Pastor s Point of View by Mark Hollinger

Transcription

1 Pastor s Point of View by Mark Hollinger Well, it s almost summer. We have celebrated Memorial Day, and it was 84 degrees that day. Although summer isn t official until June 21 at 6:51 a.m. (you can look up everything on the internet now), we most certainly consider the end of May and the coming of June as the beginning of summer in Ohio. Summer is that time of year where we get out more and are able to connect with family, friends and neighbors. It is that time in which we have the opportunity to talk with our neighbors, have barbecues, take walks in the parks and go on bicycle rides in and around our neighborhood. We are made to get out and connect with others. We were made by God to have this need and finding fulfillment in connecting and celebrating life and the good times of life with others. Few of us are happy as solitary, isolated beings because that was never meant to be our natural state. St. Marks is about to have a summer of outreach, celebration and connection like no other summer ever celebrated before at St. Marks. We are hosting three Friday evening pool parties on June 20, July 11 and August 1. The first one, Pool Poolooza #1, will be at Riverside pool in the park from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20. We hope that you will turn out with your small group, family, Sunday school class or just come to help us interact and impress our guests with St. Marks hospitality. We are hosting Pool Poolooza #2 on July 11 at Canterbury pool that will then be immediately followed by The Amazing Chemistry Show on Saturday, July 12 at the DOCK and church parking lot. The staff, leadership board and church team leaders are committed to leading St Marks into creating a different perception of St. Marks in our Findlay community. The church has grown and benefited whenever it has either by choice or circumstances, began interacting outside its institutional walls and structure. Jesus started his ministry in the synagogues but was soon unwelcomed there due to his radical preaching and teaching. He moved to the outside preaching on hillsides, plains, and seashores. The apostle Paul, when he went on his missionary journeys up north beyond Israel into present day Greece, Turkey and the lower Balkans, also started in the local synagogues with his message of the good news of Christ. He was soon preaching in the streets, marketplace and private homes due to resistance from within those synagogues. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, also started preaching in the local churches of England in the mid 1700 s. Again, because of his radical message of forgiveness and grace, he was not welcomed and was barred from the vast majority of local churches. Wesley was eventually invited back into those churches as the Methodist movement swept across England and changed lives and that culture. The church has always grown and benefited whenever it has reached out beyond our church walls into the community. Christianity is all about relationships forming and Continued...

2 Pastor s Point of View nurturing our present relationships but also reaching out and making and nurturing new relationships. St. Marks and all churches exist primarily and foremost for those who have not come to know God in Christ and thus have not come to the joy and fulfillment that God intends for everyone s life. We have the awesome and serious calling to bring that message of Good News of Christ s forgiveness and grace out to the Findlay community. St. Marks has formed a We Love Findlay team that has many members serving on that team to meet the challenge of reaching out into our community. Please consider God s call on your life to be a part of St. Marks outreach efforts. St. Marks leadership board, our We Love Findlay team, and staff need your support. This summer please support all of these events and your leaders managing this summer s outreach ministries with your prayers, your presence, your treasure and your gifts. People aren t looking for a friendly church but rather a church where they can make friends and develop deep and meaningful relationships. Mark 16:15 And Jesus said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? A Fulfilled Unknown Need by Kelly Sterling A young intern from another church came to visit me and chat about women in ministry. She is discerning her own call to become a pastor. Emma came in to talk on a day that I was emotionally drained. I had a lot on my plate. I almost thought about rescheduling our meeting but went through with it. And I am so glad I did! This 20 something young lady was on fire for God! She could barely contain how excited she is to share God s word. It was exactly what I needed that day. I needed to see someone so on fire. I needed to feel her enthusiasm. She talked about her future plans, to investigate missionary work, to learn more about how a church functions and she wants every opportunity possible to preach. She told me she cannot wait for the day she can preach every week. She was even excited to learn about all the district and conference paperwork!! It is amazing to me how God puts people in our lives at just the right time and place. This young lady was like a strong cup of coffee for me. She perked me right up. She gave me the energy I needed to get through a long list of tasks I needed to accomplish. I had an essential need that day and did not even realize it. But God knew, God knew I needed uplifted. I needed to be reminded of the honor and excitement we have to share God s word with others every day. Philippians 4: 19 says, And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. God takes care of us even when we do not realize what we need. Mother Teresa said, One filled with joy preaches without preaching, Emma, you do not have to wait for that day to preach every week, you are already preaching every day. Thank you.

3 Sermon Series Faith: Take it Home June 1 The Home Makeover June 8 The Family Makeover June 15 The Child Makeover June 22 The Extended Family Makeover June 29 The Church Makeover June 1 New Vision Fellowship June 8 Ohio Neulsarang Korean Church June 15 Concordia Luthern June 22 First Luthern Church June 29 Immanuel Lutheran Church Emmaus & Chrysalis Information Greater Findlay Area Emmaus Greater Findlay Area Chrysalis Emmaus Gatherings 7:00 p.m. Third Tuesday of every month at St. Marks. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Pastor Mark. Please take the opportunity to check out and make a donation through our "Giving Tree. The "Giving Tree" is helping to fund our youth mission trips and habitat build in September. Envelopes are designated in dollar amounts $1 to $100. Please put your envelope in the offering plate. Make checks payable to St. Marks and mark the memo line as: Giving Tree. Mobile Food Pantry June 14 First Presbyterian Church 2330 S. Main Street

4 Summer Sunday Kicks Off in June! On Sunday, June 1, Xtreme Kids Ministry will shift into summer mode for Sunday school. All PK-4 th children will combine for the summer and meet in the Marketplace classroom on the 2 nd floor. Our summer unit will focus on disability awareness as we go on MISSION: UN- STOPPABLE. We will learn that God is unstoppable and that nothing can get in the way of His love for us, no matter what abilities or disabilities each of us has! St. Marks is reaching out into the community with a We Love Findlay team. We are hosting three pool parties this year on the following Fridays: June 20, July 11 and August 1. All parties are open to the public from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Please mark your calendar and help us host and welcome Findlay to our Pool Poolooza #1 at Riverside pool on June 20. St. Marks will be a part of the Apostles Habitat for Humanity build in September. We will deploy a team of 25 on September 6 to raise the exterior walls and then another team of 20 on September 13 for siding and outside trim/finish. Our project cost commitment is $14,000. There will be a Beth Moore Study on the Beloved Disciple, which is based on the life and ministry of J o h n, s t a r t i n g Wednesday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. led by Kelly Sterling. This will be a ten week study. Call the church office at to register. Cost for this class is $20 unless you already have the book.

5 In Memory of Bud Shafer by Arthur and Julia Whetstone In Memory of Polly Lavender by Jim and Betty Miles United Methodist Women Luanne Circle Meeting - June 4, 2014 Program Leader: Lynda Beatty Hostess/Co-Hostess: Sandy Schall Sterling House 725 Fox Run Rd. Lydia Circle Meeting - *June 5, 2014 Leader: Marilyn Deter Heritage Apts. - Library - 10 a.m. Naomi Circle Meeting - June 4, 2014 Program Leader/Hostess/ Co-Hostess: Jane Wittenmyer 2575 Burberry Ct. * Date change for Lydia Circle Mtg. Hope House is looking for volunteers to play with the residents children on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. If you are interested, please call and ask for Shirley. St. Marks Collects the Following for Charity UMW [Yvonne Miller] Campbell Soup labels, including the UPC symbol. Box Tops for Education. Chopin Hall [Carlton Rule] Food [no glass], bath soap, toilet tissue, paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc. Used clothing can be dropped off at Chopin Hall. WTGN Radio-97.7 Lima [Garth Beatty] Blanchard Valley Hospital Recent magazines and paper back books for waiting rooms.

6 June Sunday School Offerings Builders - Jim Robertson, Charles Bishop and Yvonne Miller Hope and Confidence Come From God Covenant - Barbara Hochstettler In Depth Study of the Book of Philippians Founders - Rob Obenour, Becky Babcock and John Richter Hope and Confidence Come From God Philos - Tim Albertson Christianity and World Religions - Study by Adam Hamilton Searchers - John Carson The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson Soul Seekers - Tim Bechtol and Steve Shiparski Story of Your Life by Matthew West Summer is just around the corner, are you ready to DIVE IN? The Xtreme Kids Ministry is seeking loving adults to serve in the following areas: Child Care Team Members - serve 1 hour every other month at 8:45a or 10a Summer Sunday School Teachers - serve 1 Sunday or more over June, July & August If you are ready to get your feet wet, contact Michelle Shiparski at x24 or by at mshiparski@stmarksfindlay.com. Super Slime! Magnet Mania! Ready, Set Rockets? The Amazing Chemistry Show Mark your calendars now for The Amazing Chemistry Show coming to St. Marks on July 12 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Over 150 hands-on science experiments for kids and adults to try out along with a live stage production! Volunteers are needed to make this afternoon an EXPLOSIVE way to CONNECT with families and MAGNIFY the love of Christ to our friends and neighbors. If you would like to help, contact Michelle Shiparski at:

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8 ST. MARKS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2014 FINANCIAL UPDATE AS OF 4/30/ ACTUAL GENERAL GIVING VERSUS 2014 GENERAL ACTUAL EXPENSES Year To Date 4/30/2014 Actual General Giving Received through 4/30/14 $186,491 Actual General Expenses Paid through 4/30/14 ($172,291) Subtotal YTD Actual General Giving More Than Actual General Expenses Paid through 4/30/14 $14,200 Unpaid Apportionment Payments Due to West Ohio Conference as of 4/30/14 (4 mos. X $4,013) * ($16,052) YTD Actual General Giving Less than Actual General Expenses Paid through 4/30/14 ($1,852) Total 2014 General Operating Budget is $587,650. $11,301 is needed weekly to cover operating expenses. The average weekly General giving through 4/30/14 is $10,970. This is short by $331 per week in * Total 2014 West Ohio Conference Apportionment Commitment at 75% is $48, ACTUAL MISSION GIVING VERSUS 2013 MISSION BUDGET NEEDS Year To Date 4/30/2014 Actual Mission Giving Received through 4/30/14. Includes $1,970 from Easter Offerings $11,276 Mission Giving Required for 2014 Mission Budget Needs through 4/30/14 $9,180 YTD Actual Mission Giving More Than 2014 Mission Budget Needs $2,096 Total 2014 Mission Budget is $28,000. $540 is needed weekly and $7,000 is needed per quarter. YTD 2014 Payments = Q $6,000

9 St. Marks United Methodist Church 800 South Main Street Findlay, Ohio Volume 64 Number 6 June 2014 St. Marks United Methodist Church Phone: Fax: Church office hours: M-F, 9 a.m. 2 p.m. Ministers All at St. Marks who follow Jesus Mark Hollinger, Senior Pastor Kelly Sterling, Associate Pastor Ilda LaRue, Director of Worship & Music Dave Charles, Director of Middle & High School Ministries Michelle Shiparski, Director of Children s Ministries Kathy Newell, Choir Director

10 June 2014