Connecting Generations to Grow Relationships with God ...

A former President said,

"There is nothing more

precious to a parent than a

child, and nothing more

important to our future

than the safety of all our

children." This statement

could not ring truer in the

hearts of the parents and

staff at LUMCDC. Our #1

priority has always been to

provide a loving, safe

learning environment for

each and every child.

In the world we live in to-

day we feel it is time to

make yet another precau-

tion to ensure our chil-

dren's safety.

In the month of

February a magnetic lock

will be installed to the

main school entrance, exact dates will be announced as we move closer to installation. Knowing this is

the entrance to not only LUMCDC families but church members as well, there will be an intercom and security

camera at the entrance.

During school hours 7am-5:30pm Monday-Friday these doors will be locked.

Anyone wishing to enter the building will need to push a buzzer on the intercom, identify themselves by

name and the reason for entering the church, at which time the door will be opened. We realize this is a big

change for everyone; LUMCDC families and church members. Our goal is to make this a smooth transition

for everyone involved. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to keep our precious

children at LUMCDC safe!

February 2016

Vol. 4 Issue 2

Connecting Generations to Grow Relationships with God, Others, and Creation

Child Development Center Traci Harris, Director

Your Finance Committee is pleased to report that Latham finished the 2015 year of operations in a strong fi-

nancial position. Our income exceeded expenses throughout the year. Of course, we did not have the full sal-

ary expense of our Director of Music for much of the year. That being said, we ended the year in a position to

carryover $50,000 in income toward the 2016 budget.

In past years, budget requests have exceeded our expected income and the Finance Committee has asked the

Ministry Teams and Committees to reduce or defer their planned expenses. This year, the Finance Committee

would like to fully support the Ministry Teams and Committees in the programs, events, and projects they

have planned for our church. So, the budget asking for 2016 are at an all-time high - $917,591. However,

with the carryover of $50,000 from 2015 and faith that our Congregation will continue to give at the same

level they gave in 2015, we believe this budget is achievable.

I have included a table to show how our budget is spread for 2016. For each budget line, the table shows the

percentage of the total budget that line represents. The table also shows the % increase of that budget line

from 2015. Note that the only budget line to decrease in 2016 is Apportionments. I also included the staff

point of contact and/or the committee chair if you have questions about a particular budget line. However, be-

ware that a “line item veto” is not possible. The Ministry Teams and Committees have the discretion to shift

funds within the internal budget as long as the total for the team or committee is not exceeded.

As you can see in the table, our Ministry Teams and Committees have some awesome plans for 2016 – but

they can’t make it happen without your help. We are counting on your pledges and loose offerings to make

this budget possible. If you did not submit a pledge, it is not too late. We would love to receive your pledge.

However, it is not a requirement to submit a pledge before you give. In fact, many of you contributed signifi-

cantly to the church last year without making a pledge. That is what we call our “loose offering” – offerings

received without a pledge. The loose offering is very important and accounted for 25% of the income we re-

ceived last year. So, please keep giving generously as God would have you to do and let’s make this the best

year yet for Latham. Thanks for your support

2016 General Budget

Finance Committee Report

Marty Martin, Chairman

Ministry Team/Committee

Staff Lead/Chair % of 2016 Budget

% Increase from 2015

Budget Highlights

Staff Parish Relations Chris Hazelrig

50.14% 3.37% New Music Director Music Coordinator for Contemporary Service Raises for Pastors and Staff

Trustees Jeff Langhout

24.75% 13.54% Sanctuary Plaster Repair Door security/locks/camera for Latham CDC Farley Hall sound acoustic panels, sound board

re-location/sound system upgrades Parking lot repairs “Face lifts” to the church facility Insurance Utilities General Maintenance Parsonages Information Technologies

Apportionments N/A

10.92% -6.48% Decrease in Apportionments for 2016

Communications Chris Martin/ Frank Barger

4.21% 9.77% Web hosting/support Advertising Color Copies Office Equipment Lease/Maintenance New Equipment Mailings, Supplies, etc.

Ministry Team/Committee

Staff Lead/Chair % of 2016 Budget

% Increase from 2015

Budget Highlights

Outreach Chris Martin (Sam Cox)/Doug Seay

2.50% 4.69% Southeast Huntsville Outreach Events Fall Festival Young Adult Outreach Education Fair St. Paul Food Pantry Bags Outreach Training IMS, Arise, Nicaragua Scholarships Backpack Food Program Weatherly Heights/Mountain Gap Backpack Boys & Girls Club Summer Feeding Hygiene Products/Coats Parade of Readers

Youth Adam Miller / Grace Langhout / Todd Sutherland

2.37% 55.36% Communication Education & Enrichment Events Honoraria Volunteer Leadership Youth Ministry Curriculum Cell Phone Allowance Ministry Supplies Emergency Fund Miscellaneous

Worship Chris Martin/ Judy Gillespie

1.75% 6.67% Traditional The Orchard Tech Arts Music Orff Instruments, Orff Music & Supplies

Children Susan Terry/ Jennifer Barger / Ben Stone / Nicole Cleary

1.25% 91.67% Choir Festival Treehouse Materials Second Grade Bibles/Bible Camp Leadership Training Summer Classes/Enrichment Music, Arts and Crafts Week Surf Shop – VBS Volunteer Appreciation Community Egg Hunt Sunday School Activities/Supplies School Teacher Appreciation Dinner Mission Mondays Acolyte Appreciation Lunch Miscellaneous

Disciple Chris Martin/ Joe Martin

1.43% 6.05% Confirmation Curriculum Confirmation Retreat Sunday School Curriculum Intensive Discipleship Curriculum Congregational Curriculum Discipleship Conference

Connect Susan Terry

0.35% 225.00% Coffee with the Pastors Congregation Dinners Education Celebration @ Grissom Greeter Training New Member Class Welcome Packet Gifts Welcome Banners/Signage

In-reach Marvene Borntrager Faye Cook

0.32% 19% Care Givers Luncheon Congregational Nursing Grief Recovery Cards for Homebound Transportation, Visitation Team Alzheimer’s Support Group Retreat for Women/Men Honorarium for Seminars Support Materials (Books/DVDs) Appreciation for Volunteers

In Reach Ministries Faye Cook, In Reach Coordinator

“I feel very fortunate to have been chosen to help coordinate our “In Reach Ministries.”

We have a loyal group of volunteers who make our efforts possible. We have at present eleven categories

from which to serve.” Faye Cook, In Reach Lay Coordinator

Mission Statements for In-Reach Ministries

1. Care-Givers' Luncheon: Contact Person: Louise Avery

Provides periodic luncheons in a home setting for those members of the congregation serving as

care-givers for loved ones for the purpose of support and shared information.

2. First Year Initiative: Contact Person: Louise Avery

Provides a mentor from Latham Ladies to be a source of personal support/friend for the first year

following the loss of a spouse through death or divorce.

3. Flower Delivery: Contact Person: June Young/Jeannine Warren

Provides flower arrangements from the Sunday Sanctuary flowers to members of the congregation

who are homebound or in other residential settings.

4. Grief Recovery: Contact Person: Faye Cook

Latham sponsors "Hope For the Holidays", a four week free class to help with the recovery from a

loss of job, death of loved one, loss of marriage through divorce, loss of home to natural disaster

etc. Rev. Carl Malm is available for additional individual counseling for a fee.

5. Health Ministry Team: Contact Person/Co-chairs: Catherine Gris/Debbie Rose

Provides information and instructional/spiritual support to members of the congregation with medical

needs or health issues. Blood Pressure Checks are on the 2nd Sunday of each month.

Alzheimer Support Group: Contact Person: Faye Cook

Provides time to share needs they face. Meets every 1st Tuesday of each month.

6. Homebound Card Ministry: Contact Person: Marvene Borntrager

Provides free cards to send to Latham's Homebound members. Addresses, pens, stamps and cards are

available in the Carol Freyder Library.

7. In Stitches: Contact Person: Joey Evans

Provides prayer quilts for people experiencing difficulty in life. Quilts are prayed over as they are

created and prayed over when they are dedicated by the congregation.

8. Latham Casseroles: Contact Person: Liz Hall Zeman

Provides meal support to family members in the immediate aftermath of hospitalization or death of a

family member.

9. Ramp-Builders: Contact Person: Mike Gris

Provides ramps for members of the congregation who use equipment to help limited mobility.

