The Happenings at Pittman Park

Ican’trememberwhereIdiscoveredthefollowinglitany,butitseemsI’mstoppedinmytrackseachtimeIreadit.Asthisnewyearbegins,Ishareitwithyouasasourceforprayerfulself-reflection. ~Bill

A Litany for the New Year

I’d like to walk under the open sky long enough to let the rain fall down on me, or the sun warm my face…

BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME. I’d like to be attentive to the songs of bird and all creatures

who raise their voices to you… BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME. I’d like to have eight, full glorious hours of sleep, to wake

refreshed and new with joy in the morning… BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME.

I’d like to visit those ill and confined who need a smile and touch of human care…

BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME. I’d like to bring healing and peace to the prisoner,

to the stranger, and to the dying… BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME.

I’d like to write a long letter to my friends and family telling each how life is with me, and thanking them for their lives…

BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME. I’d like to be still one evening long enough to see the subtle change

from light to dark as twilight becomes nightfall… BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME.

I’d like to praise you, for all that I’ve been given with all the breath within me…

BUT I HAVEN’T THE TIME LORD, I HAVEN’T THE TIME. O Lord, take from me the burden of rushing through life.

Redeem the gift of time in me… HELP ME LIVE ON YOUR TIME I PRAY! AMEN!

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | PITTMAN PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - JANUARY 2018

Upcoming Church Events • Jan 1st – Office Closed

• Jan 7th –

Remembrance of Baptism Services

• Jan 10th – Wednesday Activities Resume

• Jan 13th – Missions Day 9am – 5pm

• Jan 14th – New Sermon Series begins, Listening for God.

• Jan 15th – Missions Day 9am – 5pm

Partnering with America’s Second Harvest

Food Ministry Moment By Megan Hopkins

Most of the food for Pittman Park’s food ministries is purchased from America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia in Savannah. This food bank distribution center is part of a nationwide network called Feeding America. Through this connection, Backpack Buddies and the Food Pantry are able to purchase food at a steep discount. Michael Moore is one of the church members authorized to pick up food for Pittman Park, and he will tell you that visiting the volunteer-run warehouse on President Street is

an experience like no other. Pittman Park’s food pantry still depends on donations of food from the Church to supplement what they are able to procure from Second Harvest. There will be a canned food collection on February 4, Soup-er Bowl Sunday. To participate regularly with Pittman Park’s Food Ministries, contact Megan Hopkins at 536-7920. Family-friendly and retiree-friendly jobs are available.

Service Weekend

On January 15, 2018 millions will come together to volunteer and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who never stopped asking the question, "What are you doing for others?" The MLK Day of Service is a moment to work together to fulfill King's vision for a better America - it's a day "on" instead of a day off. PPUMC Missions is undertaking a refurbishment of the Lakehouse at the Fostering Bulloch/Broken Shackle Ranch. We'll be stripping wallpaper, painting, and making other general repairs. Both skilled and "less-skilled" participants are welcome. This is an opportunity to serve for those who cannot undertake a long-distance trip while helping a transformative organization in our community. Saturday, January 13th from 9AM – 5PM & Monday, January 15th from 9AM – 5PM. Any time you can give in service this day will be appreciated.

Memory Verse 1 Timothy 4:8 NIrV

Training the body has some value.

But being godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now

living and the life to come

Praying Our Way Forward

Every four years United Methodists from around the world gather for what has become known as “General Conference”. The purpose of this conference is to provide a place for sacred listening, dialogue and discernment for the guidance of our global denomination. For many General Conferences, there have been discussions of the United Methodist Church’s doctrine and polity on human sexuality - especially regarding LGBTQ concerns. At the most recent General Conference in 2016, the Council of Bishops was asked to provide guidance on these matters at a special “Called-General Conference” to be held in February of 2019. In working with this request, the Council of Bishops has established “The Commission on a Way Forward” – a 32 member panel of laity and clergy from across the denomination. This commission will report to the Council of Bishops in late spring of 2018 with their final recommendations. As a part of their work, the Bishops and the Commission asked the entire denomination to be in prayer for a period of 75 weeks. This prayer vigil began in January of 2017 in the North Carolina Conference and will conclude in June of 2018 in the West Angola Episcopal Area. The South Georgia Conference has been asked to particularly focus its prayer during the week of January 14 – 21, 2018. We are asking everyone at Pittman Park to participate. Below you will find a link to a devotional resource for guiding our thoughts and prayers during this important time. Please put this on your calendar and help us be faithful as we pray for God’s guidance in our way forward as a denomination!

Umcprays.org

Thank You! A huge thanks to everyone who made "Jingle Jam: The Big Give" possible! We couldn't have done it without you!

Jingle Jam was a fun event full of Cookies and Hot Chocolate, singing and dancing, games, stories, and lots of laughter. It was a time of learning that instead of getting wrapped up in stuff of the Christmas season, we want to get wrapped up in the idea of generosity and the greatest gift that God gave us, His son Jesus. The main take home point was generosity -- making someone's day by giving something away. If you missed out on this party, you can see the whole video on our Facebook page or by following the link here.

We could not have done Jingle Jam without our middle and high school students. They truly exemplified what the Big Give is really all about, making someone’s day by giving something away. Thank You!

Park STUDENTS

At the start of the Advent season, the entire church came together for some fun at Hanging of the Greens. The church was decorated for the Advent Season, and then we met in the student center for a youth led worship, a fun “Christmas Carol Off”, and we introduced our new series for the youth group for the month of December, “Who Needs Christmas”

“Who Needs Christmas” was a series that explored why we all need Christmas. We learned that Christmas is for everyone, God needed Christmas to show His love for people, and that Christmas is for people who need freedom. This series brought us to an understanding of truly how important Christmas is to everyone, and not just a time to receive things that we want.

Park KIDS Upcoming Series in January 2018

Growing in faith is not something that happens by simply cramming information about the Bible into a child’s brain. The knowledge in their head means nothing if we don’t help kids experience what that knowledge can do in their heart. To experience faith, we want kids to practice their faith and that takes commitment. God keeps all His promises and puts His plans into action. Because God has kept His promises to us, we can make a plan and stick to it. One of the best plans you can make is to commit to an ongoing relationship with Jesus. Commit to practicing faith by reading God’s Word, praying to Him consistently, talking about Him with friends, and living out your faith every day.

January 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

Covenant Renewal 10:30am Services Traditional, Modern, and Park KIDS

Office Closed Happy NEW Year! 6pm Jaywalkers

8am Woody Powell Sharing Group 10am Sewing for Missions 5pm Staff Parish Meeting

6:30pm Choir Practice

7:30pm Praise Band Practice

5:30pm Jaywalkers 10am Primary Purpose

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Remembrance of Baptism 5-7pm Student Ministry

12pm Men’s Devotional 6pm Jaywalkers 6pm Girl Scouts

8am Woody Powell Sharing Group 10am New Morning Circle 6:30pm Boy Scouts 8pm CRU

5:15pm Communion 5:30pm Supper 6:30pm Small Groups and Choir 8pm Wesley

7:30pm Praise Band Practice

5:30pm Jaywalkers 10am Primary Purpose 9:30am AKA MLK Service Day 9-5

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Listening for God Sermon Series 5-7pm Student Ministry

MLK Service Day 9-5 6pm Jaywalkers 6pm Girl Scouts

8am Woody Powell Sharing Group 10am Sewing for Missions 11:30am Susannah Wesley 5pm Cancer Support Group 6:30pm Boy Scouts 8pm CRU

5:15pm Communion 5:30pm Supper 6:30pm Small Groups and Choir 8pm Wesley

10am Amazing Grace 6:30pm Perspectives on Missions 7:30pm Praise Band Practice

5:30pm Jaywalkers 10am Primary Purpose

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Listening for God Sermon Series 5-7pm Student Ministry

12pm Men’s Devotional 6pm Jaywalkers 6pm Girl Scouts

8am Woody Powell Sharing Group 6:30pm Boy Scouts 8pm CRU

5:15pm Communion 5:30pm Supper 6:30pm Small Groups and Choir 8pm Wesley

6:30pm Perspectives on Missions 7:30pm Praise Band Practice

5:30pm Jaywalkers

10am Primary Purpose

28 29 30 31

Listening for God Sermon Series 5-7pmStudent Ministry

12pm Men’s Devotional 6pm Jaywalkers 6pm Girl Scouts

8am Woody Powell Sharing Group 6:30pm Boy Scouts 8pm CRU

5:15pm Communion 5:30pm Supper 6:30pm Small Groups and Choir 8pm Wesley

Repay, Repair, Renew

Capital Campaign Numbers November 30, 2017

142 People Pledged $1,032,809

Number of Pledges Paid in Full 32 Amount Paid in Full $234,250

Number of Non-Pledge Units Contributing 23 Non-Pledged Amount Received $13,136

8 Units Paid over Pledge Amount $24,033

Pledged Amount Given $574,379

Total Received to Date $611,538

59.2% of total pledged

Total Amount Spent from Capital Campaign $191,546

Which includes the Loan Payoff off $144,578

Amount Available $419,991

In a recent meeting, the PPUMC Board of Trustees estimated that we will need approximately $600,000 for our roofing project. This puts us within $180,000 of being able to bring in the scaffolding and start the work. Let’s work together to make this happen as soon as possible!

Prayer Concerns

Please lift up the prayer concerns of our Church Family. If you would like a name added

or removed please call the Church Office at (912)681-3213

Our Church family: Jane Hill, Vicky Simmons, Kathy York, Kathy Kicklighter, Linda Thompson, Gerald Green, David Thompson, Larry Walton, Johnny Parrish, George Sterling, Roy Woodard Other family & friends: Beverly Lucas, Logan Beacham, Cora Speight, Irene Hamer, Glenda Hewitt, Lois McCombs, Jean Edenfield, Hubert Clark, Delma Santamaria, Larry Bishop, Ember Schoch, Sandra Chandler, Dot Williams, Mandy Holsinger, Forrest Ann Anderson, Roy Purvis, Ginger Palmer, Sharon Rollins, Sharron Ward, Debbie Keenan, Lou Gaylor

The Happenings at Pittman Park

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | PITTMAN PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - JANUARY 2018

Sharing God’s Love with Others A Workshop for Caregivers

God’s Visible Angels

Hosted by Guido Bible College

And The Lodge at Bethany

January 20, 2018

For more information or to Register Call (912) 685-2222