Sheridan First United Methodist Church

Chime Notes MAY 2016 Volume LVI, Issue V

WHY AM I HERE? Read Isaiah 43:7

Rev. Carol Fritz I love looking up into the night sky. Millions of bright stars twinkle… and it makes me wonder about life… about creation… about God… about why I am here on planet Earth. Have you ever asked yourself that question, ‘Why am I here?” Most of us have asked that question or will ask that question at some point in our lives. If you had to answer that question right now, what would you say? Asking ourselves this question reveals something very important about us human beings. It shows that we sense… know inwardly, that we have a purpose. Have you ever seen an animal, any animal… cat, dog, bird, lion, bear… wondering about their purpose in life. I don’t think they really ever sit down to wonder about the meaning of life. Granted, you can’t tell what an animal is thinking, but have you ever seen an animal pray, or construct a temple, or make an idol, or kneel in worship? Well, perhaps on Christmas cards, but not in reality…animals don’t do those things. But that is not true of human beings. Every human culture involves the worship of something. Why? The answer is very simple, human beings have a God-given spirit that gives us the ability to know and sense and worship the One who has created us in His image, loves us, and calls us to Himself. Our spirit is no less a part of us than are our minds and bodies. We are really good at feeding our bodies with food and drink and our minds with knowledge. However, we have become so good at ignoring our spirit that we seldom notice its existence. When our spirit does cry out that there is something we need, we try to fill that emptiness with the philosophy, “Eat, drink, and be merry.” We think wealth, power, prestige, or “things” will fill this void. We soon learn that they can not fill the spiritual void in our life. This reminds me of a song that Lori used to sing, “Life without God’s love is like a donut, there’s a hole in the middle of your heart.” Only God can fill that void, the God shaped hole, in our lives. Until we address our spiritual needs, our lives cannot possibly be fulfilled. Isaiah 43:7 tells us that God created us for His glory. In order to live for the glory of God we need to refocus our purpose from self-fulfilling to God-fulfilling. Proverbs 20:27 says, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts.” God uses the spirit He has placed inside us to reveal Himself to us and to reveal our human nature and our need to turn away from trying to find fulfillment through the world and turning to find fulfillment through a personal relationship with God. In doing so we will never again ask, “Why am I here?” but rather live a life of meaning and purpose with the joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing God and fulfilling His plan for our lives.

PLEASE PRAY!! Please keep the United Methodist Church General Conference in your prayers.

Delegates from around the world will be meeting in Portland, Oregon

May 10th – 20th.

The Indiana Annual Conference is June 9th – 11th.

Bishop Michael Coyner will be retiring and a new bishop will be assigned

to our conference.

CALL SUNDAY

Sunday, May 22nd, is "Call Sunday" – a Sunday for all of us (lay and clergy alike)

to remember our call from God to become disciples, leaders, and ministers of the

Gospel.

In our Protestant tradition, we believe in the "priesthood of all believers" and that

by our baptism we are all called by God to various forms of ministry. Those who

are called to ordained ministry are "set aside" for particular forms of ministry, but

all of us are called by God.

The SunFlower Board will meet the 2nd Tuesday each month

@ 7:00 p.m. at the GreenHouse.

May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13,

October 11, November 8, & December 13.

Wednesdays

Tuesdays

SunFlower Pantry at The GreenHouse

Open 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Needed Items:

Toilet Paper

Paper Towels

Kleenex

Mouthwash

Q-tips

Hairbrushes

Shampoo

Women’s Deodorant

Liquid Hand Soap

Liquid Dish Soap

Scrubbers/Sponges

13 Gallon Trash Bags

Bible Studies 6:00 p.m.

Light Supper Provided

Choir 7:05 p.m.

Thursdays

(following learn & play)

& SCS Breaks 12 - 1:00 p.m.

10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Lydia Circle

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month

@ 1:30 p.m. at the church.

All ladies welcome!

Kononia Christou Circle

Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month

@ 7:00 p.m. at a members home.

All ladies welcome!

