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Tanner Valley
Voice
Tanner Valley United Methodist Church
January 2015
Time Enough to Laugh
19235 State Road 1
Lawrenceburg, IN
47025-8606
tannervalleychurch.com
Michael Lawson,
Pastor
Ugh… January, February, March…
The days are dark, short, the land bedraggled, the sky looks grey and on those rare
days the clouds are not present and we have sunshine, it is freezing cold. Miserably
cold. Oh so terribly cold. Honestly, this is the time of year I struggle to maintain joy.
No great holidays to break up the seemingly endless weeks of winter wet.
Church Building:
812.537.4111
Parsonage:
812.577.0641
Sunday School
Sundays—9am
Worship
Sundays—10am
Choir Practice
Wednesdays—7pm
UMW
2nd Thursdays—7pm
In this issue:
UMW-Christian Lights
2
Nursery Schedule
2
Council Highlights
3
Parent’s Day Out Photos
4
How does one continue to maintain joy when the world itself seems filled with gloom?
Further, let’s move beyond the weather, what if your life has more struggle than victory in it? Extended illness? Family strife? The fruit of the month club keeps sending
grapefruit? How do we cope?
Perhaps though, joy should not be contingent on the outside world. Perhaps it should
not rise and fall like a thermostat, or turn on and off like a light switch. Perhaps joy is
not maintained or bolstered, but instead, joy must be sought.
Seeking joy is a quest one must undertake in the care of a spiritual life. Famed Christian
theologian and teacher Henri Nouwen said it best this way: “Each day holds a surprise.
But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be
afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will
open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.” It is for Nouwen as it is for us, no matter what
comes in our life we must still endeavor to open our heart to what God brings us. It is
when our hearts are open that joy can be found.
So how do we keep our hearts open? We seek to deepen our relationships with
friends through time spent together. We seek to strengthen our bodies through
healthy living. We seek to deepen our understanding of prayer. We seek to finally get
into regular Bible reading and study. We seek acts of service and kindness. Finally,
sometimes we seek to do nothing but sit and listen quietly for the voice of God. In
seeking these things, we seek joy. This is how our quest in these dark months will be
won.
Joy will not simply come to us in the long winter months, but our seeking after it will
flood our lives with warmth. It is in the quest itself, it is in dealing with the surprises
that come, it is in the seeking that joy is found.
Pastor Michael
In years past Rich and I would often ride through the surrounding neighborhoods enjoying
Christmas lights. Several years ago there was a very large home built adjacent to us and
Christmas must be their favorite holiday. They put up a truly awesome display covering
three stories of their home from top to bottom. (It really is a little much!) The lights are
on a timer from 7:00.pm. to midnight every night. I am just glad I am not paying that electric bill. No longer do we need to go out and drive around to see lights!
But lights are an important symbol of the meaning of Christmas, Jesus entered this
world to be the light in the darkness. The angels appeared to the shepherds and when ever
angels appear there is always that dazzling array around them. And then there was the
star over Bethlehem that the wise men were drawn to. So the next time you see Christmas
lights remember Jesus "the light of the world".
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
The UMW Christmas party was lots of fun with lots of good food. We were happy to have Pastor Michael join us. Thanks for all who came and join us. Our next
meeting will be January 8 at 7:00 p.m. That will also be the time that our next RADA knife order will be due. If you haven't ordered this is your opportunity.
Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas season and a happy and
healthy New Year.
Nancy
Here is the Nursery Schedule for January-March 2015. Due to no fault of their own, two of our workers
have had to take a leave of absence from the nursery for a short while. As you can see, we are down to six
volunteers. In 4 months, we have gone from 18 nursery volunteers to 6. Please consider volunteering for a
shift in the nursery. The more volunteers we have, the less Sundays each volunteer works.
Please see Amy Delp or call her at 537-4702 to sign up!
Nursery Schedule for January-March 2015
Page 2
January 4:
January 11:
January 18:
January 25:
Bryan Delp & Joy Offutt
Peg Delp & Pat Titkemeyer
Amy Delp & Terrie Van Volkenburgh
Bryan Delp & Joy Offutt
February 1:
February 8:
February 15:
February 22:
Peg Delp & Pat Titkemeyer
Amy Delp & Terrie Van Volkenburgh
Bryan Delp & Joy Offutt
Peg Delp & Pat Titkemeyer
March 1:
March 8:
March 15:
March 22:
March 29:
Amy Delp & Terrie Van Volkenburgh
Bryan Delp & Joy Offutt
Peg Delp & Pat Titkemeyer
Amy Delp & Terrie Van Volkenburgh
Bryan Delp & Joy Offutt
WORSHIP SERVANTS
Pastor Michael opened the meeting with a devotional reading and prayer.
Treasurer's Report—The subject report was reviewed and there were no
issues.
Trustees—The council has requested to have the trustees to get an estimate on repairing the bad areas in the parking lot and sealing versus repair
and repaving. Repaving could then be done as a future project.
There was a request for the trustees to look at the heating and cooling system to ensure that the thermostats are set properly.
Christian Education—Parents Day Out was a big success on December
13th for all who attended.
Pastor Parish Relations—Next year, this committee will meet every other month on Tuesdays opposite the council meeting.
Discipleship— A progressive Christmas dinner will be held on December
20th. The committee has decided to transfer the Rummage Sale funds
($1553.13) to the Paving fund.
Secretary—There were 423 voters who visited our church building on
Election Day. Thanks to those who supported this with baked goods or as
greeters.
Pastor Michael— Committees will schedule meetings at least quarterly
next year. These will be on the church calendar. Council will meet every
other month in 2015, on the first Wednesday of each month opposite the
PPRC meetings. The youth group is going well. The first ski group is
scheduled for December 21.
On Saturday, December 13, the Christian Education Committee, along
with many volunteers, hosted what we hope will become an annual event:
A Parents’ Day Out. Parents could drop off their children from 10 a.m.
until 4 p.m. and we provided the childcare and fun. We had so many
Christmas themed activities for the kids including games, crafts, songs,
cookie decorating, movies, a Bible lesson and a pizza lunch. It takes a lot of
planning and work to organize and execute a new project like this, and we
are so thankful for all of our volunteers who came and helped out that day;
to those who donated food and craft supplies; and those that prayed for us.
The kids had a great time and I think the adults had a pretty good time
themselves. We hope you will spread the word about this event for next
year so we can serve even more in our community. Please enjoy some
photos from our event.
January 4
Greeter
Sue Goble
Acolyte
Wyatt Maxfield
Reader
Donna Morgan
Nursery
Bryon Delp & Joy Offutt
January 11
Greeter
Bonnie Knox
Acolyte
Kelsey Offutt
Reader
Kim Schmeltzer
Nursery
Peg Delp, Pat Titkemeyer
Ushers
The Beckmans, The
Sorsensens
Children’s Message
Pastor Michael
GIC
Nancy Hesse, Billie Stockum
January 18
Greeter
The Zieglers
Acolyte
Nelson Hanneken
Reader
Nancy Hesse
Nursery
Amy Delp,
Terrie VanVolkenburgh
Ushers
The Hannekens, Robertsons
GIC
Annalee Maxfield, Veronica
Loring
January 25
Greeter
Barb Branigan
Acolyte
Ryleigh Offutt
Reader
Larry Delp
Nursery
Bryan Delp, Joy Offutt
Ushers
The Dorsels, Hesses
Children’s Message
Pastor Michael
GIC
J.Schmeltzer, P. VanDyke
Page 3
And a Ton of fun.
Games ! Crafts! Food !
Tanner Valley United
Methodist Church
19235 State Road 1
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025-8606
Phone: 812.537.4111
E-mail:
[email protected]
We’re on the web:
tannervalleychurch.com
19
26
25
7pm Worship
27
1:30 Nursing Home
20
6pm Memorials
7pm Discipleship
7pm Finance
13
6
tuesday
7pm Christian Edu
12
18
11
Greens
7:00pm Missions
5
4
12:00 Taking down the
monday
sunday
7pm Choir practice
11:30am Mom’s in Prayer
28
7pm Choir practice
6:30pm Feed My Sheep
11:30am Mom’s in Prayer
21
7pm Choir practice
11:30am Mom’s in Prayer
14
‘7:00pm PPRC
7pm Choir Practice
11:30am Mom’s in Prayer
7
wednesday
29
7pm Heart House
22
15
7pm UMW
30
23
16
9
2
1
8
friday
thursday
January 2015
31
24
6pm Knife & Fork
17
10
3
saturday
2
9
16
23
1
8
15
22
7pm Trustees
7pm Missions
monday
sunday
24
17
7pm– Worship
7pm Christian Edu.
10
3
tuesday
7pm—Council
7pm Choir practice
11:30am Mom’s in Prayer
25
7pm Ash Wednesday
6;30pm Feed My Sheep
18
7pm Choir practice
11:30am Mom’s in Prayer
11
4
wednesday
26
7pm Heart House
19
7pm UMW
7pm Heart House
12
5
thursday
February 2015
27
20
13
6
friday
28
6pm Knife and Fork
21
14
7
saturday

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