Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Ephrata, WA
Permit No. 5 Fax: (509)398-9514 - E-mail: [email protected]
The United Methodist Church of Ephrata 117 C. Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823 - (509)754-4664
Thank you for supporting the work of the church through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness as we pursue our mission:
“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”
July 2014
Update Deadline August 20th 12:00 noon
Get your articles and announcements in!
by emailing to:
The Update July 2014
The United Methodist
Church of Ephrata
“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”
Pastor Justin Townley
Office Hours
Monday through Thursday
8:00am to 1:00pm
www.umcephrata.org
Phone: (509)754-4664
Fax: (509)398-9514
117 C Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823
Sunday School on break for summer
Worship Service: 10:00am
Pastor: Justin Townley……[email protected]
Administrative Assistant: Sheryl Downey……[email protected]
Custodian: Jamie Downing
Nursery Attendant: Emilie Grubb
PAGE 2
July 2014 Quilters 9am July 01 Grief Talks 6pm July 01 Happy Independence Day! July 04 Worship with Matt Prior 10am July 06 Quilters 9am July 08 Worship with Pastor Justin 10am July 13 Quilters 9am July 15 Trustees Meeting 7pm July 15 Church Council 7pm July 16 Summer Basin Sounds July 18-19 Worship 10am July 20 Quilters 9am July 22 Finance Committee 5:30pm July 22 SPR Meeting 5:30pm July 24 Worship 10am July 27 Quilters 9am July 29 Community Dinner 5:30pm July 31
DATE July 6th July 13th July 20th July 27th
Assistant
Of the Day
Lonny Holleman Merle Gibbens Mike Dell Bob Bluhm
Usher &
Greeter Mary Holleman
Louise Ingebrigtson
Vera Senn
Randy Senn
Bev Dell
Kathy Buhl
Marilyn Bluhm
Margaret Treiber
Liturgist
Camille Price Lois Gibbens Elaine Carpenter Cammy Hatch
Sound
Technician
Connor Maddalozzo Connor Maddalozzo Connor Maddalozzo Connor Maddalozzo
Coffee
Hour
Vivian Winters Ann Chandler Bev Dell Marilyn Grass
Counters
Denis Plew
Louise Ingebrigtson
Shirley Pederson
Mary Morin
Kathy Buhl
Marilyn Grass
John Morris
Margaret Treiber
Sunday
School
GRIEF TALKS
For those going through the shadows, pain, tears and fear of the grief season. Grief talks meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the Fire-side Room.
www.umcephrata.org
July Servers
Want to see this newsletter in glorious color?
PAGE 7
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of
the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2,
1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve
a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June
by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States
independent from Great Britain. After voting for independ-
ence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, a statement explaining this decision, which had
been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jeffer-
son as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the
wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A
day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife, Abigail:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch
in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be cele-
brated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festi-
val. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by
solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solem-
nized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns,
bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this conti-
nent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset,
Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown
on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather
than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was
approved in a closed session of Congress.
Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually
signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all
later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians
have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a
month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4
as is commonly believed.
In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas
Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence
later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the
same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the
Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, but another Founding Father who became a Presi-
dent, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the
third President in a row who died on this memorable day. Cal-
vin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872,
and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Inde-
pendence Day.
Garrison Keillor on Methodists
(submitted by Marlene Albee)
We make fun of Methodists for the bland-
ness, their excessive calm, their fear of giv-
ing offense, their lack of speed and also for
the secret fondness of macaroni and
cheese. But I do believe this: these Meth-
odists are the sort of people you could call
up when you’re in deep distress. If you’re
dying , they will comfort you. If you are
lonely, they’ll talk to you. And if you are
hungry, they’ll give you tuna salad. Meth-
odists believe in prayer, but would practi-
cally die if asked to pray out loud. Method-
ists like to sing, except when confronted
with a new hymn or a hymn with more
than four stanzas. Methodists believe
their pastors will visit them in the hospi-
tal, even if they don’t notify them that they
are there. Methodists usually follow the
official liturgy and will feel it is their way
of suffering for their sins. Methodists be-
lieve in miracles and even expect miracles,
especially during their stewardship visita-
tion programs of when passing the plate.
Methodists think that the Bible forbids
them from crossing the aisle while passing
the peace. Methodists drink coffee as if it
were the third Sacrament. Methodists feel
guilty for not staying to clean up after
their own wedding reception in the Fellow-
ship Hall. Methodists believe that it’s OK
to poke fun at themselves and never take
themselves too seriously. You know you’re
a Methodist when: You hear something
funny during the sermon and smile as
loudly as you can. Donuts are a line item in
the church budget, just like coffee. When
you watch a Star Wars movie and they say
“May the Force be with you”, and you re-
spond “and also with you.” And lastly it
takes ten minutes to say good bye!
Amen and Peace
PAGE 6
FINANCE UPDATE
In an attempt to be transparent and inform you of our financial outlook, the Finance Committee includes a monthly financial update in our church Newsletter. Please note, the giving totals for this month’s information only records giving through the end of April.
Giving to General Fund As of 04.30.2014
2014 Budget $151,425 Target to Date $50,475 Actual to Date $52,939
Giving to Building Fund As of 04.30.2014
Actual to Date $539
Apportionments Paid As of 04.30.2014
Target to Date $ 6,997 Actual to Date $ 6,864
Treasurers Report
As of 04.30.2014
Total Income $55,425 Total Expense $47,931 TOTAL DIFFERENCE $ 7,493
We thank you for your financial support of the church’s ministries and programs!
If you would like information on your giving or an update on your progress toward your financial pledge to the church, please contact the church office by phone at (509) 754-4664 or by email at: [email protected]
Mary Mantz July 2nd Camille Price July 7th Ray Ryan July 7th Denis Plew July 8th Louise Sivula July 8th Bob Bluhm July 9th Randy Senn July 13th Champ Gipson July 14th Eleanor Hoople July 16th Dolores Pheasant July 17th Ralph Boyden July 18th Hazel Scobey July 18th Samantha Downing July 19th Louise Ingebrigtson July 19th Jefferson Ketchel July 22nd Gerald Smits July 23rd Donna Jancura July 26th Cameron McKnight July 26th Nolan Harvill July 27th Vonna Wendt July 30th
Late June Birthday……. Alan Fulk June 30th (sorry I goofed and forgot you, Alan)
Ken & Gail Slininger (6 years) July 5th Ray & Eleanor Hoople (66 years) July 24th Herb & Maggie Reynolds (32 years) July 31st
PAGE 3
UM Men’s Group
No UM Men’s Group meeting this month.
July 31, starting at 5:30pm. All are welcome!
Good Luck Josh!!
June 13th was Pastor Josh’s last Sun-
day with us. We were happy for him
and his new chapter in life, but sad for
us. Very few of us got through worship
without dabbing tissues to our eyes. We
pray he has a wonderful life with his
new bride, Heather, and hope he never
forgets he always has friends here in
Ephrata.
Beannachd Dia dhuit
(blessings of God be with you)
Thank you for the pictures,
Michelle Sowers!
Pictured Above: Bev Dell and Josh Mikelson holding the
cake. In the background is Mike Dell, Janis Davisson, and
Louise Sivula.
PAGE 4
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” James 5:13
One of the most wonderful gifts we are given is the gift of prayer. We can pray for one another in times of need as well as times of celebration.
Join the Prayer Chain. To receive the prayer chain by email send an email to Mary Fulk at [email protected]. To join the phone prayer chain contact Joan Jensen: 246-1691.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Prayers for the Military
Please let us know if someone should be added or taken off our prayer list by contacting the church office: 754-4664.
Also contact the church office if you know of someone in need of a visit by our Congregational Care Team, or Pastor Justin.
Prayers for Health, Healing,
and well-being
Vonna Wendt
Irene Gans
Louise Sivula
Shirley Johnson
Bill Nelson
Mike Cobb
Richard Hart
Margaret Kumma
Middleton Family
Mike (Barb’s friend)
Prayers for Those Suffering From
Long-Term Health Problems
Bob St. Clair Jr
Dee Gray
Bill Lowry
Lenora Walters
Ruth Walker
Hazel Scoby
Susan Smith
Mary Baird
Dick Hoyt
Bev Canfield
Ed Sivula
Ellen Fenimore
Doug Jensen
Tim Rogers
Ron Gardner
Steven Grass
Shirley Morris
Ervin Gans
Brian Davisson
Chris Wash
Kevin Harmon
Prayers of comfort
Loved ones of Jim Archer
Therefore confess your
sins to each other and
pray for each other so
that you may be healed.
The prayer of a right-
eous man is powerful
and effective.
James 5:16
Prayers for Pregnant
Moms & Their Babies
Because of our Maternity
Closet and our concern for
moms and babies, we are
asking for the congregation
to pray for those whose due
date is near and also pray
for God’s precious little
ones:
PAGE 5
Name Due Date
Yesmina July 16
Amy July 18
Shala August 14
Angela September 1
DATE July 7th July 14th July 21st July 28th
10am Diane Thompson
Cammy Hatch
Marna Kellams
Linda Bryant-
Smith
Better Rogers
Rosie Cegnar
Mary Morin
Barb Deycous
1pm Bev Dell Ann Chandler Dolores Pheasant Marilyn Grass
Maternity Closet Schedule
A big “Thank You!!” to all who helped with our Spring Cleaning Day! With so many volunteers we got a lot accomplished in just a few hours.
FOOD BANK
It will be our turn to volunteer in
the Food Bank in August. We vol-
unteer on Mondays and Thurs-
days. There is a sign-up sheet
posted on the kiosk if you would
like to volunteer.
Have a fun and safe 4th of July,
but please remember that aerial
fireworks are banned and law en-
forcement will be giving out cita-
tions instead of warnings this
year. Keep it safe and sane!