06
ISSUE
2016
First United Methodist Church Crown Point Indiana
Long Division
As I write these words, the United Methodist General Conference is meeting in Seattle.
For those who are blissfully unaware, the General Conference is sort of the Methodist
equivalent of congress, where representatives from all over the world gather to consider, pray over and debate a bewildering variety of theological and social issues that
confront us. At this stage the Conference is just entering its second week, and the results
of these deliberations are not yet decided, but one thing is very clear: As a denomination we are conflicted and divided on a great many things. The mention of any issue,
however seemingly simple or obscure, seems to generate heated, passionate and often vitriolic arguments from both sides.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 06/04
M’ville Geisen’s Car Wash
Sunday 06/05
Cornhole Tournament
Sunday 06/19
VBS Set Up after Church
Monday 06/20 through
Friday 06/24
Vacation Bible School
SAVE THE DATE
Monday 07/04
Annual Picnic and Parade
While this is a shame, it should hardly come as a surprise. Indeed, we live in a country,
and in a culture, that is increasingly divided. As we look around us today we see society
that is busy erecting walls to separate ourselves from one another in new and creative
ways. Whether they be the divisions of race, socio economics, sexual orientation or (of
course) politics, we seem intent on pursuing the game of "Us vs Them" to its furthest noxious extent.
Sadly, the world has been and will always be at odds with itself, yet in the church this
disease seems particularly sad. Jesus' prayer for His people " that they may all be
one." (John 17:21) seems like little more than sweet sentiment in an age of "Us vs Them",
"Good vs Bad", "Right vs Wrong". While in truth some of the things that we do not agree
on deserve to be considered, discussed and even debated, it seems that the spirit of
these debates often goes terribly ugly and only serves to further, rather than diminish,
our division.
Accordingly, and in the light of what we are seeing around us politically and in our denominations, I want to make a few humble posits and suggestions with regard to how to
disagree respectfully.
1)
Realize there's no them! It's far too easy when we disagree with one another's perspective to allow that disagreement to paint our view of one another. It's ok to debate
an issue, but not the character of those who hold opposing views.
2)
Christ did not tell us we had to agree on everything, just to love one another in the
midst of our disagreements. I think that Jesus was smart enough to get the fact that we
shallow, thick-headed people who would follow him would not always agree. But the
call (read "demand" here) of Christ is that even while we may not choose to embrace
all ideas, we MUST embrace one another.
(Continued on page 3)
Alice Jenkins Memorial
Scholarships Awarded
I am completely overwhelmed by the generous support, countless prayers, and offers of help for my family as we walk
through this time. It has been such a
blessing to know that my church family
is holding us up in love and prayers. We
are incredibly grateful. Thank you from
the bottom of our hearts.
Kimi Smith (and Chris, Hope, & Leah)
Assignment
Teach Me
Assignment:
Teach Me was
very
successful
again this year.
17 people from
the First United Methodist Church volunteered to work with students, teachers,
and programs at six of the schools in the
Crown Point Community School Corporation: Crown Point High School, Timothy Ball,
Lake Street, Eisenhower, Jerry Ross, and
MacArthur. The volunteers began work in
September and concluded in May. In
many of the schools at the end of the
school year, the students, teachers, and
principals showed their appreciation in a
variety of ways such as thank you breakfasts, student-made cards, and personal
forms of thank you. The church would like
to continue and even expand the program next year with more schools and
more volunteers. Those people that faithfully shared their time, talents, and energy
included Jan Anthony, Sherry Benson, Penny Castor, Deb Cuffia, Jenn Currey, Dawn
Daley, Carol Highsmith, Carmen Langston, Marguerite Muzek Tammy Phillips, Bill
and Sharon Price, Nancy Raisor, Robert
Stajisavljevich, Pat Schultz, and Al and
Sharon Thom. These people have made a
huge difference in the lives of the teachers
and students with whom they worked.
Thank you again so much!
Congratulations to this year's recipients! $1,000
scholarships are awarded to Emily Fender (Indiana
University, Bloomington), Nicholas Cantley (Purdue North Central,
Westville) and Andrea Kutemeier (Valparaiso University, Valparaiso).
They will be recognized for their achievements on May 29 th during the
9:30 service.
New College & Young Adult Group
Young Adults! 18 and Over! We have started a ministry
for Adults 18 and over looking for a place to belong. There will be refreshments, fellowship, fun, and of
course the Bible. Over the summer we will have the opportunity to jump start this new and incredible adventure for young
adults. We are going to meet one day a week, TBD, throughout the
summer as well as have a service opportunity in the community once
a month. If you are at all interested or have any questions regarding
this new program, please email Danno at [email protected].
Roatan Fundraiser—Car Wash
Members of our Roatan Mission Trip Team will be
washing our cars to raise funds for their upcoming
Mission Trip:
Saturday, June 4: Car Wash of Geisen’s in Merrillville
9:00 a.m. until noon.
Cornhole Tournament for Youth
Missions
Cornhole Tournament to support Summer
Missions! Tournament will take place in
the East Parking Lot of the Church on Sunday June 5. There will be
concessions, Kids games, Prizes, Multiple Tournaments for all ages. It
will be a great time for the whole family. Invite everyone to compete
and have a great time in support of our multiple Summer Missions
Trips. Registrations can be found at the welcome center, or by any
of the Youth Students throughout the week and on Sundays. Cost
per team is $25 and winners will receive a Custom Set of Bean Bag
Boards made by Fan Boards Cornhole! This is sure to be an awesome
day! Please come out in support of our Missions Teams. Please turn
registrations and payment into the office or to Danno before June 3.
VBS Set Up
We are asking for volunteers to come help set up our
Vacation Bible School on Sunday, June 19 immediately
following the 11 am worship service. Please join us as
we kick off an awesome week!
What’s
Going On…
Birth
Gianna, Larry and Bean Miller’s great granddaughter, was born on
April 21.
Baptism
Jerry Noah Corey Clemens and Abigail Jean Saqui were baptized
5/15, children of Jerry and Michelle Saqui)
Sympathy to the Loved Ones of
Monthly Church Statistics
Through May 22, 2016
Monthly Year to Date
Budget Needs
$45,646.12
$228,230.60
Receipts
$41,187.95
$214,861.17
Ahead/Behind Budget
-13,369.43
Average Sunday School
Attendance
Average Worship
Attendance
440
Nick Sweigart, who passed away on May 5.
Marcille Allison
Lois Roberts, who passed away on May 6.
Beth Froedge’s dad, who passed away on May 6.
Recuperating at Home
Papa Joe Starcevich, Karen Wszolek, Joyce Stuhlmacher, Betty Campion, Bill Gray, Mary Beth Bydalek, Phyliss Myers
Long Division
(Continued from page 1)
3)
Always leave room for the "But I could be wrong..." factor. Funny how, when I look at the stress I impose on myself while looking at issues, if I am honest much of my desire is not simply to be authentic in my opinions and beliefs
but to be RIGHT. I like the feeling- like most of us do, but the problem is when I am centering on being right I must of
necessity make someone else WRONG. That is where division, hurt and estrangement enter into the picture.
4)
The problem with centering on what we disagree about is that we miss the areas where we do agree. It is funny
to me that some of my best friends do not agree with me politically, or in every instance theologically. While my humanness wants to tell me this means I have dumb friends, Christ calls me to something much harder; to listen and
share with them. Often, I have found that if we can put the rhetoric, name calling and self-righteous indignation
aside and actually speak and listen respectfully, we find that in the midst of our disagreements there is much we
have in common. Common goals (even if we disagree on the best way to achieve them) common concerns and a
common desire to make the world into a better, more Christ-like place can all be found if we are willing to be humble enough in His sprit, to actually engage one another in His love, even if our love falters.
Christ prayed that we might "be one." I'm not sure He meant one in our political viewpoint, or one in how we see the
various issues of our culture. I think He meant something much deeper- one spirit, one common love of Him. IF we can
center on those things, while we might not always agree on the fine points, at least the way is clearer to bridge the
divides that separate us.
Here's praying that we start building bridges and tearing down walls.
About Our Church ● Phone 219.663.1515 ● the Beacon is a monthly publication of FUMC ● Office Hours 8:30 am—4:30 pm, Mon—Fri
● Sunday Worship 8 am and 11 am Traditional Service, 9:30 am Contemporary Service, 9:30 am Sunday School ● Staff Senior Pastor
Mark Wilkins [email protected] ● Associate Pastor Tom Shanahan [email protected] ● Administrative Assistant Cheryl Lucas
[email protected] ● Financial Secretary Jayne Gibbs ● Christian Education Coordinator Kimi Smith [email protected] ● Director of Youth
Ministries Danno Lambert ● Newcomer Ministry Coordinator Bonnie Meyer [email protected] ● Associate Director of Visitation Ministries
Joan Goletz ● Music Director Cheryl Lucas [email protected] ● Organist Sandra Hobbs ● Praise Team Director Karen
Piercy [email protected] ● Treasurer Bob Wilson ● Custodian Julie A. Schulz ● Custodian Danno Lambert ● Nursery Supervisor Beth Mager
● Nursery Attendant Sue Dykstra ● Preschool Administrator Kim Starcevich ● Preschool Teacher Michelle Lentini ● Preschool Teacher Stacey
Schoettle ● Preschool Aide Karen Artim ● Preschool Aide Debra Komasinski ● Preschool Aide Brooke Figurski ● Boy Scouts Don Cantrall ● Beacon
Articles If you have comments or articles for the Beacon, please email them to [email protected] or you may turn them in to the office.
Website www.FUMCCP.org ● Facebook www.facebook.com/CP.FirstMethodist
The Regular Beacon Deadline Is The Third Monday of the Month at Noon.
Blessings Bestowed
When author Gary Smalley asked 100 people to share how they knew they’d
received their parents’ blessing, they offered these memories of fatherly love:
 My father put his arm around me at church and let me lay my head on his
shoulder.
 When my father faced a transfer at work, he purposely took another job so I
could finish my senior year in high school
 When I wrecked my parents’ car, my father’s first reaction was to hug me
and let me cry instead of yelling at me.
 My father went with me to the store when I had to return a purchase I
regretted.
 My father let me practice pitching to him for a long time after work.
 My father cried during my wedding because he was going to miss me being
at home.
Susanna Wesley Circle
members breaking
out of jail
J UNE M INISTRY S CHEDULE
Altar Guild
Sound System
Pene Castor
Cheryl Lucas
June Springer
06/05
06/12
06/19
06/26
Greeters
Becky Furman, Arliss Hove,
06/05
06/12
06/19
06/26
Ushers
John Essex/
John Essex/
John Essex/
John Essex/
Please sign up to
/ greet one Sunday
/
morning at the
/ Welcome Center!
/
Rich Tasher, Rick Lloyd, John Frisinger
8:00 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
Dave & Bev Rhodes, Dave & Phyllis Springman
Rick Lloyd, John Cotton, Jeff Polacek,
and Paul Sandilla
Bill Byers, John Frisinger, Nancy Herlitz, Mary Steele
Liturgists
Pastor Mark Wilkins
06/05
06/12
06/19
06/26
Kathy Sebben/COMMUNION/Sharon Springsteen
Chuck Bailey/
/Lynn Clay
Sherry Benson/
/Barb Gillan
Bob Wilson/
/Jack Heminger
Visual Team
John C / Dave B / Tim F
Dale W/ Dave B / Jim L
John C/ Dave B / Jim L
Dale W/ Dave B / Maura K
Hospitality Hour
Bonnie Meyer
06/05
06/12
06/19
06/26
Eric & Christie Miller
Barb Gutridge & Erma Setlak
Bernie Malacina & Nancy Kelly
Nicholas Cantley
We’d love for you to join us in any of our ministries. The contacts for each team are listed below the team name in italics.
Here are some other groups (with contacts) that you might be
interested in joining:
Bakers — Bonnie Meyer
Praise Team — Karen Piercy
Bells & Choir — Cheryl Lucas
Sunday School— Kimi Smith
You may also sign up for Greeting or Hospitality Hour at the
Welcome Center.
Kathie LeRoy
Moments for Missions
Bonnie Meyer
Rebuilding Together, Mike Wells
A Matter of Perspective
Pastor and author T.D. Jakes tells of visiting a community in Africa where a woman from the local church welcomed
him into her small home. Proud to have built the structure herself, she swept her arm toward the door — a blanket —
as if inviting him into a mansion. She offered him a seat — on her bed — and graciously served a meal. As Jakes departed in a small plane, rain began falling. The pastor looked down to
see his host dancing in gratitude.
He was struck by the contrast between his African host and many
Americans, including himself. How often we let worries about our
“small” house, lack of nice furniture or inability to serve gourmet food
get in the way of welcoming friends or new acquaintances into our
home. How often we view rain as an annoyance, complicating our
day and depressing our mood. Meanwhile, this woman was eager to
share her humble house and grateful for God’s gift of moisture in her
dry homeland.
Members of the Crafty Grannies enjoying lunch at Dick’s after a visit to The Shrine of Christ.
2016 VBS Registration is Now Open!
Our 2016 VBS will be an underground adventure from 9am—Noon, Monday—Friday, June 20-June 24! Ground
kids in the rock-solid foundation of God’s love, a love that takes us through life’s dark times.
Participant registration (3 yo (potty trained) through 5th grade) is now open. You can do so online (link listed below.) The cost per child is $8 ($8.50 if done online.) You may pay in person or via the registration page using PayPal. If you are not able to register online, please contact the church office at 219-663-1515 for assistance.
Volunteer registration (adults and youth going into 6th grade and older) is also open. Please use link below to
sign up and let us know your preferences. All volunteers MUST be registered and attend a mandatory volunteer
training. We so appreciate your generosity with your time and resources each year. We serve over 200 kids
each year and couldn’t do it without TONS OF VOLUNTEERS!
TO REGISTER A CHILD OR A VOLUNTEER PLEASE GO TO cpumcvbs.yolasite.com
We thank you for allowing your child to take part in this awesome experience! We are so looking forward to an
awesome week of learning about how God's love can lead us through dark times! Be sure to ask your child
about how they have been seeing God this week. They are looking for God sightings each day!
Preschool Information
Our preschoolers are picked up and dropped off down stairs each day. PreSchool pick up is 11:30 am to ensure
the safety of our younger kids. You are welcome to then join the older kids in the sanctuary for our finale!
Please send your child in play clothes which are suitable for running and getting wet! We are almost always doing an activity with water to keep cool!
We are also collecting spare change to repair children's homes in North America through Operation Kid-to-Kid!
We would greatly appreciate your help!
Please send a plain white t-shirt on Tuesday for a special project!
Elementary School Age Information
You are welcome to join the older kids in the sanctuary for our finale which begins at 11:30! This will provide you
the opportunity to see some of the amazing things they are learning and see them dance and sing to our amazing songs!
Please send your child in play clothes which are suitable for running and getting wet! We do quite a bit of running and messy crafting and we are almost always doing an activity with water to keep cool! Ideally, please limit white clothes as they become see-through when wet.
We are also collecting spare change to repair children's homes in North America through Operation Kid-to-Kid!
We would greatly appreciate your help!
Please send a plain white t-shirt on Tuesday for a special project!
The VBS kids will sing at our 9:30 am service on Sunday, June 26!
Sunday School
PreK - 5th grade:
Summer Sunday School is under way. We will be meeting at 9:30 and the children will
go directly into their classrooms. In the summer we have two classes. Kindergarten-2nd
Grade meet in the purple room and 3rd-5th grade meet in the green room.
Junior High Sunday School
Junior High Sunday School meets during the 9:30 am service.
Senior High Sunday School
Senior High Sunday School meets from 10:45 am—12:00 pm.
Teachers Needed!
We need teachers to volunteer for the summer so our normal school year teachers can take a
break. Please volunteer to teach at http://vols.pt/BZFhmp. The curriculum is very easy and requires little to no preparation. Even teaching one Sunday is a huge help! Thanks!
Thursday, June 16 * 3 pm—5 pm * Pulse
Thursday, June 23 * 3 pm—5 pm * Pulse
Thursday, June 30 * 3 pm—5 pm * Pulse
Thursday, June 02 * 3 pm—5 pm * Pulse
Due to our multiple camps and Mission Trip, Sunday
Youth Group meetings will not begin again until the fall!
Thursday, June 09 * 3 pm—5 pm * Pulse
What is A.M.P.E.D.?
It’s A Ministry Preparing Extreme Disciples. Youth group is for Junior & Senior High (Grades 6-12) students and meets
every Thursday at church from 6-8 pm. We also have a ton of other fun activities going on throughout the week; including PULSE outreach
and Sports Night at our church each week. We’d LOVE for you to be a part of our group.
Check out our Facebook page for more information: www.facebook.com/AMPED.CP or contact Danno Lambert.
Congratulations to
our 2016
Confirmation Class!
Skylar Golding, Ava
Hayse, Gracie
Kuhlman, Michael
Magallanes,
Delaney Starcevich,
Alexandra Sulewski,
and Natalie Sulewski
Dinner and a Show a Great Success
May 14th's Dinner and a Show, "Lights, Camera, Murder!" was a huge success.
Thank you to the many people who came out for the event and to those
who helped! A special thank you to Jill Hayman-Aponte, Jen Lundin, Joe
Mays and Bobby Binford for their wonderful performances. Thank you to our
volunteer performers from the audience, you were awesome. Thank you to
the dozens of people who helped set up, decorate, serve, and clean up.
Thank you Cheryl Lucas and Carla Smolek for cooking. Proceeds will benefit
this year's mission trip to Roatan.
2016 Roatan Mission Trip by Bonnie Meyer
Our team will be building a 100 foot wall on the grounds of the Methodist Bilingual
School. We will also be conducting two health fairs on the island. The success of our
continued mission on Roatan is due to the generosity of this incredible congregation.
