One-on-One with Pastor Jerry is a weekly report on family news and church and community activities, events, ministries and missions. Visit this page each week or sign up to receive it weekly in your inbox. Archive issues can be viewed at NoblesvilleFirst.com/one-on-one-archive.
February 3, 2022
Book 7, Volume 42
I would like to introduce Zach Vaughn who was added this week to our Noblesville First ministry team as our full-time Media Specialist. Zach grew up in Noblesville First and is the son of Jerry & Richell Vaughn who have served several years on our ushering team. Zach recently graduated from the Recording Radio Film Connection, specializing in film/video editing, and completed an internship with Magnum Veritas Productions here in Noblesville. Zach is a hands-on learner and I believe will quickly grasp the variety of skills required for our media position. We believe returning this position to one full-time position will better ensure we can produce a quality livestream experience of our worship experiences and better handle the technology needs presented by the numerous events held in our facility. Zach will bring some unique skills to our video production which will enhance all of our ministries. Please be sure to welcome Zach both online and in person this Sunday. Jacob Zaring will continue as our Media Assistant on Sunday mornings.
Our staff took some time to calendar all of the church's 2022 events to make sure we have a big picture view of what is coming ahead. This exercise has proven invaluable in ensuring that big events don't overlap and in helping our Communications Team to make sure events don’t sneak up on us. It will be especially helpful to the new pastor when they come in July. Here are a few highlights of our work yesterday that you might want on your calendar for the next few months:
- March 18 - Youth Group Woodlawn Event
- March 19 - Respite Night for Children (ages 5-18) with Special Needs
- March 20 - Confirmation Sunday
- April 10-17 - Holy Week
- April 16 - Easter Egg Hunt
- April 17 - Easter
- April 24 - Warren Otter preaching
- April 24 - Teter Wildflower Walk
- May 6 - First Teter Adventure Club gathering for children
- May 7-8 - Teter Plant Sale
- May 12-14 - Community Field Transplanting Days at Teter
- May 14 - Teter Foraging Hike led by Greg Monzel
- May 15 - Bishop Julius Trimble preaching at Noblesville First
- May 22 - Combined worship at 11:00 with Bethel AME
- May 29 - First Teter Outdoor Worship
The annual 200 Envelopes Fundraiser raises money for the vital mission and outreach efforts of our middle and high school ministry. And it couldn't be easier! Stop by the church and pick up an envelope or make a donation online by going to NoblesvilleFirst.com/200envelopes. The display board at the church contains 200 envelopes (hence the name), each one decorated by one of our students and displaying a number from 1 to 200. People wishing to donate can grab an envelope or multiple envelopes and donate the dollar amount(s) of the number displayed the envelope. For example … envelope #1 would equate to a $1 donation … #100 would be a $100 donation … #200 would be a $200 donation. And keep in mind you can partner with a friend, another family, or your Vineyard Branch to make a donation. Proceeds will help fund improvements in The Vine student center, a student retreat coming up in July, and mission trips coming up this fall. Thank you so much for your support of our Student Ministries! We appreciate your partnership in the critical work we do. Questions? Contact Director of Student Ministry David McKenzie dmckenzie@NoblesvilleFirst.com or call the church office at 317-773-2500.
The youth have a special outing planned on Friday, February 11 as the Indiana Pacers host "Faith & Fellowship Night." This event is for students and their families and everyone in the congregation! Included with admission is a 45-minute concert following the game, featuring Christian music artist Jonathan McReynolds. In addition, get a Pacers hat, a voucher for a hot dog, chips, & Pepsi product with admission. For more detail and to order tickets, visit NoblesvilleFirst.com/pacers.
It is time for the next Noblesville First Kids team meeting. The team will use this time to evaluate the children’s programming and plot out the next season of fun at Noblesville First Kids. It’s also a great opportunity for people who are interested in serving with our kids. You can get a feel for the team, ask questions, and see if this is a ministry that you might like to participate in. Or if you haven't served in awhile, this is a great chance to dip your toes in the water and find new ways to connect with kids and serve our church. We will meet in the Bi-Rooms at 11:00 on Sunday, February 20, right after kids are dismissed from their classes. Snacks will be provided and we can connect with each other while we discuss our wonderful Children’s Ministry. Please let Ally Hall ahall@NoblesvilleFirst.com know if you plan to attend or if you have any questions about the kids programming.
