Waterville UMC Ambassador

March 2022

Dear Church Family,

May God’s blessings be with you. In the spirit of thanksgiving, we are giving thanks for the changes we will be experiencing this month. The New Beginnings building is nearing completion. We will hold our first service for the congregation on March 27^th if everything goes as planned. This first service will include the Audio, Visual and Lighting (AVL) contractor training us on all the new equipment. Our first service advertised to our community will be April 3.

God has provided for this moment in miraculous ways. During construction several items were caught at the very last moment that avoided cost increases. God will continue to provide.

Our congregation will need everyone to help with the overwhelming task of moving. Please watch for emails and constant contact messages.

An area of great need is for people who will be willing to serve in the AVL areas. There are two cameras in the new building for live streaming, projection to the front screens and the monitors throughout the building which will be controlled by the new equipment. The list goes on. Has God called you to be a part of this team?

As we transition to a new building and a new pastor, several key leadership positions need to be filled including Church Council Chair, Finance Chair and Treasure. The positions of Church Council Chair and Finance Chair have been open since the beginning of COVID. We must give great thanks to Jim Page our church treasurer. He has served diligently and now is at a point he would like to retire.

I Corinthians 12: 4-6 states, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” This is Paul’s introduction to the teaching about spiritual gifts. It is clear that each believer has spiritual and natural gifts and that all are to be used in our service of our Lord. Do you have gifts God wants to use in this moment and in the history of our congregation?

Always remember when God calls, God provides all the needs for us to answer the call and to serve for His glory.

Peace be with you.

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!

Ministry of Construction Report

Another great month of 'new' stuff every week for this baby we are about to birth. The doctors (workers) are working hard to bring this baby to full term and the progress looks amazing. For two weeks we had an open house after church and several people toured the work in progress. Sunday, February 20 after church we had a potluck. We all thought we were going to label things that needed moving into the new church after the lunch, but it was announced that morning the labeling did not need to happen. Close to 50 people still stayed for the potluck and fellowship. It was wonderful to see so many willing to help with the move and even more fun to fellowship again, something I'm sure the new building will offer many opportunities to do.

The sweeping crews have been very faithful. Less and less sweeping is needed as the drywall (and dust) is all done and the flooring has been installed in the kitchen and bathroom. Thank you to Don Brandi, Casey Kuron, Kim and Dan Breen, Charlene Monroe, and Mary and Randy Breymaier who have helped us keep the dust down in February. Meals in February were provided by Barb Crandall, Mary Williams, Holly Sobecki, and Paul and Cherl Matla. Let's not forget to thank those who have provided hospitality treats and beverages for the workers since July: Cherl Matla, Holly Sobecki, Tom Wiggins, Anne Stevens, Pam Denman, Barb Crandall, Pam Cook, Charlotte Pritchett, Sue Gregory, Becky Allison, Amy Hankins, Delores Young, Mary Williams and any others who may have helped. It is a privilege to show the workers the love of Christ through our many acts of kindness including personal notes and prayers.

As we are closing in on the finishing of the new building, more opportunities to help are coming soon. Sweepers are still needed weekly, treats are needed March 8 and 15 and possible help with final cleaning and the move will be forthcoming. Watch for the exciting details!

Showers of Blessings,

Paul and Cherl Matla, Ministry of Construction Co-Leaders

Ash Wednesday, March 2

The church will be open at 6:30 am until 8:00 am for anyone who would like the imposition of ashes and or Holy Communion.

Resumption of Delores’ Bible Study!

Beginning March 8, 6:30pm, at the Doran Rd. location.

Zoom will also be offered.

The study is a continuation of the Questions Jesus Asks begun in the fall. According to the authors, " Jesus's questions have a power to move us, and often to a place we have not been before." I look forward to discussing these questions with those who were participants in the fall. - Delores

Directory Information Changes?

As we are updating the directory, we’d love to know if you have a new email address, family members, missed birthdays, etc that you would like to make sure is included in the new one!

Don't forget to send us your pictures! Or have Char Monroe take one for you!

Church Council is looking for a team of members to lead an Open House Committee for the new building. The purpose of the committee will be to plan and organize events for the community for the year. For example, Easter Egg Hunt, 4th of July, Parents Night Out, YMCA Summer Camp, Movie Night, Trunk or Treat, Secret Santa are some of the potential events that could be hosted. Partnering with the Rotary, Chamber, City Council and Waterville Primary may be needed. If interested, contact Pastor Mike or Charlene Monroe.

7 Teens took part in the Youth Alive Super Bowl Party!

Fun was had by all!

Youth Alive will not be held on March 27th and April 3rd due to Anthony Wayne schools being on Spring Break.

Click for Youth Alive Schedule

Missions Committee Focus for March 2022

The mission focus for February is Freedom School

March Mission is Freedom School. It is held for 6 weeks every summer at the Monroe United Methodist church. This summer it will be held from June 14^th to July 22^nd.The purpose of this program is to strengthen and maintain reading levels over the summer. Monetary donations are needed to cover the cost of a student. Last year we provided for two students. Volunteers are needed for several areas and I will post the link for the sign up sheet when it becomes available.

The mission of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is to ensure every child a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start and a moral start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. The CDF Freedom Schools® program provides summer and after-school enrichment through a research-based and multicultural program model that supports K-12 scholars and their families through five essential components: high quality academic and character-building enrichment; parent and family involvement; civic engagement and social action; intergenerational servant leadership development; and nutrition, health and mental health.

The CDF Freedom Schools program incorporates the totality of CDF’s mission by fostering environments that support children and young adults (known as “scholars” in the CDF Freedom Schools program) to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves and in their families, schools, communities, country, and world with hope, education and action.

By providing K-12 scholars with rich, culturally relevant pedagogy and high quality books that deepen scholars’ understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial, multicultural democratic society, CDF Freedom Schools programs further empowers scholars to believe in their ability and responsibility to make a difference while instilling in them a love of reading to help them avoid summer learning loss.

Watch for details on this year's Freedom School on the Mission's Bulletin Board and our weekly eBLASTS

The $5 OCC Shoebox

If any of us were asked to shop in November and buy $55 worth of shoebox items for each of the shoeboxes you hope to pack in 2022, most of us would think “That’s just too much”. But think about spending just $5 each month on an item you find on sale, chances are most of us would say “well, that much I can do… But what should I buy?”

”Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love”. Mother Teresa

Did you know about additional ways you can contribute to our church?

Thrivent Action Team - Do you have Thrivent Insurance? Did you know each year you're eligible to apply for up to $250 to kick start a project or help an ongoing mission of the church (Missions, Youth, Outreach, etc.) through completing a Thrivent Action Team application? You need to be a Thrivent Insurance customer to participate. Go to thrivent.com/tmnactionteam for more information.

Amazon Smile by using Amazon Smile and listing our church as the charity, your purchase automatically designates 5% of the purchases to our church. That 5% costs you (the buyer) nothing. Make sure you are using Smile.Amazon.Com and designate Waterville United Methodist Church your charity in your account profile.

Kroger Cares - Waterville United Methodist Church is a charity on the Kroger Community Rewards page. This is linked to your Kroger card and we receive money back from your purchases. All you need to do is register your Kroger card with WUMC via the website, https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards, and follow the directions.

FEBRUARY ATTENDANCE

February 6: 107

February 13: 133

February 20: 112

February 27: TBD

February Card Ministry Liaison

Mary Williams

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Please reach out to her at mgwilliams747@gmail.com 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.

Happy Birthday!

(If you have a Birthday that isn't listed here, please call the church office so we can add you to our birthday list!)

Pam Cook March 1

Bobbi Hires March 3

Gary A. Breymaier March 5

Connie Kirkman March 7

Cindy Nowak March 7

Judy Thompson March 7

Tim Monroe March 8

Krista K. Varner March 8

Randy D. Breymaier March 16

Russell Clark March 17

Ace Westfall March 18

Cynthia A. Box March 19

Renee Hires March 19

Catessa Hires March 19

Nancy Michael March 19

Marci Gregory, Jr. March 21

Paul Matla March 21

Ryan M. Shelton March 24

Blake Allen McMillan March 25

Thomas J. Wiggins March 26

Mary K. Breymaier March 28

Jenna M. Abbey March 29

Megan Shoemaker March 30

Independent Bible Study and Activities

CLICK HERE FOR THE MARCH 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 March 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.