THE tOWER Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church July 2014 OUR CHURCH STAFF Rev. Robert J. Weeks Senior Pastor Shawna Hiner Administrative Assistant Sheila Fair Treasurer Joy Tinsley Music Director Linda Toler Organist Rhonda Reeser Pianist Kim Cash Director Children’s Min. Bill & Carolyn Harlow Directors Youth Ministries Travis Chittum Director Young Adult Ministries Phyllis Mauzy Nursery Director Ken & Donna Cason Custodial Staff From the Pastor’s Heart For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. - I Corinthians 1:18 I ran into an old friend at our Virginia UMC Annual Conference this past week. We were talking about family, especially our children and grandchildren scattered about the country, when she shared a reflection from her childhood: “When I was a child,” she began, “our entire family lived within a few miles of each other. Grandparents, aunts, cousins… we practically lived on top of each other.” “That was a problem for me,” she continued, “because every year after Christmas or summer vacation, my school friends would talk about their trips visiting family in Tennessee or Ohio. It sounded so exciting that I begged my grandmother to move away just so I could know the thrill of traveling to visit her.” I listened to my friend’s story and thought about my own childhood feelings of isolation from our extended family in Tennessee and Louisiana; of wishing we could live closer to each other so that our times together weren’t limited to a holiday or two a year. Perspective is a funny thing, isn’t it? One person’s blessing is another’s curse. One sees rain as the wet stuff that ruins a sunny day; another prays for rain to water the garden. One person views distance as the barrier to relationships; another sees it as the source of adventure. Perspective is everything. The apostle Paul said that those who refuse to believe the Gospel see the cross of Christ as an instrument of defeat and shame, judging those who trust in it as fools. That’s one perspective. But for those who stand on the hill of Mount Calvary and see life from the perspective of the cross and the empty tomb, all of history, past and future, takes on a very different hue. So, as heirs who claim to stand on God’s promises, we must ask ourselves: how can we have so much and remain so dissatisfied, so fearful, so incredibly unsure of our future? No generation in two thousand years of church history has had greater resources to study and spread God’s Word. No generation has had greater opportunities to serve in Christ’s name. Yet, we seem to insist on viewing ourselves and our world from a perspective that makes it impossible for us to see things as God seems them? Dr. Elmer Colyer, professor of systematic theology at Dubuque Theological Seminary, told the Virginia UMC Annual Conference this past week that he believes the antidote to our fear lies in the word “connection.” The connection that moves us from our self-imposed, solitary confinement and unites us with God and others. The connection that is a gift from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, renewing our souls and allowing us to see the world as God sees it. What is our perspective as we minister together from our outpost of God’s Kingdom in Verona? Do we recognize the great truth that God owns our lives and our church; pouring out blessing after blessing, not for the sake of our personal comfort, but for the purpose of an all-out assault on the darkness around us? Do we see the world from God’s point of view, as agents of His Kingdom, ambassadors of His Son? Let us pray that God will, as the old Shaker hymn says, “turn us around, ‘til we come ‘round right,” so that we might see the world through his eyes. Page 2 Our Mission WE GLORIFY CHRIST AS WE: REACH PEOPLE AS THEY ARE RELATE THEM TO GOD EQUIP THEM TO SERVE WITH US, AND GO FORTH TO MAKE A HOLY DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD Newsletter Deadline is July 21 Please submit items to Shawna Hiner by date above for the August Newsletter. By phone, 248-7777 or email, [email protected] If you would a copy of Church Council Minutes please contact Shawna in the church office: 248-7777 or [email protected] All meetings except Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) are open to the congregation. News... The Tower Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church Giving Statements (January-June 2014) will be available for pick up on Sundays, July 20 and 27. Statements will not be mailed if not picked up. They are available at anytime upon request. You may call the church office at 248-7777. Vacation Bible School “Thank You” A sincere thank you to all who volunteered their time to make Weird Animals Vacation Bible School a great success! It was a wonderful week for the children of our church and community! Through each of you, they were blessed with wonderful stories, songs, crafts and games that taught them that Jesus Loves Us! Thank you to The Home Builders, Truth Finders in Training, The Seekers, and The New Dimensions Classes and The United Methodist Women and Adult Council that served delicious meals each night! Thanks also to the wonderfully creative decorating crew! The kids loved all of the special touches. A special thanks to the amazing Rachel Lambert and Jordon Brooks for their passionate leadership! It was a week that the children will remember for many, many years! The VBS Children also raised over $170 to send to the Operation Kid to Kid Ministry to provide clean drinking water for children in India! We are so proud of them! God bless you! Kim Cash, Director of Children’s Ministry MEGA SPORTS CAMP “Thank You” Praise God and thanks to the many folks who helped make Verona UMC’s Mega Sports Camp 2014 another awesome experience! Though we only averaged 20 campers this year, the kids and youth really enjoyed their time together learning about God's Game Plan for them! A special thanks to our awesome youth here at VUMC who provided nearly all of the coaching and to Chad Brown for helping us make the connection with Grace Christian School coaches and athletes. They led a great soccer camp and we were so blessed by them joining us! Each and every coach shared their knowledge and the love of Christ with great enthusiasm! It was wonderful to witness! God Bless You! Kim Cash, Director of Children’s Ministry Summer Children’s Church Begins Miss A Sunday? Pastor Bob’s sermons are online. Go to www.veronaumc.com and check it out! You can also receive weekly announcements by email. Call 248-7777 Hallie Robinson (a college student and Verona UMC member) is offering to provide our kindergarten through elementary-age children with a music-based children’s church throughout the remainder of the summer. The program will be offered in The Open Door classroom during both Sunday morning worship services immediately after Pastor Bob’s children’s message. Rev. Jeff Allen to Assist with Visitation Beginning July 1st, retired pastor Jeff Allen will assist Pastor Bob Weeks with visits to our congregation’s members whose living and health situations limit their attendance at church activities and worship services. Rev. Allen served a number of United Methodist churches in Virginia before his retirement in 2012. He and his wife Susan have been active in our congregation for almost two years. They are members of our 8:30 a.m. worship choir and volunteer with our food pantry. The Tower Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church Page 3 More News... The Nurture Work Area Between Services Coffee Time The following groups/teams/classes are scheduled for hosting Coffee/Fellowship time a Sunday in July into early August. Information and instructions are posted on back of first cabinet door in the kitchen. If there are questions/concerns please contact Sue MacTavish, Chair Nurture Work Area. July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 Open Door Rebecca Circle Worship Team Home Builders Witness Team Petal Pushers Esther Circle Salt & Peppers News Corner For anyone with a little “salt and pepper” in their hair! Then Sings My Soul A day trip (8:30 am – 7:00 pm) to the Wohlfarht Haus Dinner Theater in Wytheville, VA on Tuesday, July 15th. For those who have not paid their deposit, the balance of $20.00, is due by July 1st . We will maintain our waiting list, but have not had any cancellations up to this point. We will be going to see “Moses” at the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, PA on September 25th. As of right now, we have 12 people planning to attend which will lower the cost of the trip. If we do not need to rent a van, the projected cost is as follows: $50/Person -Ticket to Moses $62/Person – Best Western Hotel; Full Breakfast incl. $20/Person - Transportation to Lancaster, PA $132/Person – Lunch and Dinner are not included Coffee Time: We are looking for additional new groups/teams/classes/families/couples to add to the Coffee Time list – If you are willing to do this about 4 times a year (or even once a year) please contact Sue MacTavish at 248-3607. Wanted: Sunday School Teachers We Need Adults to work with our Sunday School at all age levels – Please contact Children’s Director Kim Cash or Sue MacTavish. The Nurture Work Area will meet on Tuesday, July 8th at 6:30 pm in room 141. Our Audio-Visual Team Needs You! Our Sunday morning rotation of volunteers to operate our projection and audio systems during worship is in need of additional team members. No experience is needed—training will be provided. If you have a heart to serve in this very important way, please contact Shawna in the church office at 248-7777. Food Pantry Donations Assist local families in need of food! On the First Sunday of each month we have a special collection for items for our church food pantry. Collection boxes are located at both entrances to the sanctuary. You can also leave items at any time during the month. Some items needed: personal toiletry items, tuna, canned fruit, beets, potatoes, sauerkraut, and collards. – We will be glad to add spots until July 1st. Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to attend. Again, the cost may increase a little bit if we need to rent a van. A $50 deposit is due at the time of notification with the balance due by August 15th. Mark Your Calendar: July 1 – Deposit of $50 due: Trip to PA July 1 - Balance of $20 due: “Then Sings My Soul” July 15 – Trip to Wytheville: “Then Sings My Soul” August 15 – Balance due for PA trip August 21 - Lunch-Wood Grill (Harrisonburg) 12pm September 25 – Trip to Lancaster, PA to see Moses For more info. on any of the above events contact one of the following: Carolyn Anson- 294-2061 / Faye Wills-234-9410 / Laura Gurkin- 887-2889 Let’s Play Ball! Enjoy a night with the Staunton Braves at Church Family Night with the Braves on Sunday, July 20th. FREE TICKETS are available at Coffman Funeral Home located at 230 Frontier Dr. Staunton. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.—5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 8:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. on Sat. Phone: 887-8111 William S. Coffman, Owner/President of Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory Page 4 The Tower Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church “Where two or three are gathered in His name...” Graduate Pictures ... there He is also. We invite you to join us for weekly prayer meetings for our church on these dates: In Pastor Bob’s Office: In Golden Deeds Room: Monday, July 7 at 9 AM Monday, July 14 at 9 AM Monday, July 21 at 9 AM Monday, July 28 at 9 AM Wed., July 2 at 6 PM Wed., July 9 at 6 PM Wed., July 16 at 6 PM Wed., July 23 at 6 PM Wed., July 30 at 6 PM “No one has ever become poor by giving.” Anne Frank (1929-1945) Kits for Conference While The Virginia UMC Annual Conference in Hampton (6/20-22) was held for many purposes: reports, voting, commissionings and ordinations, etc., this annual meeting of over 4,000 UMC clergy and laity also offers the opportunity for our churches to helps persons in need all over the world. Thank you to all our Verona members who donated kits for our Virginia UMC Annual Conference donated money for school kits. VUMC’s Totals: kHe al th Kits 16 kBedd ing Kits 2 kR ebec c a Circ le sent $ 12 5 di rec tl y to c onf ere nce f or k it s Thank you to everyone who shared pictures of their graduates for our bulletin board. Photos may be picked up in the office after July 1st. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” James 5:16 Prayer is one of basic disciplines of the church but often we fail to make time for it. When I let the discipline of prayer slip away, I feel my faith weakening and the enemy of my soul attacking. One solution is to commit to gather and pray with others. I have been encouraged in the last year by those joining me in prayer on Wednesday night. Starting in July, the Prayer Room (Golden Deeds Sunday School Room) will be open from 6-7:30 p.m. We will be placing a prayer board in the room that individuals can place requests on during the week. I invite each of you to consider coming and praying. You can come for ten minutes or and hour. You can pray silently or verbalize your prayers. If you need prayer for finances, relationships, healing or anything else ask and we will anoint you with oil and lay hands on you and seek God. Many times we suffer because we do not seek God. For our lives and the life of the church, we need to seek Jesus, the one who can change us. Paul said “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God” (I Thess. 5:17-18). Grace and Peace to each of you, Dick Watson, Spiritual Formation & Growth Page 5 JULY YOUTH EVENTS Thursday, July 3, 6:30 p.m.—Youth Dinner and pack the trailer, BRMH Saturday, July 5, 3:00 a.m.—Youth Mission Team leaves for Danville, IL Saturday, July 12—Youth Mission Team returns from Danville, IL Sunday, July 13, 8:30 and 11 a.m. services—Youth Mission Team will share about their trip On behalf of the whole Youth Mission Team we would like to thank everyone for their continued financial support to allow us to attend this mission trip. We look forward to sharing with you some fun moments, life changing moments, and some God sightings with you on Sunday, July 13, 2014. Please keep all of the youth in our prayers as we set out for Danville, Illinois. Bill and Carolyn Harlow up is for o r G h t u o Y g ra d e s . h t 2 1 h t 6 RIEND! F A G N I R B oordinators C th u o Y r Ou arlow. Carolyn H 75 & l il B re a 5 m at 578-5 Reach the uestions. with any q Children’s Musical Extravaganza Thursday, July 10 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Choir Room Theme: The Gypsies (Roma People) To sign up, call the church office at 248-7777 (Lunch provided) Get Ready for our Annual Fall Festival Saturday, October 4, 2014 Contact Lisa Glover with ideas or activities by phone: 540-248-3379 or email: [email protected] -Rebecca Circle will host the Bake Sale -Apple Dumpling Gang will make Apple Dumplings Proceeds will benefit mission projects. Page 6 The Tower Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church VERONA UMW Remember your Prayer Partner N ot a m em m e – L b er ? C o m e see ab o u t e t m e t el l you h ow G r e at it be a U W o m a nit e d Me t h is to od n July 25 – 27 Weekend Mission Encounter (School of Christian Mission) BlackV er o n – S u e M ac T i s t a UM a W P r e vis h , stone (registration deadline July 13) s i d en t July 28-30 Weekday Mission Encounter - Blackstone (registration deadline July 13) Please note our upcoming events: Sept. 6 – Unit Executive and Circle leaders meeting – 10:00 am room 146 Sept. 14 – Unit Meeting – Library 9:45 am – Pledge Service Program & Candle burning Sept. 19-20 Conference Young Women’s Retreat (ages 18-35) Sept. 20 – District Prayer Breakfast – 9 am at Furnace UMC –See Circle leaders or Sue for a registration form Our UMW Circle Meetings: Elizabeth – meets 3rd Monday, 7:00 pm at Church – Pat Forester, Chair Esther – meets 3rd Monday, 7:00 pm in homes – Linda Garber and Bev VanLear, Co-Chairs Rebecca -- meets 2nd Saturday, 10:00 am at Church – Gayle Meeks, Chair We Celebrate OUR SUCCESS! We had a truly wonderful UMW Sunday with Rev. Don Edwards. Thank you to all the ladies who helped with Greeting, Scripture, Ushers, etc. The entire morning was a wonderful, meaningful worship experience. We Plan for THE FUTURE! The Verona Unit UMW has taken the goal of raising $3200 to send our Verona Young Adult Ministries Director, Travis Chittum, to Hungary on mission trip with Ken and Lindy Carty to Serve the Roma of Europe. Backpacks for Braves Verona UMW Local Mission Project The Tower Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church Page 7 Mission Trip to the Roma of Hungary The Roma Of Europe – Specifically the Roma of Hungary – are a marginalized minority – they are people to need to see and feel God’s Love. We heard about them from Missionaries Linda and Ken Carty in March and now we want to do something! The Carty’s lead a mission trip to this village every August. The Verona Unit of UMW wants to help and we have decided that a start will be to sponsor at least one person on their mission trip next year (in August 2015). The UMW feels that Travis Chittum, our Director of Young Adult Ministries, is just the person to sponsor. So we are trying to raise $3,200 to send Travis to Hungary! If you can help – it would be Greatly Appreciated – Please make you check out to Verona UMW, mark “Roma Mission Trip” in the memo line and give to Sue MacTavish or Betty Sutton. Thanks! Sue MacTavish, Verona UMW President Musical Notes from Joy CHOIR SCHEDULE 8:30 Choir Practice will end Wednesday, June 25 Choir will sit in the choir loft through July On vacation through August 11:00 Choir Practice will end Wednesday, July 23 On vacation through August We need special music for July and August You may call Joy Tinsley at 487-0410 or sign up below and turn into the church office. 8:30 Service July 6 Larry Mauzy July 13________________________ July 20________________________ July 27________________________ 8:30 Service August 3_______________________ August 10 Larry Mauzy August 17_______________________ August 24_______________________ August 31_______________________ 11:00 Service August 3_______________________ August 10_______________________ August 17_______________________ August 24_______________________ August 31_______________________ The Tower Newsletter of Verona United Methodist Church Page 8 Notes of Sincere Appreciation Thelma Smith Patsy Dastoli Willie Lockridge Wilmer Smith Donald Smith Ronald Smith Margaret Helmick Howard Rexrode Charles Cook Earl Shifflett Inez Fultz Bill Gordon Ray Smith Dot Hess Earl Morris Harle Jackson Becky Reeser May Alexander Frances Johnson Amelia Link Don McFaden Caroline McFaden Glen Sutton Louise Roadcap Elijah Smith Roger Moats Tammy Woods Farris Gwin Wade Weeks Larry Staples Doris Long Mary Jane Ayres June Hill Joy Tinsley My sincere appreciate to VUMC for honoring me at the 11:00 service with your kind words and beautiful flowers. It was thoughtful of you to do this and a complete surprise but God gets the honor, glory and praise. Doris Thompson Thanks so much to the Rebecca Circle for fixing supper for our youth one Sunday in April and two Sundays in May. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Lisa Glover, Age-Level Coordinator Thank you so much for the Bible and Amazon gift cards. It was kind of you to think of me. Sincerely, Taylor Marcum Thank you so much for your generosity in giving me $20 for Amazon and a Bible for graduation. Both will be very useful as I begin a new chapter in life at Eastern Mennonite University. Sincerely, Morgan Chestnut Thank you for partnering with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Your gift of $77.87 was received for Disaster Response. Roland Fernandes, General Treasurer UMCOR Thank you for your participation in the Stride for Life. Verona UMC raised $350 for women and babies in our community. Sommer Hansen, ComfortCare Women’s Health There are three things that remain— faith, hope, and love— and the greatest of these is love. Our Christian Love and Sympathy are extended to Grayson Broce and family in the loss of his wife, Jean Sheets Broce. Our Christian Love and Sympathy are extended to Ruth Knott in the loss of her sister-in-law, Mary Armstrong. The Sunday Evening Pastor’s Bible Study will begin again on September 7th at 6 p.m. The group will continue with the second half of “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.” Infant to Youth (S-M-L) Sat. Aug. 2, 7:00 a.m. - Noon, BRMH Sponsored by the Esther Circle Proceeds will be given to UMW Missions MORE DONATIONS ARE NEEDED! We are accepting: clothing, shoes, toys, books, lunch boxes/bags, baby items, school book bags (all in good, clean condition). We will be storing items in the basement of the Food Pantry. Call the following persons to arrange for drop off: Teresa Tutwiler 540-435-2456, Linda Garber 540248-5875 or Peggy Jones 540-290-6903. Car Seat Safety Checks/Inspections will be provided by someone from Augusta County Fire & Rescue. Page 9 Verona UMC Calendar of Events - July 2014 7/2 6:00pm TOPS, RM 143AB 7/20 8:00pm AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 6:00pm Evening Prayer Meeting, Golden Deeds 7/21 9:00am 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm Prayer Meeting, Pastor’s Office Fellow. Hall/AV Sound Booth Sub Comm., RM 146 Elizabeth Circle, RM 144 Esther Circle, Church Social Hall Church Council, RM 146 6:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 9:00am 6:30pm 6:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm TOPS, RM 143AB Evening Prayer Meeting, Golden Deeds 11:00 Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 Prayer Meeting, Pastor’s Office Stephen Ministry TOPS, RM 143AB Evening Prayer Meeting, Golden Deeds AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 6:30pm 11:00 Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 8:00pm AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 7/3 6:30pm Youth Mission Dinner & Pack Trailer, BRMH 7:00pm Trustee’s, RM 146 7/4 OFFICE CLOSED FOR JULY 4 7/5-7/12 YOUTH MISSION TRIP TO DANVILLE, IL 7/6 8:00pm AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 7/7 9:00am Prayer Meeting, Pastor’s Office 7:00pm Vision Team Meeting, RM 146 7/8 6:30pm Nurture Meeting, RM 141 7/9 6:00pm TOPS, RM 143AB 7/22 7/23 7/27 7/28 7/29 7/30 6:00pm Evening Prayer Meeting, Golden Deeds 6:30pm 11:00 Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 8:00pm AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 7/10 11:00am Children’s Musical Extravaganza, Choir Room 7/12 10:00am Rebecca Circle-RM 146 7/13 8:00pm AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 7/14 9:00am Prayer Meeting, Pastor’s Office Worship Services held each Sunday at 8:30 and 11 am with Sunday School at 10 am 7:00pm Daycare Board Meeting 7/15 7/16 Salt & Peppers Trip to Wytheville Our Administrative Assistant, Shawna Hiner will be on vacation July 5-12. 6:00pm TOPS, RM 143AB 6:00pm Evening Prayer Meeting, Golden Deeds 6:30pm 11:00 Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 8:00pm AA , RM 302 & AL-ANON, RM 103 7/1 Kyle VanLear 7/8 Wesley Harris 7/15 Rita Austin 7/9 Roz Carper 7/16 Brian Myers Peggy Horisk Barbara Dedrick 7/17 Dustin Dedrick Mark Chestnut Sally VanLear 7/18 7/10 John Rehm Kirk Wagner 7/2 Scott Maynard 7/3 Linda Alexander 7/5 7/11 7/12 Louise Fultz 7/23 Michael Dawson Shawna Hiner Bill Mayle 7/24 Eddie Lambert Betty Fitzgerald Ray Smith 7/25 Tom Sailer 7/26 Pat Huff Brian Gingerich 7/19 Logan Bean Linda Smith 7/20 Ramona Jackson Dennis Porter Tom Upton Corny Wills Corieta Smith Laura Rohrer Darryl Blackburn Teresa Blum 7/27 Stephanie Wiseman Jack Wine Stephanie Sackett Betty Lamm 7/28 Peggy Tutwiler 7/13 Ginny Bauman Gail Smith Jean May Earl Morris Lindsay Shifflett Jed Alger Rebecca Austin Greg VanLear 7/29 Mindy Hickman Bryan Wills Jessica Blosser Pattie Smiley 7/31 RC Moyers Mary Jane Ayers Chris Broce Gloria Ward Justin Rexrode Jean Bean Corey Chestnut 7/7 Doris Long James Pugh Rose Armstrong 7/6 7/22 Laura Gurkin 7/14 7/21 Jonathan Toman Verona United Methodist Church P.O. Box 47 - 406 Lee Highway Verona, VA 24482-0047 Return Service Requested Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Staunton, Virginia Permit No. 444 Staying in touch: Church Phone #’s : Church Website: 540/248-7777 Fax 540/248-2243 www.veronaumc.com Senior Pastor: Pastor’s Study: Email: Rev. Bob Weeks 540/248-7778 [email protected] Sunday Schedule: Worship Fellowship Time Sunday School Worship 8:30 a.m. 9:30-10 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. NER R O K KID’S Page 10
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