As you read this edition of the Open Door, you may be relaxing

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1 As you read this edition of the Open Door, you may be relaxing with friends and family, enjoying a 4th of July celebration. Summer is often a time of travel, vacation, mission trips and changed routines. Wherever you may find yourself these hazy, hot and humid summer days, please be sure to keep your church and church family in your prayers. Fredericksburg United Methodist Church is a 12-month-a-year place of worship, spiritual growth and service to others. Last week 189 children, 62 adults and 31 youth journeyed with Moses in Vacation Bible School learning to TRUST GOD. During the month of June, 28 middle school youth and chaperones served those on the margins in the City of Richmond through the Jeremiah Project and 18 youth and chaperones completed home repairs in FredCamp. During the month of May the Food Pantry saw a 20% increase in the number of persons being served (408 persons, 220 bags of food) as compared to the monthly averages for the first five months of 2014 (340 persons, 191 bags of groceries). Sunday school and small groups continue to meet. Thirty youth made their professions of faith on Pentecost. FUMC staff and clergy strive to meet the growing needs of the FUMC congregation and community. At the same time, overall financial support for the ministries of FUMC has declined. In May, expenditures were $36,000 greater than income; and for the first six months of 2014, there is a deficit of more than $64,000. FUMC has a long tradition of vital ministry and mission and there are many dreams to build upon this strong foundation. Remember FUMC needs your financial support, even when you are on vacation! Additional information will be included with your quarterly financial statement or by contacting the church office ( , ext. 11, Christine Schroth, Financial Administrator). But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus [Philippians 4:19] In Christ,

2 Every Wednesday at 11:00 the Chapel Prayer Group meets to pray for FUMC members/families/friends with health or other concerns (or praises!). We always include prayers for our military members. Through time, we have lost contact with some of our military and would very much like to have an update on them. If you have any information on the following military members, please contact Pastor Hank McCaslin at or We are looking for updates on, Andrew Catron, Rebecca Stafford, Ryan Smith, Chris Doss, Ronnie Hamilton, and Charlie Martin. If there are military members in your family that you would like to have added to the prayer list, please give their names to Pastor Hank. You are most welcome to join us for prayer on Wednesdays in the second floor chapel! Point of contact: Marcia Johnson, Visitation Coordinator (Dates are birthdays unless otherwise indicated.) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal 6:10 During July, the FUMC Preschool staff is busy planning for a new school year FREDERICKSBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL Fredericksburg, Virginia to begin in September! We have a number of enrollment openings in our classes for four-year-olds, and we would appreciate your help in spreading the word about our outstanding program! Invite your friends and family to check us out and join our preschool community this fall! Currently, classes are not in session, but the Preschool Office remains open with limited summer hours. Contact the Preschool Director, Becky Patrick, by leaving a message on the Preschool Office direct phone line ( ) or by sending an to preschool@fumcva.org. Happy Summer! Make plans now for your family to be part of this summer s Mission Encounter (formerly the School of Christian Mission). Cosponsored by the Virginia United Methodist Women and the Virginia Conference Board of Global Ministries, this year s theme is Learning Together for the Transformation of the World. Mission Encounter sessions will run from July 25-27, including sessions for children (ages 5-12) and youth, and from July at the United Methodist Conference and Retreat Center in Blackstone. Participants will choose either a geographic study, The Roma of Europe; a spiritual growth study, How Is It with Your Soul?; or an issue study, The Church and People with Disabilities. The weekend children s study will be Making a New Picture: Welcoming Persons with Disabilities into Our Lives. Youth will be immersed into all of the weekend studies. The cost for adults and youth is $180 and for children is $130. Registration deadline is July 13. Brochures, which include the registration form, are available on the UMW bulletin board outside the FUMC Parlor. 2

3 Every woman of the church is invited to become a member of United Methodist Women because when women come together for missions, amazing things can happen. The theme for 2014 is A Calling for this Time. Won t you join us to find your place in United Methodist Women? Please call Carol Kuty at or Pat Blosser at if you have questions about our supportive community of women. The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of Mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. Another way for you to support missions is to purchase and use FUMC note cards. Packages of 10 note cards with envelopes, featuring a pen and ink drawing of our church by Jack Burnette, are on sale for $5.00 each by United Methodist Women. The cards are located in a basket at the Charlotte Street entrance. Please place cash or a check in the provided envelope (also located in basket). Money from the sale of FUMC note cards is used for?. If you completed the blank with the word missions, you already have the heart of a United Methodist Woman! 3 All young women are invited and encouraged to participate in the annual UMW Young Women s Event which has been designed especially for women ages This year s theme, A Place of Grace God s Greatest Gift, will be led by Mary Jane Rawley, Virginia Conference UMW Membership Nurture and Outreach Coordinator, and her daughters, Rebecca Wright and Jennifer Hildebrand. These two stay-at-home moms and partners in a home decorating business are very actively involved in mission and UMW. The Young Women s Event will be held at the United Methodist Conference and Retreat Center in Blackstone on September The event officially begins with supper at 7:00 p.m. on Friday (Please pick up registration materials between 5:00 and 6:45 p.m.) and concludes at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The cost for this event is $75.00, and financial support is available by contacting our UMW treasurer, Jean Himmel, at dhimmel1@cox.net. Brochures, including a registration form, can be found on the UMW bulletin board which is located in the hallway just to the right of the Parlor. Registration deadline is September 12.

4 FUMC members worked at 202 Frederick Avenue this year. The home was greatly in need of work because maintenance had been ignored for several years by the 90-year-old owner who suffers from Alzheimer s. On various days in April and May (mostly Saturdays) as many as twelve rather skilled workers volunteered some 178 hours of work. These folks accomplished an incredible amount especially considering the initial condition of the house. FUMC has been commended by both the Executive Director and the President of Rebuilding Together Fredericksburg for all that was done. As a result of the work accomplished, the house now has a functioning bathroom with sink, shower, vanity, cabinet, & GFCI outlet; a functioning kitchen with usable sink & electric range; replacement of rotted soffit, fascia, & flashing; renewed rain gutters & downspouts; two 20-amp circuits in the bedrooms; window repairs & replacement of more than 12 broken panes; PLUS uncountable general repairs to stair railings, storm doors, etc. Two large dead trees were also removed. Volunteer repair work in our community is one of the many ways that FUMC provides Christian Outreach in a local environment. Are you feeling a quiet nudge, a nudge to get out of your ruts and routines? Take a risk and Be You, Bravely; choose the extraordinary and live deeply by joining us in MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers). MOPS exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her full potential as a woman, wife, and leader in the name of Jesus Christ. Fredericksburg MOPS meets on the 1 st and 3 rd Friday mornings of each month from October-May. Registration is open NOW for the year. Please register early, as childcare spots are limited. Contact Allison Xanthopoulos at or FMOPSSTEERING@gmail.com. Visit our website at more information. Isaiah 43:18-19: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. We have two boxes in Mission Control marked for School Dressing Days. You may feed these boxes with gently used jackets, coats and hoodies and shoes, toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap or deodorants), backpacks (used or new), boy s and men s boxers or boxer-briefs and socks (any style). For girls, we are collecting new little girls jeans sizes 6X, 7 and 8 as well as socks (little girls size large and all women s sizes - colorful, low-cut socks are most popular at the moment). You may call Jean Himmel at for more information. NOTE: The only used clothing we will be distributing this year is outerwear and school-appropriate shoes. 4 Sign Up Genius We are using the Sign-up Genius program to allow people to volunteer to work at School Dressing Days this year. You can select the day and time slot of your choice and, if you enter your address, you will receive a reminder message prior to the event. To sign up follow these steps: On the internet, go to sign up genius.com At the top of the home page, click on find a signup Where requested, enter schooldressingdays@gmail. com (the originator s ). Fill in the appropriate letters and/or numbers in the next field. When the School Dressing Days page is displayed, you will see all activities related to School Dressing Days this year. Scroll down to find the day and time slot you want to volunteer for, click the signup box for one or more times, then click on Submit and sign up to complete the operation. If you have questions, please call Jean Himmel at

