April 2016 - Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church
Transcription
April 2016 - Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church
Good News From Gobin April 2016 Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church 307 Simpson Street, PO Box 66, Greencastle IN 46135 765-658-6010 fax 765-658-6025 gobin@gobinumc.org www.gobinumc.org Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World Bryan’s Beat Bryan’s Beat Cont’d Gobin Choir News March Administrative Council Notes for the Newsletter Easter Worship Series—The Cup of Freedom 2 3 Support Our New Youth Group What’s Going On with Small Group Sunday School Classes? 4 April Birthdays Directory Updates Remembering These Individuals Serving on Sundays 5 Fruitful Congregations Journey United Methodist Women 6 Gobin Activities 7 Activities at Gobin 8 Briefing Previews 2016 General Conference Debates 910 Cont’d Gen. Conf. Briefings Transformers Article 11 Thank You from Getting Ahead The Meaning of Hospitality at the Getting Ahead Dinner 12 “What’s the Story with the Church on the Corner?” Bishop Coyner’s e-Pistle: 13 2016 Gobin Budget Sales Tax Exemption Numbers Check for February 14 Peace with Justice: Youth in Indiana Save the Date: Sat., May 7th— Relay for Life 15 The Summer Enrichment Program 16 N.T. Wright is one of my favorite living theologians. Wright, former Anglican bishop to Durham, England, is a prolific writer, having written numerous volumes on complex theological topics. Perhaps most helpful to me has been his work on the Apostle Paul, the Resurrection, and the end of time. A book on the latter, “Surprised By Hope,” should be required reading in our Methodist churches. And did I mention that Wright responds to my emails?! What follows is an excerpt from “Surprised By Hope.” I trust this will give you much to consider as we continue through these days after Easter: extra hymns and spectacular anthems. Is it any wonder people find it hard to believe in the resurrection of Jesus if we don’t throw our hats in the air? Is it any wonder we find it hard to live the resurrection if we don’t do it exuberantly in our liturgies? Is it any wonder the world doesn’t take much notice if Easter is celebrated as simply the one-day happy ending tacked on to forty days of fasting and gloom? …Easter week itself ought not to be the time when all the clergy sigh with relief and go on holiday. It ought to be an eight-day festival, with champagne served after morning prayer or even before, with lots of alleluias and ness was never meant to be merely negative…. The forty days of the Easter season, until the ascension, ought to be a time to balance out Lent by taking something up, some new (cont’d on next page) …we should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts, anything that comes to “But my biggest problem starts on mind. This is our greatest festival. Easter Monday. I regard it as absurd Take Christmas away, and in biblical and unjustifiable that we should terms you lose two chapters at the spend forty days keeping Lent, pon- front of Matthew and Luke, nothing dering what it means, preaching else. Take Easter away, and you don’t about self-denial, being at least a little have a New Testament; you don’t gloomy, and then bringing it all to a have a Christianity; as Paul says, you peak with Holy Week, which in turn are still in your sins… climaxes in Maundy Thursday and …if Lent is a time to give things up, Good Friday…and then, after a rather Easter ought to be a time to take odd Holy Saturday, we have a single things up. Champagne for breakfast day of celebration. again—well, of course. Christian holi- Page 2 Good News From Gobin (Bryan’s Beat continued from Page 1) task or venture, something wholesome and fruitful and outgoing and self-giving. You may be able to do it only for six weeks, just as you may be able to go without beer or tobacco only for the six weeks of Lent. But if you really make a start on it, it might give you a sniff of new possibilities, new hopes, new ventures you never dreamed of. It might bring something of Easter into your innermost life. It might help you wake up in a whole new way. And that’s what Easter is all about.” ~ Rev. Bryan Langdoc Gobin Choir News NO CHOIR REHEARSAL-Thursday, March 31, and NO CHOIR on Sunday, April 3. The choir has gone above and beyond the call of duty during the Lenten season! They deserve a week off!!!!!! Choir rehearsals will resume on Thursdays, beginning with April 7 from 7-8pm. All who enjoy singing are welcome to join us in the sanctuary!! March Administrative Council Notes for the Newsletter Asbury Towers – Pastor Bryan and some of our Lay Servants continue to serve communion to residents at Asbury on the first Sunday of each month after our worship service. Alisa Isaacs-Bailey and Marge Smith administered communion in March. We also continue to transport residents of Asbury Towers who wish to attend church on Sundays to and from Asbury. Currently John Schlotterbeck and Lisa Trigg take turns monthly in transportation, and Carol Sweet volunteered to drive also. FCJ: Phase III - Pastor Bryan should have a list of the FCJ team leader positions completed before our next meeting. He anticipated that the positions should be filled by the 10th of March. Missions Committee—It was announced that the Missions Committee will now be coordinating the Sunday fundraising brunches that fall on the third Sunday of each month. Each month beginning with April, the proceeds of the lunch will be donated to a specific mission or project. Trustees—It was announced that DePauw University will be funding an architecture design and planning firm from Indianapolis to assess and evaluate the church property. Their report should be complete and back to Dr. Casey, Dr. McCoy and Brian Kelshimer by the end of April. See page 6 of FCJ Success for more information about this. Summer Enrichment—John Schlotterbeck announced that the SEP Board has hired Julie Stevens to be the director of the Summer Enrichment Program for 2016. The SEP Board does have a person in mind for the Assistant Director, but at this time they are still waiting for an answer. Staff Parish Relations Team—Administrative Council approved