Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These words capture well the state of mind of many of us in America today. We have witnessed dramatic market losses, the collapse of the world's largest insurance company, and many bankruptcies and mergers. Every day seems to bring another piece of economic uncertainty. A survey found that over three in four Americans are stressed about the economy and their personal finances. Half were worried about providing for their family's basic needs. Over half of respondents reported feeling angry and irritable, and reported laying awake at night worried about this. The report concludes that, "The declining state of the nation's economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people nationwide." 1 Join us in worship on Sunday, September 22 and then for the four Sundays in October for a sermon series entitled Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. Our nation is experiencing what many have described as the "American Nightmare." Increasing consumer debt, declines in savings, lower income growth, and a volatile stock market are all a part of our economic insecurity. We have lived in a society that tells us "you deserve it now," whether or not we can afford it or really even need it. All of us have struggled with these issues at one time or another. They are important issues that we cannot ignore. This is why, during October, we will be having a churchwide study and worship emphasis called Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. During this time we will explore what the Bible teaches us about financial management through corporate worship and small group study. We'll hear expert advice and stories about what others have learned by working through financial challenges. Each week we will provide you with some practical tools you can use to assess your financial situation and develop a financial plan with a biblical foundation. At the conclusion of the emphasis, we will have the opportunity to make personal commitments of our tithes and offerings to God through our church in the coming year. We will consecrate these commitments in the worship service on two consecutive Sundays (see the schedule that follows). I hope you will join us as we look at how we can manage the financial resources God has entrusted to us and truly experience simplicity, generosity, and joy. Shalom in Christ, John Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity Adam Hamilton 4 session study with videos & leader s guide (5 sessions with introduction) Sunday, September 22 Introduction: Faith in the Midst of Financial Crisis Sunday, September 29 Baoma Block Party Sulaiman Dauda Sunday, October 6 When Dreams Become Nightmares Sunday, October 13 Wisdom and Finance Sunday, October 20 Cultivating Contentment Sunday, October 27 Defined by Generosity Sunday, November 3 Consecration Sunday 1 Sunday, November 10 Consecration Sunday 2 Sunday, November 24 Celebration Sunday Results Celebration and Consecration of our 2014 Ministry Commitments 1 Eight Out of Ten Americans Stressed Because of Economy, by Madison Park from CNN.com from Ocotber 7, 2008. http://www.cnn.com/2008/health/conditions/10/07/economic.stress/ Riverside United Methodist Church Page 1
RIVERSIDE UMC ENTERS STEP 2 OF FRUITFUL CONGREGATIONS JOURNEY (FCJ) Our church has entered Step 2 of the Fruitful Congregations Journey program offered by the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Fruitful Congregations is a three-step church development process originally created by the Missouri Conference and in use in Indiana over the last two years. In Step 1 of the process, teams of 8 to 10 representatives from selected central Indiana churches met monthly on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm beginning in September of last year and finishing in April of this year. RUMC hosted teams from Corinth, Marion Center Chapel, Muncie Gethsemane, Portland Trinity, Yorktown, and Winchester First. Members of our own Step 1 team included: Aonde Carraway, Jerry Golden, Tammy Holt, Sandy Hunter, Jennifer McGunegill, Susan Reno, Tom Schamp, and Barry Turner. At the same time Rev. John A. Young and pastors of the other churches met together in their own discussion group. The subject that both groups discussed was one specified new book a month on church development, for eight months. All of the books advocated the idea that effective churches should be fruitful in accomplishing the mission of the United Methodist Church: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In Step 2 of the Journey, we have a coach and a team of consultants assigned to us by the Conference. Currently, we are gathering many kinds of information about our church to submit to them. After they have reviewed this material, our consultation team will then meet with us on Thursday, January 16 and Friday, January 17. The Fruitful Congregation Journey Two-Day Consultation will involve interviews with church staff beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. There will be a Focus