2019 Newsletter Mayra Tamayo - Editor

Transcription

1 THE SUNNYSLOPE CHURCH Church of the Brethren United Church of Christ 3330 School Street Wenatchee, WA Phone (509) LEADERSHIP TEAM Janet Stutzman Team Chair 2019 Carol Bowman Moderator/Vice Chair 2020 Mary Katherine Deen Secretary/Scribe 2019 Jeri Sapp Treasurer 2020 Ivan Bowman Financial Secretary 2019 Jerry Harlow Property 2019 Steve Gregory Social Action/Outreach 2019 Lois Tate Hospitality/Celebrations 2019 Esther Gregory Christian Ed 2019 Ben Green Worship Comm Bob Jackson Deacon Representative DEACONS Bob & Edie Jackson Jeri Sapp Bess Parsley Marian Gillin* June Hampton* Ordo Stutzman* *Deacons Emeritus 2019 Newsletter Mayra Tamayo - Editor PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH MEMBERS WHO ARE UNABLE FOR HEALTH REASONS TO COME TO CHURCH. ~NIGERIAN GIRLS~ Please pray for the girls abducted on April 14, 2014 from a school in Nigeria.

2 My birthday is coming up in March and Steve and I have been looking forward to this one as a benchmark to begin cutting back on my work as I prepare for full retirement in a few more years. When I was called to be your pastor almost a year and a half ago, I prayed for guidance regarding this decision that I knew would be coming. So it is with both gratitude and some regret that I announced to the Leadership Team and am now announcing to all of you that, in order to work half time rather than full time, I will be leaving my pastoral position at Sunnyslope on Easter, April 21 (I will lead the sunrise service with David Morrow, then depart to preach at Ellisforde for their morning worship). This has not been an easy decision as I have enjoyed so much my time with you the visits, the conversations, the breakfasts, the humor, the theological sharing, the friendships and community that have developed between us. But living in Tonasket, it makes sense for me to leave the position where I don t live, and keep the one at Ellisforde where I do live. I trust we will continue to be in community-from-a-distance and that perhaps you will welcome my preaching on occasion, as well as breakfast drop-ins and other visits. As many Sunnyslope folks are also active in the COB Pacific Northwest District, our work and community building will continue there as well. And please know you are welcome to visit us in the far north anytime. We have a guest house and would love to spend time with you on our home turf in Tonasket. In the meantime, I thank you all again for the home you have welcomed Steve and me into. This has been a full circle for me, as Sunnyslope called me as a young adult to pursue theological studies, and nurtured me into a new faith tradition of peace. A poem by Father John O Donohue comes to mind, adapted for the church. O Donohue s words have been Sunnyslope s invitation and gift to me and Steve, and to others as well: May this church shelter our life May all of the weight of the world fall from our shoulders. May our hearts be tranquil here, blessed by peace the world cannot give. May this church be a lucky place, where the graces of our desires always find the pathway to our door. May this be a safe place, full of understanding and acceptance, where we can be as we are, without the need of any mask, or pretense or image. May this church be a place of discovery, Where the possibilities that sleep in the clay of our soul can emerge to deepen and refine our vision for all that is yet to come to birth. May it be a house of courage, where healing and growth are loved, where dignity and forgiveness prevail; Where patience of spirit is prized, and the sight of the destination is never lost, though the journey be difficult and slow. May there be great delight within this space. May it be a church of welcome for the broken and diminished. And may we have the eyes to see that no visitor arrives without a gift and no guest leaves without a blessing. As we move forward, may we all be richly blessed, walk in the peace of Christ, and continue to live out the Love and Compassion that call us. Debbie

3 Church of the Brethren SUNNYSLOPE CHURCH United Church of Christ Preaching Schedule for February February 3 February 10 February 17 February 24 Debbie Roberts Janet Stutzman Debbie Roberts Ken Neher ANNOUNCEMENTS I would like to inform you that my office hours have been changed as of January 28, Office hours will be Monday through Friday from 2:30 pm -6:30pm. If you call the office before or after these hours please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

4 2019 PNW District Spring Event Pacific Northwest District of the Church of the Brethren Spring Event March 1 3, 2019 Gwinwood Retreat Center in Lacey, WA Soul Food Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. -Barry Lopez, Crow and Weasel Since 2015, we have gathered on the banks of Hicks Lake to foster spiritual growth, fellowship together and share stories. We hope you will join us! This year we welcome Scott Holland as our special presenter: Scott Holland, is the Slabaugh Professor of Theology & Culture and Director of Peace and Cross-Cultural Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, in Richmond, Indiana. Before joining the faculty of Bethany Seminary in 1999, Scott Holland pastored Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Holland is a senior contributing editor for CrossCurrents journal in New York. His writing and teaching reflects a symbiotic relationship between the classroom lectern, the church pulpit, the interdisciplinary public lecture and the published essay. Holland preaches, teaches and writes with an academic voice that is intellectually rigorous as well as public and poetic. Through story and song, small group conversations, keynote sessions, dinner table conversations, and worship, together we will explore and seek wisdom and sacredness in words and stories. The District Disaster Auction will be Saturday afternoon, plan to bring quality items for the auction as well as money to spend. Childcare and children s activities will be provided. We hope you will make plans to gather together for community and fellowship as we feed our souls with rich stories and wise words. Click here for Online event registration Registration Information (basically the same as last year) Register by February 15, 2019 for Early Registration Discount! Before February 15 After February 15 Adult & Youth $125 $135 Children under 10 $85 $95 infants under 18 mo. free Family Maximum $330 $355 For more information or questions contact Elizabeth Ullery-Swenson, Liz [at] WildWoodGathering [dot] org or

5 THARS International January 2019 Report FEBRUARY 2019 SPECIAL OFFERING TRAUMA HEALING AND PEACE TRAINING WITH PRISONERS BURUNDI, 2019 Unhealed Trauma Perpetuates Violence Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resulting from severe physical or mental trauma, when left untreated, often results in depression, outbursts of rage, violence, suicide, homicide, physical abuse, rape, drug abuse and an inability to hold down a job. In Burundi, an estimated one-fifth of the population suffers from untreated PTSD. Over the past few decades, political conflict, massacres and extreme poverty have produced a violence-torn society. This is most evident in the country's over-crowded prisons. THARS Conducts AVP Training in the Gitega Prison One of those prisons is in Gitega, at the center of the country. Although the prison was built for 400 prisoners, it now houses 1400, including 79 women and 21 children. The country has 11 such prisons plus one for people under 18 years old. Prisoners are violent when they come in and prison life promotes more violence. While most of our sponsored Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) training workshops have been with university students, in 2018 the first prison population one was conducted inside the Gitega prison. 19 prisoners plus the staff leader of the prison social department participated. Through sharing of stories, the prisoners were encouraged to identify their trauma and experiences of violence. The powerful and transforming workshop led to prisoners forgiving one another and some letting go of their hatred to reconcile with one another. The prison official was positively stunned by the results. "We have tried many methods but in vain." With hatred relating to political party allegiances and arrests because of political violence, it seemed impossible to facilitate peacefulness and social adhesion. "Please bring more such training to our prison," the official pleaded. Note: John Braun has retired from directing THARS International. The new Director is Sara Eccleston, a PhD student at Vanderbilt University. Prisoners during one of the workshop sessions Direct gifts may be sent c/o Charles Boyd, 3942 McElfresh Rd SW, Centralia WA Please continue to support this exceptional mission, through designated gifts to the Church.

6 February 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Jan 30 Jan 30 Debbie in Wen Debbie in Wen 3 Debbie in Wen Friendship Bags 10:25am- Worship service 1pm- Spring of Life Church 4 5 7pm-Spring of Life 6 10am-9pm- Quilters in Hall 5-7pm- Lenten Book Study (5-5:30pm simple soup supper, 5:30-7pm study) 7 8am- Smitty s 10am-4pm- Quilters in Hall 6:30pm- AA Mtg(Hall) 1Debbie in Wen 5pm- AA Mtg (Hall) 8 5pm- AA Mtg (Hall) 2 Debbie in Wen 9am-Spring of Life Music 2pm-Joint Memorial service for Forrest and Marvel Beacon Hill Grange on Easy Street. 9 9am-Spring of Life Music 10 10:25am- Worship service 1pm- Spring of Life Church pm-Spring of Life 13 Debbie in Wen 5-7pm- Lenten Book Study (5-5:30pm simple soup supper, 5:30-7pm study) 14 Debbie in Wen 8am- Smitty s 6:30pm- AA Mtg(Hall) 15 Debbie in Wen 5pm- AA Mtg (Hall) 16 Debbie in Wen 9am-Spring of Life Music 17 Debbie in Wen Friendship Bags 10:25am- Worship service 1pm- Spring of Life Church pm-Spring of Life 20 1pm-9pm- Quilters in Hall 7pm- Nigeria prayer Vigil 5-7pm- Lenten Book Study (5-5:30pm simple soup supper, 5:30-7pm study) 21 8am- Smitty s 6:30pm- AA Mtg(Hall) 22 5pm- AA Mtg (Hall) 23 9am-Spring of Life Music 24 Special Offer- THARS International 10:25am- Worship service 1pm- Spring of Life Church pm-Spring of Life 27 Debbie in Wen 5-7pm- Lenten Book Study (5-5:30pm simple soup supper, 5:30-7pm study) 28 Debbie in Wen 8am- Smitty s 6:30pm- AA Mtg(Hall)

7 February 2019 Special Offering Sunnyslope Church works to feed the hungry As we are reminded in Mathew 23: 35, For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.., Sunnyslope continues to feed the hungry. Since 2009 we have supported Foods Resource Bank, now Growing Hope Globally. The new name better reflects our Christian mission and dedication to helping people in need help themselves through agricultural development. While this is a big change, we can assure you that the following will NOT change. We Remain a community of people motivated by our faith to help those in need around the world Continue to focus on sustainable solutions to help hungry people lift themselves out of poverty Need YOU to help us make a lasting difference in our mission to reduce world hunger At Sunnyslope we have raised $21, in nine years and helped 390 persons go from being food insecure to providing food for themselves. That is to be celebrated! Just in December on the first Sunday of the month, Hunger Awareness Sunday, everyone donated the coins they had with them and we raised $90.32! At Growing Hope one person goes from experiencing food insecurity to a full belly on only $55 for three years of training. We are on our way to assisting more people to be food secure. In March we will send in our yearly donation to Growing Hope. It will be close to $2000 and help over 36 people attain their goals of feeding themselves and their families. Please donate generously. Where does our money go? We continue to donate to the South American Gran Chaco project. The South American Gran Chaco is the most important ecosystem in South America after the Amazon. This region is at once immensely rich in biodiversity and cultural traditions of harmony with the environment, and one of the most remote and marginalized areas in the hemisphere. The Argentina Bolivia - Gran Chaco program is uniquely structured to work in two different remote areas of the Chaco with two different partners, based in two different countries. In the Argentina region of the Chaco the local partner is working to demonstrate to the national and local governments that rain water harvesting systems, climate smart agricultural techniques, and training in animal husbandry is a sustainable and viable approach to increasing food security and economic development for indigenous and criollo families living in the Chaco. In Bolivia, the approach will be continuing the work of the local partner CERDET. In the previous phase, CERDET worked with communities to create community development plans. In this phase they will work to further strengthen the leadership skills of indigenous women and youth through training. 33 different communities in the program area will then be invited to submit proposals for small scale income-generation or agricultural projects (average grant of less than $850). Questions? Contact Mary Katherine Deen at mkydeen@yahoo.com or

8 PACKING FRIENDSHIP FEBRUARY 2019 We are providing 10 bags of food per week to Sunnyslope School students to help bridge the hunger gap over the weekend. That means WE NEED AT LEAST 40 OF EACH ITEM EVERY MONTH. THAT S A LOT OF STUFF! FEBRUARY DATES TO REMEMBER First Sunday: Bring Food Items on February 3 rd Third Sunday: Pack 40 Bags on February 17 th FOOD ITEMS WE NEED FOR FEBRUARY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PUDDING CUPS RAISINS CANNED MEAT HOT CHOCOLATE TOP RAMEN PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT need Granola Bars, Packs of Crackers or Apple Sauce at this time. Thanks for checking the Newsletter to see what is needed from month to month!!!

9 THE SUNNYSLOPE CHURCH Church of the Brethren United Church of Christ WORSHIP SERVICE 10:25 AM COME AS YOU ARE ALL ARE WELCOME PASTOR DEBBIE S OFFICE HOURS Wed-Sun(Before the 1 st & 3 rd Sunday of each month.) Cell Phone: droberts8487@gmail.com CHURCH OFFICE ASSISTANT HOURS Office Assistant: Mayra Tamayo Church Office hours: Mon. Fri 2:30pm- 6:30pm Phone: (509) sunnyslopechurch@nwi.net JANUARY 2019 OFFERINGS 01/06/2019 () $2, /13/2019 () $ /20/2019 () $ /27/2019 () $1, Add l Amts. Collected January GHG(FRB) $10.00; UCC-OCWM $ Spec. Offering (Pastors spec. Fund)$ ; Spec. Offer. for THARS Int l $5.00 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Kristi Moses Mary Clark Floyd Stutzman Kelsey Stutzman Kaci Ramsey Heather Harlow Sandra Sword Kristin Walton Marcia Ramsey Janet Eakin Neil Harlow Mila Parsley Forrest Stallings Gary Gillin Steve Kinzie Jason Bowman 1st 5th 6th 11th 11th 12th 17th 18th 20th 21st 23rd 24th 25th 27th 28th 29th FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES Dave & Janet Eakin 21st