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Newsletter of:
Orchards United Methodist Church
February, 2018 - 1st Edition
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Feb 14: Ash Wednesday service 6:30 in the Sanctuary
Feb 15-Mar 22: Thursdays at 6:30:
Lenten Study: The Bible and Human Sexuality
Mar 25: Palm Sunday worship will begin OUTSIDE and
process in.
Mar 25: Egg Hunt AFTER worship
Mar 29: Maundy Thursday worship: 6:30 in the Sanctuary
Mar 30: Good Friday worship: 6:30 in the Sanctuary
Apr 1: 6:30AM...Sunrise Service in the Sanctuary
Apr 1: Finger Food brunch AFTER sunrise service
Apr 1: 10AM: Easter Worship
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From the Pastor's Desk
Lent is here. It begins auspiciously on Valentine's Day. I think that's fitting. While we confront the most unpleasant of realities: the fact that we will all die someday, we do so under the greater news that we are all already loved.
I want to share three Ash Wednesday memories. The first is in high school, when I sang in the church choir. I was the only male who could carry a tune. Lenten services in Bluefield were hosted by the cooperative parish. The Trinity UMC choir got to be the feature choir on Ash Wednesday hosted by John Stewart UMC, the African-American congregation. I remember that we sang "It is Well With My Soul". Perhaps being a white choir in a black church compelled us to sing our best. Whatever the cause, I recall that the men had the third verse.
"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"
We punched both "My sins" and used the comma in the stanza for a dramatic pause. We crescendo-ed all the way through the verse and rocked the rafters on the two "Praise the Lords". It was the one and only time the Trinity choir gave me goosebumps.
My second Ash Wednesday memory came in college. I was dating a gal in a very fundamentalist church: so fundamentalist that they believed Christmas and Easter were pagan holidays. We decided to go with our Episcopal friend for Ash Wednesday worship. I only remember a few sermons. That sermon by Rev. George Bunn was a gracious pleading for us to "fall in love with God". The ashes were a reminder of the two-fold reality...we will die AND God is with us. My date did not want to receive the ashes. She later told me it looked like the mark of the beast. I simply desired to be in love with God, even though I still felt pretty invincible.
My final Ash Wednesday memory is from last year. I had gotten all the elements ready for worship when I got a call from Jean Jordan. 'Mike wants the ashes,' she told me. They had just returned from a long stint in the hospital and the news was not good. Admittedly, I didn't really want to give Mike the ashes. To make matters worse (or perhaps better), I had my kids with me. Ollie is very fond of Mike. Mike had given him a shiny rock which still sits on his window sill. As we gathered around Mike's bed, we read scripture, prayed and administered the ashes. I think everyone in the room knew the gravity of the situation, even my kids. It would be the last time Ollie saw Mike. Whenever we mention Mike, Ollie says two things: Mike gave him a shiny rock and Mike died. Ollie knows the word love but doesn't always know when to apply it. But those two intersections of Mike and Ollie's lives are both marked by love: the love of a kid that compels a man to shine a rock AND the love of a child to acknowledge both the gift of the rock and the fact that he misses Mike.
Ash Wednesday puts the reality of death literally ON our faces. It also puts us on the pathway to Good Friday, when Jesus would enter his own death and then onto Easter, when death gives way to victory. I want to invite you to Ash Wednesday services: February 14 at 6:30 in the sanctuary. Feel free to wear pink and dress in hearts. I won't scold you for eating chocolate or candy hearts. But I will ask you to sing "It Is Well with My Soul". We will confront the challenges of sin and the reality of death. We will exit the building with ashes on our foreheads. In the midst of this 'pre-funeral' we will practice a victory chant: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! O my soul! Let us enter the Lenten season with courage and a deepening trust that, come what may, God is with us.
- Pastor Christopher
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Saturday, February 10th
Couples, Singles, or Groups
Bring a Friend!
Seating times available:
5:00 pm - 6:50 pm
10 min. intervals beginning at 5 pm, ending at 6:50 pm
Entrée Choices are:
Lasagna
Chicken Enchiladas
Pulled Pork
Vegetarian Lasagna
$15/person
Call office with names, time and choice(s) of entree or
you can sign up at Sundays at church
downstairs
during fellowship time.
Proceeds help support the summer youth mission trip.
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Hi Friends,
Our calendar is a bit all over the place this month. We have a little of everything it seems. Fundraising, a retreat, youth group. Let's take a look.
Sunday, Feb. 4 -
No youth group due to Superbowl
Saturday, Feb. 10 - Sweetheart Dinner:
Set up at
1pm. Dinner is
5-8. Clean up
til 9.
Sunday, Feb. 11 - youth hosting
coffee hour.
No youth group (recovery after a weekend of fundraising)
Saturday Feb. 17 - Monday the 19th- Vancouver District
Retreat At Ocean Park
Sunday Feb. 25 - youth group 3-5.
I hope I catch you sometime during this whirlwind of a month.
- Tim
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A presentation was given at the November meeting of the Evergreen Faith Based Coffee on an up coming Levy to support the Evergreen Public Schools, coming up in February. In November the Evergreen School Board, voted to place a bond measure on the February 13, 2018 ballot. The proposed bond would include the replacement of eight aging schools and construction of a new elementary school. It would also add needed capital renewal and expansion for other schools throughout the district. In addition to endorsing replacement of older schools, the district found safety, security, reducing the reliance on portable classrooms and taking advantage of low interest rates along with no local property tax increases, were important to constituents.
On the replacement list is Sifton, Ellsworth, Marrion, Burton and Image elementary schools; Wy'east Middle School; and Legacy and Mountain View High schools. A new addition at Heritage High School will replace 39 portable classrooms since the school was designed as a three year high school, but by the time it opened, the district had moved to a four year high school model. With the addition of a new elementary at NE 162nd Avenue and 39th Street, crowding and use of portables in elementary schools across the district will also decrease. The remainder of the district's 37 schools will also see safety and security upgrades, heating and cooling system replacements, improvement to athletic fields and upgrades for the fine arts programs. Current bonds are nearly paid off, so even with this bond, the total local school property taxes in the district will actually decrease over the course of the next several years for property owners.
This bond helps the school district in which our Project Transformation students attend school. If we are to support these children, we must consider supporting the schools as part of that commitment.
For more information:
http://www.evergreenps.org/Envision
or
yesforevergreenschools.org
- Terry Eaton
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The
2018 interfaith Advocacy Day is Tues Feb 20th
9 am - 3 PM in Olympia.
On Interfaith Advocacy Day, you will be able to:
- Join workshops that will break down the issues on FAN's 2018 Legislative Agenda
- Learn current best practices on how to advocate in today's legislature
- Prepare for briefings and hearings with advocates from your legislative district
- Meet with your legislator!
Registration coming soon. We can plan to car pool to reduce parking costs, once we know how many may be able to attend. This is a wonderful chance to work together with other spiritual communities advocating for our shared values for the good of all.
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Week Three in Review
Highlights from week three of the
2018 State Legislative Session:
Tuesday: Immigrant and Refugee Lobby Day was in Olympia. There was a rally on the Capitol steps and advocates prepared to meet with their legislators. The two primary bills on
their agenda
were higher education scholarships for immigrant students (
HB 1488
) and Keep WA Working
(
SB 5689
), which would support the state's current and
future industries, while establishing statewide guidelines
that prevent unconstitutional detention and profiling by law enforcement.
(
SB 6052) was heard and passed out of the Senate Committee on Law & Justice. It is now in Senate Rules. The first person to be exonerated by use of DNA evidence was in Olympia that day as well, meeting with legislators. FAN also helped set up an event with him at Emanuel Apostolic Church in Bremerton, where he spoke about the importance of abolishing the death penalty.
Friday
: The Senate version of the
Voting Rights Act
(
SB 6002
) was heard in the House Committee on State Government, and should be voted on by end of this week. In addition,
SB 6406 Chase
, which would repeal an anti-affirmative action initiative from many years ago, was heard in the Senate Committee on State Government. FAN advocate Steve Clagett testified in support.
Looking Ahead to Week Four
Tuesday: Members of FAN's Interfaith Leadership Council will have their annual meeting with the Governor, covering five issues/bills in 30 minutes: TANF funding, housing, environment, racial justice, and criminal justice.
Friday: This is the policy committee cutoff day, meaning any bills that have not yet been voted out of their policy committees are considered dead for this session.
Take Action Now
- Pass the Document Recording Fee bill (HB 1570 Macri), which is now in the House Rules Committee. Click here to learn more about the issue. Click here to ask your Representatives to support bringing this to the House floor for a vote! Your advocacy is especially helpful if one of your representatives is on the House Rules Committee.
- Breakfast After the Bell (HB 1508 Stonier) is in the Senate Rules Committee. Ask your Senator to support bringing this to the floor for final passage--the last stop before going to the Governor's desk! Your advocacy is especially helpful if your Senator is on the Senate Rules Committee. Click here to learn more about the bill.
- Equal Pay Act: Our partners at Washington Work and Family Coalition alerted us today that the Equal Pay bill is in danger of stalling in the Senate again. Please consider taking action today to ask your Representatives and Senator to pass the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act without watering it down. Click here to send a letter to your elected officials.
To contact your legislators, use the email formula
firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov, or use the Legislative Hotline:
1-800-562-6000 between 8 AM and 7 PM, Monday through Friday. To find out who your legislators are,
click here.
South King County Work
FAN is pleased to be expanding our organizing work in South King County through the generosity of a
RESILIENCE FUND Program grant through the Seattle Foundation. It was developed by Seattle Foundation in partnership with
King County, Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation, Bank of America, and other foundations and individual philanthropists to address these urgent needs due to a current shift in federal policies, funding and the national political climate. We are so grateful for the timeliness of this grant in supporting our new organizer Amber Dickson's work in preparing our network to be more equipped to organize and advocate on issues impacting their communities. If you have ideas for other connections or collaborations for FAN in South King County, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Justice for All: Advocacy 101 Training Workshop, Free
South King County on February 1, 6:45 PM, St. Matthew/San Mateo, Auburn Flyer in English. Flyer in Spanish.
Over the next 60 days of the 2018 legislative session, many decisions will determine the fate of many of the issues that we care about. This is why Faith Action Network is excited to offer two free advocacy trainings. These trainings will have something for everyone, whether you are new to advocacy or have been advocating for years. You don't want to miss these two opportunities to network, learn and organize with other people of faith to ensure Washingtonians in all communities have what they need to thrive and succeed. Learn more and RSVP for the South King County training. If you have any questions please send an email to Dickson@fanwa.org.
When Silence Is No Longer an Option
In a powerful blog post for the Huddled Masses Mobilization Network, the Rev. Ken Curl, from Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Baptist Church in Renton, reminds us to speak out against racism:
Dr. King said that "
the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy." God is calling us to be bold and to speak truth to power. King said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."
I can somewhat understand our friends who say they love the President's economic policies, particularly those who are benefiting from these policies. But what I don't understand is why those same people seem incapable of denouncing his racist attitudes and comments against people who do not look like him. It makes them suspect in my mind that they too harbor racist views and tendencies. [...]
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. We must speak out against injustice wherever it rears its ugly head. Silence is no longer a viable option.
Events & Opportunities
Housing For All 2018 Campaign Kickoff
January 31, 6-8 PM, Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 First Ave, Seattle
Learn more
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Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day,
The United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Avenue SE, Olympia
Learn more
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Homelessness Advocacy 101 Workshops
U District: February 3, 10 am - 12 pm, University Congregational UCC
Learn more
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Kent: Febuary 6, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Kent Lutheran Church
Learn more
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Federal Way:
February 21, 5:30 - 7:30 pm,
Federal Way Day Center
Learn more
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Hunger Action Day February 5, 9:30 am
, Columbia Room, Legislative Building Washington State Capitol, 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia
Learn more
.
Have a Heart for Kids Day 2018
February 8, 9 am - 3 pm,
The United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Avenue SE, Olympia
Learn more
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Orchards Elementary School
is recruiting Lunch Buddies for the school year. A Lunch Buddy meets weekly with a student to provide support, friendship and light mentoring. There is an orientation Oct 11, 11am-Noon at the school. See Pastor Christopher for more information.
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Upcoming
Events
and
Meetings
To View all current Calendar items
use this link:
Covington Breakfasts
Tuesdays
Feb. 13th & 27th
7:00 am
Men's Breakfast
Saturday, Feb. 10th
7:30 am
Women's Group
Saturday, Feb
. 10th
10 am
Sweetheart's Dinner
Saturday, Feb. 10th
Dinner Times - 5-8
Contact Tim or the Office
Sundays in Feb.
Adult Sunday School
9 am
Worship
10 am
Youth Group
3 -5 pm
Life Group
3 pm
Tuesdays in Feb.
Life Group
6:30 pm
Thursdays in Feb.
Life Group
Starting Feb. 22nd
10 am
Annex Lobby
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Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays
2 Dawn Deacon
4 Allan Keeff
5 Mary Chavez
6 Allissa Flood
7 Emily Hibbs
Betsy Clayton
8 Merle Lockhart
12 Charlotte Schill
15 Brenda Hall
21 Gladys Bafus
Betty Morrow
26 Josh Boruff
Shiloh Olson
22 Kevin & Rhonda
Davies
If we don't have your
birthday or anniversary date, or if it is incorrect,
please call the office,
892-5240 or email
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Pray for Our Military
Patrick Walker
Army
Fort Carson, CO
SPC Gus Jeffries
National Guard
1st LT Tom Roller
Air Force
has been deployed
Corpsman
James Major
Navy
Biomedical School
San Antonio,Texas
SGT Ben Major
Marines
Camp Pendleton
San Diego, CA
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Sun., Feb. 4th
Mark 1:29-39
Sun., Feb. 11th
Mark 9:2-9
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
*****
All Church Retreat
2018
April 27-29
*****
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DEADLINES
Bulletin
Announcements:
1:00 pm each Wednesday
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Sower Articles:
25th of the Month
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Contact Information
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Office Hours: Tues.-Thur., 8 am - 2 pm Phone: 360-892-5240
Pastor: Christopher Gudger-Raines
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