LIFE TOGETHER ON WEST MORRIS STREET
A weekly information and prayer journal by Pastor John Hay, Jr.

September 26, 2007

Contents
- Onset of Autumn
- Incarnating Christ
- Prayerful
- Gathering
- Centered in the Word
- Blessings

ONSET OF AUTUMN

HARVET TIME? Here we are-at the onset of autumn. With school beginning in the first weeks of August, it seems like summer ends much sooner than at the autumnal equinox on September 23. After six weeks of our kids' school and sports activities, late September feels like we are deep into the season instead of at its beginning. I embrace this season as a gift of God. I tried to express this in the following poem. I pray that these weeks and months will bring grace, renewal and harvest to your life and our congregation.

On the brink of autumn,
A hint of chill in the air,
The sun's setting sooner,
In a few days we'll be there

Where green turns to golden
And reapers harvest the yield,
Where dry leaves are falling
And flocking fowl arc the fields.

Then we'll don our jackets
And brace ourselves for the wind
That rustles through branches
And billows our souls again.

Do not shrink back from fall;
Embrace this gilded season
As a grace that descends;
A gift to all from heaven.

It's time for returning,
For in-bringing and burning,
For heart walks in deep woods,
For distilling, discerning.

What's muddled becomes clear
And all chaff is left exposed
As autumn's sun glows bright
And a harvest moon shines cold.

We may shed pretenses
And travel a lighter way
Our hearts as crisp as leaves
That lift and then sail away.

As we are being turned,
Turn-facing all the changes,
The falling, the cooling,
And the encroaching darkness.

Lean into the season
Lest it overtake your way.
Let your soul be opened;
Relish its gift this fall day.

INCARNATING CHRIST

AT HAND & ON THE HORIZON Please note the following updated and upcoming opportunities:
- Women's Bible Study - Tuesdays @ 6:30-8:30 pm
- All-Indy Youth Lock-in - Sept 28-29
- SCAMPS @ Kenninger Farm - Sept 29
- Mission Indy Rally - Sept 30, 6 pm @ Ritter Ave FMC
- One More Soul in Morning Worship - a 3-week outreach focus - September 30 - Oct 14
- Church Work Day - October 6 - Please plan to help!
- Indy Life Chain - Oct 7, 2:30-3:30 pm
- West Indianapolis Planning Charet and Chili Supper - Saturday, Oct 13 - Neighborhood designing event: 9 am-5 pm; Chili Supper and feedback: 6 pm
- CLC+/Preteen "SuperStart" Retreat - Oct 19-20
- Wabash Children's Workers Training - Oct 19-20
- Wabash Conference Superintendent welcome - Oct 21

GULFPORT VISA TRIP It's not too late to join our VISA Team to rebuild Katrina-destroyed homes in Gulfport, Mississippi. The date is around the corner: October 13-20. Thus far, seven volunteers are planning to participate. We need more! $250 covers all expenses. Interested teens or adults, please contact Tim Foddrill, who leads the team.

UNCLE TIM NEEDS YOU! Tim Foddrill, Chair of our Trustees, that is. For what? For part or all of one Saturday, October 6, for a Church Work Day. Tasks: grass seed in West Park, fence repair at the Bus Barn, install countertop in Lower Level kitchen, painting and clean-up/fix-up in a variety of areas. Please plan to help for at least part of the day. Working together makes a big difference.

BIBLE QUIZZING SUPPORT We are still seeking a volunteer to work with 5th-6th-grade participants in the youth Bible Quizzing that meets on Sundays, 5:00-6:00 pm; this would include accompanying these three young people to quiz meets one Saturday each month. Please contact me if you are considering this.

PRAYERFUL

HENRIETTA RIDENOUR FUNERAL Pray comfort for Charlie & Joyce Boxman and the Ridenour family as they gather in South Bend this week for the funeral of Joyce's mother, Henrietta Ridenour. Visiting is Wednesday, Sept 26, 4-8 pm at Palmer Funeral Home, 2528 Mishawaka, South Bend, IN 46615, (574) 289-2848. The funeral is there on Thursday at 2:00 pm.

PRAY FOR THE FRYMANS We have received unexpected news from the Frymans (who have been serving in Rwanda since July). Here is information as Kathy shares it so you may pray earnestly: "Our plans have drastically changed today. After a bumpy trip to Kigali on Sunday I noticed some tenderness in my abdomen and as I poked and prodded I felt a big bump. When we arrived back at Kibogora, I asked the visiting OB/GYN for an exam and ultrasound which revealed a rather large cyst, probably ovarian. It was agreed that surgery should be sooner than later. So...we are hurriedly packing up what we need and planning to drive back to Kigali to catch a Thursday afternoon flight to Ethiopia and then a night flight to Washington DC and then on to Indianapolis. We are in contact with my doctor there and Dave anticipates that I will have surgery Monday or Tuesday. Beyond that, we have no plans and no idea how things will work out. We will need to be home at least 2 or 3 months. Please pray for me (obviously) and for the rest of the family as we adjust to this sudden and unexpected change of plans. Pray that our travel will be smooth and that we'll be able to get on the necessary flights."

PRAY FOR BREAKTHROUGH With thanksgiving, pray for encouragement, wisdom and spiritual breakthrough:
-- God's centering, empowering, breakthrough presence amid your daily challenges and choices.
-- For eyes to see friends, neighbors, and loved ones-"one more soul"-in light of God's saving desire…and then to bear grace to them in practical and prophetic ways.
-- Matt & Susan Strange and family in Taiwan, serving in educational ministry to missionary families. See their latest photos and stories: http://www.dropshots.com/strangem#
-- Pray daily for our Free Methodist missionaries: Dr. Joel & Janette Miller (Mexico), David & Sheryl Yardy (Asia), Kay Stotts (Chile), and Michael & Maria Long (Greece) Check new prayer requests online at: www.fmwm.org.
-- For each Sunday School teacher as they call on their class participants and prepare to teach this Sunday.
-- For Gale & Georgia O'Connor as the lead our Youth Ministry and for the youth who are responding.
-- God's guidance and revival in and through WEMO.

PRAY IN INTERCESSION Pray God's healing touch and answers for the following requested concerns:
-- -- Pray comfort and wisdom for Margaret Miller. The 89-year old woman she has been a caregiver to for many years died and Margaret is entrusted with Hazel Ennen's last will and testament.
-- Vance Robbins continues to strengthen at home.
-- Grace for Joe Black at Lakeview, who has developed a troubling infection; also for Phyllis who attends to him daily.
-- Mike Leak is at home, doing well but undergoing tests.

MEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST All men are invited each Wednesday @ 6:15 am in Ellis Hall. Food, fellowship & prayer. Donations support Dr. Wes Duewel's ministry.

SCAMPS PRAYER & SHARE All adults 55+ are invited to a monthly prayer meeting. Jim & Pat Strange host it in their home on Tuesday, October 2 @ 7:00 pm.

GATHERING

COFFEEHOUSE Hosted by Anna Shepherd and Pastor Mike Conkle, Coffeehouse is a weekly gathering and opportunity for Christian conversation for adults each Wednesday, 6:30-8:00 pm, East End. All welcome!

YOUTH LOCK-IN The annual All-Indy Youth Lock-in is this week: Sept 28 (8:35 pm) to Sept 29 (6:00 am); $25 per student. Games, food, recreation all night!

COLLEGE/CAREER SUNDAY NIGHTS Post-high school and early adults are gathering for fellowship on Sunday evenings @ 6:00 pm in The Underground. All welcome! Also, C/C's meet Sunday mornings @ 9:30 in the Lower Level for "The Wired Word" with Mike Conkle.

SCAMPS DOWN ON THE FARM The next big SCAMPS event takes seniors "down on the farm," the Kenninger Farm. It's this Saturday, Sept. 29. Enjoy the day!

MISSION INDY RALLY - SEPT 30 I want to encourage you to participate in the Mission Indy Rally this Sunday, September 30 at 6:00 pm. This is a gathering of Indy-area Free Methodists for the sake of drawing together in worship and fellowship and to seek how we may build up the church in this metropolitan area. This particular rally will feature the new Chinese church plant within Aldersgate FMC, with Rev. Michael Lee sharing about the changed lives this ministry is already seeing. A dessert fellowship follows this one-hour service. Want to find encouragement in what God is doing? Don't skip this event!

PRE-TEEN "SUPERSTART" RETREAT. 5th & 6th graders have a great retreat opportunity Oct 9-10. "SuperStart" is hosted in Brownsburg especially for pre-teens. Friday-night lodging has been donated. $33 per student will be offset with an upcoming car wash.

WEMO HERITAGE DAY - November 18 - Invite friends of WEMO from the past and all around for this day of homecoming; Rev. Don Riggs preaching, special music, & a pitch-in dinner in the Lower Level. Contact me if you can help with planning and preparations for this day.

CENTERED IN THE WORD

SEPTEMBER VERSE "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14 This passage is being memorized by children in Sunday School throughout the month of September. Why not adults?

SUNDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY Steve Strange leads weekly Sunday evening Bible Study @ 5:00 pm in the Chapel Conference Room. The focus is Exodus. It's open to everyone and you can join in at any time. Steve's a solid teacher, committed to teach the Bible a chapter at a time.

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY - Each Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 pm thru November 13, in the Chapel. "Living Beyond Yourself: The Fruit of the Spirit," a Beth Moore study. Join in!

EXPLORE THE WORD - AUDIO ONLINE If you'd like to hear our time with the Word from weekly Morning Worship services, they are now available for listening online. Just go to our website - www.westmorrisfm.org - and click on the "sermons online" icon. Our thanks to Dan Laughlin for making the feature and service available.

BLESSINGS

A BENEDICTION May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors. (from Celtic Daily Prayer)

West Morris Street Free Methodist Church
2302 West Morris Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46221
John Hay, Jr., Senior Pastor
Phone: 317.632.8311
Office e-mail: wmsfmc@juno.com
Website: www.westmorrisfm.org

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