GOOD NEWS! November Boutique is Coming Quickly!

Transcription

1 GOOD NEWS! O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R THE NEWSLETTER OF MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, CLOVIS "THE MISSION OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD." Memorial United Methodist Church Schedule: Central Valley Churches Multicultural Celebration October 3, a.m. 3 p.m. Hosted at Memorial UMC in Clovis 1726 Pollasky Ave, Clovis Ca, Office Hours: 9 am to 1 pm memumc@ mem-umc.org Website: http// Pastors Janette Saavedra Wang Pao Thao Office Manager: Becky Posey Office: Cell: Facilities Manager Dorrie Osback-Rose or Dorriecares@comcast.net 9-10 a.m. set up booths with activities and craft. 10-noon outside activities fair AND performances by various groups Noon-1 pm Lunch better than the food court! A buffet of various traditional foods from the various cultures in our CVD UMCs. A $7-10 suggested donation for lunch will benefit Imagine No Malaria. 1-3 pm Praising God in rousing worship. LOTS of music by different groups. A real raise the roof experience of God s love and grace in community EVERYONE has a culture! EVERYONE has something to share! November Boutique is Coming Quickly! Friday November 13th and Saturday November 14th 9 am 2 pm Don t Miss.. Hand crafted items: Christmas & embroidery items, unique gift things something for everyone.. Country Store: A favorite with homemade jams, cookies, pies, fudge & much more. Lunch will be served each day: 11:00 am 1:00pm Friday Lunch Cost: $8.00 Saturday Lunch Cost $6.00 Include Drink and homemade Dessert Drawing Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 Drawing Prizes Hand-quilted Queen Size Quilt Hand-made Afghan

2 P A G E 2 Upcoming Events The SECOND Saturday October 4 10 a.m. World Communion Sunday and Confirmation This year our "World Communion Sunday" will be extra special. We will have the entire Memorial congregation gathered for one service at 10 a.m. This service will be led by the youth who have been in our Confirmation Class. There will be baptisms, distribution of Bibles to our children, youth and young adults, welcoming of new members, and Holy Communion. It will be a GLORIOUS celebration of the richness of God's blessings. Live Nativity Event The Live Nativity Team is forming now! Our annual Live Nativity Event will take place on Sat. Dec. 12 and Sun. Dec. 13. This is a walk-through telling of the first Christmas story, complete with live performers and animals, music and narration. It is a lovely experience for the families and neighbors that attend. The Live Nativity event has also taught us as a church family that it doesn't matter how young or old you are, or how physically strong or technically capable you are: there is a way to help at the Nativity. If you are interested in helping organize and plan the event this year, please contact Connie Alfaro at (559) or conniealfaro1313@gmail.com. We gather in the Fellowship Hall at 4:00 p.m. Bring a comfortable chair and some munchies to share. We will heat up our big popcorn popper. Coming Soon: Oct. 10 Monster House Rated PG & Ah Zombie Rated G Nov. 14 The Lego Movie Rated PG at 4:30pm Faithful & Fruitfulness tour is coming to town! Bishop Brown will be in our area on October `17 at 4 pm at Wesley UMC (Barstow at 4th Street) He want to talk with all of us about how we have been faithfully serve, what fruit God is bringing, and how the Annual Conference can be supportive. Our praise band has been asked to bring music to start the gathering. There will be time to hear from various congregations about ministries that are happening in their area. There will be an opportunity to ask the Bishop questions that are on our hearts and minds. By 6 pm we plan to close our time together with - a POTLUCK, of course! Bring a dish to share and meet the Bishop. Let's have a great turn-out from Memorial!

3 Upcoming Events P A G E 3 December Coming Events Dec. 4 & 5 8:00am Thrift Shop Open Dec. 5 8:00am United Methodist Men s Breakfast Dec. 5 11:00am Fresno Christmas Parade Dec. 5 6:30pm Clovis Children's Electric Christmas Parade Dec. 6 2:00pm Academy Advent Service Dec. 6 6:00pm Advent Dinner Dec 12 & 13 6:00pm Live Nativity Dec :00pm 2nd Sunday Lunch Dec. 21 6:00 p.m. Longest Night Dinner/Service Dec. 24 4:30 pm Academy Christmas eve service 7:00pm Christmas Eve Services 11:00pm Christmas Eve Service Fresno-Clovis 2015 CROP Hunger Walk Time to get those walking shoes out It s CROP Hunger Walk time again! The 2015 CROP Walk/Run SUNDAY, October15th Register 1:30 pm Walk 2:30 pm Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5140 N. Fruit Ave. Memorial UMC folk have been participating for nearly three decades, either by walking or by sponsoring walkers and we have hosted it two times. The funds raised benefit the hungry in the our valley area who are assisted by the Community Food Bank and also support long-term hunger-related development programs and disaster relief in the United States and around the world. The Walk draws participants from churches, synagogues, temples, service groups, etc. and is the largest interfaith event in our area. If you are interested in walking or sponsoring a walker, please see Sue DeFranco. TEAMS AND MINISTRIES The Mission Thrift Shop October Sale Days 2nd & 3rd Work days for October 13, & 27 November Sale Days 6th & 7th Work days for November 3,, & 17 Donations gladly accepted Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9am-1pm and Sunday mornings. UMW News October 5- UMW Executive Board Meeting 9:00 AM, Library 20-UMW Unit Meeting 10:00 am, Fellowship Hall Program TBA Lunch after Team A 28 Wesley Group 1:00 PM, Fellowship Hall November 2- UMW Executive Board Meeting 9:00 AM, Library 17-Turkey Dinner with ALL the extras 10:00am, Fellowship Hall 18 Wesley Group 1:00 PM, Fellowship Hall

4 P A G E 4 October November Birthdays Robert Cole 10/01 Craig Eckert 10/02 Don Sara Haulman Pachelbel 10/02 10/02 Vameng James Xiong 10/02 Aly Saavedra 10/03 Wayne Golden 10/06 Kou Hang 10/06 Ann Bianchi 10/07 Xoua Matthew Kong Yang 10/08 10/08 Ger Lee 10/09 Zack Stoddard 10/11 Neng Vang 10/15 Gail Davis 10/16 Elijah Glazebrook 10/16 Carolyn Ann Pippin 10/19 Max Cannon 10/20 Jim McClanahan 10/20 Nou Xiong 10/22 Joyce Lewis 10/24 Andy Hansen-Smith 10/27 Taylor Her 10/28 Joan Bowser 10/28 Chi Uwaoma 10/30 Donna Wamsley 10/30 Katelin Williams 10/30 Carol Febuary 10/31 Carol Febuary 10/31 Shredding Party On Friday, October 23, Wesley United Methodist Church will hold a shredding party. This will be an opportunity to get your sensitive documents shredded and to visit with some of our fellow Methodists. It is always helpful to see what is happening among our brethren. Wesley is located at 1343 E. Barstow Ave. (west of Fresno State). The shredding drop off will be in the west parking lot from 9am to noon. Call or office@wesleyfresno.org for more information. My Houa Carolyn Xiong Gentry 11/03 11/05 Margaret Nicholls 11/05 Tosh Cook 11/07 Jamie Belt 11/08 Bon Van Vang 11/09 Diane Zastovnik 11/10 Wynter Martinez 11/11 Robert Sinclair 11/13 Blanche Spencer 11/13 Evie Weiss 11/13 Lee Jenny Her 11/15 Marlene Remer 11/16 Ger Fang Soua Yang Yang 11/18 11/22 Luke Stoddard 11/23 Connie Alfaro 11/25 Garland Woodward 11/25 LeRoy Ehresman 11/28 Ruth Lind 11/30 Nora Uwaoma 11/30 Christian Book Club The Christian Book Club is now reading "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell A hard-hitting book for people who are skeptical about Jesus' deity, his resurrection, and his claim on their lives. Join us on Tuesday s at 7pm..

5 TEAMS AND MINISTRIES P A G E 5 Special Friends As we gathered for our meeting August 13th our thoughts were focused on the many fires raging in the forests and on the many firemen battling those blazes. The Scripture was from 2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who, have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. The meditation is from Mornings with Jesus by Rebecca Barlo Jordon. Most of us have looked into a mirror one time or another asking the fairytale question: Mirror, mirror on the wall? The thing about mirrors is, they never lie. What you see is what everyone sees, at least physically. But Jesus never lies either. It s just that He sees things differently than we do. He gages our looks by a different mirror. He knows we are unique4ly made, one of a kind, a creatively designed child of His. He looks at our hearts not at our outward characteristics. Unfortunately, we see ourselves through a veil. Jesus wants to remove that veil so we can view his mirror, not ours. As his followers what He wants us to see is His reflection daily. The more we look into His mirror and what He says about us, the more we ll come to believe and reflect His image. This month we made 12 visits, 28 phone visits, sent 24 notes or cards and transported 5 people. Our next meeting will be Thursday, September 10th at 2:00 pm. Closing thought: The next time you look into your mirror remember how Jesus sees you. Thank Him, not only for making you unique, but for creating you in His image. Blessings Lorraine May The Special Friends Group met September 10th, meditating on Galatians 6:7, For whatever a man sows, that and that only, is what he will reap. We can see a tomato seed with our eyes and understand the process of planting and expecting a harvest of tomatoes. We cannot see attitudes, thoughts or words, but they are seeds that operate in the spiritual or unseen realm, and they also produce a harvest based on what was planted. People who continually sow negative thoughts, attitudes and words will produce negative results in life. Likewise, those who sow positive, life-filled thoughts, attitudes and words will see positive and good results. We were saddened by the loss of two friends, Gerry Montgomery and Helen Ring, who joined the Saints in Heaven in August. During the month we made 17 phone visits, sent 24 cards or notes and made 10 transportation visits. Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 8th at 2 p.m. in the library. Come join us. Closing thought: I expect a good harvest from the positive words that I saw! Blessings, Lorraine May

