VINEYARD PRESS. Sonoma United Methodist Church Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. October Building an Inclusive Community Workshop October 24

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1 U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H O F S O N O M A VINEYARD PRESS Sonoma United Methodist Church Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors October 2015 Building an Inclusive Community Workshop October 24 There is no doubt that Sonoma United Methodist Church is a place where all people are welcome. While our church is welcoming, the official documents of the United Methodist Church contain discriminatory language against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Being a Reconciling Congregation means that as a local church we overtly state that all persons (regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, ability, age etc.) are welcomed and valued as people of sacred worth and beloved children of God. In the spirit of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors our congregation is in the beginning stages of becoming an official Reconciling Congregation. At the end of the process we will hold a congregation wide vote on whether or not to become a Reconciling Congregation. Kandi Weider (SUMC s lay leader), Pastor Matt and our Committee on Reconciliation would like to invite you to attend a workshop on October 24, from 10am 5pm titled Building and Inclusive Community: The Basics of The Reconciling Process. The workshop will be led by Rev. Israel Izzy Alvaran, Western Regional Organizer for Reconciling Ministries Network. This in-depth training will be informative, thought provoking, and fun. We have invited twenty United Methodist congregations in Sonoma, Marin and Napa to participate with us in this training, it is our prayer that this will be a time of celebration and education across our North Bay United Methodist connection. While the workshop is free all participants will need to register at

2 Serving in Our Church this Month Worship Leaders Oct 4-Rich Hacker Oct 11-Eliot Carter Oct 18-Beth Carter Oct. 25-Deborah Pucillo Greeters Oct 4-Ruth Merrill, Darlene Fish Oct 11--Linda Miller, June Lea Oct 18-Sue Kidwell, Margaret Johnson Oct. 25-Pat and Dick Severson Ushers Oct 4-Susan and Scott Murray Oct 11-Mandy Weil, Arlene Dixon Oct 18-Dick Severson, Al Adams Oct. 25-Charlene Thomason, Arlene Dixon Our Prayers Please include these folks in your prayers that they may find strength and relief. Jan Caine Bill Chalker Emmilee Hodges Garcia Mary Hall Catherine Beatty Holt Irene Lewis Jean Parrish Doris Peterson Doris and Bill Pitman Gwen Siler Bunny Taggart Sally Tuller Jerry & Loretta Thomas Sam Virts If you would like to have your name placed on the Newsletter Prayer List, please call the Church Office at any time You may leave a message To have a prayer request placed on the Prayer Chain, please call: Margaret Johnson at How to reach our pastor: Pastor Matt Pearson can be reached through the office , via cell phone , and matthewalexanderpearson@gmail.com Church website

3 Celebrating October Birthdays Beth Samulewicz 10/01 Marge Melberg 10/01 Barbara Nichols 10/02 Wyota Powell 10/3 Dick Menefee 10/4 June Lea 10/7 Sally Tuller 10/8 T.J.Linfante 10/09 Kylie Lugger 10/09 Brady Hoff 10/10 Daniella Caveney 10/18 Eliot Carter 10/18 Jan Caine 10/23 Alisi Waseanalagi 10/25 Your birthday not mentioned here? Please the office at with your birthdate and your school age children s birthdates so we can celebrate with you. Our Gifts September income $12, Our Presence Amount needed for expenses $14, Average Sunday Worship Service attendance for September : 72 Our Gifts to Charity: Given to Heifer Project this month: $162 Amount given to Cal-Nev Conference for FIRE disaster relief: $1900 We will host a Stop Hunger Now event on Saturday, November 14th at 1 pm.. Questions about Stop Hunger Now? Contact: Pat Severson at home

4 Sonoma UMC Fundraising Lucky S.H.A.R.E.S CARDS We continue to earn funds from the Lucky SHARES Card program. It is very easy to use and the program pays 3% on your grocery purchases, which is very high. You simply present the SHARES Card at the time of purchase and then pay for your groceries. But you do have to remember to use the card. It is not a discount card and it is not a gift card. An easy way to remember when you shop at Lucky is to put the SHARES Card in your wallet with the credit or debit card you use or with your checkbook. You can also use the SHARES Card in the self-check lanes: touch the SHARES button on the screen, swipe your card in the credit card reader, and then scan your groceries. If you need SHARES Cards, please contact Ann Wray and let her know how many you want. Please ask your family and friends to use a card for us too. Every bit helps! The Sonoma Market/Glen Ellen Village Market Community Card Earn up to 5% for the church with your qualifying purchases every time you shop at Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market. This program is part of escrip. How to enroll: 1. Complete the registration form at the checkout stand at Sonoma Market or Glen Ellen Village Market. To earn contributions, your card must be registered. 2. Select Sonoma United Methodist Church as the group to receive your contributions. 3. Use the card every time you shop and SUMC earns a contribution. Held Sept. 18,19,20 Results: $ Thank you to all who helped sort, set up, sell (and buy), pack up and clean up: Alice Friesen, Pat Ross, Susan Scarbrough, Nan Perrott, Jill Devos, Al Adams, Frank Windes, Rejean Idzerda, Mary OHern, Margaret Johnson, Bobbie Jenkins, Darlene Fish, Nancy Parmelee, Dave Ransom, Shelley Richey, Matt Pearson and our two young helpers on Sunday, Kayden and Bailey Linfante. And a big thanks to all who donated and bought SHOP AND EARN books at the sale! Happy Reading! EASY as 1,2,3 1. Sign up or sign in at 2.Click on the Online Mall logo 3.Shop your favorite brands at online retailers to automatically earn for our group. Recycling Your Ink Jet Cartridges SUMC earns money for collecting and returning small INK JET cartridges that are used in basic computer printers through the Empties 4 Cash program. They are the little cartridges sometimes less than 2 square. No large toner cartridges are accepted.

5 Pastor's Pondering Glancing at newspaper headlines or the evening news it does not take long to realize that the political season has already kicked into high gear. Even though presidential elections are more than a year a way, potential candidates from various parties have already started pumping big money into their campaigns, established their running platform, and are trying to grow their base of support so that they can secure their parties nomination. Secular politics on any level can be an ugly game full of deception, name-calling, scandal, waste of resources it often does not bring out our best selves. Yet, this is the process that has developed for our nation to select its leadership. As followers of Jesus, how do we respond to all of this? Many Christians have different reactions to the world of secular politics. For some the political realm is something that is entirely separate from the sacred realm people of faith need not be concerned with the powers of this world, because our allegiance is to God. Another line of Christian thinking sees awareness of, and involvement in secular politics, as imperative to the call of the Gospel. Churches in America are not permitted to endorse or support any candidate running for public office. Churches and clergy however are permitted to speak out regarding moral and political issues. As United Methodists, we are a thinking people. Discernment processes that integrate scripture, tradition, personal experience and reason are one of the things that identify us as distinctly Wesleyan. Methodists have long been politically active in our pursuit to embody a Social Gospel. Our Book of Resolutions states United Methodists have been known as a denomination involved with people s lives, with political and social struggles, having local to international mission implications. We get involved because we know that God desires good for all people. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, set our concern for social perfection into motion when he would preach to factory workers and laborers assuring them of their dignity and inspiring them to lobby for better working conditions. Likewise circuit riders preached messages across America, calling civic leaders to uphold their responsibility to the people and encouraging communities to organize to ensure the well being of all. Methodists clergy and laity played critical roles in emancipation, gaining women s suffrage, the civil-rights movement, environmental policy reform the list goes on and on. In short, we have a strong tradition of being politically engaged. Though we have a tradition of being politically active I want to us to remember that our church (global and local) is comprised of a wide spectrum of political understandings. Let us be respectful of one another in our conversation, as United Methodists we also value personal experience and sometimes our experiences lead us to different conclusions. It is not always as simple as being right or wrong. One of the greatest gifts that we can offer the political process is to keep asking question and keep dialogue open as soon as we stop talking then walls go up and dogma (a.k.a. party loyalty) rules the day. As we go forward stay alert, stay curious, stay active, stay compassionate. Do not be afraid to raise your voice and at the same time be careful not to silence the voice of your sister or brother. As a community we are moving onward to perfection, but no one of us holds all the answers. Be humble enough to hear your neighbor, and bold enough to speak your mind. May God s wisdom fill our hearts and minds, and Christ s example shape our actions. Grace and Peace, Pastor M@

6 UMW Bazaar and HotTurkey Luncheon The Bazaar is a collaborative effort of the United Methodist Women, Heifer International and Mission Handcrafts. Doors will be open Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 9 am and will continue to 2 pm in the Isaac Owen room. The annual Hot Turkey Luncheon will be served in two sittings at 11:30 am and at 12:45 pm at a cost of $12 for the lunch, with a choice of desserts at $2 each. Tickets will be available after October 13 th at the church Office or by calling Darlene Fish at The deadline to purchase is Sunday November 1. Here are some of the items offered by the United Methodist Women: Embroidered dish towels, place mats, gifts, jewelry, ten bean soup mix and homemade breads, pies. cakes, jams and jellies and candy. Fair Trade coffees, and teas, cocoa and chocolate will be for sale. Early holiday shoppers will find a rich variety of hand crafted items from around the world: Wool and alpaca sweaters and jackets, ceramic nativity sets and musical instruments from Bolivia, shawls, scarves, silk purses. blouses and jewelry from India and Cambodia, a large selection of Christmas and note cards and a variety of baskets from Mexico with many items from Haiti, Macedonia, Africa, and other countries. When you choose gifts from Heifer International, you choose gifts that help struggling families lift themselves out of poverty and feed and school their children. Some of these gifts will provide for shares of heifers, goats, geese, rabbits, sheep, honeybees, and more. For each purchase, a gift card will be provided for the friend or family member you have chosen to honor with your gift. In buying gifts such as these, whether it is a batch of chicks or a Bolivian sweater, you enable your friends to be a part of making the world a happier place. Extended hours for the Bazaar (excluding lunch) will be Sunday November 8 from 9 am to 1 pm Get out your aprons and rolling pins, it is time to do some baking! The UMW is in need of donations of pies, cakes, brownies, cookies breads, jams and jellies, candy walnuts, etc. These treats will be much appreciated for the foods and dessert table at the famous annual Hot Turkey Salad Luncheon and Bazaar on Saturday November 7 th. Items can be brought to the IOR on Friday November 6 th from 9 am to Noon or before 9 on the day of the Luncheon. Check with Margaret Johnson at if you have any questions.

