As we prepare to return to live singing in worship, including bringing back the sanctuary choir, we should take a moment to reflect and educate ourselves about the pandemic.
We all have rights and responsibilities and we are all responsible for welcoming, respecting, and protecting others. As a Methodist community, one of our general rules is to “do no harm.” Receiving the COVID-19 vaccination is a choice that each of us has to make on our own. While we have learned that it is safe for those who have been vaccinated to go without a mask, we must remember that those who have chosen not to receive or cannot receive the vaccine for personal reasons may still be at risk of the virus. The virus can be transmitted between those both vaccinated and unvaccinated, though the results of infection vary.
Before we begin singing in worship again, please take a moment to consider whether you may choose to wear a mask in services, whether this is to protect yourself or to protect others. We will respect the choices that each makes and move forward as a community.
As society returns to a sense of “normalicy,” there is still a 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 on Sundays between 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Mondays between 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. PUMC volunteers will be in the church’s parking lot (600 Simmons St., Plainfield) 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! Head over to pumc.org or the pumc.org kiosk in the main lobby by the blue wall on Sundays for more information.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Pastor Ken Loudenback at kloudenback@pumc.org or Mission Chairperson Ruth Ellen Stone at missions@pumc.org.
The new website went up this week on Tuesday afternoon. Take a look and explore. Everything from the old website is still there; it may be in a slightly different place. For example, KIDS@PUMC and Youth Ministry were under the menu item “Get Involved,” now, on the new website, they are located under “What’s Going On,” then click on “Ministries.”
One of the significant changes coming up by the end of July, is the phasing out of the mobile app. The app has been successful and is getting used regularly, but it does not integrate well with our website or current communications pathways; it is also labor-intensive to update each week and it’s expensive. By switching to the new website, PUMC will save close to $3000/year. The new website is built on a responsive framework, allowing it to scale and format to fit all devices. You can access the website from your mobile devices just like an app by following these easy instructions to save a pumc.org icon to your mobile device home screen.
FOR IPHONES:
Navigate to http://www.pumc.org on your iPhone’s web browser (most likely Safari).
At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see an icon depicting an arrow that looks like it’s trying to get away from a square. Tap this button.
Once tapped, you will have a few options. Swipe left on the bottom row until you see the “Add to Home Screen” option. Select this one.
You’ll be asked to choose a name for the home screen icon; hit ‘add’ in the top left when you’ve picked one. When you’re done, it’ll show up on your home screen.
Then touch the overflow button (three vertical dots) and select Add to Home Screen.
Touch Add, and the site will join your other apps and widgets.
One recommendation: you can customize the text below the icon, by touching the text inside the Add to Home Screen box, and change it. When you’re done, it’ll show up on your home screen.
If you have any questions about the new website, please email me at eshriner@pumc.org.
If you have any questions about the new website, please email me at eshriner@pumc.org.
On August 1, NewDay Praise will return to a semi-normal style of Communion. And we’d love for our children to come and join us! On Communion Sundays, KIDS@PUMC Sunday school participants will join their parents or guardians for Communion and the final song in NewDay Praise. Here’s what to expect. A person will be serving the bread as people come up. They will be masked and wearing gloves and will rip off a piece of bread and hand it to the child or adult. Another person will have a tray of cups with grape juice in them, and each person will take a cup. Pre-packaged elements will also be available if you or your child don’t feel comfortable taking in the shared elements. We are thrilled to return to a semi-normal style of Communion!
And we’re excited for the children to join us during this portion of the service. When we are all together, we represent the body of Christ. If you have questions about Communion, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Pastor Hannah at hwiswasser@pumc.org. If you have questions about KIDS@PUMC Sunday school, please contact Charity Aton at caton@pumc.org.
Plainfield United Methodist Church (PUMC) in Plainfield, IN, seeks a part-time Director of Kids Connection. The ideal candidate will have a visible and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ displayed in PUMC’s Kids Connection leadership. The Director of Kids Connection takes work direction from, reports to, and is accountable to the Director of Children’s Ministries.
