The Monthly Messenger

Transcription

1 The Monthly Messenger A Note From The Pastor... Dalton United Methodist Church FEBRUARY 2016 Welcome to Lent. No Kidding. I say no kidding because not everybody thinks of Lent as a welcome experience. This is probably because for years, the focus of Lent was on self-denial, or giving up something. I know of a fellow who normally drinks about five to six cups of coffee a day. But each year he gives up coffee for the days of Lent. The first few days of Lent are miserable for him as he goes through caffeine withdrawal. Why would he say welcome to Lent? He does, though, because his devotion to God is real, and for him, giving up coffee helps him examine his commitment to Christ and mediate on the suffering and death of his Lord. Acts of self-denial are appropriate when the sacrifice connects with Christian commitment. But there is another view of Lent: a time to prepare to celebrate the Resurrection. When we prepare to celebrate something, we often do housekeeping chores. If we are going to have a party at our house, we first spend some time cleaning the house. We lay in a supply of refreshments. We decorate. And when all is ready and the guests arrive, we celebrate. Preparing is never quite as much fun as celebrating, but it takes the preparation to make the celebration possible. Lent is like that a time for spiritual housecleaning, a time to dust off our faith, shine up our commitment, lay in a supply of thanks and decorate our lives with the joy of the Christian life. Then, when Easter comes, we know in our hearts what the celebrating is all about. At Dalton UMC, our Lenten opportunities for spiritual housecleaning will begin with a Community-wide Ash Wednesday service with our brothers and sisters of the Presbyterian Church on February 10 at 7:00 pm. Please plan to worship with us during this holy season. And welcome to Lent. No Kidding. Peace,

2 PRAYER CONCERNS Chris Barkman, (friend of Rose Ann Stark), Dick Bodager, Jim Cisar (brother of Tom Cisar), Dylan Domer, Floyd Douglas (Clarabel Kurzen s brother), Dallas R. Falb, Landon Farriss (great-grandson of Bill & Carol Farriss), Patrick Fone, Sonya Gatrell, Sheila Hare (friend of Don & Beth Johnson), Sheryl Heart (sister of Steve Yoder), Sara Hudson (Barb Geib s mother), Dale Imhoff (friend of Steve Yoder), Keith Johnson (cousin of Don Johnson), Sally Johnson (relative of the Johnson s and Jen Reynolds), Phyllis McCall, Beverly McGinty, Maurine McGinty, Brad Miller (cousin of Allene Weibel), Teresa Neal (niece of Glenn & Mary Loomis), Marilyn Pittman (friend of Clarabel Kurzen, Laurie Zifcak. (friend of Diane Fischnich). Our nursing home, assisted living, and homebound residents: Gloria Amstutz, Harold & Hazeljean Douglas, George Hann, Lucy Indorf, Donna Schneider, Jerry Swihart, Kenny Walkup All Military personnel on active duty and their families. (Please advise the church office at (330) if any these names should no longer be listed or of any updates) THANK YOU...To our congregation, thank you to all who contributed to our roof repair project. It is now completed and paid for. Thank you to Bill and Carol Farriss who contributed to the parking lot pavement project, which is also completed. As well as all who worked, and donated to the ramp replacement. We are truly blessed for all of our members who freely gave to help with all the repairs. ~The trustees committee Canton Calvary Mission Collection Item For FEBRUARY is: Peanut Butter ************************* Operation Christmas Child Collection Item for FEBRUARY is: Dental Hygiene Items I am living and strong! I look after you and care for you. I am like an evergreen tree, yielding my fruit to you throughout the year. My mercies never fail. (Hosea 14:8 TLB) Page 2 The Monthly Messenger

3 ABOUT OUR MEMBERS... ******************************************** COMMUNITY NOTES. The fourth Saturday of each month, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm., drop off your gently used clothing, computers, and household items at the Dalton Village Hall. For more information, call # x232 **************************************************** Welcome to Our Church Family! Miles Graham Treisch, son of Ryan and Bess Treisch Was dedicated in the morning Worship service, Sunday, January 17. Our Deepest Sympathy.. To the families and friends of: Earl Mason Cleo Lorentz (Carol Slates mother)...jim Groves...Art Martell...Russell Hamilton (Father of Marie Septer) ******************************************** IMPORTANT!!! Elijah s Cupboard is in need of food items for the Salvation Army!! (Please consider donating items today) **************************** ******************************************* Issue 2 Page 3

4 MISSIONS NEWS Help us minister to those in need. Elijah s Cupboard can always use non-perishable food items for The Salvation Army. Please bring an item or two with you and place them in the good cupboard in the hallway. We also continue to collect labels for the Red Bird Mission. -Labels include "Campbell's Labels for Education", "General Mills Boxtops for Education"; and "Tyson Project A+ Labels for Education". A collection envelope for the labels is located on the bulletin board, in the narthex of the Church. Please consider donating today! -Canton Calvary Missions food collections for FEBRUARY is: Peanut Butter this can be placed in the large basket in the narthex. Thank you for the continued support, Missions Committee ******************************************************************************************** Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV) Page 4 The Monthly Messenger

5 FEBRUARY 2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS DALTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH We love because He first loved us. ~ I John 4: 19 CANTON CALVARY MISSION COLLECTION ITEM: Peanut Butter SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 GROUND HOG DAY 3 9:00 Bible Study 2:45 J. Noise 6:30 Bells 7:15 Praise :30 Missions 14 VALENTINE S DAY Church Fellowship PIZZA NIGHT!! 5:00 pm Fellowship Hall 21 CHILDREN S CHURCH 15 PRESIDENT S DAY :00 B. Study 2:45 J. Noise 6:15 Praise ASH WED SERVICE 7: :00 Bible Study 2:45 J. Noise 6:30 Bells 7:15 Praise :00 Bible Study 2:45 J. Noise 6:30 Bells 7:15 Praise ALL YOU CAN EAT! FISH FRY 4:00-7: UMW BREAKFAST 9:00 am LEAP DAY MARCH :30 Worship Committee Mtg BIRTHDAYS Bailee Heindl 4 - Maxine Hayes 7 - Shawna Rosario, Tad Weaver 9 - Ann Chizmadia 10 - Dallas W. Falb 12 - Sue Green, Dianna Jameson, Dave Merriman 14 - Carmen Owens 15 - Janet Muhlbach 16 - Allison Weisgarber 18 - Allene Weibel 19 - Beverly Smith Archer 20 - Shirleen Smith 23 - Heather Clark 26 - Zoey Farriss, Todd Farriss, Adrian Dixon, Jason Peters 29 - Pastor Paul Farren ANNIVERSARIES Don & Lisa Meager 7 - Ed & Sharon Starling 10 - Dave & Carmen Owens 14 - George & Belvia Hann 17 - Gary & Dianna Jameson 27 - Dave & Diane Fischnich, Ryan & Bess Treisch Issue 2 Page 5

6 News from the United Methodist Women The plans are in the works for the UMW for We are kicking off the year by taking you back to the 60 s for a CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AT 9:00 IN THE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27. We have more surprises for the morning and I hope you will all play along. It will be a fun time for all. The new program booklets will be ready at this meeting. You, as well as myself, are no doubt looking forward to seeing the new covers designed and made by Joann Watson. Other special events we have planned are A Baby Shower for missions, UMW Sunday, making vegetable soup for shut-ins, the Thank Offering program, cookie walk and a family picnic. I will be telling you more about these events as the time gets closer. Over the Christmas season I have heard so many stories about paying it ahead or forward instances. One story was at a McDonald s drive thru where a gentleman told the worker he wanted to pay for the car behind him. When the next car pulled up, the worker told them their bill was already paid. They proceeded to pay for the next car. This went on and on for over 200 cars. Finally a lady took her order and just drove off and stopped the chain of paying it forward. The McDonald s couldn t believe what had happened. Another story was told to me by my audiologist. He and his family went out to eat. Where he was sitting he could see an older couple eating. He said he kept watching them and they never seemed to talk to each other all through their meal. When my audiologist left the restaurant, he told the cashier he wanted to pay for the older couple s meal. He also said, They didn t have anything to talk about during supper but I want to be sure to give them something to talk about on their way home. Garrick, my son, and some friends were eating at an Applebee s and had a surprise. They were done with their meal and just sitting and enjoying talking. The waitress came over to them and told them their bill was taken care of. A little later the manager came and told them the same story. They asked him who had paid for all of them. He pointed out a gentleman at the bar. He also told Garrick and his friends the gentleman comes in every so often and pays for everyone in the restaurant. One of Garrick s friends caught the gentleman as he was leaving and they all got the chance to thank him. Garrick said he seemed surprised when they thanked him. Maybe no one had ever taken time or cared to thank him before. My niece s me a daily devotional titled The Vantage Point. I find it interesting. One of the devotionals titled Bless a Stranger tells a story about paying ahead. The story goes: a family was having breakfast at a popular Page 6 The Monthly Messenger

7 restaurant in Yukon, Oklahoma. But when they prayed before their meal, they didn t realize some kind strangers had noticed. When the family was ready to pay the bill, they found a pleasant surprise. Anonymous fellow diners left them a note that read: Because you prayed, we paid. Continue to raise your sons in Christ. God bless. The restaurant s assistant manager said, We see a lot of people paying it forward, buying for other people. Especially around the holiday time, we see a lot of that. It always makes you feel better as a server to know that there are nice, kind people out there. I would like to add here a saying I read the other day, What s in the trunk of a tree will definitely come out in its branches. Sure words to think about. All the things I mentioned are to buy a meal for someone but it doesn t cost a cent to show kindness to someone. You can find a way every day to make someone s day a little better if you are being observant. Something as simple as a smile can brighten someone s day. Make kindness an everyday happening and not just during the holidays. The article continued. When Jesus was born, God became a man. He was completely human and completely divine. People then could know the Lord fully because He became visible and tangible as He lived among them. As a believer, you have the privilege and the responsibility to show Him to others through your words and your actions. So out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, show others the love of Jesus Christ. Perform an act of kindness to a stranger. Pray that this kind of love becomes contagious throughout America and the world. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14. Don and I read the Upper Room for our morning devotional. On Sunday January 17 the scripture reading was James 2: I d like to share verse 14. Dear brothers, what s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren t proving it by helping others? As a last thought James says in verse 18: But someone may well argue, You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can t prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act. God Bless you all, ~Beth Johnson UMW Newsletter Contributor ********************************************************* Issue 2 Page 7

8 YOUTH GROUP NEWS CIA (Christians In Action youth group), met Sunday January 31. We made English muffin pizzas for supper. We also be made valentines for the congregation and played some games afterward. Page 8 The Monthly Messenger

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10 Church Fellowship Come celebrate Valentine s Day with us Sunday, February 14th In the Church Fellowship 5:00 pm. Pizza Night!! Join us and bring a dessert to share! Happy Valentine s Day! There are three things that remain faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love. ( 1 Corinthians 13:13 TLB) Page 10 The Monthly Messenger

11 Dalton United Methodist Church Fish Fry All you can eat!!! Fish, Fries, Slaw, Apple Sauce, Rolls, Butter, & Beverage Desserts available, but not included Friday, February 12, :00 7:00 PM Cost: Adults $9.00, Kids 12 years and under $4.00 Chicken Strips: 4- Piece Adult dinner $ Piece Kids dinner $4.00 Served in the Church Fellowship Halls Carry outs available Issue 2 Page 10

12 Dalton United Methodist Church 204 W Main St PO Box 277 Dalton, OH Address Service Requested Nonprofit Organization FEBRUARY Newsletter Dalton United Methodist Church FEBRUARY - Altar Flowers Pastor: Paul Farren Phone: Cell Phone: pastorpaul@ .com Worship Hours Sunday School 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Prayer Group February 7 - Ed & Sharon Starling Anniversary February 14 - Open February 21 - Open February 27 - Open *************************************************** Lisa Meager; Organist Beverly McGinty; Praise & Bell Choir Director Steve Yoder; Head Usher Paul Schultz; Assistant Usher/Sound MARCH 2016 Newsletter Info Deadline: FEBRUARY 25, 2016 Please let Sharon Starling know of any news, notes or additions/corrections to be included in the upcoming newsletter. Phone: # to: TheStarlings@aol.com Or leave items in Church Office.