Monthly Newsletter of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church. A Message from. Pastor Christi. August 2017

Transcription

1 Monthly Newsletter of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church August 2017 A Message from Pastor Christi For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 I praise God for you! I praise God for the faith community of Oak Ridge! I praise God for the ministry that has occurred over the years and the ministry that is ahead for Oak Ridge! I praise God for how God has worked to bring Pastor Andy and me to this church! God walked with Oak Ridge, Pastor Andy, and me through a transition that all of us were surprised by and God was faithful to us. Transitions can be hard and disruptive. Transitions can lead to anxious times. In life we experience transitions consistently. Some are small and others are big. I am thankful that we have a God that we could turn to during these transition to lean on not our own understanding. I praise God that God brings peace during times of transition. I praise God for the work of Pastor Ken during the transition and the calmness he brought to it. I loved the worship service Pastor Ken created to bless Pastor Andy and me as we begin our ministry with you and with the basin of servanthood. In this time of transition, I know God is doing mighty things in the life of Oak Ridge! Pastor Andy and I look forward to serving with you all during this time. The best is yet to come. As God through the prophet Jeremiah tells us, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God is doing a new thing and a mighty thing here at Oak Ridge. Let us praise God for God s faithfulness during this time. Thank you Oak Ridge for your warm welcome of Pastor Andy and me. We thank you for all the assistance in unloading the moving trucks, the meals, and the gifts you all have showered us with during this time. Your hospitality has been a true gift. Thank you! Pastor Christi

2 Get to know Pastor Christi with the ol get-to-know you list. I am a caffeine addict. Coffee in the morning and soda in the afternoon. Church-Wide Funday! I did not know Pastor Andy before the appointment was made, although many of my previous church members had met Pastor Andy. I wasn t raised in the church. I found the church at the age of 19 at Emory & Henry College. My early church experiences were going with my grandmothers to church. My dad s side was Baptist and my mother s side was Quaker. My undergrad degree is in Chemistry. When I was a child I said I wanted to go to either Harvard or Y all (yes that is what this southern child called Yale) for college. Take Me Out to the Ball Game! Growing up I rooted for Duke, because my dad was a Carolina fan. Come join us at a Greensboro Grasshoppers Game on Sunday, August 20, at 4:00 pm. Cost of the tickets are $10.00 per person, payable to the ORUMC, memo: Grasshoppers game. Please bring the check to the church office or to Dana Hanlon before Friday, August 4. Sean and I have two daughters, Emily (8) and Lilly (6). We have a chocolate lab mix named Ellie. We have a goldfish that is 5 years old we call Monster Fish, because of its size. I did my CPE (chaplaincy program) at UNC-Hospitals in the NICU, Pediatric, and Pediatric Oncology units. I grew up in Charlotte and I went to Independence High School. I was on Inside Edition in High School for a Prom Makeover. I am coming here from Holston Annual Conference. I am sneaky and love to play jokes. I love to take pictures. I have filled my phone, a computer, an external hard drive, and a cloud with pictures. I love to be active and I love to be outdoors. I do not like to cook. I love to make crafts. I look forward to serving here with you all! Pastor Christi 2

3 CELEBRATION SERVICE 2017 ONE CHURCH, ONE COMMUNITY SERVICE Mark your calendars! Oak Ridge UMC will celebrate on Sunday, September 10, 2017 with ONE worship service at 10:30am. Following the 10:30am worship service all are invited to remain for a picnic which will be held inside our Family Life Center in the multi-purpose room. The picnic will last from immediately following worship - 2:00pm and include food, fellowship and fun for the entire family. We are asking families to bring your yard games to share and play! (Bounce Houses for children 4th grade and younger (parents are asked to remain to supervise), badminton, horseshoes, volleyball, corn hole, bocce ball, etc ) Also, feel free to bring blankets/towels, umbrellas/tents if you would prefer to enjoy your meal outside! Volunteer support for an event this size is always needed and appreciated. Please sign up to help by contacting Patrick Sullivan at or at psulli724@gmail.com. 3

4 Roots 252 Children s Station Plans for August Volunteers Needed! During the month of August we will be hosting a One Room Discipleship Time for Roots 252. Our Theme is Getting to Know the Wesley Family Tree, an exploration of John Wesley and his family roots. We are in need a few reliable High School youth to assist with pre-school and elementary rotations. Please contact Dana Hanlon at dana.hanlon@oakridgeumc.org to volunteer. GCS Service Learning Hours may be awarded! Roots School Year We are preparing for the School Year and are looking for a few dedicated servants who will lead a class as a Teaching Shepherd or Shepherd Assistant. You will receive the lesson the week prior to each lesson, along with the video for the week. Both pre-school and elementary servants needed. To sign-up, please contact Dana Hanlon at dana.hanlon@oakridgeumc.org. Food Collections Month of August Good Samaritan Ministry Oatmeal (18oz) and rice Backpack Ministry Oatmeal (individual packets) and rice (1 lb. bags) Our Children s Stations provide us the opportunity to meet and greet children and their families. Individuals are needed to coordinate volunteers and as station greeters. Please contact Dana Hanlon at dana.hanlon@oakridgeumc.org if your would like to help. Please indicate which worship service is ideal for you and which week of each month you would like to be assigned (First, Second, etc.) 3rd Grade Bible Presentation Attention Parents! Third Grade Bible presentation will be on Sunday, August 27! If you have a child entering third grade in the school year, Dana Hanlon at dana.hanlon@oakridgeumc.org by Wednesday, August 16 with your child's full name and the worship service you will attend for the presentation. Confirmation Class Coming Soon! Interested in Confirmation Classes? Erin Betlej, Director for Youth and Young Adults will be taking over leading these classes in the Fall 2017 with a slightly different structure. Details will follow, however please contact Erin Betlej at erin.betlej@oakridgeumc.org with your 7th grade or older youth name, grade and school attending, and we will contact you with details when they are finalized. 4

5 Thank You! Africa University Dear Oak Ridge UMC Congregation, I thank all the church for paying for my studies at Africa University. Africa University has a good library with many places to study and good lecturers. I attend Bible Study and am a member of the Praise the Lord Choir. I like all my courses but sociology is still my favorite. I learn to work with the families and the community s problems. Anthropology is very interesting. God be with you. Levy Tshota Kayembe Nurses Notes Good Health for All! Our church has dedicated staff and members who want to serve and be present every Sunday and we want to see their faces too, however, if you feel ill, you are not neglecting your duties by staying home. You are doing the right thing by protecting others from an infectious illness. Someone will cover for you and you will recover faster by staying home and treating your illness with rest. Also, we have church members who have chronic illnesses that cannot risk an infectious illness that might be brought to church. We wish you good health and hope to see you every Sunday you are well and able to attend. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2 5

6 Guatemala Stove & Water Filter Project Once again, there will be mission teams going to Guatemala in October to install stoves, provide water filters, administer deworming medication and vitamins, and pass out donations. We are so blessed by the Mayan people. They show a true love of God and they really appreciate our coming to help better their lives. This year we have two teams with 26 on each team. There are four team members from Oak Ridge UMC on the first team and nine on the second. With these large teams, we will be able to serve 400 Guatemalan families! This ministry exists because of Oak Ridge UMC. What a huge impact it will have on the team members, the Guatemalan people and the many that sponsor the Guatemalan families. Team members are responsible for raising $300 per family to provide for the families. Thank you for the donations from those who have provided for one or more families! The women who do not have a stove, cook on open fires in their homes (most have one room homes). It is very dangerous and also very unhealthy. The water they drink is not clean and causes many of the people to get sick. Thank you Oak Ridge UMC for this ministry that makes it possible for many Guatemalan families to have better health. Earlier this year, we were able to get a keyboard and guitar to two small Guatemalan churches. The President of the Executive Committee of the National Methodist Church in Guatemala came with church members to receive them. He expressed deep appreciation and told us how important it is to use musical instruments during the service. The youth in the church love musical instruments and often leave when they are old enough if there are no musical instruments during the service. Almost nothing by our standards can make life changing differences! We will collect items to take down to the people. These are all items that we take for granted. There will be boxes in the foyer of the educational building and in the foyer of the Family Life Center where you can put your donations. Those who have gone on the trip love telling others about the joy of going on this mission trip. Know that even if you can t go on the trip yourself, you can be a part of helping others have a better life. If you have any questions, please contact Max Kern ( or hmaxkern@gmail.com) who has been organizing these trips to Guatemala for 12 years. Submitted by those going on the Guatemala Mission Trip Items to donate for the Guatemalan Mission Trip Clothes and footwear: Bras all sizes, new or slightly used including breast feeding bras T-shirts all sizes, new or slightly used no alcohol or suggestive printing Underwear all sizes new or slightly used Flip flops Shoes for adults and children, no extra large sizes for adults Men s shirts and pants, smaller sizes Children clothes, all sizes Socks, all sizes Sweaters, jackets, all sizes Warm hats for children Toys: Small stuffed animals (beany baby size) Small toys Soccer balls deflated, beach balls, rubber balls, jump ropes Personal Care: Toothbrushes and toothpaste (buy or ask your dentist to donate) Bars of soap (not liquids) Combs and brushes Thin towels Misc. Items: Eye glasses readers, prescriptions, sunglasses, new and used (can be bought at the Dollar Tree store) Flat sheets any size and pillow cases Clothesline, clothes pins but no detergent 6

7 CALENDAR of CHURCH EVENTS for the month of AUGUST Tuesday, August 1 8:30am 3:30pm 5:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:00pm Uplift Bible Study (F202) Stephen Ministers (F219) Intentional Stewardship (D215) Board of Trustees (D215) Circle of Joy (Off-Site) Stephen Ministers (F219) Ministry Table (F202) Wednesday, August 2 10:00am Senior Resources Luncheon (Cafe) 2:30pm Precious Memories (Sanctuary) Tuesday, August 8 7:00pm SPR Committee (D215) Wednesday, August 9 9:00am Prayer Card Ministry Team (F202) 7:00pm Chrismon Ministry (D202) Thursday, August 10 9:00am Marvelous Moms (Off-Site) Monday, August 14 2:30pm Blood Drive (FLC) 3:00pm Mary Martha Circle (Off-Site) 6:30pm Threads of Love (D202) 6:30pm Kinetic Christians (Gym) 7:00pm Reflections (Off- Site) Tuesday, August 15 8:30am Uplift Bible Study (F202) 4:00pm Tea for Thee (Off-Site) 5:30pm Intentional Stewardship (D215) 7:00pm Liaison Committee (D215) 7:00pm Stephen Ministers (F219) Wednesday, August 16 Thursday, August 17 7:00pm Cohorts in Christ (F218) Sunday, August 20 4:00pm Sunday Funday at the Ballpark (Off-Site) Monday, August 21 6:30pm An Empty Chair (Off-Site) 6:30pm Kinetic Christians (FLC) Tuesday, August 22 6:00pm Endowment Committee (D215) 7:00pm Finance Committee (D215) 7:00pm Tuesday Loose Cannons (Off-Site) Wednesday, August 23 7:00pm Chrismon Ministry (D202) Thursday, August 24 10:00am Marvelous Moms (Off-Site) 7:00pm Stephen Ministers (F219) Friday, August 25 1:00pm Copper Coins (Off-Site) Sunday, August 27 6:00pm The Ridge (FLC) Monday, August 28 6:30pm Threads of Love (D202) 6:30pm Kinetic Christians (Gym) 7:00pm Reflections (Off- Site) Wednesday, August 30 Weekly Adult Recreational Opportunities Zumba: Monday, 9:05am (FLC); Wednesday, 6:15pm (Fellowship Hall); Thursday, 9:05am (FLC); Saturday, 9:00am (FLC) Line Dancing: Tuesday, 9:30am (FLC) Yoga: Monday at 7:00pm (Cafe); Wed. at 9:00am (F219) Join us for worship! Sundays 8:15, 9:00 & 11:15am 7

8 Worship Volunteers for August Sound Techs 6 - na 13 - na 20 - na 27 - na 11:15 Service 6 - Todd Ring 13 - Jeff Hallman 20 - Jeff Linden 27 - Mark Covington ProPresenter 8:15 Service: 6 - Edward Jordan 13 - David & Elaine Jones 20 - Bev Wentz 27 - Lauren Phillips 6 - Tony Beam 13 - Edward Jordan 20 - James Lee 27 - Austin Shelton 6 - Benjamin Ring 13 - Victoria Hallman 20 - Will Linden 27 - Lauren Phillips Cameras 6 - DJ Shelton 13 - Jackson Hallman 20 - James Linden 27 - Ben Covington Information Station 6 - Jeanne Christman 13 - Pam Jordan 20 - Lee Ann Browning 27 - Jeanne Christman Guest Station 6 - Lisa Gardner 13 - Amelia Yarbrough 20 - Nancy Myers 27 - M. Florence Children s Sermon 6 - Alan Abrams 13 - Craig Chappelow 20 - Regina Englishman 27 Altar Guild Donna Cleveland Ushers 8:15 Service: 6 - Glenn & Elizabeth McKee 13 - Ed & Nancy Saxman 20 - Fred & Shirley Figgers 27 - Mike & Carole Simpson 6 - Grose, Surette, Prossers, Kiernans 13 - Grose, Hogans, Surette, Sullivans 20 - Grose, Baileys, Surette, Marshburn, Cox 27 - Grose, Halls, Surette Lees Englishman, Bruce, Royal Acolytes 8:15 Service: 6 - na 13 - na 20 - na 27 - na 6 - na 13 - na 20 - na 27 - na Door Greeters 8:15 Service: 6 - Mary Causey 13 - Joe & Stephanie Lingle 20 - Etsie Phillips 27 - Grey & Linda Plummer 6 - Mike & Sandy Kiernan 13 - Kathy Kochel 20 - Burton & Andrew Matherly 27 - Mike & Sharon Murphy 6 - Beth Browning 13 - Randy & Vickie Floss 20 - Angela Fahnestock 27 - na Financial Workers 6 - Kim Thompson, Patrick Hogan 13 - A. Fahnestock, Lisa Gardner 20 - M. Florence, S. Gallow 27 - J. Osborne, V. Gardner