Friday, August 14th, 2020 |
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Onsite worship: 8:30 & 10:30
Online worship: Available from 9 on
Online Kid's Sunday School: 9:30
Onsite Kid’s Sunday School: 10:30
Onsite Youth Group: 12:30 - 3
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NO SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS SUNDAY |
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With the youth group on their retreat to Mission Wolf in Westcliffe, Colorado this weekend, there is no Sunday School on Zoom or in person this Sunday.
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Join the Barefoot Mile UMCE Team!
On Saturday, August 29th, join the UMCE Team and walk a mile in solidarity with impoverished and trafficked children to raise funds for JOY International, a global non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, restoration and reintegration of children, teens and young women affected by trafficking and the prevention of child trafficking worldwide. We will walk together at Marshdale Park.
Need assistance? Just reply back to this email to contact Jessica.
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Blessing of the Backpacks and Computers
We’ll be doing a photo montage on August 23rd during onsite worship for a virtual blessing of the backpacks -- and computers. Would you send a picture by Aug 19 of your student sitting by their computer with a backpack? They may also bring their backpacks to be blessed in person to worship as we have done in previous years. We’re thinking is the year to bless the computers as well. Sarah will give out this year’s carabiners & blessing tag in Everkids & Youth Group.
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Update on the Onsite Church Relaunch
As we enter the third month of worshiping onsite under the current conference, state, and county COVID19 guidelines, the care with which we set up our standards for safety has given us a worshipful, positive experience. We give thanks to our Lord for providing ongoing guidance, strength and grace.
Each speaking lectern has a large sneeze/cough guard on it. Masks are on except when a speaker is behind their individual guard. We are averaging nearly half of our pre-COVID19 worship attendance, which seems appropriate given many of our congregation are waiting before feeling comfortable coming to onsite worship. We have included a few photos of our set-up.
Church groups continue to prefer meeting by Zoom for now. The evening AA and daytime Al-Anon groups are very appreciative we are allowing them to meet. Those groups are important lifelines for their members. They have been diligent about following the guidelines in place.
During the week staff wear masks when anyone is in their office and whenever outside their office. Pastor Deb is meeting with individuals at church as well as making calls and sending emails/notes. Safe distancing, entry, masks and sanitizing protocols are the same as those we have in place for Sundays. In-home and care center visits remain on hold.
The careful plans Sarah and the program relaunch team established to resume our onsite children’s and youth ministries at the appropriate, safe levels have been appreciated by our youth, kids and their families during this difficult time where they have few opportunities to gather. The special summer session which Great Escape held with their COVID19 standards came off with much success and grateful families.
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Input for Pastor Deb’s Sermon Series
Do you have a good memory of Sunday School or youth group as a child or youth you would be willing to share? Pastor Deb would like to include these as part of her August sermon series “Lessons from Sunday School”. Please email them to deb@evergreenumc.org or office@evergreenumc.org. Thank you for helping us have a bit of an interactive experience!
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“Introduction to the New Testament” Begins on August 31, 7 p.m. via Zoom
The results are in – and they were close! Pastor Deb will lead “Introduction to the New Testament” beginning Monday evening, August 31, 7-8 p.m. via Zoom.
This class, one of the popular UMC short-term Disciple bible studies, includes study, a DVD and discussion each week. The cost is $18 and includes a study book.
Please register by calling the church office 303- 674-4810 or by email office@evergreenumc.org. This is a great study for whatever level of New Testament knowledge and understanding you might have.
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Job Posting: Worship Music Leader
We are in a different place for our worship needs for the extended future. A high priority for both onsite and online worship is providing music leadership in the form of a strong vocalist who can lead both traditional and contemporary hymns for the congregation. We also realize the need for a choir director whenever choir will be able to resume. This is unlikely to be possible before the first half of 2021, at the earliest. We will be waiting for people be vaccinated or the virus to be at a very low transmission level before we can have no masks and be closer together in physical proximity to enable a choir like before to resume. These two roles could be served by one person or different people, depending on their desires and abilities.
Major Responsibilities: Leading the congregation in dynamic singing, bringing the best of the old and the best of the new as an integral part of our worship glorifying Christ and bringing discipleship growth. We value a collaborative and supportive relationship between contemporary and traditional elements for our music ministry. Keyboard / piano / organ accompanist provided.
– Staff Parish Relations Team {in collaboration with several church members who are part of our worship and music ministries}
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September/October Upper Room Now Available
These are now in the narthex. If you would like one mailed to you, please reply to this email. Upper Room is also available online in digital format, if you prefer that, please reply to this email and request access.
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Lifting up Two of Our “Pastors Emeritus” Among Us
The Rev. Dr. Dick Vickery & the Rev. Dr. Scott Schiesswohl both served long and outstanding years as pastors for UMC of Evergreen. They are now retired and living here in Evergreen. Rev. Scott is continuing to serve as a part-time pastor at St. James UMC in Central City. We have the blessing of including both of them in our community of faith for fellowship and care. Rev. Dick is currently enjoying good health, though has had some ups and downs over the past few months. Rev. Scott just had successful knee surgery on August 11. Here’s contact information to be able to touch base with them.
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Church Office Hours Updates
The church office will be closed 8/17-8/20 for Jessica's vacation.
Starting 8/21 through 9/3, the church office will be closed and Jessica will be working remotely due to school scheduling and COVID situations. Please contact her via email and/or her cell number during that time (303-720-9187).
Pastor Deb will be on vacation 9/9 through 9/16.
