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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
March 2002 |
Generations find love is common ground
Youth from Indiana United Methodist Children's Home, Inc. (IUMCH) provided a festive Valentine's Party for the residents of Maple View County Home on Feb. 13. Funds for the party were possible through United Way's Youth as Resources Program. Residents from the Children's Home wrote and submitted the grant.
The grant money was made available to student groups interested in improving their community. The youth called their project CHA CHA CHA, an acronym for Children's Home Activates Caring Hearts at County Home Altruistically.
During the Valentine's Party, names were drawn and the winners from Maple View were crowned king and queen. Boys and girls from the Children's Home provided all the decorations. They also presented each Maple View resident with a corsage or boutonniere and later danced to big band music.
According to Duane Horstman, Christian education leader at IUMCH, "This has been a great experience for the young people at Indiana United Methodist Children's Home. They have been kind and compassionate when it comes to giving to their friends at Maple View." Susan Bennett
'Laid off' but not 'laid out'
LaPorte First UMC, Calumet District, has developed Career Opportunities Support Group, a ministry which helps workers who were recently laid-off. Darlene Nace, the church parish nurse, with the help of the Samaritan Counseling Centers, developed the program. The support group met once a week through February to practice and review interviewing skills.
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Does your church have a Brite Idea? If so, describe your "creative" ministry in 300 words or less. Include a sharp photo, noting who is in the picture and what's going on. Also, please note your name and daytime phone number. Send to: Brite Idea -- Hoosier UM News, 1100 W. 42nd St., Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46208, or Editor. |
Generosity ignites billboard ministry
The Rushville District is reaching out to its neighbors this Lenten season. Ten Igniting Ministry billboards are being placed on state roads and highways throughout the district.
Russ Peterson, a member of Richmond Central UMC and owner of Porter Advertising, donated the billboard spaces -- two for each of the five counties in the district in which he owns billboards: Fayette, Henry, Rush, Union and Wayne. The churches in each county shared the cost of having their billboard printed.
The 12-foot by 25-foot ads are from the "Rain" expression of the Igniting Ministry campaign. They were put up in mid-February and will remain until Easter. Cindy Dougherty
Chili served ecumenically
More than 540 people showed up for January's fourth annual Ecumenical Progressive Chili Dinner in Crown Point. The UMW at Crown Point's First UMC made more than 320 pounds of chili to feed the hungry crew. Serving in shifts, participants started the evening with salad and appetizers at St. Matthias Catholic Church, followed with chili at First UMC; dessert was served at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and finally the folks at First Presbyterian Church supplied the entertainment.
Building bonds through cell bars
Aldersgate UMC in Evansville received an $8,000 grant from the Welborn Baptist Foundation to establish a Family Preservation Program. The program is an outgrowth of the church's jail ministry and is aimed at keeping families together through difficult times. The ministry will be specific to elementary aged children with a mother who is in jail.
Beverly Tonso, Aldersgate's parish nurse said, "Many of the children of inmates end up in this home or that home. They move from relative to relative while their mother is in jail, and they may end up in foster care. What we plan to do with the mothers is address life skill issues, those things they can use when they get out. With the children, we will have activities that are fun but also aimed at life skills."
A key component of the program is a reading project in which mothers will be videotaped reading books to their children and children will read books to their mothers. The whole idea is to strengthen the mother-child bond and to provide some kind of communication between the two. The program will coordinate with Patchwork Central for use of space and with the Vanderburgh County Jail.
This is the first time the Welborn Baptist Foundation has included health ministries in its targeted funding areas. Marjorie Soyugenc, executive director of the foundation, said, "The movement has been expanding in Evansville and it seems to be on target with what we are trying to do at the Welborn Baptist Foundation."
Seminars find global audience
The Aldersgate Community, Fort Wayne District, recently became a Church Communications Network subscriber church. The service allows the church to receive satellite broadcast seminars on a variety of church related training topics from experts in the field. Not only will this service be a great help to Aldersgate Community, but to other churches as well. Church leaders are encouraged to participate. A $10 participation fee is requested to help offset the costs of the service. To learn about upcoming seminars, call the church at 219/432-1524.
Indy Families 'turn off the violence'
The Family Ministries and the Domestic Violence Awareness Committee at Indianapolis' Epworth UMC teamed up in January to host a Family Game Night. The evening offered families an opportunity to come together for pizza, group activities and board games. The Family Game Night capped off a week in which families from the church were asked to "turn off the violence" by tuning out violent television programs, video games and news articles. Joe Hatcher
Unity Revival means Good News for Gary |
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In late 2001, the churches of Gary, Calumet District, gathered at Centennial UMC for their annual Unity Revival. Members from Delaney, Centennial and Fifth Avenue UMCs joined for prayer, fellowship and worship. The revival speaker was the Rev. Charles Harrison of Indianapolis' Barnes UMC. The Good News of Jesus Christ was spread not only through word but also by action as well. The churches of Gary presented a check for $916.71 to the Marion Home for Pregnant Adolescents. Patricia Gillis |
Last updated on 01/14/2004