MESSENGER MAPLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. Excitement, excitement on August 1 during worship!!!! Rally Sunday, August 14, 9:45 a.m.

Transcription

1 MAPLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MESSENGER August 2016 Excitement, excitement on August 1 during worship!!!! Rally Sunday, August 14, 9:45 a.m. You are invited to join in the fun at the Fall Sunday school kick-off! There will be breakfast, crafts, and games! Children and youth from preschool through middle school are invited. Treasure Tables featured on August 27th The Monday Club of Webster Groves will sponsor a flea market of Treasure Tables on August 27, 8 am noon. Of course they will be delighted for all of us to come and make purchases BUT RIGHT NOW, Peg Chulick (Karen Raborn s adopted mom) is asking us to search our homes, finding treasures we can donate for the Treasure Table she will be putting together for Kwashi-Kids in August. We will ask God s blessing on all of our students, teachers, and staff as they return to school this fall and our third graders will$ receive$their$bibles! If you know of any children who are in third grade or older who are ready to receive a new Bible please let Pastor Kim know (pastor@maplewoodumc.org or Sunday School Leader Orientation Wednesday, August 10, 6:30 8:30 p.m. Planning to work with Children s Sunday school ministry as a large group leader, small group leader, or any other helping role? THIS IS FOR YOU!!!!The evening will include an overview of a typical Sunday school morning and the new curriculum ( Dig In ) that will be used this fall. Safe Sanctuary Training which is required for anyone in the congregation who works with children, youth, or vulnerable adults also is a part of the evening s training. Childcare will be available in the nursery as needed (please let us know in advance!!!) If you have questions please contact Kyle Kranes (kraneskyle@gmail.com/ ) or Rachel Ward (Rachel.kunceward@gmail.com ) Note: To be Safe Sanctuary certified a background check is required. This requires that you provide your Social Security number in writing on the background check or by way of a copy of your social security card.

2 All are welcome to the SERVE2016 meeting Immediately after worship on Sunday, August 14 there will be a SERVE meeting to discuss all the SERVE projects that are planned for the Fall. This year we move from a day to a way. See SERVE2016 article below and decides where you can help. As we move from A day to a Way, SERVE2016 will look different this year. Plans are to schedule events during the year for folks to participate in. Listed below is a partial list of events for the fall. August 24th Concert for a Cause Ryan Hummert Park for Weekend on Wheels (WOW) - help load cans for transport to MRH August 28th - school supplies for due for Kwasha-Kids September - Bagging beans and rice for Kingdom House (time to be scheduled) - Make casseroles for families with food needs (time to be set) September 25th Participate in Metro St. Louis CROP Hunger Walk at Eden Seminary Webster Groves October 1 Mosaic Run October 22nd - Church Cluster picnic at Ryan Hummert Park. This is in the planning stages. More information will be coming shortly. choir corner Hear ye, hear ye!!!!! Choir practice begins on Wednesday, August 31st at 7:00pm. We're looking forward to a great year of singing God's praises, learning new songs, bringing back some oldies, and enjoying some wonderful fellowship along the way. Hope to see everyone back; newcomers are welcome! See you on the 31st!! Amy Watch a video of the 2016 youth mission trip. Go to the link below and watch about an 8 minute video of our youth serving in S Dakota. v=qqpyron3ae0&feature=youtu.be

3 When We Pray. Jesus told them, When you pray, say: (Luke 11:2) When Jesus introduced the Lord s prayer to his disciples he didn t start by saying if you pray rather he said, when you pray. Bishop Rueben P. Job wrote in his book, Listening: Praying in a Noisy World: Prayer is the pathway for a vital, growing, and fulfilling relationship with God. Prayer is an essential act in the life of faith. For many of us, at least some of the time, it is also a mysterious part of our life of faith. Something that can be described so simply has having a conversation with God often doesn t seem that simple to understand or to actually do. On August 14 we will begin a 4-week sermon series about prayer. We will talk about what prayer is and isn t, why it s important to pray, how to grow in our prayer lives, and we will talk about the purpose of prayer. Do we pray just so we can tell God what we want and need, or is there more to it than that? During this sermon series you will be encouraged to spend time praying. Soon there will be a prayer wall going up and at some point you will be invited to take part in a prayer walk. In connection with the sermon series on prayer there will be two small groups that will meet in September to focus on learning more about prayer. One group, led by Tom Cordeal ((will meet on Saturdays at 8 a.m. (location TBA) on September 3, 10, 17, and 24. Another group, led by Kathy Schmid ( ) will meet in the lower level of the Education Wing on Wednesday afternoons in September from 4:30 until 5:30. The conversation will continue (or begin for those who want to come later) over dinner at a nearby restaurant, ending at 6:45. Looking Ahead A Disciple s Path (a small group is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 4) is a 6-week study that explores in depth the practices we commit to praying, being present, giving, serving, witnessing when we become members of a local United Methodist congregation. These practices are not just good membership promises. They are actually the practices that help us grow and mature in our discipleship. They help create a disciple s path for following Jesus. There will be more information about this small group opportunity in the next few weeks. If you have questions, or are interested in participating, please contact Pastor Kim who will be leading the group. (pastor@maplewoodumc.org or ) NEW SMALL GROUP begins Sunday, August 21 at 9:45 a.m. Drop Off/ Drop In a new group for adults of all ages! After you Drop Off your children at their Sunday school class, you are invited to Drop In to this small group. Each week the class will discuss a topic current topic that is related to faith and life. There is no preparation for this class. Just fill up your coffee cup and walk through the door to the Chapel room (right next to the coffee pots). The group will be led by Colette Cummings (cummingco@gmail.com or ).

4 School Supplies for Kwasha Kids are being collected by the church and the children s Sunday School through September 11 th. This is the list of most needed items: 1. Pencils 2. Pens 3. Colored Pencils 4. Erasers 5. Pencil sharpeners Hand held or crank operated. (Please no battery-powered or electric sharpeners.) 6. Composition books Spiral notebooks work well. 7. First Grade Writing Tablets with dotted midline. 8. Crayons--with the same diameter as a pencil works well so they can be sharpened. 9. Markers (A few markers are needed.) 10. Socks, 5 years to 10 years old (boys and girls) 11. Children s underwear, 5 years to 10 years (boys and girls ). 12. Small English language dictionaries. Children s dictionaries and used dictionaries that are in good condition are welcome. Questions? Call Karen Raborn at New Leadership for the Missouri Annual Conference and the Gateway Central District 2 Jon Schwab 3 Ray Jauregui 4 Kelly Stallman 5 Michael Chance 5 John Rutledge 6 Rachel Ward 6 Jim Abeln 6 Suzie Ward 7 Jonathan Schaffner 10 Mike Lodholz 12 Julia Schaffner 13 Debra Baker 17 Peg Chulick 20 Colette Cummings 24 Laura Housewright 28 Niki Lodholz 28 Linda Vawter 30 Ebony Jones 31 Connor Martin * The Missouri Annual Conference has a new bishop! Reverend Bob Farr was elected to the office of Bishop by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference and has been assigned by the Episcopacy Committee to serve in Missouri. Bishop Farr, formerly the Director of the Center for Congregational Excellence in the Missouri Conference, succeeds Bishop Robert Schnase who has been assigned to the Rio Texas Conference after serving the maximum term of twelve years in Missouri. * The Gateway Central District in Missouri has a new District Superintendent, Reverend Londia Granger Wright. 8/1 Peg & Jerry Chulick 8/2/02 Robert & Ronaleaze Chandler 8/5/06 Ben & Courtney Stotler 8/12/02 Mark & Lisa Watkins 8/16/69 Bruce & Linda Vawter 8/25/07 Amy & Johnny Kampis

5 thanks, to so many people, for so many reasons We are so blessed Dear Maplewood UMC congregation - I just wanted to take a minute to express my gratitude for all the love and support my family and I have felt throughout my recent treatment for lung cancer. Julie and I have long felt we belonged to a rare and beautiful church family - thank you for affirming our belief. During tough times it is good to feel such a living example of Christ's love and grace. Particular thanks need be offered for the stunningly beautiful prayer quilt - it will always be a treasured possession. Thanks also for the beautiful flower bouquet that arrived on a day I really needed a lift. Most importantly, I need to express my thanks for all the prayers, good wishes, pats-on-the back and smiles that have been a continuous support throughout this journey. On behalf of all the Schaffner' s --Thank you for being who you are. - Dave Schaffner * * * * * * * * * * * * * What a family, what a life! Maplewood UMC, thank you so much for prayers, cards, calls, flowers AND food following the installation of my new shoulder. Soon, I hope, I will be back lifting and carrying my part of our beautiful shared ministry. Special thanks and love to Jerry who has, once again, provided loving care! - Shay Blackwell * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thank you to Mike Lodholz, Jason Watkins, Shay and Jerry Blackwell, and Donna Reynolds for serving to prepare for and guide the Youth Mission Team from Michigan! * * * * * * * * * * * * * Much thanks to Renee McDonough who has made use of some of her free days before returning to teaching to paint the woodwork around the windows in our multi-purpose office downstairs! Londia Granger Wright named new Gateway Central District Superintendent Pastor Londia grew up in St. Louis. After high school she entered the Navy, and served as a chaplain s assistant and journalist during her four years of service in Guam and Bermuda. Following her service with the Navy, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Arts in English from St. Louis University. She worked more than 20 years in public relations, for St. Louis University, St. Louis Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, Fleishman- Hillard public relations agency, and the city of Independence. She also worked at the Riverfront Times newspaper in St. Louis, and was the managing editor of The Disciple magazine for the Disciples of Christ. Marriage took her to Kansas City, and to becoming a member of St. James UMC where she embraced her childhood call to ministry. She earned a Master of Divinity degree, with a Specialization in Evangelism, from Saint Paul School of Theology. While at Saint Paul, she served as a student local pastor at St. Luke s United Methodist Church in Kansas City, and then went on to serve as associate pastor there when she was a provisional elder. I will never forget the loving support the St. Luke s congregation gave to me when my husband, George, died unexpectedly and tragically, Pastor Londia said. The members helped to establish a library in Vietnam in his memory, and they will forever hold a special place in my heart. After ordination, she has served at Waynesville UMC near Fort Leonard Wood. She then served for three years as the senior pastor at Saint Luke s UMC in Kansas City before being appointed to UMC of Green Trails in west St. Louis county in Pastor Londia is certified as an Associate in Evangelism from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and has served in a variety of leadership positions with the Missouri Conference.

6 A Way Forward The United Methodist Church is a world-wide denomination, seeking, as always, a way forward The members of its governing body come from a wide variety of social contexts from around the globe. At the most recent General Conference, the governing body which meets every four years to make decisions about rules and practices which govern the UMC, there was a great deal of tension arising from differing beliefs related to human sexuality, particularly the current UMC stance which prohibits same-sex marriages and the ordination of gays and lesbians. At the Missouri Annual Conference in June, a number of General Conference delegates led a breakout session to share more information about their experience at General Conference. It won t surprise you to hear that some United Methodists interpret scripture differently than others with regard to the issues of homosexuality. There are United Methodists who believe that homosexuality is not incompatible with Christian teaching, that same-sex marriage should be affirmed and permitted by the UM Discipline, that gay and lesbian persons should be eligible for ordination. There are United Methodists who do not share these beliefs. Our brothers and sisters in Africa, live in cultures where homosexuality is extremely taboo. For them being associated with a church that accepts homosexuality may put their well-being and even their lives at risk. Because of these differing and strongly held beliefs and sentiments associated with human sexuality there was a great possibility that the outcome of this General Conference would be a divided United Methodist Church. This division was averted when the General Conference asked the Bishops to form a committee that would prayerfully and carefully consider a way forward for the United Methodist Church. This Commission is not formed with the intent of getting people to change their stance on homosexuality. Rather, the goal is to find a way for the denomination to continue in ministry as one church with different understandings about human sexuality. Just recently the Missouri Net News shared an update regarding the steps taken toward forming the new commission. (To read the article which gives access to the full statement regarding the formation of the commission, go to: What follows is a summary of the UMC update and the full statement from the Executive Council of Bishops. At its meeting in July, The Council of Bishops Executive Committee devoted much of its agenda to finalizing plans for launching the Commission on a Way Forward. Here are some main points: *The Commission will be composed of members to be identified by the end of August. All bishops will be asked to nominate up to five potential members. *The Executive Committee is targeting October for the first meeting of the Commission. All bishops, and the entire church, will be invited to continuous prayer for the Commission through a Praying Our Way Forward initiative to be launched by the Council in October. Continued on next page

7 A Way Forward continued from previous page. The committee began the process toward a called special session of the General Conference in early Beginning now, the Executive Committee will issue regular updates on the Commission s work every 4-6 weeks. A purpose statement was adopted for the Commission which is intended to guide the selection of the Commission members and define the scope of the Commission s work. The statement describes the Commission s mission, vision and scope. The mission of the Commission can be summarized as that of bringing together persons deeply committed to the future(s) of the UMC, with an openness to developing new relationships with each other and exploring the possibilities for the future of the UMC a Church whose transformative mission relies on collaboration. The Commission s work will help the Council of Bishops in finding a way forward. The Commission s vision is that it will design a way for being church that maximizes the presence of a United Methodist witness in as many places in the world as possible, that allows for as much contextual differentiation as possible, and that balances an approach to different theological understandings of human sexuality with a desire for as much unity as possible. This unity will not be grounded in our conceptions of human sexuality, but in our affirmation of the Triune God who calls us to be a grace-filled and holy people in the Wesleyan tradition. The Commissions scope will include: --considering new ways of being in relationship across cultures and jurisdictions, --considering new ways of understanding the authority and role of bishops, the autonomy of annual conferences, and the nature and purpose of apportionment giving. --complete examination and possible revision of relevant paragraphs in the Book of Discipline with consideration given toward freedom and flexibility for a future United Methodist Church AND care to place complete trust in God s steadfast love and faithfulness rather than primarily addressing human preferences and self-interest. The mission statement closes with these words: If we do this work with complete surrender to God s unlimited imagination and kingdom purposes, we will be blessed beyond our limited human imagination. God remains God; God is with us; God will never let us go. To God be the glory! I hope we will all be vigilant in praying for the future of The United Methodist Church--that we will continue to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and that through God s gracious and powerful Holy Spirit we will find a way to maintain unity with a bond of peace. In the meantime, as the commission does its work, the ministry of Maplewood United Methodist Church will continue as it has, welcoming and including in ministry all people, regardless of sexual orientation, and inviting and encouraging all people to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ as they participate in the life and ministry of this congregation.

8 Join us on the anniversary of Michael Brown's death to honor all the lives cut short by police brutality in the two years since. As we come together in remembrance, we also come together in solidarity with all victims of recent tragedies in our country and around the world. All are welcome to gather in our space to lament and to find strength and hope in the midst of these injustices. FOLLOW-UP EVENT: KINSHIP IN CRISIS Pursuing Racial Justice through Conversation and Relationship

9 Person to Person Dave Phelps Last month, at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, southwest of Glasgow, pro golfer Phil Mickelson was moments away from making history in the British Open. If he could make just one more putt, he would be the first golfer in history to score a 62. The ball rolled toward the cup, five feet, ten, fifteen... and then, with only a foot to go, it swerved. Mickelson missed the putt, scoring 63. He played one of the best rounds of his or anyone s career, but he didn t make history. Afterward, he said It was one of the best rounds I've ever played... and yet, I want to shed a tear right now. He not only didn t earn a place in the history of the game, when the tournament was over, Mickelson had lost the tournament and the $1.5 million in prize money to Swedish golfer Henrik Stenson by three strokes. I played golf badly in college. I know how frustrating it can be. Golf isn t the most important thing in the world unless you re a professional golfer but all of us are familiar with disappointment. Each of us has had our share of I want to shed a tear moments. Peter had such a moment after Christ had been arrested. We re all familiar with the story, found in Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, and John 18: Jesus had told the disciples, You will all fall away because of Me this night, (Matt. 26:31b NAS). Peter then replied Not me, Lord. Maybe one of these other guys might deny you but I ll be there to the end, even if I have to die with you. (a paraphrase of vs. 35a). And, of course, the others all said the same thing. But when the time came, a matter of hours later, Peter failed the test. And at the moment the rooster crowed, Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. (vs. 34b). And Peter wept bitterly because he knew he had failed (vs. 75b). We may never know why Peter did what he did. We do know that he was one of the few disciples who was still around after Jesus was arrested. Only one other disciple followed Jesus after he was arrested (John 18:15-16). And once Peter had denied Jesus the first time, he was trapped. He couldn t admit his lie, he couldn t say he d made a mistake, he was was stuck, just as you and I find ourselves stuck sometimes. Peter would carry his guilt and shame for the rest of his life. But through the working of the Holy Spirit, he found a way to overcome it. When he wrote the first of his epistles, he wrote In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Pet. 1:6-7). Peter had known his share of testing; he knew what it was like to fail and what it was like to overcome through the Holy Spirit. He became a leader of the early church and one of the first to welcome Gentiles (Acts 10:9-33). He defended them against those who wanted them to obey the Law of Moses (Acts 15:1-11) and helped make it possible for you and me to be part of the body of Christ. He spent the rest of his life redeeming his moment of failure. Peter was a living example of grace. He had failed but God used him to build the early church. Today, the examples of grace are you and me. Are we up to the test? Will we pass or fail? If someone asked you or me, Do you know Jesus? how would we respond? Would they even need to ask the question? On the night Jesus was betrayed, one of the bystanders said to Peter,... the way you talk gives you away. (Matt. 26:73b). Does the way we talk give us away? The way we conduct ourselves? I pray that each of us will give ourselves away each and every day, in all situations. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,... If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Pet. 4:12a, 14.) Visit Person-2-Person on the Web at person2person.faithweb.com.

10 Kim Shirar, Pastor Pastor s Office Hours: Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Cell Phone: (314) pastor@maplewoodumc.org Sally Noel, Secretary Secretary will be in the office: Tuesday: 12 noon to 2 p.m. Thursday: 9a.m. - 2 p.m. Maplewood UMC phone: (314) Maplewood UMC Official Website: maplewoodumc.org Mission Statement of Maplewood UMC is: Gather as God s people Grow in faith, love and service Go into the world to do God s work. The Wired Witness This is part of a very occasional series of useful or interesting Internet resources for Christians. This month s recommendation is a series of blog posts by Rev. Mark Schaefer of American University United Methodist Community in Washington D.C., based on his sermon series 9 Lies You Hear in Church. You can find them here: sermons/sermon-series/9-lies-you-hear-in-church/ h/. Be prepared to be challenged and informed. Maplewood United Methodist Church 7409 Flora Ave. St. Louis, MO Every Sunday 9:45 a.m. Sunday School Children ssunday School starts August 14) 11:00 a.m. Worship