November 2013 Messenger Church 620-492-6850 Parsonage 620-492-2495 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 202 S. NIPP ST., JOHNSON, KS 67855 “OUR MISSION IS TO BRING GOD TO PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE TO GOD” Church Website: www.fumcjohnson.com the A Vision for 2014 On the last Sunday of October, many members of our church met to inquire of God what our vision and goals should be in 2014. It was a warm time of celebrating God’s actions in our faith community in the present and past. And an exciting time of discerning the most important areas God in- tends for us to focus on over the next several months. We contemplated the United Methodist mission: ”To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." And, our local mission: “To bring God to people and people to God.” It was agreed that the energy of our church needs to focus on helping peo- ple connect with God, making them into disciples (committed followers) of Jesus, and trans- forming the world around us. There was some discus- sion that it might be time to re- fine our local mission statement as we are growing in our under- standing that God is already in the world seeking a relationship with everyone. We don’t need to bring God to people since he is already with them! Besides, how do we bring the God of the uni- verse and more anywhere? I hope each of you will join this discussion as we enter the new year. After our discussion of our mission (our reason for ex- isting in Johnson, Kansas), we sought God’s vision for our church during 2014. We shared many stories of God’s goodness among us in the past and pre- sent, and we shared some of our dreams for the future. The vision that God has given us for 2014 (as I understand it) is that Johnson United Methodist Church will be effective minis- ters to all the entire diversity of our community, especially fami- lies, and that we will be suc- cessful in incorporating them into the life of the church. This is a bold vision that asks for us to become risk-takers. It is a vision that requires everyone in our faith community to reimaging what church should look like and how we should behave as a church. I think it is God’s vision for us. We didn’t stop with a vi- sion, but asked for God to help us prioritize our energy to most effectively make our vision a re- ality in 2014. The three goals that seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us are important, big, and we will need every person involved to accomplish them. We will reach out to the families of the children who attend Sonshine Kids through three special programs spaced through the next 12 months. Each program will be structured to invite these fami- lies to become more fully in- volved in the life of our faith community. We will visit every inac- tive member living in the Johnson area before the end of 2014. Some of these visits will be by the pastor, but most will have to be by the members of the church. We will make these visits with the purpose of reclaiming each lost member. We will start four new small groups held at diverse times with varying emphases to reach as many different types of persons possible. One of these groups will proba- bly be the beginning of a series of Disciple Bible Study (and similar types of studies). A Spanish class is another possi- bility that we discussed. Other possible types of groups are parenting, financial manage- ment, prayer, and covenant. All groups will be centered in the Bible and have an emphasis on inviting non-participants to join. Continued on Page 2
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Transcript
November 2013
Messenger Church 620-492-6850
Parsonage 620-492-2495
F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H 2 0 2 S . N I P P S T . , J O H N S O N , K S 6 7 8 5 5
“ O U R M I S S I O N I S T O B R I N G G O D T O P E O P L E , A N D P E O P L E T O G O D ”
Church Website: www.fumcjohnson.com
the
A Vision for 2014 On the last Sunday of
October, many members of our church met to inquire of God what our vision and goals should be in 2014. It was a warm time of celebrating God’s actions in our faith community in the present and past. And an exciting time of discerning the most important areas God in-tends for us to focus on over the next several months.
We contemplated the United Methodist mission: ”To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." And, our local mission: “To bring God to people and people to God.” It was agreed that the energy of our church needs to focus on helping peo-ple connect with God, making them into disciples (committed followers) of Jesus, and trans-forming the world around us.
There was some discus-sion that it might be time to re-fine our local mission statement as we are growing in our under-standing that God is already in the world seeking a relationship with everyone. We don’t need to bring God to people since he is already with them! Besides, how do we bring the God of the uni-verse and more anywhere? I
hope each of you will join this discussion as we enter the new year.
After our discussion of our mission (our reason for ex-isting in Johnson, Kansas), we sought God’s vision for our church during 2014. We shared many stories of God’s goodness among us in the past and pre-sent, and we shared some of our dreams for the future. The vision that God has given us for 2014 (as I understand it) is that Johnson United Methodist Church will be effective minis-ters to all the entire diversity of our community, especially fami-lies, and that we will be suc-cessful in incorporating them into the life of the church. This is a bold vision that asks for us to become risk-takers. It is a vision that requires everyone in our faith community to reimaging what church should look like and how we should behave as a church. I think it is God’s vision for us.
We didn’t stop with a vi-sion, but asked for God to help us prioritize our energy to most effectively make our vision a re-ality in 2014. The three goals that seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us are important, big, and we will need every person involved to accomplish them.
We will reach out to the families of the children who attend Sonshine Kids through three special programs spaced through the next 12 months. Each program will be structured to invite these fami-lies to become more fully in-volved in the life of our faith community.
We will visit every inac-tive member living in the Johnson area before the end of 2014. Some of these visits will be by the pastor, but most will have to be by the members of the church. We will make these visits with the purpose of reclaiming each lost member.
We will start four new small groups held at diverse times with varying emphases to reach as many different types of persons possible. One of these groups will proba-bly be the beginning of a series of Disciple Bible Study (and similar types of studies). A Spanish class is another possi-bility that we discussed. Other possible types of groups are parenting, financial manage-ment, prayer, and covenant. All groups will be centered in the Bible and have an emphasis on inviting non-participants to join.
These are bold goals, but our God can do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine asking. These goals have the potential to revolutionize our faith community. May God give us the grace to focus on these goals even when it means we will have to let other good activities go. Lord, make it so.
Pastor Richard
2013 Chili Cook-off Winners!
Unusual Ingredient—Carlos Limon
Most Interesting—Candee Amerin
Beefiest—Candee Amerin
Mildest—Debbie Roth
Most Beans—Debbie Roth
Spiciest—Carlos Limon
Most Tomatoes—Angela Black
Soupiest—Angela Black
Most likely to eat w/ tortillas—Carlos L.
Most Inventive Recipe—Carlos Limon
Honorable Mention—Cathy Fitzgerald
CONGRATS TO YOU ALL !!!
SONSHINE KIDS!!
EVERY WEDNESDAY
3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For kids K through 6th grade!
Sonshine Kids is every Wednesday during the school year except holidays,
early release, or otherwise specified. The church provides transportation for
children from the school to church and from church to home if requested by
parents or guardians. If you have any questions or your child will need
transportation please contact Richard or Carol at 492-6850
PRESCHOOL NEWS!!!
October was a super fast month! We learned how to tie for letter T and had a yummy
ice cream taste test for letter I. Chocolate ice cream is the class favorite!
We had a great time on our field trip to the fire station. We always enjoy watching
Troy turn into a real firefighter! We practiced stop, drop, and roll; we got to sit inside the fire
truck; and we got a ride on the top of the fire truck!
We have been enjoying our study of Fall. We are learning how pumpkins grow and
trying to collect leaves to make our preschool look like Fall. We even carved a class pump-
kin! Reaching into the inside was very slimy!
We are becoming excellent a writing our names, recognizing our letter and numbers
we have learned, cutting, painting, and being great friends. Being thankful for the people who
love us and the things we have will be an important topic in November.
On Sunday, November 17th, the Preschool is having our annual Fundraising Dinner
and Program during the 10:40 a.m. service! Please come celebrate our learning with us, Din-
ner will be provided after program. We have been working hard to prepare for this!