Joy in These #Great50Days

“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.”   Philippians 1:3-5

Dear Friends,

Today I am writing to express my gratitude for our connection, and for your faithful work in your local church. Each day I work with lay and clergy leaders from all over our district, and we have conversations on many important topics. What continually comes up is the call to faithfulness. 

Today I am grateful to report the “Honor Roll” of Churches who have illustrated their faithfulness through their connectional giving in the first four months of 2023 by paying at least 25% of their annual apportionments:

• Archdale (Archdale)
• Bass Chapel (Greensboro)
• Bethany (Franklinville)
• Bethel (Archdale)
• Bethel (Oak Ridge)
• Bethlehem (Climax)
• Bethlehem (Reidsville)
• Celia Phelps (Greensboro)
• Center (Greensboro)
• Christ (Greensboro)
• Covenant (High Point)
• Fairfield (High Point)
• First (High Point)
• First (Randleman)
• Flat Rock (Stokesdale)
• Garretts Grove (Gibsonville)
• Gethsemane (Greensboro)
• Gibsonville (Gibsonville)
• Gideon Grove (Stokesdale)
• Grace (Greensboro)
• Guilford College (Greensboro)
• Hickory Grove (Greensboro)
• Hickory Grove (Pelham)
• Holmes Grove (Greensboro)
• Hopewell (Trinity)
• Julian (Julian)
• Laughlin Memorial (Greensboro)
• Leaksville (Eden)
• Lebanon (High Point)
• Liberty Grove (Trinity)
• Madison (Madison)
• Matthews Chapel (Stoneville)
• Mayodan (Mayodan)
• Memorial (High Point)
• Morehead (Greensboro)
• Moriah (Greensboro)
• Mount Hermon (Madison)
• Mount Lebanon (Randleman)
• Mount Pisgah (Greensboro)
• Mount Pleasant (Greensboro)
• Mount Tabor (Madison)
• Mount Vernon (Trinity)
• Mount Zion (Stokesdale)
• New Goshen (Greensboro)
• Newlyn Street (Greensboro)
• Palestine (Stokesdale)
• Pleasant Hill (Thomasville)
• Pleasant Union (Liberty)
• Prospect (Archdale)
• Ruffin (Ruffin)
• Shiloh (Liberty)
• Spray (Eden)
• St. John (Eden)
• St. Matthews (Greensboro)
• St. Peter's (Randleman)
• St. Timothy's (Jamestown)
• Stokesdale (Stokesdale)
• Summerfield Peace (Summerfield)
• Tabernacle (Greensboro)
• Union Memorial (Greensboro)
• Wesley Chapel (Reidsville)
• West Market Street (Greensboro)
• Woodmont (Reidsville)

We are winding down our appointment-making for 2023-2024, and we look forward to welcoming several new pastors to our district. We also have the blessing of being able to keep many in our district, which is a joy. The Cabinet will gather with all clergy who are moving at the “Right Start” Seminar next Monday at First UMC, Gastonia.

We rejoice with those who are retiring this year, and wish them so much happiness in their next steps:

• Alice Davis
• Lee Eggers 
• Wanda Lancaster
• Leon Morrow
• Keith Newell
• Brenda Newman
• Debra Swing

We are grateful that Alice and Lee can continue to serve in our district after retirement.

Thank you to the following pastors who are stepping back into the full joy of retirement after serving so faithfully:

• Faye Herbin
• Abraham Kim
• Craven Williams 

We also offer a “shout out” of hearty congratulations to our Seminary Graduates:

• Caroline Camp
• Darryl Donnell
• Morgan Dynes
• Emily Robbian

From the most seasoned to the youngest among us, you are all very special people.  I give God thanks for each of you. You are precious to God, and to us. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Yours,

Rev. Bev Coppley
District Superintendent