Wyoming Church Just Got Even Friendlier!

Transcription

1 Wyoming Church Just Got Even Friendlier! We, Wyoming Church, have always been known as a congregation that is full of welcoming and friendly folks. With very little effort you can enhance this great tradition of welcome and friendliness each and every Sunday by taking the time to extend a warm, sincere greeting to some one(s) that you may have seen before but had not taken the opportunity to say Good Morning. That simple act of kindness says so much about our Congregation and will mean so much to the recipient of your greeting whether they are long term or new attendees. Thanking you in advance for your great efforts in making our Wyoming Church even more friendly and welcoming! Church Yard Sale on Saturday, August 4 - indoors! Inside this Issue UMC News (Pastor Rick).. 3 Farewell to Casey Houtz 3 Give Thanks to the Lord (Pastor Dave)...4 Count Your Blessings..4 Happy 4th Hymn Sing on the 16th!...4 Sacrificial Love (Danny Cooper)....5 Not too serious :-)....6 Much Smaller Mortgage.6 Financial News Graduates to 5 Alive!...8 Peachy & Fuzzy & Yummy 9 Puppets Ice Cream Social 10 Cookies 4 the Dance...10 Gift Cards for FUNds In the WUMC Garden(s) 12 Walk 4 Water Volunteer 4 Food Bank Supplies 4 School.13 Build your Faith Build the Habitat House...14 Men s Breakfast, Ladies Lunch & Peach Pies for all...16 Our People NEW! MultiCulti Corner 19 Memory Verse Back Cover Get your vending space now ($25/each). Download your Registration Form at Questions? Barbara Shepperson (302) We ll gladly accept your donations to the church table, too! Please bring them to the church, Room 233 (across from the office), until August 2nd. Not accepting: large furniture, books, clothes. Questions? Margaret Bryan

2 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 2 Thank you to everyone who had their picture taken! Special Thanks to Dave Kleinot for donating his equipment and valuable time for 5 (five) weeks! Also to the many volunteers (Betsy Freidel, Pam Hill, Tracey Jones, Renate Purdy, Kim and Mollie Reed, Kay Schultz, Barb Shaw, Alicia Sumpter, Loretta Walls) who assisted each week during photo sessions and will help with printing & assembly. Please join a Delaware State Police Detective for a V.I.P.R. (Violent Intruder Preparedness and Response) SECURITY TRAINING. There will be 90 minutes of instruction, including videos and slides, as well as a Q&A time at the conclusion. This training is FREE and open to ANYONE interested. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL WUMC STAFF, USHERS, GREETERS, NURSERY AND SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS ATTEND THIS TRAINING. Please spread the word! Saturday, July 14, :00 Wyoming Church Do you have YOUR NEW WUMC Magnet yet? $2.00/each in the vending area.

3 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 3 From the Pastor s Desk I d like to use this space this month to talk about some things that are going on within our denomination. The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 by the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church. Our denominational leaders meet every four years at what is called General Conference to discuss matters of church life and doctrine. Starting with the General Conference of 1972, the UMC has been involved in an ongoing discussion about matters of human sexuality. At that Conference, the church adopted the position that homosexual persons, no less than heterosexual persons, are persons of sacred worth, but that the practice of homo-sexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching (UMC Book of Discipline, Para. 161). Self-avowed, practicing homo-sexuals are not allowed to be ordained as clergy, and UMC pastors are forbidden from performing same-sex wedding ceremonies, both without and outside of the church. These positions have been upheld by every General Conference over the last 40+ years. There are many within the denomination who agree with these positions. There is a vocal contingent that does not, and in the last six years there has been an increase in laity, clergy, and even entire Annual Conferences that have acted in defiance of our adopted positions. The infighting came to a head at General Conference It was decided there that a special General Conference would take place in February 2019 to strictly address issues surrounding human sexuality, marriage, and LGBT clergy. A host of proposals have been made as to what to do, from maintaining the current positions, to changing them completely, or even splintering the denomination into several new church bodies. What will happen in February is unclear. I d like to invite you to an evening of prayer, information, and discussion on August 23 rd at 7 PM. I will be discussing the history that has brought our denomination to this moment and the various proposals that are on the table and what they might mean for our church. Please be in prayer for Wyoming Church, the United Methodist Church and for God s will to be done....to the Houtz Family! Casey has begun ministry at Harbeson United Methodist Church on July 1st and he will be starting seminary at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. We pray God's blessings on Casey, Dodie, Amelia and Rachel as they begin this new journey with the Lord.

4 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 4 Pastor Dave s Ministry Minute - May 2018 Give Thanks to The Lord Summertime gatherings are a great source of rest and relaxation A warm summer evening gathered together with family and friends can hold some of the most wonderful moments in all of life Sitting around the table enjoying a meal with people you love and care about can be a place of love and joy and peace It seems like Methodism is rooted in meals where there is always more than enough to go around We like to bring our best to those covered dish suppers with more than enough in whatever dish we bring I ve never been to a barbeque, picnic, or covered dish supper and left hungry Throughout the Bible there are countless numbers of stories that include meals Think about the feeding of the multitudes or the last supper Think about the manna and quail in the desert where God provided more than enough for the entire nation of Israel for 40 years God continues to provide us with all that we need and sometimes the Lord s provision comes through others We see people in our community who do not have enough to sustain themselves Wyoming Church continues to offer assistance to those in need and always will Our Family Emergency Relief Fund is one of the greatest ways in which we are able to help A simple offering, taken once a month that helps people in need right here in our own backyard Praise the Lord!! God is good and blesses all of us in meaningful ways Even those who appear to be less fortunate are blessed through the generosity of others When we gather for our summer cook-outs with family and friends be sure to give thanks to the Lord for all the ways in which we are blessed So be it and Amen Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 I ve always been extremely proud and happy to live in this great country. As we approach Independence Day, July 4, may I suggest we revisit just what it means to have the privilege of citizenship. There was one day in particular where the pride in being an American simply overtook me; it was almost embarrassing to be that proud and that day served to wash away any remaining (societal induced) guilt about my service in Viet Nam. But first, a little info for your consideration. This article begins with Lorne, a lifelong friend, who wanted to join the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of seventeen. Because his parents wouldn t sign for his enlistment, he waited until his eighteenth birthday and enlisted two days later. He arrived in Viet Nam in December of 66, was assigned to an infantry regiment and within a month of being in the bush, lost his right leg (below the knee) from a booby trap blast in January of 67. He was med-evaced (medical evacuation) out of country and sent to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. When I visited him in the huge amputee ward where all beds were taken, it was an overwhelmingly crushing experience. Lorne was happy to be alive. Lorne s situation was not as severe as that of some of the other guys who were missing both arms and legs. Matter of fact, the sights and smells of the amputee ward were so devastating that I delayed my enlistment by over a year. By the way, there is still today, fifty one years later, shrapnel in Lorne s leg. Now in those days Lorne was a Canadian national citizen and carried his green card in his wallet. In 1978, he applied for U.S. citizenship. He took some classes, had to speak English, took and passed a civics exam, and had to have two character witnesses on the day of his naturalization ceremony which is where I and Ron come into the picture. On the special day, we arrived at the court house on King Street in Wilmington. Lorne and candidate citizens were seated toward the front; we were on benches behind them. A speech of welcoming and congratulations was followed up by the soon to be citizens reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The place looked like a little United Nations gettogether. Some of the future 50 to 60 citizens were adorned in their native garb; it looked like India, China, Africa, and other European nations were represented. I was not prepared for what transpired next. When the title of United States citizen was bestowed on the applicants by the judge, some of the candidates openly wept! I m not sure where they came from and what conditions they left behind, but boy were they happy to be here in America as a bona-fide citizen! And don t think that a lump didn t form in my throat. These folks wanted to come to my country, the nation that we shed blood for and the land that many died for. This surge in pride seemed to minimize, if not eliminate, the effect that Hollywood film makers and news outlets had on the psyche of this returning veteran because their negativity toward Viet Nam veterans was, frankly, quite damaging. Anyway, it s not hard to understand why peoples from around the world want to immigrate to the United States of America. So, as we approach Independence Day, I offer the sentiment that we are either the luckiest or most blessed nation on the planet. The initial statement in the Bill of Rights guarantees us the right to pursue a religion of our choice. It is not a law, it is a right. Look at the wonderful environment provided at our own Wyoming United Methodist Church and our great church family. Count your blessings, folks, we are truly fortunate! David Van Kavelaar Celebrate the 4 th of July, but save some celebrating for: THE SUMMER HYMN SING on Monday, July 16th at DOVER PLACE at 6:45 PM! We would love to have you join us and the residents to raise our voices to worship and praise the Lord. There will be plenty of fireworks with Pastor Dave leading and June Papen playing the ivories. For a toe-tapping time do not miss this ministry! Donna McCartney (302)

5 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 5 Sacrificial Love Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these feed my lambs. John 21: 15 If anyone says that the Bible is too difficult to understand or that it doesn t apply to life in today s culture, than the lessons of the Apostle Peter have been tragically lost. For is there another human figure within the pages of scripture that so convincingly demonstrates the struggle between holiness and humanness; the journey of faith that invites each of us to leave the old behind for the renewal of God s promises; to relinquish the richness of self for the poverty of Christ in this world? If we were to look at the Peter moments from scripture, we would see a lineage of supernatural situations tainted with the everpresent earthiness of Peter. Whether it is Peter s sinking doubt while walking on the waves with the Lord, the anxious advisement of Jesus on how best to host Elijah and Moses, boldly proclaiming his steadfast commitment to Jesus prior to the cock s crow, or the hurt felt from the Lord s penetrating questions of love in the above verse from John, can anyone be more human than Peter? The examples are plentiful, the dynamics consistent; invitations for Peter to rise above, to go beyond his fleshly limitations, all with the same conclusion, choosing what is familiar to what is possible; securing self to a fallen world while foregoing the sacrifice of self that leads to salvation. What a journey for poor Peter! We could almost feel sorry for him and the trials he experienced, but let s not get lost there. Let s remind ourselves that in the midst of Peter s foibles and follies, it was he who proclaimed to Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Wow! That was a rather bold statement, a statement that could get someone in big trouble if heard by the wrong person. Was this a problem or concern for the impulsive Peter? Not at all. And what response does Jesus make to the brave fisherman? Blessed are you Simon, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. (MT. 16: 17-18) You have to Danny Cooper Daybreak Counseling Services hand it to Peter, for when he messed up, he messed up big, but when he was right, it was a bases clearing home run! The key point in this message is this: we each have talents and gifts given to us by God, our Creator, but who is the master in charge? Peter had numerous qualities and gifts, but they were usually mishandled or mistimed, leaving potentially powerful spiritual experiences, well, not Ordinary becomes out of this world when the One who knows us the best uses us; when as instruments, we willingly join the great conductor in life s beautiful music. so powerful. Like my elementary report card often read, nice kid, but not yet reaching potential, Peter was a nice, well -meaning fellow who couldn t quite get out of his own way. In the above scripture from Matthew, we see the incredible combination of Peter s courage and boldness, combined with heavenly inspiration from God. So which one comes first, the gift or the Giver? As this scene clearly portrays, our gifts only have true power when inspired by the Spirit of the One who gifted us. When we think about it, is not scripture filled with supernatural experiences involving rather ordinary individuals? Ordinary becomes out of this world when the One who knows us the best uses us; when as instruments, we willingly join the great conductor in life s beautiful music. Thankfully for many of us, actual musical ability is not required! While Peter had moments of clarity and openness to the Spirit s leading, he more often struggled within himself, much like many of us do today. The closing verses of John s gospel, our scripture for this message, are compelling for us as believers and followers of Christ in today s world, struggling disciples along the way. Peter labored to understand the words of Jesus; that love is not merely a word or a feeling, for he did truly love his Lord. Peter was slow to realize that true love, as Christ himself demonstrated, was an act of surrender, giving up of one s self for another; that to love was to sacrifice that which was given to you your very life. Peter thought he loved the Lord, but didn t realize what kind of love he was being offered and invited to experience. Do we? God loves us all, each and every one. There is no question about this, for there are numerous, encouraging scriptures to remind and strengthen us on this truth. Thankfully for many of us, actual musical ability is not required! The necessary question rests with us, as it did with our friend Peter. Do we love Jesus? Let s not, like Peter, quickly respond an affirming and emotional yes too soon. For our love, like Peter ultimately lived out, is not a love of word, but a love of action, a love of giving, and a love of sacrifice. If God s lambs are going to be fed, it is up to you and to me. We are the living instruments of God, equipped and gifted by our Creator for His purpose and His pleasure, not simply our own. As Jesus proclaimed to his disciples in John 13, may we also remind ourselves today A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Lord God, thank you for the gift of life, for the opportunity be a part

6 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 6 Don't let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case. Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited Until you try to sit in their pews. Many folks want to serve God, But only as advisers. It is easier to preach ten sermons Than it is to live one. The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, But mosquitoes come close. When you get to your wit's end, You'll find God lives there. People are funny; they want the front of the bus, Middle of the road, And back of the church. Opportunity may knock once, But temptation bangs on the front door forever. Quit griping about your church; If it was perfect, you couldn't belong. If a church wants a better pastor, It only needs to pray for the one it has. We're called to be witnesses, not lawyers or Judges. God Himself doesn't propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you? Some minds are like concrete Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set. Peace starts with a smile. I don't know why some people change churches; What difference does it make which one you stay home from? Paying the Church Mortgage We have been working collectively to reduce Wyoming Methodist s mortgage principal through our capital campaign. We are entering the final part of our 3-year pledge period. Together, we have pledged close to $570,000! Although we have some remaining pledges to be fulfilled, we have received over $62,000 that was not pledged! We are doing a wonderful job with over $587,000 received. Already $500,000 has been applied to our principal! There is still time for us to add to this mortgage reduction effort! Just designate Capital Campaign on your weekly envelope. When we reduce our monthly mortgage payment (by applying the payments directly to the principal), we will have more left for our budget and programs. With God s help, we can keep going to pay off our mortgage! We are blessed to have such a versatile church! A lot of church members singing 'Standing on the Promises' Are just sitting on the premises. Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em. Stop, Drop, and Roll won't work in Hell.

