Kokomo, Indiana
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Grace United Methodist Church Kokomo, Indiana |
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Pastor Steve Beutler
2011 Articles |
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2010 Articles |
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WE REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
What a joy to learn that Grace United Methodist Church came in third place in our giving toward the “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” event on February 12th! Besides providing the space for the breakfast for nearly 1000 walkers that Saturday morning in our Fellowship Hall, we were well represented with a team of walkers and contributors who raised over $3,000 toward the women’s ministry at Open Arms, a ministry of the Kokomo Rescue Mission.
As your pastor, I am so very pleased and proud of the service that the people of Grace offer to missions ministries in Kokomo and around the world. One of the things that we made happen recently is the “Food to You” ministry for the people of Kokomo. Grace UMC caught the vision and single handedly provided the truck and trailer for the distribution of the food to various locations throughout Howard County so that people are able to get food and essential home products. A recent newspaper article stated the “Food to You” ministry that is coordinated jointly by Kokomo Urban Outreach and Kokomo Rescue Mission is one of the most important new services that are being offered here. What a joy to be able to celebrate Grace UMC’s part in making this a reality. Because of its proven impact to Howard County, over $40,000 has been contributed to this new ministry for 2011 by FEMA and local government agencies to help continue this wonderful ministry.
I was at a meeting recently where the “diaper ministry” to families with babies in Howard County was touted as a great service with a phenomenal outreach. This ministry, too, is a direct result of members of Grace Church who caught the vision and have provided the funds and diapers so that we can say that nearly every bottom this is diapered in Kokomo through our various service ministries and organizations are a result of this great vision of members of our church. Over 100,000 diapers have been provided already.
The MUFF ministry—a program of the Howard County Ministerial Association to help families who need assistance with their heating and utility bills; especially during the cold winter months so their utility needs are not discontinued is supported by many churches in our community. Grace UMC has supplied a large portion of the funds to keep this ministry viable. In fact, whenever the need becomes greater than the funds available, Grace Church is always first on the list to contact for additional assistance.
When the vision for Kokomo Urban Outreach was beginning, it was Grace UMC who helped make it a reality. It was Grace Church who provided support to bring a United Methodist pastor on staff in Kokomo and gave the funds to support salary and 100% of the first few years’ health and retirement funding for the pastor (Jeff Newton). Jeff is still listed as one of our missionaries through Grace UMC. We are pleased with the involvement of our people through Kokomo Urban Outreach—one of the great ways that we minister to our Kokomo communities.
During the past two years, our Annual Conference has leaned on Grace UMC heavily for assistance in helping make the outreach of Operation Classroom and Dr. Marke’s medical care an effective program of our Church. We have provided funds for additional training for Dr. Marke as he cares for the physical needs of the many people in Sierra Leone. Rev. David V.W. Owen, Executive Assistant to our Bishop has expressed deep appreciation for Grace UMC and its faithful support of the Operation Classroom program and Medical care provided by Dr. Marke.
Because of our efforts to help our members expand their vision for mission throughout the world, we have sent members of our congregation to various mission ministries around the world. As a direct result of that, Lydia’s Sewing School has been formed and is beginning in Kenya. We are pleased to assist Shirley Hoy as she works to improve the lives of the children in the slums of Nairobi. We look forward to providing opportunity for others to see, first hand, what the United Methodist church is doing in our local communities and around the world. Please share with your Mission Ministry Team a visions that you may have to help do short term Mission work anywhere in our world.
Our giving and support for local church and community work has increased over 6% since last year and the number of community ministries for outreach, justice and mercy has increased 20% since last year. There are 7 special Sunday offerings through the year that we offer our congregations opportunity to give towards. Giving towards these 7 special offerings increased 128% this year to $6,601. What a blessing to serve and minister outreach at Grace!
Through the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund members of our congregation with special needs and people in our community who come to our attention are provided anonymous gifts to the glory of God to assist them in their time of financial, medical and spiritual need. How I wish that I could share some of the blessings that we have provided through this important ministry to our neighbors and those who sit with us in the pews.
Our United Methodist Men support for local missions has increased in 2010 110% while our UMW gave over $7,200 to local church and community work. I conclude simply because I am out of room...There are many stories of local and world-wide missions ministries that Grace UMC has provided. Lives are being changed because of what we do. What a difference Grace UMC of Kokomo is making in Mission locally and around the world.
WHAT DOES A YAWN REVEAL ABOUT US?
Did you notice what Apolo Ohno did just before his short skate competition at the Olympics? Just seconds before the biggest moment of his skating career, the excitement and adrenaline rush were too much for him to bear. The world was watching him by television and thousands present in the arena were anxious to see if he could gain another Olympic medal. Apolo Ohno couldn’t hold in his excitement any longer.
He yawned.
I was amazed as I watched him prepare for the big moment. He was yawning – over and over again. I was amused by the apparent lackadaisical attitude toward the race and was thinking about how many people I had watched yawn during last Sunday’s service/sermon when the television announcer commented upon the yawn as well. He said that this was a trademark of Ohno’s when he prepares for a race. The announcer told us that Ohno yawns like this prior to every race he participates in and this one was no different. In fact, this one seemed to require additional yawns because it would determine whether he would become the Winter Olympian with the most medals in US history. I even found myself wanting to yawn as I watched him.
I read a sports writer who said that there is method behind Ohno’s yawning madness. A friend of Ohno’s revealed that the yawning lets extra oxygen into Ohno’s lungs in the seconds before bursting across the ice. In fact, Ohno admitted that yawning makes him feel better. He said, “It gets the oxygen in and the nerves out.”
I understand that the word “aerobics” literally translated means “with oxygen.” If we are going to actively exercise, we need to remember the importance of breathing in and then releasing our nerves by breathing out so that we can perform more effectively – just like Apolo Ohno. This sounds like a good idea for us at church as well. In fact, I recommend it highly. Next Sunday, when you are in worship, I will anticipate seeing you all yawn – broadly and long – so that you can take in the oxygen of God’s Holy Spirit in your lives that will prepare you for the ‘race we have to run for Christ Jesus’ as the Apostle Paul describes it. In fact, I hope that you yawn over and over, just like Apolo Ohno does, so that you find your life filled with the oxygen of the Spirit within you. I also remind you that Ohno says that as he breathes out, all his nervousness is removed from him. We, too, need to breathe out our nervousness in going out into the world and living a life that is like Christ in a world that is looking for a champion for Jesus. And if I catch you yawing during my sermon, just smile and give me a ‘thumbs up’ signal. I will know that it is not my preaching or the sameness of the liturgy – not at all. Rather, it is our preparation to take in the Holy Spirit into our lives so that we can be Olympians for Christ in the week ahead. So come to church this Sunday ready to yawn – not because you stayed out too late Saturday night – but because you are preparing yourself for an exciting sprint in the week ahead as we live our lives as fully fulfilled followers of Jesus Christ.
Grace to You,
Pastor Steve
The perfect season for the Indianapolis Colts football team ended yesterday when the coach decided to rest his key players rather than to go for a victory and to keep the undefeated season alive.My opinion about that coaching decision probably doesn’t matter, but I will quote my mother who said, "I was so mad at the Colts for giving that game away." (I agree with Mom, by the way.)
The whole episode reminds us that perfection is hard to achieve. John Wesley, who started the Methodist Revival in England which came to America and became the Methodist Church, taught about Christian Perfection. Such perfection, Wesley said, is not about living without error. Rather it is a growth in holiness which involves growing in God’s grace until we become the persons God intends us to be. Wesley claimed only to have known one or two persons who seemed to be nearing such Christian Perfection, and so he did not take lightly the difficulty of growing toward perfection. But Wesley, and the Holiness movement, and our United Methodist Church affirm that we are all called to be "going on" to such perfection. Even as we are "going on to perfection" we know that perfection is not easy and it is not really about us – it is about opening our lives to God’s transformation.
As we move into 2010 as the new Indiana Conference, I believe it is important that we claim this concept of Christian Perfection. In fact, I have found myself saying that whereas 2009 was, as expected, a “messy year” of transition, I believe that 2010 should be our "go-to year" – as we start going toward achieving the designs for the Indiana Conference. 2009 was certainly a messy year, and in some ways it was a "“go-to year" in which we move beyond messiness and at least move toward perfecting our plans and designs.
Perhaps 2010 can be a "go-to year" for you, too. Perhaps 2010 can be a time of moving further along into God’s design for your life. While there is nothing magical about the flip of the calendar from one year to the next, there is something transforming and powerful about focusing our lives toward the direction of God’s purposes and holiness.
My prayer is that 2010 can be a "go-to year" for all of us, including the Indiana Conference, as we go toward God.
Bishop Mike Coyner
These are good words for us to ponder as we enter into the New Year. We are excited about what God has been doing in the lives of our church, or individual members, and our staff. May our Lord challenge us to continue to ‘go on toward perfection’ in our daily walk with Christ during the coming year both as a community of faith here at Grace UMC and as individual followers of Jesus. It is our prayer and goal that we at Grace United Methodist Church may continue to grow in our Christian faith journey in such a way that the year 2010 will find us even closer to our Savior than we do at this conclusion of 2009. May God bless you and us all in our endeavors to ‘go on toward perfection’ with Christ at the helm.
Pastor Steve
Email: sbeutler@kokomograce.org
Phone: 765-457-5329 ext. 223
Home Phone: 765-455-0515