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May 13, 2012


This & Next Week’s Birthdays: 5/18: Ruth Worrell: 5/19; Shane Thomas; 5/21: Lon Smith; 5/22: Stella Pool; 5/25: Aynsley & Lauren Sandridge

Remembering Our Roots: Today’s message is the fourth in the series on Wesleyan beliefs and practices. Last week’s message was on the Wesleyan emphasis on doing all the good you can. This week, we will focus on staying connected to God. Next week’s message will focus on the life of John Wesley. The last message will be delivered by Jim Winkler, Pastor Ed’s nephew and the General Secretary of the denomination’s Board of Church and Society, on the Methodist social action tradition.

Lunch for the Hoods: There will be a farewell luncheon for Patty and Al Hood on Thurs., May 17, at 12:30, at the home of Dave and Paula Garrett, 2660 Stowe Ct., Ivy. Everyone is invited. (They will be moving to VA Beach in June). Please let one of the Garretts know if you can attend; 293-9584.

Listening for God:  The Monthly Study Group is beginning a new study from a collection of short stories that includes a study guide.  The collection, Listening For God, includes works by Flannery O'Connor, Garrison Keillor, Annie Dillard, Raymond Carver and many more.  If you'd like to join the group please let Renita know so that a book can be ordered.  The group usually meets after worship on the 4th Sunday of each month.  The discussions are always inspired and inspiring.  Join us!

SPECIAL WORSHIP:  ASCENSION DAY VESPER SERVICE: Join us for worship on Thursday Evening, May 17 at 7 p.m., for an Ascension Day Vesper Service.  This will be a new experience for many and an opportunity to reflect on what the ascension means for us today.  The traffic for UVa's graduation on Sunday, May 20, makes it impossible to hold worship services at any of the area churches and this will be a fine alternative.

OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND SERVING: On Saturday, May 19, the Faith Formations Group from our church will be traveling to Shalom Farms to volunteer and learn more about their mission.  If you were fortunate enough to have attended last week's luncheon and talk by one of the farm's staff you would have been very impressed by their efforts to provide fresh and healthy produce to the underserved communities in the urban "food deserts".  Equally as impressive are their educational ventures to train children and adults in the growing of food, the eating of nutritional food, and entering into food-based entrepreneurships. SO...mark Saturday, May 19, on your calendars and help Wesley Memorial make a good showing at the farm. (There's something for everyone.  Even jobs that let you sit while you work!)

Flower Fund Update: Thanks to everyone for replenishing the flower fund. We were able to cover the palms and Easter flowers and have some left for future flowers. Thanks to those who have signed up to place flowers on the altar. There are still dates available if you are interested. The sign up sheet it on the bulletin board in the narthex hall next to Renita’s office.

KITS FOR CONFERENCE — The 2012 Virginia Conference kit collection is being conducted to replenish the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) supply. UMCOR’s Sager Brown Depot reports there is a need for all types of kits, especially the 4 types listed below. Instruction sheets for all 4 types of kits are in the Aldersgate room.  Wesley Memorial will concentrate on Health kits, and we ask that you bring items to church during the end of April and the month of May.

Health Kits: 1 hand towel (15”x25” up to 17”x27”, no kitchen towels); 1 washcloth; 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized); 1 metal nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards); 1 bath-sized bar of soap (3 oz. and up); 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes); 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages, ¾” to 1” size (Band-Aids). Seal all items in a 1-gallon plastic bag. (Fold all items into the hand towel and place bundle in the plastic bag.)

IMPORTANT  Instructions: All items included in kits must be NEW items. All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items — nothing more.

Monetary donations include: $1 per kit for processing and shipping; $1 for UMCOR to purchase toothpaste for health kits.

If you prefer UMCOR to provide kits for you, include: $12 for UMCOR to provide a health kit; $11 for UMCOR to provide a school kit; $35 for UMCOR to provide a baby/layette kit; $8 for UMCOR to provide a birthing kit. 

This information is also available on the Conference Web site at www.vaumc.org.

For April and May 6, we will concentrate on hand towels, washcloths, combs, metal nail files or fingernail clippers, toothbrushes.

For May 13 and May 20, bars of soap, gallon plastic bags, and band-aid strips.

Then for the rest of May and the first Sunday in June, we will take all of those items. Collection boxes will be in the narthex for full kits and/or items.   If you wish to donate money, please make your check to church, and mark it “Kits for UMCOR” in the memo line or on your envelope. Any questions, contact Maury Early, 974-6871, Carolyn Newsome 295-9094, or Sue Lewis 295-1485. Thanks.

Adult Education Opportunities:

ADULT FORUM: PAYING ATTENTION TO GOD: Tammie Bond will lead a six-week class in which the time spent together will be centered on exploring our relationship with God through experiencing a few of the many spiritual disciplines. Tammie has recently finished a training program for Spiritual Directors at the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C.  She and her husband Tony have been worshipping with us since the fall.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDIES: Closer look at chosen Biblical passages and discussions of the meanings for our faith journeys. Open to all and led by Ed the class meets at 10:30 a.m. in the Aldersgate Room.

Facts from the PACEM Shelter Season 2011/12:

  1. PACEM saw 230 individuals, the same as the year before.
  2. PACEM provided 7925 total nights of shelter for 67 women and 163 men.
  3. 32 of the shelter guests were veterans, up 2% from last year.
  4. 4% of the shelter guests were over age 60, and 20% were under 30.
  5. PACEM partnered with the Salvation Army to refer to their “Warm Room” when our shelters were full, which were needed for only 2% of the total nights of shelter.
  6. Of PACEM’s 230 guests this winter, 139 people (60%) moved forward from our shelters. Of these, 33% moved into permanent housing such as apartments, supportive housing or assisted living facilities. 23 people (10%) were supported by PACEM and successfully gained an apartment at The Crossings. 40 people (17%) moved forward to a more permanent shelter, such as the Salvation Army.

The 2012/13 PACEM Shelter Season runs from Oct. 27, 2012 through March 29, 2013, 22 weeks, 154 nights.   Wesley Memorial’s two weeks of sheltering the men will be Jan.19 to Feb. 1, 2013.  Thanks for all your help, care, concern, and prayers for the homeless.

Church Landscaping Project: The layout and suggested plantings will be on exhibit in the Aldersgate Room.  Please look at them after church during fellowship time. We ask for all interested parties to look over the plans and if there are any plants they would like to see planted in these areas, please make suggestions in writing and leave them in the church office. If anyone is interested in donating the cost of a plant for the project, please leave a note in the office or give it to a member of the Board of Trustees. All suggestions will be discussed with our planner, Scott Watkins. As a fellow who grew up in Wesley, he knows we are looking for lovely, low-maintenance landscaping. Thank you so much. Sylvia Gillespie, Trustee

Trustees Report:  The following is an update of the activities of the Trustees of Wesley Memorial:

  1. Renovation at the parsonage including additional insulation in the attic, new energy efficient windows, new heat pump, removal of the whole house fan, and other minor repairs are essentially complete.
  2. Installation of four exterior doors in the Educational Building.  These doors are primed but need to be painted.
  3. Painting of the steps to the Sanctuary
  4. Cleaning and organizing the basement storage room in the Education Building and other areas (on going).
  5. Organizing a landscape planning committee and beginning the process of updating planting.
  6. Floor mats for Sanctuary entrances, interior and exterior, have been or are being obtained.
  7. A new roof for Renita's office was installed.
  8. Deteriorating plaster in stairway to the Fellowship Hall has been repaired and a similar repair is planned for the stairway near the pulpit.

In the process of cleaning and organizing several areas of the property numerous surplus items were found.  With the approval of the Church Council the Trustees would like to offer any or all of these item on a first-come, first serve basis for a love offering.  Items are in the Fellowship Hall and new items may be added in the next few weeks.  Any items remaining after May 1st will be offered to a local used furniture dealer.

The Trustees request input from the membership related to repairs and renovations needed to maintain the safety, value, and appearance of Church property.  It would facilitate action on concerns if they are forwarded to the Trustees in writing.  Notes can be given to any Trustee or placed in the Trustees box in the hallway.  Thanks for your continued support and cooperation,

Gene Rader, Chair; Jack Horn, Kay Neeley, Andy Thomas, Sylvia Gillespie, Matt Zimmerman