november 11-18
***Denotes the announcement was highlighted during worship
STUDENT MINISTRIES
UPCOMING WEEK:
11/15 FIRE & WATER Sunday Night
Doors open with a free meal at 5:30p, our regular programming begins at 6:00p, and After Hours follows from 7:30-8:30p.
11/18 Wednesday - FIRE & WATER Girls' Bible Study
Girls only Bible Study in the Pier from 6:30-7:45.
11/19 Thursday - WATER Supermarket Sweeps
Weekly shopping trip for the Food Pantry from 4:00-5:00p. Drop off and pickup at the Pantry.
ALL CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
(NEW) 52 WEEKS. COUNTLESS STORIES. ONE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY — BEGINNING NOVEMBER 29
Every person in the Bible has a story. Stories of faith and courage. Stories of doubt and struggle. Stories of ordinary people through whom God did extraordinary things. And every one of those stories has a place in God's greater story.
Beginning Sunday, November 29, Fishers UMC is launching I Love to Tell the Story, a year-long journey through the people of the Bible. Together, we'll discover who they were, what we can learn from their lives, and how their stories help us better understand Jesus and what it means to follow Him.
And we're doing something a little different!
Each Sunday, you'll receive a collectible card featuring someone from Scripture. Over 52 weeks, you'll build a collection that helps you learn, remember, and share the stories of the Bible.
But the cards are just the beginning! Throughout the week, you'll have opportunities to dig deeper through daily Scripture readings, a write-your-own devotion, weekly studies, sermons, and podcasts. Whether you prefer to read, write, listen, or join a group discussion, there's a way for everyone to be part of the journey.
Our hope is simple: that by the end of these 52 weeks, you'll not only recognize more people from the Bible, but you'll know their stories well enough to share them with others.
Read the stories. Remember the stories. Tell the stories.
Because the story of God is a story worth telling.
The journey begins Sunday, November 29. We hope you'll be part of it!
(NEW) CONNECTING THROUGH GENEROSITY AND PRAYER
Be Connected to God’s Mission is the theme of our financial campaign to support our operating fund for 2027. Each week, we’ll share a special video and prayer to help us reflect on God’s mission and our role in it.
WEEK 2:
We are blessed to have a church building and staff to allow us to host many ministries for our community to grow God’s Kingdom. Your giving to our operating fund makes this possible. This week we saw how Jeff Chaney and other church leaders were being called to expand our men’s ministry. After doing research and lots of prayers, God provided a solution through partnering with Heart of a Man ministries located in Carmel and have had a very successful kick off with almost 50 men attending the weekly meetings from our church and the community! It is amazing to see how God can work through all of us to spread his love. Please watch the video to learn more about Jeff’s journey.
PRAYER: Inspired by Romans 12:6-8 – A Prayer for Faithful Service
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement, if it is giving then give generously, if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Heavenly Father, we are indeed thankful for all the gifts You have given us by Your grace. As we continue in prayer seeking Your will and direction for ways we might serve You, help us to recognize what You have entrusted to us and to use it faithfully – not for our own praise, but for the good of others and the glory of Your name.
If you call us to speak Your truth, give us humility and courage. If You call us to serve, help us to be willing and dependable. If we are to teach, grant us wisdom and clarity, and if we are to encourage, fill our words with hope and love.
Shape our hearts Father to be faithful stewards in every responsibility, attentive to every opportunity You provide, and act with joyful obedience. May our service be to help build up the body of believers and to make Your name known by being kind to everyone we meet.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(NEW) THANKSGIVING TURKEYS AND PIES
As in years past, Milt Yakey is coordinating Fishers UMC’s Thanksgiving outreach to the Good News Mission in downtown Indianapolis. There are several ways you can help:
MOST IMPORTANT NEED: Volunteer to help cook turkeys & clean up at Fishers UMC:
At least 2 Helpers are needed on Thursday, November 26 from 8a-1p enter at Door #6. Call Milt if you can help in this way: 317-294-0416
Donate an uncooked turkey:
Drop off at Fishers UMC on Friday, November 20 (9a-1p) or Monday, November 23 (9a-4p) at Door #1.
Cook and deliver a hot, ready-to-serve turkey:
Bring your cooked turkey to the church on Thursday, November 26 (8a-1p) at Door #6.
Donate pies or desserts:
Drop off on Wednesday, November 25 (9a-4p) at Door #1 or Thursday, November 26 (8a–1p) at Door #6
(NEW) CHRISTMAS CONCERT
//Sunday, December 13//
Save the Date: Sunday, December 13 at both services!
Join us for a special Intergenerational Christmas Concert as our church family—children, youth, and adults—comes together to celebrate the birth of Jesus through music and worship. We believe every generation has a voice in telling the Christmas story, and we’d love for everyone to be part of it!
Come celebrate the joy of Christmas with us as one church family!
(NEW) CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE
//Sunday, December 6, 12-2p, Dining Room & Lobby//
Fishers UMC is having a Christmas Cookie Exchange and you’re invited! Plan on bringing 3 dozen of your favorite Christmas cookies, along with your own container, and come join in the fun! It will be a great time of fellowship, cookie swapping, and hospitality, as any leftover cookies will be used for Christmas Eve and sharing with our homebound brothers and sisters. Contact Penny Walker or Jennifer Pugh with questions. Get out your recipes, preheat those ovens, and we’ll see you on the 6th!
(NEW) WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT DESSERT
//Monday, December 7, 6:30p, Gym//
United Women in Faith warmly invites all women of the church to join us for our Christmas Candlelight Dessert on Monday, December 7, at 6:30p in the Gym (enter through Door 4).
Enjoy an evening of Christmas fellowship, delicious desserts and a festive holiday sing-along with The Three Wise Guys!
This year, our selected charity is the Lucille Raines Residence, and we will be collecting optional monetary donations to support their ministry. If you would like to contribute, please bring cash or a check payable to “FUWF". A suggested donation is $10–$20, but any amount is appreciated.
Please sign up using the link below by December 3. We look forward to celebrating the Christmas season with you!
(NEW) MEN'S CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST & WHITE ELEPHANT
//Saturday, December 12, 8:00a, Dining Room//
All men are invited to join in the annual Men's Christmas Breakfast & White Elephant Gift Exchange on Saturday, December 12 at 8:00a in the Fishers UMC Dining Room. Please enter through Door 4.
Enjoy breakfast, fellowship, Christmas fun, and an opportunity to connect with men from throughout the church, including participants from our current Heart of a Man Bible study. Sign up is not required, but helps in planning for breakfast, if you think you might attend, tap the link below.
Those who wish to participate in the White Elephant Gift Exchange are encouraged to bring one wrapped gift with a suggested value of $10-$20.
Breakfast • Fellowship • Fun • Faith
Building Brotherhood. Growing Faith. Celebrating Christmas.
(NEW) GIFT WRAPPERS NEEDED
//Wednesday, December 9 & Thursday, December 10//
Help spread a little Christmas cheer, one wrapped gift at a time! We're looking for volunteers to help wrap Christmas gifts for our preschool parents and church staff during this busy holiday season. No gift-wrapping expertise required, just a willingness to lend a hand!
Join us Wednesday, December 9, or Thursday, December 10, anytime between 9a–1p in the Church Library (enter through Door 3). Stay for the entire time or just as long as your schedule allows.
We'll provide the tables, chairs and snacks. All you need to bring is a pair of scissors and a cheerful spirit! Ready to help make someone's Christmas a little brighter? Sign up using the link below.
(NEW) MONTHLY BOOK CLUB
//Tuesday, November 24, 7p, Library//
Join the Monthly Book Club in November as they read and discuss Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the city of Golden. He begins to purchase pencil portraits of the people of Golden one at a time, giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story. And so, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered. Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and what can happen when we choose kindness.
If you are looking for a way to combine your love of reading and books with a small group atmosphere of fellowship, this is the place for you! The Book Club meets the 4th Tuesday of the month, this month on November 24 at 7:00p in the Library, just off the Narthex. If you are interested or need more information, contact Kim Arnott at 797-8612 or .
