May 2016 - Wesley United Methodist Church
Transcription
May 2016 - Wesley United Methodist Church
Volume 8, Issue 4 ~ May 2016 Sunday, May 1 ~ 9:15 a.m. Special Sunday School Program: Not Worth Saving Ann Joyner has written a book, Not Worth Saving; How a Severely Handicapped Boy Transformed Lives, and she will join the Wesley Church family during the Sunday School hour to discuss her experiences as the mother of a child with disabilities. Her words will echo what we at Wesley Church have been living out in our Starlight Ministry for over thirty years — each person is a child of God. Please plan to attend. Sunday, May 1 ~ 3 p.m. Celebration of the Ministry of Tom Salsgiver Wesley United Methodist Church, 130 West Third Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1709 God has graced the clergy and laity of the Lewisburg District for the last eight years with the leadership of Tom Salsgiver. On Sunday, May 1, all are invited to be part of a service of thanksgiving for Tom’s ministry among us. A mass choir comprised of clergy and laity from the district will offer one of Tom’s favorite anthems, and Mr. Dan Stokes, a renowned musician and clinician will be at the organ. It will be a meaningful and inspirational time of worship in celebration of Tom’s ministry as the Lewisburg Area District Superintendent. Don’t miss it! Sunday, May 8 ~ 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Mother’s Day The second Sunday in May is when mothers everywhere are given special recognition for the part they play in our lives. Worship at Wesley Church on this day will honor all mothers in our lives. Sunday, May 15 ~ 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Pentecost Sunday, Confirmands, & New Members On Pentecost Sunday, five young persons will be confirmed as full members of Wesley Church during the 10:30 a.m. worship service. Each of the following five has put forth much effort into his or her responsibilities — including serving twice in some capacity of the worship service (liturgist and/or sound tech): Arrick Beagle, Makiah Brewer, Evan Long, Zach Thrush, and Kirsten Zanoline. Please join Wesley Church in congratulating this year’s confirmands. In addition to the Confirmation Class, eleven adults will also become official members of Wesley Church. Each has been attending worship on a regular basis and each has attended new member orientation. Please warmly greet and welcome the following new members: Jeanne and Paul Bejger, Diane and Jonathan Else, Kathleen Else, Dennis Frolich, Nichol and Kent Reinford, John Shoop, and Ellen and Mark Wojtowicz. Sunday, May 22 ~ 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Youth Sunday On Sunday, May 22, the Wesley congregation will be blessed by the annual worship service presented by the youth of the church. These young persons have many talents to share and bring and uplifting joy to Youth Sunday. You won’t want to miss this special worship experience. In This Issue Of Wesley Tidings . . . Sundays in May . . . . . . . . . . page 1 From Pastor Gary’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 2 & 3 Church Camp, Scholarships, and Graduate Sunday . . . . . . . . . .page 4 Intergenerational Ministry . . page 5 Christian Education News . . .page 6 Come, Hang Out at VBS. . . . page 7 Meet The Teachers, Moving Up, and Nursery Opportunity . . . page 8 G.L.O.W. Youth Events . . . . page 9 120 Years of the Wesley Church Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 10 Keeping Up With The Wesley LAMs & Young Choirs . . . page 11 Making A Difference At Wesley Church: Stop Hunger Now Thank You Letter Carriers Food Drive Campbell Label Reminder ARC Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12 Red Cross Blood Drive . . . .page 13 May Friendship Breakfast, Tea Party, and UMW Meeting. . page 13 A Kansas Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pages 14 & 15 Thank You Thoughts and Giant & Weis Gift Cards . . . . . . . . . .page 15 Wesley Facts . . . . . . pages 16 & 17 From Pastor Gary’s Desk By Gary D. Weaver, Pastor Dear Friends of Wesley Church: During the month of May, the global United Methodist Church gathers. Every four years, the United Methodist Church’s top legislative body meets — this year, May 10 20, the General Conference of the church will meet at the Oregon Convention Center, the largest convention center in the Pacific Northwest. General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. I ask that you pray for this body of individuals as they gather, work and worship. As is often the case, it will be a defining gathering of United Methodists. Several major issues face delegates to the 2016 General Conference. As they prayerfully consider the global impact of United Methodism, many topics of conversation and debate will arise. Among the many issues of conversation will be: Restructuring the General Church. Delegates will consider a number of proposals to restructure the ministries of the general church. General Agencies of the Church. The General Board of Global Ministries is developing legislation to establish a new unit on global health for the mission agency. The strategy for a new international program, tentatively called “Abundant Health: Our Promise to Children,” would take into account intersections with the other denominational areas of focus, including ministry with the poor, developing principled Christian leaders, and creating new and renewed congregations. Central Conferences and Jurisdictions. Delegates also will consider proposals from the North Texas and Central Texas conferences for a U.S. central conference. The Northeastern Jurisdiction is proposing organizing the church into four continent wide “connections” for Africa, Asia, Europe and North America as part of its wide-ranging “Global Connection Plan.” Church Bulletin Board . . . . page 18 Bishops. The Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders has Staff at Wesley Church . . . .page 19 approved a petition calling for limited tenure for bishops and changing the relationships of retired bishops from the Council of Bishops to an annual conference. Knoebel’s Church Picnic . . page 19 The Wesley Church Mission & Purpose Statements . . . . . . .page 20 Worship/Office Times . . . . page 20 Ordained/Licensed Ministry. The 2013-16 Ministry Study Commission, formed by the 2012 General Conference, is proposing significant changes in the ordination process for elders and deacons and standards that are more rigorous for local pastors. The Maypole Custom . . . . . page 20 New Hymnal. Discipleship Ministries is proposing a new hymnal Inserts: May Calendar VBS Registration Form Secret Pal Reveal that would use digital technology to provide music and worship resources, customizable to meet the needs of different faith communities. Revised Social Principles. At the request of the General Wesley Tidings, page 2 From Pastor Gary’s Desk, continued Conference and the Connectional Table, the General Board of Church and Society is continuing to develop revised Social Principles for a worldwide church. Human Sexuality. Numerous annual conferences and other groups are petitioning General Conference on the denomination’s stance and statements on sexuality. Many propose either removing or adding less-restrictive language to the Social Principles. Abortion. Several petitions ask The United Methodist Church to withdraw from membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Disabilities. Several petitions address the needs and equitable treatment of persons with disabilities. Sustainable and Responsible Investments. A number of petitions address issues of investment strategies. Racism/Xenophobia. The General Commission on Religion and Race is submitting numerous proposals on use of diverse languages in the United States, ethnic ministry plans, ongoing acts of repentance for racism and responsibilities for eradication of racism at all levels of the church. Immigration. The General Board of Church and Society is seeking to amend and readopt “Welcoming the Migrant to the United States” and to continue the work of the United Methodist Task Force on Immigration. Economics and Finance. The General Board of Church and Society has submitted two pieces of legislation dealing with justice in the world of economics: “A Call for Just Tax Structures” and “A Call for Faithful Lending Practices.” The latter decries predatory lending practices that affect the poor. Budgeting for the Global Church. Of every dollar given in the offering, approximately: 85 cents stays in the local church to pay salaries and provide a building for worship, hymnals, heat and air conditioning, vacation Bible school resources and more. 7 cents goes to district, annual and jurisdictional conferences to provide camps and retreats, continuing education for laity and pastors, confirmation rallies, new-church starts and more. 6 cents goes to “designated giving” such as The Advance, World Service Special Gifts, church wide special Sundays and other causes. 2 cents goes to the general church. That is where, together, we help build new churches, prepare clergy and lay leaders, provide continuing education for pastors, send students to college and seminary, pay missionary salaries, expand Bible studies, serve with other faith traditions through interdenominational and ecumenical work, ensure financial oversight and accountability of church funds, engage in diverse life-changing ministries and more. The General Commission on Finance and Administration and the Connectional Table are proposing a budget of $611.4 million to support apportioned general funds for 2017-20. As your pastor, and a believer in the larger United Methodist Church, I call on your prayers, because all the above, and so much more, happens within a ten day period. For discernment, grace, holy conferencing, and global Christian unity we pray. Be Blessed, Did you know . . . United Methodist bishops attend the (UM) General Conference but cannot vote. Different bishops serve as presiding officers during the conference. Other bishops cannot speak unless permission is specifically granted by the delegates. Wesley Tidings, page 3 Campers and Students, Take Note Hurry, Register For Camp It’s not too late to register for summer church camp, but hurry! “Power Up Living In The Spirit” is the theme for 2016, and many cool experiences await the campers. Information and registration forms are available at www.susumcamps.org. For those with questions or those needing assistance, additional materials are available in the Christian education office. Once again, Wesley Church is happy to offer scholarship assistance to children and youth from its church family. Applications for assistance to cover one third of the camp fees are available in the Christian ed office (located in the education wing) or in the camping display in the Third Street narthex. Please complete these before May 22, 2016, so there is no delay in your payment. Wesley Scholarships Applications for the Wesley United Methodist Church Scholarship Program are now available in the church office. This scholarship is largely made possible by gifts from Mrs. Grace Keller, Mrs. Alice Magee, and Dr. C. Stuart Edwards — along with some more recent contributors. The Wesley Scholarship is provided to assist students in defraying the cost of post-secondary education. To be eligible, persons must be active members of Wesley and enrolled in an accredited college, university, or vocational/technical school. The deadline to apply for this year’s Wesley Scholarship is May 31, so students should allow enough time to request the required letters of recommendation for the scholarship packet. Absolutely no applications will be accepted after this time. Persons interested in obtaining a scholarship application should stop at the church office. Wesley Church is proud of all its 2016 graduates and can’t wait to recognize each one at church on Sunday, May 29. During the 10:30 a.m. worship service on that day, graduates of high school, college, or any other institutions of higher education will be recognized for their achievement. So that no one is missed, graduates are asked to supply the church office with the information regarding this milestone in their lives. The information you provide will be included with the Graduate Recognition edition of the Sunday worship folder on May 29 and will be published in the next issue of Wesley Tidings. To help the church office receive the proper statistics, graduates are asked to provide the information required by completing this form and placing it in the Sunday offering plate or by mailing it or bringing it to the church office. Thanks for helping to make this a meaningful celebration for all Wesley graduates. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Graduate’s Full Name . . . . . . . and . . . . . . . Graduating School Parents of Graduate: ___________________________________________________________________________ College Degree (if applicable): __________________________________________________________________ Future Plans (further education [school and major area of study] or employment): __________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Wesley Tidings, page 4 Intergenerational Ministry Opportunities By Kelly Kocher-Ross, Coordinator of Intergenerational Ministries Secret Pals Wesley Church currently has a great secret pals program and would love to see it continue. There is an opening for a Secret Pals coordinator(s) for 2016 - 2017. If you have a heart for students and LAMS needing encouragement throughout the year, and a gift for administration and creativity, you are wanted — and many will be blessed. For additional information, please contact me or call the church office. Save the date — June 5, 2016 Secret Pal Reveal will take place on Sunday, June 5, following the 10:30 worship service. Enjoy a light lunch and fellowship as secret pals from this past year are revealed. See the insert, and return your R.S.V.P. by May 27. 50/39 Memorize 50 verses in 39 weeks . . . multiple leaders needed. Find out how you can be a leader and a participant of a small group of two - twelve people. Did we mention a contest? We kick off on September 4 and celebrate and compete in groups and individuals on June 4, 2017. That’s right! We will work toward the first ever “Scripture Memory Bowl.” Brackets and fantasy football will pale in comparison. We are inviting other groups from surrounding churches. Come to the informational meeting May 15 at 12 noon, and enjoy a light lunch. Questions can be directed to Bob Hewlett and/or to me, Kelly Kocher-Ross. Ignite Sunday Group Looking for a Sunday group to grow in fellowship and understanding of God’s word? Join the Ignite Sunday group. The young adult class meets Sundays 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. in the basement level, room 2B. The leader, Alex Brooks, is guiding a study on “Who and Why Jesus”. Introduction Card Contest Calling all artists! May 1 - 15 your drawings on the 3 ½” x 2” business card will be collected. Entries will be displayed on May 22, and members and friends of Wesley will vote on their favorite. These cards will be used in the late summer and fall. More details will unfold in the upcoming months. Contact me for more information. Contact the Intergenerational Ministries office for information regarding: Secret Pals, the Secret Pal Reveal, and/or the introduction card contest. Ignite or 50/39 Contact the Intergenerational Ministries office about these or other areas of interest to you. Call Kelly Kocher-Ross, coordinator of intergenerational ministries at the church office at 570.784.1407, or E-mail [email protected]. Wesley Tidings, page 5 Look What’s Happening! By Beth Mauk, Director of Christian Education Exciting News From The Christian Education Department FLAT Jesus Is Coming Soon! As a child growing up, many of you may have participated in the Flat Stanley project. All of the Wesley children will have an opportunity to do a similar experiment with a cardstock copy of Jesus. In late May, each child will be given a flat Jesus to color and personalize. He may be taken on a family vacation, or He may just journey around town with the child and photographed at all of the places they visit together. (Jesus is always with us). Photographs can then be E-mailed to me ([email protected]), and a video presentation will be made to show in the fall. Additionally, Jesus may be left behind on our travels as a reminder that Jesus is alive in our hearts, and we hope that He lives in the heart of any person that finds Him. Hopefully the person who finds a flat Jesus would respond to us and let us know that they love Jesus too via Wesley’s Facebook page or in a personal letter to the church. Names should not be placed on Jesus anywhere to protect our children, but each Jesus will be numbered for identification purposes. It will be fun to see where Jesus travels. Praying In Color Challenge Accepted Four of our children embraced the Lenten prayer challenge this year. Congratulations to Ever Reinford, Alarik Reinford, Willa Mae Paul, and Ellilah Paul who prayed each day throughout Lent and colored as they prayed. We are so proud of them. We are NUTS about KIDS in the Christian Education Department but not all of our kids can have nuts! Several of our children (and we bet adults, too) have allergies to nuts. Because we, at Wesley Church, don’t ever want to have a medical emergency, we are requesting that all food donations be nut free. To help keep our kids (and others) safe, please check the ingredients of all donations you might provide — breakfast bars, cereals, cookies, etc. Most of the children carry epi pens, and Wesley is blessed to have church members with medical training should a need arise. Contact the Christian education department for information regarding: Flat Jesus and/or any other Sunday School opportunities for children and youth. “Cave Quest: Following Jesus, The Light of the World” Vacation Bible School Contact the Christian ed office about these or other areas of interest to you. Call Beth Mauk, director of Christian education at the church office at 570.784.1407, or E-mail [email protected]. Wesley Tidings, page 6 Summer is quickly approaching, so you will want to register your children to “hang out” for a week at Wesley Church’s “Cave Quest” Vacation Bible School. Cave Quest will be held this year from Sunday, June 26 through Thursday, June 30, 2016. Registration forms are now available — and one is included with this newsletter. Additional forms will be included with the Sunday worship folders and at various locations throughout the church. In addition, registration can also be completed online at https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/wesleybloom. All children from toddler age to Grade 6 are invited to be part of “Cave Quest.” Volunteers are still needed to staff Bible School in all areas. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to interact with the children and watch them as they are surrounded by God’s Word and experience the love He has for all of us. Please contact me, Beth Mauk, if you are interested in this wonderful mission opportunity. You’ll be glad that you did. If you love to decorate, Julie Millard and her team would welcome your help with the VBS preparations. Julie’s ideas are once again fantastic, and the church is so blessed to have her leadership in this area. We have a great big beautiful church to transform into fun caves, so decorating will start on June 19 and continue throughout the week in order to have everything is ready on June 26. Volunteers will also be needed to tear down decorations after the last day of Bible School. Please contact Julie (570.387.6760), or let me know if you are interested. Volunteer to help with “Cave Quest” Vacation Bible School. Contact Beth Mauk, director of Christian education, at 570.784.1407 or E-mail [email protected]. Last Chance to Pre-order the VBS Cave Quest Music CD Because the VBS songs are lively and spirited — and fun for young and old alike — many families enjoy having a copy of the music their children learn at Bible School. For this reason, so that families can have them in advance, copies of the Sing and Play Rock Music CD will be ordered on May 6, 2016. If you would like to have a copy, they can be purchased for $6.99 each (checks should be made payable to Wesley United Methodist Church). Please complete this form if you are interested, and drop it off at the church office or see Beth Mauk in her office in the education wing. Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________ Telephone: ___________________________________ Number of CDs: ________________ Total amount due: ________________ Wesley Tidings, page 7 Meet The Teachers Wesley Church continues to be blessed by individuals who are dedicated to serving the children of the congregation in the Sunday School classroom and, thus, teachers of these young persons are featured as part of the Christian education news within these pages. This month’s featured Sunday School teachers are Tana Cooper and Steve Bercher, from Grades 3 - 5. Steve has grown up in Wesley Church, and he continues to attend each week with his parents Jane and Brian and girlfriend, Olivia Fry. In his spare time, Steve enjoys watching and playing all types of sports in addition to exercising. Steve can also be found in his place of employment at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Selinsgrove, PA. Tana Cooper grew up in Danville. She graduated from Bloomsburg State College with a degree in elementary education and Marywood College for library certification. Tana grew up attending the Methodist Church and joined the church when she was 13. However, she did not come to a true understanding of the Gospel until she was 23 when, through discussions with a kind and caring neighbor, that she came to accept Christ as savior. Tana has worked with students in Sunday School at Jerseytown UMC and now at Wesley and feels it is a privilege and true joy to study and discuss spiritual truth with our students. Tana says, “I take it very seriously because they are the future of our church!” Tana, and husband, Dave, have three grown sons and seven grandchildren. “Moving Up” Sunday Scheduled for May 29 Wesley Church wants to celebrate each milestone in the life of its children and plans are now underway for a “Moving Up Sunday” to be held on May 29, 2016. If your child is changing grades for the next school year, he/she may also transition to a new Sunday School class. If this is the case, you will be notified prior to the date so your child is in church to be recognized for this accomplishment. A Great Mission Opportunity For Everyone Working in the church nursery is fun! It’s also satisfying to know that you have fulfilled an important mission of Wesley Church and helped show God’s love. There is nothing like a big hug on a Sunday morning from a sweet child. If you are interested in this quick, easy, and fulfilling mission project, please contact one of the church’s nursery coordinators, Melanie Hosler (570.356.2651) or Glenda Kowalski (570.784.1161). If everyone in our church volunteers, each person only needs to serve one time. How cool would that be? A very special thank you to everyone who has served this year. All of you are appreciated. Did you know . . . Brent Salsgiver is the dean for Camp Ignite? It’s for Grades 7 - 12 and takes place Sunday, July 31 - Friday, August 5. Those who take part will go back to their roots this week. Campers will set aside social pressures, discover that the past does not define us, and they will focus on the God who made us and the Savior who loves us. Campers are gathering at Wesley Forest to ignite a fire in their lives for Jesus, for community, for friendship. Throw in all the awesome summer fun that always happens at camp, and it will be an unforgettable experience. Interested youth should go to www.susumcamps.org to sign up or for additional details. Wesley Tidings, page 8 By Janet and John Bodenman G.L.O.W. Co-Leaders The month of May will bring a flurry of extra special activities for G.L.O.W. There’s a meeting for those are part of this year’s mission team to Hurricane, West Virginia; there’s a reception for the Confirmands; Youth Sunday, and to top it off, there’s the annual scavenger hunt that takes place all around town — plus, there’s a lot more. Youth, check out the highlights below and plan to be part of all of the May events. Remember: G.L.O.W. activities are open to all youth in Grades 6 - 12 — and, don’t forget to bring a friend. Sunday, May 1 ~ 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. ~ in the church social room 2016 Hurricane, West Virginia, Mission Team Meeting Mission team members: this is a mandatory meeting. Lunch will be provided. Sunday, May 1 ~ 6:30 - 8 p.m. ~ in the sanctuary Worship Your God Calling all youth and confirmands . . . Sunday, May 8, Mother’s Day No G.L.O.W. ~ Pamper your mother! Pentecost Sunday, May 15 ~ 8 - 10:30 a.m. ~ Coffee Café Between the morning worship services, G.L.O.W. will fete the Confirmation Class members with a reception. G.L.O.W. — Wear red for this special day. Sunday, May 15 ~ 6:30 - 8 p.m., in the sanctuary G.L.O.W. Practice for Youth Sunday Youth in the skit and in the flash mob should plan to attend. Sunday, May 22 ~ 7:30 - 11:30 a.m., Wesley sanctuary Youth Sunday G.L.O.W. Youth will lead the morning worship services and will enjoy a meal together between services. Sunday, May 22 ~ 6:30 - 8 p.m., all around town Third Annual Scavenger Hunt This year’s scavenger hunt will be even harder. Game on! Bring your phone or camera. Prizes will be awarded. Make your own sundaes tonight, too. No G.L.O.W. meeting on the evening of May 29 Honor those who have given their lives for your freedom. Wesley Tidings, page 9 120 Years of the Wesley United Methodist Church Building By Robert Dunkelberger, Wesley Church Historian The church corner stone located at the base of the bell tower on the northeast corner of the building While the 8 and 9 are still there, over time the 1 and 6 have been lost from the 1896 date. The former church building that was built along Murray Avenue and dedicated in 1857. This photograph was taken just a few months before it was torn down. This is the first in an occasional series documenting 120 years since the construction of our beautiful church building. This article concerns the laying of the corner stone of the new Methodist Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg on May 3, 1896. Plans for a new building for a growing congregation had begun in earnest the preceding year, with the ground breaking ceremony held on October 26. Work then started on the foundation as the basement was dug out, although the contract for the building itself wasn’t awarded until December 19. Since part of the site for the new structure was occupied by the 1857 building, located at the rear of the lot along Murray Avenue, it had to be torn down. Work on this project began with the steeple on March 18, 1896. May 3 was a nice spring day, and at 3:30 that afternoon an estimated 2,000 people gathered at the corner of Market and West Third Streets. They were standing on dirty and dusty roads which, as was the case with all streets in Bloomsburg at that time, had yet to be paved. The ceremony was led by the church’s pastor, Benjamin C. Conner, and in a demonstration of religious solidarity, all the other Protestant pastors of the town were present, with the exception of one who was delayed getting to the ceremony. They took turns with prayers, scripture readings, and addresses. The church choir led the large crowd in the singing of two hymns from the section of the 1878 Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church on the erection of churches. The first was #859, Laying the Foundation, with the beginning line of “O Lord of hosts, Wesley Tidings, page 10 whose glory fills,” and the second #861, God’s Guardian Presence, began with “This stone to thee in faith we lay.” A number of those present had been at the 1857 dedication of the old building, and a few even remembered the erection of the first church, a frame structure, twenty years before that. The corner stone, taken from the quarry of C.E. Yorks, featured in raised lettering “First M.E. Church, Bloomsburg, 1896.” A copper box was put in the stone, in which were placed a Bible, church hymnal, book of discipline, conference minutes, and the history of Methodism in Bloomsburg; copies of Methodist and local newspapers; the names of individuals involved with the church and building project; a photograph of the old church and one of the temporary tabernacle being used for services; and a catalog and newspaper from the Bloomsburg State Normal School. While these were all copies of published or printed material, two unique handwritten items were also included: the original class book of the congregation from 1832 and the subscription book for the first church from December 17, 1836. The ceremony concluded with the doxology being sung and benediction given by The Reverend H. Johnson of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African-American church in Bloomsburg, which opened in 1870 and for many years was located on West First Street. As a fitting conclusion, the Bloomsburg Daily newspaper ended its coverage of the ceremony with the following: “The day was all that could be desired, the air pleasant, the sun occasionally breaking through the clouds and sparkling on the fresh green foliage; even the little feathered songsters seemed to chirp from their perches in the tops the praises of their creator. It was certainly a memorial day for Methodism in Bloomsburg and will be looked back to with pleasure in coming years by many who witnessed the ceremonies.” Keeping Up With The Wesley LAMs & Young Choirs By Cynthia Willis, LAMs Visitation Coordinator and Director of Young Choirs The LAMs Ministry announces the LAM of the Month for May Marian Huffnagle In years past, Marian served as Wesley’s kitchen coordinator. She now lives in Philadelphia to be near her daughters. Thank you, Marian! Holy Communion at Geisinger-Bloom Health Care Worship at Brookdale Assisted Living Center Residents and Visitors Welcome! All Welcome! Thursday, May 19, 2016 Sunday, May 22, 2016 2:30 p.m. 2 p.m. Worship leaders are: Sandy Cooper, Joe Darlington, and Kathy Finnerty. Worship leaders will be Rod Erwine and Ben Willis. In celebration of Pentecost Sunday, the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be available the week of May 15. Children’s Choirs . . . The Young People’s Choirs will sing during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 15. The song will be entitled “Questions.” On Sunday, May 22, the Young People’s Choir will join the Sanctuary Choir to sing “He is Mine.” The presentation will include hand drums played by members of Wesley during the singing of this Swahili song from Kenya. Choir Camp Coming This Summer Set your calendars for July 18 - 21 from 10 - 11 a.m. Choir Camp, this year, will include making guitars. Everyone, ages 5 - 10, is welcome. Choir Camp takes place in Wesley’s gymnasium. Those who attend have fun singing silly songs together. For additional information, call the church office at 570.784.1407. Wesley Tidings, page 11 A Stop Hunger Now Thank You Making A Difference At Wesley Church The Silent Auction benefiting the Stop Hunger Now event was a great success. The Wesley Church family donated wonderful personal items, and the merchants in Bloomsburg and Danville were very generous in providing some terrific contributions. Thank you for the sixty item donations and the gracious bidding. The Evangelism Team wishes to thank you also for supporting the hoagie sales which benefited the Stop Hunger Now event. Labels for Education Reminder For the past forty-two years, Campbell has offered Labels for Education which has contributed more than $110 million in school supplies to tens of thousands of schools across the U.S. Last year saw participation in Labels for Education decline considerably. Thus, the company sadly made the very difficult decision to wind down the program. The program will, however, continue as is through August of this year (2016). Until then, there will be no change to the bonus offer calendar or the participating products. Please note: if you have labels to contribute to the Labels for Education program, please be sure to deposit them in the collection container located in the Market Street vestibule or the corresponding drawer in the Donation Station — or drop them off at the church office — August 1, 2016 is the absolute last day that labels will be accepted. Wesley’s label coordinator, Mollie Harris reports that Box Tops for Education will also no longer be collected. Thank you for your support of Labels for Education over the years. The Animal Resource Center is in dire need of Bleach and Friskies Cat