WESLEY MESSENGER. Rev. David Alderson - Pastor. 8:30 a.m. Traditional ~ 10:50 a.m. Contemporary 9:45 a.m. Holy Grounds Fellowship in Epworth

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1 WESLEY MESSENGER July 2016 Wesley United Methodist Church 40 West Main Street, Strasburg PA Church address: Web: Volume 8, Issue 7 Inside this issue: Worship Schedule 8:30 a.m. Traditional ~ 10:50 a.m. Contemporary 9:45 a.m. Holy Grounds Fellowship in Epworth Worship Schedule Pastor s Ponderings Members at Home Missions 3 Worship 4 Education 4 Community & Church Events Office Hours: 5-6 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday & Thursday Office Phone: Rev. David Alderson - Pastor Kim Badman - Organist/ Choir Director Laura Martin - Treasurer Sunday July 3 7 th Sunday after Pentecost Combined Worship It s Time to Rebuild Psalm 18: Corinthians 4:1-15 Sunday July 10 8 th Sunday after Pentecost 6 Weeks in 2 Corinthians: Reconciliation Romans 14:7-19 2Corinthians 5:11-21 Sunday July 17 9 th Sunday after Pentecost Summer Series: Sermons from A Fortune Cookie Hope is the Best Stimulant of Life Psalm 25:1-5 Sunday July th Sunday after Pentecost Summer Series: Sermons From A Fortune Cookie Watch One s Thoughts as They Become Actions 2Cor 10:1-6 Sunday July th Sunday after Pentecost Summer Series: Sermons From A Fortune Cookie The World is an Oyster, and You are its Pearl Psalm 139:1-6 Holly Miller - Secretary O u r M i s s i o n : W O R S H I P G O D ; S E R V E G O D ; W I T N E S S f o r G O D ; b y t h e P O W E R o f G O D t h r o u g h t h e H O L Y S P I R I T.

2 Pastor s Ponderings Happy Anniversary! We have been here a full year and have much to celebrate. It has been a blessing to serve Wesley over the past 12 months, and we are looking forward to many more to come. We have much to celebrate as we look over the past months, but the more important thing for us to do is look forward, not backwards! I am currently perusing the pages of a book called, Vertical Church by James Macdonald. In his book, James asks a question that demands our attention at Wesley UMC: What is distinctive about your church? The answer to that question is what will set us apart from all of the other churches in the area. You see, we can DO church, but this question drives at the heart of what it means to BE the church. What makes Wesley distinctive? We can t just do what other churches are doing. We can t try to model what the mega churches are doing in hopes to grow. We cannot simply form a mission statement or cast a vision in hopes that these are the things that will turn things around for us. What we do need is the very thing that will make us distinct. If you don t have that thing that makes us distinct, you what separates us from all other people groupings on the planet is the presence of God manifest among us! have nothing, no matter what you have. What is it? WORSHIP! Sure, all churches worship. But when you leave that worship service, can you say without a doubt that you have been in the manifest presence of God Almighty? When people come to church they want to know that God is there. Vertical Church reminds us that, what separates us from all other people groupings on the planet is the presence of God manifest among us! What will make Wesley distinct is knowing that when we worship, God s manifest presence is in our midst. What we pastors and leaders often lose sight of is the only thing that makes a church worth shouting about is God showing up in power and doing what we cannot do for ourselves! What is distinctive about Wesley UMC? It is my prayer that it will be God s manifest presence as our consuming passion each and every week! That people will connect with God s manifest presence like never before, and that people will want to worship at Wesley because God s presence is among us! What is distinctive about your church? 2

