“Batz in the Belfry”Dear Friends of Colfax UMC:

There should never be a “let down” in the church for there is never a “let down” in society’s need to hear the message of the church.

Another Easter has come and passed. The sounds of “Alleluia” are now just an echo. The excitement of the claim “He is not here! He is Risen” doesn’t stir us as it did just a few days ago. It’s “old news now” and the promise and pledge of those words do not have the dramatic impact upon us as once they did. It’s back to “business as usual”. But wait . . . it doesn’t have to be that way! Before we so quickly pull the curtain and turn up the exit lights we need to pause and ask ourselves, what did I carry over from Easter?

I’m pleased that during the later days of Lent, our congregation was asked to pray daily for persons that they knew did not have a relationship with any church. Then after the weeks of prayer, you personally invited those persons to join you in the Easter celebration of worship. Some of them came, some of them politely declined but the “seed was planted”, the invitation was extended.

You say that “Easter has ended”? No, not really! Not any more than it ended with Mary mistakenly thinking that she was talking to the Gardner. No, in fact, Easter has just begun! For the day that just “ended” has only equipped us and prepared for the challenge of the days ahead.

At least that's my view from the belfry. -- D.L.B --

Check this out - You may be on the listLiturgist Clean the Church Pass the Peace

3 Cassie Batz Aleta & Marlene Dennis & Reba

10 Jill Bowen Marilyn & Rita Bob & Betty

17 Aleta Batz Dennis & Reba Ben & Miranda

24 Shannon Caldwell Lauran & Craig Chuck & Tanner

Sunday School 9:00 Worship Service 10:00 Fellowship Time 11:15www.colfaxinumc.org

Pastor: Donald Batz Email: adcbatz@yahoo.comPhone: 765-324-2556Cell: 563-505-5892

REMINDER: The church has a Facebook page. We try to have announcements and other items on it weekly. Become a friend of Colfax UMC.

SERMONS DURING THE MONTH OF APRILPrinted below are the sermons that Dr. Batz is intending to preach during the month of April. We encourage you to read the scriptural passages in preparation for the hearing of our pastor’s messageApril 3 "The Disciple That Almost Missed Easter" Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8, and John 20:19-31April 10 “Love Keeps No Records of Wrongs” Acts 9:1-6, Psalm 30, I Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 15:11-32 April 17 “Lessons Learned Early in the Living of Life Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 95, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-23 April 24 “The Eleventh Commandment” Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 148, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35

Keep current on Colfax UMC activities and ministries though

the webpage www.colfaxinumc.org and the

Facebook page Colfax UMC. Feel free to post on the Facebook page

of Colfax UMC

UNITED METHODIST MEN’S BREAKFASTUM Men’s breakfast has moved to April 3, 7:30, with a special time of prayer for Tim who has surgery Tuesday the 5th. All men urged to come for this time of prayer.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION NEXT SUNDAYAs is our practice at Colfax UMC we will be serving the Sacrament of Holy Communion next Sunday, April 3, at our

10:00 a.m. Worship Service. The practice in our church is to serve the Sacrament on the first Sunday of each month.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

2 Kenny Dukes3 Mason Robertson9 Chad Hurst13 Ingrid Heflin Treffler20 Joy Watkins20 Riley Tate23 Reba Ream27 Marcia Barnaby

Prayer Concerns

Unspoken Concerns THOSE ILL AND THEIR FAMILIESJane & Kenny DukesBob Haughs Troy BowenSteve Moore Scott PletchCraig Skiles Tim Rutan

THOSE HOMEBOUND OR IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIESDon Bowen-Homewood Health CampusJean Crow, homeMarjorie (Wheat) HurlessWard Suter, homeLynne Highley, Clinton House

OUR COMMUNITY, NATION AND WORLD

Our local community and schoolTravis & Gina Sheets, Ganta, LiberiaGuidance for the leadership of our nationThe crises with the terrorists in the world Hungry Children in the world

Revitalization of the Church

Our Military Connections Austin Harshbarger, Brandon Hearrel Kip Pollard, James Morris Sue & Joy's nephews, Garrett, Taylor June's grandsons – Kevin, & Justin

Jacob’s LadderMonthly needs:

Beef StewTomato Juice

Chili seasoningsToilet Paper

Cereal

SPRING WOMEN’S RETREAT: TIME TO SHINEThe women at the Colfax Christian Church have extended an invitation to our women to attend their Spring Women’s

Retreat: Timer to Shine. It will be held on Saturday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Colfax Christian Church.

