the voice - anderson first united methodist...

First United Methodist March 2017 Vol 54 Issue 3 page 1

THE VOICE A Newsletter of First United Methodist

A Message From Pastor Jeff In recent years one of our great church programs has been our senior ministry. Bon Amis and Joy Luncheon have flourished under the leadership of Pastor Donna and have continued to be strong in the past eight months.

We have just completed our planning and scheduling for the events that will take place in 2017, and I’m glad to announce that we have a terrific line-up for both programs. Full year schedules for each program are now available, and we hope that this year will be the best year ever.

On the Bon Amis side we have a schedule of musicals and plays including - local theater at the Arts Center (Othello), Emens at Ball State (Mamma Mia), Beef and Boards (My Fair Lady), and Blue Gate Theatre at Shipshewanna (Mennonite Girls Can Cook); we have our annual favorites like the Fourth of July Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie and the Christmas program at Purdue University. We will be visiting the Indianapolis Art Museum during the Audubon exhibit, the Freedom Museum in Cincinnati, the Ark just across the border in Kentucky, and the Gasthof Amish community near Bloomington. And, of course, the crowning event – Cubs versus the Reds at Cincinnati. All in all a lot of great opportunities and we have kept the costs at the bare minimum for each trip.

On the Joy Luncheon side? Well, as a matter of fact I just got home from our first one and it was terrific – a great lunch from Panera and Valentine’s music with Ernie Coleson and friends. We have moved the venue from the Fellowship Hall up to the North/South Parlor and we filled every corner of the room. Programs scheduled include a Celtic program on St. Patrick’s Day, a visit from Winston Churchill, an Amazon Adventure, Mayor Broderick, and more. The meals will be varied from month to month and will often match the theme of the day.

If you haven’t taken advantage of these programs I hope you’ll give them a try this year. The fact is, many of our regulars have been aging and our numbers have dropped a bit during some months. In the past we’ve advertised age 55 and over, but this year, we’ll let you come if you happen to be younger! There’s no easier way to visit these venues, spend some time with friends, and enjoy a fine dinner. Pick up complete brochures on J.O.Y. and Bon Ami from the office.


Adult Ministries

United Methodist Women News Bible Study Circle: Friendship Circle: Lydia Circle:

Circle Leader: Merrillyn Vance Mary Falkenberry Peg Peter Meeting Date: March 2, 9:30 am March 2, 9:30 am No March meeting Location: North/South Parlor 228 Summerlake Circle Hostesses: Janet Sullivan, Ida Campbell Heather Barrett Mary Falkenberry Program: Janet Sullivan Dorinda Cassiday “Moses” Celtic Christianity

Class Location Led By Joy N Us North/South Parlor Jeff Taylor, Don Deena Johnson Pathfinders East/West Parlor Kenny Hall Alpha Omega Room 220 Dave Peter Wellness Class Fellowship Hall Ron McNabney Note: all classes begin at 9:00 am with the exception of the Wellness Class which begins at 8:30 am.

Sunday School Classes

Lenten Schedule Worship Services: Wednesday, March 1: Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 pm Friday, April 14: Good Friday Service 7:00 pm

Lenten Small Group Studies 40 Days with the Holy Spirit by Jack Levison is a daily devotional study for Lent which invites people to discover and experience the person, work and power of the Holy Spirit. This will be our all-church Lenten book study this year. Books are available at the Welcome Center after church on Sunday or in the church office at $6 per copy.

Sunday School Classes: March 5—April 16 Wednesday Evenings: March 8—April 12 6:30 pm with Pastor Don Deena Facebook Group: Begins March 6 with Angela Smith This year there will be an opportunity to do the Lenten Book Study via Facebook. You must have a Facebook account to participate. The group will be an open discussion board where you can discuss the daily devotion from this year’s book. We will share what touched us or what we found interesting in each daily reading and encourage each other to grow in our relationship with Christ. If interested contact Angela Smith at 643-6977. Additional Group: Pastor Jeff will be leading a group on Tuesday night or Thursday morning, depending on interest.


