Pastor's Piece:
Dear Friends…
While going through my mom’s papers, I came across the following poem;
Keep us, oh God, from pettiness;
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face
without self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous.
Let us take time for all things; make us grow calm serene gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses,
straightforward and unafraid.
Grant that we may realize it is the little things that create differences,
that in the big things of life we are at one.
And may we strive to touch and to know the great,
common human heart of us all,
and oh Lord God, let us forget not to be kind.” By Mary Stewart
My New Year’s resolution is to pray this prayer every day. If so called, I invite you to do this as well. May February find us more gentle, unafraid, and ever so kind… Pastor Sarah
January 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)
January 2nd Epiphany Sunday
January 9th Blessing of 2022 Leadership
January 16th Baptism Sunday
January 23rd
January 30th
Thank you!:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
A heartfelt thanks to: Funeral lunch makers and Christmas decorators: Millie Ray, Phyllis and Garald Stockton, Darlene and Jim Ross, John and Cindy Karns, Joyce Minnis and grandchildren McKenna and Luca, Barb Baker and grandchildren Kaleb and Reagan…Advent Candle Lighters: The Mulhearns, The Mourers, The Means and the Johnstons..."sock givers and Blessing Bag makers...Our amazing Virtual Choir: Jane Ellen Nickell, Carolyn Turnbull, Joyce Minnis, Jim Ross, Jen Ashbaugh, Marian Beckman and Skyler Bland. …The amazing readers and musicians for our “Good News” Christmas program: Sam Venesky, Ashley and Morgan Johnston, Cambria Means, Kia Roncolato-Roomets, Nathan, Carter and Aliana Karns, Rylee, Myla and Skyler Bland, Nick and Izzy Farrelly-Jackson…Ron Snow for welcoming all to worship each Sunday…Erin Means for keeping our giving graphs updated…Poinsettias givers and gift sharers… …To all who give to, pray for, and work with Stone UMC… THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Thank you to Jim Schlosser, Garald Stockton, Matt McElhaney, John and Cindy Karns and Pat Lafferty for all the help this past year with the Senior Food Boxes and the Newsletter. I couldn’t do it without you! Thanks again, Patty Brown
Congrats!:
Marie and Jim Schlosser on the birth of granddaughter Amelia Rose Schlosser, Dec 1st.
Sarah and Dave Roncolato on the birth of grandson Beckett Palmer Roncolato Nov 22nd.
Seasonal Planning:
Yes, spring will come! And we will be ready for it!
Our third “seasonal planning” meeting is Thursday, January 13th, 5:30-7:30 pm. We plan to gather in Miller Parlor for a light dinner and conversation. If weather, or COVID, derails our in-person plan, we will meet online. Everyone is invited to help us think about and plan for Lent, Easter and the months ahead. Sign-ups are helpful for meal planning. You can register online or by calling/emailing the church office at 814-724-6736/stoneumc.org
Fairview/Fairmont:
GOOD NEWS FOR THE NEW YEAR – A FAIRVIEW/FAIRMONT OUTREACH UPDATE
The Outreach Center at Fairview/Fairmont opened its doors again to children on December 6 when the Meadville YMCA began operating its Kids Club at the Center. The Outreach Board and the Y have worked out staffing, programming and support details to provide a partnership of service at Fairview/Fairmont. The Y provides the staff and follows its Kids Club programming model for the after-school program. The Outreach Board provides supplies and equipment and underwrites the cost of Internet services, cleaning of the Outreach Center, and other needs. Once again, we are grateful to both Stone UMC and First Presbyterian for their continued financial support. The Board is fully involved in this partnership and will continue to offer opportunities to both churches to support Kids Club.
Staff persons, hired by the Y, are Rosanne and Emily. Rosanne has returned to the area from working with preschoolers in inner-city Baltimore and Emily has missionary folks in her background. Kids Club operates very similarly to the after-school program offered by the Outreach Board since 1977. Kids Club provides an after-school snack, offers homework help, encourages independent reading along with story time, and coordinates arts and crafts projects and recreational opportunities. 24 elementary age children signed up for Kids Club with attendance averaging between 15-18. Kids Club will also be providing a supper meal during the week in the near future.
Rosanne and Emily have experience with children, enthusiasm, and a knack for knowing what’s needed at the Outreach Center. We are so happy to have them on board and that the response of children and families has been so positive.
Stay tuned for updates from Kids Club at the Outreach Center!
Does this sound like something you would like to be a part of?? Turn the page for two opportunities to volunteer!
OUTREACH BOARD MEMBER NEEDED: The Outreach Board is looking for a new member with bookkeeping skills. We are hoping to find someone
who can do very basic monthly financial reports and minimal on-line bill paying. No payroll or taxes involved.
VOLUNTEER PIANO INSTRUCTOR NEEDED: Several years ago a piano was donated to the Outreach Center. From time to time there have been volunteers available to give lessons to interested children. There are currently several children at Fairview/Fairmont who are keenly interested in learning piano skills. We would love to have the piano used and see children and youth enjoying it! If either of these opportunities interest you, please contact Pastor Sarah at 814-724-6736 for more details. Thank you!
Safe Sanctuaries:
Keeping our children, volunteers, and vulnerable adults safe…
Stone Church is committed to the safety and well-being of all children, vulnerable adults and volunteers. To this end, we actively support the United Methodist Church’s program, “Safe Sanctuaries”. While training is required for all volunteers working with children, we encourage everyone to be familiar with our policies and practices. Please consider attending the next Safe Sanctuaries training, Sunday January 9th from 10-11am. You may attend in person or remotely through Zoom. Please contact the church office to connect with our Safe Sanctuary’s coordinator, Leanne Venesky with any questions you may have.
January Counters:
2 Anne Finney & John Karns
9 Jim Ross & Garald Stockton
16 Patty Brown & Lisa Foust
23 Anne Finney & Sue DeArment
30 Jim Ross & Joyce Minnis
Jared Box Project:
What’s a “Jared Box”??
The Jared Box Project was started in 2001 by the children of Our Lady of Victory School in State College, Pennsylvania, to honor their classmate and friend, Jared. He was a brave little boy who battled cancer with a courage and faith that continues to inspire us all. Since then, more than 900,000 Jared Boxes have been delivered across the United States. Boxes filled with the “gift of play” are given to young patients in emergency rooms, hospital rooms, surgical centers and clinics. Children and their parents are so thankful for these boxes that showcase the importance of play and are filled with well wishes, hope and love.
The mission of the Jared Box Project is to entertain and put a smile on the faces of children in the hospital. Each box contains small gifts, toys, games, crayons, coloring books and fun activities selected for a specific age and gender made by individuals or groups.
Stone UMC wants to help support this mission by collecting items and assembling boxes for Meadville Medical Center during the month of January. A suggested toy list is available in the church office, sanctuary and for download on our website! You can choose to shop for one individual box OR donate any item/items you feel led to purchase. If you choose to put together your own box, please use the labels and materials found in the church lobby/office to label your box according to age appropriateness and whether is it for a male or female. No food items are accepted and please stay away from anything that may break such as glass or other fragile items.
There are a lot of downloadable resources on the Jared Box website as well including activity pages and note card suggestions. We will assemble boxes after Worship on January 23rd and bless them on January 30th .
If you have questions, please contact Cyndi Bland or Marian Beckman. Thank you!
For information on putting together a Jared Box please visit: https://thejaredbox.org/make-a-jared-box/
Men's Study:
A new men’s study will begin January 20, 2022
Men,
Without a doubt, the best case for Christianity is the life of Jesus. What really happened back in the first century, in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee, that changed the shape of world history? Who is this figure that emerges from history to have a profound impact on culture, ethics, politics, and philosophy?
Our group of men continue to seek after God’s heart and we invite you to join us as we follow along with noted historian John Dickson as he shares robust arguments for the life and significance of Jesus in the study titled “Life of Jesus: Who He is and why He matters”.
We would be delighted to have any man that is seeking to grow in his relationship with God join us.
Come join us on Thursday nights starting January 20, 2022 at 6:45 PM. Hope to see you there! Feel free to contact Ron Saccol at roeusac@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like more information.
UMCOR:
How you can help those effected by tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast recover…
Following the devastating and deadly string of December storms and tornadoes, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is on the ground supporting conference disaster response coordinators and providing immediate funding for work with impacted areas as they journey from the chaos of response on through long-term recovery. Please continue to hold victims, survivors and relief workers in your prayers and make a gift to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery at https://umcmission.org/advance-project/901670/. You may also donate through Stone UMC by designating your giving “UMCOR tornado Relief”.
