A Message from Pastor Jason:

Transcription

1 Coming Events... Community Life and Worship Center VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2016 A Message from Pastor Jason: Dear Faithful Friends, The Bible often speaks of the brevity of life. It compares life to a number of things like a vapor that appears and then quickly dissipates, the weaver s shuttle rapidly going back and forth, to grass which grows up, dies, and then is burned. Statisticians tell us that the average life span is now around 75 years. If you re under 30 then you think that is a long time. The older we get however, the more we realize that s not really very long at all. Someone went to the trouble to research what people do with their time, and came up with these results: If we live to be 75, we ll have spent 7 years eating, 24 hours a day. 14 years, day and night, working. 5 years riding in some form of transportation. 5 years in conversation. 1 year with, or recovering from, minor sickness. 24 years of our life sleeping! 3 years reading books, magazines and newspapers. 12 years amusing ourselves - watching TV, going to the movies, sports, etc. And most of us will have spent 3 solid years, 24 hours a day, acquiring an education - grade school, high school and college. That totals up to 74 years - and that is what the researchers say, on the average, most of us will have done with our lives. As I looked at these statistics I began thinking. Let s suppose that we spent every Sunday of our lives, for 75 years - through infancy, childhood, adulthood, old age - in God s house worshiping during the Church Service. Now if we did, how much time would we have spent worshiping God? Figure it out - the answer is less than 5½ months. Even if we double that, because some have also attended Sunday School, it would still only add up to 11 months. Think about that - 5 years in an automobile and just 11 months in Church and Sunday School! Twelve years amusing ourselves in front of a TV, and just 11 months in Church and Sunday School. And that is if we had perfect attendance over our life time! Now, my intention is not to cause us undo guilt, but to simply point out a little bit about the brevity of time, and also to challenge us about our priorities in life. Those of us who have claimed our allegiance to Jesus Christ agree that Church life in general, and worship in particular is vitally important to us. Perhaps in the coming months we could make an intentional effort to shuffle the time around in such a way that reflects more accurately that claim. I close with a verse of scripture from Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. May God richly bless you and I ll see you in Church. Pastor Jason

2 P AGE 2 How to Reach Us Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. M-F Church Phone: Church Fax: Web Site: By Pastor: Rev. Jason McQueen pastor@cabotumc.com Office Manager: Barb Briggs office@cabotumc.com Director of Children s Ministries: Erica Purcell children@cabotumc.com Director of Youth Ministries: Alisha Dovey and Mark Hack youth@cabotumc.com Director of Program Ministries: Carrie Rodgers program@cabotumc.com Director of Music Ministries: Jerry Purcell music@cabotumc.com Music Accompanist: Linda McCall lmccall108@gmail.com Food Bank Director: Sue Shaltes foodbank@cabotumc.com Custodian: Janice Bachman Feb. 5th Feb. 8th Feb. 10th Feb. 12th Feb. 12th Feb. 13th Feb. 13th Feb. 14th Feb. 14th Feb. 15th Feb. 17th Feb. 19th Feb. 20th Feb. 20th Feb. 20th Feb. 21st Feb. 22nd FNL Events Administrative Board Ash Wednesday Worship Service The Art of Marriage First CUMC Fish Fry The Art of Marriage Encouraging Women Breakfast First Sunday in Lent Bible Bikerz Bible Study Presidents Day CLN Lenten Services Begin KNO Men of Integrity Chick Flick Secret Sisters Luncheon Wild Game Dinner COM VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 It s hard to believe but Lent will begin this month with Ash Wednesday on February 10th. The first Sunday in Lent is Sunday, February 14th. (Which is also Valentine s Day and Boy Scout Sunday.) Please mark your calendars and join us on Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m. for our Ash Wednesday Worship Service. There is a copy of the CLN Lenten Worship Schedule included in this newsletter. We will be sure to let you know if anything changes. Secret Sister Luncheon for 2015 Participants For those of you that participated in the Secret Sisters Ministry this past year, our annual end of year luncheon will be held: Saturday, February 20th at Cooper Station at Noon A very special quest speaker. Hope to see you there! Contact Tina Stone with questions about the lunch. Pastoral Care Committee/Meals The CUMC Pastoral Care Committee provides meals to members of our church family who have recently been released from the hospital or are going through a serious medical situation. If you need this help, please contact Elaine Hinderliter at to set up delivery of meals. Meals will be provided every other day for up to 2 week. Also, we need folks that are able to help provide these meals!! If you are willing to help and would like to be included on the updated list of volunteers, please contact Elaine at

3 Coming Events... P AGE 3 God can turn any marriage into a masterpiece! In The Art of Marriage video event, you will experience expert teaching, engaging stories, man-on-the street interviews, humorous vignettes, and much more that portrays both the challenges and the beauty of God s design for marriage. This Art of Marriage event is accompanied by a workbook that is so much more than your ordinary workbook. This manual has helpful articles and tips for building a stronger marriage. The manual is included in your registration fee of $45/ couple. There are six sessions included in the Art of Marriage event. They are: 1. Love Happens: God s Purpose & Plan 2. Love Fades: Overcoming Isolation 3. Love Dances: Fulfilling Our Responsiblities 4. Love Interrupted: Communication & Conflict 5. Love Sizzles: Experiencing Real Intimacy 6. Love Always: Leaving a Lasting Legacy Coming to CUMC Friday, February 12th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 13th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost per couple: $45 Contact Carrie Rodgers at program@cabotumc.com or visit the CUMC website at to register. Registration forms will also be available in the Welcome Center. 5th Annual Wild Game Dinner Potluck & Chili Cook-Off Sunday, February 21st 6:00 p.m. $5 Per Person Guest Speaker: Glenn Nagle You won t want to miss this evening of good food and fellowship! This is a potluck dinner, but your food contribution does not need to be made from wild game. We will also be having a chili cook-off and jerky & bologna contest again this year. Proceeds will benefit the ROCK Youth Group to help defer the cost of their 2016 Mission Trip. Please sign-up in the Welcome Center or see Carrie Rodgers for your tickets! If you d like, feel free to show off a little and bring your own mounts, pictures and hides to help us decorate. There will be transportation available to and from the Concordia Havens if there is enough interest. For more information please contact Carrie Rodgers at program@cabotumc.com or CUMC Fish Fry Beginning Friday, February 12th 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Every Friday through March 18th It s almost here, the annual, very popular, ever-growing, super tasty, most excellent CUMC Fish Fry.! And we need you! Volunteer to help in some way Tell your family, neighbors, friends Make dessert Come and enjoy the good food and fellowship! Watch your bulletin announcements for menus and more! Please sign-up to help on the sheets in the Welcome Center. Questions about the Fish Fry can be directed to Rich James

