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 24, 2022
Book 7, Volume 45
As I’ve shared in previous weeks, I am planning to retire from ministry after 42 years, effective June 5. I'll be moving on to the next chapter of my life which involves being closer to my kids and grandkids. And we just learned from the Indiana UMC Conference that the new pastor has been appointed and their name will be announced THIS SUNDAY. This is exciting news for the congregation and I look forward to sharing it.
This Sunday is a very important one for the mission efforts of our church. Mission Outreach Sunday, formerly known as Faith Promise Sunday, has floated around the calendar through the years but in recent years we’ve settled on the last Sunday in February as the most helpful to the work of our Mission Team. It is early enough in the year, people understand they are pledging for 2022 but removed a bit from Christmas and the previous year’s Stewardship Campaign. We have some concerns that we have crowded our fundraising efforts this year with the Organ Renovation, the Seeds of Hope fall campaign, and have just finished the 200 Envelope effort for our youth mission trips. Just know that as you pledge, you are offering an amount that can be paid anytime during the year.
Mission Outreach is unique in that it is not a pledge to the church, or your 10% tithe, but an agreement between you and God to be involved in sharing God’s love beyond the walls of the church. You are encouraged to choose an amount where you may not be quite sure where it will come from, but you trust that God will provide it. That amount is between you and God.
What we will share in church this Sunday are the many ways you’re giving in 2021 impacted the world and the lives of people in so many places. $35,700 went to bless people in unique ways. Those funds supported the food security mission of the Teter Organic Farm, continued support of Give Kids the World even while we were not able to send volunteers during the pandemic, Africa University which trains pastors in the United Methodist Church, adding 100,000 new converts every Sunday! And it touches local ministries like the Come to Me Food Pantry at Fishers UMC, Family Promise of Hamilton County, Prevail, Cherish, and even the church's own Sunshine Friends.
We are most excited about hearing from Rev. Jen Huff, who is the Mission Coordinator for Indiana United Methodist Conference and has been leading the Conference’s Children Matter Most Campaign. We have made a slight adjustment to this Sunday’s worship schedule. We will hold the 8:30 & 9:45 Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary and 11:00 Contemporary Worship in Celebration Hall as usual but will not be holding the 9:45 Contemporary so Rev. Huff can preach at all three worship experiences.
Last Thursday, I was privileged to be a part of the blessing of Joseph Chimbanda’s new book Enduring Hardships which shared their Exodus-like journey out of Angola to the United States as a refugee. Joseph and Ana saw many miracles in that journey and has described them in this book which will be used to build a scholarship fund for underserved orphans in Angola who wish to attend secondary education. Click here to learn more about the book, where it's available, and how you can support this scholarship fund. Joseph shared that he has received a few hardcover copies to sell and is awaiting the softcover copies within one week.
Next week is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent, and we have a few opportunities to help you start this spiritual journey with Christ which is meant to parallel Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. Please come to enjoy a free Lenten Breakfast put on by the United Methodist Women at 9:30 am in Celebration Hall (Door 2,7). Our own Pastor Jill Moffett is our featured speaker, and we will offer the imposition of ashes at the end. The UMW is using this as an opportunity to support the Gift Card ministry to our college students and the Priscilla Circle will have some gift baskets for sale as well. See details at NoblesvilleFirst.com/LentenBreakfast. All are welcome to Learn about Lent at 6:30 pm in Whitcomb Chapel (Door 1), as Pastor Jill will be explaining to the Confirmation students and their parents and mentors the purpose of Lent, followed by the Ash Wednesday Service in the Sanctuary (Door 1) where I will offer a meditation with the help of our Chancel Choir. We will offer the imposition of ashes there as well.
Dr. Jeff Wright is inviting all who are interested in singing during this holy season leading up to Easter to attend choir rehearsals on Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00 pm. For more information email Jeff at jwright@noblesvillefirst.com.
Director of Student Ministry David McKenzie has shared that the 200 Envelopes fund is now up to $4,277. It's not too late to pick up an envelope at the church or give any amount online at NoblesvilleFirst.com/200envelopes. He now has the Youth Group meeting every Sunday from 6:00-8:00 pm and also reported that the Youth Group has submitted an entry in the Darlington Bed Race which will be held on the Noblesville Square in June. This fun event, put on by Noblesville Main Street, will be returning after a two-year hiatus due to Covid.
Family Ministry Director Ally Hall reported that our in-person roster for Noblesville First Kids has grown from 24 in December to 43 in February. We are excited about the new families who have started to attend. Plans are moving forward for the Teter Adventure Club which will launch after Easter. Stay tuned for more details.
The Teter Organic Farm greenhouse is now open 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. Please also mark May 12-14 for our Teter Field Planting Days. We need as many volunteers as possible to get as many plants in the ground as possible. For more information contact Katy Rogers at krogers@noblesvillefirst.com.
Easterseals Crossroads has reached out to Noblesville First as a potential northside respite 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 19 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 18 kids signed up and 13 volunteers, but we prefer a one to one ratio plus a few extra so please consider volunteering on March 19. No experience is necessary and training is provided. Email Ally Hall ahall@noblesvillefirst.com with your questions.
This Sunday, our Noblesville First Kids program, which starts at 9:45 in Stephenson Hall, will finish up their series on COMPASSION in Mark 10:46-52 with an encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was blind. Because of this, he was often ignored by those who passed by him. When he learns that Jesus is passing by, he calls out for help. Rather than walking past and getting on with his day, Jesus takes time to stop and help Bartimaeus. Bottom Line: Make time to help others. We all know people who require some help and compassion. Jesus showed us that prioritizing others and making time for them is important for demonstrating His love.
In tonight's Thursday Worship at 6:30 on Zoom, Pastor Matt Hantelman will continue in his Good Question series. For more information about this interactive approach to worship contact Matt at mhantelman@noblesvillefirst.com.
Again, don’t forget this Sunday we will hold our 8:30 traditional and 11:00 contemporary as usual but hold only one 9:45 traditional worship in the Sanctuary to make it easier on our guest speaker. This week’s worship will finish up our Won’t You Be My Neighbor sermon series with the Fred Rogers' theme of "There Are Many Ways to Say I Love You."
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