TGIW Cancelled for January 8, 2013

See everyone January 15, 2013 at TGIW!

Join Chicks with Sticks!

When I first came to Troy UMC, I expected to serve in some capacity. Based on my “Spiritual Gifts Assessment” and experience at a previous church, I was certain that I would serve in a capacity of caring and servanthood. But to tell you the truth, I was pretty burnt out and was not anxious to jump back in and do “what I always do.”

In the meantime I met another new member crocheting after a TGIW meal. I knit but wanted to learn how to crochet. She offered to teach me. That is how Chicks with Sticks started three years ago. We now have not just a knitting/crocheting group, but truly a ministry that serves at several levels. We teach and share with each other and/or anyone who would like to join us. Simple fellowship has grown into a special bond of caring and supporting each other. The items that we create are blessed each week and then donated to charities both near (here in Troy, Belleville, Granite City) and far (North Dakota, Japan, Columbia South America.)

It is true that for everything that is given, blessings are received tenfold. I have found my place, my passion in serving. I know for certain that this has been an endeavor led by the Holy Spirit.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite others to join us to learn, visit, and share. You may want to come every week or maybe just occasionally. Perhaps our scheduled time doesn’t work for you, but you would like to donate items that you work on at home. All are welcome. We meet every Wednesday evening at the church from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Call me if you would like more information, or just show up! My phone no. is 345-6608.  My e-mail is cindyw@wisperhome.com.

And by the way, I never really learned how to crochet, but my knitting has really improved.

Serve Joyfully!

Cindy Whitcomb

TGIW

TGIWednesday

--> Relational Connections
--> Spiritual Growth
--> Community

TGIW will begins August 21!  Fried Chicken, Worship, New Classes and groups! 

TGIW for the Fall of 2013!

What is TGIW?  It's for you...  Wednesday evenings are a key ingredient to community at Troy United Methodist Church!  The relaxed schedule allows for you to have dinner, worship, and grow in faith through classes and groups for all ages.  Everyone is welcome.  You can pick and choose what to take part in from the Food Court to Worship to Classes and Groups.

Whole Pizzas For Sale!

Whole pizzas can now be ordered at the TGIW dessert window
Pizza menu:
3 cheese, Sausage, or Pepperoni=$7.00
Meat lovers or Deluxe=$8.50

Food Court

One of the TGIW anchors is the food court. It provides a convenient way to pull the family together for great dinner before the evening ministries. Here are the cost for the meal:
Hot Buffet: $6.00 (includes small salad, drink and dessert)
Salad Bar: $5.00 (includes dessert and drink)
Ala Carte items are priced individually (hot dogs, pizza slices, chips, etc).
Children 4-12 are $3.00, children under 4 eat free.
Household maximum of $19.00 - a great deal!
The food court is located in the the Family Life Center and is serving from 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM.

                           

Worship

There are two options for worship on Wednesday evening, both at 6:30 pm. 
The worship service in the Sanctuay typically uses hymns from the hymnal and is accompanied by piano.  Rev. Price (Sr. Pastor)  and Rev. Kurt Stone (Teaching Pastor) preach during this service.
The worship service in the Family Life Center is primarily led by the student worship band and youth ministry leadership team.  Other pastoral staff rotate the preaching. 
Also, as an act of worship on Wednesday evenings, many people give their talents and abilities to help in leadership in a variety of areas.  If you have a desire to help in leading in children or youth ministry or in music ministry, there are opportunities for you! 
Children's Ministry - david@troyumc.org
Student Ministry - kurt@troyumc.org
Music Ministry - emily@troyumc.org or tim@troyumc.org

Connect with Kim "Miss Kim" McGrath

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church? 

About 9 yrs.

RUBY: What drew you to this church?

Everything they offered for children.

RUBY: Which service do you typically attend?

9am service, I LOVE the music it truly lifts me.

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

Jeremiah 29:13 – you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart.

And my FAVORITE song is a tie between Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord and Blessings by Laura Story.

I think because they all touch my heart so deeply. Especially Blessings because the words mean so much to me.

RUBY: Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and in the community.

I am the director for 1^st Step Learning Center – (the preschool here at Troy UMC) and I volunteer with Harvest Ministries, Children Ministries and have joined the team of “Dessert Makers” for TGIW recently. I really just love to help out where I can and I love to cook and bake!

RUBY: I was sold on 1^st Step Learning Center the first time I spoke with you on the phone. Tell us about 1^st Step Learning Center and your involvement with it.

Well, when my daughter was 2, I heard about the preschool program through a friend. I called and put her on the wait list, and she was enrolled a few weeks later. At that time parents were required to volunteer once a month in the classroom. I loved it so much I volunteered as much as I could. I was approached by the director to be a substitute teacher and did that a couple of times. I was then asked if I would be interested in becoming a teacher and office assistant for the following school year. And I have been here ever since.

RUBY: If you could, what kind of business would you love to start? 

I always wanted to own a bakery. 

 

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

I have a husband – David, all I can say about him is he makes me laugh and is truly amazing. And God blessed us with a miracle in the form of a beautiful daughter – Abby. She is my everything, and I am extremely proud to be her mom. I am very lucky to have my extended family mostly in this area. My parents, sister, brother, and lots of niece and nephews and great nieces and nephews that live with in 10 minutes of us.

I would be wrong if I didn’t include my pets as part of my family. We have our “girls” Sophie, and Lola and our only boy Sheldon - our puppies and my bird Bailey and Abby’s cat Jumpers.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection? 

You can e-mail me at work or home or I am on Facebook as well.

Connect with Debbie Rakers

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church?

Debbie:  27 years

RUBY: What drew you to this church?

Debbie:  I was looking for people to talk to. I went to another church that no one spoke or introduced themselves, and I had gone there for about 2 years. And when I walked in the doors here for the first time, a very special lady came up and introduced herself and made me feel like this was home. I will be forever grateful to her, because it was here that I found Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

RUBY: Which service do you typically attend?

Debbie:  I usually go to the 10:30 service, but I attend a Sunday school class at 9:15 am, and I listen to and sing the first few songs of the 9:00 am service before going to my class.

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

Debbie:  My cousin from California sang beautiful Christian songs, and when we were out there on a visit in 1991, my uncle gave us a tape of her singing. My daughter, my niece and I sang those songs all the way home. One of them was “The Battle Belongs to the Lord.”

I also love the song “How Great Thou Art” and each time I hear it now I cry, because we played it at my mom’s funeral as she had requested, and I still miss her.

A Bible verse that inspires me is Phil 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

RUBY: Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and/or the community.

Debbie:  Along with Heather Walker, I have been involved with the Methodist Missionaries for Christ (M&M’s 4 Christ) which is what they named themselves . They were the 5^th and 6^th graders, and they love to do mission work for the Lord. It was changed this year, but I know that we will be doing many more things because God is still in control and though it involves a wider range in ages (K-12^th grades), they continue to ask about it and want to remain strong in it. We will be taking them again to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham in June. I have been on quite a few mission trips in the past, and I am currently serving on the Mission team. I also help out with the junior high on Wednesday nights. I truly love the brothers and sisters in Christ that I have come to know over the years and the new ones I meet every day. When we had vacation bible school in the evenings, I helped out there. I have been a part of the United Methodist Women.

RUBY: What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Debbie:  From the Bible … Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

RUBY: What was your favorite game you played as a child, and why?

Debbie:  I think that would be Scrabble… still love to play that game because it helps keep your mind thinking.

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

Debbie:  I am married to Doren Rakers. We have known each other since high school, and after taking many different paths and going through many different struggles we both ended up in Troy and made the choice to marry making Christ the center of our marriage for nearly 14 years now. God has been so good to us.

My daughter Cassie and her husband Billy have given us 3 wonderful grandchildren - Simone, Sophie and Britton. Doren’s daughter Pam and husband Dave have given us a beautiful granddaughter - Isla. They live in Colorado. His son Doug and wife Rowan who currently are in Ft. Irwin, California have also given us 3 fantastic grandchildren - Aiden, Chloe and Lucas.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

My email is dordeb55@aol.com

My cell number is 618-830-2813. I do accept texts, but don’t like to have texting conversations.

My home number is 618-667-3261.

I do have a Facebook page.

I try to check my email and facebook every day, but sometimes just don’t have the time, so calling is best for immediate response.