"Loving others as Christ first loved us!" The Colonnade

Transcription

1 The Colonnade Cokesbury United Methodist Church May Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, Virginia Volume 52, No. 5 Saturday, June 8, 2:30-5 p.m. The Family Care Committee will host Kids' Fest on Saturday, June 8, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Kids' Fest is all about interacting with youth, having fun, introducing service projects, and making the day enjoyable for elementary aged children..and really. to everyone who participates. The event is open to the whole community. Post cards will be distributed to the local elementary schools to notify parents of the fun ahead. It has traditionally been a well-received and well-attended event by families in the community. No cost is involved to those who come; however we are asking individuals to bring a can a food for ACTS if they can. There will be craft tables, service projects, face painting, games, and other activities. Our service opportunities area has expanded this year to include cards to service personnel, cards to nursing home, cards/placemats for Rising Hope, and tying mesh bags for later gleaning project ( come check it out). The fun will include a performer (special walking-around entertainment) called Big Shot, who will entertain with his juggling, group games, hula-hooping and giant bubbles. Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will give tours of their Mobile Health Clinic and will be handing out health literature; OWL fire department will bring a fire engine, and we will have a police car as well as an appearance by McGruff, the crime fighting dog. The Potomac Nationals mascot will make an appearance, as well as personnel to show baseball technique. Local high school football players will be on hand to toss a football with kids. Treat bags will be given away that contain yummy treat, great coupons from local fast food restaurants, and literature of the church and upcoming event. Volunteers are needed to help with craft and service opportunity tables. You don't have to be a crafter to help; you will learn very quickly. We will also need baked goods for our sweet walk. You will find that it is fun for volunteers, as well as for children. If you can help, there are sign-up sheets and information in the narthex. Please sign up by May 27 th so we can plan how many craft and service opportunities we can support. If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Petitt ( , clpetitt@verizon.net) or Jarlene Phelps ( ).

2 By Jarlene Phelps Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center It s time for our service opportunity at Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center to feed approximately 30 people from Sunday, May 19 through Wednesday, May 22. Dinner is served at 7 p.m. Sunday May 19 Pulled Pork and Pulled Chicken Mac and Cheese Tossed Salad Fresh fruit salad Monday May 20 Turkey Wings Baked Sweet Potatoes Mixed vegetables Tossed salad Tuesday May 21 Taco Salad Mac and Cheese Fresh Fruit Wednesday May 22 Ham Baked Beans Green Beans Mashed Potatoes Tossed Salad We are also responsible for making bag lunches for all the residents at the shelter. The bag lunches will be put together at church and then transported each day with evening meal. People are needed to donate meal items (cooked or ingredients), cook, and serve meals. Meal items that are complete and cooked may be taken directly to Hilda Barg or brought to church. Coordination of this will be done by team leader for that day. Sign up sheets are in the narthex. If you are unable to participate directly, a donation may be made to Mission and Outreach (indicating homeless meals). Thanks so much for your prayerful consideration in joining in on this mission outreach. By Don Dorton Aluminum Can Ministry Thanks to the outstanding participation of our loyal Cokesbury members and friends, 16 large bags of aluminum cans (440 pounds) have been collected and crushed since September 26,2012 and were taken to the recycling center in Lorton on March 26, In addition to these aluminum cans, 111 pounds of scrap metal was also taken and sold to the Metal Group on Dawson Beach Road in Woodbridge. The total earned (cans and scrap) for this ministry came to $ A special note of appreciation to Mike Haman who faithfully comes on a regular basis to crush and bag cans. Kyle Keen and Tom Taylor have also been a tremendous help in supporting this ministry. In addition to saving all of your aluminum cans there are a number of other ways that you can help those who process these aluminum cans for recycling. - Do not squeeze cans in the middle. The current method being used to crush cans works best if cans are not squeezed in the middle but left intact. - If you do have a can crusher and wish to crush your cans just be sure that they are crushed flat. This saves the number of bags and expense needed to transport cans. - Separate aluminum pet food cans from beverage cans. - Encourage all of your friends and neighbors to save their aluminum cans and deposit them in the church collection bin in front of the Cokesbury fruit shed. - Please put your cans in the church recycling bin and not the county s recycling trailer. Cans put in the county trailer do not go to the church s aluminum can ministry. If you would like to become more involved in this ministry, please or call me to arrange a cancrushing session. Thank you for your continued support for this program and keep saving those cans.

