A Message from Pastor Paul
May 18, 2012

Dear Meadow Park Family:

I’m really excited about the next installment in our What is Truth series this weekend. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has been leading us on a journey to authenticity – teaching us how to live as real life followers of Christ. The last three sections of Jesus’ Sermon speak directly to our spiritual journey and confront us with key choices about the path we follow to God. I invite you to read and meditate on Matthew 7:13-29 in preparation for this weekend’s message and to come prepared to study God’s Word as we explore True Spirituality.

Next weekend, which is Memorial Day weekend, we will conclude our What is Truth series by simply allowing God’s Word in the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5-7 – to speak to our hearts. It will be a fun, celebrative weekend in which we allow the actual text of Jesus’ message to be the full focus of our study. I hope you’ll plan to be with us.

I also want to encourage you to continue to pray daily for God’s future for Meadow Park. This is an incredibly exciting time to be part of ministry here. It is so important that all of us are praying daily for God’s plan and direction for our next steps as we begin the search for our next worship leader and consider the merger request from the Pathway Church of God in Delaware. It is thrilling to know that God is at work in the world and that He has invited us to join Him! Wow!

Keep loving God, each other, and the people God misses most! And as God’s family at Meadow Park, always remember that You are loved!

paul

Around the Park…

Community Cookout
Wednesday, May 30—6:30pm
Meadow Park will host a community cookout for our neighbors. Volunteers, as well as food dishes, are needed. Sign up at the Connections table.

Weekend to Remember by Ohio State Buckeye Great and Basketball Hall of Famer—Jerry Lucas—June 23-25 Hosted by Meadow Park Church of God Ohio State Buckeye Great and Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas will visit Meadow Park Church June 23-25 to share his Christian ministry that focuses on family learning and relationships and remembering names and faces. He will give five presentations during this “Weekend to Remember.” There is no fee to attend the presentations; however, a freewill offering will be taken to support his ministry. Childcare is available for infants through grade 5. Presentation information:            Improving Family Relationships—Saturday, June 23, 6pm service and Sunday, June 24, 8:30am and 11am services—Jerry teaches a message that gives families a road map to successful relationships and shows them how to remember all of the points of the message.   Family Learning Made Fun and Easy—Sunday, June 24, 6pm—Jerry teaches a God-given gift called Automatic Learning, which enables attendees to remember everything he teaches during the hour-long presentation without the necessity of taking notes. During the presentation, he teaches how to learn lists, states and capitals, grammar, Spanish, the presidents, the Bible and several other subjects.  Names and Faces Made Easy—Monday, June 25, 7pm— Jerry teaches his proven method of remembering names and shows attendees how to never forget another name. Weekend Schedule:  Saturday, June 23, 6pm service Improving Family Relationships Sunday, June 24, 8:30am and 11am servicesImproving Family Relationships Sunday, June 24, 6pmFamily Learning Made Fun and Easy Monday, June 25, 7pmNames and Faces Made Easy

 

Men’s BBQ (ages 21-40)
Tuesday, May 22—6:30-9:30pm—Scioto Park (on Riverside Drive north of Emerald Parkway) Please Join Us!

Share your story with us! We want to hear how God is working in your life and of how your relationship with God is affecting your life. E-mail your story to: mystory@meadowpark.org. And, please let us know if this is confidential or if we have your permission to share your story with others in the congregation.

Emeritans' Events Breakfast at Sunny Street Café— May 21, 28—8:30am—Sawmill Breakfast at Chef-O-Nette—May 23, 30—8:30am—Tremont Center For information about Emeritan events, contact John Ellas (771-9639). For grant information, contact Helen Gibson (451-4226).

 

Meadow Park Garden Help
Saturday, May 19—9am
We need your help to plant flowers in the large bed surrounding the MPC sign. You don’t have to be a Meadow Park Garden Bug to help! (But we can always use more Garden Bugs if you’re interested in signing up.) For more information, contact Sandi Rockwell (sandi.rockwell@emerson.com  or 561-6447).

Job Posting Board
Meadow Park has started a Job Posting Board on the bulletin board by the main office. If your organization has a job opening for which you would like to inform our members and guests, please submit complete information to office@meadowpark.org with the words “job posting” in the subject line.

Stewardship Update

	General Fund	Building Fund	Faith Promise
Giving this Week:	$19,581	$3,999	$1,309
Giving to Date:	$477,452	$191,793	$37,189
Budget Goal:	$476,011	$34,119	$32,811

 

Community Groups

Summer Quarter Community Groups Brochure For a listing of all summer quarter classes, please pick up the new Community Groups brochure at the Information Centers or you can print one here . For more information about Community Groups, contact Gene Cahall (gcahall @ meadowpark.org or 451-8745, ext. 114) or Pastor Vickie Doyle (vdoyle @ meadowpark.org, ext. 150).

