Name our newsletter!! Do you have a name for our newsletter? Let Debbie know. Sun 3 Epiphany Sunday Mon 4 Men's Group resumes Wed 6 Youth Group resumes Fri 8 Ladies’ breakfast resumes 8 Family Game Night begins, see article on page 3 Sun 10 Baptism of the Lord Sunday 10 Mission trip to Columbia information meeting at 12:00 10 Angel Food orders, contact Debbie 10 Support group meets at 5:00 pm Sat 16 RESPITE from 1-5 pm Sun 17 Fellowship meals Breakfast from 8:30 - 9:00 am Dinner from 12:00 - 1:00 pm Sat 23 Angel Food Delivery 8AM fellowship hall Sun 24 First Administrative Council meeting of 2010 at 12:00 pm Sun 31 Youth Council meeting at 12 noon INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 Pastor’s Notes 1 January Events 2 Youth Group News 2 Adult Sunday School Class 3 Mission Trip to Columbia 3 Family Game Night 3 Youth Snacks 3 Volunteers 4 2010 Church Committees January 2010 Volume 3, Issue 1 January Events Let me tell you what a great church you are! This past year has been very difficult financially for most of America. So many people have lost their jobs, and so many more have taken pay cuts. As a consequence, Ponder UMC has received more requests for financial assistance than ever before. And, the requests have been for larger dollar amounts than ever before. When we reached December our benevolence fund was all but empty. To make matters worse, December is when we traditionally receive our most requests for help. Last month I was approached four times and asked for assistance. Without our help Christmas simply would not happen for these families. Here is where your greatness comes in. Each time, just before I received the plea for help, one of you came By Rocky Ellison Pastor’s Notes Please see Pastor’s Notes on page 2 Ponder It Ponder United Methodist Church, 501 Shaffner, Ponder TX 76259 http://www.ponderumc.org/ 940-479-8111 Brandon Akins is planning a Mission trip to Columbia. Come to an information meeting on Sunday, January 10th after the 11AM worship. I would like to encourage you to consider attending the Adult Sunday school class. A new curriculum has just kicked off. The class will be studying the book of Esther. Study materials will be provided for you. The class is using a study book by Dr. Charles Swindoll to guide the discussion each week. I think you will find the material interesting, and highly relevant. The book of Esther challenges our preconceptions of what is accident, what is coincidence, and what is providence. Sam and Jenn McWhorter are leading the class. Beginning Wednesday, January 13th, the youth group will begin meeting from 6-8pm for both Junior High and High School students. We will resume having both age groups meet at the same time. The first hour will be a snack time and games, and the second hour will be teaching time. For those who volunteer bringing snacks, this will mean that snacks will need to be brought to the church before 6pm, preferably 15 minutes before (at 5:45). Hope everyone has a Happy New Year! Mission Trip to Columbia Pastor’s Notes from page 1 forward and asked if there was anyone you could assist! I always received the offer to help before I received the request for support. Your generosity preceded the need! In fact, by month’s end I had unused offers to help with Christmas. You have been so very, very good to each other – and to complete strangers. I am humbled by your generous hearts. In Christ, Rocky Meets Tuesday in fellowship hall 6:30 – 8:30 PM By Rocky Ellison Adult Sunday School Class Youth Wednesday nights changing schedule beginning January 13th. By Evan