umc newsletter · as a church family, and members of the buck creek community, we strive to stay...
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BLOOD DRIVE SEPTEMBER 18 AT BCUMC Due to the critical blood shortage currently happening, another blood
drive will be held at Buck Creek United Methodist Church on Sunday,
September 18, 8:30am-11:30am. If you are able to donate, this is a critical
time. Some folks have even put off surgeries due to the blood shortage.
Please consider donating!
Facts about donating flood from the Indiana Blood Center website:
●Every two seconds, someone needs blood - Every minute, patients use more
than 36 units of blood or blood products. Every day approximately 40,000
units of blood are used throughout the country.
●One pint of blood can help up to three people - Each unit of blood can be
separated into four components - red cells, plasma, cryoprecipitate and
platelets. These components can help as many as three different hospital
patients.
●Giving blood has health benefits - Each donor receives a free mini-physical
that checks for anemia, body temperature, pulse and blood pressure.
●Four easy steps to donating blood - Medical history, mini physical, donation
and refreshments.
●Donating blood saves lives - The number one reason blood donors say they
give is because they want to help others. Now is your chance to give back.
Donate blood today and you will not only be helping others, you will be
saving lives!
UMC NEWSLETTER
BUCK CREEK
UMC NEWSLETTER
BUCK CREEK
Bloodmobile at BCUMC in July
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BUCK CREEK UMC NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2016
THE STAFF.
Tim Schnepp, editor, reporter e-mail: [email protected] Nancy Schnepp, primary reporter & photographer: [email protected]
Other reporters this month: Ralph Rohrer
Carol Shepard, church secretary, duplicator
Other pic providers: Jim Miller (cover icon)
Thanks be to God forever.
BCUMC on the web: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/bcumcin/
SANCTUARY FLOWERS 4 > Billie Burkhalter providing the flowers
11 > Grandparents Day for Charles & Mable Schnepp
from Schnepp family
18 > For Lorena Poore's 80th birthday 9/17/1936
from BCUMC family
25 > Billie Burkhalter providing the flowers
WIDOWS CLUB MEETS & EATS SEPTEMBER 14 The Widows Club meets the second Wednesday of each month, 9am at
Cracker Barrel on State Road 26, Lafayette, Indiana.
MOWING SCHEDULE Sept. 4: Don Kidd Sept. 11: Ralph Rohrer Sept. 18: Brad May
Sept. 25: Bob Shepard Oct. 2: Brad May
SMART PHONE CLASSES AUG 29 & SEPT 12, 9-11am
Mark McQuinn of Best Buy Mobile will be presenting informational sessions
on SMART phones. Jamie’s Corner. Bring your questions. –Kay Miller THANK YOU +Ron, Rob and I would like to express our deepest Thank You for the love and
attention that many of our members gave to my mother, Bonnie Larew, while
she was at Cumberland Pointe Health Campus. Several of you also came &
visited her & helped her play cards. All of these things helped her live a little
fuller life. May God bless you all richly, Bonnie’s daughter, -Linda Hood
+Pastor Victor has no words to express the joy and love he and his family felt
during their visit with our church family on July 10. He misses our smiling
faces---this impressed him very much! He said, “The Holy Spirit was surely
present!” He called Pastor Saby at his church in Haiti to tell his church family
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there of his blessed visit! The Haitian church family sends their thanks and
love for all that our church family has done for them!
THANKS FOR THE STAMPS! Thank you to Vera Skinner, Ruby Clark, and Jim Miller for their
donation of stamps for the newsletter! They are very appreciated!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We want to thank everyone who ate at Firehouse Subs on August 2. Ten
percent of the sales that day goes to the Buck Creek Volunteer Firefighters.
CLARKS HILL VFD FISH FRY & CAR SHOW Operation Heroes 5th Annual Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show, Sept. 17,
2016, 12:30pm-4pm. Location: White Street, Clarks Hill, Indiana. In memory
of Rich Winger, benefiting the Clarks Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Registration for car, truck, motorcycle show: 12:30pm-2pm. DJ & Door
Prizes. Awards at 4pm. Awards to be given: 1) Top 35; 2) Firemen’s pick; 3)
Best of Show.
The Clarks Hill Fire Dept. will be holding its annual Fish Fry beginning at
4pm. All the fish and fries you can eat, along with slaw, roll/breads, and a
drink. Cake Walk will also be held. Handmade quilts are among some of the
prizes.
KY MOUNTAIN MISSION COMING SEPT 19 Methodist Mountain Mission will be stopping by Buck Creek UMC in
September. Urgent needs are: Furniture of all
kinds; large appliances; pots & pans; dishes;
linens; lawn mowers; tools, etc. Also, toys for
Christmas! Please have your donations to church
by September 18.
Parked behind Firehouse subs
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TIME CAPSULE These days at BCUMC we collect socks October-early December for the
residents of the Lebanon Children’s Home. We started this in 2001. Since
2011, on all the Sundays in January, we collect gloves/hats/mittens for those
who need them. Might be a school, a shelter, an outreach facility. Different
each year. Hold that thought.
From 1971-1974 the pastor at Buck Creek UMC was Gerald W. O’Brien.
Recently discovered in a church newsletter from that time period, was a note
about the Christmas Candlelight service from Pastor O’Brien:
Plan on joining us for this joyous occasion. Each child should bring socks
or mittens to hang on the tree to be given to some needy child. The singing of
carols will follow the service. –Pastor O’Brien
There you have it, a sock connection, a link to BCUMC’s past. We were
hanging mittens and socks on the tree back then, 45 years ago. It’s good that
we started it back up again, and we didn’t even know or remember it had been
done before. (Pastor O’Brien as drawn by Art Smith in 1973.)
SERVANTS, first service – September 2016
USHERS > Pat Sense / Lydia Mueller / Diane White / Ken Mueller GREETERS > Billie Burkhalter / Audrey Chappell ACOLYTE > Marcus May LITURGIST > Sam Stratton CHILDREN’S MESSAGE > Ruth Davidson (11th, 18th, 25th) BELL RINGER > Olen Shepard COMMUNION STEWARDS > Jim & Ruth Davidson FIREFIGHTER COOKIES > Jan Prosser (1st Tuesday) SCRIPTURE READERS > Pam Smith (4th); Ralph Rohrer (11th); Coley Sharp (18th); Carol Shepard (25th) NURSERY WORKERS > Jim Davidson (4th); Michele Roach (11th); Kay Miller (18th); Pam Smith (25th)
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OBITS
As a church family, and members of the Buck Creek community, we strive
to stay connected to one another. As the bible says, “Rejoice with those who
rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.” –Romans 12:15
RICK LEE VAUGHT, 56 Rick Lee Vaught, 56, of West
Lafayette, Indiana, passed away at
4:15 pm, Wednesday, August 10,
2016 at his residence.
Born on Tuesday, September 1,
1959 in Lafayette, he was the son of
the late Charles and Delia (Green)
Vaught. He honorably served in the
United States Marine Corp.
Rick passionately enjoyed his
career as a counselor and support
specialist with the Veteran’s
Administration in Danville, IL. He
enjoyed spending his time hunting,
mushroom hunting, fishing, and going to flea markets. Rick had a great sense
of humor. He was the funniest guy you could ever meet. He also loved Purdue
Basketball.
Rick is survived by his five children, Jesse Vaught (girlfriend: Danielle
Carey) of Lafayette, Crystal Morris (husband: Mark) of Monticello, Indiana;
Kelly Vaught of Linden, Indiana; Joseph Vaught of Lafayette, and Cara
Vaught (boyfriend: Corey Koontz) of West Lafayette; four siblings, Tina
Griffith of Lafayette, Charles Vaught (wife: Veronica) of Lafayette, Jerry
Vaught of Buck Creek, and Dennis Vaught of South Carolina; and ten
grandchildren.
Preceding him in death with his parents is a brother-in-law, Gary Griffith.
Visitation was held from 5 to 8 pm, Friday, August 12, 2016 at Hippensteel
Funeral Home. Funeral service was at the funeral home at 10 am, Saturday,
August 13, with Brian Manigold officiating. Burial with Military Honors to
follow in Spring Vale Cemetery.
Our deepest sympathies to Rick's family and friends. His name will be
added to the in-memory-of list with the socks collected at Buck Creek UMC in
2016 for the children at the Lebanon Children’s Home.
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JAMES ROBERT "BOB" STRAIN, PhD, 91 James Robert Strain, PhD, 91, passed
away on Thursday, August 11, 2016 in
Gainesville, Florida. Bob was born to
James Strain and Gladys Kersey Strain on
Friday, February 20, 1925 in Greencastle,
Indiana. Dr. Strain served in the US Army
for two years. He graduated with a BS and
MS degree from Purdue University and a
PhD from Oregon State College.
Bob worked for 19 years as a Dairy
Marketing Specialist for Iowa State
University. In 1976, he moved his family to
Gainesville, Florida, and was an
Agricultural Economist at the University of Florida in the Food and Resource
Economics Department for 14 years. Dr. Strain was a member of First
Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. Throughout his life he was a member of
The Athenaeum Club, NARFE, Alpha Zeta, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Florida
Association of County Agricultural Agents, Gamma Sigma Delta, Omicron
Delta Epsilon, Gainesville Community Band, and the Santa Fe Brass
Ensemble.
Dr. Strain is survived by his loving wife, Carroll Bagshaw Strain (Carroll is
Faye Merkel’s sister); daughters, Patricia (Bryan) Foster of Cedar Falls, IA,
and Sharon (Ben) Strain Womack of Pensacola Beach, FL; brothers, Carl
(Verdeen) Strain, and Edwin Strain; sister, Mary June Strain Ross; and two
granddaughters, Sarah (Cameron) Zigtema, and Laura (Wesley) Bryant.
A visitation was held at Chapel in The Meadows Mausoleum, 4100 NW
39th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida, on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 10:30am,
funeral service at 11:30am and burial immediately followed. In lieu of flowers
contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 1101
Northchase Parkway, Suite 1 Marietta, GA 30067-6411 or
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/. Arrangements are under the care of
Forest Meadows Funeral Home, Gainesville, FL.
Our deepest sympathies to Bob's wife Carroll, his family and friends. Bob's
name will be added to the in-memory-of list with the socks collected at
BCUMC in 2016 for the residents of the Lebanon Children's Home. A
donation will be given to the Gideons in Bob's name from BCUMC.
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MILDRED “TINY” WILSON, 93 Mildred "Tiny" Wilson, 93, died on
Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Woodbridge
Health Campus in Logansport, Indiana. Tiny
was born on Wednesday, October 4, 1922 in
Romney, Indiana to the late Mark F. and
Pearl M. (Harbolt) Inskeep.
Mildred married Forest E. Wilson on
Saturday, September 11, 1943 in Flora, IN.
She was a member of Eastern Star-Hope
Chapter. Becoming a member of Buck Creek
UMC on April 14, 1957, she had also been a
member of the Buck Creek Ladies
Missionary Society. She enjoyed gardening,
sewing, and spending time with family.
Surviving Mildred is her daughter, Jacki
(husband: Ned) Gochenour of Logansport,
IN. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren: Jeffrey (wife: Tammy)
Gochenour, Kelly (husband: Scott) Richardson, and Steve (wife: Kellie)
Gochenour, and five great-grandchildren: Zachery, Kendra, Carley, Bayla, and
Jack.
In addition to her parents and husband, Forest, Mildred is preceded in death
by her brother, Keith Inskeep, and sister, Virginia Wisley.
Funeral service was held on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 2:00 PM at
Hippensteel Funeral Home with one hour visitation prior to the service.
Celebrant Amanda Atkins officiated. Interment followed at the Historic Spring
Vale Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Buck Creek
Methodist Church.
Our sincerest sympathies to Tiny's family and friends. She and her
husband Forest were faithful and active members of BCUMC and in the
community. Forest and Tiny attended BCUMC regularly and did many things
for the church. Forest was one of the group that worked hard to get the
church's basement completed. Forest's father gave our church the first
refrigerator to get us started. Tiny was always busy helping at the church, and
continued to be connected by reading the newsletter even after she moved from
the area to be near her daughter. Tiny's name will be added to the in-memory-
of list with the socks given to the Lebanon Children's Home from BCUMC in
2016. A donation to the Gideons will be made in her name from Buck Creek
UMC.
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CAROL SUE WALTERS, 78 Carol Sue Walters, 78, died on Monday,
August 15, 2016 at Mulberry Health Care. Born
to the late Kenneth and Mary (Taylor) Frey on
Saturday, December 11, 1937 in Rossville, IN.
Carol married her first husband, Everett H. Felix
on Sunday, December 20, 1959. Everett passed
away on February 24, 1975. She then married her
current husband, Fern C. Walters, on Saturday,
August 5, 1978 at Buck Creek United Methodist
Church.
