MUMC. message. Pastor s Notes

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1 MUMC message MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF MARION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OCTOBER 2016 Pastor s Notes So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-20 People have asked me on several different occasions if it was hard to move so far from our families and start life in a new community. The answer is yes. It has been hard. Betsy and I are very family focused people so we miss our families. The wonderful thing about being at Marion United Methodist is that you all are so welcoming and loving. Just because we might not have our biological family in the same town, we have a lot of our family in Christ living all over this town. Welcoming Caroline into the world in December was one of our biggest blessings. As you know, becoming new parents is not an easy task. So many of you have been there for us through this exciting adventure of raising a child. You showered us with love and gifts as we celebrated the new life God gave us. You picked us up when we were down and went above and beyond when we needed you. You visited us and loved our daughter like she was your own. We love being in Marion and are excited about what the future holds for us here. Thank you for loving us, guiding us and accepting us into your family. Blessings, Robert, Betsy, and Caroline

2 WEDNESDAY NIGHT COMMUNION BIBLE STUDY WITH BRO ROBERT Marion United Methodist Church will be starting a new worship service opportunity on October 19th. At 5:45 on Wednesday nights we will be celebrating a time of prayer, a short reflection on scripture, and Holy Communion. The service is planned to be minutes in duration so that it can fit into everyone s schedule for a midweek refresher. Brother Robert will begin teaching a study on the book of Ephesians on October 19th. The study will be from 6:30-7:00 p.m. in the conference room of the family life center. No materials will be required for the class, simply show up with either a print Bible or an electronic device that has a Bible. The course will run until November 30th, but we will not meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:19 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: ANN ROGERS Ann joined MUMC in 1975 when Burlis Stallcup was pastor. Ann and her husband, Rex, are members of the Seekers and Servers Sunday School class. Ann is a member of the choir, the Prayer Blanket Ministry, and United Methodist Women. She is also part of the group that helps in our church kitchen, provides meals for grieving families, and the Caring Group, which is a group of ladies that work together when there is a need. Ann has many favorite things about our church including: our church family, the music, activities, caring for others, the smiling faces and the joy of the children. Ann plays a vital role in the Prayer Blanket Ministry.

3 BACKPACK PROGRAM Thank you to everyone who has participated and donated to the Backpack Program over the past several weeks! We have had an amazing response from our church family and community. We have been underway for approximately one month and have filled backpacks for Avondale and Marion Intermediate. We are currently filling 13 backpacks for Avondale and 15 for MIS. Marion Elementary is still receiving our Joyful Noise offering and Dana Robbins is filling their backpacks. We plan to expand as we are able! As well as donated items, help is needed by filling the bags with food. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact the church office or for more information. We are in need of the following items: Raisins Fruit treats Fruit cups Juice Boxes Vienna Sausage Chef Boyardee Cheese crackers and other snack crackers that were not processed in a plant with peanuts Pudding cups (that don t require refrigeration Applesauce Soup, corn & green beans with pop top lids Nutri-Grain Bars Pop-Tarts Monetary donations are also needed. BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP This year, Bible Study Fellowship is studying the Gospel of John. Men and women all over the world are doing the same study and learning the same things each week. Our MUMC Bible Study Fellowship group has 30 women and 8 men attending this year. Childcare is provided for children in the Children s Area. BSF meets at MUMC on Thursday nights from 6:20-8:00. We would love for you to join us as we study about who God is-faithful, steadfast, our refuge and strength, the Word, and the Truth. Contact Sarah Catherine Davis for more information at sarahcatdavis@aol.com or call the church office. SAVE THE DATE

4 HULLABALOO 2016

5 CHILDREN S MINISTRY NEWS PRESCHOOL NEWS The Preschool has a few rare openings for the school year. Contact the office for information. WWF kids served the Bible Study Fellowship groups by setting up their rooms for Bible Study. Preschool students having chapel on Tuesdays with Bro Robert Abbigail Simmons, 3rd grader at MES, had a peach tea sale and donated the money to the Backpack Program Food Pantry. YOUTH NEWS Youth meets Sunday nights from 5:30-7:00. Their devotionals are currently based on The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. The 4 year old class working on their math skills with fun games PDO NEWS Parent s Day Out started their new school year in September. Their verse of the month is Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. They have been learning about the color red and the circle shape.

