February 2013 The Messenger Niles First United Methodist Church 608 North Crandon Ave., Niles, OH 44446 Office: 330-652-1439 Parsonage: 330-652-9152 Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 4pm Worship Hours: Chapel: 8:30 am Sanctuary: 11:00 am Church website: www.nilesfirstumc.org Office Email: office@nilesfirstumc.org Pastor Email: pastor@nilesfirstumc.org The Mission of Niles First United Methodist Church is To Know God, To Love God, and To Share God. Since December 30, we have been participating in a Commitment Program called, Committed to Christ, committing ourselves to growing as followers of Jesus Christ in six areas of discipleship: prayer, Bible reading, worship, witness, financial giving, and hands-on service. On Sunday, February 10, we will conclude this program with a Ministry Celebration Sunday, including a free luncheon at 12:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall! Please join us in worship and at the luncheon as we celebrate all the ways that God is at work among us and the commitments we have made throughout this program. Also, if by February 10 you have not yet completed and turned in a commitment card for each area of discipleship, please do so on this day. Thank you!
Ash Wednesday Worship: February 13, 7:00 pm The season of Lent begins this year on Wednesday, February 13 with our Ash Wednesday worship service. Please join us in the Sanctuary for this important beginning of the Lenten journey toward the cross. Mission Trip to Henderson Settlement July 7 13, 2013 From July 7 th 13, a group of youth and adults will travel from First UMC to Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky to serve as the hands and feet of Christ through home-repair and new construction ministries. If you would like to be part of the team, please contact Pastor Nathan. If you cannot participate by travelling with us but would like to support the team s efforts, there are a number of upcoming fundraisers, including: Valentine s Day Bake Sale on Sunday, February 10 Mission Rolls on February 3 and March 3 Book Exchange in Wesley Hall (ongoing) Purchase miles for $10 each Thank you for your support! What Wondrous Love: Holy Week in Word and Art Wednesdays, Feb 20 Mar 27 6:00 pm 7:30 pm Through this six-week study, we will watch and discuss a brief video which presents key scripture passages and events in the biblical story of Holy Week the last days of Jesus ministry, his death, and his resurrection. Each biblical text is illustrated and interpreted by the beautiful artwork of John August Swanson and also receives commentary from members of the faculty at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. We will begin our time together each evening with a simple meal in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome please join us!
Please remember to contribute to our on-going food collection for the Niles Community Services. Our food pantry item for the month of February Macaroni & Cheese Feb 3 Scott Hillier Feb 6 James Bowman Feb 7 Nancy Malone Feb 8 Robin Norman Feb 10 Ember Hafely Sean Ries Feb 11 Dick Ries Feb 13 Bill Elliott Feb 15 Douglas Collier Feb 17 William Haydu Feb 19 David Moyers Feb 20 Denise Seman Betty Miller Dennis Hafely Feb 21 Nicole Erwin Feb 23 Corey Bowman Feb 26 Charlotte Rankin Feb 28 William Haydu, Jr. Joe Lukz If there are any corrections, or additions, please call the office at 330-652-1439. Summer Camp Scholarship applications are available through the Mahoning Valley District and through First UMC for children interested in participating in a United Methodist summer camp in 2013. The deadline to apply is Apply 10. Please contact the church office for more information Would you like to help provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a natural disaster? If so, you are invited to participate in an upcoming training event for early responders on March 2, 2013 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Wadsworth UMC in Wadsworth, Ohio. The registration deadline is February 22, 2013. For more information on how to register, please contact the church office. Thank you!
February 2013 Schedule Feb 3 Feb 10 Feb 17 Feb 24 Liturgist Sanctuary Sam Mohn Liturgist Chapel Terri Johnson Greeter Bob & Fran Lucas Ushers-Terry Hamilton, Doug & Peggy Sansom, Shane Hafely Nursery Joyce Bowman Acolyte-Abigail Smolko Liturgist Sanctuary-Joyce Lukz Liturgist Chapel-Pat Pfeifer Greeters Swegan Family Ushers-John Anos, Tony Kelly, Rhonda Harris, Joyce Bowman Nursery-Patrice Kish Acolyte-Vivian Godoy Liturgist Sanctuary-Diana Richards Liturgist Chapel-Donise Smith Greeters-Sharon & Terry Hamilton Ushers- Leroy Walker, John Johnson, Jon Bowman, Bob Kish Nursery-Wendy Duncan Acolyte-Alissa Erwin Liturgist Sanctuary-Jerry Rogers Liturgist Chapel-Anna Jones Greeters Merrily & Jerry Rogers Ushers Diana Richards, JoAnn Baugh, Richard Hanks, Charles Trombitas Nursery-Heidi Moyers Acolyte-Annmarie Anos Children s Bell Choir The Children s Bell Choir, open to all children ages 4-12, will provide special music during the 11:00 am worship service on Sunday, February 24. In order to prepare, children are asked to attend brief rehearsals immediately following 11:00 am worship services on Sundays, February 10 and 17. Thank you! Photo Directory We are currently scheduled with Lifetouch Directories to put together a new photo directory in April 2013, but we need your help to make it happen! If you would like to help with this upcoming project, providing us with the opportunity to update contact information and stay in touch with one another, please come to a brief meeting on Thursday, February 7 at 5:30 pm. Thank you!
