Yearly Meeting Preview:
Please join us at Quaker Haven Camp, July 23-25. We are delighted that Dan Cammack, director of Evangelical Friends Mission (EFM), is planning to be the speaker at our 2020 Missions Luncheon held Saturday at noon. The purpose of EFM is to fuel a worldwide movement of people who seek first the kingdom of God, planting churches that live and die to carry out the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment.
Future Plans:
Your IYM leadership is looking forward to the future and will be especially glad when all our churches will be able to resume public worship. Psalm 122:1 will hopefully soon be on all our lips—”I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD.” While there is still uncertainty about what restrictions may remain in the coming months, we are moving forward with plans for Representative Council (May 16), Pastors Short Course (June 29 – July 2) and Yearly Meeting (July 23-25).
Representative
Council
: We hope to be able to meet at Bethel Friends on Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 am. Our contingency plan would be to meet virtually via Zoom if necessary. A decision to meet virtually would be announced by May 5. In any case, our spring meeting of Representative Council will be an abbreviated session dealing with important action items. Instead of committee reports on May 16, clerks will be asked to submit written advanced reports to be distributed prior to the meeting.
Committee Day(s):
Instead of meeting in person, our committees will have virtual meetings in May. Committee members will receive invitations to participate in a committee day via Zoom with an option to join in a video conference from a computer or to call in from any telephone. Meetings on Saturday, May 2, at 9:30 am, will include Evangelism & Outreach, Communications & Publications, Stewardship & Finance and Missions. Meetings on Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 pm, will include Christian Service Committee, Christian Education Committee, Missions Committee and Ministry & Oversight
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From the Advancement Committee:
"Now let us sing, sing ‘til the power of the Lord comes down. Lift up your voice. Be not afraid. Sing ‘til the power of the Lord comes down." These are partial lyrics from a song Indiana Young Friends sang a few decades ago. The significance of these words ring true today. Let's live victoriously dear friends! The generosity of all of you continues to be incredible. Here's the giving so far toward the 2021 budget: $34,073.90 ($27,350.90 received; $6,723 in pledges still to come in). Thank you God for allowing us to be in such an amazing' faith community.
Summer Camp:
The joint WYM/IYM Camp Planning Team met on Monday, April 27. During that meeting, Pat Byers read from a statement from Governor Holcomb stating that changes to the ‘Stay at Home’ order could be coming during his briefing on Friday, May 1 (the day the current order is set to expire). The team decided to wait to hear the Governor’s statement, then meet again Friday evening to see if any decisions need to be made regarding the summer camping program. Thank you all so much for your support of Quaker Haven through this time, for your prayers for our camp and camping program, and for your patience as decisions are pushed back in order to gather the most information.
Grants and Loans Are Available!
Contact
doug@iym.org
if your congregation is in need of in any of the following assistance programs.
Friends Helping Friends Grant from Indiana Yearly Meeting
Low Interest Loan program from Indiana Yearly Meeting
Congregational Relief Fund from Everence
Technology Grants from the Center for Congregations
Payroll Protection and SBA loans/grants from the federal government
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Sunday School Curriculum
orders for the summer quarter are now being accepted. Contact
doug@iym.org
for more information or an order form. Orders requested by April 30.
Online Sunday School Lessons:
While Sunday Schools are unable to meet, IYM is producing Sunday School lessons on video that can be viewed in your home. The May 3 lesson can be viewed at this link:
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A Quick Word from White’s Residential and Family Services:
Through the spirit of a teen coloring on the sidewalk to the generosity of staff going the extra mile to provide things to do for the cottages – such as Mini-Greenhouses! – Jesus is with us!
From the dozens of volunteers who stepped up to provide masks for students and staff to the donors who are providing care baskets for our house-parents – Yes, Jesus is with us!
From the new staff members who join us next week – thank You, Lord! – to the veterans who are opening their Bibles and finding strength and encouragement therein, reminding all of us to do the same – Yes, Jesus is with us!
Dear Friends, your prayers, your thoughts, your wishes, and generosity not only touch the lives of students on our campus, but reach to our foster homes and staff members who so need to hear and see the love of Jesus in action. You touch the lives of all of us who work here. Your prayers and support mean the world to students and staff alike. Thank you!
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Our Sincere Sympathy to the following families:
Kay Cain,
76 and wife of Mike Cain, passed away Thursday, April 23. She and Mike served the Lord on the mission field in Belize, Central America for 15 years, partnering with FUM. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, three sons and a daughter.
Don Rubendall,
93, passed away, April 27, in Richmond, IN. He was a pastor in IYM plus an interim Superintendent and was Director of Christian Education and Youth Activities in IYM. He is survived by his two children and three step-children.
Susan Sullivan,
74, passed away, April 25 in Greenfield, IN. She was a birthright Quaker and a faithful supporter of IYM. She was a former member of Raysville Friends and more recently attended Knightstown Friends. Susan is survived by her brother, Charles Sullivan. Memorial contributions may be made to IYM.
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Have you mailed in a contribution for IYM’s
annual fundraising effort?
Lots of people have, but we still need your help!
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IYM Upcoming Calendar
05/02 Committee Day, via Zoom, 9:30 am
05/12 Committee Day, via Zoom, 6:30 pm
05/16 Representative Council, Bethel Friends, 9:30 am
05/18 Advancement Committee, IYM office, 4 pm
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Good Morning!
Have you ever felt that pull to say ‘yes’ to God, but some sort of fear or lack of trust trumped, and what sort of fell out of your mouth was ‘no’?
Christian Author and Lawyer, Bob Goff, in his book
Love Does
, speaks of the book of Exodus account where Moses is in that very spot. Here is God, speaking out of a bush that is burning and not being consumed. And, there is Moses, telling God why he should not be the one to go to Pharaoh.
Many of us have said ‘yes’ to God at least once. Maybe it was a rather heavy moment, like in the chapel at Quaker Haven (like I did) or at a Billy Graham event or some evangelical event like it. Or, perhaps it was much more subtle, like in your pastor’s office or even your own home. Wherever or however it happened, many of us have said ‘yes’ to following Jesus. Could Jesus be asking you to follow Him today? Might you be willing to say ‘yes’ to Him now?
What if God were to ask you to say ‘yes’ again? Perhaps you have said ‘yes’ the first time, and now He is speaking again. Perhaps He is asking you to step out in faith, take a leap, or make a move. Maybe He is asking you to have a much-needed conversation or to reconnect (with social distance, of course) with someone you have not spoken with in a while.
We are all figuring out a new normal in the midst of this pandemic. Hopefully, it will begin to subside soon. But, even if it does not, how might God be trying to get your attention? Could He be asking you to say 'yes'…again?
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Pat Byers
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