Wesley’sJournalJune2020

WesleyUnitedMethodistChurchAChurchforALLGod’sPeople85StanfordAve,PuebloCo,81005

(719)561-8746Office@wesleyumcpueblo.org

Rev.EmilieForward(719)371-4748

TolivebyFaithtobeknownbyLoveandbeaVoiceofHope.

Wordstoponder:DearestWesleychurchfamily,thisisthelastnewslettercommunicationthatyouwillreceivefrommeasyourpastor.Actually,Iwasn’tmuchofapastorinthelastfivemonthsasIamrecoveringfromthismajorspinalfusionsurgery.IamdoingfineandIamhealingwell.Fusionisinprogress,Ihope.Thelastsevenyearshavetrulybeenanincrediblejourney.Infact,itismorethanwecouldhaveeverimagined.WaltandIfeelprivilegedandhumbledthatwehadanythingtodowithWesley.Indeed,Godhasbeensofaithfulandgracious.It’shardtoarticulatethedepthoftheaweandgratitudethatWaltandIhaveinourhearts.WehavewitnessedthepresenceandpoweroftheHolySpiritthroughthepastsevenyears.I’vegivenmybestandmyalltoWesley.IhavepouredoutovertheyearsandIamextremelygratefulforwhatGodhasaccomplishedthroughyoursharedleadership.NowitistimetostepasideasIhavesensedthatmyassignmenthereatWesleyiscompleteandIbelieveit’snow

timefornewleadershipwithfreshvision,passion,andenergytotakeWesleydeeperandfurtherinitsmission.PleasewelcometheRev.LouWard,hiswifeJenna,theirsonsLandonandLiamwithopenarms.Louhasawealthofleadershiptogive.Duetomymedicalcondition,surgery,andCOVID-19,mylastworshipservicewithyouwasonDecember24,2019andmyofficiallastdaywithWesleywillbeJune30,2020.AsapastorIcanonlyprayandhopethatwheneveratransitionhappens,ittakesplaceinthemidstofathrivingandflourishingchurch.Whilefarfromaperfectchurch,itgivesmegreatjoytosensethecurrenthealthofourchurch,asidefromtherestrictionsofCOVID-19,becauseIbelievethatitwillserveasanimportantspringboardforthefuture.IhavesoenjoyedmyservicetoWesley.Thereweregoodtimes,funtimes,sadtimes.Therewerechallengingtimes,growingtimes,flourishingtimes.Welaughedtogetherandwecriedtogether.Wesharedmealstogetherandrefrainedfromeating.WesharedtheGospel,wesharedHolyCommunion.WesharedpraisingGodthroughsong,throughprayer,throughvisitation.NowitisthroughthebenedictionthatIwillsharewithyouall.“MaytheLORDblessyouandkeepyou;theLORDmakehisfaceshineuponyouandbegracioustoyou;theLORDturnhisfacetowardyouandgiveyoupeace.” Numbers6:24-26(NIV)HappyTrails,Rev.Emilie&Walt

Aresponsetotheurgingof

churchestoopenrightawayFromtheBishop-electoftheEpiscopalChurchintheDioceseofMissouri,DeonK.Johnson:“Theworkofthechurchisessential.Theworkofcaringforthelonely,themarginalized,andtheoppressedisessential.Theworkofspeakingtruthtopowerandseekingjusticeisessential.Theworkofbeingaloving,liberating,andlifegivingpresenceintheworldisessential.Theworkofwelcomingthestranger,therefugeeandtheundocumentedisessential.Theworkofreconciliationandhealingandcaringisessential.Thechurchdoesnotneedto“open”becausethechurchnever“closed.”WewhomakeuptheBodyofChrist,thechurch,loveGodandourneighborsandourselvessomuchthatwewillstayawayfromourbuildingsuntilitissafe.Wearethechurch.”

BISHOPKARENP.OLIVETOMay15,2020

TothePeopleCalledUnitedMethodistoftheMountainSkyConference,Jesus,followingtheresurrection,directedSimonPeterto“feedmylambs,tendmysheep.”(John21:15-19).Here,JesusentrustshisdisciplestocarefortheonesJesusloved:thelost,theleast,thelonely.Jesusasksthesameofyouandme.Wearetocareforthespiritual,physical,andemotionalwell-beingofthosewhomJesusloves.ThistakesonaresponsibilityofepicproportionsintheseCOVID-19daysweareliving.HowdowegatherastheBodyofChristandkeeponeanothersafefrominfection?Whatguidelinesmustwefollowifwearetomovefromonlineministrytoinpersonworshipandsmallgroups?Howdoweprepareourpeoplesothatthemostvulnerableinourmidstwillbekeptsafe?COVID-19isfarfromover.Whileourphysicaldistancinghashelpedflattenthecurve,infections(anddeaths)arestilloccurring.ThemostvulnerablepopulationtoCOVID-19(thoseover65)arethemajorityinourcongregations.AsdisciplesofJesus,wehaveaseriousresponsibilitytoorganizeandbuildupministryinwaysthatareaccessibletoall,beginningwiththemostvulnerable.SinceMarch,theMountainSkyConferenceCOVID-19CrisisteamhasbeenmeetingtoguidetheMSCresponse,communications,andprogrammingthroughthepandemic.Teammembersinclude:MargaretHotze,GaylaJoSlauson,DonMcCammon,BruceBerger,AJBush,GaryHaddock,PattiAgnew,AngieKotzmoyer,ZachBechtold,JanetMulroy,DawnSkerritt,CharmaineRobledo,AngelaThomas,JeffRainwater,AnnieArnoldy,MichaelSmithBishopKarenOliveto

Beforeconsideringareturntoin-personworshipandmeetings,allcongregationsareaskedtocreateateamtoworkthroughthisguidebook.Youwillfindbothconcretestepsforsafetyandhealth,aswellascriticalquestionstohelpyouconsiderwhatministryinthenextphaseofCOVID-19willlooklike.IdonotwantonesinglecaseofCOVID-19tracedtooneofourchurchesbecausewedidnotcareforthosewhomJesusloves.Ihopeyouwillfindthisguidebookhelpfulasyou(re)launchyourministries.MayGodcontinuetoblessyouandyourministries,

Thank youHereisahugethankyoutoCindyLewis,BethMangin,SusanFrank,andJanWarnerforyourconsistentconstructionofprayercomforters.Wewillgettogetherassoonaswecan.Staystrong.Besafe.Stayhealthy. SaraCarpenterMOVINGSALEJUNE12&13,2020@633WestacresAve.,Pueblo

Iamsellingmyfurnitureanditemsthatmadethechurchparsonagehomeforsevenyears.Theynowhavefulfilleditsusefulnessandareeagertofind

newowners.Ifthoseofyouwhohavegraciouslydonateditemstomyhouseholdin2013andwould

JUNE2020PeacewithJustice7thFlagDay14thFirstDayofSummer20thFather’sDay21stNewsletterDeadline25th

JohnWesley’sBirthday28th

CooperativeCareCenterisinneedof:cereal/cannedfruitSoupKitchenBean,rice,pasta,flour,oil

Our Deepest Sympathy for the Families of:

Betty Duran Scott Morgan

Linda Wood

likethemreturned,pleasegetintouchwithmeat371-4748.Rev.EmiliPEACEWITHJUSTICEJUNE7TH(Peacemakers)employalltheirstrength,allthetalentswhichGodhasgiventhem,aswellastopreservepeacewhereitis,astorestoreitwhereitisnot.”PleasenoteonyourcheckdonationstoPeacewithJustice.

For80yearsTheUnitedMethodistCommitteeonReliefhasrespondedtonaturalandman-madedisastersregardlessofthelocationortheneed.Thistimethedisasteris

everywhere.COVID-19hashadhotspotsthroughouttheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.Theeconomicimpactfromclosuresofmajorsectorsoftheglobalmarketplaceiscausingseverehardships.UMCORisfulfillingthemandatewithwhichitwascreatedbyrespondingintangiblewaysthat“alleviatepovertyandsuffering.”

Willyoupleasehelp?GlobalMinistriesandUMCORareassistingministrypartnersfromMiamitoManila,SeattletoSanPaloandCoatesvilletoKinshasa.Morerequestsforassistancearereceivedeachweekand,sadly,themajorityarerequestsforfoodtosupportvulnerablecommunities.Partnerswhooperateordirectlysupportfood

pantriesareaskingforhelpastheglobalfightagainstCOVID-19isinflatingthepriceoffood,especiallyinplaceswherefoodinsecuritywasalreadyamajorpublichealthissue-evenhereintheU.S.100%ofyourgifttotheUMCORCOVID-19ResponseFundwillbeusedtomeetthebasicneedsofpeoplewhoarehopingforyourresponse.

Happy June Birthdays JenayDwight 06/06BobFrantz* 06/10TomAugustine* 06/12LoisJeanMock* 06/15JudithPorter 06/24PauletteStuart 06/27JesseFurney 06/28*ProudlyCelebrating80yearsormore

Happy Anniversary Bill&SonyaFranklin(62) 06/01James&MabelBaker(53) 06/04Scott&WendyGoins(16) 06/18Carl&GracePasquin(61) 06/20Tom&SherylAugustine(64) 06/22Jim&BetteLunn(63) 06/23Bill&OrabelleEaston(71) 06/28 If we missed your birthday or anniversary. please let the Office know at 561-8746 or

Office@wesleyumcpueblo.org

PrayingforourElderly&HomeboundMarieEarnestJeanAllenDoraMartinezMaryJanoskiPhyllisCoveyEuniceCarpenterNitaBocimMelSpenceEvelynDicksonDocBlanchardDeane&EllaMaeBeachBill&OrabelleEastonBill&MarleneMcCarthyRamonaHigbeeNormaLordAllieMaeLawlisLeonaMcDanielShirleyKnightHelenMurleyPrayingforoursickandinneedofprayerDeOrreKunzColleenClarkDarylCrawfordChuckLipichJudyPorterStanCopeBeckyGoyetteKevinPattonFrancesBedlienJacobFreemanLarryGrayJackMcCullahCliffRichardsonHaroldCarterMarkCarilloSallyMaroKathyFrantzLilianRiveraKarenBurenEarlRobinsonMartinGorackeHarrietYingstChrisFlemmingBlakeGrayCathySheaTristanThomasCindyLewis&FamilyRev.MargaretGillikinRev.EmilieForwardJosephineMcCormickConradGerlockJimmyHarperAlbertMismash

ClareMetcalfShane&KaitinFishMaryThurstonTyHussLeonaMcDanielTom&SherylAugustineLinda&AlanWood&FamilyRobertRFrantzBryanHastingsJoelCarpenterJeriMorganJoelCarpetnerWeprayforthosewhoserveintheU.SMilitaryKevinMoritzArmy(SonofTammySchecter)SteveGarciaArmy(Great-GrandsonofBill&OrabelleEaston)JasonCosbyArmy(GrandsonofLedemaRenfrow)ScottFergusonArmy(NephewofLisaFergusonCyrille SanduskyNavy(GrandsonofDonBollacker)BrandiMirelesNavy(Step-daughterofRandyLosey)DerekP.LawNavy(GrandsonofMarilynSelbyRuff)LeeThomasNavy(NephewofHeidiFleming&AlyceBouy)MatthewFlemingNavy(NephewofHeidiFleming&AlyceBouy)CarlosAhumadaAirForce(SonOfCarlosAhumada)

DrewSelbyNavyAir(GrandsonofMarilynSelby-Ruff

MISSIONCOMMITTEE Pura Vida the organization thatcoordinates our sponsorship with

our Guatemalan students Priscilla and Vidaliasent out an e-mail in May. Many sponsorswanted to know about their students and iftherewasanythingtheycoulddotohelpduringthisCOVID-19crisis.

ThepeopleatPuraVidarealizedthestudentsand their familieswere having a hard time sotheycameupwiththeideaofgivingthemfoodbasketscontainingrice,cornmeal,beans,pasta,oil, oatmeal, and sugar. Each of these basketswouldcostabout$15.00apiecesotheyaskedusassponsorsifwecoulddonatetothecause.Wedidinaway.

SaraCarpentergraciouslydonatedthemoneygiventoher fromthecongregationformakingmasksforthembecauseoftheCOVID-19crisis.

SusanFrank

JOHNWESLEY’SBIRTHDAY

JUNE28THFAITHINJESUSCHRIST

Wesleybeganhisfamous

sermononsalvationbyfaithbyspellingoutwhatfaithisnot.ItisnotthefaithofaheathenwhomerelybelievesthatsomekindofGodexists.Norisitthefaithofadevilwhobelievesandfearsajustpunishment.Neitherisitaspeculative,rationalthing,acold,lifelessassent,atrainofideasinahead.Faithisadispositionoftheheart.TheproperobjectoffaithisJesusChrist,whohasactedmightilyforoursalvation.SalvationismadepossiblebythegraceofGodgivenfreelytoallwhohavefaithinChrist.JohnWesley’sMessageToday

Thanksforcontinuingtosupportourchurchfinances….Thisisaspecialthankstoallofyou

who have continued to send your financialsupport to Wesley during this difficult andtroublingtime.WhileourincomeisdownalittleduetotheabsenceofSundayServiceoverallourpledgeshaveheldupandourcashflowisdoingwell,keepingourbillspaidandfinancesingoodshape.Yourloyaltyandsteadfastnesshasmadeall the difference. May God continue to blessyouandus.JimStuart,FinanceCommitteeChair

.

WELCOMECHALLENGINGTIMES…asopportunitiestotrustme.Youhavemebesideyouandmyspiritwithinyou,sonoset

ofcircumstancesistoomuchforyoutohandle.Whenthepathbeforeyouisdottedwithdifficulties,bewareofmeasuringyourstrengthagainstthosechallenges.Thatcalculationiscertaintoriddle

youwithanxiety.Withoutme,youwouldn’tmakeitpastthefirsthurdle!Thewaytowalkthroughdemandingdaysistogripmyhandtightlyandstayinclosecommunicationwithme.Letyourthoughtsandspokenwordsberichlyflavoredwithtrustandthankfulness.Regardlessoftheday’sproblems,Icankeepyouinprefectpeaceasyoustayclosetome.JesusCallingSarahYoung Youwillkeepinprefectpeacehimwhosemindissteadfast,becausehetrustsinyou.ISAIAH26:3“ForIamtheLord,yourGod,whotakesholdofyourrighthandandsaystoyou,Donotfear:Iwillhelpyou.”ISAIAH41:13Consideritpurejoy,mybrothers,wheneveryoufacetrailsofmanykinds. JAMES1:2

ThankyouforsupportingWesleyUnitedMethodistChurch. ALITTLEHUMOR!Threefriendsfromthelocalcongregationwereasked,“Whenyou’reinyourcasket,andfriendsandcongregationmembersaremourningoveryou,whatwouldyoulikethemtosay?”Johnsaid,“IwouldlikethemtosayIwasawonderfulhusband,afinespiritualleaderandagreatfamilyman.Marlenecommented,“IwouldlikethemtosayIwasawonderfulteacherandservantofGod,whomadeahugedifferenceinpeople’slives.”Donsaid,“I‘dlikethemtosay,“Look!He’smoving!

My chains are gone I’ve been set free My God, My Savior Has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love Amazing Grace HappyFather’sDay

FoodCardsDoyoubuyyourgroceriesfromKingSoopers?HelpsupportWesleybybuyinggrocerycardsfromTom&LoisJeanMock.YoucanfindthissweetcouplehereonSundaysorcancall1(970)657-7524.

Wesley United Methodist Church 85 Stanford Ave Pueblo Co 81005 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

June 2020