The Son Shine News. A Monthly Newsletter for the Unity United Methodist Church. Our Mission Statement is: Living, Learning, and Loving through Christ

Transcription

1 The Son Shine News A Monthly Newsletter for the Unity United Methodist Church Our Mission Statement is: Living, Learning, and Loving through Christ Sept 2018 It s fall, a season that can be a bittersweet time of year for many. For some, fall means that the carefree days of summer are over and it s time to get back into a routine. (Read further for old and new things starting up this month ) For others it means that the cooler weather is on its way and the cold days of winter can t be far behind. For still others, it s a time to finish those outside projects before the snows come. Fall is my favorite time of year. I seem to come alive when the dry, cool air returns to our region after the hot and muggy days of summer. At this time of year, I like going out into the orchards apple-picking and going on Sunday drives to look at the foliage. My favorite fairs Farmington and Fryeburg - are in the fall. I don t even mind raking up the leaves that my big red maple tree scatters on my front lawn. These traditions help me get in touch with nature during the fall. Fall reminds me of the Creator who gave us the wondrous gift of the changing seasons. The last of the fruit and vegetables are being harvested, and it s time for the earth and the living things to rest. But our earth doesn t timidly slip into slumber. Instead, it gives us a last bold splash of color, when the red, orange and yellow hues that were hidden in summer are revealed when the cool air arrives. As we move into fall this month, stop for a moment, an afternoon or a day and take notice of the wonders that God has given us in creation. Give thanks for the changing of the seasons and those remaining Indian Summer days. Pastor Karen (Continued on page 3) 1

2 Additional mailing addresses (p 13) Boy Scout News (p 6) Camp Mechuwana (p 5) Extra produce or Flowers? (p 11) Good Steward Thrift Shop (p 14) Holly Berry Fair (p 12) Home Depot helps UMCOR (p 7) Information Page (p 19) Ministry of Prayer (p 15) Mission/Vision statements and strategic goals (pp 17 18) Newborn blankets and prayers (p 10) Pastor s Message (pp 1, 3 4) Pastor s Schedule (p 2) Prayer Chain (pp 15 16) Table of Contents (p 2) The Story of a Small Maine Church (pp 8 9) Pastor Karen s Schedule Pastor Karen is generally available after worship on Sundays and in the evening during the week. She is happy to schedule meetings or visits when needed. Please feel free to reach out to her at (207) or by at pastorkaren39@gmail.com. She typically responds to phone calls on the same day and s within 24 hours. 2

3 (Continued from Page 1) Pastor Karen on Vacation August 26 September 3 Pastor Karen will be on vacation after worship August 26th through September 3rd. Rev. Chong Choi (Fairfield/Clinton) will be providing pastoral coverage for emergencies while Pastor Karen is away. He can be reached at Preaching on September 2nd is Brenda Haskell of Winslow. Brenda worked for the State of Maine for over 20 years and recently retired after 10 years with the University of Maine System. She obtained her Masters in Divinity from Bangor Theological Seminary in From 1999 through 2007 she served as a licensed local pastor for United Methodist Churches in Hartland and Vassalboro. Please be sure to welcome Brenda on September 2 nd. Bible Study starts September 11 th The Bible study group starts a 10-week study of the book of John on September 11 th. The group meets in the Fellowship Hall every Tuesday (unless canceled for storms) from 9:30 11:00 a.m. All are welcome bring a friend! Come for the entire study or weekly as you are able. Jackie McCormick Retires as Organist Last month, Jackie McCormick retired after giving many years of service to God and the church as organist at Unity UMC. Her music is sorely missed. Jackie continues to attend worship when she is able. A retirement reception is in the planning stages and the date will be announced when it is set. In the meantime, please reach out to Jackie when you see her, and thank her for her many years of service. (Continued on Page 4) 3

