Summer Bible Study Sundays @ 6:30pm – Mezzanine

I pulled up to a local grocery and saw a young man with long hair and tattoos standing against a post. He looked really down. I asked how he was and he said “Not very well.” I asked what was wrong – anything I could pray with him about. He said he was down on his luck and a recovering alcoholic. I prayed with him and asked whether he was attending church. He said he had been going where he felt welcome, loved and supported but he longer went there.

I asked why he left. “Well, to be honest, I started drinking again. I went on a binge and drank for about 3 months.” After the binge he stopped drinking and went back to church. He admitted to the pastor and a few members where he’d been. After that, he wasn’t treated the same. Some ignored him completely. Even the ones who’d made him feel welcome and loved were distant. He’d gone back for Christian support and encouragement but left understanding why some people label Christians as hypocrites.

A couple weeks later, a man gave him a card with a church name and address on it and said “Get a haircut and come visit us.” I told the young man I was sorry he’d experienced such treatment from these churches but assured him Jesus loved as is – long hair, tattoos and all. I invited him to attend my church. I told him Romans says we all sin and fall short of God’s glory – even those in the church. He thanked me for praying with him but said he didn’t think he’d be going to church anywhere. I let him know I hoped and prayed he changed his mind but never saw him.

We can treat persons according to our feelings or according to Jesus’ model. Our choice to reach out – or not – has eternal consequences. Inasmuch as we do it to the least of God’s children, we do it to Him.

Summer 2019

THE MESSENGER — SPECIAL SUMMER EDITION

VISIT US ONLINE SomersetUMC.org

Summer is Here!

June – July – August

2019

Messenger Somerset United Methodist Church

• Food Pantry Extends Hours – Saturday option now available for those who work

• New Roof - Construction set to begin in July

• Confirmation Sunday on Pentecost - Wear red on June 9 to celebrate!

• Summer Bible Study - Bad Girls of the Bible – not for women only

INSIDE this issue

This Bible study will study ten women of the Bible from a new and unique perspective. While we’re studying women (lots of men have been studied for centuries) this class is not closed to men – anyone can come.

We’ll meet Sunday evenings beginning June 23 at 6:30pm and go through summer.

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May Stats May 5 65 $2965 May 12 84 $10081 May 19 80 $1706 May 26 77 $3522

Our schedule this summer is

8:00am – Traditional Worship

9:00am – Sunday School for all ages

10:00am – Blended Worship

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Summer 2019

Worship Times

Severe tornados have demolished many areas of West Ohio. Dayton is in the national news but other areas have been hit hard as well. If you’d like to help, you can place a check in the offering plate (be sure to mark for Disaster relief) or send to the Conference Office (West Ohio Conference, 32 Wesley Blvd., Worthington, OH 43085).

People need our help. People need hope. Pray! Survivors often experience chaos, grief and fear in the aftermath of natural disasters. These emotions can be over-whelming and paralyzing. Our prayers have the power to activate healing and courage in the face of great unknowns.

Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them

Thank You

Dear Women of SUMC,

Thank you, Thank you for your generous donation of time and treasure to Perry County help Me Grow. We currently are serving 40 families with infants as well as women who are expecting for the first time. These lovely blankets and burp cloths are put to great use by them and are so appreciated!

2019 WEST OHIO ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Sunday June 2 -Thursday June 6

If you are not attending, there are still many ways you can keep up-to-date with everything happening at the 2019 West Ohio Annual Conference.

News from the week's events will be posted onwww.westohioumc.org and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/westohioumc).

Watch the live stream of the Annual Conference Worship Services, Episcopal Address, Awards and Recognitions, and the Celebration of Ministry Service on The West Ohio Conference homepage at www.westohioumc.org and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/westohioumc).

New Group

Like to sing? Join in and sing after worship for about a half hour. We’ll learn songs from the 70s through current stuff you hear on the radio. All welcome!

New Hours

We’re expanding

the Food Pantry Hours.

Besides Wednesday through Friday, we’re also open the third Saturday of the month (9am-noon). This helps those who work during the week. If you can help with these extended hours, check in during open hours and learn how things work.

Communion will be served June 9, July 7 and August 4 this summer.

Kroger Plus Card

Register your Kroger Plus Card in the Community Rewards Section with Somerset UMC and the church will be given a portion of what you spend. It costs you nothing. Our code is RF232.

Funds Needed

With the sale of the house and donations from generous and faithful folks, we’ve raised approximately $88,000. That’s pretty awesome! We need another (approximately) $70,000. Construction begins the first part of July. Please consider any gift you can. Mark Roof in the memo section of your check.

The interior work is approximately $15,000. We have $10,000 from insurance. It’s a big job an important one.

Financial Update

Attached you will find updates on our general fund (we are outspending income) and the Community Life Center Loan. The loan term for the CLC is 2015 through 2025. We still owe $271,535. We pay $2581 per month. We’ve brought in $5469 through April and paid $10,199. For the General Fund, we’ve received $54,651 and spent $64,996. If you’re not tithing, please consider doing so.

Check out www.westohiocamps.org

June 1 – Rose Mary Founds Birthday 1-3

June 8 – June Foster Birthday 3-5

June 9 - Pentecost/Confirmation/Communion – Wear Red

June 16 – Fathers’ Day

July

July 4 – Happy Independence Day!

July 11 – Church Family Picnic at Lions Shelter house, Somerset Park

July 15-20 – Perry County Fair

August

August 19 – First Day of School

August 30 – No School

Special Days

Become a Prayer Warrior for Camp Otterbein this summer!

Prayer is a powerful and meaningful way that you can support Camp Otterbein. Sign up at https://www.westohiocamps.org/camp/otterbein/prayer-warriors Culinary Creations turns Campers into Cooks. Budding chefs can perfect their baking, grilling and toasting skills this summer at Camp Otterbein. Culinary Creations allows campers ages 9 to 15 to show off skills in the kitchen and learn some cool new ways of cooking. They will work together to create an awe-some snack to share with the whole camp. Culinary campers will also try out traditional camp activities in the evenings. Camp Otterbein is offering two separate sessions of Culinary Creations this summer. The first is Sunday, July 7 - Friday, July 12. The 2nd is Sun-Fri, July 28 - Aug 2. Registration for this and all West Ohio Camps is underway now. See website (at left)

Treehouse Paradise Venture out into the woods and spend a week living in a treehouse. Treehouse Paradise at Camp Otterbein gives campers 13 to 17 the chance to experience nature in a new and exciting way. They’ll spend the night in rustic treehouse cabins with amazing views of the stars & a breathtaking sunrise in the morning. Teens will learn valuable survival skills, including how to cook over a fire and build a raft to float on across the lake, swimming, high ropes and the zip line. Campers take a trip back to the main camp every day for lunch and shower. Campers will do all of this while spending time with new friends and growing closer to God. Several sessions of Treehouse Paradise are being offered at Camp Otterbein. For available dates and more information on all of our camps, check out our website atwww.westohiocamps.org.

Somerset United Methodist Church 137-141 East Main Street POB 237 Somerset, Ohio 43783-0237 Phone: (740) 743-1029 www.SomersetUMC.org

FIRST ANY CHURCH