September 03, 2008
www.northfulton.com
AUMC welcomes Vinebranch worship leader
Stephanie Newton has joined the ministry staff at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church as Worship Leader of the Vinebranch contemporary service.
Newton has been in music ministry in the Atlanta area for 14 years. Last year, she recorded her first solo album of original material, entitled "Fairytale Life," in Nashville with Creative Soul Records.
Newton's CD openly displays a woman exploring her faith while navigating the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood. It's the recurring theme Stephanie jokingly calls, "desperate Christian housewives." But all joking aside, what she reveals is the tender heart of a woman desperate for God. With maturity and poise, Stephanie displays a clever sense of humor and engaging wit as she offers an encouraging response to many of life's questions while embracing her own frailty.
Newton said she is excited to have joined the ministry team of AFUMC. She brings with her a passion for contemporary Christian music coupled with a commitment to service in the local church.
"The sense of belonging that one receives from being a part of a faith community is more important now than ever," Newton says. "Many in the Atlanta area, including me, are transplants and don't have family here. It's easy to feel anonymous in this large metro area. The church provides community, identity and can become an extended family. Coming together weekly to share our lives, our faith and to worship God is a powerful thing. I am so grateful to be a small part of that experience as Vinebranch worship leader."
Newton will be performing a concert including songs from "Fairytale Life" and contemporary worship music on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 6:45 p.m. in the sanctuary at AFUMC. This concert is part of the kickoff celebration for AFUMC's Wednesday evening fall activities.
The Vinebranch contemporary service, led by Newton and the Vinebranch worship band, occurs at 11 a.m. on Sundays in AFUMC's Trinity Hall. AFUMC also offers traditional worship each Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. For more information about AFUMC, visit www.afumc.org. For more information about Newton and her music, visit www.stephanienewton.com.
'Mary Heart, Martha World'
Author to speak at conference
Noted Christian author, Joanna Weaver, will be the keynote speaker at a Women's Conference at Roswell United Methodist Church on Saturday, Oct.18.
Weaver was voted the Most Promising New Writer of 1997 at the Mount Herman Writer's Conference. Her desire to write biblical stories and her fascination with Mary and Martha in the Bible led her to write "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World," which was first published in 2000.
A pastor's wife for more than 25 years, Weaver speaks around the country on topics close to women's hearts. Like every woman, she struggles with balancing being a wife, mother, professional, and a child of God. She bases her study on the Bible and uses scripture to bring home her points.
At the conference, Weaver will provide a deeper understanding of how much people are loved by God - both Marys and Marthas alike. She will discuss that we are all invited to sit at Jesus' feet and relate how she carves out quiet time to spend with the Lord.
"It is a special honor for us at RUMC to have Joanna Weaver speak with our women of the church as she only visits six to eight churches a year," said Leigh Ann Launius, chairwoman of The Wellspring Women's Ministry at RUMC. "I can't wait to 'sit at her feet' and hear her stories of the women in the Bible and how much Jesus loved them."
The conference is from 8:15 a.m. to noon in the RUMC sanctuary, 814 Mimosa Blvd., in historic Roswell.
Registration is required for the free event: http://www.rumc.com/women. A book signing will take place after the presentations.
Weaver has written articles for Focus on the Family, Guideposts, Home Life, Aspire, and The Evangel. The Weavers live in Montana and have three children.
|
