MINISTRIES OF
FIELDS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

"Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the
will of God."-- Romans 12:1-2

Christian Education is an important ministry of our church. We offer learning opportunities
for children, youth and adults. Only through study of God’s word along with regular worship
and prayer, can we grow in our faith so that we may understand God’s plan for us.

ADULT EDUCATION

Adults change as they age. This has always been clear and perhaps well understood about children.
But, not until recently has it become equally clear that adults also change as they age. It is not
unusual to hear adults talk about their “biological clock running out, having a midlife crisis, or
experiencing job stress. Adults have a variety of life experiences, and no two lives are the same.
Adults have different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, educational attainments, vocational
opportunities, friends and relationships, and health conditions. Adults develop, change, and grow
but not at the same rate or in the same way. And, although we most often think of the physical and
psychological changes that occur throughout adulthood, change can and does occur in spiritual
development.

Adult faith formation, by which people consciously grow in the life of Christ through worship, prayer,
study, and service, is a central task of the church. The function of the local church, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to help people to know Jesus Christ personally and to live their daily
lives in light of their relationship with God (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church,
2000). To grow in discipleship throughout life, adults need a deepening relationship with God and
community, solid resources, and a positive environment that will help under gird their faith
development for the transformation of the world in the 21st century.

Through the year we will be offering a variety of classes to meet the needs and interests of our
diverse congregation. Classes will include Bible studies, new member orientation classes, Classes
that address a variety of Faith issue, and issues of life that address our physical, financial and
emotional needs.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Mission: To provide resources and training to undergird the faith formation of children.

Kids need to worship God, just as adults do. They need to be active and involved. The smiles
of children making new discoveries, the energy of children in a group setting, the sounds of
children in song and in learning, and the insights of children as God is present in their lives, all
make for a fascinating ministry.

There is no better call then that to ministry with children. God's call comes with the promise
of faithfulness. Jesus set the example and provides a heart of love for children. The church
provides a excellent support base for ministry where each child is valued.

For children through the 6th grade.

THE CORDS-Adult Singles and Couples Group

1. Group name: “The Cords” – Fields UMC Adult Fellowship Group for singles (with or without kids)
and couples (married or not married, with or without kids) ages 25 – 55
2. “The Cords” symbolizes that with Jesus at the center of all the relationships in your life, his love
will guide you through the good and bad times. The Cord of three strands comes from the Bible -
King Solomon wrote about it in Ecclesiastes 4:12 - "Though one may be overpowered, two can
defend themselves and a cord of three strands is not quickly broken." We feel that using each
other as support we will only be stronger and create a stronger church
3. Mission is to “build friends and support among younger adults in the church as we grow in our faith”
4. We will do an event each month with every other month being for adults only and the next where
we can bring our families

. First Sunday of the month in between services – our group will get together and chat about a topic
at 10:10. We will meet at the church in Fellowship Hall.

On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FieldsUMC.TheCords/

CONFIRMATION

For youth in the 7th grade.
It shall be the duty of the pastor, the parents or guardians, the officers and teachers of the Church
school, and all members of the congregation to provide training for the children of the Church
throughout their childhood that will lead to a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior, to an understanding of the Christian faith, and to an appreciation of the privileges and
obligations of Church membership. The pastor shall, at least annually, building on the preparation
which boys and girls have received throughout their childhood, organize into classes for
confirmation the youth who, preferably, are completing the sixth grade. This instruction shall be
based on materials which the boys and girls have already used and on other resources produced
by The United Methodist Church for the purpose of confirmation preparation. Wherever boys and
girls so prepared shall give evidence of their own Christian faith and purpose and understanding
of the privileges and obligations of Church membership, they may be received into full membership.

FAMILY MINISTRIES

We believe the family to be the basic human community through which persons are nurtured and
sustained in mutual love, responsibility, respect, and fidelity. We understand the family as
encompassing a wider range of options than that of the two-generational unit of parents and
children (the nuclear family), including the extended family, families with adopted children, single
parents, step-families, and couples without children. We affirm shared responsibility for parenting
by men and women and encourage social, economic, and religious efforts to maintain and
strengthen relationships within families in order that every member may be assisted toward
complete personhood.

MISSIONS

"Truly, as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me."

Mission Statement of Fields United Methodist Mission Committee
We are a self-supporting committee and will continue to endeavor to make being in mission more
personal to the individual membership of the church. We will do this through mission education
and by providing opportunities to be in mission.

The Missions Committee works to support:

• "Nothing But Nets” program in Africa. 
• We donate to the Asbury Methodist Church in Elyria, "Save Our Children" after
  school program. 
• We collect Campbell Labels  and General Mills box tops for the McCurdy School
  in New Mexico.
• We financially help support Missionaries Dick & Dee Dee Hefner @ the McCurdy
  School in New Mexico .
• We financially help support Tuesday night suppers here @ Fields UMC.
• We donate to Community Care in North Ridgeville.
• We try to give 10% of our income to the church each year, plus additional money
  to apportionments if possible. 
• We support the Ganta Hospital in Liberia with medical supplies and financial donations. 
• We are in mission with The Berea Children's Home and their Christmas gift project
  among other programs at that facility. 

Food Sunday is the 1st Sunday of each month.  Donations are divided equally between Brookside
Hunger Center and Community Care. 

We are always looking for people to join us in our quest to be the most effective  Missions Committee
we can be. 

We welcome new members and new ideas.  If you are interested in becoming involved in Missions
work, or if you have a good idea for a mission opportunity, please contact the church office and
they will direct you to the Missions chairperson. 

MUSIC MINISTRY

Chancel Choir is open to all singers grade10 through adult who love to sing.  They participate at 11:00 a.m.
worship the first 3 Sundays of the month, and at 8:30 a.m. on the 4th Sunday.    In addition, Chancel Choir
prepares two special Sunday worship services, namely, a Christmas Cantata in December, and Music Sunday
in May.   Rehearsals in the music room  are Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m. directed by Lucy Ann Mercer.
No audition necessary,

Membership in the Youth Choir is open to all youth grades 7 through 12 who enjoy singing.   They rehearse
on Sunday at 9:40 a.m. in the music room and participate in worship the 4th Sunday of the month at 11:00 a.m.
They are directed by Lucy Ann Mercer, assisted by Penny Smith.

Junior Choir provides an opportunity for children in grades 1 through 6 to be involved in praising God. They
rehearse on Sunday at 10:40 a.m. and sing at the 11:00 a.m. worship on the 3rd Sunday each month.

 Handbell Choir rehearses Wednesday 6:30 p.m., and participates in worship twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th
Sundays.  Contact the director, Lucy Ann Mercer, for possible openings in Handbells.

The recently purchased Rodgers Trillium Organ is a wonderful instrument to enhance worship at Fields.  In
addition to his leadership of the hymns, organist Dexter Kennedy (AGO), an organ performance major from
Oberlin, provides inspiring service music and accompaniments for the choir and special music.  

MINISTER OF VISITATION

This ministry has as its initial emphasis the visiting of our nursing home residents and those
members who are confined to their homes. This is an extension of all of our outreach and care for
our more senior members.

PARISH NURSE

Parish Nursing is administering care to the body, mind and spirit of the parishioners and the
surrounding community. It involves the recognition and incorporation of an individual's spirituality
in the care that is given. The focus of Parish Nursing is on Holistic Care. The Parish Nurse acts as
a Health Educator, Personal Health Consultant, and an Advocate for Healing Ministries. There are
many ways this ministry can be carried out and the interventions are as unique as each individual
church. The ministry is based on the needs of the congregation and it's community. Contact the
church office for more information on Fields Parish Nurse program.

SCOUTING MINISTRIES

Civic youth-serving agencies and Scouting ministries offer another setting for ministry to children,
youth, their leaders, and their families. These opportunities would include the Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, 4-H, or other appropriate national organizations. The God and
Country award program shall be available to all appropriate age-level participants of the local
church education program including the church school, youth ministry, and Scouting ministries.
(UM Scouting): Camp Fire Boys and Girls, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., 4-H.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

A Stephen Minister gives one-to-one, lay Christian care.
One-to-one: Stephen Ministers meet privately with one care receiver of the same gender.
Lay: Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised lay volunteers, not professional
counselors or therapists, pastors, or physicians. Stephen Ministers are not authorized to give
legal, medical, financial, or any other advice, but Bible-based encouragement.
Christian: Stephen Ministers are Christians who care in the name of Christ. They are willing to
talk about spiritual issues but won't force them.
Care: Stephen Ministers care by listening, supporting, encouraging, praying, being dependable
and trustworthy and maintaining confidentiality in their caregiving.

Confidentiality

Stephen Ministers keep personal information confidential. Therefore, you can feel free to share
with your Stephen Minister without worrying that everyone else will know about it. There are
rare occasions when a Stephen Minister must share confidential information in order to save
a life. Those occasions are suicide, homicide, or abuse.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is
to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a
creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the
global ministries of the Church.

The Women's Division is actively engaged in fulfilling the mission of Christ and the Church and
interprets the purpose of United Methodist Women. The division advocates for the oppressed and
dispossessed with special needs of women, children and youth works to build a supportive
community among women, and helps foster growth in the Christian faith, mission education, and
Christian social involvement.

UNITED METHODIST MEN

BE DOERS OF THE WORD AND NOT HEARERS ONLY

Purpose - United Methodist Men shall be a creative supportive fellowship of men who seek to know
Jesus Christ, to grow spiritually and to seek his daily will.
[Our] primary purpose is to declare the centrality of Christ in the lives of men and in all their
relationships.
The major concerns are:
To encourage knowledge of and support for the total mission of the United Methodist Church.
To engage in evangelism by sharing the fullness of the gospel in its personal and social dimensions.
To clarify and speak to the identity and role of the man in contemporary society.
To seek commitment to discipleship
To study and become familiar with The United Methodist Church, its organization, doctrines, and
beliefs.
To cooperate with all units of United Methodist Men in obtaining these objectives through district,
conference, jurisdiction, and church-wide goals.
Men seeking membership in a local United Methodist Men's Fellowship shall subscribe to the
"Purpose" of United Methodist Men and to these personal objectives.
Engage daily in Bible study and prayer.
Bear witness to Christ's way in daily work and in all personal contacts through words and actions.
Engage in some definite Christian service.
Strength For Service Support for Military Personnel

WORSHIP

People gather to meet God in song, prayer, reading Scripture, preaching and responding, baptizing
new disciples, praying for the world and the suffering, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper, and
scattering into the world to live in hope, love, and justice. In vital worship the people are addressed,
touched, washed, fed, anointed and helped in relationship to God, to each other, and to how they
live in daily life.

YOUTH CLASSES

Classes for students in 8th thru 12th grade are held on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00.
These classes afford teens to learn to relate the Bible and its teachings to the events of their
everyday life.
The coordinator of youth ministries and the youth council, when organized, shall be responsible for
recommending to the church council activities, program emphases, and settings for youth. The
coordinator and council shall use available resources and means to inform youth concerning the
Youth Service Fund and shall cultivate its support; provided that prior to this cultivation or as part
of it, the youth shall have been challenged to assume their financial responsibilities in connection
with the total program and budget of the local church.