Wesley House parsonage clean-up day

Let's get to work!

Phyllis focuses on the kitchen

Janet is happy to help!

Belinda is a whiz with a mop!

Dean was a whirl in the kitchen!

It was a big task before us for the Wesley House parsonage clean-up  and a lot was accomplished today. 

Thanks to Belinda & Pastor Charles Alkula (Stevi UMC), Dean Diers (Stevi UMC), Phyllis Chambers (Grace UMC), Janet Hernandez (Grace UMC), and Marcia Prather for their hard work!

Thanks as well to Dusty & Ava Schrock (Stevi UMC), Amber, Palmer, & Isla Maclay-Schulte (Stevi UMC), and Rev. Todd Scranton (Grace UMC) for pitching in.

With a lot still to be done before the arrival of Sherry Paddie in just two weeks, there will be a follow-up cleaning taking place on Monday, August 7 @ 9 am.

Scripture lesson for August 6

This week we'll hear about "The Beetle with the Rolls-Royce Nose" and Mark 10:17-23.

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday: 
9:00 am, Wesley House parsonage cleaning

7:00 pm, Living Clean 

Wednesday:
8:00 am, WIC
10:00 am, Disciples study 

Friday-Saturday:
Creamery Picnic

Friday:                                                   

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

Saturday:
11:00 am, Creamery Picnic parade

Sunday:

9:00 am, Lectionary study

10:15 am, Praise singing                                                   
10:30 am, Worship

11:30 am, Fellowship time

July draws to a close @ Stevi UMC

Lisa & Lois make announcements

Meggie & Donna Lewis offer the anthem

Oh look, cheesecake!

So many good choices today!

The children found a great place to eat!

With another hot day ahead of us, the faithful gathered for a wonderful time of spiritual and physical nourshment.

In the morning's worship service, Donna & Meggie Lewis offered "Here I Am, Lord" for our summer offering. Pastor Charles continued the summer sermon series with "A Pocketful of Change" with the scripture lesson, Mark12:41-44.

Our Fifth Sunday Potluck was the focus of our fellowship time following worship.

Thanks this morning to: Paul Ludington (praise music), Ava (acolytes), Julie Ludington (piano), Tom Bishop (video), Lois Hansen (liturgist), Carol Gragg (children's message), Dean Diers (power point), Donna & Meggie Lewis (summer music), and Sharon Brown & Lynn Moshier (ushers).

World Day Against Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labour globally. This estimate also includes victims of human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation. While it is not known how many of these victims were trafficked, the estimate implies that currently, there are millions of trafficking in persons victims in the world.

Read more at this link.

Appeal for wildfire relief assistance

As wildfires continue to burn around the state of Montana, the Yellowstone Conference has a Disaster Relief Fund ready to assist affected local communities.

To give to this fund, go to www.yacumc.org/donate. There is a drop-down menu to specify your donation to "Yellowstone Conference Disaster Relief." #mtnskyumc #montanafires #disasterrelief

Getting ready to float!

Lots of excitement this morning!

Dean and Lisa are focused!

Ava & Martha at work

A well-deserved break

Dusty creates a waterfall in the garage!

A lot of fun was to be found in the garage at the Diers' place today as the bulk of the work on the Stevi UMC entry for the Creamery Picnic parade was completed.

Thanks to Belinda & Pastor Charles Alkula, Dean & joey Diers (and Grace, the dog), Lisa Menery, Ava & Dusty Schrock, Bill (Dean's dad), and Martha (Dusty's mom).

Work Day at Wesley House Parsonage,

Grace and peace to you!  

We have a wonderful opportunity for a local "Volunteer in Mission" (VIM) work day to help ready the parsonage at the Wesley House for their new campus minister & Stevi UMC child/youth pastor.  Her name is Sherry Paddie, and she will arrive mid -August. 

WHO:  YOU are invited!  It will be a fun work day!

WHAT:  A local "Volunteer in Mission" (VIM) work day this coming Monday in Missoula.  There are plenty of tasks that need to be done -- something for every skill level.  Whether you come for an hour or all day, your contribution really will make a difference! (Please pass this info along to your church families and friends.)  90% of the work will be surface cleaning, i.e., washing down walls and floors, cleaning windows, cleaning bathrooms, the kitchen ...

  

WHERE: 530 Keith Avenue, Missoula  59801

WHEN:  Monday, July 31- Starting at 9:00 a.m. (Lunch will be provided.  Request folks take their own water bottles.  Feel free to take snacks to share.)

WHY:  United Methodists work together to make things better.  It's all about faith, hope, and love in action!

------------------

Cleaning materials will be available on site.  However, folks are encouraged to take the following items from home, if possible.

old toothbrushes

scrub brushes

drop cloths

old towels

spray bottles

sponges

newspaper (for cleaning windows)

buckets 

brooms

mops

rags

Commission on a Way Forward issues status report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 26, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commission on a Way Forward has released a status report to the Council of Bishops and the entire United Methodist Church (UMC), updating the church and the leaders on the faithful work of the Commission after four meetings.
The 32-member commission is accountable to the Council of Bishops, which named the members following a mandate from the 2016 General Conference. The charge from the General Conference was for the bishops to find a way forward and for unity in the UMC on issues related to human sexuality.

In releasing the status report, the Commission moderators Bishops David Yemba, Sandra Steiner Ball and Ken Carter said the status report was available in video and PDF form and can be shared electronically, in worship and in print.  

“We encourage all United Methodists to view this, to use it in worship. We encourage you to offer us feedback and prayer,” the moderators said. 

The Commission has five more meetings to complete, with two of the meetings coming prior to the November meeting of the Council of Bishops.

The final report will be issued to the Council of Bishops, who will then present the report to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference for action.

Read more at this link.

5th Sunday Potluck

This coming Sunday (July 30) is our Fifth Sunday potluck following worship. This is a great way to introduce friends, neighbors, and guests to our faith community!

Important Information about the Lolo Peak Fire

The view from Google Earth

US 93 is the red line on the right

Weather forecast for the fire fighting effort

Interesting community meeting/briefing regarding the Lolo Peak Fire from the Incident Management Team.

Lolo Peak Fire Information:

Website... https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5375/

Interactive map... https://tinyurl.com/yacsw2cv

https://facebook.com/LoloNationalForest

https://facebook.com/DiscoverBitterrootNF

Phone: (406) 273-8316 (7 am - 9 pm)

E-mail: LoloPeakFire@gmail.com

15 things AA Can Teach the Church

Note: Stevi UMC hosts a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting which is based on the AA model.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has forever changed the church.  And it has done it right under our noses.  Or better put, in our church basements, classrooms, and meeting rooms.   AA introduced the concept of spirituality apart from religion.  It took away the middleman.  It has put into place the most successful self-duplicating, small group model in recent history.  And it has done it by emulating the model of the early church.  On June 10, 1015, AA turned 80 years old.  From extremely humble beginnings, an estimated 23 million people in the US now live with long term recovery from alcohol and other drugs.  Here are the top 15 things AA can teach the Church.

Read more at this link.

United Methodists @ the Scout Jamboree

Note: Cammie & Mitch Edgar are among the attendees at the National Scout Jamboree.

It wasn’t hard to find a United Methodist among the crowd of 30,000 attendees at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.

The United Methodist Church is the second-largest faith group represented at the event, with 3,500 professed United Methodists at the Boy Scouts of America’s quadrennial celebration, which is being held July 19-28 in Glen Jean, West Virginia.

Read more at this link.

Apple Dumpling day - pt.2

Lisa is focused!

Carol works at the wrapping station

Getting the apples wrapped and ready

Yum!

