The Messenger

First United Methodist Church of Mexico

September, 2011  

From the Pastor…..

I was asked by our church’s Finance team to write a little about the area of financial giving in this month’s newsletter, so here goes. From my perspective, I give a part of my treasure to the church because I have been blessed. I don’t give from a sense of guilt, or fear. I don’t give because others do (or don’t) give. I give because I’m thankful for what God has given to me, and I believe in the work that the church is doing and want to actively support it.
            I try to tithe, that is I try to offer to God a tenth of my income. I pledge to the church; that is, I promise to try to give a set amount each week. As I pledge, I know that if my financial circumstances change that neither God-nor the church-will look unkindly at me if I cannot honor that pledge.
            But, enough from me. I also want to share with you some thoughts from a member of our church, who has made me promise not to reveal his (or her) identity. 
    “Commitment to our church is making it a priority in your life.  There are many things in our lives that compete for our time, talents and treasures, however, at the end of the day, the most important question we can ask ourselves is how we have served and surrendered ourselves to God to demonstrate our love and thanks for His many blessings.
    “Church is a place where we are privileged to come weekly to worship, learn about life, plan projects, tithe, have fellowship and refresh our spiritual tanks for the week ahead.  Our commitment to be an engaged United Methodist will enrich our life and hopefully others, sometimes in ways we may not have expected.  All of us have an opportunity to regularly support the church so that it can continue to reach out to us and others in an increasingly challenging world.
    “One of our highest goals in life should be to hear the words ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’, and being committed to church is a wonderful way to stay on track.” 
    Commitment. Yes, giving is all about commitment.  And, it is all about blessings.  Hope to see you in church.  

Sincerely,

Bill

GROWTH…  

Growth. Like a healthy, green plant growing in a garden, like a spacious tree that birds come and roost in, Christians are supposed to grow. When a man plants seeds in a garden, he expects them to sprout, grow to maturity, and bear fruit. He doesn't plant seeds just to have something nice to do to pass the time. He doesn't water them and give them sunlight so that they will become beautiful plants. He nurtures and cares for them so that he can later have healthy plants that produce fruits and vegetables. Everything a gardener does for his plants he does so that they will benefit and produce for him.

What if a plant has a mind of its own? What if it refuses to grow, or wants to put all its energy into being a big, pretty plant with no fruit? There's only one solution. The gardener destroys it, because it is no longer of any use to him. It's wasting valuable nutrition and water from the soil, so it gets pulled up and thrown away. If we think of that in terms of Christianity, it's a daunting and extremely serious thought. God, our gardener, has planted us, watered us, given us nutrients and sunlight, made sure that insects and other animals don't get at us. And now he expects something from us. He expects us to grow mature and healthy, and he expects us to produce fruit for Him. If we don't, we're meaningless, dysfunctional, disobedient, and unhealthy. We aren't doing our job, and we aren't really His disciples. It isn't a comforting thought.

Every good disciple wants to grow and bear fruit. I don't want to be unhealthy. But sometimes I'm not willing to do what it takes to become healthy. It's strange how God works: it seems that the things I most want to hold on to are the things He wants me to get rid of. Why? Maybe because He wants me to show Him and myself that I am willing to do whatever it takes to follow Him. Maybe because He has plans for me that are so much richer and more beautiful than the existence I feebly default to.

That's where growth comes in. Growing is a process.

It rarely happens overnight. Sometimes it's so slow we can't even see it happening, but it's happening none the less. It comes naturally if we let it. When we grow, we boldly look at our lives and our world. We evaluate where we are and where we should be. We realize which areas of our lives are still underdeveloped and immature, and we take clear, determined steps to grow and change. We give more and take less. We live in a way that makes it obvious to everyone around us that we are different, that we have a purpose and a mission. Every day, in whatever ways we can, we bring a little bit of God's perfect kingdom to our corner of the world.It's a revolution that takes place one simple day at a time. And before we know it, a tiny, delicate sprout has turned into a mighty tree.

The early church fathers understood the importance of growth. They set aside a season after Pentecost to focus on growth and fruitfulness, not only in the church as a whole, but in our individual lives. The early Methodists called this season "Kingdomtide," because they sought ways to bring God's kingdom to the earth. We bring out the green paraments, which remind us of growth, and we look for ways to bring growth to our lives and churches. It's a slow, difficult process. But we when reach outside of ourselves and choose to grow, we become healthy and productive, and we begin living out the purpose God has for us. That's what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

The most common practice is to start the season on the Sunday on or nearest August 31, which gives Kingdomtide 13 Sundays every year; in some places, Kingdomtide begins on the last Sunday in August, giving the season 13 Sundays in some years and 14 in others. The last Sunday of Kingdomtide is usually designated the Feast of Christ the King.

The liturgy for Kingdomtide stresses charity and assistance to the poor, in contrast to the preceding season of Pentecost, when a more spiritual mission is emphasized. Green vestments and paraments are used at church services during Kingdomtide, replacing the red used on the Sundays after Pentecost.  

(Sources: The Barefoot Preacher.com and Wikipedia.org)

September Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

September  1:  David DeLong, Bruce Hanson, Ryan Smithers

                         A:  Kirk and Jennifer Williams

                    4: A:  Daniel and Tracy Gayne

                    5: Ian Roach.  A:  Bill and Maggie Palmer

                    6: Kyle Helker, Steve Hulbert, Rose Ann Myers, Maggie Palmer, and Justin Tourot

                        A:  Bill & LewAnn Beardslee, Duane & Norma Griffin,   Paul and Marjorie Vautrin                  

                    7:  Nick D’Emanuele

                    8:  Brenda Hotchkiss.  A:  Fred and Connie Kiesinger

                   10:  Ronald Schmidt

                   11:  Eric Hulbert, Cindy Monson, Nellie Roberts.

                   13: Angeline Parker.  A:  Grant & Rita DeLong

                   16:  Gary Day

                   17:  Melody Smith

                   18:  Abigail Anderson, Linda Fravor, Joel Hurlbut, Cynthia Munger, Cindy Ross, Mark Weigelt

                   19:  A: James and Christy Craig

                   21:  Josiah Van Wormer

                   22:  Robert DeLong, Nicholas Pachoud, Sarah Britt

                   23:  Laurie LeBouef

                   24:  Lisa Spencer, Kierra Webster

                   25:  Samantha Smithers. 

                   27:  Victoria Ross

                   28:  A:  Peter & Monica Garner, Mark & Sarah Weigelt

                   29:  Lovetta Smith.  A:  Mark and Melanie Hiller

                   30:  Tom Perlet  

 

19th ANNUAL AUCTION - Saturday, October 1st  

You name it, we'll have it!! A huge variety of items have been donated with more still coming in. We'll have the usual and the unusual....gift certificates to restaurants and business, catered dinners, good food, apples and syrup, oil changes, furnace cleaning, beauty shop services and products, entertainment including tickets to the Renaissance Faire and Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, golf course certificates and more. There will be many filled baskets for every hobby and liking: bird lovers, gardeners, holidays, etc.  And don't forget, a genuine, full length mink coat will be offered.  (It's going to be a long, cold winter "they" say.)

Note one change: the Silent Auction will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 10:15 a.m., so get there early to look over and enter your bid.  Then at 10:30, the "live" auction will start, conducted by Pastor Bill and his gavel.

If you want to donate to the auction call 963-3646 or 963-3566, we can even pick up your donation. Of course, we will need people to bid and purchase all these great bargains, so be sure to attend.

The annual auction is the church's biggest fundraiser; all proceeds go to helping to end the year in the black. Lunch will be available and a bake sale will run concurrently.

Hope to see you October 1st.  

 

IMPORTANT DATES:  

September 7:    School opens; please drive carefully.

September 11:  Sunday School, 8:45am

September 13:  Finance Meeting, 10am

                  13:  Committee on Lay Leadership Meeting, 7pm

September 15:  Trustees Meeting, 6pm

                  15:  Angelfood Orders Due

September 16:  Shoe Box Story, Watertown

September 16:  Women Within, 7pm

September 17:  UMMen’s Breakfast Meeting, 8:30am.

September 22:  Church Growth Meeting 6:30pm.

September 24:  Angelfood Distribution Day

September 25:  Senior High UM Youth Group Meeting, 6:30pm.

September 27:  Charge Conference, 6pm

October 1:        Annual Church Auction

October 2:        Crop Walk in Pulaski

 

Our Sympathy to…  

The family of:
Dolores Jones
Who passed away on:
Sunday, August 7, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The family of

Ray Darling
Who passed away on:
Tuesday, August 23, 2011

 

Celebration of Baptism  

Josephine Bea Johnson  

 Sunday, August 28, 2011  

Daughter of Justin and Sarah Johnson

Thank You, Thank You to…

 ~  the trustees for resolving the drainage problem by the fellowship hall door.

~  the United Methodist Men for providing hot dogs and rolls, as well as cooking the same, for the church picnic at Mexico Point on Sunday, August 7.

~  all who cooked and served at the funeral dinner for Ray Darling on Saturday, August 27.

~  all who provided special music during the summer worship services. 

 

Congratulations  

On the birth of:

 Noah Spencer

Who was born on:

Sunday, August 7, 2011  

Noah is the son of Jeremy and Lisa Spencer, and younger brother to Elizabeth& Deanna.

 

 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOE BOX RECIPENT TO SHARE STORY  

 

For ten years Livia Satterfield spent her life in an austere government-run orphanage in Romania. Then one day when she was about 12, a group of people, including an American woman, came to the orphanage distributing shoe boxes.  Inside the box that Livia got was a package of hair barrettes. Overcome with joy, Livia clung to the kind lady who handed her the box.

Also inside was a pink and yellow heart broken in half with the words "I love you".  "You keep this half," Livia told the woman. "Maybe I will see you again someday and I can be a part of your family."

What Livia didn't know was that Connie Satterfield, who was on a church mission trip, sensed that God wanted her to adopt this child.  Connie and her husband began the legal process when they returned home.  Two years later, Livia's most earnest prayer was answered.

On Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m., Livia will be at the New Life Christian Church on Arsenal St., Watertown, to tell her story.  It is hoped that interested persons from our church, can carpool to Watertown to meet this former Romanian orphan, who received a simple shoe box and how it changed her like.

If you are interested in traveling to Watertown, please contact:

Rose Ann (963-3161), or Madelyn (963-3646).

Upcoming MISSION TRIP!!!  

At least eight people have signed on to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina to process shoe boxes at Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child Processing Center.  The mission team will be leaving on December 5, 2011, to work three days at the processing center where they will preparing shoe boxes (many of which will have been collected in the northeast), for shipment to children in need in more than 130 countries around the world.  While a child will receive only one box in his/her lifetime, that box can make a difference in that child’s life. In each box is placed a book telling the Christmas story in the appropriate language.  Many children and sometimes their families then begin Bible study. 

God’s Word is traveling around the world in shoeboxes!
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet."  Unknown

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 
SHOE BOX KICK OFF

Our church Shoe Box Kick Off, will be Sunday, Oct. 9th, with collection continuing until Nov. 20.  On Nov. 6 after the church service, the Outreach/Missions Committee will hold a "packing party", where we hope to use items purchased in quantity to pack a number of boxes. If you find crayons, toothbrushes, hard candy, small toys or any of the other items suggested on sale, you are invited to bring them to the packing party to help pack some shoe boxes. Of course, you may still fill your boxes with your family at home as well.  Last year eight million shoe boxes went to children in need around the world.  

2011 Crop Walk  

Although there is currently not a Crop Walk occurring in Mexico, there is one close by in Pulaski. As defined by Church World Service, “Crop Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by religious groups, businesses, schools, and others to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world.” Our church is forming a team to participate in the Crop Walk organized by Park United Methodist Church in Pulaski.  The date of the walk is, Sunday, October 2, and the time is 12:45pm.  Please contact Kelly Freihofer, 963-3936, if you are interested in joining the team.

 

Who’s Cooking at Monday’s Meals??  

September 5:  No Monday’s Meal ~ 
September 12:   Kelly Freihofer
September 19:  Maggie Palmer      
September 26:  Shawne Helker Diane Tupper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who is Hosting Coffee Hour??  

September 4:  Presbyterian Church 
September 1:Mary,Judy, Leslie, Georgia
September 18:  Muriel DeLong       
September 25:  Auction Com. 

HOW WAS CHURCH CAMP?

 

“I had a great time at camp and here are a few of my favorite things: riding the banana boat, the wild wagon ride driven by Jim, having Pastor Chip as a water buddy, learning the beaver song at chapel and the food! The hardest part of camp was climbing the 138 or more steps of Jacobs’s Ladder several times a day.” 

Emily Miller, Camp Casowasco

 

 

My Favorite Part of Church Camp:

 

Andrea Ross: “Riding the banana boat and blobbing during a very HOT week.”

Alyssa Ross: “Visiting different places through Camp Getaway and making new friends.”

Victoria Ross: “Riding the Molecule and cooling off in the lake.”

 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES for LOCAL CHILDREN

 

The Outreach Committee has designated $300 of the proceeds from their Annual Attic Treasures Sale to be used to purchase new school supplies for local school children in need.  Madelyn Schmidt and Diane Tupper are shopping for the supplies and they will soon be delivered to the Mexico District Office for distribution to the schools within the district. 

 

Sunday School 2011-2012  

Sunday School Classes will begin for children on Sunday, September 11, at 8:45am.  (Note the change in time.)  Everyone is invited, and asked to meet in the fellowship hall to begin the morning with the music of chimes! 

A Women’s Bible Study  

All women of the church are invited to an eight –week Bible Study beginning on Tuesday, September 20, at 10am.  Carol Aldrich has graciously opened her home, at 125 Spring Street in Mexico, for the Bible study.  

On Patience, Love, Peace, and Thankfulness…

 

Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love.  Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.          Colossians 3:12 - 15

Local Mission Opportunity

 

Do you have two free hours a month to serve those in need?  The Mexico Food Pantry is in need of volunteers. Please contact:  Martha Strutz at: 963-3117, if you are available. 


RECIPE CORNER: This seasonal apple recipe comes to us from Barb Lindovski.  It is also printed in our “Treasures From Heaven” church cookbook on page 133.  We live in apple country with the gift of fresh and delicious apples available to us every day.  Thanks Barb.  

Apple Nut Coffee Cake  

½ cup butter                                                1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar                                                 1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs                                                         ¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla                                       1 cup sour cream

2 cups flour                                                 2 apples finely chopped  

Cream the butter and sugar, beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and add alternately with sour cream.  Stir in apples.  Pour into greased and floured 9x13 inch pan.   

Topping:  

½ cup nuts                                                  2 Tablespoons butter

½ cup brown sugar                                      1 teaspoon cinnamon  

Mix topping ingredients together.  Sprinkle topping over batter and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  

 

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

Comments

Back