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THE WESLEYAN SEPTEMBER 2022

Letter From the Pastor

Settling in…

 

What do episcopacy, boxes, John Wesley and the future have in common? Believe it or not, a lot! That sort of summarizes my last two months. Let me explain…

 

I realize many of you were not aware of this, but back in June during this year’s session of Annual Conference, I was officially endorsed by the annual conference as a candidate for the episcopacy. That meant that come November 3, when the jurisdictional conference meets to elect bishops, I would have been one of the candidates. That is no longer the case. Yesterday, I submitted my withdrawal to the jurisdiction’s episcopacy committee. I explained to them that after much prayer and discernment, I feel that, for now, God is calling me to be where I am.

 

Today, I feel like I can let go of what was, and begin to focus on what lies ahead. I am not looking back on what could’ve been, I am now looking forward to what can be, with God’s grace. I am excited about what God has in store for our life together as a community of faith, and I am praying that whatever that is, it will be awesome. I invite you to hold on to a promise that God made through the prophet Jeremiah (29:11) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

It is good to know that we live under such an extravagant promise. Although I have had a lot to think and pray about over the last two months, I have also been able to enjoy and be blessed during my time here. I have enjoyed not only the beauty of Falmouth, but most importantly, I have been able to connect with some of you and be the recipient of your love and hospitality. I have loved the beach services, although I could live without the humidity. Although this time has also been very difficult for many of you, I have felt honored for the trust you placed in me as you have said your last goodbyes to people you love.

 

We are definitely settling in at home. I see less boxes around the house, except for the garage. (That project will need to wait). I am beginning to identify some projects around the house which I will need to take care of (that’s good!), and as we begin to prepare for the end of the summer season and traffic, we are looking forward to our time here at John Wesley. 

 

I know there is a lot of ministry to be done here, inside and outside, and I hope that each of us will join together, in whatever ways we can, in accomplishing God’s work in our church and our community. I also pray that God will guide us through the next months and years to come.


 

Peace and blessings,

Pastor René

RECENT SERVICES 

CALENDAR

See what's happening this SEPTEMBER

Children and Youth ~ Hannah Stelter

August Recap:

Vacation Bible School:

This year we set off on an adventure with 15 kids and over 12 youth and adult volunteers to learn more about God's light on Adventure Island! Each day, we learned a different Bible point and story to help us better shine God's light through our love, trust, faith, joy, and hope! For our service project, we decided to collect cans for the Falmouth Service Center. Our original goal was 30 cans and in the end we collected 159 cans which is more than 5 times our original goal! Thank you to everyone who made this awesome week possible! Click here to view all the pictures on Facebook!

Tasty Tuesday

We have had an awesome time this summer meeting up for ice cream each Tuesday! Everyone has really enjoyed these sweet midday treats! Thanks to everyone who has attended one of these Fellowship events! 

Summer Fundays

Our Youth have been having an awesome time on Sunday evenings together! We have done a variety of activities ranging from games involving ice cream, scavenger hunts, pizza & swimming at the beach, and more! We are so thankful to the volunteers who made us dinner each week and for the continued support of our congregation!  

Vacation Bible School

Tasty Tuesday

Summer Fundays

September Upcoming: 

Rally Day and Blessing of the Backpacks on September 11

School year Sunday School kicks off on September 11th at 9:30am! We are going to transition back into two classes, a Kindergarten-1st grade class and 2nd-4th grade class. The older group will be taught by Amy Clatanoff-Brown while the younger group will be taught by Julie Immelt-Whelden and Hannah Stelter. We are so excited for our new curriculum and to teach the younger members of our John Wesley family all about God's love! In addition, our Nursery has recently been revamped by our nursery attendant, Moriah Leonard, and is ready for the youngest members of John Wesley! The Nursery is designed for children 3 months old through 4 years old. 

Also on September 11th, all children & youth are invited to bring their backpacks to church for a special blessing by Pastor René during the service!

School Year Youth Group Resumes on September 11

We will return to our regular youth group schedule on September 11th! The Middle School group (5th-8th grade) meets for their lesson from 4:00-5:00 on Sundays. At 5:00, the high schoolers (9th-12th grade) join us for dinner and games! Afterwards, the middle schoolers head home while the high schoolers have their lesson from 6:00-7:00. In September, both groups are going to focusing on getting back to normal and what that will look like! We are in need of volunteers to make dinner for the youth each week. Click here to sign up or just talk to Hannah! 

Confirmation Information Meeting on September 25th

A Youth Confirmation class will be starting soon! This class is intended for youth 8th grade and up who have not yet been confirmed. There is parent and youth interest meeting on September 25th immediately following the 9:30 service. If your youth wants to be a part of this confirmation class, please plan to attend! Otherwise, please let Hannah know if you are unable to make it to this meeting.

John Wesley Youth Recreation Center

We are so excited to announce the opening of the John Wesley Youth Recreation Center! Located under the Fellowship Hall, this space has recently been redesigned to become an after school hang out spot for all the youth of our community. There are comfy couches for lounging, a homework table, ping pong and foosball tables, board games, and a snack area! The JWYRC will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45pm-5:00pm starting on September 13th and we are so excited to be a safe place for youth to gather after school. 

*Hannah is still in need of a few furniture items. If you have shelves or a TV you are looking to rehome, please let her know! 

Worship ~ Diane Huban

Worship Announcements:

It’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. We have so enjoyed being able to worship God and all his glory on the beach again this summer. If you haven’t attended a beach service this summer – there is one more opportunity this coming Sunday September 4. Please join us!


As fall approaches, we know you are thinking about what the service times will be after Labor Day. This has been a very important topic of discussion for the Worship Ministry Team. At this point, we are asking for your understanding by giving us more time to discern the best plan for re-introducing a second service. We want to be intentional about our purpose and who we are trying to serve. One of the factors that is driving our thinking is information gathered from the survey taken by the Strategic Planning Team. The survey revealed that the majority of respondents favored the 9:30am start time. That being said, we understand that some of you prefer 8:30am and others 10:30am.  

We also realize that the 8:30am service provided people with the opportunity to receive communion on a weekly basis. Therefore, beginning on Rally Day September 11, we will be offering “Time for Communion and Reflection” each Sunday in the chapel from 9:00-9:20am. You may come in at any point during that time frame and take a moment for quiet reflection in the sanctity of our lovely chapel. There will be soft music playing and someone will be there to serve communion. 

“God Created the heavens and the earth… and called it all good.” Genesis


The Worship Ministry Team is excited to announce that beginning September 25, we will begin a five week series of services based on Marcia McFee’s series “Drawn In: Living the Creative Life with God” - tailored to meet the needs of our JWUMC congregation. The focus of this series will be to awaken our own creativity, determine how we can use our gifts to serve the church and share the love of God with the world outside our doors. You will be hearing more about this on Rally Day and how you can participate – so stay tuned!

Christmas Fair ~ Marilyn Sharp & Brent Finemore

Plans for the Christmas Fair are underway.  We are looking for a few volunteers to help out, as well as a person (or a few people) to chair the attic treasures room.  Please contact Marilyn Sharp or Brent Finemore if you feel moved to help.  

Hello from the Silent Auction Chairs, Christine Quesnel and Maryellen Geoghan.

 

Our Holiday Fair will be upon us soon.

As you know we rely on the community restaurants and local businesses for Gift Cards to support the JWUMC Silent Auction.

If you are a regular patron of any establishment, be it a restaurant, hair salon, boutique, coffee shop or spa, please consider asking the

management to contribute to our Silent Auction while business is still busy and profitable.

 

We will have tax forms for you to pass on for a tax exemption and will leave a folder in the Narthex. We might even have a flyer ready for September that could accompany the tax form. Will update you on that.

 

The Sievert’s are contributing Patriot tickets again as well as artwork. Prior to the Wards moving to NC, they have contributed many silent auction items including high end clamming utensils bought at a marine store.

 

We are open to any suggestions for the silent auction. Chris will be collecting basket items. If you have an idea or want to contribute items, we had some wonderful baskets last year.

Chris made them all. She Fu-Fu’s well as she would say. They will all look beautiful and contributed over a $1000.00 LY.

Last year’s baskets were Baking, Fall, Hot Chocolate, Italian, Kappy’s wine, Spa, Tea, Bird Feeder. We are wide open to these ideas as well as any other thoughts.

 

We look forward to your ideas and contributions.

 

We thank you,

Christine & Maryellen

Invitation & Hospitality ~ Colleen Karsner

HOSPITALITY NEWS


September resumes coffee hour with vigor, though we promise to still keep it LIGHT! The Finance Ministry Team will run this in September, so please contact Temporary Chair Matt O’Connor if you’d like to help. 


Sunday, the 11th, though, is JW Rally Day!! Following the 9:30 sanctuary service, we will share a Cold Potluck Picnic (CPP!) out front. All are asked to please bring one of the following categories: sandwich platter OR salad/side OR dessert ! Please email Colleen Karsner at falmouthyoda@yahoo.com  so we can know what we have and what we need. Great way to start a new church year. (Funny how we can’t shake that September-starts-a-New -Year mentality !!) 


Thanks everyone and we look forward to seeing you on the 11th!

Spiritual Growth ~ Mel Trott

The Twelve Disciples Study

Looking forward to the beginning of the study on September 13th at 10:30 am!

