FROM THE PASTOR…

PASTOR KATHY’S REFLECTIONS

The Gift of a New Year: 2011!

My most memorable New Year’s Day was 1980. After spending New Year’s Eve in the hospital with very few medical staff on duty, in the morning hours of January 1, 1980, my son Michael was born, He won the honor of being the first child born in 1980 in Peru, Indiana. We became “famous” in that small Indiana town! Photographers came to the hospital and our picture appeared on the front page of the local newspaper. Local merchants awarded us with gift certificates for diapers, toys, pacifiers, blankets, bottles, formula, and other necessary supplies. We received enough baby powder, baby oil and baby shampoo to open a small distribution center!

What a wonderful way to start a new year: the birth of a baby! And the celebration has been repeated each year since 1980 as we, again, celebrated Mike’s birthday each New Year’s Day. This year he will be 31 years old.

While we don’t generally start a new year with something as remarkable as the birth of a child, we can begin 2011 with the birth of renewed hope, renewed joy, and renewed peace. We can begin 2011 with the birth of new ministries of love.

As a member of Smithville United Methodist Church, you will be given the opportunity to complete a Time and Talent Survey during the early weeks of 2011. Results from the survey will be utilized to grow the church’s ministry teams, with focus areas including spiritual growth, education, mission and outreach ministries. The results will not be stored on a shelf!

What are your talents?
What are your spiritual gifts?
What is God calling you to do?
How will we, the congregation of Smithville United Methodist Church, reflect God’s gift of Light in 2011?

The promise has been fulfilled. The Light has come. Emmanuel, God is with us.

Blessings this day and this New Year,

Pastor Kathy

Words from your Lay Leader – Sharon Fairlie

I am listening to a story on National Public Radio about a Pakistani woman who is a Christian being charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death. Christians there are persecuted, marginalized, made to live in ghettos, spurned publically and killed at random. The reporter stated that those sentenced to death seldom have this sentence carried out however their treatment in prison is far from humane. Their families are ostracized because it is believed anything touched by a Christian is contaminated. So, this woman in Christian love, offered a drink of water to a thirsty Pakistani, and ended up in prison.

Hearing this story, knowing it is happening in 2010, still isn’t it hard to believe? Most of us have no experience with religious persecution. We as Christians are taught to serve others at every opportunity. In fact at our own church we provide food for the Community Food Pantry, we opened our doors Christmas Day to provide a meal for those who have no family close by, we are signing up to help Numana this month and many other ways we help our church family and our community. We have a bulletin board titled, Opportunities to Serve.

How would we feel if any of these acts of service were rejected? And being arrested for doing them?

I know I speak for you all when I say we are truly blessed to live in America, where we can practice our faith without fear of arrest or persecution. This is the time for resolutions, a new year for new beginnings, so why not make a resolution to sign up for a service this year, one you have never done before. Or maybe you know of a need, but it is not on the board. Now is the time to act. It is what Jesus would do.

Galatians 5:13-14 ”For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Boy Scouts would like to thank everyone who donated coats and blankets for their December warmth drive.

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The Youth Group would like to thank everyone who helped make the Christmas Brunch a success, yum, yum!

THE UN-HANGING OF THE GREEN

Epiphany Sunday, when we commemorate the arrival of the magi to worship Jesus, is on Jan. 2^nd. Then, on Monday evening, from 5 to 8 pm on Jan. 3^rd we will take down the Christmas decorations and store them for another year. Please come for a time of fun, fellowship and reflection. Bring a crock-pot of soup to share for our supper. There will be activities for young children.

WINTER RETREAT

The Cornerstone class is sponsoring the annual retreat at Wilderness Camp the weekend of January 14-16^th. It is a time of study, relaxation, reflection, food, movies, music and fellowship. It is a family event, so everyone is welcome. We share meal preparation (and cleanup!) and planning. For information please Lee or Cindy Hunold. The retreat starts Friday late afternoon and runs through Sunday noon.

Let me start this article by saying we have ended 2010 and are starting 2011 with many positive activities. December was so busy with “Ringing the Bells” for the Salvation Army with reindeer ears, singing carols and drinking icees (to keep warm?). Thanks to Ellen, Adam and Neal Shanks for taking a shift later in the day. The Youth Group was well represented. As we had Sunday school we decorated the tree in both the Senior and Junior High room. Thanks to William during the hanging of the green, what an eventful night. Serving the shut-ins at the Housing Authority is always something that the residents look forward to of which some are members of SUMC.

The Christmas Brunch was very successful and fun thanks to all of the Youth and Parents who participated. A special thanks to the congregation who donated and stayed to eat a delightful meal we raised $450.00 which will be used for WOW 2011 and other Youth activities.

We will be leaving Friday, Jan. 21^st and returning Sunday, Jan. 23^rd to attend the Weekend of Worship in Springfield, MO. This is my 3^rd year and its gets better each year. It is well organized and full of praising our Lord and having fun at the same time. Maybe that’s why its call WOW.

We have already registered for a mission trip in June 2011 in Springfield, MO to work with the Cherokee Nation. There will be more information to come on this trip.

Please check our Church website, thank you Ron Mast. He keeps it updated every week or so with new pictures and the calendar of events. Go to the Youth page from the main page. If you have any questions re: anything to do with the Youth for SUMC contact me at debbieshoaf@yahoo.com or 816-804-3170.

SUMC Art Class will resume meetings on Wednesday, Jan. 5^th at 10:00 am. New members are welcome, and need not be a member of SUMC. If you have never painted but would like to, we’ll help you get started. Classes are free. Any questions, call Martha Urquhart at 532-3772.

JOURNEY THROUGH CHRISTMAS BOOKLET

The booklet called Journey Through Christmas is now available! It is a collection of writings by members of the church and features original art by church members. In last month’s Greeter this booklet had been referred to as an Advent booklet. The title was changed because of the timing of its release and the nature of the stories. It is a gift to you this Christmas season. You may pick up a copy in the Great Room after church services or in the church office on weekday mornings. If you are unable to pick up a copy of the booklet and would like to have one delivered to you please call the office at 532-3200.