The Grapevine
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NAPA
(707) 253-1411
April 1, 2009
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors:
the People of The United Methodist Church
Pastor’s Column
Spring is in the air. Flowers and trees are blooming and waking up from their winter sleep. God breathes newness and life into the world once again. Do you feel God’s presence and peace amongst the beauty of spring? God is always about life, love and peace.
In this time of Resurrection do not forget that God can still transform you and bring forth joy and peace in your often dormant faith. We ask so little of God because we expect so little of God in our lives. Yet, God expects great faith from you …that winter woes can be turned into spring joys.
Our God is a God of expectation and surprises. Regardless of my planning, God always has additions and amendments to add. I have learned to be humble enough to ask God to guide me one day at a time. Through my seasons of life, God has a way of gently nudging me in the right direction. His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are always there to show me the way. All I have to do is ask and they are there to assist me in the task at hand.
Death and darkness will never be the final answer for humanity or this world. The God of creation will always give us a resurrection and a chance at new life. We will eventually go dormant this life, but we will bloom again in eternity with God. That is the promise of God. Life, love, and peace will always bloom within your soul, regardless of the cold winters of this life. Shalom, my friends.
Roger
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
Faith Partners
The Faith Partners Ministry of the First United Methodist Church together with COPE, The Wolfe Center and the Alcohol and Drug Division of Napa County are sponsoring two nights of education for parents and anyone who is working with adolescents or young adults.
The first workshop is on 4/30/09 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC), 625 Randolph St., Napa. The name of this workshop is "Raising Healthy Kids - Helping Them Make Wise Choices." The focus is on helping youth of all ages make wise choices when faced with drugs and alcohol. Discussion groups will be formed based on children's ages: 0-9 yrs old, 9-14 yrs, and high school age.
The second workshop is on 5/7/09 from 5:30-7:30 pm also at the First United Methodist Church. On this evening, Pat Wolfe, Ed.D., will present a lecture on "The Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on the Adolescent Brain." There will be a Q/A session after Dr. Wolfe's lecture.
A light repast will be served on both nights. Please RSVP to the First United Methodist Church - (707) 253-1411.
Friday Nite Fun Book Club
Our next book is The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young. “The Shack wrestles with the timeless question: Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” We’ll meet to talk about this book on May 1.
Mark your calendars, start reading, and plan to join us! Everyone is welcome.
A Note of Thanks from Nancy
“Thank you to our church family for all the support to Brad and Lisa and the rest of the Crane family. The turn-out at our Benefit Dinner was amazing. Your continued prayers are very welcomed and appreciated.”
Katherine Parker, our Missionary to Cambodia, sends Lenten Greetings
“Friends! February is “rodou broamg” (dry season), which is also the wedding season since the rice harvest finished in January. So in a country where the majority of people are under 30, you can imagine how busy (and joyful) this season is. I see at least two or three ceremonies taking place every day, no matter what part of the country I am visiting.”
This year our Easter Offering will go to support Katherine in her work in Cambodia.
You may read the rest of her letter on the Conference website at cnumc.org. Go to Board of Missions, Ministries. Open the page “GBGM Advance/Missionaries”.
COME PLAY WITH US! FUMC Play group meets each Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 am in the church nursery. Babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and their caregivers are welcome!
Call Eva for more information.
FUMC serves THE TABLE on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Our next day is April 28th. We can always use extra help so if you’d like to help us, please call Eva to sign up.
Pie and a Movie
Mark your datebook for April 17th at our usual meeting time of 6:30. Come join us for "Educating Rita", a warm and witty movie about hairdresser Rita, played by Julie Walters, who is determined to better herself through education. Actor Michael Caine plays an alcoholic, bored professor who becomes her tutor and learns a little about himself. This romantic comedy was made in 1983 and the critics say it’s timeless. It won many awards including 2 Golden Globes and 3 Oscar nominations. Come join us for a good movie and bring something to share after...no reservations required!
Our movie for May will be on the 15th and the title is "Bottle Shock"...made right here in Napa Valley.
Growth and Outreach is Seeking New Members
The newly re-formed Growth and Outreach committee needs you! Who are we? A group of people dedicated to reaching out to our visitors and the community to show them how warm and welcoming we are and what a great church family we have.
We are currently a group of three and need more people to help us achieve our goals. Are you interested in writing, e-mailing or calling our first time visitors?
Would you like to help us re-vamp our website to make it more visitor friendly? Are you willing to be a designated friendly face in Fellowship Hall after worship?
Can you help us develop ways to engage our visitors and assist them in getting involved in our church family?
If any or all of these things are of interest to you, please call Elke Wood (255-7854), Doug Monroe or the church office.
Go where the Spirit leads you!
GRAPE Express
During the month of February we studied Daniel in the Lions' Den and in March we are studying the Easter “Go and Tell” unit. The committee decided, and the kids agreed, that our offering for March and also the accumulation of funds in our account should go to the Heifer Project. On March 29th we made Easter bookmarks and jelly bean favors for our shut ins. On Palm Sunday we will provide a snack for our Hope Center friends (trail mix, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and maybe an apple or orange). Easter Sunday we will have our annual egg hunt.
Our final unit will be “Creation”. There is a possibility that we will have a field trip to the Connelly Ranch or some other fun place.
Plans are in the making for a fun Vacation Church School. The theme is “Paul and the Underground Church”. The unit has a lot of fun and exciting things that can be done such as a Roman Soldier guarding the cave where Paul is, and great crafts--making a wooden top or a leather bracelet. To make this an exciting time for all will take a bit of work and several volunteers. Once we have a basic plan, we will be asking for a lot of help. I am hoping that we can have an even more successful Vacation Church School than last year.
Holy Week Schedule
April 5th - Passion/Palm Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:45 a.m. All Church Potluck Lunch
April 9th - Maundy Thursday Services
Covenant Presbyterian Church and
Napa Valley Lutheran Church 7:00 p.m.
April 10th - Good Friday
12 noon - Urban Stations of the Cross Downtown Napa
1:00 p.m. worship - First Presbyterian Church
April 11th - Easter Vigil 8 - 10:00 p.m. Napa Valley Lutheran
April 12 - Easter Sunrise Service
6:30 a.m. Tulocay Cemetery
9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship Service
* If you would like to attend any of these services but do not have a ride, please call the church office and we will see what we can arrange for you.
BLOOD DRIVE SUCCESSFUL!
The Pacific Blood Centers reported Napa First United Methodist Church donated 24 units of blood as a result of the event on Sunday, March 15th. The Centers gave us a goal of 20 units, so we were very successful. Thank you for all who participated and a special thank you to Katie Rubin for organizing the treats!
Doug Cleveland, Blood Drive Coordinator
UMW April Meetings
10:00 am—Patricia Riddell Circle in the Kagawa Room
Contact Doris Forsythe at 944-2654 or Lois Nelson at 257-3160
1:00 pm—Judith Newton Circle
Contact Ethel Adams at 226-1284
1:30 pm—Lillian Wallace Circle at Eleanor Greig’s home
Contact Annabelle Mieth at 224-0259—Carlena Milligan will do the program
UMW Contacts: Joan Feury—255-0494 or Barbara Thompson—255-0457
All are welcome to come to any meeting! Bring a friend.
Grapevine
The next deadline is April 9th and it will be mailed out on April 15th.
Please email your articles to secretary@napaumc.org
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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
Apr. 5 Scripture: Liturgy of the Palms—Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion—Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15
Rev. Roger Kimble—Palm Sunday Bonner Bells
Apr. 12 Scripture: Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18
Rev. Doug Monroe - Easter Sunday Cathedral Choir
Apr. 19 Scripture: Acts 4:32-34; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31
Rev. Roger Kimble Cathedral Choir
Apr. 26 Scripture: Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48
Rev. Douglas J. Monroe– Native American Sunday Cathedral Choir