The Fellowship

Newsletter for September 2021

Friends and family of CVUMC, here is what is happening in our church community.

From Rev. Denyse

September 2021

 Beloved CVUMC family,

    As I write this I am hopefully planning for a trip to the UK to be with my mother and family. If everything works out I will be on a plane on Saturday Aug. 21^st  and returning on September 1^st. I hate to be gone from you all so soon but know that I am leaving you in the very capable hands of the church council and of course the amazing Barb!

    Jeanne has kindly stepped in to take my place on Sunday Aug. 22 and will share my sermon "Loving All" based on Mark 2 which concludes our sermon series "Summer of Love."

    Sunday Aug. 29^th the Youth will be leading worship and I am excited to see what they all come up with!

Stay safe and well,

Rev. Denyse

Beloved CVUMC family,

It is with much sadness that we inform you of the passing of Shirley Kinsey in July. She had such a positive and optimistic spirit, and was an amazing and accomplished woman: an artist, athlete, mother, very active in her community and church, and she contributed in so many ways to making the world a better place. We will be holding the family in prayer at this time.  

Save the Date

Every Sunday: Worship services now in person, in the Sanctuary, every Sunday at 10 a.m. Also live-streaming on Facebook, and Facebook video can be replayed continuously thereafter

Once-a-Month Saturday: September 4. 10:00 – 1:00 outside of Fellowship Hall. Non-perishable foods, paper goods, disposable diapers, diaper wipes, baby formula, etc. Financial donations are welcome. Also, UMW Library is open and Books are available for check out and return. AND school supplies donations for Learning Works and GUSD Homeless Outreach/Blessing of the Backpacks!

Saturday, September 25: United Methodist Women North District Annual Celebration, Recognizing our Quiet Disciples

Every Tuesday: Prayer Team meets at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. If you have a prayer request, please call any member of the Prayer Team: Rev. Denyse Barnes, Jeanne Lavieri, Diane Lewis, Debi Bois, Janice Burke, Chris Ruygrok or call the Church Office (818-249-6173)

CVUMC Update For Covid Protocol Procedures

    We all know that the Delta Virus has brought an increase in cases of COVID and LA County and the State of California have reinstated many requirements to protect everyone from illness. Our top priority at CVUMC is to keep everyone safe and well. Here is a reminder of our policies and some new ones.

    As recommended by the CDC, continue to take these steps to reduce your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19:

·       Correctly and consistently wear a mask that completely covers your nose and mouth

·       Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you

·       Stay home when you are sick (or when anyone else in your home is sick.)

·       Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol)

·       Get vaccinated when the vaccine is available to you

·       Get tested if you have signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or if you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19

   Even if you and others (including children) do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms, you can still spread COVID-19 to family, friends, and community.

·       Inform the Pastor In Charge if you have tested positive and have been in worship in person. NOTE – this information will be kept confidentially and no names or details will be shared with anyone other than the Pastor.

·       Do NOT be around others if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, if you are sick, or if you have tested positive for COVID-19.

·       Wipe down the area where you have been sitting in the sanctuary.

·       Consider whether physical contact (e.g., shaking hands, hugging, or kissing) can be limited among members of the faith community.

·       Sign in when you attend church so that we can provide correct contact tracing as required by the State and County.

We have been meeting for fellowship after the service and will implement these rules:

1.   If you are providing food for fellowship, masks and gloves are required when handling food and drinks. Gloves will be provided in the pantry. Please also wear your mask when serving food at the main table. 

2.  Please wear your mask when at the food table getting your food. 

3.  Use the Hand Sanitizer before you go through the line to get food or drinks

4.  You may remove your masks when eating and drinking. 

We are enjoying the time of fellowship together after the service but we have to be respectful of everyone and our youth who are not vaccinated yet. So please follow these rules so we can continue to be together in this way. 

   Lastly but very importantly: continue to come with a joyful spirit!!! 

Thank you Church Family!

Reverend Denyse, your Leadership Team, and the Re-opening Committee

Sunday Worship Materials for Children

Connie Horton continues to provide age-appropriate materials for our children to use during Sunday's service. All young people are invited to sit at the Sunday School table located on the center-left aisle of the sanctuary where Connie will meet them. Please join us!

Blessing of the Backpacks

We had a heartfelt "Blessing of the Backpacks" service on Sunday August 15 in partnership with our Korean congregation. Members of both congregations donated almost 50 backpacks as well as additional school supplies for students of Pasadena and Glendale Unified School Districts. We pray that these supplies will help these young people succeed in school this year as well as let them know that they are loved. Thank you, church families!

Preston's CVUMC Garden Eagle Scout Project

Hello CVUMC! I have finished refurbishing the front of the church as part of my Eagle Scout Project! I couldn't have done it without your support! I am super proud of what I accomplished and how it brought the community together. In case you haven't seen it yet, here is a before and after picture.

If you have not yet donated but would like to, you can send a check directly to the Church with a note in the memo line "Preston's Eagle Project". You can also donate to the GoFundMe Page! https://www.gofundme.com/f/crescenta-valley-umc-beautification-by-preston

The Board members are Kathy Garrett, Peggy Griffin, Connie Horton, Bettie Hull, Diane Lewis, Loraine Locke, Mary Marino, Linda Neate, Carmena Smith, and Cathy Wacker.



• Board Meeting: our first meeting in about a year – day and time TBD, but probably Sept. 9 or Sept. 16 

• N. District Annual Celebration: Saturday, September 25. “Healing with Joy” Guest Speaker: Rev. Melissa Roux MacKinnon, District Superintendent. Our Quiet Disciples will be recognized at this celebration. Please register by Sept. 20 at http://www.calpacumc.org/northumwcelebration2021 or contact District President Rosalie Neimann neimann007@sbcglobal.net

• Library Table: Now that we are having Fellowship Hour after worship services on Sundays, you can check out and return books every Sunday. And there are LOTS of great books! Check out the occasional Book Reviews in the Friday Emails – you might discover a book that is perfect for you! Thanks for following Covid safety protocols. We appreciate if you can return the books you’ve checked out within 2-4 weeks. (You can read books from 2015 to 2021 for the Reading Program.)

Learning Works/Bailey Center Food Pantry Collections

    The next date for donations for both Learning Works and Bailey Center is Saturday, September 4 from 10 - 1. For Bailey Center, non-perishable foods are essential – they are still providing food for around 1,000 people each month. Financial donations can be given as well. Make checks out to Bailey Center. For Learning Works, foods that are easily microwaveable are really helpful.  As always, any non-perishable food, paper goods, hand sanitizers, disposable training/pull-up diapers for toddlers, sippy-cups – all are greatly appreciated. Many thanks to you from the students and staff of Learning Works for the donations you have sent them. If making a financial donation, you can make a check out to CVUMW and put Learning Works on the memo line. Thank you always for your concern and care for people in our community who are in need.

Show Your Support for The

Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act

    We invite you to contact your federal Representative and Senators to show your support for the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act (H.R.4011/S.2125). 

    Our faith teaches us that children and youth are specially cherished. Yet here in the United States many children and youth of color are regularly funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline. Harmful policies and practices divert youth away from educational success, wrongly rerouting children towards the criminal justice system. Schools' overreliance on school-based police contributes to this harmful trend. The federal government can help address this issue by passing the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act (H.R.4011 / S.2125).

    This bill would shift federal funding away from harmful, criminalizing approaches (police in schools). Instead, it would make available a pool of federal funding to meet student needs and improve school climate through evidence-based, age-appropriate, trauma-informed practice.

    The Gospel calls us to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. Urge your Representative and Senators to sign on as cosponsors for the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act.

Click here to take action today. (Press Control and click your mouse)

If you have trouble with the link above, copy and paste this web address into your browser: https://p2a.co/A7PoQJZ

The Foundation

    Along with the rest of the congregation, the Foundation mourns the loss of Shirley Kinsey. Shirley was a fascinating woman: Artist, athlete, generous in spirit, and a matriarch of our congregation. 

