The Grapevine
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NAPA
(707) 253-1411
July 1, 2009
Open
Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors:
the People of The United Methodist
Church
Pastor’s Column
Yes, it is summer. It is vacation time ... time for a break ... time for some fun ... time to re-create God’s love within each of us. Whether it is Disneyland/Disney World or just the backyard, whether it is Boston or just Boston cream pie, God expects you to take time off for yourself and family. The family that plays together ... stays together. There is truth to that statement. With fun you will find peace and harmony. You will find shalom and you will find God.
Do I believe Jesus had fun? Yes. Did he have fun with God? Yes. Did he have fun with the disciples? Yes. I believe Jesus found that shalom ... that peaceful place to let his hair down, chill out and just be himself and be at peace with the world. Folk just did not write about it in the Bible.
Do you know how to have fun? When I was a teenager, I remember the pastor of the church doing a cannon ball into the pool, splashing all the youth, laughing and having fun. That image has always stayed with me. Yea, we pastors are not serious all the time. Just ask our wives. On second thought maybe you shouldn’t ask them. Someone might say that was too much fun! (smile)
Shalom is a state of mind and a place to exist peacefully with God and the world. Jesus understood ... “where there is God there is peace.” If vacations were taken in that context, maybe we would be more relaxed once vacations ended. Just look at children and youth. Remember the last day of school and running across the school yard, yelling and screaming with your friends that summer was here? Children are able to let go of the past and live just in the present ... and have fun. Children do not worry about 401Ks or the war in Iraq ... nor should they. They learn to live in the present and let God worry about the future ... and so should you.
So, go splash some water, take an amusement part ride, or a walk along a quiet path. Take time to laugh with a child and laugh with God. Enjoy your shalom time with God. Jesus did. How about you? Shalom my friends and have a good summer.
Roger
We Offer Our Deepest Sympathy
To the family and friends of Luella Mock who died on June 20th. A Celebration of Life will be held at Luella’s home on July 18th at 3:00 pm on what would have been her 100th birthday.
To the Family of Louise Banks, Dave Banks’ mom, who died on June 17th. Her service was held in Sacramento on June 24th.
We hold you all in our prayers.
ALL ABOARD!!!!
What a wonderful year we had! We learned about making choices, had fun doing our second Christmas pageant, learned that even Jesus was baptized and Daniel was safe from lions because he believed in God. We had a fun Easter egg hunt, learned about caring for others by making gifts for our shut-ins and making lunch for our homeless neighbors. Learning about creation was topped off by a wonderful trip to Bill Bishop’s ranch where we got to see cattle, horses, dogs and eat hot dogs and ice cream.
I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for everyone who participated in GRAPE Express this year. I learn so much from the children every year and truly am blessed to be able to be part of their lives. I particularly want to thank Susan Edenborough and Susan Dunaway-Tsujihara--Susan E. for her help in planning the units, Susan T. for sharing her musical talent with us, Pat Hitchcock and the middle school group for teaching some of the units, Jan Geren who taught several months in a row and everyone else who volunteered to teach and also to Vicki Crist and Laura Hulquist for the wonderful bulletin boards.
Hope to see all of you in September when the God Reaches All People Everywhere Express starts on its next journey.
Youth Group ends on June 14th. Look for a new beginning on Sept. 13th.
All youth who are entering the ninth grade in the fall are eligible.
Greetings Book Lovers
We'll meet again on Tues., July 7th at 7:30 to share impressions of Olive Keteridge.
Invite a friend - watch for a location to be announced.
Important Dates
July 5th—Welcome our Confirmands into our membership during worship
Sending off of our SSP Campers to the Wiyott Reservation
July 12th—Welcome back our SSP Campers—hear about their experiences
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 at 252-0708 for more information.
Grapevine Summer Schedule
The next deadline is July 23rd and it will be mailed out on July 29th.
Please email your articles to secretary@napaumc.org
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
ON VACATION . . .
