Thursday, October 12, 2023

JOINT STATEMENT ON THE ATTACKS IN ISRAEL


October 8, 2023 

By Global Ministries

The World Methodist Council, Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, and the Methodist Church in Britain work in partnership to run the Methodist Liaison Office based in Jerusalem employing 3 staff members. They have released this statement after the attacks in the region:


We are witnesses to the escalation of violence in the region and we call on Methodist people all over the globe to continue to pray for peace and for an end to the violence.

  

Pray for those who have lost family members and livelihoods, the injured, for those who perpetuate violence and for World Leaders that they may work for peace, the churches and all religious leaders and for those who work for peace in the region.


The situation is complicated, and we recognize the fear and sense of injustice that are felt, but we call on both sides not to resort to further violence and to engage in negotiation to establish a peaceful solution for all who live in the Holy Land.


Please also view this statement from the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem.


You are invited to Coffee with Pastor Kim on Sunday, October 22 in the chapel room next to the office. Come for a breakfast treat, coffee or juice, and the chance to get better acquainted and ask any questions you might have about the church, the Christian faith, or whatever is on your mind. This is a great time to talk about baptism or church membership as well.  If you have questions or know you plan to come please email Pastor Kim at pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org


All Saints Day is Sunday, November 5



The names of Maplewood UMC members and loved ones who have died since the last All Saints Day will be read during Holy Communion as a way of honoring their lives and celebrating that our communion with them continues in Christ Jesus. If you would like to have the name of a loved one read during Holy Communion, please share the name of the person, your name, and their relationship to you with Pastor Kim via email to pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org or text to 314-651-9999.  

Dear Friends,

 

When our son, Ben, was in middle school, I was able to go as a parent chaperone on a mission trip to New Orleans with his middle school youth group. One night near the end of the trip, the youth leader (whose name was Greg) told the group scary stories right before bedtime. I told Greg, he could tell all the scary stories he wanted, as long as he was the one who stayed up with the kids who were too scared to go to sleep. 


Greg told his scary stories and the entire group ended up hiding together in a closet while Ben read to them from the Bible. Now that I think about it, that might have been Greg’s secret method for promoting more Bible reading and prayer among the youth. I know for sure they were a little bunch of scared young’ uns. True to my word, though, I left them to the care of their youth leader and went to bed.


Since ancient times people have been telling scary tales—ghost stories. As Halloween approaches this year, rather than avoid the scary stuff, we are going to actually read a couple of “ghostly” stories from our biblical traditions.


Part of what makes ghost stories scary is that they generally happen at night. We will begin studying these “nighttime stories” on October 22nd. But this Sunday, before we read scary stories that happen at night, Charlotte Phelps will preach about God’s gift of light for us. It’s a light that won’t be overcome by the darkest of darkness.


I hope you will be part of worship for the next three weeks for the sermon series, “Ghost Stories.” 

 

God’s grace and peace be with you,


Pastor Kim

As we gearing up for the “Ghost Stories” sermon series that begins on October 15, Please send us your best Trick or Treat jokes so we can share them with the congregation. Email the joke OR send a video of yourself telling the joke to pastorkim@maplewoodumc.org.  We will share them before worship on the slides and during worship as well. 

It's that time of year again, to join our BOO CREW TEAM! This team will greet Trick or Treaters at MUMC and pass out treats. You can sign up for Boo Crew ‘23 on the easels or the website/app.  Donations of candy and non-candy treats can be brought to the church! Please meet at the church by 6pm on Tuesday, October 31st. Please contact the church office email

brittany.l@maplewoodumc.org with any questions.

Paper products delivered

Thank you to each of you for helping the MUMC Kids collect items for the Paper Product Packs that were delivered this past Saturday to the Festival of Sharing Sharefest at LifewiseStL.  Maplewood UMC supplied twenty paper product kits, which are worth approximately $400. A special thanks to Steve Shirar for procuring the toilet paper needed to finish filling the bags and for helping load the bags on Saturday morning. You can see what 144 rolls of toilet paper look like all piled up and how full Pastor Kim’s car was with twenty bags of paper products. The folks who staffed the Festival of Sharing drop-off were very grateful for your generosity!   Thank you all!

**NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR ARE IN GREEN


**Thursday, October 12

9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice


** Saturday, October 14

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

**Sunday, October 15

9:00 a.m. Prayer with Pastor Kim

9:45 a.m - .ADULT DISCUSSION GROUP  

9:45 a.m. Children's Sunday School

11:00 a.m - Worship - In-Person and online Link: maplewoodumc.org

**Tuesday, October 17

1 p.m. Prayer time via Zoom.

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

Passcode: 674257

4;30 p.m. Cub Scouts


**Wednesday, October 18

6:00 p.m. Cub Scouts

**Thursday, October 19

9:00 a.m. Second Time Around Shop

5-6:30 Spooky Pasta Dinner see flyer above

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice



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

Smile, God Loves You

Prayers for...



...Prayers for Diana and Gary Brink. Gary, Amy Cordeal’s brother-in-law, who is undergoing tests for health concerns.   


...Lesley, Jocelyn, Hugo and Milo Holloman as they mourn the loss of Lesley’s brother, Chris.

 

...Mary Kunce for recovery from surgery.


...Linda Vawter's sister, Shari, for recovery from injuries from a fall


...Linda Vawter's nephew Allen for continued healing after a cardiac event


Continuing prayers for ...


...Skip Reynolds, health concerns.


...Shay Blackwell - for relief of nerve pain


...Daniel White - health concerns


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



...Jerry Chulick, health concerns.


Thank-you...


...so very much for the restaurant gift card, the bouquet of fresh flowers, and the bouquet of flowers with so many kind and encouraging messages. I certainly feel appreciated during Pastor Appreciation month. I will make sure to share the appreciation with Steve when we make use of the gift card. It is a privilege to serve in ministry with you as your pastor. Thank you!  Blessings, Kim

 MUMC Kid's

Looking for ways to help our Children's Ministry Team join us this fall as we continue painting and organizing the Sunday School Wing. We will have lots of opportunities and flexible timeframes if you are interested in helping in any way please sign up to help! 

Click Here to join the Team

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 Tuesdays & 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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