Happy Fall!

Have you ever heard the saying, “Just give me the Reader’s Digest version?” Maybe in school you wanted the “Cliff Notes” for a book you were supposed to read. Sometimes people say, “Just give me the highlights.” I remember hearing in seminary this comment about a sermon: “You missed a couple of good opportunities to land that plane before you did!” Time is precious. We want people to get to the point.

Jesus gets right to the point when he is asked what the greatest commandment is. Many people are familiar with the 10 Commandments. The Jewish people in Jesus’ day had 613 Commandments. When one of the religious leaders asked Jesus which of the commandments was the most important Jesus gave him the summary, the Cliff Notes:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Matthew 22:36-40, The Message

Have you pegged your life on these two things? Have you made love of God and love of others your priority? There are others who are trying to learn how to live by these two commandments. Some of them are gathering for Bible study each week.

One small group is meeting in the church office and is studying the book of Acts, the story of the early church. Another small group meets in the conference room (behind the church kitchen). They are currently studying a six-part video series by Pastor John Ortberg “All the Places to Go: How Will You Know? These two small groups are offered at 11:15 after worship each Sunday. An eight-week class on “Understanding Your Spiritual Gifts” is being offered by Tammy Youmans one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders. If you are interested, would like more information please call or text her at 989-329-9955.

Continued on Page 2

Financial Report 2

Thoughts & Prayers 3

Library Link 4

Stephen Ministry 5

Celebrations 6

Ministry Schedule 7

Church Calendar 8

Christian Child

Care Center News 9

The Connection

O C T O B B E R 2 0 1 9 V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 1 0

SUNDAY WORSHIP

10 :00 AM

SUNDAY SCHOOL

10 :00 AM - Chi ldr en

11 :00 AM - Adu l t s

Podcast of sermon

www.greenvillefumc.org

Greenville First United Methodist Church

Continued from Page 1

A weekly Bible study meets on Thursday mornings at 10:30 am in the conference room (behind the Church kitchen). This small group is currently studying the book called “Luke” a well-researched biography of the life of Jesus. The group will meet next on Thursday October 17 at 10:30. We’ll pick up at Luke chapter 5.

Take advantage of these opportunities and find the support you need to grow in living two commandments: love of God and love of each other. Jesus teaches that these two are the point. You’ll be challenged as you share with others on the journey of following Jesus.

Pastor Don

P A G E 2

FINANCIAL REPORT

Through August 31, 2019 General Operational Giving: $ 193,279 Other Operational Giving: 20,517 Total Operational Income: $ 213,796 Total Expenses $ 235,321 Operational Loss -$ 21,525

Trick or Treat Trick or Treat is coming to FUMC! The event is going to be held October 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. If you would like to participate, we will be accepting donations of candy or come and enjoy the fun and pass it out, imagine all the delightful costumes you will see! We will be serving donut holes, popcorn, cider and water. This will be a great opportunity to meet our neighbors! If you can’t join us Halloween night, please feel free to contribute candy.

P A G E 3 Those In Our Thoughts and Prayers

Gary Baxter

Nancy Banks

Ted VanLoo

Micki Hess

Harley & Linda VanHoose

Rev. Ted Bailey

Dorothy Sampson

Judy Leach

Neil Sergent

Patty Kohn

Sharyl Hutchison

Judy Maxim

Ruth Finkbeiner

Palmer Family

Loding Family HOMEBOUND

Phyllis Crawford

Wilma Larson

Corla Morgan

Jim Bullard

Frank McLachlan

Yoga Class for Beginners Offered Join instructor Toni Wenger for Yoga Asana (poses) for beginners of all ages.

This practice involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures

resulting in improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. Class is

offered Wednesdays from 6:00 - 7:15pm in Celebration Hall. Please bring a yoga

mat, a firm blanket, and wear comfortable clothing. Optional props recommended:

block(s) and a strap. Contact Toni by email: twenger@casair.net, or home number 989.831.5115.

Spiritual Gifts Class Offered

Tammy Youmans is willing to teach the Spiritual Gifts class that was of-

fered this last spring as a Sunday School class this fall. This eight-week class

will help you discover and understand what spiritual gifts you have and begin to

consider how to use them! Call or text Tammy at 989-329-9955.

Juggling Club

Juggling is a great brain activity, as well as exercise. Anyone ages

8 - 80+ are welcome. Beginners will meet Sundays from 2:00 - 3:00

pm, those wishing to learn advanced skills are from 3:00 - 4:00 pm,

and are welcome to help at 2:00 with the beginners. This Club is a

service oriented club, performing in retirement homes, hospitals, festivals and parades.

Cost will be 3 canned goods for the local Ecumenical Food Pantry or $2.00 for

FUMC Missions. RESUMES OCTOBER 6TH!

P A G E 4 Library Link

Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween by Mike Petrik

Sammy loves Halloween and the way his whole family celebrates. All year he has worked on ideas, planning next year’s Haunted House. After going a bit overboard through the year, he gets help from his sister and brothers, and at Halloween it all comes right.

Miller Time by David Burhenn

No, it’s not a book about a brewery, but

one about a small-town basketball coach

whose record at the time of his retirement

stood at 657-280, making him one of the

winningest coaches in high school basket-

ball history. This book is added to the

library in memory of Walt Edgar, a gifted

basketball player in his own right.

