September 2015 - Perry Memorial United Methodist Church

The
Perry Peeper
September 2015
Glory Sightings
Sometimes, as a congregation, we have that “deer in the headlights look” when it
comes time in Sunday Worship for H.O.P.E. Encounters and Glory Sightings. “Just
who have I shared Christ with this past week?” and “Where have I actually seen
God’s presence?” are questions we wrestle with. Is God only in those “lights flashing”, “knocked off your horse”, Apostle Paul-style “Damascus Road Experiences”?
“Where is God?” we wonder. OK, enough already!
In This Issue
Perry Packers
pg. 2
Good Sam Update
pg. 2
Day of Hope Update
pg. 2
Fun Pics
pg. 3
What are “Glory Sightings”? Glory Sightings can be as bodacious as a spectacular
sunrise or as subtle as the breaths we draw. Allow me to offer an example. One recent morning, I noticed that the sun had just begun to peek through the Norway
spruce trees behind the parsonage. Another great day I reckoned. As I walked from
the kitchen with a cup of hot tea, I noticed the sunlight falling on a white plastic bag
laying on the dining room table. Then I remembered: that’s those Communion linens, towels, and tablecloth (our very own Paula Whalley sewed the tablecloth) that
Lynn brought from home. They needed attention!
UMW report
pg. 4
Birthday/Anniversary
pg. 5
BAF
pg. 5
Perry Pathfinders
pg. 6
Bingo
pg. 6
Mission Donation
pg. 7
New Bible Study
pg. 8
So, I plugged in the old Shark iron, added some water for steam, and began to iron
and fold the linens and tablecloth. After about the second linen, I began to notice
how the ever strengthening sunlight was adding a brilliance to the plain white
cloths. I also noticed how soft and pliable the linens have become. The repeated
washings not only have removed the bread crumbs and juice stains from the many
Eucharist Celebrations those linens have attended, but also added a worn and wonderful character to the cloths. Each stroke of the iron smoothed more wrinkles from
the cloths. Soon I had a stack of eight no-wrinkle, brilliantly white, and neatly folded
old “friends” ready for the next Celebration of what Father Wesley termed, “a Primary Means of Grace”. The cloths were prepared for the next Holy Communion and
I had had a Glory Sighting.
Cantata Preview
pg. 8
From the Heart
pg. 8
Calendar
pg. 9
Aubree and Holly Meadows
...Continued on page 2
24
Focus Verse
and you said, “Look, the Lord our God has shown us his
glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of
the fire. Today we have seen that God may speak to
someone and the person may still live.
Deuteronomy 5:24 (NRSV)
Continued from page 1...
Did you catch the Glory Sighting? The Spirit moved me to realize that those linens are like our lives as Christians. God’s
love brightens our lives just as the sunlight brightened the “whiteness” of the cloths. Sometimes our lives become
“crumbly” and “stained” but our repeated coming together and celebrating God’s grace through the Eucharist helps to
“wash” out the “crumbs” and remove the “stains” of life. The strokes of the iron smoothed the cloths’ wrinkles just as
our Servanthood “unwrinkles” us and allows us to take on that worn, yet wonderful character of a life conformed to
God’s purposes for the Kingdom. Yep, the mundane, ordinary ironing of washed cloths was my Glory Sighting that day.
THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWS UP FOLKS! God is very much to be found in the ordinary and mundane events of life. Now,
what Glory Sightings have you seen in the ordinary and mundane?
Oh yeah, one other point. Do you know that you can use ordinary, mundane activities that turned into Glory Sightings as
openings for sharing your faith? We call those H.O.P.E. Encounters. Are you watching and listening?
May you allow the Spirit to reveal God’s glory…
Pastor Scott
Serving Community
Perry Packers Update
Good Sam Update
Day of Hope Update
September is here, school has
started and we are excited to
start our ministry again! We have
changed our packing day to
WEDNESDAY’S AT 6:00 PM. Our
first packing will be September
2, 2015. Food items for September are cans of pasta and breakfast items, such as pop tarts,
granola bars, individual cereal
boxes, shelf milk.
The month on August has been an
unusual month for Good Sam. We
helped one family by supplying
food for them to eat. But, this was
not our usual food box. This family
has no power and no means of
cooking hot meals. They do have a
cooler to keep food cold, so we
purchased ice, bread, lunch meat,
milk and other foods that do not
require cooking.
What a glorious day was had by
all who served at this event. As
one servant wrote a few hours
after the event, “I am so tire, but
I feel so good “. What a difference this day made in the lives of
the “Honored Guests”.
Come join us! It doesn’t take
long to pack and we have great
fellowship. As always, thank you,
hearts of Perry.
We also helped one family with
travel expenses in order to receive
the best medical care possible for
their condition.
Amy Crawford
304-228-4381
We are asking for donations to the
Good Sam Fund the next few
weeks for a special need in our
congregation. Please prayerfully
consider a donation.
Mitzi Richmond
2
Beckley’s Day of Hope 2015
Honored Guests:
2599
Health Screenings: 1055
Family Portraits:
400
Haircuts:
116
Shoes:
1218
Hot Meals Served:
3800
Groceries:
4200 bags
Prayed with:
1892
Adults accepting Christ: 30
Kids accepting Christ: 27
I encourage each of you to consider serving in some capacity at
the 2016 Day of Hope.
Perry in Action!
10
Whatever you are capable of doing, do with all your might
Apple Butter
Picnic
3
Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Day of Hope
Perry’s United Methodist Women
The United Methodist Women (UMW) of Perry Memorial is a mission focused organization which provides
opportunities for its members to grow spiritually through service to their church and their community.
There is always an open invitation for all women to join this organization. Meetings are held the 2 nd Thursday
of every month in the fellowship hall.
September is going to be a very busy month for the UMW. On September 12, 2015, Perry will host the Fall
District Meeting. Lunch will be provided at a cost of $8.00 per person and will consist of sandwiches from
Heavenly Ham, salads, desserts, and drinks. Those who are planning to attend must let Vivian know by September 5th.
September 19, 2015 is our Fall Festival and the UMW will be selling those delicious hot dogs along with lots
of homemade cakes, cookies, pies, breads, etc. That mouth watering Easter Eggs will return disguised as an
orange pumpkin and a White Elephant Sale will showcase unique treasures only found at Perry. Anyone
wanting to donate baked goods or items for the White Elephant Sale (only gently used items and no clothing) please see Vivian or another member of UMW.
Finally ladies, does this resemble your closet. If so, now is the time you can
“shop until you drop” from the confines of your own home!! UMW is looking for gently used fall and winter clothing for a rummage sale during our
Shepherd’s Table meal on September 26, 2015. Go through your closets and
donate those items that you feel would benefit the guests we serve at Shepherd’s Table. The only shoes we would like to have are gently used boots.
Please make sure the clothing is clean and neatly folded. This is not our typical rummage sale rather an opportunity for those less fortunate to obtain
clothing to sustain them through the winter months.
Pray for our church and the outreach ministries within the church as we continue to fulfilling God’s mission.
Matthew 25 verses 35--40. “ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave
me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me and I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Jesus replied: “I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
There will be no Ladies
Luncheon in September.
Be watching for upcoming
details on October’s
Luncheon.
Thank you,
Marge Holland
4
and
Larry Ford would like to invite everyone to Beckley
Area Foundation’s
30th Anniversary and 28th
Free Annual Labor Day
Concert
Birthdays
Mary Ellen Crook
Sherry Maynor
David Chaney
Jill Williams
Megan Richmond
Eddie Lester
Nicholas Crawford
Donna Harrington
Chris Crook
Sandra Fraley
Willa May
Rick Dotson
Donna Cantley
Luella Meador
Noah Guffy
Don Crook
Adalynn Williams
Barbara Lee
Gail Walker
09-01
09-03
09-05
09-07
09-12
09-14
09-18
09-18
09-19
09-23
09-24
09-25
09-27
09-27
09-28
09-29
09-29
09-29
09-30
Featuring the Appalachian
Children’s Chorus
Monday, September 7th
7:00p
Woodrow Wilson High
School Auditorium
Anniversaries
Chris & Cyndi Crook
Darlene & David Keesee
Burton & Martha Gunter
09-01
09-04
09-20
Larry said that if you mention his name at the door
you’ll get in free!
5
Perr y
News
Perry Pathfinders
Great news! Our youth voted on a name
for their group and it is — Perry Pathfinders Youth Group. Our Mission—Where the
Path meets Christ!! The youth group will
be moving to Wednesday nights beginning
September 9, 2015. The time will be from
6-8pm and when there is no school or dismiss early due to weather we will not have
youth.
Our fundraising is starting because we
would like to take the youth on an over
night trip next July. We will set up a booth
at the Kid’s Classic in uptown Beckley on
September 12, 2015 from 10a-2p. If you
signed up to provide candy, pop etc.
please have at the church no later than
September 9th. We also need a couple
more “Servants” to help with the booth.
Please let Kim or Deanna know if you are
able to help.
Looking ahead we will also be doing a
fundraiser October 3, 2015 for Shady
Homecoming. We are also asking for Servants on this day.
One more thing we could use for our newly formed group is any unwanted sports
items (like volleyball, soccer ball, golf, badminton rackets, etc.), board games, and
Wii games.
Thanks for all your help with Perry Pathfinders Youth Group!
God Bless,
Kim Cummings & Deanna Hall
Our Youth group, Perry
Pathfinders, went on
their first outing on August 5th. We went to
the Bowling Alley and
had a blast. It was so
great to see them have
fun together. Our group
was so good we can't
wait to have more
outings in the near future. Thank you to the parents for
staying and helping us!! We have an Amazing Youth!!!
Thank you and God Bless
Kim Cummings and Deanna Hall
Few reminders for September:
Starting September 9th Youth will be meeting on
Wednesdays from 6:00p to 8:00p.
No 10:45a Youth Group on Sundays
The Youth will bake cakes and help with Fall Festival on
September 19th.
BINGO
Bingo at the Raleigh Center is once a month, second
Saturday of the month at 2pm. We still could use one
or two servants every month so please set one hour
aside and come help the residents play Bingo. It will be
worth your while in the blessing you will receive helping them try and win.
Items we need for prizes are: men's handkerchiefs,
men's travel size bottles of lotion, body wash, cologne,
toothpaste, women's jewelry, big magnifiers, calendars, socks, and mints. Residents get so much enjoyment out of picking their prize it is like a child opening
a gift.
Thank you for all your help with this ministry and continue praying.
Susan Winston & Deanna Hall
6
In Perry’s last Charge Conference we decided that a representative(s) from Perry would visit two mission sites
in 2015. On July 28, 2015, Joyce Pitsenbarger and Karen Jones set out on their adventure. They visited two
sites that day, delivering needed items at each. Below you will find a copy of a “Thank You” letter we received
from Scott’s Run Settlement House in Pursglove, WV. “Thank you!” Joyce and Karen!
7
New Bible Study
Where is God when tragedy and suffering strike?
When the ground shakes, and a poor nation’s economy is destroyed; when the waters rise, washing away a community’s hopes and dreams; when a child suffers neglect and abuse; when violence tears apart nations; where is
God? If God is all powerful, and if each one of us is a beloved child of God, then how can God allow tragedy and
suffering to infest his creation?
In Why?, best-selling author Adam Hamilton brings fresh insight to the age-old question of how to understand
the will of God. Rejecting simplistic answers and unexamined assumptions, he lays out core ideas for comprehending God’s plan for the world, including:
God will not take away our free will, even when we use it to grieve him.
God will never abandon us, especially in the midst of our suffering.
While God is not the author of suffering, God will bring blessing out of tragedy.
If you have ever asked “Why?” this study is for you. The study will begin on Sunday, September 13th at 4:00p.
Please let Pastor Scott or Mitzi know if you would like to order a study book.
Cantata Preview
From the Heart
We can’t begin to tell
you how much we appreciate the luncheon
you had for us. We love
Perry Memorial and all
the people there. Such a
wonderful, giving church.
With Love,
Harvey & Sue
Pastor Scott & Methodist
Women,
Your prayers and love for
the passing of Felicia will
always be with me.
Church Family, I love you
all.
Yes, I know it is only September, but
Advent Season will be upon us soon.
It is time to begin preparations for the
Christmas Cantata. Everyone is invited
to join us for the Cantata Preview/
Dinner on Monday, September 6th,
4:00p at the home of Joyce and Kelly
Pitsenbarger.
Judy Redden & Family
All are welcome!
May God Bless you all.
Joyce Pitsenbarger
The Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015
Setup will begin on Friday evening and again on Saturday morning.
All help will be greatly appreciated.
Remember to get those crafts, bake sale items and white elephant
items ready.
8
1
5:00p Boy Scout
Meeting
6
10:30a Meet & Greet
7
Labor Day
Church Office
Closed
8
5:00p Boy Scout
Meeting
4:00p Christmas
Cantata Preview
6:45p Cub Scout
Meeting
3
4
5
10
6:00p Fall Festival
Meeting
11
12
Southern District
UMW Fall
Meeting
6:00p Breathe
Women’s Study
6:30p Choir Practice
6:45p Cub Scout
Meeting
Bringing in the Harvest
9:30a Adult Sunday
School
9:45a Elementary Age
Sunday School
2
8:30a Yoga
9
8:30a Yoga
6:00p Youth
Group Meeting
7:00p UMW
2:00p Bingo
6:00p Backpacks
10:45a Worship Serv.
6:30p Choir Practice
4:30p Bible Study
13
15
16
17
5:00p Boy Scout 8:30a Yoga
6:30p Ad Council
Meeting
Meeting
9:45a Elementary Age 6:00p Shepherd’s
6:00p Youth
Sunday School
Table Meeting
6:45p Cub Scout Group Meeting
10:30a Meet & Greet
Meeting
10:45a Worship Serv.
6:30p Choir Prac4:30p Bible Study
tice
9:30a Adult Sunday
School
14
13
21
9:30a Adult Sunday
School
8:30a Yoga
9:45a Elementary Age
Sunday School
6:30p Ruritan
Club Meeting
10:30a Meet & Greet
10:45a Worship Serv.
4:30p Bible Study
13
28
9:30a Adult Sunday
School
8:30a Yoga
9:45a Elementary Age
Sunday School
6:30p SPRC
Meeting
10:30a Meet & Greet
10:45a Worship Serv.
4:30p Bible Study
18
19
8:30a Yoga
22
23
5:00p Boy Scout 8:30a Yoga
Meeting
6:00p Youth
6:45p Cub Scout Group Meeting
Meeting
6:30p Choir Practice
29
30
5:00p Boy Scout 8:30a Yoga
Meeting
6:00p Youth
6:45p Cub Scout Group Meeting
Meeting
6:30p Choir Practice
9
24
25
26
6:00p Shepherd’s 9:00a Lay MobiliTable Setup
zation Event
11a-2p Shepherd’s Table Meal
Serving Community in Christ’s Love
Perry Memorial UMC
PO Box 1264
Shady Spring, WV 25918
Physical Address:
202 Livingston Street
Shady Spring, WV