Calling all women of faith! Join us for a refreshing and rejuvenating Women’s Retreat on Saturday, April 12th, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM at the Plainfield UMC Worship Annex.
This special day is designed to nourish your mind, body, and spirit, offering a chance to deepen your relationship with God, find encouragement, and connect with other women of faith.
What to expect:
Guided Workshops: Engage in meaningful discussions and activities that will deepen your understanding of God’s word and your own faith journey.
Relaxation: Take time to unwind and rejuvenate in a peaceful environment, allowing yourself to rest and recharge.
Community Connection: Meet and connect with other women of faith, sharing experiences and building lasting friendships.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided, so all you need to do is come ready to connect, grow, and be inspired!
Limited spots are available, so register today at pumc.link/wr25 to secure your place at this transformative event.
The heart of our church beats with the rhythm of Loving God, Loving People. This isn’t just a slogan; it’s the driving force behind everything we do. And you, dear reader, are an integral part of this mission!
We are blessed with a diverse congregation, each member brimming with unique talents and passions. These gifts are meant to be shared, to build up our community and reach out to those in need.
Here are just a few ways you can put your talents to work for God and the people around you: Community Outreach: Do you have a heart for serving those in need? Join us in organizing food drives, visiting the elderly, or participating in neighborhood clean-ups. Every act of kindness makes a difference.
Children and Youth Ministries: Sharing your love and knowledge with the younger generation is a rewarding experience. We’re always looking for volunteers to help with Sunday School, youth groups, and special events that nurture their spiritual growth.
Worship and Music: If you have a passion for music or the arts, consider joining our choir or worship team. Your talents can enhance our worship experience and inspire others to connect with God.
Mission Trips: Want to make a difference beyond our community? Participate in mission trips! These experiences allow you to serve those in need, build lasting relationships, and share the love of Christ.
Support Services: Do you have skills in organization, communication, technology, or a desire to contribute to the smooth operation of our church? Your help is invaluable! From managing events to assisting with communications and facility maintenance, every bit of support makes a difference.
Every member of our congregation has something special to offer. By serving together, we embody the essence of Loving God, Loving People.
Ready to discover your place in service? We’d love to help you find the perfect fit for your gifts and passions. Visit pumc.org/serve to explore the many ways you can make a difference!
Let’s come together to make a difference in our community and beyond. Your involvement is not just a contribution; it’s a way to live out our faith and share God’s love with others.
Eiric Shriner, Director of Communications, eshriner@pumc.org
As we continue to grow as a vibrant United Methodist community, staying connected and informed is more important than ever. We’re excited to share a wealth of resources and opportunities to deepen your involvement and enrich your faith journey.
Your One-Stop Connection Point: The QR Code
Look for the QR code displayed on the screen during services, on the cards in the back of the chairs in the sanctuary, and on the chairs in the annex. This simple scan unlocks a world of information, including:
Connection Cards: Whether you’re a long-time member or a first-time visitor, we want to know you! Fill out a connection card to share your information and receive updates on church events, activities, and opportunities. We’re always thrilled to welcome new faces and connect with those who are seeking a spiritual home.
Weekly eNews: Stay in the loop with our weekly eNews, packed with information about upcoming services, special events, studies, and opportunities to serve. From insightful articles to heartwarming stories, the eNews keeps you informed about the vibrant life of our church community.
Giving: Your generosity makes a difference! Easily give through the secure online platform accessible through the QR code. Your contributions support our ministries, outreach programs, and community initiatives, allowing us to make a positive impact both within our church and in the wider world.
Current Activities and Studies: Explore the diverse range of activities and studies happening throughout the week, designed to help you grow in your faith and connect with others. Whether you’re interested in Bible study, small groups, service projects, or social events, we have something for everyone.
Website and Online Resources: Discover a wealth of information about our ministries, find prayer requests, volunteer opportunities, and more. Our website is a valuable resource for learning more about our church, our beliefs, and the many ways you can get involved.
Get Involved and Grow!
We encourage you to explore these resources and engage with our community. Your participation is vital to our shared journey of faith and service. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any staff member if you have questions or need assistance. We’re here to help you connect and feel welcomed.
Beyond the QR Code: Connecting in Person
While the QR code offers a convenient way to stay connected, we also encourage you to engage with our community in person. Attend our services, join a small group, volunteer for a ministry, or simply chat with fellow members after a service. These face-to-face interactions are essential for building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging.
In a lower desk drawer in my church office is a stash of mid-afternoon snacks. In bags and wrappers are an assortment of salty and sweet treats to help tide my hunger from a lite lunch. Yes, there is little redeeming nutritional value in my snack collection, but sometimes it’s flavor satisfaction that I’m craving.
I might do well to read Wendy Shah’s illustrated book “Is this Stomach, Mouth or Heart Hunger?” After all, sometimes our eating has to do with physical needs, other times to fulfill cravings of our senses, or because we’ve created a habit of eating when we are stressed or afraid. Food becomes one of a variety of items we hope will fill us when we feel empty. Peeling open a Reese’s cup takes far less investment than deeper reflection on an emotional need. Yet, as delicious as the chocolate and peanut butter may be, they may not answer the question for that which we truly hunger.
Are you hungry? A significant number of people struggle with food insecurity and physical hunger. Some of those same individuals and others experience heart hunger as well. Loneliness, bitterness, unworthiness, and shame are only a few of the feelings we seek to satisfying with any number of fillers. Jesus reveals deep attention and compassion for both the stomach and the heart.
The good news of Jesus often begins with resourcing the community for mealtime. Around the table, Jesus provided bread with equity so that everyone had enough to eat and leftovers to share. Equally, Jesus responded to the spiritual starvation of the people, feeding them with company, acceptance, forgiveness, and love. His act of breaking bread with humanity reveals God’s attention to every hunger.
Barbara Brown Taylor writes, “Follow the bread and it will lead you to the source of all life.” Perhaps she is suggesting that as we follow Jesus, who is dispersing sustaining appetizers to all, we will find the fullness of grace and provision. Or maybe she is describing the search of scripture for bread basket stories and there we will find God’s spirit of life. Or is she pointing out that as we gather for bread we receive life in the fellowship around the table? After all, the word companion literally means to “share bread with.” Certainly, there is deep meaning dining from all of the above.
You are invited to reflect on hunger and God’s nourishment in our worship series “Bread for the Journey,” which began Sunday March 9th as the first Sunday in Lent. In both Classic and NewDay worship we will explore bible stories about bread to discuss its rich significance in the narrative of the people of God. We will be fed with God’s sustenance, the intimacy of the Spirit as we grow in understanding and faithfulness. We will move through this season of Lent, in spiritual preparation for Easter, turning with commitment to the things of God that fulfill our cravings. We will find belonging and fellowship as we experience bread through our senses, even some taste testing after services. We will be reminded that as we follow the bread we do experience life in the one who answers every hunger.
I grew up knowing Jesus loved me. My momma made sure of that. We sang the lyrics “Spirit in the Sky” and “Jesus is just alright with me” as she drove her Volkswagon Bug with me in the back. We grew up loving nature and all the beautiful things God created. Our home was in the woods with a creek and we camped in the Smoky Mountains every summer.
The church bus would pick me up every Sunday and I can still hear the lady who invited me sing “Do Lord” all the way to church. We would sing at the top of our lungs. Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and church camp are fun memories and I am thankful for them. I believe my mom still has a craft made of walnut shells that says “nobody is perfect” made during VBS. I also remember asking Jesus into my heart at church camp.
As life continued, there were times God felt far away. In my heart, “This Little Light of Mine” was barely shining any light. I would pray and wonder, “God, where are you?” Thank God for the adults in my life who taught me I had a light, God, inside me.
Life’s pages turn, and at one point I was working part-time in childcare to socialize my son. I learned quickly I had specific values and expectations about the care my child received – and the care of other children, too. I decided I wanted to run a program that offered more than the basics of child care.
That took me to Cloverdale UMC where I opened Train Up A Child with God’s guidance. It was and remains important to me children know they are loved by God all the time, no matter what. I pray for children no matter where I am working. It would make me so sad to think there are so many children who have never heard of God. In my small-town mind everybody believed or had heard of God, right? Thirty miles down the road there are many kids who have not. Ours and many other ministry-based child care providers are necessary. I cannot imagine going through dark times without the little light I learned I had inside of me at a young age.
I am so thankful to be here at KIDS@PUMC where prayer is a part of the day. This ministry is my life calling. Our pastors make time to spend with our littles during chapel time and in the hallways. Children have attended VBS in our care. PUMC offers a safe place to play, learn and worship. There are times when kids cry or are just LOUD and that is OK – they are here in this place, and that is a gift, a sign of God’s call to each of us to love children and prioritize families and young people everywhere. When you see a stain on the carpet, a ding in the wall, handprints on windows or messes and glitter on tables and floors, will you join me in praising God we have children in our midst? God has brought them to us! I invite you to be part of the beautiful gift and opportunity we have to help fill them so full of God’s love and kindness they have no doubt how loved they are when they leave this place!
I invite you to be that adult who invites and brings a child or young person to church, makes the craft at VBS or teaches a Sunday school class. Be passionate about teaching children Jesus loves them. Point out the trees, the sky and the crawling ladybugs or an earthworm named Bob and tell them God created the heavens and the earth. Tell them they have God’s light inside and that they will shine light unto others. At any stage in life, we have an opportunity to influence a child.
For over 100 years, PUMC worship has been blessed to include a dedicated choir of volunteer singers. That group, currently known as The Sanctuary Choir, is in need of some new participants in every section – soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
If you just enjoy singing, or previously sang in a choir, perhaps in a school or another church, your voice could make a difference in the worship experience at PUMC. If you know how to read music, great! If not, we’ll help you learn how. All that is needed to start is a willingness to learn.
Older youth and adults of all ages are invited to come to a Thursday night rehearsal (6:30 – 8:00 pm) and “try it out.” No commitment. No audition. No pressure. Just an experience of making music as an offering to God, in a fun and supportive environment.
Have questions? Call Director of Music Brent Miller at 317-839-2319, extension 223, or email him at bmiller@pumc.org. We are hoping to try some new and exciting things in the musical life of the church, and hope you’ll be a part of it!
The Reach Beyond project at Plainfield United Methodist Church (PUMC) is nearing completion! We’ve made amazing progress with new windows, fresh carpet, electrical upgrades, and comfortable seating. We’re also adding a prayer wall and art installations. With $61,676 raised, we’re just $3,324 away from our $65,000 goal! This revitalized space will be a place for community gatherings, outreach programs, and meaningful worship experiences. Let’s finish strong and make this project a beacon of hope and hospitality for our community. Join us in celebrating this incredible transformation!
Get ready for a hoppin’ good time at Plainfield UMC’s Eggstravaganza 2025! To make this year’s event even more egg-ceptional, we need your help!
We’re hosting an Egg Stuffing Party on April 16th from 5:00-7:00 PM in the library, where we’ll be filling up those colorful eggs with treats and surprises for our little eggs-plorers. Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and egg-cellent preparation! It’s a great way to contribute to a memorable event for our community’s children. We’ll have music, snacks, and plenty of laughs as we get those eggs ready for the big day.
Whether you’re a seasoned egg-stuffer or a first-timer, we welcome all volunteers with open arms!
Sign up at the church office or contact Carey Michels at cmichels@pumc.org to join the fun.
Let’s make Eggstravaganza 2025 a truly egg-straordinary event!
Do you have a passion for technology and a heart for ministry? Then we need YOU! Our church is looking for volunteers to join our media team and help us bring the power of worship to life.
No experience is necessary! We’ll provide all the training you need to become a pro in:
Audio Technician: Make sure the sound is clear and crisp for every sermon and song.
ProPresenter Operator: Seamlessly operate the software to display the beautiful visuals created by our design team, enhancing the message and displaying lyrics for hymns.
Live Stream Operator: Connect our church to the world by broadcasting worship services to those who can’t be with us in person.
Media techs are vital to our worship experience! From the perfect microphone placement to stunning visuals and live streaming, you’ll be part of a team that helps share the love of God with our community and beyond.
Ready to join our team? Visit pumc.org/serve to express your interest. We can’t wait to welcome you!
This Lent, deepen your spiritual journey with two free downloadable Lenten devotional PDFs. First, reflect on new beginnings with the Society of St. Andrew’s “A New Day Dawns,” offering daily scripture readings, reflections, and prayers. Then, join Bread for the World’s “Come to the Table,” a weekly devotional guiding you through themes of grace, promise, transformation, repentance, reconciliation, new life, and welcome. Download both PDFs now for a richer Lenten experience!
Plainfield UMC Today 