ISSUE 1

VOL.1
Melanie Farkas

MARCH 2013

Family Fun Day |

More than 850 people enjoyed the POLKA-DOT CIRCUS Family Fun Day at Reynoldsburg UMC on Saturday, February 16. The day began with an opening session with Pastor Tim Levert and Mindy Mathias, Lead Coordinator of Childrens Ministries. Children of all ages spent hours navigating the church building to take part in the many activities offered; including inatables, a music sing-along, a science laboratory and crafting junction.

Families also took part in a mission project; assembling United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) health kits. They made 728 kits that will be sent to disaster areas. It was important for us to have a mission project at Family Fun Day because children need the opportunity to give back and to be the hands and feet of Jesus, said Mathias. The more opportunities there are for families to serve together, the more opportunities for parents to discuss giving back with their children. The day wrapped up with a closing session involving plenty of music, prayer and a concert from Christian rock band Shine Bright Baby. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this day happen - and who helped show our families Jesus love.

Im overwhelmed and humbled by the work that Jesus did at Family Fun Day, said Mathias. It was awesome to see families come through our doors who have never been to the church building before or have only been here for preschool. It was great to witness so many children smiling ear to ear and to hear laughter lling the air.

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: Send articles to be considered for the print and email versions of The Vine to thevine@rumc.org or drop them off in the mailbox marked THE VINE in the staff mailroom. The deadline for each months print publication is the 15th of the previous month. All articles are subject to editing when space is limited.

1636 Graham Road | Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 | 614.866.5864 | ReynoldsburgUMC.com

REYNOLDSBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Dear Friends of Jesus and Reynoldsburg UMC, This year, instead of giving something up for Lent, we are asking what good are you going to DO for Lent -- and offer 40 random acts of grace to others as we lead up to Easter. Each day, I am asking you to hold onto and show the identity you have in Christ as you offer a Random Act of Easter. Will you to join me? As I did a few weeks ago in worship, let me offer some suggestions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. COOK a meal for a neighbor. SHOVEL snow for someone else. SEND owers just because. SEEK out someone you have hurt and ask for forgiveness. PICK UP the tab for dinner for a single mom and her kids. WRITE a daily note of encouragement to someone who could use it. 7. CALL a friend you havent talked with for a while and reconnect. 8. REACH OUT to a friend who has experienced a loss and show them they are not alone. 9. PRAY. 10. VISIT someone who is lonely. 11. BEFRIEND the lonely person. 12. INTRODUCE yourself to your neighbors. 13. COMPLIMENT a stranger. 14. HAND WRITE a thank-you note. 15. PAY for the coffee, the toll, or the bus fare for the person behind you. 16. LET THE PERSON who seems rushed cut in front of you in line. 17. HOLD your tongueseriously. 18. OPEN the door for someone. 23. SAY thank you a lot everyone works hard. Thanks are especially important to the postal worker, the government employee, the BMV clerk, the bus driver, the grocery store cashiers (especially when you bring up all that produce and they have to look up every single code) and baggers. 24. CALL your parents and tell them you love them. 25. LET your spouse watch their showand dont roll your eyes or huff and puff about it. 26. DONT NAGeven if you really, really, really want to. 27. GO THROUGH YOUR THINGS and give freely to those in needwarm clothes, shoes, boots, etc. 28. YOU know that shirt your friend always compliments you on? Why not give it to him/her? 29. HELP someone whose car has broken down. 30. WALK the cart back to the front of the store where you found it. 31. SEND a care package to a solider. 32. LISTEN when no one else wants to. 33. TRY TO FIND goodness in the person you dont like. 34. BE someones cheerleader. 35. DO nice things and dont tell anyone about it. 36. BRING a meal, offer to clean up their house or do a load of laundry for someone who just had a baby or other life event. 37. BE KIND to yourself. 38. MAKE PEACE with your past mistakes, and use that knowledge to help others who might be going through the same thing. 39. LET IT GO. 40. NOTICE a child acting well-behaved? TELL their parents how good they are while the child is standing there. It will encourage the child to continue behaving well, and will make the parents feel good.

19. GIVE boxes to someone who is moving. 20. HELP them move. 21. BE encouraging. 22. LET people merge-in during trafcespecially at the intersection of I-70 and I-270 during rush hour!

This just scratches the surface. What we are asking is to take a chance every day during the season of Lent and do something that embodies grace with your life. I would LOVE to hear what you are doing send me an e-mail at jgreenway@rumc.org. Lent is an invitation to live a distinctively counter-cultural lifenot so much by what we GIVE UPas by what we SHOW and SHARE through our lives. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, Being a CHRISTIAN is less about CAUTIOUSLY AVOIDING SIN than about COURAGEOUSLY and ACTIVELY doing Gods WILL. This Lent, we are inviting you to join in a movementpracticing wasteful graceliving authentically and counter-culturally. After all, we are the Church of Jesus Christ and the world is changed when we really live like it. Practice Random Acts of Easter instead of gaudy acts of holiness, and our lives will become a blessing. As we do, people will ask us why and will be much more likely to listen because we have SHOWN them the love of God, before TELLING them about it. See you in worship! Pastor Jeff 2

New Jersey Mission Trips

Ashley Marshall Just over a month later, another group from Reynoldsburg UMC left for Ocean City, New Jersey. This group included 20 youth members, led by Pastor Tim Levert and Coordinator of Youth Ministries Dustin Ichida. The group helped install insulation in crawl spaces and spackled, sanded, scrubbed and painted walls. They also met many people impacted by the storm. These people really needed help, said Brooke Angle, a senior at Reynoldsburg High School. We take advantage of things here and dont realize what we have. Some people (there) didnt have beds or food. One lady told us she was trapped in her house upstairs for ve days after the storm. She was such a beautiful person and loved God so much. Both groups built long-lasting relationships with homeowners, volunteers, and each other as they shared the love of God with the residents of the area during such a tragic and difcult time.

October 29, 2012 was a life-changing day for residents on the upper east coast of the United States. As Hurricane Sandy made landfall, dumping heavy rain and gale-force wind, over 11,000 people were pushed out of their homes. Many at Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church heard a calling to take their love and talents to the hurting people who were affected by the super-storm. The rst mission group traveled to the devastated area on December 15, 2012. Fourteen members led by Pastor Matt Wright and Rocky Riddle drove to Ocean Grove, New Jersey. They helped rip out molded dry wall, chainsaw fallen trees, and clean up debris around work sites. Most importantly, the team built relationships with the homeowners and with each other. This trip taught us that Gods mission eld is where He calls us, said Riddle. The experience of watching peoples spirits uplifted after completing a worksite afrmed why we went there. This restoration of hope while building God-centered relationships created a positive experience for everyone involved.

UMW Year-End Giving

After much discussion, the Reynoldsburg United Methodist Women divided the 2012 year-end giving of $6,600 as follows: Locally: Storybooks for Children (Prison Ministry) - $100 The Shepherds Place (Making Christmas Memories) - $600 Rahabs Hideaway - $600 United Methodist Childrens Services - $450 Nellies Catwalk 4 Kids - $150 Tom Sawyers House - $600 Nationally: RUMC Mission Team - Hurricane Sandy (NJ) - $350 McCurdy School - $500 Red Bird - $500 Internationally: Mulungwishi, Africa - $1,000 Uganda Tuition (Damalie) - $1,250 Romania (Women & Children) - $500

Maundy Thursday, March 28 7:00am & 12:00pm - Communion Services in Chapel 7:30pm - Service of the Shadows in Worship Center Good Friday, March 29 7:00am & 12:00pm - Chapel Service 7:30pm - The Rose Of Calvary Cantata Featuring Full Orchestra and Chancel Choir in Worship Center Saturday, March 30 6pm - Easter Chapel Service Sunday, March 31 6:30am - Sunrise Service 8 & 11am - Traditional Worship 9:15am - Contemporary Worship

