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Finley’s Newsletter VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5 FINLEY UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH NOVEMBER/DECEMBER/JANUARY 2015 /16
FROM OUR PASTOR
November/December 2015
January 2016
Dear Finley Church family,
We are approaching the Christmas season and I wanted to write
about something which happened to Mary, the mother of Jesus in the
Scriptures. It is about the subject of having God’s favor. Can
humans be in such a vibrant relationship with God and His Son,
Jesus, where we can have unique blessings from the Almighty? I
believe this favor is something which can happen to the obedient
Christian who is walking with the Lord in a pure, humble manner.
Mary was placed in a position of ridicule and shame. She could have
been judged and stoned by Jewish Law for her “with child”
predicament. She was found pregnant in her betrothal stage of her
marriage. Mary was in process of a year-long betrothal period where
she was legally recognized as being married to Joseph, but did not
have certain privileges, rights and intimacy attached within
her marriage at this point. Only after the year of betrothal was
over would Mary have these privileges granted - at the final stage
called, marriage! Mary, the mother of Jesus, was facing something
very uncertain. She was told by the angel not to be afraid because
she had “favor with God.” Luke 1:30-31 tells us, “(30) Then the
angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.” Finding favor
with God is significant. This “favoritism” is found not in self,
but in Jesus Christ. Before amazing things happen to God’s people,
the Lord finds people He can trust and who seek to follow Jesus
with a pure heart. God gives blessing and favor to humble, pure
servants of His. Mary was given favor by God, the Divine Father, to
carry His Son, Jesus, into the world! God blesses those people He
finds faithful and He blesses churches that do the same. There is a
radio station in Baltimore, Maryland called, “BLESSED AND HIGHLY
FAVORED.” I believe when Jesus observes our Christian walk with Him
there are those He recognizes as special, set apart. Not because
they are depending on themselves, but because the
Christian depends totally on God through the Holy Spirit for his
strength and hope. A person who loves God with all their heart,
soul, mind and strength and their neighbor as himself (Matthew
22:37-40) completes the vertical relationship with God, the Father,
and Jesus – while simultaneously fulfilling the horizontal
relationship to love humanity around them. My prayer for you this
Christmas is for you and your Church to be “highly favored” with
the power of the Lord! John 3:30 says, “He must become greater; I
must become less.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, was favored because
of her purity of life with her God! May Jesus observe our hearts
and find us faithful, too. God bless you, Pastor Jerry Ernst
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November/December 2015 / January 2016 Finley’s Newsletter
BIRTHDAYS
November 2 Ardell Graner Iglesia, Evangelica Dominica Apartado
727 Santa Dimingo Dominican Republic November 20 MSGT Jill Higgins
884 PSC 1 Scott AFB, IL 62225
November 21 Bob Hickle 2531 County Road 22A Bloomingdale, OH
43910
November 25 Mary Margaret Parks 618 Prospect Avenue Steubenville
OH 43952
November 25 Hester Wilson 622 Lincoln Avenue Steubenville, OH
43952 December 3 Bob Connell
151 Ridgeway Dr
Weirton, WV 26062
December 7
Jeanette Lash
c/o 1962 Lindhurst Ave
Deltona, FL 32725
December 14
Marcy VanKirk
149 Lovers Lane
Steubenville, OH 43952
December 18
Bill Burchfield
117 Wilma Ave
Steubenville, OH 43952
December 21
Agnes Tempest
91 Norman Dr
Bloomingdale, OH 43910
January 6
Lillian Rogers
Laurels of Steubenville
500 Stanton Blvd
Steubenville, OH 43952
January 10
Normalee Walker
c/o 209 Burr Avenue
Mingo Jct., OH 43938
January 25
Art Wagner
2521 ½ Eldersville Rd
Follansbee, WV 26037
January 30
Violet Pierce
209 Kilkenny Dr
Follansbee, WV 26037
_______________________
SUNDAY EVENING
SERVICES
November 1
Evangelism Service
November 8 People’s Meeting
Apple/Pumpkin Throwdown
November 15 Linda Smith, Urban Mission
November 22 Thanksgiving Service
November 29 Pastor Jerry
December 6 Children’s Program
“A Christmas To Believe In”
December 13 Piano-Organ/Choir/Bells
Evening of Music
December 20 Christmas Cantata “Born Is The King”
December 27 Carol Sing
January 3 TBA
January 10 Communion
January 17
Pastor Jerry
January 24 Pastor Jerry
January 31
People’s Meeting
January 31
Pastor Jerry
http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.yoand.biz/birthday-cake-coloring-page-printable-birthday-cake-coloring-pages/&ei=6zNSVPjuD4-fyATSgoGIBQ&bvm=bv.78597519,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNGta3pjuuoZcTiX04rngQW9iqSFGQ&ust=1414759759980798
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November/December 2015 / January 2016 Finley’s Newsletter
BIRTHS
Melody Eve George was born
August 26, 2015 to Wes &
Susan George. She weighed 8
lb. 11 oz. and was 22 inches
long. Her grandparents are
John and Sandy Gribben and
Pastor Doug and Joyce George
Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to: Etta Mae Pyle and
Family in the death of her husband Wesley Pyle. Sonique &
Ta’jion Pearson and Family in the death of their brother Shaolin
Hicks. Joanne Rea and Family in the death of her husband Donald
‘Don’ Rea, Sr. _________________________
FINANCE It was a real blessing attending our fall revival with
Evangelist Dr. Tom Hermiz and Song Leader Brock Barnhouse.
