Dear Members and Friends of Waterville United Methodist Church,
Please lift up Bill Gregory, Sr. today, as he is having knee surgery at St. Luke’s Surgicare.
OCTOBER IS PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH !!! While we appreciate Pastor Mike every day, the month of October has been designated as the month to celebrate his ministry here at Waterville United Methodist Church. Please let him know, sometime during the month, how much you appreciate his service to this congregation and his love for Christ. Join us this Sunday, October 30, as the Staff / Parish Relations Committee will be hosting Fellowship Time to honor Pastor Mike.
October’s Mission Focus will be Operation Christmas Child. OCC delivers great joy to millions of children around the world through shoeboxes lovingly and prayerfully packed with gifts that will bring delight to a child. In the hands of local churches, every gift-filled shoebox is a powerful tool for evangelism and discipleship—transforming the lives of children and their families around the world through the Good News of Jesus Christ! We will dedicate our shoeboxes at WUMC on Sunday, November 20. Please place your completed boxes on the storage cabinets in the Fireside Room in the church basement. Mission envelopes are available in the pew racks. Have you noticed the bars of soap by the empty OCC boxes in the entryway and on the table in Fellowship Hall? We received them from an organization called “Clean the World.” They are a non-profit organization that collects and recycles soap from the hotel industry and sends the bars of soap that they manufacture all over the world to combat hygiene-related deaths in impoverished countries. You are welcome to help yourself to some of these bars of soap. Please place these bars of soap in a baggie and perhaps include a washcloth in the bag before you add them to your OCC shoeboxes.
The Living Generously small group study begins on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. Pastor Mike is teaching this class.
The Prayer Time in the sanctuary will begin at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Worship Service for Sunday, October 30: All Saints’ Day
Song of Worship - Open the Eyes of My Heart
Children’s Moment - Mission Jar for Operation Christmas Child
Honoring the Saints - A time of remembering those members of our congregation who have entered their Eternal Home in the past year.
Olga will be leaving to go on tour with the Bowling Green State University Men’s Choir on Sunday morning. Joel will be playing the piano in her absence.
Sanctuary Choir Anthem - More Than Amazing
Scripture - James 5:1-6
Sermon - Money Talks - Second sermon in the Living Generously series
Closing Hymn - For All the Saints
Liturgist - Tom Quinn
The children in Sunday School will be busy preparing for their Christmas Program this week. This will involve doing some more painting. Please dress the kiddos accordingly!!!
The Staff / Parish Relations Committee are your Fellowship Hosts for the last Sunday in October. We will be celebrating Pastor Appreciation Month and honoring Pastor Mike following worship
Your 3rd quarter giving statements were e-mailed to you on Saturday, October 1. If you receive a hard copy, they are available this Sunday on the shelf outside the church office.
Theatre for the World will be here before we know it. Brian has placed a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the main hallway for ushers and folks to host the Intermission Cookies/Coffee time. We will also be in need of cookies, brownies, etc. for those times of fellowship.
Living Generously, a 5-week video series, began on Sunday, October 23 and will be the launch of our Stewardship campaign. It will feature the same cast of characters from our last video series. There will also be small group meetings during the series:
Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room in the church basement
Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Stephanie & Adam Shelton (171 Freedom Lane, Waterville) – not meeting this week because of Halloween.
Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Tom and Karen Wiggins (1040Farmview Drive, Waterville)
Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room in the church basement
Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room in the church basement –not meeting this week because of Seagate Food Bank
When you decide which one works best for your schedule, please be sure and add your name to the sign-up sheets that are located on the bulletin boards in the main hallway.
The youth will be raking leaves on Sunday, November 6 following worship. If you or someone you know needs help with this fall project, please contact Adam Shelton at 419-205-2516 or ashelton@bex.net. There is also a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway. The youth would appreciate any donations to help support their summer mission trip. Thank you!
Once again our church will offer a Free Election Day Lunch to our church and our community on Tuesday, November 8 from 11:00 till 1:00. Dust off your favorite soup, sloppy joe or dessert recipe and go directly to the bulletin board and sign up. If cooking is not your gift, we need people to set-up, serve and clean up afterwards. We also need to spread the word, invite your neighbors and your friends to meet you for lunch at WUMC. We on the Sharing Team thank you for all your help in making this outreach ministry a success. If you have any questions, please contact Charlotte Pritchett.
Waterville UMC will once again be a collection station for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes in Waterville. There is now a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board asking for volunteers to assist with collection and delivery of these shoeboxes. All collection centers have been asked to have additional hours this year, so we really need your help. Collection week this year will take place November 14 - November 21. We will be delivering the boxes to Bowling Green on Monday, November 21.
Did you know that there are three OCC box sizes this year? You have most likely seen the red and green boxes that we have been supplied for several years; we also have quite a few of the larger white boxes we have had in previous years; and now there is a new box size – 9” x 12” that coloring books and binder notebooks will fit in with space on both sides for additional items. You are always welcome to use your own shoebox and wrap, or leave unwrapped, or use plastic shoeboxes from discount store for later use by their recipients.
Our Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes was such a success last year that we would like to continue it this year. So, for the month of October, we are asking you to donate hats, gloves and scarves. Anne Stevens has placed a box by the main entrance for your donations. This year’s packing party will take place during Fellowship Time on Sunday, November 13.
Volunteers needed: WUMC is planning a Parents' Night Out for Saturday, November 19th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. We are in need of volunteers (ages 14+). Volunteers will be given areas to lead such as games, crafts, dinner, the nursery, etc. The Toledo Zoo is also coming with a live animal presentation. Your time commitment will be from 4:15 to 7:30 pm. Volunteers will receive a "LIVE GENEROUSLY" super-soft t-shirt from Thrivent Financial. Everyone loved their shirts last time! If you want to join the fun, but can only attend for a portion of the evening, please reach out to us & we'll fit you in! Background checks are required for all volunteers. Please contact Cara or Brian McMillan at 419-344-2171 (text or call) or cara.m.mcmillan@gmail.com.
Families: WUMC is planning a Parents' Night Out for Saturday, November 19th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. Treat yourself to a night out, or get an early start on Christmas shopping, while your children are cared for in a fun, safe environment! This is a free child care evening for children ages 6 months to 6th grade. Your children will have a blast with crafts, games, a Toledo Zoo live animal presentation, & dinner (pizza, fruit/veggies, & dessert). We would love for you to invite friends and neighbors to experience WUMC via PNO too! Please register by contacting Cara or Brian McMillan at 419-344-2171 (text or call) or cara.m.mcmillan@gmail.com. Registration required, space is limited to 35 children.
Thank you to all who have donated paperback books for the military in the box in the main hallway. There are some new items that have been requested by Operation Paperbook. Those include puzzle books, large print mysteries, books for toddlers, inspirational stories, recent magazines, textbooks of all subjects, DVDs and CDs. The collection box for these items in on the shelf outside the church office.
Volunteers are needed to help with projects for the children’s Christmas Program. Stephanie Shelton is looking for individuals who would like to help with art/craft projects and costumes that will be used in this year’s program. You do not need to be a regular part of the Children’s Ministry team to help with this. If interested, please contact Stephanie at 567-202-5035 or sshelton171@gmail.com
The “new” copier arrived in the church office today. Please be patient as we still need to connect all of the computers to the Canon. The technician will be coming back to the office sometime next week to fully complete the installation.
Be a Blessing,
Church Cathy