Grass Valley United Methodist Church - GV

Grass Valley United Methodist Church
Open hearts
Open minds
Open doors
March 1, 2012
Volume 163, Issue 3
Pastor Tana
McDonald
SPIRITUAL DISCOVERY
The Season of Lent
We are headed towards Resurrection, but first we must set aside some time for
death. You can not have resurrection without death. Lent is the time in the Christian
calendar where we face our humanity. We acknowledge that we are not God, but mere
humans. From dust we came and to dust we will return. This is often hard for us because in our culture, the fear of death is so great. People go to great lengths to erase
and hide anything that has to do with it. The great mothers and fathers of the Christian
faith who came before us, recognized that there is something healthy in acknowledging
death, both literally and symbolically. There is something healthy about creating space
to grieve loss, to admit our failings, and to open ourselves to humility. Lent begins on
February 22nd. Here is the Calendar of events:
Walking the Labyrinth as part of
Lent
Labyrinths are re-emerging in many
Christian traditions as meaningful tools in
spiritual growth and formation. There are
many different styles, but the one that we
use here at GVUMC is called the Reims
Labyrinth. This one replicates the original
medieval design built in the French cathedral Notre Dame de Reims, Northeast of Paris.
There is only one path in a labyrinth as opposed to a
maze. Walking a labyrinth is an intentional endeavor where a person opens themselves to the presence of God. Moving one’s
body in faith can support ones desire for spiritual connection. In
effect, you are praying with your whole body!
As part of our community’s participation in the Lenten season this year, we are setting up the Labyrinth on the third floor for
everyone to use. Here are the dates and times:
Tuesday
- 13th
Wednesday14th
5pm-8pm
Open for
WOW!
It will be used
as part of the
worship service.
Thursday –
15th
10am – 2pm
Open for
public use.
10am Class
on Labyrinths – all
are welcome
to attend.
Friday –
16th
Saturday
- 17
9am –
1pm
Open for
public
use.
*If you have a small group, bible study group, or just a group of friends
that would like to schedule a time to use the labyrinth, email Faith
McCloud at [email protected]!
Ecclesial Rhythms; By Faith McCloud
www.tangledlifestudios.com
Lenten Calendar Feb 22-April 8
Saturdays Feb 25-March 31 10-11:30
Chapel, Lenten Study with Rev Tana,
Tribal Church & Sacred Breath:40 Hours of
Centering Prayer
Reims Labyrinth March 13-17 3rd floorjoin Intern Faith McCloud
Special WORSHIP-days noted below
Wednesday March 14—WOW!
Worship on Wed.
1st Floor: 5:00 Pot Luck Chili & Cornbread,
3rd Floor: 5:30 Labyrinth & Prayer Stations
Sunday April 1—
Palm Sunday; Palm Parade
Maundy Thursday April 5 5:00 GVUMC
Pastor Nancy
Good Friday, April 6 noon
Emmanuel Episcopal Ecumenical
Good Friday, April 6 7:00 PM
Peace Lutheran Ecumenical Worship
SPIRITUAL DISCOVERY
Pedaling Pastor
March 2012
Scripture: Mark 8:34-36
Dear Friend in Christ,
The Lenten season is when we embrace
and enter deeply into a time of spiritual practices.
My prayer is that you will be intentional in this season to seek balance with Christ in your living.
This article is the seventh article in a nine
part series on refresher points of United Methodism. This one centers on balanced living by practicing John Wesley’s three General Rules. Do no
harm; do all the good you can and stay in love with
God.
Springtime is the season when softball
teams get started. Softball offers a good illustration of balance.
In pitching a key part of the windup or pitching delivery is the balance point. The balance point
is sometimes referred to as the scarecrow because
that’s what it looks like. To be the best possible
pitcher it is necessary to find the balance point and
then be able to hold it.
If the pitcher falls backward they lose accuracy and velocity and the ball goes too high. Or, if
the pitcher falls forward they again lose accuracy
and velocity and the ball goes to low.
And so it is with our faith lives, staying in
balance is essential. The Lenten season is when
we pay special attention to our faith practices and
disciplines. We stay in balance with Christ through
spiritual disciplines: regular worship, study, service,
giving of our talents and treasures and telling stories of how God is at work in our lives.
Lenten Blessings, Rev Tana
Lector List for Spring, 2012
I will be typing the new lector list for March,
April, and May soon. I need to hear from you as
soon as possible if you would like to lector in these
months. If you are not on the present lector list, but
would like to be, please call me and let me know. If
you are already on the list, but would prefer not to
be in the future, please let me know as soon as
possible. Jackie McGuigan 273-8214.
It has been requested that we try to get more
young people to help with lecturing. We are inviting
any youth who are interested in this ministry to
please volunteer. We are so grateful to all those
who have been involved in this function of the
church. Thank you for your service!
Page 2
Sermon Titles & Scripture
March 2012
Sunday March 4—Communion
8:45 & 10:30
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16;
Romans 4:13-25
Sermon Title: What Would You Grab?
Sunday March 11; 8:45 & 10:30
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17;
John 2:13-22
Sermon Title: Jesus Puts Business Out of Business
Wednesday March 14Worship on Wednesday Room E
5:00 Pot Luck Chili & Cornbread 5:30 Worship
Scripture: Mark 8:34-36
Sermon: Finding the Balance
Sunday March 18; 8:45 & 10:30
Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9;
John 3:14-21
Sermon Title: Stink Bugs & Serpents
Sunday March 25; 8:45 & 1030
Intern Faith McCloud
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10: 17 – 11: 1
Luke 24: 13 – 35
Sermon Title: Walk Softly
Lenten Study
Saturdays 10-11:30 Feb 25-March 31
Location: The Chapel with Rev Tana.
Books: Tribal Church & Sacred Breath: 40 days of
centering prayer. This continues our study on
emerging faith communities and the ways we may
need to stretch our faith to be welcoming.
Conference for Peace & Justice
March 16th & 17th, 2012
Register now for the March 16th and 17th Sabeel
Sacramento Conference titled, “a Time for Justice:
supporting Human Rights in Palestine – Israel. Sabeel is a Jerusalem-based ecumenical Palestinian
Christian organization seeking justice and peace in
the Holy Land through non-violence and education.
The Sacramento conference featuring international, national, and regional presenters will be held
at the First United Methodist Church, 2100 J St,
Sacramento and runs from 11:30am on Friday to
6:30 pm on Saturday. A conference brochure is
available at www.FOSNA.org (click on the Sacramento Conference). For more information: [email protected] or phone 916-451-1512.
SPIRITUAL DISCOVERY
Young Family Ministries Planning Ahead:
March 14th, WOW! Worship on Wednesdays; 5:00 PM ; Chili & Cornbread Pot Luck; 5:30 . 1st floor
GVUMC—Sermon: “Finding the Balance”. Scripture: Mark 8: 34—36. Labyrinth & Prayer stations; 3rd
Floor.
Olivia Alcantara is our youth delegate
to the
California Nevada Annual Conference
June 20-23 2012
Sacramento Convention Center
Contact Pastor Nancy or Rev Tana 272-1946
LOOKING AHEAD
VOLUNTEER IN MISSION
Two teams are forming in our region now.
HAITI March 19—27 2012
Fred Skeen: [email protected]
HOLY LAND Dec 28, 2012—Jan 8, 2013
Rosann Mackey: [email protected]
Weekend of Service : Sacramento area
Sierra Service Project is offering four faith-rich service weekends in
this winter. Like our summer projects, these weekends combine fun
fellowship with youth from other youth groups with a challenging,
hands-on service project and a strong focus on understanding how we
can all live out our faith in the world around us.
Each weekend starts on Friday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon. We will partner with different local organizations to provide
much-needed hands-on service work. Our work projects involve many
of the usual SSP skills: carpentry, floor and wall repairs, and painting.
We will enroll between 25 and 40 volunteers in each session.
Sacramento Location
and 2012 Dates
Oak Park United Methodist Church
3600 Broadway
Sacramento, CA 95817
There are no currently scheduled upcoming dates for
this program. We plan to continue this program during the
fall of 2012. If your group is interested in a particular weekend, call the office to discuss the possibilities at (916)4886441.
The cost for this project is $95 per participant.
Mizpah Circle;
Sibley Hansen Memorial
Scholarship Fund
Mizpah Circle is starting a Memorial Scholarship
Fund in honor of Sibley Hansen. Monies raised will
be given to the youth of our church for the purpose
of helping provide financial help for the opportunities
to attend UMC Summer Camps, District or National
Conferences, work teams, etc. We invite other
UMW circles, the general congregation and community to contribute as they can. Checks can be made
out Mizpah Circle. Please put the memorial fund on
the note line. Mail or hand your donation to Jackie
McGuigan or Marlene Fowler.
(273-8214 / 273-2427). Please help if you can.
Many thanks, Mizpah Circle
PARISH CARE TEAM 2012
The Chair for our Parish Care Team is Susie Ernst
(432-8846). She coordinates and oversees the existing
12 areas of care provided by church members and monitors visitation, connection, and the needs of our congregation. The 12 areas are:
United Methodist Men-home repair;
Eucharistic Ministry; Senior Lunch;
United Methodist Women-care;
Stephen Ministers;
DVDs of Worship Service;
Long term care Worship
Friendly Visitors;
Prayer Quilts;
Prayer Shawls;
Parish Nurse;
Mission at Home
Together we can best assure that the extensive
needs of our congregation are met
Page 3
SPIRITUAL DISCOVERY
I did something brave
last month. You might not
think it such a brave thing,
but for me it was. Or rather,
it still is because it is still out
there. Waiting to be acknowledged, judged, valIntern Faith McCloud,
ued, criticized, read, dishusband Shaun,
carded. What is it you
sons Silas & Micah
ask? It’s a book. An
eBook to be more precise, which is a book that
is downloaded on kindles, computers and
such. Let me back up though.
Several years ago I was part of a
church that allowed a group of us to start an
evening worship service that was very hands
on, laid back and experience oriented. As part
of that group, it was my job to think up, design,
and facilitate contemplative prayer stations for
use in those services. Basically I would create
a space, lay out some tactile stuff as well as
direction for what to do while at the station.
For example, at a table I might set up a bowl of
water with Alka-Seltzer tablets next to the bowl
and some directions that asks you to think of
something that is worrying you. You are invited to take a tablet and drop it in the water,
and as you watch it bubble and dissolve you
imagine God dissolving that worry inside your
heart and mind. If you went to the luncheon in
January on Vital Churches Sunday, you might
have seen a few of these stations set up along
the side of Wesley hall.
Anyway, I have this website called
www.creativeprayer.com where I have written
up instructions on how to set up all the prayer
stations I have created over the years. There
are over 70 on the website right now. But a
few people have asked me over the years to
put all those into a book, with the intention of
selling it. That to me was incomprehensible for
many reasons that I won’t go into here, as
most have to do with fear. But I finally got
brave and I did it. I am an author of sorts now
I guess.
If you go visit the website you will see
most everything that is in the book. On the
website there is also a page where you can
buy the book if you are so inclined (http://
www.creativeprayer.com/ebook/). I will hide
under the bed while you read it. *grin*
Page 4
SPRITUAL DISCOVERY
Page 5
OUTREACH
St. Mark's United Methodist Church is pleased to announce its lineup for
the 2011-2012 Moon Lecture Series
The Bob & Dorrie Moon Lecture Series brings dynamic speakers and liberal Christian authors
to the Sacramento community to speak to important ethical issues of our time. Tickets are on
sale for the remaining lectures. $25 per individual lecture.$15 for students.
Special group rate. No assigned seating. Contact information: St. Mark’s UMC, 2391 St. Mark’s
Way,
Sacramento, CA. (916) 483-7848. Web site: www.stmarksumc.com. There is a map on their
website.
Friday, March 9, 2012, Naomi Tutu
Naomi Tutu is the third child Archbishop Desmond and Nomalizo Leah Tutu. She was born in
South Africa and has also lived in Lesotho, the United Kingdom and the United States.
AFRICA UNIVERSITY’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
The year 2012 marks Africa University's 20th anniversary of creating leaders for all of Africa. It’s a
milestone that transforms an ordinary year into a extraordinary one for all of us. What at first appears
to be ordinary — that Africa University exists and has a story to tell — is, at the same time, truly remarkable. Africa University is a testimony of what God has done through you.
This year affords us an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to fulfill the mission of this great ministry. You have given to the Africa University Fund apportionment and provided
scholarships through your local churches and annual conferences.
Thank you for your steadfast support. It has enabled 4,000 young people to graduate from Africa University. Our graduates are remaining in Africa and making a positive difference. Across Africa, our
graduates are leading, innovating, sowing hope and healing and meeting Africa’s vital needs. Prayers
are being answered and dreams are coming true in ways that impact the lives of millions of people on
the continent.
United Methodists around the world are at the heart of the AU story. Your capital gifts have turned
empty fields and vacant farm buildings into a modern, well-equipped campus. Not only have you given
your gifts, but many of you have given of your talents, presence and witness to make your Africa University a leading university. In true Wesleyan commitment you have guided and sustained the university.
Thanks to you, we have a young institution, celebrating its accomplishments, but looking to the future.
We’re developing vital new training opportunities and moving toward fiscal sustainability. Our role in
providing leaders for other United Methodist initiatives and institutions across Africa is also expanding.
In Africa University, United Methodists have created a cornerstone institution for the development of
church-related higher education in Africa. But the work is by no means finished.
Africa University needs your prayers. We need your continuing support to secure and strengthen this
ministry as it serves God, all the time, everywhere in Africa. The people of Africa thank you for your
vision that began 20 years ago.
Grace and Peace be with you.
Dr. Fanuel Tagwira
Vice Chancellor
Africa University
Page 6
NURTURE
Get in touch
CA-NV Annual Conference
1276 Halyard Drive
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 374-1500
[email protected]
CORNISH CREAM TEA
Save the date!!
On March 10 our United Methodist Women will host a
Cornish Cream Tea in conjunction with the annual St. Piran's Day celebration in Grass Valley. It is sure to be a
fun day in Grass Valley with
Cornish vendors, pasty tossing Olympics and the Cornish
Male Choir performing during the morning.
You can end the day with a delicious cream tea served
in Wesley Hall. Tea sandwiches, scones with clotted
cream and assorted sweets will be served with tea from 2
PM to 4PM. Cost is only $15.00 per person. Money
earned will go to support the mission programs of UMW.
Tickets can be purchased from each UMW circle, in
Wesley Hall on Sunday and at both the Bookseller and
Briar Patch. Plan to come and bring a friend or two.
We look forward to seeing you on the 10th.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO
ENSURE THE CORNISH
CREAM TEA IS A SUCCESS;
Opportunities to volunteer
include -- baking for the tea,
making sandwiches, set up,
serving and clean up. Please
contact Helen Bowden at 2725240 and join our fun group.
St Piran / Cornish flag
Mizpah Circle Invites You to
Visit Antarctica
On Wednesday, March 21st, at
12:45 PM, in Wesley Hall, Tom and
Thelma Stade have consented to present a program regarding their trip to
the Antarctica, via a cruise ship. This
is for our circle and any one else that
would like to view their video and
hear their commentaries.
We will be serving coffee, tea and
cookies to all those present. There is
no cost. Come and enjoy the fellowship.
For more information please call
Jackie McGuigan at 273-8214.
Page 7
NURTURE
ON LOOKING AT THE
METHODIST CROSS AND FLAME
I do not need a pew from which to
pray,
I know that God is present everywhere,
My loving Father hears all I may say
But Jesus promised power as we share
Our praises, needs, concerns, and deep-felt trust.
So prayer together is for me a must.
My Bible is that book that I must read,
Within its pages wisdom waits, concealed,
Until the Holy Spirit grants His light,
When needed guidance is to me revealed.
But we together so much faster grow,
Who meet and share what God would have us
know.
I once had thought to live my life alone,
Heroic me against the hostile foe,
But others face those problems that I find
When we unite we all the stronger grow,
A band of Christian friends becomes a team,
Uniting raindrops merge to swell a stream.
Church going is a habit, I admit,
Some habits may be bad, but some are good,
I know I’m at my best when church I choose,
I like myself when I do what I should,
Remember what you were before Christ came?
We can be better! Choose to fan the flame!
-Earl Leonard Langguth
Many of Rev. Earl's unpublished poems are to be found
on the internet at the following website www.poatree.org
SCRIP ALERT
Our Scrip participation at SPD, Safeway,
Raleys, and SaveMart is providing a steady flow of
revenue for our church. This is a great help to our
budget when you shop at these stores. Call (800)
400– 7878 to update your annual renewal for your
Safeway Script account. See Carolyn Coffey for more
Information or 749-2721 or [email protected]
THANK YOU!! Thank you everyone for remembering me at
Christmas time. I really appreciated the cards and
the poinsettia. I love to have visitors so if you
have some free time please come see me. My
phone number is 272-5072 and my address is 400
Main Street, Grass Valley. I look forward to
Page 8
seeing you. Sincerely, Jean Ferguson
Celebration of Marriage
A Re-commitment Service followed
by a Party!
Join us on April 28th at 2pm to
celebrate your marriage making it this far and
recommitting to the vows you took with your
spouse. It will be a simple recommitment ceremony for any couple who wants to reaffirm their
love and marriage, followed by cupcakes, sparkling cider and shenanigans as we remember
how far you have come and to celebrate that
success!
For the widows and singles, we need you
too! Couples need affirmation and encouragement, and just because you’re in a different
place in your journey does not mean we don’t
want you to celebrate with us.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
On March 1 we continue our monthly meetings with brunch served by Mizpah Circle. The
program will be presented by Faith McCloud,
our intern, who will speak to us about Art in Ministry. I am sure this will prove to be entertaining
and enlightening.
We invite anyone in the church who would
like to join us to come for brunch at 10:30 and
stay for the program at 11:00. While this is a
United Methodist Women meeting we invite
anyone who would like to attend to please join
us. The men of the church are welcome also.
On February 2 Grass Valley United Methodist
Women had their second meeting of the
year. Isabella Thoburn Circle was our
hosts. Dale Boothby, our resident computer guru, lived up to expectations concerning
our program. He made Power Point seem a lot
easier than I have always thought it was. Thank
you Dale for a super program.
THANK YOU!!
Due to the generosity of our Congregation at
Christmas Time, poinsettias were delivered to
Dot Alverson, Margaret Hammond, Virginia
Hansen, Glen Lovejoy, Elva Minch, Lucille
Woods, Gwen Rood, Alice Simmons, William
and Ruby Baumgart, Ginny Collins, Kay Ellis,
Geri Griswold, Peggy and George Ewing, Fred
Ford, Ruth George, Bea Harrison, Geni Reid,
Emily Turner, Hal and Shirley Jonsson and Ed
and Alice Yun.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
HOW TO REACH PASTOR TANA
There are several ways to reach Pastor Tana.
*Office Hours: Wed & Fri 10:00-12:00 AM
*Pastor's days off: Monday & Tuesday
*Pastor’s Church phone: 272-1946, ext. 1
*Pastor's home phone: 913-9583
*Pastor's e-mail address: [email protected]
Please call Pastor Tana for appointments
for a time convenient for you!
WHAT'S GOING ON
IN OUR CHURCH ?
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS (272-1946)
Mon. - Wed. - Thurs.
Tues. - Fri.
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
8:30 am - Noon
COMMITTEES
Church Council
Church & Society
Finance
Missions
SPRC
Trustees
Worship
CHURCH LEADERSHIP FOR 2012
Church Council voting members:
Council Chair
Kathy Mortensen
Council Secretary
Darcy Briel
Lay Leader
Bill Croker
Lay Leader of An. Conf. 09-12
Joan Heinsohn
Youth Delegate to Annual Conf
Olivia Alcantara
Treasurer
Bill Beeman
Financial Secretary
Holly Lusk
Pastor
Rev. Tana McDonald
Intern
Faith McCloud
Certified Lay Minister
Nancy Thompson
Nursery
Bobby Favreau
Children
Mary Liebke
Youth Group quarterly
Kathy Kinney
Adults
Shirley Payne
UMM
UMW
Ginny Riffey
Worship
Jim Hook
Church and Society
_____________
Missions
_____________
Radical Hospitality/Newcomers
_____________
Parish Care Team/Older Adults
Susie Ernst
Hospitality/Events Hostess
Margaret Currier
Finance
_____________
Staff Parish Relations
Les Coambs
Board of Trustees
Tom Stade
Membership Secretary
Carolyn Croker
Leadership Development
Rev. Tana McDonald
Publicity
Nancy Thompson,
Carolyn Croker
At Large
Joanie Salyer
Margaret Currier
Alt. Lay Member to An. Conf.
Darleen Langguth
Youth Rep to Annual Conf. Olivia Alcantara
2nd Friday
3rd Tuesday
2nd Wed.
As Scheduled
1st Wed.
1st Friday
4th Thurs.
9:00 am
4:00 pm
6:30 pm
Children
Sundays
Homework Heaven Wednesday’s
Adults
Sundays
8:45 am
3:30 pm
9:00 am
6:30 pm
9:00 am
10:00 am
SUNDAY SCHOOL
BIBLE STUDY
Adults
Adults
Mondays
Tuesday
1:30 pm
9:30 am
Contemplative Prayer
2nd
Tuesday
Prayer and Share Sunday
5:00 pm
6:00 pm
PRAYER
MUSIC
Wesley Ringers
Choir Practice
Thursdays
Thursdays
6:15 pm
7:45 pm
WELCOMING ADULT GROUPS
Women’s UMW 1st Thurs
10:30 am
Men's
UMM Tuesdays
8:30 am
Men’s Breakfast At IHOP Wed
7:30 am
Pasty Bakers
Call Gordon Beatie
477-8485
Circuit Writers Critique Group
Call Jan Collins
272-4905
CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP
Friendly Visitors
Call Church Office
Stephen Ministers
Call Barbara Dean
272-1946
272-6966
NEWS LETTER – CHAPEL CHIMES
Sandy Cohen - [email protected]
Page 9
THE CHAPEL CHIMES
236 S. Church St.
Grass Valley, CA 95945
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
The Chapel Chimes is published once a month.
Deadline for articles is the 15th of the preceding month.
(PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EMAIL
[email protected]
WITH THE OFFICE )
MARCH Volume 163, Issue 3
OPEN HEARTS
TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL
OPEN MINDS
OPEN DOORS
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
OF
GRASS VALLEY
Tana McDonald, Pastor
236 S. Church Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945-6704
Phone 530-272-1946
Fax 530-272-9416
E-Mail [email protected]
Website www.gv-umc.org
Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ
for the transformation of the world by focusing
on three discipleship areas:
Spiritual discovery for everybody
Outreach to our community and world
Nurture and care for our congregation
"Focus on the SON"