Volume I, Issue 177 May, 2016

330.725.4943 mumc.office@zoominternet.net

C O N N E C T I O N S

May 15 @ 6:00 p.m. Consecration Service for our

Chapel in the Woods ~ Bonfire following at 6:30

It’s back. The Grapevine with its breaking news, insider’s ear, behind the scenes look, has been missing for the last couple of months. If the Grapevine is new to you I want you to know that it is gossip free (this of course may disappoint those who crave to know the latest roving chit chat) and it aims to convey the truth (or at least the facts as much as I know them). Also the order of which things appear has no bearing as to their urgency, importance, relevancy or personal preference. It is just what comes to mind at the time. So here it goes….

This morning two geese walked or waddled by my window. I have noticed they have been visiting us. Because they are God’s creatures be sure to show radical hospitality and be-ware of their calling cards.

Recognition to the prayer group that meets in the library on Tuesdays at 10 am. Presently participants are all women but they would surely welcome a man or two. They pray for me (I need it most if you haven’t noticed) and for all the concerns that have been communicated to us. I deeply appreciate their dedication in exercising the power of prayer. Check out James. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray…. The prayer of a righteous person is power-ful and effective. James 5:13, 16

Friday, April 29th marked our 4th anniversary of being in our new building. I can hardly believe it has been four years but time flies when you are having fun. At the recent meeting of The Young at Heart, the dessert was a Birthday Cake. Through their generosity they are donating a handsome marker engraved with “2012” to be placed on the outside of the building. Thanks so very much. We had a water leak in the women’s restroom that flowed into the nursery. The leak has been fixed.

Brady Huffman of Main Mix Marketing has been interview-ing some of our leaders as part of the task of developing vision and mission statements. This will not only lay the groundwork for designing a new look to our printed and social media materials but set the stage for planning for the next three to five years.

At the end of March, giving to the General Fund totaled $183,380 which is on budget for 2016. This includes the

Easter offering of $8,262. You may be curious as to how much of this came through online and electronic means. The amount is approximately $21,000. Thank you for your extravagant generosity and consistency.

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting in Portland, Oregon beginning May 10 through May 20th to celebrate the accomplishments of the church and to discern the future of the UMC. Every four years, delegates from all over the world gather to represent United Methodism. Petitions on how UMC functions as out-lined in the Book of Discipline will be considered. These can often make minor changes in how we work or greater sweeping changes. Pray for the delegates from the East Ohio Conference and for God’s will to be done.

THE STORY resumes on Sunday, May 8th with Chapter 27: The Resurrection. In just five more weeks we will have gone through the entire Bible from beginning to the end. So I encourage you to stick with it, read the chapters, and catch up if need be. This represents a huge accomplishment for our congregation and all those who have been touched by this journey. Its impact will be felt for months to come.

Some breaking news, MUMC is now listed on the Celebrate Recovery National Website! If you go on to www.celebraterecovery.com and click on the group locator and enter 44256 you get us! Thanks to Jane Piehl for her passion, calling, leadership and perseverance.

At the recent Spring District Conference held at Wooster UMC, MUMC was recognized as paying all of its conference apportionments and district requests for 2015 and it was listed as the church receiving the highest number of “professions of faith” for 2015. Great job. By the way the number was 26 and this represents folks that joined who had no or any recent ties to a church.

Additional work needs to be done on the second floor of the building namely equipment and furnishings. The class-rooms and the area that looks down upon the Café were left incomplete at construction. Only limited equipment or furniture was purchased. Contact me or Lynn Foster if you are interested in helping make this happen.

MUMC PRAYER MINISTRY CONCERNS

Gary Colonius George Rák Rolinda Dodd Mackenzie Clutter Jim Bartoul Robert Mayo Howard Bratt Lily Woods Kim Brightbill John Rák Richard Spieth Anne Bartoul Curt Newlands Peggy Cheek Maini Wood Don Williams Larry Morrison Holly Morgan Carol Mannarino Barb Campbell Bruce Clapper Kelly Vojvodich Kathy Gerlak Heather Cooke

Prayers for our military & civilian personnel & their families Carl Clapper (OH), Patrick Donnelly (GA), J.D. Ferut (FL), Joseph Fetterman (OK), Adam Finger (MO), Jonathan Handwerk (TX), Mark Hornfeck (VA), Johnathon Meier (NC), Jessica Mock (Japan), Dylan Quaider (TX), Sam Rains (AK), Dave Schaefer (Kuwait), Tom & Erin Skinner (CA)

Page 2 Monthly Update

Please keep the following people in your prayers, and on occasion you might want to send them a card or visit with them. If you have questions or suggestions about this list, please contact Susan Hume in the Ministry Office.

At Home Steve Aleksevitch: 391 Woodlake Dr. Elmcroft: 1046 N. Jefferson St. Bernice Kobb (personal visits only, no mail) Emeritus at Medina: 100 High Point Drive Paul Bohley #C-8 (personal visits only, no mail) Mary Jane Mallery #A-19 Marjorie Wagner Beth Milstead Plum Creek: 891 Marks Rd., Brunswick Edna Jedlicka #A24

The Avenue: 699 E. Smith Road Ted Chandler

Western Reserve Masonic Comm.: 4931 Nettleton Flora Acker #4108 Virginia Barhoover #4112 Nancy Bishop #3210 Marjorie Clark #1043 Edna Greenhorn #1021 Virginia Knight #5205 Allen (and daughter Cara) Nichols #1046 Betty Schaefer #5210

Willowwood: 1186 Hadcock Rd., Brunswick

George Rák

Laverne Potts (Judy Robinson’s mother) Rupe Beetham (Meghan Owings’ father)

Evie McCrae (Linda Lambert’s Niece)

Prayer Focus In Preparation of General Conference (May 10-20, 2016 in Portland, Oregon)

General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church, and meets once every four years. The confer-ence can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on cur-rent moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also ap-proves plans and budgets for church-wide programs. “Please pray that God would give the delegates and church leaders an understanding and loving heart; that all will have a spirit of humil-ity and a desire to do God’s will; and that the fruit of the Spirit would be evident in such a way that all who observe would sense that true Christian conferencing will take place” (Bishop Al Gwinn). Let us use this time of prayer to strengthen our covenant relationship as Christ-followers as we listen to God’s Spirit!

Celebrate Recovery!

Thursdays at 7:00 PM Contact person: Jane Piehl

(janepiehl@gmail.com)

Page 3 Monthly Update

By Judy Gorsek, Director

Can you believe it? Our 2015-2016 school year is coming to an end with our last

school day May 16th and our celebratory luncheon on May 18th. Children will celebrate

their school year with picnics and parties here at the preschool, or at a local park

with their families. We do look forward to hosting two summer programs for cur-

rently enrolled four year olds June 13th-17th with “Under the Sea”, and then explore

“Critters and Creatures in the Forest”, July 11th – 15th. Both of these programs are

from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.

Our 2016-2017 registration is looking great! We have only a few openings left

and have waiting lists for many classes. We are sad to say farewell to Mrs. Finley

and Mrs. Rabung. Mrs. Finley is retiring to do some other good works after 9 years

teaching here at Weekday. Mrs. Rabung leaves after 6 years serving as our financial

secretary and plans to fill her time with coaching and substitute teaching. We will

miss these dear ladies!

Thank you to all the church staff, including Judy Robinson, Ellen Azotea and

Deanne Donoughe, who help us with church and preschool needs. They are always

cheerful and supportive, no matter how busy they get. Thanks go to Lynn Foster for

her kindness and prayerful guidance. We are thankful to Dr. Dave, Pastor Heidi and

Susan Hume for prayers and support along the way. We extend our gratitude to our

helpful floating assistants (16), registrar: Michele Soworowski, and treasurer: Susan

West. Appreciation is extended to our board officers: Jennifer McClafferty, Kira

Snow, Aimee Andrich and (30) other board members who have helped make this a

rewarding and wonderful school year!

