The Messenger. C e n t r a l. March Joseph Easley, Senior Pastor 300 Mary Street Evansville, Indiana United Methodist Church

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1 The Messenger C e n t r a l United Methodist Church March 2011 Joseph Easley, Senior Pastor 300 Mary Street Evansville, Indiana Phone (812) Fax (812) EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO COMBAT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND RECIDIVISM Central s Justice Ministry Team is working to address two new community issues: youth homelessness and preventing recidivism. One congregation would not be able to address either issue effectively, but we are working with 16 other congregations in our area to try to deal with root causes, find specific solutions and effect systemic change to make improvements on both issues. These new issues to take on were picked when 10 of us from Central joined dozens from the other congregations in November at the Annual Issues Assembly of Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment. Central s team was impressed by the testimony of one youth describing his becoming homeless when his dysfunctional family moved away and left him. Fortunately, he had connections with the youth ministry of St. Anthony Catholic Church. He has remained in school here, stayed at the homes of various friends and has been trying to hold his life together as he moves toward becoming a responsible adult member of society. Central voted for this as its first choice for a new problem to address, believing that it is an issue that would be of concern to the members of our congregation. I have had the privilege of serving on the Youth Homeless Research Committee, since it was formed in December. Various members of our committee have met with people from EVSC, Aurora, Juvenile Court, Youth First, Hillcrest and numerous other agencies in over a dozen research meetings to get all the information and expert input we could on the nature of the problems here. I have been on 3 of these meetings. We have found that there is genuine concern for trying to meet the need of youth who become or are in danger of becoming homeless, and some new things are already being done. Yet, a big problem is simply indentifying these youth, since most are not sleeping on the street or wearing homeless signs in fact, they tend to try to keep their plight secret. Other committee members have been doing research on-line to discover how other communities have dealt with this issue and look for models worth importing. The committee is meeting the last week of February to decide on an issue cut (i.e. what part of the issue will we address this year, what systemic change will we seek in order to make a significant difference in the problem and who will we ask to implement this problem solution. Another research committee has been going through a similar process to get a handle on how societal re-entry for exoffenders could be improved in order to reduce recidivism. Release from jail or prison is a critical time for persons who have been accused or convicted of crimes. Often, their lack of good family and community support is a major factor in their getting involved in crime, and seldom is that lack improved during their incarceration. Without opportunities and support for making a fresh start as a productive, law-abiding citizen, many of these men and women could return to crime and prison, at great cost to all of us. We pay for the cost of crime in our taxes to support police, courts and prison. Frankly, all of us have a stake in the successful re-entry of exoffenders, both for the sake of our own safety, our community s welfare, and to not have more taxes going to deal with recidivism. Working on such issues is a natural extension of my faith and my following Jesus Christ. Teaching throughout both Testaments is well summarized in Micah 6:8, where the prophet states (in the form of a question with a self-evident answer): What does the Lord require of us but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God? At Central we provide weekly worship, Sunday School, studies, prayer ministries and many other ways to help us walk humbly with our God. We can proudly tout the many ways in which we lovingly reach out in acts of mercy to help people in need. But we don t do justice everyday, nor can we do it on our own. The best way I have seen for people of faith to work on justice is this model of congregations joining together to address structural changes that can make our local community fairer for those with the least resources and improve opportunities for them to better themselves. That can make the community better for all of us and reduce the need for charity. We all have an opportunity to help meet the biblical mandate to do justice. Not everyone can serve on a committee and be involved in the research process and the negotiations with community leaders to get their support for the identified solutions to these problems. However, everyone can show up to one meeting a year to let those community leaders know that people of faith care about these issues and to encourage them to respond positively. We can do that by attending the Nehemiah Action Assembly at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11. More details will follow, but for now put that date on your calendar and plan to join your Central friends and those from other congregations to make a difference. Your Pastor, REV. EASLEY ON VACATION MARCH Rev. Easley is taking a week s vacation, March 17-24, during which he and Patti will be visiting their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in San Francisco. During this time, if there are pastoral needs, call the church office ( ) or Carol Crabtree ( ). Mike Warneke will be preaching in the traditional service on March 20. ACOLYTE SCHEDULE FOR MARCH Thanks to the March Acolytes! March 6 Haley Worland and Hope Hartmann March 13 Anna and Ethan Schreiber March 20 Carly Frazier and Katy Swain March 27 Talon Counts and Evan Lynch Please contact Abby Warneke ( ) or Nancy Reid if you have a child who would like to acolyte. NURSERY VOLUNTEERS SCHEDULE Thank you to the nursery volunteers for March: March 6--Claire Dugan March 13--Kay Conder March 20--Ruth Randall March 27--Kristi Frazier If you would like to be a volunteer on a quarterly rotation for the nursery, please contact Abby Warneke at We are in need of at least ONE more person to make our rotation complete! 1

2 IN WORSHIP THIS MONTH Mar. 6 Communion Combined Service Scriptures: Exodus 24:12-18 & Matthew 17:1-9 Sermon: Majesty, Mystery, Communion Mar. 9 Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 p.m. Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Sermon: When You Give, Pray, Abstain Mar. 13First Sunday in Lent Scriptures: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 & Matthew 4:1-11 Theme: God s Gift of Victory over Temptation Traditional Sermon: Temptation Dramas Casual Service Speaker: Nancy Reid Mar. 20 Second Sunday in Lent Theme: God s Gift of Being Born Anew Scripture: John 3:1-17 Traditional Service Speaker: Mike Warneke Casual Service Speaker: Patti Wright Mar. 27 Third Sunday in Lent Scripture: John 4:5-42 Theme: God s Gift of Living Water Traditional Sermon: An Unlikely Conversation Casual Service Speaker: Josh Hendrickson VISION 2012 REPORT FOR We are half-way through the third year of our four-year campaign to raise the money needed to make our church a vibrant, growing and debt-free church. We started in the spring of 2008, making preparations, developing a plan, and asking for support. Our congregation responded, and we have made steady progress toward our goal. During the first half of this third year (July through December of 2010), we received nearly $116,000 dollars from our pledges and other contributions which brings our total gifts to date to just over $625,000. We have used the money to continue paying back the loan both interest and principle from the Endowment Fund, which was needed to complete the Family Life Center. This loan, originally $550,000 is now down to $328,000. We have also been able to support the position of Director of Outreach Ministries, contribute toward the conference tithe on Director s support, and pay the interest on the Housing Loan from You will recall that this campaign has also allowed us to eliminate the Old National Bank Loan of 1.2 million dollars. In one of my earlier updates, I used the analogy of a race to the debt-free finish line. I warned that we have embarked on a marathon, rather than a sprint. We have hit our stride and are making steady and sure progress. We may tire, but we must remain focused on our goals. We need to dedicate ourselves to making sure we are doing all we can to contribute to the growth of our church. I am not a runner, but we have all heard of marathoners hitting the wall, of becoming so tired they cannot continue. This will not happen to us, however; we have the strength of our Lord to sustain us, the promise of a strong and healthy church to motivate us, and our commitment to future generations of Centralites to encourage us to make it to the finish line. Linda Trible, Bridge Team Coordinator, reported PARENTS NIGHT OUT EVENT The Outreach team will be hosting a Parents Night Out Event for our Central Child Care Families on Friday night, April 8 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. This will be a free service to reach out to the families in our Central Child Care, to allow them a night out to shop, eat, or fellowship. If you are interested in helping with the meal, games, crafts, or would like to just come and help supervise please contact Monica Schreiber or Mike Warneke. 