Loving God, Serving God, Growing in Grace
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S.T.A.R.S. Volunteer Fair

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You won’t want to miss this year’s STARS Volunteer Fair on Sunday, April 7th in the Fellowship Hall after all services.

You will:

  • Learn about changes and enhancements for 2019 STARS
  • Talk with folks who have helped with the program and hear about their experiences
  • Have “hands on” time with activities such as Picasso Tiles, K’Nex & Brain Flakes
  • Learn how you can sponsor a child for a variety of activities
  • Match STARS Volunteer Needs for children, families and the program with your gifts, talents and available time.

Share the fellowship, energy, laughter and sometimes tears of joy that are part of this annual event.

And did we mention cake and treats? Please call Barb Duclos at 910-579-5753 if you have any questions. On April 7th just “follow the footsteps” to the Fellowship Hall!

April Preschool Newsletter

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Dear Parents,

            Happy Spring to all! We are so fortunate to live in an area usually filled with warm sunshine and blue skies at this time of year. Hopefully, it is coming soon. As the teachers watch the children play, they are all speaking of the children’s growth this year. They are growing physically, mentally, and spiritually. Each child has grown taller, each has learned so many new things, and each child loves the Lord.

Monthly Themes 

            Our theme this month is “God’s Living Things”. The children will be learning about plants, birds, bugs, butterflies, and other living things. We will emphasize the value of truthfulness in our choice of stories. All classes will be working on following directions that involve several steps. Our Kindermusic program is called “Outside My Window”. In chapel, we are now going to focus on Gentleness as one of the fruits of the Spirit. Our Bible verse is “Let your gentleness be evident to all”  Phillippians 4:5.

Easter Celebration

            We are asking you to decorate a hat for your child to wear at our Easter Hat Parade on April 18. Each child looks so cute and each hat is so different. If you need materials to help you in the decorations for the hat, let your child’s teacher know and she can help you. They will parade in the sanctuary on Thursday, April 18, at 10:30. They have a couple of songs to sing for you and then there will be our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Each age group will be in a different part of the church yard. Remember that the school will be closed the following week, April 22-25, for Easter vacation.

Easter Egg Collection

            We are asking parents to send in one dozen filled plastic Easter eggs  before the Easter Egg Hunt. As a precaution to spillage, we would appreciate you taping the edges of each egg.  We appreciate any help that you can give in this regard.

Art Show       

            The annual Art Show is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1 from 6 – 7 P.M.  More information about the Art Show will be sent home closer to the event, but please put the date on your calendar. The children are always so proud to show off their artistic talent.

Muffins for Moms

A reminder that Muffins for Moms is scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at 9:00.   This is a time to honor all moms, grandmothers, and other women who are so very important in the lives of the children. We are always happy to welcome men as well when the mothers can not attend.

Scholastic Book Orders

            Scholastic book orders will be due Wednesday, May 1.

This will be our final book order of the year as later orders will probably

not be back in time for graduation.

Safety Reminder

            The upcoming warm weather will allow the children to go out each day for needed play. It is very tempting to dress your child in sandals or flip-flops. Please be aware, however, that we do not let these children climb on the equipment if they are not wearing rubber-soled shoes. It is too easy for them to slip and fall with looser fitting shoes. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Also, please send in a change of clothing for your child that can be swapped out for the winter clothing that most children have for “emergency wear”.

Special Dates     

Special Events:

           April 18 – Easter Hat Parade and Easter Egg Hunt

            April 22-25 – Easter vacation

Scholastic Book Orders – due May 1

            Art Show – May 1, 6-7 P.M.

            Muffins for Moms – May 9, 9 A.M.

Our students are showing progress at an increasing speed. They can now do so many things that they could not do earlier in the school year. They are coming to circle time more and more eager to share and learn. You have extraordinary children with so much enthusiasm to share with us every day. Thank you for sharing them with us a few hours each week.

                                                                                  Sincerely,

Donna Russell

Cathy Milstead

Patricia Herdic

Sherry Marshall

Kellie Frey

Jean Summers

March Preschool Newsletter

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Dear Parents,

            Each class has been affected this month by the flu, virus, cold, earaches, strep throat, and other illnesses, but the warm weather that March promises us always brings an end to these problems. In the meantime, please watch your child carefully each morning. If he or she shows any sort of contagion (fever, for example), please let him or her rest at home. Only by leaving the germs at home can we eliminate it from the classroom. We are taking extra precautions to keep things washed down with Clorox wipes, washing hands, using Kleenex, and teaching the children to cover their mouths with their arms when they cough.

Scholastic Book Order

Our Scholastic Book Order is due Thursday, March 14 .The flyers are being sent home with this letter.

Preschool Enrollment

            We are very pleased to see that so many of our two and three year olds will be back next year. Thank you for your support and goodwill among the community. So many of the incoming new parents have mentioned that parents of our children have recommended our school to them. We still have openings in the three and four year old classes, so please let anyone know that is still searching for a preschool for their child. I would be happy to meet with the parents and explain our program to them.

March Curriculum

            The curriculum this month is revolved around the themes of “Transportation” and “Community Helpers”. Teachers will also be emphasizing the concepts of Opposites, Following Directions, and Patience. We will also spend some time teaching the children about Poison Control. With the arrival of spring this month, the change of seasons is being readdressed. The Kindermusic themes this month are “Up in the Sky” and “Down on the Ground”. In addition, the children will be learning about “Faithfulness” in chapel. Our Bible verse is Proverbs 3:3, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you.”

Donuts for Dads

            Dads, don’t forget Thursday, March 14 at 9:00. This is a special time for Dads to come to school with their children for about an hour so that we can pay homage to you and the important role you play in your child’s life. If Dad cannot attend, we always welcome Granddads, uncles, moms, or other influential people in your child’s world.

Staffing Changes

            Unfortunately, Miss Jennifer is leaving us for the remainder of the year. She has some family issues that must be resolved. We wish her well. Fortunately, Miss Pat is ready, willing, and excited about taking on the role of lead teacher for the three year old class. She is a credentialed Early Childhood teacher and will continue with the class in the same manner that Miss Jennifer did. We will be seeking an assistant for the four-year old class to replace Miss Pat.

Seaside Preschool on Facebook

            Thanks to Sherry Marshall, our preschool is on Facebook. By visiting it, you will be kept up to date with any additional information that we did not know at the time the newsletter was sent to you.

Field Trip to the Fire House

            In connection with our study of community helpers, we are planning a trip to Calabash Fire House. Details are not finalized, so further information will be forthcoming.

Important Dates

March Special Events – Dr. Seuss’s Birthday – March 2

                                       Scholastic Book Order due – March 14

                                       Donuts for Dads – March 14 – 9:00

                                       St. Patrick’s Day – March 17   

                     First day of spring – March 20

Our students are showing progress at an increasing speed. They can now do so many things that they could not do earlier in the school year. They are coming to circle time more and more eager to share and learn. You have extraordinary children with so much enthusiasm to share with us every day. Thank you for sharing them with us a few hours each week.

Sincerely,       

                                                                       Donna Russell
Cathy Milstead
Jennifer Gerrald
Pat Herdic
Sherry Marshall
Kellie Frey

Reflections on the 2019 General Conference

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As we drove home from Georgia following the death of Scott’s mother, the special called session of the United Methodist General Conference was wrapping up its business. This conference was to receive and to act upon the report of a special “Commission on the Way Forward” whose sole mandate was to seek to find a way for our denomination to continue to work together in faithfulness amidst significant differences in our understanding of the issues surrounding full inclusion of LGBTQI persons in the church. The conference and its results have been widely (and sometimes misleadingly) reported on local and national news. Some have applauded the results while others have expressed deep and abiding hurt. In either case, we at Seaside continue to seek to serve faithfully, welcoming all persons in love and in the hope of God’s grace.

Over the past weeks, we have been leading a series of discussions on the work of the Commission on the Way Forward entitled “Courageous Conversations.” We held these gatherings as a part of our mission at Seaside, “Building bridges to connect people in a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ.” These events were well attended and included discussion of the three plans submitted to General Conference as well as reflections on keeping the focus on the mission of the church, the 5 (or 6) texts in the Bible that actually address homosexuality, and biblical interpretation in general. We encouraged prayer for our church and promised continued discussion as the results of the General Conference became clear.

The first opportunity for continued discussion will be this Sunday, March 3 at 3:00 pm at the Lake Waccamaw United Methodist Church in Lake Waccamaw and is sponsored by the NC Annual Conference and will be led by members of the General Conference delegation. We will meet to carpool (or take a bus) from Seaside at 1:50 (2:00 departure—don’t be late). Several of our 16 delegates to General Conference will be present to share their thoughts and experiences at the Conference. Other delegates will be present at gatherings happening at the same time in other parts of Eastern NC. A second opportunity will occur at Seaside on March 12 at 6:30 pm. This event will also include members of our General Conference delegation.

The results of the General Conference are, at best, confusing both legislatively and practically. At the most basic level and by a margin of fewer than 60 votes, the church approved what was called the “Traditional Plan” which reaffirmed the existing language in the Book of Discipline that “homosexual persons, no less than heterosexual persons are persons of sacred worth in need of the grace of God,” that the United Methodist Church does not condone homosexuality and finds the practice incompatible with Christian teaching, that United Methodist clergy are prohibited from conducting marriages between same-sex couples, that UM property may not be used for such services, and that self-avowed and practicing homosexuals may not be ordained or appointed to serve as clergy in the United Methodist Church. At the same time we affirm that LGBTQI persons, as in the past, are welcome in our churches and allowed full participation in the life of the local church’s ministry—short of marriage and ordination. None of this represents a change to the position of the church prior to General Conference.

What the “Traditional Plan” did change this week was the addition of significant “teeth” to the language across all levels of the church, extending to expulsion of bishops, conferences, clergy and even local churches who might choose to take a principled exception to the church’s official position. Additional steps were added which would allow United Methodist clergy and churches an opportunity to leave “voluntarily” if, as a matter of conscience they feel that they cannot, in good conscience, remain within the fold. What troubled many, including some who supported the “Traditional” plan is the punitive nature of these penalties and what appears to some to be an attempt to push out those who do not agree with the supporters of the plan rather than to find a way to live together even amidst differences. It is this that many suggest is at odds with how we have historically lived together as United Methodists–a people who historically and proudly practice an open communion table.

The plan as passed still faces significant hurdles in the months ahead. Prior to and during the conference, the petitions that made up the three proposals were submitted to the Judicial Council (our church’s supreme court) for a preliminary review of their conformity with the United Methodist Church’s Constitution. A significant number of the petitions related to the “Traditional Plan” failed this preliminary review. These constitutional errors could have been corrected in the final legislation but were not. This leaves the result vulnerable to being over-ruled by the Judicial Council either as a whole or in its various parts. The final act of the conference was to submit the approved legislation to the Judicial Council for that review. The Judicial Council will meet in mid-April of this year.

Additionally, the conference revealed some of the complications of being a global church. Of the 12 million United Methodists, 4 million (roughly 1/3) live outside of the United States including in Liberia, Cote D’Ivoire, Zimbabwe and other West and Southern African nations, the Philippines, Russia and Europe. While the approved legislation was passed narrowly by the conference as a whole, it was opposed by the US delegates by nearly a 2/3 margin. And the General Conference will gather again in April of 2020.

So how should we respond? When we held our “Courageous Conversations” gatherings over the last several weeks, we emphasized the importance of living faithfully WITH each other, even in the midst of difference. We stressed that how we treat each other matters. And, in the final session, we talked about the fact that whatever way the Conference turned out, there would be some who were pleased and others who may feel wounded and hurt by the result. There would likely be persons (and churches) who would feel the need to leave the United Methodist Church—or the church altogether. Our counsel then, as now, is this: If you support the result of the conference, do not gloat or celebrate—doing do could cause harm you would never consciously intend. If you do not support the results of the conference, do not despair—despair is often called a sin against the Holy Spirit. In either case, seek out someone whose response differs from your own. Listen to them. Hear them. Respect them. In so doing, may your friendships grow in the fullness of grace. And finally, join us on March 3 at Lake Waccamaw UMC or on March 12 at 6:30 pm at Seaside so that together we may grow in our own understanding of our church and of God’s grace.

May the peace of Christ be with you all

Scott & Mary Jane

Courageous Conversations

Posted on by Posted in General Conference, News
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Most of the new resources are up…

Upcoming and Ongoing:

2019 Called General Conference Information from UMC.org

Latest News about the 2019 General Conference

General Conference Live-Stream (begins 2/23)

Week 3 Resources

Read the Traditionalist Proposal

Week 2 Homework and Resources:

Below are a list of links that will allow you to view and read “homework” documents:

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball discusses the Connectional Conference Plan

The Commission Proposal for the Connectional Conference Plan (pdf)

A Talk by Pastor Adam Hamilton assessing the Way Forward
(This is the full video that wouldn’t play in the powerpoint on 2/6–He does a good job explaining the four key attitudes on this issue)

Bishops Discuss the “One Church Plan”
(This is the second video that would’t play in the powerpoint on 2/6)

North Carolina Conference Delegation information

Praying our Way Forward Website

Week 1 Homework:

View Bishop Ball’s Overview of the “One Church Plan”

The Commission Proposal for the “One Church Plan” (pdf)

View the Bishop’s Website on the “One Church” plan

Read the Chart comparing the three major proposals (after Judicial Council Review)

Read the Judicial Council Review of the three plans

Gil Rendle Video called “A Parable for Today” from Week 1 Powerpoint

Videos

A Collection of Videos on the Way Forward

Other

Q&A Overview of 2019 General Conference

Men’s Breakfast Bible Fellowship

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All men are invited to a newly growing Men’s Group that is a part of Seaside’s spiritual formation ministries. Each Friday at 8:00 a.m. the group gathers at Sunny Side Up in Calabash for a time of breakfast and fellowship. The group also discusses the upcoming Lectionary text for Sunday in the context of how it relates to everyday faith and life. This is not a class and does not require registration. All men are welcome to come as they can. For questions or more information please contact Keith Duclos at keith@duclos@gmail.com or Greg Rocklage at gmrock320@gmail.com.

February Preschool Newsletter

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Dear Parents,

          January has been a month of weather fluctuations. We have very cold days followed by warmer temperatures. As a result of the weather and the season, we have had children out of school due to colds, strep throat, ear infections, and the like. Thank you for letting your child remain home to recuperate rather than send him/her to school when he/she might be contagious. Because of your diligence, we have not had any epidemics thus far.

Curriculum

The theme this month will be Dinosaurs. In addition to learning about dinosaurs, teachers will be teaching rhyming patterns and the values of kindness, taking turns, and honesty. Teachers will also be revisiting the skills of last month, especially patterns and positional words. In music, the theme is “Out and About” and “On the Go”.  February is also Dental Health Month; therefore, the classes will be discussing the proper care of their teeth and seeing the dentist.  This month we will look at Kindness asone of the Fruits of the Spirit. The Bible stories will focus on this concept, and the Bible verse is “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” Ephesians 4:32

Special Events

Ground Hog Day – February 2                                               
Valentine’s Day Party – February 14 – More information to come

Presidents’ Day – February 18 – Schools are closed

Scholastic Books

            If you are ordering from Scholastic Books, the due date for all orders is Thursday, February 14.

Valentine’s Party

Thursday, February 14 is our Valentine Party. Each teacher will send home a class list for you so that valentines can be sent in for the classmates. If help is needed in preparing for the party, the teacher will notify you. E

Enrollment for Next Year

February is the start of enrollment for next year’s two, three and four year olds. An enrollment letter and enrollment form are attached. Please read and respond within the next two weeks if you would like to verify early placement. Your recommendations to neighbors and friends have always brought us wonderful families, so if you need extra forms, please let me know.

Have a Heart Month

          Each year, we have a coin collection month. The purpose of this project is to instill in the children that it is never too early to do good for others. We ask each child to bring in any loose change each day and add it to their class’s “piggy bank”. At the end of the month, we take the change that has been collected to the bank, have it counted, and use the money to help someone in need. In the past, we have collected money for the food pantry, purchased Thanksgiving meals for a few families in the community, and given a donation to our local animal shelters. Anything that you can do to remind your child to bring in a few coins each day would be greatly appreciated. We will begin the drive on Tuesday, Feb. 5 and end on Thursday, February 28.

Snacks Reminder

          Thank you to those parents who have been so diligent in providing a snack for their child’s class. Children enjoy the variety that you provide. Please let your child’s teacher know if you are unable to provide a snack on the day that you were given on the calendar. The teacher needs to know so that a snack is prepared for that class. The snack can be simple. There are some food suggestions in the student handbook.

Tax Information

          Some of you have requested our school’s identification number for tax purposes. The number is 56-1983731. I hope this will help you during your tax preparation.

          February is a short month, but it is such an important one because it makes us all stop and reflect on those qualities in our loved ones that we so love and appreciate. It certainly makes our staff know how much we love your children and how much we appreciate you for allowing us to help them grow developmentally, spiritually, and emotionally.

          Happy Valentine’s Day to each of you.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                Donna Russell         Sherry Marshall

                                                Cathy Milstead      Kellie Frey

                                                Jennifer Gerrald   Pat Herdic

Simon Peter: A Flawed But Faithful Disciple

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We invite you to join us during Lent for Adam Hamilton’s newest study on the person of Simon Peter. He left everything to follow his teacher and possessed a passion that would change the world. That’s one way to describe Peter. Here’s another: poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, and full of doubts and fears. Doesn’t even sound like the same man. Peter was just an ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. Discover how you, too, have special gifts, talents, and abilities that God can use to make a difference today.

Led by Len Bernauer, this six-week class will use the book, DVD and group discussion to dig deeper into the lessons this disciple leaves for us. Class begins on Wednesday, March 13th, 10:00-11:30 a.m. The cost of the book is $15. Register online or in the Gallery no later than February 24th.

“Courageous Conversations”

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“Courageous Conversations” will give interested persons in our congregation an opportunity to learn about and discuss the three options regarding the United Methodist Church’s relationship with LGBTQ persons to be presented at the Special Session of General Conference February 23-26.

There will be small group discussions, times of prayer, singing and study together. “Courageous Conversations” at Seaside begins January 30th – February 20th, each Wednesday from 1:30-3:00 p.m. You are encouraged to attend all four sessions as different information will be presented each week.

Grief Share “Loss of a Spouse” Seminar

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Seaside will offer Grief Share’s two-hour “Loss of a Spouse” Seminar on Wednesday, January 23rd from 1:30-3:30 p.m. (registration begins at 1:00 p.m.) There is no charge to attend.

The following topics will be discussed:

  • What to expect in the days to come
  • How to deal with the loneliness
  • What to do with a spouse’s belongings
  • Why it will not always hurt this much

This one-time seminar provides an opportunity to learn about Grief Share and consider if the 13-week Griefshare Series is right for you.

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