September 2023

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

This month we are going to be diving (pun intended!) into a new sermon series called “Living Water.” I believe this is a timely emphasis, as no doubt many of us enjoyed some water-refreshment from the heat in some shape or form this summer.

We began this series on the last Sunday in August, where we looked at foundational verses from John 3 and how Jesus offers himself as the Living Water which always satisfies. One of the foundational verses for this series comes from John 7:37-38, where Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.’”

It is clear from creation that H20 is an absolute necessity for survival. Estimates show the surface of the earth is made up of around 71% water. The human body is around 60% water. The average person can't survive more than around three days without water.

There are some striking insights when comparing physical water to the spiritual water Jesus refers to. Just as H20 is an absolute necessity for physical survival, the spiritual water offered by God in Christ is necessary for spiritual survival. Further, the water that is needed can't come from within, it has to come from the outside. So too, we are saved by faith apart from good works, outside of ourselves.

Jesus said the rivers of living water which flow from the heart are the Holy Spirit. This truth speaks to the indwelling nature of the Spirit, and the purifying effect on our lives of faith. What an amazing picture this is. A flowing river is full of life, beautiful, powerful, right as it should be. God does this with our hearts which were previously dead in sin.

In John 7 the word used in referring to water implies “keep drinking.” Only the Holy Spirit within us makes this possible, drinking from the unending well of Jesus' love and grace. No sugary-substitute (life's fleeting pleasures) can compare. He desires that we come to Him, spiritually thirsty, to be filled with the peace only He can give.

Blessings, Pastor Ben

Children’s Ministry

Sunday School (Kindergarten - 5th Grade) in the Kids Life Center

SERIES DESCRIPTION: Harmony, Together is Better. Friendship Using your words and actions to show others you care.

MEMORY VERSE: “A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17, NIrV

WEEK ONE: It Takes Two (Two People Are Better than One) Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (Jane Kirian & Kathy Babb)

WEEK TWO: Friends Forever (David and Mephibosheth) 1 Samuel 19-20; 2 Samuel 9 (Rhonda Palmer & Maegan Stauffer)

WEEK THREE: I’ll Stand by You (Barnabas and Saul) Acts 9:26-30 (Michele Clark & Courtney Dysert)

WEEK FOUR: Please Forgive Me (Forgive One Another) Colossians 3:13 (Janet Damschroder & Linda Bishop)

Monthly Family Bags are available with devotions, activities and a themed gift. They are on the table by the Sanctuary for Preschool and Elementary students.

Nursery/Preschool Class (Birth-Preschool)

WEEK ONE: Specially Given Families. 1 Samuel 1:1-23 (Elaine Nye & Jenny Kirian)

WEEK TWO: My Caring Family. Ruth 1-4 (Mary Ann Morris & Teresa Moyer)

WEEK THREE: Families Share. Genesis 13: 1-12 (Heather Cramer & Monica Metzger)

WEEK FOUR: Loving Our Families. Genesis 21:1-6 (Elaine Nye & Mary Ann Morris)

Harvest Party!

On September 17 we will be having our church’s Harvest Party! This will be an event for all ages! There will be several activities for our children to enjoy as well, including pumpkin decorating as a family and an obstacle course to enjoy throughout the event!

Make sure to mark your calendars and don’t miss out!

Greetings WIC Families!

We are back in Full Swing! I hope you and your loved ones got to have an amazing summer!

Regular Youth Group will start up again for the school year on September 10, 5-7pm! We will celebrate with a little cookout for the students, hamburgers and hotdogs!

Mark your calendars! On September 17; we will be having our Harvest Party! This will be a huge event for people of all ages! But we have a few special things for the youth.

First, throughout the Harvest Party, we will be having several Hillybilly Olympics games going on! Students will be divided into one of three teams (Red, White or Blue) and will compete for medals in each country style event! The team that wins the most points will get a special prize! Games will include things such as seed spitting, watermelon eating, corn shucking, and more!

