Inviting people to be in relationship with Jesus

Transcription

1 Traditional Worship Service - 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship Service - 10:30 AM JULY 2016 Inviting people to be in relationship with Jesus Attending By Charles Martindell A recent statistic about church involvement caught my eye and led to further investigation. According to multiple sources, the average United Methodist attends 1.7 worship services per month. As a friend of mine once observed: Fortunately we are not average! So things like this do not apply to us!!. Nevertheless, a very informative piece of information. Even in our day of nearly unlimited options for activity and things to be involved with, there are still some folks who are connected to God through their church, for whom every Sunday worship is a priority, but the days of attending worship every Sunday are gone (at least for the majority of people). This is not meant to be a judgment, just an observation. We live in a society that squeezes every minute from our lives. Sometimes I feel some concern about the new trends in church attendance, but more than that I want to focus on gratitude. I am grateful for those who are able and who live out their church covenant on Sundays whenever their work schedules permit them to do so. I am grateful for young adults, with children, that make the heroic effort to get everyone ready for Sunday worship or Rock City, or other things offered to help our children learn of God's love through Jesus. I am grateful for college students that take the time to worship on Sundays when possible, and connect with their church family when they are home. I'm grateful for families and people of all ages, who consider that one hour on Sunday mornings as an important part of what it means to be well-connected to God and to their church family, often scheduling other family events for later in the day. I'm also grateful for people who experience our services through DVD recordings or through the audio recordings on our website. And I'm thankful for our Facebook page friends who often click like after reading a status update or thought for the day. As a church family, I hope that we can continue to be mindful of (and praying for) those who do not attend worship or participate in the life of the church at all. What would happen if everyone in attendance this Sunday were to invite one person to join them for worship the following Sunday? What would our sanctuary look like if everyone invited, accepted the invitation? What if only half of those invited agreed to attend? Would we be disappointed if only five or six visitors joined us? Of course not. But here's a question for the committed members of our church: When was the last time you invited anyone to attend a worship service or an event of any kind (activity, Candlelight service, special meal or celebration, etc.)? We try to be welcoming and invitational in a number of ways, and I am very grateful for that. Let's take a look at actually inviting someone to join us on a Sunday too. I am always willing to try and answer questions and talk about our faith in God through Jesus Christ, for anyone who joins us! Thank you to everyone who helps us be a welcoming, hospitable church who shares the wonderful good news of God's love through word and deed... and through an invitation to worship too.

2 Minda God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 Michelle Gehrt is the Outreach Director at Crossroads Church. Earlier this year she contacted me about a huge outreach/serving opportunity called IMPACT Week. She is a dynamic woman who is on fire for the Lord. Her enthusiasm was contagious. I asked her to explain more about this program for this month's Serving Segment. At the end of her explanation is a website that lists over a hundred ways to serve that week. The commitment can be as large or small as your schedule allows. I am excited to hear about all of your experiences! IMPACT WEEK by Michelle Gehrt We are near that time of year again where we will love on the city by serving it. IMPACT Week is held July 17th- 24th this year, and we are looking forward to serving with you! You may be wondering, "What is IMPACT Week?" IMPACT Week is not just a week to serve; it is a week to find your heart. This is a week that is set aside to reach out to our community and surrounding city to make a difference in the lives of others. This is our chance to invade the city with kindness and love and to take the love of God to the people. With over 140 different serve opportunities from all over the city, Lithopolis, Pickerington, Groveport, Bloom Carroll, Canal Winchester, Lancaster and Columbus, Ohio seeds will be planted in many lives. Serving is not an obligation or duty. Serving is a lifestyle! We are called to be God s hands and feet because it is exactly what Jesus did. When Jesus left the Disciples, He commanded them to make more Disciples. These orders were called the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20) We have created over 140 events so that you can try more than one event and find your place. Most of the events are family friendly so that you can be the example for your family, meet others in your church and grow spiritually through random acts of kindness. We are called to be the church. You do not have to be a leader to lead the way. God has called you to reach out to others. When you do this, following His lead makes you a leader. The church is called to reach the needs of the broken and hurting world. Our culture is to show the love of God in practical ways while making the dreams of others come true. Our lives should reflect a deep commitment to and love for the Lord. John 8:31 says: If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." IMPACT Week is a way to grow in your faith and your love for the Lord. Join us July 17th-24th and help us be the change the world is waiting for! For more information contact Michelle Gehrt at: michelle.gehrt@crossroads.tv or ext. 327.

3 Youth Pastor Info Bill Weaver office: cell: Ministry Newsletter Effectively inspire and equip students to develop a faith of their own JULY 2016 High School Youth Sundays 6:30-8:30pm Meet at the Youth House Open to 9 th 12 th grades *Not July 3 rd or 17 th or 24 th * Middle School Youth Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm Meet at the Youth House Open to 6 th 8 th grades *Not July 6 th or 20 th * :00pm Meet at the Church s Gym Open to 6 th 12 th grades Time of Open Gym *August 12 th * Week of July 3 rd No Youth Group Meetings Week of July 17 th No Youth Group Meetings July 25 th -29 th VBS Week at the church (volunteers needed) July 27 th Outdoor Youth Combo Night open to all Youth Week of August 7 th move-up week for new 6 th & 9 th graders Week of August 7 th Mission: Possible 5 week series begins Week of September 11 th Spiritual Disciplines 4 week series begins Week of October 9 th No Youth Group Meetings Week of October 16 th The Bible 5 week series begins Week of November 20 th No Youth Group Meetings Week of November 27 th Miracles 4 week series begins Week of December 25 th No Youth Group Meetings Week of January 1 st No Youth Group Meetings January 13 th -16 th Youth Winter Retreat at Oasis Christian Center in Franklin, KY PARENTS We invite you to sign-up to receive a weekly sharing what we are teaching each week, what questions you can ask your child each week, and what will be taught the following week. To be put on this list, please send an to bill@lithopolisumc.org and put in the subject line list and then in the body part of the your name(s) and your child(ren) s name..

4 Rock City - ALL children age 3/4 through 5 th grades are welcome in Rock City. CHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIES DIRECTOR Christy Arnett christy@lithopolisumc.org (614) Since Rock City is growing every week we are in need of volunteers. Any one 6 th grade and up is welcome to help on Sunday mornings. We have many jobs and helping an hour or so a month is a great way to interact with these children. If you are interested or want more information contact Christy Arnett at or christy@lithopolisumc.org. It is never too late to volunteer!! You will get a really nice t-shirt too. Below are some areas of need: 1. Sign up to rock/hold babies in the nursery. 2. Sign up to become a small group assistant. 3. Sign up to be a Good Shepherd for Rock City. 4. Donate Snacks N RSERY NEWS We have an Infant Nursery (birth - walking) and a Toddler Nursery (walking-potty trained). At age 3 or 4 if they are ready to move to Rock City they are welcome too. We have been letting some of the 3 year olds come to Rock City to sing the songs and join in the lesson if they would like to. These 3 year olds need to be potty trained and can join Rock City if they are ready for a little more structured lesson. Please see your Nursery care providers with any questions. If you would like to donate snacks to our nursery, they can use animal crackers, pretzels, cheerios and graham crackers. THANK YOU to all of you who have donated. July, 20 th at 5:30 p.m. We will be doing some crafts with all ages of children. If you would like to help with this please let me know. Please Join Us!! christy@lithopolisumc.org

5 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 9am-Noon JULY 25 TH - 29 TH 3yrs. to 5 th grade ( ) school year SUPER SENIORS FUN GROUP Meets the second Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the MMC (Multi Ministry Center) All you have to do is fix a covered dish and show up for food, fun & fellowship. The next Super Seniors is May 12 th. Come & Join the Fun! Calling All Cooks! The Lithopolis United Methodist Women s organization is putting together a cookbook as a fundraiser, and we d love to include your favorite recipes: main dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts, breads, confections anything that you would care to share! We are also looking for special dietary needs recipes, such as gluten-free or diabetic. If you have kidfriendly recipes, we would like to include those in a special section called Rock City Kids Cook. Please submit any recipes you would like to include to Angie Rickly, either by at arickly124@gmail.com or in person. You can also drop off recipes at the Connection Center. Please be sure to include your name on your recipes. We would like all recipes submitted by August 15 th.

6 Trash & Treasure Sale Sponsored by the Lithopolis United Methodist Women Friday, August 5th Saturday, August 6th 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM 9:00 AM to Noon In the LUMC Multi-Ministry Center $2 a bag on Saturday It s time to clean out those closets, basements, garages, and other places where we accumulate stuff! If you no longer need or use it, someone else probably can. So please consider donating those items to the LUMC Trash & Treasure Sale! If you need to arrange pick-up of large items, you can call Cindy at or at clwmos96@gmail.com to schedule a pick-up time. The MMC will be open for donations starting on Sunday, July 31, at 1 PM, and daily from 9 AM until 9 PM on Monday, August 1st through Wednesday, August 3rd. Last drop-off time is Wednesday at 9 PM. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!!! We need help sorting items from Sunday through Thursday prior to the sale, during the sale on Friday and Saturday, and for cleanup on Saturday afternoon following the sale. ALL LUMC members and friends are encouraged to volunteer to support this annual event and fundraiser! We have opportunities that can fit into nearly everyone s schedule. If you can help out, you can let us know by indicating that on your Connection Card on Sundays during July, or by ing Cindy Wilson at clwmos96@gmail.com or calling Help us meet our goal of donating $8,000 to the Canal Winchester Community Food Pantry Building Fund and provide support to other important ministries! Wednesday, August 3 rd will be Trash & Treasure Youth Volunteer Day! We will be serving pizza for dinner that evening at 5:30 PM just before middle school youth group as a thank you to our youth volunteers! High schoolers are welcome too!

7 Come, enjoy and invite your neighbors and friends for food, fellowship & fun activities for the kids! Donations are accepted but not expected. ON THE MENU: BBQ Pork Sandwiches WEDNESDAY NIGHT COMMUNITY DINNER Here at LUMC 5:30 PM, July 20 th in the Multi Ministry Center If you have questions or would like to help please contact the Church Office at or

8 SCHEDULES FOR JULY /3 7/10 7/17 7/24 7/31 Acolytes 9am Ben Warner Zach Warner Eli Rickly Good Shepherd 9:00am Good Shepherd 10:15am Greeters 9am George Tootle Gail Murry Jessie Mills Marlys Fergus Sandi Ritchey Michael Smith Mike Taylor Cathy Burden Muriel Beers Cindy Jensen Bruce & Bunny Palmer, Anna & Richard Beller Mike Smith Cindy Wilson Barbara & Charles Morrison Pam & Steve Schilling, Carla Jacobs John Cline Mike Lehman Sandi Ritchey, John Cline Carla Jacobs Laura Fritz Susan Williams Carla Jacobs Ken Lysinger Greeters 10:30am Well-Wishers 11:30am Connections 8:30am Jodi Brown Rachel Swisher Muriel Beers Lauren Schell Susan Williams Bunny Palmer Jodi Brown Rachel Swisher Muriel Beers Lauren Schell Brenda Thacker Bonnie Sallee Eric Reisbeck Ty Hart Cathy Burden Katy Farley Diane Price Zan Price Eric Riesbeck Ty Hart Cathy Burden Katy Farley Kathy Spencer Emily Miller Aaron Farley Todd Lilley Mike Loeffler Brian Malinowski Lynn Whetstone Bunny Palmer Connections 10:00am Shelley Gallion Sandy Tootle Sandy Tootle Galil Murry Marvis Eshler Elizabeth Jones Cindy Wilson Shelley Gallion Ruth Blauser Kathy Spencer Amy Sestito Karen Tennant Gail Murry Marvis Eshler Ushers 9:00am Jess Mills Paul Speakman David Smith Frank Ventresca Jess Mills Paul Speakman David Smith Frank Ventresca Jess Mills Paul Speakman David Smith Frank Ventresca Jess Mills Paul Speakman David Smith Frank Ventresca Jess Mills Paul Speakman David Smith Frank Ventresca Ushers 10:30am Aaron & Aubry Shaw, Brenda Fowler, Jim Coffman Aaron & Aubry Shaw, Brenda Fowler, Jim Coffman Aaron & Aubry Shaw, Brenda Fowler, Jim Coffman Aaron & Aubry Shaw, Brenda Fowler, Jim Coffman Aaron & Aubry Shaw, Brenda Fowler, Jim Coffman NURSERY ATTENDANTS - Lisa Hovendick, Jan Jones, Stephanie Lysinger, Brenda Perry, April Totten, Kris Creviston, Kristy Lilley, Mary West and Brenda Fisher are our regular Nursery Attendants. Stacia Nepa is our Nursery Coordinator. They rotate Sundays and special events so that our children always recognize a face in the nursery.

9 LUMC Attendance & Financial Giving Information for JUNE 2016 Combined Attendance 6/5 6/12 6/19 6/26 Worship Our Gifts Capital Funds $5,540 $1,630 $2,673 $1,819 General Contributions $24, $8, $8, $8, LITHOPOLIS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PASTORAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Charles Martindell Pastor Charles@lithopolisumc.org Carl Spencer Administrative Pastor Carl@lithopolisumc.org Bill Weaver Associate Pastor Bill@lithopoilsumc.org Christy Arnett Director of Children and Family Ministries christyarnett@ymail.com Stacia Nepa Nursery Coordinator Stacia@lithopolisumc.org Collins Cranmer Contemporary Service Worship Leader Collins.Cranmer@igelco.ocm Amy Bratton Treasurer Amy@lithopolisumc.org Shelly Horn Administrative Assistant Shelly@lithopolisumc.org Kimberly Weaver Connections Coordinator Kimberly@lithopolisumc.org Karen Martindell Minister of Visitation Karen@lithopolisumc.org Worship Co-Tech Coordinator Karen@lithopolisumc.org Michael Whetstone Worship Co-Tech Coordinator Toolandtime@yahoo.com Pastoral Care & Counseling Needs Pastor Charles Martindell, Bill Weaver or Karen Martindell * charles@lithopolisumc.org * bill@lithopolisumc.org * Karen@lithopolisumc.org Licensed Professional Christian Counseling Always Hope Counseling, LLC Kathy Spencer, MA, PC * alwayshopecounseling123@gmail.com (Fee based on ability to pay)

10 Inviting people to be in relationship with Jesus and each other so lives and communities are changed Lithopolis United Methodist Church 80 N. Market St., P.O. Box 42 Lithopolis, OH Phone: Fax: Find us on Facebook: Lithopolis United Methodist Church Follow us on Twitter: LithopolisUMC Website: THE LITHOPOLIS LINK Linking Church and Home JULY 2016