Soldotna Spirit
Joy for the Journey
July 2010
Dear Family,
I was reading a book today that tells the story of Dr. Ethna Reid who did her doctoral research on how to teach teachers how to improve students poor reading habits. I will keep this short by saying after identifying and finding teachers who were outstanding, she discovered they had no idea what they were doing that was working so well. Over thirty years of research identified, and validated the vital behaviors that separated the best from the rest. It is a method of research that was then applied across many different disciplines. It is called “Best Practices” research and it has produced many books and transformed many organizations as they adopted those “Best Practices.”
The Lost Creek VIM team presented a workshop based on Bishop Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. During the week we looked at the five practices of “Radical Hospitality,” “Vital Worship,” “Intentional Faith Development,” “Risk Taking Service,” and “Extravagant Generosity. He had done the research to identify what set growing churches apart from the rest. Another surprise of the workshop was the realization that it takes all five of the practices to insure and sustain growth. Being great in one or two of the practices simply isn’t enough.
Back to Dr. Reid’s research – Now that the vital behaviors of great teachers have been identified and validated, we are still waiting for the sweeping revolution in the teaching profession that will improve schools across the nation. It hasn’t happened yet because people find it easier to go along and get along than to do the hard work of changing their behavior for the better. Many local churches will be exposed to Bishop Schnase’s book and yet continue to follow their own pattern of decline. It is hard work to make these changes.
The best news of all is that many churches will make the changes and you can read about those churches at Bishop Schnase’s web site, www.fivepractices.org. Click on the “Stories” link on the left side of thepage and read away. You will be deeply encouraged and inspired.
If we are to make the necessary changes at Soldotna United Methodist Church, we will need to become a very encouraging congregation. Dr. Reid identified that quality in the vital behaviors of great teachers. They encouraged five times more often than the criticized. Would you be willing to join me in creating a culture of encouragement? Anytime and every time you see someone doing anything that looks like the five practices, give them a pat on the back, a high five, an atta-boy/girl, or at least a big smile and a thank you.
The mission before us is crucial to the future of the church, necessary to the proclamation Grace and peace, and will continue the mission of the church to tell the story of Jesus to others. And by the way, thanks for reading this.
Grace and Peace,
Richard
March 2010
Dear Family,
What is the condition of your heart? Frederick Buechner is a marvelous writer and preacher whose father committed suicide when Frederick was nine years old. As Frederick grew and matured he would be asked from time to time about his father. Over time he would respond, “He died of a heart condition.” And it was true; Frederick knew his father had died of a broken heart. You probably have figured out by now that I am not so much talking about that mass of flesh in your chest that keeps the blood circulating. I am talking about that place deep inside of you where all your hopes, dreams, and wishes reside — the place where you are real, honest, and completely vulnerable. The place where there are no secrets because you know yourself better than anyone else except God. How is that place? How are you getting along with yourself?
During the past month, I have been with people in prison, a pastor returning from a week long retreat, and some everyday, ordinary folks who have each said in their own way, “The most important relationship you have is the one with yourself.” Jesus laid the foundation for our spiritual lives with two statements about love. “ . . . ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength’ . . . ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Love for God and others is central to the heart of our faith, but also included in this foundation is the necessity to love ourselves. Love for self is not having yourself at the center of your life, nor is it being totally absorbed with self-focused attention. Love, here is that self-giving love that always wants the best for the other. It is the same kind of love that God has for each of us and that we are commanded to have for others, and for ourselves.
How do you feel about yourself? Are you happy and at peace when you look in the mirror? In moments of quiet solitude, do you enjoy reflecting on what is happening in your life at this time? Is there a sense of wholeness and purpose? Do you enjoy your own company? We spend great amounts of time focused on the world’s problems, even though there is little we can do about them. Perhaps the most important thing you could do – if you would – is to allow God to help you heal the relationship you have with yourself. If your heart is healthy, then the whole body can thrive and prosper.
Grace and peace,
Richard
Birthdays
October 2 Will Troyer, Blake Schweigert
October 5 Tom Curry
October 6 Jersey Truesdell
October 7 Cosette Kilfoyle
October 9 Betty Lowery
October 10 Brenda Banks
October 12 Debbie Griffin
October 14 Chris Schrier
October 15 Bill Holloway
October 16 Irving Carlisle
October 21 Kelli Stroh
October 23 Sharon Merle
October 25 Becky Latona
October 26 Lori Olney, Dave Lowery
October 28 Ruth Ann Urban
SUMC’S Annual Fall Harvest Dinner
Wednesday, November 18th @ 5:30 p.m.
Baked Ham and
Homemade pies will be provided.
Signup sheets for side dishes will be circulated.
Charge Conference – has been scheduled for December 2 at 6:30 PM. Please mark your calendars now and be prepared to respond to the Lay Leadership Team as they seek out people willing to provide the much needed leadership for our many
areas of ministry and mission.
Admin Team – The Admin Team has been busy finishing up the kitchen remodel and taking care of many different maintenance issues both at the church and the parsonage.
Drain work at both locations has been necessary. Mike Gebhard and Walt Olney installed a dedicated electrical outlet for the Xerox machine. Over the past year Bill Parker had changed out most of the fluorescent fixtures so that they use a more efficient bulb. Thanks to the many folks who help out when work is needed on the physical facility. The landscaping that was done last year has help up very well and thanks to those who worked in the gardens this summer and thanks to those who mowed the yard. We are continuing to work out problems with the alarm system. Hopefully that can be cleared up this month. We have plans to move the shelving in the old library room behind Elizabeth’s office to the old sanctuary where the books will be much more available. Then a doorway can be installed from the Adult Classroom into the old library and we will have another useable room that can be accessed all the time. We are also planning to build a hallway from the current children’s area to the existing
rooms above the offices. These rooms cannot be used at this time due to having only one exit from the upstairs rooms. If you would like to help with these projects or if you have ideas regarding the upkeep or use of the building please let Pam Presol know. She is doing a great job with the Admin team so that we have a very useable building.
Worship Leaders – If you are called and gifted in the way our many Sunday morning worship leaders are, please drop Richard and email (whetsell@ak.net) and let him know. Training can be scheduled and you can share the gifts you have with the congregation on Sunday morning.
Rasmussen Grant – Because of our involvement with feeding at the Kenai Alternative Hospital, we have received an additional $3,500.00 grant from the Rasmussen Foundation. It requires that we help people in need in our local community. The other requirement is that it must be spent before the end of the year. We will be seeking interested people who can help us find a way to translate this money into help for needy families. Please give Richard a call if you would like to join in this effort.
Special evening meeting is scheduled for UMW
POTLUCK & BOOK DISCUSSION OF
“THE SHACK”
When: 6:00 p.m. November 10th
Where: Karolann Whetsell’s house
As we’ve scheduled this meeting in the evening this will allow our working women to be able to attend. Pastor Richard will lead us in the book discussion of “The Shack” which many of our congregation has read.
All are welcome, bring a dish to share and enjoy the thoughts to be discussed this evening.
Team Lommel — would like to thank the church body for all of their support and prayers as we have welcomed Justus Isaiah into our family. Thank you for welcoming him into the church family at SUMC, too, and showing him such amazing love! We would also like to thank Karolann Whetsell for organizing the baby shower and all the women who came! We were so blessed by your gifts and your cards. Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness! We are so thankful!
We wanted to explain why we chose his name, for those of you that might be curious. We feel strongly that when we name our children we are in some ways attempting to teach them what we hope for their lives. As we prayed through what God would want us to name our son we realized that there were two main legacies we hoped we could offer him:
First, we pray that he would come to a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Thus, we felt that his middle name, Isaiah, which means God is my salvation would always remind him of this. Secondly, we pray that he would be involved in works of social justice in the world, helping to right the wrongs in society, and care for people in need. Thus, we felt that Justus would be a fitting name for him. Third, we wanted his first name to be Biblical. Did you know that after Jude betrayed Christ and a new disciple was needed, there were two potential replacements? The two candidates were Matthias and Justus. Thus, we chose to spell his name using the Biblical spelling of Justus rather than justice.
We would appreciate it so much if you would join us in our prayers that our little son Justus Isaiah would grow up to be a man of God, madly in love with his Savior, and that he would work for justice in our world. Thank you again for loving him and our entire family!
John, Kristen, Lydia, and Justus Lommel
Are you “crafty”?
If so, we need your help to do a simple holiday craft for all ages at the soup-supper November 29th. We are open to anything. We try to use “recycled” materials as much as possible, but anything goes! We have used jar lids, fabric scraps, old Christmas cards, unused yarn, juice can “disk” lids and many other things. Crafter volunteers would collect the needed materials for their craft item, and supervise the craft of their choice. It’s a BLAST!
Contact Lou Martin at 252-3366 or email her at martco@acsalaska.net
DISCOVER A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE WHEN
TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES COMES TO SUMC
Ten Thousand Villages works with over 120 artisan groups in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring you fair trade jewelry, home decor, gifts and more. As one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organizations, we build long-term relationships with artisans that are based on mutual understanding and respect. Fair trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life.
Preview Sale Tuesday, November 24, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Your $5.00 donation will admit you and friends to this invitational presale. This money goes to local mission. Official sale begins: Friday, November 27, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 28, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Bring in the Harvest
During November, we want to dress the altar in fall colors and load it up with food for the Food Bank as a means of celebrating Thanksgiving and helping the hungry in our town. When the UMW visited we found that the Food Bank was up to 700 from 550 clients. Times are hard and our generosity will be a blessing to our community.
Disaster Relief Advance #’s
This past week has been tragic for many parts of the world, but there is a way to help in their recovery process. Below you will find the Advance #’s to send money through United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to help out Indonesia, Samoa, and the Philippines.
Indonesia Emergency
UMCOR Advance #217400
South Pacific Earthquake and Tsunamis
International Disaster Response
UMCOR Advance #982450
Philippines Emergency
UMCOR Advance #240235