Missing An Article From Newsletter

Transcription

1 January 2015

2 Table of Contents Missing An Article From Newsletter... 1 Church Chili Night & Trivia... 2 Bible Study to begin!... 2 Finance Committee Seeks Your Input... 3 Planned Giving... 4 United Methodist Women... 5 Epworth s Book Club... 7 Epworth s Administrative Council... 8 Parish Nurse... 8 History Committee Youth Group Gatherings District Day of Learning Our Prayer Shawl Ministry Interested In Joining Epworth? Groups To Meet The Bread of Life Food Pantry Calendar... 17

3 Missing An Article From Newsletter We were reading through the newsletter this morning when we realized that the article was missing. It was one that shared important information about what our group is planning. Upon reading it, we thought many people might want to get involved and show their support. Why is it not in the newsletter? Now what are going to do? Well maybe each group should start by writing about your upcoming events and projects. It is each group s responsibility to submit articles and information to the office for inclusion in the Newsletter. Everything is due on the 15th of the month. Too often we have relied on Diane and Charlie to write about upcoming events for our groups and then complain when it is missed. Let s begin to work together to share information and being responsible to get the word out. 1

4 Church Chili Night & Trivia Saturday, January 17th, at 5pm we are planning a Chili Night for all to come and enjoy a variety on chili concoctions. We will have a signup sheet on the bulletin board for the various food items that will go into making our meal complete. Such items will be things like tortilla chips, salsa, cheese, rolls, desserts, etc will be on the list. If you are not a chili chef you can bring another item. Together we will have a great time of fellowship. We will also have some fun as we challenge one anothers knowledge on a variety of subjects. Bring your thinking caps and let s have some fun! Bible Study to begin! 2

5 Beginning on Thursday evening, January 8th at 7pm we will begin a new study where we will look at the various denominations that make up our Christian faith. There are many different faith traditions within the Christian faith. Together we will focus for eight weeks on the subject of Christianity s Family Tree: What Other Christians Believe and Why in the hopes that we will come to a greater understanding of the beliefs and practices of our Christian brothers and sisters from other denominations, how those differ from our own beliefs and practices, and what we share in common, and what we can learn from one another. The study is based on a video series of the same name featuring the Reverend Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. 3

6 Finance Committee Seeks Your Input Finance is trying to gather input on how we give to the church. To help with this a short survey has been created for you to share your thoughts. We are considering offering other means to allow individuals to give via electronic fund transfer and online. We need your input to help with discussion. You can fill out the survey online or you may pick up a hard copy at the back of the sanctuary and return the completed survey to the church office. We thank you for your input! Epworth is closing their books earlier this year, all 2014 contributions need to be into the church by Sunday, January 4th. Thank you! Planned Giving 4

7 Endowment is the way we anticipate the coming of Christ financially. It is our testimony to the a fact that God will be Lord of the future, as God has been Lord of the past and is Lord of the present. One of the nicest things you can do, in anticipation of Christ s birth among us, is to make a gift to the Epworth Planned Giving program. When you do that, you help the whole church prepare for the Christ of the future, Jesus coming among us asking future church members to go into all the world, preaching, teaching and baptizing... You can be assured that your gift will never be used up. But what it produces will be used year after year, on into the future, as long as the church lives to preach and teach and baptize. To learn more about the Epworth Planned Giving program, contact Jean Cook, Marilyn Bilotti, Carol Fenton, Debbie Mason or Bill Rinck. United Methodist Women Exec Board Meeting Saturday, January 31 at 9:00 AM Note The Date Change!! (This date change was necessary due to scheduled surgery Feb 2 for Reva Luce, Pres.). All UMW officers & Circle Leaders are expected to be in attendance. 5

8 District UMW Events Saturday, March 7: Central Districts Meeting: Capital, Raritan Valley & Northern Shore, Theme & Location TBA Circle Meetings Deborah We will meet on January 15th at 7:30pm at the home Esther/Ruth We will meet on Thursday, January 19th at 11:30am. Grace Our 1st Elvis bash at Kim Bohley s home on Thursday, January 8th at 7:15pm. Bring your ideas for our planning meeting. Elvis attire is acceptable! Grace circle would like to thank everyone for supporting us and purchasing our nuts. All our nuts proceeds help us to fund our mission endeavors throughout the coming year. Thank you again! Hannah Happy Birthday Clara Prince (January 14th) Mary s Closet Due to the over abundance of clothing items we have already received, we will NOT be accepting any items now until February 1st. We would like to say, that we have appreciated all of your donations and your generosity. Thank you to all! Merry Christmas! from, The Mary Closet Team Our Shopping Rewards THANK YOU ALL for making this a successful program. UMW Minutes On December 8 at 11:30 AM we had our Christmas General Meeting in the Parlor. There was a short business meeting and Devotions by Esther/Ruth Circle. Deborah Circle provided the program which consisted of a few readings pertaining to Christmas. One was an especially humorous one, and the others were more thoughtful on the true meaning of Christmas. Also read was a chapter of a book Charles Dickens wrote for his own children on the story of Christmas. This was especially interesting. What followed was a lovely light luncheon provided by the Esther/Ruth Circle. Much fellowship was enjoyed during this event. Becky Hack was unable to attend this meeting. She recently resigned as leader of the Book Club, which she has led since its inception. In view of that and on behalf of our UMW, Reva Luce will deliver a small gift to her as a token of our appreciation. Also unable to attend was Ginny Dreby who has been a longtime UMW member. She recently resigned her position as leader of the Hannah Circle. UMW selected her to receive the UMW Special Recognition Mission Pin and Certificate to recognize her many years of UMW service. This is to be delivered to her by Reva Luce in a home visit. 6

