WESLEY MESSENGER. Worship Schedule. June Sunday, June 3 Second Sunday after Pentecost Graduation Sunday

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1 WESLEY MESSENGER June 2018 Wesley United Methodist Church 40 West Main Street, Strasburg PA Church address: Web: Volume 10, Issue 6 Inside This Issue: Worship Schedule Worship 1 3 Worship Schedule 9:00 am Blended Worship 10:00 am Holy Grounds Fellowship 10:30 am Sunday School Pastor s Ponderings 2, 5 Friends at Home 4 Lifetree Café Upcoming Events 3,4 Missions 5 Sunday, June 3 Second Sunday after Pentecost Graduation Sunday Sunday, June 10 Third Sunday after Pentecost Farewell Luncheon for Pastor Dave, Jennifer, Josh & Hannah Sunday, June 17 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Pastor Dave Says Farewell Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday & Thursday Office Phone: Rev. David Alderson - Pastor Sunday, June 24 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Guest Speaker: Sue Grimm-Maddox, District Lay Leader Kim Badman - Organist/ Choir Director Holly Miller - Secretary O u r M i s s i o n : W O R S H I P G O D ; S E RV E G O D ; W I T N E S S f o r G O D ; b y t h e P O W E R o f G O D t h r o u g h t h e H O LY S P I R I T.

2 Pastor s Ponderings As promised, we want to keep everyone updated as to what is happening within The United Methodist Church and The Commission on the Way Forward. Here s the latest article from the Wesley Covenant Association. The United Methodist Church s Council of Bishops (COB) released a statement today trying to clear up the confusion it created with the release of a prior statement and a variety of interpretations of it that came from a number of bishops. According to the latest statement it appears the only plan a majority of the council is willing to put before the special, called General Conference in February 2019 is what some bishops cleverly call the One Church Model (essentially a local option approach that advocates liberalizing the church s sexual ethics, teachings on marriage, and ordination standards). While the COB stated in its May 4, 2018 statement that the majority of bishops affirmed the One Church Model, it also said it affirmed that the Connectional Conference Plan and the Traditionalist Plan held values that are important to the life and work of the church and will be included in the final report to the Special Session of General Conference. Based on that previous statement many people across the UM connection interpreted it to mean that all three plans would be presented to the Special General Conference for consideration with the understanding that a majority of the bishops were recommending the local option approach. According to press reports it was clear some bishops believed this interpretation was correct as well. Furthermore, a number of bishops characterized the vote on the various plans in different ways. Some claimed an overwhelming majority supported the local option approach, while others said the vote was relatively close. Unfortunately, the council s leadership has said it has no plans to release the votes, or how each bishop voted on them. To date, United Methodists still do not know how many of the active bishops voted for the local option approach or who they are. The Wesleyan Covenant Association has repeatedly pointed to its October 2016 Chicago Statement that reads in part: A plan that requires traditionalists to compromise their principles and understanding of Scripture, including any form of the local option around ordination and marriage, will not be acceptable to the members of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, stands little chance of passing General Conference, would not definitively resolve our conflict, and would, in fact, lead to the fracturing of the church. At the 2016 General Conference, a local option approach, very similar to the one a majority of the bishops are now proposing, failed to gain traction in legislative sections, and many believed the plan would have failed if it came to the floor for a full vote. Given that over 90 percent of the delegates from the 2016 General Conference will be the same delegates voting in 2019, the WCA believes the majority of the bishops are making a grave mistake in attempting to put another local option plan before the delegates in St. Louis. It strikes the WCA as a terrible waste of the Commission on a Way Forward s time, talent, and resources to propose only one of the three plans it submitted to the council, particularly when the 2016 General Conference could have disposed of an almost identical proposal three years ago. - continued on page 5-2

3 Karen Bender, Chair-Worship Kim Badman, Organist/Choir Director Becky Perry, Altar Guild worship Church Directory Updates June Altar Flowers Please make the change found below to your Church Directory. June 17 - In Loving Memory of my dad, Ralph Lockard, by Mike Lockard Margie & Cliff Maurer have a new address: Calvary Homes 502 Elizabeth Drive Lancaster Pa (717) All other Sundays in June are open for those who wish to place altar flowers in celebration, in memory of a loved one, or to the glory of God! Sign-up is in Epworth. Stewardship of Attendance 9:00 am April May May May rd Annual Men s JUNE LAY READER SCHEDULE DATE BLENDED WORSHIP June 3 Bob Marshall June 10 John Lewis June 17 Vicki Henderson June 24 Roy Rineer Burgers, Beans & Beer Get ready, men! John Lewis is inviting you to attend the 3rd annual Men s Burgers, Beans & Beer picnic at be held June 12th at 5:30 p.m. at his house, 2117 Rockvale Road, Lancaster. The picnic includes dinner, refreshments and the 2018 Cornhole Championship playoffs! Vegetarians: not to worry; there will be an option for you, along with iced tea and sodas for all who wish! A signup sheet is posted in the Epworth Room. Saturday, June 16 8 a.m. Hershey Farms Join Us! Special Music Calendar June 3 Linda Aukamp June 10 Roy & Judy Rineer June 17 Kim Badman Kindly RSVP to Pete or Barry June 24 Carol Rice 3

4 In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different. -John Steinbeck, The Winter of our Discontent Welcome, June! Remember to share the beauty of this month with those in our church family who are at home. Mim Brendle 35 Prospect Road Strasburg PA Mim s Birthday : March 5, 1919 Robbie Golston 433 South Kinzer Avenue 46 VSA New Holland, PA Robbie s Birthday: October 29 June Good 2001 Harrisburg Pike Apt B246 Lancaster,PA June s Birthday: July 14 Jerre Groff Oakleaf Manor, Room B Wabank Road Millersville, PA Jerre s Birthday: May 29 Eva Kohlmaier c/o Donna Bitterman 44 Denlinger Avenue Strasburg, PA Eva s Birthday: May 20 Blake E. Nicholson, Jr Harrisburg Pike # ML415 Lancaster PA Phone: (717) Blake s Birthday: January 10, 1923 Melvin Rosier The Glen at Willow Valley, Room Willow Valley Square Lancaster PA Phone: (717) Mel s Birthday: August 9 John & Evie Sigman 2001 Harrisburg Pike EW381 Lancaster, PA John s Birthday: September 21 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. Pole Barn You re welcome just as you are. Your thoughts are welcome; your doubts are welcome. We re all in this together. God is here, ready to connect with you in a fresh way. 4

5 Pastor s Ponderings continued from page 2 Essentially, millions of dollars will have been spent on commission meetings, special meetings of the COB, a pending, special Judicial Council meeting, and of course the called 2019 General Conference in St. Louis simply to revisit a plan that was before the General Conference in 2016 and was destined for failure. The WCA believes the council s lack of transparency, its confusing statements on its deliberations, its unwillingness to release the vote totals for each plan and how individual bishops voted on each of them has only further eroded the level of trust United Methodists have in the Council of Bishops leadership. Its handling of this important process between the close of the 2016 General Conference to the present has harmed its reputation and embarrassed the church. Given its failure to manage the process in a fair, transparent, and professional manner, the WCA calls upon the council to defer to the work of the Commission on a Way Forward and the will of the General Conference. The WCA believes all three plans should be put fully before the duly elected 2019 General Conference delegates. missions Chair - Carol Rice Lynda Houck, Pastor Dave Alderson Pennies for Missions In April, we raised $73.50 through Pennies for Missions. Pick up a soup can on the counter in the Epworth Room. Then at home, for every meal you eat, place two pennies in your soup can. Pennies collected on last Sunday of the month support our mission projects. The Professional Clothing Bank is in need of Volunteers This is located at Otterbein United Methodist Church at 20 E. Clay St. There is parking in the back and an elevator if needed. The volunteers sort, display and assist clients with clothing to renter the working world. Hours are Tuesday, 11-1 pm and /or Thursday 1-3pm. Call Correen Russo at or correen.lumina@gmail.com. Red Bird Mission: School Uniform Clothing Bank We are going to collect clothing for the school uniform program. They are in great need of large and extra large women's and men's clothing. The uniforms consist of long sleeved polo shirts or turtle necks in white, navy blue or light blue. Navy or Khaki pants. If you can not shop, we will collect monetary donations. Checks should be made out to Red Bird Missions. We then will write one check to the School Uniform Clothing Bank. We will start collecting in May and finish up by end of June. Mission Central Dates: Sponsoring Two Children at Gretna Glen Camp Our church will be sponsoring two children at Gretna Glen again this year. Lumina has a Kid's Night Program. The children that have good attendance, and good behavior are rewarded with a camp scholarship. The Camper Care Sponsorship of $ will provide a child a sleeping bag, duffle bag, Bible, towel and flashlight, toiletries, poncho and other gear and a store allowance. Our part in the sponsorship is not only the money, but also writing daily letters to each camper while they are at camp. There will be a sign up sheet for volunteer letter writers. Dates to follow. We have two new dates to go help at Mission Central: Friday, July 27, 2018 and Saturday, October 6, Coming: Operation Christmas Child: Start collecting shoe boxes over the summer. Questions on our Mission programs? Direct them to Carol Rice, rnursetea@comcast.net. 5