Faith UMC Update April 18, 2018
Dear Friends in Faith, This Sunday our Scripture focus will be on the 23rd Psalm. Psalm 23 is the most well-known Psalm and perhaps, even, the most well-known Scripture in the Bible. Those who don’t attend church have likely heard the familiar first line, “The Lord is my Shepherd….” On Sunday we will consider why this is such a beloved Scripture and how, through it, we are offered acceptance, comfort and strength. If you have a story about the 23rd Psalm, or would like to share why it is a favorite of yours, I would love to hear from you. Below you will find a prayer for reflection, along with announcements about events and opportunities in your church and community. Your Friend in Faith, Pastor Kristabeth Be thou my vision, Lord, this day and every day, the center of my life, the focus of my thoughts. Be thou my wisdom, Lord, the inspiration of my words, in every situation, Your Spirit my support. ~ Faith and Worship Sunday, April 22 Theme: Home: A Place at the Table Scripture: Psalm 23, John 10:11-18 Sermon: Table Prepared Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule April 23-27 Monday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits Tuesday – Office in the Morning Wednesday – Office in the Morning, Trustees 6:30pm Thursday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits Friday – Pastor’s Sabbath New Member Conversations were canceled due to weather on Sunday. We will meet this coming Sunday at 10:30am. Come if you are interest, curious, or just want to know more! Ham Dinner and Silent Auction In just a few short weeks, on Saturday, May 5, our church will hold its annual Ham Dinner and Silent Auction. Please note: Due to some scheduling conflicts, the event will NOT be on May 12 as advertised in the April Horizon’s of Faith. We apologize for any confusion. This is our church’s largest fund raising event with all proceeds going towards our operating budget. We will need many volunteers for a successful event, including people to help with setup, cooking, serving, cleanup, baking pies and people to help solicit businesses or donate items for the silent auction. The volunteer sign-up sheets are on the kiosk. Diane Chamberlain will be managing the kitchen and kitchen help. Valerie Kuentzel will be in charge of the Silent Auction portion. Please contact either of these coordinators with questions or to volunteer. See you on Cinco de Mayo, in English: May 5! Church Conference — Sunday, April 29 at 10:30 am There will be a special Church Conference on Sunday, April 29th at 10:30 in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the Conference is to affirm the Ministry Candidacy of Tim Riddle. No other items will be discussed. Please plan to stay for this brief, yet important, meeting! Apply now for 2018-19 general scholarship for NEAC The New England Conference Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 academic year. The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Current members of United Methodist churches in the New England Conference attending or planning to attend college or a post-secondary education institution are eligible. The application and required recommendation form are submitted online. Any questions can be directed to Scholarship Committee Chair Paul Carlotto at p.carlotto@verizon.net. You can find the application process here: https://www.neumc.org/newsdetail/201819neacscholarship-11104327 Adult Study on “The Anatomy of Peace” Pastor Kristabeth is leading an Adult Study on the book “The Anatomy of Peace.” It is one of the Bishop’s recommended books. Everyone is welcome to attend – Sunday evenings at 5pm. We meet in the...
Read MoreFaith UMC Update April 11, 2018
Dear Friends in Faith, Native American Ministries Sunday is one of the six United Methodist Special Sundays we observe each year. As umcgiving.org describes, “When you support Native American Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who will honor and celebrate Native American culture in their ministries. And you empower congregations that are finding fresh new ways to minister to their communities with the love of Christ.” This Sunday you will have the opportunity to give a special gift to support this ministry and share God’s love! Below you will find a prayer that reflects the Native American Tradition, along with announcements about events and opportunities in your church and community. Your Friend in Faith, Pastor Kristabeth Let us give thanks for this beautiful day, for it is a gift from Creator. Let us give thanks for the water without which life would not be possible. Let us give thanks for Grandmother Earth who protects and nourishes us. We give thanks for earth, air, sun, and water, in which we see the hand of Creator, even Creator Himself for He is in all He has made. Let us give thanks for this life. It is a gift from Creator, and we have the possibility of living it. Let us live it to His praise and glory! ~ Rev. Jeff Ramsland Sunday, April 15 – Native American Awareness Sunday Theme: Home: You’re Family! Scripture: Luke 36b-48, 1 John 3:1-7 Sermon: Family Reunion Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule April 16-20 Monday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits Tuesday – Office in the Morning, Lunch Meeting Wednesday – Office in the Morning, Worship at Gazebo Senior Living at 2:30pm Thursday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits Friday – Pastor’s Sabbath New Member Conversations Come join the new member conversations! The first class was after worship on March 4 but you can catch up! Other classes after worship on April 15 and April 22. Come if you are curious -you can decide to join – or not – as classes proceed. Ham Dinner and Silent Auction In just a few short weeks, on Saturday, May 5, our church will hold its annual Ham Dinner and Silent Auction. Please note: Due to some scheduling conflicts, the event will NOT be on May 12 as advertised in the April Horizon’s of Faith. We apologize for any confusion. This is our church’s largest fund raising event with all proceeds going towards our operating budget. We will need many volunteers for a successful event, including people to help with setup, cooking, serving, cleanup, baking pies and people to help solicit businesses or donate items for the silent auction. The volunteer sign-up sheets are on the kiosk. Diane Chamberlain will be managing the kitchen and kitchen help. Valerie Kuentzel will be in charge of the Silent Auction portion. Please contact either of these coordinators with questions or to volunteer. See you on Cinco de Mayo, in English: May 5! Church Conference — Sunday, April 29 at 10:30 am There will be a special Church Conference on Sunday, April 29th at 10:30 in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the Conference is to affirm the Ministry Candidacy of Tim Riddle. No other items will be discussed. Please plan to stay for this brief, yet important, meeting! Apply Now for 2018-2019 General Scholarship from the NEAC The New England Conference Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 academic year. The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Current members of United Methodist churches in the New England Conference attending or planning to...
Read MoreFaith UMC Update April 4, 2018
Dear Friends in Faith, Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, Indeed! Last Sunday we had a wonderful Easter celebration, including a 6:15am Sunrise Service. Because of the rain, we didn’t actually see the sunrise, but we certainly felt the rising of the Son in our hearts. And guess what? The celebration is not over. Easter isn’t just a Sunday, it is a season. We will continue to walk with the risen Christ during the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost, called The Great Fifty Days in some traditions. Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Tomorrow and Forever – Thanks be to God! Below you will find an Easter prayer, along with announcements and opportunities in your church and community. Your Friend in Faith, Pastor Kristabeth We thank you that Easter is not about a people, but all people, that your love and your Salvation are for all who confess with voices, hearts and lives that the tomb is empty because Jesus is risen, that we might know forgiveness, that lives might be reborn and your name glorified now and for eternity. ~ Faith and Worship Visit from Bishop Devadhar THIS Sunday, April 8 On Sunday, April 8 the leader of our New England Conference, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, will join us for worship. Bishop Devadhar will preach and officiate the baptism of Gryphon Riddle, son of Tim and Emily Riddle. When Tim was a youth, Bishop Devadhar was the pastor of his local church. It is a joy to welcome Bishop Devadhar to worship and to celebrate the connectional nature of our church! Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule April 9-13 Monday – Office in the Morning, Lunch Meeting, Afternoon Visits Tuesday – Office in the Morning Wednesday – Office in the Morning, Staff Parish Team 6:30pm Thursday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits Friday – Pastor’s Sabbath Celebrate 125 pounds of food delivered to the Food Shelf for March! Ham Dinner and Silent Auction In just a few short weeks, on Saturday, May 5, our church will hold its annual Ham Dinner and Silent Auction. Please note: Due to some scheduling conflicts, the event will NOT be on May 12 as advertised in the April Horizon’s of Faith. We apologize for any confusion. This is our church’s largest fundraising event with all proceeds going towards our operating budget. We will need many volunteers for a successful event, including people to help with setup, cooking, serving, cleanup, baking pies and people to help solicit businesses or donate items for the silent auction. The volunteer sign-up sheets are on the kiosk. Diane Chamberlain will be managing the kitchen and kitchen help. Valerie Kuentzel will be in charge of the Silent Auction portion. Please contact either of these coordinators with questions or to volunteer. See you on Cinco de Mayo, in English: May 5! Church Conference — Sunday, April 29 at 10:30 am There will be a special Church Conference on Sunday, April 29th at 10:30 in the Sanctuary. The purpose of the Conference is to affirm the Ministry Candidacy of Tim Riddle. No other items will be discussed. Please plan to stay for this brief, yet important, meeting! Apply Now for 2018-2019 Church Scholarhsip The New England Conference Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 academic year. The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Current members of United Methodist churches in the New England Conference attending or planning to attend college or a post-secondary education institution are eligible. The application and required recommendation form are submitted online. Any questions can be...
Read MoreFaith UMC Update March 28, 2018
Dear Friends in Faith, Blessed Holy Week to you. May God be with us as we journey with Jesus from the Upper Room to the Cross, and on to the Empty Tomb. Below you will find a prayer and our Holy Week schedule, along with other announcements and opportunities. Your Friend in Faith, Pastor Kristabeth God of such unwavering love, how do I “celebrate” the passion and death of Jesus? I often want to look the other way and not watch, not stay with Jesus in his suffering. Give me the strength to see his love with honesty and compassion and to feel deeply your own forgiveness and mercy for me. Help me to understand how to “celebrate” this week. I want be able to bring my weaknesses and imperfections with me as I journey with Jesus this week, so aware of his love. ~ Creighton University Online Ministries Sunday, April 1 – Easter Sunday! Christ is Risen! Theme: A Place to Call Home Scripture: John 20:1-18 Sermon: A New Home Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule April 2-6 Monday – Easter Monday – Pastor’s Day Off Tuesday – Office in the Morning, Lunch Meeting Wednesday – Office in the Morning, Tending Faith 7pm Thursday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits and Meetings Friday – Pastor’s Sabbath Holy Week and Easter Worship: Maundy Thursday Worship with Tenebrae, Thursday, March 29 and 7pm – Worship and remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and his crucifixion on the cross as we share together in Communion and a service of Tenebrae. Good Friday Meditation, Friday, March 30 from 10am-2pm – The Sanctuary will be open for a time of meditation and reflection on the Stations of the Cross Good Friday Worship, Friday, March 30 at 7pm at Shelburne UMC – Our friends at the Shelburne United Methodist Church (30 Church St. Shelburne, VT) invite us to join them for Good Friday Worship. Easter Sunrise Service, April 1 at 6:15am – Celebrate the Risen Christ as we watch the sun rise over Mt. Mansfield. Our Easter Sunrise Service takes place in the parking lot of the Wheeler Homestead (1100 Dorset St.) rain or shine. Traditional Easter Worship at 9:30am in the Sanctuary Tending Faith ~ Wednesday, April 4 at 7pm Leadership Empowerment and Development Our next “Tending Faith” will be Wednesday, April 4 at 7pm in the Upper Elementary room. Tending Faith is a gathering for current church leaders and those who are discerning a call to leadership in the church. All are welcome! It is an opportunity to come together for reflection, leadership discussion, tool-building, and prayer in a one-hour format. Speak with Pastor Kristabeth for more information. Also, mark your calendars May 2, the last of our Tending Faith gatherings. Celebrate 125 pounds of food delivered to the Food Shelf for March! Visit from Bishop Devadhar on Sunday, April 8 On Sunday, April 8 the leader of our New England Conference, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, will join us for worship. Bishop Devadhar will preach and officiate the baptism of Gryphon Riddle, son of Tim and Emily Riddle. When Tim was a youth, Bishop Devadhar was the pastor of his local church. It is a joy to welcome Bishop Devadhar to worship and to celebrate the connectional nature of our church! Apply Now for New England Conference Scholarship 2018-2019 The New England Conference Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for the 2018-19 academic year. The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 31, 2018. Current members of United Methodist churches in the...
Read MoreFaith UMC Update March 22, 2018
Dear Friends in Faith, The Season of Lent is drawing us closer and closer to the cross. This Sunday we will recall Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem upon the back of a donkey, as people waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna!” This path of Jesus ultimately leads to the Upper Room where he shared a meal with his disciples and on to the cross where he was crucified. It is not an easy journey, but it is one that we must take to fully appreciate the joy of Easter and the gift of life. Below you will find a prayer for Palm Sunday and our Holy Week schedule, along with other announcement and opportunities. May you have a blessed Holy Week. Your Friend in Faith, Pastor Kristabeth Thou who art the soul and heart of life, save us from fear—the fear of days and nights yet to be, the fear of the known and the unknown, the fear that builds high walls around our spirits and our lives, the fear that closes in and envelops us, the fear that nibbles at the edges of every satisfaction. Free us from fear of failure and success, of shame and pain, of death and fear of life as well. Open our eyes that we may see thy glory in humbleness and simplicity, commonness strewn generously across our path all our days. May we recognize thee riding upon a simple beast of burden, down the crooked streets of Jerusalem. May we not require the palms of victory and praise, the accolades and shouts of the multitude to see thy glory in gentleness, patience, loving kindness and, yes, pain and sometimes death. Thy way of peace—of faith, hope, and love—still is our path, our joy, our way. Amen. ~David A. Johnson Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday Theme: Grace for our Fear Scripture: Mark 1:1-11, Philippians 2:5-11 Sermon: “Left-Handed Power” Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule March 26-30 Monday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Visits, Tuesday – Lectionary Group, Office in the Morning Wednesday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon work in the Community Thursday – Office in the Morning, Maundy Thursday Worship 7pm Friday – Good Friday Meditation 10am-2pm, Good Friday Worship in Shelburne 7pm Lasagna Lunch – THIS SUNDAY Our youth will again host our annual Palm Sunday Lasagna Lunch in Brand Hall following worship on Sunday, March 25. All are welcome! Donations are accepted. Hosanna! Lasagna! Holy Week and Easter Worship: Palm Sunday Worship, March 25 at 9:30am – Special Music and Palm Celebration Maundy Thursday Worship with Tenebrae, Thursday, March 29 and 7pm – Worship and remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and his crucifixion on the cross as we share together in Communion and a service of Tenebrae. Good Friday Meditation, Friday, March 30 from 10am-2pm – The Sanctuary will be open for a time of meditation and reflection on the Stations of the Cross Good Friday Worship, Friday, March 30 at 7pm at Shelburne UMC – Our friends at the Shelburne United Methodist Church (30 Church St. Shelburne, VT) invite us to join them for Good Friday Worship. Easter Sunrise Service, April 1 at 6:15am – Celebrate the Risen Christ as we watch the sun rise over Mt. Mansfield. Our Easter Sunrise Service takes place in the parking lot of the Wheeler Homestead (1100 Dorset St.) rain or shine. Traditional Easter Worship at 9:30am in the Sanctuary Easter Egg Hunts We are not offering an East Egg Hunt this year, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able...
Read MoreFaith UMC Update March 15, 2018
Dear Friends in Faith, St. Patrick’s Day is just a couple of days away. These days St. Patrick’s Day is more of a cultural festival than a religious holiday. St. Patrick’s Day has become synonymous with corned beef and cabbage and green beer! Yet there is a religious history to March 17. It is observed as the Feast Day of St. Patrick who died on March 17 in the year 461. Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. Much legend has grown up around St. Patrick’s life. Perhaps the most well-known legend is that he explained the Trinity using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock. St. Patrick’s Day also falls between the seasons of winter and spring. As one well-known St. Patrick’s Day quote proclaims, “St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.” May it be so! Below you will find an Irish blessing. Scroll further down to learn what’s happening in your church and community. Your Friend in Faith, Pastor Kristabeth May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. ~ Irish Blessing Sunday, March 18 – Fifth Sunday of Lent Theme: Grace for our Despair Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-12 Sermon: Heart Check-Up Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule March 19-23 Monday – Writing Day Tuesday – Lunch Meeting, Afternoon Visits Wednesday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Worship at Gazebo Senior Living Thursday – Office in the Morning, Afternoon Meetings Friday – Pastor’s Day Off Pines Ministry Team We are looking to grow our Pines Ministry Team, which offers monthly worship and communion at the Pines Senior Living community. Participants read Scripture, offer prayers and give an occasional sermon. Our next Pines Worship is this Sunday, March 18 at 11:30am. Please join us if you are curious or interested! Speak with Tim Hess or Pastor Kristabeth for more information. METHODIST MIXER – NEW LOCATION The Methodist Mixers will dine Saturday, March 24th, at the Windjammer Restaurant at 5:30pm. Mark your calendars and contact Beth or Rod Williams at 658-6468. You may also call for more information. This is a group of Methodists from area churches who meet a few times a year for fellowship and food. Anyone is welcome, singles or couples. Please join us! Lasagna Lunch Our youth will again host our annual Palm Sunday Lasagna Lunch in Brand Hall following worship on Sunday, March 25. All are welcome! Donations are accepted. Hosanna! Lasagna! Holy Week and Easter Worship: Palm Sunday Worship, March 25 at 9:30am – Special Music and Palm Celebration Maundy Thursday Worship with Tenebrae, Thursday, March 29 and 7pm – Worship and remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and his crucifixion on the cross as we share together in Communion and a service of Tenebrae. Good Friday Meditation, Friday, March 30 from 10am-2pm – The Sanctuary will be open for a time of meditation and reflection on the Stations of the Cross Good Friday Worship, Friday, March 30 at 7pm at Shelburne UMC – Our friends at the Shelburne United Methodist Church (30...
Read More
