Somerset UMC Newsletter - The Messenger

August 2018

Pastor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev Karen K Walters

Somerset UMC

137-141 East Main Street

POB 237

Somerset, Ohio 43783

740/743-1029 - church

740/743-1240 - parsonage

SomersetUnitedMethodistChurch@gmail.com

SomersetUMC.org

Worship @ 8am

Sunday School @ 9am

Worship @ 10am

-1-

Stop Trying to Win Arguments"I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop

arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony sothere won’t be splits in the church. I plead with you to be of

one mind, united in thought and purpose." (1 Cor 1:10)

It seems there is so much strife in today's world! People talkpast each other instead of engaging each other. No one tries tohear the other side – too busy crafting their next argument. Sohere's a radical thought: Stop trying to win arguments.

Instead, make it your goal to love those who disagree withyou. Go for the love, not the win. Jesus tells us love will alwayswin; he guaranteed that when he walked out of the tomb.

When you find yourself in an argument with other believers,use these biblical guidelines for getting along:

Let mercy guide your response(Proverbs 3:3–6). In a conflict, most of ussay we only want what’s fair, but God’sapproach isn’t about being fair. It’s aboutgrace and mercy (Romans 5:8).

Let God determine the truth (2Corinthians 13:8). The truth is notdetermined by your thoughts or feelings (1John 4:1) or the opinions of others. Truth iswhat God says it is; he is the sole authority for interpreting anysituation (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The Bible says we shouldn’t rely on our own understanding(Proverbs 3:5), that what appears to be right to us may very wellbe wrong (Proverbs 14:12).

Look for God’s presence (Matthew 28:20). Satan wants usto believe we’re in the battle alone. Follow the example of the

-2-

young shepherd boy, David, who believed God was in the fightand the battle belonged to the Lord (1Samuel 17:47).

Look for the conflict’s true source(Ephesians 6:12). According to God’sWord, we’re really not fighting otherpeople; our real enemy is Satan and his“unseen spiritual forces of wickedness.”

Lay down human weapons (2Corinthians 10:4–5). When we try to meetour own needs, working independently of God, we tend to usewhat the Apostle Paul called weapons of the flesh. Theseinclude: manipulation, gossip, slander, ridicule, threats, blame,nagging, deception, and silence. When we use them, we end upin an “evil for evil” cycle, and that’s like trying to fight a skunkwith “stink” — everybody loses!

Learn to use spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4). TheBible tells us prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon. After weput on the whole armor of God, we’re to “pray in the Spirit onall occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians6:18).

If you have a conflict with another believer, what shouldyou do today about it?

'One great power of sin is that it blinds men so that they do notrecognize its true character. - Andrew Murray

'

Yard SaleSomerset UMC is having a Yard Sale! The only way this

will be a success is if you bring in gently used items to be sold.

-3-

Please price your items - you have thebest idea what they should be sold for.All proceeds go to replacing the churchroof.

We will receive items for the sale andset up Monday through Wednesday,9am-6pm. Please consider helping set up.

The yard sale itself is Thursday andFriday, 8am-6:00pm and Saturday, 9am-3pm. We will needfolks to help out - answering questions, checking people out,bagging items.

Thanks for your help making this a success!'

Ice Cream SocialVarious folks have been missing the

ice cream socials and the chance tosocialize with friends over somehomemade ice cream. To help draw morefolks into the yard sale, we're having thesocial during the yard sale. Those whowouldn't come to a yard sale will come get ice cream and thosewho wouldn't go to a social will come to the yard sale and getsomething while there.

The ice cream will be made Wednesday at 3:00. If you can'tbe there at that time, please drop off your ice cream freezer (andcome after work). We also need gallon sized plastic containersto store the ice cream in. We're serving ice cream three days sowe needs lots of freezers and lots of containers. If Thursdaysales indicate we need more ice cream made, we'll make moreon Thursday.

Be sure to stop by for lunch and dinner Thurs-Fri and get asandwich and ice cream! '

-4-

Kroger Plus CardThe Kroger Plus Card you have probably had for years will

not only give you discounts on food and gasoline purchases butcan also give a cash reward to Somerset UMC of up to 5% ofyour purchases and it costs you nothing.

All you have to do is register yourKroger Plus card with Somerset UMC.It's simple and takes just a few minutes.Please note: this must be renewed eachyear. There are only a couple of folkscurrently registered.

How to connect your Kroger PlusCard to Somerset UMC:

Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and yourinternet connected. If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card,they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.

Connect to Kroger.com. If you have an account, sign in. Ifnot, create one. Then click on Community then CommunityRewards. You can search for Somerset UMC or (easier) use thenumber: 72634

Now each time you swipe your card, Somerset UMC willreceive a donation. Some churches have raised as much as$10,000/year through this program so thank you for supportingyour church in this way!

If you have trouble with this, come in to the office and we’llhelp you register your card (be sure to bring it with you!)

'

Whatever we leave to God, God does and blesses us'

-5-

Evangelism GoalEveryone at SUMC is challenged to

pray for at least one unchurched person forat least one minute every day at 1:00 pm. If

you cannot possibly pray for one minute at 1:00 pm, you maywant to choose another time. The important thing is to pray!After you’ve prayed for a person for a few weeks, considerinviting them to worship with you.

'Sunday SchoolSunday School is at 9:00 am for all ages. We have classes for kids, teens, adults and senior adults. Pleasecome, dig into God's Word and enjoy some warm fellowship!

'

It is such a folly to pass one's time fretting, instead of restingquietly on the heart of Jesus. - St. Therese of Lisieux

'Back to School

School begins on Wednesday, August15. Please be in prayer for our teachers,students and bus drivers. Watch for kidscrossing streets or waiting by the road.

'

Begin by thanking Him for some little thing, and then go on,day by day, adding to your subjects of praise...until you see ineverything some cause for thanksgiving. - Priscilla Maurice

'

-6-

WorshipSomerset UMC offers two worship

services. So we may offer the mostchoice and appeal to the most people,these services are different. The 8:00 am service focuses on theWord – scripture is read, prayers are prayed and the Word isexplored through a sermon. The focus is on the Word and isvery traditional in nature. Someone asked if anyone knew of aworship service that doesn’t include karaoke. The 8am serviceis that service.

The 10:00 am service is a family oriented service. There isa lot of music – sometimes the choir and sometimes someonefrom the community - and always a lot of congregationalsinging of traditional hymns and contemporary music. JrChurch is offered during this service for kids 3rd grade andyounger. We also pray, read scripture and talk about how toapply scripture to our daily lives. Various media is used.

Prayerfully consider which service is most like how youworship at home and choose that service. Then invite a friendor family member to come to the service that is most helpful totheir family.

'Library

The church library is now located in the Esther Room –front of sanctuary, pulpit side. There is anamazing array of books there. Some arereference if you’re looking to research aparticular things from the Bible. There arealso a lot of books to read for pleasure. Checkit out – there’s something there for everyone!

'

-7-

Sound SystemThe sound system in the sanctuary

is being updated! The new is beinginstalled alongside the old so there willbe no interruption in our being able tohold services in the sanctuary. Soon,we'll have a new system which wethink will permit folks to hear muchbetter than now. We appreciate Patrick Callahan who sofaithfully keeps our sound and media running each week. It's nosmall thing he does for us, adding much to our worshipexperience! Thank you to everyone who's contributed to thisendeavor!

'Nametags

Please remember to wear your nametag. We did a good jobfor a couple weeks and then ... not so much. It really does help

people know who you are. We thinkeveryone knows who we are but they don’t.It’s a good way for us to get to know eachother and become a family. If you do nothave a nametag, please let Kim know at743.1029. Thank you!

'

Steps to a Friendlier Church (G.I.F.T. Plan)If we want to grow as a church, we need to be a friendly

church. We often have guests Sundays. Sometimes they comefor a few weeks and then disappear. That happens when they donot have friendships strong enough to look forward to come andsee their friends.

-8-

Genuine friendships are becomingmore rare – and thus, of greaterperceived value – than any otheraspect of modern church life.

No church is automaticallyfriendly. Especially not to outsiderscoming in.

Friendliness is not automatic. Some people are so busy, theyjust don‘t take time to be friendly. Some people are very shyand so being friendly is a big hurdle. We don't developrelationships without being very intentional about it. Even inchurch.

The good news is most people who attend church do so forspiritual reasons. But the reason they choose one church overanother church is often about personal relationships.

People usually visit a church because a friend invited them.And when they choose to stay it’s because they’ve made friendsthere.

Friendly Churches are no mistake. It’s often easier to find achurch that preaches the Bible, has good worship and offersexcellent child care than it is to find a church where we canmake genuine, lasting friendships.

If we want to bring people in and keep them coming tochurch, we need to turn up the friendliness quotient.

Every week GREET someone you’ve never met before. Getout of your comfort zone. Find someone whose name you don'tknow and learn it. Welcome them if they're new. Discoversomething about them. Get to know them if they've been aroundfor a while, but you just haven't met yet. Or offer to sit withthem if they came to church alone.

INTRODUCE people to each other. After meeting someone,make sure they meet others, too. Connect people who have

-9-

something in common. Introduce a first time guest to the pastor.A young person to a youth leader. Kids and their parents to aSunday School teacher. And so on.

FOLLOW UP on someone you met recently. Find thatperson you met a week or two ago and say 'hi' again. Call themby name. Make sure Kim has made them a nametag. Engage infurther conversation. Include them in your group of friends.

THANK someone who did something you appreciate. Everychurch has people who volunteer their time and efforts withvery little, if any appreciation shown to them. Maybe shareappreciation to a Sunday School teacher for encouraging yourchild to read their Bible. Encouragement costs nothing, but isworth a great deal.

Imagine a church in which everyone Greeted, Introduced,Followed Up or Thanked someone every week.

'Adopt a Student Janice Coleman

Great idea I saw for this year atschool! We need God for sure andstarting with prayers and a book isalways a blessing. Thanks inadvance for any help. Janice

Hey friends!! Want to sponsorone of my students?

This year one of my goals is foreach of my students to have someone who is praying for themthroughout the school year. I would love to have some of myfriends PICK A NUMBER (1- 17) and sponsor a student in twoways.

One way would be to pray for this student at the beginningof the year, as well as throughout the year. Pray for them aboutschool and their home life.

-10-

The second way is through a book for their first day ofschool. These students will be blessed when they walk to theirdesk on the first day of school, open a book, and read anuplifting and encouraging note from someone sending themwell wishes. I hope it will always be a reminder they areimportant and loved. I can help you with suggestions for anappropriate book. Some of these students never receive booksas gifts or have books of their own.

If you would be willing to sponsor one of my kids bypraying for them and supplying them a book for the first day,choose a number. If we can get all 18 numbers, that would beawesome!

Please know I can’t give you the actual name of the student.Once we get the numbers taken care of I’ll be in touch on

how to get books to me for these children!! Thank you inadvance!

Teachers- take this idea and run with it!! Æ Æ Fill theseschools with children who are prayed for and believed in!

'How beautiful a day when kindness touches it.

'Missions Update

Thank you for all the schoolsupplies you donated for the FoodPantry in June and July. This willcertainly help the students in ourcommunity as they head back toschool in two weeks.

During the months of August andSeptember we will collect kitchenitems for the Food Pantry. New or

-11-

gently used items like pots and pans, dish towels, silverware,dishes, etc. are welcome.

The Saturday Sewing group is NOT meeting in August. Their next meeting is September 8. Mission and OutreachTeams will be after church on August 19.

'

Newsletter ArticlesPlease turn your newsletter articles in

to Kim Danison by August 27. If you’rea teacher or leader, send an article.Thanks for helping to make TheMessenger more informative and helpful!If you are receiving the newsletter and nolonger wish to, please email the office.

'Acceptance

The current theme for the United Methodist church is “Openhearts...Open minds... Open doors”. This reminds us to love andaccept others just as Jesus did.

'Seems God is looking for more ways to get us home than forways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who cameto God seeking grace and did not find it. Max Lucado

'Help the Pastor

As you probably know, hospitals no longercall a pastor when you are admitted. If you’readmitted to the hospital, please have a familymember call the pastor (in most cases, a chaplainwill call for you too). There is no other way forthe pastor to know you are in the hospital, unless you call. It is

-12-

helpful as well to let the pastor know when you’re released - atrip to a hospital following your release takes time away fromhelping someone else.

If you’d like the pastor to make a call, please mark theattendance pad or call the office to schedule.

'

The family that prays together, stays together.'

CommunionWe will celebrate Holy Communion onAugust 5th. Thank you to our CommunionSteward, Sharon Wise, for faithfully preparingCommunion for both services each month!

'Jr ChurchThank you to everyone who volunteers toprovide Jr Church for our children. It is awonderful ministry to our youngest ones!Please sign up if you can help out!

'WorshipThank you to those serving in worship this month:John Bope & Paul Shaeffer families ~ UshersJoyce Wilson ~ GreeterFlowers - Aug 12 - Kevin & Jeanette Snider

Aug 26 - Randy & Teri Painter'

Certified Lay Ministry Academy Feeling called to go a bit deeper in your service? This fall

the Lay Servant Basic Course will be offered.

-13-

The deadline for registration for the class is Sept. 4 Intro to Lay Ministry ~ BASIC COURSE

Friday, Sept. 28-Saturday, Sept. 29Marietta Christ UMC, 301 Wooster St.

COST: $ 25.00The first step toward becoming a Certified Lay Servant

starts with Basic Training. Sessions are held from at 7:00-10:00p.m. on Friday with registration at 6:00 p.m., then continuing onSaturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Youmust attend both the Friday evening andSaturday sessions to receive credit forthe class. Class materials will be mailedto registered/paid participants about 2weeks prior to the event. Lunch will beprovided by the church.

This course is foundational for allcourses in lay servant ministries.Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personalspiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importanceof exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders,remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being partof a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship.

The 10 segments of the training will provide an introductionto the basic areas of ministry in which Lay Servants may becalled upon to serve: “Ministry of the Baptized”, “Leading”,“Caring”, “Communicating”, “Into the World”. There will be atime of sharing by class participants and the Lay Ministrycommittee members.

The District prefers you register and make payment onlineat the Foothills District Website -www.foothillsdistrict.org

-14-

-15-

-16-