New Milford United Methodist Church 68 Danbury Road, New Milford, Conn (860)

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1 New Milford United Methodist Church 68 Danbury Road, New Milford, Conn (860) A Graceful Exit: Singing My Swan Song As I prepare to leave New Milford United Methodist Church as your Pastor, and as I prepare my final sermon series, I realize we have much to be proud of June 2015 June 14 (9:30 a.m. Traditional and 11:30 a.m. Open Door Service) Grappling with the Past: Looking Back to the Fleshpots of Egypt 2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days. --Exodus 16:1-8 Remember when we used to have chicken and biscuit suppers, have Pairs and Spares, have a visual prayer in The Open Door? Lord save me from remembrances of things long past! Folks were so caught up in what their church used to be that they were afraid of what their church could become. Early on in my pastorate I indicated that the nine deadliest words in the English language were: This is the way we have always done it. I recently read a quote that described it well: You fear that I will not honor the past by taking you into the future; I fear that you will cling to the past and not move forward with confidence into the future. Fortunately, that is not the case anymore. That is where and who we were. We honor our past at New Milford UMC and move bravely forward into the future. We know this though. We are not bound by the mistakes of the past. We can learn from them. We are not slaves to the fleshpots of Egypt. Pastor s Message June 21 (Chapel in the Pines, 9 a.m.) Where We Are: Building The Foundation for a Brighter Future 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, This fellow began to build and was not able to finish. --Luke 14:28-30 We are building the foundation for a better and brighter future at NMUMC. We have paid our apportionments in full during the last five (5) years and they are considered payables on the financial ledgers (i.e., we pay them every month). As a result, we are enjoying the benefits of flourishing within the United Methodist Connection. We have participated actively in the Conference s Vital Congregations program. We have been the recipient of two District Mission and Church Expansion (DIMCHEX) grants for our Youth Leader. We have enjoyed visits by leaders from the Conference like Ann Pearson, the Director of Connectional Ministries, and Derrick-Lewis Noble, the Director of Congregational Development and Revitalization. Last, but certainly not least, we are getting a great Pastor in Rev. Alex da Silva Souto. We can be proud of the renewed discipleship at NMUMC. The congregation has participated in Bible studies and devotionals online and in-person. Small groups have flourished, ranging from the Wesley Covenant Discipleship Group to Confirmation to Youth Group. There is a renewed appreciation of the importance of evangelism and continued on next page

2 Pastor s Message continued witness, not just as a means of survival as a church, but as a means of spreading the Gospel message to New Milford and beyond. From hosting the God Is Here photo display to Flowers for Jesus on Easter we have served to demonstrate God s love to the community. Our motto is not just Every Member a Disciple ; we are beginning to behave like disciples. Our financial ship has been set aright as well. When I first arrived, The Education Center had declining enrollment, was subsidized by the church, and was eating into its reserves at an astonishing rate. Now, we can boast a daycare and preschool with solid enrollment, an exceptional curriculum that is moving towards accreditation and that is making modest contributions to the church s General Fund over and above utilities. When we sold Chamberlain Hall, we were able to pay down a substantial amount of church debt and lower our monthly debt service by over two-thirds. We at New Milford UMC are well on our way to fulfilling the greater church s mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. June 24 (7 p.m. Open Door in Sanctuary) & June 28 (9 a.m. Chapel in the Pines) Where We Are Going: A Future With Hope 4 The Lord said to him, This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants ; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there. --Deuteronomy 34:4 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. --Jeremiah 29:11-14 We are prophets of a future that is not our own. We may get to see the promised land, but will not necessarily get to cross over into it ourselves. I hope and pray that we have laid the foundation for a number of things here at New Milford United Methodist. I hope and pray we will move out into the community with more gusto, engaging in ministry with folks on the margins and not just in ministry to them. I hope and pray that this church will develop the wherewithal to fully support its pastor with a full-time appointment and a parsonage. I hope and pray this church will continue to develop flourishing programs such as additional discipleship groups and youth programming that forms our youth into devoted Christians. More than anything, I hope and pray that you spread the Gospel message to folks in this community and beyond, to a world that so desperately needs it. May it be so. Peace Be With Each and Every One of You, Rev. Paul A. Fleck, Pastor June Birthdays: 7 Olivia T. 8 Tracy P. 16 Michael D., Elizabeth M. 18 Shawn M. 19 Nora T. 20 Lisa B. 22 Tim P. 24 Adrienne K., Laurie P. Attendance & Offerings May 4 90 $3,230 May $1,893 May $3,954 May $3,214 Monthly Giving $12,291 YTD Giving $73,665 YTD Giving $70,370 (Budgeted) FATHER S DAY CARDS Since 1989, NMUMC has offered the opportunity to purchase Mother s and Father s Day cards through the tools and blankets program of church world ser vice. Through the sale of these cards NMUMC has contributed over $6,500 to date toward the purchase of tool and blanket supplies for people in develop ing countries. Father s Day Cards will be on sale June 7, 14, and 21st. If you have questions, please contact Bonnie Knapp at (860)

3 Church Directory Plans for a new Church Directory are underway! You should have received a letter with instructions on how to set up your family s photo session. Photo sessions are filling up quickly. Photo sessions will be June and you may schedule your appointment online through the church website For those without internet, signups will be available between services until June 14. We need everyone s participation! Every family sitting for photos will receive one free 8x10 portrait as well as a free church directory. You do not need to purchase any photos. However, if you wish to order additional photos you will have the opportunity to do so during your session. If you are unable to have your photo taken during our church s scheduled time, please contact the church office at or office@newmilfordumc.org to get information on how to schedule an appointment for alternate dates at a nearby church. UPCOMING YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITIES: Sunday, June 7th - Youth meeting 2:30-4 p.m. NMUMC conference room Sunday, June 14 - MANDATORY U.M. ARMY tool/policy training 2 p.m. NMUMC upper parking lot. All participants are to attend (parents are also encouraged to attend so we can all be on same page!) Sunday, June 28 - End of Year BBQ My house - 33 Perry Dr., New Milford (by Hill and Plain Elementary School) FAMILIES INVITED! PLEASE GIVE ME AN RSVP (youthminister@newmilfordumc.org) SO THAT I CAN PLAN ENOUGH FOOD! Thank You, Brinna Kolitz, Youth Leader Help us, help others Our Daily Bread Canned food supplies are very low. We have not been receiving many of them through the Connecticut Food Bank. Aldi s and Big Lots have low prices, but it doesn t matter where you shop. We appreciate all donations. Thank you for the cards, calls, and prayers during my recent knee surgery. I am improving daily and following the physical therapist s instructions. Thank you, Cindy Bull

4 PASTORAL TRANSITION Pot Luck Supper for Pastor Paul Saturday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to our Pot Luck dinner for Pastor Paul to celebrate the years he has led us in Christian ministry. Let s send him off with our prayers, best wishes, and God s blessing by having an old fashioned Methodist pot luck meal. The committee will provide ham, beverages, and a cake.if you plan on attending, please bring a side dish or dessert to share. We hope you ll plan to join us for great food and fellowship! Please direct any questions to Jan Parsons (860) or Ann Tibbatts (860) Pastor Alex Welcome Picnic Sunday, July noon, following the 10 a.m. service Details will be coming The Team Methodist Movers for Relay for Life of New Milford has been busy attending meetings and helping with the planning of the annual event, set for June at Sarah Noble School, Sunny Valley Rd, New Milford. The theme this year is Music. Methodist Movers has chosen Christian Country and our Team song will be What Faith Can Do by Kutless. Please go to youtube.com and listen to this beautiful song selection. A meeting for Relay is set for June 14 at 2:30 p.m. in the Conference room to discuss final plans for Relay for Life set for June 27. We are looking for more volunteers to help out the day of the event. Luminaria Bags are $5 each again this year. If you would like to decorate a bag(s) in honor of or in memory of, please see Linda Slater. If you order online, they are $10, but we will honor two for the $10. Thank you and God Bless, Linda Slater Methodist Movers Team Captain/Member of Event Leadership Team Would you like to spend a week in the evenings at G-Force God s Love in Action, helping our children discover the welcoming love of God at work all around us? VBS Volunteers will help children experience God s amazing grace through dramas, crafts, games, science activities, music, and hours of fun! Sign up for a Vacation Bible School leadership role and join us in the excitement. VBS will be held August 3-7, 2015 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. To Volunteer contact Nancy Mascio at or the Church Office at

5 UPCOMING EVENTS Book Club The Book Club meets the third Thursday of every month at 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Room. Our next meeting is Thursday, June 18. We are always looking for additional members who enjoy reading a variety of books. Please join us and bring a friend. Open to non-church members. We are not literary specialists, we just enjoy a good discussion. For more information, contact Jan Parsons at (860) Something for Seniors Join us on Wednesday, June 10, in Fellowship Hall, at 2 p.m. for Something for Seniors. All seniors and Baby Boomers are invited. This will be a very casual get together to discuss topics that we face as we get older. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Knapp at Spaghetti Supper Please join us for the last Spaghetti Supper of the season on Saturday, June 13th at 5:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Please join us for spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, (vegetarian or butter available upon request) plus salads, homemade desserts, and soft drink. If you would like to volunteer to assist or see what items needs to be donated, please contact Bonnie Knapp at Spaghetti Suppers will resume in September! Bowling Family Bowling Night will be held Saturday, June 20th, at 7:15 p.m. at Lore s Lanes (145D Danbury Road, behind Goodwill). Please RSVP to Linda Slater at or lslater0256@yahoo.com no later than May 18th to ensure adequate lane space. Joys & Concerns our prayers are with: Earl Williams, Tom Gaynor s father-inlaw, who is having health issues. Diane Jones, Alex Slater s aunt, is recovering from her surgery and will be going home next week. Jan Parsons, who broke her foot. Jack, Angie Chastain s father, who has been diagnosed with liver and pancreatic cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Kim Birsen, who is seeking employment. Fiona Cooper during life transitions. Carolyn Dion who had surgery on May 20th. Juliette Diamond, daughter of Emily Nixon, who is experiencing health issues. Rob, Traci Poeti s brother, who has a muscular disorder. Alexis, Chris Martirano s niece, who is going through chemotherapy. Bonnie Knapp s sister-in-law, Linda, whose kidneys are improving but still has a few more chemotherapy treatments remaining. Terri Hudak s cousin, Julie Spence in Virginia, who is battling cancer. Terri Hudak s aunt in California who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Steve Bowers, who is now on dialysis and has been added to the transplant list. Laurel Partrick s cousin, Cynthia, is facing her third recurrence of cancer. Emily Nixon s cousin, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Marlene Davis son, who is undergoing chemotherapy. Kay Jones niece, Sherri, whose cancer has returned.

6 Managing Stress I find that this time of year, when we relocate from FL to CT to be very stressful - especially when I can t remember where things are or what I forgot to pack. This article is about how to deal with stress. It was not written by me. Author and publication follow the article. Hoping that we all have a minimally stressed summer. Most of us have felt stressed out, from time to time, but when this feeling persists, stress becomes chronic and can negatively impact our careers, quality of life, and our bodies. To manage stress, the first step is to pinpoint your stressors. To identify true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses. Pinpointing stressors may be difficult because some of them may be very subtle. Sometimes we fail to notice our own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Tips to Help Manage Stress: Pinpoint stressors. Try starting a stress journal. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it. You will start to see patterns and themes. Things to write down include: the cause of stress, how you felt (physically and emotionally), your reaction, and what you did to make yourself feel better. Think about how you currently manage and cope with stress. Are your strategies healthy or unhealthy? Know your limits. It may be surprising to discover the number of stressors that can be reduced and/or eliminated. Learning to say no is an important part of knowing your limits and sticking to them. Whether it is for personal or professional reasons, taking on more than one can handle is a guaranteed recipe for stress. Be mindful of your current schedule and commitments. Alter stressful situations. If it s not possible to avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Deal with problems head on and do your best to anticipate and prevent them. Poor time management can cause stress. When you re stretched too thin and behind, it s hard to stay calm and focused. Plan ahead and make sure you don t overextend yourself. Try changing the reaction. If changing a stressor is not probable, try changing the reaction to it. Adapting to stressful situations can help regain a sense of control by altering expectations and attitude. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive standpoint. Take perspective of the situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Nurture yourself for improved health. Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, stress levels can be reduced by nurturing yourself. Set aside time to relax in your daily schedule. Do something enjoyable every day, whether it is playing the piano, dancing, singing, going for a walk, calling a good friend, working on crossword puzzles, or reading a book. Everyone is different, so it s important to discover what is relaxing for you. Increase your resistance to stress. Regular physical activity and healthy eating patterns can help combat stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of activity every day. Find activities that are enjoyable and that can be done with a friend or group to increase accountability. Start your day off with a healthy breakfast and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day. Authored by Lisa Franzen-Castle, PhD, RD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Nutrition Specialist. Healthy Bites Newsletter, /fnh/healthy-bites, April A member came up to me last Sunday and said she had wanted to get in touch with me over the winter. My is gcarn@aol.com and I would welcome questions about and suggestions for columns. Gail Abernethy, RN

7 the Education Center Spring has finally sprung, and so have many fun things at the Education Center! One of the many exciting things going on at the Education Center is the addition of our new music program, Sing & Sign with Ms. Janine! The children all adore Ms. Janine and have a blast went she comes in with her purple guitar. Here are some more fun things going on in the classrooms: the Butterflies (Infants) have had an exciting month! They celebrated a first birthday and got some fun new toys to explore! The shape sorter on their kitchen set is a favorite, along with the toy telephone that has some practicing talking on the phone! They are also getting lots of sensory experience with books that crinkle and squish when the children touch them. With the nice weather that we have had lately, the Butterflies have loved going for buggy rides. They greatly enjoy watching the bigger children! This month in the Buzzing Bees (Toddler) room they have been exploring many different sensory activities using their hands to squish and feel sand, rice, glue, paint, and even applesauce, which is a class favorite! They ve also taken nature walks and collected items to explore. The Buzzing Bees have also been enjoying the beautiful weather with extended time on the playground! The Hummingbirds (Two s) spent May learning about living things! They observed a spider in a spider web, caught a frog on the playground, and planted flowers for Mother s Day. They learned about the lifecycles of ladybugs, bees, and butterflies. Pretending to be butterflies and bees during dramatic play was a blast! Ready Set for Kindergarten has been having a great time exploring different aspect of sensory! They went on sensory nature walks, one day finding things that they could smell, another day finding sounds that they heard. They even went on a texture walk to explore different textures in nature. The RSFK class has also been busy preparing for Graduation! We invite you to come celebrate with our graduates and families on June 12, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.! The festivities will be held in Fellowship Hall! Kristin Austin, Director

8 Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday On Pentecost Sunday, May 24th, NMUMC welcomed three new professing members (l-r) Athena M., Abby D., and Stephan C. are pictured with Pastor Paul. These students undertook several months of study and prayer in preparation for confirming their faith publicly (see below) and taking membership vows to uphold their church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Their mentors Val Kolitz (Athena), Heather Morin (Abby), and Art Putnam (Stephan) accompanied them on their journey of faith and, along with parents and other family members, stood with them during their confirmation. Welcome to these young persons we celebrate the gifts you bring to our household of faith! We received many requests for the Confirmand s creeds. You will find them below. My Creed Statement by Abby Del Mastro I believe in one God. He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are all his children. When we make mistakes, He forgives us; because He loves us. There are three different types of graces. The three graces are Prevenient Grace, Justifying Grace, and Sanctifying Grace. I believe that each grace is important for learning about God, and what good things He does for us and for everyone who has faith in Him. God s Prevenient Grace has been present to me since my birth. He has loved me from the beginning of my life. I ve learned about John Wesley. He was a founding father of Methodism. I like how he simply stated that God was like meeting a new neighbor. You go up to the porch to introduce yourself, they invite you in, and then you get to know your new neighbor and explore their house. Introducing yourself to God and being open to His love and teachings allows you the opportunity to live in a wonderful world. God and His son are our Lord and Savior. They love us and believe that we can accomplish whatever dreams we have. I think that we should believe in them and love them and love one another as they love us. Because if we don t; then what will become of us? We need to remember to love one another and treat each other how we want to be treated. Not only when we are in church together, but throughout our day, wherever we may be and to everyone we meet. God s Justifying Grace is there for me when I make the wrong choices. God is always there for all of us when we need Him. We need to thank Him and be there for Him too. Some ways that we can be there for Him is to give back, volunteer our time, treat others as we want to be treated, and do good in the world. Sanctifying Grace helps guide me and strengthens me in my journey. I believe that God is trust worthy, loving, heartwarming; everything that you want and need Him to be - Spirit. With God, I feel like I know what s really happening inside of my heart. With God, I feel like I can accomplish anything. Athena s Creed and her Prayer, Presence, Witness and Service. I believe that God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He died for us on the cross to forgive our sins. God loves us anywhere at any time. He has loved us from the beginning, through today, to the end of time. Prayer: God, like a best friend, is there whenever I need him, to share my dreams and fears. Presence: I will attend church, participate fully in worship, and leave the world outside. Gifts: I will use my gifts for the church, and encourage others to do the same. Witness: I will share my stories of what God has done for me. Service: Our church does so much for our community and throughout the world. Looking back at the scrapbook and hearing the stories from my grandparent s trip to Mozambique, before I was born, has instilled in me the love of mission and service to others. I volunteer at Our Daily Bread and I often think about those people who we serve. Three generations of my family make bread to sell at the Fall Fair, which contributes to the missions of the church. I enjoy serving at the Spaghetti Supper. Last year I participated in U.M. ARMY. This was the best! We worked hard, but the most important part was the friends we made and the relationships we built as we were in mission with those we served. This year, I have had a difficult choice to make between girl scout camp and U.M. ARMY. Because of my experiences last summer I have chosen U.M. ARMY. Creed by Stephan Cannito I believe that God will come again, He wants us to spread His life and the light He sheds on us. We are his children, therefore, He has died for us. He will wash away our sins, which leads Him to forgive and forget. No matter what, He is the only one, and nothing can change that. He is in the driver seat and He will guide me through life. Through rough times He will always lead us out and help. His spirit never vanishes, it is always with us and present. His spirit is the Holy Spirit, in his form.