Bring People to Jesus to Know Him and Make Him Known!

Transcription

1 Bring People to Jesus to Know Him and Make Him Known! Hi there! Wasn t the Devotion great today?! HAPPY! Thanks for living as an exceptional Easter Person! Thanks for all you do to help us focus all our resolve and resources on Bringing People to Jesus to Know Him and Make Him Known! through all our people, programs and property! Thanks for helping us push aside every lesser thing so we can bring the full-force of Indian River City Church to his GREATER THING! I hope you have an extra great experience with Jesus today! HEY...Sunday, September 18 we are hosting the DAYS OF GENEROSITY launch event! Last year we discovered how many opportunities are already available at the exciting Indian River City to practice generosity with our time, talents, treasure and things! Folks like you and me discovered that it really is as Jesus says it is, There is more happiness in giving than in receiving! (Acts 20:35) Generosity increases our happiness! Lots of folks know that as a fact! The only people who don t know it are people who aren t generous! When I was a kid at Christmas, it wasn t about what I bought anybody else...it was all about what I got! All my joy came from the presents I got, not from any presents I gave! But for some of us...that was a long time ago! Times and things have changed! WHY?! GREAT QUESTION! THANKS FOR ASKING! Because we grew up! It stopped being about us! That s called maturity! Unfortunately some folks never grow up, and even at an advanced age, it s still all about them and what they can get! They ve never experienced the joy of generosity! What would Jesus be saying to you and me? Don t be like that! Be generous with your time, your money, your experience, and your heart! When we start practicing generosity, our joy will overflow all over the place! Do you want to know a really amazing bit of Bible?! The Bible says, You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion...your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God! (2 Corinthians 9:11) Isn t that great stuff?! God doesn t bless us so we can be greedy; he blesses us so we can be generous! We give away and God gives back to us so we can give more away and he can give more back to us and on and on and on! God doesn t give us things so we can pile them up! When we let go of what s in our hand, it s now empty to receive greater blessings from God! WOW! God s giving to you and me is based on our attitudes! That s why it s so important to live with an attitude of gratitude! The Bible says, This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God! (2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV) When we give, we are performing a service! To serve and to give is the very same thing! It s two actions of love. We can t love without serving and giving! And the best part is this: our service leads to expressions of thanks to God! SSSSSSOOOOOOO...take a moment to pray and express your own thanks to God! For us to become more like Jesus we will resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ while we re here! (1 Corinthians 2:2) Let s continue to focus ourselves on that one thing! We can more easily identify all the lesser things that are stealing our time, talent and treasure from God s GREATER THINGS! Let s give all we are and all we have to Bring People to Jesus to Know Him and Make Him Known! Now that s...radical! Bill

2 Children s Ministry News Bringing Children to Jesus to Know Him and Make Him Known! Zip for Kids Workshops begin WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 6:30-8:00 PM for K-4 in the Loft, 2nd floor Wesley.! YEA! Lots of Life Skills, Lessons, Adventures, Friends! The Loft, 2nd Floor, Wesley Hall! Dynamic Activities, Fantastic Friends, Exciting Crafts! Doors open at 6:15 PM. CROSSTRAINER 56 begins WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:30-8:00PM for all our 5th & 6th Graders in room 217, 2nd Floor, Wesley Hall! Friends, Connection, Life Lesson, Excitement! Doors open at 6:15PM. SERVING OPPORTUNITIES: Volunteer Baby Rockers and Toddler Walkers welcome! Our MOPPETS Team enthusiastically welcomes loving, friendly, kind, caring and reliable ladies to inquire as to volunteering on our MOPPETS Team! Twice-monthly, 2nd and 4th Monday, September through May, Please call Linda at for additional information. A background check is required and is performed at our expense. Children's Ministries rooms gratefully welcome donations of Apple Juice, Goldfish, Lysol Wipes, Crayons, Glue sticks, Hand Sanitizer, Child-Friendly Paintbrushes and Construction Paper of all Colors. Donations may be dropped off at the front office labeled "Linda Benson". Fall and Winter Children's Ministries Teams are forming! Please share the gift that is YOU with US! If you are interested in serving on any of the following teams or simply finding out more, please call/text Linda at today: Puppets Team, Sweet Notes Children's Choir Team, Trunk or Treat Team, Advent Family Gathering Team, Lights of Hope Team and/or A Family Christmas Celebration Team! All queries happily welcomed! For more information about anything in Children s Ministries please contact Linda at for additional information. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) support group meets on Friday, September 2, 9:30-11:00 AM in in the choir room. For more information about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren contact Lisa Baggett at lbaggett@ircumc.com or X 24.

