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Outside Door Locks to Change January 14
Beginning Tuesday, January 14, all outside entrances directly into classrooms and offices will become “exit only” and external doorknobs and locks will be removed. This is being done as a security measure, following a review by Woodlawn’s Safety and Security team and the Board of Trustees.
Beginning Tuesday, these entrances will be able to be opened only from the inside. Propping open any external door at Woodlawn is prohibited, as this allows our building and people inside our building to be at risk. Persons will be asked to use one of the main entrances at the front or rear of the church building to access offices and classrooms inside.
While we know this is an inconvenience for members of our congregation and those who use our facility, the sad fact is we live in a very different time and culture today. Woodlawn’s Trustees along with our Security and Safety team want to do whatever can be done to maintain a safer facility for all who utilize our building.
If you have questions, you may visit with Mike Stroot of the Woodlawn Safety and Security Team, or John Macera of the Woodlawn Trustees.
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Signed Agreement Seeks UMC Separation
Key leaders within the United Methodist Church recently announced a plan for separating the UMC into two or more denominations as a means to resolve the issue of LGBTQ inclusion. The agreement was reached by a 16-member group composed of representatives from different factions of the UMC, including the traditionalist Wesley Covenant Association and the LGBTQ-affirming Reconciling Ministries Network. Bishops from the U.S., Africa, Europe and the Philippines participated.
The group’s work was aided by a professional mediator, Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney of the Jewish faith who has no vested interest in the United Methodist Church. Feinberg previously helped oversee victims’ compensation funds after 9/11, and helped mediate victim compensation following the Mississippi Gulf oil spill.
The proposal, called the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace through Separation, must still be approved by delegates to the UMC’s General Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Minneapolis in May. It would be one of several proposals for the General Conference to consider, but under the new agreement, each leader who signed it promises to abandon all earlier proposals and put their full support behind the mediated Protocol.
The eight-page statement details the terms whereby the UMC’s traditionalist wing would depart to form a new denomination, leaving with a $25 million payment from the UMC, along with their properties, assets and memberships.
The UMC now has about 12.6 million members worldwide, including nearly 7 million in the U.S. Many estimate that as many as one-third of the churches in the U.S. might leave the UMC to join a more traditional denomination.
Annual conferences and their churches would automatically remain in the United Methodist Church unless they vote to join the new Methodist denomination before July 1, 2021. In the meantime, the protocol would place a temporary halt to proceedings regarding charges against clergy and members who have violated the current prohibitions around homosexuality until after the departure of the traditionalists.
A helpful FAQ document has been prepared by United Methodist News that answers many questions about the Protocol. It can be found at: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/protocol-of-reconciliation-and-grace-through-separation-faq United Methodist News also is planning a live-streamed interview with some of the “Protocol” negotiators at 8:30 a.m. CT on Monday, Jan. 13 on www.UMNews.org.
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THURSDAY 6 A.M. MEN’S BREAKFAST & BOOK STUDY
Men! Start 2020 early at 6am on Thursday, January 16, with a sturdy breakfast and review of a thoughtful 2016 book with a startling title: “GOD: an autobiography, as told to a philosopher,” by Jerry L. Martin.
The title of the book invites skepticism, even scorn. Dr. Martin, a lifelong agnostic, recounts an unexpected and lengthy encounter with God, who assigns to Martin the task of creating a written record from God’s narrative. Besides conveying the words of the deity (in BOLD print) Martin describes his own progression from disbelief that the messages are truly Godly to an acceptance that he must act as God’s ghost writer.
Dr. Martin has been an educator and philosopher. He headed the philosophy department at the University of Colorado and later, the National Endowment for the Humanities. He has published articles on public policy and education and has testified thereon to the U.S. Congress. He left all that, his life’s work, to write this book, accepting the questions and rejections of his professional colleagues.
Martin is married to Abigail Rosenthal, professor emerita of CUNY; they reside in Pennsylvania.
Copies of this book are offered on Amazon for as little as $1.00.
This ad hoc group is aimed at men who commute to an 8am job; the breakfast always concludes by 7am. A volunteer reads excerpts of the book while the group eats, interrupts and debates. Any donations in the past have been given to the Angel House Orphanage and School mission in Tanzania. This small group would welcome an influx of newcomers. Some regulars think the food is safe to eat! Call Frank O’Donnell (788-3224) or the church office (788-1507) for more information, or just show up at the Worship Center kitchen at 6am on Thursday, January 16.
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Jack & Jill Preschool Enrollment for the 2020/2021 School Year
Jack & Jill Preschool has begun enrolling for the September 2020 - May 2021 school year this week! The 2020-2021 school year begins on September 8, 2020. January 6-31, 2020 is open enrollment for Woodlawn UMC members and current students/and or siblings of current students. We will open enrollment to the public on February 1. Enrollment paperwork can be found at www.jackandjillderby.com. A completed enrollment form with payment of the enrollment fee ($75.00 cash or check) will hold your child’s spot for the 2020/2021 school year. You may drop off your completed enrollment form and fee (cash or check to Jack & Jill Preschool) at the preschool or WUMC office. The Jack & Jill office is open 8:30 am – 4 pm. For questions or more information, call 788-3797 or email Karen Riggins at krigginspreschool@gmail.com
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Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. Twice a month, Stephen Ministers gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education.
If you are hurting, please call for a Stephen Minister to help you in your difficult time. Sharyon Miller 316-651-7105, Donna Overmiller 316-207-5614
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Up Next in Worship
January 12: "Water Works"
January 19: Pastor Lori
January 26: New Series! "Bible Behind Bars"
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Today
8:00p AA
8:00p Al-Anon
Friday
6:00a Man in the Mirror - Men's
Bible Study & Fellowship
Sunday
Breakfast at 7:30am
Worship Services 8:30, 9:45, 11am
8:00p AA
Monday
8:00p AA
Tuesday
9:30a Mom’s Day Out
Wednesday
9:00a Sip & Clip
4:30p Yoga with Ginny
5:30p WOW Diner
6:00p WOW
7:00p Chancel Choir Rehersal
7:30p Praise Band Rehersal
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January 5 Giving
General $12,383
Capital $2,548
MFM (Union Rescue) $383
Last Month (November)
General Giving $72,079
General Expenses $55,781
Surplus $16,299
Capital Giving $8,942
YTD through November
General Giving: $687,470
General Expenses: $667,437
Surplus: $20,033
Capital Giving: $100,689
Move A Mountain
Income YTD through November $248,486
November Mortgage Payment $16,056
Loan Balance as of November 30 $1,058,232
Attendance January 5
Traditional Service 8:30: 147
The Gathering 9:45: 142
Traditional Service 11:00: 82
Total Attendance: 371
Total Attendance Last Year: 406
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