pastor’s grace notes independence day 2020 newsletter.pdf · saint james united methodist church...
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OUR MISSION
Independence Day
What’s Happening
Saint James United Methodist Church July 2020
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
Saint James UMC 2049 N. Honore Ave. Sarasota, Fl. 34235
Phone 941 377 6180 Fax 941 378 8911 E-mail [email protected]
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
July 4 – Independence
Day
What’s Happening
Pastor’s Grace Notes
Kudos to…
Did you Know…?
Calendar
Volunteer List
OUR FINANCIAL PROGRESS
We want to keep you up to date on the financial
status of the church.
As of 06/30/20
Annual Apportionments $20,265.00
Paid thru May - 7,185.00
BALANCE DUE $ 13,080.00
Starting Balance 7,895.00 Income June + 31,407.00 Expense June - 25,444.00 Transfer to Foundation - 10,000.00 Ending balance $ 3,858.00 Thank you for being such faithful givers. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Your Finance Team
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. 1 Timothy 2:8
Blessings to all who read this in the name of Jesus. May God fill you with His Spirit and give you peace. How did we get to July already? It seems like Easter was last week and Christmas just a bit ago. This separation from each other seems to be messing with my internal clock. I wonder if you feel the same way too. Isolation is difficult but mostly because we were not created to be in isolation. Additionally, there seems to be no freedom either does there. It feels like everyone else tells us what to do and what to think lately. It is exhausting and even a bit depressing. What are we to do to stay safe and keep sane? And then I stumbled on this jewel of a verse in 1 Timothy. So, let’s look at it in sections and see how it can apply to each of us today and in this season of isolation. Maybe it can help us have some peace of mind and a direction in our lives that we can actually do without danger. First Paul starts off with where this activity is supposed to happen, and it is “In every place of worship.” Notice it doesn’t say sanctuary or temple or at some specific structure but in the place where worship happens. For us, in this season, worship is happening everywhere. In your homes, cars, sanctuaries and so on. Wherever you get your worship of God on, is your place of worship. Next we see what is to happen in the place of worship. We are to “pray with holy hands lifted up to God.” Now why is that? Jesus says we are to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Lifting holy hands up to God helps us focus on God and the truth of God and helps keep us in the Spirit of God. It is a humble act of praise. But we are also to pray. That is to communicate with God. Tell him our concerns. Ask for healing. Listen for God’s response to us. Finally, we are told how we are to do this and that is “free from anger and controversy.” Wow, that is a tall order in this day and age where there seems to be nothing but anger and controversy. But what if we let go and don’t buy into the anger and controversy? What if we pray with holy hands up (hands dedicated to God) in prayer in freedom from anger and controversy? If we just wanted God and nothing else and we spent time that way? What might be different in us and how might God use that to heal the world? To heal us? How might living into these instructions from Paul help us in this season of isolation and anger? And think about it. If we all are doing this, then we are not isolated but joined together in spirit and in truth. You know, God is pretty smart about this stuff and always meets our need.
Praying with you this month, Pastor Shirley
Lawn mowing season has begun and it would really be
helpful to have a small zero turn mower to cut the
areas too small for the large riding mower, but too large
for the push mower. The smaller riding mower we are
using is on its last leg. There are areas they would
have to use the push mower if that leg gives out. We
have a lot of property to mow and have small lawn
crews. It is hard work and the lawn teams are
constantly fighting the heat and dodging the rain
showers. If your heart is touched by this need and
even if you can just give a portion towards this project
it will be greatly appreciated.
Need for Summer!
We Are A Praying People!
Bishop & Mrs. Carter, Rev. & Mrs. Thom
Schafer, President Trump and Gov.
DeSantis, all of our elected officials, Pastor
Shirley & Rod, our staff, our church leaders,
our Cub Scouts, David & Pat Dixon, Sara
Fleming, Jean Flugel, Patti Fortin, Richard &
Lucy Gabriel, Betty Galvez, Ott & Jan
Guenther, Margaret Hackett, Bill & Bernice
Highberger, Harvey & Carlene, Howze,
Betty Johnson, Bill & Rose Johnson
Connect – To be a family of believers who connect to God and each other Care – To shine the light of Christ and welcome all we encounter encouraging worship, life groups, and spiritual growth. Commit – To grow in faith through service to others both locally and globally. CORE VALUES: Loving Relationships: Honest & loving relationships: With God through a worshipful attitude and prayer With others through acceptance and grace to all Spiritual Growth Grow with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit in a biblically
centered, nurturing environment Compassionate Service Offering help to others with humility and mutual respect Teamwork Accomplish ministry in the context of relationships.
Please remember the following in your prayers this month.
Again, this year we will have a prayer focus
each month. Please pray for these things daily.
July’s prayer focus will be:
• For a spirit of evangelism
• Prayer and training to be more
invitational
• Maturing in discipleship
*
July 1 Mike Dewitt
July 3 Wes Swails
July 5 Mike Brown Melissa Sandberg July 6 Noah Catalane
July 16 Rose Johnson
July 18 Bernice Highberger
July 21 Pastor Shirley
July 22 Betty Johnson
July 27 Karen Morgan
July 29 Jan Dougherty
Anniversaries In July
July 2 Otto & Jan Guenther
July 17 Ron & Cheri Hittel
July 22 Cecil & Marcia Mulvaney
** If you know someone is having a special year birthday (90+) or special anniversary (25, 30, 35 etc.) years please let the office know. Thank You!
Birthdays in July
Yoga Classes
The yoga classes are in the fellowship hall
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. There is a
certified instructor and the classes are $5 each
session. Please come and join us.
Please remember to bring items for the Mayor’s
Feed The Hungry Program and place those
items in the grocery cart in the narthex. Also
may drop them off in the office or even by the
door during office hours Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays between 10 am and 2 pm and we
will be sure they are picked up.
Thank You!
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
We will worship via live streaming at 6:30 pm
followed by Doing Life Together groups via
Zoom at 7:15 pm (If you’d like to join a DLT group and aren’t
connected yet please contact the office and arrangements will
be made to get you connected.)
Join us as we center on Jesus.
Kudos this month go to
…for the counters for their faithful service throughout the year, and to those who continue to do this volunteer position through this time of uncertainty …to Noah Catalane and Karen Kehrli for the great job they do in providing the power point visuals each Sunday …to the Leadership Team for their faithful service throughout the year
2020 Leadership Team
Trustees Judy Shannon, Mike Barbour, Sara Fleming, and Jean Flugel Finance Sennie Lansdowne, Fred Fowler, Bill Johnson and Bill Schroff SPRT Cyndi Andrasi, Tina Catalane, Pat Dixon and Chip Newberger
Lay Leader Dave Strait Nurture Team Leader Pat Dixon Outreach Team Leader Judy Snodgrass Lay Delegate Dave Strait
2019 Shepherds
Sennie Lansdowne – Head Shepherd
Aija Ball (A - Bn)
Rose & Bill Johnson (Bo – D)
Judy Snodgrass (E – Ha)
Cyndi Andrasi (He – J)
Beatriz Lowery (K – Mc)
Marcia & Cecil Mulvaney (Mi – N)
Nancy Winding (O – Z)
Bonnie Kitzmiller (Snowbirds)
Did you know…?
Because you care, we are making a difference in the lives of those with addictions.
Because of your generosity, we have been able to provide the “Mayor’s Feed The Hungry” program with an abundance of food during this difficult time. Keep up the great work!
Because of your faithfulness, we are making a difference in the community that surrounds us.
God is moving in wonderful ways. We just wanted to make sure you knew!
Kingdom Kids We welcome all children and grandchildren (K-5th grade) to our “Kingdom Kids” class at 10:00 a.m. during the worship service.
We also have an Adult Class that meets before Worship please join them at 8:45 in the west wing room 310.
Classes will resume when we return to a normal schedule. We will advise you when they start meeting again.
the have
k
Corner Each month we are including a thank you from one of the students Who received a scholarship from the proceeds of last spring’s Gala and Auction. This month’s note is from Sophia and family.
DLT Information
You are welcome to join a DLT group at any time. If you have not joined a DLT and
would like to below are the days and times the DLT groups meet. At this time, they
are meeting via Zoom or conference call. Please contact the facilitator for more
information on their group.
Women’s group Monday at 10:00 am, facilitator - Marcia Mulvaney
Men’s group Tuesday at 7:00 am, facilitator – Rod Groom
Women’s group Wednesday at 7:15 pm facilitator – Pat Dixon
Women’s group Wednesday at 7:15 pm facilitator – Pastor Shirley
Men & Women’s group Wednesday at 7:15 pm facilitator – Rod Groom
Men & Women’s group Thursday at 4:30 pm facilitator – Rod Groom
Florida United Methodist Conference Office of the Treasurer 450 Martin L King Jr Ave Lakeland, FL 33815
June 2, 2020
St James – Sarasota 2049 N Honore Ave Sarasota FL 34235-9138
Dear Shirley Jean Groom:
I am writing to thank you for your faithful living as disciples of Jesus Christ by giving 100 percent of your apportionments for 2019. Apportionments are your church's share of the funding of the budgets of The United Methodist Church around the world, the Florida Conference, and your District. These budgets are developed and approved by our elected representatives, either as members of the Annual Conference or delegates to the General Conference.
When every congregation contributes 100 percent of its apportionments, the entire church is able to meet its many responsibilities to mission and ministry. In short, lives are changed because of your stewardship.
Children are fed at feeding programs; Young men and women receive financial assistance towards their education at Florida Southern College, Bethune-Cookman University and countless other institutes of higher education outside of Florida. Retreat and camp settings help grow and make disciples of Jesus by offering invitations to go further in understanding of being a Christian; New churches are planted; Existing churches are transformed to better meet the needs of the community.
In 2019, conference churches contributed $17,901,729 to the overall apportionment total of $20,474,719 this represents an 86.43 percent level of giving. This was not done without sacrifice.
Over the years, I have learned that a sign of a healthy congregation is full support of the rest of the connection. You are the ones who have a joy in God's gifts, given in abundance, and who are practicing a spirit of generosity that points to a larger vision of the Church as a communion of congregations in common mission and ministry to the world. We appreciate all of your continued support in the current difficult times and pray that you and your congregation continue to thrive.
I hope you will pause in one of your worship services and share this letter with the people who made this 100 percent level possible. It truly is a sign of the living God at work in your midst.
May the Spirit of God continue to illumine, guide, and empower you to be God's own people.
Sincerely,
Milton Wilson Treasurer – Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Below are some pictures of a few blessings we
found on the bulletin boards during our time of
isolation and it was very uplifting to those of us
who are working in the office. (They were colored
by someone in our church family.)
Membership Directories
The new membership directories
have been emailed to everyone in a
PDF format. If you wish to have a
printed/three hole punched copy to
place in your previous folder there
will be some available in the office.
Those who are only here in the
winter we will make printed copies
available to you when you return to
Florida. If you did not receive a
folder in 2018 those are available in
the office as well.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 4:30 DLT – via Zoom
3 Office closed
4
5 10:00 Worship Service
6 10:00 DLT – via Conference Call 7:00 Prayer Gathering via Zoom 7:00 NA
7
8 6:30 Worship – live streaming 7:00 DLTs – via Zoom 7:00 GA
9 4:30 DLT – via Zoom
10 Office closed
11
12 10:00 Worship Service
13 10:00 DLT – via Conference Call 7:00 Prayer Gathering via Zoom 7:00 NA
14
15 6:30 Worship – live streaming 7:00 DLTs – via Zoom 7:00 GA
16 4:30 DLT - via Zoom 5:30 Village Oaks HOA
17 Office closed
18
19 10:00 Worship Service
20 10:00 DLT – via Conference Call 7:00 Prayer Gathering via Zoom 7:00 NA
21
22 6:30 Worship – live streaming 7:00 DLTs - via Zoom 7:00 GA
23 4:30 DLT - via Zoom
24 Office closed
25
26 10:00 Worship Service
27 10:00 DLT – via Conference Call 7:00 Prayer Gathering Via Zoom 7:00 NA
28
29 6:30 Worship – live streaming 7:00 DLTs – via Zoom 7:00 GA
30 4:30 DLT - via Zoom
31 Office closed