April 2015 The Evangel - First United Methodist Church of Gilbert
Transcription
April 2015 The Evangel - First United Methodist Church of Gilbert
First United Methodist Church of Gilbert 331 S. Cooper Road Gilbert, AZ 85233 480-892-9166 www.gilbertumc.org [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ FUMCofgilbert Rev. Robert Hoshibata, Bishop Rev. Robert Burns, District Superintendent Rev. Deborah Lerner, Senior Pastor Rev. David J. Harriss, Associate Pastor Rev. Tina Rees, Deacon Worship Schedule 8:00 Traditional Service 9:00-9:30 Coffee Hour 9:30 Traditional Service Sunday School for All Ages 10:30-11:00 Coffee Hour 11:00 Contemporary Service 12:00 Reception on Patio Professional Nursery Care 7:45am-12:30pm Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm Preschool 480-892-9166 gilbertpreschool.com April 2015 The Evangel Join Us For Holy Week Maundy Thursday Service, April 2nd - 7:00pm With Communion and Optional Foot or Hand Washing Good Friday, April 3rd - 7:00pm A Service of Tenebrae, “Darkness and Light” Meditation at the Cross Easter Sunday, April 5th Communion in All Services Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast 7:00 –11:15am Easter Egg Hunts for our youngest, Preschool - 1st Grade - 9:30 Resurrection Egg Experience for children 2nd - 6th Grade - 9:30 Sunrise Service 6:00 am in the Prayer Garden Featuring our Praise Band and Youth Praise Band Traditional Services at 8 and 9:30 With Choir, Organ, and Brass Upbeat Contemporary Service at 11:00 With our awesome Praise Band We expect our 9:30 service to be our fullest. Please help us out by coming at another hour if you are able, and using the east parking lot so that our guests can find a spot to park. Exploring Class Are you new to First UMC? Want to learn more about the church? Want to know more about Methodism or what it means to be a member of the church? Join us for a time of Exploring on Sunday, April 12th from 2:00-4:00pm in the activity center. Meet our staff and some key lay leaders. Get your questions answered. Get involved in our mission and ministry. Dessert served. RSVP to Dina in the church office at [email protected] by April 7th. Childcare will be provided – should you require childcare, please RSVP to Dina by April 7th. Page 2 April 2015 A Message from Pastor Deborah As you read this we will be moving into the holiest time of our Christian year, as we reflect on the last days of Jesus life, his crucifixion, his entombment, and ultimately his resurrection from the dead. I hope you plan to join us for ALL of it, not just part of it. gave it to them, saying “Take, eat, this is my body given for you.” When the meal was over he took the cup, blessed it, and offered it to them, saying “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for me. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of We will begin on Thursday, me.” We will share the April 2 at 7:00pm with a bread and cup, in “Maundy Thursday” worship remembrance. And then service, remembering we will experience the Jesus’ last meal with his stripping of the sanctuary, followers. He got down on as our objects of worship hands and knees and are removed, even as he washed their feet that night, was removed from the a lowly act that must have company of his followers shocked them deeply. We that difficult night. will remember that act of servanthood as we offer Good Friday will be a time foot or hand washing to of quietness and reflection. those who wish to You are invited to come to participate. As part of that the sanctuary at any time meal he took bread, between 6:00am and blessed and broke it, and 6:00pm to pray. There will be a prayer vigil throughout those hours in which all persons in our church will be prayed for. Guides for prayer will be available for those who wish to use them. A quiet service of darkness and light at 7:00pm will lead us into the remembrance of his death. Then, having made the journey through the valley of the shadow of death, we will gather triumphant on Easter Morning to celebrate the reality of his resurrection, and the promise of life and hope and possibility even beyond the grave. We will eat pancakes and ring bells and sing joyously together, as those whose lives are forever transformed by God’s power to raise the dead. If you have been living in fear, give it up. If you have been living in hopelessness, give it up. If you have been living in despair, give it up! He is risen, and nothing will ever be the same. See you at the “giving up” place – not just April 5, but April 2, and April 3, as we make this journey together. Blessings and Peace, Pastor Deborah The Penny Jar During our outflow series we talked about acts of kindness and mercy done in the name of Jesus, and invited you to take a handful of pennies to remind you of the story of the woman searching for a lost coin. It is a story of God’s love for the lost. The invitation was and is to bring back a penny each time you reach out to another with an act or word of kindness and love, as you say “This is a sign of God’s love for you!” Give a cold water bottle on a hot day, saying “This is a sign of God’s love for you,” and bring back a penny. Do the dishes for your spouse or child or parent, leaving a note that says “This is a sign of God’s love for you!” and bring back a penny. Let’s fill the jar as we bless this town and the world! The Holy Week prayer vigil will be on Good Friday, April 3rd from 6:00am-6:00pm in the sanctuary. You may sign up for an hour of silent prayer for our church and all of its members and friends. Prayer guides will be provided. To sign up, please contact Rita Wagner at [email protected]. April 2015 Page 3 A Message from Pastor David The Largeness of God I think that children are born religious. If you ever study small children, you will notice that they do everything according to faith, hope, and trust. When both of our children were infants, they would walk up to complete strangers and want to be picked up. This was both a wonderful and scary occurrence. They trusted everyone and knew no strangers. according to those Godly laws. Yet, Jesus tells us that the nearness of God has not been revealed to those who have a Master of Divinity; instead, God’s spirit has been revealed to infants. In the GrecoRoman culture, it was understood that these infants or children were considered to be outcasts and marginalized citizens. Therefore, when Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God has been revealed to I also believe that as infants, he is not talking children begin living in this about the apple of his world and becoming aware father’s eye. Instead, of the world’s secular Jesus is saying that Godvalues, this same centeredness is at work in spirituality begins to those who are unlike us dissipate. Trust becomes and it may be found in the fear. Faith quickly most unexpected places. becomes rules and How does this text regulations. Idealism fades underscore how we treat into pessimism. those who do not fit neatly into society? How should It is no wonder to me that Jesus tells his followers, I we be treating and learning thank you, Father, for you from the Latin migrant worker? How should we be have hidden these things treating and learning from from the wise and the man or woman on intelligent and have death row? How should we revealed them to infants be treating and learning (Matthew 11:25, NRSV). The great irony of this text from the special needs child or adult? How should is that the wise and the we be learning from those powerful are the spiritual who have physical, mental, leaders of the day. They have been educated about and emotional disabilities? God, know the Levitical This text underscores the and purity laws, know the largeness of God. The Laws of Moses and live Pharisees and Sadducees have studied God, they know the Laws which God proclaimed to Moses, they attempted to live a God-centered lifestyle. Yet, Jesus tells us that it is the vulnerable and the humble who legitimately comprehend the truest nature of God. Want proof? Simply look at Jesus’ life and lifestyle. Jesus is the revelation of God’s purposes and intentions and he chose to fellowship with tax collectors and sinners. His best friend was most likely a prostitute. He came to save the lost sheep and in order to do so, he had to give special attention and love to those unlike you and me. for the mentally challenged. We should always celebrate the victories of the disabled because (according to Jesus) it is the disabled citizens of the world who are the most attuned to God’s work in this world. You and I are most likely to experience God in the presence of the meek and vulnerable. This may be an experience where we serve the homeless and the destitute. This may be an experience where we help a special needs child April is Disabilities read. This may be an Awareness month. This experience where we put should be a month where our arm around a person we celebrate the way in with physical limitations which Jesus reveals and take him or her to a himself in many different different location. This may ways. Christ reveals be an experience where himself through victory of we allow the blind to touch movement for the our face. God is at work in physically challenged. the lives of those who are Christ reveals himself different from the rest of through the victory of song the world and we truly and voice within the blind. experience His Kingdom Christ reveals himself when we allow ourselves through the victories of to serve their needs and smiles and hand gestures celebrate their victories. of the deaf. Christ reveals himself through the victories of achievement Disabilities Awareness Sunday Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto me. Matthew 25:45b, NRSV On Sunday, April 12th we will celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday. The entire theme of the service will be centered around disabled people and how Christ is working within these populations. Hands of Joy, a choir which presents all of its songs through sign language, will be on hand and we hope to have the entire service interpreted through sign language. Please join us for this meaningful celebration of God’s love which reaches all people, everywhere, and all the time. If you know of people that have disabled children, please invite them to this celebration. Jesus has a special love for these special populations and his love is revealed in this dynamic world in many different ways. April 2015 Page 4 Your South Africa Missions Team! On Thursday, July 9th, 2015, 8 members of First United Methodist Church of Gilbert will board a British Airways flight enroute to Cape Town, South Africa, for our church’s first international mission trip. The 8 member quorum consisting of Adriana Hernandez, Rick Frazier, Richard Frazier, Robin Lee, Gayle Disch, Lisa Strazz, Phil Rees, and Pastor David Harriss, will leave Sky Harbor International Airport at 7:40pm, arrive in London on Friday, July 10th, at 1:25pm, depart from London on Friday, July 10th, at 9:30pm and arrive in South Africa on Saturday, July 11th, at 9:55am READY TO WORK!! We will be in South Africa from Saturday, July 11th through Sunday, July 19th. Our 10 day trip will focus on serving children whose family members are either suffering from the HIV virus or have died from AIDS. Worldwide, AIDS has orphaned more than 14 million children, with 80% living in sub-Saharan Africa. We hope to offer encouragement to these children in an attempt to serve their spiritual needs. If we can help strengthen these children spiritually they will be better equipped to carry on the Gospel when we leave. The program that we are partnering with is Orchard: Africa, a non-profit organization that attempts to restore hope to the vulnerable by creating sustainable changes in rural African villages. The mission of Orchard: Africa is to develop and equip a network of churches and its leaders to be the response to poverty and injustice for South Africans. We will be involved in creating a Vacation Bible School in a South African orphanage. If you would like to support your church’s mission team effort, please make out a check payable to FUMC and earmark it Orchard: Africa Trip in the lower left hand corner. All contributions are tax deductible if checks are made out to the church. Also, all contributions must be submitted to the church by June 1 st, 2015. Family Promise of Greater Phoenix Family Promise is a nation-wide organization that houses homeless families at churches for one week at a time. First UMC of Gilbert is a host church for Family Promise. Up to four families arrive at our church on a Sunday evening at about 5:30 PM. We provide them with dinner, entertainment and a place to sleep. They leave the following morning at 5:30 AM. This schedule is repeated for an entire week. In 2014, First UMC of Gilbert hosted 33 individuals, 21 of whom were children. In 2015 we will host families three more times this year: May 17-24, September 9-13, and November 15-22. We will need volunteers to provide dinners, spend the night at the church with the families, bring food to send to the Family Promise day center for the families’ breakfasts and lunches, and come to the church in the evenings to spend time with the families and entertaining the children. Please contact Lisa Kimbrough at [email protected] or 480-398-6570 or Robin Lee at [email protected] if you would like to volunteer or would like more information about this mission. Page 5 April 2015 Preschool News www.gilbertpreschool.com What’s been going on? Preschoolers with Heart - Our preschoolers and families have been busy with Missions! In February they collected over 145 cans of food for Gilbert Open Arms! Then in March, the preschoolers did special jobs around the house to earn quarters. Those quarters were turned in for the preschool staff to donate to Feed My Starving Children! They genuinely love helping others! Dr. Seuss Family Night - Preschool families gathered in the preschool classrooms to learn and play together. What great family time! It sure is fun (and funny) to ask a preschooler to come up with rhyming words! What’s coming up? Happy Easter, from the preschool staff! Preschool Olympics - On April 7 and 8, our preschoolers will work hard to learn new activities and show good sportsmanship at our Preschool Olympics. The hurdles will be an amazing challenge, the plasma cars will be racing around the activity center, and the Team Relay Race will be inspiring! We are all on GOD’s TEAM! Registration - We have a few openings in our classes for the 2015-2016 school year. We have classes for 2,3, and 4/5 year olds. Please tell a friend and help us spread the word! For more information, please contact Lora Norris or Lara Fink at 480-892-9166. Special Thanks to the Health Ministry Team - The Health Ministry team has hosted 4 free parent workshops for our preschool families this school year. The topics were very helpful for young families and the hosts were friendly and resourceful. Thank you for supporting our families! Questions? Contact one of the Directors, Lora Norris or Lara Fink 480-892-9166. We’d love to visit with you and even give you a tour of the preschool area! You may purchase an engraved First United Methodist Church of Gilbert name tag each Sunday. Stop by the red Welcome to Worship cart on the church patio to place your order. The cost for each name tag is $8.50, payable in advance. Questions? Please contact Dina in the church office at 480-892-9166 or [email protected]. April 2015 Page 6 Children’s Ministry Children’s Sunday School Room Locations 9:30am-10:30am Nursery Room 131/132 3 & 4 year olds Room 146 Kindergarten Room 145 1st Grade Room 144 2nd Grade Room 202 3rd Grade Room 203 4th Grade Room 204 5th & 6th Grade Room 205 Easter Morning Easter Egg Hunts Preschool - 1st Graders Resurrection Eggs 2nd - 6th Graders [email protected] 11am Kids Worship - Room 205 Enjoy singing, crafts, games and snacks while learning about Jesus Christ! Children ages 4 and up are welcome. Wednesday Night Faith and Fun-6:30-8pm Room 205 While parents are in class or choir, come join us for fun, snacks, movies and games! Monthly Prize Giveaway Monthly Prize Giveaway We will be giving away another tablet this month! The giveaway will take place during our monthly assembly on April 12th. We will also celebrate April birthdays and hand out March attendance awards on April 12th. Remember, you can earn tickets by attending Sunday School, Kids Worship, and Wednesday Night Faith and Fun. Be on the lookout for other ways to earn extra tickets! Help Wanted: Adult Caregivers for our Nursery We are looking for persons who are willing to be trained as care providers for our infants and toddlers, as well as older children, on at least an occasional basis. We hope to find regular caregivers to serve as anchor/lead for our major weekly events, including Tuesday morning Bible Study and Wednesday evening programs. We also hope to identify a pool of persons who can be scheduled as second or third workers for these occasions, and some who would be available at least occasionally on Tuesday or Thursday evenings or Saturdays to staff child care needs for church meetings and events. Contact [email protected] for further information. Vacation Bible School Week June 8 – 12 Watch the Children’s Ministry E-News and Church Bulletin for Details. Page 7 FUMC-Gilbert Youth April 2015 REGULAR GATHERINGS Sunday Mornings, 9:30-10:30 Junior High in room 200 Senior High in room 140 Sunday Evenings, 5:00-7:00 5:00 Dinner in A/C 5:30 Games 6:00 Bible Study Wednesday Evenings. 