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December 7, 2022

Featured Articles

The Urbana Conference is coming quickly! If you have not registered, or if there are young people you would like to talk to about registering, the attached flyer contains all the information you need. Contact Katy Moran (her email is in the flyer) if you have any questions.

IYM Pastors and spouses enjoyed a wonderful evening of fellowship, charcuterie, a wonderful meal catered by Janis Sizelove, and Christmas themed activities. The evening culminated in musical worship and a reading of the Luke 2 story of Jesus' birth. Merry

Christmas pastors! Thank you for all you do to usher the Kingdom of Christ through this Christmas season!

What does the Bible really say about Jesus? Would you be interested in not only discovering more about Scripture, but also learning how to lead others in a Bible discussion? At Connection Point Friends (a new digital Friends worship group), we are beginning a study on discovering the Jesus of the Bible. We are also learning and practicing the methods that will prepare us to lead our own friends, coworkers, and neighbors on a discovery path towards Jesus. Curious? We meet on Zoom, Wednesdays at 11:00 am, but we may be adding a second gathering soon! Email Jesse Vore at jlvore@gmail.com to receive a link for the meeting or if you have any questions.

The Growing Young Workshop that had to be postponed has been rescheduled for February 18 at Maple Run Friends.

Josiah White’s has been nominated and accepted to join The National Register of Historic Places! The campus, located south of Wabash, IN, was established in 1850 and continues in operation today. Approval for the National Register was granted by the Indiana Historic Review Board and will soon be listed through the National Park Service. “It is wonderful to be recognized for the historical significance of the grounds and buildings, yet I am often more amazed at the legacy and spiritual significance of how many lives have been changed on this campus since 1850,” said Andy Stout, Director of Donor Relations. “I am proud to help keep the heritage and history of Josiah White’s alive and active.” Read more about this exciting designation on Josiah White's blog!

The Colson Center National Fellowship will be held in Indianapolis this year! The IYM E&O Committee is recommending it for any and all IYM folks! Click HERE for information on the conference and how to get signed up.

Learn about Barclay's Christmas Wreath Campaign here

As we have gone through many of the Questions for Spiritual Growth in the last few months in the Communicator articles, now is a great time to let you know that there is a bulletin insert listing the questions now on the IYM website. Click HERE or go to IYM.org and find it in the Reports, Forms, and Resources tab under the Resources tab on the main page.

IYM Church News

Fairmount Friends' Young life group will have their Christmas Progressive dinner on December 11 from 5-8 pm.


Knightstown Friends recently had seven of their members complete Book #1 of the Navigators 2:7 series of Discipleship. Much growth is being experienced. On December 18, they will hold they annual Christmas Candlelight Service at 7:00 pm. On Christmas Eve at 11:30 pm, they will gather to celebrate the arrival of Jesus at Midnight.

Our Savior is moving in the hearts of His people!


Lynn Friends will be hosting a plethora of events this month, such as a Young Adult Christmas party on December 16, and a session of handing out boxes on December 17 to the local food pantry.


Walnut Ridge Friends had their annual Christmas bazaar, December 2. All of the proceeds from this event went to their local mission projects!


Amboy Friends has two events on December 9, a session at the local food pantry from 1-2 pm, as well as their Veteran's Fair from 1-3.


Charlottesville Friends is helping several groups and individuals for Christmas by raising $3692. Some of those being helped include children's gifts, food gifts, a cancer center, a women's shelter, heat bill, etc. They will hold their Christmas Program on December 18, 6 pm.   


Danville Friends will present a Christmas Cantata, December 18, 10:30 am and will go Christmas caroling later that day at 3 pm. Also, they will hold a Christmas Eve Service at 7 pm. They prepared 69 shoeboxes for needy children.


South Marion Friends recently held a Coffeehouse during Military Appreciation Week in cooperation with the Grant County Veteran Service Office. Music was provided by students from Indiana Wesleyan University. Also, the congregation recently filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. In honor of Thanksgiving, they collected a “thank offering” and dedicated it to Samaritan’s Purse to help support their International Crisis Response program. The church celebrated the “Hanging of the Greens” as they decorated the meetinghouse for Advent and Christmas. They had a retirement party for Pastor John and Kim Petty as they concluded their ministry after 16 years of pastoral leadership, service to God, and participation in the Life of the meeting at South Marion Friends.  

 

*If you want to see news and highlights for your church in the Communicator, send your information to iymcommunicator@gmail.com

Gathering Information

Committee Day is this Saturday, December 10, at Marion First Friends. The day will begin with devotions at 9:30 am in the sanctuary.


Mark your calendars now for 2023 Indiana Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions from July 27-29 at Quaker Haven Camp.


The annual Mid-Winter Pastors and Spouses Retreat will be held at the Clifty Inn in Clifty Falls State Park on January 27-29. Pastors, please mark your calendars now. More information will be coming soon!

Committee News

From the Advancement Committee:

“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.” -- GK Chesterton

You are amazing! Thank you for your ongoing generosity and responsiveness to our efforts. Right now, we have raised $27,560 for the 2024 IYM budget; $19,710 in cash and $7,850 in pledges have been received. Glory to God!

If you have questions or direction for us, please let Damon know -- dseacott@gmail.com or at 517-204-5348

     

From the Christian Service Committee:

"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." -- Ben Franklin

Oh what fun it is to see all the amazing events and services happening in our IYM communities during this Christmas season. Check out (on Facebook) what Union City is up to with their Community Christmas -- includes a Community Christmas Light Display and Light Show open nightly through December 31. 

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Upcoming IYM Events

December 10

Committee Day

Location: Marion First

Start: 9:30 am

End: 12:00 pm


January 7

Executive Committee Retreat

Location: Bear Creek

Start: 9:00 am

End: 3:00 pm


February 18

Growing Young Workshop Location: Maple Run

Start: 9:30 am

End: 3:30 pm


March 4

Committee Day

Location: Marion First

Start: 9:30 am

End: 12:00 pm


March 6

Executive Committee

Location: IYM Office

Start: 6:30 pm

End: 8:00 pm

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A Message from our Superintendent


Good Morning,

“Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight the path for him!”

Mark 1:3 (quoted from Isaiah 40:3)


John the Baptist quoted this prophesy from Isaiah as Jesus was about to begin his earthly

ministry. John was a part of ‘preparing the way’ for Jesus in a couple of ways. We have this

account in Mark 1, and we have the account in Luke 1, chronicling the events of John’s birth. John preceded Jesus, both in birth and in ministry. In many ways, John laid necessary groundwork for Jesus to come on the scene.


In some ways, we all get a chance to do this same thing during Advent. The word advent derives from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming or arrival. What we do in Advent is to prepare for the coming of Christ. We prepare the way!


In the Mark 1 account, John also speaks of not feeling worthy to even bend down and untie Jesus’ sandals (verse 7). This would have been an act so low, only the servants in the household would have been low enough to perform it. John is describing a posture of humility and worship here. Is it possible to ‘prepare the way’ from a posture of worship?


Perhaps this is exactly how we need to be approaching Advent and the onset of the Christmas season.


How can you exhibit a posture of humble worship as you ‘prepare the way’ for the Lord this year?


-Pat Byers