HUFFMAN NEWS
Please Note: This issue of the Huffman newsletter was mailed at the St. Joseph, MO
Post Office on Tuesday, July 16, 2013.
Bi-Weekly
July 15, 2013
Huffman Memorial United Methodist Church
2802 Renick Street, St. Joseph, MO 64507
Office: (816) 233-0239 Fax: (816) 233-5427
From Our Pastor
Youth Summer Mission Trip
Colorado Springs, CO - July 21-26
Final preparations are underway for our YOUTH who will be
traveling to Colorado for their mission work in the mountains.
While there, they will be helping to restore areas devastated by
last year's fires as well as working in a local food bank.
Please keep Sarah and the Youth in your thoughts and
prayers as they journey to and from Colorado and while they
serve in that community.
IMAGINE ELEVEN
Felix Square
6:30pm
If you haven’t had a chance to experience this Christian Concert series,
be sure to attend starting this Sunday.
Remaining performances:
July 21 - Paul Clark
July 28 - Never Blue Avenue
August 4 - The St. Joe Jazz All Stars
Fantastic summertime food and beverages will be available.
Dear Church Family:
Vocation is a word that gets at this idea. … Vocation isn’t merely about what job
we have but about whom God has created us to be in this world. Vocation conveys the
notion that God has designs on us and has placed us within this world to work for its
flourishing in concert with our own. In writing about vocation, Frederick Buechner
says, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the
world’s deep hunger meet.” (Jan Richarson, In the Sanctuary of Women, from Upper Room
Reflections)
Finding and practicing your vocation is essential the fulfillment of God’s creative
vision for us and it provides joy and peace to our lives. Some are fortunate and able to
match vocation and occupation. Others find their joy and peace by volunteering at
already established “jobs” or by following God to develop new places where their “deep
gladness meets the world’s hunger”.
Huffman UMC includes several ministry/mission groups that allow people to
practice their vocation; choirs, instrumentalists, singers, ushers, audio/media technicians
help us worship. Teachers lead Sunday School Classes and Small Groups. Ministry
outside our walls includes Parkway Partners, Open Door Food Kitchen, Visitation,
Sewing, Scouting, UpWards, Habitat for Humanity, and others. Watch for opportunities to try one on. You can make a difference by showing others what difference Jesus
makes to you.
Jesus tells his Disciples that they are in the world to serve and not to be served.
Christian Disciples are servants. Today we talk about being producers of ministry, not
only consumers of ministry. Huffman UMC’s mission is to help form disciples for Jesus Christ. You are Huffman UMC. We are Huffman UMC.
Do you see a need in our community and have an idea that would provide some
relief? Come talk to me. Huffman UMC is a great group of people that God has
positioned to make a difference.
In Christ’s Love…..Gary
PERFORMANCES FOR WORSHIP
Serena Loving invites anyone who would like to perform special
music during the 10:45 worship service through the end of August
(vocal &/or instrumental). Sophia Loving joined us on July14 singing
“On Eagles Wings”. Please contact Serena Loving at (816) 6175964, or the church office at (816 233-0239) if you would like to provide special
music on one of the remaining Sundays through August.
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
We are still in need of teachers as well as assistants for the children on August 11.
To volunteer, please sign up at either Welcome Center. Thank you to those who have
already signed up to help teaching our little ones.
VISITING OUR HOMEBOUND
Each month this group take time out of their schedule to visit our homebound members.
To be sure each member can be visited, they need more volunteers. Please prayerfully
consider joining them. Participants will meet in the library for a short meeting
before heading out for visitation (Monday, July 22 at 1pm). For more information,
please contact Mary Crawford (816 324-4986) or Sue Kieffer (816 424-3561).
COOKIES NEEDED
Reminder: Huffman volunteers will serve at the Open Door Food Kitchen on Friday, July
26. We are still in need of cookies to serve on that day. Home-made cookies are great, but
all cookies would be appreciated. If you would like to donate cookies, they may be dropped
off in the church office or the Enrichment Center kitchen any time. Thank you for those
who have already brought in cookies.
SEWING MISSION TEAM
This group will begin meeting again on July 31. They meet every Wednesday in
Enrichment Center room 208 at 1:30pm. They would love for you to come join them.
There are plenty of sewing machines available.
TACKLING HUNGER
The first Sunday of each month Huffman’s congregants bring food donations to the
church for Calvin Center’s Food Pantry. This program helps provide much needed
nourishment to individuals and families in our community. This month, a total of 117
food donations and $30 in monetary donations were collected.
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Soles for Christ
Shoe Program
2013
This program provides a new pair of shoes to school-age children at the beginning
of the school year, which boosts the child’s self-esteem and enthusiasm for school and to
aid many parents who struggle to afford new shoes and other costs associated with the
beginning of the school year. For some families, the shoes provided by this program are
the only new shoes their children ever receive.
Since 2003, more than 6,640 pairs of shoes were given to area children and Soles
for Christ has grown into a joint effort between the agency and several churches in the
St. Joseph area. This year’s event will be held August 12 & 13
Donations of new tennis shoes would be greatly appreciated. To donate or to
volunteer your services for this event, please call 816 364-1131 or come to 120 N 6th St.
AFL-CIO
Community Services
1203 N Sixth St.
The Community Clothes Closet is a place where members of the community can
shop for affordable clothing, furniture, electronics and household goods. Here, shoppers
will find a wide range of new and gently used merchandise that will complement both
their home and wardrobe.
The program also presents an opportunity for prospective donors to reallocate items
in good condition that are no longer in use. Not only are donations fully tax-deductible,
they are also put to good use because items are distributed to other community members
who need them. Since 2011, the Community Clothes Closet has had the opportunity to
reallocate 51,453 items back into the community.
Donations can be made anytime during our normal business hours, Monday through
Saturday. Pick-ups are available on Wednesdays and can be scheduled by contacting our
office at (816) 364-1131.We also require the assistance of volunteers on a regular basis.
Those wishing to volunteer their time will also earn $6 merchandise credit for every
hour volunteered.
CALENDAR TIME!
Got A Camera?
Many of us carry mobile phones with camera apps almost
everywhere we go. When you’re at an event and see another Huffman UMC Christian doing something amazing
or interesting or smiling or just being so darn cute, snap a
picture and email it to [email protected] In
particular we’d like pictures if you’re doing something with
one of our ministry/mission groups. We won’t publish any
names, but maybe we’ll pass long the wonderful faces of
people enjoying life and doing great things and any
location information you send along.
The Triple M Sunday School Class is now taking orders for their 64th
year of the calendar fundraiser. Be sure to get your birthday and anniversary dates published. A class member(s) will be in the Narthex Sunday
mornings: July 21 and 28 to take your orders. Your previous personal
order forms will be available in the Narthex. You may make any changes
that you wish. Calendars are $4.50 and each listing is 25¢, the same great
bargain as last year. All orders must be placed by August 11. The class
appreciates your continued support of this project.
WI-FI AT HUFFMAN
For anyone who would like to use Wi-Fi throughout the church and/or Enrichment
Center: We now have it password protected. Log in with: Huff2802. The password
will be changed periodically and we will post the new password at that time.
THANK YOU NOTE
Dear pastor Gary and friends at Huffman UMC
Open Letter to Our Church Family
Thank you for letting us come and worship with you last Sunday. We love to sing
praises to our Lord and Savior. Please extend our appreciation for the generous love
offering. We will use it wisely!
Also, thank you for the great meal after the service. Please thank those who worked
so hard to prepare it! We ask God’s blessing on each one of you.
Date: July 8, 2013
Sincerely,
The New Generation Singers
Update from Reagan Yoho-Bartram
As of this moment after review my current MRI’S, CAT SCANS, and EEG results --I am aneurism free. The chemo shrunk the aneurism on my brain stem and I am now
getting proper blood flow through that vessel and the “bowing” of the vessel has shrunk
back down the way it is supposed to be. The ONLY life altering brain damage I have
from the original 14 hour emergency surgery for the ruptured aneurism is that I am now
an epileptic. This was caused by the scar tissue that developed on my brain from that
surgery. The seizures are under control with medication. The doctors are going to keep
a close eye on me with scans over the next 12 months but I am fine as of right now.
“Thank you” everyone from the bottom of my heart for the prayers, cards, letters, and
phone calls through the last 4 months!!
Monday morning
Dear Church Family,
On behalf of the entire family I am going to sit down and try and express our
sincerest thanks to all of you for your continuous support over the past 22 days. We
know that God is alive in all of your lives as we are the recipients of the continuous
prayer from all of you. It was a shock to us when Isaac had his accident and what
seemed to be the world turned upside down soon became a haven of support from all
of you. Each of you have been Christ to us as you have come forward and shared our
yolk and made it easy to care for our child.
Yesterday, in church, it was difficult for me to express the love that you have
shared with us as a family and as individuals has brought us through the tragedy and
have strengthened our faith to bear the pain and enabled us to see that God is working
to ease this burden as we go forward. All the old clichés are true that the love of God
will lighten the load and dry your tears of pain. The tears we now shed are not tears of
pain but tears of overwhelming joy to know that we are a part of each of your thoughts.
We cannot express the love we have for all of you in any terms except it is great love
that surpasses understanding. Thank you, Huffman Church, for being there for all of
us.
Blessings-Roger, Donna & Isaac
ON THE CALENDAR
Honors/Memorial
July 7 and 14, 2013
SUNDAY, July 21 - Youth/Mission Trip
8:30 am Chapel
9:30 am Celebration Service (Sanctuary)
9:30 am Sunday School (10:40 & 10:45)
10:45 am Classic Service
3:00 pm Ellis’ Anniversary Celebration (E.C.)
MONDAY, July 22
9:00 am Exercise/Walk (E.C. gym)
1:00 pm Visitation (Library)
6:00 pm Girl Scouts (E.C.)
6:30 pm Cub Scouts (Daycare area)
TUESDAY, July 23
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
2:00 pm Prayer group
7:00 pm Scouts Troop 6 (Daycare area)
WEDNESDAY, July 24
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
9:30 am UMW Mission U (Fayette)
THURSDAY, July 25
8:00 am Prepare for Open Door (E.C.)
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
1:00 pm Martha Fellowship (Library)
3:16 pm Prayer Connection (Everywhere)
FRIDAY, July 26
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
9:30 am Serve at Open Door Food Kitchen
MONDAY, July 29
9:00 am Exercise/Walk (E.C. gym)
6:00 pm Girl Scouts (E.C.)
6:30 pm Cub Scouts (Daycare area)
TUESDAY, July 30
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
2:00 pm Prayer group
7:00 pm Scouts Troop 6 (Daycare area)
WEDNESDAY, July 31
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
1:30 pm Mission Sewing (E-208)
7:00 pm CLAY (Youth room)
THURSDAY, August 1
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
3:16 pm Prayer Connection (Everywhere)
FRIDAY, August 2
9:00 am Walk (E.C. gym)
SATURDAY, August 3 (no activities)
SUNDAY, August 4
COMMUNION / FOOD PANTRY
8:30 am Chapel
9:30 am Celebration Service (Sanctuary)
9:30 am Sunday School (10:40 & 10:45)
10:45 am Classic Service
SATURDAY, July 27
3:00 pm Private party/Chandler (E.C.)
SUNDAY, July 28
8:30 am Chapel
9:30 am Celebration Service (Sanctuary)
9:30 am Sunday School (10:40 & 10:45)
10:45 am Classic Service
11:30 am Private party/Hutchison-Mix
Worship Attendances
July 7– 126
July 14 - 138
In Memory of:
For the:
Virginia McCormick
Given by:
Bill & Mary Taube
Robin Durr
Jane Jones
Guy Harden
Fred & Glenna Knapp
Patrick Cargill PC
Larry & Cheryl Morrow
Elaura Richard
Gary & Diane Carter
Marjorie Wheeler
June Swift
Undesignated
Undesignated
Undesignated
Undesignated
Budget
Undesignated
Undesignated
Undesignated
Open Door
Apportionments
Open Door
Earl & Eleanor Gifford
Given by Kent & Barbara Thomas
Undesignated
Vera Simmons
Given by Triple M S.S. Class
Open Door
Sue Hendren
Given by Julie Hendren
Undesignated
Recently in Hospital
Howard Propheter was treated at
Heartland this past week. Jim Loveless
underwent surgery at Heartland for a
brain bleed resulting from a fall and
other complications that have followed. Larry Lent had his appendix
removed, and remained at the hospital
with pancreatitis. Mary Baker underwent an out-patient procedure recently.
Continue Prayers
Lowell Hutchison, Mandy Culp, Bob
Riddle, Marjorie Wheeler, Rose
Kieffer, Janet Loveless, Marilyn
Bartels, Marcella Morris, Mary Baker,
Mary Nelson, Julie Edwards, Joe
DeHart, Jim Wood, Doris Munsell,
Bob & Shirley Rankin, Fred Knapp,
Mike Novak, Jane Jones, Charlene
Haley, Helen Hendra, Ralph & Linda
Roach, Glenna Knapp, Jean DeHart,
Sid Clark, Rose Lawrence, Phyllis
Zirkle, Larry Lent, Don Hood, Janet
Stitt, River Steinman, Opal Sloan,
Janet Ellis, Ida Scott, Teresa Sloan.
In Honor of:
Lanny & Janet Ellis
(50th Wedding Anniversary)
Given by:
Jane Jones
Jay & Betty Adams
Undesignated
Van Fund
Larry & Linda DeShon
(50th Wedding Anniversary)
Given by Jay & Betty Adams
Van Fund
John & Kathy Reese
Given by Jane Jones
Undesignated
Loss of Church Member
Virginia McCormick passed away on
July 4. Services were held here at
Huffman on July 10. Please keep her
family in your prayers.
Huffman UMC will continue to
accepting donations to help with
Isaac Unruh's medical and rehabilitation expenses. If you would like to
make a donation, please mark it
“Huffman UMC for Isaac”.