At 7pm on the 17th the students will have a hayride and a bonfire to enjoy together in the evening, with some smores for an added treat!

This September is looking to be an awesome time celebrating the coming Fall so make sure to mark your calendars and don’t miss out!

Have a need you would like some help on? Please contact me and I’ll see if we can get some students together to come and serve!

For any questions or more info involving the youth ministry at WIC, please feel free to contact me via the office at the church: 419-894-6454 or my personal number: 330-205-5123 or my email: authenreithministry@gmail.com

Blessings and peace for you and your family, Michael Authenreith, Director of NextGen Ministry

BACK TO SCHOOL!

As you read this, youth across America are preparing to return to the classroom. Some are already back. There are 67,000 junior and senior high schools and 1,200 juvenile detention facilities across the U.S., and this is where 81% of our teen population spends three-fourths of every year. Here they will learn new things, make new friends and maybe hear the Gospel and experience the love of Jesus for the first time. We can help make this happen!

We as a church are standing with Hancock County Christian Religious Education Association (HCCREA) to share the Gospel with children in five of our area schools Arcadia, Arlington, McComb, Cory-Rawson and, once again, Vanlue. Bible classes will begin late September and impact children in grades from K - 5, depending on the school. Besides our financial support, several of our WIC members have been involved in this ministry. (Visit hccreahope@aol.com for more information.)

LifeWise Academy also impacts many youth in our area and involves some of our church members. LifeWise Academy's goal is to "restore Bible education for public school students during school hours." Yes, it's possible! Check out their website to learn more. School administrators report a definite improvement in students' comportment whenever Bible instruction is included in the program.

September 27 marks an important date for youth across America and abroad. Students will gather around the flagpoles on their campuses to pray for their schools and fellow students. This See You at the Pole (SYATP) event - led by students praying in groups or sometimes alone - sees remarkable answers to their prayers each year.

So what can WE do? Besides our financial support, more volunteers and teachers are needed. And, of course, we can pray. Every time we drive past a school, let's make it a habit to offer a prayer for that school's students, teachers and administrators. Could we also go a step further, and actually set foot on the campus of one of our local schools where our community's children spend so much of their time and pray for them?

We believe God will use our time, resources and prayers to open doors to reach more young hearts for the kingdom.

WOMEN OF WORTH

The August 3 meeting of Women of Worth was held in Marilyn Shaferly’s back yard. It was a lovely day! We had 19 members attending as well as 2 guests.

Our Five- Minute Feature was presented by Linda Bishop. She spoke of Issue 1 which we have the privilege of voting on this coming Tuesday. It’s a confusing issue but Linda presented what it all means. Now we can vote with confidence, knowing what a “yes” vote means and what a “no” vote means. There was much interesting discussion. It was stressed that we need to vote!

Judy Rader reported a July offering of $107. With all commitments paid, the current balance is $234.

Judy read a thank you note from Bethesda Medical Center in Haiti for our donation. Ilene Hoy noted that it was in the news recently that a nurse and her daughter were kidnapped in Haiti. Marilyn expressed that there is still much chaos in Haiti because there is no government and the gangs rule.

Janet Damschroder and Chris Shaferly each shared news and reports from Hannah and Papavi Ayena. The Ayenas –including the boys – spent about a month in Beer-Sheba, a place in Senegal. The plan was to visit Beer-Sheba for one year of training. Beer-Sheba is an organic-certified farm of about 250 acres. Other than the crops, they raise cows, pigs and chickens to provide meat for the local community. The farm employs about 75 people. They also have a clinic, an elementary school, a repair shop, a mill, a small store and a church on the compound. These are all used by the community. Due to several disadvantages, they only stayed for one month, rather than one year. The climate for Beer-Sheba is substantially different than Togo, so some techniques there would not work in Togo. They did learn that they need to: 1. provide something from their farm to sell every week; 2. develop a long-term plan and invest in infrastructure for the future; and 3. establish a clear vision that can be easily shared.