Carol graduated from Rossville High School
in 1956, and later in the same year, Huffer Beauty
College. Carol is a member at Eastside Assembly
of God, and Dolly Madison Extension
Homemakers Club for the last 55 years. She enjoys gardening, crafts, and
traveling.
In addition to her husband, Fern, she is survived by children, Tina
(husband: John) Binske of Albany, NY and Bruce (wife: Cindy) Felix of
Westfield, IN. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Steve (wife: Kim)
Walters of Fowler, IN and Mark (wife: Melissa) Walters of West Point, IN.
Carol has two brothers, Ward (wife: Netta) Frey of Lafayette, IN and Roger
(wife: Jackie) Frey of Rossville, IN, who also survive her. Carol is also
survived by 10 grandchildren: Kara (husband: Kyle) Martin of San Jose, CA,
Brady Felix of Ft. Shafter, HI, Steven Walters, Scott Walters, Spencer
Walters, and SeAyra Walters, all of Fowler, IN, Mitchell Walters, Micah
Walters, Mikayla Walters, and Madeline Walters, all of West Point, IN.
Carol is preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Everett
Felix.
Visitation took place on Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 5:00PM to
8:00PM at Eastside Assembly Church of God (6121 E. 50 S. Lafayette, IN
47905). A funeral service followed on Friday at 12:30PM at the church.
Internment followed at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
Our deepest sympathies to Carol's family and friends. Carol attended
BCUMC in the 1960's and 1970's. She and Everett were active members of
the church. Their son and daughter were baptized at BCUMC. Daughter Tina
played the organ there. Carol had been on the Nominating Committee and
head of Children’s Ministries. When her first husband Everett passed away,
Carol donated very comfortable yellow chairs for the BCUMC Choir loft.
Carol's name will be added to the in-memory-of list with the socks collected at
BCUMC in 2016 for the residents of the Lebanon Children's Home. A
donation will be made in Carol's name to the Gideons from BCUMC.
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QUOTES January 3, 2016 + “Change is something that will always be with us, and there is one person
who will not change---the Lord our God.” –Pastor Dwight
+ “Thank You for the new year. We pray no matter what happened in 2015,
this will be a better one.” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
+ “We pray for each person here in the new year we make a commitment not
to spend one day away from You.” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
+ “God does things for us but something happens unexpected and we don’t
like and we take our eyes off what God has done for us previously. We get
upset, mad, and forget what God has previously done.” –Pastor Dwight
(message)
+ “In our mind when we pray for somebody to be healed---to us it is in getting
the person healed. What is God’s focus when He heals people? Major reason
is to show His power and to bring people into a saving knowledge of His son
Jesus.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “God can heal anybody at any time of any diseases---He can do it. I know
he can do it, but I don’t know He will. That should not keep us from praying
for those things to happen.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “God is very generous with His grace.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “Always when we pray, God, You get the glory!” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
+ “Whenever we pray, let us pray for healing, pray for people to heal by Your
hand of grace, but always so You receive the glory.” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
+ “It may be slight, but it’s everything we need---the bread and the juice.” –
Pastor Dwight (on communion)
OUR SYMPATHIES
Our deepest sympathies to the family of:
Linn Scott Guckien
His name will be added to the in-memory-of list with the
socks collected at BCUMC in 2016 and delivered to the
residents of the Lebanon Children’s Home…
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FIVE QUESTIONS!
This month we check in on Jim Miller. BCUMC is very dear to him, and
he to us.
JIM MILLER
1. What schools did you attend (grade
school, high school, college), and what
were your favorite courses?
Hershey Elementary 1970-77, East Tipp
1977-80, Harrison 1980-83, DePauw
University1983-87, (17 year break!)
Purdue 2003, IUPUI (IU School Of
Social Work -- MSW Program) 2004-06.
NO PhD, thanks! (Mom (Pat) was a
Parent at Hershey, not Secretary while I
was there.)
2. Tell us about a favorite family
vacation.
We did not take a vacation yearly. When
we were young boys, Mom & Dad took
us TENT camping quite often, we had it DOWN, to a Tea. I recall a couple of
very rainy days, Steve and I learned how to play Euchre with the Parents'
careful and patient guidance in their tent, it was raining cats & dogs. So we
played cards. Cards became a family tradition, working its way into Christmas
Eve and Christmas Vacation traditions.... Who remembers, "Sitting with the
Bathtub?" Those rainy days in the tent are special indeed for they launched a
lifetime of precious times and memories.
3. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?
Going back into the College dorm after being in the hospital in October 1984.
Enough said. (If you know the story.........) (Find someone or ask me.)
4. What is one of the greatest things you learned from your parents?
Oh, there are so many things how can you narrow them down? I will not even
try. I want to say everything. Resilience is high on the list.
5. Complete the phrase "Thank You God, for..."
I always think of Palm Sunday being integral to my life, and if you know me,
you will understand why. I won't go into the details here. Jesus rode into
Jerusalem knowing what would happen, AND YET HE DID IT. THANKS BE
TO GOD.
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RECIPE CORNER …and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God. –Ephesians 3:19
You will be surprised to know that you can make a pecan pie in the
microwave! We tested this Autumn treat and it works! Even the crust is made
in the microwave. The result is a little chewier than regular oven pie, but good!
CRUST: Put your raw pie crust in a glass 9” pie plate and make your pretty
edge. Then brush the crust with a mixture of 1 egg yolk and 2 Tablespoons
dark corn syrup. (Using a pie plate with handles makes it easier to get it in and
out of the microwave.) Place in microwave, and cook on high for 4-5 minutes.
PIE FILLING
¼ cup butter
3 whole eggs plus 1 egg white
1 cup dark corn syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 Tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups pecan halves
Put the butter in a glass, 8-cup microwave safe bowl, place in microwave, on
high setting for about a minute to melt the butter. Let cool for a few minutes,
then add eggs, and beat well. Mix brown sugar with flour, then add to butter-
egg mixture, along with syrup and vanilla. Fold in your selected pecan halves.
Pour mixture into the prepared pie crust. Microwave 10-12 minutes on high.
Pie is done if top is dry and puffed and filling is set. Test with a knife.
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VIETNAM MEMORIAL MONUMENT DEDICATION If you are from around here, at one time or another you have been to
Columbian Park. On July 23, there was a special dedication there, for the new
Vietnam Memorial Monument. Located on Memorial Island, the monument
bears the names of 24 local service members whose lives were lost in combat
in Vietnam. It measures 5 feet high, and 13 feet wide. It is a beautiful tribute
to those who were lost and also honors those who served and returned home.
One name in particular is that of Charles A. Knochel. Raised in the Buck
Creek area, “Chuck” graduated from Buck Creek HS, and was a member of
BCUMC. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy, and was lost in combat while
piloting his A1H Skyraider attack aircraft near the Gulf of Tonkin. (Read his
whole story in our May 2011 issue.)
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May these 24 never be forgotten for their bravery and service to our
country: James D. Basham, Steven R. Brooks, Dennis E. Burton, Ronald D.
Carey, William A. Carter, Dennis W. Cripe, Garrison D. Fields, Robert J.
Hardesty, David L. Howard, William R. Jennett, David A. Johnson, Mary T.
Klinker, Charles A. Knochel, James A. Kummings, David A. Liste, Randell H.
Loy, Robert L. Mann, David A. Moore, Thomas H. Nerini, Doyle E. Sallee,
David W. Smith, Donald L. Valentine, William H. Vaught III, Robert L.
Wade.
Thanks to Sandy Formica for photos. Sandy’s husband is a Vietnam veteran.
