Banks Teller. Banks Community United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Banks Teller MARCH/APRIL 2017 Banks Community United Methodist Church Web site: Pastor s revmargot@gmail.com NW Depot St. Banks, OR The Season of Lent is simply Jesus followers watching and praying for signs of hope. We have named this season of the Christian year for the season of Spring (lencten).one creative way to keep the Season of Lent in our own hearts is by prayer for a world where Christ s kingdom is seen and felt by people in our community. Since my time in the prayer chapel at General Conference 2016, I have stayed in touch with the Upper Room prayer project. Lent begins on Wednesday, March 1st, there is no time like now to be in an attitude of prayer -- adoration -- praise -- confession -- supplication in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fervent prayer often brings Jesus disciples to action. Acts of giving (time, money, presence, socks, food, clothing). The Upper Room Prayer Ministry offers this little list of suggestions for prayer in action (see below).may your Lenten Season be filled with joy, inspiration and sharing! Yours in Christ, Margot Do One Thing for People in Need* Suggestions from the UMC Prayer Community: Pray for the mission of the United Methodist Church to reach out to those outside the church. As a family, let each member use some of his or her own money to buy socks to donate to a shelter for people who are homeless. Skip snacks for a week and donate the money you would have spent to a food bank. Pray for those who work with people in your community who don t have homes. Pray for the members of the Commission on a Way Forward *Adapted from Pockets, (January- February 2017), page 21. All rights reserved. Use with permission

2 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 03/01 Leslee Sipp 03/05 Bud Statton 03/09 Andy Haboush 03/13 Rodger Bond Jr. 03/28 Gail Haboush 03/28 Kathy Douglas 04/02 Fred Van Dyke 04/03 Claire McGinnis 04/07 Mikaila Medinger 04/10 Nancy Danielson 04/11 Mary Mock 04/22 Linda Wygle 04/26 Dave Bernel HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 04/08 Dave & Teruko Bernel 04/24 Bill & Glenda Kincaid h CALENDAR FOR MARCH/APRIL: 03/01 ~ 7 PM: Ash Wednesday Service at Cornelius UMC, 1095 South Beech Street. In the Sanctuary. 03/04 ~ 9:30-11:30 AM: Banks Community 1st Saturday Art Retreat. 03/05 ~ Ad Council meeting follows the service. 03/05 ~ Finance meeting after worship. 03/05 ~ 8 AM to 1 PM: Firefighters breakfast at the Banks Fire Station, NW Main Street. Take Fire Engine rides, free blood pressure checks, station tours and much more. 03/12 ~ Daylight Savings times starts 03/12 ~ St. Francis Steak and Ham Dinner, St. Francis School, Roy 03/19 ~ Irish Potato Potluck follows the service. Bring a topping for the potatoes and a salad or dessert. 2 04/01 ~ 9:30-11:30 AM: Banks Community 1st Saturday Art Retreat. 04/08 ~ 10 AM: Saturday Art Retreat Art Show featuring student and teacher art work. 04/09 ~ Palm Sunday 04/14 ~ 7:30 PM: Good Friday Service at Banks Community UMC, NW Depot Street. In the Sanctuary. 04/16 ~ Easter Sunday MONDAYS: 7:00 PM: Adult Bible Study - at Leola Stigleman s home. WEDNESDAYS: 9:30 AM: OGC a retired guys fellowship meets at the Trailhead Café. 10:00 AM: Women s Bible Study at Dianne Harrang s home. h CANNED FOOD OF THE MONTH The shelves are bare, the food supply is depleted, we need to start building stock for Here is the schedule for collection of foods for this year: March canned fruit April jello May pork & beans June tuna July refried beans August diced tomatoes/tomato sauce September hearty soup October chicken stove top stuffing Nov/Dec chicken broth Thanks for your generosity.

3 LENT What is Lent? Lent is an annual Christian season of preparation for Easter beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting for 40 weekdays up to Easter, when we observe a period of fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline. Whether you decide to increase your Bible reading and prayer time, or fast from certain types of luxuries, these 6 weeks are a time for self-examination and reflection. The members of the Worship Committee have chosen 2 options for self-denial offerings during Lent. We will start collecting on Ash Wednesday, March 1st, and gather up our offerings on Easter Morning, April 16th. A local giving opportunity is the BLESSING FUND within our own church. The Blessing Fund began over 15 years ago when the pastor of this church at that time told how he and his wife had been blessed with a monetary gift. One month, early in their marriage, they found they were $50 short of meeting their expenses for the month. They told no one of how much they needed, prayed and soon after they received in the mail an anonymous blessing of $50. Just the exact amount they needed! The Blessing Fund was born out of this incident as a way to reach out to others in our community and give them a boost when needed. A man needing gas to get to a job interview was blessed with gas money, got the job and had enough gas to last until his first pay 3 check. A mom who had an ill child and could not work at her weekend job as a waitress received $50 which replaced her lost tips and she was able to meet her expenses. When someone could use a blessing it is brought to the attention of Leslee Sipp. She looks into the matter and contacts another member of the Blessing Fund Committee and they together prayerfully take the request into consideration. It all works as God leads us to bless those who can use a boost in their lives and remind them that He is the ever-present. Our second giving opportunity is money for the purchase of VITAMINS for our missionary friend, Al McElheran. Al travels to Honduras twice a year taking medical and spiritual teams and other volunteers, spending 2 weeks treating the local people and presenting the Gospel. Many of the Hondurans have a poor diet and can benefit from additional nutrients in the way of vitamin supplements. Al usually has to cover the costs of all vitamins from his own pocket unless he receives donations; we would like to ease his burden. If you wish to give your self-denial offering to the BLESSING FUND, you may put your money in the envelope provided. If you choose to give to VITAMINS and you don t have an empty bottle, we have empty vitamin bottles available to use as your piggy bank, your collection receptacle. Both options for giving will be a blessing to those who are helped by your generosity.

4 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN NORWAY DURING WW II Submitted by Dianne Harrang Last summer Arne, I and son Dan visited Norway. We were pleased to see this Methodist Church and learn how they had helped out during the War---and recently read an article about it excerpted here. During WW II and the German occupation of Norway, Trondheim Methodist Church s loft was used as a secret synagogue for the local Jewish community---this decision was made at great personal risk to the Pastor. The Trondheim United Methodist Church, which housed a secret synagogue during Nazi occupation of Norway, was designated a U M historical site on Feb. 5, 2017, for the congregation s work with indigenous and marginalized people. A dramatic part of the life of the congregation came during the Nazi Occupation. Hitler attacked Norway without warning in April, Although Norway fought, the battle was hopeless and the country was under the rule of Nazi Germany for 5 years. The Jewish community of about 2,100 people faced restrictions on their professional and private lives. In 1941, the Germans seized the synagogue in Trondheim and banned Jews from meeting in public or private, even for religious ceremonies. During World War II and the German occupation of Norway, Trondheim Methodist Church s loft was used as a secret synagogue for the local Jewish community. The church s pastor and lay leader made the decision at great personal risk. 4 The minister of the Methodist Church at the time, had a long relationship with the local Rabbi. He and the leader of the Church Board invited the Jewish community to have their meetings in the Methodist Church. The loft of the church looks almost like it did in when it served as a secret synagogue. It is currently used by a Methodist scouting group. Had the Germans discovered the arrangement, all involved would have faced deportation. The Jewish community would gather in that attic for meetings and even Bar Mitzvahs. They had a good view of the outside, and there was an escape route to the next building thru a small hatch between the two buildings. The Torah and other manuscripts/artifacts were hidden in the church. (Continued on page 5.)

5 (Continued from page 4.) wearing patched clothes---a derogatory word). In 1942, the Occupiers and Norwegian collaborators, ordered the Jews rounded up and handed over to the Germans. Some were tipped off and managed to flee to Sweden. But many were arrested and sent to Auschwitz, the infamous concentration camp in Poland. Small children, the sick and anyone over 50 years old were killed on arrival, while the rest were used as slave labor. Of the 767 Norwegian Jews sent to Auschwitz, only 26 survived. The Jewish community in Trondheim re-opened their synagogue in 1947 and the hidden documents returned to them. When the Germans retreated from Norway in the face of the advancing Soviet Army, they evacuated the population to create a buffer zone. They demolished and burned homes, factories, shops and churches, and evacuated residents to the South. In Trondheim, the Church opened its doors to homeless people who lived there until more permanent shelters were found. In addition to the work during the Occupation, the church was used in 1917 by the Sami, an indigenous people of Nordic countries, for a political gathering. At the time, the Norwegian govt. and society were pressuring the Sami to become Norwegians and give up their traditional life. Sami children were forced to learn and speak Norwegian, use modern clothing, give up their traditional music, and learn civilized professions. (Note: Sami were reindeer herders and previously called Lapp Landers--- Lapp means patch of cloth for mending---the name suggests that Sami were 5 The Lutheran State Church was an active participant in this effort, so when the Sami tried to find a place to hold their first political Congress in Trondheim 1917, they turned to the Methodist Church. The Trondheim congregation was known locally for social ethics and outreach programs, and the church opened its doors for the Sami to hold the Congress which gathered Sami people from across Nordic borders (N. Norway, Sweden, Finland & Russia). In 1992, the 15th Sami Congress designated Feb. 6 as the National Day of the Sami people in memory of the first congress held at the Methodist Church and in 2017 celebrated the 100th year anniversary. King Harold V of Norway and govt. representatives attended in the National Cathedral in Trondheim. More recently, the Church has reached out to Romany people (Gypsies), who are marginalized all over Europe, including Norway. The church distributed food, clothes, gave support and other help. The minister says: This congregation has consistently showed a willingness to make a stand for marginalized people and help those in need. Over the years, the small congregation has been guided by the Laws of God and not followed the immorality of the powers and public opinion. This is an example for the world to see. AMEN Excerpted from Church Honored for Indigenous People Work by Karl Anders Ellingsen, Jan. 31, 2017.

6 Every Weakness you have is an opportunity for God to show His strength in your life. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 In your times of weakness God s grace is made clear. God did not remove Paul s thorn in the flesh even though he prayed earnestly three times for it to be removed. Did God just like to see Paul suffer? No, not at all. God did not remove Paul s affliction because He was in the process of developing Paul s spiritual character. In your time of weakness, God is developing your spiritual character too. Through God s grace, your worship will be deepened, your witness will be sharpened, and your faith will be heightened. soul. The Apostle Paul says, Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Good Friday Service April 14th 7:00 PM at Banks Community UMC NW Depot Street In the Sanctuary You are invited to enter this Season of Lent with hope and anticipation that Jesus will be with us as we pray together for the things that seem most hopeless troubling painful. You are invited to give yourself to the Lover of your 6

7 WAY FORWARD COMMISSIONERS SHARE PRAYERS, HOPES By Heather Hahn Jan. 19, 2017 UMNS They are praying for the Holy Spirit s guidance and trusting in their common Wesleyan heritage to help find A Way Forward for The United Methodist Church. The Commission on a Way Forward has the daunting task of trying to bridge the denomination s deep divisions on homosexuality and foster church unity. When this international group of United Methodists holds its first face-to-face meeting next week in Atlanta, they will bring some very different perspectives and experiences. They also bring a shared commitment to prayer and a faith in God who is bigger than human struggle. In December, the commission held a conference call to pray together. But the week of Jan. 23rd, will be the first time many of the members will meet each other. Their first order of business will be to get to know each other and begin to build trust. Meanwhile, United Methodists around the world have begun 75 weeks of focused prayer for the denomination Praying our Way Forward. United Methodist News Service asked each of the 32 commission members and the three bishops serving as moderators about their prayers are as the group begins its work, as well as where they see potential agreement. More than 15 responded. So many sisters and brothers around the connection are praying about this work and 7 trusting God to lead us, said Scott Johnson, a member from the Upper New York Conference. He helped deliver the laity address at last year s General Conference. I m confident that my sisters and brothers on the commission have been doing the same. Trusting that, my hope is that we come to this work knowing that we are not in this alone. I also hope that we make space for God to do something unexpected. Jacques Umembudi Akasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo sees similar promise for the work. I think there is reason to hope because it is the wishes of many Methodists, the United Methodist missionary said in French. Obviously, the task is complex, but we have faith. Shared prayers The Rev. Casey Langley Orr, associate pastor of discipleship at First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, said that in preparation, she has centered herself by repeating three beloved prayers: the Prayer of St. Francis, the Breastplate of St. Patrick and the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer. While it is difficult to know what exactly to expect as our conversations begin, my hope is that each of us can aim to be instruments of peace, to recognize Christ in one another, and to remember that we serve and represent God first, said Orr, a deacon. The commission includes eight bishops, 13 other clergy and 11 lay members who will all (Continued on page 8.)

8 (Continued from page 7.) have a vote in the group s deliberations. The three moderators don t vote. Members come from nine countries, including the United States, and 14 U.S. states. The group includes 14 women and two openly gay men. It also has leaders of advocacy groups that have long taken opposing stands on ministry with LGBTQ individuals and biblical interpretation. General Conference, the denomination s top lawmaking assembly, in May authorized the bishops to form the commission just a day after rumors of a potential church split over homosexuality reached a fever pitch. In following months, many clergy and candidates came out as gay, multiple conferences urged noncompliance with church prohibitions related to homosexuality, and the Western Jurisdiction elected and consecrated Bishop Karen Oliveto, a married lesbian. The Judicial Council, the denomination s top court, plans in April to take up a petition related to her election. The United Methodist Church is in an unprecedented place, and there is a great deal at stake. At the same time, we are in God s hands, and God is faithful, said Florida Area Bishop Ken Carter, one of the three moderators. I am praying for the members of the commission. By design, we are men and women of diverse talents, gifts and perspectives, and yet this is the Body of Christ. Myung Rae Kim Lee, executive director of the National Network of Korean United Methodist Women, has looked to Matthew 7:7 for inspiration. I personally believe that as we keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, with the guide of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to find a new way to forward, said Lee, a member of the New York Conference. Submitted by Pastor Margot Meanwhile, The Wesleyan Covenant Association, a new group started to boost the denomination s evangelical voice, has put the commission on notice against any break with current church teachings. The commission will examine and possibly recommend changes to the denomination s Book of Discipline, which since 1972 has stated, the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The bishops executive committee also has decided that the group will explore new ways of being a global church in different cultural and theological contexts. 8

