g{x `ÉÇ àéü August 2016 St. Matthew s United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View, San Antonio, Texas 78217 www.smumcsa.org In This Edition: Will be on August 21st during both services Keep Wednesday Nights F.R.E.E. for Jesus Parents Night Out Page 2 Information, Admin Board, Attendance Page 3 Notes from Pastor Page 4 Sunday School Classes/ Fellowship Time Page 5 Wesley Class/ New Tweens Class Page 6 UMM/Church & Society Page 7 Wednesday Night Free/ Emmaus Gathering Page 8 PNO/Back to School Page 9 Walk to Emmaus Page 10/11 Prayer List/Calendar Page 12 UMW Page 13 Day School Page 14/15 VBS / VBS Pictures August 4, 2016 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall ARTS CAMP August 8th - 11th an evening of music, art and drama for elementary school students. 5:30-8:00 p.m. 1
WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship Service/ Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. Blended Worship Service/ Sanctuary Sunday School 9:45 a.m. CHURCH STAFF Pastor Alan Delafield Associate Pastor Susan Porr Associate Lay Pastor of Agua Viva Veronica Harvey Business Administrator Hermy Rudloff Children & Family Ministries Director Judy Langford College/Youth Ministries Director Tim Diemert Day School Director Nikki Irving Secretary Diana Garza Music Director Amy Ballenger Organist Irwin Witebsky Nursery Coordinator Annalie Tamez Custodian Raul Menesess Bible Studies at St. Matthew s Monday: Monday Night Bible Study, 7:00 pm, Room 105 (Break until September 12) Tuesday: Women of Faith, 8:00 am, Room 105 (Break until September 6) Tuesday Morning Bible Study, 9:30 am, Room 105(Break until September 13) Wednesday: Agua Viva Woman's Bible Study 10:00 am, Fellowship Hall (on summer break) Agua Viva Spanish Discipleship Class, 6:30 pm, Room 301 Administrative Board 2016: Chairman Eugene Hileman Vice Chairman Ralph Pipes Lay Leader for 8:30 am Jo Reinschmidt Lay Leader for 11:00 am Anne Verner Conference Delegate Carolyn Twyford Conference Delegate Alternate Jo Reinschmidt Treasurer Mike Verner Secretary Jeanie Etter COM Chair Steve Schrader Finance Chair Fred Long SPRC Chair Bill Twyford Month Church Sunday School Small Groups May 170 98 June 171 91 Church Office Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00pm Friday - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Phone: (210) 822-0252 Fax: (210) 828-2195 Church Email Address Information@smumcsa.org St. Matthew s Website www.smumcsa.org St. Matthew s Day School Phone: (210) 826-4850 Average Church and Sunday School Attendance May 2016 Through June 2016 2
aéàxá yüéå à{x ctáàéü The Beginning of Bible Study When Susan and I graduated from college we headed to a little town in West Texas called Seminole. We had not been regular in our worship attendance before then. But in a small town, church was one of the main areas to get to know people and fellowship. So we began to attend the Methodist church. We were welcomed into the life of the church. In the Spring of the first year, our part time youth director invited Susan and me to be counselors at a church youth camp that summer. We said yes and the experience transformed our lives. Those leaders (not me) made the bible come alive. I began to hunger to know more of what was in that book. Unfortunately I didn t have one and didn t know where to get one. It wasn t until that fall that I bought my first bible. It was a King James Version and not only did I not understand what was in the bible, I didn t understand half of the words either. But I plowed on. It just seemed to make sense to me that the bible had to have some thread that wound throughout the book that would help me understand it better. I read about Jesus and the advice that Paul had in the epistles. It was changing the way I thought about myself. We were in Seminole for a total of three years and, since there wasn't much else to do, I read and studied the bible the best I could. I wasn t a pastor. I was just a public school choir director. I was no different than the majority of members in our church that have normal lives and jobs. The beginning of bible study for me was a hunger that God put in my soul to understand that book. I realized it wasn t to understand the book as much as it was to understand God. I didn t have formal training at the time. I just plunged in and trusted the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do that and I had no reason not to believe it. At some point a few years later I began to teach a mid week bible study. I have no idea how that started, but I relished the opportunity to share with people what I was learning. That was a perfect example of the saying, God doesn t call the qualified, he qualifies those he has called. After the three years in Seminole we moved to Midland and opened a Christian bookstore. We started our family that September and my bible study turned to more specific things like how to be a good parent. I bought books on what the bible said about parenting. I read them and then put them on the shelf for sale. But I was still interested in what the theme of the bible was. I came to understand that it was God s story of his love for his creation and the call for us to love God back. It is the story of people rejecting God and people placing their whole trust in God. It is the story of a faithful God, a peaceful God, a patient God. That is opposite of what we see in the world today. There are people who have no regard for life killing indiscriminately. There are those who are killing on purpose. And the craziness seems to spread. I have found that those stories don t bother me when I have my eyes on the God who loves. Those people who were killed left this life for a better one. God never said he would do away with sin until He was ready to end the world. Maybe this is the beginning of the end as some say. For me it is a call for me to get closer to my God and I do that through the bible and being the embodiment of God for others. The life I have today started with bible study and it continues with bible study. Blessings, Alan 3
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES 9:45 AM SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES 9:45 AM PRESCHOOL 3 TO 4 YEAR OLDS Meet in Room 606. Contact person: Judy Langford (822-0252 ext. 105) KINDER THROUGH 1ST GRADE Meet in room 604 Contact person: Judy Langford (822-0252 ext. 105) ELEMENTRY 2ND THROUGH 4TH GRADE Explore the Bible using music, art, science, games, story, and cooking. They meet in Room 611. Contact person: Judy Langford (822-0252 ext. 105) TWEENS: 5 TH THROUGH 6 TH GRADE Meet in room 602 Contact person: Judy Langford (822-0252 ext. 105) YOUTH 7 TH THROUGH 12 TH GRADE Meet in the Youth Building. Contact Youth Team: Tim and Kelli Diemert (940-594-8633) COME AND SEE CLASS (All ages) Meet in Room 301 (Deats Bldg). A discipleship class on knowing Christ and making him known. Studying Encounters with Jesus by Timothy Keller. Contact person: Jim Humphries (494-0112) assisted by John Shero NEW SEASONINGS CLASS (Middle Adult) Meet in Room 603. Studying The Heart of Christianity. Contact person: David Mack (654-0162) SONSHINE CLASS (Senior Adult) Meet in Room 605. Studying The Book of Mark. Contact person: Marsha Humphries (494-0112) VOYAGERS CLASS (Senior Adult) Meet in Room 601. Adult Bible Study Workbook/Study (Spring 2016). Contact person: Frank Tyk (655-2324) FRIENDS OF FAITH CLASS (Young & Middle Adult) Meet in the Fellowship Hall. Contact person: Greg Klaerner (402-3711) COVENANT BELIEVERS CLASS (All Ages) Meet in the conference room. Starting a new study Encounters with Jesus by Timothy Keller. Contact persons: Anne Verner (655-7380) or Judy Langford (822-0252 ext. 105) SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT TIME - 2016 August Friends of Faith September Come & See 4
Wesley Class A Wesley Class helps people make lasting friendships and develop an awareness of God in everyday life Wesley Class Monday evenings at 7:00 pm in room 603 Wesley Class Wednesday at 6:30 pm in room 603 Contact person : Pastor Alan Delafield 210-822-0252 New Tweens Sunday School Class We now have a class of 5th and 6th graders that meet on Sunday mornings at 9:45 in room 602. Thank you to the following adults that have stepped up to be their teachers on Sundays. Maria Cantu Mike Langford Heather Herrmann Robert Freund Jack and Lucy Hoover 5
Meet on July 10th and after the always excellent breakfast had a good meeting with Judy Langford to learn all about her role here at St. Matthews. She wears many hats both as a staff member and a long time, second generation family member of the church. Thanks Judy for all that you do particularly, the intercessory prayer during the worship service! We welcome anyone to come join us next month on the second Sunday, August 14th at 8:00 am in the gym for breakfast, then a similar meeting with Amy Ballinger, our new choir director, to get to know her and her family. 6
Wednesday Night F.R.E.E. Starts Back September 14, 2016 F ellowship R elationship E ducate E nergize Supper, worship, study for children, youth and adults 6:00-6:30 Supper 6:30-6:45 Worship 6:45-7:45 Study for all ages Elementary ages: Kindergarten - 4th grade Tweens: Fifth and sixth grade Emmaus Gathering August 4, 2016 Special Recogni on of Chrysalis Par cipants: Christine Diemert, Karissa Schenk-Mason and Christian Cantu Potluck Dinner 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall Praise Music, Communion and Fellowship Everyone is invited!!! Childcare is provided. Ques ons: Carolyn or Steve Schrader 210-473-7518/27 7
August 22nd - First day of school for NEISD Staff to serve snacks to children and parents at the crosswalk and in our parking Once again, we are collecting school supplies for Regency Elementary. The school supply list can be found in the narthex table. Please bring supplies by August 17th. Cash donations will be ap- September 2nd 6:30 9:30 PM Ages 12 months to 5th grade Volunteers are always needed for our monthly Parent s Night Out Ministry Scheduled on the first Friday night of each month. Getting involved is such a blessing to the children. The children arrive at 6:30 pm for play, dinner, story, crafts, and games and stay till 9:30 pm. We are using our Power Xpress Sunday School curriculum as a basis for planning each month s activities. It s a blessing to reach children with the Good News of Jesus Christ. This outreach is a living expression of the vitality of this church. Please contact 8
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There will be no General Meetings July or August Book Nook We don t meet in July, but check out our table in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcomed to read a good book! Put Wednesday, August 17 th on your calendar. Bring a sack lunch and join us in Room#105 in the office at 11:30 to discuss: THE WEIGHT OF MERCY: A Novice Pastor on the City Streets by : Deb Richardson-Moore I LOVE GROWING OLDER, BUT I LL NEVER GROW OLD By: J. Ellsworth Kalas H.O.P.E.- Tuesday, July 12, 6:30, Youth Bldg, contact Annelie Tamez Lady Bugs- contact Kelli Diemert Joint Circles-Thursday, July 14, about 11:30, meets for lunch at Chili s (Broadway & 410) following Christmas in July at Stonebrook Manor contact Carolyn Twyford Mission u, July 8-10, Mt. Wesley, Kerrville TX Come join the Rio Texas Conference UMW in Kerrville, TX, for a fun filled learning experience with men and women throughout the Rio Texas Conference. The studies are: Climate Justice, The Bible and Human Sexuality, Latin America Contact Lesley Rice for registration information 12
St. Matthew s Day School St. Matthew s UMC Day School is looking forward to a wonderful 2016-2017 school year. God s blessing on St. Matthew s is just overwhelming; our classrooms are almost fully enrolled. Last month the Luau and VBS was such a great success and turn out! The children had lots and fun and spoke of all the fun and exciting things they did throughout the week of VBS. The Orange and Red room would like to give a special thank you to Mr. Joe for their hooks in the hall, the students are excited to hang their new backpack ups on the first day of school. The day school would like to give a special thank you to all the helpers with VBS and for inviting us to join in on all the fun. This month we have a lot of exciting things going on. To begin and end our summer session splash day for the Day School will end on August 11 th. On August 15 th, the Day School will be closed for their Teacher Work day, to allow staff members time to prepare for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year. On August the 19 th will be the last day of Summer Camp it was a wonderful year and we are looking forward to the plans for next year. On August 19 th the upcoming Friday we will host our Annual Open House that starts at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. This month will begin our annual World s Finest Chocolate fundraiser to gain funds needed to assist with the cost of classroom/ school supplies and all the fun events that are planned throughout the year at St. Matthew s. Your help and support in our fundraisers are greatly appreciated, whether it s selling, spreading the word, or enjoying the goodies we would love your dedication and support. The fundraiser will be available at Open house. On August 22 nd, we will be up early seeing our families off to school and wel- Nikki Irving and Staff St. Matthew s Day School dayschool@smumcsa.org Phone 210-826-4850 Website www.smumcsa.org 13
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Thank you to all the amazing volunteers that helped make this year's morning Vacation Bible School so successful. In the course of the week we shared the stories of Jesus with 106 children, 28 youth, and 41 adults. We learned that Jesus is the Light of the World who gives us Hope, Courage, Direction, Love and Power. Thank you to all the adults and youth that helped this year. Director - Susan Delafield Opening Assembly Actors Christine Diemert, Karissa Schenck-Mason AV operator - Ray and Vivian Taylor Assembly and Video Leader - Kelli and Tim Diemert, Karissa Schenck-Mason Craft Leaders - Annelie Tamez, Sharonlee Bartels, Martha Garza, Sincere Lowe, Patience Lowe Recreation Leaders - Amy Ballinger, Promise and Joshua Nyong Bible Story Leaders Judy Langford, Kylee Hernandez, Sherrie Rogers Snack Leaders - LaJean Tyk, Jo Reinschmidt, Sue Barrett, Georganne Freund, Leslie Rice, Miranda Harris Imagination Station Leaders Leila B. Hileman, Jack Cardona, Leila Hileman Memory Verse Games Jackie Long Registration Leaders - Hermy Rudloff, Robbie Jenkins Nursery Kara Klaerner Cave Builders Larry Salm, Fred Long Small Group Leaders Jeanie and Larry Etter, Jessica Munoz, Deborah Aelvoet, Connie LaFrance, Allyssa Darden, Brandy Tijerina, Chris Dombrowski, Julie Siler, Maria Cantu, Arlene Morgan Photographer Cindy Jenkins Youth Small Group Helpers Hannah Aelvoet, Christine Diemert, Emily Lesch, Julia and Ben Twyford, Charity Siler, Cyan Linehan, Duncan Rice, Joanne Rios, Liliana Garza, Nathan Herrmann, Shelby Campbell, Skyler Hamilton Lunch Coordinator and Helpers Ann and Mike Verner, Fred Long, Debbie Barrow, Les Barrow, Robbie Jenkins, Sue Barrett, Sydney Hileman A special thanks to Celia Thompson and Maher Marketing and Clyde Jenkins and LaBatt Foods for the food donations for lunch. Thank you to Joann Liebermann for lunch on Sunday decorating day. Thank you to all the extra hands we had during the week who helped wherever needed. Thanks, also, to all those from the congregation who donated food, money and supported us with 14 prayers. As you can see, it takes many hands to make a successful VBS.
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The St. Matthew s Messenger This is a new article page that will be available for anyone to: express joys, announcements, celebrations, special needs of jobs or articles you need in your home, sharing your talents or gifts, thank you s, and other sentiments. Please call Diane at 822-0252 or email to information@smumcsa.org by the 3rd Friday of each month, which is the monthly Monitor article dead- Synthia Collins is a Certified C.N.A and does home health care on weekends. If you know of someone needing a loving, caring provider, please contact her at 210-902-6557. Anyone needing a ride to the doctor, or grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions - our Nurture Ministry can help you, so please call the church office and let them know. REMINDER: We do not have up-to-date information for 40% of our church family. Please notify us of your new or updated home phone number, cell number, work numbers, change of address, and email addresses and changes. We receive phone calls every day where members are trying to reach other members, and we can t help them, because our information is not up-to-date. We still have work num- Thank you for all the cards, prayers and well wishes for my recent back surgery and recovery. They have been overwhelmingly wonderful. May God Bless You Always & Always, Jack Hoover 17
fàa `tàà{xãëá United Methodist Church 2738 MacArthur View San Antonio, TX 78217-4503 August 2016 St. Matthew s is all about FAMILY!!! Come see what God is doing at St. Matthew s!!!! Check out our awesome website at - www.smumcsa.org Piano Lessons by Comfort-Air Engineering, Inc. Irwin Witebsky - St. Matthew s organist Expert instruction for a reasonable fee Please call (210) 690-2188 A New Generation of Comfort! Robert & Georganne Freund St. Matthew s members since 1984 Commercial / Residential / Sales & Service 11403 Jones Maltsberger / www.comfort-air.com / Phone: 210-494-1691 18