Ministries

Prayer Chain

Efland United Methodist Church takes seriously the call to be in prayer for and with one another.  We share prayer concerns each week during our time of worship, as well as within our small groups.  We recognize, however, that concerns often come up in between these times.  Therefore, we have developed a prayer chain that allows a concern to be voiced and prayed for every day of the week.  If you have a prayer request, please call Pastor Cindy Lister and she will activate the prayer chain.  Her number is 919-732-6406.

United Methodist Women

Our Efland UMW meet every third Monday of each month at 7 pm.  We do our best to adhere to the Purpose of United Methodist Women which states:  "The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ;  to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church."  Our doors are open to any woman that feels led to come serve God with a group of fellow sisters-in-Christ.  We started the Prayer Chain as a form of fast communication when someone is in need of prayers in a critical time.  There is power in prayer.  UMW is committed to being prayer warriors.  This is evident in the way we participate each year in having a prayer partner whom we pray diligently for throughout the year. 

United Methodist Men

Welcome to Efland United Methodist Men's group. The mission of the Methodist Men is to assist men in knowing Jesus Christ, to serve him, to grow spiritually and seek daily to do his will. We as a group strive to get men involved with the church, to help out our community neighbors and to do God's will.  We meet on the 3rd Sunday of the month, with some great fellowship starting around 7:15am and lasting till the meeting is over.  We invite all men and your guest to each of our meetings. We have a great breakfast, great fellowship and getting to know Jesus Christ. So come join us at an Efland Methodist Men's Meeting. It's a great way to begin your Sunday morning.

United Methodist Youth

The youth of Efland United Methodist Church welcome you!!

Our Jr. Youth (grades 6^th – 8^th) and Sr. Youth (grades 9^th – 12^th) meet weekly September through June from 4:00 – 5:30 PM.

Meetings consist of devotions, prayer, the sharing or joys and concerns, snacks, and lots of fun and fellowship (work too). Our youth group participates in local mission work, such as visiting people, working at the church, volunteering at Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Burlington, and raising money for Orange Congregations in Mission in Hillsborough. We attend lots of conference events like Pilgrimage, Summer Breakaway and Annual Conference. We are very active in the Burlington District, which includes attending Fall Rally at Camp Chestnut Ridge, the Lock-In at the Burlington YMCA, the Canned Food Drive in Graham, and the Spring Rally at Cedar Rock Park in Burlington. We also participate in community events with other local Churches at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, or whenever the need arises!

We strive to learn and grow together in Christian Love and share our love for Jesus with all we encounter. We have a girls dance team and we enjoy worshiping through Praise songs!! Our youth conduct the worship services in our church at least twice a year, from start to finish!

We would love to have you join us for worship at 11:00 on Sundays, and at Youth Group on Sundays at 4:00.

The Bible Bees

The Bible Bees is a group of children aging up to the 5th grade.  During the school year, we meet every Sunday afternoon for a time of games, music and fellowship.  Our Summer version of the Bible Bees is called "Summer Buzz".  During the month of July, we meet one morning each week for fellowship.  For the Summer of 2007, our theme was "It's Cool to be a Christian".  We had an awesome response from the children.  We will continue this theme throughout the year. 

One of our main goals is to teach our children the importance of reaching out to others.  One of our favorite ways is by making cards for the sick, the elderly and the shut-ins.  People who receive cards always say what a blessing it is to be remembered.

A recent trip to some local nursing homes was also very rewarding for everyone involved.  The children visited several rooms.  They sang songs, passed out cards, gave hugs to some and smiles to everyone.  What an experience!!

Our church is truly blessed with a bounty of wonderful, loving children.  They are our future -- anyone can see we have a lot to look forward to. Come join us.

Bible Study

Small group Bible studies are offered throughout the year.  They generally meet on Thursday nights at 7:00 P.M. 

Missions

Efland United Methodist Church participates in several mission projects throughout the year.  At Christmas time, we assemble shoeboxes for the Samaritan's Purse Ministry.  We also collect food items each month to take to Orange Congregations in Missions food bank.  As the need arises, we collect items for flood buckets to be sent through the North Carolina Conference and UMCOR to areas that have been devastated by floods and hurricanes.  We are always listening and attentive to the needs within our community and do whatever is needed to help our neighbors in need.

Sunday School (for all ages)

Efland United Methodist Church gathers each week for Sunday School at 9:50 A.M.  We offer two classes for adults, a class for our youth and a rotation model of learning for our children.  We invite you to come join us as we study and learn from God's word together.

Vacation Bible School

This Summer at EUMC, we experienced another great Vacation Bible School -- "Lift Off!  Soaring to New Heights with God".  Each evening began with Skylar, the sky squirrel and Scoop, a reporter for the Hot Air Ballyhoo newspaper.  We had a flight plan each night, "I will follow, I will trust, I will listen, I will repent and I will serve".  We sang, we gave to others by bringing money for school supplies for the children in Zimbabwa.  We gave over $400.  We laughed, prayed, played and made crafts.  It was a great week for children as well as adults.  Our church was alive with the wonderful sounds of children learning of God's wonderful love in many different ways!  We're already planning next year's Vacation Bible School.  Come join us the last week in June, 2008.

Evangelism/Outreach

Our evangelism team works hard to follow Jesus' great commission: to make disciples for Christ.  They have established visitation teams who reach out to those who are disconnected from the church and those who are unchurched.  Our church family helps by making the team aware of those that fall into these categories.  Once names have been given, teams of two go out to make the visits, taking with them a church mug and a brochure which tell more about the ministries of Efland UMC.  The teams also reach out through written correspondence, sending notes and cards to invite people to come or to return to church.  If you would like to be part of this evangelistic outreach, please call 919-732-6406 and let Pastor Cindy know.  The evangelism team also asks that all church members be part of this outreach by considering FRAN.....Friends, Relatives, Associates (work and/or social) and Neighbors..... who might be in need of a visit or a note.

Harvest Festival

For almost sixty years, Efland United Methodist Church has celebrated the end of the harvest season with a festival of food, fellowship and hard work as a means of supporting our church.

Our first recognized Harvest Festival was held in the last 1940's in the old Efland School Gymnasium, affectionately called the "tin can".  Brunswick stew was served and items were auctioned, which included a calf and a pig.

In 1952, a fellowship building was added at our church and the festival was held there until the "hut" was no longer large enough to accommodate the number of people who came to celebrate with us.  At that time, our menu included chicken and dumplings as well as brunswick stew.  Auction items included crafts, baked goods, quilts and handcrafted items.

In the 1980's we outgrew the hut, and since that time, we have held our Harvest Festival in Efland-Cheeks School cafeteria.  Through the years the items brought for sale have not changed a great deal though the last livestock items was sold in 1977.  The menu has always included brunswick stew, and barbeque was added the in the last decade or two.  Our barbeque and our stew have become well known throughout our community and are in much demand.  We now accept pre-orders for both to be picked up on festival day.  Dinner is served from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in the Efland-Cheeks cafeteria and the auction begins at 7:30 p.m.

Celebrating at Harvest Festival is a time of hard work, wonderful fellowship and good food.  On the first Saturday in November you can find Efland Methodists of all ages with one goal in mind...giving their best to make this our very best Harvest Festival.