T H E V I S I T O R

Christ United Methodist Church Exists to: Connect Persons to God and to One Another (Worship/Fellowship)

Help Meet Needs (Service/Every Member a Minister)

Reach Out to Share Jesus Christ (Evangelism)

Instruct in Christian Growth (Discipleship)

Send Persons in Ministry (Missions)

Transform the Community of Bowling Green

Newsletter Date

January 2018

From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

I am so excited to be part of the life and ministry of Christ Church in 2018.

I hope YOU are excited and looking forward to what God has in store, as

well. There is no way to know what is around the many corners of this

year, but we can absolutely know that Jesus Christ will be waiting for us at

every turn. How wonderful to be able to walk with that kind of assurance

and confidence.

If you are like me, you can look back over your shoulder and see God’s hand at work in your life

as 2017 unfolded. You can see the times of protection. You can see the times of strength when

your own strength had worn thin. You can see the times of great joy and victory. You can see the

times of defeat and sadness. All of these times make up the past year and some of those moments

cast shadows that reach all the way into 2018. We all know a new calendar doesn’t come with

completely blank pages. That is a good thing. As 2018 begins, we don’t have to reinvent the

wheel of experience every day.

What did you learn in 2017 that will help and guide you into this New Year? What new thought

will give you energy and direction? What mistake will rise up and put the breaks on your life

when you are faced with a similar situation or decision? What wise choice will stand up and

invite you to follow in its steps once again? What words of counsel did you give to your children

that has been a light to their path? What words of direction will you need to share at least one

more time before the year is over? Again, you see, this New Year has last year’s shadow cast all

across it.

But, this New Year also has light that 2017 never saw. 2018 will present opportunities for the first

time ever in so many different ways. What will you do? How will you react? Why will you have a

sense of direction when you face new paths and rough waters? Again, look back over your

shoulder. See where you have been. Go back over the lessons you learned. Revisit the

conversations that shaped you. Remember the friends who blessed you. Recommit yourself to the

Savior who loves you.

So, let me throw out some ideas of ways to move ahead in 2018. Could this be the year you

decide to get into the Wednesday Dinner and Discipleship - WD2- - study? Is this the year you go

on a Walk to Emmaus spiritual retreat? Is this the year you take a step towards tithing? Is this the

year you volunteer at Vacation Bible School? Is this the year your musical talents come out from

under that bushel and shine in the life of the church? Is this the year you jump back into Sunday

School? All of these opportunities at Christ Church and so many more outside of Christ Church.

Yes! 2018 could be the year …

Be sure to read through this Newsletter and see the different opportunities for ministry. Some are

just around the corner, others are a few weeks or months away. Make your plans. Get out that

almost clean calendar and start setting aside time to worship and serve and give. What a great way

to live in 2018!

Your friend,

Pastor David

Attendance/Stewardship 3

Birthdays 5

Children’s Ministry 2

UMW News 5

Youth News 4

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 1

New Year’s Day

Church Offices Closed

January 3

9:30 UMW Prayer Shawl

10a UMW Meeting

11:30a UMW Luncheon

January 7

Epiphany Sunday

Communion Sunday

Miracle Offering Collection

January 9

6:30p Vision Team

January 10

WD2 Resumes

5:30 WD2 Dinner

6:00p Small Groups

January 11

6p Trustees

January 13

8a UMM workday

At WKU Wesley Foundation

January 14

5:30p Youth Parent Meeting

January 15

Martin Luther King Day

6p Finance

7p Church Council

January 19-21

Winter Blitz

January 26-27

Women’s Retreat

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Contact numbers for Pastor David & Pam

David’s cell 270-791-4967

Pam’s cell 270-799-1083

Children’s Ministry

Message from Melissa

Page 2

Our Christmas Mitten Tree in the YCC was a huge success again this year! The hats and mittens that were donated will help to keep many children here in Bowling Green warm this winter. Thank you! Christmas Play Congratulations to all of our children for a wonderful performance in their annual Christmas play. A special thank you is extended to Amy Berry, Angie Gordon and Randy Hanes for all they did. Kids RULE (Read, Understand Learn, Explore God’s Word) will have its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday, January 10th. WD2 dinner is from 5:30-6:00 pm followed by our class time from 6pm – 7pm. VBS 2018 is still months away but mark your calendars now and Save the Date! VBS 2018 is scheduled to take place from Sunday June 3 – Thursday June 7, 2018. In the event, that school closings for winter weather impact us, our backup dates are June 10- June 14. A reminder to all parents: Sunday School is a wonderful place for your children to grow in their knowledge of the Lord. Start the New Year off right by having them attend a Sunday School class.

A huge thank you to everyone who made our Advent and Christmas celebrations so beautiful – from

decorating the church, to participating in services, to leading music and liturgy… it was a beautiful and

blessed celebration of Jesus. Now as we begin our new year, let us be mindful of the vision of the church –

to be a place where people connect to God and to one another. And let us consider how we may spur one

another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,

but encouraging one another—and all the more as time goes on (Romans 10:24-25). Here are three ways we

can consider doing that this month:

1. Contemporary worship gathering: January 21 at 12:30pm

The band will be gathering after the second service on January 21 to discuss the music in the second

service. If this topic interests you, we’d love for you to join us. People are welcome to bring new

songs that they would like us to use, share opinions or concerns about songs we’ve used in the past,

and generally be involved in the conversation of how and why we worship together. Please let me

know if you’d like to join us!

2. Women’s retreat

The women of the church are invited for a night away at the Narrow Way Bed and Breakfast in

Lucas KY on January 26 and January 27. This time together will focus on having time to spend with

each other and will allow time for rest. The cost is $59 if 13 people sign up, and less if more people

sign up. Breakfast is included in the price. More details will be forthcoming. Please email

melissa@christumcbg.org or contact Brenda at 270-792-9130 to find out more. (Save the date:

women’s Bible study will resume February 18!)

3. Glory Baby Cut-a-thon

Glory Baby is a ministry that provides burial gowns for infants to families experiencing loss. We

will gather on January 28, 5:30-7:00, to cut apart gowns that have been donated to the cause. Please

bring a seam-ripper or scissors. Contact Melissa for more information.

O U R S T E WA R D S H I P

A N D AT T E N D A N C E

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7

Servants for January

Memorial

Contributions

8:45 Service

Greeters

Ron & Carol Wilson

Communion Servers

Bruce & Diane Allen

Karen & Doug Rohrer

11:00 Service

Greeters & Communion Servers

Dean Meadows, Jana Layne

Becky & Woody Harrell

Buford Smith

Building Lockup

Woody Harrell

Budget for the Year $593,363

Needed per Week $11,411

Received

Dec 3 $14,381

Dec 10 13,460

Dec 17 9,543

Dec 24 7,994

Dec 31 12,422

Budget to Date $593,363

Received to Date $528,042

Building Fund Loan Balance $82,836

Received 2017 $16,055

STEWARDSHIP OF ATTENDANCE

S.S.

8:45 10:00 11:00

Dec 3 166 135 94

Dec 10 151 167 102

Dec 17 188 160 51

Dec 24 134 106 85

Dec 31 118 112 64

Page 3

M.E.A.L.S., Inc.

In Memory of

Georgie Hanes

Building Fund

Kenny & Carolyn Marks

Richard & Karen Garden

In Memory of

Audra Simpton

Building Fund

Bill & Joyce Buckman

In Memory of

Anna Walkup Landscape Committee

Tim & Linda Tidwell

Rick & I, as well as our extended family, would

like to send sincere and humble thanks to our

church family for the cards, comforting words,

prayers, hugs, food and flowers sent to our family

at the time of our mother, Audra Simpson’s, death,

but also over the last few years of her illness. We

have been deeply touched and overwhelmed by

your kindness and caring. She was especially

blessed to call Christ UMC her church home the

last years of her life.

From Michael

Page 4

In our student ministry we are looking at the new year with a great deal of anticipation. We believe God is

going to do big things this year. We are already looking forward to our summer mission trip and what God

will do in and through us as we serve him. Before we get there, we have some great opportunities coming up

in January.

First, we will be kicking WD2 back off on January 10th. We just finished a study in the book of Matthew and

in January we will be starting a new study by Francis Chan on Prayer. Prayer is one of those Sunday School

answers to many of our questions but for most of us prayer life can feel flat and uninspiring. We will spend a

few weeks right at the beginning of the year growing in our prayer life together.

On January 7th, we will jump right back into our Sunday Night Gatherings as well. On the 14th we will also

have our annual Parents Meeting at 5:30 pm, while the youth are playing and eating.

We are especially excited about Winter Blitz in January. We will travel to Louisville the 19th-21st and gather

with United Methodist Youth from all over the Kentucky Annual Conference for worship and teaching. This

is always a powerful weekend and there is still time for youth to sign up!

Christmas Miracle Offering January 7

Communion Offering

The Thailand Methodist Mission, which works in evangelism and among children caught up in the sex trade, is raising money to purchase land and build a new church—Fire of Glory Church. Our Christmas Miracle Offering this year will go to help build that church. We will receive this offer-ing on January 7, Epiphany Sunday, as our first communion offering of 2018. Some may want to give their offering on or before December 31, for tax purposes.

Angel Tree Thank You

A big Thank you to all who contributed to this years

Prison Fellowship Angel Tree program. Helen Terry

makes many of the phone calls to the caregivers of the

children, Shirley Lowe wraps dozens of gifts, and others

help by sorting the wrapped packages as they are

brought back into the designated family bags to be de-

livered by YET another group of you! Many of you

took angels from the tree and bought and wrapped your

gifts while some gave money to buy for them. Once

again this year EVERY child in KY got presents

through Angel Tree! Our church bought for 94 children

– a total of 188 gifts! On behalf of all those children

you loved on—THANK YOU!

FUNERAL MEAL COORDINATORS NEEDED

The job of Coordinating meals for the family after a funeral needs a new coordinator or co-

coordinators! Linda Holian and Pam Grout, with Deloris Gaddie’s help, have been in

charge of getting people to make food, prepare the tables, serve food and clean up. If you

are interested in taking the position or in asking questions about it, we would be happy to

talk to you. This position is open immediately. Thanks to all who have been so helpful to

us in ministering to the families in this way.

January Birthdays United Methodist Women

If you would like your birthday listed in

The Visitor, please call the church office.

The United Methodist Women meet January 3rd at 10:00 a.m. in

the Potpourri Classroom. The prayer shawl team meets at 9:00

in the library. Carol Douglas and Linda Holian will provide a

warm lunch. Come join us for fellowship.

Page 5

Carolyn Marks 1/1

Karen Rohrer 1/3

Taylor Gilbert 1/4

Conner Twyman 1/6

Gerod Truelove 1/6

Margie Bonds 1/8

Susie Brooks 1/8

Gage York 1/8

Shan Winquist 1/9

Luciana Bull DeGaetano 1/9

Sophie Moore 1/10

Jim Rennirt 1/10

Martha Lloyd 1/10

Doug Rohrer 1/10

Wes Chou 1/11

Stephen Harmon 1/14

Deloris Gaddie 1/15

Randy Nielsen 1/15

Stuart Foster 1/16

Jeana Withers 1/18

Aaron Gordon 1/18

Lonell Rennirt 1/22

Kevin Gilpin 1/22

Kenny Marks 1/24

Patty Wintuska 1/25

Richard Strout 1/30

Gail Williams 1/31

Scott Tylicki 1/31

UMAF

United Methodist Adult Fellowship

Adult Fellowship Breakfast at Brindee’s Jan. 12 -

9:00am The Adult Fellowship will meet at Brindee’s

Restaurant, 2001 Russellville Rd, to enjoy a delicious

breakfast on Jan. 12 at 9:00am.

Please contact Ron or Carol Wilson (270-746 9956) if

you can sponsor a future activity.

On February 23, right here at Christ Church, join thousands of business leaders across the country for a full 1-day live-stream retreat to hear from experts, be encouraged, and discuss how to connect your faith and work. Visit https://www.workasworshipretreat.org/ for more information or to register ($25).

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you

gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me...”

Matthew 25:35 Thank you CUMC congregation for the tremendous support

you have shown the M.E.A.L.S., Inc. ministry during

2017. Together, we have served four times during the

year. Each time we had 30-35 volunteers and were able to pro-

vide food to 310-315 people in need of food. Additionally, our

church donated 354 cans of soup to go into the Christmas Din-

ner boxes that were delivered to these individuals and fami-

lies. Each box contained a ham, fresh fruit, and 13 items

(provided by the 13 church participants), so our neighbors we

serve can have a traditional Christmas dinner. Also, thank you

for all the plastic grocery bags you bring in. The program uses

over 300 of these bags every week. Our next opportunity to

participate with this ministry is March 3rd. We hope you can be

a part of CUMC volunteers on that date. Our prayer is that our church can continue to be a blessing to

those in need of food assistance in this new year. M.E.A.L.S.,

Inc. is a wonderful way to serve the Lord by serving others. If

you have any questions or need additional information, please

call Helen Terry @ (270) 991-9075 or (270) 745-0943.

2018 M.E.A.L.S., Inc. Dates March 3rd

June 2nd September 1st December 1st

WD2 Welcome We would like to thank those who donated their time this fall to

bring us a varied menu for our WD2 meals. Thanks to Angie

Gordon, Doris Whitmer, Shirley Lowe, Juanita Cox, Dawn

Spicer, Our menus included lasagna, spaghetti, meatloaf,

chicken pot pie, BBQ sandwiches, sub sandwiches, chicken

strips and pizza.

If you would be interested in signing up to provide a meal for

WD2, please contact the church office. Any reasonable cost is

reimbursed. We currently feed approximately 70 people.

WD2 will resume on January 10.

Pastor Dean will be leading a group called "LIVING TRUTH"

during the winter session of WD2. The focus will be on apply-

ing teachings and incidents from the life of Jesus to our every-

day lives. It will combine Bible study and discussion in an open

setting.

Page 6

M.E.A.L.S., Inc.

Barbara Thompson, who transfers from

Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire,

Wisconsin

Merry Hardin & family on the death of her father,

Harold Campbell

Madisyn & Mea Taylor on the death of their great

grandmother, Martha Taylor

Tom Lohmann on the death of his brother,

Al Lohmann

Shan & Rick Winquist and family on the death of

her mother, Audra Simpson

Paulette & Larry Wells and family on the death of

her mother, Anna Walkup

Jenny Lou Pierce & family on the death of her

grandfather, James Royster Sowders

Kory & Christy Twyman and family on the death of

grandmother, Ada Francis Twyman

Sympathy

Anaclare Cobb, who transferred her

membership in November.

(not pictured, Abigal)

CHURCH STAFF

Dr. David Grout ............................................... Pastor

Rev. Michael Romans Associate Pastor/Youth Pastor

Melissa Bull ...... Minister of Music and Discipleship

Patty Wintuska ......................... Children’s Director

Kelli Truelove .................... Assistant Youth Director

Jeanie Orr .................................................... Organist

Bonnie Hanes .... Administrative Assistant/Treasurer

April Taylor ................................ Nursery Supervisor

Shan Winquist ........................................ Lay Leader

Angie Gordon …………… Minister of Visitation &

Congregational Care /Director of The Learning Tree

Lorenzo Hall, Jr. .......................................... Security

Worship Services

Sunday Worship ~ 8:45

a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 10:00

a.m.

Nursery provided for all

Sunday Services

Youth Activities ~ Sunday

at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

716 Cave Mill Road

Bowling Green, KY 42104

842-4343 & 842-8762

Church Fax: 842-6776

Office hours: 8:00-2:00

Monday thru Thursday

Our E-Mail Address:

Info@ChristUMCbg.org

Our Web Page:

www.christumcbg.org