Maplewood United Methodist Church
Messenger news & updates
Thursday,October 15, 2020
Special Guest Speaker this Sunday.

Our guest preacher is Reverend Edith Chemorion, an ordained minister in the Reformed Church of East Africa-Kenya, who is currently studying at Eden Theological Seminary from Nairobi, Kenya. Reverend Edith, and her husband, who also is an ordained minister, are parents to 4 children. She will speak about her experiences with injustice while serving in ministry and also about her work for justice while serving in ministry!
In need of pastoral care ..........
Pastor Kim will be out of town this weekend and will be returning to work on Tuesday, October 20. If you are in need of pastoral care while she is away, please reach out to Pastor Jewell (314) 458-5601; Steve Wall-Smith (314) 312-6912 (home) or (314) 369-7952 (cell); or Kathy Schmid at 314-503-1101
Let them know you see what they do
It's good to do ANY time, but especially in October. This is Pastor Appreciation Month. We all are encouraged to send notes cards or emails, letting Pastor Kim and Pastor Jewell know how much
we value their leadership.
(A quick FYI: they each will be receiving gift cards on behalf on the congregation.
UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, October 17- 10:30 a.m.
The Brick Bible gathering for older children and youth.

Sunday, October 18
10:00 a.m. Adult Sunday Conversation group - online
10:50 a.m. Worship - on Facebook
12:10 p.m. Chat after worship
via ZOOM
Monday, October 19-
7 p.m. GriefShare online

Wednesday, October 21-
6:00 p.m. Shine On gathering for younger children
SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE
SoS - 1
Winter Clothing & Food Drive ...Oct. 5 through Nov. 30.

People are going to need the same things YOU need for winter: coats, gloves, scarves, hats, socks, sweaters, blankets. Canned goods, granola bars, crackers, tuna pouches, non-perishables also, will be essential to make it through the cold months.

COLLECTION AREAS: Heights Rec Center at 800 Dale; Richmond Heights Police Dept. 7447 Dale Ave.

Porch pickups WITHIN the RH/Maplewood area are available upon request. For additional information or to arrange pickup:
Officer Brown 314-655-3632 OR to

sponsored by:
Richmond Heights Police Department and
MapleGood
SoS - 2
Items are needed for Community Food Cupboards. The Community Cupboard nearest the church is located in Sutton Loop Park. If you have questions, please reach out to Mary Kunce at marykunce@yahoo.com. 

Items most needed are ...:
Water 
Shelf stable milks
Canned soup, chili, and pasta with pull top lids
Crackers
Granola bars
Small cereal boxes
Fruit and nut snacks
Boxed mac and cheese
Tuna pouches
Words from Pastor Kim
Dear Friends,
We experienced a moment of irony during last Sunday’s service.  As you know, for months we have struggled with all kinds of technical difficulties that sometimes put a stop to streaming in the middle of worship. Things were not going all that well for too long!

We have made lots of changes to get the service looking and streaming so much better! It’s been really great!  But this Sunday, once again, the worship livestream was interrupted and we had to start “MUMC Worship service Part 2.” Aaargh! Here’s the irony in all of this.  Last Sunday we were bumped off of the Facebook live feed not because things were bad. We were stopped because the video reminder for All Saints Day looked too good! It appeared as though we were streaming something that had been professionally engineered without proper permission.  Please be assured, we did have permission with all the appropriate licenses!

While it was not fun to lose connection last Sunday, it is no longer the norm for Sunday service.  If you are among folks who have grown tired of the struggles with technology during worship services and have taken a break from attending church on Sunday morning, it’s now safe to come back.  I hope you will!

If you have been reluctant to invite your friends to online worship because of the issues with technology and the general look of the service, you no longer have to be afraid!   Attending online worship is a nonthreatening way to explore worshiping with a faith community.  It’s a great entry point for new folks. I encourage you to go ahead and invite your friends. It’s pretty simple to share the Facebook post with info about the service with them. When they join the service, I am confident that at some point during the service they will hear that they are loved by God!

It is such a blessing that our new “worry” for Sunday mornings is that we might get interrupted because Pastor Jewell has put together a worship service that looks “too good!” I am so grateful for this “worry” and even more grateful for the opportunity to share Good News about God’s love, mercy, and grace.

As you go through your days may that grace and peace be with you in overflowing abundance

Pastor Kim
This Sunday - Adult Discussion group will look at voter suppression
A 30 minute video by the UMC is available to give some input for the topic. Access to the video is : umc.org/endracism pick the voter suppression video topic. The discussion group meets at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. If you want to participate and have not before give Steve Wall-Smith a call...314-312-6912
(Courtesy United Methodist Communications)
"LIVE CHAT" after worship - check it out
You are invited to a virtual 'Stay and Chat' after Church this Sunday immediately after worship. Just click on the Zoom link found in the Order of Worship emailed on Sunday morning or in the Facebook comments near the end of the service. Our Zoom Room will open at about 12:10 – moments after our Virtual Parade ends.
 
Just like there are different rooms in our church building, we will have virtual side rooms (breakout rooms) available for prayer, questions about the service, and just catching up with folks. along with our main “Zoom Room.”  If this seems confusing. PLEASE DON’T WORRY! AND DON’T LET THIS STOP YOU FROM SHOWING UP!  All you really need to do is take steps 1 and 2 above. Once you arrive in the main room, we will help you find your way in this new virtual space, just like we would show folks around in any new space. 
 
If the link to the MUMC Zoom Room doesn’t seem to work for you, text Pastor Kim (314-651-9999) or Pastor Jewell (314-458-5601) and we will do all we can to help you. If you need help setting up Zoom, please call or text Pastor Kim. 
All Saints Day will be celebrated during worship on Sunday, November 1
The names of Maplewood UMC members and loved ones who have died since the last All Saints Day will be read during Holy Communion: a way of honoring their lives and celebrating that our communion with them continues in Christ Jesus.  If you would like to have the name of a loved one read during Holy Communion, share name of the person, your name, and their relationship to you with Pastor Kim through an email sent to kimshirar@yahoo.com or via a text message sent to 314-651-9999.
Be in prayer for....

... Linda’s successful heart procedure

... the Kingsley baby in Newborn ICU

... those suffering with Alzheimer's

... Shirley, Michell, Jerry dealing with lingering effects of Covid

... Jan’s Mom for Healing and a good rehab facility

... family of Royal Gunter who passed away recently

Correction....
Last week we printed a thank-you to Peg Chulick, Larry Hostetler and Dave Phelps for the song shared in the Sunday morning worship on Oct. 4. Dave Phelps not only sang the song but also put the words to music.
Henry Stotler's Annual Pink Lemonade Fund Raiser
For the last several years Henry has been raising money for the American Cancer Society with his pink lemonade stand after worship on Sunday.
This year it was held last Saturday afternoon. Gramma and Grampa Harsh were there to help. We last heard he has raised over $300 this year. There is still time to contribute to the cause.
Maplewood United Methodist Church
7409 Flora Ave. (corner of Flora and Sutton)
St. Louis, MO 63143
Pastor Kim Shirar:s Cell: 314-651-9999
Pastor Jewell McGhee's cell: 314-458-5601
Church Phone Number - 314-781-5902
Website: maplewoodumc.org
(Church Office closed until further notice)
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