Our Pastors are Busy People

As you may be aware, our Pastors have varying educational backgrounds and stay current with the latest trends through continuing education. Additionally, they are active in the community with their involvement with outside organizations. David Chivington is our Senior Pastor and is an Elder in the United Methodist

church. This means he has completed graduate work at a seminary focused on theological education. David has both the Master’s and Doctorate in theology. David recently attended a conference for pastors in Tennessee on stewardship. Earlier in the year, he along with several other West Ohio UMC Elders, attended a leadership conference called Catalyst in Atlanta, Georgia. Early last summer, he was involved with the renewal of the mission trips to Tijuana Christian Mission, Mexico, as a group went to reassess the mission needs and how SFUMC can be supportive. And he also attended the Chick-Fil-A leadership conference last May and the annual District “Day Apart” conference held by the Miami Valley District of UMC. In January, 2015, David has arranged for the staff and church council to participate in a day of training with a facilitator focused on the book Crucial Conversations. He, along with the leadership, have been meeting with Doug Anderson of Healthy Church Initiative, a consultant that specializes in church leadership coaching who has been addressing staff management, transformational leadership, laity recruitment, strategic visioning/thinking, and more. David sits on the board of United Way and serves on the UMC District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Eileen Hix, our Children’s and Family Pastor, is a Licensed Local Pastor and is in the process of taking the COS (course of study) at United Theological Seminary. This is a different educational track than seminary in that it is a school with 20 distinct subject classes. Each quarter she participates in an intensive class focused on one specific area of the ministry, such as Worship and Sacraments or Personal and Social Ethics. She has completed 15 of the 20 intensive classes with her next one planned being Our Mission: Church as Transforming Agent. Eileen serves on the boards of Compassionate Care, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and Camp Union. Additionally, she has a radio program on WMVR at 11:30 am Sundays called “A Life Changed”.

“Communication”

January 2015

Winter

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Communication 1-2 Crossfire 5

JAM Green Thumb Project 3 Bus Ministry Update 6

Christian Care Committee 3 Compassionate Care 6

Women’s Ministry 3 Kid’s Ministry 7

Missions Update 4 Pastor’s Point 8

Newsletter Deadline 4 Sidney First Foundation 9-10

What’s Inside:

Con’t. on Page 2

David Porath, our Youth Pastor, has just become a Licensed Local Pastor in July of 2014 and will begin the COS classes during spring, 2015. He is active in his cluster group of fellow Pastors in the area and meets monthly with them. This past June, 2014, he participated with the group that went to Tijuana Christian Mission and is planning a return trip this coming year. He also serves the annual confirmation mission trip for youth. He serves on the Tar Hollow Committee, and is active with the Hands of Hope Saturday Lunch at the Alpha Center (1st, 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of the month). This past November, he, along with several youth leaders, attended the Youth Specialties Conference in Georgia to learn what is relevant in youth ministry, as well as for encouragement and networking with other youth pastors from around the country. In March, 2015, he will participate in Dare 2 Share Conference, which encourages and teaches youth how to live out and share their faith. Jane Madden. Our Pastor of Care and Nurture, is a Licensed Local Pastor and has completed all Course of Study classes at METHESCO. She continues her development with self-directed studies. Jane holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Ohio Northern University as well. In May of 2014, Jane attended the Chick-Fil-A Leadership conference. With the theme of “Effective Leadership” speakers included Andy Stanley, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Laura Bush and others. She is President of the Shelby County Ministerial Association, which provides leadership for the “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” rally, conducts the service of celebration for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, provides a weekly Lenten Series and Good Friday service, and the National Day of Prayer event. Jane serves on the Community Prayer Breakfast Committee and supports the Rotary with their weekly meetings. Additionally, she serves on a downtown revitalization movement with other leaders and is part of a city led discussion group concerning the homeless of our community. She conducts Tuesday evening chapel at the Alpha Community Center and periodically serves as Pastor for Dorothy Love’s Sunday afternoon ecumenical service. Please take the opportunity to encourage each of them as they prepare themselves to become more effective in their areas of ministry.