Participants should read the introduction and prepare lesson 1 before we meet.


The group will meet in the church library from 10:30 AM to around noon, beginning September 13th, ending November 15th. Any questions? Contact Betty Smith via text: 508-737-2632 or e-mail: campingkat@comcast.net

Music Ministry ~ Paula King

Join in the fun, come sing, play or strum!

The Music Ministry is welcoming individuals or groups to provide music for 5th Sundays of the month. Sign up sheet in the church hall. 

Contact: paula.jwumc @gmail.com for more info.


Come Sing to the Lord a New Song!

Would you like to be a part of an energetic and welcoming group of singers or instrumentalists? The Music Ministry needs YOU to join us in sharing your talents, or letting us help you discover a new talent and praising God! If you sing or play guitar, bass guitar, piano, flute, recorder, trumpet, bells or percussion, let your light shine! 

Instrumentalists and singers of all ages and stages are welcome to join our Chancel Choir, Bell Choir and newly forming Children's choir/music group.


Are you a teen or young adult? Maybe you would be interested in forming a Praise Band. I would love to hear your ideas.


Sign up sheets are in the Fellowship Hall at the Music bulletin board. 

Parents can fill out an interest sheet for their child and drop it in the manila folder.


Chancel Choir (7pm) and Bell Choir (5:45pm) rehearsals are Wednesday evenings beginning September 7th.


Children's Choir/instrumental group rehearsals will begin Sundays in September following Sunday service.


See me after any Sunday service or contact me at paula.JWUMC@gmail.com with any questions.

God Bless,

Paula King

Outreach/Missions ~ Bonnie Valade

Falmouth Service Center Food Drive: The Service Center was very grateful for the cans of soup we delivered to them last week.


The kids from Hannah's Vacation Bible School had brought in 157 cans and cans collected through August brought the amount to 300 cans.

Thank you ALL so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bonnie and Tim



Outreach & Missions Committee: If you are interested in becoming more involved in helping other people, please think about joining our committee. We are always excited to have new ideas and more helpers. Our next meeting is Wednesday September 21st at 6:30 PM with Bonnie Valade as Ministry Team Leader. Julie Immelt Whelden has decided to step down as team leader but will remain on the team. 

Opportunity to Support Belonging to Each Other


Outreach/Missions has been working with Belonging to Each Other. To learn more about their work to help the homeless transition to finding a place to live and to have winter housing, click on the link below.


Belonging to Each Other Website


The Silent Auction is an opportunity to support the work of this Falmouth organization.

Change the World Coin Boxes: The NEW coin collection boxes are available to take home and fill with coins for the Change the World missions. This allows people a space to put change in at home, bring the coin bank to church, empty it in the plate, and take home to refill. Please only take one box per household. I’m really hoping this helps the organizations that we choose to contribute to each month. We were able to send $97.89 to Mercy Ships from the July collection and $78.51 to Tommy's Place from the August collection.

               

Change the World: For September, Change the World will continue to benefit Tommy's Place.

Habitat for Humanity Build  On Saturday September 17th we signed up to donate baked goods for all of the volunteers who have been working so hard in helping these single parent moms build their new homes. They are very appreciative of baked bread sliced, full sized muffins and any sweets you would like to make. Please have the baked items delivered to the church by Friday September 16th at 3PM. If you are interested in delivering and staying for the devotion, please reach out. It is an amazing organization and an even more amazing group of people who volunteer their time!

Kitchen Committee - Bonnie & Tim Valade

Memo from the Kitchen - Tim and I have started a complete reorganization to most of the kitchen cabinets. We are trying to make things easier and more convenient for everyone that spends time in the kitchen. It may take some time to get used to the new locations and we are sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and we hope you will be happy with the end results.

PS... our church mouse has been spotted in a very confused state...sorry!!!!!!!!

Bonnie

English Language Tutoring ~ Mark Karsner

Want to Make a Difference in Someone’s Life?

 

For four years now John Wesley has had a program to help people who need a grounding in both learning to speak English and in improving their English.  This ESL (English as a Second Language) program benefits their lives, their families, and this community.  The people at JW who decided to get involved in the teaching expected to have enjoyment of helping others in a rewarding tangible way.  But they had no idea of the level of satisfaction and downright fun that was derived from this type of teaching with these students.  You can just ask any of the teachers about it and you will get anecdotes of their experiences that were both powerful and rewarding.

 

Since last year’s format proved very successful, we will keep the same format for this year. The program has two main components.  We will have both small group and tutoring experiences available, depending on needs.  We are also divided into two semesters (Sept – Dec. and Jan – April), allowing tutors flexibility if they can’t commit to the full term. Tutors and students choose the day of the week and time that is convenient for them.

