Thursday, March 7, 2024

BE SURE TO SPRING AHEAD THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! SET YOUR CLOCKS UP ONE HOUR!

THE MARCH 10 LEARNING SESSION WITH LIFEWISESTL URBAN FORUM IS CANCELLED!! 

Our Grace Floyd will be playing, Snoopy, in the MRH High School musical, opening tonight at 7 p.m. with two more shows on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m. Break a leg, Grace!!


$10 tickets at the door or ahead of time thru online app.  


This Sunday is UMCOR Sunday.


As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR – assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable. UMCOR provides relief, response and long-term recovery grants when events overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on their own.


UMCOR Sunday is one of the 6 Special Sundays we highlight during the church year.

Dear Friends,

 

This past Sunday we had a learning session led by Maggie Lohmeyer, who is on staff with LIfewiseStL Urban Forum. Sixteen leaders from the congregation and Community Unity Steering Team worked together to learn more about offering effective ministry with the community. The group didn’t get finished until after 3 o’clock that beautiful afternoon! It was such a gift!


 As I drove home though it occurred to me, “I forgot to take any pictures! AARGH!!” In these days it seems like if you didn’t take a picture, it’s almost like it didn’t really happen!


When it comes to the story of Jesus’ resurrection, we don’t have a movie or even a still photo to prove or commemorate this event. What we have are stories about Jesus’ followers who knew him before he died, then met him face-to-face after his resurrection.

A funny thing though, is that even Jesus’ followers who knew him well didn’t always recognize him right away when he appeared to them after the resurrection. Mary Magdalene at first thought Jesus was the gardener. The disciples who were out fishing on the Sea of Galilee didn’t recognize the stranger calling to them from the shore until he helped them catch a huge net full of fish.

    

This Sunday, we will read the story of two disciples who walked for miles with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus but didn’t recognize him until they shared a meal together. Jesus was finally known to them “in the breaking of the bread.”


It’s not so different for us now. We will acknowledge on Sunday that sometimes it can be hard to see Jesus’ presence in our lives today. But even then, we can claim and celebrate that through the power of the resurrection we have confidence that the living Christ is with us--even when we don’t recognize him right away.

 

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday, which will include welcoming Misty DeMattee into membership!

 

God’s grace and peace be with you,


Pastor Kim

Spencer, Henry and Dave participated in a reading during the worship service last Sunday

The back porch of the parsonage was removed last week.

Ways to be part of serving and celebrating during Holy Week and Easter:

--Pray for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter services and all who take part

           --Invite your friends to celebrate Easter with Maplewood UMC.

           --Sign up to help with the Maundy Thursday dinner. March 28, 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.  Coordinator: Pastor Kim (pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org) and Brittany Link. (Brittany.l@maplewoodumc.org)

           --Attend the Maundy Thursday service, March 28, 7 p.m.(Charlotte Phelps (phelpscb@gmail.com) is the coordinator for the Maundy Thursday dinner. 

           --Sign up to help with Easter Breakfast. Coordinator: Tom Cordeal tomcordeal@gmail.com

           --Offer to arrange the Easter flowers on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Email Pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org.

--Pick up a bag or two to of plastic Easter eggs from the bins in the room behind the sanctuary to fill with candy for the Easter egg hunt. Each plastic grocery bag contains forty empty eggs. Thank you to Lesley Holloman for bagging up the empty Easter eggs from last year!!

 Freedom School Applications are available now!

 

Freedom School is a 6-week, full day literacy and empowerment summer program under the oversight of Children’s Defense Fund.

Freedom School will be in session June 17 – July 26 (Monday through Friday except for holidays) from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Maplewood UMC partners with LifewiseStL to host Freedom School for children who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade.

 

There is no cost for this program.

 

Applications can be downloaded from the Maplewood UMC website or are available upon request from the church office. The links to online applications are: 

 

2024 FS Application:

https://form.jotform.com/240305064334142

 

2024 FS Application- Additional Child:

https://form.jotform.com/240517320763148

 

 

Maplewood UMC offers Community Unity Kids Club after Freedom School from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. for families who need a later pickup time for their children.  There is no cost for this program but a separate registration must be completed.  Click on this link to register for Kids Club: https://share.fluro.io/form/65e778417e85500037bfe640 or contact the church office for a registration form.

 

Be on the lookout soon for ways to sign up to serve with Freedom School.

**NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN

**Thursday, February 29

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. Second Time Around Shop

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. "The Third Day" Book Study

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

6:00 p.m. Women's AA Group

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice


** Saturday, March 2

8:30 a.m. "The Third Day" Book Study

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85476158100?pwd=cmpFVlRCY3dmT2lIODlBcXg4VUdkZz09

10:30 a.m. - Women's AA Meeting


**Sunday,March 3

UMCOR Sunday

Daylight Savings Begins

9:00 a.m. Prayer with Pastor Kim

9:45 a.m. Children & Youth Sunday School

9:45 a.m. Adult Discussion Group "Third Day" Book Study

11:00 a.m - Worship - In-Person and

online Link: maplewoodumc.org

5:00 p.m. Scouts



***Monday,March 4

9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Community Unity Team Meeting


**Tuesday,March 5

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

1:00 pm. Prayer time via Zoom.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3745711178pwd=dktsaWkwNlNhVjRmOHpjTFNqR1dqQT09 Meeting ID: 374 571 1178

Passcode: 674257

6:30 p.m. Witnessing Whiteness Study

7:00 p.m. The Third Day Lenten Book Study

**Wednesday, March 6

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open



**Thursday, March 7

9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church office open

9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. Second Time Around Shop

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. "Third Day" Book Study

6:00 p.m. Praise Band Practice

6:00 p.m. Women's AA Group

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice


To see the entire calendar - click below https://73855810.view-events.com

Lenten Study Groups continue....see dates and times in calendar above.

Prayers for...


...Barb Riney and her family upon the death of Barb’s brother-in-law, Russ Riney. Visitation is this evening (Thursday, March 7) from 4 – 8 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Road, Saint Louis, MO 63123.  Russ’ funeral will be at noon on Friday, March 8 in the same location.  https://kutisfuneralhomes.com/riney-russell-l/

 

...Steve Findley and his family upon the death of his mother, Joy Findley. A memorial service for Mrs. Findley is scheduled for Saturday, March 16th at 11 a.m. at University UMC, 2220 N. Yale Ave.,Wichita, KS.  https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/joy-findley-obituary?id=54485633

 

...Juanita O’Laughlin and her family upon the death of her sister-in-law, Bobbi Cain

 

From Nancy Thompson- Please pray for my son, Peter Munshaw, to find appropriate employment. 


...Karen Raborn healing of hip issues


...Zambian government to provide vaccinations for Kwasha School children so they can reopen school during cholera epidemic.


...Pastor Kim for continued recovery from shoulder surgery


... Continuing prayers for Brian, Peg Chulick’s grandson, for continued healing as doctors adjust medications


...All the strife in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine



...Linda Vawter's sister, Shari, Continued guidance and healing from spinal fractures and headaches due to fall. 


...Linda Vawter's nephew: Grateful for Allen’s physical maintenance following cardiac event and ask for continued healing. 


Continuing prayers for ...


...Skip Reynolds's comfort and peace


...Shay Blackwell - for relief of nerve pain and dizziness


... Nina Berry - for Chad to be happy and healthy.



...Jerry Chulick, health concerns.

“Special thank you to folks who have helped at dinners served in fellowship hall. Tasks include setting up before church, clearing tables afterward, washing/drying dishes, and packaging leftovers. We’re discovering the power of tag teaming and welcome newcomers jumping in!”

Putting your Spiritual Gifts into Practice

If you have yet to complete the “Spiritual Gifts Practice” form that has been available at the church for the past few weeks, you can now do so by clicking on this link: How Will I Use My Spiritual Gifts?     You are welcome to turn in a paper copy of the form to the church office or in the offering plate on Sunday morning.

 

If you need to take the spiritual gifts inventory, here’s the link to get started: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/spiritual-gifts-inventory/en

Today is the 50% off sale for the Second Time Around Shop

MUMC Kids


Would you like to help in the Children's Sunday School on a rotating basis? See Brittany Link or email brittany.l@maplewoodumc.org

Highlights from February Ad Council Meeting

  • We approved the funds to remove the porch on the back of the parsonage
  • We approved paying our apportionments for 2024 - $25,698
  • Organ has been hooked into the sound board so it can now be heard online
  • Divided the $25,000 gift received last year 1/3 for Freedom School 2025, 1/3 for safety projects in the church and 1/3 for Community Unity dinners and Aftercare
  • Approve budget for 2024
  • Need to establish a snow removal crew - younger than 65 years old.
  • Approved a procedure for using Community Needs funds from Christmas offering

DEADLINE for the church newsletter is MIDNIGHT EVERY TUESDAY; send articles to jbrx10@yahoo.com.

The Sunday morning worship bulletin will be sent via email at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday

For more information about Maplewood United Methodist Church, go to our website    (maplewoodumc.org ) or Facebook page (facebook.com/mumcstl)

The church office is open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9 a.m. til 1 p.m.

Office Phone: 314-781-5902. Pastor Kim Shirar: 314-651-9999 Email: pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org

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