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The
Messenger First
United Methodist Church of Mexico May
2011 From
the pastor… "Now, I know you work on your sermons,
but what do you do the rest of the week?" This is a question that everyone who has ever been pastored, or is now being pastored, thinks about-sometimes even out loud. The old joke goes something like: “Well, pastor, since you only work one hour for one day each week, then what do you do with the rest of your time?” Pastor Elizabeth E. Hagan offers some perspective on this ages-old question in a recent article on her blog http://preacherontheplaza.wordpress.com I want to share some of it with you, with a little editing: “It's a timeless question that generations of pastors before me and beside me have been asked and have answered each in his or her own way; for there is no rule book about how a pastor structures his or her day. It's usually based both on the personality of the pastor and expectations of the congregation. It's a unique job with some deadlines (Sunday is always coming, for example), but it is also a job with a lot of unspecified responsibilities that can be attended to at a pace according to congregational needs. I always say that no day of the week is ever the same, and I never have reason to get bored! But
these are some of the "doing" tasks that my last week has included:
And
the list could go on. It also could record things that I wish I had more time
for – additional parishioners I would like to have contacted, more study time
I wished I had. When I think about what I do and don't, I always try to give
myself grace to embrace the possibilities found in the next week. After
looking at Pastor Hagan’s comments on ministry, I have two thoughts I need to
share with you here in Mexico UMC: This article was meant as explanation, not
justification. I do work at this job, but probably not any harder than you do at
your job! And, even on those days when I am swamped with details and dilemmas I
remain awed by the responsibility and filled with gratitude that I am allowed to
do this holy work of “pastoring”. Please hold OUR shared ministry in your
prayers. Blessings. Bill *************************************************** The
Season Isn't Just Easter Sunday
The Easter season isn't just Easter
Sunday. It's 50 days long, and the last of those days is Pentecost, marking
the birth of the Church and the coming of the Holy Spirit with power. In that
time there are some special times to mark. In most years, the commemoration of
certain saints falls in the Easter season : Catherine of Siena (April 29),
Monnica (Augustine's mom, May 4), Gregory of Nazianzos (May 9), and the gospel
author, St. Mark (April 25). In some places, Easter Monday is celebrated with
dinners and parties and mirth. (Indeed, the whole Easter season is supposed to
be one big feast and celebration because of the overflowing of resurrection joy. But over the years, the institutional church has been really good at
putting a damper on such celebrations.) As the last weeks of the Easter season
come, the attitude gets a bit more nervous. What's God going to do next? What am
I to do next? Just before Pentecost, Christians mark Ascension Day, when
Christ left us after His return, telling us to make disciples, and promising to
return again to bring His Kingdom to full fruition. But there are still the
nervous questions - you don't have what it takes, even to know what it means.
The last day of the Resurrection
season is Day 50, or Pentecost
(Greek for 'fiftieth'). In older English traditions, it's called 'Whitsunday'
because the traditional color for church clothing and decor on Pentecost is
white. On that day the Holy Spirit arrives to be with us, and that Spirit sends
a fresh wave of joy. On that day, the question of 'what next?' is answered with
power - go prophesy, tell the gospel, heal, teach, serve, love. The Holy Spirit will bring
the results. And they went and did it. If they didn't, I wouldn't have anything
to tell you about. ********** A
FAMILY FUN DAY Sunday,
May 22, 2011, 2 - 5 P.M.
Once again Ed and Barb Lighthall have extended an invitation to everyone in our
church and community to join them for an afternoon of food, fun and fellowship
at their well-known Jellystone Park facility. The afternoon will begin
with a pulled pork dinner, complete with a delicious pulled pork sandwich, salt
potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, brownies and beverage. Tentatively, the
meal will be served between 2:30 and 4pm. The rest of the afternoon will
feature a variety of fun-filled activities, not only for just the young folks,
but the "young at heart". Included will be wagon rides, water
war games, miniature golf, horseshoes, face painting (compliments of our Youth
Group), relay races, perhaps even a rousing game of volleyball! And for
those who might like to take the more sedate route, bring along your lawn
chair to relax by the calming waters of the Little Salmon River.
Advance sale tickets are a MUST for this event and will go on sale after Easter.
Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children age 5-12, and Free for those under 5.
Ticket sales will end on FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2011, so don't delay! Have a
question? Contact Linda Fravor at 963-7118. All proceeds from this event will benefit our church's ASAP (Accessibility, Safety and Achievement Project) Committee and their elevator fund project. See you at the park! In
Preparation of the Fall Samaritan’s Purse Mission Work Trip… As Wayne and RoseAnn Myers make plans for the mission trip to Samaritan’s Purse in North Carolina in November, they are beginning to raise funds. On Sunday, May 1, they will have food items available for donation in the fellowship hall during the coffee hour. This would be a great time to ask Wayne and RoseAnn questions if you are interested in going on the shoebox ministry mission trip! A
HEARTY THANKS The United Methodist Men give a hearty thanks to all who supported their Italian Feast on Saturday, April 9. The proceeds totaled $900. This money will go towards the support of our youth attending church camp this summer. Many thanks too, for the continued donation of returnable bottles and cans. These refunds also go toward the church camp dollars. This year the men have agreed to fund 30% of the cost of the camp for each child, connected to our church, who attends the United Methodist Church Camps: Aldersgate or Casowasco. ****************** Fundraising
for Summer Church Camp We
are off to a good start selling Gertrude Hawk chocolates. We have a few
more boxes left. Watch for sales at Big M! Please return
chocolate money from sales to me ASAP. In addition, there will be a Little
Ceasar's Pizza Kit sale which will start at the beginning of May. You
will have 2 weeks to sell and delivery will be a couple weeks after that.
The goal is to get 100 kits sold so we can get free shipping. For those of
you who have a camper please notify me, Melissa Maciejko at 963-1066, so we can
get you on the list (so far I only know of 7 campers). The Men's Club has
also graciously offered to pay for 30% of the camp fee, so it is important we
know who is going. This year anyone who sells chocolate or pizza kits gets
the profits for your camper, the more you sell the less you have to pay for
camp! There are many others within the church who are selling and those
profits will go into the general fund, so there is a lot of profit to be
divided up. I hope to have the profits given out by June so you can use it
to pay for camp. SELL! SELL! SELL! So our youth can attend camp. On Memorial Day… And
I'm proud to be an American, ~Lee Greenwood, Singer ****************** IMPORTANT DATES May 1 - Haiti
Missionary to Speak May 1 - Outreach Committee Meeting following coffee hour May 2 - Friendship Circle Meeting at Sue Morton’s -7PM May 7 - Celebrity Chef’s Cooking Club 5PM in church kitchen May 8 - Mother’s Day, Baby Bottle Distribution. Pulse, 6pm May 10 - Deadline for June newsletter. May 12 – Angelfood orders due. May 13 - Last day to buy tickets for Family Fun Day May 14 - Attic Treasure Sale fellowship hall 9-3PM May 15 – Jr High Youth Group, 6:30pm May 20 – Women Within, 7pm May 21 – Angelfood Delivery May 22 - Family Fun Day, Jellystone Park 2-5PM Senior High Youth Group to meet at Jellystone at 2pm Thank
You, Thank You To... ~ All who helped or donated to the UMM’s Annual Italian Feast on April 9. ~ All who donated food and/or helped at the celebration of life luncheon for Marjorie DeLong ~ All who donated or served at the Salvation
Army Lunch on April 30th ~ the Friendship Circle members for purchasing new cutting boards for the church kitchen. ~ Lori Granger and her daughter Mary Bromfield for teaching a self-defense class for the Women Within group on Friday, April 15. ~ All who contribute in time or donations to Monday’s Meals. ****************** CONGRATULATIONS
TO… Sarah
and Justin Johnson On
the Birth of: Josephine
Bea Johnson April 11, 2011 ****************** ANNUAL
ATTIC TREASURE SALE!! The “church mouse” has seen some very interesting items that will be for sale at the Attic Treasure Sale on Saturday, May 14, from 9am – 3pm. The treasures include: dishes, board games, cookbooks, candles, home decorations, vintage clothing, jewelry, sporting goods, toys, and more. Come and browse the fellowship hall filled with treasures! It is fun and all proceeds from the sale will be used by the Outreach Committee for various mission work. (Note: Donations of treasures accepted until Friday afternoon – May 13.) ****************** Our
Sympathy To… The
Family of: Marjorie
DeLong ****************** Celebrating Mothers…. Ladies of the Church,
In the celebration of mothers, all mothers - including mothers who gave
their hearts in the mothering of other’s children either part-time or
full-time, mother’s too ill to mother their own children, mothers who have
passed on to heaven, and mothers of other eras, let us celebrate mothers by
wearing hats to church on Mother’s Day,
May 8. If you are in need of a hat, please contact the church office – 963-3066. VISITATION
TEAM SCHEDULING ********************************* Recipe
Corner:
This
month’s recipe for Hawaiian Wedding Cake comes to us from Suzie Martin.
She baked this delicious cake and donated it to the UMMen’s Italian
Feast in April. Hawaiian
Wedding Cake 1 1/2 cup sugar
Mix all ingredients together with spoon (not mixer). Do not over mix. Bake at oven temperature of 350 degrees for 35 – 40 minutes. You may add a whipped cream dollop to each slice of cake. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TOO
EARLY TO THINK SHOE BOXES?? By Madelyn Schmidt The shoe box collection project is not until
October-November and we sure don't want to rush spring and summer, but it's
never too early to keep your eyes open for items to tuck away till then.
After Christmas, gloves and hats are often 75% off and after some holidays,
small toys and stuffed animals are on sale. In August, school supplies
will be a bargain, such as crayons for 25 cents a box.
Recently two church members went to a meeting where we heard stories from Patti
Jennings, a regional shoe box worker, who has gone on several mission trips to
help distribute the boxes. She told several stories, such as the girl who
was chosen to receive a box, but her sister was not. when the girl opened
her box, there was two of everything, one for her and one for the sister.
A boy in a hospital had had his right leg amputed. In his box was a pair
of sneakers. In the next bed was a boy who had had his left leg amputed.
In his box was a pair of socks. The boys traded a shoe for a sock!
One girl's favorite color was pink, her box contained everything pink.
Another child had limited vision. In his box was a magnifying glass. So fill your box as you wish and God will see that it goes to the right child. THE
ELEVATOR WILL BE GOING UP!!!!
Recently representatives from the Woodford Brothers of Skaneateles met with some
of the trustees, John Aldrich, Pastor Bill and others to discuss the plans for
the lift or elevet for the church, which will go from the fellowship hall to the
sanctuary level and on to the upstairs. The preliminary steps have begun.
The ASAP balance is over $41,000, thanks to the generosity of so many and fund
raisers, with money from the Buck bequest being used to complete the
project. Because there are so many activities in our church, many meetings have to be held in rooms upstairs. The elevator will be of great assistance to those who find the stairs difficult. Thanks to all. BASIC SELF DEFENSE CLASSES Our
church is offering two Self-Defense
Classes Saturday,
May 14, and Monday’s
Meal Update Thanks
to the many cooks, servers, dishwashers, contributors, and attendees, the
Monday’s Meal ministry continues to simmer right along.
Every Monday, excepting major holidays, soup is served from 11:30am –
12:30pm. There is no charge and
everyone is invited in for a wholesome lunch and a good visit.
The cooks for the month of May are: May
2: Maggie Palmer and Steve Maciejko
May 9: Lori Behling and
Shawne Helker May
16: Marilyn Marks and Connie Main
May 23: Kelly Freihofer and
Donna Mowry ********************************************** Need to Contact our Church?? Our
Church Phone Number: 315-963-3066 Our
Church Website: www.mex1umc.com Our
Church email address: fumcmexico@verizon.net |