Thank you for the warm welcome,

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1 Thank you for the warm welcome, as I join your ministry team. In the coming weeks, I look forward to learning the creation story of FUMC. Together, we will remember how the congregation was birthed, shaped and led to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. How/where is the Holy Spirit stirring in our midst leading FUMC into the future? This is a journey. I am honored and humbled to walk with you, discerning where God wants to shine the light of Christ. I also look forward to hearing your story. For, as we give voice to the longings of our hearts and share the gift of deep listening, a sacred space emerges: What might God reveal? Join me in praying for FUMC and the Body of Christ throughout the world. Grace and peace, Brenda

2 T he Sanctuary Choir, who sing primarily at the 11:00 a.m. service, will take their customary summer break at the end of June and make way for the Family Choir to take over for July and into August. If you ever thought about singing in the choir, now is your chance to see if this is a ministry for you in the church. Your whole family can join in the fun in Family Choir. Family Choir meets in the choir room at 10:15 a.m. for the 11:00 a.m. service. Music is easy and fun. Rehearsals will cover the music for that morning and two or three anthems for the upcoming weeks. If you like to sing and have ever wondered what it is like to sit up in the choir loft, now is the time to step forward and give it a try. Join us for Family Choir this summer! F UMC often offers a three-week class where you will discover answers about our denomination and our church in a friendly and fun environment. This Newcomers Class is designed for those who are new to our church or those who are considering membership. Learn the values and beliefs of FUMC and find where you fit in and how to get connected to the life of FUMC. Attendance at the class does not commit you to membership. While these classes may not run during the summer, they will begin again in the fall. Contact Pastor Won Lee ( x15) or Jeff Smith (evangelism@ fumcva.org, ) with questions. 2

3 Dear Friends, We thank our FUMC family of friends from the bottom of our hearts for all the prayers, support and love you have shown to us over the past few months as we both have undergone surgeries. The many cards, flowers and meals you gave us were true acts of love that we appreciated so much. You are a wonderful church family and we are grateful to God for each of you. Albert & Dan Hickman The Board of Directors of the FUMC Foundation has established an endowment fund in honor of Larry and Amy Lenow and their many years of faithful and dedicated service to FUMC. This fund -- to be known as the Larry and Amy Lenow Ministerial Fund will provide financial assistance to seminary students enrolled at Virginia Conference accredited seminaries. Those wishing to contribute to this fund in honor of Larry and Amy may do so by cash or check payable to FUMC (designate Lenow Ministerial Fund ) placed in the offering plate or delivered to the church office. Contact Rob Billingsley, President of the FUMC Foundation, at with any questions. 3 Save the date for Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 for the FUMC Bazaar that is held only every other year. It s always a special event and raises about $8,000 to be used for scholarships and projects in the church. We are meeting each month the 2nd and 4th Monday in the Fellowship Hall downstairs 9:30-11:30 to work on projects. Just come and we will create items for the Bazaar. If you can t make the meetings, then be sure and work on your own creations at home. We have needs for needlework, Christmas Shop, baby and teen items, artists corner, bakery goods, college motifs, crafts, and any items you think would be saleable. We have so many talented people in our congregation, and this is a great time for fellowship and helping with the success of the Bazaar. This is a special event in the Fredericksburg community and our church. The Festival of Wreaths will be taking entries this summer, so stay in touch for details.

4 All men are invited for the next UMM meeting on July 13 th. Breakfast will be provided at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will adjourn to the Chapel at 8:45 a.m. for our devotional on Men of the Bible. Come and join your brothers in Christ for food and fellowship. The FUMC United Methodist Men are planning a field trip for the September meeting to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. A breakfast will be provided at the church for men and their families. We will then travel to the Marine Museum for a guided tour by Bob LaChance. More information to follow. If you have life changes (moved, changed telephone numbers, married, divorced, or had a child), please notify Michelle Cooper, Church Secretary, at justasec@fumcva.org or (540) , x 23. The church needs your help to keep records up to date. 4 FUMC Church Mugs are now available for purchase at the church office - $10.00 each. All the profits will be used for evangelism ministry. Hold FUMC in your prayers over morning coffee/tea, or on your commute. For more information, please see Jeff Smith or Pastor Won.