3 By Joe Greene John Jewell, President ( ) Emmett Wright, Vice-President ( ) UMM Mission: To help men grow in Christ so others may know Christ The UMM will continue monthly meetings in a manner that encourages all Cokesbury men to come and witness what our ministry is all about. Here is our schedule for the remaining months of this year: May 19th - Sunday - 12:15 PM June 10th - Monday evening - 7:00 PM July 21st - Sunday - 12:15 PM August 12th - Monday evening - 7:00 PM September 15th - Sunday - 12:15 PM October 14th - Monday evening - 7:00 PM November 17th - Sunday - 12:15 PM December - No meeting - combined Christmas party with our UMW So we ask you to please mark your calendar and make plans to attend as many of these meetings as possible. For the Sunday meetings, we will have a guest speaker and will always serve a light, refreshing meal. The duration of our Sunday meeting will be an hour or less so we won't disrupt your day all that much. If you do plan on attending a Sunday meeting why not first join us for the singing of the morning anthem at the second service - we can always use a few more voices. We ask that you please keep your eye on the weekly bulletin for the dates we will be manning the flea market concession stand and for the visitation days at Envoy of Woodbridge as well as to Rising Hope UMMC. Flea market help is always needed and John would love to see additional men or women volunteer for the aforementioned visitation opportunities. John will also be announcing upcoming UMM May events during Sunday morning services. For those (ahem Robert) who seem to misplace your previous month s Colonnade issue and read the answer to the thought-provoking puzzle but forgot what the puzzle question was, I will now provide that question again prior to the answer. April's puzzle - "How can you throw a rock - as far as you can - with nothing attached to it, but it automatically comes back to you?" Answer - You throw it straight up in the air. Now try this on for size: What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps? Congratulations to the 30Hour Famine Cast. Your production was a complete success. As part of the mission project associated with the 30 Hour Famine, you collected over 1.69 tons (3380 lbs.) of litter, which is over half the weight of an adult elephant or equivalent to 13 baby elephants. Needless to say, you cleaned up A LOT OF LITTER! Cokesbury youth Hannah Simensen and Allen Jewell participated in this program. Among the sponsors were Barrett Trucking, Inc., Target, and Lowe s. Partners included Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District, Woodbridge Square, Amethyst Company, LLC, and the following churches: Covenant Presbyterian Church, First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, Bethel UMC, Cokesbury UMC, and Ghana Wesley Church. Woodbridge Community Choir The Woodbridge Community Choir is celebrating its 46 th year of free concerts for the Prince William community. This spring season s performances will include familiar pieces from Broadway and movies like The Sound of Silence and Steam Heat, and some less familiar selections as well. All were chosen to get feet tapping and hands clapping. Performances will be at the Ferlazzo Auditorium, Donald Curtis Drive: Saturday, May 4, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 3:00 p.m.

4 1 Ronnie Hawes 2 Natalie Clark Barbara Horne 5 John Garrett Matthew Surdam 6 Virgil Ohene-Djan 7 Jack Jewell 9 Kenny Johnson Jordan Schultz Tilchia Danquah Jory Lawson Nick Pierce 11 Anthony Wilson 12 Steve Nelson 14 Doris E. Price 15 Lisa Harper 18 Eric Obeng John Kelly 19 Christine Smith 21 Bob Kucharuk Kinley Urban 22 Shane Gallagher Corrine Stanek 23 Stephanie Reynolds 25 Mollie Gallagher 26 Tinuade Adekambi 27 Roy Arredondo 28 Milah Ash Nancy Miller 30 Virginia Neyhouse Robert Deyerle Bunny Mahar 31 Billie Lou Wertz BeckyByrum M A Y Thank You Very Much! Thank you SO very much for the many donations of empty milk cartons to make an igloo for Olivia s (Mary Jane s granddaughter) 7 th birthday. It was a last minute idea and the generosity of everyone who donated milk cartons enabled us to make a wonderful igloo big enough for 3 girls to fit in comfortably at one time. We are very blessed to have the support of the Cokesbury UMC family! Shane, Tina, Rylie & Olivia Sullivan 1 Jenny & Keenan Carter 10 Mollie & Bob Gallagher 13 Laverne & Jay Beck 17 Gayle & Russ Urban 21 Leta & Robert Deyerle 25 Bernadette & JJ Biaden-Amissah Paula & David Simensen 26 Shelby & Anthony Wilson 30 Grace & Olin Bockes 31 Diane & Dan Haggart May is National Stroke Awareness Month. A stroke occurs every 40 seconds and yet up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. Lifeline ultrasound screenings will be available here at Cokesbury on Monday, May 6. Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of permanent disability. The following screenings will be available: * Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening * Heart Rhythm Screening (Atrial Fibrillation) * Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening * Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening * Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Screening packages start at $139. Single tests cost around $60. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to make a reservation, call (Priority Code HSC4601). To register on-line, go to Dear Cokesbury Family, Thank you for your prayers and kindness during this time of trial concerning Leta s health. God bless, Robert Deyerle

