Grand Valley United Methodist Church
September 2022 Newsletter
In this newsletter:
1. Words from the Pastor
2. Shoe Distribution
3. Charge Conference
4. Trustees Update
5. Birthdays
6. Calendar
7. Event Details
8. Church Reports
9. Just for Fun
Words from the Pastor…..
Please Read Luke 11:1-13.
A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day.
For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
But slowly doubts came. He thinks to himself: “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t moved.” He begins to believe that the task is impossible and that he is a failure. These thoughts discourage and dishearten him.
Then he thinks, “Hey, why kill yourself over this? I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.” So that’s what the weary man planned to do, but first he decided to make it a Matter of Prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
“Lord,” he prayed, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”
The Lord responded: “Wait a minute! When I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. Really? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yes, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to have faith, to trust in my wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.”
– When everything seems to go wrong … just P.U.S.H.!
– When the job gets you down … just P.U.S.H.!
– When people don’t react the way you think they should … just P.U.S.H!
– When your money is “gone” and the bills are due … just P.U.S.H.!
– When people just don’t understand you …. just … P.U.S.H!
P=Pray … U=Until … S=Something … H=Happens. PUSH.
In Christ love
Shoe Distribution
Our shoe distribution was a big success. We had a beautiful morning on Thursday, August 18th, and we handed out 119 pairs of shoes. Along with shoes, we had backpacks and free fresh vegetables from our garden to hand out. A big thank you to those who helped with the distribution and financial donations to the cause! See pictures below.
Charge Conference 2022
Our Annual Charge Conference will be held on Sunday, October 30th. We will start off with Elizabeth McVicker preaching at our worship service, then the Charge Conference will be held at 1:00. Mark your calendars – more information to come in the October newsletter.
Trustees Update
The famous doors that were ordered last August are finally being prepared to be installed. If all goes well they should be in quite soon. Watch for them. They will be hard to miss.
A new vacuum has been acquired that is simple, repairable, and durable.
The door at front of the sanctuary is scheduled to receive a panic bar for opening in a hurry. We hope we never have to use it in a panic but want to be equipped.
September birthdays:
3 – Rich Stoakes
4 – Carol Thulson
5 – Len Allen
17 – Karen Hamick
18 – Dennis Alvord
22 – Fred Inman
25 – Laurel Koning
28 – Lee Allen
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 still on hiatus. We are in need of a pianist. Know of anyone?? 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]
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]
Treasurer
FUN FINANCIAL FACTS ABOUT GVUMC AS OF JULY 31, 2022
• During a bank reconciliation, it was discovered that an EFT deposit of $1,150 in a previous month had not been recorded. So GVUMC is not as much in the red as thought!
• Because of the fluctuating market, more of our long-term investments were sold. A gain of $5,900 was made on that sale. Fifteen thousand of the proceeds are being reinvested in a one-year term Certificate of Participation with the Methodist Helping Methodist Foundation. A Certificate of Participation is similar to a Certificate of Deposit.
• Because of the rent that GVUMC receives from the Pentecostal congregation, our revenues through July are at 100% of budget. Giving is at 92% of its budget.
• Expenditures are $2,100 less than budgeted. The Church had expected to have had to use $19,600 of our reserves through July, but the Church only used $17,400. When the gain on the sale of our investments is added to our revenues, we have only used $7,300 of our reserves. Financially, things are looking up!
I’m very ugly
So don’t try to convince me that
I am a very beautiful person
Because at the end of the day
I hate myself in every single way
And I’m not going to lie to myself by saying
There is beauty inside of me that matters
So rest assured I will remind myself
That I am a worthless, terrible person
And nothing you say will make me believe
I still deserve love
Because no matter what
I am not good enough to be loved
And I am in no position to believe that
Beauty does exist within me
Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think
Am I as ugly as people say?
Now read from the bottom up…
by Abdullah Shoaib
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
[email protected]
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon