The Vine

What is a LifeGroup? "LifeGroups are a ministry of our Evangelism Team. Their purpose is the develop-ment of discipleship. They meet on a regular schedule for Bible Study and prayer, accountability, fellow-ship, service, and intentional (group) growth through multiplication. The foundational principle is confidenti-

ality for the purpose of encouraging accountabil-ity." Come see what it’s all about!

Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Led by Joyce Mooney at the home of Ann Newcomb

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Led by Wayne Histand at the home of Alice & Wayne Histand

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm at the home of The Miller’s

Wednesdays at 7:00 pm Led by Todd Hickman at the home of Debrah & Todd Hickman

From Pastor Doug

Todd has written an excellent article on evangelism and, in it, he talks about how we are only to plant the seed and allow God to bring the growth. There is a hymn in our hymnal, which we don’t sing called Sois la Semilla. Sois la Semilla translated to English is You are the Seed. While it is up to us to plant the seed, sometimes we are the seed. The first verse is as follows: You are the seed that will grow a new sprout; You’re a star that will shine in the night; You are the yeast and a small grain of salt, A beacon to glow in the dark. Go, my friends to the world, proclaiming love to all, Messages of my forgiving peace, eternal love. We have two opportunities coming up to be a seed, a star, a grain of yeast or salt, or a beacon. Our Rock the Block block party and Vacation Bible School. There are many ways to be involved in both of these and the best part is that they are both a lot of fun. But more than fun, they are ways in which we can share the love of Christ by our presence in and with the community. We are called sometimes to plant the seed and sometimes to be the seed. Let’s listen for God’s call and look for opportunities to plant and be seeds.

MTV Painless Fundraiser Buy Shop Rite ($20) Cards * The Church receives 5% * You receive gift cards dollar for dollar

It costs you nothing!

Where does the money go? It pays for some of the equipment needs of MTV.

In addition, contributions have been made to UMC Mission Trips and The Waterproofing Fund.

Goal: We have a goal of $1,000 per week. This is easily achievable! If we only had 50 families that shop at Shop Rite and each family bought one card per week, that would be $1,000. The church would earn $2,600 per year. When we meet this goal, MTV would not only be mostly self-supporting, we would also be able to make larger contributions for other church needs.

Action: LET’S DO IT! Exchange your cash or check for Shop Rite gift cards and go food shopping for your family or donate cards to The Corinthian Cupboard or Family Promise! It costs nothing but reaps great rewards!

Average Gift Card Purchases

-Keep up the Good Work Thank you for your continued support!

Bruce Reyher, MTV Treasurer

2015 1st Quarter 2015 2nd Quarter 2015 3rd Quarter $455 per week $337 per week $434 per week

Vacation Bible School 2016 Surf Shack

Are you ready to Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love? Come and join us for a week of fun and learning with family and friends at The United Methodist Church of Mantua VBS 2016. Vacation Bible School will be held Mon. June 20th - Fri. June 24th from 6pm 8:30pm. We will begin with dinner every night, then Music, missions, classes for

all ages, games, crafts, snacks and prayer.

Volunteers and donations are needed.

Teachers needed for 3rd-4th grade, 5th-6th grade, and adult. Classroom helpers needed for all classes Points & Registration - every night. Snacks - We need snacks and juice box/bag donations for each night. Games/crafts helpers for outside activities please sign-up during pre-registration. Clean-up crew each night and prepare for the following night. Friday night to clean up the whole church. Prayer - Please pray for the whole VBS program. Dinner donations - Jelly, salad dressing, iced tea and lemonade mix. Decorations – Surf Shack theme example – beach towels, buckets, surf boards...

Pre – registration will begin on May 22nd in McConnell Hall Registration - $5.00 per person attending for entire week including dinner. T-shirts - $5.00 each CDs - $5.00 each

For more information or if you would like to help, please see or e-mail. Jenise Fraser at vbsumcofmantua@gmail.com.

Don’t forget to Like Us on Facebook @ VBS UMC of Mantua

Save the Date! Crop Walk May 1st

Registration at 1:30 pm Walk begins at 2:00 pm

Please see Ann Newcomb to register.

Happy May Birthday!

Happy May Anniversary

1 Christopher Gelormini Nicholas Gelormini Connor Hall 2 Brooke Fearon 4 Joanne Guarrera Charles Wescott 5 Bryan Skupien 6 Brittany Fearon 7 Bob Lisle 8 Hal Orens Wendy Disalvio 9 Bill Armstrong Olivia Ingram 10 Barry Dale 11 Michael Liloia Geoff Shute Victor Torino III Jacqueline Wardrop 13 Janet Fuhrer Beth Gooch Brett Munch Nancy Overton

16 Megan Histand 17 Dana Fink 19 Bryson Biglin Dan Smith, Sr. 21 Jill Gorman John Lewis, Jr. 22 Janet Sfaelos 23 Patrick Durand Charlotte Farace Nicholas Liloia 24 Bob Grabert 26 Jackson Austin Matthias Wescott 27 Matthew DeGirolamo 28 Gina Freshcoln Aaron Shute Heather Vincent 29 Mary Lee Patane 31 Cathy Hogan Remmi Weiner

17 Phil & Lynn Varner

18 George & Christine Freshcoln

22 George & Debra Wescott

24 Scott & Ryan Drucker

Frank & Lynn Heiss

26 Nick & Ann Godsey

Please see Jan Fuhrer 848-9986

With questions or to register

8th

Annual Rock the Block -How Can I Serve? Saturday, June 4th

from 2-7pm

It is hard for me to believe but planning for this year’s block party is underway!! I am reaching out to you because volunteers are needed desperately. This day is a day where we, The United Methodist Church of Mantua, reach out to our community and share Christ’s love. We provide the food, the music, the prayer tent, the fun and the Holy Spirit does the rest. We are simply opening the door. Here are a few examples on how you can help: Pray for Rock the Block Set up (the morning of, including the band area, see Maria Kreh) Kitchen help (please see Jen Wardrop or Gail Slimm on how you can help) Clean up (during the day and after the block party is over) Monetary donations (This event is a FREE event with FREE food and we can’t do that without your donations) Walking the neighborhoods surrounding the church and personally inviting them to the block party. This is KEY!! The people love being invited, they have told us so. Find SPONSORS (do you know any small business owner?) that can help sponsor the block party. A minimum donation of $30 per business and their logo appears on our flyer, as well as any business cards or flyers they can submit that will be placed in our welcome bags. They can also set up a booth and be a vendor that day, encour-age them that this is a good way to promote their business as well as supporting a great cause. Help with selling the Phillies signs and our car magnets. Prayer Tent (please see Lynn Heiss for information). Welcome Booth (please see Maria Kreh) Help with stuffing the welcome bags: with our Church information as well as the sponsor information (please see Becky Langer)

I realize that this day is a long day and the volunteers that help all day long, from beginning to end; there are no words to thank you. When the day is over and we talk amongst each other and share our experiences throughout the day it makes it all worth it. Also when we think about the walk that Jesus made to the cross, the long hours of this one day, makes it all worth it. Thank you for reading my letter and for your consideration in helping Rock the Block continue to be a day of witness, evangelism, hope and love. Your sister in Christ, Maria Kreh

Women’s Community Bible Study led by Wayne Histand meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays Sep-tember through May at the United Methodist Church of Mantua. Starting at 9:30 am for coffee and fellow-ship, with the study beginning at 10:00 am.

Zumba with Paula

Bring Yoga Mat/Hand Weights

$5 per class Every Monday in May *except Memorial Day*

6:45-7:45 pm

Wawa Hoagie Coupons! The JUG Class is selling Wawa Hoagie Coupons. They make great small gifts! Your purchase helps support JUG projects and is sincerely appreciated.

Rev. Myrna Bethke, District Superintendent of the Gateway South District, has authorized Rev. Doug Bait-inger to convene a Special Church Conference of the Mantua United Methodist Church on Sunday morn-ing, May 1, at 10:30 am for the sole purpose of electing an alternate lay member to annual conference and a chairperson of evangelism for the UMC of Mantua.

What is Evangelism? By Todd Hickman

Evangelism is the planting of a seed, plain and simple. That seed is the gospel of Christ and it is what we are called to do. It sounds scary, time consuming and above all confusing. I will admit I have struggled with the idea myself for many years because I was always focusing on the wrong thing. I was worried about the seeds growth, not the actual planting. I was also fearful of rejection and ridicule. My fear is nothing more than my failure in faith and it is also as powerful as the fear that the non-believer or unin-troduced feels; both public and private. What is the planting of a seed of Christ? At first, I believed this to be greeting somebody and start-ing a conversation about God and how Christ died on the cross for me and for you. I then came to under-stand the impact that this type of conversation starter had on people in today’s day and age of media hype and fear of public trial and persecution; a well-played card of Satan. Our journey with our Lord and Savior is personal so why would our introduction be any different? The planting of the seed is simply a hand shake and a introduction of yourself to a person. God makes the seed grow through his power in you. When the person you are being introduced to comes to know you and your joy in life, they will start to grow by asking themselves why you are so happy. Why do you not fear? What are you doing that brings you such strength?

Once they start to question they will either inquire with you or ask to come and see what it is all about or come in on their own. It is God’s will as to where it goes. Regardless of the direction it goes, if your new acquaintance or friend decides to pursue a life in Christ is not your concern (halleluiah if they do). It may not be easy to watch them struggle or even decide that Christianity is not for them (there is still time and God’s plan for them is not for us to know) but we must remain steadfast in our relationship with them, just as God has stayed steadfast in His relationship with us. I believe that as in the “end times” we must allow God to speak through us as written in Matthew 10:20, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ... Prudent care there must be, but not an anxious, perplexing thought; let this care be cast upon ... for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say,” and Luke 12:12 “for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” ... But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far ... for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Also read and understand II Cor 12:9.

Pastor Tiffany touched base on all of this last Sunday in her sermon though it took it to the next lev-el, it is all still true. Whether we are helping somebody as “The Good Samaritan” or simply saying hello to a passerby it all starts with a seed and Christ is the reaper of the harvest.

Military Support Group of NJ: A donation ox will be available during the month of May for items for our troops and their families.

Athletes Foot Cream/ointment Batteries AA & AAA Beef Jerky Black Pens & Pencils Cashews Coffee, Tea Bags small boxes Comics from Sunday Papers Crackers, small packages Crossword or Sudoku Puzzles Diaper Wipes (please put the whole package in a one gallon size Ziploc)

Disposable Cameras DVD Movies (no war movies, please) Eye Drops Flip Flops of shower Foot Powder, travel size Granola or Power Bars Gum Hand cream, travel size Hand Warmers

Hard Candy Individual Drink Mixes Lysol or Clorox Wipes Mixed Nuts Music CDs Peanut Butter Cracker packs Peanuts Pepperoni Sticks Playing Cards, Uno, small games Qtips travel size Shampoo travel size Slim Jims Small Writing Tablet & Envelopes Soap hotel size bars Sunflower Seeds & Nuts Toothpaste, travel size Trail Mix Tuna, Salmon, Chicken, Spam in foil pouches White Cotton Socks boot style

May 2016 Mantua Methodist Vine Research Insert By William M. Crowley, Educational Research Director

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), “Study to show thyself approved unto GOD.” This exciting, unending series researches the KJV Bible with other related sources.

RECENT ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THE TERRORIST DESTRUCTION OF PALMYRA IN SYRIA. BIBLICAL

REFERENCES GO BACK SEVERAL YEARS TO THE TINE WHEN:

PHARAOH GAVE TADMOR (LATER PALMYRA) TO KING SOLOMON 1 KINGS 3:1, “AND SOLOMON MADE AFFINITY WITH PHARAOH, KING OF EGYPT, AND TOOK PHAROAH’S

DAUGHTER, AND BROUGHT HER INTO THE CITY OF DAVID…” Pharaoh Pesibkhenno, pharaoh in 1Kings 9:10, King Solomon’s father-in-law of, gifted a descendant of for-mer Egyptian slaves, with his daughter for marriage and the city of Tabor.

1 KINGS 9:16, “FOR PHARAOH OF EGYPT HAD GONE UP, AND TAKEN GEZER, AND BURNT IT WITH FIRE,

AND SLAIN ALL CANAANITES THAT DWELT IN THE CITY, AND GIVEN IT FOR A PRESENT UNTO HIS

DAUGHTER, SOLOMON’S WIFE.”

FACTS AVAILABLE Bible critics cry foul at the suggestion a daughter of pharaoh would be allowed to wed one not of Egyptian Royal Blood. She is the only one of Solomon’s family singled out for recognition---though not named. The LORD had led them out of Egypt. Purchasing Egyptian horses violated the Law. Deuteronomy 17:16, for-

bids sending people to Egypt. “Ye shall hence-forth return no more that way.”

These were questions which vexed many archeologists. Not all are answered with the current data. What is apparent is the growth of luxury in Solomon’s reign. Brisk trade with Egypt (forbidden by Law) is implied. The royal marriage, a symptom of Egyptian ruling-class ethnic purity,---and Solomon’s?

THE BIBLE GOES ON TO SAY:

1 KINGS 9:17-18,”AND SOLOMON BUILT GEZER, AND BETHHORON THE NETHER, AND BAALATH, AND

TADMOR (LATERP ALMYRA) IN THE WILDERNESS, IN THE LAND,…”

FACTS AVAILABLE

Gezer was rebuilt for defensive purposes. Any invasion from the north could be checked here at this first line of defense. Not all of the non-Hebrews perished; survivors were treated as slaves. During the rebuild-ing of Gezer, troops were stationed there with permanent assignments after completion. Tadmor---as archeologists were quick to point out---was not fortified. This gave some the bone to chew on as another “Bible Error”. It was a large prosperous trading center. Caravans passing through could obtain supplies, water and if necessary---armed escort to Jerusalem.

SUMMARY First we have the problem understanding Biblical incidents as facts are sketchy---like gossip. Second we do not fully understand Solomon’s background. Raised in opulence, he wanted more. His rule-breaking started early. Commentaries show the Queen of Sheba next in line. “Solomon’s Wisdom” failed. Do we feel we have sufficient wisdom? Get set for the “pop quiz”.

Please thank our sponsors by patronizing their businesses.

Takin’ it to the Streets! Become part of the Open Door Ministries Prayer Walk Team! We will walk our New Sha-ron, Wenonah, Barnsboro and Mantua communities and pray as we go, reaching out to people we meet along the way. Even if you can’t physically walk with us, the walk path/area, date and time will be posted prior to the event so that you can participate from home. We plan to walk the 1st & 3rd Sundays at 1:00 pm. We plan to kick-off our Prayer walks on May 1st with the Crop Walk.

Memorial Day Garden: The JUG Class will once again be planting geraniums around the church building in memory or honor of loved ones in time for Memorial Day. Order forms will be available beginning May 1 until May 22. Geraniums will cost $2.50 each. Thank you for your support of this annual project.