New Horizon Church June 2018

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1 June 2018 A UNITED METHODIST CONGREGATION Summer Planning Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16: Open our Eyes. As we watch the events unfolding in our world today, we should notice the continual lift away from the Word of God as the guide for decisions made by governments, organizations and individuals. The saddest note is that some of these who are drifting name Jesus as their Savior. 2. Steadfast Obedience. We need to be unwavering in obedience to Christ; we must not compromise our biblical beliefs in order to accommodate the world. Everyone must decide who or what will be the authority in his or her life. Will it be the philosophy of today, or will it be the Bible with truths that have been proven and unchanging for thousands of years? 3. Remember. You stand in the power of Christ; you do not stand alone. Meaning, Christ stands with us when we stand for Him. His power enables us to share his love even when we are oppressed, threatened, or persecuted for our faith in Jesus. One of the exciting things about summer is that it always offers us something of a blank canvas for various opportunities. Vacations get planned, relatives come to visit, and visions of golf courses, swimming pools, and picnics begin to dance in our heads! Personally, June has become an annual alarm to start dreaming about Annual Conference, self development books I m going to read, summer blockbusters I am going to go see and certainly fresh desires to practice new spiritual disciplines. Whether school s out for summer or we find ourselves going North to escape the Florida heat, summer beckons us with it s relaxed rhythm and casual pace for us to be courageous and stand firm in our faith in this world. So when summer comes I always think this is going to be the year I develop lifelong habits that propel me toward living out my faith more consistently. And yet... I seem to get stifled year after year. However, the Bible describes for us in beautiful words near the end of Paul s letter to the Corinthian church, how we can tangibly practice our faith in our society. Here are three exhortations for us to consider this summer: To paint a masterpiece on this blank canvas during this summer season, I believe we must have a plan. I m increasingly convinced living out our faith eludes us because we too often fail to make a realistic plan. It s not enough for me to follow these three exhortations and simply desire for them to be true. I need to open a note on my ipad or laptop, put a pen to paper, or share my plan with a friend, over a cup of coffee, with a real set of possible actions that I d like to take. How do I hope to grow spiritually? What spiritually helpful suggestions have people oh-so-gently offered that have made me somewhat defensive? What have I been saying I need to do spiritually for a long time but simply haven t put into action? If we honestly search our hearts and minds and develop a plan, this could be the year when we actually experience significant spiritual growth. This is my prayer for all of us this summer. Pastor Frank 1

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3 Report from Staff Parish Committee By Kari Larson The Leadership Team of would like to sincerely thank Jabez Gill, Intern of Contemporary Worship and Youth, and Erica Bitting, Vocalists and Coordinator for Youth for their leadership and dedication to our church over the past eight months. After graduating from South Eastern University, both have decided to pursue and accepted new opportunities and ministries outside of Florida beginning this summer. We wish them God s blessing in all their future endeavors. In light of this change, Rob Johns will be our interim Contemporary Worship Leader until our SPRC team can pray, search, and find the right person to help this church grow both its Contemporary Service and Youth group. Please be in prayer that we will trust God through this process and help us welcome Rob to our family! helps others and we are a gift of God in this community. Beginning July 1, 2018 our mortgage loan converts from an interest only loan to a principal and interest loan payment. Currently, we are in the process of being approved for a loan re-ammortization. However, at best, our mortgage loan will be $13,100 for the next 20 years. We need all members, regular attenders, winter friends, and constituents of to give to the Capital Campaign account of our church which is where and how we pay for our new facility. Our capital campaign will last until we retire the loan in the next years. We are brainstorming new and exciting ways to raise funds to pay down and retire our mortgage loan early. However, we need to continue to be faithful to God and this church, so God s will can be done in this community and church. We would love to talk to interested persons about innovative ways we can receive any gifts you may want to give to the church above and beyond your pledge or contributions each Sunday. If you have any questions, please stop by the office Monday through Thursday to speak to Doris or Pastor Frank. We thank you and may God s richest blessings be upon you and your family. 3

4 Financial Committee s Report By Sue Clements Finance report for month of April Income $34, Expenses $25, This includes the loan interest payment of $7, Leaving a balance in Capital Campaign of $ We will have interest only payments for the months of May and June then we will start making mortgage payments of $13, per month. Please keep the church finances in prayer as we are coming into the summer months. TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR APRIL 2018: 1123 Trustee s Committee Report By Darin Larson The results of the recent Church Conference are as follows: The vote to sell the parsonage passed The motion to re-amortize the church loan was: Report from House Blest By Judy Fournier and Jim Summers In other news from the Trustee Committee - The trustees are waiting for the conference to approve the sale of the Parsonage before we put the parsonage with a realtor. We are waiting for Duke Energy to comeback with the install price for the parking lot lights. We are held up until they finish their work. Thank you everyone for your patience!! Total families served = 688 New families registered = 96 Total people in families served = 2692 Total lbs. of food distributed (est.) = Number of days open = 8 FYI: Since January 1, when we started receiving food from Feeding Tampa Bay, we have purchased and distributed 74,099 pounds of food at House Blest We need volunteers!!! See Jim Summers or Judy Fournier for answers to any questions or to add your name to the list. 4

5 Scrip Program By Kari and Darin Larson SCRIP is back. Thanks to Kari and Darin the program will be up and running soon. They are in need of sponsors to help get an inventory of cards. They would greatly appreciate any and all donations to assist with the startup. At the church dinner in April, Kari and Darin Larson announced that was their last dinner as cooks. A great big THANK YOU goes to both for the many years of cooking and serving the dinners. JOB WELL DONE!! There is an opening! Any volunteers? Joyous Sonseekers Adult Class By Eddie and Wanda Downey et al The Teaching Schedule for June June 3 - Justice and Sabbath Laws - Nyla Sharp June 19 - Kingdom Parables - Pete Howerton June 17 - Justice and Fathers - Eddie and Wanda Downey (3 class members will speak briefly about their father: Edith McMullin, Connie Coryer, and Georgia Vogel) June 24 - Reaping God's Justice - JoAnn Parish Warren W. Willis Summer Camp 2018 This summer,, is planning to send 5 Youth Group students ranging from 12 to 16 years of age to Summer Camp. We are excited about 5 Christian children from our church experiencing a high- energy, life-changing week from June 18-23rd at their classic overnight camp. Rising 4th grade students through recently graduated seniors are invited to jump start their faiths while making lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories on beautiful Lake Griffin. Our students will spend four full days zip lining, tubing, doing yoga, sailing, making crafts, learning archery, and so much more! The moments that aren t a flurry of activity are devoted to growing their relationships with others and with God. Please pray that the blessing of the Lord be with them at camp and throughout the rest of the summer.

6 Children s Ministry By Trish Ames We have said good bye to our snowbirds and now the summer starts. Summer brings warmer weather, love bugs and the rainy season. With the rain comes rainbows. Each time I see one of these beautiful symbols it reminds me of God s promise that he will never flood the earth again. This is one of the many Bible stories we share in our Sunday school class. We have been having a lot of fun. The summer also brings back VBS (Vacation Bible School) We had such a good time last year and I think the kids enjoyed it to. This year the theme is Shipwrecked-Rescued by Jesus. If you are interested in helping, please see Trish or Pastor Frank. We will need several volunteers to set up the set, be a leader of a group and help with the crafts/games. The dates that Frank and I discussed are July 30th-Aug 3 rd. I am looking forward to another great year. Spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors. The event will be open to all children. I still need help in the nursery during both services, and with Awakening kids during 11:15 service if you are interested or know someone who is please have them get with Trish or Pastor Frank. Have a blessed month Trish Ames COMING SOON TO NHC July 30 August 3, 2018 is excited to announce our upcoming Vacation Bible School on Monday July 30th through August 3rd. Kids will discover that Jesus rescues them through life s storms. Today s generation is like no other in history! Kids have been linked in beginning since day one with instant access to a sea of information. A constant media feed and increasing push toward excellence has led to waves of worries and struggles that kids have never faced before. Kids leave Shipwrecked VBS knowing that there is Someone bigger than their struggles. Someone stronger than their weakness. Someone who loves them unconditionally. Kids will discover important truths in fresh new ways and dive right into the Bible. At Shipwrecked VBS, kids learn one important Bible Point each day and its reinforced other through Bible adventures, key Bible verses, songs, and hands-on explorations that help children know that Jesus is with them through all of life s storms. We are looking for more volunteers and helpers so if you are interested, please plan to attend the VBS planning meeting which are held each week on Thursday from 630-8:00 pm. 6

7 Pastoral Counseling and Care Ministry By Rev. BJ Coryer, MAPC, BCPC Greetings and welcome back: Last month we talked about our New Cancer Care Ministry. There is now a new article on that ministry with more updated information. Please refer to it for volunteer and service to those journeying with cancer. MARITAL COUNSELING Are you engaged and planning to get married sometime soon? Have you been married for two to five years and maybe facing some ups and downs? For you married couples did you have any counseling prior to your marriage? Are you aware of the current success rates of marriages (first, second, and third time)? Hopefully, in the next few articles, we will provide you with answers to these and several other questions. Our intent is not to scare you from marriage but to help you better prepare for it and to increase your success rate. Within in marriage counseling there are two distinct components: Pre-Marital Counseling and Post Marital Counseling. -- Pre-Marital Counseling is counseling done prior to getting married. It provides an engaged couple with an opportunity to review their expectations, etc. -- Post-Marital Counseling is counseling done while a couple is in the married state to deal with situations/adjustments that have arisen and require attention and/or negotiation. PRE-MARITAL COUNSELING Recently, I was asked by my granddaughter some basic questions about pre-marital counseling. She wanted to know: what is pre-marital counseling; what goes on in the sessions; why is it important to have premarital counseling. These questions and others are most often asked by couples planning on marriage. Let s begin by defining Pre-Marital Counseling. As I see it, pre-marital counseling is a series of meetings a couple has with their pastor or a counselor going through a program to determine of success with a positive and sincere attitude. Such areas covered include: Who is responsible for what; Finances; Each party s expectations; Communication; Fidelity; Sexual Component; Conflict Resolution; and a discussion of the marriage ceremony and the marriage vows. An effective and productive Pre-Marital Counseling session is around six weeks. A very essential element of Pre-Marital Counseling is that the couple comes to each session with openness, honesty, and a strong desire to seek how to sustain their future marriage. Why is this essential? The answer is simply that the couple only benefits by the level of sincerity that they enter into and proceed through the Pre-Marital Counseling. They have a better chance at success with a positive and sincere attitude. Further, through this counseling they will learn valuable coping skills to have a successful marriage. Knowing what Pre-Marital Counseling was, my very inquisitive granddaughter then asked, Why is Pre- Marital Counseling necessary? Answering her question, I began with some rather startling statistics which I had obtained from McKinley Irvin Family Law: Continued of page 8 7

8 -- Failure Rates of Marriages: 1 st Time % 2 nd Time 60% 3 rd Time 73% -- Average length of marriage that ends in divorce Eight (8) years -- Length of time after divorce before remarriage Three (3) years -- Average age when experiencing 1 st divorce 30 years of age -- Number of divorces ,000/year -- 66% of Boomers said they would prefer divorce to an unhappy marriage -- In today s society it is much easier to get a divorce than it was in the past. This was surely plenty of information to absorb. I also believe this is a good point to stop and consider. The statistics are not too encouraging. Based on just these statistics it is pretty clear why couples considering marriage should obtain Pre-Marital Counseling. Next month we will continue to discuss Pre-Marital Counseling; some of the elements of this counseling; and how to deal with the discovered hot spots. Until Next week: May God continue to bless and keep you. Shalom. CANCER CARE MINISTRY Last month, we presented the initial information notice about our church s new ministry Cancer Care Ministry. As I stated last month, Connie and I have become acutely aware of the need for a support ministry for those who battle with cancer and also their caregivers. Some questions that have been asked about this ministry bear answering which I hope will provide clear explanations about this new and very essential ministry. Q1: Why have such a ministry? A1: The simple answer is that there are many people in our congregation and the immediate Community suffering and battling with cancer in many different forms. However, the long answer is that Jesus commanded us to love and take care of each other. As a professed Christian church family we have a responsibility to look after, nurture, and care for each other. Q2: Who will this ministry serve? A2: NHC s Cancer Care Ministry will serve our church family members journeying with cancer and their caregivers. We are going one step further to open our ministry to our immediate community. This ministry is open to believers and non-believers alike. Q3: I know that last month you laid out what the ministry would include but would you lay it out again? Continued of page 9 8

9 A3: NHC s Cancer Care Ministry includes, but is not limited to: Visitations Sending cards/notes, making phone calls Prayer group Meal preparation House cleaning Making blankets/lap robes, etc Transportation Making & delivering Gift Baskets - to/from appointments - to pick up medicines - to pick up groceries, etc. Q4: That is quite a list, but how do I fit in? I am not too versed on visiting, so what can I do? A4: Each of us has God given talents that make us valuable in our own way. Consider your talents, listen for God s calling, and then determine what/where you can best serve in this ministry. Q5: Once I have done this, how do I join NHC s Cancer Care Ministry? A5: That is the easy part. Just call the church office at or call me (Rev BJ Coryer) at and sign up. We will love to have you as part of our team. Q6: Pastor, I myself am on the journey battling cancer, how do I let NHC s Cancer Care Ministry know of my situation and needs. A6: The best ways to let the Cancer Care Ministry team is to either call the church office or me and we can discuss your needs and get you the necessary assistance. Q7: Even though I am on my own journey with cancer, would I be able to be a part of the Cancer Care Ministry? A7: You would certainly be more than welcome. Your level of involvement would have to be governed by a positive attitude, your physical stamina, and your talents. Your positive attitude and journey experiences could be most helpful and supportive to others on the cancer journey. NHC s Cancer Care Ministry although in its infant stage, continues to move forward in this essential ministry. We continue to seek volunteer members of our ministry team. Please pray on it and consider becoming a member of our team. God Bless. Shalom. 9

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13 General Announcements CHILDREN'S MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We need help in the Nursery during the 9:00 AM Service, as well as help in the Nursery from 10:00 AM -12:15PM for Sunday School and Awakening Service. Help is also needed with a lesson, crafts & games during the 11:15 AM Awakening Service. Please see or contact Trish Ames or Pastor Frank Adams. PASTORAL COUNSELING Have you recently experienced a loss and are having difficulty coping? Have you recently or are currently going through depression? Are your health issues troubling you? Do you have spiritual questions that you would like answered? Then consider our Pastoral Counseling and Care Ministry. We are here to assist you in developing the necessary coping skills to deal with life's challenges. It's free - no cost! Rev. B. J. Coryer, BCPC is available Mondays thru Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. and evenings by appointment only. Contact us at PARKING LOT LIGHTS is looking for interested donors to help purchase lights for our parking lot. The total cost of the lights has been estimated around $6, Please contact Darin Larson with any questions. HOUSE BLEST Toiletry items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, deodorant and shampoo for adults and children are always needed for those we serve at House Blest. FLOWER ORDERS FOR THE ALTAR If you are interested in presenting flowers to be placed on the altar on Sunday mornings a form is available. Flowers may commemorate a birthday, new birth, anniversary or other joyful occasion as well as to honor someone. You may also wish to place flowers in memory of a loved one. The cost of each arrangement is $35.00 with checks payable to. Just fill out the form and give it to Sandra Perkins, Julie Weed or place the order form and check in the offering plate or metal drop box as you leave the Sanctuary. The form and payment in full must be received two weeks before your desired Sunday. A white binder with the order forms is available in the Lobby Area of the Church. Happy Father s Day June 17 - A United Methodist Congregation 400 Orchid Drive Haines City, Florida Phone: Editor: jsum@tampabay.rr.com 13

14 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 3 9:00 AM Trad. Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Hispanic Sm. Gr. 11:15 AM Awakening 11:15 AM Kids Awakening 10 9:00 AM Trad. Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Hispanic Sm. Gr. 11:15 AM Awakening 11:15 AM Kids Awakening 17 9:00 AM Trad. Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Hispanic Sm. Gr. 11:15 AM Awakening 11:15 AM Kids Awakening 24 9:00 AM Trad. Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Hispanic Sm. Gr. 11:15 AM Awakening 11:15 AM Kids Awakening 4 June :30-7 PM Weight Watchers 7:00 PM Leadership Team Mtg. 11 5:30-7 PM Weight Watchers 18 5:30-7 PM Weight Watchers Youth at Warren Willis 25 5:30-7 PM Weight Watchers :00 PM Trustee Meeting 19 Youth at Warren Willis Summer Camp :30 AM Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study 4:00 PM Choir 5:30 PM Glory Lights 13 9:30 AM Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study 4:00 PM Choir 5:30 PM Glory Lights 20 9:30 AM Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study 4:00 PM Choir 5:30 PM Glory Lights Youth at Warren Willis Summer Camp 27 9:30 AM Prayer Group 10:30 AM Bible Study 4:00 PM Choir 5:30 PM Glory Lights 7 8:30 AM Men s Sm. Group 6:30PM Band Practice 6:30PM VBS Interest& Volunteer Mtg. 14 8:30 AM Men s Sm. Group 6:30PM Band Practice 6:30PM VBS Interest & Volunteer Mtg. 21 8:30 AM Men s Sm. Group 6:30PM Band Practice 6:30PM VBS Int&Vol.Mtg 7:00PM Highland Sq.(HOA) Youth at Warren Willis Summer Camp 28 8:30 AM Men s Sm. Group 6:30PM Band Practice 6:30PM VBS Interest & Volunteer Mtg. 1 12:30 PM Unload House Blest 8 12:30 PM Unload House Blest 15 12:30 PM Unload House Blest 22 12:30 PM Unload House Blest Youth at Warren Willis Summer Camp 29 12:30 PM Unload House Blest :30 AM Svc.of Licensing, Commissioning and Florida Southern College in Branscomb Hall