Amity

United Methodist Church

Believe . . .  Belong. . . Become. . . 

 

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Church Life

  Worship | Fellowship  | Outreach | United Methodist Women | United Methodist Men 

Senior Ministries | Altar Flowers  | Ministries Summary | History

 Worship

Prayer Sermon Series

 
At Amity’s Sunday Worship Service beginning at 11:00 a.m. you will find: 
B
eloved traditional hymns on organ and piano (complemented by the occasional praise song); anthems by the Chancel Choir; Children’s Time during the service, a warm, diverse, inclusive congregation open to all; and superb Biblically, community service, and outreach based preaching.   Return to top  

PRAYER SERMON SERIES

Sundays @ 11:00 a.m.; June 14 – July 12, 2009  

·        How important is prayer?     ·        How do we pray? 

·        Does prayer work?                ·        What are we supposed to be praying for?  

·        Is there a correct and incorrect way to pray? 

Do You Want to Find Out?  -- Click here for entire series dates, sermon titles and scripture readings

Prayer Sermon Series by Rev. Tuck Taylor Bounds

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Fellowship 

Fellowship opportunities abound at Amity  

The Nurture Committee
invites you to a cookout

Sunday, July 19
12:15 pm
(right after church)

 

Everything provided – just bring yourself!

 

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Outreach

Amity is active in reaching out to our community

IFC Prison Ministry Community Appeals

The Inter-Faith Council (IFC) provides shelter, food, direct services, advocacy and information to people in need. Various Amity ministries serve dinner in the Community Kitchen at 100 W. Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill on the 4th Friday of the month.  Return to top

Soup Kitchen Serving Schedule IFC Web Page   |  IFC February Appeal

Volunteers Needed

Friday, July 24, 2009

The Community Kitchen is among the many services that IFC provides to the less fortunate in our community.

Spend less than two hours this month helping our less fortunate neighbors (5:30 - 7:00 pm).  Meet at 100 W. Rosemary, Chapel Hill or call Roger Shumate, 732-5378) if you need transportation.

Please contact Roger Shumate (732-5378, rcshumate@cs.com) to learn more about how you can share in this blessing each month. 

Each month’s generous response to the plea for volunteers to feed guests at the Inter-Faith Council (IFC) shows the true spirit of Christian love!

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7:00 pm, Sunday, Sept. 27  

Sign-up Deadline to Participate
Sunday, September 21, 12 pm

contact Roger Shumate,  
732-5378,
rcshumate@cs.com

 

I was in prison and you visited me. Matthew 25:36

Click here for printable flier.

Prison Ministry

Orange Correctional Center

Hillsboro, NC

 

Carpooling from Amity, leaving at

7:00 pm for the 7:30 pm service. 

Please contact Roger Shumate,

732-5378, rcshumate@cs.com,

for more information about

this very special ministry.

 

Prison Ministry (Orange Co. Prison Unit in Hillsborough)

3/29, 6/14, 9/27, 12/13 (7:30 p.m.)

Orange Correctional Center requires advance notice of those who plan to participate in the prison ministry.

 

Please call or email Roger Shumate (732-5378, rcshumate@cs.com) by 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, if you think you may be able to attend on Sunday, June 14.  

Community Appeals

The Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County needs GIFT CARDS– to grocery stores and multi-purpose stores (such as Wal-Mart or Target) to provide clients with personal care items, and GAS CARDS– *to assist us in getting a client to safety. To help, contact Colleen at vccoordinator@fvpcoc.org or 929-3872. Return to top

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United Methodist Women 


UMW at Amity meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at 12:30 p.m. Refreshments are served. All women are invited to join us for fellowship and a program. Click here for a list of planned programs in 2009.
 

             Nancy Klatt, President 942-5318 

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United Methodist Men

United Methodist Men’s Breakfast

United Methodist Men invite all men to join them for a special time of food and fellowship, which is normally held on the second Sunday of the month.

If you would like to help organize this the men's breakfast, please contact Roger Shumate at rcshumate@cs.com or 732-5378.  Return to top

Senior Fellowship Ministry

Senior Fellowship Outing is a great way to enjoy companionship and travel in "style" (Amity's bus) to a variety of local attractions.  Watch this space to learn about each adventure, which will also be posted with a sign up sheet on the hall bulletin board and mentioned in the weekly bulletin insert.

