San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church The Messenger Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors October 2014 Our mission: вЂњDriven to action through the love of ChristвЂќ CHURCH WIDE TRUNK OR TREAT PARTY When and Where? Sunday, October 26th Cars arrive 5:30 for pizza and games, How do I sign up? Contact the church office to register your car for the event. We are so excited for our 6th annual Trunk or Treat. This year we will be in the Fellowship Hall and the upper parking lot. Prizes will be awarded for best costume and best car decorations. The kids have a great time and it offers a community event for the UMCC families. SLOUMC Pumpkin Derby This fall, as one of our Fun Fellowship events, we will welcome the First Annual SLOUMC Pumpkin Derby! So rev up your pumpkin and get ready for Saturday, October 11. Check in starts at 10 A.M. on the patio with races starting at 10:30. Call the church office for a set of rules and regulations! Come ready to race! PASTOR RICKвЂ™S WRITINGS... Dear Friends, For this issue of The Messenger, I want to share with you an article written by the Reverend Dr. Lovett Weems, the Distinguished Professor of Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC. I found the article very insightful and would welcome your thoughts about it. Blessings, Pastor Rick Do Our Assumptions Still Fit? by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. Peter Drucker maintains that organizational problems are not the result of groups doing things poorly or even doing the wrong things. Organizations fail, he contends, because the assumptions on which the organization was built, and on which it is being run, no longer fit reality. Could our congregations be taking for granted some things that were safe assumptions in the past, but no longer fit? Consider the following: п‚· People in our communities are religious. The only religious preference that grew in every U.S. state since 2001 was вЂњno religion.вЂќ п‚· There are lots of вЂњyoung families with children.вЂќ Married couples with children under 18 living at home represented 50 percent of households in the 1950s; today, only 25 percent. п‚· Most adults are married. Married couples now make up just under 50 percent of adult households in the U.S. п‚· Young adults get married in their twenties and early thirties and return to church. Married people are more likely to attend church; but of young adults between 25 and 35, just over half are single. п‚· Making our budget is a sign of vitality. Perhaps. But some churches have more money because a higher proportion of their membership is over age 50, the group with 70 percent of the wealth in the country. п‚· People find us through the newspaper or Yellow Book. Increasingly, the first place a person learns about your church is the Internet. п‚· Most people in our community already attend a church. The percentage of unchurched people has increased in virtually every part of the U.S. in recent years. And do not be misled by the polls showing that over 40 percent of people worship each week. The actual attendance numbers do not back that up. п‚· Many people have moved away. This is true in some areas, but churches can be too quick to jump to conclusions. Often the children of church members have moved away; but there are new residents, often less well off, who have moved in. How else does a new church succeed in a building once used by a congregation that died because вЂњall the people have moved awayвЂќ? There is one right way to worship. A church member told a pastor, вЂњI donвЂ™t like guitars in worship.вЂќ The pastor replied, вЂњThatвЂ™s exactly what people said when the organ was introduced.вЂќ Many worship practices considered normative today emerged out of a particular era and context that may have changed. "This article is reprinted by permission from Leading Ideas, a free online newsletter of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary and available at www.churchleadership.com." Coming In Worship October 5 - World Communion Sunday Psalm 19; Exodus 20:1-20 "Laying Down The Law" October 19 - 19th Sunday after Pentecost "A Question On The Law" Psalm 99; Matthew 22:15-22 October 12 - 18th Sunday after Pentecost "People Behaving Badly" Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Exodus 32:1-14 October 26 - Reformation Sunday "Upholding God's Law" Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; Matthew 22:34-46 Page 2 SLOUMC DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND CHILDRENвЂ™S MINISTRY Hi Everyone, Halloween is almost here! We have a lot of events planned for the children and youth. Pumpkin Derby October 11th at 11 a.m. Meet at SLOUMC with your pumpkin derby. Directions and rules are provided in the classrooms and church office. This event is for all ages! Trunk or Treat October 26th 5:30 p.m. Pizza, Games and Trunk or Treat! Dress up in your costume and come for a night of fun. Prizes will be given for best costume and best car. All are welcomed for this fun event. If you are willing to decorating and providing a car for Trunk or Treat, please contact Kimmie at [email protected] Youth Group Jr. and Sr. High Youth Group meet every Sunday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the Wesley Building. This is an awesome opportunity for youth to connect with their peers and learn more about God. There will be Bible study, small group, games and fun activities. For more questions, contact Kimmie. Communication has been an issue lately. This is a test! If you are reading this, please come up to Kimmie on Sunday to receive a reward! Page 3 SLOUMC Attendance Qi Gong/Tai Chi Easy is changing its time to Tuesdays at 9:30 AM. It is a wonderful moving meditation which can help with balance, stability, flexibility and a calm state of mind. I hope to see some new faces on Tuesdays at 9:30 A.M. in the Bell Tower. Joy Kent Aug. and Sept. Aug. 31вЂ”157 Sep.вЂ”171 Sep. 14вЂ”164 (Rally Day) Sep 21вЂ”178 SENIOR SINGLE SISTERS - CAMBRIA SCARECROW FESTIVAL Our October meeting will be Thursday, October 30th. We will meet in the church parking lot at 10:00 and carpool to Cambria to enjoy the adorable scarecrows, followed by lunch in one of the local restaurants. Bring $4.00 for gasoline and rsvp to the church office. GOD TALK will meet on Thursday, October 9th at 10:30 a.m. in the home of Sarah Bower. WeвЂ™d love to have you join us for scones and coffeeвЂ¦.and conversation about God! Newcomers are always welcome. For more information, contact the church office at 543-7580. Plants - There will be Hummingbird Sage plants in 1 gallon cans near the book exchange. Please take as many as you would like and drop a donation into the box provided for the books. Thanks, Joy October Birthdays Nate McDonald Harriet Terry Ruby Jean Howell Barbara Lang Kathy McGuire Douglas Heath Bill Plummer Diane St. John Christopher Johnson Jeff Briesacher Vance Rodgers Will Compton Bernice Pierson Joe Steele Steven Gee William Johnston-Carter Terry Hanauer Vikki Wilson Kristina Gee Richard Johnson Debi Briesacher October Anniversaries John & Cynthia Perrine Matt & Laura Nuzzo Ed & Susan Fassiotto Kent & Lois Butler Fred & Dottie Andoli Serving as Ministers of this Church: Bishop Minerva CarcaГ±o The Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth The Rev. Rick Uhls Dir. of Wesley Fellowship, Suzanne Barron Dir. of Youth & ChildrenвЂ™s Ministry, Kimmie Stradling Music Dir., Paul Woodring Bell Choir Dir., Ginny Rodgers Facility Manager, Dave Rau Sexton, Ernie Lawrence Office Manger, Lori Johnson The SLOUMC Congregation Page 4 10/3 10/3 10/5 10/6 10/11 10/13 10/13 10/15 10/15 10/17 10/17 10/18 10/19 10/19 10/20 10/22 10/24 10/27 10/28 10/30 10/30 SLOUMC 10/5 10/13 10/14 10/17 10/22 USE YOUR NEEDLES AND HOOKS TO FIGHT POVERTY! So much news on the TV and radio today describes the severe suffering of children in many countries on nearly every continent. What to do? It is possible to reach out and touch them in a tangible way using your knitting needles or crochet hook. You may do this in your room or living room or car or any place you can knit or crochet a sweater (or a cap or blanket) to keep them warm. You know, even in the tropics, they suffer chills if they do not have any clothes. Patterns are available for knit or crocheted sweaters, baby caps, or baby blankets. When an item is finished, place it in the basket at the back of the sanctuary for presentation with the offering during the Sunday morning worship service. Periodically, your Missions Team ships them to World Vision for free distribution to children as far away as Armenia, Nicaragua, Swaziland, and Tanzania, and as close to home as Appalachia, New Orleans, and the Bronx among other places. Originally, when we started knitting sweaters, we worked through Guideposts. However, the volume of sweaters they received (over 100,000) exceeded their ability to process, so the project was turned over to World Vision. They shipped 57,000 last year. Check it out at: http://knitforkids.org/get-involved/resources/ Now, children all over the world wear the 540 sweaters created by the women of this church over the last three years, plus many more from previous years. THE LUNCH BUNCH BOOK CLUB will meet on October 24th at 1:30 p.m. in the Narthex. We will be discussing: God, Give Us Wings by Felicia Prekeris Brown. This is a very personal experience fleeing from a Soviet occupied Lithuania and into a Nazi occupied Europe. The author recounts, in vivid detail, the horrors of the Soviet occupation, the invasion of the Nazis and then the return of the Soviets. She had to leave, with her family, to flee to the West, into and through the Nazi occupied territories. The book recounts the goodness in people and the worst in people. I will have copies on in church on Sunday, Sept 28 and Oct 5th. If you need one after that, email Sarah Bower and IвЂ™ll arrange to get one to you. Questions? Call Lori in the church office (543-7580) or email me. FASHION SHOW COMING SOON October 25th is the big day for our Fashion Show, luncheon, and auction. Our very own beautiful women and girls will be modeling clothes from Jones New York. It will begin at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall and tickets will be available each Sunday for $25.00 adults and $15.00 for youth 15 and under. Proceeds will go to our youth ministries. Questions please email Jan Wilson or call the church office. Page 5 SLOUMC Health Note from Parish Nursing ALZHEIMERвЂ™S DISEASE AlzheimerвЂ™s Disease (AD) or dementia from any cause: is a most dreaded condition. According to the AlzheimerвЂ™s Association, AD is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States! Worldwide there are over 30 million sufferers. Most people who suffer from AD are unaware of their malady. On the one hand they are protected from the knowledge; on the other, they donвЂ™t know when they need help or how to remain safe. Scary! Risk Factors that increase risk of AlzheimerвЂ™s: Age. Most people with AD are 65 or older. The likelihood doubles about every 5 years after age 65. By age 85, the risk is about 50%. Why this is the case is unknown. Family history. Those with a parent or sibling or child with the disease are more likely to develop it. The reason is unknown. Genetics, environmental or both? Head trauma. Diabetes type 2. Cardiovascular disease. 