Join us in February for our new sermon series…                                        

                     

Rolling  Plains  Church  3350  Moxahala  Park  Rd  Zanesville,  OH  43701  rollingplainsumc.com    Return  Service  Requested    

Non-­‐Profit  Organization  US  Postage  PAID  Zanesville  OH  43701  Permit  No.  447  

Dear Sisters & Brothers, Every single one of us has a past, and many of us struggle to keep the past in the past. Sometimes our pasts seem to follow us wherever we go, whether it was an unfavorable label we received from someone or a label we have given ourselves. Often times broken relationships in our past haunt us until this day, and sometimes seem to define our future. Make no mistake about it – as human beings, it is so easy to get caught up in our past. When we live in the past, often times it paralyzes our ability to step forward into God’s amazing future. Literally we get stuck by “that thing” from yesterday that still has a grip on us today. It is equivalent to a person walking down the street with his/her head constantly turned, looking over his/herr shoulder. That is a recipe for running smack dab into a pole! Nothing but pain, disaster, and falling off of the path can come from that. Have you ever tried to drive your car by looking through the rearview mirror? You might be able to see where you have been, but you can’t see where you are going. I’m not sure that would wind up being a good thing, either. However, that’s what we do when we live in the past – we wind up falling off the amazing pathway that God has planned for us, and all the while we are living in a self-inflicted pain-filled present. During the month of February we are going to take our past and give it a swift kick to where it belongs—in the rear. Our sermon series will be called, Kicking Your Past in the Rear. With God’s power and the grace of His Son, Jesus, we are going learn to get past our past, and be set free to live out God’s abundant future. We will learn to break the labels that bind us. God will give you a new name, a new purpose, and, in Jesus Christ, a whole new future. How many people can you recall in Scripture whom God transformed out of a checkered past and into an amazing future, giving them a new name in the process? Saul, the murderer, became Paul, the evangelist and church planter. Simon was a gruff fisherman who was named

Peter, which means rock. Despite Peter’s past, he was declared as the rock on which God was going to build His church. How amazing! We are going to talk about those who have hurt us and continue to hurt us, because we harbor resentment and un-forgiveness in our hearts towards them. By the way, choosing to resent someone as a form of punishment for them is one of the silliest things we can do. We only harm ourselves. It’s like drinking poison and believing the other person will feel the effects. We will learn the power of forgiveness and the freedom that it brings us. Also, there are those we have hurt and we need to go to them to mend the past so we can move on. We will learn not to just “keep” the peace, but we will talk about the idea of “making” peace. God says, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” not the peacekeepers. Lastly, if we are going to learn to forgive others, we need to learn to forgive ourselves. So many of us are stuck in our life because of something we have done or said, and we experience regret. Our sins follow us, and the enemy wants us treading water in the ocean of guilt and shame. However, our loving God in the power of the Holy Spirit wants to bring us conviction that leads to amazing grace and life transformation. We will discover that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Sin is an event, it is never a person. You are not what you have done. You are who God says you are. What an amazing time of healing from our past this sermon series will be! Join me this month, for this new sermon series. Let’s be present for all four weeks, because it will soon be in our past. Let’s get together and kick our past in the rear, right where it belongs, and be set free.

Maranatha! Pastor John

February, 2017

Support Us Our vision for 2017 at Bethel is to expand our territory by exploring more ways to reach families and children in the Putnam neighborhood, so that we can share the love of Jesus with them and be a center where healthy and encouraging relationships are developed. There are many ways you can join us in this local missional effort. You can volunteer time, give items for snacks or After School Supplies, and/or provide donations that help us with our daily operations. Of course you are always welcome to stop by for a visit. We are open Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 6:30 PM. We are located at 126 Ontario Street, across from the Skate Park and near the VFW.  

         

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Bethel Community Center Kids to Display Art at ZAAP Gallery in February

   

 

Don’t Forget, Journeyers!

Saturday, March 4, 2017 the Rolling Plains Journeyers and the Coburn Cruisers are going to see the Ohio State Buckeyes play the Indiana Hoosiers. Game time is 12:00 Noon, and we plan to leave Zanesville on a chartered bus early enough for us to eat and walk around the Schottenstein Center before the game. The cost will be $71.00 per person, which includes ticket, the cost of the bus tip, and a tip for the driver. The only additional cost to you will be for your food. For more information, write “Buckeyes/Hoosiers” on the back of your connection card. August 28, 2017 through September 9, 2017 we plan to travel to The Black Hills and Yellowstone National Park. The cost of this trip will be $1,729.00, which will include hotels, bus transportation, tips, and many of the meals. A $250.00 deposit will be required. If you are interested in this trip, please write “Black Hills/Yellowstone” on the back of your Connection Card.

Hey All! I have an important update concerning our Summer Mission Trip. In the January newsletter I wrote that we were going to Detroit. Well, another church jumped in and paid before I did, and we lost our spots - but not to worry - there was a backup, and that backup is New York City. July 16 through the 22 we will be traveling to New York City to do ministry. I have limited spots and some students have already committed, so if you want to go I will need a deposit of $100 to secure your spot as soon as possible. This is on a first-come basis, so hurry. Can't wait! Don't forget to download the Youth Group app. Go to the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on Apple products, search rolling plains, and the first one should be ours. You just need to verify your email and create an account, then I will receive an email to allow you in! Remember – we have Youth every Sunday during the 9:45 and 11:00 AM services, as well as in the evenings at 6:30 PM.                                     Beau Dailey, RPUMC Youth Director        

 "To all the volunteers that helped this past year on the funeral dinners, I thank you and applaud you!! You are a super group of people and I could not do these dinners without your willingness to help. Thank you for all you have done! You are all very special people!!"

Carol Wilson

United Methodist Men

The Rolling Plains United Methodist Men are still meeting on the first Sunday of each month at Tina's diner in Avondale. We meet at 7:00 AM for a breakfast meeting, where you can either order from the menu, or just have coffee or tea. We are planning to have a Men's Supper Meeting on Monday, April 17th at 6:00 PM in the Embers Room. This is still in the planning stages, and there will be more information in the March and April newsletters. If you are planning to attend, please mark "men's supper" on the back of your connection card, so we can compile a tentative number of meals to cook. If you attend or have visited Rolling Plains United Methodist Church, or if you are just looking for a men's group, you are welcome to attend either our Sunday morning breakfast meeting at Tina's in Avondale or the Quarterly Men's Supper in April. All men are welcome! In His Service, Tim Collins, United Methodist Men President

Bethel  Community  Center  Serving  the  Putnam  Community  

Local artist, Mary Ann Bucci, provided a variety of art experiences for the “Express Yourself” time at Bethel for nine weeks this Fall and Winter. Shown above are the Bethel Kids who participated. Their art will be displayed for the month of February at the ZAAP Gallery at 625 Main Street, Zanesville.

Come to the Reception You may, of course, visit the gallery any time during the month of February to view their art, but we hope you will be able to attend the reception on Friday, February 3, 2017 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM to meet the kids and express your gratitude to Mrs. Bucci.  

 

Mission in Motion: South Zanesville Food Pantry The South Zanesville Food Pantry is located within the South Zanesville United Methodist Church building, 53 East Main St. This food pantry serves between 450 and 600 local families per month. Many of the food items and necessity items are provided through the generosity of people within the community.

On the first Friday of each month, participants in the South Zanesville Food Pantry are able to get fresh produce. February 3rd, beginning at 9 AM, will be our next opportunity to go out in the name of Jesus and help to serve the community. In speaking with Joyce Krouskoupf, the Director of the South Zanesville Food Pantry, I have learned they are running low on canned vegetables and soups. In the month of February we will be collecting canned vegetables and soup, as well as necessity items such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, soap, and laundry/dish detergent. Much of what is available in the Food Pantry depends on generous donations. Sunday, February 19th will be our Mission in Motion Collection Sunday! Let’s fill South Zanesville Food Pantry with canned goods, hygiene items, or detergent! Please bring your items to Rolling Plains UMC! If you are available and interested in helping to distribute produce, please contact Joyce Krouskoupf at 740.819.3361.

Advent Conspiracy Totals

Every year I am excited to announce to you just how much you influence the Kingdom of God through Advent Conspiracy. Advent Conspiracy 2016 is no different! In 2016 we chose to work with two amazing projects, both working to give a better quality of life to people. One of the projects was helping to ensure that people in the Philippines receive clean water. Through the provision of clean water, the health of families will increase while the rate of water-borne diseases will be slowed. We partnered with Compassion International to provide simple, highly effective water filtration systems. Together, you supported the H2GO project with $10,000. This equates to 125 filtration systems! Each filter in the system will work for up to 1,000,000 gallons of water. These 125 filtration systems equal 125 million gallons of water! Advent Conspiracy 2016 also partnered with the House of Hope in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, a ministry working to bring hope to children. It is a place where children will be given a safe place to sleep, an education, and now, because of your $11,441.00 generosity, nutritious meals and other needed supplies will be provided. I find myself praying and thanking God that we can never out-give the One who provides everything. All totaled, you gave a little over $21,940! Thank you for giving up something you wanted for Christmas, so families in the Philippines and children in Mexico could have what they need. Nancy Amos, Associate Pastor RPUMC

 

Thank you so much to all the volunteers on the Painting Team. We could not achieve our fresh, new look without you.

Whether you bake, prepare, serve, or clean up for He-Brews Café we want to thank you. Great volunteers make He-Brews Café a wonderful gathering place for us to connect with one another. We still need a volunteer to help in the Café on the first Sunday of the month (9:45 service) and the fourth Sunday of the month (9:45 service). No special skills required. If you are interested, please write “He-Brews Café” on the back of your blue Connection Card. You may also contact Erin Alice at 419-618-3168 or Vickie Franklin at 740-297-1981.

Cross Works Missions in Europe February 2017

A Time for Celebrations

Yes, It’s a Birthday! Praising God for another year of life and the opportunity to celebrate this day with family and friends. It’s been a little difficult accepting the fact that I’m now eligible for Medicare, but after all, it’s just a number, right? I’m excited about the future and very thankful to be in His service. One of my favorite Scripture verses is Jeramiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Only God knows what lies ahead, and I take comfort in knowing that He’s in control and that the time ahead of me is safe in His hands.

Another Milestone… As of February 1, 2017 I have been cancer-free for 5 years. Learning that I had breast cancer was scary. It was difficult for me to face a situation in which I had little control and yet, that was exactly what God intended. I realized that the only way I was going to get through the crisis was to place my complete faith and trust in God. He used the situation to help me understand what it meant to put my trust in Him.

               

February Anniversaries 4 Kang & Chelsie Kim 9 Mike & Jocelyn McFarland Shane & Jen Shipley 12 Gene & Linda Hartman Tim & Debbie Swingle 21 Charlie & Marlene Daniels 25 Bob & Holly Herron 26 Tom & Renee Hammers  

Upcoming Events

KidStuf February 5 – 9:45 PM

• Married People Event February 11 – 7:00 PM

• Mission in Motion

Collection Day Sunday, February 19

• Ash Wednesday Service

March 1 – 7:00 PM •

Holiday Time with Family Feeling very blessed to celebrate Christmas and New Years with family and friends. This year my daughter, Karah, and I went to Cincinnati to spend Christmas with my daughter, Cheryl, and my grandson, Daniel. With very little time state-side, I do appreciate on-line shopping. We enjoyed watching old Christmas movies, playing games, and eating pie and cookies. We attended Christmas Eve services at Cheryl’s church in West Chester, Ohio.

• Safe return to Spain and travels throughout Europe this Spring • Growth in evangelistic ministries at Asociación Vivé , Alcala de Henares, Spain • New opportunities for language learning and practice.

DONATE: ECMI-­‐USA,  PO  Box  2217  Monument,  CO  80132.  (Sharon  Graves  #  4060)   http://www.ecmi-usa.org/get-involved/give/  

February birthdays

2 Joyce Conrad 3 Kyle Ransbottom 5 Beth Jackson 6 Chad Lawson 7 Linda Geyer, Danie Shofter, T.J. Williams 8 Amy Bergstrom 9 Stephanie Browning 10 Missy Beckert, Frank Fazakas, Dianne Murphy 11 Cathy Collins 12 Josh Kerns, Mary Rice 13 Doretta Donley 16 Bob Herron 17 Dustin Daniel, Marilyn Humphrey 19 Denise Hann 20 Becky Clawson 21 Larry Dennis 22 Shaelynn Beisser, Linda Quinn 23 Abby Trout 24 Frances Martin, Cathy Shaeffer 26 Michelle Cockrell, Sandy Miller, Sean Miller 27 Linda Hartman, Angel Kinkle, Becka McConnell 28 Karissa Hann, Bill Paisley  

 

Pray  for…