The most recentwas on May 29, 2009 to the Raleigh Farmer's Market We had a wonderful breakfast outing filled with fun and fellowship.  All eleven attendees needed to walk a bit afterwards, so we had a leisurely shopping stroll through the market for produce and other goodies.  Many thanks to all who attended . . . especially our subperb chauffeur, Lindy Sparrow! Return to top


Altar Flowers
On Sunday, May 17, t
he flowers in the Chancel were given to the glory of God 
by Nancy and Bob Klatt
in loving memory of Nancy’s mother, Emily Bullard.

Celebrate the special people or events in your life, beautify our church, and enhance our worship experience by placing flowers in our Chancel. Some new dates have opened up - we are now placing flowers on the first Sunday of each month, which had previously been closed due to Communion. Open dates include: 



July 19
Aug. 2
Aug. 16
Aug. 30

Sept. 20
Oct. 4
Nov. 1
Nov. 8
Nov. 22

During Advent, the Chancel will be decorated with Poinsettias.

Please rAltar Flowers 012.jpg (1761754 bytes)eserve your special date by writing your name and 
phone number on the flower chart in the back hall or calling Kim Batson at the church office (967-7546).  A notation will be made in that Sunday’s bulletin and you are free to take the flowers home after Sunday worship.

Where do I get the flowers?  Many people prefer to purchase (or bring from their home garden!) and arrange the altar flowers themselves. You are also welcome to order from the florist of your choice. Many members use Victoria Park Florist in Chapel Hill. Please contact Worship Committee Chair Nancy Klatt (942-5318;  bnklatt@nc.rr.com ) if you need to make arrangements for flower deliver on Saturday.  Otherwise, just place them yourself Sunday morning, preferably no later than 10:45 a.m.

Should I place one or two bouquets?  The size, style, and number of arrangements is entirely up to you.  You may use our pair of brass vases, which measure 7 1/4 inches high and 3 inches across at the opening, or bring your own.

If you provide two arrangements, please place them on the back wall flanking the candles and the Cross, as shown in the picture above. You may place one arrangement on the piano.  We hope to soon purchase a table where single arrangements may be placed for more visibility. Although we call them "Altar Flowers," the Altar is reserved exclusively for the sacrament of Holy Communion.

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Ministries Summary

Monthly

United Methodist Women

United Methodist Men

Serving Dinner @IFC

Frequently

Fellowship Meals & Events

Mission Meals & Events

Prison Ministry (Quarterly)

Annually

Pumpkin Patch

Christmas Tree Sale

Christmas Cantata

Easter Egg Hunt

Vacation Bible School

Committees

Administrative Council

Trustees

Outreach/Missions

Education

Nurture

Witness & Worship

Staff/Parish Relations

Youth Council

Facilities Use

Lay Leadership

Finance

Nursery School Board

Stewardship

Christmas Tree

Publicity/Communication

Lay Person of the Year

Senior Ministries

Hamilton Scholarship

Hosted by Amity

Amity Preschool/Daycare

Boy Scout Troop & Pack 835

Girl Scout Troop #686

YMCA Youth Activities

Poetry Group

Rape Crisis Center

AA

Caduceus

Gamblers Anonymous

Some programs of Univ. United Methodist Church

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History

HOMECOMING 
2009 

History & Homecoming Souvenir Booklet

April 26, 2009

Heritage Sunday, April 26, commemorated 51 years of Amity sharing the Good News with Chapel Hill and each other.  The Rev. Cheryl Lawrence, a former member, preached.  Rev. Lawrence is currently pastor at Carr United Methodist Church in Durham.

What a wonderful celebration we had, Sunday, April 6, 2008! 
Click here for Souvenir Booklet

April 6, 1958 – April 6, 2008

HISTORY OF AMITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

As the result of the new church building spurt of the 1950’s, the Rev. A. Mickey Fisher was selected by the NC Conference to build a new Methodist church in the north Chapel Hill area. The Rev. Fisher and the NC Conference acquired a parsonage at the then numbered 18 Williams Circle where he held services in the basement of the parsonage.

