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September 14, 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!
BLESSINGS A familiar song to the church is "Count Your Blessings." The thought in counting our blessings is to name them one by one. Today, we enthusiastically count those blessings which money cannot buy. It is easy to think of the thinks we have in response to financial acquisition. However, we must pause in reflection of the things that we value in order to remember all of the ways in which we are blessed.
Matthew 13:16 reminds us that we are blessed with eyes that see and ears that hear. In this passage we are called to think of our blessing of sight beyond the physical eyes. We are challenged to think of all of the ways we can hear beyond the physical ears. Our continuous spiritual journeying instructs us to hear more clearly and lovingly with the heart. That heart understands more than the physical senses can perceives. It receives the glow of knowing Jesus as Lord.
Each holiday my family and I join together to reflect upon all of the ways that we are blessed beyond that which money provides. At Brumskin School in Buchanan, Liberia in West Africa, I watched a gathering of more than 100 children in the auditorium sing with all jubilation "It Is Well With My Soul." They did not sing because of material possessions, or the wealth of money rather out of the joy of knowing God as Sovereign King and Lord.
Let us be a blessing to the lives of those in our neighborhood, remembering the world is our parish.
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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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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VISION STATEMENT
The Vision Statement is being presented in small group settings.
Any member of the church can facilitate a group of sharing on the Vision Statement. Your group might be a card group, bible study, UMW circle, etc.
Please contact Pastor Gwen at the church office if you are interested in facilitating a group. Pastor Gwen has prepared a monologue for the facilitator of a group. Discussion groups last from 20-40 minutes.
Each member is asked to participate in a focus group for your input.
Thank you, Pastor Gwen
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Big Event This Sunday! 
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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Adult Bible Study 
Attention Life Long Learners:
Beginning September 23, 2012, the Adult Sunday School class, under the leadership of JC Sells, will resume its study in the 13th chapter of Mark.
An inquisitive mind and a Bible are requested.
We will meet in the library from 9:30am to 10:30am every Sunday.
God will bless you for all your efforts and faithfulness, JC Sells
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Golf Outing
Cancelled for this month. Not enough people enrolled.
It will be scheduled for some time in the spring.
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Classroom Supply Drive
Thank you for all your contributions to the Classroom Supply Drive. The teachers will be able to give out supplies to the children in their classrooms as the need arises. The teachers will be able to help kids who are unable to get all the supplies that they need for the whole school year.
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Willing to Give Time One Sunday a Month?
We need your help! If you can give one Sunday every four to six weeks, please give us a try. Read a Bible Story to the children, do a craft, a science project, show a Bible video. We have lots of materials to choose from. You name the Sunday.
If you want more information, please call Joyce Dalton @ 874-5832 or leave your name and phone number in the Church office and we will get back to you. Please give prayerful thought to helping build the future of our Church.
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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 at 872-7200 as soon as possible.
Due to privacy policy, the hospital no longer calls 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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Homebound Ministries
Marcella Ratcliffe was in St.AnthonyHospital for a week and a half but was released to stay with her daughter for several weeks during her recovery. Cards can be sent to her at:
Marcella Ratcliffe
c/o Kim Glasgow
3459 Schultz Drive
Lansing, IL 60438
Becky Lute was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend for tests. Please pray for her and the doctors administering the tests.
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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, Kevin & Marijo Novinger, Dorothy Nowak,
Marcella Ratcliffe, 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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Reading List for the Week 
We join with Protestants around the world who are reading, studying, and meditating on passages in accordance with the Standard Sunday School Lessons for 2012-2013.
Mon, 9/17 Listening to the voice of Warning Ezekiel 33:1-9
Tue, 9/18 Listening to the Spirit Revelations 3:1-13
Wed, 9/19 Anticipating a Better Covenant Hebrews 3:1-7
Thu, 9/20 Giving Thanks for the Faithful 2 Thessalonians 1:1-7
Fri, 9/21 Loving With Godly Love Matthew 5:43-48
Sat, 9/22 Pursuing Peace and Holiness Hebrews 12:12-17
Sun, 9/23 Offering Acceptable Worship Hebrews 12:18-29
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Thank You
Special Thanks to Robert Payne and his crew at Payne's Forks in rural LaPorte for donating their time, talents, and materials to sandblast and powder coat our "Wedding Candelabras". They look wonderful!
We have said a prayer for Mr. Payne as he requested.
God Bless ... Joyce Dalton
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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
10:45 a.m
Worship Service
at Creek Ridge Pavilion
Noon
All Church Picnic
at Creek Ridge Pavilion
4:45 p.m.
Youth Bells
6:00 p.m.
"Come As You Are"
Cafe Service
Pam Jenks
"God's Word
Is Powerful"
Monday, Sep 17
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Soup Kitchen
7:00 p.m.
Gambler's
Anonymous
(Community Partner)
in the Library
Tuesday, Sep 18
6:00 p.m.
Memorial Handbells
Wednesday, Sep 19
10:00 a.m.
Overeaters
Anonymous
(Community Partner)
in the Chapel
2:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Seniors-in-Action
Bible Study
(Community Partner)
6:00 p.m.
Contemporary Choir
7:00 p.m.
Chancel Choir
7:00 p.m.
Alcoholics
Anonymous
(Community Partner)
in Middle High Room
Thursday, Sep 20
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Soup Kitchen
5:30 p.m.
Ladies' Night Out
(12 On The Lake
Restaurant)
Friday, Sep 21
Office Closes
at Noon
Saturday, Sep 22
Sunday, Sep 23
8:15 a.m.
Worship Service
9:00 a.m.
Children's Choir
Practice
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Children, Youth, & Adult
Sunday School
10:45 a.m.
Worship Service
4:45 p.m.
Youth Bells
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Local Mission
This Month:
Michigan City
First United Methodist Church
Soup Kitchen
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Hospital Visitor
This Week:
Marlene Woodfield
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Altar Flowers
This Week
Provided by:
Ralph & Jeanette Leonard in celebration of
their 67th Anniversary
and
Jeanette's 89th Birthday
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Our
Worship
Services
on PBS TV
Cable Channel 99 Wed 2:30pm Fri 4:30pm Sun 7:00pm |
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