5 The Rest of the Story Presented by Helen Azzano In early December Cokesbury received a request to help a woman and her children who were victims of physical abuse. They had been living at a shelter through the PWC Turning Points Program. This family had reached the point of being able to transition to their own apartment, but had begun their journey with only the clothing they had. The request we received asked if we had any home furnishings we could provide this family. This request was made known to Cokesbury s Missions and Outreach Commission members, and they quickly donated and delivered furniture and furnishings. Although we had achieved our goal of furnishing their apartment, it was apparent that the Christmas celebration for this family would be sparse. So, members of the commission quickly arranged to provide seasonal donations, such as an artificial lighted Christmas tree and trimmings and purchased a gift card for food and gifts. In the words of the late Paul Harvey, Now for the rest of the story Recently I attended an event in the county and was surprised to realize one of the presenters at the program was none other than the mother we had offered a hand up to in December. Gone were the tear filled eyes, furrowed brow and bent shoulders. Her face glowed with pleasure when she recognized us. In the very few moments we had to talk, she related how the support she received from Cokesbury allowed her to concentrate on creating a stable home environment for her family. She is very proud that her children have made new friends and are now able to participate in sporting activities which they enjoy. She has stable employment and her family is free from the abusive environment. Many times we do not see the results of our outreach ministries, and it is rare that we see such a dramatic change in a person s life in such a short time. So, seeing this young woman again was a true blessing for me, and I wanted to share it with you. Your donations made a tremendous difference to this young family. When we let God use our gifts and talents, amazing things can happen. Native American Ministries Chasing After God Presented by Pastor Russ Shyloe O Neal, Muscogee (Creek) from Oklahoma has been chasing God with everything she has. She and her husband and two children moved nearly 1,200 miles so she could attend seminary. A Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen, she enrolled at Duke University where she received the Native American Ministries Sunday Seminarian Scholarship. The scholarship, she explains, made the difference when my husband chose to leave his job in Oklahoma and come here. Because he was unemployed for seven months, the extra money helped the O Neals with living expenses. The seminary student credits the UMC with supporting her dreams and affirming the spiritual gifts of Native Americans. She hopes to return to Oklahoma to work in rural ministry, to mentor others, assuring them of their incredible value to the church. Native American Ministries Sunday reminds United Methodists of contributions made by Native Americans to our society. Shyloe comments that The offering allows us to have a faithful witness in a place where, historically, it has not always been faithful. This is one of the most public ways to say, Maybe we didn t get it right, but now we are.

6 A Child s Dream Times Twenty By Paula Simensen It is that time of year again! Cokesbury UMC Missions & Outreach Committee is proudly sponsoring our annual "A Child's Dream Times Twenty" Camp Highroad Scholarship Program. Camp Highroad Christian Adventure Camp has posted its 2013 schedule and I encourage you to visit their website to learn more about Camp Highroad: We also have the 2013 brochure found in a brochure cubby located against the wall across from the church office upstairs. Please contact Paula Simensen at or pasimensen@abelsupply.com if you would like to learn more about Camp Highroad or the Scholarship Program If you are: $500 Scholarship! 1) A graduating high school senior, and 2) Accepted into an accredited college or university or trade school, and 3) Active in Cokesbury s youth program and other church ministries, you are eligible to receive a $500 scholarship from the Cokesbury United Methodist Men s College Scholarship Endowment. Applications are due by May 12, 2013 (Mother s Day). Scholarship(s) will be awarded on June 16, 2013 (Father s Day). By Jarlene Phelps Why was Barb Firth up in the children s outside play structure with a basket? Just to let you know, we were re-enacting Paul s escape from Damascus. The month of April was spent studying the many events that lead to the spread of early Christianity. Lessons focused on: Paul s conversion, where he traveled, who he traveled with, and whom he encountered. In the month of May we will study new believers. What does it mean to be a Christian? We look to the new fledgling church for answers and we will apply it to today, as we learn As a Christian, I am called to care for others. We will have two mission opportunities for service. For those that can, please stay after class till 12:45 on May 19 and May 26. I will need parent help to assist the children May 19 th we will be making sandwiches and fruit salad for Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center. May 26 th we will be stuffing treat bags for Kids Fest (to be held on June 8). Thanks so much. Together we will teach our children, our next generation of faith believers. Our Bible Verse for the month of May is: Acts 4:32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind May 5 The Community of Believers Bible Story: Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35 May 12 Peter and Cornelius Bible Story: Acts 10:1-28 May 19 Pentecost and Service to others Bible Story: Acts 2:1-41 May 26 First Called Christians and Service to others Bible Story: Acts 11:19-26

7 Church Council Meeting Very Upbeat! By Mary Seltzer, Church Council Chair The April Church Council meeting was very upbeat! Yes, it did follow the very exhilarating, inspirational and Easter-rejoicing services and those feelings were still very much evident. However, there was even more! Every report (Chairs Comments, Pastor s Report, Treasurer s Report, Youth Group Report, Missions and Outreach Report, United Methodist Men Report, Disciple Class Report, Memories of Mom Report, Flea Market Report and Vital Congregational Goals Report) expressed some type of Good News! There were many positive indicators that Cokesbury UMC is moving forward and making quality differences in people s lives in many diverse arenas. One encouraging report was the Treasurer s Report by Rick Clark, Church Treasurer. As you know from your Easter letter that you received in the mail, $1,500 of our Easter offering was designated to be given to three local missions and anything over $1,500 would go into Church Operations and Ministry. Good News the three missions each received the designated $500 and there was enough overage to bring our lagging offerings for the year up to budget! You say, that s not what our weekly bulletin shows? The revenues needed to meet budget in the bulletin are our total budgeted revenues. Total budgeted revenues are all of our income sources, with the two major sources being offerings and the Flea Market. The Flea Market was not running during January, February and March. It started April 6th. So, now, if we keep our offerings coming in as per budget, the Flea Market will soon eliminate the deficit now showing in the bulletin. Good News the Flea Market report by Dave Woodman, Flea Market Co-chair, indicated that the number of workers at the first flea market this year exceeded the number of workers at any one flea market for the past three years! We are hoping that this sets a precedence for every flea market this year! Besides the services that the Flea Market renders to the community, it produces the equivalent of more than 10% of our budget! For quite a few years, Cokesbury UMC has been giving the equivalent of more than 10% of our budget to help those in need. Cokesbury UMC participates in numerous (meaning over 75) outreaches, local and far and wide each year. So, in that context, while you re helping at the Flea Market each Saturday this summer (and probably having fun), you could ask yourself: I wonder how many people in need, I m being Jesus to today? And, Might they be local or far away? The church-wide picnic was so successful last year that the Church Council made the decision to have one again this year in conjunction with Invite a Friend Sunday and to include music like last year. Mark your calendars for September 29 th, now. Cokesbury UMC is a church of ordinary people; however recently there have been amazing reports of mighty and extraordinary acts! So, let us emulate the early church: Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. Acts 9:31 Vacation Bible School By Jarlene Phelps Vacation Bible School will soon be here. Thank you to all the VBS mural painters who have already helped. Many hands make light work. Items are needed to make the VBS theme Fun Fair, Everywhere God s World Comes Together come to life! Each day a country will be featured: Japan, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico. We are looking to borrow items representing these countries to decorate featured country areas. Please no heirlooms. Items can be loaned for one day or the entire week based on preference of lender. Please contact Jarlene at if we can borrow items. Thanks so much. A meeting will be held for VBS volunteers on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. for youth and adults who want to help with Vacation Bible School this summer. There are lots of ways to help food, crafts, storytelling, music, and more. VBS will be held at Cokesbury the week of June 24-28, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Attend this meeting to find out more!

