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 10, 2022
Book 7, Volume 43
I do my best to stay apolitical in my work as a pastor but today I read a Facebook post by our Bishop Julius Trimble that moved me to share my thoughts here. Having three daughters in education and married to a retired teacher, I have listened to the grave concerns they have on the effect Indiana House Bill 1134 will have on their profession. It will cause many teachers to leave the classroom. I listen every week to my daughter sharing her difficulties in staffing her classrooms in the schools she oversees. I invite you to read Bishop Trimble’s letter which can be found here ... Facebook.com/IndianaUMC. If you feel inclined, as I did, add your signature to his letter. And if you feel inclined to share thoughts with your representative, click here to easily find their name and contact information. By the way, Bishop Trimble will be preaching at Noblesville First on May 15. Mark your calendar!
We will celebrate Mission Outreach Sunday on February 27 with guest speaker Rev. Jen Huff who is on the Indiana Conference Missions Team focused on the Children Matter Most Initiative. Note that we will hold 8:30 worship in the Sanctuary, 9:45 worship in the Sanctuary, and 11:00 worship in Celebration Hall. We don't want to ask Rev. Huff to be in two places at once, so there will be no 9:45 contemporary worship in Celebration Hall that day.
Dr. Jeff Wright shared at the staff meeting that the choir will resume rehearsals next Wednesday and the full choir will be singing at Traditional Worship beginning February 20. We look forward to the inspiration our full choir provides and thank you for your understanding as we have waited for the Omicron variant numbers to slow down. If you are interested in trying the choir, rehearsals are on Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00 pm. For more information, email jwright@noblesvillefirst.com.
Ally Hall shared that we had our second highest attendance in our Noblesville First Kids program which runs Sunday morning from 9:45-10:45 am in Stephenson Hall. We are still in need of a helper in our 4-5th grade class which holds our highest numbers. If you can help, please contact Ally at ahall@noblesvillefirst.com.
The 200 Envelopes Fundraiser raises money for the vital mission and outreach efforts of our Family 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 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. Proceeds will help fund improvements in The Vine student center, a student retreat coming up in July, mission trips coming up this fall, and children's ministry activities including new outreach events at Teter Retreat & Farm. Questions? Contact Director of Student Ministry David McKenzie dmckenzie@NoblesvilleFirst.com or call the church office at 317-773-2500.
Our Student Ministry Team will be heading to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tomorrow, Friday, February 11, as they watch the Indiana Pacers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. After the game there will be a 45-minute concert following the game, featuring Christian music artist Jonathan McReynolds.
It is time for another Noblesville First Kids team meeting. They 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 a while 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 Farm Manager Katy Rogers at krogers@noblesvillefirst.com.
Mark the 40-day journey toward Easter on Ash Wednesday, March 2 which will begin with …
- The Lenten Breakfast at 9:30AM in Celebration Hall (Door 2,7). All are invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared and served by the United Methodist Women's Grace Circle. The guest speaker will be Pastor Jill Moffett. There is no charge to attend but reservations are appreciated. Sign up in the church office or at NoblesvilleFirst.com/LentenBreakfast. And please bring either a $5 McDonald's gift card for our college students or wrapped Easter basket candy (no gum please) for the United Methodist Children’s Home in Lebanon, Indiana. And if you're in the market for EASTER BASKETS, there will be hand-made, themed gift baskets for sale, created by the United Methodist Women.
- And if Ash Wednesday and Lent are new to you, come for … Learn about Lent at 6:30PM in Whitcomb Chapel (Door 1), led by Pastor Jill Moffett. Our confirmation students will be attending this session and everyone in the congregation is invited. This will take place just prior to …
- Ash Wednesday Worship at 7PM in the Sanctuary (Door 1). Come for music, prayer, a meditation by Pastor Jerry Rairdon, and the imposition of ashes.
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 their child and siblings off 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. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, March 3.
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. Find more details and registration at NoblesvilleFirst.com/respite.
This Sunday, our Noblesville First Kids program, which starts at 9:45 in Stephenson Hall, will continue the series on compassion in John 4:1-30, 39-42. Samaria was a region that the Jews in Jesus’ time tried to avoid. But rather than walking around this region, Jesus took His disciples straight through it and stopped at Jacob’s well. While He was there, a Samaritan woman came to the well. He spoke with her and completely changed how she understood the Messiah and what God was doing in the world. She left and spread the news about Jesus to the people she knew. Bottom Line: Show others that they matter. When Jesus took the time to have a conversation with the Samaritan woman, He showed her that she mattered regardless of who she was or what she’d done. The truth is that we all matter and are valuable to God.
In tonight's Thursday Worship at 6:30 on Zoom, Pastor Matt Hantelman will continue his "Good Question" series. For more information about this interactive approach to worship contact Matt at mhantelman@noblesvillefirst.com.
In Sunday worship, we continue the series Pastor Jill designed, Won't You Be My Neighbor? A Theology of Mr. Rogers Sermon Series, based on the long running children’s television series Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. This Sunday, we consider the theme It’s You I Like. We are mixing things up a little ... Pastor Jill will preach at Traditional Worship at 8:30 & 9:45 in the Sanctuary and I will preach at Contemporary Worship at 9:45 & 11:00 in Celebration Hall. In preparation, read Mark 12:28-34.
Share prayer requests and check out the week's opportunities to connect and serve 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