S PA RTA. Inside This Issue: Dear Friends,

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1 S PA RTA U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U RC H Dear Friends, NEWSLETTER Febr uary 2016 Inside This Issue: Calendar for February 2 Children + Youth 4 Church Council 9 Church & Society 9 Congregational Care 8 Contemplative 3 Church Mouse 9 Family Fun Fest 8 Grief Support 3 Labyrinth 7 Lunch Bunch 8 MAD 4 Small Groups 7 Study Groups 5 United Methodist World Mission Women 6 Gift Shop 9 Worship 3 Youth Group News 4 It is almost February. The season of Lent is upon us and we are preparing for the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. The marking of ashes began in Old Testament times as a symbol of mourning and mortality, repentance and reverence. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard of the decree of the King to kill all the Jewish people in the Persian Empire. After she was raped, Tamar tore her clothes and put on ashes. Prophesying to the Babylonian captivity of Jerusalem, Daniel wrote, "I turned to the Lord God, pleading with fasting, sackcloth and ashes!" And after Jonah's preaching of conversion and repentance, the people of Nineveh proclaimed a fast, put on sackcloth, and the king covered himself and sat in the ashes. In Matthew 11 Jesus refers to ashes. With regard to the places and towns who refused to repent, Jesus says, "If the miracles that worked in you had taken place there, they too would have repented with sackcloth and ashes." This was to be a sign to Jesus that they were (that we are) experiencing God s good works---- and responding with great humility. Later, the use of ashes was adopted by the church to mark the beginning of Lent, the 40 day preparation for Easter. Around 1000 a.d., an Anglo-Saxon priest preached that in the Old and the New Law, those who repented covered themselves with ashes, and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this at the beginning of our Lent." And so it is that we do this at the beginning of our Lent. There is a funny cartoon posted in the office. It s one of those funny church sign cartoons. It s one of those church signs that pastors think about posting but should not -- -so they do not post them. Robert, who is much wiser than I am suggested that I not paste the sign here. What will the church think? What will the church say? I wondered if it might not be another good test of who s reading the newsletter. And what about the laughter that is desperately needed in our stress-filled lives? And what about the messy truth of church life? So here goes. The sign says this. Lent is coming! Get your ash in church! I will be here on Ash Wednesday to confess my sins: of being a lover of word-plays, of good clean humor, and sometimes, even of curse words. This is why I need an entire holy season for repentance.

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3 worship at sparta umc FROM THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM: We have received 69 pledges totaling $170,931.60, 79.5% of the $215,000 goal. If you haven t made your pledge, please prayerfully consider doing so. Please help your church to balance our budget! Children and Youth Choir Please watch for singing dates! WORSHIP LEADERS SCRIPTURE READERS for February 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. February 7 Jean La France Laura Kempson February 14 Lynn Godbersen Matt Hunt February 21 Bud Larson Yvonne Roux CHILDREN S MESSAGE ROTATION February 7 Sarah Kuhns February 14 Pat Schultz February 21 Pastor Janice February 28 Debbie Dickerson Contemplative Worship Next Service, February 3 AND EVERY WEEK DURING LENT 12:15 pm and 7:15 pm Rather than giving-up something for Lent, why not add-in this quiet time? WIDOW S WELL For those who have lost husbands within the past 3 years. February 19 at 11:30 a.m. Bring your lunch! FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS for parents who have lost children... Every Friday at 7p.m. 3

4 YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS SPRING DATES 2016 Mark your calendars and don t miss out! Feb 5-6 B1 Fast Hackettstown - Nancy Schultz for details. Overnight at Trinity UMC in Hackettstown, Rutgers Football player, Eric LeGrande speaking. This event is wonderful for spiritual growth and fellowship opportunities! Feb 7 SPUD BOWL FUNDRAISER Sunday after church Bring a topping! And come to prepare Feb 28 Laser Bowling - see Jenny Deery for details March 18 Lip Sync and Karokee Night - see Melissa Lambert for details April 1 Line Dancing Family Event invite your friends and neighbors April (tbd) Bag Day -Township Garbage Cleanup FUNDRAISER May 7 Picnic and Labyrinth Introduction/Walk - w/pastor Janice May 27 FAMILY PROMISE dinner and visiting 7-9 p.m. June 18 Lakefront picnic and Watersports at Bud Larsen's July 24-July 30 MISSION TRIP Please mark your calendars. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL August The Mothers And Daughters (MAD) in mission group is off to a great start this new year! We meet once a month to talk, share ideas, inspire one another and work together on a project that benefits our neighbors both near and far. In January, we collectively made 28 faith journals for women in Sussex county. The journals were full of prays, quotes and inspiring messages that passed the love and peace of Christ. In February, we will be celebrating the Love of Reading month by kicking off a book-drive to collect children's books for kids in our state who have empty book shelves at home. Please take a look in the sanctuary for our book drop box if you'd like to donate children's books in good condition. We always love new faces at the MAD meetings - all moms, daughters, aunts, grandmas are invited - bring a friend along! First Sunday monthly, 5-6:30 pm. Next meeting, February 7th. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah DiGioia or Jeni Moriarty. ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS! RAINBOWS An effective support program for children, kindergarten through 8th grade, who are living in single-parent or stepfamily homes, or who are experiencing loss due to death, separation, divorce, or incarceration. Rainbows offers peer support to children along with the guidance of trained, caring adults who gently listen and encourage/support them (not counseling or therapy). Rainbows meets for six weeks: Tuesday evenings (Downstairs classrooms entrance in the back of the church) February 16, 2016 through March 22, :15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. first session 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. all other sessions For further information and registration forms for early registration, please call: Pat Johnson ( ) May also register on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Sponsored by the Sparta United Methodist Church 4

5 Coming in March... 5

6 LABYRINTH Special Events Save the dates! Dedication Sunday, May 1 Labyrinth Learning Retreat May 7 at 9:30 am (sponsored by UMW) Holy Hookers (knitting and crocheting group) will resume meeting on Wednesday, February 3, 1-3:00 In the Wesley Room. If you don t know how to do this, come and we will teach you. It s relaxing and fun! Book Worms Books for 2016 Here s the list for the entire year of There is one copy of each book in the United Methodist Women s portion of the church library. Sign the book out so we know where it is and so more than one person can read it. Be sure to join us whether you ve read the book or not. January 11: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson - This was a good one. February 8: Plenty of Time When We Get Home by Kayla Williams - About veterans. March 14: I Love Growing Older but I ll Never Grow Old by J. Ellsworth Kalas April 11: The Weight of Mercy by Deb Richardson-Moore May 9: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd June 13: The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu July 11: The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline August 8: Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg September 12: On God s Side by Jim Wallis 6

7 ON Sunday morning SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES 9:15 a.m. Confirmation Class with Pastor Janice 9:30 room 15 small groups STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Theology Video Series continues in Room 8 LENTEN SERIES in the library led by Ann Freeman Price Learn More About Lent Join the Sunday Lent Group Starting Sunday, February 14, at 9:15, a small group will be meeting in the Wesley Room to talk about Lent. Some will be reading the book 40 Days of Decrease A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast, by Alicia Britt Chole. The back of the book says: 40 Days of Decrease invites readers to walk with Jesus through the holy decrease of less and loss that led him crossward and beyond. Each day offers a meaningful consideration of Jesus journey through reading and reflection and then issues a challenging daily fast. You can get that book or get a different one of the Lenten books in the Narthex bookcase and we ll discuss them all. Our primary goal is to support each other in having a meaningful Lent. Ann Freeman Price will facilitate our time together for the six Sundays of Lent and is excited about its possibilities. If you have questions, give Ann a call at Join us. On Monday nights at 7 p.m. A People s History of Christianity, the Other Side of the Story by Diana Butler Bass. Buy a book and bring your thoughts! On Wednesday mornings at 7a.m. Men s Study and Reflection at the Sparta Diner! On Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Lectionary Bible Study Group Watch for details and texts in the weekly bulletin. MONTHLY UMW Book Worms Second Mondays at 9:30 a.m. Labyrinth and Lent Books in Narthex Bookcase The labyrinth in the back property is almost complete. There will be finishing touches in the spring. There will be a path created to the labyrinth. But it is possible to walk it now. So take a labyrinth walk. There are two books we have just added to the library about labyrinths. As of February 1st they can be found in the narthex bookcase. One is titled Walking a Sacred Path Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice by Lauren Artress. She is the founder of Veriditas, The World-Wide Labyrinth Project. The other book is Labyrinths from the Outside In Walking to Spiritual Insight A Beginner s Guide by Donna Schaper and Carole Ann Camp. The narthex bookcase also has other books concerning Lent, so be sure to browse there a little 7

8 congregational care - events and socials Shrove FAT Tuesday Celebration Mardi Gras Party Chuck Knows Church explains why we eat pancakes! Tuesday, February 9 Serving from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Crafts for the kids! Friday Night- April 1 Dinner at 6:30 Dancing at 7 p.m. Mark your calendar and Invite a neighbor and friend. Family Fun Fest Update A big THANK YOU to everyone. Those who worked for months making items, donating time and talents, to those who gave items for the silent auction, bake sale, or any part of the Fest. For those who worked setting up before, manning the various areas the day of the Fest, those who helped clean up afterward, and to those who came and spent their money. Without any of these people the Family Fun Fest would not have been a success. This activity contributed more than $5,000 to the church's budget. The Silent Auction raised $1,600+, the Cafe, Bake Sale, and Frozen Foods brought in $1,555, kids activities (face painting, hair braiding, pick-a-pocket, Kids Korner, and Kids Secret Shop) received $210+, and the hand made items (Crafts, Jewelry, and Knitting) brought in $1,500+. Everyone's efforts are greatly appreciated! Pat Schutz & Muriel Godbersen Crafters for the Family Fun Fest will resume on Friday, February 5 from 1-3:00 in the downstairs craft room (end of hallway). We need skilled and non-skilled crafters and we always need more buttons. Please come and bring your old buttons with you! The Sunday Lunch Bunch a group for further socialization January 31 and February 28 at 12:00 noon at Savour Restaurant, 287 Newton Sparta Road (just over the Sparta line in Andover). If you are interested in a church family meal, please call Wilma Smith, or Ginger Stecklein,

9 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. THANK YOU, CONGREGATION! Due to the generosity of our congregation during the Advent alternative Christmas card sales, the Church and Society Committee has sent donations to the following organizations in the amounts indicated: UNICEF - $110; Doctors Without Borders - $145.00; Soldier s Heart - $ Thank you for adding to the blessings of this holiday season. WORLD MISSION GIFT SHOP Downstairs at Sparta UMC scarves-bags-jewelry-pottery -coffee-tea-basketsunique worldly décor EXCELLENT teacher, coworker gifts! Gift certificates are available Volunteer for a shift, once a week, once a month! Wednesday & Saturday 10 to 2 pm; Thursday & Friday 1 to 4 pm; Sunday 11:30 to 12:30 pm. For more information please contact either Pat Johnson or Jack Carpenter, Co-Administrators. OUR MISSION: to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide; to support anti-trafficking efforts to end human trade. The Thrift Shop is open for shopping and taking donations! Our moratorium was necessary to catch up on bins and bins and bins of donations we haven't had time to process. Thank you for your patience and understanding!! Winter has finally arrived in Sparta, and we have an abundance of winter clothing, sweaters, scarves, coats, whatever you need or desire! Our next sale is January 27-30, and EVERYTHING in the shop will be half-price all week!! The next Bag Sale will be March 16-19, with a stuffed grocery bag full of goods for only $5.00!!!!! Then SPRING will arrive!! New merchandise arrives daily, so come on down! SUMC Church Council Meeting Update Following are highlights from the January 13, 2016 Council meeting: Pastor Janice is seeking input into church goals during 2016, would like volunteers to attend Team Vital training this fall, and advised that attendance at worship services in 2015, including the contemplative services, was similar to 2014 worship attendance. Bud Larson reviewed the preliminary 2015 budget results, which ended with a surplus due to reduced spending. A motion to make a $29,000 principal payment on the solar panel loan was approved. Bud Larson proposed and reviewed information regarding changing the governance structure to include an Administrative Council and a Council of Ministries. A Mardi Gras party will be held Tuesday, February 9, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm with craft activities for kids. A dinner and line-dancing event is being planned for April 1. SPRC Chair Cullen Kempson is asking for volunteers to help lead youth activities. Bud Larson and Laura Kempson will be working with the youth council to plan activities for the youth. The Property Task Force will be working with two scouts interested in doing Eagle Scout projects on church property. A Labyrinth Task Force is being created to create a pamphlet and work on other activities related to the labyrinth. The next Council meeting will be Thursday February 11 at 7 pm. Submitted by Muriel Godbersen, Recording Secretary 9

10 SPARTA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 71 Sparta Avenue Sparta, NJ spartaumc.org Worship Every Week. Communion Service at 8:30 a.m. Choir and children s message at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:15 a.m. Contemplative/Meditation Service EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING LENT 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 MARCH NEWSLETTER WILL BE February 15 PLEASE REMEMBERTO SUBMIT ANY ARTICLES BY DEADLINE 10