Have you ever watched a familiar movie with the

closed captioning turned on? My oldest son has taken to watching movies in this way to improve his reading (a great idea, by the way), and I have found myself getting a kick out of the subtitled descriptions of the action on-screen from time to time. One such description in particular caught my attention recently and got me thinking on this subject in a new way.

We were watching Disney’s Frozen for the 427th time, so to say I was familiar with the storyline, dialogue, songs and action of the movie would be an understatement. As the movie reaches its final climax and true love triumphs, the on-screen action is accentuated by a large choir chanting/singing a beautiful song in the background and building to a crescendo. As this was taking place, I noticed the on-screen subtitles, which offered the description, “People murmuring in unison.”

At first I thought this description, while technically accurate, was a little humorous since it seemed such a hollow representation of what was actually taking place during this powerful moment in the movie. Then I wondered what would have been a better description, yet still been concise enough to keep up with the pace of the action. I concluded that I couldn’t do a whole lot better than, “People murmuring in unison,” myself.

This brought me to the conclusion that there really is no substitute for experiencing the movie with the volume turned on. I had a new compassion for the hearing impaired as I realized the powerful effect that the music and other auditory elements brought to the experience, especially in the case of a movie like Frozen. It was this thought that gave birth to the title of this Threads Article.

I wonder how many self-identifying Christians are going through life with the volume muted so to speak, just “reading the subtitles” and missing out on the richness of a vibrant relationship with Jesus. How many in my home church—and in churches across our nation and throughout our world—miss the power, beauty and richness of life with Christ for a “subtitled spirituality” as they frantically multi-task their way through each day?

As a pastor, I am painfully familiar with the statement “God never speaks to me.” I hear it frequently, and I perceive it in others’ lives even more often. Whenever somebody says this to me, I always ask the person saying it to tell me how often they read their Bible and to describe their prayer life to me. Without exception, their scripture reading is minimal or non-existent and their prayer life isn’t much better or consists only of short requests at specific times throughout their day.

I’ve been there myself at times in my Christian walk. No wonder “God isn’t speaking to us” in these seasons; we’ve hit the mute button—

Subtitled Spirituality by Marc Sundstrom, Senior Associate Pastor

biweekly weavings of the community at Madison Park Church of God—January 25, 2016

January-March Proceeds benefit HaitiMake a purchase at Holy Grounds and a portion of the proceeds will benefit ministries in Haiti. Come early or linger after the Sunday worship services to enjoy conversation and refreshments. Visit MadisonParkChurch.org to view the full menu.

Sundays, 8:30am-11:30amMasterCard, Visa and Discover accepted.

Worship ServicesSUNDAY9:00am - A blend of traditional and contemporary music, prayer, and teaching from God’s Word.11:00am - Features a praise band with distinctively modern edge and teaching from God’s Word.Classes are offered for all ages at 9:00am and 10:45am. Visit Grand Central, formerly the Information Center, for a complete listing of all electives or visit MadisonParkChurch.org, Ministries page.++

God is at work through MPC missions – ordinary people, making a difference, as they experience God’s presence and respond by engaging in outreach beyond the local church, into the community and the world, and find Jesus waiting in the faces, voices and stories of the people they meet and serve. The church’s intentional decision to focus on specific areas of outreach that build relationships and transcend personalities has been the catalyst in projects at home and around the globe. Dollars and cents flow and walk over the bridge to relationships. People volunteer and give monetarily because of relationships. Even when money is tight, MPC is still committed to relationships.

MPC Invests in Ministry and Missions

Faith Promise January 24 - February 14

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January Teaching Series Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00am Get Fit “…Benefits in this life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

Spiritually Fit - January 3

Financially Fit - January 10

Physically Fit - January 17

Relationally Fit - January 24 Emotionally Fit - January 31

Audio and Video of each of the Teaching Series are available at madisonparkchurch.org/media.

Conversations with Pastor Paul Wednesdays in January 6:30pm The Commons

Interact with Pastor Paul to explore MPC’s Biblical mission and how to best pursue it.

VISION SUNDAY - Annual Business Meeting Sunday, February 7 at the conclusion of the 9:00am and 11:00am Worship Services

This will be a vote only meeting. Leading up to the Annual Business Meeting everyone will have opportunity to study the 2015 Annual Impact Report and Financial Information and interact with the Board of Elders.

• The 2015 Impact Report and Financial Information is available at Grand Central. Pick up your copy prior to the Annual Business Meeting.