Jim Liggett

Lay Leader

Page 2

Would you like to help with a church mission program and NOT have to travel? We at Sidney First have just the program (project) for you – our JAM Green Thumb Project. We collect and send garden seeds to Jackson Area Ministries in Jackson, Ohio, located in southeastern Ohio. You don’t have to travel, just bring in garden seeds…vegetable, herb and cut flower seeds; or donate money to help with mailing these seeds to Jackson, Ohio. In 2014, the Gardening Report listed 3,601 gardens throughout 21 southeastern Ohio counties. Over 450 quarts of applesauce were canned and distributed to four food pantries across southeastern Ohio.

We would like to invite anyone who has a love of cooking and a desire to help others become a part of the Christian Care Committee. Our committee organizes the dinners that are served after a funeral at our church. This is a free service and most food is donated except for the meat and beverages. If a family wishes to donate money toward the dinner, it is gratefully accepted. Anyone who would like to be included in our list of people to call for donations of food or who would be interested in helping serve the dinner are very welcome. We do prepare some casseroles at the church. You have to understand though, that we never know when our service will be needed, so when serving on this committee, you have to be willing to step in at the last minute.

Nancy Smith, 492-0388, Nila Elsass, 492-4561, and Jinny Thompson, 492-6789, have been

co-chair people of this committee for many years. You can let any of us know if you are

interested in helping and how often you would like to be called on. We need you!

Page 3

Christian Care Committee

JAM Green Thumb Project

Ladies: Mark your calendar for a Spring Awakening event for March 7 at

Sidney First! It will be a one-day seminar featuring local speakers

discussing topics relating to all life stages based on the virtues of the

Proverbs 31 woman. Check Facebook, the Sidney First website, and the

church bulletin for future details.

Sidney First Women’s Ministry

There is still time to join us on a short-term mission trip to Tijuana. The trip is scheduled for March 5-11, 2015. We will work with children and women at the Women’s Shelter. We’ll also experience Tijuana and the needs that exist. Updates from missionaries we support: Jody Price returned to Kenya to resume the work she and Christy Price do with women there.

They also pursue mission opportunities in teaching locally. Chuck Price continues orchestrating “Call to Business” conferences breeding Christian business leaders globally and locally. Charlie Campbell and his family had a few months of travel while back in the United States for

refreshment and fundraising. Sherry had some health problems, but she recovered enough to make the trip back to Dakar, Senegal. They received many blessings of God’s grace during their stay, flight back and return home. Charlie is about to embark on a new round of teaching local pastors. Sara Gomez – We welcomed Sara to our services on Sunday, November, 9, 2014. Many

generous people chose to personally support an orphan at the Tijuana Christian Mission.

Please keep Sidney First missions and all of our Mission Partners in your prayers. We thank

you for your financial support as well.

Gary Mintchell

Missions Coordinator

Page 4

Newsletter “To-Dos”

The newsletter has returned! We encourage all ministry leaders to contact the church office to contribute articles and/or information for future newsletters,

to be published quarterly. The next newsletter will include the months of April, May, and June of 2015. Information for that mailing MUST BE received by the church office by February 20, 2015. The newsletter will be mailed early in March.

Do You Know?????? Do you know how “The Image” got its name? If so, we would love to know the background on our newsletter name. Please send information to Brenda Windle at bwindle@sidneyfirst.com.

Missions Update

Page 5

www.sidneyfirst.com

This concert is open to all

ages. Invite your friends

and family to join you for a

fun-filled evening!

Page 6

“IT IS ALL FOR JESUS!” That is the short-term mission statement for

the Sidney First Bus Ministry. The long term mission statement is “to transport people to church and other venues to enable them to experience God’s love and grace through fellowship and the safe arrival to their destination and to their safe return home.” We are blessed with a very dependable chairlift equipped bus which was purchased in July thanks to the generous donations of the Sidney First congregation. We presently use the bus every Sunday to transport one wheelchair person and several others on walkers and canes as well as some who need transportation. Other uses of the bus include trips by the United Way to see agencies supported by them, trips to airports for travel and mission groups, youth rally trips, senior citizen mystery

adventures, choir singing engagements, to name a few of the church bus activities.

If you or your group could benefit from the use of the bus to spread God’s love to others or to transport people to knowing Jesus, please do not hesitate to call the church office. We would

love to serve you.

Larry Allen

Sidney First Bus Ministry

Sidney First Bus Ministry

Compassionate Care is a non-profit, faith-based organization founded due to the increased need of medical care for people without health care choices. We believe our organization plays a major role in our community by providing the only free health care clinic for uninsured and under-insured community members. CCSC provides services that include medical and nursing clinics, preventative care, prescription

assistance programs (PAP), dental services and social service counseling. Compassionate Care is a true testament of those who “walk their talk”. This is an amazing “Pay It Forward” story. ALL of these services are provided by hard-working people like you!! We rely on volunteers, grants, fundraisers, individual and corporate donations only. Without YOU, over 1,200 patients would have little health care options. The PAP program provided over 2.2 million dollars of prescriptions and supplies to our patients, in 2013 alone. How amazing is that? CCSC wants to thank you for your continued support. We are building a better, healthier community, together.

Traci L. Milanese Executive Director Compassionate Care of Shelby County 124 North Ohio Ave. Sidney, Ohio 45365 p. 937.492.9400 ext. 111 f. 937.492.9407 www.ccsccares.org

News From Compassionate Care

Page 7

Sunday

*Jr. Church 9-10 am service:

Kids starts in the sanctuary and

are dismissed just before prayer

time to the fifth floor. There we

have interactive lessons where

they learn more about Jesus.

*Kidz Hour 10-11 am: happens

between services in the big room

on the fifth floor; we have varied

activities always pointing to Jesus.

*Traditional Sunday School 11-12

am during the second service; pre-

school through 6th grades are on

the fifth floor. Kids are divided

into grade classes encouraging

learning on their own level.

Wednesdays

*Kidz First Choir: preschool-6th

grade Wednesdays praising and

worshiping the Lord. 6:00-6:30 pm

* Cool Kids: preschool-fourth grade

on the 5th floor. Games, crafts,

journaling, snacks, music, lesson &

surprise station. 6:30-8:00 pm

*Waveriders: 5th & 6th grade meet

on the 5th floor then move as a

group for lessons, snacks and

Games, 6:30-8:00 pm

*Reminder: Our Children’s Ministry

follows the Sidney City School

calendar for inclement weather

closures (no School/no Wednesday

night programming).

What’s Next? For January, February, March 2015

Children’s and Family Ministry

Want to get plugged in?

We have a shadow program where you can come and

check out what we do and see if serving children and

families is for you!

Easter comes Early this Year

April 5th, 2015 Here is one of my personal favor-

ite holidays! Sharing the message

of salvation with children and

families in our community that is

why we go off site to the high

school. We have a full service for

the kids in the gym. We are already

planning and we need your help with

two things: prayers for the kids

who will be coming and candy for

the Easter egg hunt. Starting

March 8th, there will be a barrel in

the gathering place to collect the

candy. Thank you for supporting

this outreach for the children!!!

If you are reading this, please stop by

my office, give me a call or text telling

me that you are reading The Image—

there is a bonus involved!?!

Contact me anytime if there is anything I can help with!!!

ehix@sidneyfirst.com, 937-492-9136 ext. 111

Watch for info on Facebook: Kidz First at Sidney First UMC

Camp Union 2015

CHRISTmas at Camp 2 Corinthians 9:15

Sr. High Camp: June 15-19

Jr. High Camp: June 22-26

Elementary 1: July 6-14

First Chance: July 13 & 14

Elementary 2: July 20-23 College : July 31-Aug 2

Annual 5K Sat August 1st Mission: Operation Christmas

Child

Ti Moun to Ti Moun

(children to children) The kids are collecting

aluminum cans to be

r recycled, money collected

and sent to Living Hope

Mission in Haiti. Please join

them by dropping of empty cans to

the blue barrel on the 5th floor.

Calendars & Newsletters! On the first day of every month,

there is a new calendar for all the

upcoming events, along with a

parent newsletter with family

ideas on deepening your faith and

encouraging your children in their

growth. On the wall by the

elevator on the 5th floor.

His name is Paul O’Neil, and he was hired as the new president of Alcoa. Alcoa was struggling, and they needed someone to give them new direction and hope. To everyone’s surprise when O’Neil announced his plan for the company’s turnaround, he did not talk of profits, vision, right sizing or any of the common buzz words that the business world had come to expect from a new CEO. Instead he said he wanted to focus on worker safety. He wanted to make Alcoa a safe place to work. He would align the company so it was much safer to work in the many plants he would oversee. Needless to say, it was a surprise to the business world; but the fact is that in the ten years O’Neil was in charge, Alcoa had an amazing turnaround and doubled investor’s profits. This is one of several stories mentioned in a book called The Power of Habits by Charles Duhigg. He uses such stories to encourage change by focusing on what he calls “key stone” habits. His conclusion about Alcoa is that when the CEO focused on changing one key stone habit in the organization—worker safety—many other habits were changed, including better production, which led to more profits. The changing of one habit created structures that helped other habits to flourish. In his book, Duhigg claims that studies point to the fact that 40 percent of what we do is a habit and not a decision. That much of what we do, eating, drinking, smoking, watching TV, driving, exercising, talking on our phones, and I would offer prayer, are habits that we don’t think about—we just do them. In the end, the point is that if you want to really change something, you must change the key stone habits of organization or individuals. Not all of them at once, but one of them. Many of us are thinking of making some change for the New Year. Perhaps this thought can help. What is one habit on which you can focus? For example, if you want to eat better, one way to approach this may be to say one habit I will change is not to eat junk food when I watch TV. That would be one change of a key stone habit. Another approach is to say I will exercise more by walking around the block when I get home, rather than I will run five miles when I get home. Think small change rather than great change. The point is that if you change one key stone habit, many other habits will be changed to support the one on which you are focusing.

Now let me make this relevant to spiritual formation. Say you want to grow deeper in your walk

with Jesus this year. There are many ways that can happen. Fixed hour of prayer, study, worship,

fasting, service, generous giving, observing the Sabbath, are many of the ancient practices for

spiritual growth. What might be one key stone habit you change this year to practice one of

these? For example, maybe one change is to dedicate Sunday as the day I go to church. Just

make that one change. Give the same 15 minutes to prayer every day. Start small. Listen to the

Christian radio when going to work. Pray before you eat or go to sleep. Read a Bible story to your

children every night. The point is that if you are willing to focus on changing one key stone habit,

you may discover that many other habits will be changed. I invite you to give it a try. I believe

there is much to gain! In Christ, David

David Chivington Lead Pastor

Page 8

Pastor’s Point

“keystone habits”

An important element of Sidney First UMC is the Sidney First Foundation. As part of an effort to communicate activities of the Foundation, we have prepared answers to several basic questions concerning the Foundation. Should you have other specific questions, please let them be known. We will try to address them in future editions

of The Image.

Q: I have heard the church has a Foundation. Can you tell us a little about the Foundation

and its purpose?

A: The Foundation was originally established in the mid-eighties, but was not very active for many years. In 2002 a task force was formed to reorganize the foundation with the objective of becoming more active in developing long-term funding that would benefit and support the mission and vision of Sidney First UMC. The Foundation’s primary purpose is to receive, hold and administer bequests, trusts and gifts made to the church. In addition, the foundation has the responsibility to develop, organize and promote a planned giving program that will provide the long-term support needed to achieve the vision God has for Sidney First. The Sidney First

Foundation operates exclusively for the benefit of Sidney First UMC.

Q: Who currently serves on the Foundation Board of Directors?

A: The members of the Foundation Board are: Kent Witt (Chair), Connie Lunsford, Eric Ditmer, Bruce Boyd, Jeff Van Treese, Perry Long, Darlene Craver, Mick Given, Rita Gilfillen, Phil Valentine, Rich Wallace, Jana Potts, Cindy Helman, Cynthia McRill and Rev. David Chivington.

The Foundation Trustees are nominated and elected annually at our church conference.

Q: What is the value of the assets managed by the Foundation?

A: At the time of the reorganization in 2002 the Foundation had $300,000 in assets. During the past 12 years through the generous gifts of Sidney First members, the Foundation assets have

grown to $2.67 million.

Q: How are the Foundation funds invested?

A: The Foundation funds are invested according to an approved Investment Policy which is reviewed annually by the Board. The Investment Policy authorizes the use of publicly traded mutual funds in accordance with an approved asset allocation model. The investment objective

is to obtain a reasonable investment return with a conservative risk profile.

Q: How are the returns on the Foundation’s investments used?

A: Since the funds managed by the Foundation are consolidated and pooled for investment

purposes, careful accounting is important. Returns on some gifts or bequests are designated by

Sidney First Foundation Update

Page 9

Con’t. on Page 10

the giver for specific purposes. Examples include support of our music ministry, radio ministry, education scholarships, pastor housing allowance and Christian Education. In those instances, the returns on these funds are used for the designated specific purpose. The majority of the funds are included in a general use ministry endowment fund. An approved “Distribution Policy” has been established to allow returns from the general endowment fund to be distributed to the operating fund of the church. Over the past five years, about $300,000 has been distributed to the operating fund of the church and an additional $60,000 has been distributed for capital

improvements.

Q: What is an “Endowment” fund?

A: An “Endowment” fund is a fund consisting of gifts and bequests that are subject to the requirement that the amount of the original gift (principal) be maintained intact and invested to create a source of income for a designated use. Donors may establish an endowment for a purpose for which they have a passion or special interest. In addition, the nonprofit’s governing board may establish an endowment for a specific use. An endowment requires that the principal

remain intact in perpetuity or for a defined period of time.

Q: I have heard the term “Vision Partners”. What is a “Vision Partner”?

A: Much of the great heritage we proudly claim and the worship traditions we enjoy each week at Sidney First are due to the careful planning and sacrifices of the many generations who have worshiped here over the past 182 years. Our mission and vision compel us to continue to provide this great legacy for future generations. Winston Churchill reminded us of this duty when he said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” You can become a Sidney First Vision Partner by making a gift to the Sidney First Foundation or by informing the

church that you have included the church in your estate plan.

Kent Witt, Chair Sidney First Foundation

Sidney First Foundation Update (continued)

Page 10

Our Strategic Initiative:

"Reach...deeper into God,

further out in love."

Page 11

Did you know that Sidney First has a Prayer

Chain? You can send notes of praise, words of

encouragement, and prayer requests. Once you

get on the list, you will also receive prayer re-

quests from church members and others on the

list.

praynow@sidneyfirst.com

Worship Services

Sidney First currently offers the following services at our main campus:

Our traditional service begins at 9:00 am every Sunday.

Our contemporary service begins at 11:00 am every Sunday.

We also have JOY Church at the Alpha Center every Sunday at 9:00 am

with breakfast served at 8:30 am.

Join The Prayer Chain

"Find the Lost, Disciple the Found, Equip for Service,

Transform the World."

At some point, life comes up from the soil. A

tree’s trunk bursts up in proportion to the

strength of its roots and its capacity for sus-

tained growth. Our Vision is what others first

see. It is how we live out our mission. It is that which faces the

elements of life directly and it also becomes the backbone or the

strength of its various exposed parts. Our Vision is how we pat-

tern our lives and our ministries. It is what we are about.

Our vision

January 3 & 4—3 Shades of Blue Band

16 – 19—Youth Mission Trip to Nashville, TN

February 12 – 15—Emmaus Women’s Walk #65

18—Ash Wednesday

March 5 – 11—Tijuana Mission Trip

8—Daylight Savings Begins

19 – 22—Emmaus Men’s Walk # 61

29—Palm Sunday / Easter Cantata

30-31—Girl Scouts Spring Day Camp

Sidney First United Methodist Church 230 E. Poplar St.

Sidney, OH 45365

Phone: 937.492.9136

Fax: 937.492.1409

Email: sidneyfirst@sidneyfirst.com

Web: www.sidneyfirst.com

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Sidney, OH 45365

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