West Morris Weekly

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October 14, 2020

 

Dear Church Family,

Today's narrative lectionary reading (Deut 1:34-40; 2:1-8) is the tragic and sobering tale of Israel's sojourn in the desert. These 40 long years came as a direct result of Israel's disobedience and distrust of God. Even though an entire generation never entered the Promised Land that God desired to give them, God never abandoned his people. We read, "The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything" (Deut 2:7). 

God continues to call us - individually and communally - into the promises of his Kingdom. My prayer is that we would always respond with obedience and trust, always knowing God will be with us. Responding to God's call and Jesus' command to make disciples, here are some important things for you to know:

DISCIPLES GROW

• Discipleship Class - Learn & practice how to have Spiritual Conversations with anyone, anywhere about God. In this 8-week spiritual formation/discipleship class, we will work through 9 different "arts" of spiritual conversations including praying, noticing, welcoming, facilitating and and sharing. Missing Sunday School or Bible Study? This is a great option. Monday Nights from 7-8:15 PM on Zoom, from Oct 26-Dec 14. Learn more & register at https://www.westmorrisfm.org/spiritual-conversations. (See attachment #1 below)

• Beauty for Ashes Support Group - Join the support group for survivors of trauma meeting Monday nights at West Morris Church at 6:30 PM. (See attachment #2 below)

• Free Financial Webinar - Join the Free Methodist Foundation's free online webinar, "Virus Proofing your Estate and Financial Plan" on Sunday, October 18 at 6 PM. Register today!

DISCIPLES PRAY

• Joanne Butler (known as Jo-Jo) passed away last week at her residence. Please pray for daughter Angela and the rest of the family. We will indeed miss Joanne's positive and encouraging presence at West Morris.

• Encourage Wally Murray with a note. Due to COVID, his visitors are very limited - even from his wife Mary. But you can send a card to Wally at Cumberland Trace, Room #712, 1925 Reeves Rd, Plainfield IN 46168

• Pray for Pat Strange who is IU Methodist for Bell's Palsy, and John Miller and Margaret Miller who both continue to heal and recover from surgeries.

• Pray also for Michelle Bailey's mom Theresa (who lives in Trinidad) who was having chest pains, and for Aman and Nebil's mom who was in a car accident today.

DISCIPLES WORSHIP

• Sunday, Oct 18 we begin a new series called, "Imagine a Kingdom". We will explore Jesus' teaching about the Kingdom of God in Matthew 13. Join us online at 10:30 AM (ET) on Zoom or Facebook Live.

• Sunday, Oct 25 we will again gather in micro-churches around the city and online. Would you step out in faith and host one? You could invite family and/or friends over. A worship guide will provided to you. If you aren't hosting one, be sure to find one to join. Get more information here.

• Sunday, Nov 1 we will worship together in-person (and online). We are planning a special election prayer and communion service as we head into election week. (And don't forget to vote!)

• Advent is coming! The first Sunday of Advent is November 29 which will be here before we know it. Want to be part of the planning team for making our Advent 2020 extra special (albeit unique?!)? We'd love to have your creativity and input. Email Pastor Kristen.

Blessings to you for the remainder of the week. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday. Be sure to register for the Spiritual Conversations Discipleship Class - it's open to anyone and everyone!

Pastor Kristen

P.S. That free washer/dryer pair is still available to anyone who needs it. Who might you know that would be blessed by this?! Email Pastor Kristen.

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Attachment #1 - Spiritual Conversations Discipleship Class poster

Attachment #2 - Beauty for Ashes Support Group Flyer

 

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October 9, 2020

 

Dear Church Family,

 

Due to developing health concerns and out of an abundance of caution, Saturday's Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off has been cancelled. We look forward to rescheduling it for a later date.

 

Pastor Kristen

 

 

 

October 9, 2020

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Dear Church Family,

Today's Scripture reading from the Lectionary includes the familiar lines of Psalm 23. David declares God's goodness as a Shepherd, his presence in the time of trials and difficulty, his provision as a Banquet Preparer & Inviter, and his love which never leaves us. We also know Jesus as the One who declared, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11-18). Just this morning I re-read Psalm 23 in the VOICE Translation and was blessed by its phrasing - I'd encourage you to read it today, and when you find yourself in a challenging, dark place needing reminding of God's goodness and love!

As another week draws to a close, here are some important things you need to know:

COMMUNITY - NOTE: This event has been cancelled!

• Join us tomorrow (Sat., Oct 10) from 6-9 PM at Pastor Kristen & John Marble's farm for the Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off. The address is 8230 Hayworth Rd in Indianapolis and is just 4.5 miles from 465. We will have food, games, and opportunity to spend time together - inside and outside. We'll have chili, s'mores around the campfire, and even a chance to milk the goat if you wish! (See Attachment #1 for details)

• We still need some pots of chili for our cook-off competition. Or, bring a side dish or dessert to share.

• Need directions to the farm? Take the Kentucky Ave/Exit 8 off 465 and head south on Kentucky (towards Mooresville). Take a left onto High School Rd and continue onto Mooresville Rd. Take a sharp left onto Hayworth Rd (immediately after West Newton Elementary School). The farm is on the right approximately 1 mile after turning onto Hayworth.

LEARN & GROW

• Financial Webinar - Join the Free Methodist Foundation free webinar on Sunday, October 18 at 6 PM on Facebook Live. Learn how to "virus proof" your documents and how to keep your financial planning up to date. Register online at facebook.com/fmffinancialservices/ (click on events tab and look for the Wabash Conference event) or email Tim Burkhart. (For more info, see Attachment #2)

• Beauty for Ashes Group - join Pastors Dee Franklin and Geri Cullum for a weekly support group for survivors of trauma. The group meetings Monday nights at 6:30 PM at the church. For sign-up & information please contact: Geri Cullum 317.605.1519 or Delores Franklin: 317.702.4864.

• Daily Scripture Reading - Starting January 2021, we will be following the Narrative Lectionary with our daily Scripture readings and Sunday preaching. This is a different reading plan than the Revised Common Lectionary I've referenced throughout this year. Check out the Narrative Lectionary daily readings here. Or continue reading daily passages from the Revised Common Lectionary here.

PRAY

• Continue to pray for Margaret Miller and John Miller, both of whom are in the hospital with on-going recovery and complications from their respective surgeries. 

• Pray too for Garth Banks, Wally and Mary Murray, and Ken Platt.

• Hear these prayers of Thanksgiving - Our family would like to thank all of you at West Morris for the many acts of support and love shown to us after Marge's passing. We so appreciate the many cards, meals, visits and prayers during this time. It meant so much to us to see so many people brave the Covid threat to pay their respects at the funeral home. We are of course missing her deeply as many of you are also, but we know that she finished the race very well and is now enjoying the eternal rest and joy of being with the Lord that she served here so faithfully. KEN , CHERYL and FAMILY

WORSHIP

• This week we will be worshiping ONLINE in Zoom and broadcast to Facebook Live at 10:30 AM on Sunday. 

• Thanks to everyone who helped last week so we could worship together in the building. Special thanks go to John M and Kerri D who have been working tirelessly to coordinate with contractors to get our building cleaned, painted, updated and more. Thanks to the many volunteers who cleaned, prepped, ushered, greeted, and cleaned again. And thanks to our Board and Pastor Brett who developed an extensive COVID Action Plan so we could meet safely in person.

May the One who is faithful and good and the One who "makes me whole again steer [us] off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name" (Ps 23:3). See you in worship on Sunday!

Pastor Kristen

P.S. Need a washer/dryer? Know someone who does? We've had an older working electric washer/dryer set offered to us to give away to anyone who needs it. Interested? Please email or call/text Pastor Kristen (317-464-7360) to make arrangements for delivery.

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Attachment #1 - Fall Festival Flyer (NOTE: This event has been cancelled!)

Attachment #2 - FMF Financial Webinar

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October 2, 2020

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Good morning West Morris Family!

Fall has arrived and the leaves are starting to change. Romans 1:20 declares, "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature."  This time of great beauty might be a great way to start a conversation with someone far from God this week, asking them what in nature they've observed that makes them wonder about the presence of a loving God.

There are a lot of details in this email about things you need to know - so thanks for reading!

WORSHIP
Worship Indoors this Sunday - Because of cold & rainy weather on Sunday, we will be moving our planned parking lot service inside the sanctuary. We look forward to worshiping with those of you who can come. Here are some important details for Sunday:

1. Please stay home if you are sick, have been around others who are sick, are in high risk categories, or are uncomfortable with gathering indoors with others. We will broadcast the service on Facebook Live and welcome you to join in from there.

2. Masks will be REQUIRED to be worn correctly (over nose & mouth) by ALL at ALL TiMES. Pastor Kristen will preach in a mask and the worship team will sing in masks. Masks will be provided to those who do not have them.

3. Only the main entrance and canopy doors will be open on Sunday. They will be opened 15 minutes prior to the service. At the close of the service, you will be escorted outside by our ushers. Please enjoy your conversations and socializing outside before and after the service.

4. Ushers will show you to your seat. Please follow signs and directions for entering and exiting the building and worship space.

5. Please sit together with your family group only. Thank you for maintaining the chair-spacing in the worship space.

6. Please maintain proper social distancing from all others; waves, elbow and fist bumps are great ways to greet one another.

7. The bathrooms by the sanctuary will be open for use. Please limit the bathrooms to one person at a time. After using the bathroom, please wipe down all surfaces with the provided disinfecting wipes.

8. Ushers will stand at the back of the worship space at the close of the surface to collect your tithes and offering.

9. We will gather for worship only on Sunday. Nursery, breakfast, coffee service, Sunday School, children's church and van service will not be open. (Although Sunday School classes are highly encouraged to gather online, in people's homes, or elsewhere!) The remainder of the building besides the worship space/foyer/bathrooms will be closed.

10. Thank you for your grace in following the guidelines! We look forward to gathering in a clean, safe environment for worship and appreciate your cooperation.

PRAY

• Breakthrough Prayer - Join Pam Cowart (Bishop Keith's wife) for a 21-journey of Breakthrough Prayer starting October 4. Sign-up for the journey and receive a free book here and join the facebook group here.

• Awakening Prayer - Relive the "Night with New Room" Conference here - watch the videos, download bonus content, and learn about next steps.

GROW

• Book Club - if you are interested in reading the book, I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown, here's your second opportunity! Books are already available to start a book club in mid-October that will meet weekly. Contact Rachel Mohlman at 317-677-2828 or rmohlman@gmail.com. The group will choose the meeting time and format.

• Women's Retreat - there's still time to make plans to attend the Wabash Women's Retreat at the Wabash Campground. Check out the attached flyer for more info.

• Beauty to Ashes Group - join the Beauty to Ashes Recovery Group for men and women meeting Monday nights at 6:30 PM. Everyone welcome. Contact Pastor Delores Franklin (317.702.4864) or Geri Cullum (317.605.1519) for more info.

• Free Methodist Foundation Webinar - the Free Methodist Foundation is offering a free webinar for Wabash on Sunday, October 18 at 6 PM on Facebook. Register here and check out the attachment for more info.

HAVE FUN

• Wanted: Chili Cooks! Make a pot of chili for our Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 10th at the Marble Farm (8230 Hayworth Rd, Indy) from 6-9 PM. A Chili Chef Winner will be selected and prizes will be awarded! 

• Fall Festival - Come eat some great chili and have fun at the Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off on Saturday, Oct 10 from 6-9 PM at the Marble Farm Everyone's invited - bring a friend. See the flyer for more info.

That's a lot this week! Thanks for reading through it as we WORSHIP, PRAY, GROW and HAVE FUN together! I look forward to seeing some of you in person on Sunday. We still need a few volunteers - sign up here.

Attachment #1 - Women's Retreat

Attachment #2 - Free Methodist Foundation Webinar 

Attachment #3 - Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off 

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