Scarecrow build!

 

 

 

The parsonage garage was a beehive of activity this morning as the Stevi UMC entry into next week's Scarecrow Festival was put together.

Thanks to Belinda & Pastor Charles Alkula, joey Diers, Bill Gragg, Ava & Dusty Schrock, Linda Sunderland and Linda's granddaughter, Alexi. Lisa Menery and Sherry Paddie provided a lot of supplies ahead of today's building effort. Dean Diers was also handy, bringing some needed items for joey to use!

Stevi UMC, circa 1963

A lovely painting of the church, done by Ann Wollaston in 1963, was donated by Linda Lewis in honor of her mother, Lila Baldwin.

UMCOR is there for the long haul after disasters

While Irma, Harvey and Maria dominate news headlines, the United Methodist Committee on Relief hasn’t forgotten about Matthew.

That storm left a path of destruction from the Caribbean to the southeast United States nearly a year ago. Haiti was the hardest hit with more than 500 people killed, while catastrophic flooding left more than 47 dead in the U.S., more than half of those in North Carolina.

“We’ll be at it for five more years,” said the North Carolina Conference’s Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of recovery efforts in the state. “We have moved into the long-term recovery phase and are rebuilding homes.”

Read more at this link.

A splendid autmunal day

The turkeys are back!

Romans study is focused!

Sherry and Fergus are happy to work outdoors

Dean leads the discussion

The sky over the Bitterrroot Valley was clear and the mountains on both sides of the valley could be clearly seen. On this day we were reminded of some of the ways our faith community is engaged in the acts of being disciples of Christ.

+The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program offers its benefits to clients each Wednesday in the library area of the church. 

+The Invitation to Romans study revisited chapters 2 & 3, the discussion was rich and we could have gone on for hours and never tired of the task! 

+Sherry Paddie was hard at work, doing some of the prep work on our entry in the Scarecrow Festival. Dusty Schrock was busy in this office today, printing the Glad Tider for distribution. John Soper came by in the afternoon to set up for tomorrow's Red Cross blood drive being hosted in our fellowship hall (10 am - 2:15 pm).

+This evening, Dean Diers led the discussion for the eight in attendance for Worship on Wednesday (WOW). We listened as Dean shared Nehemiah 9:29-31 and Matthew 20:15. The discussion centered on how do we define Jesus in our life?

Scripture lesson for October 1st

Our scripture lesson for October 1, World Communion Sunday, comes from Philippians 2:1-13.

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday:
7:00 pm, Living Clean

Tuesday:

7:00 pm, Choir 

Wednesday:

8:00 am, WIC

10:00 am, Invitation to Romans 
6:00 pm, Worship on Wednesday

Thursday: 

10:00 am - 2:15 pm, Red Cross Blood Drive
6:00 pm, Cub Scouts

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

Saturday: 
10:00 am, Scarecrow Building @ Parsonage
 
Sunday: World Communion Sunday

9:15 am, Gospel Parallels study
9:15 am, Children's church school  

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

11:30 am, Fellowship time

First Sunday of Autumn

joey is excited about Trunk or Treat!

Lynn and Josh light the way

 

The first Sunday of autumn arrived in the Bitterroot Valley with a definite chill in the air. Still, the warmth of the fellowship gathered to study, worship, and share was wonderful!

In our worship service, Julie Ludington shared the Stewardship Moment. The Hand Chimes choir returned this morning with "For the Beauty of the Earth." Pastor Charles' sermon, "What's your time worth?" came from Matthew 20:1-16.

Thanks this morning to: Sherry Paddie & Pastor Charles (teachers), Paul & Julie Ludington (praise music), Lynn Moshier & Luke Malo (acolytes), Tom Bishop (video), Bev Schneider (liturgist), Cammie Edgar (power point), Hazel Smith (organ), Sharon Wheeler and Vickie Vernon (ushers), Marilyn Murphy (Chimes), Don Nelson & Bonita Ziegler (offering counters), Mary Costello, Sue Pearson, & Carol Word (fellowship time).

It's breakfast time!

 

 

The UMW Unit at Stevi UMC met for breakfast this morning at Frontier Café with eighteen present!

The big topic for the morning was next month's Fall Bazaar. Set-up will be on the 20th starting at 9:00 am. The Bazaar itself will take place on the 21st, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm.

The UMW Friday Circle will take place next month on the 13th and the Saturday Circle will be on a date TBD.

Game night returns

 

 

 

Sixteen turned out tonight for game night! Snacks, fresh pop-corn (on the stove, thanks, Mary Costello!), and lasagna were on hand to fortify the game players!

A prayer for Autumn

Maya Lindberg

God of all seasons, we thank you for Autumn.
We thank you for the touch of coolness in the air that gives us a new burst of energy, 

for the coloring of trees that shows the creativity of the Divine Artist,
for the falling leaves that reveal the strength of the branches,
for the hues of fields that bring peace to our souls,
for the smiles on pumpkins that bring joy to children,
for the fall harvest which that brings us gratitude for the bounty of our land,
for this change of seasons that reveals the circle of life.
God of all seasons, as you transform the earth, transform us by your Spirit.

Amen

- Doug Leonhardt, S.J.

(from  http://www.marquette.edu/faith/prayer-autumn.php)

A damp Wednesday in the Valley

Worship on Wednesday was a rich time of great chili (thanks, Dean Diers), sharing hymns from some of Pastor Charles' old hymnals (the oldest is from 1818), and communion using part John Wesley's communion liturgy.

Let's go WOW!

Come out tonight at 6 pm for some delicious soup,

a time of reflection, and communion!

The Choir is back

It was a dark and rainy night in the Bitterroot Valley (thank God!) but that didn't deter the members of the choir from answering the call for choir practice!

Scripture lesson for September 24

Mikki Senkarik

This week's lesson comes from Matthew 20:1-16.

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday: 
6:00 pm, Trustees

7:00 pm, Living Clean

Tuesday:

7:00 pm, Choir 

Wednesday:

8:00 am, WIC

10:00 am, Invitation to Romans

Thursday: 
6:00 pm, Cub Scouts

7:00 pm, Ad Council

Friday: 
10:00 am, Drop-in Bible Study, #4

6:30 pm, Family Game Night

Saturday: 
9:00 am, Girl Scout Jamboree

9:00 am, Combined UMW breakfast @ Frontier Cafe`

Sunday:

9:15 am, Gospel Parallel study
9:15 am, Children's church school  

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

11:30 am, Fellowship time

Last Sunday of Summer

Kendra & Cathy help with the children

Gospel Parallels study underway

The children love Sherry!

Fellowship time

UMW Fall Bazaar planning meeting

The last Sunday of summer arrived in the Bitterroot Valley with fresh snow on top of St Mary's Peak! The renewed sense of hope that is the end of fire season was in evidence throughout our congregation this morning!

Pastor Charles' sermon, "Payback" came from Matthew 18:21-35.

Thanks this morning to: Sherry Paddie & Pastor Charles (teachers), Paul Ludington (praise music), Belinda Alkula (Acolyte wrangler), Ava & Katie Rose (acolytes), Julie Ludington (piano), Tom Bishop (video), Bev Schneider (liturgist), Cammie Edgar (power point), Sharon Wheeler and Linda Sunderland (ushers), Don Nelson & Bonita Ziegler (offering counters), Donna Lewis, Julie & Dave McGarvey, and Carol Varien (fellowship time).

Saying goodbye to Charline Siphers

Grandchildren reading scripture

Bev helps at the dessert table

The UMW served a fantastic reception

The community gathered this morning to offer its farewell to Charline Siphers. A moving tribute to one of our own whose life will be touching others for many years to come.

Thanks to Hazel Smith for providing the organ accompaniment and to Tom Bishop for recording the service (which may be seen on our You Tube channel).

