THE SPIRE. First United Methodist Church in Pratt, KS. First United Methodist Church 132nd Year of Ministry. January 2019 Newsletter

Transcription

1 First United Methodist Church 132nd Year of Ministry First United Methodist Church in Pratt, KS photo by Louis Keeling Newsletter

2 Pastor s Thoughts Include God in Everything I am well aware that between the time I write this (middle of December) and the time you read it (beginning of January), things could change a great deal. Case in point: right now I am enjoying an incredible peace and calm within. A few weeks ago I could have pulled out the little hair I have left. Right now, things are just going well. I m not feeling stressed. I have lots to do, but plenty of time to do it. My ducks are lining up in a row so that everything is prepared to allow for a few days of relaxing on the Gulf Coast beach after Christmas. A few weeks ago I was frantically planning for one of the busiest times of the church year. The annual Charge Conference was done but Advent was coming and there was a lot going on with Sunday School, JAM, worship planning. My calendar was full and I didn t think I was ever going to get everything done. Peace and calm were not within! But here s what keeps me going: Whether I m calm and peaceful or stressed and anxious, God is with me! Because no matter how my days are going, I start each one with a time of prayer, scripture reading, meditation. There are exceptions to that, but that is the rule. Paul writes in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Early in my Christian walk, I adopted that as my life verse, thinking that it meant that I could withstand any hardship or difficulty, because Christ would get me through it. Now I take that verse in a little larger context, and include verse 12, which says, I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. The secret is to include God in all things. The secret is to spend time with God on a daily basis, not only on those days that we are stressed and anxious. Most of you know by now that I am an absolutely horrible morning person. So I use those first moments of the waking day when I m not fit to be around humans, to be with God. That doesn t mean that everything goes perfect and I m always calm and peaceful. But it does mean that I always know God is with me. By spending time every morning with God, God and I are never very far apart. I am aware of God s presence. We live in a fast paced society. But we don t have to let society dictate our schedule. We live in an increasingly angry society. But we don t have to let society dictate our disposition. If we all slow down enough to make time for God in our daily schedule, what effect could we have on our society? Can we be part of God s transformation of the world? We can, if we know God s presence in any and all circumstances. Grace and Peace, Pastor Marvin

3 Youth News YOUTH NEWS Kelli Barker Wednesday Night Youth Group is back January 9th! Middle School 6:00 High School 7:15 Sandwiches Sandwiches Sandwiches!!! February 3rd is the Super Bowl and we are making sandwiches! Get your order in by January 30th! Pick up your order form in the church office or ask a youth group member! We will even deliver your sandwiches if that is more convenient! PRATT FUMC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FOR SPRING SEMESTER Attention: High School Graduates & College Students Applications for Pratt FUMC scholarship awards for the Spring Semester 2019 are available and must be submitted online at 1. Look under the Youth tab and click on Scholarship. 2. You will need to click two places: one for Scholarship Application Instructions and one to fill out the actual scholarship application on-line. If you are a member of the Pratt First United Methodist Church, you are eligible to apply. Please follow the application directions carefully, complete the application on-line and submit requested materials to the church office by January 14, The Scholarship Committee awarded $1000 to each student who qualified for the scholarship this past semester. The Committee will meet to review the completed applications in January and inform the applicants whether or not they have been granted a scholarship. Mark Ploger, Chairman, Scholarship Committee

4 JAM Jesus and Me Spreading the J A M... Children up to 4th grade 4:00 P M -5:00 P M Wednesday nights!!!! I just finished watching at the recording of our Christmas Program. It was awesome, everyone did a fantastic job! I loved the music, especially the song If You Wanna Be a Star! The words taken from Philippians 2, (it takes some being humble, it takes some being kind, it takes some serving if you really wanna shine. It s thinking first of others, loving with all your heart; that s how you do it if you want to be a star!) are some that we can strive for all year and not just at Christmas. This year we can take each part of that scripture and explore it. We will meet again beginning January 9th. On that Wednesday, JAM is scheduled to prepare and serve Snack Supper. Hope you will plan on staying after JAM to help! JAM will return to the original schedule. Music 4:00-4:20 Pre K - K, 3-4, 1-2 Recreation 4:20-4:40 Pre K - K, 3-4, 1-2 Lesson 4:40-5:00 Pre K - K, 3-4, 1-2 Blessings, Sherri

5 Circles The folks in Circles of Hope had a Christmas party during their last session of 2018 on December 17. They played several fun games, sang Christmas songs and heard the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel according to Luke. Santa came to see the dozen children who were also present. There was lots of laughter and there were a few moments of peace and calm during the songs and Scripture reading. The next Big View will be Monday, January 28 at FUMC, beginning at 6:00pm. A Big View is a gathering of Circles folks and the community to talk about issues important to everyone, like housing, transportation, and employment. The theme this time is The Heart of Circles. Circle Leaders, those going through the Circles program, and Allies, people in the community supporting the Circle Leaders, will share what being a part of Circles means to them. Circle Leaders discussed this topic about a month ago and decided they would like to share how their lives have been impacted by being a part of Circles. Words like stability, friendship, safety, confidence were mentioned. Allies are often surprised by what they learn from their Circle Leaders. FUMC has been so welcoming to Circles. Please come and hear what opening the church to Circles has done for people in our community. With the newest class graduating January 7, Circles is looking for new Allies to support these families. Coming to the Big View is a great way to discover how you can help and if this is a way God is calling you to be in ministry. Another way to support Circles is to provide a meal for the group. An individual, family, organization, or business provides a free meal for the Circles group every week. The church s own RuthAnn Barker coordinates the cooks for the weekly meal. Please ask her about what is needed to provide a meal and share words of gratitude for the incredible way she handles the scheduling! Thank you all once again for allowing Circles of Hope to make a difference in people s lives as we meet weekly in Fellowship Hall! Circles of Hope With you in God s holy embrace, Rev. (retired) Billie Blair, Circles Coordinator Circles of Hope Pratt County: the On-Going Journey

6 Church Activities Men of Faith January 5 at 7:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall Bring a sack lunch (finger foods) Breakfast, Devotions, Discussion, and Fellowship $5 for each child on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Activities Join us for Snack Supper from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Bring the family 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

7 Missionary Projects VIM Project Calendar 2019 Contact Team Leaders for more information. All skill levels needed. Cost: $150 per person (Revised 11/06/18) TEXAS, Port Aransas/Rockport, Hurricane Harvey Rebuild...January 27-February 7, 2019 Team Leaders: Chuck & Linda Buchmueller...RV/nonRV Chuck: (C) Linda: (C) / clbuch@sbcglobal.net TEXAS, San Marcos, Southside Community Center....February 24-March 14, 2019 Team Leaders: Bill & Janet Ward...RV/nonRV (H) / (C) / wgward@ispkansas.com KANSAS, Arkansas City, Camp Horizon...April 7-12, 2019 Team Leaders: Bill & Janet Ward...RV/nonRV (H) / (C) / wgward@ispkansas.com NEBRASKA, Chadron, Camp Norwesca...April 28-May 3, 2019 Christmas Eve Team Leader: Rick and Annette Holbrook...nonRV only Rick: / imreholbrook8@gmail.com Annette: / imaholbrook8@gmail.com NEBRASKA, Cozad, Camp Comeca...May 17-22, 2019 Leader: Team Leader: Bob Moore...nonRV only / bobmo509@netins.net Candlelight Services KANSAS, Newton, Youthville...June 9-14, 2019 Team Leaders: Chuck & Linda Buchmueller...RV/nonRV Chuck: (C) Linda: (C) / clbuch@sbcglobal.net COLORADO, Bellvue, Buckhorn Camp...July 7-19, 2019 Team Leaders: Bill & Janet Ward...RV/nonRV (H) / (C) / wgward@ispkansas.com KANSAS, Ottawa, Camp Chippewa August 11-16, 2019 Team Leader: Rick and Annette Holbrook...RV/nonRV Rick: / imreholbrook8@gmail.com Annette: / imaholbrook8@gmail.com KANSAS, Scott City, Camp Lakeside...September 15-20, 2019 Team Leaders: Chuck & Linda Buchmueller...RV/nonRV Chuck: (C) Linda: (C) / clbuch@sbcglobal.net KANSAS, Perry, Alpha Christian Children s Home...October 6-17, 2019 Team Leaders: Chuck & Linda Buchmueller...RV/nonRV Chuck: (C) Linda: (C) / clbuch@sbcglobal.net To see pictures of our past projects and follow our current projects: OR on your own Facebook page In upper left search bar, key in: VIM Team of the Great Plains UMC Seeking a Master s of Divinity? The Pratt First United Methodist Church Endowment Committee would like to help you financially in reaching this goal. This committee is very aware of the need for additional ministers in our Great Plains Conference and of the cost of seminary education. Each year this committee places funds in a Seminary Scholarship. This fund continues to grow until a member of our church makes the committee aware that they are in seminary and requests funds to help them. A person interested should contact the church office at (620) Please leave your name, phone number and address. The office will notify Nancy Kerr, Chair of the Endowment Committee. The Endowment Committee was pleased to award the Seminary Scholarship to Chelsea Shrack while she attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. She received the Master of Divinity Degree and has returned to the Great Plains Conference serving K-State Wesley as campus pastor since July 1, 2017.

8 Bithdays/Anniversaries January 1 Thomas Galle January 1 Michelle Schmidt January 2 Barbara Harris January 2 Betty Onstott January 4 Katie Buhler January 4 Ellen Hair January 5 Ian Clarkson January 5 Tracy Trimpe January 6 Nancy Bailey January 6 Ronnie Prater January 6 Sharon Winklepleck January 7 Ron Ingram January 8 Kendyl Hanvey January 8 Tom Post January 8 Caiden Smiley January 8 Kaidie Winklepleck January Birthdays January 8 Deb Withers January 24 Betty Jean Baus January 9 Cade Clarkson January 24 Eunice Proctor January 9 Kale Wilson January 24 Dontez Ruiz January 10 Kent Goyen January 24 Rich Sanders January 11 Marvin Proctor January 24 Tonya Younie January 15 Gale Carroll January 25 Sherri Ewertt January 15 Genny Schmidt January 25 Joe Kendall January 16 Rosalie Rose January 25 Cara Riffey January 17 Jordan Garrett January 25 Denise Sanders January 18 Peyton Peissig January 26 Janie Bishop January 19 Gina Bates January 26 Kendra Elliot January 19 Reagan Blasi January 27 Elizabet Ingles January 21 Delaney Skaggs January 28 Vicki Howell January 22 Ryan Jarmer January 28 Ronald Prater January 23 Noah Malone January 30 Eli Battin January 23 Lu Sherer January 30 Ashley Fitzsimmons January 30 Jim Bergner January 18 January Anniversaries Darrel & Sharon Brehm January 27 Scott & Kendra Elliott THANK YOU The United Methodist Women had another successful Taste of Christmas on November 27, We served 176 guests and were able to have 22 beautiful table scapes to view. The event will allow the UMW to donate about $2,500 to local missions. Thank you to all who participated, helped serve and provided food. We could not do this event without you.

9 January Calendar If you have something that you would like to put in The Spire, please Jane Bolen or call her at by the 20th of the month before the next Spire. Mondays Quilters Monday Morning Moms Fridays Mom s Day Out Weekly Events Weekly Events Sunday Service Times Worship/Fellowship Hall at 8:15 a.m. Worship/Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. Join us for Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Wednesdays Ladies Prayer Group 7:00 a.m. Ladies Bible Study 10:00 a.m. J.A.M. 4:00 p.m. Snack Supper 5:00 p.m. Ladies Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Men s Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Youth Group (Middle School) 6:00 p.m. Praise Band 6:30 p.m. Youth Group (High School) 7:15 p.m.

10 News/Staff Recycle at FUMC REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, REJOICE! First United Methodist Church The Spire P. O. Box N. Jackson Pratt, KS Phone: (620) Pastor Marvin s cell (316) jjohnson@prattumc.org Web site: Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. You may pick up your copy of The Spire at the church. If you wish to have your name added to the list, please advise Jacqueline jjohnson@prattumc.org or Jane Bolen jane.bolen@yahoo.com of your address. Staff Pastor...Marvin Ewertt Business Manager...Jacqueline Johnson Facilities Coordinator... Louis Keeling Youth Director... Kelli Barker Audio/Video Coordinator...Sherri Ewertt Organist/Pianist...Jane Biles Praise Band Director... Don Buhler Nursery...Georgie Fowler