Trustee Officers for 2019 P. 1. Camp News

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1 Issue February Bridge The Trustee Officers for P. 1 P. 3 From Greg Bright P. 4 Quiz P. 6 ELECTION OF TRUSTEE OFFICERS FOR At a meeting of the Board of Trustees on January 7 the following officers were elected for : President: Vice-President: Secretary: Treasurer: Levi Jones Tom Lake Melanie Hall Al Mendal Camp News The Board also expressed gratitude for his serving as the President of the Board for the past three years! One of the major projects of the Board during 2018 and the beginning of was the installation of new windows on the second floor. The new windows replaced the original windows installed when the first building program on Bridgeport Rd. was constructed in Feb 22nd Movie Night 3 and 6 PM ANNUAL REPORT TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE Each year, with the help of lay officers, the pastor is required to present an annual report to the Annual Conference. In preparing the report I was once again so very grateful for the mission support our church family provides in so many different ways. Some churches are known for living within their own four walls but not BUMC! We are truly a church lives by the belief of John Wesley who is often referred to as the father of Methodism. He is known for his motto, the motto being, The world is my parish! - Pastor Bill Bridgeport United Methodist Church Ϯ 1305 Bridgeport Rd, Indianapolis, IN Ϯ (317) Ϯ

2 At Our Church Fellowship Time 9:15 AM Sunday Services 10:00 AM Sunday School 11:30 AM Amazing Grace s Noon Choir Practice 8:30 AM OFFICERS AND BUDGET FOR We are a church family who do not have secrets. Therefore, on the two bulletin boards in the narthex you will find a copy of the Leadership Team for the New Year and the Church Budget. If for any reason you would like a personal copy of either or both of these let it be known and we will be pleased to provide such for you. Movie Night 4th 3 and 6 PM Special dates African-American History Month Valentine s Day, February 14, Presidents Day, February 18, Alex Heaton Jeni Rober Manny Abades Barbara Balka Jennifer King Nancy & Bill Bill Stock Joy Bradley Pam Jones Christian Symbol CHI RHO Chi and rho are the first two letters in the Greek spelling for Christ (XPICTOC, pronounced Christos ). The blending of these two letters into one symbol formed a sacred monogram. Early Christians created many such symbols as codes to indicate their discipleship while avoiding detection by Roman persecutors. Many variations of the Chi Rho symbol exist, incorporating a cross, a shepherd s crook, the Greek letters alpha and omega, an anchor and other images. Bob Fuller Jerlyn Strube Pat Tomes Brian Mann Judy Johnson Patti Mendel Brook Rohlman Kevin & Kathy Meyer Paul Fair Debbie Andrews Larry & Mary Lou Schabeth Rachel Shore Debbie Balder Larry & Nancy Hess Sandy Byle Eileen Parker Larry Stewart Sherry Bryant Grace Ann Moore Lily Rohlman Sue Cox Greg Bright Manny Abades Terry Simmons Hunter Roberts Marsha Lake Toni Huffer Iain Spurgin Mary Vogt Trish Shelton Janet Jones If there is someone you would like to have added to the prayer chain, just give their name to Julie Bright. Also, for various reasons a name which has been on the list may need to be removed to keep the prayer chain current. Again, if there is someone s name which needs to be removed, please contact Julie ( ). Judy Wilson 2-04 Nancy Lippens 2-8 Andy Lippens 2-10 Vivian Jones 2-11 Cheryl Kuritz 2-11 Joe Lach 2-11 Courtney Jones-Hunt 2-17 Janice Riggins 2-17 Jim Dill 2-19 Willie C. Benton 2-22 Courtney Stansell 2-24 Krysta Eaton 2-24

3 CHURCH CAMP NEWS The Annual Conference just released the dates and information about the various church camps for. In the church office we now have a catalogue with the various dates for the many camping experiences available through the Annual Conference. The catalogue includes a description of each camp including where they are located and the cost involved. In our church budget we do have financial help available where it is needed and we do not want persons embarrassed to inquire about this help. The number of children and youth attending from our church family has been increasing each year for the past several years and this is something to celebrate. The fee for early registration has a discount if the registration if they are made before APRIL 18. BOARD OF TRUSTEE OFFICERS FOR The Board of Trustees is the legal entity in the life of a local church. They are also responsible for maintaining the church property on the inside and outside of the buildings and grounds. The officers elected for are as follows: President Levi Jones Vice-Pres. Tom Lake Secretary Melanie Hall Treasurer Al Mendel The other members of the Board are: Patty Reese, Dale Parker, Tom Spees, Harold Pierce and John Stansell. PLEASE NOTE: If you at any time see something about the grounds or building which you believe needs attention, please feel free to contact one or more of the trustees. We cannot guarantee every concern can be attended to immediately but our trustees are dedicated to keeping our church building and grounds inviting to those who visit and a pleasant environment for the church members and friends. A current example of this are the shelves Levi just installed in several of the supply rooms on the second floor and the organizing of the shelves by Melanie Hall and Patty Reese. Also, have you noticed the trees which have been cut down along the south drive way and which were a constant nuisance being of such soft wood. The same is true of the cluster of five or six trees about half way between the church and the creek to the east of the church. Perhaps you have also noted how the carpeting has been cleaned recently in the narthex and the fellowship hall. Another project and the most recent one are the new windows on the second floor of the educational unit which replaced the ones which were twenty year old and part of the original structure when we moved from Highway 40. With the arctic blast we are experiencing it was blessing that the Trustees recently had the annual check up of all of our furnaces. After three years as president of the Trustees we thank Harold Pierce for his leadership along with the help of the other trustees.

4 Many United Methodists are hoping a clear direction on how the church relates to homosexuality will emerge at the special called session of the General Conference in St, Louis February The present United Methodist Book of Discipline states that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching and that self-avowed practicing homosexuals cannot be clergy. The Discipline also bans ceremonies that celebrate same-sex unions in United Methodist churches. Despite these rules, same-gender weddings have been performed in United Methodist churches and by United Methodist clergy. Clergy have publicly declared they are gay, sometimes losing their credentials. Between those who are adamantly promoting the affirmation of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination and those of us who believe that is contrary to Scripture, it doesn t seem like there s a middle ground or a compromise point that will satisfy people. The most prominent plans submitted for consideration at the special conference are the Connectional Conference Plan, the One Church Plan, the Simple Plan, the Traditional Plan and the Modified Traditional Plan. The One Church Plan would shift to churches and conferences decisions regarding ministry with or by LGBTQ persons rather than maintaining a single standard that operates throughout the worldwide church. It would also remove some of the language in the Book of Discipline that limit LGBTQ people s involvement as United Methodists. The Connectional Conference Plan would create three connectional conferences based on perspective on LGBTQ issues. The three connectional conferences would function throughout the worldwide church and the five existing U.S. jurisdictions would be abolished. The Simple Plan would remove all language from the Book of Discipline that excludes LGBTQ people from full participation in the church. The Traditional Plan would affirm the current language about homosexuality in the Book of Discipline and seek to strengthen enforcement for violations. The Modified Traditional Plan would add to the Traditional Plan a committee with authority to hold bishops accountable to the sexuality standards in the Book of Discipline. It would offer a $200,000 grant to annual conferences that want to leave the denomination because of disagreement over LGBTQ issues. Although we at Bridgeport UMC relate most closely to each other as a single congregation meeting in a single place, we are connected financially and in larger ministry to 32,000 congregations with 13,000,000 members in 125 countries. This month, would you please pray for those who must lead us in a way forward to be especially sensitive to God s will in this important decision. Greg Bright (our congregation s representative to the Annual Conference)

5 Thanks to your generosity, Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside (FIDO) is providing not only dog and cat food, but also indoor crates so that dogs won t be living outside in this winter weather! Here s a recent post from FIDO s Facebook page: In mid-january we opened up our warehouse for people to come and get animal supplies to help their dogs and cats make it through the upcoming frigid temperatures. Here are a few of the people we helped: -- A woman and her husband living in a camper in the backyard of a friend's house. They have their own "camperdog" who lives inside with them. But they have been caring for a stray pup in their neighborhood. The young pooch has already been attacked by other dogs. So, they have been keeping the pup in their car to keep him safe. Their own dog won't tolerate the pup. So tomorrow, we will be taking the pooch to a shelter before the deepfreeze hits. The couple was extremely thankful. -- A disabled woman who had to move to a new house several years ago. Although she made sure her 3 outside feral cats were fixed, she was forced to leave the cats behind. Because these were true ferals as in, "you most definitely are not picking me up to take me with you" ferals. So she has been going back to her old home every day for years to feed these cats. Today, she came for cat shelters and extra cat food to get them through the upcoming deep-freeze. Again, this woman was very grateful of help. -- A family with a male pit bull, neutered as a young pup, who lives mostly inside the house. However, when outside, he jumps their fence and chases people. So they tether him for short periods when outside. We helped with a dog house and straw for outside time. Nice, appreciative family. -- A man with a female dog and her 8, 4-week old pups living on his open back porch in a big wooden dog house with a heater. The man came to us seeking help because the mom dog was so thin. We talked to him about the real need to bring the dogs inside, especially during the upcoming brutal winter cold. We gave him the largest inside crate we had (large enough for a small pony) and a bunch of puppy pads and puppy food. With these supplies, he promised to keep the little family inside in his kitchen now. There will be a lot of follow-up with this man, including work on the spay/neuter front. When people reach out for help for their pets, you can bet that we are going to work with them, support them, and simply figure it out as we go along, in this very imperfect world. And because in the real word, the shelters are full, the rescues are full, and there are no magical no-kill shelters with empty kennels waiting to take in all the dogs that live in less than perfect homes. - Diane Schabath

6 Please by the 20th of each month. To submit articles or stories please send to Dave Pearson Or Joyce Pierce Geoff Bradley