October 2008

General News

Thank You

To all those who helped,
Thank you all so much for bringing us dinner. All the meals were delicious. It's been a long 2½ months, but I feel better every day. We certainly appreciated the generosity of the church family at WUMC.
– Pam Vaughn

 

Baked Goods are Needed

The Sarah Circle of the United Methodist Women asks for help from the congregation with its baked goods booth at Trifles ‘n' Treasures. Please help if you can. We need all types of baked goods to be delivered to the kitchen opposite the South Fellowship Hall on Friday, October 17 or Saturday, October 18. Please label for Sarah Circle. Thank you.

T 'n' T Sale Day is Just Around the Corner!!!!

The Trifles and Treasures Sale takes place here at our church on the 18th of October in South Fellowship Hall. The Dorcas Circle sponsors this event with the help of all the circles who are part of the United Methodist Women, and with the valuable assistance of volunteers from the congregation at large.

• Time: 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
• Volunteers are needed - - a sign-up table will be available each Sunday until the T 'n' T event.
• Men and strong youth are needed to help with loading and unloading on the Sunday prior to the sale and after the sale is over on the 18, and to man the "small appliance" booth the day of the sale.

All proceeds go to Missions locally as well as to missions nationally and around the world. Some of the local recipients are NNEMAP Food Pantry, New Life Church, Assistance League of Metro-Columbus, South Side Settlement, the United Methodist Children's Home, Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence , YWCA Columbus, WUMC Camper Fund, Youth Work Camp and our WUMC Creative Play Center. Watch for the insert in the Bulletin for information regarding what items are needed for the sale.

Donations Needed for Literacy Council

Rebekah Circle requests your help in supporting their local mission project, the Columbus Literacy Council, by donating much needed supplies. The Council is in need of binders, notebooks, tablets, large binder clips, paper clips (all sizes), dry erase markers/erasers, individual whiteboards, pencils, pens, post-it notes, file folders and labels, colored printing paper, pocket folders, electric pencil sharpeners, highlighters, scotch tape, glue sticks, CD-RWs, and compressed air keyboard cleaners. Supplies may be brought to the church office by Sunday, October 19th. Thank you for your support of this worthy project. For more information contact Carrie Drovdlic, at 614-657-1240 or bobncarrie@webhostsvc.com.

Bishop Bruce Ough Reappointed

Bishop Bruce Ough was reappointed to the West Ohio Area of the United Methodist Church at the Jurisdictional Conference, which was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 16-19. Bishop Ough's third four-year term began September 1. Bishops usually serve an area for only two four-year terms, but may be reappointed for a third term for "missional reasons."

The West Ohio Area is home to 230,000 United Methodists in 1188 congregations, spread over 58 counties, and will continue to have Bishop Ough as its spiritual leader until 2012.

This new assignment was announced by the Committee on Episcopacy of the North Central Jurisdiction just before the conference ended. Jurisdictional Conferences are held every four years to elect bishops and to assign or reassign bishops to the areas of the Jurisdiction. The North Central Jurisdiction consists of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

West Ohio delegates recommended Rev. Greg Stover of the Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church in Cincinnati for the episcopacy. However, Rev. Stover was not elected. Rev. Julius C. Trimble of the East Ohio Area was elected at the Jurisdictional Conference and was subsequently assigned to the Iowa Area.
– Dave Hadley

Save the Date!

October 8 Red Cross Blood Drive Mark your calendars now for our next drive, on Wednesday, October 8, 1:00-7:00 PM. Contact Pat Zimmerman (885-5222) or the church office (885-5365 or mary@worthingtonumc.com), to make an appointment. Let's try to match our July drive of 60 units!

Stephen Ministry Recommitment Service

All Stephen Ministers are invited to attend the Stephen Ministry Recommitment Service, on Monday, October 6, at 7:00 pm, in the Chapel. During this time of worship and Communion, Stephen Ministers have the opportunity to join with others as they offer their gifts of service to this vital program to God and our church. Please join us as we praise and worship God during your rededication to the compassionate and caring service to which you have been called.

Calling All Green Thumbs!

Fall clean-up time is approaching (too soon). There will be a sign-up table in the Ministry Hallway on October 5 for you to join the "Garden Party" scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 8:30 am – 12:00 noon. If we are rained out, November 1 is the alternative date.

Based on a team of 25-30 volunteers, this project can be completed in 3-3½ hours and will be much easier than the spring project. Details of required garden tools will be available during sign-up. Looking forward to the great enthusiasm you expressed during the spring project.

If church members are interested in donating mums to be planted in selected areas, please call Wally Life at 889-0076.

Attention, All Cookie Bakers!

The WUMC traditionally has provided donuts, cookies and coffee to those who will be voting in the precinct here at our church. The Evangelism and Hospitality Committees will be coordinating this project and could use your help in providing the cookies for Election Day. Cookies may be brought to the church kitchen before Election Day, labeled for that use, and preferably placed in disposable containers. Let's share our hospitality with the community in this outreach endeavor.
–Jeanne Line

Hear Talk on Refugees & Immigration, October 19

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35) Did you know that there are millions of refugees who face death and oppression every day and hope for freedom and opportunity? Here in our community we can reach out to help them.

Speaking of Outreach – Did you know that nearly 50,000 refugees were admitted to the United States in 2007? Did you know that there is an established refugee service organization in Columbus that recently helped relocate over 800 persons in the Columbus area in one year? Did you know that this agency works with United Methodists and 6 other denominations through Church World Service to accomplish this important task? The Outreach Committee has arranged for the Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) to share their mission story with us on Sunday, October 19, at 4:00 PM, in South Fellowship Hall.

CRIS representatives will describe their efforts to meet the changing needs of the immigrants who are granted asylum in our community. These immigrants have been driven out of their home countries and need help to build a new and productive life in our community. Please take this opportunity to learn about the role that we, as individuals and a congregation of faith, can play in this effort. Please look for fliers and sign up at the table on Sunday morning to indicate your intention to attend. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

Notes on Our 200th Anniversary

The Seventh (and last) of a series.
After the debts on the Third Church were paid, new challenges arose. Another war, in Europe and Asia, but soon the United States was involved as well. In Worthington, it was a time of rapid growth from war-augmented factories, many people leaving for wartime military service, shortages of many essentials and always a need for the Church to console, sustain and encourage. With the end of World War II, Columbus grew rapidly and the corn fields between it and Worthington disappeared.

In the Worthington Methodist Church (its name at the time), new education facilities were needed and the Buckey addition resulted -- a classroom building attached to the 1926 building. This was named for Rev. Harold Buckey, the pastor at the time who died while serving this church. Then a crisis of a different sort appeared. The old Female Seminary building next door had finally been torn down and a store noted for Sunday sales wanted the land. With fast action under the leadership of Dr. Claude Garrison, we bought the land - and just in time, too.

The old Sanctuary (part of which is now the Potter Chapel) was crowded with three services every Sunday. Some of the overflow sat in the Ladies Parlor (now the Browning Lounge) which was then open to the Sanctuary. One could hear but not see. With Dr. W. Edge Dixon leading us, a new building effort produced the Fourth Church in 1968. This time there was to be no long payment struggle. With help from a high inflation rate, A. E. "Bob" White, who led the building effort, with strenuous prodding (which he supplemented with substantial personal contributions) got that building paid for in seven years!

The congregation grew to a bit over 2000 and, with some additional classrooms and renovations, is now well-served for space. New initiatives, such as the Creative Play Center and the Interfaith Hospitality Network, have been possible. Dr. Dixon's long tenure, by far the longest in this church's history, was followed by Bob Chiles for almost a decade. Now with leadership from Alan Sippel, Heather Moyers, and, recently, David Hoffman, we are able to celebrate our 200th anniversary. It has been a long, and at times bumpy, road. As we write future history, it will be called "current events", but we can look forward with confidence, remembering how far we have come and the challenges that we have faced.
-- Howard Longfellow

A personal note - many thanks for letting me supply these notes. In researching them, I've learned far more than I ever could have found space to write. I hope that they have been enjoyed.
– HL

Walk for Crop on October 12

We Walk Because They Walk - the 30th Annual Columbus CROP Walk will be held on Sunday, October 12. Participating in the CROP Walk or sponsoring a walker is one of the easiest ways to give back to our community and our world. Twenty-five percent of the money raised by the Columbus CROP Walk stays in Columbus. This year the agencies in our community who will benefit are Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Neighborhood Services, Gladden Community House, Eastview United Methodist Food Pantry, Hilliard Community Welfare Council, Broad Street Presbyterian Food Pantry, Westland Ecumenical Pantry, Reynoldsburg Helping Hands, Near Northside Emergency Material Assistance Program (NNEMAP), The Largest Table, and SDA Food Pantry.