9 5 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS HEAD TO VOTE General Conference approved the measure by a vote of 746 to 56. By Heather Hahn Feb. 8, 2017 UMNS General Conference delegates had their say last year. Now, it s up to annual conference voters to determine whether five amendments will become part of The United Methodist Church s constitution. In the coming months, the voters will consider changes that address matters of gender equality, inclusiveness in membership, delegate and bishop elections, as well as bishop accountability. To be ratified, a constitutional amendment first requires at least a two-thirds vote at General Conference, which happened in May Then, it must win at least a two-thirds majority of the total voters at annual conferences around the world. The voting starts at the Liberia Conference, scheduled for Feb , and will continue through potentially early next year, depending on when annual conferences schedule their meetings. The Council of Bishops will certify the results at its next meeting after the voting concludes. Here is an overview of the amendments in the order submitted to annual conference voters. Gender equality This amendment declares, men and women are of equal value in the eyes of God. It goes on to say that maleness and femaleness are characteristics of human bodies, not the divine. It also asserts that The United Methodist Church will seek to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, whether in organizations or in individuals, in every facet of its life and in society at large. The amendment, if ratified, would become the new Paragraph 6 in the Book of Discipline, the denomination s governing document. Subsequent constitutional paragraphs would be renumbered. 9 Carol Napier, a Sunday school teacher for 17 years at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church in the North Georgia Conference, submitted the amendment. I hope that this amendment will help churches remember that girls and women are of equal worth to boys and men because everyone is made in the image of God, she said. I believe that when churches remember and live out of this truth in all of their ministries, then villages, cities and even nations will be transformed to reflect Jesus perfect love for all of us. Inclusion in membership If adopted, this amendment would add gender, ability, age and marital status to the list of characteristics that do not bar people from membership in the church. Specifically, the amended Paragraph 4 would say that no member shall be denied access to an equal place in the life, worship and governance of the Church because of race, color, gender, national origin, ability, age, marital status or economic condition. The vote at General Conference was 509 to 242. The United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women submitted the amendment and put together a site seeking to answer frequently asked questions about the changes. For example, the agency notes that gender refers simply to men and women. The amendment also has the support of United Methodist Women, Discipleship Ministries and the DisAbility Ministries Committee. Paragraph IV, Article 4 protects people in The United Methodist Church against discrimination in membership based on age, gender, marital status and ability, while still protecting exclusivity in groups like United Methodist Women, youth groups and singles ministries, to name a few, said Dawn (Continued on page 10.)

10 (Continued from page 9.) Wiggins Hare, top executive of the Status and Role of Women agency. We are enthusiastically supporting the ratification of this amendment for the betterment of The United Methodist Church. Delegate elections This amendment to Paragraph 34 specifies that elections of delegates to General Conference as well as jurisdictional and central conference meetings will include open nominations from the floor at annual conference sessions. The measure also calls for the election of delegates by a minimum of a simple majority of the ballots cast. General Conference supported the amendment by a vote of 767 to 22. electing bishops. Bishop accountability Under this amendment to Paragraph 50, General Conference can adopt provisions for the Council of Bishops to hold individual bishops accountable. General Conference approved the amendment by 715 to 79. The Western Pennsylvania Conference submitted the legislation to address a ruling by the denomination s top court, the Judicial Council. That ruling holds that it is unconstitutional for the Council of Bishops to hold its members accountable. Currently, any complaints against bishops are to be handled in the jurisdictions or central conferences where they are elected. Paul Clinton Law of the Democratic Republic of the Congo submitted the amendment. The current provision in Paragraph 13 states that delegates shall be elected in a fair and open process by the annual conferences. Law said that is unduly vague in some cultures without a democratic tradition. Bishop elections This amendment to Paragraph 46 states that central conferences are to elect bishops at a regular, not an extra session of the central conference except where an unexpected vacancy must be filled. General Conference voted for the change by 621 to 15. Lonnie D. Brooks, a member of the Alaska Conference, said the amendment aims to treat bishop elections in the central conferences church regions in Africa, Asia and Europe in much the same way they are treated in U.S. jurisdictions. When bishops are elected in a special session, he said, some of the delegates who would be present at the regular session will either not be present at a special session or will be placed in a hardship condition by the call of a session for the purpose of 10 The Rev. Robert Zilhaver, who wrote the legislation, said the goal is to keep primary responsibility for a bishops accountability where they are elected, while also creating a mechanism for the Council of Bishops to step in for global accountability if needed. Zilhaver is the senior pastor of DuBois Lakeside United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania. It moves us to a position, where in our church we might hold ourselves accountable for a sin that rises to global expressions, he said, pointing to the example of a bishop holding slaves, which led to the denomination s split in At the same time, he said, he wants to protect cultural expressions from being labeled a sin and being prosecuted. Hahn is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News Service. Contact her at (615) or newsdesk@umcom.org. Julu Swen, a communicator in Liberia, contributed to this story. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests. Submitted by Pastor Margot

11 PASTOR S CALL TO PRAYER Aleppo, Syria is an ancient city, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Historians believe it may have been inhabited since the 6th millennium BC. Excavations at Tell as-sawda and Tell al-ansari, just south of the old city of Aleppo, show that the area was occupied by Amorites from at least the latter part of the 3rd millennium BC. In that period, Aleppo was noted for its commercial and military strength. Such a long history is attributed to its strategic location as a trading center midway between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). For centuries, Aleppo was the largest city in the Syrian region, and the Ottoman Empire s third-largest after Constantinople and Cairo. (wikipedia) The news of Syria s civil war that broke out in 2012 is now reported daily. The city has been occupied by ISIS, and therefore bombed mercilessly by the Syrian and Russian armed forces for months. Snipers take deadly aim an anybody or anything that moves in the crosshairs. Many, Muslim and Christian alike, who love their city have had to leave because of injury, starvation and debilitating fear. Please remember to pray for Christian brothers and sisters in Aleppo, Mosul and other areas affected by ISIS. One of VOM s Syrian co-workers offers these specific ways that you can join in praying for these families: 1. Pray for the rebuilding of Aleppo, Mosul and other cities affected by ISIS. Historic cities have been completely destroyed and feel like ghost towns. Pray that these areas will have life again and that the church will play a major role in bringing Christ to oppressed people. 2. Pray that the church will be equipped to help the many children who have seen and lived through the hardships of the civil war. These children have lost loved ones, lost their education and suffered from severe depression. 3. Pray that Christians who were driven from their cities by ISIS will return and join in rebuilding their cities and Christ s witness. Yours in Christ, Margot Through my connection with the Voice of the Martyrs Ministry (VOM), I have learned about forty Christian families in Aleppo and more families in Mosul. These courageous believers have chosen to remain and rebuild their lives in their war-torn city, providing a gospel witness to Muslims on both sides of the civil war. Through our prayers, we have the privilege of standing with them! Fervent prayer is the most precious gift you and I can offer. 11

12 husband and daughters. She has been threatened in jail, and she often has to cook her own food as a precaution against the possibility of poisoning. Yet she has tenaciously held onto her faith in Christ. Sentenced to Die, Asia Bibi Has One Final Appeal Asia Bibi was arrested in 2009 after a disagreement with Muslim co-workers in Pakistan. She was convicted of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad and sentenced to death. She has appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and is currently waiting for the court to hear her case. Asia has been in jail for more than seven years, separated by walls and bars from her PASTOR MARGOT S OFFICE HOURS Banks Community UMC Tuesday - 10:00 a.m. - noon 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Thursday - 10:00 a.m. - noon 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cornelius UMC Monday - 10:00 a.m. - noon 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. - noon 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. behalf. Asia is one of many Christians who are imprisoned around the world because they follow Jesus rather than the edicts of their government or captors. They call out to God each day, and we can join in calling out to God on their Pray that Christian prisoners will remain strong in their faith. Pray that they will have opportunities to be a witness for Christ to guards, officials and other prisoners. Pray that God will sustain their families during their imprisonment. And pray for their freedom. Invite Christian friends to PRAY for Asia Bibi and others like her in prisons around the world. (At all hours, and any day Sunday through Thursday, please use her cell phone number.) She is also available for urgent or emergency matters at all times via cell. BANKS TELLER All submissions to the Banks Teller are DUE BY THE 10TH OF THE MONTH preceding the month you wish it to run. The Banks Teller is published every two months. 12