First United Methodist Church of Bloomfield

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First United Methodist Church of Bloomfield Phone: (505) 632-3732 Fax: (505) 632-0855 Pastor Kathy Potter Email: revkat45@msn.com Kathy s cell: (505) 320-4795 Office Email: bfumc@qwestoffice.

God gave his only son, the Magi brought gifts to the child, and according to many of the Christmas songs the animals and children brought gifts also.

1 First United Methodist Church of Bloomfield Phone: (505) Fax: (505) Pastor Kathy Potter Kathy s cell: (505) Office bfumc@qwestoffice.net Website: The Gift Of Easter We usually associate gifts with Christmas. God gave his only son, the Magi brought gifts to the child, and according to many of the Christmas songs the animals and children brought gifts also. As I have been reading, praying, and reflecting during this Lenten season I have been reminded that some of the greatest gifts any of us ever receive from Jesus came during Easter: the gift of redemption, the gift of forgiveness, the gift of resurrection. They may be considered one gift with many facets because they are all related. We have the tendency to speak as those they are individual, but they all came when Jesus became sin on that wooden cross and died (became separated from God because of those sins). Those sins were, are, will continue to be, ours. The gift is life, not just life eternal life. It is a life redeemed by Jesus for our sins. It is a life full of forgiveness: the release of bondage from guilt, doubt, despair, remorse, deceit It is a gift which gives new life and a new life always with God. The question is what do I, what do we, do with this precision gift? Do we pack it away under the bed (hide it)? Do we use it only on special occasions (Sunday mornings, Christmas and Easter)? Do we live like we are redeemed, forgiven, and resurrected from destruction people every day? Are we sharing, giving, expressing, praising God, growing in our faith everyday as a resurrected person? We look forward to the final resurrection when Christ comes again, what do we do with the resurrection (new life) given to us when our sins died? May this Easter be a celebration of new life for each of us.

Financials New Way In Finance Last month I shared how the New Mexico Annual Conference changed the funding from Shared Ministries with a set fee to each church for each line item to a tithe format.

The tithe for the month of February was $596.78 which will be in the Conference Office by the 10 th. Thanks to your generosity our tithe is being paid along with our bills. God is good all the time.

am Worship 52 Sunday, Feb 28, 2016 Sunday School 9 10:00 am Worship 53 OUR GIFTS 2016 Vision $146,163 Income Y-T-D $18,215.30 Percentage of Vision Funded 12% Needed each month $12,180.

2 Financials New Way In Finance Last month I shared how the New Mexico Annual Conference changed the funding from Shared Ministries with a set fee to each church for each line item to a tithe format. The tithe is paid to the Annual Conference from undesignated funds given during the month. Our tithe for the month of January was $ and we paid our bills. The tithe for the month of February was $ which will be in the Conference Office by the 10 th. Thanks to your generosity our tithe is being paid along with our bills. God is good all the time. Gretchen Potter Finance Chair OUR PRESENCE Sunday, Feb 7, 2016 Sunday School 8 10:00 am Worship 61 Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 Sunday School 2 10:00 am Worship 76 Sunday, Feb 21, 2016 Sunday School 7 10:00 am Worship 52 Sunday, Feb 28, 2016 Sunday School 9 10:00 am Worship 53 OUR GIFTS 2016 Vision $146,163 Income Y-T-D $18, Percentage of Vision Funded 12% Needed each month $12, Contribution Date Giving Fund Amount Feb Communion Offering Emmaus Gone Wild Food Pantry Loaves & Fishes Loose Off One Great Hour Parsonage Off Sunday School 1.00 Trustees Tithe & Off. 1, Feb Total: 2, Feb Grace Circle Loaves & Fishes Loose Off Parsonage Off Pension & Health Sunday School 1.00 Tithe & Off. 1, Feb Total: 1, Feb Emmaus Gone Wild Food Pantry Grace Circle Loaves & Fishes Loose Off Parsonage Off Sunday School 1.00 Tithe & Off. 1, UMM Feb Total: 3, Feb Food Pantry Tithe & Off Feb Total: Feb Easter Lilies Food Pantry Loaves & Fishes 6.83 Loose Off Parsonage Off Sunday School 2.00 Tithe & Offering Feb Total: FEBRUARY TOTAL: % Monthly TITHE to Conference (based on Tithe & Offering, Sunday School and Loose Offering): $ We have raised $14,300 towards the Parsonage Fund!!

Confirmation Class CREDO KNOW YOUR STORY CONFIRM YOUR FAITH LIVE YOUR COMMITMENT Confirmation is the continuation of one s faith journey regardless of how long ago or how recent it started.

Confirmation is not the destination, it is a tool to help you on your faith journey.

