Thursday, October 31, 2024 | |
Tonight Join the Boo Crew to hand out goodies to the trick or treaters. | |
Daylight Savings Time Ends THIS Sunday
Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday evening.
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All Saints Day is this Sunday, November 3 2024.
Please send us the names of the loved ones you would like to be remembered during the worship service on All Saints Day. To send names: CLICK HERE
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Election Night Communion, so go to the polls, then come to the table.
This campaign season has been brutally divisive. Here is a chance to be a part of something different, something better, something more. On election night, Tuesday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m., all are welcome and encouraged to gather in the chapel on the campus of Eden Theological Seminary to worship, and to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion together. This service is a collaboration of Maplewood, Unity, and Webster United Methodist Churches, and it is open to all. The unity of the sacrament is stronger than the divisiveness of an election.
| Help provide a Thanksgiving Dinner | As in previous years, the Maplewood-Richmond Heights school district will distribute Thanksgiving boxes for local families. If you would like to sponsor a box or two or three, the price this year is $50, but partial boxes can be purchased, also. | |  |
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A Note from Pastor Andy
Children of Zion, we are one week away from the end of voting in the 2024 election. Millions of people have already filled out their ballots; millions more will have done so by the evening of Tuesday, November 5th. Political ads dominate every media outlet. The candidates are campaigning at multiple events a day. Polls are published that reveal every possible outcome imaginable.
In the midst of the cacophony of hateful rhetoric, overt threats of violence, and blatant racism and misogyny spoken from the campaign trail, God is calling us to be an alternative. Rather, to be the alternative. The Reign of God is a way of being in the here-and-now. It is a community of love and grace, where we offer one another encouragement and support, and every single child of God is able to flourish.
And this week we will continue thinking together about how to live as this alternative community during these troubled times. We turn to Revelation 21 this week, John’s vision of the “New Jerusalem” descending from heaven to the earth. It is a glorious vision, encompassing both “a new heaven and a new earth.”
It is fitting that this Sunday is “All Saints’ Sunday,” a day for the church to remember those who have died in the past year. As their names are read in worship, we draw comfort and assurance from the presence among us. The alternative community of God, the one we know simply as “Zion,” stretches across time, across generations, connecting us with all who came before.
And Zion also beckons from the future, a source of hope in the midst of the noise. Zion presents us with a telos for our lives, a sort of blueprint of what God is trying to build. This will be week three of our “Children of Zion” series; the message will center on God’s “Reign of Love and Light.” In the words of hymn writer Frederick Hosmer:
Wider grows the kingdom, Reign of love and light;
For it we must labor, Till our faith is sight.
Prophets have proclaimed it, Martyrs testified,
Poets sung its glory Heroes for it died.
Forward through the ages in unbroken line
Move the faithful spirits at the call divine!
Pastor Andy
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Join Pastor Andy every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. for the "Thursday thought for the day" on the church's Facebook page. If you can't join live you can always pick it up later. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mumcstl
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Tis the season we welcome fist bumps or peace signs in place of hand shakes. Masks are available at Sutton entrance. Thank you! | |
If you have suggestions or comments about the proposed new mission statement, contact Colette Cummings. Email: cumminco@webster.edu, Phone: 314-239-2015 | |
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Ad Council Proposes New Mission Statement
“Maplewood United Methodist Church creates spaces where people can have authentic encounters with Christ, discover their Spiritual gifts, and use them for God’s glory.”
At their September meeting, the Administrative Council continued discussing the congregation’s mission. The statement above comes from a sentence on the “I’m New” page of the website. The Council believes it is actually a statement that fittingly describes the mission of the congregation. Please give prayerful consideration to this statement for the next few weeks. If you have any input, please contact an Administrative Council member. The Council will vote on the statement at the November meeting. The proposed statement would replace the current Mission Statement: “Feeding the community - body, mind, heart, and spirit - through the love of Christ.” The official Vision Statement would remain “A community whose body, mind, heart, and spirit are fed through the love of Christ.”
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Praise Band is meeting at 10:00 a.m;. on Saturday, Nov 2nd instead of Thursday night. No Choir Thursday night.
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Pastor Andy's father, Rev. Jim Bryan, shared the message during worship this past Sunday. | Our amazing quilters are back at it. Thank you to Peg Chulick, Donna Reynolds and Rona Chandler for your beautiful handiwork. This quilt is for Karen Rayborn. | |
Pastor Andy wearing the beard the children found in the Talking Box. He shared with the children no matter how we dress up, God knows who we are inside. | On Sunday, Oct. 20th, the children and Pastor Andy blessed the quilt that was made for Karen Raborn, the director or Kwasha School. | |
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Pies and Desserts Needed ...
...for the Nov. 20 Community Unity Dinner we will be having a traditional holiday meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all the fixings. We are asking for pies: Pumpkin, Pecan, Apple or any other delicious holiday desserts. If you can provide a pie or dessert, please sign up on the easel in the back of the church letting us know what you will bring. Thank you for making this meal special for our community!
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Meet the Biblical Prophets on Sundays
The Adult Conversations group meeting at 9:45 on Sunday will start a series on Biblical prophets on October 20. Please join us as we carom around the Old and New Testaments
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Don't forget to bring your empty 16 oz. water bottles to church
Build A Gift is in need of 80 empty 16-ounce water bottles with lids. Clean and dry would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting this event. Place under the easel in the back of the Sanctuary (Narthex) by the end of November.
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Jude Gerard Findley, son of Jonah and Mackenzie Findley, grandson of Steve Findley and Pascale Perraudin, was born earlier in October, weighing in at a health nine pounds and one ounce. Mom and baby are both fine. Please ask grandpa to see photos!
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3
Jeremy Link
8
Bill Housewright
9
Bob Harsh
Lilah Vawter
12
Lisa Watkins
17
Mary Davis
21
Ethan Floyd
Jonah Findley
25
Chris Shirar
27
Charles (Skip) Reynolds
28
Robbie Chandler
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CREATE A BOUQUET FROM OUR GARDEN
Sunday after worship and potluck bring a jar or a vase and stop by the church garden behind the parsonage. Cut a few flowers or herbs and take to a friend or your home to brighten the day.
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NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN
Thursday, October 31
Reformation Day
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Church Office open
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Second Time Around Shop - Halloween Costumes for sale $1.00
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Choir Practice
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Friday, November 1
All Saints Day
Saturday, November 2
10:30 a.m. Women's AAGroup
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Sunday, November 3
Daylight Savings Ends
9:30 a.m. Prayers with Pastor
9:45 a.m. Adult Discussion Group
9:45 a.m. Children and Youth Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Worship
12:15 p.m. Community Unity Potluck
4:30 p.m. Cub Scouts
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Monday, November 4
1:00 p.m. Overeaters Anonymous Meeting
Tuesday, November 5
9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Church office open
11:00 a.m. Worship Team meeting
1:00 pm. Prayer time via Zoom.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178
Passcode: 674257
6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts
6:30 p.m. Cub Scouts
Wednesday, November 6
9:00 a.m.- noon - Church Office Open
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Thursday, November 7
9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Church Office Open
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Second Time Around Shop - 50% off Sale
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Choir Practice
To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com
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...Sharon and Bill Housewright's nephew, Chris Burnside as he searches for a new job.
...the students affected by the apartment fire in Shrewsbury.
...the election.
...for bringing people in the country and around the world together in peace.
...for a friend of Bill & Sharon Housewright, Sam Crawford and family who is in the hospital for a stroke.
...Tori Chandler, that her new medication regimen works.
...Spencer Wilson for his upcoming medical test
...Billy Hawn, grateful for prayers of healing and being home after two surgeries
...Linda Vawter, prayers for nephew Allen to have guidance with new health issues, for sister in law Kathy for guidance following stroke
...Peg Chulick: continuing prayers for Jer’s vision and heart challenges.
... Sharon & Bill Housewright's friends, Jerry Chipps & Pat & Butch Ried for health concerns.
...Nancy Thompson- Please pray for my son, Peter Munshaw, to find appropriate employment.
Continuing prayers for ....
...Karen Raborn healing of hip issues
...Skip Reynolds - for freedom from urinary tract infections and comfort and healing.
...Amy Cordeal’s sister, Diana, for health concerns
If you have prayer concerns you wish to share with the congregation, let Kathy Schmid know: kschmid2005@sbcglobal.net
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Last Sunday the youth gathered to have some Halloween fun. They painted pumpkins, played some games, ate some snacks and watched a Hallowen movie. | |
This week we will discuss Heaven and what we think Heaven is. We might not know what Heaven will look like, but we can be sure that God will take away all of our sadness and tears and turn them into joy. | |
We had a blast at our Fall Party! The children loved going on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood looking at Halloween decorations. | |
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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
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