"Celebrating God's Presence, Serving All People"
United Church News May 31st, 2019
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Sunday, I will begin a summer sermon series on the parables of Jesus. The parables are foundational teachings of our faith that bless us with wisdom and encouragement. The ancient rabbis taught that there were over 100 right interpretations of any different parable. This is because we enter the parables at different times in our lives, overhearing our own stories in the story that Jesus tells. I have attached my preaching schedule to this email in hopes that you might read a few parables this summer and ask yourself:  Where am I in this story?  Sunday worship will also include Holy Communion. I look forward to being with all of you on Sunday!

Pastor Mark
This Sunday's Sermon Title and Scripture Reading
Worship Sunday at 10am
Sunday, June 2nd
"Three Favorite Sayings"

Scripture :
Luke 15: 11-32

Reader : John Foster
Deacons : Russ and Linda Howald
Ushers : Mary Jane Irvine, John Foster
Greeter : Lois Kenyon
Music
Edna Grod will be the pianist for Sunday. It’s always a pleasure to hear her play!
It's Favorite Hymn Month!

The month of June , beginning on the 9 th , will be ‘Favorite Hymn Month”. Let us know what your favorites are. The sign in sheet is in the narthex.

Luwayne will also pick 12 hymns from this list of favorites to record on an album. This will be available in the fall in both CD and MP3 format.  
Vacation Bible School - Begins this Monday!
Children ages 3 through rising 6th grade are welcome to this time of worship, games, crafts, snacks, friends, and fun! VBS will be held at the United Church of Marco Island beginning this Monday, June 3rd- Friday, June 7th beginning at 5:30pm.

Registration for attendants is now available. Please call the church office to register your child, (239) 394-6572.

Parents and Volunteers wishing to serve can also sign up to do so in the Narthex. There will be a meeting for volunteers this Sunday, June 2nd at 11am in the Sunset Conference Room.
Food Drive for the Marco Food Pantry

Dear Congregation,

During our vacation Bible School in June, our children are going to be learning about loving their neighbors. As part of this learning, we will be teaching our children about the power of making an offering. To do this, we have embarked on a children's giving project that involves the Marco Island Food Pantry. We are asking for your help with this help with this project by bringing in a canned food offering on one of the next two Sundays: 5/26, and 6/2. Boxes for the canned food donations will be set up in the narthex and in the church office. Thank you for your generosity!

Sincerely,

The Education Committee
Children's Church

Lesson:
Jesus Transforms Saul's Life

Teacher:
Sheila Sawyer

Assistant Teachers:
Cheryl Axelson
Bargain Basket Update

Join us every Thursday for our Thrifty Thursday special of the week!

The Bargain Basket is in need of volunteers in multiple areas including cashiering, bagging, floor assistance, and books. If you are interested in helping out this summer, please email bargainbasket@comcast.net. Thank you!
Week in Review
Congratulations to Becca Boyer McNitzky, who got married last Saturday night to her long-time sweetheart, Reed McNitzky .

Becca was our summer intern at United Church in 2017. During her internship, Becca spent time gaining ministry experience by preaching, being a leader at our 2017 Vacation Bible School, engaging in pastoral care, and working at The Bargain Basket.

Three weeks ago, Becca graduated from Duke University Divinity School and was recently called to position in ministry in San Antonio, TX. 

We are so excited for Becca and Reed!
Ladies Who Lunch
Join the women of the congregation for their monthly 'Ladies Who Lunch' gathering, taking place on the first Thursday of each month.

June's lunch will be at Joey D's, located on Bald Eagle Rd. right across the street from The Bargain Basket on Marco Island.

Meet us there at 1 PM on Thursday, June 6th for good food and great conversation!
Mission Moment
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry has an ongoing need for the "fabric" or "canvas" reusable bags that you can get at the grocery store (please see photo for example). These canvas bags are stronger and more reliable for the mobile food pantry guests who tend to arrive on foot or by bicycle. If you have any of these bags to donate, please feel free to leave them in our food pantry collection bin, located at The Bargain Basket or in our Narthex.
2019 Summer Camps
This Summer, UCMI welcomes The Nutty Scientists for three different summer camps taking place in June, July, and August.

The Nutty Scientists has been a world leader in interactive children's programs since 1996.

Nutty Scientists of Southwest Florida has always prided itself on doing things a little differently. In fact, no one else in the world teaches quite like they do. These programs draw from the expertise of renowned scientists from all corners of the globe. They offer hands-on acitivities that will keep your children busy and excited from 9am-1pm!

For more information, click on the flyer or visit nuttySWFL.com.
Summer Book Discussions
Pastor Kathy Sprague's 5-week book discussion on Max Lucado's Anxious for Nothing, begins on Tuesday, June 4th at 10am in the Sunset Conference Room. In Anxious for Nothing, Max Lucado leads participants to reflect on the promises of Philippians 4:4-8.  This passage from Paul’s epistle contains an antidote to anxiety that will help you develop a mindset of resilience. You may pre-purchase a small paperback study book / journal @ $8.00 in our Church office or in the Narthex after services the last two weeks of May.
Join Pastor Mark Williams on Wednesday, June 12th at 10am in the Sunset Conference Room for a discussion on Kate Bowler's Everything Happens For a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved. Frank and funny, dark and wise, Kate Bowler pulls the reader deeply into her life in an account she populates affectionately with a colorful, often hilarious retinue of friends, mega-church preachers, relatives, and doctors.  Everything Happens for a Reason tells her story, offering up her irreverent, hard-won observations on dying and the ways it has taught her to live.
In The Coming Week at UCMI

Sunday, June 2nd
  • 11 AM VBS Meeting (SSCR)

Monday, June 3rd
  • 1 PM Social Events Committee (SRC)
  • 5:30 PM VBS Opening Night

Tuesday, June 4th
  • 10 AM Anxious for Nothing Book Discussion (SSCR)
  • 5:30 PM VBS

Wednesday, June 5th
  • 5:30 PM VBS

Thursday, June 6th
  • 1 PM Ladies Who Lunch (Joey D's)
  • 5:30 PM VBS

Friday, June 7th
  • 5:30 PM VBS Closing Night

Click on the link below to see what the next few months have to offer at UCMI!
Upcoming Birthdays
6/01- Molly Clark
6/01- John Newcomer
6/03- Pat Kaufman
6/07- Ron Scherer

We hope your special day is filled with fun surrounded by the ones you love most!
We're sorry we missed your birthday! If you do not see your birthday listed in the e-news please check with the church office to see if we have all of your info!