Ministry Jottings from Pastor Deb
I can’t begin to express how much your prayers and support of my responsibilities during this time have meant to me, as well as your care for me personally. The past eight weeks have made me draw deep into the well of faith and resources to see how best to be Christ’s servant in this time for you, the people of faith I am privileged to surround myself with, and for others in need. It has thus far been a mix of being troubling, amazing, demanding, creative and wearying. As I pause for a moment to catch my breath, to regroup for the weeks ahead, which will probably be much along the same line, let me share these words from Pamela Owens Renfro.
Remember . . . there is a deeper strength
and an amazing abundance of peace
available to you.
Draw from this well;
call on your faith to uphold you.
You will make it through this time
and find more joy in life again.
Life continues around us,
even when our troubles seem to stop time.
There is good in life every day.
Take a few minutes to distract yourself
from your concerns –
long enough to draw strength from a tree
or to find pleasure in a bird’s song.
Realize that life is a series of levels,
cycles of ups and downs –
some easy, some challenging.
Through it all, we learn;
we grow strong in faith;
we mature in understanding.
The difficult times are often
the best teachers.
Reach for the good.
Be strong, and don’t give up.
In Christ’s grace,
Pastor Deb Olenyik
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Would you like a copy of the current Upper Room during this time? Please reply to this email and Jessica will mail one to your home. First come, first served.
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JENNIFER ELIASSEN STEPPING DOWN
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We bid farewell to Jennifer Eliassen in her role as our Accountant. She has served in a dedicated, Christ-centered way for the past five years, and she now moves on to other things in her life. We have all appreciated her skills, upbeat personality, and loving support of the congregation and staff. Jennifer's last day with us was April 30. We offer prayers for many blessings for the girls and her, and hope to see her continue as an active part of our church family.
Treasurer & Finance Chairperson Matt Sailor, along with Financial Secretary Vickie Borden, are handling financial tasks in the interim. We are currently updating the responsibilities and division of duties for these tasks. Office Manager Jessica Coons will soon be adding two hours per week to her position to also serve as the
Financial Secretary Assistant.
She will handle the weekly recording of giving and depositing of funds. Staff Parish Relations, represented by Dixie Miller, and the Finance Team, represented by Matt Sailor and Vickie Borden, are working with Pastor Deb on the new
Bookkeeper/Payroll Officer
position duties, which will be posted as a job opening in the coming days.
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FUND RAISING DURING A PANDEMIC
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In February the church Finance Team put together a list of possible fundraising events for 2020 and appointed a sub-team to deal with fund raising. We came up with a good list of potential fund-raising projects. The problem is they are not feasible during our current situation of social distancing. Another concern, which has just been reported, is that the peach crop is going to be very limited this year due to a freeze in early April. Our fruit sale has been one of our best fund raisers for several years.
The purpose of this message is to ask all of you to put on your "thinking caps" to brain storm about fundraising projects that would be possible to do in the current environment. We budgeted $5,500 in fundraising income for this year. Please send your suggestions to
Vickie Borden.
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There has been some confusion about our Facebook presence that we wanted to clarify.
If you need help with your settings and/or you would like to receive a notification every time a new post is made on either page or group, please reply to this email and Jessica can help you.
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INTERACTIVE ADULT CONVERSATIONS & STUDIES
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To join,
email Jessica
to receive the entry code information for the offerings you are interested in.
She is our registrar and Zoom manager.
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"Coffee, Conversation & Christ" with Pastor Deb: Mondays & Wednesdays at 10:30AM
Join Pastor Deb for an informal online time of conversation and devotion.
"Hear Our Prayers, O Lord":
Mondays & Wednesdays at 1PM
We are in a time where not only do we have prayers we'd like to bring before our Lord for people and situations, but also prayers connected to the pandemic. We know there is power in the prayers of God's people, prayers to help shape ourselves and through our prayers for others. We invite you to join together for a brief prayer time -- about 10-15 minutes-- every Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. via Zoom with Pastor Deb.
“Study of the Parables”: Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10AM
New Zoom group to start again on 4/28 at 10 a.m. with Pastor Dean. E
ach parable is investigated in six parts: We look at the parables content, then its lessons, then what doctrinal truths it contains. We look at how the parable is subversive to the status quo, what questions it raises, and finally what action it demands of us today. It is a deep and rich participatory study that helps us discover the treasures of God’s Kingdom.
“What Happened after the Bible Ends: A Look at Early Church History”: Mondays at 7PM
Join us as we take a brief overview of early church history and discuss how things unfolded the way they did. From persecutions to early church fathers to decisions about what stayed in the faith and what didn't. The desert fathers, establishing the Bible, the growth of the church under Constantine, the expansion of the church to the British Isles, the monastic movement, early worship forms, the papacy, the split between the Eastern and Western church, the crusades, to the dawn of the reformation. We'll include excerpts from the A & E series "Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years". This online class meets Mondays, 7-8 p.m. Starting April 27th. Contact the church office or Pastor Deb to register. Reference materials will be sent to participants.
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YOUTH & KIDS ONLINE PROGRAMS
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We are continuing all our regular programs in their usual time slots, though will be shorter. Let
Sarah
know if interested so she can provide connecting information.
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Youth Group Coffee Talk
12pm-1pm on Sundays with a devotional, discussion and check-ins.
Kids Action Pack
9:30am on Sundays.
EverKids Sunday School
10:30am on Sundays and includes a lesson, discussion and even a craft.
Kids Heroes of the Bible Study
4pm on Wednesdays with a short check in, Bible study, devotional, and craft.
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BISHOP OLIVETO REQUESTS CHURCHES REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH MAY
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To the Clergy & Churches of the Mtn Sky Conference,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Risen Savior! Thank you for the moving and creative ways you are continuing to minister, especially through Holy Week and Easter. You have worked hard these past couple of months.
As we continue to monitor rates of COVID-19 infection throughout the Mountain Sky Conference, as well as look at models for removing Shelter in Place Restrictions,
I am updating my request to keep our churches closed at least through May 2020. I know the continued restrictions on in-person gathering places tremendous strain on you and your church. We in the conference are doing all we can assist you during this time.
These are not easy days to be engaged in ministry, but I do believe that “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose.” (Romans 8:28). We will emerge from physical isolation in due time, but things will never be the same. Through this journey we are taking together, we are learning so many things: new skills, new ways to nurture and sustain community, new ways to see possibility for mission and evangelism, new ways to provide pastoral care, assist with grief, and provide healing from trauma.
May we be open to the good that God is seeking to reveal to us. I give thanks to God for each of you,
Bishop Karen Oliveto
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TENTATIVE NEW GENERAL CONFERENCE DATES
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After the pandemic-caused postponement, the new prospective dates for
The United Methodist Church’s General Conference are Aug. 31-Sept. 10, 2021 in Minneapolis
.
The Council of Bishops said that once the General Conference dates are official, n
ew dates will be announced for the five jurisdictional conferences —simultaneous meetings where new U.S. bishops are elected. The jurisdictional conferences, originally scheduled for July, are now on hold. Still to be determined is what the delay in bishop elections means for bishops who were to retire this year. The yearlong postponement of General Conference is unprecedented, according to the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.
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Prayer Request for Upcoming Evergreen Fire Protection District Board Election
We have been asked to lift prayers for discernment for the May 5
th
Evergreen Fire Protection District Board election. There are two openings. In January, discord came to the surface between different constituencies connected with the Evergreen Fire Protection District. The upcoming election continues to lift up various sides of this tension. Prayers are that there will be research into the candidates before casting our votes. Some information may be found in an online Canyon Courier newspaper article posted 1-18-20 or by contacting church member Mike Gregory, who has a long history with the Evergreen Fire Protection District. His contact information is
mgregory@evergreenfirerescue.com
or 303-905-1833.
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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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