 

Electives 101: Newcomers’ Seminar Wednesday, Jun. 13—6-9pm Facilitators: Director of Outreach Kristina Neff and Pastor Vickie Doyle Focus on your personal faith journey and learn about our beliefs and history 201: Help! What’s in the Bible and How Do I Use It? Saturdays, Jun. 16-Jul. 7—5-6pm Facilitator: Pastor Vickie Doyle An overview of Old and New Testaments. A great introduction on how to use your Bible. Seven Steps to Financial Freedom For the Devoted Follower of Christ Saturdays, Jun. 16-Jul. 7—5-6pm Facilitator: Brian Turner This study, developed by Church of God Ministries, examines our financial beliefs and practices in the light of God’s Word. What did Jesus, His disciples and other people of God teach others about money? 102: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts Saturdays, Jul. 14-Aug. 18—5-6pm We all have spiritual gifts given to us by God. Find out yours! All, please note: no faciliators are listed, as Bob Horn cannot do it and they’re looking for who can. Prayers of the New Testament Saturdays, Jul. 14-Aug. 18—5-6pm Facilitators: Sue Glander & Barb Kissner Are your prayers stuck in a rut? In these Bible studies you’ll find new ways to pray through the prayers of Mary, Simeon and Anna, Peter, Paul, John and Jesus. Register for the above courses at the Connections table or email Gene Cahall (gcahall@meadowpark.org).

Ongoing Community Group

Mid-week EMAIL Bible Study
Fifty-two weeks of the Old Testament. If you are interested in this approach to growing in your Bible knowledge, please email Joe Barnard (joe@computer-fun.com).

Love and Respect Young Couples' Group
Facilitators: Kyle and Lauren Younkman
Sundays—9:45am—Room 149D
This group for young couples, who are soon-to-be or recently married, is led by Kyle and Lauren Younkman. The group is studying the book,Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy by Gary Thomas. For more information, contact the Younkmans.

Men’s Group—This group meets every other Monday—7:30-9:30pm—Room 149A. Leaders are Brent Witt and Dick Thatcher. Topic: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge.

Sunday Morning Community Groups

These groups meet each Sunday morning at 9:45am. You can pick up a Spring Quarter Community Groups Brochure at the Connections table in the lobby to find room information and location about each group or download here.

Ambassadors—Church of God Bridges curriculum
Journey in the Word—1st & 2nd Peter
Seekers—Gospel of Luke
Serendipity—The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
Shekinah—Church of God Bridges curriculum
Sojourners—Proverbs
Something More—Continuing the Gospel of Luke

For more information about Community Groups, contact Gene Cahall (gcahall@meadowpark.org or 451-8745, ext. 114) or Pastor Vickie Doyle (vdoyle@meadowpark.org, ext. 150).

Children's Ministry

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Children’s Ministry Newsletter
Please check your email inbox for the latest issue!

Infant and Toddler Helpers Needed
We need your help Sunday mornings taking care of infants and toddlers during the 11am service. Grandmothers (and grandmother-types) who love to hold babies are encouraged to volunteer. If you are interested, please contact Judy Houser.

Children's Church—May 20—11am—Children's Chapel
This is a time for children to experience a worship environment structured just for them through music, storytelling, and hands-on activities. On the fourth Sunday of every month, the children attend the adult service with their families and Children’s Church is not in session.

Play and Praise (infants-age 3)
Every Sunday—8am-12pm
in the Children’s Ministry Area

Junior Youth—May 20—11am
In the Muscle Room
Junior youth is a time when kids in third through fifth grade can get together for fellowship, caring and serving. This is an opportunity for older elementary kids to make connections with each other, our church and the community. Junior Youth meets the third Sunday of every month.

Adventure Series – Allaso Ranch
Saturdays at 6pm or Sundays at 9:45am—Great Hall

Allaso Ranch (grades K-5)
There’s something for everyone at Allaso Ranch! Whether you like hiking, swimming, paintball, riding down zip lines, or riding horses, this “camp” is where you want to be. At Allaso Ranch, we’re “getting away” and getting to know God.

Allaso Ranch Jr. (ages 3-5)
Come join us as we go to Allaso Ranch, where we’ll join Sydney, Haley and the Dirty Jacket gang and learn about all the things God created us to do. So, grab your sleeping bag and backpack, and come “camping” with us at Allaso Ranch!

Bible Skills One
Sundays, May 20, 27—11am—Room 116 (fireplace room)
Attention kids in third through fifth grades. We have begun another session of Bible Skills One. If you have never attended a Bible skills class, this is the one for you.

VBS Set-building Help Needed!
Wednesdays, May 23, 30, June 6—6-8pm—
First Alliance Church, 3750 Henderson Rd. 
We are partnering with First Alliance Church to set the stage for SKY VBS 2012. Please join us - for an hour, an evening or all the sessions - in completing the sets to be used by both churches. We’ll be drawing, tracing, cutting, painting and building. Contact Judy O’Dell (judy.odell @ ymail.com) to sign up to help or if you have questions.

For more information about Children's Ministry, contact:
Dee Turner, Dir. of Children's Ministry (dturner@meadowpark.org or 451-8745 ext. 119)
Melissa Gerold, Admin. Assistant (mgerold@meadowpark.org or 451-8745 ext. 152)
Sandy Bailey, Co-director, MPCC (sbailey@meadowpark.org or 451-8814)
Meg Scaggs, Co-director, MPCC (mscaggs@meadowpark.org or 451-8814

Student Ministries— www.myyouthsite.com

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SMY (Sunday Morning Youth)—Sundays—9:45 a.m.—Gym
D-Teams—Sundays—6pm—Youth Lounge

Student Ministries Events
New Life Breakfast Sunday, May 27 We will leave Meadow Park at 6:15am and return at 9:45am. Join us as we serve breakfast, pack lunches and help in the clothing room.
Cedar Point Trip Saturday, June 9—leave church at 7am and return Sunday at 1am. Cost is $60. Sign up at Connections table.
Join Us for “The BIG Breakfast” Sunday, June 3—9-10:30am—Gym Please join us for a breakfast feast sponsored by Student Ministries. Donations are welcome.
Summer Trips
International Youth Convention	July 3-9 $125 payment due May 27
Kentucky Heartland Outreach	July 15-21

For more information about Student Ministries, contact:
Pastor Steve Almquist (salmquist@meadowpark.org or 451-8745 ext. 159)
Renee Sleeper, Admin Assistant (rsleeper@meadowpark.org or 451-8745 ext. 115

Outreach

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Book Drive
Saturday/Sunday, May 19/20 and 26/27—Lobby
Meadow Park is hosting a book drive to benefit those being reached by our missionaries, Josh & Debbie Westover, who are serving with Mission Year in Atlanta. Barnes & Noble is providing select discounted books for you to purchase and donate to children in a blighted Atlanta neighborhood. Check the Connections table for more information.

Garments of Praise – Rachel’s House Fashion Show
Thursday, June 14—6:30pm
GracePolaris Chapel, 6675 Worthington-Galena Rd.
Join us for the first Garments of Praise Fashion Show benefiting Rachel’s House, a program for women looking for a new start. Enjoy an evening of fashion modeled by Rachel’s House participants and graduates, light fare and stories of hope. Tickets are limited and are available for $25 each. Order tickets online at www.lowerlights.org or by phone at 228-3855.

Homeless Families Foundation
HFF, a new Faith Promise partnering ministry for 2012, is in urgent need of the following: blankets and sheets (all sizes except for king), pots, pans, silverware and bath towels. Please place your donations in the BOGO bin.

Bakery Stewards Needed
Saturday mornings, starting this month
Volunteers are needed Saturday mornings to pick up day-old bread donations from the Giant Eagle on Cosgray Road, Hilliard. Volunteers pick up the bread and bakery items, then drop them off at Meadow Park Church by 9:30am. Items go to New Life United Methodist Church for their breakfast ministry. If interested, contact Kristina Neff (kneff@meadowpark.org).

New Life  Breakfast Ministry
Sunday, May 27—6:15am
Join us as we serve breakfast, pack lunches and help in the clothing room at New Life United Methodist Church. We will meet in the Meadow Park parking lot at 6:15am to carpool and return at 9:45am.

English Conversation Partners
Tuesdays—6:30pm—Park Café
English Conversation Partners is for adultslooking to improve their spoken English. Volunteers are needed to help one or more Tuesdays per month. Sign up at the Connections table or contact Kristina Neff (451-8745, ext. 118).

Community Cookout
Wednesday, May 30—6:30pm
Meadow Park will host a community cookout for our neighbors. Volunteers, as well as food dishes, are needed. Sign up at the Connections table.

Faith Promise Prayer Emphasis Rachel’s House www.lowerlights.org You’re invited Thursday, June 14, to the first Garments of Praise Fashion Show, benefiting Rachel’s House, a program for women looking for a new start. Enjoy an evening of fashion modeled by Rachel’s House participants and graduates, delicious light fare and stories of hope. The event begins at 6:30pm at Gracepolaris Chapel (6675 Worthington-Galena Rd.). Tickets are $25 and are available online at www.lowerlights.org and by phone at (614) 228-3855.

For more information about Outreach, contact: Kristina Neff, Director of Outreach (kneff@meadowpark.org or 451-8745 ext. 118). For more information about Outreach, contact: Kristina Neff, Director of Outreach (kneff@meadowpark.org or 451-8745 ext. 118).