Taking Up the Cross. Where the joy of life in Christ overflows Main Street Manchester, CT SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

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1 1226 Main Street Manchester, CT Main Street Manchester, CT Return Service Requested The CHALLENGE March South United Methodist Church March Sunday Worship Schedule 9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Choir Children s Story in the Sanctuary Communion served monthly 10:45 a.m. Sunday School For All Ages 11:45 a.m. Contemporary Worship with Wildfire Worship Band in the Café Communion served monthly 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday March 5th with Rev. John Marshall Where the joy of life in Christ overflows Contact Information: Church office: (860) Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00a-12:00p Tues, Thurs 6:00p-9:00p address: info@southumc.com Web address: southumc.com April Challenge Deadline: Sunday, March 23, 2014 SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE 9:30a - Traditional Worship with Choir and Children s Story 9:45a - Sunday School for Nursery-Grade 2 10:45a - Sunday School for all Ages (Children, Youth and Adults) 11:45a - Contemporary Worship with Wildfire Worship Band March 5th 7:00p Ash Wednesday I N S I D E T H E M A R CH I S S U E March Worship 2 SUMC News 3 March Calendar 6 Outreach News 9 Ad Board Minutes 10 T H E C H A L L E N G E M A R C H Taking Up the Cross Jesus said, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Dear Friends, In less than a week, on Wednesday, March 5 th (Ash Wednesday) Christians all over the world commence our observation of the season of lent. This is a six week period of self-denial and spiritual reflection leading up to the celebration of Easter on Sunday, April 20 th. It is traditional during this season to take time to ponder the events of our Lord s life particularly his suffering. This year our worship services will focus on studying the significance of Jesus suffering and death on the cross for the lives of people today. Much of the New Testament is given to describing and interpreting the significance of the three hour period when Jesus hung nailed to a wooden cross. I invite you during the season of lent to study these events on your own by reading the account of Jesus suffering in the four biographies found in the New Testament; these are recorded in Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke and John On Sunday mornings, we will study what Jesus and His Apostles taught about the meaning of the cross. As you will quickly see, the event of Jesus death is highly relevant to how we live our lives in this world today. For example, Jesus said, that each person who chooses to dedicate their lives to him will have a specific cross of their own. For Jesus, the cross represented the essence of His God-given mission and a source of significant suffering. Could it be that for those who follow Jesus today, taking up our cross means embracing our God-given mission, fully prepared to go through pain and struggle in order to accomplish it? I believe our cross does reveal God s purpose for our lives and the price we must pay to accomplish it. Thus the cross provides another perspective on the hard times we go through in this life. I hope that you will join us for the meaningful worship services planned for South Church this month at either 9:30am in the Sanctuary,or 11:45 am in The Café. Share the blessing of worship, bring a friend! In Service to Christ, Pastor John The event of Jesus death is highly relevant to how we live our lives today.

2 March Worship Theme Lent, Taking Up the Cross Description: The central theme of the Christian Faith is the cross of Jesus Christ. Why did Jesus have to die? What was the point of it? What was God s purpose in letting His only Son die? Throughout the season of Lent, the forty days plus Sunday s leading up to Easter, we will explore together the meaning of Jesus sacrificial death on the cross. March 2, 2014: Transfiguration: A Glimpse Of Glory! Scripture: 2 Peter 1: Focus Verse: For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16) Theme: Our faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ is based upon the witness of those who knew him best. March 9, 2014: The Cross We Carry! Scripture: Matthew 16: Focus Verse: Jesus said, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24) Theme: Following Jesus means embracing the cross-shaped mission He has for us. March 16, 2014: An End Of Hostilities! Scripture: Ephesians 2: Focus Verse: For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. (Ephesians 2:14) Theme: Through the cross of Christ, we can be at peace with God and each other. March 23, 2014: Regrets Nailed To The Cross! Scripture: Colossians 2:8-15. Focus Verse: God erased the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14) Theme: Through the cross, Christ frees us from the burdens of our past. March 30, 2014: His Pain Brought Our Gain! Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3. Focus Verse: Look to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) Theme: Through the cross, Jesus gives us a model for how to endure life s trials. South United Methodist Church Contact Information Church office: (860) Office Hours: Mon Wed Fri 9:00a -12:00p Tues, Thurs 6:00p-9:00p address: office@southumc.com Web address: southumc.com Facebook: facebook.com/southumc Twitter: twitter.com/southumc Text (SMS): (860) 281-SUMC [7862] South Church Staff Pastor - Rev. John Marshall ext. 14 Director of Music - Earle Bidwell ext. 11 Organist - Christopher Walton Director of Ministries - Terry Marshall ext. 15 Director Next Gen Ministries - J.T. Himmelstein ext. 13 Sexton - Ken Schaller ext. 20 Sexton - Don Wilby ext. 20 Office Managers - Colleen Olbert/Patti LaForest ext. 10 Rev. Richard Thompson (retired) S U M C N E W S South UMC ASH Wednesday Service March 5 at 7pm in The Sanctuary Pastor John will bring an inspiring message and The Chancel Choir will sing As we embark on the Holy season of Lent for 2014, Everyone is encouraged to attend Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar. Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a moveable fast that can fall as early as February 4 and as late as March 10. According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. [2][3] Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40- day liturgical period of prayer and fasting or abstinence. Of the 46 days until Easter, six are Sundays. As the Christian sabbath, Sundays are not included in the fasting period and are instead "feast" days during Lent. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a celebration and reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. [4] Although generally seen as a Catholic practice, as it was mostly abandoned by Protestants except for Anglicans after the Protestant Reformation, it has become increasingly common in much of Christianity, [5] now being observed by many Lutherans and Methodists in addition to Catholics and Anglicans. We'll meet you at the UMC.org web warming party today. YOU ARE INVITED! We want to welcome you to the new digital home of the people of The United Methodist Church. UMC.org, the denomination's official website, has gotten a makeover! Please join us today when we launch the redesigned UMC.org with a virtual web-warming party. Yes, the meet and greet will be virtual, but the celebration is the real thing. Who are we? What do we believe? How do we serve? What's going on? The new UMC.org makes finding information and staying in-the-know more user-friendly with improved search capabilities -- and it's mobile friendly too! UMC.org still has all the award-winning stories and photos you're used to seeing, but now it will be more about your own spiritual journey - a place to help you navigate faith, giving, life issues and what it means to be a United Methodist. P A G E 2 P A G E 3

3 Wanted: Prayer Shawls The Stephen Ministry Leadership Team would like to have a prayer shawl available for each of the commissioned ministers to present to their care receiver if they want to. The knitting group is small and will not be able to accomplish all of this in time. Therefore, this call is going out to all knitters and crocheters in the congregation. Will you please make a prayer shawl by the end of April? Three skeins of Lion Brand Homespun yarn make a beautiful shawl. The color and pattern is your choice. If you can do this, or if you have questions about patterns, etc., please contact Alberta Hoagland at Thank you! Jamaica Presentation As a way to say thank you to his church family, Alex LaForest will share highlights of his Mission Trip to Jamaica to the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf. It is open to everyone. March 9th at 5pm in the Café Refreshments will provided Youth Group Event Sunday, March 2 Church: 2:45pm to car pool to Rave Cinemas $5/students $8/adults Training Updates: Our Stephen Ministry class is past the HALF-WAY point! We have completed eleven out of 20 sessions. Here is a brief summary of our class content. Session 10: Confidentiality Our Stephen Ministers took an in-depth look at an essential principle of quality Christian care-confidentiality. Everything a care receiver tells a Stephen Minister and even the identity of the care receiver, remains strictly confidential. It is in this safe environment of trust and acceptance that God can bring hope and healing to a care receiver. Session 11: Telecare: The Next Best Thing To Being There! While most of their caregiving will take place in person, occasionally Stephen Ministers may also care for people over the phone, or by . In this session, our trainees learned when using the phone was appropriate and how to provide care most effectively when using the phone as a caregiving tool. Upcoming Youth Events Youth Group is our two hour event on Sunday Evenings taking place in the Café at South Church where teens in grades 7-12 can come together and have a ton of fun playing games, playing with the youth band, learning from and sharing with one another, and just having a great time hanging out! As you can see we are continuing to meet weekly, and this month of March starts of with a bang! We'll be heading to the movie theater in town to see the 'Son of God', a film based off of The Bible series that many of you may have seen televised last March (2013). At the end of the month we'll be heading north for our Winter Retreat at Monadnock. Please be praying for us, and stay tuned for weekly updates in the bulletin! 3/02 - 'Son of God' 2:45-7:00 pm 3/09 - Youth Group South UMC 3/16 - Youth Group 5-7 UMC 3/23 - Youth Group 5-7 South UMC 3/28-3/30 - Winter Retreat at Monadnock, No Youth Group March Youth Group Schedule Session 12: Using Mental Health Professionals and Other Community Resources What will happen when a care receiver needs a different kind of care or a higher level of care than a Stephen Minister is qualified to provide? The Stephen Minister will work with our Stephen Leaders to connect the person with a professional caregiver who is able to meet the person's needs. In this session, Our Trainees will take a look at what other types of caregiving are available and at the limits to their own caregiving. This will prepare our Stephen Ministers to refer care receivers to the appropriate caregiver should the need arise. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for our Stephen Ministry program here at South UMC. We hope that in a matter of weeks we will have 14 newly trained, ready to be commissioned Stephen Ministers! P A G E 4 P A G E 5

4 March 2014 Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 7:30am Men s Fellowship 9:30am Knitting Group 2 8:30am Teachers Meeting 10:45 am Going Deeper 2:45pm Youth Group- Son of God 9 5:00pm Youth Group 5:00pm Jamaica Presentation 16 5:00pm Youth Group 3 4 5:00pm Shrove Tuesday 6:15pm Wildfire Practice 7:00pm Comm/Committee :30pm Wildfire Practice 7:30pm Ad Board 6:30pm Wildfire Practice 7:00pm Lydia Circle 7:30pm Staff/Parish 5 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service 12 7:30pm Chancel Choir 19 7:30pm Chancel Choir :30am Knitting Group :00pm Youth Group 30 5:00pm NO Youth Group Youth Winter Retreat 6:30pm Wildfire Practice 7:30pm Finance :15pm Wildfire Practice 7:00pm Comm/Committee 7:30pm Chancel Choir 2 7:30pm Concert Choir 6:30pm NO Stephen Ministers 3 Youth Winter Retreat 4 Youth Winter Retreat 5 7:30am Men s Fellowship 9:30am Knitting Group P A G E 6 P A G E 7

5 T H E C H A L L E N G E More South News T H E C H A L L E N G E Outreach News South Church is Reaching out Through: REBUILDING TOGETHER is looking for volunteers for its 2014 program. This community based volunteer program is devoted to the repair and rehabilitation of the homes of lowincome homeowners and designed primarily to serve the elderly, disabled, veterans and families with children. Last year 1,000 volunteers came together to help their neighbors. Donations of time, talent, materials and money assisted 64 families so they could continue to live in warmth, safety and independence. This year's rebuilding day will take place on SATURDAY, APRIL 26. Look for the display in Reception Hall where you can sign up through March 16 You will also need to fill out a waiver form which you will find next to the sign up sheet. Please consider joining our SUMC team and this National non-profit organization celebrating its 22 year helping people rebuild their homes. Whether you choose to paint or participate in landscaping/yard work, the gift of a free tee-shirt and the town barbecue that follows the event cannot compare to the gift of your time and the rewards of giving back to your community. Just ask those who have volunteered year after year! If you would like to contribute to this meaningful program, please send your tax deductible charitable donation to: REBUILDING TOGETHER, c/o Scott Garman or Liz Tracy, 41 Center Street, PO Box 191, Manchester, CT Pat Lapworth Outreach Commission The First Part of No Malaria Campaign Thanks to the generosity of our people, we were able to send on some $1280 to the campaign headquarters in the national United Methodist Church. The thank you note read, in part: Your support serves as an example of how we are living Christ s call to heal the sick and help those in need. Imagine No Malaria includes continued bed net distributions, community education programs with medical outreach training, radio communications programs, and programs that strengthen clinics. We ll be longing for other ways to join in on this effort. One Great Hour of Sharing This special offering will be taken on March 30 in United Methodist Churches all around the country. This offering enables us to be present through UMCOR at any disasters that may happen, so dig deep, if you can. Stop Hunger Now We are scheduled to hold another food packaging event of on Saturday, May 17. In the meantime we need to raise the money to put into it. So on Sundays, February 23, March 2, and March 9, we will be collecting up tp at least $2500 to underwrite that mission experience. Contributions may be sent to the church office any time; just be sure to designate them for Stop Hunger Now. Souper Bowl Again, thanks to those who opened their wallets and hearts, we were able to send over $1140 to MACC to help feed the hungry. An Exciting Month in May We ll be having our usual Blankets for Mothers Day Campaign building up to May 11. We ll be packaging simple meals for Stop Hunger Now on May 17 (We ll need to be collecting money for this in February and March; see article on this). And we ll be joining with leaders at Washington School to present Math and Literacy Family Life Night (probably in the last half of the month). Isn t it amazing what we can do with a little help from the Lord? Help Us Prepare Over 10,000 Meals! Saturday, May 17, 10 am Cooper Hall Building upon last year s success, our church will again be sponsoring a Meal Packaging Event using the services of Stop Hunger Now. This is an approximately 2-hour immensely fun, hands-on and rewarding experience for anyone of any age. A group of us, using an organized assembly-line approach, will package thousands of meals in a short time. Stop Hunger Now meals pack a big punch. Every dehydrated rice/soy meal is fortified with 21 essential vitamins and nutrients. Research has shown that one in three people in developing countries are adversely affected by vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Addressing the problem of hunger is the single point where we can leverage relief for all humanitarian issues. With your support, relief organizations such as Stop Hunger Now have the means to deliver to ongoing school feeding programs that sustain lifelong change. Providing a hot meal during school gives parents an incentive to send their children to school. Through receiving a primary school education, the cycle of poverty can begin to be broken by leveraging change in many other issues including education, maternal health, childhood mortality, gender equality and combating HIV/AIDS. For more information, please see Pastor Dick ( , spotanpuff@gmail.com) or Boris Gerber ( , borisgerber1@cox.net). 50 Volunteers are Needed! See the Display & Sign-Up Poster in Reception Hall Washington School Assistance The following supplies are needed: dice, dominoes, playing cards, markers, white boards and cleaner, stickers. We are hoping to collect enough dice, playing cards and dominoes, so all the families that come to the Math and Literacy Night can take some home. In that way, they can practice their math at home by playing the games that we help them learn during the event (see below). Volunteers Needed Throughout the Year: Help children learn math skills either one on one or in a small group for grades K-5. Orientation provided. Volunteers are needed for one or more hours per week. Also, a volunteer is needed to help prepare materials for learning tasks a few hours a week. Family Math and Literacy Night on Thursday, May 22 nd. Volunteers are needed from 5:15-6:30 to help children and their families in playing simple math games with dice, dominoes and cards in the classrooms. Everyone is invited to stay afterwards to have pizza with the families and children. Volunteer sign up is in the Reception Hall. Questions: please call Bill McGugan at Thank you. P A G E 8 P A G E 9

6 SUMC Administrative Board Meeting December 10, 2013 Meeting Minutes In Attendance: Deb Grehn, Kim Grehn, Bill Hyde, Pastor Dick Thompson, Phil Susag, JoAnn Thulin, Terry Marshall, Pastor John Marshall, Brian Mohr, Patti LaForest, Carol Goodwin. Opening Prayer/Reading of Vision and Mission Statements: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairperson Deb Grehn. Pastor John offered an opening prayer and Brian Mohr read a passage entitled Give Us Churches. Acceptance of Outstanding Minutes: Draft minutes of the October 8, 2013 meeting were reviewed. The following corrections were raised: Terry Marshall should be removed from the attendance list. The number of Stephen Ministers listed in the Unfinished Business section should be corrected to read 14. Lay Minister s Report should be corrected to read Lay Leader s Report. There was a motion (Phil Susag, Bill Hyde) to approve the Ad Board s October 8, 2013 meeting minutes with the corrections noted. All were in favor and the motion carried. Unfinished Business: Pastor John discussed mission-designated proceeds from the sale of the Oak Street property. He suggested we split the funds - 50% to Outreach Commission for special projects they designate and 50% to Youth Mission activities, with both groups reporting back on how the funds are ultimately used. $15K - $16K is the estimated total amount to be split. There was a motion (Terry Marshall, Bill Hyde) that the 10% mission proceeds from the sale of Oak Street be split evenly between the Youth Mission Fund and the Outreach Commission, with the Youth funds to be administered through Pastor John s office. All were in favor and the motion carried. Pastor Dick stated that he would like to have a church celebration of the tithing of these proceeds toward mission. Phil Susag recommended the church make additional efforts to support Alex LaForest s mission trip to Jamaica. Patti LaForest commented that $600 more is needed. Donations can be made to the church and earmarked for this cause. Pastor John stated he will look into other means of support from the church as well.. Committee Reports: Pastor s Report: Pastor John reported that the Christmas letter will be going out this week. Also, we are in process of transitioning to a new Chair of the Finance Committee. JoAnn Thulin was thanked for her service in this role. There was a motion (Brian Mohr, Bill Hyde) to appoint Jason Smith as Chair of the Finance Committee. All were in favor and the motion carried. Education: Terry Marshall stated that the Christmas pageant and the Birthday Party for Jesus were great successes. A youth and parent dialogue session was held. This resulted in some good planning and all are anxious to get a new youth director on board. The next youth retreat will be at Camp