Valley View United Methodist Church May 2014

Transcription

1 Valley View United Methodist Church May 2014 Reception for Graduates Sunday, May 4 You are invited to join us in the Youth Lounge for a celebration reception of our 2014 Graduates on Sunday, May 4. The celebration of our graduates will begin immediately following the 10:30 Praise Worship. All Church Fellowship Dinner Wednesday, May 7 at 5:30 PM In the month of May we celebrate the Christian home and its key role as the center of faith formation. Join us for a traditional potluck dinner. Bring a dish to share and come enjoy fellowship with others. Drinks will be provided and there will be activities for children. Change the World Day is May 17 Read about how YOU can get involved on this United Methodist day of service! See page three. Missions and Service Opportunities See this new section inside on page six. Our Mission is To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ For the Transformation of the World! Valley View United Methodist Church 8412 W. 95th St. Overland Park, KS valleyviewumc.org

2 A Message From The Pastors It s time for new glasses in the Gately household. Vision is one of those things that we take for granted until it is impaired. Lately we have been tilting our heads up and down as we try to find the sweet spot in our progressive lenses. Have no fear; you are safe on the road. Our distant vision is fine; we are only struggling when we read a book and especially when we use a computer monitor. As soon as the balance in our health savings account is sufficient we will have our eyes examined and most likely receive a prescription for new lenses. Our personal need for renewed vision prompted us to consider the topic. There are three basic ways we use the word vision in the church. First, we look around to see what s happening now. A clear understanding of where we are is necessary if we are to chart where we are going. Sometimes we use the word when we look backwards. It is often said that hind-sight is 20/20, but our experience tells us that people tend to either glorify or vilify the past. In church, the most important use of the word is to describe a vision of what is yet to come. It is crucial for the church to allow itself to engage in a practice of mystical dreaming with God. We recently went to a monthly meeting of our church s leadership team intending to challenge the group to establish a visioning team. Before we could raise the issue one of our church leaders asked the question, who is responsible for visioning around here? It was confirmation that the Holy Sprit was trying to tell us something. So, with the endorsement of key church leaders, a dream team has been assembled. This group was carefully chosen so as to include various generations and affinity groups within the church. In the coming months the dream team will solicit input on a range of topics. It is vital that everyone participate. The team will not set a vision for the church, but instead they will seek to articulate a common vision of what God is calling us to do and to be. Be on the lookout for more information regarding the dream team. But for now, please pray that God will provide our congregation with a vision for our future. Pastors Bridget and Neil I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2:17b Page 2

3 Change the World Day is Saturday, May 17 Change the World is a global movement of United Methodists doing what they can to improve lives and community. There are projects for all ages and physical abilities. Grab a friend or two, put on a red t-shirt and be ready to make a difference in our community! We ll all gather at 8:30 AM at Valley View in prayer before going on to our activities for the day. Most activities will last a few hours but some may last longer. Please sign up by Monday, May 12 by calling the church office ( ), at valleyviewumc.org, or before/after worship (on May 4 or May 11) at Valley View. Sign up is not required to participate, but some activities have a limited number of participants. Here is a quick look at different ways you can serve: Book and Bible Drive for Children and Adults Central United Methodist Church (K.C., MO.) Painting Shelves Work in the Cross-Lines Thrift Store (K.C., KS.) Cut Material For Children s School Bags and Hospital Gowns Hope Chest Food Pantry Various Tasks Hope Chest Food Pantry Donate Items L Arche Homes- Home Maintenance and Yard Work Missions Activities for Families Pack Snack Packs Pawnee Elementary School Garden Clean Up For detailed information on each of these service opportunities, grab a flyer from one of the brochure racks around the building or go to missionsservice/change-the-world. Vacation Bible School June 16-19, 2014 (9:00 AM -12:00 PM) Valley View and community children will explore and experience how the ordinary becomes the extraordinary with God. See page six of this newsletter for ways you can help! Register your child and/or sign up to volunteer for VBS at The registration deadline is May 30. Workshop of Wonders Continues With FREE Summer Fun! (For Children in Preschool 5th grade) We are the clay, and you are our potter. All of us are the work of your hand. -Isaiah 64:8b Thursday, June 26 (10-11:30 AM) A Visit From Ernie Miller Nature Center Kids & Critters Preschoolers (3 5 years old) Go on a Kansas safari! You will be introduced to a live bird, reptile and mammal. Discover their secrets and more. Wildlife Webs - School Age Children (K-5th grade) Meet a native amphibian, bird, and mammal. You will also discover the unique needs and adaptations of the animals through this interactive, hands on presentation. Wednesday, July 9 (10-11:30 AM) Stretch N Grow: Camp Fit Our action-packed fitness camp is sure to get the troops in shape! Children will enjoy obstacle courses, relay races, cardiovascular training, strength & endurance training, speed & agility drills and...of course, FUN! Wednesday, July 23 (10-11:30 AM) Mad Science: Spin POP Boom You will be amazed when the Mad Scientist is able to defy gravity in this energetic and spectacular special event. Didgeridoo tubes, foaming hands and steaming chemical reactions will introduce children to a world of exciting chemistry. Join us as we focus on our Bible verse each morning with an activity, recreation time and snack for everyone. Bring your siblings, friends and neighbors. It s FREE! Visit valleyviewumc.org to sign up. Contact Susann Bendrick at susann@valleyviewumc.org or ext Page 3

