1. Free your heart from hatred.

Transcription

1 Praise the Lord. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Psalm 111:1 The newsletter of First United Methodist Church of Waynesburg July/August 2018 Dear Friends, Summer is a wonderful time for families and friends. It is a great time to relax a little. I have another story to share with you for the summer months. One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off! Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! Remember the five simple rules to be happy: 1. Free your heart from hatred. 2. Free your mind from worries 3. Live simply. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less. Life is going to throw some challenges at us all this summer shake it off, take a step up, and remember that we are not alone. God is with us! Shalom, Pastor David Pastor David Lake s Office Hours: Varied (9-12 a.m. T-F) Church Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Please join us for Sunday Services: 8:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. F.I.S.H. Club 9:30 a.m. Children plus Adult Ed Classes First United Methodist Church 112 N Richhill St Waynesburg, PA firstumcpa@windstream.net

2 Goodbye As our time worshipping with our Waynesburg First UMC family comes to a close, Sara and I want to thank you all for the great memories that we have made here with you, as well as the love that you have continually shown us. Maybe most of all, we thank you for the great love you have shown Luca. In addition, we appreciate your prayers and support as we begin this new adventure. We are thankful that we will not be too far away, so that we will be able to stay in touch and occasionally make the drive back down to visit our Waynesburg family! Please make sure to grab a copy of The Way Mission and Youth Newsletter to find a broader reflection of our time here, including pictures of our ministry these last five years. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing, we will be happy to hear from you in the months and years ah ead. We hope to see you all again soon! With love, Sara, Alex, and Luca. Mission is most impactful when: 1. We know God our Master deeply. 2. We make sacrifices for the sake of others. 3. It is done through a community of people. Prayer Team There will routinely be a prayer team at the overflow area following the 10:45 service. Anyone who would like to be prayed for immediately following the service is encouraged to see one of the members of the prayer team. Like to Bike? Like a Challenge? Join with bike-minded United Methodists for a five-day, 315-mile Bike-a-Thon from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. from August and raise funds for the Bishop's Camping and Retreat Initiative. Bikers will begin at Boston UMC, travel the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Trail and complete the trip in Washington, D.C. Get details at wpaumc.org/bikeathon. Mark Your Calendar: Annual Church Picnic Sunday, September 9 after the 10:45 Worship Service (12:05 3 -PM) at Lions Club Park s JC Pavillion

3 GENERAL FUND 2018 MONTH INCOME EXPENSES PROFIT/(LOSS) JANUARY $ 19, $ 26, $ (6,252.51) FEBRUARY $ 21, $ 22, $ (1,339.97) MARCH $ 15, $ 19, $ (3,297.27) APRIL $ 22, $ 22, $ MAY $ 13, $ 22, $ (8,901.60) JUNE $.00 $.00 $.00 JULY $.00 $.00 $.00 AUGUST $.00 $.00 $.00 SEPTEMBER $.00 $.00 $.00 OCTOBER $.00 $.00 $.00 NOVEMBER $.00 $.00 $.00 DECEMBER $.00 $.00 $.00 *NOTE: Figures in parentheses are negative. *NOTE: Figures do not include in-church transfers. Prison Ministry update... The prison ministry team is currently on summer break, but our thoughts and prayer remain with our brothers in Christ at SCI Greene. I thought I would share with you a letter that I received from one of the inmates in our Purpose Driven Life program. He wrote this letter specifically to me (Ms. Connie) but also wrote one to each of the volunteers with specific things that he appreciates about them in particular. Ms Connie, Thank you for all you have done for me in 40 Days of Purpose with the Word, the song of the books of the Bible, memory verses. Thank for the tablets, pens, highlighters, lessons and the Purpose Driven Life book. Thanks for letting me pick on you with the song and other things. Thanks for sharing your testimonies and prayer concerns and praying for me. Thanks for coming every week. Thanks for putting up with me. I will be praying for you always. You re such a blessing to me. This letter touched my heart so much because he specifically mentioned every little detail. He could have easily said thank you for everything or thank you for the supplies but he made a point to mention each item in particular and thank me for it. Just a note that the inmates are able to purchase these types of items at the commissary but at a pay rate of.19/hour it is nearly impossible to save up enough money for these items in addition to the toiletries and other items they need to purchase. This gentleman is really showing his appreciation for what we do. And, we find that most of the men feel this same way even if they can t articulate it as well as this man does. What a thoughtful gift of love from someone who has nothing to give other than his kind words of appreciation. To God be the glory for the great things that He is doing in the life of these men at SCI Greene! Connie Hart on behalf of the prison team; Shirley Baily, Rex Gardner, Bill Sukolsky and Teresa Roberts

