93 River Road, Pleasant Valley, CT
The time has come to again think of filling the shoe boxes that will be donated to Operation Christmas Child.
This year our Youth Group will be coordinating the project and will be asking for everyone’s help in supporting this important Mission project. Collection of shoe boxes will take place in mid-November so now’s the time to begin collecting the items that you’ll want to include.
Additional literature and information will be coming, so stay tuned for more details.
Last Sunday during prayer concerns, one of our choir members expressed dismay over the hateful discourse that is taking place in our nation concerning health care reform. I’ve seen citizens on TV screaming at each other and thought, “they are totally unable to listen while they are screaming.” Have they ever thought that they share the same concern, that is, affordable insurance and access to treatment for all? Why are they unable to reason peaceably? Resentment and distrust seem to carry the day rather than seeking a solution to an ever expanding crisis.
The reading from James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a, provides insight into this human condition: “show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom…for where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will be disorder and wickedness of every kind” (James 3:13 & 16). Name calling and slander lead only to violence.
Many of those who are cursing one another are doing so while believing they are at the same time Christian and followers of Jesus Christ. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (James 3:17). We need to uphold this standard as we participate in the debate.
Jesus teaches us to love one another and to protect the weak, poor, and those who have no political power. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right, but that speach must be accompanied with respect for the opinions of others and empty of slander and hatred.
By the way, I am having a wonderful time getting to know my brothers and sisters of this congregation. Together we can grow in the love of Christ to serve our neighbor while serving God.
Pastor Carl
The UMW will begin their meetings on Wednesday, September 9th at 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall.
Please note the date and time change from the usual first Wednesday of the month. We are trying to accommmodate moms with school children who may not want to come out the first week of school.
As is our custom, we’ll gather to share a potluck supper meal and catch up with all the events of the summer. It is always a special time of fellowship and enthusiasm for the upcoming year. I’d also like to remind everyone that the fall Bean Hole Bean Suppers are being held on September 19th and October 24th this fall. Once again everyone’s support will be needed to make these final two suppers in 2009 a success.
Again, I’d like to invite all ladies of the church to come to a meeting and see what we’re all about at UMW. In the meantime, may the peace of the Lord be with you.
Join us Wed, September 16, October 21 and November 18 at 7 PM. No experience is required and it’s open to all ladies in the community, so please bring a friend!
We’ll have some supplies, but feel free to bring your current project to work on and/or any art or craft supplies you’d like to use or share. Come for a no-stress night with the girls.
The last two Bean Hole Bean Suppers are planned for September 19th and October 24th.
Committee heads are in the process of lining up their teams and filling those positions that are vacant. These events are one of the major fundraisers for our church and yet are very labor-intensive. Your help is needed so if someone calls requesting your participation, please don’t hesitate to say yes!
Sunday, September 13th is Rally Day and the beginning of our year of church activities, including Sunday school. We will be having a cookout with games and food for the kickoff! We invite everyone to bring hamburgers and hot dogs for their family and a side dish to share. A sign up sheet will be on the Besse table in the Narthex. Cooks will be provided
and bring a lawn chair. If you have a fun game to share bring it! This event will be rain or shine! Hope to see everyone there!
Also, the Sunday School staff is in place but we are still in need of a teacher for the Junior and High School group. We are looking for two teachers to commit to a month at a time. A month is 3 weeks because the childdren will be in service the first Sunday of every month. The sign up sheet wil be on the Besse Table in the Narthex. Please see Mindy Henry for more information.
Dear Friends,
I’m sure you have heard,“everyone is a minister” and then wondered what that really means. The pastor is also a minister, and all believers and disciples are called to be ministers on behalf of Christ, the one who calls us: “Come to Him a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Pretty soon, September 13, Sunday School will begin. Many of you have signed a “Safe Sanctuaries” application, which indicates that you have some understanding of the importance of protecting our children and teachers from any misconduct or misunderstanding concerning the relationship that exists between teacher and student. What is appropriate and what is not is not always easy to discern. So we have guidelines that spell that out. To avoid any situation that may jeopardize a loving and beneficial relationship between student and teacher, Pleasant Valley UMC has a policy that every teacher and student needs a witness.
This is where you may come in to be a minister and a witness. You will get to know some children and, by your presence, you will be participating in the building of that “spiritual house” that Peter wrote about. All of us, from one to ninety-two, are like those living stones, built together to be the church, here, in Pleasant Valley. To give up your time of worship to make this church a “Safe Sanctuary” is, indeed, a “Spiritual sacrifice.”
Please see Mindy Henry at 783-7737 if you are feeling called to minister in this way. If we have many volunteers, the time commitment will be reduced and many people will have the opportunity of participating in the ministry of “Safe Sanctuaries” while being built into the household of God.
Pastor Carl
Since we now have a part time pastor, it has become necessary that we make an adjustment to our Sunday morning worship schedule. In order to make the best use of Pastor Franson’s time with us, the 8:30 and 10:00 Sunday morning services will be combined into one service.
Starting on the first Sunday in September (9/6/09), worship will begin at 9:30 a.m. We will revisit the issue of worship time and number of Sunday services when we return to full time status.
John Baum, Chairman, Staff Parish Relations Committee
Don’t miss out! Keep up with the PVUMC happenings by printing out the calendar for August, 2009.
To get to know the people of our church, Pastor Carl would like the opportunity to meet with you in small groups after church service.
Sign up sheets for various Sundays are on the Bessie Table in the Narthex. Since Pastor Carl will be away on Sunday, July 26th, that date is not on the sheet.
Pleasant Valley-Winsted United Methodist Church 