Dear Friends in Faith,
Like many families this time of year, this weekend Gary and I will be celebrating Ben’s graduation! I will be taking vacation days Friday (tomorrow) through Monday to attend Ben’s graduation and spend time with family. If you have a pastoral concern while I am gone, please contact our Lay Leader, Tricia. May God bless all our graduates as they celebrate their accomplishments and plan for the future!
Below you will find a prayer for the graduates in your life. If you don’t have a graduate in your family this year, share it with a friend or coworker who does! Further down are some announcements about our Faith community life together.
Your Friend in Faith,
Pastor Kristabeth
As your classes and grading are now complete, may you strive toward excellence in all you do.
As the speeches conclude, may your voices rise up to pronounce justice and peace in the world.
As the fanfares cease, may you sing of joy, even in the dark and lonely places.
As the applause quiets, may you celebrate and lift up those around you.
As you graduate, may your achievements grow and cause growth in your communities.
And may we all know of the overwhelming blessings of the One who created all things. Amen.
~ UMC Discipleship Ministries
Pastor Kristabeth’s Schedule and Office Hours Week of May 21-27:
(Schedule may change as visitation needs and other pressing matters arise.)
Sunday: Vacation Day
Monday: Vacation Day
Tuesday: Lectionary Group in St. Albans 9am-10am, Writing Workshop 10:30-12:30
Wednesday: Morning Visits, Office 1pm-4pm
Thursday: Office 10am-2pm, Visit, Open Hours at Barnes & Noble 3:30pm-5:30pm
Friday: Office 8am-10am, Visit, St. Michael’s 11:30am, Clergy Lunch
Saturday: Pastor’s Sabbath
Sunday Worship May 21
Theme: Rise Up! Judgement
Scripture: John 14:15-21, Acts 17:22-31
Sermon: “When Loving and Obeying Make Sense Together” Tim Hess
Children’s Sunday June 4th!
Theme: “Can You Hear Me Now?”
There will be a Potluck Lunch following worship. Bring a dish to share!
Let’s Celebrate the Rev. Brigid Farrell’s ministry as the Vermont District Superintendent!
Where: Hedding United Methodist Church , 40 Washington Street, Barre Vermont
When: Sunday June 4, 2017 (Pentecost Sunday)
4:00PM Pot Luck Picnic for those who would like to come early and share a meal
5:00PM Worship followed by refreshments and presentations
(Refreshments will be FUN cupcakes provided by YOU! Please bring some of your favorite cupcakes to share! We’ll enjoy these after the worship celebration.)
Pick-up Choir – come at 3:30 to practice if you would like to join with others in singing a choral anthem.
Special Gift – we plan to honor Brigid with a donation to a special mission of her choice. Monetary gifts may be mailed in advance or contributed during worship. Please make checks payable to the Northfield United Methodist Parish, with memo: DS Brigid Celebration. Mail to ATTN: Evie Doyon, Northfield UM Parish, 152 South Main ST, Northfield VT 05663 or bring to the service on June 4.
Let Pastor Kristabeth know if you would like to carpool to the event.
Lay Servant Course Leading in Prayer
The advanced Lay Servant course, “Leading in Prayer – Let the Whole Church say, Amen,” will be offered at the Essex Center UMC (119 Center Rd, Essex VT) on four Sunday afternoons from 1:00-3:30 starting the end of June or early July at the convenience of class participants. If interested, contact Tricia Waldron triciavt@myfairpoint.net. NOTE: All who are lay servants are required to take a course every 3 years. Other courses are available, even some online, but this is local and in-person. Come join us!
Celebrate: 115 pounds of food donated to the Food Shelf for April. Let’s beat that for May!
Come join the New Member Conversations!
Come if you are curious –
You might be wondering about our church history or
How does Faith UMC plan for the future?
Who decides what we’ll do next week, next month, next year?
What does membership mean?
How can I become more involved?
What are my spiritual gifts?
Who was John Wesley and why is he important to Methodists?
If you’d like some answers – let Tricia Waldron know you are interested by seeing her at church or calling 373-6114 or via email triciavt@myfairpoint.net.
Apply now for undergraduate scholarships from the New England Conference
Each year the New England Conference Scholarship Committee seeks applications from adults or recent high school graduates who are pursuing an undergraduate education at any accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school.
The application deadline for 2017-18 support is Wednesday, May 31, 2017.
http://www.neumc.org/newsdetai l/apply-now-for-conference- undergraduate-scholarships- 7766896