HOPE GOOD NEWS January 2016

Dona�on Policy 2 Military Family 3 Prayer Concerns 4 Leadership Report 6 Faith with Feet 2 Shut-Ins 3 Movie Night 4 Book Club 7 Celebrate Life 2 Cra� Night 3 Weather Closings 4 Calendar Insert Birthdays/ Stuff-a-Bus 4 Finance 5 Bap�sms/ Anniversaries 3 Connec�on Cards 4 Serving Coordinator 5 New Members Insert

CONTENTS

From Pastor Jeff’s Desk . . . With each January newsletter, I take the opportunity to wish you a year full of bless-ings. This past year has been one of the busiest for me. But it was also one of the most exciting. Our “new way of doing church" laid a solid foundation of guidelines to direct the course of our church. 2016 will see the new life cycle grow as our new future unfolds. Our Strong Family empha-sis is showing us how we can touch the lives of others in our community. Our “inflatables extravaganza" participation will lead us into our first “messy church” program. This will allow families to come and share a multi generational experience of God and church in a non-unconventional way. We're excited to see this program launch in 2016. Our first movie night will also occur January 22. Please pray as we invite new families to come and find Hope Here. We're also going to spend time living into our new vision statement. Our 2016 sermons will help us see how inviting, connecting, growing and serving can become part of our everyday activities. This new focus will help us share Hope in Edwardsburg, Michiana and the world. Our theme for worship is meant to help each of us find our place to “Do Something,” as we see how our lives count in God's disciple making plans for our church. So, 2016 is already shaping up to be another very busy and exciting year! Pastor Jeff

www.Hope-umc.us

Visit our website *Calendar *Sermon Podcasts *Updated News *Informa�on

HOPE NEWS PAGE 2

DONATIONS FOR HUMC

In an effort to keep everyone informed, the Leadership Team (LT) is publishing the following portion of Property Management Guidelines in reference to good-will donations. Miscellaneous good-will donations will only be considered by the LT upon recommendation of the appropriate Ministry Team Coordinator as to the condition, additional expenses and application of the dona-tion. Acceptance will be decided according to our Mission and liability determination. We appreciate gifts, grants and bequests and reserve the right, however, to specify the manner in which gifts are made; to define those considered appropriate; and to reject those deemed in-appropriate or unsuitable. If accepted, the LT will attempt to carry out the wishes of the donor. A letter confirming acceptance or denial will be sent to the donor by the Ministry Team. If you have a question regarding this, please contact Sandy Ryder, Property Management Liaison, at 663-5013 and I’ll be glad to discuss with you.

FAITH WITH FEET will hold its monthly meet-ing on Sunday, January 17, 2016 in the Building 1 Community Room. The agenda for this month includes planning for 2016 and an update on local projects. Faith with Feet is a SER-VICE ORGANIZATION that is open to all! Please join us! Questions? Contact Jim Weingart at 574-266-6410 or jdweingart@comcast.net."

SMILES ARE PRICELESS In 1962 my dad and I agreed we needed a new and bigger tractor to farm. We agreed to trade our red Super M and visited three different dealers to discuss trading. We got the best deal from the John Deere dealer 1 mile from home. Dad and I agreed I would buy all new equipment while using his un�l we traded it. As I was working an off- farm job, we did our shopping on Saturday. So that Saturday we discussed which tractor to buy. The John Deere dealer had said they would let us use the tractor and plow discussed in the trade. The next Saturday we returned to the John Deere dealer saying we would like to try the 3020 with a four bo� om plow and, if sa�s-fied, we'd buy it. Several weeks passed; one Saturday the dealer brought the tractor to our farm and we went to the field to plow. It was too wet so he pulled out, but he le� the tractor in our barn and said whenever the ground dried enough we should plow the 30 acres. If we liked the tractor we could keep it and if not, we got 30 acres plowed for free and could return the tractor. The next Saturday Dad said, "Son, I think we should buy this tractor. I think it will do the job." I said "Are you sure?" Dad said "Yes" with a huge GRIN on his face. So I went down to the dealership and purchased the tractor not totally sure in my mind it was the right tractor. As spring approached, the tractor indeed was able to han-dle the four bo� om plow and has been a great tractor. Now the moral to the huge SMILE on my Dad's face. During the spring farming season Dad told me he went out every day that week it set in the barn and sat on that 3020 shiny green John Deere tractor and envisioned himself out farming with it. He had fallen in love with that tractor and when I agreed to buy it, his heart was burs�ng with joy and he couldn't hold back the happiness. There is no price you can put on a smile and spreading joy. May God's gi� to you put a smile on your face and peace in your heart. Deb and Tony Lang

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Keep our Service People in Prayer Joshua Adams, Charles Berry, Matt Bowman, Andre Brower, Phil Bryden, Sam Chaput, Dean Karl Clark, Jonathan Ditson, James Galloway, Justin Gerou, Dakota Kizer, Alys-sa Larson, Kara Larson, Andrea Long, Alyssa Malott, Josh Marner, Jay Moore, Brandon Morgan, Jessica Ramus, Matt Rentfrow, Jason Salter, Dylan Smallwood, Jeff Starr, and Tyler Wilson.

SHUT-IN PRAYERS Those Hope members listed below are restricted to home or nursing facility. The term shut-in reflects that their condition warrants “shut inside” or not able to leave the home on a regular basis. Should you have additional people to add to the list please call the church at 269-663-5321 Ext. 2. Please remember these people in prayer: John Berg, Carol Brough, Betty Crowel, Bob Fuller, Adah Goodhand, Marjorie Green, Pat Harris, Sherry Leininger, Clara Macumber, Arvilla Pontius and Norma Snyder.

KEITH RUSSELL 1/01 COHEN AHRENS 1/01 CYNTHIA WADE ̀ 1/02 EDI MURRAY 1/04 MAX MASTEN 1/05 PENNY FRIES 1/05 MARIA MARTINEZ 1/05 SHEILA GEROU 1/07 LISA SCHMIDT 1/08 JOE FAHEY 1/09 GARY OWENS 1/10 JACKIE BIGGS 1/11 JUDY DENEMARK 1/12 CARLEE BURGER 1/13 NORMA SNYDER 1/13 CAROL PETERS 1/14 MICHELLE GRUVER 1/15 PAM CHAPMAN 1/16 NANCY HOFFMAN 1/16 TONY MANFRED 1/16 CONNIE HEBRON 1/17 TRENT BERLIN 1/17 MICHELE GORDON 1/18 JESSIE (KAY) GILBERT 1/18 KEN BISHOP 1/19 DANIEL BOONE 1/19 MARGE HANSON 1/19 RENE DeYOUNG 1/20 BOB FULLER 1/20 EMILY BUSSEN 1/20 COURTNEY HARTING 1/20 LEIGH ANN HARTING 1/20 SHERRY SAYLES 1/21 CARLEIGH WANKE 1/21 BAILEY WEAVER 1/21 CARIN REESE 1/23 PHYLLIS BANGHART 1/24 ANNA REA 1/27 BETTY SERAFINO 1/29 DEBRA PURVIS 1/29 ZOEY ROUCH 1/30 LOUISE BARNUM 1/31 GLENYCE BENTZER 1/31

BETTY & CARMEN SERAFINO 1/02 BARBARA & BOB LANE 1/16 BONNIE & BOB KNIGHT 1/20 LAURA & COREY SHEETS 1/27 MARGE & BRUCE NURTON 1/28

CRAFT NIGHT Our next Cra� Night will be on Friday, February 5 from 6pm – Midnight. Work on your latest project and get inspired by what is happening around you. Friends are always welcome. Please bring a snack to share and your own beverage. If you want to par�cipate, we’ll be collec�ng items for Project Warm in South Bend. Here are some ideas: encouraging cards to be passed out to the men, Cookies, cupcakes, popcorn, cough drops, socks, hats, snacks, and toiletries.

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NEW PROCEDURE FOR

PRAYER CONCERNS Over the past year we have watched our pray-

er lists grow extensively. Like all growing ministry efforts we have been monitoring the usage and the need to modify how we are collec�ng, organizing and distribu�ng our prayer concerns. STARTING JANUARY 3, 2016…..

*There will not be a prayer list in the weekly bulle�n.

*The prayer list will be replaced by new and simplified prayer cards at the welcome cen-ter.

*Simply fill in the prayer card and put it through the slot in the prayer box at the welcome center.

*During all three worship services, Pastor Jeff will pray over the prayer concerns in the box.

*On Tuesdays, the concerns will be accumulat-ed and sent to the prayer warriors.

*If you wish to be one of our prayer warriors, please contact the office.

NEW CONNECTION CARDS Beginning January 3, 2016 we will eliminate the a� endance inserts in our weekly bulle�n AND insert new connec�on cards in the holders on the back of the chairs in the worship area.

