Many of our churches are offering Services of Ashes, as this Season of Lent begins today. Many of us will participate in this call to repentance and reconciliation by reflecting on our humanity, sins and mortality.
Today marks the beginning of 40 days of fasting for many of us, when we will give up something in our daily lives that we treasure. Yet, as Bishop Trimble stated in his Ash Wednesday devotion for today, "we must do so with caution. In Isaiah 58:1-12, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that our religious rituals can advertise our hypocrisy if we think we are impressing God." Bishop Trimble reminds us today to know that we are "a living witness for Jesus Christ. Our light shines brightest as we are helping others and are guided by the 'the Lord continually'.” May whatever we choose to give up this Lenten season help us to shine our brightest.
Today's full devotional from Bishop Trimble is included in this Lenten Devotional provided by the Indiana Annual Conference. Each day's devotion was written by a different representative of the INUMC, with diverse racial representation, clergy and laity, men and women, young and old. The devotional is available for use by congregations in many ways and includes eight coloring pages drawn from beautiful images of stained glass from different churches across the Conference.
Rev. Dr. Aleze Fulbright, our Conference Superintendent, is also inviting us to join in a weekly Lenten Learning during Lunch Time, to explore how to see God in plain sight via the book Lent in Plain Sight (the book should be purchased).The weekly discussions will be held via Zoom on Wednesdays, beginning March 9 from noon - 1:00 pm and will continue through April 13, the Wednesday of Holy Week.
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Ed Martin. Ed was a Metro Ministries Board Member from 2011 through 2016. A lifelong Methodist with a mind for business and a heart for local missions, Ed was a servant leader at Avon UMC for 22 years and at Zionsville UMC before that.
Ed's passion for missional work included serving on Fletcher Place Community Center's board of directors and persistently garnering support for Vida Nueva Ministries when the mission church was on the west side of Indianapolis and continuing that support after the church merged with Abundant Harvest UMC to form Abundant Vida Nueva UMC.
Ed was one of the first people. if not the first, that Lisa Morris introduced me to back in late 2018 before her retirement. After ensuring that his direct communication style had not scared me away, Ed then quickly became a mentor and a friend, calling me periodically to take me to lunch at his favorite lunch spot Iaria's. He was instrumental in my learning the science and art of making connections in the Central District.
Join me in praying for Ed's wife Charlotte and their entire family.
We cannot wait to gather at Castleton UMC for this year's Lenten Kickoff Breakfast, "Beginning the Lenten Journey." Check-in begins at 8:45 with the program beginning at 9:00 am.
We are grateful to Castleton UMW for sponsoring this year's event, and we are honored to have Carolyn Marshall, Executive Director of Lucille Raines Residence as our guest speaker.
We look forward to seeing you!
Contact Metro's office with questions about the event or registration, at (317) 452-4786.
Beginning next Wednesday, we will be sharing a weekly Lenten Video Moment, so stay tuned to continue the Lenten journey with Metro Ministries.
World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service.
There are three service options for this year's World Day of Prayer on March 4, 2022:
- 1:00 pm: In person at Robin Run Chapel, 5354 W. 62nd St, Indianapolis
The Faith and Action Project of Christian Theological Seminary hosts the seventh annual spring conference on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. This year's event will be in-person at Shelton Auditorium on Butler University's South campus.
The theme this year is Poverty and Mental Health: Examining the Connections. This event is an opportunity to join faith leaders, lay leaders, activists and nonprofit organizations from Central Indiana, to "Push Back Poverty".
Full details and registration information is available HERE.
Organizations planning to apply for a Faith & Action grant are strongly encouraged to attend the Faith & Action Spring Conference.
The Society of St. Andrew Indiana is seeking someone for a Gleaning Coordinator VISTA. This full-time year-long Americorps VISTA opportunity will be located in Indianapolis, from June 2022 - June 2023. Details on this opportunity including duties, benefits and application process are available HERE.
Did your church grow a garden in 2021? Did you share your harvest with your neighbors? If so, Rev. Jake Ohlemiller, the INUMC's new Creation Care Coordinator, wants to hear from you!
The Diversity, Missions and Justice Team wants to know how God used your investment to reveal hope and a future to the world around you. At the 2022 Annual Conference, three local churches will receive "Anathoth Awards", in recognition for their work through community gardens.
Click HERE to learn more about the award opportunity, including why the name "Anathoth" awards and how to submit your church's garden for consideration. Submissions must be made by March 13, 2022.
Matching grants up to $2,000 are available to help create new ministries or enhance current ministries with economically disadvantaged families and individuals. Click HERE for full details.
Urban Transitional Community Grants
Application deadlines are June 1 and December 1.
Notice of Intention to Apply must be received by March 1 for the June 1 deadline or September 1 for the December 1 deadline.
Matching grants up to $20,000 are offered by the based on criteria in the INUMC Urban Ministry Comprehensive Plan. Before applying for a matching grant, applicants should become familiar with this plan.
If interested in applying, review all the information HERE.
The Society of St. Andrew Indiana is seeking someone for a Gleaning Coordinator VISTA. This full-time year-long Americorps VISTA opportunity will be located in Indianapolis, from June 2022 - June 2023. Details on this opportunity including duties, benefits and application process are available HERE.
Love God, Love Neighbor is the theme for this year's Indiana Annual Conference, to be held June 9 through 11 in person at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.
The deadline to submit petitions or resolutions for the 2022 Annual Conference Session is March 10, 2022.
With the theme "Love God, Love Neighbor", the offering and service project focus this year is on our Afghan neighbors. Here are ways your church can participate:
Collect and bring a financial offering that will go to resettlement organizations for our Afghan neighbors.
Prepare and collect school kits comprised of THESE SCHOOL SUPPLY ITEMS and bring your church's collected kits to the Conference.
Have your church be a collection point for School Kits during the month of April and contact Jennifer Huff at jennifer.huff@inumc.org to arrange pickup in May.
Share stories of how your church has been present with and serving our Afghan neighbors. Contact Jennifer Huff at jennifer.huff@inumc.org for your stories to be shared during Annual Conference.
Consider co-sponsoring an Afghan family with other churches or organizations. Contact Metro Ministries for more information on this opportunity.
We hope to offer first names of our Afghan neighbors for churches to be in prayer for them.
Did you know the Indiana Conference website has a job posting board of open church staff positions and beyond?
Did you know that churches can post staff job opportunities on the INUMC Conference Job Board?
View current openings HERE, and scroll down to the "Post a Job" button to add your church's open positions.
Did you miss the latest newsletter from Metro Ministries? Is there a specific article you are looking for? You can access past issues at www.indymetroumc.org/communications!
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.
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