March, 2018 TRACYTON TIDINGS Tracyton United Methodist Church February Newsletter Dates with a star have information Dates to remember in February 2nd Coffee Oasis 3:00pm 4th Food Bank Sunday 11th UMCOR Sunday 13th Finance/council 5:30pm 16th Backpack Brigade Volunteers 20th SPRC 4:00pm 24th Clean up day 25th Palm Sunday & Youth Bake Sale 27th Trustees 5:30pm 29th Maundy Thursday 6:00pm Meal 7:00pm Service and foot washing March 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Beloved Church! PASTOR S LETTER Connectional What brand of Christian we are doesn t matter to the general public as much as it used to. The Protestants and Catholics aren t going to war over who s in charge. We re not going to kick someone off the membership rolls for believing that we are not going on to perfection or that we can be made perfect in love in this life (one hallmark of Methodist theology, though it makes Lutheran theologians uncomfortable). One hallmark that makes Methodists unique, including our United Methodist Church, is that we are connectional. We
have been, ever since John Wesley organized the Methodist movement in England and America in the 1700s. We re not a collection of independent congregations who hire their own leaders, choose their own basic rules of operation. We establish churches, and deploy pastors, to best serve the mission of the whole church. Every four years, our General Conference meets to revise our Book of Discipline and to set overall policy for the worldwide church. Now and then the General Conference meets in special session, to consider a specific matter. A special session has been called to consider how the United Methodist Church can find a way forward through our serious differences on matters of gender and sexuality: can we remain united as one denomination with differing views and policies, or will there be some kind of denominational split? ( Untied Methodist Church, anyone?) Most of the action of our connection happens more locally, though: Discipleship-development, mainly in local churches. Regional oversight, planning and programming, mainly in the Annual Conferences. We are part of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, which meets annually surprise! in June. All the pastors of our Annual Conference are appointed to the mission of the whole Church and expected to serve not only in the individual parishes, but also in various roles beyond the local church. I just finished a term as chairperson of the Conference Rules Committee, for example. Our Annual Conference s Secretary is Rev. Shirley DeLarme, whose son Ethan is awaiting a new heart at Children s Hospital in Seattle. Because of this need for her attention, I was asked to serve in the role of Secretary in her place this year. I had that role for ten years, back around the turn of the century, so I know some of what I m getting into. It s going to mean a busy Spring, getting ready. It s going to be a big job during the Conference session. And it s going to take a good deal of time through the Summer (perhaps even into the Fall) finalizing reports and getting the several-hundred-page Annual Conference Journal sent to the publisher. I don t get paid for the work. I do get expenses reimbursed, and I will claim every expense. But it s what I do because we re connectional. (Also: I m just peculiar enough that I enjoy it.) If there are ways you d like to participate more in the connected church, let me know. From serving as a member of Annual Conference, to joining a Volunteer in Mission team or an emergency recovery team or using your expertise and passion in district or conference committees, we can try to get you connected. Because we re connectional. It s how we roll. Love, Wes W.W.W.W. Keep an Eye on your weekly Trade Winds Each Week Pastor will announce what Day and Time to meet with him for Wes s Wet Weather Walk to hike some of the local trails around Kitsap. Or where to join him for lunch for Word on the Street
Because you give, the United Methodist Church s compassionate response to human suffering continues today: When tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, we responded When children in Zimbabwe lost parents to AIDS, we responded When a massive tsunami devastated lives in Japan, we responded And when the next mass crisis occurs, we will be prepared to respond UMCOR will be able to offer aid in Jesus name to those who suffer because United Methodists give through UMCOR Sunday, (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing). In fact, it s your generous giving that allows us to respond when disaster strikes. 2018 FREE FINANCIAL CLASSES Dates Time Class Topic Location Presenter
Coloring Mandalas During the Lenten Season Lyla will be practicing a type of prayer study that uses the coloring of mandalas as a tool to focus, one on one time with God. If you would like to join her, she will be coloring from 4-5pm everyday in the office. March 29th A light meal of soup and bread at 6:00pm which will be followed by foot washing and Service at 7:00pm Directories Available Currant copies of our new photo directories are available in the Fellowship Hall. If there are no copies on the table please put your name on the list and I will make one up for you. Your Church is in need of a day of Spring Cleaning, we sure could use your help. Saturday, March 24th beginning at 9:00am We would like to have a couple of crews, inside and out. The more hands the better. There will be coffee and snacks or maybe a light meal served. We will continue until clean.
