Somerset UMC Newsletter - The MessengerMay 2019

Mission StatementThe Mission – To love always; serve always; share always;worship always.

Pastor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev Karen K WaltersSomerset UMC POB 237137-141 East Main Street, Somerset, Ohio 43783 740/743-1029 - churchSomersetUnitedMethodistChurch@gmail.com www.SomersetUMC.orgWe’re on facebook

Sunday School @ 9amWorship @ 8 & 10am

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You Must Be Connected to Bear FruitRight before Jesus goes to the cross, he gives his last minute

instructions to his followers: “Live in me, and I will live in you.A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stayattached to the vine. In the same way,you cannot produce fruit unless you livein me” (John 15:4).

Jesus says being spiritually connectedis like being attached to a vine. You’renot going to have any fruitfulness orproductivity in your life if you’re outthere on your own. You’ve got to stayconnected.

In plants, a disconnected branch can’tbear fruit. Not only do you lack supportand start to wither and die, but you also don’t have anyproductivity in your life if you’re not spiritually connected.

What kind of fruit should you produce when you areconnected to the Body of Christ? “The fruit of the Spirit is love,joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to bemore loving. I’d like to be more joyful. I’dlike to be more at peace, no matter whathappens to the economy. I’d like to be morekind to people who are mean to me. I’d like tobe a good person. I want to be faithful, notunfaithful. I want to keep my promises. I’dlike to be gentle with people who are not verygentle. And I’d like to have more self-control.

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That’s called the fruit of the Spirit, and it’s the evidence youare spiritually connected. If you are not seeing yourself grow inall these things, guess what? It means you’re not spirituallyconnected.

He’s saying this is so important that not only do you needthe support like in a building, and not only do you need the lifeblood like being in a body — he’s saying you’re not going tohave any fruitfulness or any productivity in your life if you’reout there on your own. You’ve got to stay connected. And theGood News is God wants you to be connected!

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Kroger Plus CardThe Kroger Plus Card you have probably had for years will

not only give you discounts on food and gasoline purchases butcan also give a cash reward to Somerset UMC of up to 5% ofyour purchases and it costs you nothing.

Please note: this must be renewedeach year during April. There are onlya handful of folks currently registered.If you didn't update in April, please doso now.

All you have to do is register yourKroger Plus card with Somerset UMC.

It's simple and takes just a few minutes. Go to Kroger.com andlog in. Go to Savings & Rewards then Community Rewards.Enter our number: RF232

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Evangelism GoalEveryone at SUMC is challenged to pray for at least one

unchurched person for at least one minuteevery day at 1:00 pm. If you cannotpossibly pray for one minute at 1:00 pm,you may want to choose another time. Theimportant thing is to pray!

aNational Teacher Day

May 7 is National Teacher Day. Thank a teacher! You canthank someone teaching now or thank ateacher you had in school. You can evendo both! You can read, balance yourcheck book, know the history and laws ofour nation because of a teacher. (Mightalso be a good day to thank a SundaySchool teacher!)

aChoir

The choir practices on Wednesday evenings at 6:00. Besidespreparing for worship, we have fun! You don’t have to readmusic, just enjoy music, to sing along.

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Sunday SchoolSunday School is at 9:00 am for all ages. We have classes for elementary children,

Tweens (grades 4-6), Teens and Adults.a

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Sewing GroupThe Sewing group meets the Second Saturday – so in May,

that's May 11. The group meets 9am-noon.It's lots of fun and does not require anysewing skills. We need people who cut, canpress... lots of non-sewing work along withthe sewing. The group makes lap quilts,adult bibs for the nursing home, pillowcase

dresses or other items as a need arises. Come and join in thefun!

Items already completed have been delivered to:o Blankets went to Help Me Grow (New Lexington) and the

Salvation Army o Burp clothes all went to Help Me Grow in New Lexingtono Adult bibs went out to the local nursing home in Somerset

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Prayer Request Please pray ....* for holy zeal in our church* thank God for the faithfulness of our church and the wonderful

ways God has worked and moved in our midst in the years we’vebeen on the corner of Main and High

* for renewed commitment to lift up Jesus in all we do* for every believer in our

congregation to move to newplaces of maturity and to adeeper commitment topersonal spiritual growth

* that we will be a missionoutpost for all the folks in ourcommunity who do not knowJesus.

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* that each member of our church will have a renewed passion forsharing Jesus with those who do not know him, rememberinganyone who does not have Jesus as Lord will not enjoy heaven atthe end of their life. May we be passionate about bringing peopleout of the jaws of hell and into the loving arms of God.

aRaising the Roof!

You’ve probably noticed our roof is leaking. We often havebuckets in the sanctuary.... so we need to replacethe roof on the sanctuary. If you can possibly givetoward the new roof, please mark your gift. Therewill be a small amount of construction to changethe roof line to prevent future leaks. We will needto replace tiles and paint the sanctuary after theroof is fixed. This is a big project and all help isappreciated!

aHelp the Pastor

As you probably know, the Ohio Legislature passed a bill a fewyears ago, prohibiting hospitals from providing lists of patients toanyone (including pastors). They no longer calla pastor when you are admitted to the hospital. Ifyou’re admitted to the hospital, please have afamily member call the pastor (in most cases, achaplain will call for you too). There is no otherway for the pastor to know you are in thehospital, unless you call. It is helpful as well tolet the pastor know when you’re released - a trip to a hospitalfollowing your release takes time away from helping someone else.

If you go to a rehab center, the pastor will not know unless youcall Rev Walters and let her know.

If you’d like the pastor to make a call (to your home), pleasemark the attendance pad or call the office to schedule.

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WebsiteSomerset UMC has a website! Actually, we’ve had it for a few

years. When is the last time you checked it out?Do you have suggestions for the website?Consider making SomersetUMC.org yourhomepage. It will remind you to pray forSomerset UMC every time you turn on yourcomputer! We also have a FaceBook page.Consider “liking” it.

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National Nurses WeekMay 6-12 is National Nurses Week. Nurses give the care when

we are sick. If you know a nurse - say thankyou! Encourage them in doing God's work ofloving and caring.

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Serving This MonthLiturgist during May is Randy PainterServing in Jr Church are: May 19 – Jennie VanSickle & Katie

Lawson. We only have volunteers for the one weekUshers are Pauline Callahan, Steve Fredrick and Teri PainterProviding flowers – May 26 – Sharon WiseNursery – May 5 – Teri Painter; May 19 – Jennie VanSickle;

May 26 – Katherine ReichleyThanks to all who are serving!

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CommunionWe will celebrate Holy Communion on May 5th at

both services. Thank you to Sharon Wise – our faithfulCommunion Steward!

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Prayer ChainWe've had a digital prayer chain for a couple years now. To start

the chain, call or email the pastor who sendsout texts or emails to those who want them.We have a handful of folks without theability to receive texts and emails so we haveone of the folks receiving an emaildesignated to begin the phone part of thechain. If you think you should be receivingprayer requests and are not, please call the office. If you want toreceive texts, Text Pray to 740.513.3929

aMissions

This month we are collecting laundry soapand dish washing liquid for the food pantry. Itflies off the shelves - food stamps do not pay forthem and everyone needs them. Body wash and personal items are also always inhigh demand. If you can donate some to the FoodPantry, it will greatly help families in our area.We are planning to expand our hours. Please consider volunteering.

a2019 Graduates

We want to recognize the accomplishments ofour 2019 graduates – high school, college, gradschool. We will be recognizing our graduates onMay 19th during the 10:00am service. We currentlyhave the following graduates: Emma Conrad whowill attend Muskingum College to pursue a degree in psychology and

play volleyball; Asleigh Craig is planning to attend Zane State inthe medical laboratory technician program; Brandon Lanningis attending Southern Illinois University next year, majoring inmusic business.

