Thursday, April 25, 2024

Last Sunday during, worship Pastor Kim and the congregation sent Colette Cummings off with prayers as she headed out to General Conference. Colette is one of the delegates representing our Missouri UMC Conference.

Click here for more info about General Conference which continues through May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina:

https://www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/general-conference-2020

A link for the livestream is at the top right on this web page.

Freedom School News

There are still slots available for scholars. Freedom School applications are still being accepted at the Maplewood UMC site. Go to the church website (www.maplewoodumc.org) to find the links for online applications or to download an application.

Freedom School is a full-day, (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) 6 week, Monday – Friday (except for holidays) summer literacy and empowerment program offered to children who have completed grades Kindergarten through 5. There is no cost for the program outside of a $30 refundable deposit which for this year will be provided by Maplewood UMC.

Want to learn a new skill this summer? How about joining Tech Team at Maplewood UMC.

You don’t have to know anything about technology ahead of time. Training and mentoring will be provided. You can learn at your own pace and will have someone sit with you on your first few Sundays. Tech Team members are asked to commit to serving about once a month during a worship service. If you are interested reach out to Chris Shirar (chrisshirar4@gmail.com) or put a note with your name and number/email on the online Connect Card or paper Communication Card. A little nervous about trying this out? Get a friend to come with you to learn! It will be fun!

Meeting, Sunday, April 28 at 6:30p.m.

Dear Friends,

When Steve and I lived in Wheaton, Illinois one of the couples who loved and cared for us so very well as young parents was Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. Alan and Ruth were long-time members of the church we attended while we lived in Wheaton.

When Mr. Roberts noticed that there were a couple of choir members who needed childcare for Wednesday rehearsal, he offered to watch our children in the church nursery while we rehearsed. Upon occasion, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts watched Mike and Jenny while Steve and I served as youth group leaders.

The front door of the church didn’t have windows, so on cold Sunday mornings (which were quite frequent in Chicagoland) Mr. Roberts would stand at the door and open it slightly every couple of minutes to see if anyone was walking up to the building so they didn’t have to open the heavy door on their own. Sometimes he would step out and help folks get inside.

There are more stories that I can share about this wonderful couple. I imagine that the way they understood God and God’s call on their lives strongly impacted the choices they made. But it was through these choices made one at a time, that they left a legacy of self-giving love that impacted the life of our young family in a way that still touches my heart.

This Sunday when we continue with the sermon series, “Make Good Choices” the question that will be before us is: “The Legacy Question: What Story Will I Tell?” The story we will focus from scripture is the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37 and 39 – 50. If you want another way to review the story another way, watch the musical “Joseph, and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

I encourage you to continue to pray for the work of the General Conference which began on Tuesday, April 23 and closes on Friday, May 3. This group of United Methodists from around the world will be making decisions that impact how the United Methodist Church continues in ministry for the next several years. They are an important part of writing the story of the denomination through which we express our faith in Jesus

Please pray for all delegates, including Maplewood UMC member Colette Cummings and your new pastor as of July 1, Rev. Andy Bryan who is leading the Missouri Conference delegation.

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. God’s grace and peace be with you,

Pastor Kim

New Sermon Series began on April 21

“Make Good Choices!” Those are the words that would follow our kids out the door during their teenage years. They are actually words that are good for all of us to hear in all stages of life, whether we are heading out the door or staying home! While we can’t know the future, the direction and quality of our lives are determined in large part by the decisions we make. During this sermon series, we will lean into scripture to find wisdom for making decisions and identify some good questions to ask that will guide is in making large, small, or in-between-sized decisions.

Coming in May

The Color of Fear Being Shown Again

The Community Unity Center at Maplewood United Methodist Church, 7409 Flora Ave. has scheduled two more showings of "The Color of Fear". It is a 90 minute film about the impact of racism on all of us. We have also scheduled an evening where we will watch a 30 minute film about anti-racist Jane Elliot followed by a discussion of both films.

