ASHLEY UMC
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2012 NEWSLETTER
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Where our faith in Jesus Christ intersects with our community and
encourages
us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community and to our
world.
Church Phone 740-747-2295
Web Site: www.gbgm-umc.org/ashleyumc
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Pastor:
Erin Porter PH# 419-560-0434 e-mail:EPorter@mtso.edu |
Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 AM Worship at 10:30 AM Third Thursday Free Dinner 5:00-6:30 PM |
MESSAGE FROM OUR
PASTOR
Dear Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
I just
want to thank all members and visitors of the church for the warm welcome that
was extended to my family and me.
Pastor Sheryl and Pastor Sopher told me what a loving congregation you
are, and they were right!
I look forward to partnering with you in
the Ministry here in Ashley. I am
excited to participate in the weekly worship services, the corn show, ice cream
social, Christmas in Ashley, the free monthly meals, and the many other
activities that are already in place in our community. These actions and the new ideas that
will follow will continue to bring the light and the love of Jesus Christ to
our community.
This month we have talked about the fact
that God’s ways do not always make sense to the world. We are reminded that:
1. Surrender to God leads to victory
2. God can use small things in mighty
ways, and
3. Extravagant love doesn’t
always make sense, but it is necessary.
Since we can find hope in these
revelations, our example to our local and world communities is to pursue life
and behave knowing that our belief in God can make all the difference in the
world.
This year our Vacation Bible School theme
was to explore how God used people like Gideon, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach,
Abednego, Paul, Silas and Jesus to prove God’s love and power to the
world. Take some time this month to
reread those stories and ask God how He can use the members of His small church
in this small town to make a difference for the Kingdom.
Keep up both the good work and God’s
work!
God’s Abundant Blessings as you step
with Him,
Pastor Erin
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Check out the
calendar at the end of this newsletter and watch for new and/or revised
announcements in the upcoming weekly Sunday bulletins.
Third Thursday Free Community
Dinners: August 16th
from 5-6:30 PM and September 20th from 5-6:30 PM: Each
month we offer this wonderful outreach to the community. We are always looking for volunteers to
help serve and clean up during the event.
If you would be available to organize and provide future dinners, please
contact Pastor Erin.
The
Life of our Church
Weekly on Wednesday’s Bible Study at Ashley Villa
August 16th Free Community Outreach Meal 5:00 –
6:30 pm
August 17th Ice Cream Social 5:00 - 7:00 pm
September
20th Free Community
Outreach Meal 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Our Card Ministry: In August, please send your
“thinking of you” card to
Ruth Bennett,
Don’t
forget to fill “Carl McCurdy’s Boot.” Funds
are being collected including loose change to fill Carl’s boot in order
to provide “Back to School” shoe money for PIN. Each $25.00 provides a pair of new shoes
for a child. If you have been
unable to attend church and would like to contribute, please send your donation
to Pastor Erin, Ashley UMC,
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Trustees’ Report: In July 2012, the trustees, with
the approval of the Finance Committee and the Administrative Council, submitted a proposal to
the East Ohio Conference, requesting a release of our funds, $70,349, held in a
CD at The Delaware County Bank, Delaware, Ohio. The funds resulted from the
sale of our parsonage in 2008. We
requested these funds in order to pursue necessary capital improvement on our
Church. Instructions in our Church
discipline indicate that these funds may be used for capital improvements. We
also petitioned the Conference to provide a $10,750 grant so that we could make
our sanctuary handicapped compliant by providing a lift at the back of church
and some modest remodeling of the two sanctuary bathrooms.
To have the opportunity
to review the proposal, contact Pastor Erin, Robert Henry, chair, or any other
member of the Trustees. Once the
Conference responds, we will share that information with the congregation, as
well.
Home Bound Members
Martha Adams, Ruth Bennett, Dick
and Erma Bilikam, Ruth Bonsel, Sylvia Gray, Art & Betty Grooms, Maebelle Henry, Emma Smith
If you
have a prayer request, you may contact LaVada Fellows to have your name added
to the prayer chain, or, contact Pastor Erin.
Please
provide news articles for the next newsletter to Dean Baldwin by September 15,
2012.