Hopefully, the excitement generated at this revival to prepare us
worthy to serve our Lord Jesus Christ will continue and grow into
this coming year. We want to thank Chair Tom Call and the rest of
the Evangelism Committee for all the preparation and hard work that
went into this most successful revival. The good 4-day attendance
generated a generous $1,600 Love Offering for our evangelist and
song leader. As information, our Associate Pastor Fund drive is
falling behind our expectations. We hope to accumulate a full
year’s salary and benefit expense of $42,500 by the end of July
2016. At that time, our anonymous benefactor will conclude
supporting this position after a 2-year period. By that time we
need to have the resources available to support the Associate
Pastor position for a third year, so that we can financially plan
for retaining this position into the future. The future of our
church depends, in a large part, upon growing our youth and young
adult ministries. Through September 2015 the fund had reached
$12,720.02, which is $4,779.98 below our 7-month goal of $17,5000.
Pastor Jerry Ernst just successfully completed a 26-
mile marathon to support funding of the Associate Pastor
position and for his upcoming mission trip with his family. If you
haven’t already supported Pastor Jerry in this endeavor, you can
still make donations to show your support of his efforts. Our
Administrative Board on October 8, 2015, approved our upcoming
Christmas offering to be distributed as follows: 1) 25% to
Benevolence (Missions), 2) 25% to the Associate Pastor Fund, 3) 25%
to Summer Ministries/Block Party, and 4) 25% for the Trustees’ Door
Fund. Our Administrative Board also approved a workable church
budget for 2016. This $296,658 budget is a reduction of $15,666
from our 2015 budget of $312,324. This new budget will require
$1,305 less income each month to support our various ministries.
Because the 2015 budget was considerably beyond our congregation’s
ability to fund, our 2016 budget still creates a challenge and will
need the generous support of our membership. Although a few areas
in the budget needed to increase, the various commissions and
committees were extremely cooperate in trimming excess funds from
their individual areas of ministry. One of our Finance Committee
goals is “To promote Christian stewardship, both in our
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November/December 2015 / January 2016 Finley’s Newsletter
(finance cont.)
finances and our Christian service”. Someone once said that God
does not need our money, but our obedience. If we love God we will
be obedient in all areas of our lives. We will give of both our
time and resources in relation to that love. God’s love to us was
ultimate. How is your love for Him? If you don’t know the joy that
comes from tithing, you are missing out on a mysterious blessing.
You may think that tithing is not possible in your situation, but
try gradually working your way up to it. If you don’t serve Christ
at this time, consider the talents and abilities God has given you
to guide you into an area where you can serve Him in our local
church.
__________________
PLEASE BE AWARE
There will NOT be any Chistmas Card distribution this Christmas
season. You will need to use the U.S. Postal service to deliver
your Christmas blessings. Of course, if you would like to head this
up and proceed with this Advent ministry, it would be greatly
appreciated. If you are interested in taking charge, please let
Kathy Thomas know to put it in the weekly bulletin.
__________________________
Want Ads We are looking for a part-
time custodian. If you are
interested, please contact
Bill Anderson or the church
office (740) 282-9795 or
email [email protected]
Volunteers Needed * Helpers are needed for
the children’s department
during the 10:45 worship
time on Sundays. Please
see Patty Grodhaus or call
her at 740-346-6611 and
let her know you can help.
* Men: Hall monitors are
needed. Please check the
sign-up sheet on the
bulletin board in main hall.
