June 3 rd! Save The Date: ... a celebration to remember followed by a special coffee hour in the Parish Hall.

Transcription

1 Save The Date: June 3 rd! Sunday School Sunday, ASP Commissioning, & Homecoming... a celebration to remember followed by a special coffee hour in the Parish Hall. Page 1 of 22

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3 OPPORTUNITIES Page 3 of 22

4 When you look into the newly painted and furnished Friendship Room recently, you may notice that the library books have been arranged somewhat differently. With the help of Pat Knebel, Bonnie Huey, and Phebe Kirkham, all the shelves were cleared, allowing the walls to be painted. As the books were returned to the shelves, some were found to be out-of-date or too well used. These books were passed along to used book sales or other places. The remaining books were replaced by the same team. The books are in the same order as before, and can be found just as easily. There is more space for displaying books of interest at particular times. Thanks to Bonnie, Pat, and Phebe for helping to get the books off and back on the shelves. Thanks also to JoAnn Schif and Ray Huey for replacing one of the brackets holding up one of the shelves. During the month of May, books about John Wesley and Methodism will be displayed. Do you know why May would be a month to focus on John Wesley? Books are borrowed by signing the card in the back of the book with your name and the date you borrowed it. Place the card in the box next to the card catalogue. Please return the book in three weeks by placing it on the card catalogue. Please do not reshelf the book. Page 4 of 22

5 Pray and Color by Sybil MacBeth The author of Pray and Color states that it is a book for people who: like to color, have never colored, struggle with prayer, have trouble finding words for their prayers, want to incorporate their hands and eyes into prayer, want a new way to pray, or are curious. She describes a spiritual practice as an activity in which my mind, body, emotions, thoughts, and spirit are all in the same geography at the same time. And she has discovered coloring as a spiritual practice provides a segue between the fast, continuous movement of my normal life and a slow, contemplative pace. Sybil MacBeth includes ideas, descriptions, and samples of coloring fifteen kinds of prayers. She starts with the more straightforward prayers for: others, self, gratitude, and praise. Also included are the more problematic, disgruntled prayers, and praying for your enemies. The text gives just enough background to get your soul thinking about ways to approach different types of prayers, and the book includes more than thirty template coloring pages to get you started. You can make copies of a couple templates to try it out for yourself. I have been experimenting with the suggestions in this book for several weeks, and have found that coloring my prayers has slowed down my words and requests, and increased my meditation and listening. You can find this book in our church library. Borrow this book and try coloring your prayers. Pat Knebel Page 5 of 22

6 I WILL SING A NEW SONG The old song of my spirit has wearied itself out. It has long ago been learned by heart; It repeats itself over and over. Bringing no added joy to my days or lift to my spirit. I will sing a new song. I must learn the new song for the new needs. I must fashion new words born of all the new growth of my life of my mind of my spirit. I must prepare for new melodies that have never been mine before. That all that is within me may lift my voice unto God. Therefore, I shall rejoice with each new day. And delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding. I will sing, this day, a new song unto the Lord. - Howard Thurman Church: Do not fear to sing a new song! Every day is a new day in the Lord! But wait, there s more: Howard Thurman s Book, The Mood of Christmas is available in our church library. (242.3T) Page 6 of 22

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8 WELCOMING GUESTS ON SUNDAY (or anytime) We all want people to attend our church and feel comfortable, and not feel stress during their time of worship. Here are some small things you can do to make our church feel inviting and not scary. Treat people who come to our church that you do not know as guests, and treat them as you would someone entering your own home -- with a warm welcoming, and being happy to see them. Sit towards the inside of the pew, leaving space on the end for guests. Smile as guests either pass you, or join you in the pew. During the Passing of the Peace, greet someone you don t know, even if they are several aisles away. Follow the Rule of Three"- devote the first three minutes after the Benediction to speak with people you don t know. (Guests are likely to leave quicker if no one speaks to them.) Introduce yourself: Do s Hi, I m. Good to see you today! I don t believe I ve had the pleasure of meeting you. Don ts You must be new here. I ve never seen you before. How long have you been coming here? Would you like to join a committee? We need people. Introduce the guests to the Pastor. Invite the guest to Coffee Hour with you. Tell them you hope to see them again. With thanks in part to Kay Kotan, Get Their Name: Grow Your Church by Building New Relationships. Page 8 of 22

9 Fund Raising Events to Support Local Missions Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County s 2018 benefit: April in Paris! will take place on April 28th at the Fairfield Theatre Company Warehouse in Fairfield. This festive themed party, where guests can come dressed casually chic or fashionably French, will feature cocktails, a French-inspired dinner by OnTheMarc catering, a silent auction, and The Avalon Jazz Band playing live music for dancing! You can make reservations at /annual-benefit. The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport s Annual Spring Fling celebration and fund raiser will take place on Thursday, May 3rd, at the City Lights Gallery and the Downtown Cabaret. The Faith and Community Award this year will be presented to our brothers and sisters of the First Baptist Church of Stratford, and the First Church Congregational Church of Fairfield. For reservations, go to or call them at Page 9 of 22

10 United Methodist Elected Governor in Democratic Republic of Congo: Prosper Tunda, whose family hosted the first Methodist missionaries in East Congo in 1922, has been elected governor of the Maniema province. A member of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Tokolote, Tunda is the first United Methodist governor since the Congo became independent in I dedicate this victory to Almighty God, Tunda said after his win, which he attributes to his Christian leadership. United Methodists in Bukavu organized a motorized caravan to express their joy after hearing the election results. Tunda, whose full name is Tunda Kasongo Lukali Prosper, is Chief of the Village of Tunda, an area with a strong United Methodist presence. He is the third in his family to be Chief of the region. He also runs the Tunda Foundation, a nonprofit he founded in 2004 that helps with the various United Methodist projects. The Foundation is currently working on the construction of the Mama Lynn Center, a refuge center for Congolese rape survivors in Kindu. We thank the American missionaries who came to live with us in Tunda in Before long, we will celebrate the centenary. [From a story by Chadrack Londe Tambwe, a communicator of the East Congo Conference] United Methodists Stand and Act to End Racism: United Methodists joined with their hearts, feet, and faith on the 50 th anniversary of the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., as people around the world pledged anew to combat the sin of racism. Gathering at daybreak near the King Memorial, the A.C.T. to End Page 10 of 22

11 Racism rally drew thousands to the National Mall to pray and witness with one message: racism is a sin which can be and must be stopped. The National Council of Churches, with its 38 member communions representing more than 45 million people, organized the rally; which was a gathering of the faith community in America Christians, Jews, Muslims and others, reported Jim Winkler, top executive of the Council and a United Methodist. They ve all come together, to not just commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King and mark the 50 th anniversary of his assassination, but to commit ourselves to end racism and to build our beloved community, said Winkler, as he stood with several hundred others at a prayer meeting near the King Memorial before the rally. Jackie DuPont-Walker, the social action officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the event organizers, said the rally is just the beginning of the work to combat racism. DuPont-Walker echoed many others when she expressed her hope that people who leave the rally go back to their own congregations or faith communities and start building relationships. Just go knock on your neighbors doors and say, It s time to get to work, ya ll. There are people who have given up on the church because they say we re hypocrites, she said. They ll see that we re being real, that we re working together in the community to make a difference. [from an article by Erik Alsgaard, Managing Editor in the Ministry of Communications for the Baltimore-Washington Conference.] To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests at Page 11 of 22

12 INCIDENTS AND HAPPENINGS OUT OF OUR PAST Our Circuit Rider Weathervane is famous! Our weathervane is now featured, in color, in a new book called Weathervanes of New England by Glenn A. Knoblock and David W. Wemmer. Though our weathervane is not historic in terms of age, it is certainly unique in its image of the Methodist Circuit Rider. The photo is amazing and actually shows the gold leaf. There is also text about our Church, the weathervane, and its manufacturer, Kenneth Lynch and Sons. Hundreds of weathervanes are featured in the book including two others in Stratford: the Stratford Point Lighthouse arrow weathervane, and the rooster atop Christ Episcopal Church. There are also four other weathervanes featured which are on United Methodist Churches in: Groton, VT (bannerette); Lancaster, NH (angel with trumpet); Townsend, MA (swallowtail banner); and Windsor, VT (arrow). Members of the Historical Committee, headed by Chis Fuller, corresponded with the authors, offering information about our weathervane from our files. A copy of the book is available in the Historical Library and is available for purchase on Amazon. Page 12 of 22

13 Outreach/Something to Think About Whatever Happened to Generation X? Part 2 Many churches are discussing outreach and church revitalization. Most data reveals a sharp decline in church attendance beginning when my generation, known as Generation X, became adults. Without a steady influx of newer younger members, churches are rightly concerned about their futures. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze social and cultural trends outside of the church in order to better understand the way forward. To engage current and future generations, we will have to understand what it s like for these individuals who became adults as our world prepared to usher in a new millennium (and we may have to be willing to try something new). We all know someone from the LGBTQ community. In 1972, the United Methodist Church decided to add a clause in their official statement pertaining to homosexuality. It reads...homosexuality is not compatible with Christianity. It hurts me just to write those words. So much has happened since 1972 (the year of my birth): two major recessions, the first heart transplant, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the internet, the first African-American President, and let us not forget the Supreme Court ruling recognizing Gay marriage. In the words of Stevie Wonder, The world keeps on turning, and the church continues to debate this clause, often times turning to the Bible, in what seems like an argument that will be without end. Most people in my generation know someone from the LGBTQ community. My best friend in college was/is gay. I watched him get harassed and ostracized on our all too small, conservative college campus in the early 90 s. He was fearful for his safety and so was I. Incidentally, he was a Pastor s kid. Later in my life, when I went to work as a Crisis Counselor, I worked side-byside with at least five or six openly gay colleagues. One was an Administrator and Founder of the agency, one was an Page 13 of 22

14 Outreach/Something to Think About Whatever Happened to Generation X? Part 2 (continued) artist, one did some part-time modelling, and one was the youngest of a huge Catholic family. The last was a friend of mine. He wanted to go into the ministry. He was patient and kind, and eventually moved on to do Hospice work giving people comfort as they leave this world. The Catholic Church would have been lucky to have him. These are not statistics, these are not demographics to be evaluated, these are real people -- someone s brother, friend, daughter, or neighbor. As our society has evolved, people report knowing someone from this community today more than in 1972, and having these personal experiences directly impacts how you feel about this debate. One of the things that I love most about The United Methodist Church is that we are not generally told what to believe. We are encouraged to study, pray, and engage in discussion so that we can form opinions and continue to learn and grow from each other. I have witnessed both the enduring love of the Christian faith, and its power to support and heal people. And, I have witnessed the great pain and suffering that is inflicted upon members of the LGBTQ community and their families when they feel that they are being rejected by the church or labeled as sinners. I ask you to embrace the United Methodist Outreach slogan for our district this year See All the People! Page 14 of 22

15 Scholarship Funds are available for a person or persons who are making art their major in college. The late Barbara Jennings, a gifted artist and committed church member, set up this scholarship with the intent to nurture art as a vocation. If you plan on studying the Fine Arts, please contact Steve James, Education Committee Chairperson, to see if these scholarship funds could be available to you. Page 15 of 22

16 MAY 2018 BIRTHDAYS 1 Kim Pack 18 Phyllis Hopkins 2 Jessica Ramanauskas 18 Sophia Rodriquez 4 Teresa Kuhn 18 Chris Brown 5 Doris Becker 19 Gerald Millbauer 5 Jean Campbell 19 Haille DiStefano 6 Matthew Bickley 19 James DiStefano 6 Liliette Diavua 20 Matthew Damiano 6 Christopher Olah 20 Cheryl Ernst 6 Nyla Petrahai 20 Jessica Giammattei 6 Amy Russell 20 Mila Berrien 7 Barbara Blewett 20 Layla DeVonish 7 Janice Randolph 21 Burdette James 9 Kimberly Leko 22 Molly Bosma 9 Jeanette Winton 24 Betty Foote 10 John Cottrell 24 Kevin McCarthy 10 Sierra Rose Troutman 24 Susan Minkowski 13 Elijah Law 25 Wendy Buchanan 14 Steve Robertson 25 Alex Shadman 14 George Bentley 25 Evan Tubiak 15 Marianne Card 26 Erin Burns 15 Robert Pierson 29 Susan Burns 15 Rev. Simeon Law 30 Kelly Tubiak 16 Lisa Feudo 31 Stefanie Knight 16 Brian Green 16 Diane Wall 17 Stephen Petrahai If your May birthday isn t on this list, please call the church office at Page 16 of 22

