Southport UMC Newsletter

From the Lead Pastor ... We have talked a lot over the past few months, and more over the past few weeks about the special called session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church meeting in St. Louis this past weekend. The session concluded today and the results of that gathering are ... muddled. Sorry, that's the best word I have to describe it. By a slim margin the delegates voted to approve the Traditional Plan, a plan that was declared in violation of the UMC Constitution in a number of areas. Some amendments were also approved, but it doesn't appear that it was enough to bring this plan into compliance. What the issues are, I am not sure. The Traditional Plan was put forward by the more conservative wing of the church and would not only keep the prohibitive language against same sex relations in the Book of Discipline, but would also greatly enhance the punishment for those who decide to go against those prohibitions. Our Bishop, Bishop Julius T...

Greetings from the SUMC Leadership Team!   Last month Peggy Boyll, the 2019 Chair of the team, gave a great overview of the structure of the team and   introduced herself.   This month I’d like to share a little more about the team as well as a little about me. My faith journey has taken many twists and turns through the years.   A little over three years ago, God led my husband Phil and I to SUMC.   I remember hearing about a “leadership team” shortly after we started attending worship here but had no idea who they were and what they did.   I’ve now learned that there is an “Accountability Leadership Structure” document that defines the Leadership Team, as well as what the foci (am I the only one who didn’t know this is the plural of “focus”?) of the team is supposed to be.   The first focus is connecting with Christ, and the second focus is connecting with people.   That’s YOU – each and every one of the family of Christ and SUMC.   S...

Mark your calendars for the following dates for the annual Men’s Lenten Breakfast series.   All times are 7:30 a.m. unless noted below (Note:   the men are responsible for organizing and cooking – thus the name.   HOWEVER, everyone is welcome to attend.) March 9 District Breakfast at Christ UMC (Note time:   8:00 a.m.) Sponsored by Central District Metro Ministries March 16 Woodside hosting @ Edgewood UMC March 23 St. Andrew UMC                March 30 Christ UMC April 6 Rosedale Hills UMC April 13 Edgewood UMC

Have you seen the new youth communication area in The Gathering Place? Did you get to try Bible Jeopardy with the students? This is the place to ask questions, find out what is happening, sign up for events, and to introduce yourself and your students. Save the dates! Youth meeting in The Underground: Every Sunday 5:00-7:00 p.m. Winter Jam:   March 29 Retreat at Camp Indicoso:   April 26-27 Retreat/mission trip to Camp Moneto:   June 1-7 Mayor’s Veteran’s Family Appreciation Picnic:   July 20 Ways to support our youth? ·   Share some home-made treats for snack time at Youth meetings. Sign up on the calendar in The Gathering Place to choose your dates. ·   Consider being a driver/chaperone for these wonderful trips. Watch for sign up sheets near the calendar in The Gathering Place. ·   Pray for and encourage your youth and their leaders. Current Events are also on the SUMC.org website youth page. Jerry Kidwell – 31...

Less than three months until our workcamp/retreat!! Located in beautiful Brown County, Camp Moneto is our largest church campgrounds in Indiana! Again, we are going to lend our hands to help get this camp into great shape! Saturday, June 1st through Friday, June 7th, we will be lending our hearts, minds, hands, and time to help build, fix, clean, paint, and make welcome this camp to hundreds of youth, families, church groups, and individuals, to grow closer to Christ and each other! It will be an exciting time to see how we can be home missionaries and see how God can use us! It will be a time to grow in our faith through actions, study and prayer. What do you need to qualify for this experience? A willing heart and desire to serve Christ! Do you need to have any special skills or experience? No, just a willingness to learn from our volunteers and campground staff who will show you, in a safe way, what and how to do it! If you have special skills or experience, yes, we need y...

For a number of years now the Southport Community Garden has operated on some vacant land near the back parking lot on Van Dyke Street just south of the church. Beginning this Spring, crops will again be popping up in the garden. We are excited to announce that following several years of having maximum participation, some rows will now be available to new people wanting to grow vegetables and/or flowers.  Rows will be made available on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Anyone wanting to inquire about the possibility of claiming some planting space should contact the church office.

Again SUMC will collect food donations for Servant's Heart in Beech Grove. Kids are home at the end of March for Spring Break and foods are needed to feed all of the family. So let's provide the following: canned pasta meals, meats, and soups, and boxed macaroni and cheese snacks for kids - fruit roll ups, small fruit packs, individual cracker packs, individual cookie packs, and small cereal packs SUMC will be collecting food from February 28 thru March 3rd. Our donations in February resulted in 190 pounds of food for Perry Township and Beech Grove families.   THANK YOU!