Grand Valley United Methodist Church
September 2021 Newsletter
In this newsletter:
1. Shoes for kids
2. Mountain Sky Conference
3. Birthdays
4. Calendar
5. Event Details
6. Pastor’s Report
7. Church Reports
8. New Swap Section
9. Just for Fun
Our annual Shoes for Kids, put on by our Mission & Outreach Team, was another huge success. On a brisk morning on Friday, August 20th, we handed out 95 pairs of shoes to school-age children. Once again, we say a big THANK YOU to our Mission & Outreach team for supporting our community children. And thank you to all the volunteers who helped out that morning.
Mark your calendars!! The Mountain Sky Conference Annual Conference will be held in Ogden, Utah on October 21st-24th. More information will be coming, but feel free to read more about it now at www.mtnsky.org/ac21.
Here is a little more information from the Conference:
As the Mountain Sky Conference prepares for Annual Conference, we bring greetings from our host district and from our co-lay leaders. You can find those greetings at the AC2021 landing page (https://www.mtnskyumc.org/newsdetail/15322501).
The deadline for Legislation is September 1st, 2021. You can find the Petition Template here. The Nominations Team is currently accepting self-nominations and recommendations – please see the Forms section to use the Nomination Form.
As our conference prepares for our in-person Annual Conference, there will also be an online option for the event. Registration opens August 15th. Please contact MSC Event Manager, Jared O’Kegley-Gibson, with any questions. He manages the [email protected] email for all event planning.
September Birthdays:
3 – Rich Stoakes
4 – Carol Thulson
5 – Len Allen
13 – Margaret Sorensen
17 – Karen Hamick
22 – Fred Inman
25 – Laurel Koning
28 – Lee Allen
The next UMW meeting will be held on Thursday, September 2nd at 10:00 in the Fellowship Hall. We hope you can join us!
Prayer Partners meet the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 10:00. If you have anyone that you would like to add to the Prayer Partner list, please contact either Bert Botkins at (970)216-8682, the church office at (970)285-9892 or send an email to: [email protected]
Join us for Bible Study every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. There are always lively discussions that take place and we welcome anyone who would like to join us!
Our Bell Choir and Choir will be starting up again soon – date to be determined. We are always looking for participants, so if you would like to join either of these wonderful musical groups, please contact the office at (970)285-9892 or by email: [email protected]
Rev. J.R. Atkins
Grand Valley United Methodist Church
August 2021 Pastor’s Report
1. Vision to Goals – The process of moving from our vision work to specific goals and action plans is still underway. The SPRC goals will be shared with the congregation, the Book Study group might have some contributions, and there is still an opportunity for people to contribute. It would be ideal to conclude this process in time for the 2021 Charge conference this winter.
2. Autopsy of a Deceased Church Book – The 3rd discussion of the book Autopsy of a Deceased Church was rescheduled to Tuesday August 17, 10:00-12:00 in the Fellowship Hall. Update to be shared during Council meeting.
3. Young Family Gathering – The Young family gathering on Friday evenings continues to grow and mature as a body of Christ. If you would like to see what occurs and support this family ministry, see Michelle Foster to sign up to help in the kitchen or with the children. We need 2 to 4 people each Friday evening for support and encouragement.
4. Center for Pastoral Effectiveness – I was in Denver August 11-13 for the kickoff workshop on Pastoral Effectiveness. I received a $750 grant from the Mt. Sky Conference, from the Ministerial Education Funds, which is funded from our conference apportionment/giving, each year. I’ll be sharing some of what I am learning in sermons and other church activities.
5. Events and Church Growth – The church participation in the National Night Out and Movie Night at the Rec Center were great opportunities to interact with new people who may visit our church. Thank you to all who supported these events with your prayers, your presence, and your financial contributions.
Peace be with you,
Pastor J.R. Atkins.
UMW Report
July 5, 2021
Opening prayer by Michelle.
Attendees, Michelle, Bert, J R Atkins, Blanche, Penelope, Rosemary, Jessica, Mary M, Mary Jane and Debbie
Program by Pastor J R Atkins on encouraging younger women ages 25-35 and the issues of today for UMW. Some questions and suggestions followed.
Working with Robyn for Sunday School.
Devotion by Debbie on encouragement.
Approval of minutes and Penelope’s treasurer report.
Deb Trujillo no longer sending sunshine cards. Discussion of prayer shawl, Shoes, and bake sale for Grand Valley Days. Memorial Service for Betty Birdsell by Mary Jane and Jane.
Friday Sept 3 wedding of Doug and Laura.
Blessed Be the Tie that Binds led by Blanche
Church Council Report
MINUTES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 1, 2021
The special meeting of the Grand Valley United Methodist Church on August 1, 2021 was brought to order at 10:05 by president Ron Olson. Present were Ron Olson, Penelope Olson, Laurel Koning, Mary Jane Wahlman, Dan Temple, Michelle Foster, Ted Birdsill, and Pastor J. R. Atkins.
Dan Temple explained that he had contacted B & B Tree Service and they will take down the two dead trees and trim the other for $4,500. He has tried to contact Century Link to see if they will do the trimming of the one tree, as the branches are in their wires, but has been unsuccessful. He will continue to try to contact them. Penelope moved, Michelle seconded that we approve up to $4,500, to come from building maintenance, for the removal and trimming of the trees. Motion carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:10.
Respectfully Submitted,
Penelope E. Olson
Acting Secretary
MINUTES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING 8/8/2021
The special meeting of the Grand Valley United Methodist Church Council on August 8, 2021 was brought to order by president Ron Olson at 10:05. In attendance were Ron Olson, Penelope Olson, Fred Inman, Michelle Foster, Mary Jane Wahlman, Ted Birdsill, Laurel Koning, and Pastor J. R. Atkins.
Fred Inman explained about the doors for the sanctuary that he had found. We may stay with cheap, $500, pine doors, or he has found some nice knotty pine ones for $2,762 plus installation or birch for $2.275 plus installation. Laurel asked about the possibilities of sliding doors. It was decided to have Fred try to find a quote for that type before the regular council meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:12.
Respectfully Submitted,
Penelope E. Olson
Acting Secretary
COUNCIL MUSINGS
Your Church Council has been busy this last month. At our meeting on August 17th, we accepted the Staff Parish Relations Committee’s (SPRC) goals that they have set. We share them here with you.
A. Attract 18-39 and 40+ age groups to start attending church regularly by attracting, by May 1, 2022, ten (10) families to regularly attend the Friday potluck meeting.
B. Attract, by November 12, 2021, six (6) new families or individuals to participate in our Church life. This includes Sunday worship, Bible Study, Prayer Shawl, UMW, Missions and Outreach activities, working in the garden, and being in the choirs.
C. Find fifteen (15) new people from our current congregation to help nurture the Friday potluck meeting.
D. Have a presence at the National Night Out and any new community events that come up, if possible.
SPRC also considered what these goals would accomplish. This is the list they came up with, but you might think of some others.
• Make new disciples.
• Allow burnt-out members to pass the torch to the next generation
• Introduce and share the joys and satisfaction of Kingdom work to new believers
• Create new, valuable friendships.
• Grow the Church with a more diverse body of people and demographics.
They are well on their way to achieving these goals. More families attend the Friday night potluck meeting. A number of women from the community have been invited to come to the prayer shawl gatherings. And we have already participated in the National Night Out. You can help to achieve C by volunteering to help tend the children on Friday night. Three people are needed every Friday and we cannot leave this burden on the shoulders of three or four people. So, prayerfully consider giving of one hour and forty-five minutes of your Friday evening to help to nurture this new group of God’s disciples.
The Council also approved a list of priorities for large projects. This list is simply the skeleton. As a project comes up in the order, the details will be worked out. This list is NOT set in stone! Things may happen that moves an item up or down the list. The Council worked for two months on this, and listened to what you had to say. We considered what things might attract people to our Church, what were safety concerns, and what were more in the nature of simple wants. For most of these, the costs will come from the Capital Improvement Funds. Therefore, if you give to this fund, or are considering doing so, you now know what the goal for the funds is.
The first item, painting the outside of the Church, is now in process. Trustees are obtaining costs and the decision on the color will be made. Do not hesitate to make your feelings known about the color, taking into account that we will need to paint the red flame back on the outside.
The list is as follows:
1. Painting outside of Church
2. Make Church & Faith House ADA Accessible
3. Faith House lawn sprinkling system
4. Upgrade Sanctuary & Outdoor Lighting
5. New Surround for Stain Glass Window with night time illumination
6. Upgrade inside of Church (flooring throughout; paint Sanctuary)
7. Faith House windows throughout with new window coverings
8. Faith House upgrade electronics
9. Paving Parking Lot
10. Plant new trees
11. Upgrades to Church sound/video system
The Trustees have also started on some much-needed maintenance projects. They have contracted to have the two dead trees removed and the other trimmed. They will be having the cellar door at the Faith House replaced along with the ladder steps to the attic. New bi-folder birch doors for the sanctuary have been approved and will be installed in the near future.
Their next big task, which will not be tackled until next year probably, is to replace needed siding on the Faith House and have it painted. The Faith House sign will also be improved.
So that is what your Church Council has been doing. If you would like to see the full minutes, please contact Penelope Olson at 231-383-0488 or [email protected].
Mission & Outreach Report
No report
Treasurer Report
WHAT DOES YOUR GIVING DO?
During June, your giving allowed Missions to purchase 33 pairs of shoes. (Of course, you know, if you were in Church on the 8th, that the total through then allowed them to purchase 100 pair.) And it allowed us to pay our tithe to the Conference that supports not only the Conference Staff, but missions, and grants for development of new churches, for ministers (including our own) to take classes, for community engagement, to develop leaders, and to improve congregation vitality.
Your giving also, even through it was not quite up to budget for the month, allowed us to air condition our buildings so that families could meet on Friday night; so that groups could meet in the Faith House. It allowed Missions and Outreach to offer free hotdogs and drinks at “Movie Under the Stars.” And it allowed a group to people to talk to many people, and hand out cross necklaces, bracelets with God and Jesus sayings on them, and cross whistles at the National Night Out.
Your giving is reaching out to people and changing their lives. It is allowing our Church to do Christ’s bidding of “Making Disciples of all Nations.” For this, I thank you.
Penelope Olson
This is a place to list things you’re either looking for or are not needing anymore. Please email the church office: [email protected] or drop off the information in the office W-F, 9-noon if you have anything that you would like put it in the newsletter.
In need of:
DVD player
Not needing anymore:
Electric weed eater – contact Michelle Foster
When God Sends You Help, Don’t Ask Questions
She hurried to the pharmacy to get medication, got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys inside. The woman found an old rusty coat hanger left on the ground. She looked at it and said “I don’t know how to use this.” She bowed her head and asked God to send her some help.
Within 5 minutes a beat-up old motorcycle pulled up, driven by a bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag. He got off his cycle and asked if he could help. She said “Yes, my daughter is sick. I’ve locked my keys in my car. I must get home. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?” He said “Sure.”
He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute, the car door was open. She hugged the man and through tears, softly said “Thank you, God, for sending me such a very nice man.”
The man heard her little prayer and replied, “Lady, I am not a nice man. I just ot out of prison yesterday, I was in prison for car theft.”
The woman hugged the man again, sobbing, “Oh thank you, God! You even sent me a professional.”
Is God great or what??!!
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
[email protected]
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon