The Courier. July/August 2015

Transcription

1 The Courier July/August 2015 Wesley United Methodist Church 1385 Oakway Road / Eugene, OR / wesleyofficeeugene@gmail.com (Continued from front Cover) The center is a tender time when we don t yet know how things are going to be, but our hearts are turned and open to discovery. We may still feel lingering grief, and we may feel unsure of the future, but there is openness, opportunity, and hopeful engagement. Josh and I are excited to co-create a beautiful future of life and ministry with you and Spirit of Christ among us! As a way of getting to know one another we are inviting each and every one of you to join us for a time of conversation hosted by volunteers from among you. These Living Room Gatherings will begin in late July and go through the end of August. Watch for the opportunity to sign up for one of these gatherings. You will have the opportunity to ask whatever questions you may have of us, as well as share about yourself and the Wesley community. Worship Themes This summer we continue the journey you began with Pastor Erin through We Make the Road By Walking. The final chapters of McLaren s book include some intriguing and controversial subjects that are central to the hope we have in Christ. I look forward to exploring some of the beautiful mysteries of our faith with you as we complete this book together. The final week of exploring McLaren s book will be August 16. I look forward to seeing you in worship and to getting you to know better at the Living Room Gatherings. Grace and Peace, Karlene Greetings people of Wesley! Josh and I want to thank you for the warm welcome we received as we shared our first worship service with you on July 5. We are thrilled to be joining you all in friendship, worship and in mission together! Season of Transition I remember the first time I walked a labyrinth. I was told that, unlike a maze, there were no dead ends or wrong turns. Just a path to follow that winds and turns back on itself. At times it would seem quite close to the middle before twisting and taking me in the opposite direction again. But eventually, the path led to the center. At last! I soon realized though, that what I had been imagining as the destination was in fact the mid-point. Walking out of the labyrinth is as much a spiritual practice as walking in. Seasons of transition are often compared to a labyrinth walk. The path is not straight. The familiar is upturned and the end-point of a new familiar is unknown. The journey winds and curves, sometimes seeming very close to the destination and other times turning the opposite way. Eventually we come to the middle - the turning point. After months of walking this path of pastoral transition, you and we have arrived in the center! We have shared our first worship service together and begun our new season. We recognize that the center is not the end, but rather the middle. And now we begin to walk back out of the labyrinth of transition together. (Continued on Back Cover)

2 We s l e y Fa m i ly J u ly/a u g us t, 2015 July 2015 Schedule Your Event If you would like to schedule a meeting or event, please make sure to call the office! Thank you! Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday p BWH Camp 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 2p BWH Camp 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 2p BWH Camp FISH Sunday 2p BWH Camp 2p BWH Camp 5:30p Eugene Chorus 10a FISH Sunday :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 9a Courier Deadline 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 7p Bridgeway [FH] 9a Wesley Brothers 10a Party in the Park: B 6p Choir Practice 6p Cas. Flyfishers Bo 11a Coffee & Conversa :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 9:30a Laura Lee Circle 7p Cub BBQ 7p Scout Parent Comm 7p Leadership Develop 11a Coffee & Conversa :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6:45a Alanon Mtg. Jeanne Heller Memoria 11:30a Widow's Suppo 6p Cas. Flyfishers Lg. 6:30p SPRC Meeting Volunteer at Wesley If you would like to volunteer at Wesley you can use Wesley Family online! Click on the group All Congregation Wesley and then choose Needs from the Menu bar. It will show all the volunteer opportunities and where you can sign up under each! 11a Coffee & Conversa a FISH Sunday 5:30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice TBA 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 9a Wesley Brothers B'fa 6:30p Scouts: Youth Le August 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice TBA 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 9a Wesley Brothers B'fa 10a FISH Sunday 6:30p Scouts: Youth Le :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice 6:45a Alanon Mtg. Founder's Day Camp Camp Camp Camp Camp Memorial / Susan Presc Camp 7p Bridgeway [FH] 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 5:30p Eugene Chorus 10a Mom's Club Meetin 9:30a Laura Lee Work P 9:30a Ruth Circle Mtg 5:30p Nar-Anon Mtg. 5:30p Tiger & Bear Den p Leadership Develop p Cas. Flyfishers Bo :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice 6:45a Alanon Mtg. Courier Deadline 2p Party in the Park: Oa 10a Widow's Support G 7p Cub Gathering 7p Scout Parent Comm 6:30p SPRC Meeting 11a Coffee & Conversa :30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 9:30a UMW General M 6:30p Scouts: Youth Le 5:30p Tiger & Bear Den 6p Cas. Flyfishers Lg. 11a Coffee & Conversa a FISH Sunday 5:30p Eugene Chorus 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 6p Choir Practice 6:45a Alanon Mtg. 9:30a UMW Executive M 9a Wesley Brothers B'fa 9:30a UMW Executive M Minister Rev. Karlene Clark Minister Rev. Josh Clark Minister of Music Catricia Mayhue Minister to Youth & Children Anna Eckelbarger Salas Nursery Director Jessica Suzuki-Bullard Office Administrator Tina Campbell Owens Maintenance Jim Thomas Office Hours: Tues Thurs 9-3; Fri 9-12

