February 2016 Volume 7, Issue 2

Dyer United Methodist Church

2016 Church Street Dyer, IN 46311 219.865.8947

engaging the community with unconditional love

I am always so surprised when the Lenten

season arrives; I am also always glad. This is

a season designed to draw us closer to God;

to encourage us to seek Him and find Him and

re-commit our lives to Him as we prepare to

celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter

morning. The Lenten season is a time for us to

learn more about ourselves in relation to who

Christ is and what He chose to do on our

behalf. The Lenten season is 40 days, not

including Sundays, set aside each year, for us

to recognize the need we truly have for Jesus,

His cross and His resurrection. However, just

having this season set aside for this purpose

is not enough for that purpose to be achieved.

If we want to grow during the Lenten season; if we want to understand our real need of

Jesus during the Lenten season; if we want to know ourselves and Jesus better

because of the Lenten season, we will have to make commitments and sacrifices in our

lives to make those things happen. A traditional reading on Ash Wednesday, the first day

of the Lenten season, includes Joel 2:12-13 which says, “...even now, says the Lord,

return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning: rend your

hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and

merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love….” God is always ready to

receive us; He is always ready to accept us when we turn to Him and find Him and offer

ourselves to Him. My prayer for you this Lenten season is that you will seek Him; that

you will find Him; that you will fall deeper in love with Him; and that you will be truly

prepared for a celebration of the resurrection of His Son, Jesus, on Easter Sunday.

Through Christ,

Pastor Jim

Inside this Edition: Pastor Jim’s Sermon Series for Lent, Mission Opportunities, News

from the Wellness Ministry, Pictures from the Community Dinner and Much More!

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February 21, 2016 A Cause for Lament

Luke 13:31-35

February 28, 2016 Learning to See as God Sees

Luke 13:1-9

March 6, 2016 More Than We Can Imagine

Luke 15:11-32

March 13, 2016 A New Thing John 12:1-8

PALM SUNDAY March 20, 2016

The Search for Meaning Luke 22:14 & 23:56

EASTER SUNDAY March 27, 2016

The Gift of New Creation John 20:1-18

February 14, 2016 New Life in the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

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GUATEMALA 2016 TEAM SCHOLARSHIPS Show support for our

Guatemala 2016 Team in 3 simple steps!

1. Look for this picture in the lobby.

2.Take a tag with the dollar amount (amounts range from $10-$100) you would like to provide and an envelope.

3. Place cash or a check (made out to Dyer UMC) and the tag in the envelope and then put the envelope in the Offering plate.

It’s that simple! All scholarship money will be divided evenly between all team members who have requested assistance with the mission trip costs.

Thank you, in advance, for your support of the Guatemala 2016 Team!

Mission Opportunities

Change Their Water,

Change Their World

Thank you to those who have filled

their water bottles with dimes!

*Each water bottle holds

approximately $40 worth of

dimes.

*Last trip we collected over

$1000 in dimes!

*We will be collecting the

dimes until June 1, 2016.

The money raised will help support the clean

water programs as well as support the 2016

Mission Guatemala Team’s project fees.

Food Pantry Needs:

□ Large Cans of Soup or Chili □ Ravioli or Sloppy Joe □ Hamburger Helper □ Spaghetti Sauce □ Pasta or Rice □ Breakfast

Items

Thank you for your continued support!

During lent we are offering an alternative worship service on Wednesday nights.

It is an opportunity to reflect on Sunday’s sermon, be in communion with each

other, share a meal, and pray for each other.

When the early church met, it wasn’t in beautiful sanctuaries. It was in common

rooms around a table. In Acts 2:42 scripture tells us that they “devoted

themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and to prayer.” That’s dinner church!

This service is for you to invite new friends, to come to if you can’t make it to

Sunday Worship, or if you went to Sunday’s worship and you just want to reflect

more on the topic through the communion and conversation with your

neighbors around the table.

Join us every Wednesday.

Arrive anytime between 5:15—6:00pm to help prepare.

Dinner church begins at 6:00pm.

We have a new

opportunity to engage

Kahler Middle School

with unconditional love!

The teachers would

love to have people help

them make copies. This can be done on any day at any time. Principal

Newton will give us a brief training and then you can just set up a time

to come that fits around your schedule. Committing to this one small act

can make a huge difference for the teachers.

For more information, please call the church office (865-8947).

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“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…” Matt. 25:35

We have 6 opportunities every month to fulfill these words of Jesus!

First Monday

Food Pantry (Dyer UMC) 9-10:30a Contact: Dave Koester (219)865-1801

First Wednesday

The Night Ministry (Chicago) 5:30-9:30p Contact: Diane Meyer (219)840-0335

Second Saturday

The Crib (Chicago) 6:30-9a Contact: Charlotte Lane (219)381-0682

Third Monday

Community Breakfast (Dyer UMC) 8:30-10:30a Contact: Jackie McBee (219)865-9599

Third Monday

Food Pantry (Dyer UMC) 9-10:30a Contact: Dave Koester (219)865-1801

Fourth Thursday

Rescue Mission Meal (Hammond) 5-8p Contact: Melissa Cornett (219)682-4543

Servants are needed for all six opportunities. If you are passionate

about feeding the hungry, please contact the person listed.

More Mission Opportunities...

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News from the Wellness Ministry

From Johnny and Janice Tazbir

February holidays include Valentine’s Day, and how

appropriate it is declared National Heart Month by the

American Heart Association.

When we think of heart disease, most of us typically think

of men being the only ones at risk. It's not just a man's

disease. Heart disease and stroke kill 1 in 3women, yet it’s

80% preventable. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, yet only one in five American women believes heart

disease is her greatest health threat. With the right information, education and care, heart disease in women can be

treated, prevented, and even ended. Your sweetheart may have the key to your heart, but a proper diet and regular

physical activity can be the key to a healthy heart.

The top seven things you can do are: 1) Manage blood pressure 2) Control cholesterol 3) Reduce blood sugar 4) Get active 5) Eat healthier

6) Lose weight 7) stop smoking. Here are some heart healthy ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day (and everyday):

Rather than tempting your beloved with sweets, consider a gift that has more permanence. Search for a

poem that describes your feelings and write it on beautiful paper for a handmade Valentine.

Quality time is one of the most meaningful gifts. Cooking at home is an excellent way to control what and

how much you eat. Take a date to a local cooking class to practice your skills or learn a new technique.

Give to one another by giving back. Ask a date to volunteer with you at a local organization. Giving back is

healthy habit that can boost your mood and help beat stress.

Use this day as an opportunity to tell your loved one how important they are to you, and share ways that

you can support each other’s health and wellness.

Craving something sweet? Gift a beautiful fresh fruit basket to your loved one instead of giving sweets

with added sugars.

Sharing is caring. If you go out for a romantic dinner date, order one entrée to share. Many restaurant

servings are enough for two – splitting will keep you from overdoing it.

Don’t forget to love your dog, too! Give your pet a Valentine and remember to walk or exercise them

Daily. Get active with your pet and it will benefit your health and your bond with your pets.

Wishing you all a healthy heart this February and always! Source: www.heart.org

From the Dyer UMC Church Historian Put on your thinking caps! Can you identify any of the youth in this

picture? How about an approximate year?

We sure need help with this one! It is a great picture but means a lot more

if the people Involved are named.

There are albums of pictures and newspaper clippings on the bookshelves just outside our

future history room. If you have any pictures that you would like to see included, please email them to the office at office@dyerumc.org or they can be scanned and the original returned. Your ideas are welcomed and now is the time. A big 'Thank You'

to those who have already agreed to help.

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made our first community dinner a huge success!

Whether you baked, cooked or provided your time and service, it was greatly appreciated. And a special thank you to the Youth Group who did whatever we asked of them!

The Community Breakfast Team