United Methodist Church of Estes Park 1509 Fish Hatchery Road (970) 586-4153
www.estesparkumc.org
Vol. 34 No. 3
March 2015
Sunday Morning Schedule 9:30 am Early Bird Coffee 9:45 am Worship (Children’s Sunday School) 10:45 am Fellowship Time in Anderson Hall Church Office Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 9am – 3:30pm
Pastor’s Musings Recently, in a small group conversation, the question was asked, “Are we/am I willing to be disturbed.” The question was from Margaret Wheatley’s book, Turning to One Another; Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future.i Wheatley maintains that we have lost the art of simple conversations that seek to understand other points of view and that in order to restore hope to the future in an ever expanding, changing global world, we need to be willing to have our own ideas, beliefs , perspectives, challenged. We need simply to listen to one another in open and honest ways with curiosity, admitting that none of us alone have all the answers. We’ve been conditioned to listen to another’s point of view while forming an argument in our heads about where we differ and how we can best let the other know the error of their thinking. We don’t want to take the time to sit and listen, much less learn from others. We most often choose to stay in our own “silo” of understanding the world in which we live. It’s much easier and more comfortable that way. Wheatley writes: It is very difficult to give up our certainties – our positions, our beliefs, our explanations. These help define us; they lie at the heart of our personal identity. Yet I believe we will succeed in changing this world only if we can think and work together in new ways. Curiosity is what we need. We don’t have to let go of what we believe, but we do need to be curious about what someone else believes. We do need to acknowledge that their way of interpreting the world might be essential to our survival.ii As we move through the season of Lent, think of the ways that Jesus challenged the established thinking of his time – for that matter, how he has continued to challenge the status quo throughout the generations of humankind. Consider how deeply Jesus listened to people in many differing situations. Even Jesus changed his mind after listening to the woman who pleaded for him to heal her daughter. (Matthew 15:21-28) We are always undergoing changes. That’s what keeps us going in both simple and complex ways. Our world is growing ever more global and perplexing. And, God is still working with us, within us, and among us. We only need to pay attention, listen to one another, and be willing to be disturbed. For it is in working together, wrestling with the questions, learning from one another that we will move toward a future with hope and greater possibilities for the fullness of what God’s kingdom on earth is to be. May you be willing to be “disturbed” as Spirit moves within you this holy season.
Pastor Donna 1
Margaret J. Wheatley. Turning to One Another; Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future. BerrettKoehler Publishers, Inc. 2002. p. 34. 1 Ibid, p. 35
Does God care if you give up chocolate? February 17th, 2015
By Mark Lockard
If you’re like me, you’re running into the familiar wall of thinking about what Lent means and how to properly approach the season. Even in some Christian circles, Lent gets a bad rap. It’s a time associated with giving up candy or coffee or any number of everyday indulgences, habits, or vices. Nobody likes to give up things they enjoy. We’re all creatures of habit, and because Lent is seen as the time to deny ourselves of those habits to focus on God, Lent gets an unfortunate reputation. But is Lent really about not eating candy for a few weeks? Does cutting out coffee help you win at Lent? Is that what God is calling us to do? Maybe. A big problem with Lent is that people get hung up on the symbol of the religious action instead of connecting more with the season itself. All people get hung up in that way at different times, though. It’s just something we have to take extra care to notice and correct. Really, that’s a huge piece of Lent: noticing and adjusting. Giving up something isn’t all about the thing itself. If you give up chocolate for Lent and then you have a piece of chocolate, you don’t "lose the game." Instead, you look at why you desire what you desire, why you think about what you think about and how you go about living your life in light of that. The gesture of self-denial is a spiritual practice. We give something up in order to see something else more clearly. That’s why we undertake any religious behavior. The spiritual practice is a path leading us to see more of God and to open ourselves up in honesty and humility. Think of it like cleaning out your garage: only when you clear it out can you see the space for what it is. We’re emptying ourselves before God to be more than we could be with all the clutter. The ironic truth is, Lent can provide a remarkable sense of wholeness in the emptying out. The Lenten season offers us an opportunity to become more in tune with the Divine because we’re actually thinking less about ourselves. That’s the turn from Shrove to Ash, from Tuesday to Wednesday. It’s not about giving up a thing you like; it’s about seeing that there’s really nothing but God's being in the first place. And in the long days of Lent, until we are filled with the light of Easter news, we are reminded of the totality of God. God is all, empty and full simultaneously. That’s the paradox of the cross that we’re called to dwell on for the next forty days. So does God care if you give up chocolate for Lent? Only if it helps you remember that the chocolate never mattered to begin with.
Welcome to Denise Stookesberry It is with great joy that we announce the addition of Denise Stookesberry as our Music Coordinator and Choir Director. Denise has been a choral director for over 30 years, in both school and church positions. She is a professional singer and voice instructor, an accomplished accompanist and has experience in directing both small, volunteer choirs and large auditioned choirs in addition to other music ensembles. Denise and her husband Dave will be relocating from St. Louis to Glen Haven where they have maintained a home seasonally for the past 10 years. ALL singers please mark your calendars and encourage all you know who may wish to join us in fellowship and song, that our first rehearsal will be Thursday, March 19th as we begin our musical journey together with Denise. Our first service will be Palm Sunday. We are truly blessed to have found such a talented and experienced director to lead us musically, spiritually and in caring fellowship.
From SPPRC: Church Administrative Assistant Position Kathy Levine has informed the Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee that she plans to step down from the day-to-day duties of the Administrative Assistant position, primarily in order to have more and longer blocks of time for family, travel and other retirement activities. Thus, the SPPRC is seeking applicants for this part-time (currently 18 hours/week) position. We are very appreciative of the excellent job Kathy is doing, and we want our new pastor to have an administrative assistant who is well equipped to help him or her have a efficient and strong start as our pastor. The planned starting date is April 20th. For the first several weeks, the new Administrative Assistant will work with Kathy in a period of training and transition. Although Kathy has given the SPPRC some information on individuals who are or might be interested in this position, the SPPRC invites anyone who would consider being an applicant to contact either the church office or a member of the SPPRC before March 15.
Cookie Sale postponed due to weather! Girl Scout Cookies will be sold after church on March 1st and 15th! There are two new cookies for people with dietary restrictions – a Vegan Thin Mint and a certified Glutenfree Toffee-Tastic! Sales benefit local Troop # - Lucy Scott.
2015 Dates to Remember Administrative Council: meets quarterly from 11:15am-1:00pm on the following dates, after worship, with a potluck brunch and the meeting: May 17 August 16 November 15 (Approx. date to coincide with All-Church Conference) The Administrative Council is open to all who want to know what is going on in the ministry of the church. Discussion includes financial updates as well as reports from Staff, Pastor Parish; Trustees; and proposals for ministry. This is your opportunity to hear what’s happening and express your celebrations and/or concerns in the community of faith. Rocky Mountain Annual Conference is at the YMCA of the Rockies June 11-14, 2015. This is an opportunity to observe the worship and workings of the larger faith community of our conference which includes lay and clergy from over 250 churches and ministries throughout Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Pastor Donna’s last Sunday in the pulpit will be June 21, 2015. +++++++++++++++++++++ During the winter months, Communion will be served so as to minimize the risk of contagion. There will be regular and gluten-free Communion wafers available, along with the use of the small individual cups. You will not need to dip the wafer in the small cup. Please bear with us during this flu/cold season! On Tuesday, March 3rd ONLY: The Lenten Study Group will meet at the table in the back of the Sanctuary, so as not to conflict with the large PEO meeting in Anderson Hall. New Book Study The Women's Devotional Group will begin a new book study, starting March 10th. The book selection will be "The Hundred-Foot Journey" by Richard Morais. It is a story about a boy raised in Mumbai, experiencing the strong influence of his grandmother's kitchen and family's restaurant. He finds his life full of eccentric characters, vivid settings, and delicious meals. The book follows his humble beginnings to the exciting culinary world. The group meets most Tuesdays (weather permitting) at the Good Samaritan Village, 1901 Ptarmigan Trail, at 6:30 PM. Call Connie Dedon (586-4078).
We need more items and especially photographs for the 2014 Historical scrapbook. If you have some to contribute we would really appreciate them. You may put them in the mail box marked Historical in Anderson Hall. Thank you. Dorothy Scott and Jane Wilson A four-week Bridge Class will be taught in Anderson Hall by John Krueger - Tuesday nights, 6:30pm to 9pm, during the month of March. Please call 577-0657 for more information. BIG THANKS to folks at UMC of Estes Park for the generous gifts of $482 for the Special Offering Feb 15 for the UM Global AIDS Fund! Your caring gifts will give medications to mothers in India, Kenya and Liberia to prevent transmitting HIV/AIDS to their babies!! GIVE all year round by making your check to UMCEP - in the memo write UMGAF or mark your cash the same way! Just Save One!! UMGAF Task Force www.umglobalaidsfund.com Thanks for making hearts for the Hearts of Hope Tree, too!! Thanks to Tom Owens for coming from Denver in the snow to share his work with us. (To learn more about Tom's Rwanda Project send your email to: towens@iliff.edu --
Help Crossroads Ministry Fight Hunger Participate in the Feinstein 1 Million Dollar Giveaway The more donations Crossroads collects in March and April of 2015, the more Feinstein money will be allocated to our organization! For the eighteenth straight year, Alan Feinstein, one of the country’s leading philanthropists, has issued a challenge to all agencies dealing with homelessness and hunger – he is giving away $1 million to anti-hunger agencies across the country. Any donations sent to Crossroads Ministry in March and April qualifies our organization for additional funding from this challenge. The more donations we collect, the more Feinstein money we will receive! If you have any questions about the Feinstein challenge or Crossroads in general, please call our office at 577-0610. Mailing address: Crossroads Ministry, P.O. Box 3616, Estes Park, Co 80517.
One Great Hour of Sharing on 3/15 For more than 50 years, United Methodist congregations have been taking part in a special One Great Hour of Sharing offering, laying the foundation for UMCOR’s ministry of relief and hope. Donations UMCOR receives through this offering, along with other undesignated gifts made throughout the year, cover our costs of doing business. Gifts like yours make it possible for UMCOR to use 100% of all other contributions on the projects our donors specify, instead of on administrative or fundraising costs. UMCOR does not receive United Methodist World Service or apportionment funds, so without your offerings, UMCOR would not exist. Because we keep operating costs under 10% of our total budget, undesignated gifts may actually exceed UMCOR’s administrative needs. When that happens, your support is channeled to under-funded programs, where they’re most needed. They also may be used to allow UMCOR to respond to disasters immediately after an event and before funds can be raised. Because of your donation today, we're ready to respond in times of crisis. ************************************************** Current Volunteer Projects to help Flood Survivors The below projects are for skilled and non-skilled volunteers. They can be done individually or by a small group. Most projects require a one or two day time commitment. Anyone with a desire to help and a little time to donate can help these flood survivors complete their recovery process. Thank you. Fort Collins area: Need painters. We have an elderly gentleman with health issues who needs assistance in painting his new apartment. This flood survivor just moved into his new permanent housing after eighteen months of being displaced. His new home needs some paint to freshen it up. Two or three volunteers could get this done in a day, maybe two. We have all the supplies you need. Greeley area: We have an elderly lady who has finally gotten the repairs done on her home. The flood came in through the crawl space and caused damage to the flooring, insulation and lower part of the walls. This homeowner would like some help cleaning out and wiping down the upper cabinets in herkitchen. She has health issues and is not able to
get up and down the step ladder to get items down from the upper cabinets. She is a tidy housekeeper and having this spring cleaning done would help her feel the flood has finally been washed away from her home. This project would take two or three volunteers a day to complete. Longmont area: A client is in need of some volunteer help. She has some small jobs such as debris and trash clean up around the yard at her trailer. She is pretty creative and wanting to do some gardening and make her yard nicer. She would just like some help with clean up, so she can begin. Longmont area: Elderly clients lost their mobile home in Lyons and purchased another 1970’s mobile home in Longmont. They have a 16x40 piece of yard that needs rototilling, top soil and seed or sod. North Boulder area: A widow living on social security and her adult daughter live at this residence. The daughter lived in the basement that was flooded and is in the process of being repaired. The woman taught acting classes in a studio behind her house that was also flooded. The studio will be getting new carpet in it. Before it is ready to get flooring there are many belongings that need to be moved into a POD. After all the stuff is out the studio needs painting. There is wainscoting that needs to be painted and trim that needs to be pained and then replaced. Volunteers can assist with all or part of these projects. Sometime in March need 2 to 4 people to repair or replace interior doors in Milliken area. If anyone knows anything about hot tubs there is a lady that has one that was damaged in the flood that she used for medical reasons, and would like to get it repaired. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE CALL DEB CAMPBELL 303 5327563 February Worship Attendance 1 – 62
22 – 47 (snow storm)
8 - 69 15 - 75
Mark your calendars! Game Night Schedule at Kay and Lynn Myer’s: March 22nd April 26th All gatherings begin at 5pm. Beverages will be provided. Please bring a dish to share with the group.
We are sorry to report that Randy and Becky Davis will be leaving Estes Park on April 30th. They are moving down to Greeley to be full-time grandparents! Randy will be jobhunting in Greeley. Becky will continue her real estate practice in Estes Park, through the end of this year. We wish them many blessings in their new lives and hope that they will come back up to visit us, once in a while!
Prayer Concerns Prayers of Celebration: Heather McCreary’s blood clot is gone! (Patterson) Prayers of Hope & Healing: Nikki Gertz; Marilyn Saunder’s brother, Dick Baker; Kathie Dougherty; Daughter, Brenda (Wilson); Step-daughter, Susan O’Neil (Mendoza); Son, Ryan Groene; Bob Pallissard; Brother-in-law, John Scott (Elgin); Heather McCreary (Patterson); Eric Blackhurst (Miller, Levine); David Glismann (Stone); Warren Mays (Bell); Dean Burton (Strandberg); Father, Don Vetter; Rev. Kent Keller; Wayne Kruckenberg (Vetter); Shelley Chew; Charlaine Fear (Bell); Frank Gunter’s grand-daughter, Jennifer; Donna Treadway’s sister, Bettye Gilstrap; Karen Blinn; Mark Hall and his mother-in-law, Vineta Brown(Dill); Beverly Nicholas (Bell); Sister, Virginia Flusser (L. Strandberg); Ed Becker; Marlene & Larry Willey; Dan Wilkinson (Strandberg); Sandi Rosenthal; Eric Miller (S. Newendorp); Great-granddaughter, Kayla Steward, and her family; Elaine Evans (Strandberg); Daughter-inlaw’s father, husband, Britt, and brother, Doak and his wife, Lydia (D’Ann); Mother, Jody Kennedy (Lee Criswell). Special Concerns: Son’s mission trip to SE Asia (Seaver); For the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the Harmony Foundation, their families and friends; Prayers for Loss: The family and friends of Sharod Tuell (Patterson). PEAKS SUBDISTRICT SPRING CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST NEAR AND FAR: A PARTNERSHIP MARCH 14, 2015 9:00-3:00 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 533 GRANT AVE, LOVELAND, CO Registration starts at 9:00. The day will include:
Guest speaker Dr. Song, Anesthesiologist - How he brings Christianity and healing to China
Quiet Disciple awards and District business meeting Lunch Choice of 2 afternoon workshops
Registration cost $15.00 For more details go to http://peaksplainsneco.weebly.com/peaks-sub-district1.html Cassy Chamberlin, Administrative Assistant Metropolitan, Peaks & NECO Districts, RMCUMC 6110 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303-325-7047; 303-733-1730 Fax: Find us online: www.rmcumc.org United Methodist Women will meet on Wednesday, March 18th at 1pm in Anderson Hall. The program is entitled, “Acting for Racial Justice” and will be led by Polly Ingold. Hostess is Mary Seaver. Our Vision The United Methodist Church’s Charter for Racial Justice says that “racism is a rejection of the teachings of Jesus Christ” and that “all women and men are made in God’s image and all persons are equally valuable in God’s sight.” “The United Methodist Church is nothing less than an inclusive church in an inclusive society. Therefore, the UMC calls upon all its people to perform those faithful deeds of love and justice in both church and community that will bring this aim into reality” (Resolution 3371, “A Charter for Racial Justice Policies in an Interdependent Global Community,” The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2012). What United Methodist Women Members Can Do Use these resources available from United Methodist Women Mission Resources: • United Methodist Women Racial Justice Time Line (booklet) • Voices of Native American Women (booklet) • Voices of Haitian Women (booklet) • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (2012 Reading Program selection) • Tools for Leaders: Resources for Racial Justice Manual (manual) www.umwmissionresources.org/pdfs/racialjustice2012.pdf Get involved in your conference United Methodist Women Racial Justice Charter Committee. Contact your conference president for more information. Organize a spiritual growth retreat or other conference event on current racial justice concerns. Get involved in the work of United Methodist Women partner organizations working on racial justice:
• Black Alliance for Just Immigration (blackalliance.org) is an education and advocacy group of African Americans and black immigrants from Africa, Latin American and the Caribbean. • Justice for Our Neighbors (njfon.org), represents the response of the United Methodist Church to the needs of immigrants seeking to reunify their families, secure immigration status, and enjoy the right to work. JFON provides free, professional legal services to immigrants in monthly clinics. • National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (www.nnirr.org) works to defend and expand the rights of all immigrants and refugees, regardless of immigration status. • Sentencing Project (www.sentencingproject.org) works for a fair and effective criminal justice system by promoting reforms in sentencing law and practice and alternatives to incarceration. Quotes from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2012 copyright © 2012 by Reminder from Katharine Lockwood: Please help us fill the empty dates!
GREETERS MARCH Head Greeter: 1 – Bill and Gerry Martindale 8 – Walt and Nancy Kaesler 15 – Karen and Larry Blinn 22 – 29 – (Palm Sunday) APRIL 5 – (Easter Sunday) 12 – 19 – 26 – MAY 3– 10 – 17 – 24 – 31 –
USHERS MARCH Head Usher: Linda Strandberg 1 – Wayne Hoelscher and Babs Mock 8 – Larry and Karen Blinn 15 – Sid, Lois and Lucy Scott 22 – Mary Lou O’Neil and Connie Dedon 29 – (Palm Sunday) Dewain and Katharine Lockwood APRIL 5 – (Easter Sunday) 12 – 19 – 26 –
MAY 3– 10 – 17 – 24 – 31 –
March Birthdays 1 - Wayne Hoelscher, Jack Tucker 6 - Walt Kaesler 8 - Cliff Abel 10 - Suzanne Miller 12 – Peggy Beck 15 - Cheryl Davis 23 - Gale Pallissard, Elizabeth Willis 28 - Randy Davis, Rich Savage 31 - Larry Blinn, Becky Middleton
Are we missing your birthday on the list? Please call or email the office, and let us know!
~ March 2015 ~
February
Sun 1
Mon 2
Tue 3 9am – Noon PEO mtg
9:45am Communion
11am – 1pm 12:30pm – 4:30 Lenten Study pm Bridge Club upstairs 5:30pm Bell rehearsal 8 Daylight Savings Time Begins 9:45am Worship
9
6:30pm - 9pm Bridge Class
April ►
Wed
Thu
4 Pastor off-site 5 Pastor offsite 7am Sacred Space@Old Church Shops
6:30pm WDG
4pm Leadership team mtg
10
11
11am – 1pm 7am Sacred Lenten Study Space@Old 12:30pm – 4:30 1pm Community Church Shops pm Bridge Club Grdn mtg 4pm Leadership 5:30pm Bell Mtg rehearsal 6:30pm - 9pm
Fri
Sat
6 Pastor off-
7 Pastor
site
off-site
12:30pm – 4:30 pm Bridge Club
12
13
14
12:30pm – 4:30 pm Bridge Club
Bridge Class 6:30pm WDG
15
16
17
18 7am Sacred Space@Old Church Shops 1pm United Methodist Women
19
24 Pastor off-site 25 11am – 1pm 7am Sacred Lenten Study Space@Old 12:30pm – 4:30 6:30pm - 9pm Church Shops
26
9:45 Worship 11am – Special Offering 1pm One Great Hour of 12:30pm – 4:30 Lenten Study Sharing pm Bridge Club 6:30pm - 9pm for UMCOR Bridge Class 5:30pm Bell 6:30pm WDG rehearsal
22
23 Pastor off-
9:45 Worship
site
29 Palm Sunday 9:45 Worship
pm Bridge Club
Bridge Class
5:30pm Bell rehearsal
6:30pm WDG
30
31
21
12:30pm – 7:30pm 4:30 pm Chancel Choir Bridge Club rehearsal
27
28
12:30pm – 7:30pm 4:30 pm Chancel Choir Bridge Club rehearsal
Notes:
11am – 1pm Lenten Study 12:30pm – 4:30 6:30pm - 9pm pm Bridge Club Bridge Class 5:30pm Bell rehearsal
i
20
6:30pm WDG
Margaret J. Wheatley. Turning to One Another; Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future. BerrettKoehler Publishers, Inc. 2002. p. 34. ii Ibid, p. 35