“Making disciples of Jesus that transform the world.” Inside This Issue:

Pastor’s Letter

Block Party

Update

Because We Are

Family . . .

Bob Evans Day

Flyer

415 W. Greene Street,

Piqua, Ohio 45356

(937) 773-5313

Fax (937) 773-5397

office@greenestreetumc.org

www.greenestreetumc.org

Pastor Kenneth A. Stewart

How can I help at the Christmas

Market?

We need donations of pies and cakes for meals in the dining room and additional donations for the country store (for example, pies, jellies, candy, bread, pickles, cakes, and coffee cakes). There are sign up posters in the narthex if you can provide any of these! You may also phone the office regarding a donation.

If you’d like to work at the market, you can sign up in the narthex or call the church office. We’d love to have you help!

Here’s the schedule: Saturday, October 5

9 a—Meat Day 9 a—Heavy Set up

Sunday, October 6 1:30 p—Stop by & help roll out paper, decorate, and watch the activity!

Thursday, October 10 10 a-7 p

Stop and shop. Eat and fellowship. Meals are served from 11 a-1:30 p and 5-6:30 p 7 p- Tear down. We need help folding up chairs, tables, tablecloths, securing the baskets that were not claimed and cleaning up the kitchen. All help is gratefully appreciated.

Other ways to help: Sign up for a yard

sign Take fliers to all of

your friends Invite a friend to

come for lunch or supper

Buy tickets in church

The Market will be successful and fun if everyone helps!

Page 2

Seth Heckaman and I had the fortunate opportunity to visit the wonderful ministry Tijuana Christian Mission (TCM) provides across the Californian border. Some of you have had the privilege of serving there in the past, and it is my pleasure to announce that plans are underway to take a group from Greene Street to serve again July 24-30, 2014! All people ages 14 and up by July 1, 2014 are welcome to attend this potential life-changing experience. The trip will cost approximately $1,000 per person, and a planning meeting for all interested will be held in the near future, so look for more information in our publications. Please prayerfully consider your participation!

Here’s a little taste of what you might experience should you decide to join us:

TCM serves more than 100 children of all ages between two campuses, one in Tijuana and the other in Rosarito, which is approximately 25 kilometers south of the city. Opportunities abound to rub shoulders with these beautiful children. They love to sing and play sports of all kinds. Seth and I were able to teach them a few things about basketball while we were there, and they taught us a few things about football (i.e. “soccer”) and…Spanish!

During our visit, we frequented all the local grocery stores daily, if not several times a day. It takes a lot of food to feed a family of 100 three times daily! Meal time begins with prayer, a message from staff, and if you’re lucky, a song is shared. The students help with every aspect of meal preparation, service and cleanup. They are also responsible for maintaining their dormitories and laundry services. As for the facilities, there is always room for improvement, and we could certainly lend a hand.

The students attend youth group at Groupo Unidad, a thriving church in the center of the city. We met the youth pastor who graciously asked me to share a message during our trip next year. When we attended, there was singing, dancing, and energy - lots of energy. Even though we couldn’t understand the words of the songs, we worshiped God in spirit.

TCM not only ministers to orphans but also to women desiring to break away from the dangerous lifestyle of human trafficking. A women’s shelter is located in the city and serves a wide array of women and their children. As with the orphanage, there are always repairs and cosmetic improvements that can be made and food to purchase!

TCM also partners with their church in ministering to those who live at the city dump who salvage recyclables for a living and often go without clean water and adequate food. We spent the better half of a day passing out burritos and water, sharing the love of Jesus with all who resided there. We also connected with churches established in the ruins of the former dump site. These churches minister to the residents by offering breakfast, computer access, education, and most importantly, the Gospel.

Near the end of our adventure we connected with another ministry near the border who offers food, medication, clothing, and travel for those who have been deported. Imagine getting shipped back to your home country with only the belongings you have in your possession. This is a daily reality for many who strive to fulfill their dreams in the bordering country to their north…all because they were born just a few miles from American soil. I saw families talking through wire mesh with loved ones who were caught in the arduous immigration

process – people without citizenship. “Here’s where dreams die” is a phrase painted in stark white across one of the towering steel beams that form the border line stretching deep into the Pacific Ocean.

These were merely a few of the experiences Seth and I shared together. Our hearts were burdened by the rampant exploitation seen throughout the land, but soared when we saw the children laughing together. Our hearts sunk as we gazed upon the desperation written on so many faces, but joy met us in the warm embrace of Christian sisters and brothers with whom we could not communicate in any language other than love. Our hearts felt the searing pain of hunger and poverty, but were also refreshed by the hope so many churches are providing in their communities.

In the end, it was a godly experience that we will treasure our entire lives. This experience has motivated us anew to reach beyond barriers bound by geography, language and color in order to carry Jesus’ mission “to the ends of the earth” (Matthew 28:20). We want you to share this experience as well, and encounter Jesus in new ways…ways that may only be experienced in another land, with people who may appear and sound differently than us… across the border.

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Rev. Kenneth A. Stewart

Reflections from Mexico

Page 3

Crazy about

Confirmation!

Planning is underway in preparation for confirmation classes, and I am excited to embark on this journey with our young people! Although I have never before led this process, I am anxious to share this experience. I am praying for lasting results and fervent commitments made to Christ. We are planning field trips, hands-on activities, and even a few special guests that will drive home each confirmand’s understanding of what it means to know our story, confirm our faith, and live our commitment to Jesus.

Classes will take place each Sunday afternoon from 4-5:30 P.M., beginning February 9 and ending June 1 in the Wall-Wesleyan room of the church. On one of these weeks, we’ll meet elsewhere so we do not disturb the Chrysalis flight who meets February 16. Finally, we’ll conclude our time with a confirmation service for each participant who has completed the

process on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, a glorious service for which I cannot wait!

Letters have been sent to each baptized confirmand associated with the church from sixth grade and up. However, everyone is invited to participate! If you’re seeking to renew and refresh your faith, contact me and we will sign you up! Call me crazy…for confirmation!

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Kenneth A. Stewart

On September 15, Greene Street UMC and Westminster Presbyterian

Churches hosted a Friends’ Day and Block Party together. Many activities including cornhole, a cake walk, crafts, and other games kept everyone

hopping. A meal of hot dogs, beans,

chips, and watermelon was

great and filling. The final

count was 324. Fun was had by all!

Thank you to everyone that helped make this

day a success. No matter how small your task was, we

couldn’t have done it without

you!

Because We Are Family . . .

Greene Street Church Family - Bella Reimer, DiAnn Bateman, MaryJo Morgan, Shirley Grabo, Ron Cooper, Bob Jones, Lois Erbes, Cecil Stewart, Darlene Montgomery, and Jade Piatt

Friends and Family of Greene Street- Mike Jess, Gail Wilson, Nancy Wiford, Pat Pleiman (Stilwell), Jim Lyons (Francony), John Detwiler (Pettit), and Jane Spicer (Montgomery)

Military - Jed Cooper, Ronnie Cooper, Clarke Cripe (Elliott), Kristopher Palsgrove (Ash), Andy Pearson (Hudson/Carter), Alexander Yantis (Williamson), Tyler Fellure (Christy), Brian Pummill, Jacob Kerrigan

OUR SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO:

Jill and Dave Weimer and family upon the death of her Grandmother on September 5, 2013.

Page 4

Nursing Homes Sterling House Virginia Gross Barbara Heater Maxine Zimmerman Heartland Bill Alexander Piqua Manor Carolyn McClannan Morris McClannan

Spring Meade Martha Fraley Garbry Ridge Doris Penrod Barbara Minton Dorothy Love Ruth Brush John Phillips Kay Phillips Kentucky Alvena Thornton

Hospitalized Since Last Month: Fred Shellenberg and Martha

Fraley

6 Morris & Carolyn McClannon Mike & Michelle Taylor Amy & Chris Vosler 9 George & Kathy Sweetman 16 Beth & Steve Collins Britney & Robert Davis Pat & Edna Middleton 19 Charles & Shirley Sanders 21 Jim & Kelli Meckstroth 24 Rick & Karen Kist 26 Tom & Missy Brinkman 30 Dick & Nancy Callison

1 Susan Hopkins 2 Jill Weimer 3 Jace Palmer 4 Chandler Hite 7 Jean Heath Don Hiser 8 Jeff Erbes Lily Stewart 9 Jim Bennett Chuck Woods 10 Mick Robinette 12 Mary-Jo Morgan 13 Nancy Woods 15 Martha Wagner 16 Cale Meckstroth Carris Meckstroth 17 Julia Hale Meredith Hale Lloyd Shoemaker 18 Ken Heath Dorothy Hogston 20 Don Ruffner 21 Grace Liette 23 Jake Slusher 24 Amy Penrod 26 Toni Thompson 27 Phil Reimer Melanie Sever 28 Hannah Kingrey Jenny Pettit Dee Stevens Charlie Vosler 29 Jade Piatt Michelle Underwood 30 Kay Hardman Darlene Montgomery

"Where, oh, where have the altar vases gone? Oh, where, oh where could they be?"

Each week our altar flowers come in convenient plastic vases. These vases are re-used each week. If you hap-pen to know where one or more of our altar vases may be, please turn them in to the church office.

Children’s Information

September Bucket total is $341.86 for Nate Ellis with

his ministry with Navigators.

Bucket Money for this Fall

Bucket monies for the next few weeks are as follows: September 29-October 13=Outreach

October 20-November 3 = Shoebox Ministry November 10-November 24 = Springcreek Outreach

Children’s Sunday School Children’s Sunday School will begin on September 8th. Classes begin at 9:15 and will dismiss at 10:15. Children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade will meet in the ABC room with Michelle Underwood and Linda Harbison. Joe Thompson and Lou Oaks will meet in the upstairs classroom with children in 3rd through 6th graders. Both classes use curriculum from Gospel Light. With Gospel Light Sunday School, children discover Jesus throughout the entire Bible. Each week, whether the lesson is from the Old Testament or New Testament, children will learn how the whole Bible leads to Jesus and they have the opportunity to really know Jesus, love God and live their faith in practical ways. The lessons are reinforced with games, crafts, “fun” pages, and a take home activity to share with the rest of the family.

Wednesday Night Ministries Parents, mark your calendars for October 2nd. That is the date that our Wednesday Night Ministries is scheduled to begin the fall season. Jeanne Ringer and her talented team including: Phil Reimer, Michelle Taylor, Robyn Cooper, and Pat Helman will be leading the children through an eight week journey discovering what Jesus was like as a young boy. They will also learn about his miracles. The hour will be filled with a Bible stories, music, crafts, snacks, and games. Wednesday Night Ministries is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Contact: Jeanne Ringer (778-0779), or the church office (773-5313) if you would like to help.

Children’s Church Children’s Church meets in the ABC Room during the Worship Service—after the offering is taken. Children in Kindergarten through 6th grade are invited to join our teaching staff for a special Bible lesson, songs, activities, and fellowship. The Children’s Ministry Team is extremely grateful for our faithful volunteers who meet with our children during this time. They include: Barb Hudson, Jennifer Sweetman, Joyce Paldino, Jo Jo Marrs, April Vosler, Jessica Moore, Michelle Underwood, and Natalee Heath. Preschool age children are invited to play in the nursery during this time.

Children’s Sabbath You are invited to share in a special worship gathering Sunday, October 20 at 10:30 A.M. as we celebrate God’s gift of children! Starting soon, our preschool classes will be working on some songs that will be a part of the worship service. We are excited to host this wonderful event and would be thrilled to have you with us this day. Thank you and may God’s richest blessings be yours!

Trunk or Treat! Thursday, October 31st

6-8 p.m. Greene Street Parking Lot

Decorate your car trunk, truck bed, or back hatch for Halloween and join us in the parking lot for our third annual “Trunk or Treat”. Children will travel from vehicle to vehicle on the city’s Beggar’s Night dressed in their Halloween costumes and go “Trunk or Treating”. Bring your decorated vehicle and candy (or pencils, toothbrushes, McDonald’s coupons, stickers, etc.) to share.

There are a total of eleven parking spaces in our lot. Contact Michelle Underwood (214-1255) or the church office (773-5313) for more information and to reserve your parking place. Everyone is welcome to dress in costume and be a part of the fun! If you want to watch the fun and need a ride to church, call the office and we will come and get you!

Last year we “treated” over 400 children!! If you would like to donate a bag of goodies to be distributed October 31st, it would greatly be appreciated! You can leave your contribution in the church office or in the narthex.

Operation Christmas Child

We are gearing up to pack our 50 Christmas Shoe Boxes. We can use small toys, stuffed animals, flip flops, and hard candy. You can also help by donating $7 to mail a box.

We are also preparing to fill 100 Christmas gift bags to give to the children of the families who use our food pantry.

For some other projects, we could use men’s/women’s t-shirts from which we can make shorts. If you have any fabric (at least 3/4 yard), we can use it to make more dresses. Any unused yarn can be used to make prayer shawls or hats and scarves for our mitten tree at Christmas.

We appreciate your support as we try to bless the lives of children at home and around the world.

-Class Closest to Heaven

Daycare Help with Christmas Market

Since 1973 Greene Street Church has had a wonderful day of fellowship, food, and vendors as our fundraiser. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!! Greene Street is known for it's delicious 7 layer salad for the meals. All committees of the church are responsible for an area of the market. The committees will share evenly in the profits. DAYCARE AND PRESCHOOL are part of the Childcare Committee and we are in charge of SALADS....We would like your help in supplying these items for the 7 layer salad and broccoli & cauliflower salad. Please sign the poster in the hallway by the office and help support our children!!! If we must purchase these items it will come out of our profits.......Thank you!

LAOS Training LAOS, meaning “people or “the laity” in the original Greek, is a training initiative of the Miami Valley District to equip, empower and mobilize the people of God to fully embrace all of God’s opportunities. Formerly known as “Lay

Speaking Ministries,” this initiative will help God’s people understand their gifts, identify their mission fields, and provide practical tools for the transformation of the world. Greene Street is hosting a LAOS Training on October 12. If you are interested contact the church office or share your interests with Pastor Kenneth.

Page 7

Daycare News

September has come and gone

quickly. October brings us lots of color. God shows us how the end

of one season and the start of new season can be so colorful.

The children are enjoying the new

playground. Thanks you to the Miami County Foundation for the grant that helped us

achieve this goal.

Thank You Greene Street Church,

Thanks so very much for all the comfort food we were given: relish trays, cheeseballs and salad. It was greatly appreciated.

God has gained a “Beautiful Angel” Edie. She is at peace now.

Thanks for all the visits from Pastor Kenneth and thanks to Rev. Christy also for Service. You are all wonderful great support.

Sincerely,

The Yount’s, Thompson’s and Penrod’s

Greene Street,

Thank you so much for the delicious lunch on the first day of school.

Sincerely,

Springcreek Staff

From the Pantry We continue to graciously accept your donations to the Olde Kitchen Shoppe. New or gently used kitchen items are welcome. School is back in session, Fall is here and the holiday season is approaching. The number of people visiting the Food Pantry is increasing. We ask for your help in keeping the shelves stocked for those less fortunate and hungry. Your donations are appreciated. If you have questions on how to donate, or if you have an interest in helping with the Food Pantry or the Olde Kitchen Shoppe, please contact a Food Pantry Committee member or the church office. We thank you for your support! Also Elder-Beerman Coupon day is November 15-

16. Proceeds from the sale of booklets will

benefit the food pantry.

Page 8

September 1, 2013 The Altar Flowers are given by

Bob and Bea Jones in memory of loved ones.

The Bulletin dedication is “Happy Birthday Jeanne Ringer from your family.”

September 8, 2013

The Altar Flowers are given by Edna and Pat Middleton in memory of Ralph and Henrietta Hahn.

September 15, 2013

The Altar Flowers are given by Marilyn Marratta in loving memory of Ralph.

September 22, 2013

The Altar Flowers are given by Jeff and JoJo Marrs in celebration of Brett’s Birthday!

September 29, 2013

The Altar Flowers are given by Pat Helman in memory of Cliff’s birthday.

October Information September

Dedications October Worship Leaders October 6

Greeters 8:00: Fred Shellenberg and Gerry Williamson 10:30: Jim and Gail Reas Head Usher Pat Middleton Children’s Church Barb Hudson

October 13 Greeters 8:00: Peggy Moorman and Debbie Blue 10:30: Dottie Goater Head Usher Pat Middleton Children’s Church Jenny Sweetman

October 20 Greeters 8:00: Fred Shellenberg 10:30: Michelle and Mike Taylor Head Usher Pat Middleton Children’s Church JoJo Marrs and April Vosler

October 27 Greeters 8:00: Carol Hogston 10:30: Mary Catherine Grimes Head Usher Pat Middleton Children’s Church Jessica Moore

United Methodist Men

Calling all men! The United Methodist Men will meet October

19, 2013 at 8 a.m. Come for breakfast and fellowship.

Ladies Afternoon Circle

Ladies Afternoon Circle will meet Tuesday, October 8 at 1:30 p.m. in the basement to carry out their duty for the Christmas Market. They will fold silverware and napkins and put together some extra items that can be made ahead of time. Please come. All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

Need a ride call, Mary Catherine Grimes 773-2404. Everyone Welcome!

Moms Club

Moms Club will be gathering for Meat Day on October 5 at 9:00 a.m. Then again on Wednesday, October 9 at 5:00 p.m. to prepare the chicken for the Market. If you are interested in helping please come and join in

the fun! Help is needed by all!

Unless otherwise stated . . .

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

6:30 p Wednesday

Night Ministries

3 4 5

6

World Communion

Sunday

7 8 9

5 p Moms Club

6:30 p Wednesday

Night Ministries

10

41st Christmas

Market 10 a –7 p

11 12

LAOS Training 8 a –4 p

13 14 15 16

6:30 p Wednesday

Night Ministries

17 18 19

8 a UMM Breakfast

20

Children’s Sabbath

21 22 23

6:30 p Wednesday

Night Ministries

24 25 26

27 28 Bob Evans

Day

7 p Food and Hunger Team

29

5:30 p Greene

Street at Alpha Center

30

6:30 p Wednesday

Night Ministries

31

9 a Newsletter

folding Party

Trunk or Treat

Sunday Schedules 8 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Church School 10:30 a.m. Worship 6 p.m. Ch. 5 Rebroadcast

Greene Street

United Methodist Church 415 W. Greene Street

Piqua, Ohio 45356-2198

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Piqua, Ohio Permit No. 268

ADDRESS SERVICE