3 Th e Co u r i e r J u ly/a u g us t 2015 Enjoy games, snacks, freebies & fun! SATURDAY, AUGUST 22ND 2-4 PM OAKMONT PARK {2295 Oakmont Way} The Children s Clothing Closet is looking pretty bare right now, and we need you to help fill it. We are looking for children s clothes sizes newborn through 14/16 that are clean and in good condition. This year we are also looking for adult size clothes appropriate for teens in middle school and high school - junior wear. If you have/find something that needs just a little repair, that s o.k. too. We have some great sewers willing to fix it for us. Clothes will be collected from now until Wednesday, September 16th with the giveaway being held on Saturday, September 19th. Any questions, see Julianna Clevenger. Thank You! SAVE THE DATE! FOUNDER S DAY IS SUNDAY, AUG. 2nd. MORE DETAILS TO COME & WAYS TO GET INVOLVED! PLAN ON JOINING THE CELEBRATION!

4 Th e Co u r i e r J u ly/a u g us t 2015 We s l e y Wag o n s Anniver s a ry This month marks the 2nd Anniversary of Wesley Wagons, the program in conjunction with St. Vinnie s, to help some of the unhoused in our area. In Matthew 35:34-46, Jesus encourages us to help others; not if convenient, but to help others. In our two wagons, we have Ron Cameron and Mel Bradshaw. This month I d like to help you become better acquainted with Mel. He has been with us since June 6th of If you look around the church property, you will notice the beautifully planted, and tended flowers. This is the work of Mel. With his botanical background, he gets great pleasure in making our property more beautiful. Please take the opportunity to introduce yourselves to Mel and Ron. They are good people! Thank You! Clay DeForge Bridgeway House Update Bridgeway House has decided to move. Bridgeway House has been renting a portion of our facilities for use in their after school program. They have found larger space which allows them to consolidate all their programs under one roof. After the end of their lease on August 31, 2015, we will no longer be receiving $1,500 per month in rent from them. We can manage this change through the end of the year, but given the amount, it will have a significant effect on next year s budget. Do you know of an organization who may be interested in renting our space following Bridgeway s departure? We are on the lookout for a new opportunity for our building usage and potential ministry partnership. Thank You! I n t e rfa i t h Shelt e r at We s l e y September 28th October 5th The Interfaith Night Shelter is a consortium of more than 30 faith communities offering night shelter, food, recreational activities, and comfort to as many as 10 families per night throughout the school year. Congregational hosts sign up for one to two weeks each year. More than 1,500 volunteers make this outreach possible! Each family is required to work on a weekly basis with First Place s Night Shelter Case Manager in making and following an Exit Plan designed to get them back on their feet and again functioning as a contributing member of the community. Wesley is scheduled to host Interfaith Night Shelter September 28th through October 5th. We want to get the various volunteer jobs filled well in advance. Sign up sheets for: making breakfast, driving the van, night watch, and preparing dinner will be in the narthex during the first 2 weeks of August. Meal prep might be a fun service project for a discipleship group or UMW Circle. Inside Out Sunday August 30th Contact Betty Goracke Olguin if you have questions. Thanks! Be sure to join us Sunday August 30th for Inside Out Sunday! There will be more info and sign up opportunities coming very soon! See Anna if you have questions.

