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

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1 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 Meeting 11:30a UMW Luncheon January 7 Epiphany Sunday Communion Sunday Miracle Offering Collection January 9 6:30p Vision Team January 10 WD2 Resumes 5:30 WD2 Dinner 6:00p Small Groups January 11 6p Trustees January 13 8a UMM workday At WKU Wesley Foundation January 14 5:30p Youth Parent Meeting January 15 Martin Luther King Day 6p Finance 7p Church Council January Winter Blitz January Women s Retreat Dear Friends, Happy New Year! T HE V I S I T O R From the Pastor s Desk I am so excited to be part of the life and ministry of Christ Church in I hope YOU are excited and looking forward to what God has in store, as well. There is no way to know what is around the many corners of this year, but we can absolutely know that Jesus Christ will be waiting for us at every turn. How wonderful to be able to walk with that kind of assurance and confidence. 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 Newsletter Date January 2018 If you are like me, you can look back over your shoulder and see God s hand at work in your life as 2017 unfolded. You can see the times of protection. You can see the times of strength when your own strength had worn thin. You can see the times of great joy and victory. You can see the times of defeat and sadness. All of these times make up the past year and some of those moments cast shadows that reach all the way into We all know a new calendar doesn t come with completely blank pages. That is a good thing. As 2018 begins, we don t have to reinvent the wheel of experience every day. What did you learn in 2017 that will help and guide you into this New Year? What new thought will give you energy and direction? What mistake will rise up and put the breaks on your life when you are faced with a similar situation or decision? What wise choice will stand up and invite you to follow in its steps once again? What words of counsel did you give to your children that has been a light to their path? What words of direction will you need to share at least one more time before the year is over? Again, you see, this New Year has last year s shadow cast all across it. But, this New Year also has light that 2017 never saw will present opportunities for the first time ever in so many different ways. What will you do? How will you react? Why will you have a sense of direction when you face new paths and rough waters? Again, look back over your shoulder. See where you have been. Go back over the lessons you learned. Revisit the conversations that shaped you. Remember the friends who blessed you. Recommit yourself to the Savior who loves you. So, let me throw out some ideas of ways to move ahead in Could this be the year you decide to get into the Wednesday Dinner and Discipleship - WD 2- - study? Is this the year you go on a Walk to Emmaus spiritual retreat? Is this the year you take a step towards tithing? Is this the year you volunteer at Vacation Bible School? Is this the year your musical talents come out from under that bushel and shine in the life of the church? Is this the year you jump back into Sunday School? All of these opportunities at Christ Church and so many more outside of Christ Church. Yes! 2018 could be the year Be sure to read through this Newsletter and see the different opportunities for ministry. Some are just around the corner, others are a few weeks or months away. Make your plans. Get out that almost clean calendar and start setting aside time to worship and serve and give. What a great way to live in 2018! Your friend, Pastor David Contact numbers for Pastor David & Pam David s cell Pam s cell

2 Page 2 Children s Ministry Our Christmas Mitten Tree in the YCC was a huge success again this year! The hats and mittens that were donated will help to keep many children here in Bowling Green warm this winter. Thank you! Christmas Play Congratulations to all of our children for a wonderful performance in their annual Christmas play. A special thank you is extended to Amy Berry, Angie Gordon and Randy Hanes for all they did. Kids RULE (Read, Understand Learn, Explore God s Word) will have its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday, January 10 th. WD 2 dinner is from 5:30-6:00 pm followed by our class time from 6pm 7pm. VBS 2018 is still months away but mark your calendars now and Save the Date! VBS 2018 is scheduled to take place from Sunday June 3 Thursday June 7, In the event, that school closings for winter weather impact us, our backup dates are June 10- June 14. 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. Message from Melissa A huge thank you to everyone who made our Advent and Christmas celebrations so beautiful from decorating the church, to participating in services, to leading music and liturgy it was a beautiful and blessed celebration of Jesus. Now as we begin our new year, let us be mindful of the vision of the church to be a place where people connect to God and to one another. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as time goes on (Romans 10:24-25). Here are three ways we can consider doing that this month: 1. Contemporary worship gathering: January 21 at 12:30pm The band will be gathering after the second service on January 21 to discuss the music in the second service. If this topic interests you, we d love for you to join us. People are welcome to bring new songs that they would like us to use, share opinions or concerns about songs we ve used in the past, and generally be involved in the conversation of how and why we worship together. Please let me know if you d like to join us! 2. Women s retreat The women of the church are invited for a night away at the Narrow Way Bed and Breakfast in Lucas KY on January 26 and January 27. This time together will focus on having time to spend with each other and will allow time for rest. The cost is $59 if 13 people sign up, and less if more people sign up. Breakfast is included in the price. More details will be forthcoming. Please melissa@christumcbg.org or contact Brenda at to find out more. (Save the date: women s Bible study will resume February 18!) 3. Glory Baby Cut-a-thon Glory Baby is a ministry that provides burial gowns for infants to families experiencing loss. We will gather on January 28, 5:30-7:00, to cut apart gowns that have been donated to the cause. Please bring a seam-ripper or scissors. Contact Melissa for more information.

