The Monitor. April Pastor s Ponderings From Rev. Calob Rundell

Transcription

1 The Monitor April 2017 First United Methodist Church of Salida Love, Live, Give As You Have Received 4 th & D Streets (P.O. Box 945) (719) Ministers: Everyone; Pastor: Calob Rundell (O), (C); Office Administrator: Licia Iverson; Organist: Rod Schleicher; Choir Director: Mary Sandell Co-Lay Leaders: Burrell & Sherry Welton Burrell, Sherry; Church Council Chair: Ken Leisher ; Financial Secretary: Paul Wilson Pastor s pastor@salidaumc.org Church website: Church office@salidaumc.org Pastor s Ponderings From Rev. Calob Rundell Invest In Holy Week Sometimes, we have a seemingly harmless tendency to selectively forget things that we find unpleasant or uncomfortable. We do this with small things and with big things. When we recollect our past experiences or we tell each other stories, sometimes we gloss over the parts we don t like. We do this as individuals, we do this as families, we do this as churches, and we do this as communities. The truth is, we plain just don t want to talk about things that are painful. I practice this habit of selective memory or exclusive positive narrative too. When I talk about or think about my experience of serving in the Iraq war, I usually dwell on all the positive aspects: I made friendships that will last a lifetime, I got to use lots of cool looking Army gear, I drove a giant armored Humvee like it was an Indy car, and (this is the best one) I learned to play expert on Guitar Hero. But what I don t like to think about is how much random violence was everywhere, how every mission had the potential to be my last, and 1 how hard it was to be away from my life in the US for a year. Unfortunately, we as the church often approach Holy Week with the same attitude. We gloss over the hard parts and the painful stories. Growing up as kid in church, I remember going to church on Palm Sunday and having fun waving my palm branch around and shouting Hosanna in the highest! And next Sunday was all the joy and regalia of Easter. It wasn t until I was a young adult that I realized I had grown up missing Holy Week! I had missed the story of the love and intrigue that surrounded that first Lord s Supper on Maundy Thursday, the abandonment and violence of the paradoxically named Good Friday, and the anxious waiting of Holy Saturday. I had gone from glory to glory, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, and skipped all the bad parts in between. The truth is, we NEED all of the experiences and stories of Holy Week. We need to hear the story of the betrayal of Judas, because we too are capable of selling out each other for 30 pieces of silver. We need to see Peter abandon and deny Jesus, because life is full of moments of stress when we fall short. We need to feel the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, because we live in a world where death and sorrow are all too real. Pastor s Ponderings continued on pg. 2

2 Pastor s Ponderings continued from pg. 1 We need the full experience of Holy Week because the events of those days are a reflection of reality. Life is not about going from high-point to high-point, and completely skipping over the painful parts. We need Holy Week because it shows us the full glory of Easter and the full power of The Resurrection. When we arrive at the empty tomb, we come there with the words from the table of Maundy Thursday still ringing in our ears, This is my body, which is given for you. When we see the stone rolled away, the bloody images of Good Friday are still fresh in our minds. But despite all the drama and human failure and sin and violence that Holy Week holds, on Easter Morning we experience the beauty and the mystery and the glory and the awe when we see that Christ has overcome all things! I want to encourage you to experience Holy Week this year. If you don t make it to any church services, I encourage you to spend time with the stories in the Bible about Holy Week: Matthew chapters 21-28, Mark chapters 11-16, Luke 19:28-24:12, and John 12:12-20:29. I pray that you will experience the extreme grace and forgiveness that we find in the drama of Holy Week. Peace, Rev. Calob Rundell pastor@salidaumc.org washing and communion. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck meal. Please sign-up on the sheet in Century Hall or Pastor Calob if you are planning to attend. April 14 th - Good Friday, 6:30pm. Methodist Church. *Community Service of scripture and song. April 16 th Easter, 10:30am. Methodist Church. A celebration of resurrection. * Community Service is a collaboration of the Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church - Disciples of Christ, and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Faith Book Club Tuesday, April 11th at 10:00AM This group is now meeting at the home of Catherine Hayden. Please call Catherine for more information: (719) Heaven at 11:00 Join us each Wednesday at 11:00am in the Parlor for 20 minutes of Contemplative Prayer (Silence) Any questions please see Licia Iverson or Sherry Welton April 9 th - Palm and Passion Sunday, 10:30am. Methodist Church. A worship service to begin the experience of Holy Week. April 13 th - Maundy Thursday, 6:00pm. Episcopal Church. *Community Service of foot 2 Sunday Night Worship Service COME SEE WHAT GOODNESS IS HAPPENING DURING THESE EVENING SERVICES! When: 2 nd and 4 th Sundays of each month, 6:30-7:15pm What: We sing, pray, talk about Jesus. And then we offer communion (optional) in the sanctuary. Where: At the church building in Century Hall. EVERYONE IS INVITED BRING A FRIEND!

3 Prayers, Praise & Celebrations Dixie Stanton Please keep Dixie and Leon Stanton in your prayers. While Dixie and Leon were on a special trip to Mexico, Dixie had a couple of falls which resulted in a broken shoulder and then a broken ankle. After several days in the hospital in Mexico, she was brought by air ambulance to University Hospital in Denver where she continued her care and had surgery on her ankle. Following her successful surgery, she was able to be transferred to our local hospital in Salida, where she will continue to heal and be cared for. Dixie s spirits are high and she is doing very well, given these challenges. If you would like to send Dixie a card, her mailing address is: Dixie Stanton 1432I Street Jerry Long - Please continue to keep Jerry Long in your prayers. Jerry was recently diagnosed with cancer and spent some time in the hospital in Colorado Springs. He is now home in Salida, working closely with his medical professionals here. We pray that Jerry continues to get stronger and has more and more good days. If you would like to send a card to Jerry, his mailing address is: Jerry Long PO Box 455 Tom Yerkey Please keep Tom and Karen in your prayers as Tom gets stronger and stronger every day. After an extended stay in Denver receiving a new infusion treatment for his cancer, Tom was able to return to Salida. It is so nice to have them back in Salida where they are continuing Tom s care with is medical professionals here in Salida. If you would like to send a card to Tom, his mailing address is: Tom Yerkey 125 E. 5 th St. Thank you to Randy & Linda Bergstrom for their leadership in providing our community with the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program. It has been heartwarming to see how many people are being helped in our community through the efforts of you and your other volunteers. Mary Lou McCausey Please keep Mary Lou in your prayers. She was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and had surgery on March 30 th. Mary Lou expressed confidence in the fact that the cancer was found early and is treatable. The surgery went very well and she will only need to be in the hospital for a few days. We will let you know when we know more. If you would like to send Mary Lou a card, her mailing address is: Mary Lou McCausey W. Cherokee Drive Carol Witter - Please keep Carol in your prayers as she recovers from a recent fall. She spent a night in the hospital and was released on March 30 th. We will keep you posted as we know more. If you would like to send Carol a card, her mailing address is: Carol Witter 7450 CR 120 Kay Breunich Kay recently had a surgery on her spine and she has happily reported that she is doing very well! Prayers for continued healing! Fred Harrington Fred recently had his gallbladder removed. Olivia shared with us that Fred has said, "he has grown accustom to it, since he has had it for 75 years, but it has just worn out its welcome!" We are very happy that everything went well. Thank You to Larry Williams for always keeping the jigsaw puzzle ever available for anyone to come in and work on it when they have a few minutes. What a stress reliever it can be! If you like working on jigsaw puzzles come by anytime and you ll find it waiting for you on the back table in Century Hall! Thank You to everyone who donated gym shoes to the young students in need at Longfellow Elementary School. Your efforts have made many Happy Feet. Please send your prayer requests, updates, celebrations and announcements to Licia at: office@salidaumc.org 3

4 April CELEBRATIONS Birthdays April 2 April 3 April 11 April 18 April 26 Mary McConathy Danielle Riggio John Hanks Sherry Welton Sunny Tingler Anniversaries April 28 Wilbur & Chris Richardson Request from Licia: Please be sure to let the office know about the dates of the birthdays and anniversaries in your family! We love to celebrate such joys! THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS April Ushers - Coordinator: Ginny Cunningham April 2 Jim & Barbara Rees April 9 John Hanks & Jerry Cunningham April 16 Jerry & Ginny Cunningham April 23 Norma Smith & Cynthia Hearn April 30 Rich & Susan Little April Liturgists - Coordinator: Karen Yerkey April 2 Ken Leisher April 9 Ed Kinzie April 16 Judy Naviaux April 23 Sherry Welton April 30 David Hearn April Fellowship Hosts Coordinator: Barb Zechman April 2 Debbie Jackson & Judy Naviaux April 9 The Shively Family April 16 Easter Potluck Brunch April 23 Available April 30 Available Bible Studies Available The Men s Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 10:00AM in Century Hall Easter Lily Orders Remember loved ones and provide beautiful Easter Lilies to beautify our sanctuary for Easter Sunday worship on April 16, 2017! Please fill out the order form and place it with your payment (cash or check) in the offering plate or bring/mail it to the church office (P.O. Box 945, ) by: Monday, April 10 th! Cost is $15.00 per pot of lilies Make check payable to: Salida United Methodist Church (Mark on memo line: Easter Flowers) You may find extra order forms in Century Hall! Our Women s Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 9:30AM in Century Hall If you would be interested in providing flowers for our altar on a Sunday morning, please call Norma Ricketts to schedule that date! (719) cell (719) home 4

5 You re invited to come check out Kairos! Since October there has been a lot of buzz around the church about an experience called Kairos. What is Kairos? Kairos is a prison ministry that has recently started at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex in here Chaffee County. The word Kairos is Greek term that means the opportune or appointed time for something. The Kairos experience facilitates an intentional time where those that are incarcerated can experience the grace and calling of Jesus. You, yes you reading this, are invited to come see what all the buzz has been about. You are invited to attend a Kairos closing ceremony on Sunday, April 9 th in the afternoon. This ceremony is a powerful event, and you are invited to come and witness how the Kairos experience transforms the lives of everyone involved. The closing happens inside the prison, and so to attend the closing you must be on the official list of people attending. To be on the list, the Department of Corrections runs a quick and easy background check on each person attending. If you want to be a part of this experience, please get in contact with Pastor Calob or you can contact Lisa Hilbig at kairos.buenavista@gmail.com To learn more about Kairos, you can contact Pastor Calob, Lisa Hilbig, Cynthia and David Hearn, or Burrell Welton. And, there are three main ways you can support the ministry of Kairos here in Chaffee County: 1. Volunteer! You can volunteer to be a part of a team that puts on an entire weekend of Kairos inside the prison. It is a life changing experience. 2. By financial support. Each weekend costs $12,000 to put on. Checks may be made out to Kairos of Colorado and mailed to Kairos Prison Ministries, PO Box 302, Salida, By signing the colored prayer strips available in Century Hall with your first name only and city. By doing this you commit to praying for Kairos. The names are then made into a Prayer Chain that is presented to the participants during a Kairos weekend and is a powerful reminder that they are not forgotten while they are incarcerated. Support Easter Boxes at The Grainery Ministry Once again The Grainery Ministry will be distributing Easter Boxes to the needy families in our community along with Easter Bags for the children. We will be distributing about 350 boxes. A box will include a ham, a dozen eggs, a half-gallon of orange juice, can vegetables, potatoes and a dessert. We are asking you for a cash donation to help us purchase these items. As always your donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated. Please send your check to: The Grainery Ministry P.O. Box 303 In the memo part of the check please write Easter Boxes. God Bless you and may this season of lent draw you closer to the Lord. If you have any questions, please call me, Janet Burkart at

6 Church Finance Update Hello Friends! Here is an update regarding the church s finances through February If you have any questions about these numbers, please speak with Licia Iverson, in the office or Paul Wilson, our Financial Secretary. Our next Finance Committee Mtg. will be on Tuesday, April 18 th at 1:00PM in Century Hall. Receipts & Expenses February 2017 Year to Date Receipts (Unrestricted) $12, $25, Apportionments paid -$1, $4, Other Receipts (Restricted) NA for this chart NA for this chart Total Net Receipts $10, $21, Expenses - Operating $3, $8, Expenses Pastor Salary & Benefits, Parsonage, Staff Wages $9, $18, Total Expenses $12, $26, Net Income (Loss) All financial figures are rounded to the nearest dollar. Category Definitions Receipts (Unrestricted): The church s receipts are like your own paycheck or pension check. Our ongoing receipts consist primarily of pledged and non-pledged offerings and loose plate offerings. Gifts given specifically to our General Fund, Faith Fund, proceeds from our fundraising efforts are also part of our receipts. These receipts are unrestricted in their use for the church. Other Receipts (Restricted): We often receive receipts specified for outreach efforts such as the Samaritan Fund, the Endowment Fund, UMCOR, Summer Raft Guide Dinner Program, building use, as well as certain fundraising efforts such as the Windows Restoration Campaign. All these receipts are restricted for the use intended and are not subject to the apportionment paid to the conference, nor do they cover monthly expenses. Apportionments: A portion (13%) of our monthly receipts (unrestricted) listed above is then paid to the Rocky Mountain Conference to support the wider mission of the United Methodist Church. This apportionment is paid each month for the receipts of the previous month. The apportionment amount paid that is reflected in our November finances was based on October receipts. Expenses - Operating: The church has many of the same expenses that we all have in our own homes. We have to pay for insurance, utilities, minor repairs, supplies as well as payroll taxes for our employees. Expenses Pastor Salary & Benefits, Parsonage, Staff Wages: The church also pays the pastor s salary and benefits, employs an office administrator, organist, choir director and a custodian. Our parsonage, the home for our pastor, has expenses such as utilities, insurance, and the mortgage payment. March numbers will be in the May Monitor. Thank you to those who make additional financial gifts to the church throughout the year. Your tax-deductible contributions greatly help our church. Your generous giving makes everything possible that goes on in the life of this church. Thank you again, for your generous and faithful financial support. If you have any questions about the church finances and/or questions about your 2017 pledge, please speak with our Financial Secretary, Paul Wilson. You may contact Paul at: (630) or pwilson54@aol.com. Operation Spirit From The Heart of the Rockies Salida Troops Donations We are helping to collect items for a project at the Lutheran church for our Salida troops. All donations need to be here on or before Sunday, March 26 th Collection box is in Century Hall. Packing of Boxes will take place on Tues., March 28 th at 9:00am at the Lutheran Church, in their basement. Thank you so much for your help. Items needed are: Chapstick Disposable Razors Tuna Jerky Deodorant Twinkies/individually wrapped Nutella AA Batteries All items travel size, if possible. We are always looking to add other troop members (who are stationed out of the country) to receive these monthly boxes. Please let Ginny Biglow know if you have someone in mind! Special Request: Monetary Donations are needed to cover the cost of shipping the packages to our troops! Make checks payable to: First Lutheran, write TROOPS on memo line. Mail to: First Lutheran Church, 1237 F. St. TRINITY Views From Margaret Gillikin, the Trinity District Superintendent Dear Friends, As we move through the last weeks of Lent and begin looking towards Easter, it seems apt to wrestle with the now-and-not-yet aspect of our faith. Christians in our time have never experienced Jesus as NOT being Risen, yet in this year s season of remembering His journey to and beyond the Cross, Christ has not even gotten to Jerusalem for those final pivotal moments. He is Risen now and not yet. In the midst of circumstances that challenge us, we are sometimes reminded that God s got this! or that All shall be well. Scripture teaches us that light overcomes darkness, the groanings that burden us give birth to new life and that God in Christ is triumphant. We know these things to be true now, even if we do not experience them Trinity Views continued on pg. 7 6

