FAIRFAX MESSENGER. Corner. Pastor s JANUARY Fairfax United Methodist Church. - Rev. Roger Cary

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1 FAIRFAX MESSENGER JANUARY 2013 Fairfax United Methodist Church 305 N. Broadway P.O. Box 318 Fairfax, MO Office Hours: 8:00 am 12:00 pm Mon Thurs Office: Fax: Website: Sunday Worship: Sunday School - 9:30 am Worship - 10:30 am Channel 61 Broadcast - Tues. 4:00 pm Wednesdays: Promise Keepers - 6:00 am Pastor Roger Cary Pastor s Hours: 8:00 am 12:00 pm Tues Thurs Fri & Sat: by appt Study: Cell: fairfaxumc@fairfaxmo.net Pastor s Corner - Rev. Roger Cary If you are reading this then the world did not end on December 21 as predicted (I don t believe many of us actually expected this to happen). I also want to say a great big Thank You to the Church Council, especially to the S/PPRC, and also to the church as a whole. Your confidence and trust in me to continue as your Pastor is inspiring. I pray that each of you feel as blessed as Julie and I do. As we begin a New Year we remember that the year was closed out with a sermon that challenged us to do as the Magi did and leave by a different road. For them, to go right back in the way they had come would mean almost certain death. Think for a moment about Herod. He had sent the Magi to find this king so that he could kill him. If the Magi returned and told Herod that Jesus had been spirited to Egypt and was not able to be destroyed Herod s wrath would likely have turned on the Magi. In the end, Herod destroyed many young men (all Jewish male children 2 years old and under). When viewed in this manner we see the importance of leaving the old year by a different road than we entered upon. This new road will bring with it new mysteries and challenges. It is a road we have not traveled before. Mysterious and exciting should be our watchwords as we begin this journey together. Mystery is one of those unique words that has many meanings. The American Heritage Dictionary i has 9 definitions listed with additional sub-listings. Most apply to our knowledge of God. As humans we like to have everything explained; no mystery left to anything so that we can make sense of the world around us. We, as Christians, have even attempted to remove the mystery from God thereby making God like us instead of being transformed into the image of God. Often we try to reduce God to an almost logical mathematical formula. Isaiah 55:7-9 (CEB) ii reminds us of the error of this: 7 Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy on them, to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness. 8 My plans aren t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. Continued on page 2

2 Continued from page 1 Abraham was confused when called on to sacrifice his only son. Moses was not allowed to look upon God and was only told the name of God was I AM. The scripture is filled with the mystery of God without explanation. People were required to accept in faith a God they could not see; that only a few got to hear and speak with; even that called for sacrifices. Jesus often railed at the religious authorities and how far they had moved from love and grace to legalism and self-interest. The author of Hebrews reminds us that, Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don t see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith. (Heb. 11:1-2 CEB) As we begin to journey a new path leading to a renewed spiritual life and church I challenge each of you to ask yourself these questions- 1. What is our goal this coming year? 2. Why have we chosen that as a goal (biblically and theologically)? 3. How does this support our primary mission as Christians (1st) and as United Methodists (2nd)? 4. What am I willing to part with in order to achieve this goal? 5. What am I willing to be held accountable to during the coming year? Church renewal begins not outside the church, but inside. It is a beginning of transformation that will take us to new places and offer us a new filling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus again teaches us in Mark, chapter 2 iii, 21 No one sews a piece of new, unshrunk cloth on old clothes; otherwise, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and makes a worse tear. 22 No one pours new wine into old leather wineskins; otherwise, the wine would burst the wineskins and the wine would be lost and the wineskins destroyed. But new wine is for new wineskins. May God bless you and keep you as we grow together. Amen. i Accessed on December 19, ii Accessed on December 19, iii Ibid. Mark 2: Community Prayer Hour January 17th (every third Thursday of the month) 5:30-6:30 pm at the Tarkio Baptist Church. Residents of our county are encouraged to attend. Church Custodian Church Custodian needed beginning January 1, If you are interested in this position please stop by the church office to pick up an application. (Office Hours: 8am-12pm M-Thr)

3 CHURCH COUNCIL 2013 Council Chair Charla Graves Class of 2013 Lay Member to Annual Conference Charla Graves Class of 2014 Lay Leader Bob Sefrit Class of 2015 Three of the following shall have primary responsibility for SPRC concerns, three for Trustee concerns, and three for Finance Concerns. Designate the Chair/Leader of each responsibility with an asterisk (*). Designate the person from Finance serving as Treasurer (T). Designate the person from Finance serving as Financial Secretary (S). Name Class of 2013 Barbara Jones Gary Taylor Jayne Martin (T) Class of 2014 Jeremy Pfaff Charla Graves Danny Kemerling (S) Class of 2015 Alice Kemerling Mark Sly Suzanne Southard * Ex Officio Members (with vote) Jon Graves Primary Responsibility / Office SPRC/PPRC Trustees Finance SPRC/PPRC Trustees Finance SPRC/PPRC Trustees Finance President/Representative, United Methodist Men COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (The committee is composed of not more than nine persons in addition to the pastor and lay leader. It shall include at least one young adult, and may include one or more youth.) Pastor (Chairperson) Vice Chair (From Committee) Lay Leader Rev. Roger Cary Bob Sefrit Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Barbara Jones Jeremy Pfaff Alice Kemerling Gary Taylor Charla Graves Mark Sly Jayne Martin DeAnna Coggins Suzanne Southard MINISTRY COMMITTEE 2013 Chair - Bob Sefrit Evangelism - Amy Sefrit Worship - DeAnna Coggin Education/Nurture/Ministries with Children - Jayne Martin Mission/Outreach/Volunteers in Mission - Jan Taylor Stewardship - Member of finance committee

4 Children s Christmas Program... 12/23/12 Thanks to all who helped make the children's program "The Christmas Cupcake" and the supper that followed a success. Jayne and Amy would like to thank the children and parents for the gifts presented to them following Helping Hands of Friendship Have a project that you cannot, or should not, do yourself? The Fairfax United Methodist Church would like to extend a hand of friendship by helping members of the Fairfax Community who might need some help with a small project! Please call the Methodist church office ( ) and give a brief description of the job/jobs you need completed, your name and address, and phone number and someone will call you back to discuss details and let you know if it s a project that our team can successfully handle.

5 Human Relations Day Sunday, January 20th Your gifts to Human Relations Day provide avenues to restored relationships through ministries like Youth Offender Rehabilitation, Community Developers self-improvement programs and United Methodist Voluntary Services community advocacy programs. It s time to think and support justice, to become radical in changing lives and changing the world. Please give generously on January 20 when we will be celebrating this Special Sunday. We have included an envelope with this Newsletter for you to use for your donation. Please mail to the church office at: Fairfax UMC PO Box 318 Fairfax, MO Women s Evening Edition ( W E E ) Did not meet in December. The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 9, 2013 with Pam and Alice hosting a vegetable soup and chili supper, with a time change of 6:00 pm, due to having a meal. Members are again asked to invite and bring guests...especially from our church.

6 Webinars for New Leaders The General Board of Discipleship is offering a series of free orientation webinars for new leaders in ministry. Register for the webinars at The schedule is: January 10 at 6:30 PM CST STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE: GETTING IT RIGHT AT THE STARTING LINE Stewardship Team, Finance Committee, or Church Council if your work in the church deals with people s giving, you want to start off on the right foot. As you prepare for the New Year, reflect on these ideas that could make your job the best one in the church! January 15 at 6:30 PM CST SPRC PLANS THE YEAR Building positive relationships between staff and congregation increases vitality and discipleship. Goal setting, evaluation, job descriptions, benefits and healthy work place responsibilities will be covered for new and returning committee members. January 17 at 6:30 PM CST LAY LEADER: WHAT DO I DO? Expectations vary for this position! Learn from congregations of all sizes, the Book of Discipline, and actual experiences to make this role effective in your congregation. January 22 at 6:30 PM CST TRUSTEES PLAN A YEAR OF MINISTRY Trustees are stewards of church property, both physical property and gifts and bequests. New and returning trustees will hear from conference leaders about their legal and fiduciary responsibilities. Plan ahead rather than react to crisis! January 29 at 6:30 PM CST CHURCH COUNCIL LEADS DISCIPLESHIP Being the Body of Christ in the world, living with the mind and hands and feet of Christ: this is a description of Church! The church leader team must build a comprehensive plan for ministry and discipleship, implement and adjust the plan plus oversee administration. This leader orientation will help you set a pattern for the year and point the way to resources and support. January 31 at 6:30 PM CST NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE DEVELOPS LEADERS Vibrant churches constantly identify, train, and support leaders. This is the ministry of the nominations committee.

7 We have received enough donations to cover the whole cost for the 2012/2013 school year We are giving out backpacks to 28 children each weekend at Fairfax R-3. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to this great program offered by Second Harvest!! (Summer of 2013 we will start up for the 2013/2014 school year!) Ministry Council News for December: Thank you, Gary Taylor, for cleaning gutters for a church member. Thank you to the volunteers who rang the bell for the Salvation Army on a cold Sunday afternoon: Pastor Roger, Ronnie and Jayne Martin, Gerry and Mardee Collingham, Jan Taylor, Barb Tubbs, DeAnna Coggin and Charla Graves. Church members contributed to the fund to "adopt" three area youth through Community Services. Thank you to the Tony Mitchel, Roger Southard and Gary Taylor families for shopping for the youth and wrapping the presents. Communion continues to be taken to shut-ins. If you know of anyone wanting communion delivered, please notify the church office. Additional people are needed to serve communion. Contact Jan Taylor if you would like to be a part of this ministry. The Ministry Council has scheduled a church carry-in dinner for Sunday, January 13th, followed by an All-Church Conversation. Please plan to attend and stay for this important meeting. The council would like to plan mission work for the coming year based upon the interests of all church members. Buddy back-packs continue to be delivered to students each Friday. Additional food was sent home over the Christmas break. Thank you to Michele Hawkins for overseeing this program.

8 Gracious Givers Lay Reader Message Giving More than Money For many, giving is associated with money. Giving includes money, but, as faithful givers, we first give ourselves, and the giving of our gifts and resources will follow (2 Corinthians 8:5). We all have different gifts and blessings to share. God has blessed us with gifts of wood-working, sewing, serving, teaching, singing, gardening, leading, cleaning, etc. Whatever our skills or gifts, we can use and give them to extend the kingdom and help others. Through faith, we are compelled to give because we know that God is the source of all of our blessings (2 Corinthians 5:14). Giving expresses our gratitude to God for what he has given to us. In the third chapter of Acts, we find a lame beggar at the temple in Jerusalem, pleading with people to give him money. Peter and John were entering the temple, and they heard the beggar s plea for help. Perhaps the beggar saw Peter with his hand in his pocket, but the hand came out empty, dashing the beggar s hopes. Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk (Acts 3:6). Peter s pocket was empty, but he was willing to give what he had, and he had something worth far more than a pocketful of money. God wants us to give more than our money. He wants us to give of ourselves, our hearts and our lives, and to share our time and talents. We have been blessed to be a blessing. Thank God Peter had more to give the beggar than money. In order to use our gifts and blessings effectively in service for others, let us ask God for guidance as to how to best use and give what he has given us. Through faith, we can be confident that God will open our eyes and hearts for opportunities to give and share what he has entrusted to us. Copyright Parish Publishing, LLC l May not be copied without permission. l

9 Thank You W.E.E. Meeting Wed., January 9th at 6:00 pm Pleasant View Service Fairfax UMC is scheduled to give the church service at the Rock Port nursing home on Sun., January 13th at 3:30 pm January Birthdays Thomas Southard 01/01 Holly Swinehart 01/01 Judy Bradfield 01/02 Dorothy Davis 01/04 Gary Taylor 01/07 Barbara Jones 01/08 Kenneth Roop 01/13 Izabella Walker 01/17 Mike Lewis 01/20 Gene Bradfield 01/22 Tony Sly 01/23 Bethany Graves 01/26 Traci Davis 01/27 Gena Mitchell 01/27 David Sly 01/27 Mason Houghton 01/27 Bryan Frohn 01/28 Jim Ball 01/30 Kourtney Sly 01/31 Kelsey Sly 01/31 January Anniversaries Howard & Connie Hall 01/20 Cal & Janet Morton 01/21 Roger & Suzanne Southard 01/23 If you or your loved ones are not on the list, contact the church office: or with your info and we will get our records updated. Thank you for the cards, calls, visits and the UMW cookie plate. All has been appreciated. UMW Methodist Church Ladies, Thank all of you for the wonderful meal for our family after the service for our dear Justin. We are so thankful for our church and the wonderful people in it. -The Family of Justin Kemerling - God s Blessings, Dale & Dolly Merry Christmas Keep up the good work. - Dwayne & Connie Hall HOTLINES: - Bob Sefrit To the Helping Hands Ministry Team, I want to thank you for illuminating my neighborhood. Your Christmas lights brought lots of joy to my heart. Even DeAnna enjoys them. Thanks so very much, Dixie L. Coggin Boys Town National Hotline / days a year...teens/parents/families Child Abuse and Neglect Elderly Abuse and Neglect Gambling Addiction BETSOFF ( ) Mental Health Crisis Line Missouri School Violence Poison Control Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Suicide Prevention Lifeline TALK ( )

