Mission Statement To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. THE PASTOR S PAGE

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1 OCTOBER, 2016 First United Methodist Church of Wabash, Indiana F I R S T E D I T I O N Mission Statement To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Our Covenant Together: Love. Lead. Teach. Transform. Peace of Christ to you, THE PASTOR S PAGE 110 N. Cass Street, Wabash, IN Please let me know if you read the newsletter. WE are considering discontinuing the newsletter to more responsibly utilize staff availability. Last month we wrapped up our Gratitude Path Campaign. Thank you to everyone who kept a gratitude journal. Thank you to those who wrote letters. Thank you to the Finance team for providing food for the Celebration Day. Thank you to those who gave testimonies in worship. I am grateful for this congregation and the ways we work together to impact our community. In coming weeks and months, as the Fruitful Congregation Journey Team progresses through our learning together, you will hear more and more about a shift in mission from Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world to Making New Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. That one word makes a whole lot of difference. God has called us to be a people who invite others to the life-changing work of the Spirit of God. You are vital to the implementation of that vision whether it be through sharing your faith with family or neighbor OR helping our congregation bridge the worship experience to KidsFirst and Wesley Academy families and our neighborhood as we celebrate combined worship at the end of this month. That celebration October 30 will be a unique worship opportunity and a unique outreach event. I invite everyone to come in costume that day and we will have a costume judging afterward as well as games and treats. We are working on the food details as I write this whether we will cater a pitch-in. I pray you will invite someone to be your guest that day if they do not currently have a church home. We have no desire to reach the already-reached. Come planning to encounter God and meet someone new. Shalom, Rev. Kurt Freeman Senior Pastor - Rev. Kurt Freeman Pastor of Visitation - Rev. John Cook office.wabfirstumc@cinergymetro.net Phone: (260) FAX: (260)

2 ARE YOU READING THIS NEWSLETTER? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, PLEASE NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THE NEWSLETTER. GRU s crew will return Sunday, October 2 at 9:00 a.m. in the MAC. Come one, come all! Young and old! Most importantly, two years ago last June, I was asked to temporarily take the position of Director of Children s Ministry. I am announcing that it is time for temporary to be finished. I will be resigning my position as soon as SPRC finds someone, or by the end of May. Since my father s passing, my mother is needing my help more in Toledo. We know that with FCJ, the church is going to need more of Kurt s time, and I will have to step back to keep our family going. It is time for someone else to stand up and take the reins. If you are interested in this position, please contact the church office or SPRC. Elizabeth Freeman, Children s Ministry Director Lock-in for confirmands is tentatively scheduled for November 5-6. Still working out the details. I look forward to seeing you and your mentors October 2 during Sunday School hour. Shalom, Pastor Kurt YOUTH NEWS A NOTE FROM DEBBIE CUSACK THANK YOU to everyone for all the cards, well wishes, and gifts upon my retirement. Your kind words and encouragement are appreciated. I have every card on my fridge. I m not much of a Facebook person, but if you d like to keep in touch, I do . My home is e47laine@hotmail.com. I would be glad to hear from you. IN CHRISTIAN LOVE, Debbie Cusack PLEASE HELP KIDS FIRST SAVE MONEY BY DONATING THE FOLLOWING 10/2 Baby Wipes, Kleenex, Paper Towel, Disinfectant Wipes 10/9 Animal Crackers, Veggie Straws, Pretzels, Pop Tarts 10/16 100% Juice, Canned Peaches, Canned Pears, Canned Pineapple 10/23 Halloween Candy, B batteries, C Batteries, Construction Paper NEWSLETTER DEADLINE FOR NOVEMBER NEWS IS OCTOBER 15 10/30 Ketchup, Cheese Puffs, Veggie Crackers, Austin Crackers

3 BOOK remarks The church book club will meet October 18, 2016, at the Great Wall Restaurant at 12:30 p.m. Our novel that will be discussed is Lisa Genova s Still Alice. This is a story told from a first person narrative by a younger woman who develops Alzheimer s Disease. We will eat at 12:30 and follow with a discussion about 1:00. Please contact Sondra Harrell (260) if you have questions. This last month one of our church members sent me something that I felt would be good to share with everyone. They asked to remain anonymous but gave permission to share. Please enjoy and reflect on how you experience God: Reflections on: Look at All You Have Sermon, August 28, 2016 In response to the sermon on August 28th, titled Look at All You Have, I wanted to share a few thoughts and my reflection. A scarcity mindset, judgmental actions and God s grace. What did all of this mean to me? Do I have the scarcity mindset, or am I good? Do I often say there is not enough time, not enough money, if I don t do it who will, will God s grace run out before it gets to me? I assume these questions and mentalities are human nature, I don t think any of us are exempt. I think we all suffer, at some point in our lives, from the scarcity mindset because the excuses come much easier than the commitment. If we live with the scarcity mindset, we will always have an excuse; it is just so much easier than committing ourselves to the unknown. But, what do the excuses give us? Emptiness, doubt, fear, selfishness and a judgmental attitude are just a few gifts the scarcity mindset will deliver to your doorstep. Ah, there it is, the judgmental attitude, all thanks to the scarcity mindset. The scarcity mindset creates a fear in us that causes us to be judgmental. Pastor was right; we all have a list of people or groups of people we don t believe deserve God s grace. We have a list of horrible, disgusting people who God needs to take care of so the rest of us don t have to deal with them. Right? It is easier to judge someone else or make a list for God to deal with than it is to look what we need to fix in ourselves. But haven t we all been judged, haven t we all experienced knowing what that feels like? I know I have been judged and I know the pain, the self-doubt and the destruction judgment does to self-esteem. I also know the burden of hiding all of the damaged mess in fear of being judged further. I know the burden of hiding all of that damage in order to show yourself as strong, confident and graceful so you can teach your family to remain strong, confident and graceful. Lead by example right? If I don t, who will? Wait, did I just come full circle back to the scarcity mindset? Judging others and making excuses is just so much easier. The ease of this lifestyle is appealing because we never have to look at ourselves and make changes. It becomes about what we want and what we think. In 1 Samuel 2:3, Hannah prays to Lord and says, "Do not keep talking so proudly, or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed." But what does our God want? I know my God wants me to throw away my lists; He wants me to stop making excuses and start living for Him. He wants me to pray without ceasing. He wants me to forgive so He can forgive me. He wants me to give so He can give to me. He doesn t want me to judge, so I won t be judged. And He wants me to love so I can be loved. God wants to pour His grace out on me, but I have to be ready to accept it by leaving the scarcity and judgmental mindsets behind and knowing that it is not about me but about Him, exalting Him and giving Him all the glory every day. UNITED METHODIST WOMEN The United Methodist Women will have a General Meeting on Wednesday, October 12, We will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Eugenia s Restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will go to the National Museum of the Holy Shroud located at 378 N SR 15. Reservations are needed by October 10th. A sign-up sheet will be available at the Welcome Center, or you may call Sue Byerly, (260) REMEMBER F.I.S.H. THE FIRST SUNDAY of each month is Collection Sunday for F.I.S.H. Please bring dry and/or canned items you would like to contribute to the Friends In Service Here food pantry, to church, on October 2. All contributions will be delivered to F.I.S.H. during the week. Suggested Items: Canned fruit & vegetables, cereal, pasta, tuna, canned meat, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

4 Quarterly Contribution Statement You will soon be receiving your 3 rd quarter contribution statement. Please review this statement to make sure the amount pledged is listed accurately and contributions you have made this quarter are recorded correctly. If any corrections need to be made, please notify the church office. Thank you. Approved Budget 2016 FINANCIAL REPORT August Monthly Amount Year-to-Date Percentage $424, $35, $283, % August Year-to-Date Income $17, % $259, % Expenses $32, % $249, % Difference ($14,696.46) $10, GENERAL BUDGET OVERVIEW Beg Balance Income Expense Ending Balance $40, $259, $249, $50, EXPENSES Actual YTD Actual YTD Percentage Anticipated YTD Annual Budget Percentage of Budget Missions & Tithe $ 42, % $ 44, $ 66, % Staff Parish $125, % $126, $ 189, % Ministries $ 14, % $ 21, $ 31, % Trustees $ 67, % $ 91, $ 136, % TOTAL $249, % $283, $ 424, % NON-BUDGET MISSIONS INCOME August Year-to-Date UMCOR - US Disaster Relief $ $ 1, Nomands $ $ Access $ $ Mel Rennaker, Treasurer

5 October 2016 A=Wedding Anniversary B=Birthday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 B-Tiffany Reimer 2 B-Bayley Lancaster 3 B-Beckett Shaw A-Harvey & Brenda Coble A-Randy & Julia Reed 4 B-Susan Vanlandingham 5 B-Lauri Gunderman B-Alexandria Peterson 6 B-Devin Hostetler 7 B-Christa Schuler B-Chris Siders 8 B-Trisha Abell 9 B-Josiah Freeman B-Mabel Lutz A-John & Michelle Martin A-Brad & Traci Riggle A-Bob & Josie Wade 10 B-Janet Leeka 11 B-Donna Highley 12 B-Logan Peas 13 B-Travis Schuler B-Jeff Myers B-Pat Vanlandingham 16 B-Marion Castle 17 B-Kasey Atwood 18 B-Richard Hundt B-Max Martin 19 B-Micah Higgins 20 B-Tabatha Wagner 21 A-David & Jennifer George A-Ken & Linda Jill Yarnelle B-Ann Beauchamp Hunter B-Madelyn Hutton 26 B-Robert McCallen IV A-Ron & Gail Bussard B-David Deepe B-Linda Jill Yarnelle A-Joe & Anne Eddingfield 29 B-Kaylyn Bradley B-CJ Hutton 30 B-Leslie Stauffer A-Kevin & Cindy Willour 31

6 SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Adult & Preschool thru 12th grade October 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat th Sunday (white) - Communion 9am-Gru s Crew (MAC) Collection for FISH & Kids First 3 12 noon-prayer 6pm-Cub Scouts Pack 4 6pm-Ad Council 6:30pm-Wesley Academy Bd 5 6 5:30 pm- Trustees st Sunday (green) 11am-Sunday school teachers -Conf Room 11:30-Club 345 (MAC) Lincolnville noon-prayer 6pm-Finance 7-9 pm-emmaus Board 11 6pm-Cub Scouts Den 12 Eugenia s nd Sunday (green) Youth-Fall break TBD 17 9am-Worship team 12 noon-prayer 7:30pm-Outreach 18 Red Cross blood drive (MAC) 12:30pm- Christian Book club (Great Wall) 19 6pm-Kids First rd Sunday after Pentecost (green) Youth-Fall break TBD noon-prayer 7:30-Staff Parish am- Senior trip to Amish Acres th Sunday (green) Carnival game & craft event (MAC) Youth Cancelled noon-prayer