Southport UMC Newsletter

Dear Friends, I am using the May newsletter to write my farewell greetings.   I will officially continue in my duties at Southport UMC until June 30.   However, I would like to make this space available to Pastor Derek Weber for the June newsletter so that he will have the opportunity to introduce himself to the congregation before he arrives on July 1. First of all, let me say that it has been a true privilege to serve as the pastor of SUMC for the past fifteen years and six months.   Not many pastors get the opportunity to serve a congregation for that period of time.   For the time we have had together I am deeply grateful. There have been ups and downs in the life of SUMC over those many years but I am confident that the overall trajectory of the church and the members of the congregation has been to move closer and closer to Jesus.   That should always be the goal of discipleship.   As we grow closer to Jesus we reflect more and more of his nature.   I continually see

The Fletcher Place Food Drive ended April 9.  Thanks so much for all the items donated to help the community that is supported by Fletcher Place Community Center.   The Center is located at the corner of State Ave and Prospect St. in Fountain Square area.  Anyone is welcome to visit there and see all the wonderful community activities you helped to support. Southport Church donated:  (52 family names were recorded) 841 Items  in many Kroger bags totaling up to $2, 638 in food  We also got bags of apples (6), potatoes (8), onions (8), and carrots (6) We included some cards of encouragement to put in food bags which were handed out immediately on April 11th.   You are the hands and feet of Jesus by helping with this ministry.  Thank you so much. The Hunger, Inc. Food Drive will now resume each Communion Thursday and Sunday. The next donation is for Thursday, May 4th and Sunday, May 7th.  We will be collecting canned Vegetables. The purple tote will be placed ou

DATES TO REMEMBER:  May 13th--- Southport Street Fair at the Derbyshire Park in Southport --- Saturday 9-5 Members and anyone wanting to help,  please bring baked goods on Friday May 12th and place in Music Room as IHN will be here that weekend. Items should be individually packaged.  Money given as a good will offering will be donated to a mission activity at SUMC   ii.   Meetings for Southport Circles are as follows: Rebekah Circle meets May 9 at 1 p.m. in the church Gathering Place.  They will be       hosting a Pitch-In lunch.  Anna Circle meets   May 15 at 1 p.m. at Rosegate.  They will have a book talk on Weird       Sheila.  Leah Circle will meet May 23 at 6:30 in the church.   We will be cleaning the Kitchen. All women are welcome to attend any of the meetings and find out what is happening at SUMC. Our Purpose is as follows: The organized unit of the United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose Purpose is to                  know God

INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (IHN) Sunday, May 7 families arrive for a two week period and our church becomes their home: a place to rest after a long day, have a warm meal with new friends, sleep in a family bedroom (each family has a classroom in the east wing for this purpose), and the next morning return to the IHN Day Center.   During the day the children are in school, the adults go to jobs or job hunt, and move through the process of finding a new home in which to live. Our presence during their arrival and throughout their stay is one way to share Jesus’ grace and love with our guests. UPPER SAND MOUNTAIN MISSION TRIP There is still time to register for this year’s USM mission trip. Join youth and adults leaving Sunday, June 18 traveling to Upper Sand, Alabama for a week of construction, painting, and odd jobs, returning Saturday, June 24.   As with any mission trip, it isn’t all about work.   Meet new friends, grow in relationship with your team members, worshi

I have been a part of Southport since 2005 and part of your ministry staff since July 2015. However, that will be changing soon. As many of you know, I am in the process of becoming a United Methodist pastor and my next step in that process is moving my family to the Columbus, Ohio area in June. In the fall, I will begin taking seminary classes at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. As a family, we leave with a mix of emotions. We are excited (and even scared at times) of where God is leading us. We also find times of joy and tears as we reflect upon our time at Southport. You shared our joy on many occasions including the birth and baptism of our children. Since arriving at Southport, you have comforted my family many times as we struggled – spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, and professionally. While we will miss being a part of Southport, we thank you for the love and grace you have   always shown to us. As 1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3 states “We alwa

The Leadership Team at Southport United Methodist Church cordially invites you to a celebration luncheon in honor of Pastor Mark Fisher. Sunday, June 11, 2017 Buffet Luncheon: 12: 30 p.m. Program:   around 1:15 p.m. If you have any questions, call the church office at (317) 784-9508. Hope to see you there!!!!