Easter 2013

March Calendar of Events

2 3 5 8 10 10 10 16 23 24 27 28 29 31 Cornhole Tournament Puppet Squad Performance Emmaus Gathering Mad Hatters Ball Discover Workshops Camp Sunday Daylight Savings Begins (Spring Forward) SHARE Saturday Guys Nite Palm Sunday No Church Programming Maundy Thursday Good Friday (Cantata) Easter

new members December & January

scott Barnhart & Valerie Pickett live at 2001 Reese Ave., Columbus. They are getting married this year. Scott and Valerie attend the 9:15am service and join by profession of faith. roberta carlson lives at 2224 Meadowlake Lane East, Reynoldsburg. Roberta is retired. She has a daughter and a son, three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Roberta enjoys volunteering at the Reynoldsburg Cancer Thrift Shop and has been doing so for 30 years. Roberta attends the 11am service and joins our church by transfer from Brookwood Presbyterian Church. Doris Davis lives at 740 Woodington Dr., Pataskala. Doris is employed by Best Lighting Products. She has two daughters in college. Doris enjoys gardening, antiquing and cooking. She is a member of a LifeGroup, recently attended an Emmaus Walk, and has been attending Reynoldsburg UMC for the last year-and-a-half. Doris attends the 11am service and joins our church by profession of faith. larry & Pamela Fravel lives at 142 Prince Rd., Etna. Larry & Pamela have a son, Nathaniel, who is also joining, and a daughter. Larry is employed by SB Capital Acquisitions dba JCs 5 Star Outlet. He enjoys the study of genealogy, reading and movies. Pamela enjoys reading walking, cake & cookie baking and decorating. Larry & Pamela attend the 8am and 11am services and join by transfer from Frisco First UMC in Frisco, Texas. Todd Goldberg lives at 444 Westport Dr., Groveport. Todd is employed by TS Trim in Canal Winchester. Todds father also attends Reynoldsburg UMC. He enjoys NCAA football and time with friends. Todd attends the 9:15am service and joins our church by profession of faith. David & Karen Griffin live at 9114 Firstgate Dr., Reynoldsburg. David and Karen have two young boys. David is involved with his sons cub scouts and enjoys woodworking and model trains. Karen works for Whalen & Company, CPAs. She enjoys crocheting and gardening. David attends the 9:15am service and Karen attends the 8am service. They both join by profession of faith. scott heckman lives at 7918 Marble Park Ave., Reynoldsburg. Scott is employed by Huntington Bank. Scotts wifes name is Kanah and they have four children. Scott enjoys spending time with his family. He attends the 9:15am service and joins our church by profession of faith. lisa Jones lives at 13455 Capetown Ave, Pickerington. Lisa is a Chiropractor, employed by Active Life Family Chiropractic Center. Lisas husbands name is John and they have two children. Lisa joins our church by profession of faith. Walt & Jean lawrence live at 652 Montmorency Dr. S., Pickerington. Walt and Jean have a son, Nathan, who is also joining, and two older children. Walt is employed by Wright Foods. Jean is a childcare provider and has served on a McCurdy mission trip. Walt and Jean attend the 9:15am service and join by transfer from Peace UMC. Nathan lawrence (pictured above) lives at 652 Montmorency Dr. S., Pickerington. Nathan works for Cracker Barrel and is a full-time student at Otterbein University. He enjoys golf and sports in general. Nathan attends the 9:15am service and join by transfer from Peace UMC. Paige Martin lives at 1771 Leighton Dr., Reynoldsburg. Paige is employed by Westfield Insurance in specialty brokerage. She enjoys tennis, reading, and music, and has been involved with student ministries. Paige attends the 11am service and joins by profession of faith. scott & Kathleen Miller live at 11758 Eddington Ave, Pickerington. Scott is an architect at Moody Nolan and Kathleen works for Signature Control Systems. They have two children in college. Scott enjoys biking. Kathleen enjoys scrapbooking and reading. They both volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. They attend the 9:15am service and join by transfer from Knox Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, KS. Bob & Mary romans live at 108 Beechwood Dr. SW, Reynoldsburg. Bob is retired and is also an Army Veteran. Mary is also retired. They have two grown children. Their daughter, Melissa Morehart is also a member at Reynoldsburg UMC. Bob and Mary enjoy dancing. They attend the 9:15am service and join by transfer from Millersport UMC. amanda san Miguel lives at 3808 Bonita Dr., Columbus. Amanda has a toddler son, Mario. Amanda attends the 9:15 am service and joins by profession of faith. sara Williams lives at 2653 Jonathan Park Way, Reynoldsburg. Sara is employed by J. P. Morgan Chase. She enjoys nature walks during her time off. Sara attends the 11am service and joins by profession of faith.

new members December & January

Tony & Jamie Wilson live at 118 Bellebrooke Dr., Pataskala. They have two grade-school aged children. Tony is a student and is a veteran of the US Marine Corp. Jamie is employed by Alliance. They have been attending Reynoldsburg UMC for about a year. They attend the 9:15am service and join by profession of faith. Forest & lynda Yocum live at 4315 Blacklick-Easter Rd, NW, Baltimore. Forest and Lynda have one grown daughter. They are both retired and Lynda babysits their grandchild. They enjoy traveling, snowmobiling, motorcycling, boating and skiing together. Forest also enjoys fishing, flying, car collecting/restoration & hunting. Lynda also enjoys crafts. They are both in the choir, attend the 11am service and join by transfer from St Pauls UMC in Tiffin. Bruce & Kathy ashcraft live at 270 Blacks Rd., Pataskala. They have three grown children. Bruce is a retired paramedic/fireman and is currently driving new campers all over the country. Kathy is a retired teacher. Bruce enjoys drag racing and morning Bible study. Kathy enjoys walking and reading. They both like to travel. They attend the 11am service and join by transfer from Jersey Baptist Church. Blaine & allison Banks live at 59 Kingsmeadow Ln., Blacklick. Blaine is an engineer at Johnson Controls and Allison is a Microbiologist at OSU Clinical Labs. Blaine enjoys landscaping and math. Allison enjoys running marathons, sewing, canning & reading. They attend the 11am service and join by profession of faith. Pat & chandra Burns live at 3010 Courtright Rd., Columbus. They have six children (one college-age, three high school-age and two elementary-age). Pat is employed at AII. They attend the 9:15 service and join by transfer from Trinity United Methodist Church. Their sons, Mitch Boothe and Chris Burns also joined by transfer from Trinity UMC. steve & claudia Foss live at 13440 Ashley Creek Dr., Pickerington. Steve is a logistics officer for the Air Force. Claudia is a public affairs officer and is retired from the Air Force. Steve enjoys hunting and Claudia enjoys volleyball. They enjoy traveling sports and going to movies together. They attend the 9:15 service and join by profession of faith. David & amber Fulmer live at 63 Trail East, Etna. David and Amber have two children (grades 8 & 9). David is a veteran of the Army National Guard. Amber works for Limited Brands. David enjoys hunting and fishing. They attend the 11am service and join by profession of faith. aaron & Tessa Gossett live at 1811 Canopy Ln., Columbus. Aaron is employed by DFAS. Tessa is a school counselor. Aaron is a volunteer boys basketball coach for Pickerington Central High School. Tessa enjoys jogging, exercise, reading & baking. They attend the 9:15 service and join by transfer Aaron from Zoar Baptist Church and Tessa from Community of Grace United Methodist Church. amy hecker lives at 1259 Belle Meade Pl., Westerville. Amy enjoys socializing with friends, bicycling, volleyball & softball. Amy attends the 9:15 service and joins by transfer from Caledonia United Methodist Church. Mike & emily Jennings live at 9069 Palomino Dr., Pickerington. They have two children (ages 1 & 2). Mike is an engineer at Logicalis. Emily is an Adjunct Math Professor at Columbus State Community College. They attend the 11am service and join by transfer from Vineyard Columbus. Matt & Jenna Meyer live at 9546 Crawford Dr., Pickerington. They have three children (ages 1, 4 and 7). Matt travels as a senior consultant at Backoffice Associates, LLC. Jenna stays home to care for their three children. Matt enjoys playing the guitar and drums, and recording in his home studio. Jenna enjoys reading, crafting, swimming & gardening. They attend the 9:15 service and join by profession of faith. Mike & sherry rieser live at 105 Lorraine Blvd., Pickerington. They have two grown children. Mike is a veteran of the Army and is employed by the State of Ohio in Emergency Management. Sherry is a teacher for Columbus City Schools. Mike enjoys ham radio, Bible study, disc golf & emergency response. Sherry enjoys ham radio, piano, gardening, home dcor, emergency response, and spending time with their 14 grandchildren. They attend the 9:15 service and join by profession of faith. lee smith, Jr. lives at 514 Farm Hill Ct., Blacklick. Lee has one grown son. He is a U.S. Army Transportation Supervisor First Sergeant. He enjoys teaching, bowling and sports. Lee attends the 9:15 service and joins by profession of faith. evelyn Watts lives at 110 Pleasantview Dr., Blacklick. She has two grown children. Evelyn is a retired teacher. She enjoys music and doing things with her family. Evelyn attends the 11am service with her daughter and son-in-law (Kathy & Bruce Ashcraft) and joins by transfer from Pataskala United Methodist Church. 5

Giving the Gift of Hope

Meg Brown There are many opportunities to volunteer at Crossroads Church: stepping in to help on Saturdays with breakfast and fellowship, serving dinner on Wednesdays, and donating food. Breakfast food donations are welcome weekly, and there is a constant need for nonperishable items. To donate, you can simply drop off nonperishable items in the SHARE Saturday bin located in the carpeted hallway at Reynoldsburg UMC. A list of dates, items needed for SHARE and Hospitality Saturdays, along with more information about Crossroads Church, may be found at ReynoldsburgUMC.com click on afliates, then Crossroads Church. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Matt Elliott at melliott@rumc.org or Pastor Matt Wright at mwright@rumc.org.

Each month, Crossroads Church (an outreach ministry of Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church) hosts SHARE Saturday. The event shows Christs love to the community by connecting with our neighbors, praying with them, and supplying them with food. On December 8, 2012, SHARE Saturday hosted a special event for the Christmas season. Families were able to eat breakfast together at tables, chat with members of Reynoldsburg UMC and enjoy the festive day. They also received a grocery bag with a ham and other food for a Christmas dinner. Dozens of donated toys were given away. The smiles were infectious; the kids excitement for the toys, especially the bikes, was touching, and the Spirit of God was in the air. The decorations have been taken down, Santa has returned to the North Pole, and the toys were all given away; the need, however, remains. Crossroads Church offers a myriad of opportunities to lend extra helping hands for those in the community. SHARE Saturday occurs every third Saturday of the month, where nearly 100 families receive bags of groceries. Crossroads Church hosts Hospitality Saturday on the remaining Saturdays, where people can stop by for a free breakfast and fellowship. Lives are literally being changed here, said Matt Elliott, Crossroads Coordinator of Local Missions. Elliott is hoping to expand SHARE and Hospitality Saturdays, to have more volunteers interested, not just serving breakfast, but sitting and talking with others. Everyone needs to feel signicant. We want to have more of a community feel, said Elliott. With the Spirit of God and the compassion of people, we can do something amazing.

A Lenten Craft
Caden and Addison Moyer, along with Bethany and Alysa Stagmyer made special centerpieces for Crossroad Churchs SHARE Saturday on February 16. The children used soil, sand, rocks, moss, twigs and twine to build Resurrection Centerpieces. As they built them, Taryn Moyer and Lori Stagmyer told the children about the Cross and the Lenten season. Over the following seven weeks, the parents plan to use the same garden to bring it to life with color and owers and share that project again on the March 16 at SHARE Saturday.

Make Way for Summer Camp!

Pat Pace

Although the weather is still cold, summer is just around the corner. Its time to start thinking about swimming in a lake under the warm summer sun, jumping on a gigantic blob, ascending the climbing wall, traversing the high ropes course, or singing around the campre. All these activities and much more can be found at our West Ohio summer camps: Camp Otterbein, Camp Wesley and Widewater Retreat Center. These camps offer programming for those entering second through twelfth grades plus family camp. Sunday, March 10 is Camp Sunday at Reynoldsburg UMC. Travis Milhan, Director of Camp Otterbein, will join us to discuss the exciting offerings available including a theme park camp going to Kings Island and Cedar Point. Pat Pace, Reynoldsburg UMCs camp coordinator, will be in the carpeted hallway between services to answer questions and help you choose a camp for your child. Brochures will be sent in March to those who went to camp the past two summers. If you did not receive one, you may pick up a copy on Camp Sunday. The best news of all camp will cost considerably less than last year! Scholarships will also be available to help defray the cost. To receive a scholarship, you must register with Pat Pace. For more information, go to westohiocamps.com or contact Pat Pace at 614-866-5864, extension 129 or ppace@rumc.org.

upcoming events march 2013

cornhole tournament saturday, March 2 at 11am Kirsch hall & student Ministries room Get ready for some fun and fellowship with the guys! You are invited to the 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament at Reynoldsburg UMC. Food and drinks will be available. This will be a double-elimination tournament with trophies for the winning teams. The cost to enter is two cans or jars of a non-perishable food item to be donated to a local food pantry. Bring cornhole boards if you have them! Register on reynoldsburguMc.com. Contact Pastor Matt Wright with any questions at mwright@rumc.org.

shine. 2013 mad Hatters ball Friday, March 8 at 5pm reynoldsburg united Methodist church The 2013 Mad Hatters Ball is an event for women from high school students to senior citizens to worship, dine, shop and wear great hats! You can wear anything you want jeans, yoga pants, slacks, etc. But, be sure to wear a head-covering because prizes will be awarded to women with the most creative hats! This year, the event is supporting Nellies Catwalk 4 Kids a non-profit organization that works to make life easier for families touched by pediatric cancer. Bring kid-patterned fleece blankets, dress-up costumes, toys or hats to the Mad Hatters Ball, and they will be given to children who are undergoing cancer treatment. No used items please. Register NOW at ruMcWomen.com for the price of $20 per person. The cost will be $25/person at the door. Guys nite saturday, March 23 at 5pm Kirsch hall Get together with the guys to enjoy some March Madness basketball! The $20 registration fee includes food, soft drinks and a snazzy t-shirt. Go to ruMcMen.com for more information and to register. spend a While on the nile May 19 at 7pm Worship center The Childrens Choirs of Reynoldsburg UMC are going to take you on an adventure of a lifetime! As we travel along the Nile River on an entertainment cruise, you will see Mr. Cruise, his daughter Liza, and his performing troupe retell Bible stories that occurred long ago, with a twist: they get the Bible stories wrong. Watch and see what happens as the kids from Ocean View Church help Mr. Cruise and his crew understand the truth about Gods enduring love and faithfulness to His people. You wont want to miss over 110 children of our church bring the Bible to life with their voices and contagious enthusiasm! 7

Puppet squad to Perform March 3 at 6:30pm Worship center Gods Puppet Squad, Reynoldsburg UMCs 8th-12th grade puppet team, will present an evening with the puppets entitled Joy In the Journey on Sunday, March 3 at 6:30pm. This collection of musical numbers, connected with scripture and narrative, will demonstrate the joy we should have in our faith and how that joy should translate into sharing the good news of the Gospel with others. We guarantee you laughter, show-stopping music, and the joyous indwelling of the Holy Spirit. From the zany opening number of He Made My DNA, the Grease parody of Youre the One That I Want, to the meaningful closing -- we promise you will be entertained and inspired by this production. Joining us with their own special brand of joy will be Christs Kids and the Rockin Disciples childrens choir. The program is appropriate for all age levels, even adults without children. The program is free but we do ask that you bring an item for the local food pantry.

in appreciation
Due to the generosity of many of our volunteers and supporters, The Shepherds Place was able to make Christmas 2012 a bit more special for around 225 people. Our Making Christmas Memories was a huge success. We were able to provide not only beautiful clothes and accessories, but also a fun, memorable Christmas experience. We decorated Christmas cookies, made ornaments and listened to Christmas music provided by the Reynoldsburg High School string ensemble. The Reynoldsburg United Methodist Women donated over 50 boxes of decorated Christmas cookies. There were also hundreds of Christmas toys from which to choose. We were even able to give a brand new Christmas tree with all the trimmings to a family who could not afford one. Now, that is a memory! I wish you were able to hear what I got to hear that day. We are told that The Shepherds Place is truly a blessing. If we had not been able to provide clothing and toys for Christmas, many families would not have been able to give gifts to their children. We were even blessed to be able to provide Christmas cookie mix for the families to take home and make together. Thank you to everyone who helped with this Christmas memory. - The Shepherds Place Thank you for the amazing job you are doing for God. I was moved by the news story about members of your church helping victims of Sandy. God Bless! - The Fausnaugh Family Thank you so much for the beautiful poinsettia plant you sent me at Christmas time. I am enjoying it immensely. Gratefully, - Jane Heischman On behalf of myself and three friends I want to thank you for the delicious dinner you provided on Thanksgiving Day. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and fellowship. May God richly bless you for the ministry you provide for the Community at this time of year. Without your generosity, many would spend Thanksgiving say alone, me included. Thanks again and God Bless. - Irene Parker As I head off of college, I can only hope to find a church that has loved me as much as this one has. I am so honored to be picked for the Parker Scholarship. The extra tuition money is such a blessing. I will definitely be visiting on my weekends home. Again, thank you. Love, - Ali Murphy Thank you for the cards, calls and all the acts of kindness my family and I received since the passing of my husband, Bill. You have been very helpful in dealing with his unexpected death. God bless you, - Louise John and I would like to express our deep appreciation to all of you who have given us support and encouragement during Johns illness during the past year. Your cards, phone calls, visits and hugs from the pastors, lovely poinsettia, and especially your prayers have helped sustain us. As John continues to be in extended care, he continues to need your prayers. Thank you so much. - Pat and John Durrett We are enjoying the beautiful poinsettias delivered to us by Mary Bell. It brightens our apartment during these dark winter months and we appreciate it so much. Thank you. - Jim and Elaine Nelson - Ben Fabozzi, Southeast Young Life Area Director My wife and I had the fortunate experience of coming down to your church and eating at the three oclock dinner and were certainly surprised by all the work that everyone had put in to make that a very nice experience. The room was I just wanted to personally thank you guys for your very generous end-of-year gift. It was an amazing blessing. I cant wait to see what God is going to do with the support you have offered as we continue to reach lost high school kids in southeast Columbus. I hope all is well with your church and families. God Bless and Thank you again very much. decorated nice, the tables were very nice and the food was very good; and I want to thank you for everything that you did to make our experience what it was. - Leo Dauer I wanted to thank you (Pastor Jeff) and Bob Baptist, as the Reynoldsburg UMC team organizer, for Reynoldsburgs continued support of the SOWER Volunteers In Mission (VIM) Project. The SOWER project builds houses because churches like RUMC support it financially and send dedicated volunteers year after year. Without both aspects of RUMCs support the SOWER VIM project would not be planning the construction of the 10th house from the foundation up. In addition to the 10 complete houses, SOWER has completed two houses that were started but left uncompleted after the shell was erected, a house addition (two bedrooms, bath and exit hall), and one room addition. The volunteers from all the participating churches have thus contributed greatly to improving the lives of 14 families in the Henderson Settlement service area. In Christs Service, - Ralph Brandon, SOWER VIM Team Leader On behalf of my parents, Gladys and Dominick Larotonda, I wish to thank your Hurricane Sandy Outreach Volunteer team who came on Monday, 12/17/12 to our home in Lakewood, New Jersey to cut down and remove remnants of Hurricane Sandys debris left in our back yard. Two huge trees, one measuring 67.5 inches in diameter at its base, filled up half of our side yard. The photos taken by your great volunteers will tell the story! They are: Lisa Cordova, Stephanie Wright, Nathaniel Lemke, Don Dieckman, David Marshall and Matthew Wright. My heartfelt thanks to all of you. God Bless you and your church for the help that youve given to New Jerseyans. Sincerely Yours, - Anna Larotonda What can we say to show our appreciation to all of you for your support over these past months? From our son-in-laws brain injury to the death of my mother, you have comforted us with your calls, your cards and, most importantly, with your prayers. We dont know how people get through this life without the benefit of a loving church family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. - Pat Pace