Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday resumes tonight.

Meal served from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.
Full meal = $6.25
Snack Supper = $3.00

Programs and Rehearsals starting at 6:15 p.m.

January 18- Report on Their Mission Trip to New Orleans
Facilitated by Darrell & Mary Vines Room 112

January 18, 25, February 1 & 8 United Methodist History & Theology History, polity, theology and the Wesleys
Facilitated by Ted Dotts Room 227

Jan. 25 & Feb. 1 & 8 Table Games
Facilitated by Ruth Ellen Riley Room 115
She’ll bring her favorite games and invites you to do the same

Weekly Prayer Shawl Ministry Room 116
Weekly Disciple I Conference Rm.
Disciple II Room 115
Weekly St. John’s Acoustic Jam Room 212
Weekly Coffee Talk Garden Room
Weekly Children’s Choirs
Music Experience (3 & 4-Year-olds) Room 221
Alpha Choir (Kindergarten – 1st Graders) Room 221
Chimes & Choir (2nd & 3rd Graders) Basement
Handbells & Choir (4th – 6th Graders) Basement
Weekly Youth Choirs (7th – 12th Graders) Handbells (6:00-6:45 p.m.) Basement
Choir (6:45- 7:15 p.m.) Room 111
Weekly Adult Handbells (6:45-7:30) Basement

Menus for January
January 18 Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, rolls, brownies
Snack supper: Chicken strips, potato chips, carrots, brownies

January 25 Spaghetti and Meatballs, tossed salad, garlic bread, bakery cakes
Snack supper: Same menu, smaller portions

2006 Leader’s Orientation

For all Committee/Council Chairpersons, Church Council Members, Lay Leaders and Presidents of the United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women
Thursday, January 26 5:30 p.m. Supper with Orientation until 9:30 p.m.
Childcare available upon request.

UMW January Activities

United Methodist Women Sunday
January 22
“Walk Into the Future with Faith”
10:30 a.m. worship service
Rev. Kathryn Boren preaching

Wednesday, January 25
9:30 a.m.
Dora Harris Circle
St. John’s Conference Room
Fellowship and Refreshments
Program: “Call to Prayer and Self Denial”

All women of the church are invited!

Changes with The Explorer

If you receive The Explorer, St. John's Bi-weekly newspaper, hopefully you received a letter indicating that we were migrating our church newspaper to an in-house production. Last week we distributed the first issue of our new format. We welcome your suggestions and input. The format and content will likely change as we gain experience with this new process and as you make suggestions to us. As I indicated in the mailed letter, one major reason for the change in format is to save money. With this new format we will be sending out the paper via traditional postal mail as well as by email. The more people that are open to receiving this paper via email, the more money we will be able to save. If you have not already done so, please inform the church office of your decision on how to receive this paper. You may call, email or return the form that came with the mailed letter.

A Note about our Finances from Dennis Howard

With the end of the old year and beginning of the New Year, we look ahead with wonder and excitement as we consider the possibilities that are ahead. However, as some great and wise pundit once said, “Unless we are aware of the past, we are doomed to repeat it.”

Financially, our past year was one of highs and lows. We completed the capital campaign, paid off the HVAC note and had enough money to begin Phase 4 of the HVAC Master Plan. As I write this, the contractor is working in the Garden Room installing new HVAC equipment.

Your staff was ever diligent this past year in their efforts to stay within the budget that the Finance Committee and Church Council approved. With a few exceptions, every line item in the budget was on target. Those that went over budget were due to forces that could not be predicted or controlled.

Pledges and contributions lagged last year and as we start the New Year, many who pledged last year have not renewed their pledges this year.

If you have not returned a pledge card, please stop by the office and pick one up, take it home and prayerfully consider what your commitment to the ministries and missions of St. John’s will be this year. As a community of faith, our connection and our commitment to St. John’s United Methodist Church is reflected in how we, as a congregation, step forward and commit not only our lives and our times, but also our gifts, to carrying out the missions, ministries and services that St. John’s brings to our community. Fill out a pledge card today, please.

And finally, as we consider our connections of faith, I must report that we only paid 90% of our allotted apportionments this year. Our apportionments totaled $82,200.00 last year and our final total paid to the conference was $73,275.67. Our apportionments for 2006 are $84,476.00. Please prayerfully consider making an extra pledge toward our apportionments. If you wish to make such a pledge, see me in the office any time.

Blessing and Peace on you all for your support, your generosity and, most especially, for your caring love.

Kiwanis Chili Festival

All you can eat chili (with or without beans) crackers, corn bread, iced tea
Saturday, January 21
10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
St. John’s United Methodist Church
$5.00 age 2 and up
The funds will support numerous Kiwanis projects including Children’s Miracle Network, Camp Kiwanis for mentally challenged youth and The St. John’s/St. Paul’s Food Voucher program!

UMY News

Sunday, January 22-tour the church with Ted Dotts
Friday-Sunday, 27-29- Mid- Winter Youth Retreat at Ceta Canyon. (No regular youth on Sunday evening.)