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September 2018

Greetings

from the Pastor!

OUR PURPOSE

COMMITTEE MEETINGS Sept. 6 6:30 pm Outreach

7:00 pm Trustees

Sept. 13 7:00 pm Finance

Sept. 16 7:00 pm Ad Council

Sept. 20 7:00 pm Nurture

Sept. 27 7:00 pm Personnel

Fresh Expressions (FX) Update! It's been an exciting summer as we have been exploring the many opportunities for experimenting with Fresh Expressions of Church. After much prayer and discernment, we have been work-ing in two directions. 1. Re-launching MidPointE well! - We've spent the summer

meeting with McDonalds, Librarians, School Superintendent, & School Principals. The plan at the moment is to begin en-gagement with games at McDonalds, then move to the Library. Another idea we are exploring is to help the youth develop a micro-enterprise such as making jewelry. They can learn entre-preneurial skills, earn money, and explore Christian business values.

• Play Games with youth! - Join us for an official MidPointE day! Tues. 2:15 at McDonalds.

• Advertise MidPointE - We have magnetic signs for cars. We need one volunteer each week to park outside the Middle school directing youth to McDonalds. Then drive to the HS and do the same when they let out.

• Become a Pirate P.A.L.S. - West Carrollton Middle School is excited to be launching Pirate P.A.L.S.! They want to encour-age all parents and positive adult role models to be involved! Volunteers may: read and work on flash cards, play at recess, eat lunch with students, assist with traffic flow etc. Help us build relationships while helping the schools reduce bully-ing!

2. Canterbury Ct. relationships - Through the summer months, we've discerned a team that feels called to reach the un-churched at Canterbury Ct. Cont. on page 2

Ways to be Involved:

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INDEX

Greetings from the Pastor 1

Committee Meetings 1

August Birthdays/Anniversaries 2

Thank You 3

Crop Walk 3

Homebound Connections 3

MidPointE 4

It’s Caramel time 4

Youth Activities 5

Trustees 5

Grapevine 6, 7

Nurture Updates 7

Nurture Team Updates 7

Church Status charts 8

Doggie Dive 9

Join Us 10

September Birthdays 1 Robert Alspach

6 Nate Bigness

9 Bryan Bigness

10 Gary Hoffman

12 Robert Barringer

14 Ken Lowe

17 Regina Wollenhaupt

18 Ashton Jones

19 Debbie Hildreth

Gary Morton

Ron Pauley

Thelma Barringer

23 Bob Faulkner

24 Elah Wallace

25 Richard Hamilton

27 Andrew Gilmore

29 Nan Osterholz

September Anniversaries 5 Christian & Erika

6 Mattingly

16 Pastor Jennifer & John

Burns

23 Dick & Carol Barnhart

24 Gary & Karen Morton

(continued from page 1)

Traditional ministries are reaching a very small portion of Resi-dents in these Affordable Senior Apartments We have permis-sion to begin relationship building through engaging with their existing programs. Many residents are lonely and are in need of someone to simply care enough to talk and listen.

• Lunch on Tuesdays, Breakfast on Fridays - Buy your meal, and sit with someone you don't know. Better yet, bring a buddy, and together sit and talk with people you don't know. Tue. 11-1pm, Fri. 8am.

• October 4th, 5pm Family Picnic. If you can come, talk with Rosetta Schaffner or Marilyn Harper to see what our group might do.

• Call Bingo - a favorite activity, Canterbury Ct. is always look-ing for people to volunteer once, or regularly, to call Bingo.

3. Ministry Near Indian Trails – There is a significant need for a church presence near the intersection of Elm & Alex Rd. where many people don't have cars. We are listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. One possibility is offering Celebrate Recov-ery. This is a Christian 12 step style program for anyone seek-ing recovery of Hurts, Habits, or Hangups.

• Do you live in one of these apartments? - Prayerfully consider how the church might partner with you to connect with your neighbors.

• Do you feel called to the recovery community? Perhaps you are recovering from a hurt, habit, or hangup? Talk with Pastor Jen-nifer if this is stirring something in you.

The possibilities for FX are endless! Those who have shown inter-est are meeting, praying, and working together on these projects. Perhaps your curiosity is piqued? Contact Pastor Jennifer to get in-volved. Or better yet, come to Breakthrough Prayer (Tuesdays at 1pm)! We pray for the needs of our church, for our community, and for God's wisdom, direction, and power to break through in power-ful ways at Memorial Church. Prayerfully Yours, Pastor Jennifer Burns The United Methodist Church

Ways to be Involved:

Ways to be Involved:

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Margarette would like to thank Bill Ferguson for the work he did on the arbor. It looks beauti-ful! Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!!! This arbor is in memory of her husband James Radabaugh. Margarette

Charlene Dever 450 N. Elm St. West Carrollton, OH 45449 (937)-353-3169

Tom Fogt 317 Sycamore Glen Dr., Apt. 100, Miamisburg OH 45342 (937) 859-3218

Wilma Fread 1010 Taywood Rd. Cottage 409 Englewood, OH 45322 (937) 832-9796

Everett Hamm 1626 Sue Avenue Miamisburg, OH 45342 (937) 866-7301

Joe Liffick 694 Isaac Prugh Way Kettering, OH 45429 (937) 297-4320

Mary Oldham 5302 Grouse Court Dayton, OH 45424 (937) 233-3202

Betty Passmore 3131 Gardenia Drive West Carrolton, OH 45449 (937) 438-3224

Betty Schaeff 7847 Lois Circle Apt. 304 Centerville, OH 45459 (937) 439-1928

Mary Alice Schaeff 3797 Summit Glen Rd Dayton, OH 45449

Gerri Jo Trudell 1920 Waterston Blvd. Unit 103 Miamisburg, OH 45342 (937) 433-7725

Crop Walk

The Crop walk will be held on Sunday, October 7th. I will be the recruiter/contact person for anyone interest-

ed in participating. This year the 25% that is donated to local food banks is being matched by an anony-

mous donor! We can make a greater impact right here in our community! I have included some information

from the website. More information is available at: crophungerwalk.org/daytonoh

Thanks for your Help!!

Debbie Hildreth

Hunger is one of the greatest injustices facing our world, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Ending hunger is

possible and it is possible in our lifetime. You can help make it happen.

For early half a century, CROP Hunger Walks have ensured that more people worldwide have access to

nutritious, sustainable food sources. From combating droughts in Nicaragua to providing agricultural training

in Indonesia to stocking shelves in hundreds of food pantries across the United States, CROP Hunger

Walks help end hunger by raising funds to support local food programs and the international anti-hunger

work of Church World Service.

Stand with neighbors in your community who rely on food assistance programs. Partner with parents world-

wide as they ensure a bright future for their children. Support those struggling in the face of grinding poverty

and open up new doors of opportunity for them.

Tens of thousands of CROP Hunger Walkers are committed to building a hunger-free world. Join the move-

ment!

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MidPointE

Last year our Pastor Jennifer and I noticed a need in our community. That need was for a

mentorship and supervision for our community’s middle school youth. We spent countless hours at

McDonalds listening to the youth. Soon after we connected with the youth, our church took a risk

and opened our doors for an afternoon school program. This program morphed into MidPointE at

the Mum.

The MidPointE outreach proved to be successful in the short term. We had a couple Tuesdays that

we had 10 plus youth and days that we only had a couple. Towards the end of the school year, our

attendance leaned toward the latter.

You, our congregation, poured out your hearts for this ministry. You were giving beyond belief and

you put trust into our team. This summer I have had a vision that we need to take MidPointE back

out into the community. The purpose of this outreach is to continue connecting with the youth in our

community. I felt this was not happening if we stayed behind the walls of the old fellowship hall.