Food. Please bring any donations to the second floor office at the end of the hallway under the rose window. Thank you on behalf of the animals who can not speak for themselves. Wesley Tidings, page 12 May Friendship Breakfast, May 6 Church Women United will sponsor the annual May Friendship Breakfast on Friday, May 6, at 9:30 a.m., at The First English Baptist Church (700 Millville Road, Bloomsburg). The topic for this year’s gathering is: “Finding Grace at the Table.” A continental breakfast will be provided. There is a one dollar contribution for each guest, and a May friendship offering will be taken. Please plan to attend, and invite a friend to join you. American Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by Wesley UMW Tea Party Whether you are a mom or daughter or both, Willa Mae Paul invites you to put on your prettiest outfit and attend a Mother and Daughter Tea on Saturday, May 7. It will take place from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in the Coffee Café. Willa Mae asks you to bring canned goods for The Bloomsburg Food Cupboard to “help feed others as we are fed.” If you would like to attend, please R.S.V.P. to the church office (570.784.1407). Help others, and enjoy a time of fellowship and fun. Wednesday June 29, 2016 1 - 6 p.m. in the Wesley gym Did you know that . . . every two seconds someone in the U. S. needs blood? one donation can help save or sustain up to three lives? UMW May General Meeting Thursday, May 12, at 12 noon The May general meeting of the Wesley United Methodist Women will be an informal time starting with a bagged lunch and social time that will be followed by business, devotion, and the special program, “Getting Ahead” presented by Judy Ryan. “Getting Ahead” is an outreach sponsored by AGAPE for building resources for a better life. Please prayerfully consider giving blood during the Wesley blood drive on June 29. It’s not too early to make an appointment to give — and there’s a good chance you will be able to schedule a time that is best for you. For additional facts and information — or to schedule your appointment, go to Redcrossblood.org or 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767). Wesley Tidings, page 13 A Kansas Experience By Eileen Thomas, Administrative Assistant Your Wesley Church administrative assistant once again had the distinct pleasure of attending the annual conference of PAUMCS (Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries) — this time around the location was Wichita, Kansas. The weather was mostly sunny and mild with those Kansas winds kicking up every now and then. Those who attended did not lack for an uplifting experience, and it proved to be that from beginning to end. The PAUMCS gals were thrilled that Moses Kumar, general secretary and treasurer at GCFA (General Council on Finance and Administration) greeted us to open the conference. His remarks were followed by an invigorating message by Reverend Dr. Nanette Roberts who led the opening worship service. This service included Holy Communion and the offering of our gifts to Ember Hope, a nonprofit faith-based agency committed to developing innovative programs that inspire change in at-risk youth and families. Of course, one of the main attractions of this conference was the presence of Adam Hamilton along with his administrative assistant, Sue Thompson. As you might guess, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the combined presentation they offered as our first workshop of the conference. Both were down to earth and shared a like work ethic. A few years ago, Sue wrote a book entitled, The Ministry of Administrative Assistants and, of course, I purchased a copy. That evening, we all hopped on buses that took us to First United Methodist Church in Wichita where we joined members of the congregation for Adam’s presentation on his book Making Sense of the Bible. Afterwards, there was an opportunity to purchase some of Adam’s books and, you guessed it, I bought a couple more including his latest, Half Truths. Not only did I buy the books, but Adam was present to meet and greet us — which he did very cordially — and he signed all of the books all of us purchased. What an impressive gentleman. Our next workshop presenter was Bishop Scott Jones who provided us with a closer look at The United Methodist Church. Bishop Jones is the resident bishop of the Great Plains Area of The United Methodist Church. He shared insights about what some of The United Methodist characteristics are — missional, sacramental, Wesley Tidings, page 14 connectional, transformational, diverse, and evangelical. He also discussed some aspects of the upcoming General Conference of which Pastor Gary spoke in his column this month. The third workshop of the Wichita conference was given by Reverend Dee Williamston. Reverend Williamston currently serves as the Salina District Superintendent in the Great Plains Conference. She is a story teller who encouraged us to “open our mouths and tell our story.” She shared several stories during her presentation, but the most moving was that of Sojourner Truth who was born into slavery and who later became an abolitionist, women’s right’s activist, and preacher. Our closing worship was led by Reverend Kent Rogers, the pastor of First United Methodist Church which we visited for the Adam Hamilton talk earlier. Reverend Rogers was an in-your-face kind of a pastor whose topic for the closing worship service focused on being Christlike. In the midst of all this, we had a couple of great devotion leaders — Reverend Rick Just , senior pastor at Asbury UMC in Witchita got us off to a rousing start on Friday — and Reverend Dr. Linda Louderback, Wichita West District Superintendent, who provided an inspirational start to the final day of the conference. We were also treated to an outing to the Prairie Rose Opera House where we enjoyed lunch, a show, a horse drawn wagon ride, and a chance to visit a cowboy museum. The food was good and the entertainment was — well, it was entertaining. On the final day of the conference, some of us took part in a mission project for Ember Hope. We assembled backpacks for children of various ages and made cards to go with them. The gifts that we brought with us to the conference were some of the items included with the backpacks. I once again roomed with my buddy, Elizabeth, from Ohio, and we had a great time catching up with one another. Elizabeth had flown in earlier in the week and had rented a car. During some free time, we went in search of, and found, the Nifty Nut House. There we found just about