(NEW) ADVENT DEVOTIONAL FOR SALE
As we prepare our hearts for the Advent season, Kim Arnott would like to share her new devotional book, Anticipating Joy, designed to offer a few quiet moments each day to pause, reflect, and remember the joy we have in Christ. On Sunday, November 22, Kim will have copies available for purchase in the Narthex and would be happy to sign them for anyone who would like a personalized copy—for yourself or as a meaningful Advent gift for a friend or family member. If you’re looking for a simple way to make space for reflection and anticipation during this busy season, Kim hopes Anticipating Joy might be a helpful companion for your Advent journey.
CELEBRATE THE JOY OF ADVENT!
//Wednesday, December 2, 6-8p, Dining Room//
The Christmas season is almost here, and there's no better way to prepare our hearts than by celebrating together!
Join Fishers UMC Family Ministries on Wednesday, December 2, from 6–8p in the Dining Room for a special evening of faith, fun and fellowship! We'll enjoy dinner together, share a meaningful Advent devotion, get creative with a festive craft and celebrate the season through music. It's a wonderful opportunity to slow down during the busy holiday season, connect with others and focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Bring your family, invite a friend or neighbor, and join us as we prepare our hearts for the joy and hope of Christmas! All ages are welcome!
KOINONIA: PRAYERS OF WAITING AND HOPE - TRUSTING THROUGH THE UNKNOWN
//Wednesday, November 25, 7a & 7p, Library//
The Advent Season emphasizes both expectation and preparation to renew our hope in Christ’s first coming and His eventual return at the Second Coming. Join us November 25th at 7:00a for morning praise, or at 7:00p for evening gratitude as we pray together Scripture based prayers of hope waiting with renewed strength and courage. Prayer for both times will be held in the library. Tap the link below to sign up to attend.
***THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and an opportunity to share them with others! The Come To Me Food Pantry is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to help keep its shelves stocked and continue providing food to neighbors in need throughout Hamilton County.
As you're shopping for your own family, consider adding an extra item or two to your cart to help support a local family. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference! Grocery bags with suggested donation items will be available after both worship services on Sundays, November 8 and 15. You can also view the list of suggested items by tapping the link below.
Ready to drop off your donations? Bring your filled bags to the Food Pantry on Sunday, November 22, from 8:30a–12p. Simply drive up to the north door of the Pantry, where volunteers will be ready to unload your donations. You can also drop off items in the Food Pantry donation boxes inside Fishers UMC at Doors 1 & 4 on Sundays or weekdays from 9a–4p.
Together, let's turn our gratitude into generosity and help provide food and hope to neighbors in need throughout our community!
WONDERING ABOUT MEMBERSHIP?
Have you been attending Fishers UMC for a while but aren’t quite sure whether you’re officially a member or a regular attender? Or maybe you’ve wondered what membership at Fishers UMC actually means.
We’d love to help answer those questions! Lisa Ellcessor, our Assimilation Director, is available to help you better understand membership and answer questions such as:
What is my current membership status?
What does it mean to become a member?
What does membership look like at Fishers UMC?
If you’d like to learn more, tap the link below to connect with Lisa. There’s no pressure or expectation to become a member, we simply want to give you the opportunity to ask questions, clarify your current status and consider whether membership might be the right next step for you.
***GUEST SERVICES VOLUNTEERS
We're looking to gather a wonderful harvest of Guest Services volunteers for 2027, and we'd love for YOU to be part of it!
Our Assimilation Director, Lisa Ellcessor, is looking for volunteers to serve in three important roles:
Greeters: Be the first friendly face people see as they arrive, offering a warm welcome and helping guests find their way.
Ushers: Help create a welcoming worship experience by assisting with seating, passing offering baskets and supporting the flow of the service.
Connection Central Volunteers: Help guests and members take their next steps by connecting them with ministries, missions and opportunities to grow in faith and fellowship.
We're hoping to fill 48 Usher positions and 32 Connection Central volunteer positions, along with additional Greeters to welcome everyone through our doors!
Ready to help us grow a culture of welcome? Tap the link below to sign up.
Lisa will help you find the perfect place to serve. You pick the role, and together we'll plant seeds of connection that can make a lasting difference!
CHRISTMAS DRIVE - BROOKE'S PLACE
//Through November 15//
After the death of Rich Rockwood, Rich’s wife, Julie, and their daughter, Kathryn, turned to Brooke’s Place. Brooke’s Place has played a unique role in Julie and Kathryn’s life, not only serving as a primary support role in their grief, but as an opportunity to serve others enduring similar grief.
Brooke’s Place provides support groups, therapy services and education to empower children, teens, young adults, and their families to thrive in the midst of grief. This year, as a part of our Christmas outreach, we will be supporting Brooke’s Place Annual Holiday Store, where Brooke’s Place kids, teens & young adults will come pick out items to gift to their loved ones during the Holiday season.
The collection ends on November 15th. Tap the amazon link below to see the wish list and donate.
AMAZON WISHLIST
UPWARD BASKETBALL & CHEER
The court will soon be buzzing and the sidelines full of cheers: Upward Basketball & Cheer is back for another season at Fishers UMC!
Open to kids age 5 through 6th grade, Upward gives children the opportunity to get active, build their basketball or cheer skills, make new friends and have plenty of fun along the way. But the season is about more than the game. Through practices and competition, participants are encouraged to grow in confidence, teamwork and faith while learning more about God and His plan for their lives.
Registration is open now, with practices beginning in January 2027. Partial and full scholarships are available because we want every child who would like to participate to have the opportunity. Tap the link below to register!
Whether they're ready to hit the court or cheer from the sidelines, there's a place for them at Upward! Questions? Contact Penny Walker at .
HELPING HANDS MINISTRY
Sometimes we all need a helping hand and at Fishers UMC, there’s a community ready to step in and serve. Helping Hands is a ministry designed to connect members of our church family who have practical needs with those who are willing to help.
Right now, there are many ways to lend a hand, with needs ranging from yard work and moving furniture to repairs and projects at the Food Pantry and around the church. Take a look at the current list below and see if there’s a project that fits your skills and availability.
Current Needs at Fishers UMC
Remove fencing on the Northside of the dumpster area in preparation of building a large storage shed.
Ready to help? Tap the I Want To Help link.
Have a project you need help with? Tap the I Need Help link to submit a request to the Helping Hands team.
LEARN ABOUT HELPING HANDS
sign up to HELP
i need help
QUESTIONS?
PASTORS INTERCESSORY TEAM (P.I.T. CREW)
As we continue focusing on Being Connected this year, one of the most meaningful ways we live that out is by praying for our pastors. The P.I.T. Crew provides daily prayer support for Pastor Mark, Pastor Ben, and Pastor Troy, lifting them up as they lead and care for our church.
We’re looking for ten people each month to commit to praying daily from home, just a few minutes a day, on your own schedule. Quarter 4 sign-up link is available below so you can find a time that works best for you. Questions? Check out the FAQ about how the P.I.T. Crew works or reach out to John Hughes at
. Thank you for helping us stay connected through prayer!
ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS
ITEMS NEEDED - TURN AWAY NO LONGER
UPDATE: PLEASE ONLY NEW CLOTHING AND ITEMS
United Women in Faith have partnered with Turn Away No Longer, an Indiana nonprofit faith based organization. Turn Away No Longer’s mission is to positively impact the lives of children in the foster care system. They believe no child should feel “forgotten” or “unloved” and strive to show them the love of Jesus in every program they create. As part of this partnership, Fishers UMC has become a donation location to collect items for their Swag Packs. What are Swag Packs? When a child or teen enters foster care, they may not get the chance to pack up their belongings and often they have to leave home or school with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. This is where Swag Packs can help. Each Swag Pack is age-specific, ranging from newborn to teens. Tap the link below to view their donation list for Swag Packs, all items must be NEW. Drop off items at Fishers UMC in the Turn Away No Longer Bin inside Door #1 by the Church office. You can find out more about Turn Away No Longer by visiting turnawaynolonger.org.
GIVE BACK WHILE YOU SHOP
Did you know Fishers UMC is part of rewards programs at Kroger? Kroger gives to Fire & Water student ministries through your purchases-at no additional cost to you! It's quick and easy to set up Fishers UMC as your charity of choice on your Kroger Plus card, tap the link below and enter our number of SN812.