“Batz in the Belfry”Dear Friends of Colfax UMC:

The Pony Express will address the number one liability that confronts our church. It is the shortfall of funds that has plagued our church for years.

The author of the excellent book "The Healthy Small Church", Dennis Bickers, is right when he writes that to "mention the word 'stewardship' in many small churches, the stress level immediately begins to soar." Oh, yes, I know exactly what he means. And yet, the lack of good stewardship leaves our church "limping" from one year to another. After so long, people begin to believe that the lack of money is permanent; it's part of our DNA. It is the reality of our situation!

The excuse, often heard when considering new programs or in increasing the financial support of an existing program, is that "we're just a small church and we don't have much money." Pardon me but it has been my experience that churches that use that excuse, don't have a "money problem" but they have a "vision problem".

By a "vision problem", I mean that they do not perceive how capable and able they are in increasing their financial gifts to their church. Their vision doesn't inspire them to consider increasing their weekly giving. Dutifully they attend services each Sunday, sit in the same pew, and give the same amount to the offering that they have been giving for years. They have a "vision problem" in failing to just realize how much more their church could be doing if they considered seriously and prayerfully their level of their giving.

It is my observation and contention that a church will never be healthier than its finances. When churches struggle each month to merely pay their basic obligations, it is not likely that they will be very creative in expanding their ministry into new areas. Churches that constantly confront financial problems and do not seek out ways and means of addressing that problem have no one but themselves to blame for their dilemma. It has always been my motto in ministry that if you have a problem in your church, don't ignore it, but address it and resolve it. That's the reason the Pony Express is coming! At least that's my view from the belfry. -- D.L.B --

Check this out - You may be on the listLiturgist Clean the Church Children’s Message Pass the Peace Refreshments

1 Craig Bowen Dennis & Reba Constance & Dr Batz Dennis & Reba Joe & Carolyn

8 Shannon Caldwell Eric & Elaine Constance & Dr Batz Mallory & Breawana Dennis & Reba

15 Jill Bowen Jill & Lauran Constance & Dr Batz Tanner & Chuck Harvest Dinner

22 Barb Tate Dan & Barb Constance & Dr Batz Carolyn & Miranda Dan & Barb

Sunday School 9:00 Worship Service 10:00 Fellowship Time 11:15www.colfaxinumc.org

Pastor: Donald Batz Email: adcbatz@yahoo.comPhone: 765-324-2556Cell: 563-505-5892

REMINDER: The church has a face book page. We try to have announcements and other items on it weekly. Become a friend of Colfax UMC.

Tis the Season To Add To Your Calendar

Harvest Dinner on November 15 at 5:00 p.m.Administrative Board Meeting, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, November 22, immediately following the worship service.Congregational Christmas Party on Friday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. Christmas Cantata was approved for December 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Wesleyan Church Christmas Eve Worship Service at 11:00 p.m.Bishop’s Youth Rally in Indianapolis on March 5 & 6. The church will reimburse the youth that are interested in attending.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNIONThe Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated at our 10:00 a.m. Worship Service on Sunday, November 1. If you are a "shut-in" and unable to attend the service that day but would like to receive the Sacrament, please notify Dr. Batz either by email at adcbatz@yahoo.com or by phone at 324-2556. Our pastor will be pleased to bring the elements to you.

29 Cassie Batz Joe & Carolyn Constance & Dr Batz Max & Dan June & Marcia

Birthdays & Anniversaries

1 Verna Lou Ferguson1 Jim Neidlinger2 Greta Rohe2 Valerie Spencer5 Mike Flowers8 Dennis Ream8 Dean Rusk

20 Tracey Moore21 Tommy Nash23 Mike & Patsy Flowers26 Sue Dawes28 Tim Rohe29 Zachary King29 Mallory Robertson

Prayer Concerns

Unspoken Concerns THOSE ILL AND THEIR FAMILIESLeRoy ColterJane & Kenny DukesDeloris HankinsAllie HollisBob HaughsTroy BowenBob Wills

THOSE HOMEBOUND OR IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIESDon Bowen-Homewood Health CampusJean Crow, homeMarjorie (Wheat) Hurless, homeWard Suter, homeLynne Highley, Clinton House

OUR COMMUNITY, NATION AND WORLD

Our local community and schoolTravis & Gina Sheets, Ganta, LiberiaGuidance for the leadership of our nationThe crises with the terrorists in the world Hungry Children in the world

Revitalization of the Church

Our Military Connections Austin Harshbarger, Brandon Hearrel Kip Pollard, James Morris Sue & Joy's nephews, Garrett, Taylor June's grandsons – Kevin, & Justin

SERMONS DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBERBelow are the sermons that Dr. Batz will be preaching during the month of November. We encourage you to read the scriptural passages in preparation for the hearing of our pastor’s message.

Nov. 1 All Saints Sunday: "Can These Dry Bones Live?" Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 24 Revelation 21:1-6 John 11:32-44Nov. 8 The Pony Express Program "Be Generous With Generosity" Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17, Psalm 127, Hebrews 9:24-28, Mark 12:38-44Nov. 15 Thanksgiving Sunday "The Ungratefulness Nine" Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Psalm 65, I Thessalonians 5:12-28, Luke 17:11-1 Nov. 22 Christ the King Sunday: "A Case for Gladness" Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 100, Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew: 25:31-46Nov. 29 First Sunday of Advent "On the Tiptoes of Expectancy" Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:2-7, 17-19, I Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37

Jacob’s LadderMonthly needs

Peanut Butter Canned Pasta Canned Meats Chicken & Dumplings

Pancake Mix Syrup Cereal Chicken/Tuna Helper

Tomato Juice Cake Mix

BIBLE STUDY 6:30 FELLOWSHIP TIME

7:00 StudyFacebook –Colfax On-Line Bible StudyMark 9:1-13: 37

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING IN NOVEMBER

The Administrative Council will be meeting on Wednesday, November

18, at 7:00 p.m. If you are a member of the Council, please make

every effort to be present

Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, November 22

We invite our laity to “stay around” after our Worship Service on

Sunday, November 22 to “give us a hand” in the Hanging of the Greens

as we decorate the interior and exterior of our church for the Advent

season.  

November 8 - 7:30 amUNITED METHODIST MEN’S BREAKFAST

Dennis Ream, Master Chef

November Mission OfferingDuring November it is our

tradition to use our mission offering for Jacob’s Ladder Food Pantry. The committee would like to thank everyone for their generous support through the years. It is much appreciated.

The Adult SS Class continues their study in James led by Max Swackhamer. It is not too late to join the class as we are challenged by the epistle of James in living a Christian lifestyle.

Thank you for the Expression of Your GratitudeI want to thank the Pastor Parish Committee and our congregation for the coffee hour reception and the "Amazon card love gift" that was presented to me at the conclusion of the Worship Service on Sunday, October 25, as part of Pastor's Appreciation Month. Your thoughtfulness was very kind and most appreciated. Pastor Don

PurposeThe world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child, uses gift-filled shoeboxes to share God’s love in a tangible way with needy children around the world.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTYOur church will be having their annual Christmas party on Friday night, December 4, at the church. Persons are asked to make a free will donation for the pizzas that will be ordered. Persons are asked to bring either chips, salads or desserts and a $5.00 gifts in Christmas wrapping. Parents of children younger than 6th grade are also asked to bring a wrapped gift for their children. Youth in 6th grade and older are asked to bring an adult gift. Games will be played and gift exchange will take place. So mark your calendar now for Friday, December 4, and join us at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Church to Conduct Pony Express Stewardship Campaign

The Administrative Council voted for the church to conduct a stewardship campaign, the Pony Express, from November 8 through 22 in order to increase our financial giving to our local church. The Pony Express stewardship program divides the church into routs of seven or eight member families to relay information to all households in the church and to give families an opportunity to privately determine their weekly or monthly financial amount that they “intend” to contribute to the church.

A special "saddlebag" of materials is hand delivered to each home by a neighboring church member. In each “saddlebag” there will be a personal letter and an “I Intend Card” for each person on that particular route. Upon receiving the “saddlebag”, each family is asked to take up to forty-eight hours to prayerfully consider their financial commitment to the church and to fill out the estimated giving card for their 2016 giving. Families are then asked to seal the “I Intend card” in an envelope that is provided in the “saddlebag” and to then deliver the “saddlebag” to the next family listed on the route.

This stewardship program has been used in a number of churches with much success. With your cooperation, we are confident that we can improve our level of giving at Colfax United Methodist Church.

Quotable Quotes"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are

your own. You don't blame them on your mother, the

ecology, or the President. You realize that you control your

own destiny."~Albert Ellis

Memorial Poinsettias

Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. Families that wish to have a memorial red poinsettia for the Advent season are requested to bring it to the church on that Sunday. During that service, families will be invited to place their

memorial poinsettia plant in the chancel area. Please indicate the name of the person or persons being remembered and the name of the donor. If possible, persons are asked to have the pot cover in green and the bow in white.

