PASTOR'S PIECE:
Dear Friends… E.B. White, author of the classic Charlotte’s Web once wrote, “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” This quote speaks to our ministry as we move into this fall season. With the changing color of the leaves and the bright colors of pumpkins, gourds, and apples, we are called to savor this season, to take in each day as gift. We are also called by Christ to, work to “save” the world as we care for our neighbor, feed the hungry, care for the sick, welcome the stranger. I look forward to another season of ministry with you.
With the Psalmist I say, “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24) …Pastor Sarah
OCTOBER WORSHIP CALENDAR:
9am in person at Stone (And live on Armstrong Cable Channels 23/100 and on Facebook, stoneumc.org)
10:30 Am at Bethany UMC (140 Wadsworth Ave)
October 3rd Word Wide Communion Sunday
October 10th 9am Worship at Stone/10:30am at Bethany
October 17th Music Sunday
October 24th 9am Worship at Stone/10:30am at Bethany
October 31st Rev. Jane Ellen Nickell guest preacher
TIME CAPSULE:
A letter to Stone Church…in 2071!
On the back of this page, you will find a letter written to the friends and members of Stone Church in 2071! This is a part of our contribution to the Time Capsule to be buried in Diamond Park this month and to be opened in 2071. We know God is still at work in and through the people of Stone, now and in the years to come!
September 19, 2021
Dear 2071 Stone Church Members and Friends,
To quote the Apostle Paul, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. We write to you with great confidence, believing that from the time of this writing to the time of your reading, God has continued to work in and through the people of Stone Church, for the good of this community and of the whole world.
We write to you during an ongoing global pandemic known as COVID 19. Over the past eighteen months the church, along with the whole nation, has dealt with illness, death, shutdowns, regulations from the CDC related to mask wearing and social distancing, and now divisions over the vaccine. The last year has also been one of great political upheaval and social unrest as we once again come face to face with racial injustice in our nation.
Through it all, Stone Church has continued in ministry. Thanks to improved technology (new to us, archaic to you) we have been able to broadcast a quality worship service every Sunday morning. We are now on Facebook (does that still exist??) and continue to work to connect with people unable to be with us in person.
What do we care about? We care about the children in our daycare (The Children’s Center) on the second floor. We care about those who both eat at and volunteer with the Soup Kitchen in Kingsley Hall. We care about all those who find support here at recovery group meetings in the lower level. We care about music-the organ, our praise band CQ, the bell choir and our Virtual Choir. We care about the study of scripture and the practice of worship. We care about our young families and our senior saints. We care about missions; those in our own community like the Weekend Nutrition Support (WiNS), EUMA’s housing ministry in Erie, and The Nydire Connection in Zimbabwe. Our most sincere desire is to live both into and out of our 2011 mission statement; “Compelled by God’s love, we are an inclusive community of faith, meeting people where they are, connecting them to Christ and one another, and helping them live as disciples of Jesus Christ.”
The scripture lesson for worship on the day of our signing, September 19, 2021,100 comes from the Letter to the Ephesians 4:14-21. We leave you with this prayer for you and your ministry…
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may be the power to comprehend with all the saints, what is is breadth, and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to the one who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more that all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and n Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”.
In the Peace, Power and Presence of the Risen Christ,
The 2021 Members and Friends of Stone United Methodist Church
RIDE FOR THE REFUGE:
Way to Ride, Run, Roll, Stroll…Give!
In the second year of EUMA’s Virtual “Ride for the Refuge”, the Stone Riders have once again taken the team lead with over $1200 of donations! Way to go team!! The final tally will be posted online and in the November Messenger.
WITH HEARTFELT SYMPATHY:
Sympathies to the friends and family of Georgeine Long who passed away of September 12th.
CONGRATULATIONS:
Congratulations to Jay Chaffins on his Champion Lightweight Market Hog at this year's Crawford County Fair!
THANK YOU:
Dear Stone Church Family,
Thank you for all of your prayers, cards and support given to our family. Our son Andy and his wife Mary received brutal treatment from the Elmore County Sheriffs Dept in Montgomery, Al. on July 28th. The incident caused the fatal shooting of our grandson Jonathan. He suffered from severe PTSD after being in the Afghanistan War and never getting over the death of his fellow friend there.
Thank you, Howard & Nancy Pears
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
A heartfelt thanks to…Our wonderful September musicians, liturgists and story tellers: Sarah, Tyson, Morgan and Ashley Johnston, Simon Farrelly-Jackson, CQ, Jim Ross, Jen Ashbaugh and the Virtual Choir, Anne Finney and Leda Boal…John Karns for poison ivy removal…Jeff Loutzenhiser and the trustees for continued care of the building…Darlene Ross and Barb Baker for the delicious dinner for our seasonal planning meeting…Leanne Venesky for leading our September Safe Sanctuaries training…Flower givers for August/September: Armendia Dixon, Tina Taylor, Pat Lafferty, Diane Craven, Joyce Minnis, Carolyn and Jim Turnbull, Marie and Jim Schlosser…Shoe donors and Ride for the Refuge supporters… All who continue to work through and pray through the changes at Stone United Methodist Church… THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
HAPPY HOUR:
Join us for our second parent happy hour via zoom! Friday October 15th at 9pm we will host a parent happy hour for anyone who has children ages 0-18. Put the kids to bed, grab your favorite drinks and snacks and hop on for conversation and virtual games! Hope to see you there!
CELEBRATE WONDER:
Join in on our fall children’s church experience via Zoom or by mail. Sign up to receive monthly mailings based on a series called Celebrate Wonder which can be found on Amplify Media. Our first series kicked off with the story of Joseph on September 12th and will continue weekly with a new lesson on Moses coming out on October 10th. Fun videos are posted to our CYF Facebook group Sunday evenings with a follow up zoom session on Wednesday evenings for ages 3-6 at 7pm and grades 1 to 4 at 7:30pm. More information and registration links can be found on our website under the family ministry page.
WiNS:
The WiNS Project, Inc. is a local, federally registered public charity 501c3. They receive 100% of their funding through personal donations, and grants. This local organization provides "backpacks" providing nutritional support for students over weekends and holiday breaks. Stone Church is blessed to provide both volunteers and food supplies. This month: peanut butter and graham crackers.
HONORING OUR VETERANS:
Please join us for an Organ Concert in Honor of our Veterans with Jim Ross as organist. On Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 2:00 PM here at Stone United Methodist Church.
CREATIVE CORNER:
The following poem was shared at Georgeine Long’s funeral service. It captures Georgeine’s faith in God and attitude about life.
The Prayer of Faith
By Hannah More Kohaus
God is my help in every need;
God does my every hunger feed;
God walks beside me, guides my way
Through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true,
Patient, kind, and loving too.
All things I am, can do, and be
Through Christ, the Truth that is in me.
God is my health, I can’t be sick;
God is my strength, unfailing quick;
God is my all; I know no fear,
Since God and love and Truth are here.
PLEDGE AND CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
Together We Can!
The new numbers are in for our Congregational Pledge and Capital Campaign graphs! Currently pledged income stands at 55,484, through the end of August. Currently Capital Campaign giving stands at 211,768.96, through the end of August. Thanks to all who continue to support Christ’s work through your financial support!
OCTOBER COUNTERS:
3 Anne Finney & John Karns
10 Barb Baker & Jim Ross
17 Anne Finney & Sue DeArment
24 Patty Brown & Cindy Karns
There have been a few changes, so please make sure to double check the office counter sheet.
