Join Us for the May Mission Trip to Henderson Settlement

We are excited to announce our upcoming mission trip to Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky, scheduled for May 18–23. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve and make a meaningful impact in the Appalachian community.

About Henderson Settlement

Established in 1925 by Hiram M. Frakes, Henderson Settlement has been dedicated to improving lives through Christ-centered service. The settlement offers various community outreach programs, including childcare, youth ministries, a food pantry, senior support, a library, and more. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting these initiatives, contributing to home repairs, educational programs, and other essential services.

Volunteer Opportunities

During our mission trip, there will be diverse opportunities to serve:
Quilting and Sewing: Volunteers can assist in creating quilts and other handcrafted items to be sold in the Gift Shop, helping to offset operating expenses of the settlement.
Construction Projects: Depending on the number of volunteers and the community’s needs, we will undertake construction or repair projects to improve local homes and facilities.
No matter your skill set, there is a place for you to contribute meaningfully.

Accommodations and Costs

Henderson Settlement provides comfortable accommodations for volunteers. The cost per person for lodging and meals is $275 per week for dormitory-style housing or $350 per week for private housing. However, most – if not all – of this cost to volunteers is offset from previous donations. These fees cover lodging and meals during your stay.

Join Us

We invite you to be part of this fulfilling experience. Whether you’re skilled in construction, enjoy sewing, or simply have a heart to serve, your participation will make a difference.

For more information or to sign up for the mission trip, please contact Don Sanders at:

Email: dsandjs@att.net
Cell Phone: 317-340-5188

We look forward to serving together and sharing God’s love with the community of Henderson Settlement.

“Your Life Matters”: A Sacred Commitment to Life and Hope

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10

In an effort to embody Christ’s compassion and respond to the very real suffering present in our community, Plainfield United Methodist Church, in partnership with Family Promise, has taken a meaningful step forward. We are honored to host a Narcan nasal spray distribution box—a small but potentially life-saving resource—on the northern edge of our property, adjacent to the church parking lot entrance off of Raymond Street.

Narcan, or Naloxone, is a non-prescription medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in moments. Much like a defibrillator or an EpiPen, it is designed to be used in emergency situations. It’s not a drug that enables use; it’s a tool that offers a second chance at life. Narcan has no potential for abuse, is not addictive, and is harmless if administered to someone not experiencing an overdose. It simply saves lives.

Each day in the United States, more than 225 people lose their lives to opioid overdoses. These are not just statistics—they are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and family members. By offering Narcan in a publicly accessible way, we are helping ensure that the next person who finds themselves in a life-or-death moment might have a chance to live.

This effort is about compassion, not condemnation. People who use drugs—or those who love someone who does—might pass by our Narcan box and choose to take a dose home, just in case. That choice does not promote drug use. Instead, it promotes survival. It makes it possible for someone to stay alive long enough to find support, seek recovery, and be restored to the fullness of life they were created for.

This is not just a public health initiative. For us, it is an expression of our Christian witness. We believe in healing, not stigma. Restoration, not rejection. Life, not death. Jesus consistently reached out to the hurting, the struggling, and the outcast—and we seek to do the same.

As followers of Christ, we are called to stand with those in pain. Hosting this Narcan box is one way we say to our community: “Your life matters.” We believe in the sacred worth of every person and the possibility of healing for every soul.

Family Promise is providing and resupplying the Narcan at no cost, ensuring this ministry of presence and protection is sustained. We are grateful for their partnership and their commitment to the well-being of our shared community.

If you or someone you know could benefit from having Narcan on hand, please don’t hesitate to access it. Let this simple box be a reminder that there is always hope, always help, and always a community that cares.

For further information, we encourage you to read the Narcan OTC Fact Sheet and learn more about How and When to Use Naloxone for an Opioid Overdose.

Joyful Noise

Brandon Denman – NewDay Praise Worship Leader

Church family, music has always been central to my faith in God. From my early days in the youth group band More Than Conquerors to leading worship today, I have found that music connects us to Him in ways words alone cannot. As the NewDay worship leader, I have the joy of guiding our congregation into His presence through song.

A Lifelong Calling to Worship

Since high school in 2007, I have been leading worship in our community. Starting in youth group, I learned that worship is more than just singing—it’s an offering to God. Those early experiences shaped my understanding of how music invites us into His presence. Over the years, my role has changed, but my heart remains the same: to help our church encounter God through worship.

Music as a Bridge to God

The Bible is filled with examples of music drawing people closer to God. The Psalms, written by David, express raw emotions of joy, sorrow, and gratitude. When we sing together, we follow in the footsteps of believers who have worshiped through music for centuries. Worship isn’t just about the lyrics or melodies—it’s about opening our hearts to God in a way that invites His Spirit to move among us.

Witnessing God Move Through Worship

One of the greatest joys of leading worship is seeing how God moves through our music. A song can bring peace to a troubled heart, inspire surrender, or even lead someone to faith. When we, as a congregation, lift our voices in unison, it’s a powerful reminder that we are one body in Christ. Worship is not about performance but about creating a space where we can encounter the love and presence of God together.

