A publication of First United Methodist Church, Decatur, Illinois Wednesday Night Schedule MidWeek Ministries and Dinners: September 16, 23 and 30 October 7, 21 and 28 November 4 and 11 Dinner 5:30 6:30 Sing-A-Long 6:15 6:30 Classes & Activities for all ages 6:30 7:30 Potlucks @ 5:30: September 9 Drama September 30 Friends in Faith October 14 Birthday Bash November 18 Thanksgiving Sermon Schedule September and October will bring some relevant ways to bring your faith into your daily lives. September 6, 13 and 20 will be the final 3 sermons in a 5-week series What Do Our Kids Need. We will talk about L e a d e r s h i p & S e r v i c e Opportunities; Looking Beyond Ourselves, and Values & Morals. Faith is the cornerstone of the foundation of our lives. And we need to not only give our children the tools to grow in faith, but we also need to reach the hearts and souls of our children with the faith and love of God that will give their life meaning and hope. We must form them in a faith that inspires them to love God and love others. September 27 and October 11 will be a mini-series The Gospel Through the Eyes of Disney. October 4 is World Communion Sunday, and October 18 is UMW Sunday when Bill Kreeb from Lessie Bates Davis Neighbrohood House will be preaching. We look forward to worshiping with you! - Pastors Kent & Kathy What s INSIDE MidWeek Ministries Classes and Activities First Friends Information Co-Ed Softball (New Season) The Christmas Shoppe (It s coming!) Financial Peace University 1
PASTORS NOTE A note from Kent Thom S. Rainer writes a blog about church things at http://thomrainer.com/. Last month we reprinted his article mentioning things we should not say to guests who come to worship. This month we look at his suggestions for 7 things we should say. Seven Things Church Members Should Say to Guests in a Worship Service 1. Thank you for being here. It s just that basic. I have heard from numerous church guests who returned because they were simply told thank you. 2. Let me help you with that. If you see someone struggling with umbrellas, young children, diaper bags, purses, and other items, a gesture to hold something for them is a huge positive. Of course, this comment is appropriate for member to member as well. 3. Please take my seat. I actually heard that comment twice in a church where I was speaking in the Nashville area. The first comment came from a member to a young family of five who were trying to find a place to sit together. 4. Here is my email address. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Of course, this comment must be used with discretion, but it can be a hugely positive message to a guest. 5. Can I show you where you need to go? Even in smaller churches, guests will not know where to find the nursery, restrooms, and small group meeting areas. You can usually tell when a guest does not know where he or she is to go. 6. Let me introduce you to. The return rate of guests is always higher if they meet other people. A church member may have the opportunity to introduce the guest to the pastor, other church staff, and other members of the church. 7. Would you join us for lunch? I saved this question for last for two reasons. First, the situation must obviously be appropriate before you offer the invitation. Second, I have seen this approach have the highest guest return rate of any one factor. What if your church members sought to invite different guests 6 to 12 times a year? The burden would not be great; but the impact would be huge. Ministry with those who Worship at Home Learn more about it on September 30th We have several volunteers who serve as Friends in Faith. A Friend in Faith is partnered with one of our members who is no longer able to attend worship. The Friend visits monthly and calls - or sends a card each month as well. To hear about this quiet and vital ministry, mark September 30th on your calendar. 2 On September 30th following the Wednesday night dinner 6:00 Hear from a visitor about the blessing of visiting 6:10-6:25 Parish Nurse Judy McCleery will do a mini-education session on signs of a stroke 6:30-7:30 Training focused on visiting older adults -- more about strokes, ways to assist and support older adults.
UMW Decatur First United Methodist Women invite all women to participate in its programs whether they attend this church or not. The UMW events for September include circle meetings and a fall brunch at our church. There is a district meeting in Rochester. UMW has one major fund raiser to supports its mission: the annual Trash and Treasure sale. Wednesday, September 10, is the first date to place contributed items on the stage. Monday, September 14, 9:30 a.m., Miriam Circle I; program by Kate Stankovic; prayer and selfdenial by Helen Kershaw. Wednesday, September 9, 1:30 p.m. Executive Board; Carolyn Workman, presiding Friday, September 11, 1:15 p.m., Mary & Martha Circle IV; program by Linda Schepper. Wednesday, September 16, 9 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Sangamon River District Annual Meeting, Rochester UMC, Rochester, Illinois. If you need a ride to it, call the office at 423-9711. Saturday, September 19, 9 a.m., Fall Brunch, Hope Circle II, hostesses Tuesday, September 29, 7 p.m. Hope Circle II Thursday, October 1, first day to mark Trash and Treasure items in Fellowship Hall Saturday, October 3, Illinois Great Rivers Conference UMW Annual Meeting Monday, October 5, 9:30 a.m., Miriam Circle I Wednesday, October 7, Trash and Treasure, Church members pre-sale day October (continued) Friday, October 9, 1:15 p.m., Mary & Martha Circle IV Friday and Saturday, October 9 10, Trash and Treasure sale for public Wednesday, October 14, 1:30 p.m. Executive Board Saturday, October 17, Sangamon River District presents Local Officers Update Sunday, October 18, UMW Sunday at FUMC Tuesday, October 27, 7 p.m., Hope Circle II First Friends, our monthly fellowship on the fourth Thursdays, will begin the fall season with a presentation by Teena Zindel-McWilliams of Richland Community College on the book Six Drinks That Changed the World (coffee, tea, etc.) The group will meet at First United Methodist Church in the Susanna Wesley Room from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on September 24 th. Light refreshments will be served. This meeting also marks a new day in the life of the fellowship. For some years, First Presbyterian has sponsored a similar group called Lunch Bunch on the third Thursday of each month, which provided a full meal in addition to the program. But now the leaders of the Lunch Bunch have graciously agreed to merge with First United Methodist s First Friends for monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday. Since both churches have the name First, First Friends seems an appropriate appellation for the united group. In order to truly share in fellowship, we propose to meet in October at First Presbyterian, and then move back and forth on succeeding months. Meetings in November and December may have to renegotiate dates because of the holidays. Invite a friend to come with you to the new First Friends! 3 First FRIENDS THURSDAY September 24 10:30 AM Next fall, 2016, join others from our church family and Christians from around the world, following in the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Here s the basics: September 4-16, 2016 Cost starting at $3800 Visit Venice, Italy; Olympia, Crete, Athens, Corinth, Thessaloniki & Rhodes, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey; and Dubrovnik, Croatia Please contact Pastor Kathy by September 15th if you are interested in learning more. It's time to start signing up.
Thank YOU FUMC: Thank you guys so much! Thank you for celebrating and welcoming us to the Youth Group. I love what you did for us and I hope the other kids had fun to and I will pray to God and thank him too. - Isabella Ledesma I had a great experience at camp this year! The camp I went to was all about doing crazy camp things. So, we played food twister where we splashed around in a variety of foods and ultimate kickball where the bases were gross foods. We also did some normal camp stuff like swimming, hiking and movie nights. I also made some really amazing friends that I will never forget. On the last morning, we all were in tears. We all really bonded and supported each other. I felt like I had known these people for years. It was a very inspiring experience, too. We talked a lot about getting outside of our comfort zone and being more like the person Jesus wants us to be rather than the person society wants us to be. It was very powerful. Camp is a great experience because you feel like you're in your own little world. No one judges you and you can really grow deeper in your faith. Thanks for all your support and help in making this experience possible! I absolutely cannot wait for next year! - Emily King-Nobles Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for giving me the chance to go to camp! I really enjoyed going and meeting new friends. I also enjoyed learning about the infinite amount of love and hope God gives every one of us each and every day. Once again, thank you very much, I had an amazing time at East Bay! I can t wait to go back next year!!! - Brooke Swinford Dear FUMC, Thanks for sending us to church camp. We had fun at Just Us Girls. I would go back again. I enjoyed it a lot. We swam a lot. Every day was nice and I loved camp! - Hope Musgrave Dear Church Family, Thanks for sending us to church camp to Just Us Girls. We had fun! We swam a lot. There was a lot of puddles and I hope to go back next year. - Faith Musgrave Memories of East Bay: I liked tetherball and I liked going swimming too. I like sleeping in the top bunk. That was the first time I have had slept on a top bunk. I didn t like walking in the mud though. And every night I prayed. I hope I can come back! Thank you for paying for East Bay Camp for me. I loved East Bay. - Nola Redden Dear FUMC: Thank you for paying for the opportunity for me to go to East Bay Camp. I had a lot of fun! I enjoyed when we swam in the lake and when we swam in the pool. At camp we sang a lot of songs. We also went to worship every morning and that was where we sang most of our songs. We also went to worship in the evening. The evening worship was where we did Bible study. On the 3rd night, we learned about the fruits of the spirit. Thank you. - Ella Redden Thank you for helping me go to church camp once again this Summer. I always have an awesome time! This year I went to the camp called Altitude and had a blast! I have decided I will go to the same camp next summer. My favorite part was zip-lining. I appreciate having the privilege to get to go to these camps each year. Thank you so much! - Austin Fyke Thank you to everyone for helping me go to camp. I had a lot of fun with my friend Will. We did a lot of things in the water and my favorite part was doing the kayak and swimming in the lake. I look forward to going again. Thank you! - Jamie Fyke 4
Green TEAM Home Energy Audit An energy audit assesses the energy usage of your home and recommends ways you can save energy by: Adding Insulation Eliminating drafts through air sealing Changing light bulbs and showerheads Upgrading heating & cooling equipment These energy efficiency improvements can result in lower utility bills and a safer, more comfortable home. Even better, incentives are provided to lower the cost of these upgrades and, in some cases, pay for them completely. How to Get Started Option 1: Call Ameren Illinois at 1.866.838.6918 to schedule a home energy audit. For only $50, a specially trained Energy Advisor will: Perform a thorough visual inspection Examine behind your walls with thermal imaging (infrared) technology (when possible) Conduct a computer analysis of your home Generate a custom report that pinpoints problem areas and improvement measures. Provide you with a list of certified Program Allies to help you make the recommended improvements! Sponsored by FaithLINK ADVENT BOOK The FaithLINK class is once again organizing the Advent Devotionals for this coming Advent Season. Below are some guidelines and suggestions to consider while writing your article: 1. The theme is Advents Yet to Come 2. The theme is the 3rd of a 3-part series based on concepts offered in Charles Dickens s A Christmas Carol. 3. You have free range on what you d like to write about concerning you and Advent. 4. Your article should be between 250 and 400 words long. 5. It may be edited. 6. You should try to include images of feelings, colors, sounds, smells and emotions. 7. You can include your own scripture. Or have the editors include appropriate scripture. 8. We need your article turned in by September 15, 2015, to Bill Horton, williamhorton979@hotmail.com or you can place it in the FaithLINK mailbox. Saturday, December 5th What is the Children s Christmas Shoppe? It s a fun morning for families to sing Christmas songs, make crafts, enjoy Christmas goodies, and an opportunity for children to shop for Christmas gifts and learn why we celebrate Christmas. Every gift is the same price, so children can choose with their hearts, all while making friends with our shopping and wrapping elves. We have a good start on the items needed for this year. There s plenty of wrapping paper, gifts for women, and gifts for babies. We are in need most of gifts for men and boys. The gifts are sold for $2 each, so we try to ensure that each choice is worth $2 or more. If you would like to donate new gifts for the shopping area (the less breakable, the better!), be sure to check out all the clearance and sales in the stores this time of year. Popular gifts from last year: scissors, flashlights, basic tools, playing cards, small building sets, and action figures. Donations of new gifts, tissue paper, gift bags, and large shopping bags (from department stores) are greatly appreciated, and can be dropped off by Jennifer s office. Merry Christmas! 5
Starts September 20th! Serving Our Community For over 5 years now, Deb McCarthy has been quietly leading our Smart Choice Ministry. Deb has done a great job. She has been a blessing to so many people in our community, making it possible for them to stretch their food dollars. Thank you, Deb, for your faithful service! We appreciate you so much! Deb has now retired from this ministry and the new coordinator is Tiffany Ballard. Deb & Tiffany have been working together for several months before Tiffany took over. We welcome Tiffany to this ministry. She and her family are members of First Free Will Baptist Church here in Decatur. Below is a note from Tiffany and an invitation to serve. Smart Choice program is a food ministry available at FUMC and is utilized by many people in the Decatur area. This program is not just for those needing assistance with feeding their families, but for anyone wishing to save money on food. Orders are taken several times a month in the church office and the food boxes may also be o r d e r e d o n l i n e ( h t t p s : / / www.smartchoicefood.com). Menus may be picked up in the office or Wesley Hall. This ministry is vital to the community and the people who order have become reliant on the food boxes to feed them throughout the month. Our assisted-living seniors find this an invaluable service that offers them a lower cost option for quality food on their limited budgets. When our distribution date was changed last month, one senior in particular expressed her concern about running out of food before the next distribution. If you know of someone in need of a box, would like a menu, or have any questions, please contact T i f f a n y B a l l a r d 2 1 7-853- 9 9 4 2 o r t.ballard38@yahoo.com. We are also looking for volunteers to assist (picking up food one Saturday/month; taking orders once a month in the church office). This ministry is small, but it is so vital to those who rely upon it. - Tiffany Ballard Just Flicks Secrets & Lies (1996) Sunday, September 13 at 6 p.m. First Presbyterian Church Just Flicks is a film series that brings you films that matter once a month from September through May. Everyone and anyone is encouraged to come. This year s list includes classics and littleknown gems, documentaries and dramas. They cover a wide range of topics that touch on issues of justice, fairness and peacemaking. Just Flicks is co-sponsored by the Peace & Justice Task Forces of Central Christian and First Presbyterian churches. 6
Confirmation 2015-2016 On June 13, 2015 Africa University awarded degrees to 694 students from 17 countries. This is the largest graduating class in the institution's 23 year history. Our congregation has a unique connection to Africa University in that in 1988 Dick Reeves, husband of Joyce, was appointed to Africa University Board of Directors as chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee which drew up the master plan for the campus. He had previously volunteered as an engineering consultant with UMCOR and had made 30 trips to Africa in 10 years at his own expense assisting in the building of wells. Following Dick's death a scholarship fund in honor of Dick and Joyce was established at Africa University as well as an endowment fund to sustain the campus maintenance. Let us celebrate the University's accomplishments with our continued support! Our United Methodist Conference (Illinois Great Rivers Conference) has pledge $1,000,000 (that s 1 million dollars) for a couple endowed scholarships at Africa University. Every church has been asked to pledge and raise funds towards this important gift. Our church has pledged $5,000 and hopes to raise even more! The Mission Committee will soon be sharing ideas for raising these funds. Our 6 th, 7th, and 8 th graders, and older youth are beginning Confirmation in September. The class will meet on Sundays mornings, beginning September 13. Students will be expected to attend worship and classes each week (8:30 12:00). In addition, there will be a retreat, service projects, and ropes course experience. Confirmation Sunday will be held in the spring. The students will be selecting a Friend in Faith (mentor) to work with them throughout this year. Confirmation is a time for youth to dig deeper in their faith, learn about the traditions of the church, and commit their lives to following Christ. For more information, contact Pastor Kathy at: 423-9711 Jim & Cathy Smithson share stories from their trip to Africa! September 11 at 7:00 p.m. The Smithsons recently returned from a wonderful trip to Africa. As you can imagine, Jim took some breathtaking pictures. On Friday, September 11, Jim and Cathy will talk about their trip at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. You can bring a dessert to share, or just come and enjoy the evening. 7
