WILLIAM SHELTON SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS

ATTENTION: High School Graduates & College Students

It is time to apply for the William Shelton Memorial Scholarship. The William Shelton Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 whereby gifts and memorials may be given to support the education needs of church and community members.

If you are interested in being considered for this educational support for the year 2008-2009, please submit your letter of application by June 30, 2008.

Your letter of application should include the following:

1. Current address.

2. College you plan to attend.

3. Status (full time or part time student).

4. A brief summary as to why you feel this scholarship would benefit you.

5. Any other information about yourself which you would like to share with the Scholarship Committee.

Applications may be submitted by a third party for a given student; however, only one application will be considered for the same applicant per year (July 1 through June 30). You may send your application directly to Judy Macemore, Chairperson, 360l Beroth Circle, Pfafftown, NC 27040 or to the Church Office.

Applications will be reviewed only once a year. So please submit your application by June 30, so you may be considered.

May God bless each one of you as you continue your education.

Judy Macemore,

Chairperson, Scholarship Committee

LAITY SERVICE AWARDS

The Laity Service Award Program is an honors program of the Conference on Laity that encourages each local church to recognize outstanding service given by members of a congregation. Those chosen were recognized at the W-S District Prayer Breakfast on April 5 and will be recognized for their outstanding service at the Gathering of the Laity at Lake Junaluska on August 16, 2008.

Brookstown’s winners are John Jameson and Benita VanWinkle.

John is a devoted father. His family is always in church and always on time. John enjoys teaching middle-schoolers and adults. He is always available to teach either group. John serves as the Finance/Stewardship Chairperson. He has a passion for stewardship. John’s leadership last year focused on how valuable our input and service is to the church. He keeps the congregation focused on the complete picture of stewardship.

Benita VanWinkle has been an active member of Brookstown since she joined. She leads the music during the early service. She has chaired the Community Festival and is in her second year as Chair of the Council on Ministries. As a youth parent, Benita regularly assisted the Youth Director and has accompanied the MYF on missions trips. Presently, Benita is serving as Youth Director. She regularly makes cards for soldiers and has chaired a Sawtooth event at the Mall that made cards for soldiers. She is also very involved with the Habitat for Humanity Birdfest.

JUST DESSERTS

By Roger Alan Olson

Cooking up some angel food,

With halos for dessert,

Takes a heady chef indeed

And prayers couldn’t hurt.

First you take two spoons of trust

And place them in a bowl,

Then you mix in happiness

To lighten up the soul.

Next, a dash of pleasant smiles,

A cup of genuine care,

A healthy shake of charity,

Enough for all to share.

Stir in all the love you can,

Warm it in your heart,

Keep it fresh with tenderness,

Then serve it a la carte.

AARP POWERFUL TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS

Balance Your Life

Do you provide caregiver help for an older relative or friend? This educational program is designed to provide you with the tools you need to take care of yourself. Each course consists of consecutive weekly sections. The course includes a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook. Refreshments are provided.

You will learn to:

· reduce stress,

· improve self-confidence,

· better communicate your feelings,

· balance your life,

· increase your ability to make tough decisions, and

· locate helpful resources.

The classes will be held on May 16, 23, 30 and June 6th at Clemmons UMC from 10 AM-12:30 PM. Registration is required! You may call The Shepherd’s Center at 748-0217 for more information or to register.

WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY to Ellen Gough and her family following the death of Buddy Gough on April 15.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Cassie Kiser has won first place and Shanna Jarrett placed second in Photography in the State Competition of Skills, USA for schools. Cassie and Shana are students at Reagan Senior High School.

Cassie is now eligible for the national competition to be held in Kansas City, Missouri in June. Good luck, Cassie.

A RETIREMENT CELEBRATION

You are invited by the Winston-Salem District Superintendency Committee to a

Retirement Celebration honoring Dr. J. Hurley Thomas, III on Friday, May 30, 2008.

Greet Hurley and Mary at 6 PM.

Dinner will be at 6:30 PM at Maple Springs United Methodist Church

2569 Reynolda Road

Winston-Salem, NC.

$15/person

R.S.V.P. by May 14to BUMC church office.

Brookstown youth are making it happen in May! How? They are working:

for Habitat for Humanity on May 4 by helping clean up after the ‘Birdfest’ party.
at Riverwood, a therapeutic riding center for special needs adults and children, on the 17th, and
having a combined car wash, BBQ and yard sale on May 10. If you do spring cleaning, please donate your leftovers to us for the yard sale!

