THE SPIRE RENNICK S REFLECTIONS

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1 Volume 47, Issue 1 FEBRUARY 2016 Special points of interest: Our Vision Publication THE SPIRE Spire Deadline Altar flowers Church hours Electronic giving Church calendar Inside this issue: Church Council 2 Children s Ministry 3 Announcements 3-4 Birthday & Anniversary Corner 5 RENNICK S REFLECTIONS Are you ready for Lent? I know it just seems like we got over Christmas and now we re beginning to think about Easter Eggs and empty tombs. Like Advent, the season before Easter is a time for us to experience the unexpected in our midst. I am still in awe over the amount of shoes and socks we gathered on behalf of Save The Family. It was a blessing to gift over 180 pairs of shoes and some 450 pairs of socks. Your giving was infectious and I want to thank you all for the generous sacrifices you made during the Christmas season. Let us also not forget the many who donated blood in December, giving the gift of life to many. In addition, our season of Thanks and Giving stewardship campaign came in strong providing us with a match in giving similar to 2015 but also a small surplus to allow us some cushion going into Thank you for your generous giving! Of the many things I am excited for at the start of the New Year are several folks who have agreed to share in leadership. This includes our new Lay Leaders, Jeff Harris and Margie Rice. Together, they represent a spirit of the congregation to help us to look to the needs and ministries of the church outside our comfort zones and to become an advocate for laity involvement. Thank you Jeff and Margie in helping to connect our mission to live faith and love life through Jesus Christ both in and through the ministries of First Church. Our Church Council will also be taking on an expansion this year as it oversees the administrative accountability of committees, but also, to carry out the mission and vision of First Church. The approach is called NOW and stands for Nurture, Outreach, and Witness. All ministries and operations have these three components and lend to building disciples, reaching out to God in others, and telling the story of transformation. On a personal note, this month I will marry the love of my life, Rebecca Zilm. We are both excited to begin building our home and sharing together as your pastoral family. We are blessed beyond words in many ways and give thanks for the connection of our hearts and lives. The New Year is off to a great start and many exciting things are in store for us at First Church. Always remember to keep the church in your prayers and for whom we are called to serve. May God bless you and yours as we journey together and as we strive to be a community to and for all people. See you in church! Pastor David firstchurchofmesa.com Share the Journey ipraise iconnect iserve

2 Page 2 OUR VISION We strive to reach out to the community through: A ministry of continuous spiritual growth; A ministry with children, youth, and families in all their diversity, and; A ministry of music and the arts. LIKED THE SERMON? You can now watch the sermons on our YouTube Channel at /FirstChurchofMesa Visit firstchurchofmesa.com and start reaching out electronically to friends, family, and those who are looking for God! WORSHIP COMMITTEE Community Rewards If you haven t already done so, please sign up for Fry s Community Rewards on behalf of FUMC. It doesn t affect your points and provides some extra income for our Worship fund. You can also ask Peggy Tenney for a key fob for Albertsons. For more information, you may contact her at Volunteers Needed We still need more people to volunteer to serve as ushers on Sunday morning. This is an easy way to become involved and any gender/age is welcome! Please contact the office or Linda Miller at for more information. WELCOMING TEAM The Welcoming Team's first Cookie Reception was a big success and a fun time! Thanks to all who attended and a special thanks to the cookie bakers including the members of the Welcoming Team and the Wednesday Morning Bible Study Group. Join us for our annual Happy Birthday to All Potluck! Sunday, February 21st at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. We will recognize all of our members who are 90 and older. Please bring a dish that serves 8 or more. The Welcoming Team will provide cake so NO DESSERTS, please. FINANCE COMMITTEE Finance Summary for 2015 I am pleased to report that we had a financially successful year at First United Methodist Church in The congregation increased giving by 4% to just over $530,000 and we collected an additional $78,000 from Facility usage and a rental property. On the expense side we significantly underran our budget, spending slightly less than we did in 2014 to finish the year $14,000 or 2% positive. We are not fully meeting our apportionment assessments but we are increasing our percentage yearly. I would like to thank everyone that gave to the church in 2015 and all of you that managed the resources that we have carefully so that this church and it s congregation can be sustainable going forward. Rick Phillips Finance Chair MISSIONS Missions Opportunity There is a great need for several dedicated volunteers that would be willing to give of their time, once a month, to work in the Wesley Jr. Closet. We would like to be able to open the closet on a weekly basis in order to help provide for local families in need. If this is something that you are willing and available to help with, please contact Joan Wilder-Siersma cmc@firstchurchofmesa.com Thank you!

