The Daily Disciple June 2018
One-Minute Summary A quick review of the most important information in the newsletter. Pastor Joel describes why the Old Testament is critical for our understanding of Jesus life and ministry. Tory is excited for the summer mission project. Take a look at her youth page for more information on the summer mission project and other summer activities. Meg shared her first ever blog in this month s newsletter. Read how God is working in her life on pg. 5. Important summer break dates for bible study classes on pg. 7. We will be decorating the church for VBS on Wednesday, May 27 at 3 pm. See pg. 11. VBS teacher & helper meeting on Thursday, May 31st at 6:30 pm to talk about VBS. Look on pg. 11 for details. Check out pg. 14 for information about how to receive the newsletter via email. (that version is all color!) 1
A word from Pastor Joel Last fall I committed to a Bible reading plan that would take me through the entire Bible in one year. Many of you I m sure have done something similar. Recently I completed my long journey through the Old Testament and began reading Matthew. The importance of the Old Testament and how indebted we are to it struck me as I began reading the New Testament. To fully understand who Jesus is and what he did for us on the cross, we need to understand what God was doing throughout history, which is what the Old Testament is all about. The Old Testament describes how God s good creation was broken by sin. After this, God chose a man, Abraham, to become the father of a great nation, Israel. Through these people, God intended to make himself known and bless the whole world. But over the generations, they did not, and could not, live up to the calling. Over and over again, they failed to fulfill their purpose. They turned away from God and pursued idols. God s people, and all of creation, needed a savior. They needed God Himself to come and rescue them from their sins. This is where Jesus enters the picture. He is God in the flesh, born into creation in order to redeem it. He died on the cross to free us from our sin. He rose again to ensure his people of eternal life. All of this makes sense only when we understand the entire story. We need the Old Testament to better understand the New. A famous pastor of a mega church recently said we must unhitch ourselves from the Old Testament if we want the church to grow and thrive. I say this is unwise and unbiblical. If we want the church to grow, if we want to see people put their trust in Christ, we need to point them to Jesus. We cannot do that completely if we ignore the Old Testament. In Matthew 5:17-18 says, 17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Jesus didn t come to get rid of the Old Testament. He came to fulfill it. The Old Testament points to the New. The New Testaments completes the Old. All of Scripture, both Old and New, point to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Remember that the next time you find yourself reading some of the more unfamiliar passages at the beginning of your Bible! Grace and Peace, Pastor Joel 2
A word from our Youth Pastor Tory The start to summer is always exciting. We kick everything off with VBS then move right into all the exciting summer programming we have for our students. One of the things I am most excited for this summer is our mission trip. One of the things that God has taught me when it comes to planning seasons of ministry is that he has a better plan and that better plan will always blow your mind! God changed our original plans to go and serve in the city of Chicago, but He has blown us away with what he had in store for us here in our own backyard. This summer we have a group of 27 students and adults serving our community the week of July 8-13 th! Our team continues to grow each week and the excitement continues to grow among our group. One of the coolest things about this trip is that it is not just for students. You all have the opportunity to get involved and serve with us! We want to encourage you to get involved and serve with our group. Below you will find a schedule of the things we are doing throughout the week. I encourage you to think and pray about getting involved. We would love to serve with you! Monday, July 8th: Morning: Lima Soup Kitchen Afternoon: Elmwood Nursing Home Evening: New Knoxville Community Cookout Tuesday, July 10th: ALL DAY: Love New Knoxville Day! We will be doing yard work for people around the community, a free car wash, baking cookies for people, service projects around the church, etc. If you would like some yard work done or know of anyone that could use the help, please let me know! Wednesday, July 11th: Morning: Agape Summer Food Program Bag Packing Afternoon: Elmwood Nursing Home Evening: Campout at St. Mary s State Park This week is going to be awesome! We are so excited to see how God uses us to be the hands and feet of Christ to our community and the surrounding counties. 3
If you want to get involved and help out, here are things that we need! Drivers for each day People to help prepare and set out breakfast each morning. Help with the community cookout Two men to stay overnight with us at the camp ground on- Wednesday night, July 11th Prayer Please let me know if you want to get involved! Blessings, Tory Bible study for junior and senior high starts the week after VBS... High School Bible Study Topic: Jesus Among Secular Gods Meeting Times: Monday mornings at Tory s house at 10:30 am. Our first bible study will be on June 18th at 10:30 am. Junior High Bible Study Topic: Firsthand Faith Meeting Times: 4 Thursday s and 2 Tuesdays at 1:30 pm. Our first bible study will be on June 21st at 1:00 pm in the Ministry Center. All of our summer events will be for students in junior and senior high! June 13- Summer Kick Off Party for 7-12 th grade-come dressed ready to get messy! We will be having a color wars party from 12-2:00 pm,. Bring your friends! Lunch will be provided. June 24- Pizza and Night Games from 8-10:30 pm- Come ready to play games in the dark. Bring your friends! 4
A word from our Administrative Assistant Meg... Hey guys! I ve been working at the church for a few months now and I absolutely love it. I look forward to going into the office every day and that is what I have always dreamed of. Joel, Connie and Tory are great people to surround myself with three days a week. I also get to drink pots of coffee which makes my day even better. I love bringing new ideas to the table at our staff meetings. Tory and I are starting to make videos for our Facebook page and that has been a lot of fun. Outside of the church, I am coaching volleyball, taking pictures and loving on my niece & nephew. I am looking forward to attending bible studies. I am excited to help girls learn more about how amazing Jesus is. God has been working in my life tremendously lately. I went to school in Pittsburgh and it was a complete rollercoaster while I was there. It was challenging and hard, but it made me stronger and closer to God. I was able to spread His word while I was there and that was a big step for me. I am now home and happier than ever. God has given me many opportunities to tell people about Jesus and I am so grateful for that. I was able to give my testimony to our youth group and that was an amazing experience. Whether the days are good or bad, I see God working everyday in my life and others and I am so glad I am able to see that now. I thank the Lord everyday that I am able to work here at First Church. It is a blessing! 5
First Church, We want to thank First Church for the beautiful red rose placed on the altar in honor of our 52nd anniversary. It was a happy reminder during the next week of our years together. Tom and Diane Fledderjohann Dear members of The Ministry Committee, Joanne and I would like to thank you for partnering with us in the Barnabas Ministry. Because of your generosity, the gospel is being proclaimed. Bless you for your love and service unto Him, in your community and around the world. Sincerely, in Christ, Dave and Joanne Kimberly Dear First Church, Thank you for the beautiful rose in honor of our wedding anniversary. Bill and Edythe Henschen 6
Opportunities to become more Rooted & Grow in your Faith The Gospel Project for Adults This class, led by Pastor Joel meets in the ministry center. We cover the same topics and scriptures as the kids are in Sunday school each week. The last class will be June 3. It will resume in the fall when Sunday school classes resume. On Sunday s in the Heritage Room, Jay Elshoff leads an adult Sunday school class that works its way through the bible each year with a weekly lesson & reading. The last class will be May 27. It will resume in the fall. Men's Bible Study is every Sunday morning at 8:00 am in the ministry center youth room. The Gathering meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the church social room. This small discussion group digs a little deeper into the previous Sunday s scripture passages and sermon message using Pastor Joel s weekly questions. Schedule Change for June, July & August: during the summer the gathering will transition to meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. On June 13 they will meet at Allen & Connie Schroer s home (09585 Botkins Angle Rd. NK). All are invited! Grand Adults Fellowship meets on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm in the ministry center youth room. You are invited to come and play cards or games and enjoy some friendship and food. Call Becky Huston at 419-7532230 if you need to arrange for transportation. The Bloodmobile will be at the American Legion in New Knoxville on Friday, June 29th from Noon 6:00 p.m. Heating System Update: The congregational meeting which had been called for Sunday, May 20 was canceled and will be rescheduled to a future date. The trustees continue to meet with various parties to determine all options available to us. 7
Happy Anniversary! Harold & Barbara Lunsford-62 years on June 5th Jay & Kathleen Elshoff-55 years on June 8th Roger & Ruby Settlage-69 years on June 19th Larry & Becky Longworth-54 years on June 20th Jerry & Judy Kuck-50 years on June 22nd Roger & Marilee Eversman-62 years on June 24th Robert & Joann Wilkins-62 years on June 24th Jake Allen & Hailey Roop were married on Saturday, May 12th. Hailey is the daughter of Jason Roop and Brandi Bowman and Jake is the son of Jenny & Michael Allen. Congratulations! May 2018 Facts & Figures Date: Offering: Attend: Mission or Fund 5/6 $ 1643.25 157 General Fund 5/13 $ 1592.26 202 Elevator Modernization Project 5/20 $ 1436.00 179 Building Improvements & Technology The May mission projects were for Cheryl Reed with Young Lives Zanesville, & 3C Project/Pastor Michael Landoll in Germany. 8
June Offerings 2018 June 3rd-General Fund June 10th-Radio Fund June 17th-Building Improvements & Technology June 24th-Elevator Modernization Project The mission projects in June are Salvation Army in Lima, Ohio and Auglaize Co. Fair Gospel Tent. Follow us on social media! Instagram-firstchurchnk Facebook-First Church of New Knoxville, Ohio Sermon.net-subscribe to First Church of NK The Nursery Sunday School department put on a show for us at Church on Pentecost Sunday! 9
Financial Summary for April 2018 General Operating Fund Balance $81,261.86 Benevolent Fund Balance $42,540.11 VBS Fund Balance $7,188.44 Radio Ministry Fund Balance $32,364.65 Music Ministry Fund Balance $4,254.38 Bequest & Endowment Fund Balance $118,013.38 Camp Fund Balance $9,503.34 Jr. High Youth Fund Balance $2,387.92 Sr. High Youth Fund Balance $5,860.89 Christian Women s Fund Balance $7,678.17 Outreach & Evangelism Balance $4,957.70 Sunday School Fund Balance $2,424.77 Temporary Undesignated Gift $91,039.70 Those In Need Fund Balance $12,042.48 Building Maint. Fund Balance $89,139.49 Breakdown of building fund balance: Elevator Modernization $53,084.00 Sanctuary Painting $11,712.00 Avail. For Regular Maintenance $24,343.49 More detail is available by calling treasurer, Connie Schroer at the church office. 419-753-2446 In Fear of the Lord one has strong confidence & his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:26 10
New Knoxville Community VBS June 4-8th from 9-11:45 pm Registration forms are available online or at the church office. VBS will be here very soon! We have been busy planning and preparing for VBS Week. We cannot do VBS without your help though, please talk to Tory if you can serve this great ministry! We need 35-50 helpers for classrooms and men and women that know how to use power tools and can help build props for VBS. VBS Cookies It wouldn t be NK Community VBS without all of your amazing baking skills! You can drop them off beginning Sunday, June 3 in the basement kitchen or during the week in the ministry center. VBS Craft Items Needed Do you have fingernail polish at home that you aren t using anymore? We are in need of any color fingernail polish, sports stickers, narrow satin ribbon (any color), curling ribbon (the kind used to make bows with any color) for crafts during Vacation Bible School. Please put donations in the marked box in the Heritage Room. We will be decorating the church on Wednesday at 3PM for VBS! All are welcome to come and help. VBS teachers and helpers we will be having a short meeting on Thursday, May 31st at 6:30PM to talk about VBS and gear up for the VBS week! 11
Have you ever considered opening your home to an exchange student? International Cultural Exchange Services is searching for families in our area that would be interested in hosting an exchange student for the upcoming 2018 school year. There are many interested students who need families to host them. There are students from the following countries; Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Thailand, Finland, Vietnam, and Russia looking for an awesome and loving family who would love to host them. To learn more about the benefits of hosting and sharing your life with one of these awesome students, or any other available exchange student, please send us a Facebook message, make a post, comment, or email one of our representatives below. ICES regional director Kim Shreve at kshreve@icesusa.org Local coordinator TJ Hall medictj10@gmail.com 12
My First Church provides our members with 24/7 access to their membership information & giving records. All members who create a secure log in have access to their own personal information and only connected members may access their data or the membership directory. Our system is called Access ACS and is available through our website or the Church Life mobile app. Once you create a log in you can: Submit changes to your personal information. View your giving history. Set up online giving (one time or recurring) Register for events. Volunteer for activities. View an up to date church directory. Download the ChurchLife Mobile App. 13 How do I sign up? 1. Go to our website www.firstchurchnk.org & click on Online Giving 2. On the next page select "Need a login? Click here" 3. My First Church will verify that you are in the church database and send you an email with a username and startup password. (If you encounter problems, First Church of New Knoxville may not have your current or preferred email address in the church database, so please email the church office at firstchurchnk@nktelco.net to update or add your email address so you will be able to log in). 4. Use the username and password from the email to log in and create your permanent password. You will now be able to login and use My First Church.
Did you know that the Daily Disciple is available online in full color? It s in PDF format and perfect for viewing via your laptop or favorite smart device. If you would like to receive an email with a direct link to the online color version of the newsletter instead of the printed version you can email us at firstchurchnk@nktelco.net with your name OR Text us at 419-405-FCNK [3265] with your name and email address. 14
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 Text your name and remove to 419-405-3265 to be removed from our newsletter mailing list.