The Grapevine
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NAPA
(707) 253-1411
September 1, 2009
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors:
the People of The United Methodist Church
. . . Pastor’s Column
On my daily walks at noon I always pass by a beautiful little league baseball park on the corner of Randolph and Elm. I can still hear the baseball chatter of my youth and remember the dropped fly balls, the home run I hit, the bobbled double plays at second, stealing a base and sliding in to second, and the umpire yelling “Strike three, You’re out!” Good memories and good times.
Little did I know that I would not play baseball again on a formal team. God allows each of us to experience special things during certain seasons of our lives. We take so much for granted that certain experiences will come around again. Yet, life has a way of taking off in directions we never thought we would travel. God expects each of us to live in the moment and enjoy today ... experience today and appreciate the lessons learned.
You see so many folk trying to recapture their youth in appearance or things. (I still want that powder blue 1964 Chevy Impala!) Memories are nice, but they should never keep us from living in the present. We serve a God that is in the here and now. Yesterday is gone, and can not, and will not be changed by anything we do.
Funny, I never did like watching baseball, but I enjoy listening to the ball game on the radio while I work or drive. The crack of the bats and the balls hitting the mitts still excite me, and so does God working in my life, helping me appreciate each day, rain or shine. After being in the military and lying around in rice patties, I can appreciate noon time walks, a beautiful little league park and time spent with God, remembering but always enjoying today. Learn to appreciate, value and live in the present moment God gives to each of us. Shalom my friends ~
Roger
CONCERT
The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus will make its Napa debut, performing its Reach Out and Bring Happiness concert, on September 13, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
For 10 seasons, OEBGMC has entertained the San Francisco Bay Area. Now it’s time to celebrate with new friends. With pride, we reach out to engage and change minds about our gay community, by singing OUT!
The performance will be at the First United Methodist Church , 625 Randolph Street in downtown Napa and co-hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of North Bay. Ticket prices are $12 for general admission, $9 for seniors and students. Advance tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com (search OEBGMC as the “Artist”) or by calling 707.226.1314 or call the church office at 707.253.1411.
How is a book chosen for the UMW Reading Program?
More than 300 women of diverse backgrounds, ages and regions evaluate the books for the United Methodist Women’s Reading Program. Some are longtime United Methodist Women members. Others are new to the game. All are active in their local units and love to read. Three evaluators read each book and if all three recommend it, the book is considered for inclusion on the reading program by a team of Women’s Division directors who meet in March to select the books for the next year’s list. They think of what category it would fit in and the women who are going to read it and how they will use it. “A book that makes one want to change, or gives one a new perspective, or makes one want to share the book with others makes a good reading program book.”
Mini Thrift Shop
United Methodist Women’s Mini Thrift Shop, located on the corner of 4th and Randolph Streets, is open each Tuesday from 9 am to 2:30 pm. Unlike regular stores, merchandise changes each week, thanks to generous and loyal donors.
Feet weary? Shoes, $2 per pair
Sleepless nights? We’ve got you covered: Linens and comforters
Traveling? Luggage and umbrellas
All proceeds go to local, national and international Methodist Missions.
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
Our Heartfelt Sympathy
To the Family of Ethel Adams
Ethel died on August 14th, 2009
Her Memorial Service
will be held at FUMC on
Saturday, August 29th at 11 am
Ethel will be deeply missed by her many friends.
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 Schedule
The next deadline is September 3rd and it will be mailed out on September 9th.
Please email your articles to secretary@napaumc.org
GRAPE Express Meeting
August 6, 2009
Vicki Poli, our Engineer, met with the GRAPE Express Conductors at Kagawa Station in order to plan our tour of the Bible during the 2009-2010 season. Pizza was served and it proved to be good brain food as we chugged along on a productive planning session. Our itinerary is as follows:
9/13 Rally Sunday and Blessing of the Animals
9/20 – 10/18 The Lord’s Supper
10/25 Children’s Sabbath during Worship Service
“Let the Little Children Come To Me” Mark 10:13-16
10/25 - 11/22 Boys’ Lunch
11/29 - 12/20 3rd Annual Christmas Pageant
January Gift of Jesus
February People Who Make a Difference
March Signs of Faith
April 4th Easter – Annual Egg Hunt
April Living God’s Word
May Pentecost
As our GRAPE (God Reaches All People Everywhere) Express steams through the Bible, we need fuel – teachers! If you are able to teach one or more of these lessons please contact the church office station. We’ll get you set up with lessons, fingerprinting packets, and everything else you’ll need to get this train up the mountain. “It takes a village…”.
Faith Partners
Mark your calendars
Sunday, September 27th
2nd Annual Faith Partners Recovery Service
Come worship with us as God’s House Band leads us in music
Napa River Rock & Stroll
Preventing Child Abuse
Proceeds Benefit COPE Family Center
6K Family Fun Run/Walk along the Napa River Trail
Saturday, Sept. 26th at 8:30 am
For more information call 252-1123 or go to
www.napariverrocknstroll.org
Book Study
August 23 – October 11, 2009
Saving Jesus from the Church
How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus
The Napa First United Methodist Church has a certain flavor, position, shape, or set of attributes to which all of us have contributed over the years. We are a church in the best progressive tradition which sometimes stretches the limits of the national and international church body. There is a new book by UCC pastor and philosophy professor Robin Meyers which comes as close to making a position statement for the Napa FUMC as I have ever seen. It is not one of those far-out fringe books that I enjoy but many think is not really church. If you have read or studied Paul Laughlin's “Remedial Christianity”, you will recall his broad range of Christian traditions. I believe that “Saving Jesus from the Church” is at exactly the right place for many of us here in the Napa church.
Further, this book is a perfect beginning for the UMC “Rethink Church” campaign. Presented here is where I think our church should be going in the future. While Robin Meyers does teach at Oklahoma City University, he is much more pastor than professor and that difference is obvious in this book. Find out more about the author at: http://www.mayflowerucc.org/staff/meyers.html
If you are interested in pursuing an excellent plan for a new vision for the Napa church, please join us at the Lutz home on Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM this fall. For more information, or to obtain a book, call Peter or Evelyn Lutz at 255-8593 or e-mail plutz@sonic.net.
BLOOD SHORTAGE
Kathy Sampson from the Blood Centers of the Pacific contacted FUMC to urge blood donations at this time. There is a severe shortage and the Blood Centers do not anticipate it will get better soon unless more people donate now. The Napa Center is located at 3230 Beard Road (near Trancas Blvd). Call 1-888-393-GIVE (4483) to make an appointment.
THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU IN THE CHOIR!!!!
If you like to sing, come join a vibrant, active group of folks of all ages for Cathedral Choir rehearsals on Wednesday evenings starting the Wednesday after Labor Day! Singers of all voice parts are needed (and wanted!). Call or e-mail Director of Music, Jan Lanterman, for more information or just say "yes, I'd like to join the choir"! You can reach Jan at 707-255-4662 or Jannapa@aol.com.
Bike and Build
Many thanks go to all those who so generously gave dishes of food for a wonderful dinner for our visiting bicycle riders. The group arrived at our church after bicycling almost 100 miles from Yuba City on Saturday, August 15. They enjoyed your wonderful food and then on Sunday morning a hearty breakfast at the Senior Citizens monthly pancake/ham/egg spectacular.
Our special thanks to our wives, Barbara and Shirley, both of whom worked so diligently at the dinner on Saturday. It made the operation not a two-man operation but a two-couple operation. And we want to mention only one more name -- a special casserole arrived from Ethel. Thank you, Ethel.
Bill Sharp and Charlie Ray
Hello FUMC Young Families.
You are invited to come swimming after church this Sunday, August 30th, at the Redwood Swim Club, on Cherilyn Ct., anytime between 12:30 and 4:00. The cost to swim is $3.00 per swimmer. (Parents, you’ll only need to pay if you plan to swim, too!!) There is a snack bar but they only sell a few items, so you may want to bring snacks and drinks.
To get to Redwood Swim Club, take Redwood Rd. west from highway 29. After you pass Linda Vista, the next street on the right is Young St. Turn right on Young and Cherilyn Ct. is about three streets up on the left. The pool is at the end of Cherilyn Ct. We hope to see you there.
Stefanie LaMarca
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 and Youth Group are on vacation until September
Rally Sunday: September 13th
Come and see what your church has to offer you this year
Aug. 30 Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45 or 72; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-23
Rev. Roger Kimble, III Sheila Whitney, Soprano
Sept. 6 Scripture: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125 or 124; James 2:1-17; Mark 7:24-37
Rev. Doug Monroe Communion and Labor Sunday Kendall Crane, Soloist
Sept. 13 Scripture: Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38
Rev. Roger Kimble, III Rally Sunday and Reconciling Sunday Gay Men’s Chorus Ensemble
Sept. 20 Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31; Psalm 1; James 3:13-4:8; Mark 9:30-37
Rev. Doug Monroe Cathedral Choir
Sept. 27 Scripture: Esther 7:1-10, 9:20-22; Psalm 124; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
Rev. Roger Kimble, III and Faith Partners - Recovery Sunday Bonner Bells