4 Children s Sunday School In May, our children will study the stories of Peter. Beginning in June, we will be switching to our summer Sunday School curriculum, which will follow the summer sermon series, Disney and the Divine. All children will be participating together in video clips, Bible lessons and activities. See page six of this newsletter for ways to get involved in children s Sunday School! Valley View Parent's Day Out is in its 38th year at Valley View United Methodist Church. The program is currently enrolling for the school year for children ranging in age from 12 months (and walking) through 3 years. Classes are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 to 2:30. The children are engaged in a day of play, peer interaction, art activities, story and song time, indoor and/or outdoor gross motor play, lunch, and rest time. If you or friends and family would like more information about this great program, please have them contact Shelley Dopp, Director, at Calling All Preschoolers For Some Stretch n-grow Summer Fun! For Children ages 3-5 years Mondays 9:00 9:30 AM in Fellowship Hall (June 23 & 30, July 21 & 28, Aug. 4 & 11) Cost is $30.00 (for 6 classes) Minimum class size is 6/ Maximum class size is 12 Go to valleyviewumc.org to register. What is Stretch-n-Grow? Stretch-n-Grow is a fitness and wellness program designed with the health of our children in mind. The curriculum we provide helps establish healthy lifestyle patterns and a positive attitude about exercise at an early age. What is class like? The Stretch-n-Grow program is designed with the developmental level of the preschooler in mind. We use appropriate fitness equipment such as socks, balls, parachutes, domes, hula -hoops, and batons to turn our fitness world into a world of imagination. Upbeat music keeps the children moving and wanting to come back for more. Adult Ministry Studies on Sunday Mornings You Are Invited to Attend Any Study! Coffee & Conversation 9:00 AM in Off Court 37 (Join them anytime to discuss current topics as they relate to the Bible.) "Making Sense of the Bible" A study based on Adam Hamilton's book. Quoting from its introduction - "This book is an attempt to honestly wrestle with the difficult questions often raised by thoughtful Christians and non-christians concerning things taught in the Bible." Hosted by TNT adult class in Room 50/51 at 10:15 AM. Go Fish: Explore the Motivation Behind Sharing Your Faith (Through June 1.) Join the Adult Forum class in the Conference Room at 10:30 AM. The 3 G s (the Gregarious Gray Gang) Is Continuing in May! Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 PM This class includes walking laps, doing stretching circuits with light weights, and more! This is a perfect fit if you are looking for an exercise class that is between Easy Exercise In Chairs and Low Impact Aerobics. The suggested donation is $1.50 per class. Contact Twylia at twychurch@gmail.com or The Beyond the Book Club The Book Club will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 7:00 PM at Valley View. The book to be discussed is Masie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. Please come and join the discussion. Dinner Groups The Adult Ministry Team is forming new dinner groups for food and fellowship! Dinner groups meet in homes or at restaurants, based on each group s preference. Groups will rotate quarterly. Sign up by calling Kathy Halstead at or online at valleyviewumc.org (upcoming events). Page 4

5 United Methodist Women Go to valleyviewumc.org (ministries and programs) for updates on circle meetings throughout the month. All women are invited to any meeting! Faith Circle meets on Wednesday, May 21 at 9:30 AM in Room Friendship Circle meets on Tuesday, May 27 at 12:00 PM in Room 52/53 for a Salad Luncheon. Come join us! Hope Circle meets on Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 PM at Betha Regan's home. Twylia Church will present the program on gardening. Joy Circle meets Tuesday, May 27 at 11:30 AM at Johnny s, followed by a presentation by Jeanette Grenz on immigration. Valley View United Methodist Men Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 AM Want to learn how to effectively manage your own personal financial plan while supporting Valley View and other charitable organizations? If so, please join us at our May meeting to hear Matt Syverson, Certified Financial Planner, tell us how to accomplish these goals. Matt's talk is entitled "Giving Beyond the Check Book" and includes inspiration, education, and practical application topics. Breakfast begins at 7:30 AM in Fellowship Hall followed by our guest speaker. Please join us! Men s Golf Tournament Friday, June 6 at 1:00 PM The Kansas City area United Methodist Men are hosting a scramble golf tournament at Sunflower Hills Golf Course in Bonner Springs. The tournament is a fundraiser to help feed hungry children in Kansas. Would you like to play? Whether you are a single or able to get your own foursome, you are most welcome to sign up. Tee-time is 1:00 PM and the cost is $75 per person, which includes a BBQ dinner following play. If you are interested, please contact Steve Roth at sfr.cls@sbcglobal.net or Evening Care and Special Needs Ministries Continues 35-Year Celebration! Thank you to Pastors Neil and Bridget Gately, Ginni Duggan, Ray Martin and Nancy Cowles who created and presented our 35-year celebration slide show. The most important persons shown were our guests and YOU! Thank you Valley View for your support! Please send us your stories! So far, we ve featured Matt Campbell, Anne Helmstetter, Peter Schuellein, Henry Klein and Angie Beck. Read stories here: valleyviewumc.org/#/ministriesprograms/special-needsministries. Fun Coming Up in May! Tuesdays- EC-3D Players meet to rehearse 3D Mission Possible: Stop Bullying! They will perform at JC Community College s CLEAR class on June 14. Thursdays- Tone Chime Choir practices. The Chimers just love to play and are looking for a place to perform. Sundays- Starz Sunday School meets to learn more about Jesus resurrection and Christian times. EC-3D Players and Tone Chime Choir would be a heartwarming program for your group at church or in the community. Contact information to schedule them is below. Thursday May 1- Cinco de Mayo Party; PIP Sunday School class is helping us! Please volunteer to help PIP! Evening Care Bakery meets in the Youth kitchen. Thursday, May 8- Fun Flicks and George s Concession Stand, in memory of guest, George Duermyer. Thursday, May 15- Greg Boyle and Jean Ryberg entertain with silly songs, guitar, banjo, clarinet and keyboard. We celebrate guests with May birthdays. Thursday, May 22- Flexercise with Debbie Shearer. Thursday, May 29- Story Teller, Hedy Goldman, tells fun facts about What s New at the Zoo? Sign up to receive our Special Needs Ministries E-News and/or view the most recent E-News on the Web. Directors: Nancy Cowles and Ginni Duggan On the Web at valleyviewumc.org By at eveningcare@valleyviewumc.org On Facebook at Evening Care Special Needs Ministry By phone at ext. 322 Page 5

6 Missions and Service Opportunities Missions and Service Opportunities Missions and Outreach Because of Valley View volunteers, many people are helped every month. For example, by hosting Next Step KC (free tax preparation), a total of 150 federal and 203 state returns were completed and filed by the volunteer tax preparers that we assisted. Valley View volunteers helped prepare food and serve over 150 people at Central UMC in Kansas City KS last month and helped package meals for Stop Hunger Now at the Lenexa UMC. In May, we hope everyone from Valley View UMC can do something to help Change the World! Listed below are some ways for you to get involved and serve others. Service in May On Thursday, May 1, help the PIP Sunday School class set up, serve and clean up a prepared nacho meal during Evening Care s Cinco de Mayo dinner and party. (6:00-8:30 PM in Valley View s kitchen.) On Thursday, May 8, work in our Concession Stand during Evening Care s Fun Flicks night. Concessions are free and helping includes bagging popcorn and candy. (6:00-9:00 PM in Valley View s Gym.) Change the World Day is Saturday, May 17. See page three of this newsletter for information. Serve Meals to the Hungry (at Central UMC) on Saturday, May 24. See page seven of this newsletter for details. Service In June Summer is a wonderful time to teach Children s Sunday School! If you have never taught Sunday school, or it has been awhile, summer is a great time to jump in. All lessons are provided and there is no prep work just show up and share God s love with our children. Please sign up to help online at summer or by contacting Janet Loos. On Thursday, June 12, help wash cars during Evening Care s annual Tom Gallo Memorial Car Wash. (6:30-9:00 PM in Valley View s front parking lot.) Vacation Bible School is Monday, June 16 Thursday, June 19 (9:00 AM 12:00 PM) and there are many ways for you to help! Contact Janet Loos at ext. 315 or janet@valleyviewumc.org. On Thursday, June 19, help set up, serve and clean up a provided picnic dinner and/or help with fishing during Evening Care s annual Carol Mays Memorial Fishing Picnic. (6:00 9:00 PM at Shawnee Mission Park.) Page 6 Ongoing Service Collect donated food from the HyVee at 135 and Antioch and bring it to our Hope Chest food pantry on the first and fourth Sundays of the month. Contact Matt Campbell at mccampbelliii@everestkc.net or On Tuesday afternoons at Stillwell Baptist Churchunload food and other items from a truck. Load grocery carts for those in need of food. Bring some food items back to our food pantry. Contact John Church at or at jchurch107@aol.com. Valley View s Sunday morning Servant Café is looking for a few breakfast bread bakers. We also need help with cleanup (about midway through second worship service). Contact Tim Franzen at tim21087@gmail.com. On the third Monday of each month, deliver 450 frozen sandwiches and other food items from Landshire Sandwiches in Raytown, Missouri to our food pantry. Contact Steve Duggan at or duggan@everstkc.net. Work with a special needs guest during Special Needs Ministries any Thursday evening in Fellowship Hall. Make a Donation Change the World Day is Saturday, May 17. See page three of this newsletter for information. Vacation Bible School is free this year! We are accepting monetary donations to help cover costs of materials. Hope Chest food pantry- money and food items are always accepted. Donate school supplies for Hope Chest guests and Pawnee Elementary School. Collection is held in June and July. Contact Karen Petersen or huskermap@everestkc.net. Donate new toys during Christmas in August for Cross-Lines Christmas Store. Contact Mary Lou Kotz at or maryloukotz@gmail.com. To volunteer for any Special Needs Ministries (Evening Care) activities, send an to eveningcare@valleyviewumc.org or call ext 322.

