Pastor's Page

I can smell autumn in the air. The end of summer, bidding the 100 degree temps adieu, no more pool time, VBS a faint memory and the glow of vacation time (or stay-cation time) even more faint (big Sigh!).

Summer seasons come to an end and the fall season begins.


Endings and beginnings. Thank God for the endings and the beginnings that can follow.


When our summer mission trip to Ft. Hall ended, I wondered what might be beginning in the hearts of Alec and Macie as they bid fond farewells to new friends. Were their mission experiences life changing/ Had their willingness to serve brought them in closer relationship with God? What beginnings were being born in them?


What new beginnings will be born in us the fall of 2010 As your Pastor, I am in discernment with our nomination and leadership development team, prayerfully considering fall in church, whose gifts and talents might be used in service to our congregation.
End of summer brings hopes and dreams of new beginnings in Christian Ed. We're enthusiastic about bringing Godly Play to our church and in the meantime, who will consider teaching Sunday School for our 3-year olds to 6th graders? (Mary Agnes will begin a "Reading the Bible" curriculum with our 7th to 11th graders).


What new ministries might be born this fall? What "old" ministries will begin something new?


I think of the earlier believers who were anxious and concerned when Jesus was no longer among them: "What do we do now?"
Many were baptized and welcomed the Good News, devoting themselves to teaching, service, fellowship, preaching and prayer.


"What do we do now?"
We simply begin.


Blessings,
Pastor Gayle
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PS.    Vickie Nye had the misfortune of being in conversation with her pastor one evening. She was mentioned she would be willing to teach a class on Ukrainian egg painting. We discussed the plethora of artists and crafters in our church. Because the pastor's wheels are always turning and a light went off inside the pastor's head, Vickie Nye became the organizer of our "Ministry of Arts and Crafts."


She'll be our scheduler of arts and crafts workshops to be led by folk in the church or by crafters and artists in our community.


Rumor has it that Gail Andrews will be teaching a Hawaiian Quilting workshop this September. Much more to follow.


Kudos to Vickie for being a great church lady!

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Sunday School

Adult Sunday School Class will resume of Sunday, September 12th at 8:45 AM. If you have not received your new study book, Gail Andrews will have it available Sunday Sept. 5th.

We are still in need of Sunday School teachers.  Please prayfully consider teaching a 4-week rotation.
Sunday School for 3 years thru 6th grade is slated to begin on Sept. 19th.

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A message from a missing member: The Knams

I just wanted to shout out a friendly hello to everyone!!!!

We are all doing well! Jonathan is excited about starting school tomorrow, and after receiving a guitar for his birthday, has started taking lessons.
Tim is back to installing vinyl siding and has also picked up a part time on call job at the docks unloading the ships that come in. I have taken a part time job in the schools as a paraprofessional and start tomorrow.


We miss you all, please pass along our hello's!


Peace of Christ be with you!!
Love


Tricia Knam
951 Stumpville Rd.
Jefferson, Ohio 44047
(440) 576-4130
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At the beginning of summer, the adults of the congregation were asked to mentor the youth of the church while youth groups and Sunday School were on hiatus.   The congregation has stepped up to the plate.  This Sunday, the Norcutts will be taking the UMYF on a boating excursion to Rye Patch.

The church has two offical youth groups:
UMYF   United Methodist Youth Fellowship
Church Chicks    7th and 8th grade girls book and activity club

Church Chicks update

Pastor Gayle and Amy French enjoyed a day with for wonderful young women.

We spent the day learning to sew and the basics of quilting. Each created their own unique pillow using their choice of colors and patterns. We ended the day with a picnic of hotdogs on the deck. Everyone had such a wonderful time - it was a toss-up if the teachers or the students had more fun.

The home of Rich and Debbie Stone was the setting for the chicks to enjoy  a movie night on Wednesday, August 11th.
The girls  had read the book "The Outsdiers" earlier and then watched the movie at the Stones.  Hot dogs were enjoyed as well as popcorn during the movie and ice cream sundaes afterwards, along with a lively discussion about  friendships, cliques, gangs and belonging.  

 

August update.

The afternoon of Sunday, August 29th, Rick and Letty Norcutt will be taking the 7th through 12th graders boating out at Rye Patch. Please call the church and leave a message if you plan to go! One or two additional adults may be needed as well, so call the church if you are able to help out.

Let us all gather next Sunday, the 29th, to hear the last sermon preached by or intern Tara DeCock. Her gentle demeanor and kind presence in the pulpit will be missed by the entire congregation.


But...not to fear, we will still be blessed to have Tara, as well as Dean be part of our worshiping community. 
As you can tell.....


This academic year, Dean and Tara will be offering a Foundations in Personal Finance course for all 7th through 12th graders who are interested. It is based off of the Financial Peace University course that has been offered to adults in the congregation for the past few years. We will do 8 sessions. Each session will be about an hour and a half long. These will be schedule once a month beginning in late September. We will do our best to schedule when the most kids can participate. If you would like to take part in this, or if you are the parent of a 7th through 12th grader and you would like your child to participate, then call and let Dean and Tara know (623-5039) by September 10th.. Each kid will need their own workbook, which will cost them $6 (the total cost is $13 but the education committee will cover the remainder of the cost). Tara will order all of the books at once when we have a final head count.

SPRC will be Sunday the 29th at 8:45am, before the worship service.

