The Good News from the
Lyndon United Methodist Church
Lyndon, Kansas
126 West 8th St
PO Box 256
Lyndon, KS 66451-0256
(785) 828-4744
lyndon.umc@gmail.com
Church Office Hours:
1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Mon. Wed. Fri.
8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tues.
8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thurs.
Pastor:
Parsonage Phone:
Church Office:
Rev. Loren Drummond
(785) 828-3211
(785) 828-4744
February Newsletter
At Lyndon United Methodist Church, we exist to accept, love, serve and connect all with the healing power of Jesus Christ!
GREAT NEWS!!!
We recently received word that a grant we applied for
through SPSARV (United Methodist Special Program on
Substance Abuse and Related Violence) was awarded for the
newly founded Celebrate Recovery Osage County. This will
help tremendously to get this program up and running. The
launch date is set for April.
The premise of Celebrate Recovery is to free one
from life’s hurts, hang-ups and habits seeking God’s healing
and redemptive power allowing God’s grace to help solve
life’s problems. By allowing God into the recovery process, a
person can be released from addictive, compulsive and
dysfunctional behaviors that have held them back from
authentic joy in their life.
Pastor Loren has partnered with pastors from
Michigan Valley Community Church, Grace Community
Church, First Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant Church and Salt
Creek Lighthouse Church. More details to follow soon so
keep your ears and eyes open for additional information.
Life’s Healing Choices
Beginning Sunday, Feb. 19, Pastor Loren will embark on
a new sermon series which will run throughout the season of Lent.
The focus will be on John Baker’s book, “Life’s Healing Choices,
Freedom From Your Hurts, Hang-Ups and Habits.” This book is a
synthesis of the 12-steps and the beatitudes from the Sermon on the
Mount. John Baker says, “Happiness is a choice – and you can choose it
one choice at time: Regardless of what you are struggling with –
whether it’s emotional, financial, relational, spiritual, or sexual – the
principles that lead to happiness and healing are always the same, and
the choice is always yours.”
Feb. 19
Choice 1 Admitting Need: Reality Choice
Ash Wednesday
Choice 2 Getting Help: Hope Choice
(Feb. 22)
Feb. 26
Choice 3 Letting Go: Commitment Choice
March 4
Choice 4 Coming Clean: Housecleaning Choice
March 11
Choice 5 Making Changes: Transformation
Choice
March 18
Choice 6 Repairing Relationships: Relationship
Choice
March 25
Choice 7 Maintaining Momentum: Maintenance
Choice
April 1
Choice 8 Recycling Pain: Sharing Choice
(During Holy Week there will be a Seder Meal at 6 p.m. followed by
worship service at 7 p.m. on Thursday April 5.Just an FYI…) More
details will follow.
A message from our Lay Leader
Where are You on the Roster?
I was listening to the radio the other morning as the
sports commentators were discussing the upcoming playoff games
and the status of various team members. It made me think about
our church as we would view a team. We have our head coachJesus Christ- leader of the church, various “position” coachespeople who have a number of leadership roles in the church, and
lots of players.
One of the football players being discussed that morning
had twisted his ankle but was listed as “probable” for the game.
No doubt, this player was not going to let a sore ankle stop him
from paying in a game as critical as a playoff game. He viewed his
role as vital to the success of the team. How about you? Do you
come to church on Sunday, even if you have the sniffles or don’t
really feel up to par? Or do you let that keep you home, telling the
coach- “don’t count on me today- I’m not really up to it”. Can
people count on you to follow through on your promises? The
church (and the world) is full of people who play through the
difficulty and those who let any little ache or difficulty sideline
them. Which group are you in?
A football team is also made up of a lot of role players.
These are players assigned a particular part. They may sit on the
bench almost the entire game and could easily get depressed if
they didn’t understand they play a particular role. Field goal
kickers and punt returners come to mind, especially after the AFC
and NFC Championship games. Both were called upon in the last
minutes of overtime to perform their job. One- the punt returnerdidn’t do his job and lost the game for his team. The other- the
field goal kicker- won the game for his team.
Each of us has an important job in the church. Some of
us are on the field a lot. We are involved in lots of areas of the
church. But we get worn down and tired and need to let others
come in and spell us. When that happens, we need to be willing to
step back, enjoy the moment of rest, and celebrate the teamwork.
I confess that I am often guilty of doing things myself
because it’s easier than trying to organize a team. I will try to work
on that. When we’re resting on the bench, we need to encourage
the ones taking our place and resist the urge to criticize the way
they are doing it.
If you haven’t found your role yet, try doing a Spiritual
Gifts Inventory. There are several good ones available. You may
be surprised what you find out. Be sure you are honest with
yourself and resist the urge to answer the way you think it should
be or how you want it to be. Once you know your gifts, find a
place to use them. If you need help, ask Pastor Loren or a member
of the Lay Leadership Team. I’m sure we can find a place your
gifts will be put to good use.
A football team doesn’t have anyone who isn’t needed.
The same is true for a church. And it’s also true for Jesus. We are
all needed if we are to be successful in reaching the goal-making
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Mary L. Brooks, Lay Leader
PRE-SCHOOL NEWS
Would you believe the preschool spots are already almost
filled…FOR NEXT YEAR!!!
It’s true! Several pre-registrations have already been
submitted for the 2012-13 school year. If you (or you know of
someone) who would like their child to be enrolled in our wonderful,
loving, Christian-based preschool program, please call (785) 8284744 or come by the office…pronto!! Gracias! (No, we are not a
bilingual preschool, just working on my Spanish.)
Speaking of preschool, there will be a fundraiser dinner held on
Monday, February 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m. On the menu is
Grandma Janet’s Famous Meatloaf…(no need to say anymore, but
there will be sides dishes and desserts as well) so come early to make
sure you get in on the delicious festivities. Food will be served until
gone.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the 4th Saturday at 9 a.m. and
the 2nd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. each month. You are more than
welcome to join us! Website for this ministry is:
www.shawlministry.com.
Jan. 29. These shawls will be presented throughout the coming
months to those in need. During the past 10 months, the Ministry
has presented 37 prayer shawls to our church family, their
families and the community. Also, scarves were made and
presented to Let's Help in Topeka during the holiday season.
Our Prayer Shawl Ministry is a witness to our faith and
our service to God's work. Presenting a prayer shawl to someone
is a humbling experience and allows one to feel God's presence
while visiting with the receiver.
Beginning in February, we will begin crocheting/knitting
a Granny square afghan for charity. Please join us on February
14, at 6:30 p.m. and be a part of our fellowship and prayers. Don't
know how to crochet/knit? We will teach you!
Questions? Contact Linda Harrington at 828-4163 or
Janet Howard at 828-4182.
BRIDGES to the FUTURE
BUNCO
A FUN-draising BUNCO event will take place the last
Sunday of the month, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. There will be an entry fee and
all proceeds will benefit “Bridges for the Future”. Prize tables will be
available for those who Bunco.
Money allocated for Bridges for the Future helps benefit
Camp Chippewa, Campus Ministries and Church Revitalization.
You know that quarter tube that’s always at the back of the
church? All of the money collected from that effort also goes to benefit
Bridges to the Future …so keep those quarters coming!!
Lyndon UMC Weekly Schedule
Sunday:
9 a.m. – Sunday School (All ages)
10 a.m. – Coffee & Fellowship (Downstairs)
10:30 a.m. – Worship Service
7 p.m. – Bible Study (Conference Room)
Tuesday:
9 a.m. – Tai Chi group
-Refer to previous Prayer Shawl info
Wednesday:
7 p.m. Youth Group
Thursday:
3 -7 p.m. – Sewing Bee
Saturday: 9:00-11:00 a.m. – Recycle (Lyndon– 2nd and 4th Sat.)
