A God-Sized Vision. In This Issue

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1 Epworth: a United Methodist Church Newsletter E-NEWS ~ September 2016 A God-Sized Vision La Clairvoyance by Rene Magritte Surrealist Painter Rene Magritte ( ) was known for mixing wit with illusion. His painting here is a thoughtful image for our work of visioning at Epworth. As the artist in the painting, is looking at the egg, he s imagining what the egg will become. He s looking into the future and what he paints is more than the eye can see right now. Visioning is like that and for the past 7 months, that s the work we ve been doing here at Epworth imagining what God is going to make of us who are we called to be?! Starting in January, our Servant Leadership Team (SLT) and Staff Parish Relations Pathway began the discussions about where we are headed as a church and what is our focus. Through months of discernment and prayer with the SLT, Church Council and Epworth Staff, under the leadership of Lay Leader Glen Pruitt, with help from Rev. Glenn Catley our vision started to come into focus. During June, we shared some of those findings with the entire congregation through an online survey we were thrilled to receive 295 responses nearly 50% of our worshipping congregation. After culminating all that data, our leadership met again to draft our proposed vision and reach the moment we ve all been waiting for!! Last week our Church Council accepted this proposed vision as we discern both mission and structure to support it: Exploring Faith, Embracing Community. Vision is all about our identity as a church. We feel that God is calling us to a vision where we can explore faith in a place where we will not feel judged, where we don t have to worry whether or not we are doing it right or the way we grew up learning. As we explore our faith, the Spirit leads us into deeper commitment and understanding of God and our relationships with others. When we chose the phrase Embracing Community we really felt it spoke to what Epworth does in so many ways folks tell us when they join that they feel truly welcomed here so embracing speaks to that sense of warmth and acceptance for all people which is a strong component of our identity. The word community best describes our commitment to outreach and service to folks who are known and those who are strangers we embrace our community in so many ways! Now look at our church and imagine what it will be (like the egg and the bird in the painting) imagine where God will take and lead us - imagine all kinds of small groups bringing together all kinds of groups and people, exploring the Bible and matters of faith. Imagine the church we can be when God shapes us in faith, as we embrace community that s a Godsized vision for Epworth! And I am ready to follow this vision with you!! In This Issue Letter from our Senior Pastor Worship Page Calendar of Events Pathway Pages Church Leadership Special Announcements Epworth Classifieds Birthdays & Anniversaries 2016 September~ Letter from our Senior Pastor

2 Worship in September Sundays in September Church Leadership September 4, th Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 18: 1-11 Preacher: Hannah Ewald September 18, th Sunday after Pentecost Peace Week 1 Timothy 2: 1-7, Luke 16: Preacher: Rev. Glenn Catley Sermon Title: Is Anyone Buying Krab Meat? September 11, th Sunday after Pentecost Luke 15: 1-10 Preacher: Rev. Vicky Starnes Rev. Victoria Starnes Senior Pastor Rev. Glenn Catley Interim Associate Pastor Mickie McManamon Doug Yetter Director of Music Ministries Linda Hess Accompanist Darlene Ford Office Manager Betsy Plowman Preschool & Children s Ministries Director Debbie Hunt Special Projects/Newsletter Ken Mahan Josh Megee Sound Tech Diana Young Administrative Assistant Wanda Hudson, Sheila Cottman, Bill Steward, Mike Harrigan Custodians Fred Smith Cemetery Superintendent Glen Pruitt Lay Leader Church Council Members EPWORTH NEWS is published periodically by the Epworth United Methodist Church and distributed without charge to members and friends of the church by Epworth United Methodist Church. All rights reserved. September 25, th Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15 Preacher: Rev. Vicky Starnes September Newsletter Sponsored to the glory of God and by Epworth United Methodist Church Worship Page ~ September 2016

3 September 2016 Thursday & Friday, Sept. 1 & 2 at 8:30 a.m. Preschool Meeting Thursday afternoon, Sept. 1 at 2:00 p.m. Stitchers of Love Thursday evenings, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 5:30 p.m Memorial Bells Thursday evenings, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 6:30 p.m Epworth Pickleball Thursday evenings, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 7:00 p.m.: Praise Team practice Sunday mornings, Sept. 4, 11, 18 & 25 at 10:45 a.m.: Sunday afternoons, Sept. 4, 11, 18 & 25 Tuesday morning, Sept. 6 at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday evening, Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, Sept. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings, Sept. 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 7:00 p.m. Thursday morning, Sept. 8 at 7:30 a.m. Friday evenings, Sept. 9 & 23 at 4:00 p.m. Sunday mornings, Sept. 11, 18 & 25 at 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Sept. 11 at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12 at 11:00 a.m.: Deaf Bible Study Food & Love Best is Yet to Come SPRC ISOP Dinner Caring Ministries Choir Servant Leadership Team Food Truck Friday Disciple IV Belongings Class UMW Executive Mtg. Monday afternoons, Sept. 12, 19 & 26 at 3 p.m. Jesus in the Gospels Monday, Sept. 12 at 4:15 p.m.: Trustees Meeting Monday evening, Sept. 12 at 5:00 p.m. Social Justice Monday evening, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Disciple II Monday evenings, Sept. 12, 19 & 26 at 7 p.m. Lectio Divina Class Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 13 at 2:00 p.m. Fund Raising Meeting Tuesday evenings, Sept. 13, 20 & 27 at 6:30 p.m. Disciple III Wednesdays, Sept. 14 & 28 at 9:30 a.m.: Staff Meeting Wednesday afternoons, Sept. 14 & 28 at 1:00 p.m.: Card Making Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 3:00 p.m. Stephen Ministries Thursday evening, Sept. 15 at 4:00 p.m.: Stewardship Meeting Sunday evening, Sept. 18 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, Sept. 20 at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday evening, Sept. 20 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25 at 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25 at 4:00 p.m. Peace Week Missions Meeting Church Council Skate Day Best of Britain Calendar of Events ~ September 2016

4 Faith Development Here are our 2016 Confirmands. Please pray for them: Jazmyn Lorraine Bates Alexis Catherine Brown Sadie Furman Arin Martin Preston Moran Thomas Vyas Connor Camiolo Rally Day Join us on Sunday, September 11 to celebrate another year of Sunday School at Epworth! Teachers will be introduced at the 9:15 Service, then the children will go to their classrooms for a chance to meet other friends and the teachers. Room assignments for this Sunday: Pre-K and K in Room One and Grades 1-5 in Room 4. We will have refreshments and fun on the playground as part of our Sunday School kick off! Please note: Grades 6-12 will meet AFTER the 9:15 service in the Branford Lounge. If you have any questions, call Betsy Plowman at Epworth Youth Our Youth are Revving Up... Our youth group, Revolution, has had a summer of camps, vacations and some Epworth events including Open Gym, Shell We Bounce, Bible journaling and swimming, and sailing and swimming. And now we are making plans for the fall including a picnic at the beach on Rally Day, September 11. Anyone in 6th through 12th grades is welcome to join us as we look forward to sharing in fellowship our faith and service to others as well as having some fun. If you want more information regarding Revolution, contact Rev Vicky or Rev Glenn at the church office or Stephanie at samanos19@gmail.com. Caring Ministries October 2, :30 p.m. Epworth United Methodist Church Outside under the Portico All animals welcome United Methodist Women Reading Program: The UMW Reading committee thanks all those ladies who are reading for the United Methodist Women program. If you are near completion, please turn in your "Recording Form" by Sunday, September 18. This can include books on the 2016 list and lists from 5 years back that you plan to read by December 31, You need to read one in each category; Education For Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing For Community, Social Action, and Spiritual Growth. We sincerely appreciate your support of the UMW Reading Program and the help you give Epworth UMW. In 2015 Epworth UMW had the most readers in the District. Please help us surpass our goal. Forms and Book lists are on the UMW Reading shelf next to the window in the Branford Lounge. Thank you! Any questions please contact Wave Starnes ( or twstar54@aol.com), Wendy Herman ( or weherman@verizon.net) or Kaye Webb (misskaye1182@comcast.net) Pathway Pages ~ September 2016

5 Stewardship: Thanks to everyone who has participated in Grocery Card Program. If you haven t yet purchased your gift cards please consider doing so this week. Here is how it works: We have $25.00 cards for Food Lion, Safeway and Acme. We have $50.00 cards for Giant. We also have $25.00 cards for Starbucks, CVS, Walgreens, Peebles, Kmart and Old Navy. This is a great way to help the Church without costing you any money you wouldn t already spend. You purchase the card for face value. The Church receives a discount on the card from the store. So it costs you nothing extra!! A win-win for the you and the Church. If you have any questions please stop by the table in the Narthex. Again, a big thank you to all who have supported this and continue to support it. Giant, Acme, Food Lion, and Safeway. As we move toward the holiday season, we will carry Tanger Cards and other cards that hopefully you will purchase to assist in your Holiday Shopping. STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITY One way to give to Epworth is via hundreds of Online Merchants. If you shop online you may already be using a participating merchant and if you join shopepworth, every time you shop online the merchant will send a referral check to Epworth. It is really easy to do, too. Once you join, your computer will do all the work- automatically. Yes, automatically. shopepworth is part of the UMCmarket Caring Ministries Leashes of Love Pet Ministry: Are you interested in participating in Epworth s Leashes of Love Pet Ministry? Our friends at Doggies at the Beach are hosting a certification class on Saturday, October 10:00 a.m. This will be held at Doggies at the Beach John J Williams Hwy (Rt. 24) Rehoboth Beach. At this class, your dog can qualify for a Pet Ministry certification. This will allow you and your dog to start visiting assisted living facilities in our community. All dogs should be well tempered, interact well with other dogs and be comfortable interacting with residents in the facilities. If you have any questions concerning our pet ministry or certification class, please c o n t a c t B a r b a r a K u l b a b a a t bo9354@hotmail.com or J e a n W a t e r s a t daveandjeanh2os@aol.com EPWORTH WEBPAGES eumcrb.org caring.eumcrb.org preschool.eumcrb.org Pathway Pages ~ September 2016

6 Social Justice: Fair trade coffee, teas, chocolate bars, and olive oil products are sold by the Social Justice Pathway the first Sunday of every month. Look for the fair trade sales table in Fellowship Hall from 8:45 to 11:30 a.m. No surprise that the people at Equal Exchange Coop provider of the fair trade products sold at Epworth by the Social Justice Pathway would take an interest in women s issues. As an organization, Equal Exchange has been at the cutting edge of social issues. It has always been employee owned and is focused on business relations with small farmer, democratically run cooperatives across the world. Many women hold leadership positions in the Coop. Contrast that with traditional roles for women in the coffee industry from farm to coffee shop. Women s roles in coffee farming in Latin America have often been limited due to traditional gender culture; the same could be said about coffee importing, roasting, distribution, and retail in the U.S.A. Equal Exchange has partnered with Perennial Plate to produce a 13 minute documentary about modern women in We loan because.. We want to be the change we want to see in the world Come join us Wednesday August 10 th in Scott s Chapel at 5:30 p.m. as we connect with a worldwide network of microfinance institutions to help alleviate poverty. To learn more, visit Kiva.org. leadership positions in the coffee industry. It features women like Joselina, a member of the COSMA cooperative in Honduras, who faced the issue of coffee rust fungus destroying trees that her family and others depended on. She led other women in her coop to develop organic produce farming as an alternative income source while starting to grow rust resistant coffee plant species for the future. You will also meet Dolores who explains the joys of farm ownership and being autonomous while contributing to her family s income. U.S. women in the coffee industry are also featured. The full documentary, as well as shorter, outtake films about individual w o m e n, i s a v a i l a b l e a t Look for the film title, Women in Coffee. Equal Exchange has also developed a discussion guide for faith-based groups, which can be used to stimulate thinking for someone who watched the film by themselves. Pathway Pages ~ September 2016

