Where can you begin now, on your own? Begin first with prayer and scripture reading. Take an inventory of the moments in your life when you have felt close to God. Where were you? What were you doing? Consider too, that an outside set of eyes like a good friend or another member of the church may be able to help too. Where have they seen God working through you? May you be blessed as you consider these questions. For Just as the body [the church, your church] is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

(1 Cor 12:12)

In Christ,

Pastor Ken

Several of the sermons in the back to school series have highlighted how we work with God and have discussed the topic of spiritual gifts. When a Christian is able to find their spot within the church and is able to use the gifts that God has given them it is a wonderful thing.

But finding that spot is not always easy, and without guidance it often feels like a task of trying to play the “what am I good at?” guessing game. But spiritual gifts are more than just a talent we have, more than just something we are good at. They are a union between the person that God made us to be, and the calling God has placed on our lives.

There’s a lot of discussion about Spiritual Gifts in scripture: Rom 12:1-8 and 1 Cor 12:1-11 (but balanced by 1 Cor

13:1-13). These are just some of the places where the topic is discussed, and I do not read these lists to be all-inclusive. I have worked in ministry long enough to see God work through people in many many different ways. At Downs UMC we are going to work to create a culture at the church where people can test and explore their gifts, and find the place that fits them within the family of God. We will be working to create a culture of not just asking for volunteers, but also invitation (based on spiritual gifts).

Creating a system like that is going to take time.

Finding Our Place

102 S. Seminary St. PO Box 49

Downs, IL 61736

Phone/Fax 309-378-2651

Website: www.downsumc.org

Pastor: pastor@downsumc.org

Secretary: secretary@downsumc.org

Downs United Methodist

Church Newsletter

Inside this issue:

Upcoming Events 2

Mission Minutes

Cookout

Wednesday Nights

3

Opportunities/Dates to

Know

4

Stewardship/Birthdays

Anniversaries/

Volunteers

5

2012 Role 6

October 2012

Volume 21, Issue 10

Page 2 Downs United Methodist Church Newsletter

New Study in Adult Sunday School

The class is studying the book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted”. John Ortberg is the author of

“When the Day is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box “ and “If You want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get

Out of the Boat”.

What does true Spiritual life really look like? What keeps you from living such a life? How can you

pursue it? If you’re tired of the status quo-if you suspect there is more to Christianity than what you’ve

experienced, this study invites you to join Ortberg on a road to transformation and spiritual vigor that

anyone can take.

There are 6 sessions to this study

It’s ‘Morphing” Time-October 7

Slowing Down and Celebrating-October 14

Praying and Confession-October 21

Meditating on Scripture and Seeking Guidance-October 28

Practicing Servanthood, Finding Freedom-November 4

Going the Distance with a well-Ordered Heart-November 11

Timber-lee Registration

TIMBERLEE REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Forms are available at the front and office doors, and

can be downloaded from downsumc.org. Please turn all forms in to the church office by October

21.

No Wednesday Night Ministry October 31: There will be no Wednesday night ministry or meal on October 31. The church is considering what

it can do for Halloween evening, and there are some neat ideas but volunteers will be needed. If

you are available to help that evening please contact Peggy Stark.

The Lord's Instructions on Prayer:

Beginning October 14th in the worship services, we will be taking an in depth look at the Lord's

Prayer during the pastoral prayer section of the service. Christ has given us a model prayer in

scripture that can actually help to teach us how to pray. The text for the Lord's Prayer can be found

in Matthew 6:5-15. We will be breaking the prayer up into eight sections, over the course of eight

Sundays. Each pastoral prayer will focus on one aspect of the Lord's Prayer. Keep an eye on the

website for some great follow-up material on prayer.

Baby Bottles

Thank you to everyone that filled a baby bottle for the Pregnancy

Resource Center. Our church collected $481.33!

Page 3 Volume 21, Issue 10

Lanchester, TBA in church LOST: Someone borrowed the VCR copy of the

9/11 documentary filmed in Gander, Nova

Scotia after a Sunday School viewing. If

anyone has this, please return it to Dennis or

Jill McNeese.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS Wednesday, September 5th is the first night for the Wednesday Ministry. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to reach people of all ages to know Christ.

Schedule and teachers 5:30 - 6pm choir and helpers eat 6 - 6:30pm everyone else eats 6:30 - 7pm senior high and junior high can finish eating and teacher is in charge of activity PreK - 5th grade will go to a game area and switch after 15 minutes 7 – 8pm Class time. Younger group will have closing and snack at 7:45 in fellowship hall Adult class - Larry Stark in old parsonage Senior High - Michelle Forbes & Becky Connour in annex big living room Junior High - Andre McNaught & TBA in annex on 2nd floor PerK - 5th - Jen Nelson & Darla

Mission Minutes by Ginger Campbell

We had a busy month in September. There are a lot of needs out there that we are so blessed to be able to help make their load a little lighter, and still be able to contribute to missions as well.

The buckets for September were for Clare House in Bloomington. Clare House has a great need, so if you feel led you can leave off food there anytime. We collected $193 in our buckets, and we added to that amount to make a $500 contribution. That you so much!

Following are the othere gifts that were given for September:

MISSIONS $ 900.00

UTILITIES 837.10

RENT 1,190.00

FINANCIAL NEEDS 1,550.00

INSURANCE 58.15

TOTAL $4,535.28

Thank you all for your support of this ministry here at DUMC. It is truly appreciated and welcomed by those receiving your gifts.

.

