S PA RTA. Inside This Issue:

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1 S PA RTA U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U RC H Inside This Issue: Calendar 2 Church + Society 3 Congregational Care 6 Notes & News 4 Small Groups 8 Special Worship Services 6 Study 8 United Methodist Women 7 Volunteer Opportunities 5 Worship Schedules 9 NEWSLETTER November 2016 Faithful Friends, As we begin our Season of Celebration, please remember to Seek First the Kingdom of God. It is appropriate that we would take the time to unpack the terminology. Is it a lot? Some say that the Kingdom of God was the primary subject of all Jesus preaching. The term appears 14 times in Mark s gospel, 32 times in Luke, 8 times in Paul, 6 times in acts, and twice in the Gospel of John. Matthew uses the term Kingdom of Heaven, which appears over 20 times in his gospel. Jesus promised this Kingdom to us. He taught us to pray for it--- for Thy Kingdom come--- along with daily bread and forgiveness. He attempted to explain it in parables, leaving us only more perplexed, and anything but comfortable, as one by one the parables defy every notion of convention, any religious boundaries, and each rational choice we might make. They confront us every time. The message of God s kingdom-reign is so much deeper and so much richer than any one idea. The Bible tells us that the Kingdom is within you (Luke ). The Bible tells us that the Kingdom is at hand (Matthew 3:2, 4:17). The Bible tells us that it is the inheritance of those who care for God s people (Matthew ). Paul writes to the church in the cosmopolitan city of the empire, Rome, that the Kingdom of God is a life of goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans ) So in order to seek that first, we might need to confess all the other things that we are seeking. Some of you are looking at colleges; the right fit for your child who will leave home for the first time. I remember the days when I was looking for the perfect companion. I had a number of saved search criteria. Robert and I have been searching the internet for the perfect home. He wants a Federalist Colonial. I want low taxes. The internet allows us to search for everything: recipes, movie times, game scores, and historical data. We can even build community there in chat rooms and game play. We can do our research on just about anything. Be careful. Seek God first so that all the other searching is focused appropriately. Seek Christ, the grace-filled renewing presence first. That will probably mean different things to each of us and keeps the life of the Spirit exciting. Some of us are constantly striving to make God more of a priority, worship weekly or at least more consistently, stay engaged with the missions and ministries, deepen our understanding of scripture, and expand our ability to talk about our faith. Some of us want to feed the poor and change the world. Seek, knock, ask. There is a gift. There is a door. There is a place, a state of being, and a time where God s love will rule. And before anything else in your life, you are to come to k that space. -Rev. Janice Sutton-Lynn

2 November

3 Church & Society -- Upcoming Events The Church and Society Committee of the Sparta United Methodist Church is connected to both the Conference and the General Boards of Church and Society. The job of the Church and Society Committee at all these levels in the United Methodist Church is to work on issues of social justice. SPECIAL VETERANS DAY EVENT On Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 th, at 7 p.m., Sparta UMC will host a free screening of the film, Their War Came Home, to honor our veterans and raise awareness about the issues that face the men and women who have served in the military as they return home. Created and produced by Korean and Vietnam veterans, Norm Seider, John Drinkard, and Carl Ohlson, this 50-minute documentary explores the consequences faced by the veterans, their families, and their friends as told from the perspectives of those who have experienced the traumas of war firsthand. A panel discussion will follow. The event is open to all and offers the opportunity to hear the concerns of our local veterans and lend your support. Their War Came Home 2016 a real life documentary film by Veterans Norman Seider, Carl Ohlson, John Drinkard SEE THIS FILM...» If you want to k what life is like for some of our returning veterans.» If you or someone you love -- or someone you k -- is trying to come home to a normal life.» If you want to k how family and friends all suffer if the Veteran is in the clutches of Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, alcohol and/or drug addiction, readjustment problems, identity crisis, unemployment, homelessness, and even suicide. ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS CARD SALES Send holiday greetings to your family and friends while helping others. During the four Sundays in Advent, beginning on November 28th, the Church and Society committee will be selling alternative Christmas Cards after each service. For $5 per card, you can donate to UNICEF (United Nations International Children s Emergency Fund), Doctors Without Borders, or Project Help. This is the first time the Church and Society committee has chosen to support Project Help. Project Help is an organization that aids the more than 6,000 homeless veterans and their families in New Jersey by distributing clothing and supplies. Please visit their website for more information ( All funds collected will be sent to the charity you designate. Church and Society committee members will be located in the narthex and fellowship hall. 3

