The Link
January 2018

Monthly news from Washington Park United Methodist Church


Message from Associate Pastor Jamielee Demskee

To me, the month of January feels like what spring cleaning has always aspired to be, that time of year when we get our minds, our lives, and our homes in order to invite a new year in properly. We take stock of our previous year and try new things to help us be the best possible version of ourselves. For some people, that may mean getting more exercise, eating better, taking more time for self-care and reflection, saving money, travelling more, or a million other ways that we seek to improve ourselves and our lives. But at the close of each year, I wonder how many of us felt the lasting effects of our New Year's Resolutions? 

This year, I'm trying out a new resolution based on a different part of my life that might need a little work. Instead of trying a new diet or exercise routine, I'm going to be focusing on words, specifically the words that define who I am in the world. Sandi and I will begin a preaching series titled "Words to Live By", where we will be talking about the values we choose to live by and how we can transform the world by being who we are. I look forward to exploring our values together as we consider integrity, forgiveness, mercy, gratitude and generosity as our New Year's resolutions.

My prayer for you this season is that you may be blessed with an inquisitive heart, a considerate mind, and a spirit ready to explore your true, blessed self.

Blessings and Love,
Rev. Jamielee

January Worship 
"Words to Live By" sermon series
  • January 7 - COMMUNION SUNDAY/EPIPHANY SUNDAY, Epiphany Peace, Matthew 2: 1-12
  • January 14 - Words to Live By: INTEGRITY - Rev. Sandi, Psalm 101: 1-4; Matthew 7: 12-14
  • January 21 - Words to Live By: FORGIVENESS - Rev. Jamielee, Psalm 103: 10-14; Luke 7: 36-50                
  • January 28 - Words to Live By: MERCY - Rev. Sandi, Psalm 25: 6-7; Luke 6: 35-36

All Church Celebration
Sunday, January 28
Join us after worship on Sunday, January 28 for brunch and a special all-church celebration. This year's theme: YEE HAW!  You are NOT going to want to miss out.

Children's Ministry
Lunch Bunch on January 20

WOW! That's how I felt about the wonderful job our kids did presenting The Nativity Story. They did such a great job and we are such a blessed congregation to be the church home to so many families. "Thank you" to Nancy Leonard for helping us with the stage.

Also a big "Way to go!" for the Children's Choir for the Christmas Cantata, and the amazing grown-ups and Steve Bondy for bringing tears of joy to so many of us in the pews. Sunday School classes will resume January 14. If you find you are looking to serve in our church, the children's ministry is in need of a couple of Sunday School leaders. Please contact me if you are interested. I would love to discuss this with you.

Upcoming events for the Children's Ministry team is our quarterly Lunch Bunch/Club 456. We will meet in the larger Sunday School room on Saturday, January 20 from 10:30 am - 1:30 pm. This is for kids ages 3 and potty-trained through 6th grade. We will have fellowship, craft, games and lunch. This is a fun way for the kids to know each other outside of Sunday School. Please send a lunch and drink with the kids and you can get some errands done, read a book, or even a nap! Please let me know if you plan on attending by RSVP-ing to childrensministry@washparkumc.org. Feel free to invite a friend!

VBS! Yes! Yes! Yes! Our Vacation Bible School will be held the week of June 18 - 22. More details to come.

Faith makes all things possible, Hope makes all things work, Love makes all things beautiful, May you have all three for Christmas and the New Year!

Merry Christmas and a blessed 2018,


Trustees
Plumbing and Piping Renovations

How do you heat an almost 60,000 square foot building with an original structure built in early 1900s and an education wing built in the 1950's? Well I am glad you asked. Radiant heat of course, derived from a furnace or boiler that heats the water and then sends it through about a mile of mostly copper (but some galvanized) pipes. Yes it's an old building with some old infrastructure and old systems!

As you may know, there is not heat at the flick of a switch like with most homes these days. Instead, the system has to be brought up to service in the fall and then shut down in the spring.  Similarly, our evaporative cooler and clean air system for the building and pre-school has to be winterized in the fall and water drained from that system so there is not a risk of freezing pipes.  The updated evaporative cooler system currently only serves the original Church building and newly-renovated preschool area. The education wing is still serviced by the unsightly window air conditioning units. One day we hope to retrofit the education wing so that it too can utilize the modern evaporative cooler system that the rest of the building enjoys on those hot summer days.

As mentioned above, a large part of our air cooling system has been modernized, is dependable, and is serviced regularly.  However, some of the building's infrastructure is nearing the end of its life span. Some of the old copper and galvanized pipes are deteriorating and beginning to cause maintenance issues such as leaks and silt build up within the pipes. Additionally, some of the electrical wiring will need to be updated, although the preschool just completed an electrical update of the stage area in the fellowship hall this month! In the coming months, we will be requesting estimates and bids for future work on the plumbing/piping infrastructure of the building and some possible electrical upgrades. It is important to keep the building and those who use it safe. We also don't want to be surprised with any floods or big issues so we are trying to plan accordingly.

Our church is a beautiful old building that has served many over time and continues to see hundreds of visitors each week. If you know of any local tradesmen who you have experience with, come see me. My office is on the second floor of the education building.  I would love to speak with you about resources for caring for our beautiful building.

Barry Steelman, Trustee Chair WPUMC

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
Beginning in January, Missions will hold 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 given to Fish of East Denver. To learn more about this organization, please visit their website. This is one of the few foods banks in the area that actually delivers groceries to people without transportation or who are homebound. Our first food drive will be Sunday, January 7, 2018. A ny 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 January are:
  • 1/21/18 - Assemble lunches after church
  • 1/27/18 - 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

January 20 - Lunch Bunch 10:30 am to 1:30 pm

January 21 - Sandwiches and Socks assemble lunches in the tea kitchen after church

January 27 - Sandwiches and Socks distribute lunches downtown

January 28 - All Church Celebration "Yee Haw!" after church
 

Birthdays Anniversaries
01/01 Annabelle Schleppi
01/02 Matthew Haemer
01/03 CB Hamrick
01/03 Theodore Quick
01/05 Stella Moats
01/05 Josh Burger
01/08 Hayes Griffin
01/10 Kathleen MacNaughton
01/11 Jenny Buddington
01/12 Brian Deason
01/12 Makayla Deason
01/12 Catherine Poirier
01/12 Erin Jones
01/13 Tony Palizzi
01/14 Harper Quartarone
01/14 Andrew Schleppi
01/16 Jon Schmidt
01/17 Lauren Abman
01/17 Michelle Hoskins
01/17 Reed Mengel
01/18 Isabelle Longwell
01/19 Annette Smith
01/19 Reid Parnell
01/21 Carol Nelson
01/21 Ada Jones
01/22 Alexis Banbury
01/24 Natalie Kimbrel
01/24 Logan Kimbrel
01/25 Carla Dickson
01/26 Tyler Joyner
01/27 Tom Parnell
01/29 Lori Eronimous
01/30 Ireland Glennie
01/31 Luke Haemer
01/31 Carson Schaub
1/10 - Daniel & Noreen Marutle