The Link
February 2018

Monthly news from Washington Park United Methodist Church


Message from Senior Pastor Sandi Dillon

Easter comes early this year!  As I turned the calendar to the new year, I felt like Easter jumped right in my face and said, "SURPRISE!"  This year Easter is on April 1st (commonly known as April Fool's Day, or husband Jimbo's birthday-no, seriously, his birthday is very appropriately placed in the year!)
The United Methodist Church website, www.umc.org, says that: "In 325 AD, the Council of Nicea set the date for the celebration of Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. For this reason, the date will change each year and can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25."
 
What this means is that the season of Lent begins in mere days!  Lent is the season of forty days (not counting Sundays) prior to Easter.   Traditionally, Lent has been a time of reflection and self-denial.  Often, Christians have considered the idea of "giving something up" for Lent to be a practice that helps them focus deeply on their need for God in their lives.  In the last several years, I have appreciated some of my clergy colleagues encouraging me to "pick something up" for Lent . . a new practice or intention or habit that would potentially call me into greater relationship with God. 
 
At WPUMC, we have the great opportunity to join together with each other for 30 minutes on Wednesday evenings (6:30-7pm) for Taize services-quiet, reflective services of music and silence.  I'll also be leading a book study on Wednesday nights prior to Taize and Thursday mornings.  What other practices might you "pick up" this season?  Is there something you need to let go of so that your focus on God can be renewed?
 
A lot can happen in 40 days.  New habits can be born.  Lives can be renewed.  Hope can be restored.  We have the opportunity to live these days with intention-otherwise, we just live them by default, and find ourselves at Easter without the benefit of purposeful growth in our spirits.  I pray that you can find a way to embrace this meaningful time and arrive at Easter, not surprised -but transformed.  

Peace, 

Rev. Sandi Dillon
pastor@washparkumc.org



February Worship 
"Words to Live By" & "Lord of the Dance" sermon series

February 4th            COMMUNION SUNDAY
Words to Live By: GRATITUDE- Rev. Jamielee
Psalm 100: 1-5; Colossians 3: 12-17
 
February 11th           Words to Live By: GENEROSITY - Rev. Sandi
                                   Psalm 112: 1-5; Luke 21: 1-4

Wed, Feb 14th          Ash Wednesday Service
                                 5:30 Pancake Supper
                                 6:30 Service
 
February 18th           Lord of the Dance: From Heaven to Earth
                                   Matthew 3: 13-17                 
 
February 25th            Lord of the Dance:  Learning the Steps
                                  Matthew 4: 1-11


Lenten Book Study
Hard to Dance With the Devil on Your Back
In every culture and time, persons of faith, of all ages, have survived trials and tribulations to find the endurance and strength to "dance." They have danced with the weight of the world upon their shoulders, sustained by God and others dancing near them.  
 
Hard to Dance With the Devil On Your Back  is a Lenten study that looks at the transcendent struggle in the lives of believers, while helping us to enter the continually crumbling world surrounding Jesus and the disciples in the days preceding Easter.
 
Join Rev. Sandi for this study at one of two times:  Wednesday nights at 5:15pm or Thursday mornings at 9:30am. Wed Feb 21st/Thursday the 22nd through Wed March 28th/Thurs March 29th.
 Sign up through the church website or by contacting the church office.  Books are available through the office for $10; or you can purchase your own hard copy or e-book from Amazon. 


Lenten Season and Easter

February 14th - Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary at 6:30 pm. Pancake Supper beforehand in the South Parlor at 5:30 pm.

February 21st through March 21st (Wednesdays) - 
Taize Services in the Sanctuary on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 7:00 pm. Taize is a form of contemplative worship that incorporates mystical practices and inter-spiritual beliefs. 

March 25th- Palm Sunday service (special music by kids) at 9:30 am.

March 29th - Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Dinner beforehand in the South Parlor at 5:30 pm. 

April 1 - Easter Sunday services at  9:30 am & 11 am. 
Easter Egg Hunt will be held in between services around 10:40 am. All kids may participate. Please bring your own basket.


Children's Ministry

Happy Winter! 

 Lunch Bunch/Club 456---We held our first session for 2018 this past  Saturday and had a great turnout in numbers, not such a great turnout in our attempt to make Snow Dough.  It was a good learning experience that experiments don't always work out as planned.  Our next session is  April 21st, 10:30-1:30.  This is a quarterly event you will want to take advantage of!  Ages 3, and potty trained, through 6th grade are welcome to attend.  We have games, craft/experiment, eat lunch and have community outside of  Sunday School time. 

Sunday School---The beginning of this month we had a review of where we left off in our Gospel Project curriculum and are now making our way through the book of Judges.  If anyone interested in helping lead a  Sunday School class, please come down one  Sunday to check out our young Wash Park theologians.  We are actively looking for 2 people to lead.  Please stop me, call or email mail with any questions.  

VBS---Mark your calendars for  June 18th-22nd for Rolling River Rampage.  Registration will begin in March.  More information to come....

Easter--Can you believe we are thinking of Easter already.  We will host an Easter Egg Hunt between services on  Sunday, April 1st between the 2 Easter services,  no foolin'!

          "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn away from it."
                                                                                                                                                         Proverbs 22:6




Youth Group

February is our last month in our Winter Quarter, which means we're going to soon be shifting our identity from what are our values to how we live our values. We will be having a slightly different schedule than originally planned so we can make room for a bible study on the book of James, a book that deeply moved me as a high schooler. I am excited to grow and share in our study. We are also looking forward to Jordan teaching his first class at the end of the month on Star Wars and James Chapter 3. Parents, depending on which Star Wars movie Jordan chooses, we may be sending out a permission slip due to some of them having a PG-13 rating. However, the majority of them are rated PG, and in the case that one of them is chosen, we will not be sending out a slip. If you have any questions or would like to check in regarding the film, feel free to contact me. 

May you be blessed this month, and be filled with love every day, not just on Valentines!
-Rev. Jamielee

Schedule Changes:
February 4- Was Humility--> is now James, ch. 1
February 11- Was Integrity-->is now James, ch. 2
February 18- Socks and Sandwiches
February 25- Was Star Wars Day--> IS STILL STAR WARS, but we will be incorporating the lessons from James, ch. 3.


Preschool
Registration for Summer Camp

January at WPUMC Preschool just flew by! The kids were busy learning all about the Rodeo, winter, Diversities and Hibernation. In February the themes for each week will include Dental Health and Nutrition, Valentine's Day, President's Day and Literacy. 

Registration for next school year has been very successful and we are almost full in all of our classrooms. We do have space available in a few of our classes. If you would like more information on how to register your child please contact Melinda or Jessica.

Registration for summer camp will be held on March 14th for current families and March 21st for all new families. If you would like more information on the registration process for summer please contact Melinda or Jessica.

There will be No School on Monday and Tuesday Feb 19th and 20th for Teacher Professional Days. 

Melinda Svenkerud                                                              Jessica Sipes
preschooldirector@washparkumc.org                                 preschool@wasparkumc.org


Missions
Seasonal Mission Projects

As the New Year kicks off, please watch for updates and schedules for future Mission activities!  There will be something for everyone!
 
Food Bank Donations
 
Last month, Missions started holding a monthly food bank drive.  The request is for members of the congregation to drop off non-perishable donations on the first Sunday of each month.  There will be bins at both doors on that Sunday.  All donations will be split between Fish of East Denver and South High School.  Fish of East Denver is one of the few foods banks in the area that actually delivers groceries to people without transportation or who are homebound.  In addition, the South food bank and Fish share between supplies between themselves.  Our next food drive will be Sunday, February 4, 2018 .
 
Here are some examples of donations each food bank would like:  toothpaste, hand lotion, canned meats, hearty canned meals, canned fruit, adult diapers, baby diapers and wipes, baby formula.
 
Any questions regarding this mission can be directed to missions@washparkumc.org.
 
Bags of Hope
 
As a congregation we continue to support Bags of Hope.  This mission is strongly reliant on donations to keep this mission alive.  Please drop off any of the following items in the bin in the Narthex:
 
  • Small bottles of water (8 oz size)
  • Anti-bacterial wipes
  • Socks
  • Crackers with peanut butter or cheese
  • Soft granola bars
 
This is an easy way for congregation members to give back to the community.  Grab a few bags to keep in your car.  As you drive around town and find someone in need, you can just hand them one of these bags. 
 
Sandwiches and Socks
 
The Sandwiches and Socks Mission is part of a bigger mission in our Denver Area. We collaborate with multiple churches and organizations to feed the homeless in Civic Park EVERY SINGLE DAY at noon.  Many rely on these lunches to keep them from starvation and the ability to save on the expense of close to $70 a week.
 
Also, as a church, we make full lunches and distribute them on the fourth Saturday each month.  We assemble the lunches on the Sunday before the 4th Saturday. 
 
The dates for February are:
 
2/18/18 - Assemble lunches after church
2/24/18 - Distribute lunches
 
 
This mission is easy, family friendly and an integral part of life for almost 600 people a week! 
 
You can sign up on the Missions bulletin board or online at  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ea4a629a0fc1-sandwiches
 
 
Donations
 
We are always looking for donations for missions.  Below is a list.  You can drop them off in the container in the Narthex.
 
  • Peanut Butter (regular please --- the all-natural brands do not store well)
  • Jelly
  • Socks
  • Granola Bars (soft)
  • Chips
  • Applesauce cups
  • 8 oz water bottles
  • Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers
  • Individual packages of Antibacterial Wipes
 

Calendar
View the online calendar

February 14 - Ash Wednesday

February 18 - Assemble lunches for homeless

February 19 - Church offices closed for President's Day

February 21 -  Lenten Book Study
Taize Service

February 22 - Lenten Book Study

February 24 - Distribution of lunches in Civic Center Park 

February 28 -  Lenten Book Study
Taize Service


 

Birthdays Anniversaries
02/01     Tory Clarke
02/01     Everett Webster
02/03     Stephanie Gerard
02/04     Gladys  Blair
02/07     Jack Edgar
02/14     Cadence Peterson
02/15     Andrew Salis
02/17     Leslie Johnson
02/17     Bill Wieder
02/18     Maggie Eronimous
02/20     Mary Kay Casey
02/21     Destiny Nelson
02/21     Laurie Ross
02/21     Mason  Shermer
02/22     Ellie  Sullivan
02/23     Mira Kapadia
02/23     Benjamin  Scheffler
02/27     Shiloh  Fleming
02/27     Ellie  Smith
02/28     Joanne Esposito
02/29     Kevin Lontz

02/01     Blair & Kelly Goering
02/04     Preston & Jessica Quick



Our Mission: We are an inclusive community of faith, accepting people as they are, growing toward fullness of life with God's creation, through living the teachings of Jesus Christ: Love, Justice, Mission and Hope.