4 Notes & News A Message from District Superintendent, Steve Bechtold On Wednesday evening, November 9th, Bishop Schol will be in our region to meet with the laity at 7:00 pm at the Little Falls United Methodist Church. Prior to that gathering, he has asked to meet for dinner with several laity from the region who are community organizers or persons working in the non-profit sector through community-based organizations. I need your help in identifying a few laity who are engaged in this kind of ministry. If you have persons in your church who are engaged in this kind of work (paid or volunteer), please our Administrative Assistant, Krystina Michalopoulos, with their names and addresses so that we might invite them to this dinner and time of conversation. Gatherings in the past few years have yielded rich conversation that has been beneficial to the laity involved, the bishop, and the cabinet. Please send us your suggestions within the coming week so that we might follow through with them. Thank you very much for your help. In Christ, Steve World Mission Gift Shop With the holidays just around the corner, come to the World Mission Gift Shop for that special Christmas gift or bread and butter/hostess gift. Coffee, tea, chocolate - Scarves and headbands - Jewelry - Games and puzzles - Household items Hours for your convenience: Wednesday 10:00 AM 2:00 PM Thursday and Friday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM 2:00 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM to 12:00 noon Volunteers always call Pat Johnson, , for further information. Sparta Welcomes New Members Beth Sheldon, Dean Hiatt and Robbie Schotter Please join us in welcoming all our new members! A Thank You Note from Peg Pierson: Dear Friends, There are no words that can express my thanks to everyone for all the beautiful cards, flowers, gifts, visits and well wishes during my stay in the hospital and at Bristol Glen. I'm recovering and hope to be back soon. My love to all, Peggy Pierson November Thrift Shop News Come visit the Church Mouse Thrift Shop!! Fall colors and goods abound! Our next big ½ price sale is the first week in November, from November 2-5 th. We will be open during The Fun Fest!! Come on down on November 19 th between 10am and 4pm for holiday shopping and decorating! 4

5 Volunteer Opportunities Plenty of projects for plenty of people. DRIVERS WANTED As many of our senior members grow older, many will be faced with the reality of no longer being able to drive. It is a very sad moment. We also k of 2 new people who would like to attend at Sparta UMC but need a ride. Will you volunteer to drive people to Sparta UMC? provide for them the chance to be in community? worship God? It just might... change your life. Call the office and say YES! to be put on a rotation of drivers 1x or 2x per month. Maintenance or project when Cut back area grass weekly Remove hanging tree limb by hill cross area Weed wack back area and hill cross area As Weed control grill area Leaf blow pavilion area As Clean roof drains Thrift shop, double door, and downstairs doorway steps below Wesley room drains as Remove vines demarest hall Replace weather stripping on demarest hall double doors Caulk demarest hall windows, one or more Fix sliding doors in hall outside back kitchen door Tear out counter top and lower wall below to accommodate new kitchen cabinets Install new kitchen cabinets and finish wall Install auto door release switch in office for door entrance Upgrade window mount in back office window for air conditioner Replace ballast and bulbs in choir room Repair water damaged sheet rock wall section at the bottom of stairs by youth rm. Replace and frost glass window in mens room with window from rm 8 Replace cracked window in music room Refasten gutter on parsonage right side and clean rear gutter Winterize and tune up tractor winter Shut off and turn on outside water faucets front is in downstairs hall ceiling, maintenance shed is in the youth room and rear is in thrift shop Winter spring Triage roof slates and repair as necessary/ contract out for difficult areas Professional evaluation of flat roof Professional evaluation of slate roof Clean sanctuary gutters fall Paint white outside ed. wing Brown stain sanctuary trim/fill woodpecker and carpenter bee holes in fascia Scrape and remove mud wasp nests around building exterior Check emergency fire exit signs monthly Map electrical panels Map water cut offs Update contact info for outside contractors Update timetable for routine contractor inspections Bulbs and balasts As Salt stock for winter fall Weed and compact labyrinth area As Push mower grass path to pavilion weekly Signage for pavilion Repair, relocate monitor and recorder video surveillance system Repair asphalt in parking lot Widen concrete apron by entrance to demarest hall for easier door access *See list in Narthex for more maintenance and project volunteer opportunities* 5

6 Congregational Care - Events and Socials Coming SOON!! Please mark your calendar!! Date: Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We will have gifts for children to purchase for their parents, crafts, jewelry, hand knitted items, food (WOW, do we have great food!), a bakery, frozen foods (did you hear that we have FOOD?), silent auction, hair braiding and nail painting, face painting, crafts for children to make, and more! You can help us make the family Fun Fest successful by asking merchants where you shop if they will donate something for the silent auction. Last year we had massages, hair and nail appointments, dinners, pizzas and more all donated for our silent auction. If we all asked at one or two places, we d be in very good shape. We need your help! Please speak with our Family Fun Fest Coordinator, Eleanor Shumaker, at , and let her k who you will be asking so we don t ask merchants more than once. Special Worship Services Celebration of All Saints November 6 Please submit the names of loved ones who passed away this year. Their names will be read with the tolling of the bells on November 6, during both worship services. Next Contemporary Service: Sunday, November 13 Next Contemplative Service: Wednesday, November 2 There will be Contemplative Worship weekly during Advent 6

7 Sparta UMW BookWorms Books for 2016 Here s the list for the year of There is one copy of each book in the United Methodist Women s portion of the church library. Sign the book out so we k where it is and so more than one person can read it. Be sure to join us whether you ve read the book or not. November 14: December 12: Cured but Not Healed by Kymberley Clemons-Jones Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman The meeting for November will be Monday, November 14, and at that time we will work on the book list for Nomination Form for Special Mission Recognition Sparta United Methodist Women PURPOSE OF UNITED METHODIST WOMEN The organized unit of United Methodist Woman shall be a community of women whose purpose is to k God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of missions through participation in the global ministries of the church. Special Mission Recognition (SMR) is a way for Sparta United Methodist Women Unit to honor individuals in the church for outstanding mission service. Persons nominated should be active in mission work in church and beyond, and representative of the purpose of the UMWomen. Anyone in the Sparta United Methodist Church can nominate an individual using this form. All nominations must be received by November 20, Past SMR Honorees and Current Officers of Sparta UMWomen will vote and select Honorees on Sunday, December 3. The names of the Honorees are held in secret until they are announced in a SUMC worship service in the spring. Each Honoree is presented with a SMR Pin, a donation to UMW Mission is made in their name, and they will be honored by the District UMW at our Spring Celebration in SMR Nominee (may nominate 2): SMR Nominee (age 35 or under): Please list all mission activity these persons are involved in: Person making the nomination: After completion, this form can be put in UMW mail slot. Thank you. 7

8 ADULT STUDY, CONVERSATION AND FELLOWSHIP Sunday Morning Adult Study Video Series at 9:30 a.m. in Room 8 Monday Nights - The Powers that Be Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. Men s Study and Reflection at the Sparta Diner! Wednesday mornings at 11:30 a.m. How We Believe Class Adult Sunday School started a new DVD Series: The System Belongs to God Is the ancient biblical message relevant to our complex, dangerous world today? We deal with various powers (government, corporations and even families) daily. We can t live without them. But something is wrong: people get caught in the system. In this DVD, noted bible scholar Walter Wink helps us understand the spiritual forces in these powers and claims them for God. He is joined in conversation by pastors Janet Wolf and James Forbes. NEW Learning Opportunity! How We Believe 4 Weeks on Wesleyan/Methodist Faith and Theology Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. November 2, 9, 16 Bring your lunch! Class will be offered again on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. beginning in January. Mark your calendars. WIDOW S WELL for those who have lost husbands. November 18th at 11:30 a.m. Bring your lunch! The Sunday Lunch Bunch a group for further socialization Sunday after church. Watch the bulletin for the next date (4th or 5th Sunday) If you are interested in a church family meal, please call Wilma Smith, or Ginger Stecklein,

9 Sunday Morning Opportunities to Serve Worship Leader/Liturgist 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. November 6 Muriel Godbersen Youth/Sunday School In Worship November 13 Bunny June Meloni Jim Sodt November 20 Debbie Gilone Diane Lapinski November 27 Marilyn Sawicki Steve Magnotta Coffee Hour Schedule Nov. 6 & 13 Sawicki, Steven & Marilyn Bartholomew, Gary & Elaine Coombs, Stephanie DiGioia, Frank & Sarah Hiler, Judi Rogers, Kirstin Swain, Gail Nov. 20: Finance/Stewardship Committee Nov. 27 & Dec. 4 Lewis, Ann Franks, Richard & Sarah Gibson, Sue Haas, Bill Louie Laura Refsland, Dianne Rosenkrans, Tina Schutz, Ryan & Katrina CHILDREN S MESSAGE November 6 Pastor Janice November 13 Pat Schutz November 20 Pastor Janice November 27 Pat Schutz Take Worship to Knoll Heights! Did you k that every month Sparta UMC has people to go and provide worship for the residents of Knoll Heights? Why not volunteer to lead? To join the team? Please see Kathy Schehovic for details. ATTENTION! Please be mindful of our Handicapped Parking spaces. The first 3 spaces (including the current pastor s space) will be for wheelchairs only. The rest will be handicapped parking. We want to reserve these spaces for those who need them. THANK YOU! 9

10 SPARTA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 71 Sparta Avenue Sparta, NJ spartaumc.org Worship Every Week. Communion Service at 8:30 a.m. Choir and children s message at 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. Contemplative/Meditation Service FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH at 12:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Contemporary Worship 2nd Sundays at 4:30 p.m. with lite supper to follow World Mission Gift Shop Wednesday 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Thursday 1: p.m. Friday 1:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church Mouse Thrift Shop Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Thursday 1:00-4:00 p.m. Friday 1:00-4:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. THE DEADLINE FOR THE DECEMBER NEWSETTER WILL BE NOVEMBER 15 PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBMIT ANY ARTICLES BY DEADLINE 10