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1/28/13 6:49 A

Our Bishop called a special Charge Conference in San Antonio on Saturday. My husband is ill so we didn't attend, but I was so heartened by one outreach that our pastor told us about.

University Methodist hosted the event and apparently their sidewalks and parking lot are very conducive to skateboarding and they were attracting many local boys who came to skateboard on the property. Instead of worrying about liability issues and sending those kids packing, the church organized a weekly ministry and so far they've had 40 young boys come forward with a profession of faith! How awesome is that?! How is that for seizing the opportunity?! I just love it!

The kids gave a skateboard demonstration for those at the Conference and then presented our Bishop with his very own, brand new skateboard! LOL I want to see him come rolling down the aisle at our next Church Conference!

Okay, so University Methodist is not exactly my home church, but since we are connectional, I figured I'd report on this anyway!

Blessings,
Linda

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1/28/13 12:23 A

We had a great service today! I love going to church. Last week we were challenged to come up with a personal commitment to giving that would be kept private between ourselves and God. We were asked to pray about it during the week and then this week we were given two-part cards and a security envelope. I had already committed privately to giving 10% of all of my income at the beginning of the year, but I stepped out in faith that I would be able to give almost $1,000 more than would be 10% of my annual income. God told me to trust Him and gave me the figure to write down. The other half of the card I folded and tucked in my wallet. It is private and we were asked to write our name on the outside of the envelope so that it can be returned to us at the end of the year and we can see if we met our estimate. I am going to believe that I will receive almost $10,000 more this year. Perhaps I will even sell my house that I need to sell. God is good!

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1/8/13 2:56 P

I will let you know. I am really hoping that we do. I think it is so important!
~Jen

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1/7/13 12:10 A

That is really neat. John Wesley felt that taking communion as often as we could was important. So many churches I've been around didn't see it that way. Keep us posted on what your church decides.
Cindi

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1/6/13 9:08 P

We had a lovely service this morning, and I always love taking communion. We may start offering it every Sunday. I truly hope so. It is out for a vote in the congegation with 3 choices. No, just once a month. Yes, during service. Yes, after service. I do not really care whether or not it is during the service, but I really hope that we offer it every Sunday. It is a renewal of our covenants, and spiritually cleansing and renewing. My kids were at the Methodist youth rally for New Year's Eve, so they started the new year out right!! They have another rally February 1st - 3rd. I am so happy for the youth ministry!!

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1/1/13 12:55 P

You will love the Stephen's Ministry. Its very good. I was the staff pastor for the Stephen's Ministry at a church where I was appointed about 12 years ago. Loved the program.
Cindi

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1/1/13 12:41 P

My church has 3 Christmas Eve Services, but we only offer Communion at the 11 o'clock service. I can't stay up that late so I always miss that special treat, but still enjoy the candlelight part of the earlier service.

Our church is in the beginning stages of forming a Stephen Ministry and for many years we have run a Wednesday evening program (we call it Connect 4 Christ) that takes kids after school and ministers to them and we feed supper to the kids as well as anyone in the community who is hungry. A very rewarding ministry, indeed.

Blessings and Happy New Year!
Linda

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12/26/12 12:07 P

I agree, communion is a big part of Christmas for me, too. I was pastor of churches, though who did not like having communion on Christmas Eve. The church we are at now, has communion on Christmas Eve. That's neat that your church has a youth dance for New Year's Eve with communion. That was what they did at the church I grew up in.
Cindi

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12/26/12 1:47 A

We have communion on Christmas Eve. Our old (Methodist also) church did not. I absolutely love receiving communion. Also... the Mechuwana youth program hosts a dance on New Year's Eve for grades 6-12 kids. They have communion at midnight. www.mechuwana.org

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10/20/12 11:56 P

Not my church, but a friend of mine told about this on her Facebook page. She has been newly diagnosed with breast cancer. A local church where she lives (just happens to be Methodist) gave her a Cancer Shower. They gave her gifts to help her through her treatment and told stories about their own battles with (breast) cancer. She felt so supported. It wasn't her church, but it's the church her children attend. She is a missionary for another denomination and the Methodist church was an English speaking church her children liked to attend while she ministers along with her husband in Spanish speaking congregations.

I was impressed with the shower they gave her, but also, she isn't a member of their congregation and they still ministered to her in that way.
Cindi

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10/20/12 12:45 P

Our church has a Holiday Rummage where people can bring in the holiday decorations they don't want anymore and sell them to raise money for missions. Headed there now.
Cindi

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9/10/12 10:16 A

I love our little church in Mexico, Maine. I am also quite fond of the church in Round Pond, Maine.

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9/1/12 11:37 P

I'm looking forward to going to church tomorrow.
Anyone else?
Cindi

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8/27/12 7:40 P

Sounds like a very mission oreinted church. Takes to heart our vows to our church.
Cindi

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8/27/12 7:30 P

My church "adopted" a local domestic violence center this year. Church volunteers present programs for the ladies twice per week, and others volunteer for the necessary child care needed so that the ladies can attend. It was amazing to me that something that was asked for was how to prepare crock pot meals and basic sewing skills, both of which are something that I take for granted.

This summer, we also began a Thursday night meal for those who might be in need. A young father in our congregation stepped forward to help with this and spoke about it yesterday in our worship service - about the change it had made in him as well as attendees.

We have also seen some church growth out of both of these outreaches, which is very exciting.

Until the past year, I also participated in a prayer shawl ministry which was started in our church three years ago. It was very humbling to participate. The journals that are kept are just awesome to read later. They record who made the shawl, who it went to, contains Thank Yous, etc. And again, it was very humbling.

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7/16/12 8:33 P

Sounds like a exciting church that might have a lot of variety.
Cindi

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7/16/12 4:10 P

Mine is located in a Methodist University and Seminary town. We have two services one traditonal and one contemoary . Most of our cong is made up of students so we are very small in the summer. We are also Mission minded supporting 20 full time missionaries

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7/15/12 3:04 P

Lets talk about our churches. What is special about your church?

The church my family is attending is very mission minded. They give their mission giving to the conference and then give and participate in mission projects both locally and beyond. Loving this about the church.
Cindi

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