September 3, 2015

Norm’s Notes

I often stand in the foyer greeting people as they come to church on Sunday. I am actually the third person in line to greet people. There are the people handing out bulletins in front of the bulletin table, then Phil and April behind the bulletin table, then me. I stand so I can look down the hallway to the gym and see the front doors too, that way I get most of the people coming in the two main entrances. 
 
I have picked up on how to spot new attenders. They look around when they come in, they look a little overwhelmed, uncertain where to go and where to take their kids. I spotted a family last Sunday with the new attender look. Mom and dad, and four kids under about 10. I took the risk of asking “Is this your first Sunday here?” (The correct question is “How long have you been attending?” but I thought I knew this was their first time.) They replied they had been here for a wedding but this was their first time for church. I thought quickly to myself, they know a little about the building. We had at least gotten through the very first step in attending FMC – “I know the building, I have been here at least once.”
 
I told these first time attenders this was family worship Sunday and all the kids would be in worship, which they did not mind at all. I mentioned our kids coloring sheets for this Sunday, and I noticed this mother had a whole bag of books for the kids to read. This family came prepared for the kids to be with them in the worship service, even though it was their first time at FMC. And I noticed that everyone in the family was dressed for church. While it was their first time to worship at FMC, it certainly was not their first time in church. 
 
“I have been here before.” That made it one step easier to come today. From time to time we have new people moving to the community stop by to see the building before they attend. When our facilities are used by the community for blood drives, 4-H Auctions, home school events, and an occasional non-FMC attender wedding, that makes it easier to come the next time, perhaps to Sunday worship service.
 
One of the purposes behind our Bridge Events is to give to people wanting to attend Fairview an opportunity to be in the building before they attend a worship service. The upcoming Children’s Resale will draw 600-700 people, about 1/4 of them first time attenders. The Community Gift and Craft Show in November will draw 1000 and Bethlehem Marketplace in December will draw around 3000, 75% or more are in the building for the first time. When you are inviting others to church, also invite them to stop by during the week and see the sanctuary and children’s department. They need to have been here before.
 
I did not see the new family again after the service, but I will be looking for them this Sunday.
It’s great to be your Caring Pastor. See you Sunday!
Pastor Norm  
 Caring Pastor 

Pass it on

Do you have Bibles at your house that you no longer use? Drop them off under the mailboxes at church and they will be used around the world through Christian Aid Ministries in Shipshewana.
 
Old eyeglasses? Drop them off under the mailboxes too and they will be sent around the world through this same ministry. It it possible that, in eternity, someone will come up to you and say, “I could see to read the Bible because you gave your eyeglasses and a Bible to those who have neither.”
DivorceCare Sign up for a daily email.
GriefShare Sign up for a daily email.
ChristianCinema to find a good movie.
Small Groups at FMC. Join a small group.
 

 

Need Counseling?
Do you know someone going through a divorce? The best resource I have ever seen is the daily email from DivorceCare (see link above).

 

Also, if you know someone who has suffered loss of another kind, suggest to them the daily email from GriefShare (link above). It is the best resource of its kind.

 

Check out the counseling page on Fairview’s website for other help.
 
 
 
Church History Tidbit
Ever wonder about the big lighted cross window on the front of the church? Check outthis linkfrom our website to get the details. A side note: the lights behind the cross are on 24/7, even though they do not appear to be on when the sun shines on the window.
 
 
 
Meijer “Simply Give”
for Project Help
“Simply Give” is where Meijer will take a $10 gift and turn it into $30 with a double match. You can give to this is three ways:
1. Put your gift in the offering marked “Project Help”.
2. Send your gift to Project Help, PO Box 423, Angola.
3. Buy one or more $10 gift cards for Project Help at the Meijer checkout and Meijer will double match each $10 card for $30. The program runs through September 12. 

 

In the past 12 months, Project Help has spent over $30,000 on food from Meijer.