Northwest Reminder VOLUME XLI, ISSUE II Monthly Publication FEBRUARY 2016

Transcription

1 Northwest Reminder VOLUME XLI, ISSUE II Monthly Publication FEBRUARY 2016 A Newsletter serving the congregation and friends of Northwest United Protestant Church Website nwup.church Pastor s pastor@nwup.church Church nwupchurch@nwupchurch.org (509)

2 2 Dear Friends, My dating life in high school was limited, owing in large part to a precipitous drop in IQ and hand-eye coordination that manifested whenever a boy said anything to me. One aspiring Lothario, however, did manage to make an impression on me before wandering off in pursuit of less bewildered and bewildering quarry. He didn t sing to me or compose poetry or buy me ice cream (if he had, this church would have a different pastor s husband, I imagine). Instead, he read to me from something called The Five Love Languages. Now, for those of you who don t have this little gem on your bookshelves at home, The Five Love Languages is a bestselling relationship advice book first published in I don t have the faintest idea what a sixteen-year-old boy was doing reading this book (which he presumably swiped from his parents bedside table), but I m glad for it, because I learned a lot about myself that day. Some people express love with encouraging words, others with affectionate physical touch, acts of service, quality time spent with the people they care about, or with the giving of gifts. I walked away from that encounter a more enlightened young woman: I was a gift giver! This has been both blessing and curse. Loving people with gifts is incredible fun, not least because shopping is usually involved. The downside? Whenever I find myself outside of a hospital room or a friend s front door without a card, some food, something in my hands, I feel like I have already failed. Jesus spent his adult life preaching words of encouragement and love to his neighbors, his friends, and total strangers. His words had the power to transform, inspire, and even raise the dead. Jesus touched people who had been deemed untouchable the blind, the deaf, and the leper, and they were healed. Surely the recipients of Jesus miracles would agree that Jesus was committed to acts of service. He never asked for any sort of payment for the work he did, only that people live good lives. His disciples would also attest that time spent with Jesus was indeed quality time he was almost always surrounded

3 by people he loved, and he used the few years he had to teach and debate, make new friends and break bread together. What s funny is that Jesus wasn t much into gift-giving. Even the loaves and fishes that he used to feed the multitudes were some kid s lunch that he borrowed, and the coin he used to pay tribute at the Temple came out of a fish s mouth. But didn t he turn water into wine at Cana? you might ask. That was one heck of a hostess gift! And I ll just remind you that the wine was his mother s idea. In the end, the only gift that Jesus gave, and the only gift that really matters, was himself. Everything he had his time, his power, his words, his body he gave to us. May this be a worthy lesson to those of us who feel like we have nothing to give unless our hands are full of gifts. May we remember that hands, offered in love, are never really empty. Thanks be to God for hands that help and heal, and for God s love, in all its forms. Amen. Yours in Christ, Pastor Liv Special February Dates African-American History Month, February 1st 29th Transfiguration of Our Lord, February 7th Young Adult Week, February 7th 13th Board Meeting, February 9th Ash Wednesday, February 10th DWM Meeting, February 13th First Sunday in Lent, February 14th Valentine s Day, February 14th Race Relations Sunday, February 14th Presidents Day, February 15th Second Sunday in Lent, February 21st Week of Compassion, February 21st 28th Elder s Meeting, February 22nd Third Sunday in Lent, February 28th 3

4 Bits & Pieces A Special Thanks to... Pastor Liv Gibbons for getting our new payroll service set-up (with direct deposit!!)... to Donna Gratton for making a special trip in to the office to make sure we got paid this month... to all of our new chairpeople (Mel Adams, Pat Cahow, Joanna Flaten, Doris Ayres and Donna Whiteside), deacons (Sue Jewett, Randy Nundahl, Gracelyn O Hara, Elvera Laughery, Rick Donahoe, Joanna Flaten, Regina Gifford, Kate Giardinelli, & Stephanie Hall-Mullen), and elders (Onnie Adams and Brad Butherus)... to Jan Hansens for coordinating this year s Souper Bowl of Caring, and everyone who contributed food (delicious!)... and to our faithful clean-up crew Mike & Nancy Dodson (especially to Nancy who was the last one out of the building) Sue Jewett and John Hansens... to Mel Adams for leading our Book of Job Class... to Carolyn Lawson for her inspiring DWM presentation and coordinating the Baby Shower for her refugee family... and to all those who represented Northwest at our joint Ash Wednesday service with Shalom, though small in number, they were greatly appreciated. 4

5 Don t Forget! 5 Sunday, March 13th

6 New Books in the Library! Felicity by Mary Oliver. Reviewed by Mel Adams A new book has been added to the church library Felicity by Mary Oliver. Mary Oliver is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and arguably along with Thoreau, Muir, Walt Whitman and Loren Eiseley one of the best nature writers America has produced. Her poems are love poems to the earth and all the living things in it. With the death of her longtime companion, her poems have become more about love of another person. Oliver seems to be in touch with an aspect of God that permeates all nature as illustrated by this quote. Wild roses, I said to them one morning. Do you have the answers? And if you do, would you tell me? The roses laughed softly, Forgive us, they said, But as you can see, we are just now entirely busy being roses. 6

7 Easter Flowers Now is the time to start thinking about who you would like to honor with an Easter Flower donation to beautify our Sanctuary. You may begin bringing them to the church on Palm Sunday, March 20th. 7

8 We re Having a Baby Shower! When: THIS COMING SATURDAY! February 27th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Northwest UP Church Parlor Who Is Invited? - Everyone! (This includes you MEN, too!) Carolyn Lawson s ESL student, Maryam and her husband are expecting another little boy Steve on April 1st. They are so excited that their new son will be born in America. Maryam would appreciate gently used or new baby gifts. She d appreciate simple things, like bottles, diapers, a changing pad, or onesies. She has no crib, baby bath, stroller, or diaper bag. But even a small thing such as a knitted cap, rattle or a hand drawn picture would be appreciated. Week of Compassion Special Offering February 21st-28th,

9 Food 4 Friends Still Goin Strong! Are you looking for a way to spend quality time with your church family? What better place than in the kitchen? It s always such a joy when someone shares food with us, nothing fancy, just simply love in a dish. Once a month, on the 4th Monday, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (though sometime we get done a little earlier), the Food 4 Friends crew (led by Chef Sue) selects 5 or 6 lucky families to cook for and everyone is invited to get in on the fun! Recipes and main dish ingredients are provided. All you need to bring is willing hands and a veggie, fruit or bit of dessert to share. 9

10 WITNESS OF THE SAINTS Sunday, January 3: Worship: 31 Christian Education: 4 Nursery: 2 In Finance: General Fund $ 2, Hawaii Timeshare NA Rent (Free Spirit) NA Rent (Steps & Trad.) Total $ 3, Sunday, January 10: Worship: 38 Christian Education: 4 Nursery: 2 In Finance: General Fund $ 3, BACA Rent Building Fund Total $ 3, Sunday, January 17: Worship: 39 Christian Education: 4 Nursery: 2 In Finance: General Fund $ 1, TOPS Rent Building Fund Food Bank 9.00 Total $ 1, Sunday, January 24: Worship: 52 Christian Education: 5 Nursery: 6 In Finance: General Fund $ 1, Souper Bowl of Caring Building Fund Total $ 1, Sunday, January 31: Worship: 58 Christian Education: 7 Nursery: 2 In Finance: General Fund $ 1, Building Fund Food Bank 5.00 Total $ 1,

11 February Serving Sundays February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28 Elder B. Butherus S. Wolf B. Butherus J. Hansens Worship Leader Deacons Bold names are Team Leaders O. Adams D. Ayres B. Nundahl B. Nundahl Team 1- J. & S. Jewett G. O Hara P. Cahow R. & B. Nundahl Team 2- A. Kion O. Adams B. Butherus B. LeVeque E. Laughery I. Souriyavongsa Sound R. Donahoe J. Brinson- Wagner Counters J. Hansens P. Cahow A. Willis J. Willis Team 3- N. Dodson R. Donahoe K. Divine J. Flaten J. Brinson- Wagner Team 4- D. Whiteside K. Giardinelli J. Willis S. Hall-Mullen R. Gifford R. Pohto J. Brinson- Wagner S. Jewett J. Willis D. Whiteside S. Jewett Greeter B. Pohto S. Hall-Mullen S. Hall-Mullen O Haras Nursery J. Jakes J. Jakes D. Ayres J. Jakes Sunday School J. Willis S. Hall-Mullen P. Cahow S. Hall-Mullen J. Hansens M. O Hara P. Cahow TBA Hospitality B. Leveque S. Jewett S. Hall-Mullen R. Gifford O. Adams A. Kion N. Dodson O Hara s F. & C. White B. Pohto D. Whiteside J. Willis Birthdays & Anniversaries 13-Rick Phillips 15-Jeff Ayres 18-Aydia O Hara 19-Brenda Berkey 20-Elvera Laughery 20-Emma Souriyavongsa 25-Lois Galpin 25 Savian Willis 26-Ryan Dudley 28-Jan Brinson-Wagner 11

12 Northwest United Protestant Church Phone:(509) Pastor Liv NEW Church office Website: nwup.church Staff: Liv Gibbons Pastor Joyce Willis Secretary Christian Alvarez Choir Director/Pianist Mel Adams Moderator Bob LeVeque Custodian April Willis Nursery NORTHWEST REMINDER is a non-profit monthly newsletter published by Northwest United Protestant Church, 1312 Sacramento Blvd., Richland, WA, Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.