Stop
the mail and the newspapers, leave a lamp in the window on a timer,
be sure all the doors and windows are locked -- AND, make
arrangements to keep your pledge current while you're away. The
church's expenses continue even during the summer. Only you can
prevent the summer financial slump.
Good News!
After a recent CT scan, the oncologist informed Dave Settle that there are no visible signs of the lung cancer. His next scan will be in three months. The major surgery Dave went through on May 8th ended up being to remove gall stones that had fallen behind the liver 18 months ago, but had appeared as a tumor during a PET scan. Dave never had liver cancer. What a wild "ride". We certainly believe in the power of prayer and thank you for all your support!
Sabrina and Wesley Melton
Vacation Bible School for All Ages
Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 12, 19, 26, Aug. 2 and 9! Vacation Bible School will begin after the worship service during these weeks from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm or so.
This year we will visit ancient Rome during the time when being a Christian meant persecution and even death. We will visit with Paul who is under house arrest with Brutus and we will discover a cave where Christians meet in secret. There will be a market place with food and possibly other items to purchase with Roman coins. We may build an aqueduct, make leather wrist bands, an abacus, have a chariot race or tryouts for Olympic games. Plans are not finalized yet—these are just some of the ideas that are developing. We are looking forward to seeing all of you in Rome!
UMW News – June 2009
On June 16th, seventeen members of our UMW‘s various circles, along with two young girls in training, went to a “Celebration of Spring” at the Sonoma United Methodist Church. Members of the Sonoma Church had graciously invited us after we invited them to our Judith Newton Unit Meeting in March.
Some women had visited Sonoma’s meetings before, but others enjoyed their hospitality for the first time. We carpooled over and had a delicious lunch, good fellowship, some singing and a lovely demonstration on arranging flowers for our homes. I have put some of the suggested ideas to work in my home and had some success with Cherie’s tips. Members from Rohnert Park’s UMW were also there. We had a lovely time! If you missed this one, we hope you can join us for other “field trips” we may plan.
Submitted by Joan Feury
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
Calling All Bicycle Riders and Others
HELP!
Our
church is hosting a group of bicycle riders - about 25 - coming from
Jacksonville, Florida. That is no misprint!
They are on their way to San Francisco. Our church
is providing them with a place to lay their sleeping bag, a place to
shower and to wash their clothes.
And
here is where your help is needed --
we provide them with DINNER!! Bill Sharp (Head Coordinator) and
Charlie Ray (Flunky Assistant) are representing the church in this
project. The riders don't come through until August
15, but
we want all the help we can get from casserole makers - a few
vegetarian - for this hungry group. They will have ridden
that day from Davis . . . no small fete coming over the hill via
Monticello Road.
Providers of a casserole can dine with the
group. Please, let Bill or Charlie know if you can help.
Also needed will be healthy beverages and desserts.
(Unhealthy gladly accepted, too. ) For breakfast, we are
taking them to the Senior Center which has their pancake breakfast on
August 16. Then, the group rides to San Francisco.
All
across the country they have been raising funds and physically
helping with Habitat For Humanity and other charity builders. Now
it’s our turn to help them.
Pew Tender Still Needed
A pew tender is a person who comes into the church every fourth month, once a week during that month to prepare the Sanctuary for worship by making sure all the envelopes and prayer cards are in place, the registration books have sharpened pencils and pads and that the hymnals, etc. are all in their places. If you have any questions or think that this is something you’d like to volunteer for, please call the church office. You will be your own boss and on your own schedule.
VITAL SIGNS
This past fall the Church Council conducted a survey to determine the vitality of our church. The information gathered showed that there were 2 areas where our church should place special emphasis: providing educational opportunities to our church community and providing members opportunities to minister within our community. With that in mind, members of our church family gathered in the Fellowship Room on Sunday, June 7, after Sunday's service, to discuss these issues.
Questions posed in regards to education were: 1. How do you want to learn about God? 2. How can our church support your continued education? 3. What do you yearn for?
Our initial findings regarding educational opportunities show that we want to build our church community. Members want opportunities to get to know other members. Opportunities could include nature walks, picnics, campouts, artistic and/or musical endeavors, book groups. Many members commented how much they liked our brainstorming session on Sunday. Perhaps we could have more potlucks to work on other issues and projects.
We value exposure to different perspectives and would be open to more ecumenical involvement. This can take the form of book study or could include sermons by visiting pastors.
We would like bible study instruction available to our community. Ideally we should have short- term Bible study programs available, as well as the more in-depth programs. Faith-based "popular" works are also requested, in addition to the books we have read in recent years. There is a desire to have a comprehensive social issues class.
Questions posed with regard to ministry are: 1. What needs do you see in our community? 2. How can we (the Church) serve and support our community's needs? 3. Where does your heart lead you in ministry to these needs?
A recurring theme of the groups is that we need to build our own community. A way to do this is to have more potlucks and camp outs, or more meetings like this one, as well as showing others what we have done and are doing by giving open houses or by publicizing what we do on community bulletin boards. Most of the groups were interested in providing services to the elderly, and some suggested providing intergenerational opportunities for the youth to help with elders' chores. Most were interested in increasing our support for the Hope Center, and some wanted to provide assistance to COPE and Healthy Moms and Babies. People expressed interest in understanding the connection between homelessness and drug and alcohol dependency, and mental illness. Other areas of interest were the health system and child health. There was interest in restorative justice programs. Others expressed interest in a community vegetable and flower garden. Still others were interested in focusing on the Hispanic Community and helping in ESL classes. Some suggested that, in order to best accomplish these goals, we maintain a database matching needs with interests in the congregation, or perhaps have a volunteer coordinator. We will be reporting these and additional findings to the Church Council at our next meeting on Monday, July 27.
Submitted by June Moroney and Stephnia Pramuk
United Methodist Women – July Meetings
July 2 - Executive Board Meeting 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Kagawa Room
July 8 - Patricia Riddell Circle - 10:00 a.m. - Kagawa Room
Contact: Doris Forsythe 944-2654
Lois Nelson 257-3160
Judith Newton Circle 1:00 p.m. – Member’s Home
Contact: Ethel Adams 226-1284
Lillian Wallace Circle 1:30 p.m. – Member’s Home
Contact: Annabelle Mieth 224-0259
July 11 - Sarah Crosby Circle 1:00 p.m. – Kagawa Room
Contact: : Joan Feury 255-0494
Laura Brooks 255-5203
July 14 - Susana Wesley Circle 6:00 p.m. Potluck at Member’s Home
Contact: Donna LaPoint 226-2932
July 16 - Unit Evening Meeting 6:00 p.m. Kagawa Room
Program: “Native American Potlatch-Learning around the Table”
Contacts: Joan Feury 255-0494
Barbara Thompson 255-0457
All women are welcome to come to any meeting! Bring a friend.
Usher Needed
Looking for a way to give service to our church, but only have limited time available? Please consider becoming an usher. It only requires one Sunday a month. Currently we need someone for the 3rd Sunday of each month. Some of the tasks are: opening and closing the church doors before and after service, counting attendees, finding offering stewards to collect the offering and turning the sanctuary lights on and off. Interested? Contact the church office.
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 is on vacation until August
Youth Group is on vacation until September
Vacation Bible School Sundays from 7/12 thru 8/9 at 10:45 am
July 5 Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13
Rev. Roger Kimble Confirmation Sunday, SSP Send Off, Communion Music by Bill Crane
July 12 Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29
Rev. Doug Monroe SSP Sunday, Welcome Home God’s House Band
July 19 Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-14; Psalm 89:20-37; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Rev. Doug Monroe Special Music
July 26 Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21
Rev. Doug Monroe Special Music