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Finances Year to Date through June 30 |
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Ministry Jottings
Serendipity Moments
“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” – Ephesians 2:11
Serendipity, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.” We sometimes call it an “accident, dumb luck, or fate,” but serendipity has given us new products and better ways of doing things.
We all know of serendipity, such as maple syrup being discovered by Native American when, needing water, they tapped a maple tree and made the first maple syrup as they boiled off the sap. Westward-traveling pioneers looking for water stopped at a stream for a drink and found gold nuggets in the water.
While George Ballas was driving his car through a car wash, he had a moment of serendipity that made him a millionaire. As he watched the strings of the brushes cleaning his car, he turned his mind to his list of things to do, among them edging his lawn.
Suddenly an idea “popped” into his head. He took another long look at the strings on the rotating brush. The strings straightened out when turning at high speed, but were still flexible enough to reach into every nook and cranny of his car to get it clean. He asked himself, Why not use a nylon cord, whirling at high speed, to trim the grass and weeds around the trees and the house? His idea – his serendipity – led to the invention of the Weedeater.
Where do we get new ideas? God is the Master behind serendipity! He may not always give you a million-dollar idea, but God will make you more creative. Take time to daydream with the Lord. Expand your perspective. Learn and do new things. Remember today that God is your Creator. Ask God to inspire you with new ideas that can glorify our Lord and benefit others. We are co-creators with God.
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August Sermon Series
Lessons from Sunday School:
Aug 2 {communion} “The Greatest Freedom is in Having Nothing to Prove”
Aug 9 “When You Play to Your Strengths the Giants Fall Faster"
Aug 16 “I Was Meant to Party With My Enemies”
Aug 23 “Just Occasionally – I Can Hide”
Aug 30 “Don’t Lose Heart”
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OUTDOOR PANCAKE BREAKFAST |
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Come enjoy fellowship and a hot stack of pancakes on Sunday, August 23 @ 9:30am.
For safety purposes, it will be held outdoors, with social distancing maintained, and there will be no self service.
Please come and join us.
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The Women’s Wednesday Bible Study will resume this fall. They will read Adam Hamilton’s book “Unafraid” Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times.
This is a timely topic with all that is going on with the pandemic and the upcoming elections. They have not decided how and when to begin the study, but may meet safely distanced in Fellowship Hall, or on ZOOM, or both.
In the past, they have met on Wednesdays from 9:30am to 11:30am. If you would like more information or want to order a book, please contact Jeanne Ambrosier at rjambro@estreet.com or by phone 303-674-6377 by August 18.
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The Church and Society team is hosting a Racial Justice Corner on the UMCE website listing resources for the congregation on Racial Justice. The resource list includes programs, videos, books and resource listings/information to help all learn more about racism, anti-racism and racial justice and to provide ideas for all of us on ways to help combat racism in our world.
This week, we encourage you to watch a Ted Talk given by Debby Irving, a racial justice educator who focuses on educating other white people on racism and anti-racism actions. This talk is about what white privilege and institutional racism are and how they can become part of what a white person thinks, believes and, subsequently, says or does. WATCH HERE.
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MOUNTAIN RESOURCE CENTER UPDATES |
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Rescue is the first step to freedom for victims of global sex trafficking.
Next step is HEALING, critical for these young people who have been traumatized by the horrific abuse they have endured.
DID YOU KNOW?
The FBI states that once trapped in the sex trade, the average remaining life span of girls ranges from 5-7 years. They die from disease, suicide or murder. This abuse is unconscionable!!
JOY "provides a safe, loving environment to children, teens and young women who have been trafficked where they can heal and begin new lives through partnerships with our network of Safe Houses throughout the United States and around the world." They are found in CO, NC, PA, NV, AK, Cambodia and Belize (when money is available).
We CAN HELP to provide healthy outcomes for thousands of young people; visit www.joy.org/barefoot-mile-events and support JOY International today! Thank you on behalf of all those who STILL WAIT FOR RESCUE.
Your Mountain Community JOY Team
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MEAN STREET MINISTRY UPDATES |
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Mean Street Ministry has continued to serve our clients throughout this difficult time. We are taking safety precautions seriously and in doing so are still able to provide a hot meal in our café Mondays through Thursdays as well as open our food bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays for folks to personally shop for what they need. Our Monday and Tuesday night outreach to the motels on Colfax continues to be strong. We see God’s hand and His blessings each day as we serve the people of God for the glory of God.
Each day we are blessed with new stories of God’s Spirit working here at Mean Street. Our clients actively seek prayer from us and the miracles keep coming. Take Juan for example. Our outreach team first met him at a motel and he was contemplating taking his life. Our team spoke with him and shared God’s message of hope. Juan stated that he was a believer but had thought about giving up. Our team invited him to come to Mean Street, have a meal and get to know folks here. The next day Juan came and we were able to sit and pray with him and listen to his story. He now wants to volunteer with us because he said he can feel God at Mean Street. What a blessing it is to be a blessing!
We are only able to be a blessing with your help! We are such a small staff and our volunteers are the heart and soul of this ministry. The Covid-19 situation has caused a reduction in our volunteer base and we are in dire need of friends who would like to join us in our mission.
Some of our current volunteer openings include:
- Box truck Driver
- Van Loader/Organizer
- Food Bank Re-Stocker
- Front Door Greeter
- Registration Check In
- Meal Prep/Provide
- Café server
- Café Setup/Take Down
- Street Outreach
You can volunteer as many or as few hours as your schedule allows – there are no set requirements.
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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.
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