Sue works at the packing station

Apple Dumpling day - pt.1

Sue preps station #1

Hayley & Truman scrub the apples

In full production mode

Carol Goffe, Hazel, and Dean at the coring station

Alex, Stefan, & Mary rolling along

Whew! Once more the Apple Dumpling Gang rode in a for a day-long effort at making more than 900 dumplings ahead of the 101st Creamery Picnic!

Thanks to the following for helping out today: Belinda Alkula, Pastor Charles, Alex Costello, Hayley Costello, Mary Costello, Truman Costello, Dean Diers, Amy Farrell, Judy Fraser, Lindsey Gard, Carol Goffe, Bill Gragg, Carol Gragg, Lisa Haydn, Wendy Hauser, Fran Jackson, Linda Kauffman, Martha Klaumann, Carole Koval, Paul Ludington, Stefan Matwijiw, Susan Mcauley, Gail Moshier, Lynn Moshier, Don Nelson, Lisa Nicholls, Sue Pearson, Clarisse Peterson, Marcia Prather, Ava Schrock, Dusty Schrock, Hazel Smith, Anna Storkson, and Bonita Ziegler.

Announcing Sherry Paddie

The Stevensville UMC / Wesley House search committee has selected Sherry Paddie as the Youth Ministry Coodinator & Wesley House Campus Ministry Director.

Sherry will assume her duties in mid-August. Look to the August Glad Tider for a letter of introduction from Sherry.

Scripture lessons for July 30

Join us Sunday at 10:30 as Pastor Charles shares 
"A Pocketful of Change" 
(Mark 12:13-17 & 12:41-44).

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday: 

8:30 am, Apple Dumpling Making
7:00 pm, Living Clean 

Wednesday:
8:00 am, WIC
10:00 am, Disciples study

Friday:                                                   

10:00 am, Drop-in Bible Study, #9

Saturday:
9:00 am, Building of Creamery Picnic parade float

Sunday:

9:00 am, Lectionary study

10:15 am, Praise singing                                                   
10:30 am, Worship

11:30 am, 5th Sunday potluck

This morning @ Stevi UMC

Dean makes the big announcement

Belinda and Ava light the way

Carol & the children

During the announcement time, Dean Diers, representing the SPPRC, announced that the search for the youth ministry position (with Wesley House) was being offered to Sherry Paddie. More details to come in the August Glad Tider.

In the morning's worship service, Nilda Bishop & Priscilla Soto offered "Albanza" and "Fill My Cup" for our summer offering. Pastor Charles continued the summer sermon series with "Waiting for the Ambulance" with the scripture lesson, Matthew 24:45-51.

Thanks this morning to: Paul Ludington (praise music), Hazel Smith (organ), Belinda & Ava (acolytes), Tom Bishop (video), Lois Hansen (liturgist),  Carol Gragg (children's message), Belinda Alkula (power point), Priscilla Soto & Nilda Bishop (summer music), Ruth Cleveland & Don Nelson (offering counters), and Lynda Fisher, Belinda Alkula, & Bonita Ziegler  (hospitality).

Today's the day!

How about inviting a friend or neighbor to church today

Oh, and consider this statistic: according to Doug Anderson, executive director of the Bishop Reuben Job Center for Leadership Development, the average United Methodist member invites only one person to worship every 38 years --- 

read that again..... if it's been 37 years 364 days since you last invited someone, then today is YOUR day!

Visitor @ Stevi UMC

Our new D.S., the Rev. Dr. Jan Witman, came for a visit to check in and get to know us a little bit better.

Exciting news in the offing!

Interviews for the Stevi UMC youth worker/Wesley House director position was held tonight in Missoula. Dean Diers (Stevi UMC SPPRC), Amber Maclay-Schulte (Wesley House board president), Laurie Ball (Wesley House board member), Ben Nalls (Wesley House manager), and Pastor Charles were on hand for the interviews.

An offer will be made and an announcement made on Sunday as to the person being selected for this exciting ministry.

