First Connection

The monthly newsletter of

First United Methodist Church

November 2017

First United Methodist Church 729 Central Avenue Connersville IN 47331 Church Phone: (765) 825-8506 Pastor Frank Oakman Email: pastor@connersvillefirst.org Secretary: Bonnie Schultz Email: secretary@connersvillefirst.org Webmaster: Kevin Bastian Email: webmaster@connersvillefirst.org Church web site: www.connersvillefirst.org

The Shepherd’s Scroll A Reflection from Pastor Frank

Greetings! I hope this finds you and your families filled with hope and love. The end of the year is approaching rapidly which means Charge Conference and other “Business” items need to be cared for. I want to thank all those who are currently serving in leadership for your hard work, commitment to Christ, to the Church, and to the community. Those who are serving on committees, helping in hospitality and communion stewards, I want to also say thank you for your flexibility, your sacrifice and your willingness to show and be God’s love in what you do. With that said, please be prayerfully considering serving on a committee, team or ministry for two reasons: 1) Because God needs you, your church needs you and the Community needs you. But secondly, and probably more importantly, because serving God’s church helps us grow as disciples. Using our gifts, our passions, with our experiences can be monumental for our growth in Christ. Now with that said I want to share with you what myself, and the group who attended the Core Values Workshop discovered about who we are. These Core Values define the essence of who God has made us. If you have feedback to offer such as another core value to consider or helping define one we have discovered please let me know. Thanks.

Connersville First UMC Core Values

1. Biblically Based We believe knowledge of the Scriptures are a part of our development as followers of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are committed to learning, and living out the truths of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

Matthew 4:4: “Jesus replied, ‘It is written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.”

2. Family We believe family is important in our development as followers of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are committed to holding a high value of family, regardless of how one defines family.

Hebrews 2:11: “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

3. Prayer We believe prayer is vital in our development as followers of Jesus Christ as we communicate with God. Therefore, we are committed to practicing, teaching, and encouraging all levels of prayer including individual, corporate and intercessory prayer.

Matthew 21:13: “He said to them, ‘It is written, My House will be called a House of Prayer.” 4. Worship We believe worship is vital in our development as followers of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are committed to providing opportunities for Passionate Worship through Biblical Preaching, a Vital music ministry, and opportunities to encounter God’s transforming presence.

Psalm 117:1: “Praise the Lord, all you nations! Worship him, all you peoples!” 5. Community We believe community is a necessary element in our development as followers of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are committed to developing and strengthening relationships within the church community and in our local community outside the doors of our church building.

Acts 2:47: “They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.”

Remember You Matter! Pastor Frank

FCJ Update

We just finished our Vision Workshop. So, a team of 4-6 will be chosen from the workshop to meet before the end of the year for a time of prayer, discussion, and contemplation of where we see God taking our church in 5 years. But we need your help. To truly discern where God is leading us, we need to acquire some valuable information, therefore we will be participating in the following.

1. A prayer walk around our community 2. A windshield Survey – as some drive around town and observe needs. 3. Face to Face conversations with community members (those like us and those

not like us), as well as community leaders to hear what needs are out there.

We are inviting the congregation to participate in these transforming opportunities, as well as share feedback about your needs in the community since you are community

members as well.

Those who attended Core Values Ava Moore, Gilda Lewis, Kellee Cobb, Carolyn Bunzendahl, Carrie Oakman, Betty Thielking& Pastor Frank

Those who attended the Vision Workshop Kellee Cobb, Carolyn Bunzenhahl, Carrie Oakman, Tim & Kristin Davis, Beth Ann Orth, Craig & Carol Howell, Elizabeth Holmes, Phil & Donna Green, Bonnie Schultz, Shirley Moore,& Pastor Frank

ThreeFCJ Task Groups:

Community Outreach Team – to create a comprehensive Community Outreach Strategy. Communications Team – to create a comprehensive Communication for Inside & Outside of Connersville First UMC A Disciples’ Path Team – to develop a clar discipleship pathway that helps move people from where they are on their spiritual journey to grow as fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.

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CHURCH NEWS…

SATURDAY NOV 4, SET CLOCK BACK 1 HOUR

UP-COMING EVENTS…

54th

Annual Tasty Luncheon, Thursday November

2. Lunch, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Crafts 9 a.m. – 2 p. m.

Sunday November 5, All Saints Sunday Remembering those who have passed this year. Sunday November 5, Charge Conference, 5:00PM, FUMC Handbell Choir Schedule: November 19, FUMC Worship Service, Prelude December 3 – Lynn & Friends December 10 – Christmas concert December 24 – Christmas Eve service Beginning Monday, November 6, handbell practice will be on Monday and Tuesday nights from 5:00-7:00PM. This is the schedule for the whole month of November. Handbell Choir will return to regular schedule in December. Advent Dinner: Sunday December 3, right after Worship service. Followed by Lynn & Friends, at 2:00PM Reminder: We are purchasing our dozen donuts and fruit at IGA. Donuts will be ready for pick up by 2PM on Saturday’s. Please bring receipt and put in the basket in the Hospitality room. If you have any questions, please call Vicki at 265-1338. Thank you for serving, Vicki ********************************************************

Christmas Senior Event:

Faithbuilders Ministry is hosting their second

annual Christmas event for Seniors (to 60 plus years

of age) on December 8th, 6:00PM, at Baptist Temple.

There will be a free dinner, live entertainment and a

gift for each attendee. We are in need of 200

crossword puzzle books or word search books. These

may be purchased at any of the dollar stores for

$1.00! There will be a basket in the back of the

sanctuary for your donation, or you may leave them in

the office. Thanks for your help in making Christmas a

little brighter for our community seniors. Ava

THANK YOU…

I want to thank Ava and the kids in the Sunday

School Class for the wonderful Halloween, get well card.

I enjoyed it so much and it was greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much!

Carol Hoffman

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Please accept this very belated thank you for

your kind and generous gift to Fayette Central

Elementary School for the fruit basket. All of the staff

members appreciate the recognition and also enjoyed

the nice variety of fruit.

Thank you so much for your kindness!

Sincerely,

Fayette Central Elementary School

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The family of Frank Sablan and Darlene Aguirre

thank you for your memorial contribution in memory of

Rev. Frank Sablan to the St. Joseph Indian School.

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Dear Friends at First UMC,

We want to thank you for your donation of

$500.00 to Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Many

lives have been touched throughout the United States

and in developing countries around the world through

shipments made from the Center. Your gift allows this

work to continue. It is due to the generosity of people like

you that MMDC can carry out its mission.

Thank you so much for your support!

In Christ,

Pat Wright

MMDC Executive Director

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Dear Members & Friends of Connersville First,

Please let your loving, kind, and caring

congregation know how much we appreciate your

support. Because of your generous gift of $250.00, more

youth than ever before are finding the love, support, and

structure they need at UMYH. They are learning

important life skills like budgeting, cooking, and how to

find a job.

Thank you again – your support means so much

and makes a world of difference in the life of Indiana’s

troubled teens.

Blessings,

Travis Johnson

Director of Development

United Methodist Youth Home

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MISSIONS…

Second Sunday Giving: for November is to

Grace UMC. Items to donate are boxed

potatoes, stuffing, canned green beans &

canned pumpkin Thank you.

**********************************************************

The FUMC Mission Committee has

distributed $16,702.29 to date in 2017 from your

continuing support of Faith-Promise Second-mile

giving. Thanks to all of you for support of

missions locally, nationally, and internationally.

The needs at all levels continues to be great.

FUMC Mission Committee

2017 FUMC Faith-Promise Mission

Distributions

January through October - $16,702.29

UMCOR International $1500

UMCOR USA $1500

Flood Relief $1000

Africa University $500

Midwest Mission Dist Center $500

Red Bird Mission $500

Henderson Settlement $500

McCurdy Mission $500

Four Corners Mission $500

Frank Sablan Memorials $100

U.M Youth Home $250

U.M. Children’s Home $250

Faith Builders $3200

House of Ruth $500

Hope Center $500

Community Sharing $500

The Haven $500

The Link for Literacy $ 50

Backpack Project $ 200

Anti-drug radio ads $ 298

Fire safety info for schools $ 100

Ramp Project $ 761.91

Local Family Assistance $1908.62

TV Ministry $ 583.76

McCoyisms

by

Shirley Stanley McCoy

Peace of mind comes from knowing that in all

instances you have done all you could do with

what you had and accomplished your potential.

