Mission Statement To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. THE PASTOR S PAGE

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1 March 2016 First United Methodist Church of Wabash, Indiana F I R S T E D I T I O N Mission Statement To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Our Covenant Together: Love. Lead. Teach. Transform. Following Jesus THE PASTOR S PAGE 110 N. Cass Street, Wabash, IN Lent is a time of focusing on following Jesus more closely. This year I have invited you to pledge yourself to a short-term commitment of discipline. I pray that those who have taken the opportunity are experiencing Christ in your life in some powerful ways. This year, Easter comes early and with it, the hope and promise of Spring. But we never really had winter yet, have we? As of this writing, we are way under for snowfall and the news people are talking mildest winter on record. I am not a fan of winter but I must confess that I have missed the snow and time to ski with my wife. I have missed snow angels and forts and snowball fights and snowmen this year. I wonder if, when we get to Easter, we will feel like we missed something. I wonder if I will get to Easter and feel unprepared. I wonder if I will get to March 27 and, having declared, Christ is Risen and hear the response, He is risen indeed!, if I will feel like I missed something of the season leading up to Easter. I wonder if I will have focused enough time and energy into following Jesus to the cross or if I will find myself in a dry season, like a land without snow. I pray your Lent season is, and will continue to be, a fruitful season for you to grow in the grace of the Risen Savior. Shalom, Rev. Kurt Freeman Senior Pastor - Rev. Kurt Freeman Pastor of Visitation - Rev. John Cook office.wabfirstumc@cinergymetro.net Phone: (260) FAX: (260)

2 Do you wish your kids read the Bible more? Do you wish you were more familiar with the stories in the Bible? I have something for you to look at! It s The Action Bible. Drawn by Sergio Cariello, who has worked for Marvel and DC Comics, it tells 200 Bible stories in chronological order. I have three copies at the church welcome center for you to explore. I hope your children (of all ages) find it a captivating version of the story. G.R.U. s Crew is underway. We will meet again March 6 at 9:00 a.m. in the MAC. I would like a couple volunteers to help put together a light snack, like fruit, donuts, and juice. Please notify Elizabeth Freeman or the church office if you can help. We are always looking for enthusiastic adults to help in the Sunday School classrooms and Nursery at 10:00. Help is still needed in the Nursery on March 6 and 13, April 17, and May 8 and 15. Our 10:00 preschool and K-2 classes are looking for a teacher and helper in May. Our 345 grade class is looking for a teacher for April. We all want the kids to grow up knowing their Bible, and strong in the faith. We need teachers and helpers to lead them in the way. Elizabeth Freeman, Director of Children s Ministries 3rd, 4th, 5th Graders COME JOIN THE FUN Sunday, March 6 Mystery Trip Bus leaving church at 11:15 a.m. return at 1 p.m. (light lunch provided) Andrea Schuler, Adult Leader All 3rd, 4th, & 5th Graders Welcome!!! CONFIRMATION Sunday, March 6 9:00 a.m. in the chapel Saturday, March 26 Breakfast Retreat dates still being set Pastor Kurt IT IS TIME TO START PLANNING VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! I m looking for leaders and planners who have ideas about when and how to do VBS this year. The planning packet for Egypt: Joseph s Journey from Prison to Palace is here. Please notify the office if you will be a part of our amazing planning team. Elizabeth Freeman, Director of Children s Ministry PLEASE HELP KIDS FIRST CUT COSTS Please help by supplying the following items. You may bring them to church on Sunday morning or through the week and leave them in the box provided just inside the foyer doors. March 6 Gold Fish, Ritz Crackers, Cheese Puffs, pop corn March 13 peanut butter, jelly, pickles, ketchup March 20 Pop Tarts, cereal, pancake mix, syrup March 27 apple sauce, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Mandarin oranges, peaches

3 YOUTH NEWS!! Nick Jacobson, Youth Director

4 Our next book club meeting will be March 15, 2016 at 12:30 P.M. at The Great Wall Restaurant. Our book for discussion is Five Quarters of an Orange by Joanne Harris. The setting of the book takes place in France and centers on the life story of Framboise Simon who alternates her story from the Nazi occupation of her home village when she was a child to the present day when she is a much older woman. As in most of Ms. Harris novels there is an undercurrent of conflict and mystery which holds the reader s interest. Her most well known novel is Chocolat. BOOK remarks Sondra Harrell, THANK YOU I appreciate all the hard work put into the Valentine cookies for college students. They were yummy. Natalie Schuler REMEMBER F.I.S.H. Please bring dry and/or canned items you would like to contribute to the Friends In Service Here food pantry to church on March 6. CHURCH WOMEN UNITED CELEBRATE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Church Women United of Wabash will celebrate World Day of Prayer at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016, at the Church of the Brethren, 645 Bond Street. World Day of Prayer is celebrated the first Friday in March by women around the globe. The service for 2016 was prepared by women of Cuba and the theme is Receive Children, Receive Me. In keeping with this theme, we will support the Nickels for Nails project of the K-Kids at O.J. Neighbors. Nails will go to Wabash Habitat for Humanity SO BRING YOUR NICKELS! A time of fellowship with coffee and pastries will begin at 9:00 and the worship service will follow at 9:30. All women in the Wabash area are invited to attend. Church Women United is an international volunteer Christian ecumenical movement that brings together women of diverse races, cultures, and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and action for peace and justice in the world. NEWSLETTER DEADLINE FOR APRIL NEWS IS MARCH 15. Holy Week PALM SUNDAY - March 20 8:00 a.m. Relaxed Service in the Chapel 10:00 a.m. Procession of Palms EASTER CANTATA Who Do You Say that I Am? (Lloyd Larson) by the Chancel Choir in the sanctuary MAUNDY THURSDAY - March 24 7:00 p.m. Communion Service in the Chapel GOOD FRIDAY March 25 7:00 p.m. Crucifixion Reflection in the Chapel EASTER SUNDAY - March 27 Services at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Musical selections by the Chancel Choir (10am) Beautiful Spring Garden in the Sanctuary BIBLE STUDY Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room EVERYONE WELCOME! Carol Berg, leader WHAT IS OUR MISSION? Form caring and life-changing relationships, one at a time: One CHILD. One HOUR. One CHURCH. One SCHOOL. WHAT IS KIDS HOPE USA? KIDS HOPE USA churches give hope to children in public elementary schools through a relationship with a caring adult from the partnering church. H: Helping to meet the emotional, social, and academic needs of at-risk children by giving them a one-to-one relationship with a mentor from our church. O: Owned by our church. This is our ministry to children and families in our community. P: Prayer is the foundation for our work. Each adult-child relationship is wrapped in prayer from a behind-the-scenes prayer partner from our church. E: Elementary school children are our focus. They need mentoring most because they are at that critical time when values are formed, self-esteem is developed and academic skills must be acquired. Watch the bulletin for additional information about this amazing program. If you think you might be interested in being a mentor, prayer partner, or volunteer in another way, please contact Tracy Peas at or tracypeas@gmail.com.

5 Approved Budget 2016 FINANCIAL REPORT January Monthly Amount Year-to-Date Percentage $424, $35, $35, % January Year-to-Date Income $94, % $94, % Expenses $35, % $35, % Difference $58, $58, GENERAL BUDGET OVERVIEW Beg Balance Income Expense Ending Balance $82, $94, $35, $140, GENERAL BUDGET INCOME January YTD Income Annual Est. YTD Estimate Member Pledges $ 87, $ 87, $369, $ 30, % Member Contribution $ 3, $ 3, $ 20, $ 1, % Non-Member Contribution $ 1, $ 1, $ 10, $ % Loose Offering $ $ $ 4, $ % Sunday School Offering $ $ % Checking Interest $ $ $ $ % Upper Room $ $ $ $ % Offering Envelopes $ $ $ $ % Building Use $ 1, $ % Last Year's Pledges $ $ $ $ % Extra Gift Contribution $ 17, $ 1, % TOTAL $ 94, $ 94, $424, $ 35, GENERAL BUDGET EXPENSES Committee Groups January YTD Expenses Budget Missions $ 1, $ 1, $ 20, % Denomination Ministries $ 10, $ 10, $ 46, % Personnel $ 15, $ 15, $201, % Council of Ministries $ 1, $ 1, $ 25, % Building & Grounds $ 6, $ 6, $124, % Office Operations $ $ $ 3, % Finance & Stewardship $ $ $ 2, % TOTAL $ 35, $ 35, $424, NON-BUDGET MISSIONS INCOME January Year-to-Date UMCOR - US Disaster Relief $ $ Mel Rennaker, Church Treasurer

6 March 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Teen & Adult Sunday School / Preschool thru 5th grade worship 10:15 a.m. Sunday School for Pre-school thru 5th Grade following Children s Message (except for first Sunday each month) 1 6pm-block party (MAC) 2 3 Mtg. (Copier Rm 5:30pm-Trustees (Conference Rm 4 9am-Church Women United (Church of the Brethren) 5 3-6pm-Cub Scout Pinewood Derby (MAC) 6 4th Sunday in Lent (White) Collection of items for FISH & Kids First 9am-Confirmation (Chapel) 9am-GRU s Crew 10:30-noon-Youth 11:15am-Club noon-prayer (prayer (Conference Rm) Mtg. (Copier Rm 1pm-Margaret Wilson Circle (Toepfer s) 7pm-Doris Blake Circle MAC reserved 13 5th Sunday in Lent (Purple) 5:30-7:30pm- Youth serving at Fellowship Food Pantry 14 noon-prayer (prayer (Conf. Room) 6pm-Kids Ministry Planning Team (copier 7:30pm-Outreach Team (Conference Rm 15 Red Cross Blood Drive (MAC) 12:30pm-Book Club (Great Wall) Mtg. (Copier Rm PALM SUNDAY (purple) 5-8pm-Youth Movie night at LaFontaine UMC 21 10am-Witness Team (Conf. Room) noon-prayer (prayer (Conf Rm) 7:30pm-Ad Council (Conf Room) HOLY THURSDAY (purple) 7pm-Holy Thursday Service (Chapel) 25 GOOD FRIDAY (no color) Church Office & Day Care closed Wesley Academy open 7pm-Good Friday Service (Chapel) 26 Confirmation Breakfast 27 EASTER DAY (white) 28 9am-UMW Board Meeting (Conf. Room) noon-prayer (prayer (Conference R) 7:30pm-Staff Parish (Conference Room) Mtg. (Copier Rm)

7 March 2016 A = WEDDING ANNIVERSARY B = BIRTHDAY Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat B-Kara Bever B-Austin Deardorff B-Dalian Leach B-Joe Halderman B-Linda Gilpin B-Jerry Hipsher B-Max Howard B-Stan Myers B-Betty Stoops B-Meredith Brown B-Kiersten Cole B-David Daine B-Mark Ford A-Doug & Linda Konkle B-Harvey Coble B-Ray Carver B-Darin Hoffman B-Bob Vanlandingham B-Alan Palmer B-Sue Byerly 13 B-Zach Atwood B-Carolyn Eichenauer B-Bev Hostetler 14 B-Corra Speicher B-Brayden Wahl 15 B-Oren Wagner 16 B-Pat Cassiday B-Kasey Long 17 A-James & Beverly Hostetler A-Max & Claralou Martin 18 B-Andrea VanCamp 19 B-Nelda Love B-Katie Tish 20 A-Ham & Julie Sadler B-Will Galley 21 B-Larry Hoffman B-Judy Mullen 22 B-John Hostetler A-John & Mindy Bower 25 B-Quinn Myers B-Mel Thomas 26 B-Mindy Bower B-Brian Myers 27 B-Sharon Bair 28 B-Lamoine Scott B-Jackson Tait B-Mike Schuler 31 A-Chuck & Sharon Bair A-Larry & Cindy Hoffman B-Madeline Castle B-Amy Flack