What Does God Expect. Dr Robert Brink. Lewis Smedes in his book Mere Morality writes,

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1 What Does God Expect Lewis Smedes in his book Mere Morality writes, Dr. Robert J. Brink Senior Pastor Sandra A. Hildebrand Pastor of Congregational Life Jerry Mitchel Pastor of Visitation KC Graves Pastor of Student Ministries Jamie Conkling Worship Arts Pastor Stacy Krull Director of Children s Ministries Nancy Krick Office Manager Notary Rebecca Hirschy Preschool Director Debbie Brink Day Care Director He is a little man in a long green coat and a cocked hat, standing with one leg on a steep roof, playing the fiddle. He is all of us, trying to make some meaningful music out of our lives but lacking a level place to stand on. We are all fiddlers on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant little tune without falling down and breaking our necks. And how do we keep our balance? I ll tell you, sings Tevye in the opening song of the musical inspired by Chagall s painting, in one word, I ll tell you, tradition! Because of our tradition, everybody knows who he is and what God expects him to do. Do we really know what God expects from us? Do we care? What are God s signals? We may not always know what God expects but I choose to believe that at the Decatur Church of God we care. We can only keep our balance by receiving God s directions, teachings, and commandments, and by understanding our traditions. We still have much to learn but God has given us a good start. One of the Fiddlers, Dr Robert Brink

2 FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2nd Needed: cereal, toilet paper, toilet paper, toilet paper! Put your items in the cart by the office clearly marked Food Pantry. The monthly Community Dinner at First United Methodist Church our church is in charge of is Wednesday, February 5th. Workers, food, and monetary donations are appreciated. Sign up at the lobby table Sunday, February 2nd or call Judy Secaur # SUPER BOWL SUBS AND WRAPS February 2nd the youth will be delivering wraps and subs. These delicious sandwiches will be made fresh that morning. They include turkey, ham, cheese & lettuce, with tomato and onion available in convenient take home packaging. The subs and wraps can be picked up after church or Sunday school down by the fellowship hall. We want to thank you in advance for your generous donations in this fundraiser. Orders due January 27th. Movie outing and lunch Thursday, February 13th. Meet at the church at 10:30 am. Sign What is DC4K? DC4K is a biblically based Christ-centered ministry tool designed to bring healing to children of divorce. DivorceCare 4Kids is a program geared to introduce children to the grieving process that is brought on by the death of their once-intact family. Serving the kids of our community to give them a safe place to share the love of Jesus to the hurting and the brokenhearted, we meet in the Student Ministry Room on Thursdays at 6:30 to 8:30 pm. At this time we have Kindergarten to 5 th graders attend our group to learn, play, laugh and love. Do you know a child that could use a safe place to share how and what divorce feels and looks to them? Please refer them to us, Pastor Sandy, Mary Nilsen, Randy Johnson or Terri Borne. DCOGY NINJAS YOUTH SUPER BOWL PARTY Youth will meet at Pastor KC & Diana s on February 2nd at 5:30 pm. Please bring a dish to share and your own beverage! Please make sure you have transportation to and from the party. THIRD DAY & SKILLET Friday, February 28th in Indianapolis Tickets are $35 we will be leaving at 4 pm and returning about 2 am. See Pastor KC about ticket availability. Save the Dates! International Youth Convention in Nashville, TN July 5-12 ONE NIGHT ONLY! ILLUSIONIST TOM COVERLY Sunday, February 16th at 6 PM Wabash Friends Annual Marriage Enrichment Retreat February 14-16, 2014 with Dr. John Townsend See Pastor Sandy for more information or to register call or counselingcenter.com

3 MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH ROB & JOANNA BRANNON UTAH We are enjoying the ongoing benefits of God s power to fulfill the vision and dream that He gave us to give birth to Bryce Canyon Bible Church, a local church here in Bryce Canyon, Utah. We are thrilled to be the recipients of the favor of the Lord in realizing the incarnation of our new facility. Renovating and moving into our church facility was Phase 1 of our ministry outreach vision. Phase 2 is to build an Evangelistic, Creation Welcome Center called: Noah s Landing at Bryce Canyon. This multi-lingual, outreach center will be constructed to look like Noah s Ark and will be built upon our 6 acres of frontage property on Scenic Byway 12. Our property is strategically located next to Bryce Canyon National Park which receives visits from 1.4 million tourists annually. Our plan is to build Noah s Landing with a 100 seat creation theatre, a themed internet café and an evangelistic, creation-based bookstore. This is obviously a very ambitious endeavor which will require fund-raising efforts well beyond you and me. Our goal is to expand our circle of partners by fund-raising far and wide. Thank you for your prayers for Phase 2 of our outreach! With love in Christ, Rob & Joanne Brannon The Worship Corner From the desk of Pastor Jamie January 2014 Edition The DCOG Worship Singers We have started up the Worship Singers January 15, The Singers started being part of the weekly services Sunday, January 19, If you would like to be a part of the Worship Singers, the rehearsals are every Wednesday evening at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. We hope to see you there! Tech Department Need As we begin a new year, anyone interested in serving/learning at the soundboard, lighting, or computer, please contact me and I will get you properly trained and on our current schedule. If this area has been an interest of yours, don t hesitate to jump in and join our tech team! WE NEED YOU! The Story Musical Begins We are gearing up to present The Story musical. This will be our Easter presentation and we will present the musical on Easter weekend. I d love to have as many of you participate as possible. There are a few speaking roles I need filled so please see me if you are interested. The first rehearsal will begin on Sunday, February 11:30 am-1pm. We will also rehearse the music during our Wednesday evening regular rehearsals. So if one day is bad for you, you might be able to catch another. If you can, please see if this might be something you want to share your musical gifts for. We have a spot for you!!! In His service, Jamie PRAYER FRESHENER FOR THE MONTH All earthly things with earth will pass away; prayer grasps eternity. Then pray, always pray! - E.H. Bickersteth

4 ITEMS DUE: February 15th POINT OF IMPACT Team IMPACT invites you to join with us in taking a stand for Biblical Marriage. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. Matthew 19:5 Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, this is detestable. Leviticus 18:22 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2 Currently a Marriage Protection Amendment (HJR6) is being considered in our Indiana General Assembly. It must pass their vote to advance and be on the ballot for voters on Election Day where WE can vote to make it law. This amendment will protect Biblical Marriage in Indiana, permitting only unions between one man and one woman. Please pray about this issue and for our elected officials. Take a stand! Contact your representative and senator to pass this bill. PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS: If you have a request to place on the Prayer Chain, please call one of our Prayer Chain Co-Coordinators Marilyn Frey # Doris Poindexter # If you need further assistance, please call the church office. Weekend On-Call Pastor: #

5 Sunday: Weekly Services 9:00 AM Worship & G.I.G.ville 10:30 AM Cross Training, K-Church, Sunday School 6-8 PM Youth & 56er s Wednesday: 6 PM Worship Singers Practice 7-8 PM Family Activities & 56ers 7-8:30 PM Youth 8:15 PM Worship Band Practice FEBRUARY 2014 MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH: ROB & JOANNE BRANNON Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat PM RH/SMC reserved 2 Subs available His Pantry Sunday Super Bowl Parties 5:30 PM Youth Super Bowl Party at Pastor KC s 3 6 PM Men s Basketball 7 PM AA (FH) 4 8 AM DMA 5 Kitchen reserved 5 PM Community Dinner (1st UM) 6 7 Youth RH AM Infant Dedication 11:30-5 PM FH/K reserved 11:30 AM (L) Impact meeting 6-8 PM Youth & 56ers (SMC) 10 6:30 PM F&E 7 PM AA 11 9 AM Full Staff Mtg :30 AM Young at Heart Lunch/Movie 6 PM Elders (L) Dr. John Townsend Marriage Enrichment Retreat Feb Grand Wayne Center, FTW 16 11:30 AM Faith Promise meeting (L) 11:30-1 PM Easter Choir (FH) 6-8 PM Youth/56ers (SMC) 17 7 PM AA (FH) 18 6:30 PM B&G (L) Spotlight on Day Care/Preschool 11:30-1 PM Easter Choir (FH) 6-8 PM Youth & 56ers (SMC) 24 7 PM AA (FH) PM Youth to Third Day & Skillet (Indy)

6 You people were wonderful to me this Christmas season. I want to thank you for all Thank you your wonderful gifts, great cards, and words of encouragement. You are the best. God bless all of you. Pastor Jerry We would like to thank the church for the thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of losing my father. We also thank the church for the throw. Thank you to Pastor Brink and Pastor KC for coming to the viewing. It means a lot to us. The Leazenby s Ryan, Kim, Brooke, Colten, Danten & Allyson Tussing Thank you for your prayers and support for the Agape Express Puppet Ministry! Thanks also for the love offering taken to support this ministry. We praise God for the things He is doing through this ministry! God Bless! Rick & Christine Garner We want to thank you for all the prayers, food, visits, phone calls, cards, and notes. Thank you for calling out to God for our sakes when we were unable to for ourselves. We appreciate the ones who came and put ornaments away and mowed our lawn when Roger couldn t. We are still on the road to recovery and most days are very long. We appreciate your phone calls and visits. So please feel free to visit. God bless you all church family. Roger & Bobbi Mauller Highlights from January 2014 Elder s Meeting Dion Jordan and Karen Carty were welcomed as new Elder members. Larry Carty and Dennis Call were thanked for their years of service as Elders. Discussion / Summary of Critical Questions The Elders were challenged to be pro-active and always committed to the growth of the Kingdom of God. Review of Finances In 2013, spending was 93.98% of the budgeted amount and offerings are running at 89.75% of the yearly amount. The 2013 Building and Grounds General Fund carry-over of $3, was transferred to the Building Fund 12/31/2013, this is due to the elimination of Future Projects from the 2014 Budget. Larry Carty informed us of an opportunity of purchasing a 15 passenger bus from North Adams for $4, These buses new cost $87, Last year we spent $2, for van rental alone which does not include the money spent for gas. The bus would be available by the end of the school year. A study committee was formed comprised of Dennis Call, Pastor KC, and Lew Simerman. Board and Committee Updates 2014 Organizational Structure for DCOG: Worship Elder: Karen Fouts Fellowship Elder: Pam Mitchel Evangelism Elder: Karen Carty Stewardship Elder: Lew Simerman Discipleship Elder: Mike Cook Ministry Elder: Dion Jordan Pastoral Staff Elder: Dr. Robert Brink Two changes were made to the organizational structure. The decoration team went from the Ministry Elder to the Worship Elder. Under the Evangelism Elder the title Assimilation was changed to Connection Ministry. The following Elders accepted the new officer positions: Chairman - Lew Simerman Vice-Chairman - Karen Fouts Secretary - Pam Mitchel Lew reported on the Connection Ministry. The January Newcomer Meal was postponed to March. The Connection Ministry is recommending a Church Directory be published.