1 Pastor s Letter 2. 9 Calendar. Inside this Issue. A Newsletter for the Willistown United Methodist Church August Join the Choir! Many Thanks!

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1 A Newsletter for the Willistown United Methodist Church August West Chester Pike Newtown Square, Pa Mission Statement: To welcome all people, share Christ's love, and be disciples who make disciples. Inside this Issue 1 Pastor s Letter 2 Adult Sunday School Spaghetti Dinner Methodist Breakfast Letter From Israel 3 Letter (cont d) Musical Musings: Hymn History Join the Choir! Many Thanks! SERVING IN WORSHIP PRAYER LIST Birthdays and Anniversaries Blood Drive Brickman Returneth! Picture Gallery 9 Calendar As we have begun our ministry at Willistown UMC, Diane and I have been truly blessed. You all have welcomed us so warmly, and we already feel very much a part of the church family. Thank you so much for your hospitality! On a Monday morning not long ago I joined Bill Keating and Dick Wright in weeding the flower beds where the entrance road divides on its way up the hill. It was quite a job pulling up shoots of grass and other weeds that had sprouted, but the worst of it was the crown vetch. It s a ground cover that invades and spreads out quickly along a vine-like stem. We pulled out as much as we could, and the beds looked very nice when we finished. But the reality is that many of the roots are still in those beds. It was just impossible to get all of them out. Before long, the weeds will be popping up through the nice plants we want to see, and we ll need to go out and work to get rid of them as best we can again. But if we don t keep at it, the weeds will completely take over and choke out the plants we want to have growing there. So we give regular attention to the task of weeding the flower beds to maintain the beauty of the church. Weeds invade our lives, too. There are bad habits we pick up or negative behaviors we sometimes engage in that have the potential to choke out the beauty of the lives that God calls us to live. They can start very small, and we may not notice them at first. But soon they can become rooted in us and spread. If we don t weed them out, they can take over our lives. We know that we can t get all the roots of the weeds of sin out of ourselves. As Paul says, For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do (Romans 7:19). But regular attention to our spiritual disciplines helps keep those weeds under control. Maintaining a strong prayer life, regularly reading the scriptures, coming together with our brothers and sisters in worship and sharing in communion are things that help keep those sinful weeds in check. So as we weed our gardens this summer, or do any of the other activities that help keep our homes clean and beautiful, let s also remember to keep up the habits that keep our lives on the path to which God calls us. Enjoy the last summer month of August! Pastor Jim

2 August 2015 P a g e 2 Our Adult Sunday School Class will be starting up again in the fall. Our first "class" will be held on Sunday, the 13th. Of September. We will have four teachers once again leading us to our discussions. They are Leonard Eads, Elise Polini, Doris King, and Alan Clark. And at times there will be a surprise "Mystery Teacher" in our presence! We extend a welcome to all. The time of the class is 9:00 A.M. and finishes promptly at 10:00 A.M. We encourage you to bring your thoughts and your Bibles, as we discuss our lesson material from the Conference. Our first lesson will be revealed shortly! Alan Clark Spaghetti Dinner Our fall "Bodacious" and also referred to as "World Famous" Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Saturday evening, October 17, Please mark your calendars now. The Abbes and the Friars will once again be our servers. Start telling your friends and neighbors now to set aside the date. Serving time will be 4:00 until 7:00 pm. Alan Clark Methodist Breakfast Our first METHODIST BREAKFAST of the fall will be at 7:45, Sunday, September 13th (Grandparents Day). Our program will be members of the West Chester University Friars and possibly a few Abbes. As you know, this wonderful group of young students is our servers and helpers for each of our Spaghetti Dinners. (Our next Spaghetti Dinner is October 17th.) They will tell us about themselves and their programs at the University and community. Please plan to attend and contact Alan Clark or myself. Gil Fell, Prez A Letter from Israel This was written by our 19 year old grandson, Steve (father, Stephen, is a pastor in Rhode Island). He is spending this summer in Israel. He will be going into seminary next year. (You read his Day 1 letter, last month). Alan Clark Day 27: Frescoes, Uno, and Deserts I was utterly drenched in sweat as I continued ahead on the dirt path slightly ahead of my group. I craned my neck, trying to see over the cliffs of the wadi to catch a glimpse of the rushing waterfall we had ventured off to see as our time in traditional Gamala (though not likely the actual site of Gamala, as our professor explained we ve taken to referring to it as Fake Gamala) came towards a close. It doesn t get any clearer, I called back as I started hiking back down towards my group. The winding path seemed to lead further and further away from the mediocre overlook that hardly offered a glimpse of the torrent. Our time was winding down we had only 22 minutes to hike the 25 minute walk back and we were all exhausted, having just done an hour and a half hike in 90+ degree heat over a rocky, up and down path to the top of the old tel at Fake Gamala, where we met a ton of Mormons. It had been quite the morning, and as much as I m usually up for adventure, I figured we d best turn around and hike back to the bus. But not everyone was having it, as I heard Damien whoop in the back of the group. How many times am I gonna be in Israel again!? He and Joey came running up the slope, ready to jog all the way down until we found a spot to look for the waterfall. Come on, bro! I hesitated. I didn t like being late, especially since later to the bus meant a later stop for lunch, and I was tired, and it was hot. But I thought for a moment. Man, how many times am I

3 August 2015 P a g e 3 gonna be in Israel again? I leapt ahead of the other two, sprinting and leaping over rocks in my dust-consumed sandals with every ounce of energy I didn t know I had, blindly and stupidly invigorated by my love of nature and hiking. I kicked a rock and grunted in pain as I chalked up another scrape to my abused feet, yet the pain passed into memory as a porched overlook came into sight as the path curved back towards the wadi. I ran to it and peered over the edge, offering me a full view of the frankly less-than-impressive waterfall, and I simply stared at it along with the abyss it poured into, consumed more with joy than with wonder. That s it? Damien said, disappointed, I thought there would be more, Joey agreed. Yeah, I half-agreed, half-stared, still amazed by its halfhearted beauty. * As we continued our journey back down to Jerusalem, remember the last trip Jesus took from Galilee as he headed down for the final week of his earthly life and ministry, we clambered back in the bus for a two hour ride to the Jordan River. You guys in? Ricardo asked, waving his deck of Uno cards as our confused, sweaty masses stared at him in slight uncertainty and disbelief. An hour later, we were still locked in the most intense game of Uno I have ever played, six of us crowded in, throwing cards down on Ricardo s laptop case. * We unloaded the bus at the Jordan River, the heat easily over 100 degrees now as we schlepped the crates and coolers to the benches under our paltry shade about 20 feet from the Israeli-Jordanian border. We feasted on our very last pita lunch, both a heartbreaking and relieving meal as I remembered what it must be like to have a choice of lunch dishes and use such luxurious items as plates and silverware. *We went down to the river itself, and I climbed down just to say I had actually stood in the Jordan River. Ricardo leaned his GoPro as far over the fence as he could to claim his GoPro had been to Jordan. We were soaked again when we climbed back into the bus. * We pulled into Jericho, all of us getting to a drained, exhausted point from the intense heat of the day. We hiked down the winding path, much to the displeasure of a desert dog guarding his sheep and goats, and over to Herod s ancient Jericho palace. I ever so slightly envied the fact that Herod never had to tolerate the desert summers, choosing only to spend his winters in these warm areas while celebrating the winters in Jerusalem, cooled by the Mediterranean breeze. Our instructor Paul told us about the ancient road from Jericho to Jerusalem, the road that Jesus walked that we could see from where we were, and explained the workings of Herod s palace. Before we went on to our last stop, he gave us a few minutes to roam the site And if you look carefully, you can find Herodian plaster scattered all near the walls. And if you re really lucky, Paul said, You can find bits of frescoes still painted on the rocks. Cut loose for one of my last opportunities to roam and search, I bounded down to the destroyed walls and almost immediately discovered an upended, fractured rock, one side of it completely flat and covered in a reddish glaze. I brought it over to Paul, who stared at it with a rewarding, impressed delight. Yeah, that s fresco! Paul said. Good job. I ll let you keep it if you promise to wrap that carefully and take good care of it back in the States, he half-joked, half-threatened. * And we finished our day at the Mount of Olives, one of my favorite overlooks of Jerusalem, a fitting end to the final day of the Galilee trip and the second to last day out in the field. We overlooked a massive Jewish cemetery, facing towards the Temple Mount, with the sound of the Muslim call to prayer filling the air as we were given a Christian lecture. I hadn t really been sure how to end this entry one full with personal memories and stories and no real epiphanies. Back when I wrote my first blog, my dad had forwarded the link to my

