2017 A Joint Newsletter of St. John s Episcopal Church & Union Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ
To the Girl Scout Troop #1671 for planting the beautiful flowers at the front entrance. It is greatly appreciated!
Pastoral Ponderings Wind, wind, you come from nothingness and go to nothingness, and when you are still, there is nothing we see, nothing we hear, and you surround us in our not seeing and not knowing. Wind, wind, wondrous wind, hovering at the birth of creation, whisking secretly among the wonders of new life, bearing the seed, lifting high the heads of mighty trees, swirling among the grasses, celebrating life. Where do you go? Do you go away and play, in outback gorges or bare mountains of the desert, stirring small clouds of red dust among the bushes, kissing the rippled smile of the billabong, running down the slopes, exulting at the rock face, passing by the mountain with none to see and none to know your trail. Wind, gentle wind, wind of our breathing, our life, our hope, renewing, refreshing, sighing in our stress, moaning in our pain, still in our dying. O wind, wind, you breathed upon the clay and there was life, you danced down to the forehead of a Galilean and there was hope, you shook the foundations of community and there was Pentecost. Wind of nothingness and awe, wind of knowing and unknowing, wind of bearing and begetting, wind of secrets and mystery, O wise, wise wind, whisper to us your grace. -excerpts from Wind, Wind by William Loader Wind is something we are very aware of in Wyoming. We ve grown accustom to the dust it blows and the waves it stirs up on the water. We speak often of its presence here. We don t go far in the high desert country of our state without a jacket. It s fun to think of Wyoming as the place the wind goes to play. It s also a great image as Pentecost approaches. Pentecost is a day of mighty winds and tongues of fire dancing above the disciples heads. It came 50 days after the resurrection, ushering in a new day for the followers of Jesus. The winds of the Spirit blew out the cobwebs and dust bunnies of a faith gone stale. The air was refreshed with hope. The cleaned-out space was filled with passion and fire for making known the glorious grace and love of God experienced in a resurrected Christ. Sunday, June 4th, we will celebrate this Pentecost Wind in our church and in our lives. As we remember the story and gather at the table I pray the doors of our faith and the windows of our soul will be blown open, letting the spirit refresh us, renew us and drive us into a great summer of living and proclaiming the good news. Spirited blessings, Pastor Jenny
Sunday, June 4: 9:00 a.m. PENTECOST Worship & Communion Thursday, June 8 Sunday, June 11 Rocky Mountain Conference Annual Meeting, Cheyenne Monday, June 12: 6:00/7:00 p.m. Diaconate/Trustees Tuesday, June 14: 1:30 a.m. Vacation Bible School planning. Sunday, June 18: Happy Father s Day! 9:00 a.m. Worship & Fellowship Friday/Saturday, June 23-24 FLAMING GORGE DAYS Sign up to help in 2-4 hour shifts from 8a.m 4 p.m. Sunday, June 26: 9:00 a.m. Worship & Fellowship WEEKLY CHURCH EVENTS: Tom Jacobsen 3 Lucille Fleming 3 Bill Graham 5 Terry Wiekhorst 7 Elaine Tutterrow 7 Bob Burke 12 Vicki Roth 24 Lois Beard 27 Bob Bingham 28 Glenn Hill 28 Carol Richardson 30 Buck Leonard 30 Sundays 9:00 a.m. Worship Mondays 8:45 a.m. Coffee Group Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. Craft Group 6:30 p.m. Quilting Group Check office calendar for scouts and other regular groups. Ray and Mary Curtis 2 Harold and Barbara Walker 4 John and Linda Malone 15 Tom and Ellen Jacobsen 19 Brain and Kelly Strampe 27 WOSHIP CD S. If you just can t make it to worship, but still would like to hear the music, prayers and sermon, there are CD s available in the gathering area by the UCC guest book. If you d like to receive a CD each week, please let the office know and we will make that happen. (A huge thank you to Ray Curtis for this ministry!)
Welcome New Members! What a joy to celebrate the baptisms of Courtney McDonald and her daughter Kathryn on Sunday, May 21 st. Courtney was also received into full membership of Union Congregational Church. Her contact info is: 260 E 3 rd N #2 Green River 307-922-2579 crwatts714@outlook.com Rocky Mountain Conference Annual Meeting Beloved Community, Believing Hope, Embodied Action June 8-11, 2017, the Rocky Mountain Conference will gather at the Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne for its annual celebration. In 2014, the conference created a radical new vision. In 2015, the seeds of mission were planted around the Conference. In 2016, the Rocky Mountain Conference Bloomed in the Desert and now in 2017 the momentum continues so that we may be the Church in the name of justice, fairness, and light. Even though we will not have any representation this year, let us keep our Conference staff and all our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer as they gather, celebrate, discern and move forward. Strengthen The Church Offering On Pentecost Sunday, June 4 th, all the churches in the United Church of Christ are invited to participate in a special offering to Strengthen The Church. This offering helps with Church Renewal Grants, New Church Starts and youth and young adult ministries within our denomination. Envelopes will be available on May 28 th and June 4 th. Wednesday, June 7 th, at 7:00 p.m., Mount of Olives Lutheran Church is hosting the Celebration Ringers from First Lutheran Church of Colorado Springs and you re invited for a delightful, bell-ringing concert. Come on over! Church Board Positions If you have been interested in serving on any church boards or doing any other work for the church, now is not too early to start thinking about 2018. One particularly important position is that of Financial Secretary. That position will be available next year, so if you have an interest or just want to find out more about it, contact Pam Smart. She d be more than happy to discuss it with you.
FLAMING GORGE DAYS JUNE 23-24 Flaming Gorge Days are fast approaching and we are excited about the number of you who have been willing to donate so far: Maddox s for half of the rent of the booth, Cori Bybee and the Viaduct Grill for donating ice (this has been a real cost cutting savings for the church, as the cost of the ice to keep the drinks cold is a huge outlay). Special thanks to Braithwaite s and Kerr s for helping financially with the food costs, so that the church may completely benefit from the sales. Please feel free to put your donation in the plate on Sunday, or send it to the church. The signup sheet is posted at the church in the Fellowship Hall. This year we will be selling sloppy joes, nachos, cinnamon rolls, drinks and homemade cookies. We would appreciate any donation of cookies to be bagged two to a baggie, and brought to the church. Once again if you get a wild hair and have a mad cooking day, give me a call and I can pick them up and I will even bag them for you. Call me (Kathy) at 875-7269 or call or text 389-8073. Looking forward to June 23-24 at the Island again. We will have our same booth along the street by the basketball players. See you then!!! If you d like to make a financial donation to offset the costs of Flaming Gorge Days, you can contribute through the Sunday Morning Offering any Sunday in June. Please place your gift in envelope marked Flaming Gorge Days or write that in the memo line of your check. Thank you so much! Does someone s drinking bother you? Al-Anon can help. Meetings are held in Green River at 96 N. 1st E St., Green River, Wyoming on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm.
Save the Dates: Heroes Central (Vacation Bible School) will be July 11-13, from 5:45 p.m. 8:00 p.m. PLEASE START SAVING FOR VBS: Empty paper towel rolls Empty toilet paper rolls Plastic bottle tops (like from pop, etc.) Camp Opportunities This year there are two places our kids can go for camp. LaForet is our United Church of Christ Conference Camp, located in Colorado Springs. Check out more information about Grandparents and Me (June 29 July 1) Camps for a variety of ages throughout July at www.rmcucc.org/ home/camp-events. If you re looking for something closer to home and less expensive, the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming is offering invites you to consider Camp Journey, near Boulder, WY. They have 2 camp offerings for grades 3 rd 7 th and 8 th - 12 th. Go to www.greenriverfoundation.com/registration Narcotics Anonymous Mansface Church is home to the local NA chapter. Sunday night meetings are always an open meeting which means if you or a loved one is struggling with a drug addiction, you are welcomed to come. They meet at 8:00 p.m. in the Sunday School rooms.
Moderator s Message June 2017 Being the Moderator of Union Congregation has been such an honor these past 2 1/2 years. It has been a privilege to be one of the lay leaders of this congregation. However, when the next Annual meeting rolls around in January of 2018 we will be choosing a new Moderator and it just might be YOU! Ok don t run away screaming No, not me but listen to the joys and work of this role in our church life. Essentially, the Moderator chairs the Church Council usually once a month. Church Council is made of representatives of the various boards and major committees, Council Secretary, and three members-at-large with the pastor as an ex officio member. More about Church Council in a later newsletter. As Moderator I have had the privilege of working with creative, dedicated and faithful people who have made exciting decisions as well as difficult decisions for this church. As I see the role of Moderator, the Moderator is an equal member of Church Council but has the responsibility to chair the meeting after creating the agenda. At first, I developed the agenda with Pastor Jenny but often I write it and then check with Pastor. Of course, sometimes it changes completely. Reading the minutes is most important to make sure that all the continuing business is covered. I believe each Moderator brings their own skills and perspective for this church to the role. For me, it is creating a vision for us as a means of moving this church forward. I am good with brainstorming many ideas which may or may not have merit. Yet, this is not a requirement other skills are needed for our well-being as a congregation! Sometimes, we need skills of mediating, or organization, or outreach, or finance, or who knows. We must have faith and trust that the best person will be willing to take this role. Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to take part in worship as a moderator, hold congregational meetings, put forward risky ideas, and participate in a wider church. I would not trade these years at all because I have gained more than I have given and have been blessed with growth in my own faith. I have gotten all of this only because I was just WILLING to be Moderator and knew that I did not have to do it alone. I ask YOU, are you willing for an exciting adventure? Are YOU willing to bring your own perspective and knowledge of this church to the role of Moderator? If you are then share this calling with Pastor Jenny, me, or Vicki Roth! We need you. With God s Love and Grace, Judy Graham, Moderator
St John s Episcopal Church 350 Mansface / P.O. Box 400 Green River, WY 82935 mansfacechurch@sweetwaterhsa.com St. John s June Worship Schedule June 4 Day of Pentecost 11:00 Holy Eucharist Service Leader: Rev. Walt Seeley Reader: Chuck Realing June 11 First Sunday after Pentecost 11:00 Holy Eucharist Service Leader: Rev. Walt Seeley Reader: Angie Bennet June 18 Second Sunday after Pentecost 11:00 Holy Eucharist Service Leader: Rev. Walt Seeley Reader: June 25 Third Sunday after Pentecost 11:00 Holy Eucharist Service Leader: Rev. Walt Seeley Reader: Lollie Lebario The next Vestry meeting will be Sunday, June 4th after offee hour.
The Priest s Corner Summer is finally (dare I say it?) just around the corner. It is always so refreshing for my soul this time of year, as I see things turning green, budding out and starting to grow again. Things once dormant begin to grow becoming vibrant and alive, like they were created to be. I seem to go through that same kind of process every year myself, hunkering down for the winter and waiting for the sunshine and warm weather to return. We are about to enter the season of Pentecost, where we celebrate the birth of the church. Having experienced anew the death of Jesus on Good Friday and the glorious miracle of Easter Sunday, we now recall the Holy Spirit coming upon all of the faithful followers of Christ. The gift of the Holy Spirit changed the game, empowering those followers of Christ to go out and boldly spread the Good News. Nothing would ever be the same. From a group of followers huddled behind locked doors in fear, there emerged a new bold faith. In the face of great persecution this new faith grew, as disciples went forth and made new disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is this growth, this new life, which we celebrate during the season of Pentecost. That s why the liturgical color of the season is green, a color that suggests life and growth. At St. John s we are about to celebrate the birth of a new ministry. Ruth Lauritzen, after 3 years of hard work at the Iona School, has graduated. She will be ordained on June 16 th at 6:00 PM (Please mark your calendars and make every effort to come help acknowledge, affirm and celebrate this joyful occasion!). This marks a huge milestone in Ruth s life and in the life of our church. It is time to put the long winter behind us and to look forward to new growth and fresh possibilities. This year may we enter Pentecost prayerfully and hopefully, with renewed faith; a faith that leads us to believe that God has plans for a season of growth at St. John s. Hebrews 11:1 tells us faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The disciples gathered at Pentecost didn t know what lay ahead, but they had faith faith born out of the miracle of Easter morning faith fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, and they went out and changed the world. Lord may we have the faith and the boldness to follow you where you will lead us. Amen! Walt
Please remember these families in your prayers: Jose Alvarez, Eleonore (Lucy s Mother), Margo, Jack, Kyle, Tim, Evie Grace Huebner, Kasyn, the Porter family, Marion, Kenny, Nathan and Briana Wolfe, Debbie and Kendra who are in need of a new home and jobs, and friends and family who need God s strength and love. Kendra Lewis 14 Roberta Carmody 15 Joe Ruess 18 Jerry Warby 24 Kristin Gasaway 25 Karin Kelly 25 Maurgan Porter 27 Thursday Night Book Study The Thursday evening Bible class is studying the gospel of John. The class is led by Rev. Walt Seeley. We meet at 6:00 p.m. for a light supper and are usually home by 8:00 p.m. All are welcome. Tim and Liz Warren 2 Rick and Maurgan Porter 13 Dwaine and Teresa Shafe 22 Thane and Jean Yennie 25
Ruth Lauritzen will be ordained a priest in God s Church on June 16 th at 6:00 PM. This is a momentous occasion in Ruth s life and in the life of our church. It is vitally important that we all make every effort to come and support, affirm and help Ruth celebrate. See you there! St. John s Thrift Shop wants to give a great big Thank You to the clean up team that has been working Thursday afternoons to re-arrange, clean and make the shop more attractive for everyone. Thank you Sandy Johnson, Jackie Rockhold and Lyn Wengert. The Thrift Shop met April 19th and approved the following donations: Y.W.C.A., Safe House, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Green River Food Banks, Soup Kitchen, Hospice, The Library Foundation, Cathedral Home for Children, Our Father s House, and St. Stephens. We will reevaluate our income in the fall for more donations. The Thrift Shop participated in Earth Day April 21st. Earth Day was sponsored by the City of Green River to educate the public on the benefits of re-cycling. We gave out book markers made out of scrap paper, books, and necklaces made out of recycled beads. The kids enjoyed making the necklaces. We ran out of everything. Thank you Carol Tirre, Linda Smith, Chuck and Wilma Realing, and Angie Bennett for helping with this project.