Thursday, July 25, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ,Greetings from Memphis!

The Civil Rights museum was my first stop before meetingup with our Mission Team. I had heard it was important toexperience and it was.

I remembered where I was when I heard the news of MartinLuther King’s assassination in 1968. It was a silencing time,when mom and dad turned up the radio and said, “Bequiet!” and we listened to the news of first the gunshot andthen of his death. And the world seemed to stop for a while.

The museum is built on and around the site of this fatal actand leaves each guest with a deeper awareness of racism and its beginnings in America,beginning with the slave trade in Africa. As you exit the museum, reminders of everyperson’s aspirations as a human being draw your eye upward. And I prayed.

May we each be called to hope and to action, knowing that we are all made in the imageof God and nothing less. May we witness to nothing less in Memphis and in CedarRapids.

Grace & peace, Pastor Sherrie

Adults

Senior High Mission Trip 2019Jesus, be Lord of our team's ministry activities. Lead and guide them in the best use oftheir time and talents on this trip. Help them to accomplish what you have set out forthem to do. Lord show your approval an make their every effort successful. Establish thework of their hands Lord and bless every part of it. We cling to the promise that when wedo your will you will bless the work. Amen.

Kingdom LifeSermon SeriesIt’s our summer series designed tohelp us see a picture of what kingdomlife looks like and what holds us backfrom experiencing it! Though we mayfeel rejected, wounded, distracted,locked up, or foolish, is there hope inliving a kingdom way of life? You’re

invited into this series, focusing on Luke’s gospel Chapters 10 -12, where we’ll paintpictures of Kingdom Life, in the midst of this summer’s season of reflection, rest, andrenewal.

Join Us August 7 forthe Viewing of ParisParisto Pittsburghto PittsburghYour “Be Healthy. Be Green.”committee is inviting you and yourfamily and friends to join us for aspecial showing of the documentaryfilm, Paris to Pittsburgh, created byNational Geographic. The film will beshown August 7th at 7:00 pm in the Wesley Center (first floor) with a time for discussionfollowing. A nursery will be available, and school age children will be offered age-appropriate activities with Kristin Simon in Room 117. Please let us know if you will bebringing your children, so we can plan accordingly. Call the church office at 363-2058.

Climate change is the issue of our time. This important documentary is a serious look atthe effects of climate change and the injustices that result from our actions. The filmlooks at the changes in our society, featuring segments on Puerto Rico, California,Florida, New Jersey, and even our Cedar Rapids flood. You can feel proud to learn howIowa is recognized nationally for leading in wind and solar energy alternatives!Join us for this important evening. Our fragile planet thanks you!!

Be Healthy. Be Green. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Event Flyer

All Together August (August 11, 18, & 25)Mark your calendar for a festive August with all of us worshiping together at 11:00-12:15in the Sanctuary! There will be NO 8:15 am, 9:00 am, 11:30 am, or 12:00 pm services onAugust 11, 18, and 25. Instead let’s find one another gathered all in one place at onetime, for worship and a light lunch option following each service.

All Together LunchLet’s break bread together, and some other foods too! We are in need of a small group ofpeople who would help with simple and tasty lunch plans for these two Sundays.

August 11: Traditional American Lunch (what should it be?)

August 18: Traditional African Lunch ( being planned and prepared by some of ourAfrican members)

Please contact Pastor Sherrie (silg@stpaulsumc.org) to lend your hand in planning,preparing, serving, or clean-up!

All Together ChoirFor Sundays Aug. 11, 18 & 25, there will be an All-Together Choir. Fidel Taylor, AfricanNationals Choir Director and Mark Baumann, Coordinator of Music Ministries, will teachsongs that can be sung in English, Swahili, and other languages for our worship thoseweeks. Anyone, all ages, is welcome to sing – whether you regularly sing in a choir ornot. There will be rehearsals. 11:30 am-12:00 pm in the choir rehearsal room on Sun. July28 and Aug. 4, and warm-up time on Sun., Aug. 11, 18 and 25 before worship.

Celebrate 180!We're celebrating 180 years as a congregation!Church Council approved celebrating bycontinued work on either updating our phototimeline, and/or exploration of creating ahistory room or other display areas. Manyartifacts in our Archive Room can be brought to

life and perhaps we could use some profession help imagining the possibilities anddesigning some great options.

Here's a note from Trustees Rep, Amy Bruner, about progress being made so far:

St. Paul’s has a rich history that not only includes the story of God’s beautiful churchbuilding but 180 years of laity and staff leadership, missions and many individual faithstories - people doing God’s work. A new “History Team” has been researching how wecan visually display God working through St Paul’s in the past, today and how we willcontinue to move forward in faith. History Team members, Jade Hart, Dale Moore, AmyBruner and Pastor Sherrie, hope to work with a local consultant on the best way todisplay our faith journey. We have several paths we are exploring to this end. At thesame time, the team wants to be prayerful and purposeful with the project. St. Paul’s hasa beautiful story to share visually not only with our members but with visitors and ourcommunity. We will provide updates as plans unfold or feel free to contact any of theteam with questions.

Congregation Assessment ToolPriorities for SPUMC

Background: During April and May, 243 members of St. Paul’s UMC took theCongregation Assessment Tool (CAT) which, among other things, identified six prioritiesfor where we might place energy. Today in our series we report the second priority:

Priority #2Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy

to reach new people and incorporate them

into the life of the church.

Comments About Priority #2(by Rev. Ryan Christenson, Associate Director for Congregational Excellence,

Iowa Conference of The United Methodist Church)

St Paul’s shares its top two priorities with 97% of the churches that complete theCongregation Assessment Tool. In considering the experience of newer people in yourchurch, I share the top areas of focus (“Drivers of Satisfaction”) among people who havebeen connected to your church ten years or less: (1) being welcoming to a diversepopulation of people and (2) how the church navigates conflict.

Specifically, I am reminded that individual Christians and groups of Christians act likemagnets to new people: our words and actions will either attract or repel them. Uniquelyat St Paul’s, developing better patterns and practices for working constructively throughconflict will translate into being more “attractive” to new people.

For further information: If you have questions about any of this information, pleasecontact one of the pastors Sherrie Ilg (silg@stpaulsumc.org), Jonathan Heifner(jheifner@stpaulsumc.org), Brad Colton (brcolton@msn.com), Gary Lindsay(glindsay711@mac.com), or Jerry Oakland (joakland@stpaulsumc.org). An executivesummary is available to all congregation members who would like it.

NeighborhoodMealsFree meals will be served throughAugust 23 (except July 4) to anyonewho is hungry Monday throughFriday from 12:00-1:00 pm. NMEPprovides meals to families, orsingles.

Lemonade StandThursdaysSt. Paul's Lemonade stand beginsJune 13 from 1:00-4:00 pm near the3rd Avenue entrance. Deliciouslemonade, cookies, and treats forpets will be served every Thursday inJune, July, and August.

Information & Invitation!It is the time of year when we identify the people God is calling to serve on St. Paul'scommittees for the coming year. Which of these opportunities best fit your time andtalents? Please download file below, print, and indicate your interest by checking the

appropriate box(es) on the form, then drop off at the church office. All are welcome toserve.

St. Paul's Committee Form

Thank You From SPRINTHello everyone! Hope everyone is feeling cool. Results from the PIZZA fundraiser arenearly $800.00. That is a lot of pizzas for one day! Thank you one and all for getting theword out! - Lu Wherry

Five More New Children's Books for the LibraryThanks to a generous gift from Cindy Lundine, the library has received ten new children’sbooks. We featured five of these books in a recent Outlook article. These books focus onpositivity and inspiration, and in doing the right thing. Two of the new books are amazingpictorials celebrating girlhood and boyhood in candid and arresting photography with theyouth themselves telling their stories. These two books help youth identify their uniquegifts, and find their authentic selves and owning it. To read about the next five of thesenew children’s books in the library, click here. Happy Reading!

Visit our Facebook Page

African Nationals

Stories of Shifting GroundEvery picture tells a story. Shifting Ground, the international art project hosted at St.Paul’s this week, has given our African National friends a new way to tell their stories.This week, they’re participating in a workshop led by artists from Mt. Mercy University,Portugal and the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio.

Using clay and sculpting tools, Shifting Ground participants create art that expressestheir shifting experiences of home and identity. On the first day, they each identified amemory, a talent and a life goal and carved related words and patterns into a clay tablet.On day two, the artists shared examples of art that represented these concepts. Withthis inspiration, participants began sculpting their own creations, and the results havebeen stunning.

These photos represent the process for Adija Sinumvayaha: the words she chose, her claytablet, concepts from the artists and her sculpture in progress as of day three. She’llcontinue to shape her creation today and tomorrow.

You can see all the sculptures and learn the stories this Saturday from 1:00-4:00 pm atthe Cherry Building next to New Bo Market. The celebration will feature St. Paul’s AfricanNationals Sanctuary Choir and plenty of food. You won’t want to miss this greatopportunity to meet our African National members and learn about their remarkablelives.

Shifting Ground Exhibition, July 27Shifting Ground is an multicultural exhibit/celebration ofimmigrant stories told in clay. Some of our own African Nationalchurch members and friends will be participating in this week-longprogram conducted at St. Paul’s by the Iowa Ceramic Center andvisiting artists from Portugal. A concluding celebration will beheld Saturday, July 27th from 1:00-4:00 pm at the CherryBuilding (next to NewBo Market) Cherry Center Place, 320 11thAvenue SE, Cedar Rapids. Bring your dancing shoes and tastebuds to celebrate Shifting Ground storytelling and art making

workshops with recent Hispanic and Central/East Africanimmigrants. https://www.iowaceramicscenter.org/shifting-ground

Arts Ministry & Music

Assemblages: Artist Talk by Chris Carman, July 28Artist Chris Carman will talk about his work on display in the Upper Room during theSunday Hour this Sunday, July 28. The pieces Chris Carman included in this exhibit wereinfluenced by a defining loss he experienced when his wife and partner in life, TaraYouells, died in 2017. Personal grief led him to a fuller recognition that loss, brokennessand a search for wholeness are part of almost everyone’s life at various times.Regardless of the specific nature of our individual losses, these tender, painful

experiences can serve as points of connection and compassion between us. Everyone,please come join us for this.

St. Paul's String EnsembleMark Baumann is assembling all students and adults who play violin, viola or cello toplay during worship on Sunday, August 4. Music is now available to practice. There willbe a rehearsal on Wednesday evening, July 31, at 6:30 pm at the church. You are stillwelcome to play if you cannot make rehearsal that evening. Arrangements can be madeto practice with Mark and there will be a short rehearsal on Sunday, August 4, before9:00 am worship. Any friends are welcome to come and play as well. Contact Mark(mmbaumann@msn.com) to sign-up and get music.

Care, Serve, & Outreach

School Supply DonationsComing In Fast!Thank you so much, St. Paul’s, for your generousdonations of school supplies to support our project toprovide children & youth of our congregation with abackpack full of the items they will need for the newschool year. As you know, we have 75 African Nationals of

school age plus any others connected with our church who might have a need. (SeeShelby in the church office if you would like to request a pack for other childrenconnected to our church.)

So far we have all the compositions notebooks and thin Crayola markers werequested. Many other items are listed in the attachment with the numbers we still need.Especially needed are vinyl folder (3 prong/2 pocket), wide Crayola markers, Fiskarpointed scissors, glue sticks, and Ticonderoga pencils. Target seems to have good priceson most items if you are inclined to shop there.

Please remember to bring your items to the church office by Sunday, August 4 so thecommittee can supplement in places we are short, using your generous monetary

donations. Feel free to contact the office or Barb Oakland if you have questions orconcerns.

Again, thank you, thank you, from your Ingathering Committee.

School Supply List

Mary Horn, RN, St. Paul's Parish Nurse, writes articles to share pertinent and timelyhealth topics on nutritional, mental, emotional, spiritual, and information on a wide-range of health topics.

Read Health Notes

Children & Youth

Confirmation Begins, August 24Confirmation starts a new year with orientation/registration at Grandview Pavilion onAugust 24th at Bever Park 2:00-4:00 pm, before the All Church Picnic. Contact BeccaNims to (rnims@stpaulsumc.org) or for more information, Lora Lea Edwards 651-4176.

Gathering, Forming, Serving, & FundraisingOpportunities for All

NO TGIW July 24 due to Senior High Mission TripJuly 30 at noon Kool Kool Luncheon for UMW—come have lunch and share yourmission stories with United Methodist Women.August 5--End of Summer Celebration--Day Trip to Lost Island RSVP by Monday,July 31 to Becca, co-trip with Marion UMC, Mt. Vernon UMC, Shueyville UMC, andCenter Point UMC.All Together August (August 11, 18, 25) Even though Youth activities take a breakin August, we’ll have All Together August services from 11:00-12:15 in theSanctuary on August 11, 18, and 25—one service for for three Sundays to bring ourentire St. Paul’s congregation together from our FOUR separate services! A mealwill follow each service too. It’s a great time to reconnect with your church friendsand include others!Safe Sanctuary Policy Training ll leaders and parents working with Youth and

ChildrenSafe Sanctuary Policy. This is extremely important training for anyone whois working with our children and youth at St. Paul’s. We will meet at 6pm in the ArtSpace.August 25 10:00 am in Wesley Center: Mission Trip Report/Share for Club 5/6,Mid-High Mission, and Senior High Mission trips. Join other youth and leaders toshare stories and faith from your mission experiences this summer!First TGIW September 11—Back-to-School Bash with cook-out and comedianJaron Myers! Invite friends and new folks to join you! Check out his website for ataste of what he does: https://jaronmyers.com/First Sunday Morning Classes September 15 for all ages!

UMW

Kool KoolLuncheon, July 30Kool Kool Luncheon will be held on,July 30 at 12:00 pm at Lowe Park,Hickory Room (4500 N. 10th St.,Marion). You won’t want to missthis celebration of our youth inmission, and fundraiser for futureyouth mission projects. R.S.V.P tochurch office by July 26th, 363-

2058, or office@stpaulsumc.org.

Women's Retreat,August 23-25St. Paul’s UMW invites all womento join us for a spiritual retreat inClear Lake, Iowa, August 23-25.Enjoy the fellowship of otherwomen, as well as the beauty andserenity of Clear Lake, as we stayin the church cabin located stepsfrom the lake. Rev. Joan Fumetti

will lead us in experiencing the wonder and beauty of God’s creation with herpresentation titled “Kinship With Creation” Sign up by August 9 in the church office witha retreat fee of $20 due at registration.

These Hot Days areGreat for GoingThrough Items for

Thrift MartDrop offs will be starting Saturday,August 10, 17, 24, 31 from 8:30-10:30 am at the 2nd Ave. canopydrive. We will also have drop offson Mondays August 12, 19, and 28and September 9 from 8:30-10:30am and we will sort those items atthat time into departments inpreparation for the sale on

Tuesday, September 17, 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Wednesday, September 18, 9:00 am-1:00pm with the bag sale at 11:00 am. We will have a night drop off on Wednesday,September 4, from 5:30-7:30 pm. Someone will be at the door to help you unload youritems.

Prayers

Stephen MinistersStephen Ministers, wearing the bluebadge, are glad to talk privately withanyone going through a rough time.

Continued healing and grace for:Emily Bell (sister of Matt Stoner)Dave Mather (Judy)Doris LeCompte (Michelle’s mother)Pat Jacobson (Stan)Norm Kool (Jackie)Vestina BuchumiTiffani Schneekloth (L.J. & Holli’sdaughter)Laverne Tucker (Robin Tucker’smother)Gloria Hammond (Tom Young’ssister)Joyce Vick (Steven)LaNel JacobsTom & Susan TitusTim Glenn (son of Laverna Hanson)Keri CollinsMary Brockmeyer (Lloyd)Denise Feltes (Ronald)Patrick Hartwell (Heather Moore’sbrother)Colleen LewisBetty OpsahlMichael WilkinsonMarti & Spence Grayson (DaveMahlke’s sister and brother-in-law)

Kristen Morlan (Kathleen Baker’sdaughter)Beulah Cave (Angela Stookey’sniece)Quinn Anton Jensen (Nancy & BriceAnton Jensen’s son)Char O’BrienSusan Moore (Lee Moore’s sister)Jody SloanJoe Boots (relative of Chris and MikeCrilley)Tom Smeed (Bill’s father)Barb Zahradnik (Bob)Cheri Young (Gene & Carrie Young’sdaughter)Patricia Hartwell (Heather Moore’smother)Dianne Berrett (Bob)Linda HadleyJustin Ilg (Sherrie & Larry Ilg’s son)Angela ShultzRhonda ViktoraCarrie Cummins (Jamie’s daughterand Steve and Kathy Davis’granddaughter)Jim & Rose MildenRaine Allen (Dixie & Roger Allen’s

Linda JandikJoe TrecekJeffrey Casey (Judy)Sally & Tom YoungEdie NekolaJoel Oxenford (Elaine Oxenford’sson)Elias MacumiRoger Simon (brother of KristinSimon)Jim Struve (Sandra)John MatthewsGrace MareshRena BrodtBenjamin Van Winkle (JulieGladfelder’s grandson)Gary Hamond (Tom Young’s brother-in-law)

granddaughter)Charman Banks (John)James WaheNora Mae VanceSandy Pingel (Gloria Ford’s daughter)Mina Arbore (John)John McQuilkin (Jean Kwader’sfather)Ryan VickPam AnslynKris Yahn (Steve)

Memorial prayers for the families andfriends of:

Todd Clark (Brenda)Dorris HattCarol BurrGrant Basil “Tad” Tadlock (Carla)

View Worship Times

Worship is for the whole family. While childcare is available in our nursery for allSunday morning services, we welcome children of all ages at all worship services.

stpaulsumc.org