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JULY 2014
VOLUME 50
NUMBER 7
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
WEB SITE: WWW.UNITEDCHURCHLA.ORG
TELEPHONE(505-662-2971) FAX (505-662-5927)
All Church Camp
Contents
It is a fantastic way to experience warmth, hospitality,
friendship, and spiritual growth. You'll connect and
make many new friends! Folks may choose their
accommodations. For many at our church, this is one of
Pastor
2&3
Women’s
Retreat 4
Grief
Group
the best weekends of the year. See brochure enclosed.
Ranches
Vacation Bible School
is a place where the
young and not-soyoung people of our
faith come to sing,
dance, and learn about God
and Jesus through Bible stories. We have
the most wonderful staff and fantastic snacks! But
most of all you will love the new friends you will make here
at The United Church during VBS. We offer programs for children
age 4 through Grade 6. Teens are the leaders. Jesus said, "Let the
children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of
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Change for
Change 5
Prayers
6
Lunch
Bunch 6
Birthdays 7
Missions
8
Women’s
Groups
Funnies
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9
Love
Vitamins 10
Keith
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heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). We love your
Vbs
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children and what they offer our community, so we have prepared
Calendar 12
the most awesome program for them in the summer! See page 11
From the Pastor…
Position Changes for Pastors
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This July marks an important time in the life of The United Church.
Beginning July 1st, Kathleen Logan will move from serving this
congregation as a full-time pastor to part-time (around 24 hours per
week). Having served this congregation faithfully since 1997, Kathleen
has decided to work fewer days and hours. She will continue to be our
Pastor for Membership Enrichment and focus on Christian Education for
the church. This will include working with the Christian Education Board
to oversee our Sunday School classes for all ages, teaching, leading small
groups, providing education for children at T.F.F.N. (Thursday Faith and
Family Night), pastoral care and being a staff resource to the Mission and
Service Board. She will also continue to provide worship leadership up to
two times a month. As you know, she will continue to bring excellent
leadership and skill to her responsibilities.
There will, however, be some significant changes to Kathleen’s
position. Because of her decreased hours she will be available to provide
pastoral care on a more limited basis. Christian Education takes time
and work, as her primary responsibility. She will continue to visit people
in the hospital, home and in her office-- but on a more limited basis. The
Personnel Board and I have assured Kathleen that her limited hours will
be respected and kept. The other noticeable change in her position is
her office hours during a typical week. She will be keeping office hours
on Monday and Tuesday.
Although Kathleen’s hours will decrease, her commitment and
passion for ministry has not and will not. We are grateful for her
continued pastoral service as she moves into this new time here at The
United Church.
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Another important position change for the congregation is Keith Lewis’ title
and responsibilities. Keith will be the Pastor for Congregational and Youth
Ministries. He will continue to work with the children at TFFN on Thursdays,
work with Senior-high youth and the Mexico Mission Trip, share in leading
worship services, and work with the Christian Education Board. One of his
primary responsibilities is to lead our Mid-high youth group. We have a good
group of children beginning middle school this fall and we’re excited about
having a wonderful youth program for them. Keith will also be more available
for providing pastoral care each week. We are grateful for the talent he brings
as a pastor and for his friendship and care to people of all ages within the
congregation and community.
Pastoral Care
If you would like to get in touch with one of the pastors, please call the
church office at 662-2971, Monday – Friday between 8:30 – 4:30 a.m., to let
us know about a hospitalization, to speak with one of us by phone, or to set up
a visit. You can also reach us through email or cell phone:
David Elton
505-662-7209 home
979-219-8640 cell
[email protected]
Keith Lewis
505-412-9954cell
[email protected]
Kathleen Logan
505-231-1314 cell
[email protected].
Weekly Word
If you would like to receive a weekly email about the upcoming Sunday
worship service, Scripture reading or event, please email the church office at
[email protected] or [email protected] and simply write:
“Weekly Word”.