10. Transportation: Contact People: Richard & Dale Peters

Provides transportation for doctor's visits, church, grocery stores, etc. for those members who can't

drive themselves.

11. Visitation: Contact Person: Marvene Borntrager

Provides visits to members of the congregation who are homebound, hospitalized, or in other

facilities.

Buchanan Scholarship

UMW 2015 Accomplishments Judy Gillespie, President

The Buchanan Scholarship committee invites high

school seniors as well as college students who are

within three years of their high school graduation,

who are members of LUMC, to make application for

the scholarship. Application packets are available on

the church website or through Adam Miller. Dead-

line for returning is April 8th.

In Stitches 2015 Year-end Report

With our 10 Year Celebration this year, we had an ex-

citing year. 38 quilts were brought back to church for

our Decade of Quilts presentation. Quilts, refreshments,

pictures, cards, balloons and celebration was the joy of

the day. A big thank you to all who helped make this

day a success.

The Heritage Quilt is on display temporarily in the

sanctuary for viewing. We are planning a permanent

home for this quilt in 2016, where all the details and

names on it can be better appreciated.

There were 42 quilts dedicated in 2015. Thank you to

all who gave a hand to this ministry. Without you it

wouldn't have been possible. To God be the glory.

In Stitches Ministry Joey Evans

Music Ministry Sam Cox, Minister of Music

As a child, I was often enlisted to “help” my father

with various chores around the house. This usually

meant that I was sent downstairs to rummage

through the tool box to fetch up a particular tool. Af-

ter a while I began to learn just how many different

kinds of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and the like

there actually were, and that they each had different

names. Sometimes it took several trips to the base-

ment to get it right!

I am delighted to be here in charge of the music pro-

gram at Latham United Methodist Church, and in a

figurative sense I’m still rummaging around in the

musical tool box. There is quite a variety of singers,

instrumentalists, ensembles, and technicians from

which to draw, and I don’t yet know all the names. I

invite every one with any kind of musical talent to

come join any of our current groups: Wesley Singers,

Chancel Choir, Praise Bands, Youth Praise Band,

Celebration Choir, Cherub Choir, Adult Handbells,

and Children’s Orff Choir. If you think there are

other groups that should be formed, let me know. If

you have talent in technical areas such as sound,

video, presentation software, and the like, there’s a

place for you in the tool box too!

I’m looking forward to us all getting together to

build something!

In addition to the accomplishments previously

published in The Branch, the UMW contributed

$5,600 to local missions. They raised the money

from members making donations directly to the local

missions fund.

Lectionary Scriptures for February 2016

Mike Ratliff, Senior Pastor

February 7, 2016

Exodus 34:29-35: Having seen God’s glory, Moses displays a shining face that terrifies the Israelites. In order

to relieve them of their fear, he wears a veil.

Psalm 99: Theme: Praise for God’s fairness and holiness. Because God is perfectly just and fair, we can trust

God completely.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2: Through Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit removes the veil of confusion from our minds

and allows us to understand the good news of the Scriptures.

Luke 9:28-36 (37-43): On the mountaintop, Peter, James and John see the divine nature of Jesus revealed in a

blaze of glory.

February 14, 2016

Deuteronomy 26:1-11: Israel is instructed to bring first fruits of the harvest to God as a means of thanksgiving

and remembrance.

Psalm 91: Theme: God’s protection in the midst of danger. God doesn’t promise a world free from danger,

but God does promise help whenever we face danger.

Romans 10: 8b-13: Those who confess Jesus with their heart and voice will find wholeness and salvation by

God’s grace.

Luke 4:1-13: Jesus prepares for his ministry by facing temptations in the wilderness.

February 21, 2016

Genesis15:1-12, 17-18: God makes a covenant with Abram promising to give him land and descen-

dants. Abram puts his trust in God.

Psalm 27: Theme: God offers help for today and hope for the future. Unwavering confidence in God is our

antidote for fear and lonliness.

Philippians 3:17-4:1: Paul urges the believers to set themselves apart from those who are ruled by yearnings

of the flesh and rejoice in things of the world. He calls on them to stand firm in the Lord.

Luke 13:31-35: Jesus warns his followers that God’s grace is not to be taken for granted. Those people who

may seem to be beyond its reach may be the closest. He laments Jerusalem’s spiritual blindness.

February 28, 2016

Isaiah 55:1-9: A hymn of joy and celebration in the assurance of Israel’s triumph. The prophet encourages the

people to seize the moment and call upon God while they can.

Psalm 63: 1-8: Theme: A desire for God’s presence, provision, and protection. No matter where we are, our

desire should be for God because only God satisfies fully.

I Corinthians 10:1-13: Paul urges the believers to learn from history and avoid falling into the same pitfalls as

their ancestors. He assures them that because of God’s grace they will not be tested beyond their strength, and

with every test God provides a way through.

Luke 13:1-9: Jesus warns the people not to test God’s patience or take God’s grace for granted. If we have

escaped suffering, it is not because of our righteousness. God’s grace offers a way through.

Operation Santa Clause Susan J. Smith, Coordinator

Memorial Contributions Finance Committee

Gifts were given in memory of….

Harrison Brown to the Lillie Latham Scholarship Fund from Ernest & June Young, Bill & Joey Evans

Jim Bevis to the Memorial Fund, from the Covenant Sunday School Class; to the Discretionary Fund

from Shirley Hayes; Donald & Ramona Bowden; Jim & Judy Gillespie; Alan & Eunice Hislop;

Christa Montgomery; Herschel & Judy Moore; Larry & Janice Weaver;

John Daniel from Paul & Paula Stutts

Mike Gray from Paul & Paula Stutts

Helen Hagler from Calvin Blevins; Jim & Mary Jane Williams

Gloria Jefferson to the Hands of Christ Fund, from Fellowship Sunday School Class

Juanita Wilkinson to the Hands of Christ Fund, from Philip and Rhonda Ryan;

Elaine Wilson to the Lillie Latham Scholarship Fund from Earnest & June Young; To the United

Methodist Women from Ira & Bernice Sutton; Jim & Judy Gillespie

To the Music Fund in memory of Paul Bowers, Harrison Brown and Bill Hovik from Ira & Bernice

Sutton

Gifts were given in honor of…

Ralph & Ginny Green to the Buchanan Scholarship Fund from Mary Green

You’ve done it again! You filled the

Christmas wishes of 70 members of

our community who live in group

homes because of severe and

persistent mental illness! You

provided gift cards so these folks

could go to WalMart or Barnes &

Noble or Outback with some money

in their pockets. You gave jackets and

jeans, bed sheets and coffeepots, N.O.

Saints’ shirts and watches. You also

provided toiletries and leisure-time

activities for twelve individuals who

are spending Christmas in one of the

more restricted facilities. On behalf

of all of them, I thank you for helping

to brighten their Christmas.

109 Weatherly Road

Huntsville, AL 35803

Phone: 256-881-4069

Fax: 256-880-0305

On the web: lathamumc.org

Connect with the Staff

Rev. Mike Ratliff, Senior Pastor

Chris Martin, Minister of Discipleship

Sam Cox, Minister of Music

Susan Terry, Minister of Connect & Children’s Ministries

Adam Miller, Minister of Youth

Marvene Borntrager, Staff Coordinator for Inreach

Anita Banks, Business Administrator

Traci Harris, Director of Child Development Center

Cherry Keeton, Organist

Joey Evans, Pianist

[email protected]

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Latham United Methodist Church

Building Ministry Together

Our Mission

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Our Vision

Connecting generations to grow relationships with God, others, and creation.

Our Goals

1. Communicate our vision so the entire church and community will know it.

2. Organize intergenerational gatherings in the church and community that form mentoring

relationships between all participants.

3. Simplify and align leadership structure to reflect and advance our vision.

4. Train and hire staff to become coaches in leadership development, intergenerational dialogue,

mentoring, faith sharing, and creation stewardship.

5. Implement leadership training to equip laity to plan ministries that fulfill the church’s vision

and goals.

Our Core Values

1. Mission Focus: Latham performs service in the world to promote individual, community,

and environmental wholeness.

2. Prayer: Latham values prayer to direct and energize our work in accomplishing God’s vision.

3. Gifts & Strengths: Latham utilizes spiritual gifts and abilities of our members.

4. Credibility: Latham practices honesty, integrity, passion, and accountability to God and each other.

mailto:[email protected]



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