Newsletter ~ AUGUST, Good Samaritan Offering. 5 Holy Communion

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1 Kantner United Methodist Church 626 Forbes Road Stoystown, PA A warm, loving Christian community that offers God s healing, forgiveness and redemption to all. Newsletter ~ AUGUST, Holy Communion Good Samaritan Offering Coffee Time 8:30am Sunday School 8:55am Worship 10am Youth Bible Study 6pm 12 Coffee Time 8:30am Sunday School 8:55am Worship 10am Youth Bible Study 6pm 17 Men s Nancy s Restaurant 8am Disciple s Bible Study Interest Meeting 7pm 19 Coffee Time 8:30am Sunday School 8:55am Worship 10am Church Picnic Youth Bible Study 6pm 20 Food Bank Preparation 21 Food Bank Distribution Trustee s Meeting 6pm 22 Food Bank Distribution 23 Food Bank Distribution 26 Coffee Time 8:30am Sunday School 8:55am Worship 10am Get ready! The time is here for the church picnic! It will be held on Sunday, August 19th, 2018 following the worship service. Bring your table cloth and settings, a covered dish, and a guessing jar! Chicken is provided.

2 Letter from the Pastor Over the past several years almost every major denomination has dealt with issues of sexuality at the denominational level. There have been many different outcomes to this effort. Some of those churches split into separate denominations, some made choices that led to some of their churches leaving the denomination. The United Methodist Church has been having this same conversation for many years. We have discussed at length what our current stance is, and what some people believe it should be. Here is an outline of what we currently profess as United Methodists: 2016 Book of Discipline Statements Regarding church membership 4. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church: The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection Eligibility: All people may attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments and become members in any local church in the connection ( 4). Regarding the ministry of the ordained 304.3: The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore selfavowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church : Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches. Regarding United Methodist funds 613: The [conference council on finance and administration] shall have authority and responsibility to... ensure that no annual conference board, agency, committee, commission, or council shall give United Methodist funds to any gay caucus or group, or otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality or violate the expressed commitment of The UMC "not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends" ( 161F) : [The General Council on Finance and Administration] shall be responsible for ensuring that no board, agency, committee, commission, or council shall give United Methodist funds to any gay caucus or group, or otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality or violate the expressed commitment of The United Methodist Church 'not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends' ( 161F).

3 Basically, The United Methodist Church, as it currently stands, is considered Orthodox in it s beliefs. There is currently a strong push by some in the church to move toward ordaining self-avowed practicing homosexuals and supporting gay marriage. These are two of the main issues, with many others also hanging over us. During the last General Conference, which happens every four years, it was decided to create a special commission to make recommendations to General Conference on changes to our Book of Discipline, which is our book of law. This committee is called The Commission on A Way Forward. They have essentially come up with three different proposals to make to a special General Conference in February To summarize these positions very briefly, one would allow the language of the Book of Discipline to remain as it currently stands. This would allow The United Methodist Church to remain an orthodox body, but this plan would allow for churches that consider themselves more progressive to leave the denomination amiably. On the other side, there is a proposal that would change the Book of Discipline to support the progressive platform, which would include ordination and marriage for people who are actively engaged in a homosexual relationship. The third proposal, which at first glance seems to be a compromise, allows each church, Conference, and clergy person to decide how to handle these situations. This has been called the One Church Plan, and has been the main focus of attention for many people. I feel I need to clarify for all of you where I stand as your pastor. I am in favor of remaining where we are as an orthodox denomination. I believe all people have sacred worth and all people regardless of their sexual preference deserve to be ministered to. However, I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman as ordained by God. I d also like to help you understand why I do not believe that the One Church Plan is an acceptable compromise to our dilemma. As a denomination we are based on a system of clergy being sent to where we serve based on our connectional system. This cannot possibly be sustained under the One Church Plan. How do you match up clergy and churches who will be on the same page theologically? If an orthodox pastor is sent to a church that desires to marry homosexual people, where does that leave that pastor? In my humble opinion, this system puts undue burden on those who consider themselves orthodox. Furthermore, how does one call themselves United Methodist if the church up the road with the same label believes something completely different? We would no longer be united, and, in fact, I believe the amount of controversy and litigation over these issues would greatly increase. We would not be settling anything, but rather creating a whole other set of issues to argue over. Have I totally confused you yet? With all of this being said, you are now in a position to have your voice heard by the folks who will represent us at the special General Conference in February Our Conference has set up a series of listening posts throughout the Conference to hear your concerns and where you stand. Your voice is needed! At the end of this article I will list the dates at places these listening posts will be held. You must register for these sessions. Please register as early as possible! And please plan on going to at least one of them. I will be attending as many as I can. Here is where you register: If you need help getting registered, or do not have internet access, please call Shaina in the church office for assistance.

