The Grapevine
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NAPA
(707) 253-1411
September 15, 2009
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors:
the People of The United Methodist Church
…from Doug’s Deck:
I find it interesting that I’ve been approaching my out-patient knee surgery on September 9th with a bit of a blasé attitude (I’ve been through worse before, you see, and expect to be up-and-around the same day!). I may be unpleasantly surprised, however, because I’ve been reminded, “You’re not as young as you used to be, you know!” While that is true this surgery shouldn’t be as extensive as the one to follow, for I will soon join the ranks of the rest of you bionic wonders who get around quite well on prosthetic knees!
I’ve been touched, however, by how many of you have offered me your prayers and support. While Roger and I – along with our Parish Visitors Doris Forsythe and Jan Whitmer – do this on a regular basis, it is instructive when I, now, am on the receiving end. Following Ethel Adams’ tragic death, I’ve said to any number of people, “I don’t know how anyone can be alone and still find a way to cope at such a time.” The church, when it works well, is exactly like an extended family: we are embraced and sustained by a wonderful circle of love and compassion. The Adams family surely felt that from us. I feel it now from you.
So it is no small thing when we reach out to those who’ve been set aside on the margins of life – whether it be because of surgery or ill health, age or gender, addictions or homelessness, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We all need to be able to turn to the embrace of what The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called the “beloved community.” “We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,” he said. Of course, he was talking about a concept greater, even, than the church. But you’ve got to start somewhere. Why not here?
As we enter more deeply into the busyness of a new school and church year, then, I hope that we’ll take time to reach out to those around us whose needs may be greater than our own: to a child in need of a parent or grandparent, to a friend struggling with loss or depression, to the stranger in need of a welcome, … even to creation itself that cries out for our stewardship and care. And the busier we get the more Sabbath time we need.
Thank you for your individual and collective care, then, for we all, truly, are “blessed to be a blessing.”
Shalom, Doug
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.
Hi Readers
and
whatever else you are doing,
Had a lively discussion last evening on our "Shanghai Girls" book as well as movies (old and new), current events, and whatever suited us as the moment. Most agreed they would not recommend this book, particularly because the book seemed to just end very quickly. For Chinese novels, Amy Tan still is queen. For those not familiar with the Chinese struggles in the U.S., the book was informative.
Dottie Lee and Barb Sharp will be away so the meeting is tentatively scheduled for Kay Stevens house (pending her approval) on Tues., Oct. 6. The classic "Catcher in the Rye" was the chosen book. The Nov. book is "My Stroke of Insight". We encourage everyone to attend the meeting even if you have not read the book. There is always a lot of information generated about books you might want to read and we need input for future choices.
Enjoy,
Barb Sharp
MISSIONARY KATHERINE PARKER TO SPEAK IN CHURCH OCT. 4TH
Ms. Parker will give a report on her work in promoting health and agricultural programs in Cambodia. She previously spent 15 months in rural Japan in similar programs.
Please join together following the church service for a Potluck where we can meet and greet Katherine and further discuss her work in mission. Please bring finger foods to help minimize set up time.
Missions/Church and Society Committee
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
Save
the Date!
Thursday,
November 19th
A Benefit for
The Table
Dreamweaver
Theater
“Over the River and
Through the Woods”
Reception at
7pm
Performance at 8pm
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 24th
and it will be mailed out on September 30th.
Please email your articles to secretary@napaumc.org
Fun and Fellowship
would like to thank all who attended and participated in our 2009 Church Picnic. The setting was great, the weather beautiful, the food was great, and the games were wonderful! A special thank you to Richard and Marsha Niemann for providing the games and prizes.
Look for our table on Rally Sunday. If you would like to be a part of our committee to help plan and execute fellowship gatherings for our congregation (and have a good time doing it!) please sign up.
Upcoming events: “Saints Among Us” - on October 18, 2009 we are celebrating our “nonagenarians” after worship service. If you have someone you would like to nominate, please contact Patty Renfrow at 252-4763.
“Chile Cook-off” January 24, 2010 - get those recipes ready!
“Talent Show” March 6, 2010 - more to follow, but we hope you will share your talent with us, whatever it is!
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
Water Projects in Africa Change Women's Lives
Join us Friday night October 2, 2009, 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Room of the First United Methodist Church to hear from Deborah Katina of Yang'at . Yang'at is a Church World Service supported project in Kenya and Uganda, and Deborah is in California to share her experiences with several faith communities in the Bay Area.
“When we go to the communities, we’re not just talking about water” says Deborah Katina, Executive Director of Yang’at in western Kenya. When founding Yang’at in 1999, she and three other university educated women called the new Non-Governmental Organization a “girl child potential sensitization project”. Yang’at-organized community water projects have also led to a rise in girls’ enrollment in school, girls’ resistance to traditional female initiation rites, improved health for all members of the family, increased literacy and increased earnings by women.
The sand dams Yang’at helps communities build are a low cost, low maintenance water collection and conservation technology that has been adopted by other grass roots organizations. The dams, often in tandem with a shallow well, provide clean water year round and are a great time-saver for women who have had to walk an average of 20 kilometers (about 13 miles) daily for water. Deborah Katina will speak and answer questions about how the Yang’at (“to care” in the Pokot language) water projects in Kenya and Uganda have transformed lives as well as saved communities from the extreme water scarcity.
Deborah will show slides and speak about her work, and light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Pat and Don Hitchcock, 224-8586 or dnhitchcock@sbcglobal.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.
ATTENTION...MOVIE AND PIE GROUP!
We start out his fall with a classic movie, "High Society", staring Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Made in 1956 with the score by Cole Porter, this was the last move Kelly made before she retired and married a prince.
Movie starts at 6:30 with pie and fellowship after. All are invited, no reservations required. Mark your calendar....Sept 18th...6:30pm!
Friends,
For those of you who don't follow my updates on facebook or twitter (http://www.facebook.com/bokashi), it has been a busy month as usual. The initial meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture went really well (thanks for your prayers and notes of encouragement); we are getting ready for another round. And we held the 1st Annual Session of the Methodist Mission Conference in Cambodia, where I served as Conference Secretary.
There is also a new letter up on my blog to the Vacation Church School kids in Bakersfield, CA about chicken raising projects and a miracle of healing witnessed by my mom (and I) while she was here as an Individual Volunteer in Mission this summer. You can read all three new posts at http://bokashi.blogspot.com. Thanks for reading.
Your secure on-line donations to CHAD through
http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/advance/donate.cfm?code=14916A
support this work to continue. Thank you.
peace, Katherine
FUMC Supper Club
Be on the lookout on Rally Sunday for Fun and Fellowship’s sign up for the FUMC supper club. We are organizing a supper club for all ages and stages. If you are interested, we will have a signup sheet that day. Come by our table and check it out.
The Fun and Fellowship Committee
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
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
Oct. 4 Scripture: Job 1:1; 2:1-10; Psalm 26 or Psalm 25; Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
Missionary from Cambodia, Katherine Parker World Communion Sunday Bonner Bells
Oct. 11 Scripture: Job 23:1-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
Rev. Doug Monroe with April Dawson All Abilities Sunday Cathedral Choir