Celebration A monthly publication of the Chatfield United Methodist Church The emblem of the United Methodist Church is the Cross and Flame, the cross in black and the flame in red. The emblem was selected after the merger of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968. The flame is to represent the presence of the Holy Spirit as at the first Pentecost. Graduates See page 2 Beautiful Signs Of Life Thank you Next time you are in a restaurant, go ahead and stretch your neck or perk your ears and listen in on the conversation at the table next to you. Better yet, just chime in, give your two cents. Or while in the grocery store, be bold and stand uncomfortably close to that person on the cell phone. Feel free to add to the conversation. If the internet is your thing, randomly post irrelevant comments like the weather report or a recipe on blogs or reports dealing with matters that appear too stuffy. While in a movie theater, ask a random patron if you could borrow his/her car as they won't need it for the next hour or so. You probably will not do any of these things because you are a person of some manners or understand that there is an order to life and our conduct. You probably understand that although the concept of randomness makes for great theoretical conversation, your life tends to be less random. In my last few years as your Pastor, I hope that I have been at least adequate in demonstrating God's immense desire for you, His passionate jealousy about you, and His unwavering nature that would, despite our failings, never leave us or forsake us. P6 VBS See page 12 American Idol Judge Steve Tyler Speaks see page 10 Want More? Check out our Website: chatfieldumc.org JUNE 2011 ● CHATFIELD UMC ● www.chatfielddumc.org ● (507) 867-3529 High School Graduation June 5, 2011 @ 1:30 daughter of Debra Ericson & Tracy Christenson daughter of Scott & Jeanne Ferguson son of Tom & Paula Ferrier daughter of Gary & Sherry Hareldson daughter of Candice Hare & Jeff Hare daughter of Mike & Debra Wooner son of Dale Wright & Deanna Wright Bernard & Chatfield UMC Scholarship applications were due on May 29. Two applications were received. We will announce winner in the July Newsletter. 2011 GRADUATES Samantha Christenson Ashley Ferguson Drew Ferrier Shaelyn Hareldson Courtney Moore Haley Wooner Clayton Wright Before you were even formed, God knew you. While in your Mother's womb, God named you. At your birth, God's breath filled you with life. With your graduation, we celebrate what you have become at this moment in time. Graduation Recognition Sunday JUNE 19, 2011 2 Ringing only on Sundays for nearly a decade, our church bell has not summoned to daily prayer or reminded those in its range of God's presence. Even though the bell originally rang midweek, it hung silent due to the inevitable failing of mechanical parts that ceased after forty years of faithful service. A few weeks ago, the son of the original craftsman came to inspect the system his father had made by hand. Reminiscing over his father's detailed handmade work, this contemporary craftsman proved why his family's business lasted over generations. However, with all things mechanical, lifecycles are short. The news wasn't good. Aged mechanical parts caused the clapper that rings the bell to be extended too long. Without a new clock, the failing mechanical parts would ultimately cause the bell to stop ringing altogether. This would cost more than $10,000 to fix. A decision was made by representatives of the Trustees and the Ad-Council to authorize spending $3,000 to replace the mechanical clock with an electronic clock that needed very little interaction. So now the clock rings out its reminders on Sundays and midweek at noon and 6 pm. So here is where the call rings out to you. Would you consider offsetting this unexpected expense with your gift? Church Bell So far just over $1,000 has been given for this purpose. Thank you. 3 Parish Nurse Dear Church Family & Friends, In both Matthew and 1Corinthians, we are encouraged to see that life is more than food (6:25 and 6:13), and for our right relationship with God to affect all of our life choices, including dietary choices. This month I would like to visit with you about Childhood Obesity. The problems associated with overweight children include emotional pain, social isolation, guilt, disease and disability. Obesity refers to a weight greater than 20% of normal weight. How Serious is Childhood Obesity? According to the U.S. Surgeon General, *23% of children age 6-19 are overweight *Our children are now showing signs of type 2 diabetes, formerly only a disease affecting middle-age or older adults, and high cholesterol and blood pressure *14% of our youth report that they engaged in no recent physical activity OK, What Can We Do At Home? *Avoid traditional diet plans, and focus on avoiding foods high in sugar and fats, and reducing portion sizes. Encourage eating for life, not a two-week weight goal *Don't require children to 'clean their plates' and avoid always using food as a reward for accomplishment *Incorporate physical activity into children's everyday schedule *Role model healthy food choices at home *Eat foods only in the kitchen or dining room, rather than in front of the TV or computer May He Richly Bless & Empower Us, Bev Simpson 4 Bev Simpson Next blood-pressure screening is June 26 at 9:00 am and 10:30 am Questions? Ask Bev Simpson Phone: 867-0064 email: [email protected] Networking You may reach Pastor in a number of ways: 1. Call the Church-867-3529 2. Call Pastor’s One Call 867-8438 3. E-mail him at: [email protected] The Pastor is always available for home visitations, counseling and hospital visits when notified or requested. Please keep him informed of your needs as he is there to respond. In an emergency, use the One Call number to reach him on his cell phone. Mondays is Pastor’s Sabbath. Prayer Prayers requested for the following individuals: Hank Anderson, Gaylon & Marge Amy, Phyllis Amy, Alice Arndt, Carol Hadoff, Lois Bacon, Hilda Brekke, SSG. Mike Budahn, Rod Copeman, Doris Durfey, Evalyn Gardner, Jean Goldsmith, Patricia Hanson, Janice Haug, Lorraine Herrick, Pat Hill, Leola Hinckley, John Johnson, Les Knutson, William Kremer, Sandy Maker, Pauline Outcalt, Melissa Ploetz, David Rostad, Jackie Meyer-Rostad, Bob Siegel, Gordon Tienter, Lorajean Vrieze, Sarah Waadevig, Richard Wright, Dolly Zincke, and Russ Zincke. Worship Service Readers June 5 June 12 June 19 June 26 Bea Zincke Bill V. Wright Marissa Hanson Betty Johnson If you can’t read on your date; call someone else on the list. New readers are always welcome. June Ushers Don & Marge Simpson Larry & Donna Tucker Dwaine & Kathy Kamnetz 5 12 19 26 Greeters Let’s be a welcoming church! “Corn”-er Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. If college or high school graduates have changed addresses please let me know so we can update our files. Please send all committee minutes and Ad Council agenda items to me by June 16 via e-mail. Thank you. My e-mail address is: Fellowship Facilitators June Karen’s webmaster @chatfieldumc.org Altar Guild Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4 During the month of June the Worship/Missions/Community Committee is in charge of Coffee Fellowship. 5 June Birthdays Continued from page1 2 Tyler Nelson I earnestly desired to share with you a faith that is stronger than our own human wants, ways, protests and perceptions. 3 Alta Reese 5 Josh Bernard 4 5 John Hines 5 Jeffrey Meyer 5 Jacob Westrum 6 Barbara Amy 7 Brenda Johnson 8 Karen Amundson 8 Jordan Amy 9 Richard Bakken 11 Marjorie Amy 13 Judy Miller 14 Barbara Smith 16 Larry Tucker 18 Nicole Ostby 18 Marvin Seablom 18 Phyllis Waadevig In our lives together as Christians, I hoped to have demonstrated that comported interactions, ordered liturgical expressions and disciplined study are a gift we Christians were meant to enjoy. God did not desire you to get lost in the wild sea of randomness or in the wilderness of unknowing. A Big CUMC "Thank You" to Ryan Forbes for his many hours of service wiring the church network! So with that summary, I sign off as the editor of this newsletter, the ringleader of Tuesday Morning shenanigans (also called Bible Study), the building superintendent, computer operator, business manager, and -most importantly - as your pastor. May our loving God always keep you in His good care, and may the joy of truth and the knowledge of God lead you from joy to greater joy. May you always remain in Christ, Pastor Jean-Claude (JC) Duncan 19 Jerry Baudoin 19 Karen Budahn 20 Harold Johnson 22 Denise Halloran 22 Jennifer Lange-Collett 22 Larry Westrum 23 Aaron Moore 25 Gordon Tienter 26 Pat Hill Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air..No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 6 From Semcac: UMW No General Meetings in June, July or August High School Graduation is June 5 We will honor our Graduates June 19 Doris Narveson & Betty Thomas, Funeral Coordinators Phyllis Waadevig & Betty Thomas at the UMW salad luncheon Thank you for your generous gift of $125.00. With $125.00 the food shelf is able to purchase about 521 pounds of food to help stock the shelves. In 2010, 274 local families with 679 people visited the food shelf to have nutritious food on their tables and stretch their limited household dollars to meet other basic needs. Again, thank you for your generous support, Friend! Thanks to all who helped with the UMW Salad Luncheon; the ladies who set up for the event, all who donated salads, bars, baked goods and plants, those who served during the tea and those who cleaned up afterwards. Your joint efforts are all needed to make every event a success and enable us to support the missions of the UMW. A big "Thank You" to all who worked and/or donated food for Virginia Siegel's funeral. 7 Bishop's Blog When was the last time you gave serious thought, reflection, study, and discussion to the topic of salvation? I have been challenged and engaged by Rob Bell’s new book on salvation, Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived (HarperOne, 2011). It seems like the perfect book to help us rethink salvation; to think through it again in order to understand the questions that many people in our culture are asking but are often afraid to raise with us Christians because we say we have the only right and orthodox answer, end of discussion. The book has been very controversial because Bell dances with the concept of universal salvation. That’s the idea that God’s love wouldn’t leave anyone outside the gates of heaven. I benefited greatly by reading on the blog “Commonplace Holiness” a post by Dr. Jerry Walls, a former professor at Asbury Seminary (an evangelical school of theology). Walls is head and shoulders more knowledgeable than me on such topics like universal salvation. He says that Bell stops far short of saying he believes it [universal salvation] must turn out this way, or even that he is confident that it will. Bell makes it emphatically clear that love cannot be forced, that love can be rejected and perversely resisted, and if this is true now, it can be true in the life to come. . . . However, he also makes it unequivocally clear that he believes God sincerely loves every single person, and will give everyone every opportunity to accept [God’s] love and be saved, whether or not they have heard of Christ in this life, or accepted him in this life. What really makes some Christians angry, Walls suggests, is Bell’s assertions about God’s unconditional love. (Bell finds evidence of this in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, unconditional father, and conditional brother. The “elder brothers” of today’s church seem to have consigned Bell to hell!) Whether you’re hanging with the elder brothers or hoping that everyone has an eternal opportunity to choose or reject God’s love (which is what Bell suggests), the blessing of this book is that many people beyond the church (as well as within) are aware of it. It gives us a teachable moment to rethink salvation. Why waste such a moment? Continued on next page 8 A chance to talk Too many conversations about salvation are short-circuited by assertions like “I have the right answer and you have the wrong answer;” end of conversation. Nobody learns, nobody is drawn closer to knowing the love and grace of Jesus Christ, nobody’s heart is stretched or broken for someone else. It’s just a battle over who is right and who is wrong. And ultimately, where does that get anyone? Bell maintains that how we think about heaven (and, I would argue, how we think about any other church doctrine) directly affects how we live. He describes it as the “future dragged into the present.” I like that image. It’s like how we use personal computers. When we drag a file from one drive to another, such as from our hard drive to a data storage stick, we are copying the file into a second place. The data is in both files. So when we “drag” the future— heaven— into this life, we’re “dragging” or “copying” what God promises we will know in heaven into this life, where we are called to work for the that same promise. If we believe that in heaven there are no more crying and no more tears, no more suffering and no more racism, no more hunger and no more want, no more . . . no more . . . no more . . . , then we must drag that “no more” into this life. We must work for no more crying and no more tears, no more suffering and no more racism, no more hunger and no more want, no more, no more, no more! We work for heaven on earth, just like we say in the Jesus prayer. Yet, Bell says, “those who talk the most about going to heaven when you die talk the least about bringing heaven to earth right now. . . . At the same time, it often appears that those who talk the most about relieving suffering now talk the least about heaven when we die” (p. 45). I think he would make a great United Methodist since he seems to put the personal (eternal life beyond this life) and social (working for heaven on earth now) holiness together. I’m not urging you to agree or disagree with Bell. My point is that his book offers a great opportunity for all of us to rethink salvation for ourselves and others. Bishop Sally Dyck 9 FOUND ON THE WEB: STEVE TYLER AND HIS PAST Long before he won accolades as an American Idol judge, Steven Tyler was a bona-fide rock star, with all that that implied. In 1975, when he was in his late 20s and the lead singer for the band Aerosmith, Tyler persuaded the parents of his 14-year-old girlfriend, Julia Holcomb, to make him her legal guardian so that they could live together in Boston. When Miss Holcomb and Tyler conceived a child, his longtime friend Ray Tabano convinced Tyler that abortion was the only solution. In the Aerosmith “autobiography,” Walk This Way (in which recollections by all the band members, and their friends and lovers, were assembled by the author Stephen Davis), Tabano says: “So they had the abortion, and it really messed Steven up because it was a boy. He … saw the whole thing and it [messed] him up big time.” I'm famous! Tyler also reflects on his abortion experience in the autobiography. “It was a big crisis. It’s a major thing when you’re growing something with a woman, but they convinced us that it would never work out and would ruin our lives. … You go to the doctor and they put the needle in her belly and they squeeze the stuff in and you watch. And it comes out dead. I was pretty devastated. In my mind, I’m going, Jesus, what have I done?” [...] After the abortion, Tyler began a torrid affair with Playboy model Bebe Buell while still seeing Julia, the mother of his aborted son. If you were wondering what happened to Julia (who is referred to as Diana Hall in the book) after this [...] procedure, Bebe tells us: “There were many suicidal calls from poor Diana as they were breaking up. It was actually a pretty sad time.” And how was Steven coping? Tyler went on a European concert tour, accompanied by Bebe, who tells us: “He was crazy … totally drunk, really out of it. … Steven destroyed his dressing room at Hammersmith … when we got back from Europe. … One night I found him on the floor of his bathroom having a drug seizure. He was writhing in pain.” This was followed by Steven’s “Tuinal days” — a period he spent stoned on massive doses of the barbiturate. He says: “I would eat four or five a day … and be good for a couple of months … which is why that period is blackout stuff.” [...]Then Bebe Buell became pregnant with Tyler’s child. She realized it would be impossible to raise a child with him given his out-of-control substance abuse and rock-and-roll lifestyle. She returned to her former lover, the composer, producer, and recording artist Todd Rundgren, who agreed to act as father of the child and keep Tyler’s fatherhood a secret. Their daughter, who grew up to be the actress Liv Tyler, was born on July 1, 1977. TRAUMA AND HEALING For many post-abortive men and women, the anxiety associated with an abortion can surface at unexpected times, triggered by events such as a subsequent pregnancy, the death of a pet or a loved one, or some other person, place, or thing that in some way connects with the traumatic memory. ABORTION: Good people disagree on the underlying issue in this article. What is your opinion? Post replies on CUMC's facebook discussion page. Years later, when Tyler married, and he and his wife were expecting their first child, he was still haunted by the abortion: “It affected me later. … I was afraid. I thought we’d give birth to a six-headed cow because of what I’d done with other women. The real-life guilt was very traumatic for me. Still hurts.” Exerpts from: Rocker Steven Tyler of Aerosmith Haunted by Girlfriend’s Abortion at lifenews.com 10 All church Picnic fundraiser Sunday, June 12 Rain or Shine! 11:30 to 1:00 Chatfield City Park – Rain location is Chatfield Lutheran Hall Serving Burgers, Brats, Hotdogs, chips, dessert, and beverage. Yum! Free Will Offering—with proceeds to the Chatfield Ministerial Fund. Bring Lawn Chairs! Sponsored by the Chatfield Ministerial Association to raise funds to be used to meet the short-term needs of people of the community. 711 2011 VBS Theme verse: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3;1 Volunteer Sign up Form Vacation Bible School wouldn’t happen without volunteers! Please consider volunteering your time to help make this year’s VBS a success. Name______________________________________________ Adult_______ Youth__________ Name______________________________________________ Adult_______ Youth__________ Email________________________________________________ Phone__________________ I can volunteer M________ Tu________ W_________ Th________ F_________ I cannot help the week of VBS, but can help with prep. Yes _______ No_______ Please return by June 6. A volunteer coordinator will contact you in the weeks to come to find out your areas of interest. CHATFIELD UMC VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL July 18-22, 8:45 – 11:45 am - Monday through Friday 2011 VBS Registration Child ________________________________________ Age _________ Grade __________ Child ________________________________________ Age _________ Grade __________ Child ________________________________________ Age _________ Grade __________ Child ________________________________________ Age _________ Grade __________ Parents Name(s) ______________________________ Phone ________________________ Address ______________________________________ email __________________________ Allergies or other notes: _______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Emergency Contact __________________________________________________ Phone __________________________________________________________ 13 Service Opportunities Service Needs Load up your friends, stamping supplies, fun card ideas, and join me to make handmade greeting cards that our troops can use to write home on. This event will support Operation Write Home, who sends an average of 40,000 cards each month to our service men and women! These heroes get to pick out the card and then send it home for free. Saturday, June 18 – 9 am to 4 pm (come for as long as you want) Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 805 South Broadway Ave., Spring Valley, MN Cost: $5.00 per person (to help cover the cost of shipping the cards to OWH) Sign up by: June 1st Focus on quality not quantity (8 to 10 cards of each design is good). NO glitter (glitter gets on their uniforms & makes them visible at night, putting them in danger). Standard sized cards only (4 ¼” x 5 ½”) Envelopes are not required Types of cards needed most are: Birthday (especially kid birthdays); Love you; Miss you; Thinking of You; Other. Don't just talk, ACT! COMMUNITY Help Deliver Meals On Wheels Help Sew On Tags In Care Center Help Serve at VBS Make Cakes for All Church Picnic BUILDING / TRUSTEES Replace Bulbs in Sanctuary (Flood & Fluorescent Lights) Rock Drain by Lower Entrance Replace Parsonage Window Well Covers Repair Tree Ring Broke By Plow Volunteer Building Superintendant Needed If you can’t attend but have cards that you would like to donate, please email to make arrangements to drop your cards off. WORSHIP Help Run Soundboard Male Voice Needed For Praise & Worship Team 2012 Mission Trip Committee Volunteers Card kits will be available to beginner stampers at a cost of $5 each kit. Call or email Trish Cudney to reserve your spot. 507-251-8665 or [email protected] Call the church office to say, "Count me in!" God Bless. A youth of our church helping at the sound board Helping to serve the Easter Breakfast P a g e 1 1 Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid Chatfield, MN Permit #6 124 Winona St SE Chatfield, MN 55923 Address Service Requested Chatfield United Methodist Church 124 Winona St SE Chatfield, MN 55923 Church Phone: (507) 867-3529 Pastor’s Emergency One Call: (507) 867-8438 Secretary E-Mail: 2011 Graduates Sunday Schedule Samantha Christenson Ashley Ferguson Drew Ferrier Shaelyn Hareldson Courtney Moore Haley Wooner Clayton Wright 9:00 Coffee 9:00 Praise & Worship 9:30 Worship 10:30-ish More Coffee [email protected] Children & Youth E-Mail: [email protected] Pastor’s E-Mail: SCRIPTURE READINGS for June pastor@chatfi eldumc.org M June 2-Ascension Day: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 June 5- Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11 www.chatfieldumc.org June 12-Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 7:37-39 June 19- Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 June 26- Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42