Berea at the end of March. Seasonal Ministries: Patti LaForest reported on upcoming activities including the annual Christmas caroling event December 21 st and undecorating of the church January 5 th. Outreach: Pastor Dick reported that our church has received a special request from the Bishop to participate in the Imagine No Malaria campaign. Souper Bowl Sunday will be repeated this year on February 2 and there are lots of other events in the planning. SPRC: Deb Grehn reported for Deb Ingraham. A team has been assembled to seek candidates for next generation ministries, and they are hoping to have someone in place in mid January. Gift cards are being given to all staff members at Christmas as a thank you for their hard work during the year. Lay Leader: Deb Grehn reported for Don Wilby and shared information about an upcoming Leadership Academy event to be held March 29 at New Covenant UMC in East Hartford. Trustees: Deb Grehn reported for Larry Fiano. Trustees have approved $25,000 for limited renovation of the Susannah Wesley Hall apartment, in anticipation of occupancy by the new Director of Next Generation Ministries. Property Committee: Bob Thulin gave a progress report on the elevator project. We are proceeding with construction drawings, and site plans will be prepared by a civil engineer as required by Town Zoning and Planning. Probable construction cost for the elevator is $478K. Gas conversion for church properties is going well and is nearly complete for the church, to be followed by the parsonage and then 20 Hartford Road. Other projects and potential projects discussed included energy efficiency initiatives, church front door restoration, and a new boiler for 20 Hartford Road. While there is continued interest, there have been no firm offers on the 48 Hartford Road property. There was a concern raised by Brian Mohr and a further discussion about potential diminished options for the 21 Hartford Road property if the 48 Hartford Road property is sold. Deb Grehn stated she d welcome any new information on the future of 21 Hartford Road and we may want to resume discussion of options as a January project. Finance: Bill Hyde reported that November was a good month for the finances. We re doing very well, with mission shares paid at 93% year to date. New Business: 2014 Budget The proposed 2014 budget was presented by Bill Hyde. Highlights include: an anticipated 1/3 reduction in heating expense due to the switch to natural gas; a slight increase in mission shares; a reduction in other income to reflect loss of the Oak St. parsonage usage fee; and salaries expense reduction due to elimination of pension and health insurance payments for a full time sexton. The proposed budget does not reflect a balanced net result expenses are still likely to exceed income, but the anticipated deficit in the $14K range is much improved from prior years. There was a motion (Pastor Dick Thompson, Patti Laforest) to accept the 2014 budget as proposed. All were in favor and the motion carried. On behalf of the Administrative Board, Deb Grehn thanked the Treasurer, the Financial Secretary and the Property Manager for their long hours and dedicated efforts. Kim Grehn reported that we re going through a pledge campaign, with 52 pledges received so far. Pledges are requested twice annually under the new approach, and a nonresponse to the request at the six month point will mean the original pledge amount will continue. Kim gave a reminder that pledge amounts can be changed at any time on request. Deb Grehn stated that the January 26 All Church Meeting will replace the regular Administrative Board meeting for January. Reports for the All Church Meeting should be submitted by January 12. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carol E. Goodwin, Recording Secretary Your GIFT... Helps a Child Smile, a Family Recover and a Community Rebuild After Disaster Strikes. Worshippers arriving June 2, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in Moore, Okla., found the church lacked electricity. They didn t need it. The Son powered that Sunday morning service. For almost two weeks, the church had charged into the chaos caused by a tornado May 20. Two dozen people died. Thousands of homes were gone. When another round of deadly tornadoes struck May 31, church members kept giving and serving even without electricity and water. The senior pastor, the Rev. Tish Malloy, threw open the doors of the church and prepared to give, proclaiming, We have life! Children scurried to select activity kits. Additional folding chairs appeared as the crowd grew. Passing the peace of Christ now held extra meaning. With your generous gift, First Church in Moore, Okla., can continue as a long-term UMCOR recovery center. YOUR GIFT MATTERS TO SURVIVORS OF DISASTER. Your donation to the One Great Hour of Sharing enables UMCOR to serve children, families and communities when disaster strikes. One Great Hour of Sharing calls United Methodists to share the goodness of life with those who hurt. The offering provides administrative support for the United Methodist Committee on Relief as it responds to disaster survivors and people in need around the world. Please give generously on One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, March 30 P A G E 1 0 P A G E 1 1