North Raleigh United Methodist Church

North Raleigh United Methodist Church
Basic information
Location	Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Affiliation	United Methodist Church
District	North Carolina Annual Conference
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Episcopal polity
Status	Active
Leadership	Bishop Alfred Wesley Gwinn Jr.
Website	www.nrumc.org

North Raleigh United Methodist Church is a United Methodist church in northern Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America located on Honeycutt Road.^[1] It is a member of the North Carolina Annual Conference and is under the jurisdiction of Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn. The ministers of the church are Rev. David S. Clift, Rev. Joe Wilburn and Rev. Mark Tolley. The minister for youth and young adults is Lawrence Yoo. Director of Music Ministries is Michael J. Glasgow, Associate Director of Music Ministries is Kathy Aspenwall, and Director of Contemporary Music Ministry is Bruce Smith. Director of Children's Outreach Minstries is Patricia Emerick, Director of Children's Education Ministries is Rachel Probst. ^[2]

History

Before North Raleigh United Methodist Church had been established, the Raleigh Board of Missions had considered establishing a new church in the North Raleigh area. In the spring of 1971, several laymen met and discussed the area's need for a church. The first gathering consisted of thirteen different families. The meeting place for the church became Monk Chapel, on the grounds of the Methodist Home For Children. Four rotating ministers were assigned by the local bishop to preside over the church. Soon church organizations, including the United Methodist Women & Methodist Men Organization and the Council of Ministries, were installed. In June 1972, the Reverend Sidney Huggins was assigned by the bishop as the first permanent minister of the church. The congregation purchased seven acres of land on Honeycutt Road in Raleigh with financial assistance from the Raleigh Board of Missions, North Carolina Conference, the North Carolina Ten Dollar Club, and the Duke Endowment Fund. The first sanctuary was built in September 1972. A second sanctuary was completed in March 1983 and the Education building was completed in 1987. The current sanctuary was dedicated in February 2006. The church grounds now include the staff offices, sanctuary, fellowship hall, music suite, kitchen, classrooms, conference room, youth center and education building. The Senior Pastor is the Reverend David S. Clift, who arrived at NRUMC in June 2007.^[3]

Sunday Services

NRUMC offers Sunday Morning services at these times:

• 8:30am Traditional Service (with Senior Pastor, David S. Clift)
• 9:45am Contemporary Worship Service (with Associate Pastor, Joe Wilburn)
• 10:00am Abbreviated Traditional Service (with Senior Pastor, David S. Clift)
• 11:15am Traditional Service (with Senior Pastor, David S. Clift)
• 11:15am Youth Worship Service (with Youth Minister, Lawrence Yoo)

Church Interior

Sanctuary

The church's sanctuary has many stained glass windows, which were paid for by parishioners as gifts to the church. The sanctuary (including chancel area) sits approximately 600, with wooden pews. The front of the sanctuary contains the altar completed with an altar cross, a baptismal font, and the pulpit. Behind the pulpit and font are the minister's and acolyte's chairs, and at the sides of the altar are altar candles. Behind the minister's chairs, is the choir loft, Kawai grand piano and Allen organ (hybrid pipe/digital). Above the choir is the largest stained glass window, flanked by organ pipes on either side. The right and left sides of the chancel area accommodate two handbell-choir setups. Behind the chancel is the sacristy, where the elements for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist are kept.

Church windows

North Raleigh United Methodist Church is well known for its elaborate stained glass windows. The main window panels above the altar in the chancel contains paintings of the Resurrection of Christ with Christ, holding the Rod of Aaron, appearing to St. Mary Magdalene. To the left of this painting is one of Christ's empty tomb, and to the right the Road to Emmaus appearance. On the left wall of the church are also paintings of Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Binding of Isaac, Moses carrying the Ten Commandments, and King David with the Ark of the Covenant. On the right wall are paintings of the Nativity of Christ, the Baptism of Christ, the Samaritan Woman at the Well, Christ teaching the children, and Palm Sunday.

Music Ministry

The music ministry is composed of vocal choirs, handbell and chime choirs, and a contemporary band, plus orchestras for special services. The church has an extensive music program, and its Director Michael Glasgow is an award-winning composer, and conducts festivals and workshops throughout the country.^[4] Three staff musicians oversee a program of approximately 200 participants, with many volunteer assistants and directors.

• THE CHANCEL CHOIR is the anchor of the traditional services. SATB choir with approx. 60 voices.
• HIGH NOTES CHAMBER CHOIR is an auditioned advanced subset of the Chancel Choir, approx. 12 voices.
• SILVER CHORDS is an SATB choir for senior adults, approx. 25 voices.
• EXALTATION! is the band for contemporary worship, with approx. 12 voices and 10 instruments.
• RAINBOW RINGERS is the beginning-to-intermediate adult handbell ensemble.
• NORTH RALEIGH RINGERS is the intermediate-to-advanced adult handbell ensemble.
• REVELATION RINGERS is the highly advanced adult handbell ensemble.
• SILVER BELLS is a handbell ensemble for senior adults.^[5]
• CHERUB CHOIR is for children ages 4 and 5.
• JUBILATION CHOIR is for children grades 1 and 2.
• ALLELUIA CHOIR is for children in grades 3 - 5.
• IMPACT SINGERS is for youth in grades 6 - 9.
• BELLEPLATES is a chime ensemble for children in grades 1 and 2.
• KIDCHIMES is a chime ensemble for children in grades 3 - 5.
• 8501 B.C. is a handbell ensemble for youth in grades 6 - 12.^[6]

The church houses a combination digital/pipe organ, made by Allen Organ Company. It also has a Kawai piano, and more than six octaves of Malmark handbells and chimes.

Youth Ministry

The youth department is subdivided into two individual youth groups, separated between high school and middle school age groups. The high school youth group went up to New York City in July 2009 on a mission trip, where they were hosted by the United Methodist Church of Saint Paul and Saint Andrew. In the summer of 2010, both youth groups embarked to Nashville, Tennessee on a mission trip, where they were led by Students Living A Mission. The youth group is a regular attendee of StudentLife Camp in Cleveland, TN. Lawrence Yoo is the current lead Youth Minister.

• IMPACT Middle School Youth Group meets at 6:30pm every Wednesday.
• REFUGE High School Youth Group meets at 6:30pm every Sunday.
• CONNECT Youth Worship Service starts at 11:15am every Sunday.

Organizations

The Church currently hosts pre-school classes, the Boy Scouts of America Troop 318.^[7], and is an active member of Stephen Ministries.

References

1. ^ http://northcarolina.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,2454904,n,north%20raleigh%20united%20methodist%20church.cfm
2. ^ http://www.nrumc.org
3. ^ http://www.nrumc.org/history.html
4. ^ http://www.michaeljglasgow.com
5. ^ http://www.nrumc.org/worship/adult_music.html
6. ^ http://www.nrumc.org/worship/kids_music.html
7. ^ http://events.triangle.com/raleigh-nc/venues/show/999645-north-raleigh-united-methodist-church