    We have begun to receive contributions in her memory. Those contributions will allow us to buy a leaf on the Tree of Life. If you would like to contribute to that leaf, please send your contribution (or place a check in the offering plate), payable to CVUM Foundation. Any contributions will ensure that Shirley's legacy will live on at CVUMC by providing funding for future Foundation contributions to CVUMC. 

From Psalm 46:5 

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns."

Shirley Kinsey....present with the Lord."

Music Notes

    The guys and I would like to formally welcome Rev. Denyse to CVUMC! We officially declare her a CVUMC choir member. For those who don't know, Rev. Denyse has spent decades in choirs and has a great voice! We look forward to her joining in with the choir when we finally get to sing as a group. 

    Speaking of choir: We traditionally go back to weekly post-church practices and once-a-month Saturday practices in September, but being that the Delta variant is so persistent, we will hold off on that for as long as it takes to be safe. I am hoping for November so we can start rehearsing for the Christmas Cantata. We will keep you all posted, but in the meantime, "sing lustily and with good courage" from your pew...as John Wesley encouraged!

    I took a few weeks off to travel a bit. Wayne and I spent a week up in Northern California - 3 hours north of San Francisco - to visit my 97 year old dad and step-mom. Our summer has been filled with outdoor activities including hiking and re-landscaping the front yard. It feels fantastic to be away from the computer screen. I knew you were in good hands with Yumi. She and I have gotten to be quite close - she house-sat (actually...cat-sat!) for us throughout the summer. Yumi is attending CSUN in the Fall - so proud of my former student!

   Tim has been out traveling the country. He went back to Nebraska to visit his parents (first time since the shutdown) and did some gigs back there. His pictures from Colorado were amazing, and it sounds like he had fun playing in Austin, Texas too. Tim just released his new CD, Montecito Heights, to rave reviews so be sure to buy one! We were grateful that Melissa stayed in town to help us lead worship while we were gone. It's one big happy musical family!

    Alexis will be gone for three weeks - he finally gets to visit his 98 year old mum in Canada. As you probably know, Canada shut its borders for many months. Alexis has been anxiously waiting to go back to "his home and native land." We wish Alexis safe travels and many good times with his sister and mum in Ottawa. 

    Ricky has started up his busy performing schedule again...albeit probably slower than any of us would like due to Covid. It adds a sense of normalcy to hear his gigging stories again on Sunday mornings. If you're interested in seeing Ricky play outside of church, please ask him where he's performing. His gigs range the spectrum, so I'm sure there's something he's doing that might fit your schedule. Musicians really need the support these days, so please support as much live music as you safely can. 

    That's the update from the band. We are very grateful to be singing our favorite songs again, so please let me know if there's something you'd like to hear. I have so enjoyed my worship planning with Rev. Denyse and her lovely suggestions for new music...or music new to us. It's going to be a creative Fall!

Many blessings and much love,

Barb

Montrose Preschool Request

    Montrose Preschool and Infant Care (our preschool at CVUMC) is requesting that their preschool parents consider donating paper towels to the school. Members of our church family are invited to donate as well. This is an on-going need.

    Due to the Delta Variant of Covid-19 and because young children cannot be vaccinated, Montrose Preschool and Infant Care, as well as all other Preschools, are still under the Covid-19 guidelines and protocols.

    They are still sanitizing both inside and outside. Toys are cleaned between group play. The yard equipment is sanitized between groups. A lot of paper towels are used to accomplish these tasks. To be able to save their tuition $'s for curriculum materials, donations of paper towels are being requested. 

    If you are interested, paper towels can be brought to the church office or left outside the gate near the kitchen during the week when preschool is in session. Packages of 6 or more are the most convenient, but even one single roll is very helpful and greatly appreciated.

    Thank you in advance for your help.

   As always, we deeply appreciate all who are able to give. The smallest bit helps and we are grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you to Dan Griffin, Karyn Kemmerer and Molly Burke for getting this online option up and running.

Giving online is easy: just go to our website www.cvumc.org and under the Giving Tab, click in and follow the instructions. 

    You can give a recurring pledge or donation or a onetime amount. And of course you can still mail in or drop off your tithes and offerings to the church if you like. To mail offerings and donations to the church, use this address:

Crescenta Valley UMC

2700 Montrose Ave.

Montrose, CA 91020

Birthdays and Anniversaries



Birthdays

1    Tim Kobza

2    Melika Abdollahi

9    Ryan Reynolds

12 Bryan Duplessis

13  Gregory Stupakis

19  Janice Burke

20  Ricky Cosentino

22  Norma Ellis

28  Evan Wirsig

Anniversaries

3   Hector & Lisa Castaneda

4   Al & Janice Burke

10  Dan & Norma Wirsig

*Rev. Denyse: pastoral leadership, care, wisdom, spiritual guidance, and tremendous energy and compassion!

*All of you - for your time, resources, and prayers for our church family

*Our Awesome Musicians! Barb, the Band, the guest musicians and vocalists gave us such beautiful, thoughtful, and inspiring music. 

*All who created and presented our worship services

Tech Team:

Barb Catlin-Bergeron, Molly Burke, Kim Mawhinney, Edmond Hambarsumian

Liturgists (Welcome, Joys and Concerns, Prayer, and Scripture):

Debi Bois, Janice Burke, Jeanne Lavieri, Diane Lewis, JoAnn Stupakis. Jenny Hambarsumian

Worship Team:

Rev. Denyse, Barb Catlin-Bergeron, Janice Burke, Jeanne Lavieri, Debi Bois, Diane Lewis, Ricky Cosentino, Tim Kobza, Alexis Sklarevski, Yumi Gardner

Musicians:

Barb Catlin-Bergeron, Ricky Cosentino, Tim Kobza, Alexis Sklarevski, Yumi Gardner our Guest Pianist

*All who managed our church structure, operations, programs, and finances

Financial Team: Dan Griffin, Becky Castano, Janice Burke, Debi Bois

Church Office Administrative Assistant: Karyn Kemmerer

Trustees: Richard Brace, Alan Del Castillo, Hector Castaneda, Edmond Hambarsumian, Connie Horton, Andrew Midgley, Linda Neate

United Methodist Women Board:

Kathy Garrett, Peggy Griffin, Connie Horton, Bettie Hull, Diane Lewis, Loraine Locke, Mary Marino, Linda Neate, Carmena Smith, Cathy Wacker

Committee on Lay Leadership:

Jenny Hambarsumian, Melissa Abdollahi, Kathy Midgley

Staff-Parish Relations Committee: Andrew Delman, Jenny Hambarsumian, Mike Abdollahi, Jeanne Lavieri (as Lay Leader) and Janice Burke (as Lay Member to Annual Conference).

Youth Leader: Janice Burke

Linda Taylor-Bell:

Preschool Director – successful and safe operation of Preschool!

Preschool Board:

Connie Horton, Chair, and Lisa Perry-Castaneda, church representative

Foundation Board Members:

Debi Bois, Bettie Hull, Chris Ruygrok

Food Pantry Coordinators: Debi Bois, Janice Burke, and Connie Horton

Marv Wacker: Thursday Man and “Head Groundskeeper and Troubleshooter”

Membership Secretary: Kim Mawhinney

Leadership Council:

Janice Burke, Becky Castano, Dan Griffin, Kathy Midgley, Jeanne Lavieri, Debi Bois, Connie Horton, Linda Neate

Prayer Team: Rev. Denyse, Jeanne Lavieri, Debi Bois, Diane Lewis, Janice Burke, Christine Ruygrok

Tithes and Offerings Tabulators: Bettie Hull, Connie Horton and Cathy Wacker

Check out our church website @ www.cvumc.org for up-to-date news!