4 P AGE 4 Thank You Notes... Thank you to Pastor Jason for his wonderful words of comfort during Chuck s funeral service. Thank you to Judy Fish and the other people of the church who served our delicious meal afterward. May God richly bless all of you. Dianne Risch Our thanks to Ed & Glady Wilbert for the beautiful Ginger Bread House. Scotty & Janet Thank you to everyone who gave donations to the Cabot Food Bank at Christmas in memory/honor of loved ones. The Food Bank is grateful for the generous donations of food and funds given at this time and throughout the year. Cabot Food Bank I would like to thank my Secret Sister this year and all my former sisters. I have felt so very blessed to have you all pray for me. Thanks. Tina Stone Thank you to Steve, Anita & Bailie Nowak for the beautiful gingerbread house and lovely visit. It really meant a lot to me and the gingerbread house is a great reminder of your visit. Thank you so much, Ruth Powell Thank you to my secret sister for the thoughtful and wonderful Christmas gifts! Sincerely, Carrie Rodgers On behalf of the ROCK Youth Group, thank you to everyone who donated baked goods during the indoor yard sale. Thank you also to everyone who purchased goods from the concession stand. The proceeds will benefit the youth and help defray the cost of special events & Missions! Thank you to the youth for caroling and the gingerbread house. Both were very nice and we appreciated your visit! Thank you also to Mark and Alisha for coordinating and bringing the youth. Wilma & Bob Lewis Thank you to Vern Reith for running the War Room movie sessions. All of them! I appreciate your help and time!! Sincerely, Carrie Rodgers Thank you to Carrie Rodgers for her tireless work organizing all of our special Christmas activities and for her continuing commitment to the Program Ministry of our church. Anonymous Okay, my sweet Secret Sister, I hadn t tried at all to figure out who you might be until, that is, I received a Christmas gift and then a follow up note this month. You either know me exceptionally well, know someone that s told you my likes, or you have an incredible sense of people, because you couldn t have gifted me with more spot on gifts. My very favorite seasonal scent is Mulberry, and your beautiful plug in candle warmer candles are Mulberry! I don t know how or where you found them because that s been a difficult scent to purchase for quite a while, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This might have to stay out year round. Of course I thank you for the other items as well (you made my day with the peanut butter trees), but my heart was gladdened to have this fragrance that brings back so many special memories of Christmases past. I can t wait to find out who you are!!! Carol Cyphert Hello to you all, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 I hope you all are keeping warm. Make sure you bundle up and stay out of the cold like I do. First, I want to thank the wonderful lady who made me cookies, not crumbs, but whole cookies. They were delicious. January has been a very busy time. There was the War Room Movie and Sunday School classes featuring lessons from War Room. There were three people who we welcomed into our church family. We are happy to include Larry and Sharon Stephens and Dave Gillette as new members. There is a Fitness Class and Dave Ramsey series, both led by Jessica Kennedy. On Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th I really had to watch where I was because I could have gotten stepped on with so many people here for the Indoor Garage Sale. Do you know what? They even had my favorite food! The ROCK sold hot dogs, pop and other things and you know I wasn t far away. There is basketball practice almost every evening. The first games were on January 23rd. There are a lot of people here to play and watch the games. On Wednesday, the 20th it was Food Bank and Community Meal. And once again everyone eats! Yum! Woman s Book Club will meet at the Hotel Saxonburg on Friday, February 5th instead of the January meeting. They have some good reading. They read Come Rain or Come Shine, by Jan Karon. She writes some great books and I have read many of them. Yes, we mice like to read too. The other day I went into the sanctuary and I started to slide because Bonnie Yates & Paula Scott cleaned and buffed the floors. Good job girls. Sunday, January 31st at noon the Family Ministry Team had a Make Your Own Pizza and Family Game Day. Also on the 31st I heard it was Barb Briggs and Carrie Rodgers birthdays. Happy Birthday!! Don t forget that Lent will be here very soon, so that means it s Fish Fry time again. If you want to see me, I ll be back near the desserts. So everyone, keep warm, stay safe, and I ll be around to see and hear all that s happening. Your Church Mouse

5 C OMING EVENTS... P AGE 5 Upcoming Events... Confirmation Classes Offered Confirmation that time in an individual s life when they confirm the vows made on their behalf, by their parents, at their baptism. It s that time when a young person says I accept the vows taken on my behalf as my own. Beginning the week of February 21, 2016 confirmation classes will be offered to any youth/ young person 12 years old and older. We will decide as a group when the best time to meet will be, but if you are interested, please speak to Pastor Jason or call the church office. Confirmation Sunday will be on Pentecost, May 15, 2016 Also, we will be looking for adult sponsors to walk along side these young people as they journey through confirmation. If you are willing to help out in this important role let us know. Day of Fasting and Prayer Wednesday, February 10th (Ash Wednesday) Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life. Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Please take this opportunity to join us in focused prayer for our church, our church family, our church leadership, our nation and the church as a whole. We will have the prayer chapel open all day with a focused prayer time from 12-1 and 5:30-6:30. Please join us in prayer even if it is from your home or office! But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4 Save The Date for March... Sunday, March 13th Upward Celebration Coach/Volunteer Dinner Saturday, March 19th Easter Egg Hunt Friday, March 25th Dinner & Movie Date Night Wednesday Evening Prayer Service EVERY WEDNESDAY 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Come join us to pray for our church, our congregation, our community, our nation and the world. GriefShare Support Class Every Tuesday Beginning February 23rd 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life s most difficult experiences. You don t have to go through the grieving process alone. GriefShare support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. Please contact Karle & Marilyn Anderson at if you re interested in learning more.

6 P AGE 6 February Penny Offering (20th & 21st) The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is touching millions of lives one heart at a time. Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ. Our February Penny Offering will go toward supporting the local FCA, its director Anthony Infante and the FCA ministry in our area schools. Our December Penny Offering, which went to our Food Bank was $ And in January we were able to give LifeChoices in Kittanning a donation. We will have that number in the next issue. VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 It will be our policy this winter that if the South Butler School District cancels or dismisses classes early, our afternoon and evening activities for that day will also be cancelled. The exception to this policy will be Upward and Worship Services. In those cases you will be notified via in the event of a cancellation. When in doubt, contact the person in charge of the event you are questioning. Butler District Lay Servant Ministries School 2016 Come and Learn! Expand your service to God and your Church. Grow in your knowledge of Christ. Sundays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. February 14th, 21st, & 28th and March 6th & 13th Harmony-Zelienople UMC Cost: $35 (covers books and materials) Registration Deadline: February 7th For more information see the brochure on the bulletin board outside the church office. Chick Flick Chocolat Saturday, February 20th at 7:00 p.m. Join us to watch the 2000 block buster movie, Chocolat. We will be watching the movie to help kick off our Lenten Women s Bible Study that we will offer on Sunday mornings, led by Megan Jones. All are welcome, you can join us for the movie whether you are doing the bible study or not!! Bring a friend and a chair. Ministry of Cabot United Methodist Church Supporting One Another in Christ Women see the display in the Welcome Center and get involved in this great ministry opportunity for ! We will hold our Secret Sister informational meeting Sunday, February 21 st following the 10:30 worship in the Library. Please contact Carrie Rodgers for additional information about Secret Sisters at program@cabotumc.com. If you like to knit or crochet and would like to do so in the company of other Christian women (men are welcome too) and share in the fellowship then we have the program for you. Our prayer shawl ministry meets twice a month on the 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. and on the 3rd Monday at 10 a.m. in the Red Room at the church. One of the things, in addition to prayer shawls, that the group works on each year is the afghans which are given to each of our graduates in the Spring. If you d like to join in as an experienced knitter or if you re a beginner and would like to learn, please feel free to join us! For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry you can contact Edie Comstock.

7 C OMING EVENTS... P AGE 7 Prayers: Dan Leda began chemotherapy Anna Roddy recently hospitalized for neurological issues. Anna is Sue Shaltes granddaughter. Doris Herceg and her grandchildren, Noah and Rachel Stiner. Christine Braden a good friend of Raj Boehm s who just began chemotherapy. The family of Bob Hund (Cyphert family) Haysel Brown Shelbie Moser traveling Linda Scott continued health concerns Ruth Isenberg Fran Briggs (Barb s mom) Ben & Jen Joe MS Family ministered to by our Adult Missions team is experiencing flooding again. Lenora Please keep our Art Of Marriage Event, participants, leaders and volunteers in prayer leading up to the event as well as during and after the event. And as always, please keep our Pastor and every member of our congregation in your prayers. Praises: Bert Cyphert (Carol Cyphert s sister-in-law) recently had successful surgery. Upward Season is underway and going well. Cliff & Patty Black are going to be new grandparents (Becky & Isaiah) Butch & Joyce Daubner are going to be new great grandparents. Women s Book Club February Selection Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner This is a wonderful novel. It is the story of two couples set from the years of the depression until the 1970 s. It drifts along at a sedate pace with little violence, little action, but a great deal of human warmth. It is an analysis of friendship and marriage from the beginning at a college where Sid and Larry are employed. Their wives Charity and Sally meet and all four become friends. The friendship lasts a lifetime and the novel takes us right to old age and death. Stegner writes very evocatively and sets a scene rather well. The descriptions of the countryside make you feel that you are there as well. The characters are entirely believable; human, with faults and strengths, believable and lovable. This is a novel about appreciating life, appreciating friendship, love, generosity, ups and downs and the simple things. Most of all it is about love and acceptance. It is intelligently written, beautifully simple and beautifully profound. Feb. 2nd Feb. 2nd Feb. 5th Feb. 9th Feb. 28th Feb. 28th Birthdays Karen Porter Dan Leda Gina Infantino Audine Morris McKenna Jones Pat Shaltes Darlene & Terry Lehman Feb. 10th Linda & Doug McCall Feb. 14th 40th Anniversary

8 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Cabot United Methodist Church 707 Winfield Rd. Cabot, Pennsylvania DATED MATERIAL Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2 Cabot, PA REGULAR WORSHIP SCHEDULE Saturday 6:00 p.m. Worship Service Sunday 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Cabot United Methodist Church Mission Statement The mission of Cabot United Methodist Church, is to be a community life and worship center that makes disciples for Jesus Christ through vibrant worship, sincere fellowship, ever deepening discipleship, and opportunities for personal ministry and world mission.