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 15, 2022
Dear Noblesville First Family,
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing quite goes as planned? Where everything you expected to happen got a little off track? I had one of those days yesterday. I tried to pack several important meetings on top of each other only to have them interrupted by an itsy bitsy spider! You read that right: in the middle of the afternoon I was bitten by a spider!
The spider bite caused some inflammation, swelling and---despite my best efforts---required me to stop working for a few hours. Around me were several caring colleagues who brought ice compresses, antibiotic ointment and Benadryl. Refusing to let the day “beat” me I attempted to at least listen to a leadership podcast while I sat with my arm elevated on the couch in my office.
As I sat there with a throbbing pain pulsing down my arm, a leadership coach cautioned the listener against over working. She said that if we’re not careful “we can be so focused on getting everything on track that our own balance and health will get off track.” This reminded me of a sermon that I once preached about Sabbath. Through scripture we learn that Sabbath is invitation not just to slow down but to stop---and if we don’t stop---life will stop us!
I have to admit that as a new pastor I haven’t done a great job of living into sabbath over the last several weeks. There are so many things to be done, people to meet and sermons to write! Yet a pesky little spider reminded me that that sometimes we have to stop. We will always have the work waiting for us but we won’t always be able to connect with God or ourselves without those intentional moments. While some of my sabbath time wasn’t self initiated this week---yours can be. Take some time to sit down, put everything else aside and simply dwell in the presence of God. In that place you’ll find the energy, the strength and rest you need to keep moving forward.
I pray you find your Sabbath this week. Oh, and watch out for spiders!
After you’ve rested in God’s presence, here are some ways you can use your renewed energy and strength:
The weekly FaithMoves exercise class begins this coming Wednesday, September 21 at 9:15AM in the Bi-Rooms (Door 1). Regardless of your current level of physical fitness or challenges, you are wonderful in His eyes! Faith Moves is a FREE Christ-centered fitness program which offers the opportunity to become more fit using stretching, relaxing, and restorative fitness movements and poses, taught by certified fitness instructor Sharon McMahon. Learn more at NoblesvilleFirst.com/FaithMoves.
Don’t miss the Grow & Go Expo before and after worship on Sunday, September 25. It’s part of the "Faith to Table" sermon series, in which we’re learning to discern how God leads us to help with “the harvest.” Learn about a handful of opportunities for discipleship and service and sign up for something new! This will be the first in a series of expos in which we'll be highlighting different ways to connect and serve the congregation and the community.
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.
Accident victims, premature babies, patients with sickle cell disease and other patients who need blood transfusions are counting on kindhearted people like you. Sign up for the church's Blood Drive on October 3 from 2-6:30PM at NoblesvilleFirst.com/BloodDrive.
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 United Methodist Women's Rummage Sale is coming! Start collecting items you'd like to donate Oct 9-11 and mark your calendar to shop Oct. 12-14! Would you like to volunteer? Contact Dee Galloway at 317-374-1105 or Nancy Harrison 810-513-9962. If you'd like to put your donation items in storage, contact Janet Roberts 317-900-6607 or Marianne Jacobi 317-508-1354. Learn more at NoblesvilleFirst.com/RummageSale.
The Mums for Missions generated $1,517 in profits, with half going to Mission Guatemala and half to the Love Lifted Me Accessibility Campaign at the United Methodist Women's Lucille Raines Residence in Indianapolis. Thanks to all who purchased mums!
The Teter Organic Farm Farm to Table Dinner fundraiser last Friday was a wonderful success. We learned about the great need for fresh produce in Hamilton County, the limited number of sources available for it, and how important fundraising is to the farm's food security mission. Donations from the dinner are still rolling in, so stay tuned for a full report next week on the funds that were raised.
The Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group meets this evening, and every first Thursday of the month, at 6:30PM in Conference Room B (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 concludes today. There are still parking restrictions but we're on the home stretch. Your patience has been appreciated. And be sure to admire this fresh facelift on Sunday!
Noblesville First Kids (birth-5th grade) offers programming from 9:45-10:45 every Sunday morning. In part three of their "Daring to Trust" series, we meet Isaac’s sons Jacob and Esau. These sons have a complicated relationship and Jacob eventually took advantage of Esau and tricked his brother out of his birthright. But in a dream, God reminded Jacob of the promise to his grandfather, Abraham. Bottom Line: You can trust that God has a plan. .
Teen Outreach Sunday School (6th-12th grade) will conclude their look into the life of King David by exploring at 2 Samuel 12 where Nathan helped David realize his sin. Nathan probably risked his life by standing up to the king, but Nathan had to hold David accountable for his behavior. And he didn't just yell at David, he found just the right way to break through David's defense. We all need friends like that. And we need to be friends like that!
This week in worship, we continue our "Faith to Table" sermon series. Director of Student Ministry David McKenzie will lead Thursday Worship tonight at 6:30 in The Vine (Door 5) and on Zoom. Find the Zoom link at ... NoblesvilleFirst.com/ThursdayWorship. Then 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