• Sundays, January 31: David Whitmoyer, Board of Elders Chair, and Clark Simpson, MPC Business Manager will be available in The Com-mons following each Worship service to answer any questions.

• Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30pm in The Commons: Open Forum Elders and Senior Leadership will be present to answer questions prior to the vote in the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, February 7 following each Worship Service.

Financial Peace University Nine-week Class: February 3 - March 30 Wednesdays, 6:30pm–8:00pm in Room 177

Powerful. Enlightening. Fun. Weekly video lessons and discussion groups. Dave Ramsey has a teaching style that is simple and easy to understand. He will change the way you think about money. Register online at DaveRamsey.com. Instructor: Aaron Gardner. Contact: Jackie Corn at the Church Office.

Faith Promise - Freedom SundayFebruary 14 in the 9:00 and 11:00am Worship Services

Come celebrate God’s faithfulness as we commit to become more like Christ and actively engage in God’s mission of redemption and reconciliation.

Visit the mission displays in The Commons each of the next three Sundays to meet representatives and learn the exciting ministries MPC helps support at home and around the world.

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News You Can Use Pastoral Care for the MPC FamilyIf you or your loved one is facing an upcoming surgery, or is hospitalized, please make the Pastors aware by contacting Pastoral Care at the Church Office. The MPC Pastors want to support you in your time of need with visits and prayers. Due to confidentiality it is requested that either you or your immediate family contact the office. Contact: Church Office at (765) 642-2000.

ALL-CHURCH MOVIE NIGHT Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00pm Crossroads AuditoriumWAR ROOMExplore the transformational role prayer plays in people’s lives.War Room follows Tony and Elizabeth Jordan, a middle-class couple who seemingly have it all – great jobs, a beautiful daughter, their dream home. But appearances can be deceiving. In reality, the Jordan’s marriage has become a war zone and their daughter is collateral damage. With the help of Miss Clara, an older, wiser woman, Elizabeth discovers she can start fighting for her family instead of against them. Through a newly energized faith, Elizabeth and Tony’s real enemy doesn’t have a prayer.

MPC Small Groups: Various locations and meeting times. With more than 40 small groups from which to choose, Madison Park has something for everyone! Whether you’re looking for a group that is just for men or women, volunteer-minded or Bible-study based, there is a small group that will deepen your faith and enrich your spiritual journey. You are invited to facilitate or join a Small Group. Contact: Jackie Corn, at the Church Office.

S.A.L.T. (Single Adults Living Truth)•Sundays, 6:00-7:30pm in room 175 - Bible

Study• Wednesdays at MPC: Join other singles

at a table to enjoy a delicious Lighthouse Café Dinner and fellowship.

• Super Bowl Party: Sunday, February 7 at 6:00pm. Hosted at the home of Don and Barb Kuhl. Bring food and beverages to share. R.S.V.P. by Sunday, January 31 to Wanda Anderson at (765) 620-4607.

Blood Pressure Clinic: Wednesday, February 3 from 5:30-6:30pm in The Commons. MPC Parish Nurses conduct a free blood pressure screening for MPC-goers and community friends. Contact Sonia Smythe at sonia.smythe@ecommunity.com or Lynn Simpson,

lynnsimpson75@gmail.com.

Children’s MinistriesChildren’s Programs

Sundays at 9:00am and 11:00am

Classes and Child Care for all ages in the Children’s CenterGet Fit: Elementary age classes in January will feature kid-sized lessons that mirror Pastor Paul’s

Get Fit series. Weekly lessons

will feature the same topic and

scripture passages parents will hear in

the Main Auditorium, enabling kids and parents

to share and discuss the topics on how to Get Fit. This is a big WIN for

kids and their parents. This, along with other exciting changes lead to an incredible journey.Quest - Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45pm in the Children’s CenterIt’s time to Explore, Discover, Investigate and Learn! QUEST invites preschool and elementary age children to explore a Bible person, place or story through games, multi-media, drama and music.Quest IIIThe 5-week session will focus on Jonah.A Family Experience will cap the Jonah experience on February 10 at 6:30pm in the Main Auditorium.

For more information or to volunteer, contact: Christi Maidlow, Children’s Ministries Director.

Student MinistriesIMPACT—Junior High Ministries: January Theme: Get Fit Sundays at 11:00am in Crossroads

Auditorium (doors open at 10:15am), and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45pm in Rooms 176-178.

IGNITE—Senior High Ministries: January Theme: Clean•Wednesdays from 6-8pm in Crossroads

Auditorium. •Bible Studies: Sundays at 9am in Room 180

Opportunities to ServePark Place Church of God Food Pantry is in need of volunteers to help prepare and distribute food. The pantry is open to the public Monday - Friday 12:30 - 2:00 pm and also on Thursday evening from 6:30 -7:30 pm. For more information please call 765-374-4663 or email Kscott@ppchog.org

Medical Volunteers at MPC FacilitiesMedical Volunteers are needed to provide emergency medical assistance during regular worship services at MPC. If during, a regular worship service you are attending, a medical emergency arises, you would be called upon to assist in assessing the person and getting the attention they may require. Sign up at Grand Central if you would be available. Contact: David Reames, Interim Pastoral Care Pastor. Blessings and Opportunities Madison Park is the home church to approximately 50 people residing in convalescent homes. Wonderful, Godly people who are almost desperate for friendship, for encouragement - to be reminded that somebody really cares. Here’s the opportunity, would you as an individual or couple or small group prayerfully consider “adopting” a person in a convalescent home, encouraging them, investing in them, perhaps sending them cards or creatively showing them love and care? We are truly blessed...

Wednesday, April 20 at 6:00pm in the Hospitality Room

Explore Madison Park provides the essential information you need to know before calling Madison Park Church your church home. The class answers questions such as who we are, what we believe, and our church membership process in a relaxed, fun, and interactive format. You’ll meet others who are on the same journey as you and begin the process of getting connected. Find details or sign-up in the Hospitality Room or online at MadisonParkChurch.org. Contact: Shelly Stottlemyer, Pastor of Connection Ministries.

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Lighthouse Café

Enjoy a freshly prepared meal and mini-salad bar in The Commons: Wednesdays from 5:00pm until 6:30pm. Cost: Adults-$7, Children and college Students with ID-$5. Family Plan: $25 for up to 7 people, $5 per each additional person. January 27: Beef and Noodles Kids Option: Beef and Noodles February: 3 Chili & Baked Potato Bar Kids Option: Hot Dogs & ChipsFebruary 10: Roast Pork Loin & Chocolate Fountain // Kids Option: Pizza

Scott Lutterman and the Heartland Big BandSaturday, February 13 at 7:00pm

in The CommonsSWING! Went the Strings of My Heart

Join the Heartland Big Band for a swingin’ Valentines romance featuring the standards that made Frank

Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Michael Buble’, and other singers famous for their croon and swoon. Songs include Call me Irresponsible, The Best is Yet to Come, Our Love is Here to Stay, Almost Like Being in Love, Ain’t That a

Kick in The Head, and many more! Guest singers Sarah Scharbrough, Layke Jones, Steve Williamson, Steven Moore, and Karen Sipes join the HBB for a fun night of music you’ll “L-O-V-E”! Tickets are $15. All table

seating General Admission. Coffee/Soft Drinks and desserts available to purchase. Doors open at 6:15pm. Tickets can be purchased

at Grand Central, Madison Park Church Office, or online at

HeartlandBigBand.org

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Subtitled Spirituality Continued from page 3

Contact UsMAILING ADDRESS PO Box 2479 • Anderson, IN 46018MADISON PARK WORSHIP SITE 6607 Providence Dr. • Anderson, IN 46013CHURCH OFFICES 2200 Madison Square • Anderson, IN 46011 24-hour line: (765) 642-2000 • Fax: (765) 643-0976 Hours: M - F / 8:30am to 4:30pmwww.MadisonParkChurch.org

Sunday, January 24 Spotlight on Local Missions

Sunday, January 31 Spotlight on International Missions

• Haiti

• India

• Russia

• Honduras

Sunday, February 7 Spotlight on MPC Missionaries

Sunday, February 14 Freedom Sunday/Faith Promise

Faith Promise

Holy GroundsWeek-in and week-out, the proceeds

and tips from your purchases at the Holy Grounds support missions around the

community and across the globe.

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intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes we’re trying to glance at the subtitles occasionally, but aren’t even doing this very often; in these seasons, it seems we’re just trying to make sense of what is going on around us completely on our own. Then we mistakenly think that God will speak powerfully to us in the hour or two each week (or month) that we spend in church. This is understandably unlikely; and if it does happen, it will be the exception, not the rule.

I have found that the best way to turn on the volume and regularly experience the fullness and richness of life is to read a minimum of one chapter of scripture every day, which I do first thing in the morning. It’s my way of turning on the volume and inviting God to speak into my life from the outset of each day. It gives me something to meditate upon and to think about throughout the remainder of the day, and it heightens my awareness of God’s presence in my life.

I have also turned it into a prayer trigger to facilitate a more continuous interaction with God throughout the day. I always post a few verses from the chapter I read on my Facebook page. Each time I get a notification throughout the day that somebody “Liked” or commented on my scripture, I review the passage again and invite God to speak to me in that moment, often voicing a prayer for the individual who generated the notification.

The effect of this practice over time—over two years now—cannot be overstated. Is it foolproof? Not for this fool! I still find myself getting side-tracked by disappointments or sucked into the frantic pace of life at times, drifting from that vital union with Christ, hitting the mute button, settling for the subtitles. However, the power of the habit is in applying it consistently. Every morning is a new opportunity to re-connect, to turn the volume back on, and to experience the rich and satisfying life Christ offers to each of us.

Share your thoughts on this article; visit the blog and leave a

comment at MadisonParkChurch.org.

in order that we can be a blessing to others. Contact: Jackie Corn, Administrative Assistant, Spiritual Formation (765) 642-2000.

Family News To submit a threads announcement regarding a birth or death, please contact the Pastoral Care office at (765) 642-2000.

In Sympathy with: • Cyndy and Matt Smith and Kimberly Morse for the passing of their father, Howard Myers on January 3. •Travis Family on the passing of Pauline Travis on January 6.•Susie and Calvin Pleninger on the passing of her mother, Mary Fitch, on January 6.

Community and Ministry Sandi Patty Concert Forever Grateful - The Farewell Tour Sunday, April 24 - 7:00pm Madison Park Main Auditorium

Tickets available at the Church Office. Premier Seating Tickets must be purchased online. For more Information and to purchase tickets go to: http://oetkendesign.com/premier/sandipatty/042416-01b.html

MPC Invests in Ministry and Missions Continued from Page 1Relationships and loving others right here in Madison County find practical ways to share the message of hope found in Jesus Christ. MPC has teamed up with several local organizations/ministries to give both financially and in service to meet specific needs in our community. Two of the various organizations are:Habitat for Humanity: Brings people together to build homes so that everyone has a decent place to live. It’s building relationships with the community, loving others and the result is a difference to each Habitat partner family and those they touch.Operation Love: The mission is to serve the community by meeting the emergency physical and emotional needs of persons in order to share Christ’s love with them. Part of building relationships around the globe is evident in:CBH Viewpoint: A worldwide audience, filled with individual impact. That’s the target of Christians Broadcasting Hope (CBH). CBH reaches around the globe each week into 5 continents in 8 different languages, bringing the message of Jesus to a hurting world. MPC co-sponsors Viewpoint each Sunday Morning at 7:15 on WQME.Chelyabinsk, Russia: MPC has supported the Church of God in Chelyabinsk in the purchase and building of a church and outreach facility which enabled the growing group of people to have additional worship services, offices, and space to host conferences, seminars, student fellowship and other outreach ministries. The church is involved in growing outreach

opportunities as they give birth to and strengthen other churches in the area, shining from Chelyabinsk into the region and throughout Russia.Haiti: Through a healthcare alliance with the people of Haiti, the clinic has provided healthcare for over 100,000 people. The clinic provides healthcare services to Haitians through medical, dental and eye clinics, two operating rooms, pharmacy, lab and a prosthetic unit. MPC-missionaries, Dr. Mark and Kathy Fulton, work with the clinic providing continuing expansion and ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus through the medical ministry. Honduras: Multiple projects, programs, camps, medical, dental and vision clinics, digging water wells, evangelism and riding in the back of a truck are part of the ministry in the beautiful scenery of Honduras. Ministry and mission teams from MPC help support the relationships with the people and churches in Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. India: MPC has partnered with India Gospel league for over 20 years to help bring the message of Christ to unreached people. From barefoot Pastors to digging wells, IGL exists to bring the gospel and the love of Jesus to the unreached people of India.These and other MPC Faith Promise supported ministries are reaching beyond our walls to advance the Kingdom of Christ. How might God be leading you to build relationships in people’s lives through Faith Promise and serving in ministries at home and around the globe?

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