IYM Prayer Meetings:
We will have a Zoom prayer meeting TODAY (July 20) from 12-12:45pm. We will pray for our upcoming Indiana Yearly Meeting Sessions, our young people, the fund-raising efforts, Missions, Multiplication, etc. Click
|
|
Quaker Haven Summer Camps: This week is the last week of the summer camp schedule at Quaker Haven with Pioneer Camp. Please pray for the campers and staff as they are a bit short in counselors, CITs and Summer Staffers due to folks being down with COVID. Also, here is a letter written by Michelle McNeese and John Smith who served at camp as prayer warriors for a day:
John and I were asked if we would be willing to go to Quaker Haven one day during one of the youth camps this summer and spend time in prayer. When we arrived, the office staff gave us a folder with suggestions on how to pray for the campers, staff, interns, counselors, and pastor. Brandon Dennis also shared some prayer concerns with us. I have been to Quaker Haven as a camper and a counselor. But this experience was different and really spoke to our hearts. Lots of young people, all ages, attend Quaker Haven. Some of the young people come from Christian homes and some do not. It made us realize as a yearly meeting, we need to pray for everyone and every function at Quaker Haven that God will continue to work in the lives of each person who sets foot on the grounds, even if just for one day. You may not be able to go to Quaker Haven and spend a day in prayer, but you can spend a day in prayer at your home or at work for God to touch the lives of all the people who attend. ~John Smith and Michelle McNees
This just in...the numbers are in and Quaker Haven Camp recieved a total of 576 campers throughout the summer camping season this year! Praise God for the dedication of staff, counselors, speakers, etc. to make this an exceptional summer for campers. And, thanks to all the churches and church people who make getting kids to camp a priority!
|
|
Growing Young is a study that Fuller Seminary did a while back on what churches who have a lot of young people are doing to maintain that status. Katy Moran has been trained as a Growing Young trainer for church leaders. She will be doing a workshop at Maple Run Friends on November 5.
|
|
Maple Run Friends will host a workshop led by Pat Byers, IYM General Superintendent, September 1, 6:30 pm. If you are a worship or song-leader or part of a team for your church, don't miss this workshop. Before Pat took the Superintendent role, he was a youth pastor and worship pastor and has led numerous worship services throughout his ministry career. Pat is going to put that experience into a 1 1/2 hour workshop/discussion for that evening. Please place this on you calendar now and prayerfully consider attending and bringing anyone from your church who helps to lead this important element of ministry.
Jericho Friends is hosting a musical service at Goodrich Park Amphitheater in Winchester, IN. The service will be Sunday, July 31, at 6:30 pm. It will be a time of worship through music for people of all ages. Bring a chair and join us.
Knightstown Friends will begin a discipleship group using the materials from the Navigator Series based on Colossians 2:7 beginning the first of August.
|
|
Family Camp is just what it sounds like…a time for the whole family to spend time together at Quaker Haven. The camp is over Labor Day weekend, September 2-5. There will be instruction for all ages, plenty of free time to enjoy the camp, and lots of Quaker Haven fun. Contact IYM CE Clerk, Janis Sizelove, for details. (janissizelove@gmail.com or 765-661-2894)
|
|
Some Outreach in 31 Flavors reports have started to come in. If you would like to share a report of how God is using your church for outreach, we would love to hear it. Click HERE for some instructions on how to do that.
|
|
From the Advancement Committee:
Friends, we are in the late stage of our fundraising efforts for the 2023 budget. We have raised $88,119 of our $120,000 goal. If you have not given, but want to support our IYM ministries and services, please contact the IYM office or damon seacott (517-204-5348) right away. We need to have our goal met by the start of IYM Sessions next week. THANK YOU for the fantastic giving we've experienced so far. We are an incredible community of faith.
THANK YOU IYM!!
From the Christian Service Committee:
BABE is a program started in April of 2021 by Katey Till, a member of Wabash Friends Church. The purpose of the program is to promote good health, connection, and education to parents of children from birth to five years old. Katey got the idea when her children were young and she lived in Whitley County. The program was very helpful to her family at that time. On moving to Wabash, she saw the need for such a program here.
The program works by allowing parents to earn BABE coupons from 37 vendors in Wabash County by doing activities in the community which would benefit their children. Examples include taking them to library story times, medical appointments, and counseling appoint-ments which could benefit the parents and in turn help their family. They then use the coupons to purchase items at BABE such as diapers, wipes, clothing, strollers, car seats, etc. BABE also provides a playroom for the kids, story time, and art opportunities. Support classes are offered on various topics such as breastfeeding, gentle parenting, cooking skills, baby sign language, and connection to community resources for food, housing, etc.
BABE is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-4 and serves about 170 families with 10-20 families averaging weekly. The best way to learn more about the program is to come to observe and volunteer. BABE is located at 88 W Hill St in Wabash. Call 260-274-0158.
|
|
Although we are full for overnight stay for the IYM Annual Sessions from July 28-30, we would still love to see you. You can come in and out for sessions, workshops, reports, and any of the wonderful events the Sessions have to offer. Or, you can find a hotel in the Warsaw or Goshen area, and join us for the entire Sessions. Please contact Betty Ison in the IYM office (765-284-6900) to register if you have not already.
We will Live Stream the following Sessions on the IYM Facebook page:
Thursday (7-28) Evening Business Session - 6 pm
Thursday Evening Worship - 7:30 pm
Friday (7-29) Morning Business Session - 9 am
Friday Evening Worship - 7:30 pm
Saturday (7-30) Morning Business Session - 9 am
Saturday Afternoon Recording Service - 4 pm
|
|
Upcoming Events:
July 20, IYM Zoom Prayer Meeting; 12-12:45 pm
July 17-21, Pioneer Camp @ Quaker Haven
July 28-30, IYM Annual Sessions @ Quaker Haven
September 1, Workshop on Worship @ Maple Run Friends; 6:30 pm
September 2-5, Family Camp @ Quaker Haven
November 5, Growing Young Workshop @ Maple Run Friends; 9 am-3 pm
|
|
|
|
Good Morning,
I know I have written before, in at least one of these articles, while sitting on my front porch. Well, if I am perhaps being accused of sitting here a bit too often, I am certainly guilty as charged.
My porch has become a bit of a haven. When my wife and I need to have a conversation, it is usually the porch where we are able to do that. When our kids come back from camp, and we want to ask them how they responded to Jesus during their camp week, we have had those conversations on our porch. When we have friends over to eat, catch up, sip from a cup of coffee, or just chat about what’s going on in life, again, much of that happens on our porch. Sometimes I sit here by myself. Either I do some morning devotions, read, watch a game on the iPad, or just watch the traffic go by and think about life.
Today, is one of those times I am here by myself. The boys are off with friends, and my wife is away with our daughter having some special time with her. I am here on a perfect evening, enjoying a gentle breeze, the last of the bird activity for the day, and just being. Breathing…enjoying…resting... being.
According to Webster.com, the word ‘haven’ is a nautical term for a place where the water is deep enough to provide some semblance of safety for ships. A place of safety… Another word for a place of safety would be a refuge. This led me to this passage in Psalm 5:
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11
My porch may not be any sort of stronghold or offer protection in the physical sense, but it is a place of peace. It is a place where the Lord has offered protection where ‘those who love (His) name (have) rejoiced in (Him)’. Perhaps, in the spiritual and emotional sense, it is a place where the waters are deep enough to offer protection.
My hope and prayer is that all who read this today have their own place of safety. May God bless you in that place today!
-Pat Byers
|
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