every kind of nut, candy, dried fruit, and popcorn that you could think of — and we both came home with quite a bit of each. Later, our friend, Brenda, joined us for a trip to the Kansas Sampler where each of us bought a few Kansas souvenirs to bring home with us. A Kansas Experience continued And, no PAUMCS conference would be complete without a gathering of those in the Advance Certification Class of which I was a part. There were five of us in attendance at this conference, and we chatted for quite some time on Friday evening after the PAUMCS business meeting. It is always wonderful to see those with whom we have become so close since our classes back in 2003. The theme throughout this conference was “The Wizard of Oz,” and the Great Plains secretaries were generous in providing favors at all of our meals — all of them based on some item or aspect of this classic film — all of them so nice. As always, this trip wouldn’t be possible without the support of my church family — especially Pastor Gary and the Staff Parish Relations Committee. Special thanks to them and to my co-workers who helped see that my work was able to be accomplished prior to my departure. Thank You Thoughts Dear Friends at Wesley: Thank you for the many kind expressions of concern, comfort, and support during my recent hospitalization and recovery. Your prayers have sustained both Rod and I during difficult moments. “God is our refuge and strength.” Psalm 46: 1 God bless all of you. Faithfully, JoAnne Erwine Dear Wesley Friends: Blessed are those who share their spirit, kindness, caring prayers, visits, and cards since I had open heart surgery. God bless, Bob Beyers and Norma Giant Food Stores & Weis Markets Gift Cards Please remember that you can still purchase Cash for Causes gift cards for Giant Food Stores and Weis Markets that will help G.L.O.W. earn cash for this year’s mission trip to Hurricane, West Viriginia. Everyone buys groceries, and you can help this fundraiser. Gift cards are available every Sunday morning, in the Coffee Café. Cards are available in amounts of $25, $50, or $100 — and you get dollar for dollar what you spend. Here is an example of what the youth will earn: $500 of gift cards = $25. The profit for the youth is 5%. This is an easy way to support the youth. The cards can be purchased with cash or checks. Checks should be made to Wesley United Methodist Church and in the memo line write – Cash for Causes. Cash for Causes will be an ongoing fundraiser so you can purchase cards on Sunday mornings or E-mail or call Sue ([email protected] or 570.387.0402 or 570.594.1914) to let her answer questions or get gift cards to you. What is a home? A world of strife shut out — a world of love shut in. The only spot on earth where faults and failings of fallen humanity are hidden under the mantle of charity. The father’s kingdom, the children’s paradise, the mother’s world. Where you are treated the best and grumble the most. ~ Anonymous Wesley Tidings, page 15 May Greeters/Ushers/8 a.m. LAMs May Birthdays May 1 ~ Bonnie Fiedler and Diane Van Horn May 8, Mother’s Day ~ Becky Kovach and daughter, Audrey Kovach Pentecost Sunday, May 15 ~ Malinda and Burt Price and Linda Boyer May 22 ~ Youth Sunday Mary 29 ~ Maxine and Terry Werkheiser Gloria Parker ~ May 5 Bloomsburg Health Care Center 211 East First Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Wesley Facts and Figures . . . And other things! May Ushers/10:30 a.m. Nancy Coy ~ Donna Flick ~ George Flick Ronald Sheatler ~ Wanda Sheatler Robert Snyder ~ Pat Weir ~ Patty Welliver The May greeter list for 10:30 a.m. was not available at the time of publication. May Sound Technicians May 1 ~ Makiah Brewer, 8 a.m.; John Stone, 10:30 a.m. May 8 ~ Cynthia Willis, 8 a.m.; Steve Karaffa, 10:30 a.m. May 15 ~ John Stone, 8 a.m.; Phil Burrell, 10:30 a.m. May 22~ Cynthia Willis, 8 a.m.; Steve Karaffa, 10:30 a.m. May 29~ Makiah Brewer, 8 a.m.; Phil Burrell, 10:30 a.m. May Projectionists Entire month at 8 a.m. ~ Tanner Kocher and Doug/Audrey Kovach, 8 a.m. May 1, 15, and 29 ~ Wesley Powell, 10:30 a.m. May 8 ~ Elizabeth Staley, 10:30 a.m. May 22 ~ Josh Flook, 10:30 a.m. May Altar Guild Madelyn Miller Mary Ann Schalles Thoughts from Mothers Polly Stark ~ May 12 The Highlands, 2000 Cambridge Avenue, Apt. 286 Wyomissing, PA 19610 Dawn Zeisloft ~ May 13 29 Perry Avenue Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Zella Mae Meade ~ May 25 Grandview Nursing Home 49 Woodbine Lane Danville, PA 17821 Elaine Carpitella ~ May 29 304 Country Lane E Orangeville, PA 17859 Priscilla Search ~ May 31 78 Old Reading Road Catawissa, PA 17820 May Acolytes May 1: Hanna Everhart, 8 a.m. Maggie Hosler, 10:30 a.m. May 8: Abby Burrell, 8 a.m. Elizabeth Bodenman, 10:30 a.m. May 15: Spencer Ross, 8 a.m. Jenna McCreary, 10:30 a.m. May 22: Hanna Everhart, 8 a.m. Evan Long, 10:30 a.m. May 29: Audrey Kovach, 8 a.m. Kirsten Zanoline, 10:30 a.m. When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~ Sophia Loren The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children. ~ Jessica Lange Wesley Tidings, page 16 May Nursery Volunteers May Liturgists May 1: Marg Laytar, 8 a.m.; Arrick Beagle, 10:30 a.m. May 1: Eileen Thomas ~ Combined, 8 a.m. Melanie Hosler Elizabeth Bodenman ~ Infant, 10:30 a.m. Beverly Wintersteen Sierra Karaffa ~ Toddler/Pre-School, 10:30 a.m. May 8: pooe Becky Kovach ~ Combined, 8 a.m. Cassie Jones Elizabeth Staley ~ Infant, 10:30 a.m. Susan Hill Wesley Powell ~ Toddler/Pre-School, 10:30 a.m. May 15: Jennifer Anderson ~ Combined, 8 a.m. TBA ~ Infant, 10:30 a.m. Kathy Heddens John Bodenman ~ Toddler/Pre-School, 10:30 a.m. May 22: Missy Everhart ~ Combined, 8 a.m. TBA ~ Infant, 10:30 a.m. Glenda Kowalski Adria Unger ~ Toddler/Pre-School, 10:30 a.m. May 8, Mother’s Day: Allison Burrell, 8 a.m.; Zach Thrush, 10:30 a.m. May 15, Pentecost/Confirmation: Confirmation Class Members at both 8 a.m and 10:30 a.m. May 22, Youth Sunday: Youth will lead the worship service and will serve as the liturgists at both services. May 29, Graduate Sunday: Cynthia Willis, 8 a.m. Elizabeth Bodenman (2016 High School Graduate), 10:30 a.m. May Children’s Chat Leaders May 8: William Bodenman and Keith Nissen May 22: Olivia Fry and Steve Bercher Please note . . . The next issue of Wesley Tidings will be a combined June/July publication. The deadline to submit information for this issue is Friday, May 13. Please keep this in mind when submitting articles for the June/July Tidings. Sunday Worship Folder Deadline The deadline to submit information to be included in the Sunday worship folder is noon on the Tuesday prior to the corresponding Sunday. Please be prompt. May 29: TBA ~ Combined, 8 a.m. Melanie Hosler Maggie Hosler ~ Infant, 10:30 a.m. Elaine Spicher Lauren Spicher ~ Toddler/Pre-School, 10:30 a.m. Wesley Tidings, page 17 You may not always end up where you thought you were going, but you will always end up where you’re meant to be. Feasting & Fellowship Members of the Wesley Church family dine out together on the third Sunday of the month, and you are invited, too. The next “Feasting and Fellowship” dining event will take place on Sunday, May 15, at May’s Drive-In Restaurant west of Bloomsburg on Route 11. Beginning May 1, you may sign up for this month’s Feasting & Fellowship by using the mission bulletin board in the hallway, and you may sign up just prior to the start of 10:30 worship on May 15. As worship begins, May’s will be called to give them a heads-up on how many will be coming. Please plan to dine out on Sunday, May 15, and watch for details about the June Feasting & Fellowship location. Wesley Tidings, page 18 Pastor: Reverend Dr. Gary D. Weaver [email protected] Minister of Music: Patricia W. Gensemer [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Eileen D. Thomas [email protected] Director of Christian Education: The Staff at Wesley Church Beth Mauk [email protected] LAMs Visitation and Director of Young People’s Choir: Cynthia Willis [email protected] Director of Intergenerational Ministries: Kelly Kocher-Ross [email protected] Financial Secretary: Cindy Williams [email protected] Technology Coordinator: Wade Joline [email protected] Choir Accompanist: Mondo Bowman [email protected] Custodian: William Laudermilch [email protected] Kitchen Coordinator: Louise Grove [email protected] Wedding Hostess: Donna Gillaspy [email protected] To make a reservation, please contact Allison and Phil Burrell (387.1122 or [email protected]) — or use this form to sign-up. Completed forms may be placed in the Sunday offering plate. Name: __________________________________________ Number of people attending: _______________________ Number of adult Bargain Night tickets needed: ________ Number of child (under 48”) Bargain Night tickets needed: _________ Wesley Tidings, page 19 Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania ~ wesleybloom.org The Mission of Wesley Church is to: KNOW Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. GROW in faith through worship, prayer, and study. GO . . . in service to Christ and His world. The Purpose of Wesley Church is to create disciples who serve Jesus Christ. Sunday Worship at Wesley 8 a.m. ~ Early Worship and 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship and Praise Celebration 9:15 a.m. ~ Sunday School ~ Classes for all ages. Nurseries available during worship and Sunday School times. The Wesley Church Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 12 noon and 1 - 5 p.m. Telephone: 570.784.1407 . . . . . . Fax: 570.784.7937 The Custom of the Maypole In honor of the month of May, you will find all the colors of the maypole, and more, throughout this issue of Wesley Tidings. May God grant you a colorful month of blessings. The Maypole is a tall, garland-festooned pole. Maypole dancing is a form of folk dance from Germany, England, and Sweden. There are two forms of Maypole dancing — the most popular consists of dancers that perform circle dances around the pole. In the second, dancers move in a circle, each holding a colored ribbon attached to a much smaller pole. As they move around the pole, the dancers intertwine their ribbons either in a web around the pole or to plait it to the pole, itself. To unravel the ribbons, the dancers retrace their steps. Historians believe the first maypole dance originated as part of Germanic pagan fertility rituals. Originally, the dancers danced around a living tree. While dancers usually perform this dance in the spring on May 1 or May Day, those in Sweden perform it during their midsummer celebrations. The second kind of maypole dance, with origins in the 18th Century, began as a traditional or artistic dance popular in Italy and France. Eventually, traveling dancing troupes performed it in London theaters, thus bringing this traditional dance to larger audiences. An English teacher training school adopted the maypole dance and soon it had spread across most of central and southern England. The dance became part of the repertoire of physical education for girls and remained popular in elementary schools in both England and the United States well into the 1950s. May 2016 “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you . . .” Mark 5: 19 NRSV Sunday Monday 1 8:00 Worship 9:15 Sunday School 9:15 Ignite 9:15 “Not Worth Saving” 10:30 Worship 3:00 Salsgiver Farewell 5:45 G.L.O.W. 7:00 Starlight 2 1:00 Wesley Quilters 5:30 Joyful Ringers MOTHER’S DAY 8 8:00 Worship 9:15 Sunday School 9:15 Ignite 10:30 Worship 7:00 Starlight PENTECOST 15 CONFIRMATION & HOLY COMMUNION 8:00 Worship 9:15 Sunday School 9:15 Ignite 10:30 Worship 11:30 Feast & Fellowship 12:00 50/39 Info 6:30 G.L.O.W. 7:00 Starlight YOUTH SUNDAY 22 8:00 Worship 9:15 Sunday School 9:15 Ignite 10:30 Worship 2:00 Brookdale Worship 6:30 G.L.O.W. 7:00 Starlight GRADUATE 29 RECOGNITION 8:00 Worship 9:15 Sunday School 9:15 Ignite 10:30 Worship Tuesday Wednesday 3 7:00 Church Council 9 1:00 Wesley Quilters 11:00 Wesley Staff 11:00 Women’s Circle 6:30 Disciple I 1:00 Wesley Quilters 6:30 Bells In Bloom 7:00 Board of Trustees 17 7:00 Cancer Support 7:00 Men of Wesley 23 11:00 Crusaders at Muffin Man 1:00 Wesley Quilters 6:30 Bells In Bloom 7:00 Finance/Stewardship 11 11:00 Wesley Staff 11:00 Women’s Circle 6:30 Disciple I 7:00 Staff Parish Relations Committee 30 303300 11:00 UMW Team 9:30 May Friendship Breakfast 7 10:00 Mother/ Daughter Tea 10:30 Friendship Meal Sponsored by Bloomsburg Southern Baptist Church 13 Deadline to submit information for the June/July issue of Wesley Tidings. 19 26 14 10:30 Friendship Meal Sponsored by Shiloh Bible Church Letter Carriers’ Food Drive 20 2:30 Holy Communion at Bloom Health Care Center 7:00 Sanctuary Choir 25 24 6 12 12:00 UMW General Mtg. 5:00 Young People’s Choir 7:00 Sanctuary Choir 18 Saturday 5 12:00 National Day of Prayer 5:00 Young People’s Choir 7:00 Sanctuary Choir 11:00 Wesley Staff 11:00 Women’s Circle 6:30 Disciple I 1:00 Prayer Shawl Ministry Friday 4 10 16 Thursday 21 10:30 Friendship Meal First English Baptist Church 27 11:00 Wesley Staff 11:00 Women’s Circle 6:30 Disciple I 28 10:30 Friendship Meal 31 Items in red = noteworthy events Items in blue = events located outside the church