Twig Bender. Greenwood United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 August 2018 Greenwood United Methodist Church Page August 2018 Twig Bender C h o i c e s h a v e C o n s e q u e n c e s By Steve Stalnaker T hat s not a particularly profound headline; of course choices have consequences. It s also not too profound to write that some choices and their consequences are weightier than others. Bacon and eggs for breakfast or living a Christ-like life. One of the great choices in our culture is the one made by the Greek hero Achilles in the Iliad, Homer s epic poem about the Trojan war. Achilles is offered the choice of leading a glorious life and winning a place in history or going back home to live and die in obscurity. In other words, a short, exciting life or a long dull one. Achilles chooses the short, glorious life and becomes a central figure in the conquest of Troy. He slays the Trojans greatest hero Hector, loves the princess Briseis and dies with an arrow in his heel. As Achilles lay dying with that Trojan arrow in his heel, what went through his mind? Did he regret his choice, or was he content knowing he would go down in history as one of the greatest warriors in Western Culture? Not only is he remembered as a fierce Greek warrior, but he s immortalized in (Continued on page 7) Our Ministry Of Prayer Roger Eckwright, Michelle Gibbs, Ellen Hancock s Family, Lori Lohr, Rob Maxey, Iver Ochoa, Rudd Patteson, Jamison Simpson, Glenda Stalnaker, Susan Wachter, Harold Yeary, Jennifer Yeary

2 Page 2 The Twig Bender Va c a t i o n B i b l e C a m p : W O W! WOW! is the only word to describe our Vacation Bible Camp Out last month. Our whole church was transformed into a campground with campsites, trees, tents, campfires, enthusiastic kids and, of course, s mores. There were approximately 30 Bible scholars who came every night to learn about Jesus and His love for them. Our Bible exploration room even had a tomb in it. By the end of the week, these scholars, led by adults from Biltmore Baptist and Greenwood, were able to share what they had learned and the love they had received with their families who came for supper and a special closing ceremony. Thanks to everyone who helped us have a successful Bible camp! Bishop s Convocation in September Both laity and clergy are invited to attend the Bishop s Convocation on Prayer on Saturday, Sept. 15. The plenary speaker will be the Rev. Terry Tekyl, a prayer pastor for Faithbridge UMC in Spring, TX. There will also be small group learning opportunities in the areas of prayer and Wesleyan spiritual disciplines. Registration is required. Cost is $10 and includes lunch. Register by Sept. 8 at Convocation is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Reveille UMC, 4200 Cary Street Rd. in Richmond. For more information, contact: MarcBrown@vaumc.org.

3 August 2018 Page 3 Your Communion Offerings Pa s t o r s D i s c r e t i o n a r y F u n d By Linda Walker Greenwood UMC s August communion offering will go to Greenwood s Pastor s Discretionary Fund. Most people consider churches as sanctuaries and as places that offer help and hope in times of trouble. Pastor Barbara often receives calls from those who need help; sometimes for help paying an electric bill or asking for help to obtain medications. She always counsels the individual and helps the person gain control over his life again. She tells the person about community services that are available like Greenwood s Free Food Distribution and Henrico County Social Services. Rather than give cash, Pastor Barbara will determine how she can help and she will contact the appropriate company (such as Dominion Energy or a fuel company) and pay the bill directly to them. Oftentimes individuals are ashamed or embarrassed when they fall behind with bills. Did you know that Dominion Energy will not disconnect anyone s electricity if the client contacts the company and gives them enough time to make proper payment arrangements before the cutoff date? Dominion needs time to halt the cutoff order. This is reassuring to know. Greenwood members have been helped with the Fund, which is replenished by the Greenwood congregation individual offerings, the ladies circles, and Sunday School classes. The Bible is full of stories about how Jesus met people where they were and helped them. We at Greenwood can do the same thing as we reflect God s love to the world.

4 Page 4 The Twig Bender UMFS Classroom Donation Drive Greenwood and Laurel Park are collecting donations to help equip a classroom at Charterhouse School, a United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) affiliate. Charterhouse School offers year-round comprehensive educational services for students ages 5 to 22. Students come from the Child and Family Healing Center (the intensive residential treatment program), from the greater Richmond area and as far away as Alexandria. Below you can see a list of items you can donate. There s a sheet on the narthex door to mark off what you have bought. A box is also in the narthex where you can place your donations. This drive ends Sunday, Aug. 12. Charterhouse Supplies for One Classroom 3 Boxes Crayons 2 Boxes Staples 5 Packs Post-It Notes 1 Box Permanent Markers 2 Boxes Ziploc Bags 1 Pack Velcro Dots or Strips 4 Student Scissors 1 Roll Extra Strength Duct Tape 6 Small White Boards (for students) 75 Pencils 50 Folders with Brads & Pockets 50 Composition or Spiral Notebooks 3 Boxes of 12 Color Pencils 4 Packets Loose Leaf Paper 20 Glue Sticks 3 Boxes of 12 Markers 12 Poster Boards 2 Rolls Paper Towels 4 Packets 6 Highlighters 2 Packs of 6 Dry Erase Markers Pencil Erasers 10 Calculators 4 Packs 3x5 Index Cards 24 Rolls Masking Tape 10 Boxes Tissues 6 Rolls Scotch Tape 4 Average Sized Hand Sanitizer 2 Clorox Wipes Containers Board Games/Building Toys (appropriate for kids ages 5-16; e.g. Legos/K'nex)

5 August 2018 Page 5 Food Donation Connection By Linda Walker Thanks to volunteers from the church who pick up donated food each week, Greenwood United Methodist Church has participated in Food Donation Connection for the past three years, so this is a good time to review the process Food Donation Connection is an organization that links available sources of surplus food to those in need through charitable organizations. Their vision is from the Bible: When they had enough to eat, Jesus said to His disciples, Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted. John 6:12 The organization connects Greenwood UMC with area food service donors such as Chipotle, Starbucks and WaWa. The donors package and freeze surplus food, such as breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, bread, hash browns and pastries. Other groups (Capital One and Greenwood's Cub Scout Pack 744) also occasionally donate leftover food (like yogurt and desserts). On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Greenwood volunteers pick up the food from the donors, deliver it to the church, count the items, log them onto a chart, and place them in the freezer. If a large number of items is bagged together, the volunteers will divide the items and re-bag them into smaller portions. Each Friday at 6:00 p.m. Greenwood volunteers stack the food on tables in the Fellowship Hall and open the doors for visitors. Generally, about 20 people stop by the church on Fridays to select the free food to take home. After the last visitor leaves, the volunteers return any leftover items to the freezer. It takes fifteen Greenwood volunteers to carry out this mission. Pastor Barbara regularly sends in reports to the Food Donation Connection on the amounts received from the donors. Sometimes on Sunday mornings at worship an announcement will be made that food was left over and can be picked up by anyone. Any left overs must be thrown away according to Food Donation Connection rules. (Continued on page 6)

6 Page 6 The Twig Bender Food Donation Connection (Continued from page 5) How you can help: Ask for God s continued blessing for this program. Contact Adamarye Patteson ( ) to sign up to pick up food and deliver it to the church and/or to help distribute the food on Fridays. Donate gallon and quart size plastic storage bags. Donate non-perishable goods (cereal, canned tuna, peanut butter, soups, pasta, etc.) so that when the usual amount of donated free food is low and more visitors than anticipated come to the church, the volunteers will have food to distribute. Our August Communion Offering Goes to: The Pastor s Discretionary Fund Be Prepared Read the Scriptures August Lectionary Readings Aug. 5 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35 Aug Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, Aug Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 Aug Kings 8:(1, 6, 10-11) 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

7 August 2018 Page 7 (Continued from page 1) having a tendon in the human body named after him, leading to the term Achilles Heel, denoting a weakness in an otherwise strong person, position or plan. Achilles must have made the right choice, since we remember him as a great warrior, as a tendon or as a chink in someone s armor to this day. There are choices and then there are choices. One choice that s offered to each of us, an offer never withdrawn, is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. We contritely confess our sins, Jesus forgives us, He secures for us a place in Heaven (John 14:3) and then we live our lives to God s purpose, doing our best to keep Jesus commandment: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34.) All of this should be taken in the context of the oft quoted John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Accepting Jesus as one s Savior is the most momentous decision one can make. This is the greatest choice with the greatest consequence: everlasting life in Heaven. It s a no-brainer. What will your choice be? W h a t s Yo u r C h o i c e? Longdale School Supplies Drive 2018 Once again, Greenwood will be collecting school supplies this year for the needy pupils at Longdale Elementary School. See the list of needed items on the bulletin inserts or in the narthex. Bring your donations to the Sanctuary by Sunday, Aug. 26. There s a Virginia sales tax holiday Aug. 3 5 when sales tax is not charged on most school supplies.

8 Page 8 The Twig Bender Greenwood Church Family Birthdays Linda Wagner... 8/2 Nancy Yeary... 8/3 Alan Daniel... 8/9 Ray Smith... 8/13 Kristen Bellino... 8/14 Jeannette Jackson... 8/14 Gay McFarland... 8/18 Gina Lahocki... 8/22 Javier Shuler... 8/22 Anniversaries Patty & Bill Prout... 8/14 Teresa & Darrell Coleman... 8/24 Richard & Mary Walker... 8/24 Carolyn & Ray Smith... 8/29 Don t see your birthday or wedding anniversary in The Twig Bender and would like to have us publish it? Send your dates to admin@gumcva.org or call the church office at ; likewise, let us know if you d like your birthday or anniversary removed. Food Donation Connection August Pick Up Rotation Wednesday, Aug. 1: Cindy Jo Daniel; Thursday, Aug. 2: Lewis Daniel; Friday, Aug. 3: Brenda Shuler. Wednesday, Aug. 8: Betty and Raymond Ritchie; Thursday, Aug. 9: Glenda and Steve Stalnaker; Friday, Aug. 10: Adamarye Patteson. Wednesday, Aug. 15: Jean Mowatt and William Gibbs; Thursday, Aug. 16: Lewis Daniel; Friday, Aug. 17: Carolyn and Ray Smith. Wednesday, Aug. 22: Cindy Jo Daniel; Thursday, Aug. 23: Glenda and Steve Stalnaker; Friday, Aug. 24: Adamarye Patteson. Wednesday, Aug. 29: Betty and Raymond Ritchie; Thursday, Aug. 30: Lewis Daniel; Aug. 31: Brenda Shuler.

9 August 2018 Page 9 July Attendance and Offerings Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce Proverbs 3:9 Date July Weekly Avg. July Totals Sunday School Worship Giving $1, $7,515 August Grass Cutting Detail Your Trustees have established a volunteer rotation for cutting the grass on the church grounds this summer. This month s schedule is: Week of July 30: Harry Shuler Week of Aug. 6: Lewis Daniel Week of Aug. 13: Bob Stapleton Week of Aug. 19: Harry Shuler Week of Aug. 26: Lewis Daniel If anyone else would like to help with this summer s grass cutting, please give Bob Stapleton a call at Thank you from your Trustees. Twig Bender is a publication of Greenwood United Methodist Church Office Phone: admin@gumcva.org Greenwood Road Glen Allen, VA Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Worship: 11 a.m. Sunday Pastor The Rev. Barbara Lewis Phone: revbarbara@gumcva.org Office hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday Friday Fax: After School Phone: Acting Music Director Jackie Schultz Twig Bender editor Steve Stalnaker webmaster@gumcva.org Visit our web site at Greenwood UMC all rights reserved

10 Page 10 The Twig Bender G r e e n w o o d U M C A u g u s t Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 National Girlfriends 2 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 3 6 p.m. Free Food 4 U.S. Coast Guard 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast And Road Clean Up S a l e s T a x H o l i d a y 5 Communion Sunday LAMB s Basket Sunday 11 a.m. Worship Service S a l e s T a x H o l i d a y 6 Hiroshima 7 National Light House 8 9 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 7 p.m. Richmond Beekeepers Meet 10 6 p.m. Free Food 11 5 p.m. LAMB's Basket Tomato Fundraiser a.m. Worship Service UMFS Donation Drive Closes 13 7 p.m. Finance Committee Meets 14 National Creamsicle 15 V-J 16 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 17 National Thrift Shop Visit Aggie s Attic! 6 p.m. Free Food 18 F r i e n d s h i p Q u i l t e r s 19 Aviation 11 a.m. Worship Service 20 National Radio 21 Senior Citizens 22 National Tooth Fairy 23 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 24 Twig Bender Deadline 10:30 a.m. Hidden Treasures at Hermitage Richmond 6 p.m. Free 25 Kiss n Make Up a.m. Worship Service Longdale E.S. Supplies Drive Closes 27 Global Forgiveness Frankenstein 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 31 6 p.m. Free Food September 1 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast And Road Clean Up

11 August 2018 Page 11 Mark Your Calendars Sep College Football Season Begins Sep Labor Sep After School Resumes Sep Bishop s Convocation Oct World Communion Sunday Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly. Leave the rest to God.