*****************************************************

Nov 14 Rod & Beth Fuller

Nov 24 Jerry & Linda Jones

Nov 28 Richard & Phyllis Smith

********************************************************

Nov 03 Rachael Halleran

Nov 07 Molly Barbee

Nov 08 Carol Clawson

Nov 14 Breece Isaacs

Nov 24 Bette Thielking

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THE SPIRIT OF GIVING…

General

Date Fund Missions Attend

Oct 01 $7338.00 $434.00 97

Oct 08 $2201.00 $39.00 108

Oct 15 $4580.00 $94.00 87

Oct 22 $3554.61 $80.00 77

Oct 29 $2827.00 $ 69.00 80

$20625.61 $716.00

Total $21,341.61

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UP BEAT POEMS BY A BEAT DOWN POET

(IN LOVE WITH LIFE)

By Shirley Stanley McCoy

Song Of Thanksgiving

Smell that tantalizing odor

coming from the kitchen, there

in the oven, turkey, sizzling

Grandma’s tending it with care

On the sideboard, pies are cooling

they’re so good and smell of spice

candied yams and oyster dressing

cake and other food so nice…

There are cousins, aunts and uncles

folks, you don’t see much till when

Thanksgiving Day comes rolling round

we meet to eat and then…

We thank the Lord for all the food

there’s music and we talk

My, how the children grow so fast!

It’s time to take a walk

To coax our food to settle

just so, we can eat again

Thank you, Pilgrims and the Indians

for a peaceful time for men…

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My Influence

My life shall touch a dozen lives

before this day is done;

Leave countless marks for good or ill,

ere sets the evening sun.

So this the wish I always wish,

The prayer I ever pray;

“Lord, may my life help other lives

It touches by the way.”

United Methodist Women

Faith-Hope-Love in Action

Susanna Circle – is meeting Tuesday November 21, 1:30PM, in the church lounge. Hostess: Della King Eve Circle – is meeting Thursday November 16, 6:30 p.m. Church Lounge. Hostess: Jeanna Hushour, Devotions: Lori Klopfenstein, Lesson: Lanie Rose.

World Thank Offerings are due. This is an opportunity for us to respond to God’s abundance and grace with spontaneous gifts of gratitude. Keep a special container and each time you feel God’s blessing in your life – drop some coins in as your way of saying “Thanks” to God. Tasty Luncheon Is Thursday, Nov. 2. We hope to see all of you there. It is a day of fun, fellowship and hard work, but also a day to raise funds to support our missions. We made a total of 322 pounds of noodles this year and the word is they are delicious. Get yours before they’re gone! Did You Know? - Health care for women and children is at the heart of United Methodist Women today, and has been since the organization was founded in the 1800’s. We have built hospitals and clinics and trained medical personnel to work in them. In the U.S., many community centers in our network of national mission institutions provide maternal health services to improve access to care for underserved populations. Services include Pre-natal and postpartum care, parenting support, baby supplies, shelter and legal services, as well as health care. Around the world, we provide access to healthcare, child protection, family planning, cancer screening, educational workshops on healthy teens at risk, basic health, hygiene and disease prevention. Methodist missionaries work as parish nurses, research nurses, physicians, community health directors and volunteer coordinators. United Methodist Women care!

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UMW Upcoming Events

Nov. 18 Leadership Training, Hagerstown United Methodist. Mark your calendars. You do not have to be an officer to attend. Thank you to all who support our Samaritan’s Closet. The most requested items are toilet tissue, laundry detergent and dish soap. Other items are shampoo, bath soap, and deodorant. (While body wash is nice, a bar of soap lasts a lot longer). “A five-word sentence that could change the world tomorrow - “What would love do now?” Neale Donald Walsch

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KIDS/YOUTH

It’s that time of year again! The children/Youth

group are preparing for their Thanksgiving and

Christmas mission projects. Please let me know if

you have a family in mind that could use a little

extra holiday cheer.

There will be a basket at the back of the Sanctuary

for donations. Items requested are boxed instant

potatoes, stove top stuffing, canned corn and

money is always appreciated to help but the

Turkeys.

CALLING ALL YOUNG AT HEART!

On December 23rd, from 6 – 8 p.m. the youth will

be having a live Nativity outside the front entrance

of the church. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please use

the bottom of this form and sign up! All you need is

to spare some time and dress in costume that we

already have!

Please help us give our community a visual of the

true meaning of Christmas.

Yes, I’ll participate.________________________

UMW READING MEMBERS

You may turn in your Reading Program Reporting Form to me anytime now until the end of the year. Please put your name and the number of plan along with what you have read this year on it. Don’t forget Response at the bottom. You are suppose to read the magazine Response along with it. There are always copies in the Library for you. Any questions, see me or call me at 265-2703. Sylvia Gibson, Sec. of Program Resourse. LIBRARY

On one of the of the lower shelves you can find New Additions to the Library. All of them do have a card in them. Please remember to put your name and date on card and lay card in tray on desk. If you are bringing a book back, please lay it on the desk. Do not put the book away yourself. I have not went through all the books on the shelves so if you find a book without a card and want to take the book out, just put your name and name of book on a piece of paper and place In tray. If you find a book without a card but do not want to read it, please lay it on the desk so I will know to put a card in it. Thank you for your help. **********************************************************