Grace and Peace,
David
SAVE THE DATE:
Women’s Retreat
on October 10-12
Sonlight Christian Camp is
again the setting for our annual
Women’s Retreat. If you like
good food (allergies can be
accommodated), relaxation,
opportunities to hike, bike or shop,
time talking with other women,
new ideas to explore or old ones to
revisit, this event is for you. Join
us and bring a friend.
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Grief Ministry
“Let my hidden weeping arise and
blossom.”—Rainer Marie Rilke
We often use the terms “grief” and
“mourning” interchangeably but they are
really two connected but different things.
Grief is composed of the inner thoughts and
feelings we have when someone dies;
mourning is the outward expression of that
grief. Healing begins when we choose to
turn our grief into mourning. One way to be
supported in this effort is to become part of
a grief group.
Grief is an intensely personal experience,
but those who grieve share many
commonalities. Everyone’s grief is unique:
no two people will grieve and therefore
mourn in the same way. The purpose of a
grief group is to provide an opportunity for
people to learn about their own unique
journey into grief. It is an opportunity to talk
about the variety of emotional, physical,
spiritual, and social responses experienced
by those who grieve. It is an opportunity to
be supported.
A new grief group is forming at The United
Church. This group is open to all members of
the church as well as to people from the
community. Your loss need not be recent. If
others are saying or acting as if you should
“be over it by now”, or you are saying this to
yourself, this group can be helpful. If you or
someone you know would like to participate,
please let Pastor Logan know so enough
materials can be prepared.
The group will begin on July 7th and run
through September 15th. Participants will
meet in the CE Building Lounge on Monday
evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. If you are
interested but the day or time is not
convenient speak with Pastor Logan.
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Birthday Celebration
The United Church has
supported the New Mexico Boys
and Girls Ranches for many years.
We are pleased to announce that
they will be celebrating their 70th
anniversary on Saturday, July 26.
The Missions Board will be taking a
van to Belen to join the 70th
celebration. Would you like to join
us? The cost for gas will be shared
and lunch will be at the Ranches. If
you would like to join us please call
the church office (662-2971) by
Pizza Please
“Change for Change"
Many of you have heard the clinking
of coins as they are placed in the
offering plate each Sunday. What
you are hearing is change for the
change in our high school youth's
lives. Every Thursday, during the high
school lunch hour (11:15-11:45) Keith
has provided a pizza lunch complete
with sodas to our high school
students from the trunk of his car. He
feeds anywhere from 8 students to as
many as 18 each time. Most
students are from our church, Mexico
Mission campers or just someone
July 20th. Space is limited to 14
that needs a lunch and a listening
passengers. To find out more about
ear. Keith uses pizza and sodas as
the Ranches and the 70th
an opportunity to touch base with our
celebration go to their web site at
students and develop the trust
www.theranches.org. If you can’t
needed for a caring relationship.
participate in the celebration but
School is out but the pizza lunches
would like to give a monetary gift
please make your check out to the
United Church with the memo:
missions/Ranches and submit it by
July 20.
will continue through the summer
months in Craig Hall. Please know
that when you transfer the change
from your pocket to plate YOU are
making Change for Change!
Please continue to hold these persons
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in your prayers during the month of JULY
HOMEBOUND Jane Hamada, Bob and Virginia Marr,
Grace Ogden and Murlin Nutter.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ILL:
Norm Wilson
Ina Coulter Gil Butler Chad Lauritzen
Margaret Hanson Xander Rigg
Peggy Stein
Justin Cayton
Terry Langham
Ann Thomson
John Umbarger
Jewell Roberts
SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO: The family of Joe Mariner
JULY LUNCH BUNCH
CALLERS:
Jo Ann Howell, Pam Meyer, Cookie Halsted,
Gretchen Tinkle, Ginger Hirt, Terry FitzPatrick
and Zena Thomas.
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James Hall
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Norm Wilson
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Linda Goforth
02
Patrick Harlow
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Laura Hockaday
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Xander Rigg
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James Stapp
04
Thurman Talley
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Joseph Mutschlecner 06
Gerald Bolme
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Sally Grindstaff
08
Dorothy Crawford
28
Madeline Ovaska
10
Bill Chambers
30
Janet Lippiatt
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Charmian Schaller
30
Zena Thomas
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If we do not have your birth date,
please let the church
office know.
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Mission Prayer Partners for the month of July, 2014
Our mission prayer partner for the week of July 6 is Steven Zimmerman. The
South African Christian Mission (SACM) for whom Steve works is dedicated to
serving all the African people, with a special emphasis on the Xhosa
speaking people. The SACM helps to teach, train, and equip all Christians who
want to study and take positions of leadership within the local churches
whether it is a teacher, elder, deacon or the one who makes coffee. .Most
ministries have a central teaching location and students must leave their jobs
or family in order to be trained. The SACM is committed to taking the courses
to those who desire training. An emphasis is placed on training the local
people to become equipped Christians who will minister to their own
language groups. With this tremendous opportunity to teach comes a great
challenge. Steve must travel regularly, even up to 800 miles from Cape Town
to reach those wishing to be taught.
(Alice Mutschlecner 662-1498) sacmonline.org
For the week of July 13 please pray for The Near East School of Theology
(NEST). NEST is an inter-confessional Protestant Seminary serving the
evangelical churches of the Middle East. The primary purpose of the School is
to train pastors and church workers for ministry in the churches and other
evangelical organizations in the Middle East. It is also concerned with
continuing theological education of the laity. The NEST welcomes candidates
from other Middle Eastern churches, as well as any person seeking to learn
about Protestant theology and faith, irrespective of his or her religious
affiliation. Students from beyond the Middle East, who have a special interest
in Biblical Studies against the cultural background of the Middle East, Islam or
Oriental and Orthodox churches, are also welcome.
(Phil Seeger 662-7163) www.theonest.edu.lb
The week of July 20 please pray for Church World Services. CWS's work
began in 1946, in the aftermath of the Second World War, with a mission to
feed the hungry and help those in need. CWS provides assistance to
communities impacted by disaster and stays for the long term to ensure that
vulnerable persons recover and are prepared for the future. CWS assists
refugees and displaced persons in many ways. More than one billion people
lack access to safe water and more than 2.1 million of them die each year
from waterborne diseases. CWS is helping change that.
James Leach 662-7732) www.churchworldservice.org
Please pray for Mission Possible the week of July 27. Mission Possible is a
Christian missions and humanitarian help organization targeting Eastern Europe. In existence since 1974, Mission Possible operates through five sister
organizations in the West (the United States, Finland, Sweden, the United
Kingdom, and the Netherlands), and 10 local organizations in Eastern Europe
(Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania). They offer a new life for street children,
work with people who need rehabilitation from drug and alcohol, and help
children in Gypsy slums. www.mp.org
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WOMEN’S GROUPS
BOOK STUDY for WOMEN meets on Monday mornings from 11 to 12:30
pm in Room 315. Please contact Pastor Kathleen
if you are interested in joining.
THE UNITED CHURCH MORNING GROUP is meeting each week on Fridays
at the White Rock Presbyterian Church. We meet from 10:00 AM until
11:30 or so. We gather for coffee and share, prayer and study. We will be
meeting intermittently during the summer. Please join us!! More info from
Deb Worley or Dorothy Crawford. Child care may be requested.
CHURCH FUNNIES
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LOVING THE DIFFICULT PEOPLE AS WE DO OURSELVES
It is hard NOT seeing others as just an extension of ourselves and the reasons for our
happiness or troubles… It is so easy to lump people together or to categorize someone.
I love the movie NEBRASKA. Without many words, and in black and white, it is such a vivid
story. A son finally sees who his father really is and the effect others have had on him
because they only see him as an extension of themselves. The young man finally realizes his
dad is a unique individual and is compassionate which leads to a fun surprise ending.
Author Karen Armstrong (12 steps) shares that we need to stretch beyond our initial primitive
reactions, which are not all bad, but they make us self-absorbed. “When we are engrossed in
thoughts of anger, hatred, envy, resentment, or disgust, we lose all wider perspective…We tend
to assume that other people are the cause of our pain; with mindfulness over time, we learn
how often the real cause of our suffering is the anger that resides within us. When we are
enraged, we tend to exaggerate a person’s defects--just as when we are seized by desire we
accentuate somebody’s attractions and ignore her faults, even though at some level we may
know that this is a delusion.”
Even as people of faith, our humanity can make us essentially self –interested, we look for
“ways to add a little more authority to our causes, to come up with better reasons to fight for
what we want” and even convince ourselves that God wants it too. In AN ALTAR IN THE WORLD,
Johnathan Swift is quoted, saying “We have just enough religion to make us hate one another,
but not enough to make us love one another.”
Yet Jesus asks us to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, pray for those
who treat us badly. Armstrong describes Him as having an “openhanded, openhearted attitude
designed to disarm the enemy.”
Modern voices of compassion, like Gandhi, reflect this attitude. ---Gandhi said he no longer
hated anybody at the end of his life. “He might hate the oppressive system of British
colonialism, but he could not hate the people who implemented it. He said that if he loved only
those who were pleasing to him, he would begin to hate them when their ways displeased him,
as they may well do any moment. Nelson Mandela, who had been confined for 20 years,
initiated reconciliation rather than revenge when he came to power. Martin Luther King Jr.
believed that the highest point of Jesus’s life was the moment when he forgave his
executioners, when instead of attempting to defeat evil with evil, he was able to prevail over it
with good: “Only goodness can drive out evil and only love can overcome hate.”
People can be hard to love. Yet with Jesus by our side we can try to see who they really are as
individuals, the situations that influence their hearts, and actually have compassion on them.
Do unto the difficult people as you would have them do unto you…We are all difficult at times.
On behalf of all good imperfect relationships, Betty Smith
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A Quick Word From Keith
“Are you up here during the week? Do you have a regular
schedule?” These are questions I hear from time to time and I
wanted to take a moment to clarify my weekly schedule. For
many years my schedule has been Sunday for Worship and
Meeting/Programming, Monday through Thursday in the office
during office hours with Friday serving as my day off. In this
transition period, as Kathleen reduces her hours, my schedule
will remain the same. I am available to you at anytime via my
phone 505-412-9954 or email [email protected]
“Kids Serving Kids”…. VBS in August
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is going to be a bit different this year! VBS
is going to take place on Sunday mornings beginning at 11:00am on
August 4th and continuing through Sunday, August 24th. Kids Serving
Kids…Tales of the Not Forgotten is our theme for the four week funfilled, Mission-based Bible School experience. Weekly Topics will be:
August 3:
How Do I Pray?
August 10:
What Can I Give
August 17:
Where Can I Go?
August 24:
Who Will I Serve?
Children 4 and older are invited to register for this four-week focus on
Hands on Mission to meet needs both here in our community and
around the world. A brief meal will follow our time together, the entire
family is invited to share in this time of fellowship. To register your child
for Kids Serving Kids please contact the Church Office 662-2971.
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WEEKLY CALENDAR
MONDAY
Women’s Book Study (11 AM Room 315)
Monday Night at the Pit (5:30 PM point)
TUESDAY
Staff Meeting (10 AM Library)
WEDNESDAY Thrift Shop (8:30 AM-12:30 PM)
Faith and Science (6 PM Craig Hall)
THURSDAY
Men’s Koffee Klatch (9:30 AM Lounge)
FRIDAY
Friday Bible Study (10 AM WR Presbyterian
church)
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Sunday Worship (8 & 9:30 AM)
JULY EVENTS CALENDAR
FRIDAY
4th
SUNDAY
6th
WEDNESDAY 16th
THURSDAY
17th
Church Office Closed
Patriotic Sunday Worship
CHIMES articles due at Noon for
August
Aspen Ridge Conversation (10 AM)
Sombrillo Worship (3 PM)
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One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room,
One candle wipes out darkness
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what’s true,
One life can make the difference,
You see, IT’S UP TO YOU!
Anon
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The JULY 2014 CHIMES Newsletter
The United Church of Los Alamos
2525 Canyon Road
Los Alamos, NM 87544
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