Danny Duzit scrubbing pads are for sale for $3 (see Kay in the office or one of our youth) so stock up on these while the supplies last. Every little bit helps us get one more mile down the road!

Mark your calendars now so that you can join us or cheer us on with these activities.

In April, our youth group planted flowers in the rain, visited a Labyrinth, made dog cookies to help the Humane Society, attended a live Christian rock concert and heard Andy Lambert speak about eating a donkey’s head. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? It really was!

If you know any youth who would like to join us, send them our way!

Congratulations to Cassie Kiser and Shana Jarrett for winning first and second place in the Skills USA contest for outstanding Photography! Cassie will be going to the national competition in June, and we wish her all the best with her talents. Way to go, girls!

Our youth are moving closer and closer to Birmingham with their fundraising efforts and hard work. We have a drawing of a bus in the Fellowship Hall to mark our progress, and every week we are getting a little bit closer to the goal! Thank you for your continued support of our efforts!

With all of the fundraising efforts that have been going on (selling Krispy Kreme cards, and serving multiple dinners at the church) I just want to take a moment to look at WHY WE ARE HERE. God has called us to be HIS; He wants us to love each other, to support each other, to care for each other. As this month progresses, we will be busy with lots of fun things, but let us not forget He will provide all that we need (2 Corinthians 9:8) and that HE is who we need to seek.

Thanks to all who have come to help us, support us, and cheer us on. We love you all and appreciate the support! Thanks to the parent drivers and helpers, thanks to Wayne Burton for helping organize our workday at the church, to Cecil Mock for the pizza, and to all who make our lives so blessed. The summer is getting closer by the minute…

In His Love,

Benita VanWinkle, Youth Director

LAY LEADER LINKS

Grace and Peace to all from our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!

On Sunday, May 11, 2008, we Christians will celebrate Pentecost. I use the word “celebrate” versus “observe” because this is the day that the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, indwelled all believers. Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, His spirit descended and came to live in all believers! Church, this event alone is reason to celebrate! We should also celebrate because this was a fulfillment of prophesy (Joel 2:28-29) and promised by Jesus (John 14:16 & 15:26). There are many works of the Holy Spirit I could zero in on but the one I feel led to lift is Sanctification.

Sanctification is the process of becoming Christ-like. To be sanctified means “to be set apart.” We are set apart from sin to take on the mind of Christ and carry out His will. We cannot do this on our own (working in the flesh); this is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. This is the Holy Spirit attempting to make us holy (“to set apart”) and spiritual to reflect the character of God. Yes, this requires effort on our part (obedience), but the Holy Spirit will give us the desire and help us to change (2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification is threefold: First, we were sanctified through justification – we are forgiven and set apart to God in salvation. Second, we are constantly being sanctified – we are set apart from sin as we grow in God’s grace in our lives. Third, we will be completely sanctified through glorification when we go to the Lord in the rapture or death; then we will be completely without sin!

God is so good! Remember, God for us in the divine intention: the Father; God with us in the divine invasion: the Son; and God in us in the divine indwelling: the Holy Spirit.

I encourage all of us to read and study this glorious event called Pentecost (Leviticus 23:15, 16 & Acts 2). Our lives should never be an observance but always a celebration to God and of God for all He has done and is doing and will do.

Grace and Peace,

Wayne Biddix,

Servant

HOPE DU JOUR IS COMING!

Tuesday, May 6^th, is a good time to eat out. Why? Ten percent of the proceeds from participating restaurants will be given to Crisis Control Ministry. You will benefit from eating a meal out, and Crisis Control will also benefit. The complete list of restaurants will be in the Winston-Salem Journal.

Hanes Mall Promotion - purchase food inside the mall or at a restaurant in the mall perimeter. Take your receipt to the mall customer service kiosk or to the Crisis Control display booth in the Food Court. Your will receive a free snack coupon and Hanes Mall will donate 10% of your food receipt to Crisis Control.

Sociale Make and Take Gourmet - will donate 10% of your total purchase to Crisis Control during the entire month of May. Use the promo code CCM when making your appointment to cook.

Go to www.hopedujour.org for the most up-to-date list.

GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

Well...maybe not so mysterious, but at least wonderful ways. It is my very great pleasure to announce the designation of Rev. James T. "Chip" Webb as our pastor, effective June 29, 2008. Rev. Webb comes to us from Love's United Methodist Church in Walkertown, where he has served for the last seven years. His prior appointment also lasted seven years, so he has certainly demonstrated his ability to connect effectively with the local congregation.

Rev. "Chip" is fifty-two years old, and is married to Kathy. They have three girls, Katherine, Kirsten, and Kelsey Grace. Katherine is a high school senior, Kirsten is a rising senior, and Kelsey Grace is in the third grade. Chip is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and received his Master of Divinity degree from Duke. His younger brother is also a United Methodist minister.

All indications are that Rev. Webb will bring us a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and renewed energy. When the process for this appointment first began in December, and our discussions were very informal and preliminary, Dr. Thomas made the statement, "I know exactly who you need...Chip Webb would be perfect for Brookstown". However, neither Rev. Webb nor his congregation had requested a move. I'm sure the Lord's hand has guided this series of events, and we will be blessed by his ministry and presence with us.

It is equally important to note Roland and Emilie Barnhardt’s contributions and the wonderful times we've shared with them and their girls. I am convinced that Roland is leaving us a stronger and more forward-thinking congregation, and I hope you will join me in expressing your gratitude over the next few weeks we have left together.

As of this writing, the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and other key leaders of the church will meet with Rev. Webb in a few days. We will make further plans for the full membership to have a chance to meet and greet Chip, Kathy, and the rest of the family during the month of May. Please watch for more information about upcoming events, and plan to come. Also, as you talk to your friends and family about these important days in the life of the church, encourage them to come and meet Chip as he begins his ministry with us. This can be a time of great renewal and growth for us. Continue to pray that God will guide our decisions and bless our efforts to be in ministry and witness here at Brookstown.

In His love...Stan Crews, PPRC Chairman

PLEASE HELP UMAR!

(With a donation of Towels and Wash Cloths)

All 22 UMAR Group homes (6 residents each) are in serious need of:

bath towels
wash cloths
dish towels and
dish rags.

New, unused towels and wash cloths will be accepted at the UMAR central office in Huntersville (9800 Kincey Avenue, Suite 190) or call 888-862-8627 to arrange pick-up of donated items.

If you prefer to send a cash donation for UMAR to purchase towels and wash cloths, mail your donation to UMAR, P O Box 1558, Huntersville, NC 28070 and designate “towels and wash cloths” in the memo line of your check. Thank You.

MINUTES OF THE CHARGE CONFERENCE MEETING April 20, 2008 7 PM

Wayne Burton, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, moved that the church purchase the property located at 3560 Grandview Club Road, Pfafftown, NC to serve as the parsonage for the church.

The motion included the approval of a purchase price not to exceed $240,000. Roy Mendenhall seconded this motion.

This motion was approved by a counted vote of thirty-two (32) for the purchase and three (3) against it.

David DiMarco,

Recording Secretary

BIBLE STUDY

The Sunday evening Bible study beginning May 11^th at 7 PM will feature the Book of Acts. Consider joining us for another educational and inspirational study.

BEACON BITS Roland Barnhardt

On Earth Day, I received this email:

"There has never been a time on Earth like we see today. What we need are more ways to experience our interconnectedness - it is a precursor to deep love. So in this quickening light, with the dawn of each new day, let us look for love. Let us no longer struggle. Let us ever become who we most want to be. As we begin to be who we truly are, the world will be a better place." --John Denver

It seems so simple that love could be the answer to so much. Most of us have spent our entire lives believing that without pain there is no gain; and so even when we're told that love is the way, we brush it aside and continue on with the fight, never realizing that it is our own persistence that struggle is the only way that keeps the world in a state of turmoil and woe. Love really is the answer. And when we finally surrender to it, on that sweet day, then love will gently and effortlessly take us to that better place we long to be.

What good thoughts are included, including the line, It seems so simple that love could be the answer to so much. Our task is to learn what love really is and how we may best be guided by it in every relationship and circumstance.

A calendar in my office offers Paul’s word in 1 Corinthians 13:13, And now abideth faith, hope, and love with the thought, These are the rich gifts of God our Father to us … But they are ours only as we take them into our very lives.

New life in this community of faith is stirring with all needing to be done in preparation for the upcoming change of pastors. As John Denver, Paul, and an old song have it, Keep the love light glowing! And, I believe, all will be well with everyone.