Grand Valley United Methodist Church
January 2022 Newsletter
In this newsletter:
1. Changes?
2. Worship time change
3. Climate Justice
4. New piano
5. Birthdays
6. Calendar
7. Event Details
8. Pastor’s Report
9. Church Reports
10. Just for Fun
Changes??
It’s a new year, time to reflect and re-evaluate things in your life!
One of those things is receiving the newsletter. Do you receive it by mail and would prefer to receive it by email? Has your address changed? Do you know of someone who might like to receive the newsletter?
If you have any changes that you would like to make, please email the office at [email protected] with those changes. If at any time you would like to be removed from our mailing list (mail OR email), please let us know. We don’t want to send you something you are no longer interested in.
While we’re discussing changes…..Starting Sunday, January 2nd, our worship time is changing! We will be worshipping at 10:00 a.m. instead of 9:00. Please note this time change – we hope that you can join us at this new time.
Engaging the Local Church
SAVE THE DATES
A training workshop on practical solutions to greening your facilities and promoting Creation Care within your local church will be offered on-line this winter on Feb. 20, 24 & 27, and Mar. 3 & 10, 2022. Each session will run for two hours and start at 7 pm ET. The course is open to both laypersons and clergy, and it will provide an excellent opportunity to build and train your Green Team. Look for registration details in upcoming Newsletters.
On December 16th, the baby grand piano – so generously donated to the church by the family of BJ Lindauer – arrived and was set up in the Sanctuary. What a wonderful, thoughtful addition to our church! With a big, heartfelt thank you to the Lindauer family for making this happen in memory of BJ.
January Birthdays:
13 – Tylin Troche
18 – Mitzi Burkhart
21 – Anita Elliott-Hodgden
21 – Don Ives
The next UMW meeting will be held on Thursday, January 6th 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 Botkin 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. or at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We hope you can join us.
Our Bell Choir and Choir are in full swing! Bells practice at 3:00 on Wednesdays, Choir at 4:00. 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
December 2021 Pastor’s Report
1. Contemporary Worship Service – I have met with the Worship Committee to begin plans for a Friday evening Contemporary Worship service.
2. Nominations Committee – Met on again 12/3/21 and continue to work on completing the nominations for 2022.
3. Common Table 2021 Summary – In June of 2021, the Common Table was launched by 3 moms and me. In the initial gathering the name Non-Church was selected to emphasize something different from a regular church service. The tag line of “No Sermons, No Judgement No Worries” was developed to help define Non-Church. The goal was to create an uplifting community-oriented event for young families. Friday night was selected since there was no school the next morning and no work for most of the parents. Since the first gathering, the number of adults and participants have been as few as 6 and as many as 21. There are about 20 families that participate at least once a month. The primary age range for this group is 25 to 35 although anyone is welcome. The topics and activities are planed with this age group in mind. Each week, we gather at 6:00 pm for a pot-luck meal. The children get their food a move into a nearby room. Members of our congregation volunteer to be with the children so the parents can have some time with other adults. Without the support of these volunteers, this group would not be successful. The parents greatly appreciate the love and care our church volunteers provide. By 7:00 the adults have their meals, and we begin a discussion topic for the evening. All views are welcomed, and we try not to present a right or wrong response but welcome participation and share the welcoming love of Jesus. Some the weekly topics have been Acts of Service and kindness, Spirit and Vision, Living your Best Life, Judging Others, The Law of Abundance, and Surviving the Stress of the Holidays. I lead the first few discussions to help set the tone and others now take on this leadership role.
One of the biggest success stories that came from the Common Table is the Harvest Festival that occurred on the Friday evening before Halloween. Notifications went out to the local schools and somewhere between 130-150 participated in the Event. There was a photo booth, a welcome table with information about the church, a cakewalk, ball toss, darts and balloons, foot races and face painting. We had volunteers from our church, as well as the Common Table and the community at large.
Another event hosted by the Common Table was a Thanksgiving Meal held on Friday November 19. Teachers and staff from the neighboring school prepaid food and came over for coffee. About 30 people were fed at the church and the left overs were take to local people and families in need.
Robin Troche has been the primary leader and creative force in the Common Table. Her dedication to Christ and the community continue to feed here desire to build our church community. She has been helped by Sonia Brinkerhoff, and others who contribute food, ideas, and their time.
Participants in the Common Table and the Worship Committee are in the planning phase of a new worship service to launch in late January. It will likely feature a simple worship order of music, scripture, a short message and end with prayers for the community. The music will be provided by video until we can identify musical talent for live music. Like the common Table, the people who show up will be leading elements of worship.
I have been asked why people from the common table don’t come to Sunday worship? We have had some come to worship such as Robin Troche and her Family and Cetin Ozen, but he accepted a seasonal job out of town right after joining the church. Others tell me that Sunday is the only day their family has together, and they prefer to worship at other times. Some people work, some travel, and there is a myriad of other reasons. This follows the ministry trend of people connecting with church at other times during the week and counting that as their weekly worship.
I greatly appreciate the support of the Grand Valley United Methodist Church in plating a new ministry program in our community. This is just another way to cary the message of grace and love into our community.
Peace be with you,
Pastor J.R. Atkins.
UMW Report
The December meeting was a fun Social time, exchanging White Elephant gifts and Christmas cards and singing Christmas Carols. Business will resume as normal at the January meeting, Thursday, January 6th.
Church Council Report
No report
Mission & Outreach
No report
Treasurer
WHAT’S HAPPENING FINANCIALLY?
As of November 30, 2021, the Church had used $10,250 of their reserves for operating purposes. It had been budgeted that, as of this date, it would have used $14,100, so it is ahead of the game. A few large expenditures, including painting the church and removal of trees, added to the deficit that we have experienced this year. In addition, there has been more money spent on outreach programs using the Internet and money spent on technology.
The Church still is stable financially. There is $15,500 in readily accessible cash, $192,500 in long-term investments and $27,500 in certificates of participation. The latter two are held at the Methodist Helping Methodist Foundation.
The Church Council is working on finalizing the 2022 budget. This budget will likely be a deficit budget as the 2021 budget was. It costs $1,500 per week simply to open the doors of the Church. That does not include missions, Christian Education, Worship Supplies, maintenance, or our tithe to the Mountain Sky Conference for their missions. The Council will prayfully consider the requested expenditures, based partly on known pledges, as they finalize this budget.
*I’m trying to organize a hide and seek tournament, but good players are hard to find.
*I got over my addiction to chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts. I won’t lie, it was a rocky road.
*What do you say to comfort a friend who’s struggling with grammar? There, their, they’re.
*I went to the toy store and asked the assistant where the Schwarzenegger dolls are and he replied, “Aisle B, back.”
*What did the surgeon say to the patient who insisted on closing up their own incision? Suture self.
And the final one……
*I’ve started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It’s all about raisin awareness.
Hope you’ve enjoyed these.
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
[email protected]
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon