Grand Valley United Methodist Church
April 2023 Newsletter
In this newsletter:
1. From the Pastor
2. Native American Sunday
3. Special Services
4. Easter Brunch
5. In Loving Memory
6. VBS
7. Items for Memory Books
8. Just a note
9. New Bible Study
10. Birthdays
11. Calendar
12. Event Details
13. Church Reports
14. Just for Fun
From the Pastor….
On Thursday April 6 the church will be offering a Maundy Thursday service. This service falls on the same day as the Jewish service of Passover. We will be experiencing a Tenebrae service.
The name Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin “mandatum”, commandment, for it is the night on which Christians have for centuries re-enacted Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet with the commandment that we also must wash each other’s feet. (John 13:14).
Maundy Thursday is also the night on which we remember that institution of the Lord’s Supper. The original purpose of the feast of the Passover (or in Hebrew, Pasch) was to commemorate each year the liberation of the Jews from bondage in Egypt. This was a joyful feast. For the Jews, food was sacramental an outward sign of God’s goodness to the world; and a complete meal included sustenance, joy and companionship all given by God. It was in this setting on Thursday night that Jesus ate with his disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper which was to be in remembrance of him as the true Paschal Lamb and which was to signify a deliverance more wonderful than that of the Jews…the deliverance of the sinner from the bondage and power of the Devil—deliverance from sin and death.
A third Maundy Thursday tradition is the Tenebrae (darkness or shadows). As the candles are extinguished, they symbolize the fading loyalty of the disciples and friends of Jesus. It also portrays the fading light of the world Christ was departing from.
The History of Tenebrae: The service of Tenebrae follows a tradition of the church dating back to at least the 8th, and perhaps as early as the 5th, century. It dramatizes the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. The service moves from light to darkness, with the diminishing light symbolizing the fading devotion of the apostles. The literal translation of the Latin word, Tenebrae, is “shadow”. It is hoped that each person present will become more aware of the sadness and despair that were evident before and during the crucifixion. There will be no benediction; you are asked to leave silently as you contemplate the tragedy of the crucifixion. Jesus, the Son of God, is dead; there is nothing more to say or do, but to wait—for the day of resurrection!
The total darkness symbolizes the hours in the tomb; and the death of Jesus. The single light reminds us that God’s love is never absent, even in our darkest night, and anticipates our Easter joy.
All are welcome to this solemn service. This service helps prepare our hearts and minds for the Easter service.
Shalom
Michael
NATIVE AMERICAN SUNDAY April 23, 2023
Native American Ministries Sunday (NAMS) is April 23. NAMS, one of the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) Special Sundays, is a time to recognize the history of Native peoples; marred by colonial violence, land theft, and attempted genocide. This legacy continues to challenge the sovereignty of Native peoples today.
Donations on NAMS support vital ministries and churches in the Native American communities and allow The UMC to partner with existing native ministries to develop new programs on behalf of Native Americans. Half of the donations collected remain within the Annual Conference to provide hope to children and youth, hope for a brighter future in impoverished communities, and a voice to those who have felt voiceless for years. This fund is distributed by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
When you give generously on Native American Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who honor and celebrate Native American culture in their ministries. You empower congregations to find fresh and culturally appropriate ways to minister to their communities with Christ’s love.
Please write Native American Sunday in the memo line of your check. Thank You for your support.
Holy Week Worship Services
We will be holding some special worship services during Holy Week:
Sunday, April 2nd is Palm Sunday – Service at 10:00
Palm Sunday recalls an event in the Christian Scripture (The New Testament) of Jesus entering into Jerusalem and being greeted by the people waving palm branches. For Christians, it is a reminder of the welcoming of Jesus into our hearts and of our willingness to follow him.
Thursday, April 6th is Maundy Thursday – Service at 5:00 – This will be a Tenebrae service (see: From the Pastor)
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, which Christians consider the institution of Holy Eucharist, also known as the Lord’s supper or communion. It is described in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.
Friday, April 7th is Good Friday – No service
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
Sunday, April 9th is Easter Sunday – Service at 10:00 followed by brunch
On Easter, we as Christians celebrate ‘this most important day,’ the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Alleluia! He Is Risen!
All are welcome! We invite you to join us for any or all of these services!
We will be having an Easter Brunch immediately following the Easter Service. Please bring a dish to pass and join us for continuing fellowship!
We are sad to report the passing of Rosemary Kious. She passed away quietly at her home in late February (we found out after the March newsletter was printed). There are no plans at this time for a service for her. She was a great lady and will be greatly missed.
This year VBS will be bringing the Hero Hotline to Grand Valley UMC. The dates are June 12-16 from 9-noon. We are once again joining together with the Pentecostal Church. Our committee is Guillermina Serano, from the Pentecostal Church, and Bonnie Gana, Dave Penrose and Debbie Penrose from GVUMC.
Volunteers and donations will be needed. We will post more information in these regards by April 2, 2023. We have already had several volunteers agree to help! Come join the fun!
We are in need of colorful calendars, catalogs and/or magazines for our ladies putting together the Memory Books. Please give these items to either Michelle Foster or Karen (in the office). Thank you!
A note from Dennis Caputo:
I just wanted to thank my Grand Valley UMC family for being such a wonderful God-given blessing to me for the past few years. Your prayers, kind words, touches, and gifts have meant so much to me. You are all such great examples of what God calls us as Christians to be.
I pray that God’s blessings shine upon you all now and forever.
Thank you. 
SLAYING THE GIANTS IN YOUR LIFE
Our new Bible Study by David Jeremiah will equip you with scripture specific to defeating each giant so that you can walk in victory as a follower of Christ.
God has an answer for every giant that may appear in our life–the Word of God. We have the whole armor of God at our disposal (Ephesians 6:13-17)
10 AM or 6:30 PM each Wednesday
New study begins April 12, 2023
You are invited to join us in this study.
April birthdays:
2 – Sandy Stein
10 – Christina Seets
12 – Cindy Day
19 – Pete Perrine
26 – Kolton Largent
30 – Ken Carlson
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 practices on Wednesday afternoons at 4:00. Bells are also now meeting. 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 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 10:00. If you have anyone that you would like to add to the Prayer Partner list, please contact Bert Botkin at (970)216-8682.
Church Council Report
COUNCIL MUSINGS
The Council meet on March 14th. The biggest news is that they appropriated up to $20,000 to purchase and have installed new carpeting for the whole church. It is being purchased from Inside Story Carpet One in Grand Junction. It won’t be done at least until April or May, but at least the process has been started.
Sixteen boxes of clothes were opened and put out for distribution on March 11th. The distribution went well and the leftovers were taken to the Resource Center.
There will be a brunch on Easter Sunday. Bring a dish to share. There will be no potluck on the fifth Sunday in April because of the brunch.
There will be a Tenebrae service – a Service of Shadows – on Maundy Thursday at 5 p.m.
The Christian Ed closet will be cleaned out and offered to the Pentecostal Church for storage of their things.
Treasurer
FINANCIAL NOTES
Sorry I didn’t get anything in the newsletter last month. It was nothing but good news, and I bring more this month. For the first two months of the year, the Church is $9,100 to the good. Our revenues are almost $6,000 above budget and expenditures are a little over $1,300 under budget. Thanks to all for your generosity and for watching expenditures.
The one item that is over budget, and will probably remain overbudget all year, is utilities. I thank those that are turning down the heat in the fellowship hall after using it. It is helping with lowering the bill. This summer, please remember to turn off the swamp cooler when you are finished in the fellowship hall so we can keep the electric bill down, too. Thank you.
A little something to put a smile on your face…..
– Stealing someone’s coffee is called mugging.
– Pasteurize: too far to see.
– Whoever invented “Knock-Knock” jokes should get a no-bell prize.
– The other day I held the door open for a clown. It was a nice jester.
– No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.
– Energizer bunny arrested: charged with battery.
– I put Grandma on speed dial – I call that instagram.
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Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
[email protected]
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon