Willoughby United Methodist Church 15 Public Square Willoughby, Ohio 44094 440.942.9068 willoughbyumc.com RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U. S. POSTAGE PAID Willoughby, OHIO Permit No. 8 TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL. PLEASE DELIVER BY THE FIRST OF THE MONTH. The Broadcaster Willoughby UNITED METHODIST CHURCH November 2018 Dates to Remember November 1 Moms Group Church Council Walking Thru Grief November 4 Communion Sunday Charge Conference November 8 Missions Trustees Walking Thru Grief November 10 McKinley Distribution November 11 Welcome Comm. Luncheon Youth CCYM Project November 12 McKinley Dinner Girlfriends in God Broadcaster articles due November 15 Moms Group Finance Walking Thru Grief November 16 Burroughs November 20 McKinley Distribution November 22 Thanksgiving Day Building Closed November 23 Building Closed November 25 Advent Worship Series Begins- Christmas Is Not Your Birthday November 26 McKinley Dinner November 27 Broadcaster Mails November 29 Willoughby Tree Lighting - Live Nativity/Caroling - Missions Food Sales Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. November 2018-1
Pastor Christopher Liberati ChristopherL@WilloughbyUMC.org 440.942.9068 Do you want to know how to take your prayer life to the next level? Do you want everything in your life to change? Do you want to experience a closer relationship with God? Let me introduce you to what I think is the most dangerous and yet powerful prayer in Scripture: Are you ready? From Psalm 139 verse 23: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. This prayer is an invitation of intimacy, inviting God to come into the deepest corners of your life, an invitation to allow God to start a new work in you beyond just the surface. It truly has the potential to change your life forever! Think of the potential, think of the impossible, God just might ask you to start doing something new, something you think is impossible. God might ask you stop doing something that has been stealing joy away from you for a long time. Whatever God reveals, remember, it s an invitation to walk closer with Him and He promises to empower you should you accept His invitation. I double dog dare you to commit one week to asking God what He wants for your life and do exactly what He says. Remember, every day is an opportunity to live an abundant life, to follow Jesus wherever He may lead. The reality is, meeting Jesus is just the beginning, and no one who meets Him ever stays the same. I pray for us collectively God, may we never settle for the lie that our life doesn t matter; may we never settle for the lie that You can t use us. Help us awaken to the fact that You are not done with us. There is so much more you want to do and can do in our lives! Help us to realize that you know exactly where we are and know exactly what we are going through, help us to realize the good news, that if we are not dead, You are not done with us. Give us the strength and courage to take on the challenge of this prayer; Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. This I pray as I entrust my life to you, O Lord, Amen. Praying it with you, Pastor Christopher November 2018-2
Is your cause too small? "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will happen, it will be done for them." Mark 11:23 NIV If your problems are great, then your cause is too small. When your cause is great, the problems begin to shrink. Do not have a holy cause? A faith worth living for? Ask God to give you a cause to claim to his glory. An orphanage to serve. A neighbor to encourage. A needy family to feed. A class to teach. Some senior citizens to encourage. It really is better to give than receive. I'm the kingdom of Christ we gain by giving, not taking. We grow by helping, not hurting. We advance by serving, not by demanding. Want to see your troubles evaporate? Help others with theirs. You'll always have problems. But you don't have to face them in the same way. Instead: Immerse your mind in God-thoughts. Turn a deaf ear to doubters. Set your mind on a holy cause. Once you find your mountain, no giant will stop you, no age will disqualify you, no problems will defeat you. From "Glory Days" and "God is With You Every day" Max Lucado The cause is our church and the financial obligations we have to support our ministries. At this time we are nearly $63,000 in the red. Finance committee has worked hard at trying to be good stewards but just as in our lives--things happen. We have many staff changes. Other church expenses have been higher than anticipated. We have always followed a faith based budget but giving is down. We are struggling to meet our obligations. Please pray for our church. We are optimistic. We believe God will provide. Stewardship is our time to commit to do our part. Miracles - yep, I ve seen them, you ve seen them and maybe even been blessed with one. Would you share? We are asking you to share an experience of how Jesus Christ has touched your life. Will you share your story? What has God done in your life? What has the church done in your life? Why