MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2020 September 1, 2020
MINISTRY NEWS | ONLINE SCHEDULE | FINANCE UPDATE
FIND US ONLINE! WORD FROM PASTOR MARTA “Guide my feet while I run this race, … for I don’t want to run this race in vain” Plantation UMC Website: plantationumc.org The words from the African American Spiritual have been a mantra for me not only in my devotional time but throughout my day to day journey. I have Facebook Page: realized my journey though the pandemic is one that the spirit of God has facebook.com/plantationumc lead me slowly and methodically through frustration, anxiety, fear, and anger. It has lead me to creativity, joy and hope in what God has in store for YouTube Channel: us. To have Zoom studies, meetings, online classes, and funerals in my www.youtube.com/plantationumc backyard, has brought me deep joy and peace. To share tears and laughter ONLINE SCHEDULE with friends and family on FaceTime, and share in “Drive By” graduations, birthdays, and farewells has let me know that we have not run this race in Sunday Online Worship Services vain. I continue to pray that we pace the race of our lives with God during Praise Service:9:00am this season. That we know that God is holding our hands and our hearts, Traditional Service:11:00am while we run this race. That God stands with us, beside us, as we run this Visit us online to watch us live at race. And that we, together as a faith community, will not run this race in plantationumc.org/liveworship vain as God leads us into tomorrow.
Drive-In Church Your loving, mask wearing, clean handed pastor, - Pastor Marta On the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30pm, you're invited to Stewardship: Presence drive in and park your car to listen to What does “Presence” look like during COVID? How do feel the “Presence” of great music and a message to sooth the Holy Spirit during these mes of quaran ne? Yes, no, some mes. Let’s your soul! You will stay in your car look how we can go out in the world for Christ and stay right where you are… and listen over your radio to be safe, sound and blessed! Mark your So “Presence” is a conscience choice. It can be powerful, posi ve or nega ve. calendars and rev up your engines to There are ways you can make a posi ve “Presence” felt to people around you join us for “Drive-In Church”! Save and your neighbors during this crazy me and at the same me make yourself the date for September 24th! happier and healthier by engaging others. Arrive early for space! Pastor Marta will be rolling out “Life Groups” or Interest groups to us during HymnSing & Reflection the month of September. We will be able to contact folks within our Bring comfort to your soul by singing congrega on that live close to us as well as people that live next to us. We beloved hymns. Every Tuesday at can find common interests, for example a walking group, book club, gardening, cooking, biking just to name a few and start a group. If you are 4pm LIVE on our Facebook page! like me things are ge ng a li le monotonous, me to try some new things. How about it? Are you ready? OK let’s go… Blessings, Your Stewardship Team
PLANTATION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH [email protected] | 954.584.7500 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2020 September 1, 2020
CHILDREN & YOUTH Neighborhood Groups …Life Groups How many of us have felt disconnected? How many of us have Children’s Sunday School - Zoom wanted to get out of the house but dare not leave our front Sunday Mornings, 10:15-10:45am, door? Safe and blessed opportunities are knocking at your door. All kids (age 3-11).Join our teachers as we get back in the habit of weekly We are appealing to those that would like to create a safe and classes to grow in our faith together. secure neighbor group/interest group with church friends and Email [email protected] for invite. family or friends from your neighborhood. We have done our homework to look at our membership and have seen the Youth Small Group neighborhood and groups near each other. You may want to Middle and High school students are create your own group from interest that friends mutually have. invited to join us on Zoom. Email Manu for an invite, [email protected]. Maybe it will be a group on Zoom or one that meets in a park or backyard. It could be a walking group, bike group, daily Youth Game Night devotional group, a cooking group that shares recipes, or a Middle and High school students fantasy sporting group that shares events online or in a backyard. welcome to join us at 6:00pm for game night, and win prizes! Email Manu for Sign up and let us know you are interested to begin a group or invite, [email protected]. be part of a Life Group. We will offer a Zoom orientation for the “Life Group” leaders by the end of September so that the “Life Friday Night Devotional Groups” will be off and running by October. Let the Spirit of God Every Friday, join Manu for a devotional connect us and grow the church of Christ today in a new way! online at 9pm, Facebook & Instagram.
Youth Choir Preschool & Kids at Play Youth Choir rehearse online through Zoom, every Sunday at 5pm. New We are back open for school! We have 38 students that have singers welcome! Grades 6th-12th. returned since we reopened our programs. We are thankful for the Email Pastor Kathy to join: students that have returned and are praying that more will be [email protected]. returning as things improve in our area. We want to say “Thank You” to everyone who dropped off school supplies for our Wednesday Night Bible Study with programs. We appreciate all your support and prayers for our Bishop Ken Carter preschool and childcare facility. continue your spiritual growth with an online Bible Study hosted by Bishop LOGOS Bible Class - New Study! Ken Carter and sponsored by Fill the Table! Join Bishop Carter each DAVID – Exploring the Life of One of History’s Most Famous Wednesday at 6pm beginning Kings. In five sessions we will study the man who was a Humble September 9th through November shepherd, a Giant-slayer, a Gifted poet, a Mighty warrior, and a 25th. Visit www.Facebook.com/groups/ Legendary leader. If you enjoy lively discussion on topics that will FLUMCbiblestudy strengthen you spiritually and deepen your faith; and if you also Hurricane Season Resources like warm and caring fellowship, we invite you to visit and join Visit us online for helpful resources! LOGOS (The Word). We meet online using Zoom on Sunday plantationumc.org/prepare. mornings at 9:30am. Contact Steve Touzalin for Zoom information and an invitation. Phone: 954-476-9416 or email Steve at [email protected]
PLANTATION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH [email protected] | 954.584.7500 MONTHLY UPDATE | SEPTEMBER 2020 September 1, 2020
Calling All Care Callers
At the beginning of the pandemic, we created the Care Callers Ministry that tried to call all our members once a week or every other week. It was a daunting task and I know that not everyone was contacted. We are sorry. We are restarting our Care Callers Ministry. We are asking them to call and check in with our members at least twice a month. If you can serve as a Care Caller, please call the church office 954-584-7500 and let us know. Elaine Brett has agreed to be our “Care Caller” coordinator. Please join us in this loving ministry. Celebration of New Members & Coffee with the Pastor
In August, we planned to celebrate seven of our new members during worship. Unfortunately, our internet provider had an outage during our time of worship together, which prevented us from our live- streaming capabilities. We have rescheduled the celebration at a later date for our new members, Sunday, Sept. 13th! Don’t miss it this special celebration!
Mark you calendars for Saturday, Sept. 26th at 10:00am for Coffee with the Pastor. All persons interested in growing in their faith by becoming a follower and partner of Plantation United Methodist Church sign up today.
Grandparents Sunday
We began last year to celebrate and give God thanks for Grandparents by designating a Sunday Service for thankfulness for Grandparents. This year it will be Sunday, Sept. 20. Send us your favorite picture of you with your grandchildren, and we will have a special slideshow during our worship services. Email them to Jen Calvert at [email protected]. Let’s celebrate all those special grandparents!
Florida Annual Conference
The Florida Annual Conference will be held virtually, on September 12th. This will be a virtual celebration of those that are being ordained, retiring and giving thanks for those clergy and spouses that have served and died in this past year. Go to Flumc.org and watch the celebration.
Financial Update
Your Finance Committee continues to review the Church’s needs and current giving. Giving has stayed positive during our extended stay-at-home period. Thank you! Additionally, you’ve stepped up and funded our live streaming improvements, sanitizing equipment, and nearly 40% of the organ cleaning.
Payroll has been covered by the PPP Loan. Bills are being paid as they’ve been received. Interest only payments on our mortgage have been extended until December 31, 2020. Apportionment payments are reduced to just the two that carry over from year to year if unpaid, $993 per month. Any year-end surplus will be applied to the other Apportionments first. The true test of our giving resilience will be in the last quarter of the year when all expenses, including salaries, must be paid from our current income.
Please share your questions, comments, or recommendations with Lyle Shafer (Finance Chair), Julie Bouwens (Financial Administrator), or Pastor Marta.
PLANTATION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH [email protected] | 954.584.7500