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Volume 34 #3 March 2019
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The Encounter Periodical Postage Rate
At Fresno, Calif.
Wesley United Methodist Church 1343 E Barstow Ave Fresno, CA 93710-6309
(559) 224-1947
CORE VALUES
Spiritual Growth Social Justice Inclusiveness
New Worship Series for Lent Our worship series this Lenten season begins at the Ash Wednesday service, March 6th, 6:30pm. On Sundays beginning March 10th come to worship prepared to reconnect with the Holy and your walk as a disciple of Jesus. Slow down during these 40 days of Lent. You may want to commit to coming to at least one day of prayer per week at Wesley, Monday—Friday at 7:30am or attend lectio divina, a prayerful reading of scripture, Sundays at 9:15am in the Fireside room. Set aside time for daily prayer.
Get the Word Out
This could be your spot for $5 per week or $20 per month or $200 for a year.
For more information and/ or to arrange advertising at Wesley, please contact
Mark Layous or Vickie Healy.
Growing in Christ to be a Bold Witness to God’s Love
The Andrews
Sunday, 3/10
Sunday School Classes
Children 10:15 - 11:30am Ed West Adult Forum 9:15 - 10:15am Fireside Room Lectio Divina for Lent
ONGOING SMALL GROUPS SUNDAY Meditation 9:15am, Winterberg #2
MONDAY Bible Study 11:00am, Winterberg #3
Video lecture series, “The Holy Land Revealed” in WEC #3
MONDAY 6:00pm, Parsonage call office for address,
Reading the gospel of Luke.
WEDNESDAY 10:00am, Library, Book Study, Short Stories by Jesus:
The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine
THURSDAY 10am, Library, Women’s Bible Study, New Book begins 3/14
Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs
“Two Spirits, One Heart” – Marsha and Aiden Aizumi The Fresno Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens’ League and the United Japanese Christian Church’s Agape Ministry would like to warmly invite you to an upcoming event about transgender journeys. We are excited to host Marsha and Aiden Aizumi on Sunday, March 31st at 1 p.m., with conversation/studies leading up to their visit. In Two Spirits, One Heart, Marsha Aizumi shares her compelling story of parenting a young woman who came
out as a lesbian, then transitioned to male. This inspiring memoir chronicles Marsha’s personal journey from being the mother of her adopted baby girl, to offering unconditional love, acceptance, and support amid her child’s struggles to reconcile her gender identity and follow her path to become a
man. Q&A with Marsha and Aiden Aizumi to follow. Sunday, March 31 at 1 p.m. United Japanese Christian Church 136 N. Villa Avenue, Clovis
www.ujcclife.com 559-322-0701
Spring Fiesta ~ April 6 ~ 5 pm to 7 pm The Spring Fiesta fundraiser will be a fun evening that will include entertainment, dinner, silent auction, bake sale and a piñata. The fundraising committee is in the midst of planning the Spring Fiesta and seeking donations and volunteers.
Tacos Marquitos will cater the all-you-can-eat taco bar! The silent auction will include a service auction. A dessert-a-month for 6 months has already been donated. Can you donate window washing, yard work, gardening, landscaping, host a dinner, handyman, legal services or … ? We will also have 4-6 baskets and a mountain vacation home rental for auction. A chocolate themed basket has been donated by the United Methodist Women and a coffee basket has been donated by the Tuesday Crew. We are looking for gift card donations for a “Gift Card Basket.” The bake sale will include all things yummy! Donations are needed for the bake sale. If you can donate an item for the bake sale or auction items, please contact Elizabeth Nixon at [email protected] or Claudia Andrews at [email protected] or see them at church. And there will be a piñata with a surprise gift worth $100 inside. How fun! Raffle tickets will be sold before the Fiesta and at the Fiesta for chances to win 2 tickets to the May 12 Carrie Underwood Fresno concert and 2 tickets to Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater. A variety of volunteer opportunities are also available. On the day of the Fiesta, volunteers will be needed for set-up, clean-up, and helping with the silent auction and the bake sale. Dinner tickets and raffle tickets will be available for purchase beginning March 10. More information to come! Tickets will only be sold in advance as there is limited seating.
Save-the-Date * Plan-to-Attend * Volunteer * Donate * Support
Results of the Special General Conference Meetings with Bishop Carcaño Bishop Carcaño has scheduled a series of Post-General Conference Episcopal Visits to inform our clergy and
congregations about the actions of the General Conference and the implications for our conference and denomination. These visits will also be times of prayer and seeking God’s way forward for our ministry in the
California-Nevada Conference. Visits are scheduled throughout the conference. The meeting in closest proximity to Fresno is Wednesday, April 24th, 6:30pm to 9PM at Tulare United Methodist Church.
Carpools will be arranged and all are encouraged to attend.
“The Encounter” (USPS 742-130) is published monthly by Wesley United Methodist Church, 1343 E. Barstow Avenue, Fresno CA 93710. Periodical postage is paid at Fresno, CA 93706. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Encounter, 1343 E Barstow Avenue, Fresno, CA 93710
Foundation Grant Applications Available
Is your organization looking for funding for ministries within and outside of the church? Please consider applying for a grant from the Fresno Wesley
Foundation. Grant amounts range from $250 to $2,500 and fund a range of projects such as mission projects, food ministry, grounds improvements, music, and much more. Applications are available on the website, wesleyfresno.org, and in the office. Applications must be postmarked or emailed by
March 31. If you have any questions, please call Elizabeth Nixon at (559) 455-3948.
March 10 Diane Hanson-Barnes
The Reverend Dr. Thandeka To Speak at the Interfaith Scholar Weekend, March 1st - 3rd
Rev. Dr. Thandeka, a Unitarian Universalist scholar, will be the featured speaker at the annual interfaith event. Her topic will be: “Liberal Faith’s Death and Resurrection in 21st Century America”.
The events on Friday night and Sunday morning are free. Friday, March 1 @ 7pm, CSUF North Gym
The Race Factor: “Got Race: America’s Most Successful Ad Campaign”
Saturday, March 2 (Registration Required)* @ Temple Beth Israel
9:15am The Emotion Factor: “Not Waving, But Drowning” * 10:45am The Religion
Factor: “Who Speaks for God in America Today?” * 1pm The Anti-Religion Factor:
“The Nones: Spirituality for Religion’s Cultured Despisers”
Sunday, March 3 @ 10am, Unitarian Universalist Church
The Hope Factor: “Love Beyond Belief Today”
*To read more about the IFSW and/or to register for the March 2 event visit
www.interfaithscholar.org
Birthdays & Anniversaries - Mission & Me
Each week Wesley folks share special days and people in their lives. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and we celebrate recovery dates. We celebrate and lift up special people, days and memories. Often people sharing also make a donation to Mission & Me and these donations are disbursed
by the Finance Committee to mission outreach beyond the regular budget of our church. At their January meeting the committee released $2295.29 to the following groups/funds: $500 each to the Boys & Girls Club and Stone Soup; $250 to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, $250 to the Annual Conference Disaster Relief Fund, $500 to Wesley Food Ministries (1/2 to the pantry and 1/2 to Base Camp), $250 to Sew & Sews and $45.29 to the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. Thank you to all who shared on Sundays in 2018. Your giving extends far beyond Wesley through your generous hearts.
Wesley Hikers 2019 Schedule
For more information and to RSVP contact Joellyn at (559) 978-5882
March 16 SAT
April 20 SAT
May 11 SAT
June 22 SAT
Snowshoe Hike On Tamarack Ridge
Big Table Mountain
Hite Cove Sentinel Dome and Taft Point
Carpool 7:00 am
Carpool 8:10 am
Carpool 7:45 am
Carpool 7:00 am
To : The Wesley Church, Friends and Family
From: Barney Smiling from the Heavens and cousin Richard Morris here on earth!
Love, Peace and Joy!! “Thank You All” Ephesians 4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering forbearing one another in Love! - Thank you! Bro. Richard P. Morris
50th Anniversary of the Consecration of John Wesley Hall—March 31st
Our sanctuary building, John Wesley Hall, was originally consecrated for worship on March 30, 1969. We will celebrate 50 years of worship in this sacred space on the last Sunday of March. The Fresno District Superintendent, Rev. Debra Brady, will be our guest preacher and we will continue the celebration on the patio following worship with finger foods and snacks. To donate finger foods for the event, contact Pastor Karen.
Drop off 3/31 at 9:30am in the JWH kitchen
Sunday Scripture Sermon
March 3 Luke 9:28-36 Keeping Quiet
March 10 Matthew 11:28-30 Yoke of Peace
March 17 Psalm 23 Shepherd’s Pace
March 24 Luke 10:38-42 Distracted Devotion
March 31 50th Anniversary Sanctuary Celebration DS Rev. Debra Brady, Preaching
Volume 34, #3
Wesley United Methodist Church Phone 559-224-1947
wesleyfresno.org
Greeters Sound or Media Liturgists Ushers
Mar 3 Hospitality Team Alice Hawke James Shepard Debby Sultan
Margie Andreco
Mar 10 Hospitality Team Open Darla Bussey
Mar 17 Hospitality Team Estelle Parenteau Allen Siroky
Mar 24 Hospitality Team Estelle Parenteau
Susan Wilshusen
Mar 31 Hospitality Team Alice Hawke Laney Neal-Pollock
Worship Leadership for March
Contact Wesley's Staff Pastor Karen Stoffers-Pugh [email protected] Office Secretary Myra Cubos [email protected] Bookkeeper Sharon Sanchez [email protected] Music Director Elizabeth Layous Accompanists Peggy Copp, Carol Presley Custodian Dolores Lopez Sunday Custodian Beth Janeway Our United Methodist Connection California-Nevada Annual Conference Phone (916) 374-1500 www.calnevumc.org Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño/Debra Brady, Central Valley District Supt. Email: [email protected]
March Sundays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays
9:00 AM Choir Rehearsal
9:15 AM - 11:30 AM Childcare 9:15 AM Meditation & Adult Forum 10:15 AM Sunday School for Children 10:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM Snack & Chat Fellowship
*7:30am Morning Prayer WEC2 11:00 AM Monday Bible Study 1PM Prison Gift Bag Project Sorting 3 PM Reading & Beyond 6:00 PM Bible Study @ Parsonage
*7:30am Morning Prayer WEC2 8:00 AM Tuesday Crew 10:00 AM-2 PM Pink Cow Open
*7:30am Morning Prayer WEC2 10 AM Book Study
Group 3 PM Reading & Beyond
*7:30am Morning Prayer WEC2 9:00 AM Food Pantry Open 10 AM-2PM Pink Cow Open 10 AM Women’s Bible Study 5:30 PM Base Camp
*7:30am Morning Prayer WEC2 OFFICE CLOSED
9:00 AM Food Not Bombs March 2nd, 9th & 23rd only
3/1—3/3
See article for times & locations for
Interfaith Scholar Weekend
Wednesday
the 6th
6:30PM Ash Wednesday Service JWH
Thursday the
7th
*7:30AM Morning Prayer Begins Winterberg #2
Sunday
the 10th
11:45AM Social Justice Action Team, Blood Pressure Check JWH
2PM PFLAG WEC#5 6PM Wild Wesley Women Home of Diane Hanson
Tuesday
the 12th
6:30PM Wesley Dines Out—Irene’s in the Tower
Wednesday
the 13th
6PM WE Circle JWH Choir Room 7PM SPRC Library
Thursday
the 14th
10:30AM Ruth Circle JWH Choir Room 6PM Worship Committee Library
Saturday
the 16th
9AM Lydia's House Fireside
Room
Sunday
the 17th
9:15AM Gentle Yoga—Carol Presley WEC3
11:45AM 2018 Financial Review JWH** 2PM LGBTQ &
Allies Potluck WEC5
Wednesday
the 20th
6:30PM Admin Council JWH Choir Room
Saturday
the 23rd
Time TBA Kaboom
Playground Work Day
Wednesday
the 27th
6PM Trustees Library
Sunday
the 31st
50th Anniversary of JWH Consecration
Special Calendar Events
Weekly Calendar Events
Lydia’s House Saturday, March 16 -- 9:00 am to noon in the Fireside Room
Title: “Shifting Gears”
All women are invited. Bring mug, fruit (cut up) or bakery item to share.
For information call Sally Adlesh 324-9608 or Sylvia Pethoud 438-7705
**Plan to stay after worship on 3/17 to hear the financial plans for 2019. The church finance team will share 2018 year end results and will review what makes up our general budget and how designat-ed funds are generated and used.
