PASTOR'S PIECE:
Dear Friends,
Over the summer, our daughter Carolyn and her family moved from Chicago to Henrietta NY, a suburb of Rochester. This has brought a lot of change (almost all of it good) including a new school for Ben, who starts first grade next week. For kids, like Ben, who haven’t ridden the school bus before, this week there was “bus orientation”. The students were picked up at their bus stop, rode the route and then delivered to school just as they will be on the first day.
Carolyn sent me a video of the kids arriving at school. As the kids got off the bus, the aids and teachers welcomed them with applause and cheers. It was a midweek, end of August, “we are so glad you are here” celebration! What a difference it made to the new kids and to their parents to know they were welcomed.
As we move into this new season, my prayer is that we, the people of Stone Church, will find joy in welcoming the “new kid on the block” and will celebrate the arrival of a busload of opportunities for ministry.
This is the day, the month, the year that God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! In Christ…Pastor Sarah
SEPTEMBER 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)
September 5th Guest Preacher Doug Tucker
September 12th CommunionSunday
September 19th Last Sunday of Summer
September 26th Ride for the Refuge Celebration!
THANK YOU'S:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! A heartfelt thanks to…Millie Ray for tending the geraniums all summer…Jim Ross for creatively addressing the organ repair…Our wonderful August musicians: Marian Beckman, Jane Ellen Nickell, Jim Ross and the Virtual Choir…Chautauqua Tea Cookie bakers and servers: Carolyn and Jim Turnbull, Joyce and Dick Minnis, Jane Ellen Nickell, Margot Stoll, Anne Finney, Marian Beckman, Barb Baker, Marge Daniels and Pastor Sarah…Larry Sippy for assembling and setting the soon-to-be “Peace Pole”…Thunder in the City volunteers…Sarah and Tyson Johnston for hosting the Church Picnic…Our weekly “counters”: Aundra Zack, Anne Finney, Lisa Clayton, Lisa Foust, Barb Baker and Patty Brown…Hedge trimmers: Jeff Loutzenhiser, Jim Schlosser, Harry Jewell and Larry Sippy All who continue to work through and pray through the changes at Stone United Methodist Church… THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated popsicles, bottled water, and cash for items for our Thunder in the City tent. Thanks to Lisa Foust, Sasha Renicker, Joyce Minnis, Judy Dennis, Sarah Roncolato, Cyndi Bland and Gloria Shields for helping run the tent and get some faces of Stone out into the community. The total raised was $136.50!
Thank you to Tyson, Sarah, Morgan and Ashley Johnston for opening your home and beautiful Camp Chickasaw to our church family for our annual church picnic. Also, thanks to everyone who came and brought food to share.
Stone Church, I do appreciate seeing the Sunday morning service each week on TV. Peggy Kelly
Many thanks to the kind folks of Stone UMC for providing a lovely “Tea” for the UM House and its visitors. The cookies are still being enjoyed with morning coffee on the porch and the remaining punch was great with popcorn. Thanks for helping us share Methodist hospitality! Blessings, Karen
SYMPATHY:
Sympathies to the family of Pat Power who passed away August 5th.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Marie and Jim Schlosser on the birth of their first great-grandchild, Holston Zachary Miller on July 30th.
Belated congratulations to Andy and Suzanne Lawlor on the birth of their grandson, Andrew Gerald Lawlor, born November 29th. Andrew is the nephew of Sarah and Tyson Johnston, cousin of Ashley and Morgan.
Congratulations on the baptism of Kurt Michael Russell on August 21st. Kurt is the son of Jackie (Children’s Center Director) and Andrew Russell and brother to Khloe and Kara.
RIDE FOR THE REFUGE:
JOIN STONE RIDERS TODAY AND HELP RAISE MONEY FOR ERIE UNITED METHODIST ALLIANCE IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS!
In addition to riding throughout the month of September, this year we will be hosting a "fun" ride/walk for children, youth AND adults! For more specific details visit our Family Ministries Page.
Interested individuals may sign up to participate online at stoneumc.org or by picking up a registration in the church office.
Ride For The Refuge Stone Rider’s
Kids Tricycle, Bicycle, Fun Run, Fun Walk
Event Details
Where: Woodcock Campground, 23050 Woodcock Lake Park, Meadville, PA 16335
When: Sunday, September 26th @ 1pm
Order of Events:
1:00 pm: Arrival/Registration
1:15 pm: Kids Tricycle/Bicycle Ride
1:30 pm: Kids Fun Run
1:45 pm: Youth/Adult 1.5-mile walk
Hot Dogs, Bottled Water and Popsicles will be available for participants, family, and friends throughout the event.
BIBLE STUDY:
Riding, Running, Rolling, Strolling!
We move forward as disciples through…Study!
Sunday Mornings, beginning September 19th, 10-11am
Join Lisa Clayton in Miller Parlor for a conversation about Adam Hamilton’s study “The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life”.
Wednesday Mornings, beginning September 8th, 10-11am
Pastor Sarah will be leading this same study.
WINTER PLANNING MEETING:
Preparing for the next season… and you are invited!
