tidings from rev. dr. joanne carlson brown tibbetts...
TRANSCRIPT
Joanne’s Jottings by Rev. Dr. Joanne Brown
Youth News by Kathryn Ushimaru Interim Youth Director
September 2015
Information and Inspiration f rom Tibbetts Uni ted Methodist Church
Founded 1909
Joanne’s Jottings 1 & 7
Youth News 1-2
Homecoming Sunday 3
UMW Circles 4
Lots of Gratitude 5
Laity Spiritual
Training
6
Bells Bells Bells 8
And So Much More!
Inside this issue:
Tidings from
Tibbetts
When God created us, God gave Adam a secret – and that secret was not how to begin, but how to begin again. In other words, it is not given to us to begin; that privilege is God’s alone. But it is given to us to begin again – and we do every time we choose to defy death and side with the living. -Elie Wiesel It is September and for many it is the beginning of a new year.
Even for those of us not caught up in the rhythm of the school year September still feels like a new beginning – back to normal routines after a summer of things slowing down a bit. It is a good time–not to begin–but to begin again. As Elie Wiesel states in the quote above, the secret is to begin again. God has started us
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We’re on a
Mission for God
Mission Possible
Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown
As summer comes to a close, our SALTy Tibs have continued to demonstrate their dedication and compassion to serving oth-ers. We used open hearts and open doors as we hosted two youth groups this month from visiting churches to stay in our youth room as they passed through Seattle. David, James, Akshay, Aradhna, and I helped pack over 2,500 lbs. of food in less than 40 minutes- a record for the West Seattle Food Bank! The very next day, David, James, Hannah, and I ate din-ner, played basketball, and painted art projects with the
children from Mary’s Place. We have also continued to walk humbly with God through other traditions by attending Friday Night Shabbat at Kol HaNeshamah Synagogue and Sunday Night Compline at St. Mark’s Cathedral. The youth have enjoyed it so much, that they are already asking if we can attend these services regu-larly!
Along with school starting in September, Youth Group will be held regularly again on Sundays this month. We welcome new
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Tid ings f rom T ibbetts
Youth News — continued
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SALTy Tibs to join us at our Kick-Off meeting on September 13th, or to bring their friends to Game Night on September 25th.
Finally, I want to recognize our youth/young adult graduates: David, Emma, DeLancey, and Rachel. Get ready to hear all about their college lives when they return to Tibbetts in December for Christmas Break!
Kathryn Ushimaru
Interim Youth Director
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Compline Evening Service at St. Mark’s Cathedral– Sept 6 ...8:45-10:15pm
Joint Youth Group Kick-Off! (Grades 6-12)- Sept 13 … 11:30am-12:30pm
Jr. Youth Group (6th-8th grades)- Sept 20 … 11:45am-1:00pm
Sr. Youth Group (9th-12th grades)- Sept 20 … 7:00-8:30pm
Bring a Friend: Game Night!- Sept 25 … 7:30-9:30pm
Jr. Youth Group (6th-8th grades)- Sept 27 … 11:45am-1:00pm
Sr. Youth Group (9th-12th grades)- Sept 27 … 7:00-8:30pm
Griefshare is a special weekly seminar and support group for people who are grieving the death of someone close to them. The next 13 week session begins Saturday, Sept 12 through Dec 5, 2015 and meets from 10am to noon; you can start any time. Meets at Grace Church, Seattle. There will also be a one-time class called “Surviving the Holidays. This ses-
sion will be Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 2-4pm in the foyer of Grace Church, Seattle. Reservations are helpful (206-937-8400) For more information go to griefshare.org or gracechurchseattle.org. Grace church is locat-ed at 10323 28th Ave SW, 98146. If you have lost someone close to you, or know someone who has, this is a resource for you.
Grief Recovery Support Group
Rachael Phelps, ministry intern at Audubon Park United Methodist Church, reflects on her time spent in service at the church and a formative project on which she participated.
Here is an intro: When I arrived in Spokane last fall, Audubon Park UMC had just begun a second worship held on Sunday evenings. From the first time I visited the service, I knew that it was something special. The ser-
vice, Vespers, immediately became an im-portant part of my job, discernment, and per-sonal faith.
To read more of Rachael’s words please see the full article posted on the Worship bulletin board in the hall. Or check it out online http://www.pnwumc.org/news/ministry-transitions-and-the-spirit-at-work/
Ministry, Transitions, and the Spirit at Work by Rachael Phelps
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Gathering around the table is central to build-ing relationships. Raise a glass and a fork with new and familiar faces this fall through “Supper for Seven”. Dinner groups for ap-proximately 7 adults (3-5 families) will gather monthly either in the home, at a restaurant or location of your group’s choice for October, November, December, and January. The first hosts will make the initial location choice and then the group will make their own plan for the following 3 months.
See the Sign-up Wall in the Narthex for your chance to join a “Supper for Seven” group. Fun and fellowship is the goal: Let’s Eat!
In February 2016 a new rotation will begin, but you are always welcome to join in at any time.
Questions: Mary Wiener at [email protected]
Sign-up in September: Supper for Seven!
We’re on a Mission – for God:
Homecoming Sunday BBQ Lunch and Ministry Fair
September 13 is Homecoming Sunday!
This year for Homecoming the United Methodist Men’s group decided to host a BBQ lunch for
our church family as a welcome back to everyone (thanks, guys!). Whether you’ve been away
on vacation or we’ve seen you every Sunday all summer long, we claim the 13th as our oppor-
tunity to launch the next season of our being On A Mission… for God.
It will be the first day of regular Sunday School for age groups and during the service we will be
blessing all the students, teachers, administrators and anyone who works within a school
setting.
Following the worship service we’ll have our Homecoming Ministry Fair where
you can see what’s happening with the Worship, Stewardship, Discipleship &
Relationship and the Welcome & Outreach ministry teams.
And about that BBQ… since we’re having Eternal Summer this year the UMM
figured that Homecoming should include a feast cooked outside and served in
Adams Hall. We hope you’ll join us for some time for rejoicing in being
together to praise God, support each other, and spiritually nurture
ourselves. Welcome Home!
Happy B
irthday in
Septe
mber
Susan Kallies
Anita McKay
Sam Nagel
Bella Nowicki
Liz Weldin
Barbara Benson
Keith Howell
Max Roundhill
Jeanne Galletly
Janet Carter
Ann Pierson
Ted Brosius
Ellen Johanson
Roland Francisco
Dottie Phelps
Thomas Ingram
Rue Lane
Rev Dr Joanne Carlson
Brown
Wendy Hughes-Jelen
Jennifer Hallmon
Robert Link
Patti Johnson
Adina Tarpley
Everett Wright
Randy Goodwin
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Tid ings f rom T ibbetts
Happy Anniversary in September Congratulations and many blessings!
Connie & Ted Reed celebrating 26 years
Stephanie & Max Roundhill celebrating 48 years
General United Methodist Woman’s Meeting - will meet Sept 9 at 10:00am in the Parlor. Bee North Circle will furnish and serve finger foods, tea & coffee. Circle Meetings
Norma Ruth Hugg Circle-will meet in the Parlor with
Stephanie Roundhill as the host on Sept 16 at 10am.
Bee North Circle-will meet in the Parlor with Micheala
Hoppe as the host and Christy Wilson will present the pro-
gram on Sept 16 at 10am.
Kolze Circle-Retreat at Denise McKee’s home on beautiful
Horseshoe Lake, Fri evening, Sept 18 thru Sun, Sept 20.
Sewing Circle-will meet on Sept 30 from 10am-2pm in the
Sewing Room. Please bring a sack lunch, coffee & tea will
be provided. Come join the group for quilting and conversa-
tion. We will be very happy to have you join us!
September 27 we w ill celebrate a new life in our church family. Brita Gill will be bap-tized that morning. It is a joyous occasion for any church to receive a new one in our midst
and name and claim her as our own. Please join us and the Gill family as we celebrate this happy occasion.
Baptism
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The Gratitude Corner – David Lindberg
This month our Gratitude Corner gives a heartfelt Thank You and goodbye (for now) to David Lindberg, who recently left Seattle to begin his freshman year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ari-zona. David is one of several mem-bers of the Tibbetts congregation who actually began coming to church be-fore he was born! In the 18+ years since then, we’ve watched him grow and become more and more involved in the life of the church, and we are grateful for the example that he sets for people of all ages. We’ve seen Da-vid share his gift of music excellence as he’s played in the chimes choir and all of the hand-bell choirs (sometimes more than one choir at a time), helped with the chimes choir, showed his expertise in ringing many bells in duets and quartets, and played the piano (solo and in duets) for worship services. These experi-ences may be the most visible to many at Tib-betts, but David’s gift of time and talent doesn’t stop there. He’s been a core member of the Youth Group since he started middle
school and has been on every youth mission throughout the years. In addition to providing beautiful music during worship services, he helps run the sound system, ushers, lights
candles and has been in many of the special plays and musicals we’ve had at Tibbetts. David is hands-on with our outreach programs: cleaning up at Lin-coln Park, participating in the parade, helping when we host Mary’s Place, and packaging food at the WS Food Bank. He consults and helps others on the Tibbetts web site and the Youth Fa-cebook page and he helped produce
the multimedia presentation of Who We Are at Tibbetts for the all-church meeting last fall. David is the example of a gracious steward of our church home through his dedication to keeping up the garden and grounds, clean-up of the interior rooms, and painting at Tibbetts. We will miss him as he begins the next chap-ter of his life and we send him off with our deep gratitude for all he does with and for his church family. Thank you, David!
Regular Sunday school for children up to fifth grade will start on Sunday, Sept 13. Kids will be excused after children's time. If you have any interest in being a second teacher in a busy room, filling in as a sub-
stitute teacher, or just hanging out with our wonderful children, please let Sara Carter know at [email protected] .
Summer Sunday School
A big thanks to all who helped with our From Our House to Your House garage sale. Special thanks to Carrie Goodnight who did a great deal of the organizing and Betsy Wharton who did the publici-ty. We are blessed by the caring, hard-working people in this congregation.
Many Many Thanks!
Swing by the Southwest cor-ner of the building (near Ad-ams Hall entrance) and check out the new placement of the church sign. Thanks to Rick Green, Myron Lindberg, David Lindberg and George Tuau for all of their time and master skills of tak-ing care of our big church!!! Our Trustees and Jr Trustee do great work!!!
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Tid ings f rom T ibbetts
In Case of an Emergency on Fr i/Sat/Sun ca l l Joanne 206 -604-9995
Messages le f t at the church after 2pm on Thursday ’s
are not checked unt i l Monday mornings.
Thank you very much!
Musical Notes by John Van Lierop, Jr.
The “Faith We Sing” songbook was published in 2000 and is the supplement to the latest United Methodist Hymnal of 1989. For many years praise songs were either taught by rote or the words were projected on a screen. Now these tunes are in a collection so that the congregation can see the words and music. Many of these praise songs had been around 25 or more years such as #2022 “Great is the Lord”, #2025 “As the Deer” or #2036 “Give Thanks”, just to name a few. In addi-tion some older gospel hymns were included
in this collection such as #2146 “His Eye is on the Sparrow”, #2158 “Just a Closer Walk with
Thee” and #2282 “I’ll Fly Away”. A number of the songs in the “Faith We Sing” contains more contemporary titles and words such as #2048 “God Weeps”, #2050 “Mothering God” and #2122 “She Comes Sailing on the Wind”. In my next column in No-vember I will be sharing some of the favorite songs taken from “Faith We Sing” that a number of people at Tib-
betts UMC enjoy singing.
“The Faith We Sing” Songbook
Training to be held at Lake Washington UMC. I am hopeful that each church (all 55 of you) will send at least two representatives so that what is learned can be taken back and shared. The point of the training is to put our faith in-to action. A successful outcome will be local congregations engaging publically with the truth claims of the Gospel.
The day will begin with a robust worship that will also include a few (I promise ... just a few) words about "my agenda". I will lift up some visionary and practical comments about renewing our mutual ministries. Announcing a time of resurrection, let us all put away our complaints and our fears, focusing instead on the doing of God's will. Let us recommit to our great calling as the Body of the living Christ, recommitting to strengthening our District connection with a life of personal holiness, and public witness.
The morning of the 26th will focus on reading the Bible. Wes Howard Brook, and Sue Fergu-son Johnson will take us on a deep journey, hopefully uncomfortable but strengthening of our spirit. We will be fed with manna, and we will be asked to share this manna with each other. We'll eat a simple lunch accepting do-nations to help fund Lake Washington's fan-tastic relational ministry with homeless car campers. The afternoon will center us around several possible direct-action responses to eating manna from heaven. We'll end the day in solidarity around the Lord's Table. And if God is good we will be glad we have come. Expect excellence, and expect to be chal-lenged and called.
