The Grapevine

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NAPA

(707) 253-1411

October 15, 2008

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors:
the People of The United Methodist Church 

 Pastor’s Column…

I was on my daily walk down Randolph Street when I noticed how each block has a different look and a different set of trees.  Some blocks have big oak trees, while others have crepe myrtles.  One block even has a set of redwood trees.  Regardless of what set of trees I walk under, the shade is wonderful and cool!   I  always thank God for the coolness and the diversity God brings into my life.

This is how God wants each individual to be really cool.  When others walk into your life  or presence, you are to offer them a time to rest and  be refreshed, if just for a few moments.  A smile, a kind word,  a cool place to stand  from the heat of the day and life ... this is what God wants you to offer.   Your heart does speak to people.   Just like all trees can offer shade,  all people can offer love,  regardless of their differences.

 My three year old grandson likes it when we play in the back yard. When he gets tired and hot, he has me stand so that my shadow is on him, and offers him a cool place to rest. He has tried to pick up our shadows with both hands and gets frustrated  when he can not.  I tell him to just enjoy its presence.   Jesus does the same for each of us.   We can not physically pick up Jesus, yet Jesus' presence  always offers us a chance to stand in the shadow of God, protected and cooled from the harshness of each day.

The next time you are under the shade of a tree,  thank God for the diversity and coolness of both trees and people. You too can offer shade by letting some weary traveler along life's way,  stand in the shadow God has made for you.  You can not pick up a shadow,  but  you can feel its coolness.  Likewise,  you can not touch God, but you can feel  God's  love,  regardless.  This is what you can give on your walks in life ... a chance to appreciate the  diversity of love and life,  as you stand in the shadow of God.

 Shalom, my friends.

                                      Roger

CELEBRATION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

We're going to have a special service of worship as we consecrate our financial commitments to our church's program and ministry for 2009.  God's House Band will be leading the singing, Taiko drummers will provide extra music, and there will be a Celebration Brunch after the service!  Bring the Estimate of Giving card you received in a recent letter and come join our Celebration of Faith!

BUILDERS’ HALLOWEEN LUNCHEON

Sunday, October 11

10:45 am - Asbury Room

Entrée provided—Bring Salad or Dessert and place setting

Salads can be placed in Fellowship or Kagawa Room fridges

Please place Desserts on the table in the Asbury Room

11:00am - Short Business Meeting – President Bill Crane presiding It’s time to shine so

WEAR YOUR COSTUME TO THE WORSHIP SERVICE!

Please note the change of date and place so we can welcome

special guests Pastor Roger and Veronica Kimble

We invite those interested in knowing more about BUILDERS to please accept this invitation and JOIN IN THE FUN.

UMW 2008 Reading Program

If you wish to participate in the 2008 UMW Reading Program, now is the time to think about finishing up those books that you are reading and complete the “Your Reading Program” brochure, listing the books you have read this past year.  Extra brochures are available on the UMW bookshelf in the church library.  In order for you to receive a Certificate of Recognition from the Bay View District, your Reading Program Brochure must be turned in to your circle chairpersons no later than November 15th.  Circle chairpersons:  please submit the brochures to Trudie Atchison by the end of November so that they can be submitted to the district.

Reminder:  If you have had a book checked out for a long time, please try to finish it and return it to the library so that others can enjoy reading it too.  Thank you.

Time for a New Church Directory

Plans are in the works for a new, updated church directory.

The first step is to gather a committee together.

We need 4 or 5 people and the first meeting will be on

November 12th at 1:30 pm in the Parlor.

Photo shoots will be Nov. 14th through Nov. 17th.

Please mark the dates on your calendars.

Please call the church office ASAP if you’re able to help.

Annual Celebration CA/NV Conference UMW to be held at

Napa First United Methodist Church

So! How Are the Children

Saturday, October 25, 2008

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Registration begins at 8 a.m.

We are fortunate to have the UMW Annual Conference Celebration in Napa this year and fortunate to be able to feature speakers from several local children’s organizations that we help support. The Celebration will feature a panel of young adults who saw a need and took action to become contributing member of their community. We will also hear and see the stories of children at the Schurz School – realizing hopes and dreams. Always with anticipation and joy, we will welcome Gloria Tan, Director of Gum Moon (Asian Resource Center), and children who will become our teachers for the day – as Christ said, “…become as little children.”

Our Keynote Speaker Ted Lempert is the President of Children Now, a national research and advocacy organization based in Oakland. During his eight years in the CA State Assembly, he authored landmark legislation in the areas of education, healthcare, children and families, tax policy and the environment. He is the founder of the San Mateo County Task Force on Violence Against Women.

Voice Our Independent Choices for Emancipation Support (V.O.I.C.E.S) will be represented by several young adults who will tell about the need they saw and the action they took. The Mission of V.O.I.C.E.S. is to create comprehensive services and resources to support the successful transition of foster youth in Napa County to healthy, safe and productive, independent adulthood.

We have the great honor of welcoming Bishop Warner Brown who will be the Celebrant at the Lord’s Table. Mark your calendars for October 25^th and pick up a flyer in the church office or print one from the church website at: http://www.napaumc.org/women.shtml . Registration is due by October 18, 2008 and  includes lunch. Registration cost is free to those 39 years and under ($14 for the rest of us). Child Care will be provided for Preschoolers (Bring a Sack lunch for each child with the child’s name and age). Call the church office for more information.

Many Thanks to the High School Youth Group and all of you in the congregation who have so generously donated food and money to the Napa Valley Food Bank so far.  We will continue to take donations for the rest of the year in support of getting food to the poor.

Dear FUMC,

First of all, I want to thank you for including me in your Faith Partner's Ministry.  Our worship on 9/28 was a phenomenal experience for all who were present.  Know that there is much more to come from this ministry and we will be welcoming your support and participation in this ministry dedicated to providing awareness and hope to those who are impacted by the disease of addiction.

Secondly, several of you asked about my beautiful stole.  It was made for me especially for the "Get High on Hope" service by Susan Edenborough to whom I am most grateful for draping me with the Spirit.

Yours in Service

 Linda S. Powers, M. Div. Facilitator - FUMC's Faith Partner Ministry; 

 Chaplain - VOICES

SSP News

Here are some dates to remember:

Oct. 26th—Noon—Kagawa Room

Parent & Youth Meeting

Where will we go?

When will we go?

Who will be our counselors?

When is the money due?

What will our fundraisers be?

Nov. 2nd—

Deadline for signing up for 2009

Have questions?  Call Dianne at 253-1411 or Pat at 224-8586.

Are you finding yourself with a little extra time each month?

We have many opportunities for

you to volunteer your service.

How about Board of Trustees?

Endowment Committee? 

Finance Committee? 

Lay Leadership?

Pastors & Staff-Parish Relations?

Growth & Outreach?  Missions?

Yes, many opportunities—

too few volunteers!

Please call the church office.   

WHY IS THE FAITH PARTNERS’ APPROACH EFFECTIVE?

Over the past 15 years this approach has evolved and is being used in numerous congregations in several states.

It builds on the strengths of the congregation by involving lay people with special expertise and a passion for this ministry;

Clergy time, energy and involvement is carefully utilized;

Teams are trained in prevention, early intervention, referral assistance, and recovery support, choosing programs that meet the needs of the congregation;

Teams network with other teams and utilize community resources, keeping their efforts focused on the congregation’s mission;

It is relevant to the whole congregation, young and old, individuals and families;

It is not a short term program but has an ongoing process that enables congregations to identify activities and programs that meet the changing needs;

The ministry cultivates a compassionate response to all human problems, creating long-lasting change, making the congregation a safe and hospitable place.

Goodbye

Thank you for the love, support and friendship that you have given us.  Although we look forward to a new beginning we will miss you all dreadfully!  It has been a blessed nine years.  We’ll look forward to seeing you again during one of our trips back to Napa for visits.

Love,

Judith & Robert Lacy
2190 Junipero Ave.
Palm Springs, CA 92262

Lillian Wallace Circle

Thurs., Oct. 9th

1:30 pm

Hostess:  Betty Kelley

Program:  Mary Hudler

SAVE THE DATE

Our 2008 AIDS Walk will be held on October 11th at the

Veteran’s Home.

Call the church office to sign up.

If you would rather just sponsor a walker, please call

Mark Andersen.

Put your Grapevine article here.  The next deadline is Oct. 16th and will be mailed out on

Oct. 22nd

The Napa Valley Food Bank Needs Your Help!

For the first time in nine years the Napa Food Bank is out of food! This is a critical time for the vulnerable folks of our community and we need to act!  FUMC will have a collection barrel in our Fellowship Hall for donations of non-perishable food items. Please be generous in meeting the needs of our community.  If you would rather make a cash donation please either make it out to FUMC with Food Bank in the memo line or you may send your donation directly to:

Napa Food Bank
1755 Industrial Way, #1
Napa , CA  94558

            Heartfelt Thank You 

I wish to express my appreciation for all the cards, Emails and kind expressions of concern and support you have provided in response to the death of my Mother last month.  Your kindness has lifted my spirit.  Thank You.        

                                    Mark Andersen

                From Across the Pond

Michael and Mary Herzog recently spent several weeks in England and had a chance to visit with former Napa FUMC pastor Ginnie Pearson and husband Larry.  Ginnie has accepted a three-year assignment as a minister in the Bude Methodist Circuit on the North Devon and Cornwall coast.  She has primary responsibility for three chapels and shares responsibility for two more.   Ginnie is getting acquainted with the ways of British Methodism and Larry is learning to navigate the narrow lanes of Devonshire on foot and bicycle and automobile -- with the steering wheel on the “wrong side.”  Ginnie and Larry send their warmest greetings to all their Napa friends.

First United Methodist Church

625 Randolph St. Napa  94559

Office:  (707) 253-1411      Fax#:  (707) 253-1976

www.napaumc.org

            Pastors:     Douglas J. Monroe

                               Roger Kimble, III

Sunday Worship - 9:30 a.m.

Child and Infant Nursery Care is available

Church Office Hours:

Monday—Friday   8:30 am to 4:30 pm

The Grapevine is published bi-monthly.

Editor:  Dianne Mahler

Mission Statement

The First United Methodist Church unconditionally welcomes all people in greater Napa wherever they are on their faith journey.  As a congregation rooted in scripture, tradition, experience, and reason, we promise opportunities to grow in the Spirit and to become active followers of Jesus Christ.

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 am 

Coffee, cookies, lemonade and friendship are served at 10:30 am

Adult Bible Study:  10:45 am Parlor

   Sunday School for All Ages begins at 10:45 am

 High School Youth Group begins at 11:00 am

Oct. 12 Scripture:  Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14

   Worship Committee will present “Reconciling Sunday Drama” with Holly Zaccone directing

Oct. 19 Scripture:  Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22

   Roger Kimble, III “Celebrate the Faith Sunday”          God’s House Band with Taiko Drummers

Oct. 26 Scripture:  Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46

   Lay Speaker Michael Herzog                                                                               Bonner Bells

Nov. 2 Scripture:  Joshua 3:7-17; Psalm 107; 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:1-12

   Roger Kimble, III                                                                       Clovis East High School Choir