5 Meals on Wheels (MOW) is a program that provides a cold noontime meal and a hot evening meal for individuals who are incapacitated and cannot obtain or prepare Prepared by Sandy Howson, showson@infionline.net food for themselves, and do not live with someone who can provide these services for them. Eligibility is not God s willingness to become one of us in the dependent upon age person of Jesus Christ is evidence of God s or income. Clients pay deep and abiding love for us. We understand for the meals, which are prepared by Mary Washington God s love through Jesus: We know love by Hospital and delivered Monday through Friday by volunteers. The current cost is $4.25 per day and the delivery down our lives for one another. this, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay area is within a four-mile radius of the hospital. (1 John 3:16) Scripture shows The MOW Program needs volunteers to serve as us that Jesus was compassionate to all people, especially the drivers! Drivers are part of a dynamic team that delivers meals to elderly or incapacitated members of the widow, the orphan, the stranger, community. MOW is looking for a commitment of at the hungry, the poor those least once a month but interested individuals may drive most vulnerable in society. Jesus more often, if they so desire. Each driving run will take loved all people, rich and poor, approximately two hours and is done using the volunteer s personal vehicle. Please join Team MOW in prociples to do the same, to reflect God s loving nature. and actively cared for those in need. He urged his disviding this invaluable service to the community! As followers of Christ, we can reflect Jesus love and compassion. Jesus calls us to respond to the reality of hunger and poverty in our world. We can model Jesus care for vulnerable people we encounter, whether they live next door, in the next state, or across the world. Our proclamation of God s love and our demonstrated concern for others are two sides of the same coin. We work to end hunger and poverty in our communities, in our country, and in other countries because we hear God s word and see Jesus model of compassion and justice. We express and embody God s reconciling love at all The Foundation for Evangelism is a national times and in all places. organization that has worked with United In scripture, God calls people into community Methodist Church annual conferences since and sets the expectation that leaders (whether they 1981 to honor exemplary United Methodist are kings, pharaohs, or governments) should care for clergy, lay persons, and youth who exhibit unusual and their people. Therefore, we also reflect Christ s love by outstanding efforts for the work of Christian Evangelism. challenging individuals and institutions that have the Each annual conference may award the Harry Denman power to change laws and structures that keep people Evangelism Award to one member of the clergy, one lay vulnerable. As God s hands and feet in the world, we person, and one youth each year. work toward a beloved community in which every person has an equal opportunity to thrive. This year FUMC s own Timothy Hares was recognized by the Virginia Conference Board of Discipleship Read and download this new resource ( for this honor. Tim has been a member of our praise bread.org/hunger/bible/biblical-basis/biblical-basis-foradvocacy.pdf) which can be used for personal reflec- band, co-founded our youth praise band two years ago, serves as the worship leader for his Young Life group, tion, group discussion, or congregational study. and led music for vacation bible school for the first You may also order The Biblical Basis for Advocacy Fredericksburg District VIM trip to El Salvador in to End Hunger as a pamphlet through the Bread store April. FUMC is proud of Tim s dedication to sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others! 5

6 Are you interested in helping with receptions (funerals, etc.)? We are looking for someone to head-up our third committee as well as others who would like to be on the committee. As head of the committee, it would involve calling folks to bring food for the occasion and getting several committee members to set food out and help with serving the day of the event. For more information, call Alice Blain at or The Outreach Pantry is open Monday through Friday, 1:00-3:00 p.m. We always need hot and cold cereals, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter, jelly (grape/strawberry), powdered milk, rice, soups, bread, canned fruits, canned meats and meat, baby formula and diapers. Monetary donations may also be made by writing Outreach in the memo section of your check. Please check expiration dates. We cannot give out expired items, nor can we give out medicines. Contact Ed Sielski at with questions To help our shoppers, you may donate funds to FUMC, put SDD on the memo line. The ICC will be purchasing the school supplies as well as clothing and backpacks to supplement the donations. Consider volunteering a little time on August 8, 9 or 10 for this effort. The event will be held at the LDS church on Bragg Road (between Central Park and Route 3). Setup will be on Thursday August 8 in the morning; give-away days are Friday and Saturday, August 9 and 10 from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. Boxes in Mission Control waiting for your generous donations. Call Jean Himmel at for more information or to volunteer some time. 6 by Ted Smith, Fredericksburg District Superintendent The question Why? usually corresponds to values and purposes, while the question How? relegates itself to mechanics. Understanding the why in a matter will never wear out; whereas the how must change over time If you understand why you do something, you may be less inclined to say this won t work in my town. Pastor Ralph Moore, Make Disciples: Developing Lifelong Followers of Jesus Many of us have experienced this talking with an inquisitive young child who begins asking Why and follows every answer with an additional Why? I have heard many times that, the why must come first. After reading the remark by Pastor Moore, it occurred to me that this is the best way to introduce the Fredericksburg District Hartwood Project, our emerging plans to develop a Community Center and Mission Hub on the 23 acres we own just off Route 17 northwest of Fredericksburg.

