July 2017 Circuit Rider

Plainfield UMC Community Fish Fry July 28-29 Plainfield United Methodist Church 600 Simmons Street ¡ Plainfield, IN 46168

A LETTER FROM PASTOR CHARLIE Got Questions?

A few months ago, I wrote about young children’s questions. It seems they continually ask all kinds of questions to learn about the world around them. Studies and surveys suggest that fouryear-old children ask about 200 questions each day. Wow. When you’re in a position to answer a child’s questions, you can find yourself discovering some of your own assumptions and beliefs about the world and how it works.

That may serve as an occasion to re-examine your own thinking.

Questions Always Prompt Learning.

I’m grateful for the tradition of our United Methodist Church that honors and allows for our honest questions, even doubts.

Some fellowships press for deep and complete agreement on a long list of ideas as a qualification for admission.

John Wesley set the tone for the 1

“people called Methodist” when he said in reference to others who were not in full agreement with him, “If your heart is as my heart, then take my hand.” He also advocated for unity in essentials, tolerance in non-essentials, and love in all things. The lordship of Jesus Christ is essential for us.

PUMC is a safe place for questions.

As adults, we all continue to have questions ourselves. Some of our most insistent questions cannot be answered by Google, Bing, Siri, or Alexa. PUMC is a safe place to ask questions, even express doubts. We are an accepting community that strives for honest, loving dialogue (Christian Conferencing).

Our questions are our best opportunities to learn and grow.

We aren’t the only ones with questions. Jesus had them, too.

Questions for those around him, for those who wanted to be his followers, and for us. I’ve begun to search for the questions Jesus asked and mark them in my Bible. pumc.org

There are many more than I would have guessed!

Got Questions? So did Jesus.

Discover the questions Jesus asked.

In the last four Sundays of July, I will be exploring some of Jesus’ questions in a worship series entitled, “Got Questions? So did Jesus. Discover the questions Jesus asked.” The questions Jesus poses to us will stretch our minds and our hearts. Struggling to discover the answers will grow us in many ways and yield rich lessons. That seems to be the way good questions work.

Here are the four questions Jesus asks which I’ve chosen to explore in my messages this July.

• July 9: “Can you see anything?” from Mark 8.

• July 16: “What do you want me to do for you?” from Matthew 20.

• July 23: “Why are you afraid?” from Matthew 8.

• July 30: “Do you want to be made well?” from John 5.

Take your questions to trustworthy friends and to Jesus.

It’s safe to wonder and ask. As you ponder and wrestle with the questions Jesus asks of you, you may discover some of the best lessons of all.

Go in peace. God with God. And be well.

Shalom,

Serving the Children of Plainfield

600 Simmons Street Plainfield, Indiana 46168-2264 Telephone: 317.839.2319 Sundays Classic Worship: 8:30, 9:50 & 11:00 a.m.

NewDay Praise Worship: 9:50 a.m.

Youth Worship (grades 6-12): 9:45 a.m.

Bible Explorers (grades K-5): 9:45 a.m.

Office Hours: 8:30a.m. – 3:30p.m. (M–F)

Table of Contents Senior Pastor’s Letter Got Questions? 1 Classic Worship Notes 3 Newday Pastor’s Letter The Hacked Life 4 Children’s Ministry 5 2017 Youth Auction 7 The First 100 Years 8 Worship Arts 9 Mission News 10 Church Council Report 12 2017 PUMC Fish Fry 13 Notes to the Congregation 14

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JULY Classic Worship Highlights

8:30, 9:50 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary Classic Worship makes a small change in its schedule this month, starting with the first Sunday of July. On July 2, 11:10 a.m. Classic Worship will move its start time to 11:00 a.m. The hope is that this makes it easier for 9:45 a.m. Sunday School participants to attend without the long wait between these two events, and that concluding before noon each Sunday, more people will find this hour of worship an attractive option for their weekend schedule.

Please share this info with your friends and family, and invite them to join you for worship!

Got Questions? So did Jesus. Discover the questions Jesus asked.

The questions Jesus poses stretch our minds and our hearts.

Struggling to discover the answers will grow us in many ways and yield rich lessons. You are invited to “Got Questions” in Classic Worship in July: • July 9: “Can you see anything?” from Mark 8.

• July 16: “What do you want me to do for you?” from Matthew 20.

• July 23: “Why are you afraid?” from Matthew 8.

• July 30: “Do you want to be made well?” from John 5.

Classic Worship Schedule Change On Sunday, July 2, you can expect to find one small change in the Sunday morning Classic Worship schedule. Starting on the first Sunday of July, 11:10 Classic Worship will begin at 11:00 a.m. This will mean a shorter wait time for 9:45 Sunday School participants who want to attend the third hour of Classic Worship, and since worship will now conclude prior to 12-noon, it may be a more attractive option for worshipers who have lunch or afternoon plans.

Please share this news with friends and family and invite them to join you for worship!

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A LETTER FROM PASTOR ELIZABETH The Hacked Life Who doesn’t love a good life hack? We are all in search of tips, techniques, secrets and shortcuts to make life easier. Entire websites are devoted to life hacks; our social media streams are full of them; and we tell our friends and families about the ones we’ve tried - and that really work!

One of my personal favorites is ‘chip clips’ made from the clips on ready-wear pants hangers. It seemed at one time that we could never find a clip to close a snack bag, but no more!

With little more than a minute’s work with a saw or tin snips, we make two clips out of each hanger that comes from the store. Now we never lack for a ready chip clip!

Serving the Children of Plainfield

Are there spiritual life hacks?

Are there tips and shortcuts to make the spiritual life easier, more meaningful, more vital and impactful? Life with Jesus does not have to be complicated nor burdensome.

The Bible gives us some clear, concise words to guide and grow our spiritual lives. And there are tools and techniques for incorporating more of Jesus into our everyday lives.

Join us in NewDay Praise Worship starting Sunday, July 16, for “The Hacked Life” featuring fun life hacks, good music and coffee, and some helpful words from Jesus about living for and with him.

Blessings,

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Children’s Ministry Amanda Norton, Director, anorton@pumc.org

BOOT Camp

help students remember just how amazing it is to be on God’s team!

A BIG thank you, to all the volunteers and Adult Sunday School classes that worked hard to make this event a huge success!

Your passion and dedication to the children is outstanding and greatly appreciated!

Vacation Bible School 2017 The “Armor of God” Vacation Bible School was an energy-filled, exciting week! The students and volunteers had a great time learning about the Armor of God, dancing with glow sticks, bouncing in inflatables and creating crafts!

We left the week with new friends and a better understanding of Ephesians 6:14-17.

14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “I am a child of God” and “God’s love is relentless” are just a couple of phrases that were emphasized to 5

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2017 Vacation Bible School

Serving the Children of Plainfield

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6th ANNUAL

Plainfield United Methodist Church Youth Online Auction It’s still not too late to donate to this fun, online auction that supports PUMC youth ministry and mission! Auction forms are available at the Welcome Desk in the south lobby at PUMC and in the church office. You can also go to www.pumc.org and find the tab “ministries” and click on “Youth Auction 2017” to obtain an auction form. Thanks to our church family, friends and business supporters for a wonderful variety of items we’ve received to bid on for the upcoming online auction.

When this article went to print we have a variety of popular gift cards and gift certificates to hotels, restaurants and stores. Homemade cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies, and cream puffs will satisfy those with a sweet tooth. Need an awesome casserole for dinner or homemade pizzas?

The list goes on and on with many handmade items donated by our talented members and friends.

Bidding Information: Auction open for bidding starting on Friday, August 25 and remains open through Monday, September 11.

Get ready to point, click and bid!

• Go to http://www.biddingforgood.com/pumcyouth or to the Plainfield UMC App (available from the app stores), • Check out all the PUMC online auction items.

• To bid, register your payment information on this secure website.

• Bid, bid, bid 24/7 until the auction ends on September 10.

To make a difference in the lives of young people and those they serve in mission, please point, click and bid. Spread the word and tell your friends and family about the PUMC Youth online auction.

Your support makes a difference!

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The First 100 Years

by Marge Welker

You may already know that on July 17, 2017, I will be 100 years old!!

My four children will present a celebration party on Sunday the 16th in Clayton Hall at 2:00 p.m. and lasting until 4 p.m. All of you are invited!

There is not enough room here to talk about all my life’s experiences, but here are a few: • I began collecting shoes in high school. I now have 937 shoes from 35 different countries. My first shoe program was called “God’s Walking Shoes.”

Dr. McMahon gave me the title. I gave this program to the Plainfield UMC Women’s Group, the Rachel Circle.

• Later I gave a hat program called “Hats on Parade – Treasures of the Past.”

I used 25 of my 90 hats for this program.

• Next came a flag program. I have received several awards, one of which is the W P Woods Fellow Award, which is the highest award for Lions Clubs in Indiana.

There have been many ups and downs through my 100 years, but God has helped me through them all! Let me leave you with a Bible verse, Job 32:7 (KJV).

“I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.”

See you on July 16!!

Serving the Children of Plainfield

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Handbell Choir News Lynn Blosser, Director, lblosser@pumc.org

President John F. Kennedy proclaimed the ringing of the bells nationwide on Independence Day, July 4, 1963, with the words, “Let’s ring freedom bells.” What a great idea! Let’s ring bells to celebrate our 241st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

But there is an even greater independence that we celebrate – the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who brought freedom from death and the gift of eternal life to all who believe.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 So, pick up a bell and ring for Jesus!

FREE COMMUNITY CONCERT “FISH FRY SATURDAY”

SANCTUARY • SATURDAY • JULY 29 • 7:00 P.M. 9

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Mission News

Ruth Ellen Stone, Committee Chair, missions@pumc.org

PUMC Homeless Outreach Continues to Show God’s BIG Love Each Monday a faithful team of PUMC servants gather to prepare a home-cooked meal and then head out to distribute to the hungry in Plainfield and the homeless on the streets of Indianapolis. Sandy Galyan, a veteran homeless outreach servant, shares the following after one recent Monday evening….

“Last night God showered us with blessings at every turn of our journey. It was an incredible night and an example of the teachings of Jesus Christ. The more we gave to people in need the more we were blessed. The evening was mild with a rather strong but refreshingly clean breeze. At Willard Park we were greeted by hungry people and fed a lovely family with several children and then fed three more people under the bridge nearby.

Our visit to the river was interesting. We were all out of the van when 4 police cars showed up so we began getting in the van so as not to interfere.

They said we were fine and so we continued to serve those present. After we finished handing out food, we moved on to downtown and feeding along the streets. We headed to the park and found so many people in need of food.

There we encountered a lovely lady named Elizabeth who asked if she could pray. She waited patiently while we finished handing out food and various items. Elizabeth came to the van, we bowed our heads and what a prayer!

Serving the Children of Plainfield

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There was no mistaking her words of praise for God’s blessings upon us for the ministry of Jesus that he has called us to do. I felt it was God’s way of encouraging us to continue with his work despite the group changes and challenges we are facing. I spoke with Elizabeth and then got back in the van.

All four of us in the van were speechless and just put our hands together in silence. Each one of us was a bit different and more deeply in love with our Savior. What a joyful evening!”

PUMC’s Homeless Outreach is seeking adults to join the team on a regular basis. To learn more about how you can help serve the hungry among us and on the streets of Indianapolis, please contact Don Sanders through the church office or Pastor Ken Loudenback at kloudenback@pumc.org.

Back Packs for the Homeless One of the mission projects being emphasized at the recent Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church gathering was donations of back packs for use by area homeless. PUMC was one of the churches providing a back pack filled with useful items for either a man or a woman who is currently without a regular place to live. These will be shared with various ministries to the homeless throughout Indiana. Seeing the piles of back packs as they accumulated was a good visual 11

symbol of sharing God’s Big Love with persons in our state. Thank you!

Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House PUMC recently received a thank you note from Ronald McDonald House expressing appreciation for the latest delivery of aluminum pop tabs from the church. Pop tab dollars are used to help defray the operating costs of the House so it can continue to provide a supportive home-away-from-home for families of children receiving medical care at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health and other area hospitals. Over one billion pop tabs have been donated in the 20 years since the program began, generating over $750,000 in pop tab revenue for the House. Don’t throw them away! Bring them to PUMC and place them in the large jars on the Collection Center near the church office. Learn more at rmhccin.org/how-you-can-help/waysto-donate/pop-tabs/.

Visit Africa University PUMC has supported Africa University (africau.edu), located in Zimbabwe, for many years with funding for scholarships and other needs as it developed in the last 25 years. Currently there is a trip being planned in the fall of 2018 which will allow persons to see the facilities, meet students, talk with faculty and other leaders (continued on page 11)

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find suitable employment. There will be a need for improvement of the university, participate in Africa University worship, and visit to the physical facilities for these new uses. Indiana Conference of other mission stations in the area The United Methodist Church is which help one know working on a fund-raising effort the great importance of Africa to provide the needed financial University for the students, as resources for these improvements well as their communities and as well as other needs of the countries.

Academy. Read more at umc.org/ news-and-media/commentary-newTotal cost of the trip will be directions-for-operation-classroom. $3800-4200, determined as the plans are refined. Specific dates (late October/early November Church Council Report 2018) will be known soon. Bonnie Nikki Shoultz, Committee Chair, Albert, experienced mission and churchcouncil@pumc.org work team leader, will be designing The PUMC Church Council did and leading the trip. Opportunity not meet in June. The Council will to visit Victoria Falls and take a game trip may be available as an meet next on July 19, 2017, 7:00 add-on to the basic trip. p.m.

Thank you for your ongoing If you would like more information about this trip, please prayerful support of the ministry contact Mission Committee Chair and mission of the Church Ruth Ellen Stone through the Council and PUMC. church office. (continued from page 10)

Operation Classroom Plans for the future of Operation Classroom are become more clear. There will be an Academy using the facilities of Tiaima School in Sierra Leone. That is the school which PUMC had been supporting in the previous configuration of Operation Classroom. This Academy will include an educational component, a job training component, and an entrepreneurial component with the general goal of making it possible for many more persons to Serving the Children of Plainfield

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2017 PUMC Annual Fish Fry The 2017 PUMC Annual Fish Fry is July 28 and 29!

There will be sign-ups for fish fry volunteers in the main lobby at PUMC on Sunday mornings July 2, 9, 16, and 23. Please stop at the tables to learn more and find a place to serve!

PUMC’s annual fish fry is one of the biggest outreach events of PUMC each year. We welcome thousands of neighbors and friends, serve tons of food, and the profits all support missions both near and far. Sunday School classes, youth groups, the Missions Committee, and other groups directly benefit from volunteering for this event. We are proud of the nearly 200 volunteers each year who participate by baking desserts, frying fish, serving the main line, and so much more.

From humble beginnings of welcoming home troops from WWII, this annual event has been embraced by the entire Plainfield area community.

Please plan on enjoying the good food and hospitality with us at this year’s fish fry.

Todd Sprinkle, First Chair Jane Iles, Second Chair Rich Philip, Third Chair 13 pumc.org

Ways to Connect eNews from PUMC Visit www.pumc.org to sign-up for free weekly eNews and digital delivery of the monthly newsletter, “The Circuit Rider.”

Follow PUMC on /PlainfieldUMC /NewDayPraise /PUMCBibleExplorers PUMC weekly sermons available in the Plainfield UMC App. Bible Reading Plan available in the Plainfield UMC App.

Ways to Give Give in person in worship on ACH Sunday morning.

IN-PERSON

CASH/CHECK

ONLINE SECURE

ACH AUTOMATED

ONLINE

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Online at pumc.org or via ACH SecureGive on your mobile device.AUTOMATED SECURE

BANK DRAFT

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Phone Brenda Barnett in the Church Office to set up, 317.839.2319.

BANK DRAFT

Give through the Plainfield UMC App. Get the app on your mobile device at pumc.link/getapp

In the Hospital this Past Month • Marcia Rodarmel • Lou Sullenger • Mel Low • Dorothy Meyer • Jim Bell • Bill Ware • Anthony Swinger

Serving the Children of Plainfield

May Prayer Blankets • Sharon Williams from Meriam Hester with prayers for peace and comfort.

• Sue Beurskens from Norm and Mary Geible with prayers for healing and peace as she deals with cancer treatment.

Love & Sympathy • Doug Morris, family, and friends on the death of his father.

Notes to the Congregation Thank you for your continued support of the Food Pantry at Skillen Elementary School 34.

Through your contributions, we are able to help around 40 families each month with a box of food.

Thank you!

Jeanne Milligan Do you want to order a prayer blanket or bandanna?

Prayer blankets and bandannas are tangible ways to express God’s love and give those in need comfort and support from the PUMC congregation. If you would like to order a blanket or bandanna, please contact Carol Foxworthy at cfoxworthy@att.net or 317.838.7588. Blanket: $20; Bandanna: $10. Make your check payable to PUMC and mark it Prayer Blanket Ministry.

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Serving the Children of Plainfield

July 2017 Plainfield United Methodist Church 600 Simmons Street Plainfield, IN 46168