80% of those with AD also have cardiovascular disease. The reason may be connected to cholesterol level, high BP, low O2 levels to the brain, poor diet, or lack of exercise. Five warning signs of AlzheimerвЂ™s: Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as forgetting important dates, events and recently learned information. Another indication of this kind of memory loss is repeatedly asking for the same info and needing to rely on others to complete previously routine tasks. Difficulty in planning and problem solving. Like taking an unusually long time to complete familiar, simple plans, working with numbers, or following directions (like a recipe), or keeping track of bills. Familiar tasks become challenging. E.g. driving to a familiar location, reciting much used phone numbers, or remembering the rules of a favorite game. Confusion about time or place. Losing track of dates, where you are or how you got there, and not recognizing the general passage of time. Trouble understanding visual cues and spatial relationships. E.g. difficulty with reading, judging distance, or misinterpreting the image in a mirror or a picture on TV. Prevention of AlzheimerвЂ™s: Exercise regularly. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (like a brisk walk) most days of the week. It will increase the blood flow to the brain and can lower the risk of AD by 30 to 50%. Eat Omega-3вЂ™s. Oily fish (like Alaskan wild salmon, sardines, and herring), walnuts, fortified eggs, freshly ground flaxseedsвЂ”all of which are linked with reducing inflammation. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Take certain supplements and vitamins: Vitamin E and C are good choices, as are the BвЂ™s, all of which help lower homocysteine blood levels which puts us at risk for not only AD but heart disease as well. Stay mentally active. Read newspapers, books; do crosswords, dance, play musical instruments, participate in ongoing education, or learn a new language. Keep blood pressure at a low level, preferable 120/80 or less. Maintain low blood cholesterol levels. Maintain a healthy weight. Especially eliminate belly fat. Control Type 2 Diabetes. Stop smoking; drink alcohol only moderately. 11. Get a good nightвЂ™s sleep. 12. Manage stress. 13. Always wear a seat belt or helmet as appropriate. As a general rule, remember that anything that is good for your heart is good for your brain. Betty Sorrentino, RN,MS,CNS,PHN. Parish Nurse for SLO UMC Sources: Dr. Andrew Weil on Healthy Aging; National Institute on Aging; Harvard Health Publications; AlzheimerвЂ™s Associatoin. Page 6 SLOUMC Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church at 1701 Frederick St. will host the acclaimed Cornerstone Chorale and Brass, who are visiting San Luis Obispo as part of their Western USA tour. This is a professional ensemble of singers and instrumentalists who don't merely present beautiful, polished performances, but actually perform a ministry. Through music and word, singing and narration, you will be uplifted by this touring ensemble's amazing gifts. Please come down to Mt. Carmel on October 16 at 7 PM for this wonderful event. Plan on bringing your families and inviting your friends. There will be a free-donation to help with the group's travel expenses. вЂњThe Cornerstone Chorale & Brass, under the direction of Bruce Vantine, offered a program about Judeo-Christian principles of living through the medium of words and music. The Metro-Toledo Churches United sponsored the visit. The idea is intriguingвЂ¦incorporating readings from poets, authors, philosophers, modern politicians, and of course, scripture. The musical selections were varied and arresting, and the choir was immaculately chosen for clarity of individual voices and a good blend. They sang in tune and with conviction. The use of brass, percussion and flute for dramatic accent was great.вЂќ Willa Conrad, music critic The Toledo Blade A SPIRITUAL RETREAT WITH BRIAN MCLAREN The retreat will be held at the Asilomar Conference Grounds on the shoreline of California's famed Monterey Bay on October 24 thru 26, 2014. Come for an unforgettable weekend with the Reverend Brian McLaren, Author of modern spiritual classics such as вЂњA New Kind of ChristianityвЂќ and вЂњWhy Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?вЂќ For details go to hsmretreat.org. BIBLE PROJECT Have you ever wanted to read the Bible before church starts or check out a particular verse during the service? Have you ever looked for a Bible during a meeting? Chances are you didnвЂ™t find one at your fingertips. The вЂњBible ProjectвЂќ is going to change that and you can help. You may donate an extra Bible you may have in your library--or you may wish to donate $20.00 to purchase a Bible. Our goal is to have two Bibles in every row of the Sanctuary and 2 Bibles in every meeting room. Contact the church office for questions and comments. Page 7 SLOUMC San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church The Messenger Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors With great joy we welcome individuals and families of all ages, races, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities to worship together and participate in the ministries of our church. ~Special Host Alert ~ Do you love to host small gatherings? We would like for our newer attenders/ members to get to know our congregation better. We thought a small gathering of about 8 people with some of your church friends and some newer attenders would help in this process. This could be dinner, lunch, dessert, or ??? If this seems like a ministry you would love to do, please email or call Lori in the church office. Thank you so much!! WeвЂ™re on the web www.sloumc.com San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church 1515 Fredericks St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Phone: 805-543-7580 Fax: 805-543-7579 Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 49 San Luis Obispo, CA