On Love

Life is a song – sing it

Life is a game – play it

Life is a challenge – meet it

Life is a dream – realize it

Life is a sacrifice – offer it

Life is love – enjoy it

Sai Baba

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Prayer…

The monthly newsletter and church website list all persons currently on the First Church prayer list. The Sunday worship bulletin lists names that were verbally submitted the previous Sunday, those turned in to the church office the ensuing week, and updates when there is new information. Ryan Caldwell, Cancer Mary Cheek, in Hospice Collin, 17 year old, needs prayer Cord Coyle, needs prayer Mike Devor, Colon Cancer, needs prayer Karen Donselman, recovering, pray for healing Marilee Gabriel, cancer Hilton Henry, doing better, pray for healing Ann Hockersmith, health issues David King, health issues, pray for healing Dick & Carolyn Konstanzer, medical issues Connie Lane, in Hospice care Peggy Locke, recovering from knee surgery Darrell Maines, back problems Nancy Moore, health issues, pray for healing Brian Roberts, Surgery Richard N & Marilyn Smith, keep in prayer Patty Steward (Patty’s mother) Christy Sheehan, cancer treatment Dorothy Sturgis, needs prayer Joe Wheeler, health issues Prayers for: families of: Russ Sidell, Bob Hall & Jesse Sorrell

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him Ps. 28:7

Time For A Change Dr. C. C. Albertson once wrote this about the use of time: “It might be wise for us to take a little inventory of our resources as to time and review our habits of using it. There are 168 hours in each week. Fifty-six of these we spend in sleep. Of the remaining 112 hours, we devote 48 to labor. This leaves 64 hours, of which let us assign 12 hours for our daily meals…We have left 52 hours, net, of conscious active life to devote to any purpose to which we are inclined. Is it too much to say that God requires a tithe of this free time? One tenth of 52 hours is 5.2 hours. How much of this tenth of time do we devote to strictly to God? If one allowed an hour for church and an hour for a Bible Study or prayer meeting each week, he would still have 192 minutes a week – enough for nearly a half hour each day in prayer and Bible reading. Such a person would still have more than 45 hours a week for life’s chores and personal fun! The old excuse, “I have too little time,” doesn’t fly. What is most often the case: too little planning of the time we have! And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 2 Corinthians 12:15

Invest Wisely

We all have a bank account of time. Every morning, we are given the prospect of 86,400 seconds. At the close of that twenty-four hour period, the moments you have failed to withdraw and invest to good purpose are ruled off your ledger. Time carries no balance from day to day. It allows no overdrafts. Each day, a new account is opened to you. If you fail to withdraw and use the day’s deposit, it’s your loss. Those who truly love life use time to the maximum. Make your days count rather than counting your days!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

54TH ANNUAL

TASTY LUNCHEON

LUCH 11 AM—1 PM

CRAFTS 9 AM—2 PM

CSI 6—8PM

LOUNGE

3 4

SET CLOCK BACK 1-HR

HANDBELL PRACTICE

9—1PM

WEDDING RECEPTION

5 HOSPITLITY 9:30AM

WORSHIP

EVERY SUNDAY 10:00AM

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

CHARGE CONFERENCE

5:00PM

6 WOMEN’S BIBLE

EVERY MONDAY

HANDBELL PRACTICE

5:00P– 7:00M

EVERY MONDAY

THIS MONTH

7 HANDBELL PRACTICE

5:30PM

CHANCEL CHOIR

PRACTICE 7:00PM

EVERY TUESDAY

8 9 OFFICE CLOSED

EVERY THURSDAY

C LINIC 6:00PM

10 11

ADOU 1—4PM

LOUNGE

JOYCE PEAK

12 GUEST PASTOR

REV STEVE SEITZ

COMMUNITY DINNER

1ST PRESBYTERIAN

5:00 PM

13 PASTOR OUT

TRUSTEE MEETING

6:30PM

14 PASTOR OUT

SUSANNA CIRCLE

1:30PM, lOUNGE

15 PASTOR OUT 16

EVE CIRCLE

6:30PM LOUNGE

JEANNA HUSHOUR

HOSTESS

17 18

19

WORSHIP—COMMUNION

HANDBELL—PRELUDE

20

COMMUNITY

THAKSGIVING SERVICE

CALVARY BAPTIST

7:00PM

21 22 23 24 OFFICE CLOSED 25

26 GUEST PASTOR

TIM DAVIS

27 28 29 30

NOVEMBER, 2017