THIS WEEK

Mason United Methodist Church

A theologically progressive,
open, and affirming faith community.

Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.

August 11th, 2022 - August 17th, 2022
Churches grow through
word of mouth and invitations.
How could you spread the word and who might you invite?
I can't do it alone. Nor should I. Nor could I.

It's not my job, nor am I capable of captaining a sailboat without a crew. I've spoken with many of you about your dreams for Mason, and universally, the desire for this congregation is to GROW! Indeed, isn't that the wish of every church? But here's the thing: do not expect me to magically wave a wand and all of a sudden we have a Sunday attendance of 200. All hands must be on deck if we're going to move forward.
"But Susan," you may say, "I'm too old to do the things I used to do. I can't get around like I used to."
And I say to that, "Oh, pish-posh!" Everyone, and I mean everyone, can do something and I do not give free passes to anyone because everyone can do something. Here's a few needs:
  • Can you buy fruit, cut it up and bring it to fellowship on Sunday?
  • Can you stand behind the refreshment table and dole out punch during Tom Martin's memorial on Friday, August 19th?
  • Can you sign up for one Sunday and be available in the childcare room just in case a child comes to visit?
  • Can you help me throw away garbage that has been collecting dust for the past 10 years in secret rooms?
Everyone can do something, and Mason needs you! Let me be brutally honest - without everyone's willingness to be engaged in some big or small way, this ship is destined to sink, and NONE of us want that! We ain't goin' nowhere without everyone's participation. So remember this reality—complacency is the nail in the coffin.

Have peace, but accept this urgency,
Pastor Susan

*If you don't know what to do to help out, ask me. I'll gladly put you to work!

__________________________________________

Reconciling Ministries Network
Votes are due by August 28th

The vote to become an official "Reconciling Congregation" will take place during worship on Sunday, August 28th. If you are unable to attend, a Constant Contact Email (this is a Constant Contact email) will be sent out to all members. If you are receiving this newsletter, you will get a ballot in your email. If you know someone who doesn't get this email, send me their information and I'll be sure they get a ballot. The most obvious missing persons are your children and grandchildren who are members.
Please remember, unfortunately, ONLY MEMBERS OF MASON UMC CAN VOTE.

(click below to learn more about what it means to be a reconciling congregation)
You will be asked to vote
YES or NO

Should Mason United Methodist Church adopt and commit to the following statement, build ministries around that commitment, and live it out in our own lives and in the life of this faith community?

“We celebrate God’s gift of diversity and value the wholeness made possible in community equally shared and shepherded by all. We welcome and affirm people of every gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, who are also of every age, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability, level of education, and family structure, and of every economic, immigration, marital, and social status, and so much more. We acknowledge that we live in a world of profound social, economic, and political inequities. As followers of Jesus, we commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and pledge to stand in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed.”
HOW WE LEARN................
LIVING THE QUESTIONS
begins soon!
Sign-up is required

Wednesdays at 12:30- 2:00 (with ZOOM)
and 6:00 - 7:30 (with ZOOM)
starting September 7th.

It's time to let Pastor Susan know if you're going to join us in asking the deepest questions about God, and preparing yourself to live in those questions.
We will be thinking through this theologically progressive study, starting now and continuing until late Spring. Both classes will have the option of participating via zoom and will offer childcare.

Please sign up for this class in the narthex, or
email Pastor Susan if you are interested in this study
so she can plan accordingly.
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
A video-based God study for those seeking
to live their best lives possible.

Sundays at 5:00 - 6:00
starting Sunday, September 11.

Calling all young adults! Mark your calendars: we'll begin gathering to talk about meaningful stuff, and where God is in all the quirks and bummers in life. Meetings start on Sunday, September 11th at 5:00. You can also bring a friend! Let Pastor Susan know if you're going to show up so she can plan appropriately. You can email her at pastor.boegli@gmail.com or text/call her cell at 360-342-7913.



Contact Syra Beth
for more information @

syr07@nventure.com
HOW WE PRAY................
REV. TOM MARTIN'S MEMORIAL
Friday, August 19th at 2:00 pm

We will celebrate and remember the life of beloved Tom Martin on August 19th at 2:00. Tom was an active participant at Mason United Methodist Church, and a renowned member of the Pacific Northwest Conference. We will attempt to offer this service on Facebook Live, but if there are technical difficulties, the service will also be taped for viewing at a later time.
CAN YOU HELP be a HOST with the MOST?

We are in need of hosts for Tom's memorial to help serve refreshments and we are in need of a few strong backs to help set up and break down tables. Can you help make Mason a hospitable place for all the people attending the memorial? Will you help Mason develop a reputation of a place that serves others?
Please contact Jane Brocius at 253-853-3612 or janebrosius@hotmail.com.
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
Jennifer and Elena Permann celebrate that Elena’s sister, Madi, is coming to visit for a week on Saturday.  They found each other on 23 and Me Match. 

Sig Olson and Diane Schurr share that their daughter and granddaughter were here all week from Arizona; they had a wonderful time!
 
Diane Schurr gives thanks that Sig’s 3-month surgery check-up was terrific.
 
Marian Berry is grateful that Dick Wittstock shared his time so graciously.

CONCERNS
We pray for Krista Berry's a quick recovery from fracture of right hand and hernia surgery that were done on Friday. 
 
We pray that Jane Brosius continues to recover strongly from last Sunday's illness.
 
Diane Schurr lifts up her cousin Gary in Maryland, who is having surgery on Monday for the veins in his legs. 
 
Diane also lifts up her Aunt Mary, who is 96 and having a lot of swelling and pain in her legs.
 
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 Debt Liberation Fund.
HOW WE SERVE................
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY to offer HOSPITALITY
during SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

Do you love children?
Would you be willing to help if need be?

Helping everyone feel welcome includes both meeting the needs of those who come visit and the needs of those already here. Having wheelchair accessibility is an example of what true welcome looks like. Another very important way to welcome is to offer childcare for families. We are looking for people who are willing to offer childcare when needed. During these unprecedented times, we don't expect many children; however, we should be prepared just in case we have some little visitors. In addition, having this service will allow us to advertise it on our website and Facebook.

Sign-up sheets will be in the narthex along with all the other opportunities to serve.
ARE YOU AN AUTHENTIC SMILER?
MASON NEEDS YOU!

Regarding church growth, the #1 reason thing that determines whether a visitor will come back is how they are welcomed.

Our greeters are wonderful, AND WE NEED MORE! Please contact Pastor Susan if you are willing to greet everyone who enters through our doors with your authentic, lovely, and welcoming smile. IT MATTERS!
ANNUAL AUGUST
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE

It's once again time to open your hearts and your wallets as we collect school supplies for distribution to families who can’t easily afford them. This year, we are partnering with the Communities In Schools organization to get the supplies to those school sites and students who need them. Please refer to the donation list for the types of supplies that are needed. The good news is that many of the major retail stores currently have these supplies on sale, so you can get a lot of “bang for your buck.” Look for a donation box that will be in the church foyer for the entire month of August. Monetary donations may also be made by writing a check to “Communities In Schools”—please do not write a check to the church.  
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DONATION LIST
#2 Pencils—Ticonderoga Brand
2-Inch to 3-Inch Three-Ring Binders
70 Page Spiral Notebooks
Cloth Pencil Pouches
Colored Markers—Pack of Eight
Colored Pencils
Composition Books
Crayola Brand Crayons
Erasers
Five-Tab Colored Dividers
Glue Sticks
Hand Sanitizer
Highlighter Markers
Loose Leaf Notebook Paper
Mechanical Pencils
Pencil Sharpeners That Hold the Shavings
Pens (Black, Blue, Red)
Plastic Dividers with Pockets
Scissors (Including Left-Handed)
USB Flash Drives

“Big Ticket” Items
Sturdy Backpacks
Donations By Check to “Communities In Schools”
HAVE AN IDEA?
Keep them coming! No idea should be held back.

HERE'S AN IDEA: There are a ton of musicians in this congregation. What if ya'll get together some Saturday just to jam?

Call, email, or stop by the office to let us know about your idea and we'll include your idea in this weekly newsletter.

ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME!
SERVING ON SUNDAY IS STILL SERVING.

Please sign up to help make Sunday morning special. We have opportunities to offer flowers, usher, be a liturgist, be a greeter (smilers!), and/or be a host for a Sunday's Fellowship Hour. Sign up sheets are on the table as you walk in. Let's get lots and lots of participation!
HOW WE WORSHIP................
Sunday Livestream

We are doing our very best to broadcast our Sunday services on Facebook! Generous tech volunteers have been working hard to fix the problem, including new Wifi boosters. If live-streaming continues to cause problems, the service will be posted retroactively as a recording on Facebook, available in our weekly newsletter as well as on our new website.

This link will be available on our Facebook page.
CHURCH 101: What's the point?
Final message: If you can't teach
an old dog new tricks,
why should I bother learning?

Our Church 101 worship series is coming to an end. "What's the point of continuing with our spiritual formation through study?" is our next and final worship lesson. I'm wondering, after these 6 weeks of figuring out why we do what we do, what would YOU say when someone asks you, "What's the point?"

Video from
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2022
Church 101: Why do I have to go to church to love my neighbor?
Click below to read the manuscript of Sunday's sermon on what serving is all about!
WEEK of August 7, 2022

In attendance:
45 adults
0 children

TOTAL: 45

Facebook attendance and those watching at their own convenience is unknown.
Please continue to be generous with your offering. We fall short of our budget far too often.

You can make your offering by
giving on Sunday in the plate;
mailing a check or monetary donation to the church office; or
via our PayPal,
found on Mason's website.

Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can. - John Wesley
SOCIAL JUSTICE STUFF......
This is an ongoing list of the different links to Social Justice events and opportunities in our community. Click on any that seems interesting, so that you can learn more and maybe even get involved. If you know of a Social Justice event happening, please send the link to the church office and we will include it here.
November 15th 8am - noon
A free event, but registration is encouraged
United Way of Pierce County is holding its signature community summit on barriers to economic equity. Click below to learn more and/or register.
HOW WE HAVE FUN....
SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP AFTER WORSHIP RETURNS!

We are excited to announce that we are know offering fellowship after worship again. If you would like to host on a Sunday, you can do so by signing up in the narthex. For any questions, contact Sandy Roszman, as she is the coordinator of this ministry.
HOW WE LEAD................
Recommended United Methodist Church
Administrative and Ministry Structure

Linked below is a document summarizing the roles and responsibilities of the work and ministry of the church. The whole document may be overwhelming, but the first few pages are an overview of the structure. If you are only interested in one part of the document, you can go to the table of contents and find what you are interested in. The leadership committee will be voting on whether or not Mason should adopt these UMC guidelines, or continue to operate it as is. Feel free to review, and offer thoughts to those on the leadership team or Pastor Susan.

Click below:
LEADERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
from Sunday, August 21 at 12:30

OTHER STUFF................
PASS IT 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.

Pastor Susan's blog. Click below:
Click below to go to Mason UMC's Facebook Page
EARN ALL YOU CAN.
SAVE ALL YOU CAN.
GIVE ALL YOU CAN.

Please continue to make contributions to the church as you are able.
2710 N Madison St., Tacoma, WA 98407
253-759-3539