MESSENGER Plainville United Methodist Church Rev. Stephen Volpe, Pastor Volume 20, no. 4 May 2016 Ema il:

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1 MESSENGER Plainville United Methodist Church Rev. Stephen Volpe, Pastor Volume 20, no. 4 May office@plainvilleumc.org or pastor@plainvilleumc.org Website: Pastor s Page And the winner is... What a moment of grand anticipation! Who will it be? These reality shows really make this moment last forever, keeping you glued to the set waiting with bated breath; just who will it be? American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Survivor, etc., they re all the same, Who will it be? We can allow ourselves to become so invested in the reality that the contestants become almost an extension of our family in the way we care about them. Witness Connecticut s own Nick Fradiani who went on to win last year! And the winner is... All my succulent plants won a ribbon this year at the Cactus and Succulent Show, six firsts, seven seconds, a few thirds, etc., except one. This one was a miniature Aloe that only grows on the island nation of Madagascar. I let this one go native that is I allowed it to keep all its dead leaves to give the effect of how it might appear to someone coming upon it in Madagascar. I thought it looked cool. The judges thought it looked messy. You can t please everybody! This year, for the first time, I did not go into the show looking to come away with a bunch of ribbons. My main intent was to show forth the diversity there is in the succulent world to many who might not otherwise have a chance to experience such wonder, while trying to show the best plants I had. To accomplish that was winning enough for me, not the ribbons, but giving others a chance to be moved by, awed by, astounded by, confronted by the miraculous Creation our Lord has put in place, and how it can expand the consciousness of our limited, confined minds to perhaps understanding that there is something well worthwhile saving on God s created Earth. And the winner is... - any/everyone whose goal is not to please themselves, but God and others. That is certainly not the overriding theme or goal for those on the many reality shows. Their strategies revolve around getting as far as possible in winning the prize while pulling no punches, and running roughshod over others in order to win. That is certainly not how Jesus taught those who followed him to live. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. John 13:34. That is the Christian method of winning loving as Jesus loved. Not easy, not quite as simple as it sounds, but definitely, defiantly, and joyfully right and good. There is a lot to love about this world and about the diverse people in it. At the same time there is a lot that needs, that should change before we can say all is good and right. This is where we find ourselves, at this crux, at this fulcrum of choice to act and act well in this reality that we have been given by God to deal with. There are opportunities abounding, choices we can make that will affect others lives for the better or for the worse. It is up to us to learn how to love as Jesus loved and loves us, and then to act out of that love. That is the ultimate reality. And while it s no game show, there is a prize nevertheless, and the prize comes in the form of the fruits of the (Continued on page 2)

2 May 2016 MESSENGER Page 2 Spirit as Paul wrote in the fifth chapter of Galatians: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, and Self-Control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another. Paul goes on to recommend that we forgive one another, restore relationships and to bear each other s burdens. Drop thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace. Amen JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ( ) As a world, as a world community, we have a long way to go. As a Christian community, as a church family, we can certainly witness to this most real reality, this truth. We can show the world by our words and actions that winning in this world is not only not everything, but means very little, but that loving as Christ loved is and means everything. Peace, Pastor Steve Baptism Caleb Michael Santoro, son of Jim and Andrea Santoro, born on June 12, 2014 was baptized on April 24 th. Our Warmest Congratulations and Welcome to the newest member of God s family and our PUMC family! 217 th Session of the New York Annual Conference The 2016 New York Annual Conference will take place at Hofstra University on Long Island from June Lay representative Mitch Underwood and I will be representing our church during the session. Pastor Steve will be there and will keep in touch with the church office and will be leading worship on the 12 th. Pray for our Conference and our representatives for wisdom and safe travel. SAINTS OF THE MONTH For the month of May our Saint of the Month is Greg Michaud. Greg has been diligently leading our Praise Choir for I don t know how long, but is so faithful with rehearsals, keeping the choir focused and providing great songs for the choir to life our spirits almost every other Sunday! For this and so many other ministries he provides our church, I nominate Greg Michaud as our Saint of the Month for May. Give Greg a share of your gratitude this month!

3 May 2016 MESSENGER Page 3 Mother s Day Flowers We are starting a new tradition for Mother s Day by asking all members of the congregation to bring a sprig of flowers from whatever may be blooming in their gardens or a flower from a shop to come up to the altar during worship to add to a Mother s Day bouquet in front of the altar. We will have someone there to help you to place the flowers, especially for the children who come up. The flowers used during worship will be given to mothers as they leave worship along with a special gift. STEWARDSHIP CORNER: Deuteronomy 10: And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I give you today for your own good? Memorial Garden Update The Memorial Garden committee met to review the upgrades and any changes/improvements to the garden. Many thanks went to John Delin for his work in getting the garden spruced up and a new plaque. This will be a brass plaque which will be installed on the rock in the garden later this spring. The committee decided to increase the cost of interment in the garden from $ to $ starting on July 1 st. Can you sense that your life is progressing and you are maturing into Christ's likeness? Or do circumstances and character traits seem to hold you back? God promises to continue making His children beautiful throughout their lives. Are you resisting Him or cooperating with Him so that His gracious work is in you!! It was also decided to have an outside nursery preform a spring clean-up of the garden. We will have volunteers monitor and weed the garden thru the summer. We are looking into adding two simple benches to the area by the arbors. Anyone who wants to donate towards these benches can put in the offering plates an envelope marked Memorial Garden Benches. If you have any questions on interment in the garden contact the Pastor.

