Sunshine Friends 2

Elderberries 2

Deadlines 2

New Members 2

Men’s Breakfasts 2

Promises to Keep 2

Starbucks Donations 2

Prayer Tips 3

Eagle Scout 3

Teter Work Day 3

Mother-Child Banquet 3

Missions Update 3

Email Addresses 3

UMW Corner 4

Student Ministry 5

Children’s Ministry 5

Thank You Notes 6

Confirmation 6

Hire Our Youth 6

Easter Egg Hunt 6

Calendar 7

Holy Week 8

April

2014

SPREADING THE WORD

F irs t United M ethodis t Chur ch

To the Family of God at First Church:

Enough with the winter of 2014! Enough! The cold… the snow… the grey skies… I have had enough of all of them. I want to see some real signs of spring. I want to see a forsythia bush in yellow bloom. I need to see a crocus erupting. I need to feel warm sunshine on my face. I want to hear a lawnmower running and smell a fresh cut lawn. I would be happy even if all I get is a dandelion smack dab in the middle of the brown area that used to be my lawn. I need green. I need spring.

Yes, I know it is coming. It always has and it always will. Soon, spring will erupt with a delayed fury. But, what if we didn’t have that confidence? What if we had to face the possibility of unending cold grey skies being all we would ever get? No warm breezes… no budding trees… no flowers… no hope for anything different… can we even tolerate the desolation of such possibility?

Such was the desolation of hopelessness which engulfed the Lord’s Disciples and friends after the crucifixion. “It is finished,” was the death knell of hope. Every expectation, every dream, every positive anticipation died with Jesus. Their winter of despair was going to be endless. They traveled to the tomb that morning completely absent of expectation. They were intent only on completing the final tasks of burial. Theirs was an unpleasant but love-compelled task. The next few moments were a blur. A stone dislodged… an empty crypt… folded cloths stacked in a corner… angels… a message to be shared… Resurrection… Hope… An explosion of the unceasing springtime of faith…“He’s not here. He is risen.” Even death could not defeat the power of love. “The Lord is risen! Hallelujah! He is risen, indeed!”

As we near Easter may each sign of spring remind you of the victory of Resurrection! May you experience a spring, not just of daffodils and tulips, but of grace and faith.

Yours in the service of the Resurrected One,

Pastor Jack

Dorothy and I have started planning to host a “Journey Through the Bible” tour to Israel for 11 days departing on October 27, 2014. This will be my fifth trip to Israel and I count each trip among the most significant faith experiences of my life. I think one can learn more about the Bible in a week touring Israel than they can from a year in seminary. Brochures are available in the church office. If you would like to access the material on line, you may do so at http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/find_trip/detail.aspx?id=2968. To travel with Dorothy and me, you will need to use Tour Host #19590. If you have any interest or questions, please let me know.

Table of

Contents

PAGE 2 SPREADING THE WORD APRIL

ELDERBERRIES

The next Elderberries Luncheon / Program will be held April 4 at 12:00 noon. Our featured program presenter will be Les Turner from “Premier Hospice”. Chef Mike will be fixing Pork Loin, scalloped po-

tatoes and vegetable medley.

Our new Thursday morning Bible Study will be centering on Adam Hamilton’s book, Making Sense of the Bible. We meet Thursday mornings at 10:00 in the Parlor.

Come and join us!

SUNSHINE FRIENDS

Sunshine Friends will meet on Monday, April 14 in Celebration Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This is our monthly fellowship for the mentally and physically challenged members of our community. We will welcome the Noblesville High School Singers and the New Dimension Singers to perform

their amazing choir show! We will also have our Bible Drama along with crafts, songs, and snacks. If you know anyone who would like to be a part of this awesome group, please contact anitajbeck@comcast.net or call the church office. Come join us!

Upcoming Newsletter

Deadlines

May issue: April 15

June issue: May 12

Please submit all entries to Paula Elliott

at paulae@nfumc.net.

MEN’S LENTEN BREAKFASTS

Sponsored by the Hamilton County United Methodist Men.

Breakfasts begin at 7:30 a.m. each Saturday. Please contact Bruce Price at brucemarykay@sbcglobal.net if you have questions. The remaining schedule is as follows:

March 29 - Noblesville Union UMC, 19090 DeShane Ave.

Speaker: Pastor Bob Case

April 5—Emmanuel UMC 16000 Cumberland Road, Noblesville

Speaker: Rev. Lamar Imes

April 12—Fishers UMC 9690 E. 116th Street, Fishers

Speaker: Rev. Mike Biggs

JOIN US!

Tom & Karen Weessies Joined NFUMC on March 16

Tom and Karen live in Noblesville. Tom sings in the Chancel Choir and Karen stays busy helping to care for

their infant granddaughter.

Grace Circle

is accepting

donations of

$5.00

Starbucks

gift cards to send to our

college students. If you

would like to donate,

please drop off gift

cards in the church

office.

God is continually blessing our congregation in worship and fellowship. Sunday mornings are a time of praise and joy. Thank you for giving and working to

keep the work of God’s kingdom active and faithful here at First Church.

Dr. Scott McKenzie is our consultant for our 2014 – 2016 Promises to Keep Campaign. Scott will be helping move our church forward on our debt retirement plan. Please watch for our Vision Brochure that was mailed this past week. This week our Prayer Callers will be busy contacting households asking for prayers for our campaign and offering prayers for all of you. Our campaign prayer: “Lord, what do You want to do through me?”

Colin & Emily Miller Joined NFUMC on March 16

Colin and Emily have been attending NFUMC for a little over a year, and joined the church March 16. They live in Fishers. Emily is a nurse at IU-Riley. They have two

children, Grady and Graeme.

PAGE 3 SPREADING THE WORD APRIL

If you are in doubt, please send your e-mail address to Nancy Clinton at

nancy@nfumc.net. We use e-mail to send newsletters, financial statements, and important

information about ministries and events in the church. Don’t miss out!

April Prayer Tips

Lent is a time of sacrifice and service, a time to remember the price of our salvation and humbly work to examine and cleanse ourselves of those choices that have led us to sin. Yet, we are also asked to spend this time in thanksgiving and joy—not

showing outwardly our inner struggles. So, Lent is a time of strength and weakness, then; a time when God asks us to follow Jesus over every step of His final journey—from riding a donkey in triumph to becoming a beast of burden, a cross crushingly slammed across His back.

Even though life brings us both love and sacrifices, we show our faith in God each day we have the courage to live in hope, showing our joy. Sometimes the Cup of Christ brings bitter vinegar, sometimes the best of the wine they saved for last. Yet, over and over we find times to pray for God’s help when we mourn and times to rejoice in thanksgiving! So many days filled with laughter, others with tears or shouts of anger or frustration; and then still others when the love is so strong, the day so exquisite, we can scarcely breathe. As Christians, saved by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, fear, dread, shame—to these imposters we need never cling! Abiding love, faithfulness, forgiveness, hope—with these, we must stuff ourselves!! We are God’s beloved children; regardless of what life brings, through earnest prayer we can know, with great peace, that all is well. The gift of Easter is the endless, timeless, unconditional, and utterly glorious love of God! Enjoy and give thanks!

TETER WORK DAY April 26

9:00 a.m. until finished Lunch & refreshments provided

We need your help to spruce up Teter this spring to prepare for the summer worship and those that rent our facilities. Painting, cleaning, cutting firewood, removing debris from the woods are some of the projects on the list. If you enjoy working in the outdoors and have some spare time on April 26 we would appreciate your help. Bring gloves, yard/

garden tools, and a willing spirit. Sign up at an Information Kiosk or call us at 776-1836. You can also follow Teter Retreat on Facebook and sign up there.

Mother-Child Banquet Friday, May 9, 6:30 P.M.

Program: Silly Safari with Amazon John

Tickets: Adults: Lasagna Dinner-$10.00 Children: Pizza Dinner-$5.00

Please sign up at an Information Kiosk Reservation deadline: May 4

Sponsored by United Methodist Women Reservations required!

Did you know that we collect soup labels, box tops and pop can tabs to distribute to organizations that use them to purchase items or services for those in need? The collection baskets are located in the hallway just outside the church library. Please consider collecting these items as you purchase food and

household items.

There are many other opportunities for giving of your time and talent, as well. Please contact Pastor Aaron or a Missions Committee member to discuss getting involved in a missions project or service.

CONGRATULATIONS

to

Jacob Hoogenboom Upon achieving the rang of

EAGLE SCOUT. A member of our own Troop 101, Jacob is 17 years old and a junior at

Noblesville High School. He is the son of Mark and

Katrina Hoogenboom.

Jacob's Eagle Project was to build three raised-bed vegetable gardens to be used by the youth campers at Camp Crosser (Boys & Girls Club). A 12 X 16 utility shed was re-sided and painted. New doors were built

and installed there as well.

PAGE 4 SPREADING THE WORD APRIL

UMW CORNER

Take a look in the glass cabinet in the Great Hall to see what the UMW is doing!

Lenten Breakfast - We thank Grace and Susannah Circles for preparing the food, Pastor Dick Judson for his inspirational message, and all who attended the breakfast to begin the Lenten Season.

Staff Appreciation - The UMW will thank the church staff for all their support by making them breakfast during Holy Week.

Mother-Child Banquet will be May 9, at 6:30 p.m. Amazon John of Silly Safaris and his animal friends will entertain. A catered dinner will be served. Adults: Lasagna dinner $10; Children: Pizza dinner $5. Sign up sheets will be at the Information Kiosks in April.

Circle News - Everyone is welcome! If you’d like information about joining a Circle, contact Dorothy Wolfe at 770-0018.

Grace Circle is collecting $5 Starbucks cards for our college students and Easter candy for baskets going to the Lebanon Children's Home. Both are due no later than Sunday, April 13 and can be brought to the church office. We meet on the second Monday of each month during the school year at 9:00 a.m.

Rebekah Circle will meet for a short meeting on Wednesday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m. in the Parlor and then go to the Janus Center for a tour and lunch. Send reservations to Pam Moore at: pam.moore255@hotmail.com or 773-6172.

Priscilla Circle will meet Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor. Phyllis Hunter will be presenting a program from the UMW Program Book entitled "Calling to Work for Children.”

Lydia Circle will meet on Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor to work on their project of stamping cards.

Susannah Circle will meet on Tuesday, April 22 at 9:30 a.m. in Wesley Hall. Anita Beck will present the program.

Joy Circle is looking for ways to expand their group, and all 5th - 8th grade girls are invited. Call Joan Lawrence at 703-0766 if you're interested or have ideas to share.

Esther Circle is our newest circle and growing well! They'll be meeting on April 24 at the Regal Theater behind Lowe's in Noblesville to view the movie version of "Heaven Is for Real," after having read the book. They will gather after for a short discussion on the book vs. the movie. All are welcome! Contact Brooke Crum at 657-1126 for times.

Social Action - Hope 4 Women International. The two women we've been sponsoring through this organization have graduated and are becoming independent through business work. We will sponsor two new ladies this year. Three hundred school bags are ready for distribution, Dress-a-Girl dresses have been sent to Haiti, and the Layette Project has sent items to the Clinic.

PAGE 5 SPREADING THE WORD APRIL

The Vine Student Ministry

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! NOBLESVILLE FIRST UMC YOUTH

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING! Sunday, March 30: No Sr. High Youth Group

Thursday, April 10: Guatemala Mission Meeting

Saturday, April 12: Confirmands Race for Cure

Sat.-Sun., April 12-13: “Believe”/Anderson U.

Thursday, April 17: Maundy Thursday

Friday, April 18: Good Friday

Sunday, April 20: Easter—No Youth Group

LOOKING AHEAD... Sunday, May 4: Youth Sunday

Sunday, May 18: Graduate Recognition Sunday

July 20-26: Jr.-Sr. High Summer Mission Trip

”Transformission Indy”

October 11-19: Guatemala Mission Trip

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

June 16-20! 9:00-12:15

The CDs for this summer are in the office and can be purchased for $5.00. There is a limited supply, so please don’t wait until the last minute. Registration forms can be found at the Orange desk or also in the office. We need lots of volunteers for this event….please see

Carol, April or Jenny if you can help!

SPRING CLEAN UP Work Projects start this month! We’ll

be doing spring lawn, house and garden

work. Want to earn money for upcoming

trips? Please sign up in The Vine. Work

will take place on Saturdays.

PALM SUNDAY

On April 13 the children will walk through Celebration Hall during the 9:30 a.m. worship service waving palm branches. Please make sure your child is in the Atrium by 9:22!! Afterwards, they will go to their Sunday School classrooms and to Orange Express.

SPRING FLOWER SALE!

FLOWER PICK UP: April 29 ONLY

9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Preschool flowers that you ordered will be here on April 29th! Usually we have a few extras; however they are usually gone within the first hour of pickup—so get here early!

Registration for the 2014-2015 school year continues, and some of the classes are beginning to fill up. Please don’t wait too long to register your child for Preschool, which is for ages 2 years -5 years, and our Parent’s Day Out, which is offered for children 5 months – 4 years. Forms can be found on the counter by the nurseries or you can register on line. Questions? Call Carol Getch at 773-4911

April 12 & 13 Middle School

Event & Overnight!

We will be going to Anderson University to join other Middle School students in a high energy worship and learning experience! Cost is $75 plus money for lunch on Saturday and optional spending money. If you did not receive a registration form in the mail, you can pick one up in the Vine or the church office. We’ll be sleeping at the church on Saturday.

PAGE 6 SPREADING THE WORD APRIL

First United Methodist,

Thank you so much for assisting us with the

electric bill on one of our cases. We really

appreciate your church. Thank you for your

commitment to serving others.

Sincerely,

The Noblesville Township

Trustees Office

I am so thankful to have such a

caring & loving church

family. Thank you for all the

wonderful meals provided by the

Caring Connection, Pastor Dick

& Carol Miller's visits to me at

the hospital, those friends who

provided me with rides, and all

the meaningful get well

cards. Special thanks to the

Prayer Shawl Ministry for the

beautiful yellow shawl which

kept me warm on those snowy

days. My leg is healing nicely

so I can get back to serving God

with my friends at First Church.

God bless,

Mary Burns

Dear Church Friends,

Dick and I wish to thank everyone

who came to our assistance on

Sunday, February 16th when he

became ill during the 9:30 service.

We especially appreciated Marc

Crandall who recognized our need for

help and responded so quickly.

However, there were many others who

gave us assistance; and many of you

we do not even know and would

perhaps not recognize again. Please

do know just how meaningful your

presence was. Thank you also for the

prayers, phone calls, and other

expressions of ongoing concern. How

wonderful it is to be a part of such a

loving and caring church!

Dick and Judy Wilmoth

I am deeply grateful for all the cards, notes, visits,

flowers from the choir and especially the prayers on

my behalf during my surgery, hospital stay and

recovery at home. Special thanks to Pastor Dick,

Carol Miller who brought me a lovely Prayer Quilt,

Phyllis Hunter and Marilyn Fraser. Sincerest thanks

to you all.

Marilyn Williams

Saturday, April 19 11:00 a.m.

Teter Retreat.

For Toddlers through 3rd grade. We begin

RIGHT at 11 a.m. and it’s over QUICKLY; don’t be a minute late! Please remember to dress for the

weather and bring your own basket. If you would like to hide eggs, please call

Carol Getch at 773-4911.

Need help with your spring yard clean up? HIRE OUR YOUTH!

They are working Saturdays to help earn money for an upcoming mission trip and other activities, so donations are appreciated. If you would like work done, please sign up at an Information Kiosk, and you will be contacted regarding scheduling and other specifics. Thank you for your support of our wonderful young people!

Confirmation Sunday is April 27! You are invited to join us for a special worship experience at 2:00 p.m.

in the Sanctuary as 18 students are confirmed. This is a great day in the life of our congregation, so please come out and support these young people as they commit their lives to following Christ. Special thanks to all of our Confirmation Mentors who have shared their faith with the Confirmands over the past 5 months. Confirmand Meetings with Pastor Aaron: Confirmands please schedule your 30-minute interview online. Appointment dates and times are available on April 7-10, and April 21-24. Serving Opportunity: Join us at Teter Retreat on Saturday, April 19 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. to assist with the NFUMC Easter Egg Hunt.

Confirmation Rehearsal & Family Banquet on Saturday, April 26: Confirmands and Mentors only from 10:00-11:45 a.m. Family members arrive for the banquet at 11:45 a.m. in Celebration Hall. We will also share together in a special baptism service that will conclude by 1:30 p.m. Family RSVPs for the banquet are due by April 11. Presentation of Confirmands in Sunday Worship on April 27: The Confirmands and their Mentors are asked to attend one of the morning worship services together to be recognized by the congregation. Confirmation Worship Service on April 27: Confirmands please gather in Whitcomb Chapel by 1:30 p.m. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

*Denotes guest group using our facility

Tuesday, April 1

7:00 p.m. Christian Business/Student Min. S.

Wednesday, April 2

12:00 p.m. UMW Board Meeting/Parlor

6:30 p.m. Stephen Ministry/Parlor

Thursday, April 3

6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group/Parlor

7:00 p.m. Del Mi District Committee/Overlook

Friday, April 4

12:00 p.m. Elderberries Luncheon/Celebration Hall

Monday, April 7

Debt Retirement Campaign Meetings/Bi Rooms

7:00 p.m. Toastmasters/Stephenson Hall *

7:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study/Loft

7:00 p.m. Campaign Leadership Team/Bi Rooms

Tuesday, April 8

6:30 p.m. Stephen Ministry/Wesley Hall

Wednesday, April 9

6:30 p.m. Priscilla Circle/Parlor

6:30 p.m. Student Advisory/Student Min. S.

Thursday, April 10

6:30 p.m. Del Mi Roundtables/Wesley, Chapel

7:00 p.m. Guatemala Mission Meeting/Wesley

Friday, April 11

12:30 p.m. Ugly Quilt Group/Stephenson Hall

Saturday, April 12

8:00 a.m. Confirmands “Race for the Cure”

Sunday, April 13

PALM SUNDAY

4:30 p.m. GriefShare Closing Worship/Chapel

Monday, April 14

9:00 a.m. Grace Circle/Loft

6:30 p.m. Pack 100 Committee/Room #203

6:30 p.m. Sunshine Friends/Celebration Hall

7:00 p.m. Board of Trustees/Conference Rm. B

7:00 p.m. Connections Study/Conf. Rm. C

Tuesday, April 15

MAY NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

7:00 p.m. Worship Committee/Conf. Rm. B

Wednesday, April 16

6:30 p.m. Lydia Circle/Parlor

7:00 p.m. Troop 101 Committee/Conf. Rm. C

Thursday, April 17

MAUNDY THURSDAY

11:00 a.m. Retired Teachers Luncheon/CH *

7:00 p.m. Eagle Boards/various rooms

7:00 p.m. Missions Committee/Conf. Rm. A

7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship/CH

Friday, April 18

GOOD FRIDAY

7:00 p.m. Good Friday Worship/Sanctuary

Saturday, April 19

11:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt/Teter Retreat

Sunday, April 20

EASTER SUNDAY

8:15 a.m. Worship/Sanctuary

9:30 a.m. Worship/Celebration Hall

11:00 a.m. Worship/Celebration Hall

Monday, April 21

7:00 p.m. Toastmasters/Stephenson Hall *

7:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study/Loft

FIRST UMC CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL, 2014

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN VIEW

SERMONS ON THE WEB? JUST LOG

ON TO WWW.NFUMC.NET AND

CLICK ON THE “SERMON

AUDIO/VIDEO” LINK. YOU WILL

BE ABLE TO SELECT A SUNDAY

AND VIEW THE 9:30 SERMON.

8:15 A.M. Sanctuary

9:30 A.M. Celebration Hall

9:25 A.M. Orange Express

11:00 A.M. Sanctuary

EVERY WEEK AT FIRST UMC

Event Day Time Place

Coffee and Life Class Sun. 9:30 a.m. Loft Homebuilders Class Sun. 9:30 a.m. Parlor Hispanic Worship * Sun. 2:00 p.m. Chapel GriefShare Sun. 4:00 p.m. Parlor, Library Disciple 1 Mon. 7:00 p.m. Parlor Disciple 2 Mon. 6:30 p.m. Conference Rm A Disciple 4 Mon. 7:00 p.m. Library Moms in Prayer Mon. 1:00 p.m. Overlook Scout Troop 101 Mon. 7:00 p.m. Celebration Hall Women’s Study Mon. 9:30 a.m. Parlor Cub Scout Crossover Tues. 7:00 p.m. Chapel Disciple 3 Tues. 6:30 p.m. Parlor ESL Class * Tues. 9:30 a.m. Wesley Hall Glenn Hunter Study Tues. 6:30 p.m. Room #203 Choir Rehearsal Wed. 7:30 p.m. Choir Room Circle of Friends Wed. 9:00 a.m. Loft Handbell Rehearsal Wed. 9:00 p.m. Choir Room Staff Meeting Wed. 9:00 a.m. Conf. Rm. A Elderberries Study Thurs. 10:00 a.m. Parlor ESL Class * Thurs 9:30 a.m. Wesley Hall Dinner’s On Us Thurs. 4:30 p.m. Wesley Hall Emmaus—PM Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Panera Bread Emmaus Men Thurs. 6:30 a.m. Perkins Order of Arrow Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Wesley, SH, Bi Rms Praise Street Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary

Emmaus Women Sat. 8:30 a.m. Noble Coffee YOUTH ACTIVITIES Sr. Hi Praise Bd. Sun. 2:30 p.m. The Vine Sr. Hi Youth Sun. 5:00 p.m. The Vine D Group Tues. 6:15 a.m. Hadleys’ D Group Tues. 7:00 p.m. Pates’ Middle School Youth Wed. 6:30 p.m. The Vine D Group Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Emmerts’

Tuesday, April 22

9:30 a.m. Susannah Circle/Parlor

6:30 p.m. Stephen Ministry/Wesley

Thursday, April 24

7:00 p.m. Del Mi Commission/Overlook

Saturday, April 26

9:00 a.m. Teter Work Day/Teter Retreat

10:00 a.m. Confirmation Rehearsal,

luncheon and baptisms/

Sanctuary, CH, Chapel

Sunday, April 27

2:00 p.m. Confirmation Service/Sanct.

Monday, April 28

5:30-8:30 p.m. Debt Retirement

Campaign Meetings/

Bi Rooms

Return Service Requested

2051 Monument Street Noblesville, IN 46060

Office: 773-2500 Fax: 773-4849 Preschool: 773-4911

www.nfumc.net

Senior Pastor: Jack Wolfe jackw@nfumc.net

Pastor: Aaron Hobbs aaronh@nfumc.net

Pastor: Dick Judson dickj@nfumc.net

Dir. of Children’s Ministry: Carol Getch carolg@nfumc.net

Minister of Youth: Jenell Hadley jenellh@nfumc.net

Care Ministry Coordinator: Carol Miller carolm@nfumc.net

Minister of Music: Mary Resler maryr@nfumc.net

PAGE 8 SPREADING THE WORD APRIL

Plan now to be here for HOLY WEEK, April 14-18

Join your church family as we observe the most sacred time in the life of the church.

PALM SUNDAY—April 13—Regular Worship Schedule

MAUNDY THURSDAY—April 17, 7:00 p.m. Celebration Hall

GOOD FRIDAY—April 18, 7:00 p.m./Sanctuary

EASTER SUNDAY—April 20

8:15 a.m.—Sanctuary 9:30 a.m.—Celebration Hall

11:00 a.m.—Celebration Hall