 Refer to previous Prayer Shawl info
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Ann Harty
Feb.1
Susan Warner
Feb. 3
Tangela Moore Feb. 7
Grace Foiles
Feb. 9
Morgan Young Feb. 11
Shirley Anstaett Feb. 14
Ryan Larkin
Feb. 14
Tanae Easter
Feb. 18
Amanda Kritikos Feb. 18
Susan Robison Feb. 19
Nancy Hallgren Feb. 20
Kyle Hobbs
Feb. 20
Tom Leuszler
Feb. 21
Kathy Williamson Feb. 25
Carrie Wischropp Feb. 26
Ricky & Rochelle Hobbs
Wayne & Janet Howard
Stan and Linda Harrington packaging up newly blessed prayer shawls
for distribution.
Prayer shawls (made by the Prayer Shawl Ministry,)
were blessed by Pastor Loren at the Worship Service, on Sunday,
Rochelle Hobbs
Gary Foiles
Alex Foiles
Stan Harrington
Kayla Culley
Olivia Lacey
Feb. 3
Feb. 5
Feb. 9
Feb. 9
Feb. 12
Feb. 14
Feb.14
Feb. 29
Information Headquarters
Visit the church website at www.lyndonumc.or or check us
out on Facebook to find out pertinent information about
meetings, events and other happening here at LUMC.
Pastor’s Message:
February 2012 Living into Our Call
Looking to the past year, we can see that many significant accomplishments were realized in our church.
All of the key indicators of vitality, of life, have shown marked improvement throughout 2011.
Our teams – the long-standing and the newly birthed—are all taking larger roles in their ministries.
Worship attendance is up, and the level of financial support coming from you – our members and constituents –has
allowed us to once-again participate in the ministries of the larger church through our payout of Mission and Ministry
apportionments.
All of these are exciting developments, and well-worthy of celebration. But, in my estimation, the most
exciting accomplishment of this past year was that contained in the process of discerning our newly revealed mission
statement, and in the fruit that this process yielded.
In essence, the process that led up to the formation of our mission statement (a process that began with the
creation of an L3 Team – L3 standing for: Loving, Learning and Leading – under the tutelage of Pastor Michael
McKee) amounted to a prolonged period of questioning and reflection, followed by a time of prayer and action.
The questions the team focused on in the process were aimed at discerning the particular needs of the
community and on recognizing and claiming the particular gifts of this church. The results of this process are seen in
our mission statement, where we proclaim:
At Lyndon United Methodist Church,
we exist to: accept, love, serve and connect all
with the healing power of Jesus Christ!
And while there has always been within this church some level of involvement in all of these things,
it seems to me that having this mission statement has helped us to be more-focused in our efforts.
For instance, our newly-created Welcoming Team, using the mission statement as its roadmap, has been very
instrumental in putting into action our stated-intent of accepting, loving and connecting all.
Our reinvigorated Mission and Outreach team, likewise, has drawn inspiration from the church’s nod to them
and their activities, a nod that’s found in our mission statement. When I see this team at work, I can really sense the
feeling of encouragement and support they’ve found in having their work, not only affirmed, but lifted up as being a
very-big part of the reason this church exists.
And the newly forming Congregational Care team can trace the fact that it is even in existence to this same
discernment process; to the fact that our L3 Team sensed, and then named, a need for spiritual and emotional healing
in the community. Having recognized and formally lifted-up this need in our mission statement, the way-forward
became abundantly clear and we began to take steps to equip and enable those who had identified their sense of
calling to this ministry. The team is currently engaging in training that will allow them to live into our stated intention
to: accept, love, serve and connect all with the healing power of Jesus Christ. (Read that as “help them find the power
into salvation!”)
So, again, in looking back over this past-year, there is much to celebrate. But what I’m more excited about are
the possibilities that lie ahead of us! I believe that as we move forward into this next year we can expect to see these
sorts of great things, and many more, come to pass as we live into our call – collectively and individually–
A call to: accept, love, serve and connect all with the healing power of Jesus Christ!
If we’ll all do this, I can hardly wait to see what sort of year 2012 will be!
May God add a blessing to all of our efforts!
Pastor Loren