Grand Valley United Methodist Church
June 2022 Newsletter
In this newsletter:
1. VBS
2. Faith House Improvements
3. In Loving Memory
4. Birthdays
5. Calendar
6. Event Details
7. Pastor’s Report
8. Church Reports
9. Just for Fun
Our Vacation Bible School (VBS) is coming!!!
Our VBS will be held here at GVUMC June 20th-24th from 9-noon. This year’s theme is Jerusalem Marketplace and gives participants the chance to step back in time to where Jesus walked to the Cross. Smell the fresh, warm bread; weave a basket of reeds; make clay pots… Can you hear the music echoing through the Marketplace? Engage all senses as we transport our church to a different time and a fresh experience—and walk with Jesus today! This is always such a special and fun time of the year! The Pentecostal Church will also be involved, so it looks like there will be LOTS of children this year. If you would like to help out in any way, please contact Deb and Dave Penrose. All help is greatly appreciated!
The following are important dates to know for our VBS:
• Workday June 8, 1:00-5:00
• Workday June 16
• Set Up Day June 18
• VBS June 20-24, 9:00-12:00
Faith House Improvements
The Trustees have been busy with improvements to the Faith House this Spring. We now have new windows installed, which not only look great, but will help with heating and cooling costs. The monies for this improvement came from our Capital Funds as well as from a grant from the Mountain Sky Creation Justice Task Force. For more information on this, check out their link: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/newsdetail/local-church-engagement-committee-grants-7-600-16433255. We are now looking into getting new window treatments for the new windows. New siding is also being installed on the lower part of the building. All in all, the Faith House is getting a bit of a face lift!! And we are anxiously awaiting our new doors for the Sanctuary!
It is with a heavy heart that we report that our former Pastor, Charles Thompson, passed away peacefully at home on May 6th after a valiant struggle with cancer. He will be greatly missed by many. There was a service held for him at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Grand Junction on May 16th. We keep his wife, Linda, and their family in our prayers.
June birthdays:
8 – Rosemary Kious
17 – Don Morton
19 – Jim Ness
20 – Susan Stoakes
21 – Tom Meader
21 – Carol Morton
23 – Chris Dean
26 – Penelope Olsom
27 – Shelley Parker
28 – Beanie Branaman
28 – June Zacharias
Our Seekers Class (Adult Sunday School) meets every Sunday morning at 8:30. We invite all to attend.
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.
Choir and Bells are now on summer hiatus. They will start up again in September, after Labor Day. Choir and Bells practice on Wednesday afternoons. 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]
The next UWF business meeting will be held on Thursday, June 2nd at 10:00 in the Fellowship Hall.
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]
Rev. J.R. Atkins
Grand Valley United Methodist Church
May 2022 Pastor’s Report
1. Women’s Bible Study – The next series of the women’s Bible study is called “Minor Women of the Bible” and is led by Penelope Olson. It will begin Tuesday, May 10 at 10:30 and continue for 4 weeks.
2. Local Community Support – Since our last council meeting, I have been active in our community by assisting a young man with legal issues in Garfield County, helping a young couple make a trip to Wyoming to see his dad before he dies, and helping a woman and her son relocate to Parachute. These request for help usually start with financial assistance but includes prayer and frequent conversations.
3. A Table for All – There is a group of church folks working with the conference on the “Table for All” initiative that I mentioned last month. If you are interested in this program, please let me know so you can be included in the meetings.
4. The Common Table – the Common Table has been on “pause” for a while. I invite the church to join me in prayer and discernment about relaunching this in coordination with Vacation Bible School. This could be a way to engage with young families that participate in VBS.
5. Festival of Homiletics – Each year, preachers gather to hear sermons and consider additional ways of engaging the Bible during sermons. During the week of May 16-20, I will be joining this program via Zoom to help improve my preaching and sermon preparation.
6. Annual Conference – The Mt. Sky Annual Conference takes place June 16- 18 in Helena, MT. Penelope Olson will be attending as our lay representative and I as our clergy representative. Ron Olson will also be attending as a guest. All are welcome to join as a guest either in person or on zoom. More information can be found at https://www.mtnskyumc.org/ac22
Peace be with you,
Pastor J.R. Atkins.
UWF
UWF will be meeting on June 2nd at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome!
The program will be on the Memory Book Project that they have been working on. Thank you to all who have contributed cards, photos, calendars, catalogs, magazines, etc. Six (6) Memory Books are ready to be delivered to the Grand River Care Center and the Rifle VA Nursing Home.
Church Council
COUNCIL MUSINGS
Vacation Bible School still needs some helpers. The Pentecostal Church children will be joining in on VBS, so the need for extra help is great. Talk to Debbie Penrose if you are willing to help out.
News at the Faith House. The new windows are in and we will be purchasing faux wood blinds for them. The bottom boards have been taken off and will be replaced by the hardy board. The windows in the garage and entry way have been boarded up in preparation of it being painted, which will happen when all the prep work is done.
A picture of the Faith House sign that is painted on the side was taken and we are going to get a quote to have a sign made like it for the side of the building. In addition, we are getting a quote for a new free-standing sign to replace the worn one that is there.
There will be a 5th Sunday potluck on May 29th following the service. The July 31st potluck service will be held at Bert Botkin’s house.
The Bible study on the minor women of the Bible continues at 10:30 on Tuesdays through May 31st. Each week is independent of the other, so if you miss one, there is no reason not to come to another. All are welcome to come.
We will be getting a cover for our new piano. The Council voted to sell the Yamaha piano, using our piano tuner as an agent, giving him a 10% commission.
***THERE WILL BE NO COUNCIL MEETING IN JUNE.***
Mission & Outreach
The garden has been planted and now needs tending. If you would like to help out with weeding and tending the garden, please let Laurel know.
Treasurer
FINANCIAL THOUGHTS
Again, for the month of April, the Church added to its deficit and currently, through the first four months of the year, have spent $7,400 more than it took in. This has been covered by selling its investments that are held at the Methodist Helping Methodist Foundation. Ten thousand dollars was transferred from the Foundation in April to cover the deficit plus being prepared to cover the balance of the cost of the windows, which will come out of the Capital Improvement Fund, and the painting of the Faith House.
Speaking of the windows, we have received a $1,000 energy grant from the Conference to help offset the cost of the windows. We will be writing up an article about the use of the funds for them to publish.
If you have any questions about our finances, please do not hesitate to call me at 231-383-0488, email me at [email protected] or catch me at Church. I would be happy to go over anything with you.
Penelope Olson
Books you probably won’t find in your local library:
“How to Write Big Books” by Warren Peace
“The Lion Attacked” by Claude Yarmoff
“The Art of Archery” by Beau N. Arrow
“Songs for Children” by Barbara Blacksheep
“Irish Heart Surgery” by Angie O’Plasty
“Desert Crossing” by I. Rhoda Camel
“School Truancy” by Marcus Absent
“I Was a Cloakroom Attendant” by Mahatma Coate
“I Lost My Balance” by Eileen Dover and Phil Down
“Mystery in the Barnyard” by Hu Flung Dung
“Positive Reinforcement” by Wade Ago
“Shhh!” by Danielle Soloud
“The Philippine Post Office” by Imelda Letter
“Things to Do at a Party” by Bob Frapples
“Stop Arguing” by Xavier Breath
Hope these brought a smile or two!
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
[email protected]
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon