Maranatha Sisters & Brothers,

Think about it. The God of the universe, who holds all things in His hands and cares for all of creation, desires

and has made possible a personal relationship with you. That’s right! God didn’t remain in the comfortable

confines of Heaven, pressing buttons and handing down edicts and orders. He’s not some corporate CEO working

all the moving parts up in Heaven while the little people like you and me struggle to do life down here on earth.

No! God is not a distant deity. God made it personal. God cared to send the very best, took on flesh, and became

one of us. He took on human form—fully God and fully human― and walked in our space, got into our context,

and got personal. Why did He do this? The answer is in the following verse. Let me encourage you to read it

like you are reading it for the very first time.

“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

Because of God’s great love for you, He made it personal. He knew you before He knit you together in the

womb—creating you for a reason and a purpose. God knows the number of hairs on your head. God knows your

name, came to where you live, knows what’s on your heart, knows where you have been, and knows what you

are capable of. You are known by God, inside and out, and are thought of and highly favored. For God, it’s

personal. This is never more evident than in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Everywhere Jesus went, the crowds followed. Word of Jesus carrying the power of God, with the ability to heal

the sick, was spreading. People wanted to hear His teaching, be in His presence, and receive His touch. There

were crowds when Jesus called Peter from the boat. The crowds were so thick that Zacchaeus had to climb a tree,

just to get a glimpse. The hemorrhaging woman had to push her way through the crowd to get to Jesus. A group

of men had to climb on top of a house and go through a roof to get a paralytic man to Jesus, because of the crowd.

However, in all of these cases, Jesus got personal with each individual and ministered to them. He paused to see

them, called them by name, visited their homes, called them to purpose and ministry, and touched and healed

them. He forgave their sin, redefined their life, gave new purpose, and healed their bodies. Though Jesus taught

the crowds, He always took time to minister to the individual.

For God in Jesus, it’s personal. In the same way as Christ, we are called to make it personal with the people right

in front of us. While we are on a mission for the day in our busy, working, playing, planning days, the real

mission is the person in front of us. Throughout our day God is placing people in our life for the purpose of His

personal touch through us. The people in our families, at work, in our community, and in our church are God’s

mission in us. Each of us wants people to know our name. We want people to know where we live and know

Rolling Plains Church 3350 Moxahala Park Rd Zanesville, OH 43701 rollingplainsumc.com Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Zanesville OH 43701 Permit No. 447

J

U

L

Y

2

0

1

9

what is important to us. Everyone desires for someone to hear their story of where they have come from. When

someone speaks words of encouragement about our future, it blesses our spirit. Everyone desires a relationship

that is personal—wanting to know if someone truly cares.

As the body of Christ, God has brought us together at Rolling Plains to make it personal. Our children, teens, and

peers who come to our church are desperate for someone to make it personal with them. People in our community

are wondering if the people of Rolling Plains are going to make it personal. We have the chance to do what Jesus

did. Rather than walking by people in the crowds of life, we can take the time to be personally invested and “all

in” with the people we bump into daily in life. We can build relationships, push pause in our busy day, open up

our homes, and see others in theirs. We can get one-on-one in mentoring relationships with teens and peers, and

we can build into one another.

During the month of July, we are going to be living in a sermon series called, It’s Personal. We will be studying

the life and ministry of Jesus and how, in the midst of the crowds of life, He always took the time to make it

personal with the individual. I’m looking forward to sharing this wonderful time of worship and Word together

with you. In the heart of the Summer, let’s get personal. See you Sunday.

Come on God!

Pastor John

RP Fair Stand 2019

We have been making plans and preparations for the 2019 Muskingum County Fair. Fair week this year is August 11 – August 17. We will need many volunteers in order to have a successful year at our Fair Stand. We look forward to serving our community, and raising funds for our Missions Ministry, while having great fun and fellowship.

In order to do this, we need your help. We need many, many volunteers to run our Fair Stand efficiently. We will need folks to wait tables, work in the kitchen, prepare the stand, clean up the stand, and support us by donating food, money, and supplies, as well as PIES and other desserts. We will need at least 15 pies every day of the Fair. Please watch your bulletins and the August newsletter for a list of items to donate. Also, there will be sign-up sheets in the Welcome Center soon for the work shifts and pie schedule. We welcome Small Groups to sign up and serve together, as well as adults and older children who are members of your family.

On August 5th and 6th at 5:00 PM we will be cleaning and prepping the stand and will need several hands to help. Also, on August 10th at 9:00 AM, we will be doing the final preparations and will need several volunteers.

We hope you will join us. Helping at the Fair Stand is a great way to bond with those in our church family and to make new, lasting friends.

Coming Events

Monday Night Prayer Each Monday evening @ 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Needle Crafters for Christ Each Monday evening @ 6:00

Road to Recovery

Each Friday evening @ 6:30 PM

July 7 ― UMM Meeting @ 7:00 AM

July 7-12 ― Youth Mission Trip to Cincinnati

July 14 ― Discover Rolling Plains @ 12:15 PM

July 14 ― Married People ~ Date Night-To-Go

July 18 ― Summer Fusion @ 6 – 8:30 PM

July 19 ― Youth Lion King Movie Outing

July ― 24 Youth Service Project Day at the church

July 28 ― Teacher Supply Shower

July 28 ― Come! Let Us Worship! @ 6:00 PM

Please use the following link when shopping at Amazon. A portion of every purchase comes back to the church. Please share with all your friends and family

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/38-2064460

Brothers in Christ,

I hope this article finds you in good health. I am writing

this on Saturday, June 8th after a fulfilling day of serving

others by helping, along with 16 other brothers and

sisters in Christ's service, by cleaning up debris from the

tornado that hit the Roseville area two weeks ago. We

chose two sites that had excessive amounts of trees and

tree limbs that needed removing. We started around

8:30 AM, and were finished around 2:30 PM. We

removed 6 large truck loads of chipped debris. Thanks

to brother Jeff Krouskoupf for bringing the chipper,

truck, a loader, and three employees to guide us and

make sure only wood went into the chipper.

Our next service opportunity will be serving lunch at

Christ's Table on Saturday, July 6th. We will need to

meet at Christ's Table at 10:00 AM to prepare for the

11:30 to 12:30 service. Again, this is an outreach to

those less fortunate in the Zanesville community. It

usually takes 7 to 10 people to accomplish this project,

and it involves fixing sandwiches, heating up soup or

another hot food item, serving the meal, cleaning the

trays as we are serving, and cleaning up when we're

finished.

So, mark your calendar for Saturday, July 6th for serving

lunch at Christ's Table 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

On Sunday, July 7th we will have our regular 7:00 AM

breakfast meeting in the Embers Room.

We will be giving more information about the

September Men’s Retreat in the near future. We hope to

see you there. I'm thinking baked French toast, pork

patties, and hash brown casserole will be on the menu

(Josh).

That’s all for now!

In His Service,

Tim Collins, Secretary

Bethel Community Center – A Missional Outpost 126 Ontario Street, Zanesville

Many Reasons to Roar!

School may be out, but we haven’t slowed down this Summer. In June, we had a Rolling Plains-Bethel

combined VBS. A Fellers Grant made this VBS possible. Here are other happenings at Bethel this Summer:

Summer Youth Program: Monday - Friday from 10:30-2:30 for Grades K-12. A Muskingum

Community Foundation Grant made this program possible. Meals are provided daily for children and adults

by Christ’s Table.

Kelly Stewart, Summer Youth Program Coordinator;

volunteer Paul Law; Director Joyce Jones; and two

participants, Alexia and Kloe, prepare banana

pudding for the day’s dessert.

Fun activities that teach and opportunities

to make new friends are two benefits of

our Summer program

Looking good in the neighborhood!

A team of volunteers gave up their Saturday to refresh

our landscaping. Ninety-five percent of what happens

at Bethel is made possible by volunteers who invest in

our mission to be a safe haven for kids and families in

the Putnam neighborhood. If you feel called to serve at

Bethel, just give us a call and we can show you around

and help you find your connecting place.

See How Our Garden Grows!

We are already harvesting strawberries, and we see

banana peppers and tomatoes growing along with

lettuce, cabbage, and green beans. A volunteer’s

wife made us yummy cupcakes using our

strawberries!

Kay Miller, Bethel Board Member

Crossworks

Mission in Europe July 2019

At times, part of the “not so fun” life of a missionary is having to say goodbye. This spring/summer is proving to be a challenge for me, due to the fact that there are five missionary couples plus one gal leaving Camarma, our little pueblo (town). While none of us are from the same mission organization, we have worked together on various outreach projects, summer camps, Bible studies, and taught English to Spaniards. Throughout this time, these folks have become dear friends and a major part of my social circle. It will not be easy doing life without my American missionary friends, but I thank God that He brought us together, even if it was for just a short while, to share life, love, and the Gospel.

Sunday, June 16 was a glorious day for our Camarma Church and the body of Christ, with the baptism of 10 new Spanish believers. As 250 people looked on, they shared testimonies of their love, trust, and hope in Christ. With the challenge we’ve been given in Matthew 28:19-20 to make new disciples, especially in a post-Christian country, I believe that anytime we have the opportunity to witness someone’s public declaration of faith, it is a miracle – in and of itself. Gracias a Dios!

Prayers needed for: Future opportunities to train and teach adults in the mission field. Some of our missionaries in the field who are struggling with chronic illnesses. Safe travels during the summer months to and from the US, as well as other European trips.

DONATE: ECMI-USA, PO Box 2217 Monument, CO 80132. (Sharon Graves # 4060) http://www.ecmi-usa.org/get-involved/give/

Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy

Celebrating 10 Baptisms: The Resurrection of New Life

Friends, giving just got easier than ever at Rolling Plains! I would like to introduce a couple of new ways you can give your tithes and offerings. The first is PayPal, a company most of you are familiar with. We have added a PayPal button under the “Give” tab on our website, allowing you to complete your electronic giving in a few simple steps. No need to register. If you have a PayPal account, a couple of quick steps and you are done. We have also added a PayPal (Donate) button on our Facebook page for our online viewers, giving them the opportunity to continue in worship as we do when our tithes and offerings are collected during worship on Sunday mornings.

The Second way is a new app called Give Plus. This new app is available in both the Apple App store and Google Play. It’s free, quick, and easy for anyone using a smart device. Simply download the app. You can register if you want or simply choose “Give Now.” You then choose our church, designate your amount, and the app will prompt you to take a picture of your card. Once you confirm your gift, you are done. With this app you can give from anywhere.

If you have any question, please feel free to reach out to me or to one of the members of our finance team: Chad Lawson, Heather Stoltz or Pat Kelly.

Kevin Franklin, Operations Manager

6 Forrest & Carol Drier Jesse & Kala Parrill 8 John & Susan Roberts 13 Joe & Mary Ann Graham 14 Dan & Kathy Mohler 17 Phil & Linda Kinner, Charles & Linda Quinn 19 Bill & JoAnn Paisley 22 Dan & Kelly Morrison 24 Mark & Diane Burrier Van & Melissa Slack 27 Kris & Kendra Kemp 30 David & Elizabeth Rupe

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES

The Price of Freedom and Prayer for Peace

To those who courageously gave their lives and those who bravely fight today…

Thank you to the men and women who courageously serve.

Military Casualties (Source: Department of Defense) Since the inception of the United States of America on July 4, 1776, every generation of Americans have been called on to

defend freedom and liberty. Over the years, more than 42 million American men and women have served their country in time of war. (The Memorial Day Foundation).

Revolutionary War (1775-1783) Recorded deaths - 4,435 War of 1812 (1812 – 1815) Recorded deaths – 2,260

Mexican War (1846 – 1848) Recorded deaths – 13,283

Civil War (1861 – 1865) Recorded deaths (North and South) 565,621

Spanish – American War (1898 – 1899) Recorded deaths – 2, 446

Philippines Insurrection (1899 – 1902) Recorded deaths – 4,273

World War 1 (1917 - 1918) Recorded deaths – 116,516

World War II (1941 – 1946) Recorded deaths 405,399

Korean War (1950 – 1953) Recorded deaths 36,574

Vietnam (1965 – 1975) Recorded deaths 58,209

Persian Gulf (1987, 1990 – 1991) Recorded deaths 530

Operation Endure Freedom – Afghanistan (2001) Recorded deaths 1,745

Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003 – 2010) Recorded deaths 4,420

All Other Conflicts (1775 – present) Recorded deaths 2,894

Total number of Americans who gave their lives for Freedom – 1,218,605+

(A number that does not include those seriously injured physically or mentally).

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Freedom is never free. You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of

your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt – a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it

to the cross. Colossians 1:13-14

Calvary approx. 30 A.D. | Recorded deaths 3 | Life Given as Sacrifice for Others 1 | 3 Days Later, Recorded Resurrection – 1

One life won freedom for all who put their trust in Him. Lasting freedom. Not just until the next war, conflict, or operation,

but forever, and always freedom. Eternal Peace.

Jesus – Prince of Peace I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:37

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Jesus – Son of God So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36

Prayer for Peace:

Father, today we remember those men and women who paid for our freedom with their lives. They followed the

footsteps of Jesus, our Savior, that we might enjoy freedom and peace. Protect those who serve in our military as

they protect us. We are thankful for their sacrifice. We appreciate each family’s sacrifice. We are blessed by their

bravery and selflessness. Father, You said, If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and

pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and

restore their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Forgive us. Restore Godliness in our nation’s leaders. Restore faith and love

in our counties, neighborhoods, and homes. We need You. Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, our

Savior, Jesus. It is through His love and sacrifice that we are able to come before You asking for Your grace and

mercy. Draw us close. Give us peace. Make us holy. Amen.

Jeff Krouskoupf, Prayer Team

1 Shirley Rice, Mike Shaeffer 4 Lori Smith 5 Becky Johnson, Angela Morosko, Thomas Reed 6 Trevor Bergstrom, Linda Hatfield, Amanda Jarvis, Pat Murphy 9 Austin Donley, Lee Martin, Bryan Smith, Ray Snyder, Kyle Trout 11 Jeff Krouskoupf, Amy Rosser 12 Jerry Stump 13 Betty Mason 14 Zhen Li 16 Dale Ann Strohl, Mike Murphy 17 Mary Robinson, Harry Strickler 18 Velma Higginbotham, Dave Rupe 19 Bill Dalrymple, Shelby Hatfield, Matt Wood 21 Brandon Jarvis 22 Carol Denton, Roz Kennedy, 25 Kala Parrill 26 Patty Roberts 27 Patsy Brock, Ed Kinsel, Rachel Matz 28 Hailey Swingle 29 Fred Beckert, Roy Sarbaugh 30 Joe Martin, Rob Matarazzo 31 Angie Smith, Blake Swope, Kim Touvell

Come! Let us Worship and Lift up our Hearts before the Lord, so that we all might

receive Healing

A Service of Story, Song, and Healing

Sunday evening, July 28, 2019

6:00 p.m. at Rolling Plains

Guest Musician, Rev. Justin Williams

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2

Let us come and be ministered to, in story and song

with guest soloist, Pastor Justin Williams.

Are you yearning for more of God? Do you thirst for the Living Waters?

This Special Service is sure to open our hearts, as we seek God’s healing through prayers and

laying on of hands, immediately following Justin’s story and song.

Our Time of Refreshing and Restoration has come. You won’t want to miss this opportunity!

Let those who seek God's Healing open their hearts to the Spirit of the Lord and invite

Friends and Family to join.

EMBRACING God’s Amazing, Unending Grace…

What a wonderful sermon series and church-wide study we had in the Book of Galatians

on the subject of God’s Grace! I pray that you were blessed by all you heard and

learned. May we live more fully as we Embrace God’s Amazing and Unending Grace!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD’s Love and Grace for you, check out our Connections Link, our previous messages, and RightNow Media Courses on our Website at:

www.rollingplainsumc.com

Friends, I want you to know that the Grace of God is extended towards us Continually – Not just when we do good or do good things, or have a perfect day NO, even in our weakness, God’s Grace is present and working. For God’s strength is made PERFECT in our Weakness. You see, God doesn’t play a cat and mouse game with us, where today you’re IN and tomorrow you’re OUT. NO, NO, NO! God’s Mercies and God’s Grace are NEW every morning! Great is God’s Faithfulness towards His beloved!

Does Grace mean that we are immune to sin? NO

That we will never err? NO!

Does that mean we can keep on sinning? Oh NO! GOD Forbid! Let us not FRUSTRATE the Grace of God!

But let us, with humbleness of heart, Accept God’s Love and Grace by Faith and walk in it day-by-day as the Holy Spirit of God continually renews and regenerates our thoughts, actions, words, and deeds; bringing us under the dominion, rule, and power of His Spirit in His Righteousness! Beloved, sin is part of the Human Nature and as long as we’re in this World we will have to wrestle with this World, our Flesh, and the Devil! However, God’s GRACE is continually available to deliver us from the power and dominion of sin. Oh! The Amazing, Unending Grace of God! Oh! My Soul! When I think of the Goodness of God, and all that He has done for me, my Soul cries out – Hallelujah! Thank God for Saving Me!

In God’s Love, Pastor Alethea

Discipleship Pathways

Greetings Friends, it’s Pastor Alethea Botts, and I want to Welcome you to Rolling Plains UMC Discipleship Pathways! As the Executive Pastor of Discipleship, my primary role is to connect you and others to resources which will encourage and aid your Spiritual Growth – Connecting with God and others along your Faith Journey.

Discipleship Pathways are resources such as Life Groups, Missional Ministries, Bible and Book Studies, Individual Online Helps, etc. that serve as onramps or springboards to help you take your next Faithful Step of Spiritual Growth. DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT A LINEAR PATH… Following the teachings of Jesus Christ does not mean that we read through the Bible chronologically or that we attend a set series of classes. Rather, here at Rolling Plains, there are multiple Pathways to Discipleship. DISCIPLESHIP BEGINS WITH RELATIONSHIP… God never intended for us to walk alone. God gave us the Gift of the Church, the Gathered Community of Believers for Worship, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, and Accountability. Where and how are you enjoying the Gift that God gave to you in your Church Family? Because we recognize that relationships cannot be fully achieved on Sunday mornings, we offer ongoing ways to support your Faith Journey as you Come, Connect, Grow, and Go. SO, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TO CONNECT? Review some of the options below and take your next Faithful Step Forward! Afterwards, give me or Pastor John a call at the Church at 740-453-4192. Or send me an email at abotts@rollingplainsumc.com. When you’re in the building, check out our Kiosk in the Lobby or anytime (24/7) on our Church Website at www.rollingplainsumc.com We’re Here for YOU!

It hurts to lose someone. Find help at GriefShare…

Rolling Plains’ Discipleship Pathways announces GriefShare, a 13-week program designed to help

people through the grieving process left by the passing of a loved one. GriefShare is a friendly,

caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.

There is no cost to attend the meetings and light refreshments will be served. The 13 weeks of the

GriefShare Program do not build on one another, so if you need to miss a session, you will not be

behind. A Workbook is available for a small donation and will help you stay connected to work

through the grief process in a positive way.

For more information, Pastor Dick Newlon from our Congregational Care Team will be available in

the Embers Room on July 7th and July 14th from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. To sign up, simply write

“GriefShare” on your Connection Card and Pastor Dick will contact you directly.

GriefShare will begin meeting the first week in August, 2019. Look for more information in your weekly bulletin.

Baptism and Membership

Bible and Book Studies

Life Groups

Journeyer’s Senior Travel

Youth and Children’s Ministries

Women’s and Men’s Ministry

Bethel Community Center

Monday Night Prayer

Starting Point

Music Ministry

Explore Ordained or Lay Ministry

Congregational Care Ministry

Financial Peace University

Family Ministries

Local & Global Mission Projects

Homeless Meal Ministry

RightNow Online Media Courses

CenterShot Archery

Needle Crafters for Christ

Spiritual Gifts Assessment

Grief Support

Road to Recovery Support Group