MAPLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MESSENGER

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MAPLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MESSENGER MAY 2017 As a part of Mercy & Justice Ministries.. the hungry/thirsty corner I was hungry how did you feed me?

Often we know who among our congregation is graduating from 8 th grade, high school, or graduate school, but just in case please text or email Pastor Kim with the names of graduates and the school

1 MAPLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MESSENGER MAY 2017 As a part of Mercy & Justice Ministries.. the hungry/thirsty corner I was hungry how did you feed me? Here s one way: Bring food to church next Sunday (5/7) for the Weekend on Wheels food pantry. Please help us honor our graduates! Often we know who among our congregation is graduating from 8 th grade, high school, or graduate school, but just in case please text or Pastor Kim with the names of graduates and the school and grade level from which they are graduating. Thank you for helping us honor our graduates! (1) Support for Kwasha school continues Be watching for information about the direction of on-going support of Kwasha school. This month s start will include collecting pencils (MANY pencils) to send to the students with Karen Raborn when she makes her trip this summer. Yes, that s right. Pencils, any size, any style, new or used. Some times the kids are writing with a pencil stub no longer than a couple inches. Let s change that! George McGhee will be working with Karen on the pencil collection AND an exciting new project involving kiddoes from MUMC and local schools. You may recall that many different kinds of school supplies were collected last Fall shipping to Zambia is very expensive and delivery can take a loooong time. Gathering funds which will allow the staff at Kwasha school to shop IN Zambia this year is being considered. Be watching for more info. (2) Additional Blessings bags to be assembled Sunday, May 7 Yes. Sixty bags were taken home with worshippers on Easter Sunday. No, Not every family in the congregation on that day was able to get one (we ran out!!!) Now, some folks have requested more, so,.. with just a few additional purchases added to some of the leftovers from the first assembling, supplies are on hand to create 12 more bags. This will be set up in the Fellowship Hall so stop by and see if any additional help is needed, (3) Not an ark, but six flood buckets have been assembled and delivered to Manchester UMC for distribution in our area. Thanks to Jerry & Shay Blackwell for shopping for these supplies and to Jim Abeln and his brother, Tom, for moving all these materials from the van to the church!

a word from Amy in the Choir Corner Thank you to all who gave us meaningful, glorious music throughout Lent and Easter. It was very appreciated.

I am searching for folks: we need praise song leaders.

Kunce theological threads You ll be seein them around Years ago one of the most active groups in any church was a group called the altar guild a group (usually

This small group has a shared call to work developing visuals for our worship services.

2 a word from Amy in the Choir Corner Thank you to all who gave us meaningful, glorious music throughout Lent and Easter. It was very appreciated. The choir will sing through May and June 4th, Pentecost Sunday. Newcomers are always encouraged to come by our Wednesday evening practices at 7:00pm. I am searching for folks: we need praise song leaders. Also, I am looking for keyboard players who might enjoy playing organ and piano duets - grade school age to??? Any drummers out there? See me (Amy Cordeal) if interested. 1 Andrew McDonough 2 Tami Collins 4 Madaleaze Cramer 8 Mike Shirar 19 Diane Watkins 19 Ben Shirar 21 Isabella Ward 26 David Phelps 27 Charlotte Phelps 27 Tony Kunce theological threads You ll be seein them around Years ago one of the most active groups in any church was a group called the altar guild a group (usually women) which took on the responsibility for making sure the worship center always was clean and beautifully put together. MUMC now has the Theological Threads. This small group has a shared call to work developing visuals for our worship services. Shay Blackwell, Peg Chulick, Bonnie Jent, Karen Raborn and Jewel McGhee will coordinate with the worship area and Pastor Kim, supporting the seasons and sermons. 5/19/84 - Mike & Nina Berry 5/22/94 Tom & Amy Cordeal 5/28/76 Dave & Suzie Ward 5/30/64 - Jerry & Shay Blackwell Have some ideas? Feel a nudge to become involved with this ministry, one-time-only or on-going? Be sure to note that on your Sunday morning communication card (or just talk to one of the TTs). Ad Council - Sunday, MAY 21 at 6 p.m.

Easter Sunday was such a wonderful day in the life of our congregation!

served Easter Breakfast. * 60 The number of Blessing (hospitality) bags that were sent out with worshipers after the 11 a.m. service * $2,047 the Easter offering collected over three Sundays in April.

3 Easter Sunday was such a wonderful day in the life of our congregation! Here are a few fun numbers connected with Easter at Maplewood UMC * 223 the number of worshipers who attended Holy Week and Easter Sunday services * 2 The number of times we sang Christ the Lord is Risen Today! on Easter Sunday at Maplewood UMC * 57 the number of Maplewood UMC Kids t-shirts that were ordered for our children and adult leaders in the children s ministry * 122 the number of folks who were served Easter Breakfast. * 60 The number of Blessing (hospitality) bags that were sent out with worshipers after the 11 a.m. service * $2,047 the Easter offering collected over three Sundays in April. * $2,500 the total Easter offering after adding a little more from our Mercy and Justice ministries budget. (All of the Easter offering will be given toward relief efforts in Mozambique after Cyclone Dineo occurred in February. Our gifts will be combined with gifts from UMC congregations in the Missouri Annual Conference. The goal is $250,000.) * 35 the number of children who participated in the Easter egg hunt. *** 1 the number of leaf blowers used to dry off the grass before the Easter Egg hunt So many people made our Easter celebrations at Maplewood UMC full of life and joy! Thank you to each of you who prayed, invited friends, provided hospitality, prepared food, shared music, helped with the Easter egg hunt, shared in the Easter offering, and assisted with Hospitality bags. I am so grateful for such abundant ministry and so grateful for the privilege of celebrating the joy of Christ s resurrection with you on Easter Sunday. Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Amen! In Christ s love, Pastor Kim Dennis Collins frying sausage, one of the many men who helped cook Easter breakfast. Some of the 35 children who participated in the Easter egg hunt. Thanks to Bob Harsh and his leaf blower, the even could be held outside.

Seeing Jesus The sermon series throughout May, based on Matthew 25: 31 40, will focus on seeing Jesus as we care for those who are vulnerable and in need.

How are we called to express God s hospitality to others? Should we expect to meet Jesus when we greet a stranger?

4 Seeing Jesus The sermon series throughout May, based on Matthew 25: 31 40, will focus on seeing Jesus as we care for those who are vulnerable and in need. Sunday, May 7: I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me We will talk about who the strangers might be in our lives and look at Scripture s teachings about God s views on hospitality. How are we called to express God s hospitality to others? Should we expect to meet Jesus when we greet a stranger? Sunday, May 14 I Was Naked and You Gave Me Clothing It seems to be a classic very bad dream to be standing in front of a group of people only to realize that you are only wearing your pajamas or maybe not wearing any or all of your clothes. When we wake up to find that is was only a dream, we can still remember that feeling of shame and embarrassment. We will ask what things in our social structure cause folks to feel ashamed or less than. How does God respond to us in our times of shame, vunerability, embarrassment? What kind of clothing options does God offer us as God s children? How can we see Jesus as we serve on God s behalf to promote the dignity of others? Sunday, May 21 When I Was Sick and You Took Care of Me There are lots of ways that we can experience illness in this life. Some people have to go the hospital and have a surgery to get better. Some people hope to get better on their own because they can t afford health care. Some people live with chronic illness without the hope of a cure. Illness may affect mental or emotional health. Or we may know of a relationship that is unhealthy. Jewell McGhee and Kyle Steward will share the message this Sunday, talking about how we experience Jesus presence in caring for each other when we are sick. Sunday, May 28 I Was in Prison and You Visited Me Did you know that prison ministry was a vital part of the early Methodist movement? The Methodist Conference in 1778 instructed every Methodist preacher that it was their duty to minister to those who were in prison. No matter what we may have done, our faith declares that all people are created in the image of God. Through Jesus we believe we can receive the gift of God s freedom. We will talk about how we are called to reach out in God s love to people who are imprisoned. In doing so, Jesus says we are caring for him. (Matthew 25: 36) Men s choir singing the Easter anthem. and what would Easter morning be without Larry Schmid and his trumpet?

mercy & justice Maplewood UMC is observing Native American Ministries on Sunday on May 7.