The children need a parent to attend with them. Confirmation Sunday will be May 15, Pentecost Sunday. We will meet every Sunday in April and on Saturday, April 23, with lunch and snacks provided.

3 Confirmation Class CREDO KNOW YOUR STORY CONFIRM YOUR FAITH LIVE YOUR COMMITMENT Confirmation is the continuation of one s faith journey regardless of how long ago or how recent it started. Whether it started with baptism as an infant or attending worship faithfully as an adult whether you have been baptized or not. Confirmation is not the destination, it is a tool to help you on your faith journey. Confirmation classes will begin Sunday afternoon, March 13 at 1:30 pm for anyone over the age of 10, even if you are already a member of the church or want to become a member of the church. The children need a parent to attend with them. Confirmation Sunday will be May 15, Pentecost Sunday. We will meet every Sunday in April and on Saturday, April 23, with lunch and snacks provided. You will be taught the story of your faith, as contained in the Old and New Testaments, and the history and traditions of Christianity and the United Methodist Church. You will be given a basic understanding of Christian theology and the traditions and doctrinal emphasis that make United Methodism unique. You will have the opportunity to work with those older and younger and learn the importance of Christian education as a lifelong endeavor. The understanding of the importance of Christian worship as practiced in the UMC and why worship is an essential part of Christian discipleship. The importance of service within and without the walls of the church will be emphasized. Finally we will discuss the meaning of the vows you will have the opportunity to take at the completion of this class and the commitments those vows carry. Please let me know if you or your child is interested, there is still room. There is no charge for this class. There is the expectation every person in the class will attend every class and be in worship every Sunday. Our new directories will be arriving soon. Gifts That Can t Be Wrapped Jessica Miller coordinated, cooked, served and cleaned up all the meals and snacks for the Lay Servants School in January. She was assisted by Donna Holcombe and Kathy Schlapp. Rev. Bonnie Hardesty taught the Basic Class; Rev Roger and Grace Tsosie taught Rediscovering Your Spiritual Gifts in Navajo; and, Rev. Kathy Potter taught When the Game is Over It All Goes Back in the Box. There were 35 participants The Journey to Excellence The Chile Award Boy Scout Troop 324 and Cub Pack 324 earned the highest award of the Great Southwest Council (New Mexico) for The "Journey To Excellence" Gold award requires overnight campouts, many hours of service projects, plus troop requirements. The major service projects include: Scouting for Food where 3,170 pounds of food was collected and donated to the Church s food pantry during the recent 2016 campaign; putting American flags on the graves of all known veterans in the cemeteries in the Bloomfield, Blanco and Turley areas for Memorial Day and Veterans Day holidays and then packing them away for the next holiday; assisting with the setting out of the luminaries for Santa in the Park evening and other projects as they are requested to assist. The boys will be receiving a patch to be proudly worn on their uniform. Troop and Pack 324 were assisted by Girl Scout Troop 10068, also sponsored by the United Methodist Church during these service projects and have also received The Chili Pepper award from the Girl Scout Council with the same requirements. There were 10 Girl Scout troops in the state of New Mexico that received this award. In addition to the Troop and Pack 324 being recognized, the Anasazi District (San Juan County) has received the highest award for their achievements in the Council. Congratulations to all involved.

OUR PRAYERS Shanon Bizzell Rick Brannan Evangeline Catchpole Frank Edwards James & Patsy Ellington Millie Ellis Ron

Knutson Glenn Lazenby Willie Like Kathy Lund Robert & Helen Martin Irene Mauldin Georgina Morphiss Ethan Murray Kim

Torrance Butch Turpin Isaac Umbarger Buck Wagoner Dave & Katherine Watts Nathan Watts Ed Woods To activate the prayer

Thank you Sally for helping. Alicia, Jessica and Kathy- a big thank you for your continued help and support.

Also a big thank you to Curt and Sally for the help in getting all the food organized.

families consisting of 68 adults and 41 children to date.