October DATES TO KNOW

1 6:00pm Boy Scouts 6:30pm Trustees 2 9:00am HCE 3 6:00pm Wednesday Ministry 4 7:00pm SPRC 7 8:15am Sunday School 9:00am Fellowship 9:30am Worship 6:30pm Bible Study 8 6:00pm Boy Scouts in Annex 10 6:00pm Wednesday Ministry 14 7:30am UMW 8:15am Sunday School 9:00am Fellowship 9:30am Worship—Bucket Sunday 11:00am All Church Cookout-Moraine View 6:30pm Bible Study 15 6:00pm Boy Scouts in annex 17 6:00pm Wednesday Night Ministry 7:00pm Timberlee Meeting 21 8:15am Sunday School 9:00am Fellowship 9:30am Worship 1:00pm Timberlee Meeting 5:00pm Finance 5:30pm Nurture/Outreach/Witness 6:30pm Ad Board Meal 6:30pm Bible Study 7:00pm Ad Board Meeting 22 6:00pm Boy Scouts in Annex 24 6:00pm Wednesday Ministry 26 Wedding Rehearsal 27 Elsey Wedding 28 8:15am Sunday School 9:00am Fellowship 9:30am Worship 6:30pm Bible Study 29 6:00pm Boy Scouts in Annex

31 6:00pm Choir Rehearsal

OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday night help is needed

in the following areas:

*6:20 - 8 p.m. Nursery worker

*6:30 - 7 p.m. 4 adults to run an ac-

tive play time.

*7 – 8pm Need a teacher/helper for

Jr. High

*A person to do a small 20 minute

craft or experiment.

Nurture Committee is sponsoring some coffee mugs similar to this one, but they have the Downs United Methodist name on them. Get yours today! Suggested donation is $5. The mugs will be used as welcome gifts.

Nursery worker is needed during Sunday School. The time needed would be from 8:15-9:00 am on Sunday mornings. We have a cou-ple of adults that would like to attend Adult Sunday School, however they need childcare during that time. It would be for ages 2 and under. Please let the office know if you would like to be a part of this vital ministry.

A Nursery worker is also needed during the church service on the second Sunday of each month. Every other month is also an option.

August YTD

Tithes & Offering $14735.27 $111072.65

Total Need $14945.00 $119560.00

Difference $ (209.73) ($8487.35)

New Church Fund $ 270.00 $232538.31

Good Sam $1943.00 $18465.82

Fellowship Coordinators

Oct 7 Rileys

14 UMW

21 Wards

28 Jean Riordan

Greeters

Oct 7 Betty Harvey, Madelyne Gelsthorpe, Emily Kelly

14 Scott & Mary Romine, Jessica Cuba

21 Mabel Courtney, Barb Jones, Carrie Cobstil

28 Jon Nelson Family

Audio/Visual Operators

Oct 7 Ron Bass 14 Laura Walters 21 Tom Coulon

28 Jean Riordan

Nursery Workers

Oct 7 Laura Bass

14 Peggy Stark

21 Shari & Kate Riley 28 Lori Rogers

Stewardship Report Giving for 2012

October Volunteers

5 Chuck & Marilyn Murphy

15 Bill & Lanette Draper

26 Dave & Becky Connour

October Birthdays

5 Diane Scherr

5 Adam Coulon

5 Matthew Kelly

5 Jaden Ward

6 Ken Wagner

8 Nick Campbell

8 Kendall Gher

10 Kourtnie Cobstill

11 Jim Walters

15 Jen Nelson

23 Sadee Kinder

25 Megan Roop

25 Emily Solvie

27 Nathan Whitted

October Anniversaries

October Milestones

Milestones this month are birthday. Adam Coulon will be 15 and Ken Wagner will be 75. Congratulations and Blessings.

Downs UMC

PO Box 49

Downs, IL 61736

Address Service Requested

102 S. Seminary St

PO Box 49

Downs, IL 61736-0049

Phone: 309-378-2651

Fax: 309-378-2651

E-mail: pastor@downsumc.org

secretary@downsumc.org

Website: www.downsumc.org

Twitter: @Downs UMC

2012 Official Role (Positions being Served)

Ad Board Chairperson: Brent Ward

Recording Secretary: Lyn Edwards

Finance Chairperson: Bill Erlenbush

Sunday School Super: Jamie Ward &

Leigh Hayes

PPRC Chairperson: George Lewis

Lay Leader: Larry Stark

Lay Member to Confer: Cathy Finch

Treasurer: Janice Cuba

Financial Secretary: Lyn Edwards

Nurture Chairperson: Cathy Finch

Outreach Chairperson: Ginger Campbell

Witness Chairperson: Jamie Ward

UMW President: Donna Clark

Youth Director: TBA

Sr. Hi Youth Group Leader Michelle Forbes

Camping Coordinator: Carrie Cobstill

Trustee Chairperson: Rick Hayes

Downs UMC

Office Hours

8-12 noon

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

FINANCE: Bill Erlenbush, Larry Stark, Brent Ward, Janice Cuba, Lyn Edwards, Donna Kleinlein, Cathy Finch, Rick Hayes, George Lewis

TRUSTEES: Rick Hayes, Dave Wysocki; Andre McNaught, Craig Solvie, Brad Weichman; Jeff Cur-tis, Andy Whitted; Emily Kelly

PPRC: George Lewis, Kay Hull, Jon Nelson, Lyndall Cuba, Becky Connour, Jim Finch; Chris Mushrush; Rita Harsh; Darla Lanches-ter

NOMINATIONS: Larry Stark, Kim Lewis; Sherry Reed; Rhonda Nalley; John Werner; Debbie McNaught; Pastor Ken Burgard