THE STIDHAM STORY NOVEMBER Phone

Transcription

1 THE STIDHAM STORY NOVEMBER 2018 Phone

2 MESSAGE FROM PASTOR MIKE Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father in everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19 A common theme in scripture is for Christians to give thanks in all circumstances. The attitude of thankfulness opens up the human spirit. It allows us to see good when others see bad. It sets the stage for us to receive greater blessings from God than we ever thought possible. The opposite of gratefulness and thanksgiving is that of complaining and grumbling. When things do not go our way, it is so easy to complain. It can feel good to complain. When something happens in our life we did not expect or want it is so easy to grumble to family, friends, and neighbors. All of us have choices in life. How we view events, situations, and people can make the quality of our life better or it can make it worse. How we choose to respond to situations impacts not just ourselves, but also people who are part of our life. The first thanksgiving came after a devastating year in which most of Plymouth Colony died. Yet those who made it through did not focus on the difficulty of the preceding year. Rather they focused the future and how good God had been to them. Perhaps they may have understood that attitude from the Old Testament book of Lamentations. Jeremiah the prophet wrote: Because of the Lord s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22, 23, NIV). In the midst of unspeakable and horrific destruction, Jeremiah choose to focus on the goodness of God. Thanksgiving allows us to be adaptable. It changes us from being victims to becoming an over comers. We rise above events and situations. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, we discover the goodness of God and life. A Confederate soldier of the Civil War is credited with this little poem: I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed. 2

3 CHARGE CONFERENCE WHEN: MONDAY NIGHT NOVEMBER 5 PLACE: STOCKWELL UMC 6941 CHURCH ST. STOCKWELL, IN TIME: 7:00PM CHURCHES ATTENDING ARE: JACKSON HEIGHTS ROMNEY UMC STIDHAM UMC STOCKWELL UMC If questions, please see Pastor Mike &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& NORTHWEST DISTRICT MEETING When: Sunday November 11 Where: Monticello UMC 200 S. Main St. Monticello, IN Time: 3:17pm The United Methodist Bishop will be attending. If questions, please see Pastor Mike 3

4 1 Keith Butler NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY S NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARY Joe & Jackie Newkirk 2 Cody Newkirk Karen Wethington 4- Reagan Carmichael 7 Paula Dillard 12 Jude Carmichael 18 Larry Hand 19 Connie Standiford 23 Tiffany Miller %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Thoughts for the Day I will look for sign s of God s faithfulness today. Jesus calls all people to follow him no resume required. I am always surrounded by God s protective power. Nothing can prevent me God. from spending time with 4

5 Dear Heavenly Father, PRAYER LIST We ask that you be with all that are on our prayer list, those who are going through health, issues, personal struggles, and other worries they may have. Let us show our faith and our love to one another each and every day. Amen Denice Hoffman Family, Liz co-worker of Tera Driscol, Laurie Pushor, Sharon Allen, Margaret Cummins & Family, Steve Plantenga Family, Bruce Fry, Nancy Thayer Family, Paula Dillard Family, Mary Butler, Rachel Miller Family, Adam Carmichael Family, Wilma Osterhoff, Tim Powers Family, Doris Carlton, Chris Jacobs-Newman, Judy Gainey, Mary Ezra, The Springer Family, Lucy Keller, Bonnie Watts, Pat Baugh, Naomi Weaver, Mark Henderson, Our Community, Our Military and Our World Leaders, The United Methodist Conference and the people involved in it and those who are prayed for silently. NAMES AND ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF SHUT INS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND A CARD Pat Baugh 2741 N. Salisbury St. West Lafayette, IN Phone : Jean Bennett 3913 Harry Ave. Lafayette, IN Phone: Mary Ezra Ste Park East Blvd. Lafayette, IN Phone: Lucy Keller 5027 N. Possum Hollow Rd. Attica, IN Phone: Virginia Perkins c/o Creasy Springs 1750 S. Creasy Lane Lafayette, IN Phone: Bonnie Watts 1745 Mill Pond Lane Lafayette, IN Phone: Mary Butler 525 E. 500 S. Lafayette, IN Doris Carlton 1029 W. 500 S. Lafayette, IN Phone: Betty Meeker Apt. # Umerton St. Largo, FL Wilma Osterhoff Rm#114 c/o The Springs 2402 South St. Lafayette, IN Phone:

6 FAMILY GAME NIGHT FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9 6:00-8:30PM here in Fellowship Hall. Main course, drinks, table service furnished. Please bring a side dish or dessert. Come and enjoy the food, fellowship and ATT: BAKED STEAK DINNER RESULTS SHEET WILL THE LAST PAGE OF THE NEWSLETTER. SEE PASTORAL CHANGES LETTER AT THE END OF NEWSLETTER ALSO IN REFERENCE TO NEEDING HELP WITH THE APPORTIONMENTS. THANK YOU 6

7 THINGS GOING ON IN THE CHURCH IN November 2018 Helping Hand Sunday November 4, Please mark the pew envelope ( Helping Hand ) Holy Communion -Sunday November 4 Choir Practice Wednesday Night November 7,14,21,28 7:00pm Lighthouse Prayer Group Thursday Mornings November 1,8,15,29, 10:30am Family Game Night Friday November 9, 6:00pm-8:30pm (See page 7) Charge Conference Monday Night November 5, 7:00pm at Stockwell UMC (See page 4) Northwest District Meeting Sunday November 11, 3:17pm at Monticello UMC (See page 4) Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday November 25, following Worship Service. Turkey, Drinks, Table service furnished. Please bring a side dish & dessert. A sign-up sheet with will be put out on the table in Fellowship Hall to order Poinsettia s on Sunday November 4. Last day to order will be Sunday November 25. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% FOOD ITEMS NEEDED FOR OUR FOOD CART EACH MONTH January Cash Donations February Canned Meat or Tuna March Spaghetti Sauce (No glass jars) or Noodles April- Paper Products May Cash Donations June Canned Fruit July Macaroni & Cheese August Paper Products September Cash Donations October Peanut Butter November Soup & Crackers December Oatmeal or Cereal Thank you for your help to fill our food cart. 7

8 Every Kernel I usually sit down to write to you during the day, but here I am at 9:00 pm with a blank sheet of paper and a bowl of popcorn. The weather has turned brisk and the furnace is running. I have already seen snowflakes this season. Still the grass keeps growing. I look at the beautiful grains of corn, popped to perfection. Oh! There are some grains that didn t get the message! This reminds me of myself. I have not responded well on many occasions. I need to look inward for the magic that pops the corn. I buy pop-corn that is microwave receptive. How do I prepare myself to be Christian receptive? Sometimes the popped corn is in huge kernels and I think I must be on the right train of thought. Then I reach into the bowl and out comes a kernel that is half popped. It must explain the times I have not used an idea or a deed I did not complete to the best of my ability. If I wish to contribute to special programs, I give over and above my pledge to support the daily life of this church. I can not choose one part above the other. All the grains of pop-corn are a part of the bowl and all are needed to fill it to the rim. In 1 st Corinthians 15:58 Paul writes to those that follow Christ Jesus this quote; Therefore my dear brothers (and sisters) stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. The 23 rd Psalm reminds me in verse 5; My cup overflows. My bowl of pop-corn is full of every event that comes into my vision. How full is your bowl of giving and receiving? Pop some pop-corn and remember me. I find un-popped kernels and I remember the opportunity I missed being a good and faithful servant of my Lord. I missed a smile, a phone call, responding to a kindness, writing a thankyou letter, sending a get-well card or a condolence to a grieving friend. My granddaughter, Laura, is an artist. She knows I like to write. She wants to be the first recipient of a letter written on stationery she designed for me. It is beautiful. I will comply with her desire, wishing her a happy birthday that occurs very soon. She gave me a huge kernel of pop-corn. Love and prayers, Betty Greene Scripture from NIV version, B Greene I received a letter from the finance secretary of my church, Stidham UMC. It explains the financial needs of the church. If I give to Specials Projects and don t give to needs of the whole church I am not supporting these needs heat and electricity; telephone and computer; internet and copy machine; everything that keeps the office open and operating, bookkeeper and secretary; the music of the church needs; an organist and music director; a custodian; a nursery attendant; the pastor is paid for being a 8