MCPHERNOTES A NEWSLETTER OF THE MCPHERSON FREE METHODIST CHURCH — AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2012

1010 S Maple St - McPherson KS 67460 241-7176 (Office) - 241-7179 (Outreach)

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Deborah Somerville

Senior Pastor dsomerville@macfmc.org

For almost four years a group of volunteers has

participated in a 48-hour prayer initiative on the first

and second day of every month, praying around the

clock for two full days. Coordinator Tammy Rose, in

consultation with the pastoral team, has been faithful

to compose and send the prayer focus month to month

by email.

Beginning in September, the prayer team will be

reorganized to allow others to come on board. The new

format will eliminate the 48-hour, first-two-days-of-the

-month structure and alert the team members to

prayer concerns as they arise throughout the month.

Email will be the first line of communication; for those

who do not have email capability, a phone tree will be

established as needed. NOTE: If you have served on

the 48-hour prayer team, your name will NOT

automatically be placed on this new team. You must

“re-up.”

Signing on to this prayer effort includes some

expectations:

Participants strive to maintain disciplined, healthy

prayer and devotional lives.

Participants avail themselves of the opportunity to

worship regularly with the body of Christ.

Accuracy of information, confidentiality, and the

range of information must be honored by all on the

team.

Team members must participate in quarterly

training/vision-casting meetings with Pastor Deb

(60-75 minutes, four times a year). In addition,

various articles and practices in prayer will be

shared monthly by email to help encourage and

equip prayer team members.

Sign up by notifying the church office with your name

and preferred email address (or phone number if you

do not have email). The deadline to sign on is

Monday, September 10. The first Prayer Team

Training will be held Sunday, September 16, at 5:00

in the church parlor.

As of Monday, August 20, Beth

Schimke assumed the role of Office

Manager for the McPherson Free

Methodist Church. She replaces

Staci Jackson who capably served

in the position for one year and is

relocating to California with her

husband Doug in September. Beth

is a native of Tucson, Arizona, but has lived in

McPherson since her arrival as a freshman at

Central Christian College in 2006. She graduated in

2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in history and a minor

in English. Since graduation she has served as

Senior Admissions Counselor at her alma mater.

Beth was a member of the MFMC missions team

that traveled to Haiti in June. Her time with the

students, the people of Haiti, and the other adult

sponsors was extremely meaningful. She looks

forward to getting to know more of the church family

and the other ministries within the McPherson

community in the months ahead. She also

anticipates her marriage to Andy Baird in Tucson on

December 29 of this year. Andy, Beth, Corrin and

Addie will reside on South Walnut

in McPherson as of January of

2013.

Dawn Young came on board as

the half-time Middle School

Coordinator, August 20. Dawn,

husband Wes and daughter Taiya

moved to McPherson last August.

Continued on page 2...

PRAYER TEAM REORGANIZATION

New Ministry Team Members

Dallas Burgeson

Associate Pastor of

Worship and

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Adult Ministry P. Thomas Mayse

Pastor of Adult

Christian Education

and Visitation

FINDING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

after serving 16 years at Sky Lodge Christian Camp

in Montello, WI. While there she was program

facilitator for ten years, moving to program director

where she administered multiple programming

elements and communicated regularly with students

and their families. She recruited and trained college

students as supervisors and disciplers, planned and

managed numerous retreats year-round, and

mentored many students. She was also a volunteer

youth leader at her local church while serving at Sky

Lodge. Dawn is a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical

University with a Bachelor of Science in Bible and

emphasis in Christian camping.

The middle school students of MFMC are fortunate

to come under Dawn’s leadership. She will work

alongside Pastor Zach to coordinate various JOLT!

events and develop meaningful relationships with

the students and their families. She is creative, well

organized, a strategic thinker, a hard worker, and

works well with a team.

Day, and will consist of three “family units” taking a

turn each month in hosting the other two families in

an environment of food and fellowship. Interested?

Find out more by contacting Karen Mayse, Marie

Alexander, or Margie Hargadine.

“GOOD GRIEF” On September 16 we begin a new session of “Good

Grief.” This will be a twelve week series using

“Understanding your Grief” by Alan D. Woldfelt. The

group will meet during the Sunday school hour

beginning at 9:15. Pastor Tom Mayse will be the group

leader and Facilitator. If you have experienced a major

loss and are dealing with grief, this will be a good place

to receive support and encouragement. The class will

meet in room 223.

TEACH US TO PRAY Pastor Deb Somerville leads this prayer group on

Wednesdays at 6:30 in the Parlor. Prayer is essential in

terms of Christian discipleship and many have found

this group to be a source of spiritual encouragement.

VOLUNTEER VISITATION There are currently a dozen adults who assist in reach-

ing out to others that have difficulty attending church

services. If you are interested in visitation, please

contact Sondra Walker at 241-8664.

MEMBERSHIP CLASS Keep and eye out for more information regarding the

membership class which will begin in late September.

Taking the class does not obligate you to become a

member but provides a good overview of church history

and the privileges of membership.

FAMILY DINNERS This fall, make new connections and friendships with

people in the congregation by participating in “Family

Dinners.” As a part of our “Family Matters” series,

which will continue through the fall, we see Family

Dinners as an exercise of community within the

Family of God. These dinners will begin after Labor

Adult Christian Education and Visitation is

supportive of the upcoming

Family Dinners. We are involved in the development of this

Outreach Ministry. Please sign up

FALL SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES

Homeward Bound—“Partners with Paul; Job: Will I

Trust Him; James: Just Do It” led by Jerry

Fithan and Merril McHenry. (Parlor)

BYKOTA—“Partners with Paul; Job: Will I Trust Him;

James: Just Do It” led by Dean Smidderks and

Phil Urquiola (Room 201)

Philathean—“Partners with Paul; Job: Will I Trust

Him; James: Just Do It” led by Boyd Walker

and Phil Nelson (Room 222)

Christian Perspecitves— “Good Grief” led by Pastor

Tom Mayse (Room 223)

BASIC— “World Religions” led by Bob Green, Jeff

Johnson, and Mike Craig (Upper Room)

Bridge Builders—“Believing What We Believe” led

by Bob Bailey and Glenn Lorenz (Room 224)

Pathways—“Bible Study” led by Chris Smith

(Room 225)

Young & Restless—“Romans” led by John Steers

(College Room)

NEW MINISTRY TEAM MEMBERS (Continued from page 1)

Play dates For Ages 3-k

August 7, 9, 16, 23, and 30;

September 6, 13, and 20 Please note: No play dates August 2, or September 27.

FIELD TRIP On September 20 we will go on a field trip to Dairy

Queen where will we take a tour and make our own

ice cream cones!

MARKETPLACE IS BACK Weekly Wednesday programming for 3’s—grade 5 begins

Wednesday, September 5. The Gator Slide will be set up

in the Fellowship Hall for all to enjoy. Children gather in

the Tree House Room at 6:00 p.m. for pizza and goodies at

a cost of $1.00. Grade-specific breakout groups begin at

6:30:

Age three, three-year-old room

Ages 4, 5 and K, Rooms 226-228

Grades 1-5, Tree House Room

The theme for the first five weeks for grades 1-5 is One

Says “Thank You.” Later in the fall the focus will turn to

Jesus’ Big Words, as well as an Advent focus entitled The

Angels Announce God’s Message.

BREAKFAST AT JAN’S Register NOW for a fun morning at Jan’s on Saturday,

September 15. Breakfast will be served (donuts, cereal,

juice) and children will enjoy some fun Fall crafts. Call

242-6775 today to register.

JAN AND DANNY The O’Dells will attend the KidMin Children’s Ministry

Conference September 27-October 2 in Chicago, Illinois.

Renewed passion, deeper learning, and authentic

conversations mean that the participants don’t just sit in a

chair, listen, and leave. They zoom in, grapple, and dig

throughout four days of fresh ideas and topics that really

matter to those who lead children’s ministry programs.

THANK YOU VBS Staff – Thank you all for your dedication to minister

to so many children in July. It was an amazing five days

and we were able to plant many seeds during the week.

Congregation – Thank you for your generous snack and

craft donations as well as your prayers and encouragement

that helped make this year’s VBS so impactful.

A GREAT WAY TO MINISTER TO CHILDREN

Are you looking for a way to minister? You can join the fun

as a helper on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30 for ages

3,4,5 and K; or you can be a Center Leader for grades 1-5.

Curriculum is provided for Center Leaders. Call Jan

(242-6775) to learn more and get involved.

Children & Youth Zach Fleming

Pastor of Student

Ministries

Jan O’Dell

Children’s

Ministry Director

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CHILDREN’S EVENTS Dear Parents,

I’m excited to announce Dawn Young as our Middle

School Coordinator. Dawn comes to us with a lot of youth

ministry experience, and a passion to see middle schoolers

come to know Jesus and find their place in the church.

Below is a brief introduction from Dawn herself. I

encourage you to seek Dawn out and welcome her to the

team!

Grace & Peace,

Zach Fleming

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

Hi! My name is Dawn Young and I’m the new

Middle School Coordinator at the Free Methodist Church.

I understand the weight of the responsibility I am

undertaking and promise to do so intentionally, with a

sense of humor, and in union with our Savior, Jesus

Christ.

My family and I moved to McPherson in August of 2011

after serving at a Free Methodist camp in Wisconsin for

16 years. My husband Wesley, who is a Central College

graduate, remembers this community fondly as a good

place to raise a family. In the past year we have found

that sentiment to be true. Taiya is entering first grade at

Lincoln Elementary school where she is making friends

and receiving a great education.

After taking a year off, I am excited to work with students

again. I enjoy their fun loving spirit and love of

community. The hallmark of our middle school ministry

will be patiently and creatively communicating that God

is exceptionally fond of each and every middle school

student. The goal being that when a student graduates

from JOLT! they will be trained to process everything in

their lives through the truth of God’s unending,

uncompromising, unchanging love for them. As one of

God’s spokesmen in the lives of these students, I will be

their #1 fan as they maneuver the ups and downs of early

adolescence.

Please join me in praying for the youth of our church. And

if you’re interested in volunteering in the middle school

ministry, come talk to me!

Sincerely,

Dawn Young

YOUTH MINISTRY UPDATE

22 7:30 pm BOA Meeting

24 11:00 am 24 Hours of Prayer

26 6:00 pm Bishops Live Vision Cast

26 7:00 pm Back to School Movie Night (Youth Area)

August:

4 6:30 pm Back to School Movie Night (Youth Area)

5 7:30 pm Pastor’s Cabinet

6 7:00 pm Missions Committee Meeting

9 12:00 pm Newcomers’ Luncheon

10 4:30 pm 6:00 pm

Outreach McPherson Team Meeting First night of FPU (Dining Room)

12 8:15 pm Trustees’ Meeting

19 7:30 pm Finance Committee Meeting

21 6:00 pm Girls Movie Night at Jan’s (308 N Elm)

26 7:30 pm BOA Meeting

September:

SUN 9:15 am

10:30 am 7:00 pm

Sunday School (various locations) Worship Service (Sanctuary) Remix (High School)

MON 6:00 pm Financial Peace University (Dining Room)

TUE 6:30 am 1:00 pm

Play Date at Jan’s (308 N Elm) Staff Meeting (Church Office)

WED

6:30 pm

7:30 pm

Teach us to Pray (Parlor) Marketplace (Begins September 5) Jolt (Begins September 5) Celebration Choir (Choir Room) Worship Band Practice (Sanctuary)

THU 8:00 am 9:00 am

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) Play Date at Jan’s (308 N Elm)

SAT 7:00 am Men’s Prayer Group (Dining Rm)

Weekly Events:

As a general note, all “thank you” notes and

announcements are posted and regularly updated

on the bulletin board in the lobby. If you would like

an item included, contact Staci in the church office.

Going Deeper Women’s Retreat Join us for Faithful, Abundant, True—a rich study

from Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, & Priscilla Shirer

Friday, Nov. 2: 6-9pm

Saturday, Nov. 3: 9am-7pm

More details coming soon!

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY For several years this church has hosted Financial

Peace University and the next round of classes will

begin September 10. Many have found this to be a

useful set of tools for financial stewardship. Sign up

in the church office today—deadline is August 31.

Deborah Somerville

Senior Pastor

dsomerville@macfmc.org

Dallas Burgeson

Associate Pastor

dburgeson@macfmc.org

Zach Fleming Pastor of Student Ministries

zfleming@macfmc.org

Jan O’Dell Children’s Ministry Director

jodell@macfmc.org

P. Thomas Mayse

Pastor of Visitation

tmayse@macfmc.org

Dawn Young

Middle School Coordinator

dyoung@macfmc.org

Beth Schimke

Office Manager

bschimke@macfmc.org