State Senator Ron Alting & State Representative Sheila
Klinker participate in the dedication
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QUOTES December 27, 2016
+ “It’s really good to receive, but blessed to give.” –Pastor Dwight (offering)
+ “Jesus loves me, loves you. Jesus loves me this I know---that says it all,
doesn’t it?” –Pastor Dwight
+ “Coming into the new year, a good way to start your day: Jesus loves me.” –
Pastor Dwight
+ “We lift these prayers up to You---they don’t just hit the roof and come
back---You hear them.” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
+ “Here we are at the end of one year and the beginning of another. Wll this
next year be difficult? Harder? We know whatever comes You will be with
us.” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
+ “How long do you keep your new year’s resolutions? Are you pretty good at
the start and then life happens?” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “One of the dangers of the Christian life in striving for maturity is, that God
changes us.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “We’re heading in that progression towards God. We’re constantly
progressing.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “What’s the one thing Paul says to do? Forgetting what is behind.” –Pastor
Dwight (message)
+ “We have the mindset of chewing on things that have bothered us and we
just keep thinking about it, and keep on doing it. Part of the forgetting process
is to stop doing that.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “Why do we want somebody else controlling the way we feel? That’s what
we do when we keep mulling over what somebody did to us.” –Pastor Dwight
(message)
+ “When we ask forgiveness don’t keep bringing it up. Don’t hold that over
somebody else.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “You have been forgiven much by God. You need to do that to everybody
else.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s a choice.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “We don’t have to keep asking forgiveness for something we’ve done in the
past. We’ve taught our kids if you’ve done something, say you’re sorry and
mean it. Don’t keep bringing it back.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “There is nobody here too old for God to call and change things in your
life.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “We all need God’s help---I’ve learned this: I can’t do it by myself. I need
the help of the body of Christ.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “Forget what is behind, but press forward to what Christ wants for us. HE is
the answer.” –Pastor Dwight (message)
+ “You are molding us right now. Sometimes we don’t like to be molded, but
it’s the best thing.” –Pastor Dwight (prayer)
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2016 Annual Conference Report by Ralph Rohrer “Be. Hope. Embraced | Lived | Realized” was the theme of the 2016
Indiana UMC Annual Conference held June 9-11 at the Indiana Convention
Center in Indianapolis. And the proceedings tended to follow that theme.
There were several bright spots. The treasurer reported a $49,000 surplus.
More churches are fulfilling their conference tithes. Two new churches were
chartered: one, in Plainfield, has an average attendance of 185 people; the
other, in Indianapolis, has an average attendance of 200 people. The
fundraising campaign for Africa University has reached $1.3 million of its
$1.6 million goal.
There were some sobering spots. One vote approved a resolution to
recognize the discontinuance of 12 churches, among them the local churches
Heritage UMC and Mt. Zion UMC.
Another theme that ran through the proceedings, sometimes in the
background and sometimes up front, was the recognition that this would be
Bishop Mike Coyner's last conference with us. He retires on August 31. A
new bishop will take over on September 1. Bishop Julius C. Trimble is
coming to us from the Iowa Episcopal Area. St. Luke's UMC in Indianapolis
will host a welcoming service on Sunday, September 11, at 4 p.m.
Stories of hope recurred throughout the conference. Broadway UMC in
Indianapolis told how they shifted their attitude from trying to help people to
listening to people to identify their strengths and gifts. Broadway asked itself,
“instead of helping a few people beat the odds, how can we change the odds
for everyone?” and “how do we pay attention to the giftedness of the people
we have traditionally served through food pantries, tutoring programs, after-
school programs, etc.?” They try to shift from “ministering to” to “ministering
with.” Broadway has youth who walk through the neighborhoods and talk with
folks, bless them, find their strengths, and connect them with others in the
neighborhood.
A small church in southern Indiana (I think Harrison county) has started
branch churches in the area and has a mission church in Tennessee. (If I recall
correctly, my notes are sketchy.)
Conference included worship services. The Thursday evening Service of
Remembrance offered a time to remember those clergy and clergy spouses
who died during the past year. Former BCUMC pastor Judith Link Fuller
was one whose life was celebrated and remembered. I also stood in
remembrance of Dorothy Nelson, who was the wife of the minister at my
church in North Vernon when I was young. It is always a moving ceremony. A
30-piece brass and drums orchestra provided the prelude and played “Amazing
Grace.” The service concludes with communion. I was one of the servers. I
served with a man from Indianapolis, Greg Bright, who is originally from
Rossville so he knew where Buck Creek is.
The retiree recognition on Friday celebrated 36 people representing 1,050
total years of service. There was also recognition of years of service of current
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pastors in the conference. My notes say Dwight Monical, 25 years. Twelve
candidates were up for ordination.
I did not stay for the Friday night events – the Bishop's celebration and
reception. Nor did I return on Saturday for the ordination and commissioning
service.
The exhibits, as always, were interesting and provided ideas on ways that
Methodists can work in the world. The camping program had a large exhibit.
At least one of the mission-connected booths indicated some Purdue influence
– an EPICS designed simple truck. The people at the Lebanon Children's
Home booth send their thanks to BCUMC for our support of the Home. Other
booths highlighted prison/jail ministries, the United Methodist Committee on
Relief (UMCOR), the Reconciling Ministries Network, and the INUMC
Archives at DePauw University.
Now, if you have read this far into the report, you are to be commended. I
have a small prize for the first four people who tell me either the theme of the
2016 conference or the name of the newly appointed bishop. Call me, email
me, or tell me in person.
The 2017 Annual Conference is scheduled for June 8-10, 2017, at the
Indiana Convention Center.
-Ralph Rohrer
NEW BISHOP APPOINTED FOR INDIANA UMC The Committee on Episcopacy of the North Central Jurisdiction announced
the assignment of Bishop Julius C. Trimble to the Indiana Episcopal Area
Saturday, July 16. Bishop Trimble will begin his service Thursday, September
1, 2016.
Trimble will succeed Bishop Michael J.
Coyner who has served the Indiana
Conference for the past 12 years and will
retire Wednesday, August 31, 2016.
Trimble, who previously served as the
resident bishop of the Iowa Area for the past
eight years, was elected as Bishop in The
United Methodist Church on July 18, 2008,
from the East Ohio Conference.
A native of Chicago, he was ordained
deacon and elder in the Northern Illinois
Conference where he served two churches
before transferring to the East Ohio Conference. He served churches in the
Cleveland, Ohio area and as District Superintendent of the Cleveland District
from 1996-2003. He received training in faith-based community organizing
and served as President of WECAN (Westside-Eastside Communities Action
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Network) in Cleveland, Ohio, a faith-based community organization
addressing issues of safety, economic development, and public education.
A graduate of Illinois State University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological
Seminary, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland
Theological Seminary. A strong advocate for social justice and increased
attention to ministries addressing mental health issues, he has promoted
ministries related to domestic violence and the role of the faith community.
Bishop Trimble has worked with ecumenical leadership in Iowa in response to
gun violence and immigration reform. He serves as Chairperson of the United
Methodist Interagency Immigration Task Force. Before his election as a
bishop, he served as Adjunct Instructor at United Methodist-related Baldwin-
Wallace College in Berea, OH where he taught courses on the African
American religious experience and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Married to Racelder Grandberry-Trimble, a professional counselor and
graduate of Methodist Theological School of Ohio. They are the parents of
three adult children: Cameron, Candiace, and Julius Thomas.
Bishop Trimble has preached throughout the United States and in Africa.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Bishop James S.
Thomas Leadership Award presented by the Methodist Federation for Social
Action of East Ohio. He was awarded the Iowa MFSA Social Action Award in
June 2015.
His mission statement is:
"To encourage all people with the love of Jesus Christ to
rise to their highest potential.”
Here is a little thought piece from Bishop Coyner about the transition and
Bishop Trimble: Now that we know the assignment of the new bishop for
Indiana (Bishop Julius Trimble), I have had some people ask me for the list
which I shared at the “Our Life Together” retreat for clergy earlier this year
which I entitled: How to Impress Your New Bishop. I am glad to share that list
again, especially since only clergy saw it, but first let me say some things
about Bishop Trimble I have known Julius Trimble since before he was
elected a bishop in 2008, but of course during these past eight years we have
been colleagues on the North Central Jurisdiction College of Bishops and the
global Council of Bishops of our UMC. I am proud to say he is a friend as well
as a colleague, so I am very pleased to welcome him to Indiana. Here are some
things I know about Bishop Trimble: he is a writer (his latest book is entitled
“A Faithful Church and a Healthy World”), he even writes poetry, he has a
great sense of humor, he is personable, he is an excellent and powerful
preacher, he loves the Lord and the loves our UMC (even if he – like all of us
– has concerns about our UMC, he loves the UMC). He is a hard worker, and
he is a faithful friend. Indiana is going to enjoy getting to know Bishop and
Mrs. Trimble. (Photo provided by UMC News.)
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MAGIC: A Fantastic Comedy
By G.K. Chesterton
A New Production
Directed by Tim Fox
Presented by
Chancel Players of Lafayette
Staged at
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1723 S 9th St.
Lafayette, Indiana 47906
Dates:
Friday, September 9, at 7:30 P.M.
Saturday, September 10, at 2:30 P.M. and 7:30 P.M.
TICKETS:
$10 Adults, $5 Youth (18 and under)
In a whimsical and philosophical consideration of the supernatural, famed
author G.K. Chesterton challenges the audience to grapple with the reality of
miracles, demons, and ultimately, God.
ANOTHER MYSTERY BUILDING There’s another mystery building in the area, this time on the grounds
where Monitor School once stood. Details are sketchy on its purpose at the
moment. (Photo taken in July, 2016.)
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