St. Paul s United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 St. Paul s United Methodist Church August 1, 2018 Questions or corrections? Please call the Office (209) Introducing the new We are making some changes in our weekly/monthly communications to the congregation. In an effort to streamline and avoid repetition of announcements, as well as ease some of the workload for the Pastors and Kim, we are marrying the weekly Midweek Messenger with the monthly Epistle newsletter. Each Wednesday we will send out the newly named Midweek Epistle, which will contain announcements on upcoming St. Paul s events, as well as informational articles and reports that were regularly included in the former monthly Epistle newsletter. The church calendar and birthdays for the upcoming month will be included in last Midweek Epistle of each month. There will be a limited supply of hard copies in the Narthex each Sunday for those who do not have . Please continue to submit your articles, reports and announcements to the church office at office@stpaulsmanteca.org.

2 This Sunday, August 5, th Sunday After Pentecost/Holy Communion Unity in Christ Ephesians 4:1-16 Join us in the fellowship Hall following worship for coffee and refreshments hosted by Finance Committee SERVING IN AUGUST LITURGISTS Aug 5 Aug 12 Aug 19 Aug 26 Aug 5 Aug 12 Aug 19 Aug 26 Aug 5 Aug 12 Aug 19 Aug 26 Aug 5 Aug 12 Aug 19 Aug 26 Kit Oase Kit Oase Bill Crothers Ed Burroughs COFFEE FELLOWSHIP Finance Committee Nominations Committee United Methodist Women Scholarship & Memorial Committees USHERS Bev Casby, Mary Lingenfelter Bev Casby, Joan Rodriguez Paul & Sue Banicki Glenn Phillips, Mary Lingenfelter Rick & Judy Wentworth Bev Casby, Deanna Phillips Tom Savage GREETERS Marian Daniels Ann Dalla Jacque & Steve Foster Luan Bland Aug 1 Megan Pierce Aug 2 Frankie Rieger Hallie Trzcinski Aug 4 Cindy Knauss Raymond Quaresma Aiden Weber Aug 5 Joey Conner Ed Newland Aug 6 Kim Contente Bob Fauré Aug 7 Judith Lanning Mike Lyions Aug 8 Karson Condit Aug 12 Cyndi Bolger Jeanne Pollard Bob Wissel Aaron Weimer Aug 13 Vince Trzcinski Aug 14 Susan Brown Aug 15 Esther Jundt Aug 16 Gwen DeRoos Aug 19 Darlene Gallaty Pepper Phillips-Singh Aug 20 Layla Peters Tarra Sumner Aug 21 Liz Sucht Aug 22 Rhiannon Genilla Aug 24 Jean Phillips Aug 27 Richard Hoogendoorn Aug 29 Cindy Reich

3 TUESDAY SMALL GROUP NEW STUDY BEGINS AUGUST 7TH Tuesday's Study will be beginning a new book, Convictions by Marcus Borg on August 7th at 10:00. All are welcome! On the occasion of his seventieth birthday, the renowned scholar Marcus J. Borg shares how he formed his bedrock religious beliefs, contending that Christians in America are at their best when they focus on hope and transformation and so shows how we can return to what really matters most. The result is a manifesto for all progressive Christians who seek the best path for following Jesus today. With each chapter embodying a distinct conviction, Borg writes provocatively and compellingly on the beliefs that can deeply ground us and guide us, such as: God is real and a mystery; salvation is more about this life than an afterlife; the Bible can be true without being literally true; Jesus's death on the cross matters but not because he paid for our sins; God is passionate about justice and the poor; and to love God is to love like God. Borg calls all American Christians to reject divisiveness and exclusivity and create communities that celebrate joy, possibility, and renewal. Throughout, he reflects on what matters most, bringing to earth the kingdom of God Jesus talked about and transforming our relationships with one another. Rich in wisdom and insight, Convictions is sure to become a classic of contemporary Christianity.

4 Guest Speakers Series Sponsored by the Reconciling/Inclusive Congregation Committee During this Fall and next Spring, the Reconciling/Inclusive Congregation Committee is sponsoring a series of guest speakers from community organizations to share with the congregation information about that organization s mission and community outreach. Invited organizations will be from both the Manteca area and from the broader county region. The purpose of this program is to increase our understanding of how many ways God s work is being accomplished. Not all speakers will be from a Christian tradition, but we hope all will be informative and enriching. Each guest speaker will have 5-6 minutes during Worship, usually on the 3 rd Sunday of a specific month, and then be available during Fellowship to share more information or answer questions. In September we have invited Pastor Curtis Smith from the San Joaquin Chapter of Faith in the Valley. Pastor Curtis will be our guest on Sunday September 16. Faith in the Valley is a faith-based grassroots organization comprised of 120 congregations across San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno and Kern counties. Faith in the Valley is a multi-faith, multi-racial organization working towards a more just, compassionate, equitable and thriving Central Valley. More information about Faith in the Valley and Pastor Curtis will be in the Midweek Epistle as we get closer to his visit. In October we have invited a speaker from San Joaquin Family Promise to share information with us on Sunday October 21. Family Promise is a national non-profit organization that assists religious and community groups in developing and operating affiliate programs to alleviate homelessness by helping families with shelter, meals, and a hand-up out of situations that are hindering them. We hope these and future speakers will provide information, inspiration and gratefulness for God s love brought into the world by many hands.

5 AUGUST th : Communion Sunday 12 th : The Man with the Withered Hand 19 th : The Woman at the Well 26 th : The Man by the Pool We can follow Jesus example RECIPIENTS Allison Fauré - California State University Fresno Rachel Fauré California State University East Bay Rhiannon Genilla Modesto Junior College James Quiaoit University California Santa Cruz Sarah Rhyne California State University Sacramento & Delta Community College Hallie Trzcinski California State University San Jose If you are interested in the Scholarship Ministry please see Pastor Lisa or one of the members: Cyndi Bolger, Kirk Brown, Leoma Negley, Thomas Savage, Sandra Woodside, or Cassie Trzcinski. We give thanks for over 40 years of financial support toward higher education!

6 Offering Our Hands in Minis-tree and Service Thank you for your Extravagant Generosity in the first two Mission and Service Saturdays. We have sent an envelope full (15 cards) of encouragement to Katherine Parker; gave out 40 cards of encouragement to the Food Pantry clients and homeless shower clients.; filled 25 Homeless Survival Backpacks; prepared 20 health kits for the homeless, plus additional hygiene kits for the homeless shower clients; donated $389 for UMCOR and $130 toward future homeless backpacks. St. Paul s, You Rock! When: August 25, 2018 Where: St. Paul s Fellowship Hall Time: 10:30 to 11:30 AM What: 3 opportunities to offer ministry 3rd Quarterly Mission and Service Saturday A) Gifts cards for Homeless Manteca Unified School District (MUSD). The nurses request $5 gift cards (please do not give larger amounts as those may be cashed in by the adults in the family for other uses) from the following places: McDonald s Jack in the Box Subway Dollar Store Photo from our 2015 gift card collection for MUSD WalMart B) Women s Gift Bags for Food Pantry Clients. Non food items frequently requested from the food pantry: Feminine hygiene products Shampoo Conditioner Soap Toothbrush Toothpaste Hair brush Facial wipes

7 C) Cash or check donations for Northern California fire relief. The Cal-NV Conference, our conference, is seeking monetary donations to assist those evacuated out of their homes and those who have already lost their homes. Right now cash is the item most needed. As of July 29, the conference has distributed $8,000 worth of gift cards so people can replace immediate needs, such as medications left behind, combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hearing aid batteries, phone chargers, note paper and pens to jot down questions on where to or how to, pet food, etc. As of July 29th, Pastor Joe Major of Redding UMC and 60 embers of his church have been evacuated and most of the members of Shasta Lake UMC have been evacuated as well. State Emergency Help, Red Cross and UMCOR are ready to help but this fire is moving so fast it is hard to find a location to set up shop that will be safe for the duration. Our conference is also present at the Ferguson Fire, Klamathon Fire and Pawnee fire. Each day brings news on new fires, so more monetary help is needed. Material donations require space, organization and management and can become a disaster within a disaster. Director of Disaster Response to CA-NV is Sonja Edd-Bennett and she is involved in each of these locations, as well as in touch with other relief organizations and the state. If you are giving a check, please make it out to St. Paul s UMC and note CA-NV Fire Relief on the memo line. Joey, our treasurer, will combine them and write one check to the Conference. We will have a basket and envelopes available at Mission Saturday on August 25th. Future Date Please note our next Mission/Service Saturday on your calendar. Saturday October 20 Additional Mission and Service Opportunity Gary Colby will be leading a team to the UMCOR warehouse in Salt Lake City the week of August 20th. If you would like to know more or possibly join the team, please see Gary. Photo is from the St. Paul s team visit in 2015 PERMANENT NAME TAGS Judy Karnes will be placing another order for those wishing to purchase a permanent St. Paul s nametag. If you would like to order one, please let Judy Karnes know ( julenk713@comcast.net). Nametags with a pin backing are $7.50, and nametags with a magnetic backing are $9.50.

8 All of the choirs begin rehearsing Thursday, August 23. Music Discovery is for children 4 years old and older and meets at 6:15 in the sanctuary. The Chancel Choir rehearses at 7:00 in the choir room. If you or a family member are interested in singing in a choir, please know that you are welcome! Contact Anne Talcott at for more information.

9 THE COMMUNICATOR or better known as Dave Bland. Just say YES!!!! by Sally Hoelscher In a world that often seems to me to be increasingly filled with negativity and complaining, I am reminded that there are still plenty of reasons to say, "YES!!!!" Today, I am choosing to say... YES to God's grace. YES to opportunities to love. YES to living life fully engaged. YES to valuing the journey as well as the destination. YES to keeping my eyes open for God's many blessings. YES to looking for good in each one of God's children (even those that drive me crazy). YES to being a part of the solution rather than part of the problem. YES to being the change I want to see in the world. YES to listening for God's call. YES to friendship. YES to laughter. YES to joy. What are you choosing to say YES to today? Sally Hoelscher lives in Iowa City, Iowa, where she works as a freelance writer, Christian educator, and retreat leader. Someday Sally would like to see the Aurora Borealis, visit Yellowstone National Park in the winter, and write a mystery novel. She and her husband are parents of two college students.