THE NEWSLETTER OF SIERRA PINES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE PRISM

OPEN HEARTS OPEN MINDS

OPEN DOORS

April 2018

Issue123

Please Join Us!………

Please join us for our special 5th Sunday Potluck Luncheon April 29th, after Church Service!

Our Parish Care Committee will be giving a presentation of their responsibilities and services they provide to our Congregation and Community.

We will also have a fun "Getting to Know You" activity organized by Miss Marie.

Stay after the Potluck for a packing part to pack the 200 hygiene kits for our Mission Team to take to the UMCOR Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

From the Pastor’s KeyboardDear Friends in Christ,

Easter falls on April Fool’s Day this year! This last happened in 1956 and won’t occur again until 2029, 2040 and 2108. April Fool’s Day is celebrated around the world with slightly different traditions but they all center around practical jokes and hoaxes. Perhaps we can say that Jesus’ resurrection was the greatest joke of all time, with God having the last laugh over death and suffering. God is the creator of comedy, according to the Rev. Jerry Herships, pastor of After Hours Church in Denver, Colorado, and former stand-up comedian. “God has to have a sense of humor when you think about it. Just look at the hippos, the giraffes, or the Kardashians! … For three days, the whole world, all of humanity, thought that hope and love were dead. But God came back to say, ‘Surprise!’”1 In all the seriousness and fear of today’s world, let us remember world to have some fun and joy this Easter as we celebrate together.

I love this quote from Lutheran priest, Rev. Nadia Boltz-Webber, who said in her book Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, “It happens to all of us, I concluded that Easter Sunday morning. God simply keeps reaching down into the dirt of humanity and resurrecting us from the graves we dig for ourselves through our violence, our lies, our selfishness, our arrogance, and our addictions. And God keeps loving us back to life over and over.” Now that is wonderful news! We serve a risen Savior and resurrection comes to us in all forms, again and again.

God’s ways are often seen as foolish, but when we see the way that lives are transformed, we become drawn into being fools with Christ. God uses us to touch the lives of others and offer grace and love in their times of deepest despair. It was my privilege this past month to share God’s love with Keaven’s (KV’s) sister and our AA group as they and we mourned her sudden death and I am excited that we have a group of 14 people going to the UMCOR Depot in Salt Lake City in May to learn more about the work of UMCOR in times of disaster and to make and assemble kits that will be sent around the world to those experiencing sudden devastation and looking for resurrection. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the 200 hygiene kits that we will take with us.

In the words of the apostle Paul, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1Corinthians 1:18).

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Happy Easter, -- Pastor Joan

1 http://www.umcom.org/learn/the-foolishness-of-god-when-easter-falls-on-april-fools-day

Sermon Series Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, had a strong vibrant faith calling people to a revival of their hearts and souls. In this series, we will retrace the steps of John Wesley in 18th-century England and see what lessons there are for us as 21st-century Christians for finding renewal and revival in our lives.

This series is based on the book and video of the same name by United Methodist pastor Rev. Adam Hamilton.

April 15 Precursors to Revival (Epworth) – Revelation 2:1-5, 3:14-22April 22 A Longing for Holiness (Oxford) – 1 Peter 1:13-16 April 29 A Crisis of Faith (Georgia and Aldersgate) – Romans 4:1-5, 5:1-5

May 6 Guest Preacher - Don Baldwin May 13 The Necessity of Grace (Bristol) – Ephesians 2:1-10 May 20 Pentecost – Mission Trip Presentation May 27 Works of Mercy (The Foundry, London) – James 2:14-26June 3 Persevering to the End (City Road Chapel, London) – 1 Thess. 1:1-10 June 10 Catching Fire (America) – Acts 10:34-48

Upcoming Sermons Easter Sermons

April 1 Fools for Christ – Mark 16:1-15

April 8 Who Are We? – John 21:1-14 (Service led by Pastor Joan with Lay Leader Lynda Jamieson preaching)

New Membership Class Would you like to become a member of Sierra Pines UMC, or just find out more about the United Methodist Church? Between Easter and Pentecost, we will be holding a series of three membership classes. Please let Pastor Joan know of your interest, so we can coordinate a convenient time for all the participants.

