Joanne’s Jottings by Rev. Dr. Joanne Brown
Youth News by Kathryn Ushimaru Youth Director
February 2016
Information and Inspiration f rom Tibbetts Uni ted Methodist Church
Founded 1909
Joanne’s Jottings 1 & 7
Youth News 1-2
Study Groups 3
We Love Tibbetts Party! 5
Spring Training 6
Souper Bowl Lunch 8
And So Much More!
Inside this issue:
Tidings from
Tibbetts
This month we begin the season of Lent. I know, it seems as if we just got through Christmas, but Ash Wednesday is February 10. This has been a traditional season of fasting and reflection. Fasting is not my big thing. One year in college I decided if Jesus could do it so could I and I de-cided to fast all 40 days of Lent. I really don’t recommend it, es-pecially if you are carrying a full load of classes on the basketball and synchronized swim team, in glee club and president of your class. All I did was make myself incredibly run down and sick – it wasn’t much of a spiritual expe-rience. When you are ordained in the UMC you are asked a se-ries of historic questions asked
of every ordinand since Wesley. One is will you fast by precept and example? To which we have to answer yes. Wesley fasted Wednesdays and Fridays and he kept quite a hectic schedule. Of course, Wesley weighed 130 pounds soaking wet and me, well let’s just say I could live off my fat for the next 5 years and no one would notice. But I would like to introduce a new way of fasting, one I can endorse and even do this Lent. I recently came across a book (shocking I know), Jen Hatmak-er’s The 7 Experiment: Staging Your Own Mutiny Against Ex-cess. So for 7 weeks I am going
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Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown
SALT had a blast planning and writing our own service for Youth Sunday on January 31. A big thanks to everyone that cheered and supported the youth and they read Scripture, played music, and performed a skit for the congregation.
Retreat season continues for SALT: last month, we attended the Tibbetts Retreat at Rainbow Lodge; this month, we will be joining youth from all over the PNW Conference at CONVO 2016 (hosted by Camp Warm Beach). I have many fond
Continued to page 2
We Are Dancing with
the Spirit
Page 2
Tid ings f rom T ibbetts
Continued from page 1
memories of attending CONVO when I was a youth, and I’m looking forward to watching our SALTy Tibs make their own memories. Al-so in February: SALT will be participating in two of our favorite events, Shabbat Service at Kol Haneshama on February 5 and a West Se-attle Food Bank Packing Party on February 8. Finally, we invite our friends and families at Tibbetts to drop the kids off once again at our Parents’ Night Out on February 12. Enjoy a Valentine’s Day dinner and a movie without interruptions, while the youth take care of the kids- believe me, they will be exhausted and ready for bed when they get home! Kathryn Ushimaru Youth Director [email protected]
Youth News
FEBRUARY YOUTH EVENTS
Shabbat Service at Kol Haneshama Synagogue
2/5 (7-8:30pm)
West Seattle Food Bank Packing Party 2/8 (7-8:00pm)
Parents’ Night Out:
Happy Valentine’s Day! 2/12 (5-10pm)
Jr. Youth Group (6th-8th grades)
2/14 (10:15-11:00am)
Sr. Youth Group (9th-12th grades) 2/14 (12:15-1:15pm)
CONVO @ Camp Warm Beach
(6th-12th grades) 2/19-2/21
MID-WINTER BREAK
**NO YOUTH GROUP 2/21
Jr. Youth Group (6th-8th grades) 2/28 (10:15-11:00am)
Sr. Youth Group (9th-12th grades)
2/28 (12:15-1:15pm
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is February 10. At 7pm in the sanctuary we will have a service of meditation and reflection using words and music and in-clude an imposition of ashes. This is relatively
new (in the scheme of things) to Protestants but it is a very good way to prepare ourselves for our “fast” and for getting deeper into our Lenten Journey.
Lenten Study
Another way you can enhance this time of Lent is to join in a 4 week study. We will be meeting Mondays at noon (Feb 22, 29, March 7, March 14) and Wednesday (Feb 17, Feb 24, March 2, March 9) at 6:30pm. Our study will be “Hollywood Jesus” that explores some of cinema’s most famous Jesus movies, as well as movies that have nothing to do with Jesus but teach important truths about our faith, in
order to discover what we can learn from the Jesus of Holly-wood and how film can be a medium for spreading the gospel message. We will be using a book for our discussions as well as a DVD. There will be a sign up sheet in the entryway to sign up for 1 of the study times so I can know how many books to or-der and get them to you be-fore the first meeting.
Supper for Seven
We got off to a great start with eight for sup-per at the Carters house. We enjoyed our-selves so much we are continuing to meet monthly. But wouldn't it be great if more folks could get in on the fun? A new group will be forming and having their first meetup at Nancy Sundberg's house at 6pm on Friday, Feb 5. A sign up sheet is in the narthex.
Give to Tibbetts While You Give to the IRS
Some of you have your taxes prepared for you. There are many great places to go to do your taxes, some of our church members work in those firms. If you have H&R Block do your taxes consider doing them at the office at 3717 California Ave. SW 206-935-2163.
For every tax return that identifies themselves as Tibbetts people, H&R Block will contribute $20 to Tibbetts. Contact Cheryl Jones at that number or email: [email protected] if you have questions or to make arrangements.
Happy B
irthday in
Febru
ary
Russ Kari
Katy Carter
Delancey Lane
Norm Leader
Skylar Bihl
Sophia Wiener
Doug Branch
Eliane Garrett
Wynn Yoki
Jim Bevier
Rachel Cole
Lola Davidson
Micheala Hoppe
Chad Richman
Jim Roberts
Holly Branch
Steve Adamo
Neil Schwartz
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Tid ings f rom T ibbetts
General United Methodist Woman’s Meeting - Will meet only four times annually in 2016; March, June, September and December. Circle Meetings - Please note that the Circles have chosen
new names
Norma Ruth Hugg Circle is now Eileen Leader Circle-will
meet on Feb 10 at 10am in the Parlor with Micheala Hoppe
hosting.
Bee North Circle is now Susanna Wesley Circle-will meet on
Feb 10 at 11am at Wesley w ith Irene McCoy as host
and Jeanne Galletly will present the program on Self Denial.
Will have lunch after the meeting.
Kolze Circle-Friday, February 19 at 7pm,
place TBA.
Sewing Circle-will meet on Feb 24 from 10am
to 2pm. Bring a sack lunch, tea and coffee
will be provided. We welcome friends and
family to join the fun.
Happy Anniversary in February Congratulations and many blessings!
Nancy & Pat Carney … 37 years
Shirley & Myron Lindberg … 26 years
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We
Sunday, January 31 at 11:30am in Adams Hall
A Valentine’s Day Party in January? Well, not exactly but an event after
church on Sunday, January 31 to help ensure that Valentine’s Day in
February is enjoyed by many. We will be making Valentine’s Day
cards after church so bring your family down to Adams Hall and
make cards for classmates, family members, and friends. Everyone is
welcome as we will also be making Valentine’s cards for Tibbetts
shut-ins and others in our church family. We will provide the supplies
for decorating Valentine’s Day cards so just bring your creativity!
At the same time you can eat lunch with your favorite Ministry Area! There will be color coded
tables for the different areas. Find out what exciting activities are happening in your Ministry
Area in 2016! This is your chance to fully participate in guiding Tibbetts in our ministry. Feel
like you really don’t know what is going on at church – here’s where to find out! Our church
doesn’t work if we don’t all share in the decision-making, dreaming, visioning, and putting faith
into action. Come join us as we are Dancing with The Spirit in 2016!
We will be serving a delicious tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches. For dessert, we will
sample an assortment of chocolates.
Please invite your non-Tibbetts
friends and family.
Come join us as we are
Dancing with The Spirit
in 2016!
Tibbetts Party!
Our dates for Tibbetts to host Mary's Place for
2016 are set! Please save the dates for June
14th-21st and July 5th-12th.
Big changes are underway at Mary's
Place! They have a new facility in
North Seattle, and are able to sup-
port 5 different shelters (over 200
families) at their new "Mary's Place
Family Center". This allows them to
let dad's stay inside all day keeping
families together, contains four floors
worth of resources, and allows them
to focus their energy on issues relat-
ed to family homelessness while their Down-
town location can turn its energy fully to sup-
porting homeless single women.
In support of their new location, we
will be having a Tibbett's "Spring
Cleaning" event in April, where a list
of requested supplies will be sent
out, and donations for Mary's Place
accepted of things you might have
laying around your house (like travel
sized soaps and shampoos). More
information coming soon!
Mary’s Place Updates
Page 6
Tid ings f rom T ibbetts
Seattle District Lay Leadership Spring Training—Feb 20
Offering six different workshops:
Mission Evangelism - Rev. Dr. Bill Gibson: Director of Strategic Faith Community Development
This workshop will explore why we are planting new churches, and how each of our churches might connect with our culture and neighbors. Treasurers / Trustees - Brant Henshaw: Conference Treasurer
Treasurers - (Morning class) A much needed administrative nuts & bolts workshop about finan-cial integrity within our churches.
Trustees - (Afternoon class) It's safe to say that the Trustees deal with very complex is-sues. This workshop will be full of information but plenty of time for direct and specific q/a Mission U - Cecille Corsilles-Sy (Beacon UMC) & Marilyn Reid (Ronald UMC)
Cecille and Marilyn will guide us into deeper awareness of the fantastic on-going ministry of Mission U. Specific focus will be on "The Church and People with Disabilities". Worship & Music - Todd Shively (Trinity UMC)
If you know Todd then you know nothing is ever boring or irrelevant when he joins the party! Todd will guide us into the depths of creating joyfully serious worship that both deepens and guides participants into the heart of God, and into the hearts of each other. Worship is the core of our every congregation. Todd will help us explore this importance. Discipleship Systems - The Bothell Story: Rev. DJ del Rosario
The Spirit is doing a great work at Bothell UMC. They are now the largest church in our Confer-ence. What form of discipleship inspired the creative energy, and spiritual growth of this amaz-ing church? What can we learn from them for our own congregation? Legacy 101 - Tom Wilson: Executive Director of Northwest Foundation
When Tom Wilson speaks the whole Conference listens. I think of him as Mr. Integrity. Tom will present a workshop that considers the ministry opportunities made possible by en-couraging and supporting your members to make thoughtful and deliberate end-of-life plans. This session will introduce a professional and comprehensive program called Provide & Protect that employs easy-to-use resources to transform good intentions into heart-felt testimonies and detailed instructions. This is a great session for clergy, and endowment, trustee and fi-nance chairpersons. Each workshop will be presented twice in a one hour format.
Page 7
Joanne’s Jottings — continued
Continued from page 1
to try and “fast” from one thing each week or make changes in my habits: Food: I won’t go out to eat or drink for 7
days – not even for tea. Clothes: I plan on wearing the same 7 arti-
cles of clothing for a week – don’t ask too many questions.
Possessions: I will give away 7 things per day.
Media: Tough one. For my job I need to be on the internet and email but I will not be on Facebook for a week.
Waste: I’ll step up my recycling and food and yard waste and try not to waste any food – take only what I can eat, and not let things spoil in the refrigerator – you know those things in the back of your fridge that are growing a cure for some dread disease.
Spending: I will be more aware of just how many places I spend money and will try and keep it to 7 places – I will not be on Amazon.com for the week.
Stress: Well, this may be an epic fail – but I need to realize, and probably feel guilty about (and thus stressed), just how little time I give to rest and relaxation. So I will be more conscious of going home from the church at a reasonable time, read books that have nothing what so ever to do with my job, spend more quality time with Christi, and for Thistle – longer more lei-surely walks, not the forced march I usual-ly drag her through.
Now you may be saying (and with good rea-son), “Joanne, big deal you read a book. Good for you. What does this have to do with gen-erosity or the church?” Just so glad you asked. To become a generous congregation – we must know why we exist. This book helped me see the connection. The church ought to mirror this challenge by acknowledging:
We have a purpose – and a desire to change the world. The 7 Experiment can do some-thing to shake us out of our complacency over the course of 7 weeks. Churches ought to be places where things are getting shaken up. Community makes all the difference – not on-ly caring about who we are but also encourag-ing us to actively engage in our church and the local community, but also holding us ac-countable and loving us even when we fail. Believe me, no one wants to change the world alone – developing community – through the church – is a critical step to making the world a better place. Hearts and habits need to change – that is what the church is in the business of doing. Fun and humor is critical: who wants to be part of a fuddy duddy small group or church? See this picture of Jesus? He was a serious guy – but apparently even He knew a good joke when he heard one. So I invite you to join me in this “fast”. It will be more fun if we do it together, check in with each other and see how we are doing. There will be a list to sign up so we know who each other are and can encourage and hold each other accountable. I know I need that. What do you say? Are you in? Should make for an interesting Lent. All the more reason to cele-brate our new life on Easter.
In Case of an Emergency on Fr i/Sat/Sun ca l l Joanne 206 -604-9995
Messages le f t at the church after 2pm on Thursday ’s
are not checked unt i l Monday mornings.
Thank you very much!
Souper Bowl Lunch
Join us right after church and BEFORE the Big Game on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7,
for a bowl of delicious, hearty soup, bread, and fellowship!
Donations will be collected for Jamaa Letu, the United Methodist orphanages in the South Congo.
In addition, we will be collecting nonperishable food and monetary donations
for the White Center and West Seattle Food Banks.
Volunteers are needed! If you can help with preparing the soup or setting up
on Saturday, February 6, or serving or cleanup on Sunday,
please let the church office know as soon as possible.
We welcome all people to celebrate and share God's love.
Facebook.com/TibbettsUMChurch
Phone: 206.932.7777
E-mail: [email protected]
Tibbetts United Methodist Church
3940 41st Ave. SW | Seattle, WA 98116
Church Members receive a lengthier printed version via US Mail.
The Communications Committee has ensured addresses
and phone numbers of church members who host events
in their home are not published on the internet, and also
protects the privacy of its Youth.
We Are Dancing
with the Spirit