Anderson Area Men’s Lenten Breakfast

Date Location Featuring

March 4 Anderson 1st Presbyterian Rick Vale 230 W. 9th St. Anderson

March 11 Cross Roads UMC Marty Dulworth 2000 N. Scatterfield Rd. Anderson Cross Roads Praise Band

March 18 St. Mary’s RCC Rev. Kal Rissman 1115 Pearl St. Anderson Terry Stevens

March 25 Anderson First Baptist Carl Erskine 907 N. Raible Andreson George Smith

April 1 Ford Street UMC Common Ground 925 Ford St. Lapel

April 8** Anderson First UMC Rev. Ben Cassiday 1215 Jackson St. Anderson Mark & Michele Murray **This is an open service. All men, women and children are invited.

All breakfasts begin at 8:00 am.

Why Lent? Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection. Lent is a great time to “repent” — to return to God and re-focus our lives to be more in line with Jesus. It’s a 40 day trial run in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart. You might try one of these practices for Lent: FASTING: Some people have been known to go without food for days. But that’s not the only way to fast. You can fast by cutting out some of the things in your life that distract you from God. What do you need to let go of or “fast” from in order to focus on God? What clutters your calendar and life? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do? SERVICE: Some Christians take something on for Christ. You can collect food for the needy, volunteer once a week to tutor children, or work for reform and justice in your community. You can commit to help a different stranger, co-worker or friend everyday of Lent. Serving others is one way we serve God. Learn how giving of yourself is prayer. PRAYER: Christians also use Lent as a time of intentional prayer. You can pray while you walk, create music or art as a prayer to God, or savor a time of quiet listening. All can be ways of becoming more in tune with God. **Taken from alivenow.upperroom.org and umc.org


Outreach Ministries

The Helping Hands Non-Food Pantry will be open on Wednesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 21. There are always opportunities to donate to this ministry.

Following is a brief list of the most urgent needs for the Helping Hands Non-food Pantry:

Dish Soap Tissues Shampoo Laundry Detergent Deodorant for men and women Feminine Needs

Helping Hands Pantry Community Café Listed below are the teams scheduled to cook at the Community Café for the month of February. March 5—Chris Taylor

March 12—Crossroads Team

March 19—Steve Alt’s Team

March 26—Mark Shaw

April 2 —Sandy French

On Friday, March 17 at 11:30 am, Richard and Dorinda Cassiday will be with us to remember and celebrate things Irish. The will tell us the story of St. Patrick and help us enter the world of Celtic Christianity. The J.O.Y. Luncheon planning team will prepare a special Irish meal for us.

The J.O.Y. Luncheon is open to any adult free to attend on the third Friday of each month. We meet in the North/South Parlor. We are requesting $10 per person for lunch. This is a wonderful opportunity to fellowship with good friends over a delicious lunch and to enjoy some very interesting and informative entertainment.

The NEW J.O.Y. Luncheon

Sunday, March 12 – Othello @ the Art Center; After Theater Dinner at Cracker Barrel We’re staying local in March. Theater tickets are $10.00. We will car pool out to Cracker Barrel following the play. Everyone will order from the menu and everyone will pay for their own meal. Wednesday, April 19 – Beef and Boards: My Fair Lady This event will cost $55 per person. The bus will leave at 10:30 a.m. and will return by 5:00 p.m.

Participants MUST register in advance for all Bon Amis events. Registration can be done at any time but payment must be received in full two weeks ahead of the scheduled event. This is not just a senior event. Bon Amis is open to everyone in the congregation and their guests. Let someone else do the driving and parking and join your church friends in some great eats and wonderful entertainment.

Bon Ami Schedule


Children’s Ministries March Birthday: Nancy Cox celebrates her 12th birthday on March 3. Wish her a happy birthday when you see her.

What’s Coming Up: On Saturday, March 25, in celebration of spring, the children are off to an alpaca farm in nearby Middletown. Lunch follows at McDonalds.

Godly Play: Mar. 12 – The Mystery of Easter; Mar. 15 – The Faces of Easter: Jesus’ Birth and Growth, Jesus is Lost and Found; Mar. 26 – Faces of Easter: Jesus’ Baptism and Blessing by

God, Jesus’ Desert and Discovery Experience.

Step by Step Kids: Sundays March 5 and 12 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm. These first two sessions in our spring schedule get us started on the books of Joshua, Judges and Ruth as we continue our walk through the Bible. After a 40-year timeout, God’s people finally reach the Promised Land. Staci Miller will be helping our kids enjoy worshiping God with music. Games and a snack will conclude our afternoon. Step by Step Kids will not meet on March 19 and 26 due to the school spring break.

Making Valentines for our church family

Youth Ministries: Pulse

March Schedule March 1—Ash Wednesday March 5—Pulse March 12—Pulse March 26—Pulse March 31—Concert at Banker’s Life April 2—Pulse

The Youth will continue their study of the Story of God. They will start to dive into David’s story from Shepherd to King. This year’s confirmation class continues to study what it means to be a United Methodist, and understand the sacraments of the church. We were able to go on a wonderful trip on President’s Day to Methodist Hospital, Christian Theological Seminary and North UMC in Indianapolis.

On April 8 the Youth will host an Anderson Area Men’s Lenten Breakfast here at the church. Your help is needed in providing items to serve at the breakfast, and lists to volunteer are located at the Welcome Center.

On April 7, the night before the breakfast, there will be a Youth Lock-in at church.


January 2017 Memorials David Bailey to Davis Park Butterfly Garden Jerry Burand Robert Harruff to Buddy Bag Pro-gram Jackie Todd Robert Harruff to Davis Park Butter-fly Garden Jerry Burand Robert Harruff to Youth Scholarship Fund Vicki and Joe Snyder Beverly McCleery to Buddy Bag Pro-gram Nina and Tim Kline Dan Sailors to Youth Scholarship Fund Vicki and Joe Snyder

Thanks To My Church Family: There are no words that adequately describe the gratefulness for all of your prayers. I’ve gone from 10% hope of recovery to 100% You are God’s Disciples Steve & Francie Seybert

Lenten Book Study: 40 Days With The Holy Spirit

By Jack Levison

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

40 Days with the Holy Spirit by Jack Levison is our Lenten book study this year. The author helps keep us attentive to the scrip-tural witness and to the continuous and critical place of the Spirit. But he also gives witness through stories from his own life. This book is like a companionable witness and conversation that should help us recognize, appreciate and value God’s “breathing” on us, making His presence known. (From Eugene H. Peterson’s foreward)


God at Work at First United Methodist The Faces of Gateway

We all know, but often forget that there is a wonderful program for children and families which operates Monday through Friday in our own First United Methodist Church facility. Occupying the south wing of our building, Gateway is the only nationally credentialed child care center in Anderson and it serves children from two through 12 years of age.

Gateway also supports families off-site through respite care, a short-term and temporary care which provides opportunity for the primary caregiver of a child or adult with special needs to get some relief and much needed personal time away.

During the week 40 to 50 children and their families come through the doors each day. If you were to wander the halls of Gateway you would see children playing, exploring and experimenting with all kinds of materials. You would see happy, excited children and staff. You would also see children who struggle with the demands of daily life and learning, for Gateway is committed to the wellness, early care and educational readiness for all children, regardless of their individual or special needs.

When you drive into our parking lot and see the Gateway sign, or when you walk through the door into that wing under the Gateway logo on a Sunday morning, offer your prayers for Sara Krumme and her staff that they might serve the Gateway families with compassion and love. Pray for the children that through the services provided by Gateway their potential for success and joy in life might be realized.


Visit us on the web at andersonfirst.org and follow us on Facebook

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

First United Methodist Church 1215 Jackson Street Anderson IN 46016

Phone: 765-643-6977 Fax: 765-642-5232 E-mail: [email protected]

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 909

Anderson, Indiana

Lent begins March 1

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