Because of this vision, the Pastor and Gary have decided to go back out to McDonalds or the

library. We need to go where the youth are. In order for us to do God’s work, we need to connect

with as many youth as we can and not just the ones brave enough to step into our church.

This summer has been a season of growth and prayer. Our minds have been thinking in ways to

make the Kingdom stronger and to create Disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. As

always, thank for your continued support. God Bless.

We are starting caramel making on October 15th.

You can begin placing orders online by going to www.memorialunitedmethodist.com

and click the Online Ordering heading. Or you can call the office at 859-4444

This is a first come, first served basis, so get your orders in early!

We appreciate your support and we are looking forward to a

productive and fun time of fellowship while we help our church!

Candy Boxes

We will be assembling candy boxes on Tuesday

October 2nd at 6:00 pm

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Children and Youth

SECOND SATURDAY

September 8, 4:30-6:30

meant to help each youth at understanding what a healthy relationship is. I can go on and on about what we have done, but it is important to know we are going. This fall, The Spark intends on doing a couple of service projects. We intend to landscape a couple of congre-gant’s property as well as conducting fall cleanup in the community. In September we will be land-scaping the Hamilton’s property. As you can see, summer break wasn’t much of a break. We kept our eye on our creator and partici-pated in great fellowship. We look forward to getting ready for a season of service. Thanks for all the support we get. God Bless!

The Spark Squad Report This summer has been fun, to say the least.

Although we have not had Sunday school, we

have still participated in Second Saturday and

monthly youth group events. This summer has

been about growth as well. It is important that

we have a balance of fun, service, and learning

to better serve our God.

Some of the youth group events we have par-

ticipated in this summer are putt-putt golf,

swimming at the Wilson Park Pool, and a visit

to the Cincinnati zoo. Although not all the youth

could show up to all events, those that did at-

tend can testify about the great friendships that

have been nurtured. During Second Saturday

the youth have been studying a variety of self-

respect and relationship topics. This study was

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We are starting a new article in Pathways called “We heard it on the Grapevine”. This article will

address rumors that we have heard and give you the straight scoop! So here we go with the latest

rumors or comments we have heard.

1. Did Pastor Jennifer really get a tattoo?

Nope! What people saw that they thought was a temporary tattoo on her arm was the remains of a

children’s sticker that wouldn’t come off. After I got done laughing when I heard this, I started really

thinking about it. This was a teachable moment for all of us.

Would it have really mattered if it was a real tattoo?

The Bible says that we should not judge by outward appearances but by what is on the inside. (1

Samuel 16:7) What’s the primary mission of the church. To bring people into relationship with

Christ…(irrespective of outward appearances or choices.)

As we move into Fresh Expressions of Church, we need to challenge ourselves in the area of out-

ward appearances. We want to bring people into a relationship with Christ using different appear-

ances of “Church”. These people may not look like our typical Sunday morning crowd, and in most

cases, aren’t comfortable coming to a place where they don’t feel like they fit the “norm”. This is one

reason that some people have avoided (or even rejected church. People don’t want to be part of a

group where they will be judged on outward appearances, even though the hole in their heart is

desperately seeking what only Christ can fill.

Some churches have tried to address this need by creating services where people feel like they fit.

(e.g. contemporary worship, casual dress). But this model assumes the people will come to us.

That’s a fallacy in the model. To truly reach the unchurched, unbelievers, and non-believers (in any-

thing), we need to meet people on their turf. We need to put aside any preconceived notions based

on outward appearances and focus on the heart. In the end, that is how God will judge us, whether

we come to the pearly gates, with our without …..a tattoo, earring, tattered clothes, pink hair, long

hair, over weight, under weight, …(fill in the blank).

I know I am personally guilty of looking across a room and making judgements based on appear-

ances. If we are honest with ourselves, we have all probably done it.

So whether we go to the crowd, or the crowd comes to us, let’s focus on matters of the heart and

not matters of appearance.

Just something to think about…… cont. pg 7...

We Heard it on the Grapevine by Kathy Garrison

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Nurture Team Updates

Save the Date!

Sept. 4th—Official Relaunch of MidpointE

Sept. 8th Bless Pets with Pastor Jennifer at W. Carrollton Doggie Dive

Sept. 9th Rally Sunday. Sunday school for Children & Youth begins next Sunday.

Sept. 9th Soup and Sandwich luncheon. (Free will offering)

Sept. 30th Food Truck Rally & Blessing of the animals worship on the lawn

Oct. 2nd Asemble candy boxes at 6:00 pm

Oct. 7th Crop Walk for Hunger

Oct. 15th Candy Making begins

Cont. from pg 6

2. I heard that Gary Hardy was DONE! Why is he quitting?

Actually, what Gary said last Sunday at Church, was that after next week, “he is done… with vacations on Sundays.” He is most certainy not quitting anything at Church.

3. I heard that Pastor Jennifer only telephones shut-ins instead of visiting them.

This rumor is not factual. Pastor Jennifer had visited all of our shut-ins, along with people who have been admitted to ythe hospital. She is available to anyone who makes a request for a visit. The expectation of the Personnel Committee is that the Pastor visit each shut-in at least twice per year in addition to any phone calls. Other congregants, such as Stephen Ministers, are charged with providing additional support such as serving monthly communion. It is part of our covenant as members to care for the family of God. We appre-ciate all that you do every day to love on our church family with your calls, visits, prayers, and meals. If you know of someone who needs a Pastoral visit, please contact Pastor Jennifer.

If you’ve heard something on the grapevine that you would like clarified, send the question to the

church email and we will include it in the next Pathways.

On Rally Sunday, September 9th, our Primary/Intermediate and Middle/High school Sunday School

classes will resume. Classes for both will begin at 9:15. The Middle/High School class will continue

with their Confirmation studies.

PLEASE NOTE: On Sunday, Sept. 9, every Nursery and Primary/Intermediate child/student when

entering the classroom must be signed in by a parent or responsible adult. Likewise, no child/student

will be able to leave the classroom unless signed out by a parent or responsible adult. This step is a

part of our Church’s Safe Sanctuary Policy that commits to the physical and emotional safety and

spiritual growth of all our children, youth and vulnerable adults as well as those working with them.

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Doggie Dive

The West Carrollton Doggie Dive is on Saturday, September 8th from 11:00—3:00 pm.

Memorial will have a booth where they will offer Pet Blessings. Come join Us!!

If you miss this event, we will be doing Pet Blessings on the Church lawn again after the Sunday

Service on September 30th from 1:00—1:30 pm.

All of our neighbors are invited.

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Pastor’s Contact Info:

Jennifer Burns

Cell: (937) 823– 4370

Office: (937) 859-4444

Email:

pastorjhb@gmail.com

OFFICE HOURS

Monday thru Thursday

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Deadline for the next

issue of Pathways is

September 22nd,

2018

Fishermen

Would you like to be part of the

prayer chain but you don’t have a

computer? Contact the church office

to give them your name, telephone

number where you can be contact-

ed, and whether it is okay to leave a

message on an answering machine.

Prayers are often confidential so it’s

important that all messages be treat-

ed with respect.

The Lunch Bunch gather for food

and fellowship at an area restaurant

on the last Monday of each Month.

This month the women will gather at

Marion’s Pizza at noon on Septem-

ber 24th. Bring a friend or neighbor!

Men who love to make a difference

meet for breakfast and fellowship

on the 4th Thursday of the month at

Holly’s Restaurant in West Carroll-

ton from 10:00—11:00 am. They

also get together periodically to

work on projects at the church.

The Mary Rebecca Circle will meet

September 10th at Thelma

Barringers house

All are welcome.