do you attend church - what draws you each Sunday? Why do you give? Are you giving because you believe in a special ministry? What are you doing to bring others to Christ? We know we are here to help others discover Christ, to grow in our own faith, to serve and invite others to be part of the ministries of the church. Your message will be video-taped and shared at both services. We re so excited! If you d like to share your story, contact Margaret Neroda at 440.728.8347, megneroda@sbcglobal.net or Bev Dalheim, 440.477.3191, bdalheim@hotmail.com. No cash - no checkbook - no problem! Download the NEW-GivePlus Church Mobile App! With GivePlus, you can quickly and easily give to WUMC using your smartphone. Enjoy the convenience of making credit or debit card donations as a guest user, or create an account to set up recurring donations and view your giving history. Either way, GivePlus offers a safe, secure way to make one-time or recurring contributions to WUMC. November 2018-3
Missions and Social Concerns First, thank you to all who contributed to the September 30 Noisy Collection; we raised $447.00 to support the work of the Tikvah Recovery Home in Willoughby. Second, thank you to those who supported the October 13 Sub Zero Stuff the Bus and Food Drive (food divided between the Willoughby Food Pantry and McKinley Community Outreach Center). See side bar for how you can continue to help Sub Zero Mission. Finally, we have raised $1960.12 toward a second water well for Liberia! ($3000 needed). Thank you all! Hopefully, we will have another one built in 2019. Any size gift is appreciated. Our next meeting is Thursday, November 8 at 6:30 in the Parlor. All are welcome. More ways to serve in 2018... **Starting October 28, Samaritan s Purse boxes (and some gifts to go in them) will be available as you leave the Sunday service. Please return your box by Sunday, November 18. **During the Willoughby Tree Lighting, Thursday evening, November 29, the Mission Committee will be selling hot dogs, chili dogs, baked goods and water with all profits going to the Wednesday night Community Dinners. Please consider donating pre-bagged baked goods November 25-29. Sign up sheets will be at both sanctuary exits. Questions? Call Nancy Petrolewicz (440-347-9716) or Rae Kenney (440-796-6699). **Starting November 11, you can pick a Willoughby child (through Salvation Army) or foster child (through Karen Ward) to buy a Christmas gift. The tree will be near the Welcome Center as you exit the church service. **Noisy Collection on December 30 will help support our Wednesday Night Community Dinners. While our October 13 Stuff the Bus event at the Willoughby Outdoor Market was a success, due to overwhelming need, the Missions & Social Concerns Committee will continue to collect new and gently used warming items to donate to the Sub Zero Mission through November 11. As you clean out your closets and prepare for winter, keep those less fortunate in mind and consider donating to our warming drive. We are looking for new and gently worn winter items appropriate for the homeless. Acceptable items include Coats (adult sizes L-4xL), winter hats, gloves, sleeping bags, clean and serviceable boots, NEW socks. Please no pants, no dresses, no undergarments or toys. Collection boxes are located in the Welcome Center and the side/front entrance to the Sanctuary. The Sub Zero Mission, a charity based in Ohio and run entirely by volunteers, distributes sleeping bags and other warming items directly to the homeless in Ohio and New York. Their mission is to prevent the freezing and injury caused by extreme weather exposure to the homeless and financially destitute Americans, with special focus on military veterans. For more information about Sub Zero Mission, please visit their website at www.subzeromission.org or contact Susan Gerber at sueandmarkgerber@gmail.com. November 2018-4
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Volunteers Needed! Live Nativity November 29 6:00 to 8:00 PM during Downtown Willoughby Tree Lighting Willoughby UMC Aftershock Youth Ministries Lance Vene - Director lancevene@gmail.com New times for Youth Groups Meeting on Sunday, Starting November 4: Middle School Youth Group 6th-7th Grade - 2:00 pm-3:30pm Volunteers needed! Join our Live Nativity crew - we need kids, teens and adults! Costumes provided. We also need donations of cookies and drinks for our volunteers. To sign up contact Melissa Cork at MelissaC@WilloughbyUMC.org or call 440-942-9068. Join us on November 29 during our Live Nativity! All are invited, you do not need to be a part of any of our music teams. Open to kids, teens and adults. Meet at 6:00 pm in the choir room. To sign up contact choir director Cathy Schneithorst at cathyapicello@sbcglobal.net or call 440-477-2010. High School Youth Group 8th-12th Grades - 6:00 pm-8:00 pm November 11 CCYM Project Feed: Wadsworth Middle School 150 Silvercreek Road Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 Cost: $5.00 and 1 canned good We will be leaving church at 12:15pm and returning at 5:45pm. This will replace youth group for that Sunday. November 2018-6
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Who s Who at WUMC By Pastor Hazel Partington Congregational Care Minister Meet - Jim and Chris Proto If you have been worshipping with us at the 8:00AM service, you have probably noticed that we have a volunteer on the sound boards that serves faithfully every Sunday morning. If you haven t met him yet, stop and thank him for his diligent service to all of us. His name is Jim Proto. He is also a member of the Welcoming Team. Jim and his wife Chris were among the new members that we took in last year. Chris is a local girl from Willoughby Hills and grew up in the congregation of Willoughby Hills United Methodist Church! Jim grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, so we have Chris to thank for bringing him here to settle on Murray Street in Willoughby. When you see them, wish them a Happy Anniversary, because they were married this month -- on 11/11/11 an easy date to remember! They were married here in the Chapel. Chris told me that they were drawn to this church by that experience and by identifying a need for more in their lives because of several losses of beloved family members. Chris said, We began attending church and found the WUMC Community and the message to be what we had been looking for. God truly has blessed us in leading us here. Chris has been suffering from a very painful bout of shingles for several months, so please remember to pray for her. They both enjoy spending time with their grandchildren who are about a year old, 5 years old, and one just entering her teen years! They also enjoy golfing together when Chris is feeling well enough to get out on the links. If you don t know them yet, introduce yourself the next time you see them! They are a wonderful addition to our church family. Who would you like to read about in this column? They can be long-time members or brand new to our church family. Call me at 440-552-4762 or email me at hazelpartington1@gmail.com if you have any suggestions. Dear Church Family, Bill and I came to WUMC in 1999 and joined your church family in April of 2000. We have been a part of many classes and events with you over the past 18 years and have become close friends with you as well. I became the Administrative Assistant for you in September of 2007 and have served you in many different capacities, ( Stephen Ministry Leader, facilitator for Experiencing God and a few other classes, visiting you when you were ill in the hospital or other facilities) for the past 11 years alongside two former pastors. It is with a heavy heart that I share I have resigned my position as Administrative Assistant as of October 19th. I thank you for the blessings of the past 11 years but it is time for me to depart and have someone with a new and fresh perspective on what is to be happening at WUMC take over. I pray the best for WUMC s future. Blessed Beyond Measure, Judy Dort For flowers that bloom about our feet, Father, we thank Thee. For tender grass so fresh, so sweet, Father, we thank Thee. For the song of bird and hum of bee, For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee. -Ralph Waldo Emerson Thank you for your prayers, cards and concern during my hospitalization and recovery in October. Thank you to Pastor Christopher, Pastor Hazel and Carolyn Lingenfelter for visiting and for bringing me a beautiful prayer shawl made by our knitting/crochet group. God is good and I love my church family! Sally Kennedy November 2018-8
Celebrate Christmas at WUMC! Advent Sermon Series and All Church Study November 25 - December 23 Happy Birthday Jesus Challenge The Challenge: Re-evaluate how you spend money at Christmas and bring an equal amount to the church mission. The Mission: This years advent mission will be WUMC Wednesday Night Dinner. Each week we serve 100-150 individual a hot meal, friendship and a time to worship and prayer for each other. The Goal: Each dinner cost ~ $200. Help us reach the goal of 52 weeks. Consider a gift to Jesus to sponsor a dinner. Watch the bulletin and Broadcaster in December for ways to donate. November 2018-9
(Info on the Vanco Give-Plus App is on page 3.) November 2018-10
Taxable Distribution hours Saturday, November 10 9:00-10:30 am Tuesday, November 20 6:00-7:30 pm Saturday, November 24 9:00-10:30 am Food Pantry hours: Mondays: Wednesdays: Thursdays: 6:00-7:30 pm Noon - 2:30 pm Noon - 2:30 pm Feed the Body Feed the Soul Meal Monday, November 12 5:30 pm Monday, November 26 5:30 pm Greatest Current Donation Needs TAXABLES: Paper Towels, Toilet Paper (double rolls), Laundry detergent (32 loads/64 oz size), liquid cleanser (22-28 oz. size), Shampoo PET FOOD: Canned cat food Cat Litter HOUSEHOLD GOODS: Bed sheets, towels, small appliances FURNITURE: Complete Bed frames all sizes. Mattresses & box springs. Donation & Building Administration Hours Mon-Wed: 9:00 am 1:00 pm (No Thursday hours) Saturdays: 9:00 11:30 am Please note that the McKinley Community Outreach Center does NOT pick up furniture donations. November 2018-11
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