It’s been a very busy fall at Auburn First UMC! A new year of Sunday School has begun, the youth room is undergoing some big renovations (thanks to a generous grant from the Great Plains Annual Conference), and God is doing world-changing ministry through this congregation. Here’s a look at what we’ve been doing in the last several weeks, and a sneak preview of what’s coming next in worship!
Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!
Our fundraisers at Lord’s Acre this year have been a massive success, thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and the generosity of our community! Preschool Pumpkin Day (October 3rd) was a hit as usual, and over 100 three and four year-olds got to enjoy train rides, hay rides, stories, treats, and crafts. (You can check out some pictures of the fun here!)
We also had several weekends in late September/early October where the pumpkin patch was open for the whole community. People came from all over to pick pumpkins, and they were exceedingly generous with their donations: we raised over $3,000 for local hunger projects. Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who helped with pumpkin sales this year, and thank you to everyone who came out for some pumpkin-picking fun!
The Amazing Youth Group VS. World Hunger
God is SO good, and God is doing amazing things through our youth group! After 10 months of fundraisers (including Preschool Pumpkin Day, a booth at the County Fair, the BRAN ice cream social, the Easter offering, the Valentine’s Day M&Ms, and the Super Bowl sandwiches), they have raised just over $4,000 for Heifer International…which means that they are less than $1,000 away from their goal of raising enough money for an Ark of animals! (What does an Ark do? Learn more about it on the Heifer International website. )
The youth group also led our worship service on Sunday, October 15th. Using resources from Bread for the World, they designed and led the entire service–including children’s time, Scripture lessons, sermons, and prayer time. They did a fantastic job; we’ve been blessed with some incredible young leaders in our congregation! And as part of our final fundraising push, the youth distributed specially-decorated giving envelopes on Youth Sunday, and they are asking for donations between $1 and $50. If you took one of the envelopes, please bring it back to church either this Sunday or next Sunday (the 22nd or 29th.) Thank you so much for helping the youth fight hunger, and thank you for being an example of God’s generosity and abundance for our young people.
Moses: The Series!
Finally, we are about to begin a new sermon series based on the life of Moses. From October 22-November 19, we will be taking a look at various segments of the Moses saga–his birth, his encounter with the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, and the journey through the wilderness–and seeking some wisdom for our lives as 21st-century Christians. This series will also tie in with our 2017 stewardship campaign, as we prepare to recommit ourselves to extravagant generosity in the new year. Join us as we take a fresh look at an old Sunday School classic, and as we search out how God is calling us to participate in the life of the church next year!
Continue to be blessed by the beauty of the changing seasons this fall, and we’ll see you in church!