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 17, 2022
Book 7, Volume 44
Matt Hantelman announced at our staff meeting this week that a recent promotion at work and a desire for more family time has led to his decision to step away from ministry. Matt has greatly enjoyed leading our Thursday Worship group and he will be missed. His musical talent will be difficult to replace. I have personally enjoyed working with such an intelligent person who brings great integrity to the interpretation of scripture. We will begin posting the Director of Contemporary Music position immediately and hope to have it filled in time for Matt to step away on June 5 when we recognize several of our staff members for their service at Noblesville First. If you know of someone interested in the position, please email Pastor Jill at jmoffett@NoblesvilleFirst.com.
Pastor Jill and I shared a conversation this morning on Facebook, describing the United Methodist appointment process for receiving a new pastor. Click the image below to watch!
Teter Organic Farm had its budget approved at the Administrative Board meeting which includes increased field labor this year. Teter is currently accepting Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions for those previously enrolled. Half shares provide fresh produce every other week and full shares include 18 pickups. Find more details at ... TeterOrganicFarm.com/CSAabout. Lorrie Overton is also seeking additional volunteers for the Teter Retreat Linen team. This team changes the bed linens when we turn a room then transports the linens to the Laundry Team. Check the response on Sunday's Connection Card or click here to respond on the digital Connection Card.
Also at last week's Administrative Board, spending was approved for up to $5,000 to improve the lighting in the church parking areas. The United Methodist Women are making a contribution of $2,000 towards this project. June 5 has been selected as the date to celebrate the ministry of Noblesville First staff members who retired or moved on during Covid, along with my own retirement. Anyone wishing to work on this celebration please contact SPRC Chair Jeanne Gerbsch.
Ally Hall shared at Tuesday's staff meeting that after our last Respite Night in December, two of our volunteers reached out to Easterseals Crossroads to say how organized and fun it was. Crossroads has since reached out to Noblesville First as a potential northside partner and they are hoping to partner with us for our Respite Night program. They love our space and commitment to serving the special needs community in Noblesville and the surrounding areas. They have committed five volunteers for the March Respite Night and if it goes well, we could become their official northside partner. They could help with resources, volunteers, registration, promotion, and would be an invaluable connection for the families in our area. Thanks to their help, we already have 17 kids signed up and we can expect more to register as the event approaches.
We are excited to connect with this organization but we are in need of people from Noblesville First to volunteer for Respite Night on March 19. Please sign up to serve. Training will be provided on March 10 from 6:30 to 7:45PM on Zoom. Questions? Contact Ally Hall ahall@NoblesvilleFirst.com.
Don’t forget that we will have a special schedule for Mission Outreach Sunday on February 27. Our guest speaker is Rev. Jen Huff, the Indiana Conference Missions Team focusing on the Children Matter Most Initiative. We will hold our 8:30 traditional and 11:00 contemporary as usual but only hold one 9:45 traditional worship in the Sanctuary. This will be easier on our Rev. Huff and reduce the stress on our tech team as we will be using quite a bit of media to share the story of our Mission Outreach efforts.
Starting this Sunday, our Chancel Choir will return to our traditional worship in the Sanctuary. Anyone who would like to sing with the Chancel Choir during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter is welcome to join us. We rehearse at 7:30PM on Wednesdays in the Choir Room and sing for traditional worship each Sunday as well as a special service on Good Friday. The journey through Lent and Holy Week concludes with singing the Hallelujah Chorus on Easter Sunday morning. Even if you have to miss a Sunday or two, you are welcome to join the choir for any Sundays that work in your schedule. Contact Jeff Wright jwright@NoblesvilleFirst.com or Kate Baker kbaker@NoblesvilleFirst.com for more information.
This Sunday is the last week for the 200 Envelopes Fundraiser. Student Ministry Director David McKenzie has received $2,384 thus far. You can still pick up an envelope outside either worship area on Sunday or go to NoblesvilleFirst.com/200envelopes to give online. Proceeds will help fund improvements in The Vine student center, a student retreat coming up in July, mission trips and our Children’s Ministry activities. 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.
If you are interested in helping with the Noblesville First Kids program, we invite you to help us evaluate our 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. We will meet in the Bi-rooms at 11:00 this 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.
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/LentenBreakfast. 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 be used to help fund the church's additional parking lot lights.
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.
Then in the evening, all are invited for Ash Wednesday Worship at 7PM in the Sanctuary (Door 1). Come for music, prayer, a meditation, and the imposition of ashes.
This Sunday our Noblesville First Kids program, which starts at 9:45 in Stephenson Hall, will experience the familiar story is found in John 6:1-13. People had been clamoring to see Jesus heal and perform miracles. Even as Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, they followed him. When Jesus saw them, He didn’t ignore them or send them away. Instead, he had compassion for them and decided to feed them. With no food in sight, a young boy offers his meal of bread and fish. Jesus takes what the boy has and feeds the multitude with leftovers! Bottom Line: Use what you have to help others. We pray that kids start to discover the easy ways to use what they have to show compassion.
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.
We have Pastor Jill back after her bout with Covid. We will try again the plan of having Jill preach at this week’s Traditional Worship at 8:30 and 9:45 and I will preach at the Contemporary Worship at 9:45 and 11:00. Our focus this week is considering Fred Roger’s advice to look for the helpers and ask ourselves how we can become one of those helpers for a world that feels like it is falling apart. In preparation, read Romans 15:1-7.
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