First United Methodist Church

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1 The First Connection July 2014 First United Methodist Church THE PASTOR S POUND An ounce of common sense is worth a pound of clergy. John Adams A federal judge s ruling that marriage as defined by Indiana law does not comply with the U.S. Constitution had immediate effect here in Fayette County: the day after the ruling, two local men applied for and received a marriage license from the County Clerk. She issued the license after consulting the county judges and county attorney and after receiving a memo from the State Attorney General instructing all county clerks (not just those in the federal judge s jurisdiction) to honor the ruling. Similarly, I and all other ministers in the Indiana Conference heard from Bishop Michael Coyner regarding our role as wedding officiants, and especially as pastors. He wrote in part: Our United Methodist Church stance on marriage defines marriage as a covenant between a man and woman, and so our clergy are not allowed to officiate at same-gender weddings, and ceremonies which celebrate same-gender marriages may not be held in our UM churches. Our United Methodist Church also declares that all persons, gay and straight, are persons of sacred worth, and so our pastors and churches are mandated to be in ministry to and with all persons. Any couple who are legally married should be respected as such by our pastors and churches. Children of any same-gender couples are eligible for baptism. Pastors [are] in a tough situation of making pastoral decisions which are faithful to our UM policies but which are also pastoral and caring for each individual situation. I hope that all of our laity will understand and encourage their pastors in making these wise decisions. I trust our pastors to make wise decisions. Do the best you can. Be faithful to your vows to United Methodist ministry. Be pastoral to each person and each situation you face. Be assured that your Bishop trusts you but also holds you accountable. Be blessed by God as you minister to all people in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ. We in The United Methodist Church have a hard road ahead of us as we endeavor to negotiate the upheavals of these times. May we do so with guidance from scripture: If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11 Curtis N. Hurley

2 CHURCH NEWS Follow the Building of a Pipe Organ Reynolds Associates, Inc., the company we hired to renovate our pipe organ here at First UMC, is also in the process of building a new pipe organ for St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shelbyville to replace their 1912 Möller organ. That you may see what is involved in building a new pipe organ and in restoring and renewing parts of the old organ that have permanent value, Reynolds invites you to follow the process. Go to and click on The Shelbyville Organ at the left side of the page. President Thad Reynolds says: Every project is different, of course, but we think the Shelbyville project includes many aspects that you will find interesting. At the same time, we will take little side trips into the history and personalities that are a part of this instrument. Christina (Orth) Brewer requested the following be listed in the newsletter for your information. Roger & Christina (Orth) Brewer 905 W Briarwood Way, Apt. F Greensburg, IN (home) and (cell) Addresses If your address, home or cell phone number, or house address has changed since January 1 st of this year, please any changes, to the office at bonnie1stumc@aol.com Thank you. Joe Bottles is in need of someone to mow his lawn. He has 1/3 acre with a slope to it in the back and one side. It takes about 1 hour to mow it. He will provide the push power mower and gas. If you or anyone you know who could help with this task, please call the office at THANK YOU Many thanks to First United Methodist Church for your generous food contributions. With your help, we can continue to distribute food to the needy of Fayette County. Your Donations are much appreciated! David Gettinger, President The Community Sharing Foundation 1 I want to thank my church family again for all of the birthday cards and wishes. The support and love you have shown continues to be overwhelming, and I am continually blessed by it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Joe Bottles Julia Hiday made a donation to our church in appreciation for the use of the Chapel for visitation at the time of her Mother s death. Our heartfelt gratitude to our church family for the expressions of sympathy and the kindness shown during the recent passing of our Dad, Grandpa, and husband, Dale. A very special thank you to Pastor Hurley and the Rev for a beautiful celebration of life ceremony. Joe Bottles, thank you so much for the music and the special M.A.S.H. tribute and for your determination and fortitude! Thank you to the United Methodist Women for providing a wonderful lunch and the opportunity for our family to all be together to reminisce. Your support has certainly been appreciated during this very difficult time. May God continue to bless you and yours. Jason, Vicki, and Eric Moore, Jama Baucom, Ashlyn, Brianna, and Ava Thanks for Cans Someone asked how many pounds of cans we have collected since Total tons 29, plus 921 pounds. Cash donated $29,000.00, plus. This year ½ ton and $ has been collected for Regenstrief Community Youth Center. Lots of tabs have gone to McDonald House or other charities. Thanks for each can or bag of cans and keep them coming. Grateful, Mabel Brockley The church received a thank you note from Rev. Jack Haskins acknowledging donations in memory of his wife Delores. Delores would be so appreciative. My children, Rebekah and Peter, join me in thanking you. Cordially, Jack B. Haskins, former Pastor; Rebekah Haskins Clayton; Peter D. Haskins. To: First United Methodist Church

3 Dear Members and Staff, We have appreciated the services provided by First United Methodist Church in Connersville following the death of our parents, Johanna and Leon Barber. We have particularly appreciated those that prepared and served the funeral dinners for our families and friends. Our check says a special thank you for that service and hope it allows others to experience the same caring at such a time. Sincerely, Dick and Mike Barber UMW NEWS Circle meetings Faith Hope Love in Action No Susanna Circle July or August Eve Circle Thursday, July 17, at 7:00PM Hostess, Penny Smith Devotions, Jeanna Hushour Lesson, Laura Hurley First United Methodist UMW Summer Lunch & Meeting Wednesday, July 9, 10:30am Pizza Place, 16 th & Central Avenue Lunch, is dutch treat so as you come in, please place your order for your lunch, pay for it at that time and proceed to the back room for the meeting. Guest Speaker: Shari Black from CASA (Court appointed Special Advocates) Although you will be paying for your lunch, we would still like a count of those coming so please let either Sylvia Gibson, or the office, if you will be present. We hope you can come join us as this is a community interest. What is CASA for children? Every day in this country, 1,900 children become victims of abuse or neglect, and four of them will die. Every day, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children is a network of 951 community based programs that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. Volunteer advocates--- empowered directly by the courts---offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care. Volunteers stay connected with individual children until they are placed in loving permanent homes. For many abused children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives. IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING General Misc Date Fund Fund Attend June 01 $ $ June 08 $ $ June 15 $ $ June 22 $ $ June 29 $ $23.00 $ $ JULY BIRTHDAYS July 01 July 05 July 07 July 08 July 10 July 17 July 17 July 18 July 18 July 19 July 20 July 21 July 24 July 24 July 24 July 29 July 29 Total $15, Francis Hollowell Emily Butsch Lauren Allard Dan Dubois Jenny Coon Gerald Drain Phil Greene Midge rose Kevin Bastian Jim Wicker Ron Wylie David Good Larry Clawson Gary Corder Joe Wheeler Pastor Dave Galbraith Betty Riebsomer 2

4 JULY ANNIVERSARIES July 04 July 10 July 18 July 19 July 25 July 28 July 31 Sam & Cathy Harvey Dave & Marla Simpkins Joe & Bonnie Schultz Craig & Carol Howell Dick & Jean Swain Chris & Beth Ann Orth Gary & Gayle O Neal Book additions for July No God: No Peace Know God: Know Peace. KIDS/YOUTH MINISTRY: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL was June 23, 24, and 25, 6pm to 8pm, at Central Christian church and what a great time we had! The theme this year was Wilderness Escape. The lessons learned were God gives us what we need, He gives us strength and He saves us. The kids met Moses and listened to his stories of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. They visited different market places and made bread, butter, ropes, and tambourines! The music, dancing, and praise were powerful! Our Sunday School classes are focused on the Heifer Project. Each week we are learning about the different animals Heifer Project offers and the impact the project has on education and helping to eliminate hunger around the world. Jesus invested his life for you. Have you shown any interest? Pastor Hurley has placed Robert Muhlholland s book, Shaped by the Word, in the church library. Using classical methods of spiritual formation through Scripture reading, Dr. Muhlholland teaches the reader how to listen to the Scripture and let its words speak to the spiritual self. This ancient approach to Bible reading has become popular in our day. Thanks to Chris Orth for donating The Persecutor by Sergei Kourdakov. Kourdakov led a Christian persecution squad in Russia during the Cold War. Disillusioned by that work and seeking a new life, he made a daring escape to Canada, where he found a powerful faith in the Christians he once persecuted. Afterwards, he dedicated himself to enlisting support and aid to Christians in Russia. Persecution of Christians is widespread today. Christian History magazine has devoted its last issue to the theme, Eyewitnesses to modern persecution. Jeanie and I have donated Growing up with Bakers Corner by Jeanie s aunt, Mary Elizabeth Wilson ( ). Mary Elizabeth Wilson Stewart Robbins was a farm wife, working woman, church leader, artist, mother and grandmother. In the process of sharing her growing-up days in the village of Bakers Corner, she tells the broader story of early 20 th century life in Indiana. Edited by our daughter Ellen Swain and Carol Stewart Longenecker, Wilson s book was a 2011 finalist for Best Books of Indiana. A copy is also available in our public library. These books and the magazine are available on the shelf under the church library bulletin board during July. After that time, Muhlholland s book can be found in section 248.3, Kourdakov and Wilson s in B and the history magazine in the Christian History box, section 270. rjswain1@yahoo.com 3

5 PRAYER: The monthly newsletter and church website list all persons currently on the First Church prayer list. The Sunday worship bulletin lists names that were verbally submitted the previous Sunday, those turned in to the church office the ensuing week, and updates when there is new information. Please provide to the church office updated information concerning persons on the list whenever a change occurs in their circumstances. Tiffany, friend of Gilda Lewis, unspecified Nancy Wilson, friend of Bette Thielking, heart surgery We extend our sympathy to the families of: Genevieve Bradburn, mother of friend of Gilda Lewis Jack Byrum, father of District Superintendent David Byrum Greg Green, friend of Jahn Lawson, killed in auto accident Jane Guttman, Dick Guttman s mother Evelyn Jones, Myrna Galbraith s mother Dale Moore Angie Pepple You are encouraged to keep your own personal prayer log of everyone named in the bulletin and newsletter and pray for these persons daily. You are also invited to be a part of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry that meets 1 p.m. every Monday in the lounge. Joe Bottles, heart Jennifer Cain, friend of Gilda Lewis, unspecified Duane Couch, Jeremy Cobb s uncle, cancer Godin Cox, cancer, request from someone in the community Hannah Crutchfield, Karen Corder s newborn grandniece, kidney and tumor removed Ronald DeFur, friend of Carol Hoffman, cancer Dan DuBois, hospice care Wes Elliott, age 5, cancer, pump installed in heart, making very good progress Stephanie Free, cancer Jane Gengler, Kellee Cobb s mother, knee replacement surgery Donna Gentry, hospice Katie Guttman, in Israel Susan Halberstadt Lonnie Lawson, Jahn Lawson s brother, carotid artery surgery Anetha Locke, leg problems Shirley McCoy, home Shirley Mays, Kelly Morris s sister-in-law, cancer treatments Paul Mitchell, TV viewer, heart Willie Murray, Sierra Hensley s grandfather, cancer Ginny Pearson, Heritage House Susan Plummer, friend of Kelly Morris and Karen Miles, broken arm and leg Daniel Ramsey, friend of Ashlyn Baucom, cancer Riley, 2-year old son of friend of Rachel Isaacs, cancer Henry Ritter, paternal grandfather of Betty Riebsomer s granddaughter, cancer Shane Ritter, Betty Riebsomer s great-grandson, hernia and infection Tom Ross, Betty Riebsomer s uncle, stroke Mina Snyder, friend of Brenda Henry, paralyzed from fall 4 Memorial Gifts given to First United Methodist Church In Memory of: Jane Weil Guttman Rich & Phyllis Smith In Memory of: Kenneth Gene Larmore Steve & Elizabeth Holmes Rich & Phyllis Smith Sam & Cathy Harvey In Memory of: Dale T. Moore Mabel Brockley Jerry & Susan Carpenter Sam & Cathy Harvey George & Carol Henry Steve & Elizabeth Holmes Craig & Carol Howell Dick & Jeanna Hushour David, Della & Beth King Ralph & MaryAnne McClure William & Debra Meek Bill & Janie O Brien Gary & Gayle O Neal Joyce Peak Sarah Plough Joe & Bonnie Schultz Bill & Penny Smith Rich & Phyllis Smith Bette Thielking Wayne & Barbara White Evelyn Wilson

6 JULY, 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 OFFICE CLOSED OFFICE CLOSED INDEPENDENCE DAY 5 TRUSTEE MEETING 6:30PM UMW SUMMER LUUNCH 10:30AM PIZZA PLACE 10 CLINIC 11 OFFICE CLOSED 12 FINANCE COMM MEETING 6:30PM EVE CIRCLE 7:00PM CLINIC 25 OFFICE CLOSED OFFICE CLOSED AD COUNCIL 6:30PM