3 worship Karen Bender, Chair-Worship Kim Badman, Organist/Choir Director John Botham, Head Usher Men s Prayer Breakfast One Hour Earlier! Men, if you desire fellowship, a good breakfast and a deepening prayer life, if you want to serve by listening to the Lord, join Pastor Dave and fellow disciples for our Men s Prayer Breakfast at Hershey Farms Restaurant on Saturday morning, July 16 at 7 o clock (note the earlier time). Please call the church office by the Thursday before so we can count you in! EDUCATION Christian Education Chair: John Lewis Cradle Roll: Betty Heffner Nursery Coordinator: Open Adult Sunday School There are two Sunday School Electives for Adults to consider: The Inquirers Class: The Inquirers who meet in the small Sunday school room off the Asbury room on the second floor, are pondering a study of the Holy Spirit, aided by the thoughts of Billy Graham. You are welcome to join us. The class is facilitated by Fred Price. The Wrestling with Words Class: In 1995 social worker David Kaczynski became convinced that his estranged brother Ted was the notorious Unabomber, the terrorist responsible for a 20-year string of explosions, killings and maimings. David s book, Every Last Tie, is his memoir. It s a powerful story raising issues of faith and family, forgiveness and justice, mental health, healing, wholeness, right and wrong. This month Wrestling with Words is taking time out from its Max Lucado study to read and discuss David Kaczynski s book. If you would like to join that discussion, please contact Roy Rineer. missions Chair - Open Team Wesley: Lynda Houck John 15:12: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Team Wesley 2016 invites you to join us for our next meeting - Tuesday, July 5, at 7 p.m. * * * Pennies for Missions In the month of May, Wesley raised $75.54 through Pennies for Missions. Pick up a soup can on the counter in the Epworth Room. Then at home, for every meal you eat, place two pennies in your soup can. On the last Sunday of each month, look for the basket marked Pennies for Missions and place your pennies there. All pennies collected are used to support Wesley UMC mission projects. Next Pennies for Missions collection is July 31. 3

4 Church & community Sunday, July 3 10 a.m. We will join as one body in Christ, together with our Wesley brothers and sisters, to celebrate and worship our Creator. Sunday school will begin at 9 a.m. Potluck Luncheon to Follow; please sign up in Epworth! VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: July Spread the Word to all the children you know: Strasburg s Community Vacation Bible School, a cooperative effort of Wesley, St. Michael s and First Presbyterian churches, will be held Sun., July 17 through Fri., July 22, at First Presbyterian Church. This year s VBS theme is Submerged: Diving Deeper into God s Word to discover what God sees in me. The adventure shows little ones how a relationship with Christ changes everything! Bible stories, games, crafts, singing and snacks all are designed to help our children come to Jesus! Wesley is being asked to provide the following supplies for our Community Vacation Bible School. Two bins have been placed in the narthex to collect your gifts. When you place your supply donation in the bin, please check off the items you brought on the sheet attached to the bin. Examples of the crafts, made by Tina Johnson, have been placed on the table in the Epworth room. Whatever you wish to donate from the VBS Snack List is also welcome (no check-off sheet for snacks)! Thank you! SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR VBS CRAFTS VBS SNACK DONATION LIST 1 pkg red construction paper (min 25 sheets) Rice Chex cereal, Corn Chex cereal 2 pkg large diameter plastic straws Raisins 2 pkg rainbow-colored tissue paper Skittles 1 pkg pink tissue paper Mini Marshmallows 3 rolls curling ribbon (various colors) Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Salty Popcorn Pkg black Sharpies (fine point) Boxes of Blue Jell-O Pkg multi-colored Sharpies Swedish Fish 1 box standard size staples Plastic Spoons 2 rolls Scotch tape Napkins Various sizes clean plastic bottle tops 9-oz. Cups Cases of Water Bottles Gallons of Turkey Hill or Swiss Lemonade 4

5 Church & community FIRST FRIDAY OPEN HOUSE August 5 Join us on Friday, August 5th for a night of Food, Fellowship & Fun! From 5 to 8:00 p.m., we will have craft tables, game stations, tours of our buildings and a variety of foods for sale. We want to let the community know all the exciting things that are happening at our church. There is a sign up sheet in the Epworth room if you would like to help. August 7 Combined Worship August 7 Church Picnic - 1 p.m. Strasburg Community Park Pavilion 10 a.m. CHURCH YARD SALE SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 8 AM TO 2 PM INDOOR & OUTDOOR SPACES WHILE THEY LAST! Each space is 8½ feet wide and 6 feet long. 1 space - $15 2 spaces - $25 3 spaces - $40 Set up Time is 6:30 a.m. Please call by Monday, August 7, to reserve your space(s)!! 5