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.
August 5, 2021
Book 7, Volume 16
Last Sunday was a very special day as we launched several new initiatives that Covid had put on hold. Our new schedule worked well as we experienced our largest Sunday morning attendance since the Pandemic started (not counting Easter). The 9:45 Traditional Worship enjoyed the return of our choir with 50 persons showing for our first week of Summer Choir. The 9:45 Family Worship experienced its largest attendance, and we successfully launched our Noblesville First Kids children’s ministry and middle & high school small groups. We also had a good start for the launch of the 11:00 Contemporary Worship. What a morning it was!
We had people in attendance that we had not seen since Covid started and the worship band has been strengthened with some new additions. My biggest take away from Sunday was that we now have four strong worship experiences that I would not hesitate to invite a friend to. We hope you will begin to feel the same as we return from the Pandemic.
This Sunday, we will continue to celebrate with the We're Back! series by focusing on the gift of song. Before each worship experience we will have a Donut Truck on-site so you can enjoy pre-worship fellowship with donuts and coffee! The truck will arrive at Outdoor Worship at Teter at 7:30AM, then make its way to the church outside Door 1 for 9:45 Traditional Worship then to the south entrance of the Great Hall before 11:00 Contemporary Worship. Specialty donuts and coffee will be available to purchase. Cash and credit cards are accepted. Go to www.ohanaindy.com to see their menu of offerings.
As we celebrate the gift of song this week, our worship experiences will have a brief meditation about how vital singing is to our faith, followed by extra worship time singing. Did you know one of the most common commands in the Bible is to sing? The word "sing" shows up 346 times in the Common English Bible. There are at least five substantial scripture passages in the New Testament that originated as hymns in the early Christian Church. We hope you will be there and bring a friend. We are recommending masks in crowded spaces and around children, but we are allowing you to use common sense as we navigate the current rise in Covid cases in Hamilton County. We encourage you to speak to your doctor about getting vaccinated if you haven't done so already.
This Sunday August 8, I think you will want to attend the Organ Renovation Presentation that David Meats and Jeff Wright have prepared on the renovation of the 57-year-old pipe organ in the Sanctuary. David was opposed to this expenditure until he spent considerable time researching all the options to deal with our aging and failing organ. I think you will appreciate the information he has gathered. That presentation will begin at 11AM in the Sanctuary.
A Church Conference in which every member has a vote will take place on Wednesday, August 11 at 7PM in the Sanctuary. We will vote on the proposed plan for the organ renovation and consider a refinancing of our church mortgage. Our Conference Superintendent Rev. Saneta Maiko will preside over the conference. You must be present to vote according to our United Methodist Discipline.
We are still looking for volunteers who can serve as classroom aides on a rotating basis for our Noblesville First Kids Sunday programming. We have a solid core of weekly small group leaders, but we need to ensure we have two adults in each class. If you can help even occasionally, please reach out to Ally Hall at ahall@noblesvillefirst.com.
You may also want to consider the Adult Small Group experience that will be held in Wesley Hall at 10:15 during the children’s small group time. Pastor Jill Moffett is assisting Amber Good in leading this discussion group. They met on Sunday for the first time and thought a series featuring short videos for discussion starters would be a good way to make the most of this time. Email Pastor Jill at jmoffett@NoblesvilleFirst.com for more details.
We have scheduled our first Family Promise week where homeless families in Hamilton County stay in churches overnight and receive support and training during the day. It takes several volunteers to provide meals and overnight hosting. If you are able to help with a meal or a night, please contact Pastor Jill at jmoffett@noblesvillefirst.com. Our week is August 29 thru September 5. Nancy Ramsey is the director of Family Promise Hamilton County and is also a member of Noblesville First. Let’s support her and this vital ministry which will only grow in need in the months to come. Learn more at ... FamilyPromiseHamiltonCountyIN.org
The next Fourth Wednesday Luncheon will be a "Hymn Sing" with Tom Weessies on the organ. What fun to lift our voices and sing! Chef Mike will be preparing roasted pork loin with sherry mushroom sauce, cheesy potatoes, green beans and desserts ... all for just $13. Sign up before noon on Friday, August 20 by clicking the link at NoblesvilleFirst.com/FourthWednesday or stop by the church office. Plan to come and bring friends!
Carla Crandall has asked if I would mention that auditions will be held on August 22 and 23 at 7PM at the church for the upcoming Belfry Community Theatre production of Cheaper by the Dozen which will be performed in Celebration Hall in October during the schools' Fall Break. We are looking forward to this new partnership with the Belfry.
United Methodist Women are now collecting items to be sold in the October Rummage Sale. Go to Noblesvillefirst.com/RummageSale for details on what items are most helpful to donate and who to contact to deliver those items to our rented storage facility.
The next GriefShare support group session begins on Thursday, August 12 from 6:30-8:30PM in the Bi-Rooms. The group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and have successfully rebuilt their lives. For more information and to register contact Carol Miller at cmiller@NoblesvilleFirst.com or call the church office at 317-773-2500.
The next DivorceCare support group session begins on Friday, August 13 at 6:30 pm in the Parlor. DivorceCare also uses teaching videos to help you navigate the issues this transition can bring. This vital ministry is open to the community. For more information contact Bill Evers at wmevers@sbcglobal.net.
Before I share our worship plans for this weekend, let me mention a couple of personal items. Pastor Jill’s five-year-old son, Xavier, fell and broke his arm on Sunday and when it was x-rayed, they found a floating bone. He ended up having surgery at Riley Hospital on Tuesday. And to no surprise to Jill, he was up and ready to go to school for his first day of Kindergarten on Wednesday.
I haven’t mentioned what my wife, Nancy, is up to for a while. Would you believe she is now juggling three part-time jobs? She has launched an interior home design business that has grown rather busy lately after accepting leads from Angi.com. She will be mentoring one student teacher this semester through Ball State University, and she has been hired as an Instructional Assistant with the English Language Learners program that is conducted at Noblesville First through Washington Township Schools. Nancy is not one to just sit at home.
Thursday Worship will be held tonight in person with Pastor Matt Hantelman in The Vine or via Zoom at 6:30PM. For the Zoom link, visit NoblesvilleFirst.com/ThursdayWorship.
In Family Worship this Sunday at 9:45 am in Celebration Hall, we head to 1 Kings 2:4-28. The time had come for King David’s son, Solomon, to take the throne. When Solomon became king, God offered Solomon the choice to anything to help him rule the kingdom of Israel. Instead of choosing power in wealth, Solomon chose wisdom. Quickly, that wisdom was put to the test. Solomon had to arbitrate a difficult moment between two women. God helped him make a wise ruling that solves the situation. Bottom Line: Trust God to give you wisdom. Wisdom isn’t necessarily something that we have overnight. It takes time to learn how to put wisdom into practice. We pray that kids will understand that God can give them wisdom in any circumstance. All they have to do is ask.
For 8:15 Outdoor Worship at Teter and 9:45 Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary (Door 1), I will share some interesting facts about how much music is utilized in the Bible. We will also hear what John Wesley had to say about singing which I find rather humorous. Then we will turn things over to Dr. Jeff Wright and the talents of our music ministry.
11:00 Contemporary Worship has returned in Celebration Hall (Door 2, 7) with Pastor Matt sharing some key thoughts on the role of music in worship. As with Traditional Worship, we will celebrate the gift of song with additional singing.
Share prayer requests and check out the week's opportunities to connect on the Connection Card at NoblesvilleFirst.com 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.
See you tonight or Sunday,
Pastor Jerry Rairdon