NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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STAFF Pastor

REV. MICHAEL PIKE

Music Director

& Organist

SHEILA SCHATTLE

Sexton

DAVE VENANCIO

Admin Assistant

MELISSA COSTA

APRIL 2017

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR MIKE

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Saturday at 5:00 PM

Sunday at 9:00 AM

& 10:45am

Fellowship follows in the

Parish House

Children’s Church School

during Sunday

worship services

PUMC

2732 EAST MAIN ROAD

PO Box 265

Portsmouth, RI 02871

Office: 401-683-4005

Coming Soon . . . Resurrection Life Before we reach Easter, we must pass through the suffering and death of the Cross. There must be a death before there can be a resurrection. We are to count ourselves as dead to sin and alive to God, as God’s Word demands – Romans 6:11-13 “ . . . count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” During Lent, we ask God to point out every way in which we have yielded to sin and the lusts of the flesh – so that we can confess them and ask the Lord to forgive us and set us free. If we are willing to crucify the flesh by refusing to give in to it, and by humbling ourselves enough to confess our sins – then God will take care of providing the deliverance from the power of sin. We cannot deliver ourselves from the power of sin, but God can deliver us through the power of the resurrection of Jesus. Romans 8:1-2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus . . . through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” And also Romans 8:11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” What a great promise – God will give us LIFE through His Spirit. The same power which raised our Lord Jesus from the dead is available to us ! I don’t know about you, but I often have a “power shortage”. All that is required to have access to the power of God for living is to stop trying to live by our own power. Ask the Lord to supply His own power through the Holy Spirit. May you truly experience New Life in Christ and Power for Living as you let God work in your heart to set you free ! Pastor Mike Holy Week Worship schedule 2017 - consider attending these special events !

Palm Sunday, 4/9 – 9:00 am Traditional Worship Service – palms for all

Palm Sunday Brunch 9:30 am—12:00 pm in the Parish Hall

10:45 am Contemporary Worship Service - palms for all

April 9 evening - Prayer Meeting 5-6 pm in the Sanctuary

Maundy Thursday – April 13 - Soup for the Soul -St. Paul’s UMC, Newport

at 6:00 pm

Good Friday – April 14 evening worship at Calvary UMC, Middletown at 7:00

pm

Holy Saturday - April 15 Prayer Meeting 5-6 pm in the Sanctuary (No Sat Night

Alive)

Easter Sunrise Service 6:00 am on Easton’s Beach – led by Calvary UMC youth

Easter Resurrection Day Worship – April 16

9:00 am Traditional Worship -special Easter choir music

10 - 10:45 am - Easter Egg Hunt - children’s event

10:45 am Contemporary Worship - special Easter music

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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PAGE ITEM

1 Message from Pastor Mike

2 Contents

The Basics

3 How to Reach Pastor Mike

Staff Hours

April Birthdays

4 Sheila’s Music Notes

5 Easter Flowers Order Form

PAGE ITEM

6

YOU ARE MISSED!!!!

Special Speaker

Chili Cook Off

“The Gathering”

7

Praises

Clements fund

Children/Church

Palm Sunday

8

Contemporary Service Update

Prayer Meetings Pastor's Discretionary Fund Update March 2017

9

March Calendar

T H E B a s I c S Portsmouth UMC

Mission Statement “Live our faith in ways that will bring people to Christ: by Worshiping God, Growing our faith, Reaching out, and Serving people in need, in order to build a community that continues

Christ’s earthly mission.”

Tell us your email

address…

If you received the newsletter by U.S. mail and have an email address, please forward it to Melissa at the office.

Church Council Representatives

Church Council Chair Nancy Dluhy

Church Council Secretary Susan Millard

SPRC John Cochran

Education GAR Weymouth

Finance Dave Brock

History/Memorials Carol Hutchinson

Lay Leader/SPRC Dick Taylor

Missions Laura Charette

Nominations Pastor Mike

Public Relations Melissa Costa

Stewardship Duncan Ingraham

Treasurer Chris McMillian

Trustees Craig McMillian

Keith Mackenzie

Congregational Care Committee Bryn Weymouth

Worship ( I n Transition )

Youth Representative ( I n Transition )

Young Adult Representative Jimmy Wilson

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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HOW TO REACH PASTOR MIKE

1 FIRST call the church office at 401-683-4005

2 THEN . . . if I am not there, and that doesn’t work . . . please feel free to call my work cell number . . .

or text me . . . at 401-787-4971.

3 NEXT please try emailing me at revmpike@gmail.com for a written reply.

4 THEN . . . if that does not work . . . Leave a message for me

WHEN PASTOR MIKE IS NOT AVAILABLE ...

PASTOR’S DAY OFF Pastor Mike’s day off will be Mondays. Please call or email the office if you need help.

PASTORAL CARE If you need pastoral care during these times, you may contact the office for information on local Pastors who are covering.

Staff Hours

Rev. Michael Pike:

Office Hours - Pastor Mike

Tuesday 10-12, Thursday 9-11,

Friday 9-11

(also available other times by

appointment)

Pastor’s Work cell

# 401-787-4971

Email at revmpike@gmail.com

Melissa Costa

(Administrative Assistant)

hours are:

Wednesday, Thursday

& Friday

8:00A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Call the office at 683-4005

2 Sue Sieben

3 Bob Swann

4 Lori Bessette

5 Jan Rego

7 Kristen Haskin

Duncan Ingraham

11 Jennifer Barker

13 Kris Mathias

16 Jim Tiernan

Frank (Laurance) Grinnell

17 Steve Cardone

Kevin Hendricks

18 Jim Wilson

19 John King

Mike Siderski

20 Chris McMillian

Wes Stinson

Ed Burgess

22 Cody McMillian

Leo Makowski

24 Nathan Charette

Dave Bessette

24 Matthew Velzis

25 Ed Shaw

Susan Soderlund

Jose Adroved

26 Diane (Schlosky) Grinnell

Hannah Kittel

Anna Paiva

27 Heather Nicholson

29 Denise Steigers

30 Susan Hutchinson

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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“Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.

The sounds of joyful songs and deliverance are heard in the tents of the righteous…

The stone rejected by the builders is now the main foundation stone”.

Psalm 118: 1,15,22

Palm Sunday and Easter are fast approaching. The music for these special days are among my favorites.

The Congregation at PUMC will hear joyful songs and songs of praise to our Risen Savior.

THANK YOU…

Beth Brock for playing her clarinet on March 5th

Jean and John Burton for giving an anthem In Loving Memory of Paula S. Thomas, Mother of Bryn (Taffy) Weymouth, that

was sung on March 19th

Cliff Jeffries for his solo on March 19th

Lorna and Jim Tiernan for giving an anthem In Loving Memory of Richard Schlosky that was sung on March 26 th and thank

you to Lorna for singing the anthem with the choir

Kathy Shaw for her flute solo on March 26th

We are very appreciative for the donations of anthems to our choir and for those who share their talent with us at our services.

Again, Thank you!

HANDBELLS…

Handbells will be playing at our service on April 2nd. Thank you to Beth Brock, Jeannie Ingraham, Janet Rego, and Jean

Sunny, Director.

PALM SUNDAY

On Palm Sunday, April 9th, Dave Hutchinson will be our soloist for the Choir Introit. Our Choir will be singing an exciting

anthem, Marty Relyea and Marjorie Wilkey will be singing solos and we will close our service with the singing of “The Palms”.

EASTER SUNDAY

Our Traditional Easter Service at 9:00 will have uplifting music praising our Risen Lord. It will begin with an Easter Hymn

and Alleluia. Instrumentalists, Kathy Shaw and Keith Mackenzie will accompany our opening hymn along with Sheila at the

organ. Jim Wilson will provide percussion accompaniment to our choir’s Introit, Anthem and Offertory. Marty Relyea will

sing “The Old Rugged Cross Made the Difference.

LINDA STIMPSON

Linda and John Stimpson will be moving to Virginia in the near future to be near their son, daughter-in-law and

grandchildren. Thanks to Linda, who has been a member of our choir for 37 years. She has donated file cabinets for our choir

music, has labeled our new file folders every year, and collected our choir music after the anthem is sung on Sundays. Those

are just a few of the many things that Linda has quietly done over the years. Thank you to John for making DVD’s of our

Christmas Cantata for the past few years. We will truly miss both Linda and John very much but we know they will be very

happy being near their family in Virginia. Thank you, Linda and John, for all that you have done for us,

for all you’ve done for PUMC, and for all your support to our music ministry. May God bless you and

watch over you in Virginia. Prayers will be with you. Enjoy those grandchildren!!!

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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Easter Flower Order Form

2017

We are asking for your help to beautify our church for Easter with your choice

of these flowers: Lilies, Tulips, & Hyacinths

If you want to have memorial/celebration flowers in the sanctuary for

Easter Sunday (April 16th), please do the following by Monday April 10th

1. Complete the order form below.

2. Make out a check to Diane Peckham.

3. Return your completed form and check to:

Diane Peckham

NOTES:

Flowers are $15.00

Checks should be made to Diane Peckham – NOT Portsmouth UMC

Orders must be returned by Monday April 10th

PLEASE order flowers directly from Diane and NOT the church office

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In Memory/Honor/Celebration of ______________________________________

(circle one) __________________________________________________

Given by _________________________________________________________

Telephone number ________________________

______ Easter Lily ($15.00) ______ Tulip ($15.00) _____ Hyacinth ($15.00)

______ I wish my plant(s) to be delivered to a shut-in after Easter Services

______ I will help deliver plants to shut-ins

______ I will pick the plant up myself

Amount enclosed: $ ____________________

NOTE: The flowers will be placed on the Chancel by the Altar Committee

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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YOU ARE MISSED!!!!

If you haven't been attending church regularly since the time changed, and you think that your

presence hasn't been noticed, let me tell you that YOU ARE DEFINITELY MISSED.

I miss your friendly smile and your welcoming hugs.

I miss not connecting with you so that we can catch up with one another about what's been going

on in your life and what's been going on in mine.

I miss hearing about your children and seeing how they are growing.

I miss your smile, your wink, and your nod, when we face each other during the benediction

hymn.

I miss your voice when the congregation is singing hymns.

There is so much about you that I miss, that I can't even put it all into words. I understand if the

9am service is too early for you. However, if you come and worship at 10:45. you can come a speck

earlier and join the 9am people at coffee hour.

Never for a moment, think that your presence isn't missed. IT MOST DEFINITELY IS.

Peace, joy, and love to you,

Carol Hutchinson

Special Speaker - Sunday, April 30 at 9:00

am Worship

Angela Monteiro from Child and Family RI

will share with us her vision for family involvement

in Child Foster Care

For more information go to:

https://childandfamilyri.com/

and https://childandfamilyri.com/our-

services/treatment-foster-care/

Our last trivia night was such a blast,

let’s do it again!!!

Chili Cook Off ~prize awarded~

Trivia Night

Saturday, April 22nd 6:00 pm

Come one, Come all....this will be a

great time!!

Please sign up in the fellowship Hall

after service.

Any questions please see Terri Sparling

“The Gathering” Saturday, April 29

gathering youth ministries from all around the community

to worship Christ together!

At this event we unite as one family, celebrating Christ who brings us to-

gether in Him.

There's nothing quite like joining together and connecting with the people of

God.

Come worship with us !

WHEN: Saturday, April 29th

LOCATION: Portsmouth United Methodist Church

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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Portsmouth Praises for April

Many thanks to Gar and Bryn (Taffy) Weymouth, Rose Barboza, Joan and Ruth Faria, for all their work to

make our recent Soup, Salad, and Trivia Night such a great time.

Thank you to Denise & Gene Kelly, Darlene Crow, Peggy Hanney, Carol Hutchinson, Chris McMillian,

Barbara Kemper, Amy Skwira, and Donald, Lilly, Daniel and David Thieme for serving at the Soup

Kitchen in March at St. Paul's UMC.

Thank you to Josephine, Kaitlyn, and Curtis Swinehart for providing pink frosted cookies for us at Coffee

Hour on Pink Sunday.

Thank you, too, for all the people who wore pink and brightened our sanctuary.

If you see anything that should be lifted up in this column, please contact Carol

Hutchinson at 846-3633, or at carolhutch@cox.net.

Clements' Market Friends' Fund

After a couple of less-than average years, 2017 is off to a flying start! The Friends' Fund has

already returned $400 to us and I am halfway finished with a third $20,000.00 package of

receipts (worth $200 to us). I'm anxious to submit this third package. The only thing I'm

lacking is about $10,000.00 worth of receipts.

This is where you come in.... I often have folks tell me, "Oh, I have a stack of those at home..... I just can't

remember to bring them to church." Well, if it's any easier for you, you can just mail them to me. That's what

a couple of other folks do and it's always fun for me to receive mail that isn't junk. So if that would be more

convenient for you, consider that option. My address is...

John E. Barker

Drop them off at church or send them to me in the mail. Do whatever it takes.

Thank you for your support!

HAVE YOUR CHILDREN JOINED

ANOTHER CHURCH??

Going back into the 70's and continuing

since then, many of our children were con-

firmed in this church. In recent weeks, I

have learned of 2 such young people who

have joined the churches they are presently

attending. (They were still on our member-

ship rolls as we had never been notified.) If

you know that your son or daughter is a

member of another church, please contact

me , Carol Hutchinson at 846-3633

or carolhutch@cox.net, so that I can update

our membership records.

Palm Sunday Brunch 2016

Sunday, April 9th 9:30am—12pm

Palm Sunday Eggs, Pancakes, Hot Cross

Buns, Cereal, OJ, Coffee, Tea & Milk

Donations Cheerfully Accepted

ALL ARE WELCOME!

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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Update from the Contemporary Service Commission

Please Mark Your Calendars

May 7th -- During the Contemporary Service (10:45) we will include another PUMC Community Connections

aptly named For the Love of Our Young Children. On this day, we will honor all those who care, protect and nurture

our young children. The honorees will include those involved with day care, pre-school, school bus drivers and bus

monitors. Guest speakers will be Connie Barlow (representing home day care) and Beth Brock (representing school

bus drivers). You are encouraged to invite any guests who have been entrusted with the care of our most precious

children, to be honored at this service. Those employed in these roles both past and present are encouraged to attend

so that we can show them how much their service to the community is appreciated. If you regularly attend our tradi-

tional service, please consider staying on this one day for this special honoring service.

May 23rd – The PUMC Council has voted to hold our third All Church Family Meeting on Tuesday, May 23rd at

6:30. All are encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity to discuss issues pertinent to our church finances, the

three services, the work of the Focus Group, fellowship activities, leadership opportunities, committee structure, com-

munication and any other aspect of PUMC that you wish to discuss. We will be nearly half-way through our 2017

budget at that point, so we will have the information needed for future planning.

Nancy Dluhy

For the Contemporary Service Commission.

Prayer Meetings - Sundays 5-6 pm in the sanctuary Whatever happened to the old fashioned evening “prayer meeting” ? The Methodist Church was well known for, and sometimes begun (founded) in new communities simply by weekly prayer meetings. Historically, many Christian churches have always included prayer meetings in the weekly schedule. But in these recent days this spiritual discipline has been sorely neglected in many churches. That is about to change . . . . We have recently begun a new opportunity to share in corporate prayer for God’s will for our church, the needs of our church and our neighbors and communities, and for God breathed growth and vitality as His Church , the Body of Christ. We desire to fulfill the Lord’s challenge in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness . . . and all these things (your life, your practical needs for food and clothing) will be added unto you”. The Living Bible makes this even clearer - “ . . .your heavenly father knows what you need . . . and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.” Prayer together, in one accord, is a very necessary component of healthy church family life and the power behind every ministry we offer. The first half hour will consist of biblical teaching about prayer, with a scripture or devotional sharing by attenders, as they may wish to do, as described in Ephesians 5:18b-20 - “. . . be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” and also in 1 Corinthians 14:26 - “. . . When you come to-gether, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” Each person may share something to build up the body - whatever the Holy Spirit is impressing upon their heart. The second half hour will be spent in prayer for one another, the church, personal needs, for healing, and whatever God leads us to pray about. We will pray for any request - all you have to do is let us know. We will pray over the Saturday night and Sunday morning worship prayer requests and praises, and any others given to us. It is true that prayer is hard work and it takes time. But prayer builds community and changes things and people. Come and help lift up our common and personal burdens to the Lord in prayer . . . and you just might find your own burdens lifted in the process. Please consider joining us Sunday nights ! Pastor Mike

(Note: On Easter Weekend we will have the Prayer Meeting on Saturday evening April 15 from 5-6 pm in the sanctu-

ary, instead of Easter Sunday Evening April 16)

Pastor's Discretionary Fund Update March 2017 We have continued to supply food cards for those who need some help getting the food they need. More than 15 food cards and a few checks for specific needs were given out Since January 2017. This makes such a big difference in the lives of those who are struggling. Thank You for helping to show love and compassion to those who need to know someone cares. Your generosity has made this possible - Donations are Welcome any time - specify "Pastor's Discretionary Fund" or "PDF" Small white boxes are attached to the two front pews in the sanctuary - which remind us to give to those who need help. "Whatsoever you do for the least of these my brothers and sisters . . . that you do unto Me" Jesus in Matthew 25:40 Some people outside out church membership have also given food cards for us to give. May the Lord bless you for everything you do to show love and care to those who are suffering. Pastor Mike

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 5pm– Worship

Service

2 9am & 10:45am

Worship Service

3

4 7pm Trustees

5 12:30pm-Bible

Study

7:00pm choir

6 7:00pm Praise

Band practice

7 8 5pm– Worship

Service

9 9am & 10:45am

Worship Service

9:30-12 ~ Brunch

5- Prayer Meeting

10

11

6pm Missions

7pm– Finance

12 12:30pm-Bible

Study

7:00pm choir

13 7:00pm Praise

Band practice

Maundy Thursday

14

Good Friday

15 5pm– Prayer

Meeting

Holy Saturday

16 9am Worship

10-10:45 Easter

Egg Hunt

10:45am Wor-

ship

17

18 7pm– Church

Council

19 12:30pm-Bible

Study

7:00pm choir

20 9:00 am

Congregational

Care Committee

7:00pm Praise

Band practice

21 22 5pm– Worship

Service

23 9am & 10:45am

Worship Service

24

6:30pm SPRC

25 26 12:30pm-Bible

Study

7:00pm choir

27 7:00pm Praise

Band practice

28 29 5pm– Worship

Service

30 9am & 10:45am

Worship Service

April 2017

*CWC-The Contemporary Worship

Commission

*CCC—Congregational Care Committee

See Pastor Mike’s Letter on page 1 for a complete list of all Holy Week

activities at all 3 local Methodist Churches

NEWSLETTER OF THE PORTSMOUTH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH APRIL 2017

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Our Mission “The Core Process” in Disciple Making

Matthew 28:19-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Great Commission 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I

am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mark 12:30-31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Great Commandment

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your

strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

We accept the challenge of “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World”. This is the Mission of the

United Methodist Church. “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the

world” (2016 U.M. Book of Discipline par. 120).

There are four key elements to the disciple-making process. Some refer to this as the core process of disciple-making.

The four key elements are:

1. REACHING (Seeking and Welcoming) Radical hospitality that reaches across economic, racial, age and gender lines and

focuses on the stranger and those outside the community of faith.

Go-ing and Making disciples 2. CONNECTING (Relating to God) Passionate worship that opens persons to experience the gracious presence and healing

power of God. Loving the Lord our God - Baptizing them

3. GROWING (Nurturing in Faith) Faith-forming relationships, experiences and education in the context of Christian commu-

nity that lead persons to a disciplined life of devotion and service in the name of Jesus Christ.

Teaching them to obey 4. SERVING (Sending into the World to Live as Disciples) Risk-taking service and mission that focuses our attention and spiri-

tual gifts upon the world and its needs, especially the needs of children and the poor.

Loving your neighbor as yourself

PUMC Mission Statement - Live our faith in ways that will

bring people to Christ (REACHING - Seeking and Welcoming)

by worshiping God, (CONNECTING – Relating to God)

growing in faith, (GROWING – Nurturing in Faith)

reaching out, and serving others, (SERVING – Sending into the World)

in order to build a community that continues Christ’s earthly mission.

As part of our Seeking we will be contacting and visiting with folks who have attended in the past and those we have lost touch with. The Congregational Care Committee is sponsoring a workshop training class on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 am - 12 noon. Pastor Mike will be leading the training using the material from a Course book entitled "Caring For Inactive Members - Making God's House a Home". Please consider signing up for this training - to help us re-connect with members and friends who are in our area. There will be another workshop day scheduled following this one, which will cover more material. Sign up forms will be in the weekly bulletins on Sunday or call the church office 401-683-4005 or Pastor Mike at 401-787-4971. Thank you for considering being a prat of this vital ourtreach !

Pastor MIke