2 ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE BEGINS LENT Easter is April 24 this year, nearly as late as it can be, so Lent also starts late. Our Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 p.m. on March 9 gives us a great opportunity to reflect and reevaluate as we begin our Lenten journey. Rev. Easley will preach on When We Give, Pray, Abstain. The choir will sing. The Theme for the Sundays of Lent this year is: The Most Marvelous Gift. We also continue our series of Lenten Luncheons on Spirituality and the Arts with our Shalom partner churches. This year we look at how architecture reflects and inspires faith in the respective church buildings. We host the first one on March 15, and they continue March 29 at St. Anthony s and April 12 at St. Lucas. These are on Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. All are invited to come and learn about our neighboring houses of worship! At 12:00 Noon each Tuesday, a light lunch will be served of vegetarian soups, crackers, coffee, tea and lemonade; the presentation is from 12:30-1:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. There is no charge to attend, but a free-will offering for the Shalom Zone neighborhood ministry will be accepted. MEN S LENTEN BREAKFASTS BEGIN MARCH 12 The Evansville/Vanderburgh County Men s Lenten Breakfasts begin on March 12 and continue at 7:30 a.m. each Saturday through April 23. After a wonderful breakfast, the pastor at the host church will be sharing an Easter Story. The schedule for host churches is: March 12 - Aldersgate March 19 - Centenary March 26 - Trinity April 2 - McCutchanville April 9 - Howell April 16 - Central April 23 - Scottish Rite The last breakfast is the joint event with the United Churches of Christ. Both men and women are invited to this. Tickets go on sale in April. UMW NEWS The purpose of United Methodist Women reads, a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the Church. Some of the ways Central s UMW members work to meet that purpose are participating in Circle meetings, running the Rack Shack as a local mission effort, and financially supporting many ministries in our country and around the world. We invite Central women of any age to join us in these efforts and to attend our Circle meetings. There is a daytime group, Mary Martha Circle, that meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the church Nolte room. The Bee Conder Circle meets in the evenings on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in a member s home. Each Circle meeting includes prayer, devotion, a program, and fellowship that enlighten us and inspire us to fulfill our purpose. Some of our UMW work is visible in the Mission Center in the Parlor of our Church. We suggest that anytime you bring Food Pantry items for the grocery cart in the Parlor, also bring items for the Mission Center. On the first Sunday of March, please bring C mission items -- Canceled stamps and/or old Cell phones. Also, your old recipe books will be needed soon to sell at the Spring Fair on April 9 that supports Weekday Christian Education. Linda Henzman GOOD USED CAR NEEDED If you know where a good running, reliable used car can be found in the $1500-$2000 range please contact Linda Henzman, or

3 PIE BAKE-OFF Congratulations to Terri Pennington for winning first place in the first Pie Bake-Off. Her delicious pecan pie beat out 15 other entries. The second place winner was Marilyn Conder also with a pecan pie and in third place was Mary Schreiber with her key-lime pie. Judges Pam Clayton, Carlin Gant, Kurt Koenig and Bill Wright had a tough but tasty time choosing a winner. All four will happily make the sacrifice to judge another contest if called into service. CHURCH OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The church office is in need of volunteers to cover for the Church Administrative Assistant during vacations and time away from the office. The responsibilities would include answering the phone and possible light office work. If you are interested in assisting in this manner, please call the office and leave your name and contact information with Lisa. Thank you to the Compass Class and especially Bob and Pam Clayton for preparing a delicious smoked pork chop dinner. Thanks to all of you for sharing in a great time of good food and fellowship. We made $449, which will go to the Family Life Center Account. SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEON There will be a Senior Citizen s Luncheon on Thursday, March 17 at 12 noon in the. Everyone is to bring a dish. If you have any questions, please call Velma Berry at BRING BOXES FOR PANTRY MARCH 6 This month s First-Sunday Collection item is Boxes. On March 6, you may bring in boxed food items for our pantry. You may also give by cash or check (to Central UMC noting Food Pantry ). CAJE TEAM NEWS JUSTICE MINISTRY NETWORK MEMBERS ATTEND CAJE RALLY ON MARCH 14 Central Justice Ministry Network members are encouraged to attend the Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment Rally at 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 14 at St. Mary Catholic Church. Come at 6:30 p.m. to register. Others are also invited to attend to learn more about the issues for the upcoming Action on April 11. Please mark your calendars and make plans now to attend the 2011 Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment Nehemiah Action on April 11, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. More information will be provided in the April Messenger regarding the issues to be addressed at the Action, the location and carpooling. Also, urge your family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers to also hold the date. THANKS FROM GUEST PREACHER Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of your worship service. Everyone was gracious and welcoming. Your donation will be a blessing for my mission trip in March. God bless you! Jill Kaetzel, guest preacher Traditional Service January 30 CHARGE CONFERENCE TO ELECT TRUSTEE Rev. Easley has been authorized to convene a special Charge Conference for the sole purpose of electing a Trustee to fill out the remaining 22 months of Jane Schmitt s term. Kay Conder has agreed to serve. The meeting will take place in the Nolte Room immediately preceding the Executive Council meeting on March 8. CHURCH WOMEN UNITED WORLD DAY OF PRAYER March 4 from 9-11 a.m. at St. Mary s Church, 613 Cherry Program: Father Steve Lintzenich Barbara Johnson is in need of a sitter for a relative on the weekends. Please call if you know of someone who would be interested. Child Care teachers and staff have been actively involved in training recently. The entire staff was involved in eight hours of training on February 21. The Infant and Toddlers were involved in safe sleep training also. Good news for someone!! The #1 child care in Evansville, (Central s that would be) now has openings for a few children. Church members will receive a discount! Spread the word! Referrals are appreciated. Two field trips were planned. The Pump It Up trip was on February 23 and 24. A field trip to the movie, Gnomeo and Juliet will be on March 8. Sounds like fun! YOUNG ADULT OPPORTUNITIES There are a lot of opportunities for our young adults during the month of March. Our Monday small group will meet on March 7 and 21, as we continue to grow in community and share our spiritual journey with one another. During this time we will be doing a series entitled, Parental Guidance Required by Andy Stanley. Our Wednesday small group will meet during each Wednesday of the month, except the 2nd, with our Bible Study time on March 9, 16, 23 and 30 studying the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Both small groups are open to new members, and childcare is always provided during these times together. OUR SYMPATHY is extended to Hilda Higgs and her family on the death of her brother that lived in Atlanta, Georgia..and to Vern Newboles on the death of his wife, Opal who died Tuesday, February 1. Rev. Easley did the private service on Saturday, February 5 at Sunset Funeral Home.and to the family of Helen Glenne Riney, including her children Mike and Terre, on her death February 9. Glenne was 93 and a life-long member of Central. The funeral was Friday, February 11...and to Virginia Hurt on the death of her step-son Rev. Michael Hurt. He died February 3 in Texas, where he had moved after retirement. He had battled a brain tumor for 18 months. Most of his ministry was in Illinois, and his service was February 12 in Collinsville, near St. Louis. CONGRATULATIONS to Bunny and Mollie Affolter on their 70 th wedding anniversary. They were married on Valentine s Day WELCOME TO Naomi Hope Radke who was born to Lisa (Koenig) and Sean Radke of Durham, NC on February 6. Kurt and Sandy Koenig are the grandparents. Naomi is their fifth grandchild. THANKS, THANKS Bunny and I wish to thank you each and everyone for the beautiful cards and notes. Now we know why Central Church has meant so much to us for all of these years. Thank you. Thank you. Mollie and Bunny A great big thanks to you for all the cards, good wishes and recognition of my birthday, February 6. I don t mind getting older as long as I have such good friends. I love you all. Mary Ellen Hasenmyer 3

4 MARCH BIRTHDAYS 1 Linda Kaye Brown Pruis 2 Jerrine Robertson Abby Warneke 4 Dorothy Gerding Joelle Lynch 6 Alan Eggleston Philip Pettijean 7 Lisa Miner 8 Joy Juliano Ruth Randall 10 Liz Garcia 12 Jennifer Brandt 13 Robert Pfender 14 Heather Harris 15 Ron Paulson Emile Pettijean 17 Virginia Hurt Martha Maier 18 Clinton Beck Natalie Simmons 19 Emily Herring 21 Isaiah Huey Richard H. Schnakenburg 22 Tracey Mosley Rhaechel Renner Bob Romain, Jr. 23 June Davis Nancy Frazier Susan Guard Nicki Mahone 25 Josh Barron Chrissy Leinenbach 26 Alicia Ann Georges 27 Cidney Huey 28 Emma Brandt Tom Halbig 29 Marsha Goldsmith 30 Kara Millay Karen Schnakenburg 31 Melba Bootz UPCOMING COFFEE QUARTER HOSTS March 20: April 17: May 15: June 19: 4 Cer s Class Palm Sunday Brunch Service Sunday and Church Picnic Library Class 37 TH SPRING FAIR The Spring Fair to benefit Weekday Christian Education will be Saturday, April 9 from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the C.K. Newsome Community Center located at 100 E. Walnut. There will be free admission and parking and look for more information in the April Messenger. Once again, as part of the Spring Fair, we will have the pre -sale of geraniums. See Janet Duncan for details. SWEET SLEEP TRIVIA BENEFIT Please clear your calendar for a fun-filled evening on Saturday, April 2. The six individuals that will be heading to Uganda this coming July will be hosting a trivia night and silent auction in the Family Life Center from 6:30 until 9:00 p.m. during the first Saturday of April. You can purchase a single ticket for $10 or a team trivia table of 6 can be purchased for $50. All of the proceeds and profits will be used toward the trip costs and purchase of beds for our Sweet Sleep Team. There will also be a Uganda Market set up for you to purchase wonderful handmade items from Uganda, some wonderful appetizers and desserts, as well as many silent auction items. Please contact Mike Warneke ( ) to purchase tickets, or see a mission team representative following services on March 13, 20 and 27. Also, if you would like to donate an item, gift certificate or gift basket for the silent auction, donations can be dropped off at the church anytime during the month of March. NORTH GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY CHORAL CONCERT We have the blessing of hosting the North Georgia College and State University Singers and their female group Le Belle Voci on Friday, March 11. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. and we encourage you to attend and bring with you your family and friends. This concert is free and open to the public, however the choirs will be taking a love offering during the event. We are also in great need of people to open their homes to these individuals and house them following the concert and provide breakfast and a way back to the church on Saturday morning. Please contact Abby Warneke if you are interested in being a host home for these wonderful college students. We would love to see a full sanctuary on the 11th so please plan on joining us for a blessed evening of music. GREETERS The Outreach Team has the hope of forming a new initiative of having greeters outside the entrance of our main Mary Street doors and at the canopy entrance. The goal of this group of volunteers would be a first point of welcome for our guests and to assist in offering direction and or assistance in reaching our Casual and Traditional Services as well as our nursery area. These individuals would need to arrive at church by 9:10 a.m. and are welcome to volunteer on a rotational or one time basis. Please contact Mike Warneke if you are interested in serving in this capacity in the coming weeks. EASTER LILY TO REMEMBER A LOVED ONE 2011 This Easter, remember your loved one with an Easter Lily to be used in our sanctuary as decoration. The cost will be $10.00 each. The last day to order is Sunday, April 17. Acknowledgment of all gifts and lilies will be printed in a bulletin insert on Easter Sunday, April 24. Please attach payment with this form. Given by In Honor of In Memory of LOAVES & FISHES GIFTS Remember a loved one this Easter by making a cash gift to the Central Loaves & Fishes Account. Monies in this account are used toward the financial needs of the families in our neighborhood. The deadline is Sunday, April 17 for the acknowledgment of all gifts to be printed in a bulletin insert on Easter Sunday, April 24. Please attach gift with this form. I prefer to give a gift of cash in the amount of: $ Given by In Honor of In Memory of MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYABLE TO: CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (We are asking that you make separate checks, one for Lilies and one for Loaves & Fishes. This makes it easier for our counters). 4

5 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday March 2011 Services Every Sunday 9:30 a.m. Casual Service (FLC) 9:30 a.m. Traditional Service 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 1 4:00 Mission Team Library 5:00 Nurture Team Ch-O 6:15 Staff-Parish Mtg. Lib. 2 11:00 Wednesday Friends - 6:00 Child Care/4 C s - Garden 6:15 Psalm s Study - Library 6:15 Choir 3 3:30 Power Basketball 6:15 Worship Team _ Lib 4 9:00 Church Women United World Day of Prayer - St. Mary s Church 5 6 Communion 7 10:00 Church Staff Mtg. 4:30 Outreach Team -- Trinity 5:30 Young Adult Bible Study 6:00 Trustees Mtg. - Ch-O 6:00 Endowment - Library 8 12:00 Prayer Lunch Trinity 5:15 Shalom Team - Trinity 6:00 Executive Church Council - Nolte 9 12:00 JNIA - Trinity 1:00 Mary-Martha Circle Nolte Room 5:30 Young Adult Sm Group 7:00 Ash Wednesday Service 10 7:30 JACC Mtg. Library 3:30 Power Basketball - FLC 11 7:00 NGC & State University Choral Concert Sanctuary Aldersgate UMC :00 Full Church Staff Mtg. 6:00 Flood of Justice Ch-O 7:00 CAJE Rally :15 Literary Ladies Kennel Club 12:00 Lenten Lunch - Garden 6:00 CAJE Team Nolte Rm 16 11:00 Wednesday Friends Child Care Team - Lib 5:00 Young Adult Bible Sm G 6:15 Choir & Psalms Study - Lib 17 11:00 Center for Congregations - Garden 3:30 Power Basketball - FLC Rev. Easley on Vacation 18 12:00 MESSENGER DEADLINE Centenary UMC 9:00 Indoor Playground 1:00 Browers - FLC :30 Young Adult Small Group 6:30 Bee Conder Circle Karen Moore, Hostess :00 Young Adult Small Group FLC 6:15 Choir & Psalms Study - Lib 24 3:30 Power B-Ball - FLC 25 Rev. Easley Returns Trinity UMC 10:00 Sweet Sleep Mtg. 8:00 NA Meeting Trinity 27 5:00 Shalom Dinner St. Lucas 28 10:00 Church Staff Meeting 29 12:00 Lenten Lunch St. Anthony s 5:00 ERI Basketball FLC 6:00 Child Care Board Lib. 30 5:00 Young Adult Sm G FLC 6:15 Choir 31 3:30 Power B-Ball - FLC