BMUMC News Letter
The Bradley Beacon
The Newsletter of Bradley United Methodist Church
Vol. 12 Issue No. 110 January 5, 2012
Golden Anniversary
Happy 50th anniversary to the Men’s Fellowship Class and the Mary Martha Sunday School Class. Bradley Memorial celebrates this milestone in the life of our church.
The Men’s Fellowship class was organized in 1962 when the Young Adult Class was made into two classes – the Young Men’s Class and the Mary Martha Class. The first officers of the Young Men’s Class were: President Norman Jenkins, Vice President Ken Corn, Secretary Max Stewart Treasurer, Marshall Rogers, Flower Chairman Earl Willis, Attendance Chairmen Burgin Lytle and Bud Braswell, Literature Custodian Jim Jenkins and Social and Recreation Committee members were Jim, Bradley, Bill Gamble, Lafon Spencer, Charles Rhyne.
In 1972 the name of the class was changed to the Men’s Fellowship Class as the history of the class records “We were all getting older.”
Over the years the class has been blessed with a number of dedicated teachers including: Arnold Armstrong, Dan Carter, Roland Bradley, Bill Bradley Jr., Russ Clark, Jerry Mahaffey and David Jacobsen. Our current teacher is Allen McCarver.
Along with holding class each Sunday the Men’s Fellowship Class supports CAM, the United Methodist Student offering and contributes to special offerings and memorials. They also visit members in the nursing homes.
One of the original officers, Jim Jenkins is Class President and has served the class in leadership faithfully for 50 years.
We give thanks to God for the study of God’s Word, fellowship, devotion and for all the Men’s Fellowship Class have done to further God’s kingdom.
You are invited to join the Men’s Fellowship Class each Sunday at 9:45am.
SPECIAL PRAYER CONCERNS
Assisted Living: Arzelia Hicks, Lena Wright, Lawrence Holland, Elene Dodgen, Eloise Nesbitt, Joe Beam, Barbara Cline, Robert & Faye Spencer, Naomi Hodge Other Needs: David Holland, Lora Karabatsos, Diane Wood, Jack Brown, Cathy Maynard (friend of Frieda Tate), Lois Moore (Cathy Boshamer’s mother), Sarah Barone (friend of Leslie Wyatt), Kelly Medlin’s mother, Larry Crenshaw, Mildred Coker, Kaley Duncan, Rev. Jack Kayler, Joyce Griffin (Richard Griffin’s mother), Stan Jenkins, David Fisher (Amy Powers’ brother), Lee Fritts, Chris Loukous, Kelly Bustin, Michael Hunter, Mary Lou Barnett (friend of Gay Shockley), Gordon Springs, Major Eric Barker (Ed & Martha Barker’s nephew-deployed to Afghanistan), Allison Howe, Elizabeth & Angie, Ernie Matheson, Gerald Johnson (friend of Diane Wood), Ada Mae Jenkins, Jake Hord, Debbie McGee (Cathy Boshamer’s sister), Kim Beverly, Deborah Goodpaster, Nicole Boyer (co-worker & friend of Ashley Dixon), Barbara Moore (Trula Ridley’s sister), Joe Costner (Nell Conner’s brother), Keane Spencer (nephew of Lafon & Ruby Spencer), Anna Paschall, Hoover & Ruby Patrick (Jane Whitesides’ daughter- in- law’s parents), Lizzy & Angie Levesque (Lois Matheson’s great niece), Rusty McAbee (asst. principal East Gaston), Kenny Ballard, Nell Connor, Pat Ledford, D.A. Rhyne, Regis Barnhardt (friend of Joyce Clark), Robbie Douglas (friend of Diane Wood), Karen Patrick (sister-in-law of The Woods & Hords)
Gastonia District Leadership Conference
Sunday, January 29, 2012. 2:30 – 4:45 pm
First UMC Gastonia.
The Gastonia District presents a series of workshops for church members and clergy who want to learn more about effective church programs and ministries. Our goal is to “Follow Jesus, Make Disciples and Transform the World.” These workshops are designed to help us all be better ministers in order to achieve our goal. Everyone is welcome. Child care will be provided.
There are eleven sessions; select a program which interests you.
1.Training for Church Treasurers & Financial Secretaries - Yvonne Gritt
2.Leadership in the Local Church –
Ms. Jennifer Davis
3.Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Committee –
Dr. Lyn Sorrells
4. United Methodist Men – The Connection –
Dick Strachan
5. United Methodist Women – Work Day for Presidents – Ms. Jane Smith
6. Lay Leader Training – Mr. Doug Carpenter
7. Local & Foreign Mission Opportunities –
Rev. David Miner
8. Revitalizing Churches – Rev. Allen Van Meter
9. We Need Prayer in Our Lives –
Rev. Katie Roberts
10. Small Group Ministry in the Local Church – Rev. Brad Farrington
11. Camp Loy White – Hal Lingerfelt

Wednesday, January 25th
Friday & Saturday, January 27th -28th
Wednesday night will be a joint middle and high school service at Parkwood featuring Wade Morris and Hudson. Friday and Saturday night the high school services will be hosted at Parkwood and the middle school services at Bethlehem. For more information visit www.180 weekend.com
Deadline to register is January 15th.
Honorariums & Memorials
In Memory of:
Brandon Alger by Gladys & Larry Lambert
Janet Adams Johnston by Ernie & Lois Matheson
George S. Adams by Ernie & Lois Matheson
Erwin H. Bradley by Joanne B. Bradley
Roland & Kate Bradley by Betsy & Bob Howe
George Adams by Jane Adams
In Honor of:
Neil & Emily Styers by Clyde Wright Class
Kenny Ballard by Helen Honeycutt, Chancel Choir, David McCarver, Sam, Kelly & Kylie Whitsides, Larry & Diane Wood, Ernie & Lois Matheson, Ken & Phyllis Corn
Kim Dalton by Russ & Joyce Clark
Ashley Dixon by Russ & Joyce Clark
Juanita Spencer by Russ & Joyce Clark, Mary Martha Class, Ernie & Lois Matheson, David McCarver, Helen Honeycutt
Nell Connor by Mary Martha Class, Larry & Diane Wood, Ernie & Lois Matheson, David McCarver, Helen Honeycutt, Ken & Phyllis Corn
Louise Auten by Mary Martha Class
Ed Barker by Clyde Wright Class
Lawrence Holland by Joanne B. Holland
Rev. Reece and Staff by Helen Honeycutt
Leslie, Davy and Baylor Wyatt by Jane Adams
Stanton Adams by Jane Adams
Special Announcements
The Good timers will meet Tuesday, January 10th at 9am for breakfast at Firestone Grill.
The Bessie Davis Mission Group will meet Tuesday, January 10th at 6:30 pm in the parlor. Hope all will be able to join us for the start of a new year.
Be a Therapeutic Foster Care Family. Support, Inc. is hosting an informational meeting on Thursday, January 12th at 6pm at 175 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia NC.
HUMAN RELATIONS DAY
SUNDAY – JANUARY 15, 2012
Your Human Relations Day offering supports vital community ministries that teach and advocate for justice, especially among people struggling to survive in the margins of society.
For example, students at United Methodist-related Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., are becoming more involved in social concerns with help from the United Methodist Voluntary Service program. Combining academics with activism, the tiny, historically black college—with “Think Justice” as its motto—is teaching students to pursue justice for a better world.
During one Thanksgiving week students explored and responded to the worsening plight of hunger and homelessness in central Arkansas. They hosted a Faces of the Homeless symposium, volunteered at a shelter and soup kitchen, slept in cardboard boxes outdoors overnight and collected food and clothing for 100 needy families.
Other lessons have come from a letter-writing campaign to lobby for tougher drunk-driving laws and public forums with consciousness-raising guest speakers.
Your gifts to Human Relations Day provide avenues to restored relationships through ministries like Youth Offender Rehabilitation, Community Developers self-improvement programs and United Methodist Voluntary Services community advocacy programs. It’s time to think and support justice, to become radical in changing lives and changing the world. Please give generously.
The skunk who stole Christmas
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — For almost two weeks, members at Chilcutt United Methodist Church in rural east Tennessee have fought the most odiferous fight. It started Dec. 3, when member H.L. Lowe opened the church doors to find an incense so intense “it looked like London fog in here.” Lowe and his pastor, the Rev. Erbin Baumgardner, 69, deduced that a skunk (or skunks) had tunneled below the church. The church has been fighting the “war of the noses” since. To learn more about the church’s battle, go to umc.org and search “How the skunk stole Christmas.”
‘Favorable’ impression of United Methodists
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — About 62 percent of adult Americans have a favorable impression of United Methodists. That’s according to a new survey from LifeWay Research, the Southern Baptist Convention’s research arm. The survey looks at perceptions of faith groups among adults in the United States. United Methodists had the highest percentage of favorable impressions among the faith groups listed in the survey — which also included Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons and Muslims — with 15 percent of respondents reporting very favorable impressions and 47 percent reporting somewhat favorable.
Congratulations to Katelyn Kiser for being named Knight of the Month for December
at Grier Middle School.
“Katelyn received this honor because of the kindness she shows to everyone. Katelyn offers a smile and is always willing to help her fellow Grier students. Her teachers know that she will always present herself in class with a kind, cheerful attitude.”
The Rev. Eric Reece and the congregation of Bradley express our Christian sympathy to the family of Cathy Lookadoo on the death of her father, George (Sonny) Collier Jr., who died December 3, 2011
Thanks to all my dear friends in Christ for your prayers, calls, cards and donations to the church.
It is really great to be remembered this way during a hospital stay. Juanita
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
Christy Burchfield 1/3
Cody Burchfield 1/3
Clarissa Reece 1/3
Kelly Whitesides 1/4
Logan Bradley 1/4
Katelyn Kiser 1/4
Caroline Brooks 1/6
Victoria Justice 1/6
Phyllis Dilling 1/7
Sarah Bradley 1/11
Heather Rinehart 1/11
Matthew Wellman 1/12
Mary Kemp 1/12
Janis Justice 1/13
Sandra Smith 1/15
Rev. Eric Reece 1/17
Brandi Nelms 1/18
Buddy Rogers 1/20
Jeff Wellman 1/23
Mary Ellen Jenkins 1/23
David Holland 1/23
Ernie Matheson 1/25
Neil Styers 1/25
Bonnie Hatfield 1/26
Sharon Jenkins 1/26
Allen McCarver 1/29
Derek Hooper 1/31
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day the church office will be closed on January 16, 2012.
