Visitors, Visitors, and More Visitors
You continue to grow Monticello! With our highest attendance in December, then a fantastic attendance on Christmas Eve, to January, I am amazed at how you are attracting visitors. Did you know we have had 23 first-time visitors just since January started?
As your pastor, I believe a huge part of this growth is the welcoming hearts you show to those that visit. You are reaching out, inviting your friends to worship, and you are welcoming those that attend. Now, we just need to encourage our visitors to return.
I have learned that our best way to retain visitors is never to pressure them. Instead, it is to simply make them very welcome, invite, and let God do the rest. So, join me this weekend and sure to keep an eye out for visitors. Then, offer them a huge Monticello welcome!!
Congratulations on becoming a "growing church." I am so proud of each of you!!!
Thank you for supporting the funerals
As you know, we had two back-to-back funerals last week. And, I am so appreciative to many of you for supporting this by UMW providing receptions, to trustees installing the projector, to staff that worked extra hours cleaning and preparing, to all of you that came out to support the families. You were the hands and feet of Christ last week Monticello and I am so grateful to you.
Getting the Word Out
As your pastor, I need a little help on something. I am so excited that so many of you are seeking to take a more active place in church-life. And, I consistently see one big challenge. I hear from you as a congregation that we seem to struggle to be sure everyone is always in the loop as to upcoming events, announcements, etc. So, we are hard at work to continue to address it. This is an exciting "problem" to have that more people want to be involved. Here''s how we are going to tackle this going forward. As you are looking for information, try these 6 options... - Website--the absolute best place for you to get updated information is our website. Visit www.getGOD.info and read up on all the current events. There are 3 key places to go on our site. The first is "Ministries" where you can click on any ministry in the church to see their events. A second place is "Recent News" which always has the most recent article posted at the top. The third place is "Resources" then "Church Calendar" to see a full calendar. Thanks to Candace Shockey and Scott Limkemann, our site is updated constantly. So, do what I do when I need information and check out our site. Plus, this E-Note is always copied there too!
- Fellowship Hall Screen--beginning this last weekend, we are now running highlights of important announcements on the screen in fellowship hall. This is a bit like a digital billboard where you can check out the current events. The announcements run from 8:00am to 12:00pm, so check it out this weekend, even if you do not have email or website access.
- Connection Point--we''ve just started a new "Connection Point" in fellowship hall. It''s the big brown desk by the south windows. Frequently, there are flyers and more information there We''ll be working to staff it with a volunteer too. So, if you are interested in serving there let us know!
- Announcements in Worship--we have made a big effort to limit these to quick, brief announcements in order to focus more on worship and less on announcements. However, there will always be a brief 2-minute time of announcements directly from the pastor at the end of worship. Be sure to catch those as they will highlight upcoming events.
- E-Note--I send out a weekly E-Note (the day seems to vary each week) that has many of the announcements in it. In the office, we are able to see how many of you actually open it. And, to date, it runs about 45% each week. That could be because some of your email programs reject a bulk email. And, we usually get about 20-30 emails returned to us as bad addresses. So, if you or a friend of yours does not get the weekly email, can you help us out? Either call the office and let us know your updated address. OR, visit our website at www.getGOD.info and click on "Resources" and then "Join the Email List." There, you can fill out the form and automatically be added to our list.
- Copies of the E-Note--Each week in worship, there are a limited number of copies of the E-Note available on the red table in the back. If possible, help us keep copy costs down by leaving these for the 12 people in our congregation without email.
Pastor''s Youth Council Kicks-Off
Last weekend, we had awesome attendance at our first "Pastor''s Youth Council" meeting. This team of you and parents comes together to begin growing our youth ministry. As a decision making group for youth, the council will look to reach more youth, to create events that connect youth to God, and to craft an incredible mission trip this summer to the homeless shelters of Chicago.
As the pastor, I was so pleased and proud of these youth and their adult mentors for taking an active role in planning for the youth program. Our youth director, Will, has some incredible plans for this group in 2011 and I look forward to being a part of their future as a youth group.
