Sheridan First United Methodist Church

Chime Notes JANUARY 2015 Volume LV, Issue I

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 A Time For Everything As humans, we break down time by naming the months of the year and separating those months into seasons. Each of us in turn breaks down the months and seasons by remembering significant events that happen during those times…good and bad. Though we are all the same, we experience life in different ways and thus have different view-points of each season of life into which we enter. I have a love-hate relationship with winter. I love the beautiful snow that covers the earth making everything look beautiful… the snow covers the ugliness of winter with the beauty of snow. I love to play in the snow too…sledding, snowball fights, building snow forts… those things bring back great memories of my childhood and great times spent with my own children. But, there is also a dark side to winter…especially when one has to deal with snow…drive in it, shovel it off the driveway and sidewalks. It’s cold and slippery and messy. It is a cause of worry for many who must drive through the snow to go to work. Snow has caused many car crashes and has taken many lives. The dimness of winter, the cloudy days with little sunlight causes some to go into deep depression as they wait for signs of something new to come. The freezing temperatures and winter wind pierce the bone…without shelter, it will take ones life. Spring follows winter. It bursts forth with new life and radiant colors of green and the leaves burst forth from the seemingly dead branches. Flowers poke their heads from the ground as the sun beams its warmth to earth from the heavens. The earth is filled with the beauty and spender of God. I love the freshness of spring and its beauty. But, there is also a dark side to spring. It brings with it great storms, tornados, and floods…all of which have taken many lives. Nothing can put fear into a person like the fire of lightning, the clap of thunder, and the roar a tornado…or the sound and sight of a home being broken apart within a matter seconds by the great force of natures wind and rain. And for allergy sufferers it brings great physical problems. Summer follows spring. The sunshine is bright and warms the earth providing encouragement for the crops to grow as they reach for the heavenly sunlight. Sunshine is needed for all of God’s creatures to survive… plants and animals…it has healing properties. We have learned to harness the sunlight and make energy from it. But, there is also a dark side to summer. The summer heat can become too much and dry up whole fields of crops, it can smother the life out of plants, animals and humans alike. It can turn a green and productive land into a dry and useless bowl of dust. Too much sun can burn and raise blisters on one’s skin…and cause cancer too that ends a life much too soon.

Fall follows spring. Fields that once were green with life are now ready for harvest. The coolness of the nights and the lessening of the hours of sunlight causes the foliage to change it color from green to radiant colors of red, yellow, orange, gold, and brown. It is as if God used a giant paintbrush over night and painted the landscape with breath-taking beauty. The beauty is short lived. For just as quickly as the leaves changed their colors they begin to fall from the trees leaving the tree bare and naked. Fall also brings about suffering for allergy sufferers with the ragweed and growth of mold in the decaying leaves that have fallen to the ground…yes, there is a dark side to fall too. The fall rain can cause great floods which destroy both home and life. The rains can be a hindrance to harvest and can damage the crops. The leaves on the roads can be slippery and have cause many a wreck and have taken lives too. There is a time and purpose for everything under the sun. We have a choice to live within the beauty of each season finding joy and peace even in the dark side of each season or to let the darkness of each season devour us causing us to live in fear, anger, and pain…enabling it suck the life right out of us. During the Christmas Season our focus has been on the birth of Christ…what a joyous occasion! But I am also reminded of the seasons of the life of Christ. I ponder, as Mary did, on all the events that took place in the early life of Jesus. I can’t imagine how Mary must have felt knowing that she was giving birth to the Messiah…in a stable. I can’t imagine the confusion Mary and Joseph must have felt as they were fleeing from Bethlehem to Egypt to save the life of their Baby. Sometimes we have other ideas of how life is supposed to be. I imagine Mary and Joseph, knowing that they were the parents of the long awaited Messiah, had grand ideas of how life should have been for them…for the Messiah. Yet, it was much different than they ever expected. Never did Mary imagine that the Messiah, her Son, would enter this world to die so that He could save humanity from their sins. Yet, that is exactly what happened. Jesus died to give the world life… eternal life…that was God’s plan. Just as we don’t always understand the dark side of the seasons of life… sickness, disease, hunger, thirst, etc… we don’t always understand God’s plans for our lives…but we can be assured that if we believe and trust God, He will make everything beautiful in its time… remember, death did not hold Jesus in the grave! God’s plan was in the triumph of life over death through the resurrection of Jesus. Light and dark, life, death, and resurrection are an integral part of God’s plan and who we are. How we choose to live during those times will determine the outcome. Have faith in God. Believe and trust in God’s purpose for you and your loved one. In doing so, you will find the joy of being in God’s presence and having the assurance and peace that all is well in the divine purpose and plan of God…not only in the good times, but the dark times as well. Have a happy and blessed New Year. Start out 2015 right by being intentional about growing closer to God (pray more, read and study the Bible more, giving more of your time, talents, and tithes) so that others see Christ in you. Be the difference you want to see in our world. God bless you all!

Blessings! Pastor Carol

Thank You to the Congregation of Sheridan UMC Imagine my surprise when I received a generous gift from all of you. Carol told me the story and it brought me to tears. I truly have not been gifted by the last three congrega-tions. They were “turn around” churches that were very difficult with very little success. The last six months have been filled with anxiety, grief, frustration, disbelief and, yes, anger. But, I wait for God to move in my life and learning how to live in the now as God would want. Please keep me in your prayers to see the signs and have courage to live it and continue to testify to Christ’s love and grace.

Rev. Barbara Jean Pope

THANK YOU!

I would like to thank the congregation for the beautiful Cards and Gifts

which I received at Christmas. Your thoughtfulness and generosity are

greatly appreciated. Rev. Carol Fritz

Thank You to the Staff Parish Committee

and the Congregation for my lovely Christmas gift!

Sincerely,

Nancy Kerr

The Nurture & Membership Committee

are requesting the addresses of all our college students so that we may send them a Valentine surprise from their Church Family. Please call or email the church. Thank You!

MISSION NEWS:

Don’t forget to save and turn in your Campbell

Soup Labels for Red Bird Mission &

Henderson Settlement!

NURSING HOME WORSHP: January 18th, 2:00 p.m. Please join Pastor Carol and Valri at the Sheridan Nursing Home on

January 18th at 2:00 p.m. for a simple worship service and fellowship

time with the residence.

Youth News: January 2015

4th: Epiphany Party 6:00 p.m. Bring cookies, chips, snacks to share and a liter of Pop Everyone needs to bring a “White Elephant” gift… something you own, that is NOT BROKEN, that you don’t want anymore…or you may buy a gag gift… 11th: Movie Time! Youth Meet at NOON! Bring: $12 for movie and extra money if you want popcorn. Tickets will be purchased 1 week early to reserve our seats…so you MUST RSVP and PAY by January 4th … Sorry, NO refunds! 18th: Youth @ 6:00 25th: NO YOUTH GROUP Please note that there will be no youth group on January 25th and FEBRUARY1st.

Permission Slip

My child/youth (name)________________________ has my permission to go with the Sheridan First UMC youth group to the Regal Movie Theater in Fishers on Sunday, January 11th, 2015. I give permission for my child to ride with an adult chaperone to and from the Fishers Movie theater. Signature of parent/s or guardian: ______________________________ ______________________________ Date: __________________ Emergency Contact Number: _________________________________

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Thursday January 15, 2015

4:00 p.m. Reception to Follow

THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT is an Outreach Ministry of The Chancel Choir of Sheridan

First United Methodist Church to serve the Senior Citizens of Sheridan, Indiana. The meaning

of the Sunflower indicates warmth, happiness, adoration and longevity. It is our goal to serve

the beloved seniors of our community with all of these virtues in mind. The distribution center

is located in The Greenhouse across from the Church @ the corner of White and East 2nd

Street. The opening is scheduled for the first week in January of 2015. Personal items and toi-

letries will be available free of cost to those Seniors in need. The days of distribution will be

determined by Beverly Frederick who is volunteering her time and effort to this worthy project.

For those wishing to donate items to this cause...here is a list of most requested necessities:

Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Mouthwash

Bath Soap...shower gels

Shampoo and conditioner

Deodorant

Qtips

Kleenex

Toilet paper

Paper towels

First aid items/band-aids

Laundry supplies

Cleaning supplies

Sheridan FFA

Pork Loin Benefit Dinner January 9, 2015 @ SHS Cafeteria

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

$7.00 presale; $8.00 at the door

All proceed go to the local M.A.M.A.’s Cupboard &

The Sheridan First United Methodist Church’s Lunch Club

Sponsored by

Mighty Methodists

will be meeting in

the Youth Room

Monday, Jan. 26

from 6-8 p.m.

UMM

SWEETHEART BANQUET

Sunday, February 8, 2015

@ 5:00 p.m.

Thursdays

10:00 a.m.- Noon Noon-1:00 p.m.

Wednesdays

6:30 p.m.

90 Day Lenten Bible Study

Marsha Pickett 1/01

Larry Eidson 1/02

Rex Burkman 1/03

Jon Duchemin 1/03

Zach Millikan 1/03

Judy Vanmeter 1/04

Melanie Bales 1/08

Julia Neff 1/08

Faith DeVaney 1/09

Connie Pearson 1/12

Nikki Davis 1/15

Dale McCullough 1/17

Steve Purdy 1/17

Norm Wagoner 1/19

Pat Birden 1/21

Sandy Wood 1/23

Betsey Bensen 1/24

Elizabeth Sutherland 1/25

Pam Pickard 1/26

Patrick Weitzel 1/26

Mike & Pam Harwood 1/06

Tim & Melanie Bales 1/13

Butch & Mary Ann Lowder 1/26

Grady & Pat Franklin 1/29

JANUARY 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fr i Sa t

1 New Year’s Day

2 11-1:00 p.m. Lunch Club

3

4 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship 6:00 p.m. UMYF Epiphany Party

5 90 Day Lenten Bible Study Begins 7:00 p.m. Church Council

6

7 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:00 p.m. Choir

8 2-7:00 p.m. Winnie Lyon Visitation 7:00 p.m. Winnie Lyon Funeral Service

9 11:00 a.m. Winnie Lyon Committal Service 5:30-7:30 p.m FFA Pork Loin Dinner

10 7:30 a.m. UMM Breakfast

11 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship 12:00 UMYF Movie Theatre

12

13 1:30 p.m. Lydia Circle

14 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:00 p.m. Choir

15 10:00 a.m. Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club 4:00 p.m. SunFlower Proj. Ribbon Cutting

16 17

18 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship 2:00 Sheridan Nursing Home 6:00 UMYF

19 7:00 p.m. Trustees

20

21 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:00 p.m. Choir

22 10:00 a.m. Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club SunFlower Pantry

23 24

25 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church school 10:00 a.m. Worship Pastor Carol Leaves for India

26 6-8:00 p.m. Mighty Methodists

27 7:00 p.m. Finance

28 29 10:00 a.m. Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club SunFlower Pantry

30 31