The Director of Kids Connection is a part-time year-round position, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Kids Connection program with Plainfield United Methodist and will assist with the children’s ministries of PUMC. Total Hours: 32 hours per week (30 hours per week in Kids Connection; 2 hours per week in Preschool Programs).
Candidates must demonstrate spiritual character and maturity, passion for Christ and their ministry, enthusiasm, vision, versatility, effective communication and administration skills, and teamwork in the leadership of an established and growing Children’s Ministry. A background in education will be helpful. To see the full job description and apply at www.pumc.org/job-opportunities.
The PUMC Annual Fish Fry is back for 2021 on July 30 and 31!
An event the size of the Fish Fry needs a lot of volunteers. Volunteer signups for Fish Fry volunteers will occur in the main lobby on July 4, 11, 18, and 25 following both worship services. Visit pumc.org to volunteer if you can’t stop by the tables and want to volunteer.
PUMC’s annual Fish Fry is one of the largest outreach events of Plainfield UMC each year, welcoming neighbors and friends and serving tons of food (literally — tons!), with the profits supporting missions both near and far. Sunday School classes, youth groups, the PUMC Missions Committee, and other groups directly benefit from volunteering at this event. We are proud of the nearly 200 volunteers each year who participate by baking desserts, frying fish, serving in the main line, and so much more.
From the humble beginnings of welcoming home troops from WWII, the annual Fish Fry has been a staple in the community. The pandemic forced us to go virtual in 2020, but as our world begins to heal, we are ready for the return of the Fish Fry. With a reduced menu and safety precautions in place, we are prepared to welcome people back.
Philippians 4:13 says, “[We] can do all things through him who gives [us] strength.” God has given us the strength to guide us through the past year and a half, and he has given us the power to allow us to join in fellowship again. So, please consider joining us for good food and hospitality at this year’s fish fry.
Brandon Rodarmel, First Chair, fishfry@pumc.org Mike Rohrer, Second Chair Jane Iles, Third Chair
It takes a village to host worship every week at PUMC. If you’re looking for a new way to serve, consider joining our liturgist ministry! Liturgists play a meaningful role in helping people connect with God during our Classic service. As a liturgist, you would:
Lead the call to worship. (introducing people to that Sunday’s theme)
Read the Scripture lesson. (preparing hearts and minds for the pastor’s message and offering a restful moment in God’s Word)
Represent our vibrant congregation to in-person and online worshippers. (allowing church staff to catch their breath between worship segments)
Starting Sunday, Aug. 1, we have a need to fill liturgist spots for our 8:45 and 10 a.m. Classic worship services. You can serve in any capacity your schedule allows, and you can stay with the service you normally attend. We’ll provide helpful training, too. To join this ministry or simply learn more, head to pumc.org or visit the pumc.org kiosk on Sunday mornings.
The PUMC Youth Ministry is seeking donations for the 2021 online auction event!
PUMC youth volunteer on an ongoing basis in local, national, and international mission and outreach opportunities; provide leadership at summer church camps; and strengthen their spiritual growth.
To support these activities and events, PUMC is hosting the 10th Annual Youth Online Auction from August 27 – September 13.
You can help by personally donating any of the following items:
Tickets to a sporting, concert, and theatre events
New merchandise
Gift cards to restaurants, stores, gas cards, etc.
Gift baskets
Monetary gifts
Talents that you might have, such as baking, carpentry, home repair, crafting, etc.
Donation forms are available online at pumc.org or in the church office. Donations can be dropped off in the church office Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Thanks for your support. Questions? Email auction@pumc.org
Bidding Information
PUMC Youth Online Auction opens for bidding from Friday, August 27 through Monday, September 13.
Get ready to point, click and bid!
Go to http://www.biddingforgood.com/pumcyouth and check out all the PUMC online auction items. To bid, register your payment information securely at biddingforgood.com. Participating in the bidding fun is easy! It’s as easy as:
Click on “Register to Bid” at the top of the page,
Enter your name, address, and other information,
Create a username and password.
It’s that easy!
If you already have an account from last year but forgot your username and password, click on “Forgot Password” at the top of the page and enter your email address to have your information sent to you.
The auction ends at 10:01 p.m. on September 13. Check back often to make sure you get the item you want!
Generous members of our church family, friends, and merchants in the community and elsewhere have donated all of the items in our auction
Every Bid Counts. Bid often and even above the value of the item. Our donors have opened their hearts in hopes that you will too. Throughout the auction, new items will become available, so check back often.
Spread the word and tell your friends and family about the PUMC Youth online auction. Your support makes a difference!
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often. —Winston Churchill
In the next few weeks, you will see some significant changes in the pathways we use to communicate with you. The website is in the process of being completely rebuilt, and the app is going away. Secure, digital interactions will become more prevalent through the website, and the way we ask people to take their “Next Steps” is changing.
What are “Next Steps?” “Next Steps” are the steps you take after you get to church either physically or virtually—like connection cards, prayer requests, volunteer sign-ups, etc.
Why do we need to change? So, why are you throwing the baby out with the bathwater? We’re not. We’re streamlining our pathways to save money (about $3500/year) and to make it easier for people to interact with us during the other 167 hours in the week.
People join us in-person or online for about an hour a week; if we’re lucky, this happens every week. We sing, listen to a great message, hear and read about church activities, and ask people to fill out a connection card, submit prayer requests, volunteer, and give. That’s a lot to digest in an hour if you think about it. And, responding to these requests has been pretty complex, especially if you tried to do it later in the week, during the other 167 hours in a week. Who do I call? Email? What was I supposed to fill out? I forgot to stop by the table; who do I contact if I want to volunteer? Where can I find the information? What do I do next?
This confusion is the crux of our need to streamline our “next steps.” To that end, we are converting our website from a stagnant digital yellow pages to an active hub. The website will be a “one stop shop” where people can take the “Next Step” in their path. New people can let us know they are coming to worship. The website will be a place where everyone can fill out a connection card, submit a prayer request, volunteer, give, and much more. Plus, all of this is available 168 hours a week. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! And the new website will work on any device; mobile, tablet, or computer, making the need for a separate app moot.
Change is hard, but it is how we grow. If you feel these changes may be too overwhelming, the UMW will be hosting a get-to-know-your-technology class (with cookies) on August 8 at 1:00 p.m. in the Worship Annex (Clayton Hall). It will take place after the launch of the new website, scheduled for mid-July. In the meantime, if you have questions, please feel free to contact me at eshriner@pumc.org.
Thank you for your generosity in answering the call for new carpet for the main, north, and south lobbies. Our congregation graciously donated $32,323! Glory to God!
You have probably noticed by now that our beautiful carpet was installed this week thanks to the guidance of Bill Edie working with Heritage Flooring. The lobby carpet came in a bit above the $21,800 estimate due to some surprises. As promised, we’ve earmarked all financial overages for future carpeting in the building. Always looking ahead, Bill received an estimate of $16,845 for the education wing hallway carpet, both downstairs and upstairs. We need about $5000 to finish the hallway carpet for the building. To donate to help complete this project, you can give your financial gift safely and quickly through pumc.org or the kiosk in the main lobby by the blue wall or with Rebecca Blackwelder, PUMC’s Financial Administrator.
The “Amigos” have been hard at work wiring the security system to all of our exterior doors. With the “Amigos” doing the work themselves, they have saved PUMC approximately $15,000. Thank you to our hardworking Amigo Crew! The contractor is now doing the technical work. The plan is to have all exterior doors fitted with keypads, fob readers and equipped with the ability to lock and unlock the doors with a mobile device by mid-August. No more doors left unlocked!
Thank you to everyone for your support of all of the T4T projects. Our building is reflecting the love and warmth of our church family.
Plainfield UMC Today 