Technology business newsletter (2

Central United Methodist Church
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 494
RICHMOND,
IND. 47374
1425 East Main Street
Richmond, Indiana 47374
Address Service Requested
Ministers: The Congregation
Missionary to Zambia: Betty Tshala
Secretaries: Denise Ebacher and Jessica Denton
Dir. of Youth Ministry: Leslie Bolser
Dir. of Children’s Ministry: Sheri Koyles
Dir. of Preschool Min. & Building and
Grounds: Charlie Black
Assist. Director of Music: Chris Rogan
Director of Music: Ron Matson
Associate Pastor: Curtis Banker
Lead Pastor: Kerry O’Brien
A WORD FROM PASTOR KERRY:
GREAT
Sunday Services: 8:30 and 10:50 a.m.
Sunday School: 9:40 a.m.
Phone: 765-962-8543
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.richmondcumc.com
Facebook: Central United Methodist Church Richmond, IN
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. and 1:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M.
THE LAMPLIGHTER—APRIL 2015
Our Mission:
Making new
disciples of Jesus
Christ for the
transformation
of the world.
INFORMATION SUBMITTED FOR CHURCH
PUBLICATION
Do you have information you would like to
have printed in the Church bulletin or
newsletter? Turn in to the office in writing.
Deadline for the Sunday Bulletin each week is
Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. Deadline for the
Lamplighter is always the 15th of the month.
Remember, what you submit may need to be
edited. Thank you!
CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH—APRIL 2015
1425 EAST MAIN STREET — RICHMOND, IN — 47374-4372
Our Vision:
Building a community
where your family
thrives because Christ
is Lord.
This is my last newsletter article as your lead pastor at Central. I’ve been wrestling with
what final thought I can share. Although this thought may not be a “wow” to you, I believe
it is vitally important for you to understand this thought about God, his Church, and the
future of Central UMC.
God is great.
Okay, that is no earth shattering revelation. But I think sometimes we forget this
simple, profound truth: God really and truly is great. As in great big. As in great love and
great forgiveness. As in great faithfulness. As in great in majesty and power. As in great
scope and in purpose.
Not only is God great, God created his Church for great things. World changing things.
Life changing things. Soul saving things. Eternally significant things.
Sometimes, we seem to forget how big and how great God is, and how big and how great
is the Church that he established. Sometimes we act as if God is a little god we call on
when we need help after we’ve tried everything else. Sometimes we are so concerned with
our own needs and the needs of our small circle of family, friends, and acquaintances that
we completely forget the greatness of God and the great scope God has given his Church.
Sometimes we treat God and his Church as not-so-great. As pretty small.
We must always remember that God is great and so is the purpose of his Church.
We must dream God-sized dreams. We must reach out with God-sized love. We must
have God-sized faith in the God of greatest majesty and power. And we must remember
that God has given us--you, the Central congregation--great purpose. Consider no little
purpose, and always do even the smallest act with the greatest of love.
If you’re caught up wanting a god who just helps you and the people you care about,
you’re worshiping the wrong god, a too-small god. Your “us” is too small, as a colleague of
mine once put it. In the Lord’s Prayer, if you only pray for yourself and your family and
friends when you pray “give us this day” and “forgive us our trespasses” and don’t also pray
for our community and our world, then you need to get a much bigger “us” in your heart
and in your mind.
We must humbly, prayerfully, heart-achingly pray for the greater things. Nathaniel, at
the end of the first chapter of John’s gospel, got caught up in seeing small. He was wowed
when Jesus saw him coming from far away. What was the response from Jesus? “You will
see greater things than these. …you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:50-51, NRSV)
Church, it’s time to make sure to keep the greater things squarely in the forefront.
When we recapture that call to God’s great purpose, Central and other congregations will
return to the greatness for which we were made, by the power of our great God.
You hold a special place in my heart and my life, and will remain in my prayers. May
God bless you and keep you.
His,
Pastor Kerry
ALTAR FLOWERS
There are a few
opportunities
available for altar
flowers. Sundays,
April 19th and
26th, and May
17th and 31st, are
open if anyone is
interested in
providing flowers.
The flowers are
ordered by the
church office from
Jack Daggy
Flowers. The cost
is $25.00 and the
florist bills you
direct. This can be
made a standing
order or for one
time only. You
are welcome to
take the flowers
home after the 2nd
service.
What is the local Church (continued):
Read Ephesians 4:1-16, paying particularly close attention to v.9-16. You
might have noticed that over the past couple months, I have been examining
different aspects of this passage in an effort to explore nature of the Church. In
this passage, Paul makes a very interesting and helpful analogy; one of the church
being like a human body, which was my topic last month. Paul doesn’t stop there,
he takes this thought one step further.
V.15, says this, “…but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ…” (Emphasis mine). What Paul
points out here, is testified to throughout the New Testament (Eph. 1:22, 5:23, Col.
1:18, etc.). Not only is the Church to be the Body of Christ, but that Christ
Himself is to be the head of this body. In fact, without the presence and work of
Christ, no church could actually be the Body of Christ. His presence and influence
are what actually make a gathering of people into the Body of Christ. This is to say
that without the work of Christ, the Church would not be a body, the church
would actually cease to be the Church. In the same way, without Christ, the local
church would cease to be a church.
This might seem like something that should go without saying, but I’m not sure
that it does. Paul does not seem to think so either. If, as Paul describes, is the
case that Christ is the head of the Church universal and the head of each local
church, then the questions we need to continually ask ourselves are these: Is
Christ the head of our church? If so, how does this influence our actions? If so,
how can we more greatly submit ourselves to His desires for our church? In
response to this awareness, would you ponder these things with me this month
and join me in prayer for us to have an eye toward who Christ would have us to be
as a church?
Grace & Peace, Curtis
FIRST “UNITY SUNDAY” SCHEDULED
The first “Unity Sunday” is scheduled for April 12. As an attempt to help us get
to know more people who call Central UMC our church home, we will be having
one combined service instead of our usual two.
Our schedule for the morning of April 12 will be:
· 9:00 a.m. -- Sunday school classes meet and Prayer Partner breakfast held.
·10:15 a.m. -- Our united worship service begins.
·11:30 a.m. -- Farewell carry-in lunch for Pastor Kerry and
Lynne O’Brien begins.
Our Administrative Council hopes to have future Unity Sunday mornings as
often as once each quarter. We want to be a united congregation, united in our
love for Jesus and for making disciples. We hope you will be here on April 12.
Watch upcoming Sunday bulletins for specific details.
I am over-whelmed by your kindness! Thank you so, so much for your cards,
notes, well wishes, and the incredible "love gift"! I have been so blessed by this
congregation in the last nine years, but this send off leaves me humbled and
thankful for each of you. It has truly been a joy to serve. Thank you so much and
God bless each of you.
In Christ's Love, Donna Jurgens
RICHMOND COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN
The Richmond Community Soup Kitchen is located at St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church. Helpers are needed on Thursday, April 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to around
1:00 p.m. If you would like to know more about this ministry or would like to
volunteer to help, please contact Jim Robinson, Connie Smelser, or the church
office at 962-8543. Monetary donations are greatly appreciated.
BREAD BAKING AT CENTRAL
JOIN THE LAUGHTER, FUN, AND FRIENDSHIP Of BAKING BREAD for the
benefit of MUJILA FALLS AGRICULTURE CENTER IN ZAMBIA in the Central
UMC kitchen on April 11th. Help for 2 hours or more between 8:30 and 2:30.
To volunteer call Rita Cummins (966-1744) or Ted Halsted at 935-9956. THANK
YOU, congregation, for reducing WORLD HUNGER. THANK YOU, new volunteers who have stepped forward to help.
ELIMINATE WORLD HUNGER. RAISE DOUGH FOR MUJILA FALLS.
TOXIC CHARITY” EVENT
Sometimes, churches and charities can actually hurt those they intend to
help. Find out how to make sure that doesn’t happen and/or reverse course for
those that already might. Speaker and author Robert Lupton presents on Saturday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at New Castle First Baptist church
in New Castle. (709 S. Memorial Drive.) Cost is $5/person. To register or for
more information, contact Jeff Kundert of Westminster Community Center, 765529-5124.
THINKING ALOUD
A quick browse through Webster’s New Thesaurus will reveal that “change” is
associated with other words like metamorphosis, transformation, innovation,
modification, and even diversification. I am often perplexed by the fact that while
many of us associate these words with positive emotions, we often view change in
a negative sense.
Change is a fact of life. You may have heard me say that the one thing that
never changes is that everything always changes. Without change we would
have no growth; without change we would still be living in caves; without
change . . . well, everything would be different from what it is, which would in
itself be a change.
As a church, we are about to embark upon change. Lynne and Pastor Kerry’s last Sunday with us will be April 12th. Our new pastor will arrive on July 1st.
During that interim we will be capably shepherded by our associate pastor Curtis
Banker. Our District Superintendent Dave Byrum will be close at hand, working
with both the Administrative Council and Pastor Curtis, preparing us for the arrival of our new pastor, Rev. Tom Ream. There will be changes, but this will be a
time for growth.
In the Max Lucado book In The Grip of Grace we are reminded that “God has
enlisted us in his navy and placed us on his ship. The boat has one purpose—to
carry us safely to the other shore.” He goes on to say “we each followed him
across the gangplank of his grace onto the same boat. There is one captain and
one destination. Though the battle is fierce, the boat is safe, for our captain is
God. The ship will not sink. For that, there is no concern.”
Change! It is ever present, but it not to be feared. Changing metaphors (no
pun intended), we know that “his eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches
me.”
Looking forward to the day we dock on the other side.
Charlie Black
NEWS FROM THE
CLUB
We hope that they
sunshine makes you
as excited as we are.
This past month, we
celebrated
lots
of
accomplishments.
Many members are
completing
Indiana
Kids;
which
is
a
program designed to
improve
Math
and
Reading
skills.
Members
in
the
program
do
30
sessions of homework
or activities that will
improve their skills.
They are pre-tested
and
post-tested.
Members
also
complete ten career
sessions, where guest
speakers can come in
and talk about their
career. This program
helps
members
be
successful in school,
but also has them
looking to the future.
We also celebrated
National
Boys
and
Girls Club Week on
March 23rd.
Monday
we
focused
on
Academic Success by
holding a Club wide
Spelling
Bee,
Wednesday we focused
on Healthy Lifestyles
by
doing
a
Club
Aerobics Class, and
Thursday we focused
on
Character
and
Citizenship by doing a
neighborhood
Cleanup. Every member in
attendance those days
participated.
Thank
you
for
taking time to read
what has happened
last month. We hope
you have a wonderful
April and look forward
to telling about more
programs
and
activities next month.
Jenny O’Brien,
Unit Director
REMEMBER THESE WITH YOUR PRAYERS: Arbor Trace–Joyce Harter, Marion
Bentlage, Ruth Stanley, Bill Barth; Forest Park-Mary May; Friends Fellowship
Health Care-Fran Engle, Betty Kelley, Betty Mills, Mary Kate Horn, Malcolm Jeffers,
Estil Wright; Sterling House-Susan Kessler, Ruby Clevenger, Hattie Vaught
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
The Friendship Circle will meet on April 16th, at 9:30 a.m. in the church Parlor.
Please join us for a light breakfast, good Christian fellowship and an interesting program presented by Linda Foley. Friendship Circle welcomes new faces to our group.
ELIZABETH CIRCLE
The Elizabeth Circle meets in the parlor at 1:00 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of the
month. We begin with refreshments provided by volunteers. We are United Methodist Women, and during the year, we cover discussion and new knowledge about
the year’s studies. Always there is good attendance and friendship galore. Come
and join us on Thursday, April 16th, at 1:00 p.m. in the parlor.
THURSDAY EVENING CIRCLE
The Thursday Evening Circle is a group of ladies who meet to continue learning
about the work of UMW all over the world. We enjoy fellowship with one another, as
well as study and inspiration. We'd love to have you join us on Thursday, April
16th, at 6:00 p.m., in the parlor. If you have questions, please contact Betty
Gibbs at 962-0150.
MONDAY MORNING CONNECTIONS
Monday Morning Connections will meet on Monday, April 20th, at 9:00 a.m.,
in the parlor. Connections is an intergenerational group of women who meet to
discuss a variety of topics and to share in ways that help us to "connect" with God,
each other and ourselves. If you are interested or have questions, please call Wanda
Puckett at 962-2758.
GUESS WHAT? APRIL SHOWERS ARE BRINGING MORE BAZAAR
WORKSHOPS! There is plenty to do...we could use your help! Come
April 9th and April 23rd from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. We meet in the
Bazaar room and in Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be served!
What’s In Your Stocking?
PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE CENTER NEWS
Here’s some great news!!! M & M’s are coming back. Once again this year we are
going to offer the mini M & M’s in tubes. This will be a fund raiser for both the Preschool Scholarship Fund and our Childcare Program. We will distribute the tubes of
M & M mini’s on April 26th and throughout that last week of April. Once you have
enjoyed these tasty treats, we ask that you either fill the tube with coins (the children really like this) or with a check (the children’s ministries really like this) and
return it to the church office or the offering plate on Sundays. We hope to have all
of our tubes returned by May 17th. Our Preschool and Childcare ministries have
been very successful and we are thankful for the support of the members of this
church. If you wish to discuss making a gift to this ministry beyond this fundraiser,
please contact Charlie Black in the church office.
CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHILDCARE WISH LIST
4-high chairs
Small baby swing
Puzzles
Paint
Construction paper Glue
Play-doh
Stickers
Crib sheets
Bakers rack
Gently used toys
Books
Coloring books
In addition, below are things that are needed, but need some funding to be able to
purchase. If you would like to make a donation we would apply it to meet these
needs. We will be doing some fundraising in the near future.
1) Blinds for the nursery
2) Playground equipment
3) Fencing to enlarge our playground
TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR PASTORAL CHANGE
In consideration of my last weeks of ministry as your lead pastor, I would like to
think not about the past, but about the future. Pastoral change for a church
means saying “goodbye” to one pastor and “hello” to another. My hope is that
these “Ten Commandments for Pastoral Change” will help make the transition time
easier for all involved, using a little humor.
Pastor Kerry
Thou Shalt Not compare your new pastor with any former pastor, for verily, they
are two different people with different gifts and graces.
Thou Shalt Not say to your new pastor, “But our last minister did it this way”, neither shall you say, “But we’ve never done it this way before.”
Thou Shalt Not ask back a former pastor for funerals and weddings, yea, those are
the responsibilities of ministry for your current pastors.
Thou Shalt Not send to a former pastor, nor in any way communicate with them,
matters of gossip or problems, for they shall be greatly disappointed in thee.
Thou Shalt Not prejudge persons and things for your new pastor. They will have
the ability to judge wisdom and truth on their own.
Thou Shalt Not speak too often of thy former pastors, and when thou dost, may it
be done so with kindliness.
Thou Shalt pour forth thine exceeding great capacity of love for your new pastor
and for the pastor’s family. Thou shalt love them even more abundantly than
pastors before.
Thou Shalt review your new pastor’s salary annually, and increase it, as a symbol
of love and appreciation for their pastoral and spiritual leadership.
Thou Shalt remember your new pastoral family at Christmas, on their birthdays,
and during the “Pastor Appreciation” month of October with thoughtful remembrances.
Thou Shalt pray often for your new pastor and family regularly.
(Adapted from the Hutchinson District Newsletter, Kansas West Conference)
PRIMETIMERS
Primetimers meet once each month on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Please join us on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Jeff Thorne will give the presentation on “Civic Hall Series.” Please make your reservation.
- - - - - - - (tear here) - - - - - - - - - - - I/we wish to make reservations for the Primetimers lunch and program.
Names__________________________
No. of reservations________________
UPCOMING IMPORTANT
DATES TO REMEMBER
Apr. 2 United Methodist
Women, 9:30 a.m.
Apr. 2 Maundy Thurs.
Svc., 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 3 Office closes at
Noon
Apr. 3 Good Friday Svc.,
12:10 p.m.
Apr. 5 Sunrise Service,
6:30 a.m, Hayes
Arboretum
Apr. 9 Bz. Workshop,
9:00 a.m.
Apr. 9 Soup Kitchen at St.
Paul’s Episcopal,
9:00 a.m.
Apr. 9 Book Study at FFC,
3:15 p.m.
Apr. 11 Bread Bake,
8:30 a.m.
Apr. 12 Prayer Partner
Brunch, 9:30 a.m.??
Apr. 12 Luncheon-Pitch-in
12:00 p.m.
Apr. 12 FX at First English
Lutheran, 4:00 p.m.
Apr. 14 Preschool Brd.,
6:00 p.m.
Apr. 15 Primetimers,
12:00 p.m.
Apr. 16 Friendship Cir.,
9:30 a.m.
Apr. 16 Elizabeth Cir.,
1:00 p.m.
Apr. 16 Thurs. Eve. Circ.,
6:00 p.m.
Apr. 16 Ad. Council,
6:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 Disciple’s Hand,
8:30 a.m.
Apr. 20 Mon. Morn. Conn.,
9:30 a.m.
Apr. 21 Bread Basket at
Rock Solid,
4:30 p.m.
Apr. 23 Bz. Workshop,
9:00 a.m.
Apr. 26 All Church Forum
Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Apr. 29 Lamplighter
Assem., 10:00 a.m.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE AT CENTRAL
Central UMC has many ways to make Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Holy
Saturday, March29-April 5) more significant and helpful to prepare for our highest
holy day of Easter. Here are worship opportunities you will want to attend:
MAUNDY THURSDAY (April 2) - Our evening “Tenebrae” service begins at
7:00PM. Come experience this somber “service of shadows and darkness” to prepare for the joy of Easter Sunday.
GOOD FRIDAY (April 3) - This solemn service remembers the day Christ was
crucified. Beginning at 12:10PM, it will end by 12:50PM -- allowing you to attend
on a lunch hour.
EASTER (April 5) - Come celebrate The Resurrection! Joy breaks forth at both
services as we rejoice in remembering that Jesus Christ is risen. A special Easter
offering will be taken to help local and world-wide mission efforts.
OPPORTUNITY FOR
SERVICE!
USHERS
we
are
needing someone as
a Lead Usher for one
of the rotations for
the
early
service. Also, because
of ill health of usher
members and extra
events, we would
love you to put your
name on a list for
possible fill ins and
potential ushers for
either service. This
responsibility is so
important.
If you
are
interested,
please contact either
the church office or
Joyce Relly 765-966
-7708.
Alzheimer’s/Caregivers Support Group meets
the first Sunday of the month in the Memorial
Room (by the church office) during the Sunday
School hour. All caregivers are welcome to
come. If you know of someone who might benefit from this group, please encourage them to
attend.
BREAD BASKET-Central’s Day is Tuesday, April 21st
This local project offers nutritional meals on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:00 p.m., for
those in need, at 1024 East Main St., Rock Solid Ministries. If you would like to
donate a purchased pie (15 pies are needed), please contact Mary Ann Brooks at
962-6068. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please fill out the tear
sheet below and place it in the offering plate.
- - - - - - - - (tear here)- - - - - - Name__________________________________
Phone #________________________
_____Food Preparation, 4-6 volunteers needed from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
_____Serve and clean-up, 6 volunteers needed from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
_____4-5 men needed to help mop and clean-up 6:00-7:00 p.m.
_____Pies must be brought to Rock Solid at 1024 E. Main St.,
on Tuesday, April 21st, by 11:00 a.m.
*All volunteers must wear a hair net or a ball cap.
ROAD TO EMMAUS
Along the road to Emmaus,
we two walked on our way.
We spoke of all that happened,
our hearts were filled with dismay.
Then a stranger joined us and asked us
what are these things that you say?
We told him of Jesus of Nazareth
this stranger we met on the way.
How the works that He did
and the words that He said
caused rulers to fear
They wanted Him dead!
So they silenced this man
on a cross He did die.
He was placed in a tomb
and there He did lie.
Then visions of angels were told us today!
Women found the stone at the tomb rolled away!
The angels then told them
that Jesus was gone!
The Savior has risen!
Our dear Lord lives on!
We neared to our home
and we pilgrims did say
remain with us stranger
sup with us, stay.
The stranger blessed bread
then He vanished from sight!
Who was this man who was with us this night?
Then in wonder we understood
this stranger who had shared our day
He is the Messiah...the Living Word
may we always walk in His way!
~Rita Cummins
FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT CENTRAL UMC
General (Undesignated) Giving
February 2014 $39,324
February 2015 $39,998
Average Sunday School Attendance
February 2014 112
February 2015 123
Average Worship Attendance
February 2014 248
February 2015 255
DIAPER DRIVE
In an effort to
provide for young
parents who come to
Central for
assistance, we are
collecting diapers,
wipes and monetary
donations. You can
donate cash (or
check) for diaper
fund. You may use
the pew envelopes
and mark them for
diaper fund and
place in the
collection basket.