January 2016 Volume 8, Issue 1 Inside this issue: Children’s Pageant 2 This Month 3&4 In The Loop 5 Next Month 6 Looking Ahead 7 Youth & Music 8 Volunteer Opportunities 9 With Thanks 10 In Ministry & 11 Celebrations Michelle Knight, Senior Pastor [email protected]Joe Felice, Traditional Music Director [email protected]Allan Evett, Solid Ground Music Leader [email protected]Phil Loos, Youth Leader [email protected]Holly Cummings, Administrative Assistant [email protected]Dave Miller, Facility Manager [email protected]Linda Boender, Treasurer [email protected]Susan Bryce, Childcare Worker [email protected]H ave you made your New Year’s Resoluons yet? Or have you resolved not to make any new resoluons for 2016? In either case the beginning of a new year offers us the opportunity to set our sights on what lies ahead of us. I read once that each January, roughly one in three Americans resolve to beer themselves in some way. A much smaller percentage of people actually make good on those resoluons. While about 75% of people sck to their goals for at least a week, less than half (46%) are sll on target six months later. It's hard to keep up the enthusiasm months aſter you've swept up the confe, but it's not impossible. This year, pick one of the following worthy resoluons, and sck with it. Please know that I pray for you and offer my encouragement to you. I too want to grow in my faith, discipleship, giving, and hope in 2016! God is not finished shaping and building me. Here are some suggesons of what you might consider as your 2016 goals or resoluons: 1. Read through the Bible in a year. 2. Select a mission or missionary to pray, support, and give your giſts. 3. Download a Gratude app for your smart phone to log your gratude. 4. Parcipate in a weekly small group Bible study or lead one. 5. Read three books to deepen your devoonal life. 6. Start a weekly prayer group. 7. Choose a hands-on ministry to give your me (i.e. usher, greeter, church office volunteer, reader at a local elementary school, or even nursing home volunteer). 8. Record your blessings & answered prayers. 9. Disciple a young believer. 10. Pick a 'theme Bible verse' for the year and memorize it. Perhaps we, as a community of Jesus followers, can encourage one another, liſt each other up, and challenge one another to deepen and enrich our faith. Successful people always have a team of support around them. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” Let’s encourage and upliſt one another so that our success will enlarge the impact of Christ in our world. See you at the encouraging place, Pastor Michelle
H ave you made your New Year’s Resolutions yet? Or have you
resolved not to make any new resolutions for 2016? In either case the beginning of a new year offers us the opportunity to set our sights on what lies ahead of us. I read once that each January, roughly one in three Americans resolve to better themselves in some way. A much smaller percentage of people actually make good on those resolutions. While about 75% of people stick to their goals for at least a week, less than half (46%) are still on target six months later. It's hard to keep up the enthusiasm months after you've swept up the confetti, but it's not impossible. This year, pick one of the following worthy resolutions, and stick with it. Please know that I pray for you and offer my encouragement to you. I too want to grow in my faith, discipleship, giving, and hope in 2016! God is not finished shaping and building me. Here are some suggestions of what you might consider as your 2016 goals or resolutions: 1. Read through the Bible in a year. 2. Select a mission or missionary to
pray, support, and give your gifts. 3. Download a Gratitude app for your
smart phone to log your gratitude. 4. Participate in a weekly small group
Bible study or lead one. 5. Read three books to deepen your
devotional life. 6. Start a weekly prayer group. 7. Choose a hands-on ministry to give
your time (i.e. usher, greeter, church office volunteer, reader at a local elementary school, or even nursing home volunteer).
8. Record your blessings & answered prayers.
9. Disciple a young believer. 10. Pick a 'theme Bible verse' for the
year and memorize it. Perhaps we, as a community of Jesus followers, can encourage one another, lift each other up, and challenge one another to deepen and enrich our faith. Successful people always have a team of support around them. Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” Let’s encourage and uplift one another so that our success will enlarge the impact of Christ in our world. See you at the encouraging place, Pastor Michelle
CHILDREN’S PAGEANT
Page 2 The Connection
On December 13th, the children of Ridge Church presented “Christmas Treasures.” Twenty children performed, and six adult leaders helped make it a Christmas pageant to remember! From Director Shelley Cohs: “ I am so proud of all the children in the pageant! Each of them worked so hard to know their lines and know what to do on stage. ALL of the children sang so beautifully and proudly. Special thanks to all of the older children for helping to look out for and guide the younger ones. We are blessed to have such a wonderful group of children in our church!!!! They definitely delivered a wonderful Christmas message. Thank you!!”
your copy, or go online to lcplin.org to request a
copy. Then join the discussion of this novel on January 11th!
Throughout 2016, on the fifth
Sundays of the month, we
will share in a ‘new-to-Ridge,
but familiar to our United
Methodist history/tradition’
worship practice of healing
prayers with anointing with
oil. As you are aware, healing
takes different forms as
persons come with illness or
injury, damaged or broken
relationships, traumatic
memories, guilt, or
estrangement from God. The
root of the word “healing” in
New Testament Greek, sozo,
is the same as that of salvation
and wholeness. Spiritual
healing is God’s work of
offering balance, harmony,
and wholeness of body, mind,
spirit, and relationships.
Thus through such healing, we
believe that God works to
bring about reconciliation
between God and humanity,
among people and
communities, within each
person, and between humanity
and the rest of creation. Invite
your friends or family and join
us for healing on January 31st,
May 29th, July 31st, and
October 30th, 2016.
Page 4 The Connection
THIS MONTH
Publication’s title The Connection (Tax ID 35-1076493)
Issue date December 28th, 2015
Statement of frequency Published monthly
Organization’s authorized Ridge United Methodist Church address 8607 Columbia Avenue Munster, IN 46321
Issue number Volume 8, Issue 1
Is Your New
Year Resolution
to Have a
Church Home?
If so, join us for
Pasta with the
Pastor on Sunday,
January 17th at
Restaurant on
Ridge Road in
Munster at 12:15
p.m. for lunch,
discussion, and
faith sharing.
Please reserve your
spot by Thursday,
January 14th.
A New Year Brings New Leadership
On behalf of our congregation, staff and lay leadership, we want to thank the following for their service. Please share your appreciation and thanks with these leaders:
† Scott Iverson, Dick Jones and Dennis Gray have served their
three-year terms on Staff Parish Relations. † John Goralczyk and Nancy Caddick have served their three-
year terms on the Operations Team as Trustees. † Casey Clarke, Phil Ehlebracht and Betty Lukoshus have served
their three-year terms on the Nominating Committee.
The following are the 2016 Staff Parish, Operations and Nominating Committees:
Staff Parish Rina Horgan, chair 2016 Michael Brandner Matt Svboda Erin Dal Santo 2017 Rina Horgan Rick Spindler Susan Capps 2018 Mandy Barbee Steve Rogers Mary Jo Smith Pastor Michelle Wes Lukosus, lay leader
Operations, Gale Osgerby, chair Trustees 2016 Wayne Cable Gale Osgerby Jon Lair 2017 Lois McClaughry Russ Altherr Dan Percak 2018 Joel Bandstra John Novak Ellie Marinier Finance 2016 Sue Morris Dave Holloway 2017 Rich Matthews Rick Schumacher 2018 Kevin Mybeck Richard Kitchell Richard Sopko
Nominating, Pastor Michelle, chair 2016 Jennifer Olejniczak Kasie Tenbarge Mandy Barbee 2017 Laura Elkins Sue Gray Diana Rogers 2018 Scott Iverson Sylvia Gould TBD
Page 5
IN THE LOOP
Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 5
Have your returned your 2016 Estimate
of Giving?
As of December 18th, we had received 95 pledges to the General Fund, totaling $331,304, and 45 pledges to pay our mortgage, totaling $55,634. The ministries of Ridge Church are dependent on your generosity. Our Operations Team uses your pledges to help create an operating budget (salaries, utilities, building maintenance, ministry programs, etc.) for the year. Without your support, we can’t feed the hungry in Hammond, help with food pantry donations, support Children of Abraham (or any number of other mission projects), or provide spiritual nourishment through our youth programs, Sunday School, adult studies and worship. Thank you for giving generously to the ministries of Ridge Church.
Operations Team from the
November 17th & December 15th
meetings:
Treasurer Linda Boender
provided Profit & Loss reports
for income and expense
through November:
2015 Operating Income:
$394,427
2015 Operating Expenses:
$392,928
2015 Net Income:
$1,499
Mortgage Income for October:
$4,587
For November:
$3,777
Monthly Mortgage Payment:
$5,673
Mortgage balance:
$888,525
In November, Dan Percak
reported that six people
gathered for the Fall Work Day
and got a lot done.
Gale Osgerby explained the
need for a Landscape
Committee to create a
landscape plan and upkeep for
areas around the columbarium
and the narthex and sanctuary,
plus a tree replacement plan.
The Administrative Council at
its October 27th meeting
approved the 2016 budget,
which includes total spending of
$487,735.
In December, Pastor Michelle
shared an update on the
Extravagant Giving Stewardship
Campaign (see box at right).
She was encouraged by the
results. Gale provided
comparison information:
money pledged for the
mortgage in 2015 ($33,054)
represented only 48.5% of the
annual mortgage need
($68,087); however, actual
giving to the mortgage to date
represented 64% of need.
Money pledged so far for 2016
($55,634) represents 81% of
need—a huge improvement!
Sound System: the new systems
in the sanctuary and fellowship
hall are complete, and people
have already noticed a
difference.
New narthex doors: Two old
entry doors were replaced with
double-pane, low-E energy
efficient doors. The Operations
Team thanked to Memorials
Committee for funding this
project.
Apportionments: The total paid
for Apportionments for 2015 is
$31,500. Based on income
received through November,
this amount is slightly higher
than the agreed-upon 65% of
tithe. Beginning in 2016, a
regular amount will be set aside
each month to pay for
apportionments.
Tree Removal: Three bids were
received to remove four trees,
five stumps and trim several
others. The low bid of $1,800,
from Dave’s Tree Service, Inc.
was approved and will be paid
for out of the Trustees’
Emergency fund.
Departing Members
Recognized: Nancy Caddick
and John Goralczyk were
thanked for their contributions
and work during their three
years on the Trustees/
Operations Team. New
members in 2016 will be John
Novak and Joel Bandstra as
Trustees, and Richard Kitchell
and Rich Sopko on Finance.
Page 6 The Connection
LAST MONTH & NEXT MONTH
Dedication of New
Sound Systems
On Sunday, December 13th
we dedicated for the glory
of God our new sound
systems in the Sanctuary
and Fellowship Hall. Ridge
has been blessed
throughout the years with
both equipment and
volunteers who have made
sure that the Word of God
has been heard. We are
grateful to many who have
given of themselves, their
time, and treasure —
especially David Holloway.
During the autumn of
2015 a member of our
congregation donated a
large gift to ensure that
the Word of God is heard
and shared into the next
generation! We are
grateful for that gift
which will aid us in
listening, proclaiming,
and hearing the Good
News of Christ!
Lent Study with Pastor Michelle Join Pastor Michelle as we study The Gospel of John. The fourth gospel is the most deeply spiritual of the four gospels. It includes some of the loftiest and most-loved verses in all the Bible: "And the Word became flesh...," "For God so loved the world...," and "I am the resurrection and the life...." The writing is filled with rich images and profound truths, but John notes that his aim in writing the gospel is that his readers will not only believe in Jesus Christ, but that they "may have life in his name." We will use Adam Hamilton’s new study, John:The Gospel of Light and Life, to experience a season of spiritual growth and life-changing renewal. Classes will meet Thursdays at 7 p.m. on February 11th, 18th, and 25th, and March 3rd, 10th and 17th in Room 104-106. Please call the church office to reserve childcare. Sign up for this class across from the office by Thursday, January 28th, so we can order a workbook for you. The cost of the workbook is $14.95.
Fish Fries! Join us on the following Fridays during Lent:
February 12th February 26th March 11th From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Come enjoy fried perch, baked potatoes, fresh coleslaw, mac & cheese, green beans
and home-made desserts. Donations: $10 for adults, $5 for children, and younger than four eat free! Tickets will be available later this month after services on Sunday, or in the church office during the week. Volunteers are also needed to serve, clear tables, wash dishes, and cook. Watch for sign ups soon!
Page 7
Ridge’s SPRC continues our
search for a Children and
Family Pastor. Here is our job
posting (job description
available on our website):
Ridge UMC is a regional
congregation, serving Indiana-
based Chicago suburbs, with an
excellent reputation for
mission, outreach, and
hospitality. Because our
congregation was formed 60
years ago by 13 families;
children and families remain
our passion for the church
today, as well as tomorrow.
Ridge seeks a passionate, hard-
working, and dedicated full-time
pastoral leader who is eager to
deepen and develop the spiritual
lives of children, youth, and
families. This pastoral leader will provide dynamic leadership,
Arturo Toscanini, famed music director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, was well known for his weekly broadcasts that carried beautiful music into the homes and hearts of millions. Interestingly, Toscanini performed and recorded in Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the very same studio occupied by ‘Saturday Night Live’ over the past 40 years.) One of those listeners was a lonely sheepherder in the desolate mountains of Wyoming. One day, Maestro Toscanini received a rumpled note from this far-off listener with an unusual plea. “I have only two possessions,” the man wrote, “a radio and an old violin. The batteries in my radio are getting low and will soon die. My violin is so out of tune I can’t use it. Please help me . . . . When you begin your [next] concert, sound a loud ‘A’ so I can tune my ‘A’ string; then I can tune the other strings.” As requested, the next week Toscanini had his orchestra sound a perfect “A440” just for that listener so he might tune his violin and, when his radio’s batteries died, he could still have beautiful music. We need and love music. We may sing along with the
car stereo, whistle while we work, or even sing in the shower. Words put to music seem to say more than they do without it, especially during Sunday morning hymn singing. And when we hear good news of any kind, we declare that it’s “music to our ears.” Music is more than just entertainment. It is a good friend and companion; it can bring us peace when we are grieving, and give us hope when things are hard. How that happens we don’t exactly know, but something about music reaches into our souls and heals, lifts, and inspires us. A few of us may remember playing tunes on a wind-up victrola; more of us remember loading a stack of black vinyl LP discs in the family’s Magnavox home combination TV and console stereo; today it might be a cell phone, iTunes or an iPad, but the result is the same—a lift in our step, a light in our eyes, and a sense that we may, at any minute, break into song, filled with gratitude that our hearts are “blessed with the sound of music.”
—by Joe Felice
Blessed With the Sound of Music
COMING IN
FEBRUARY: The Souper
Bowl of
Caring is
Super Bowl
Sunday,
February 7th. This year, Ridge
Youth will be collecting
donations after all three
services. The need for food is
still a growing problem for
many families, especially in
Northwest Indiana. Watch
for more information about
how you can help!
COLLEGE CARE
PACKAGES Next month, the
youth group and
the Martha Circle
will be putting
together care
packages—full of homemade
cookies and school items—
to send to our college
students. Your donations of
small items such as pens,
notebooks, pencils, post-it
notes, bookmarks, etc. will
be appreciated. Our college
students love receiving these
packages from their church
family! Please email the
names and addresses of
college students who are
Ridge Church members, or
children of members, to
Mary Jo Smith at
terrymaryjosmith
@sbcglobal.net, or call
219-365-4224.
Page 9
Ridge Ministries need YOU
We need you to please consider how you’d like to serve God and your church in 2016. Here ministries that need your leadership and assistance:
Communications Team— We need one or two people with passion for advertising, mailing and marketing our ministries. See Pastor Michelle for more information.
9:45 Hospitality Coordinator—We need a person or couple who will coordinate, offer hospitality and train
others to serve at Solid Ground. See Pastor Michelle to volunteer or for more information.
9:45 Greeter Coordinator—One person—or a couple—who can recruit and train volunteer greeters who will welcome people
into our church each Sunday. For more information—or to say YES—see Pastor Michelle.
Minister of Visitation—Anyone who enjoys visiting our homebound members and friends, and taking Holy Communion to the quarterly. Training and support is available. See Pastor Michelle for more information.
