Meet the Church

This section is a chance to meet and know more about our church brothers and sisters, you will find this comes from the newsletter.
Meet the Church…

Meet the Church... Sandee Crabtree
Friends class has been on a journey for nearly a year now. We started with food and a place to go on Sunday
morning before church. We didn't even call ourselves a Sunday School class in the
beginning. I kept running into adults who said, I have never been in a Sunday School class, or
at least not since I was a child. I go to church sometimes but not interested in Sunday
School. After a few responses like that, my marketing skills told me to spin it
differently. I began inviting people to breakfast at church before church service starts and that
worked. My class has had many come and go and that is always typical of any group. I hope
and pray that we did touch some lives along this journey.
Also in the beginning, I didn't even call myself a teacher, I was one of them. I was on
the journey with them. It was our goal to learn more about Jesus and how to live better. We
worked on that together as friends. Now we have evolved into a real grown up class, we call
ourselves a Sunday School class. We no longer have food as now we join the others between
first service and Sunday School for donuts and coffee and fellowship.
Speaking of fellowship, I used that word hesitantly, I don't like "church words" when
I'm trying to invite non-church goers to church and talk to them about Christ. I like every day
words that they get. My Hawaiian friends call hanging out and talking, "talk story",
I like that but we are Kentuckians and not Hawaiian so I don't know if that would be easily
understood either. I prefer to say, "Come with me on Sunday, I'll pick you up if you
need a ride, and we will have coffee and donuts and hangout and chat with some friends.
Then we go to Sunday School that I teach and then to Church." It is a package deal with me.
I just prefer not giving the option of just church. In sales I have learned many tricks,
call this a trick of the trade, but so far no one is objecting and I think the ones in my
class appreciate the friendships we are establishing. I suggest when you invite your friends
to church that you too make it a package deal. Anyone now with their posterior sitting in a
pew at Cooper either first or second service that don't go to a Sunday School class,
why not check us out. Our location is the old 20/30 room which is a lot of wishful thinking
on our parts. We are a friendly bunch and this just might be you fit. I believe everyone could
use a couple more friends. Why not us? We love you and can't wait to meet you Sunday morning.
We are the ones with chocolate donuts on our mouths and laughing. Can't miss us!

Meet the Church...Irvin Brooks, son of Marion and Edna Brooks, began his
attendance at Cooper Memorial Methodist Church about 87 years ago. The
church consisted only of the sanctuary structure that we know today. All of the
Sunday school classes met in various sections of the church. Irvin said, “If you
weren’t interested in what your teacher was talking about, you could listen to
another teacher close by!” He remembers circuit riders arriving on their horses
to be a guest speaker. Irvin’s first date with his future wife, Lucille, was in
1937 at a New Years’ Eve party with his Sunday School class taught by
Mildred Weber Oglesby. They were later married in 1944. The Brooks family
grew with Terry born in 1949 and Peggy five years later.
Along with the sanctuary was a small, white frame house that was the
original parsonage. When attending church activities people parked off the road
in front of the church on what was then a two-lane road. Most church activities,
mainly picnics, took place outside during good weather. Irvin was involved in planning a new parsonage, as
well as, two new additions of Sunday school rooms and the activity building at a much later time. The addition
of the social hall provided for much needed access to space for year-round activities.
Many long-lasting friendships have developed through serving on various committees over the years.
Irvin and Lucille have served and held positions of leadership on finance, Sunday school superintendent,
teacher of Sunday school and vacation bible school, trustees, and staff-parish relations chairperson. Cooper
Memorial United Methodist Church has always been important in their personal and family lives. The
extension of the family attending Cooper Memorial through what is now five generations is a source of great
pride for them.

Meet the Church...Hi we are the Maddox’s, and our family consists of John, Rebecca, baby, and
Grandma Perkins. We have been members of the Cooper
family for about two years; I am vague about the timeline not
because parenting is exhausting but because I simply cannot
remember a time when we were not members of the church.
We both came to this church through a very long process
of looking for our place in this world. I think it is sufficient to
say that God gives more chances than just one to find him. We
both love our church and our faith. We came to this church
after a long process of looking for a spiritual home. Some time
God shows you the way to Him through quiet insistence. We
drove by Cooper almost daily and almost always commented on how curious we were to see
the inside of the little church on the hill. After traveling to Venice Italy and being vastly
moved by the beauty of its many churches we found it impossible to ignore Cooper Memorial.
After each of our first visits to Cooper we learned more about the wonderful church and felt
our curiosity bloom into a desire to become part of a church family.
Many of you know that we waited a long time to be matched with our daughter, but
what you don’t know is that our Cooper family kept us going through some very tough times
and that our Lamplighters group helped shine the Lord’s light into our hearts during the long
wait, the death or Rebecca’s father and the many unexpected challenges of parenthood. While
we have been busy learning the ropes of parenthood we try to find time

Meet the Church...
Becky Gent and Donnie Mills were the
directors of Upward Basketball for 7 to 10 years. About
three years ago they decided they needed a break from
basketball. After the first year of their break, God asked
them to start Upward Soccer Ministry. Why we are doing
this ministry? Upward allows us to reach out for the lost
people to share the love of Jesus Christ.
Upward is a Christian sport program that helps
children get closer to God and Jesus Christ through coaches, referees, and directors.
Before every game everyone prays. During half time in a game there are devotions.
There are devotions during every practice.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about a farmer scattering seeds in the
field. Some fell along the path and was eaten by the birds. Some fell on the rocks,
where there wasn’t much soil. Those plants withered and died because they had no
roots. Some fell among the thorns, which grew around the tree and choked out the
fruit. But the other seeds fell in good soil, where the plants grew and produced fruit.
You have to have good soil to plant seeds. You have to do Upward right. How do
you do that? 1) lift up your league in prayer. 2) present the Gospel and Scripture. 3)
Want every child to know Christ. 4) Actively develop leadership. 5) Reinforce Christ as
the character model for coaches and referees. 6) Deliver a fun experience for every
participant.
Every child is a winner in Upward. It’s a race to the heart of a child; first one
there wins.

Meet the Church...
Steve and Chelsea Mouser are baptized members of Cooper
Memorial United Methodist Church. Steve was baptized as an adult in
1979, and Chelsea was baptized as an infant in 1992 and confirmed 10
years later. I mention these facts of baptism because we are called by God,
through the act of baptism, to be in ministry in the world. We are to reach
out to people through loving acts of service.
We began our initial mission work at Cooper when we were asked
by Gertrude Westlin to join her in representing Cooper Memorial UMC on
the representative board for a community service group called MUSCL.
MUSCL stands for Ministries United South Central Louisville. We were
able to assist Gertrude in continuing her ministry with MUSCL until her
health finally prevented continued participation. Chelsea and I are more
than happy to continue the work with MUSCL as best we can. In addition
to attendance at the board meetings every other month, Steve delivers commodities to five families in the
MUSCL area monthly. Chelsea is by far the youngest member of the board of representatives and is very well
received by the other members. She was given the duty of recording secretary at one of our last meetings and
did very well in recording the official minutes of the meeting. We are both looking forward to sharing with the
congregation of Cooper Memorial UMC an informational video that is being professionally produced about
MUSCL in which both have an active part. Chelsea’s statement about community ministry being “taking
church out of the church” was received as a highlight statement of the interviews.
MUSCL recently celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 9, 2009. About 75 persons that have played a
role in the MUSCL ministry attended the celebration. There are currently 16 member churches that support
this ministry. Funds are also received through various grants from the Metro government. Emergency
assistance is provided to families by way of assistance with housing/rent monies, utility payments, food
pantry, clothes closet, school supplies, meals on wheels, and commodity deliveries. Most of the work is
accomplished through volunteers. There is a small staff that oversees the process that is followed to coordinate
money disbursements and volunteers. We serve needy residents in the 40213, 40217, 40219, and 40229 zip
codes. If you subscribe to the thought “charity begins at home”, then MUSCL can provide service
opportunities for anyone interested.

(see pic in newsletter link)
Special Edition Meet the Church - The Graduates!

Danielle Bilyeu Simmons
Graduates from North
Bullitt High School on June 6th
Plans to attend Indiana
University Southeast to major
in Education
Daughter of Steven
Simmons
Granddaughter of Carol and
Bobby Simmons

Ashley Elizabeth
Geary
Graduates from
Southern High School
on June 3, 2009
Plans to attend
Spencerian College to
their Radiology
Technology program.
Daughter of Sandra Allen

Ryan James Evans
Graduates from Ballard High
School on June 4, 2009
Plans to attend Sullivan
University for his Bachelors in
Business Administration
Son of Janelle Debra Evans and
James Edward Evans (deceased)

Stephanie Swincher
Graduates from the
University of Louisville on
May 9, 2009 with a
Master's in Nursing
Degree as a Family Nurse
Practitioner. Clinical
Current clinical placement
at a Family Health Center
in Louisville, and is considering continuation of
employment in the program upon graduation.
Daughter of Steve and Peggy Mouser

Jeremiah Smith
Graduates from United
States Naval Academy on
May 22. 2009 with a BS in
Systems Engineering
Future Plans are "to defend
and protect the Constitution
of the United States from all
enemies foreign and domestic"
as an officer in the United States Navy.
Home Port: Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion #1 (Sea Bees), Gulfport, MS
Son of Rick and Rev. Patricia Smith

Hamilton Lorelle Bennett
Graduates from North
Bullitt High School on
June 6, 2009
Future plans are
undecided
Daughter of Bruce and
Patti Bennett
Celebrate our Graduates
Church wide gathering.
May 31st following Fifth Sunday
Worship Service
please RSVP to Barbara Hudgell or
Lisa Herdt

Meet the Church...
Hello, my name is Bob Murphy. I have been ask to head the Leadership Council this year, and I accepted, not because this is my forte, but because God has done so much for me and also because I know I won’t be in it alone. I have all of my good friends here at Cooper to help me.
I attend the first service routinely, but I have also attended the second service and have served on various committees, so I know a lot of you here. I attended Cooper when I was in High School, and then like so many young people, I stopped for a time. Then when our daughter was born, my wife and I knew that we wanted her in church. We started looking for a church home and attended several other churches, but some of my family was still at Cooper so we decided to try it again. Well as you can see, you were our choice and we have been here ever since. Our daughter is now twenty-three years old.
I cannot begin to tell you what Cooper Church, or should I say the people at Cooper Church have meant to me over the years. They have always been there for me and my family. We all go through trials and tribulations and I know God is always with us when we do. A lot of times He is with us through the people he puts in our path along the way.
I guess what I hope to accomplish during my time as Chair of the Council is for you to know that the decisions we make will not be made until they have been prayerfully considered and we seek God’s will and not our own agenda.

Meet the Church...
Hi! my name is Chuck Wylie. I am sure many of you do not know me. My wife, Sharon and I moved to Louisville in February of this year from Washington State. My son is in the Army and is stationed at Fort Knox. We moved here to be able to see our grandson grow up. We are closer to our other grandson in Missouri.
As a married couple, we have always been Methodists. We have been involved in churches from 12 members to 900 members. I have served on the Administrated Board, Trustees and most church committees over the years. My walk with Christ has not been a straight and narrow path. During my working years, I was distracted by making a living, trying to give my family the best of things at the expense of my religious life. After retiring from the Boeing Company because of health problems, my priorities changed. As always when we are presented with a life changing decision, I turned to prayer. My prayer was answered and now I try to serve my GOD as best I am able. I still have a way to go on my walk with Christ. I would call myself a joyful Christian.
I am the newest member of the Staff Parish Committee. As a member and chair of the Staff Parish Committee, I really do not have a vision for this Church. Rather I look to what the BIBLE instructs of all Christians and that is to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought to all the people. Our Church is made of people with many talents and gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Using these gifts, I hope the Church will not only have the resources to carry out and grow the established ministries and missions of Cooper Memorial UMC but reach into the community to bring the message of hope and love of Jesus Christ our Savior to all who desire to listen.

Meet the Church...
To my fellow brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ where do I start? This article was to be my “swan song,” my departure from heading up the finance committee one year short of full term. That all changed and you might be asking what changed my mind. The answer you might expect is a simple one and a logical one, God. However it goes deeper than that as the answer is also you. Yes those of you reading this are responsible for a renewed Christian man. Now hold on, God shares in this credit of rejuvenation after all he inspired you and you became the vessel that not only inspired me but many more just like me in the church, Gods church, his house that represents the body of Christ. As recently as last month I was gone. I had given up an afternoon with the family to meet with a group and present some ideas the finance committee had come up with to reduce cost while utilizing our existing church members talents and at no cost to the church, but more importantly give us the needed funds to expand our out reach programs. As I listened intently to all the reasons why not to proceed with this direction and I must admit the reasons I heard were given with such passion, concern and love of Gods house and all were very convincing. However I silently ask God why they can’t see what we are not doing for him and the lost and un-churched in the community and soon my mind left the meeting long before my body walked out the door. Not once did I hear ideas on how we use that large some of money to reach out to the community, the un-churched and fully commit ourselves to perform Gods covenant to be disciples of Jesus Christ. No we were more interested in preserving something we always had but truthfully didn’t need. I thought of the out reach programs of smaller and poorer church’s and what I first hand had witnessed with their programs bringing in the youth, with week end get together of singing, praising, praying and bible study and soon followed later with their parents or grand parents attending and with in 6 short weeks 55 new persons were attending and 18 gave of themselves to Jesus Christ and it all started with that very same some of money that we were asking for that Sunday afternoon. Needless to say as I drove home, first feeling sorry for myself, then blaming myself for not doing a better job of presenting to those in attendance and lamenting over what we could do with the funds and all this eventually led to my decision to step down as Chair person for the Church Council.
Now you asked what made me change my mind and again I will say God in prayer and you all stepping up demonstrating your real love of Jesus Christ through your commitment on Consecration Sunday. While I was feeling sorry for losing a small battle you all were winning the war on that Concentration Sunday. This past Friday I received the final summary of Cooper Memorial Methodist commitment and again God showed me where I belonged and what direction I should be taking in my walk with Jesus Christ. Here is a summary of our Consecration Sunday commitment.

This should total up to $137,500.00 to $140,000.00, God Bless Cooper Memorial Methodist Church.
Now the real work begins. We gave our commitment to Jesus Christ because we all have witnessed with our own eyes the transforming, resurrecting power of God’s love. It affects people’s lives and hearts, in part through the ministries that this church performs and provides. But in the real world, ministries need supplies, leaders, staff, equipment, curriculum, paper, bread, scissors, and sheet music—worldly stuff for an out of this world revelation of love. Please pray for us as we put together our financial plan to assist all those that will make it all happen and live up to our vision statement:"Cooper Memorial offering hope & love through Jesus".

Take care, God Bless and see you next Sunday.

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