October 14-21
***Denotes the announcement was highlighted during worship
STUDENT MINISTRIES
UPCOMING WEEK:
10/18 FIRE & WATER Sunday School Only
10/22 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) 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
***(NEW) CELEBRATE WORLD KINDNESS DAY
//Friday, November 13, 6p, Dining Room//
A little kindness can make a BIG difference! Join Fishers UMC Family Ministries on Friday, November 13, from 6-8p in the Dining Room for a fun, faith-filled evening celebrating the power of kindness!
We'll enjoy a light dinner, share a meaningful devotion and participate in fun, hands-on activities that inspire us to spread kindness and share God's love with others, both in our own community and around the world.
Whether you're young or young at heart, this evening is all about coming together, making connections and discovering how simple acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.
Bring your family, invite a friend or neighbor, and join us for an evening filled with food, fun and kindness! All ages are welcome.
GRIEF SUPPORT
Grief can be difficult to navigate, and you don’t have to walk through it alone. Beginning Thursday, November 5, Julie Rockwood, Licensed Counselor, and Pastor Ben will lead a six-week study and support group for those grieving the death of a friend or family member.
Together, the group will read and discuss Beyond the Darkness by Clarissa Moll, creating space to share, reflect and find encouragement alongside others who understand the journey of grief.
The group will meet Thursdays from 6:30–7:30p in the Library. The cost of the book is $10, sign up to attend by tapping the link below.
If you have questions, please contact Pastor Ben at .
NEXT: DISCOVER YOUR PLACE TO SERVE & GROW
//Sunday, November 8, 10:30a, Fellowship Hall//
Wondering what’s NEXT and how you can get more involved at Fishers UMC? With more than 102 missions and ministries, there are plenty of opportunities to serve others, grow in your faith and find a place that fits you!
Join us for a fun and informative NEXT session on Sunday, November 8, from 10:30–11:30a as we explore the many ways people of all ages are serving and growing through Fishers UMC. We’ll meet in the Fellowship Hall, the red brick building across the parking lot from Door 3 and home to the Come To Me Food Pantry.
This isn’t about signing up for everything, it’s an opportunity to know what’s available so you can discover where you might want to take your next step. And yes, there will be prizes!
Whether you’re brand new to Fishers UMC or have been here for years, you’re invited to come learn more, sign up by tapping the link.
KOINONIA: BE STILL. PRAY. GROW.
//Wednesday, October 28, 7a & 7p, Library//
Koinonia is continuing, but with a renewed vision: Be Still. Pray. Grow.
In lives filled with noise, notifications, responsibilities and never-ending to-do lists, Koinonia is an invitation to intentionally step away from the distractions and spend time with God.
Jesus modeled a rhythm of retreating from the crowds to pray and then returning to the work before Him. Our hope is that Koinonia helps us practice that same rhythm: developing personal quiet time with God and coming together once a month for intentional, theme-based prayer.
BE STILL — Step away from the noise.
PRAY — Spend intentional time with God.
GROW — Deepen your faith for life’s uncertainties.
Join us for the next Koinonia on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00a or 7:00p. We’re also moving to the Library, creating a more intimate setting for an hour of prayer together. Choose the morning and/or evening gathering and sign up using the link below. Come set aside the distractions and make space to simply be with God.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...” Psalm 37:7
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES
//Through October 25//
A little encouragement can go a long way, especially when you’re away at college! Each year, Fishers UMC sends care packages to our college students as a simple reminder that they are loved, supported and prayed for.
This year, we’re once again filling those packages with $5 and $10 gift cards to some of their favorite places and you can help! Pick up a gift card from Target, Amazon, McDonald’s, DoorDash, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Dunkin’ or Subway and drop it off at Connection Central by October 25. Prefer to let us do the shopping? You can also donate funds online and your gift will be used to purchase gift cards for the packages.
Have a college student you’d like to receive a care package? Be sure to sign them up using the link below!
Together, we can send our college students a little love from Fishers UMC and remind them that wherever this school year takes them, they’re still connected to a community that cares.
Questions? Contact Troy Richards at
or Liz Simmonds at
.
donate $ for gift cards
sign up your student
***PUMPKIN PARTY
//Saturday, October 24, 2-4p, Pumpkin Patch//
Celebrate fall with an afternoon of pumpkin fun, snacks and fellowship! Fishers UMC Family Ministries invites you to our Pumpkin Party on Saturday, October 24, from 2–4p at the Fishers UMC Pumpkin Patch.
Come enjoy some festive pumpkin activities, tasty snacks and plenty of time to connect and have fun together. Bring your family, invite a friend or neighbor, and spend a beautiful fall afternoon with us at the Patch!
All ages are welcome, we’d love to see you there!
PUMPKIN PATCH VOLUNTEERS
2,500 Pumpkins are coming! On Saturday, October 3 at 10a, a truck packed with pumpkins will roll in for the Fire & Water Student Ministries Pumpkin Patch, and we need all hands on deck to unload them!
The patch will be open all October long, with plenty of chances to serve. Shifts are just 2 hours, and anyone can join in, you don’t need to have a student in Fire & Water to make an impact. And here’s the best part: every pumpkin sold helps send our students on mission trips, changing lives both here and around the United States. When you unload pumpkins or volunteer at the patch, you’re not just helping, you’re part of the mission. Tap the link below to sign up and be a part of something bigger!
Wondering what it's like to work at the patch? Check out the pumpkin patch instructional video by tapping the link.
VOLUNTEER AT THE PATCH
PATCH INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
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.
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.