We are truly blessed to have this opportunity to serve, and be a part of the

church’s outreach to children and their families!

May 1 “Radical” Amazing Race 6-7:30 p.m. in Café May 22 End of Year Picnic 6-7:30 p.m. in parking lot

Boys & Girls Grades 4-6

Youth Calendar Update

May 1 Confirmation Sunday

Help with Radical Roses’ Amazing

Race (6-7:30 p.m.)

May 8 Mother’s Day (No MYF)

May 13-14 30-Hour Famine Lock-in

May 22 Graduation Sunday

May 29 Memorial Day Weekend (No

MYF)

Young at Heart

Thursday, May 19

11:30am-2:00pm

A musical program

by Gary Komjati

Our menu will be: 3-Salads Plate and Assorted Cookies

To register, please sign up at the welcome

center to insure we have enough food!

Grades 9-12

CARE MINISTRY NEWS April showers brought "lots of Care Ministry activities!"

The Care Ministry Team and all those who help in our outreach have been very busy lately.

A big thank you to Rebekah Circle women for making 15 fleece blankets to be handed out to children/youth.

A round of applause to the "Turban Sewing Saturday" group for producing 30 more turbans to be handed out.

A "shout out:" to the Confirmation class and their leaders who made 10 stuffed fleece pillows for children/youth.

And "Amen" to the women who continue to make Prayer Shawls and recently turned in.

All of the above items are given to people within our congregation, our commu-nity or elsewhere when needed to bring warm hugs and love in any given situa-tion.

This month we sent out two military boxes.

Thank you to all who donate money and/or the materials to support these pro-jects. Last, but not least, thank you to the Care Ministry Team and all they do to keep this ministry growing and fresh with ideas.

ATTENTION GRADUATES!!

Anyone earning a high school di-ploma, undergraduate degree, or

graduate degree is asked to submit a photo (wallet or 4x6) to Deanne in the Church Of-fice by Monday, May 16. Please include your name, the school from which you are graduating and your future plans.

College Scholarship Applications are avail-able on the table outside the church office.

Our Coordinator of Music Ministries is planning for summer special mu-

sic. If you have a special music talent that you would like to share dur-

ing our 8:15 and 11:00 services for one Sunday this summer, please con-

tact Mike McClintock to coordinate a date and other information.

Monthly Update Page 4

Vacation Bible School Surf’s up and planning is un-derway for Surf Shack VBS! At the Surf Shack, children and adults will catch the wave of God’s amazing love as we learn how God creates, helps, loves, calms and sends us to make disciples of others. Remember that the Lord is great and awesome (Nehemiah 4:14b)! VBS will be held Sunday, July 17-Thursday, July 21, 6:00 -8:45 PM. We have wonderful opportunities for adults and teens entering 7th grade and older to serve the children who will be coming through our doors during this community outreach event. Choose from many areas including planning and preparation, decorating, reflection group leaders, activity center leaders and team members for Bible story skits, crafts, mission, music, prayer team, recreation, science, snacks, and participant follow up after VBS. Visit our VBS website at http://2016.cokesburyvbs.com/medinaumc for a Volunteer registration form. Simply click on the red Volunteer button at the bottom of the page to be linked to the form. Please contact Lynn Foster or Mike McClintock at mumc.office@zoominternet.net in the Ministry Office if you have questions. We look forward to serving with you at Surf Shack VBS!

Sunday school happenings… As we close out the spring quarter this month, our 2 year olds-6th graders will finish up in the book of Acts and move into Ro-mans and 1 Corinthians. It has been a joy to see the children so excited about learning verses as part of the Sunday School Bible Challenge! Sunday school topics and the Bible Challenge verses for May are detailed below.

May 1 Lesson: Lydia is Converted, Acts 16: 9-15

Bible Challenge Verse: Genesis 1:31-God saw every-thing he had made: it was supremely good.

Our 5th, 6th and 9th grade Sunday school classes join their families for 9:30A worship today.

Confirmation Sunday and Holy Communion

May 8 Lesson: Paul’s Jailer Believes in Jesus, Acts 16: 16-34

Bible Challenge Verse: Psalm 139:14-I praise you God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

May 15 Lesson: Paul Describes Living by God’s Spirit, Romans 8: 9-17

Bible Challenge Verse: Deuteronomy 6:5-You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

May 22 Lesson: Paul Describes Genuine Love, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Bible Challenge Verse: Acts 16:31-Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Bible Challenge Prize Cart Day! Don’t forget your tickets. Graduation Sunday

May 29 Combined Sunday school for children ages 2-those entering kindergarten in the fall-Summer Kickoff Fun Day, more information to come!

No Sunday school today for children entering 1st grade in the fall and older. Summer Sunday school for chil-dren entering 1st-5th grade will begin on June 5th.

May Mission Unstoppable Challenge As Disciples of Christ, we are called to serve others. Mission Unstoppable offers our Sunday school families the opportunity to become the hands and feet of Christ through participation in monthly mission projects. This month our Sunday school families are sending cards to the veterans and current mili-tary service members of our church. The cards will be on a table by the main staircase on May 15th and 22nd. Please take a few minutes between services to stop by and sign the cards. Thank you!

Summer Sunday School for Preschool and Elementary Children Sunday school for our children ages 2-those entering 5th grade is held during the summer at 9:30A. Our 2 year olds through those entering kindergarten in the fall begin their summer program on May 29thwith a Summer Kickoff Fun Day. Elementary children entering 1st-5th grade in the fall do not have Sunday school on May 29th and will begin their summer program on June 5th. We

encourage parents who do not regularly serve in our Sunday school ministry to volunteer for at least one Sunday during the summer. With its laid back, easy going nature, our sum-mer program presents a great opportunity to give serving in our Sunday school ministry a try. You will find volunteer sign-up sheets for preschool-kindergarten on the round table in the center of the preschool hallway. Elementary volunteer sign-up sheets are on the Faith Family Freebies table by the main staircase. I will also be emailing our parents a link to our online Signup Genius signup sheets. Please contact Lynn Foster at 330-725-4943 or mumc.educ@zoominternet.net with any questions. Thank you for supporting the chil-dren’s ministries of our church!

Family Faith Resources May 1st is our next Family Faith Freebies Sunday. Be sure to stop by the FFF ta-ble by the stairs to pick up the May Parenting Christian Kids newsletter and other resources you can use at home. If you are seeking resources for any specific family faith needs that aren’t available on the ta-ble, please feel free to con-tact Lynn Foster.

Page 5 Monthly Update

Dear Medina UMC Family,

For the second time in less than a year, I am conveying

my gratitude to all of you for your help and prayers during

my confinement for a total hip replacement. I especially

appreciate Susan Hume’s visits to the hospital and her sup-

port, Jeanne & Larry Smith for their visits to George and I,

Dr. Dave for his visits to George and I, and Larry Smith &

Cathy Gearhart who drove me to medical appointments. It is

comforting to know that I can always call on my church fam-

ily when I need them. Keep George in your prayers as he

remains in long term care at Willowood Care Center.

Your Friend in Christ, Barbara Rak

Dear MUMC,

Thank you so much for the many prayers, cards and

words expressing sympathy to my family and me on the loss

of our mom! The planter sent to the funeral was beautiful!!

Blessings, Judy Robinson & The Potts Family

Dear MUMC,

Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality and

generosity during our recent tour. The youth are still com-

menting about your wonderful facility. We are indeed grate-

ful for you allowing us to “camp out” overnight. Our trip

was very memorable.

Sincerely, Downers Grove UMC Chapel Choir

Dear MUMC,

Thank you so much for your kind donations of school

supplies for our foster and adoptive children. Their faces

always light up when they come to pick them out for school!

Sincerely, The Caring For Kids Staff

Susan Smith, Susan Hume & The Congregation,

Thank you for your support during this difficult time.

The Schmidt Family

Dear MUMC,

Thank you for the Book of First Prayers. It is so spe-

cial. Jace already wore one of the adorable bibs. This

church means so much to us and especially those few days

after Jace’s birth. The support of Dr. Dave and Susan will

never be forgotten.

Love, Colleen, Jansen & Jace Wehrley

Youth Missions Car Wash May 28th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

at O’Reilly Auto Parts (964 N. Court St.)

Sponsored by: O’Reilly Auto Parts of Medina

May 5, 2016

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

7:00-8:15 am @ Williams on the Lake

Cost $15 ~ Speaker: Dave Knight

Prayer on the Square

Noon at the Gazebo

Community Prayer Service

7:00 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene

The Missions team would like to invite you to help in one or both of our next outreach missions.

The first opportunity is Love Medina on Saturday, May 7 (8am-Noon). Love Medina is an annual event in May when Christians from various local churches in the community join together with the city to do service projects for the elderly and shut-ins throughout our community. The projects MUMC will be tack-ling are yard clean up and mulching.

The next opportunity is Medina Mission, on Saturday, June 4 (8am-Noon). We have changed up Medina Mission this year to better serve the community as a whole. Medina Mission 2016 will be a hands on mission that your entire family can participate in together. We will be doing litter clean-up in 3 Medina County Parks near MUMC. Stop by the sign up table on May 15th and register to help. Medina Mission t-shirts will be available for purchase at registration. What a great opportu-nity to not only serve the community but work side by side with our church family!

If you have questions on either of these missions, please contact Pastor Heidi Welch at 330-725-4943.

(Children and Family Ministries News Continued)

Summer camp is coming! The East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church has great camps for children and youth! As you are planning summer activities for your children, please consider one of these camps. You will find camp information at http://www.eocumc.com/camps/index.html.

Register for camp by this Saturday, 4/30 and receive a $20 early bird discount off the camp fee as well as a limited edition 2016 camp t-shirt that will not be available at the camp store. Our church offers a $50 campership for any child from our church who is attending an EOC camp. No application needed! The Canal District and the East Ohio Conference also offer financial aid on a first come first serve basis. Applications are needed for district and conference aid. For more information on camps, camperships and other financial aid, please contact Lynn Foster in the office or call the East Ohio Conference Camping Office at 1-330-499-3972, ext. 108. You may also visit www.EOCSummercamps.org.

Let’s stay in touch! Did you know we send out a weekly newsletter to parents with children’s ministry news and Sunday school follow up activities? If you aren’t receiving this newsletter, it is be-cause we don’t have your email ad-dress. To be included in the weekly emails, please contact Lynn Foster at mumc.educ@zoominternet.net with a subject line or message saying you would like to be on the email list.

May 1 Confirmation Sunday

Recognition of Confirmands at 8:15 & 9:30 Services

Reception of Confirmands at 11:00 Service

Sacrament of Holy Communion

May 8 Chapter 27: The Resurrection

May 15 Chapter 28: New Beginnings

Pentecost Sunday

May 22 Chapter 29: Paul’s Mission

Graduation Sunday

May 29 Chapter 30: Paul’s Final Days

Medina United Methodist Church Non-Profit Organization

4747 Foote Rd. Presort Standard

Medina, OH 44256 PERMIT #6

330.725.4943 Medina, Ohio

Mailed 4/28/16

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Inside This Issue

Pastor’s Grapevine 1

Consecration Service/Bonfire 1

Prayer Concerns 2

Celebrate Recovery 2

Prayer Focus for General Conf. 2

Youth Calendar 3

Attention Graduates 3

Medina Weekday 3

Radical Roses 3

Young at Heart 3

Care Ministry News 3

Children & Family Ministry 4

Youth Missions Car Wash 5

Mission Team 5

National Day of Prayer 5

Thank You 5

Summer Special Music 5

Sunday Worship

8:15 am (Traditional) 9:30 am (Contemporary) 11:00 am (Traditional)