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Wesley’sJournalJune2020
WesleyUnitedMethodistChurchAChurchforALLGod’sPeople85StanfordAve,PuebloCo,81005
(719)[email protected]
Rev.EmilieForward(719)371-4748
TolivebyFaithtobeknownbyLoveandbeaVoiceofHope.
Wordstoponder:DearestWesleychurchfamily,thisisthelastnewslettercommunicationthatyouwillreceivefrommeasyourpastor.Actually,Iwasn’tmuchofapastorinthelastfivemonthsasIamrecoveringfromthismajorspinalfusionsurgery.IamdoingfineandIamhealingwell.Fusionisinprogress,Ihope.Thelastsevenyearshavetrulybeenanincrediblejourney.Infact,itismorethanwecouldhaveeverimagined.WaltandIfeelprivilegedandhumbledthatwehadanythingtodowithWesley.Indeed,Godhasbeensofaithfulandgracious.It’shardtoarticulatethedepthoftheaweandgratitudethatWaltandIhaveinourhearts.WehavewitnessedthepresenceandpoweroftheHolySpiritthroughthepastsevenyears.I’vegivenmybestandmyalltoWesley.IhavepouredoutovertheyearsandIamextremelygratefulforwhatGodhasaccomplishedthroughyoursharedleadership.NowitistimetostepasideasIhavesensedthatmyassignmenthereatWesleyiscompleteandIbelieveit’snow
timefornewleadershipwithfreshvision,passion,andenergytotakeWesleydeeperandfurtherinitsmission.PleasewelcometheRev.LouWard,hiswifeJenna,theirsonsLandonandLiamwithopenarms.Louhasawealthofleadershiptogive.Duetomymedicalcondition,surgery,andCOVID-19,mylastworshipservicewithyouwasonDecember24,2019andmyofficiallastdaywithWesleywillbeJune30,2020.AsapastorIcanonlyprayandhopethatwheneveratransitionhappens,ittakesplaceinthemidstofathrivingandflourishingchurch.Whilefarfromaperfectchurch,itgivesmegreatjoytosensethecurrenthealthofourchurch,asidefromtherestrictionsofCOVID-19,becauseIbelievethatitwillserveasanimportantspringboardforthefuture.IhavesoenjoyedmyservicetoWesley.Thereweregoodtimes,funtimes,sadtimes.Therewerechallengingtimes,growingtimes,flourishingtimes.Welaughedtogetherandwecriedtogether.Wesharedmealstogetherandrefrainedfromeating.WesharedtheGospel,wesharedHolyCommunion.WesharedpraisingGodthroughsong,throughprayer,throughvisitation.NowitisthroughthebenedictionthatIwillsharewithyouall.“MaytheLORDblessyouandkeepyou;theLORDmakehisfaceshineuponyouandbegracioustoyou;theLORDturnhisfacetowardyouandgiveyoupeace.” Numbers6:24-26(NIV)HappyTrails,Rev.Emilie&Walt
Aresponsetotheurgingof
churchestoopenrightawayFromtheBishop-electoftheEpiscopalChurchintheDioceseofMissouri,DeonK.Johnson:“Theworkofthechurchisessential.Theworkofcaringforthelonely,themarginalized,andtheoppressedisessential.Theworkofspeakingtruthtopowerandseekingjusticeisessential.Theworkofbeingaloving,liberating,andlifegivingpresenceintheworldisessential.Theworkofwelcomingthestranger,therefugeeandtheundocumentedisessential.Theworkofreconciliationandhealingandcaringisessential.Thechurchdoesnotneedto“open”becausethechurchnever“closed.”WewhomakeuptheBodyofChrist,thechurch,loveGodandourneighborsandourselvessomuchthatwewillstayawayfromourbuildingsuntilitissafe.Wearethechurch.”
