THE CLOCK A publication of

Office@OxfordUMC.net May 2018 THE CLOCK A publication of OXFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 465 Main Street, Oxford MA 01540 508 987-5378 Pastor Barry Judd Grow in Christ Share Our Faith Web Site - OxfordUMC.net Dear Beloved Family, Vacation time approaches! As many of us get closer and closer to the completion of another academic year, I am reminded that vacation time also approaches. Coming from "Vacationland," I know how important it is to recreate and relax during the one season of the year when we are neither preparing for nor recovering from Winter. However, in the midst of our Summer celebrations and disappearances from real life, I pray we won't also take a vacation from God and His Church. The Season of Kingdomtide also quickly approaches, which is one of my favorite times in the life of the Church. It is symbolized by green to remind us that this is a time to be growing in our understanding of God's Word, and how we act to reflect His Kingdom, in which we are now and forever citizens. It is rightfully the largest Season of the Christian Year, for the contemplation and celebrations of the other seasons only have meaning if we are growing in our understanding of God's Word, and growing closer to Christ and our fellow disciples. We will all enjoy time off through the Summer...and we should! However, I pray that we don't take a vacation from God or His Church at the same time. While some Sundays will be missed by each of us, I pray there are not so many as to slow our momentum in our Church services and the newly forming Spiritual Formation Groups, as well as our congregation's spiritual growth as we do an in-depth study of the Book of Deuteronomy. I think it will serve as a pivotal foundation marker in the current moment in the life of our congregation. Through this Book, God teaches us to learn from our past and prepare to build our spiritual community's future. I can hardly wait! I truly hope you won't miss much. In the Love of Christ, Pastor Judd

May 2018 Page 2 of 10 MAY SCRIPTURE READINGS Please Pray: May 6 Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17 May 13 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 May 20 Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 May 27 Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12-17 John 3:1-17 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER DAY OF PENTECOST FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Please pray for the sick, those caring for the sick, those in recovery, shut-ins and those in mourning. Please pray for healing, recovery, comfort, peace & grace for: Church members, friends and family who are shut-ins, including: Harriet Brunnett, Bob Hatfield, Doris Norcross, Sally Johnson, Hazel Prouty & Carlton Thomas. Family and friends of church members: Brayden, Rob Langley, Kathy Mack Please pray for our nation and for all of God s children around the world. In Christ s name we pray. Amen. P E N T E C O S T! SUNDAY MAY 20 th Pentecost is the day of days in the Christian year, the culmination of the Season: Easter! Pentecost for the Church is a full-out celebration of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon God s people, empowering them to spread the Good News of His kingdom and the ministries of Jesus into the world! Read Acts 2:1-21 for the full story. We will have the Sanctuary decorated in red and the worship service will be a joyous celebration at the Lord s Table. This is the final Sunday of the 50 Days of Easter and a high festival day the realization of all the Holy Spirit has been, what He continues to be and what He will do through us for the transformation of the world! PLEASE PLAN TO WEAR RED AND BRING A RED GERANIUM (or other red flowering plant in bloom) FOR THE ALTAR

May 2018 Page 3 of 10 TITHING SUNDAY On Sunday, May 6 th the worship service will focus on the Biblically-based practice of financial stewardship called tithing. Very simply, tithing is giving 10% of your income to the church. Does this seem difficult to you? On a trial basis, prayerfully consider giving 10% of your next week s income (May 6 through May 13). On May 13 th, special envelopes will be available in the bulletin. Your tithe will be collected at offering time and consecrated at the altar. There are several families in our congregation who have committed to tithing on an annual basis and acknowledge the endless blessings that result from such a decision. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. QUINSIGAMOND UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWS The Quinsigamond United Methodist Women is scheduled to meet on Tuesday May 8, 2018 at 6:00pm. Susan Posterro will be coming to speak to us about the Binkeez Organization. Their mission is to provide blankets to babies and children struggling to survive with life threatening illnesses, acute developmental and mental disorders and severely burnt children. They also offer their support for the parents and caregivers of these children. Hope to see a good group of ladies!! Saturday, May 19, 2018 PLANT SALE 9:00am to 2:00pm Flowers and vegetable plants donated by Lynn Hartman from Hartman's Herb Farm in Barre, MA. She brings beautiful plants for your flower garden and vegetable garden

May 2018 Page 4 of 10 Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf For the month of May the Food Shelf is accepting donations of: Rice-A-Roni type boxed products. On May 1 st, please place food items in the collection basket at the front of the church when you come forward to receive Communion. For the rest of the month, donations can be put in the basket in the narthex In June we will be looking for Mac N Cheese. Many families coming to us have members with "diabetes" and "gluten allergies". Low sugar, sugar free, and gluten free items are always in need.. http://www.oxfordfoodshelf.org/ Thank you for your generosity! June is OUMC s month to be the host church at the Food Shelf We will need volunteers to work as shoppers and carriers every Thursday in June Mother s Day Bouquet There will be one bouquet on the altar for Mother s Day, May 13 th. There will be a list of Mothers to be remembered or honored in the bulletin on that date. If you would to have like a name of someone special listed in the bulletin, please complete this form and donate $3.00 for each name. You can put cash or a check made out to OUMC Altar Flowers in an envelope marked Mother s Day Bouquet into the offering plate. Any profit after paying for the flowers will go to Missions. The bouquet will be brought to Sandalwood Care & Rehabilitation Center. In Honor of In Honor of In Loving Memory of given by given by given by In Loving Memory of given by The deadline for submitting names is May 6 th. B e t h i n k i ng a he a d to Father s Day, June 17 th, w h e n we w i l l b e do i n g t h e s ame t h i n g fo r o u r D a d s.

May 2018 Page 5 of 10 Teen Ministry News A BIG Thank You to those who donated goods, gave their time and came out to our spaghetti supper. A special thanks to Pricilla McVeigh who made our sauce! We were able to raise $600 for our mission trip this summer. Teen Gatherings: Saturday, May 5th from 6-7:30 (snacks and drinks will be provided) Saturday, May 19th from 6-7:30 (snacks and drinks will be provided) Saturday, May 26th from 6-7:30 (snacks and drinks will be provided) Sunday May 27th - Deliver sandwiches and visit with Worcester Fellowship Saturday June 9th - Pancake breakfast and Bake Sale Sunday July 8th-14th - Mission Trip to Camp Mechuwana with Blackstone United Methodist Church (http://www.mechuwana.org/missions.html) Work Projects include: Housing repair for the needy (roofing, painting, drywall, handicap ramps, etc.) Working in area clothing ministries, food banks, and soup kitchens Projects on-site at Mechuwana to help our ministry to be able to reach out to low-income families Renovations and repairs of local church buildings Teaching vacation Bible school in a rural church setting Nursing home program Work with non-profit salvage company to provide inexpensive building materials to low-income families This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA U M C O R United Methodist Committee on Relief Throughout the month of May, the congregation of OUMC is asked to gather items to be included in 5-gallon buckets to assemble UMCOR Cleaning Kits. These kits, once complete, are to be sent to areas effected by natural disasters so that people will have the basic items they will need to clean and sanitize their homes following a flood.

May 2018 Page 6 of 10 Pancakes With a Purpose All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale OUMC Teen Ministry Fundraiser Saturday, June 9, 2018 8:00-11:00am Oxford United Methodist Church 465 Main St. Oxford, MA. 01540 All proceeds will go to supporting the OUMC Teen Ministry. Menu includes: Pancakes Scrambled Eggs Sausage Variety of Beverages $8.00 for Adults $5.00 for Children A Variety of Goodies will be available for sale at the Bake Sale Table Library Notes: Reminder: we are preparing to redo the bookshelves in the parlor. If you or a family member have donated a book and you would like to bring it home, please stop by the parlor and grab it. We are hoping many of the books can be donated, but if you would like to peruse the shelves and take a book or two they will be there for a while longer. If you would like to donate books or dvds for our teen ministry please drop them off with David or Christine Kilmonis.

May 2018 Page 7 of 10 THANK YOU Now that spring is here, shall we make our shawl hanging board full of bright colored prayer shawls? Remember to pray for all GODS children as you knit and crochet. Pray for the sick, lonely, grieving, sad, and so many others needing prayer and love. If you cannot make it to church, you can join us on YouTube.!!! Go to YouTube and type in Oxford Massachuestts United Methodist Church You can watch and send us messages by typing right on the site; you can send your prayer request to us to be read in church with the other prayers. Yes you do have to miss type Massachuestts UPPER ROOM START YOUR DAY WITH THE LORD! Pick up your FREE May/June edition of the devotional guide, The UPPER ROOM this Sunday. You can find them on the table under the display cabinet in the narthex and on the pamphlet rack outside the restrooms. We have both regular and LARGE print available. Fund Raiser for Choir Robes Come support a Dough Raiser. On May 17, 2018, The UNO Pizzeria and Grill at The Blackstone Shoppes in Millbury will donate up to 20% of your check to OUMC. Copy the following link and paste it into your online browser to access a sheet of four coupons. Please use one for yourself and your family and share the other three with others to DINE-IN or TAKEOUT. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=35e0db827d&view=att&t h=162b733824109cac&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw The CLOCK has been sent... mostly by email. If you think someone new would like to receive The Clock either by email or through the post office, please have them contact the Editor, Cindy, at: (c.l.denson54@gmail.com). The most recent issue will also be available for pick-up in the Narthex. If you do not wish to receive the OUMC Newsletter, reply to this e-mail with unsubscribe in the subject line or speak with Cindy (508) 987-5241.

May 2018 Page 8 of 10 May 1 5: May 6-12 May 13-19: May 20-26: May 27-31: Diane Peterson, Gary Norcross Michael Zostant, Malcolm Scales Phyllis Carey, Tyler Bouchard Priscilla McVeigh, Emma Carey, Deborah Parmenter, Iver Peterson, Sr. Judith Pytko, Pamela Parent May 16: George & Carolyn Foster May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 May Altar Flowers May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 May Lay Readers Primel Mothers Day Brennan Baril Sue Stone Malcolm Scales Bruce Denson Youth A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: The next edition of The Clock, the OUMC newsletter, will be for June 2018. The deadline for submitting articles for the June 2018 edition is 7:00 PM on Friday, May 25 th. Please send any items for The Clock to: c.l.denson54@gmail.com. Thank you. TO COMMITTEE CHAIRS: As you make your plans, please know that the July and August editions of The Clock will be combined into one edition. The deadline for the July/August edition is 7 PM on Thursday, June 28 th. Oxford United Methodist Church Sunday Morning Schedule Serving the Church 8:00 AM Choir rehearsal Ministers All members of the congregation 9:00 AM Sunday School Classes Pastor Barry Judd 9:00 AM Morning Worship Service Nursery Care Denise LeBlanc & Denise Stewart (child care available during Sunday activities and service) Church Secretary Sue Stone Church Custodian Don Parker The church office is regularly open on Mondays & Thursdays, 9:00am to Noon. Pastor Judd s are Thursdays, 9:00 AM to Noon or by appointment.

May 2018 SUNDAY MO NDAY TUES DAY WEDNESDAY THURS DAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 6 Choir 8:00 Sunday School 9:00 WORSHIP 9:00 TITHING SUNDAY Fellowship Following Service 7 9:00 12:00 1 2 3 9:00 12:00 Pastor s Hours 9:00-12:00 8 9 Ad Council 7:00 PM 10 9:00 12:00 Pastor s Hours 9:00-12:00 Teen Ministry 6-7:30 PM 5 11 12 Choir 8:00 Happy 13 Mother s Day Sunday School 9:00 WORSHIP 9:00 Fellowship Following Service 20 Choir 8:00 Sunday School 9:00 PENTECOST WORSHIP 9:00 Fellowship Following Service 14 9:00 12:00 21 9:00 12:00 15 16 SPRC 7:00 PM 17 9:00 12:00 Pastor s Hours 9:00-12:00 22 23 24 9:00 12:00 Pastor s Hours 9:00-12:00 18 19 Teen Ministry 6-7:30 PM 25 26 Teen Ministry 6-7:30 PM 27 Choir 8:00 Sunday School 9:00 WORSHIP 9:00 Sunday Brunch Worcester Fellowship Sandwich Making 28 9:00 12:00 CLOCK DEADLINE 7:00 PM 29 30 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY The CLOCK If you has do been not wish sent... to mostly receive by OUMC email. newsletter, If you think someone The Clock, new please would reply like to to receive this email The with Clock either by email or through the post office, please have them contact the Editor, Cindy, at: (c.l.denson54@gmail.com). The unsubscribe in the subject line or speak with Cindy (508 987-5241). most recent issue will also be available for pick-up in the Narthex. If you do not wish to receive the OUMC Newsletter, reply to this e-mail with unsubscribe in the subject line or speak with Cindy (508) 987-5241.