Group from 5:00 5:45 p.m. followed by an All- Church Potluck/Pitch-In Meal at 6:00 p.m. and a Congregational Workshop from 7:00 8:30 p.m. On Friday there may be optional interviews with a Presentation of the Report to our Church Council from 12:30 1:30 p.m. Based on the self-study, the survey, the interviews, the focus group, and the workshop the consultant s report about our church will offer three prescriptions about how we should precede going into the future. Following several town hall meetings a month to six weeks later, we ll vote on whether we will accept and act on all 3 prescriptions and move on to Step 3. Step 3 is to work on the three prescriptions with the help of a coach for a fee of $250 per month, plus mileage, for 12-18 months. Our Coach will help us implement the prescriptions which come out of the self-study and consultation. Please mark your calendar and plan to be present for the All-Church Potluck/Pitch-In Meal at 6:00 p.m. and a Congregational Workshop from 7:00 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 16. Please continue to pray for our church as we continue the self-study and seek God s will for our shared future as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 2
Birthdays September 2 nd Karen Miller 4 th Sandy Abbott 7 th Aonde Carraway Linda Keyton 9 th Tom Schamp 12 th Wilma Grile 16 th Nellie Campbell 17 th Debbie DeHaven Doran Kendall 23 rd Aloyse Baney 24 th Barbara Parker 30 th Sandy Jordan Jan Phelps October 1 st Rich Carraway 3 rd Deb Dolak 5 th Dorothy Bowman 13 th Betty Lacey 21 st Leta Settle 22 nd Wilma Carney 23 rd Eric Murphy 28 th Leona Barber 31 st Janet Schamp Anniversaries September 6 September 7 October 11 October 19 Bob and Earlene Harvey Dick and Ruth Garringer John and Sarah McKillip Darwin and Linda Keyton Riverside Riders Dates of Upcoming Rides Tuesday, September 3 Saturday, September 14 Tuesday, September 17 Saturday, September 28 Riverside United Methodist Church Page 3
Give thanks with a grateful heart for everyone who donated sneakers and/or donated money for the purchase of sneakers (21 pr) for the Hearts and Hands United Soles for Souls project or school supplies (20 backpacks) for the Tools for School project. those that volunteered at the Food Pantry August 21, 22 and 23. Jay and Erika Pugsley for helping us expand our internet connectivity throughout the building and their generous donation of time and equipment. Sunday Morning Fellowship Coffee and Snacks will be available again starting on the 8th of September. A sign up sheet is available in the Lobby for anyone who can help. See Tom or Janet Schamp for instruction on the operation of the Bunn coffee brewer. Coats Against the Cold Christian Ministries and Hearts and Hands United are collecting coats, hats, mittens and scarves to share with others in our community. Please bring your new or gently used items or monetary donations to church on or before the 6th of October. If you choose to make a donation please write Coats on the memo line of your check. The event will be held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on the 12 th of October. Tools for School & Soles for Souls The Tools for School project was a huge success again this year. Over 1,400 Backpacks were distributed to over a thousand families. At the same time over 1,200prs of sneakers were passed out. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 4
THANK YOU WEEKEND HABITATORS Once again the Riverside Weekend Habitators helped several Muncie families realize their dream of a new home. Thanks to Jack Richardson, Larry Souders, Laura Shadoin, Barry Turner, John Young, Mick Phelps, Joyce Kendall, Larry Campbell, Ron Brown, Sandy Hunter, Judy Turner, and John McKillip. They worked on 4 different houses. They replaced some walls that termites had removed, installed siding, roofed and painted tool sheds, installed a washer, and did some trim work and several other projects. Thanks to Nancy Campbell and her crew of cooks the workers had a great lunch each day to keep them going. Nancy s crew included Dorothy Bowman, Marge Salisbury, Betty Speece, Pat Brown, Leta Settle, and Marlene Boyer. The work could not have been completed without the cookies. They provided enough go-power to keep everyone working. Thank you Jan Phelps, Sandy Hunter and Betty Speece for the cookies. Thanks to everyone, including anyone I have forgotten who helped make this all happen. And yes, we don t want to forget Joe Speece who showed up for lunch on Friday and to boss everyone around on Saturday. Your habitat coordinator. Thank you from Peggy Polk I would like to thank Pastor John for his prayers and concerns and Caring Friends for the beautiful flowers and to all who sent the wonderful cards to me during my illness. Riverside Church is truly a very caring church. Thank you so very much. In His Love from Coreda Steele Thank you Riverside United Methodist for the opportunity to share the ministry the Lord has placed before me and for your generous gift. I will send you updates of how the Lord