God is working in the lives of the Monticello youth. And, I am so excited to see them even more involved. So, come check out a 9am service sometime!! They''ll be leading worship more and more at that time. They bless me each week, and I know they will bless you too!!
Spirit Circle Gathers this Week
Do you need an opportunity for fellowship with other United Methodist Women? Join the Spirit Circle, an awesome time of fellowship and connection to other women in the congregation. Their next gathering is this Thursday night, January 26, from 7:00-9:00pm.
The group is gathering at one of our parishioner''s homes. So, we elected not to post the address here. But, contact the church office at (913) 441-1435 for the address and directions. ALL ADULT WOMEN are welcome to be a part of Spirit Circle. Join us this week!! You will be blessed.
More information is available on our website at www.getGOD.info by clicking on "Ministries" then "Adult Ministries" then "United Methodist Women."
Big Youth Event this Friday
Youth, we''re headed for an awesome evening of fun, food, and friends this Friday night, January 27. Meet at the church at 5:00pm on Friday. We''ll be here until 9:00pm and watch a movie on the big screens in the sanctuary. Then, we''ll have some junk food in fellowship hall and some fun time. Junk food, movies, and God...does it get any better???
This will be an awesome evening. Join our youth director, Will, and our pastor and his family for a great night. Bring a friend, or two, or three!! RSVP to Will at will.demings@getGOD.info if you can join us.
See you Friday for junk food, movies, and God all in one awesome night!!!
Save the Date--UMM Chili Cookoff
Fun! Fellowship! Firefighter judges! And, lots of chili!! It''s time for the United Methodist Men''s Annual Chili Cookoff. So, save the date for this free event open to anyone!
The big dinner will take place on February 18 at 6:30. It is free and open to the public. So, bring the family!! If you would be willing to enter the chili cookoff and prepare a crockpot of chili, let us know in the office or talk with Mike Wood, the chair of UMM. We''ll get you in the competition!!!
Bring Your Cell Phone to Worship Starting February 5 for an Awesome New Series!!
On February 5, we have an awesome new sermon series entitled, "Talkin'' Back--God Style...where YOU Respond." Maybe you have always wanted to be a part of the sermon. Well, now you will be!! You''ll have a great opportunity to participate by texting directly to the screens in worship. Then, we''ll address your responses, questions, and thoughts live!! Come join us and bring a friend for this amazing series where we connect more closely with God on issues like evil, war, violence, unrest, and prayer. We''ll tackle tough topics--together!! Join us for Talkin'' Back--God Style beginning February 5.
Special Testimony on February 12
Be sure to join us on February 12 in worship as our guest speaker, Ryan Moore, leads us in worship. Together with Pastor Rob, Ryan will share a powerful testimony of God overcoming difficult times. Our topic on February 12 will be Talkin Back--where is God when bad things happen? Come join us for this uplifting, spirit-building day in worship.
Guest Musical Group Coming to Monticello on February 26
It's going to be an incredible day in worship on February 26. We'll have a guest orchestra, bell choir, and singers leading worship. We'll enjoy having 70 teenagers all offering their musical gifts to lead us in worship. Don't miss this exciting day! Plus, we'll be in the Talkin' Back series, so they'll have lots to share and text that day too! Join us for this awesome day in worship as the REZ Youth Orchestra and Handbells lead us toward God with their energy and enthusiasm.
How are we doing?
As your pastor, it's the question that is always on my mind. So, let me know!! Whether you love one of our changes or have a concern, please know my door is always open.
My family and I are so appreciative to you all for making us so welcome here. But, I know change is hard. So, keep me in the loop and let me know how I can serve you better. As your pastor, I want you to know I am always open to your thoughts, ideas, compliments, concerns, suggestions, etc. I grow as a pastor when you share with me. So, please know my door is always open. Just give Cindy or I a buzz or an email and set a time to chat. Or, send me a quick email sometime. But, be sure to let me know how I can serve you better.
Thanks for making me so welcome here! We have come to love Monticello and the people here so very much!!
Blessings, Pastor Rob |
Monticello United Methodist Church