With one successful seasonal planning meeting under our belt, we now look ahead to the Advent and Christmas season. Rather than having separate ministry area committee meetings, all interested persons will meet together to brainstorm and plan for the holy holiday season. This gathering is set for Thursday September 9th 5:30-7:30pm in Miller Parlor. We will share a light dinner and plan for this coming season. Please call/email the church office to say you are coming!
MEN'S STUDY:
Men,
After a summer break our weekly Bible study will pick up again this fall.
We have had steady group that was meeting weekly until July when we decided to break for the summer. We are set to resume our weekly time together and would be delighted to have any man that is seeking to grow in his relationship with God join us.
We will be starting an 11-week study series entitled “Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven” with noted scholar of Biblical prophecy David Jeremiah.
Come join us on Thursday nights starting September 9 at 6:30 PM.
Hope to see you there!
SAFE SANCTUARIES:
Did you know? -An estimated 1 in 7 children in the US has experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year. -Adult survivors of childhood abuse are more likely to experience mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.
Safe Sanctuaries is a policy of the United Methodist Church that helps make congregations safe places where children, youth, and elders may experience the abiding love of God and fellowship within the community of faith.
Safe Sanctuaries resources encourage the entire congregation to be familiar with and support the abuse prevention policies that are in place.
It is very important that everyone—adults, youth, children, and visitors—know and have simple access to our church’s basic commitment to caring for children, youth, and others vulnerable to abuse.
Please consider attending the next training session, Sunday Sept 12 from 10:00-11:00. To register or get in contact with our Safe Sanctuaries coordinator, contact the church office.
CYF:
Calling all parents of children ages 0-18: You’re invited to our first Parent Happy Hour via Zoom on Friday, September 10th at 9pm. Put the kids to bed, grab your favorite drink and snack and join us for some fun, games and conversation! You can find the link to join on our website under the Family Ministry, Parent Resources page or e-mail cyf@stoneumc.org.
Attention Families: Beginning Sunday, September 12th be sure to check out our CYF Facebook group for some fun bible stories and activities to keep young minds engaged! A different story will be posted every Sunday around 7pm. Then be sure to join us for Celebrate Wonder Wednesdays: every week in September starting on the 15th, children ages 3-6 are invited to zoom story time at 7pm for a live version of our bible story for the week along with some fun! But wait… there’s more! Children in grades 1 to 4 are invited to zoom in at 7:30 for a short lesson, activities and games. Let’s get together and Celebrate Wonder! For more information visit our Family Ministry page on our website at www.stoneumc.org
EUMA: Got Shoes??
Elaine Burkholder, lay leader at our sister church, Bethany UMC, will be taking a carload of shoes to the EUMA warehouse the week of September 12th. If you have new or lightly used shoes you would like to donate to our district shoe drive, please bring them to the church by Sunday September 12th. The shoes need to be clean and connected, either by laces or a rubber band. There will be a box in Thoburn Lobby and at the back of the sanctuary.
WINGS AND THINGS:
Hey Ladies, are you ready to gather again?
Spend your LAST DAY OF SUMMER out with the girls!!!
Please join us for Wings and Things at:
Pizza Villa on Tuesday Sept 21st at 6:00
Step into a stress-free zone!!! No special requirements to participate, no committees to join, just food, fun and fellowship with other stressed out, but supportive women!!!
Please RSVP at the church office 724-6736 by Sunday Sept 19th so we know how many to plan for.
(A few Extra seats will be available if all the stars align and you can make it, but you haven’t RSVP…Just Come!)
MEADVILLE MOPS:
Our local Meadville MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) group is looking for volunteers to help in the children’s wing during meetings. We meet on the first and third Thursday of every month from 9 to 11:30 at New Beginnings Church of God. MOPSKids volunteers must have updated clearances. All MOPSKids volunteers are provided a free breakfast and coffee, tea, or water. Please contact Cyndi Bland for more information. Meadville MOPS/MOMSnext is a ministry that serves and ministers to area moms, from any walk of life, in any stage of parenting from conception to age 18. www.meadvillemops.com
SEPTEMBER COUNTERS:
7th Patty Brown & Aundra Zack
12th Anne Finney & Lisa Clayton
19th Barb Baker & Lisa Foust
26th Patty Brown & Aundra Zack
CREATIVITY CORNER:
I wrote the following poem while on retreat at Olmsted Manor in September of 2000. I hand wrote it sitting down by the creek. The person collecting the writings from the participants couldn’t read my handwriting (which comes as no surprise to many of you); so the line “O Holy Heron” was transcribed as “O Holy Heroine”, a perfect tribute to this beautiful bird… Pastor Sarah
The Heron
I caught a glimpse of you as you
Skimmed down through the trees
And over the water-
I wanted you-I wanted more of you.
And so I ran-I left my stone
Seat and ran through the grass
and soft leaves-through a
neighbor’s yard.
Down the creek I saw you just
For a moment again,
Silent, gray.
But I could not move closer-
There was a fence and a sense
That separated us.
You flew again-soft, low, silent, gray,
Out of my vision.
O Great One, O Holy Heroine,
Today you are not to be mine.
Today you belong only to the water,
The rocks, and the patient vision
Of the trees.
