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General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
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Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
HOOSIER UNITED METHODISTS e-newsletter
For Friday, August 3, 2007 – Sunday is the tenth Sunday after Pentecost
This newsletter is paid for through your annual conference connectional ministries giving.
Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication dgangler@inareaumc.org
Bible Passage for Sunday
Moving and
Changing Your e-Mail Address? Update Your e-Hum
News and Information
Mission Opportunities
Worship Resources
Ministry Resources
Movie Review
Deaths
Ministerial Appointments
New Job Listings
Previous Job Listings
BIBLE PASSAGE FOR SUNDAY
A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”
Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”
Then he said to the crowd, “Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.”
– Luke 12:13-21
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
www.bibles.com
MOVING AND
CHANGING YOUR e-MAIL ADDRESS?
UPDATE YOUR
e-HUM
To update your e-mail address for the e-HUM mailing list, log on to www.inareaumc.org, click on “Subscribe to e-HUM” and enter your new e-mail address as directed. That will automatically place your new e-mail address in the Indiana Area listserv database. Thank you.
NEWS AND INFORMATION
BAKER CHAPEL DEDICATION, OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULED FOR AUG. 26
The members of Baker Chapel United Methodist Church in DeGonia Springs, Ind., on State Route 62 east of Boonville invite all to celebrate the dedication and open house of Baker Chapel on Sunday, Aug. 26 with an open house from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and dedication service at 5:30 p.m.
Come see the beauty of how God rebuilt Baker Chapel. Take a tour and enjoy Bar-B-Q, hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, baked beans and desserts of cookies, brownies and cakes with refreshing ice tea, lemonade and coffee. Relax in the sanctuary and enjoy the talents of the various singing groups giving praise to God throughout the day.
For more information and pictures of the Baker Chapel build, log on to www.bakerchapel.org.
NOTHING BUT NETS NIGHT SET WITH INDIANA FEVER FOR AUG. 15
The Indiana Fever will be hosting a Nothing But Nets In-Arena Night on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6) as the Fever go up against the Connecticut Sun. “Send a net. Save a life” from mosquitoes spreading malaria in Africa by purchasing a lower level seat for $25 and $10 will benefit Nothing But Nets. At the game, promotional items will be sold and a silent auction will be held with proceeds benefiting Nothing But Nets.
An order form is also available as a PDF document online at www.inareaumc.org. For additional information about this event, please contact Lisa Eckart at 317-917-3083 or by e-mail at leckart@pacers.com. – NOTHING BUT NETS
INDIANA UM LOAN FUND ANNOUNCES FOUR APPOINTMENTS
The Indiana United Methodist Loan Fund announces the appointment of four new field representatives. This brings us to 12 representatives covering north and south Indiana districts. The representatives are available to provide information to churches and individuals on the benefits of investing in local UM churches through the Loan Fund. These investments provide the money needed to make low-cost loans to UM churches and agencies throughout Indiana. Depositors earn higher than market rates of interest and will have the knowledge that they are helping build ministry. Locate your representative by calling 866-669-2327 or e-mail srunion@niumf.org for more information. Visit us on the web to read what current investors are saying. -- Indiana United Methodist Loan Fund
CONGREGATION IN JAPAN GIVES $100,000 FOR UM MISSION IN EAST ASIA
Hiroshima Nagarekawa Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ in Japan, has given $100,000 to the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries for mission work in East Asia. The gift, the proceeds from the sale of property, honors the late Rev. James William Lambuth, who organized the church in 1887 and also started three Japanese Christian schools, one in Hiroshima.
“We are humbled and thankful for the generosity of Nagarekawa Church in a way that recalls its Methodist heritage and also reminds us of the work of J.W. Lambuth,” said the Rev. R. Randy Day, the chief executive of Global Ministries based in New York City.
Lambuth, who was born in 1830 and died in 1892, was a member of a remarkable family that provided several generations of missionaries and other church leaders. The Lambuths were particularly linked to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Lambuth College in Jackson, Tenn., bears the family name. – GBGM
UM PUBLISHING HOUSE FACES ‘HARD BUDGET REALITIES’
Soaring costs and a projected 2 percent decline in annual sales has forced the United Methodist Publishing House to lay off 3 percent of its workforce and make other cost-saving changes.
Thirty of the agency’s 1,000 employees were laid off in July and approximately 20 vacant staff positions will not be filled, according to Neil Alexander, publisher and CEO of the Publishing House. The 2 percent sales decline follows a multiyear trend, but the effects are compounded by a rapid rate of increase in expenses, he said.
“We have deep compassion and concern for the well-being of the affected staff persons, and the layoffs come only after many other cost-saving measures have been instituted,” he said. “All eligible staff receives multiple weeks of severance pay based on guidelines that take into account years of service and age, plus extended free health care coverage, and outplacement counseling and support.”
Significantly higher costs for employee pensions are among factors cited. Pension expenses will be $700,000 more than projected due to an error made by the outside actuary who estimates the company’s future liabilities, Alexander said. – UMNS
E-MAILED GENERAL CONFERENCE PETITIONS NEED TO BE RESENT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Anyone who submitted a petition to the 2008 General Conference by e-mail to petitions@umpublishing.org prior to noon on July 27 will need to resubmit those petitions. Due to technical difficulties, those petitions were not delivered to the e-mail address. Petitions that were submitted by mail to the petitions secretary, as well as petitions submitted through the General Conference website, are not affected and need not be resubmitted
For future submission, anyone who does not receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of a petition within three weeks should contact the office of the Petitions Secretary, Rev. Gary Graves at 270-274-4590.
Organizations, clergy members and lay members of The United Methodist Church may submit petitions to the General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative body, which meets in Fort Worth, Texas, from April 23 to May 2. The deadline for petitions is Oct. 26. Detailed instructions for submitting petitions are available online.
PA. PASTOR’S DAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTERS MURDERED IN CONN.
Mourners offered prayers and posted messages of condolence for the Rev. Richard and Marybelle Hawke at a prayer wall set up at the United Methodist Western Pennsylvania Conference’s Cooperative School of Christian Mission. The couple’s daughter, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and two granddaughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, were murdered June 23 in a home invasion in Cheshire, Conn. Her husband, William Petit, an endocrinologist, was beaten and hospitalized. Hawke served as the first male clergy dean of the conference’s school of mission and as a district superintendent in Pittsburgh. Private funeral services were scheduled for July 27 at Cheshire United Methodist Church, where the Petits were active members. A community memorial service was scheduled for July 28 at Welte Auditorium on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. – UMNS
UM SURVEY OF YOUTH SHOWED 75 PERCENT AGREED TO SEX ABSTINENCE
An informal survey of 120 young people attending a United Methodist youth gathering showed that three-fourths agreed people should abstain from sex outside of marriage. Those results came from participants attending two workshops about AIDS and young people at Youth 2007, the denomination’s largest youth event, held every four years and sponsored by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. Approximately 6,200 youth and youth leaders attended this year’s event June 11-15 in Greensboro, N.C. – UMNS
DISNEY QUITS SMOKING
Disney announced this past week they will no longer have smoking in their movies (although they left the door open for Touchstone and Miramax Films) and will have PSAs about smoking on their DVDs. It’s certainly a step in the right direction, especially on the heels of the MPAA’ s decision to consider smoking in movies when determining their ratings. But how much does smoking in movies really matter? A lot, it turns out. – Common Sense Media
HALLMARK CHANNEL TO ELIMINATE SMOKING IN ORIGINAL FILMS
Hallmark Channel said this past Thursday it would follow Disney’s lead and work to eliminate smoking from its original films. Hallmark President Henry Schlieff took the same route as Disney in declaring his intentions, sending a letter to House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.), echoing Disney President Bob Iger’s pledge the day before. Markey had asked Hollywood studios to cut back on smoking depictions during a recent hearing on the impact of media images on kids. – Broadcasting & Cable online
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES
AMES CHAPEL, BLOOMINGTON DIST. PLAN VIM TRIP TO JOHN’S ISLAND, SC
Ames Chapel along with the New Albany and Bloomington Districts will be going on a mission trip to John’s Island, S.C. This trip will take place Sept. 22-28. During this mission trip, the main project will be repair work. There will be a co-ed softball tournament fundraiser in Sellersburg to help fund the mission trip. Two floating trophies are awarded each year (Tournament Winner and the most paid in for an entry fee. The tournament will take place on Aug. 11. For all who want to hear more about the mission trip to John’s Island, you are invited to a Carry In and Fellowship at Primmer’s Chapel on Aug.16 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is only your favorite covered dish. The Bloomington District is invited to participate in any of the following ways: help sponsor this mission monetarily, sponsor a softball team, or go on the mission trip. For more information on the mission trip or how you can help, please contact Gary Loy at 812-936-2536 or 812-968-0875.
MONROE CO. HABITAT BUILD PLANNED FOR BLOOMINGTON UM CHURCHES
Twelve Bloomington area UMCs are working collaboratively to sponsor a Habitat home this year. The build will take place in the fall, beginning on Sept. 8 and continuing through mid-October. Together, they will provide $50,000, as well as all of the food and builders needed to construct a Habitat home. Questions about this project can be directed to Patty Andrews, chair of the United Methodist Habitat Steering Committee (andrewsp@indiana.edu or 339-7484).
WORSHIP RESOURCES
CONNECTING WORSHIP AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Here are some good resources for you to use in planning worship that pays attention to helping the congregation make the connection between worship and back-to-school time and to help the congregation pray for those who are returning to school this fall. Log on to www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=1770.
MINISTRY RESOURCES
EDUCATOR SAYS REINVIGORATE, DON’T BURY SUNDAY SCHOOL
Read this article by Boyce Bowden at www.umportal.org/article.asp?id=2367.
UNITED METHODIST OPEN HOUSE MONTH SET FOR SEPTEMBER
Each September, Igniting Ministry works with bishops to encourage congregations to celebrate United Methodist Open House Month. This special time coordinates with the back-to-school airing of UMC television messages.
Hosting special events, worship festivals or making other efforts to welcome those in your community presents perfect opportunities to intentionally recognize Christ in everyone – and to remember that guests may look for Christ in us.
The welcoming outreach of an Open House may start in September with “United Methodist Open House Month” and can carry into the holidays as hay rides with hot cider, appear during winter as a chili night, celebrate spring with an Easter egg hunt, then welcome all to a mid-summer barbeque.
Extend a warm United Methodist welcome with an “Open hearts.” welcome mat or entry banner. Browse pens, mugs, caps, shirts and more by visiting the Product Store. All products carry: “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. The people of The United Methodist Church “
For more information, log on to www.ignitingministry.org.
NORTH INDIANA CONFERENCE RESOURCE CENTER PICKS FOR AUGUST
The North Indiana Conference Media Resource Center’s latest acquisitions can be found online at www.nicumc.org. Click on “Media Library” in the left column and explore all the available options. July “Picks” include:
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NOOMA - Store: Dealing with our anger.
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NOOMA - Today: Learning to live in the day - not the past.
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William Wilberforce: One man’s struggle to rid the world of slavery.
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Herod’s Temple: The Temple as it was in Jesus’ day.
Order by calling the Media Center toll-free at 800-783-5138. This service is provided through your connectional tithe. Bonnie Miller, media director, also can be reached at bonnie@nicumc.org for more information. For catalog, log on to www.nicumc.org.
SOUTH INDIANA CONFERENCE MEDIA RESOURCE PICKS FOR AUGUST
The South Indiana Conference Media Resource Center’s latest acquisitions can be found online at www.sicumc.org. Click on “Media Center” and explore all the available options, including “Newest Resources” and “Picks of the Month.” “August Picks” have been posted. Some of the newest additions include: Black Methodism: Legacy of Faith (Revival); Children of the Nakba (Palestine); NOOMA: You; and Red Bird Missionary Conference: Great Is Thy Faithfulness. By calling the Media Center toll-free at 800-919-8160, you can order these and other resources from a selection of more than 4,000 videos and DVDs. Return postage is your only cost. This service is provided through your connectional tithe. Mary Barnes, media director, can be reached at mbarnes@sicumc.org for more information or for catalog log on to www.sicumc.org.
MOVIE REVIEW
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
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Rating: PG-13 for irreverent humor throughout.
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Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
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Directed By: David Silverman
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Cast: Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner
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Running Time: 86 minutes
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Release Date: 07/27/2007
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Genre: Comedy
Springfield lovers have been waiting, like Homer drooling over an out-of-reach donut, more than 18 years for Matt Groening and James L. Brooks to get the merry geniuses behind The Simpsons to create a feature-length film. Finally, followers can see their beloved first family of animation on the big screen, and it was it worth the wait.
That’s not to say that THE SIMPSONS MOVIE is far better than any fan’s favorite episodes, but it’s a triumphant collaboration of nearly a dozen of the series’ best head-writers and producers. The result is a film that’s true to its episodic roots – tons of characters, A-list cameos, meta references – but also appealing to even the casual or non-viewer.
Without spoiling specific details, the story focuses on Homer (Dan Castellaneta) and how his selfishness (in this case, adopting a pig) triggers the worst emergency in Springfield’s long and disaster-prone history. Meanwhile, Bart (Nancy Cartwright) starts wishing okalee-dorkily neighbor Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) were his father, and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) falls for a young Irish activist. Marge (Julie Kavner), as always, sums up all her patience to deal with the latest family crisis. – Common Sense Media
DEATHS
ROBERT E. CAREY, retired Elder (SIC) died Wed., Aug. 1, 2007. Calling hours will be 4-8 p.m. on Aug. 3, at Ochs-Tetrick Funeral Home in Orleans. The funeral will be Sat., Aug. 4 at Orleans UMC. Burial will be 1 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 6 at Grant Memorial Park in Marion, Indiana. Survivors include wife, Cordelia Carey, 502 E Wilson St, Orleans, IN 47452. Memorial contributions may be sent to Orleans UMC building fund.
L. HERSCHEL DYER, retired pastor (NIC), died Sat., July 28, 2007. A memorial service was Aug. 1 in the Heritage Pointe Chapel in Warren, Ind. with interment in the Spring Hill Cemetery. Survivors include: two sons, Lynn H. Dyer of Indianapolis and Larry Dyer of South Bend; and a brother, James Dyer of Durham, N.C. Condolences can be sent to Larry Dyer, 1010 S. 26th St., #5, South Bend, IN 46615. Memorials can be made to the Heritage Pointe Scholarship Fund, 801 Huntington Ave., Warren, IN 46792.
D. LOWELL TOUSSAINT, retired pastor (SIC), died Sunday, July 29, 2007. A memorial was held Aug. 1, at Franklin United Methodist Community in Franklin, Ind., with burial at Greenwood Cemetery. Survivors include: Wife, Alverta Toussaint, 1070 W. Jefferson St., Franklin, IN 46131; Son, David Toussaint; Daughters, Bobbie Vore and Mary A. Maxwell; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial Contributions can be made to Christ UMC, 8540 U.S. Hwy 31, Indianapolis, IN 46227.
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
None listed this week.
NEW JOB LISTINGS
INDIANAPOLIS CHURCH SEEKS DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
University Heights UMC in Indianapolis seeks a Director of Christian Education. Responsibilities include oversight, supervision and planning for all aspects of Christian education; including Sunday church school, Vacation Bible School, and other programs. This is initially a part-time position, with some flexibility in scheduling an average of 20 hours per week. Please contact the church office at 317-787-5347 or e-mail: uhumc@indy.rr.com.
PREVIOUS JOB LISTINGS
ST. MARK’S BLOOMINGTON SEEKS DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church of Bloomington seeks a new, part-time Director of Youth Ministries to begin service by Aug. 26. Candidates should have strong leadership skills and experience in church youth activities. For more information, go to www.stmarksbloomington.org. Mail application information to Youth Ministries Search Committee, St. Mark’s UMC, 100 N. Hwy 46 Bypass, Bloomington, IN 47408, or e-mail to smumc@stmarksbloomington.org
Last updated on 04/01/2008Compiled as a service of Indiana Area United Methodist Communication in Indianapolis.