FOR THE JOURNEY. (continued on the next page)

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1 FOR THE JOURNEY July Vol. 26, No. 7 HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2233 Golf Road Eau Claire, Wisconsin / / hopeumcec@yahoo.com Socrates was sitting on a hill overlooking Athens, when a man stopped to talk with him. The man asked, what are the people like down there in Athens? Socrates said, Where are you from? The man replied, Sparta. And what are the people like in Sparta? The man replied, Rude, meanspirited, not nice people. Socrates said, You will find the people in Athens just the same. I would not go there. Later, another man approached Socrates and asked, What are the people like down there in Athens? Socrates said, Where are you from? The man replied, Sparta. And what are the people like in Sparta? The man replied, Kind, generous, good people. Socrates put his arm around the man and said, Let s go to Athens together. You will find the people in Athens just the same. (Author unknown) At the beginning of June, we hosted a Conflict Well workshop presented by our district superintendent, Rev. Kate Croskery Jones. In a big circle, we started with opening worship, and then in small groups, we shared our stories of conflicts. We saw that our usual attitude about conflict is that it is bad, or wrong. It is easy to create walls that we fight to maintain, or that we hide behind. I was reminded that we can choose to be constructive when conflict occurs. Conflict is a natural part of life because we all are different. There are always tension when there are different thoughts. It is up to us to choose whether we will be constructive or destructive when conflicts arise. Often in ministry, we don t have clear boundaries or direction as to how we should handle conflict, and we learn that we are supposed to be nice to each other at all times. This led me to think; what if we chose to be constructive? There is a lot of wisdom that can help us as we try to forgive and get along with each other. We should remember that God is at work in and through conflicts. Jesus was in the middle of many conflicts. One of the greatest was when he was on the cross. Jesus was upset when he saw power being misused. He had crowds that were against him as well as followers. No matter what his circumstance was, he always focused on God s glory and questioning what could be done for the glory of God. Instead of using our energy to blame others or rely on them to fix our problems, have we asked, What is this conflict about? or How is God working through this? Getting through conflicts can be tough and very hard. We need to remind ourselves that we have a choice, and can allow conflict to lead us to depend on the power of the Spirit and believe. God is with you in your time of struggle. God is with you in your patience. (continued on the next page)

2 (continued from previous page) God is with you in your desiring for healing. God is with you in the moment of holding on to hope. God knows we are weak and fragile, that we need healing and reconciling. God knows it is natural for us to live in conflict. God still loves us, as we are, even in a broken world. Our only responsibility is choosing how to be constructive as we try to see God working among us so that conflicts can be opportunities to create a sacred space in new ways. Remember, we are here to glorify God as God s beloved one. May we remember to ask God again and again to be healed from the brokenness of the past, to give us wisdom, courage and peace for the current conflicts we are in. Pastor Blessed are those who are willing to enter into the process of being healed, for they will become healers. Blessed are those who recognize their own inner violence, for they will come to know nonviolence. Blessed are those who can forgive self, for they will become forgivers. Blessed are those who are willing to let go of selfishness and self-centeredness, for they will become a healing presence. Blessed are those who listen with compassion, for they will become compassionate. Blessed are those who are willing to enter into conflict, for they will find transformation. Blessed are those who know their interdependence with all of creation, for they will become unifiers. Blessed are those who live a contemplative life stance, for they will find God in all things. Blessed are those who strive to live these beatitudes, for they will be reconcilers. (Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Engage Conflict Well, p.4 ) PREACHING THE WORD Date Preacher Message Hymn of the Week *July 2 Keeping America Great #696 America the Beautiful July 9 The Experience of #2128 Come and Find the Quiet Center July 16 The Experience of Prayer #451 Be Thou My Vision July 23 Being United Methodist #539 Here I am Lord July 30 Outdoor #2145 Peace Like a River * Communion Sunday