* Van drivers are needed
for Sunday mornings and
evenings. If you would be
interested in being on the
driving list, talk to Bill
Anderson or contact church
office (740) 282-9795.
* The Prayer Room needs
Pray-ers, Monday mornings
at 10:30, and on Sunday
morning to pray for yellow
prayer request cards during
worship service.
_______________________
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UMW
The fall meeting for the district was held on October
15, 2015, at the Lincoln Ave.,
United Methodist Church in
Shadyside, OH. Juanita “Dee”
Whisman, Betty Alvey and
Carol Canyock attended the
meeting.
New officers were installed
and a new budget was passed
for the coming year. Dee,
Betty and Carol will be
attending the annual
conference on October 23rd
and 24th in Norwalk, OH.
The speaker was Rev. Nancy
Hull who spoke on disabilities
in the Church and Flat Rock
Homes.
Rev. Hull stressed that
disabilities are not just
physical, they are also mental.
Disabilities are a gift that can
be used to point people to
God.
Flat Rock Homes was founded
in 1866 during the Civil War
as a working farm. In 1978
they changed from an
orphanage to a home for
children with severe or
profound disabilities. Children
come from all over Ohio and
get daily therapeutic care.
One hundred children are
cared for at a time: 35 in the
home and 65 out in the
community in group homes.
Carol Canyock
mailto:[email protected]
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November/December 2015 / January 2016 Finley’s Newsletter
MISSIONS
Linda Smith from Urban
Mission will be speaking in the
evening service of Nov 15, on
the different projects the Urban
Mission is doing.
During the month of November,
Missions will be collecting for
the Heifer Project during the
Sunday school hour. If anyone
else would like to donate there
will be boxes in the Sunday
school rooms.
PRAYER AND FASTING WEEKENDS November 7 & 8 December 5 &
6 January 2 & 3
A thousand forests are in one acorn
Let not our hearts be busy inns, that have no room for thee, But
cradles of the living Christ and His nativity
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 1 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship
Service 6:30 Worship Service – Evangelism November 2, 9 10:30
Prayer 6:00 Women's Small Group Study "Joseph-The Journey of
Forgiveness" 7:00 Small Group Service “Opportunity” 7:00 Men's
Small Group "The Man God Uses"
November 3 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship Ministry Center 7:00
Choir Practice 7:00 Small Group "Ask-Faith Questions in a Skeptical
Age" 8:00 Cantata Practice November 4, 11 11:00 Bible Study &
Prayer 5:00-6:30 KidMo 5:00-7:00 Middle School Youth 6:30 Senior
High Youth 7:00 Bible Study & Prayer
November 6, 13, 20, 27 6:30–7:30 N.A. meeting November 7 & 8
Prayer & Fasting Weekend November 8 8:30 Worship Service 9:30
Sunday School 10:45 Worship Service 6:30 People's Meeting Apple
Pumpkin Throwdown November 10 11:00 Staff Meeting 5:30-6:30
Aerobics and Worship Ministry Center
7:00 Choir Practice 7:00 Small Group "Ask-Faith Questions in a
Skeptical Age" 7:00 Trustees Meeting 8:00 Cantata Practice
November 12 7:00 SPRC Meeting with DS 7:00
Commissions/Committees 8:00 Administrative Council
November 14 11:00 UMW Meeting
November 15 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Worship Service - Linda Smith from Urban
Mission
November 16, 23, 30 10:30 Prayer
November 17 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship Ministry Center
7:00 Small Group "Ask-Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age"
November 18 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer 6:30 Senior High
Youth 7:00 Bible Study & Prayer
November 22 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Thanksgiving Service
November 24 10:30 Senior Friends 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship
Ministry Center 7:00 Choir Practice 8:00 Cantata Practice
November 25 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer
November 26 Thanksgiving Day
- Church Office Closed
November 29 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Worship Service
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November/December 2015 / January 2016 Finley’s Newsletter
December 1 11:00 Staff Meeting 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship
Ministry Center 7:00 Choir Practice 8:00 Cantata Practice
December 2 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer 5:00-6:30 KidMo
5:00-7:00 Middle School Youth 6:30 Senior High Youth 7:00 Bible
Study & Prayer 7:00 Church Conference
December 4 6:30 Finley Christmas Dinner
December 5 & 6 Prayer & Fasting
December 6 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Worship
Service 6:30 Children’s Program “A Christmas To Believe In”
December 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30 Prayer
December 8 11:00 Staff Meeting 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship
Ministry Center 7:00 Choir Practice 7:00 Trustees Meeting 8:00
Cantata Practice
December 9, 16 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer 5:00-6:30 KidMo
5:00-7:00 Middle School Youth 6:30 Senior High Youth 7:00 Bible
Study & Prayer
December 10 7:00 Commissions/Committees 8:00 Administrative
Council
December 11, 18 6:30–7:30 N.A. meeting
December 13 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Piano/Organ/Choir/Bells Evening of Music
December 15 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship Ministry Center 7:00
Choir Practice 8:00 Cantata Practice
December 20 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Cantata Choir "Born Is the King"
December 22 10:30 Senior Friends 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship
Ministry Center
December 23, 30 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer 6:30 Senior High
Youth 7:00 Bible Study & Prayer
December 24 6:00 Christmas Eve Service
December 25 Christmas Day Church Office Closed
6:30–7:30 N.A. meeting
December 27 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Carol Sing
December 29 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship Ministry Center
January 1 New Year's Day - Church Office Closed 6:30–7:30 N.A.
meeting
January 2 & 3 Prayer & Fasting Weekend
January 3, 17, 24 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45
Worship Service 6:30 Worship Service
January 4 10:30 Prayer January 5, 19, 26 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and
Worship Ministry Center 7:00 Choir Practice
January 6 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer 6:30 Senior High Youth
7:00 Bible Study & Prayer
January 8, 15, 22, 29 6:30–7:30 N.A. meeting
January 10 Communion 8:30 Worship Service 9:30 Sunday School
10:45 Worship Service 6:30 Worship Service
January 11, 18, 25 10:30 Prayer
January 12 5:30-6:30 Aerobics and Worship Ministry Center 7:00
Choir Practice 7:00 Trustees Meeting
January 13, 20, 27 11:00 Bible Study & Prayer 5:00-6:30
KidMo 5:00-7:00 Middle School Youth 6:30 Senior High Youth 7:00
Bible Study & Prayer
January 30 9:00 Chairpersons Meeting 9:30-10:30 Commissions/
Committees 10:30-12:00 Leadership Session 12:00 Lunch 12:30
Administrative Council
____________________________ Articles for the February / March
2016 newsletter are due January 20th. Please email your article to
[email protected], or you may put your article in the
newsletter mailbox, or give to Sharon Christopher. THANK YOU!
mailto:[email protected]
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Finley’s Newsletter NONPROFIT www.finleyumc.org ORGANIZATION
Finley United Methodist Church U.S. POSTAGE 958 Lincoln Avenue
PAID Steubenville, OH 43952-3223 STEUBENVILLE, OH
Rev. Jerry Ernst, Pastor PERMIT NO. 7 Associate Pastor Derek
Trout [email protected] [email protected] RETURN SERVICE
REQUESTED
November/December 2015 January 2016
Sunday, November 22nd @ 6:30 Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, December 6th @ 6:30 Children’s Program “A Christmas to
Believe In”
Sunday, December 13th @ 6:30pm Piano/Organ/Bells/Choir “Evening
of Music”
Sunday, December 20th @ 6:30pm Christmas Cantata “Born Is The
King”
http://www.finleyumc.org/
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“A Christmas To Believe In”
Children and Youth Christmas Play
*Two narrators tell the traditional Christmas story while
performers act out the story onstage. One narrator admits
at the beginning that he is not sure he believes at all.
Narrator one agrees to tell the story, to see if he will believe
it.
Sunday, December 6th, 2015
6:30pm
*Food & Fellowship directly following the program
What to do this Christmas…
…Mend a quarrel …Seek out a forgotten friend …Listen
…Share some treasure …Give a soft answer …Apologize
…Encourage youth …Keep a promise
…Find the time …Welcome a stranger
…Laugh a little …Laugh a little more
…Express your gratitude …Gladden the heart of a child
…Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth
…Speak your love …Speak it again
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The Finley United Methodist Church
Christmas Dinner
When: December 4, 2015, 6:30 pm
Where: Fellowship Hall
Please bring 2 menu items to share:
Your Favorite Casserole, Side Dish, Salad, or Dessert
(One or two people may bring just 1 menu item.)
The following items will be provided: Turkey and Ham
Rolls and Butter
Beverages
Plates, Cups, Table Service For unto us a Child is born, For
God,
Unto us a Son is given;… so loved the world that
And His name will be called He gave
Wonderful, His only begotten Son,
Counselor, that whoever
Mighty God, believes in Him should
Everlasting Father, not perish, but have
Prince of Peace. Everlasting life.
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) John 3: 16 (NKJV)
