The Messenger Monthly Newsletter of Hillcrest United Methodist Church August 2017 2017 Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church In early June I made my annual trek to Annual Conference (AC), which is a combination of conducting the business of the United Methodist Church in Indiana along with inspirational teaching, preaching, and worship. A mission outreach highlight of the AC was that over $400,000 ($300 from Hillcrest) had been donated for the Indiana Miracle Offering for Global Health, which will be used for treatment, education, and support for 40,000 people/families who are affected by HIV/AIDS and malaria. One of the other exciting events for me, at least, was a simulcast event from Epworth Forest in which the newly built Bishop Mike and Marsha Coyner Discipleship Center was dedicated. This new building replaced the old auditorium which was well past its prime. In preaching and teaching events, Rev. Joseph Daniel, Rev. Kim Reisman, Rev. Larry Whitehead, Bishop Julius Trimble, and Bishop Latrelle Easterling all shared inspirational preaching and teaching moments from reflecting the light of Christ into the lives of those around us, to remembering that we re the only translation of God s love that some will ever see so we re to walk worthy of our call in Jesus Christ. If you want more information or more in-depth reports about the business the AC conducted and highlights of the preaching and teaching, please see the Indiana Conference website: www.inumc.org/ac17summary. Pastor Mike * * * * * * * * * Indiana North District Lay Servant Academy Anything Is Possible! God calls every one of us to proclaim His presence and power through all that we say and do. How is God calling you to serve? With so many avenues of training, Lay Servant Ministries offers you a valuable education in multiple ministry areas. A Lay Servant is: An active, supportive, professing member of a United Methodist Church. Eager to serve the church, community, and the world. Well-informed on scripture and doctrine, heritage, organization, and life of the United Methodist Church. Committed to witnessing through church and community leadership, care-giving ministries, and spoken communication. Willing to improve his or her skills by training for service. Classes include: Spiritual Gift Discernment, Beginning Preaching, Advanced Preaching, Leading Bible Study, Organization of the UMC. Cost is $15 plus associated material cost for the chosen workshop. Join us at Trinity UMC Warsaw every Sunday from September 10 to October 1. Trinity UMC is located at 832 E. Center St., Warsaw, IN 46580. Classes begin at 1:00 pm ET and end at 4:30 pm ET.
THE MESSENGER PAGE 2 This n That Susanna s Kitchen Our next day of serving is August 7. Questions? Contact Henrietta McCaul at 264-1688. Our August Caregivers Support Group will meet on Thursday, August 31, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Pastor Mike s office. Anyone is welcome to attend. Cathy Bloss Both Harbor Light Hospice and Heart to Heart Hospice are looking for volunteers. If you are interested or know of someone who might be, here is the contact information: Harbor Light Hospice: Diana LaBonne dlabonne@hlhin.com 574-254-1041 or 800-662-8889 Heart to Heart Hospice: Karin Fisher hearttohearthospice.com 574-855-4475 Both are located in Mishawaka. August Special Days Celebration August birthdays and anniversaries will be celebrated Sunday, August 6, in the HeBrew Café after the worship service. Everyone is welcome as we eat cake and sing to those of our congregation with special days in August. Cake Schedule: August: Bill Moore September: Cathy Bloss October: Jo-Ann Smeltzer November: Rene and Dave Wenger December: Bev and Larry Slaughter If there are any questions, please see, call, or e-mail Tracy Donati: 849-2803, tldon78@aol.com. On the last Wednesday of every month, except for December (the third Wednesday), The Lerner in downtown Elkhart offers a free lunchtime concert. Doors open at 10:00 a.m. and the show starts at 11:00. The August 30 show will feature HiFi2WiFi. This band got their start in 2006, but made some changes in 2010 to reflect their love of bringing live music to the people. Melding this love with creating new music and re-imagining old and new favorites, HiFi2WiFi entertains by fusing Classic Jazz with R&B, Rock with Soul, and Pop with Funk. For more information about LunchtimeLive!, you can go to www.thelerner.com or call The Lerner at 293-4469.
