First United Methodist Church
Pastor Mark Dicken & Pastor Tara Keehn
2637 McCool Road, Portage, IN 46368
(219) 762-3846
______________________________________________________________________
The Witness
Issue VI June 2018
As I write this, I realize that three weeks from today the moving van will be loaded with and headed south into our retirement.
Barbara and I are really looking forward to retirement and the new opportunities and options it will present us. But we have mixed feelings. The church and ministry has been the central focus of our lives for 32 years. While it has not always been grins and giggles, we have treasured our times with the people of God in various communities and churches over the year.
Thank you for letting me be your pastor – allowing me to be an advocate of the good news of Jesus Christ, baptize your children and adults, officiate weddings and funerals, comfort you when you’ve hurt and share in your celebrations. I will leave with good memories of our time together.
I still do not know what I will say when I preach my final sermon as an active pastor on June 10. I ask you to pray for me.
I will continue to pray for you as you move forward into your future of ministry and mission under Pastor Michael Lawson’s leadership.
For all that has been – THANKS!
For all that will be – YES!
In Christ and in hope,
Pastor Mark
Happy June Birthday to…
01
Erin Davenport
07
Todd Warne
18
Jim Reeder
01
Austin Shebel
08
Zachery Sullivan
19
Bryan Dixon
02
Nick Nickerson
09
Mark Dicken
19
Amber Kramer
02
Betty Smith
15
Patrick Costello
25
Pat Hodgson
03
Melinda Metz
15
Gabriel Harbart
27
Chuck Lorenz
04
Jackie Green
17
Fran Berry
28
Matt Lopez
05
Dee Nickerson
17
Brandi Costello
29
Jessica Karsten
07
Sandy Holtzman
17
Barbara Dicken
30
Carolyn Lenburg
Happy June Anniversary to…
02
Ron & Karen Mauer
15
Kirk & Dawn Harbart
05
Ryan & Melissa Sullivan
22
Randy & Robin Wilkening
09
Greg & Tara Keehn
23
Richard & Sherry Pinarski
09
Chuck & Virginia Phillips
24
Robert & Joyce Shone
11
Andrew & Jenny Brown
25
Paul & Amanda Peterson
15
Doug & Teresa McKiddy
30
Bill & Amber Kramer
1st Friday Fellowship will meet on Friday, June 1st, at 5:00 p.m. at:
Texas Roadhouse
6130 U.S. Hwy 6
Portage, Indiana
R.S.V.P. to Sandra Robinson at 764-8433 no later than May 30th.
This group meets once a month at different restaurants for food and fellowship.
GOOD NEWS ABOUT FINANCES
Thanks to your faithful, generous and sacrificial giving and the diligence of our leaders and staff in scrutinizing expenditures, we are on reasonably solid financial footing as a church. We are not flush, but we’re not in danger of going down the drain either.
Even better, we have paid 100% of the connectional giving we are asked to give under our covenant as a United Methodist church so far each month of this year. We are asked to give a tithe (10%) of our undesignated giving to the Indiana Conference and 1% to the North District. This enables The United Methodist Church to do mission and ministry nationwide and worldwide. We fell very short of this the past two years, essentially requiring other churches to carry our fair share.
Giving back to God through our church goes in cycles throughout the year. Like most churches, historically our giving has declined during the summer months as vacations and other options occur. Please continue your faithful and sacrificial giving. You can utilize PushPay or your bank’s online bill payment system to schedule regular automatic and ongoing giving even when you are away.
In a related matter, our Church Council, on recommendation of our Finance Committee, has secured a modest line of credit with our bank in the event we experience a need for funds to meet regular ongoing operational obligations. We have two “pools” of money as a church – undesignated giving that may be used for any purpose and designated giving that may be used only for the purpose for which it was given. In order to safeguard designated funds we have set up a separate bank account to segregate them from our general fund. This will enable us to have clear records of what designated funds have been spent when and for what purpose.
This is a prudent funds management action and a fallback position for our church. At present we have not drawn any funds from the unsecured line of credit and, if we continue to faithfully, generously and sacrificially support the general fund, we may never need to. The church leadership has established a sound protocol for any draw upon those funds if needed and if it is drawn upon, church members will be promptly and transparently informed until any short-term debt is repaid.
