Waterville UMC Ambassador

November 2021

Dear Church Family,

In Psalm 118:1 we read these words, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” One of the attitudes God desires for us is the attitude of thankfulness. Are we thankful for God’s love? The simple quick answer for most of us is yes. How do we live out this thankfulness and what does God promise to give us when we are faithful?

In Exodus 15:2 God says to us, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!” When we discover the strength of God in our lives we cannot help but to give thanks. Jesus taught the disciples that they would never be alone as the Holy Spirit would always be with them and that same spirit is with us. It is through the promised Holy Spirit that we find the strength to live each day for God. Many of us may need to ask God to reveal to us the power of the Holy Spirit as we show our love for God in the way that we live.

To discover the work of the Holy Spirit we need to study what the scripture has to say. Jesus talked about the work of the Holy Spirit in John chapters 14 and 15.

In Nehemiah 8 there is a powerful scene when the scripture was read and then taught by the people. The experience was so profound that people were weeping as the learned the truth about God. In verse 10, “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”” We learn here that when we discover God’s truth our response is not one of grieving for our unfaithfulness but to celebrate that the day we experience God’s truth is a day of celebration. A day of thanksgiving.

One area of faithfulness is how we deal with all of God’s blessings in our lives. God has blessed our congregation is so many ways and one of these ways is how God has blessed so many financially. At this time your financial blessings are needed. We are presently behind our expenses by $11,000. Ask God if you are to use a portion of your blessings not only to meet this need but also the needs for the rest of the year and into 2022.

One of the biblical standards for dealing with finances is the tithe. The tithe is 10% of our income. Is God asking you to live into this truth? If just a few of us would move toward or begin tithing all of our financial needs would be abundantly met. By tithing we are giving thanks to God.

A final promise from God. At the end of the book of Matthew Jesus tells us to make new disciples, teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands. Just as the people of Nehemiah heard the Word read and taught Jesus tells us to share and teach the word. Jesus’ final promise is this, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Jesus is always with us, let us give thanks.

May you know God’s blessings,

Pastor Mike

Our Vision – Share, Celebrate, and Teach God’s Love

Our Mission – Serve. Connect. Love. Give.

10:30 AM

Opportunities to worship and praise the Lord with WUMC:

In Sanctuary

In Courtyard - Please bring your own chair.

Park in car near the church and tune to FM 90.5.

Live Stream via You Tube at www.watervilleumc.org.

Watch the recording of the worship service on-line when available at www.watervilleumc.org.

Praises to the Lord!

🤱The Balcony Cry Room has moved to the Basement Fireside Room 🍼

🍼 Please enjoy its new location 👶

Pastor Mike at the head of the table saying a blessing for the MOC luncheon provided on October 21st, the sharing of food, and for the safety & talents of all the workers on site.

The workers continue to enjoy the Ministry of Construction. We are now serving lunch twice a month. The 2nd luncheon went very well. The workers are amazed at the care we are showing them. Several have commented that they have never experienced this kind of support.

Ministry of Construction Report

It is with great excitement that the Ministry of Construction is in Phase 2 at our New Beginnings Building site. This includes lunches being served to the workers every other week and weekly sweeping of the building. If you would like to help provide a lunch, please contact Barb Crandall. If you are available to help sweep on Friday evening or Saturday, please sign up at church or contact Paul and Cherl Matla, 419 341-9431 and leave a message. Brooms, dust pan, and trash barrels are provided. Please wear work gloves and a mask, it can be quite dusty inside as the building has been enclosed with boarded up windows and soon to be real windows and doors. The sweeping up of the building once a week is saving the church almost $15,000! Weekly hospitality treats, prayers, and welcome bags for the workers continue, thanks for all you are doing in those areas.

This baby we are expecting in the spring of 2022 is developing quite nicely, thanks for being part of the staff to help deliver this brand new church!!

Paul and Cherl Matla, MOC Directors

New Beginnings Ministry of Construction Teams! We have opportunities to serve and make a difference in the lives of those building our New Beginnings Building. See the worship bulletin and the bulletin board for details! Sign up sheets are on the bulletin boards.

The Sale of 102 North Fifth Street

We continue to have interested groups tour our

present building. To entice some more interest

we have reduced the price from $455,000 down to $445,000.

Please continue to spread the word about our

building being up for sale.

Your Team in charge for the sale includes:

Christina Wielgopolski

Steve Crandell

Penn Pritchett

Jim Page

Spread the Word!!

Please pray for the Lord's guidance as we move through this process.

From Your Treasurer's Desk

At the end of September our Profit & Loss report showed a LOSS of $10,005. Our General Giving has been below budget since late spring. Our spending has been below budget (mainly due to Covid), Please help us by bringing your giving up to date.

Our 2022 General Fund Stewardship Campaign continues along with our journey towards “A New Beginning” trusting in God to show us the way. As we have pointed out, Stewardship is more than just your financial commitment. It includes your commitment of prayer, service, presence and witness.

The Church Council (Leadership Team) is responsible for all operations & functions of the various ministry teams. Its membership consists of Chair, Education, Missions, Trustees, Staff Parish Relations, Treasurer, Celebration, Outreach, Finance and at large members. There are many positions available for you to assist and participate in these ministry teams. Listed below are several non-financial opportunities and areas of interest for your prayerful consideration. Even though the future is still not clear due to continuing COVID issues, we need to cover these areas and be ready when it is safe to do so and as needed. Please contact Pastor Mike or the Church Office if you would like more information.

Education and Children’s Ministry

Youth – requires a Background Check

Teach Children Sunday School Class

Adult Teacher’s Assistant

Assist with Vacation Bible School

Assist with craft projects & preparations

I have a special skill or interest I’d like to share with children/youth: ____________________

Volunteer for youth program

Chaperone mission events

Youth Mission Trip volunteer

Work with youth on ongoing basis

Prepare meal for youth group

Provide snacks / drinks for youth group

Will share my testimony with youth group

Nursery Ministry-requires a Background Check

Early service nursery helper (Sunday school

Later service nursery helper (Worship)

Worship

Worship Service Assistant

Altar arrangement assistant

Lead Children’s Moment

Prepare altar for Sundays

Restock pew supplies

Communion preparation/cleanup

Communion servers

Special and seasonal decorations

Operate Sound and PowerPoint

Music/Arts Ministries

Sing in Sanctuary choir

Handbell choir

Assist in children’s music

Serve as accompanist

Participate in Theatre productions

Play special musical instruments: _______

Hospitality / Fellowship Ministries

Browning Bus Driver (Sunday)

Greeter

Usher

Follow up with visitors

Adopt a new member

Host Fellowship Time

Discipleship

Congregational Care

Visit homebound members

Visit hospital patients with Pastor

Card Ministry: Write/send cards

Provide meals for families in need

Prepare food for funerals meals at church

Work with senior adults

Drive for those needing transportation

Do light home maintenance

Learning and Spiritual Growth

Attend Sunday School

Attend Wed. Bible study

Attend Sun. Night Bible Study

Attend a small group

Invite a friend to church

Learn to share my faith

Lead a small group study

Lead where needed, with training

Outreach

Seagate Food Pantry Team

Volunteers in Missions

Local missions_______________________

Welcome a Neighbor Bags

Disaster relief/ISOH-Impact

Habitat for Humanity Project

Bake Cookies for Kairos

Administrative/Operational

Assist with Web site / Ambassador

Photography/video

Newspaper communications

Write letters, articles, etc.

Manage church’s Facebook page

Volunteer for office help

Church Building and Grounds Care

Adopt a flower bed

Rake leaves

Prune shrubs

Participate in seasonal clean up

Finance

Member of Offering Counting Team

Miscellaneous

Wherever the church needs me

Member of Church Council

Independent Bible Study and Activities

CLICK HERE FOR THE NOVEMBER BIBLE READING

There are also apps through Bible Gateway and You Version to help guide you through this experience. Choose the one that works for you!

The November HomeTouch is another source of reading the Bible. Start today! There are also fun word games that we share in the weekly blast.

Click on HomeTouch picture to open. OR...check the bulletin board, we post copies each month...OR if you know someone who may enjoy receiving the monthly HomeTouch in the mail, we do have a mailing list we can add them to.

The prayer team is asking for the support of the rest of the congregation to join them in praying specifically for the the Prayer focus of the month.

November's Theme - Health

November 7 – Worldwide Health

November 14 – Biblical Health Principles

November 21 – Biblical Dietary Laws

November 28 –Biblical Clean and Unclean Meats

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRAYER FOCUS

POINSETTIA SALE!

Be sure to order your 6 1/2 inch Poinsettia for $7 before November 15th!

Envelopes will be available this week! You can also contact Melva or the office.

Order yours before they sell out!

Thank you to everyone who donated candy for the youth group to hand out at Sunshine’s Spooky Boardwalk community event on October 17th. We had 14 youth participating, LOTS of candy to pass out, a beautiful fall day, and lots of fun!

Youth Fall Fundraiser

In July 2022, the youth will be attending a week long mission trip in Maumee, OH with Group Work Camps. In order to help with the cost of the trip, the youth will be raking leaves in order to raise funds.

Donations to the Youth Mission Trip Fund are welcome.

If you are interested in having the youth rake your leaves or know of a neighbor who could use their help, please contact Adam or Stephanie Shelton Shelton (419-205-2516) or sign-up below.

Thank you!

Click for Youth Alive Schedule

"Teacher's Toolbox is a new outreach ministry that has developed in our partnership with Waterville Primary School. Three times during the school year, notecards with a list of school supplies will be dropped off to the teachers at Waterville Primary. The teachers will be able to itemize the list in regards to what supplies they may need for their classroom or individual student needs. The list of supplies needed will be returned to our Project with a Purpose team here at the church and the supply orders will be fulfilled for the teachers. This will be an ongoing ministry so any school supply donations are welcome throughout the year. Please contact Bobbie Westfall or Stephanie Shelton if you have questions about this new ministry. Thank you for your support!"

At the end of first quarter, we had 15 teachers turn in their Teacher Toolbox request form for supplies. Our Waterville Primary Ministry is working on fulfilling the requests with the donated supplies! We also received some prayer requests from the teachers which the team will be praying for. Thank you for the support of this new ministry.

Missions Committee Focus for November 2021

November brings us to the final stages for one of our annual mission outreach programs: Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

Pack-A-Shoebox Ministry information can be found at www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/.

Shoeboxes and pamphlets/adhesive labels are available in several locations at church-or you can always use your own shoeboxes.

National Collection Week is Nov 15-22, 2021

WUMC Shoebox dedication will be Nov.21

Please place your OCC items in the basket under the Mission Bulletin Board.

WUMC/ AW Area Build A Box page

Volunteers are needed to assist with the National Collection Week site at WUMC the week of Nov. 15-22. Please prayerfully consider and sign up for a time slot on the bulletin board outside the office. (Also needed- people to set up site on Sunday Nov 14.)

No experience needed. Instructions provided. See Anne Stevens with an questions.

There is a special WUMC link to use to BUILD A BOX ONLINE for Operation Christmas Child.

It's an easy way to build boxes without shopping and going from store to store to find all of the items you'd like to donate. Also, besides the fact someone packs the boxes for you, the $9.00 donation requested is INCLUDED in the $25.00 per box total.

It's fun and it's pretty amazing. Try it yourself or let your kids or grandkids help you (they will love the process!).

By using the link attached, your box will be added to our WUMC Gospel Opportunity totals!

Alex is a Shoebox recipient that has a special message just for the Waterville United Methodist Church! Click the link to hear!

Link to see the Shoebox Recipient Video!

Missions Committee Update

OCTOBER ATTENDANCE

October 3: 105

October 10: 103

October 17: 105

October 25: 107

October 31: TBA

November Card Ministry Liaison

Terry Myers

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Please reach out to her at profmyers@sbcglobal.net if you know of someone who needs an encouraging words through a card. Words of love can change a moment and often a life's direction.

With the holidays fast approaching, SPRC wanted to send out a reminder to remember our staff this holiday season. If you wish to give a gift here is a list of our current staff:

Pastor -- Mike Denman

Youth -- Adam and Stephanie Shelton

Office -- Kourtney Hanenkratt

Pianist -- Olga Topuzova-Meade

Custodian -- Art Meade

Nursery -- Jenni Bollinger and Sara Shoemaker

Worship Leader -- Andrea Kaufhold