He Is Risen. Circuit RIDER. April Celebrate the Resurrection April 8 Services at 8:15, 9:30, and 11:00. Wadsworth United Methodist Church

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1 April 2012 Circuit RIDER He Is Risen Wadsworth United Methodist Church 195 Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH Phone: Web: wadsumc.org Worship Services: 8:15am, 9:30am and 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am and 11:00am WCTV Contemporary Service: Monday, 10:30pm & Thursday, 9:00pm Traditional Service: Sunday, 5:00pm & 9:00pm, Monday, 1:30pm Celebrate the Resurrection April 8 Services at 8:15, 9:30, and 11:00

2 A Disciple s Path: Deepening Your Relationship with Christ and the Church Have you ever felt that there was something missing, or that you were lacking something that you needed? Have you ever thought that there was more to being a Christian, or a member of a congregation than just going to church on Sunday morning, filling out a pledge card once a year and serving on a committee, or having pot-luck dinners? If you truly believe in the Living God regardless of our background or up-bringing at some time or another you have probably experienced what many have described as a divine discontent. You have experienced hints of a deeper hunger and longing for God and the things of God. You have felt a discontent in your heart and soul that only God can satisfy. The psalmist wrote, As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you [God] (Psalm 42:1). When Jesus called his first disciples, Come, follow me, they experienced something in their inner being that made them leave their nets and follow after Jesus. The challenge for us, thousands of years removed from the days Jesus walked this planet, is how do we do that? How do I follow Jesus in a real, authentic and tangible way? What spiritual practices will strengthen my faith and help me to experience a more vibrant relationship with God? Where can I find the practical steps that will allow me to be a true disciple of Jesus? What difference does it make to live a committed life to Jesus Christ through my membership at the Wadsworth UMC? These are all questions and concerns and many more that Pastor James A. Harnish addresses in his new studies series: A Disciple s Path: Deepening Your Relationship with Christ and the Church. It is a six-week study that will help you better understand what it means to practice your faith as a member of the United Methodist Church in the 21st century. It will challenge you and provide practical ways to live-out your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness in your daily life, and it will help you better understand the life of a true disciple as you seek to follow and grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. I encourage you to become a part of this study beginning the week of April 15. My goal is to provide as many days of the week and times for you to meet weekly with a study group for about an hour and a half. There is a Daily Workbook and Companion Reader that you will need for the study at $12.00 for the set. Please be sure to place your order by April 5. Blessings for the Journey of Hope, Don New Members April 2012 Ruth Ann Simon began attending Wadsworth UMC with her family, the Rafelds and Turners. She is already involved in Operation HOMES and Marian s Closet and is frequently found around the church assisting our custodian, Penny, either painting or cleaning. In her spare time, Ruth Ann loves to read historical fiction and westerns. Danielle Sintoni and her mother, Debbie Smallwood, also have a family connection at Wadsworth UMC. Debbie is the sister of Rick Wallet and Danielle his niece. Danielle is married to Matthew, who is currently serving in Afghanistan and they have 2 daughters, Jaden and CaliRae. Danielle works at Cornwell Tools as a customer service representative. Besides her daughter, Danielle, Debbie Smallwood has 2 grown sons, Jason and Ryan. Debbie owns a cleaning business and strives to please her customers when her job is done. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, biking and Zumba. Judy Stephens is a newer resident of Wadsworth having moved here in July She prefers a Methodist church and has been coming here because she likes the people, the pastors and enjoys the music. She is retired from Kent State University and has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

3 Holy Week Palm Sunday April 1 Services 8:15, 9:00, and 11:00 Holy Thursday April 5 7:00pm Childcare available for 4 and under. Good Friday April 6 7:00pm Childcare available for 4 and under. May 5 8:00am-4:00pm Wadsworth UMC This course with its ensuing badge permits the holder to arrive at a natural disaster after the police/medical support teams are out of the area. This is not a course designed to repair damage to property. Registration deadline is April 27. A background check and pre-registration is required. To complete the background check please go to: ministryopportunities.org/shillsumc. Cost is $25 plus an offering for the lunch. If you have questions please contact Jenni Dodge at the East Ohio Conference office at ext 133. The registration form is available on the church s website at Click the link on the home page. Print it out and mail to: East Ohio Conference FUND 9648 ATTN: Jenni Dodge PO Box Cleveland OH Church Camp Registration has begun! One of the greatest spiritual highs for children is a week at one of our church camps Camp Wanake (Beach City), Camp Aldersgate (on Leesville Lake) and Camp Asbury (Hiram). There are themes for all interests horseback riding, arts, music, sports, canoeing, biking, princess, adventure, video games, amusement parks and more! There are special camps for teens and also families. The most popular camps fill quickly and there s an early bird discount (by May 1) so sign up now! Camp booklets are available at all the information stations throughout the church. All children/youth/adults will receive the following financial assistance from the church as a gift: $75/week full week camps $40/2-3 night camps $25/overnight camps $25/Memorial Day Weekend-per family $40/Labor Day Weekend-per family Once you have confirmed registration, please contact Ronetta Rafeld, our church camp coordinator, at jrafeld@roadrunner. com or with camper s name, event number, camp and dates so that proper payment can be made in the camper s name. Family Retreat at Camp Wanake November 2-4, 2012 Mark your calendar. The Family Retreat is scheduled for November 2-4. This is a great opportunity to share quality family time. Spend an entire weekend at Camp Wanake enjoying God s beautiful scenery and no cooking. Join us for a time of fellowship, worship, missions, and great activities for all ages. For more information, contact Ronetta Rafeld at or Sue Shreve at

4 Congratulations Pastor Jerry It is expected that effective July 1,2012 Bishop John Hopkins will appoint our associate pastor, Jerry Penrod, to be the pastor of the Galion Christ United Methodist Church in the Mid Ohio District of the East Ohio Conference. On the day of Rev. Penrod s ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church, he agreed to be appointed wherever his bishop perceived that his gifts and grace might best be used for the mission and ministry of the wider church. Prior to his coming to service here at Wadsworth, he served three other appointments in response to God s call. Our district superintendent has been in consultation with the SPRC. Plans for the future leadership for our church are underway and will be announced soon. Please pray that God will bless Jerry and Cindy, and guide our congregation in moving into a future full of hope and possibility. April 14 9:00am-3:00pm Have stuff to get rid of? Donate it to the rummage sale. Drop it off on the stage in the fellowship hall the week of April 9-13 (9:00am-4:00pm) or after 1:00pm on Friday, April 13. Financial Report Information through February, 2012 Current Period Prior Year Income $36,884 $51,218 Expense $52,580 $55,857 Difference -$15,696 -$4,639 Pledged to date: $68,080 Pledged received $69,020 Difference $940

5 Palm Sunday Parade is April 1 Children will lead the congregation in praising God as we remember Jesus triumphal entry in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is when the people honored Him by waving palm branches and laying their coats down as He rode in on the donkey s colt. Children s Ministries Spring Service Project Mission Trip Care Packages Who? Children: Ages 2 through 6th Grade What? Bring in items that will fit into a lunch bag size: granola bars, decks of cards, notepaper and pens, small toys, candy (non melting), squirt guns, bouncy balls, balloons, bubbles When? During the month of April Where? Bring to Sunday School, Kids Church, Jr. Kids Church Why? We ll decorate the bags and write letters and stuff the bags to encourage our mission teams! Tween Time in April Sunday, April 15 12:00pm-3:00pm Trash Bash We ll clean up trash throughout the community Sunday, April 29 12:00pm-5:00pm Archery at Camp Asbury Summer Preschool Sunday School Families and individuals are needed. During the summer months, from May 27-Sept. 2 this year, elementary aged children join their families in worship. Nursery care and a preschool Sunday School class (ages 2-5) continues through the summer. The Children s Advisory Team encourages family to serve together (or couples or individuals ) as teachers 2-3 times during the summer to lead the preschool Sunday school class at the 9:30 or 11 am hour. All materials and information is provided. This provides our school year teachers a time to refresh and recharge for the coming school year. If you can help, please contact Mary Jo at or maryjo@wadsumc.org Prayer Focus That God will show us who to invite to Holy Week services: a person who is in need of God s love and forgiveness. That families will step forward to teach the preschool class this summer. That we truly celebrate the Good News that Jesus has risen! Memorial Day Camp-o-Rama Enjoy a holiday weekend of fun at Camp Wanake with other families around the conference (many from our church family are going). Pitch a tent, bring an RV, request a cabin or sleep in retreat center room. Make your own meals, but included activities are rock climbing, campfires, worship, wagon rides, hiking, canoeing, swimming (there is a pool) and plenty of free time. Sign up online at www. eastohiocamps.org or use the registration forms which can be found at the information stations. Registration has begun! Children and teens are encouraged to attend a summer church camp program at one of the 3 beautiful camps in our conference. Thanks to our paper recycling bins, we are able to give each child going to camp $75 off per week; $40 per 2-3 night camps; or $25 off per overnight camps. Descriptions of all the camps can be found at org and click on the summer camp link or check out the booklets at the information desks around the church.

6 Highlights of the Family Lenten Celebration A wonderful potluck feast 4 tables full of wonderful food! We took a journey through some of Jesus final moments: experiencing our hands being washed (as Jesus washed his disciples feet), seeing Jesus praying in the garden and being betrayed by Jesus and arrested, hearing the crowds cry out Crucify Him, the agony of Jesus carrying the cross and hearing the pounding of the nails, seeing the reflection of a cross and the grandest moment of entering an empty tomb and the angel appearing with the Good News: He is not here, He is risen! We made palm branches to wave, the Journey to Hope Mural (which is hanging in fellowship hall) and learned the meaning of different symbols from the week. Worship: Amazing Grace, Don s message on I m leaving now, but here s some things to remember me by and celebrated communion with cross shaped bread.