The new church was first called the North Chapel Hill Methodist Church. “United” was not added until the merger with the United Brethren Church in 1974. As the initial membership grew, the fledgling church decided on the permanent name of Amity United Methodist Church. The name Amity, which means “friendship” or “friendly”, was recommended by charter member Lois Farrell.

Amity received its charter on April 6, 1958 when the membership grew to 31 members.  Rev. Chancey D. Barcliff, the Durham Superintendent, preached the organizing sermon. Methodist churches in Orange County were in the Durham District at that time.

The new church purchased six acres of land at the current address, 825 North Estes Drive and built a cinderblock chapel in 1958-1959.  This building, called the “Tree House,” is used for service-type activities of the church, including scouting and YMCA after-school programs. 

Since its inception in 1959, the annual Christmas Tree Sale has provided funds for many worthy purposes.  The Halloween “pumpkin patch” at Amity is also a popular Chapel Hill tradition.

Amity’s caring, loving congregation has continued to grow under the fifteen pastors following Rev. Fisher. A sanctuary and classrooms were added in 1968, and a fellowship hall and additional classroom in 1993. In 1989, a parsonage was purchased at 503 Tinkerbell in the Colony Woods subdivision of Chapel Hill.

Following Jesus’ great commission, the members of Amity are reaching out to make disciples of Jesus. In addition to our small Bible Study Groups, the congregation helps the hungry at the Interfaith Shelter, conducts a prison ministry at the Orange Correctional facility, supports Habitat for Humanity, Forty Boxes of Food, and have taken advantage of many other mission opportunities.

These opportunities are a blessing to the members of Amity.  The church has developed into a very happy family of God! 

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Amity is proud to count the Rev. Vernon Tyson as a former interim pastor here. 
Rev. Tyson's Ministry of Justice and Reconciliation

 

Rev. Tyson’s Ministry of

 Justice
&
Reconciliation 

Our former interim pastor, Rev. Vernon Tyson, was honored by the North Carolina Council of Churches on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.  He is one of three men who received their 2008 Distinguished Service Award for leadership roles in working “sacrificially for the dignity and equality of all God’s children and for the full inclusion of all in church and in society.”

Following the ceremony, Rev. Tyson returned to Shelby, NC where filming continues of the movie based on the book by Rev. & Mrs. Tyson’s son Tim, “Blood Done Sign My Name.”  This autobiographical account recalls the 1970 racial murder of Henry Marrow, the racial unrest that followed the acquittal of three white suspects, and Rev. Tyson’s ministry of reconciliation during that period.

Gastonia native Jeb Stuart, son of a minister himself and screenwriter of “Die Hard” and “The Fugitive,” is writing, directing, and producing the film.  

Rick Schroeder, whose credits include “Silver Spoons” and “NYPD Blue,” is playing Rev. Tyson. Click here for a side-by-side picture of the two.  

The Shelby Star has an excellent series of articles about the filming of the movie, which can be accessed by clicking here.  

Click here for press release.  Return to top

Combining mission with fellowship, Amity is proudly hosted movie night with "The Great Debaters" in our fellowship hall on Sunday, September 21, at 5:30 p.m.  This event raised an additional $1112 for for Operation Sharehouse!

We welcomed (and transported) a group of youth from Pine Knolls Community Center who enjoyed dinner and watched this historic film with us.   Flier 

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Mark and Save the Date

Sunday, September 21, 2008 5:30

"The Great Debaters"

 

The Great Debaters (http://www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/) is an inspirational movie, made in 2007, starring Denzel Washington.

"The film, loosely based on a true story, revolves around the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) at historically black Wiley College to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American South during the 1930s, when Jim Crow laws were common and lynch mobs were a pervasive fear for blacks. In the movie, the Wiley team eventually succeeds to the point where they are able to debate Harvard University." (Taken from, and credit to Wikipedia).

On Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 5:30 pm Amity's missions small group will be hosting a fundraising event which will include both dinner and a showing of this movie. Further, final, and more complete event details will be forthcoming, but please mark your calendars now and consider inviting extended family, friends and acquaintances to join you for this time of inspiration, breaking bread together, fellowship, and perhaps discussion.  Look forward to seeing you there.

 

Giving Tree

Challenge