BISHOPKARENP.OLIVETOMay15,2020
TothePeopleCalledUnitedMethodistoftheMountainSkyConference,Jesus,followingtheresurrection,directedSimonPeterto“feedmylambs,tendmysheep.”(John21:15-19).Here,JesusentrustshisdisciplestocarefortheonesJesusloved:thelost,theleast,thelonely.Jesusasksthesameofyouandme.Wearetocareforthespiritual,physical,andemotionalwell-beingofthosewhomJesusloves.ThistakesonaresponsibilityofepicproportionsintheseCOVID-19daysweareliving.HowdowegatherastheBodyofChristandkeeponeanothersafefrominfection?Whatguidelinesmustwefollowifwearetomovefromonlineministrytoinpersonworshipandsmallgroups?Howdoweprepareourpeoplesothatthemostvulnerableinourmidstwillbekeptsafe?COVID-19isfarfromover.Whileourphysicaldistancinghashelpedflattenthecurve,infections(anddeaths)arestilloccurring.ThemostvulnerablepopulationtoCOVID-19(thoseover65)arethemajorityinourcongregations.AsdisciplesofJesus,wehaveaseriousresponsibilitytoorganizeandbuildupministryinwaysthatareaccessibletoall,beginningwiththemostvulnerable.SinceMarch,theMountainSkyConferenceCOVID-19CrisisteamhasbeenmeetingtoguidetheMSCresponse,communications,andprogrammingthroughthepandemic.Teammembersinclude:MargaretHotze,GaylaJoSlauson,DonMcCammon,BruceBerger,AJBush,GaryHaddock,PattiAgnew,AngieKotzmoyer,ZachBechtold,JanetMulroy,DawnSkerritt,CharmaineRobledo,AngelaThomas,JeffRainwater,AnnieArnoldy,MichaelSmithBishopKarenOliveto
Beforeconsideringareturntoin-personworshipandmeetings,allcongregationsareaskedtocreateateamtoworkthroughthisguidebook.Youwillfindbothconcretestepsforsafetyandhealth,aswellascriticalquestionstohelpyouconsiderwhatministryinthenextphaseofCOVID-19willlooklike.IdonotwantonesinglecaseofCOVID-19tracedtooneofourchurchesbecausewedidnotcareforthosewhomJesusloves.Ihopeyouwillfindthisguidebookhelpfulasyou(re)launchyourministries.MayGodcontinuetoblessyouandyourministries,
Thank youHereisahugethankyoutoCindyLewis,BethMangin,SusanFrank,andJanWarnerforyourconsistentconstructionofprayercomforters.Wewillgettogetherassoonaswecan.Staystrong.Besafe.Stayhealthy. SaraCarpenterMOVINGSALEJUNE12&13,2020@633WestacresAve.,Pueblo
Iamsellingmyfurnitureanditemsthatmadethechurchparsonagehomeforsevenyears.Theynowhavefulfilleditsusefulnessandareeagertofind
newowners.Ifthoseofyouwhohavegraciouslydonateditemstomyhouseholdin2013andwould
JUNE2020PeacewithJustice7thFlagDay14thFirstDayofSummer20thFather’sDay21stNewsletterDeadline25th
JohnWesley’sBirthday28th
CooperativeCareCenterisinneedof:cereal/cannedfruitSoupKitchenBean,rice,pasta,flour,oil
Our Deepest Sympathy for the Families of:
Betty Duran Scott Morgan
Linda Wood
likethemreturned,pleasegetintouchwithmeat371-4748.Rev.EmiliPEACEWITHJUSTICEJUNE7TH(Peacemakers)employalltheirstrength,allthetalentswhichGodhasgiventhem,aswellastopreservepeacewhereitis,astorestoreitwhereitisnot.”PleasenoteonyourcheckdonationstoPeacewithJustice.
For80yearsTheUnitedMethodistCommitteeonReliefhasrespondedtonaturalandman-madedisastersregardlessofthelocationortheneed.Thistimethedisasteris
everywhere.COVID-19hashadhotspotsthroughouttheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.Theeconomicimpactfromclosuresofmajorsectorsoftheglobalmarketplaceiscausingseverehardships.UMCORisfulfillingthemandatewithwhichitwascreatedbyrespondingintangiblewaysthat“alleviatepovertyandsuffering.”
Willyoupleasehelp?GlobalMinistriesandUMCORareassistingministrypartnersfromMiamitoManila,SeattletoSanPaloandCoatesvilletoKinshasa.Morerequestsforassistancearereceivedeachweekand,sadly,themajorityarerequestsforfoodtosupportvulnerablecommunities.Partnerswhooperateordirectlysupportfood
pantriesareaskingforhelpastheglobalfightagainstCOVID-19isinflatingthepriceoffood,especiallyinplaceswherefoodinsecuritywasalreadyamajorpublichealthissue-evenhereintheU.S.100%ofyourgifttotheUMCORCOVID-19ResponseFundwillbeusedtomeetthebasicneedsofpeoplewhoarehopingforyourresponse.
Happy June Birthdays JenayDwight 06/06BobFrantz* 06/10TomAugustine* 06/12LoisJeanMock* 06/15JudithPorter 06/24PauletteStuart 06/27JesseFurney 06/28*ProudlyCelebrating80yearsormore
Happy Anniversary Bill&SonyaFranklin(62) 06/01James&MabelBaker(53) 06/04Scott&WendyGoins(16) 06/18Carl&GracePasquin(61) 06/20Tom&SherylAugustine(64) 06/22Jim&BetteLunn(63) 06/23Bill&OrabelleEaston(71) 06/28 If we missed your birthday or anniversary. please let the Office know at 561-8746 or
PrayingforourElderly&HomeboundMarieEarnestJeanAllenDoraMartinezMaryJanoskiPhyllisCoveyEuniceCarpenterNitaBocimMelSpenceEvelynDicksonDocBlanchardDeane&EllaMaeBeachBill&OrabelleEastonBill&MarleneMcCarthyRamonaHigbeeNormaLordAllieMaeLawlisLeonaMcDanielShirleyKnightHelenMurleyPrayingforoursickandinneedofprayerDeOrreKunzColleenClarkDarylCrawfordChuckLipichJudyPorterStanCopeBeckyGoyetteKevinPattonFrancesBedlienJacobFreemanLarryGrayJackMcCullahCliffRichardsonHaroldCarterMarkCarilloSallyMaroKathyFrantzLilianRiveraKarenBurenEarlRobinsonMartinGorackeHarrietYingstChrisFlemmingBlakeGrayCathySheaTristanThomasCindyLewis&FamilyRev.MargaretGillikinRev.EmilieForwardJosephineMcCormickConradGerlockJimmyHarperAlbertMismash
ClareMetcalfShane&KaitinFishMaryThurstonTyHussLeonaMcDanielTom&SherylAugustineLinda&AlanWood&FamilyRobertRFrantzBryanHastingsJoelCarpenterJeriMorganJoelCarpetnerWeprayforthosewhoserveintheU.SMilitaryKevinMoritzArmy(SonofTammySchecter)SteveGarciaArmy(Great-GrandsonofBill&OrabelleEaston)JasonCosbyArmy(GrandsonofLedemaRenfrow)ScottFergusonArmy(NephewofLisaFergusonCyrille SanduskyNavy(GrandsonofDonBollacker)BrandiMirelesNavy(Step-daughterofRandyLosey)DerekP.LawNavy(GrandsonofMarilynSelbyRuff)LeeThomasNavy(NephewofHeidiFleming&AlyceBouy)MatthewFlemingNavy(NephewofHeidiFleming&AlyceBouy)CarlosAhumadaAirForce(SonOfCarlosAhumada)
DrewSelbyNavyAir(GrandsonofMarilynSelby-Ruff
MISSIONCOMMITTEE Pura Vida the organization thatcoordinates our sponsorship with
our Guatemalan students Priscilla and Vidaliasent out an e-mail in May. Many sponsorswanted to know about their students and iftherewasanythingtheycoulddotohelpduringthisCOVID-19crisis.
