THE TWIG BENDER. By Rev. Denise Janssen

Transcription

1 Greenwood UMC July 2013 THE TWIG BENDER July 2013 Page Vacation Bible School 2013 Kids, Adults Travel Back in Time By Rev. Denise Janssen A bout sixty children made a journey back in time to a Bible times marketplace during the last week of June at Greenwood s Vacation Bible School. At Marketplace 29 A.D., the kids and over 20 adult helpers learned more about life in Jesus time and the context of the Bible stories through a variety of activities recreating life in first century Judea. OUR MINISTRY OF PRAYER Please pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ Zack Carns, Jeremy Coleman, Ronald Dolan, Aggie Dalton, Ashley Draper, Jennifer Edwards and the Triplets, McKenzie Fulcher, Erika Lowry, Lisa Patteson, Laura Patteson, Dean Pittman, Raymond Ritchie, Porter Schermerhorn, Tommy Sheets, Lavelle Sheffield, Steve Sheffield, Teresa, Bobby and Austin Skloss, Bob Smith, Harold Yeary We are grateful for the many people who contributed. See the partial list of thanks on page 7. Each child registered with the Census Takers, then moved into the sanctuary for a time of welcome, music, prayer, and announcements. Dressing like Bible times was part of the fun each child and adult donned a Bible (Continued on page 11)

2 Page 2 From the Pastor Annual Conference 2013 Annual Conference came and went once again. As I returned and spoke with various church members, many asked how it went. I have always struggled with how to answer that question. The question implies to me that it could go poorly, that something catastrophic could happen, or that it is something to be dreaded more than a visit to the dentist when you know you have a cavity or need a root canal done. But that has never been the experience for me. In fact, I attended Annual Conference more than ten years before my first opportunity to go as a delegate (youth delegate). Going as a member of the clergy is an honor, not a burden. John Wesley began the tradition of the Annual Conference shortly after sending clergy to America during the Revolutionary War. The purpose was to gather the clergy together to recharge their batteries as they worshipped together, shared in their experiences (good and bad), and discussed what needed to be done to better share the Gospel. It was determined that all the clergy should come together at least once a year to connect with each other, to encourage each other and to check the status of the clergy and their work (reports, and more (Continued on page 10) Charge Picnic Set for August The Greenwood/Laurel Park United Methodist Churches Charge will hold a picnic on Saturday, August 3, at 4 p.m. at Meadow Farm Shelter 1. Everyone in the Laurel Park and Greenwood church families and their guests are welcome.

3 July 2013 Page 3 Anita Appointed Associate Pastor The Reverend Anita Mays has been appointed as the Associate Pastor at Mt. Pisgah UMC. Anita is the former Greenwood/Laurel Park Minister of Christian Education. I feel so blessed that I get to do this! she said. I'm very excited about this next step in my journey, Anita commented, of which so many special people and places have been a part. It required lots of wrestling and struggling, but I am sure that all of the very difficult and prayerful decisions I've made in the last year have led me to the place God would have me be. Anita told that she counts Greenwood and Laurel Park among those special people and places." Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church is located in Midlothian. July Communion Offering Sheltering Arms Bible Study Starts in August The next Greenwood/Laurel Park Bible study will start mid to late August and run for 4 to 6 weeks. The topic is yet to be determined. See next month s issue of for more information.

4 Page 4 Bench Honors Sheffields Have you noticed the concrete bench outside the church's office door? The bench commemorates Willis and Lavelle Sheffield s 70 th anniversary in June and their 90 th birthdays Lavelle in April and Willis in June. The Fellowship Class donated the bench and set it up there. The Sheffields have both been very active in numerous roles in Greenwood over the years. It seems only fitting to remember them at this big milestone in their life, said Fellowship Class member Adamarye Patteson. Take a few minutes and sit down on the bench and just pray for our church, its leaders and our members.

