S PA RTA. October October Inside This Issue:

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1 S PA RTA U N I T E D M E T H O D I ST C H U RC H October 2015 October 2015 Inside This Issue: BELL CHOIR 5 CALENDAR 2 CHURCH & SOCIETY 12 CONFIRMATION 3 CONGREGATIONAL CARE 7 CONTEMPLATIVE 14 CHURCH MOUSE 11 FAMILY PROMISE 7 GREIF SUPPORT 9 LABYRINTH 14 LIBRARY PICKS 12 MISSION NOMINATION 15 RAINBOWS 7 STUDY GROUPS 8 SUNDAY SCHOOL 5 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN 9 WORLD MISSION GIFTS 11 WORSHIP 6 YOUTH GROUP NEWS 4 Faithful friends, Fall 2015 is off to a wonderful start. The children are back to Sunday School and worship, and they are filled with the Spirit. What a blessing. Study groups are meeting regularly, and we have opened new spaces for being together in the grief that we are meant to share. It has been a tough year with a lot of sadness in our midst. And yet, the disciples at Sparta UMC continue to serve the needs of the people, be present for one another, and see the Light on the horizon. It has been an extraordinary gift to watch you be the church. We are preparing to launch our next Season of Giving and do hope that you will be praying about your gifts. I promise not to preach on money for five weeks straight. We want to vision for the future and we want to grow our strength in our community. Increasing our commitments of prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness can and will change our lives as we live in community together. Grateful to be with you in ministry,

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3 CLASS of 2016 Sparta United Methodist Church Sundays 9:15 a.m. -10:15 a.m. Plus worship 8:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m October 11 parents plan to stay November 1 November 8 November 15 December 6 January 3 January 10 February 7 February 14 March 6 March 27 April 10 April 16 Philadelphia Tour May 1 May 8 June 12 June 19 CONFIRMATION CEREMONY PLEASE VOLUNTEER TOI SPONSOR A CONFIRMAND. Be on this important journey with one of our young people.. Throughout the year, confirmands will: Participate in worship in some way. Attend one business meeting. Comment on worship. Write a statement of faith. 2 paragraphs Interview a faithful adult Must keep a faith statement/prayer journal, transforming feelings into faith-filled boldness. Participate in one mission. We plan to journey to Philadelphia to study important UMC history, to visit a Mosque and a Synagogue; and to discover ways that the kids can be more involved and engaged in the life of the churc The Season of Giving is upon us celebrate and support the ongoing ministries of your church. 3

4 SUMC Youth Group is open to Grades 6-8 (Jr. High) and 9-12 ( Sr. High). We seek fellowship, learning, relationship with Christ and serving our church and community. Please fill out a Youth Participation Form for each student (see Miss Shelly), which covers consent for all Youth activities, travel, events. If you are a parent willing to be a "2nd adult" leader or drive for Youth events, please inform as well so we can count on your help! We are seeking 1 or 2 Student Youth Council Representatives! Meet 1x/month with Council to help guide future plans for your Youth events! Get to share your input, and gain leadership skills. Please see Miss Shelly for consideration. OCTOBER YOUTH DATES: Friday 2nd-Sunday 4th = IGNITE Conference 2015, W ildw ood, NJ! If you're not able to join us there, please join us n prayer! Week of 11-18th = Family Promise: sign-up to volunteer/serve 1 meal with Youth. Date/time TBD. Sunday 18th = 2015 Mission Trip Stewards Lunch, in Sanctuary follow ing AM w orship. Join our Mission Team as we say THANK YOU to our T.E Steward sponsors...sharing stories/photos of the TEAMeffort Trip to Virginia Beach! Light lunch will follow in Demarest Hall. Sunday 25th = Jr. High Youth Group, 6-7:30 PM, Youth Lounge. coming soon.. Youth Calendar on SUMC website! Check for future dates/activities. Mark your Calendar...Sunday Nov. 22 = Laser Tag at Laser One (Wantage), 4-6 PM. Details to come! 4

5 Pre-K/K Laura Louie Michelle Harnish 1st/2nd Kim Noel need assistant teacher 3rd/4th Alicia Hahn Linda Coombs 5th/6th Kasia Juan need assistant teacher 7th 12th Shelly DeFeo, Laura Kempson and Bill Refsland Confirmation Class Pastor Janice We need helpers for all! Please see our Sunday School Superintendent, Melissa Lambert, for details. Genesis Ringers, for grades 3 and up, will begin rehearsals on Sunday, October 18. This choir is for beginning ringers of all ages. Rehearsals will be held every Sunday, 12 noon to 1:15 until December 13. This group will perform once in November and at the Christmas pageant. Rehearsals for Heavenly Metal Ringers, for high school age and up, are held every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9 pm. Participants must be able to read music. For additional information about handbell activities please contact Yvonne Roux, or yrouxrings@gmail.com The Season of Giving is upon us celebrate and support the ongoing ministries of our church. 5

6 Volunteer News As most of you are aware, we as a church community provide support to Family Promise of Sussex County by hosting homeless families twice a year for one to two weeks at a time. Our next opportunity to host is October 11-18th SIGN UP NOW!!! In the meantime, if any of you have any questions regarding how you can help this vital community mission, feel free to call or talk to any one of our coordinators, Mike or Linda. Mike Vrabel Linda Giammanco Rainbows for All God s Children. This program supports children (kindergarten through 8 th grade) who are grieving as a result of loss. This may be a result of death of a parent/grandparent, divorce, separation or incarceration. Rainbows offers peer support along with the guidance from trained, caring adults who will listen and give youngsters a safe place to express their feelings about the changes in their family s dynamics. The fall session begins October 6, 2015, and concludes November 10, 2015 (Tuesday evening meetings. If you would like to register your child for this program, please call Pat Johnson The Season of Giving is upon us celebrate and support the ongoing ministires of our church. 6

7 Pease Pastor Janice if you are interested in pastoral visitation. Jesus teaches that we should visit and care for the sick and the lonely. Coming Up!!!! FAMILY FUN FEST Mark Your Calendar for December 5! Kids and Youth choir singing dates! October 25, November 22 and Christmas Pageant, and Christmas Eve!! October 4 October 11 October 18 October 25 CHILDREN S MESSAGE ROTATION Debbie Dickerson Sarah Kuhns LAITY SUNDAY (we need volunteers for the service! Pat Schutz WORSHIP READERS for October October 4 Jim Sodt Matt Hunt October 11 Jean LaFrance Carrie Lambert October 18 LAITY SUNDAY LAITY SUDAY October 25 Bud Larson Laura Kempson The Season of Giving is upon us celebrate and support the ongoing ministries of your church. 7

8 STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES On Tuesday mornings at 7a.m. Men s Study and Reflection at the Sparta Diner! On Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Lectionary Study Group Watch for details and texts in the weekly bulletin. MONTHLY UMW Book Worms Second Mondays at 9:30 a.m. ON MONDAY NIGHTS Divinity and Diversity, by Marjorie Hew itt Suchocki Join Pastor Janice on a journey through a process-inclusive thought on God and the faith. Buy a book! Bring your thoughts! We might open up a whole new world! ON SUNDAY MORNINGS Spirited Topics VIDEO SERIES continues in Room 8 AND COMING TO A SUNDAY MORNING NEAR YOU. New Bible Study Plus class for adults, youths, searchers of all ages; each session (4 6 weeks) will focus on a single Biblical story. Examples may include: Abraham and the Covenant Job and a new paradigm of justice Joseph and his brothers Hagar and Ishmael Rebekah and Rachel David and Saul The Ziggurat of Babel and the semiosphere The Two Hebrew Creation stories plus others In each case we will look at the Biblical text(s) (perhaps several translations), the context of the times, and perhaps an alternative theological perspective (because occasionally a text will have a special significance to, say, liberationists, fundamentalists, feminists or others). The class will invite participation -- members can dial their involvement up or down depending on their interest and personal comfort levels. Lectures will be mini not many. The new class will begin October 11th and will be held during the regular Sunday School. times, starting at 9:30 a.m. and aiming to end at 10:20 a.m. The class will meet in the Wesley Room (at the end of the long hallway). The facilitator will be James Sodt. 8

9 Annual UMWomen Conference Meeting on October 17th On the conference level United Methodist Women will meet on October 17th in Englewood, NJ to consider Abundant Health for Women and Children. Please let Pat Schutz know if you want to attend since they are doing an advance registration. They are also gathering in Layette Kits. Sparta UMWomen Participates in Layette Kits for UMCOR United Methodist Women of Sparta will be taking layette kits to the October 17th Conference Annual Meeting. We will be purchasing (thanks to the Mission Committee) the ingredients which are listed below. All items must be NEW. If you want to contribute items feel free to so do, remembering always that UMCOR is very specific and if they say that receiving blankets can range from 28x28 to 32x32, that s what they mean. Please contact Pat Schutz if you have something to contribute or put it in the box marked Layette Items in the church library. Deadline is October 7th. 6 cloth diapers (Prefolded or plain diapers only. No disposable diapers.) 2 shirts (Undershirts or onsies) 2 washcloths (Infant size only. No adult washcloths.) 2 gowns or sleepers 2 diaper pins (Must have protective plastic closures. No regular safety pins.) 1 sweater or jacket (Must open from the front. May be hand knitted, crocheted,or sewn. Hooded sweatshirts are acceptable.) 2 receiving blankets (Sizes may range from 28x28 to 32x32 inches. No crib blankets please.) SOCK IT TO ME! Feed the Body/Feed the Soul Needs Your Help PLEASE DONATE NEW SOCKS AND TOILETRIES TO OUR CHURCH MINISTRY, FEED THE BODY/FEED THE SOUL. This outreach program provides free lunches and good cheer to local people on a weekly basis. In addition to the lunch program, we will be distributing 100 blessing bags filled with necessary items to those in need. How: Place donations in the box in the narthex labeled Feed the Body/ Feed the Soul When: Now through November 1 What we Need: Socks for men, women and children Any Basic toiletries Gift cards to local stores/shops Deodorant, lotion, etc Toothbrushes and toothpaste Soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner Cash/check donations are also greatly appreciated! Funds will be used to buy products to fill the bags. 9

10 FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS for parents who have lost children... Every Friday at 7p.m. WIDOW S WELL For those who have lost husbands within the past 3 years. Third Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. Beginning September 17 in the pastor's office. Bring your lunch! Suicide Survivors Group For those impacted by the trauma of suicide in their families. Watch for details. 10

11 VISIT OUR SHOPS Stop by to browse and shop at the World Mission Gift Shop, where unique international handcrafts (all fair trade) are featured. Each purchase allows the artisans to provide food, education, healthcare, and shelter for themselves and their families. Proceeds from the shop also support mission work. Look for: That one-of-a-kind gift you ve been searching for End-of-season sales Upcoming special sale table Tea sale buy two boxes at full price and get a third box free The shop is open as follows: Wednesday - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday - 11:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. Join the World Mission Gift Shop volunteer team. Just a few hours of your time will make a difference A Special Thanks to the Church Mouse Volunteers Thanks to the help of many volunteers, the Church Mouse s Thursday hours were extended from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the months of June, July, and August. All of the funds received during those hours were designated to go into the church s general fund to help defray any budget deficits. For those three months, the proceeds from those two extra hours on Thursdays totaled $1, The Church Council expresses gratitude to the following volunteers who donated their time: Ann Lewis, Elaine Iaroli, Michele Fiorentino, Ethel Koriakin, Pat Schutz, Bob Schutz, Laura Kempson, Allison Sidoli, Rich Sidoli, Ginger Stecklein, Kathy Scehovic, Sue Baldini, Dody Welch, Steve Magnotta, Jenny Deery, Emma Deery, Elizabeth Deery, Shelly DeFeo, Muriel Godbersen, Sandi Lindahl, and Sandy Svenningsen. 11

12 News & Opportunities from Church & Society The Church and Society Committee of the Sparta United Methodist Church is connected to both the Conference and the General Boards of Church and Society. The job of the Church and Society Committee at all these levels in the United Methodist Church is to work on issues of social justice.. SAVE THE DATE November 7, 2015 Solitary Confinement Criminal Justice Solitary Confinement Awareness Seminar 11/7/15 When all prisoners of the land are crushed under foot when human rights are perverted d oes the Lord not see it? From Jeremiah 3:34-36 Several State governments have decided to abolish the inhumane and torturous punishment of solitary confinement. It is now recognized that this degrading penalty has had grave effect on the mental health of persons subjected to this practice. The obvious detriment to the success of these survivors' reentry into society cannot be denied. The negative effect on our communities, as a result, is an important concern. Legislation has been proposed in New Jersey, and will need our support. As people of faith, I believe it is our responsibility to address this problem and try to promote alternatives to this degrading and ineffective process Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 10 am to 2 pm, the Church & Society Committee will hold a seminar to raise awareness of the impact of solitary confinement on society as a whole. Included will be a powerful video, a panel discussion; testimony from survivors of this inhumane punishment. A replica of an actual cell will be available so that you may enter it to get an idea of the experience of being locked in this space 23/7, sometimes for months or years on end. The cell will be available on Saturday from 9 to 5 and on Sunday from 9 to 12:30. Locked Up, Locked Out, Locked Away Topic for October 10th District UMWomen Rev. Jack Johnson will be the speaker for the Skylands District United Methodist Women s Annual Meeting and Communion Brunch. His topic is Locked Up, Locked Out, Locked Away and will focus on the incarceration and solitary confinement policies of our state and country. He is a retired United Methodist elder and has always been a social justice activist. Decide to spend your Saturday on October 10th from 11am to 3pm sharing in this presentation, communion, and a brunch with other women (and men) from the district. 12

13 The process of becoming a Reconciling Congregation is still moving forward. You will continue to hear about the process through the weekly church bulletin and through the mail.we have no further news at this time because the process itself depends upon actions taken at our Church Conference on September 30. If you have not received a copy of the Reconciling Q and A, please pick one up in the narthex of the church. October Book I End of Your Life Book Club Monday morning, October 5, at 9:30 members of the Sparta BookWorms will gather in the Wesley Room to discuss End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. It is available in public libraries and is a memoir about a mother and her son intentionally read the same book at the same time in order to talk about it together. They are frequently together as the author, Will Schwalbe, accompanies his mother, Mary Anne to waiting rooms as she undergoes treatment for cancer. It is a wonder book, especially for those who love to read. The November book will be Across Many Mountains by Yangzom Brauen. Books for the group s 2016 list will be selected by members of the group at the November meeting. SPARTA UMC Library Picks Featured Be sure to check out the bookcase in the narthex. Books are there to strengthen our faith A Change of Books On Narthex Shelves As of October 1st, the following books from the church library, will be in the cabinet in the narthex. There is a sign-out sheet there, so just pick up one and sign your name. Stretching Lessons The Daring That Starts from Within by Sue Bender. May Sarton wrote for the back of this book: Just plain wonderful I haven t read such a nourishing book for a long time. The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. A surprising discovery awaited Yancey when he began to explore how the Old Testament related to his life today.like nothing else, the Old Testament depicts the cries, the complaints, the deep, insistent questionings of the heart, the stuff of life we all must contend with. Finding Peace God s promise of a life free from regret, anxiety, and fear by Charles Stanley. Your tranquility can be more than just a wish it can become a habit. Finding Peace I offers you the tools for resolving past failures and regrets, for facing present concerns, and for soothing apprehensions about the future. More Stories for the Heart compiled by Alice Gray. These are over 100 short little stories by people like Mother Teresa, Phillip Gulley, Erma Bombeck, and Ruth Bell Graham. Four Perfect Pebbles A Holocaust Story by Lila Perl and Marion Blumenthal Lazan. Mariion was nine years old and at Bergen -Belsen with her family. She believed that if she could find four pebbles of almost exactly the same size and shape, it meant that her family would remain whole. Read it. Wishful Thinking A Seeker s ABC by Frederick Buechner. Read through this interesting alphabet book of faith by this prolific writer. Time wrote: Wishful Thinking is a beguiling adventure in language for the restless believer, the doubter, and all who love words. Save November 13! In August members of United Methodist Women Book Worms met with younger readers to discuss Wonder. The group decided to meet again and November 13th is the day at 3:30pm in the Wesley Room. Watch the Church Bulletins for the book!!! Meanwhile--save the date! 13

14 Walk the Labyrinth Soon at Sparta United Methodist Church First Time Experience Walking the Labyrinth You will soon begin to see activity in the back property as the labyrinth begins to be created. So you may want to start thinking about your first walk. We will schedule days of walking with ideas for you to think about. But there are multiple ways to walk and no one right way. When it is completed you can just walk it and experience for yourself how it feels. One member of this church who had never walked a labyrinth before went with me to the one at Unity Church in Lafayette and we walked. Afterwards as we drove away she talked about the wonder for her on this first time of just walking, of not having to make any decisions, the path was there into the center and then out again and she walked. She felt that that experience alone was a wonderful one in the midst of her busy, hectic life. Contemplative Worship Enter the practice of the ancients. Monthly on the First Wednesdays 12:15 pm or 7:15 pm prayer, scripture, sacred songs, and silence by candlelight-40 minutes. The Season of Giving is upon us celebrate and support the ongoing ministries of our church. 14

15 Nomination Form for Special Mission Recognition Sparta United Methodist Women Special Mission Recognition (SMR) is a way for our local UMWomen Unit to honor individuals in the church for outstanding mission service. Persons nominated should be active in mission work in church and beyond, and representative of the purpose of the UMWomen. Anyone in the Sparta United Methodist Church can nominate an individual using this form. All nominations must be received by November 15, 2015 Past SMR Honorees and Current Officers of Sparta UMWomen will vote and select Honorees on Sunday, December 6 th. The names of the Honorees are held in secret until they are announced in a SUMC worship service in the spring. Each Honoree is presented with a SMR Pin, a donation to UMW Mission is made in their name, and they will be honored by the District UMWomen at our Spring Celebration on May 4, SMR Nominee (may nominate 2): SMR Nominee (age 35 or under): Please list all mission activity these persons are involved in: Person making the nomination: After completion, this form can be put in UMW mail slot. Thank you. 15

16 SPARTA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 71 Sparta Avenue Sparta, NJ spartaumc.org Worship Every Week 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:15 a.m. Come browse gifts from our Fair Trade Shop World Mission Gift Shop Wednesday 10:00-2:00 Thursday 1: Friday 1:00 4:00 Saturday 10:00 to 2:00 CHURCH MOUSE THRIFT SHOP Wednesday 10:00 2:00 Thursday 1:00-4:00 Friday 1:00 4:00 Saturday 10:00 2:00 (973) THE DEADLINE FOR THE NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER WILL BE October 15TH PLEASE REMEMBERTO SUBMIT ANY ARTICLES BY DEADLINE 16