3 Page 3 O UR S T E WA R D S H I P AND AT T E N D A N C E D E C E M B E R 2017 Budget for the Year $593,363 Needed per Week $11,411 Received Dec 3 $14,381 Dec 10 13,460 Dec 17 9,543 Dec 24 7,994 Dec 31 12,422 Budget to Date $593,363 Received to Date $528,042 Building Fund Loan Balance $82,836 Received 2017 $16,055 STEWARDSHIP OF ATTENDANCE S.S. 8:45 10:00 11:00 Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Servants for January 8:45 Service Greeters Ron & Carol Wilson Communion Servers Bruce & Diane Allen Karen & Doug Rohrer 11:00 Service Greeters & Communion Servers Dean Meadows, Jana Layne Becky & Woody Harrell Buford Smith Building Lockup Woody Harrell Memorial Contributions In Memory of Georgie Hanes Building Fund Kenny & Carolyn Marks Richard & Karen Garden In Memory of Audra Simpton Rick & I, as well as our extended family, would like to send sincere and humble thanks to our church family for the cards, comforting words, prayers, hugs, food and flowers sent to our family at the time of our mother, Audra Simpson s, death, but also over the last few years of her illness. We have been deeply touched and overwhelmed by your kindness and caring. She was especially blessed to call Christ UMC her church home the last years of her life. Building Fund Bill & Joyce Buckman In Memory of Anna Walkup Landscape Committee Tim & Linda Tidwell

4 From Michael In our student ministry we are looking at the new year with a great deal of anticipation. We believe God is going to do big things this year. We are already looking forward to our summer mission trip and what God will do in and through us as we serve him. Before we get there, we have some great opportunities coming up in January. Page 4 First, we will be kicking WD2 back off on January 10th. We just finished a study in the book of Matthew and in January we will be starting a new study by Francis Chan on Prayer. Prayer is one of those Sunday School answers to many of our questions but for most of us prayer life can feel flat and uninspiring. We will spend a few weeks right at the beginning of the year growing in our prayer life together. On January 7th, we will jump right back into our Sunday Night Gatherings as well. On the 14th we will also have our annual Parents Meeting at 5:30 pm, while the youth are playing and eating. We are especially excited about Winter Blitz in January. We will travel to Louisville the 19th-21st and gather with United Methodist Youth from all over the Kentucky Annual Conference for worship and teaching. This is always a powerful weekend and there is still time for youth to sign up! FUNERAL MEAL COORDINATORS NEEDED The job of Coordinating meals for the family after a funeral needs a new coordinator or cocoordinators! Linda Holian and Pam Grout, with Deloris Gaddie s help, have been in charge of getting people to make food, prepare the tables, serve food and clean up. If you are interested in taking the position or in asking questions about it, we would be happy to talk to you. This position is open immediately. Thanks to all who have been so helpful to us in ministering to the families in this way. Christmas Miracle Offering January 7 Communion Offering The Thailand Methodist Mission, which works in evangelism and among children caught up in the sex trade, is raising money to purchase land and build a new church Fire of Glory Church. Our Christmas Miracle Offering this year will go to help build that church. We will receive this offering on January 7, Epiphany Sunday, as our first communion offering of Some may want to give their offering on or before December 31, for tax purposes. Angel Tree Thank You A big Thank you to all who contributed to this years Prison Fellowship Angel Tree program. Helen Terry makes many of the phone calls to the caregivers of the children, Shirley Lowe wraps dozens of gifts, and others help by sorting the wrapped packages as they are brought back into the designated family bags to be delivered by YET another group of you! Many of you took angels from the tree and bought and wrapped your gifts while some gave money to buy for them. Once again this year EVERY child in KY got presents through Angel Tree! Our church bought for 94 children a total of 188 gifts! On behalf of all those children you loved on THANK YOU!

