United Methodist Church of Yucaipa 35177 Beech Avenue Yucaipa, CA 92399

The LORD

doesn’t see

things the way

you see them.

People judge

by outward

appearance,

but the

LORD looks

at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Hymn Sing ~ 8:15 a.m.

Traditional Worship ~ 8:30 a.m.

Sunday School ~ 9:45 a.m.

Contemporary Worship ~ 11:00 a.m.

From Pastor Sharon ........................................... 2

Calendar ............................................................ 3

Anniversaries and Birthdays ............................... 3

Spring Break Field Trip ....................................... 4

Parents’ Night Out ............................................. 4

Lent – Easter 2014 .............................................. 5

Love Music? ....................................................... 5

Welcome New Members ................................... 5

Mail ................................................................... 6

Do You Potluck the Bible ................................... 6

Fundraiser Updates From Deb:

Sierra Service Project ....................................... 7

30-Hour Famine ............................................. 7

Sweet Dog Pics (also from Deb!) ............................. 8

The picture on this month’s cover is a “stereogram.” If you relax your eyes

(so it looks blurry) and stare at the picture, a 3D image will emerge.

From Pastor Sharon

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Lent.

Give up something: …chocolate…TV…bread…red meat…one meal a day…electronic games…shopping…cursing…alcoholic drinks…desserts…

Take on something new: …offer daily prayers (Disciplines; The Divine Hours; The Upper Room) …read the Bible…make special offerings to the church during Lent…volunteer at the church (see Amy Bahnson or Laurie Pertile or Bill Harps or Pastor Sharon for ideas)…volunteer at your favorite charity or cause…volunteer at Yucaipa Christian School (contact the office for info)…come to Bible study (Wednesday nights)…start a new Bible study group…invite a new member or a new visitor out to coffee or lunch…join the choir or the bell choir…attend worship every Sunday in Lent…bring a friend to worship…bring a friend to one of the Lenten programs…call your mother…spend intentional time with your children…visit the sick…take a walk every day during Lent.

These are just a few suggestions; allow God to lead you to your own Lenten discipline.

Why do we give things up for Lent, or take on new things for Lent? Lent is a 40-day season of deepening our spiritual walk with God. We prepare for the Good Friday remembrance of Jesus’ passion on the cross, and for the celebration of his resurrection victory at Easter. We “fast,” by giving up something or by taking on something new. We “practice” spiritual disciplines, with the hope that we might get good at them!

Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent. Sundays are feast days, when we break the fast for a day. We rest from our “giving up” or our “taking on.” Sundays are “little Easters,” weekly resurrection celebrations.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. This year it falls on March 5. he liturgy for Ash Wednesday includes these words:

“I invite you to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.”

Maryetta Anschutz, the Founding Head of The Episcopal School of Los Angeles, says Lent is “dangerous:”

“The problem with Lent: we contain the season to six weeks of doing good, rather than building a Lent that becomes a life…The danger in Lent is that we go through the motions of discipline without learning how to live Lent. The danger is that we do everything ‘right’ but never ask ourselves how ‘right’ behavior changes how we live our lives. We act one way, but we never ask ourselves: Do we give to get? Are we raising our children for heaven or Harvard? Do we pray because we are supposed to or because it gives us hope? It is a dangerous thing, to lead a holy life, to ask the same questions of ourselves that Jesus asks of his disciples.” (Anschutz refers readers to the Sermon on the Mount, Mt. 5-7).

I invite you to the dangerous endeavor of building a Lent that becomes a life.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Sharon

March Readings

Date Lectionary Psalms

3/2 ....................................... Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 ............................................ Psalm 99 3/5 (Ash Wednesday) .......... Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 .................... Psalm 51:1-17 3/9 ....................................... Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 ................................. Psalm 32 3/16 ..................................... Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5; 13-17; John 3:1-17 ............................................ Psalm 121 3/23 ..................................... Exodus 17:1-7; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42 ........................................................ Psalm 95 3/30 ..................................... 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 ............................................... Psalm 23

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10a Al-Anon

8:15a Hymn sing 8:30a Worship 9:45a Sunday School 11a Worship 12:30p Praise Band

Rehearsal

9:30a Prayer Warriors @ June Fisher’s

(No SPRC meeting) 7p NA

Ash Wednesday

10a United Methodist Women @ Louise Gorin’s

12 noon Ash Wed. Prayer/Meditation

7p Ash Wed. service

9a Community Bible Study

5p KidZone 7p Choir 7p NA

9a Nine Patch Quilters

7:30a United Methodist Men

10a Al-Anon

8:15a Hymn sing 8:30a Worship 9:45a Sunday School 11a Worship 12:30p Praise Band

Rehearsal

9:30a Prayer Warriors @ June Fisher’s

7p Glee Club 7p Trustees Mtg 7p NA

7p Bell Choir 7p Bible Study @

Leah Newport’s

9a Community Bible Study

5p KidZone 7p Choir 7p NA

9a Nine Patch Quilters

5:30p Parents’ Night Out

10a Al-Anon

8:15a Hymn sing 8:30a Worship 9:45a Sunday School 11a Worship 12:15p Lenten

luncheon & program

9:30a Prayer Warriors @ June Fisher’s

9a Spring Break Field Trip

7p Glee Club 7p NA

10a Dorcas Circle 7p Bell Choir 7p Bible Study* 7p Susanna

Wesley Circle*

9a Community Bible Study

10a Staff Meeting 6p Finance Mtg 6p Boy Scouts 7p Choir 7p NA

9a Nine Patch Quilters

10a Al-Anon

8:15a Hymn sing 8:30a Worship 9:45a Sunday School 11a Worship 12:15p Lenten

luncheon & program

9:30a Prayer Warriors @ June Fisher’s

7p Glee Club 7p Ad Council Mtg 7p NA

7p Bell Choir 7p Bible Study*

9a Community Bible Study

6p Boy Scouts 7p Choir 7p NA

10a Al-Anon

8:15a Hymn sing 8:30a Worship 9:45a Sunday School 11a Worship 12:15p Lenten

luncheon & program

9:30a Prayer Warriors @ June Fisher’s

March Birthdays 2 Richard McNurland 7 Alida Stanton 9 Rachael Moore 10 Betty Ohlinger

3

10 David Wahe 11 Blanche Weeks 17 Mildred DeWitt 17 Samuel Rice

March Anniversaries 5 Mick and Sally Gibson 21 Lynda and Dave Laycock 25 Eugene and Sharon Holder

Hour Famine March 1-2

The Easter Bunny at the candy store, giving a shout out to his Peeps.

22 Geri Robertson 23 Monique Fisher 30 Galen Shotts 31 Denise Hinkley

Children, youth and families are invited to an

exciting outing to the

and the

We’ll leave the Church parking lot

and return by 7 p.m. It will be an exciting day

as we explore the newest exhibit:

view the animal displays, gems, the amazing

dinosaur exhibit, and much more before

having lunch and exploring the hands-on science

exhibits at the Science Center

What an exciting day! The cost is not yet set.

Contact Amy at 909-797-1143 for more

information of if you want to attend.

Parents’ Night Out Friday, March 14

5:30 – 8 p All children, K – 6th

grade are invited

to attend a fun-

filled night with

games, activities,

crafts, pizza, and

the latest Veggie

Tale, “Veggies in

Space: The Fennel

Frontier: in Cremer

Lounge. Friends,

neighbors, and

relatives are all

invited as we share in this evening while you

take care of what needs to be taken care of.

Youth are welcome to come help with various

activities. We ask you to bring a box of cereal

as a donation to our UMCoY Cereal Ministry.

Contact Amy at the church office if you are

interested in attending: 909-797-1143.

O

4

Lent ~ Easter 2014

March 5, Ash Wednesday

12:00 ~ 1 pm Ash Wednesday Prayer & Meditation The sanctuary will be open for prayers and silent meditation.

Lay Speaker Carole Jones will impose ashes

on those who choose to come forward.

Meditation guides and materials, background music, candles, and

a welcoming space are provided as we begin the season of Lent.

7 pm Service of Ashes Pastor Ron Faux will preach and the imposition of ashes is offered

to those who wish to receive it.

March 16, 23, 30 and April 6, Lenten Programs

12:15 pm Lenten Luncheons will be served in the

Fellowship Hall followed by special programs. March 16: UMCoY youth program

March 23: (to be announced)

March 30: Jim Cochran presentation

April 6: Skits by Amy & Pastor Ron

April 13 Palm Sunday Worship

8:30 am Choir Contata and Passion Story

9:45 am Pot-Luck Meal ~ Bring your favorite dish!

11 am Choir Contata and Passion Story

April 17 Maundy Thursday

7 pm Communion and Foot-Washing Service Pastor Ron Faux will preach in the Fellowship Hall where a

liturgy of foot-washing or hand-washing will be offered to those

who wish to receive it.

This beautiful worship service is a favorite for many who attend

each year. Come be a part of this church family gathering around

The Table.

April 18 Good Friday

12 pm Community Good Friday Service St. Frances X. Cabrini Church, 12687 California St.

April 20, Easter Sunday Worship:

8:30 am Traditional Worship We will celebrate the Resurrection with music, worship, and

Remembrance of Baptism.

9:45 am Easter Sunday Breakfast

10:30 am Easter Egg Hunt All children are welcome to enjoy this annual event!

11 am Contemporary Worship We will celebrate the Resurrection with music, worship, and

Remembrance of Baptism.

Have a

Blessed Easter

Feeding your love of music is a great way to start getting more involved with our beautiful church…and there are so many groups to choose from! Check out these rehearsal times:

- for kids age 10-12

Tuesday nights from 7-8pm

And for older youths and adults:

Wednesday nights at 7pm

Thursday nights at 7p

Sunday afternoons at 12:30p

All you have to do to join a music group is show up for rehearsal in the church music room - just west of the sanctuary. (Children will, of course, need parental permish.) Also, if you play an instrument, ask about playing with the praise band! Our church’s talented, patient and nurturing music director, Jaci Davis, also has an awesome sense of humor. Come to a rehearsal (be prepared to have FUN) and find out for yourself.

You’ll be so glad you did!

Tracy Vallee and Rick Jones joined our church on February 23rd. Be sure to take a minute to introduce yourself to Tracy and Rick and help them feel at home here at UMCoY!

5

Hi Amy,

FYI: Results of your kids’ fundraiser of last

Sunday (Feb. 2 - Souper Bowl) for the

Yucaipa Food Bank was, in my opinion, a

great success. As you know, your kids

collected $150.00 in cash which has been

converted to Scrip. In addition we received

$200.00 in Scrip from the Jolly Mixers class

and $175.00 in Scrip from other

contributors for a total of $525.00 and

some change. In addition, the church will

receive $28.50 as a rebate from Staters.

Thank you and your kids for a great job.

Ralph Snook

Dear Church Family,

Huge thanks to the MANY hands who made two recent Campership Fundraisers a huge success:

The Pulled Pork Dinner was a great success as our 1st Campership Fundraiser for our kids to go to camp this summer. We raised $525 from our generous donors.

The dinner was compliments of these amazing folks: Becky Stark helped provide the pork roasts, Anne Fox withstood temptations at home with the aroma of her awesome pulled pork, Paula Fisher made a delicious coleslaw, Deb Davidson made her delectable black beans, while Chris Smith, Joan Faux, and Paula Fisher complimented the meal with wonderful desserts.

The placemats were coloring pages that provided entertainment and mental health time as the adults spent quality time coloring beautiful pictures while enjoying wonderful conversation. The mood of the room was warm and wonderful. We appreciate all who attended and helped support our camping ministry while enjoying a delicious meal.

Our Annual Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras dinner was enjoyed by many. We raised $300 for camperships while those contributing enjoying incredible food prepared by incredible people. Our Crepe Master, Bob Koochta was on a roll along with the fixin’s (that Becky Stark helped contributed to) that were enjoyed in endless combinations. Susan Wamsley made a delicious jambalaya and helped prepare the sausage, Ron Faux

generously donated potato chips. Chris Smith was at her all time wonderful best with her amazingly delicious dessert selections, and Paula Fisher made two types of macaroni and cheese. I was more than happy to turn over the fresh homemade donut making to Ewan Parra and his mom, Kirsty. Gallons of various juices (30-Hour Famine leftovers) were donated by Deb Davidson for which we were most appreciative. Anne Fox helped in putting up decorations and kitchen prep while my KidZone kids decorated the tables and cleared them afterwards: Ethan, Kailee, Dillon, and Audrey. The dirtiest job of wrapping up the kitchen and Fellowship Hall was graciously done by Chris Smith and her daughter Kirsty Parra. And then there's her wonderful husband, David Smith, who helped in the kitchen, and other background jobs. Many thanks to all who participated and for those who came for a fun evening of eating things that we probably shouldn't have… luckily just before Ash Wednesday! Smiles were EVERYWHERE! What a joy to share an evening with so many wonderful people. In addition to the great gathering of church folks, we welcomed two families from Yucaipa Christian School and KidZone families.

HUGE SUCCESS!! And a HUGE “THANK YOU” to all the workers and celebrants!

Amy

Do You Potluck the Bible?

Do you tend to approach the Bible as you do a potluck dinner? Hmmm….let’s see…this verse looks tasty, I’ll feast on it:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lam 3:22-23

That’s sweet!

Uhh. I’m not so sure about this verse; it doesn’t look so appetizing. I think I’ll skip it:

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Mat 5:44

Ask yourself along with me… “Do I potluck the Bible?”

Lord, I confess in my heart of hearts I have approached Your Word as I do a potluck dinner, feasting on Your grace and avoiding Your commands. Your mercy is such a blessing. Please help me to open my eyes and my heart to ALL You have to teach me. Amen.

6

The Sierra Service Project (SSP) fundraising Spaghetti Dinner, Silent Auction & Raffle was a big success and $974 was raised for the youth SSP trip to Chiloquin, Oregon scheduled for the last week of July later this year.

A big thank you to everyone: those who provided raffle and silent auction items, those who bought tickets and bid on items, those who ate spaghetti/salad/garlic bread, and those who helped set up, tear down and clean up. We couldn’t have done it without you!

We’ve made a good dent in the cost of this great mission trip, but we’re not 100% funded just yet. So, keep on the lookout for more options to help support our church’s youth who will be giving up a week of their summer vacation to sweat, share God’s Word, and help those less fortunate to have a better life.

Here our own Jenna Rolf is sweatin’ and smilin’ last summer (despite the 90° temp) while she works with Steven Mion to clear part of a community garden in an impoverished Sacramento area. (Yes…plenty of water breaks were involved!!)

Ed: Having experienced SSP for the first time last year – and looking forward to it again this year – I can tell you this is an AWESOME mission project that changes lives. People who need help get it free of cost and joyfully, kids from all over the place work (HARD) together to joyfully help out strangers all the while cut off electronically from their summer-vacation-loving friends back home, and their adult chaperones or “counselors” get to experience it all as they joyfully watch new life-long friendships develop (like that of Jenna and Steven), deal with crises small and not-so-small, and work (HARD) with the kids. Regular daily prayer and devotion is the fabulous icing on this blessing of a cake!

The 30-Hour

Famine fund-raiser

was also a great

success with over

$2000 raised to

date to help feed

hungry children in

third-world

countries around

the world.

This is another

wonderful learning

experience for UMCoY youth as they find out about

the devastating effects of extreme poverty and how

their fundraising efforts help World Vision give hope,

happiness and a future to those much less fortunate

than they. Here’s a few highlights of this year’s Famine:

All Hail Our

Fearless Leader!

(Wendy & Sally

are happy to help

Deb.)

The younger faministas are holding

up at the ping pong table, but

Emily and Stone look like they’re

just about done!

Protect the food Ross!! Annalise, watch out for Cam!!!

Jordan

sez:

You all

are so

amusing.

What’s so funny,

Rachael? Is Missy

toe-tickling you?

Let the fast be broken! Cameron, Destiny and Ewan are thinking there has never been better soup, mac & cheese, warm buttery bread, peanut butter cookies and cold milk! (Wendy and Sally agree!) Thank you Susan! Thank you Jyll! 7

If you’re not a dog

lover, I’m so sorry! (Sorry, that is, that

you don’t know they’re

the very best animal

friends God gave us!!!)

If you are a dog

lover, enjoy!!!

United Methodist Church of Yucaipa Non‐Profit Org

35177 Beech Avenue U.S. Postage Paid Yucaipa, CA 92399 San Bernardino, CA

Rev. Sharon Snapp-Kolas – Pastor Rev. Ron Faux – Pastor of Visitation Jaci Davis – Music Director

Linda Ewan – Church Secretary Amy Bahnson – Children & Family Ministries Chris Nielsen – Accountant

Gerald Pugh – Caretaker David Newport – Facilities Management Sally Gibson – Newsletter Editor

www.yucaipamethodist.org info@yucaipamethodist.org

To submit articles or news items to the Friendly Visitor, please email Sally Gibson at: sallygib@gmail.com, or give her a

call at 909-319-1547 or bring your submission to the church office. Thank you!

“Of course she loves it.

I’m her baby!”