3 MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS FOR JULY July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Scripture Readers Cindy Clauson Cheryl Muller Jan Lorentz John Weiland Becky Gochanour Children s Moment Sharon Fortune Annie Allen Cheryl Muller Pastor Anne Allen Ushers Merry Weiland Barb Teasdale Ray & Ruth Nyland Kay Lee Merry Weiland Chuck & Jan Lorentz Rich Swanson Joanne Mellema Greeters Elsie Bartlett John & Merry Weiland Dan & Carolyn Johnson Joey Bohl Kay Lee Audio-Visual Mike Clauson Pastor Pastor Outdoor Service Mike Clauson Coffee Fellowship Nursery Volunteers No Nursery (holiday) HOPE UMC STAFF Pastor Rev. Sunday School & VBS Volunteer Coordinator Renee Marino Office Manager Kristen Kirchman Pianists Andrea Blaeser Melissa Ruhbusch HOPE UMC OFFICE HOURS Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00AM-1:00PM **The office will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 th ** articles should be submitted to the church office by the 20 th of each month. Contributions are welcome.

4 July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30 am Communion 6:00 pm Nurture Office Closed for 4 th of July Holiday :30 am 6:00 pm Committee 16 9:30 am 23 7:00pm Christian Ed 17 1:00 pm Threshold Singers 6:30 pm Admin Council :00pm Finance Committee For the Journey Newsletter Deadline :30 am 6:30 pm Women s Bible Study 9:30 am La Leche League Fellowship :30am Outdoor (*Liturgical Colors)

5 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS FOR JULY At Camp Out, we will trek through an outdoor adventure minus the bug spray and lack of sleep! You ll kindle friendships and help kids discover that Jesus is the light of the world. During these two short days at Camp Out, We will be introduced to Jesus, God s Son who lovingly cares for us, in surprising and unforgettable ways. Make sure to register now, this is a free event for all. There are many ways to be a part of this ministry. We need volunteers to lead, items to be donated and borrowed, as well as your prayers for this ministry. See the clipboards at Hope on how you can help.

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7 GET CONNECTED WITH HOPE UMC ONLINE Visit our church website at Visit and LIKE the Hope UMC Facebook page. It is a great way to let people know who we are as a faith community in Eau Claire and reach out to them. You can also keep up to date with what is happening at Hope and view photos. The easiest way to find the Hope UMC Facebook page is by going first to our website ( then click the Like Us on Facebook button just above the map showing our location. Outdoor Sunday, July 30th Bring your chair and join us outside for worship. (Bug spray and Join us outside, weather permitting, for worship in the pines. sunscreen provided) Following worship, we will have fellowship inside. Lawn Mowing at Hope The grass is green and growing at Hope. We are in need of some volunteers to mow the lawn. You need to be at least 21 years of age to use the equipment. A rider and push mower are provided in the garage. If you would like to donate money for gas, please designate it on an envelope and place it in the offering plate. See clipboard to sign-up for week to mow. Any questions please contact any Trustee. Thank you for help keeping Hope s yard trimmed. Garage Use The code to the garage has been changed, please contact a Trustee for the new entry code. Women of Hope will not meet during the summer, but will resume again in the fall. Women's Bible Study will be meeting the 4 th Monday of each month. The next meeting is July 24th, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please call Cindy Hanson with questions

8 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE NEWS Want to know what is happening statewide within the Methodist Conference in Wisconsin? Go to to sign-up and receive a weekly e-news from the conference. Join Bishop Jung on Second Annual Interfaith Bus Tour and Retreat Registration is now open for Bishop Jung s second annual Interfaith Bus Tour and Retreat August Opportunities include participating in a Shabbat service at Congregation Shalom in Milwaukee; visiting Sikh, Islamic, and Hindu worship centers in and around Milwaukee; and worshipping at a Coptic Orthodox Church in Oak Creek. Participants will also have the opportunity to speak with a Buddhist priest, a Muslim professor, and Bishop Jung. Please contact Mel Vance with any questions at (608) Birthday Blessings to all who are celebrating a JULY Birthday! Happy Birthday to you, to Jesus be true May God s richest blessing, Now rest upon you!