Church is located today. A small framed building was built on the land that was purchased from Norton Land and Improvement Company for $175, listed in Deed Book No. 32, page 8. The trustees at that time were James Foster, Nettie Brice, Lewis Banks, Jannie Foster, and W.O. Bradley. The Pastor was Rev. J.W. Jones. The Church was named Blackman Chapel after Reverend T.H.F. Blackman, who was a pioneer in Church expansion. “ Today the church is experiencing significant growth and has tripled in size during the past few years. Rev. French’s describes his vision “that the Church would seek, as its primary function, to fulfill the Great Commission as commanded by Jesus, in Matthew 28:19-20. The Church is called to be mission-minded reaching out to the neglected, the hurting, the lost and the unsaved. The church should minister to the whole man/woman physically, emotionally, mentally and most of all spiritually. This ministry is to be done within the church, in the community and in the larger society.”

Ken Taylor, a lay pastor, has been the leader of the Norton United Methodist Church for the past 18 months. “We have tried to fully embrace the mission of ’Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors’ and are continuing to learn new ways to reach out and serve the community. Each Sunday at 10:00 am we lead a worship service at the long term care unit at Mt. View Regional Medical Center. Recently we held a “Recovery Church” event for persons with substance abuse issues and we are host to the Norton Narcotics Anonymous Meeting. A support group called Norton NAMI was recently organized to provide assistance to friends and family members of persons with severe mental illness. We are blessed to have the opportunity to participate in various community ministries such as Vacation Bible School events and our members always are involved in the community Thanksgiving Dinner and the RAM event. For the past 31 years our music director, David Barker has led a community wide service called “The Festival of Lessons and Carols” with musicians and leaders from many regional colleges, schools and churches. Norton United Methodist Church is blessed by a rich history dating back over 100 years but our current challenge and mission is learning new ways to serve our community. We have received eleven new members this year and seven persons have been baptized. Our purpose is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The church is a welcoming place, where people find a sense of community, a sense of belong and purpose”

While many things continue to divide the people of our earth, the Methodists of Norton invite everyone to participate in this historic and significant experience. Pastor French will be preaching and singing along with the members of Blackman Chapel. There will be a fellowship lunch at noon and a service of Baptism at 1:30 pm.

Plan to attend World Communion Sunday at Norton United Methodist Church October 3, 2010

World Communion Sunday
As United Methodists we experience the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper as more than mere symbols. In the sacrament of Holy Communion we experience the real presence of the Living Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that Christians need to partake of communion often and with joy.
At Norton United Methodist Church and at our Outreach Service at Mt. View Regional Medical Center, Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and on special holy days, including Maundy Thursday, All Saints Sunday and Christmas Eve.
We practice an open communion. Everyone is welcome at the Communion table, regardless of their church affiliation or membership status. Christ invites everyone who repents of their sin and places their trust in him. All that is required is a willingness to receive the grace of Christ and an awareness of our need for him. There are no special rules regarding the participation of children in the sacrament (a specific age when children are granted access to the Lord’s table). This decision is left up to the parents. In our faith tradition infants are allowed to experience baptism, so it makes good sense that children are also invited to the Lord’s table as soon as they are able to do so. Children seem to be excited by the experience and receive the bread and cup with joy.
On this coming Sunday, October 3, 2010 we will join with Christians around the world for an observance of World Communion Sunday. Come and taste a portion of the goodness of God’s grace. The pastor’s sermon, “The Six Moods of Holy Communion” will explore some of the historic issues related to communion and how the sacrament can become a blessing in your life.

Upcoming events for the last week of September

Norton United Methodist Church will have a special guest speaker this coming Sunday, September 26 at 11:00 a.m. Ms. Jettie Hess, a poet, author and publisher will be reading several of her inspirational poems. Jettie Hess is a very devoted Christian and has a unique and meaningful ability to capture the messages of the Christian Faith in verse. She will also be speaking at the 10:00 am service at Mt. View Regional Medical Center. There will be a pot luck lunch following the 11:00 am service. Come and bring some friends.

Thursday, September 30, members of the Norton N.A. group, representatives from Celebrate Recovery (which meets at the City Center in Norton) and interested friends and families will hold a "Recovery Walk". The walk begins at the Norton United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude with a light meal at the church at around 7:30 p.m.

This is also the night for the Norton United Methodist Church annual Charge Conference with our District Superintendent Archer Coppedge. The charge conference begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary and after the meeting everyone is invited to join the Recovery Community for a light supper meal.

The Church is the People

Many people recall the finger rhyme, "This is the church." This fun activity we learned as children presents a profound message -- The Church is the people. I am hoping that several folks will be willing to contribute to this blog by writing a memory of one of your favorite Norton United Methodist "people."


This Is The Church
A fingerplay with interlocking fingers
This is the church,
(children hold hands down with fingers interlocked)
This is the steeple.
(Now put up both index fingers in the shape of a steeple)
Look inside.
(children turn hands over)
And see all the people.
(everybody wiggle fingers)

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling..." Romans 12:13

On August 22 we spent a lot of time on the subject of Radical Hospitality. This video is an exceptional parable lesson on the topic. Take a look:




























"Gracious God, give us a heart that remembers the strangers who may be in our path today and help us share your all-encompassing love with them, just as you have shown love to us."

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, FIFTH SUNDAY SINGING AND FELLOWSHIP DINNER AT THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

The congregation of Norton United Methodist Church will be attending the Fifth Sunday Singing and Fellowship Dinner at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 11:00 am, Sunday, August 29, 2010.

We are looking forward to this great time of singing, worship and fellowship. After the service there will be a fellowship dinner. Our friends from the Church of the Good Shepherd are active partners in our Mt. View Ministry and the pastor refers to them as the church of the "good singers." God is pleased when we fellowship together and enjoy times of worship and friendship with fellow Christians. We hope this will become a regular Fifth Sunday Activity, the folks from the Church of the Good Shepherd will we worshiping with the Norton United Methodist Church on the next Fifth Sunday, October 31st for another Fifth Sunday Singing and Dinner.

REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISM AND BE GLAD

Sunday, August 15, 2010 was a time of great celebration as we observed "Good Shepherd" Sunday and shared in the Baptism of Matthew Rains. This opportunity to participate in God's grace and favor will be remembered for a long time. We all appreciate Matthew for his calm and patient and kind demeanor, but especially for his love of God and others.


As you read the "Blessing of the Water" portion of the Baptismal liturgy, Remember your Baptism and Be Glad.


The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Eternal Father:
When nothing existed but chaos,
you swept across the dark waters
and brought forth light.
In the days of Noah
you saved those on the ark through water.
After the flood you set in the clouds a rainbow.
When you saw your people as slaves in Egypt,
you led them to freedom through the sea.
Their children you brought through the Jordan
to the land which you promised.
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Tell of God’s mercy each day.
In the fullness of time you sent Jesus,
nurtured in the water of a womb.
He was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit.
He called his disciples
to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection
and to make disciples of all nations.
Declare his works to the nations,
his glory among all the people.
Pour out your Holy Spirit,
to bless this gift of water and those who receive it,
to wash away their sin
and clothe them in righteousness
throughout their lives,
that, dying and being raised with Christ,
they may share in his final victory.
All praise to you, Eternal Father,
through your Son Jesus Christ,
who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns for ever. Amen.

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2010 "GREAT DAY OF SINGING AND HYMN FEST" AT NORTON UMC

You will not want to miss the "Great Day of Singing and Hymn Fest" scheduled for Norton United Methodist Church at 11:00 am Sunday, July 18, 2010. The Psalter for the day is Psalm 100 -MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD-

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
3Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

There will be hymn singing, special organ and piano selections along with an opportunity to learn the stories behind several of our most beloved hymns.

The music at Norton UMC is always outstanding and uplifting, so make plans to attend.

BLESSINGS

Blessings on Pastor Ken Taylor who is now in his third year of appointment as Pastor of Norton UMC. After serving two years as a lay pastor, he has completed all the requirements and was recognized at the Holston Conference "Sending Forth Service" on Wednesday, June 16 as a Licensed Local Pastor.

SCHOOL KITS FOR LIBERIA

Norton United Methodist Church participated in the Holston Conference "Hands On" Mission Project by supplying several school kits which were shipped to Liberia.
Each book bag contained:

• 3 composition books (70 sheets)
wide-ruled
• 1 pkg wide-ruled notebook paper
• 1 ½” ruler
• 1 10 pack pencils
• 1 pkg of 10 pens (blue or black ink)
• 3 boxes of chalk
• 1 pack of 2 erasers (rectangular)
• 1 small dictionary (new or used)
• 1 coloring book

Thank You Norton Church for all you do to help others.

The West Norton Bell

Each Sunday morning at around 10:50 am the West Norton Bell rings to help prepare the congregation for a time of worship. The bell was brought to the Norton United Methodist Church at the time of merger with the West Norton United Methodist Church in the early 1990's. Bernard Farmer, a long time member of West Norton led the efforts to have the bell installed and displayed in a proper cupola. Mr. Farmer had seen a belfry in the Ashville, North Carolina area, he contacted a local brick mason to arrange for the construction and soon the bell was ready to ring once again.

Mr. Farmer's mother, Cora Farmer, wrote in her history of the West Norton Church: "The young ladies of the church participated in a contest (around 1910) to raise money to purchase a bell. The one raising the most money was to be given a Bible; however, each did such a good job that all were rewarded with Bibles. Those participating were Miss Margie Ellis (Gilly), Miss Daisy Stallard (Huff) and Miss Lelia Necessary (Yeary)."

We thank God for our rich religious and spiritual heritage.

SOME AWESOME PARTNERSHIPS "in ministry together"

Prior to shipping,the mission kits were displayed at the church. We prayed for the students in Norton who prepared the kits and for the persons in Haiti who were in need of the items donated










A January feature story in the Coalfield Progress about local church efforts to assist persons impacted by the earthquake in Haiti had a significant impact on several students at Norton Elementary School. When the students read the words of feature writer Jodi Deel they were enthusiastic about helping. "Across the world, people of all ages and all walks of life are feeling compelled to reach out and help citizens in Haiti" The story described several projects, but the United Methodist effort to provide "health kits" was something that several of the students felt strongly about supporting. Mr. Scott Kiser, principal, contacted Pastor Ken Taylor about details of the project and in a matter of weeks over 100 health kits were prepared and assembled by the students. Help was provided by the teachers, administrative staff, parents and friends of the students. It was an effort that involved the entire community. The kits contained a number of items including a hand towel, a washcloth, a comb, a nail file, a bar of soap, a toothbrush and adhesive band aids. "On Jan. 12, Haitians' world was turned upside down when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the country, toppling buildings, killing uncounted thousands of people and stirring up mass confusion." says Jodi Deel. The efforts of these great students in Norton, along with the generous contributions of thousands of churches made a difference. Many churches and groups in the region (including the Norton UMC) made donated money to asssit the people in Haiti.It is amazing what we can do when we all work together.

Monday, July 5, 2010

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2010 OLD TIMEY CAMP MEETING SERVICE

Folks attending Norton United Methodist Church Sunday July 11 will have an opportunity to step back in time several years and experience an old timey style camp meeting service. Wear old fashion clothes or casual clothes. Look in the attic and see if you can find Grandma's bonnet or Grandpa's straw hat. Although we will be inside the building and have all the modern comforts, our spirits will drift back to the turn of the century, to a time before there was a Methodist Church in Norton. The Pastor's sermon, "Come Out of the Wilderness" will be a glimpse at what a Methodist Circuit Rider might have preached to a congregation gathered in the area in the late 1800's.

Norton Church responds to Bishop's appeal for an offering to support Mission Work in Sudan

Norton United Methodist Church recently responded to our Bishop's appeal for an offering to support Holston Conference Mission Work in Sudan. This video explains the project. Thank You Norton Church for your generous response.

SONG FEST at MT. VIEW REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER'S LONG TERM CARE UNIT 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 10, 2010

For nearly two years now members and friends from the Norton United Methodist Church and The Church of the Good Shepherd have been visiting Mt. View Regional Medical Center's long term care unit one Saturday morning each month for a Song Fest. This project has grown and continues to be a real blessing for the residents. We sing old show tunes from the 20's, 30's and 40's, songs like "Let Me Call You Sweetheart", "Bicycle Built for Two", and "Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet." We sing Patriotic Songs and Spirituals and Hymns and about anything imaginable. Our expert talented music director can play about anything and with cell phone technology we can obtain the words for songs requested in a matter of seconds. This happened at Easter when someone requested "Here Comes Peter Cottontail." We were surprised to learn that the song has about 15 verses. The event is very special and you never know what might happen. The song leader frequently walks amongst the participants carrying a microphone and selects willing and often unwilling persons to sing solo. Music is a powerful gift from God and He can use music to touch us in so many ways. We have experienced persons with severe memory problems begin smiling and start singing along, recalling very word and note of the song. We appreciate the dedicated persons who come every month and share a few hours of time with the residents. We have been told over and over again how much this outreach effort means. One resident invites a friend living in the community and it is so awesome to see the two of them visiting and singing and smiling and having a grand time. So come on over any second Saturday of the month at 10:00 am. Remember that we have outreach worship each Sunday at 10:00 am at Mt. View for residents, friends, family and staff. Holy Communion every first Sunday. Everyone is always welcome.