Linworth United

Methodist Church

7070 Bent Tree Blvd. Columbus, OH 43235

Phone: 614-336-8485

Fax: 614-336-8486

www.linworthumc.org

The Linworth Link Volume 23, Issue 8 August 2016

From the Desk of Pastor Dr. Eugene Folden

August, 2016 Preaching Schedule

August 7 12th Sunday after Pentecost Holy Communion Rev. Curnell Graham 9am —Traditional 10:30am—Contemporary August 14 13th Sunday after Pentecost Rev. Curnell Graham 9am —Traditional 10:30am—Contemporary August 21 14th Sunday after Pentecost Rev. Matt Yoder 9am —Traditional 10:30am—Contemporary August 28 15th Sunday after Pentecost Rev. Curnell Graham 9am —Traditional 10:30am—Contemporary

Dear members of Linworth: 2016 has been a year of tremendous emotional upheaval in our nation and in our world; what wasn’t happening in St. Paul and Baton Rouge and Dallas and Orlando has been happening on an even larger scale and for different reasons in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Istanbul, Baghdad, and now France. Violence is all around us. It barges into a Paris café and shoots people having an evening meal on a warm summer night. It hides in a tall building and shoots police officers on the street below. It takes a taxi to the departures area of the airport and detonates suicide bombs where people are thinking of nothing more than going on honeymoons and taking vacation days and traveling to visit relatives. It walks into a nightclub with an assault rifle and handgun and kills 49 people. I suppose it is the horror that is so stunning to all of us, the unrelenting mercilessness of it, the assumption that the other is always dangerous. And it does not help that this is an election year and that reason and wisdom are in short supply fueling the fires of inhumanity in response to inhumanity. Pope Francis has declared that this is the year of mercy, and he has explained his meaning in a book entitled, The Name of God is Mercy. At one point in his discussion he says,

“Mercy is God’s identity card.” One thing is for sure, we don’t show that card enough. Yet, if we look with the eyes of faith, we can see on the streets of our city every day, random acts of kindness, needful deeds of mercy, thoughtful signs of compassion. This is evident in the person who helps someone get back on their feet after falling on the sidewalk; the person who goes out and does shopping for an elderly person living next door; the police officer who runs into the line of fire rather than away from it in order to stop the madness; the firefighter who runs into a burning building to save a life while putting his or her own life in peril. I want to be a part of that world that Jesus saw where mercy and compassion are enduring and eternal, not the world that Osama Bin Laden saw, or that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of ISIS sees, or the one blinded with hatred that Micah Johnson in Dallas or Omar Mateen in Orlando saw. I want to be a part of that realm where the God of peace and justice reigns, where people of faith look with compassion and mercy on one another, match wisdom and restraint with wariness, and live with more love of others than fear of them. And so I suggest, in this time of unsettling violence in our nation and in our world, that acts of mercy and deeds of

compassion at whatever scale and level are what we are meant to do and how we are called to live as people of faith. We must break down the barriers of stereotyping and false assumptions and act as a neighbor to the one who is other than ourselves. In these unsettling times, you and I must ask ourselves, “What is one thing I can do to promote peace and justice in my neighborhood, school, community, or city? How can I eliminate racist attitudes and prejudices that might have taken root in my own heart and mind? How can I build relationships with people who don’t look, act, or believe as I do? Am I praying for healing in our nation and wisdom for our leaders to address the fear, anger, and divisions that exist in our society?” Through such efforts we will foster reassurance instead of fear, unity instead of division, and reconciliation instead of conflict. As our own Bishop Palmer has said, “We are all children of God, created in his image and likeness, no matter the color of our skin, the country we come from, or the faith we profess.” “Mercy is God’s identity card,” said Pope Francis. Let us show that card in all that we do. Blessings, Pastor Gene

Children’s Ministries

News Alisha Artis, Director of

Children's Ministries (aartis@linworthumc.org)

VBS 2016 "Cave Quest" VBS was a success! 300 kids total and approximately 100 volunteers participated in an awesome week learning about the light of Jesus! The children also raised money for their mission project for the Leukemia/ Lymphoma Society. I am proud to say that our NEW grand total for the project has reached over $2800! Thank you everyone for a wonderful VBS! VBS 2017 is set for July 10-14. Hope to see you all next summer! Children’s Sunday School We are currently recruiting for fall Sunday school teachers/helpers. Sunday school classes begin at 3 year old-6th grade. We will be starting a new curriculum in the fall. No experience necessary! If you are interested and want more information, please contact Alisha Artis. Safe Sanctuary Training There will be a “Safe Sanctuary Training” on September 21 from 6-8pm and November 6 from 11:45am-1pm at the church. Anyone working with the children and/ or youth of LUMC must be trained on this safety policy. This includes, but is not limited to: Sunday School teachers/helpers, youth leaders/helpers, Hilltop tutors, and MOPS childcare. An RSVP will be required and child care available upon request. Mark Your Calendars… -Blessing of the Backpacks and Teachers, 8/28 -Kick Off/Move Up Sunday, 9/4 -Fall Family Fest, 9/11 (4-6pm)

Youth News

Jessica Cavinee, Director of Youth Ministries

(jcavinee@linworthumc.org)

Splatter Park On August 7, we are taking our last trip of the summer to Splatter Park. This is a free event. Please only bring money for extra snacks if you want them or if you would like to make a donation toward extra paintballs. We will meet in the church office at 10:15am. Wear comfortable clothes that will cover your body. We will return no later than 5:00pm. Get Involved! We are looking for adults that love Jesus and love teens. If you are interested in seeing how you can connect to our youth ministry, please get in touch with Jessica. There are LOTS of ways to get involved—making calls, leading a study, going on trips, cooking, driving, praying, and more. Food Distribution On August 18, there is a food distribution in the Hilltop. Youth are invited to come to the church after school to travel down to help hand out food. If you are interested, let Jessica know what time you will be at the church so that she doesn’t leave without you!

Linworth Children’s Center

An Educational Ministry of Linworth United Methodist

Church www.linworthcc.org

LCC will be closed August 8-12 for our annual work week. During work week, we will be setting up and planning for the school year. Also, during this week, all the teachers will participate in training. Fall programming for the full day programs will begin on August 15, and on August 17, part day Kindergarten will begin! Right now there are 245 children enrolled for the school year, which is very exciting! We do have a couple of openings in our 4 year old part day program, so please spread the world! Our summer camp program was a BLAST! All the children had so much fun and we can’t wait for next summer! One of our many highlights this summer was our Camp Store! Each camp room came up with something to sell. Once they decided what to sell, they had to make their product and decide on how to display their items. We had duct tape bookmarks, duct tape keychains, paper airplanes, beaded necklaces, pillows, and yogurt melts. During store hours, the children sold their products to each other. All the money they made was then donated to purchase school supplies for one of the Columbus Public Schools. We are so proud of each camper and their creativity, and, of course, how they were able to give to each other! LCC is hiring full time and part time for the afternoon. If you know someone who is interested, please send them our way!

Adult Small Groups (Call the church office for contact numbers.) Closer Walk The Closer Walk Class meets regularly in room 225 from 9:15-10:15am each Sunday morning to discuss topics of relevance in our faith journey. Call Ken Galloway with any questions. Hand & Foot Card Group Hand & Foot will meet at 7pm on Friday, August 5 in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Esther Hunter for details. IMPACT Group: Claremont Ministry “Building relationships one visit at a time.” The IMPACT Small Group meets several times a month at Claremont. For more details on this active group contact Becki Hollenbaugh. Keen Adult Sunday School This group meets each Sunday at 10am in room 136 of the Fellowship Hall. Class is led by Ed Pollock. Nesters (for Couples with Preschool/Elementary Aged Children) Nesters are on a study hiatus for the summer. Contact Heather Webb or Holly Meister for info on ice cream, movies, and s’mores outings. Peace in the House Peace in the House is a bible based 12-step small group for women. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:00 to 7:15 in the church library. August 3rd and 17th, we will study Step 8; make a list of all persons we have harmed and become willing to make amends to them all. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact is Cathy Christian. Searchers Sunday School This Adult Class meets in room 138 of the Fellowship Hall at 10am each Sunday. Doug Stahle is the coordinator for this group. Women’s Bible Study Come join this group on Sunday mornings at 10am in room 210. Contact Jeanne Byers (leader) for details.

Pastor’s Bible Study Join Pastor Graham on Monday evenings to

continue the study on the book of Galatians. All you need to bring is your Bible. Class starts at 7pm in the Worship Center. Get Involved with Social Concerns Open Shelter & Choices Meals will be prepared at 8:30am and 11:30am on Tuesday, August 9 in the kitchen. Contact Roy or Arlean Sudhoff for details.

Brunch Bunch in August Brunch Bunch will be served on Sunday, August 28. It will be

served from 10am-1pm.

Linworth Knotters The Knotters will resume meeting in August. Meetings for this fall are as follows: August 10, 24; September 14, 28; October 12, 26; November 9; and December 14. The Knotters are still collecting used blankets, sheets, and mattress pads for use in the ongoing sleeping bag project. They can be left in the cupboard across the hall from the office, marked “Knotters.” Contacts are Marilyn Pohlman or Sandy McCall.

School Supply Drive

The School Supply Drive will begin on Sunday, July 17 and conclude on Sunday, August 7. We will be collecting supplies for Brookside Elementary. There will be a bulletin board for you to choose items and return them by August 7. For questions, call Lauri Rowe.

Contacts: Doug Stahle & Chuck Kemp

“If you like Linworth, you’ll love the

Linworthys!” Monthly Luncheon Please join us Tuesday, August 23 at 11:30am for our monthly meeting and luncheon. Our luncheon menu will consist of pizza, salad, and pies. The cost is $6.00, and our speaker will be Bill Northrup with his message, “How to Plan a Trip.” The Linworthys Group The Linworthys’ membership grows every year, and we are always happy to have new people join our group. To join, all you have to do is show up at one of our luncheons (always the last Tuesday of each month at 11:30am), or call Doug Stahle at 614-436-5066. Food Pantry Our food pantry is screaming for help! It seems it has been very difficult to keep up with the needs recently. Items that are most needed are canned meats, honey, and peanut butter; however, any food items are appreciated. The Linworthys’ generosity has always been very much appreciated. Please bring the donated items to our meetings, or just take them directly to the church office. LinWorks Directory The mission of the LinWorks directory project is to promote businesses and services owned and operated by members of LUMC and regular attendees. Examples of businesses and services that can be added to the directory are: Legal, Babysitters, Dog Walkers, Landscaping and Lawn Care, and Life/Business Consultants. Signing up is FREE and reserved only for members of LUMC and regular attendees. Please contact our sponsor, Kirsten Kunz by email at kkunz@thecloseco.com, or phone at 614-209-4389.

Social Concerns Contact: Esther Hunter

Mission Board Meeting Contact: Jane Pierce Next Board meeting is on Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00pm in room 210. Morning Fellowship Circle Contact: Debby

Steele The United Methodist Women Morning Fellowship Circle Fellowship Circles don’t meet over the summer. Next meeting is September 13 in room 210. Evening Circle Meeting Contacts: Linda Higgins/Pam Boh Fellowship Circles don’t meet over the summer. Next meeting is September 13 in room 210. Service Circle Contact: Lea Elshoff Join us on August 26 at 9:00am in the kitchen to help make sandwiches for Faith Mission. Mission Project Help This month we are collecting towels, washcloths, and dishcloths to help those in need. Toilet paper and diapers are always welcome. These items can go to the New Life UMC Clothing Room. Our collection of Campbell’s soup can bar codes, eye glasses, and pop tabs is continuous! Please place all of these items in the UMW - Club 56 cupboard opposite the elevator, or they may be brought to any Circle or Board meeting. Thank you for your ongoing support. UMW Summer Day Apart Everyone is welcome to attend our annual Summer Day Apart from 9:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday, August 20. This year’s topic is hunger and poverty, and our speaker is Amelia Gibbon, Executive Director of the Friendly Center in Toledo, OH. Their purpose state is “No neighbor will go hungry, feel alienated, alone, or powerless.” They operate in a covenant relationship with the United Methodist Women national office and in collaborating with the West Ohio Conference, the Maumee Watershed District, and local United Methodist churches. Our luncheon will be catered

by Freedom a la Cart. Information and tickets ($10) are available in the lobby. Please call Robyn Hahnert (889-6208) or Jane Pierce (433-7187) with questions. Kroger Sign-Up It’s time to re-enroll for the new year of Kroger Community Rewards to help Debt Reduction! To re-enroll your card simply go to: www.krogercommunityrewards.com

Click “Sign-in.”

Put in your email address and password used to enroll your card.

Click on your name at the top right, and scroll to the bottom for Community Rewards.

Put in the group number or part of the name of the organization.

Choose the correct organization.

Click “Enroll.” You are now enrolled for the May 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017 year of Kroger Community Rewards. If you are having an issue with your password and or email address, please call 1-800-KROGERS. Press 5 for customer service, and then press 5 to speak to a customer service representative. If it’s the first time you are registering, you will need to set up your account first.

Simply go to www. krogercommunityrewards.com

Click “Create an account.”

Put in your email address and password. Confirm your password.

Enter plus card OR alt ID number.

Go to Community Rewards (near bottom).

Follow the steps (Name, address, etc.).

Put in the group number or part of the name of the organization.

Choose the correct organization.

Click “Enroll.” You are now enrolled for the May 2016 to April 30, 2017 year of Kroger Community Rewards. Last year we collected $1,141 and, to date, $7,138 has been received for debt reduction! Hilltop Update from Jane Pierce We just had our annual picnic, serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and fellowship to the neighborhood on S. Eureka Ave. We would like to give a hearty “thank

you” to all who helped make it happened. Our next event is the ever-popular “Back to School Haircut Extravaganza!” It’s really cool to see how simple trim can make such a difference in a child’s outlook. We’re not sure who looks forward to the event more: the kids, or the volunteers! The Summer Homework Help sessions are now in full swing. These are more theme-oriented, and concentrate on life skills. Come join us and be a part of a child’s life for a while! See the Sunday bulletin for times and contact information. We continue to make nutritious food available to the residents of the Hilltop through our monthly product distributions. Our next produce distribution is August 18 and 19. Won’t you take some time out of your schedule this summer and help extend the hand of Christian hospitality to those in need? The Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone is once again partnering with Linworth to place mentors with West High School students in the upcoming academic year. If interested, please see Jon Pierce for more information about the project. As you can see, there’s lots happening on the Hilltop, and lots of opportunities to share fellowship, fun, and (sometimes) food! Won’t you join us? Linworth UMC Begins 2016 Habitat for Humanity Project with Hilliard Adopt-A-House On June 25, Pastor Dr. Gene Folden assisted with the dedication ceremony of our first habitat home in 2016. The Whitehead family were in tears as they tried to explain what their new home meant to them. A BIG THANK YOU to Linworth UMC members who contributed almost 200 hours of service to this project! Volunteers are needed to assist with the rehab (no experience required) and to help make lunches for our Saturday volunteers once every six weeks. If you have an interest in volunteering in either capacity, please contact Howard Baulch at howard@hilliardhabitat.org or 614-799-0603.

UMW Women’s Ministries

Laos Linworth is making a difference in the daily lives of people in Laos!! New Stairs Built in Ponsavang, Odomxai Beverley recently wrote: “Thanks God! Just right on time before heavier rain comes. Another stairs completion sponsored by Lao Samphan Methodist Church to the Ponsavang Village in Odomxai province through the donations and partnership of Linworth UMC.” The stairs will make it easier for the villagers to access the Mekong riverbank. From the top of the village to the river, it is over 100 feet high. Boats on the river are the village’s main system of transportation that connects with neighboring villages and the main towns of Luang Prabang and Odomxai. The villagers shared and contributed labor and some of the materials. The contribution of the village was $1200, and Linworth contributed $1400. Dormitory Plans Finalized Thanks to Jim Rosing for completing plans for the dormitory/classroom at the Ponsombon LUMC Center. LUMC staff and pastors met the third week of July to finalize construction plans and estimate costs for the dormitory/classroom. In any case, the project cannot start construction until the rains cease in November. Formal Discussion Begins on Government Church Recognition The first formal discussion about recognition of the Lao Methodist Church took place in June. The officials were cordial and welcoming. They were pleased to be openly engaged and stated that the LUMC application was one of the first. There is still no clear pathway because we are waiting for the release of a new law that will spell out the legal requirements for recognition. The food thing is that discussions have begin and the government knows of our serious and responsible intentions/. Classes Begin at the New Vocational School—Sunbeam Languages Vocational Center July 4, 2016 was the first day of our very first SLVC classes, which consist of English classes. We are fortunate that the new missionaries, Angie and her husband Buboy, are in Laos and

are working for the school. Beverly states, “Our biggest challenge is on promotion. We have to start work now to fill the classes for the fall. There are some additional licenses that we must obtain as well, but we have the go ahead from the Vocational Education Department. “ Outreach and Evangelism Missionary Award Pastor Daniel Yang and his wife will be added to our team in late July. We are looking forward to their arrival and the development of a productive ministry. Beverley excitedly said that “so many things are happening all at the same time—but that is a good thing!

Dates To Remember

Summer Concert Series August 14 - New Basics Brass Band

❆ ❆ ❆ ❆

Mid-Week Check In! The Catch—Wednesdays @ 12:12pm There is no better way to be lifted up halfway through the work week than an inspiring word and prayer. Every Wednesday at 12:12pm one of our Linworth pastors will be live and speaking directly to you about what’s in his heart. Don’t miss it! Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejKKGVhLOzg. From the Legacy Committee Next Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, August 9 at 6pm. Contact is Andy Ahijevych. Dialogue for Change Dialogue for Change is a group committed to creating a dialogue and subsequent action pertaining to the recent acts of violence and growing unrest in our society. Our next meeting will be facilitated by Harris Tay, Dir. of Diversity Initiatives for the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church with special guest speaker Bishop Joseph Sprague at 11:45. If you are interested, please join us on August 1 at 11:45am or 6:00pm at Linworth UMC in the worship center for more information on how to get involved. 40-Day Prayer Challenge Look for more information soon!

Ever Thought About Becoming a Stephen Minister? In John 15:12 (NRSV) Jesus says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Loving and caring for one another when someone is struggling or hurting is not just the pastor’s job—it is something Jesus calls us all to do! Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which people with special gifts for caring can put those gifts to use in an organized way, bringing Jesus’s love and care to those who need it most. Our Linworth United Methodist Church Stephen Ministers will begin training a new class of Stephen Ministers starting in late August. If you have the gifts of listening to and caring for someone going through a difficult time, consider becoming a Stephen Minister. If you would like more information about this important ministry, please contact any of the leaders: Cindy Thornton (614-937-7609), Larry Less (614-397-4104), Pam Boh (614-459-0123), or Pastor Gene Folden (614-406-9231).

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Thank You NOTES

Dear Linworth Staff, Thank you for the wonderful send off into my retirement. Your love and support through the years has meant so much to me and my family. Linworth holds a very dear place in my heart. I will miss you! Cheryl Helenberger To the Staff at Linworth, Thank you so much for the book and necklace. I’ve started to read through the devotional and find it helpful in interpreting His message. I appreciate all that you have done for me and my family! Stephanie George

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Linworth United Methodist Church 7070 Bent Tree Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43235

Connect—Grow—Serve

If you need to reach a leader of

any group, contact the church office

(336-8485).