Plainfield UMC’s men, young men, and guests gather at the church on the third Saturday in June at 8:30 a.m. for food and fellowship.
We meet in Clayton Hall/Worship Annex. Bring an empty stomach, a friend, and your Bible! Be ready to be nourished through delicious food and the word of God! Hope to see you there!
Check our pumc.org for more information.
As society comes to grips with higher costs for the bare necessities, there is a growing need for food and personal care items. PUMC continues its work to show love, share hope, and serve those in need by collecting these items. Items are collected on Sundays between 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Mondays between 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Volunteers will be in the church’s parking lot to receive these gifts of food and personal care items. These donations supply PUMC’s hunger alleviation ministries, food pantries, and community support organizations in and around Plainfield.
Drop off your donations in the east parking lot. You don’t even have to get out of your car!
Check out pumc.org for more information.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact Pastor Ken Loudenback at kloudenback@pumc.org or Mission Chairperson at missions@pumc.org.
Rachel Circle’s June meeting will include a special musical guest, potluck dinner, and an update from Family Promise. The meeting will be Tuesday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m. in Clayton Hall. If you have any questions, contact Jane Meyer at dougandjane.meyer@gmail.com.
The annual PUMC Youth Online Auction is happening again this year, and your support is needed!
Why get in on the action, especially if you don’t have teens? By supporting PUMC youth, you will make a difference in their spiritual growth and development. Your prayers and donations will make a difference in the programs and outreach available to the youth.
PUMC youth volunteer in local, national, and international mission and outreach opportunities. Our teenagers provide leadership at church summer camps and participate in activities to strengthen their spiritual growth. To support these activities and events, PUMC hosts the 11th Annual PUMC Youth Online Auction from August 26 to September 12, 2022.
Now here’s the best part! By simply donating any of the items below, you can help the vibrant youth ministry at PUMC thrive!
To contribute to the auction, please complete the Auction Donation Form by visiting pumc.org/youth-auction as soon as possible. This will allow us the maximum opportunity to list your auction donation. If you know of others who would like to be included, please share this information. When the auction opens for bidding, check out our link: www.biddingforgood.com/pumcyouth and bid, bid, bid!
We invite you to come in and pick up a carry-out meal between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on June 11, 2022. Please enter through door 14 and go to the kitchen, and someone will be there to get your meal. If you know of someone who might need a meal, visit pumc.org/ministries.
Family Promise has purchased a house that will become the new overnight shelter for the families in the residential program. Renovations are almost complete! The goal is for families to start using the property in late June. There will be another volunteer day Saturday, June 4 and June 11, for two shifts from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. and from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The tasks for this volunteer workday at the new property are cleaning, organizing, putting together furniture, and more. If you would like to help, please contact Lisa Ochoa at lisa@familypromisehendrickscounty.org with your availability.
PUMC’s Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is pleased to announce that Craig Hooker has joined the PUMC staff as a part-time custodian. Craig assumed the responsibilities of this position effective May 31. Craig brings significant experience to PUMC, having had a long and successful career in custodial and maintenance services in schools and other public settings. Craig can be reached via email at chooker@pumc.org.
Questions about the staff at PUMC may be directed to Tamara Miller, SPRC Chair, at staffparish@pumc.org.
Rev. Dr. Aleze M. Fulbright is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church who is a person of conviction in living a personal mission to encourage, equip, and empower all people to live on purpose and live out their God-giveness. Additionally, she enjoys fellowshipping with family and friends, while also connecting with community through her civic involvement and her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
Dr. Aleze is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and went on to Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She received her Masters in Divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. She also earned a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership from Houston Graduate School of Theology. Additionally, she is holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential through the International Coaching Federation, and membership with the National Association of Parliamentarians.
Dr. Aleze currently serves as a Conference Superintendent, in the Central and West Districts of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Before entering full time ministry in 2008, was the Assistant Controller for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc. Prior to her current appointment of Conference (District) Superintendent, Aleze served as the Director of Leadership Development for the Indiana Conference, and in the North Texas Conference in a host of ministry settings, as the Associate Director of Leadership Development, the Associate Pastor at First United Methodist-Commerce and Campus Minister for Wesleyan Campus Ministry at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Family Promise has purchased a house that will become the new overnight shelter for the families in the residential program. Renovations are almost complete! The goal is for families to start using the property in late June. This Saturday, May 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be a volunteer workday at the new property to do some cleaning, organizing, putting together furniture, and more. If you would like to help, please contact Lisa Ochoa at lisa@familypromisehendrickscounty.org with your availability.
IT’S ORDINATION MONTH!!! It’s hard to express how excited I am and have been for this month. Ordination has been the dream, the goal, for so long, and now it’s finally here! As I look back over my journey to ministry and the first few years, it feels like multiple lifetimes. So much growth happened over what is really a short amount of time. (Although it has felt like an eternity at times.) I wasn’t always sure this day would come as quickly as I wanted it to because there are many points in the process where delays can happen. Even though the process had its ups and downs, I never doubted God was calling me to ministry.
Discerning a call is not always an easy task. There are so many ways we connect with God. But listening for and hearing God is not always as easy. Sometimes we find ourselves asking, “Is that God I’m hearing? Is this what God wants or what I want?” Separating our will from God’s takes time and intentionality (one of my favorite words). As I discerned my call, ministry just kept coming up. I’d talk about it with strangers and with close friends and family. It wouldn’t go away, even though I wasn’t actively seeking out information yet. God kept putting ministry in my heart and in my path. If something does not go away, I tend to assume that’s God’s way of nudging me.
I also use conversations with mentors, friends, and family to help me discern where God is calling me. As an academic and introvert, it’s good for me to get out of my own head. I’m sure you’ve never overthought something in your life. But I’m quite good at it. It helps me to hear other people’s thoughts. In recent years, I’ve also found it helps me talk things out. The older I get, the more of a verbal processor I become. I ask those in my decision-making circle, “Do you see these gifts and graces in me? Do you think I can do this? This is what I think God is telling me. Does that make sense?” These are questions I have asked over and over again. As I continue to grow in my ministry experience, I will continue to ask these questions. Our call, regardless of what it is, is rarely static. Even if we aren’t called to ordained ministry, our call does change and grow as we change and grow.
My call has changed and morphed over the years. It started with general ministry, then I considered youth ministry, then considered the different types of pastors in the United Methodist Church. While working on my undergraduate degree, I felt drawn to exploring the Church’s response to mental health. In seminary, I honed my passion for pastoral care and being able to care for people holistically. I suspect this part of my call will continue to grow and change as mental health becomes a more pressing issue.
It’s also important to note you are not alone on your discernment journey. There are many resources at your disposal. One that I have found particularly helpful is spiritual direction. You work with a certified spiritual director around whatever questions you have. They provide you with support, a sounding board, and more. They help you ask questions and listen for answers. Suppose this is something you’re interested in exploring. In that case, I’m happy to help put you in touch with people from the Indiana Conference who can help you find a spiritual director.
God calls us to different things throughout our lives, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to make sure you’re hearing the call correctly. Explore your options. Talk with your friends and family. Use your resources. Know we are here to walk with you along this journey.
And thank you to all of you who have walked with me for part of my journey. If you’d like to join us for the ordination ceremony, you are welcome too! It’s Saturday, June 11, 2022, at 1:30pm at Indiana Wesleyan University. You can find more information about location and parking here: www.inumc.org/annual-conference/ac-information/
Blessings,
Hannah
Plainfield UMC Today 