Resources

NUMC News

NUMC Weekly Newsletter Click here to read the current e-news.

Fruitful Congregation Journey

The Consultation weekend is now behind us and the discernment process begins as we consider the report. Read the supporting reports by clicking below

Consultation Report with Prescriptions

Frequently Asked Questions (165 KB)

Mission Insite Report (791 KB)

Guest Worshiper Report (397 KB)

Church Survey Report (164 KB)

FCJ Self-Study Document

Church Conference Meeting: Hear the FCJ report, ask clarifying questions, and vote on the prescriptions.

Sunday April 7th @ 2:00pm in the Sanctuary

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PC's Chronicles - Archived Articles

It's one of those strange weeks: only a few days since a heart-wrenching national tragedy and only a few more days until we celebrate one of the greatest events in history, Christmas. It's not ironic or coincidental either, because this is our reality. This real world has both evil and good, violence and kindness, retribution and grace, hate and love, or as scripture often defines this paradox of our existence, darkness and light.

It's not unusual that we experience the darkness of the world and yet long for the promises of God in Jesus Christ. It's why he came, to provide hope where all seemed hopeless; to bring peace where conflict abides; to bring joy even in the most difficult circumstances and to show love to a longing humanity. He is the light that shatters darkness!

But what does that really mean?

Christmas is all about potential, an alternative to the status quo. It's God saying to humanity, "you can do better, I'll show you how and I'll help you along the way." That's the beauty of Christmas, that God showed up to chase the darkness away from our lives and to shine his light not just on us, but in us and through us. Christmas is to be a great reminder that we can do better. We can love more completely, give more generously, hope more completely and experience authentic joy...all because God cares about us, the whole human family that is.

We're not just to celebrate the light this week in our Christmas celebrations, we are to shine it too, every day.

Merry Christmas!

Peace ><>

Pastor Chris

A few weeks ago our staff was privileged to travel to the fastest growing United Methodist Churches in the nation. Many of you will recognize their pastor, Adam Hamilton. Church of the Resurrection has grown from 4 people in 1990 to more than 19,000 members today. And no, that is not a misprint.

Each year since 1999, they have offered a Leadership Institute, gathering church leaders from around the nation to develop their leadership skills while discovering how COR has been so successful at reaching so many people. This was my second trip to COR, having been at that first conference in 1999. It is inspiring to see this church work; from worship, planning, and community involvement to hospitality and service. But the thing that impacted me most was how they described and practiced their ministry of prayer. And it got me to wondering...

...How are we really praying at NUMC?

Most of us pray regularly. We pray for ourselves, the needs of our family and friends, the requests of the church and whatever is on our minds. But I wonder, are we praying for the church? Am I praying for the church in the way I should be? And what would happen if I prayed, we prayed, like COR does for it's church, its ministries and its community? So I decided to start praying differently and I invite you to join me.

Here's what I mean...I want you to pray like this:

That God empower the church with the Holy Spirit like never before.

That God's will become perfectly clear to the leadership

That the church staff grows deeper in faith, empower their ministries, develop their leadership

That new ministry areas be revealed, discovered.

That new leaders will be developed, called.

That the Newburgh area would be prepared for the ministry we will be offering.

That the NUMC family grow closer together

That our small groups, Sunday School Classes and Bible Study groups continue to grow.

That our worship experiences be filled with relevant teaching, spirit-moving worship and life changing responses.

That our mission efforts be expanded and blessed.

That we fully embrace Jesus Christ's call for us, to make disciples of all nations.

That all we do gives glory to God through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord!

I believe that when we begin praying like this, something is going to happen. Whether it happens in us or in the whole church, it will be noticable. Pray with me, in this cosmic way and let's see just what God might have in store for Newburgh UMC!

Peace ><>

PC (Pastor Chris)

Finance Committee

When harvest time rolls around every year, it’s time to start planning for the next year

and our Finance Committee is doing that right now. They have done a remarkable job

not only of planning well for this year, but also of managing our resources to keep us in

solid financial health. Their work has provided our Trustees with funds to maintain our

buildings, our church with a great staff, and all our areas and volunteers with the tools

they need to provide excellent ministries to this community. And of course they could not

have done this without your crucial partnership and faithfulness in giving through the

church.

Stewardship Committee

We begin our efforts to teach and train the principles of good stewardship throughout

with our fall Stewardship Campaign entitled, Time, Treasure, Talent. Jay Jacobs will be leading this effort along with a great group of committed people who understand that stewardship is not so much about money as it is how we live our whole lives. Watch for more coming in the mail and on Sunday mornings beginning October 21st.

Trustees

Our Trustees have continued their hard work this year by providing some much needed

work behind the scenes. They have replaced 2 air conditioning units that failed this

summer, built a new deck on the parsonage, repaired the sanctuary projector, and have

begun a “green” plan to replace all the aging light fixtures throughout the building. This

will reduce our electrical usage significantly. All of this and more has been completed

within their budget for the year. And they have even more that they hope to accomplish

before the end of the year. I’m sure you will want to thank them all for their commitment

to being good stewards of our church property.