The Pillars. August Pastor s Message

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1 Rev. Lisa Kropinak The Pillars August 2018 The mission of the New Concord United Methodist Church is to make and develop disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Pastor s Message Tonight my family went to the beautiful, Muskingum University track to walk and run (Tony = Run, Lisa =Walk, Adalyn =Walk/Run)! As I walked I knew it was the right way to spend the next twenty or so minutes, but that didn t mean I wanted to spend the next twenty minutes of my life walking. But I gained weight at my last church and really need to attend to taking it off. That goal is what is best for me and my family as I approach the age of fifty in the next few years. But though it is good for me and will ensure all the benefits enjoyed when you re at a healthy weight I still toyed with the idea of not going. After all, I had had a busy day; wonderful, but busy. After all, I had eaten well and stayed within my Weight Watcher allotted points for the day. After all, was two laps around the track really going to make all that much difference? But I knew it was good for me and therefore good for my family so I went. As I walked, I reflected on the numerous things in life God asks of us that in the end are good for us, but that we still don t want to do. Just because God has encouraged us to give up that habit, or get to worship every Sunday, or help a neighbor we don t particularly like, doesn t mean we are eager to obey. Typically we want life and our church life to be as aggravation free as possible, but that is not the way life works. As a congregation and you as a member of said congregation may need to do something, or participate in something, or try something that you would rather not do, participate in or try. The work of building the kingdom of God is not for the faint of heart and requires obedience and tenacity to not give up even in the face of our own bad attitude. New Concord UMC has a mandate from Jesus to make disciples of all nations and to love God, ourselves and our neighbor as God loves us. These I find have requests from God that I d rather someone else fulfill. But for the good of the kingdom and for my own good I obey. The Apostle Paul talks openly about this war we face internally when what we want to do flies in direct contradiction with what God wants. I don t know about you, but I have never regretted obeying God even if it hurt, but I do have regrets when I ve told God, no! So let s take a deep breath together and say yes! Romans 7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.

2 This and That Mission Update In June, members of the mission committee traveled to Bethesda, Ohio to visit the Epworth Center and its food pantry. They worked in the pantry and got a tour of the center but decided that there were not any mission projects there that they were interested in at this time. On Saturday July 21, 28 youth and 5 advisers from St. Paul United Methodist Church in Manchester, Pennsylvania spent the night at our church on their way to a week of mission work in Cincinnati. They were greeted with snacks and drinks on Saturday evening and a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. They attended the 8:30 worship service before heading on their way. After checking with the New Concord Elementary School it was decided that the school mission be moved to the fall so we can buy needed underwear, socks, hats and mittens. School Supplies are really not needed at this time. Begin saving your items to send to Henderson Settlement as we plan to have a truckload go down in the fall. If you are interested in driving or making the trip this year please speak with Claretta Baker. Children s Church Children s Church will kick-off next month! Once again, Children s Church will be held on the second and fourth Sundays of the month during the Traditional Service. We need two unrelated adults to volunteer each time. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office or, feel free to call Corey and she can put your name on the list! Financial Peace University South Zanesville United Methodist Church (at 53 Main St., South Zanesville) is hosting a Financial Peace University. The course begins Sunday, September 9 at 6 p.m. and runs for 9 weeks. You can register online at The cost is $109 for the FPU Kit which includes a one year membership. If you have questions, please contact Tim & Sally Barnett at

3 Our Church Family Dear Church Family, Thank you all so much for your support of the mission trip I went on this summer. It was an amazing experience, and we got to see the Lord move in spectacular ways every day in the lives of many Slovenes. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to experience God s love and plan for Slovenia, and it is because of your support and prayers that all of us were able to take part in building up God s kingdom in their beautiful country. Thanks again, Trey Bennett Aldersgate Choir Kick-Off On Thursday, August 30, at 6:00 p.m., the Aldersgate Choir will have their Choir Kick-off, which celebrates the new choral season. The Kick- off will be held at Ted & Bonnie Riggle s house on Seneca Lake. (56796 Owls Nest Rd. Senecaville, OH ) Current choir members are asked to bring a covered dish and lawn chair. All table service and drinks will be provided by our Music Ministry. Anyone interested in joining the choir this fall is welcome to attend, but please call Tyler Driggs in advance so we can plan accordingly. Tyler s cell phone number is (740) We look forward to kicking off the new choral season and making wonderful music together! Choral Scholars Did you hear the news? We have raised all the money we need for our Choral Scholars program for the academic year! Stay tuned for more details as we move forward in this exciting new ministry opportunity. Save the Dates to Meet the Kropinaks Don t forget that this month there will be three open houses at the parsonage. On Thursday, August 9 th ; Sunday, August 19 th ; or Thursday, August 23 rd you can visit the parsonage at 5 p.m. 171 Highland Drive.

4 August 2018 SUN. MON. TUES. WED. THURS. FRI. SAT : Yoga Brent Riggle 7: Yoga 5: Meet the Kropinaks Private Party 7: Parents Helping Parents Adam Cook 7: Yoga Private Party Danny Ingold 7: Yoga 5: Meet the Kropinaks 5: Meet the Kropinaks Bonnie Thompson 7: Yoga 6: Aldersgate Fall Kick-Off Picnic Private Party

5 August 5: Mariann Honkus June Turner August 6: Brian Bennett Barb Nicholson Ben Wolfe August 9: Nancy Moffitt August 17: Jane Sherman August 18: Fred Cubbison August 19: Steve Sax August 23: Lance Bennett August 26: Chad Briggs Charlie Neptune Jay Slack August 27: Danyella Erbach Kelly Taylor August 28: Melissa Morgan Logan Robinson Jim Taylor August 29: Sherry Jirles August 30: Jim Hummell August 31: Matthew Pyle August 4: Bill & Judy Miller August 6: Fred & Cinda Cubbison August 7: Steve & Sue Kokovich August 8: Jim & Connie Hummell August 9: Jack & Sue Taylor August 13: Terry & Pam Griffith August 20: Paul & Amy Hudson August 30: Lloyd & Mary Garner August 31: Dick & Brenda Dalrymple

6 Sunday Services 8:30 Contemporary Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Traditional Worship Service Staff Rev. Lisa Kropinak, Pastor Corey Elliott, Secretary Chris White, Treasurer Natalie Ross, Custodian Tyler Driggs, Musician Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 3:00 Contact US Phone Fax Rev. Lisa s pastorlisa@frontier.com *Please have articles in by August 22 nd For the next issue of The Pillars