(A note from your CLM.)

This Week In Worship

 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NLT)

This Sunday marks the 5th and final week of our stewardship theme, “Renewing our Covenant Vows.” Each week, you have heard messages that remind us of the 5 elements of those vows, Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness. You have also seen a graphic that describes stewardship as "HEART WORK." It is also Hard WORK that requires us to be diligent, intentional, persistent, and generous in living out our vows. Fulfilling our vows is a very large task, one that requires our submission to the workings of the Holy Spirit within us. 

This week, our focus is on Witness, the final element of our Covenant Vows. Jesus said that "we will become his witnesses after we have received the Holy Spirit." I hope that you will join us this week in Worship, while we continue to be challenged to become better stewards as we take a look at what it means to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed week,

Dave

After the message, Sunday’s weekly offering will be brought forward. There will also be a basket to receive sealed envelopes with signed estimates of giving. Lastly, there will be a separate basket to collect the yellow, unsigned “Up Your Commitment Game” cards for you to commit how you might/will take one step up in any of the four areas - prayers, presence, service and witness.

Sunday Night

Youth and Family Nite

This Sunday instead of meeting in Wesley Hall, we will be meeting and participating in the Coalition Community Trunk or Treat. Come and have fun. Don't forget to invite some friends.

Regular Youth and Family Nite will resume on November 5th (with the first of the month dinner). We hope to see you at 5:00 p.m. in the gym!

Everyone is welcome! Even if you don't plan to regularly attend this service, it would be wonderful if you could come out to support this new ministry.

A Prayer Minister will be available at the back corner of Dunlap Hall, for at least 15 minutes after the benediction.

Masks will be worn when requested.

Today we have a blast from the past as it goes right along with this week's message. Yes, some things are good enough to repeat.

“Everyone who asks will receive; everyone who seeks will find.” -Matt. 7:8 (NLT)

In his book, A Gentle Thunder, Max Lucado tells of a man who challenged, rather dared, God to speak. The story goes like this:

“Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God. And I will follow. Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God. And I will fight. Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God. And I will listen.

And so the man sat by a bush, near a wall, close to the sea, and waited for God to speak. And God heard the man, so God answered. He sent fire, not for a bush, but for a church. He brought down a wall, not of brick, but of sin. He stilled a storm, not of the sea, but of a soul. And God waited for the man to respond. And he waited…and waited.

But because the man was looking at bushes, not hearts; bricks and not lives, seas and not souls, he decided that God had done nothing. Finally he looked to God and asked, Have you lost your power? And God looked at him and said, Have you lost your hearing?”

Wow, what a question! Imagine what your reaction would be if God were to ask you, “Have you lost your hearing?” It is so easy for us to sit around and ask God to do everything; feed the hungry, heal the sick, stop violence and all wars, pay our bills, free the prisoner; cater to our every need. Oh, and while you’re at yet, please make Mr. Smith be nicer to me; make Mrs. Jones say she’s sorry for hurting my feelings.

As I was reading this, the words of the hymn, Jesus Calls Us, came to mind. I looked it up and here are the words to the second verse:

“As of old the Apostles heard it by the Galilean lake, turned

from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake.”

We are the new Apostles, and today the call is to us. God is calling us to move away from the bushes and the walls, and the seas. He calls us to move out into the world, starting in John’s Neighborhood, to touch hearts, change lives, and give hope to all souls with the love of Jesus Christ. I think he is asking each of us, “How’s your hearing; Are you listening?”

Have a blest week,

Dave        

Annual Church Conference

November 5 ~ 3:00 p.m.

All members of John Wesley UMC are invited to attend our Annual Church Conference meeting on Sunday, November 5th, at 3:00 p.m. where all of our annual conference paperwork will be discussed and voted upon according to the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.

Such matters as voting upon our slate of Lay Leadership for next year, providing information on the state of the church, setting the pastor's salary and benefit package for next year, and looking at our membership rolls will be on the agenda. Every professing member of JWUMC has voice and vote at this meeting and is encouraged to attend.

The women of John Wesley are collecting feminine hygiene products to complete kits for UMCOR. You can complete a kit or simply make product donations by November 5^th in Dunlap Hall. For complete details see Judy Grigsby or visit: 

https://umcmission.org/umcor-menstrual-hygiene-kit/

United Women in Faith

Our next regular meeting will be held in the library at 10:00 AM on November 8^th. Judy Grigsby will lead us in a program for the World Thank Offering. Nancy Barker will share a Thanksgiving Story. We will also organize the Feminine Hygiene Kits for UMCOR. You can donate a kit, or you can donate one or more of the items needed for the kits. All women of the church are invited to join us for our first meeting of the fall.

PRFCA & The Coalition of Churches

team up for some fun.

Costume Parade, Food, Games and Candy on Sunday October 29th.

1:30 Costume Parade begins at the PRF Swim Club (Elkwood near Deerhorn) All are welcome to join the parade along with our community superheros.

The parade ends at the Clifford George Park with Trunk or Treat, food, and games until 4:00.

How to support this fun event.

• Donate candy or food.
• Sign up for a Trunk or Treat spot.
• Volunteer to help at the event.
• Join the parade and get to know our neighbors.

Candy *** Candy *** Candy

 Look for the donation box in Dunlap Hall by the SignUp table. Thanks for your help in making this event a success. 

News and Notes is a news publication of the Great Miami River District of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.

 Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.