7 Feeding the Hungry Central United Methodist Church Four Saturdays each year, Valley View volunteers serve a hot and nutritious meal to the homeless and hungry population of the Kansas City community. Central UMC serves meals every Saturday and Sunday to those in need. This a fun, easy mission that really makes a difference in the lives of the men, women and children who use this service. This mission includes many service opportunities. We need people to serve the meals; cookie bakers (store bought cookies are great too); individuals to provide ingredients for meals; and individuals to provide paper goods for the meals. The remaining dates for Valley View to serve in 2014 are May 24, August 23 and November 22. If you would like to be a part of this worthwhile mission, contact Jeanne Smith at or jeannesmith10@hotmail.com. Hope Chest Food Pantry: Did You Know? In 1994, Martie Uden, the Children and Family Ministry Director, noticed that many of the people coming to the church for food assistance were also asking for baby items (diapers, baby food, baby clothes, etc.). At the same time a staff member in the Mother s Day Out Program, Pat Thompson, was dying of cancer. Pat was a steadfast advocate for children and her memorial funds were used to purchase a large armoire chest. And thus came the vision for the Hope Chest. On the Children s Sabbath in the fall of 1995, the 5th and 6th grade Sunday school teachers, Robin Richerson and Jan King, unveiled the Hope Chest in worship. The congregation was challenged to bring food and baby items to fill the Hope Chest. The 5th and 6th graders collected the offerings and maintained the Hope Chest. The armoire is still located in the south narthex. One client said that her husband did not like going to other food pantries by himself. However, because of the folks who work at Valley View s Hope Chest food pantry, he would come by himself when his wife s medical problems kept her from coming. If you contribute time, food and/or money to support the Hope Chest, thank you. If you haven t yet, why not start now? Valley View Welcomes New Members! Front Row: Sailaa Selvaraj, MacKenzie Crossland, Ashlyn Kullberg, Danielle Mitchell, Josie Brems Back Row: Hannah Flewelling, Caleb Miller, Mark Rowland, Joe Ayres April 27, 2014 Dee and John Hetlinger April 6, 2014 George and Katherine Eisele April 27, 2014 Jennifer and Brian Olberding (Victoria) April 6, 2014 Carol Ashley April 27, 2014 Congratulations to Valley View s Graduates! Anne Helmstetter April 27, 2014 Name High School University/College Jack Ayres Blue Valley S.W. Kansas State Univ. Victoria Haas Blue Valley S.W. MidAmerica Nazarene Univ. Blake Peterson S.M. West William Jewell College Daniel Rowland Olathe East Kansas State Univ. Sam Web Blue Valley N.W. Univ. of Central Missouri Page 7

8 More Information More Information Native American Ministries Sunday May 4 As one of the six United Methodist offerings, your gifts to the Native American Ministries Sunday offering empower local spiritual development and educate Native American seminary students to serve God faithfully. Read more at umcgiving.org. Leadership Council To Form Vision Team The Leadership council, the administrative board of our church, voted to form a vision team that will study and collect information for the next few months in order to propose plans and goals for the future of Valley View United Methodist Church. The committee will be composed of the lay leader, chair of the leadership council and eight others that represent a cross section of our congregation, as well as our pastors. They will begin by studying the book, Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation. The Upper Room Upper Room devotional books for May-June are available at the north and south building entrances. Scheduling Facility Usage Deadline is May 1, 2014 Does your group continue meeting through the summer? Please submit a facility usage form (at valleyviewumc.org>calendar/communications or pick up a hard copy in the church office) by May 1 to let us know of your meeting plans (or cancellations) through December Usage forms for January-May 2015 are due by October 30. If you know your group s schedule through May 2015, you may submit one form by May 1, Please remember that prior cancellation of your scheduled meeting, when applicable, is required by phoning Amy Woodworth in the church at , or sending an to amy@valleyviewumc.org. Publication Deadlines The June newsletter deadline is Tuesday, May 27 at 5:00 PM. The Valley View E-News and worship bulletin deadlines are each Monday at 12:00 PM. Please information to Jennifer Kullberg in the church office at jennifer@valleyviewumc.org. Follow Like Us On Facebook! -Valley View United Methodist Church -Valley View Uth -Evening Care Special Needs Ministries -Valley View UMC Children and Family Ministry Sunday Mornings at Valley View UMC at 9:00 AM: Traditional Worship and Sunday School for Children & Adults at 10:30 AM: Praise Worship and Sunday School for Children & Adults (Go to valleyviewumc.org for the youth schedule on Sundays)