It may be cold outside, but it is warm in our Teter Greenhouse and our volunteering opportunities have started as we begin the seeding for our May 7-8 Plant Sale and for the first plants that will be transplanted into our fields. We are offering three opportunities for volunteers each Monday from 6:00-8:00 pm, Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 pm and Thursdays from 9:00-11:00 am. If you haven't worked in the greenhouse in the winter, you'll find the warmth and comfort of the space to be a treat. This work is done at standing tables which is much easier on those of us with stiff backs and knees. Masks are utilized when more than six are working or social distancing is not possible. For more information contact Katy Rogers at krogers@noblesvillefirst.com.
The United Methodist Women invite everyone to begin the Lenten Season on the morning of Ash Wednesday, March 2, with a delightful breakfast prepared and served by the United Methodist Women's Grace Circle at 9:30AM in Celebration Hall. Our speaker is Pastor Jill Moffett. There is no charge to attend but reservations are appreciated. Sign up in the church office or at NoblesvilleFirst.com. The UMW asks for either a $5 McDonald's gift card for our college, trade school & military students or wrapped Easter basket candy (no gum please) for the United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon. And if you're in the market for EASTER BASKETS, there will be hand-made, filled-the-brim, themed gift baskets for sale, created by the United Methodist Women. Proceeds will benefit United Methodist Women’s projects including preschool scholarships, food pantry, mission projects, and Hope for Women International.
Noblesville First is excited to once again offer a Respite Night for parents and caregivers of children (ages 5-18) with special needs on March 19 from 6-9 pm. Caregivers can drop off their child and siblings at the church with educated and trained volunteers and enjoy an evening of relaxation. The goal of respite nights is to improve the overall health and psychological well-being of parents and caregivers, while simultaneously providing the children with disabilities an opportunity to have fun and improve their social skills through interaction with similar peers. We hope you are ready for some big top fun because our theme in March is Circus. Bring on the lion tamers, clowns, and flying trapeze artists for an evening of sensory, safe fun. Details and registration at NoblesvilleFirst.com/respite.
In addition, we're seeking volunteers for Respite Night. No experience is required but volunteers must attend a mandatory training on Zoom from 6:30-7:45 pm on Thursday, March 10. More details and registration at NoblesvilleFirst.com/respite.
It’s a new month for our Noblesville First Kids program which starts at 9:45 in Stephenson Hall. We start with a crucial moment from Jesus’ life, found in Luke 4:14-24, 28-30. After Jesus returned from being tempted in the wilderness, He started teaching in the Synagogue. Soon Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where He grew up. Jesus went to the Synagogue, stood in front of the crowd, and read an important passage from Isaiah about the promised Messiah. Jesus says that He is the One sent to fulfill those things written in Isaiah: bringing freedom, healing, and hope to ALL people. Jesus let everyone know His purpose in life. Bottom Line: Following Jesus means caring about others. As kids learn what it means to believe in Jesus and follow Him with their life, we pray that they will catch His purpose and decide to make a difference in the world by sharing God’s compassionate love with others.
In tonight's Thursday Worship at 6:30 on Zoom, Pastor Matt Hantelman continues discussing the problem of evil in his "Good Question" series. For more information about this interactive approach to worship contact Matt at mhantelman@noblesvillefirst.com or go to NoblesvilleFirst.com/ThursdayWorship and connect on Zoom.
In Sunday worship this week, Pastor Jill Moffett has outlined a new worship series for us. Won't You Be My Neighbor? A Theology of Mr. Rogers is based on the theology found in the long running children’s television series Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. We will examine closely what it means to be a neighbor, based on the Bible, and then see how Fred Rogers applied his theological training to the work of instilling God’s love into the lives of children. This Sunday, we consider the theme "Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" Pastor Jill will preach at the Contemporary Worship services at 9:45 & 11:00 and I will preach at the Traditional Worship times at 8:30 & 9:45 am. In preparation, read Luke 10:25-37.
Share prayer requests and check out the week's opportunities to connect at NoblesvilleFirst.com/NextSteps or on the Noblesville First mobile app. And share your pastoral needs by emailing care@noblesvillefirst.com or calling the 24/7 Care Line at 317-773-2590.
Pastor Jerry Rairdon