One-on-One with Pastor Jill 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.
June 16, 2022
We had our first in-person Annual Conference of the Indiana United Methodists after two years of meeting over Zoom. It felt really great to be together. Zoom just doesn’t do Annual Conference justice. The music, the conversations, the connecting with friends and colleagues, new and old, and all of the camaraderie that is shared.
Just a few highlights included a message from our Bishop, a fantastic worship band called “The Many,” powerful devotions, a Celebration of Life service to honor those who have gone before us, honoring our retirees (including Pastor Jerry!), budget reports, conversations around the future of the church, celebrating anti-racism movements in our congregations, a plea for gun violence to cease. We heard about the “Children Matter Most” initiative. We endorsed a candidate out of Indiana for bishop: Rev. Dr. Aleze Fulbright.
And on Saturday, we commissioned and ordained candidates for ministry. Our very own Rev. Amber Good was commissioned into service. We celebrate her ministry, past, present and future!
This year’s Annual Conference left me feeling hopeful for the future of United Methodism in Indiana. At the same time, it reminded me that we have so much more work to do as we go about building the kingdom here among us. I am always reminded of Jesus’ plea in Matthew 9:35-38: that “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord to send workers for the harvest.” There is still much work to be done. We are called now, in this time and place, to be sent out into the plentiful harvest.
Click the link below to view a recap of Annual Conference.
The Noblesville First Kids program (birth-5th grade) runs from 9:45-10:45 on Sundays. In week three of the Make Waves series, we jump back to 1 Samuel 25:1-35, where we find a story about a woman named Abigail that starts with King David. He was furious with a man named Nabal, who mistreated his soldiers. David decided to get revenge until the man’s wife, Abigail, used her peacemaking skills and stopped something that could have been horrible. Even though she was not responsible for her husband’s offense, she realized she could play a role in making peace. Bottom Line: You can help others make peace. Peace is often about helping stop an argument before it can escalate into something worse. Acting as a peacemaker between others will take time and energy, but God can give us the strength to help others make peace. Sometimes our outside perspective is what someone might need to see a peaceful solution. We want kids to know that with God’s help, they can make waves by helping others make peace.
Parents and their children under age five are invited to Pop In and Play on the Noblesville First playground every Wednesday from 10AM-12PM beginning June 1 through the end of July. And in the event of rain, we’ll open the indoor play space, so this is a rain or shine event. You can find more details at NoblesvilleFirst.com/PopIn.
In observance of Father's Day, there will be no 6th-12th grade Youth Group this week. But we’ll return to the regularly scheduled time next Sunday. Youth Group will be meeting at Teter Retreat & Farm at 6PM for special outdoor activities, water balloon fights, relays and more on the following Sundays at the fire pit near the picnic shelter:
- June 26
- July 10
- July 17
- August 7
- August 14
- August 21
- August 28
We'll meet at church in The Vine (Door 5) on:
- July 3
- July 24
- July 31
Volunteers are needed for summer Youth Group and events. If you'd like to volunteer or if you'd like more information, contact David McKenzie at dmckenzie@noblesvillefirst.com or call/text 317-656-0320.
This summer, Noblesville First Student Ministries invites the incoming 6th grade class to INVADE Youth Group at special group events designed to introduce the new class to all the fun we have in Youth Group! Come on Wednesday, June 29 at Bowl 32 in Noblesville from 3-5PM for bowling and fun as the 6th grade class begins their invasion of Noblesville First Youth Group! Questions? Contact Director of Student Ministry David McKenzie dmckenzie@noblesvillefirst.com or call/text 317-656-0320.
Opportunity to Host an Exchange Student
A local organization is proud to offer American families the opportunity to become citizen diplomats by welcoming an international high school student into their home. Currently, STSF have male and female exchange students coming from Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the list continues to grow. Our students have all types of interests that match a host family; from music abilities, sports, theater, outdoor interests, and many many more! By living as a household member, the student learns about an American way of life and the host families, church, school, and community also benefit and experience a new culture. If you would like more information on this exciting opportunity, please contact me at the church office.
The church office will be closed June 22-24 for carpet installation. Exciting remodels are happening! If you need to reach one of our staff, please use the care line or email communication.
The Missions Committee has organized a Pasta Drive for the month of June. Donate any type of pasta, noodle or pasta sauce. Proceeds will be shared with the patrons of the church’s Dinner’s On Us weekly meal, as well as Second Helpings, the organization that prepares the entrees for Dinner’s On Us. Drop your donation off in the designated boxes outside the Sanctuary or Celebration Hall.
The state of Indiana has declared an emergency appeal for blood, so we’re encouraging everyone to sign up for the church Blood Drive. It's this Monday, June 20, 2-6:45PM in The Vine (Door 6). And blood donors rock, so everyone who gives will get a bluetooth speaker. Sign up at NoblesvilleFirst.com/BloodDrive.
This week in worship, our series called “Doing A New Thing: A Church in Transition” continues. Thursday night worship will be at 6:30 in The Vine or on Zoom with a message and conversation with Pastor Mary Eileen Spence.
This week’s scripture lesson will focus on “A Land That I Will Show You” out of Genesis 12. God calls Abraham and Sarah to a new land. What might we learn from their example?
I will be preaching at Teter at 8:15 on Sunday morning, and also at the 9:45 Traditional worship in the sanctuary (Door 1). Pam Caplinger will bring the message to us at the 11:00 Contemporary Worship in Celebration Hall (Door 2,7).
See you soon!
In Christ,
Pastor Jill