a motion from Staff Parish to hire Lori Miller as interim Transformers Administrator with the stipulations that the pay not exceed $14 per hour and the position not extend past November 30, 2016. April 2016 Page 3 Easter Worship Series – The Cup of Freedom As Jesus followers, we are sometimes called Easter People. What does it mean to be an Easter People? Isn’t Easter only a day? Isn’t it simply a remembrance of a miraculous historical event? The answer to those last questions is no. Easter People describes a way of living. As our theme song proclaims, “I will take the cup of freedom and call on the name of God!” To “take up” this cup of love is an active gesture. It suggests that we have the God-given power to act, to leave death behind and move toward a hopefilled future together. Throughout the season we will claim this power to move forward, to sing, to follow, to rise again, to love, heal and be opened. In the end, we are filled with the freedom of the Spirit of God. 3/27/16 Freedom to Move Forward “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” -- Isaiah 65:17 At the heart of this Sunday morning are songs like “This is a Day of New Beginnings” and “One Day at a Time!” Letting go of the past is no small feat but the freedom to move forward is what God promises. We are to live as “Easter people,” and just when you thought there was nowhere to go, that life was at a “dead end,” God surprises us with a way forward into possibility. 4/3/16 Freedom to Sing "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." -- Acts 5:32 Indeed, “how can we keep from singing” once we have experienced new life? We become witnesses to this “new thing” that God is doing in our lives. Despite the admonition not to teach in the name of Jesus, we hear in the Acts passage for this Sunday that Peter and the other apostles just can’t help themselves! 4/10/16 Freedom to Follow "After this he said to him, 'Follow me.'" -- John 21:19 From the metaphors Jesus used to call the disciples to follow in his footsteps (“tend my sheep,” “feed my lambs,” “cast your nets on the other side”), to the literal opening of Saul/Paul’s eyes so that he would follow the ways of Jesus, this Sunday’s scriptures invite us to leave aside our hesitations and claim our discipleship. 4/17/16 Freedom to Rise Again "Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, 'Tabitha, get up.' Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up." -- Acts 9:40-41 All the scriptures this Sunday point to a “revival” of life, “restoration,” and a promise that we will perish no more. The dramatic image of Tabitha rising from her death bed urges us to hear the voice of God that says, “come on, you can do it, get up!” No matter how down and out we might feel, God reaches out a hand to help us up. And we say, “Yes!” 4/24/16 Freedom to Love "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." -- John 13:34 This Sunday we lift up, as the scriptures do, that God’s promise of a new covenant is with all who seek it –all who thirst will be given water. There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, we are all to follow Christ’s new commandment, to love one another. Page 4 Good News From Gobin Support Our New Youth Group! Our youth are working hard to put on the "Gobin Film Series." We would love to have more seats filled for the great movies we have selected. This is a fun and easy way to show the high school students that you support the new youth group. We have two movies in April: "Life of Pi" on Sunday, April 3rd and "Contact" on Sunday, April 24th. Check the calendar for more information. We hope to see you there! What’s Going On with Small Group Sunday School Classes? We’re so glad you asked. The children from ages 2-3 all through grade 5 are currently in age-appropriate classes with a curriculum called Spark Lectionary which follows the lessons of the Bible that we hear about most Sundays. There are leaflets for each child along with extra art, wildcard, and activity pages for them to work on along with the lessons. The middle school group, grades 6-8, are led by Lisa Trigg and are currently working on "Talksheets To Confirm the Faith of Your Teenagers." It's a set of sheets based on discussion about beliefs featuring a variety of topics such as discipleship, salvation, Jesus, God, the Bible, the BIG IMPACT Holy Spirit and key words of faith. Our High School Class, grades 9-12, is led by Erica Brandon and is learning from curriculum called “Feasting on the Word” which also follows along with the lectionary on most Sundays. Currently we also offer 3 Adult Small Group Sunday School Classes. The first group is called the Sharing Spirits, and they meet in the Yoke Room off the Colonnade Room in the basement. Currently they are led by Dan Miller and are using a series of lectures by Professor Bart Ehram, examining The New Testament. Upcoming lectures include: Paul's Letter to the Romans, Paul, Jesus, and James, The Pastoral Epistles, First Peter and the Persecution of the Early Christians, and Do We Have the Original New Testament. The second group is the Rainbow Room group, and they are currently led by Marilyn Culler. They are reading and discussing the book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. The discussions focus on the fears and challenges we face as Christians, learning to recognize how God is already at work in our lives and how we can come to live the life God wants for us. They meet in Pastor Bryan's office. No advance reading required - all are welcome. The third group meets in the Special Meeting Room off of the Colonnade Room in the basement and is led by Tanis Monday. They will be discussing a series of articles called “Christian Ethics in Modern Applications.” They are reading the articles in class and have lively discussions. All children, youth, and adults are welcome and encouraged to join in any of the appropriate small groups on Sunday mornings at 9:30-10:15am. April 2016 Page 5 Congregational Directory Updates APRIL BIRTHDAYS Gobin Membership as of March 26 is 198. 