5 Th e C o u r i e r J u ly /A u g u s t 2015 Yo u t h M i s s i o n T r i p W e s l e y F a m i ly G i v i n g S tat e m e n t s June 18th-20th This June, five students from Wesley went on a mission trip to Portland. We saw God as we packaged food, talked with the lonely, sorted clothes, worked outside, explored our call to service, played and lived in community with students from two other churches in our area. Our preteens & middle schoolers are amazing! Anna Eckelbarger Salas Gifts Made This Year through June 30, 2015 Thank you for your financial gifts to support the mission and ministries of Wesley Church. Family Giving Statements are now available on line by logging into Wesley Family (formerly CCB) and following the steps below. If you would like to pick up a paper copy on Sunday morning or prefer to have it mailed to you, please contact: Jean Whitney / whitneyjl@aol.com or Mike Hartwig / mikeandleslie@comcast.net How to Use Wesley Family (CCB) to Track Your Gifts and Print your Tax Statement For those of you who use Wesley Family on a regular basis, you can access your giving information at any time by taking the following steps: 1. Login to Wesley Family; click on your name in the upper right corner of the page; then select Profile. 2. Click on the Financial tab located below your picture and contact information. 3. Scroll down to Printable Statements and click on Giving Statement. 4. Complete the drop down menus as follows: Type: Family Date Range: This Year (or other selection if you prefer) Tax Deductible: Both Deductible & Non-Deductible To include Pledge Information: Click to check the box to show pledges Click Run Report 5. You should now see your statement on your computer screen. Use the drop down menu under File in the upper left corner of the screen to print or save. If you need assistance, notice any discrepancies or have questions, contact one of the receiving stewards, Cindy Smigley, Bob Nelson, Anne Reynolds Jean Whitney, or the treasurer, Mike Hartwig.

6 Th e Co u r i e r J u ly/a u g us t 2015 A n n ua l Co n f e r e n c e? Wh at s Th at About? Wesley UMC is part of a connectional system, a system that strives to connect congregations at the local, regional, interstate, national and international level. We are connected to United Methodist churches in our district (the Crater Lake District) and other districts in our annual conference the Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference that includes approximately 191 local churches. We have United Methodist sisters and brothers less than 10 miles and more than thousands of miles away. At Annual Conference, pastors and lay members come together to connect, to worship, to share with and learn from each other, consider legislation, vote on the Conference budget, and to celebrate the work God is leading us to do in our neighborhoods. As Wesley s Lay Member to Annual Conference, I review the proposed legislation and budget, attend daily Laity Sessions, and vote on issues brought before the Annual Conference. On the consent agenda, the Conference s Holy Land Task Force presented several resolutions concerning the investments of the United Methodist Church, requesting that the church divest itself of investments in companies that manufacture products harmful to Palestinians. These resolutions passed and next year will come before the General Conference, the body that makes the decisions on investments. In an introductory brochure, Bishop Hagiya told us that relationships would be a focus of this year s Annual Conference with its theme of Restoring the Sacred Circle. Every day as we gathered, representatives from the Conference s Council on Native American Ministries led us in acts of worship, remembrance, and repentance, recognizing the harm done in our past treatment of Native Americans, and seeking healing for these relationships. This year we elected delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences, taking place May 10-20, The General Conference is the primary legislative body of The United Methodist Church that meets once every four years to wrestle with today s issues in light of scriptural teachings and the church s understanding of that teaching. ( general-conference) Each General Conference brings together a thousand United Methodist clergy and lay members from around the world. Our delegates will all work together as they prepare for both conferences and learn about the issues to be addressed at each. Wesley s worship team led the Memorials Worship service at the Annual Conference. You can be a part of General Conference 2016 by volunteering! Be there to welcome United Methodist clergy and laity from all over the world and see some of the action. Volunteer opportunities include greeting arrivals at the airport, staffing welcome tables in hotels, registeing delegates and guests, or providing directions and assistance at the Convention Center. More information will be available soon. There were 8 laity workshops offered this year, on topics reflecting current social issues and information useful to congregations seeking to thrive. I attended a workshop entitled (Re)Building Connections: A Strategic Discussion. Referencing the UMC s declining membership numbers, the leaders of the workshop believe that if we are to survive and flourish, we must find ways to reconnect at every level while adjusting to the changed world we inhabit. (from (Re)Building Connections That Make Up the Body of Christ). In the workshop, we talked about how to better connect individuals with Christ; individuals with each other; individuals with the Church ; Churches with each other; each Church with its Annual Conference; and individuals with Annual Conference. I m looking forward to learning more about the work of the Visionary Leadership Project, and how we might strengthen our connections at all six levels. It was an intense and full three days! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as Lay Member to Annual Conference. Donna McNeil