Tis the season for spring clean-up.  At the church (thank you again, clean-up crew!) and at home.  Recently, as I was helping Sean clean up our own flower beds, I pulled aside the dead wood of last year’s mums and noticed a small purple Hyacinth.   I barely remember planting it, yet there it was, sturdy and vibrant, hidden under the winter debris.  

That’s the way it goes in the spring.  Sometimes the flowers pop right up for everyone to see like the sunny daffodils that greet us as we pull into the church parking lot.  Other times, they’re hidden bits of delight, just waiting to be discovered.

As we continue to follow where God leads, I wonder what bits of delight God has planted for us to discover.  Maybe to say it more plainly, I wonder in what hidden places is God already at work, just waiting for us to join in.  

Our church has begun a conversation with the Giving Gardens about what it might look like to enter into a partnership that would include utilizing a portion of the church property for their programing.  A small team of congregation members are working hard on the practical side of how this all might work and there is still much work to do.  We have another small group still forming to discern God’s direction for our congregation in the next 5 years.  Another group cares for those who are unable to attend church in person, another offers notes of encouragement, yet another stocks and manages the blessing box, and still another makes sure the facilities are clean and inviting as BABE, ELC families, and worshippers arrive each week.  God is at work in showy and hidden places.  And I believe we have only begun to scratch the surface.  

So, as we step resolutely into a new month, filled with new opportunities, and likely a few hidden bits of delight along the way, be encouraged and be prayerful.  Let us continue to ask God not only to lead us but to give us the will and courage to watch for God at work and join in.  Jesus said in excerpts of Matthew 9:37-38: “The harvest is plentiful…ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.”  Friends, let us be the workers the Lord sends.  Let us watch for ways to join God in the harvest.  And let us take delight in all that we find.

Many blessings,

Pastor Christi 

ELC SUMMER PROGRAM

Did you know the ELC has a summer program for children in kindergarten through 5^th grade?  Did you know the summer program will begin in TEN short weeks?  Did you know the summer program will run for NINE long weeks?  Did you know that the summer program will consist of nine engaging themes where kids can have fun, learn new skills, hear about Jesus, and make new friends?  Did you know YOU can be a part of the summer experience for these children?

Here is HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED:

PRAY for volunteers to give a morning or afternoon to share an experience with kids.

SHARE your expertise.  From gardening to baking to taking care of the environment and doing art, this summer plans to bring something new to these children.  If you have a specific passion, please share it.

PRAY for the children and their teachers as they spend time together.

VOLUNTEER to gather supplies into bins for the different themes.

PRAY for guidance and direction as the directors plan the summer activities.

ELC SUNDAY

THANK YOU

NEW SERMON SERIES

With Easter candy wrappers crumpled in the trash, we may begin to wonder, how exactly do we live the hope of Easter in a Good Friday kind of world.  This 6-week series is designed to follow the post-resurrection story of disciples who stepped forward in faith.  Despite their fears and doubts they leaned into the promise of love, joy, prayer, and Holy Spirit power.  Join us as we learn how we, too, can claim these Easter promises in our own lives today.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3, ESV.

CHURCH COUNCIL
UPDATE MARCH 2024

   Chairperson John Snyder called the Church Council meeting to order at 6:30 on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 with the CCUMC breakthrough prayer. 

    Reports. Robin Wright reported via Zoom that church revenue in February totaled $34,475, better than revenue in January with March looking better than February. He said revenue is “inching” in the right direction.

    Robin also reported that ELC expenses in February exceeded revenue by $5,610. Tammy Taylor said she is looking into why this revenue deficit occurred. Tammy told Council members that the ELC reserves slots for couples expecting babies. Couples are reserving care space in anticipation of a birth because of the shortage of infant care options in Whitley County. 

    Greg Lawson reported that a clean-up of the church grounds is scheduled for March 23. 

    Pastor Christi told Council members that the new member class will conclude on March 17 as we receive new members during the church service. She also shared due to three weeks of accumulated vacation time that must be used before June 30, she will be on vacation the weeks of April 15, May 20, and June 24. 

   Council members considered and approved drafts of the revised Lay Employee Handbook and revised job descriptions for the ELC Directors and the Director of Discipleship and Administration.  These included core competencies and evaluations based on the job descriptions.  

    Giving Gardens has approached CCUMC about their interest in relocating and utilizing some of the CCUMC property. Council members approved a motion creating a task group to deal with this issue. 

   The CCUMC task group will work with Giving Gardens to clarify for us whether this is the best use of our land and, if so, help them to spell out concrete plans in a proposal. Greg Lawson, Carl Siler, and Robin Wright volunteered to serve on this task group. Additional members will be recruited from the congregation.

    Next, the Council approved a motion to create a CCUMC Visioning Task Force that will develop new vision and mission statements appropriate to who we are now and what we want to become. John Snyder and Pastor Christi will recruit other members to the task force from the CCUMC congregation.

    The Indiana UMC conference has received money to fund health initiatives. A Helping Hands dinner project was proposed that would create a meal a month for working families partnered with CCUMC. The Council approved a motion to prepare a proposal for the grant.

HOMEBOUND AND CARE HOMES

Oak Pointe:

Francis, Dee, Harrison, Natalie, June, Nancy   

The Oaks: 

Bette, Art, Joyce, Elaine

Byron Health Center: 

April

Peabody Retirement Community: 

Julia, Marilyn, Phil

Homebound: 

Betty, Barb, Ron, Ruth, Louise, John, Donna,

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays

Roberta Metzger - April 2

Kenny DeVito - April 5

Ryan Peppler - April 7

Elaine Myer - April 8

Stanley Retter - April 8

Art McClish - April 14

Tamera Parker - April 17

Jill Chapman - April 18

Julia Berry - April 19

Joyce Butler - April 22

Amber Myer - April 23

Eric Romanowski - April 23

William Schaefer - April 24

Andrew Fudge - April 25

Diane Rea - April 25

Jeremy Meyer - April 25

Dan Dorman - April 25

Braden Myer - April 29

Onalee Bender - April 30

Anniversaries 

Julia and Michael Hayes - April 23

Contact information:

(260) 244-7671 • www.columbiacityumc.org

605 Forest Parkway Columbia City, IN 46725

Christi Murray, Pastor — christi.murray@columbiacityumc.org

Tammy Taylor, Director of Administration and Discipleship — tammy.taylor@columbiacityumc.org

Ashley Bailey, Communications Specialist — ashley.bailey@columbiacityumc.org