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Sharing, Praying, Caring, Staying in touch
Brian Plum, Pastor
LakeviewUnitedMethodistChurch.Net
A message to our church members and friends:
A message to our church members and friends:
A grateful thank you to all those who are prayerfully and financially supporting the programs and missions of Lakeview United Methodist Church. Our monthly budget is $7,666 (full budget)/$5,833 (without paying our Apportionment), for 2024. Our income has averaged $5,534 per month. As our congregation gets older, we have lost several dedicated, long time members whose presence, as well as financial support, is definitely missed. The UM Conference determines an apportionment amount for each church to pay, based on congregation size, budget, etc. This money is used for staff, pensions, programs, and many missions the church supports. At this time, our Finance Committee has recommended we suspend our Conference Apportionment payment to better align our budget with our income. Lakeview has previously paid 100% of its Conference Apportionment for more than 15 years. The Administrative Board supports the Finance Committee's recommendation and appreciates the Committee's close attention to our church's financial details.
This isn't the first time we have dealt with a tight budget/income situation. Our church family has pulled together its financial and people resources, with prayerful guidance from God to successfully balance the budget, including 100% Apportionment payments before. We have a nice parsonage, updated classrooms (paid by insurance funds after our water leak), and faithful leaders/congregation who want Lakeview to be an important faith leader in the community.
Please prayerfully consider the level of support you can give to Lakeview United Methodist Church now to help it build and grow for many years to come.
Lakeview's participation in Snack Packs for children at Lakewood Elementary for those who have an insecure food situation in their home continues. The easiest way for you to participate is probably to give a monetary donation to Kent or Martha. They do the shopping and are very savvy finding great deals. This way they can insure specific items are in each bag. Our church family continues to reach out to help others in our community.
Join us on Sunday, August 18th, at 4:00 pm for a church picnic. Grilled hot dogs & toppings will be served. Please bring a covered dish to share. We'll provide plates, silverware, and drinks. You bring your lawn chair or blanket. If you have a fun outdoor game to play, bring it! We'll play some games and visit while the hot dogs are being grilled, then share a meal together. We plan to eat outside, but we'll have the air on in the fellowship hall just in case it's over-the-top hot. Come for the fun & fellowship!
A Message from Pastor Brian:
Luke 17:5-6
5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’
6 The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.
Have you ever seen a mustard seed? I have a necklace with a mustard seed that was given to me that hangs in my office. The mustard seed is one of the smallest of all seeds. The mustard seed is so small that you can hardly even see it. The seed in the necklace is a symbol of faith in God. Do you know why the mustard seed is considered a symbol of faith?
One day, Jesus was talking to his disciples when one of them turned to him and said, "Lord, increase our faith." Jesus answered and said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." Can you imagine what it would be like to have that kind of faith?
I heard a story about a man who read this verse in the Bible and decided to put it to the test. There was a large tree in his front yard, so he went out to that tree and said, "In the morning when I wake up from my sleep, I want you to be gone." That night the man went to bed. When he woke up the next morning, he went to front door, opened it, and looked out into his front yard. "Just as I thought!" the man said. "It's still there."
Well, first of all, the man didn't have mustard seed sized faith, did he? In fact, he didn't have any faith at all. When he told the tree to be moved, he never expected it to happen. In the second place, I think that the man misunderstood what Jesus was trying to teach his disciples.
Jesus was not suggesting that you and I go around trying to move trees just to prove that we have faith. What Jesus was trying to teach his disciples -- and what he wants you and me to learn -- is that it doesn't take a great faith to produce great results. Why? Because the results don't depend on us, they depend on God. If the results depended on the size of our faith, I have no doubt that we would probably go around bragging about our great faith.
What have we learned about faith? This is what I hope we have learned: Don't ask for a great faith so that we can do great things -- ask for faith the size of a mustard seed so that we can see God do great things!
Many times, over the years, I have looked at that neckless with that small mustard seed covered in glass and it reminded me to watch everyday for God’s miracles. And my prayer on many days has been,” Allow me O Lord to see Your Glory”, and “Allow me O Lord to see Your works”!
Dear Father, we ask for a mustard seed sized faith. Help us to believe and never doubt your mighty power. Amen.
Pastor Brian
Bible School!
Bible School!
Barb leads a printing craft session.
Martha and Kent help the kids slip slide away!
Bob and Marilyn register children.
Telling the story of The Good Samaritan with shadow puppets.
Lakeview Administrative Council Minutes: Aug. 6, 2024
Opening:
The meeting was called to order by Karen Kersey.
Present: Karen and Wayne Kersey, Marilyn Morton, Linda Thompson, Janet Painter, Martha Keene, Bob Carpenter, Pastor Brian Plum, Becky Child
July minutes: Motion was made to accept the minutes from the last meeting and was unanimously approved. (Janet/Linda)
Treasurer's report: Martha and Janet
Monthly update given. Expenses are down. No outstanding bills. Ekstroms are advising until December. Refrigerator repaired using an anonymous donation. Monitoring water bill at the parsonage. (Wayne/Janet)
Finance: Karen (for Don Griffith)
Discussion about telling the congregation about finances in the newsletter and an insert in the bulletin. Possible lunch/pledge drive informational session in early November.
Trustees: Linda (for Dick Thompson)
Refrigerator fixed by Jeff's Appliance. Outside light still needs to be fixed. Insurance is OK with adding a playground and no fence is needed.
Family ministries: Karen (for Kathi McCormick)
Bible school was a success. 20 kids, 18 adults attended. Plan to follow up on what went well with VBS. Starting a committee to line up children's church adults to help Nancy, led by Becky with Karen and Kathi. Pastor Plum is going to organize substitutes to fill in for children's time during church when Nancy is away.
Hiking report: Becky
Hike attendance has been light in the hot weather. Plan to keep meeting Mondays at 4 p.m. at City Park.
Nurture: Linda
Summer picnic coming Aug. 18 at 4 p.m.. Hot dogs will be provided. Bring a covered dish, lawn chairs and lawn games. Bible journaling is returning in September.
Outreach: Wayne
Lakewood snack bags are starting up again with Martha and Kent on Aug. 23 with Riverlawn. Lakeview will provide 12 packs per week. The Gabriel Project had a good response, will announce it again soon. Don Griffith is continuing with kid kits. Facilities usage agreement was finalized after a review by Amy Humphreys. Calendar for usage will be posted. Wayne will be the point person for keys.
Parsonage: Marilyn
Fence repair is ongoing.
Pastor/parish: Bob
Starting a prayer list to be inserted in the bulletin each week. Janet will take down prayer requests during the service and get them to Bob. Recommends sending a followup postcard to the children who attended bible school. Liturgist sign-ups will start in September with a list in the sanctuary.
Pastor's report: Brian
Wants to start a shoe ministry at Lakewood. Has spoken with the principal and there is money available plus donations. Outreach agreed to head it up.
Pastor Plum closed the meeting with a prayer.
Minutes submitted by Becky Child.
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