6 P A G E 6 TEAMS AND MINISTRIES Finance August Finance Report August income and expenses were about as close as they could be. General Fund income for August totaled $22, (slightly more than July). Expenses for August were $22, (about $5,000 less than July). With a carryover from June to July of $10,222, this left a balance at the end of August of $4, Payments for August included $4, to complete May and June apportionments. (July and August payments should be made in late September or early October.) We appreciate all those who give generously to help the church meet its financial obligations. It would be greatly appreciated if some who have fallen behind in their estimates of giving could catch up so we could make the September apportionment payment by the time the conference sends out its statements in mid-october. As of August 31, the amount received was $7,500 less than the estimated giving. Mission Trip and other youth finances The youth and supporters diligently continue to raise funds for their mission trip. With income and expenses from the Luau on September 12 being accounted for as bills and receipts come in, we can report that the youth will likely need some more funding to cover the trip. Sixteen youth and adults made the trip to Crownpoint, New Mexico, in August to help Navajo residents and their church with housing and other construction. The total bill for all expenses was just over $9,500. Several projects funded this trip. Eggroll sales netted $1,156. Three Second Sunday Lunches brought in $750. Registration deposits totaled $1,100. Tamale sales came to $1,003. The Luau so far is about $3,200. Our Savemart SHARES fund provided $1,000. With other income, such as donations, in the youth account, the amount still to be paid on the trip is about $1,100. Future projects and donations will continue to cover this amount. Save Mart SHARES and Amazon Smile Message from the Network Our most recent payment from Save Mart SHARES was $ and from Amazon Smile was $7.68. If you shop at either of these businesses, please remember to help add to the total we receive. SHARES cards are in a basket on the round table in the Narthex between the glass doors to the outside. Just slide the card at checkout when you shop and the church will receive a percentage of your purchase price. To begin using Amazon Smile, just go to and type Memorial United Methodist Church in the search. Be sure to pick the one in Clovis, CA. Currently, it is about sixth on the list. Here, also, a percentage of your purchase price will go to the church.

7 From the Pastor P A G E 7 As I write this the current Pope of the Catholic Church is visiting the United States. While there is much in the Catholic Church with which I disagree, I still believe it is important to listen to what the Pope has to say. I admit that I find Pope Francis to have much wisdom to share on many topics. The other day, while still in Italy, the Pope suggested that religious institutions which do not help the poor should pay taxes like any other business. It is an intriguing yard-stick by which to measure an organization s tax-exempt status. It reminded me of this modern-day parable I read years ago: Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen, and organized themselves into a club. And lo, there were many fish in the water all around. And the fish were hungry. Month after month, and year after year, these fishermen met in their club to talk about their call to fish, and the abundance of fish, and the methodology on fishing. Continually they did research for new and better ways to fish. They sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide conferences to discuss fishing, to promote fishing, and to brainstorm on fishing. Large training centers were set up and courses were offered on the needs of fish, the culture of fish, and where to find fish. Those who taught had doctorates on fishiology, but had little experience in the act of fishing. They simply taught others how to fish. Imagine their hurt when one day a person suggested that those who don t catch fish are not really fishermen. By definition it was pointed out, a fisherman is one who catches fish. Some of them began to advocate for change and renewal within the fishermen s club. But soon these people found out that a change of mind and tradition is no easy matter. Indeed, it is downright painful and threatening. (author unknown) Memorial has begun conversations about how to use our resources to better meet our current ministry needs, and the ministry needs that may come our way in the coming decade. We had a meeting in which we brainstormed ideas for needed upgrades to our facilities. (I need to point out here that a LOT of the people present felt, rather than tweaking the buildings we have, we should bulldoze the bungalow and build an entirely new building in that area that can meet our current and future needs.) One thing we want to be sure to do we want ministries in which we actually connect with our neighbors to share the gospel message. We don t want meetings to create a cool fishing club that does not actually fish! Please come to the next installment of Planning for the Future, to be held on Monday, October 12, at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. -js And those who were sent out to fish did exactly as those who sent them. They organized more clubs. They analyzed the fish and discussed what was necessary in order to catch fish. But one thing they did not do - they did NOT fish.

8 Memorial United Methodist Church of Clovis 1726 Pollasky Ave Clovis, CA CHURCH PHONE: CHURCH All-Church Conference is scheduled for November 8 right after the 2nd Sunday Lunch. We will double-check our membership audit, set pastoral salaries for the coming year, elect officers for We had such a GREAT meeting last year! We are hoping everyone can be present for an uplifting meeting again this year!