Sundays Worship Service 9 a.m. Sunday Celebration 11 a.m. Youth Group 6 p.m. Staff: Congregation: Ministers of the Church Mike Graef: Pastor Tina-Marie Schultz: Church Secretary Bob Dale: Custodian Stephanie Fisher: Children’s Ministry Kyra Straub: Youth Ministry Chandra Beauregard & Lori Hudson: Nursery Daniel Loftin: Organist Tracey Partridge: Contemporary Worship Andy Jamison: Technical Ministry Volunteer Staff Position: Madelyn Bafus: Lay Leader Church Office: (509) 924-7262 Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm Closed Noon to 1:00pm Church Website: www.spokanevalleychurch.org Church E-mail: [email protected]Memory Verse SPOKANE VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 115 NORTH RAYMOND ROAD SPOKANE VALLEY WA 99206 509 924-7262 “That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2nd Corinthians 5.19 Return Service Requested Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 1 May 2016 CONNECTIONS Financial Resources This & That Pastor’s Page 2 3 Welcome & Caring Koinonians Kid’s Korner Thank You 4 5 Youth Activity Mahan Scholarship UMW News Book Review Prayer Ministry 6 7 Sunday Pot Luck Mission & Service Ministry Happenings Prayer Partnership 8 9 10 11 PIN IT! Church Calendar Insert 6th Annual All Church Campout Save the Date! August 19 - 21, 2016 This fun filled weekend is sure to be a hit with the family. Registration will begin on June 19th and that information will be in next months Connections. You can stay in a cabin, tent or bring your RV. Enjoy the lake, nature and have fun working on a service project, hearing stories by the campfires. I heard there was possibly going to be a snipe hunt. You wont want to miss the No Talent Show! At only $10.00 per person for two nights of lodging, four meals, entertainment and fellowship; this is the deal of the century. I know I can’t wait, how about you? Happy Birthday and Anniversary Wishes for May! Marilyn Clements, Mary Jane Waters, Drew Satter, Sharon Maxey, Jeanette Warga, Wes Holmquist, Theresa Meckel, Pat Bishop, Glenda Lovchik, Meredith Elsensohn, Casandra Partridge, Samantha Wallace, Brian Cheney, Doreen Cain, Tammy McKibben, Tom Warga, Jim Crull, Daniel Graef, Brian Bos, Katie Gage, Brent Gregory, Cliff Maxey, Carl Jenkins, Claudia Michael, Sterling Hardy, Jason King, Jo Marie Collin, Kyndal Gottberg, Dennis Graham, Ronald Holmquist, Margaret Natividad, Beth Ross, Donald Bower David & Dommie Oswald , James & Patrice Schaefer, Wayne & Martha Brown, Rob & Rachel Peck, Philip & Margaret Chesley, Milt Fritze & Katie Gage, Howard & Elaine Lloyd, Norman & Chris Moss, Jerry & Sharon Partridge (dates on calendar)
Transcript
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 12
Free Lunch Sundays, Holy Communion Team, Audio/Tech Team, Food Bank, Family Promise,
Crosswalk, Hearth Homes. Enrich your life and those of others - join a Ministry today!
PRAYER PARTNERS
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 10
Ways to Participate in Our Church
There are over 30 different opportunities to participate. Come and check out our Ministry Information
wall in the Welcome Center.
Some of the fun groups you can participate in are
United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women,
Chancel Choir, Small Groups, Quilters, Thursday
Red Hat Crew, Welcome & Caring, Mission &
Services, Altar Guild & Sanctuary, Koinonians and
Lay Readers just to name a few.
Daughters of Dorcus Quilters Praise Band
Chancel Choir Casserole Team
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 3
From Our Pastor, Mike Graef
Dear Valley Methodist Friends,
On Palm Sunday at church our Scripture was Psalm
118 – one of the great Old Testament sources of the
Palm Sunday celebration. For hundreds of years
before Jesus’ time, the people had shouted,
“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord.” The ancient Psalm gave the people their
reason for gathering. The NIV version of the Bible
puts it this way: “join!” “The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.” – Psalm 118.27 (NIV)
For hundreds of years, every year at this time, they
were asked by this Psalm to “join”. Join the parade,
join the festival, join the celebration, join the great
event. Be a part of it. Come out of your houses for
this. Don’t miss this!
But now Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on a
donkey. Did the people know who was coming?
The Messiah was coming. God was doing some-
thing completely new – asking the people to join
something different than they had ever joined be-
fore.
‘Join’ – what a great word! It’s an invitation, a
welcome mat. It assumes free-will. As in, “join our
ballroom dancing club, it’ll be such fun.” Come
along, join, you’ll be glad you did. But ‘join’ can be
a word of instruction too, a piece of serious guidance
– as in, please take this seriously. Join a support
group, join the Army, join AA, join a post-surgery
therapy class. Your life, our country’s future, may
depend on it.
How did the people hear ‘join’ through their Psalm
on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem? A fun invita-
tion? Or a word of serious guidance? Maybe a little
bit of both. And isn’t that the way we experience
the word in our church? How does it feel to you,
this word ‘join’? Does it feel winsome, light-hearted,
inviting? That’s our goal as we say things like:
Join in singing this next hymn/song.
Join me as I read from the Bible.
Join us in Fellowship Hall for coffee fellowship.
Join us at Hearth Homes for the yard cleanup day.
Join the church, become a member.
Join the choir.
Join the Usher/Greeter Team.
Join me in prayer, let’s bow our heads together.
Join us in our capital campaign, as we payoff the
sanctuary remodel mortgage.
Join a Friendship Dinner Group.
Join us at Camp Twinlow for our Annual All
Church Campout.
Join us next Sunday for worship again!
But there is a way that all of us need to hear the
word ‘join’ as serious guidance. I’m sure some of
the people in Jerusalem 2000 years ago would have
understood this. There is a serious side to it. Each
and every Christian needs to join in the work of the
Spirit to live life spiritually. A spiritual life is a
free-will thing. You and I decide to join the Holy
Spirit in this project every day. Or we don’t. Light
and peace, hope and faith are there for the seeker,
but each human being has to join. It’s a partnership,
a collaboration, a dialogue, a team-effort. You and
God together, with God saying, “here’s my light, join
me!” The early Methodists said this is how we are
sanctified, how we are perfected in love. We keep
joining, day after day after day until God receives us
in glory. It is serious guidance, yes.
May is the month of Pentecost, May 15th this
year – the birthday of the church 2000 years ago.
The Holy Spirit “clothed” the Apostles with power
from on high. (Luke 24.49) They were sent into
the world with that power to invite everyone to join.
It may be the best word of all to carry the meaning
for all the ministry that God has assigned for us to
do together. Our congregation lives on the power of
a 1000 yes’s each week – our members and friends
saying to God every day, when God says to each
one, “shall we walk together today?” And we say
yes. “Will you join the festal procession?”
Whether serious or fun, I’m grateful to be,
Your Pastor, Mike
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 4
Welcoming and Caring
Assignments for May
May 1 - Walk With Christ
May 8 - Memorials
May 15 - Wey Simpson Small Group
May 22 - Las Vegas Girls
May 29 - Mission and Service
Summer is coming and there are some coffee hours not yet assigned. Volunteers are
needed. You can sign up with friends, family, or a small group.
Summer Sundays that we need filled are:
July 10th - July 17th - July 24th - August 7th - and August 21st.
We have some updates to the Coffee Hour Directions - please take a moment to review them. They are
posted in the kitchen and on the information wall.
Thank you to Tina-Marie for updating the Welcome Center information. If you see a visitor, direct them to
the wall with information, including maps of the church, camp registration and Ministry info.
Need a name tag? Leave us a note on the visitor pad at 9am service or on the card at 11am service. You can
request a large, first name plastic name tag if you prefer one too. Remember to wear your name tag during
Worship.
Having an event at church? Please let Tina-Marie know so she can have signs printed to direct them to the
correct room. Please provide greeters to direct visitors because our building has many entrances.
Memorial Day - Monday, May 30th. Remember those who served.
All Gave Some, Some Gave All.
The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our
country has earned them our lasting gratitude.
These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who
has a long history of patriotism and honor - and a nation who
has fought many battles to keep our country free from
threats of terror.
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 9
Mission Corner
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you
can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. - John Wesley
Broadway Elementary News Teachers Luncheon - A big thank you to the soup, salad and cookie makers and to the
serving crew!! A Thank You card from the teachers at Broadway in on the table in the Mission Corner in the Welcome
Center. This is the fourth luncheon we have served. Our next one will be November 17th. Consider helping next time.
It is greatly appreciated by all the teachers!
Broadway Carnival – May 27th – 5 - 8pm - We are needing volunteers to help with this event that night and also need
cake/cupcake makers. A sign-up sheet will be in the Mission Corner.
2016 Meritorious Service Award Nomination (Community Member/Organization) - Madelyn Bafus and Spokane Valley
United Methodist Church - On March 16 we received this award from Broadway Elementary. Lori Johnson, principal
said, “Madelyn first reached out to me a couple of years ago by stopping by the school and asking what Spokane Valley
United Methodist Church, which is located only a couple of blocks from our school, could do support the school. She
offered their services as volunteers, contributors of money and resources, and whatever else the school might need.
Since that time Madelyn and the church have been tireless enthusiastic supporters of our entire school. They provide
support directly for students, the staff, truly anything we might need.” She then listed some of the contributions we have
provided. These were the lunches, play day volunteers, money that we have contributed and the support our youth and
adults have provided for PTO events. If you would like to read more of what Lori said please visit the Mission Corner in
the Welcome Center
Hearth Homes - Paper Product Drive – May 1st & 8th - At the top of the list is always paper towels and toilet paper.
They also need at this time sun screen, canned fruit (no applesauce), canned vegetables and tampons.
Yard Cleanup Day – May 7th - 9am to noon
Bring gloves and garden tools for pruning and weeding. We will have soup and cookies with the ladies of Hearth Homes
following this work party. Since we are only working in the morning we will need lots of help so we get lots done.
Meals on Wheels -
We thought you would like to know that our Cinnamon Rolls sales
on April 3rd made $355 and our sale on February 21st made $370.37.
Thank you to all you generous cinnamon roll eaters!
Spokane Crop Hunger Walk - May 15 – Spokane Community College Lair - Register at noon, Walk begins at 1:30 on
the campus. CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by
local congregations or groups to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. The walks help support the
overall ministry of Church World Service, especially grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts around the world.
In addition, 25 percent of the funds stay in the community. In Spokane the 25% will go to Family Promise of Spokane
and The Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels. You can help by putting your change in the stop light in the
Mission Corner, make a donation to the walk and join us at noon on May 15th for the WALK.
For more information on any of the above events contact Madelyn Bafus at 509-869-8213.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 12th
Katherine Parker, our covenant missionary, will be here.
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 8
Potluck Sunday ~ May 29, 2016 with Guest Speaker from Spokane Valley Partners
Time:
Set-Up: 5:15pm
Dinner: 5:30pm
Speaker: 6:00pm
(Please bring your table service for easier clean up)
Food Assignments:
A - G - 1 package of hot dogs or 1 package of pre-made hamburger patties and 1 package of buns to match the meat
(Please bring Sunday morning and put in the refrigerator so we can start grilling before 5)
H - L - Condiments - relish, mustard, chili, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, sauerkraut, onions, cheese slices
M - P - Desserts
R - Z - Fresh fruit and salads _______________________________________________________________________________ Spokane Valley Partners is a non-profit organization serving economically-disadvantaged Greater Spokane Valley families residents through our Food Bank, Clothing Bank, Emergency Assistance Program and other
services. For more than 25 years, they have been a central hub for area residents to access comprehensive social and emergency services all in one location. Their mission also includes providing referrals, information
and education to families as they strive to achieve long-term self-reliance. They incur less than 8 percent administrative and fundraising costs annually. This means that, of every dollar raised,
more than 92 percent goes toward programs and services for clients. Program includes:
Food Bank - Clothing Bank - Emergency Services - Payee Services Food for Thought and Community Gardens.
Seasonal distributions include: Tree of Sharing - KXLY Coats 4 Kids - Have a Heart Valentine’s Day Cards
Holiday Food Baskets - Easter Baskets
Making Disciples of Jesus by Reaching Out and Serving Others One Life at a Time 5
Koinonians
One Service – Sunday May 1st at 11 a.m. Kids Zone Sunday School will be in room 210.
Mother’s Day – The children will be handing out a gift to all the Mothers after both services.
Children’s Moment at Both Services – May 22nd we will have a Children’s Moment at both services. The Children will
start in service then can come upstairs for Kids Zone.
Spend Your Bible Bucks…..We are having our Bible Buck Sunday, May 22nd, from 10:20 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. The children
can redeem their Bible Bucks upstairs across from the elevator. Marlene McCoy will be by the glass case where the prizes
are located.
Vacation Bible School – Cave Quest will be July 25th through the 29
th from9 a.m. to Noon. With one service on the 31
st
at 10 a.m. with the children singing one of the songs they learned. Volunteer today! See Stephanie Fisher to be a part of
Following Jesus the Light of the World.
Kids Zone – The children need your help! We need Sunday School teachers for the summer months to be able to have Sunday School. Also substitute teachers during the school year. Please see Stephanie Fisher.
In life we are either adding or subtracting. Be an addition….nurture a child today.