The Joy of Leading Worship

Leading you all in worship is more than just a role for me—it’s a calling. I prayerfully choose songs that speak to where we are as a church, whether in times of celebration or deep reflection. My hope is that each song we sing together draws us closer to God. Seeing you engage in worship—lifting your hands, closing your eyes, singing from your hearts—reminds me why I do this. Worship is a gift from God, and I am honored to share it with you.

Worship Beyond Sunday

Church, worship doesn’t only happen on Sunday mornings. It’s a way of life. Whether singing in the car, meditating on lyrics, or filling your home with praise, music has the power to keep our hearts connected to God. He doesn’t seek perfect singers—He desires sincere worshippers. Psalm 100:1 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” and that’s what matters most.

Music as a Reflection of God’s Glory

Ultimately, worship through music is about glorifying God. It shifts our focus from our struggles to His greatness. During our busy lives, worship allows us to pause, reflect, and be reminded of His faithfulness.

As we continue worshiping together at Plainfield United Methodist Church, my prayer is that every song we sing deepens our faith and strengthens our connection with God. Worship is a powerful gift, and I am grateful to share it with each of you. So, I encourage you—sing out, engage fully, and let the music guide you into a deeper relationship with Him. Because when we lift our voices as one, we step into a holy encounter with our Creator.

Louie’s Guide to Barking, Belonging, and Becoming

Pastor David Neuen – Lead Pastor, dneuen@pumc.org

As we enter the month of April, we welcome beautiful signs of spring. We emerge from out of our homes without hats and gloves to hear a new bird song and witness the budding of flowers and trees. No one is as relieved to find warming temperatures as Louie, our family terrier mix. The rumor is that his owner was reluctant to give him long walks in subzero temperatures, so he has been storing up his energy and enthusiasm for a spring time explosion of exercise. Now, with so much outdoor movement of kids on scooters and fellow dogs taking hikes, Louie is barking out his spring time anthem wanting to join the parade.

There are moments when his seasonal madness can become irritating, when it’s impossible for any human to match his energy, when his loud conversation makes it difficult to focus, when he tugs at your arm turning a morning sprint into a jolting fitness experiment. Even at four-years-old he abounds with puppy energy and we wonder if he will ever grow up. (Training from his owners might help!)

But we can also acknowledge and celebrate Louie’s signs of growth. He will sit and stay for an evening treat. He has stopped from nipping at your fingers in playful bouts. He does find ways to slow down and snooze at your side during an evening movie. He can find his way to the safety of his crate rather than hiding when we plan to leave the house. He will not develop any further from his tiny stature and strapping twelve-pound frame, but he is growing up.

The Christian experience is one of continuous growth. Regardless of age or years of church membership, we all find ourselves as students or travelers along a way of new discoveries in grace, maturing in our understanding of Christ, and growing in our practice of obedience to God’s Word. In preaching to new Christians across Asia Minor, Paul says, “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

Each moment is an opportunity to practice maturity, to test out our faith, and to place reliance on the spirit of Christ as it instructs, guides, replenishes, and protects. We draw upon the modeling of Jesus to approach situations in a new way. We bring greater assurance to arenas of fear. We embrace new opportunities with the confidence of God’s provision. We release impulses of anger to implement mercy. We opt against holding grudges and find instances to practice forgiveness. More than adopting new words, our actions do the talking as we grow up in service to Christ and one another. We find ourselves more mature when we unsurprisingly see God at work in all the places where we reside and in all the things we are doing, as we are moved by and moving with God’s momentum in the world.

There are prevalent signs of the spring season, newness and beauty emerging, activity returning, God’s wonderful companions and creatures bouncing and bounding. There is also the humbling of foot washing at the Last Supper in this season. There is commitment to remain at the cross when others have distanced themselves from the hardship of suffering. There is humility, self-giving, sacrifice, and brokenness in this season. There is grief, wrestling with the experience of the disappearance of the holy. These too are part of our seasonal story presenting a challenge for our growth in the Spirit. In the loveliness and the harrowing, in brightness and the dark, in the celebration and tears, God invites us to grow into a new way of life.

PUMC 2025 – A Vision for Doing Life Together as those on the Way of Jesus

As we move through this year, growing in our faith, learning the way of Jesus, and aligning with God for the transformation of the world, I invite us to do so with the vision of four priorities for our ministry together.

Belonging: We are creating spaces where people are at home in the love of God with themselves and one another.
Growing: We are encouraging and developing pathways for individuals and groups to take steps forward in their practice of faith.
Leading: We are equipping and empowering individuals to step into the serving and leadership opportunities before them.
Celebrating: We are telling the stories of God’s faithfulness and the fruitfulness of our ministry together.

Stay Connected with a Simple Scan

At Plainfield UMC, we make it easy for everyone to stay connected, whether you’re new or a longtime member. With one quick scan, you can access everything you need to stay engaged.

Your One-Stop Connection Point: The QR Code

Find our QR code on chair cards in the sanctuary and annex, and on screen during worship services. A quick scan opens the door to:

Connection Card: Share your contact info, ask questions, and sign up for updates to get more involved.
Weekly eNews: Stay informed with news, events, devotionals, and ministry spotlights.
Online Giving: Easily donate anytime through our secure giving platform.
Activities & Studies: Browse current Bible studies, small groups, and volunteer opportunities.
Website & Resources: Explore ministries, prayer requests, event calendars, and more.

Beyond the QR Code: In-Person Connection

While technology keeps us informed, nothing beats connecting face-to-face. Join us for worship, coffee with a small group, or volunteer at a service project.

Take Your Next Step

Scan the QR code today to explore how you can connect, grow, and serve. Our staff is here to help you get started.

Take Action: Scan. Connect. Grow.

Finding Hope After Loss: GriefShare Returns Spring 2025

If you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, navigating the emotional challenges of grief can feel overwhelming. Plainfield United Methodist Church (PUMC) is offering a lifeline of hope with the return of GriefShare, an 11-week seminar beginning on May 18th, 2025. Meeting weekly on Sundays from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., GriefShare provides a safe, supportive space for those grieving to connect with others who understand their pain.

Led by compassionate, trained Stephen Ministers, GriefShare combines biblical wisdom with practical tools for coping with loss. Participants will gain valuable insights into the emotional stages of grief, learn healthy coping strategies, and find renewed hope for the future. This group setting allows individuals to share their experiences in a caring and understanding environment, helping to reduce the isolation often felt during the grieving process.

GriefShare will run from May 18th to July 27th, 2025. To register, visit pumc.link/gs2025.

For questions or more information, contact Gloria Bowman at heraclesb1@aol.com. We invite you to join us for this healing journey.

Open Your Pantry, Open Your Heart: Food Donations at PUMC

At Plainfield United Methodist Church (PUMC), we are committed to caring for our neighbors by ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food. Our Donation Depot serves as a vital resource for local families struggling with food insecurity.

The Growing Need in Our Community

Recent data reveals that food insecurity is a pressing issue in Indiana. In 2022, approximately 950,220 Hoosiers experienced food insecurity, with a state rate of 13.9%. This represents a significant increase from previous years, highlighting the escalating need for food assistance. Moreover, 1 in 5 children in Indiana faces hunger, emphasizing the importance of community support.

In Hendricks County, while poverty rates are below the state average, food insecurity remains a concern. Local food pantries are essential in bridging the gap for families who may not qualify for federal assistance but still struggle to put food on the table.

How You Can Help

You can make a tangible difference by donating non-perishable food items such as canned goods, pasta, cereal, and peanut butter. Bring your contributions to the Donation Depot:

Sunday Mornings: During worship services.
Weekdays: During church office hours.

Every donation, no matter how small, helps provide essential meals, reduces food waste, and promotes health and well-being in our community.

Join Us in Nourishing Our Neighbors

By opening your pantry and your heart, you support local families in need. Let’s work together to combat food insecurity in our community. Your generosity embodies the spirit of compassion and service that defines PUMC.

For more information on how to get involved, please contact the Rev. Ken Loudenback at kloudenback@pumc.org.

Set Your Course for Adventure: True North Vacation Bible School at PUMC!

Join us this June at Plainfield United Methodist Church for an exciting week of discovery, music, and fun at Vacation Bible School! The theme, True North, helps kids navigate today’s world by teaching that Jesus is our ultimate guide.VBS runs June 23–27 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at PUMC, 600 Simmons Street, Plainfield, IN 46168. Children will enjoy hands-on activities, Bible stories, music, and adventures to strengthen their faith and purpose.

This is a great opportunity for kids to grow in faith, make new friends, and have fun! All children are welcome. Don’t miss out—register today at pumc.link/2025vbs and secure your child’s spot for an unforgettable week!

We Need Your Help!

VBS is one of our biggest outreach events, and we need volunteers to help with everything from decorating and snack preparation to leading groups and crafts. Whether for one day or the entire week, your help makes a difference.

Step up and volunteer today!

To get involved, contact Carey Michels at cmichels@pumc.org.

Let’s make True North VBS unforgettable for our kids and community! Take action now—register or volunteer to make a lasting impact!

Last Saturday Lunch: April 25, 2025

We’re thrilled to invite you to a free community lunch at our church on the last Saturday of every month. Bring your friends and family to join us for a delicious meal and some good company.
The lunch is served from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Door 14, located on the north side of the Sanctuary.

We’re looking forward to sharing a meal and building community together!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mary Ann Hamilton at m.a.hamilton2@gmail.com.

See you there!

Second Saturday Lunch: April 12, 2024

Mark your calendar! On the second Saturday of every month from 11:00–11:30 AM, we’re serving up warm, delicious meals to go. Simply enter through Door 14 and head to the kitchen.

Know someone who could use a meal? Let’s spread the love! Email MaryAnn at m.a.hamilton2@gmail.com to arrange a meal for them.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy great food and make someone’s day a little brighter. See you there!