CHURCH CALENDAR

Our VisionWe discover, explore, embrace and share God’s belovedness.

Our MISSIONWe are companions on a spiritual journey

engaging minds, transforming hearts, and empowering handsto serve Jesus Christ in our local and global community.

TODAY’S VOLUNTEERSThank you to all Sunday volunteers!

401 E 33rd Street • Vancouver, WA 98663 • (360) 693-5881 www.vanfumc.org • office@vanfumc.org

Staff

Ministers...All who follow Jesus ChristPastor .....Jon ShortProgram/Facilities Administrator....Gary CarterDirector of Youth Ministries ....Justin NuttingDirector of Music Ministries....Thomas RheingansAssistant Choir Director ....Amber TrippMaintenance Technician ....Scott HansenTreasurer .....Michelle MehlOffice Administrator....Ginny SorensonCustodian .....Bud StoenescuLay Leaders ....Dean Lookingbill, Evan Hull

life center partnersPinoy Van-Port ...Lyn RushLittle Acorn Preschool ...Katie Coop

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26

9 a.m. Seekers Class, Hesseltine Room10 a.m. Worship Service, Sanctuary11:15 a.m. SIB Potluck, Jason Lee Hall

MONDAY, AUGUST 27

9:30 a.m. Knitting Group, Hesseltine Room

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29

9 a.m. Bridges Coffee & Conversation,Brewed Awakenings 6:30 p.m. HS Youth Group, Youth Room

LiturgistJeri Sawyer

Information BoothGary Carter

Coffee ServiceLarry Reigel Family

HostsDennis and Gerry

Short

UshersHal Leonherdt

Team

AudioJaycee Williams

Video Bill Niemeyer

Vancouver United Methodist Church Where life happens…..

Sunday, August 26, 2018

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM

Children’s Christian EducationChildren’s Sunday school and choir will resume from summer break on Homecoming Sunday, September 16th.

Children grades K-2nd are welcome back to the Rainbow Room for childcare. Older children are welcome to enjoy service with their families or, if needed, can be accompanied to the lobby or the Conrad Room where church services are broadcast live.

Adult Christian EducationSeekers Class

Sundays at 9 a.m. in Hesseltine HallFacilitated By Bob Hanley

The Seekers Class is studying a new book, “The Sins of Scripture” by John Shelby Spong.

The Bible contains many passages that believers and nonbelievers alike would recognize as appalling theology. Whether these texts are used to discriminate, oppress, or condemn, they distort the truth of Christianity and cast doubt upon the love of God. Now legendary John Shelby Spong addresses these passages, shattering our misconceptions and delivering a new vision of how Christians today can use the Bible.

Youth Christian Education Sundays at 9 a.m. in Youth Hall

grades 6th ~ 12th

Facilitated by Justin NuttingOn break -

Resuming Sunday, September 9th

Quiet RoomFUMC has a quiet room if you prefer a quiet, peaceful setting to nurse your infant. The room is located next to the women’s restroom in the Sanctuary hallway.

Infant & Toddler Nursery Located at the south end of the office hall, childcare is available for infants and toddlers during worship service.

Activity TimeChildren up to 2nd grade may attend Activity Time in the Rainbow Room during the service. After Children’s Moments, parents are asked to accompany their children to Activity Time and sign them in.

CHILDCAREChildcare is available for children up to Kindergarten beginning 30 minutes before the start of

worship. We ask that you pick up your child within 15 minutes of the end of worship.

As a courtesy to others, please be mindful of those who are sensitive to perfumes and scents and use these items sparingly.

IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

Backpack BlessingsSchool is right around the corner, and we want to help support the backpack program at Share which helps feed low-income children. The church is collecting new backpacks for school children as well as juice boxes, power bars, beef jerky, and other healthy snacks to fill those backpacks. We will offer these backpacks full of nourishment for blessing on Sunday, September 9th as we begin our program year, and children are going back to school. You can drop off the backpacks and snacks at the office during the week or at the information booth on Sundays. The church will gladly accept donations for the backpacks and snacks in order to buy them for the donation to Share in September.

Back to Church in SeptemberFamily Camp at the Beach August 31st - September 3rdUnited Methodist Women (UMW) Circles Start September 6th various days and eventsNew Sermon Series: Brightly Shining Starts September 9thMiddle and High School Youth Activities Resume September 9thMonday Night Leaven Group Starts September 10th, Mondays at 6:30 p.m.Tuesday Morning Leaven Group Starts September 11th, Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.Homecoming Sunday September 16thEducation-Care Team Class StartsCaring for Ourselves as We Care For One Another

September 27th, 4th Thursday of the month at 3 p.m.

Renovations ContinueWork is complete on our building’s exterior, and the church should be water tight and shiny bright for years to come. Our Conrad Room has new walls and will soon have a new paint job and flooring, then comes the new appliances, countertops and furniture. It will be back in business in just a couple weeks. Little Acorn has moved into the three new classrooms in the east wing of the church this next week. Thank you for your patience while we continue to upgrade our building! The goal is to have all our construction and renovation projects complete by mid-September. If you have any questions or comments, please email program@vanfumc.org or visit with Gary at the information booth on Sundays.

Conrad Room - August 2018

PASTORAL PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

PRESENTATION OF TITHES & OFFERINGSThe ministries of this church are supported by the congregation. If you are a guest today, please simply enjoy the worship service.

OFFERTORY Let it Be, by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

*DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Paul Simon Amber Tripp SCRIPTURE Gospel of John 17:1-3, 20-23 Leader: These are words of wisdom for all of God’s people Congregation: Thanks be to God.

SERMON Why Bother With Church? Pastor Kathy Neary *CLOSING HYMN Come and Find the Quiet Center TFWS #2128 *BENEDICTION SONG Shalom to You Hymnal #666

POSTLUDE

IN OUR PRAYERSFamily of Gerald Johnson Mindy Ludolph Carolyn & Gordon Meyer Wayne L’Amoreaux Pat Swanson Barb Laughlin Joyce Kleinschmidt Becky Baxter Family of Bob WoodworthLyn Dineen Lorraine Dix We also keep in our prayers all of those in our church family who are recovering from illness, residing in long-term care homes, and those who are on our email prayer chain. If you would like to be added to the email prayer chain, please contact Mary Lookingbill, Pastor Jon or the church office.

Order of WorshipAUGUST 26, 2018 - 10 a.m.

Welcome! It is a joy to share together in this worship service today. As companions on a spiritual journey, may our minds be engaged, our hearts be transformed, and our hands be empowered through the worship of Jesus Christ.

Congregational portions of prayers and responses are in bold type. * If it is comfortable for you to do so, please stand.

PRELUDE Fairest Lord JesusAs you enter the Sanctuary, please be mindful of others and refrain from conversation. Please take this time of worship preparation to center your mind and heart and invite God’s Holy Spirit to minister to you.

*OPENING HYMN Many Gifts, One Spirit Hymnal #114

*UNISON PRAYER Finding Rest in God Hymnal #423 In comparison with this big world, the human heart is only a small thing. Though the world is so large, it is literally unable to satisfy this tiny heart. The ever-growing soul and its capacity can be satisfied only in the infinite God. As water is restless until it reaches its level, so the soul has not peace until it rests in God.

WELCOME LIFE OF THE CHURCH

CHILDREN’S SONG Tell Me The Stories of Jesus Hymnal #277 vs.1

CHILDREN’S MOMENTS Pastor Kathy Neary As we sing, children are welcome to come to the front; afterward, children up to grade 2 are welcome back to the Rainbow Room for Activity Time. Older children are welcome to enjoy service with their families or, if needed, can be accompanied to the lobby where church services are broadcast live. Ushers have children’s worship bags available for young children. Please leave the bag in the pew when you leave.

PRAISE BAND SET Blessed Be Your Name More Precious Than Silver TFWS #2065

The flowers on the altar today are provided byNancy and Gail Wikstrom ~ In Memory of Our Parents