uses your support for the children and the people of Jamaica. With Love from Kalie Holt Thank you so much for thinking of me on my graduation day. With your gift I plan to buy a Bible cover for the Bible I received earlier this year! Thank you for always being there for me and supporting me all through my life. Gold bless everyone and I hope to see you soon. From the Vance Family Your financial support towards our projects and our salary has been so appreciated, Thank You. [Ken & Debbie Vance are United Methodist Missionaries at the Kafakumba Training Center in Ndola, Zambia, Central Africa which we support through our missions budget.] From UMCOR Thank you for your gift for $534 to the Imagine No Malaria campaign We are pleased to share that 100 percent of your contribution will go towards eliminating one of the world s most deadly diseases May God grant you a sense of hope and joy as you continue your support for mission and as we advance towards a day with no malaria. In a separate letter, Because you gave, UMCOR is able to Be There and Be Hope on your behalf We give thanks for your generosity. This was in reponse to a $652 donation to the Disaster Response for the Oklahoma tornadoes. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 5
Welcome Elliott Nicole Patton Hello Riverside My name is Elliott Nicole Patton and I was born on July 31 st at 10:47 am. I am a healthy baby girl who weighed 5 lbs. and 13 oz. and was 19 long at birth. My mom and dad, Jon and Francesca Patton and my big brother, Landon, are all excited to have a new baby in the family. [Francesca was our director of child care before moving to Chicago.] NEW ADDRESS Odessa DeHaven has moved to a new home. Her address is now: 2300 West White River Blvd., Apt. 12, Muncie, IN 47303. Phone: 812-205-4939. CHOIR It is that time of the year, folks! Choir is starting back up in full force. We had a great turnout for our first official meeting of the season and would like to keep that trend going. So if you are a singer, someone who would like to learn how to sing, or someone who has been told you can't sing but wants to praise God, come on out and we will make an instrument of praise out of you! This promises to be a fun year full of glorious song. Join us every Wednesday at 7:00pm in the Riverside sanctuary and share in God's gift of music. SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE OF SONG & MUSIC Saturday Evening Singing: As choir starts back up, the time that had previously been dedicated to pre-worship singing will now be used to prepare the choir for service. Fret not, though, for God is the LORD of the dance, and the dance will go on! Every first and third Saturdays from 5:30 to 6:30 starting October 5th, there will be a service dedicated to worship through song. Joining Emily and Colin in this endeavor will be Jon and Delaney Hart (Colin's father and sister). You may remember this duo from when they came and led worship back in July. Please come out and enjoy/support this new ministry; familiar songs will be blended with new in an eclectic way that will broaden and strengthen your connection to worship. Again, that is 5:30-6:30 every first and third Saturdays starting October 5th! Church Women United You are invited to the Annual Meeting/Area Gathering on Friday, September 20, at 9:30 am at John XXIII Retreat Center at 407 W. McDonald St., Hartford City. Cost is $8.00 for the lunch. Respond to Barb Baker, Treasurer, 1019 S. Yorkchester Dr., Yorktown, IN 47396. If you have questions, call Therese at 765-288-2857. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 6
CROP Walk RIVERSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Registration at 1:30 pm Walk starts at 2:00 pm 25% helps Christian Ministries of Delaware County Join the Riverside UMC Team: Mary Schumacher has donor forms Online Registrations & Donations: cropwalkonline.org/munciein Last year we raised $1,149. This year we need LOTS of walkers and donors to reach our goal of $1,624. Our local Christian Ministry Food Pantry will receive 25% of the money collected. Be a part of the Riverside CROP HUNGER WALK team on September 22. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 7
MISSION UPDATES Have you noticed our Baoma Block building getting bigger and taller? We are off to a GREAT start to sell 600 blocks. With the purchase of a $5.00 block you can help build the Baoma School Assembly Hall in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The Assembly Hall construction was begun in July 2011 by an Indiana workteam of which Mary Schumacher was a member. The Baoma School has 750 students and 38 teachers. Currently when the principal leads chapel services or needs to assemble the students, they have to meet outside in the sun. Every year secondary students who graduate must take the national exam. Since Baoma does not have a large room where the exam can be administered, the students must travel thirty-five miles to Bo, a larger city, to take the exam. The student s family must pay for travel and lodging which is very