John Stewart United Methodist Church

Family Newsletter

May 2016

Spring Planting: Growing Love

“I believe, but I don’t need that

organized religion stuff.” These

words, or some variation are all too

often repeated by people who follow

God, who don’t reject Jesus, but who have decided they don’t need the

“church.”

Too many Christians have fallen into a pattern of falling in love

with God without working to deepen that love relationship. And is this

any surprise? Our relationship with God mirrors the exact same pattern

of how we are in relationship with each other: We fall in love, expecting

that our first hours of romance will carry us indefinitely. But this is

simply not true. To live a fully mature and rewarding human relationship,

one must not only “fall” in love, but must also “grow” in love. One must

not only “fall” in love with God, as a first step in Christian living, but

must “grow” in love with God. This means that Christians are committing

to a way of life that involves lifelong learning—a learning that leads to a

deeper and deeper ability to love God and love neighbor.

Unfortunately, too many religiously active Christians have settled

for the romance relationship with God rather than submitting

themselves to the work of deepening their relationship with God.

Growing in love with God is not just about practicing all the right

behaviors that we practiced when we first surrendered our lives to God

through Jesus Christ. We may worship regularly, read our Bible

regularly, say our prayers regularly, and even volunteer as a community

servant regularly. Yet, this is not enough. If our worship attitude has

not changed from the beginning, if our way of Bible reading has not

changed from the beginning, if our prayer form has not changed from

the beginning, if our approach to community service has not changed

from the beginning, then maybe we are not “growing” in our love with

God.

So here’s the challenge: Have we truly “grown” in our love with God

lately? If so, how do we know? Is worship more about God than about

our own desires? Is our Bible reading more about the desire for God to

speak to us rather than our desire to confirm what we’ve already

believed? Is prayer more about listening than speaking or thinking? Is

community service more about other persons needs than our desire to

be noticed? So, take the test. Are we growing in love with God?

“I believe, but I don’t need that organized religion stuff.” Perhaps

we’ll hear these words less often as we commit ourselves to growing in

love with God. Yes, we who are most active in the life of any

congregation confess that we have not always stayed on the grow in love

with God path. We have wandered. May we come back to the path,

encouraging one another, leading one another, and loving one another as

God has loved us.

Blessings! Pastor Brian

PRAYER CALENDAR

May 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Praise God for

His goodness.

2 Pray for a cure

for cancer.

Ask God to guide new Christians.

4 Pray for comfort for those mourning the loss of a loved one.

5 National Day

of Prayer – Thank God for USA’s right to pray with a group without fear.

6 Praise God for His grace.

7 Pray that the

students will have a safe Prom night.

8 Mother’s Day Thank God for your Mother who gave you life.

9 Be with

students who are having difficulty learning in school.

10 Give

caregivers the strength and patience they need.

11 Thank God

for our prayer chain persons who so willingly talk to God for others needs.

12 Ask God to

forgive you for gossiping about someone.

13 Pray for

someone who feels trapped in a hopeless situation.

14 Pray for our

school teachers..

15 Pentecost Thank God for sending us His Holy Spirit.

16 Pray for

newlyweds to keep God in their lives.

17 Thank God

for your gift of faith.

18 Thank God

for an answered prayer.

19 Be grateful for nurses. .

20 Give us

patience.

21 Thank God for always being with us in our journey of life.

22 Help me to

be patient when God says “Wait.”

23 Thank God

for His gift of Eternal Life.

24 Pray for safety for travelers during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

25 Help me to

make prayer a part of my decision making process.

26 Thank God

for people who have influenced you during your life.

27 Help me not to worry but to trust in God!

28 Help me to

share my faith with others.

29 Be with those

facing surgery.

30 Memorial

Day Remember those who have gone on before you to be with Jesus.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.

*FOR YOUR INFORMATION*

**DON’T FORGET ABOUT BECCA’S CLOSET FOR ALL OF YOUR FORMAL

NEEDS. CALL THE OFFICE AT 419-294-2867 TO SCHEDULE AN

APPOINTMENT

OUR YOUTH ARE GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN YOUTH MISSION WORK CAMPS

THIS SUMMER. THE FIRST GROUP WILL BE HEADING TO BLUE KNOB PA ON JUNE

12-17. THE SECOND GROUP WILL BE HEADING TO COPPERHILL TN ON JUNE 19-25.

PLEASE CONTINUE IN YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY

FOR OUR YOUTH. Appalachian Mountain Mission Trip Blue Know PA

In the town of Altoona and the surrounding areas in the Appalachian Mountains, mission trips allow youth to serve

families and ministries in need through hands-on projects. These projects include painting, home repair, roofing and

building wheelchair ramps. Local churches and missions will also be served during this mission trip as groups lend a

hand to help maintain and improve their facilities, showing the love of Christ throughout an area in need.

Lodging: Groups will stay at apartment style college dorms at Penn State University, Altoona campus. Our housing

location is in a beautiful mountain setting with plenty of outdoor recreation areas and hiking trails. All meals are

provided except two lunches and two dinners during free time.

Area Adventure Activities & Attractions: Whitewater rafting, swimming, hiking trails, amusement park, Hershey

Amusement Park & Pittsburg

Fun and Christ-Focused Mission Trips in Appalachia Copperhill TN

Youth groups will experience an unforgettable week of hands-on mission projects, exciting music and programs, and

group-building high adventure activities. Our Copperhill camp is located in Tennessee, just miles from Georgia and

North Carolina, allowing for service projects in all three states. Youth groups have the opportunity to reach out and

minister in these areas where closed businesses and industries have left people with little means to provide for their

families. Mission trip work focuses on home repair and renovation; however, it is the relationships formed with those

served that will be remembered forever.

Lodging: Whitewater Camp is in a beautiful mountain setting with bunk houses, chapel, sports fields, dining hall, and

high adventure facilities. All meals are provided except two lunches and two dinners during free time. **Please note:

some of the terrain at Copperhill can be a little tough on individuals as it is in the mountains.

Evening Adventures at River Camp: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings after dinner and before chapel, group

activities are included such as: climbing wall, swing by choice, river swimming trips and sports challenges.

Free Time Adventure Choices: During free time on Thursday and Friday, groups will have the opportunity to purchase

packages for adventure activities at Whitewater Express.

H.O.P.E ~ Helping Others through Purpose and Encouragement. Reaching out to those

dealing with chronic illness to offer education, information, service opportunities, coping skills

and support through a faith- based approach.

We’d love to have you and your family member or caregiver join us for our next meeting. And

please note that you are welcome to attend just one or all of the meetings whatever works for

your schedule!

May 11 Debbie Dilley, Patient Navigator, “tips for staying organized through diagnosis and

beyond”

May 18 “An afternoon of HOPE: a field trip to offer hope and encouragement to others”

May 25 Picnic Gathering (location to be announced)

Meetings will be held in the 2nd floor Patient Education Room (except where noted) at Wyandot

Memorial Hospital

For more information please contact Karen at 419-294-3267 or email Lori at

lgrine1962@gmail.com

John Stewart’s Call

From the book, Missionary Pioneer, John Stewart (man of Colour) By

Joseph Mitchell.

Published in 1827

In this situation he remained for some time, bewailing his wretched case,

when as he walked out one evening he heard the sound of singing and praying

proceed from a house at no great distance. It proved to be a Methodist prayer

meeting. His prejudice at first forbade his going in; but curiosity prompted him

to venture a little nearer, and at length he resolved to enter and make known

his case, which he did to the few who were in attendance. Here he was

encouraged to seek with all his heart the last blessing. Soon after this he

attended a Camp-Meeting, where he remained for some time with a heavy heart,

and disconsolate mind. He at length resolved to distinguish himself by taking

place among the mourners of the assembly, where he lay deploring his case all

night, ever until the break of day, at which time “the sun of righteousness” broke

into his dark bewildered soul. Peace, and “joy in the Holy Ghost” now succeeded

and he could shout “glory to God in the highest,” with “The morning starts” that

witnesses his deliverance. Not until then were the deep rooted prejudices

against the people called Methodists removed from his mind. It was then that

he untied himself to the people, and their God to be his God. For the space of

three months he went on his way rejoicing, prosperously laboring for body and

soul. About this time, being one evening at private devotion, suddenly he heard

a sound which much alarmed him: and a voice (as he thought) said to him-

“Thou shalt declare my counsel faithfully,” at the same time a view appeared to

open to him in a Northwest direction, and a strong impression was made on his

mind, that he must go out, that course into the world to declare the counsel of

God.

Christian Food Center:

Most needed items:

Canned Meats

Canned Fruits

Canned Vegetables

Canned or boxed Potatoes

Canned or Boxed Soups

Peanut Butter

Jelly

Canned or Boxed Meals

Canned or Dried Beans

Pasta

Rice

Cereal

Pancake Mix & syrup

Toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, bar soap, laundry & dish detergent, etc.)

Box Tops for Education are still being accepted. The United Methodist Women send them to

Red Bird and McCurdy Missions. A blue box with yellow tape for the labels is in the Library

Room. Thank you for your continued support in this mission

Mission Statement: To faithfully make disciples for Jesus Christ through worship, education, service, and outreach.

Vision Statement: “To continue the ministry of John Stewart through Worship, Education, Service, and Outreach to the

Community, Nation, and World.”

PRAYERS FOR HEALING:

Wayne Geissinger Luke Morris (Band Director, Jason Morris’ Son)

LONG TERM AND EXTENDED CARE CONCERNS:

Remember these persons with a card, call or visit

Susan Kibler Jim Gottfried Jim Herring Rev John Hoover Jack Houser Rosie Jordan

Martha Kuenzli Joan Leigh Neva McEldowny Mike Rothlisberger Bob Titus George Walton

MILITARY:

Ryan Graham Tony Jones Bill LaRowe Nathan Kuenzli Matthew Turk Bryan A Grove

CONDOLENCES FOR THE MONTHS OF MARCH & APRIL:

The Family of Molly Gamber

The Family of Dorothy Wolfe

The Family of Ida Mae Brown

Wednesday Community Meals @ 5:30 pm

Help is needed for our Wednesday Community Meals. Needed are people to

set up tables and chairs, and clean up after the meal. The meal does not have

to be anything special, just something you like to prepare.

If you have questions contact Scott Goodman.

Prayers and Squares

Ministry:

The Prayers and Squares organization began in 1992 in

California as a response to the question: “what can we do to help folks who are in the

midst of a challenge, health needs, etc?” The members from John Stewart UMC are

chapter #968 of the organization. Everyone recognized the fact that quilts have become

prayer quilts as a result of the prayers that are tied into them. It is not important how

large or small it is, how simple or intricately patterned, the emphasis of our ministry is on

prayer.

Ours is a caring ministry, not a celebratory one. Prayer quilts are appropriate for

anyone who is experiencing physical, emotional, spiritual, or some other life crisis, and

who feels they could benefit from being ‘covered in prayer’ with the quilt being a tangible

sign of God’s ever present Grace, available to all of us.

We share in the task together on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. until around noon. We

always dedicate the early gathering time to prayer led by Rev. Catherine Hiner.

Since our beginning on June 14, 2010, we have completes and distributed nearly

250 prayer quilts to folks living in our area. Their response has shown the gratitude we

all feel to be a part of this ministry together.

The quilts were sewn and tied together by our group working together, although

some of the ‘tops’ were designed and created while working on them individually, and

some have been a collective project with individuals creating ‘blocks’ to be sewn together.

It is in the tying of the threads that will then be knotted by the congregation, friends and

fellow worshipers, that the concentration of prayers are included.

Projects added to our list of accomplishments include preparing almost 300 small

placemat sized quilts that were given to the Wyandot County Council on Aging as gifts to

those who receive Meals on Wheels. Many quilt tops created and donated to campers at

the Paul Newman “Hole in The Wall Gang Camps”, one being located south of Mt. Gilead,

Ohio. Also quilts for the patients at the James Center of Ohio State University Hospital,

as well as quilts donated to the local pregnancy center and Quilts of Valor donated to

Ohio Veteran’s centers, and for three years we created nearly 300 medallion pieced

donations to Hospice of Wyandot County that were presented at memorial services, and

most recently we created tote-bags that brought donations to a Youth Mission Trip.

The first Friday of each month we have what we call a “Sit and Sew”. During this

time we work on many of the projects that keep our fingers and sewing machines busy,

creating quilts and pillow cases of craft scraps that are sewn and donated to the Wyandot

County Humane Society as pillows for the animals in their care. We always seem to have

something to share together too!

Beginning in late 2011, we began a new opportunity of crafting “Pocket Prayer

Quilts” made especially to be slipped into your pocket or purse. Throughout the day when

your fingers touch the cross that is tucked inside the little quilt, may you be mindful of

God’s love and grace for you. A small basket is placed at each entrance to the church

and contain many of these small Pocket Prayer Quilts. It is our hope that you will feel

free to take one; or more to share with someone who might have recently asked for

prayers from you, or our church family. The Pocket Prayer Quilts are a tangible symbol of

God’s peace. Say a prayer and pass one along in the form of a tiny gift to remind

someone of that everlasting love. For further information, please call President, Cathy

Hiner at 419-429-9909.

John Stewart United Methodist Women (UMW) hosted their annual Mother-Child dinner on

Sunday, May 1, 2016. Members and guests were served by men of the church. Northwest

Plains UMW Shepherdess Barbara Coats offered table grace. Tables were decorated by

Susannah Hope Circle using a Snoopy theme with Charles Schulz cartoon character favors.

Food was provided by the Sisters in Faith Circle. As a culmination of a month-long mission, the

UMW coordinated the collection of monetary donations in baby bottles for Voice of

Hope/Bethel Ministries.

The evening program, arranged by members of Myrta Moody Circle, was provided by Earl

Musick from Bucyrus. Mr. Musick is a professional cartoonist, humorist, illustrator, comedian,

spokesperson, and humor writer. His cartoon work has appeared on the web, in movies, on

television, in newspapers and magazines, in books, as greeting cards, as calendars, as t-shirts,

as posters, as coloring books, as comic books, in advertising, and much more. He was the

featured guest on a PBS special about careers in cartooning and was filmed for a PBS special

featuring the business of clean comedy. Throughout the evening’s program, Mr. Musick

interspersed anecdotes from his many endeavors with his sketches and shared his Christian

faith and calling. Signed sketches of cartoon characters were given to some of the children

present.

L-R Carol McPherson, Myrta Moody Circle member, Earl Musick, cartoonist

Upcoming Sermons:

May 8 “Maturity: Can’t Say Enough.”

May 15 “The Power Behind Our Tools.”

May 22 “Do You Know What’s Next?”

John Stewart United Methodist Church

Family Newsletter

February 2016