View the HTML Version
http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbopC_v Share (http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbopC_v)
http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Centre+June+Newsletter: http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbopC_v Tweet (http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Centre+June+Newsletter: http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbopC_v)
http://us9.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=b4f2d38da3&e=[UNIQID] Forward (http://us9.forward-to-friend1.com/forward?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=b4f2d38da3&e=[UNIQID])
https://plus.google.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbopC_v +1 (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FbopC_v)
Centre UMC Newsletter, Vol. II, Issue 6
View this email in your browser (http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=b4f2d38da3&e=[UNIQID])
CentreNews Rev. Mark Gorman, Pastor
Hospitality
Last fall, I heard many of you describe Centre as a friendly congregation. I’ve found that to be true for myself and my family, too, over the last year. But friendliness and hospitality are not the same thing. It’s important that we be friendly to each other, that we are caring and cordial and excited about seeing one another when we gather.
Hospitality is more than that. Hospitality is being aware of people who are left out or who are never at the center of an activity. Hospitality is going out of our way to greet people we don’t know or to reintroduce ourselves to people we’ve met but who aren’t in our inner circle of friends. It’s making sure guests and friends of the congregation feel invited into what’s going on and not excluded. And at a practical level, it’s helping people know where to find things like bulletins, bathrooms, the right hymnal, or when to come forward to receive Communion.
How well does Centre do at these things? One church leader I know suggests taking video of the times when we greet each other or pass the peace. What do you think that video would show? Would it show us introducing ourselves to people we don’t know? Or would it show us clustering around our friends, or walking past five people we don’t know well to find someone we talk to every week?
This is not just a Centre issue. All churches struggle with being hospitable. And all churches, including Centre, have room for improvement. So for this summer, a time when things often slow down in churches, I challenge you to be more hospitable. Be considerate of people who might feel left out or overwhelmed by our friendliness. Get to know someone you don’t talk to every week. Think about people who don’t even come to Centre? Why don’t they come? How can we welcome them?
What have you seen work well at other churches? What could we learn from churches where you’ve felt especially welcomed when you visited? Share your experiences and ideas with our church council, or tell me.
We are here because Jesus offers us his hospitality. He welcomes us. He offers us his fellowship. He shares his banquet table with us. We should do likewise with others.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
In Brief…
*Our Habitat Build Day is June 27. Further details will be announced during worship services this month.
*See below for a pastoral letter from the bishops of The United Methodist Church.
*Youth group will not meet on Sundays June-August. Youth and their families should stay tuned for information about service projects, retreats, and summer fun days.
============================================================
Announcements
Monthly Prayer: Please make Centre’s monthly prayer part of your daily devotional time. This month, you are asked to pray for the Habitat for Humanity Workday.
Our food pantry supplies are dwindling. Please make a habit of buying one or two small items every week to bring for the pantry; that provides a reliable basis for us to continue operating. Canned tuna, soups, fruits, and vegetables as well as other nonperishable items like pasta, cereal, and boxed mashed potatoes are always needed.
The Fellowship Lunch Workgroup will meet next on June 4. We will meet at 11:30 in the fellowship hall to enjoy meal and fellowship together. Following lunch we will work on small projects around the church. All are welcome! Please contact Sandy Barthel or Pastor Mark for more details.
Our spring work day will be June 13 from 8am-noon. There will be something for everyone to do. Light refreshments will be provided. Come help keep the church grounds in good shape!
Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to the trustees’ critical projects. The trustees are currently working on bids for the sidewalk project, which is the highest priority. Other projects, with estimated costs, include:
-Completing the community building ceiling renovation: $6,500
-Replacing roof valleys on the sanctuary building: $5,000
-Repairing and restoring the church bell: $3,850
These projects will have a significant impact on the safety and use of Centre’s facilities. Please consider making a contribution toward one or more of these projects. Simply put “critical projects” in the “For” line of your check.
We will participate in a Habitat for Humanity build day on June 27. Everyone who intends to work on the site must register online at ** https://www.habitatsusq.org/volunteer/construction-volunteers (https://www.habitatsusq.org/volunteer/construction-volunteers)
, where you will also complete a short safety training exercise. See Carol Deel if you have questions.
Sunday School continues through the summer for all ages! We are looking for people who might be willing to help our children do a craft or other activity during the summer months. At baptisms all of us take a vow to care for our children. This means you!! Talk to Libby Gorman or Kelly Hunter for more information.
If you have a youth who is in middle or high school and has not yet been confirmed, please talk to Pastor Mark about Confirmation Class, which will start this fall.
During the month of June you will receive a survey about Centre. It is vital that you complete this survey. The survey will arrive electronically, and there will be a paper format as well.
Finance Report: As of May 24, we have received $11,786 for the month, which is $334.64 above our budgeted needs. For the year we have received $63,914.50, which is not quite half of our budget of $137,419.68. The total receipts, however, include directed giving, which does not usually impact the budget.
The July Newsletter deadline is June 25.
From the bishops of The United Methodist Church:
Grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ!
We, the bishops of The United Methodist Church, are meeting in Berlin, Germany, 70 years after the end of World War II. As we gather, we renew our commitment to lead, as together we seek to become the beloved community of Christ.
We are a church that proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. On every continent, people called United Methodist are boldly living the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Yet, the people of our world are hurting, as injustice, violence and racism abound. Our witness to the dignity of all human life and the reign of God is needed now more than ever.
Our hearts break and our spirits cry out, as we see reports of migrant people being attacked and burned in the streets of South Africa, note the flight of Jews from Europe, watch the plight of Mediterranean refugees and see racially charged protests and riots in cities across the United States that remind us that systems are broken and racism continues. The evidence is overwhelming that race still matters, that racism is woven into institutional life and is problematic to communal health. This reality impacts every area of life – in the church and in the world.
Racism is prejudice plus intent to do harm or discriminate based on a belief that one is superior or has freedom to use power over another based on race. Xenophobia is an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange. Racism and xenophobia, like other sins, keep us from being whole persons capable of living up to our full potential. They deny the profound theological truth that we are made in the image of God with the handprint of love and equality divinely implanted in every soul.
As bishops of the Church, we cast a vision for a world community where human worth and dignity defeat acts of xenophobia and racism. We acknowledge that silence in the face of systemic racism and community fears serves only to make matters worse.
We commit to lead, model and engage in honest dialogue and respectful conversation and invite people of faith everywhere to join us. Let us repent of our own racial bias and abuse of privilege. May we love God more deeply and, through that love, build relationships that honor the desire of people everywhere to be seen, valued, heard and safe. As we proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, may we lead the way in seeking justice for all, investing in and trusting God’s transforming power to create a world without hatred and racism.
As United Methodists, we affirm that all lives are sacred and that a world free of racism and xenophobia is not only conceivable, but worthy of our pursuit. We renew our commitment to work for a Church that is anti-racist and pro-humanity, believing that beloved community cannot be achieved by ignoring cultural, racial and ethnic differences, but by celebrating diversity and valuing all people.
“This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also.” 1 John 4:21 (CEB)
** (https://www.twitter.com/centreumc/)
** Centre on Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/centreumc/)
** (https://centreumc.org)
** Centre’s Website (https://centreumc.org)
** (https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102609068550505779311/102609068550505779311/posts)
** Centre on Google Plus (https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102609068550505779311/102609068550505779311/posts)
** (http://centreumc.blogspot.com)
** Centre Sermon Blog (http://centreumc.blogspot.com)
** (mailto:centreumc@gmail.com)
** Email Centre (mailto:centreumc@gmail.com)
** (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz6ZrUnVGuueM8J7dn2yApQ)
** Centre’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz6ZrUnVGuueM8J7dn2yApQ)
Copyright © 2015 Centre United Methodist Church, All rights reserved.
** unsubscribe from this list (http://centreumc.us9.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=0b339c364c&e=[UNIQID]&c=b4f2d38da3)
** update subscription preferences (http://centreumc.us9.list-manage1.com/profile?u=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&id=0b339c364c&e=[UNIQID])
Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp
http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monkey_rewards&aid=69a6577287c49a350b2087c8a&afl=1