Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 THE CIRCUIT WRITER What’s Inside 2 3 3 4 A Time for Prayer Stewardship Afternoon of Music Meals of Hope Food Build 5 NEST News 5 Announcements 6 A Disciple’s Corner 7 Garden Ministry 8 Missions 9 EUMW 9 Announcements 10 Migrant Lunch 10 Fashion Show Luncheon 11 Hispanic Ministry 12 Birthdays & Anniversaries 13 Church Info. Worship Opportunities Traditional Service 8 & 11am- Sanctuary Contemporary Service 9:15am- Sanctuary Casual Traditional Service 9:15am- Fellowship Hall Casual Community Service 10:45am- Fellowship Hall Sunday School 9:30 & 11am The Circuit Writer Children & Youth • The Youth Group meets Wednesdays at 6 pm in Fellowship Hall. • The Children meet Wednesdays for Bible Study at 6:15 pm in the Children’s Building during quarterly classes. 1 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 A TIME FOR PRAYER “Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my Word. My Father will love them and we will come to them, and make our home with them.” JOHN 14:23 God is gracious to those who love Him. Praise and thank Him wherever you are. Our love does not earn God’s grace but strengthens our relationship with Him and intensifies our prayer life. We were created to know and love God and find everything we need through Jesus Christ. When God makes a promise He always keeps it. He never forgets. If we trust and obey He will work His will in our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 28:11) God is great. He is majestic and glorious. Get to know Him through His Word. In His goodness God gave man dominion over the earth. He made the sun to rise on both evil and good and rain to fall on the just and unjust. Reading God’s word and praying restores the soul and helps you keep God first in your life. In prayer we seek to know God with our whole Heart set on doing the will of God. Jesus calls us to join Him in prayer. He humbled Himself. He became man and spent a lot of time in prayer. He did nothing on His own initiative. We are nothing without Jesus. We need to understand that our only hope is in God.” Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) Pray daily and consistently. Let Jesus be your model in prayer. In order to give true meaning to prayer, foster a relationship with Jesus. “Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) Fix your eyes on Jesus and the Will of God! God Bless, Lucy Jacoby ,Prayer Advocate The Circuit Writer 2 Estero United Methodist Church Stewardship To set up a recurring giving schedule, visit us online at www.esteroumc.com and locate the GIVE ONLINE button. Or if it’s easier, complete a paper authorization form and return it to the church office. The Circuit Writer February 2015 IN CONCERT - A GOSPEL AND BARBERSHOP AFTERNOON OF MUSIC EUMC & Friends - lets all join together February 8th, 2015 at 2:00 pm in the EUMC Sanctuary! Danny Funderburk's Driven Ministries (former tenor of the Cathedrals Quartet) & The Cape Choral (Barbershop Musical) will perform an afternoon of inspirational and uplifting Southern Gospel and Barbershop Music. Ticket donation is $20/per person and doors open at 1:00 pm so come early. Ticket sales will be outside of the Narthex each Sunday. 3 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 Calling all volunteers, ages 7 and up! Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 21st, 9-11 am at EUMC Fellowship Hall. This would also be a great opportunity to invite friends, neighbors or coworkers who don’t have a church home to see how fun and philanthropic our church is! Last year, we packaged nearly 60,000 meals and it would be great to do it again! However, the most urgent need is to raise $12,000 to pay for the cost of the food...which is just 20 cents per serving. All donations are greatly appreciated and checks can be made to EUMC with a reference to "Meals of Hope". This years’ food will go directly to Cherette, our sister church in Haiti. In 2009, the congregation of EUMC took on Cherette as our sister church and through us, the Lord continues to do amazing work. There are 300 children who attend school at Cherette and 54 of them are sponsored by members of our congregation. Just as we were planning this year’s Food Build, we learned that the sponsor of Cherette’s lunch program redirected funds to agriculture, leaving no plan or way to pay for the children’s lunches. At that same time, we learned that a local missionary couple is shipping a container of personal belongings to move to Haiti and it’s scheduled during the week after our Food Build. They only needed part of a shipping container, so there is room for our food to be securely shipped in the remaining space. The missionaries will make sure that the beans and rice are safely delivered to Cherette’s children. We believe that the timing of these events is not merely coincidence. The message was loud and clear from our Lord that we need to direct this year’s food to Cherette. We need 180 volunteers, so sign up at the Welcome Desk; Food Build table at the Missions Conference; or by calling Brenda Brown at 239-287-8834. We also need about 12 volunteers to help set up at 3:00pm on Friday, Feb 20th for an hour or so. The Circuit Writer 4 Estero United Methodist Church NEST News The NEST committee would like to thank everyone for coming to the Hymn Sing on Sunday night, January 25th. Good food and fellowship was shared by all. It was a good time to reach across the services and meet new people. It was a time to put names with faces. Thanks to Reid Bryan and Jeannie Miller for leading the Hymn Sing. Thanks to Larry Spohr and his sound team for providing technological support for the music. In February, NEST will host a staff appreciation luncheon. It is an annual event to express our appreciation for the many extra things that the staff does to help the volunteer programs shine in the newsletters, bulletins and on the screen. It is a time to laugh and relax over a good lunch. It is a time to thank people who are our friends for a job well done. If you would like to join the NEST team, please call Dianne Wilkins at 513-829-3258. February 2015 Hope for Kidz Sponsor A Child If you would like to Sponsor a Child in Haiti, please contact Carol Hadley at (239) 390-1623 or email [email protected] The $336.00 cost equals out to $28.00 a month. This is a great service opportunity to help a child get a Christian Education and have hope for the future. SIGN UP NOW for our New Church Directory! Everyone attending Estero United Methodist Church is encouraged to make an appointment to be photographed by Lifetouch photographers for our new directory. (Please note: You do not have to be a member of our church to be included in the Hey Friends! It's not too late to sign-up for Winter Discipleship groups! If you would like to sign-up for a group or want more information call Pastor John in the office (239-992-5516) or you can sign-up on our webpage. directory) Those photographed will receive a FREE 8 x 10 photo in addition to a directory. No purchase is required. The Circuit Writer 5 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 A Disciple’s Corner On the Disciple’s Path Unity is not the strongest point of the church in North America. Our culture of individualism does not lend itself to churches learning to journey together well under Christ’s leadership. Unfortunately for us this strips us of many of our most important discipleship practices: sharing with each other, bearing each other’s burdens, community discernment and serving one another in love. In fact, it is difficult to be the “Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27) with any real depth if we think of ourselves primarily as “individuals in Christ” and not first as a part of a larger “Body”. One of the ways we are trying to live into our call to be a “Body” at EUMC is by growing in our service to one another. This winter of our discipleship goals is to get a Men’s Service Team up and running. The goal of the Team will be to care for our brothers and sisters in the church by hands on service: minor home repair, furniture moving, yard work, computer help and rides to church or the store. We are also planning on serving in the community; but we want to make sure we are building up the body as a first priority. My question for you then as a reader is, “How can we serve you?”. Do you have any needs around the house that you are struggling with? Is there a way that our Team can give you a hand and in so doing build up our church together? If so, please do not hesitate to call us! We want the opportunity to share Christ’s love in this tangible way with you. Just give me, Pastor John, a call in the office (239-992-5516) or email me at [email protected] and let us pitch in: that’s what we are called by Christ to do! Let’s build this “Body” up in service together! -Pastor John Halley The Circuit Writer 6 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 Garden Ministry Our ministry continues to grow in fruit, workers and spirit – we are blessed. It is terrific to welcome our returning gardening friends. Many folks are stopping by from the Tuesday Market. Neighbors from the community, congregation and FGCU have dropped in to check out the garden. Dianne is giving tours and hosting people almost every day. What a great ambassador for our church. Our table at the Discipleship Fair offered fresh eggplant, tomatoes, okra, jalapeños and cabbage to those interested. On January 31, 2015 we welcome Community Gardening 101, semester two. We have nine families with a total 28 people scheduled to participate. In February, we will resume Saturday’s in the garden and all workers are encouraged to come out and lend a hand with our new class. Farmer Bob has created a lively syllabus and all help is welcomed. The lettuce plants in the pallets have been doing well and taste very good. We are enjoying a bountiful harvest of eggplant, bell peppers and jalapeños these days. We near the end of the first growing season and are busy pulling out old plants, preparing the soil and getting irrigation in place for new plants and gardeners. Seven new rows have been added through the labors of John, Gerald, Gordy, Rick, Fred and Bob. Though we have been spared that villain, Jack Frost, another Jack has thwarted our hard work. Jack Rabbit has been hare today and our broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, peas, sweet potatoes have been gone tomorrow. We purchased several hundred feet of fencing and this appears to be discouraging the rascally rabbits. We have a couple of new kids - Donovan helped with weeding, transplanting, cleaning out the rows and providing treats to the new kid around the corner. Everybody is happy! We incurred expense for mulch, compost and fencing. If you are able, please make a contribution to our ministry. Place your contribution in the collection plate and mark on the front of your envelope “community garden”. Join us Tuesday and Thursday from 9-11 for work days. If you are a seasoned gardener and willing to help out with our class, please join us Saturdays from 9-11. The Circuit Writer 7 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 MISSIONS For the month of February, Estero UMC will be focused on missions, from our sermons to mission moments and chili cook-offs, to serving around the community. There is something everyone! It will be a month of learning, sharing and growing. Pastor Tim asked the Missions Committee to create a range of opportunities for the congregation to serve others locally. It is quite a list of options.We are asking that you pick one of them and during the services in February put your commitment in the offering plate or basket as you leave service. You will then be contacted with all the details you will need to be a volunteer serving those who need to know that God loves them. You will be leaving the fingerprints of Christ on their lives. And hence, the theme of the mission’s month is The FINGERPRINTS of CHRIST. More details will follow, but please give the list below a close look to see what God is calling you to do in February, 2015. 1. One Way Out Deliver Valentine’s Gifts – Feb 13 – Lori Martel, 239-216-1252/ [email protected] 2. Habitat for Humanity Home Build – Feb 14 – Lorrie Morrison, 215-805-6514/ [email protected] 3. Super Girls Club Tea – Feb 20, 4-6pm– Yady Galano, 239-405-4151/ [email protected] 4. Super Kids Club Tutoring – M-Th in Feb 3:30-5pm – Yady Galano, 239-405-4151/ [email protected] 5. Meals of Hope Food Build – Feb 21, 9-11am – Brenda Booth, 239-287-8834/ [email protected] 6. Come As You Are Serve a Meal or Cook Ahead Casseroles/Soups/Desserts – 4-4:30pm Feb 7, 14, 28 – Anita Spohr, 239-691-7587/ [email protected] 7. Migrant Lunches Package and Deliver – February 5, 12, 19, 26, Dianne Wilkins, 513-829-3258/ [email protected] The Circuit Writer 8. Super Kids Club Package Book Bags with School Supplies – Feb 17th at 6:00 pm – Lorrie Morrison, 215-805-6514/ [email protected] 9. Traveling Praise Sing at Nursing Homes – Feb 4, 11, 18, 25 at 1:30pm – Betty Wilhelm, 239-390-3366 / [email protected] 10. Sager Brown Mission Trip Info Meeting and Sign Up – Feb 18, 6pm, church library – Lori Martell, 239-216-1252/ [email protected] 11. Missions Fundraiser Cook Chili for Chili Cook Off – Feb 22, 11am-1pm – Bill Smith, 218-9675, [email protected] 12. Farmers’ Market Staff the Church Booth – Any Tuesday in Feb 9-11am – Linda Horne, 239-992-5516, [email protected] 13. Random Act of Kindness for someone in the community – stop at church office for $20 – Mary Huron, 239-992-5516/ [email protected] 8 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 In the Garden The EUMW Board Meeting will be February 2nd, 2015 at 9:30am in Fellowship Hall. We will be discussing our Fashion Show that is Saturday, February 7th at noon as well as other business for our new year. Hope you have us on your schedule. The EUMW will be meeting February 9th, 2015 at 9:30am in Fellowship Hall. Our program will be about the Bonita Center for the Arts. This will be interesting and fun for us to learn what is going on there. Our hostesses will be Maureen Martin and Martha Todd. Please plan to attend and bring a friend. Also remember to bring a nonperishable food item for our local charity. The Circuit Writer Thank you for the bags and the newspapers that have been dropped off at the garden. The bags were really needed to have a supply of bags to pick produce. The newspapers have been used as a weed barrier under the mulch in the garden. The garden continues to have visitors stopping by after they visit the Tuesday Farmers’ Market and the COC thrift store. People inquire whether the garden is a UPICK. The garden members always greet visitors, give them a tour and share whatever surplus there is in the garden that day. It is a great outreach to the community. They ask lots of questions about who is doing the garden and why. Some folks just arriving for the season have joined in the garden activities. For more information call Dianne Wilkins at 513-829-3258. 9 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 The migrant lunch program will be participating in the February Mission month. We will be providing an opportunity for others to pack the weekly lunches for the migrant head start program. There is still a need for raisins and pre-wrapped, individual snacks like Little Debbie products or Fruit Roll-up, fruit bits type snacks WITHOUT NUTS. Please put them in the basket under the mission table bulletin board in the narthex. Thanks for your help! For more information, call Dianne Wilkins at 513-829-3258. EUMW Fashion Show & Luncheon Estero United Methodist Women Cordially invite you to attend The Luncheon & Fashion Show On February seventh, Two thousand fifteen Twelve o'clock noon Fellowship Hall Twenty-five dollars The Circuit Writer 10 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 EUMC Hispanic Ministry EUMC Hispanic Ministry has been blessed in general in many ways and keeps growing. A group of families faithfully attend the morning services and we maintain the Sunday night programs that include a meal at the end. Many of the families connected through Super Kids Club, Girls Club and Moms Club are being ministered to with the Word of God. Needs are met for countless families in need by Estero UMC, such as learning about how to deal with marriage conflicts, translation of documents and over the phone, helping with immigration paperwork, filing applications for different purposes, getting food and other items needed for the kids or adults with the help of several families of our church and our community. Apart from this, a Bible study/ prayer meeting for adults and activities for the kids was added on September 2014 for the families that don’t have any transportation at all to go to EUMC. This is taking place once a week at the Club House in Covered Wagon RV Park. We appreciate the help of our church for donating all the chairs and Bill Smith for transporting them to CW. We want to appreciate the faithful support of the Perkins and many others from River Plantation by providing all the presents for the families in need at Christmastime. Special thanks also to Carolyn Quiquel who has been teaching nurtrition lessons to a group of ladies. Also, thanks to the ladies who as a way to give something back to God are volunteering some time every month to do some cleaning in Fellowship Hall. Thanks to all that have been helping in many other ways and may God bless all. In His service, Yady & Cesar Galano. The Circuit Writer 11 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 February 12th Len Faralli Nicholas Czoschke Mary Smith Laurie Jost Bonnie Zingery John Loukonen February 22nd 2/01 Kim & Cynthia Rob Morrison Winston Bair Littlefield Jerry Nickerson Robert Lee Tonda Tavernier February 23rd February 13th Irene Hartzfield Lindsey Stiles Cindy Jones Megan Stiles Dwight Killian February 14th Dennis Reuschel John Leunk February 5th February 24th Jerry Varnon Kathryn Hunter Judy Moeller February 15th Jodie LeLievre Ryan Morris Pat Giglio February 6th February 25th Phyllis Sill Phillip Caple Mary Batchelor Hardie-Muncy Ruth Smith 2/17 Dale & Carole Robert Morrison February 26th February 16th Coddington Lilly Schermerhorn Violet Creed Sharon Bair 2/19 Patrick & Kathryn Donald Weisend Krystal Rose Davis Brianne Ethington February 8th Donna Klein Barbara Purcell Dale Coddington Marcheta Prater February 17th Donna Coppage Gary Salava Dorothy Stanton February 9th Marcelene Sisler February 18th Charlotte Bennett February 27th Louise Carlton Matthew Harvey Ramon Johnson Judy Peterson Ed Kent Diana Lybarger Vi Ritschel Drew Steel Lucy Rathgen Betty Wheeler Phyllis West February 28th February 19th February 10th E. Ward Dale Archer Elizabeth Briggs February 29th Elva Parks Joann Hussander Tess Marie Robert Perry Robert McElroy Fechtmeyer February 20th Donna Schuch Judith Harland Frank DeFores Nichole Shimko Nancy Harvey February 11th Raymond Jackson Duane Simpson February 21st February Birthdays February 2nd Debra Haley Ivars Kauls Joan Pietrak Jacquelyn Powell Barbara Stewart February 4th Ward Corum The Circuit Writer Anniversaries 2/02 Alan & Judy Wallace 2/06 Stephen & Betty Shandor Richard & Bonnie Zingery 2/12 Tom & Venus Myers 2/13 Paul & Gail Lau Bill & Marge Worley 2/14 Denny & Minty Ausman Leon & Connie Langston 2/15 Todd & Darlene Hunter 2/20 Donald & Dorothy Eylers 2/25 Bob & Linda Bottcher 2/28 Don & Patt Korff 12 Estero United Methodist Church February 2015 Church Office Hours Monday—Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Church Phone: (239) 992-5516 Fax Number: (239) 992-6393 Email: [email protected] www.esteroumc.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 68, Estero, FL 33929 Location Addresss: 8088 Lord’s Way Estero, FL 33928 The programs and activities of Estero United Methodist Church are open to all who desire to participate. Call the church office for more information. Staff Mary Huron [email protected] Pastoral Leadership Senior Pastor: Rev. Tim Carson [email protected] Program Staff: Megan Carson - Communications Coordinator [email protected] Josh Braden Bookkeeper Drew DiRoma- Praise Team Leader, Youth Coor. [email protected] & Pastoral Assistant John Halley [email protected] Susan Korecki Ligia Pucci Vic Sylvia Pastor Chuck Titko Carol VanBeveren Robin Voskamp [email protected] Business Manager Accountant Choir Director Maintenance Visitation/ Congregation Care Organist Children’s Director Discipleship Director Linda Horne Administrative Assistant [email protected] The Circuit Writer 13
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