News from Newsletter Page 1

On Sunday 9/25/2011 Paul Stock, a missionary who ministers in Pakistan, gave us a taste of a Pakistani Christian Service. He led us in songs (some in a Pak language) and even dance. Videos of the entire service can be viewed by clicking HERE ... The 5th Annual Pipe Organ Festival was held here this Sunday (9/25/2011) Click HERE for videos ... Sunday September 18th at 7 PM there was a "Kick-Off" concert in our sanctuary , for Community Awareness Week. The concert featured IHS students and alumni. A freewill offering was held during the concert to benefit the Ionia Commission on Aging in its fight against cancer. Click HERE for videos ... The November ~ December 2011 Newsletter is now online Click Here or "Newsletter" on the menu bar above this message ... Music on the Green 2011 started on Tuesday, June 14th, featuring the Ionia High School Jazz Band! Click HERE for videos ... On Good Friday (April 22) there was a special service at 12 noon with guest speaker Drew Spanding, founder of "Big Ticket Festival". Videos from that service can be viewed by clicking HERE ... On Sunday (April 17) our choir presented the Easter Cantata: "A Time for Alleluia" at both our Traditional and Contemporary Services. A video can be viewed by clicking HERE ... On November 6 the 4th Annual Ionia Pipe Organ Festival was held in our Sanctuary. Video selections can be viewed by clicking HERE ... On Sept. 19 Brill Family & Friends gave a concert in our sanctuary for the benefit of the Pipe Organ Festival. Videos from the concert can be viewed by clicking HERE ... The Ionia High School Jazz Band went, once again, to Detroit to participate in the International Jazz Festival on Labor Day. A special "Send Off" concert was held on September 3 at 7 PM Click HERE for videos ... We now have a Facebook page. Click HERE to view ... DVD videos and audio CDs of our traditional service are available at no cost in the hall outside the sanctuary. We encourage you to share our services with your friends, particularly those who are unable to attend our services

KICK-OFF YOUTH GROUP EVENT

Come join us for the first YOUTH GROUP event of the year! It will be a packing party for Operation Christmas Child.

Here’s the scoop:

Sunday, Nov. 13th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the church.

Bring items to put in the shoeboxes.

Get ready for games, snacks, and talking about activities for the rest of the year.

Parents are invited and encouraged to come to this first meeting, too!

Come meet your new youth leaders: Elisha Stock (you know him!) and Crystal Drogorub.

They’ve got some great ideas to share with you.

But more importantly, they want to get to know you better.

So, come hear more about a youth group in the works and how to plug into God!

FURNITURE NEEDED:

Our youth are fixing up one of the Sunday school rooms in the basement for their youth group.

If you have a couch, TV, or DVD player you’d like to donate, please call the office.

Thank you!

Bible Ventures

First, a big THANK YOU to Shari LaWarre and the Frosts

for taking over in my absence while I was on vacation.

And now for BAMBOO BLAST: The Great Escape!

The Hebrew people are on the brink of leaving Egypt after being slaves for over 400 years.

Can this really be true? Did the 10 plagues work? Will Pharaoh REALLY let God’s people go?

Can Moses keep the Israelites together?

Come join us this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. to see what God can do!

Remember, kids will enjoy Bamboo Blast Games, Treetop Treats, and Zoom! each Sunday morning.

Bring a friend and have a blast!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

Have you ever wanted to learn How To Study The Bible?

This Fall, the Adult Sunday School class is following along with Pastor Larry in his Sermon Series on Luke.

As we do, we are learning How To Study The Bible; tools, techniques and seeing the excitement of our Living God.

Join us at 9:30 on Sunday Mornings in the Library where we discuss the very passage that Pastor Larry will then give his sermon on during Second Service.

Kim Paton

Come join the fun in our church nursery!

Imogene and Kelly have great lessons for our smaller children during the first worship service. They help our preschoolers learn about God’s love through stories, crafts, acting, and singing.

During the second service at 11:00, Zelma joins them and all the children learn yet another lesson. Our children are learning lots, having a fun time, and being cared for by loving hands and hearts. Whether you have a baby or a preschooler, our nursery is the perfect spot for experiencing God in gentle caring ways.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Yes, it is time to mark your calendar for the upcoming extravaganza starring our very own kids from Ionia 1st United Methodist Church:

Sunday morning, Dec. 11th at both services

“CHRISTMAS? BAH HUMBUG!”

Even if your children have not been a part of Bible Ventures, we’d love to have them participate in our Christmas Program.

We only have a couple of rehearsals because we know you are busy people.

The rehearsals are during 1st service on Nov. 27th and Dec. 4th.

We will also have a rehearsal on Saturday, Dec. 10th at 1:00 p.m.

This should be no more than an hour and a half.

We need all ages of kids from pre-school to teens.

Come help our congregation and all of our families celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

Cassie Stewart Circle

The Cassie Stewart Circle has had two very interesting and diverse programs so far this year.

All who attended our guest night in September will agree that Dr. Edmundson was a very intriguing and motivational speaker.

We all were very moved with his dedication and interest in Haiti and in his campaign, Starfish.

In October our Special Friend from the Heartlands District Board, Amy Lattimer, brought us news from the district and also a synopsis of one of the courses presented at the Mission School, “Reconciliation.”

Our November meeting is one you will not want to miss.

Marie Church is going to enlighten us with some of her cooking secrets, tips, and suggestions.

Perhaps you have a “gem” to share.

This may turn out to be a “show and tell” session.

Our hostesses will be calling our regular attendees for reservations.

Let me emphasize.

Our Cassie Stewart meetings are open to all women of the church and to others if they wish to join us.

Just let the church office know you want to attend and our hostesses will then know how to plan refreshments.

Our December meeting is one which has been especially requested.

Pat Zander is going to visiting us and will present a Christmas book review.

I do not know her choice of book or books.

However, we do not need to remind you that Pat does a beautiful job and will entice you to “put your nose in a book.”

So, do plan to join us for this very relaxing but motivational afternoon.