Thanks to the following for supporting the UMW reception: 

Set-up: Mary Costello, Carole Koval, Carol Varien, Bonita Ziegler

Food/helpers: Belinda Alkula, Leona Anderson, Patty Anderson, Diane Bailey, Mary Costello, Sue Cunningham, Cammie Edgar, Carol Gragg, Mary Hackett, Fran Jackson, Julie Ludington, Shirley McKelvey, Ginny Mellgren, Marcia Prather, Bev Schneider, Hazel Smith, Linda Sunderland

Clean-up: Nilda & Tom Bishop, Ellyn Jones, Sara Malo, Gail & Lynn Moshier, and Connie Rakiecki.

Centered and Present Today

Utilize an ancient practice for identifying God's presence today.

Centering prayer is a relaxing way to find God's presence in your life. Though the practice is centuries old, it is still highly effective today.

Download the infographic.

WOW returns tonight!

Worship on Wednesday (WOW) returns tonight at 6:00 pm for the third year! 

Join us for soup, sharing, and much more!

Scripture lesson for September 17

Jan van Hemessen

The scripture lesson for next Sunday comes from Matthew 18:21-35.

This week at Stevi UMC

Monday: 

7:00 pm, Living Clean

Tuesday:

6:00 pm, Shepherding
7:00 pm, Choir 

Wednesday:

8:00 am, WIC

10:00 am, Introduction to Romans

Thursday: 
6:00 pm, Cub Scouts

6:00 pm, SPPRC

Friday: 
10:00 am, Drop-in Bible Study, #3

Saturday: 
11:00 am, Memorial Service for Charline Siphers

Sunday:

9:15 am, Gospel Parallel study
9:15 am, Children's church school  

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

11:30 am, Fellowship time

Sunday, Sunday!

Blooming and growing @ SUMC

Happy faces everywhere you look!

Goodies galore!

The chimes are back!

What a fantastic morning! The mountains could be seen again, the balcony was full, ten children came up for the children's message, and the chime choir is back for practice (following worship each week)!

Our children's church school resumed following the summer hiatus. What joy it was to hear the sound of the children learning about our faith with such enthusiasm! The adult class is similarly overflowing with excitement as they learn about the similarities and differences in the four gospel accounts.

Pastor Charles' sermon, "One size fits all," came from Romans 13:8-14. 

Thanks this morning to: 

Sherry Paddie & Pastor Charles (teachers), Paul & Julie Ludington (praise music), Luke Malo (acolyte wrangler), Ava & Hazen (acolytes), Hazel Smith (organ), Tom Bishop (video), Bev Schneider (liturgist), Cammie Edgar (power point), Sharon Wheeler and Ed Sperry (ushers), Bill Gragg and Ruth Cleveland (offering counters), and Julie & Dave McGarvey, Lisa Nichols, Dave & Connie Rakiecki (fellowship time).

UMCOR and the Caribbean aftermath of Irma

 
Friends of UMCOR — Please pray for our sisters and brothers in the Caribbean who are without food, water, power, and shelter, as Irma begins to pummel the Florida coast. UMCOR has been in contact with the Bishops of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and will continue to reach out to the disaster response coordinators in these areas. 

Please also consider giving to UMCOR's international disaster response Advance to assist with recovery in the Caribbean: https://secure3.convio.net/…/SPageNaviga…/umcor_donate.html…

Happy Grandparents' Day

God of Abraham and Sarah,
grandfather and grandmother in the faith
God of all generations:

We thank you today for those who are grandparents/elders.

We especially thank you for those who are grandparents to us —

those who are grandparents by blood relationships, and those unrelated but older than we who generously share their love and wisdom, their time and traditions so that we have roots, stories, and hope.

We bless you for the gift of grandparents, and we ask your blessing on them, that their days may be filled with delight in their grandchildren.

May their giving and grace toward younger generations bring fulfillment to them and may they be a blessing to all they love and call grandchildren, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[from Discipleship Ministries]

UMW at Intermountain

The Western Mountains District United Methodist Women gathered today at Intermountain in Helena for the fall meeting.