P a g e 1 Tracyton United Methodist Church—PO Box 127—Tracyton, WA 98393

5153 Naomi St—Bremerton, WA 98311

Sun Mon Tue Wed Every

Thu Prayer Vigil 8-9am

Fri

Sat

1

Coffee Oasis 3:00pm

2

3 4 5

Nominations 5:00pm

6 7 8 9

Picnic

4-7:00pm

10

Celebration of Life for Marilyn Gulla

11 12

Finance 5:30pm Church Council Follows

13

14 15

Backpack Brigade 9:00am

16

Live Well Kitsap 10-4:00pm

17 18 19

SPRC 4:00pm

20

Crafts Group 6:30pm

21 22 23

24 25 26

Trustees 5:30pm

27 28 29 30

SEPTEMBER 2017 Phone#

360-

373-

6425

Like

Us

On

Facebook Visit us at www.tracytonumc.org

P a g e 2

Beloved Church As I write this, the rains of Hurricane Harvey have moved on away from Houston. The media are still there, though. The action shots are compelling television: boat rescues, helicopter res-cues, first-responders wading through the brown waters carrying people and even pets to safe-ty. The scenery shots are compelling, as well: water up to the eaves of luxurious homes; water completely covering an area’s streets and freeways; water rising on the floor of a gymnasium that had been used as emergency shelter, as people crowd the bleachers and wait to be taken to new shelters. While my home has never been flooded (unless you count a disgusting plumbing situation that I can tell you about another time), the church I pastored in Fall City hosted a Disaster Assis-tance Center after the Snoqualmie River flooded while I was pastor there. Being present with the line of utterly overwhelmed people comes back to me in a heartbeat, as I see the flood-stunned families in Houston. The piles of ruined belongings at curbside come back to me. The omnipresent smell of moisture and mildew and sewage comes back. Today, to even partially comprehend what’s going on, I add to those recollections. I add south-ern heat & humidity, and multiply those remembrances by several thousand, for the larger pop-ulations flooded-out in Texas and Louisiana. And that’s not the only place experiencing vaster-than-ever flooding right now. There’s also southern Asia: India, Bangladesh, Nepal – Katherine Parker wrote recently about the record floods in the lowlands of Nepal. To comprehend that situation, I need to take the Texas/Louisiana flooding and multiply it again, maybe a hundredfold more. AND add the issues of developing-nation poverty and frail infrastructure, and the kind of heat not even the US South knows. The numbers aren't the point. The location, in this nation or another nation, isn't the point. The point is that children of God are suffering, and we don’t dare turn away. We must stand with them, in crisis and through the long work of recovery. Right now, the work is RESCUE. Lots of news cameras covering it in the US – and although our national media aren’t covering it, lots of news media worldwide are covering the Asian disaster as well. Soon enough, though, the cameras will go home. That doesn’t mean the crisis is over, or that the work is over. The crisis will continue, for a long time, and the work of recovery will go on for years. The relief agencies, government and private, will be in both areas for the long, long haul. Our own church's relief agency, UMCOR, will be there. There are things we can do. Thoughts really do matter. Connecting ourselves in empathetic thought is part of standing with people who are distant from us. Prayers really do matter. Standing before God crying out on behalf of folks who need all the help they can get.

Storms of Life

Continued on page 3

Here at TUMC

we designate the

first Sunday of the

month as

“Food Bank Sunday”

we gladly except donations

anytime. Your donations help

keep our community healthy!

Beyond thoughts and prayers, though, there are some more things that might be right for you:

• Give money. There are responsible relief agencies. I’m partial to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. We support the agency’s overhead costs through an annual offering, so that when folks donate for disaster relief, all that they give can go to relief. Find out more at http://www.umcor.org. (You can donate right there, too!)

• Give materials. This is a yes/no thing. Don’t just bundle up your used clothes and give it to someone to drive it to the disaster zone. Folks did that for the Snoqualmie Valley floods – and volunteers had to be taken from more important work just to deal with the carloads, and truckloads, of unsolicited, unneeded, stuff. But Do learn what responsible agencies can deliv-er when & where it’s needed. UMCOR maintains warehouses of supplies ready to deliver to disaster zones. Churches are invited to prepare hygiene kits, flood buckets, and other kits, to store until needed. Find out more at http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies.

• Give your service. You could join a team of trained volunteers helping rebuild, just as teams from our churches have helped clean up and rebuild after the Chehalis River floods, and the Okanogan area wildfires. Find out more at Bremerton UMC on Saturday, October 14, 8:30-4:30, as our Pacific Northwest United Methodist Disaster Coordinator Jim Truitt leads 8

hours of team training.(More info to come!)

• Learn. Broaden your horizons beyond the local and the national. Read international news sources. Read United Mission to Nepal’s news at http://www.umn.org.np/news. (That’s Katherine Parker’s agency, though she’s in a different area of the country.)

• Prepare. Help develop disaster preparedness for your own household, to be more resili-ent if disaster comes: The Red Cross has a useful page of step-by-step considertions: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.

One more recollection stands out for me, from those Snoqualmie floods: the confident smile of the intake worker as she welcomed each overwhelmed person at the Disaster Assistance Center. The pa-tient competence of each worker there, as they helped flood victims to reconceive life after disaster, and to take first steps toward that life. That’s what we do. We witness to life, for those who can’t see it themselves, and we help provide avenues toward life in its fullness. Love, Wes

Continued from page 2

On the first Friday of the

month we serve dinner

to the youth of

If you would like to help purchase supplies or fix the

meal, we meet at the church at 3:00pm. Please mark

any financial donations “Coffee Oasis”

or

P a g e 4

Budgets under water by Kathy Bogue, Finance Chair

Do you keep a budget? Everyone says you should. Everyone. I don’t keep a budget.

Not exactly. It’s too stressful. My preferred method of budgeting is to have in mind

what I can safely spend money on and adjust when my balance looks iffy. Truthfully, I

think the only reason it works is that I give about 11% to the church and another 3% to

other charities. Why 11%? I rounded up. As I said, I don’t budget. Not exactly.

But that’s not my point. Here’s my point: We can budget our money, in whatever way

we define the word budget, and that works pretty well for normal everyday life. Then

the plumbing breaks. Or the roof starts leaking. Or you get squirrels in your attic. Or

your timing belt breaks. Suddenly that budget goes out the window and you figure out

how to take care of the crisis. And one way or another, you do. Right? One way or

another it works out.

I know that part of your budget is your church. Right? Right. And when “stuff”

happens, presumably you manage to take care of it. There’s been plenty of “stuff”

happening in the world this week. South Texas is under water. And one way or

another, they will get through it. That “one way or another” involves me, and you.

Lots of me’s and lots of you’s. Our budgets will bear it, because that’s just how God

made us. Through prayer and through our sacrificial giving, our brothers and sisters

in Texas will eventually weather this unbelievable storm. Don’t ever doubt your ability

to support God’s work in the world.

Hurricane Harvey is devastating Texas and Louisi-

ana, stretching all systems of relief and recovery

beyond their limits. We’ve watched as tiny babies,

venerable elders, and people of every condition of

life have had their lives swept away by the floods

They need us to support their work with “love made

liquid” through prayer and offerings. I am calling

every church, fellowship group, Sunday School

class, choir, coffee clatch, walking or yoga group in

the Greater Northwest Area to love God and neigh-

bor in the following ways:

Pray for the people affected by the flood and

those who work tirelessly to respond, and Receive a special offering for HURRICANE HARVEY

FLOOD beginning this Sunday, and each Sunday in September. And when you donate, invite someone outside your group to donate, too.

The best way to donate is through your Church, Tracyton UMC UMCOR US Disaster Response Fund (Advance # 901670) PNW Early Response Teams (PNW Advance #353)

Note: Unspecified donations to HURRICANE HARVEY FLOODING will automatically go directly to UMCOR.

Miracles happen when people share what they

have. Thank you.

Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky | Greater Northwest Area

‘Love Made Liquid’ – Responding to Hurricane Harvey

P a g e 5

Dear Tracyton UMC,

Summer weekends are valuable and fill up fast. We

think you will want to save the date for this

year's annual Coffee Oasis Hope Gala! It's on

Sunday September 17 at 5:30pm.

What is the Hope Gala? It's an energizing and meaning-

ful fundraiser event for people who care about home-

less youth to gather together and make a difference.

This year, the Hope Gala is focused on providing housing opportunities, like tran-

sitional homes, for homeless youth in Kitsap County. Come for a meaningful and

enjoyable evening where YOU will make a difference! Sunday September 17 @

5:30pm

at Island Lake Camp, Silverdale

Tickets can be purchased online for $50, or you can host a table of 8 for $400 and invite your friends to join you! All reserva-

tion can be made online.We hope to see you at the Gala!

We here at Tracyton UMC provide a week of meals for the men at

Benedict House

This year we can do this in different ways. You can donate

funds to help others who would like to prepare and serve the

meal, or your can purchase items for someone else to prepare.

Or as tradition has it prepare and serve the meal at the shelter.

You will find sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall. If you wish to donate financially

please see Libby Correll or mark your donation “Benedict House”

As of today the sign-up for the meals is listed below.

Tuesday

Oct 17

Wednesday

Oct 18

Thursday

Oct 19

Friday

Oct 20

Saturday

Oct 21

Sunday

Oct 22

Monday

Oct 23

Abby Holte Steve

Atkinson

Amy

Scholfield

PRAISE THE LORD Today the people of Bremerton donated over a ton of food to the Bremerton Backpack Brigade.