7 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 7 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR MAY 2018 Michael Quarnaccio, Finance Team Leader The following report includes current year to date financials and the 2018 budget approved at the meeting of Church Council on January 23, 2018 Income/Expenses to Date Budget to Date 2018 Budget Weekly Offerings-Operating 234, , ,819 Other Offerings 23, ,875 78,900 Interest Income ,000 Total Offerings 258, , ,719 Finance Team ,042 7,300 Office 10, ,723 20,935 Personnel 54, , ,370 Mortage Interest 29, ,250 75,000 Properties & Equipment 52, , ,126 Total Administrative Council 147, , ,731 Nursery & Supplies Benevolences(Conference) 24, ,062 55,349 Education & Youth 1, ,375 8,100 Music ,200 Worship Total Council on Ministries 27, ,479 65,949 Pastor Parish Relations 53, , ,039 Mortgage Principal liabilty 46, , ,000 (Reduces debt to PNC) Total Expense 273, , ,719 Net Income(Loss) (14,884.33) Balance of Mortgage 1/1/2018 1,497, Principal Paid in , Mortgage Balance end of month 1,391,715.89

8 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 8 Attention Youth Grades 6-12: Except for a few activities - and the mission trip, of course, there will be no regular Sunday night youth meetings through the summer. We ll resume our regular schedule after Labor Day. Again - Graduates 2018 Congratulations! This year's recipient of the Dorothy Brown Education Scholarship is Mollie Reed. Mollie will begin her college career at Delaware Technical Community College with a major in computer science. Congratulations and our best wishes for future success, Mollie! The Wyoming Church Scholarship Team Stephanie Kovacs, the granddaughter of Jim & Lois Murray, graduated magna cum laude from Pennsylvania State University. Stephanie plans to pursue a career in Communications/Public Relations. Of course we had an outrageously educational, highly creative, musically moving, totally exciting, fabulously inspirational, all-around wonderful week of Vacation Bible School at the Rolling River Rampage! Many many many many many THANKS to our many many many many many helpers and planners and organizers and RAFTERS!! Read all about it in the VBS Extra Edition in the September issue of The Wyoming Messenger. First through fifth graders: The fun doesn't end when VBS is over Join us for Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month all year long in Room 209 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM, we have a Bible lesson, an awesome game like the ones you played in Recreation at VBS, a video and delicious snacks/drinks. This is totally free, all are welcome and you don't need to register, just show up!! If you have questions or would like more information, contact Melissa at

9 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 9 Peach Cutters Needed! August 1st from 6:30 till 8:00 in the FLC. Bring your favorite small cutting knife and join us in fellowship time as we cut peaches (no peeling involved)! The youth will be selling their famous Peach Fuzzy drink on Saturday, August 4th at the Peach Festival to raise mission trip funds. Any?? contact Tracey Jones at (302) Quite an act of caring for a group of kids! Thank you, thank you, thank you! With your help, the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Sunday School class was able to purchase for donation to Heifer International... 1 water buffalo, 1 alpaca, 1 pig, 2 hives of bees, 1 flock of ducks, 2 flocks of chicks, and 1 irrigation system, plus a small cash donation! And these may be tripled by Heifer! These will help so many families and communities and will enable them to be self sufficient and to pay it forward.

10 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 10 Puppets of Praise Ice Cream Social Come one, come all to our annual Puppets of Praise Ice Cream Social on Sunday evening, July 15th, beginning at 6:30. The puppet team will be performing a selection of humorous skits and upbeat songs about following our Lord Jesus. The performance will be followed by ice cream with all the toppings. So bring the family to Wyoming Church's Family Life Center for a hot performance and cool treat on what should be a warm July evening. The ARC Dancing season resumes on August 31! It will be our church s turn again to provide the cookies For the the 7 TH time around We ll need 85 dozen cookies! We can do it - we ve done it for 6 years! Why not start the baking now? Then freeze your cookies till August... Call Renate with questions.

11 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 11 Beat the summer heat with scrip activities! Catch a summer conditioning of your favorite theater, beach for a picnic. Earn rebates on your scrip. for your favorite blockbuster in the air or gas up and hit the summer fun with Gift cards will arrive the first week of August - just in time for Back to School shopping needs! WHAT IS SCRIP? It's just another way to pay for everyday purchases using gift cards in place of cash, checks, and credit cards. You purchase gift cards from WUMC FUNdraising Team at face value, and we order those cards from Great Lakes Scrip Center at a reduced price. The difference is an instant rebate to go towards debt reduction. It s really that simple! WHAT'S NEW? WHEN? Stop by the FUNdraising table on July 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Paper orders should arrive for delivery for Sunday, August 5th. (If you choose to order online, the gift cards can either be shipped to church or you could pay a shipment fee to have them mailed to your house OR you can get many as Electronic cards!) Please pay by check (written out to WUMC) or exact cash. Family enrollment packets will be available to register for online purchases of gift cards. MORE businesses to choose from on the paper order form. If you have Questions, please linda.lyon@aol.com.

12 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 12 Our Wyoming Church s Greener Greater Grounds! Thanks to the Wyoming Church Trustees, under the able leadership of Dave Yencer, the expansive acres of lawn that surrounds our Wyoming Church have never looked better. From the lush front (West) lawns to the wildflower infused side (North and South) and back (East) lawns the intensity of the various shades of green are pleasing to the eye. The anonymous gift of two young Dogwood trees were planted by Martha and Terry Higgins as replacements.. The replacements became necessary when the original dogwoods fell victim to excessive string trimming during the growing season in Thanks to a couple of dedicated volunteers, the entire length of the west landscaped wall of the Church was hand-weeded prior to a forthcoming new application of a fresh layer of mulch. The several teams of dedicated mowers as well as those folks who trim the walkways and curbs are to be commended for their great efforts and fine results, There are always grounds related projects that need to be completed, especially during the green season. If you feel so led to volunteer for an occasional mini-project do not hesitate to contact Terry Higgins or Dave Yencer Memorial Bricks Are For Honoring And Remembering. As the days of our Delmarva Summer continue to unfold around us we have the opportunity to rejoice and enjoy the beauty of the season and the many blessings from God that surround all of us. When you enter the Church grounds one of our newest blessings is that of the Memorial Garden. Dave Yencer and the Trustees have done a magnificent job on the construction of the Garden and we are now awaiting the finishing touches by others. Your opportunity to place an order for Memorial Bricks is ongoing and open-ended. The placing of a Brick or Bricks in the Garden to honor a loved one who is now present or in memory of someone who had a great and positive personal impact on your life or the lives of those close to you is always open to you. Samples of the types of messages that folks have chosen can be seen on the finished Bricks that are to be found at the Memorial Garden Model in the Narthex or at the Garden itself. Should you need an order form for a Brick please know that the forms can be found in the Narthex at the display of the model. Should you have any questions about your Memorial Brick order please see or contact Dave Yencer or Terry Higgins

13 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 13 Coming in the Fall Wyoming United Methodist Church s Walk For Water, on Saturday, October 13 th! Join us for a 5K Walk for Water to benefit Lifetime Wells International, a local well drilling company who has driven more than 2,000 wells in Ghana, Tanzania and other parts of Africa, bringing clean water to those in need. Watch for registration information soon!! If you or your company would like to sponsor our walk, please contact Gary Nelson at or at gary.j.nelson@gmail.com. Your company s name and/or logo will appear on the back of the tee shirts which the participants will be wearing. More information to come in the September Messenger. Outreach Opportunity WUMC, sponsored by the Outreach Team, will be volunteering again this year to assist with the Children s Summer Nutrition Program on Wednesday, July 18 th and Wednesday, August 8 th from 9 am to 12 noon at the Food Bank in Milford. We have 15 slots to fill each day. Varied tasks are assigned and children over the age of 7 are welcome, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. This is a great family adventure and a great outreach project for your older children. Won t you consider donating 3 hours to help us out? To sign up, contact Judy Field at or at warren.judy@comcast.net. Once you have indicated that you would like to help, you will be contacted with instructions for registering with the Volunteer Hub. If you have volunteered before, just log into your account and sign up for those days. Your participation means so much to the daily lives of hungry children. God bless! School Supplies Needed! Every August it is truly a blessing to be able to deliver a car full of school supplies and book bags to the Caesar Rodney, Capital and Lake Forest School Districts. These supplies go to children whose families otherwise might have to choose between buying the needed school materials or paying the rent. This year the Outreach Team will again purchase about 100 backpacks to be divided between the three school districts. We started collecting school supplies during VBS and will continue to do so during July and August. The following supplies for needy elementary school students (in order of importance) are: Wide-ruled notebook paper #2 pencils Large erasers (pink block type) Small boxes of 16 crayons Small pencil boxes or zipper pouches Children s scissors Composition books Glue sticks Paper pocket folders Highlighters Rulers A box to collect supplies will be in the Narthex during the months of July and the first two weeks of August. Whatever we receive will be divided equally between the three school districts to use as needed. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Abbott or another member of the Outreach Team. Thanks to your support, needy students are able to have the supplies they need to do their work. Your donations make a big difference in the lives of children right here in Kent County! Carol Abbott, Outreach Team

14 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 14 Street, Wyoming. WSFS donated the property and some financial support and many local builders and volunteers stepped up to complete the home in just 4 days!! The Blessing of the House Built in 4 Days! At the recent blessing of the newest home built by Habitat for Humanity and Lessard Builders in Wyoming, our own Gloria Barker, Lay Leader, was invited to offer the prayer at the beginning of construction and again asked to share a closing prayer of blessing at the dedication of the house after 4 days of intensive construction! Gloria said, They must have liked my prayer on the first day, because they asked me to come back for the blessing of the home, just 4 days later!. The home will be used by AmeriCorps as a residence for members of the local chapter who are completing their year of service with Habitat and serving with other local non-profits. The home is a 5-bedroom 2-1/2 bath home on Pine Gloria s prayer was beautiful and encompassed the entire purpose of Habitat and the newest residents of the home. She has graciously agreed to share her words: Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father, we come to you today to ask your blessing on this house that has been built with the love and devotion of many professional and volunteer hands. By the skill of head and hand, the people who labored here have built a house that is strong and sturdy to shelter those people who serve those less fortunate. We pray that you will hallow this home with your constant presence that those who dwell here will share fellowship, neighborliness and sociability, and be shielded by your protection. May we draw from you, Father, that faith in the human spirit which alone gives meaning to efforts for the common good. May our eyes always be open to the need for human dignity and the ways we can work to insure that dignity. And now, trusting in your grace to sustain and prosper your people, we dedicate this home to your glory in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

15 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 15 And, although we cannot build our Faith Build House in 4 days, please check out the work schedules at the Faith Build House Display in the Narthex. We need one person for July 11 th for the first day and people for Wednesday, September 12 th and Saturday, September 15 th. We will be doing interior cleaning and painting so everyone can participate. We also need people to help prepare lunch for our two work days. We have made a commitment to donate $3,000 towards the cost of the home. Please consider a contribution towards this worthwhile project. Envelopes are on the display table. Please put your Envelope # on the envelope if you choose to donate. If 300 members donate $10, we will have reached our goal! Watch the lights go on in the display house as the contributions come in!! Meet the 2018 Habitat Family Hi, my name is Tamara Rodriguez and I have lived in Delaware now for 21 years. I have three children a daughter who is 16 and two sons, 11 and 3. We enjoy having family time which is usually spent at the park, beach, bike riding or taking a walk. We love spending time outside and we try to do our best in everything for ourselves and to help others. We are currently living in a mobile home which is old, but I do keep it clean and try to do my own mainte-nance to keep if safe for myself and my kids. There is not enough space for all of us, but we manage. The environment is unsafe for my children especially in the summer when there are cops around all the time usu-ally due to robberies. There is also not a safe place for my children to play outside. Habitat means to us a fresh start for a new life! It will give us an opportunity to work on our home as we be-come a homeowner. We will also learn new ways to help others, meet new friends and community mem-bers and join the Habitat family. We thank everyone who is graciously giving and volunteering for our home. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24-27

16 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 16 All the men of our growing Wyoming Church Congregation are urged to reserve a single hour, a mere 60 minutes, from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM, on the last Saturday for the next two months, which makes it the 28 th of July and the 25 th of August. That is the time when we have the distinct opportunity to convene in the private dining room known as the Backroom at Hall s Restaurant, located in the center of the Town Of Wyoming, for the monthly meeting of our Wyoming United Men s Prayer Breakfast. Following a very short Mini-Message Of Faith we will order from the menu and enjoy good food and great table fellowship on all sorts of topics. If you like good food cooked to order, an informal venue, a relaxed atmosphere and a friendly reception then this is the place to be. Information/Questions --- Josh Turner You can now sign up in the Narthex to order your Wyoming Church World Famous Peach Pies. These 9 inch pies, handcrafted by the Chefs of the SKTeam, will be freshly cooked and ready on Saturday, August 4 th, during the WUMC Peach Festival Yard Sale. You can order now, you ll pay for your pie(s) when you pick them up at the Chef s Kitchen in the Family Life Center. While you are there, you will also have the opportunity to look over the Bake Sale Tables that will be laden with a wide variety of culinary treats prepared by a host of our Wyoming Church cooks and bakers. Please remember that the baked goods are always a Sold Out event so plan to arrive early for the widest selection. Peach Pie?? Shelby of the Ladies Wednesday Study continue July 18 th Please call Donna McCartney by 4:00 PM on July 15 th I will make a reservation for 11:45. We will be carpooling so if you can drive let me know, we will meet at church at 10:15 and leave at 10:30. All ladies are welcome to come yummy food and road trip with time to talk. Mark your calendars for our final Summer Lunch on: August 15 th Staying close to home and going to one of my favorite spots. RSVP with me no later than July 29 th by 4:00 PM. I will make reservations. All are invited please come and have lunch with the ladies. Donna McCartney (302)

17 published THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 17 Your very active and highly successful Sexton Kitchen Team s (SKT) FOOD MINISTRY PROGRAM of Food, Faith And Family wishes to express our appreciation for your continued support of the various and ongoing SKT activities. Several of the Team s projects are fundraisers that depend on your faithful support. In fact, some of the recipients of the Team s financial grants are for projects that are underfunded or not funded at all by the limitations of the general church budget. The underfunding and/or non-funding are part and parcel of the old adage of Even if You Had Access To All Of The Money In The World, You Still Would Not Have Enough Money To Meet The World s Needs. As you can well imagine, your SKT is not attempting to meet all of the world s needs but we are striving to aid the good folks of our growing congregation and our surrounding communities with projects and programs that will have a positive impact on children, youth, families, adults and seniors. As you probably know from the SKT information found in recent issues of the Wyoming Messenger several of the grants made by your SKT team have included financial support for the Youth Mission Trip, Outreach Team, College Scholarship, Camp Pecometh Camperships, Bibles For Children and Vacation Bible School just to name a few. Hence, our continued appreciation for your ongoing support of the Team s forthcoming activities. The Team s World Famous Peach Pies sale is now in progress. These nine inch peach pies are handcrafted by the SKT Chefs in the Church s Chef s Kitchen and will be ready for pick up in the morning of the forthcoming Saturday, August the 4 th. forthcoming Wyoming Peach Festival Yard Sale. While you are picking up your ordered peach pies that Saturday morning please remember that the Team s laden multi=tabled Bake Sale will be in progress. For the best and widest selection at the Bake Sale plan to arrive as early as you can. Items tend to sell out early. To order your Peach Pie(s) look for the SKT Kiosk in the Narthex and fill in the brief requested information on the sign-up sheets. Your SKT has an arrangement with Redner s (Redner s Warehouse Markets of which there are 3 in the greater Dover Camden-Wyoming area) in which Redner s will refund a portion of the totals on Redner s Receipts that are submitted by an organization, in this case your Wyoming Church s SKT Team. These refunds are then used to by your SKT to provide additional financial support for the Team s various funding activities. Frank Roberts, a member of the SKT, has volunteered to oversee this project. The process that Frank has developed is very direct and easy to follow; all you need to do is bring in your Redner s Receipts and place them in the container that is located near the Welcome Desk in the Narthex. Frank will then collect them, total them and submit the receipts to corporate Redner s for a subsequent refund. Mark your calendars now for the forthcoming Annual Wyoming Church Covered Dish Picnic slated for Sunday, September the 23 rd, beginning at 12:15 PM in and around the Family Life Center. Look for more information in the September issue of The Wyoming Messenger. Should you feel led to consider joining the group of dynamic and friendly folks that comprise the SKT, please see Linda Booher, SKT Chair. She will be pleased to talk with you! We Need Your Baked Goods Hundreds of folks will be visiting our Wyoming Church s Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, August the 4 th, in conjunction with the Town Of Wyoming s Annual Peach Festival. Many of them will be looking for and attracted to our Church s traditional display of Baked Goods and Culinary Masterpieces. Our Congregation is known for its great and well experienced chefs and cooks. We need you to prayerfully consider your SKTeam s request that you prepare one of your favorite baked goods and/or one of your most favorite desserts for the Bake Tables. You can deliver your culinary creations to the Chef s Kitchen in the Family Life Center on Friday, August the 3 rd, between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM or to the Chef s Kitchen on Saturday, August the 4 th, before 8:00 AM. Questions --- Nikole or Nancy Wyoming United Methodist Church published a total of 5 cookbooks over the past 65 years. Every month, we will present a recipe that has been a cherished part of the great Methodist tradition of food & fellowship!

18 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 18 ~ Baptisms ~ Ryan Alan Dotson, the son of Matthew and Lauren Dotson, on June 24, 2018 Natalie Geneva Delgado, the daughter of Larry and Heather Delgado, on June 24, 2018, pictured below with her parents and brothers Noah, Zachary and Ezra. Child of blessing, child of promise, Baptized with the Spirit's sign, With this water God has sealed you Unto love and grace divine. Child of joy, our dearest treasure, God's you are, from God you came. Back to God we humbly give you: Live as one who bears Christ's name. United Methodist Hymnal #611 ~ Deaths ~ Kristen Marie Kasha, 37, the niece of Betsy & Jack Freidel and granddaughter of Dot Ziegler, on June 4, Take to heart these inspiring lines from Kristen s Obituary: "Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place." Elijah Riley Gordy-Stith, 20, the son of Vicki and Bo Gordy-Stith, on June 12, Obituary:

19 THE WYOMING MESSENGER July/August 2018 Page 19 ~ Our People ~ ~ July & August Birthdays ~ 07/01 Tracy Boyer, Claudine Stover 07/02 Kamren Tinsley, Jon Leczner, Joe Kundler 07/03 Delaney Helmer, Diana Moore 07/05 Mickey Jones, Sue Lighter, Keith Campbell 07/06 Stone Seip, Tom Wise 07/09 Don Kirk 07/10 Doug Zeiters 07/11 Bethany Coleman 07/12 Gail Alexander, Michael Fennemore, Skylar Higgins, Scott Kapes, Renee Simpson 07/14 Nancy Auten, Charles Nichols 07/16 Heather Helmer 07/17 Bob Cousens, Rylann Betterley 07/18 Peter Geldof, Rick Short 07/19 Elinor Brocklehurst, Debbie White, Aaron debloois, Larry Kesselring 07/20 Derek debloois, Jerry Buckworth, Bill Morton 07/21 Tom Vella 07/22 John Shoemaker, Byron Edwards-Coope, Sig Kelsey 07/23 Sandy Tinsley 07/24 Hyacinth Finkley, Tabatha Anderson, Lloyd Alviset 07/25 Bri Hosmer, Sandra Nasim 07/26 Elliott Chase, Lana Gordineer 07/27 Bob Kirby 07/28 Terry Higgins, Laurie Edwards, Steven Seip, Lucas Long, Kyle Luke 07/29 Rich Harper, Debbie Grinstead, Bill Semonavick, Amy Faircloth 07/30 Ashley Papen, Vickie Thompson 07/31 Nancy Minor 08/01 Mollie Reed, Amber Pearson 08/02 Rhonda Davis, Julie Muldrow, Nancy Roberts 08/03 Mike Williams, Curtis Brosius, Mary Beth Auten 08/04 Denise Rothermel, Jim Cook, Dodie Houtz 08/05 Beth Campbell 08/06 Alicia Beaman 08/07 Megan Boyer, Jane Fennemore, Cayleigh Dotson 08/08 Patti Collett Ravilious, Kelly Seip, Zoe Kalinowski, Lisa McCalister, Emily Jeffries 08/09 Sharon Quillen 08/10 Rick Beaman 08/11 Kathleen Torbert 08/12 Liz Clements, Madison Bergeron 08/13 Graham Cooper 08/14 Susan Gant 08/15 Jerry Moore 08/16 Payton Porter, Bill Strickland 08/17 Alan Grinstead 08/18 Robyn Lefort, Jason Stallings 08/20 Kathy Klecan, Kasper Milton, Greg Long 08/21 Patti Sudler, Chris Boyer 08/22 Beth Barlett, Shirley Nichols 08/23 Grace Servon, Kayla Harris 08/24 Raelyn Gray 08/25 Patti Moore, Jim Harvey 08/26 Tim Shepperson, Andrea Andrews 08/27 Betty Inge, Emily Mateja 08/28 Dotty Failing, Nathan Williams, Andrew Edington, Cynthia Yencer 08/29 Dave Schoettinger, Dave Failing, Owen Kleinot 08/30 Shelby Truitt, Peggy Mosher, Johnathan Hamblin, Ginny Leczner, Silas Mann 08/31 Tracey Jones 09/01 Bob Maris, Dana Tappan 09/02 Ann Sumpter 09/03 Sharon Duncan, Lindsay Wessell 09/04 Lucas Nichols, George Pettyjohn, Russ Riggins, Dennis Klecan 09/06 Nancy Hughes, Michael McDevitt, Dot Ziegler, Jonathan Abbott, Konner Metz, Kendall Metz How Can I Help? The multi-cultural activities at Wyoming Church are growing by leaps and bounds You may have noticed greater levels of diversity at Wyoming Church These increases are largely due to our partnership with Casa de Esperanza, an Hispanic/Latino congregation Casa de Esperanza is experiencing new levels of growth and welcome you to join them for worship on Sunday afternoons at 1:00 They will provide a quality Spanish to English translation at any time Wyoming Church and Casa de Esperanza have partnered in ministry to the farm hands at a nearby farm camp and we hope to be in ministry at a second camp this summer With that possibility it would be a wonderful ministry opportunity for anyone and everyone I was able to go into the camp last year and was blessed to see the farm hands in a relaxed setting enjoying some lively music and a good Gospel message With the positive growth we ve seen in these ministries there will be increased opportunities for Christian service If you are interested in helping in any way or if you have any suggestions as to how we can grow these ministries please feel free to reach out to me I trust that God will continue to direct our steps as we seek his face together When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Leviticus 19:34

20 216 Wyoming Mill Road, Dover, DE Phone: Fax: To: You! Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 9AM to 3PM Give a Prayer Shawl to someone special in your life who needs a visible reminder that God is with them and people are praying for them! Prayer Shawls made by Knitting To Nurture and others in our congregation are available for pickup in the church office. Our People Praying. group has prayed over these shawls and through their prayers, God is already working on the needs of the person any one of these shawls will cover in warmth and comfort. Psalm 118:24