"The Color of Fear" will be shown:

Saturday, May 11 at 10:30am

Tuesday, May 14 at 7pm

"An Interview with Jane Elliot" followed by a discussion of both films

Tuesday, May 28 at 7pm

Small group study of An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor

On May 7, 14 and 21. We will meet at 7 p.m. Any questions check with Jan Harsh 314-780-1797. The book follows Barbara Brown Taylor as she left full-time ministry to become a university professor, a decision that allowed her to discover new ways to "keep the faith" outside of traditional Christianity. Now, in An Altar in the World, Taylor shares her techniques for encountering God far beyond the walls of the church. The book is available for pick up at the church.

Information about General Conference

**NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN

**Thursday, April 25

General Conference

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. Second Time Around Shop

6:00 p.m. Women's AA Group

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

** Saturday, April 27

10:30 a.m. - Women's AA Meeting

**Sunday,April 28

9:00 a.m. - Prayer time in Pastor Kim's office

9:45 a.m. - Children & Youth Sunday School

9:45 a.m. Adult Discussion Group

11:00 a.m - Worship - In-Person and

online Link: maplewoodumc.org

6:30 p.m. Ad Council Meeting

***Monday, April 29

General Conference

9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Community Unity Team Meeting

**Tuesday, April 30

General Conference

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

1:00 pm. Prayer time via Zoom.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178

Passcode: 674257

4:30 p.m. Confirmation Class

6:30 p.m. Witnessing Whiteness Study

**Wednesday, May 1

General Conference

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

6:00-8:00p.m. Cub Scouts

**Thursday, May 2

National Day of Prayer

General Conference

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. Second Time Around Shop

4:30 p.m. Cub Scouts

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

6:00 p.m. Women's AA Group

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com

Prayers for...

...Linda Vawter’s sister, Shari, for her headaches to continue to ease with new procedure and for niece Rhonda that she will be given best path forward for healing from cancer diagnosis.

... Madaleaze Cramer's friend, Cynthia, who is experiencing critical health issues.

...Peg Chulick: Grateful grandson Brian back at teaching, continued prayers for Jer’s strengthening of his heart and vision.

From Nancy Thompson- Please pray for my son, Peter Munshaw, to find appropriate employment.

...Karen Raborn healing of hip issues

...Zambian government to provide vaccinations for Kwasha School children so they can reopen school during cholera epidemic.

...All the strife in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine

Continuing prayers for ...

...Skip Reynolds's comfort and peace

... Nina Berry - for Chad to be happy and healthy.

If you will be graduating this year, let Pastor Kim know - pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org

Aubrey Link

Diane Watkins

Izzy Ward

David Phelps

Charlotte Phelps

Tony Kunce

The Second Time Around Shop accepts donations of the items listed in Ad above.

Summer Sunday Sign Up deadline:

Friday, May 3rd

If you have any questions please reach out to Brittany Link at brittany.l@maplewoodumc.org. Please sign up by May 3rd!

Summer Sunday School Link:

Summer Sunday School Sign Up

MUMC Kids

Last Sunday, we learned about how God gives us free will to choose. He wants us to choose how we want to live and to learn from our mistakes.

Next week we will discuss why it is important to choose to forgive others

A little Maplewood UMC history

Recently discovered pictures show the Maplewood UMC education building right after it was built in the early 1950's. Upper left: Sr. High Youth, Lower left: Jr. High youth, right upper and lower: children's Sunday School, two different age groups.

DEADLINE for the church newsletter is MIDNIGHT EVERY TUESDAY: send articles via email only to jbrx10@yahoo.com.

The Sunday morning worship bulletin will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday

For more information about Maplewood United Methodist Church, go to our website (maplewoodumc.org ) or Facebook page (facebook.com/mumcstl)

The church office is open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9 a.m. til 1 p.m.

Office Phone: 314-781-5902. Pastor Kim Shirar: 314-651-9999 Email: pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org

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