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August 24, 2012
Weekly Blurb
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Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for Transformation of the World
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Welcome to
First United Methodist Church
of Michigan City
Greetings!
This month First United Methodist participated in the service of Holy Baptism of one month old, Aidan Griffith Foley. Baptism is more than a celebration. It is a mandate to the believing community. Jesus gave instructions to the disciples as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you..." with parallel text in the Gospels of Mark, Luke, and John. We must always be in partnership with the Holy Spirit's ministry of drawing persons to respond to the call of Christ, of being a disciple. The service of Holy Baptism reminds us of our baptism and baptism covenant.
Once baptized, individuals no longer belong to themselves; rather, as recorded in Galatians 3:27-28, "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." We are initiated into fellowship with Christ's holy church. As members of this holy church, in remembrance of being outside of the faith and wondering about in search for direction, someone's hand of compassion touched another and said "come and go with me."
We are reminded "baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of the LORD, Jesus the Christ, through which grace we became partakers of his righteousness and heirs of eternal life." The sign is a testimony, to the faith community and the non-faith community, of boldness to proclaim faith in God's Messiah. Also, the sign is a testimony in our hearts courageously witnessing before the world the commitment to live a new life in the presence of God and acknowledging the power of God to rejuvenate hearts, minds and spirit.
On the last Sunday in August, this body of faithful followers will commune together renewing again our baptismal covenant as we participate in the Holy Baptism of four students now in the confirmation class. They will covenant with God and the church as we gather at a pre-designated location at Lake Michigan at the normal Sunday School hour.
Pastor Gwen
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To contact Pastor Gwen Roberts by email: gwen.robertsmc1st@sbcglobal.net
This is her private E-mail for church business.
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Our church is sponsoring
a classroom supply drive.
This year we will collect supplies for teachers to give to students as the need arises.
Please help support this ministry by bringing any of the following items: Crayons, glue sticks, dry erase markers, pink erasers, scissors, 3-hole notebook paper, pocket folders, pencils, pencil boxes, spiral notebooks, facial tissue, index cards (3x5), calculators, markers (washable).
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ENDOWMENT FUND GRANT INVITATIONS
Application forms for Endowment "Request for distribution of Fund Income" are available in the church office and are due no later than September 10. Any recognized and functioning church group may present a request within established guidelines.
The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to provide a means to fulfill special needs of the church in Christian Ministry and Mission. It is not intended that the Endowment Fund be used for the ongoing operating expenses of the church but rather provide funding for special projects, programs, or needs that arise outside of the general budget.
Recommendations of the Endowment Fund Committee are subject to Charge Conference approval.
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Get-To-Know-You Gatherings held at the church in small group settings provides an opportunity for you to know Pastor Gwen and for her to know you.
... Dates & times are posted on sign-up sheets in the narthex.
... Please register today for the date you would like to attend.
Gatherings are sponsored by Staff/Parish Relations Committee.
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Big Event Coming! 
An exciting event is being planned for
September 16 at Creek Ridge Novak Pavilion.
8:15 a.m. service will be held at the church.
10:45.a.m. service will be held at the pavilion
and followed by an all-church potluck.
More details on this exciting event will follow.
Plan on bringing any outdoor games you enjoy playing.
This will be a time of fellowship and fun for everyone..
Sponsored by Worship and Outreach Committees
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UnBirthday Celebration
Join us all for the Unbirthday Celebration in the Community Room on Sunday, September 9, at 9:25 a.m. in the Sunday School Hour.
You will have the opportunity to meet everyone who has the same birthday month as you have and you can decorate your own cupcake. Don't worry if you don't want a cupcake - come for coffee.
Let's pack the downstairs and have our friends from both services attend.
If you like to bake and would like to make cupcakes for our party - don't frost them - call Judy Commers, at 219-326-0597.
How many people can the downstairs hold? Our goal is to set a record number of people. Please don't miss this opportunity.
Judy Commers, Chairperson, Nurturing Committee
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Church Family
If you have a member of your family taken to the hospital or a nursing facility, please let Pastor Gwen know by calling the church office (872-7200) as soon as possible.
Due to privacy policy, the hospital will no longer call the church to tell us if someone from this church has been admitted to the hospital.
It is very important to Pastor Gwen to know when someone is admitted to the hospital or nursing facility in order to minister to the needs of the family member admitted and to the rest of the family.
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 Prayer Corner
Please keep these in your prayers:
Our United Methodist Church,
Bishop Michael Coyner,
Superintendent Cindy Reynolds,
Pastor Gwen Roberts;
other leaders, congregations, and missionaries;
those who serve our community;
people hurt by the recession;
military members and their families;
homeless people; lives in turmoil; people in transition;
home-bound and institutionalized people and their care givers.
Health and Recovery Issues:
Shirley Aigner, Gene Bancroft, Tina Carey, Brigitte Coan, Larry Dalton, Angie Davis, Daniel Davis, Elma Epple, Brandi Fox, Ruth Gabbert, Carson Gallagher, Carol Gilbert, Dennis Hippensteel, Wally Hook, George Jenks, Mike Kallahan Jr., John Lyness, Dorothy Nowak, Fred Simbro, Sandy Staback, Bill Staples, Madelyn Tedesco, Roxanne Yagelski
If you have someone listed on the prayer corner, please keep the office informed of their progress.
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Golf Anyone? 
Let's renew this fun event! It will be held at Muni-North Course on Sunday, September 23, at 12:30pm. Best ball twosome will be $5.00 per couple. There will be prizes. If enough people are interested, we will go out for supper after the golf is finished and award prizes. The sign up sheet is in the narthex. Let's have a great turnout for this event. If you have any questions, please call Wanda Jones at 872-1724.
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Articles Left in Office on Sundays
If you leave items in the church office on Sunday mornings,
please leave a note on them so office staff will know whose they are.
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This Sunday Services:
8:15 a.m Contemporary Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Children's Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. Children's & Adult Sunday Schools 10:45 a.m. Worship Service 2nd & 3rd Sundays of each month at 6:00 p.m. "Come As You Are" Cafe Service |
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Weekly
Calendar
Worship Service
9:00 a.m.
Children's
Choir Practice
9:30 a.m.
Children, Youth,
and Adult
Sunday Schools
10:45 a.m
Worship Service
Monday, Aug 27
11:30 am -1:00 pm
Soup Kitchen
7:00 p.m.
Gambler's
Anonymous
in the Library
7:00 p.m.
Staff/Parish Meeting
in the Narthex
Tuesday, Aug 28
7:00 p.m.
Trustees Meeting
Wednesday, Aug 29
10:00 a.m.
Overeaters
Anonymous
in the Chapel
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Game Night
7:00 p.m.
Alcoholics
Anonymous
in Middle High Room
Thursday, Aug 30
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Soup Kitchen
Friday, Aug 31
Office Closes
at Noon
Saturday, Sep 1
Sunday, Sep 2
8:15 a.m.
Worship Service
9:00 a.m.
Children's Choir
Practice
9:30 a.m.
Children, Youth,
and Adult
Sunday Schools
10:45 a.m
Worship Service
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Local Mission
This Month:
Michigan City Classroom
Supply Drive
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Hospital Visitor
This Week:
Joyce Dalton
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Altar Flowers
This Week
Provided by:
Ressa Golding
In celebration of
her birthday
August 28 |
Our
Worship
Services
on PBS TV
Cable Channel 99 Wed 2:30pm Fri 4:30pm Sun 7:00pm |
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