The goals set by the CROP Walk committee are to have 100 churches and groups participating, 1,000 walkers and to raise $100,000. Here's the important part: **the goals for WUMC are to have 50 walkers and to raise $3,000**.

The walk starts at Genoa Park near COSI. Free parking for walkers will be provided in a lot at the corner of South Bell and West State Street. Registration will begin at 12:45 pm. There will be music and fun activities during registration. A short welcoming ceremony will begin at 1:30 with the walk stepping off at 1:45 pm. There are two routes - a 1.5 mile and a 2.5 mile - along the Scioto River. The paths are paved and family friendly, easily traversed with a stroller, a wagon or little feet. There will be two water stations, a nurse on site and the route is monitored by a local ham radio group. There will also be snacks available when you complete the walk. Please stop by the table in the Education Hallway to pick up your CROPWalker envelope and sign up to walk. If you'd like to sponsor a walker, a list of the walkers will be posted at the table. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Amy Wingerter - wingertera@insight.rr.com or visit the Columbus Crop Walk Web site.

Support New Life's Winter Coat Extravaganza!

The New Life Clothing Room is an awesome event when we provide coats, hats and gloves for our neighbors in need. Your generous help is needed to meet the huge demand for coats. We are serving many more neighbors in the New Life Clothing Room, so a large response to this event is expected.

Winter coats that are clean, gently-used, with zippers that close and all buttons intact are needed. Coats with hoods in sizes ex-large, 1x, 2x, 3x, and 4x for men and women are in the greatest demand Our neighbors "layer" and prefer a larger coat. The larger size coats are harder to come by so we are particularly grateful for those who choose to purchase new coats in the above sizes. Our supply of men's "toboggans" and gloves is never adequate. Donations of these items would be most welcome. Incidentally, we have more than enough new hats and gloves for women and girls at this time.

Please bring your Extravaganza donations to the wooden clothing boxes, at the North (CPC) entrance, starting Sunday, October 26 through Sunday, November 2. For more information, please contact Tricia Allenby at 614-846-6476, or pallenby@columbus.rr.com. With your continued commitment to this most important service to our neighbors, we will have another very successful Winter Coat Extravaganza. Thank you for caring.

"If you have two coats, give one away." - Luke 3:11, The Message

Book Review: The Cloister Walk, by Kathleen Norris

If you've ever been curious what it would be like to spend time among Benedictines or exploring a monastic lifestyle, you may find a kindred spirit in author Kathleen Norris. A wife, poet and freelance writer with a Protestant background, she decided to become a Benedictine oblate and immerse herself in the cloistered world to study, meditate and pray. In The Cloister Walk, author Kathleen Norris records the day-to-day routine among the Benedictines as well as her reflections on the liturgy and her meditations about daily life. Illuminating the mysterious world of the monastery, Norris also seeks to demonstrate the ways in which deep reflection can bring new meaning to seemingly mundane and secular matters (right down to the importance of the number of cereals available in the monastery for breakfast). The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris is newly available in the WUMC library.
- Reviewed by Kristen Welcome-McKee

Children's Music Ministry

Our Children's Choir Ministry has returned to its regularly scheduled rehearsal day, Thursday. Children's Choirs are open to all children in the church and in our community.

• Bell Choir (3rd Grade – 6th Grade) 4:30 – 5:00 pm
• Children's Choir (Kindergarten – 4th Grade) 5:00 – 5:30 pm
• Choir shirts are $16.00/child.
• Rainbow Singers will begin on Thursday, October 9, 5:00–5:30 pm, in room 312 (Movie Room). This group is open to any child from age 2 up to Kindergarten. Heather Rodwell (hrodwell@wideopenwest.com) is the leader of this group.

It's not too late to get involved. Please contact Gretchen Wessel, at gretchen@kucinski.com, for more information. Join us!

Tips for Worshipping with Young Children

Jesus made a point of welcoming children. He spoke of them as models of faith. Could Jesus possibly have meant the children around you during worship? Of course! Gazing on a serenely sleeping child might fill you with peace. And the toddler who squirms and jiggles with the music might inspire you to express a little more joy in God's love. Here are some ways you can affirm the young children, and their families, who have come to worship in your church.

• Enjoy the spontaneity of children as they respond to the sights, sounds, and actions around them. What's familiar and routine for you is new and exciting for them.
• Expect some questions and confusion.
• Because young children often mimic what they see, hold a songbook and share it with children so they can join in the singing.
• Communicate at the child's physical level. Smile, wave, or talk to them at their eye level rather than from high above.
• Take time to talk to the children, before or after worship, and listen carefully to their answers. Don't feel you have to answer all their questions. Sometimes just hearing them is all they need.
• As you walk to communion, accommodate slower walkers with an inquisitive nature.
• Be ready to help out, especially if a family has several small children.
• Offer to hold or briefly entertain one child while a parent settles another.
• Compliment a child whenever possible. You might say, "I liked sitting by you today. You and I enjoy the same kind of music!"

ARK (a group for moms and kids)

Below is the October schedule for our Tuesday morning ARK group which meets from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. If you would like further information about this group, contact Anne McMullen (614-288-4226 or ahollerbach@yahoo.com) or Denise Kuyper (614-505-1411 or kuyper@spu.edu). Join us!

• Oct. 7: Meet @ the church. Bring supplies for Spa Day. Discussion on self-care.
• Oct. 14: Meet @ the church. Activity: Scavenger Hunt
• Oct. 21: Meet @ the church. Marital Relationships.
• Oct. 28: Meet @ the church. Fall Festival with Kids – Make Halloween treat bags/door decoration. Parents, please bring snack for each child.

Parents' Night Out

Friday, October 17, 6:00-9:00 pm
We're Back!!! Due to the wind storm last month, we had to cancel PNO. Cost is $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child. Kids enjoy games, crafts and a movie while their parents enjoy an evening out. Please make sure your child has had dinner before arriving. We provide a snack during our movie time. Child care is provided through Sitters Unlimited Ltd. and some of our church youth. Contact Linda Kretschmaier (614-885-5365 or ldk@worthingtonumc.com) to make your reservation.

Third Grade Bible Sunday

On Sunday, September 21, the church presented twenty-eight 3rd graders with new Bibles at the 11:00 AM worship service. If your 3rd Grade child was not able to be present for Bible Sunday you may pick up their new Bible in the Children's Ministry office the next time you are at church.

Everyone Can Join 3rd Annual "Trunk or Treat" Fall Festival

Come and join in the fun of our "Trunk or Treat" Fall Festival on Sunday, October 26, 4:00–6:00 pm, in the church parking lot. It's fun for everyone. Adults can join in the fun by decorating the trunk of their cars (not TOO scary, please!), driving to the church parking lot and handing out your candy to the kids as they come by. Kids (& grandkids!) can wear their Halloween costume and bring their candy bucket as they trick-or-treat from trunk-to-trunk in the church parking lot! Invite your friends, too!

If you plan on participating, please arrive no later than 3:45 pm. No need to sign up – just come! We'll have hot dogs, chips and beverages for everyone, and prizes for the best costume and the best decorated car trunk. Anyone can participate; just decorate your car trunk or the back of your van or pick-up and join us in the church parking lot by 3:45 pm. Please make your costume or trunk as kid-friendly as possible, since we do get a lot of small kiddos. We'll also have a few games for the kids and a movie (in case of rain) in Dixon Lounge. Last year we had 20 cars -- let's see if we can double that this year! We'll see you there!

J.A.M. (Junior Active Ministry for 4th, 5th & 6th Graders)

Fall Retreat @ Camp Wesley
Friday & Saturday, October 17 & 18
Cost is $45.00 (scholarship are available so please ask). We will leave the church parking lot at 6:00 pm on Friday and return on Saturday by 5:30 pm. Camp Wesley is located in Bellefontaine, Ohio, about a 45-minute drive from the church. Registration forms and a letter outlining the retreat will be coming out shortly.

Sunday Morning Schedule for Children and Youth

9:00 am Worship
10:10 Sunday School Hour
Youth Sunday School Rooms
11:00 am Worship