Soon we'll send each church flyers, inserts and e-blurbs to help you get the word out. Solidarity in Christ, Rich Lang DS
Laity Uprising Spiritual Activism Training - September 26
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Joanne’s Jottings — continued
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off at our birth and every year we have nu-merous chances to begin again. Maybe it was because we made a New Year’s resolution that we didn’t keep up. Maybe it is a broken rela-tionship that we can try and mend. Maybe it is a resolution to do better in school, at work, and even at self-care. That is the glory of what God has gifted us – to begin again. Our mistakes, our failings, our short-comings don’t have to be forever. If we have the cour-age we can reach out and take hold of what God offers – to begin again. That doesn’t nec-essarily make it any easier, in fact it may be harder than living with what is. But we are on a journey through life. If we stay the same, if we never risk, we will stagnate and be left be-hind as the world and even our faith move on, beginning again and again. Beginning again takes faith, a belief that it is possible. As United Methodists and followers of Jesus and John Wesley we are called to earnestly strive after perfection in love in this life. Deuteronomy proclaims that what God asks of us is not so far off that we can’t un-derstand it, it is written in our hearts and we can do it. That doesn’t mean we will never make mistakes or that we will achieve some state of perfection. Of course we will make mistakes, but if we live in the grace that abounds all around us, we will not turn our back on what God calls us to do and be and that is the road to Christian Perfection – the unique doctrine of Wesley and the Methodists, reclaimed from a 5th century “heresy” of Pela-gius. We are given the grace to be and do what God calls us to, it is up to us to open ourselves to receive the gift. September is an excellent time to begin again.
We don’t have to repeat the same old, same old. We can step out in a new direction, try new things, enter into the ramped up energy that is September. If we have kind of taken a vacation from worship, we can get back into being a full participant of the church family. If we have sat back and let others take on the load saying: Oh, someone else would be bet-ter at it than me – we will never know our full potential and the church will be the poorer for it. If we have said, I just don’t have time to exercise – find a way to carve out the time – begin again. If we say, I would like to be more spiritual but never seem to have the time, contemplate a shift in schedule or scale down your expectations of what that “being more spiritual” means. Before you get up, take a moment to thank God that you have awak-ened to a new day full of possibilities, Before you go to sleep, take a moment to think over your day and what blessings you have re-ceived, what you have to be thankful for. Be-fore you know it, you will have a “regime” of spirituality that might even expand to reading somethings out of the Bible before your day gets really going, doing a short devotional us-ing The Upper Room or some other devotional resource. I think you will find that your atti-tude improves throughout your whole day. You might even feel rejuvenated, ready to face whatever the day brings. Take time for yourself – things you like to do. It isn’t frivolous or selfish to engage in things that bring joy to your life no matter what it is: swimming, running, reading a good book, be-ing with friends, sitting by the water for a bit and savoring the sounds that come from the pond, lake, or Sound. Walk the dog as if it isn’t a task but something to share with the fur person you love. Take time to notice the smells and sounds around you. Granted they may not all be great smells and sounds, but your senses will be awake in new ways. Tell your special someone or someone's in your life that you love them – every day – even numerous times a day. Begin and end your day in just that loving way. So, this month, make some new “resolutions” – not something you “should” do but some-thing you want to do. Begin again. It is never too late. That is the secret to life and a gift from our Beloved God.
It’s time to mark you calendar, look at your schedule, and set aside some time to explore the possibilities of ringing in a bell choir at Tibbetts. There are choirs for all ages and ex-perience is not required. The Bells’ R Us, a group of children interested in bells, will re-hearse on Sunday mornings at 11:15am. This particular choir focuses on children learning music and ringing bells in fun ways. We'll gather to get started on Sunday, Sept 20.
For adults, the Belles & Beaus will start their rehearsals on Tuesday, Sept 8 at 7:00pm.
If you’re not sure if this is something you’d like to participate in - or have your children or youth participate in, think about visiting us for a rehearsal. We’d love to have you join us! More information is available from the director, Shirley Lindberg, at [email protected] .
Bells, Bells, Bells & More Bells
We’re on a Mission
for God 2015.
Mission Possible!
We welcome all people to celebrate and share God's love.
Facebook.com/TibbettsUMChurch
Phone: 206.932.7777
E-mail: [email protected]
Tibbetts United Methodist Church
3940 41st Ave. SW | Seattle, WA 98116
Church Members receive a lengthier printed version via US Mail.
The Communications Committee has ensured addresses
and phone numbers of church members who host events
in their home are not published on the internet, and also
protects the privacy of its Youth.