Cost is $25 which will include both breakfast and lunch. There will be worship, special presenters, crafts and Bible study.

Registration can be done online at http://tinyurt.com/colfaxwomensretreat or mailed to Colfax Christian Church, Attn: Lora Woodard, 314 S. Clark St. Colfax 46035

Sunday Night Bible Study6:30 fellowship time

7:00 study of the PsalmsThis month we will study Psalms 28 to 41.

COLFAX ON-LINE BIBLE STUDYWe will continue the Resurrection appearances of Jesus from John and Acts and 1 Corinthians. We will then begin a study of the book of Acts.

SUNDAY SCHOOL BIBLE STUDIES – Sunday Mornings at 9:00 a.m.Elementary – Julia Hoffman, teacherYouth – study of Philippians, Jesus Our Joy during the Church School hour. Jill will be leading the study.Adult - Max Swackhamer will continue lead a study on “The 3:16’s of the Bible.

Thanks to Barb Tate for the Easter decorations of our sanctuary for Easter and the fellowship hall for the Maundy

Thursday Service.

Members of Administrative Council will meetMay 18, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

Members of Pastor Parish will meet April 20, 2016, at 7:00 p.m

MISSION FOR APRIL – VBSDuring the month of April our mission

offering will be directed to our mission in Colfax though the Vacation Bible School

which is scheduled for late June. This year we are trying a new format – a one day Bible school.

Recognition of Graduates on Sunday, May 15On Sunday, May 15, our church will recognize those young people graduating from high school and those beginning in junior high school.

The following are graduating from high school: Miranda Robertson, Bailey Jenkins and Grant Ream. Those youth entering junior high are Tatum Nash, Mason Robertson, and Zachary Caldwell.

If those are other young people from our church that are graduating from high school or entering junior high school that are not listed above, please contact our pastor.

Congratulations to Rev. Joe and Carolyn Wagner on their 55th Wedding

Anniversary on March 31

Youth Mission Camp in Indianapolis

July 10 to 16 is the date for the Bishop's Youth Mission Camp,

which will be held at Butler University. The cost is $300 per

youth but our church will underwrite the cost for youth in our church that are interested in

attending.

Indians Baseball GameThe Church will be

attending the Sunday, July 24, baseball game of

Indianapolis vs Charlotte. $16.00 tickets are available

from Eric Bowen for $13.00 each.

Make your reservations now.

Box Score for March February 2016 2015 2015 2016

1st $ 1,023.00 41 432nd $ 823.00 $ 2,142.00 44 423rd $ 789.00 $ 725.00 40 334th $ 1,134.00 $ 764.52 36 98/66total $ 602.52 49Missions $ 3,769.00 $ 4,234.04renovation $ 429.00 $ 782.00

APPROACHING CHURCH CONFERENCESMay 10-20 General Conference, Portland, Oregon. June 9-11 Indiana Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN July 13-16 North Central Jurisdictional Conference, Peoria, IL Remember these important conferences in your prayers.

REMEMBER TO RETURN THE EASTER SIGNSJust a reminder that if you had one of the yard signs inviting persons to our church's Easter service, please remember to return the sign to the church in order that we can use it again next year. Thank you for placing a sign out in your yard.

GIFT RECEIVED FOR COLFAX PANTRYAn anonymous letter and gift were recently received at the Church Pantry. The letter read:

“Your food pantry has helped my family in times of need over the years. We have recently received a blessing and want to share with you. Thank you for caring about our community.”

Enclosed with the letter was a money order for $200. How grateful we are for those who have been recipients of the Church’s food pantry for their responses of gratefulness.

Camp Day at Pine CreekThe Northwest District of the INUMC is hosting an all-

inclusive camp day at Pine Creek Camp, located in Pine Village, Ind. The camp day will encourage a large

variety of fun, challenging, and spirit-led sessions, crafted with the goal of fostering great conversation and camaraderie within the Conference. At the end of the day, attendees will gather for a bonfire and

worship. Check-in is at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 9. Deadline for registration is April 2.

THANKS FOR THE CRACKERSA special thank you to Pat Eaton for contacting Wendy's in Frankfort to see if they would be willing to donate crackers to our

Cup of Love outreaching ministry to "home bound" families in the Colfax community. A "Thank you" to Wendy's for responding so generously with a case of crackers in support of that ministry.

Easter FlowersA special Thank You goes out to all those that donated flowers for our

Easter Garden: Don & Marilyn Bowen, Jill Bowen, June Cox, Kenny & Jane Dukes, Marlene Nash, Rita Neidlinger, Dennis & Reba Ream, Ben, Donna Robertson & family, Max & Sue Swackhamer, Lauran

Swain, Dan & Barb Tate and Joe & Carolyn Wagner. As always, it was

beautiful.

Also, a huge thanks to Barb Tate and Lauran Swain for creating the

garden.

Another beautiful job by our Easter Choir!

So thankful they are willing to perform for us!

COMMENTS FROM THE MARCH COUNCIL MEETINGThirteen persons were in attendance at the March meeting of the Administrative Council. A one day Vacation Bible School was scheduled for June 25, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.The Long Range Committee has indicated that they have studied how the church might resolve the accessibility problem at our church but have not found any solutions that our church might be able to afford.Board of Trustees is attempting to find the cause of the water damage in the ceiling of the living room at the parsonage.The "Cup of Love" is now being distributed to 20 persons. The special Palm Sunday and Easter loose offering will be designated for this outreach ministry.Pastor Parish Committee is scheduled to meet on April 20 at 7:00 p.m.Church paid the $100 for the Conference Discipleship Center.Maundy Thursday Worship Service scheduled for our church, Good Friday Service scheduled for Wesleyan Church, Easter Sunrise Service at New Hope with Dr. Batz speaking.Indiana Conference is June 9 to 11 in IndianapolisNorth Central Jurisdictional Conference is July 13 to 16 in PeoriaGeneral Conference is May 10-20 in Portland, Oregon.Income from January 1 through March 15 was $13,071.9l while expenses were $13,584.17 or a loss of $512.26, according to treasurer, Craig Bowen.

GENERAL CONFERENCE MEETING IN MAYThe General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, and meets once every four years to

determine the denomination’s future direction, consider revisions to church law, and approve plans and budgets for church-wide programs. The 2016 meeting will take place next month, May 10-20, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. They will be representing the 12.5 million members in 135 countries throughout the world with 7.2 million of those members living in the United States. Remember the delegates in your daily personal prayers. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be at work in the midst of this important and historically significant quadrennial meeting. Pray for all the delegates from around the world that will be

in attendance and for the decision that they will be making that will have influence upon the United Methodist Church.

LETTER FROM DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT MICHELLE COBBA letter was received by our pastor from Michelle Cobb, our District Superintendent, in which she said:

Dear Don,Together, United Methodists do remarkable ministry in the state of Indiana and throughout the world to fulfill our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of communities and the world around us. In 2015, through the faithful giving of many congregations, the Indiana Conference received $12,724,213 in Tithe Income and $1,614,376 toward District Support. These resources are essential and vital to further the ministry of the Indiana Conference within the bounds of this state and the world abroad.

The faithful giving of congregations in 2015 helped to accomplish many wonderful things: a Leadership Development emphasis that resources both lay and clergy for fruitful ministry creating new faith communities and strengthening existing congregations through the Fruitful Congregation Journey; providing unique opportunities for next generation leaders to foster new and nurture faith commitments through the Bishop’s Leadership Academy, Bishop’s Youth Rally, TransforMission, as well as Outdoor and Camping Ministries; and furthering the support and connection between the local church and the global church, through the ministries of the Conference administration and personnel.

We can celebrate these goals because of your connectional support. Thank you for paying your 2015 tithe at $4,256, 103%! Thank you, too, Pastor, for your leadership that made this commitment possible.