4 Together, with God s guidance, we will get through these turbulent times in The United Methodist Church. I pray that you will take an active role in determining the future of our beloved denomination. If you desire, I am always available to discuss these issues with you one-on-one. I can visit you, you can visit me, or we can discuss electronically, but do not hesitate to ask! Here is the schedule for the listening posts: 8/20/18 - Monday, 6:30-8:30 - Somerset Grace Felgar Rd, Somerset, (Connellsville District) 8/21/18 - Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 - First Washington - 29 N College St, Washington, (Washington District) 8/22/18 - Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 - New Stanton S Center Ave, New Stanton, (Greensburg District) 8/23/18 - Thursday, 6:30-8:30 - Ebensburg E Highland Ave, Ebensburg, (Johnstown District) 8/26/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Jumonville Jumonville Rd, Hopwood, (Connellsville District) 9/04/18 - Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 - Trinity: Ridgway - 19 South Broad St, Ridgway, (Kane District) 9/05/18 - Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 - Punxy First W Mahoning St, Punxsutawney, (Indiana District) 9/06/18 - Thursday, 6:30-8:30 - Christ Bethel Park - 44 Highland Rd, Bethel Park, (Pittsburgh District) 9/10/18 - Monday, 6:30-8:30 - Conneaut Lake N Third St, Conneaut Lake, (Erie-Meadville District) 9/11/18 - Tuesday, 6:30-8:30 - Mercer E Butler St, Mercer, (Franklin District) 9/12/18 - Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 - Butler: Christ Community N Duffy Rd, Butler, (Butler District) 9/16/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Warren: Grace Pennsylvania Ave East, Warren, (Kane District) 9/23/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - North East: Park - 30 North Lake St, North East, (Erie-Meadville District) 10/14/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - New Bethlehem First Penn St, New Bethlehem, (Franklin District) 10/21/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Grove Ave UMC Grove Avenue, Johnstown, (Johnstown District) 10/28/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Brookville EUM - 30 S White St, Brookville, (Indiana District) 11/04/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Garden City Laurel Dr, Monroeville, (Greensburg District) 11/11/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Calvary UMC Beech Ave, (Pittsburgh District) 11/18/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - Central Highlands Timothy Dr, Elizabeth, (Washington District) 12/02/18 - Sunday, 2:30-4:30 - New Castle: First -135 Decker Dr, New Castle, (Butler District) If nothing else, please be in constant prayer for The United Methodist Church and its people. Pray for the delegates that will be attending General Conference. And pray for the General Conference itself, that we might truly find the way forward that God desires. In His Love, Rich

5 AUGUST CELEBRATIONS HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1 Kassie Tresise 2 Sadie Powell 3 Brandon Adams 4 Colleen Bentz Chaille Peifer Bev Shaver 6 Ron Eutin Sr. Tess Merringer Stephanie Perigo 7 Greg Maust 8 Stephanie Hay Lexy Wilt 9 Eugene Layton 11 Ray Dunmyer 12 Julie Johnson 13 Jeremiah Wilt 14 Aubrey Weible 16 Kelson Kramer 19 Lorraine Hollan Carter Weible 21 Kyree Kalaha Leah Thompson 22 Blake Thompson 25 Gary Ashbrook Donald Lohr 26 Lugene Dunmyer 27 Susan Mowry 28 Tuter Alumbaugh Jr 30 Dale Dunmyer Ava Hunsberger Camden Abramowich Linda Kicher David Platt 31 Brandy Kramer HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 1 Brian & Kristi Hanlon 7 Ray & Ruth Powell 8 Ron & Jennifer Powell 9 Dean & Lois Gindlesperger 12 Eugene & Corin Layton Chris & Jennifer Nedrow 14 John & Deb Stewart Jr 15 Ron & Becky Addleman Brett & Brittany Johnston 18 David & Amy Shaffer John & Christine Zimmerman 20 Butch & Tammy Stevens 26 Mark & Penny Hetzer 27 Charlie & Wilma Manges Jr 28 Matt & Clarissa Miller 30 Dale & Bonnie Dunmyer 31 Jacob & Krystle Miller IN MEMORIUM 5 Richard & Ila McQuade 28 Mae Dunmyer SERVING IN AUGUST DATE GREETERS ACOLYTES 05 Don & Darlene Miller Ayden Boyd 12 Jim & Jeanne Torrence Dannyn Ashbrook 19 Gary & Niki Ashbrook Brooklyn Thomas 26 Jeff & Jodi Thomas Chloe Stanczyk DATE NURSERY FLOWERS 05 Ashley Ohler, Matt Addleman Open 12 Marybeth Hunsberger, Brenna Lehman Open 19 Missy Zborovanick, Jacob Nedrow Donna Wilt 26 Jann Motchenbaugh, Amy Lorence Ray Dunmyer

6 Prayer List Please keep the following persons in your prayers in the coming weeks. Remember the way to put people on the published list found in the bulletin and newsletter is to write their name on a form and place it in basket on the prayer rail. They will remain on the list for a month. Ron & JoAnn Eutin Rhonda Emmert Ruby-Ellen Berkebile Peggy & Art Jerin Isaac Sheets Richard Lehman Gabriel Ohler Babett Lunstrum John Stewart Elmer Defibaugh Jacob Miller Ila McQuade Stephanie Lehman Lorraine Hollan Velma Putman Ina Miller Brad Lehman Maxine Ott Donna Shank Home Bound Members of the Kantner Family Elmer Defibaugh Kathryn Phillips Maxine Ott 4570 Ridge Road 460 Schoolhouse Rd. 401 E. Main St. Stoystown, PA Stoystown, PA Stoystown, PA Ina Miller Ila McQuade Lorraine Hollan Siemon Lakeview Manor Siemon Lakeview Manor Patriot Manor #341 The Heritage, Rm 209 The Heritage, Rm W. Patriot St. Somerset, PA Somerset, PA Somerset, PA Peggy & Art Jerin Genevieve Mull 116 Abby Lane, Lot 7 P. O. Box 96 Berlin, PA Stoystown, PA Velma Putman Frank & Aletta Strasiser Shaffer s Countryside Living Maple Valley Per. Care # Stoystown Road 2212 Anthony Run Road Friedens, PA Indiana, PA We will include this list each month. If you would like to add or make any other changes to the list, please let the office know at

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8 Kantner United Methodist Church 626 Forbes Road Stoystown, PA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID STOYSTOWN, PA PERMIT NO. 9 NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2018