3 Page 3 CHILDREN S MINISTRY Valentines Party for ALL Kids WHEN: Sunday, February 7 WHERE: Rooms C and D TIME: 12:00-2:00PM *Please contact Joan Wilder- Siersma to sign your child up cmc@firstchurchofmesa.com Lunch will be provided. After lunch the children will enjoy games and crafts. It will be a fun packed afternoon! *Kids 3-12 years (or 6 th grade) are invited. If your child is not potty trained they will need to have a parent/grandparent with them the duration of the party. Bake Sale to Benefit Children s Ministry ANNOUNCEMENTS Volunteers Needed When one of our church family passes away, we often wonder what we can do to help and comfort the family left behind. Please consider volunteering your time to help in the kitchen when we have a funeral reception. This service that we provide takes the stress of planning the reception away from those grieving. We could use some younger volunteers that can be called on an asneeded basis. Please contact Linda Miller at to volunteer. Thank you for the expressions of sympathy, love and support given to us at the loss of our mom and grandma, Betty Black. A special thank you to Linda Miller and her team of volunteers who put on a lovely reception for us after the funeral service. Christi Chapman & family Linda Phillips & family Publication Deadlines Sunday Bulletins / Announcements Wednesday Noon Spire Deadline All articles to be submitted to the church office no later than February 10th WHEN: Sunday, February 14 WHERE: Courtyard (weather permitting, otherwise in Fellowship Hall) TIME: Immediately following 9AM worship Come and support the Children s Ministry of First Church by purchasing some sweets for your sweetie (or yourself) Are you a baker? Please contact Joan Wilder-Siersma cmc@firstchurchofmesa.com if you are willing to provide some yummy treats. Thank you so very much! Save the Date! In honor of Pastor David & Rebecca s upcoming wedding, SPRC cordially invites you to join us March 13th at 10:00 am in the Fellowship Hall for a coffee and cake reception. Flowers To place flowers on the Lord s Table in honor or memory of someone special contact the Church Office at

4 Page 4 SUNDAY SCHOOL CHURCH OFFICE HOURS M-TH: 9 4:30 pm PH: Join us each week for Sunday School: Kids: 3 yrs old-6th grade Room D 10:00 to 11: th grades FLC 10:30 to 11:30 Adults: Searchers Room 1 Please join us to enrich our conversation by your presence as Pastor Bob leads our weekly studies. Disciples Class Assembly Room Electronic Giving Electronic giving is a direct debit program where your contribution is debited automatically from your checking or savings account, either weekly or monthly. This is an easy way to fulfill your stewardship commitment, even when you are unable to attend church. You can pick up an authorization form in the church office, and talk to Lynn Adams for further details. CHECK OUT our new option to give with a debit/credit card on our website at firstchurchofmesa.com Visitors are welcome to our bible study class. Open discussion is a part of our fellowship as we study the gospel. Serendipity 2.0 Room 2 Please join us as we study Unlocking the Bible Story by Colin S. Smith. We will be reading a chapter in class and having a short discussion after. S.A.L.T. Room 5 (Seekers After Life s Truths) We are a family oriented adult class. We are currently studying Love Wins by Rob Bell. Come join us! ************************* MESSAGE OF THANKS

5 Page 5 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS 02/01 Norda Byers 02/03 Frances Clute 02/03 Wayne Hill 02/03 Kathryn Moore 02/03 Siokatame Tapaatoutai 02/04 Ruth Ann Haines 02/04 Emma Rittenhouse 02/06 Evelyn Birge 02/06 Will Tatom 02/07 Duni Cummings-John 02/07 Allison Gaetjens 02/07 Jan McCarthy 02/07 John Snodgrass 02/09 Julian Trevino 02/10 Jo Anne Harker 02/10 Noah Hightower 02/11 Nancy Likens 02/13 Ryan Kuck 02/14 Mary Heath 02/15 Julia Adams 02/15 Kenneth Kerr 02/15 Emily Mehrer 02/15 Charles K White 02/17 Patricia S. Perry 02/18 Gabriel Hightower 02/18 Jay Jones 02/19 Arline Byers 02/21 Dillon Fransen 02/22 Don Courtright 02/22 David Mincks 02/23 Keller Tatom 02/24 Clara Herrin 02/25 Mark Winestock 02/26 Addison Opel 02/26 Matt Young 02/28 Walter Corney 02/28 Ailani Joy Ika 02/28 Rhonda Walkosz FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES 02/06 Ramsey, Michelle & Jeff 02/14 Hightower, Paul & Shelly 02/14 Verhoff, Charles & Kay 02/25 Miller, Sonny & Linda Congrats to all our birthdays & anniversaries! If your name is not on our list (or if you know of someone who should be), please call the church office so we may update our information. We truly do not mean to leave anyone out.

6 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE SPIRE, 15 E. 1st Ave., Mesa AZ DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY Pastors: Rev. David C. Rennick Rev. Dr. Bob Mitchell Rev. Cecil Lackore - Pastor Emeritus THE SPIRE (USMC ) is published monthly, by the First United Methodist Church, 15 East First Avenue, Mesa AZ 85210, a nonprofit organization. Periodical postage paid at Mesa AZ THE SPIRE First United Methodist Church 15 E. First Ave. Mesa, AZ fax Spire Submissions: secretary@firstchurchofmesa.com Office Hours: 9 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Thursday Editorial Policies: The mission of The Spire is to be one communication source for the First United Methodist Church of Mesa. Other communication sources include s, the Sunday church bulletins and verbal announcements made at services or other official meetings. Chairpersons of Boards and Committees, coordinators, members and friends of First UMC may submit announcements, information or items of interest that relate to the mission of the church. The Editor shall reserve the right to either accept or reject articles, to edit for space, grammar and accuracy. Currently, the Spire is being published monthly. Deadline for submission of articles are published both in this newsletter and weekly bulletins. The deadline for submission of articles for the next issue is February 10, 2016 The Spire Newsletter Team Editors: Katie Mozurkewich and Linda Phillips Publisher: Linda Phillips Printers: Lisa Kaleopa Assemblers: Irene Risser, Jan McCarthy, Linda Miller & Margaret Desenberg