Please thank the leaders of our church for their example and wisdom as leaders and congratulate yourself for your faithful, generous and sacrificial giving.
"Take me out to the ball game" ok sounds like a great idea! United Methodist Men's Group invites all to attend a night at the Steel yard for their annual Railcats game. Join us on Saturday July 21, 2018 at 6:10 to see the Railcats play St.Paul.
Tickets are $9, and you have an option to purchase a hotdog combo for $5.25. There is no better deal than this. A sign-up sheet will be available at the welcome center at church starting Sunday May 27. Money for tickets is due by Thursday July 19.
Feel free to contact Tony Centracchio (708) 275-0266 amc2203@yahoo.com
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Friday, June 1st @ 9:30 am
Thankful ~ Thankful
Our June meeting will be a morning of thanks!
Starting with fellowship, breakfast snacks and our World Thank Offering
We will be sharing what we are thankful for, praising God and turning in our "Thank" boxes/jars!
If you don't have a box PLEASE COME ANYWAY and enjoy our last meeting
before we take a break during the summer. Come praise God and be thankful!
Women's Bible Study: Women of the Bible
Join us on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm starting June 4 for a new series on Women in the Bible. Each session will be a standalone session so come to one or come to the all. You won't miss out if you miss a session or two. For more information contact Kate Blakely at 574-621-0070 or portageumcyouth@gmail.com.
* There will be no class on July 4th
Youth News
Please pray for our students and youth leaders who will be on the Summer of Service Mission trip from June 28th-July 1st. Check the Facebook Group for pictures and updates.
Rev up your Engines!
The 14th annual car show is scheduled for Saturday August 11th this year. We are looking for another great turn out!
We do have a lot of helpers this year, thank you Portage First! There are a few things still needed though. Prayers for wonderful weather of course, but seriously, we could use some small items to put in the participants bags, key chains, air fresheners, any small car related items you might think the car guys would like.
We can also use any door prizes that you can have donated or possibly purchase. The door prizes do not necessarily have to be car-related. Thank you all in advance for making the car show year after year a successful. also raising awareness of our church hospitality and love!! Not to mention. A few dollars to help such worthy causes. This year proceeds will go to help the Royal Family Kids Camp. Your generosity will help send a foster child who has been abused, neglected, go to Epworth forest in North Webster In. for a week of fun, and being shown the LOVE of Christ through many Christian servants. Proceeds from this year’s Car show will help for next year’s camp! May God bless!!
Note from Pastor Tara
June and Summer are upon us! This month we say goodbye to Pastor Mark and thank him for his time with us. June 10th at 12:30 will be Pastor Mark’s last Sunday preaching. We will also be hosting a dinner celebrating his service of over 30 years as a United Methodist Pastor, and his transition into retirement. I would like to thank Pastor Mark for his service and appreciate his guidance over the past few years. I hope we as a church can all come together to send Mark off with joyous celebration in honor of his career.
The week before Pastor Mark’s retirement celebration, Pastor Mark, myself, Pat Hodgson and Deb Massow will be traveling to Indianapolis for the Indiana United Methodist Church’s Annual Conference. This is a time when the whole of the Indiana United Methodist Church gathers in Indianapolis for shared worship, updates, training, and voting on church policy. Please pray for safe travels and a productive conference. We will return Saturday evening on June 9th.
This month is Father’s Day, and although we will not be having a Father’s Day breakfast I would like to honor all of the Fathers in our congregation and thank them for all they do. We have many wonderful men in our congregation who are wonderful role models, and true examples of what it means to be Christ’s hands and feet. Thank you for all that you do!
As mentioned earlier, June 10th will be Pastor Mark’s last Sunday Preaching. In the interim, I will be preaching on June 17th, Pastor Paul Arnold will be preaching June 24th, and I will be preaching again July 1st. Pastor Michael will then take over on July 8th.
I will be soliciting members to host “Meet & Greets” with Pastor Michael in July. We would like to hold about two “Meet & Greets” a week to help Pastor Michael get to know us in a more intimate setting. If you are interested in hosting a “Meet & Greet,” please contact me, Pastor Tara, at 219-608-6150 (call or text.)
Pastor Mark Dicken & Pastor Tara Keehn
2637 McCool Road, Portage, IN 46368
(219) 762-3846
______________________________________________________________________
The Witness
Issue VI June 2018
As I write this, I realize that three weeks from today the moving van will be loaded with and headed south into our retirement.
Barbara and I are really looking forward to retirement and the new opportunities and options it will present us. But we have mixed feelings. The church and ministry has been the central focus of our lives for 32 years. While it has not always been grins and giggles, we have treasured our times with the people of God in various communities and churches over the year.
Thank you for letting me be your pastor – allowing me to be an advocate of the good news of Jesus Christ, baptize your children and adults, officiate weddings and funerals, comfort you when you’ve hurt and share in your celebrations. I will leave with good memories of our time together.
I still do not know what I will say when I preach my final sermon as an active pastor on June 10. I ask you to pray for me.
I will continue to pray for you as you move forward into your future of ministry and mission under Pastor Michael Lawson’s leadership.
For all that has been – THANKS!
For all that will be – YES!
In Christ and in hope,
Pastor Mark
Happy June Birthday to…
01
Erin Davenport
07
Todd Warne
18
Jim Reeder
01
Austin Shebel
08
Zachery Sullivan
19
Bryan Dixon
02
Nick Nickerson
09
Mark Dicken
19
Amber Kramer
02
Betty Smith
15
Patrick Costello
25
Pat Hodgson
03
Melinda Metz
15
Gabriel Harbart
27
Chuck Lorenz
04
Jackie Green
17
Fran Berry
28
Matt Lopez
05
Dee Nickerson
17
Brandi Costello
29
Jessica Karsten
07
Sandy Holtzman
17
Barbara Dicken
30
Carolyn Lenburg
Happy June Anniversary to…
02
Ron & Karen Mauer
15
Kirk & Dawn Harbart
05
Ryan & Melissa Sullivan
22
Randy & Robin Wilkening
09
Greg & Tara Keehn
23
Richard & Sherry Pinarski
09
Chuck & Virginia Phillips
24
Robert & Joyce Shone
11
Andrew & Jenny Brown
25
Paul & Amanda Peterson
15
Doug & Teresa McKiddy
30
Bill & Amber Kramer
1st Friday Fellowship will meet on Friday, June 1st, at 5:00 p.m. at:
Texas Roadhouse
6130 U.S. Hwy 6
Portage, Indiana
R.S.V.P. to Sandra Robinson at 764-8433 no later than May 30th.
This group meets once a month at different restaurants for food and fellowship.
GOOD NEWS ABOUT FINANCES
Thanks to your faithful, generous and sacrificial giving and the diligence of our leaders and staff in scrutinizing expenditures, we are on reasonably solid financial footing as a church. We are not flush, but we’re not in danger of going down the drain either.
Even better, we have paid 100% of the connectional giving we are asked to give under our covenant as a United Methodist church so far each month of this year. We are asked to give a tithe (10%) of our undesignated giving to the Indiana Conference and 1% to the North District. This enables The United Methodist Church to do mission and ministry nationwide and worldwide. We fell very short of this the past two years, essentially requiring other churches to carry our fair share.
Giving back to God through our church goes in cycles throughout the year. Like most churches, historically our giving has declined during the summer months as vacations and other options occur. Please continue your faithful and sacrificial giving. You can utilize PushPay or your bank’s online bill payment system to schedule regular automatic and ongoing giving even when you are away.
In a related matter, our Church Council, on recommendation of our Finance Committee, has secured a modest line of credit with our bank in the event we experience a need for funds to meet regular ongoing operational obligations. We have two “pools” of money as a church – undesignated giving that may be used for any purpose and designated giving that may be used only for the purpose for which it was given. In order to safeguard designated funds we have set up a separate bank account to segregate them from our general fund. This will enable us to have clear records of what designated funds have been spent when and for what purpose.
This is a prudent funds management action and a fallback position for our church. At present we have not drawn any funds from the unsecured line of credit and, if we continue to faithfully, generously and sacrificially support the general fund, we may never need to. The church leadership has established a sound protocol for any draw upon those funds if needed and if it is drawn upon, church members will be promptly and transparently informed until any short-term debt is repaid.
Please thank the leaders of our church for their example and wisdom as leaders and congratulate yourself for your faithful, generous and sacrificial giving.
"Take me out to the ball game" ok sounds like a great idea! United Methodist Men's Group invites all to attend a night at the Steel yard for their annual Railcats game. Join us on Saturday July 21, 2018 at 6:10 to see the Railcats play St.Paul.
Tickets are $9, and you have an option to purchase a hotdog combo for $5.25. There is no better deal than this. A sign-up sheet will be available at the welcome center at church starting Sunday May 27. Money for tickets is due by Thursday July 19.
Feel free to contact Tony Centracchio (708) 275-0266 amc2203@yahoo.com
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Friday, June 1st @ 9:30 am
Thankful ~ Thankful
Our June meeting will be a morning of thanks!
Starting with fellowship, breakfast snacks and our World Thank Offering
We will be sharing what we are thankful for, praising God and turning in our "Thank" boxes/jars!
If you don't have a box PLEASE COME ANYWAY and enjoy our last meeting
before we take a break during the summer. Come praise God and be thankful!
Women's Bible Study: Women of the Bible
Join us on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm starting June 4 for a new series on Women in the Bible. Each session will be a standalone session so come to one or come to the all. You won't miss out if you miss a session or two. For more information contact Kate Blakely at 574-621-0070 or portageumcyouth@gmail.com.
* There will be no class on July 4th
Youth News
Please pray for our students and youth leaders who will be on the Summer of Service Mission trip from June 28th-July 1st. Check the Facebook Group for pictures and updates.
Rev up your Engines!
The 14th annual car show is scheduled for Saturday August 11th this year. We are looking for another great turn out!
We do have a lot of helpers this year, thank you Portage First! There are a few things still needed though. Prayers for wonderful weather of course, but seriously, we could use some small items to put in the participants bags, key chains, air fresheners, any small car related items you might think the car guys would like.
We can also use any door prizes that you can have donated or possibly purchase. The door prizes do not necessarily have to be car-related. Thank you all in advance for making the car show year after year a successful. also raising awareness of our church hospitality and love!! Not to mention. A few dollars to help such worthy causes. This year proceeds will go to help the Royal Family Kids Camp. Your generosity will help send a foster child who has been abused, neglected, go to Epworth forest in North Webster In. for a week of fun, and being shown the LOVE of Christ through many Christian servants. Proceeds from this year’s Car show will help for next year’s camp! May God bless!!
Note from Pastor Tara
June and Summer are upon us! This month we say goodbye to Pastor Mark and thank him for his time with us. June 10th at 12:30 will be Pastor Mark’s last Sunday preaching. We will also be hosting a dinner celebrating his service of over 30 years as a United Methodist Pastor, and his transition into retirement. I would like to thank Pastor Mark for his service and appreciate his guidance over the past few years. I hope we as a church can all come together to send Mark off with joyous celebration in honor of his career.
The week before Pastor Mark’s retirement celebration, Pastor Mark, myself, Pat Hodgson and Deb Massow will be traveling to Indianapolis for the Indiana United Methodist Church’s Annual Conference. This is a time when the whole of the Indiana United Methodist Church gathers in Indianapolis for shared worship, updates, training, and voting on church policy. Please pray for safe travels and a productive conference. We will return Saturday evening on June 9th.
This month is Father’s Day, and although we will not be having a Father’s Day breakfast I would like to honor all of the Fathers in our congregation and thank them for all they do. We have many wonderful men in our congregation who are wonderful role models, and true examples of what it means to be Christ’s hands and feet. Thank you for all that you do!
As mentioned earlier, June 10th will be Pastor Mark’s last Sunday Preaching. In the interim, I will be preaching on June 17th, Pastor Paul Arnold will be preaching June 24th, and I will be preaching again July 1st. Pastor Michael will then take over on July 8th.
I will be soliciting members to host “Meet & Greets” with Pastor Michael in July. We would like to hold about two “Meet & Greets” a week to help Pastor Michael get to know us in a more intimate setting. If you are interested in hosting a “Meet & Greet,” please contact me, Pastor Tara, at 219-608-6150 (call or text.)
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