5 July 2013 Page 5 Rev. Barbara on Vacation in July Reverend Barbara will be away from the pulpit on three Sundays in July. She will be taking vacation with her family and will be attending some professional conferences. In Rev. Barbara s absence, certified lay speaker Terri Harris (Dawning Ladd s daughter) will preach on Sunday, July 21. Our minister of Christian Education, Rev. Denise, will bring the message on July 14 and 28. Hopefully Rev. Barbara can get insome relaxation before she has to return and face us Be Prepared Read the Scriptures Here are the June lectionary readings you can review to prepare for upcoming worship services. July 4 Independence Day July 7 July 14 July 21 July 28 Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-21, Psalm 72, Galatians 5:13-26, John 8: Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:1-16; Luke 10:1-11, Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37 Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-19; Luke 11:1-13

6 Page 6 Summer Fun Teens Present the Tale of Snow White Oh, no! Not another Snow White play! The Henrico Teen Theater Company will make you laugh out loud this summer as they will present The Tale of Snow White. This fresh and funny adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale, set in a fun frame of a contemporary mom reading to her bickering children, is loaded with bright new faces and comedic twists! Great fun for the whole family! The Teen Theater Company will stage the play July 31 through August 3, 2013, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road. Admission is free, but reservations are required and can be made beginning June 24 by calling This presentation is sponsored by Henrico County Division of Recreation and Parks. Rev. Barbara s new home phone number: Fellowship Dinners, FunRaiser s Bag Lunches, Cornerstones and Circles are taking a vacation. They ll be back in September.

7 July 2013 Page 7 Marketplace 29 A.D. Thanks You! To the gracious volunteers adults who led the booth activities, shepherded kids, told the stories and led the music! To all other adult helpers who provided the snacks, moved tables, locked the doors, created nametags and invitation cards and pitched in where needed! To all those who donated craft and snack items, and others who donated cash to help purchase necessary items! Also to those who salvaged needed items from the curb and from resale shops! To those who grilled hot dogs, set tables and chairs, served lunch and cleaned up the Fellowship Hall on Friday! To the people of Laurel Park UMC who donated the use of their tents, and especially to John Johnston and Lawrence and Libby Stout, who helped set up and take down the tents! Also to the Schulers for loaning their tent for the storyteller, and to Jean Mowatt and William Gibbs for sharing their well! To the people of Winn s Baptist Church and to Children s Minister Dana Osburne who donated the use of costumes, baskets, and tons of supplies and ideas! Also to those who helped pick up and return these wonderful gifts! To the summer program at Blessed Hands Child Development Center, and to the wonderful kids and leaders who joined us for the week! To all those who prayed for, planned, invited and welcomed our young guests for the week! Please know that your gifts made a difference in the lives of those who participated in VBS!

8 Page 8 Greenwood UMC July 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 6:30 p.m. Boy Independence Day a.m. Men s Breakfast 7 LAMB s Basket Sunday 8 6 a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy :30 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Cub Bastille Day 15 6 a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy :30 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Cub F r i e n d s h i p Q u i l t e r s a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy :30 p.m. Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Cub 26 Twig Bender Deadline a.m. Drive By Prayer 6:30 p.m. Boy August 1 August 2 August 3 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast

9 July 2013 Page 9 Mark Your Calendars August 3... Charge Picnic at Crump Park September 2... Labor Day September 3.. Greenwood After School Opens Session September th Sunday Combined Service at Laurel Park October 6... World Communion Sunday

10 Page 10 Annual Conference 2013 (Continued from page 2) reports). A list of questions was assembled called Minute Questions, and each was to be asked and answered at each conference. It was quickly apparent that if we wanted a democratic church and a balanced report that an equal number of lay people (regular folks from the pews) needed to be included to balance the clergy. Annual Conferences have been meeting each year since, and the Minute Questions are read and answered. Those questions allow us to celebrate ministry within our churches and to see how our individual outposts (the local church) relate to another. But the time together also helps us see how we are not just one outpost, but a group of outposts working together, supporting each other (sharing ideas, prayer, people, materials, and other resources) and a larger group that is part of a world-wide church. Many reports are submitted ahead of time in The Book of Reports, clearly listing the items for which votes are required by the whole body of the Annual Conference because of church or federal law. Annual Conference isn t about disagreements, petty disputes, or haggling over details so much as it is an opportunity for the church (denomination) to take its temperature. Dr. Steve Harper, retired Professor of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, acknowledged that we all have periods of dryness in our spiritual lives as he taught our Bible Study. These times are an opportunity to reach out to others for their help in prayer. He says that nothing is accomplished when we take the deepest realities of our lives and exclude them from our praying. (Continued on page 12)

11 July 2013 Page 11 Marketplace 29 A.D. (Continued from page 1) times robe and made a rope belt to help make the trip to the marketplace in their imaginations. Marketplace activities included bread making, weaving, synagogue school/scribe, mud bricks, stone etching, art/pottery, weights/ measures, herbs/spices, candy making, and beekeeping. A visit to the storyteller and a snack rounded out the morning. Canopy tents dotted the church lawn, and a well appeared in the midst of them to help set the stage for the Bible times marketplace. At the close of the marketplace each day, a character from Bible times came and shared something from their life with the kids Zaccheaus and the woman at the well are just two examples. I liked singing best, said nine-year-old Deja, especially Peace Like a River with the wavy river (motioning with her hand)! Another child commented how they had always been afraid of bees but Bob the Bee Guy helped them learn about how helpful bees can be. An adult leader noted, This set-up, with the Marketplace, really helped the kids experience Bible times, not just learn about them. Several of our guests from the summer program at Blessed Hands Child Development Center commented on how welcome they felt and how much fun it was to do VBS in this way. Although the trip back to Jesus day is over for this year, the experience of the marketplace lingers in our memories and helps to inform our understanding of the Bible every day.

12 Page 12 Annual Conference 2013: Continued (Continued from page 10) Evangelism awards recognized clergy and lay members who had done interesting things to share their faith with others. They had taken God s word with them into daily living. Tim Hares, a youth, shared his faith with his sports teammates and led several of them in volunteering in their community. Friday night, was a time of remembrance as we shared Holy Communion together and as we acknowledged the clergy and lay members of Annual Conference who had died since last June, grieving together with their families while giving thanks for how they mentored others in faith. Time was spent on Saturday honoring the many years of service of 44 dedicated clergy who retired this year. And then we recognized and participated as a whole group in acknowledging God s call on individual lives as we ordained 13 individuals who have spent at least 6 years preparing to be elders (ministers who are fully trained and members for life in the conference), another 5 as Deacons (ministers focusing on ministry connecting the church to the world), commissioning 19 as provisional members (completed seminary and an extensive application process and are now interning as ministers), and licensing 28 others (some theological education, licensed to do the work of a minister in a specific location for a limited time). But the one thing that John Wesley emphasized and sometimes gets lost in the very tight conference schedule is relationships. Seeing and talking (Continued on page 13)

13 July 2013 Page 13 Annual Conference 2013: Continued (Continued from page 12) with people of other churches around the conference, catching up with our previous pastors, district superintendents and colleagues, seeing the delegates youth leaders, lay leaders and people we call United Methodist brothers and sisters in Christ. We honor the vision of John Wesley, our denomination s founder, when we gather together to encourage one another and to reaffirm our commitment to Jesus Christ. So how did Annual Conference go this year? Just as prescribed with all 80+ Minute Questions answered, reports presented, resources shared, information presented, recognitions made, authorization of clergy done, friendships started and others renewed until we meet again, beneath the cross of Jesus. Grace and Peace Barbara New Church Office Hours Tuesday Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Volunteers Welcome)

14 Page 14 Greenwood Church Family Birthdays Isaiah Robinson... 7/3 Courtney Neagle... 7/4 Jennifer Friedline... 7/5 Dorothy Powell... 7/7 Brad Lahocki... 7/23 Raymond Ritchie... 7/24 Kyle Lahocki... 7/28 Cole Morgan... 7/30 Anniversaries Janice & Charley Banks... 7/12 Don t see your birthday or wedding anniversary in The Twig Bender and would like to have us publish it? Send your dates to admin@gumcva.org or call the church office at ; likewise, let us know if you d like your birthday or anniversary removed. Altar Flowers If you d like to remember or honor someone with flowers on the altar, you can sign up to do so on the chart that s posted in the hall outside the church office. Altar flowers cost $20. We prefer payment by check; please make your check out to Greenwood UMC and put Altar Flowers on the memo line. Please send your payments to the church office within a week before or after the Sunday your flowers appear on the altar.

15 July 2013 Page 15 June Attendance and Offerings Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce Proverbs 3:9 Date Sunday School Worship Giving June ,338 June ,414 June June ,841 June ,527 June Totals ,045 Weekly Average ,609 2 Quarter Totals ,379 2Q Weekly Average ,645 YTD Totals 490 1,161 51,665 YTD Averages ,987 We need a weekly offering of at least $2,678 to meet Greenwood s operating budget of $139,240. Your generosity is appreciated. is a publication of Greenwood United Methodist Church Greenwood Road Glen Allen, VA Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Pastor Rev. Barbara Lewis revbarbara@gumcva.org Minister of Christian Ed. Rev. Denise Janssen revdlj@att.net Music Director Ms. Susanna Carson After School Phone: Office admin@gumcva.org Fax: editor Steve Stalnaker webmaster@gumcva.org Visit our web site at Greenwood UMC all rights reserved