Egg making has begun! If you are able, we would appreciate donations of powdered sugar, Jiff Peanut Butter and cashews. There is boxes located in the Sanctuary and by the Chapel. If you have any questions, please call Phyllis Gudaitis at 330-544-1649 Thank You! Please remember to bring in your used ink cartridges to the church. We will receive $2.00 per cartridge in rewards at Staples. This really helps to cut OFFICE SUPPLY costs! You can leave them in Jen s mailbox. Thank you for your support! This past November we committed to collecting 100 boxes of cereal for the Christmas food baskets for Niles Community Center. With your help and generosity we were able to contribute 140 boxes to this worthy cause. Along with the items that were donated to the Methodist Community Center through the Giving Tree, we were also able to donate 100 pairs of gloves, 52 hats, 12 scarves, and 11 glove/hat sets to Niles Community Center. Because of your thoughtfulness each child was given a new coat, new outfit and a toy. Ten hygiene bags were also made up from hotel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body scrubs, and lotions. We greatly appreciate all the support this congregation has given to these projects and we look forward to reaching out to those in need this coming year. Missions and Community Outreach Committee Rachel Circle will not have a meeting on February 13th, Ash Wednesday. The March meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 13th after the Lenten Study. If there are any questions, please call Linda Belcastro, 330-652-1628. We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Martha Jensen who passed away on December 17, 2012. We also extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas Anderson, Sr. who passed away on January 8, 2013. We also extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Marjorie Weston who passed away on January 16, 2013. First United Methodist Church received a memorial donation in loving memory of William Braun from Melvin & Patricia Meeder.
FEBRUARY 2013 Dear First UMC, Thank you so much for your participation in the UM Community Center 2012 s Holiday Project. Your generosity brightened the lives of the men, women, children, and Veteran families we serve. Your gifts for our children became a blessing of hope. Your donation, through our Angel Tree Project, is greatly appreciated! Words cannot express how much your contribution truly means to us. From every home or shelter to your home and each family s heart to your heart, may the joy and blessings of this holiday season be with you. Yours truly, Juanita Pasley Executive Director United Methodist Community Center Dear Friends in Mission, Thank you for your generous gift to United Methodist Committee on Relief. 100 Percent of your contribution will go to Hurricane 2012! Your gift received on 12/18/12 for $ 1,116.00 is Supporting UMCOR s response to survivors of hurricanes that make landfall during the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Because you gave, UMCOR is able to Be There and Be Hope on your behalf. UMCOR programs provide food for the hungry, help farmers grow plentiful and nutrious food and support people left destitute by natural disasters and war. Your gifts go a long way to bring healing anf hope to people in need. We give thanks to your generosity. This gift will bring hope to those who need it most. Grace & Peace, Roland Fernandes General Treasurer Thank you so much for your generosity this past Christmas season. Our work gives more meaning to us when we are with the wonderful people of this congregation! Peace, Pastor Nathan, Jen, Bill, John & Brian Dear Friends, On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Niles Community Services, we convey a sincere thank you for the generous monetary contribution of $ 75.00 and the wonderful donations of cereal, mittens, and hats, toys; and the special gift boxes to our Holiday Food and & Gift Program. The donations helped us to provide seven hundred families with food, clothing and gifts during the holiday, and the families receiving this assistance are most grateful and appreciative. We thank the members of First Methodist for the humanitarian support to the agency and extend warm wishes for a Happy New Year. In Friendship, Jean Williams Director
February 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Sub pick up 9:30-11 3 Commit Class 9:30am Worship 8:30 & 11:00am Youth 6-8 Sub Pick up 4 Eggs 9am Bible study 10am Missions & Outreach Mtg 6:30 5 Trustee Mtg 6pm Investment Mtg 10:00am 6 Lunch Buddies Commitment Class 6:30pm 7 Directory Mtg 5:30pm 8 9 10 Worship 8:30 & 11:00am Youth 6-8 Commit Class 9:30am 12:00 pm Free Baked Potato/ Soup Lunch Also a Bake Sale 11 Eggs 9am Ed & Nurturing Mtg 6:30pm 12 13 Ash Wednesday Service 7pm Lunch Buddies FH rental Visitation mtg 2pm 14 Sanct Bell Choir 6:30 pm Sanct Choir 7:30pm 15 Roast Beef Dinner 4:30-6:30pm 16 FH rental 17 Worship 8:30 & 11:00am Youth 6-8 18 Presidents Day Office Closed 19 Finance Mtg 6pm Bible study 10am 20 Lunch Buddies Lenten Studies 6:30pm 21 22 23 FH rental Messenger Deadline Eggs 9am 24 Worship 8:30 & 11:00am Youth 6-8 25 Eggs 9am 26 27 Lunch Buddies Lenten Studies 6:30pm 28 Sanct Bell Choir 6:30 pm Sanct Choir 7:30pm
The Messenger Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 608 N. CRANDON AVE., NILES, OH 44446 PHONE: 330-652-1439 ~ FAX: 330-652-1430 PARSONAGE: 330-652-9152 WORSHIP: 8:30AM & 11:00 AM OFFICE HOURS M-TH 9-4PM WEBSITE: WWW.NILESFIRSTUMC.ORG OFFICE EMAIL: OFFICE@NILESFIRSTUMC.ORG PASTOR EMAIL: PASTOR@NILESFIRSTUMC.ORG Messenger Deadline Feb 17th Autumn Hills Care Center : 2565 Niles Vienna Rd., Niles, OH 44446 (330) 652-2053 Betty Fonderlin #124 Carol Batson Grace Woods Village- 730 Youngstown Rd., Niles, OH 44446 (330) 652-4177 Olive Allen #308 Briarfield at the Ridge: 3379 St. Rt. 46, Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 (330) 652-9901 Lois Watkins (330) 505-4654 Sue Bullock # 704 Home Bound: Margaret Trombitas: 1804 Stepney St., Niles, OH 44446 Marie Bond: 5092 Highland Ave., Warren, OH 44481 Charlotte Rankin: 125 Helen, Niles, Oh (330) 652-7665 ***Call Carol Glunt FIRST before visiting @ (330) 652-5757