"Through the power of Christ, we are learning to live in simplicity, thankfulness, contentment and
generosity in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana."

(IF YOU CLICK ON A PICTURE, IT WILL GET BIGGER... AND EASIER TO VIEW.)

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Upcoming Walk to Emmaus Weekends

 

A recipe for a renewed spirit and love of God

+Start with 15 mini- lectures on different Christian principles such as piety, study, action and grace.
+Alternate with singing, discussion, making posters, and skits.
+Add new friends.     

+Chop up past hurts and sins and discard.
+Sprinkle with worship and communion.
+Bake for 72-hours surrounded by agape.

Turn out a pilgrim with a renewed spirit and love of God. 

 

   Walk to Emmaus with us -  The Western Montana Walk to Emmaus Community

Men's Walk to Emmaus: April 23-26, 2015 

Women's Walk to Emmaus: April 30- May 3, 2015 

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A note from UMCOR


A Successful Mission Brunch!

Mary C. and Marcia P. serve up the vittals
The fellowship hall was abuzz with activity this morning as we gathered for the annual "Cowboy/girl-up for Mission Brunch!"  

A free-will offering was taken which will be used for a mission project of the UMW.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Mission brunch tomorrow


Come to Stevi UMC tomorrow morning, 9:30 - 11:30 am, for the United Methodist Women's "Cowboy/girl up for mission."

Delicious food, great fellowship, and all for a free-will offering! 100% of donations will go toward mission projects of the UMW.

The Psalm for March 1st

During the season of Lent, Pastor Charles will be preaching from the Psalms.  

Our Psalm for this week is Psalm 33:4-5, 8-9, 13-22

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday - 
7:00 pm, Living Clean (upstairs)

Tuesday -
9:30 am - 11:30 am, "Cowboy/girl-up" for mission brunch
7:00 pm, Choir practice

Wednesday -  
10:00 am, Lenten Study     

6:30 pm, Middle School youth @ Ludington's
7:00 pm, High school youth @ First Baptist Church
7:00 pm, Jesus in the Gospels study

Friday -
10:00 am, Drop-in Bible study @ Doris Taylor's


Sunday -
9:00 am, Church school for all ages
10:15 am, Praise singing
10:30 am, Worship
11:30 am, Fellowship time & March birthday celebration
11:45 an, Chimes practice

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Prayers

JOYS:  Thanks be to God for …
Our country.
Those who serve our country.
Great, loving church family.
Last week’s wonderful Ash Wednesday service.
The choir members who supported the Taize music –threaded throughout the Ash Wednesday service.
This first Sunday in Lent – together.
The health we enjoy.
The beauty that is all around us in the Bitterroot Valley.
Needed moisture in the valley.
The wonderful Stevensville school choirs’ concerts yesterday.
The birth of a Nilda and Tom B.’s new baby grandson (in Finland).
The gift of life.
David and Jenna L.’s gift of music, which they lovingly share with us.
The prayer shawl and healing ministry that surrounded Bill L.’s recovery time.
Birthday blessings to George C.
Homecomings.
Yesterday’s wonderful fundraiser for area community member’s medical bills.
The church’s new foosball table, which was acquired at the silent auction of yesterday’s fundraiser. 
Theology talks with young people with inquisitive minds and loving hearts.
All that the church’s alter guild does – especially the lovely new banners.
All serving in various capacities for the betterment of the church. 
Safe travels.
The healing presence/presents of God working through each of us.
Celebrations.

CONCERNS:  Oh, Lord, we humbly pray for … 
International concerns around the world.
Peace.
Those in fear this day.
Peoples of the Sudan and the South Sudan – and all through Africa.
All our military Veterans and their families, especially those who are dealing with “the loss of body, mind and/or spirit.”
Healing mercies for Georgianna T., Ed S., Colleen M., Earl M., Carol G., and Kathy S.
The caregivers.
Travelling mercies and for those not with us today.
All victims of crime.
God’s peace during troubled times.
All needing God’s mercies.
All needing God’s healing.
All those who mourn.
Unspoken prayers.

First Sunday in Lent

Wired Word class underway
Bringing in the light of Christ
Carol shares with the children
The new foosball table is a hit!
Little ones like fellowship time too!
We were blessed with a wonderful time together as we gathered for study, worship, and fellowship on this first Sunday in Lent.

Wesley in Lent

"The denying ourselves and the taking up our cross, in the full extent of the expression, is not a thing of small concern: It is not expedient only, as are some of the circumstantials of religion; but it is absolutely, indispensably necessary, either to our becoming or continuing his disciples. 

It is absolutely necessary, in the very nature of the thing, to our coming after Him and following Him; insomuch that, as far as we do not practice it, we are not his disciples. 

If we do not continually deny ourselves, we do not learn of Him, but of other masters. If we do not take up our cross daily, we do not come after Him, but after the world, or the prince of the world, or our own fleshly mind. 

If we are not walking in the way of the cross, we are not following Him; we are not treading in his steps; but going back from, or at least wide of, Him."

-John Wesley's sermon, "Self-denial" 

(February 17, 1755)

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Fund-raising at Stevensville UMC

A white blessing this morning
Wonderful chili being served
Good food, company, and a cause
Silent auction underway
Some of the silent auction items
Our church offered its facilities today for a chili meal & silent auction in support of a community member facing serious health issues.  It is great to be able to support the community by sharing our beautiful building in this way.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Our Lenten journey has begun


The community gathered this evening for an Ash Wednesday service which included the singing of Taizé music, the imposition of ashes, and the sharing of communion. 

Thanks to Hazel Smith for providing the accompaniment and to Belinda Alkula, Clay & Trudy Freeman, Linda Kauffman, and Judy Fraser for lending their voices in leading the singing tonight.

Thanks also goes out to Linda for preparing the communion elements and to Olivia Sherry for assisting in the serving of communion.

The UMW, Racial Justice, & Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent. Each week of Lent we will look at the theological and biblical foundations for working to achieve racial justice, and you be invited to consider how we can intentionally work toward racial justice in our church, community and world.

Read more at this link

40 Days with UMCOR

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Come and be blessed!

Our Ash Wednesday service will be tomorrow at 7 pm.  This service will offer music from the Taize` community and will include imposition of ashes and communion.

Can't make it the Ash Wednesday service? Come by the church between 8-10 am or from1 pm - 4 pm and Pastor Charles will offer ashes, a blessing, and an Lenten devotional booklet.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Lenten Sermon Series

During the season of Lent, Pastor Charles will be preaching from the Psalms.  Each week we'll look at a single Psalm and consider how these ancient prayers of Israel and the church can speak to us today in western Montana.

Our Psalm for February 22 is Psalm 1

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday - 
6:00 pm, Trustees
6:30 pm, Cub Scout #4966
7:00 pm, Living Clean (upstairs)
 
Tuesday -
7:00 pm, Choir

Wednesday - ASH WEDNESDAY
10:00 am, Lenten Study
7:00 pm, Ash Wednesday Service
 
Thursday -
7:00 pm, Ad Council
 
Friday -
10:00 am, Drop-in Bible study @ Doris Taylor's

6:00 pm, Mission Committee
7:00 pm. Family Games Night

Sunday -
9:00 am, Church school for all ages
10:15 am, Praise singing
10:30 am, Scouting Sunday & worship
11:30 am, Fellowship time
11:45 an, Chimes practice 

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Prayers

JOYS:  Thanks be to God for …
Our country.
Those who serve our country.
Great, loving church family.
Great to be in church today.
The health we enjoy.
Improved health for Bill L.
Great weather we have been enjoying.
Roses on the communion table.
Wonderful Valentine’s dinner with church family last night – celebrating God’s love for each of us.
Birthday blessings to Judy I.’s mother.
Great to have back in worship with us today:  Matt.
Dear friend who washed her car for her.
Carol K.’s grandson proposed marriage to his girlfriend, and she said, “yes.”
Teresa’s daughter who is accepting a 4-year-old foster child into her family.
Those who welcome others into their families of love.
Homecomings.
Hazel S.’s daughter Cindy found a great new job.
Girl Scout Cookie Season.  All of the profits made by the local troop will be donated to “Emma’s House” in Hamilton.
All serving in various capacities for the betterment of the church. 
Safe travels.
Friend Penny is going to the Mayo Clinic.
Folks who come to our rescue when we need help.
The healing presence/presents of God working through each of us.
Celebrations.

