Monthly News from Washington Park United Methodist Church
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Come away with me to a quiet place,
apart from the world with its frantic pace,
to pray, reflect, and seek God’s grace.
Come away with me, come away.
--Come Away With Me #2202 by Mary Nelson Keithahn
Every four years, according to our UMC Book of Discipline (Paragraph 350), “A clergy member’s continuing education and spiritual growth program shall include professional formation leaves at least one week each year and may include at least one month during one year of every quadrennium. Such leaves shall not be considered as part of the ministers’ vacations and shall be planned in consultation with their charges or other agencies to which they are appointed as well as the bishop, district superintendent, and annual conference continuing education committee.”
When our newest Bishop (Karen Oliveto) was assigned to the Mountain Sky Conference of the UMC four years ago—she began to promote the above provision for all clergy in our conference and encouraged us to take advantage of times for rest, study and renewal. At first, clergy were hesitant. Rest, renewal and time for ourselves was not part of the DNA of our Mountain Sky culture. As clergy, we’ve been diligent workers, sacrificing days off and vacation time for the “sake of a greater good.” It had been under our Bishop’s leadership that we clergy have started to understand that if we are not renewed, we aren’t much good for the church.
I have been in full-time ministry as a clergyperson since 2015—and have only taken my full vacation time a couple of those years, and have never taken the month-long professional formation leave. For the last sixteen years, I haven’t taken much time to rest. There’s always something to do—another project to roll out, or people to connect with. But this month, that changes.
I will officially be on professional renewal leave starting August 7th and will return to the office on September 7th. I have a couple of trips planned, a few books to read, some visioning for WPUMC’s future to consider—but mostly, I’ll do nothing. Well, that’s not true. I’m sure I’ll do plenty. But I don’t plan to produce anything, or create anything new, or have any great goals to achieve.
There’s part of me that thinks I don’t NEED this time—I’m fine! Healthy and happy in all the ways that matter. I love my job. I love this church. I’m going to miss people! I like y’all!
But the other part of me knows that I do need this time. To rest my spinning thoughts. To calm any frenzy or desire to meet expectation after expectation. To seek God and grace, grace, grace.
And my prayer for you during this time is to find your own moments of quiet, your own glimpses of sabbath rest, your own opportunities to slow down and do nothing except rest in God’s grace.
Peace and love, Rev. Sandi
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Sunday services can be viewed live at 9:30am on Facebook AND YouTube, or afterwards with the links found on the website and weekly emails.
(Click on dates for links to worship)
Live the Adventure: Seeking Wisdom
1 Kings 2:10-11, 3:6-14
Free to Be: Reconciled
Ephesians 2: 11-22
Free to Be: Satisfied
Ephesians 3: 14-21
Free to Be: Worthy
Ephesians 4: 1-16
Free to Be: Better
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
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JOIN US FOR HYBRID WORSHIP!
All are welcome! Sign Ups are no longer required for worship. We have enough space for our summer crowd to still gather inside and practice physical distance from others.
We've made a slight change in our mask mandate for worship at WPUMC-- we have lifted the requirement for vaccinated individuals to wear masks in the sanctuary. We had been still requiring them, especially for singing, as the bio-aerosols emitted during have a high risk of spreading the COVID virus.
However, because our in-person attendance in the summer is lower, there is plenty of space between family groupings, and because our swamp cooler and bell tower fan system disperse the air in the sanctuary--we have decided to trust the science that says that vaccinated individuals are at very low risk, even unmasked.
Please note that we still require masks for unvaccinated teens and adults.
Additionally, when the weather is nice, we will encourage BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee) Fellowship time after worship in the courtyard!
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Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the sanctuary of our beautiful building? Not only do we have an educational building established in 1951, used for our preschool, there are also many spaces on the second level that are rented out to tenants. Right now, we have 7 full-time tenants using the space for music lessons, career consulting, dance classes, meeting space, video production and a typing therapy program. Many of these tenants have been with WPUMC for over 5 years. In addition, our other areas of the building are rented on an hourly basis to groups needing intermittent space. Most recently, Denver Adult Strings Camp held a 4 week Orchestra Program with a concert finale just last week. Our building continues to be a hub of activity in the neighborhood and is used for much more than Church and Preschool activities.
Please reach out if you’d like more information!
Kristiana DeYoung
Finance Committee
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We are thrilled to be hosting VBS with having a year off last summer and are so happy that parents are entrusting their children to our care and Biblical education for a few days for this week of Aug 2-6th. A big thank you to those who work to help make Vacation Bible School a success with their volunteer hours of organizing, ordering, planning, decorating, creating, leading groups, serving snacks, teaching Bible stories and prayers, encouraging play and recreation, running AV and lending their voices to sing praise, thank you all. It is a highlight in my year!
Blessing of the Backpacks will be held during the Children’s Message on Sunday, Aug. 22nd and isn’t just for little kids. Middle school, high school and college age students, bring in those bags to be blessed for a safe new school year.
Sunday School is in person and no longer video recorded. I will add information and resources to the Park Kids Facebook page and to the church website from time to time about upcoming events, printable worksheets, craft and other activities of interest. Sunday School is open to any child 3 years and potty trained through the 6th grade. If you are interested in being a leader for Sunday School please let me know by email at childrensministry@washparkumc.org.
Childcare is available each Sunday in the preschool wing of the church near the church offices. The door will be open during the service for drop off and pick up. Ms. Maria and Ms. Naomi will be ready to greet your children before service. Childcare is open for children 6 weeks old up to age 3 and potty trained. At age 3 and potty trained, we hope to see them in our Sunday School class.
Enjoy the last few weeks of summer break and prayers for a safe and healthy return to school!
-Sheri Salis, Director of Children's Ministry
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If you have a student entering 7th grade this year, register them now to participate in our youth programming! This year we will be taking a deep dive into our bibles and relearning our basics, from where to find our favorite verses to what our bible stories mean to us, we’ll be covering as much of it as we can!
Be sure to join us on August 15th from 11 am – 12:30 pm. In these sessions, I will be offering students the opportunity to help guide the planning process of our God Squad year. From our mission projects to our lock-in themes, our students will be able to guide the major events in our year!
Please register your 7th graders and older for our program and fill out our parent survey, both listed below! If you have any questions, email Rev. Jamielee at youthgroup@washparkumc.org.
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PALISADE PEACH FUNDRAISER
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Once again, we will be collaborating with Noland Orchards to provide delicious Palisade Peaches for our fundraiser. Twenty pound boxes will be sold for $37 and contain about 38-40 peaches. Print this order form or click the button below to place your order online by Friday, August 6th. Unpaid orders will be cancelled.
Peaches will be available for pick up on
Sunday, August 22nd from 11 am.-1 pm.
*We are looking for volunteers to help unload the peaches on Aug 21st and distribute them on Aug 22. Contact the church office if you'd like to help!
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#adventureswithjesus BINGO!
Join us in connecting with one another over the summer by submitting your photos of you/your family with inflatable Jesus. To send your pictures or request an inflatable Jesus, email Rev. Sandi at pastor@washparkumc.org
This year, we're adding a BINGO card into the mix -- with prizes! Additionally, we are taking up a collection for the grand prize . . to be awarded to the local non-profit or mission of the winner's choosing. Help us "fill the bucket" with your spare change - you can send in donations to the church as well.
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Youth Room Bathroom Renovation
Rev. Sandi, Jimbo, and our caretaker, Dustin, have transformed the bathroom in our Youth Room. Those that have used it in the past can attest that for such a small space it's a HUGE change for the better! Thanks for your helping hands!
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August 01 Caroline Christensen
August 01 Steve Moats
August 01 Barry Steelman
August 06 Brewer Couch
August 08 Fran Benton
August 09 Jennifer Miklosi
August 11 Matt Thompson
August 12 Marie Dorr
August 12 MK Fleming
August 13 Mark Warren
August 15 Robert Harber
August 16 Nancy Leonard
August 16 Sheri Salis
August 17 Kristiana DeYoung
August 18 Carl Mikesell
August 20 Lila Gonzales
August 20 Marni Warren
August 22 Jacqueline Jones
August 24 Emily Hoskins
August 24 James Morgan
August 25 Mia Casey
August 26 Juliette Jones
August 26 Dixie Poppell
August 26 Amy Sublette
August 27 Whitaker Clarke
August 27 Bill Mrzlikar
August 27 Tanner Partsch
August 28 Cristy Godwin
August 28 Heather Steelman
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