7 Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser to Benefit S.O.S. Women and Children s Shelter It is time to feast! We will be holding a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday October 10 th at 6pm. All funds raised will go to support the Sonoma Overnight Support new project to build a women and children s shelter in Sonoma Valley. Join us for an evening of food, live entertainment, silent auctions, and a live auction with Pastor Matt playing the role of auctioneer. A grand time will be had by all! Tickets go on sale October 1st: Adults $10, Students $5, children 5 and under free. We are looking for items and experiences to be donated for auctioning as well. If you are able to donate art/crafts, services, gift certificates or other items please contact Joanna Greenslade or Pastor Matt. If you would like to help with food preparation or set-up/take down please contact Christine Missmer or Kandi Weider. If you would like to offer a musical act or other form of entertainment during the dinner please contact Daniella Caveney. Once tickets go on sale there will only be a limited number available so make sure to act fast and don t forget to wear your elastic-waist pants. UMW Unit Meeting this month at Brookdale Sonoma United Methodist Women will meet at Brookdale, 800 Oregon St. on Tuesday, October 20. Priscilla Circle will host the meeting beginning with refreshments at 12:30 pm, followed by the program, "A World Thank Offering", led by members of Rebekah Circle As friends and members, we are women with a mission to meet the physical and social needs of women, children and youth around the world, as well as in our own neighborhoods. The short business portion of the meeting will consist of discussion concerning the Bazaar and Turkey Luncheon to be held on November 7 and 8. Also to be discussed are the details of the Christmas Tea on December 8. Everyone is welcome.

8 Events and dates to remember: Sunday School for Adults, Youth and Children. 9 am Worship Service at 10 am Child care provided Sundays,-Spiritual Action Group 11:15 am Tuesday Leadership and Education committee Oct. 6th, 7 pm UMW Circles Oct. 13th,12:30 pm Parish Partners Oct. 14 9:30 am ED rm. Book Club-Oct. 20th, 10 am. Education rm. Bible Study with Rejean Idzerda 3:30 pm at Brookdale. New Wine Ringers, IOR 4:30 pm Brown Baggers Oct. 27th at 8 am Wednesday Koffee Klatch 10 am Circle of Friends 10/14 Joanna Greenslade Thursday Quilters Oct. 8th and Oct. 22 at 10 am Meeting in the education room. Friday Oct. 2. Men s Group, 7 pm, Saturday Oct. 10th Committees meet at 10 am Church Council at 11:30 am Spaghetti Dinner 6 pm IOR to benefit SOS Oct. 17th All Church Work Day Oct. 24 Reconciling Ministries Workshop 10 am to 5 pm Sonoma United Methodist Church 109 Patten Street Sonoma, CA October am Sunday Worship Service 9 am Sunday School Children s and Adult Education Brown Baggers Coffee and Fellowship following service. Childcare provided. Pastor Matt Pearson Phone: Cell: sumcoffice@comcast.net matthewalexanderpearson@gmail.com Meet at the SUMC Kitchen Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 8 am Join us for some great fellowship time while packing brown bag lunches for the needy in Sonoma Valley. Donations of Homemade cookies are always welcomed. Need a ride? To the Doctor, Hairdresser, Shopping, Groceries, Bank, Cleaners? 1-2 stops $10 3 or more stops $20 Out of Town $20 Call Linda Miller The UMW Circles will meet on October 13 at 12:30 pm - Priscilla Circle at Brookdale,800 Oregon St. Rebekah Circle will meet at the home of Darlene Fish, 1500 Lovall Valley Rd. Men s Group Oct 2 at 7 pm. Host: Dick Severson Louise Lane Circle of Friends Wednesday Oct. 14th, 7 pm Hostess: Joanna Greenslade Koffee Klatch 10 am Wednesdays All are welcome! Coffee, Tea, and Refreshments. Please join us! All members and friends are invited to share our great coffee, sweet treats and conversation every Wednesday at 10 am in the Isaac Owen room for our long standing Koffee Klatch tradition. Led by Loretta Thomas, Frank Windes, Arlene Dixon