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Ministry Guide WORSHIP | GROW | SERVE
Welcome to 2021! Certainly we have many reasons to be excited for a New Year, but I wanted to take a moment to celebrate a few of the reasons we have to reflect on and celebrate 2020: January: A renewed commitment to small groups. Currently 760 actively connected in 2020 - ualc.org/smallgroups February: UALC Mobile App launched - ualc.org/mobileapp March: O2 conference - o2conference.org | Ordination of Pastor Joe Valentino April: UALC Podcast launch - ualc.org/podcast
May: Participate with over 40+ churches in One Night livestream onenightcolumbus.com/live June: Sunday Night Live! ualc.org/snl | Packed 2,300+ food kits in partnership with Serving Our Neighbor (SON) Ministries July: First outdoor service at Mill Run Campus - ualc.org/worship August: 1200+ backpacks and supplies for mission partners September: Kids’ Church In a Box - ualc.org/kidschurch
October: Night of Teaching & Prayer - ualc.org/depolarized
November: Season for Giving - $20,000+ given to local and global mission partners | Total annual investment into missions surpasses $1 million December: Celebration of Advent - ualc.org/advent For a full snapshot with links and pictures from throughout 2020, go to ualc.org/2020 Grace and Peace, Jack McClintock Director of Communications
[ WORSHIP ]
We gather in-person and online to worship God and encourage one another in the faith. We hear from God’s Word and participate in the sacraments of communion and baptism. Updates: ualc.org/worship
JANUARY WORSHIP SCHEDULE: Registration required R for inside, in-person services. Find the most up to date worship schedule and worship online at ualc.org/worship.
MODERN MILL RUN
TRADITIONAL LYTHAM ROAD
In-person R Fellowship Hall and Lobby 9:00 am 11:00 am
In-person R Sanctuary 9:00 am 11:00 am
Online 9:00 am Live online 11:00 am Video on-demand
Online 9:00 am Live online 11:00 am Video on-demand
Sunday Morning for Kids — Mill Run Campus
ualc.org/worship R Beginning Jan. 17, sign-up kids for the nursery and Kids’ Church when you register for the 9am or 11am worship service. Space is limited in order to maintain safety and social distancing. Nursery and preschool will have drop-off on the main floor. Kindergarten through 5th grade will start in the service with you, then be dismissed to Kids’ Church, and later return to the service. Su
Beginning 1/17 9 & 11am
MR
Contact: Andrea Taphorn, ataphorn@ualc.org
Kids’ Church in a Box
ualc.org/kidschurch R For families with kids age 3 years through 5th grade. Boxes will continue monthly regardless of whether you worship in-person or at home. Contact: Andrea Taphorn, ataphorn@ualc.org LR: Lytham Road MR: Mill Run
R
Register online
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[ WORSHIP] THE WAY SERMON SERIES JANUARY 3-FEBRUARY 14
Throughout our studies in the Old Testament, we saw God as a Waymaker. He made a way when there was no way, again and again. The Old Testament is clear that God will make a way for His people. As we move into the New Testament, we discover now how God would make a Way. God could have made a way in, well, lots of ways! He could have created a new law for the people to follow. He could have sent a teacher or a king who would straighten the people out. God could have made a way by destroying all of Israel’s enemies. God could have made a way in lots of ways – and the people of God had expected Him to do some or all of those very things. But instead, God did something greater. God Himself entered into the world and joined His people. He didn’t just make a way, or show them the way, God became the way. Jesus is the Way. He is the Way to the Father. He is the Way to eternal life. And following Jesus is the Way of obedience to God. And so, during these next several months, we will journey with Jesus, the Way. We will study Jesus, learn from Jesus, and discover that Jesus is still the Way for us today.
SERMON SERIES TOPICS
MY FATHER’S HOUSE Luke 2:41-52
JESUS’ BAPTISM Luke 3:1-22
SERMON AT NAZARETH Luke 4:14-30
FISH FOR PEOPLE Luke 5:1-11
HEALING ON THE SABBATH Luke 6:1-16
RAISING THE WIDOW’S SON Luke 7:1-17
TRANSFIGURATION Luke 9:28-45 3
DAILY WORSHIP
Our daily pursuit to grow in relationship with God typically looks like daily Bible readings and prayer. However, it can also include disciplines like fasting, confessing, journaling, simplicity, solitude, and stewarding talents and resources.
Daily Worship Resources
ualc.org/dailyworship or the UALC App As we journey with The Way, we will encounter Jesus every day through our Daily Worship. From now until Easter we will read through the book of Luke twice as a church. This journey of careful reading will help us to encounter Jesus for who He truly is. As we read through the book, we will also spend time in prayer, asking the Spirit of God to speak to us, and to help us encounter the living Jesus today. Join with the church as we take this journey of study and prayer, together!
DAILY WORSHIP—BIBLE READINGS JANUARY 3-9 3 Luke 2:41-52 4 Luke 1:5-38 5 Luke 1:39-56 6 Luke 1:57-80 7 Luke 2:1-52 8 Luke 3:1-20 9 Luke 3:21-37
JANUARY 10-16 10 Luke 2:41-52 11 Luke 4:1-13 12 Luke 4:14-30 13 Luke 4:31-44 14 Luke 5:1-11 15 Luke 5:12-39 16 Luke 6:1-11
LR: Lytham Road MR: Mill Run
JANUARY 17-23 17 Luke 4:14-30 18 Luke 6:12-49 19 Luke 7:1-50 20 Luke 8:1-21 21 Luke 8:22-56 22 Luke 9:1-62 23 Luke 10:1-41 JANUARY 24-30 24 Luke 5:1-11 25 Luke 11:1-36 26 Luke 11:37-53 27 Luke 12:10-57 28 Luke 13:1-35 29 Luke 14:1-35 30 Luke 15:1-32 R
Register online
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[ GROW ] SMALL GROUPS
Small Groups – For all ages and stages
ualc.org/smallgroups We have 22 groups that are taking new members. In this time of isolation, we need each other more than ever. Groups will begin to meet starting in January and go through the spring/early summer season. If you have interest in joining a group or facilitating a new one, sign up online or contact a director. LR Director: Tammy Schuster, tschuster@ualc.org MR Director: Peggy Bronson, pbronson@ualc.org
MORE THAN A BIBLE STUDY
One of our small group facilitators is retired and teaches piano lessons in her home. Over the last year, many of her students have reduced their lessons or opted to take time off until they could meet again in-person. She was able to share the burden this had caused with her small group, and mentioned specifically that she was now struggling financially since she wasn’t able to teach as many students. The group has continued to meet faithfully each week, more recently meeting via Zoom. They discuss worshipbased material and scripture and pray for one another. One evening, the facilitator received a phone call from one of her small group members, asking her to go to her door. When she checked her front porch she discovered several bags of groceries. To say the least, she was moved and touched by her small group’s generosity. It truly was an answer to her prayer. This story just goes to prove that small groups are so much more than studying the Bible, it’s about caring for our neighbor and ensuring they know they are loved, cared for and known within the group. 5
GROWTH WORKSHOPS
Growth workshops cover a wide-range of topics, they meet us right where we need to mature and prepare us for what’s next in life. Families, individuals and even small groups are able to participate.
Finding God in Your Workplace
ualc.org/growth R Learn how your workplace can be a place to follow Jesus’ call to love God, others and be part of His mission. Contact: Jeff Morlock, adults@ualc.org
Following Jesus After Isolation
ualc.org/growth R Find your “new normal” with this two-session workshop that digs into what Jesus is leading you from and what He is leading you toward. Contact: Jeff Morlock, adults@ualc.org
Caring for Your Marriage During Covid
ualc.org/growth R Discover biblical principles and tools to improve the health and happiness of your life together. Contact: Jeff Morlock, adults@ualc.org
Baptism Workshop
ualc.org/growth R For those interested in being baptized or baptizing their children. Adults, teens, and children of any age are welcome. Second Sunday/month
1-2pm Online (or by appointment)
Contact: David White, dwhite@ualc.org
LR: Lytham Road MR: Mill Run
R
Register online
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YOUTH MINISTRIES Kids’ Church
ualc.org/kidschurch R Kids’ Church in a Box continues. In-person begins at Mill Run Jan. 17. Contact: Andrea Taphorn, ataphorn@ualc.org
UALC Preschool and Kindergarten
ualc.org/preschool R For over 50 years, we have offered high quality part-time programs for 3-,4-,5-year olds. Registration for Fall 2021 begins Tuesday, Jan. 12. Contact: Jodi Coleman, jcoleman@ualc.org
Middle School Ministry (MSM) Group
ualc.org/middleschool R Fellowship, games, worship and small group time. It’s a safe, fun place to experience God and ask questions. Weekly Su
4:30-6pm
Location to be determined
Contact: Kelsey Bacon, kbacon@ualc.org
High School Ministry (HSM) Group
ualc.org/highschool R Join other teens in a discipling community, where we check in on each other, study the Bible, pray, and serve others together. Weekly Su
4-5:30pm
Location to be determined
Contact: Dan Kidd, dkidd@ualc.org
My Bible Intermediate HSM Workshop
ualc.org/highschool R Discover tools for understanding the Bible; how it is organized, what it shows us about God and ourselves, and how it can deepen our faith. Su
Beginning 2/14
4-5:30pm
Contact: Dan Kidd, dkidd@ualc.org 7
Location to be determined
[ SERVE ] A STORY OF GRATITUDE
Local Mission Partner – Serving Our Neighbors Ministries This week, I met a mother and her daughter who came to one of our Learning Enrichment Centers a couple of minutes after we began. I learned that they walk to the LEC twice a week which takes 30 minutes in the dark and the cold, because they have no car. They’ve been in our country for two months and they cannot speak any English—they are seeking political asylum and are here alone. The elementary age daughter can only communicate using Google Translate on her school given iPad. The mom is desperate for adult English classes, so while the daughter is getting homework help, the mother is able to connect to our reliable Wi-Fi and attend our level 1 Adult English class via Zoom. I started helping the daughter with her homework, a math educational game when I saw that she was frustrated and near tears. It took us over 30 minutes working to communicate (Google Translate) and for me to understand what the game/assignment required. Meanwhile, the mom was having computer trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi to reach the Zoom Adult English class, so I moved to help her. We went through the same process of persistence, giggling and Google Translate to help her get connected to her class. In the end, because of a safe warm space, helpful people and reliable Wi-Fi, both were successful and learning exactly what they need to learn, to escape the financial and emotional poverty they are in. They both left with enormous smiles and body language showing how badly they wanted to hug us to show their gratitude.
LR: Lytham Road MR: Mill Run
R
Register online
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SUPPORTING OUR SISTER CHURCHES
International Mission Partner – Heart to Honduras Just in the nick of time we managed to travel to Honduras back in mid-February 2020 before everything started to shut down. We had no idea that travel would change so drastically in the following months prohibiting our travel this year. COVID affected our sister churches in Caliche and Aguas de la Reina mainly through a shortage of food felt around the country. Heart to Honduras was one of the only non-profits assisting the government in delivering food to extreme rural areas. Through this experience, Heart to Honduras began an agriculture food initiative to educate and aid those interested in harvesting their own food. Much success was being experienced through this initiative until Honduras was hit by two hurricanes in November. Honduras experienced over 60 hours of heavy rain causing major flooding and mudslides. All crops were lost. Access to these villages was almost impossible. Heart to Honduras has started working with the local government and is engaged in immediate relief efforts as well as planning and preparing for long term rebuilding and sustaining efforts. They are uniquely positioned to be an integral part of the recovery and rebuilding process. The holistic vision combined with their collaborative model and established relationships with partners and community leaders will allow them to work together to restore and advance the integral well-being of our brothers and sisters in Honduras. As a church we have been able to provide additional financial support for immediate relief, and we continue to support Heart to Honduras and our sister churches. We remain hopeful to plan another mission trip soon. -Jen Geistfeld 9
Get Involved with Missions at UALC
ualc.org/serve UALC supports many mission partners close by and around the world. Find out more about each partner, contact leaders, and find local serving opportunities online. Contact: Dave Mann, dmann@ualc.org
STUDIES AND RESOURCES Women of the Word (WOW) Bible Study
ualc.org/adults Study “Psalm 23, The Shepherd With Me� by Jennifer Rothchild. A seven-week, online study with small group discussion and prayer. Weekly beginning 1/5
Four sessions
Online via Zoom
$2 + Book
Contact: Christie Masheter, wow@ualc.org
UALC Podcast
ualc.org/podcast Listen in to conversations as we reflect and provide pragmatic practices around everyday life with Jesus and our community. Contact: podcasts@ualc.org
Prayer
ualc.org/prayer Need prayer or want to pray for others? Reach out and share your requests on the website, and our prayer ministers begin praying on your behalf. Contact: Becki Bork, bbork@ualc.org
Facebook.com/UAlutheran Stay connected to the church, and join one of our Community Groups. Mill Run Community Group: Facebook.com/groups/millruncommunity Lytham Road Community Group: Facebook.com/groups/lythamcommunity LR: Lytham Road MR: Mill Run
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Register online
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OUR MISSION:
To be and to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Hilliard
3500 Mill Run Drive Hilliard, OH 43026
Upper Arlington
2300 Lytham Road Columbus, OH 43220
614-451-3736 | www.ualc.org