The Bicentennial History, Directory, and Scrapbooks are going fast! Copies are available by contacting the yearly meeting office. If they are picked up at the office, they are $20 each. Please add $7 for mailed copies.
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Knightstown Friends is participating in a national 'Back-to-Church' Sunday event organized by Outreach.com. Click HERE for information and a list of resources available to help promote a 'Back-to-Church' event at your church. Also, Knightstown Friends will host a "block party," Saturday, August 28, 5-7 pm. The evening will include, pulled pork and other foods, and special music by Mike Haemmerle.
Back Creek Friends will be hosting a dessert competition and weenie roast on August 29 immediately following Sunday worship. Enter the competition in pursuit of the coveted "Golden Spatula" award! Hotdogs, chips and drinks will be provided.
Charlottesville Friends is in an improvement process with a new roof, new carpet, new bathroom, and the lining of its parking lot.
Farmland Friends recently held a "blood drive" in conjunction with the American Red Cross. The goal was to collect thirty-four units. A total of forty-five units were collected, which impacted one hundred and thirty five folks who needed blood (JESUS gave all of HIS). Recently additional new benches and landing mats were added to the church playground through a grant secured through the Randolph County Recycling District. Children and parents from all over town use the playground daily. The soccer league, sponsored and held on church grounds at Farmland Friends is getting ready to kick off the fall season. The last session had seventy plus kids participate.
Long Lake Friends has called Ken Blair (Yvonne) to be their new pastor. Ken began his ministry at Long Lake on August 1.
Sycamore Friends is planning a mission trip to Quaker Haven in October, working to meet the camp's needs. It will also be a time of retreat as a "Family Mission Camp."
Wabash Friends is seeking to fill the position for Children's Pastor (full time). They invite qualified candidates to submit their resumes and a cover letter with a short bio to info@wabashfriends.org. Please visit their website for more information at www.wabashfriends.org.
We like to hear from you so please send your meeting's news to us to use in the Communicator.
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From the Advancement Committee:
Wow, and here we go with the 2023 Budget fundraising efforts. We've gotten off to a great start with $21,000 ($3,940.00 Cash Received; $17,100.00) raised - less than $100,000 to go! We are very grateful for the support IYM members give toward our efforts to serve and share the love of Jesus Christ.
From the Christian Service Committee:
We are grateful for Tonya Scalf, the Friends Counseling Center, sharing at our workshop during IYM Sessions. Tonya's guidance with how to care for folks during these times offered resources, insight, and hope. As our Monthly Meetings continue to serve our communities, let's keep aware of needs and be prepared to take care of the folks around us -- reflecting the love of Jesus Christ. --Damon Seacott
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Click HERE for a folder of images of the IYM Bicentennial Sessions. Photo credits to Jim McAdams, Greg Hinshaw and Michelle McNeese.
Please keep Nikki Holland, FUM Field Staff in Belize, in your prayers as she is recovering from an infection brought on by an allergy to a COVID vaccine. Click HERE for more information from Kelly Kellum.
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Pastor Gatherings for the 2021-2022 year will meet on the second Thursday of the month from 10-11:30am. We are working on securing host churches. We will have studies inspired by Thom Rainer's books; Scrappy Church and Becoming a Welcoming Church. There is no need for Pastors to purchase the books, but if you would like to pick them up, they are a quick read with a lot of practical information. The first gathering will be on Thursday, September 9 from 10-11:30 am at Lynn Friends.
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Committee Day is on August 25 at Marion First Friends, 6:30 pm. Please check your email, as committee clerks have been asked to contact their committee members with specifics about their perspective committees.
Midwest Region of USFW will hold their Fall Retreat at Quaker Haven, September 13-14. Sign in is a 1 pm Monday, sessions begin that afternoon. The retreat includes three meals and overnight lodging. Dismissal after lunch on Tuesday. Cost is $75. Bring bedding, towels, toiletries, game?, Bible, and notebook. The speaker will be Cathy Harris, pastor at Plainfield Friends. Registration goes to Brenda Irelan, 96 W 460 N, Bloomingdale, IN 47832 buy September 7.
Our Sympathy: We have had two families lose sons unexpectedly this week. Please remember Gary and Luellen Gustin of Charlottesville Friends and Jeff and Janet Cunningham of Danville Friends in your prayers.
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Upcoming Events:
August 24 - Committee Night, Marion First Friends; 6:30 pm
August 27 - Compass Rose Ribbon Cutting Ceremony;
10 am
August 31 - Program Committee, IYM Office; 6:30 pm
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Good Morning!
The story we read in Judges 1-2 is not necessarily a pleasant one.
God has led the people out of Israel. Moses died before they can take the Promised Land, and Joshua has died too. Who is going to step up now?
Was it going to be Manasseh? No…he didn’t drive the people out. What about Ephraim? Nope…he didn’t take care of business either. What about Zebulun, Asher, or Naphtali? No…none of these guys were able to establish themselves either. And essentially God says, "If you are not going to drive these people out, neither am I!"
But, what God does do is He establishes the Judges. This is a group of leaders who can care for the people and lead them in ways so they can protect themselves from the ones who were not driven out. But, the people do not want listen to the Judges or follow God’s law. They “committed infidelity with other gods and bowed down to them” (Judges 2:16).
Even though God gave the people over to their own desires, He stayed true to the Judges, protecting them from those who persecuted them. He heard them when they cried out “because of those who tormented and oppressed them” (Judges 2:18).
AND, we know, in a 40,000 foot view kind of way, God stayed true to the people too. Even though they were given over to their own desires, God still eventually established King David, and gave the nation of Israel periods where they flourished as a nation, and eventually put all the necessary players in place for Jesus to come on the scene.
In short, God shows up! Even when things are really bad, He is not abandoning. He is still here. He is working, moving, whispering, nudging, and equipping us
towards relationship with Him.
Take heart! Even when times are difficult, God shows up. Perhaps, especially in difficult times!
-Pat Byers
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