10 January 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Worship Schedule Sunday School: 9:30am Worship: 10:30am Channel 61: 4:00pm Tues 6 Epiphany of the Lord 7 Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2: Church Carry-In Dinner All-Church Conversation Pleasant View Church Service: 3:30pm Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, Human Relations Day: special offering taken Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 36: Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 Sorosis meeting in fh (1-4) 1 New Year s Day Office Closed Sorosis meeting in fh (1-4) 22 Church & Ministry Councils Meeting: 7:00pm Deadline for February Newsletter Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4: Promise Keepers: 6:00am Promise Keepers: 6:00am W.E.E.: 6:00 pm Promise Keepers: 6:00am 23 Promise Keepers: 6:00am Promise Keepers: 6:00am Fairfax United Methodist Church PO Box 318, 305 N. Broadway, Fairfax, MO Pastor Roger Cary PO Box 308, Fairfax, MO Community Prayer Hour: Tarkio First Baptist Church :00 am 12:00 pm Mon Thurs umc@fairfaxmo.net Fax: Pastor s Hours 8:00 am 12:00 pm Tues Thurs Fri-Sat by appointment (cell) fairfaxumc@fairfaxmo.net (after worship) followed by 31 Office Hours

11 Stewardship: Receipts from December 31, 2012: Offerings: First 1, Attendance: 35 Second 2, Third 2, Fourth 13, Fifth 1, Total Offerings: 20, Received Received This Month To Date Altar Flowers Building Use Bulletins Donations for Events Festival of Sharing Food Pantry Human Relations Misc. Income Native American Ministries One Great Hour of Sharing Peace with Justice Special Offerings-Other Sunday School UMCOR UM Student Day Web Site World Communion BUDGETED General Account: Received to Date Total Income: 114, Needed to Date Total Income: 52 wks of budget for , Serving our church in January will be: Ushers: Danny Kemerling and Miles Smith Acolyte: Trey Bowling Communion Stewards: Roger & Suzanne Southard Altar Flowers: Nancy Gaines Lay Reader: DeAnna Coggin Bulletins: January 6 - Jon & Beth Graves in memory of loved ones January 13 - Bob & Amy Sefrit in memory of loved ones January 20 - Gerry & Mardee Collingham in memory of loved ones January 27 - Bob & Barb Jones in memory of Helen Ball Web Site Sponsor: Dale & Dolly Kemerling Office Closed Tuesday, January 1st Church Council and Ministry Council Meeting This coming year, we will be integrating both the Ministry and Church Council into one meeting. The first Meeting is Tuesday, January 22nd at 7:00 pm.

12 FAIRFAX MESSENGER JANUARY 2013 Fairfax United Methodist Church 305 N. Broadway P.O. Box 318 Fairfax, MO Address Service Requested Fairfax, MO U.S. Postage Paid Non-Profit Org. Permit #10 Personal Energy Transportation Dear friends of PET at the Fairfax UMC Church, Greetings! May the New Year bring you joy, peace and purpose! Your recent gift of $250 to PET through The Festival of Sharing will be used to help build, box and ship 98 adult PETs, 10 child and 10 PULL PETs to AmeriCares Mission. Their stated mission is: AmeriCares is a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian organization which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs and supports long-time humanitarian assistance programs for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. That fits well with PET s mission and we are please to be able to use your gifts for those purposes. THANK YOU FOR CARING AND SHARING! * In Hs service, Mel West *(see full letter in the Nook )