The Inman Park UMC directory is almost complete. We need your picture though so either send a digital photo to inmanparkumc@gmail.com with your information or find one of our photographers Sunday, January 22 & 29 before or after the worship service to have your photo taken.

IPUMC 101

Have you become a member in the last year or want to join the church? Are you trying to find your “place” at IPUMC? Join the conversation about the history, purpose, and mission of Inman Park UMC and how you can connect.  This group will meet three Sunday mornings at 9:30a for conversation & coffee.  Meet at the church Sundays January 29, February 5 & 12.  If you have questions, contact Rev. Nelson – 706.627.6870 or matt.nelson@ngumc.net .

SERVE Opportunities

RRISA Apartment

The response to the RRISA Tree was outstanding!  Thank you to so many of you that helped in every way.  It truly takes a village (tribe of IPUMC) to raise a family! All the items needed to furnish the apartment are ready but there has been a change for the family.  We don’t have all the details but they were detained so another family will be arriving in the next week.  Stay tuned for further details as we seek to love our neighbor showing hospitality to a new refugee family.  Though we don’t know their name, keep them in prayer.

CONNECT with God & Others

Soul Food - We are good at knowing the right food to eat, when to get more sleep, exercising, even when it is time to celebrate to help reduce stress & live well. What about caring for our soul? How do you care for your soul? What do we do for our spiritual well-being?  Be spiritually fit this year with…

-          Get a daily bible reading on your phone – www.youversion.com OR www.bibleplan.org – or pick up a print version in the church lobby or office. 

-          Read a spiritual book – Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

-          Prayer – The sanctuary is always open for reflection & worship.

Curiosity leads to a greater learning & understanding of things in life. We should be people who are curious about our God & the faith we have in all God has done & will do.  In the coming weeks at IPUMC, we will be looking at a number of topics / issues that invite us to ask “Why God?” which will help us grow in our faith & understanding.  You are invited to be curious about baptism, communion, prayer, grace, forgiveness, heaven, hell, denominations, Jesus, Holy Spirit, “being saved,” good & evil, mental illness, & other great topics. Feel free to submit other curiosity questions.  God welcomes our desire to know & understand the spiritual journey better in order to live faith-filled lives.

There will be a “Why” box in the sanctuary where you can leave your questions. 

This Sunday we will discuss “Why Communion?” along with the various forms of its practice but more importantly the reason and purpose of this 2^nd of our two Sacraments. Sacraments have tangible implication in our lives. How does communion transform our lives? What does it mean for us to be “eating the body & blood of Christ”?  Isn’t that cannibalistic?! Should we always use bread & juice?  What about wine...that’s what Jesus drank, right? But I don’t feel “worthy” to take communion…should I still do it? Why do some churches not let everyone take communion…should we do so too?  JOIN THE CONVERSATION SUNDAY.

IPUMC 101

Have you become a member in the last year or want to join the church? Are you trying to find your “place” at IPUMC? Join the conversation about the history, purpose, and mission of Inman Park UMC and how you can connect.  This group will meet three Sunday mornings at 9:30a for conversation & coffee.  Meet at the church Sundays January 29, February 5 & 12.  If you have questions, contact Rev. Nelson – 706.627.6870 or matt.nelson@ngumc.net .

SERVE Opportunities

United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH)

Join other folks from Inman Park UMC as we serve dinner at the United Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur next Sunday, January 15 at 4p.  Carpool from IPUMC at 3:45 or meet there to set up & prepare the meal as well as meet wonderful families of our community who benefit from the ministry of the UMCH. Eight (8) volunteers are needed.

RRISA Apartment

The response to the RRISA Tree was outstanding!  Thank you to so many of you that helped in every way.  It truly takes a village (tribe of IPUMC) to raise a family! All the items needed to furnish the apartment are ready but there has been a change for the family.  We don’t have all the details but they were detained so another family will be arriving in the next week.  Stay tuned for further details as we seek to love our neighbor showing hospitality to a new refugee family.  Though we don’t know their name, keep them in prayer.

CONNECT with God & Others

Soul Food - We are good at knowing the right food to eat, when to get more sleep, exercising, even when it is time to celebrate to help reduce stress & live well. What about caring for our soul? How do you care for your soul? What do we do for our spiritual well-being?  Be spiritually fit this year with…

-       Get a daily bible reading on your phone – www.youversion.com OR www.bibleplan.org – or pick up a print version in the church lobby or office. 

-       Read a spiritual book

• January:  Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell – This discussion has already started and is opening some great thoughts for exploration.  Pick up a copy in print or electronically. Let’s “repaint the Christian faith” for 2012.

-       Prayer – The sanctuary is always open for reflection & worship.

George Arrington:

“I appreciate Inman Park Church! I appreciate the Christmas gift so much! I feel so fortunate to serve the church through music. I believe that Inman Park Church will continue to grow and serve in the Inman Park community and throughout the area (including Decatur, East Point and other neighborhoods). We have so much to offer and the Church is just beginning to catch "on fire".  I am so fortunate to work with you (the SPRC) and the rest of the congregation. Matt and Theresa have been a joy, blessing and inspiration! God has truly placed a team here in our church!”

Theresa Wolf:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters: Rob and I are so exceedingly grateful for the gift you gave us for Christmas. We are confident that the Lord placed us the midst of the IPUMC family for this season so that we can learn and grow together--and it is such a privilege to serve the families of IPUMC in whatever small ways we can. We pray that the coming year will allow us more opportunity to grow in love and faith. We pray we will serve the Lord with you in ways we can't even imagine today! May you feel Jesus today in a way that breaks through any yuckiness that might surround you--and may you give that same Jesus to others as you walk through your everyday. Thank you so very, very much. Love in the Lord, Theresa."

Nelson Family:

“The past month has been a constant barrage of purchases & festivities. We all get caught in it. The difficulty is keeping the heart & spirit of Christmas in focus.  Thank you for being a loving community who “gives” to others helping to keep God’s gift of love in focus.  The Nelson family is grateful for your generosity above & beyond to provide the staff of your church a Christmas love offering.  This staff works hard to support & lead ministry that Loves God, Loves Others, & Changes the World. 2011 was a good year…2012 will be even better!  Thank you.”

SERVE Opportunities

RRISA Apartment

The response to the RRISA Tree was outstanding!  Thank you to so many of you that helped in every way.  It truly takes a village (tribe of IPUMC) to raise a family! Almost everything needed to supply a new apartment for the Mangar Family from Bhutan are in place.  The family has flight plans to arrive Tuesday, January 17 to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. 

We need volunteers to help:

-          Set up the apartment on Monday, January 16 from 10a-2p (MLK Jr day…very appropriate in light of celebrating Justice & Peace for this new family!)

-          Meet & pick up the family from the airport and transport them to the apartment.

-          Hospitality team at the apartment for a brief “welcome”.

United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH)

Join other folks from Inman Park UMC as we serve dinner at the United Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur next Sunday, January 15 at 4p.  Carpool from IPUMC at 3:45 or meet there to set up & prepare the meal as well as meet wonderful families of our community who benefit from the ministry of the UMCH. Eight (8) volunteers are needed.

Why Series…

Curiosity leads to a greater learning & understanding of things in life. We should be people who are curious about our God & the faith we have in all God has done & will do.  In the coming weeks at IPUMC, we will be looking at a number of topics / issues that invite us to ask “Why God?” which will help us grow in our faith & understanding.  You are invited to be curious about baptism, communion, prayer, grace, forgiveness, heaven, hell, denominations, Jesus, Holy Spirit, “being saved,” good & evil, mental illness, & other great topics. Feel free to submit other curiosity questions.  God welcomes our desire to know & understand the spiritual journey better in order to live faith-filled lives.

CONNECT with God & Others

Connect Groups

Connecting with God & each other is a core value for Inman Park UMC.  It is important for everyone to participate in the life God offers us as well as the lives of others.  Weekly worship & bible study connects us to God and “Connect Groups” bring us together as travelers on this journey.  Get connected to any of the following open groups:

            * Connect @ Dwyer’s Home - Sundays 5:00p (47 Delta Pl)

            * Connect @ Musick’s Home - Tuesdays 7:30p (701 Highland Ave)

            * Connect @ IPUMC - Sundays 9:45a (Triangle room)

            * Connect @ Youth - Sundays 9:15a (Java Vino) & 3rd Sundays @ 5p

Soul Food - We are good at knowing the right food to eat, when to get more sleep, exercising, even when it is time to celebrate to help reduce stress & live well. What about caring for our soul? How do you care for your soul? What do we do for our spiritual well-being?  Be spiritual fit this year with…

-          Get a daily bible reading on your phone – www.youversion.com OR www.bibleplan.org – or pick up a print version in the church lobby or office. 

-          Read a spiritual book –

•    January:  Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
•    February: UnChristian by David Kinnaman
•    March: The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth
  

-          Prayer – The sanctuary is always open for reflection & worship.

November 5th through November 13th

www.intowncm.org

IPUMC YOUTH SAY:

It’s SOUP-er to feed our Neighbors!!

Drop off food donations to IPUMC @ 1015 Edgewood Ave.

• powdered milk (small quart size envelopes)
• cereal (either single serve or small boxes; not the giant)
• snack bars (granola, fruit)
• small canned meats (spam, chicken, Vienna sausage, potted meat)
• canned beans (pinto, black, red,....pop tops, if possible)
• canned meals (ravioli, spaghetti Os, beef stew, pop tops, if possible)
• pasta sauce (they don't need pasta)
• can openers ( for those cans that are not pop tops)
• coffee (instant, ground, single serve)
• sugar (bags, packs)
• canned fruits and vegetables (pop tops, of possible)
• juices/ drink mixes (single, quarts, packs)
• juices/drink mixes (single, quarts, packs)