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CELEBRATING OUR 2016 GRADUATES

Molly Kett, Granddaughter of

Jim & Nita Sweeney

Graduating Senior

from West Springfield

HS, Fairfax County,

Virginia

Patrick Weitzel, Son of

Bret & Angie Weitzel

Graduating Senior

from SHS

Faith DeVaney,

Daughter of

Silas & Kim DeVaney

Niece of

Elaine Cannon

Graduating Senior

from SHS

Samantha Smith,

Daughter of

Brian & Christine Smith

Granddaughter of

Ken & Betsy Bensen

Graduating Senior

from SHS

Jack Critser,

Son of

Tim Critser

Graduating Senior

from Tipton HS

Not pictured:

Christopher Habig,

Son of

Drs. Robert & Elaine Habig

Graduating Indiana

University: Kelly School

of Business

Austin Cooper,

Nephew of

Kelly Etchison

Graduating

Kindergarten from

SES

Joselyn McNutt,

Granddaughter of

Jeff & Shelley Weir

Graduating Learn &

Play Preschool

9:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings

UMYF (Youth in grades 6-12) & Mighty Methodists (Youth in grades 3-5)

meet the FIRST SUNDAY of each month at NOON in the youth room:

May 1st, June 5th, NO meeting in July, August 7th, September 4th,

October 2nd, November 6th, & December 4th

Lock-in December 29th - UMYF only

Sheridan First UMC VBS Monday June 6 - Thursday June 9 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Light Supper Provided

Friday June 10 Pitch-In Dinner 6:00 p.m. Free Concert 7:00 p.m. Slugs ‘n Bugs

Sheridan First UMC VBS Monday June 6 - Thursday June 9 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Light Supper Provided

Friday June 10 Pitch-In Dinner 6:00 p.m. Free Concert 7:00 p.m. Slugs ‘n Bugs

From the Finance Committee

Dear Church Family,

As many of you remember last fall I spoke in front of the congregation and

detailed the financial needs of the church. Well we have completed the first

quarter of 2016 and I wanted to give you an update of where we currently stand.

The following presentation expresses the monthly need ($20,000) and the

operational giving received (those contributions not earmarked for a

Special Fund.)

January February March Total

Need $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $60,000

Amount Received $14,851 $14,625 $12,250 $41,726

Surplus/(Shortage) ($ 5,149) ($ 5,375) ($ 7,750) ($18,274)

So you can see that we have gotten off to a slow start for 2016, the staff have

been very diligent in keeping costs at a minimum, but we are currently running at

a $9,300 negative balance in the general fund. I know it may seem very daunting

to increase our giving, but I am asking you to pray for guidance, wisdom, and

blessings.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

My cell phone number is (317)514-4688.

God Bless,

Tim Bales

Chair Finance Committee

Helen Hamilton 05/01

Kim Snedaker 05/06

Betty Ayers 05/08

Angela Blessing 05/08

Kate Pickett 05/09

Darren Wilson 05/09

Jennifer Guttman 05/10

Linda Stephenson 05/10

Megan Wood 05/10

Pam Brandenburg 05/11

Raegan McMullan 05/11

Rylan McMullan 05/11

Kyle Fox 05/13

Nathan Smith 05/13

Zach Wilson 05/14

Ron Dennison 05/15

Matt Dollard 05/15

Jeanna Pearson 05/17

Grace Manzenberger 05/21

Jim Pickett 05/24

Jenny Wood 05/24

Chris Adams 05/29

Butch Lowder 05/29

Shalyn Burwell 05/30

Sara Berry 05/31

Tom & Jean English 05/05

Rev. Leon & Pam Brandenburg 05/07

Steve & Emily Purdy 05/11

Bob & Kim Snedaker 05/12

Bob & Amy Land 05/18

Steve & Anita Leonard 05/25

Barton & Eva Grinstead 05/31

MAY 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fr i Sa t

1 Graduation Sunday 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship 12:00 p.m. UMYF/MM

2 7:00 p.m. Church Council

3 2 -4:00 p.m. SunFlower Pantry

4 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:05 p.m. Choir

5 10:15 - 12:15 Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club

6 7

8 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship

9

10 1:30 p.m. Lydia Circle 7:00 p.m. SunFlower Board

11 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:05 p.m. Choir

12 10:15 - 12:15 Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club 7:00 p.m. Technology

13

14 7:30 a.m. UMM Breakfast

15 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship

16 7:00 p.m. Trustees

17 2 -4:00 p.m. SunFlower Pantry

18 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:05 p.m. Choir

19 10:15 - 12:15 Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club 7:00 p.m. Kononia Christou

20

21 Mitchell Henderson Memorial Service

22 Choir Sunday 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship

23 7:30 p.m. Fish Fry Committee

24 25 6:00 p.m. Bible Studies 7:05 p.m. Choir

26 10:15 - 12:15 Learn & Play 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Club

27 SCS Last Day of School

28

29 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. Church School 10:00 a.m. Worship

30 Memorial Day

31 Lunch Club 11:30-12:30 7:30 p.m. Finance

1 Lunch Club 11:30-12:30

2 Lunch Club 11:30-12:30

3 Lunch Club 11:30-12:30

4 SCS Graduation VBS Begins Monday June 6!