6 LOVE OFFERING NO STRESS SUNDAY As many of you know, Praise Band members, Buzz McIntyre and Wally Fowler were in a car accident several weeks ago. We would like to take up a collection for Buzz while he heals. Please turn in money to Jeff Johnston, Sheila Henderson in the front office or place in the offering plate by October 17. Make checks payable to Marion United Methodist Church with Buzz in the memo. We will be having another No Stress Sunday on October 23. This is a chance for you to join the church without having to do it in front of a lot of people. MONTHLY TRUSTEES REPORT We have been struggling with air-conditioning issues lately. During September, we have had two of our geothermal heat/air units go down with the same problems. We have the units up and running temporarily, but are searching to determine the cause of the malfunction. There are several possibilities. We will have a two man crew out during the last week of September to trouble shoot the problems and determine the connection (if any) the two units. In addition, a third unit compressor went out due to blown fuses. This was an easy fix. Gary Wehrum has placed the mats over the new section of flooring in the gym to protect it until we are able to move forward with the sanding, painting and sealing of the floor. Our LED project for the sanctuary, office area, family life center and gym has been pushed back another two weeks due to delivery date of the new lighting. The new anticipated start date is the week of October 10th. Repairs were made to the oil/grease trap that was damaged. The concrete is now lower to the ground to prevent damage in the future. We have cleared an area for the Hullabaloo decorations in order to keep them together and better organized. We are continuing to organize storage areas throughout the church. The crepe myrtle trees around the property became infested over the last few weeks. All trees have been treated to remedy the insect infestation. MONTHLY FINANCE REPORT Annual Operating Budget September 30 YTD Budget September 30 YTD Giving $631,719 $473,789 $367,181 (77%) Annual Capital Budget September 30 YTD Budget September 30 YTD Giving $280,824 $210,618 $187,412 (89%) Operating Budget per Sunday Actual Giving per Sunday $12,148 $9,415 Capital Budget per Sunday Actual Giving per Sunday $5,400 $4,805

7 OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS 10/2 Kathy Fowler Cathy Horton Payne Bius Shannon Busby Robert Allison 10/3 Misty Kennedy 10/4 Iris Bird 10/5 Doug Landry 10/7 Averie Ward Rachel Benson 10/8 10/9 10/13 Michael Charlton Wally Fowler 10/14 Thomas Gerrard Mandy Hinze Conner Allison Cooper Allison Erica East 10/15 Morgan Sain 10/16 Jessica Shidler Will Boon Witt Kennedy Debi Williams Jack Sain Ramer Sutton 10/18 Nicholas Beaman Becky Doyle 10/20 Mike Molloy 10/26 Alex Webb Rich Busby 10/27 Julie O Quinn Blake Owen 10/28 Don Hanks Linda Cosgrove 10/30 Lynn Murray 10/31 Ross Letner 10/19 Billy McNeely 10/10 Colby Ramsey 10/21 Elizabeth Williams Drew Landry 10/11 Karsen McCuiston Sandy Webb 10/22 Kristie Doyle 10/12 Paul Allen Ginger Gibbs 10/25 Austin Rawls 10/23 Shelbi Cole 10/24 Shelley Griffee OCTOBER USHERS Buddy McCain, Rex Gill, Ted Archer, Lee Fesmire, Garrison Hardke, Jeff Johnston OCTOBER GREETERS Seekers & Servers Sunday School Class; Paula Howerton ALTAR FLOWER CALENDAR 10/2 Bart & Donna Turner 10/9 Sarah Crowder 10/16 Sue Bonds 10/30 Paula Howerton

8 CHURCH STAFF CHURCH EVENTS Oct 7: Feed Marion Reverend Robert Cloninger Senior Pastor Gary Wehrum Sheila Henderson Recreation Director Administrative Assistant Teresa Gardner Preschool Director/Teacher Cyndi James Business Administrator Elizabeth Williams Preschool Teacher Football Team Oct 21: Feed Marion Football Team Oct 22: Badges & Boots Community Appreciation Volleyball Game Oct 30: Trunk or Treat Sarah Catherine Davis Children s Director marionumckids@gmail.com Pam Scarbrough Blake Owen Kristi Stotts Music Director blake.owen78@gmail.com PDO Director/Teacher PDO Director/Teacher Marcia Sutton Tim Parker Youth Director cattparker@aol.com Pianist Full Time Custodian A church on fire for Jesus Christ, setting the world on fire for Jesus Christ. MISSION STATEMENT Being disciples. Making disciples. Debbie Wallace Organist LaKeshia Lee VISION STATEMENT SUNDAY MORNING 9:00am 9:45 am 10: 45 am Prayer Service Sunday School Worship Service 81 Military Road, Marion, AR marionmethodistchurch.com marionunitedmethodist@gmail.com