 

Mark Karsner will be speaking about the program this month at 9:30 services.  We will be having a planning meeting for potential tutors on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:30.  If you want to know more about the program, how this flexible scheduling might fit into your lives and plans, and want to know how to do something tangible and meaningful, please try to attend this meeting.  If you are interested in helping out in this program, there will be support and training for you before you get involved and if desired, also during the program. As we start the fall season, this would be a powerful way to live the goals and values of John Wesley.

Announcements

WANTED

CREATIVE MEN & WOMEN


The Monday Morning Crafters is a group that works on hand made items of all kinds for the Holiday Fair in November. We are looking for some new creative ideas. If you do any kind of craft, painting, woodworking, etc. please let us know. We would love some new ideas.


A group of us meet Monday mornings in the Fitzgerald Room to work on projects, talk about some we want to make or for fellowship. You do not have to come every Monday; some people work at home and will drop by once in a while. We do have some supplies; yarn, material, patterns and notions.


Please see any of the following for information; Sally Tracy, Eileen Burt, Marge Dean, Cynthia Smith or Linda Duane. Look for us during Coffee Hour after the Sunday service for any questions. In the future we might have a table of some of our kits that need to be crocheted, knitted, needlepointed and finished for the fair. This set up would be during coffee hour.


We are looking forward to talking with everyone, we have been doing this for years and really do need some new creative ideas. You may also contact me at lynoncc@comcast.net or at 508-457-4407. Looking forward to talking with you.


Thanks for your consideration,

Linda Duane

AmazonSmile has made a charitable donation to the charity you’ve selected, United Methodist Committee On Relief, in the amount of $3,363.95 as a result of qualifying purchases made by you and other customers between January 1st-March 31st. If you use Amazon, consider using Amazon smile to support United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Altar Flowers: There are openings for altar flowers on the following dates:

November 6th, December 4th and 11th. If you would like to purchase the flowers for any of these dates, you may sign up on the flower chart which is outside the Sanctuary or call or email the office (Ruth) 508-548-3050 or jwumcfalmouth@comcast.net. 

August Meetings and Events at JWUMC

Weekly Meetings:

Monday ~ Crafters 10 am

Tuesday ~ Bible Study Group with Tim Cline & Ted Burt 10 am

Tuesday - Gundrun's ESL Class 6:30 pm

Wednesday ~ Prayer Meeting 11 am

Wednesday ~ Handbell rehearsal 5:45 pm & Chancel Choir at 7 pm

Tuesday ~ 12 Disciples Study 10:30 am beginning Sept. 13th


September Meetings:

Thursday September 1st ~ TLT 6:30 pm

Wednesday September 7th ~ Al Croft's Memorial and Collation 11 am

Wednesday September 7th ~ ESL Tutors meeting 6:30 pm

Thursday September 8th ~ Worship Ministry Team 1:30 pm

Thursday September 8th ~ Strategic Planning Meeting 7 pm

Sunday September 11th ~ Rally Day Celebration 9:30 am

Monday September 12th ~ Blood Drive 10am - 4 pm

Tuesday September 13th ~ Spiritual Growth Ministry Team 6:30 pm

Wednesday September 14th ~ ESL Learners meeting 6:30 pm

Tuesday September 20th ~ Finance Ministry Team 4 pm

Wednesday September 21 ~ Outreach/Missions Ministry Team 6:30 pm

Tuesday September 27th ~ Trustees Meeting 4 pm

Birthday Wishes for September: 2nd ~Bobye Anderson, 3rd ~ Helen Bresnahan,14th~Nancy Mars, 25th ~ Oz Stelter, 30th Julie Immelt Whelden

Let us celebrate life among our church family. It's a great thing to have a birthday, a gift from God. Please give your birthday information by recording it on the calendar on the Fellowship bulletin board.

John Wesley United Methodist Church, 270 Gifford Street, Falmouth, MA 02540

(508) 548-3050 

 www.johnwesleyumc.org


Rev. René Perez, Pastor

Hannah Stelter, Dir. of Children & Youth Ministries

Paula King, Dir. of Music Ministries

Ruth Moulton, Office Administrator

George Cary, Treasurer

John Loewen, Sexton 

The Pyrenees Pink Hibiscus



I’m Pyrenees Pink Hibiscus

So beautiful, as you can see.

My home is here beside Great Bay

Where everyone admires me.


In the spring I develop buds

Which grow into lovely flowers

That bloom in the late summertime;

Each one lasts just twenty-four hours.


My pink blossoms have five petals

With a unique center of gold…

A special design by the Lord;

Such stunning beauty to behold!


Come and see me if you desire;

I live right here on Great Bay Street

With several other hibiscus

Whom I’m sure you’ll be pleased to meet!



Joy Stosz

August 12, 2022

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