SEPTEMBER, 2009

Messenger THE

Church 620-492-6850

Parsonage 620-492-2495

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H 2 0 2 S . N I P P S T . , J O H N S O N , K S 6 7 8 5 5

“ O U R M I S S I O N I S T O B R I N G G O D T O P E O P L E , A N D P E O P L E T O G O D ”

Inside this issue:

From The Pastor;

Covered Dish Dinner

2

Celebrations; Prayer List;

Preschool News; Open

House

3

Men’s Study, Planning

Session; Sonshine Kids

4

KFC News; Confirmation;

Church Conference

5

Movie “Faith Like

Potatoes”

6

Kids Page 7

W.E.B.S.

September Calendar

8

Insert

Sunday

September

20

3:00-7:00 p.m.

Join us at Battin Park Ice-Cream Freeze-Off

Softball

Horseshoes Balloon Toss

BBQ @ 5:30 p.m.

Balloon Release after church-12:00 noon

SERMONS FOR SEPTEMBER:

Sept 6 “Solid Rock”

1 Samuel 2:1—10

Sept 13 “I See You”

Psalm 139:1-6;

John 1:44-51

Sept. 20 “I Care About You”

Psalm 103:8-14;

Luke 4:16-21

Sept. 27 “I Can Change Your

Life”

Luke 19:1-10;

2 Corinthians 5:17

Moon-Walk

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H Page 2

I am excited about the opportunity God is placing before us. We have been learning about “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.” (I have preached five sermons this summer about these practices, based on a book of the same title by United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase). Now it’s time for us to implement what we have been learning. It’s time for us to practice “Radical Hospitality.” It’s time for us to practice “Passionate Worship.” The other three—“Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity”—may not be as much in focus during Open House Month, but they are not

far in the background.

So what is Open House Month, and what are we trying to accomplish? During September we are making a concerted effort to invite friends and acquaintances to worship with us (because of Labor Day Weekend, we are only focusing on the Sundays, September 13 through September 27). In addition to worship we have something special planned for each Sunday. September 13 we will have a covered dish dinner following worship—please bring three dishes so we will have plenty of food for guests. September 20 will be Rally Day and we have a cookout, softball game, horse shoes, bingo, moon walk, etc. planned from 3-7 p.m. in Battin Park and the 4H Building. Then on September 27 at 6:30 p.m. we will show the movie “Faith Like Potatoes,” based on a true story about a South African farmer and his family who through many struggles come to faith, and find God’s purpose for their lives. Phyllis and I have seen it,

and we think it is a great movie.

I want to ask you to do three things in preparation for these three Sundays. Each of these is crucial to making the Open House Month a

success.

First, I want you to pray. Pray for me as I

prepare to preach a series of sermons entitled “Three Things God Wants to Tell You.” Each sermon is planned to attract people to our loving God. Each is planned to tell people who do not know Jesus Christ how much He cares about them and how He can improve their lives.” Pray that God will use us to invite and welcome our friends and acquaintances to come hear these messages and to

experience the life of our congregation.

Second, I want you to participate in these events as fully as possible. Your attendance is important. You are an important person in the life of our congregation, and we need you to help us extend “Radical Hospitality” to all who come.

Meet knew people and make them feel welcome.

Third, I want you to invite someone to each event. It can be the same person each time. It

may be a family. Invite your friend to come with you to worship and stay for dinner on September 13. Invite your friend to come with you to worship on September 20, and then come later in the afternoon to Battin Park for the cookout. Invite your friend to come with you to worship on September 27, and then come again in the evening for the movie, “Faith Like Potatoes.” Your friend may not say yes to all these invitations, but keep inviting them in a friendly way. Keep

praying, and God will work.

If you do these three things, God will show us how ready He is to move and how ripe people are

to come to God.

Also a special note for men: Beginning Sunday, September 13 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. meeting in the Church Office we will start a Bible Class for men. I will be the teacher for the fall. The class will be aimed to help men to get into reading and knowing their way around the New Testament. Beginning and seasoned Bible students are welcome. If you have questions talk with Greg Edmisson or myself. We would welcome help in inviting people to come to this

class. —Don Hasty

SEPTEMBER IS OPEN HOUSE MONTH

Sunday,

September 13

following worship

Bring a friend

and join us!

Covered Dish

SEPTEMBER

CELEBRATIONS

Page 3 T H E M E S S E N G E R

CHURCH FAMILY

PRAYER LIST

Sept. 6 Steve Arnold

Sept. 13 Kelly, Deniese & Dusty Barber

Sept. 20 Betty Barber

Sept. 27 Tye & Vera Barber

Birthdays: 1 Lauren Canny, Tyson Adams 4 Rhett Seyb 7 John Teeter 8 Lysle Davidson 9 Brenda Kendrick 11 Judy Arnold 13 John Lewis, Marilyn Whittington, Bruce Friesen 15 Dalton Cruz 16 Kennedy Smith, Caid Smith 18 Phyllis Hasty, John Nicholas 20 Ron Kendrick 23 Reuben Cruz 26 Bill Nicholas 27 Linda Rector 29 Shari Wiens 30 Fox Morris

Wow! We had an awesome turnout for preschool orientation Thursday

evening. What a fun time! It was exciting to see my returning students again

and great to meet the new students. Thank you to all the parents who brought

their children to participate, and thank you to all the preschool board members

who helped to make the evening a success! The preschool classes will begin

on Monday, August 24 for the afternoon students, and Tuesday, August 25 for

the morning students. I have a total of 20 children enrolled this year. Should

be a great year! †

PRESCHOOL NEWS B Y C H E R Y L B E R E N S , D I R E C T O R

Anniversaries: 2 Tyson & Wendi Adams 16 Monty & Becky Teeter 26 Roger & Shari Wiens

Sonshine Kids have started up again with the new school year. Sonshine Kids is a fun, after school program for K-5th graders on Wednesdays. The

program runs from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m., with the first 45 minutes consisting of fun, games and snacks and the last 45 minutes

being Sonshine Singers children’s choir.

New for this fall, Sonshine Kids will provide transportation for your children from school and to your home following Sonshine Kids. All you need is to fill out and submit a consent form to Pastor Will or Michelle Canny. You can get these forms from

Michelle or Pastor Will as well.

If you are a child in elementary school, come to Sonshine Kids for a time of fun

and bring a friend! †

Ladies Bible Study

Tuesday’s, 7:00 a.m

In the Parlor

Please join us!

It’s a great time to get started

on projects for

BAZAAR—November 7, 2009

Items are always needed for the

Country Store and Auction

Beginning Sunday, September 13 from 9:30 to 10:30

a.m. meeting in the Church Office we will start a Bible

Class for men. I will be the teacher for the fall. The

class will be aimed to help men get into reading and

knowing their way around the New Testament.

Beginning and seasoned Bible students are welcome.

If you have questions talk with Greg Edmisson or

myself. We would welcome help in inviting people to

come to this class. - Pastor Don †

UMW

PHONE TREE

Please contact the

church office if you

would like to be added

to the phone tree.

Men’s Breakfast

Study

1st & 3rd Thursday’s

@ 6:30 a.m .

All Men Welcom e!

CHURCH PLANNING SESSION

Sunday, September, 27, 2009

2:00 p.m.

Join us as the Councils meet to plan activities, set goals

and make budget proposals for 2010.

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H Page 4

T H E M E S S E N G E R

Kids Following Christ is starting a very busy Fall. On August 23rd, we had the Back to School Bash at the

Johnson First United Methodist Church with pizza, fun skits and games.

Starting on September 6th, the KFC will explore a course of study regarding sexuality and relationships titled:

Song of Solomon by Tommie Nelson. This study focuses on the need for adequate boundaries in youth

relationships and mutual respect for yourself and for what God desires for us regarding love. The lessons of

the study are as follows: Attraction, Dating, Courtship part 1, Courtship part 2, Intimacy, and The Importance

of Purity.

The KFC will be hosting a water balloon toss during Rally Fun Day on September 20 th.

On October 4th, the KFC will be going to Dodge City to attend the concert Creation Festival.

The KFC will be selling the Little Caesar’s Pizza Kits once again this fall, so if you

want some pizza, notify a member of the KFC.

If you know a youth that you think might want to come to youth group, invite them to

the fun. Kids Following Christ meets every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. †

This Fall, Johnson First United Methodist Church is offering confirmation for all youth from 7th—12th Grade. Confirmation is the completion of joining the membership of the church that was begun at the youth’s baptism. The confirmation course of study that covers basic Christian beliefs of the church is a 7 week program which will

begin on September 13th.

The schedule for confirmation meetings are

as follows:

September 13th at 4 p.m.

Topic: God the Father

September 20th at 2 p.m.

Topic: God the Son

KIDS FOLLOWING CHRIST P A S T O R W I L L K E N Y O N

September 27th at 4 p.m.

Topic: God the Spirit

October 4th time to be announced. Topic: The church grows/

church history

October 11th at 4 p.m. Topic: Worship, communion

and baptism

October 18th at 4 p.m.

Topic: Discipleship

October 25th at 4 p.m. Topic: The Gospel Message and run through of the

confirmation service

November 1st at 10:50 a.m.

Confirmation Sunday

†

CONFIRMATION CLASS

Committees are starting to meet to

plan for Annual Conference. Below is

a schedule of those meetings:

Sept. 10 Staff-Parish 7:30p

Sept. 15 Lay Leadership 7:30p

Sept. 17 Finance 8p

Sept. 21 Trustees 7p

Sept 27 Planning Session 2p

Sept. 29 Administrative Council 8p

Oct 1 Lay Leadership 8p

Oct. 6 Staff-Parish 7p

Oct. 15 Finance 8p

Oct. 20 Administrative Council 8p

Nov. 8 Church Conference 4p

Dates and times are subject to

change. Check the calendar on the

website at www.fumcjohnson.com. †

Page 5

Page 6 F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

Page 7 T H E M E S S E N G E R

DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE

TO SHARE IN THE

NEWSLETTER? Please

email it to: jumc@pld.com

or drop it in the mail to:

First UMC, Box 179,

Johnson, KS 67855

202 S. Nipp St.

P.O. Box 179

Johnson, KS 67855

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

UMW

CENTENNIAL

COOKBOOKS are still

available to purchase!

$15.00 each; or $20.00 (if

mailed-includes postage.

Contact the church office,

620-492-6850. †

Want to visit with the Pastor? Please call Pastor Don at the church office,

620-492-6850 or e-mail him at: revdonhasty@hotmail.com

First UMC Staff: Pastor: Don Hasty

Associate Pastor: Will Kenyon

Secretary: Shari Wiens

Treasurer: Mandy Shirk

Custodian: Victoria Garcia

Music Coordinator: Vicky Neely

Nursery: Wendi Adams

Preschool Teacher: Cheryl Berens

Youth Coordinator: Will Kenyon

Community Developer: Jose` Olivas

W.E.B.S. (WE DNE SD AY EV EN ING B I BLE ST UD Y) For this Fall, Wednesday evenings will now have Bible studies at Johnson

First United Methodist Church. Starting at 6 p.m. will be a light meal pre-

pared on a volunteer basis. At 6:30 p.m. the Bible studies will begin and run

for an hour.

The studies offered for the start of fall are: What’s So Amazing About Grace,

a study based on Phillip Yancey’s bestseller book, and Boundaries with

Kids, a study designed for parents to set healthy boundaries to grow healthy

children.

Child care will be provided on an as needed basis.

Both studies only have 12 available slots, so sign up to reserve your spot in

either study. But, don’t worry, if the study you want to attend is full, just sign

up for the spring session of either study. †

OFFICE CLOSED

Monday,

September 7th