5 Send expressions of sympathy to the family member(s)/friend(s) in parenthesis below the memorial name. by Sandy Howson, Mrs. Joanne Wood, May 27 (Dr. Gary Wood, son) Mrs. Noralee Derby, May 31 (Bret Derby & Ann Derby McDougall, children) Mrs. Margaret Sale, June 7 (Ms. Kim Sale, daughter) Ms. Jane Sasser, June 12 (Mrs. Lois Sasser, mother) Memorial gifts can be given to FUMC for adult mission scholarships. Jeremy Gentry (Mr. Spike Burton, friend) Mrs. Maureen Kefauver (Mr. Andrew Kefauver, son) Mr. Marcellus Laures (Mrs. Lisa Emmerson, daughter) Mr. John Levis (Mr. Ed Levis, son) Mr. James Perry (Mrs. Becky Patrick, daughter) Mrs. Jane Farmer Seay, May 26 (Mrs. Janet Seay McCaslin, step-daughter) Mrs. Almera Haynes Stewart (Mr. Phil Haynes, brother) Staff Sgt. David Stewart (Clyde and Dorea Jones, grandaughter s husband) Mr. Carl Thomas Williams (Mr. Jim Williams, son) We have slipped up in that we have focused our advocacy when we have decided to do it on what is happening within the church, the Rev. Cedrick Bridgeforth, chair of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR), said at the caucus 47th annual meeting in St. Louis this spring. And in the midst of that we have become irrelevant beyond the church When we do advocacy work outside of the four walls, then it gives meaning to what s happening within the four walls. Bridgeforth s comments were accompanied by a chorus of Amens. For more information on how you can advocate for hungry people, go to or call Sandy Howson at or showson@infionline.net There will be a special Guatemala Mission collection during our church services on July 13th. A corporate sponsor will be matching dollar for dollar any funds collected, AND if we collect over $5,000, the sponsor will match $2 for every dollar above that! Here s how the funds will be used: One half of all monies for are designated for stove building materials, $250 each. These stoves are life changing to the marginalized indigenous families in the Guatemala Highlands. These safe vented stoves replace open fires inside their humble homes. The remaining half of all monies will be used for supplementing FUMC members and youth members to participate in future mission trips to Guatemala. Typical cost is $1,050 plus airfare, usually totaling about $1,700. The distribution to our members will made by Mission trip leader and/or the Youth Director for next year. The 2014 Guatemala team will be commissioned also during the services on July 13th. Please support this year s team with your prayers and future FUMC members with your financial support. Thank you. 5

6 The Monday Morning Bible Study meets from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 210 each month on the 1st & 3rd Mondays (except when the church is closed). For our current study we are discussing Women of the Bible 52 Bible Studies for Individuals & Groups by Jean Syswerda. Every week is a fresh lesson, so join in whenever you can! On July 7th we ll study THE WIDOW ZAREPHATH Open to all women and men (18-118), we always look forward to welcoming new faces, familiar faces and ones we have missed. To order a book, arrange for babysitting or if you have further questions, call Ann Braz at Looking for a way to make connections with a small group? Consider joining the Contemporaries Sunday School Class! We meet in room 210 at 11:00. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Fanya Morton at morton_family@cox.net Hope you can join us! We are continuing the Every Man a Warrior Bible Study series designed to help men succeed in life. Check out the display in the Gathering Space of Kobler Hall or contact Bill Hammen at bghammen@verizon.net or (H) or (Cell). 6 Newcomers Class is a three-week class designed for those who are new to FUMC or those who consider membership. You will discover answers about our denomination and our church in a friendly and fun environment. Learn the values and beliefs of FUMC and find where you fit in and how to get connected to the life of FUMC. Signup sheet is placed at Welcome Desk. Online registration is available at the church website at org. More questions? Please contact Pastor Won Lee (wonlee@fumcva.org / x15) for upcoming class dates. Used Adult Sunday School Study Books Used Adult Sunday School study books have been organized for your use. A sample copy of each book and a list stating the number of copies available is in the Church Library. You may borrow the sample copy to preview by signing the form available in the Library. Please return the sample copy to the box for returns. The books are available: To borrow for class use and then return To preview before ordering new or used books You may request use of these books by notifying Pam Bosch in the Church Office. Donate your used Sunday School Study books to the collection. Just bring them to the library.

7 FUMC Girl Scouts... FUMC s GS Troop 263 is gearing up for registration for the 2014/2015 school year. If you have a girl Kindergarten - Senior in High School (or if you are craving a leadership role in a wonderful organization) interested in being a part of this vibrant mission of our church, contact Stephie Maurer - themidwife@zoho.com or 540/ Please note we have limited openings in some levels and Spring is the only time we take new members in the troop. If you or someone you know needs special words of encouragement, CareNotes are an invaluable tool. Booklets cover a variety of topics for Kids, Teens, and Adults. Displays are in the Narthex, Fellowship Hall, and Charlotte Street entrance hallway. Take one for yourself or for a friend. Check each display frequently as the titles will change from time to time. If there is something you need but cannot find CareNotes for, contact Raymond Chancellor at (540) or leave a note in the CareNotes mailbox (Room 105), and a copy will be placed in the display for you. 7

8 The crack team of highly skilled and motivated Wednesday Night Dinner kitchen workers is always looking for additional volunteers for the team. The dinners will start back up in September. If you feel called to volunteer, call the church office to indicate your willingness and someone will contact you. The openings include set up, prep work, dish washing, and clean up. Choose from part-time, full-time or dedicate your life - the pay is the same. Volunteers are also needed for the Sunday morning coffee hour team so that the service can continue. Families, groups/teams, Sunday School classes and individuals are encouraged to consider volunteering once a year, once a quarter or however often you would feel comfortable. Training on the equipment will be provided before you would be expected to begin. If a snack is provided (reimbursements are given), the emphasis is for healthy snacks. How creative can you be? Please NOTE, if volunteers are not available there will be no coffee hour on that particular Sunday. The Contemplative practice of Centering Prayer is being held each Sunday evening in the upstairs Chapel. We begin at 6:45 p.m. in the Chapel, starting promptly, and ending at 7:45 p.m. (lasting one hour). If you have ever considered a closer walk with God this form of prayer is a golden opportunity. The goal of Centering Prayer is simple - closeness to God. This prayer time is open to all Christians of any denomination. Any questions, please call Janet Davis at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church is now offering online giving. Online giving lets you: You will be able to view only your own contributions. You can set up your online giving account in less than two minutes. It is easy, safe and secure. Your electronic donations will be managed through our church database software, LOGOS. Because security is one of the most important aspects of online transaction processing, LOGOS has developed a standards-based, 128bit encrypted and PCI-compliant payment processing protocol. The church is compliant for security for Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS). The church will not have a record of your credit and debit card numbers. HALO Merchant Services PCI, the intermediary between you and your financial institution, will maintain those records. Donor information is kept secure and private with password-protected online access. Because the donation and notification are electronic, the church must have your address in order to use this service. There is no cost or fee for you to use online giving. The church pays the small fee for using this service. To set up an account, go onto the church website ( click on Connecting, click on Giving, and follow the instructions. Or go to and follow the instructions. At this time, accounts available for online giving are: 8

9 The Outreach Pantry is open Monday through Friday, 1:00-3:00 p.m. We always need hot and cold cereals, pasta and pasta sauces, peanut butter, jelly (grape/strawberry), powdered milk, rice, soups, bread, canned fruits, canned meats and meat, baby formula and diapers. Monetary donations may also be made by writing Food Pantry in the memo section of your check. Please check expiration dates. We cannot give out expired items, nor can we give out medicines. Contact Ed Sielski at with questions. COMMUNITY DINNERS have been served in the Fellowship Hall for seven years now! Each second Saturday, FUMC has hosted a dinner prepared in the downstairs, newly renovated Kitchen - free for the community. The fourth Saturday, Ebenezer UMChurch from Stafford has hosted the dinner and now, since April, there are dinners EVERY Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at our church. Due to extensive renovations at Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church, area Presbyterians are hosting their dinners at FUMC. We are delighted with this arrangement. Preparation for dinner begins from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with set-up to follow and then dinner served at 4. What a great mission this is!!! Libby Wasem is now the organizer for FUMC and can be reached at lawasem@cox.net. 9

10 Photo by Phil Haynes