THE MESSENGER PAGE 3 Primetimers Thursday, August 17 Sloppy Joes gather @ 11:30 with lunch @ noon Are you enjoying your summer? I hope so because it is going by fast. I am excited to introduce you to a young lady by the name of Christy. Christy is a dog trainer who trains service dogs and other dogs. She will be telling us about the dogs she trains and may be able to bring a dog with her. She will take questions at the end of her presentation. If you love dogs, you won't want to miss this meeting. It s still $2; bring a dish to pass. We welcome everyone, and even if you can t bring a dish, we will let you join us anyway! Thanks and God bless. Enjoy your day! Jane Hershberger P.S. Don't forget to sign up. It just helps us to plan better. on August 17. Hillcrest Community Childcare Ministry It is hard to believe, but our summer is coming to an end already. Our Latchkey children go back to school Our annual Preschool Get Acquainted night is on August 22 at 6:30 p.m. Our enrollment is still open. Our Daycare classes are all full, which is wonderful! Thanks, Harry Sims, for keeping our playground safe and fun! Teresa Irelan HCCM Director MOSES In the Footsteps of The Reluctant Prophet by Adam Hamilton Upcoming DVD Bible Study You Won t Want to Miss! Beginning in September in the Adult Lifestyles Class It doesn t get much more dramatic: rescued baby, life in the courts of Pharaoh, parting the Red Sea, leading his people out of Egypt Moses life was one challenge after the next. Although he resisted God s calling, by the end of his life he successfully fulfilled the role he was given. Join award-winning author Adam Hamilton as he travels from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, the Nile, the Red Sea, and the wilderness exploring the sites of Moses life. As Hamilton shares historical information, archaeological data, and Biblical text, you ll gain a better understanding of Moses significance in your life today, and you ll discover how you, too, can turn your own reluctance into boldness. Everyone is welcome for this very interesting Bible study. If you would like to participate and aren t currently attending the Lifestyles Class, please contact Patty Moore by August 27 to order a participant book for $5. Not only will you enjoy the book, you ll enjoy the fun and fellowship we share every Sunday, too. Is God nudging you to participate? Hope so! Patty Moore, Facilitator Mark Your Calendars! Elkhart County CROP Hunger Walk Sunday, October 1st Island Park, Elkhart Registration: 1:30 pm Walk begins at 2:00 pm
THE MESSENGER PAGE 4 August s Mission of the Month Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, Inc. Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County, Inc. is a non-profit organization working in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to build decent, affordable housing for people in need. Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County builds houses in partnership with qualifying partner families and sells the houses at no profit with affordable mortgages. The program also prepares partner families to become successful Habitat homeowners. Steps involved in becoming a Habitat Homeowner include attending an informational meeting and going through the application process. Once approved, the Program begins. All prospective Habitat homeowners are required to complete 250 "sweat equity" hours. This includes participating in the construction process of their home, as well as the homes of other partner families. Families are required to attend at least 20 weeks of financial and home ownership classes. The training program provides families with a sound foundation of knowledge designed to boost home ownership success. Volunteers are the heartbeat of Habitat. Volunteers consists of individuals, corporate groups, faith groups, student groups, and anyone and everyone wanting to make a difference with families. No experience is necessary, and all of the tools are provided. The ReStore is a retail store open to the general public that sells new and used building materials, cabinets, appliances, home decor, furniture, and more at 25 to 90 percent below retail prices. Donations of new and used materials are the lifeblood of the ReStore. They can be dropped off at the ReStore during regular business hours. **Hillcrest s work day with Habitat will be August 19 from 8 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at 1931 Belmont Avenue in Elkhart. We ll be doing final finish work as well as providing water and lunches. A sign-up sheet is available.** Thank You, The Missions Committee Scoutmaster Minute by Ronn Foster Summer camp has come and gone. Wow! What a great time. We had 21 boys and eight leaders attend. The 21 boys wound up earning around 100 merit badges in addition to all of the fun they had. The weather was perfect, too. We had warm days and cool nights, perfect for sleeping outdoors. Troop 117 would like to thank everyone at Hillcrest for their thoughts and prayers during camp. Now is no time to rest, though. We are busy planning our next outings before winter hits us. We have a troop picnic in the works as well as trips to Chicago, Kalamazoo, and wherever else we are led. Please continue to pray for us as our ministry continues to grow.
THE MESSENGER PAGE 6 August Birthdays 2 Bob Whitmer 14 Kate Ferro 5 Don Griffith 17 Teresa Irelan 6 Denise Hensley Margaret Smith 11 Allen Nord 21 Jami Franks Anniversaries 20 Terri and Robb Longacre 24 Sharon and Mike Schafer 28 Cindy and Jim Heim In the Know Please let the church office know of any corrections. Your Presence July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 62 65 74 69 Why Grandma Gave One Sunday as she was getting ready for church, a grandmother received a call from her daughter. Can you watch the kids while we re out of town next week? the daughter asked. Grandma was so thrilled she put an extra $5 into the offering plate that morning. The next Sunday, after her three young grandchildren had returned home, she put in an extra $20. Here is the recipe for the popular salad that Nancy Rowe brought to the last Primetimers: Cherry Coke Salad 1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple 1/2 c. water 2 pkgs. (3 oz. each) cherry Jello 1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling (I used 2 cans minus some syrup) 3/4 c. cola Drain pineapple, reserving the juice; set fruit aside. In saucepan or microwave bring juice and water to a boil. Add Jello; stir until dissolved. Stir in pie filling and cola. Pour into serving bowl. Refrigerate until slightly thickened (check after 15-20 min.) Fold in reserved pineapple. Refrigerate until firm. serves 10-12 Lifestyles Class Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In August we will continue the United Methodist Quarterly study on God s Urgent Call. How can our daily life styles reflect our faith walk with Jesus Christ? Do we answer God s call to serve Him, even though it may require learning new ways of thinking, believing, and relating? In this summer study, we are learning of people in the Bible whom God called to lead. In spite of the uncertainty, doubt, fear, hostility, and rejection, God s faithful people ultimately found deep gladness because they answered His call and lived obediently. Join us for a time of study, fun, and fellowship as we continue to learn how God calls each of us to lead and serve. The Lifestyles class meets in the HeBrew Café classroom and is facilitated by Patty Moore. Why not join us for a Sunday to find out why this class has grown!
THE MESSENGER PAGE 7 Staff Parish Relations Committee Did you know... we have been so blessed to have Anna Vukmirovich as our song leader for the 9:00 a.m. worship service this summer. She will be attending Indiana University soon, so her last Sunday with us will be August 6. We thank Anna for her service to Hillcrest this summer and wish her the very best as she begins her college experience. We also thank Dan Vukmirovich for the piano accompaniment he provided Anna on occasion. The spirit of God s presence was felt during our worship service through the beautiful music provided by Anna and Dan. Thank you again! It is the pleasure of the Staff Parish Relations Committee to welcome two new employees to our 9:00 a.m. Worship Service. Molly Kellner will be filling the position of song leader, beginning Sunday, August 13. Molly is a very qualified and outstanding vocalist, having graduated from Butler University in 2016 with a degree in music. Molly currently is the assistant choir director at Elkhart Memorial High School and also directs the choir at Northside Junior High. Many of you have probably had an opportunity to meet Molly the last few Sundays in the HeBrew Café. Her attendance in the worship service recently has been appreciated as she familiarizes herself with Hillcrest. We look forward to having Molly as part of our Hillcrest staff. Joel Lininger will be filling the position of pianist. Joel is currently studying music at Bethel College. He is an outstanding pianist and also enjoys singing with the Bethel Choir, as well as playing percussion in some ensembles. Some of you may have seen Joel perform at one of the Bethel Christmas or spring concerts. Joel will join us on Sunday, August 27. He is already familiar with Hillcrest since his mother, Julie, is our Administrative Assistant. It will be great to have Joel share his musical talents with us as we worship and praise God on Sunday mornings. We thank God for answers to prayer in filling these positions. Hillcrest is blessed to have such young, qualified, and talented musicians join our staff. Please welcome Molly and Joel! Thank you. Patty Moore, Chair El Refugio Church Thanks for your prayers for our VBS. We had a total of 12 kids in attendance. Child Evangelism Ministries came to teach the Bible class. Overall the kids loved it, the moms were engaged in helping, the Gospel was presented, and saved kids were challenged with their walk with the Lord. Prayer request: For our personal family support. We are only at about 20 percent support; we would really appreciate your prayers for God to continue to provide for our needs as He has been. Thanks for being part of our ministry in reaching the lost for Jesus. Pastor Francisco and Lisa Collio Refuge Baptist Church Multiplying Disciples of Jesus
THE MESSENGER PAGE 8 HILLCREST WOMEN S MINISTRY 2017-18 Women s Ministry Board: Nikki Behne and Cathy Bloss, co-leaders; Terri Longacre, board member; Martha Sims, advisor Our Women's Ministry prayer: Father, thank you for helping us to grow closer as a sisterhood in your service. Help us to be compassionate and to support each other, to accept our differences gracefully, and to show appreciation for the contributions of others. Remind us to be aware of the impact that our small services may have on others. We ask your blessing on our sisterhood. Amen. Circle of Friends Stamping Ministry Wow, this summer is going so fast. School starts in a month and then soon after that the bazaars will start. We are working on an assortment of greeting cards, including all new Christmas cards. We hope you will like them. Because our expenses keep going up, we ll need to raise the price of our cards. Beginning the first of October, all cards will be $3.00, so stock up and take advantage of our prices now. If you have questions, please let us know. Marilynn Anson L.I.F.T. (Ladies In Fellowship Together) 1st Tuesday of each month 9:00 a.m. Perkins Restaurant (107 North Pointe Blvd., Elkhart) Our L.I.F.T. group will meet August 1 for breakfast. The ladies' group meets monthly, and all women are invited to attend our Christianoriented time together. 17 women attended our July breakfast. A sign-up sheet is located on the hallway bulletin board, but if anyone is unable to be at church to sign up, please come anyway. Hillcrest Women s Book Club Thursday, August 24, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Hillcrest Narthex The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman (2012) After the horror of World War I, Tom Sherbourne welcomes his new job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, an isolated island with no residents aside from him and his wife, Isabel. But times on the island are tough for Isabel as she suffers multiple miscarriages and a stillbirth in just four years time. When a boat with a dead man and a young baby washes ashore, Isabel convinces Tom to let her keep the baby as their own, but the consequences to her actions may be dire. Newcomers are always welcome to join the club discussions. We invite you to help us choose the books we read, discuss, and find new ways to enjoy. Artistry in Bloom Tuesdays from 10:00 noon Fellow painters, crafters, friends, and helpers: We invite you to our class on Tuesday mornings. Stop by for a visit to see if you would enjoy it, also. We will help get you started. Carol Hartranft and Carole Julian Women s Meeting August 8, 6:15 p.m. In the lounge area outside Julie s office This is a meeting for all women who would like to have input in our women's ministries for this next year. If you have any questions, please see Nikki Behne.
THE MESSENGER PAGE 9 Serving in Worship Date Scripture Readers Greeters Ushers Communion Media August 6 Patty Moore Sharon Chism Bill Moore Diane and Gari Lewandowski Lorraine and Bob Whitmer Marci Morey August 13 Chuck Vredingburgh Sharon Chism Bill Moore Sharon and Stan McSorley August 20 Marci Morey Sharon Chism Bill Moore Nancy and Jerry Rowe Tracy Donati August 27 Terri Longacre Sharon Chism Bill Moore Martha and Harry Sims Itty-Bitty Builders HeBrew Café Tuesday, August 8, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Thanks to the ladies of Artistry in Bloom for welcoming Itty-Bitty Builders to share their meeting space on the second Tuesday each month. Our ladies are all very congenial, and we re getting to know each other better. In July, Itty-Bitty worked on flowers to fill the pots and planters and painted birdhouses to be mounted on the fences. In August we ll continue painting, gluing, and arranging the miniature scenes. All tools and supplies are provided. Come play with us or just stop in to see what we re working on and make suggestions for items we might add to the scenes! Martha Sims, simsville3537@comcast.net 596-4918 or 264-9740. Beauty in Jars of Clay One Day Women s Retreat September 16, 2017, 8:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Dunlap UMC, Elkhart $25 See more info on the narthex bulletin board. Christ s Hands In World War II, bombs destroyed a church in Strasbourg, France. As parishioners cleared the rubble, they discovered a statue of Jesus that was now missing both hands. A visiting sculptor later offered to make repairs, but church members declined, saying Christ has no hands to minister to the needy or feed the hungry or enrich the poor except our hands. He inspires. We perform. St. Teresa of Avila wrote: Christ has no body but yours; no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours.
Hillcrest United Methodist Church 4206 East Bristol Street * Elkhart, Indiana 46514 E-mail: secretary@hillcrestumc.comcastbiz.net Web site: www.hillcrestelkhart.com STAFF Pastor: Mike Butler 574-274-5114 m.h.butler@comcast.net 9:00 a.m. Pianist: Anna Vukmirovich the 10:30 Worship Leader: Dan Vukmirovich Administrative Assistant: Julie Lininger secretary@hillcrestumc.comcastbiz.net Ministry Council Chair: Janice Dean Trustee Co-Chairs: Gari Lewandowski, Harry Sims Staff-Parish Chair: Patty Moore Hillcrest Community Childcare Ministry: Teresa Irelan, Director 574-266-7427 hccmdir@gmail.com WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHEDULE 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship 10:00 a.m. HeBrew Café fellowship 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Service and Adult Studies 2:00 p.m. El Refugio Church CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: August 18 Looking Ahead: Susanna s Kitchen Monday, August 7, 10:30 a.m. SPRC Tuesday, August 8, 6:30 p.m. Trustees Monday, August 14, 7:00 p.m. Primetimers Thursday, August 17, 11:30 a.m. Ministry Council Monday, August 21, 6:00 p.m. Brentwood Service Sunday, August 27, 1:30 p.m. Caregivers Support Group Thursday, August 31, 1:30 p.m. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Review of Annual Conference 1 This n That 2, 3 Missions Scoutmaster Minute Calendar 5 In the Know 6 Ministry Updates 7 Women s Ministry 8, 9 Serving in Worship 9 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68, NIV 4