M. Burke † Youth Group News Jan 6 Tori Dickens Snacks at 6:45PM Jan 13 Solange Lavender Snacks at 5:45PM Jan 20 Evan Burke Snacks at 5:45PM Jan 27 Kristin Akins Snacks at 5:45PM Date Heavenly Perks Opening Prayer Children’s Sermon Children’s Church Communion Server Jan 3 Jackie Ellison N/A Nita Davis Bruce Dotterer Jan 10 Nita Davis Bruce Ashman Sally Schluntz Sally Schluntz and Tiffiney Tillman Jan 17 Lisa Dotterer Frankie Johnson Tori Dickens Debbie Gustafson and Rebecca Lavender Jan 24 Joey Arterberry Kris Corkins Kris Corkins Not yet assigned Jan 31 Kristin Akins Tori Dickens Marlene Barry Not yet assigned Family Game Night. Volunteers Beginning January 13th, youth snacks should be available at the church by 5:45 PM. Youth Snacks Beginning Friday, January 8th, official start of Family Game Night. Bring your favorite board game, your family, and a dish to share (example dishes include: soup, salad, sandwiches, fruit, something quick and easy). Dinner will begin at 6PM, games will begin shortly thereafter. Come join us for wonderful family bonding and fellowship time as we build relationships within our own families and within our church family. By Kris Corkins Family Game Night Ponder United Methodist Church 501 Shaffner PO Box 16 Ponder, TX 76259 Phone: 940-479-8111 E-mail for newsletter: debbie_doll1@hotmail.com Nominations Committee Benevolence Committee Pastor Rocky Ellison (C) Pastor Rocky Ellison Chair of Admin Council Barney Sanborn Chair of Admin Council Barney Sanborn Lay Leader 9AM Judy Ashman Lay Leader 9AM Judy Ashman Lay Leader 11AM Chris Wyatt Lay Leader 11AM Chris Wyatt Class of 2010 Ken Corkins Chair of Finance John Sanborn Norma Neely Early #1 Katie Bristow (C) Class of 2011 Tiffiney Tillman #2 Norma Neely Sally Schluntz #3 Dona Prichard Class of 2012 Kathy Palmer Debbie Gustafson Late #1 Eri Robb #2 Art and Frances McKinley Staff Parish Relations #3 Nita Davis Lay Mbr to Annual Conference Jackie Ellison Lay Leader 9AM Judy Ashman Welcome & Outreach Lay Leader 11AM Chris Wyatt Jackie Ellison (C) Class of 2010 Bud Zumwalt Frances McKinley Kristin Akins Lisa Dotterer Lisa Dotterer Jackie Kelley Class of 2011 Kathy Palmer Norma Neely Janet Kincaid Lauren Kavanaugh (C) Katie Corkins (Y) Jade Kincaid (Y) Class of 2012 Dennis DiMarco Mei Li Kincaid (Y) Kris Corkins Youth Member Nick Kuhl (Y) Youth Committee Youth Pastor Evan Burke (09) Board of Trustees Pastor Rocky Ellison (08) Class of 2010 Ken Corkins (C) Class of 2010 Chris Wyatt Bruce Dotterer Ian McWhorter (Y) Class of 2011 Kirk Kavanaugh Class of 2011 Ken Corkins Del Thomas Kristin Akins Class of 2012 Jeff Dickens Class of 2012 Tiffiney Tillman Bruce Ashman Melissa Doval Finance Committee Building Committee Jerry Zumwalt (C) Chair John Sanborn (C) (06 – original members) O’San Neely Pastor Rocky Ellison Barney Sanborn Chair of Admin Council Barney Sanborn Venita Seaborn Lay Leader 9AM Judy Ashman Kirk Kavanaugh Lay Leader 11AM Chris Wyatt Nancy DiMarco Church Treasurer Calvin Tillman Debbie Gustafson (09) Church Secretary Debbie Gustafson YOT Club Tori Dickens (08) Newsletter Editor Debbie Gustafson (07) (Youth of Tomorrow) Kris Corkins (07) Website Manager Kris Corkins (07) Lindsey Wyatt (08) United Meth Men Pres Chris Wyatt (10) Rhonda Brinlee (09) Historian Venita Seaborn (95) Worship Lybeth Hodges (04) VBS Committee Tax Liaison Katie Bristow VBS Leader Tori Dickens (08) Missions (2009) Missions Pastor Brandon Akins Senior Pastor Rocky Ellison EVOW Chair Jackie Ellison Member #1 Nancy DiMarco Member #2 Calvin Tillman Youth Member Tyler Ashman (Y) 2010 Church Committees