Motley Free Methodist Church, 33 Wellwood Street E, Motley, MN. 56466 Jan. 2017

Pastor Jim Johnson: pastorjim05@brainerd.net 218.352.6888 http://www.motleyfreemethodistchurch.com

Daniel 4:2-3 (NIV) “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most-High God has performed for me. How great are His signs, how mighty are His wonders! His Kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.” It seems like at the close of every year I look back and am in awe, again, of God’s goodness. I can look back at 2016, personally and from a church standpoint, and say; how mighty are His wonders, and how great are His signs! I praise God for the good year that we have had here at MFMC. I praise God for the people that have made personal decisions to become followers of Jesus Christ this last year. I praise God for what he is doing in and among our youth group. I praise God that this new building, that God has blessed us with, is now paid for already. Praise God! I praise God for His blessings and protection and mercy and grace all over again this last year and I look forward and pray for this New Year that is already here. If you have just joined us this past year, then we praise God for you too. Will you join us (BOA, ministry leaders, Richard and I) in praying for the future of our church and our mission and how we might fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment? Richard and I want deeply, to be obedient to God’s will. Will you join us in prayer for that to always happen? Next Sunday (January 8th) we will have a pot-luck dinner together after second service. Then, we will have our annual meeting and vote for some new BOA members for the 2017 BOA. I will share a little bit more at that meeting, but knowing that many of you may not be able to come; I want to ask you all to be in prayer specifically about another building project (kitchen and gym type space, etc.) and a Christian school. Some of you know that we have been thinking about that for some time. I believe we really need to seek God seriously about this again right now and really discern His will. Either we start planning for this in our future or we do not. I also want to let you know that in this New Year we will be looking at several large(r) purchases. We need a new copier, we need a new piano and we probably will need a new furnace for the older part of the building, as the one we have is getting old and has needed repair a number of times. Why do I mention this to you now? Simply to let you know and invite you to pray about this too. And, maybe someone has some insight regarding one of these potential purchases and/or someone may want to be involved in helping get an item bought. Beginning this next week, I will be trying to take Monday off as my day off. Richard will continue to have Fridays off. We just want to make you aware of these things. Looking ahead, MNTC choir will be here on Sunday March 5th for both services. In this next year we will continue to provide for you several learning opportunities throughout the week in small group bible studies. We will continue to pray on Wednesdays (ladies at Jessica Judd’s house) and here at the church on Saturday evening. I believe in prayer, and I believe that if we are unable to or unwilling to pray and seek God for everything, we end up doing things on our own. I really don’t want to be doing ministry that way, so I believe that we should bathe everything that we do and are thinking about doing in prayer. Thank you again for being part of our family. May we follow Jesus this next year closer than last. May we love more like Jesus in 2017. May we make disciples like we have been commissioned to. God bless you all. Serving Jesus the Christ, and serving you.

Pastor Jim

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Words from Pastor Jim 1

Upcoming Events 2

Small Group Information 2

Women’s Ministry Information 2

Children’s Programming Information 3

Nursery Schedule 3

Youth News 4

All In Faith on Fire Kids Update 4

Calendar of Events 5

2

A Few Words from Pastor Jim:

Upcoming Events:

*Jan. 1-Happy New Year! *Jan. 4-No All-In Kids Club *Jan.8-Annual Meeting and Pot-luck Dinner *Jan. 14-Women’s Meeting at 10 am *Jan. 16-BOA Meeting 6:30 pm *Jan. 25-Youth BAY Rally *Mar.5-MN Teen Challenge Here! (Mark Your Calendars!)

Small Group Information:

What’s Happening in the Women’s Ministry Kitchen?

As a part of a growing body, the best way to have a more

intimate fellowship and Bible study is to be involved in a

small group. Here at the Motley Free Methodist Church we

currently have 8 small group opportunities…

Sunday morning at 10:30 in the old sanctuary, see Chris Neal or Dan Rose studying Galatians

Sunday morning new/young believers Bible study at 9:15 am with Richard Broberg studying Design for Discipleship Series

Tuesday Women’s Bible study at 1:00 pm

Tuesday evening Bible Study starting at 6:30 pm studying David Jeremiah’s, Is This the End?

Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am in the old church studying the book of Acts

Wednesday afternoon intercessory prayer team at 12:00 pm at Jess’ house

Thursday evenings Men’s Group at 6:30 pm with Richard Broberg

Saturday evening prayer group at the church at 6 pm with Pastor Jim

Please pray about which group you can be a part of or if you would be willing to lead a different small group

please see Pastor Jim!

“Joy to the Earth, the Savior Reigns. Let men their songs employ!” We have celebrated the birth of Christ, had festivities with our families and are busy making preparations and resolutions for the New Year. Can I suggest you add 2 to your list? Prayer and Direction. Spend time with the Lord daily in prayer and ask Him where you are needed in His ministry. There are so many opportunities around us. But not all good things are God things. Sometimes we get so busy doing good things that we miss out on great things. Pray over and consider all the “things” that take up your time. Is this what God wants you to be doing? Is there a ministry that has been tugging at your heart but you just haven’t taken that step yet? Are there relationships that need attending to? God wants to bless your life so richly… we just need to take a moment and sit down and talk with Him and hear from Him. He’s waiting… Brewing on the front burners.... We will be having Brunch at our nest meeting and revisiting last year’s events and planning this coming years’ events. We like to have good discussion on what worked, what didn’t, what needs tweaking, what needs to leave and what needs to happen again! All input is good. We want to hear everyone’s ideas and thoughts. If you have a new idea, this would be the time to bring it to the table. Simmering on the back burners…. Teen Challenge will be coming on March 5th and we like to put a care package together for them. There is an idea on the table to host a Sweetheart Dinner again in February. Some “Ladies Night Out events” and other ideas that will materialize as time passes. Our Next Meeting will be January 14th at 10am. We will be having a brunch at this meeting and if you would like to bring something, please let me know. As always, if there is anything you would like to ask me, I would love to chat with you! Thank you and have a very blessed month!

Kathy Broberg ~ 218.397.2033 ~ 218.296.2071 ~ brobsrk@yahoo.com

iday

Nursery Schedule:

In the children’s programming news…

*The Children’s Christmas Program was another wonderful success! Thank you Grace Johnson for not only writing but heading it up for us this year! Thank you to all our children’s church staff! The children will resume children’s church classes as normal. Pre-K-Kindergarten with Emily Doyle, 1st-2nd Grade with Jason Caldwell, 3rd-4th Grade with Dee Carlson, Diane Buscho or Jenelle Caldwell (rotating, while Barb is away) and 5th grade and up is taught by Danny and Sue Rydbom! These classes are during our second service. If you have teens, young adults or newer believers that are interested in a study Richard Broberg is leading a Design for Discipleship series during the first service as well! In Nursery News: Our nursery program is for children birth to 3 years of age, during both services! Kripa Reese is heading up our nursery care, if you have any questions please see Kripa, Pastor Jim or Pastor Richard. We are passing out the 2017 Nursery Schedule to all nursery workers, as well as a refresher on our nursery procedures and policies! Thank you all for your dedication to good, safe care of our babies! The nursery truly is another huge piece to successful ministry! In addition, as the new year comes around again, we will pass out a reminder note to our parents of children in the nursery, please help our nursery staff know how best to care for your child. Please help keep our children healthy during a germy time of the year! Our church policies are stated again in this letter! Thank you to all who dedicate time to loving our children! The body is made of many working parts! You are a vital part!

Children’s Programming News:

February First/Second Service:

Feb. 5-Kripa & Kristen O/Teri & Grace J

Feb. 12-Steve & Maggie D/Marisela & Ashley V

Feb. 19-Craig & Carol W/Dale & Carla L

Feb. 26-Renee H & MiKayla R/Sam & Dayton B

January First/Second Service:

Jan. 1-Kripa & Kristen O/Tayah & Lori S

Jan. 8-Matt & Linda B/Callie B & Lilly N

Jan. 15-Lonna & Nick D/Brandi & Margaret F

Jan. 22-Diane J & Debbie C/Jen & Doug B

Jan. 29-Jen & Logan M/John & Angie N

March First/Second Service:

Mar. 5-Sue & Ian/Ken & Hope J

Mar. 12-Tammy & Cassidy/Jenelle & Chloe C

Mar. 19-Emily & Patric/Sandy K & Diane B

Mar. 26-Kripa & Kristen O/Lori & Tayah S

YOUTH NEWS:

The Youth Group had a busy December. We had a great

Christmas party on December 21st and on Christmas Eve

the Youth Group sang a song for the Christmas Eve

service. On December 28th, we finished out our year with a

year-end slide show/video review of all the things we did

this year and had a game night. In January, we will have a

B.A.Y. Rally on the 25th.

As we close out 2016 we would like to thank the people that have helped make the Youth Group successful this year. First thanks to all the people that pray for our youth and the leaders. I want to give a BIG THANKS to Charlie and Estelle Poulton, Curt and Barb Hirshey and Mike and Sue Horstmann for opening up their homes to the youth for fun events. Others to thank are all the parents that help with rides, help chaperone, stay up all night at lock-ins and sleep in cardboard boxes to help us raise money for homeless families. Thanks to Sue Horstmann and Angie Niemi for all they do to make things run smoothly. The biggest thanks to Tim and Jess for all the years dedicated to making our Youth Group what it is today. THANK YOU! If you have any questions, prayer requests etc. please feel free to contact Craig Weigel or Pastor Richard Craig Weigel 839-0007 cbweigel@hotmail.com Pastor Richard Broberg richardmfmc@gmail.com

Board of Administration Meeting Minutes:

**No Board meeting in December! Annual Meeting will be held January 8, 2017

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD!” – Psalm 150:6

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! As we prepare for the new year (aka: fresh start, new slate), I want to take the

time to thank all of you that have prayed and supported our ministry by monetary or item donations this past year! You

have been a huge blessing to all the children and volunteers. We had a great month in December, some highlights are

1) Store night- kids were so excited to have the opportunity to shop and then have their gifts wrapped- THANK YOU to

all that gave in monetary, gifts and time you were a huge part in a blessing to the children and their families. 2)

December 21st, we celebrated Jesus’ birthday- we played games, sang songs, had cupcakes and hot chocolate. We also

had the opportunity to take the 3rd-6th graders to Sunny Pines to sing some Christmas Carols- what a gift to spread the

good news of Jesus!

We look forward to what God has for us this upcoming year and ask that you continue to pray for the children, their

families and our volunteers. Some highlights coming up in January are Glow in the Dark and Family Movie Night!

We are still praying and seeking a person that would be willing to help get our Pillager students here, as the bus arrival

time has become later and later. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry in this way please contact Valerie

Johnson, thanks! Also, would you pray if God is calling you to be a mentor to kids? We are praying that in the second

half of our year that God will help us pull in some more kids and for that to happen we will need more adults!

Upcoming Dates:

Jan 4: NO CLUB; Jan. 11: Regular Night; Jan. 18: Glow in the Dark Night; Jan. 25: Family MOVIE Night; Feb 1: Regular

Night

January 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Happy New Year!!

2 3 *6:30 pm Bible Study

4 *9:30-Bible Study *12 pm-AA Meeting *1 pm Prayer Time *NO All In *5:30-Youth Group

5 *6:30 pm Men’s Group

6 *12 pm-AA Meeting

7 *6 pm-Prayer Time

8 *Pot-Luck Dinner & *Annual Meeting

9 *Worship Practice 4:00 pm

10 *1 pm –Bible Study *6:30 pm Bible Study

11 *9:30-Bible Study *12 pm-AA Meeting *1 pm Prayer Time *4:00-All In *5:30-Youth Group

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*6:30 pm Men’s Group

13 *12 pm-AA Meeting

14 *10 am-Women’s Meeting

*6 pm –Prayer Time

15

16 *Worship Practice 4 pm *BOA Meeting 6:30 pm

17 *1 pm Bible Study *6:30 pm Bible Study

18 *9:30-Bible Study *12 pm-AA Meeting *1 pm Prayer Time *4:00-All In *5:30-Youth Group

19 *6:30 pm Men’s Group

20 *12 pm-AA Meeting

21

*6 pm- Prayer Time

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23

*Worship practice 4 pm

24 *1 pm Bible Study *6:30 pm Bible Study

25 *9:30-Bible Study *12 pm-AA Meeting *1 pm Prayer Time *4 pm-All In

*5:30-Youth Group party

26

*6:30 pm Men’s Group

27

*12 pm-AA Meeting

28 *6 pm- Prayer Time

29

30

*Worship Practice 4 pm

31 *1 pm Bible Study *6:30 pm Bible Study