The 2016 team is grateful for all the support. Your 2016 team consists of: Danno Lambert, Carla Smolek, Cassie Johnstone, Tim Fogle, Andy Follmer, Josie Clark, Karen Wyss
and Bonnie Meyer. This is the first time going to Roatan for Josie, Andy, and Cassie.
Liturgists, Bulletins, & Phones — Oh My!
Seeking 1 Hour Servants
Every Sunday morning, a Liturgist reads the Call to Worship, Offering Prayer, and Scripture at the traditional services. The script is emailed/mailed to the liturgist at the beginning of the week. Currently
there are 10 people who do this.
Every week 450 bulletins are put together, which consists of an insert being placed into the already-folded bulletin. The job takes approximately an hour. Currently there are 6 people who do this.
Every Wednesday 8:00-9:00am, the office phone needs to be answered while Pastor Mark meets with Cheryl regarding worship services/special projects. Currently there are 5 people who do this.
Every volunteer is so appreciated and we’d bet you’d be surprised at what one hour can do! Might you be able to
spare an hour once in a while? If so, please contact the church office or a staff member to discuss opportunities.
Church Family & Friends,
CAVE QUEST our 2016 VBS program preparation is entering into full time production as
the school year comes to a close and we are so excited to be getting our church and
our hearts ready for another great week of Vacation Bible School.
Each year, we open our church building and our hearts to over 200 children who
come here to learn, love, and play and the seeds of thought and wisdom that are
planted within their hearts follow with them as they grow. It is a special privilege that
we are granted and no one here takes that for granted.
We are in need of two things right now: Hands on HELP & SUPPLIES.
Those categories are all encompassing and so necessary for a successful VBS.
HELPERS: If you are willing and able to get involved in any way, please do so. We will need a great deal of help in the
weeks leading up to VBS so if you like to decorate or organize, we have a place for you. We will also need many
many crew leaders during VBS. Any youth or adult over 6th grade can help in that capacity. We are also still in need
of some station leaders. Please consider if this is something that you can and would like to be a part of, or if you know
of someone else that might. It is a great deal of fun mixed with a good deal of hard work. If you are unsure of what is
expected of certain duties, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. My cell phone number and email address
are on the bottom of this note!
SUPPLIES: In Fellowship Hall there is a giant board covered in colored sheets of paper. Each piece of paper there lists
an item or items that we are in need of to pull off this year’s theme: Cave Quest. Please help fulfill this need if you are
able. We need all supplies returned to Fellowship Hall in the VBS donation box by June 12. Please attach your colorful
paper to your donated item, those colorful papers are so important and help us to separate and organize where all
the donations go. If you are donating something that you would like returned to you, please fill out your name and
phone number on the item you are loaning!
There is no greater church or body of people to be taking along on this exciting adventure! Thank you !!!!
Carrie Liskey (219)789-2685 text or call [email protected]
Help Needed for Awestruck
Sarah Fink, one of the coordinators with the “Awestruck” project at Camp LRCA, recruited volunteers from FUMC last year to provide dinner for 110 youth. “Awestruck” will take place again
this summer, and Sarah is hoping a group from FUMC will take on the task to provide a dinner
again this year! Along with the meal, people are needed to serve the meal and clean up afterwards. People can participate in this worthwhile youth project by praying for the 110 youth, donating ingredients, prepping, cooking, serving, cleaning up, etc. This year’s meal, should we choose to accept the request, is for
Tuesday, July 26th. Interested in helping with the “Awestruck” project??
Want to know more about
“Awestruck”?? Contact Cheryl Lucas [email protected], call the office, or text 781-8548. LET’S DO THIS!!!
Our own Dr. Anna Rominger received the Sagamore of the Wabash award on Thursday, April
28th. She is dean of the business school at
IUNW. She has held that post for 16 years and is
one of the few women to receive this award.
Anna is active in numerous community organizations as well as here at church.
Gov. Mike Pence
has
a p p oi n t e d
Geoffrey Slaughter,
a Crown Point native, to replace retired Justice Brent
Dickson on the Indiana
Supreme
Court.
Geoffrey
Slaughter is the son
of Guy and Evelyn
The Gift of Yourself
If you could only sense how important you are to the lives
of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of
yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.
—Fred Rogers
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
First United Methodist
Church of Crown Point
352 S Main St
Crown Point IN 46307
PAID
Crown Point IN
Permit No. 139
Phone 219-663-1515
Fax 219-662-2714
Email: [email protected]
www.CrownPointUnitedMethodist.org
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Start by doing
what's necessary; then
do what's possible; and
suddenly you are doing the
impossible.
-Francis of Assisi
June 20