13 Green St. Augusta, ME 04330 Sunday Worship 8 & 10:30am Sunday School @ 9am Office Hours Monday - Friday 8am-2pm Phone Number: Office: (207) 622-0843 email: [email protected] web: www.greenstreetumc.net Minister: Rev. Kristin White With close to four feet of snow in the past week and more on the way I don’t think we will see the church sign until spring! Jesse Lee Cluster Event Inside This Issue Pastor’s Page February Birthdays AMT Soup Lunch Storm Cancellations Kid’s Page Green Church February Calendar Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 pg. 7 Saturday, February 7th, 8:30am at Green Street. (snow date: Saturday, February 14th) Clergy and Lay Members of all committees in the cluster churches are invited to gather and share their procedures, policies, and ideas. this is a great opportunity to learn the ways other churches in the cluster are doing things. Please come and participate in this learning experience. PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Page 2 Pastor’s Page Ash Wednesday Learning to use a woodstove was a new experience for me when I moved to Maine. I love the smell of wood smoke on a winter night and the warmth of the fire, and I’ve now had enough practice to get a fire going without much effort. I’m also careful about removing the old ashes to keep the woodstove clean. If all the ashes were left in the stove, there would eventually be no space left to build a fire. Not unlike a woodstove, we must also clear the ashes and debris out of our lives from time to time, or our hope and passion for life will be choked by the ashes. Our ashes may include painful experiences from the past, disappointments or fears that linger with us. Like wood consumed in a fire, our ashes come from those leftover feelings of pain and frustration that live in our hearts and consume us. Among those things, unresolved guilt often tops the list. Guilt eats away at our thoughts, emotions and relationships; it erodes our sense of self-worth. Acknowledging our guilt and seeking forgiveness can be a powerful way to cleanse and renew our lives. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. Receiving ashes on our forehead acknowledges our sorrow and humility because of our sin. The ashes symbolize our repentance and our desire for change. Ash Wednesday provides a chance to re-examine our lives each year: we acknowledge the guilt that we carry with us; we reflect on our relationships that are not healthy or whole; we take stock of our behavior to see what we need to change. On Ash Wednesday we offer our lives to God for transformation. We clear out the ashes of the past year in order to build a new fire in our souls. As we approach Ash Wednesday this year, let us take time to reflect on the ashes that have built up in our lives and to reflect on things of the past that need to be cleared away. Take time this year to prepare for Lent by giving your ashes to God; seek God’s renewal to live life with rekindled passion. In Christ, Pastor Kristin PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com February Birthdays 2 – Rebecca Pullen 6 – Sue Landreth 8 – Donna Alexander 8 – Caleb Sutter 15 – Darby Rock 16 – Linda Forbes 17 – Robert Thurlow 24 – Kristen Tripp 25 – Charlotte McGuire 26 – Maria Elmshauser United Methodist Women News The next UMW meeting is Wednesday, February 11 at noon in LL rooms 1 & 2. The program is "A Call To Prayer and Self Denial" presented by Sandy Grady. Nancy Merrick will hostess. Bring a bagged lunch. Dessert and drink are provided. All women are invited to attend. For more information contact Sandy Grady at 549-4513 Share Your Special Prayer Do you have a favorite prayer? Perhaps a prayer that you recite before meals, before bed or upon waking up? Or a prayer that you were taught by a parent, grandparent, or friend? Perhaps a prayer that reminds you of a certain person, place or experience? Or a prayer that you came across and kept, one that has stayed with you? If you are willing to share your favorite prayer with the congregation, please be in touch with Pastor Kristin (6223656 or [email protected]). Thank you! Adult Mission Team Soup Luncheon American Cancer Society Needs Volunteer Drivers The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program provides patients with free rides to cancer treatment centers. They are looking for volunteers who can u se their own vehicle to drive patients undergoing cancer treatments to and from their appointments. By giving a little of your time, you can help save lives while fulfilling your own. To become a volunteer driver call 1-800-227-2345 Worship Committee Planning Meeting The Worship Committee will meet for lunch followed by a planning meeting on Saturday, February 7 at 12:30pm in fellowship hall. Thank You The pastor and staff of Green Street thank all of you for your kindness and generosity with this year’s Christmas gift. We feel blessed by all of you. Pastor Kristin, Darby, Dan, Bob, George and Meaghan At coffee hour on Sunday, Feb. 22, the Adult Mission Team will be serving a soup luncheon. A “free will” offering will the gratefully accepted. Please plan to come and support our trip to Oak Hill, West Virginia in March. Dear Church Family, Yesterday I shed my heavy cast for a lighter one. My other ailments are much improved. I have felt the love, the prayers and the good wishes coming my way from you, family and friends. I have been so lucky to be here where I have been waited on hand and foot and the sun has been warm but I shall be glad to be back in Maine in late February. Much love, Marjorie Tribou PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Page 4 Healthy Boundaries 201 Beyond the Basics A workshop to deepen faith leaders' understanding of the importance of healthy boundaries in ministry and teaching and critically discern the complexities of boundaries in light of new challenges and emerging issues. Laity in church leadership, teaching roles, children and youth workers, etc. are encouraged to attend. Also good for members of Staff/Parish Relations Committees. Saturday, March 21 8:30am to 3:00pm at Pleasant Street UMC in Waterville. Pastor Kristin will be attending. Deadline to register is February 15. For more information contact the church office. Lenten Women’s Retreat Friday, March 6 beginning at 6pm to Saturday, March 7 at 4pm at Camp Mechuwana. “Lord Teach Me to Pray” Led by Heidi Chamberland. Cost is $75. includes lodging, snacks and meals. (commuters $55.) Registration deadline is February 25. For more information or to register contact Heidi Chamberland at 860-888-2934 or [email protected] Green Street Storm Cancellations When worship is canceled or postponed due to weather we will notify church members three ways: A One Call Now phone message: If you are not receiving phone messages please let the church office know that you need your phone number added to the One Call Now database. Email: if you are not receiving emails from Green Street please let the church office know that you want your email address added to the contact list. Facebook: There is a Green Street Facebook Public Page and a Green Street Facebook Group. The Facebook Group has cancellations and postponements along with other information, prayer requests and posts from group members that are private and can only be viewed by the group members. In order to be a part of the group page you can send a request to join through Facebook or contact the church office to be added to the group. Contact Darby at the church office 622-0843 or [email protected]. Camp Mechuwana Youth Rally Youth in grades 6 -12 are invited to the Youth Rally February 6th – 8th . Camp Mechuwana will continue their tradition of celebrating winter with hosting a winter carnival with many events and games, some of them wacky, some of them difficult but all of them fun! This weekend’s theme is “Doing More with Less”. We will talk about and do some interesting activities around protecting God’s creation – earth. Cost is $40. Go to www.mechuwana.org for a registration form Household Goods Drive for Homeless Veterans Lanny White on behalf of the Waterville Elks is collecting household items and furniture for homeless veterans. If you have any new or gently used household items such as towels, blankets, pillows, kitchen items, furniture, bedding, etc. Lanny will gladly accept them for area veterans. Church Supplies You can help save on the budget by picking up an extra item here and there when you shop and donating it to the church. Below is a list of items that are always needed. Paper Towels Toilet Paper Tall Kitchen Bags Coffee Cups (no Styrofoam please) Coffee Creamer Donations can be left in Fellowship Hall. Pastor Kristin on Vacation th Pastor Kristin will be on vacation from February 9 to February 17th. If you have a pastoral emergency contact Jim Jacobsen at 215-5767, Lynn Kennard at 215-5634 or the church office at 622-0843. They will know how to contact a covering pastor. PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Page 5 Mechuwana Campership Time It’s time to sign up for Summer Camp at Mechuwana. To download a brochure, visit www.mechuwana.org or call 377-2924. Please provide a copy of your registration form to the church office before May 15 if you are attending a summer camp, as we often cover a significant portion of the cost with a campership. Any questions contact the church office. PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Page 6 EMPTY ME Gracious and Holy One, Creator of all things and emptiness, I come to you full of much that clutters and distracts, Stifles and burdens me, And makes me a burden to others. Empty me of gnawing dissatisfactions, of anxious imaginings, of fretful preoccupations, Of nagging prejudices, of old scores to settle, And of the arrogance of being right. Empty me of the ways I unthinkingly think Of myself as a victim, As determined by sex, age, race, As being less than I am, or as other than yours. Empty me of the disguises and lies In which I hide myself from other people, And from my responsibility for my neighbors And for the world. Hollow out in me a space in which I will find myself, Find peace and a whole heart, a forgiving spirit And holiness, in the spring of laughter, And the will to reach boldly for abundant life For myself and the whole human family. Green Street Has Gone Green! Last year, we at Green Street. voted to become a green church. In the year 2014 we had our first Echo Covenant week in which we celebrated with workshops each evening during the week. One of the days we went to the grade School and gave a demonstration about rain and how it comes to be for some of the children. On Sunday we had a cleanup day at Mechuwana. Our intension this year is to expand and become even greener. As followers of Jesus Christ we are called into a covenant with God to take care of his creation, to serve and care for each other, our neighbors, all creatures we share our lives with and also for the earth God created for us. I am grateful to be a part of this caring and giving congregation at Green Street UMC, and was proud of us as a people who love God, when we voted last year to ban the use of Styrofoam in our church. As your co-lay leader and a member of the Echo Covenant team I would urge you to bring your own cups, or mugs for coffee and tea. If you don’t want to do that please use the paper cups that we provide. Also, if you want to make a donation of plates, cups etc. please keep in mind that we have voted to use only paper, and not Styrofoam. I would also encourage all of you to bring forth any ideas you have in helping us to GROW OUR GREEN here at Green Street UMC Author Unknown. Lynn Kennard A Ton of Thank you all for donating to the Augusta Food Bank towards the ton of food drive. You were certainly generous as we got more than a ton. This will come in very handy especially since the food stamps are being cut way back. One person who gave a check wanted it to be in honor of Peggy Shore, Robin Forbes and Nancy Merrick. Thank you Karen Garcia. PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com February 2015 What’s Happening at Green Street United Methodist Church Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Worship Schedule 8:00 and 10:30 AM Worship 9:00 AM Sunday School Church Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8AM-2PM 1 2 6:30 PM Women’s Bible Study 6:30 PM Narcotics Anonymous 8 15 11:30 AM Missions Committee Meeting 22 First Sunday in Lent Adult Mission Team Fundraiser Soup Luncheon following 10:30 worship 5:30 PM EcoCovenant 6:30 PM SPPRC 5 6 11 9:00 AM DCOM Noon UMW Meeting 6:30 PM Church Council 5:30 PM Bell Choir 7 8:30 AM Jesse Lee Cluster Event 12:30 PM Worship Committee lunch and planning meeting 5:30 PM Bell Choir 10 12 13 14 19 20 21 6:30 PM Choir Practice 16 17 President’s Day Church Office Closed 6:30 PM Women’s Bible Study 6:30 PM Narcotics Anonymous 18 Ash Wednesday 5:30 PM Bell Choir 7:00 PM Ash Wednesday Service 23 5:15 PM Nominations Committee Meeting 6:30 PM Women’s Bible Study 6:30 PM Narcotics Anonymous 4 6:30 PM Choir Practice 9 Pastor Kristin on Vacation this week 6:30 PM Women’s Bible Study 6:30 PM Narcotics Anonymous Sally Joy Preaching 3 24 7:00 PM Trustees Meeting Noon Prayer Shawl Meeting 6:30 PM Choir Practice 25 5:30 PM Bell Choir PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com 5:00 PM Angel Food Supper 26 6:30 PM Choir Practice 27 28 Fuel Day/Ministry Day I wish to donate _____ Fuel Day(s) or Ministry Day(s) (circle one) Date(s) _____________, _______________, _____________, _____________, ____________________ In Honor or Memory (circle one) of ___________________________________________________________ In Honor or Memory (circle one) of ___________________________________________________________ Given by _____________________________________Phone #___________________________________ Please enclose $25 for each day donated. Your gift helps keep our church warm and supports the ministries of our church. Green Street United Methodist Church 13 Green Street Augusta, Maine 04330 Help Us Report Church News Do you know about an upcoming event, program or other item of interest that should be included in the newsletter? If so, please fill out the form below and drop it by the church office or email the information to [email protected] deadline for news articles is the 15th of each month. News received after that date will be published in the following issue, if it is still of interest. Name_______________________________Phone__________________E-mail____________________ Name of event or activity______________________________Date and Time_______________________ Group or Committee involved______________________________________________________________ Other Information______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ __ PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com
© Copyright 2024