The Eastport Spire “Inspire Us to Great Things” September 2017 We share our experiences of God’s Kingdom with all, through our

faith, love, fellowship, and service. It is our vision to have everyone

actively involved in worship that enriches, ministries that empower,

and evangelism that embraces all.

From the Pastor

Dear Church,

One of our dreams for this church community is that

we would truly be a neighborhood church. By this we

mean that in our ministries, worship, and service with

the community, we would be a reflection of the

people who live in Eastport. That means rich or poor;

black, brown, or white; LGBTQ or straight;

differently abled, high school diplomas or PhDs,

whoever is present within our community, we want

to hear their stories and celebrate their gifts. We want

all to not only be welcomed, but to know that there

is a place for them at the table here.

As we think about the welcome and hospitality we

extend to our neighbors, I want to invite you into a

special conversation this fall around faith and race.

We are in a time when the racial wounds of our

nation are openly bleeding. People are feeling hurt

and divided. Talking about race is not easy. And yet,

it is essential to have these conversations. It is

essential to be able to listen to one another’s stories

and reflect on issues of race and inclusivity in our

own lives and contexts.

I will be helping facilitate a constructive dialogue

about faith, race, and the church based off of a

podcast series put together by the Missouri Annual

Conference of The United Methodist Church. Each

week will have a specific focus in order to help us

reflect on the intersection of history, institutions,

scripture, prayer, race, and justice. In our time

together we will listen to a 20-minute podcast and

have conversation around these important topics as a

way to begin living out our calling to seek justice,

love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

If you’d like to participate in this conversation,

please sign up with the office

eastportumc@verizon.net by Sept. 7th. Our first

meeting date will be a brown bag lunch on Wed.

Sept. 13th at noon. The remaining schedule and

conversations will be determined by the group. If you

can’t commit to the group but would like access to

the podcast, please contact Pastor Michelle.

Hope to see you there!

~ Peace & Love, Pastor Michelle

Homework and Reading Ministry

God continues to bless the Homework and Reading

Ministry at Eastport United Methodist Church.

Some statistics will demonstrate. During the 2016-

2017 academic year, there were 71 homework

sessions serving 32 children. There were 21

“regular” participants – children who were usually

present. The average (mean) number of children per

session was 13, and the median number was 14. On

average, six or seven volunteers, representing the

church and the community, were on hand to assist the

kids.

The children in the Homework program in the last

academic year enjoyed several summer activities

organized by church members. Those who took part

in 50 or more Homework sessions had an excursion

to Barnes and Noble Bookstore where each had the

opportunity to select books up to a value of $25

followed by an ice cream treat at Rita’s. Several kids

took part in a field trip to the Chesapeake Children’s

Museum where they took a nature walk, saw live

animals, and did crafts. One child attended the

Arlington Echo summer camp. Many kids

participated in a week-long Care for Creation camp

at the church featuring games, crafts, stories and

songs with an environmental theme.

The Homework and Reading Ministry resumes

September 5. The program will continue to meet

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. in the

fellowship hall. The program is designed for

children from kindergarten through fifth grade. Last

year, the largest number of kids were in the third

grade. We expect nearly all of the children who

participated in the program last year to return along

with a number of new kids. Homework and Reading

operates like a “one room school house”. Volunteers

work with different children. That provides

flexibility to volunteers in terms of participation;

they can come as often as they are able without

concern that they are “letting down” a particular

child.

Church members and others who have questions

about the Homework and Reading Ministry are

encouraged to contact Joyce Conley or Mike

Keller. You are certain to find participation in this

program to be a rewarding experience in

strengthening the reading, writing, comprehension,

and math skills of these wonderful children.

~ Mike Keller

United Methodist Women

The women will resume their Wednesday Brown

Bag Dinners beginning September 6th at 5:30 pm. All

women of the church are invited to join this group

which enjoys a variety of interesting programs. This

first meeting will feature a presentation by Molly

Parrish, one of our EUMC youth members. Molly’s

high school International Baccalaureate project is to

raise $2,000 to send a 15-year old Tanzanian girl to

school for a year. Come and hear more about this

worthwhile project. Bring a brown bag dinner for

yourself; dessert and beverages will be provided.

Peach Festival

Many, many thanks to all who helped with Peach

Festival in any way. It cannot go on without you. We

have beets, jelly and jam to sell. See Jackie

Cunningham or Shirley Owen to fill your order.

Hopefully, we can give you final numbers in

October. There will be a wrap-up meeting on

Thursday, September 7 at 6:00 pm. Come and

discuss this year’s Peach Festival. All committee

heads, please have a written report of your area at

that time.

~ Bill Malamphy and Jackie Cunningham

Outdoor Worship & Block Party

Sunday, September 17th

Weather permitting, on September 17th our worship

service will be held outside in front of the church,

around the cross. Folding chairs will be provided, but

feel free to bring your favorite beach chair or blanket.

A community fellowship time will follow in the side

yard with food (hot dogs on the grill) while the kids

enjoy an extra-special moon bounce! We hope this

will be a time to show hospitality and connect with

our Eastport community neighbors! We will need

volunteers to help out with children's activities, set

up and clean up, and food prep. Please check with the

office or Barbara Krebs (food), Jacqueline Ploof

(children's activities), or Jean Strucko or Audrey

Howard (worship set up) for how you can serve!

Spread the word and invite neighbors and friends to

come and experience God’s Spirit at EUMC!

Fall Garden Work Day

The EUMC Garden Team is planning a fall work day

on the church grounds on Saturday, November 4th

from 9 to 11 am. Put this on your calendars and join

us to help pull some weeds and trim bushes. If you

have any questions, please contact Joanne Christofel

at msjohara@yahoo.com.

Missions

On August 30, volunteers filled and delivered 30

backpacks with school supplies for Bates Middle

School. These backpacks will be distributed mainly

to homeless students. The remainder will be given to

students needing supplies that will be determined by

the school counselors. School supplies were also

delivered to Annapolis Middle School on that same

day. Thank you to all who contributed supplies and

to those who helped fill the bags.

It is not too early to start thinking about the Winter

Relief Homeless Shelter. We will host the men again

this year during Thanksgiving week, Monday,

November 20 to Monday, November 27. This is a

vital and worthwhile ministry of the church, but this

year’s participation could determine if we continue it

in the future. We need the men of the church to step

up and volunteer to spend the night to chaperone the

men. If we cannot get enough men (2 a night) this

will be the last year. Our kitchen volunteers were a

little sparse last year so assistance will be needed in

that area also. You can talk to Jackie Cunningham or

Jill Peddicord to see what you will need to do. Sign-

up sheets will come out the last week in October.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 10, 6:30

pm. Hope to see there.

~ Jackie Cunningham

Needing a Little Help

If you could stay on an occasional Sunday to help

clean up after fellowship time, please pick a date on

the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. It’s easy,

doesn’t take long, and will be greatly appreciated.

Recipes from EUMC

From time to time EUMC members like to share

favorite recipes, especially the hard-to-find ones that

are passed down through generations. Barbara

Nutwell sent us these two. The first originated with

Elizabeth (Libby) Sherbert. Barbara served it during

peach festival work lunch and several people asked

for it. The second one, Southern Tomato Pudding, is

a favorite of ours that Barbara shares at our covered

dish lunches. Enjoy!

Sauerkraut Salad Wash, drain and squeeze out juice from one (1) large

can sauerkraut. Cut into small pieces.

Add the following

1 c. chopped green pepper

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped celery

1 small jar pimento, drained

Sauce

1 c. sugar

1/3 c. vinegar

1/2 c. corn oil

Heat until hot but don’t boil. Pour over mixture and

refrigerate. Keeps one month.

Southern Tomato Pudding 2 14 ½ ounce cans diced tomatoes

1 large onion, chopped

½ stick butter

2 cups garlic-onion croutons

½ cup brown sugar

Salt and pepper

Sauté onion in butter. Add sugar and stir. Add

croutons and stir. Add tomatoes and stir. Salt and

pepper to taste. Pour into casserole and bake 40

minutes at 350 degrees until hot and slightly brown.

May be frozen before or after baking. Serves four to

six.

Scotland

Happy Birthday

Sept 1 Andy Owen

Sept 2 Mike Owen

Sept 8 Nyima Smith

Sept 13 Vicki Clary

Sept 15 Mike Stevens

Sept 16 JoAnn Kulesza

David Peddicord

Sept 18 Gage Savoy

Sept 19 Betty Moreland

Sept 21 Taylor Stevens

Sept 23 Sherrie Little

Catherine Daywalt

Sept 26 Sally Colburn

Fran Wilmer

Sept 27 Barbara Schwarz

Cierra Ploof

Sept 28 Bob McWilliams

Happy Anniversary

Sept 6 Vern Renshaw & MaAn Barcelo

Sept 17 Mike & Megan Wurst

Sept 23 Earl & Harriet Macey

Sept 25 Mark & Sharon Stevens

Movie Night – Getting Ready to See “MOANA”

Care for Creation Camp Visits a Nursing Home

Niagra Falls

The Spire is published monthly by Eastport United

Methodist Church, 926 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis,

MD 21403. 410.263.5490

eastportumc@verizon.net

www.eastportumc.org

Pastor: Michelle Mejia

Editor: Eunice Corse

Eastport United Methodist Church SEPTEMBER 2017 410.263.5490

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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Discussion 9am

Worship 10am

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5

Homework 4pm

6

UMW Dinner Meeting 5:30pm

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Homework 4pm

Peach Festival Wrap-up Meeting 6pm

Choir Rehearsal 7pm

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10

Discussion 9am

Worship 10am

11

Bells Rehearsal 7pm

12

Homework 4pm

13

Brown Bag Lunch Discussion Meeting 12pm

Kids Art 4pm

14

Homework 4pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm

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Discussion 9am

OUTDOOR

WORSHIP 10AM

BLOCK PARTY

MOON BOUNCE

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Bells Rehearsal 7pm

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Homework 4pm Trustees 6:15pm Admin Council 7:15pm

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Food Pantry 12 – 2pm Kids Art 4pm

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Homework 4pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm

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Discussion 9am

Worship 10am

Worship Mtg. after service

4th Sunday Prayer Team after service

25

Bells Rehearsal 7pm

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Homework 4pm

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Lunch Bunch Sammy’s 12:15pm Kids Art 4pm

SPRC Meeting 7pm

28

Homework 4pm Choir Rehearsal 7pm

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926 Bay Ridge Avenue Annapolis, MD 21403-3091

The Rev. Michelle Mejia, Pastor Church 410-263-5490

Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School & Nursery 10:15 a.m. Office Hours 9:30-3:30 Monday-Friday Office Closed 12-1 p.m. for Lunch

www.eastportumc.org