7 Saturday October 1, th Annual Golf Outing American Classic Golf Club (9-hole course) Bethpage Drive Lewes MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! The George B. Simpson Men's Group at Epworth hereby gives you plenty of notice so you can practice your swing! Drive Away Hunger benefits three community-wide outreach programs: Food & Love Soup Kitchen, the Pantry at Epworth and Immanuel Shelter. American Class Golf Course is located behind the ACME store. It s a fun and walkable 9-hole layout, with a mix of par 3 and par 4 holes. Carts will be available for those who would prefer to ride. This is a fun event for all even if you don t golf! (There also will be lunch and prizes!) Last year we raised over $7000, and this year the George B. Simpson Men's Group at Epworth is aiming even higher. So please stay tuned as we complete our plans and share those with you! THANKS FOR HELPING US DRIVE AWAY HUNGER! Special Announcements ~ September 2016

8 Caring Ministries: Attention Epworth College Bound Students and Families!!! The Campus Ministry program is seeking to update our list of Epworth college students as the school year begins. The goals of Campus Ministries are to let our students know they continue to be in our thoughts and prayers throughout the school year, and to send them a 'Care' package filled with goodies as they prepare for finals each semester. Please contact Kathy Shook by phone , or kshook@mchsi.com with the name of your student, the college he/she is attending, along with current mailing and addresses. October 16, 2016 CHRISTMAS JOY! 365 SILENT AUCTION, to benefit a year-round assistance program for area youth and the Christmas Holiday Family Mission. Sunday - 9-1:00 pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, Holland Glade Rd., Rehoboth Beach. Info: - or Divine Tasting for CRC CRC friends are hosting a fundraiser, Divine Tasting for the Community Resource Center on Sat., September 17, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Peter s Parish Hall, 211 Mulberry St. in Lewes. Grab a friend to celebrate the end of Summer while giving back to the community. Enjoy the casual atmosphere of music, great wines, delicious food and a silent auction. Food will be prepared by the proprietors of Palate Bistro & Catering in Rehoboth. Wines will be provided by R & L Liquors of Lewes. The CRC, housed in RB, was created in 2011 to serve as a centralized location to help the needs of eastern Sussex County residents facing crises. The CRC helps individuals and families, regardless of race, sexual orientation or religious affiliation get to the next step of their journey towards self-sufficiency and stability. It has lent a helping hand to neighbors needing assistance with utility bills, rent/mortgage payments, medicine, food/formula, diapers, finding a job or shelter/housing referrals. Tickets for the event cost $60 each or two for $100. To purchase tickets or to donate, please visit Special Announcements ~ September 2016

9 Join in Peace Week Delaware Activities, September 18-25, 2016 Epworth s Social Justice Committee took the challenge of forming a community committee to plan for Peace Week Delaware 2016 in lower Delaware. We have planned four activities and hope for wide participation by our church and many others in the community. The following are the activities in Lewes-Rehoboth area. For statewide activities check out the web site at Epworth UMC at 7 pm on September 18, Restorative Justice: Peace Making in Latin America: Ms. Calvachi- Mateyko, a restorative justice practitioner and lawyer, will give a brief overview of the approach that restorative justice uses, how it relates to building peace in Latin America, and the implications for peace building in our country and in our individual lives. Participants will be invited to ask questions and dialogue. This event is supported by the Delaware Humanities Forum. Rehoboth Boardwalk at 4 pm on September 21: March for Peace in Rehoboth Honoring Peace Week Delaware: Meet at the end of Rehoboth Avenue near the water fountain. The group will organize with banners and posters and proceed as a unit down the boardwalk and back to Baltimore Avenue where they will march down to CAMP Rehoboth. CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave at 5 pm on September 21: Celebration of Peace Week Delaware and Dedication of a Peace Pole: Local musicians from various groups will play and sing, followed by a brief program acknowledging the importance of peace-making in all major faiths. At Lewes Library, 111 Adams Avenue, Lewes for the week Sept : Peace Book Display: Books about peace will be displayed in the newly built Lewes Public Library. A list of books about peace in the Delaware library collections will also be available. Join us for the next Class DOROTHY AND THOMAS - Contemplative Activists Join us at St. Edmond Catholic Church Tuesdays, September 20-Nov.8, 9:30-11am Rm.1 of the Education Bldg. adjacent to the Church Facilitator- Toni Worsham Register via with Toni at tonimworsham@comcast.net, Please include your name, phone number and . When Pope Francis addressed the US Congress in 2015 he singled out four great Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. During this eight week series participants will explore how two of these spiritual leaders, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton not only talked the talk but, more importantly walked the walk, acting as transformational catalysts for peace, forgiveness, and love, in accordance with the teachings of Christ, and make applications for these same possibilities in our own lives. Special Announcements ~ September 2016

10 HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED FALL IS UPON US! ALMOST! OUTSIDE GARDENERS NEEDED Our Outside Gardening Team is still looking for team members. The Wetherall Garden is still in need of a caregiver. The Wetherall Playground and Garden was given to Epworth by the family of Robert and Ruth Wetherall. The garden is a meditative garden which includes memorial plantings given by our Cancer in Common Support Group. If this sounds like a job for you, please contact Kenny Mahan at kmahan@eumcrb.org or ext epworth-online-giving/ MANY HANDS MAKE LESS WORK & MORE FUN... Many of our Pathways are busy working on many, many, many different projects. Call the church office to volunteer, thekitchen@epworth food rescue Christmas Joy! 365 thegarden@epworth Worship Visuals Planning Set-up Basic plumbers Basic painters Bus volunteers Office volunteers Sunday School teachers Nursery helpers Worship Service helpers Food Truck Friday hosts Parking Lot clean-up team members Send your HELP WANTED messages to newsletter@eumcrb.org The deadline is the 15th of each month Do you have a few hours to share volunteering with the Caring Ministry at Epworth? Listed below are a few areas that need your help. Experience is not needed.we will teach you everything you need to know! Just call or Mickie at or mmcmanamon@eumcrb.org... Flowers for Shut-Ins Card Making Leashes of Love Military Ministry Stitchers of Love Good Samaritans HELP WANTED ~ September 2016

11 September Birthdays 1 st John Ewald Ann Marie Marino Alison Myers Jerry Strum Dennis McDonough 2 nd Michael Holdridge 3 rd Chuck Greaves *Anita Bunce *Barbara Henriksen 4 th Molly Lingo Ellen Wheatly 5 th Micky Keener Bob Smith 6 th Pat Loughlin 7 th *Doris Fariss Susan Sala Kenneth Backer 9 th Janine Bond Ward Ellinger 10 th Howard Gregory Jim Derrick David Archino *D.R.Gray Frank Piorko 11 th *Jack Carney Elizabeth Zlotkowski 12 th Bev Johnson Haley Archambault 13 th Jeanie Polly Karen West Konner Knarr Betty Blue 14 th Bill Quinn 16 th Susan Soboczenski Sheri Soboczenski Barb Kurtz Duncan Leet 17 th Robert Wheatly Jacqueline Sullivan 18 th James Blakeslee Brie Baldwin 19 th Donna Wilson Kim Anderson 22 nd Benjamin Inkster Connor Smail 23 rd *Craig Russell 24 th Gail Stenger Nancy Alexander Chris Beckman Christopher Jones 26 th Thom Pemberton 27 th *Irene Smith Wyatt Charles Angus MacLennan Melinda Woolf Susan Reinagel 28 th *Frank McGinnis Rhonda Mays 29 th Donald Ott Tom Lewis 30 th Miles Slatcher Carol Boros 31 st Stephen Rayner! - Cradle Roll (infant - 3 yrs) * year September Anniversaries 1 st Dave & Marti Garrett 2 nd Holly Burkhart & Jonathan Pitts 5 th Penny & Angus MacLennan 6 th Nettie & Sterling Green 10 th Mike & Karen Mahaffie 11 th Wendy & Al Herman *Betty & Clarence Good 13 th David Hagelin & Andy Brangenberg 14 th *Dorothy & John Sadler 17 th Bill & Diana Young 18 th Elizabeth & James Zlotowski 20 th Holly Ann Firuta & Teresa Ferree 25 th Linda & Howard Gregory Cheryl & Jon Stout 28 th Matt Clark & Pam McMillan David & Kathleen Archino 29 th James & Joyce Blakeslee Dale & Barbara Brown Claire & Tom Worrall 50+ years Congratulations To Jeanne Jerfsten, family and friends on the death of her mother, 7/25; To Karen Kaufman, family and friends on the death of her mother, Edna, 8/5; To the family and friends of John Lunsford, the father of Susan Jimenez s three children, 8/3; Bev Johnson, family and friends on the death of her sister, Kathleen Clark; To the family and friends of Bill Barnes who passed away Tuesday, 8/9; To Missy Mehring, family and friends on the death of her mother -in-law; To Bill Martin, family and friends on the death of his father, 8/23. Food Truck Fridays Food Truck Friday is back to Fridays at 4:00 p.m. the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month. That will mean September 8 and 22. Food Truck Friday is a fundraiser for The Food & Love Soup Kitchen, Epworth Skate Park, and Epworth UMC. The events are held from 4 pm to 8 pm on the second and fourth Thursday in July and August. In September, the event will return to Fridays. For detailed information please visit FoodTruckFridays or Facebook: Food-Truck- Friday. Contact: Susan Selph (302) Birthdays, Anniversaries & Sympathies ~ September 2016

12 DISCIPLE Bible Studies for Epworth Church offers five different DISCIPLE Bible Studies that begin in September for those who want to have a deeper understanding of how scriptures shape our faith experience. Everyone is welcome to explore the Bible by taking DISCIPLE I, a 34 week study that offers a complete overview. After completing DISCIPLE I, a student is welcome to join any of the other four classes to gain further insights. We celebrate the leadership of Susie Bond and Dorothy Sadler who have stepped forward as coordinators of DISCIPLE at Epworth this year, and deeply appreciate those who have agreed to lead and shepherd the discussions of the following five classes: DISCIPLE I Lead by Jeff Bond (meeting in an evening yet TBD) DISCIPLE II Lead by David Dagenais and Dorothy Sadler (meeting Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in Branford Lounge, starting 9/12) DISCIPLE III Lead by Susie Bond, Claire Worrall and Dorothy Sadler (meeting Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Branford Lounge, beginning 9/13) DISCIPLE IV Lead by Lynn Kohler and Sue Spencer (possibly meeting Thursdays from 4:30 6:30 p.m. in the Baker Lounge, starting 9/15) DISCIPLE V (Jesus and the Gospels) Lead by Jim Jasch (meeting Mondays, 3-5 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room, beginning 9/12) - NOW CLOSED DUE TO FULL REGISTRATION This ministry supports the overall focus of Faith Development at Epworth, which includes a vast variety of small group studies and support groups that allow us to explore the importance of faith in our lives. Our thanks goes to Jim Jasch and Tim Bush for their leadership in this important area of ministry at Epworth. Signup sheets will be available for anyone interested in attending any of these classes, except for DISCIPLE V, which is already full. Pins and certificates will be presented for those who have completed last year s courses on Sunday, September 11, in all three worship services. Please pray for all those who lead and participate in DISCIPLE at Epworth this year. Sunday Morning Worship Services 7:45 ~ 9:15 ~ 11:15 7:45 &11:15 * Traditional Worship Message of Faith Choir and Special Music 9:15* PRAISE! Contemporary Worship** Sunday School for all Ages * Child Care Available Dress is Casual ** American Sign Language Interpreted Holland Glade Road Rehoboth Beach, DE Fax: office@eumcrb.org PLACE STAMP HERE