VBS: Day 4

"Stinger," "Tonto, " & "Texas" are ready!

A bit of puppetry action

Morning music!

Lisa & "the queen of the kitchen"

Getting our learn on!

Day four of VBS was another amazing experience - for volunteers, Twinlow staffers, and children alike!

Thanks to today's volunteers: Belinda Alkula​, Liz Goddard, Carol Gragg, Sheila Hammitt​, Linda K. Kauffman, Lisa Menery​, Josh Malo, Luke Malo, Alexandra Morowic, Lisa Nichols, Marcia Prather​, and Connie Rakiecki.​

30 Days of Listening: Day 30

This week, how will you practice hospitality? How might this practice train you to listen more deeply?

"Hospitality is essential to spiritual practice. It reminds you that you are part of a greater whole. . .Putting others first puts you in the midst of life without the illusion of being the center of life."

—Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro
Minyan: Ten Principles for Living a Life of Integrity

More violence...

Words from the General Secretary of Global Ministries, Thomas Kemper, who was present at the time of the bombings in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. Find more from Thomas at the GBGM website, www.umcmission.org

VBS: Day 3

Front step activities

Phyllis D., Linda K., & Marcia serve up lunch

Craft projects underway

"Stinger" and "Tonto" lead the closing activity

Ready-to-go bags at the end of the day

Twenty children were on hand for the third day of VBS. Today was a treat with cooler than expected temps making everything seem so much more enjoyable, indoors and out.

Thanks to today's volunteers: Liz Goddard, Phyllis Daniels, Linda K. Kauffman, Josh Malo, Luke Malo, Alexandra Morowic, Lisa Nicholls, Marcia Prather, and Bev Schneider.

30 Days of Listening: Day 29

For those who mourn, grieve, are feeling lost and seeking comfort, listen to these words:

“If your heart is broken, you’ll find GOD right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, GOD will help you catch your breath.”

— Psalm 34:18, The Message

VBS: Day 2

Carol Gragg & "Texas" lead the Bible study

Liz Goddard watches activities from the shade

Snacks at the ready

Lunch!

Afternoon games

Twenty-five children were on hand this morning for the second day of VBS! We're having so much fun being with this very energetic (and very polite) group!!

Thanks to today's volunteers: Liz Goddard, Carol Gragg, Linda K. Kauffman, Josh Malo, Luke Malo, Shirley McElvey, Lisa Menery, Lisa Nicholls, Marcia Prather, and Connie Rakiecki.

30 Days of Listening: Day 28

"Discernment involves listening. We must listen with open hearts and open minds, especially to what we do not want to hear. If discernment is to take place, we must let go of our preconceptions and expectations. We must be willing to hear the appealing and the unappealing, the familiar and the unfamiliar."

— Suzanne Farnham, et al 
Source: Listening Hearts

What preconceptions and expectations do you need to let go to hear?

Happy birthday, John Wesley

The Old Rectory @ Epworth

Tuesday, June 28, 1774:

This being my birthday, the first day of my seventy-second year, I was considering, How is this, that I find just the same strength as I did thirty years ago? That my sight is considerably better now, and my nerves firmer than they were then? That I have none of the infirmities of old age, and have lost several i had in m youth? The grand cause is the good pleasure of God, who doeth whatsoever pleaseth Him.

The chief means are (1) my constantly rising at four in the morning for about fifty years; (2) my generally preaching at five in the morning - one of the most healthy exercises in the world;(3) my never travelling less, by sea or land, than four thousand five hundred miles in a year.

In the evening, I preached at Yarm, about eleven the next day at Osmotherly, and in the evening Thirsk.

The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M.

An invitation to Isaiah

statue by E. Vuchetich at the UN in NYC

A new study begin next Sunday (July 3) @ 9:00 am - The Book of  Isaiah! Come and learn about this pivotal work.

VBS is underway!

Liz and Connie are ready!

Where the magic happens

Carol Gragg listens at the 'story telling' tent

Craft room focus!

Campers come in all sizes!

The 2016 edition of Vacation Bible School (VBS) got underway this morning with twenty-two children taking part! 

Three staffers - "Stinger," "Texas," and "Tonto" (from the Twinlow Camp in the Pacific Northwest Conference) are once again taking the lead in our effort.

Thanks to: Erin Bartlett, Mary Costello, Liz Goddard, Carol Gragg, Linda K. Kauffman, Shirley McKelvey, Alexandra Morowic, Lisa Nichols, Marcia Prather, Connie Rakiecki, and Bev Schneider for volunteering their support on Day 1.

30 Days of Listening: Day 27

Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator;
    gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

-Proverbs 17:5 

(Common English Bible)

This week @ Stevi UMC

This blog post is the 2,000th since we began on July 3, 2013.

Monday: 

9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Vacation Bible School

6:00 pm, Lectionary study

7:00 pm, Living Clean 

7:00 pm, UMW Reading Group 
 
Tuesday:

9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Vacation Bible School

Wednesday:  

9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Vacation Bible School  

5:00 pm, Community Planning Forum

Thursday:
9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Vacation Bible School

Friday:

9:00 am - 2:00 pm, Vacation Bible School

10:00 am, Drop-in Bible Study, lesson #5

Sunday:
9:00 am, Church school  
+New class: The Book of Isaiah
10:15 am, Praise singing  
10:30 am, Worship service  
11:30 am, Fellowship (July Birthday Cake!)

Scripture lesson for July 3

Join us this week as we continue our series from the Twelve Minor Prophets with a consideration of Prophet Obadiah 1-4 and 10-16.

To learn more about this ahead of Sunday's worship service, consider coming to the lectionary study each Monday @ 6:00 pm.

30 Days of Listening: Day 26

"This is the work of reverence: to stay vital and alive by listening with an open heart.

Yet how do we inhabit these connections and find our way in the world? By listening our way into lifelong friendships with everything larger than us, with our life of experience and with each other."

— Mark Nepo

In the coming weeks, practice listening your way into lifelong friendships with everything larger than yourself, with your life experience, and with those you encounter.

First Sunday in Summer

Flowers from Carol Gragg's garden

Anna Storkson shares our today's summer music offering

Loving fellowship time

Working lunch offering in the kitchen

VBS planning meeting

Lots of excitement present this morning as we came into the House of the Lord! 

Both adult classes were busy, sharing and learning about their faith. The fellowship hall class, led by Clay Freeman, will begin working through the Book of Isaiah next Sunday.

The sanctuary was made even more beautiful than usual with beautiful flowers on the communion table from the garden of Carol Gragg.


Today's summer music offering was from Anna Storkson who sang, "Be Not Afraid."

Pastor Charles shared the third in the Minor Prophets series, from the prophet Amos.


Following worship, volunteers and staff from the Twinlow Camp came together for a working lunch to finalize plans for our VBS (which begins on Monday). Thanks to Mary Costello and Phyllis Daniels for providing the amazing lasagna lunch!

30 Days of Listening: Day 25

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.

- Psalm 143:8

The Church Needs Your Gifts During the Summer

If you don't attend church regularly during the summer, please remember that the church still needs your financial support. If you miss a Sunday or two while on vacation, please consider adding to your offering when you do attend. Or, you could send a check for the missed Sundays to Stevensville UMC, 216 College St., Stevensville, MT 59870-2107.

You may also want to consider the option of electronic fund transfer (EFT) for your regular giving. Information and authorization forms are available in in the church office or by calling (406) 777-5443.

Or, you donate via the PayPal link on the church website (http://www.steviumc.org/givingstewardship.html).

Thank you for your faithful support of God's work through the ministries of the Stevensville UMC!

30 Days of Listening: Day 24

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. - Proverbs 19:21

225 years of Boehm's Chapel

Boehm's Chapel - Willow Street, Pennsylvania

This Sunday, June 26 at 4 p.m. during the 225th anniversary celebration of Boehm’s Chapel and the Heritage Worship, representatives of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference Board of Bishops, including Bishop Steve Weaver, Bishop Robert Brody, and Pastor Joe Garber and will present a resolution lifting the excommunication of Rev. Martin Boehm.

Rev. Boehm, was one of the founders of the Church of the United Brethren — a predecessor to The United Methodist Church.
"Boehm’s Chapel, one of the oldest Methodist churches in America, will celebrate its 225th anniversary with a series of events aimed at commemorating its rich contribution to the faith tradition and the historic role of its founder, the Rev. Martin Boehm. In a significant development, an act of the Mennonite Church lifting the excommunication for Boehm will be presented on Sunday, June 26 at the Heritage Sunday Worship service."

Read more about the celebration of Boehm's Chapel and Rev. Boehm’s historic role in the church at this link.

30 Days of Listening: Day 23

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. 

-Matthew 5:9 (The Message

Fun time @ Picnic tonight

Dean keeps the grill going

Good grub!

Dining al fresco

Singing on a Wednesday night

Making s'mores!

We had a terrific turnout tonight for the picnic and sing-a-long, sponsored by the Worship on Wednesday group.

Thanks to Dean Diers for bringing this event about. Also thanks to Paul & Julie Ludington for leading the singing.

30 Days of Listening: Day 22

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. - Psalm 22:25-26 (KJV)

Picnic & sing-a-long tonight!

Today @ 6:00 pm

30 Days of Listening: Day 21

As you continue in this journey of ‪#‎30daysoflistening‬ with us, consider these words on silence. In the days ahead, observe your relationship with silence.

Silence is never merely the cessation of words...Rather it is the pause that holds together-indeed, it makes sense of-all the words, both spoken and unspoken. Silence is the glue that connects our attitudes and our actions. Silence is the fullness, not emptiness; it is not absence, but the awareness of a presence.

— John Chryssavgis

Picnic tomorrow

Who: Stevi UMC family

What: Picnic & sing-a-long

When: Starts at 6:00 pm

Where: Inside/outside (playground side) options

Why: Summer kick-off

30 Days of Listening: Day 20

Tonight, and throughout the week, journal the ways that your life has been telling you who you are. What is it saying?