From the Pastor s Desk

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Trustees January 15 5:30 pm Youth Parents Meeting January 16 Martin Luther King Day 6p Finance Committee 7p Church Council January 20-22 Winter Blitz January 29 5th Sunday SS offering to U.M. Children s Homes Dear Friends, From the Pastor s Desk Happy New Year!

Seems to me, we are in a wonderful place when we place ourselves in God s hands. I once heard that the key to choosing a book was the Introduction and the Table of Contents.

1 Volume 15 Issue 1 T HE V I S I T O R Newsletter Date January 2017 I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Attendance/Stewardship 3 Birthdays 4 Children s Ministries 2 UMW News 4 Youth New 2 UPCOMING EVENTS January 1 11am United Service No Sunday School January 4 9 am Prayer Shawl 10 am UMW Meeting 11:30 am UMW Luncheon January 8 Communion Sunday January 11 5:30 pm WD2 Resumes January 12 6:00 pm Trustees January 15 5:30 pm Youth Parents Meeting January 16 Martin Luther King Day 6p Finance Committee 7p Church Council January Winter Blitz January 29 5th Sunday SS offering to U.M. Children s Homes Dear Friends, From the Pastor s Desk Happy New Year! I am excited to be part of this journey we will call 2017 with each of you. You are in my prayers and I ask to be included in yours. Only God knows all that is ahead. Only God will see through it all. Seems to me, we are in a wonderful place when we place ourselves in God s hands. I once heard that the key to choosing a book was the Introduction and the Table of Contents. Those would give me a pretty good idea if I wanted to invest in that book or spend time reading it. But what if there really wasn t an Introduction and the Contents page was blank? Then what? In 2016, I tried to be more consistent in the discipline of keeping a journal. I must confess I didn t do a very good job. Sometimes entire weeks would pass between times when I paused long enough to make an entry and reflect on what had been going on in my life. Let me put in print before each of you that I am going to attempt to be better at keeping a journal in When I look back at some of the things I wrote in 2016, I can see God s hand on my life and in my thinking over and over. So, here s to being a better journal keeper in You know as well as I that the year was not shaped by my journaling. The journaling simply helped me reflect on how the year was shaping up. No doubt, many good and important things happened that I just missed. Not nearly every notable thought or event got recorded. I know I missed taking notice of all of God s blessings and protections and callings on my life. I hope I am more attentive in Let me invite you to be attentive, as well. You have heard or seen it said, there are 365 pages of a new book in front of each of us as the new year begins. What will you write on those pages? It might be more correct to call it a journal instead of a book. We each have the opportunity to make journal entries on the days that are ahead. You may or may not decide to take up journaling in 2017, but please decide to keep your eyes and heart and mind open to hearing and responding to God s calls and invitations to love and serve. If we are watching and listening, God will lead us in paths of righteousness as never before. We will experience new blessings and powerful opportunities. And, we may pause along the way to write about them. Again, we are so excited to be part of the journey with each of you. Being in ministry with you is a great joy to me and also to Pam. It is our privilege to be pastoring at Christ Church in Your friend, Pastor David Contact numbers for Pastor David & Pam David s cell Pam s cell Christ United Methodist Church Exists to: Connect Persons to God and to One Another (Worship/Fellowship) Help Meet Needs (Service/Every Member a Minister) Reach Out to Share Jesus Christ (Evangelism) Instruct in Christian Growth (Discipleship) Send Persons in Ministry (Missions) Transform the Community of Bowling Green

Page 2 Volume 15 Issue 1 Children s Corner Children s Ministry Our Christmas Mitten Tree in the YCC was a huge success this year! More than 100 hats and 60 pairs of mittens/gloves were donated.

Youth Christmas Play Congratulations to all of our children for a wonderful performance in their annual Christmas play.

2 Page 2 Volume 15 Issue 1 Children s Corner Children s Ministry Our Christmas Mitten Tree in the YCC was a huge success this year! More than 100 hats and 60 pairs of mittens/gloves were donated. These hats and mittens will help keep many children here in Bowling Green warm this winter. Thank you! Youth Christmas Play Congratulations to all of our children for a wonderful performance in their annual Christmas play. A special thank you is extended to Jeana Withers, Laura Orr, Amy Berry and Angie Gordon for coordinating this program. Kids RULE (Read, Understand Learn, Explore God s Word) will have its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday, January 11 th. WD 2 dinner is from 5:30-6:00 pm followed by our class time from 6pm 7pm. VBS 2017 is still months away but mark your calendars now and Save the Date! VBS 2017 is scheduled to take place from Sunday June 4 Thursday June 8, In the event, that school closings for winter weather impact us, our backup dates are June 18- June 22. A reminder to all parents: Sunday School is a wonderful place for your children to grow in their knowledge of the Lord. Start the New Year off right by having them attend a Sunday School class. Children s Christmas Play Message from Pastor Michael Happy New Year! 2016 was an amazing year for my family. It was the first year that my children could remember in which I was not a full-time student and pastor. We moved from Russellville to Bowling Green. I was commissioned as a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church and we began two amazing ministries, as associate pastor here and as the director of the Wesley Foundation at WKU. More importantly, in 2016 I had the great honor of beginning to know and fall in love with your amazing youth here at Christ Church. The truly amazing thing for me, as I think about this new year, is that despite how amazing 2016 was for me and my family I am looking more forward to 2017! Now about six months into my ministry I am just beginning to get a good grasp of what a sustainable rhythm looks like. I am just now really getting to know your youth, their hearts, their hopes and their dreams. I look forward to this new year with great anticipation of what God is going to do in and through our ministry as we continue to grow in the love of Christ our Savior and in the love we share for one another. Would you join me at the start of this new year in praying for our ministry? What would it look like if we each committed to praying every day for our ministry? Would we find ourselves radically opened to what God is doing in, for and through us? I think we would and I want to know what that might look like for us here. Join me in praying that God would bless our ministry, that we would be able to discern what God is up to and to join Him in it, and praying that these young people might know the love of God through all that we do.

The Visitor O UR S T E W A R D S H I P A N D A T T E N D A N C E D E C E M B E R 2016 Budget for the Year $570,011 Needed per Week $10,962 Received Dec 4 $14,731 Dec 11 $9,255 Dec

EWARDSHIP OF ATTENDANCE S.S. 8:45 10:00 11:00 Dec 4 154 172 112 Dec11 157 164 104 Dec 18 133 139 92 Dec 25 144 If you are interested in electronic giving, log on to our website at www.

Servants for January Greeters 8:45 Service Phyllis O Keefe 11:00 Service Ron & Sheila Best Grant & Tonya Heckman Communion Servers 8:45 Service Larry & Paulette Wells Henry & Tammy

3 The Visitor O UR S T E W A R D S H I P A N D A T T E N D A N C E D E C E M B E R 2016 Budget for the Year $570,011 Needed per Week $10,962 Received Dec 4 $14,731 Dec 11 $9,255 Dec 18 $6,637 Dec 25 $10,239 Budget to Date $ 570,011 Received to Date $ 550,392 Building Fund Loan Balance $120,879 Received December 2016 $12,475 STEWARDSHIP OF ATTENDANCE S.S. 8:45 10:00 11:00 Dec Dec Dec Dec If you are interested in electronic giving, log on to our website at to find a link to set up your account. Servants for January Greeters 8:45 Service Phyllis O Keefe 11:00 Service Ron & Sheila Best Grant & Tonya Heckman Communion Servers 8:45 Service Larry & Paulette Wells Henry & Tammy Davis 11:00 Service Ron & Sheila Best Grant & Tonya Heckman Building Lockup Grant Heckman Special Christmas Offerings Page 3 Our Miracle Offering for Camp for Courageous Kids totaled $2, Our Christmas Eve Communion Service Offerings for the BGPD Chaplain s Fund totaled $ Welcome New Members Bruce & Diane Allen Ron & Sheila Best

Page 4 Volume 15 Issue 1 January Birthdays UMW Carolyn Marks 1/1 Karen Rohrer 1/3 Taylor Gilbert 1/4 Conner Twyman 1/6 Gerod Truelove 1/6 Margie Bonds

1/14 Deloris Gaddie 1/15 Randy Nielsen 1/15 Stuart Foster 1/16 Jeana Withers 1/18 Aaron Gordon 1/18 Hattie Buchmann 1/19 Lonell Rennirt 1/22 Kevin

19-9:30am The Adult Fellowship will meet at Brindee s Restaurant, 2001 Russellville Rd, to enjoy a delicious breakfast on Jan. 19 at 9:30am.

4 Page 4 Volume 15 Issue 1 January Birthdays UMW Carolyn Marks 1/1 Karen Rohrer 1/3 Taylor Gilbert 1/4 Conner Twyman 1/6 Gerod Truelove 1/6 Margie Bonds 1/8 Susie Brooks 1/8 Gage York 1/8 Shan Winquist 1/9 Sophie Moore 1/10 Jim Rennirt 1/10 Martha Lloyd 1/10 Doug Rohrer 1/10 Wes Chou 1/11 Stephen Harmon 1/14 Deloris Gaddie 1/15 Randy Nielsen 1/15 Stuart Foster 1/16 Jeana Withers 1/18 Aaron Gordon 1/18 Hattie Buchmann 1/19 Lonell Rennirt 1/22 Kevin Gilpin 1/22 Kenny Marks 1/24 Patty Wintuska 1/25 Gail Williams 1/31 Scott Tylicki 1/31 U.M. Adult Fellowship Adult Fellowship Breakfast at Brindee s Jan. 19-9:30am The Adult Fellowship will meet at Brindee s Restaurant, 2001 Russellville Rd, to enjoy a delicious breakfast on Jan. 19 at 9:30am. Please contact Ron or Carol Wilson ( ) if you can sponsor a future activity. If you would like your birthday listed in The Visitor, please call the church office

Page 5 Volume 15 Issue 1 H.O.T.E.L, I.N.C M.E.A.L.S., Inc. M.E.A.L.S., Inc. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.

ministry during this blessed Christmas season.

5 Page 5 Volume 15 Issue 1 H.O.T.E.L, I.N.C M.E.A.L.S., Inc. M.E.A.L.S., Inc. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me... Matthew 25:35 Congratulations to Sean & Tabitha Foley on the Baptism of Josephine & Lincoln Thank you so much CUMC for your faithful and loving service to the M.E.A.L.S., Inc. ministry during this blessed Christmas season. On Saturday, December 10 th, 36 members of our congregation came out to cook, pack, and deliver hot meals and food products to 304 of our neighbors in need. Thank you to all volunteers. Additionally, each individual/family received a beautiful, hand -signed Christmas card from our church. Each card contained a message of hope and love courtesy of Betsy Kullman. Thank you Betsy. Also, on December 17 th, M.E.A.L.S., Inc. was able to deliver a box of food to each of our recipients, which allowed them to have a traditional Christmas meal and some extra food during this holiday season. Thank you to all who donated crackers for the Christmas Meal Box program. It is a humbling experience to be a part of this ministry with all of you. Your caring and service to those who do not have enough to eat is an inspiration. Thank you CUMC for serving God by serving others. We look forward to being able to feed even more people in If you would like to be involved in this ministry during the coming year, please call Helen (270) or (270) M.E.A.L.S., Inc. Date March 4 th June 3 rd September 2 nd December 2 nd

Page 6 Volume 15 Issue 1 Memorial CONTRIBUTIONS Christian sympathy to the family of Muriel Charles. Christian sympathy to Jim Green & family on the death of his wife, Kitty.

6 Page 6 Volume 15 Issue 1 Memorial CONTRIBUTIONS Christian sympathy to the family of Muriel Charles. Christian sympathy to Jim Green & family on the death of his wife, Kitty. Christian sympathy to the Harmon family on the death of Stephen s dad, Mike Harmon. Christian sympathy to Angie Gordon and family on the death of her grandmother. Christian sympathy to Emily Romans and family on the death of her grandfather. In Memory of Margaret Taylor Susan Cook Harold & Ella Miller Gloria & Bobby Bartley In Memory of Muriel Charles Larry & Jo Byrd In Memory of Kitty Green Julie Kane Ron & Barbara Hendrick On January 1, we invited everyone to take this little card representing 2017 and write some important dates and words on it. For example: your birthday and anniversary, and the birthdates of your children. Words representing special events or anticipated experiences like Job, wedding, graduation, vacation, retirement, births. We also suggested putting the word SURPRISES on the card. Please plan on bringing this card either the one you got Sunday, or getting one this Sunday, or coming by the office to get one, and bring it to the altar as we celebrate Holy Communion this Sunday. Let this card, representing your life in 2017, be your Communion offering this week. You will take it back with you to be able to look at it over and over during the year. The best gift you can give to God is yourself.

CHURCH STAFF 716 Cave Mill Road Bowling Green, KY 42104 842-4343 & 842-8762 Church Fax: 842-6776 Office hours: 8:00-2:00 Our E-Mail Address: Info@ChristUMCbg.

David Grout... Pastor Rev. Michael Romans.. Associate Pastor Patty Wintuska... Children s Director Kelli Truelove... Assistant Youth Director Eric Doades... Choir Director Jeanie Orr.

7 CHURCH STAFF 716 Cave Mill Road Bowling Green, KY & Church Fax: Office hours: 8:00-2:00 Our Address: Worship Services Sunday Worship ~ 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School ~ 10:00 a.m. Nursery provided for all Sunday Services Youth Activities ~ Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Dr. David Grout... Pastor Rev. Michael Romans.. Associate Pastor Patty Wintuska... Children s Director Kelli Truelove... Assistant Youth Director Eric Doades... Choir Director Jeanie Orr... Organist Bonnie Hanes... Administrative Assistant/Treasurer April Taylor... Nursery Supervisor Shan Winquist... Lay Leader Angie Gordon Minister of Visitation & Congregational Care /Director of The Learning Tree Chase Stewart...Custodian Lorenzo Hall, Jr.... Security Our Web Page:

T HE V I S I T O R. From the Pastor s Desk. Newsletter Date January 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE

T HE V I S I T O R. From the Pastor s Desk. Newsletter Date January 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Attendance/Stewardship 3 Birthdays 5 Children s Ministry 2 UMW News 5 Youth News 4 UPCOMING EVENTS January 1 New Year s Day Church Offices Closed January 3 9:30 UMW Prayer Shawl 10a UMW