August 2015 Greenwood United Methodist Church Page August 2015 Twig Bender What s in Your Heart When You Give? By Steve Stalnaker W e ve all read the story Jesus told about the widow making a contribution at the temple who out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on. (See Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4.) This is a great lesson Jesus taught about giving. Watching rich men make their donations, Jesus pointed out to his apostles how a poor widow donated only two of the least valuable coins. Jesus observed that the widow s donation was everything she had, while other people gave only a small portion of their own wealth. At Vacation Bible Camp (VBC) last month, we had a similar occurrence. One of VBC s goals was to raise $120 to donate a sheep to a needy family through the Heifer Project. Every day at VBC we took up an offering from our Bible campers and the staff toward achieving the goal. On the last day, one 10 year-old camper brought in her donation of $13. She told her VBC teacher: We ve got to (Continued on page 10) OUR MINISTRY OF PRAYER Please pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ Donald Cullom, Lou Gammon, Rachel Lewis, Jean Mowatt, Iva Mullins, Steve Patteson, Rick Wagner
Page 2 From the Pastor Fa l l C h a l l e n g e The Twig Bender As we approach the end of summer it is time to turn our attention towards the fall. Be thinking about what you hope to see our church do this fall as we work towards making disciples. Making disciples is about more than just inviting people to church. Making disciples is about mentoring others, and modeling for others what it means to have decided to follow Christ. What are some of the ways that we can help others to know Jesus? What are the ways in which we can reach people to share Christ-like love that enables them to pass the gift on? Dream big! Prayerfully consider how you can strengthen your faith, your Bible knowledge, and your practice of your faith. What can our congregation do to strengthen our practice of being a disciple? What do you hear God calling Greenwood to do to help you and others to be a disciple? As you hear God s voice, please share your ideas, God s word with me, Lewis Daniel (Lay Leader), or Charley Banks (Administrative Council Chair). Grace and Peace, Barbara
August 2015 Page 3 School Supplies Drive Already Underway Again this month we will exercise one form of cheerful giving: our schools supplies drive for Longdale Elementary School. Greenwood church family members have already started accumulating the massive donation of paper, pencils, notebooks, markers, etc. that we annually carry to Longdale in support of their at-risk students. Our donations make an immediate impact on these pupils. Henrico County estimates that about 35% of county students are economically disadvantaged. Stores like Office Depot/Office Max have already put school supplies on sale, so readers can purchase donated items now and avoid the rush; or, they might want to wait for the upcoming Sales Tax Holiday. Legislation enacted by the 2015 General Assembly combines Virginia s three existing sales tax holidays into one three-day holiday the weekend of August 7 9. So, not only will school supplies and some clothing items be exempt from Virginia sales tax, but hurricane preparedness items and Energy Star and Water Sense items as well. You can see a complete list of sales tax exempt items at http://www.tax.virginia.gov/content/sales-taxholiday. Whenever you purchase your school supplies, bring them to the Sanctuary and lay them on the altar throughout this month. We ll get the donations to Longdale early in September. You can find a (Continued on page 12)
Page 4 The Twig Bender Greenwood, Laurel Park Count Sheep By the Rev. Barbara Lewis Thanks to everyone who helped raise the money to buy sheep through Heifer Project International in conjunction with Greenwood s Vacation Bible Camp (VBC) in June and July. Through your gifts, Greenwood and Laurel Park, together with the 20 plus children who participated in VBC, were able to purchase 6 sheep to send to families who are looking for a new start towards becoming economically independent. Families who receive the sheep have been through an application process and have learned about gardening and basic husbandry before they even receive their animal gift. They then are mentored by another individual who has already raised this particular animal. Heifer Project also helps the new animal keepers learn how that animal s by-products can be used to financially support the family. Chicken feathers, sheep wool, manure, hoofs, eggs, and meat are just some of the by-products that can be sold or traded to help a family purchase the things they need. Heifer Project is one of the most effective ministries helping to stamp (Continued on page 13) L I K E G R E E N W O O D ON F A C E B O O K WWW. FA C E B O O K. C O M / G U M C VA
August 2015 Page 5 Greenwood Directory Update By Steve Stalnaker Our Interim Directory has been printed and is in distribution. Greenwood church family members can pick their copy up in the church narthex; one per household, please. Copies are also available by mail at a cost of $1.50 for postage and handling. Please call (804-266-5341) or email (admin@gumcva.org) to request a copy by mail. We are working toward a commercially produced photo directory. We still need someone to coordinate the effort to step up and act as liaison with the directory company, arrange photo sessions and the other nitty-gritty details of producing a picture directory. As mentioned last month, I will continue to supply computer support. Anyone who would like to be the directory coordinator should speak to Pastor Barbara or me. This is a great opportunity to help foster better communications within our church family. Also, remember that neither the interim directory nor the forthcoming picture directory is our Twig Bender mailing list. If you know someone who s not getting our world famous newsletter, but would like to, send that information to the church office, please. Again, thanks for everyone s help with the directory update project.
Page 6 The Twig Bender Summertime Outreach Dinner Greenwood s next Summertime Outreach Dinner is set for Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Like last month s dinner this one will be casual, cook-out style, focused on fun and fellowship with our Greenwood and Laurel Park church families, and our friends and neighbors, There s no charge (but donations won t be refused!). We re working to book some live music. Brenda is in charge of the Dinner, but volunteers are always welcome! LAMB s Basket Fun Fundraiser LAMB s Basket volunteers and guests are invited to another fund raiser on Saturday, August 8 from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Last month s event raised over $1000 for LAMB s Basket. The fund raiser will serve the first 50 people to sign up on the sign-up sheet at LAMB's Basket at 8419 Oakview Avenue, Henrico or see Nancy Yeary. We ask for only a $5.00 Donation to LAMB's Basket, which collects and distributes food to needy families in the area.
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Page 8 The Twig Bender Greenwood UMC August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Air Force Day 8 a.m. Men s Breakfast 9 a.m. Greenwood Rd. Clean up 11 a.m. Order of the Arrow Ceremony 2 LAMB s Basket Sunday 11 a.m. Worship Service 3 6 a.m. Drive Thru Prayer 7 p.m. Finance Committee Meeting 4 U.S. Coast Guard Established: 1790 5 6 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 7 National Purple Heart Day 6 p.m. Free Food 8 5 p.m. LAMB s Basket Fundraiser V A S a l e s T a x H o l i - day 9 11 a.m. Worship Service VA S a l e s T a x H o l i - day 10 6 a.m. Drive Thru Prayer 11 7 p.m. Laurel Park United Methodist Women 12 13 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 14 V-J Day 6 p.m. Free Food 15 F r i e n d s h i p Q u i l t e r s 16 National Airborne Day 11 a.m. Worship Service 17 National Thrift Shop Day: Donate Something to Aggie s Attic 6 a.m. Drive Thru Pray- 18 19 National Aviation Day 6:30 p.m. Summer Outreach Dinner 7:30 p.m. Church 20 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 21 Twig Bender Deadline 6 p.m. Free Food 22 23 11 a.m. Worship 30 SVC 11 a.m. 5th Sunday SVC at 24 6 a.m. Drive Thru Prayer 31 6 a.m. Drive Thru Prayer 25 26 Women s Equality Day 27 6:30 p.m. Choir Practice 28 6 p.m. Free Food 29
August 2015 Page 9 September 2... Women s Circles Resume September 8... After School Ministry Opens 2015-16 Session September 9...Fellowship Dinners Resume September 19 26... CARITAS September 26... LPUMC Fun Day and Yard Sale
Page 10 The Twig Bender It s What s in Your Heart (Continued from page 1) get enough money for the sheep! The VBC staffer felt like this young camper cheerfully gave all she had. She obviously put the needs of others over her own. Generosity like this by all our campers generated over $160 with more to come. (See article on page 4.) This article is not an exhortation to give everything you have to the needy or the church and live in poverty. The point is that it s not the size of the gift, but what s in your heart when you give. God looks at the circumstances in which we give and how much we keep for ourselves. Remember Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV) Our August Communion Offering will go to the Pastor s Discretionary Fund
August 2015 Page 11 Food Donation Connection We are now collecting food donations from Chipotle s near Virginia Center Commons. This new donor helps with our food inventory, but we can always use more donations; your gifts as well as your volunteer time, are appreciated. Food donation coordinator Adamarye Patteson said: I would like to thank Glenda and Maurice for offering to pick up from Chipotle on Mondays. We always need more volunteers. August Pick Up Rotation Week of August 3: Wednesday August 5: Charlene and Maurice Hawkins; Thursday August 6: Lewis Daniel; Friday August 7: Brenda and Harry Shuler. Week of August 10: Wednesday August 12: Jean Mowatt and William Gibbs; Thursday August 13: Steve and Glenda Stalnaker; Friday August 14: Adamarye Patteson. Week of August 17: Wednesday August 19: Betty and Raymond Ritchie; Thursday August 20: Lewis Daniel; Friday August 21: Carolyn and Ray Smith. Week of August 24: Wednesday August 26: Charlene and Maurice Hawkins; Thursday August 27: Steve and Glenda Stalnaker; Friday August 28: Brenda and Harry Shuler.
Page 12 School Supplies Drive 2015 The Twig Bender (Continued from page 3) complete (updated) list of needed supplies in the narthex, on our web site and in upcoming bulletins. We d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that the Friendship Quilters group always provides contributions to help our effort. Don t forget we also have a school supplies drive for Longdale again in January and February, so you might consider picking up a few extra supplies to hold for that drive. School supplies aren't usually on sale after the beginning of the school year, so if you purchase a few extras now our midyear collection might be even more productive. Be Prepared Read the Scriptures August Lectionary Readings August 2 August 9 August 16 August 23 August 30 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69 Song of Solomon 2:8-13: Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
August 2015 Page 13 CARITAS Is Coming We will be hosting CARITAS September 19 26, so it is not too early to think about ways you can help. We will need toiletry bags for all our CARITAS guests; we need laundry done on Monday and Thursday; we need groups to furnish a healthy and hearty dinner, pack a lunch for everyone and furnish breakfast. We like to furnish some entertainment on Saturday night and Friday night. If you can play an instrument or lead in singing, or if you have some other idea, please pass it along to either Brenda or Adamarye. Please mark your calendar for this important date. Counting More Sheep (Continued from page 4) out hunger, one family at a time, by enabling people to continue to feed themselves. After the gift animal has reproduced, the family then gifts the baby animal to another family and begins mentoring them to help that other family become self-sufficient also. You, through your gifts, have assisted multiple families toward selfsufficiency. These gifts are not handouts but hands-forward. They are the gift that continues to give. This sheep poster reflects donations collected at VBC 2015; each cotton ball represents a contribution.
Page 14 The Twig Bender Greenwood Church Family Birthdays Linda Wagner... 8/2 Nancy Yeary... 8/3 Virginia Wagner... 8/7 Alan Daniel... 8/9 Ray Smith... 8/13 Kristen Bellino... 8/14 Jeannette Jackson... 8/14 Gay McFarland... 8/18 Gina Lahocki... 8/22 Anniversaries Patty & Bill Prout... 8/14 Teresa & Darrell Coleman... 8/24 Carolyn & Ray Smith... 8/29 Don t see your birthday or wedding anniversary in The Twig Bender and would like to have us publish it? Send your dates to admin@gumcva.org or call the church office at 804-266-5341; likewise, let us know if you d like your birthday or anniversary removed. GUMC Women s Circles The Ruth and The Willing Workers Circles are taking the summer off and will resume meeting in September. However, the Willing Workers Drive Thru Prayer continues at 6 a.m. every Monday. Come pray with us or be prayed for!
August 2015 Page 15 July Attendance and Offerings Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce Proverbs 3:9 Date Sunday School Worship Giving July 5 19 29 $2,353 July 12 17 36 $1,390 July 19 18 28 $ 995 July 26 18 39 $1,759 Weekly Averages 18 34.3 $1,381 July Totals 54 103 $6,497 YTD Averages 15.5 34.5 $2,053 YTD Totals 434 965 $57,485 In order to meet Greenwood s 2015 operating budget of $133,521, our goal is an average weekly offering of $2,568, ($11,127 per month). Thank you for helping us reach our goal. Twig Bender is a publication of Greenwood United Methodist Church 10040 Greenwood Road Glen Allen, VA 23060 804-266-5341 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Pastor The Rev. Barbara Lewis 804-432-5319 revbarbara@gumcva.org Co-Music Directors Nadyia and Jeremy Horning After School Phone: 804-266-6668 Office email: admin@gumcva.org Fax: 804-266-2019 Office hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday Friday Twig Bender editor Steve Stalnaker webmaster@gumcva.org Visit our web site at www.gumcva.org 2015 Greenwood UMC all rights reserved