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Native American Sunday is April 30th.

 

Supporting the Ministry of Christ Among Native People

     Most Americans today recognize that the history following the arrival of the large canoes bore little resemblance to the one all Christians identify as Creator. That's why the people of The United Methodist Church, Native and non-Native, are creating a new history. Through Native American Ministries Sunday, we're able to equip and empower Native American pastors, congregations and seminary students to do what only they can do: authentically worship and serve Jesus.

     As a member of The United Methodist Church, your gift, on this day, equips Native congregations like the NMAC Four Corners Native American Ministry, New York's Onondaga Nation UMC and Nebraska's Native American Sacred Winds congregation to worship and serve as only they can.

  Homeless Utah Bell Choir Seeks Shelter
 

     The Wesley Bell Ringers will be touring the Southwest for two weeks in June. Most of our performance dates are set, however we are having difficulty finding host congregations in the following areas: Las Cruces (6/18), Carlsbad/Roswell (6/19), and Albuquerque/Santa Fe (6/22). We would ask that your congregation provide us with a pot luck dinner, beds for the night, an easy breakfast the next morning, and transportation back to the church. Our tour is made possible only through the generosity of communities and churches like yours.  

     The Wesley Bell Ringers are one of the premiere youth handbell choirs in America. Each year, the choir performs a Christmas concert series, and performs on a two week summer tour to a different area of the United States. The concert program includes both secular and religious pieces that make for a show the whole family can enjoy.
     The choir consists of 15 teenagers, and we also have 7 adults in our traveling party. I can afford to house the adults in a hotel, if necessary, but doing so for the entire choir is a budget busting idea. Besides, we are on a concert tour, and we should be performing that night.  

     It is late to be asking for help. I've hosted enough traveling choirs to know that it involves a lot of work, and that this request is coming much later than it should. In reality, though, the other host churches still have a couple of weeks before they will begin arranging housing with their congregations and to seriously advertise.  

      I realize that hosting our choir is a big undertaking, however it's an incredible experience that is absolutely worth it. The opportunity that each church provides our teenagers is unlike anything else available to them, and truly helps to shape them into well-traveled, welcoming adults. I am also incredibly proud to share with you the music that we've prepared. If you look at our website www.wesleybells.org you can see pictures of the choir as well as soundbites from our most recent CD. I believe that after the fact, you would be very happy that you said yes to hosting The Wesley Bell Ringers.  If you are  interested, you can e-mail me at Layk1@aol.com.  

Peace and Joy! 

Katie Lay 

Director-The Wesley Bell Ringers 

Layk1@aol.com 

Christ United Methodist Church 

Salt Lake City, UT