The Grapevine
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NAPA
(707) 253-1411
October 15, 2009
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors:
the People of The United Methodist Church
…from Doug’s Deck:
We all had an opportunity to meet and begin to get to know our missionary in Cambodia on World Communion Sunday – Katherine Parker. What a truly delightful person! Some of you may not know that she’s a biologist by training and a graduate of Harvey Mudd College. It was after a year of testing water in Ghana for biological contamination, in connection with a master’s degree that she received from California State University, Sacramento, that she became commissioned as a missionary and has been serving in Cambodia.
Katherine’s now working on a further degree in
biological sciences which addresses the problems of fecal
contamination of deep and shallow community wells. Her education in
conservation biology continues to help her work with the people in
Cambodia. She sees so many benefits for water pasteurization (using
simple solar cookers to purify water) and for people being able to
develop simple tools, themselves, which would then allow rural
communities to self-manage their water supplies. She’s tried
to integrate the philosophy of participatory research into her
approach to all of her work in community development.
So,
from helping to construct rice banks that now feed communities during
the dry season, to providing filters for clean cooking and drinking
water, to overseeing vegetable farms and helping women support their
families through sewing and weaving projects, Katherine is the face
and person of our church! In the name of our church she serves a
people still suffering from the brief but savage reign of Pol Pot and
the Khmer Rouge that has left so many Cambodians physically,
economically, and psychologically impoverished.
Our formal Covenant Relationship with Katherine – and therefore with CHAD (the Community Health & Agricultural Development project) – asks that we, as a church, contribute at least $5 for every one of our members in support of her mission and ministry. Will you help us do that?
While the Finance Committee has authorized a couple of Sundays during the year for us to take up a special offering in support of our covenant with Katherine, you may give to this fund at any time and with as much as you’re able! You may never know just how much good will come of it, but based upon what we’ve learned about Katherine so far, the good that she’s done in our name is immense.
In the cause of shalom, Doug
Book Club Selections for October and November Reading!
The "Just For Fun" Book Club is reading My Stroke of Insight, A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D., to be discussed at our November 3 meeting. For our December meeting we selected The Devil and The White City, by Erik Larson. Now that it's raining, cozy up with one of these books and join us! We meet the first Tuesday of each month and Kay Stevens has agreed to host us again in November.
Church and Society/Missions has the following activities planned for this year:
Nov. 14— Napa River Clean-up #2 from Kayaks—We’ll use kayaks from a local kayak rental shop—starts from Kennedy Boat launch.
Dec. 6—A Very Giving Christmas in the Fellowship Hall after worship service
April or May—Reading group reading Picking Cotton, Kingdom of Simplicity
AIDS WALK NAPA VALLEY
The AIDS Walk Napa Valley is around the corner! It will be held on Halloween, October 31st , 2009. The walk is again being staged around the scenic Veterans Home in Yountville and will begin at 10:00A.M. at the Lincoln Theater. The walking route is an easy flat route that the whole family can enjoy....costumes are encouraged! Team FUMC is looking for walkers of all ages. If you are unable to walk, consider sponsoring a walker....contributions support Queen of the Valley Medical Center CARE Network. Registration forms are available at the Church office or contact Mark Andersen or Don Hitchcock for forms or information.
PIE AND A MOVIE GROUP—Our next movie night will be October 16th at 6:30. This months selection is called "Best In Show"....a comedy spoof on the dog show world. No reservations required just come and join the group! Any questions call Martha Monroe at 226-6794.
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
Benefit for The Table
Mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov. 19th for a benefit performance for The Table at Dreamweavers Theater. On stage that evening will be “Over the River and Through the Woods”, a comedy about a young man, Nick, who routinely has Sunday dinner with his grandparents. One Sunday the lovely Caitlin O’Hare joins them and Nick’s life gets a lot more interesting! A dessert reception starts at 7pm and the performance begins at 8pm. Reservations are $25 and may be made at FUMC on Sundays after worship, beginning on October 25th. Call Eva Joell for more information.
Grapevine Schedule
The next deadline is October 22nd
and it will be mailed out on October 28th.
Please email your articles to secretary@napaumc.org
Fun & Fellowship Committee 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!
Food Bank Donations
During these trying and hard economic times, food as a basic commodity is scarce for a lot of people and children. Here is your chance to give out of your abundance and bless others. Please bring your canned goods and non-perishables to place in the food barrels, 18 Oct 09 to 15 Nov 09. Anything and everything you do is appreciated as we reach out to the community in love and kindness. Shalom. Roger
Have You Seen Them?
The pictures of our New Members are posted in the Fellowship Hall. Have you had the opportunity to meet all of our new members? Please take the time to introduce yourselves and make them feel welcome in our church family.
$ The Twenty and the One $
A
well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar
bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved
along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation.
The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the
country. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty
proclaimed. "Why, I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the
finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a
cruise to the Caribbean." "Wow!" said the one-dollar
bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell
me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your
lifetime?" The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to
the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church, . . ."
The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"
Thanks
to Bill Crane for this article.
Jean Hall ~1911
Ruth Marra~1912
Grace Strahl~1912
Ruth McIntosh~1912
Margaret Crabtree~1913
Lela Westfall~1915
Don Perry~1915
John Hoffman~1916
Helen McAllister~1916
Loeta Stocking~1916
Val Jurgelvicius~1916
Beatrice Kirkhofer~1916
Dolli Marie Francis~1916
Kate Peacock~1917
Mary Alyce Webber~1917
Mary Basinger~1918
Betty Ellis~1918
Mattie Conant~1918
Robert E Eisiminger~1918
Paula Leslie~1918
Elsie McPherson~1918
Rev. Don Fellers~1919
Margaret Hoffman~1919
Betty Hagedorn~1919
Louise Cade~1919
John Campbell~1919
Marianna Stanley~1919
Jean Oertel~1919
Robert Hennessey~1919
Eloise English~1920
Grace Buer~1920
Elva Stockton~1920
Article loosely lifted from “The Spire”
New Love, New Mercy
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3: 21-24
It’s time for our Financial Stewardship Campaign and this year’s theme is New Love, New Mercy based on the Lamentation scripture above. Hopefully you will notice the logo and theme related articles in your Grapevine, Sunday worship folder, and in mailings from your church over the next few weeks.
“I promise to support the United Methodist Church with my prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.” Did you know that you can fulfill 4 of those promises by fully participating in our financial Stewardship campaign? Pray for the success of our campaign so that we may continue to support 2 pastors. Come to church each Sunday from October 11 – November 1. Prepare an estimate of giving card for the November 1st Stewardship Sunday and present it in an act of witness to your faith.
Our 2010 church budget will be prepared after the Stewardship campaign and is based on your estimates of giving. We will not come door to door and there will be no arm twisting; we encourage you to give out of gratitude for all that God has given you.
“Summer and winter, springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”
Barbara Thompson, Stewardship Chairperson
Lay Leader Notes
When I was a boy, I remember when hoping for something....really hard, as when Willie Mays was at bat against the hated Dodgers, I would cross my fingers and hold my breath. Maybe you recall a similar ritual when you were wishing for something.
As I have been reflecting on this year's Stewardship theme "New Love New Mercy" based on Lamentations 3:21-24, I have been thinking a lot about hope. I feel the author of this poetic verse envisioned a different type of hope than the kind we had as children. The people of Israel found themselves in a horrible state. Their country had been overrun by the Babylonians, who slaughtered many of their countrymen, took the able bodied away as slaves, and left the rest to die. Jerusalem, the holy city, was in ruins and the survivors were infirmed, diseased, and dying. It was during this crisis that the Lamentations composer calls upon this destitute group to evoke Yahweh's unending mercy and love and to have hope. This is not the type of childish wishing of puffed up cheeks and contorted fingers, but an attitude change. In light of the circumstances, it was a courageous message. It is this type of courage and hope that we who are in the process of bringing about The Kingdom of God are expected to exude.
This past year marked one of the worst financial collapses on record. We watched our 401Ks, life savings, and security melt away. Many have lost homes, jobs, health care benefits, and planned retirement - a seemingly hopeless situation. This is the exact time that we are called upon to be hopeful, to trust in The Sacred's unending mercies and love. We are expected to live out this hope by the way we receive, give, use, manage and share what has been granted to us.
During our Stewardship Campaign, I hope you will take time to consider where you derive hope and assess how hope manifests itself in your life, especially as it relates to how you spend your time and gifts. Think about the varied ways your Church provides hope to the members of our congregation and to the community, as well as the programs we support, spreading hope worldwide. It is my hope that following this introspection, you will be generous with your time and money..........I've got my fingers crossed!
PEACE
Mark
Volunteers
We still need a head usher and a van driver. If you are interested, or if you need more information, please call the church office at 253-1411.
FUMC Youth Perform
Singin’ In The Rain
Justin-Siena HS Theatre
Justin-Siena High School Theatre is in rehearsal for the musical, “Singin' in the Rain”, to be performed the weekends of November 6th and November 13th. We have two high school students and one middle school student from FUMC family in the production. Mary Kate Francis is the lead female role of Kathy Selden. Christopher Marks has two parts, Young Don and The Butler, along with singing/dancing in the ensemble, and William Francis will be cast in the role of young Cosmo. Tickets will be for sale after October 5th at www.justin-siena.org. Buy your tickets early as Justin-Siena sells out all their theatre productions.
HELPING the HOMELESS
Project Homeless Connect on November 20th helps homeless people not just learn about available services, but actually gets them some services on the spot. Many caring volunteers are needed to help make this happen. To volunteer, contact Katie Meehan-Rubin, Volunteer Center of Napa Valley, 252-6222 or katier@volunteernapa.org.
Organizers: the Volunteer Center in partnership with Community Action Napa Valley.
Sierra Service Project 2010
We will have our first SSP planning meeting on Sunday, Oct. 18th at 11 am in the Youth Room. All interested parents and youth are encouraged to attend. All youth in the 8th through the 12th grade this year are eligible and welcome to attend. You may gather information on locations and dates at www.sierraserviceproject.org. Please come prepared to vote on where you would like to go and when. If you would like to be a counselor please attend this meeting.
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
Come and see what your church has to offer you this year
Oct. 18 Scripture: Job 38:1-7; Psalm 104; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
Rev. Roger Kimble Laity Sunday Cathedral Choir
Oct. 25 Scripture: Job 42:1-17; Psalm 34:1-8; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52
Rev. Roger Kimble Childrens’ Sabbath God’s House Band
Nov. 1 Scripture: Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6; John 11:32-44
Rev. Doug Monroe Communion and All Saints Day Cathedral Choir
Nov. 8 Scripture: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17; Psalm 127 or 42; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44
Rev. Roger Kimble Special Music
Nov. 15 Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:4-20, 2:1-10; Psalm 113; Hebrews 10:11-25; Mark 13:1-8
Rev. Roger Kimble Cathedral Choir