7 Did you know that every second and fourth Saturdays of the month for five years now, there has been a Community Dinner served from Kitchen 2 (otherwise known as the old kitchen). We serve around 120 to 130 plates of food (that includes seconds and carry-outs). FUMC serves the second and Ebenezer UMC serves the fourth... we have a faithful band of volunteers who come to cook, set-up, greet and serve and CLEAN-UP. The dinners are well received. Actually there is a Community Dinner just about every evening at one of the downtown churches for anyone who would like to attend. If you feel called to join us, PLEASE DO! foridderhof@verizon.net or call With vacations and very involved schedules for all, we would welcome some more volunteers. The Sanctuary Choir will take their summer break soon but will resume regular rehearsals in late August. They are looking for singers in all voice ranges and would love for you to join them, especially in our tenor, baritone and bass sections. The Sanctuary Choir sings primarily at the 11:00 a.m. service and rehearses every Wednesday evening in the Choir Room at 7:15 p.m. Contact Bill McCoy (wfm@fumcva.org) if you would like to become a part of this music ministry. Preschool 3 s & 4 s and Kindergarteners are invited to sing in the FUMC Angel Choir when we resume regular rehearsals this fall! We usually practice on Wed. evenings from 5:30 6:00 pm in the FUMC preschool music room. We sing about every six to eight weeks in worship services. Come be a part of the music ministry at FUMC! And bring a friend! Look for more information in August. Contact director Melanie Haus for more information or questions, or melmarkr5@ verizon.net We have immediate openings in the Chapel Ringers Bell Choir. Contact Brian Lamb if you are interested in joining when we resume regular rehearsals this fall. The Chapel Ringers meet Sunday nights from 7pm 8pm. Contact Brian at or blamb1984@gmail.com for details. To subscribe to the Open Door Newsletter electronically, to pamb@ fumcva.org and type Subscribe in the subject line. She can check if you are subscribed and answer any questions. To receive the newsletter via the U.S. Mail, contact Michelle Cooper at , x23. Miss a service for any reason? Our pastors sermons available online!! Just go to our website at www. fumcva.org, click on Worship on the top of the homepage, click on Listen to Sermons in the dropdown menu and then select the sermon you would like to hear. If you or someone you know needs special words of encouragement, CareNotes are an invaluable tool. Booklets cover a variety of topics for Kids, Teens, and Adults. Displays are in the Narthex, Fellowship Hall, and Charlotte Street entrance hallway. Take one for yourself or for a friend. Check each display frequently as the titles will change from time to time. If there is something you need but cannot find CareNotes for, contact Raymond Chancellor at (540) or leave a note in the CareNotes mailbox (Room 105), and a copy will be placed in the display for you. 7

8 We are studying Women of the Bible 52 Bible Studies for Individuals & Groups by Jean Syswerda. Each session introduces us to a woman in the Bible as we delve more deeply into her life and culture and discover the God behind her story and our own. Open to all women and men (18-118), this group meets at FUMC the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month (except when the church is closed) from 10-11:30 a.m. in Room 210. Each week s study is a fresh lesson. We look forward to seeing new faces, familiar faces and ones we have missed. Please come as often as your schedule allows. To arrange babysitting or if you have further questions, call Ann Braz at Do you feel like you re just a hot mess and all the other moms you see are so put together?? Join us in Fredericksburg MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) and explore how are all a Beautiful Mess. We are open to moms (with kids ages birth to kindergarten) and mentor moms who will serve as a guide to share your experiences as a wife and mother! We are also on the lookout for anyone interested in working with young kids in our MOPPETS program! This would be a great opportunity for the retired persons or home-schooled teenagers! Please contact Allison Xanthopoulos at or fmopssteering@ gmail.com for more information. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. A MOMSnext group is an open, accepting place for all mothers of school-age kids to come, just as they are, to experience authentic community, personal growth, practical help and spiritual hope. MOMSnext will encourage, equip and develop moms in the next phase of mothering. This is a sister ministry to our current MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program. Meetings will always be the first Friday night of the month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Room 236 (Infant Crying Room). If you have any questions, please call Jennifer Watson at or fredericksburgmomsnext@gmail.com. 8 The Contemporary Adult Sunday School Group will resume classes in September. Look for details in a future newsletter. Questions? Rita Girard at ritag100@verizon.net. SSweet Monday classes will resume in October- Watch for details in the fall newsletters. If you have questions, call (540/ ) or Anna Billingsley at anna_billingsley@yahoo. com. The Girlfriends Sunday School Class is beginning a new study of Corinthians using Robert W. Wingard s book, Paul and the Corinthians. Books are available free of charge while supplies last. If you are a woman between the ages of 18 and 108, please join us in Room 208 from 9:45 to 10:45 on Sunday mornings. We are a small group that enjoys sincere discussion. If you have questions, please contact Rona Costello, Used Adult Sunday School study books have been organized for your use. A sample copy of each book and a list stating the number of copies available is in the Church Library. You may borrow the sample copy to preview by signing the form available in the Library. Please return the sample copy to the box for returns. The books are available: To borrow for class use and then return To preview before ordering new or used books You may request use of these books by notifying Pam Bosch in the Church Office. Donate your used Sunday School Study books to the collection. Just bring them to the library.

9 Photo by Phil Haynes