MAY Good News newsletter 2017
From Pastor Liz
Dear Friends –
Excellent ideas can come to people as they sit, think, and dream … what kind of house to buy or build, what kind of car, where to go for vacation, what improvements to make on our homes, how to improve their church … but these are idle daydreams unless they are acted upon. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed.”
We need to think, to meditate, to plan, to learn, to listen in order to raise our sights and deeds above the routines of daily living. Often when we stop long enough to reflect, we realize how much that we have insisted on, or pursued, has been our own selfish desires or will. However, when our goal is for the good of others, great and wonderful things occur.
The book of James encourages action: “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers . . . (James 1:22). Jesus, too, spoke often of doing the will of God: “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
Jesus performed many deeds of love as he went about doing good, healing, and teaching. What is more, he fulfilled the Father’s will by offering himself on the cross for the salvation of all.
May we continue to model our lives after Jesus who not only spoke the words of life but did the works of life.
Blessings, Grace and Peace, Liz
Read Ahead
Each Sunday The lectionary provides us with readings from the Gospel, the Epistles (Letters) the Old Testament and the Psalms. The lectionary follows a three year cycle, which when finished will have covered the majority of the Bible. Pastor Liz believes that reading ahead will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the service.
For May 7, 2017: the Scripture is John 10:1-10 & Psalm 23 This is the third week in our sermon series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The sermon texts are Galatians 5:22B-26,
& Philippians 4:6-7 and the message is “Peace”.
For May 14, 2017: Mother’s Day ~ the Scriptures are Acts 7:55-60, John 14:1-14 & Psalm 31. This is the fourth week in our sermon series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The sermon texts are Galatians 5:22B-26, & 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and the message is “Patience”.
For May 21, 2017: the Scripture is John 14 & Psalm 66 This is the fifth week in our sermon series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The sermon texts are Galatians 5:22B-26 & Romans 11:22 and the message is “Kindness”.
For May 28, 2017: Ascension Sunday/Memorial Day ~ the Scripture is Luke 24:44-53 & Psalm 47. This is the sixth week in our sermon series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The sermon texts are Galatians 5:22B-26 & Titus 3:4-5 and the message is “Goodness”.
Fruits of the Spirit
New sermon series is being preached. Do you know what the Bible says about Kindness? Do you have enough Patience? What does God mean by Peace and Joy? Don’t miss a single Sunday in May as we learn the answers to these questions and hear testimony as to how these gifts are being seen in the lives of our church family!
ATTENTION ALL S/PPR CHAIR PERSONS AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Lynchburg District will be offering 2 sessions in Staff/Pastor-Parish Relations Training with Rev. Scott E. Davis, Lynchburg District Superintendent...with two different locations and two different dates we hope that you will make every effort to attend one of our sessions.
Sunday, May 7, 2:30 p.m., Court Street UMC, 621 Court Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504
Sunday, May 21, 2:30 p.m., Rustburg UMC, 554 Village Hwy., Rustburg, VA 24588
Please let us know if you will be attending by calling Fran at 434-832-0401 or email at .
Lenten Study is Back!
Beginning Monday, May 8th 10:30 a.m.
Study on the Apostles’ Creed by Adam Hamilton
Mark your calendar!!
Top of the Hill will meet on Wednesday, May 23, 2017, 11:00 a.m. Dessert and drinks provided. More information provided later.
FRIENDS WHO CARE
Please send your reports of visits and phone calls each month to Scottie Nuckols, 1250 Jefferson Oaks Court, # 44, Forest, VA 24551. Or e-mail to . On your report please note the month and year, names of those visited (or called) and the number of times visited or called that month and any comments of our pastor. Please try to get this information to Scottie by the 5th of the month. We express our appreciation to all the volunteers who participate in this ministry of compassion.
A total of 15 visits and 58 phone calls were made in MARCH.
Children’s Ministry
I want to thank all those who participated in our Easter Egg Hunt. We had a wonderful time.
Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. Mark your calendar: June 19-23. I am in the process now of planning this. More information provided later.
~Jody Underwood, Lay Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Congratulations to Ryan & Melanie Jay on the birth of their daughter, Addison Grace Jay, born on March 22, 2017. Congratulations to her grandmother Debra Higginbotham.
Mission News
March blew in with a food basket full of items for Park View Mission. We collected 57food items that totaled 73lbs. of food:14 boxes of storage bags that equaled 476 bags; and 7pks. of toilet paper that equaled 53 rolls. That was a job well done. Park View really appreciates our help each month. Our contributions help to ease their tight budget and keep them doing the good work they do. Thank-you to all who support this mission.
Park View Mission for May is again asking for canned meats (they are always in short supply), peanut butter, mac and cheese (Kraft), and as always toilet paper. Please keep the basket in mind when you grocery shop.
~Thank-you from Linda Jessen & the Mission Committee
FOOD CART
For the month of MAY we will be collecting items for the Food Cart for Park View Community Mission.
Food Cart for MAY
“Canned Meats, Peanut Butter, KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese , Toilet Paper”
Please place in the food cart, located in the Commons. Help those in need.
The Merry Marthas Circle will go to Bedford on Wednesday, May 10th to have lunch at Liberty Station. Let Judy Robertson know whether you can go and whether you want a ride. We will meet at the restaurant at 11:30 am. Thanks to all the Merry Marthas who helped clean the kitchen and the upstairs craft room on April 12! What an improvement to both areas!
~Judy Robertson
Our Condolences
Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church extends Christian love and sympathy to the family of William Vernon “W.V.” Bailey and especially to his sister, Georgia Mason. Mr. Bailey passed away on April 6, 2017.
And to the family of baby Everett Gabathuler and especially to his parents, Philipp & Andrea (Baughman) Gabathuler, and his grandparents, Duane & Elaine (Saul) Maddy. Everett passed away on April 16, 2017.
Gifts & Memorials
In Memory Of:
W.V. Bailey
Given by: Beryl Martin, Robbie Perrow
Helen Lawson
Given by: Robbie Perrow
This Is My Church
It is composed of people just like me.
It will be friendly if I am. It will do great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these.
Therefore, with God's help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.
- Old Union Reminder
True Colors
If you’re a long-time churchgoer, or a veteran of the altar guild, you know which color paraments to use throughout the Christian year. For those who are unfamiliar with the liturgical colors, here is a list by seasons - and significance:
Purple, the color of penitence and of royalty, is used during Advent and Lent (deep Blue is often substituted for purple during Advent).
White (often used with gold) signifies joy and festivity. It is used during the Christmas and Easter seasons and on high holy days during the seasons after Epiphany and Pentecost. (White is also used for weddings and funerals).
Red is the color of fire and a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is used on the Day of Pentecost (also for evangelistic services, ordination and consecrations - whenever the gifts of the Spirit are emphasized). A deep red may symbolize the blood of Christ and may be used during Holy Week.
Green signifies growth and is used during Ordinary Time (the Season After Pentecost). United Methodists have the option of calling this season “Kingdomtide.” Traditionally, this season is the season for learning how to live out our faith in all aspects of our lives.
The Lesson of Memorial Day
We may not, and should not, approve of war or violence or excess. But until we learn to make a better world, that is the way it is, and this is the lesson of Memorial Day: Nothing is ever wholly negative, nothing is ever wholly lost. Despite all the grief and human wastage, even over dead men's blood and bones we manage to progress a little.
Let us then remember the dead- in all wars - gratefully. And let us hope that because of them we may become a touch better, a thimbleful wiser, and a handshake more tolerant of this changing world they did not live to see.
A BIG thank you to all for the calls, cards, visits, and food that I received after my dental surgery. I am doing well but still have a long way to go with the healing process. God bless you all!!
~Pat Short
The Obstacle in Our Path
In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.
MAY Birthdays
1 Kim VandeBogart2 Joella Edgreen
3 W. Frank Proehl
Ken Wood
4 Shaun
VandeBogart
6 Phyllis Caldwell
Tommy Mason
7 Brian Jefferies
George Morcom
8 George Jessen
10 Rebecca Amos
Peggy Layne
11 Bradley Gilbert
Dewitt LeFew, Jr.
Patricia Pugh
12 Deborah Lacy
McKenna Mason
13 Phillip Reid
14 Robert Hamilton
15 Barry Redwood
16 Rev. Elizabeth
Ecklund
Inez Tolley
18 Jordan
VandeBogart
21 Barbara Blunt
22 Carolyn Anders
Stephanie Jones / 23 Robbie Perrow
24 Jennifer Abbott
Judy Lease
25 Martha Lipscomb
27 Susan Blunt
28 Robert Hicks
Brenda Hunt
Kelly Mason
29 Tucker Cole
30 Emily Lipscomb
Phyllis Rickwood
Delma Scott
Zachariah Weaver
31 Dean Burgess
Ashlyn Goolsby
Those Who Serve ~ MAY
USHERS: Fred Norvelle, Head Usher
Nursery Caregivers:
May 7 ~Brenda Torian, Kirsten Tiller
May 14 ~Jody Underwood, Robbie Hodges
May 21 ~Ann Ruhland, Linda Wright
May 28 ~Linda Jessen, Jane White
GREETERS:
May 7 ~Linda Wright
May 14 ~Jane White
May 21 ~Kitty Burgess
May 28 ~Elizabeth Ashworth
CHILDREN’S CHURCH (Ages 4-11)
Information will be provided in the bulletins.
OFFERING COUNTERS:
Frank Stewart, Carolyn Stewart, Jane White
GOOD NEWS is published monthly for members a nd friends of Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church. Send articles to the church office by the 15th of the month.
Our Attendance
Sunday School Worship
3/26 39 54
4/2 34 71
4/9 36 72
4/16 37 93
4/23 36 59
/ Our Church Financial Picture
Through the end of March 2017
General Operating Funds:
Needed to meet our 2017 Budget $ 232,777
Needed to meet our budget to date $ 58,194
Actual receipts to date $ 44,723
Shortfall to meet budget to date $ 13,471
Actual expenditures to date $ 45,134
Overage meet expenses to date $ 411
Joy In Missions Funds:
Our Giving Goal for 2017 $ 11,600
Needed to meet our goal to date $ 2,900
Actual receipts to date $ 3,044
Special Offerings* (not budgeted):
Received to date $ 1,400
Dispersed to date $ 1,260
*Christmas, Easter, Annual Conference,
World Communion, etc.
2017 Joy In Mission Donations
To date, the following amounts have
been paid to the missions indicated.
Missionary Covenant Relationship $ 625
Interfaith Outreach $ 250
Park View Missions~Food for Families $ 400
Society of St. Andrew $ 250
Adult Care Center $ 125
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank $ 125
Camp Timothy $ 500
Churches for Urban Ministry $ 125
Daily Bread $ 125
Free Clinic $ 125
Good Neighbor $ 500
Habitat for Humanity $ 125
Heart Havens $ 125
Heifer $ 0.00
UMCOR-Non-Administrative $ 0.00
Undesignated $ 350
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS:
Meals on Wheels (Souper Bowl) $ 1,260
UMCOR(One Great Hour of Sharing) $ 350
Thank You for Your Generosity