The Food Drive at Fred Meyer’s was a great beginning to the school year, but please remember that volun-teers are needed year round to keep this mission running smoothly.

Just an hour or two on the 3rd Friday of the month is all it generally takes! We try to start around 9:00am. If you have questions please contact Libby Correll at 360-698-9082 or Myra Battin.

The Brigade is so very grateful for this faith community for their ongoing commitment to

helping children, right here in our neighborhoods, receive nutritious food so they can focus at school, learn and be better equipped to determine for themselves the trajectory of their lives.

With Gratitude, Myra Battin, Board President, Bremerton Backpack Brigade

P.O. Box 2533, Bremerton WA 98310, 360-471-9588.

P a g e 6

A Timeless Message left to us from:

Marilyn Gulla

I am the face of God Please hold me in your heart

I am a part of you I am the face of God

You are the face of God I hold you in my heart You are a part of me

You are the face of God

I am the love of God

Please hold me in your heart I am your family

I am the face of God

You are the love of God I hold you in my heart

You are my family You are the face of God

We are the face of God

God holds us in His heart We are His family

Marilyn passed on August 30th her Memorial will be held here on

September 10th at 4:00pm

Recipes Wanted

Dig out that old family file of recipes and bring us one or two maybe even three. We think it is time

for a new Tracyton United Methodist Cookbook….

Add a story about a time the dish was served, or who in the family liked it most, a picture of your-

self or the family member or friend who gave you the recipe would be great as

well. Let’s add some history and fun to go along with the sharing of food and

hospitality.

If you are interested in helping to put this cookbook together please let Lyla

know. Better things happen when more people are involved.

The Gleaning Table is open

It is our sincere hope that everyone will

participate by either bringing in items of

plenty or by leaving a donation for something

that you have found on the table that you can

use or enjoy.

Giving items grown or made, sharing the fruits of our labor with

family and friends, that is what the Gleaning Table is all about.

TUMW Gleaning Table

TEN WAYS TO LOVE OTHERS

1. Listen without interrupting ..... Prov 18

2. Speak without accusing .... James 1:19

3. Give without sparing .... Prov 21;26

4. Pray without ceasing .... Col 1:9

5. Answer without arguing .... Prov 17:11

6. Share without pretending .... Eph 4:15

7 Enjoy without complaining .... Phil 2:14

8. Trust without wavering .... Cor 13:7

9. Forgive without punishing .... Col 3:13

10. Promise without forgetting .... Prov 13:12

Author Unknown

Shannon is asking for Corporate

assistance for supplies for the

Picnic. If you would like to help by

donating you can find a price and

wish list on the table in the

Fellowship Hall. You can donate

the items or the monies for the

item. Donations to be to the

church by the 6th. Shannon will

make sure as much as possible of

the other items are purchased

with whatever financing she has

available.

Our Prayer Group meets on

Thursdays from

8am-9am

Classes begin at 7:45am

Facilitated by

Chaplin Ed Carroll

Everyone is welcome !

P a g e 8

Kids Day at the library

First Thursday of each month starting promptly at 2pm.

Tracyton Community Library in-vites children of all ages to join

them. There’s make and take crafts and of course there will be a story or two, and maybe even some yummy treats. Thursday September 7th!

Be sure to come join in the fun! If you need more information call 377-3571

the closet is usually open Tuesday and Thursday from 10-2pm

Date Liturgist

3rd Katherine Jansen

10th Sally Klein

17th Jim Klein

24th Bonnie Chrey

donations and volunteers always needed 4171 Wheaton Way #7 upstairs.

September

Donations can be left here at church at any time!

I just wanted to

thank everyone

who attended my

mom's memorial

service, it was so

good to see all of

you. I know I didn't

get to spend much

time with each of

you, but being there meant the world to me

and I was glad to share these special

memories of my mom with you.

Juanita Tedder

From Jeanie Johns:

New directories are available in the

Fellowship Hall. If there are no copies on

the table please put your name on the list

and I will make one up for you. If you feel

moved to help by donating toward the cost

of printing this latest version you may leave

it in the donation jar also found in the

Fellowship Hall.

P a g e 9

Worship Time 9:00am

T r a c y t o n U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 T r a c y t o n T i d i n g s

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7 T r a c y t o n T i d i n g s

We are a multi-generational community growing together in the grace,

love and service of God. Children are always welcome. Should you desire, a nursery is

available for children 5 years and under

Tracyton United Methodist Church PO Box 127 5153 Naomi St Tracyton, WA 98393

360-373-6425 Tracyton_umc@yahoo.com www.tracytonumc.org