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.

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.

Save us some postage…If your church was not able to pick up your minute books at Representative Council this past Saturday, they are available. It would save the IYM office postage if someone from your church could come to the Muncie office and pick them up. We

will mail any books that have not been picked up late next week. Thanks for your help!

Dave Phillips will be facilitating Ministry Leadership and Administration in the January online classes at Barclay College.  It is not part of FMT, but it might be useful for many IYM pastors.  If pastors do not want to take it for credit, auditing is a viable option. This is an opportunity that may not come around again soon. Anyone can enroll in the class by contacting Barclay online recruiter Kevin Lee at Kevin.Lee@barclaycollege.edu. Students can enroll for the January classes through the end of December. Financial assistance can be made available through the Lacy Scholarship and Loan fund. Information and an application for that assistance can be found by clicking HERE

Bear Creek commissioned 243 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child on Sunday, November 13. The meeting has collected shoeboxes for this ministry for many years. On the same Sunday, Bear Creek recognized five veterans who were in attendance that morning. And the The Bear Creek Friends Youth Group spent time this past weekend making goodies to share with family and friends.

The Wabash Friends Roots Youth Group celebrated Thanksgiving by having a meal together and doing a Thanksgiving Prayer Experience through the church building. Members at Wabash Friends also organized a thank you ‘parade’ for Deb Phillips on Sunday evening. Many cars passed by Dave and Deb’s house as a show of thanks for Deb’s many years of service to Wabash Friends and the Wabash community. Deb is on home-care hospice. Other events at Wabash Friends are: Children's Christmas Program, December 4, 6:30 pm; Roots Youth Group (7th-12th grades), December 11, 6 pm; Bridge (5th-8th), December 14, 6:30 pm; Combined Bridge & Roots Christmas Party, December 18, 6 pm; Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 7 pm; and Christmas Sunday Service, December 25, 10:30 am.

Many IYM churches packed boxes, prayed over those boxes, and sent them off for Operation Christmas Child. Lynn Friends reported sending 932 boxes. Praise God!

On December 3, Amboy Friends will hold their ‘Journey to the Greatest Gift’ event where Pre-K through Elementary kids can come and shop for free for gifts for members of their household. This year they will get to experience the Christmas Story while they shop!

Center Friends Church is holding their Christmas concert December 3 at 5 pm, featuring southern gospel artist Michael Wayne Smith!

West River Friends had Game Night, November 12; had a Men's Lunch, November 19, and will have a Women's Cookie Exchange, December 10.

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

Pastors, please send email or call in your RSVPs for the Pastors and Spouses Christmas Dinner by November 29. We need to have correct numbers to let our caterer know for food needs. Thank you!

From the Advancement Committee:

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Friends, let's keep serving well and chasing after Jesus Christ our Lord. Our fundraising efforts to support the 2024 budget continue to move along. We have $14,960 in cash and $8,850 in pledges for a total of $23,810 raised so far. Let us know if we can give you any information about how IYM ministries thrive. If you can give and or pledge for the 2024 budget, we are grateful! Let Damon know if you need anything from us -- his email is dseacott@gmail.com and his cell is 517-204-5348.

From the Christian Service Committee:

West River Friends annually participates in the township trustee effort to provide Christmas gifts for students in the Nettle Creek School Corporation who may not otherwise have gifts. The meeting chooses a family and provides gifts and food. In addition, gifts are collected for the parents in that home.West River has also donated to the nearby Richmond State Hospital Christmas Party fund so those residents may enjoy the Christmas season. Throughout the year, members donate to the local food pantry and help distribute food from the pantry.

Fairmount Friends is supporting their community by

-Partnering with Grant County Children's Bureau to gather coats for a FREE Coat Giveaway in Marion, November 19

-Partnering with Park Elementary to provide hygiene products to the community

-Partnering with Park Elementary to provide Thanksgiving Meals to members of the community

-Partnering with Park Elementary to provide Christmas Gifts for families in the community

-Collecting food items monthly for Helping Hands, the local food pantry and thrift store (November/December: PB&J)

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Our sympathy to the family of Ben Agler, former pastor at Arba Friends, who passed away, November 14.

Saturday, December 3

Pastors Christmas Dinner

Bear Creek Friends,

5:30 pm

Saturday, December 10

Commitee Day

Marion First Friends

9:30 am

Saturday, January 7

Executive Committee Retreat

Bear Creek Friends

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Saturday, February 18

Growing Young Workshop

Maple Run Friends

9:30 am

Saturday, March 4

Committee Day

Marion First Friends

9:30 am