5 Page 5 January Birthdays United Methodist Women 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 Luciana Bull DeGaetano 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 Lonell Rennirt 1/22 Kevin Gilpin 1/22 Kenny Marks 1/24 Patty Wintuska 1/25 Richard Strout 1/30 Gail Williams 1/31 Scott Tylicki 1/31 If you would like your birthday listed in The Visitor, please call the church office. The United Methodist Women meet January 3 rd at 10:00 a.m. in the Potpourri Classroom. The prayer shawl team meets at 9:00 in the library. Carol Douglas and Linda Holian will provide a warm lunch. Come join us for fellowship. On February 23, right here at Christ Church, join thousands of business leaders across the country for a full 1-day live-stream retreat to hear from experts, be encouraged, and discuss how to connect your faith and work. Visit for more information or to register ($25). UMAF United Methodist Adult Fellowship Adult Fellowship Breakfast at Brindee s Jan. 12-9:00am The Adult Fellowship will meet at Brindee s Restaurant, 2001 Russellville Rd, to enjoy a delicious breakfast on Jan. 12 at 9:00am. Please contact Ron or Carol Wilson ( ) if you can sponsor a future activity.

6 Page 6 Welcome Barbara Thompson, who transfers from Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin Anaclare Cobb, who transferred her membership in November. (not pictured, Abigal) WD2 We would like to thank those who donated their time this fall to bring us a varied menu for our WD2 meals. Thanks to Angie Gordon, Doris Whitmer, Shirley Lowe, Juanita Cox, Dawn Spicer, Our menus included lasagna, spaghetti, meatloaf, chicken pot pie, BBQ sandwiches, sub sandwiches, chicken strips and pizza. If you would be interested in signing up to provide a meal for WD2, please contact the church office. Any reasonable cost is reimbursed. We currently feed approximately 70 people. WD2 will resume on January 10. Pastor Dean will be leading a group called "LIVING TRUTH" during the winter session of WD2. The focus will be on applying teachings and incidents from the life of Jesus to our everyday lives. It will combine Bible study and discussion in an open setting. M.E.A.L.S., Inc. Sympathy Merry Hardin & family on the death of her father, Harold Campbell Madisyn & Mea Taylor on the death of their great grandmother, Martha Taylor Tom Lohmann on the death of his brother, Al Lohmann Shan & Rick Winquist and family on the death of her mother, Audra Simpson Paulette & Larry Wells and family on the death of her mother, Anna Walkup Jenny Lou Pierce & family on the death of her grandfather, James Royster Sowders Kory & Christy Twyman and family on the death of grandmother, Ada Francis Twyman 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 Thank you CUMC congregation for the tremendous support you have shown the M.E.A.L.S., Inc. ministry during Together, we have served four times during the year. Each time we had volunteers and were able to provide food to people in need of food. Additionally, our church donated 354 cans of soup to go into the Christmas Dinner boxes that were delivered to these individuals and families. Each box contained a ham, fresh fruit, and 13 items (provided by the 13 church participants), so our neighbors we serve can have a traditional Christmas dinner. Also, thank you for all the plastic grocery bags you bring in. The program uses over 300 of these bags every week. Our next opportunity to participate with this ministry is March 3 rd. We hope you can be a part of CUMC volunteers on that date. Our prayer is that our church can continue to be a blessing to those in need of food assistance in this new year. M.E.A.L.S., Inc. is a wonderful way to serve the Lord by serving others. If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Helen (270) or (270) M.E.A.L.S., Inc. Dates March 3 rd June 2 nd September 1 st December 1 st

7 716 Cave Mill Road Bowling Green, KY & Church Fax: Office hours: 8:00-2:00 Monday thru Thursday 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. CHURCH STAFF Dr. David Grout... Pastor Rev. Michael Romans Associate Pastor/Youth Pastor Melissa Bull... Minister of Music and Discipleship Patty Wintuska... Children s Director Kelli Truelove... Assistant Youth 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 Lorenzo Hall, Jr.... Security Our Web Page: