I am looking forward to being with the MUMC church family this Sunday as I fill the pulpit while Pastor Troy and Jewell are at Annual Conference. We worship and love and serve a God who delights in us and enjoys bringing surprises and blessings into our lives. Sometimes people call an unexpected or surprising event a coincidence but I like to call it a God Wink. If you find yourself in worship at one of our three services this Sunday you might discover that you too have been God Winked!

 And, coincidentally, I'll be there too, looking for you, in the Holy Place!

Pastor Amy

The Saturday Morning Breakfast for unhoused or food-insecure individuals will be hosted at MUMC for the four Saturdays in June.  In April, we served 45-55 individuals each week.  The guests enjoyed the food, and our volunteers enjoyed being of service.

You can help by volunteering to serve breakfast and/or by donating breakfast food items.  Families and youth are welcome! Volunteers work from 7:30 am to 9:30 am, setting up the food, serving hot foods, visiting with our guests, and cleaning up.  If you cannot serve, we also need donations of food items. 

You can sign up to volunteer or provide food via the SignUp Genius link below. Food can be left in the MPR kitchen or with the front desk.  Please label donations Saturday Morning Breakfast.

Did you know that The United Methodist Church is a sponsor for The September Blitz Build in Columbia MO? Missouri United Methodist Church congregants have already sent $10,000 to cover part of a home’s building materials. What is needed now is your time and service to help in the Pre-Blitz Build taking place now. Teams of two and greater are already at work on homes Thursday through Saturday being built now for Habitat for Humanity in Columbia’s Boone Prairie subdivision. All volunteer teams work with an experienced skilled supervisor. (Roofing, electrical, and plumbing are done by professionals due to city building codes.) If you like to hammer, paint, lay flooring, etc., there is a spot for you!

Click on this link to volunteer as an individual for the pre-Blitz Build: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aa8ad29a3f5c25-forcolumbia#/

Or click on this link to register a group to volunteer: [email protected]

Other opportunities to help during The September 18-29 Blitz Build will be popping up soon. Let’s help build strength, stability and self-reliance through home ownership.

This summer, we will be having Neighborhood Events throughout the summer break. Visit our website calendar, or join our Discord Server to stay up to date with our events.

You can make a prayer request by using the Connection cards in the pews or by contacting either Jim Helms ([email protected]) or Carole Babel ([email protected]). Also, let us know if you would like to serve on the prayer team. In addition to updating a weekly prayer list, this team also plans occasional events to engage the congregation in group prayer.

The MUMC Choirs are working hard as we enter the last two weeks before our Summer break. After June 18, Pastor Troy's last Sunday with us, the choir will go on break until Rev. Daniel Hilty's first Sunday on July 9. Then after the 9th, the choirs will go back on break until July 23, which will be my last Sunday at MUMC. From there, the music ministries will continue as usual under the new director.

This Sunday, June 11, the City Singers will perform "Come By Here", arranged by Kyle Pederson. Pederson sets this familiar and well-loved tune with heartfelt care. From the arranger: "In this adaptation of Come By Here, there are two particular ways I seek to expand the meaning [of the song]: first, the piano accompaniment is improvisatory in nature and intended to symbolize the creative movement of God's spirit. Second, though I love the invitational nature of the lyric 'come by here, Lord,' I also believe that God's spirit is already with us in all of our circumstances. In our joy, grief, rising, falling, living, and dying, God is there with us, working toward wholeness and healing. So, the lyric morphs into a more declamatory statement of 'you are here' as the piece reaches its climax. And those words are the final words the listener hears as well." Then, in the Cathedral service, the Chancel Choir will sing "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" by Crawford Thoburn, a setting of the English translation of a 12^th Century Latin text. We will also be featuring Chancel Choir member, and former Associate Pastor of MUMC, Bruce Jeffries, on the organ.

On Tuesday evening August 1st the mens group will be taking its annual trip to the Lake Creek Camp meeting near Smithton, MO. The Lake Creek camp meeting site is 76 miles away from MUMC. This is the longest running annual camp meeting west of the Mississippi. Pastor Jim Bryan was the guest preacher at Lake Creek in 1983. We will leave MUMC on the church bus at 4:30pm and return around 10:45pm. No charge for transportation. A meal is available on site at your own expense. Contact Wade Sanders at [email protected]m if you are interested in going along.  

The Men's Group continues to collect clean jugs to use for the packing of carts for Mobility Worldwide. Please keep those jugs coming! Barrels are in the Connector behind the Connection Point Desk.

Eagle Online Circle: no regular meetings

First Monday Book Group: First Monday 4:00 p.m.in the MUMC parlor

Val's Circle: Second Monday 11:30 lunch - 12:30 p.m. meeting in the MUMC parlor

Breakfast Group: Second Tuesday times and location TBD

Bratton-Cunningham Circle: Second Wednesday 10:00 a.m. at Lenoir Woods

Esther Circle: Second Wednesday 8:30 a.m. MUMC room 304

Searcy-Feely Circle: Third Wednesday 10:00 a.m. location TBD

MUMC Book Club: Second Wednesday10:00 a.m. via zoom or location TBD

Prayer Shawl Ministry: Meets 3-6 times per year. Watch for announcements

Gibson Circle: Third Thursday 10:00 a.m. in MUMC parlor

MUMC Quilters: Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. room 303

Sophia Circle: Second Thursday 5:30 p.m. in the MUMC parlor

Wesley Circle: Second Thursday 1:00 in the MUMC parlor optional 11:30 lunch

Nominations for the United Women in Faith Special Recognition Award are due by September 1, 2023.  Completed form and documentation can be placed in the Unit Treasurer folder in the UWF mailbox at MUMC office.

For more information email Vicky Elliott at: [email protected] or Barbara McClure [email protected].

As a Reminder: Church leaders will not email individuals requesting emergency favors or gift cards for charity. You can read about tactics used by email scammers here.