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Februray 2023
Waterville UMC Ambassador
A Time for Christian Love
 
I can occasionally get sad on Valentine’s Day, not having someone to buy me flowers, send me notes, and tell me I’m awesome. My kids are several years past the age of giving mom a cute little valentine, with a corny little joke and signed in their precious handwriting.
 
I am ok with that, really, I am. See many years ago, I received the best Valentine ever. It wasn’t written with pen and paper but with lacerated flesh and oozing blood. The words on the outside were "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It brought me to tears like so many other Valentine cards received in years past. But this inscription, was scripted on my heart forever. I was so touched, overwhelmed about what God had done and in doing so, secured my place for eternity. After wiping the tears, I opened the card to see these words inside, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Pure love wrote that Valentine. Forgiving Love. Life transforming love and a grace indescribable.
 
For me, it was and is mind blowing, that while we were sinners, He loved us. When we had done nothing for Him, He loved us. His love for us meant death, and death He gladly received. Only the heart that treasures this love is capable to give it out. To love not to get but to give. Not to use, but to be used. The heart that loves yearns to make much of God, not to make much of self.
 
See, when I was lost, it somehow became acceptable to be angry and depressed when your Valentine's Day is lacking a person to celebrate you, to proclaim how special you are and their undying devotion to you. How ironic to prize selfishness in the name of love.
 
As a born-again Christian, this became nonsense, knowing I follow a crucified and risen Lord who defined love by sacrifice. But I am human, and the sting and disappointment is real. You may be in the same boat for different reasons. So how do we sort through these emotions and honor Christ on Valentine's Day?
 
There is something greater that this world cannot offer. I turned to these words from 1 John 4:9-10 “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” This is the way of true love for all of us. Any other counterfeit will ultimately enslave us and steal our joy. This love elevates others above self. This love sacrifices wants, desires, and dreams for the joy of another. A love unto the glory of God, not the glory of ourselves. For us to truly love someone (Jesus calls them ‘our neighbors.’), we must love the person God created us to be. The way he designed us to be. We also must be willing to receive this incredible, unconditional love, God has for all of us.
 
Without understanding, receiving, and enjoying God's love for us, we are not capable to give out such sacrificial love to those in our lives. From 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.” Let that soak in.
 
It's far too easy to focus on what we think others should do for us, especially those we're closest to. When they fail to meet our expectations, we are tempted to punish them. However, just like Christ's death, ours also has the ability to bring about new life. Love is sacrifice. Love is self-forgetting. Love is not about you.
 
I am encouraging you this Valentine month, to remember who we are. The sinners with a Savior, the orphans with a Father, the beggars with abundance. Entitled to nothing, possessors of everything. Freed from our selfishness to love sacrificially.
 
We can reject the cultural lies about love and about what we deserve. We can believe in our God who is enough. In Christ alone true love is found, and through Him alone true love is given.
 
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Teresa
My time at WUMC has come to an end. I want to thank all of you for allowing me to be part of your family for the last twenty months! You have all been extremely welcoming and caring during my time as your Office Manager. I know you will accomplish great things in this beautiful new building with your ball of energy pastor! I can't wait to see what the future brings to WUMC!

As for me... I have decided to go back to my research roots. I was offered and accepted an amazing position at the University of Michigan in the Department of Psychiatry. Thankfully its fully remote so I do not have to relocate and move my daughter before she finishes high school. I'm sure I'll see some of you around at the local stores and events. Don't hesitate to say Hi!

I leave you in the capable hands of Kayla Katafias! She has been a pleasure to train and get to know and I know you will all show her the same WUMC love you showed me.

Kourtney
On Monday, January 16, youth and adult volunteers helped package 1,009 weekender bags at the Islamic Food bank in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr’s commitment to end poverty.
Missions Committee Focus for February 2023
Who We Are
Hannah’s Socks firmly believes that in a country as prosperous as the United States, no man, woman or child should want for something as basic as a warm pair of socks.

One chilly Thanksgiving day, four-year old Hannah Turner was helping her mom Doris to serve dinner at Toledo’s Cherry StreetMission. Doris felt a tug on her sweater and a small, concerned voice ask, “Mommy, won’t his feet be cold?” Hannah nodded toward a man whose shoes had split open to expose bare feet. Doris didn’t want Hannah to worry so she reassured her daughter, “His shoes will keep his toes warm.” Hannah—very smart and big-hearted—was unconvinced. “Mommy, he can have my socks.”

The next day, Doris and Hannah bought and delivered more than 100 pairs of socks to local shelters. Over the next two years with the amazing support of friends and family, Doris and Hannah distributed nearly 10,000 pairs of socks to local shelters. Doris and her family soon discovered that of all the items donated to shelters, socks and undergarments were given the least and needed the most.

As they continued collecting and donating socks to grateful shelters around Toledo, their dream of helping more people grew. Hannah’s simple yet powerful story was the inspiration for Hannah’s Socks, an independent non-profit focused on providing warm clothing necessities to the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and under-privileged children. Hannah’s Socks is successful today because Doris once wondered, “If just two people can make such a big impact, what kind of a difference could hundreds or even thousands of people have just by donating a single pair of socks?”.

Since this humble beginning in 2005, over half a million socks have been donated to needy families in our area.

Hannah’s Socks is a 501(c)3 organization that serves men, women and children affected by homelessness, poverty and domestic abuse, low-income seniors, active military personnel, and underprivileged children in schools. Hannah’s Socks also provides unique and rewarding volunteer and service-learning opportunities for youth and families in our community. We primarily serve individuals and families in Western Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Our compelling mission has inspired volunteers across the country to help their neighbors in need.
Hannah (second from left) and her brothers and sisters in 2013
February focus: Fashion Accessories
Guide to Operation Christmas Child Year-Round Shoebox Shopping, Packing, & Tips

Savvy shoebox packers know that it’s never too early to start shopping, packing, personalizing, and fundraising for shoebox gifts. By preparing shoebox gifts all year long, you can send the Good News of Jesus Christ and the great joy of receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox to more boys and girls around the world! Use this year-round guide to maximize your impact for the Gospel

JANUARY ATTENDANCE

Jan 1: 99
Jan 8: 137
Jan 15: 131
Jan 22: 120
Jan 29: 143
February Card Ministry Liaison is Mary Williams
Please reach out to her at mgwilliams747@gmail.com

if you know of someone who needs 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!)
Jeff Monroe February 1
Rebekah Deardurff February 2
Kyle Galton February 2
Art Meade February 5
Brooklyn McMillan February 6
Clay Studer February 6
Mary Ann McVicker February 7
John Rose February 8
Dee Vasko February 9
Olga Topuzova-Meade February 11
James Caldwell February 13
Bob Hires, Jr. February 13
Rod Rose February 18
Susan Deardurff February 21
Doug Lynch February 24
Frank Lipinski February 26
Brian McMillan February 27
Ainsley Bollinger February 28
Eva Suchocki February 29
Independent Bible Study and Activities
If you have an immediate need or a Pastoral need, please call Pastor Teresa Wenrick at 937-726-3758 or pastorteresa@watervilleumc.org .

Office hours are generally Tuesday through Friday 9 AM to Noon, but may vary. Please call ahead at 419-878-3645 if you need to visit the office.
Praises to the Lord!
10:30 AM


Opportunities to worship and praise the Lord with WUMC:
  • In Sanctuary
  • Live Stream via You Tube at www.watervilleumc.org
  • Watch the recording of the worship service on-line when available at www.watervilleumc.org
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