The Messenger Vol. 15

Transcription

1 The Messenger Vol. 15 COME & WORSHIP 8:00 & 11:00 Traditional 9:30 Praise Worship August 14, 2016 "For Christ's Sake, Live!" Matthew 10:34-39 August 21, 2016 "Rock Solid Faith" Matthew 7:15-29 Sunday School All Ages 9:30 a.m. Youth & Adult 11:00 a.m. Church Staff Ronald King Pastor Connie Perry Office Administrator Lynda Hurt Administrative Assistant Chris Lehew Director of Student and Young Adult Ministries Phyllis Stauffer Coordinator of Children s Ministry Joshua Hearn Organist/ Music Coordinator Scott Fears Chancel Choir Director Lance Winkler Praise Worship Coordinator Tammy Page Child Care Coordinator Harry Moyer Building Supervisor Dominick Italiano Custodial Assistant Pastor Ron contact info: Work, Cell, Home, PastorRon@ shawneeumc.org Hello Friends, Our mission: Connect people in a growing, engaged, active relationship with Jesus Christ August 10, 2016 We are caught in our humanity in a way from which we cannot escape. I m not sure we re supposed to. Usually when we find ourselves in this position, we look for someone who has charisma someone whom we re drawn to; someone who can inspire us. This is typically a responsibility that is placed on our leaders. It doesn t make a difference whether they are the field of business, politics, religion, or coaching. We want someone who can draw us in emotionally and inspire us to bigger, better, more challenging things. But, is that what we re supposed to do as Christians? Or, are we in some way tied to the same tree of irresponsible carrot chasing as those in the rest of the world. There are a couple of scriptures which might give us a clue about where our inspiration comes from as children of God. The first is found at Psalm 40: Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. In the opening two verses of this song, David acknowledges God s characterization of him: that David is one who is inspired by God to be obedient, but it s not an obedience compelled by some rules. It is an obedience even a joy that David receives from knowing that he has done what his God requires of him. It comes from within his heart. He loves to do what God has asked of him, and all it takes for David to find joy is being inspired by his God to do what God would have him to do. The final two verses lay out the response David gives because of this inspiration. He is motivated by this inspired reaction to God to tell others what God has done for him. Paul s response is slightly different. Paul offers these words at 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. Paul finds his inspiration in his love for Jesus Christ. It has become such a powerful inspiration in his life that he no longer lives for himself, but for him who died and was raised for him. In a world where people are looking everywhere for inspiration, perhaps we do ourselves a disservice especially those of us in the church when we look to the pastor, the elected leaders, other lay persons, the district superintendent, or the bishop to be charismatic, or for inspiration to do God s work. Maybe and this is just a thought maybe our God and Christ are all the inspiration we should need. After all is said and done, none of the church officials (lay, clergy, appointed, ordained or just called) have been charged with the responsibility to inspire. Christ and our love for him God and our joy in pleasing and serving obediently, should be our source of joy and inspiration. In fact, our God and Christ should be all the inspiration we need. Who are you looking to inspire you? Agape and Shalom, Pastor Ron King Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS Phone: info@shawneeumc.org Website:

2 BACK TO SCHOOL FAMILY GAME NIGHT! Fun for the whole family! Games for all ages! Games and snacks provided, or bring your own games, and join us in the Fellowship Hall, Saturday, August, 13 th, 6:00 8:00 p.m. =================================== Back-to-School Blessing by the Rev. Marilyn E. Thornton Bless my paper and my pen. Guide my spirit deep within. Help me think and help me play, This whole school year, day by day. As I move from class to class, Guide my footsteps; clear my path. Keep my tongue to speak your words. Let your will for me be heard. In every subject high or low, May God's excellence be shown! Keep me strong to reach the prize, To grow in grace, becoming wise. Whether far from home or near, May I hold God's precepts dear. To do my best at every task; For this blessing, I do ask. Help my family be a part As I lift my mind and heart. As I study, work, and pray, Be with them throughout the day. Of whom much is given, much is required. May learning be your greatest desire! From the Library...a quiet Ministry There s still time! Don t forget to add a S More with your name and the title of each book you read this summer to the campfire bulletin board. We will stop collecting S Mores at the end of August. Then in October (details TBA) we will announce results and prizes for most books read at a fun time around a campfire in the Annex side yard. ALSO: Treasures from our church book sale - Three brand new DVD s about early figures in Christianity s history: John Wycliffe (14th century) was a scholar and cleric who translated the Bible into English for the first time and faced many trials and tribulations for his faith. John Hus, a contemporary of Wycliffe, (note: they both lived before the Reformation) also advocated for the Bible being taught in the language of the people and eventually ended up charged with heresy and burned at the stake. Then there was Martin Luther*, a monk who took drastic actions leading to a break from the Catholic church and the Reformation. Check one out for insights into church history. *Academy Award Nominee twice. Pudding Cups Galore! We so far have collected 606 pudding cups for the Shawnee Mission supplementary food program sponsored by Merriam Christian Church! Our drive continues until the end of August and we have already passed our goal of 600!! You may place your donations in the hallway at the back of the Chapel. There will be a bag marked Pudding Cups. Thank you for your generosity toward this project. The Lectionary Bible Study We would like to thank all our friends at SUMC for praying Charles back to health. The power of prayer is amazing! Charles is now cancer free! The love and support we received from everyone was overwhelming. We appreciated every phone call, card, and visit during his illness. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives. No words could ever thank you enough or say what is in our hearts. You have touched us in a way that will never be forgotten. We hope all of you can join us from 1:00 to 3:00pm on September 3rd at the church for a celebration of life and thanks. Love, Charles and Mary Self SHAWNEE COMMUNITY SERVICES Shawnee Community Services continues to need the following priority donations: Ongoing donations, nonperishable food, drivers to pick up donations of food from commercial establishments in the Johnson County area and volunteers to help in the SCS location; W. 67th St., Shawnee, KS. Also food and items can be dropped off at the agency or put the items in a sack marked Shawnee Community Services located on the table by the chapel in the church. If you have an interest in picking up donated goods, call Sylvia Terry You can also talk with Sylvia, the CEO, regarding volunteers opportunities. Call for additional information. Thank you for considering Shawnee Community Services requests. SCHOOL SUPPLY DONATIONS NEEDED! The LECTIONARY CLASS is collecting donations of school supplies for Merriam Park and Ray Marsh Elementary again. We will run our collection through September 30. There are lots of good deals on school supplies right now at Target, Walgreens, CVS. Office Max/Depot. Please remember to get WIDE LINE paper. Any and all supplies are welcomed, including Kleenex. Look for the box in the Hall as usual. Thank you.

3 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES GENESIS When was the last time you heard a new idea about your faith? The Genesis class has been studying a CD series called Faith and Reason that we highly recommend. The series introduces the ideas of D.L. Dykes, a popular Methodist minister from the 50 s - 70 s. There is a 20 minute video with lots of time for class discussion. For example, Dykes claims God is all love, and never punishes or rewards. Please join us at 9:30am in Room 305. EQUIP... Equip Sunday School Class began a study called Cold Case Christianity on August 7th. This is a 9 week program based on Cold Case Detective, J. Warner Wallace s books, Cold Case Christianity and God s Crime Scene. These books examine how to build a case for the defense of the Bible from the perspective of a homicide detective. We too, can learn to build the case. Lecture, video and discussion will guide the class. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this gentleness and respect 1 Peter 3:15 Please join us Sunday mornings at 11:00am in Room 304. Other Adult Sunday School Opportunities: Maranatha - members enjoy group discussions led by class members or outside speakers. Subjects range from faith development and Bible study to social issues and family relations. The coffee pot is on, so drop in and share your thoughts or just get acquainted. We meet at 9:30am Sunday morning in Room 307. Sojourners - Communication and interaction are the hallmarks of this welcoming class. Our discussion centers around understanding Bible passages and how they relate to today s living. Please come be a part of this open and friendly class at 9:30am on Sunday morning in Room 304. Keystone - Established in 1950, Keystone centers their studies around the Bible and current events. We also participate in mission projects outside the walls of the church and sponsor frequent social events. Come join us in Fellowship Hall at 9:30am Sunday morning. Reading Group Meets Join us in the parlor at 1:00pm on Thursday, August 25 to discuss or learn about THE UNDERGROUND GIRLS OF KABUL, by Jenny Nordberg and/or I AM MALALA by Malala Yousafzai. Next month s title is THE RELEVANCE OF RELIGION IN POLITICS by Jack Danforth. UMW Collecting for Bluejacket-Flint Elementary Healthy snacks for the Special Ed and first graders such as Cheezits, Goldfish, Teddy Grahams, granola bars, peanut butter crackers in individual packages are needed. Jackets, coats, gloves, sweatpants, socks and underwear are also welcome. The collection box is outside the Chapel. The UMW appreciates all of your contributions. HELPING HANDS MINISTRY Helping Hands Ministry at SUMC continues to provide a variety of services for members of the congregation. A number of caring and helpful persons are here to help. Transportation is a primary request. If needed, we will help shopping with you and assisting to locate offices, etc. If you have errands to do, we can help with that also. Would a friendly phone visit weekly by a Helping Hand be good? Theses are just a few of the out reaches we do. You can call and let us know your situation. If we can t help, we will help you find other resources. There is a bookmark in the church Narthex with a display of further information. For information about HELPING HANDS, or to request help, please call the coordinator at any time and leave a message if no one is home. GET READY FOR THE GARAGE SALE This is a reminder that our Garage Sale will be held on October 7 and 8. We can start taking items on Tuesday, October 4th. THANK YOU! Thank you, dear people, for your willingness to help with the McNaughton dinner. It was bountiful! Thanks, also, to the 2 couples from Shelly s church, Aldersgate UMC who were wonderful help and support. PUMPKIM PATCH TIME AGAIN! It is a rich rite of autumn our annual Pumpkin Patch at Shawnee UMC. Before long, the annex yard will be brimming to capacity with pumpkins. There will be an organizational meeting for the pumpkin patch to start the ball rolling on August 21st at 12:15pm directly after the 3rd service in the gym. If you want to help organize please come. We also need volunteers to help with sales. Please prayerfully consider giving your time to this exciting fundraiser. Go to the youth page on our website to sign up. If you have questions, please see Chris Lehew or contact him at chris@shawneeumc.org. Thank you for your support!

4 Prayer Notes by Julie Italiano I am filled with love when the Lord listens to the sound of my prayer. Psalm 116:1 If this sounds familiar, it might be because it is the verse listed on the pew prayer request cards (the newer version). As I was rereading it, I was struck by the word sound. It doesn t say when the Lord listens to my prayer. It says when the Lord listens to the sound of my prayer. What else strikes me about this verse is that the speaker is filled with love when he or she is praying. It doesn t say that the Lord is filled with love, it says I am filled with love. So what does this mean? I think it means that the person praying can be filled with love as the Lord listens. And that the sound of our prayers, the mere act of praying, brings delight to God, and that delight reverberates back to the one praying. Perhaps it isn t so much that the words we say to God in prayer are what moves God and us, but the very act of reaching out to God, just the sound of our praying, brings God great joy. And then the praying individual feels that joy and knows and is filled with love. We are meant to be connected to our God. He loves the sound of our prayers. So talk to God. And be filled with love. For so is God filled with the love of you. We will have a come and go prayer service for healing and wholeness from 4 7 pm on Sunday, August 21, in the Sanctuary. Please feel free to come any time during these times and stay for as long as you like. Healing and wholeness can cover physical and emotional issues, spiritual confusion and emptiness, family and other relationships, as well as our need as a nation and people for oneness and harmony. All who feel a need for God s touch are welcome to come. You may come and pray on your own. You may also request a prayer minister to pray with you. There will be candles to light for your prayer request if you choose. Weekly Prayer List Please pray for our members: Kathy Madison Dennis Brown & Family Bob Waller Curt Dixson JoLayne Mullins Kallie Pankau Peggy O Neal The Family of Pat Riddell Lauren D Amato Mike Helmer Goldie Belt and Family The Family of Woody McNaughton Kent McCreight and Family Please pray for our friends: Nancy Morando Dennis Newsome Jeanne Hoffman Sandy Rickey Teresa Sullivan Rick Nelson Barbara O Brien Carolyn Bush Chimane Jonscher Chrissy Frederick Annette Upp Sheryl Kronshage John Saddler Linda Houser Terry Irwin Donna Alfaro Mary Fern Woods Steve McCrary Mick Rydquist Nancy Holmes James E. Brown David Guterriz Beckett Avery Michael Self The Family of John Bowling Please pray for our homebound members: Doris Cathey Harriet Guthrie Clena Wilson Virginia Hubbard Donna Lee Jess Clark Flora Whisler Shawnee United Methodist Foundation One of the most satisfactory ways for a donor to give a gift to the SUMC FOUNDATION, a 501(C)3 organization, is to give of appreciated stock. Giving stocks, bonds, and mutual fund shares that have increased in value (and which the donor has owned for more than one year) provides greater tax benefits to the donor than giving cash. Not only can the donor deduct the full market value of the securities but also avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation. If you are interested in making a gift of appreciated securities please contact a member of the FOUNDATION or call the church office, Darrel LaRue Jack Richter Vera Goebel Floreine Crumrine Beth Crane Willa Schumacher

5 Sunday, August 14 - August 28, 2016 Sunday, August 14 7:45am Prayer Time, Conference Room 8:00am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 9:30am Praise Worship, Sanctuary 9:30am Children s Sunday School (ages 2-6th grade) 9:30am Adult Sunday School (Maranatha, Keystone, Genesis, Sojourners) 10:30am Youth Brunch Bunch/SS, Gym (Jr./Sr. High) 11:00am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 11:00am Adult Sunday School (Equip) Monday, August 15 7:00pm Esther Circle Tuesday, August 16 10:00am Lectionary Bible Study Class, Room 304 7:00pm Trunk or Treat Meeting, Gym 7:30pm Open Coed Basketball, Gym Wednesday, August 17 1:00pm Mary Ruth Circle Fellowship Hall 3:00pm Youth Music Lessons w/ Chris, Gym 6:00pm Lectionary Bible Study, Parlor 7:00pm Bible Study Group 1, Annex 7:00pm Diabetes Group, Room 308 Thursday, August 18 1:00pm Prayer Quilt, Room 307 7:00pm Church Council Meeting, Room 304 7:00pm Prayer Shawl, Parlor 7:00pm Bible Study Group 2, Annex 7:00pm Keystone Class Home Bible Study Friday, August 19 10:00am Friday Prayer List Saturday, August 20 7:00am Breakfast Club, Fellowship Hall 9:00am Early Birds Circle, Room 307 ATTENDANCE July 31, 2016 August 7, :00 a.m. 56 8:00 a.m. 54 9:30 a.m. 56 9:30 a.m :00 a.m :00 a.m Sunday School 80 Sunday School 115 Sunday, August 21 7:45am Prayer Time, Conference Room 8:00am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 9:00am UMW Refreshments, Narthex 9:30am Praise Worship, Sanctuary 9:30am Children s Sunday School (ages 2-6th grade) 9:30am Adult Sunday School (Maranatha, Keystone, Genesis, Sojourners) 10:30am Youth Brunch Bunch/SS (Jr./Sr. High), Gym 11:00am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 11:00am Adult Sunday School (Equip) 4:00pm Service of Healing & Wholeness, Sanctuary 5:30pm Youth Sunday Night Live (SNL), Gym Monday, August 22 7:00pm Children s Council Meeting, Room 308 Tuesday, August 23 10:00am Lectionary Bible Study Class, Room 304 7:00pm Stephen Ministry, Rooms 304, 306 7:30pm Open Coed Basketball, Gym Wednesday, August 24 3:00pm Youth Music Lessons w/ Chris, Gym 4:30pm Staff Meeting, Room 304 6:00pm Lectionary Bible Study, Parlor 7:00pm Bible Study Group 1, Annex Thursday, August 25 1:00pm Reading Group, Parlor 7:00pm Bible Study Group 2, Annex 7:00pm Keystone Class Home Bible Study Group Friday, August 26 10:00am Friday Prayer List 6:00pm Wedding Rehearsal, Sanctuary Saturday, August 27 3:00pm Wedding, Sanctuary & Upstairs Sunday, August 28 7:45am Prayer Time, Conference Room 8:00am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 9:30am Praise Worship, Sanctuary 9:30am Children s Sunday School (ages 2-6th grade) 9:30am Adult Sunday School (Maranatha, Keystone, Genesis, Sojourners) 10:30am Youth Brunch Bunch/SS (Jr./Sr. High), Gym 11:00am Traditional Worship, Sanctuary 11:00am Adult Sunday School (Equip) 12:00pm Youth Mission Trip Follow Up, Gym 12:15pm Community Dinner, Fellowship Hall

6 CALENDAR Sun, Aug 14 Tue, Aug 16 Wed, Aug 17 Sun, Aug 21 YOUTH LIVE! Brunch Bunch/Sunday School 10:30am in the Gym Trunk or Treat meeting 7:00pm in the Gym Youth Music Lessons with Chris 3:00 to 5:00pm in the Gym Pumpkin Patch organizational meeting 12:16pm in the Gym. SNL (Sunday Night Live) - 5:30pm in the Gym PUMPKIN PATCH TIME AGAIN! There will be an organizational meeting for the pumpkin patch to start the ball rolling on August 21st at 12:15pm directly after the 3rd service in the gym. If you want to help organize please come. We also need volunteers to help oversee sales. Click on the pumpkin patch picture to sign up or go to the youth page AUGUST 28th The youth will be sharing their 2016 St. Louis Mission Trip experience in the 8:00am, 9:30am and 11:00am worship service. Following the 3rd service, there will be a mission trip follow-up session with Julie Strassman from the Kingdom House in the Gym. Lunch will be provided (community dinner). Join us each Sunday for Brunch Bunch at 10:30 in the Gym, followed by Sunday School from 11 to Noon. Jr. High and Sr. High meet separately. Teachers are needed! SIGN UP HERE: Or contact chris@shawneeumc.org DO YOU LOVE TO BAKE OR COOK? The youth meet every Sunday in the Gym for Brunch Bunch at 10:30am where they have a meal and then Sunday school. We need people who would be willing to bring breakfast/brunch food such as fruit, donuts, muffins, bagels & cream cheese, egg and meat dish, bacon/cheese/biscuit sandwiches or Danishes, etc. To sign up: contact Chris Lehew, chris@shawneeumc.org, Colleen Brinkley, colbrinkley@sbcglobal.net, or click here. Thank you. Check us out on Twitter, Instagram (ShawneeUMC Youth) and our website,