Thank you for your generosity which allows our congregation to join with United Methodist congregations throughout the United States to join in this ministry.

Methodist movement by taking up a special offering on Native American Ministries Sunday.

5 mercy & justice Maplewood UMC is observing Native American Ministries on Sunday on May 7. We have sent $200 toward to this Special Sunday offering to support numerous United Methodist ministries with Native Americans. Thank you for your generosity which allows our congregation to join with United Methodist congregations throughout the United States to join in this ministry. Below is additional information regarding Native American Sunday (On the second Sunday after Easter season, our denomination celebrates) the rich history and presence of Native Americans in the Methodist movement by taking up a special offering on Native American Ministries Sunday. Because of these gifts, ministry for many Native American churches, fellowships, and committees on Native American Ministry can take place. Over the past few years, the funds have provided scholarships for Native seminarians, assisted in the completion of two parsonages for Native American churches, allowed for an after-school program for a Native American boarding school, and provided program funds for two reintegration programs for Native women. In many situations, Native American churches operate on a limited budget with minimal funds; any additional programming requires funding assistance from outside sources such as Native American Ministries Sunday. The offerings that are received through this special Sunday have been the lifeblood of many ministries and have assisted in protecting the longevity of the Native American presence in The United Methodist Church. Kyle Steward standing in front of his t-shirt quilt made by the church s quilters. Jason Watkins and Tim McDonough looking at a trailer full of new light weight chairs and round tables. These will make it much easier to set up Fellowship Hall for different events. One of the ways you can get the word out about Maplewood UMC is by liking the Maplewood UMC Facebook page and sharing our posts with your friends. To find the MUMC Facebook page go to

6 Person to Person Dave Phelps It s time for my twenty third annual post-easter meditation. Wow! How time flies. This year, before worship, one thing I noticed was that everyone was busy doing something but not everyone was doing the same thing. Some of us were practicing music, some were preparing hospitality bags to give to homeless persons we might meet, some were watching or directing the children s Easter egg hunt, and still others were simply relaxing and enjoying fellowship. Earlier, while some of us were participating in early worship, many of the church s men were preparing breakfast for the rest of us. Writing to the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians and Colossians, Paul compared the church to the human body (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12-31; Eph. 4:4-8, 15-16; Col. 1:18), with Christ as the head. Clearly, Paul had an attachment to and appreciation of this particular metaphor and it helped early Christians to understand how they might contribute and participate. In our individual congregation, members and others participate in various ways. Some sing, some play instruments, some praise, some pray, some encourage, some teach, some lead, others follow, some perform administrative or financial tasks, some care for the building, and others cook (and very well, I might add). Many folks do more than one thing, and do them all well. But everyone has something to contribute. If there weren t opportunities to sing or play instruments, my own participation would be much more limited. If there weren t those who cook, I d be much hungrier (you should have a pretty good sense of my priorities by now). If there weren t teachers, I wouldn t know as much as I do. If there weren t leaders, I would be like a ship without a rudder. If there were no one to encourage me, I would be very sad indeed. If there weren t those who praise, worship would be much duller. If there weren t those who direct the church s finances, my offerings wouldn t get where they could do the most good. If there were no one to care for the church building, I d have to find another place to worship. And if no one was willing to pray, I would have a huge spiritual hole in my life. We don t need to possess any of those gifts to appreciate those who do have them. In his letter to the Romans, Paul listed things like preaching, service, teaching, encouragement, generosity, leadership, and mercy as spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6b-8). He didn t mention cooking but he probably just forgot. After all, Jesus cooked breakfast for the disciples after his resurrection (John 21:9-14). This may be where we get the tradition of the Easter breakfast. (No, it isn t really of course but it s fun to think about it.) It doesn t matter what we can do, as long as we do it for God. What we re able to do for the body of Christ isn t merely service, it s our gift from God. What we do with it is our gift to God. Any gift or talent we have can be a medium for giving, a channel of grace. The message of Easter is not only that Christ has been raised (Matt. 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-7; 1 Cor. 15:20) but that we have been raised as well (Eph. 2:6). And we haven t been raised for nothing but to be a part of the body of Christ. It s important not to dismiss our gifts. If you re feeling called to contribute your gift, your talents, whatever they are, please do. Paul wrote, For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. If the foot were to say, Because I am not a hand, I don t belong to the body, that would not keep it from being a part of the body. (1 Cor. 12:14-15 Good News Translation). No matter what gift we have or what part we ve been called to play, we re still part of the body of Christ and we still have a role to play. If we live for Christ as Easter people, others will wonder what s cooking? Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink. For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts.... And so there is no division in the body, but all its different parts have the same concern for one another. If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness. All of you are Christ s body, and each one is a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; GNT.) (Find more Person-2-Person online at

Thank you comes in many forms and for many reasons I wanted to say thanks to the congregation for all the help and support you have given me.

inspire us to grow as Jesus followers. Your inspiring alter visuals add so much beauty and color to our sanctuary. Wow! Thanks to the Terrific-Tie-Dye-Team!

through on the Sunday after Easter: Kyle Kranes, Rachel Ward, Kathy Schmid, Nickey Hobbs, Brittany Link, Jamie Hill, Karen Raborn, Abatha Boyle, Shelly McBurnett, Colleen

This group tie dyed a lot of Maplewood UMC Kids t-shirts about 40 or maybe more? in an hour of Sunday school time!

7 Thank you comes in many forms and for many reasons I wanted to say thanks to the congregation for all the help and support you have given me. God bless you all, Mike Plonka Many thanks to Peg Chulick, Shay Blackwell, Jewell McGhee, Bonnie Jent, and Karen Raborn for sharing your creative gifts with the congregation which inspire us to grow as Jesus followers. Your inspiring alter visuals add so much beauty and color to our sanctuary. Wow! Thanks to the Terrific-Tie-Dye-Team!! (You can read more about them in this newsletter) It was an all hands on deck day in Children s ministry on the Sunday after Easter Thank you to the Terrific Tie Dye Team who came through on the Sunday after Easter: Kyle Kranes, Rachel Ward, Kathy Schmid, Nickey Hobbs, Brittany Link, Jamie Hill, Karen Raborn, Abatha Boyle, Shelly McBurnett, Colleen Watkins,Lisa Watkins, Watkins, Lilly Watkins, and Jerry Blackwell, who made a point to take lots of pictures! This group tie dyed a lot of Maplewood UMC Kids t-shirts about 40 or maybe more? in an hour of Sunday school time! The wet tie-dyed t-shirts were taken home by our dedicated teachers for repeated rinses and drying so that our children could come back the next week to find their t-shirts ready to wear! To all the folks who shared such meaningful music during Lent and Easter, THANK YOU; we loved it! T-shirts before they were tie dyed.during the process of being tie dyed and the final step wearing the tie dyed shirt.

Kim Shirar, Pastor Pastor s Office Hours: Tuesday: 12 Noon. - 2:00 p.m. Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Cell Phone: (314) 651-9999 E-Mail: pastor@maplewoodumc.

m. Maplewood UMC phone: (314)781-5902 Maplewood UMC Official Website: maplewoodumc.

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8 Kim Shirar, Pastor Pastor s Office Hours: Tuesday: 12 Noon. - 2:00 p.m. Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 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: 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Maplewood UMC phone: (314) Maplewood UMC Official Website: maplewoodumc.org MRH$Science$team$took$/irst$ in$the$missouri$state$ competition$in$rolla$at$mo$ S&T$(3 rd $year$in$a$row!)$$ Here s$a$knownaname:$ Samantha$Schaffner$took$ third$place$in$biology.$$way$ TO$GO!$ Maplewood United Methodist Church 7409 Flora Ave. St. Louis, MO Every Sunday 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship

MAY 2016 coming to MUMC WOW food delivery has a schedule!

MAY 2016 coming to MUMC WOW food delivery has a schedule! MAPLEWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MESSENGER MAY 2016 Congratulations to Steve Findley Sunday May 15 is Pentecost Sunday. It s the day we celebrate the Gift of the Holy Spirit being given to the Church.