4/03 Will Barrand 4/04 Marian Schlotterbeck 4/04 Clea Van Middlesworth 4/05 Loretta Bumgardner 4/06 Kathie Hornbeck 4/07 Bill Hamm 4/08 Robert Weiss 4/08 Rebecca Moore 4/08 Alice Howard 4/10 David Houck 4/12 Susan Lemon 4/12 George Howard 4/14 Mischa Harbison 4/18 Matt Cummings 4/19 Joe Ferguson 4/19 Barb Rice 4/19 Spencer Moore 4/23 Robert Clover 4/23 Brandy Gambill 4/24 Alisa IsaacsBailey Position April 3 April 10 April 17 April 24 Amie Bailey June Sandy Larry Bouslog Nettie Ushers Carolyn Houck Tim Wait Joe Ferguson Rita Ferguson Jerry Rud Joy Archer Jack Mace Mary Jane Mace Marge Smith Judy George Jeff Hansen Gayle Hansen Janet Pinney Scott Thede Michael Thede Andrew Thede Barbara Jackson Barbara Jackson Barbara Jackson Barbara Jackson Counters Dick Sunkel Fran Allen Doretta Poynter Doretta Poynter Nursery Assistants Sarah Morgan Jo Ella Burns Carol Miller Barb Rice Children’s Church Maureen Langdoc & Carol Miller Teddy Shuck & Sarah Morgan Denise Thede & Julia Bruggemann Alisa Isaacs-Bailey & Erica Brandon 4/26 4/26 4/27 4/30 APRIL MISSIONS FUNDRAISER : Flight from Syria: Refugee Stories The Third Sunday Lunch fundraiser on April 17th will be a very special event featuring ministries which serve Syrian refugees in Indiana. Hear the personal stories of people forced to flee their homeland who have found safe harbor among us. Please join in extending our welcome and support to families who will be visiting us that day. Learn how we can help make a difference! Note: The lunch fundraiser for the food pantry will be rescheduled. Remembering these individuals by sending a card, making a phone call, visiting, or including in prayer would be appreciated. Asbury Tower Residents: John Baughman, Dorothy Buechler, Pat & Robert Clover, Dorothy Edenfield, Virginia Hanna, Suzanne Hebb, Helen Houck, Joyce Jones, Jane Long, Kent Mecum, and Beverly Wagoner Autumn Glen Senior Facility: Jocie Kircher Mill Pond Campus: Carolyn Schenk Servings on Sundays Lisa Trigg will be the Trustee of the Month for April. Communion Page 6 Good News From Gobin Fruitful Congregations Journey Gobin UMC continues to move forward through Step 3 of the Fruitful Congregation’s Journey. I’ve continued to meet with our FCJ coach, Mark Fenstermacher, as we work to solidify our task team leaders. I’m especially grateful to Victor Hunter who has agreed to assist in the project management aspects of Step 3. Information on the various task teams can be found in Gobin’s FCJ Ministry Action Plan. The plans can be found at the church website or hard copies are available in the church office. I’d love for everyone to have these handy, as they will help to remind us all of the kind of work we’re undertaking. April will be a month of team-building and workshop-scheduling. Some teams require 3-5 members; others 5-7 members. I’m currently working with task team leaders to identify candidates for each team. This is much like the previous work of the nominating or lay leadership development committee. If you have an interest in serving on an FCJ task team, feel free to contact me at pastor@gobinumc.org. Once the various FCJ workshops are scheduled, they are open to the public and not just to the FCJ task team. FCJ Success Item #4 in our Ministry Action Plan is CREATE A CULTURE OF EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY TO FUND FUTURE MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES One of the tasks within this plan was to “Apply for a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to fund a professional assessment of the building’s condition. This study is to be completed by November 1, 2016 or as soon as possible following the receiving of the grant (or the congregation may fund the study from other sources in the absence of a Lilly grant).” Thanks to the work of the Gobin-DePauw committee and the FCJ Future Facility Task Team leader, Dick Shuck, we are moving forward! Rather than apply for a grant from Lilly or the Center for Congregations, DePauw University has agreed to fund the full building assessment. This assessment is now in process. The results of the full assessment will be presented to the congregation when they are received (as is outlined in the FCJ Ministry Action Plan). Again, this is wonderful news. United Methodist Women—On March 17th we had our quarterly UMW Unit meeting at Asbury Towers. The meeting was a success with at least five of the Asbury Towers residents joining us for the afternoon. In all we had 21 members join us. We had a business meeting, a nice discussion and Teddy Shuck gave us information about UMW, and then we had light refreshments. All women are invited to the West District Meeting on Saturday, April 30th being held at Centenary UMC in Terre Haute from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m. The meeting and speaker will begin at 9:30 followed by lunch served by the Centenary U.M.W. The speaker is Felicia Steward on “Methodists and Maternal Health.” We will be collecting for a Hands-on Offering: Baby Shower Items (i.e. diapers, onesies, burp cloths, etc.) for local Maternal Health Ministry (do not wrap); new items only, please. Worship offering will go to the UMW Legacy Fund and the Indiana Conference Pledge to Mission. Those who wish to go can ride with Carol Sweet. She needs to leave by 8 a.m. and plans to return home as soon as it’s over. Call Carol at 765-720-2894. April 2016 Page 7 GOBIN ACTIVITIES April 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Pastor’s Sabbath 3 9am Coffee 9:30 4 Sun Schl 10:30 Worship w/ Pitch-in 5-6 Handbells 6:30 Movie SeriesLife of Pi 6:00pm Transformers Mtg (Upper Lg Classroom) 10 9am Coffee 11 9:30 Sun Sch 10:30 Worship 12:30 Lay Servant Mtg 5-6 Handbells 6:-8 Youth Grp 17 7:00pm Admin Council Mtg 12pm Putnam Co Clergy Cluster 9:30 SS Cl 10:30 Worship 11:45 Fund Ln: Syrian Refugee 3-5pm Pry Shwl 6:-8 Youth Grp 7-9 Vespers 18 24 9am Coffee 25 9:30 Sun Schl 10:30 Worship Pres. By Wes Wilson on History of Gobin & DPU 6:30Movie:Contact 5 6 8:30am Svc of AM Prayer 12 13 8:30am A Service of Morning Prayer 7pm Missions Mtg 7pm Gobin Choir 6pm Transformers Gala at Prindle 14 15 19 20 8:30am A Svc 21 5:30 Fellowship at Putnam Inn 7pm Dis. Bib St 9 NEWSLETTER 1:30 Bethel Circle 7pm Gobin Choir Rehearsal 7pm Genesis Circle 27 28 8:30am A Service of Morning Prayer 6-8pm Accountable Leadership Workshop 22 9am Office Staff. 1:30 Aldersgate Circle at Asbury Towers 7pm Gobin Choir Rehearsal DEADLINE 16 Pastor’s Sabbath 9am Ofc Staff 9:30 UMW Bd Mtg 26 Pastor’s Sabbath 10am BOP Symposium at Prindle 5:30 Fellowship at Putnam Inn 7pm Dis. Bib St 5:30 Fellowship at Putnam Inn 7pm Dis. Bib St 8 9am Ofc Staffing 5:30 Fellowship at Putnam Inn 7pm Dis. Bib St of AM Prayer 7:30pm Staff Parish 7 9:30-3:30 Sewing Bee 7pm Gobin Choir Rehearsal 23 Pastor’s Sabbath 29 8am-6pm Lay Servant Academy at Centenary UMC in TH Deadline 4/14 30 Pastor’s Sabbath 9:30-3pm West District Reshaped Conf. Mount Pleasant UMC in TH Good News From Gobin Page 8 ACTIVITIES AT GOBIN April 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Celebrate in Song—Come join Covered Bridge Harmony for a great chili dinner and the sweet sounds of harmony. Doors open at 6pm at Gobin Church with a chili dinner with fixings for taco salads, drinks, and homemade desserts with the show beginning at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 for Adults and $5 for Children 12 and under at the door or from any CBH member. Come on out and enjoy a memorable night of food, fun, and a cappella barbershop music with CBH and Gobin members Kathy Custis, Anita Edenfield, Alice Howard, Eleanor Howard, and Denise Thede. 3 4 2:30-5:30 RIC 3:00 pm TOPS 10 11 5 9am Tot’s Time 6 2:30-5pm RIC 5pm Jr 4-Hers in CR 4-6pm Exalt! Sanc. 4:30pm Daydream Believers rehearsal 5:30-6:30 Child Abuse Vigil in Sanc. 2:30-5:30 RIC 12 9am-12pm 13 7 2:30-5:30 RIC Fri Sat 1 2 4-7:15 Private Bday Party in Colonnade Rm 8:00 pm AA mtg 8 2:30-5:30 RIC 17 3:00 pm TOPS 18 19 9am Tot’s Time 20 4-6pm Exalt! in Sanc. 5pm PCCS cooking in kitchen 6pm Transformer Gala at Prindle 8:00 pm AA mtg 14 15 16 2:30-5:30 RIC 25 26 27 2:30-5:30 RIC 9am-12pm Tot’s Time 3:00 pm TOPS 3:00 pm TOPS 2:30-5:30 RIC 4-6pm Exalt! Sanc 4:30pm Daydream Believers rehearsal Exalt! DePauw Gospel Choir Rehearsal & Concert in Sanctuary, kitchen, and Colonnade Rm 2:30-5:30 RIC 4-6pm Exalt! in Sanc. 5pm PCCS cooking in kitchen 2:30-5:30 RIC 4-6pm Exalt! Sanc. 4:30pm Daydream Believers rehearsal 5:30-8:30pm Parents & Divorce Class 2:30-5:30 RIC 24 2:30-5:30 RIC 4-6pm Exalt! Sanc. 4:30pm DB rehearsal 9 10am BOP Symposium at Prindle Tot’s Time 2:30-5:30 RIC 2-10pm CBH in kitchen and Colonnade Rm 6pm Chili Dinner 7pm Barbershop Singing Show 21 22 23 2:30-5:30 RIC 4-6pm Exalt! in Sanc. 5pm PCCS cooking in kitchen 28 8:00 pm AA mtg 29 30 2:30-5:30 RIC 4-6pm Exalt! in Sanc. 2:30-5:30 RIC 5pm PCCS cooking in kitchen 8:00 pm AA mtg April 2016 Page 9 Briefing Previews 2016 General Conference Debates By United Methodist News Service Jan. 25, 2016 | PORTLAND, Ore. You can also go online for this information here. In a gathering that repeatedly stressed church unity despite passionately held differences, United Methodists received a preview of some issues the 2016 General Conference will debate when the denomination’s top lawmaking body meets this spring. The Rev. Steven Lewis, Gresham United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon, urged delegates to remember who they are as they debate issues and resolutions at General Conference 2016 “Few will read what we write, but millions will watch what we do,” Lewis said during his sermon at opening worship during the pre-General Conference briefing. More than 400 delegates, communicators and other United Methodists who will be part of the 2016 General Conference attended the Jan. 20-22 event at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Most will return for the denomination’s legislative assembly May 10-20. United Methodist Communications sponsored the event, with involvement and support from other agencies and ministries of the church. Many United Methodists expect the most passionate and difficult debate at the 2016 General Conference to deal with how the denomination ministers with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. At the briefing, participants got a preview of the emotional stakes in the debate as well as a chance to try out an alternative process for discussing legislation on tough issues. This is a brief look at some of the issues explored: Big changes proposed for bishops, clergy Bishops would no longer be elected for life, ordination of United Methodist elders and deacons would be faster and the first step would be taken to allow doing away with guaranteed appointment under legislation being proposed to the 2016 General Conference. However, since term limits and guaranteed appointment would require changes to the denomination’s constitution, those reforms would come slowly, even if approved. Bishop Grant Hagiya, Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, a member of the 20132016 Ministry Study Commission, said the commission wanted to give conferences “maximum flexibility.” “The most important factor that we have to consider is leadership, leadership, leadership. Leadership is one of the key ingredients in vitality,” Hagiya said. Hagiya said the commission proposed ordination when a candidate is approved for provisional membership, although conference membership would come only after the provisional period was completed. Other proposed changes would allow a bachelor’s degree to fulfill requirements for Course of Study for local pastors and eliminate commissioning. Lonnie Brooks, chair of the legislative committee of the Association of Annual Conference Lay leaders, gave the highlights of the association’s package of 15 pieces of legislation. “We think there is nothing in the church outside the responsibility of lay people, since we pay for what the church does,” Brooks said. The lay leaders proposed seven points of reform for bishops, including term limits, which Brooks said would increase accountability. Under the term-limit proposal, a bishop would be elected for eight years and could run again for another eight-year term. The terms would be the same worldwide. The legislation on guaranteed appointment, or security of appointment, would remove the constitutional barrier identified by the Judicial Council after the 2012 General Conference approved legislation that would have allowed bishops to give elders less than full-time appointment and added steps for discontinuing elders and associate members from receiving an appointment. A proposal to reform the episcopal complaint process provides that if the jurisdictional College of Bishops cannot process the complaint to completion within 180 days, the complaint moves to the full Council of Bishops. Church budget As the U.S. economy has recovered from the 2008 crash, the denomination as a whole has seen its financial health improve. Moses Kumar, the top executive of the General Council on Finance and Administration, reported that a record 26 conferences paid 100 percent to the general church apportionments in 2015 ─ the highest number in at least 16 years. At the general church level, the money supports bishops, United Methodist ministerial education, most general agencies and denominationwide efforts such as the Black College Fund, ecumenical work and Africa University in Zimbabwe. The General Council on Finance and Administration's board and the Connectional Table are proposing a budget of $611 million for general church funds in 2017-2020. That’s about a 1.3 percent increase above the $603.1 million general church budget approved at the 2012 General Conference. With projected inflation, that budget actually represents a 7.2 percent spending decrease in real dollars, Kumar said. The finance agency’s board also is proposing that for the first time United Methodist churches in Africa, Asia and Europe would have a set formula to support the denomination’s global ministries.Under the proposal, central conference apportionments would contribute to two of the seven general church funds — the Episcopal and General Administration funds. “When we are generous in our giving, when we are committed in ministry around the world, we dedicate our resources so we can fulfill what Page 10 Good News From Gobin A U.S. central conference? One of the frequent complaints about General Conference is that delegates spend much of the 10-day global meeting on issues that strictly focus on the U.S. Participants at this month’s preview heard about two plans to address this concern by creating a central conference or similar body to encompass the entire United States. Currently, the denomination has seven central conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. Each has the authority under the denomination’s constitution to make “such changes and adaptations” to the Book of Discipline as missional needs and differing legal contexts require. Members of the Central Texas and North Texas conferences are bringing legislation to create a U.S. Central Conference that would meet in conjunction with General Conference. “We believe this proposal keeps it simple,” said Tim Crouch, a General Conference delegate from North Texas. A task force appointed by the Northeastern Jurisdiction is bringing “A Global Connection Plan,”that is more complicated but also, according to its proponents, more comprehensive. The plan would rename General Conference as the Global Connectional Conference, restrict its work to church matters that are global in nature and add continent-wide bodies called connections, including a North American connection. The plan also would replace U.S. jurisdictions and central conferences with bodies called regions. “We believe it is important to have equivalent structures across the church,” said Tracy Merrick, a member of Northeastern Jurisdiction task force. Under both the Texas and Northeastern Jurisdiction plans, the denomination’s global legislative meeting would be shorter but would remain the only body that can speak for the whole denomination. Both plans also would require amendments to the denomination’s constitution. Restructuring proposals Frederick Brewington, a member of the Connectional Table, pointed out that a number of formal and informal proposals regarding the denomination’s structure and connection will come before the General Conference. “The Connectional Table neither adopts nor endorses any of the proposals that currently exist,” he said, but he outlined some basic principles to follow in these discussions. One of those proposals is “Plan UMC Revised.” The Rev. Clayton Oliphint explained that this plan removes provisions ruled unconstitutional by the Judicial Council after the 2012 General Conference adopted “Plan UMC,” a compromise proposal. Many involved in the restructuring work were frustrated by the top court’s last-minute ruling, he said. Under Plan UMC Revised, the current Commission on Religion and Race and Commission on the Status and Role of Women would be merged into a committee on inclusiveness. The plans also folds the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History into the denomination’s finance agency. Erin Hawkins, top executive for Religion and Race, expressed concern that the vital programs of her agency would be lost. The church needs “greater clarity and alignment around its identity and mission,” she added. Social issues The 2016 General Conference will consider amendments to more than 70 social justice petitions ranging from climate change to human trafficking. Representatives from the Division on Ministries with Young People, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Board of Church and Society, Commission on General Conference and Standing Commission on Central Conference Matters and the Board of Pension and Health Benefits highlighted some of those resolutions. Christine Flick, a delegate from Germany South Conference, talked about a petition calling for a reduction of carbon footprint with regard to travel related to the denomination’s church meetings. “The whole earth is God’s good creation,” she said. “We are aware of how the constant use of energy threatens the environment.” The United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits recognizes its responsibility to protect and promote human rights and the environment, said Kirsty Jenkinson, calling climate change “the most severe economic threat to the world.” She is managing director, Sustainable Investment Strategies, Wespath Investment Management Division of the pension board. In 2015, the board and Wespath implemented a human rights investment guideline that identified 11 high-risk countries and 39 companies with significant investments in those places, Jenkinson said. Alternative process “Christian conferencing is what General Conference is all about,” said Judi Kenaston, chair of the Commission on General Conference, as she outlined an alternative group discernment process that General Conference could approve for use on “challenging” conversations. The proposal, nicknamed Rule 44 because it follows General Conference's Rule 43, could be used with legislation on human sexuality if the rule is adopted. “We are a connectional church with many varied cultures and opinions,” Kenaston said. “A unified church can accomplish so much more in the world by pooling resources. Because of our size, we are able to do so much more.” Praying for General Conference The Rev. Tom Albin, dean of The Upper Room Chapel, will again help lead a prayer community to support delegates and the entire denomination during General Conference. “Prayer is like oxygen for your soul,” Albin told attendees. The General Conference Prayer Ministry designed a “60 Days of Prayer” daily prayer book that runs March 31–May 29 so church members an connect through the same Scripture, meditation and prayer for each day. April 2016 Page 11 (Cont’d—Briefing Previews General Conference Debates) Looking ahead to 2020 A draft of a new general, or global, Book of Discipline will be presented to General Conference for affirmation, said Bishop Patrick Streiff, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, “so that we know we can work on to finalize it for the 2020 General Conference.” The goal is to have feedback on the draft from every annual conference by the end of 2017.Benedita Penicela Nhambiu, a member of the denomination’s Connectional Table, said there will be an effort to re-align that body to make it more representative, both in terms of geography and age groups.A petition for a comprehensive collaborative plan for Africa would increase the episcopal areas in that region from 13 to 18 if the final report is approved by the 2020 General Conference, she said.The United Methodist Board of Church and Society has been holding listening sessions on the denomination’s Social Principles around the world. The agency is seeking guidance, clarity and diverse voices as the agency prepares to revise the document for the 2020 General Conference.The 2016 General Conference will be asked to continue and fund those conversations for four more years, said the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the social justice agency.A proposal for a digitized, customizable United Methodist Hymnal would include a core section of required music and Wesleyan liturgical resources and a cloud-based library allowing congregations to create what they need for their own ministry setting. If passed, work would begin Jan. 1, 2017, on a finalized proposal to be approved by the 2020 General Conference. Contributing to this report were Heather Hahn, Kathy Gilbert, Linda Bloom, Vicki Brown and Joey Butler. Contact Lent and Easter testify to God’s passion to have us know the loving longing heart of our heavenly parent who invites us to intimate fellowship. Gobin has chosen to offer our people the opportunity to invest time in cleaning the building so we can use funds spent on that project for mission outreach. A few months ago during the colder days, I was cleaning and a young man entered the build- ing and was looking for someone to provide a place to stay for a day or two. My past experience with folks needing help made me choose to be hard hearted and not very hospitable. So after spending just a few minutes visiting with him I advised him we could not provide what he was asking for and went back to work. A few weeks later the same individual showed up again, this time there were others folks who visited with him. They responded much differently than I did. The result of that was that the individual came to help clean on Saturday and has been attending services on Sunday. I share this story so you will know that God works his plan with people even when we do not cooperate. I was determined not to help, and aggravated that I was asked to help. So God takes that situation, calls me to repent, and gets a new person involved in the ministry of the church. It is a win, win opportunity. God is working to have us know his love and grace even when we are determined to be busy. I was doing something good, but God was offering me an opportunity to do something better and I refused. Keep your eyes open for the best. Transformers invites us to form relationships with folks who may not have access to resources that will help them journey to a place where they can provide support for themselves. It is not about handing out money, it is about building relationships. Our heavenly parent walks with us helping us realize the abundant life that is ours, and leads us to share with others what we have received. Everyone is welcome to participate in Transformers. Please contact Denise in the church office at 658-6010 or Ernie Rush at ecrush@idoc.in.gov By Ernie Rush, Spiritual Leader of Transformers, TALKS Mentor Page 12 Good News From Gobin Dear Gobin Church Family, We are so appreciative of your support of our Getting Ahead Coalition. We had nine graduates on March 4 who are on their way to a transformed life and you played a significant role. You provided four of our 17 meals and served all 17 meals. Many of the servers not only provided food, you also shared your stories, sitting with our class members during dinner and making connections. That’s a key part of our program: building relationships of mutual respect across economic classes and knowing that “No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.” Your hospitality and financial support are also appreciated. Thank you for the service you provide to our community in the name of Jesus. The Meaning of Hospitality at the "Getting Ahead Dinner" What is a welcoming congregation? What is radical hospitality? What goes on at Gobin UMC during the week? Many times after I've left church on Sunday I do not see the inside again until the following Sunday. Has this ever happened for you? One 2016 February week I had a glimpse of what happens, when not around our church at mealtimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I came to help with the preparation, serving and cleaning up at two dinners for Getting Ahead. This is one of our Transformers programs, which works with Putnam County folks who want to write their own future story for living a better life. The first thing I noticed downstairs in the Colonnade room were the round tables being set up. To my surprise, one of them already had people sitting around it eating supper. Come to find out later, this table was filled with people from Putnam County Comprehensive Services, using our kitchen simultaneously with those involved with the Getting Ahead dinner. The next thing I noticed was the tables were set up and decorated nicely with a card on each which said "Putnam County Hospital". PCH had donated the chicken croissant sandwiches, as well as chips, fruit cups and cookies. More community involvement with Gobin hospitality. Soon Getting Ahead teachers, including resource people came, such as a representative from the Teachers Credit Union, to talk and answer financial questions. Once the food and dishes were on the tables, I was able to sit down and get to know a few of the participants in G.A., which had already been going on for 4 weeks, twice weekly. People seemed to know each other from building new relationships and making friends. One woman related how excited she was that Ruby Payne (Bridges Out of Poverty author) was coming to Greencastle. She definitely wanted to go to the April 8 Transformers symposium, since YouTube videos of her excellent presentations had been shown during one of the classes. This Getting Ahead learning opportunity with all its resources will transform the lives of those in the class who are committed and dedicated to do the work for a better life. Some will be ready, when finished with the 8-week class, to get a better job or go to a college, such as Ivy Tech. Leadership and self-sufficiency is developing in these folks. I'm grateful to have had this opportunity on a Thursday night to see what a difference our church Transformers programs are making in this community. If you would like to get involved by participating in the good work going on, please let someone at the church know. Catch the hospitality spirit! Rosalie Bargmann April 2016 Page 13 "What's The Story with the Church on the Corner?” On Sunday, April 24th, a group of international students from DePauw will attend our 10:30am gathered worship in order to experience a Christian worship service (some perhaps, for the first time). Following gathered worship, Wes Wilson, Archivist at DePauw, will offer a short presentation on the history of Gobin and its connection to DePauw. This presentation is open to both students and the congregation. All are invited to learn more about the rich history of the "church on the corner." For more information, contact University Chaplain, Rev. Maureen Knudsen Langdoc @ mknudsenlangdoc@depauw.edu or 765-365-2269. Bishop Michael Coyner’s e-Pistle: “Survey Says” Remember the TV show "Family Feud" where contestants tried to guess the answers given by a survey of persons? They would guess an answer, and then the moderator would say "Survey says" and it would be revealed whether or not their answer was a popular one. In a similar effort, our Conference leadership recently sent out an anonymous survey to over 2,400 UM clergy and lay leadership to ascertain whether or not they (the conference leaders) are communicating well the mission, vision, and goals of the Indiana Conference. The survey received a good response (916 responded) in terms of percentage of those who responded, along with some who were immediately suspicious (those are the ones who wrote to me) about what might be the real reason for the survey. One layperson wrote me to ask if his answers were truly anonymous, and another wrote to ask if his church could not answer the questions properly would their pastor be moved. Some of the survey results were quite positive. For example, almost everyone could identify the Mission of our United Methodist Church ("making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world"). That mirrors my experience as I travel among our local churches – nearly everyone seems to know our Mission, and that's good. Most responding said their own congregations are aligned to this Mission, too. A strong majority said they see the Bishop and Extended Cabinet modeling visionary leadership. However, other survey results were not so positive – and thus helped the conference leaders to know where they have work to do. For example, most respondents did not know the Goals of our Indiana Conference, nor could they identify the Values of our conference. Several responses seemed to reveal a lack of trust (not necessarily a mistrust, but a lack of trust) that the Annual Conference really does exist for the good of the congregations and people of the Indiana Conference. That one really concerns me, because a key hope of our Imagine Indiana plan was to structure the conference to support, equip, and encourage our local churches. We even used the phrase "the churches don't exist to support the Conference; the Conference exists to support our local churches." Obviously we have not arrived at a place where there is trust by everyone. So, the survey says we still have work to do. I give credit to our conference leaders for having the nerve to do a survey and ask for feedback. Some respondents said the survey could have been worded better, and I am sure that is true, but it is helpful to get feedback. Now comes the hard part … The conference leadership is working to address the issues identified. The keys they have named are: Trust, Transparency, and Communication. Hopefully the next survey will reveal progress on those issues. Thanks to all who responded to the survey, especially to those who shared concerns. The only way we can all improve is if we all are honest and supportive with one another. I am mindful of the admonition in Scrip- Page 14 Good News From Gobin 2016 Gobin Budget What is this Narrative Budget thing? I’ve never seen anything like this. How am I supposed to know what we are spending on office supplies or staff salaries? These are all good questions. The big picture answer is that we are a church, the body of Christ at work in the world. The Narrative Budget is intended to help us all focus on the ministry of the church. After all, we are to be about the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The Narrative Budget shows how we are going about that and, in a general way, how our financial resources are devoted to various aspects of our ministries. There aren’t a lot of numbers in the Narrative Budget. Instead it focuses on the ministry we will be doing together. What if I want to see more numbers? Can I see more of the financial details? Of course you can. All anyone has to do is ask and they can see a more detailed version of the budget. There are copies available in the church office. If you have any questions about the budget you can ask Jeff Hansen who is team leader for the Extravagant Generosity team. SALES TAX EXEMPTION We wanted to remind you that Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church is a notfor-profit organization (501c3) and is therefore exempt from paying sales tax. The church has a specific exemption number that allows us to make purchases without being charged sales tax. Any purchase that is made without supplying this exemption number and/or the tax exemption form will be charged sales tax. Please contact the Church Office in advance of making any purchases for the church that will require the tax exemption number. If you or an authorized organization turn in receipts that include sales tax, when the reimbursement check is issued it will not include sales tax paid by you or the organization. Please let the Church Office know if we can answer any questions or be of further assistance. NUMBERS CHECK for FEBRUARY February Receipts: February Disbursements: $18,367.47 $18,152.00 Year to Date Receipts as of 2/29/16: Year to Date Disbursements as of 2/29/16: $52,898.44 $35,362.47 Change in Net Assets: $17,535.97 February Average Sunday Attendance: 107 April 2016 Page 15 PEACE WITH JUSTICE FAST FACTS FOR YOUTH IN INDIANA : edited by Ann Newton 1,581,927 CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18 IN 2014 Health and Well-being Indiana ranked 32nd in overall child well-being (2015) 1 in 5 (22%) children in Indiana lived in poverty (2013) Roughly 62% of youth in grade 12 have tried alcohol (2014) 13.5% of youth in grade 12 have ever abused prescription drugs (2014) Public Education 89.8% of youth graduated from high school on time (2014) 4.6% youth dropped out of school (2014) Almost half (49%) of youth received free and reduced price lunches (2015) 61% of 3 and 4 year olds were not enrolled in nursery school or preschool (2013) Safety 22,555 cases of child physical abuse, neglect and sexual abuse were substantiated by Child Protective Services (2013) 22,980 Juvenile cases filed for delinquency and status offenses (2012) 1 in 20 (4.9%) youth did not go to school in past 30 days for fear of safety at school or going to and from school (2011) 1 in 4 (25%) of students had been bullied at school during the past 12 months (2011) 1 in 5 (18.7%) had been bullied electronically during the past 12 months (2011) Suicide was the second leading cause of death and homicide was the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15-24 (2012) Sources: 2015 Indiana Kids Count Data Book & 2011 Youth Behavior Risk Survey, Indiana Department of Education What to do? Encourage Youth voice through forums, events, and focus groups to solicit their feedback and mobilize action. Engage youth in planning events revolving around youth issues. All youth can be empowered to voice their opinions about and be a part of the decisions that affect them. SAVE THE DATE—Saturday, May 7—Relay for Life Marge Smith will be attending a Captain’s Meeting on Wednesday, March 23rd., and will receive much more information at that time. Everyone is encouraged to help put on your walking shoes and get ready to help , walk, or donate. Hope to walk with you at Relay for Life on Saturday, May 7th!! Summer Enrichment Program 2016 On behalf of the Summer Enrichment Board and the children of Putnam County, I want to thank you for your continued support. For over a quarter century SEP has provided positive developmental, educational, recreational, and social interventions to meet the needs of elementary school aged children in Putnam County with identified risk factors. We are assembling our leadership team for 2016. Brian Cox, Director of the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, returns as Executive Director to administer the program. We welcome Julie Stevens, who has four years experience with the program, as our new Education Director and brings over a decade of experience as a third grade teacher in the Greencastle Community Schools. Myrna Scheuermann has accepted the position of Assistant Education Director. Brian and Julie have exciting plans for new hands-on enrichment activities summer. In addition to swim lessons at the Greencastle Aquatic Center, adult volunteers will share their science, musical, writing, artistic, and theatrical talents, and the children will visit the Greencastle Fire Department the Nature Park, and the DePauw Farm. We welcome volunteers to read to the children, teach songs, or share their skills. We are also hiring several mentors (must complete 9th grade this school year) and counselors (2016 high school graduate or college student). These are paid positions. If you are interested or know someone who is interested in either of these positions or in volunteering, please contact John Schlotterbeck or Judy George. The program runs from Tuesday, May 31, to Friday, July 1, 2016. Job descriptions for the mentor and counselor positions and applications are available in the Gobin Church office. Phone: 765-658-6010 Email: gobin@gobinumc.org If you would like to be removed from our Newsletter mailing list, please contact the church office at 765-658-6003 or gobin@gobinumc.org. Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church 307 Simpson St. P.O. Box 66 Greencastle, Indiana 46135
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