The Daily Disciple February 2018
Dear Church, First of all, thank you for all the love, support, and prayer you have shown my family with the arrival of our new son, Myles. He and Alie are both doing well, and we are adjusting to life as a family of four. One challenge of being in New Knoxville is that we are far away from our family. Alie is from Canton, Ohio and I grew up in Jamestown, New York. We thank God that we have a loving church family who supports us. It is a blessing, especially during a time like this. I already know Myles, as well as Josephine, is loved by so many people. Thank You! Second, I want to take this opportunity to let you know about our plans for Lent. We will have our usual evening services on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. During the Lenten season, we will explore the book of Jonah together. Jonah is so much more than a kids Sunday School story. It is more than the story of a man in the belly of a big fish. In Jonah, we see God s faithfulness toward an unfaithful prophet. We see God s mercy on full display, both toward Jonah and the people of Ninevah. Join us on Sunday mornings during Lent as we explore the Gospel according to Jonah. In Christ, Pastor Joel Josephine is a proud big sister!! She would like you to meet her baby brother, Myles Edward Bucklin. Welcome to the church family. 2
First Church of New Knoxville invites your family to join us for Wonderful Wednesdays! Wednesday evenings from February 21 to March 21, 2018 Life is busy - homework, sports practices, dinner, etc... it all vies for our time. Wonderful Wednesday is a way for the whole family to spend time together one day a week during Lent and not have to worry about any of those things. Our trained volunteers walk with the children directly from NK School to First Church of New Knoxville where they get a snack and a chance to burn off some energy with games and fun. Then it's over to the church to get homework done with the guidance of our homework helpers, crafts and some music. At 5:30 pm parents and the entire community are invited to join us for dinner and a short devotional. By 7:00 pm you have the rest of the evening to spend together as a family. Homework and dinner are done! Your child does NOT have to attend NK school to participate! You may drop them off after school for the program also. Click the link below to download a registration form and return it to First Church of New Knoxville, PO Box 339, New Knoxville or scan and email it to firstchurchnk@nktleco.net Wonderful Wed. Form 2018 3
Babies are a Blessing.. Congratulations to Jamie & Elio Brunicardi on the birth of their daughter Marah Lynn who arrived on January 16 weighing 7 lb. 5 oz. and was 20 long. She was welcomed home by her three brothers Mattias, Marcell and Micah. Grandparents are Jim & Lois Harrod and Pocholo Brunicardi and the late Maritza Brunicardi. Congratulations to Krista & Jesse Harrod on the birth of their daughter Abigail Jean who arrived on October 24, 2017 weighing 9 lb. 2 oz. and was 20 ½ long. She was welcomed home by her two sisters Audrey and Ava. Grandparents are Jim & Lois Harrod and Steven & Deb Doepker. Congratulations to Pastor Joel & Alie Bucklin on the birth of their son Myles Edward who arrived on January 24 weighing 9 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 ½ long. He was welcomed home by his big sister Josephine. Grandparents are Bryan & Colleen Bucklin and Brian & Susan Campbell. January 2018 Facts & Figures Date: Offering: Attend: Mission or Fund 1/7 $1,990.00 209 General Fund 1/14 $1,536.00 195 Agape 1/21 $1,608.00 230 Radio Fund 1/28 $1,541.00 196 Aug. Co. Group Home Aug. Co. Crisis Center 4
Happy Anniversary to Carl & Mary Schmehl! They will be celebrating their 60th year of marriage on February 22! Happy Birthday wishes. Dorothy Egan will be celebrating a birthday on Feb. 20th. Bowling Green Care Center 850 W. Poe Rd. Bowling Green, OH 43402 Don Prueter will be celebrating a birthday on Feb. 28th. Cards can be mailed to: 711 S. Walnut Street New Bremen, OH 45869 Dear First Church, Thank you so much for the amazing support, love, and generosity you showed our family during the baby shower in January. Thank you especially to Connie Schroer, Tory Breitigan, Susie Reineke, Nikki Rohrbaugh, Krista Hoge, and Danielle Hirschfeld for organizing it. We already know Myles is loved and accepted by his church family! Pastor Joel, Alie, Josephine, and Myles Bucklin Dear Members of First Church of New Knoxville Sunday School Department, Thank you for making our program go, and our students grow, physically, mentally and emotionally. Your kind donation is truly appreciated. Thank you so much for your support! Sincerely, Bev Thompson and Equestrian Therapy staff 5
A Word from our Youth Pastor, Tory At the beginning of January, I challenged our students to commit to continually living out our faith every single day. Many of them already do that, but it s always good to have a reminder and recommit to doing that each year. The only way our students and really any of us can live out our faith is if we are committed to getting in the Word daily. God lays out how we are to love and serve him in scripture and part of living out our faith means that faithfully get into His Word. In an effort to encourage our students to be in the Word, we are starting monthly devotions together. At the start of each month the students get a devotion packet with scriptures and pages for journaling through the scripture passage for that day. Our hope is that through these monthly devotions that we would not only grow in our own relationship with Christ but also begin living out the things that we read in scripture. The beautiful thing is that these devotions are not just for our students. You can do them too! I post these devotions each month on our youth group Facebook page. If you want to do the full devotional packet alongside of us I will gladly give you a packet. I hope that as 2018 begins that we all commit to getting into the Word daily and living out our faith even more in the coming year. Blessings! Tory Breitigan Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie dough goes on sale February 5-16. You can purchase cookie dough from any of the students going on our summer mission trip or by calling the church office at 419-753-2446 6
ALMIGHTY ONE ATHLETICS Parents and Students! Youth Group will be combined this coming week February 7th. The owner of Almighty One Athletics, Lauren Roetgerman of Minster, is coming to speak to our students at youth group. There will be food, 9-square and time spent hearing from Lauren. Youth group will start at 6:30PM and go until 8PM. Bring friends! Wear your Almighty One Athletic gear and get ready for an awesome evening together! Parents and Confirmation Students. Confirmation Sunday is coming soon. Students please remember that during the month of February we will be staying after church until 11:30 am. We will be helping you put together your faith statement and preparing you for Confirmation Sunday. Let Tory know if you have any questions or conflicts. Be on the Look Out! No Youth Group on February 14th so that students may come to our Ash Wednesday Service at 7:30 pm. Youth Group will take a break during lent to serve as a youth group at Wonderful Wednesday s. There will be no junior and senior high youth group from February 14- March 21. All students are encouraged to participate in serving our community through our Wonderful Wednesday program! Note: Parents and students we are working on using social media more for our announcements for youth related activities. Please make sure to check Facebook for upcoming dates, events, and our monthly bible study packets. 7
Opportunities to become more Rooted & Grow in your Faith The Gospel Project for Adults This class, led by Pastor Joel, runs throughout the entire Sunday school year and meets in the ministry center. We cover the same topics and scriptures as the kids are in Sunday school each week. On Sunday s in the Heritage Room, Jay Elshoff leads an adult Sunday school group that works its way through the bible each year with a weekly lesson & reading. The Tuesday Morning Bible Study group meets weekly at 9:00 a.m. in the ministry center youth room. Everyone is welcome. The Gathering meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church social room. This small group uses the questions in the sermon study guide to dig a little deeper into the previous Sunday s scripture Dates to Remember February 14 February 21 March 18 March 25 March 29 March 30 Ash Wednesday Service 7:30 pm Wonderful Wednesdays Begin Confirmation Banquet & Photos Palm Sunday & Confirmation Maundy Thursday Service 7:30 pm Good Friday Service 7:30 pm The Ministry Center will be open to Jr. & Sr. High Students on Friday night February 9 th after the game until 10:00 pm There will be food, basketball, fun, games & music!
Meal Train for the Bucklin s If you would like to bring dinner to Joel, Alie, Josephine during the month of February you can sign up here: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/2ldgz7 February Offerings 2018 February 4th-General Fund February 11th-Building Improvements & Technology February 14th-Ash Wednesday/Radio Fund February 18th-Outreach & Evangelism February 25th-Elevator Modernization Project Year End Financial Summary December 2017 General Operating Fund Balance $87,465.35 Benevolent Fund Balance $31,978.31 VBS Fund Balance $5,532.17 Radio Ministry Fund Balance $22,094.69 Music Ministry Fund Balance $1,387.72 Bequest & Endowment Fund Balance $103,727.85 Camp Fund Balance $5,062.93 Building Maint. Fund Balance $ 162.41 Jr. High Youth Fund Balance $2,772.35 Sr. High Youth Fund Balance $6,056.65 Christian Women s Fund Balance $7,593.17 Outreach & Evangelism Balance $3,171.68 Sunday School Fund Balance $2,000.92 Those In Need Fund Balance $12,695.43 Temporary Undesignated Gift $81,450.72 More detail is available by calling treasurer, Connie Schroer at the church office. 419-753-2446
January was a busy month at First Church. Our Annual Meeting this year took place in the ministry center and included a breakfast buffet for everyone to enjoy and come together as a church family. Thank you to everyone who attended. We had over 150 people join us. If you were not able to attend the meeting you can stop by the church office and pick up a copy of the Annual Report and the Report of the Pastors. Our Youth Pastor Tory Breitigan blessed us with a wonderful message on discipleship while Pastor Joel took a Sunday off with his newly expanded family. If you would like to listen to Tory s sermon it is on our website at firstchurchnk.org
First Church is thankful for our volunteers Sara Schrolucke, Sarah Maurer and Pat Geib who shared their valuable time helping out in the office. Each year First Church is happy to provide the location for the Chamber of Commerce Annual State of the Villages Address.
Senior Pastor Joel Bucklin P.O. Box 339 200 W. Bremen St. New Knoxville, OH 45871-0339 419-753-2446 Office e-mail: firstchurchnk@nktelco.net Church Website: www.firstchurchnk.org Return Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #5 NEW KNOXVILLE, OH 45871