4 May 2016 MESSENGER Page 4 You re Invited Annual Ham Dinner Saturday, May 7, 2016 Dinner Served 4:30-6:30 PM Plainville United Methodist Church 56 Red Stone Hill, Plainville, CT Featuring Home Bake Ham Fresh Potatoes & Vegetables Assorted Breads & Desserts There will be a BAKE SALE as well! Adults: $12 Children: $6 4 & under: Free Reservations Strongly Suggested Call the Church Office: Church Pot Luck and Talent Night May 15 th From 5:00 to 7:00 pm A FUN NIGHT to get together as a church, and to get to know each other better. We will be having a Pot Luck and Talent Night on the 3 rd Sunday evening of the month from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Sign-up for your talent, can be a single person, duet, or group. Sing a song, play an instrument, read a poem, or demo your talent. Or just come and be part of the audience. We will see how the first two go and hope to continue this thru the year. If you want to come and need a ride, call the church office and someone will contact you.

5 May 2016 MESSENGER Page 5 SUNDAY SCHEDULE: SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:00 AM SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00 AM MAY HIGHLIGHTS 1 - Worship With Holy Communion, 10 AM 5 - Prayer Shawl Meeting - Tuesday Room, 7 PM 7 Ham Dinner and Bake Sale, 4:60 6:30 PM 8 Happy Mother s Day 22 - June MESSENGER Articles DUE DATE 22 - United Methodist Women with Speaker, 4 PM (For more dates and times, also see full calendar on the last page.) May Wedding Anniversaries May Birthdays 1 - Clarence (CJ) Bangloy 3 - Carol Sparks 7 - Marie Larson 11 - Gary Willard 14 - Sue LaCombe 19 - Christopher Pierce 22 - Sarah Thompson 23 - Joellen Wexler 24 - Celine Jade Bangloy 25 - Doris Misenti 25 - Mitch Underwood 26 - David McWilliams 26 - Greg Michaud 26 - Chris Sparks 28 - Mary-Alice Silvestri 31 - Manuel Recinos 1 -Nik & Lena Kurtz-62 nd 7 -Perry & Sherry Cole 7 -Robert & Grace Nelson-67 th 8 -Nick & Kate Romano 20 -Richard & Yvonne Freckleton 22 -Ed & Carol Sparks 22 -Russell & Karen Waldmann 23 -Jeffrey & Ellen Cedarfield Any corrections, deletions or additions? the church, call the office or drop a note into the church office mail box located in the narthex.

6 May 2016 MESSENGER Page 6 The May 22 nd UMW meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please note our new time. The program speaker is Michelle Taylor, whose topic will be VIM, Volunteers in Mission, a workshop for training those interested in helping with missions projects. You will learn about the opportunity to become involved in any mission that is organized through the Conference. Light refreshments will be served. Come join us and see what UMC Missions has done nationally and internationally. Missions and Outreach To date our church has purchased 52 clean water filters for Nicaragua. THANK YOU again for supporting this District missions project! You have made a difference in the lives of the families in this Nicaraguan village. Prayer Shawl Invitation The next prayer Shawl meeting is Thursday, May 5 th from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Tuesday Room. Bring your current project or come learn to knit or crochet. Yarn, needles and instructions are available. Join us for a time of fellowship and relaxation. Invite a friend or relative! May 8, 2016

7 M A Y Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:00 am - Sunday School 10:00 am - Worship with Holy Communion 8 9:00 am - Sunday School 2 7 pm - Trustees 9 7 pm-finance/ Stewardship 3 CT District Board of Laity 7 pm-seymour UMC Prayer Shawl Meeting 7 PM Ham Dinner and Bake Sale 4:30 6:30 PM 15 Day of Pentecost 9 am - Sunday School 10:00 am - Worship Church Pot Luck Supper in Fellowship Hall, 5 PM 22 Trinity Sunday Peace with Justice Sunday 9 am - Sunday School 10:00 am - Worship June Messenger Articles Due UMW - 4 PM 29 9 am - Sunday School 10:00 am - Worship Birthday Dimes for Missions 16 Church Council 7 PM 17 7 PM Worship Memorial Day SUNDAY SCHEDULE: SUNDAY WORSHIP: SUNDAY SCHOOL: Inquirers & New Members Classes 7 PM in Pastor s Office 10:00 AM 9:00 AM Church Office Closed AA meets Sun, Mon & Wed at 7 pm; Al-Anon meets Mon at 7 pm

8 PLAINVILLE United Methodist Church 56 Red Stone Hill Plainville, CT FORWARDING AND ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL - PLEASE DO NOT HOLD PUMC Church Staff: Pastor The Rev. Stephen Volpe Administrative Assistant Mrs. Eliana Foertsch The Organist/Choir Director Mr. Sean Lewis Inside Custodian Mrs. Pamela Kendall Outside Custodian Mr. C.J. Bangloy Church Office # / Office@plainvilleumc.org Parsonage # /Cell # / Pastor@plainvilleumc.org THE PLAINVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MAY "MESSENGER" OUR PURPOSE As members together in the body of Christ and in this congregation of the Plainville United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant to faithfully participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. GOD IS CALLING US TO BE AN OPEN, LOVING COMMUNITY OF FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES.