PASTOR KATHY’S REFLECTIONS
Often, when I am working in my backyard, my five-year-old neighbor comes over to help me with my chores. We have the most intriguing conversations as we work together, usually followed by a glass of juice and some of those cheese-flavored fish crackers. Last week as we worked in the garden, the conversation jumped joyfully from topic to topic. Suddenly she asked me “How many best friends do you have, Kathy?” After a short moment of contemplation, I responded, “about twelve,” and I asked her how many best friends she had. She immediately stopped working, looked up at me, and said, “You are my best friend, Kathy.” What a precious moment of pure, simple friendship shared in the midst of routine chores! What a moment of Divine Peace shared in the garden that adjoined our two yards!
Life is about relationships: our relationship with God, with ourselves, with family and friends, with the community, and with the world. Using the image of a garden, all of these different types of relationships are like flowers, each needing to be tended in varying ways to be healthy and to grow and to bloom. And challenges that occur in one part of the garden can creep quickly into the rest of the garden, if we cease being attentive to each flower.
How is your garden growing?
In all the dimensions of relationships, we are called to be peacemakers.
Blessed are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called children of God!
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
On September 4th we will begin a six-week sermon series called Making Peace:
September 4: The Prince of Peace (Communion Sunday)
September 11: Making Peace with God
September 18: Making Peace with Self
September 25: Making Peace with Families
October 2: Making Peace with Community (Communion Sunday)
October 9: Making Peace with the World
Please join us as we journey together and address the questions. "How is your garden growing?"
Blessings
Words from your Lay Leader-
Sharon Fairlie
As I was walking this morning, enjoying only the birds singing and feeling the coolness of the air against my face, it is amazing to me how quickly the seasons change. After so many days of continuous heat, the change is there, ever so subtle but there, coinciding with the start of school, state fairs and fall clothes in the stores.
Where did summer go? Oh, I know, we long for the cool of fall when the temperature is in the high ninety’s, but then when winter is here, we long for the summer heat. We are always looking ahead to what might be a more enjoyable time. So I wonder, is this just human nature? Or have we been conditioned to think like that by the ever present weather station, or advertisements. What do you think?
Forward thinking is a good thing, planning for events, making preparations, being prepared at all times for all things. With the recent CERT training, I learned being prepared for emergencies makes us better prepared for life. Knowing what to do in case we find ourselves in such emergency situations may save our own life as well as others.
Then I started thinking about my eternal life and how I should prepare for that. I find it is an ongoing process. It does not stop with joining a church or being baptized. It is building a relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, learning from more mature Christians, loving your neighbor as yourself.
How are you doing?
I have to admit there are days where I fall short, I fail to read the Bible, fail to pray, and fail to love my neighbor as myself.
Then I realize this is when I fail God.
But I do know one thing, God loves me anyway. All I have to do is ask His forgiveness. God is an Awesome God. He is a God of all seasons and changes.
So, as this season of fall approaches, shake the sand of summer from your sandals and begin with resolve your preparation for eternal life with prayer, study and a commitment to love your neighbor. In September SUMC will provide study opportunities through Wednesday night classes. I hope you check them out! Preparation!
USHERS
FOR SEPTEMBER The ushers
for the month of September are: Jim, Charlene, Matthew and Michelle Gager.
COOKIES NEEDED
We need cookies for the hospitality cart
on Sunday mornings
A big thank you to Ron Mast, Mike Bissen and Chet Winans for helping with the MODOT pickup on July 30th. Mark your calendar for the next MODOT pickup for September 11th at 1:00 pm. Meet at the Major Mall.
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Thank you to the Gager family for building the new steps in the Great Room for the choir.
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Thank you to Sharon Fairlie, Ramona Emery, Beth Lyman, and the Tuesday AM Study Group for providing the Sunday evening meal for our youth. They have really appreciated your support.
Cora will celebrate her 92nd birthday on
Saturday, September 3rd at Home Town Buffet at 1:00 pm. Please RSVP by
August 30th to tulsakelly@cox.net or to Cora at 584-3259.
On September 10-11, 2011, United
Methodists
across Missouri are joining hands and hearts
with our neighbors for a statewide weekend of community service.
Here are the projects that SUMC will be participating in.
Please help in any way that you can.
Grand Avenue Temple Meal: We have our next date set to serve at Grand Ave Temple on Sept. 10th, but we need people to help with preparing the food, serving the food, and donating money so we can buy the food. Our menu for the meal will be Sloppy Joes on a Bun, baked beans, chips and chocolate sheet cake. We need 4 people to make the sheet cake -please let me know if you need a recipe for the sheet cake (no nuts). We need 4-5 people to help with preparing the meal on the morning of Sept 10th time to be determined. We need 8-10 people to help with taking the meal to Grand Ave Temple and serving. (Great opportunity for kids 12 and older) Please contact Kerry Winans at kwinans@arrow.com or 816-665-8261 if you can help.
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MODOT trash pickup on Sunday, September 11th at 1:00 pm. Please meet at the Major Mall.
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Community Car Show on Saturday, September 17th from 9 am to 3 pm at Smithville High School.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR JULY 2011
INCOME EXPENSES
Debt Reduction Funds 1,815.00 Conference & Benevolence 2,817.80
Flexible Contribution 125.00 Christian Education
General Fund 10,902.00 Education - VBS 330.64
Total Christian Education (330.64)
Misc Contributions
Altar Flowers 27
Apportionment Contributions 320 Non Pastoral Compensation 2,794.24
Sunday School Offering 97.46 Total Office Expense 469.46
Total Misc Contributions (515.46) Total Outreach/Evangelism 15.79
Total Pastoral Compensation (7,475.46)
Preschool 4130.00
Total Trustees/Utilities/
Maintenance/Insurance/ 2310.35
Interest on loan - 1422.40
Worship
Altar Flowers 48
Misc. 38.35
Total Income 17,487.46 Total Expense 18193.44
July Net Income: $-705.98
Community Bulletin Board: Please check the bulletin board in the southwest hall for things happening in the community. We are putting things up regularly. Now that the Chamber of Commerce meets here once a month we are getting more and more community information.
Animal CERT Training: WOW! What a great turn out. We had 34 people complete the training. Thank you so much for the men's groups who provided us breakfast to start the day off right. It was really appreciated by all.
Camp Opportunities: The "Got Spirit?" themed summer camps for kids is over for 2011, but there are still opportunities for adults over 50 years. Get more information at www.mocamps.org.
SMITHVILLE
COMMUNITY CAR SHOW
All proceeds for Tornado recovery in Joplin, Missouri and Smithville, Mississippi
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
LOCATION
Smithville High School
645 S. Commercial
Smithville, MO
Food, Door Prizes, Children's Activities, Music by local DJ,
Information Booths, Silent Auction, Microchips for pets - $30
Visit: carshow.smithvillumc.com for more information
SMALL
GROUP STUDY GROUP "The
Externally Focused Church" facilitated
by Sharon Fairlie, Lay Leader Sign
up in the Great Room
Wednesday, September 21st thru October 26th at 6:00 pm
GRAND
OPENING "HOLY
GROUNDS CAFE" A place
for fellowship Sunday,
September 11th at 8:30 am
Festival of Sharing Kits
Fall is almost here and so is the Festival of Sharing, we will start collecting items the first weekend in September. Please see the list below for the kits we will be collecting. This is great opportunity for Sunday School Classes, Men's Group, UMW and any other committee to collect as a group. We will be taking all collected item to Missouri Fair Ground in Sedalia, MO on 0ctober 15, 2011.
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Readin’ & Writin’ Pack - Pack Value $12.00
6 new pencils with erasers 2” eraser
2 ink pens (medium point) 1 box of 24 crayons
1 pencil holder 12” ruler
6 folders with pockets 1 pair of scissors metal
child-sized
2 spiral / tape bound notebooks (total 140 pages)
Place smaller items inside the pencil holder. Place all items
in a 2 gallon zip lock bag. Place kits in boxes labeled
“Readin’& Writin Pack” and mark the quantity on outside of
each box.
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Paper Products Pack - Pack Value $14.00
2 pkgs toilet tissue (4- double rolls)
3 rolls paper towels (good quality)
2 facial tissue (large rectangular boxes )
Place all items in a tall-sized kitchen trash bag. Close
securely and place bagged kits in a box labeled “Paper
Products Pack.” Mark the quantity on each box.
Family Food Pack - Pack Value $37.00 6
cans assorted vegetables 6 cans assorted fruits 6
cans tuna 2 cans pasta sauce 2
pounds pasta 2 jars peanut butter 6
pkgs macaroni & cheese 2 cans Spam 2
pounds dried pinto beans 2 pounds rice Place
items in a sturdy box or book carton, tape and label “Family
Food Pack.”
Personal Hygiene Pack - Pack Value $ 20.00
1 fluoride toothpaste, 6 oz. or more 1 washcloth
1 toothbrush in original, pkg. 1 deodorant
1 bath-size bar of soap 1 hand towel
1 bottle skin lotion (11—14 oz) 1 comb or brush
1 bottle shampoo (11—14 oz)) 2 razors, disposable
Tighten lids and place all items in a large zip lock bag
(2-gallon size works best). Place zip locks in boxes
labeled “Personal Hygiene Pack.” Please also mark the
quantity on the outside of each box.
If you would like to volunteer to take the collected items please contact Kerry Winans kwinans@arrow.com or 816-665-8261.
8th
Annual Miriam Thompson Pie Auction/Spaghetti
Dinner Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 5 pm. Come
with your favorite pie, cake, cupcakes, or bring your checkbook. Part of
the proceeds will go to recovery efforts in Smithville, MS & Joplin,
MO. Questions? See Lee Hunold
RECYCLING
Do you already recycle? Would you like to recycle but don't know what recycles or where to recycle? Hopefully this will help. Plastics with the recycle symbol and numbers 1 - 7 are acceptable. Glass bottles or containers (clear, green, brown, blue) can be mixed together. Cardboard and paperboard (i.e. cereal boxes) are acceptable. Aluminum and steel cans may also be recycled. Paper can be recycled as well.
If you have an event here at church, all of these materials can be recycled here. There are bins in the kitchen labeled appropriately for them. The cardboard should be broken down and placed in the kitchen pantry between the paper bin and the wall.
Your household recyclables can be dropped off at the recycling bins (blue & green) at our school parking lot locations here in town. There is a purple glass recycling bin at Big V. There is also a recycling center behind Metro North Mall that is open Monday thru Saturday, 9-4. Any questions feel free to ask Lee Hunold or call at 816-866-4417.
Remember what you do (or don't do) will make a difference! Peace, Lee Hunold
CERT TRAINING
The program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. We will be holding the class on the following dates you must attend all 4 sessions: September 20, 21 and 22nd from 6 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturday, 24th from 8:30am until practical is completed. Registration is limited so please register early. Class is free. Please Email Charles Duddy at GEMA@gladstone.mo.us reserve your spot.
OCTOBER
Pie Auction/Spaghetti Dinner - October 2nd
Festival of Sharing - October 15th
Celebration Sunday - October 16th
Annual Charge Conference - October 22nd
09/02 Cora Borgmier, Lee Pitman 09/10 James and Beth Lyman
John Puszczewicz 09/13 Doug and Julie Foster
09/04 Cindy Hunold, Christopher Land 09/26 Darryl and Ellen Shanks
Danny James Ed and Deanna James
09/05 Shirley Neth, Danny Starnes
PRAYER
FOR PEACE Make
me a channel of your peace: Where
there is hatred, let me bring your love, Where
there is injury, your pardon, Lord, And
where there's doubt true faith in you. Make
me a channel of your peace: Where
there's despair in life, let me bring hope, Where
there is darkness, only light, And
where there's sadness, ever joy. O
Master, grant that I may never seek So
much to be consoled as to console; To be
understood as to understand, To be
loved, as to love with all my soul! Make
me a channel of your peace: It is
in pardoning that we are pardoned, In
giving of ourselves that we receive, And in
dying that we are born to eternal life.
09/07 Kathy Hoke
09/08 Felicia Anderson
09/09 Reagan Vincent
09/10 Michael Bissen
09/11 Les Beigel
09/12 Cheyenne Willadsen
Morgan Crider
09/13 Julie Foster
09/14 Jim Ellerbroek, Brittni Willadsen
09/19 Connor Dodson
09/22 Clarissa Crider
09/23 Marcus Anderson
09/24 William Fries
09/25 Shannon King, Tom Hurst
09/26 Rodney Ehnen, Cindy Grahn
09/27 Suzanne Bliss
09/28 Caden Griffith-Hizey
09/29 Ken Birlingmair
09/30 Jan Warring
