Ministry Jottings

Thank You, Dads!

Great fathers do so much for their families just by being there, every day. We could be giving thanks this Father’s Day for a biological father, a step-father, an adoptive father or someone who was like a dad to us.

If you are fortunate enough to have a living father, and if you have a good or at least tolerable relationship with him, tell him how much you appreciate him and that he matters in your life. If he’s gone, give a prayer of thanks to God that you had the dad you did.

Check out these things to consider thanking your dad for this Father’s Day:

  1. Supporting Activities – Whether it was a soccer game, a ballet performance, or a piano recital, when Dad came to your event, it was likely extra special.
  2. Acting as Provider – Let him know how much you appreciate him taking care of you, feeding you and making sure you had a safe home.
  3. Teaching Manners – Dad was probably a co-teacher with Mom to help you learn how to be a civilized, respectable human being.
  4. Sharing Life Skills – Learning how to fix a bike, care for the yard or budget smartly are often among the skills Dad has passed on to you.
  5. His Sense of Humor – Whether their humor is bubbly or hilariously dry, thank your dad for making you laugh.
  6. Giving Wise Advice – Thank him for the time he took, and probably continues to take, to help you work out your life problems.
  7. Spoiling Us – Chocolate cake for breakfast, cookies before dinner, or an extra hour up past bedtime were Dad’s way of telling us he loved us and wanted to spend some time with us.
  8. Working Hard – Once again, probably as a co-teacher with Mom, Dad taught you to work hard and the value of a good work ethic.
  9. Life Encouragement – Dad has a way of encouraging your best effort in everything but still loving you no matter the outcome.
  10. Example of Service and Faith – If your Dad is anything like mine, he has a soft spot for serving others, and has faith in your family and God. 

Pastor Deb Olenyik
Six Sayings for Strength
 
  • “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” says the Lord.  – Jeremiah 33:3
  • Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive. – Hafez
  • “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” says the Lord – Isaiah 41:10
  • The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot & God’s the co-pilot. – Michael Altshuler
  • The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.  – Psalm 29:11
  • Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. – Dr. Seuss
Worship Services Onsite Resume with a Smooth Transition Using Safety Guidelines

After being back onsite for worship services for two Sundays, we can report that all has gone extremely well. The safety guidelines in place have been easily adapted to by those attending. It has been great being able to gather, even while wearing our masks and keeping safe distance. We look forward to when others will feel comfortable joining us.
Mountain Sky Annual Conference Being Held Virtually June 19 & 20

Pastor Deb & Lay Leader/Lay Member Jeanne Ambrosier will be voting delegates to the Mountain Sky Annual Conference on June 19 & 20. Instead of being held in Gillette, Wyoming as planned, it is being held virtually. The delegates will view what is happening via zoom with opportunity to give input through an online request going directly to Bishop Karen. The delegates will vote using a special voting site connected to either their smart phone or computer with their own voter ID number which allows only authorized people to be voting. The business of the annual conference will be kept to a minimum this year.  Everyone is welcome to join in worship from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. TODAY . You can join on the conference website – Annual Conference 2020/Worship Services section , or on the conference Facebook page .  Ordination will be delayed until the clergy orders gathering in October.  
STEWARDSHIP MOMENT
Greetings:

Hopefully everyone is doing well during these unprecedented times. I certainly did not expect the pandemic to affect my life, the lives of my family and friends, and my Church, to the extent it has. We're all ready for a return to normalcy, just hoping the "new normalcy" will resemble the "old normalcy." Only time will tell.

One thing we can count on, which we are always able to count on despite whatever obstacles are thrown before us, is the strength, the peace and the comfort of having Christ in our lives and the wondrous gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Paul encouraged us to band together as Christians, but sometimes that proves to be difficult, as our present conditions attest. We have been truly blessed by Pastor Deb, together with Pastor Dean and our staff and volunteers, using great ingenuity in finding ways to keep God front and center for us. Virtual Sunday morning services, daily response to the Word, study of the parables and more, requires significant effort. They have been challenged and the response has been extraordinary.

We do, however, need to recognize that these efforts have not come without costs, monetarily that is, and the challenges are not over yet. Thankfully, our congregation has continued to support our Church's ministry by maintaining giving in accordance with our respective pledges. I pray that each of us will continue that support, and that this storm will soon be a fading memory.

Now that we are once again allowed to congregate at Church for worship, albeit under strict social distancing guidelines, we can at least see old friends and familiar faces, which is wonderful. There is room for more, so for those of us who are not experiencing illness and are comfortable meeting under the guidelines, please plan to join us for worship services this Sunday.

May the peace of Christ be with you,

John Olson
Finance Committee member
NEWS AROUND THE OFFICE
  • The July/August edition of Upper Room is now available. If you would like a copy mailed to you, please let Jessica know by emailing her here.

  • Summer Office Hours are Tuesdays-Thursdays from 9am-3pm.

  • We now have greeting card assorted packs available for purchase in the Narthex. They feature our beautiful stained glass and are blank inside. They are $5 for 6. If you are interested in having them mailed to you, please email Jessica here.
4 WEEK BOOK STUDY: “I’M STILL HERE: BLACK DIGNITY IN A WORLD MADE FOR WHITENESS”
In response to the circumstances we’re facing in our nation regarding systematic racism, the Church & Society Team is going to lead a 4-week book study on, “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown. This incisive memoir takes a penetrating look at race and the Christian faith. Brown describes the weight of white supremacy within American institutions, which African Americans and other people of color face on a daily basis. 

This study is for you if:
  • You want to learn more so that you can be well- informed to stand against racism today,
  • You want to see the other side of the issue of racism that, as a white person, you haven’t experienced personally,
  • You want to have open dialogue about racism in America and how we might work together to make a difference. 

This study will occur on Monday nights from 7-8pm on July 6, 13, 20 and 27 via Zoom, so you can do it from anywhere; even if you’re going on vacation!

Invite your friends, relatives, neighbors. Anyone with an open heart and an open mind is welcome and encouraged to participate. 

Sign up and/or invite others to sign up to participate and receive the Zoom instructions by emailing Jessica at [email protected]. 

Please purchase your own book and try to read Chapters 1-5 before July 7. 

Church & Society Team: Carolyn Hohne, Jeanne Ambrosier, Pem Dunn, Ann Gerteis, Bill Graf, Donna Mullins, Clyde Sacks, Joyce Snapp, Jan Thurling, Heather McGaughey
WESTERN CONFERENCE DELAYED
Delayed to November, 2021-- Western Jurisdictional Conference and Scheduled Retirement of Bishops 

On May 26, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church  announced new dates  for the 2020 Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States that were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jurisdictional Conferences in the U.S.  will now be held Nov. 10-12, 2021. The Mountain Sky Conference will still host the Western Jurisdictional Conference.  General Conference will have been held Aug. 29 - Sep. 7, 2021.
JOY INTERNATIONAL NEWS
" Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King, Jr.

But that's not who we are! We CAN speak up for precious lives that matter by sharing with others about the work of JOY International! We CAN walk the Barefoot Mile on August 29 to raise funds essential for the lifesaving rescues and healing of enslaved young people. We WILL join a movement of people in Barefoot Miles across our country who stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. 

Plan to walk the Mountain Community Barefoot Mile, either on August 29 at Marshdale Park, or virtually on your own timeframe anywhere you choose. Maximize your walk by forming a team of family and/or friends with each person having reached out for sponsors! Last year the JOY Team raised over 21,000! Sincere thanks to many of you who participated and made that happen.

You can donate, register to walk in person or virtually by visiting  HERE.

The JOY Team thanks you abundantly on behalf of the children who wait. If you have questions or have an item to donate for the silent auction, please contact Jan Thurling, Bill Graf or Dave Loomis. Keep JOY in your heart!
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF EVERGREEN
Growing a community of faith by serving a world of need and changing lives. We affirm a spirit of openness and hospitality to all, including persons of all races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, financial strata, and abilities who seek a closer walk with God.

Visit us on the web:   www.evergreenumc.org