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.

Continued on Page 2

EARLY MORNING LADIES

BIBLE STUDY

Every Tuesday @ 6:30 a.m.

Contact Barbara Morris, Trish Morris

Nov 3

Hunger Sunday

Gospel Windows: The Good Shepard

John 10:11-18

Nov 10

Gospel Windows: Victory Won!

1 John 5:1-9

Nov 17

God Loves Us & Gives Us Surprises

Nov 24

Christ the King/UM Student Day

Christian Year Song Festival

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!

10 Brent & Wanita Martin

11 Bill & Lori Umberger

16 Brett & Robin Kendrick

20 Bill & Candee Amerin

29 David & Liz Shirk

30 Kelly & Denise Barber

1 Logan Cook

3 Pam Cook

4 Doug Daniels

7 Rence Seyb

9 Marcile Nicholas,

Carlos Limon

10 Marissa Dickson

11 Michelle Canny

CHURCH FAMILY PRAYER LIST

Nov 3rd—Bill & Mary Jane Nicholas

Nov 10th—Matt, Lori, Colby, Carlee & Cassie Overturf

Nov 17th—Shirley Palmer

Nov 24th—Charla Pauls

14 Jarren Rios

15 Jeff Cook

17 Roger Canny

19 Diane Schmidt

21 Spencer Schmidt

24 Nancy Josserand, Doug Morris

28 Daryl Daniels

29 Madison Seyb, Paige McMillan

YOUTH PLANNING &

BRAINSTORMING

MEETING

EVERYONE

WELCOME

NOV 6TH @ 7PM

EL TORINO

FIRST UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH

20

2 S

. N

ipp

St.

; P

.O.

Bo

x 1

79

Joh

nso

n,

KS

67

85

5

Ph

on

e:

62

0-4

92

-68

50

P

ars

on

ag

e:

62

0-4

92

-24

95

Fa

x:

62

0-4

92

-15

78

E

ma

il:

jum

c@

pld

.co

m

W

eb

sit

e:

ww

w.f

um

cjo

hn

so

n.c

om

Ou

r vi

sio

n i

s to

bri

ng

Go

d t

o p

eo

ple

an

d p

eo

ple

to

Go

d.

Su

n

Mo

n

Tu

e

We

d

Th

u

Fri

Sa

t

1

2

UM

W B

AZ

AA

R

3

Hu

ng

er S

un

da

y

Co

mm

un

ion

4

Sta

ff M

eeti

ng

@ 9

am

5

La

die

s B

ible

Stu

dy

@

6:3

0 a

m

Tru

stee

s M

tg.

@ 6

pm

Ad

min

istr

ati

ve C

ou

nci

l

Mtg

. @

7 p

m

6

So

nsh

ine

Kid

s @

3:4

5

pm

Yo

uth

Mtg

. @

7p

m,

EL

TO

RIN

O

7

Men

’s B

rea

kfa

st @

6:3

0 a

m

So

ns

of

Th

un

der

@ 7

pm

,

8

9

10

1

1

12

La

die

s B

ible

Stu

dy

@

6:3

0 a

m

13

So

nsh

ine

Kid

s @

3:4

5

pm

14

Men

’s B

rea

kfa

st @

6:3

0 a

m

UM

W W

orl

d T

ha

nki

ng

Da

y @

No

on

Ch

urc

h C

on

fere

nce

@

15

1

6

17

Pre

sch

oo

l P

rog

ram

&

Sch

ola

rsh

ip L

un

cheo

n

18

Sta

ff M

eeti

ng

@ 9

am

19

La

die

s B

ible

Stu

dy

@

6:3

0 a

m

20

No

So

nsh

ine

Kid

s

21

Men

’s B

rea

kfa

st @

6:3

0 a

m

22

2

3

24

Co

mm

un

ity

Th

an

ksg

iv-

ing

@ M

an

ter

6:3

0 p

m

25

Sta

ff M

eeti

ng

@ 9

am

26

La

die

s B

ible

Stu

dy

@

6:3

0 a

m

27

No

So

nsh

ine

Kid

s

28

29

3

0

UMW NOVEMBER

MEETING

Will be held at the

Senior Center at Noon

November 14th.

WORLD THANKING DAY!!

UMW Basket for

Colton Jack

Fisher

Will be in the Foyer through the

month of Nov & Dec

(He was born Sept 27, 2013)

COMMUNITY

THANKSGIVING

NOV 24TH, 6:30 P.M. @

MANTER UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH

PREACHING:

PASTOR RICHARD

PACK A GIFT & PRAY. A shoebox filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies tangibly

demonstrates God’s love to a child in need. Guides for how to pack a shoebox may be available at your

church, or you can order free materials online at www.samaritanspurse.org. Remember to pray that God will

touch the heart of every child who receives a shoebox gift, and that many children and families will come to

faith in Jesus Christ.

GIVE. A donation of just $7 per box makes it possible for Operation Christmas Child to deliver each gift that

you pack to a child thousands of miles away. Use the Follow Your Box feature to donate online and discover

where your gift is distributed.

Every shoebox offers an

OPERATION CHRISTMAS

CHILD SHOEBOXES

We will have the boxes in the foyer for you to pick

up and fill. We ask that you have the boxes back

to us no later than Sunday, November 17th so we

can take them to the drop off location.

LITURGIST

Nov 3rd & 10th — Diane Floyd

Nov 17th & 24th—Mary Jane Nicholas

GREETERS

Nov 3rd—Tyce & Jamie McMillan and Family

Nov 10th—Rick & Diane Schmidt

Nov 18th—David & Liz Shirk

Nov 24th—Earl & Judy Arnold

ACOLYTES

Nov 3rd—Jarren Rios & Spencer Schmidt

Nov 10th—Madison Seyb & Addison Shirk

Nov 18th—Zach Thompson & Kamryn Golub

Nov 24th—Peyton Peterson & Paige McMillan

USHERS

Nov 3 - Wendell Nicholas, Martie Floyd, Earl Arnold, Darrell Cockrum

Nov 10—Jenna Black, Haley Floyd, Marissa Dickson, Jeremy Amerin

Nov 17—Larry Morris, Tyce McMillan, John Nicholas, Rhett Seyb

Nov 24 - Dara Floyd, Shari Wiens, Krista Nairn, Liz Shirk

NURSERY

Nov 3—Debbie Roth & Shae Amerin

Nov 10—Stephanie Dickson & Jaclyn Black

Nov 17—Geneva Persinger & Haley Floyd

Nov 24— Jennifer Rios & Julia Schmidt

IF THIS DOESN’T WORK FOR YOU PLEASE CALL THE

CHURCH OFFICE @ 492-6850

492-6850

Meeting on Mondays 7:00–9:00

at the Stanton County Library

DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE

TO SHARE IN THE

NEWSLETTER?

Please email it to:

jumc@pld.com or drop it in

the mail to: First UMC, Box

179, Johnson, KS 67855

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

202 S. Nipp St.

P.O. Box 179

Johnson, KS 67855

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Need to contact the church? Phone: 620-492-6850;

email: jumc@pld.com; website: www.fumcjohnson.com

RECIPES FROM

THE KITCHEN

First UMC Staff

Pastor: Richard Fitzgerald Community Developer: Jose Olivas

Secretary: Carol Limon Treasurer: Mandy Shirk

Custodian: Victoria Garcia Preschool Teacher: Cheryl Berens

CHEESY CHILI MAC

INGREDIENTS: ·

· 1 pkg. (7.25 oz each) macaroni and cheese dinner

· 4 tablespoons unsalted margarine

· 1/4 cup reduced fat (2%) milk

· 1 can (15 oz each) Wolf® Brand Chili No Beans

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare macaroni and cheese dinner according to package direc-

tions, using the margarine and milk.

2. Add chili and stir together. Heat over medium-low heat 5 minutes

or until hot.