7 Trinity Views continued from pg. 6 yet. This is the shape of faith. As a denomination, we of the United Methodist Church find ourselves in the midst of challenging times. For some, the experience of difficulty began eight months ago with the election and assignment of Rev. Karen Oliveto as our Bishop. For others, life has been challenging for over forty years in how the church has dealt with human sexuality. Wherever you find yourself on that continuum, the common experiences seem to span discomfort, anxiety in waiting, impatience, and frankly, a desire to just have the whole mess go away. We do not know what will come next. Nor do we know the impact of decisions coming from Judicial Council at the end of this month or the Bishop s Commission in two years. In the midst of this unknowing, we find ourselves living in a tension that is uncomfortable. Throughout, I believe that God is with us. God does not abandon us in times of trial, but journeys with us even more closely. God holds promises of blessing for us on the other side of this challenge and invites us to trust that goodness IS even if it is also not yet among us. This begs the question of how to embody this conviction of faith? How do we give expression to our hope and trust in the midst of challenge? For me, the answer to this question is giving rise to a particular project that I invite you to join me in. It has been traditional in the Northern Hemisphere for many centuries to celebrate May 1 st, May Day, with the giving of flowers. (Perhaps you are old enough to remember depositing baskets of flowers on a neighbor s doorstep anonymously?) I don t have a field of flowers at my disposal in my Pueblo neighborhood, but there are other ways to give metaphorical flowers. So, on May 1 st (which is a Monday) on the Sunday immediately preceding, I invite you to join me in creating an Art Carpet. Find some chalk and draw pictures on the sidewalk, driveway or parking lot nearest you. Draw flowers, smiley faces, or if you re not an artist, write words of love and encouragement. Give your neighbors the gift of beauty and goodness. Remember that in so doing, you are one who receives beauty and goodness from God and trusts that these gifts are already in our beloved church and are yet coming in the future. If you think of it, take pictures of your creation and send them to me via or Facebook. No matter what, trust that by acting in faith, you are being a blessing and offering a gift that matters to our world. Blessings on the Journey from your District Superintendent, (Mark your calendars NOW!) Ongoing Weekly Scheduled Items Include: Sundays: Choir Practice 9:15am, Worship 10:30am High School Youth Prog. at Presbyterian Ch. 6:30pm Tuesdays: Men s Bible Study, 10:00am, Century Hall Wednesdays: Women s Bible Study, 9:30am, Century Hall Heaven at Eleven! Contemplative Prayer Gp. 11:00am 20 min. Silence, Parlor Middle School Youth Prog. at Presbyterian Ch. 7:00pm Thursdays: VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), 8:00-12:00, Bsmt. Church is closed for cleaning, 12:00-2:00pm Salida Brass Practice, 6:00-7:30pm, Choir Rm. Fridays: Church Office is Closed Saturdays: VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), 7:00-3:00, Bsmt. Last day on April 15th Sat, April 1 Men s Breakfast, 8:00am, Patio Pancake Place Sat, April 1 Cameron Meadow HOA, 10:00-Noon, Century Hall Sun, April 2 Worship Service with Communion Fri, April 7 Fiber Arts Guild Meeting 9:00-5:00, Century Hall Sun, April 9 Kairos Closing Ceremony; See Calob if interested Sun, April 9 Sunday Eve. Worship Svs, 6:30-7:15pm, CH Mon, April 10 Easter Lily Orders Due Tues, April 11 Faith Book Club, 10:00am, Catherine Hayden s Hm. Tues, April 11 Trustees Meeting, 10:00am, Century Hall Thurs, April 13 Maundy Thursday Service & Potluck Dinner; 6:00pm; Episcopal Church Fri, April 14 Good Friday Community Service, 6:30pm, SUMC Sun, April 16 Easter Sunday Service & Potluck Brunch Mon, April 17 Monitor Articles Due! Mon, April 17 Care Team Mtg, 9:30am, Century Hall Tues, April 18 Finance Mtg, 1:00pm, Century Hall Thurs, April 20 NAMI Monthly Support Gp, 6:30-8:30pm Sun, April 23 Troop Donations Due Sun, April 23 Sunday Eve. Worship Svs, 6:30-7:15pm, CH Tues, April 25 Pack Troop Boxes, 9:00am Lutheran Ch. Bsmt. Sun, April 30 5 th Sunday Giving Opportunity 7

8 8