8 Personal Money Matters By Mary Seltzer, Church Council, Chair Until December 31, 2013, a 70 ½ or older person can roll over an amount from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) up to $100,000 to Cokesbury UMC without paying taxes on this amount. The distribution must roll over directly from the IRA to Cokesbury UMC to be tax-free. For the next several months, I am going to research some personal money matters that might help both us, individually, and Cokesbury UMC. Cokesbury UMC uses the United Methodist Credit Union for their banking needs. Therefore, individual members of Cokesbury UMC can be United Methodist Credit Union members, too. I ll research what advantages to members this might provide, if any, and report next month in this column. Remember the Hungry! By Barb Firth Remember the hungry when you come to worship. Suggested food items for May are rice, instant potatoes, and canned potatoes. We are averaging approximately 66 lbs. of food each week. United Methodist Women By Gayle Urban May is the month for a merry time at the annual UMW Spiritual Life Retreat in Blackstone, Virginia. We enjoy the picturesque scenery of the countryside, and stop and smell the roses in the special rose gardens at the retreat center. Blackstone was once a women s college, and the buildings have much history. The Spiritual Life Retreat is a time for hearing from speaker Rev. Dawn-Marie Singleton, and having small group fellowship and discussion. The music is always wonderful, and inspirational. And the Ice Cream Social gives us a fun evening, and sometimes there is a skit or some other entertainment. Don t forget the Book Room, and the UMW books that are available for purchase. If you are an early riser you can have an early morning walk around the grounds, and hear the birds and talk to God in a peaceful time. We have several women from Cokesbury who plan to attend the retreat May 4-5, and if you ve never attended we hope you ll consider it for next year! Mother s Day services, on May 12: Cokesbury UMW will participate in the worship services on Mother s Day, and also sing in the choir at both services. At the May 12 th services, we will acknowledge the UMW Candleburning Program and those names of persons who are being remembered or honored. Money donated for the Candleburning Program is given to the mission projects of UMW and helps to make life better for women and children who are often left out. Flea Market, on May 25; Cokesbury UMW will work at the Flea Market. We appreciate your help as you are able. We will not have a bake sale that day. School Kits: Cokesbury UMW is working on school kits, to be donated to UMCOR in June. These kits include the required school supplies, which are stored in a cloth bag. If you d like to sew some of these bags, we have the pattern and specifications. Contact Gayle Urban, at bridge.gu@gmail.com. Our goal is 100 school kits, and the bags will be needed by June 2. Upcoming Events: Cokesbury UMW/UMM have an Ice Cream Social in the fellowship hall on Monday, July 8. Men will provide ice creams, women provide toppings. Bring jars of peanut butter, and/or jelly, to be given to the Rising Hope UMMC food ministry. Mark your calendars! The district UMW sponsors a UMW Spiritual Life event and this will be on Saturday, September 14 at Sudley UMC, which is in the Alexandria District. Mary Wright, coordinator. Cokesbury UMW meets on the 2 nd Monday of each month; there is a daytime circle at 1 p.m. and an evening circle at 7 p.m. We invite all women of the church to attend. Your thoughts how rare, how beautiful! God, I ll never comprehend them! I couldn t even begin to count them any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you. Psalm 139:17-18

9 Sunday Worship Services 8:30 AM & 11 AM Nursery available at both services. The 11 a.m. worship service features a children s worship for elementary school aged children. Sunday School at 9:45 AM (for children, youth, and adults) If there is a 5th Sunday in the month, the worship service that day begins at 10:30 AM and there is no Sunday School. See the web site for more information: The Colonnade Staff Editor: Bunny Mahar Postal Coordinator: Joe Greene Articles for the Colonnade are due by the 20 th of each month for the next month s edition. Place articles in Church Mailbox #3 OR them to: cokesburyumc@gmail.com Church Office:

10 Cokesbury United Methodist Church