5:45-7:30 5:45 Dinner in A/C 6:30 Study/Discussion in room 140 Youth Band Practice If you sing or play an instrument, join us in room 130 on Wednesday evenings from 7:30-8:30pm! April 2015 Church Spring Picnic On Palm Sunday (March 29th), our Sunday activity will be participating in and enjoying fellowship at the allchurch Spring Picnic from 3:00-6:00pm at the Riparian Preserve off of Guadalupe and Greenfield. Chicken and drinks will be provided by the church but the rest is potluck style: last names A-H bring Salad, I-S bring Side Dishes, and T-Z bring Desserts. The youth will also be assisting Ryan Collins in running some tournament games such as Tug of War, Sack Races, relays, etc. If you are interested in helping, please contact Ryan at [email protected]. No Sunday Programming On Easter Sunday, April 5th, there will be no Sunday evening programming for the youth. Enjoy celebrating Jesus’ resurrection with your family! Spring Camping Trip The youth are invited to attend the Spring Camping Trip at Ponderosa Campgrounds on April 24-26. The youth will travel together, camp together, prepare dinner Saturday evening together, and enjoy each other’s presence. Please e-mail Ryan Collins at [email protected] if you are interested in attending so that we can get a preliminary head count. Guys and Girls Gathering In the month of April, there will be a Guys Gathering and Girls Gathering. The dates are set for Saturday April 11th (Guys) and Saturday April 18th (Girls). More details to come. Tim Hawkins Comedy Performance Saturday, May 16th, 4:00pm. We will be attending the Tim Hawkins performance. Group rate tickets are $20. We will be taking RSVP’s and buying the tickets If you have any questions, contact Ryan Collins, Youth Director, at [email protected] incrementally. Reserve your ticket NOW! Contact Ryan at [email protected] April 2015 Page 8 2015 Summer Volleyball Season Summer is right around the corner and that means church volleyball. First United Methodist Church of Gilbert has traditionally done a great job participating and promoting the summer volleyball programs. Let’s make sure that 2015 is no exception!! The following leagues will be organized: Jr. High – team members must be entering 7th grade in the fall of 2015 and no older than entering 9th grade in the fall to participate. (9th graders have the choice of playing in the junior OR senior high league but not both.) Sr. High – team members must be entering 9th grade in the fall of 2015 and no older than having just graduated high school in May of 2015. (Graduating seniors can play in BOTH the Sr. High and adult leagues.) Adult Competitive League – team members need to be at least 18 years of age - ???. Team play at this level is pretty experienced and very competitive. Adult Fun League – team members need to be at least 18 years of age - ???. Team play at this level is more casual – no experience necessary. Please watch for future announcements on specific start dates, practice times and tournament times. Contact Mary Vrana at 480-857-8221 with any questions OR to sign up to play. There will be opportunities to sign up in mid to late April on Sundays in between services. Mary can also be reached at [email protected]. Hope to see you on the court!!! Ask Me Anything - Third Sunday of Every Month Come Visit Us!! Pastor David and Lori Wiemers will be there to answer any questions you might have. Unfortunately, they will not have winning lottery ticket numbers, which team will win whatever upcoming sporting event there is, or what the weather will be like. Other than that, ask away. Looking forward to seeing you on April 19th. April 2015 Page 9 Music Ministry A Call for Musicians The Easter and Lenten season are busy times for the music program at our church, and the participants in all of the groups appreciate the kind words and support we have received from members of the congregation during this time. As we look forward to the rest of the spring, we have a special invitation to everyone in the church family. Come and join us in one of our choirs for the remainder of the season. As most of you know, our musical groups (except for the praise band) take some time off in the summer months, so if you have ever considered being a part of one (or more) of our ensembles, now is the perfect time to “try us on for size.” The commitment is short-term, and you could decide if it is something you would like to continue to do in the fall. If you are interested in any of the ensembles (Chancel Choir, Chapel Chimes, Cherub Choir, Wesleyan Bells) contact Marty Province at [email protected] or call the church office. We would enjoy the opportunity to make music with you! Communion Music As you no doubt noticed during Lent, we used a number of musicians to help lead worship during Communion. From harp, to clarinet, to a vocal solo, to handbells, the offerings were numerous and varied. With the conclusion of Lent, I would like to continue the practice during first Sunday Communion through the remainder of the year (and into the future). I have already received inquiries from people who are interested (May is already confirmed), but we are constantly looking for new “hidden” talent to enhance the worship experience. If you would like to help with this new addition to our ministry, contact Marty through the church office, and we will consider times when you might share. Third Friday Jam There are only 2 Third Friday Jam Sessions remaining before time off for the summer – April 17th and May 15th. If you have never taken part, I promise a good time will be had by all. If you are a regular, you know what I mean. I look forward to seeing you at 7:00pm on April 17 in the church library (room 142). History and Centennial Celebration Ministry Team On February 21, our Historical Faith Walk in Downtown Gilbert was held. We started at the Historical Museum steps (where the church first met as a Bible study and prayer group), we then stopped at the historic Gilbert water tower, continued on to Oregano’s parking lot (where our first church was built), then to Joe’s Real BBQ (where our church met when it was the Tone Theatre) and finally back to the museum steps. Some continued on to the New Life Community Church which was our last church before we moved into to our current church. The Historic Faith Walk was led by our former pastor, Gary Kennedy. Our District Superintendent, Bob Burns, his wife Paulette, and our newest Town Councilmember, Brigette Peterson walked with us. Brigette shared many facts about the history of the Gilbert community. This activity was in partnership with the Health and Wellness Ministry. The Welcomaires concert weekend—February 28th and March 1st was a wonderful faith/spiritual experience. These men sang from the heart and the spirit of the Lord shone through them. We were blessed to have them travel from North Carolina to be part of our Centennial Celebration. The love offering collected at both concerts totaled $2,809. Monies will be shared between Imagine No Malaria and Family Promise. Family Promise will receive $1000.00 and Imagine No Malaria will receive $1, 809.00. This event was in partnership with the Worship, AV/Tech, and Music Ministries. Special thanks to Therese Pineda, Glen Compton, Sherry Clack, and Anita and Ernie Broughton for their servant leadership in making this event a success. Please remember to bring articles, pictures, artifacts to the office that you would like to see placed in our Time Capsule. Our deadline for these is April 30, 2015. Page 10 April 2015 th Our 99 Favorite Scriptures As we move toward our 100 anniversary (in August, 2015) we are identifying the “favorite” scriptures of this congregation and inviting you to take them as memory verses each week. Each week, the church bulletin will contain two or three of our favorites. We hope you will take this opportunity to memorize a small amount of scripture, adding to the storehouse of treasure in your heart. For April our scriptures are: With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding. Job 12:13 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 Jesus said to him, “If you are able! —All things can be done for the one who believes.” Mark 9:23 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:32 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Psalm 25 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7 Pancakes and Easter! Boy Scout Troop 88 is hosting our Annual Easter Pancake Breakfast on Easter Sunday. We are serving a delicious breakfast buffet consisting of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, fruit and more! Breakfast will be available starting after the Sunrise Service and going through the beginning of the 11:00am Contemporary Service. Donations are accepted and will help our Scouts attend camp this summer at Camp Geronimo on the Mogollon Rim. Skip cooking on Easter morning, come out to church, and also enjoy a wonderful breakfast. See you on Easter! Looking for Gently Used Computers and Wi-Fi Equipment Have you bought a new Wi-Fi router, computer, tablet, or laptop recently? If so, you may have your “old” equipment laying around and taking up space. Donate them to church’s IT program and help us refresh some of the computers on campus. Concerned about your data? We will securely wipe your computer before using it, or give you a CD that you can use to wipe it yourself. Drop off computers at the church office or Wesley Room. Questions? Contact Philip Tesarek at [email protected] or 480-510-4588. Page 11 April 2015 Missions Committee Thank you to everyone who donated items for the Easter Basket Drive and helped make it a great success! A total of 90 Easter treat boxes were assembled by the children’s Sunday School classes, and will be delivered to the UMOM Watkins Homeless Shelter and the Sidewalk Sunday School at 1st UMC of Scottsdale. The children who receive these treats for Easter will be delighted! Volunteers are needed to help cook and serve the evening meal at UMOM Watkins Homeless Shelter in Phoenix on Saturday, April 11th. No experience is needed! We cook in the church kitchen from 2:00-4:00pm and then load up and carpool to the shelter. We serve the meal from 5:00-7:00pm and are usually cleaned up and done by 7:30pm. The sign up sheet is located on the rolling Missions Committee kiosk in the activity center. Children 6 and over are welcome with a parent, but for safety reasons only those 16 or older can work in the kitchen. For questions, or to sign up, please contact Laura Contreras at 480-203-0297. Mother's Day Purse Drive Throughout the month of April, the Missions Committee will be collecting supplies to support women in domestic violence shelters. New or gently used purses along with gifts to fill the purses are needed. Suggested items include: unused make-up, lotion, shampoo, perfume, deodorant, sunscreen, comb, toothbrush/ toothpaste. Please drop items off at the Missions table or in the bin in the activity center. Church Recycling Programs The church provides a number of opportunities to recycle. The large green bins in the southeast corner of the front parking lot, near the activity center, accept paper of all kinds, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, flattened cardboard boxes, etc. There are marked baskets in the activity center entryway for the collection of used toner and ink cartridges and empty juice pouches (Capri Sun). There is also a marked basket to collect empty cosmetic and hygiene containers such as lipstick tubes, compacts, toothpaste tubes, lotion and shampoo bottles, etc. Throughout the campus you will find containers for the collection of empty soda cans, plastic water bottles, and miscellaneous papers. In the kitchen, there is a large recycling container for the collection of empty cans and other recyclables. The church collects all recyclables and is able to receive cash for these items, which in turn, is used to fund church programs. Bringing your recyclables to church has an impact not only on our church ministries but also this wonderful world that God created! April 2015 Christian History Adult Sunday School We have completed a six month study on the birth of Christianity and early Christian history. We will not meet on Easter Sunday, April 5th. The next Sunday, April 12th, the class will decide on a new course of study. The class will choose from a list of courses the direction our studies will take us. The options include a list of books written by Christian historians. Studying Christian History always includes how Christian theology was impacted and the evolution of belief. Look for our announcement in the Sunday bulletins beginning April 19th for the determination the class made regarding our choice of historical study. We meet in room 201 at 9:30am. Living the Questions - LTQ In April, the LTQ adult Sunday class will continue to hold its small group discussions. Video-based, the topics will include traditional and alternative Christian views of the rapture, our responses as Christians to environmental concerns and our role in social justice issues. Written by local Methodist ministers and used around the world, this material encourages open minds, open discussion and reflection. We meet at 11:00am each Sunday in room 142. You may join us on any Sunday. For more information, contact Odus or Diana Elliott at 480-786-0055 or [email protected]. NOTE: we will not meet Easter Sunday. Homebuilders Class Our next session will be from the author John Ortberg. In this six-session small group Bible study, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve got to Get Out of the Boat, you’ll learn how to move beyond fear to discover God’s unique calling for your life. Peter may have been the first one out of the boat, but Jesus’ invitation to walk on water is for you as well. But walk on water? What does that mean? This study helps you answer Christ’s call to greater faith, power-filled deeds, and a new way of knowing how to discern God’s call, transcend fear, risk faith, manage failure, and trust God. Relating to the story in Matthew 14 to life today, John Ortberg invites you to consider the incredible potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone. The class meets each Sunday in room 142 at 9:30. All are welcome. Gray Matter Adult Sunday School Class The 11:00am adult Sunday School class is studying Growing a Spiritual Family by Dennis and Barbara Rainey. Where is your family headed? Is your goal in life to live in a gated suburban community and to achieve wealth, status, and to have your kids go to a high profile university in order to repeat this cycle? All of us want the best for our children. Is there more to life than gaining the most toys? Come and share the experience of growing a spiritual family. The class meets in room 133 each week and is led by class participants. Page 12 Page 13 April 2015 Faith, Family, and Fearless Conversations The 9:30 Sunday morning parenting class is studying Fearless Conversations. Can we really beat temptation? What does it really mean to follow Jesus? How can I know Jesus is really alive today? These are all questions that we will tackle in this first 13-week series. Come and meet with other parents for fellowship and support and to foster your personal relationship with God. The class meets in room 136. Please contact Vicki Hanson at [email protected] for more information. The Three Colors of Spirituality Have you ever wondered what living a spiritual life would be like? Do you consider yourself to be a spiritual person, or would you like to explore that concept? Join us for a new class, The 3 Colors of Spirituality. It is written by Rev. Beth Galbreath, a Methodist Deacon, who has developed the concept of 3 Color Christians from a study by Christian Schwarz, who asks, "What if we see the Trinity as not just about God, but also about the way God connects with us and we connect with God?" The 6 week class will meet on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm in room 202 beginning April 15th. Questions? Contact Molly Hahn, facilitator, at [email protected]. Making Sense of the Bible Where does the Bible fit into my life? When does the Bible fit into my life? These are questions asked by spiritual leaders and parishioners throughout our lives. Beginning Wednesday, April 8th, Pastor David Harriss will teach a 7 week course entitled Making Sense of the Bible, by acclaimed author Adam Hamilton. We will study both the Old and New Testament and address perplexing issues such as How Does God Speak to and Through Us? Is the Bible Inerrant and Infallible? Can We Trust the Gospel Accounts of Jesus? & What Is the Role of Homosexuality and the Bible? We will dig deep in order to address these controversial taboo questions and concerns. If you hope there is a better way to read, live by, and invest yourself in God’s Holy Word, please make a commitment to this class. No registration is necessary. The cost of the book is $16.00. Our classes will begin at 6:30pm in room 201. District Survey Your Sunday Coupon Booklets are Needed! The Leadership & Personnel Committee of the Central East District of the Desert The P&G, Smart Source, and Red Plum Southwest Conference is conducting a brief booklets found in the Sunday morning online survey for those who attend churches newspaper are used to purchase food for in the Central East District. They are asking the Open Arms Food Bank, Thefor men's breakfast Bible study will resume on Wednesday, November 5 inGilbert room 133 at 7:30am. Rev. Bob Family your help. Please access the link below Promise, and treats for our Sunday school Skinner will lead the study again this year. We will continue our study of the book of Romans. All men are invited and take a short survey. children. place at the480-786booklets on the to participate in this discussion/fellowship group. For additional information contactPlease Odus Elliott wire shelf in the activity center 0055 or [email protected]. entryway. Last year, using the booklets, http://tinyurl.com/CongregationSurvey almost $1,000 worth of food was purchased for $344. Please help this project continue. Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study Page 14 April 2015 2015 Spring Camping Trip April 24-26, Ponderosa Campground near Payson, AZ The Spring Camping Trip is quickly approaching! FUMC-Gilbert will be camping at the Ponderosa Campground near Payson, AZ from April 24-26, 2015. The cost of the trip is $35.00 per tent per family, and $45.00 for a trailer spot (three available). The registration for the camping trip is now open for all. You may register at the table on the front patio or via e-mail at [email protected]. To register, we will need to know how many members of your family there will be, if you’ll be tent or trailer camping, and what meal team you’d like to be on (Saturday or Sunday). Space is very limited so make sure you register as soon as you can! If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Collins at [email protected] Helping Other With A Meal Sewing Enthusiasts Through Food Tidings, our church provides meals to those in our congregation experiencing an illness, death, unexpected crisis, or birth of a new baby. Food Tidings is an online program that allows us to schedule meals for families in need, listing which days meals are needed, food allergies, etc. And just a reminder that take out food is ok, too! If you would like more information about the program or would like to be involved, contact Vicki Hansen at [email protected]. If you are interested in sewing and/or quilting, you will want to be part of a group that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday morning from 9:00-11:00am in the church library, room 142. Come and see what fun projects are being planned next. We will meet on April 8th and April 22nd. If you will need child care, please notify the church office one week in advance. For more information, email Carol Miller at [email protected], or call (480) 273-7171. Time Capsule To commemorate our 100th anniversary on August 15, 2015, the Centennial Celebration Team is collecting items to be included in a time capsule which will be placed during our Centennial weekend and opened in 25 years. The team is looking for letters, documents, photographs, and artifacts. Please bring whatever you might think is important to put in the time capsule. The team will sort, select, and put items that need archival acid free paper together. These items may be placed in the box in the church office by April 30th. Please contact Nancy Masterson at [email protected] with any questions. Page 15 April 2015 History and Centennial Committee In April, we will have an opportunity to participate in the Gilbert Community Service Day. This will be a way to show that our "100 years of Serving the Generations" spirit will continue on. Contact Gayle Disch, 480-892-3168 or [email protected] if you or your family are interested in helping with one of the activities in the community. To commemorate our 100th anniversary in 2015, the History and Centennial Celebration Team is putting together a time capsule. Start collecting any items you would like to submit to be placed in the time capsule. The deadline for items is April 30, 2015, which will allow us time to prepare the capsule and it's contents for placement on the weekend of August 15th. Please contact Nancy Masterson, 602-206-0365, for further information or to submit an item. Staff Parish Relations Committee We have hired a new Financial Secretary and we are interviewing for a Nursery Coordinator and a Director of Children's Ministries. We ask for your prayers for our Committee as we go about the work of 1st United Methodist Church of Gilbert. A Special Thank you……… Roberta Dean sends her love and thanks for the visits, phone calls, prayers and cards during her recent hospitalization. Weekly E-News Would you like to receive the current news of activities and events at First United Methodist Church of Gilbert? Sign up to receive our weekly E-News and monthly newsletter! To sign up, please visit the church website at www.gilbertumc.org/news/newsletter or contact Dina in the church office at [email protected] or 480-892-9166. If you would like to receive the weekly Children’s Ministry or Youth Ministry E-News, please let Dina know. Want to get to know your church family? Consider hosting coffee hour on Sunday mornings! We are in need of volunteers to set up coffee hour, host coffee hour between church services, or to take down coffee hour. You may sign up to serve once a month or on a more occasional basis. Call or text Kim Fairley at 480-4957158 to sign up or for more information. April 2015 Page 16 Page 17 April 2015 One of the easiest financial gifts you can make to your church is to donate a portion of your 2014 tax refund. To make it even easier, you can give it electronically. Use your smart phone to access the church’s giving site through the QR code below, or visit the church website, gilbertumc.org, and click on the online giving logo. If you need help, call the church office. General Fund Financial Summary at February 28, 2015 General Giving Other Income Total Income Total Expenses Income Over/(Under) Expenses YTD Actual YTD Budget Variance to Budget Favorable or (Unfavorable) $112,160 $38,746 $150,906 $163,539 ($12,633) $108,025 $39,541 $147,566 $174,068 ($26,502) $4,135 ($795) $3,340 $10,529 $13,869 Operating Cash on Hand Desired Minimum Operating Cash on Hand (2 months of expenses) Average weekly giving income YTD at 2/28/15 Average weekly giving income YTD last year (at 2/28/14) Average weekly giving needed to meet our approved 2015 expense budget $77,695 $140,000 $14,020 $13,212 $16,955 General giving was $4,300 over budget for February, resulting in our $4,135 year-to-date variance over budget. Year-to-date giving was about $6,400 ahead of 2014 giving for the same period. Year-to-date expenses were $10,529 under budget. This was due primarily to some vacant positions, with the remaining variance due primarily to timing differences. We had a year-to-date net deficit of $12,633, which was almost $14,000 better than the budgeted deficit. Janet Bose, our Financial Secretary for the last three years, has stepped down from that role as she has moved into a full-time position elsewhere. We thank Janet for her dedicated service as Financial Secretary, and wish her much success in her new endeavor. We are pleased to have MaryEllen Chuk join the staff and Finance Committee as our new Financial Secretary. If you have any questions about your giving or giving statements, please contact MaryEllen at [email protected]. MaryEllen is in the church office on Tuesdays. If you have any questions about the church’s finances, please contact Garin Campbell, Finance Chair (623-3630662, [email protected]) or Deanna Helland, Church Treasurer/Accountant (480-892-9166, [email protected]). Thank you for your faithful financial support of our church. April 2015 Page 18 Book Club The Book Club meets the 4th Thursday of every month at 11:30am at the home of June Morrison. Bring a lunch to enjoy while discussing the current book. Please RSVP to June at 480-892-4777. Please contact Molly Hahn at [email protected] with any questions or for more information. The following books have been selected for this season: April 23 The End of the Spear by Steve Saint May 28 Out of Range by C. J. Box June 25 Same Kind of Different Than Me by Ron Hall Columbarium & Healing Garden Our healing garden is a place of healing of mind, body and spirit. It was designed using the Beatitudes, Matthew 5: 3-10, as a tranquil retreat for those facing difficult times, as well as a place of peace in which to honor and remember loved ones. Single niches, including an urn and engraving of face stone are available for $1,500 for church members and $1,700 for non -members. Double niches, including two urns and engraving of face stone are available for $1,750 for church members and $2,250 for non-members. For those who are buried elsewhere, we offer memorial wall plaques for $300. Other garden fixtures including benches are available. Contact John Bowers at [email protected] for more information or stop by the church office for an information packet. Imagine No Malaria In 2012 our church made the decision to commit $45,000 to the efforts of the United Methodist Church to completely eradicate malaria on this planet. In this year of “ 99 years and Counting,” we would like to complete this covenant we made with our conference and with the world. WE CAN DO THIS! We can do it especially if we find 99 families or combinations of family units that will pledge and give just $30 per month for one year. This gift can be given monthly, quarterly, or as a lump sum ($360). If you are willing to help, let Pastor David know. Christian Women’s Fellowship Group The Christian Women’s Fellowship Group will meet on Thursday, April 2nd at 9.30am in room 142. All women are invited. Refreshments will be served. Page 19 April 2015 April Birthdays 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 10 11 12 Lenita Shamsiddeen Emma Stazz Victoria Whittington Leroy Johnson Liam Comstock Christina Tesarek Drew Wiemers Jessica Utton Freddie Vasquez Dana Corban Kelly McClain Agnes Begley Gloria Eggen Jordan McClain Hannah Pettengill Alexis Winkler Jean Langdon Tim Sheahan Austin Curran Dennis Hazelrigg Nathan Lamb Carol Scharff Christine Bayer Stephanie Helland Matt Ramirez Ernestine Tesarek 13 Kelsey Bayer James Kimbrough Phyllis Foutz Ava La Rose Johnny Schmidt 16 Jeff Snyder 17 Debbie Anderson 19 Samantha Foote Joe Norris Andy Sovchik 20 Mary Ann Kolmer John Lawson Patty Lee 21 Lara Fink 22 Jan Grindle 23 Jonathan Chuk Diane Gardner Matthew Olson 24 Savanna Taj 25 Dawn Kopp 27 Lily Smith 28 Drew Harvey 29 Tanner Lang Anniversaries 1 4 5 13 14 15 17 20 21 22 25 26 28 30 Scott & Jan Grindle - 31 yrs Gilbert & Aryn Peppin - 11 yrs Tim & Junette West - 29 yrs Ray & Gerri Crawley - 19 yrs Nickie & Sue Gepgert Bonenfant - 1 yr Robert & Margaret DeBolt - 23 yrs Glen & Jan Compton - 11 yrs Scott & Sini Ouellette - 9 yrs Paul & Susan Prosser - 19 yrs Dirk & Patty Smith - 2 yrs Allan & Nancy Peters - 53 yrs Ray & Jenny Vallera - 20 yrs Joe & Lora Norris - 23 yrs Mike & Ashley West - 12 yrs Ryan & Amber Lamb - 2 yrs Mike & Keela Clark - 26 yrs If we have inadvertently missed your birthday or anniversary, contact Dina at 480-892-9166 or [email protected]. Altar Flowers The Sunday morning altar flowers may be donated “in memory of” or “in honor of” a special person or event. The cost for each bouquet is $32.40. Only a few Sundays in 2015 remain available for donation including September 20, September 27, October 25, and November 8. If you would like to donate the flowers on one of these Sunday, please contact Dina in the church office at secretarygilbertumc.org or 480-892-9166. Pray for our Churches You are encouraged to pray for the churches and pastors of the Central East District of the Desert Southwest Conference. Please pray for the following churches in March: Sun Lakes UMC The Fountains UMC, Fountain Hills Tongan UMC, Mesa Chaplains, Counselors, and Staff of the Central East District First United Methodist Church of Gilbert 331 S. Cooper Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85233 480-892-9166 Fax: 480-892-3545 [email protected] We’re on the web at www.gilbertumc.org www.gilbertumc.org News, sermons, events are being posted all the time. Forms for youth and children are available on the site. www.facebook.com/FUMCofgilbert We are posting updates to events, news, spiritual quotes and encouragement. Don’t miss a thing. www.facebook.com/fumcgilbert.youthgroup Postings are going up regarding volleyball, upcoming events, pictures and other crazy things. Don’t miss out because you didn’t check here!! http://pinterest.com/fumcgilbert/ Help us create boards, become a follower, or just help! Email [email protected]