CONCERNS:  Oh, Lord, we humbly pray for … 
Peace.
Those in fear this day.
All our military Veterans and their families, especially those who are dealing with “the loss of body, mind and/or spirit.”
Healing mercies for Georgianna T., Ed S., Dusty & Ava S., Bev L., Colleen, Earl M., Jerry H., Kalie A., Matt’s neighbor, and Irene S.’s brother.
Travelling mercies and for those not with us today.
All victims of crime.
God’s peace during troubled times.
All needing God’s mercies.
All needing God’s healing.
All those who mourn.
Unspoken prayers.

A beautiful Sunday in the valley

Dave leads the praise singing this morning
The Chimes lend their gifts to the worship
Today's sermon on Elijah & Elisha
A tasty fellowship time 
The dry, warm weather we've been having this month continued this morning as the faithful gathered for study, worship, and fellowship.

This morning's sermon, a new praise song, and the chime's offering are available on the YouTube channel.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Valentine's dinner @ SUMC

Don greets the diners

More than fifty were on hand at Stevi UMC this evening for the second annual Valentine's dinner which was put on by the United Methodist Men.  

Thanks to everyone who helped decorate and prepare for tonight's event and to Caffe` Firenze for catering tonight's meal.

UMM in February

Don helps set up for the dinner!
John and Belinda help out
with the decorating
The United Methodist Men held their monthly breakfast this morning with nine men in attendance.  After breakfast we set about setting up the fellowship hall for tonight's Valentine's Dinner.  It looks great and tonight is going to be special!

Upcoming events:
March 14th, Becky Boykin will make a presentation on "disability and the church."
June 20th, church-wide rummage sale
July 17-18, camp-out @ Larry Creek campground

Thanks to Tom Bishop and John Fisher for the fantastic breakfast. No one left hungry today!!!

Friday, February 13, 2015

UMW's February gathering

Delicious!
Trudy and Fran share with the group
Sonia shares the afternoon's devotional
Kay and Sandy offer the program
Today's UMW gathering was a delightful time spent in the company of an amazing group of women!  

Kay Duffield (the UMW district president) and Sandy Hudson were present today to present today's program, a presentation on the Walk to Emmaus.  The next Walk to Emmaus in western Montana will take place on April 23-26 (for men) and April 30-May 3 (women).  For more information, visit www.westernmtwalk.com.

In the business portion of the meeting: 
+Linda K. Kauffman was installed as the unit secretary.  
+Sonia Henry shared today's spiritual growth moment, "Finding God in a bag of groceries" by Laura Willis.  
+Hazel Smith shared the social action moment from an article in the recent Response magazine about restorative justice.  
+Carole Koval reported that we presented three more prayer shawls this past month taking our total to 171.
+Phyllis Daniels reported that in December, twenty-seven holiday plates were distributed.

Upcoming events:
+Cowgirl-up for missions brunch, Feb. 27th, 9:30-11:30 am
+UMW winter event, March 6-8 @ Fairmont Hot Springs
+YAC UMW spring event, April 17-18 @ Choteau UMC
+Church-wide rummage sale (with the UMM), June 13th

Today's hostesses were Fran Jackson, Billie Mercer, and Gail Moshier.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

2015 Lenten photo-a-day project

Lent, the season of the Christian Year that is typically observed as a time of simple living, prayer and fasting leading up to Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday [February 18, 2015]. Many spend the time in self-examination and reflection as modeled by Jesus in Matthew 4: 1-11 where he prayed and fasted for 40 days before beginning his ministry.

What happened during those 40 days of fasting and praying in the wilderness? Our friends at the Upper Room say that maybe Jesus needed some time with God to sort through the major changes happening in his life. Maybe he needed a break from family, friends and his regular routine in order to see God [and himself] more clearly. Maybe he sought more time with God as he searched for direction and answers to the question that we, too have from time to time: “What are you calling me to do, God?”

Read the rest of this story at Rethink Church.