expensive. Baoma desperately needs to complete the Assembly Hall. Over the years of Operation Classroom, our section of Eastern Indiana has built a house at Baoma for the principal and his family, a duplex for teachers families, and provided funds for an oil palm plantation as well as sending many, many boxes of school supplies. We have helped educate many young people. The Assembly Hall will probably be the last major project at Baoma. In another year or so the 600 palm trees that were planted will be producing and the sale of the palm oil should adequately support the school for years to come. Mark your calendar now for our Baoma Block Party on Sunday, September 29. The celebration will begin with a lunch in fellowship following church. Suliaman Dauda, who attended an Operation Classroom in Sierra Leone, will share his experiences with us. We will be celebrating the sale of our blocks for the Baoma Assembly Hall. YOU can be a part of GOD S plan in Baoma -----BUY BLOCKS! UPCOMING MISSION OPPORTUNITIES HABITAT Pray for the Habitat for Humanity work team which will be traveling to Manistique, Michigan, to work on Habitat housing September 7-14. COVENANT PARTNERS MINISTRIES COMMUNITY DAY DATES Bags are due: Monday, September 23 for distribution on Wednesday, September 25. Bags are due: Monday, October 21 for distribution on Wednesday, October 23 Please put the following in each bag: 1 hand soap, 1 dish washing liquid, 1 box of tissues, 4 rolls of toilet paper, 1 small bottle/box laundry detergent. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 8
Muncie Union Chapel UMC - Union Chapel Church in Muncie will be taking a bus load of men to the "Iron Sharpens Iron" men's conference on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Madison Park Church of God in Anderson, Indiana. Men from all churches are invited. The conference is 8:30 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. Union Chapel will furnish lunch. The cost is $39. For more information you may go to www.ironsharpensiron.net. For registration or questions, please call Loyal Cutforth at 765-358-4785. DeSoto UMC --- Beth Moore Simulcast On September 14, we invite you to be part of this global one-day simulcast that will inspire women to dig deep into God s Word. Beth follows the leading of the Holy Spirit to prepare a specific message for each of her events, and the simulcast is no exception. Don t let the women of your church miss this special event! The cost of the entire day s event is only $10, which includes lunch and the study book. DeSoto UMC 765-284-8062 (feel free to leave a message) Carrie Oakman -765-760-3750 East District Rally Day for Africa University Campaign Sunday, November 3, 2013, 3:00 p.m. @ Muncie High Street UMC MICK S POCKET CROSS STORY The 21-year old son of one of my co-workers was in trouble again. He was arrested for driving while drunk. His father decided to let him stew at the jail overnight part of a learning experience. When the father picked the son up the following day, an argument ensued. The son ended up storming out of the house. That evening the father went to complete the nightly chores, checking to see that the horses were bedded down and all was well. When he opened the barn door, he found the son had hung himself. In addition to the sadness, he felt guilty as a result of the argument. When I went to the funeral home for visitation I worried about what to say. As many men do when thinking, I put my hands in my pockets. No longer did I worry about what to say. When I reached the father, I simply put my pocket cross in his hand and told him to remember God loved him and if my co-worker would carry the cross in his pocket, as I had in mine, it might bring him comfort when he felt it or needed it. Immediately, he asked if he could share that with his ex-wife. When I told him I d carried a spare that night and would be happy to give it to her, he asked me to say the same things to her that I d said to him. As I talked with her, tears formed in her eyes and eventually ran down her cheeks all she seemed able to say was thank you. I felt God had touched the lives of both my co-worker and a woman who was a total stranger to me. Mick Phelps Riverside United Methodist Church Page 9
NEWS FROM RIVERSIDE S MISSIONS TEAM UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE IN POVERTY By Susan Reno In July Pastor Young and I attended a workshop which provided us with an intensive overview of generational and situational poverty. This event was part of the monthly programs provided by the Poverty Awareness Year Partners in Muncie, comprised of 43 agencies and 13 churches, including Riverside UMC. The goal is for residents of Delaware County to understand poverty, determine how to best address it, and to take actions to eliminate it. We began by giving one-word descriptions of poor people, and were advised to give up our stereotypes and prejudices. We listed the causes of poverty and also the reasons why people leave poverty. The reasons suggested for leaving poverty were: a. It is too painful or humiliating; b. Personal gifts and skills; c. A vision or goal received from education or parent; and d. A significant relationship was the key to survival. We can neither excuse persons from poverty nor scold them for not knowing how to change; as caring citizens we must teach them and provide support, insistence, and expectations. We learned that the poor, the middle class, and the wealthy all have different sets of hidden rules regarding money, destiny, and power. For example, in the area of money, the poor believe that money is to be spent. The middle class believe that money is to be managed, and the wealthy believe that money is to be conserved and invested. Of course, there are always exceptions to these patterns. We role-played about what choices we would make on an extremely limited budget concerning housing, health care, food, transportation, technology access, laundry facilities, shopping accessibility, and spending money. Since schools and businesses operate from middle-class norms and use the hidden rules of the middle class, we need to help the poor understand their hidden rules and teach them the rules that will make them successful at school, at work, and in the community. Change is difficult, and people moving from one class to another often must give up relationships in order to achieve changes. This is especially difficult for the poor and their understanding that success in life comes from successful relationships. Family and friends are vital to survival. For the middle class, the most important thing for survival is achievement. For the wealthy, the world works better if they have connections. Personally, I found the workshop rewarding because it helped me relate more easily with the poor in our community. I have more empathy and understanding when I talk with them. September is Hunger Action Month. This will provide more insightful experience for the teachers and church groups that participate in the programs. Riverside United Methodist Church Page 10
WELCOME HOST AND MINGLER SCHEDULE Date Outside Door Inside Door Lobby Mingler Sanctuary Mingler Sept 1 Wilma Carney & Hester Mitchell Sandy Jordan Ann Beuoy Cindy Miller Sept 8 Jack Stanton & Wilma Grile Debra DeHaven Dale DeHaven Lynn Wright Sept 15 John & Sara McKillip Laura Shadoin Sandy Abbott Pat Ashcraft Sept 22 Jack Richardson & D. Bowman Earlene Harvey Lynn Wright Bob Harvey Sept 29 Fred & Bob Wallace Barry Turner Sally Wetzel Pat Brown Oct 6 Mark & Amy Clevenger Jennifer McGunegill Sandy Abbott Betty Campbell Oct 13 Jerry & Ann Golden Linda Keyton Darwin Keyton Wilma Grile Oct 20 Joe & Judy Van Winkle Earlene Harvey Sara Mitchell Bob Harvey Oct 27 Dick & Ruth Garringer Jan Phelps Mick Phelps Pat Ashcraft Nov 3 Ron Brown & Larry Campbell Nancy Campbell Tom Schamp Pat Brown Nov 10 Jay & Erika Pugsley Pat Brown Marge Salisbury Karen Blank Nov 17 Susan Reno & Sandy Hunter Darwin Keyton Janet Schamp Linda Keyton Nov 24 Jack Stanton & Ron Brown Cindy Miller Virginia Sharp Lynn Wright Dec 1 Mark & Amy Clevenger Karen Blank Herb Blank Dorothy Bowman Dec 8 Jerry & Ann Golden Marge Salisbury Betty Lacey Mary Schumacher Dec 15 Fred & Bob Wallace Sandy Jordan Sara Mitchell Marlene Boyer Dec 22 Jack Richardson & Pat Ashcraft Sandy Abbott Wilma Grile Kay Rankin Dec 24 Sandy Hunter & Fred Wallace Susan Reno Janet Schamp N/A Dec 29 Joe & Judy Van Winkle Jennifer McGunegill Virginia Sharp Judy Turner Riverside United Methodist Church Page 11
UMCmarket If you shop online you can create micro-donations to Riverside UMC. UMCmarket is the United Methodist Church s gateway to micro-donations through online shopping. UMCmarket has been vetted and proven by the United Methodist Church s General Council of Finance and Administration, GCFA, as a new way to create income-streams to our local churches and their ministries. All donations acquired through the member s shopping go directly to our churches or church-related organizations. Our GCFA has partnered with hundreds of stores who ve agreed to give back a portion of your purchase. It s their way of saying thank you to UMCmarket for referring customers to them. The money that they give back goes automatically as a donation to Riverside UMC when you ve selected it in your account. To join UMCmarket go to umcmarket.org. You will receive an e-mail to confirm your registration e-mail address. Then you can login. Click on the organizations tab and then type Muncie R in the search box and then enter. Riverside Muncie, IN should appear just below the search box. Click on it and then click on the green join organization button. Then click on the Download our micro-donations plug-in and donate to your church when you shop. The plug-in will automatically let you know if an online store is participating with a pop-up window. Or you can go to the UMCmarket homepage and select a category to see what stores are participating. The more people who know about UMCmarket, the more our church benefits. So, spread the word! Riverside United Methodist Church Page 12