9 Epworth s Book Club For the first book of the 2015 season, we have chosen to read a book from the Nurturing grouping. The book is The End Of Your Life Book Club, by Will Schwalbe. This book is a true story of a terminally ill mother and her son who start a book club in her dying years. Through their reading, their relationship grows with the many conversations that the book topics inspire. Please join us in reading this novel as we are all reminded of the power of books to comfort, astonish and teach. Here s some information about the author and how the book came about: Will Schwalbe has worked in publishing for twenty-one years; his mother has worked or been on boards for her church, the Women s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, the International Rescue Committee and many other organizations. When cancer strikes, life doesn t stop, it takes on a new direction. 7

10 Unknowingly, The End of Your Life Book Club, is born. Will Schwalbe writes about the journey that he and his mother have taken since her diagnosis. This New York Times Bestseller is an upbeat recollection of how they managed through the ups and downs of a chronic illness with the help of books that distracted, encouraged and motivated them to survive each step of their journey. If you ve read books growing up, you may gain a new perspective as Will discusses how some of these books brought meaning to the course they travel. Please join us in reading this profoundly moving memoir of caregiving, mourning and love. See or call Lynn Truax if interested ( leave a message if I m not there). We plan on reviewing this book and choosing another January 11th after church; check the bulletin for updates. Epworth s Administrative Council Our first council meeting for 2015 will be Monday, January 12, at 7:30pm in the parlor. At that time we will start the meeting with a Charge Conference to appoint a new Trustee. All chairs and officers are expected to attend council meetings. Others are welcome as well. It is here that we discuss the ministry of the church and how we can make difference in the lives of our congregation and community. Parish Nurse 8

11 Greetings to each of you! As we enter this new year of 2015, do you have a list of New Year s Resolutions that you plan to follow? Many of us do each year, but, the list usually hits the trash can before much time has gone by! We should remember that God the Father created our body, and the Holy Spirit was sent to live in our body. As a result, we are the stewards of this body that we were given. Now is a good time to look at a few things we can do right now to enjoy better health tomorrow and in this next year to come. You may want to add them to your New Year s Resolution List. You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed your laws. ( Psalm 119:73) Learn what to do to survive a heart attack first, call 911; then take one tablet of aspirin 325 mg. How you respond in the first 60 minutes will determine whether or not you survive. Be tested for diabetes screening guidelines involving a simple test could detect this silent killer. Fortunately, many of those diagnosed will NOT likely require medication to stop complications. Pump iron into your 90 s contrary to conventional wisdom, strength training appears to be safer than most aerobic exercise as we age. Start an exercise program If you ve been sedentary and are reluctant to start exercising because you think you ll have to go into training like an athlete, not so. Moderate exercise can stave off disease and increase longevity. Choose healthy foods drop the junk & fast food items that are frequently eaten instead of a real meal. Stay safe in a storm If you are outdoors in an electrical storm, remove the metal or conductive materials most folks overlook, including a hearing aid, glasses, a helmet, jewelry or metal cleated shoes. Eat more fish research shows that fish oils may hinder the formation of blood clots that can cause heart attack and stroke, and could prevent heart rhythm abnormalities. Best bets are fish rich in polyunsaturatedomega 3 fatty acids. Clear your vision Almost everyone over 65 has some degree of cataract, but not everyone needs 9

12 surgery. Also, if you develop blurry vision, don t assume it s a cataract. Foggy sight can result from other eye conditions and diseases. Avoid preventable diseases three kinds of immunizations are universally recommended for adults: Tetanus, influenza and pneumcoccal vaccines. Also, ensure that your children receive all of the immunizations your physician recommends. Keep your teeth intact. The most important things to do to avoid periodontal disease are regular tooth-brushing at least 2X/day along with daily flossing. Get all of your Fruits Veggies Eat at least 5 servings of these foods daily as a hedge against cancer. The REAL food is more effective than supplements extracted from these foods. Raise good cholesterol The most effective strategies for increasing HDL and lowering heart disease risk are exercise, weight loss, and diet. Prevent heart failure Taking the diuretic your doctor ordered can cut the risk of developing heart failure in half among people over 60 who have the most common form of high blood pressure. If you would like any further information on the above information, please contact me.- Reva Luce Dates to Remember: Sunday, February 1 Blood Pressure screening In Parlor after morning service, for anyone in attendance that day. Friday, February. 27 American Red Cross Community Blood Drive 2PM to 7PM Come on out to support this very worthy mission. You never know when the person in need could be you, a friend or a family member. When the need arises, it is necessary that the blood be available. Daniel Plan I have had inquiries as to when the next Daniel Plan series will be held. At this time the tentative time frame is in the spring, probably not before mid-april. (no snow to worry about then) History Committee 10

13 In His Time Epworth s history is in God s time As we look at the minutes of the Epworth Official Board meetings from the early part of the 20th century, we are struck at how different times were. A sign of that time was the makeup of the Official Board. It was comprised of men only. Each board member was addressed as Brother- Brother Johnson, Brother North, etc. 11

14 The board liked to create committees. Today when some matter needs to be looked at, one or more board members may be asked to look into it. Back then the board would take a formal vote on creating a committee. Then they would formally appoint a member(s) to the committee. Some of the committees created: Wasone to look into changing the coat hooks in the ladies room. Another to investigate having a telephone placed in the church (1916). In June 1919 an Audit committee was created. A committee of 1 was appointed to investigate turning certain church property into apartments. In July, 1919 the Board created a Deficiency Committee. There was no explanation or comments as to what or why this committee was created. If anyone knows anything about this please let someone on the History Committee know. Other unusual items, by today standards, found in the minutes: The Secretary of Board was instructed to write a letter to a Mr. Page in regard to the annoying conduct of his wife in worship and public meetings. A committee of 3 was formed to visit those who were deficient or delinquent in their financial commitments. Another committee of 3 was to confer with members of the church who had signed for liquor license applications. In another action the choir was given permission to have a fundraiser at the Moving Picture Theater in Palmyra as long as the church name was not used. In the November, 1921 meeting the board approved a motion that the business of the church be kept secret and not spread among the congregation. In May, 1922 the Board sent a letter to the township protesting work on a sewer on a Sunday. Finally, in 1924 it was suggested that a monthly 4 page paper be published devoted to church news. With God s love, The History Committee Youth Group Gatherings 12

15 Sunday, January 4: Regular Meeting Sunday, January 11: Regular Meeting Friday Sunday, January Midwinter Advance at Keswick Sunday, February 1: Pretzel Sale & regular mtg. Sunday, February 8: Regular Meeting Sunday, February 15: Regular Meeting Sunday, February 22: Regular Meeting All youth in grades 7-12 are invited to be with us for our meetings and activities. Our regular meetings are 11:30am 1pm on Sundays. District Day of Learning 13

16 District Day of Learning Saturday, January 24th from 8:30 a.m. to 12noon at First UMC Moorestown We will have our annual District Day of Learning at Moorestown UMC. This event offers various workshops that deal with the life of the church. They often include discussions on the different committees, missions, and programs of our district and conference. This year we will gather for a plenary session followed by workshop offerings. (There is no lunch or afternoon workshops) Brochures will be available on the table in the narthex. We hope to have a good representation from Epworth. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Pastor Charlie or the church office. Our Prayer Shawl Ministry 14

17 Epworth s prayer shawls are created with intentional prayer for the recipient in every stitch, from the beginning to the end. Next meeting: Thursday, January 22nd at 7pm. Come out and learn how to crochet or knit, and be a part of this growing ministry. Interested In Joining Epworth? Please contact the church office we can arrange a time when you can get together with Pastor Charlie regarding membership here at Epworth. PC always welcomes the opportunity to share and discuss the 15

18 ministry here. We hope to hear from you soon. Groups To Meet In the coming weeks we are requesting that all groups and committees meet to organize for the coming year. This is important especially as we may have several new people coming on board. Please contact the church office to schedule your meeting and have a space reserved. Young At Heart Next meeting time Monday, January 19th at 12 noon Goodtimers Goodtimers Event for January is Saturday, the 24th at 7:00 PM A night of Bowling, at the Riverton 16

19 Country Club Bowling alleys. All are welcome to join us! This event is being organized by the Tippenhauers, Debbie Rabil & Lynn Truax. If you receive any 2015 calendars that you do not want please save them and put them in the narthex, so we can give calendars to the neighboring homes. Thank you! The Bread of Life Food Pantry Epworth is collecting Juice, instant Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Cereal, & instant oatmeal. If you would like to volunteer at the Food Pantry (one Saturday a month, or on a Wednesday afternoon, or on a Thursday night) or help out this mission in another way please call Julie Scheffler at Calendar 17

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