We look forward to celebrating our graduates!

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CalendarMany (not all) of the events scheduled during May are in the

calendar to help you see how busy the building is. Rememberto call if need to use the church facilities.

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Service TimesWe will resume our two service schedule

the first Sunday of May – May 5.a

Easter FlowersThank you to those who donated flowers to make our sanctuarybeautiful for the Easter season!From Alyssa Love In memory of Keith Patrick LoveFrom Helen Nelson In memory of Ron & Bruce NelsonFrom Wayne & Kay Neff In memory of Clyde &

Hazel NeffFrom Wayne & Kay Neff In memory of John &

Marietta PolingFrom Jenny Clark In memory of our loved onesFrom Grace Miller In memory of Owen MillerFrom June Foster In memory of Carl FosterFrom Alyssa Love In memory of Keith Patrick

LoveFrom Frank & Imelda Scurlock In memory of Ryan ScurlockFrom Jenny Clark In honor of Logan’s 9th birthdayFrom Rev Walters in memory of parents, grandparentsFrom Rev Walters in honor of family

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Galatians: Gospel of GraceBishop Palmer has invited us to come together as The West Ohio

Conference in the study of Galatians over the weeks of the Easterseason. While we are not united in our thinking on all matters, wecan all be united in our commitment to turn to scripture for guidance.As we read, study, and discuss scripture together, we trust the HolySpirit to move in our midst and to speak to us through the livingword of God. You can joini n d i v i d u a l l y ( c h e c k o u tWestOhioUMC.org). You can alsocome to a Bible study offered here todiscuss what you read.

Paul wrote his letter to the churchat Galatia during a time of greattension. Leaders in the church were suggesting believers mustbecome Jewish before they could become followers of Christ. Paulresponds with intense emotion, stressing the very gospel is at stakein this decision. He urges the Galatians to trust they are justified byfaith in Christ rather than the works of the law. He encourages themto accept the freedom grace offers, to be guided by the Holy Spirit tolive in unity as they “bear one another’s burdens” and share the fruitof the Spirit.

As we face significant tension over division in our nation andchurch today, Paul’s letter reminds us of the transformative power ofgrace and the ways we might overcome our differences in order toreach even more people with the good news. His words ring throughhistory calling us to trust the gospel of grace and to live in the unitylife in the Spirit makes possible.

As individuals, small groups, and congregations across ourannual conference study Galatians together, they will be challengedto consider how the gift of grace through faith in Jesus sets us freefrom the burden of sin and the law, and free for unity acrossdifferences, bearing the fruit of love in Spirit filled community.

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Foothills District Spring Conference & Pre-AnnualConference Briefing

Wednesday, May 8, 2019, 7:00 to 8:30pmThe Plains UMC, 3 N. Plains Rd., The Plains, Ohio

All pastors, lay members, and lay persons areinvited to participate in this year’s District SpringConference & Pre-Annual Conference Briefing. Theevent will be held at The Plains United MethodistChurch.

In addition to worshiping together, we willrecognize those being commissioned & ordained,first-time licenses for local pastors, newly certified

candidates, transitions and retirements. We will also approve ourdistrict leadership team, our 2020 district budget and present thepre-annual conference briefing.

Clergy and Lay Members of Annual Conference are especiallyencouraged to attend. Everyone is welcome!

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Staff/Parish TrainingFoothills District Superintendent Dennis Miller will lead a

training workshop for all Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committeemembers on Saturday morning, May 11th at Central Trinity UnitedMethodist Church, 62 S. Seventh St, Zanesville, Ohio. The trainingwill be held from 10:00am to 11:30am.

The training will cover an overview of S/PPRC roles andresponsibilities. Among the topics covered will be: Pastoral care forthe pastor and family, handling complaints and conflict, NEW annualevaluations, compensation requirements, vacations/renewal/daysoff/continuing education, pastoral appointments and transition.

There are two ways to register:1. Call Sherri Rogers at the Foothillls Office - [Call: 888-868-1225]2. Email Sherri Rogers at: srogers@wocumc.org

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Outreach12 cards were colored and sent to shut-ins and others during the

Sunrise Service. More cards are available (contact KatherineReichley).

We made 33 “something small” kits for the Food Pantry todistribute. They included things like band aids, rubber bands, paperclips, needles, thread, and safety pins.

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NurseryThe Nursery is up and running. We are so thankful for the new

babies in our midst! It's for babies (newborn) throughage 3. We'd like to have two people in the nursery (aswell as Jr Church) each week so all needs can be met.Please prayerfully consider volunteering to serve inthe important ministry. There are moms whose onlybreak comes during worship so it's helpful if othersvolunteer.

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Birthday Open House No need to singOr bring a thingJust come say "Hi"And "My oh my""Hope you have a Happy 85th Birthday"

Please help us celebrate June Foster's birthday June 8th, 2-5 pmin the Somerset United Methodist Church Community Life Center.

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Food Pantry UpdateThe Somerset Area Good Pantry (SAFP) is operated out of the

basement of the Somerset United Methodist Church, 139 E. MainStreet. The pantry was originally established to provide foodassistance for people living in Reading and Clayton townships ofPerry County. However, due to the growing need for food assistanceand several of the food pantries closing, SAFP now helps those from

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surrounding areas. There are food pantries in Thornville, Glenfordand New Lexington also providing assistance.

Over the years, the pantry has seen several changes such as themajority of the food is purchased from theSoutheastern Ohio Food Bank (SOFB) located inLogan, and meat is received from Kroger thruthe SOFB retail program. The pantry is nowoperated as a “Choice” pantry where the clientsare able to select the items they will use instead

of receiving a bag with preselected items.During the first quarter of 2019, the SAFP provided food to 272

families (729 total people) and received 27,212 pounds of food fromthe SOFB: 14,326 grocery; 3,990 milk; 6,272 produce, 137 bakery;and 2,487 meat (Kroger). There were also several local activities andindividuals which donated various items totaling 1,516 pounds (thisincluded 484 lbs from Sheridan Middle School food drive).

Even with the partnership with the SOFB, there are still severalitems we need donated which the pantry cannot usually get throughthe food bank: personal hygiene items (including soap, deodorant,and shampoo), toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish liquid. Fooditems: Ramen noodles, crackers (any kind), canned fruits orvegetables, puddings, cake/cookie mixes, cooking supplies (sugar,flour, and oil), catsup, and mustard.

The SAFP is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 until 12.Those requesting assistance needs to provide a valid ID and proof ofresidency (i.e. utility bill).If you have any questions please feel free to contact the church officeat 740-743-1029.

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Stats for AprilApril 7 70 $3664April 14 80 $2780April 21 224 $2565April 27 109 $3920

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New OpportunityDo you like to sing along to songs you hear on the radio? Do you

find yourself humming these songs days later? Do you want to singalong with a group of people just like you?

Do you want to praise Jesus in song without the stress of learninga 4-part harmony?

This is the group for you.The Casual Corner Singing Group (name

subject to change) is a new group meetingSundays after church at 11:15 for about 30-45 minutes to start to singsongs from the last two decades of contemporary Christian music.We will meet up in the corner of the sanctuary near the piano underthe supervision of Dory Smathers and friends. We will sing songslike 10,000 Reasons, Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) and YouSay. We will use a variety of media including the piano and theoverhead screen.

Our first meeting will be Sunday May 5, 2019 at11:15 just to get together and sing a few songs.

Dory will also take requests so your favoritescan be found and get on the list to sing.

Come out and praise Jesus by making a joyful noise!All ages are encouraged to come!

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Mission OpportunityThe Junction City United Methodist Church and Jackson Area

Ministries together are constructing a home for a family in theJunction City area. The house will be a three bedroom, 2 bathstructure. This effort is a continuing effort by Jackson AreaMinistries to build homes as replacements for deteriorating mobilehome trailers. The vast majority of the building will be done byvolunteers. A similar house was constructed in McArthur.