4 August 2015 P a g e 4 Aunt Dawne and Uncle Glenn who had helped support me towards the trip. They both responded very encouragingly, with Glenn s response particularly sticking in my head: We read posts from a lot of missionaries, and it s ultimately about them. This is about heart change and love for the Lord. That s guided each of my posts as I ve remembered this trip isn t about me but what God is doing in my heart and how he s preparing me for the future. But as I sat there with cultures clashing and memories raging and experiences filling, some words Paul said grasped me: This was where Jesus ascended. The disciples were left with a choice: they can go back to Galilee. Live in caves. Pray and hope and wait. Or they can go back into Jerusalem, go right into the temple and start telling people about what happened. And that s what they did. And that s what I m trying to do here, I think. My heart and mind and perspective and worldview have been shaped and changed in so many ways, from frescoes to minarets to pitas to Jewish shopkeepers. All I can do is tell about it. Yes, the epiphanies, the thought trains, the great stories and great movements but also the little moments, the stories and impacts that will stick with me for a lifetime, as I have grown to know and love Christ more deeply in the very land that he walked. And sometimes, those little moments are just as big pictures of God s redemptive work, his joy, and his care for us. The epiphanies and knowledge are great, but just learning to enjoy all the land he has made and take back wonderful stories and memories, learning how to walk with him those are the moments that really change us. So I took a selfie with an unsuspecting camel and went on my way. History of Hymns: 1956 hymn responds to Great Commission By C. Michael Hawn Leon M. Adkins Go, Make of All Disciples Leon M. Adkins UM Hymnal, No. 571 Go, make of all disciples. We hear the call, O Lord, that comes from thee, our Father, in thy eternal Word. Inspire our ways of learning through earnest, fervent prayer, and let our daily living reveal thee everywhere. * This hymn begins with the Great Commission: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV) The poet then proceeds to offer those who sing this hymn a response to the words of Christ at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. In stanza one, fervent prayer leads to the transformation of our lives lives that should reflect Christ everywhere. Indeed Acts 1:8, a companion passage to Matthew 28, gives us an indication of the extent of everywhere : But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Stanza two focuses upon the classic baptismal formula, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit), that has linked the church for 2,000 years. The bond through our baptism is the essential link with believers of every time and place. As the final phrase of the stanza states, our work of redeeming soul and body takes place by water and the word. This stanza also reflects a theology that is an improvement

5 August 2015 P a g e 5 on earlier mission hymns that focus on saving souls. Perhaps the focus on both soul and body reflects the influence of the social gospel which had been prominent since the turn of the 20thcentury. Stanza three introduces a wonderful phrase that indicates our partnership with the Holy Spirit in the task of spreading the gospel: We cultivate the nature God plants in every heart. The purpose of evangelization is not just to save the lost from hell but to transform each life s vocation into a commitment that accents thy holy way. Hymns. Leon McKinley Adkins ( ) was born in New York and died in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He was a Methodist pastor, serving congregations from , and an administrator, serving at the Board of Education of the Methodist Church in Nashville from * 1964 Abingdon Press Dr. Hawn is professor of sacred music at Perkins School of Theology, SMU. Pot Luck Thanks! Just a word, once again, to thank all of those who made the luncheon for Pastor Jim and his wife Diane, such a wonderful experience. From the set ups, to the food brought in, to the clean-up everything was perfect! We are so happy and proud of all of you who make these luncheons such a delight to be a part of. Ann Clark The final stanza assures us of God s presence with us as we fulfill our mission by quoting Matthew 28:20: Lo, I am with you always. Though the task looms large before us, we press on without fear. Our ultimate goal is to work toward bringing the realm of God on earth with God s help: In heaven and earth thy power shall bring thy kingdom here. The Rev. Carlton R. Young, UM Hymnal editor, provides the context for this hymn: The hymn was first sung at the commissioning of teachers and church school officials during Christian Education Week, 1955, at University Methodist Church, Syracuse, where the author was pastor. The hymn was printed in the February 1956 issue of Church School and first appeared in a hymnal in the 1966 Book of Please consider Music Ministry! Come join us! The traditional service choir rehearses Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 pm. The choir sings from the first Sunday after Labor Day through the month of May. No audition is required. Each Christmas Season the choir performs a cantata for the service on the third Sunday of December. Anthems encompass the full range of the choral music repertoire from classical arrangements to spiritual, gospel, and contemporary music. All singers are welcome. Please contact Sarah Cass at Thanks to Bonnie! For Our Bulletin Board Did you know that Bonnie Boyer is the elf that works so hard to post all our pictures on the Bulletin Board? Please thank her when you see her for her creativity and for taking the time to decorate our bulletin board. THANK YOU BONNIE!

6 August 2015 P a g e 6 Serving in Worship Date Greeters Ushers Liturgist Grace Miller and Betty Barlow Betty Byar and Elise Polini Mary Lou Amen and Marge McKee Ronald Gould and Fred Eufrasio Leonard Eads and David Michael Don Stapleton and Bill Keating Jane and Jim VanZandt Ruth and Jim McNamara Barbara and Lance Seidel Beth Southern and Kim Pierce Alan Clark Barbara Gorham Lee Hickman Ann Clark Curt Wise Greeters: Please be in place by 10:00 A.M. Wear your greeter tag and if we have a visitor, please give them the little identification lapel sticker to identify themselves as visitors. Also, please have them sign the guest register. Ushers: Please be in place by 10:05. Give out the bulletins and ask if anyone has a special need. (hearing or seeing) Take up the offering when called upon by the Pastor. Liturgist: Make certain that the Pastor has the purple sheet that lists "Joys and Concerns" found on the little shelf just before entering the hallway of the church. Be available for the Pastor to have a short moment of prayer and then walk down the aisle with the Pastor, pause for a moment at the altar and then proceed to your podium. Your readings will be ed to you prior to your Sunday. I would appreciate it if you would let me know when you will not be able to make the Sunday I have chosen for you. You can reach me at It has even been suggested that you let me know that you will be available for your slot on the Sunday, again, that I have chosen for you. Thank you for all of your help each Sunday. You are appreciated. Alan Clark Our Prayer List for Members, their families, Regular Attendees, and Friends of our Congregation Congregation Friends Mary Bachman Betty Barlow Tara Bennett Rose Campbell Jean Conover Mike Gould Roy Kleinfelter Vivian Leknes Melissa Michaels Family Jen McAlary Debbie McGuire Bill Snyder Janet Wise James Barnes Norman Beck Baby Benjamin Diana Brown Bob, Mary Ellen Brown s brother Doris Boyd Michael Caffrey Marty Cox David Doris Dawkins Patricia Foster Nicole Gilette and baby Stacy Johnson Priscilla Kelly Tanya Kunig Jackie Kurtz Gina Harrison Kenny Heize Paul and Joanne Lyman Susan Lundquist Paul Magoon Joanne Linder Manning Marion Peggy Martin The Matthews Family Dorothy McLaughlin Kevin Miller, Jr. Kayla Nakonechni Paul Nappi Mark Orlick Pat Pat Melissa and Matt Pici Gene Polini Carol Pratt Jeff Rocco Ann Scott Bob Smith Jim Stevenson Dan Troxel Baby Victoria Dana Vink Rob Wharton Lee Zampetti General Concerns: Bereavement: Christopher in Afghanistan and all our Armed Services Personnel. Sympathy to the families of Joanne Lykens, Alex Massey, Jack Small and Carol Jean Young. If you would like a note sent to someone that needs our prayers, please call Carol Rice at PLEASE LET CAROL RICE KNOW WHEN SOMEONE CAN BE REMOVED FROM OUR LIST. THANK YOU!

7 August 2015 P a g e 7 14 Jane Van Zandt 16 Bill Cass 16 Carol Keating 25 Grace Miller and Curtis Wise 30 Mel Cox 31 Grace Southern 26 David and Lee Hickman Mitzi and Mel enjoy the sun! Alan Clark s Storm Damage. Anyone who needs Firewood can contact him. Our July blood drive resulted in a very favorable 26 units. It s the best July blood drive we have had since 2007! Donor members and friends of our church included: Curt Wise, Barbara Olsen, Barbara Fell, Jane VanZandt, Fred Bachman. Jim and Diane Wilkin, Bill (Double Red) and Carol Bowers, Dick Wright, Jim McNamara, Eric Johnson and Brian Hutchinson. Special thanks to our greeters: Marge McKee and Bill Snyder and to Brian Huss for making sure the Red Cross had all the tables and chairs it needed. The Brick Man Returneth! We have a row of 7 new bricks! If you would like to start a new row to remember or honor a loved one, the forms will be in the back of the church. Thank you for your anticipated assistance. Our next blood drive is November 13th and we already have EIGHT donors committed! Be sure to join us! Gil Fell Prayerfully, Bill Rice

8 August 2015 P a g e 8 Picture Gallery Top of the Hill Gang Monday is the Day to Weed! Come join them! Serving in Worship! Lunch Bunch Birthdays and Fellowship 3 FREDS! GREETERS: June and Fred The Clarks Sharing Musical Gifts!

9 August 2015 P a g e 9 Key Events coming in September Choir Rehearsals Begin on Wednesday Afternoons after Labor Day. Adult Sunday School Starts on September 13 th at 9:00 am. Methodist Breakfast is on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 7:45 am.

10 August 2015 P a g e 10 Willistown United Methodist Church Pastor: Rev. James H. Wilkin Pastor s pastorjimwilkin@gmail.com Pastor s Cell Phone: Office Phone: Office willistownumc@comcast.net Lay Leader: Grace Miller Lay Leader s Phone: Lay Leader s gracewmiller@yahoo.com Newsletter Editor: Sara Beam Phone: address: sarabeamart1@verizon.net WUMC web page: Mark 6:30-32 ESV / 34 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. September Newsletter Deadline: August 17, Willistown United Methodist Church 6051 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED