Spotlight: Pittsboro UMC Preschool, Metro's Annual Celebration, Missioner of the Year ...
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online.
WEDNESDAY WORDS
FROM METRO MINISTRIES, INC.
October 6, 2021
________________________________________________
Spotlight: Pittsboro UMC Preschool
Last Friday I had the opportunity to visit Pittsboro UMC's Preschool. The preschool was a 2021 grant recipient in Metro's grant cycle promoting Bishop Trimble and the Conference's Children Matter Most initiative.
I timed my visit during Jenny Rader's Music and Movement class. Miss Jenny is the preschool directo. In her grant application submission, she requested funds to purchase new music and several movement items. She has been introducing some of the new songs and activities to the 4 and 5 year olds.
When I arrived, the class was working on yoga poses to get warmed up. Then, the first song was "This is the Day (that the Lord Has Made)", which they sang, both verbally and with American Sign Language. There were at least seven songs, maybe more, that the class sang in the 30 minute session, some imitating animals, some identifying body parts, some using hula hoops, some rhythm sticks, and all of them incorporating controlled movement. It was an absolute joy to watch and listen to the kids, knowing they were working on physical coordination, pattern and rhythm recognition and memory, communication skills and self-control, all while having a great time.
Well done, Jenny Rader and staff, incorporating key soico-emotional learning components for your kiddos! Thank you for allowing me to capture a few moments.
_______________________________________________
Registration Open for Metro Ministries, Inc.'s Annual Celebration!
You are cordially invited to join us via Livestream on Thursday, November 4 at 7:00 pm for "Walking in the Light Together", as we celebrate 98 years of connecting ministries to resources in the Central District!
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Gibbs will be providing a keynote address, and we will be recognizing our Board President Tom Shryock, as he is concluding his term on Metro's Board. We will share in music, fellowship and stories of impact from Metro's grant recipients. We will also announce the winners of this year's Missioner of the Year awards.
There is no cost to attend this virtual event, but we do ask that you register. You may also make an honor and/or memorial gift to Metro Ministries to recognize individuals who have walked in the light with or for you.
Metro Ministries has a long-standing tradition of recognizing individuals, organizations, churches and church groups (eg: UMW of Church ABC) that have demonstrated outstanding missional work in the current year. If you recall last year, we recognized EVERYONE across the Central District for everyone’s perseverance and dedication to being the hands and feet of Jesus, in whatever ways that individually and collectively played out in 2020.
While we do appreciate and recognize the work that you all are doing in your church communities today, this year we want to pay special recognition to individuals and churches/church groups that are going above and beyond the local missional call. We are seeking your nominations for both individuals and organizations/churches/groups that you feel are deserving of this special recognition.
The criteria for Missioner of the Year are as follows:
* Goes beyond the church walls to join WITH people where they are.
* Builds relationships based on love, empathy and respect.
* Steps outside one’s comfort zone to walk alongside individuals and/or communities that may look, sound, live or believe differently.
* Engages in risk-taking mission and service, without consideration for whether or not individuals served will enter one’s own church doors or any church doors.
* Continually bears the light of Christ, through words and actions.
We are asking for nominations to be submitted by completing this ONLINE FORM. If you prefer, you can complete this PDF FORM and send to Metro Ministries (via email at metrodirector1923@gmail.com or print and mail to 2560 Villa Avenue, Indianapolis IN, 46203). All nominations must be received by October 17. Individual and church/group Missioner of the Year awards will be determined by Metro’s Community Connections team based on the nominations received and will be announced during Metro’s Annual Celebration on November 4.
Who do you know that exemplifies the above criteria? Who embodies the Central District mission of “Christ-Centered, Community-Connected and Missionally-Centric”? Please share the nomination form and link with others, and let’s see those nominations!
_______________________________________________
Seeking Board Members!
Metro Ministries is seeking individuals interested in serving on our Board of Directors. We are blessed to have a dedicated group of folks who believe in our mission of Connecting Resources to Ministries, and we are seeking to extend our capacity with a few more folks.
We are currently in need of a Board Secretary, as well as individuals to supplement our Finance, Governance and Communications teams.
We plan to hold a Meet and Greet event in late October with folks who would like to learn more about serving with Metro Ministries. Please reach out to Tina McAninch at metrodirector1923@gmail.com or (317) 452-4786 if you are interested in learning more.
_______________________________________________
Fletcher Fun Friday
There are still a few in-person tickets available for Fletcher Fun Friday event.
Join in a night of FUNdraising for Fletcher Place Community Center. This Harry Potter-themed event will include a trivia contest, a costume contest, live animals courtesy of Silly Safaris and more!
The in-person event will be held this Friday, October 8, 2021, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, in person at Hotel Tango Distillery.
In-person tickets are $25/person. Purchase tickets HERE.
_____________________________________________
Volunteer Opportunity with NeighborLink Indy
NeighborLink Indianapolis is proving that home repair doesn't have to be scary! On Saturday, October 30 from 8:30 am - 1:00 pm, they will host at least 50 volunteers to tackle multiple projects for homeowners in need across Indianapolis.
Folks can sign up as small groups or as individuals and then split into groups the morning of the event, to head out to projects to be completed that day. For details and to sign up, click HERE. No specific skills are required. Come join me and other volunteers!
_____________________________________________
Mondays in October: "What's Justice Got to Do With It?" 4-week Bible study by INUMC Diversity, Mission and Justice Ministries, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Registration is required.
If you know of other resources we should share, please let us know by emailing Tina McAninch at metrodirector1923@gmail.com.
_________________________________________________
FOOD RESOURCES
Community Compass
Community Compass is a tool created by Indy Hunger Network and has two key ways to connect individuals with food resources near them. The first is an app for smart phones that automatically provides food resources based on where the individual is. The second is the ability to text for food resources if an individual does not have a smart phone. Check out details of Community Compass. This very valuable tool now works in the donut counties as well as Marion County!
Listing of Central Indiana Food Pantries
We have updated the format of the food pantry list, making it easier to view when printed. You can download the updated listingHERE or from Metro's website's Resources Hub. Please let us know if you have food resources to add or update. We will make updates to this list on a quarterly basis.
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