4 WE WANT YOU... Care &Share is not a 1, 2 or even 3 person job. It takes many people. Although we have many on our list to help, we wouldn't want to leave anyone out that would like to be of service. Do you like to cook? Could you use your time to take someone to an appointment? Do you have time to sit and visit? Do you have the talent to build or repair, or climb a ladder to change a light bulb for someone that can't? Please see or call Jeanette Lindsay ( ) or Janet Cree ( ) if you'd like to share your gifts & talents for the Lord. Donations Needed We are taking yarn donations pinks & blues to make the dolls for OCC. People can give to Char Graham or Marion Fowler. We will be announcing in the fall that we will gather to make The Cherry Door Needs Donations and Volunteers : Cherry Door proceeds go to the Washington Health System Greene Auxiliary which benefits the local hospital s greatest needs. The Auxiliary also provides scholarships for nursing students and students in a health related major. They need: Lightly used clothing, shoes, purses, jackets, etc. for men, women, and children. Also, housewares, small appliances, suitcases, lamps, books, linens, small furniture, picture frames, DVDs, cassettes, toys, baby accessories, etc. Please no large furniture, TVs, or large appliances. Space is limited. Your donation could be tax deductible. Tax forms are available. To volunteer your time please call Volunteers Needed: Meals on Wheels is in need of volunteers! Also, Blueprints is looking for Ombudsman volunteers. Call: or Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Blueprints (formerly Southwest Community Action) is in need of retired and senior volunteers to help them during the daytime. Please call Jill at Ext. 520 if you are able to volunteer your time.

5 FUMC Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Schedule of Events This is one of our biggest, church-wide ministries and it is in conjunction with Samaritan s Purse (Franklin Graham s aid organization). We pack gift shoeboxes for kids worldwide- these contain shoes, toys, candy and other gifts. Every shoebox also contains a booklet in each child s native language explaining that Jesus loves them, what He did to save all of us, and what that means for them personally. Each small shoebox is a powerful way for Christians to show the love of God to children in other lands. Last year alone, 11 million boxes were donated worldwide!!! We pack everything in 6-quart plastic Sterlite containers that can be re-used to carry water & other things. KC & Rich will supply the boxes, so you don t have to. We just need for you to buy the items that go inside. This ministry requires everyone s help. We need people to buy the small items (see below), help pre-pack some things, then finally pack the shoeboxes on our church s box assembly day. So we need YOU!!! This year we ll try for 400 boxes. Remember that sizes are for children of these ages: 2-4, 5-9, and Please prayerfully consider making a donation of a selected item each month- there is an OCC bin in the church entryway for donations. These are very affordable items- go to any dollar store, Walmart or Big Lots. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!! These items go all over the world, where they are needed most- bless you!!! Date Category Please Donate: JULY Continue-> Shoes & sunglasses, Small SCHOOL SUPPLIES Chalk, pencils, pens, small notebooks, crayons/colored pencils, small scissors, tape, solar calculators, markers, erasers, paper clips, pencil sharpeners. Please keep it small. No large coloring books or notebooks please. AUGUST Continue-> School Supplies, Toothbrushes (no toothpaste) AND Personal Care Items Toothbrushes, combs, brushes, soap (please no Ivory soap- it molds) and washcloths. We are no longer collecting toothpaste or candy.

6 SEPTEMBER Small Toys! Little stuffed animals, dolls, toy vehicles, small balls, puzzles, yo-yos, tops, flashlights and batteries, kazoos/harmonicas, etc. Please keep these small & non-warrelated please. OCTOBER Socks! Kid-sized socks. We are no longer collecting candy. NOVEMBER Saturday, November 10 PRE-PACKING PARTY 1-3 pm in the Fellowship Hall. LAST DAY TO DONATE items!!!! Postage (Postage is $9 per box) FUMC Pre-Packing Party- We need workers to help doublebag toothbrushes and soap. This makes Sunday go faster. Each box costs $9 to ship. Please join us! We need lots of helpers! Sunday, November 11 FUMC BOX ASSEMBLY DAY After 10:50 service in the fellowship hall. We are done by 3:00! Meet right after church. We ll take a pix of all the workers to include in each box next year. Pizza will be served. We need workers!!!! Please join us! We need lots of helpers- young and old! November National OCC Collection Week Boxes go to WBG Nazarene Church Keep your eyes open for shoe sales this summer. Check at the dollar stores, Big Lots and Walmart. Shoes/flip flops are a big deal as kids in Africa must have shoes to go to school. THESE ARE NO-NOs PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE: Used, soiled or damaged items War-related items like toy guns, knives or military figures Chocolate, candy, or food of any kind Liquids or lotions (no shampoo please. No hand sanitizer.) Toothpaste Medications or vitamins Breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers Aerosol cans - No Ivory soap please- it molds the entire box. Thank you SO MUCH for your support!!! These gifts mean so much to needy children!

7 God uses money as a tool to help us grow. Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15). Art Linkletter was absolutely correct in his observation a number of years ago: People are funny! Linkletter was especially on target if you take his statement to mean that sometimes people are strange in what they do and how they do it. One of the ways people show their true character is their attitude towards money and material possessions. Simply stated, people including you and me become very possessive about things. We frequently fail to realize the truth of a principle we have examined previously: Everything belongs to God, and we are just managers and stewards of what He has entrusted to us. God uses money and material possessions for a variety of purposes in our lives, but one of His main objectives is to use these items as tools to help us grow in our spiritual lives and in our attitudes. By providing our daily needs through His grace, God demonstrates His absolute control over all things and His personal interest in each of us. By giving us the strength and ability to work and earn that which is rightfully His, God helps us realize that He is our source. By giving to us so that we can give back to Him, God teaches us the value of investing for eternity. Our natural response apart from the instruction and leadership of the Holy Spirit is to hoard material possessions and money. That s why Jesus said, Take heed, and beware of all covetousness. Instead, as His children, our goal should be to obey His admonition found in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Today, as you consider the place of money and material possessions in your life, would you describe your life as one that is marked by a spirit of greed and by a spirit of selfishness that causes you to hoard for the future? Or, conversely, would you describe your life as one marked by a spirit of generosity and giving to God? Stated another way, where is your treasure today? In the bank? In stocks and bonds? In trusts and annuities? There s nothing wrong with saving and investing for the future. In fact, Jesus issued a public commendation for that in His Parable of the Talents. However, if that s your primary emphasis, you ve missed a major point of the Christian walk of faith. When it comes to financial matters, our emphasis as children of God is to store up treasure in heaven. I know of only one way to do that. It is something that is simple, and yet at the same time, complex. The only way I know that we can store up financial treasure in heaven is by giving to the work of the Lord.

8 Birthdays Choir Practice will resume in September! July 3 Greg Mankey 4 Nancy Riggle 6 Derek Duer 8 Abigail Hartman 9 Renee McElligott 11 Andrew Lake 13 Nancy Hartley 15 Cindy Ridout 19 Grace Patterson 22 John Mariner 26 Caleb Hartman 27 Melinda Huffman 28 Scott Evick 29 Bob Lang Teresa Roberts 31 Clorrisa Yeager August 2 Garrett Huffman Olivia Roberts 3 Ryan Hartley 6 Haddie Behm 12 Keith Rieder 13 Ellen Stuck KC Waddel Rich Waddel 17 Ed Hollowood 18 Irene Gapen 21 Stefanie Stoner 22 Lori Dunn 31 Erin McCall Greene County Hymn Sing July 8 at Mapletown UMC August 12 at Jefferson UMC September 9 at TBD "Prayer for a Brighter Greene will continue on the third Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. at the Greene County Fairgrounds (Building #9). Next meetings Tues., July 17 and Aug. 20, 2018! Your 2018 Offering Envelopes are in the church office and can be picked up anytime. Anyone who would like envelopes assigned to them, please call the church office at Pray always ~ without ceasing! Please call prayer requests to: the church office at If you would rather , send them to Wayne Hart at: wahart@windstream.net (Subject: Prayer Ministry)... Announcement List July 1...Youth July 8. Lynn Bussey July 15...Nate Duer July 22...Jeff Cree July 29...Rich Waddel August 5...Youth August KC Waddel August 19..Rich Waddel August Wayne Hart

9 July 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Independence Day PM Greene County Hymn Sing 7 PM Exploring the Ways PH PM Exploring the Ways PH PM Exploring the Ways PH 25 1-:30-3 PM Greene Co. Caregivers Support Group

10 August 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Noon Church Council 7 PM Greene County Hymn Sing Newsletter Deadline! :30-3 PM Greene Co. Caregivers Support Group PM Baby Shower SH 12-6 PM Baby Shower SH NEWSLETTER ARTICLES ARE DUE TO THE CHURCH OFFICE BY Monday, Aug. 20th or earlier.

11 Mission House From Janice Gottschalk, Board Chair/President Rada Products for Sale Frances Crawford has Rada tomato knives and paring knives on hand for sale (both black and stainless steel handles.) The tomato knives are $5.25 and the paring knives are $4.75. See Frances if you wish to purchase any. Rada products are always available with a catalog and order forms in the church office and through Frances Crawford.