ThepeopleatPuraVidarealizedthestudentsand their familieswere having a hard time sotheycameupwiththeideaofgivingthemfoodbasketscontainingrice,cornmeal,beans,pasta,oil, oatmeal, and sugar. Each of these basketswouldcostabout$15.00apiecesotheyaskedusassponsorsifwecoulddonatetothecause.Wedidinaway.
SaraCarpentergraciouslydonatedthemoneygiventoher fromthecongregationformakingmasksforthembecauseoftheCOVID-19crisis.
SusanFrank
JOHNWESLEY’SBIRTHDAY
JUNE28THFAITHINJESUSCHRIST
Wesleybeganhisfamous
sermononsalvationbyfaithbyspellingoutwhatfaithisnot.ItisnotthefaithofaheathenwhomerelybelievesthatsomekindofGodexists.Norisitthefaithofadevilwhobelievesandfearsajustpunishment.Neitherisitaspeculative,rationalthing,acold,lifelessassent,atrainofideasinahead.Faithisadispositionoftheheart.TheproperobjectoffaithisJesusChrist,whohasactedmightilyforoursalvation.SalvationismadepossiblebythegraceofGodgivenfreelytoallwhohavefaithinChrist.JohnWesley’sMessageToday
Thanksforcontinuingtosupportourchurchfinances….Thisisaspecialthankstoallofyou
who have continued to send your financialsupport to Wesley during this difficult andtroublingtime.WhileourincomeisdownalittleduetotheabsenceofSundayServiceoverallourpledgeshaveheldupandourcashflowisdoingwell,keepingourbillspaidandfinancesingoodshape.Yourloyaltyandsteadfastnesshasmadeall the difference. May God continue to blessyouandus.JimStuart,FinanceCommitteeChair
.
WELCOMECHALLENGINGTIMES…asopportunitiestotrustme.Youhavemebesideyouandmyspiritwithinyou,sonoset
ofcircumstancesistoomuchforyoutohandle.Whenthepathbeforeyouisdottedwithdifficulties,bewareofmeasuringyourstrengthagainstthosechallenges.Thatcalculationiscertaintoriddle
youwithanxiety.Withoutme,youwouldn’tmakeitpastthefirsthurdle!Thewaytowalkthroughdemandingdaysistogripmyhandtightlyandstayinclosecommunicationwithme.Letyourthoughtsandspokenwordsberichlyflavoredwithtrustandthankfulness.Regardlessoftheday’sproblems,Icankeepyouinprefectpeaceasyoustayclosetome.JesusCallingSarahYoung Youwillkeepinprefectpeacehimwhosemindissteadfast,becausehetrustsinyou.ISAIAH26:3“ForIamtheLord,yourGod,whotakesholdofyourrighthandandsaystoyou,Donotfear:Iwillhelpyou.”ISAIAH41:13Consideritpurejoy,mybrothers,wheneveryoufacetrailsofmanykinds. JAMES1:2
ThankyouforsupportingWesleyUnitedMethodistChurch. ALITTLEHUMOR!Threefriendsfromthelocalcongregationwereasked,“Whenyou’reinyourcasket,andfriendsandcongregationmembersaremourningoveryou,whatwouldyoulikethemtosay?”Johnsaid,“IwouldlikethemtosayIwasawonderfulhusband,afinespiritualleaderandagreatfamilyman.Marlenecommented,“IwouldlikethemtosayIwasawonderfulteacherandservantofGod,whomadeahugedifferenceinpeople’slives.”Donsaid,“I‘dlikethemtosay,“Look!He’smoving!
My chains are gone I’ve been set free My God, My Savior Has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love Amazing Grace HappyFather’sDay
FoodCardsDoyoubuyyourgroceriesfromKingSoopers?HelpsupportWesleybybuyinggrocerycardsfromTom&LoisJeanMock.YoucanfindthissweetcouplehereonSundaysorcancall1(970)657-7524.
Wesley United Methodist Church 85 Stanford Ave Pueblo Co 81005 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
June 2020