UMW field trip to Intermountain

The Western Mountains United Methodist Women's District will have its fall gathering at Intermountain in Helena, Montana, on Saturday, September 9, 2017. We are very excited about celebrating their healing ministries! All are welcome to join us for a day of fun, fellowship, learning, and great food. We will enjoy a private tour of the Intermountain facilities -- including their new chapel, which is currently under construction!

Please send the church office your name and email address, so I can email you a copy of the registration form.

Every blessing, Belinda

Making discipleship a ‘contact sport’

By Heather Hahn
July 10, 2017 | INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS)

To follow Christ, get off the sidelines and onto the field.

United Methodist Men heard variations of this message throughout the group’s 12^th National Gathering, which took as its theme “Discipleship: The Contact Sport.” The July 7-8 event drew more than 600 men from across the United States to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.

“God has given each and every one of us the potential to be more than what we are,” preached Mississippi Area Bishop James Swanson Sr., president of United Methodist Men during opening worship. “You and I are not what God wants us to be. Even if we are in Christ Jesus, God expects us to become more.”

Discipleship requires more than being a bench-warmer, or a pew warmer, for that matter, Swanson and other speakers attested. Throughout the day-and-a-half meeting, the men put that call into action. They tackled mission work, huddled in prayer and occasionally shared some tears.

Read more at this link.

UMC members of the Senate need to hear from you

The following is a joint press release from the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) and the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN):

The United Methodist Church believes “it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care.” As the leaders of the Methodist Federation for Social Action and Reconciling Ministries Network we call on the United Methodist members of the Senate to be relentless in their support of a comprehensive health care act in line with the United Methodist Social Principles. “The Social Principles are a call to all members of The United Methodist Church to a prayerful, studied dialogue of faith and practice.”

Our Social Principles remind us that “providing the care needed to maintain health, prevent disease, and restore health after injury or illness is a responsibility each person owes others and government owes to all, a responsibility government ignores at its peril.”

In Ezekiel 34:4a, God points out the failures of the leadership of Israel to care for the weak: “You don’t strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek out the lost.” As a result all suffer.

We believe “like police and fire protection, health care is best funded through the government’s ability to tax each person equitably and directly fund the provider entities.”

We believe all people should have access to comprehensive reproductive health/family planning information and services.

We believe comprehensive health care includes care for persons with disabilities and pre-existing conditions.

We believe allowing annual or lifetime caps on expenditures, block grants or per capita caps on Medicaid would endanger the health and well-being of children, older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. Preserving the funding for Medicaid expansion and expanding the program in all states is essential for providing the care.

We believe policies to improve affordability must prioritize those with the greatest need, not those with the means to put money in a health savings account or wait for tax deductions.

The same access to health care should be afforded to all persons in our communities. It is unjust and immoral to construct or perpetuate barriers to physical or mental wholeness or full participation in community.

We invite you to join us in calling the United Methodist members of the senate to be relentless in their support for a comprehensive health care act in line with our values as justice-seeking United Methodists. Make your voice heard today by calling today or by email and social media here.

Senator Tom Cotton (AR): (202) 224-2353
Senator Johnny Isakson (GA): (202) 224-3643
Senator David Perdue (GA): (202) 224-3521
Senator Pat Roberts (KS): (202) 224-4774
Senator John Kennedy (LA): (202) 224-4623
Senator Richard Burr (NC): (202) 224-3154
Senator Rob Portman (OH): (202) 224-3353
Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA): (202) 224-4543
Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI): (202) 224-4822

Cleaning up day is coming

530 Keith Ave., Missoula, Montana 59801

Join us on Monday, July 31st for a fun day of getting the Wesley House parsonage ready for the new Wesley House/Stevi UMC youth and young adult staff person. With the arrival in just a couple of weeks, there is no time to lose!

There are plenty of tasks that need to be done, something for every skill level. Whether you can come for an hour or all day, this will be a ministry opportunity you won't want to miss!