Puritan Heroes by Glenda Mathes

Written in an easy style, with many

pictures to illustrate the text, these are

biographical sketches of the lives of the

most well-known Puritans, including

Anne Bradstreet, John Bunyan, and

Jonathan Edwards. These sketches are

about the people, their lives and their

deaths as they strove to live out their

faith in the Bible as God’s Word.

October 2019 Stephen Ministry Minute

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2, NRSV)

Hello Friends,

I hope that October finds you enjoying the cooler weather and changing leaves. Fall is my favorite time of the year due to the beautiful scenery that surrounds us. Just a reminder that God is quite an artist! For the next few months Stephen Ministers will be doing a book study on Beside Manners. It talks about how to do caring visits with people who are hospitalized, terminally ill, in nursing homes and intensive care. This month we are doing the first 2 chapters “The BEattitudes of Visiting” and “Hospital Visits.” Are you interested? You are welcome to join the study! There are books available in my file folder mailbox at church if you would like to pick one up to prepare for the meeting. If you are able, the cost of the book is $13.50. Our October meeting is Wednesday at 6:30 in the library. We meet the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30. Lay caregivers are very important to the well being of every church and we welcome anyone who feels led to be more involved in this ministry. Stephen Ministers help people who are hurting have a compassionate companion—a caring Christian friend who provides emotional and spiritual support. In the new year, we are planning a refresher training for all Stephen Ministers and a recruitment of new Stephen Ministers. This has been a long running ministry program of Greenville First United Methodist Church and it’s time for recommissioning of Stephen Ministers! The Holy Spirit is moving among us and waking our hearts to the needs that we see around us daily. Christ tells us to, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12, RSV) and this is a practical way to be the face of Christ to those in our community. Please call the church office or call/text me for more information.

Have a blessed October! Tammy Youmans

Stephen Leader (989)329-9955

P A G E 5 Stephen Ministry

P A G E 6

October Birthdays

David & Judith Nulf 10/01

David & Kathye Bailey 10/10

John & Candy Kerschen 10/15

Bruce & Carol Schnepp 10/16

Chris & Vicki Nelson 10/18

John & Lori Hostetler 10/22

Dr. Eugene & Connie Shatz 10/26

Ted & Nancy Kortes 10/27

Dr. Paul & Nancy Cooley 10/31

Candy Kerschen 10/05

Richard Pendrick 10/06

Eric Januzelli 10/06

Gloria McComb 10/09

Shirley Davis 10/09

Julie Johnston 10/10

Deanna Ely 10/11

Brett Hostetler 10/11

Lauri Bahlman 10/14

Virginia Evans 10/15

Carolee Rickabaugh 10/16

Donna Campbell 10/19

Robert Clark 10/20

Brandon Wood 10/20

Madison Homich 10/21

Norice Rasmussen 10/23

Beverly VanHoose 10/25

Toni Wenger 10/25

Emily Weller 10/25

Olivia Youmans 10/25

Vicki Nelson 10/26

Craig Weller 10/26

Peter Blinkilde 10/28

Zachary Cameron 10/28

William Davis 10/29

Michelle Fassett 10/29

Corla Morgan 10/30

Beverly Loding 10/31

Jennifer Loding 10/31

If we have accidently omitted you from our birthday or anniversary list or have a wrong date, please let the church office know so we can update our records.

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First United Methodist Church ~

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P A G E 9

Office Hours CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

CLOSED MONDAYS & FRIDAYS.

Please note: the church building is locked after office hours.

If you need to obtain access to the building after these hours,

please contact the church office prior to your event.

FUMC Event Scheduling:

If you would like to schedule an event at FUMC, please contact

Jennifer Loding at the church office, 754-8532.

Submission Deadlines:

Please have any bulletin announcements into the church office by Wednesday.

Deadline For the November Connection is Tuesday, October 22nd.

Please forward your submissions to the church office by calling

754-8532 or email at office@greenvillefumc.org.

Christian Child Care Center News

Happy Fall! We are enjoying the cooler temperatures, apples,

pumpkins, colorful leaves, and all that makes fall special. We will celebrate

Halloween at the end of the month with classrooms parties. The children will

enjoy special snacks, play games, and make a special craft to celebrate.

Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I hope that I

am able to use self-control as we enter the holidays of Halloween,

Thanksgiving, and Christmas; with all the tempting food and treats.

Thank you!

Leslie Garrison

Director

Christian Child Care Center

Greenville First United Methodist Church

204 West Cass Street

Greenville, MI 48838

Operation Christmas Child Boxes Due by November 10

It’s that time of year again….Time to give a child the gift of Christ through Operation Christmas Child. Pack a shoebox and a child will receive your gift, showing the love of Jesus around the world. Boxes are located outside of the sanctuary in the hall. Return your packed boxes by November 10, with the shipping donation of $9 per box (checks should be made out to “Samaritan’s Purse” ***not FUMC***). Each child receiving a box will also receive the opportunity to participate in The Greatest Journey classes showing them how the love of Christ can influence their lives. Please help your Missions Committee with this important project by filling boxes for children this year!