Pastor Ruth Reflects In & Out Of The Pews Quarterly Newsletter April May June 2017 Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It s a stormy night. The wind blew hard all day, and it is still blowing. We had an Ash Wednesday worship service with the children who come for PrayZ Night and the adults who braved the bad weather to be there. I really enjoy having a worship service with the children. They take it very seriously. I try to explain what some of the practices and words mean. Two children handed out programs, and two were thrilled to serve as candle-lighters. We sang the song, Lord, I want to be a Christian. The verses of the song, Lord, I want to be more loving, and Lord, I want to be like Jesus, help us understand what it means to be a Christian. We had a chance to think about what we need to change, what we need to stop doing, or what we need to do more of to be like Jesus. Everyone took time to write down what they need to do or what Children are not just the church of the they need to stop doing. future. Children are the church now. As they came to get the ashes on their foreheads, they placed the cards in our dead branches tree. We ask for God s help, and I will burn all the cards as a prayer. (After the wind dies down). We heard a story about Jesus deciding to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-62). Several people were called to follow him but did not go. One asked to follow Jesus, and Jesus said, Foxes have holes, and birds have a nest, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. Jesus asked another person to follow him, but he said, First let me go and bury my father. Another said, I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family. We had a duffel bag that was full of stuff, too much to carry to follow Jesus. We had to decide which things we really needed for the journey. We decided not to take the cast iron skillet, the giant book or the ipad, but we needed a sleeping bag, Bible and water. We went through other things: gossip, name-calling, bullying, anger, hatred, prejudice. We decided not to take those with us on the journey. There were some words they didn t quite know, but they all hollered No! when we got to name-calling and bullying. Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Matthew 19:14) Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Star City United Methodist Church Dan s Fish & Chicken Thursday, June 22 4:30 7:30. All the Dan s fish and chicken you can eat, applesauce, coleslaw, homemade desserts, Carry-outs available! Summer Block Parties Mark your calendars for fun and fellowship. Wednesday, July 13 Bike ride (via the Panhandle Pathway) to Dairy Queen. Please meet at the church at 5:00 PM with your bike or join us at the Dairy Queen for dinner and fellowship. Wednesday, August 3 Pizza, haircuts, bouncy house, health screenings, healthy snacks, gift bags, entertainment, face painting. We start at 6:00 PM. September (date TBD) Bike parade through Star City. Meet in the church parking lot with your bike at 5:45 PM. Parade begins at 6:00 PM. We ll have hot dogs, PrayZ Night information and kid s games.
2017 Budget & Six Year Comparison Star City United Methodist Church The budget was presented by last year s Finance Committee and approved by the Administrative Team. If you have questions, please ask anyone on what is now called the Finance Team. Bread of Life Food Pantry Press Release February 2017 The Bread of Life Food Pantry at Star City United Methodist Church has completed all requirements and inspections to partner with Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette. Pastor Ruth Waite, in making the announcement, said, We are very excited by the opportunity. Through this partnership, the food pantry in Star City will be able to provide more food and more nutritious food to those in need in Pulaski County. The food pantry at Star City United Methodist Church will celebrate two years of service in April. Over 30 families are served every month. The food pantry is open to residents of Pulaski County on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Photo: Adam Meyer, from Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette explains procedures to Troy and Becky Weston, coordinators of the Bread of Life Food Pantry at Star City United Methodist Church
What s On Our Website? Church Calendars Lay Leadership List Sermon Recordings Newsletters Back To 2014 Information about UM Church Take a look! www.starcityumc.com *************** Support Our Nursing Home Ministry Star City UMC is just one church providing ongoing ministry to Pulaski Health Care Center. They rely on our presence to provide a meaningful worship experience to residents. The Sundays we are scheduled in 2017: April 9 July 30 November 26 Please put these dates in your calendar. Services begin at 2:30 in the main dining room. *************** Membership Mailing In a continuing effort to keep our mailing list up-to-date (our mailing expenses down and the mail we send out relevant), we ve sent a request to many people who have not been in contact for a while. If you hear from someone that received a letter, please assure them we welcome their membership, but we want to hear from them that they wish to retain it. One choice they can make is to give up their membership but continue to be on our mailing list to hear what s happening, In & Out Of The Pews. ABC Promise Partnership Bottle Caps for Benches How many lids does it take to make a bench made from recycled plastic lids? Gobs of them!! Actually approximately 500 pounds, depending on what style and size bench is chosen. Imagine ten 50 gallon plastic bags full of caps and lids. Now that is a gob of lids, BUT we are half way to the goal as we now have 5 bags ready to go. Thanks to any and all who have contributed lids or helped in any way. Caps Medicine bottle caps Detergent caps Toothpaste tube caps Drink bottle caps Spout caps Ointment tube caps Lids Cottage cheese container lids Yogurt lids Ice cream bucket lids Coffee can lids Butter container lids Not Acceptable Metal of any kind Fast food drink lids Lotion pumps Milk jug caps Hair spray caps Deodorant caps Flip-top caps Spray paint caps Mayonnaise jar lids Peanut butter container lids Cool Whip container lids Cream cheese container lids Trigger sprayers Soup pumps No Bottles!!!! Please clean your caps! And take off any attached cardboard or aluminum. With all acceptable caps, we are looking for a recycle number of 2, 4 or 5. We will also take medicine bottles and vitamin bottles (minus personal info) if they have a recycle number of 2, 4 or 5. Silent Movie Classic: King of Kings King of Kings is a 1927 epic silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It depicts the last weeks of Jesus before his crucifixion and stars H.B. Warner. The opening and resurrection scenes are in two-color Technicolor. It will show at the Opera House on Friday, April 7, at 7:00. Free will donations will benefit the Pulaski County Historical Society.
Coins For Lent During Lent, the forty day season before Easter, we are reminded once again to examine our lifestyles and ask, What can we do for others? Lent is a good time to commit to giving two kinds of treasure to the church and the community. One treasure is time. Another treasure is money. We give because of all that Jesus gave for us. He came that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). It is through his example of self-giving love that we taste the abundant life only Christ can give. Last year the congregation generously gave about $4,000 through the Lenten offering to shine the light of Christ throughout the community. We are thankful that we are able to continue to share God s love with others. Because of the unexpected expense of repairing the damage from a frozen pipe in our cooling system, this year the offering will go to the building fund. Much of the repair cost was covered by insurance, but we did have some additional costs. There is a tradition during the forty days of Lent for Christians to give up something. Families have chosen a wide variety of things, from television viewing (a time commitment) to chocolate (a money and health commitment). A distraction is set aside for a purpose that brings higher satisfaction. For instance, your family may choose to do without a weekly visit to a fast food restaurant. A simple meal at home can become a special meal. Each family member can participate in some way. Talk together about the amount of money that was saved by eating the simple meal at home, then place the savings in a jar or another container. Plan a brief devotional that connects the simple meal to the Lenten theme. On the first Sunday of Lent, March 5, during the Lord s Supper, we will also have the opportunity to make a commitment to God and ask for God s help with what we plan to give up or offer to God. You are encouraged to pray for the church and the community each Sunday. The Lenten giving season begins on Ash Wednesday (March 1) and concludes with Holy Saturday (April 12). On the Sunday following Easter (April 23), we will ask that you give this special family offering to the church. You will receive a special envelope before that time with which to submit your treasure. May the blessings of God be with you this Lenten season and throughout the year. (A daily guide for family giving is available at the church.) Easter Worship Wednesday, April 5 PrayZ Night. Meal 6:00 PM, followed by Lost Lamb Hunt & Easter Story. Sunday, April 9, 9:30 AM Thursday, April 13, 7:00 PM Sunday, April 16, Easter Sunday 7:00 Sunrise Service 7:30 Breakfast 9:30 Traditional Easter Service
Celebrate! Birthdays April 10 Jason Brantley 26 Alan Daily May 12 John Fritz 13 Brynlee Bonnell 14 Alena Day 19 Pat Heisner 20 Tabby Chapman 28 Brendan Day June 05 Jess Daily 05 Dave Newman 12 Merna Daily 12 Barb Halleck 22 Jonathan Johnson Anniversaries May 18 Troy & Becky Weston 26 Bill & Sue Peppers June 03 Tom & Tressa Capper 10 Wayne & Marylou Bonnell 12 Tom & Barb Halleck 17 Chuck & Nancy Brust United Methodist Appointments District Superintendent, Bishop, & Bishop s Cabinet Decisions In some denominations, pastors are called to a certain congregation, but In the United Methodist Church, pastors are sent to their appointments by the Bishop and the Bishop s cabinet. There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems, and God is able to work through both of these differing systems. As a student, I was appointed to two churches in rural Illinois, just over the river from Vincennes. There were two other churches in town, both of which had been without a permanent pastor for quite a while. In the Disciples of Christ Church, that congregation called a pastor about a year after I arrived, but fired him less than a year later. The Presbyterian Church had an Interim pastor when I arrived, and had just called a permanent pastor shortly before I left nearly two years later. The advantage to a call system is that the congregation has more say in who is to be their permanent pastor, while the disadvantage is that a congregation may go for long periods of time without a permanent pastor in place. In the United Methodist Church, the District Superintendents are charged with getting to know both pastors and churches in their area. When a church asks for a new pastor, or when a pastor asks for a new appointment, the Bishop and the District Superintendents meet together and, with God s guidance, try to make the best match between pastors and churches to advance kingdom of God. The advantage is that a church receives a new pastor in a timely fashion; the disadvantage is that the congregation does not get as much direct say in who the new pastor will be. As an ordained elder, I am required to go anywhere the Bishop sends me. If I did not believe that God works through the Bishop and the Bishop s Cabinet, I would not have handed over so much of my life to their control.
Fuller Center For Housing Pastor Ruth s Epic Summer Trip Most of you have heard by now that Pastor Ruth is planning an epic bicycle trip this summer. When Pastor Ruth was in high school, a friend from church camp surprised her one day by riding his bike to her house. He lived about thirty miles away! That was the first time she had ever heard of anyone riding a bike that far. When she went college, she met a man who, after his senior year, had ridden his bike across Wisconsin with a friend. They carried all their camping gear on their bikes. At the end of the trip, one of them rode the bus back to the starting point to retrieve the car. Pastor Ruth liked hearing about his adventures and ended up marrying him a couple of years later. A few years later they tried the same trip together with friends. Around the same time, there was a new organization founded called BikeCentennial. A couple of young adventurers had completed a Hemistour from Anchorage, Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. The trip was 18,272 miles long and was completed in three sections from 1972 to 1975. While on that trip, they got the idea of planning a mass bicycle ride across the US to celebrate the bicentennial in 1976. Pastor Ruth has been on many week-long bicycle trips, some where she carried her own gear and some in which it was carried on a truck. In the back of her mind, though, was always the idea that someday she would take a trip across the US. Seeing her 60th birthday nearly upon her made her think that if some day didn t come soon, it might never come. She started working with a trainer last May, thinking that if she trained a whole year, she could probably get ready for such a trip. Interestingly, she also believes that God is leading her to take this journey. Several times when she was having her morning devotions, or when studying, she suddenly had the thought, I should go on a pilgrimage! For her, the bicycle trip across the United States is that pilgrimage. She is going with a group, the Fuller Center for Housing, founded by Millard and Linda Fuller after their departure from Habitat for Humanity, which they also founded. The group will be hosted by churches of various denominations along the way and will also have several work days building or repairing houses with local people. Pastor Ruth was excited to learn that there is a covenant partner of the Fuller Center for Housing nearby in Logansport. She has been in contact with the group by e-mail and learned that they just recently were able to present the house keys to a family and have a few projects on the schedule for the summer. The purpose of the ride is to raise awareness of the problem of poverty housing, and to raise funds for the Fuller Center for Housing. Those funds then go to local groups and families to alleviate poverty housing, providing a decent and simple place to live. Families receive an interest free loan, and when they pay it back that money goes into providing another family with housing or home repairs. Pastor Ruth s fund-raising goal is $5000. If you want to learn more about it, you can check out the website: www.fullercenterbikeadventure.org/summer/. Read about Pastor Ruth on www.fullercenterbikeadventure.org/summer/theriders/cross-country/. Star City United Methodist Church 2347 East Main Street, PO Box 277, Star City IN 46985 www.facebook/star-city-united-methodist-church www.starcityumc.com / info@starcityumc.com Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.