4 OUR PRAYERS Shanon Bizzell Rick Brannan Evangeline Catchpole Frank Edwards James & Patsy Ellington Millie Ellis Ron Eubanks Suzanne Friesen Miranda Friesen Al Fritz Terry Greiman Bob Grice Chase Hardesty Lois Johnson Dylan Keith Marge Knutson Glenn Lazenby Willie Like Kathy Lund Robert & Helen Martin Irene Mauldin Georgina Morphiss Ethan Murray Kim Pacheco Kathy Potter Lillian Renaud Molly Renner Ida Sikes Stephen Silbert Naya Stamets Eloise Symonds Thyra Tipton Al Torrance Butch Turpin Isaac Umbarger Buck Wagoner Dave & Katherine Watts Nathan Watts Ed Woods To activate the prayer chain call the church at or Kathy s cell phone Loaves & Fishes : Holding steady at 35 per week. Thank you Sally for helping. Alicia, Jessica and Kathy- a big thank you for your continued help and support. Manna Food Pantry: It is full!!!!! Thank you Scouts for the donations. Also a big thank you to Curt and Sally for the help in getting all the food organized. I want to thank everyone for their prayers during this very sad time for my family. My dad will be missed. Our God is an awesome God, Donna K. Holcombe Director of Food Ministry OUR SERVICE LOAVES & FISHES The Loaves & Fishes Ministry served 84 people the month of February and 211 to date. FOOD PANTRY The Food Pantry served 14 families consisting of 26 adults and 15 children the month of February, 35 families consisting of 68 adults and 41 children to date.. SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School, 9:00 am Worship, 10:00 am OFFICE HOURS MONDAY THURSDAY 9:00 am 4:00 pm LOAVES & FISHES Mondays, 12 pm 1 pm NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 20th of every month Anyone can post!! Barney Wegener March 1 Bonnie Brooks March 2 Ahonora Stamets March 2 Wyatt Kiddoo March 4 Delores Wernet March 5 Melissa Pavey March 7 Bill Schaaphok March 7 Taylor Kennedy March 8 Julie Rasor March 9 Shannon Nygren March 11 Stephanie Marie Roberts March 11 Adrianne Coleman March 12 Patsy Ellington March 12 Glenn Lazenby March 12 Hazel Anderson March 14 Pearl Reid March 15 Nancy Roe March 15 Edward McHenry March 16 Saterra McHenry March 17 Christian Ellington March 28 Wes McConnel March 29 Dale & Irene Walls March 4

5 Zegen Basket Easter is a great celebration of the resurrection of Christ and our freedom from death and sin. We are a blessed people and out of our blessings we celebrate the risen Lord. This year as we study and prepare our hearts and minds during Lent we are going to focus on a Slovenian custom called Zegen Baskets or the blessing of Easter Food. The tradition of the Zegen Baskets is that the members of the church bring food out of their blessings and share the food with those in need. Exactly what God calls his children to do on a daily basis. The food included in the baskets, with some exceptions, are the foods which God prescribed for the ancient Passover meal. Each item of the Zegen Basket represents an element of the Easter story. The Easter basket represents the sepulcher of Jesus. The cloth covering the food symbolizes the Holy Shroud, and a loaf of bread, the body of Jesus. Poticia represents the crown of thorns which was placed on Jesus head and kielbasa symbolize the ropes which tied Jesus in the Mount of Olives. Five red colored eggs represent the wounds of Christ. An orange or lemon represents the vinegar soaked sponge offered to Jesus and horseradish root symbolizes the nails used to fasten Christ to the cross. At least this is the overview. Since the last Sunday of January we have been told a short Zegen tidbit to explore the symbolization of each element. Some of us learned how to make Poticia Saturday, February 13 th. During the process of making and letting the poticia rise, we discussed the importance of Easter in our lives as Christians, and ate the wonderful Poticia that we baked. On Saturday, March 19, we are going to gather again this time making poticia for Sunrise Service. If you want further instruction and practice or want to join us for the first time you are welcome. Please bring a sack lunch and be prepared to be blessed in this time of work and fellowship. During the breakfast following Sunrise Service our lessons will be concluded. Each of the elements will be present in the meal and fellowship shared. Congratulations to: Dena Burgert on her new job. Our Sympathy to: Jo Stroup s family Donna Holcombe, Christie Stamets, Dreigan Wilson, Fionna, Naya, and Ahonora Stamets on the death of Don McClanahan, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Melissa Pavey on the death of grandmother, Allis Evans. Confirmation Class CREDO KNOW YOUR STORY CONFIRM YOUR FAITH LIVE YOUR COMMITMENT Confirmation is the continuation of one s faith journey regardless of how long ago or how recent it started. Whether it started with baptism as an infant or attending worship faithfully as an adult whether you have been baptized or not. Confirmation is not the destination, it is a tool to help you on your faith journey. Confirmation classes will begin Sunday afternoon, March 13 at 1:30 pm for anyone over the age of 10, even if you are already a member of the church or want to become a member of the church. The children need a parent to attend with them. Confirmation Sunday will be May 15, Pentecost Sunday. We will meet every Sunday in April and on Saturday, April 23, with lunch and snacks provided. You will be taught the story of your faith, as contained in the Old and New Testaments, and the history and traditions of Christianity and the United Methodist Church. You will be given a basic understanding of Christian theology and the traditions and doctrinal emphasis that make United Methodism unique. You will have the opportunity to work with those older and younger and learn the importance of Christian education as a lifelong endeavor. The understanding of the importance of Christian worship as practiced in the UMC and why worship is an essential part of Christian discipleship. The importance of service within and without the walls of the church will be emphasized. Finally we will discuss the meaning of the vows you will have the opportunity to take at the completion of this class and the commitments those vows carry. Please let me know if you or your child is interested, there is still room. There is no charge for this class. There is the expectation every person in

What is the Walk to Emmaus? It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as he is revealed to you through other believers. Who Should Go to Emmaus?

6 What is the Walk to Emmaus? It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as he is revealed to you through other believers. Who Should Go to Emmaus? Emmaus is open to members of any Christian denomination. Emmaus is for the development of Christian leaders who: Are members of a local church; Have a desire to strengthen their spiritual lives; May have unanswered questions about their faith; Understand that being a Christian involves responsibility; are willing to dedicate their everyday lives in an ongoing manner. What Happens on the Emmaus Weekend? The Walk to Emmaus is a 72-hour experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation. You will enjoy three busy days singing, learning, laughing, praying, worshiping, and participating in small groups. Discussions center around fifteen talks given by laity and clergy. The theme of each talk is God s grace, how that grace comes alive in the Christian community, and how it expresses itself in the world. You ll also discover how grace is real in your life, how you live a life of grace, and bring grace to others. You will have the opportunity to participate in the daily celebration of Holy Communion and to understand more fully the body of Christ. You will experience God s grace through the prayers and acts of anonymous service offered by the Emmaus community. You will leave with an experience of Christian love in action that will equip you for new levels of grace-filled service and leadership. What Happens Afterward? You are invited to walk with Christ for the rest of your life. Those who attend a Walk to Emmaus are encouraged to servant-leadership and to: expand their own spiritual lives through worship, study, and active participation in their local church. become more active disciples of Christ in service to the world. To nurture this process of discipleship, the Emmaus movement offers specific opportunities. First, groups of four to six people meet weekly to reflect on their spiritual journey and encourage one another in accountable discipleship. Second, there are monthly community gatherings where Emmaus participants meet for fellowship, worship, and instruction. Third, though a newsletter, members become aware of support needs for upcoming Walks and other opportunities of servant-leadership. Interested? Contact Kathy. A great many persons in our congregation have been on a Walk and she will connect you with others who will answer your questions and be your sponsor. Men s Walk Women s Walk September 15 October First United Methodist of Bloomfield is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on 4/13/2016. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call or visit

First United Methodist Church of Bloomfield 1105 North First Street Bloomfield NM 87413 (Return Service Requested) NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FARMINGTON NM PERMIT NO.

7 First United Methodist Church of Bloomfield 1105 North First Street Bloomfield NM (Return Service Requested) NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FARMINGTON NM PERMIT NO. 25 We are going to teach, serve, and grow by being Disciples of Jesus Christ through prayer, STEPPING OUT IN FAITH, and using our resources to serve our neighbors. MARCH 1 Scouts, 6:30pm 2 Praise Team Practice, 7pm 6 UMYF, 4:30pm 7 Loaves & Fishes, 12pm 8 Scouts, 6:30pm 9 Praise Team Practice, 7pm 10 Extension Club, 10:30am 13 Confirmation, 1:30pm UMYF, 4:30pm 14 Loaves & Fishes, 12pm Trustees, 6pm Finance, 7pm 15 Scouts, 6:30pm 16 Grace Circle, 11:30am Praise Team Practice, 7pm 19 Potica Workshop, 9am CALENDAR 20 Palm Sunday UMYF 4:30pm 21 Loaves & Fishes, 12pm SJE Gathering, Bloomfield UMC 6:30pm 22 Scouts, 6:30pm 23 Praise Team Practice, 7pm 27 EASTER! Sunrise Service, 6am UMM Breakfast, 7am Worship, 10am 28 Loaves & Fishes, 12pm Ad Council, 7pm March 13, 2016 GREETERS FOR MARCH March 6th Curtis & Sally Hutchin March 13th GIRL SCOUTS March 20th Bill & Sue Beery March 27th Sunrise: Fionna Stamets and Callie Glass 10:00am: Tom Smith & Deanna Gosnell Please bring refreshments to share after worship!

THE PATH WE CANNOT SEE

THE PATH WE CANNOT SEE First United Methodist Church of Bloomfield Phone: (505) 632-3732 Fax: (505) 632-0855 Pastor Kathy Potter Email: revkat45@msn.com Kathy s cell: (505) 320-4795 Office Email: bfumc@qwestoffice.net Website: