CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS ST. PAUL S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FROM THE PASTOR PASTOR SUSAN FOSTER. Open hearts Open minds Open doors.

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1 ST. PAUL S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS FROM THE PASTOR Greetings, It is amazing to me that I have been your pastor for two whole months already. I cannot express just how gracious and welcoming the entire St. Paul s UMC community has been. I am even more excited about our future ministry together than when I arrived on July 1st. I look forward to getting to know each of you even better. I am eager to see what God is going to do in and through this church in the coming months and years. As we continue to get to know each other, I hope that you will let me know if there are ways I can be of help. I am generally in the office in the morning (barring meetings or appointments) if you wish to call me there. You can call or text my cell phone at Or psusan@stpaulsumcreno.org. I check these regularly except on my day off. I generally take Fridays off and respond only to emergencies.. A few people have mentioned that they would like to know a little bit more about me. The broad strokes are I was born in Bakersfield, CA while my family lived in Delano, CA. I grew up and attended school in Rhonert Park, CA and Paradise, CA. I graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of San Francisco with a major in Biology and a minor in Environmental Science. I m a lifelong United Methodist, baptized in the Delano UMC and confirmed at Paradise UMC. I joined Bethany UMC in San Francisco while in college. Following college I was a US-2 Missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries serving for two years at The Neighborhood Center in Harrisburg, PA doing mission interpretation and community outreach. When I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area I worked for Handlery Hotels, Inc. as the Executive Assistant for the Chairman and CEO. During this time I was also youth director for the Marin United Methodist Youth, a cooperative effort of the UMCs in Marin County and later Director of Family Ministries for Bethany UMC. I finally answered my call to ministry in 2002, entering Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley PASTOR SUSAN FOSTER to earn my Masters of Divinity. I did my field education at El Sobrante UMC and graduated in My first appointment was to St. Mark's UMC in Bakersfield. I then served Hanford UMC in Hanford beginning in While in Hanford I was a Police Chaplain for the Hanford Police Department... I I enjoy travel, reading, hiking, sewing, woodworking and most British mystery shows. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends. My dad, John is a retired UMC pastor and my mom, Helen is a retired teacher. I am the youngest of three. My older sister, Ginger is a UMC pastor currently serving in Mariposa, CA on the way to Yosemite. She is married to Ray and they have a son who is a student and firefighter in Fairbanks, Alaska. My older brother, Bart works in venture capital investing and lives in the SF bay area. He is married to Stef and has a son and a daughter (twins) who are juniors at Boston College and a son who is a senior in high school. My twin Godchildren who are three and call me Aunt Susan live with their mothers in Lafayette, CA.... R e m e m b e r,,,,,,,,,,,, God s Love Never Ends. Sept/Oct 2015 Open hearts Open minds Open doors WE RE ON THE WEB! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: EDUCATION ST PAUL S NEWS 2 GIRLFRIENDS OF THE CHURCH 3 LAY LEADER 4 FINANCE 4 EVENTS 5 CALENDAR 6 INSIDE STORY 6

2 PAGE 2 CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL Our Mission To love God, minister to the needs of our congregation, local community, and the world while sharing the Gospel of Christ. Our Core Values Belonging to the Community of Faith - We value integrity in relationships, fellowship, and belonging that is open to all. Experiencing God s Love and Grace - We value worshiping God through joyful worship, music, and prayer. Serving Compassionately - We value generously serving others within our church family and outreach to our local community and beyond Our Vision To embrace a loving and caring community whereby we are reaching, teaching, and sending Christ s Gospel locally and worldwide. SUNDAY SCHOOL Nord Yamauchi-Chair Mike Clymer Lay Leader Georgia Clymer Trustees Linda Leep Finance Ruth Stacy- UMW Mike Wanco- SPRC Gene Golish Stewardship Judi Jensen Education JUDI JENSEN The last couple months, the Sunday School has been on a relaxed Summer schedule. We review the video related to each lesson, then get some outdoor time in our wonderful Noah's Ark playground while small groups work on the story paper for the day. Our July lessons focused on some "smaller folks" of the Bible, like David, teaching us that even though we are young, we still have lots to share with others about God's love. In August, we studied some Bible verse favorites and learned "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my journey". With help from the Music Team we also learned the Amy Grant song. September will bring us a brand new curriculum, "Deep Blue" and new cartoon friends Asia, Edgar and Kat. Parents, check out the Deep Blue Adventure App with games focusing on the previous weeks lesson! We'll be back to our more formal indoor schedule and structured activities as well. On October 11th, during children's time, we will be honoring those in 3rd grade and up (including our tweens) with the age old tradition of Bible presentation. We would love to have some volunteers join us a week or two later (to be determined) and mentor them in a "finding our way through the Bible" afternoon get-together. Please see me or Jolie Pardew for more info. ST. PAUL S NEWS NOV. 29 th is the date for a worldwide Peoples Climate March, not just in Paris but Reno! Interested in investigating ways to enhance inclusiveness at St. Paul s? Please contact the pastor. Sunday School and Children s Time can ALWAYS use more volunteers and now have a sign-up clipboard at the Connection Table. Please consider giving it a try! Visit the website for more good news! To submit an idea, article or photo for the Nov/Dec Circuit Rider drop it off in the office or stpaulsumcreno.org

3 CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS PAGE 3 GIRLFRIENDS OF THE CHURCH We had a great Block Party on Saturday August 8 with live music, hamburgers, hot dogs and dancing, orchestrated by Linda and Lenny Clark and the Soul d Out Band, with the Clymers arranging the food. This was followed by an ice cream social after church August 23, organized by Georgia Clymer. Now GFC is settling into the relative quiet of a few months of Comfort Food Fridays. GFC is planning the next Comfort Food Friday for September 11, 2015, to commemorate that day when our nation was challenged and to remember that good came out of the tragedy, in form of bravery and self-sacrifice and renewal of faith. Dinner will be chicken salad on a nest of Romaine lettuce, with melon and a roll. Dessert will be cobbler. Head servants are Pat Lawrence and Ruth Stacy. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 7 pm. for $7.00. Neil Berston will be leading the October 9 Comfort Food Friday. He will be recruiting helpers, so please encourage him by saying yes. The menu will be announced after he consults his kitchen spirit. GFC continues to accumulate funds to use toward the construction of a patio in front of the church kitchen on Grandview, where we now have rocks. These funds come from donations made to the CFF dinners over the years. GFC will be looking for ideas from the congregation in the coming months about design and funding. One suggestion is that engraved pavers be sold in remembrance of friends and family, to help the available funds (now about $13,500) go further. Trustees will approve the eventual plans. Note from Michela: I will be handling the GFC grief ministry. Also, I will be active in calling and visiting people at home and in the hospital, as part of the St. Paul s Hospitality Team. To help out, or if you have any questions, me at michela.adams@sbcglobal.net or call at Thanks! September Judy Caboverde 2 nd Mary Law 4 th Deanna Valles 4 th Vicki Walker 8 th Rick Griffin 15 th Karen Suga 16 th Phyllis Hall 19 th Lysa Lee 20 th Alice Griffin 30 th Clarice French 30 th October Lyda Haglan 9 th Bill Green 19 th Linda Saunders 22 nd Leslie Dandois 23 rd Tom Lee 30 th Lynn Walker 30 th HAPPY BIRTHDAY! COMFORT FOOD FRIDAYS September 11 Chicken and Romaine Salad RUTH STACY Thanks to the guests who made our annual St Paul's Rock'n Block Party a success!!! It was a 'Blast From The Past'...just sayin...blessings from Linda and Lenny...Lysa, Mikie, Penny, Eric, Carlos and of course...gadzillion DOLLAR 'BILL'!!...WE 'R' Soul'd OuT'... MENU October 9 Neil s Choice Cost: $7.00 FREE for Children under 12 5:30-7pm in Thurman Hall

4 PAGE 4 CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS LAY LEADER LITANY Unsung Heroes Have you ever thought about what keeps a church like St. Paul s going? Think of the dozens of jobs that are performed each week so that we can worship and fellowship. Of course, there is the Pastor. Pastor Susan probably the first person I would think of. We also have our Joyce, our Music Director, the Band, the Lay Servants, the Greeters and that weird AV crew. But they are not all of em. There are others, behind the scenes. They perform their ministries quietly and usually alone. I want to honor these Unsung Heroes. I know I will miss some of you, and I want to apologize ahead of time, but please note you are just as important; it s my memory that has failed. Bulletins: Audrey, our Office Administrator, usually creates them, and Madeline, her daughter, helps fold and stuff them. When Audrey is on vacation, Mary Law performs this duty. Pew Supplies: the pews are cleaned, Kleenex maintained, pencils sharpened or replaced, pew cards refreshed, and Bibles, Prayer Books, and music books straightened each week by Kathy and Danny Cave. Greeting and Candles: Ed Bryant July 2015 Income: $15, Expense: $21, Difference: $5, Year to Date Income: $126, Expense: $117, Difference: $9, makes sure we have Greeters each week. He takes the attendance count. He also tops off our candles with liquid paraffin (We don t want those candles to sputter out during the service, do we?) Charlie Bags: Georgia Clymer, Ruth Stacy, and Becky Sharp make sure there are Charlie Bags available each week. The Connection Point Table: Georgia Clymer sets it up each week, and Ruth Stacy mans it after the 10 AM service. Then Georgia and Ruth break it down. Communion Elements: For the once a month 10 AM Communion, Joyce Garcia sets up the altar with the bread and juice. She then cleans up after the service. The 8AM Communion is prepared by the Pastor. Lay Servant Scheduling: Steve Harrison schedules the Lay Servant scheduling when we need a Lay Preacher. Church School: Judi Jensen and Jolie Pardew schedule the curriculum and teachers for our kids. Nursery Attendants: We have a group of certified on-call volunteers if we have nursery needs. Christmas Candles: At Christmas time, we have a ton of tea candles in two candle screens that need to be FINANCE NEWS MIKE CLYMER replaced and lit. Penny Harrison handles that chore. Sanctuary Decorations: Alana Klumpp and Heidi Caban work closely with Pastor Susan to decorate the Sanctuary. They use the Liturgical Calendar, the Biblical readings, Pastor Susan s theme for the week, and an amazing inspirational talent. Coffee: Are you a coffee drinker? Have you ever staggered in before church to get a wake-me-up? If so, you can look to Scott Fletcher to have it ready for you. Collection Plates: Evie Vice and Georgia Clymer gather and count the collection plates after the 10 AM service. Georgia, the Financial Secretary then records and deposits your offerings. Church Lockup: The Trustees, by rotation, make sure the facility is cleaned and locked up at the end of the worship day. As you can see, this is a pretty impressive list! Also, this is only listing the WORSHIP ministries. Think of everything else that happens at St. Paul s! I would like to thank each of you mentioned above, those of you I missed, and those of you that perform the hundreds of other functions in our church. This stuff doesn t happen by magic, but by dedicated, hard work from our members. THANKS TO YOU ALL! Shalom! LINDA LEEP We are busy balancing and reconciling as August comes to a close, and things are adding up pretty good. Our income continues to come in over budget, which is a blessing. So far, we have been flexible enough to handle a few unforeseen expenses that have come up this year. A review of the current treasurer s reports reflect what an amazing job our team did when we set up our 2015 budget. It is proving to be a great planning tool. The church has received many generous donations to the building fund. When giving, please note the amount you want to contribute to this fund on your offering envelope.

5 CIRCUIT RIDER NEWS PAGE 5 HOSPITALITY TEAM BILL STROHSCHEIN Several months ago a Welcoming Team was organized. It was modeled after that of the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Missouri. The Church of the Resurrection is a mega church with many visitors each week. This program focused on visitors. The program has five ministry areas: Welcoming Worship, Connection Point, Pastoral Care, Facility and Visitor Follow-up. We have, to some degree, all of these ministries functioning. Since we have only a small number of visitors at a time, we need to develop a broader program that fits us. It s not really a program, it s old fashion hospitality. We do this at St. Paul s in many ways, not just to welcome visitors but the care of our members and friends. We have provided meals or transportation when there is a need which we can meet. We have more than a Welcoming Team; we have a Hospitality Team! The Team includes not just some individuals but all of us. We do a good job, but we can do better. If there is a need or you have suggestions for the Team, please contact me or the church office. Bill Strohschein,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Hospitality Team Leader Telephone: or: vnbstroh@sbcglobal.net The 24th annual CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, October 18th beginning at 2 pm at Idlewild Park in Reno. 25% of the funds raised will be distributed to three local agencies: the Kid s Café program sponsored by the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Ridge House, and the Community Food Pantry. Remaining funds are distributed in over 30 countries for hunger and disaster relief by Church World Service. From New Orleans to Nepal, CWS is frequently one of first agencies to respond when disaster strikes. They are leaders in the fight against hunger worldwide and support efforts to provide clean water around the globe. For information on walking or sponsoring a walker, please see Judi Jensen or Mary Law. Volunteers are also needed to help with registration from 1pm-2:15 that day, or to drive the route for safety and pick up walkers that might not make it the full 3 miles. Visit or for more info. Lectionary Bible Study With Pastor Susan Beginning Monday, September 14 at 6pm Pastor Susan will be leading a bible study of the following Sunday s lectionary texts. All that is needed is your willingness to participate and a bible (translation of your choice). We will read the texts, explore what stands out to us and see where the Spirit leads us. We will meet in the sanctuary. Greeter Tune-UP. - September 13, 2015 Following the 10 am worship, all who wish to be greeters in the coming months are asked to attend a brief Tune-Up. We will review procedures, responsibilities and have a little fun. We want to make sure that all who come to worship with us here at St. Paul s UMC feel welcome and greeters are one of our most valuable assets for ensuring this. Thank you all for supporting our annual Backpacks drive for Kids Kottage. We delivered 34 new backpacks and lots and lots of crayons, glue sticks, paper and other school supplies. They truly appreciate our donations. The center typically sets things up like a store lets the kids come "shop" for their choice of backpacks and supplies, giving the kids some back to school excitement they are missing with their families.

6 ST. PAUL S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1660 Grandview Ave Reno Nevada Phone: Fax: office@stpaulsumcreno.org newsletter@stpaulsumcreno.org WE RE ON THE WEB! Sundays 8am 9am 10am Early Worship Service Adult Sunday School Late Worship Service Children s Sunday School Wednesdays 7:30am Study Group Meeting 7pm WEEKLY SCHEDULE Holy Macrels Rehearsal CALENDAR OF SPECIAL EVENTS FOR A COMPLETE LISTING VISIT ST. PAUL S WEBSITE SEPT 4 SEPT 7 SEPT 11 OCT 2 OCT 9 OCT 17 Bunco in Thurman Hall at 7pm Labor Day Office is closed Comfort Food Friday in Thurman Hall 5:30-7pm Bunco in Thurman Hall at 7pm Comfort Food Friday in Thurman Hall 5:30-7pm Lobster Fest in Thurman Hall 8 am-2 pm MEETING SCHEDULE AFTER LATE SERVICE First Sunday Third Sunday Girlfriends of the Church Administrative Council Fourth Sunday Education Team 2nd & 4th Sundays Knit Wits THE LOBSTERS ARE COMING! SAVE THE DATE! PLAN YOUR PARTY! OCTOBER 17TH 8AM - 2PM