Membership Secretary—We are in need of someone who enjoys paperwork, data entry, details, and correspondence and is available during thr day Monday through
Friday to keep track of our membership records. Training is available.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 9
An Update on
Ministry Areas
In the last few
months, many
volunteers have
stepped in to help
keep special ministry
functions of Ridge
Church vibrant:
Membership
attendance, visitor
letters, follow-up—
Lois McClaughry,
Nancy Caddick,
Holly Cummings and
Pastor Michelle.
New Member
classes—Pastor
Michelle and Holly,
with assistance of
various lay
leadership.
Confirmation Class—
in the job description
of the Children &
Family Pastor.
Funeral Dinners—two
teams of two will lead
this ministry: Monte
Novak, Gloria
Lawbaugh, Betty
Temple and Joan
Miller.
Primetimers—Dennis
and Sue Gray will
provide leadership
and organization.
Page 10 The Connection
WITH THANKS
Page 10 The Connection
Our entire Cook
family thanks our
Ridge church
family for your love
and kindness
remembering
George.
He was a kind man
who loved
everyone, judged
no one, and tried
to live his life as
Christ lived his.
We appreciated the
outpouring of
cards and words of
support for us. The
memorial
celebration of his
life was a gift to us
with your
attendance and
wonderful meal.
Thank you friends,
Sue Cook
Dear Ridge Church Family,
Once again, your generosity was
apparent in November and December
during our Shoebox Christmas and
Angel Tree collections. You returned
more than 50 filled shoeboxes, and
helped provide gifts for about 75
children in Northwest Indiana,
Thank you!
Your Ridge Missions Team
Page 11 Volume 8, Issue 1
IN MINISTRY & CELEBRATIONS
8:30 & 11:00
Martha Circle
9:45
1/3 Dayanna Frey & Lorena Alvarado
1/10 Aly Banasiak
1/17 Charlene & Tracey Wilson
1/24 Danny & Lisa Percak
1/31 Danny & Lisa Percak
8:30
1/3 Sue Molenaar
1/10 Rina Horgan
1/17 Mandy Barbee
1/24 Wes Lukoshus
1/31 Chuck Lair
9:45
1/3 Mary Jo Smith
1/10
1/17
1/24
1/31
11:00
1/3 Kris Schumacher
1/10 Wayne Cable
1/17 Cindy Regnier
1/24 Dennis Gray
1/31
8:30
1/3 Tom & Ellie Marinier
1/10 Cindy Stath & Ann Carter
1/17 Clester Goins & Carol Lair
1/24 Mark & Bonnie Alberson
1/31 Wes &Betty Lukoshus
11:00
1/3 Bill & Gloria Thomson
1/10 Dennis & Sue Gray
1/17 Bernice Nance & Dorothy Seefurth
1/24 Sue Gray & Dorothy Seefurth
1/31 Lew & LaVern Grasty
8:30
Dick Jones
Tanya Jones
Bev Shideler
Megan Shideler
11:00
Tom Regnier
Tom Schreuder
Scott Sutter
John Wagner
2 Sue Schmit 3 Adam Bogs 5 Jim Hamblin 7 Sarah Smolinski 8 Gentry Jones Tom Labus Addison Smitka 11 Pat Snyder 12 Gale Osgerby 13 Barbara Absher Kevin Morris Keith Sorrels 15 Bradley Goralczyk Bev Keil 16 Sherry Seef Sharon Stewart 18 Barbara Zafran
21 Carol Osgerby 22 Ken Angotti Jennifer Barlow Rich Matthews 25 Tony Redman Dorothy Webb 26 Brenda Hendry Ila Iverson 28 Denise Labus Russ Snyder 29 Dave Dobrinich Shirley Matthews Kim Miskimins 30 Judy Conley Michael Phipps 31 Emily Labus Laura Stuart
PASSING
Rudolph Kirinic
November 17th
Terry & Mary Jo Smith January 31
Do you have news to
share? The deadline
for
is January 15th.
Ridge United Methodist Church
8607 Columbia Avenue Munster, IN 46321 219.838.4770 [email protected] www.ridgeumc.org
Worship with us Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. Postage PAID
Hammond, IN 46320
Permit No. 1503
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
UPC
OM
ING
ser
mon
s January 3rd Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 8
“Was It You Who …?” Wesley Covenant Renewal Service
