Housing & Homeless Offering:
Cokes Chapel UMC will collect the North Georgia Conference Housing and Homeless Offering on February 23^rd.  100% of this offering goes to ministries serving our neighbors experiencing poverty.  See insert for more information. 
Please prayerfully consider supporting this important work on February 23^rd.

Ash Wednesday
Plan on joining us for Ash Wednesday services this Wednesday, February 26^th at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
 
Cokes Chapel Childcare Center Volunteer Opportunity:
The Childcare Center is looking for members of the congregation and/or community to come speak to the children about their current and/or past jobs.  The children love to interact and ask questions. There are various opportunities and time slots available the weeks of February 24^th-28^th and March 2^nd-6^th.  If you’d like to volunteer to speak to the children.  Contact kmccoy@cokeschapelchildcare.com or call the office at 770-253-6414.
 

Outreach:
The Outreach Committee is requesting donations of pop top ravioli cups for the Backpack Buddies food drive.  Donations may be dropped off in the Narthex or Worship Center.  Monetary donations designated for Backpack Buddies will also be accepted.  Please contact Jessica Askew at jaskew40@att.net with any questions.

Carma McCallie and Mike Kimbell invite their
Cokes Chapel family to join them on Saturday,
February 29, 2020 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon
as they exchange wedding vows.  Reception
immediately following in the Contemporary
Worship Center.

 
To the congregation from Committee on Finance:
Designated Funds are funds set aside from the General Fund for a specific use or purpose, such as our current Labyrinth project. 
 
If you are designating funds to a special group (i.e. Youth Ministry), event (i.e. Angel Tree), memorial fund (i.e. John Hagen memorial stone), mission (i.e. Missionaries) or special offering (i.e. new carpet or landscaping), you MUST write the title of the group, event, mission, etc. at the bottom of your check or designate the funds with title written on the front of an offering envelope with your check or cash inside.  All funds that are not designated will go into general funds and used for the operation of our ministries.
 
Boy Scouts
 The Boy Scouts would like to share the following information from their national organization with the church family.
 
Today, the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue to carry out Scouting’s mission for years to come. 
 
It is important to know that Scouting programs will continue.  Regular unit meetings and activities, other Scouting adventures and countless services projects will take place as usual.
 
For additional information see www.BSArestructuring.org.

Labyrinth:

Dear friends,
My name is Jackson Smith.  I am a Life Scout working toward my Eagle Scout rank.  A big step in this process is the Eagle project, and I am looking for help to complete it. 
My project is building a prayer labyrinth at Cokes Chapel UMC in Sharpsburg GA.  A prayer labyrinth is a form of meditation through movement.  It is a winding path that as you get closer to the center, you get closer to God.
This prayer labyrinth will add a new worship ministry to our church and community.  It will also be registered in the National Labyrinth registry with the Labyrinth Society.  However, building the labyrinth is a large and fairly costly project.  This is where you can help.  I am seeking monetary donations to help me build it.  Any amount would be greatly appreciated, and unused money, if any, will be donated to Cokes Chapel.  Please send checks or cash to:
                                              Cokes Chapel UMC
                                              4096 Lower Fayetteville Rd
                                              Sharpsburg, GA 30277
 
Write “labyrinth” in the memo section of the check and it will go into a designated church holding account. 

I am very excited about this project because of its uniqueness and benefit to the church and the community.  Thank you so much for helping me accomplish my goal, even if it’s just by giving me your time. 
                                             

Yours in Christ,                                                                                                                 
Jackson Smith

P.S.  If you have an interest in labyrinths, you can find where one is located near you at labyrinthlocator.com.  It is a worldwide registry of labyrinths.

Valentines Dinner:

Facilities Maintenance
Please be aware that SPR has eliminated the Facilities Maintenance position for Cokes Capel and has requested that trustees fulfill repairs and maintenance with volunteers whenever possible.  If you are a member or friend of Cokes Chapel, that would be willing to donate your skills (repair work, landscape or gardening) to the church in helping to maintain our buildings or beautify the grounds, please contact a trustee.  If you become aware of a repair that is necessary, Trustee Lee Harrison has volunteered to take the incoming reports.  He can be reached by phone or email:  Lee Harrison, mlee.harrison@gmail.com, cell: 678-591-4246.

 
NEWS FROM OUR MISSIONARY, Caleb Earle, From Cape Verde, Africa:

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones! Praying for you all as we enter this new year that God would show you more of Himself and that you would find more and more peace as you serve Him this year.
We just arrived in Cape Verde and are settling in well. We spent the first 3 months in Italy, as you know, working with several different ministry projects in the area.
As we settle into life in Africa, pray for us in these areas:
               > for our transition, as Africa is opposite in every way from Italy.  People are open to God, the church is growing and it hot here! Italy has been super cold, folks difficult to reach.  Pray for our wisdom.
               > courage as new projects move students’ out of their comfort zones.      
               > as I begin preparation for Camp in Italy, for volunteers and strength. 
Once again, thank you so much for your generosity and being willing to support my ministry here in prayer and financially! You are making a difference! Looking forward to being with you when I come back in July! Happy New Year!  Caleb
 
for complete message and details visit December Ministry Update:
https://mailchi.mp/d398d5f8ad57/december-ministry-update
 
 
UMW WOMEN’S RETREAT
We have once again been invited to join HARMONY GROVE UMC FOR their UMW WOMEN’S RETREAT at Lake Junaluska, MARCH 6-8, 2020.  This year, Coke’s Chapel’s Kim Reindl will be the Retreat Leader.
 
Theme:  “You Are God’s Masterpiece”
 
Ephesians: 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”
 
Where:  Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
 
When:  Program begins at 6:15 pm, Friday, March 6^th and ends at noon on Sunday, March 8^th.
 
(Check-in after 3:00 pm on Friday, have dinner on your own, and be ready at 6:15 for fellowship, inspiration, and reflection!)
 
Speaker:  Our own Kim Reindl. 
 
Cost:  Includes two nights lodging, study materials, and four meals (three on Saturday plus Sunday breakfast)
 
Options:  Private room with meals $320
               Semi-private room with meals: $210 per person
               Triple room with meals:  $185 per person
               Quad room with meals:  $172 per person
 
To Register:  Contact Vivian Snyder.  Rooms are limited so register ASAP!  Registration Deadline:  February 2^nd!
 
Please contact Harmony Grove UMC’s Carolyn Swoford: 770-923-8687 or Lynn Halls: 678-438-3906 for additional information.
 
More information at:
 
https://harmonygroveumc.com/ladies-retreat/