March Communion

Thank you for your generous contribution of $904 to our Mission Trip to UMCOR West

On behalf of the VIM team heading to UMCOR Depot West in May, we would like to thank all those who contributed to our donations towards the hygiene kits that the team of 15 will deliver to UMCOR Depot West in Salt Lake City, Utah. The hygiene kits contain a small towel, washcloth, soap, comb, toothbrush, bandaids, and nail clippers.  In order to donate our goal of 200 kits, we plan to bulk-buy the items for about $1000 and then UMCOR asks us if possible to donate $1 per kit to help alleviate their shipping costs and $1 per kit for toothpaste; the toothpaste is added at the time the kits ship, so that it does not degrade in the warehouse.  To date we have received just over $900 and we are well on our way to our goal of  $1400 in cash or in-kind donations by April 15th. If you would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to Sierra Pines UMC and in the memo line: UMCOR-SLC-donations. Your continued support is always appreciated. Rosann Mackey, Team Leader 

April Communion Offering Sierra Pines General fund

As many of you will have already heard, we have a gap this year

between our projected income and expenditure for our annual operating

budget that we are attempting to close. Our combined April communion

offering and special Easter offering is for our General Fund to help us

balance the budget and carry out the important ministry of this church as we

make disciples of Jesus Christ and share our resurrection faith in words

and action with our neighbors. The General Fund pays for such things as staff salaries, utilities, insurance, building and grounds

maintenance and other day to day expenses.

Small Groups Mondays at 2 pm at Cathy Tolman’s house.

This small group is studying Immortal Diamond: Searching for Our True Self by Richard Rohr. The book explores the deepest questions of identity, spirituality, and meaning. Contact Cathy Tolman or Carolyn Collom for more details.

Wednesdays at 1:30pm in Room 1 This group, Mustard Seeds, is a small accountability group using the “Walk to Emmaus” Day 4 format.

Thursdays at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary

This group led by Pastor Joan is doing a Bible Study of the Gospel of Mark using the book “Lent for Everyone: Mark, Year B” by NT Wright.

Monday, April 9 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PLACER COUNTY PFLAG Conference Room A Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital 11815 Education Street, Auburn, CA. 95603

Tuesday, April 24 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm NEVADA COUNTY PFLAG Unitarian Church 246 South Church St Grass Valley, CA

Praying for Others Our Church Family:

Pat Myers & Family Bonnielee Josefson Lynn Caudle Susan Barmore Glenn Wyman

Russ Lewis Jennifer Collom Art Tolman Pat Johnson Our Members And Friends In Assisted Care Residences:

Betty Thornton Donna Apperson Jim & Evelyn Hulin Peg Upson Jean Engler Lillian Atkinson Arlene Phillips

Family and Friends Richard W., friend of Kathy Stallings Jake Hope, grandson Susan Barmore Mike Foster, brother in law of Dr Sam Jeff Fillinger, son of Susie & Lynn Caudle Gabriella Nelson,granddaughter of Dorothy Harding Charlie Crosby, friend of Kathy Stallings Mary Streeter, friend of Kathy Stallings Linda Nelson, daughter of Dorothy Harding Claudia Kueker, sister in law of Jeree Waller Ron Eversden, friend of Dollie Graydon Scott Turner, son of Marjorie Turner Becky Honsberger, friend of Rita Rich Kari & Rosie Voliva, nieces of Barbara Cureton Andrew Skeen, son of Fred Skeen Greg Finch, son & stepson of Nancy & Mike Senger Chet & Sally Collom, parents of Steve Collom David Baker, son of Muriel Lynn Kimberley Harding, daughter in law of Dorothy Harding Zoe Whistler, granddaughter of the Caudle’s Jared Grier, 10 yr old grandson of Rita Rich Mary Morrow, friend of Louis Lester Whistler family, family of the Caudle’s Anna Larsen, daughter of Mary & Jared Larsen All our service men, women & families

For prayer concerns, 268.6907 or sierrapinesumc@gmail.com

Save the Date Saturday, May 19, 2018

1:00pm The Royal Tea

4/13 Lois Dalgleish4/21 Dick Groves4/22 Peg Upson4/23 Brian Wargala4/25 Dollie Little-Graydon4/28 Dorothy Easton4/29 Jennifer Collom4/29 Joyce Lewis

4/6 Michele & Frank Reina4/6 Rick & JereeWaller

4/10 Art & Cathy Tolman4/11 Bill & Tina Fossgreen4/12 Donn & Nicole Coenen4/14 Gary & Carolyn Clarke4/29 Susan & Bob Barmore

This Article is Available in Print Copy

Habitat for Humanity

On Wednesday, March 14, Patti Heapy and I attended the Nevada County Habitat for Humanity (NCHFH) Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast where they thanked their lunch volunteers and their construction volunteers. Sierra Pines provides lunches every Saturday for about a dozen volunteers. Since the last appreciation lunch in June 2017, our church and other churches, service groups and individuals have made 975 lunches. And, it was clear that those lunches were well appreciated. A huge thank you to those of you here who have participated.

As well as honoring the many volunteers, Debbie Arakel Sheppard, was honored for her 10 year as Executive Director. Debbie is moving on to some new adventures, and she was named as the “Honorary Volunteer of the Decade” and a brick will be engraved with her name.

Some of you might have noticed Rev. Don Lee in the above picture. He is going to be serving on the NCHFH Board of Directors.

Do you know that NCHFH have a home improvement thrift store and donation center that sells new and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances, home accessories, and more at a fraction of the retail price? It is called ReStore and it is located at 12359 Loma Rica Drive, just off Brunswick Road.

Since 1995 when NCHFH began, 32 houses have been completed providing affordable housing for 47 adults and 88 children. The current site is called Heritage Oaks in Grass Valley near South Auburn Street and McKnight Way. It has room for 16 houses. Homes #11 and #12 were completed in

2017. Home #13 will be complete this spring and #14 in the summer. Groundbreaking will happen very shortly for homes #15 and #16. It has a small common area where the engraved fund-raising bricks will be laid. The next site near Memorial Park has been purchased, and it will be known as Park Place, and the first of 4 or 5 homes will begin construction in summer 2019.

You can find more information on the website: www.nchabitat.org.

--Pastor Joan

HABITAT LUNCH FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: We serve lunch (for the folks who are building Habitat houses) every second Saturday. We need cookies and sandwiches. You can choose what and how much you will contribute. Sign up on the “sign up board” on the table. Please contact Patti Heapy with any questions.

March for Our Lives

A group of 21 people went from SPUMC to Sacramento to join in the March for Our Lives event on Saturday March 24. For at least 6 of our group, this was the first march they had ever participated in. We gathered in Crocker Park, where we enjoyed looking at the many creative signs. People of all ages were present, including many school children and young people, but also a good number of seniors.

The march was called for by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students. A recent graduate from Woodcreek High School, Roseville, Emily Stone, aged 17, was the organizer of the Sacramento march. The intent of the march was to draw more attention to the need to review and improve gun legislation and prevent the normalization of these tragedies. Our group marched to stand in solidarity with the students. And on this day, the day before Palm Sunday, we walked in the name of the Prince of Peace who paraded into Jerusalem and was greeted by songs of children. As Jesus reminds us, if we do not cry out, then the stones will. A little child will lead them.

The atmosphere as we set off to march to the West steps of the Capitol Building was upbeat and friendly as people waved their signs and chanted. Seeing the long line of people walking up Capitol Mall with the bridge at one end and the Capitol at the other is very impressive. We stood in front of the Capital steps for a while, but unfortunately, we could not get close enough to hear the speakers. After most of the group left to return home, a few of us were able to get up close and listen to the speakers. They were all either local High School students or University Students from around the state home on Easter break. The short speeches were heart-felt and eloquent, with a lot of fear expressed with a large dose of determination to make a difference and to advocate for gun reform.

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SPUMC is a reconciling congregation.We are empowered by God, called by Christ, and motivated by our faith to love and serve all God's people. We reach out with loving hospitality to those who know the pain of exclusion within the United Methodist Church. We welcome ALL, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, to full participation in the life and ministries of our church community.

22559 West Hacienda Drive, Grass Valley, CA  95949

530.268.6907 www.sierrapinesumc.org

Sunday Celebration Services 10:00 am

 Sunday School Children  10:15 am

Fellowship at 11:00am *Communion Monthly - 1st Sunday of each month