The One-on-One is a weekly report on the pastor's 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.
September 8, 2022
Dear Noblesville First Family,
This week in our staff meeting we each had to write a six-word biography. Have you ever tried that? We each chose six words that represented our life’s journey in its totality and then had to share with one another why we chose those words.
As our staff shared, I heard words as intriguing as “several lives”, as funny as “game show lover” and as selfless as “caregiver”. Sharing these words invited us deeper into the lives of one another and the ways in which God had been at work between the lines. Our exercise got me thinking about what Jesus may choose as his six words. Savior? Teacher? Messiah? Or maybe Son? Brother? Or even table turner? The truth is that like us, it’s hard to condense Jesus’ life down to just a few words---there’s so much to who He is and who He is in us. That’s why we are hosting a “GROW & GO EXPO” on the last Sunday of this month, September 25.
This expo will help you GROW in your faith as you learn about new classes, life groups and bible studies you can engage in and GO in your faith as you sign up to serve in ministries making an impact inside and outside of the walls of the church. The expo will be in the narthex right as your enter through door 1 and be available after the 8:30 and 9:45 services and before the 11:00 service. You won’t want to miss the fun giveaways at each table or the opportunity to connect with ministry leaders who will be present to answer your questions and help you sign up. As you GROW & GO, we are certain that you’ll discover new words for your biography and Jesus’. Words like: leader, learner, dreamer, servant, harvester, friend, disciple, giver or encourager. I can’t wait to hear the biography God is continuing to write in each of your lives.
Here are some other ways you may GROW & GO in you faith:
Teter Retreat & Farm will host a Monarch Tagging event with the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) this Tuesday, September 13 at 6PM. IWF routinely hosts these events to educate and train participants to gently capture monarch butterflies and affix a small numbered sticker to the hind wing. Learn more and sign up at TeterOrganicFarm.com/monarch.
We have an urgent need for volunteers for the September 17 Respite Night for parents and caregivers of children (ages 5-18) with special needs. This is a popular event for kids in the community! No experience is necessary and online training that you can watch on your own time is provided. More at NoblesvilleFirst.com/respite.
The ladies of the United Methodist Women's (UMW) Lydia Circle are hosting Steppin' Up to Help, a line dancing fundraiser, on Tuesday, September 27 from 6:30-8PM in Celebration Hall (Door 2,7). All are welcome! No experience is necessary. A free will offering will benefit the Chimbanda Scholarship Fund. Learn more at NoblesvilleFirst.com/SteppinUp.
In our book The Big Picture: Seeing God’s Dream for Your Life, my husband Jevon and I took a closer look at the life of Joseph to discover God’s presence in moments of triumph and trauma. The story of Joseph shows us how God weaves together events that seem random into a beautiful image of joy, survival, purpose and meaning. Join in a five-week study on the book ...
- Thursdays 7-8:30PM (Oct 6-Nov 3) led by me
- Mondays 9:30-11:15AM (Oct 10-Nov 7) led by Carol Miller
Space is limited. Learn more and register at NoblesvilleFirst.com/TheBigPicture.
The Hamilton County 5K for Food Security is Saturday, October 8 at 9AM at Dillon Park with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Teter! Learn more and register at ... RunSignUp.com.
The Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group meets this evening, and every first Thursday of the month, at 6:30PM in the church parlor (Door 1). If you or someone you know cares for a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia, consider connecting with this group to talk with others who are sharing a similar experience, to share what's on your heart, and to gather helpful information. Questions? Call Phyllis Hunter at 317-770-2314 or Sandy Spatta at 317-773-6848.
Paving of the church parking lot began today! There will be parking restrictions September 8-9 and 14-15. Your patience is appreciated and we encourage everyone who can to save spots close to the doors for preschool families with small children.
For those who ordered flowers from the Mums for Missions fundraiser, pick-up concludes today, 4:30-6PM. Note the location! Due to parking lot paving, mums will be picked up in the softball parking lot, just north of the church across Monument Street. Thanks to all who ordered! Proceeds benefit Mission Guatemala and the Lucille Raines Residence in Indianapolis which is owned and operated by the United Methodist Women of Indiana and serves individuals recovering from substance abuse. Learn more at ... NoblesvilleFirst.com/mums.
Noblesville First Kids (birth-5th grade) offers programming from 9:45-10:45 every Sunday morning. In part two of their "Daring to Trust" series, we discover Isaac venturing out on his own, to a region where he reclaimed the wells that had belonged to his father, Abraham. For years no one had cared about the wells until someone reopened them, then everyone started fighting over them. Bottom Line: Trust God no matter what.
Teen Outreach Sunday School (6th-12th grade) continues their look into the life of King David by looking at some of his screw-ups. He was the King, be he made a lot of mistakes. News Flash: You and I screw up too! We are sinners. And when that happens, we have two choices: we can try to deny it and hide it and keep from getting into trouble, or we can admit we messed up and then receive the blessing and forgiveness of God.
This week in worship, we continue our "Faith to Table" sermon series with Paul's words from 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 on how we grow through God, as his coworkers, his field, his building. Pastor Paul Ernst will lead Thursday Worship tonight at 6:30 in The Vine (Door 5) and on Zoom. Find the Zoom link at ... NoblesvilleFirst.com/ThursdayWorship.
Just a reminder that Sunday's Early Worship moves from Teter back to the Sanctuary (Door 1) at 8:30 followed by Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary at 9:30 and Contemporary Worship at 11:00 in Celebration Hall (Door 2,7). I will preach at all three worship services on Sunday.
And don't forget ... God Loves you, I do too and there’s NOTHING you can do about it!
Pastor Nicole
ncaldwell-gross@NoblesvilleFirst.com