*Instruc�ons to help visitors fill out these cards will be given each week from the pulpit.

*Members and regular a� endees should use these cards when they wish to revise their informa�on for our church database.

*Persons interested in ge� ng connected with one of our Hope ministries should fill out the connec�on card so it can get to the staff per-son responsible for the ministry.

*CONNECTION CARDS should be placed in the offering baskets when they are passed in worship.

During Weather Emergencies in Cass

County, ALL func�ons are cancelled. The church office & evening ac�vi�es are closed when the Edwardsburg Schools are closed. Hope UMC posts weekend weather closings or schedule changes on WSBT-22, WNDU-16, WSJV-28 television sta�ons and Facebook.

Mark your calendars for our Family Movie Night Friday January 22 6:30PM in the Sanctuary. More de-tails to come!

STUFF-A-BUS HUGE SUCCESS! Thank you to all who braved the weather outside and collected funds, food and toy dona�ons for the Edwardsburg Food Pantry on December 4 & 5. $3,445.79 was collected and given to the food pantry along with many bags of food and toys. All dona�ons help those in the Edwardsburg/Union area. Hope has organized and sponsored this memorable community event for over a decade. Thanks to the following business for their help again this year: Edwardsburg Public Schools (for the bus), Niles Community Credit Union, Mara-thon Gas Sta�on, Dollar General, Zimmy’s, Spicy’s and all the local places that allowed us to collect. We couldn’t do it without our great team of bell janglers, sign holders and musicians!

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From your Serving Coordinator….. This month you will receive a three-part survey that is designed to measure how we serve God at Hope UMC. The findings of this survey will help determine four things:

*How do people serve in the church? This may sound like an odd ques�on, but we have 55+ different ministries for ser-vice at Hope UMC and no clear idea of how many people serve in each.

*How do people serve outside the church? Many of our a� endees provide their �me to organiza�ons not affiliated with our church. I want to know what opportuni�es for ser-vice are available and what is important to you.

*What do you like to do when you serve? Do you like to build things, work with people, manage money, etc….

*What mo�vates you to serve? Do you want immediate results or are you willing to work towards a larger goal that you may never see? In other words, what keeps you coming back?

Part 1 will survey how you serve within Hope UMC. It will be given to you prior to service on Sunday, January 17.

Part 2 will survey how to serve outside of Hope UMC. It will be distributed on January 24. Part 3 will survey what you like to do when you serve and what keeps you coming back. It will be distributed on January 31. Each sec�on can be easily completed in just a few minutes during the service. If you miss a week, Parts from previous weeks will be available for you to complete and return. The results of this survey will be used to guide our future serving efforts. Please take the �me to par�cipate!

Thank you for your support. Ques�ons? Contact Jim Weingart at 574-266-6410 or jdweingart@comcast.net.

Month of November Financial Summary Monthly Ministry Dona�on Goal: $ 27,363 November Ministry Fund Dona�ons: $ 24,384 November Ministry Fund Expenses: $ -25,520 November Shor�all: $ -1,136

2016 Giving Envelopes Preprinted 2016 offering envelopes are being dis-tributed in December & January. Please indicate on the new Connec�on Card if you would like offering envelopes and haven’t received them. You may also contact the church office. Thank you for your faithful giving!

Notre Dame Fundraiser Stand #36 and Notre Dame’s Football team both have had another great year. Our team from Hope raised $8,671.51 this year. The

amount will be split between the Ministry and Project Hope Funds. Thank you to all who made it successful and fun!

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Monthly Report to Congrega�on December 2015

If you missed it in the bulle�n, here is the report for Project Hope dona�ons for November. Thank you all for your con�nued support.

Project Hope Fund Monthly Distribu�on

November 2015 Available funds 11/30/2015 Memorial Contribu�ons $ 435.00 Monthly Contribu�ons $11,609.00 $12,044.00 The total was distributed to the following funds: Grow Strong Faith Filled Families $ 2,523.14 Transi�on in Pastoral Leadership $ 3,032.96 Manage our Mortgage Responsibili�es $ 5,293.50 Local, Conference & Global Missions $ 1,204.40 Total distributed $12,044.00