Following the Harvest Dinner we will express our thanks to God through songs, pictures, poems, and inviting you to share a memorable Thanksgiving. Sue Swackhamer, Lauran Swain and Pastor Joe are planning on the service.

Join Us for the Harvest Dinner

This year our annual Harvest Dinner will be on Sunday, November 15, at 5:00 p.m. We especially want to invite as our guests all the families that have made use of our Jacob’s Ladder. Families are encouraged to bring their “baskets” well filled for the “pitch in dinner” which will be shared at 5:00 p.m. This is always a great evening and we encourage all of our families to be involved plus our special guests from within our Colfax community.

There are free items in the board room for shoe boxes and shoe boxes.

Regular offering attendance

Sunday 2014 2015 2015 2014

1 $1,130.00 $1,007.00 30 47

2 $490.00 $536.00 44 48

3 $915.00 $1,163.00 45 38

4 $298.00 $596.00 44 20

regular total $2,833.00 $3,302.00

missions $874.00 $354.00

building fund $25.00 $25.00

Other $1,001.11 $ -

Memorials $ -  $35.00

Daylight Saving Time Ends November 1Just a reminder that Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 1. Be sure to turn your clocks

backwards when you retire on Saturday night or you are going to be “an hour early” for Sunday School and Church on Sunday.

REMEMBER TO RETURN YOUR SHOE BOXWow! It is already time to start thinking about our shoe box ministry for Operation Christmas Child. Our dedication Sunday for the boxes will be Sunday, November 8. This year, I have ordered labels for you to use on your boxes. These will soon be given out as a bulletin insert. As a quick reminder, decide if your box will be for a boy or girl and select an age group 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14....fill your box with gifts that are not liquids, breakables, or war-related. You may wrap your box and lid separately or Lauran will do for you... attach label to lid and rubber band lid to box. ...and pray for your box's destination...that it will reach the right child for Jesus. As always, shipping is just as important as the boxes.. so if you can't do a box, and would like to help with international shipping, the cost is $7.00 per box. Let's make this a great year where we really make a difference in the lives we touch! Questions?? Call Lauran Swain at 324-2225.

OUR APPRECIATION TO JACK DWIGGINSA special word of thanks and appreciation to Jack Dwiggins, who presented such an excellent sermon at our October 18 Laity Sunday service. Also our appreciation to Rita Neidlinger and Craig Bowen for serving as liturgists for the service.

Suggestions:Toys: Include items that children will immediately embrace such as toy cars, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), etc.

School Supplies: pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

Non-liquid Hygiene Items: toothbrushes, bar soap, combs, washcloths, etc.

Accessories: T-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), etc.Crafts: Make your own items such as hair bows, finger puppets, and friendship bracelets.

A Personal Note: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. If you include your name and address, the child may be able to write back.

SEASON OF ADVENTThe liturgical season of Advent will begin on Sunday, November 29, and will continue for four consecutive Sundays of preparation for the joyful announcement of the birth of Jesus at the Christmas Eve midnight worship service.

During the Sundays of Advent, Dr. Batz will be preaching on the theme of "The Words of the Season" which include the words Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word "adventus", meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word "parousia". Scholars believe that by the 6th century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s coming at Bethlehem. The Advent season is always the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It will always begin between November 27 and December 3. This year it will be on Sunday, November 29 and conclude on December 20. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of what is called the "Season of Christmastide", which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6.

Advent symbolizes the faithfulness and patience of God’s people waiting for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church of today is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church of today, during the season of Advent, looks back upon the events of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people.

In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the season of Advent: O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

New Toilet Installed in ParsonageA new toilet was installed in the

downstairs bathroom at the parsonage thanks to Chuck Watkins

OUR CHURCH CONTRIBUTES TO FLOOD VICTIMS

Our congregation contributed $199 to UMCOR for the flood victims in South

Carolina. Our appreciation to our families that supported this cause and especially

our Laity Day speaker, Jack Dwiggins, that directed his $100 honorarium towards the

church's ministry to those flood victims.

Bishop's Student Leadership AcademyNovember 20 to 22 are the dates for Bishop's Clymer's Student Leadership Academy at the University of Indianapolis. High School youth (grades 9 to 12) are invited to attend and to explore what they are passionate about, what problems in the world get them "fired up", what gifts and tools God has given them, and what amazing ideas they have now for sharing Christ's love. The fee to attend is $50 which includes all meals, two nights of bunking at a nearby church and all materials. Our church will underwrite the fee for any of our youth that are interested in attending. Please notify Dr. Batz if you are interested in attending.

LETTER FROM INDIANA UNITED METHODIST CHILDREN'S HOME Dear Friends:Thank you for your generosity, support and commitment to the Indiana United Methodist Children's Home. The contribution of $100.00 was received on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

The financial contributions provide by caring organizations like yours enable the Home to provide quality service and a caring environment to the children we served -- helping them to develop valuable life skills and to work toward building stronger families.

You gift is a tribute to the children we serve. It sends the message that you care about them and the quality of their future. We are grateful to have you as a partner in our mission to build better lives for our youth.

Sincerely,Richard A. Lapinski, MSExecutive Director/CEO

CLERGY COVENANT DAY ON NOVEMBER 11Bishop Mike Coyner, Episcopal Leader of the Indiana Conference, has requested all clergy of

the Conference to join with him for a Clergy Covenant Day on Wednesday, November 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Indianapolis at St. Luke's Church. Our appointed pastor, Donald Batz,

and our Pastor Emeritus, Joe Wagner, will both be in attendance.

Church Responds to Sierra Leone flood survivorsThe Council of Churches in Sierra Leone has distributed relief supplies including food and health kits to about 5,000 flood survivors who have survived the devastating floods in that country. Currently these survivors are living in the National Stadium in western Freetown and Braima Attouga Stadium in eastern Freetown. The donations for the food supplies and health kits came mainly from Christian World Service and The United Methodist Church through the Sierra Leone Conference. Relief for those who were left homeless from the September 16th flood is still a major issue of concern. Most of the people occupying the National Stadium have only the possessions they were able to grab and carry into the stadium as they fled their homes on the day of the flood. Of course, another great concern is the fear of another Ebola crises. Are we not pleased to see our denomination involved whenever or wherever natural emergencies occur?

WHAT IS “ITINERACY?”

Even persons that have been “lifetime” United Methodists have wondered why their local pastor has been appointed to another congregation, particularly when they have been well satisfied with him or her and why their own Pastor Parish Committee wasn’t empowered to search and find a suitable replacement for the departing pastor? Well, the answer to that question is the fact that the United Methodist Church, unlike many of our sister denominations, practice what is called “Itineracy”. In many other denominations, it is not uncommon for the local church to “search” for a candidate to become their pastor for six months to three years. An absence of a pastor for such a period of time can be very detrimental to the good health of a local church. But in the United Methodist Church, we humorously say that it is not uncommon for the moving vans of the departing pastor and the newly appointed pastor, passing each other on the outskirts of town. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, preached up to 40,000 sermons in his lifetime. He was an “itinerant” preacher, traveling from town to town in England, setting up Methodist societies.In the days of Francis Asbury, the first of two Methodist bishops in the United States, a pastor – most often a “circuit rider” – might be appointed to half of a state or more. His appointment might be for only three months, after which he moved to another circuit. Thousands of the oldest United Methodist congregations today can trace their history back to a “circuit rider”. This traveling from place to place to begin Methodist societies in principle led to the itinerant system The United Methodist Church uses today.

“Itinerancy” refers specifically to the commitment by pastors to go and serve wherever their Bishops send them. “Appointment” is the action taken by Bishops. These are different, yet related. Before any clergy-person is ordained or licensed in The United Methodist Church, they agree to serve where their Bishop appoints them. Appointments are for one year at a time. For Elders and Local Pastors, particularly, the goal is to be a good “matchmaker” and to match the gifts and graces of a particular pastor with the ministry needs of a particular congregation. In this “serial leadership” of consecutive pastors – and we all know that no two pastors are alike – over time, the combination of skills blends to form a broad base of developed ministries.

While Bishops make appointments, they incorporate a consultative process outlined in The Book of Discipline that for us includes the District Superintendent, the Rev. Michelle Cobb, meeting with the Pastor Parish Relations Committee of our local church in determining what types of gifts and experiences of a pastor are most needed in our church. The District Superintendent then reports to other Superintendents in the Conference and they begin the procedure of who would be the strongest and most competent person available to meet that local church’s need. The needs and desires of clergy persons are considered, but, as Missouri Bishop Robert Schnase stated “the mission of the church comes first.”

As our current pastor stated: “Having been a United Methodist pastor my entire adult life, I truly believe our system of the itineracy is by far the best system for the appointment of pastors. The Bishop and the Cabinet of any Conference is far better equipped in knowing the strengths of various minister available for consideration for a church that is in need of a new pastor and they are also more knowledgeable, after consulting with the local church’s Pastor Parish Committee, in knowing what needs are current in the local church. With those two insights, Bishops are -- in my opinion -- equipped to make the best appointments available for the local churches.”