3 Refuge Student Ministries News Where Students Connect with God and One Another Activities and adventures begin for Middle and High School Students downstairs in WESLEY HALL on WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6:30-8:00 PM. Bring all your favorite friends! ROCK THE UNIVERSE Rock the Universe, is SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 4 PM - 1 AM with Christian music's hottest stars (Lecrea, TobyMac, Colton Dixon, Family Force 5), along with guest speakers. Cost is $70. A great time of music that moves you and rides that thrill you. faith and fun. For more information go to WeAreRefuge.org. Students must have a 2016/2017 notarized medical release form on file. Forms are available on the website. For lots more information check the website wearerefuge.org or contact Domenick Mucci, Student Ministry Leader, x21 or Dmucci@ircumc.com. The Kids Place Learning Cent Bringing Children To Jesus Through Education & Care The Kids Place is registering NOW in all three programs; Toddle Inn, Preschool and Before & After School Care. Hours of operation are Monday- Friday 6:30am-6:00pm. We provide childcare, preschool, VPK, before and after school care, holiday care and summer camp. Transportation is provided to and from Apollo, Coquina, Imperial Estates, Park Avenue, Sculptor and St Teresa schools daily. For more information about the Kids Place please contact Heather Quidort at x5 or hquidort@ircumc.com. Advent by Candlelight SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 will be the 20 th Anniversary of the all-women s event that has been a special time of fellowship & preparation for the Christmas season enjoyed in a beautiful, candlelight setting. TABLE HOSTESSES NEEDED: Host a table of 8 ladies (ages 12 and up) for this year s event from 4:00-6:00 PM in Wesley Hall. Hostess responsibilities are to provide a table centerpiece & candles, place settings of ceramic or china dessert dishes, a dessert and a small & inexpensive guest favor. If you are interested in being an ADVENT HOSTESS or for more information contact Dawn Schissler at dschissler@ircumc.com and/or 321/ x20.

4 Adult Ministries News Bringing Adults to Jesus to Know Him and Make Him Known! September Start Ups for Adult Classes and Groups Beginning after Labor Day there will be lots of ways for adults to learn and grow through Bible Studies, Small Groups and activity classes. Groups are held Sunday Saturday and are open to all adults. Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights are intentionally designed to offer something for the entire family. Children, Youth and Adults all have studies and groups to participate in. Pick up a complete listing of the classes and studies in the Sanctuary and Wesley Hall lobbies or check the church website. For more information or to register for a group please contact Dawn Schissler, Adult Ministry Leader, at dschissler@ircumc.com or at x20. LIBRARY BOOK CHAT Join us for our monthly Book Chat on FRIDAY, September 11:00 AM in the Church Library. The Library is located south of the Sanctuary, off the courtyard by the ramp going down to Wesley Hall. It is not necessary to have read the book! Find us on IRCUMC Library and/or contact Linda Stuck at 321/ Welcome to the MOPS year! The meetings begin September 12, 9:30 11:30AM in Wesley Hall. The meetings are every 2 nd and 4 th Monday (Except December and April). MOPS is for pregnant moms and moms with kids through early elementary age. Childcare is provided for infants through those of kindergarten-age at each meeting. Childcare doors open at 9:15 AM. Room 11 is 22 months through younger threes; Room 14 is infants through 21 months. Rooms 11 and 14 are located off the courtyard. Room 121 in the Wesley Hall is older threes and up (Must be potty trained.) Please label diaper bags, diapers and cups. This year s theme is Starry Eyed! a year full of Hope, Wonder and Kindness. It s about seeing the light in the darkness and choosing to live courageously in both. I m excited to start this new MOPS year with you! Please call or me with any questions. Darcia Bair, MOPS Coordinator; darcia9581@hotmail.com and/or MOPS MINISTRY needs KITCHEN and TECH VOLUNTEERS to help during their meetings on the 2 nd & 4 th Monday of each month beginning in September from 9:00 11: 45 AM. Choose to help at one or both of the monthly meetings. Contact Dawn at or dschissler@ircumc.com Thanks for the generous use of your time and talent!

5 Outreach, Mission, and Hospitality News Bringing People to Jesus by Bringing Jesus to People! BACK TO SCHOOL This year our Back To School Event took on new partners, River Lanes and Hope for North Brevard to make for one big Blast! All of our pre-registered children received a back pack from River Lanes event and Hope for North Brevard brought medical and eye exams to our students. Our focus is always on being Jesus with skin on so our visitors can Know Jesus. To that point we had many touch points at the entrance and again as they received their shoes where they heard of Jesus love for them. Many children accepted Jesus as their Lord during this time. We ve been blessed to know that this has been a normal occurrence as we have focused on providing the shoes for the children these past 4 years. Thank you everyone who made a donation, gave of your time to serve and who prayed and are still praying for the event and the children. God provided our every need through you! Children were blessed as we gave them the practical items of shoes, clothing, haircuts, medical exams, dental referrals and eye exams through this event plus a back pack through our partnership. 248 Volunteers served the day of the event plus 23 more unduplicated Volunteers who also participated in the Back Pack Packing Parties at River Lanes equaling 271 total Volunteers. Our greatest number serving to date! We served 550 children the day of the event; our largest number to date by 150! Thanks and blessings to all for helping make this happen. There s more to tell and if you want a full report, please contact Jennifer Taylor at jtaylor@ircumc.com. TEACHER SUPPORT This year, 20 gift baskets were put together and given through many of our members who volunteer in our local schools as a personal touch to them to know that Indian River City Church appreciates their efforts. Last fall we had several new volunteers into our schools. We re looking for more interested people to serve at Coquina and Imperial Estates Elementary, our two closest Elementary Schools. Whether you serve with projects for the teachers in an administrative way or go into the classroom to help with reading, for example, your time in our schools is greatly appreciated. For questions or to take the steps necessary to become a school volunteer, please contact Jennifer Taylor at jtaylor@ircumc.com or x17. FOSTER CARE SUPPORT Thank you to those who responded to the needs for a new Foster Care Transition Home for young adults who are Aging out of Foster Care. Aging out means a child in Foster Care has reached the age of 18 and is not a part of a family. These youth are in need of assistance to continue with their education and/or stabilizing life as they work. The Home is ready for inspection and to receive youth. Please pray for this effort and for more loving Foster Care Homes in our Titusville area. The need is great. FAWZI AND HEIDI ARE COMING! They were married in late July and will be here briefly in September. We ll have the opportunity on Wednesday night during Pastor Bill s Bible Study time at 6:30 pm, September 21 to hear their stories of serving God in the refugee camps. Anyone wanting them to speak in a group, September the 22or 23 please contact Jennifer Taylor at x17 or jtaylor@ircumc.com

6 Shayna Askey-Decorte & Dennis Decorte 09/01 Dick & Barbara Potter Walt & Betty Hollowell 09/02 Alice & Stephen Schultz Wills & Magi Sizemore 09/03 Catherine & Thomas Scott Phyllis & Howard Shaffer 09/04 Barbara & William Woodward Pat & Debbie Stephens 09/07 John & Claudine Boes Elsie & Bill Melton 09/09 Rick & Robin Ricker George & Barbara Schoen DeAnn & Edwin Odisho 09/10 Dennis & Dawn Cummings 09/15 Jeremy & Beth Hart Arleene & Robert Westman 09/16 Mike & Tracy Cornell 09/17 Beth & Robert Beil 09/18 Jeffrey & Jill Whitson 09/19 Dick & Barbara Triandafils 09/22 George & Geri Fulford Randy & Joyce Pickering Bob & Regena Quigg 09/23 CJ & Jenny Gehlman 09/29 United Methodist Women Ice Cream Social All ladies are invited to the Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, September 6, 6:30 PM in Wesley Hall. It will be an evening of fun, ice cream (Banana splits) and fellowship. So come and enjoy ice cream and learn about the United Methodist Women. WOMEN ALONE Women Alone, a group for women who have lost a spouse, meets Sunday, September 25, 4:00 PM in Wesley Hall, Studio 153. This group meets monthly for a time of fellowship, activities, and snacks. For more information contact Sharon McClelland, facilitator, Join us in SEPTEMBER! Students and Experts are invited to knit or crochet prayer shawls for people in need! We ve got 2 Groups: The DAYTIME GROUP meets on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10:00AM and the EVENING GROUP meets on the TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6:30PM For more information contact Judy Reynolds, ; judy2@cfl.rr.com. SENIOR EXERCISE CLASS We are exploring the possibility of hosting a Sit and Fit Class on THURSDAYS starting SEPTEMBER 8 11:15A-12:15P. The cost is $3.00 per session. If interested, sign the Welcome Sheet in your Weekly Bulletin or contact Dollie at or Dawn at

7 SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP 5K BENEFIT RUN Join the John Parker Cancer Benefit! on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8AM at Fay Lake Wilderness Park. You and your friends can register online at Will not meet on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 due to Labor Day Weekend. Meets all other SAT- URDAYS from 9:00AM-12:00PM in the West Parking Lot providing inspections and minor repairs on cars owned by single moms, widows, and others in need of help keeping their vehicles in running shape! Care Ministry News Bringing People to Jesus by Bringing Jesus to People! Project RELIEF Project RELIEF (Respite for Elders Living in Everyday Families) was established in 1995 by a group of Brevard County churches to provide Respite for weary Caregivers usually of Alzheimer s patients and other home-bound family members. RELIEF is a state-funded program by which Volunteers provide patient visitation and companion care services at no charge to the clients, and Volunteers are compensated with a modest stipend. The proven benefit of Project RELIEF is evident in its results. This free service allows Caregivers to take time away to peacefully rest, rejuvenate and take care of their own personal needs. Those rested returning caregivers are then able to provide even better care for their loved ones. Currently there are 35 Volunteers in Brevard County serving 65 families, with 1200 hours each month. But there are not enough volunteers for families in Cocoa Beach, Cocoa, Titusville, Mims and Port St John. Volunteers receive full training; provide in-home Respite which allows the caregiver to rest, do errands and care for themselves; and make a positive impact on their community. If you are interested and want more information regarding receiving care from Project RELIEF or about volunteering, please contact: Robin LaFrance, R.E.L.I.E.F Program Coordinator, (321) , rlafrance@brevardalz.org CARE WEAR MINISTRY Two ladies within our church family have felt a nudge to participate in an organization called Care Wear Volunteers, Inc. They are Pat Boner and Linda Stuck, both active in our church library ministry. Pat and Linda are looking for others who might like to use their skills and talents to join them in blessing these young families. Care Wear Volunteers, Inc. is a nationwide group that provides FREE handmade baby items to infants and children and their parents, through hospitals and other organizations. All types of baby items are in great demand, no matter if your talent is in knitting, crocheting, or sewing. Making and donating items to hospitals is only the beginning. Consider making items for your local shelter or social services organizations. Volunteers provide all the materials used to make the donated items, and may use left overs and scraps. If you have any questions or are interested in joining this wonderful ministry, please contact: Lisa Baggett at x24 or at lbaggett@ircumc.com

8 Our church leadership is now in our budgeting process, and starting to plan for the new year. We look at how we are doing currently, and what we envision doing next year. Everything is reviewed from what our energy costs are to what programs worked, didn t work and are there new ones that God is calling us to. I ask that you include this process, and everyone involved, in your prayers. The budget is just one way we account for the resources God has provided us. We need to listen for His guidance for His plans for the new year, and how to apply the financial resources of the church to that plan. Your support is important to this process even if all you do is pray for it! Laurie Blair Church Accountant CALLED CHARGE CONFERENCE - TUESDAY, SEP- TEMBER 6:30PM in STUDIO 153. This gathering is required to approve updates to our 2002 PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND document and to allow our Church Council to determine how best to address our need to REPAIR & RESTORE THE SANCTUARY. Both of these items were presented to and approved by our Church Council on May 24, Rev. Fred Ball of Titusville has been assigned to preside over this meeting. BISHOP KENNETH CARTER TOWN HALL! Our own Bishop Carter will be hosting Meet & Greet! opportunities in September where he will address issues and concerns that face our United Methodist Congregations and Conferences. The closest gathering to us will be on SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 at ST. LUKE S ORLANDO from 6-8PM. Bring your listening ears!