4 (Continued from Page 3) Lectors Needed Unity UMC starts its fall season this month. This includes having folks scheduled to serve as lectors during worship. The lector assists by leading the Call to Worship, reads scripture, introduces the offering, and on Communion Sunday helps read & serve. Training is given and readings are provided in advance. A sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. September is filled, but there are opportunities in October, November and December. Sign up for a month, or you can share a month with a friend. If you re unable to serve any particular Sunday, just arrange for a substitute. Thanks for stepping out in faith to serve. Pastor s Prayer List Coming There s a song that goes It s me, it s me, it s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Let s face it - at one time or another, we all stand in the need of prayer. Starting this month, Pastor Karen and our church will pray for church members, attendees and others by name each week. This is in addition to the joys and concerns we share in Sunday worship. She will use the church membership list to identify individuals and families to pray for. She ll contact these folks to let them know we are praying for them, and ask for any special needs to be kept in prayer. She ll include these folks in her daily prayers and in Sunday worship that week. Please feel free to contact Pastor Karen anytime you or a loved one needs special prayers and she will be sure to add you to the list. And remember when you re standing in the need of prayer, prayers and pray-ers are always welcome and needed! Congratulations Our warmest congratulations go out to two couples who were married in our church last month. Ashli Raven and John Pelletier were married on Saturday, August 11 th. Kathie Cloonan and Jay Mason were married on Sunday, August 12 th. We offer our congratulations and our continued prayers for both couples as they start their new married life together. Like Us on Facebook! Are you on Facebook? Unity UMC has a Facebook page that includes inspirational items, prayer requests, church news, events and more. Check out our page by searching for Unity United Methodist Church and hit the Like button. If you have something to be posted on our page, please contact Pastor Karen. 4

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6 We Are Getting A Gazebo Eagle Scout Candidate Logan Wadick of our Boy Scout Troop is shown here with his crew digging holes for the supports of the gazebo. The Eagle Scout project is the final requirement Logan must complete before he appears before his Board of Review. Our best wishes to Logan and the other scouts in their endeavors. 6

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8 'Coming alongside': The story of a small Maine church It s not uncommon for a small rural church to feel isolated like a ship on the open sea when there are no other ships in sight. But United Methodist churches are connected. They have less in common with the ship in that simile than they do with the streams and rivers that flow into the oceans that circle the world. This is the story of a small church on the Maine coast that experienced that connection in a way that allowed them to receive support and, in turn, to offer it. You ll get it back tenfold The harbor view from Cutler UMC would make a great greetings from Maine postcard. The church doors are always open. Tourists this day two couples on a sailing trip can stop by to use the restroom. A local woman who doesn t have a phone knows she s welcome to use the church s for local calls. Jeremy, the lobster fisherman who lives in the house next door, keeps a watchful eye on the church. Cutler UMC Cutler Pastor Sharon Stevens Grant said that she felt the spirit of the church before she started serving here (as lay supply beginning in 2016 and in 2018 as pastor). I used to travel with (former Northern Maine District Superintendent) Pat MacHugh when I was her district lay leader, she said. I would travel with Christopher, my grandson. He came down to this church with me, and he said, you know, this is the church we should go to. It s the people, she said. (Continued on page 9) 8

9 (Continued from page 8) The people number about a dozen in worship during the winter; it s closer to 20 in summer. One of those is Charlotte McKennan, church treasurer. Most of the people in town are churched, she said. We wish they would all come here. But even without the pews filled, years ago, this small congregation accepted their then-pastor David Arruda s challenge to give a portion of what they had to help another church. He wanted to prove to us that tithing really works, McKennan said, and he said Let s do this; let s tithe our plate to someone that needs help. He said You ll get it back tenfold, she added, and we had two prosperous years at least maybe a few more. The church continues to tithe, and now their donations go to Arise, a faith-based program to combat drug addiction sponsored by Machias (ME) Christian Fellowship. Opioid addiction is a significant problem in Maine. We need our Arise program badly, Cutler members said. Arise is just the latest recipient of the church s generosity. They have tithed to Pembroke (ME) UMC, and, before that, to North Perry UMC in Perry, ME. 9

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13 Madeline Stevenson Room #27 Woodlands Senior Living of Waterville 147 West River Road Waterville, Maine Bruce Jansen Room #39 Oak Grove Center 27 Cool Street Waterville, Maine Helen Gillette Room #14 Stillwater Health Care 335 Stillwater Ave Bangor, Maine

14 The GOOD STEWARD THRIFT SHOP is now open on SATURDAY from 10:00 2:00!!! The Good Steward Thrift Shop is filled from ceiling to floor, upstairs and down, with donated men s, women s and youth clothing and shoes, a wellstocked kitchen, two rooms full of home goods, CDs, books, and recently.. a new holiday room has been added. Everything we sell is in good condition and extremely affordable! Donations are appreciated. Individuals who want to volunteer at the thrift store, please sign up in the shop. Check out our 14

15 The Ministry of Prayer As a church we believe in the power of prayer. Please pray for the following concerns: Rita Andrews & her family; Barry McCormick & family; Joyce Chase s sister, Marilyn; Bette s sister Becky & cousin Valerie; Madeline Stevenson; Helen Gillette; Olive & Carl Braley; Charlene & Paul LaBrie; Charlene s nephew, David; Evelyn Wilbur & family; Roger & Marie Barber; Dottie & Bruce Jansen; Cathy Welch; Emma Dorman s surgery; Our Scouting Program & The Unity community; Dale & Sharon Shaw during Dale s upcoming surgery; Cassandra, who is expecting her baby any time; Lieutenant Chase as he serves overseas; The yard work that is being done at Rita Andrews' house (lawn and tree); Rita's daughter and grandson, who had a great week at camp; Charlene and Paul as they celebrated their 48th anniversary; Charlene, who has a surgery recently; Kathryn & Jay's recent wedding; Deb's friends are visiting from Rochester, NY; Deb, who travels to Rochester to be with her daughter and her new baby; the family of Jane Cole, who was killed in a car accident, and for the young man who was driving; The family of Paul Conley who passed away in Florida; Kim, who is pregnant and returning to work as a teacher; Christie s niece Carrie who has M.S.; a cousin Kara, who is moving away from home for the first time; Jackie, whose son and daughter are both having surgery far away; Carolyn Gaul, whose husband recently died; Sandi, who continues to heal after her recent fall; A niece Linda who is in the hospital; Missing loved ones in Heaven when special days (birthdays, anniversaries) come around; The ongoing immigration situation at our borders; All who suffer from addictions and their families; All facing health challenges; Our emergency responders; Our seasonal workers; Neighbors of different religious traditions; The firefighters in California; Lobstermen and others affected by tariffs; All who work in the summer heat and humidity; Families and friends of youths killed in accidents in our state; Ongoing divisiveness in our country as political campaigns ramp up; Students and teachers returning to school; The mother and children murdered recently; All killed or injured in the bridge collapse in Italy; All who miss loved ones who have died, as special days (birthdays, anniversaries) come and go; All who are traveling; the town of Binghamton, NY, which has experienced severe flooding in a poor part of town; Barbara and her family; Jackie McCormick s son who had surgery and her daughter who had surgery twice; Helen Gillette, who was in the hospital after a fall, but is back home now; Deb s son Adam and Sarah who had a miscarriage, and for another son and wife who learned they are expecting in November. Also please pray for the following joys: The two couples recently married in our church; the beautiful stained-glass windows in our church; That Audrey has friends from Connecticut here welcome to Bill and Terry; That Emma can walk with less pain; That Karen s daughter Lisa is here, and joy for her granddaughter Mikayla s birthday; Dottie, who made the chair cushions in the fellowship hall ; Kathie s 105 year old aunt who is still going strong ; Jackie s retirement as organist, and for all of her years of service; The music today; The flowers that Dottie brought for the altar; That Deb is back home from New York; Deb s daughter Melissa who had a daughter Ava Hope; Bette s daughter s 50 th birthday, and the joy of having 4 great grandsons together; The Unity Barn Raisers, Veggies for All, and Johnny s Seeds who are donating fresh produce to folks in need; First responders who aided Bill s daughter; Our farmers. See Pastor Karen to add your prayer concerns here or to change status of those listed. If you or a family member need pastoral care, please contact Pastor Karen, If she is not available, please contact our Lay Leader Christie Saunders at

16 Sometimes it s not easy to stand up and speak out our personal prayer needs. If you have a prayer request, we will keep your needs in our prayers each day for the week following your request. Also, if you need has been answered, we would love to hear and rejoice with you in prayers of thankfulness. OPTIONS: Turning in a prayer card (found in the back of the sanctuary) during our Worship Service Contact Pastor Karen, at Contact our secure online site for our Christian community Companions in Christ, The Way of PRAYER ( us) Our church believes in the power and importance of prayer: Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 16

17 1. RADICAL HOSPITALITY FINAL STRATEGIC GOALS (SG) SG #1: Being intentional about inviting the unchurched into our faith community SG #2: Being intentional in church the GSTS in offering sincere greeting to welcome people to worship as they are, where they are. God loves you as you are. SG #3: Being intentional about offering a safe, friendly, pleasant facility/grounds in which people can gather, learn and worship. 2. PASSIONATE WORSHIP SG #1: Being intentional about connecting people to God through a meaningful worship experience SG #2: Being intentional about exploring various ways of inviting church members/outside groups to share their gifts in worship. 3. INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT SG #1: To be diligent in offering opportunities for each individual of our faith community to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ and in the knowledge and love of God. 4a. RISK TAKING MISSION AND SERVICE **THE CHURCH SG #1: Discerning God s call to step out beyond our comfort zones to meet the needs of our community. 4b. RISK TAKING MISSION AND SERVICE **GOOD STEWARD THRIFT SHOP SG #1: Discern intentional ways in which to offer God s love and grace to our local community through the ministry of the Good Steward Thrift Shop. SG #2: Intentionally providing more opportunities for volunteers to share in God s love and grace by serving at the Good Steward Thrift Shop. 5. EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY SG #1: Intentionally seeking opportunities for making a positive difference in the lives of people beyond our walls through congregational support and outreach. SG #2: Intentionally cultivating a spirit of generous giving within the congregation throughout the year. SG#3: Intentionally teach, preach, and practice that generous giving is a spiritual discipline. 17

18 The Leadership Team has completed their work in discerning the church s new mission and vision statements. This has come after months of prayerful meetings in which the congregational responses to survey questions were considered. Below are the mission and vision statements along with the strategic goals formulated out of the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations material. All were approved by the Administrative Committee on Sunday, July 19, Thanks to all who participated. MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS: Unity United Methodist Church Mission Statement: Living, Learning, and Loving through Christ Unity United Methodist Church Vision Statement: As followers of Jesus Christ, we strive to be a beacon of hope, reflecting God s light and love. In order to live out our vision we covenant to practice: RADICAL HOSPITALITY Welcoming one another as we are with the love of God PASSIONATE WORSHIP Connecting to God through authentic and engaging worship INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT Growing together in the grace and love of Jesus Christ RISK TAKING MISSION AND SERVICE Reaching out to meet needs within our community and beyond EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Cultivating a spirit of generous giving of our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness for the Glory of God. 18

19 Information Page Unity United Methodist Church 13 Depot St. PO Box 146 Unity, Maine Pastor: Rev. Karen Garcia; or Lay Leader: Christie Saunders; Council Chair: Gene Pfeiffer; Building & Grounds Chair: Barry McCormick; Worship Service 10 AM Sunday Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday Please Like the Unity United Methodist Church in Facebook Check out our Church WEBSITE at articles to: or Contact us at final Nonconformists are all alike! 19