THIS WEEK

Mason United Methodist Church

A theologically progressive,

open, and affirming faith community.

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.

September 22nd – September 29th, 2022

Looking In, Reaching Out

You will be receiving some snail mail from a team who's working hard to keep Mason running and roaring into the future.  This letter will have a promise of your prayers, presence, talents, gifts and witness. If those promises sound familiar to you, it is because these are the vows we make to the local church when we join as members.

Mason has been a beacon of hope in Tacoma, and I see no reason why we can't renew that commitment to be a light on the hill. But in order to regain that purpose in our community, it is necessary for us to "think and do outside the box", so that we can speak to those who are seeking meaning, purpose, and hope for the future of our world.

In January, I'd like us to get serious about what changes we can make that will keep Mason relevant. It's a significant task, but I believe, with the help of the Spirit, it can be done because Hope is a force that is a gift for everyone. 

This October, when you renew your vows to be a part of this church in a meaningful way, consider your gifts to be an investment in HOPE, because the bottom line is, that's what we are all called to do.

Peace to each and everyone of you,

Pastor Susan

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK: Thurs, Sept. 22th – Wed, Sept. 28th

Friday, 9/23

   Art Class will not be meeting this week

  11:00 -1:00 - Pastor Susan's office hours

  Office will be closing at 1:30.

Sunday, 9/25

   10:00 - Worship Series continues: To Be A Pilgrim

   11:00 - 1:00 - Pastor Susan's office hours

   5:00 - 6:00 - NOOMA - a young adult conversation

Monday, 9/26

   Church Office Closed

Tuesday, 9/27

  10:00 -12:00 - Pastor Susan's office hours

Wednesday, 9/28

    12:30 - 2:00 - Living the Questions

     5:30 - 7:00 - Living the Questions

Thursday, 9/29

    1:00 - 2:30 - Living the Questions

     4:30 - 6:30 - Pastor Susan's office hours

     6:30 - 8:00 - Living the Questions

Friday, 9/30

    11:00 -1:00 - Pastor Susan's office hours

Sunday, 10/2

    10:00 - New Worship Series begins! Looking In - Reaching Out

     5:00-6:00 - NOOMA - a young adult conversation

Monday, 10/3

  Church Office Closed

LIVING THE QUESTIONS - Week 4

This Week's Reading:Stories of Creation 

(Click Here for week #4 reading)

AFTERNOON                        EVENING 

 Wed from 12:30 – 2:00pm.       Wed. from 5:30 – 7:00pm

Thurs. from 1:00 – 2:30pm.       Thurs. from 6:30 – 8:00pm

Join us anytime in person OR

by ZOOM - (Click Here for ZOOM link)

FOR YOUNG ADULTS

A video-based God study for those seeking to live their best lives possible.

SUNDAYS! 5:00 - 6:00

Feel free to bring a snack and a friend.

PRAYER IS IMPORTANT TO US

BECAUSE WE ARE A FAITH FAMILY.

Families share what's happening in our lives, and since we are a church family, we too can share our joys and concerns with one another.

JOYS

Carol Wilson and Kathy Sprick celebrate that their father, Ellis Sprick, turned 99 on Thursday, September 15th!

One beloved congregant gives praise for their son and daughter-in-law, who just celebrated 13 years of marriage.

From Chandler:

"God is God!

Love, Chandler"

Betty Serjeant shares her gratitude for the people who assist her through her blindness.

The Permanns celebrate that Elena is moving to Bellingham for her second year at Western Washington University. They also give thanks that she worked at the Puyallup Fair this weekend!

CONCERNS

We pray for three-week-old Amos Morgan, who needs a liver transplant.

Chandler shares his prayers to be happy at his dad’s.

Gaye Winsor shares the dual joy and concern that she is receiving hand surgery; she is happy that she will be able to play piano again, but concerned for the process and recovery.

Julie Roberts and Mary Ellen Forsberg share concern for a cousin who is in Allenmore hospital with multiple health issues. 

We continue to pray for all of those who have lost jobs and security during this time. If you know of anyone who needs assistance with paying bills, please have them contact the church. Funds are available in our Pastor's Discretionary Fund.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE CONTINUES!

Even though the donation box has gone, we can still help Communities in Schools serve our local schools. This charity accepts monetary donations and checks, which can be made out to COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS and mailed to:

Communities In Schools Development Department

2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 700

Arlington, VA 22202 

BLESSING BAGS for UNHOUSED PEOPLE

An Easy-Peasy Outreach Ministry 

that is so appreciated and so needed.

Consider being the coordinator!

This is an Outreach Ministry that we can all participate in. However, every project needs a leader.

The ministry is simple.

We collect supplies from the congregation, such as socks, power bars, tissues, hand sanitizers, water, feminine hygiene products, dog food, and many other things that unhoused people need. We arrange a table for these items, and we call on a few people to fulfill the task of readying these essential items. Then EVERYONE can keep a number of bags in their car, and as we come across our homeless brothers, sisters, and siblings—maybe on a street corner, maybe at a rest stop, or maybe even near the neighborhoods call our own—we offer them these bags filled with items that are occasionally a luxury, but more often a live-saving necessity for those who are destitute.

EASY-PEASY—all we need is a coordinator. No matter what your ability or age, this is something everyone can take part in. If this is a ministry that tugs on your heart, or even a ministry that you know would be meaningful, and you're willing to coordinate these efforts, please let Pastor Susan know and we'll get this project up and running in no time.

Sound for Sunday Livestream is Still a Problem

BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT!

We are still working on delivering the best quality Sunday service live on Facebook, and we hope that we are close to being done with all our troubleshooting. However, regardless of whether or not we are able to livestream the service, each Sunday, several hours after worship, a video of the service will be available on our Facebook page. We understand that it's not the same, but it seems to be the best we can do at this time.

This link will take you to our Facebook page.

Whole Worship

Video from

September 18th, 2022

We're Pilgrims

Seeking the Truth.

SERMON ONLY Video

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

We're Pilgrims

Seeking the Truth.

Click below to read the manuscript of Sunday's sermon.

9/18 SERMON MANUSCRIPT

"We're all Pilgrims searching for the Truth."

WEEK of September 25th, 2022

In attendance:

39 adults

 2 children

TOTAL:41

Facebook attendance is unknown.

Your Generosity is Greatly Appreciated!

Click below to go directly to

paypal on our website.

Paypal on Mason's Website

Earn all you can. Save all you can.

Give all you can. - John Wesley

WORSHIP SERIES FOR OCTOBER

Looking In - Reaching Out

As we ourselves work on the transformation of our own hearts and lives, that work spills over into the transformation of our communities and, in esscene, the world. In October, we will look into our own "personal holiness" and look out into the participation of "social holiness." If those two phrases seem familiar, it is because those two phrases are in your hymnal, with hymns and songs that speak of the holiness of our Creator and thus, the holiness of us and the world. Hope you all join us, and bring a friend.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd

7:00 - 8:00

GUESS WHAT?

We have been chosen to hold the Interfaith Celebration of Gratitude this year! What an honor!

Hosting will be a whole lot of work, so I will need all hands on deck to volunteer. What a wonderful way to showcase who we are (and Margaret Nelson will be a featured musician on  the bagpipes)!

SOCIAL JUSTICE ..............

WATER CRISIS IN JACKSON 

100% of your giving through UMCOR goes directly to disaster relief.

The city of Jackson, Mississippi, has been under a state of emergency due to the flooding of the Pearl River and the ongoing failure of public infrastructure. Not for the first time, residents have gone days without access to clean and potable water. You can help by donating to people in crisis. 

UMCOR's Water Sanitation and Hygiene Program: Click HERE

The Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, endorsed by the city of Jackson, Mississippi, is on the ground distributing bottled water to the residents of Jackson. You can donate to their Water Fund: Click HERE

Mosaic United Methodist Church, in Oklahoma City, OK, reached out as a fellow Reconciling Ministries church to congratulate us on this exciting step on our journey. Read below for their letter!

15 September 2022

To the people of Mason United Methodist Church,

   I write to you this day in celebration of the very important step you’ve taken as a faith community—congratulations on becoming a Reconciling congregation!

      I am a member of Mosaic United Methodist Church, a Reconciling congregation in Oklahoma City. As such, we know this is something you do not take lightly. For the justice work you have done in the time before this recognition, we rejoice. For our LGBTQ+ siblings in and around Tacoma seeking a place of safety and affirmation who may hear your offer of sanctuary without caveat or exception, we rejoice.

      The mandate to love God and neighbor calls us to seek justice for people who are more used to receiving injustice. This includes Black lives, LGBTQ+ lives, immigrant lives, and countless others. Let your bishop and district know exactly where you stand and what you expect from them. Do not let your voices fall silent!

      You are well aware of the importance of making known the reckless love of God to those who bear the scars of fear, rejection, and injustice. You are also likely aware of how much work there is to be done. Mosaic holds you in prayer; may the Spirit fill you with life and strength to run with perseverance the race that is set before you.

      One of Mosaic’s core values is community: we need each other, none of us are created to make it alone, and we are stronger and better together. Unity rooted in selfless love—not in its own sake—is what we wish to foster. You may have already received other messages from our congregants as we seek the ties that bind wherever they may be found. We hope you find them to be uplifting and an encouragement for your future journeys.

      Finally, we ask that you remember Mosaic in your prayers as we continue along our own path. With each other’s help, the world will again know we are Christians not by our zeal to exclude or our walls of rules and regulations, but by our love.

      God sees you, we see you, and I’m sure many more see you as well. The work you do matters. Thank you for your witness, your beautiful community, and for being the living hands and feet of Jesus.

Yours in Christ,

Eric Brown (he/him/his)

Mosaic UMC

3131 NW 50^th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

www.mosaicokc.org

HOW WE HAVE FUN........

Please note that there will be

NO ART CLASS

this coming Friday, 9/23. 

Stay tuned for future art class dates!

Be on the look out for our upcoming Stewardship Campaign.  

We'll have more information for you in late September.

Finance, Trustees and Lead Team meetings are listed on the calendar above.  All are welcome to attend any meeting other than nominations and SPRC.  Hope you'll come and learn more about how Mason works.

 PASTOR'S OFFICE HOURS set aside for you.

 Sunday from 11:00 - 1:00

 Tuesday from 10:00 - 12:00

Thursday from 4:30 - 6:30

Friday from 11:00 - 1:00

The church office will still be operating regular hours: 

Tuesday - Friday from 9:00am - 2:00pm.

NEW WEBSITE

Pastor Susan has been working on Mason's website this summer. It is a work in progress, as Emma has been editing along with Susan. 

No, it's not done, but we're getting there, and there's enough information for you to check it out and pass it on. In today's world, people find churches through the internet, so it is imperative that we present ourselves in ways that are inviting. Look it over. Remember it's a work in progress. And pass it on to your friends!

PASS THIS ON

Want to be a part of reviving Mason? Want to fill the sanctuary with folks who wish to live a meaningful life? There's one little thing you can do to help make that happen. It only takes seconds. Forward this newsletter to two people this week. Don't fear judgment. We're all judged no matter what we do; just do it. Just spread the Word without words.