Collin Whitfield will serve as our Music Director.  Collin hails from Michigan but comes to us by way of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Composition.  He studied with notable composers David Conte and Mason Bates.  His versatility as a composer, conductor, pianist, and singer has earned him numerous accolades.  His compositions have been described by librettist Nicholas Giardini as "beautiful, rapturous and unabashedly romantic, without any of the failings that so often accompany these qualities."  His conducting has been praised by Dr. Jacques Desjardins as demonstrating "poise, command, and charisma, warranting engaging renditions of a wide variety of repertoire under his direction."  As a performer, Collin has been hired to perform for numerous churches, community theater programs, senior residence homes, high school music programs, solo and ensemble festivals, district and state choral festivals, weddings, funerals, banquets, and parties.  Collin will begin leading worship on November 6.

 

Ruthann Ritchie, a name many of you will recognize, will be coming on staff as our Organist/Accompanist.  Born and raised a Methodist in Southern Indiana, her trajectory as an organist, pianist, harpist, choir director, music therapist has been quite varied.  She has served many denominations and all of them have taught her something she needed to learn about her own spirituality and beliefs and faith.  She is so happy, however, to finally be able to return to Methodism and excited to become a part of Mason's community.  Ruthann holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance with double minors in piano and harp from the University of Evansville, a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Augsburg College, and a Master of Organ & Sacred Music from the University of Colorado. After living her entire adult life in Minnesota, she moved here to Tacoma 7 years ago to be near her son and his family. She also has two daughters who both live in Abu Dhabi, UAE.   One is a teacher and the other owns her own trekking business.  Ruthann has five grandchildren. Ruthann will begin November 13.    

Dear Mason Church Family:

 

Thank you so very much for your lovely cards, gifts and touching, humorous sentiments at my farewell reception.

I was blessed during my tenure at Mason to enjoy a wonderful choir, terrific pipe organ and dedicated and dynamic colleagues to work with!

 

The reception, along with cake, flowers and refreshments will be long and fondly remembered.

 

Blessings to you all on your continued life together at Mason Church,

 

Jeff Orr

On October 14, 2016, Mason UMC was blessed to have Larry and Jane Kies come and share about the work they are doing at Africa University in Zimbabwe.  Larry is a United Methodist missionary serving as a technical advisor to the Africa University Farm, and Jane is a United Methodist missionary teaching intensive English.  At their presentation they shared many insights about the work they are doing related to agriculture and farming, and they shared about African culture.  The issue at the heart of the Kies work is hunger and malnutrition among the African people.  Africa is the region with the second largest number of people who are either hungry or suffering from an undernourished diet.  The causes of African hunger generally are attributed to poverty --- the average daily income of adult Africans is $1.90; the conditions of many African economies; internal and external conflicts that have been a serious source of suffering and death; refugees whose number is estimated to be 5.3 million persons, approximately 20% of the world's totals of internally displaced persons, international refugees, and returnees; environmental conditions resulting from draught, water shortages, deforestation, erosion, and desertification; and population growth registered in the African female fertility rate of 5.2 children.  Since agriculture is a major focus of all African nations, Africa University is training not only farmers but persons pursuing other careers who directly or indirectly will have an impact on this vital area.   Larry and Jane were both passionate about the work they do and the people they serve.  As an additional bonus, we were blessed to have with us a group of our United Methodist brothers and sisters from Fircrest UMC.  After the presentation, we ended the evening with dessert and lively conversation. 

Thank you to everyone who came and supported the Kies.  If you would like to know more, visit:

 

http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Missionaries-in-Service/Missionary-Profiles/Kies-Larry

http://www.umcmission.org/explore-our-work/missionaries-in-service/missionary-profiles/Kies-Jane

http://www.africau.edu/

This month, the Sunday School class for youth is beginning a curriculum called "Spice Rack". Spice Rack has many editions, so we chose to start with a four-week section on the Book of Psalms. Psalms "leads us to examine where our focus as God's children exists . . . youth will explore how to see with new eyes, how to find hope in despair, how God takes care of his sheep, and how to have no fear trusting God in their lives". The curriculum was designed to move away from lecturing and to fast-paced, interactive, faith-sharing! We are very excited to bring these lessons to the youth, and look forward to seeing those in grades 6-12 on Sunday!

Can you believe it's almost Christmastime?

On Saturday December 10, from 4-6pm, there will be an interactive event at Mason called "A Night in Bethlehem"  that will be full of decorations, roleplaying, and interactive crafts to teach children about the setting in which Mary gave birth to Jesus so many years ago. As such, we need volunteers!! More details to come soon, but if you are available and willing, please reach out to Olivia during church or via email at [email protected]. We need your help! 

Goodwill's Go2 Property Services did  great work on the mammoth project that was the Mason UMC Gardens.  The land will rest over the Fall and Winter months and be ready for planting in the Spring.  Hollie (our facilities manager) looks forward to hearing your ideas for the property.

 

Kathryn Woods Haley

1921-2016

 

Kathryn Woods Haley, 95, died on September 21, 2016 at her home in Tacoma, WA. She as born on May 10, 1921 in Wenatchee, WA to Rufus and Mary Woods. She attended Wenatchee High School, and was an Apple Blossom Princess and Salutatorian for the Class of 1939. She graduated from the College of Puget Sound (now University of Puget Sound) in 1943 and was its first female student body president. In 1943 she married Richard "Dick" Haley in Coral Gables, FL. Together they raised 4 daughters.

 

Kay worked as a journalist, 1943-1945, and continued to write travel commentaries, biographical sketches, and historical vignettes. She was on the board of the UPS Alumni Association, 1945-1949, alumni representative to the UPS Board of Trustees 1948-1955, and on the National Alumni Board, 1983-1986.  She served on the board of the Tacoma Philharmonic, Inc. 1947-1957, was president of Allied Arts, Inc. 1969-1973 and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Washington Historical Society, 1992-2001. She and Dick were active in the Tacoma Municipal League, and together they were awarded a Citizen of the Year Award in 1972. She was awarded a Tacoma Arts Commission award in 1977. She taught skiing for 35 years for Edmonds School District Ski School and then John Mohan Ski School, and was president of the Pacific Northwest Ski Instructors Association 1973-1976. Kay was a 70-year member of PEO Chapter C and Mason United Methodist Church. Her biggest passions were keeping in touch with extended family, the arts, writing, and playing the piano and skiing that she did into her 90s.

 

Kay is survived by her daughters Anne Haley (James Shepherd), Barbara Haley (Les Friedman), Marilyn Crosetto (James Crosetto) and Jonette Waldbjorn (Tom Waldbjorn); grandsons Keltie Roberts (Hannah Roberts), Boet Waldbjorn and Neil Waldbjorn; great-grand daughters Remley and Lola Roberts; and was predeceased by her husband, Dick, in 1992. Immediate family celebrated Kay's life in a private ceremony. Memorial donations may be made to the Margarets' Fund (honoring Margaret "Mae" Haley, Margaret "Peggy" Shaw Haley and Margaret Haley Alcorn) at the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA.