from the pastor s pen€¦ · ryan bajo 21 juanita bolton 23 emily rumsey 24 sally leathers 25 mike...
TRANSCRIPT
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Open Hearts . Open Minds. Open Doors
From the Pastor’s Pen:
T-shirt Theology
As I write this my heart is breaking as a result of all the violence that continues to rage in the world. The latest escalation of the Israel/Palestine conflict but one of the myriad situations that sicken me to the core. We appear to be in one of those cyclical peri-ods where conflict seems to engulf the entire globe. Conflict. Conflict between nations. Conflict between ethnic groups. Conflict between neighbors. Conflict within families. Conflict between individuals. Conflict between people of different faiths. Conflict over differences within one faith system Conflict within congregations. Yes, including ours. At it’s base conflict occurs between people whose differences escalate to the point where they “become” enemies. But do we real-ly just “become” enemies or do we play a more active role? The following analysis of enemy creation is adapted from John Paul Ledarach’s book, “The Journey Toward Reconciliation” Enemies are constructed by people in a three step process:
1. Separation. To construct an image of the enemy, we separate ourselves from another because we begin to see in the other, not the qualities we hold in common, but the differences between us that we identify as negative. To those differences we attach a negative judgment, a projection that this person is a threat to us and is wrong. Within, hidden and unexplored, are questions about ourselves, who we are, and what we believe. The image of the enemy we construct is closely related to our own view of ourselves. Who we are is defined by who we are not. The genesis of enmity is rooted in self-definitions built on negative pro-jections about others. We imagine that those “others” are completely bad and that we are completely good.
2. Superiority. This is the opposite of what we see in the example of Jesus emptying himself (Phil.2:7). Jesus, though in the form of God, never regarded his position as superior. Instead, Jesus humbled himself to take the form of a common per-son, even a slave. In other words, Jesus sought to bring compassion by being like others. Jesus recognized and embraced his sameness, choosing to take his place as a servant. When we feel superior, when we we believe we are not only differ-ent from but better than others then we embody the incarnation story in reverse. Though we are in the form of common persons, the same as others, we raise ourselves above them and assume the position of God. To create an enemy, we must both lose sight of our common humanity and create a sense that we are superior.
3. Dehumanizing the other. Separation and superiority lead to dehumanizing other persons. We dehumanize when we de-prive people of the qualities that make them humans. We rob them of being created in the image of God, we lose sight of God in their faces. The construction of enemies requires that we both dehumanize the other and deface the image of God in that person.
All of these dynamics are actively occurring in our congregation right now. In order to become a community of reconciliation we must first learn how to develop a positive identity of self and group that is not based on criticizing or feeling superior to other people or groups. If you haven’t checked out the new church T-shirts which are now on sale to support the youth ministry fund, you might want to check them out and absorb the awesome message these shirts carry. Not only do they unify and identify us as members of Paw Paw UMC but they convey a profound message of sameness amidst diversity, equal in the sight of God yet different in so many other ways as part of the wonderful human family. Go ahead, embrace your place in the family of God. Claim your identity as a human being, created in the image of God, with all the mystery that provokes and at the same time identify yourself as a member of PPUMC. Be prepared for some questions and comments when you proudly wear your church shirt around town. Don’t forget to invite those folks to become part of a community that is getting back on the path to becoming fully alive. Unless of course you think you’re superior. Shalom. Pastor T. .
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August Birthdays
2 Rondy Carpenter
4 Cameron McDermont
Natalie McDermont
Drew Reiter
8 Megan Danielson
12 Angie Reiter
13 David Aldrich
Sydney Sturgis
14 Nick Anglin
18 Wilma Chiddister
20 Brenda Lantz
Ryan Bajo
21 Juanita Bolton
23 Emily Rumsey
24 Sally Leathers
25 Mike Heminger
29 Cindy Carpenter
30 Tricia Rumsey
Please call the office if we
missed your birthday or have
you born on the wrong day!!
August Sermons
AUGUST 3~ 8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTACOST
Message: You Feed Them
Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21 (sermon)
AUGUST 10~9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTACOST
Message: Ordinary Life Extraordinary Faith
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 (sermon)
AUGUST 17~10TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTACOST
Message:
Scripture:
AUGUST 24~11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Message: The Hear t of the Matter
Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20 (sermon)
AUGUST 31~12TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Message: Called to Follow Chr ist
Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28 (sermon)
Thank you to all volunteers who helped at the Van Buren
County HabiKitchen! With your assistance they were able
to raise the money they needed to support the mission of
affordable homes for the workforce families!
Thank you to all volunteers who helped prep food and run
the food booth at Paw Paw days! As well as, the volunteers
who helped with t-shirt sales!
Confidentiality Statement
If for some reason you would
prefer your name/number NOT
be listed in the bulletin or news-
letter OR you prefer to NOT have
your picture on our church web-
site, please contact the church
office (269) 657-7727.
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Please remember the following people in your prayers: Jackie Ploof Barb’s nephew Darrel
Howard Carpenter Carol Pierce’s niece Sophie
Chad Jahr Jeri Tapper
Charlie & Leah Moses Marie Woolum’s mother
Ginger (Dave Wareham’s Sister) Al Treat
Connor Bailey Tammy Moore
Dan & Holly Rohr Scott Marsh’s grandfather
Larry Bradley’s mother Connor Bailey
UMCC enrollment Pastor Trevor’s father
White Oaks Asst. Living
Evelyn Falan
300 White Oak Road
Lawton, MI 49065
Parker Asst. Living:
Kay Bush
P.O. Box 309
Mattawan, MI 49071
Cass County Medical Care
Elsie Fleming
23770 Hospital St.
Cassopolis, MI 49031
Date Hospitality Liturgy Greeters Ushers Nursery
8/3 Becky Bailey Connor Bailey Becky & Connor Bailey
Beverly Brooks
8/10 Tom & Carol Pillars Julianne Huss Laurel Sherburn
Bob Graham
8/17 Chuck Rumsey Morene & Lyle Hugget
Lee Johnson
8/24 Sue Danielson Rich & Holly Neterer
8/31 PPUMC Youth PPUMC Youth
Maple Lake Assisted Living
Jean & Bruce Dahms
677 Hazen St. Rm. #16
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Al Treat
677 Hazen St. Rm. #19
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Bill Rhodes
677 Hazen St., Rm #15
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Those at Home:
Donna Hickok
52601 Sheridan Road
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Pat Cutshaw
4210 Leisure Ln.
-Apt. 917
Kalamazoo, MI 49004
Norma Stull
38258 52nd Avenue
Paw Paw, MI 49079
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After visiting Strength Beyond to ask them to display a flyer for our recent luncheon in the park, I was asked to communicate to our congregation the services they offer. Strength Beyond offers a tanning bed, free weights, cardio upstarts, circuit training, children’s room with TVs, and a sauna, to mention a few. They would like to offer a customized plan at a discount for UMC members. Contact Aaron at Strength Beyond (269) 655-0066. Since they offered to support our event, maybe we could take advantage of the services they offer. Tricia Rumsey
Christian Education News
We are in need of volunteers to serve our youngest disciples on Sunday mornings during morning worship. Each week we need a team of one adult and one youth in the nursery. Please prayerfully consider becoming part of this ministry. Call the church office at 657-7727 or sign up on the ministry sharing calendar in the lobby.
Safe Sanctuary
It is MANDATORY that all volunteers working with children and
youth take the “Safe Sanctuary” training. All SPRC members and
Trustees MUST also take this training. The church will be offering
this training class on Saturday, August 23 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Nona Spackman will be teaching the class. Please call the church
office to sign up for this important training.
Pastor Sam Gordy will be available for emergencies while Pastor Trevor is away. Please contact the church office at (269) 657-7727 or the childcare office at (269) 657-2330.
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This past July, the Youth Group has continued it's weekly meetings on Mondays at 7 pm. We have also helped out around the church with Paw Paw days. Our Getting to Know the Church series has also officially launched, with talks from Connor Bailey and soon Chuck Rumsey and Dianne Grimm. We also have new shirts!!!!! They are $15/ shirt and the benefits from selling them will go to supporting our youth groups trip to Red Bird Mission next summer. Get yours today, they are quite fashionable : )
We look forward to being in ministry with you!
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Childcare Center News The children have been enjoying the new playscape and gazebo areas this summer! I want to especially thank all those that have volunteered their time, talents, and materials to make these areas a reality. We are still in need of mulch for the infant/toddler area. If you would like to contribute funds towards this, please contact me. We plan to have a dedication one Sunday in September. It’s time to begin planning for our fall programs at the center. We will be hosting an open house for families August 20, from 5-7 p.m. A parent orientation night will be held August 27, at 6:30 p.m. Please call the center at 657-2330 for more information about our programs. The center offers childcare, preschool classes, and a school-age program. We offer a sibling discount and a discount for church member families. Diane Grimm Director
Teacher wish list for August:
Seasonal stickers Shaving cream Liquid food coloring Baby wipes Disinfecting wipes
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August, 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 Festivalooza! 2-7
Paw Paw MS
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4
Childcare CPR training 6pm
Trevor study leave
5
Childcare ministry team meeting
6:30pm
Trevor study leave
6
Trevor study leave
7
Trevor study leave
8
Trevor study leave
9
10
Trevor Off
11
Trustees 7pm
Trevor Off
12
WFG Annual Picnic 6:30 pm
Trevor Off
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Trevor Off
14
Finance 6pm
Ad Council 7pm
Trevor Off
15
Trevor Off
16
Trevor Off
17
Trevor Off
18 19 20
Childcare Open House 5-7pm
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22 23
Safe Sanctuaries
9-noon (Nona Spackman)
24
Membership Class
4-8 p.m.
25 26 27
Childcare Parent Orientation 6:30 pm
28
29
Childcare Closed
30
31
Abbreviation Key
UMM =United Methodist Men
UMCC=United Methodist Childcare Center
WFG=Women's Fellowship Group
SS=Sunday School for all ages
NAR=Noah's Ark Room
Important Dates in August, 2014
August 4—UMCC CPR training 6 p.m.
August 5—UMCC Team meeting 6:30 p.m.
August 11—Trustees meeting 7 p.m.
August 12—WFG Annual Picnic 6:30 p.m.
August 14—Finance meeting 6:00 p.m.
Ad Council meeting 7 p.m.
August 20—Childcare Open House 5-7 p.m.
August 23—Safe Sanctuary 9-noon
August 24—Membership Class 4-8 p.m.
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Womens Fellowship Group Annual
Picnic
August 12, 2014
6:30 p.m.
Pot luck!!! Please bring a dish to pass, and your own
table service.
Please bring donations for our annual school
supplies drive! We need everything from
backpacks to pencils. If you don’t have time
to shop, you can donate money and we will
shop for you!
Youth Blood Drive Fundraiser
September 8
2-7 p.m.
The youth group will get $10
per person that donates blood!
Safe Sanctuary
August 23, 2014
9:00 a.m.— 12:00 p.m.
Mandatory for all volunteers
working with children and youth!
Childcare Center Open House
August 20, 2014
5-7 p.m.
Accepting enrollment for infant/toddler, pre-
school, and afterschool programs!
Call (269) 657-2330
Fall worship time begins September 7
Fall worship time: 11:00 a.m.
Membership Class
August 24, 2014
4-8 p.m.
Dinner and childcare will be provided!
If you are not yet a member, or know someone who may be interested in becom-
ing a member, and would like to know more about the United Methodist beliefs,
please join us!
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FESTIVALOOZA!! Benefit Event
August 2, 2014
2-7 p.m.
Paw Paw Middle School
343 West Michigan Ave.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Tickets $7/person or $25/family
(All proceeds fund the Van Buren County Drug Treatment
Court and other local organizations fighting addiction.)
Featuring:
Live music, food, silent auction, contests and games,
kids zone, dunk tank, inflatables and more!
Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival September 5-7
Paw Paw United Methodist Church will have a food booth on W. Michiagn Ave. in the parking lot of the Law office of Schuitmaker Cooper on the 6th!
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Paw Paw United Methodist Church 420 W. Michigan Ave. Paw Paw, MI 49079
Paw Paw United Methodist Church
420 W. Michigan Avenue
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657-7727 Fax: (269) 657-7728
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pawpawumc.com
Pastor: Rev. Trevor McDermont (517) 607-5881 (cell) ([email protected])
Youth Coordinator: Scott Marsh (231)760-0601 (cell)
Childcare Director: Diane Grimm (269)657-2330
Organist/Pianist: Kim Hatfield
Childcare/Nursery:
Chancel & Bell Choir Director: Chr is Mortimer
Monthly Committee Meetings-
United Methodist Men — August 3 @ 8 a.m.
Finance— August 14 @ 6 p.m.
Ad Council - August 14 @ 7 p.m.
Trustees — August 11 @ 7 p.m.
UMCC Bd. Mtg.– August 5 @ 6:30 p.m.
Please Join us on Sundays:
Worship Service at 9:30 a.m. (through
August 31)
Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. (starting
September 7)