WILLISTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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WILLISTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 6051 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-644-2227 Willistownumc.org Rev.

He called on us to commit one hour a day to spiritual disciplines, such as reading the scriptures, prayer, meditation, worship, fasting, or service. I was diligent for the first two weeks.

1 WILLISTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 6051 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA Willistownumc.org Rev. James Wilkin, Pastor HILLTOP HERALD LETTER FROM THE PASTOR Did you decide to give something up for Lent this year? Or did you decide to add something into your daily routine? As this newsletter comes out, we are about half way through Lent. It s the time when our best intentions and resolutions begin to erode. This year I decided to accept the challenge offered by Bishop Cho of the Virginia Conference, who spoke at the Bishop s Lenten Day Apart for clergy. He called on us to commit one hour a day to spiritual disciplines, such as reading the scriptures, prayer, meditation, worship, fasting, or service. I was diligent for the first two weeks. But then one day I overslept a little, got working on a number of things, ran a few errands, came home and worked on the week s sermon, had dinner, watched the Flyers game and went to bed. The next day I realized that I had missed my hour of spiritual discipline. What to do? I beat myself up about my failure to follow through. Should I spend two hours the next day to make up for it? Maybe that would make up for it. What is the purpose of this Lenten season? Is it to follow some rules or some resolutions we ve made? Of course not. The disciplines we choose to practice are a pathway, not the end purpose. The reason we try to follow that pathway is to help us have a closer relationship with our Lord. The disciplines we follow help guide us on a Lenten journey of self-reflection, which leads us to repentance, which results in our experiencing God s grace and forgiveness. If you, like I, have failed to fully keep your Lenten resolutions, it simply shows that we are human, flawed, not perfect. It s another example of why we need our Savior. In an article entitled Mid-Lent Crisis, Lisa Nichols Hickman says, My failure helps me to follow the one who is discipline, the one who is disciplined, the one who calls us to follow him not our charts, plots or ploys. We are saved by grace, not by our own doings or undoing. So I have resumed spending an hour a day in spiritual discipline, and it enriches me. Not because I m fulfilling a commitment, but because the time I m spending is enabling me to come into closer connection with my Lord. If you had decided to practice a discipline during Lent but haven t maintained it, it s not too late to resume or start something new. But I d encourage you to choose something that will be a pathway for you to experience a deeper relationship with God, not something trivial. And if you choose the right discipline, it just might become something that will continue to strengthen and nourish you well beyond the Lenten season. Peace, Pastor Jim. Inside this issue Letter from the Pastor... 1 Blood Drive... 2 Parish Profile... 3 Sarah s 1849 Hymnal... 4 Hilltoppers.5 In Service...6 Birthdays and Anniversaries Methodist Breakfast Upcoming Events... 8

BLOOD DRIVE Sometimes you take things for granted that you shouldn t. Lindsey Crowder. Leukemia survivor. Age 12. Bentonville, Arkansas.

The experience changed the whole family s perspective and made them regular blood donors.

Please plan to be a RED CROSS BLOOD DONOR ON JULY 8TH, 2016.

We have completed one row recently and there is one brick starting another row. Please consider purchasing a Brick for $60.

2 BLOOD DRIVE Sometimes you take things for granted that you shouldn t. Lindsey Crowder. Leukemia survivor. Age 12. Bentonville, Arkansas. Lindsay Crowder received blood transfusions to save her life after she was diagnosed with leukemia, first at 2 years-old and, then again when she relapsed at age 6. During her relapse she spent more than 130 nights in the hospital and received more than 100 transfusions of blood and platelets. The experience changed the whole family s perspective and made them regular blood donors. See her story here: Red Cross Stories Now that you have your 2016 Calendar, plan to be part of our next blood drive. Please plan to be a RED CROSS BLOOD DONOR ON JULY 8TH, The Brick Man The Brickman is soliciting the purchase of Bricks for our Brick Courtyard. We have completed one row recently and there is one brick starting another row. Please consider purchasing a Brick for $60.00 per and honoring a family member, a best friend, an associate of yours, etc. As you can see from our Garden we have honored many before you and welcome you. The sign-up sheets are at the rear of the church. Please join our group. Thank You. Bill Rice 2 Thank you to all who brought food for the Salvation Army Food Bank! Please continue to bring your non-perishables either on the first Sunday of the Month or any time! We are helping so many families by our donation.

It took awhile but one day Lance asked, what time do your services start? That was all we needed. A Welcoming Church Greeters: Please be in place by 10:00 A.M.

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.

They came to their first service at our "Church on the Hill" many years ago, and have been a blessing to all who are regular attendees ever since. Nothing is too much for them to do.

From helping in the kitchen for our church breakfasts, to helping in setting up our chairs and tables for our Spaghetti Dinners, (along with helping serve the meals and working with our

Lance also secures all of the boxes that we use for our growing take-out meals for our spaghetti dinner. (date of our next one is April the 30th by the way).

3 Parish Profile The Seidels We truly have some wonderful people in our church, (if not all). Two of the nicest are Barbara and Lance Seidel. It was many years ago that Harry Barr and I started working on Lance, while we were all volunteering at the hospital, to consider coming and joining our church. It took awhile but one day Lance asked, what time do your services start? That was all we needed. A Welcoming Church 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. They came to their first service at our "Church on the Hill" many years ago, and have been a blessing to all who are regular attendees ever since. Nothing is too much for them to do. They have been so willing to help in just about every activity in the church. From helping in the kitchen for our church breakfasts, to helping in setting up our chairs and tables for our Spaghetti Dinners, (along with helping serve the meals and working with our Abbes and Friars), to helping with the cooking, the clean-up, instructing our servers, getting the ice, and who possibly could resist a piece of Barbara's "Coconut Cake". Lance also secures all of the boxes that we use for our growing take-out meals for our spaghetti dinner. (date of our next one is April the 30th by the way). They both are just nice people. They have never turned me down to be an usher, a greeter, a liturgist, and Lance has also worked hard on the Board of Trustees. Barbara and Lance have a wonderful family of two sons and their families and they visit them often. Lance told me that they met while both were working for the DuPont Company, many years ago. They, like many of us, have had some health issues of late, but we continue to pray for them both. They certainly are wonderful people, who have made many friends in our church and we look forward to seeing them continue here at Willistown. For more tips on Welcoming.. See page 6 3

JANUARY METHODIST BREAKFAST THE HYMNAL One of my prized possessions is an 1849 edition of Methodist Hymns.

It is interesting to compare this thick little hymnal with the United Methodist Hymnals of more recent years.

I suppose it was assumed that the choir and congregation knew the tunes to the hymns included in the hymnal.

It is very significant that the overwhelming majority of hymns in the 1849 hymnal were Charles Wesley hymns.

If you page through the index of the hymns, Charles Wesley's name appears more than any other composer. One of our favorites, "And Can It Be?

" Hark, the Herald Angels Sing", "While Shepherds Watched", and "Angels from the Realms of Glory" are among the few carols included.

Most of them were composed between the Civil War and 1900. Even the beloved " He Lives" was not composed until 1939!

The little 1849 hymnal also has some categories listed that would be a "turn-off" for contemporary church goers.

4 JANUARY METHODIST BREAKFAST THE HYMNAL One of my prized possessions is an 1849 edition of Methodist Hymns. It belonged to my great-great grandfather, William Collins Mumford I, who was a member of the choir at Whatcoat Methodist Church in Snow Hill, Maryland. It is interesting to compare this thick little hymnal with the United Methodist Hymnals of more recent years. My ancestor's hymnal was almost small enough to tuck into a pocket, but very thick. The hymns are numbered to 1129, but include no music. I suppose it was assumed that the choir and congregation knew the tunes to the hymns included in the hymnal. The hymnal opens with the same hymn as all Methodist hymnals: "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing", a Charles Wesley hymn. It is very significant that the overwhelming majority of hymns in the 1849 hymnal were Charles Wesley hymns. It has been said that the theology of the Methodist Church is presented in the hymns of Charles, the brother of John Wesley, our founder. If you page through the index of the hymns, Charles Wesley's name appears more than any other composer. One of our favorites, "And Can It Be?" is listed, but another favorite, "Amazing Grace" is not there, although written in It is interesting to see what Christmas carols were included. " Hark, the Herald Angels Sing", "While Shepherds Watched", and "Angels from the Realms of Glory" are among the few carols included. If you are wondering about all those gospel hymns that people love so much, they had not been composed in Most of them were composed between the Civil War and Even the beloved " He Lives" was not composed until 1939! If you are wondering about the dates when your favorite hymns were composed, check under the hymn for that and other information. The little 1849 hymnal also has some categories listed that would be a "turn-off" for contemporary church goers. Look carefully at the photo and you will see that "Humiliation" is one of the themes! The "Closet" and " The Warfare" are other topics not found in our hymnal. "Backsliding Lamented" & "Depravity" are topics not to be found in our current hymnal. Other topics such as "Holy Spirit", "Growth in Grace" and "Sanctification" are more familiar. Our 1989 edition of the United Methodist Hymnal is probably due for a revision sometime in the near future. What new hymns do you think might be included and which ones might disappear? It will be interesting to see what emerges! Sarah Cass JANUARY METHODIST BREAKFAST 4

Hilltoppers Our first meeting this year will be on April 12th at 11:00 AM. We will meet at the Church and have a business meeting, lunch, and then a program.

5 Hilltoppers Our first meeting this year will be on April 12th at 11:00 AM. We will meet at the Church and have a business meeting, lunch, and then a program. Actually, the exact program order will be dependent on the speaker's availability. We will have to let you know about this later. April 26 th is the date of our Election Day bake sale. Please keep these dates open and we will provide more information shortly. Also, save the 2nd Tuesday of the month for future activities. Any suggestions for programs and outings LY WEEK will be gratefully accepted. The Hilltoppers is a wonderful group of people who share trips and speaker events and an annual Bake sale to raise money for the church. They meet monthly in nice weather seasons (Spring and Fall). Open to Everyone! Thanks, Nancy and Dick Wright, Co-Chairs HOLY THURSDAY 6:00 PM: DINNER, WORSHIP AND MUSIC. GOOD FRIDAY 12:00 NOON TO 12:45 PM: ORGAN MUSIC AND MEDITA- TION. 12:45 AM: A BRIEF WORSHIP FOLLOWED BY THE CHURCH BEING AVAILABLE FOR SILENT MEDITATION AND PRAYER UNTIL 3:00 PM. EASTER SUNDAY 6:30 AM OUTDOOR SUNRISE SERVICE (WEATHER- PERMITTING) WITH MUSIC FOLLOWED BY A CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST. 9:00 AM CONTEMPORARY SERVICE WITH THE BAND 10:30 AM TRADITIONAL SERVICE WITH THE CHOIR 5

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES 11 Randy and Ana Southern MARCH BIRTHDAYS 1 Ken Colburn 3 Bill Bowers 5 Joyce Butsch 14 Janet Wise 17 Harry

It might be as simple as reminding them to warmly and authentically extend hospitality.

By Dorothy Greco, Teach Your Entire Church to Welcome Visitors IN SERVICE IN MARCH Liturgists for March 6 Sara Beam 13 Bonnie Boyer

6 MARCH ANNIVERSARIES 11 Randy and Ana Southern MARCH BIRTHDAYS 1 Ken Colburn 3 Bill Bowers 5 Joyce Butsch 14 Janet Wise 17 Harry Barr 28 Chloe Clark 28 Clark Colborn Welcoming Church (cont d) Effectively and intentionally welcoming visitors to your church is really quite simple. View Sunday morning through the eyes of a newcomer, be willing to guide your leaders, and make gradual adjustments when needed. It might be as simple as reminding them to warmly and authentically extend hospitality. I m convinced that if we mean it when we say, I m glad you came. I hope to see you again, chances are, we will. By Dorothy Greco, Teach Your Entire Church to Welcome Visitors IN SERVICE IN MARCH Liturgists for March 6 Sara Beam 13 Bonnie Boyer 20 Curt Wise - Palm Sunday 27 Kim Pierce - Easter Greeters 6 Betty Byar and Fred Eufrasio 13 Nancy Barr and Marjorie McKee 20 Doris King and Barbara Fell 27 David Michael and Pat Roelofs Ushers 6 Bill Keating and Leonard Eads 13 Nancy and Dick Wright 20 Nancy Barr and June Di Romualdo 27 Barbara and Lance Seidel 6

March Methodist Breakfast Please let me know your ideas for future programs. I will then ask that you make the arrangements. Let s make our Methodist Breakfast a continued success!

Our speaker is Sheri Kentner, the Southeast District Director of Christ Servant Ministries.

In addition to Alan Clark and Sara Beam, we have had a number of Christ Servant Ministers in our congregation: Jane Jeffrey, Bill Thresher, Jerry Clark, Karen Oas and David Swift.

JANUARY METHODIST BREAKFAST January Methodist Breakfast: Twenty- Eight members and friends of our church gathered for the January METHODIST BREAKFAST.

Mike is a native of Fort Worth Texas and a graduate of the Naval Academy. He entered the healthcare field after leaving the service and joined our hospital in 2011.

He reads the bible every morning, focuses on others and believes management should love people. The patients should expect excellence.

7 March Methodist Breakfast Please let me know your ideas for future programs. I will then ask that you make the arrangements. Let s make our Methodist Breakfast a continued success! Gil Fell. Click below for More About Michael J. Duncan The March Methodist Breakfast will be on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 7:30 am. Our speaker is Sheri Kentner, the Southeast District Director of Christ Servant Ministries. She will provide an informative talk on the mission, goals and course offerings of Christ Servant Ministries Program. In addition to Alan Clark and Sara Beam, we have had a number of Christ Servant Ministers in our congregation: Jane Jeffrey, Bill Thresher, Jerry Clark, Karen Oas and David Swift. I m sure this will be an interesting program. Influenced by Billy Graham, Mike feels care and treatment should be as if everyone was a neighbor. JANUARY METHODIST BREAKFAST January Methodist Breakfast: Twenty- Eight members and friends of our church gathered for the January METHODIST BREAKFAST. Our program and speaker, organized by Alan Clark, was Michael J. Duncan, President and CEO of Chester County Hospital (Penn Medicine). Mike is a native of Fort Worth Texas and a graduate of the Naval Academy. He entered the healthcare field after leaving the service and joined our hospital in Influenced by Billy Graham, Mike feels care and treatment should be as if everyone was a neighbor. He reads the bible every morning, focuses on others and believes management should love people. The patients should expect excellence. The hospital, after the merger with Penn Medicine and under Mike's leadership, is undergoing a massive physical expansion including a new wing-- the Lasko Tower. A new 700 car garage will be completed in a year. Future plans include a new ER and operating rooms. Attendees included members of our church who are hospital volunteers: Pat Roelefs, Barbara Fell, Lance Siedel, Harry Barr and Gil Fell. (Alan Clark was also a hospital volunteer and had completed 2,815 hours). Our wonderful breakfast was prepared by chef Kim Pierce and guest co-chef Jonathan Waple. Their talented crew was Beth Southern, Jane Jeffrey and Grace Miller. See Note above about March breakfast. 7

Pastor: Rev. James H. Wilkin Pastor s email: pastorjimwikin@gmail.com Pastor s Cell Phone: 215-801-6569 Office Phone: 610 644-2227 Office email: willistownumc@comcast.

8 Pastor: Rev. James H. Wilkin Pastor s pastorjimwikin@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: Upcoming events Don t forget to see our biweekly E-Newsletter, Heard on the Hill for ongoing activities and news! Click Here: "Heard on the Hill" 8 March 6 th March 11 th March 13 th March 13 th March 20 th March 24 th March 25 th March 27 th March 28 th April 5 th April 10 th Communion Sunday Food for Salvation Army Greenleigh Chorale at WUMC Daylight Savings starts Greenleigh Chorale at St. Agnes Palm Sunday and Methodist Breakfast Deadline for Easter Flowers Holy Thursday Good Friday Easter Pastor leaves on vacation Pastor returns Communion Moved to this Sunday

WILLISTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

September 2016 WILLISTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 6051 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-644-2227 willistownumc@comcast.net Willistownumc.org Rev. James Wilkin, Pastor 215-801-6569 HILLTOP