Sugar Creek United Methodist Church

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Serving from 4:00 pm—7:00 pm

SEPTEMBER 2019

~TICKETS~

Adults—$9 Kids under 12—$4

25th ANNUAL

JOIN US!

We are in need of volunteers who would like to help with the following:

COLE SLAW DAY

Wednesday, September 4th at 9 am

SET UP

Saturday, September 7th at 10 am

Clean chicken, run dishes through the dishwasher, setup tables, chairs and, serving lines.

PREP

Saturday, September 7th at 1 pm

Set up tents, flouring tables and chicken cooker. Prepare drinks, wrap silverware, cut and slice desserts, etc.

FAMILY CAMPOUT Ramsey State Park

September 20-22

Join us September 20—22 for three fun-

filled days with other Sugar Creek

Campers at Ramsey State Park! You pay

for a space when you arrive at the park.

Contact Shirley Rickman (217.691.5039)

if you plan to attend, or have questions.

The Methodist Women will once again

have a Bake Sale in the Foyer during the

Chicken Dinner on Saturday, September

7th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Please help out

by providing baked goods for the sale. All

proceeds benefit UMW mission projects.

TIME FOR A BAKE SALE

To everything there is a season, and a time to every

purpose under the heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

I begin by asking the following question. “What’s hanging on your refrigerator door at

home?” It’s an unusual question to ask, I know. So, allow me to explain myself, lest you

think I’ve finally gone off the deep end for good.

I attended a College of Christian Life retreat several years ago. The topic for the semi-nar was “Christian Transformation.” The guest speaker was Tom Albin, who was then the Dean of the Upper Room. He mentioned something in one of the sessions, which stuck with

me and gave me considerable food for thought.

Tom said that if he had the appropriate resources, he would take all the theological catchphrases he has both learned and taught throughout his years of ministry and put them

on refrigerator magnets. He would then hand out the magnets whenever a particular catch-phrase surfaced in a conversation, class or seminar for people to hang on their refrigerator

doors at home.

I began to imagine my own refrigerator filled with a variety of theological catchphrases like the ones I heard at College of Christian Life: “Rules will inform you, while examples will

motivate you” and “Good theology produces good fruit” and “You have to breathe in the Spirit

before you can help others breathe in the Spirit.”

Just imagine the magnets I could amass over a period of years if I started collecting theological catchphrases, because I wouldn’t be satisfied with collecting just some of them; I would have to collect all of them! In fact, I would have to start collecting refrigerators just to

hold them all. Crazy notion, to be sure, but what a remarkable sight it would be.

After spending some time fantasizing about my magnificent theological magnet collec-

tion, I began to ponder a possible connection between our refrigerator doors and our daily lives. Before I explain further, I’ll pause here for just a moment to give those of you reading this at home the opportunity to go to your refrigerator and look at what’s hanging on it.

[Pause] Were you surprised by what you saw?

Since I’m not able to see what’s hanging on your refrigerator, I’ll guess that if you’re

like Nancy and me, you have some of the following adorning your fridge: silly knickknacks, business magnets, important phone numbers, appointment reminders, carryout menus, ad-vertising icons, a Cardinal’s baseball logo, (Everyone has one on his or her fridge, right?)

and, more recently, pictures drawn by our granddaughter, Charlotte.

Some of the most prominent items we’ve hung on our refrigerator doors throughout the years have been family pictures, Bible verses, worship bulletins and work schedules. These

items are perfect examples of the connection that exists between what’s hanging on our refrigerators and what’s going on in our lives. Anyone looking at our refrigerator and the

items hanging there will quickly realize that family, faith and work are all important to us.

There’s no doubt our refrigerators speak loudly on what we consider priorities in our lives. The question is “What are our refrigerators saying to others and to us about our spir-

itual lives?” Do our refrigerators proclaim our intention to make faith and family central to our daily living? If not, then isn’t it time for us to change our priorities and our lives, and

begin to put faith and family first?

(Continued on page 3)

Refrigerator Door Theology Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Bind them as a sign on your forehead, and write them on

the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

– Deuteronomy 6:6, 8-9 (NRSV)

(Just a Thought continued)

Deuteronomy 6:6 & 8-9 declares the following words from our Lord. “Keep these words that I am commanding you

today in your heart. Bind them as a sign on your fore-head, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (NRSV). I can think of no better twenty-first

century equivalent to doorposts and gates than our refrig-erators, which often serve as the center of not only our

kitchens but also our homes.

If we are truly serious about putting faith and family first, we must keep God’s commandments in our hearts. In order to keep God’s commandments

in our hearts, we must place them where we will be reminded of them often. I think there’s no better place than on the refrigerator door! After all, think about how often you and other

family members and guests see and frequent the fridge.

Again, I ask you, “What’s hanging on your refrigerator?” If those items don’t reflect faith and family first, perhaps it’s time for a change in your life. Don’t start by altering

what’s on your fridge, however. Instead, begin by changing the priorities in your life and finding ways to keep God’s Word in your heart. When you do, there’s no doubt your refrigerator door soon will reflect and proclaim your new life in Christ for all to see.

Just a thought . . .

Agape!

Pastor Paul

Celebrating what is right with the church!

You will be made rich in every way so that you

can be generous in every way. 2 Corinthians 9:11

A 4-week stewardship program with worship,

preaching, storytelling, and teaching, focusing on

“the heart of giving.”

November 3rd: Ministry Flows From the Heart

November 10th: The Art of Love

November 17th: Inspirations of the Heart

November 24th: Declarations of Your Heart

When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place.

Remember to always put God first in your relationships,

marriage, and home, because where there is Christ your

foundation will always be solid.

Sugar Creek United Methodist Church

Ladies’ and Men’s Group

Wooden It Be Lovely. . . .?

At its September meeting, our Ladies’ and Men’s Group will

have the opportunity to learn the answer to this question

when Pastor Margaret Ann Jessup of Douglas Avenue UMC

shares with us the story of a ministry having this name that gives “…hope to poor women

and their children.” She will explain how used, donated furniture is uniquely transformed

into refurbished and refinished pieces that would be desirable additions to any home.

Through this mission ministry, the women are provided transitional employment, job

skills, training, experience, education and importantly, hope.

Everyone is invited. Join us on Monday, September 9th, at the Chatham Café, 414 North

Main Street, Chatham, at 6:00 pm for dinner (order from the menu) followed by the

program. See you there!

Heifer International FAIR SHARE MEAL Sunday, September 29th @ 5:00 pm

Heifer International is a charitable organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities. Heifer International FAIR SHARE MEAL is a learning event that demonstrates the inequitable distribution of the world’s resources and food. Come and experience the various amount of resources and food available to different in-come levels. Learn how Heifer International is working to end hunger in communities around the world.

This is a free-will offering event with all the proceeds going to Heifer International. You will receive a meal and have fun learning about the world’s food supply. A volunteer from Heifer International will be at the dinner. Need more info? Contact any Mission team member or the church office (697.4643).

PLEASE JOIN THE MISSION TEAM

FOR A FUN FILLED EVENING.

January—$103.34

February—$169.88

March—$78.60

April—$172.35

May—$87.16

June—$66.83

July—$168.13

August—$144.24

Cubs/Cards Challenge

June Winner—Cubs

$14.97/$6.06

July Winner—Cards

$20.78/$1.00

August Winner—Cards

$23.16/$22.20

2019 Noisy Collection Year-to-Date

Remembering the lives lost on

September 11, 2001. Please

don’t forget to pray for the

families that lost loved ones in

this senseless tragedy.

Adult Bible Studies with a difference... The KERYGMA Program

Join Bill Allbright for a study through the Book

of Acts beginning September 11th through

December 18th. January 8th through May 13th

we will study the Book of Romans. Everyone is

welcome to attend this small group!

Date Into the World—The Acts of the Apostles Acts Chapter

9/11 Prologue to the Acts of the Apostles

9/18 Preparing for the Church’s Birth 1

9/25 The Birth of the Church 2

10/2 The Power of the Gospel 3:1-4:31

10/9 Challenges from Within and Without 4:32-6:7

10/16 Stephen, Front and Center 6:8-8:3

10/23 The Gospel Spreads Beyond Jerusalem 8:4-9:43; 22:6-16;

26:12-18

10/30 Into All the World 10:1-11:18

The Church bulletin will list the title and chapter being studied each week.

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS ARE BACK!

Beginning September 11

Meal & Fellowship—5:30 pm

Small Groups—6:30 pm

INTRODUCING . . .

After-Dinner Refreshment with the Pastor – A midweek opportunity to refresh

our faith and nourish our spirits through scripture, study, stories and sharing.

As part of Sugar Creek’s Wonderful Wednesdays: Refreshment Gatherings will

be held after dinner at 6:30PM in the South Wing Conference Room.

Starting September 11, our After-Dinner Refreshment for the first several

weeks will be a video series on The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn. With

this video series, we will “enter a life-changing journey . . . to uncover the MYSTERIES OF

GOD, the SECRETS OF THE AGES, and the HIDDEN KEYS to open the doors of a life of joy,

blessing, and the fulfillment of YOUR DESTINY.”

Other After-Dinner Refreshment opportunities will follow throughout the Wonderful

Wednesdays season. So, if your faith needs refreshing and your spirit needs nourishing, join

us for an After-Dinner Refreshment . . . and invite a friend to come along!

The Tuesday Morning Book Study will

resume its study of William Barkly’s The

Gospel of Luke beginning September 3rd at

7 am. We will review the first four chapters

of Luke to get back up to speed, and

continue meeting every Tuesday morning

from 7 am to 8 am. Please join us at the

Chatham Café!

TUESDAY MORNING

BOOK STUDY

Get Fit Where You Sit! Mondays at 10:00 am

The focus is balance, flexibility and stretching.

The cost is $10 for each session you

attend. Open to everyone!

Altar Flowers Provided by:

September 1—Available

September 8—Available

September 15—Bill & Lisa Brockway Celebrating Alaina (9/4) &

Mason (9/25) Brockway’s birthdays.

September 22—Richard & Carolyn Halford In honor of their 62nd wedding anniversary (9/28).

September 29—Mike & Pat Lucas In honor of their 49th wedding anniversary (10/3).

Christmas at Sugar Creek

VENDOR FAIR

Saturday, November 30th

10 am—3 pm

More details coming soon!

IT’S FALL, Y ’ALL! Autumn Begins

September 23rd

Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for the wonderful gifts, cards, and breakfast last week. I

want to especially say thank you for all of the prayers during this difficult time and for continuing to check in on

us. I am so thankful for my Sugar Creek Family! Words cannot begin to express my feelings, so I will just simply say 'thank you from the bottom of my

heart'.

Bob, Crystal, and Tripp Matthiesen

3rd Phyllis Fairchild

3rd Carolyn Allen

4th Marsha Johnson

4th Alaina Brockway

6th Barry Smith

6th Virginia Daugherty

9th Caden Forbes

10th Sandy Freitag

11th Mike Finley

13th Steven Chase

15th Jean McClure

15th Adam Chase

16th Dave Dickey

18th Diann Gragg

18th Laikyn McGuire

20th Karen Dozier

21st Tom Hale

21st Milt Miner

22nd Mason Kaylor

22nd Marshall Kaylor

25th Mason Brockway

27th Susan Perko

28th Rick Miles

29th Carol Koch

30th Madison Bearden

Happy Birthday

5th Joe & Jean McClure

6th Bill & Lovell Legg

6th Dale & Mary Elenberger

17th Mark & Dolores Mobley

23rd Wayne & Debbie Sisk

28th Richard & Carolyn Halford

28th Bill & Rachel Shea

Happy Anniversary

Caregiving Team Tuesday, September 3rd @ 6:30pm

Children & Family Team Wednesday, September 4th @ 6:30 pm

Hospitality Team Thursday, September 5th @ 6:30 pm

Trustees Tuesday, September 10th @ 6:30 pm

Finance Team Thursday, September 12th @ 6:30 pm

Mission Team Monday, September 16th @ 6:30 pm

Leadership Team Tuesday, September 17th @ 6:30 pm

Worship Team No meeting this month

Sugar Creek Family,

Sandy and I wanted to thank every-one for the many calls, visits, pray-ers, and meals we received while I’ve been recuperating from hip surgery. Your kindness, support, and prayers

have truly meant so much to us. I’m happy to say I’m on the mend, and getting stronger everyday. GOD IS SO GOOD! We are truly blessed!

Mike & Sandy Barnard

For One Ministries Presents:

Love of the Lamb Saturday, December 14th @ 7 pm

Come and hear the complete Christmas story that will take you beyond the manger. Learn about Joseph’s journey and Mary’s memories. Follow Jesus from His childhood to the Cross; and from the Resurrection to His return. We believe you will find the true meaning and joy of Christmas as you experience the Love of the Lamb, and are reminded of the real reason He came.