Twig Bender. Where Do We Go from Here? A. Greenwood United Methodist Church. March Our Ministry Of Prayer. March Page.

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1 March 2016 Greenwood United Methodist Church Page March 2016 Twig Bender From the Pastor Where Do We Go from Here? A s a pastor, I am often asked, Where do I (we) go from here? That question might be driven by personal issues, health problems, challenges at work or issues at church. Recently, both churches have noticed how many of our members are getting older, having health issues, giving up positions or not feeling like doing as much. Yet we all want our congregations to be vital, active, engaging. Sunday worship attendance is down, volunteers are temporarily or permanently out of commission and we have had to cancel activities. At Greenwood, we have been looking since November for a music director and some who have applied have wanted more money than we are able to pay. So, where do we go from here? We begin with prayer. We say a prayer that begins with thanksgiving, recognizing what we do have, how God is working in us and around us. Sometimes it is hard to find what we are thankful for and other times the gratefulness just pours out. But we give thanks for what we can. Secondly, we name what it is we are worrying about. We state the issues, prob- Our Ministry Of Prayer (Continued on page 9) Donald Cullom, Evelyn Daniel, Roger Eckwright, Page Jackson, Rachel Lewis, Betty Lloyd, Jean Mowatt, Betty Ritchie, Brenda Shuler, Harold Yeary, Linda Walker, Greenwood s next Music Director

2 Page 2 The Twig Bender Holy Week Activities Sunday, March a.m. Palm Sunday Worship Services Thursday, March 24 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae Service Saturday, March a.m. Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, March 27 7 a.m. Neighborhood Easter Sunrise Service at Laurel Presbyterian Church, 9675 Staples Mill Road Glen Allen 11 a.m. Worship Service at Greenwood Don t miss Greenwood s Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, sponsored by the Just Friends Sunday School Class. In addition to well-hidden, candy-filled Easter eggs, this annual event will include a cake walk and assembly of health kits for UMCOR the United Methodist Committee on Relief (see related article on page 5). Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt This is one of Greenwood s premier outreach efforts that readers can help by: Donating their time on the day of the Hunt please see any member of the Just Friends Class to volunteer. Contributing materials for the UMCOR health kits see the list posted in the narthex and please have your donations in the Sanctuary by Friday, March 25. Filling plastic Easter eggs with candy pick up a dozen or two from the bin in the narthex, fill with candy (no hard candy, please) and return them to the Just Friends classroom by Friday, March 25. Bake or buy a cake for the cake walk please bring these to the fellowship Hall by 9 a.m. Saturday, March 26. Thanks to everyone for your help and contributions!

3 March 2016 Page 3 Chancel Remodel Renovation Project Out for Bids Greenwood s chancel renovation project is underway; we are in the request for bids phase, receiving bids from several contractors. Project manager Charley Banks said: It s nice to see movement on this project. Charley asked contractors to keep their bids under $10,000. One contractor couldn t meet that goal and withdrew from the bidding, but recommended a different, smaller source. Charley met with this other contractor and is awaiting a bid. The contractor is trying to see how much of the existing chancel material he can reuse to keep costs down. A third contractor presented us a bid for $14K which included $3,850 for demolition. The church council is trying to decide if church members can handle the demolition so we can eliminate that part of the bid. Charley is working with Tim Jancsics regarding the electrical aspects of the remodel as well as getting a disposal bin in case we decide to do the demolition ourselves. Former Greenwood Co-Music Director Jeremy Horning called Charley and suggested we use slip-resistant, commercial grade tile on the upper floor of the chancel. The plans already call for sound insulation underneath the new floor; this tile will enhance sound quality. Tile will also help our concept of removable walls, etc. Jeremy also suggested a source for equipment cabinets for the sound system and the projector computer. Steve Stalnaker is looking into this idea. (Continued on page 10) March Communion Offering Goes to LAMB s Basket

4 Page 4 The Twig Bender Soup, Sandwich & Scripture By Glenda Stalnaker If you ve missed any of the Soup, Sandwich & Scripture events, you ve missed a great time, great food, great fellowship and a chance to learn a little bit more about the Lenten season. The first dinner (pancakes) studied sack cloth and ashes and why this is significant to Lent. We also discussed how the 40 days of Lent are counted. Despite stormy weather, we enjoyed stone soup at the second dinner. There we discussed Jesus as the Lamb of God. We studied three parables and learned that no matter where we are in our walk with God, we are valued. Even if you haven t attended previous Soup, Sandwich & Scripture dinners and studies, you won t be behind; each study is mostly stand alone, so feel free to join in at any time. Soup, Sandwich & Scripture will continue through March 16, with good food, fellowship and fulfillment. Hope to see you there! Bishop s Convocation on Prayer Want to know more about prayer and how to pray? On Saturday, March 5, the Bishop's Convocation on Prayer, will be held at Trinity UMC, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond. The convocation theme is "Deepening Discipleship: Piety and Mercy through Prayer." 9:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Frederick Schmidt will lead a session on prayer in the morning. In the afternoon you have the option of attending two small group sessions. To register, visit the Conference Calendar at or call the conference office at

5 March 2016 Page 5 You Can Help with Disaster Relief When you hear United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) you may you think of assembling kits and carrying them to Annual Conference. Or maybe you think of UMCOR responding to disasters in such faraway places as Haiti, Japan or Oklahoma. UMCOR is also helping here in Virginia. After the deadly tornados on February 24, Virginia Conference United Methodist disaster response teams carried UMCOR kits with them to help Virginians in need. Our contributions support UMCOR. When we give to UMCOR, we help equip Christ s Body to serve in His Name. There are many ways you can help the church s disaster relief effort. One way to help is to make a financial contribution on March 6 in One Great Hour of Sharing, one of the United Methodist Church s special giving opportunities. Your generous giving to One Great Hour of Sharing on March 6 helps UMCOR act as the arms and legs of Christ s church, moving to aid those most vulnerable in their darkest days. Convinced that all people have God-given worth and dignity without regard to race, religion or gender together we are assisting those impacted by crisis or chronic need. Another way to support UMCOR is to help assemble relief kits. Your first opportunity to help this way will be during our Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 26. We ll be assembling more UMCOR kits in the days leading up to the Virginia Annual Conference in June. Again this year our egg hunting children will be assembling 50 UMCOR health kits using materials you ve contributed. A lot of donations are already piled on the altar rail but more are needed to meet the goal. You can view a list of the kit contents on page 13, or posted in the narthex. Please have your contributions in the Sanctuary by Friday, March 25. As always your generous donations are appreciated, especially by those who receive them, whether they re in Buckingham County or on the other side of the world.

6 Page 6 The Twig Bender Be Prepared Read the Scriptures March Lectionary Readings March 6 Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 March 13 Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8 March 20 Palm Sunday Liturgy of the Palms Liturgy of the Passion March 21 Holy Week Monday March 22 Holy Week Tuesday March 23 Holy Week Wednesday March 24 Holy Thursday March 25 Good Friday March 26 Holy Saturday March 27 Easter Sunday Luke 19:28-40; Psalm 118:1-2, Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49 Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36 Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32; Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42 Job 14:1-14; Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8 Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12 L i k e G r e e n w o o d o n Fa c e b o o k w w w. fa c e b o o k. c o m / g u m c va

7 March 2016 Page 7 When God sends you help... Here s a story making the rounds on the Internet that demonstrates how God helps us in so many different ways. The woman hurried to the pharmacy to get medication, got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys inside. She found an old rusty coat hanger on the ground. She looked at it and said, "I don't know how to use this." The woman bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within 5 minutes a beat-up old motorcycle pulled up, driven by a bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag. He got off of his cycle and asked if he could help. She said: "Yes, my daughter is sick. I've locked my keys in my car. I must get home. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?" He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was open. She hugged the man and through tears said, "Thank You, God, for sending me such a very nice man." The man heard her little prayer and replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison yesterday; I was in prison for car theft." The woman hugged the man again, sobbing, "Oh, thank you, God! You even sent me a professional!" Is God great or what? W A N T E D P R A Y E R S for our ongoing search for a new music director! Please continue to pray for the SPPR as they search for new leadership for this ministry.

8 Page 8 The Twig Bender G r e e n w o o d U M C M a r c h Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Election Day Peanut Butter Lover s Day 2 Soup, Sandwich and Scripture 3 Choir Practice Cub Scouts 4 Employee Appreciation Day 6 p.m. Free Food 5 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast at Aunt Sarah s Pancake House 6 Communion Sunday LAMB s Basket Sunday One Great Hour of Sharing Soup, Sandwich and Scripture 10 Choir Practice Cub Scouts 11 6 p.m. Free Food 12 Girl Scout Day 13 Daylight Saving Time Begins (Spring Forward) 11 a.m. Wor- 14 National p Day (3.14) 15 Beware the Ides of March 16 Easter Lily Orders Due 11:30 a.m. Cornerstones 17 St. Patrick s Day Choir Practice Cub Scouts 18 6 p.m. Free Food 19 F r i e n d s h i p Q u i l t e r s 20 Palm Sunday Spring Begins 11 a.m. Worship Service National Goof Off Day Maundy Thursday Cub Scouts 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday 25 Good Friday Donations for Easter Egg Hunt Due Twig Bender a.m. Easter Egg Hunt 27 Easter Sunday 7 a.m. Sunrise Service at Laurel Presbyterian Take a Walk in the Park Day 31

9 March 2016 Page 9 (Continued from page 1) Where Do We Go from Here? lems, and concerns we have. We can even name how we envision God working things out for those issues. But then we turn them over to God. We try to ask God what God s will is in the concern and for God to work God s will. But then we also have to open ourselves up to accepting God s will whatever that might be. Next we ask how God might use us in working out the issues. Then we listen. We listen for God to give us words of hope, words of instruction, words of encouragement and words of grace. Lastly, we give thanks again, for God listening, acting, guiding and loving us through it all. Then do you know the most often used instruction on product labels? Repeat. Do this and then, repeat. So you repeat your prayers day after day. Sometimes the answer happens very quickly instantaneously even and other times it is in God s time. God s time a time that we have trou- ble measuring and that we are often impatient to have come. God s time takes patience and understanding. It takes listening and watching and waiting. Sometimes it takes adjusting our perspective or our focus. While we may be waiting for God to bring us something or someone, God may be waiting for us to go to someplace or someone! God often gives us resources and people, but we don t always recognize what God is providing. You ve heard the (Continued on page 11) Greenwood Women s Circles The Circles will not meet in March due to Soup, Sandwich & Scriptures on Wednesday, March 2 (see related article on page 4).

10 Page 10 Chancel Remodel Update The Twig Bender (Continued from page 3) Church Treasurer Gay Stapleton has paid out $2,200 to Huff & Morris Architects for design fees. Also, some of the donated funds have been spent on new choir chairs. Currently we have $11, in the fund available for this project. At a recent church council meeting, some members suggested we display the renovation plans in the narthex or on the projector in the Sanctuary. Charley sent Steve an electronic copy which Steve will try to get enlarged and printed for display. Also at the council meeting, members asked if we could use money from the Davis Fund or from the land sale to fund this project. Pastor Barbara said that we might be able to use some of the interest from invested proceeds from the land sale, but not the proceeds themselves. As we add additional items to the scope of the chancel renovation, we will be appealing to church members for more funding for specific, separate parts of the project. The March window for the remodel is rapidly closing so the church council has deferred construction until the summer. In addition to Easter Sunday services on March 27, we have weddings scheduled in the Sanctuary in April and May. So, we can t leave the chancel in disarray Note: this article was compiled from the notes of the Church Council meeting on February 16. Born in a Barn? It helps us save heating money if we keep internal doors like those from the Fellowship Hall into the Education Building hallway closed. So, if you see any open doors please take a moment to close them. Thanks!

11 March 2016 Page 11 (Continued from page 9) Where Do We Go from Here? story of the man whose boat was capsized in a storm and was drowning? He prayed to God to save him. God sent a log floating by, the man ignored it. God sent a cooler floating by, the man ignored it. God sent a person in a small boat who threw out a life-saving ring and offered to tow the man to land. He rejected the offer. God sent a rescue helicopter, the man refused to climb up the rope yelling out that he was waiting for God to save him as he sank below the surface of the water. Sometimes God sends answers, sends supplies, sends directions, and we holler back that we are waiting for God. Sometimes, we need to reach out, turn around, or walk in a different direction. We may need to grasp the rescue rope, or climb on top of the cooler floating by. Instead of an organist, maybe we are to be open to a guitarist at Greenwood. Instead of adding activities, we are to focus on doing mission work in the community. I am not hearing God say that right now. What I have heard is do not be anxious and be patient. These are two things I have trouble doing! Be patient. I want things done now. Don t you? I have heard God saying I have great plans for this group of people. Listen. But what those great plans are? I am still listening. What are you hearing? Have you been praying? Are you praying for God s plan or for your plan? God s plan always seems harder up front, but experience has taught me that making my plan often is impossible, is filled with potholes and roadblocks. Working God s plan keeps coming with unexpected assistance in the most unusual places. Where we go from here depends on how well we listen and how willing we are to reach out for the resources God sends. But wherever we go whether to the Promised Land following Moses, or to Nineveh part way in the belly of a big fish we go at God s leading, recognizing our dependence on God but also accepting the provisions God sends all along the way. Grace and Peace, Barbara

12 Page 12 Health Kit Materials The Twig Bender At our annual Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, March 26, the children will assemble health kits for UMCOR, using materials you ve donated. Here s what s needed: 1 hand towel 15 x 25 inches to 17 x 27 inches; no kitchen, cleaning or microfiber, please. 1 washcloth. 1 comb sturdy and longer than 6 inches; no pocket combs or picks please; rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable with a minimum of 6 inches of teeth. 1 metal nail file or nail clippers no emery boards, please. 1 bath-size soap 3 oz. and larger sizes only; no Ivory or Jergens soap due to moisture content; do not remove from original packaging. 1 toothbrush Adult size only; do not remove from original packaging. 6 adhesive bandages ¾ inch to 1 inch wide, like common household Band-Aids. 1 plastic bag One-gallon size sealable bag only. $1.00 to purchase toothpaste. Please place your donations on the altar by Friday, March 25. Thanks! A Note of Thanks Dear friends, We wanted to thank you for all of the love, prayers, flowers, calls and food that you have lovingly sent to us. We could not find any other church family who comes together in expressing their care more than you. I am still not able to do much so Harry is having to do a lot of extra work. Again thank you and God bless you, Brenda

13 March 2016 Page 13 Greenwood Church Family Birthdays Janet Pittman... 3/10 Jeffrey Patteson... 3/12 Samantha Stanley... 3/15 Austin Stanley... 3/18 Amanda Banks Langston... 3/21 Donald Cullom... 3/21 Jim Harris... 3/25 Jeremy Horning... 3/29 Anniversaries Dean and Janet Pittman... 3/11 Don t see your birthday or wedding anniversary in The Twig Bender and would like to have us publish it? Send your dates to admin@gumcva.org or call the church office at ; likewise, let us know if you d like your birthday or anniversary removed. Food Donation Connection Adamarye Patteson writes: Thanks everyone for filling in while Betty and Brenda are recuperating from their surgery. March Food Donation Pick Up Rotation: Wednesday, March 2: Charlene and Maurice Hawkins; Thursday, March 3: Glenda and Steve Stalnaker; Friday, March 4: Carolyn and Ray Smith. Wednesday, March 9: Jean Mowatt and William Gibbs; Thursday, March 10: Lewis Daniel; Friday, March 11: Adamarye Patteson. Wednesday, March 16: Charlene and Maurice Hawkins; Thursday, March 17: Glenda and Steve Stalnaker; Friday, March 18: Carolyn and Ray Smith. Wednesday, March 23: Jean Mowatt and William Gibbs; Thursday, March 24: Lewis Daniel; Friday, March 25: Adamarye Patteson. Wednesday, March 30: Charlene and Maurice Hawkins; Thursday, March 31: Glenda and Steve Stalnaker; Friday, April 1: Carolyn and Ray Smith.

14 Page 14 The Twig Bender February Attendance and Offerings Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce Proverbs 3:9 Date Sunday School Worship Giving February $2,136 February $1,713 February $1,147 February $1,448 Weekly Averages $1,611 February Totals $6,444 Year to Date Avg $2,010 Year to Date Totals $16,078 In order to meet Greenwood s 2016 operating budget of $133, 357, our goal is an average weekly offering of $2, Thank you for helping us reach our goal. Twig Bender is a publication of Greenwood United Methodist Church Greenwood Road Glen Allen, VA Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Pastor The Rev. Barbara Lewis revbarbara@gumcva.org Music Director Open After School Phone: Office admin@gumcva.org Fax: Office hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday Friday Twig Bender editor Steve Stalnaker webmaster@gumcva.org Visit our web site at Greenwood UMC all rights reserved