If you shop online please sign up at igive and shop thru them. All you have to do is go to them first and then to your store, it s that simple, then TUMC gets a donation from your purchase. Recipes Wanted Dig out that old family file of recipes and bring us one or two maybe even three. We think it is time for a new Tracyton United Methodist Cookbook. Add a story about a time the dish was served, or who in the family liked it most, a picture of yourself or the family member or friend who gave you the recipe would be great as well. Let s add some history and fun to go along with the sharing of food and hospitality. If you are interested in helping to put this cookbook together please let Lyla know. Better things happen when more people are involved. If you have a Fred Meyers Rewards card please remember to link it to Tracyton United Methodist Church. For each purchase you make a small donation will be made to the church...every little bit counts... Brunch February s Brunch was a success Over $600.00 was raised! All monies go toward camp scholarships for the youth. Kids Day at the library First Thursday of each month starting promptly at 2pm. Tracyton Community Library invites children of all ages to join them. There s make and take crafts and of course there will be a story or two, and maybe even some yummy treats. Thursday March 1st! Be sure to come join in the fun! If you need more information call 377-3571
Three ways Tracyton UMC helps climb the mountain of local hunger YTD Food Bank Totals - 52 pounds of food and $60 Food Bank Sunday We would like to bring back the focus of our first Sunday of the month being FOOD BANK SUNDAY. There are so many people who are just not able to make it thru the month on whatever their income is and they need those foodbanks just to survive. Can you help by bringing in a few cans or boxes of nonperishable food to share or mark a financial donation Food Bank. Friday the 2nd is the first Friday of the month. We will be taking a hot meal over to the youth at Coffee Oasis. We are hoping to make ham, mac and cheese & green beens. If you would like to help defray the cost by making a donation please mark it Coffee Oasis. If you would like to help prepare the meal we meet here around 3:00pm. We would love to have you join us! Bremerton Backpack Brigade Bremerton Backpack Brigade is thankful for all the wonderful volunteers who come to help each week!! They rotate, weekly teams of 8 to 12 volunteers to pack backpacks and deliver them to each elementary school. They (BBB) deliver over 1,200 pounds of food to the six elementary schools served every week during the school year! Tracyton United Methodist Church sends volunteers on the 3rd Friday of the month (March 16th). Libby Correll takes the lead for any of you who may wish to join them. Her contact number is 360-698-9082. This program would not be possible without the gift of your time, talent or treasures. If you can t help pack but would still like to support BBB you can bring a nonperishable food donation and put it in the designated basket in the Narthex or please mark any financial donation Backpack Brigade.
the closet is usually open Tuesday and Thursday from 10-2pm Donations and volunteers always needed. Benefit for Zoe Project On Palm Sunday, March 25th The children s Sunday School is going to manage a Bake Sale to support the children of the Zoe Project which assists orphans in Zimbabwe and beyond. Visit their website at https:// www.wearezoe.org/ this is truly a pretty amazing thing they are doing. The cycle of poverty is stopped as you partner with a group of children who are eager to realize their Godgiven potential. Indigenous leaders and vulnerable children are empowered to develop sustainable solutions rather than being the recipients of handouts. Young people are developed into leaders and entire communities are transformed in the process. March 4th Roger Correll 11th Marsha Masters 18st Jim Klein 25th Galen Newling Begins at 9:00am Begins at 8:45am Worship Time 10:00am Office hours Tuesday-Friday 11:00am-4:00pm Phone number 360-373-6425 Pastor s cell 253-677-0503 Our Website www.tracytonumc.org Facebook page Tracyton United Methodist Church