PROJECT HOPE 2016

As we come to the close of 2015, it’s �me to look ahead at 2016 and what’s next for Project Hope. First, thanks to all of you for your giving to Project Hope! We are well on our way to fulfilling the goals we set for Project Hope. Praise God! We will take a final look at 2015 in February’s newsle� er a�er all the info is in for December. In addi�on to normal monthly business, the Leadership Team spent �me at their December mee�ng looking at what’s next and se� ng some priori�es. Leadership Training – plans are being made to provide leadership training for current members of the LT team, poten�al new members for 2017 as well as those leaders who have, and may step up to be leaders for our Min-istry teams. You will be hearing more about this as it develops. If you are interested in par�cipa�ng in this training, please contact Pastor Jeff or a member of the Leadership Team. Life Cycle of Morning Worship Schedule – a focus team of LT members will be looking at our Sunday morning worship schedule. Pastoral Transi�on Plan – a focus team of LT members will take a look at what’s next for our pastoral transi�on and develop a plan to make it happen. You will be hearing more about this soon. Project Hope 2.0 – it is �me to begin developing the Project Hope 2.0 campaign for the funding needed for 2017 – 2018. Keith Russell 574-876-1626 mkeithrussell@comcast.net

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Pick / Share a Book Club December 16, 2015 Report

The book club members met at Hope at 11:30AM; Sherry drove us to Farmland Restaurant in Vandalia, Michigan. We had delicious meals and enjoyed shopping in their gift shop. Sherry shared a book to donate to our library, Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heart- songs, by Jeni Stepanek with Larry Lind-ner. The forward is by Maya An- gelou. When Mattie was born with a rare disorder Jeni was advised to put her child in an institution. Instead she nur-tured a boy who became a best- selling author. He published six collections of his Heartsongs poetry and one collection of peace essays. They all be-came bestsellers. He was an amazing young man and you will enjoy reading about his courageous life. Carole Rehmann is continuing to read See Me by Nicholas Sparks when she has time between knitting and selling her lovely items at bazaars. She’s still hoping to give a review as soon as she has finished reading it. Our group does not have deadlines for sharing books we have read, we discussing whatever members bring.

Gwen is enjoying the Christmas Journal by our friend Sandy Fleming. Gwen hopes to get up early to write notes, recipes, and memories in it. She would also like to read through the Bible again and have a journal Bible that you can write in the margins. Bonnie Knight read Tomorrow, the River. It’s a sequel to the novel, Together – Apart, by Dianne E. Gray that she shared last month. The setting is seven years later, the young couple bought a riverboat and the fourteen year old younger sister comes to live with them. Bonnie really enjoyed the book. If you are interested in reading it, contact Bonnie.

Janet Berg wrote to share several titles of books that she has been reading: Brother Andrew by Janet and Geoff Benge (it’s really good!), and Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. She also recommended a couple of other books she read that she thought were really good: Where Angels Walk by Joan Wester Anderson, The Trouble with Angels by Debbie McComber and Sadie Shapiro, Match-maker by Robert Kimmel Smith. If you have read any books that you would like to recommend just drop a note in the book drop box and we’ll add them to the next newsletter. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks, a novel based on the life of King David; Still Alice which may have been made into a movie deals with early onset Alzheimer’s, author’s last name is Genovese; and Travelling to Infinity by Jane Hawking, wife of genius physicist Steven Hawking were recommended by Shirley Andrews. To keep the spirit of sharing, we would like to continue the gift basket of selected books that may be tak-en home to enjoy, share with friends or keep. They are labeled “A Gift for You from Hope United Meth-odist Church” so they won’t be confused with our library books that need to be returned. The basket of gift books will be kept in the ladies’ restroom by the sanctuary. Please take one. And if you have a book to donate for the basket, just put it in the Book Drop Box by the office. Several more books have been donated to the library. It has been a great help that the donated books were placed in the Book Drop box between the office and the Community Room. Thanks! January 13 will be our next opportunity to share fellowship and love of reading. Please join us for a fun time to talk about books. You never know where we will go. We’ll meet at 11:30 at the church. We’d LOVE to see you then.

HOPE NEWS

Great grand-children to Bob and Elaine Richardson, Jordan, Angel, Gabrielle Bourne and Kylee Cunning-ham were bap-tized at the De-cember 5 ser-vice. Parents to the children are Brandon and Keichia Cunningham and Jonathan Bourne.

Eric and Penny Fries both renewed their baptisms and were welcomed into our church membership at the December 5 service.

On December 5 Lucas and Mackenzie Flick (pictured with their parents Mandy and Matthew Flick) were bap-tized.

Vince Duis and son Kevin were baptized and Vince was wel-comed into membership at the December 5 service. Vince is pic-tured with his wife and Kevin's mother, Kelly.

DECEMBER 5 BAPTISMS AND

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS