Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Psalm 133:1 The newsletter of First United Methodist Church of Waynesburg April 2018 Dear Friends, When you receive this newsletter, Holy Week and Easter will be upon us. It is such a busy time of year with all the services. We will have five services in four days this sure keeps people hopping! For all of you who had a hand in these services Thank you! These services could never have been carried out at First Church without your time and effort. I pray that everyone received a blessing and are closer to Jesus Christ as we pass through this Lenten Season, Holy Week and Easter. As I was thinking about this letter, I had a picture of the communion table piled high with pieces of bread and the cup. Bread enough for everyone. So many people need to receive the presence of Christ. Very few of us are called to be an evangelist like Billy Graham was. All of us are called to share Christ; called to share our faith. All of us are to live lives that through our actions and words, through our everyday living we share Christ. This is what we call relational evangelism. We are with people we know everyday. How do we relate to them? Do they know that we are a Christian? How do we relate to those people we do not know and just happen to meet on the street? Will they know that we are a Christian by our actions? There is a song: We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, we are one in the Spirit we are one in the Lord. And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. And they ll know we are Christian by our love, by our love. Yes they ll know we are Christians by our love. Through the events of Holy Week, we are one in the Spirit and we are one in the Lord. Jesus Christ is the bread piled high on the table the Bread of Life for the world. Are we willing to share this Good News with those people around us as we relate to them every day? Are we willing to pray that all unity may one day be restored? May we live today and every day, as Jesus Christ would have us live! In His Service, Rev. David S. Lake Pastor David Lake s Office Hours: Varied (9-12 a.m. T-F) Church Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Please join us for Sunday Services: 8:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. F.I.S.H. Club 9:30 a.m. Children plus Adult Ed Classes First United Methodist Church 112 N Richhill St Waynesburg, PA 15370 724-627-5951 firstumcpa@windstream.net www.waynesburgfirst.org
Holy Week & Easter Worship Schedule March 29 Maunday Thursday: 7 p.m. March 30 Good Friday: Noon Mar. 31 Living Last Supper: 6 or 7 p.m. April 1 Easter: 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. worship; 9:30 a.m. Breakfast and 10 a.m. Children s Easter Egg Hunt April 8 Easter Cantata (10:45 a.m.) Children s Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 1st at 10 a.m. Mission is most impactful when: 1. We know God our Master deeply. 2. We make sacrifices for the sake of others. 3. It is done through a community of people. The prayer focus for April is that following the celebration of Easter, those who are hurting within our community would see the power of the hope that only Jesus brings. Pray for those battling addiction, depression, and pain or sorrow of any magnitude. May we share the hope of Jesus to those we come in contact with this month both to loved ones and strangers. Prayer Team There will routinely be a prayer team at the overflow area following the 10:45 service. Anyone who would like to be prayed for immediately following the service is encouraged to see one of the members of the prayer team. The Cherry Door Needs Donations and Volunteers : Cherry Door proceeds go to the Washington Health System Greene Auxiliary which benefits the local hospital s greatest needs. The Auxiliary also provides scholarships for nursing students and students in a health related major. They need: Lightly used clothing, shoes, purses, jackets, etc. for men, women, and children. Also, housewares, small appliances, suitcases, lamps, books, linens, small furniture, picture frames, DVDs, cassettes, toys, baby accessories, etc. Please no large furniture, TVs, or large appliances. Space is limited. Your donation could be tax deductible. Tax forms are available. To volunteer your time please call 724-627-6291
GENERAL FUND 2018 MONTH INCOME EXPENSES PROFIT/(LOSS) JANUARY $ 19,859.65 $ 26,112.16 $ (6,252.51) FEBRUARY $ 21,515.61 $ 22,855.58 $ (1,339.97) MARCH $.00 $.00 $.00 APRIL $.00 $.00 $.00 MAY $.00 $.00 $.00 JUNE $.00 $.00 $.00 JULY $.00 $.00 $.00 AUGUST $.00 $.00 $.00 SEPTEMBER $.00 $.00 $.00 OCTOBER $.00 $.00 $.00 NOVEMBER $.00 $.00 $.00 DECEMBER $.00 $.00 $.00 *NOTE: Figures in parentheses are negative. *NOTE: Figures do not include in-church transfers. Youth Schedule for April April 1 Happy Easter! No youth group tonight! April 8 Youth Group from 5-7 pm with dinner, games, and a lesson. Bring a friend! April 15 Escape Room April 22 Youth Group from 5-7 pm with dinner, games, and a lesson. Bring a friend! April 28 Trip to Moraine State Park for kayaking, disc golf, and fishing. Meet at the church at 9 a.m. and return around 8 p.m. Bring money for lunch. Ongoing events throughout the year: Every Monday: Drop-In s at West Sides in West Waynesburg from 6:30-9 pm. This is a time to hang out, play games, eat food, and hear a great message. Every other Thursday: * All guys are encouraged to come to a Young Men s Bible study held every other Thursday at Alex s house for Bible discussions and food. We will be going through the book of John. *This schedule is subject to change. Please don t hesitate to contact Alex if you have any questions! Cell Phone: (724) 504-7699 Office Phone: (724) 627-6055
Church Kitchen Needs Please keep in mind that the church kitchen is always in need of certain items. There is not a budgeted line item to fund these purchases, instead they are supplied by individuals and groups who use the kitchen. As you are shopping, please consider purchasing an item or two to restock the church kitchen. You can just drop it off in the kitchen and someone will be happy to put it in its proper place. Items that are always needed: Foil & saran wrap Sugar packets and sweetener packets Powdered creamer Styrofoam cups Zip lock bags of every size Liquid dish detergent Cereal bars and juice boxes for Sunday School breakfast (for those of us who sometimes forget when it s our turn to provide this J) Inexpensive bulk napkins and paper plates Dish rags and towels.whatever you use in your kitchen at home is needed in the church kitchen Thanks to all the folks who have been supplying these items all along..you are appreciated, even if no one knows who you are! Your 2018 Offering Envelopes are in the church office and can be picked up anytime. Anyone who would like envelopes assigned to them, please call the church office at 724-627-5951. Volunteers Needed: Meals on Wheels is in need of volunteers! Also, Blueprints is looking for Ombudsman volunteers. Call: 724-852-2893 or 877-814-0788 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Blueprints (formerly Southwest Community Action) is in need of retired and senior volunteers to help them during the daytime. Please call Jill at 724-852-2893 Ext. 520 if you are able to volunteer your time.
Money is one of God s gifts to people. Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his toil this is the gift of God (Eccl. 5:19). Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his toil this is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Solomon, who penned this verse, was one of the wisest people who ever lived. When Solomon succeeded his father, David, as King of Israel, God said to him, Ask for whatever you want me to give you. Many of us would have answered differently than Solomon did. We would have asked for wealth, for beauty, for possessions or for material things of some sort. Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge so that he might properly rule over the nation of Israel. And because he did not ask for riches or wealth, God gave them as well as wisdom and knowledge to him in abundance. One of the areas in which Solomon s wisdom was prevalent was in the matter of wealth. That s why in our text for today from Ecclesiastes 5:19, Solomon describes wealth and the enjoyment of wealth as a gift from God. As we have seen in previous presentations, God grants mankind the ability to earn that which belongs to God Himself: money and wealth. But then He goes a step further and proclaims through His servant, Solomon, that we are to enjoy this provision, for both the wealth and the enjoyment thereof are a gift of God. Some people, of course, carry their enjoyment to an extreme. They abuse their wealth, this gift of God, by thinking that their enjoyment is all that matters. They excel in the enjoyment of their wealth to such an extent that they forget the foundational principle that all that we do including using our money is to bring glory to God. A pastor once was encouraging his congregation to give, and he said that some present that morning could not give. The reason, he said, was that they had left God s money at the shopping mall. In other words, they had placed their desires and their pleasure before what they should have given to God and to their church. How do you view money today? Do you realize it comes from God, that just as He gave to Solomon of old, He also gives to you? And in your use of the wealth that God has entrusted to you, are you glorifying Him? As you consider how to glorify God through your money and wealth, and as you consider the offering this morning, remember the words of missionary Jim Elliot, who was martyred in 1956 by the Auca Indians in South America: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
March 2018 Erin s Café News The News this past month is we have moved to providing bag meals and are cleaning up by 7:00 PM. That is the plan, but sometimes plans change. Just last night we were setting out to leave early when a family of 15 arrived (Grandma and two adults plus13 kids - all related some way). Luckily, we had planned for 50 + people and had enough filled bags and sandwiches. They went to the park to eat, so we closed up by 7:20 PM. We never know! The University students have been faithful servants and three may work over the summer. If you have flirted with the idea of getting to know the Café, summer would be a good time to start -- May through August. Call me at 724-998-1302. We will give you days that work for you. Work hours and clean up are very short with bag meals. Please think about it. Rides Needed..Can you help? Many of you know that Dawn Yeager is the janitor at our church. Dawn does a very nice job and is faithful to her task. Dawn does not drive and therefore is in need of someone to transport her to/from work. Dawn lives off of Valley Farm Drive (a short distance past the Humane Society) about 4 miles from the church. Dawn s usual schedule is Mon, Wed and Friday. She is normally picked up at home between 9:30-10am and picked up from the church to return home at 2:30pm. Currently there are only a few individuals providing the rides for Dawn and we were hoping that a few more folks would be willing and able to share the load. After all, many hands make light work! We are trying to create a schedule for the entire month so individuals and can sign up and plan accordingly. However, if you are scheduled and something comes up, it s not a problem. We will find another ride for Dawn. And, in the event of bad weather, Dawn will cancel and reschedule her cleaning days. If you would like to help out and provide a ride for Dawn even a few times a month, it would be greatly appreciated. Please see Janice (724-998-1302) or Connie (724-852-1252) at church or cmhart@windstream.net
Mission House May 18 will be our first anniversary of operation. We have hosted 25 units of folks needing temporary housing for various reasons. That translates to 176.5 days and 70 people. (22 were a choir, LOL) The Wellness Fair mentioned last month is scheduled for April 11, 2018 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. To date, we have engaged Cornerstone Care for dental hygiene demos and Blueprints (formerly Community Action) to staff a station to help young families. We will take your BP and discuss stress. We will help folks figure out how to budget income. Nutrition info and simple at-home exercise demos will be available. Weather permitting, we will have a sand box to entertain kids outside while adults talk to various station reps. Finally, we will give our guests chits to take to for a nutritionally balanced meal in a bag. Everyone is welcome to attend the Fair even if you are just curious about the house and what it is intended to do. Check out the garage apartment while you are at it now that it is empty. MISSION HOUSE purpose is to support groups and activities positive for local, state, and regional purposes and to aid in the general welfare of our neighbors. One day it will belong to the First UMC. Let s make it work, together. Janice Gottschalk, Board Chair/President Rada Products for Sale Frances Crawford has Rada tomato knives and paring knives on hand for sale (both black and stainless steel handles.) The tomato knives are $5.25 and the paring knives are $4.75. See Frances if you wish to purchase any. Rada products are always available with a catalog and order forms in the church office and through Frances Crawford. Sunday, April 15, 2018
Prison Ministry Update Our prison update this month is so special..we just know that you ll enjoy hearing about what God is doing with this ministry! A few weeks ago, a lovely lady showed up at the church looking for the choir. She wanted to deliver a note to the choir on behalf of she and her husband, an inmate at SCI Greene. She didn t even know which Methodist church we were and first visited with Washington St. who directed her to us. At the urging of our beloved pastor s wife Leanna, she delivered the message verbally to the Wesley Class where most of the choir members attend. And, how thankful we were to receive their precious message and words of gratitude! Her husband does not attend our 40 Days of Purpose study on Tuesday evenings because he works that evening. He is simply one of the many (nearly 100) faces in the audience when we attend Sunday evening worship services when Pastor Bill Sukolsky preaches or when the choir presents the seasonal cantata. Here are their words Dear Choir members & Pastor Bill, My husband, who is incarcerated at SCI Greene, has asked me to please deliver a message to you. My absolute favorite times of the year are when you come to minister in the Word of God and song!! Pastor Bill, you handle the text so well, and apply the Bible so practically to life. You are always such a blessing!! Choir members, you sing not only beautifully, but the music chosen is music that speaks to the heart. I always receive such a blessing and go back to my cell so enriched and encouraged in my spirit!! Christmas becomes Christmas when you come and sing the beautiful cantata. Thank you each one for your labor of love and unselfish giving! I always pray that God will bless your serving Him by giving of yourselves and time to us. Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered.and do minister. We were exceedingly blessed by their words of gratitude and give God all the glory for allowing us to be part of His awesome work at SCI Greene. We will perform the Easter Cantata on Sunday evening March 25 th and pray that God will minister to even more hearts of these precious brothers in Christ. As always, we covet your prayers for this ministry (Hebrews 13:3). Connie Hart, Shirley Baily, Rex Gardner, Pastor Bill Sukolsky and Teresa Roberts
Choir Practice Bell Choir Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. April Birthdays 1 Janice Gottschalk 3 Abby Lipscomb Sandra Alderson Greene County Hymn Sing April 8 at 7 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant UMC in Dilliner May 12 at 7 p.m. at Valley Chapel UMC in Brock "Prayer for a Brighter Greene will continue on the third Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. at the Greene County Fairgrounds (Building #9). Next meeting Tues., April 17, 2018! 8 Richard Ketchem 9 James Hegyi 10 Bryce Cree Braiden Duell 11 Carol Wise David Lake 12 Dawn Yeager 13 Katherine Beale 15 Melissa Bennett 17 Emma Mankey 19 Russell T. Clark 20 Mary Anne Evans 23 Adam Ridout WE WANT YOU... Care &Share is not a 1, 2 or even 3 person job. It takes many people. Although we have many on our list to help, we wouldn't want to leave anyone out that would like to be of service. Do you like to cook? Could you use your time to take someone to an appointment? Do you have time to sit and visit? Do you have the talent to build or repair, or climb a ladder to change a light bulb for someone that can't? Please see or call Jeanette Lindsay (724-984-0262) or Janet Cree (724-627-8957) if you'd like to share your gifts & talents for the Lord. Pray always ~ without ceasing! Please call prayer requests to: the church office at 724-627-5951 If you would rather email, send them to Wayne Hart at: wahart@windstream.net (Subject: Prayer Ministry) 28 Linda Mariner 30 Wayne Kapp Did we miss anyone s birthday? Call the church office or send an e-mail to get your special day in the newsletter Call 724.627.5951... Announcement List April 1...Youth April 8.....KC Waddel April 15...Rich Waddel April 22....Wayne Hart April 28....Rich Waddel
April 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 EASTER 8:30 & 10:45 Breakfast 9:30 AM Easter Egg Hunt 10 AM 8 Cantata 5-7 PM Youth Group 7 PM Greene County Hymn Sing 15 Native American Ministries Sunday Youth Group 2 3 4 5 9 16. 10 11 17 18 7-8 PM Kid s Café 7-8 PM Kid s Café 6:30 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir 12 6:30 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir 19 6:30 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir 6 7 13 14 20 21 22 Earth Day 5-7 PM Youth Group 23 Newsletter Deadline! 24 6 PM Missions Committee 25 7-8 PM Kid s Café 26 6:30 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir 27 28 9 AM-8 PM Youth Trip to Moraine State Park 29 30 NEWSLETTER ARTICLES ARE DUE TO THE CHURCH OFFICE BY Monday, April 23rd or earlier.