The UMM  (United Methodist Men) will once again be preparing the Buckaroo Breakfast on the Nixon lawn during the Labor Day Fair.  The breakfast will begin at 7:00am on both days and the cost is $7 a plate, which includes pancakes, sausages and eggs, coffee or juice.   Come on down--both days and take advantage of the early morning air and a great breakfast, which goes to a great cause.
The UMM are looking for volunteers to help with one or both days. 

On September 12th, we will have our Second Worship of the year to be held at Water Canyon. Same time...same place.  Bring a lawn chair.

Also, a reminder that the UMW book of the quarter is "Baking Cakes in Kigali" by  Gaile Parkin.
Won't you join along and read with us?   We will be discussing the book towards the end of September.  Stay tuned for the exact date and time.


Treasurer's Report


Offerings for June, 2010
June 6   $2,863.64
June 13   720.00
June 20   2,000.00
June 27   1,016.00
June Total   $6,599.64


Offerings for July, 2010
July 4   $1,777.00
July 11   1,600.00
July 18   1,264.00
July 25   921.00
July Total   $5,562.00


The end of July we were able to make a payment toward apportionments, and
I'm happy to report that we have paid the pastor pension portion ($4,794)
in full! As always, the financial reports are available for inspection at
any time.


Respectfully submitted,
Letty Norcutt

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Sierra Service Project Mission Trip-Ft. Hall Idaho

July, 2010


Alec, Macie and Pastor Gayle travelled in style to Ft. Hall, Idaho, thanks to Trudy and Rolly Rollison who graciously offered the use of their van.


Our week stay on the Bannoch~Shoshone reservation began with getting settled in our living quarters, the combined Jr & Sr High located on the reservation. We met 24 new people in our firs half-hour and late that evening we were assigned to work groups.


Both work groups built wheel chair ramps. Alec's and Pastor Gayle's was a 37-footer. Post holes had already been dug (thank God) and some of us managed not to fall into them!

 We mixed pounds and pounds of cement, sunk posts, hung joists, learned new skills with power tools, sweated, swatted mosquitoes and played Ninja (see Alec Mayo for a demonstration).



A very good time was had by all. So grateful to our many stockholders, parents and Trudy and Rolly for helping make this trip possible.

Stockholder dinner will be held on Saturday, October 2nd, to thank all our benefactors.

UMW Rummage sale a success!

The UMW rummage sale was a huge success.  Special thanks  go out to co-chairs Sue Fox and Vicki Nye.  I couldn't have happened without you two!

Thank you also to everyone who volunteered with their donations and their time.

The Rev. John Emerson

Reverend John Emerson was happy to lend a helping hand, as well as his voice in preaching, on "Family Camp Sunday",   July 25th.  Fifty percent of the congregation were enjoying fellowship at Camp Kelly, while the other 50%  loved hearing from their previous interm Pastor.

Thank you Reverend Emerson!  And a recap of family camp will be on here soon!

And...Babies in Church!

What could be better.

Maybe some fellowship too!

A Candle for Peace

On July 10th, WUMC was blessed with the presence of Pat and Manuel Romero, from St. John's Episcopal Church in Globe, AZ,  who presented us with a candle.  A Candle for peace. They gave us this gift during our worship service, along with a letter of explanation.

In 1986, a group of American Christians visiting the Soviet Union attended a worship service in a Russian Orthodox Church. An elderly woman pressed three rubles into the hand of the minister leading the group and asked that he buy a candle to be lit at services in his church as a symbol of peace..



Back in the states, the minister purchased a votive candle and holder, which was placed on the communion table of the church he served in Pennsylvania. The congregation decided to provide candles of their members to share with friends in other churches, telling this story and asking them in turn to pass along the Russian woman's prayer for world peace.

One candle found its way to a church in Missouri and form that church another candle was given to members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Gladstone, MI. In November of 1999 a "Peace Candle" was given to each of four visitors attending Trinity Church. Those four candles now burn each Sunday during worship in Episcopal Communion tables in Winnipeg, MV; Toronto, ON; Moscow, ID and Chelan, WA. From Trinity Church in Bend, OR, a "Peace Candle" was brought to St. Paul's Church in Payson, AZ who then passed another to St. John the Baptist in Glendale, AZ.


In June of 2006, Mrs., Mabel Smith brought a candle from St. John the Baptist Church to St. John's Episcopal Church in Globe, AZ.
That candle now burns on our altar each Sunday, and we would like to pass along a "Peace Candle" to you and your congregation so that it may be placed on your altar. May it's light carry hope and encouragement however far it travels.


May the God of Peace be with you always. Amen.
Pat and Manuel Romero


PS     Pat and I have enjoyed delivering these peace candles so much. In so many places they have truly appreciated the concept of placing the candle on their altars and praying for peace. We strongly suggest that you make copies of this letter representing your congregation and help every church spread the world of prayer for peace. A concerned Russian lady began praying so many years ago. Maybe some of you will be instrumental in taking the candle back to Russia and the woman will finally see that her trust in God's peace is spreading throughout the world.

Praise Party!

Vacation Bible School--Summer 2010
Held it's  'Prasie Party'  summer bbq and swim party on July 1st.
We had a record amount of VBS'ers and their families.

You can check out the rest of the photos on Facebook!

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School---It's a PRAISE PARTY!

VBS and all congregation pool party on Thursday, July 1st, at 6:00 p.m.

It's a potluck. 

Join us for the Praise Party!