There was discussion amongst our group about the immigrants that are living in our area. There are about 150 Haitians staying at the Red Roof Inn in Findlay. Some are attending the Nazarene church. Anita Rickle told that she and David gave a ride to an immigrant who was walking from his place of employment to Fostoria. He spoke little English, but had a phone to translate what was being said. He offered payment to them for gas money. Surely many of these immigrants need our help.

Our next meeting will be on September 7 at the home of Mary Pollard. Please bring your lunch and a lawn chair. Her address is 1721 Walnut St., Fostoria, OH 44830.

~ Mary Ann Morris, Secretary

INTEGRITY MEN WITH VISION

Eight men gathered for breakfast at Kathy’s Korner Restaurant in Arcadia on August 5 for the monthly meeting of the Integrity Men With Vision chapter. The group is made up of mission minded men from area churches who have a passion for helping others in need. Bob Garner opened our meeting, praying the blessing for our meal.

Pastor Mark Self, who leads a church in Fostoria, came to share a ministry he has become involved in called Marketplace Chaplains, where businesses hire a chaplain to come into their workplace on a regular basis, providing a service to their employees. Mark mentioned several of his assignments include several local nursing homes and some area Rural King stores. He makes himself available if the employees wish to speak with him about challenges in their lives. He stated he makes regular visits, but provides his cell phone number to be on call for them 24/7. Mark noted he has had calls from employees needing support and prayers for ailing family members, and even had a call from someone contemplating suicide. The businesses contract with Marketplace Chaplains, who then provide the service from a local chaplain such as Mark. He stated it is a very rewarding ministry to him.

A discussion was held on the cabinet making project for KMBC. Several of the men have been making them and they will be taken to Kentucky to be used in several residences on campus. Bob Hill and Gary Knox have been very active in the project. The group voted to cover the cost of the plywood purchased for the cabinets.

Pastor Ben Wallick closed the meeting in prayer, asking for guidance, among others, for the work of Pastor Self and the Marketplace Chaplains and their ministry, and the work they are doing behind the scenes to help others.

The next meeting will be held in September, with a date to be announced.

~ John Fetters, Secretary

Operation Christmas Child

We here at West Independence Church will be participating in Operation Christmas Child again this year. The shoeboxes will be available beginning October 1. You will find them in the Family Life Center Lobby near the Welcome Center.

Even though the filled boxes do not need to be returned until November 12, you may want to pick up your boxes as soon as they are available and begin filling them. Each empty box will contain a brochure with information to guide you in filling the box and a couple rubber bands to be used to secure the box when you return it to the church.

If you prefer not to fill a box, but would like to help, you may do so by making a monetary donation to fill additional shoeboxes. These monetary donations should be given through the Church offering and designated Operation Christmas Child. Donations of money need to be in by Sunday, October 29. Also note that the “Noisy Offering” in October will go toward Operation Christmas Child.

Everyone is invited to PRAY! Pray that each child who receives a shoebox will be responsive to the opportunity to receive the greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ - as the message of God’s gift of salvation is shared with them at the time of the shoebox distribution.

If you have questions, please contact Janet & Bob Damschroder who are heading up the ‘Shoebox’ collection here at West Independence Church again this year.

~ Submitted by Janet Damschroder

Garage of Hope and Hope Pantry

The Garage of Hope continued to stay busy in the month of August! We received calls, emails, texts and facebook messages for beds, dressers, couches, recliners, tables and chairs and other furniture; but our biggest requests are for beds. Currently, on our waiting list, we have a need for ten single beds, and nine full or queen beds. Thank you so much for our church family’s help in bringing items to the Garage of Hope! Because of this wonderful mission, we are able to serve many in our surrounding communities. The Garage of Hope is open on Fridays from 10-2, and by appointment.

The Hope Pantry is another wonderful way we serve our community. Have you checked it out lately? It is always in need of non-perishable items. Maybe, next time you go grocery shopping, pick up an extra can or two for the Hope Pantry!

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.

Ephesians 6:7

Submitted by Melissa Houck

Mark Your Calendars

The Sunday morning worship services will continue to be live streaming on YouTube/Facebook, as well as in person service. Please attend as you are comfortable and feel you can safely do so. Be sure to watch the bulletin, newsletter articles, and Facebook for event announcements.

Worship Attendance (and Online Views)

8/6: 112 (61); 8/13: 126 (53); 8/20: 103 (70); 8/27: 106 (34)

For Every Student

“Dear students, the summer has ended. The school year, at least, has begun. But this year is totally different. I promise we’ll only have fun.

“We won’t study any mathematics, and recess will lat all day long. Instead of the pledge of allegiance, we’ll belt out a rock-and-roll song.

“We’ll only play games in the classroom. You’re welcome to bring in your toys. It’s okay to run in the hallways. It’s great if you make lots of noise.

“For homework, you’ll play your Nintendo. You’ll have to watch lots of T.V. For field trips, we’ll go to the movies and get lots of candy for free.

“The lunchroom will only serve chocolate and triple fudge sundaes supreme..”

Yes, that’s what I heard from my teacher BEFORE I WOKE UP FROM MY DREAM ~ Anonymous

WIC Prayer Group

2nd & 4th Mondays at 7:00pm

The Prayer Group will meet on September 11 and 25 in Room #8.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18

We are thankful for this group of prayer warriors who undergird our ministry, and we invite you to come and join us. Whether you are a member of the Prayer Group officially or not, please be praying for our nation during this difficult time.

2023 2024 Choir Season

Please consider adding your voice to our choir this season. It is a blessing to sing praises in practice on Wednesdays and in worship to our Lord on Sundays!

We will meet at 7pm in Room #11 about twice each month. This serves as the singers’ “Small Group.”

Looking forward to a new choir season!

Submitted

by

Paula Leonard

Disaffiliation Fund

As of August 31, 2023, a total of $ 33,995.00

has been given to offset our total of $110,214.

Thank you very much!

Highlights of Trustees Meeting

In attendance at the August 7 meeting were: Rhonda Palmer, chair; Janice Bennington, Scott Cramer, Clay Dysert, Dick Gassman, Seth Kirian, Dan Moyer and Pastor Ben.

Summer workday tasks completed include replacement of furnace filters and listing, shampooing carpets and spraying weeds around church.

Other tasks to be completed include brick sidewalk repair on west side; parsonage repair including patio, roof replacement, inside cracks; and stone on west side of church.

Several future projects were discussed including Google map development to identify parking lot needs and lot striping and roof needs of church.

Immediate concerns discussed include problems in nursery with sink; propane summer fill and replacement of various security lights.

Tabled for future consideration is the matter of light poles on the west end of the church.

~ Clay Dysert, Secretary

NOISY OFFERING

The Noisy Offering will be on September 17 and it will benefit

Grace Children’s Hospital (Haiti)

Children’s Classes:

SUNDAY SCHOOL UPDATE

Fall 2023

Birth - Preschool: Nursery Bible stories and songs

Kindergarten - KLC Drawing Closer to God Through Bible stories and sharing 5th Grade: Current: Friendship Harmony; Together Is Better

This month's virtue is: “A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17, NlrV

Youth:

Jr. High: 6th – 8th FLC-Loft Topical Bible Study

Sr. High: 9th – 12th FLC-Loft Topical Bible Study

Adult Classes:

Revolve: FLC Room # 9 Class topics revolve around daily life and challenges.

Current: “Daniel and Esther” by John MacArthur

Faith Builders: FLC Room #10 Topical

Current: “The Book of John” by Dr. David Jeremiah

Video Class: FLC Room #12 Watch relevant videos regarding Christian topics

Current: "Catching Faith" #1 & #2 (a series of faith and athletics)

Faithful Followers: Sanctuary The Union Gospel Press Quarterly Bible Study

Beginning in May we are having catechism once a month until all 77 questions from the Global Methodist Church are covered.

The Good News Letter is the monthly newsletter of the West Independence Church.

Senior Pastor: Ben Wallick