Onsite Worship Relaunching This Sunday at 8:30 & 10:30

As we have been planning, onsite worship will relaunch this Sunday at 8:30 & 10:30. We have been diligent in how we can do this in a safe manner according to state and conference guidelines. Please refer to the letter mailed this week or last week’s edition of Happenings for important information to look over before joining us onsite for worship. We are blessed that we are able to gather and glorify our Lord through worship either in our sanctuary or still online from our homes.

Temperature Below 100.4 Considered Safe if No Symptoms -- Update from Last Week

Last week we shared in the relaunch worship guidelines here in Happenings that anyone with a temperature over 99 would be considered unwell. We have increased this threshold to 100.4 as well as not showing COVID19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, loss of taste or smell). This is the standard in the governor’s guidelines released this past Monday and the worship relaunch team has made the change to align with these guidelines.

Six Sayings for Strength

 

Thank You For Your Ongoing Support

These are clearly trying times and I hope and pray that each of you as well as your families are safe and healthy. I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who has continued to provide financial support to UMCE during the Corona Virus Pandemic. Between the membership continued giving and the fact that we were successful in receiving the CARES loan to cover staff salaries for two months, our cash flow, although down a little, is much better than we expected. Again, GOD BLESS and THANKS TO ALL!!!!

I am saddened by the fact that Churches were identified to be on the closure list especially when you consider we have the facilities that provide for safe, social distancing. It is unfortunate that many in the government do not consider worship essential.

I know there are some who do not feel comfortable coming back to worship for a variety of personal reasons and there are some who will return as soon as possible. No matter your personal preference, I ask that you continue to support UMCE financially as much as you can. I know that some of you are struggling financially and please know that your UMCE family is there for you in times of need.

Hopefully, when you see this, we will all be at UMCE and worshiping together again on Sunday.  – Dave Loomis, Church Council Chairperson

Ministry Jottings

We Can and Must Be Better

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen, to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. – Isaiah 58:6

In my message this past Sunday, I confessed that I probably wasn’t as bold in my faith all the time as Christ would have me be. I confessed I don’t like conflict or making you uncomfortable. This came right after an illustration of Bishop Desmond Tutu during apartheid in South Africa. 

How could I preach those words and not bring to bear what we have seen around the nation in protests and calls for justice because of the ongoing lesser treatment of African Americans, brought to another breaking point by the death of George Floyd? If I proclaim to be a follower of Christ, and lead others in their witness and faith, how can I not join the voices of those who call for action and change of long-held patterns of discrimination to the point of causing death. 

Former President Obama had these poignant words a week ago “If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideal, we can and must be better. It’s natural to wish for life ‘to just get back to normal’ as a pandemic and economic crises upend everything around us. But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’ – whether it’s while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park.”



How about you and me and our church? Can we & will we – each of us – become better when it comes to our own behavior, and having the kind of voice Christ would call us to give in the midst of what is happening around us?  

In Christ’s Grace,

Pastor Deb Olenyik

Zoom Discussion on Racism, Responses to George Floyd’s Death & Faith  -- Monday, June 8, 7-8 p.m.

 

In the midst of what has unfolded in regards to racism and the responses to George Floyd’s death, Pastor Deb is providing an opportunity to have a place within our faith community to have beginning discussion via Zoom on Monday, June 8, 7-8 p.m. The connection information is below:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83117145830

OR, Dial by your location ( any number will work)

    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

    +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 831 1714 5830

Delayed to November, 2021-- Western Jurisdictional Conference and Scheduled Retirement of Bishops  

On May 26, the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church  announced new dates  for the 2020 Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States that were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jurisdictional Conferences in the U.S.  will now be held Nov. 10-12, 2021. The Mountain Sky Conference will still host the Western Jurisdictional Conference.  General Conference will have been held Aug. 29 - Sep. 7, 2021.

It is with much gratitude and appreciation that we say Happy Retirement to two of our Great Escape teachers: Randi Murray and Andrea Bedwell.

Randi Murray has taught at The Great Escape since September 1994. During her 26 years, Randi has taught every age group in the school. She settled in teaching the older Preschoolers but would jump at any opportunity to be with the younger children. She particularly loved the infants and young toddlers.

Randi was always ready to jump in whenever and wherever needed. She always has lots of ideas and suggestions. I will miss coming in on a Monday morning when Randi would enter the office and say "I've been thinking...." Always great ideas. Always creative ideas. Always helpful suggestions.

Thank you Randi for being a gift to our community. Thank you being a special teacher and friend to so many children in Evergreen. The children in your classes over the years were very fortunate to have had you as a leader, teacher and role model.

Andrea Bedwell joined The Great Escape in May 2014. Andrea has been a wonderful addition to the Preschool team. She has taken our Spanish enrichment program to new levels, giving the children the love of learning a second language.

The Great Escape will miss these two very special ladies. We wish them Happy Retirement and we thank them for all they have done for the children of Evergreen.

We have been praying for Kathryn Mueller who was in hospice since the 14th of April. It is with deep sympathy that the church received a note from her daughter, Karyn Mueller informing us of Kathryn's passing as of April 18th.

Kathryn Mueller and her husband were founding members of the United Methodist Church of Evergreen and their work for the church was greatly appreciated.

Notes of sympathy can be sent to Karyn Mueller at: [email protected]; Phone: (303) 585-0180. Her obituary can be found here.

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. 

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.

Child trafficking is modern day slavery of our most vulnerable children and teens. Dr. Jeff Brodsky says this heinous crime is actually flourishing during the global pandemic; predators are eager to take advantage of the desperate situation faced by families in dire poverty. Regardless of current events, JOY International continues to be committed to the rescue and healing of enslaved young people and to the prevention of child trafficking.

Now is the time to join a movement of people of all ages across our country who walk in solidarity with those who cannot stand up for themselves. Already JOY is planning for 10 Barefoot Mile walks from CO to NC, and there will be more! Our Mountain Community is scheduled for August 29, and now is the time to visit www.joy.org for more info, to register to walk (no cost), either on site at Marshdale Park OR virtual, (any time, any place) to raise financial support. 

At this time of unprecedented global crisis, we CAN help save young lives that matter! Please speak with Jan Thurling, Bill Graf or Dave Loomis, all members of the JOY Team, for more information.

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.

Visit us on the web:   www.evergreenumc.org