Battle Ground Community UMC
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
October 2020
 We are people of faith who gather to worship and love God,
care for one another, and share God’s compassion with the world.
Pastor's Pondering
As I sit and ponder today, it feels like the world is crumbling beneath our feet.  I’m 55 and I don’t remember the world ever being this dark in my lifetime.  Of course, I don’t remember the division of the 60’s because I was just a toddler, but I’m told these days are worse than even the Vietnam era.

Today, President Trump has been brought to Walter Reed Hospital for contracting the Corona virus.  Just one more piece of darkness in an already dark world.  And I’m left wondering, what on earth do I share with my flock?  How do I point to the Gospel?  Where do I point my finger and say, “Over there!  Can’t you see it?  It’s the light of Christ!”  Then I realized that maybe the best place to point is toward my own experience.

As you all know by now, due to my Bi-polar disorder, I am quite well acquainted with the darkness of depression.  I suppose the world is experiencing much the same thing as I experience individually.  Perhaps like me, the world has trouble getting out of bed in the morning.  Perhaps like me, the world is walking around disconnected from everything, as if we’re watching everything around us happen through a camara lens.  Perhaps my depression and the world’s depression are similar, if not the same.

Well, if that’s the case, I know where to say, “There’s God!”  You see I don’t fear my depressive episodes anymore because after having so, so many, I have come to realize in a very tangible way that God sits with me in my darkness.  As I curl up in a fetal position and pull the covers over my head, God is spooning me.  God doesn’t magically make my darkness go away, and we can’t expect God to magically make the world’s darkness go away.  But… and this is really, really important…. But, God sits with us while we endure the crumbling happening beneath our feet.  God comforts us when we are in despair.  God’s compassion helps us realize that what we feel is real.  And as we sit in today’s darkness, we can be absolutely certain of one thing… we’re not alone.  We never were.  And we never will be.  Thank God we have God.

Peace and Grace to you all and please, stay healthy!
Pastor Susan
How We Worship
THANKS TO THE WORSHIP TEAM!!!

These 6 months of living in Phase II in this ongoing epidemic have been a challenge in so many different ways; too many to count. One of the challenges we faced was how to create a worship on-line that might touch those who come to virtually worship. It's been an enormous learning curve!

We expect that in a few weeks our worship is going to look just a tad different. Our dear Nancy Volgamore and Patrick Brown have been working over time to offer something special every Sunday morning. We hope you will enjoy these small changes we've made to help make the service as pleasant as possible.

The team over these past six months has been more than awesome. First, a huge thanks to Roger Roulet, who faithfully has put together our service into one video week after week. His dedication is so appreciated.

Patrick Brown And Darryl Mar together have been offering amazing music. Their styles are so different, which makes them entirely complimentary to one another. In addition, Patrick has been working overtime to help me plan worship during these Covid times. His energy, enthusiasm and creativity are endless, and creating worship has become an absolute 'hoot'.

Of course, we continue to thank all the special musicians offering their songs. We are rotating all who have a desire to offer a solo, and everyone is welcome to sign up. The rotating liturgists have dedicated themselves to come to church week after week to record their practiced parts, pulling together the whole shebang.

We are very much looking forward to Laura Perkins' efforts to create a virtual choir. How Fun!!! That is something to which we can look forward.

So, a huge thanks to the whole team! The willingness and enthusiasm to be a part of the worship team during these Covid times has been one of the gifts that come from these dark times.
WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR WORSHIP
DURING COVID?

This year, until at least 2021, if not longer, we’ve decided that our worship services will be guided by the Revised Common Lectionary.  The lectionary was put together by the national council of churches and it lays out scripture readings for three years.  One from the Old Testament, one from Psalms, one from the gospels and one from the rest of the New Testament.  Over the course of those three years, most of the Bible would be covered.

Each week in our weekly newsletter, we will list for you the week's readings.  I encourage you to read along and prepare your hearts for worship by contemplating the lectionary reading for the week before Sunday.  This is a very traditional way of worshipping and the Revised Common Lectionary is used by all the mainline Protestant churches.
How We Learn
OUR FALL STUDY - SUSPENDED

Due to decreased attendance, Pastor Susan took a poll of all the people who generally participate in Wednesday night's study, and it turns out that people are not able to join the group for a plethora of reasons. Therefore, we are suspending our fall study for now.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS?

If you have any thoughts for another study some time in the future, we are open to any and all suggestions. Feel free to not only recommend a curricula or book but also a time and day that is most conducive. Email Pastor Susan if you have any suggestions.
How We Can Help
EXCELLENT JOB PEOPLE!

HERE'S WHAT YOUR GENEROSITY BROUGHT IN:

Over 99 POUNDS IN SEPTEMBER
66 pounds of non-perishables
33 pounds of produce
and $2,030.00 in monetary funds!

For every $1.00, the North County Food Bank can purchase $10.00 worth of food at the Vancouver Food Bank!! So, that means your dollar is worth TEN TIMES the amount!! Monetary donations are very valuable!

At this time, the Food Bank would actually prefer monetary donations as opposed to food donations (however, food is still welcome!). Please send your checks to the church, with "Food Bank" on the memo line; that way we can keep track of our monetary donations for Outreach.
COME FILL UP THE FOOD BANK WAGON.
Nancy makes the drop off every Friday morning, or sooner if needed.
How We Pray
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR PEACE
Monday, November 2nd

Pastor Jo Ann Shipley from Vancouver Heights and Pastor Susan are working on organizing a "Vigil for Peace" at Esther Short Park on the eve of Election Day. This is not a political event. It is simply a prayer for peace as there is an expectation of unrest after November 3rd. Stay tuned for more information.
Would you like to be part of the Prayer Chain? Contact Pastor Susan at [email protected] if you want to be added to those who regularly pray for those in the congregation and beyond.

We gather for weekly prayer on Tuesdays at 11:00 am. If you would like to Zoom in, contact Pastor Susan and she will send you an invite.
Money Information
Just because we're not gathering, 
doesn't mean we don't need your offering to pay our bills. 

The Facts
Please be aware that the average offering per month is $16,363. If we continue to receive that monthly offering, our finances won't be affected and we won't have to make any cuts at this time.

You can easily help by tithing on-line: 
Simply click on the church website, click "MORE" and then select "On-line tithing" then, follow the steps from there. It's safe and easy!


OR
Mail in your offering to: 10300 NE 199th Street, Battle Ground WA 98604
OR
You can set up with your bank an Auto Check service where your bank would regularly send the church your offering. There is no extra charge to do this.
FINANCE REPORTS

Click below if you would like to see the breakdown in detail.
You can see additional reports in the binder in the church office.

Monthly: Total Income: $20,010.19
Monthly: Total Expenses: $12,964.48


YTD: Total Income: 36,692.64
YTD: Total Expenses: 26,440.86
Administrative Information
CHARGE CONFERENCE IS UPON US!!!
A November Date TBA

This snuck up on us fast. Our Zoom Charge Conference is scheduled for some time in November. If you are on a committee, you can expect the requests for your committee's paperwork next week. I'm sorry I fell behind on this, but the good news is that it probably won't be as involved as usual due to Covid.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
OCTOBER BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATIONS!
10/2 - Jeff Lyles
10/6 - Ken Boegli
10/17 - Steve Danver
10/27 - Sam Leslie
10/27 - Sheryl Schulling
10/28 - Jean Brown
10/31 - Adam Herron
OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES:
10/1 - Doug and Jan Shaul
10/12 - Eric Fultz

Don't see your birthday or anniversary here? That would be because
we don't have it in our records.
Make sure to let us know when it is so
we can celebrate YOU!
More Information About Us
Pastor Susan has a blog.

You can read it at - recovingpastor.blogspot.com 
Click Here for Facebook
Check out our website. We have lots and lots of opportunities for serving
in many different ways.
Pass on the news to your friends.
STILL WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Contact Pastor Susan to share a cup of coffee/tea/whatever and learn more about our amazing faith family.
(NOT AVAILABLE TO MEET
FACE TO FACE DURING COVID)

 To all, including those who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination from church or in society, we offer a place of welcome, respect, and love. It is in this spirit that we invite
ALL* people to join us on a journey of faith.

*As a reconciling congregation, ALL people are welcome including people of any race, sexual orientation, gender identity, faith history,
socioeconomic status, physical and mental ability.