Just a quick glance through our church newsletter (Steeple Notes), or through the “Coming Events” section of our bulletin, or at the Monthly Calendar (see the link on the website sidebar), reveals that this church is “busy.” But being “busy” and “doing things” doesn’t necessarily mean we’re “doing things” that glorify God.
But when the Holy Spirit leads us into these activities, we are then participating in the ministries that God is calling us to participate in. God is calling each of us to use the talents and gifts He’s entrusted us with to help Him build His Kingdom. And so we look for God to show us the ways in which He’s “Blessed us to be a Blessing.”
And when God gives us the passion and resources to do His will and when He puts our efforts to use, that is cause for celebration! It’s also cause to get on board and to deepen our commitment to His work.
So that’s just what we did on Sunday January 31. During this “fifth Sunday of the month”, the “9:30’ers” joined with the “11:00’ers” to participate in a single service (10:15). We then enjoyed a special luncheon in the Fellowship Hall afterwards. We looked at the ministries of our church and considered how God is using us to glorify Him.
We shared some laughs, sang some uplifting music, and, of course- we had a great meal!
Lunchtime!
Before getting updates on the various meetings, and after singing some music, we got into the “main event”: Lunch!
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Celebration of Ministries
We then took a look at the many ministries of our church. Below are a few that were presented…
| Christian Education covers a wide range of opportunities and age groups. We have Sunday School for adults and kids. Our Christian Education team also actively reaches out to the community with events such as Vacation Bible School, Trunk or Treat, the Live Nativity, and the Easter Egg Hunt. |
 Stef Kier- Christian Education |
| BLAST (Big Loud Awesome Spiritual Time) is our Youth fellowship group. They meet twice a week for Bible study and take on other excursions and service projects. This past December they served breakfast at a homeless shelter. Last year they raised one TON of food for our pantry. |
 Kate Dilks- Youth Leader |
| Our Men’s Fellowship group meets one Saturday a month for a Bible study, does service projects around town, and serves up a “mean” Breakfast buffet.
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 Chris Valianti- Men’s Fellowship |
| The Elderberries is a group of “seniors” which meets monthly to share with each other and with “kids” of other ages. Several times during the year the Elderberries will partner with Our Father’s House (our Preschool) for for events such as the Thanksgiving Feast. |
 Maureen Kier- Elderberries |
| Our “Thread and Yarn” ministries provide handmade items such blankets, quilts, prayer shawls to people going through difficult times. The “Scrappy Quilters” group quilts blankets, and the “Hooks ‘n Needles for God” team makes knitted and crocheted items. |
 Sue Simmons- Hooks ‘n Needles |
| Stephen Ministers are the “after people”… they come alongside and stay alongside; when loved one dies, when you loose a job, when someone is diagnosed with cancer. Stephen Ministers undergo extensive training to provide comfort and a confidential listening ear. |
 Jon Simmons- Stephen Ministers |
| One of our many global missions is to help build a church in La Palmilla Mexico. Throughout the years, we have sent several mission teams to Mexico to partner with this vibrant church. |
 Jennifer Andrade- Mexico Mission |
| When we think of ministries within the church we usually think of education, fellowship, and worship. But none of these would happen without the “nuts and bolts” of church administration.
Ministry Teams (we hate the word “committee”) provide the leadership that’s needed in areas such as finance, building maintenance, and personnel. |
 Kristin McIlvaine- Finance Team |
Our Youth Ministry has taken on an imaginative use of coffee mugs to remind us to constantly pray 
for members of our Youth Group. Being a teenager isn’t easy; some of our youth are going through very rough times.
A name is written on the inner rim of each of these “BLAST Mugs.” With each sip, we are reminded to pray for one of our Youth. These mugs were prayed over during our January 31 worship service, and they were distributed during the luncheon.
Being Relevant & Revealing Christ to the Community…
Pitman United Methodist Church doesn’t exist for ourselves; we exist for Jesus Christ! Our Lord and Savior has called us to…
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Matthew 25:35-36
We summarize our mission as “Know, Grow, and Go.” To know about Jesus, then to KNOW Jesus personally, then to Grow in that knowledge, and then to Go- to share our faith with others and to help the needy.
God is working though our church to carry our part of the yoke in this mission; we can’t do it alone. And so we celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in enabling us to provide ministries like the following (which weren’t specifically mentioned during the celebration luncheon)…
| UMC | The United Methodist Church is a “Connectional Church.” As we support our fellow Methodists, we take part in the many ministries that we couldn’t do on our own. |
| NR 4 PT | Not Ready for Prime Time Singers Twice a month, a group of us go out into the nursing homes to visit the forgotten. |
| Red Bird | Red Bird Mission Red Bird is part of the United Methodist church in Kentucky, and it provides critical support to the poor or rural Appalachia. |
| Pantry | Pitman Food Pantry The Pantry is supported by several churches in town, and provides food to thousands of people each year. |
| NA | Narcotics Anonymous By sharing our building, we support other ministries such as NA or NAMI. |
| Missionaries | Global Missionaries Through prayer and financial gifts to our missionaries, our church helps to share Christ and care for the needy around the world. |
Celebrate!
Not only was this day a fun time of “fellowship.” Not only was it an inspiring worship and a great lunch, it was also a time to reflect on the work of God through our church and to consider how each of us can further open up to God’s will so that we can continue to participate in the awesome work of building God’s Kingdom!
Here’s the post that was published to announce this event…
Annoucement Post
If you look at the calendar, you’ll notice that there are five Sundays in January. You’ll also see that this fifth Sunday occurs on January 31. So, we’re going to celebrate!
Yogi, the Our Father’s House “Crossing Guard” in his famous thanksgiving Turkey Hat.
Celebrate what? The fifth Sunday??? No- the “Fifth Sunday” is “when”, not “what.” We’re going to celebrate the fellowship, ministries, and all of the great things that God has given us through our church.
On the 31st we’ll have one service- at 10:15 AM. Sunday School will also be held at 10:15. After the service we’ll get together in the Fellowship Hall for a covered dish lunch. We’ll look back over the past year and celebrate God’s activity within our midst. It will be a time of serious reflection and commitment, but it will also be a time of laughter and of just enjoying each other’s company. It will be a celebration!
A quick taste of what we’re Celebrating!
Here’s month by month look at 2015 (cue Neil Sedaka’s “Calendar Girl”)….
Sue Crispin Rodgers leads the music
400 Lbs of Food Please!
Chris and friends celebrate the purchase of a new keyboard
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For more information on our Sunday Worship Opportunities: Worship