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The construction has begun and thefoundation is complete. They are nowlooking for volunteers to assist with workingon the building of the remainder of thehouse. Volunteers are needed for theSaturdays of May 4, 11 and 18. They will

work from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day and lunch will beprovided by the Junction City UMC.

Specific information concerning needs and volunteering can beobtain through the office of First United Methodist Church in NewLexington. (Phone 740-342-1063) or Jackson Area Ministries officeat 1-888-237-3141.

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From Our District SuperintendentThis month we are studying the New Testament Book of

Galatians through-out the West Ohio Conference. The theme ofGalatians is “Freedom in Christ.” Did you know the dream ofuniversal freedom for all people grew out of the Christian gospel?Ancient Greek democracy was confined to a handful of elite citizens.Plato and Aristotle believed most people were born to be slaves, butfrom this remote corner of the Roman empire amidst all that tyrannythere came a new message, the words of Jesus: “You shall know thetruth and the truth shall set you free.” And the words of Paul, “Forfreedom Christ has set us free!”

Paul’s problem in Galatia was the Judaizers — folks who put alittle twist on the gospel to say, "Oh, I believe in salvation throughfaith in Christ, BUT God's grace needs just a little help from us. Inaddition to Jesus dying on the cross, I need to follow the holyceremonies of Israel and, if I’m a male, becircumcised.” So, Paul writes this in chapter5, verses 1-2, “So Christ has truly set usfree. Now make sure that you stay free, anddon’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are

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counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christwill be of no benefit to you.”

Paul wants Christians to realize they are free. We often think ofthis as freedom from something — the removal of restraint.However, Christian freedom is also freedom to something. Verse 13,“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not useyour freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one anotherin love.” We have been set free from the curse and burden of keepingthe Law, and we have been set free to live for the glory of God!

Therefore, Christian freedom is not a freedom to sin; that wouldbe an abuse of God’s grace. Within the early church there was apopular heresy known as Antinomianism, which taught Christians arefreed by grace to live in the flesh. Paul addresses this in verses 13-26by describing what freedom is meant to be and how it is to be livedout. It is interesting the Law is not discarded! In fact, it is fulfilled.This is why Paul sets up clear boundaries for Christianbehavior/conduct. In verses 16-22, the works of the flesh arecontrasted by the fruit of the Spirit.

The great psychiatrist Victor Frankel once made a dramaticproposal that America needs one more monument. He said that tobalance the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast, we need a Statue ofResponsibility on the West Coast. He proposed we have two greatbookends of our country, the Statue of Liberty and the Statue ofResponsibility serving as our perpetual reminder that liberty withoutresponsibility Galatians 5: “Not Freedom To Sin, But Freedom From

Sin” into slavery. I would vote for that andsuggest we put the Statue of Responsibility asclose to Hollywood as possible!

This need for a Statue of Responsibility isobvious because what we have today often is abogus freedom that is really license. G.K.Chesterton once said, “Having the right to dosomething is a long way from being right in doingso.” There is a huge chasm between the way

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freedom is popularly understood in our secular society and how itwas understood by those who founded our country. For ourforefathers and foremothers, this gift of freedom was a sacred trustthey received with trembling hands in order to surrender it back toGod in loving obedience to God’s holy will. I love the words I sangmany years ago as a young child at Duncan Falls Elementary School:“America, America, God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul inself-control, thy liberty in law.” I believe it was this understandingof Christian freedom AND responsibility that eventually led ournation to address the moral sin of human slavery.

As we once again observe Memorial Day later this month, maywe never forget the cost of freedom and sacrifice of those who gavetheir lives for us. May we also never forget the sacrifice of JesusChrist to purchase our spiritual freedom. What better way for us tohonor those who gave their lives for our liberty than for us to livelives of greater responsibility!

Allow me to close with this question, “Is there an area of yourlife where you abuse your “freedom” by living for yourself (whichis actually slavery) instead of living for God?

Dennis MillerFoothills District Superintendent

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2019 Annual ConferenceSunday, June 2 -Thursday, June 6,2019Hoover Auditorium at LakesideChautauqua

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ConfirmationThere will be a Confirmation class for those grade 7 through 12

who've not been confirmed. A letter will go out with specifics but theclass will be held after school is out: May 23-24. We're going tocompress a three month class into two days.

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Pastors are charged with ensuringConfirmands are knowledgeable about theOld Testament, New Testament, the life ofJesus, the history of the church, the history ofthe United Methodist Church and the historyof the local church. That's a lot for two days!We're mainly going to focus on having a relationship with Jesus.

If Confirmads choose to join the church, that will happen onPentecost which is June 9 at the 10:00am service.

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Bible StudyThe West Ohio Conference is studying the

Book of Galatians after Easter. We will meet onSunday evenings at 6:30pm. Start readingGalatians and come ready to discuss!

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National Day of Prayer 2019 The theme f o r t h e 2019National Day of Prayer is Love One Another based upon the wordsof Jesus in John 13:34, which says, “Loveone another. Just as I have loved you.” Lovecan change America.

We need a baptism of love by the HolySpirit which will immerse the entire Churchof Jesus Christ in America and a baptism oflove which will immerse all of America –from the church house to the state house andall the way to the White House, we need tolearn to love one another.

The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a jointresolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S.Truman. In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both theHouse and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald

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Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988, designating the first Thursday ofMay as a day of national prayer. Every president since 1952 hassigned a National Day of Prayer proclamation.

Please spend some time in prayer for ournation, it's leaders, our churches, ourschools, and the media (all forms – online,print and the film/tv industry).

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Do you need to de-clutter your schedule? We can agree life is too full, but how do we de-clutter our

schedules and simply life? There is no easy checklist for finding thatbalance, but here are some things to consider: 1. • Set priorities. That means making tough choices, letting

something go. Before committing to yet another project,volunteer opportunity, or yet another activity for your child, askyourself if it fits into the 60% of your life. Does it align with yourfamily’s priorities?

2. • Get on the same page. Make sure your family agrees onpriorities. Before you add a big commitment to the calendar,check with your spouse to avoid unnecessary time crunches.

3. • Realize you cannot do everything. As much as we try to doit all, we have limits. Be realistic with your calendar and yourenergy level concerning the number of commitments you have.

4. • Say no. We probably kick ourselves more often for saying yes,than when we should have said no. Such a little word and yet somuch power to free up the schedule. This Live Smart Ohio bloghas points to consider about over-scheduled kids:https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/carter-413osu-edu/overscheduled-kids/ Courtesy of Ohio State Family and Consumer Sciences

May we take the time to find time for Jesus in our lives. Whatcould your life look like, if it were less cluttered?

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Mother's DayMother's Day is a celebration honoring motherhood and the

influence of mothers in society. It is celebratedaround the world. The initial proclamation was in1870 (Julia Howe wrote the first Mother's Dayproclamation asking women everywhere to join forworld peace). It became nationally recognized in1914 (proclamation signed by Woodrow Wilson).

This year it falls on Sunday, May 12, 2019 andwill be recognized in worship.

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Memorial DayMemorial Day (or Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the

United States for remembering and honoringpersons who have died while serving in theUnited States Armed Forces. The holiday, whichis currently observed every year on the lastMonday of May. Memorial Day was previouslyobserved on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.

Please consider honoring those who servedon Monday, May 27th by attending the parade or placing flowers ora flag on a grave.

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Armed Forces DayArmed Forces Day is Saturday, May 18th. This is aday to thank someone who's serving in the military.Please reach out to those who are sacrificing so wemight have freedom!

aCelebration!

Rose Mary Founds is celebrating her 90th birthday June 1, 1-3pmin the Community Life Center. Cake and punch will be served. Allwelcome - please help Rose Mary celebrate! Not gifts please.

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