Monroe United Methodist Church

The 2012 calendar for signing up for altar flowers is posted in the narthex. Please consider signing up for a week of flowers for the altar. There are dates available in February and March, as well as the rest of the year. Cost is $25 and payable when you complete the envelope (attached to the bulletin board next to the sign-up sheet). Be sure to add what color of flowers you would like or leave it blank if you want the florist to choose for you. If you have questions, see Pam Kilburn or Barbara Riggs.

**Children & Youth**

B.L.A.ST. (Bible Learning Adventure Stations) Children’s Sunday School PK-4 through 6^th grade:

9:30 Gathering Time in small fellowship hall with donuts, milk and juice (led by Kelly Waugh)

February’s B.L.A.ST. Lessons will center around the Reign of King David

Parable Pavilion: led by Lyndi Uitto and Toni McDonough

Creation Station: led by Tracy Yalich

Children’s Sunday School offering for February and in conjunction with our lesson on David, the shepherd boy, will go to buy sheep through the Heifer International Project. All over the world Heifer partners are raising sheep to advance the cause against hunger and poverty. Our goal is to raise $120, the cost of a sheep, by the end of February. For more info: www.heifer.org.

Children’s Handbells will play on February 26th for the 9:30 and 10:45 services; practices will take place during the Sunday School hour.

Children’s Choir and Handbells will participate in the St. Patty’s Variety Show and meal on Saturday, March 17th. Parents, please mark your calendar and make plans to attend.

Hornet Haven is in need of large (64 oz.) cardboard juice boxes; drop them off by Valentine’s Day in Fellowship kitchen.

Calendar Correction: JumpStart will not meet today; they will meet on February 12th instead.

7th-12th Grade Lock-In! Sunday Feb. 19^th: the Cinci-youth leaders network is hosting an overnight Lock-In at The Web in West Chester, midnight to 6am. The cost is $25 payable at the door, and includes mini-bowling, lazer tag, arcade games, food, and more! Parents will need to drop off and pick up at the location, not the church. There is no school the following day, so we encourage all our 7th-12th graders to come out and have a fun time!

Summer Camp for Students: Sr. High Students are invited to attend camp with us June 24-June 30th. The cost for Sr. High campers is $300 each. Jr. High students are invited to attend July 9th-13th with a cost of $240 each. To help with the cost, a $100 camp scholarship is available to all teens who regularly attend youth ministry activities here at MUMC, along with our Spring Dinner-Theatre & Summer Rent-a-Youth Fundraisers. The 1st camp deposit of $50 is due to Brittany on Sunday, Feb. 19th. This deposit will be refundable up until the 2nd deposit date in late April. However, signing up for camp after the deposit dates will require the full payments amounts to be due.

**Adults & Family**

Calling 9:30 Scripture Readers for 2012! If you would like to participate in 9:30 worship as a scripture reader please contact Chuck Garitson (cb_garitson@yahoo.com) by the end of January to be added to the winter schedule.

The Mission Committee’s Food Drive is winding down; food bags are due TODAY. Please bring your filled grocery bag or canned goods to our “Souper” Bowl and join us for some soup at noon in Atchley Hall. We will have containers available if you wish to take soup home. Come one, come all and let’s make this food drive a great success!!!! If you have any questions please see Greg and Holly Stevens or anyone else from the Mission Committee!!!

You can still sign up for Life Connections Small Groups by calling Connie Wesner (513-360-0318). Space is still available in the following classes: The Mid-20 to 30s, The Mid 30-40s, Folks in Crisis, Parenting: Communication with Teens, and Personal Financial Strategies.

The initial meeting of the “Parenting” class led by Ann Copeland will meet on February 19th in the parlor.

Our Annual Easter Music Sunday performance will take place on Palm Sunday, April 1st. Rehearsals have begun; if you would like to participate in this event please contact Larry Daniel (539-8521) to get a rehearsal schedule (or check “This Week’s Calendar”).

We are in the process of changing our weekly bulletin so we ask your indulgence as we transition.

New Yellow Prayer Request Cards are available on the table by the sanctuary doors for your prayer requests; these requests will be shared during the “Pastoral Prayer” time during the service. You may continue to use the Communication Card, also.

An updated Church Handbook is available today; we ask that you take only one copy per household.

The EALS Book Discussion Group will meet on February 16th at 10am at Beans and Brew. We will be discussing "Promises to Keep" by Ann Tatlock. All are welcome.

Monroe UMC T-Shirts for Sale: Place an order for a Monroe UMC T-shirt with our logo on it! The shirts will go on sale February 12th. We will have adult sizes S, M, L, and XL for $8.00 and 2XL and 3XL for $10.50. The shirts are Hanes Tagless, 6.1 oz pre-shrunk short sleeve t-shirts in forest green with the logo printed in beige. We have pre-ordered 100 shirts and more can be ordered. Checks should be made out to Monroe UMC and T-shirt should be annotated in the memo section of the check. Any questions should be directed to Connie Schoffner at 513-360-0891 or schoffnercb@hotmail.com.

Mission Trip Opportunity: a trip to Cuba is planned for either April 9-13 or April 16-20 (the actual week will be determined by the majority available for one week or the other). The anticipated cost is $1,000/person. If you’re interested in this trip please contact us here at the church (539-7290) or (monroeumc@cinci.rr.com).

Attendance (1/29): 260

St. Patrick’s Day Event

Please mark your calendars for Saturday evening March 17th, for the St. Patrick's Day Potato Bake and Variety Show in Atchley Hall (sponsored by the Caring Connections Committee). In addition to enjoying a delicious meal of baked potatoes with all the toppings, salad and dessert, we will be entertained in true Celtic fashion by some very talented members of our congregation. Please join us for food, fun, festivities and a wee bit of malarkey.

May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your window pane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

~ Irish Blessing


GREETERS:	Sandy Stein, Remy & Madison Bowman
WORSHIP LEADER:	Phil Lacefield
WELCOME CENTER:	JoAnn Webb
ORGANIST:	Melanie Flower
PIANIST:
NURSERY STAFF:	Linda Larkin
TELLERS:	Pam and John Routson, Arlene Horton

Monroe UMC Staff

Tim Waugh, Senior Pastor monroeminister@cinci.rr.com

Debby Tatro, Office Manager monroeumc@cinci.rr.com

Brittany Henson, Youth Ministry Director mumcyouthdirector@yahoo.com

Marty Hatcher, Hornet Haven Director martyhatcher@gmail.com

Chuck Garitson, Worship Leader cb_garitson@yahoo.com

Larry Daniel, Director of Music

Becky Daniel, Children’s Church Ministry

Linda Larkin, Nursery Attendant

Steve Rizkallah, Custodian

Melanie Flower, Organist

Barbara Conley, Pianist

Lillian Passet, Pianist

Ministers, Congregation