Living Fully, Dying Well. Beginning Wednesday, Sept 23 @ 10:00 am Bob Baker will be leading a video-based small group study authored by Bishop Rueben Job called Living Fully, Dying Well. Bishop Job is a United Methodist bishop who is well known for writing several books on spirituality including: A Guide to Prayer for all God s People and A Wesleyan Spiritual Reader. This small group study is designed for persons of all ages. Bishop Job will lead us in creating an environment where we will talk openly about faith and mortality. There are eight sessions. Some of the titles are: Theology of Aging, Our Culture of Aging, Finding Purpose and Meaning, What Happens When We Die?, and How Then Shall We Live. The small group will meet at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. beginning September 23rd. Rev. Robert Baker will be facilitating the small group. Bob is a retired United Methodist clergy who most recently has served as a hospice chaplain in the Decatur area. He and his wife, Faye, are active in the ministries of First United Methodist Church. If you are interested, please contact the church office or email Bob at wepray4u2@comcast.net Aspiring Marys Beginning Sept 15 @ 9:30 am While our women s Bible study group (a.k.a. Aspiring Marys) has been taking a summer vacation, I have been busy planning our studies for when we reconvene on Tuesday, September 15. We are going to start with a 6 -week study of Strong Was Her Faith Women of the New Testament. We will be reading about and discussing eleven women and how each of them fits into the New Testament story. We are going to follow this with a study of Unusual Healings by Adam Thomas beginning on October 27. And we ll finish the year with a 4-week Advent study based on the movie, It s A Wonderful Life. beginning November 24. If you have never been an Aspiring Mary and want to join us for any or all studies above, please contact Debbie Vandermyde at 875-2230. Pastor s Bible Study Beginning Thursday, September 10 @ 11 a.m. This Bible study group will begin studying the Book of Ecclesiastes. We will meet in room 304 upstairs at the church. There is a time for everything. Maybe this is your time to join a group that likes to laugh, and learn. This is the kind of group where no questions are dumb and you don t need previous knowledge to join. We will take things slow and discuss whatever comes up. We value supporting each other and keeping up with each other s lives. Pastor Kent leads this group. You are welcome! Food PANTRY for September: Pasta 8
Thank YOU (cont d) Thank you to all the wonderful people at First United Methodist Church. I d like to express my sincere appreciation for your cards, best wishes, and heartfelt messages of love and friendship in celebration of my 100th birthday. Who knew I hit that milestone! Since moving to the Decatur area in 1955, FUMC has always held a special place in my heart and always will. A special thank you is in order for Pastors Kent and Kathy King-Nobles, Rev. Miley Palmer and Rev. Ned Hawbecker for your thoughtfulness and calls. And, to my many friends, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. May God bless each and every one of you. Frances McClugage NEW Church Shirts We are ordering new church shirts this Fall. The style of shirt we will be offering is the longsleeved, light blue, buttoned up and collared shirt with our logo on it. Ordering will begin September 27 October 18 on Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights and contacting the office. Prices will be publicized in the weekly bulletin insert once we have the quotes. - Fellowship Team Co-Ed Softball Our first season is now in the books! Thank you to all who have come out to support us. It has been an incredible experience but it is not over. Starting September 14 th, a new season of Coed Softball will begin. For 6 weeks we will play 2 games a night on Mondays. We look forward to you cheering us on! If you want to keep up with the team join our new Facebook Page, Disciple This - A ministry of First United Methodist Church. There are still some open spots available on the roster, if you are interested in joining the team, please contact Kyle at 217-553-5402. 9 It s almost here - get ready - TRASH & TREASURE is coming! The congregation sale is Wednesday, October 7th. Public sale is October 9 & 10. There is a potluck in Fellowship Hall on September 9th that uses the stage, so we can start filling the stage the next day, Thursday, September 10th. If your donations must be donated before this date, we will try to find space in the church. Call Dian Rand at 877-2660 to arrange a time for large items to be picked up. More information will come!
MIDWEEK Ministries WEDNESDAY NIGHTS @ 6:30 Adult Classes 57 VARIETIES OF CHRISTIANITY led by Pastor Miley & Rev. Bill Keagle No, we re not talking about ketchup, but about the many ideas and styles of Christianity that have developed through the ages since Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee. This fall, beginning September 15 th and 16 th, we will offer classes studying the ideas that shaped our faith and created our Scriptures, beginning with the earliest disciples into the 20 th Century. Along the way we ll visit the turmoil of the Nicene Council and its sister councils, the Protestant Reformers of the 1500 s, the Methodists in the 1700 s, and some major movements in the 20 th Century. THE THEOLOGY OF EARTH STEWARDSHIP led by the Green Team 4 classes beginning 9/23 Each of these 4 classes examines the relationship between humans and their use of the resources available from the Creation. Dominion or Domination; We or Me; Forever or Now; Enough or Too Much. Each class will feature a video and be followed by discussion and commentary from the participants. UNDERSTANDING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH... FOR ADULTS led by Pastor Kathy This will be a "Confirmation" for adults of sorts. We will look at some of the basic themes of the scriptures, an overview of the scriptures, and a look at United Methodist understanding of faith. Youth Activities Wednesday Night Youth Group Jr & Sr High Youth Groups will have activities planned for every Wednesday Night. Children Activities Wednesday Night Kids Activities Pre-School 5th Grade Kids activities planned for every Wednesday Night. 10 Around the CHURCH Aspiring Marys Bible Study Debbie Vandermyde, Leader Will start back up on September 15. See pg. 8 for more information Living Fully, Dying Well Rev. Bob Baker, Leader Will start on September 23rd. See pg. 8 for more information. Small Groups Adult Bible Study Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm in Room 301 Dick Dechert, Leader A deeper look into Sunday s lesson for the Covenant Class. All are welcome. Quilters Meets every Thursday in Rm. 103 at 9 am Pastor s Bible Study Thursdays at 11:00 am in Rm. 304 See pg. 8 For more information. Great Dates 2nd Friday at 6 pm - Library Join us each month before your date as we examine Biblical Proverbs for healthy relationships (Childcare provided) Matt & Marilyn Stevens, Group Leaders Next meeting will be September 11th Scraps & Prayers 2nd Monday 5:30 pm at Lana Horton s House $15 each class A time of prayer and scrapbooking! Pay 2 days before class to register. Lana Horton, Leader Next meeting will be September 14th Prayer Shawl Group 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 9 am - Rm. 304 Next meetings are September 8 and 22. First Friends 4th Thursday at 10:30 in S.W. Room Next meeting September 24 See Page 3 for more information
In Loving Memory William Hinkle August 3, 2015 Grandfather to Jerry & Leah Brown-Hinkle Dorothy McArty October 23, 1922 - August 6, 2015 Robert Leake July 31, 1922 - August 7, 2015 James William Hinkle August 2, 2015 Parents: Leah & Jerry Hinkle Grandparents: Bill & Kathy Brown Great Grandma: Imogene Brown Emelia Jane Moore, August 3, 2015 Parents: Katy Ragan & Jake Moore; Grandparents: Dan & Judy Ragan Holly Rose Moore, August 6, 2015 Parents: Jordan & Kaylyn Moore; Grandparents: Walter & Shari Moore; Great Grandparents: Bill & Millie Pruett Oliver Starr Owen, August 15, 2015 Parents: Becky & Andrew Owen; Grandparents: Nancy & Rich Fritz; Great-Grandma: Margery Fritz Average Worship Attendance for the last 4 weeks. 257 Top 10 Reasons To Volunteer for the Nursery Welcome Desk 10. Babies, Adorable, huggable babies. 9. It s a volunteer opportunity with a small commitment. 8. You like Jennifer, and you want to help her out! 7. You re close to the drinking fountain. 6. You get to see who sneaks in the side doors at 9:05. 5. Enjoy a little fellowship with other parents & grandparents. 4. Volunteers get paid in chocolate right? 3. Toddlers say the funniest things! 2. Help visitors feel comfortable and answer their questions. 1. Did I mention the cute babies? Did I mention the cute, little babies? If you would like to help at the Nursery Welcome Desk for a few minutes on Sunday mornings contact Jennifer Horton-Motter: Jennifer@decaturfirstumc.org. 11
First United Methodist Church 201 W. North Street Decatur, IL 62522 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid DECATUR, IL Permit No. 43 Volune 37 Number 9 August 2015 Published monthly First United Methodist Church 201 West North Street., Decatur, IL 62522-2221 Phone: (217) 423-9711; FAX: 423-5025 www.decaturfirstumc.org Prayer Chain... prayers@decaturfirstumc.org Revs. Kent & Kathy King-Nobles... Directing Pastors Rev. Miley Palmer... Older Adult Ministries Dr. Hadi Gibbons... Director of Music Dr. Bruce Gibbons... Organist Jennifer Horton-Motter... Children & Family Ministries Kyle Shaughnessy... Youth & Young Adults Ministries Barbi Gardiner... Administrative Secretary Judy Ragan... Financial Secretary Krista Smith... Front Desk Receptionist Jim & Susie Pope... Custodians Judy McCleery... Parish Nurse Joanne Forrest... Building Coordinator Shane Hartman... MAX Program Coordinator Warm Neighbors / Cool Friends THIS is the perfect time of year to purchase school supplies for Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Supplies are currently 1/4 of the cost they are normally, with notebooks at.17 and crayons.25. Scissors, markers, pens and rulers are currently 1/2 price. 12