As I was preparing our Easter message, I was challenged with a couple of verses. Mark 10:43-45 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Dr. Robert J. Brink Senior Pastor Jamie Conkling Worship Arts Pastor KC Graves Pastor of Student Ministries Jerry Mitchel Pastor of Visitation Stacy Krull Director of Children s Ministries & Preschool Director Marge Harvey Day Care Director Nancy Krick Office Manager Notary Jesus had just shared with the disciples that he would be betrayed, handed over to the chief priests, condemned to death, and killed. And what is their insightful and sensitive response? James and John proceed to ask Him for the privilege of sitting on his right and left when he comes into his kingdom. Granted they did not have our years of hearing the Easter message, or even prophetic insight into what was to transpire. But still The response to these disciples and to us is that our claim to greatness flows out or our commitment to service. Not just service to Jesus, which would be much easier. It is a service to all. You and I are preparing for Holy Week. It will be upon us shortly. Can we hope to experience the greatness of Christ s great gift on the cross or is it for our glory, we are attempting to usurp the position and power of the one who is truly the GREATEST? Join Me in Worshipping the Greatest, Dr Robert Brink
Our church is in charge of the Community Dinner at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 1st. Workers, food, and monetary donations are appreciated. Sign up at the lobby table this Sunday, March 29th or call Judy Secaur at 724-3437. JR High & SR High Youth and Parents If you pre-registered for the No Strings Attached conference on April 1st, we will meet at the church at 5:00 pm for FREE pizza and off we will go. See Pastor KC for questions. SUNDAY APRIL 5th Items Needed: Chef Boyardee, Manwich, chicken Ramen noodles, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, red beets, peas Please put your items in the cart down by the office clearly marked Food Pantry. Men s Wild Game Night April 16th, 6 PM Come eat some meat!! April 4th 11 am - Noon April 26th - 6 PM Ladies, our annual Candlelight Dinner will be May 1st at 6 PM. Diana Graves will be our speaker this year. Sign-up is at the Welcome Center if you would like to be a table hostess. Ladies may purchase tickets beginning April 12th. ALL ARE INVITED!! It takes a village to raise a child On Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, at Decatur Church of God, there will be a presentation on the signs and symptoms of Child Abuse and Neglect and Drug Abuse. This presentation is open to EVERYONE and is FREE! Presenters will be from the Youth Service Bureau and the Drug Task Force. In 2013, Adams County recorded a 28.6% poverty rate, which is one of the highest rates in the State of Indiana. This is greatly concerning due to the fact that the higher the poverty rate, the greater the risk a child has of being abused and neglected. Drug abuse continues to rise significantly in Adams County. You will be educated on the signs and symptoms of child/drug abuse, how to make a report and remain anonymous, and why it is so important we ban together as a community and take a stand against Child and Drug Abuse. The Drug Task Force will educate you on the different forms of drugs, what signs to look for, and will have examples of various drugs being used. If even one life is saved, this presentation will be worth it for you to attend. For further information, please contact Janelle Coates at 260-726-8520.
MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH BITTERSWEET MINISTRIES Summer 2014 was a challenging and exciting time for Bittersweet Ministries. Seven groups traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to serve God. Some of the various projects they participated in included cutting hair, building six houses, teaching Bible schools, pouring cement slabs, and distributing beans and rice. We are extremely excited about some of the projects coming up this year. After nearly 30 years, the Community Center is finally getting a much needed make over. We will be tearing down the current center and building a new and improved block and concrete structure over the summer. This is a very large project and we need all the help we can get, both physically and financially. Our goal is to raise $50,000 for the entire project. Have you ever considered going on a short-term mission trip? Maybe traveling to a foreign country is not what you feel God is leading you to do. There is an opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip right here closer to home in the USA. A mission trip is planned in Kentucky to help the people in Appalachia. The Magley Salem United Church of Christ has invited you to join them on the trip they are planning in June. The Faith Promise Committee is looking for people wanting to be involved in short-term mission projects. Are you interested? Please contact Dave Anderson 260-639-6795 or Ron Hammond 260-728-9242 for more information. April 19th Are you a newcomer to the Decatur Church of God? Would you like to learn more about our church and spend some time getting to know your Pastors and other Newcomers? Come enjoy great food, make new friends and get to know more about our church. Join us on Sunday, April 19th immediately following Sunday School (about 11:30 AM) in the Fellowship Hall. Your April church bulletins will include a sign-up form for the lunch so we know how much food to prepare. Complete the form and turn it in at the Welcome Center in the church lobby. There will be someone there to answer any questions you have or call Mona Simerman #260-639-6102. I want to thank the Church and Faith Promise Committee for the assistance that was provided for my recent Dental/ Medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Also, thank you for praying for my trip. We were able to touch the lives of more than 1000 people. Ron Hammond Thank you for your Gideon Ministry support! The offering of $877 will furnish 175 hotel Bibles or 650 smaller New Testaments and Psalms or 877 The Life Book for High School youth groups. Precious Church family, Thank you for the beautiful vase of flowers. I had an unexpected few days in the hospital. God bless you for your thoughtfulness. Nancy Hackworth PRAYER FRESHENER FOR THE MONTH "Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian; not the thing that makes him alive, but the evidence that he is alive." Oswald Chambers
Author Evangelist Motivator MARK CAHILL Sunday, May 3, 2015 Mark will be here from his home in Atlanta, GA to share from his heart on his passion for sharing his faith. He will inspire us all! After the morning message, we will have a lunch together and then Mark will spend some time training us on how, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be soul-winners for the Kingdom too! The afternoon session starts at noon and you are encouraged to invite your friends! PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS: If you have a request to place on the Prayer Chain, please call one of our Prayer Chain Co-Coordinators Marilyn Frey #724-9521 Doris Poindexter #724-4088 If you need further assistance, please call the church office. If you need to reach one of our Pastors from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening, please call the Weekend-On- Call Pastor #724-2893. ITEMS DUE: April 15th
Weekly Services Sunday: 9:00 AM Worship & G.I.G.ville 10:30 AM Cross Training, Kid s Church, Sunday School Wednesday: 7-8 PM Family Activities & 56ers 7-8:30 PM Youth 7:00 PM Worship Band Practice APRIL 2015 MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH: Bittersweet Ministries Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 Easter 9 AM Easter Cantata Worship Service Gigville 10:30 AM Sunday School 6 7 8 AM DMA 1 Kitchen reserved 5 PM Community Dinner 1st UM 5-9 PM Youth No Strings Attached PM Easter Choir Dress Rehearsal 2 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Communion & Footwashing Service 9 6:00-7:00 PM Sanctuary reserved Preschool 6:30-8:30 PM DC4K SMC 7-9 PM Love Inc (FH) 3 Preschool & Day Care closed 1 PM Good Friday Service here Disc Closed (FH) 10 Disc Closed FH Back up date- New part carpet cleaning and halls 4 11 AM-Noon Easter Egg Hunt 6 PM Easter Cantata 11 12 11:30 AM (L) Impact meeting PM Home Groups 13 6:30 PM F&E (L) 14 9 AM Full Staff Mtg 15 16 FH/K reserved all day 6 PM Men s Wild Game Night DC4K Young at Heart to Branson, MO 14th-17th 17 Disc Closed (FH) 18 8-1 Sanctuary Reserved 9-Noon Drug & Child Abuse Session for adults 19 Newcomer Connection Lunch 11:30-3:30 PM RH/SMC/FH/K 20 21 6:30 PM B&G (L) 22 23 6:30-8:30 PM DC4K SMC 7-9 PM Love Inc (L) 24 Disc Closed (L) (L) 25 9:30-11:30 AM Helping Hands Ministry 26 9 AM Westward Road in concert GIGville 6 PM AC Swing Choir 27 28 29 30 Kitchen reserved all day 6 PM Elders (L) 6:30-8:30 PM DC4K SMC 7-9 PM Love Inc (L)
O N A H I L L March 29th 9 AM April 3rd 1 PM Here April 2nd - 7 PM EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 5th 9 AM Service Sermon: Who s the Greatest? December 14 at 9 AM The 2015 Easter musical, On a Hill Too Far Away will be presented on Easter weekend, April 4 & 5. On Saturday evening, April 4, the presentation will be at 6 pm. There will be refreshments to follow. Nursery for up to age 4 will be provided. On Easter Sunday morning, we will again have the presentation during our morning worship service at 9 am. Tickets are available at the Welcome Center to invite loved ones and friends to experience the Easter story told in an amazing way! You don t want to miss this weekend. Come see and experience On a Hill Too Far Away. On Sunday, March 22, Dr. Brink challenged us as a congregation to respond to John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. We claim to be servants of the King and devoted to serving Him and others around us. The challenge is to put our spiritual gifts, natural abilities, and our heart passion into practice. On Saturday morning, April 25 th, at 9:30 till 11:30 am, you are asked to bring your ability to serve to the Decatur Church of God where we will provide an opportunity to our congregation and our community to come and have their needs met. A sign-up list for those with abilities willing to share will be in the Sanctuary lobby for the next four weeks. Another list for those with needs will be there also. What are you willing to sacrifice? This is important if we want to move from good to great in God s eyes!