17 to Eugene Oliver whose birthday was on April 18 th! May 2018 Wedding Anniversaries May 2 nd May 6 th May 16 th May 16 th May 20 th May 22 nd May 22 nd May 25 th Mr. & Mrs. Sprouse Mr. & Mrs. Towne Mr. & Mrs. Pike Mr. & Mrs. Tubiak Mr. & Mrs. Green Mr. & Mrs. Baird Mr. & Mrs. Erickson Mr. & Mrs. Bobko Page 17 of 22

18 Thank you to everyone for the food and your visits. We have now moved to Wesley Village, Room George and Gail Warmke, Wesley Village, 580 Long Hill Road, #257, Shelton, CT Note: George passed away on April 11 th, at the age of 82, a few hours after submitting this thank you note to everyone. George s Funeral Service was on April 27 th. The family of Bud Russell would like to thank the many friends at SUMC for their kind expressions of sympathy shown with his passing. The prayers, calls, cards, s and visits helped to lift our spirits at this sad time. Special thanks for Pastor Simeon for giving us strength, and to the ASP members who helped with the reception. We are truly grateful and appreciative to all. Condolences to SUMC Members Kelly and Mike Tubiak on the passing of their beloved grandmother, Alice Johnson, age 92, on March 25th at Bridgeport Hospital. Alice s Funeral Service was at the Pistey Funeral Home on Sat., March 31st. Condolences to the loved ones and friends of SUMC Member Sheldon Shelly Gerarden, age 82, who passed away surrounded by his family members on March 16 th at the Bishop Wicke Health Center in Shelton. Shelly is survived by his wife Faye of sixty years, and daughters Elisa and Nicole. His SUMC Memorial Service was held on Sat., March 31st. Condolences to the loved ones and friends of former SUMC Member Mary Lou Fuller, age 68, who passed away on April 1st in the Cheshire Regional Rehab Center. Mary Lou leaves behind her daughter and two sons, their spouses and children. Mary Lou's Funeral service was held privately at the Adzima Funeral Home in Stratford. Page 18 of 22

19 Those collating the Good News mailed 3/28/18 for April: Diane Troutman, Virginia Ware, Shirley Ekwall, Cecelia and Howard Jack, Mike Kranyak, June Evitts, Marianne Card, and Barbara Piper. A very special thanks to Barbara Piper who adds the mailing labels; and to Marianne Card who takes the issues to the Post Office. Both have been doing this for a very long time. ALL ARTICLES FOR THE GOOD NEWS SHOULD BE ED TO SECRETARY@SUMCCT.ORG* OR DROPPED OFF IN THE GOOD NEWS BOX IN THE CHURCH OFFICE. THANK YOU! GOOD NEWS SCHEDULE FOR 2018 Good News Issue Articles Due no later than... Good News Mailed January/February December 12 th December 27 th March February 14 th February 28 th April March 14 th March 28 th May April 11 th April 25 th June May 9 th May 23 rd July/August June 13 th June 27 th September August 8 th August 22 nd October September 5 th September 19 th November October 10 th October 24 th December November 7 th November 28 th In addition to reading The Good News, bulletin supplements, viewing our website (sumcct.org), looking at our Facebook page, or checking out the local newspapers, there is another way to keep up-to-date on upcoming events at S.U.M.C. Call the Church Office ( ) when it isn't staffed (that would be after 1:30 p.m. weekdays and all weekends). Press 5 to hear a calendar of upcoming events. The recording is updated on a regular basis. Page 19 of 22

20 On sale after church near the Church Office. April 29 and May 6. $10 per share in support of the Stratford United Methodist Church 2018 Youth Mission Trip. Page 20 of 22

21 See Tammy Merry! Page 21 of 22

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