2016 january email newsletter

United Methodist Church of Estes Park 1509 Fish Hatchery Road (970) 586-4153 www.estesparkumc.org KREV-LP 104.7 FM Vol. 35 No. 1 January 2016

Sunday Morning Schedule 9:45 am Worship 10:45 am Fellowship Time in Anderson Hall 11am Adult Sunday School Church Office Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 9am – 3:30pm

Pastor’s Musings HAPPY NEW MOMENT Question: What will be the difference between this New Year and our past year?

Answer: Probably very little.

Question: What will be the difference between this moment and the next?

Answer: Everything.

While you and I look forward to a New Year with hope for a life filled with joy, love, and peace as well as anticipation that our problems still lingering from our last year will find solutions in the New Year, oftentimes we experience joy, love, and peace at about the same level as the year before and the same problems usually persist throughout the New Year.

What would make a noticeable difference?

What I believe would make a noticeable difference in life might occur if we looked forward to experiencing this very moment, taking this second to search for joy, love, and peace along with solutions to our problems. Put another way, why wait for a New Year before diving into life’s goodness and struggles this newest moment? Jump into life right now.

I can seek joy right now, then grasp it.

I can seek love, then take hold of it right now.

I can seek peace immediately and find it right now.

I wish to solve this problem or that, then begin solving it right now. Take the leap.

A New Year entices us to look lazily ahead, believing that in some mysterious way a New Year contains all the elements necessary for us to acquire our wishes that the last never produced. When I look back over each of my previous “New Years”, I can see that they turned out about the same as every other year. While some events proved good or bad, the notion of those events changing never involved the New Year as the force of change at all; instead, those events proved good or bad depending on what each new moment

brought to the table and how I addressed it – that is, the newest year, itself, never created the environment for newness and change. Each new moment brought its potential that could alter my life.

So over the past several years, I decided to celebrate each New Year less and less, and I began looking forward to acknowledging each new moment with greater and greater respect.

So, this New Year I plan to say “Carpe diem,” more often, meaning, “Capture the day” or maybe better yet, “Capture each moment”.

While a New Year truly gifts us, indeed, a new moment gifts us more as each instant greets us and allows us to invest in it with all our mind, soul, heart, and strength. And, as we change and grow many, many times each day or even each hour or minute, so our relationships with family, the community, and the environment change faster and more easily, creating not only a new and potentially better life for ourselves, but, also, creating a greater love and respect for all that surrounds us, including our church as much as our society and the way it learns to treat the world that supports our life. Out of each new moment, then, numerous “Bing Bangs” bring new creation that explodes into our world to alter the limiting status quo.

So, instead of wishing you a happy New Year, I wish you a Happy New Moment.

Pastor Tom January Sermon Schedule 1/3 In Who's Name Will You Be Baptized This Year?

1/10 Do It Now 1/17 Here, Hear (Human Rights Sunday plus Mtn Music Makers) 1/24 Christian Chameleons 1/31 Plug into the Power of Prayer Thank you to Rev. Don and Barbara Bailey for a great worship service on the Sunday after Christmas Dec. 27.

Church School : January 10 through February 3 at 11:00 A.M. studying the book Ask – a work asking very important questions that folks of all ages are asking about the relevance to the Church. Beginning after Ash Wednesday, we’ll begin

our Lenten series leading up to Easter. Come join and learn and question and find great comradery.

From Denise Stookesberry and Linda Bowie: The Chancel and Bell Choirs will take a break until the first week in February, when we will begin rehearsals again in time to sing during the Lenten season, beginning on Sunday, February 14th.

The Women's Devotional Group will begin a new book study starting Tuesday, January 5th. The new book is "Bellwether" by Connie Willis. It is a lighter read then what has been done in the past, but a good discussion book as well. Pop culture, chaos theory and matters of the heart collide in this unique novella from the Hugo and Nebula winning author of Doomsday Book. “Sandra Foster studies fads and their meanings for the HiTek Corporation. Bennet O'Reilly works with monkey group behavior and chaos theory for the same company. When the two are thrust together due to a mis-delivered package and a run of seemingly bad luck, they find a joint project in a flock of sheep. A series of setbacks and disappointments arise before they are able to find answers to their questions.�

Note the time change from the past: The group will meet from 4:00 to 5:30 PM at the Good Samaritan Village, 1901 Ptarmigan Trail, downstairs in the multi-purpose room. Contact Connie Dedon, if you need a book and/or have questions.

The Estes Valley Community Garden will begin accepting applications for springtime plots during the month of January. If you would like an application or have any questions, please call 586-4078. You can also get an application on the Community Garden's website, evcg@evcg.org. The application deadline is on or before January 31, 2016.

The location of the Community Garden is on the northeast corner of Community Drive and Manford Ave. Swing by to watch our progress. The water system is all in place and the fence will go up as soon as the weather cooperates. The raised garden plots (10' X 4') will be in place early spring. Yes, high altitude gardening will be a challenge but Vail, Summit County, and Grand Lake community gardens are succeeding. So can we.

Special Thanks Everyone for Giving!

Thanks to Connie Dedon and Dennis Neff, Director of Mountain Music Makers, for organizing the latest Arts 4 AIDS Event Dec 9!

Thanks to the musicians and those who came to sing-a-long with Christmas carols as we enjoyed dinner at "The View Restaurant" Crag's Lodge!! A total of $339 was raised that might for saving lives with the UM Global AIDS Fund that evening!

The two Arts for AIDS watercolor classes raised $100 this fall and a grand total of $1115 was raised in 2016 for critical HIV AIDS projects around the world! You made a difference!

Just Save One Maureen Vetter, Global AIDS Chair Upcoming Missions and Outreach events : Sunday Jan 10 - Rainbow Table and Open Hearts Fundraiser : sign up to be a Reconciling United Methodist and buy a "Y'all Means All" pin at the Rainbow Table to support inclusive church --- wear your pin and your ugliest sweater or ugliest shirt Jan 10 or just come and vote for the ugliest sweater or shirt with coins and $$ from 11 am to noon at our monthly gathering for Open Hearts LGBTQA Faith Support Group !!

Come join the fun as we welcome and affirm all God's Children in our new LGBTQA faith support group 11 am to noon the second Sunday of each month in the back of the sanctuary unless specified differently ! We welcome persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities to this new group including allies and advocates as a form of Missions and Outreach !

Sunday Feb 14 - UMGAF Special Offering in worship and Open Hearts : vote on our Vision Statement for Open Heart Reconciling Community and take a photo!

Contacts Jay and Maureen Vetter - maureenvetter7@gmail.com Bridge Classes beginning in February, 4-6 pm in Anderson Hall: Tuesdays: Feb 9th, 16th, 23rd, Mar 1st, 8th & 15th.

Wednesdays: Feb 10th, 17th, 24th, Mar 2nd, 9th & 16th.

- John Krueger, (970) 577 – 0657, for more information

Coffee Fellowship Since we no longer have enough volunteers for coffee fellowship, we will be reverting to our previous method. Each month will be assigned to a committee or church group. Please call me, if you would like to switch months for a more convenient time.

The following is assigned: January -- Choir February – Outreach Ministries March – UMW April – Book Club May – Finance June – Missions July – open opportunity for others August –Ad Council September – Bell Choir October – SPRC November – Trustees December – Nurture Ministries Sunday morning coffee fellowship involves making coffee (regular and decaf) around 9:00 AM. Getting hot water for tea, ice water and lemonade. Setting the table (creamer, sugar, tea bags, etc.) and glasses and cups. You may bring food if you want. Fruit is appreciated. There is usually food in the freezer, refrigerator or cupboard for use. Then staying to clean up afterward.

-Margaret Mendoza

Make Epiphany come alive with these 6 ideas Epiphany is one of the most joyous feast days in the church year as we celebrate the visit of the Magi and Jesus’ coming as Savior of all people. Because it happens 12 days after Christmas, the celebration can be lost in post-holiday fatigue. However, with a little creative thinking, this holy day can shine. Here are ideas to spark your Epiphany brainstorming session!

Epiphany happens 12 days after Christmas. Don't let it get lost in post-holiday fatigue. Help this holy day shine!

1. Twelfth Night Dinner One of the most traditional ways to celebrate Epiphany is to gather for a meal, tell the story of the Magi visiting the Christ-child and give gifts to the children. To bring the story to life, have some church members dress up as the Magi and recount the story of their journey to Bethlehem in first person while walking around and giving small candies or coins to the children.

You might invite children to participate in a tradition from many parts of the world. Have them leave their shoes by the door as they enter — along with some grass for the wise men’s camels. While the children are inside, have someone remove the grass and replace it with wrapped candies. Remind the children to check their shoes for a little surprise.

2. Magi Star Gazing Night In honor of these ancient star gazers, celebrate the season by following in their footsteps. Invite the telescoping community to set up their scopes on the church lawn and look up at the night sky. Many theologians and scientists believe that the star the Magi were tracking was actually the planet Jupiter. You can check this chart to see when it is visible in the night sky. To take this idea to the next level, try inviting a local expert to give an astronomy lecture highlighting upcoming astronomical events.

3. King Cake Bake Sale A food traditionally associated with Epiphany is the King Cake (aka galette des Rois, Bolo Rei, Three Kings Cake, Roscón, etc.). Because it is made in so many different ways around the world, you can offer a variety of cake types in the King Cake-style.

King Cakes are round (like a bundt cake) to symbolize a king’s crown. Each King Cake will contain some sort of bean or trinket (even a small plastic baby) to symbolize baby Jesus. Whoever receives the piece with the trinket gets to wear a crown and prepares the cake the next year.

4. Magi Welcoming Teams This is one of the most common times of year for people to move into a new community, but because of its proximity to holidays it can be difficult for those people to get connected. Consider putting together a packet of information and local goodies and follow in the footsteps of the Magi, taking these gifts to new arrivals in your community.

5. Star Singers Fundraising In Germany, singers holding a large star go from house to house singing and asking for donations for a worthy cause. You might take your youth choir house to house and use the tradition of putting money in the shoes of children as a way to raise money for a project like Imagine No Malaria or another mission or ministry.

6. An Epiphany Blessing of Homes and Chalking the Door Mark the season of Epiphany with a custom long-observed overseas, especially in Great Britain: a Chalking the Door Service. People come together in a gathering place, whether it be a home, hospital, church or workplace, to mark doors with chalk, inviting God’s presence and blessings on the physical space and the people within it. Further details about the service, including special liturgy in remembrance of the three Magi, are provided by Discipleship Ministries.

However you choose to celebrate Epiphany, we hope that your church will be a light in your community reaching out to all people with the grace of Christ.

When Jeremy Words and his wife are not playing with their four children, he oversees youth and college ministries and leads the evening worship service at Christ UMC in Mobile, Al. Jeremy is an author of several books and resources that you can find at JeremyWords.com

There are always volunteer opportunities at the church. Think of what you enjoy doing, something that gives you a sense of satisfaction. Sign up to do what you do best!

January Birthdays 6 - Linda Strandberg, Dewain Lockwood 14 - Mike Elgin 15 - Caroline Krandell 17 - Michelle Hurni, Mark Newendorp 19 - Janet Porter, Chelsea Newendorp 22 - Tim McLemore 26 - Debbie Mertz 28 - Susan Kutrubes 30 - Sandy Towns Are we missing your birthday on the list?

Please call or email the office and let us know!

December Attendance 6 – 64 13 – 100 20 – 79 24 – 150 27 - 58

~ January 2016 ~

◄ December

Sun

3

Mon

4

1st UMC Bridge Youth Group 12:30pm here one night 4:30pm

Tue

5

Wed

6 Epiphany

12

18 Rev. Dr. 17 Martin Luther Human Relations Day King Holiday offering

19 20 Community Garden Board Mtg. 1pm

31

7

13

14

WDG 4pm 5:30pm

WDG 4pm 5:30pm

25

26

Bridge 12:30pm 4:30pm

WDG 4pm 5:30pm

Fri

Sat

1

2

8

9

NO Bridge

10 11 Human LGBTQA faith Trafficking support group Awareness 11am - noon Bridge 12:30pm 4:30pm

24

Thu

WDG 4pm 5:30pm

Bridge 12:30pm 4:30pm

February ►

15

Bridge 12:30pm 4:30pm 21

22

16 Mtn. Music Makers rehearsal

23

NO Bridge

27

28

29

NO Bridge

Notes: Chancel and Bell Choirs are on break, this month.

Note change in time for Women’s Devotional Group

30

United Methodist Church of Estes Park 1509 Fish Hatchery Road Estes Park, CO 80517 (970) 586-4153