Grand Valley United Methodist Church
October 2025 Newsletter
In this newsletter:
1. From the Pastor
2. Charge Conference
3. Special Giving Sunday
4. Mission Minute
5. Birthdays
6. Calendar
7. Group Details
8. Church Reports
9. Just for Fun
From the Pastor….
I was part of the 2011 Roaring Fork Leadership. We met the first Friday of the month for 9 months. The class gave me new insight into my leadership style and also into the way the church functions. I had to read several books about leadership and group dynamics.
One of the things I have learned and would like to share is the understanding that we are all leaders. Mike Ramirez was my neighbor when I was 6 years old. He was 4 years older than me. I thought that he was cool and I wanted to be like him. He influenced me in a lot of ways. His words and actions were very ugly at times. His influence forced me later in life to unlearn a lot of the negative things he had taught me.
We are so quick to say “I am not a leader,” but as you have just read a ten year old was a leader. By his language and actions he influenced me in some positive ways and in a lot of negative ways. We forget that children, grandchildren, and people are watching us. We have more influence than we want to give ourselves credit. Therefore, remember you are always telling someone about yourself and what you believe by your actions.
The books I read kept reminding me how we touch others. So I thought I would share three quotes from scripture about leadership:
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Philippians 3:17 “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.”
Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.”
Shalom,
Michael
Annual Charge Conference
The Annual Charge Conference will be held on Tuesday, October 7th at 6:00 p.m. Please join us!
Special Giving Sunday
Our next Special Giving Sunday is Sunday, November 23rd – United Methodist Student Giving. United Methodist Student Day is observed to emphasize the value of education. Contributions received through this special Sunday support scholarships for United Methodist students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.
OFFICE HOURS WEEK OF OCTOBER 20TH
Due to Karen having company, the office hours for the week of October 20th will be adjusted to be as follows:
Monday, October 20 Office Open
Tuesday, October 21 Office Open
Wednesday, October 22 Office Open, but closing at 11:15
Thursday, October 23 Office Closed
Friday, October 24 Office Closed
Mission Minute
We plan to participate in Trunk-or-Treat at the Recreation Center this year on Friday, October 31st, 4-6 p.m. Helpers are needed to hand out treats. If you can help, please let Laurel know. We will also need donations of treats to hand out, so if you can help with this, also please let Laurel know.
The garden continues to produce an abundance of vegetables to share with our community. Even with the lack of rain and hot weather, the garden did extremely well this year.
October Birthdays
1 – Bonnie Palmer
10 – Mary Jane Wahlman
12 – Allison Kohn
13 – Jane Chapman
16 – Lee Wegner
19 – Michelle Foster & Howie Orona
21 – Gweneviere Fowler & Nancy Slocum
Our Seekers Class(Adult Sunday School) meets every Sunday morning at 8:30. We invite all to attend.
Tuesday Bible Group
Our Tuesday Bible Study group is studying the 23rd Psalm. Join us at 10:30 every Tuesday.
Join us for Bible Study every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We hope you can join us.
Choir meets at 4:00 Wednesday afternoons and bells meet when necessary. 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: office@grandvalleyumc.com, or let Laurel know.
Prayer Partners meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 10:30. If you have anyone that you would like to add to the Prayer Partner list, please contact the office (970-285-9892).
Our Ambassadors (Care Team) meet on the 2nd Wednesday at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall.
Church Council Report
The meeting was called to order by President, Ron Olson on September 9. Those in attendance were: Ron Olson, Penelope Olson, Michelle Foster, Michael Ingersoll, Bert Botkin, John Chapman, Steve Shaw, Len Allen, and Lee Allen. Reverand Michael led us in prayer.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved.
Treasurer: We are doing well. We made $1472.79 on our Grand Valley Days pancake breakfast. The money will go in the Grand Valley Givers account under Mission and Outreach. A Certificate of Participation was cashed in and put in the Alpine Bank money market. Penelope needs to have budget requests in or she will fill in the budget as she sees fit.
Worship: The Charge Conference will be at 6:00 on October 7th. Refreshments will be provided. We will decide on something special for World Communion Sunday, which will be October 5, 2025.
Trustees: There was nothing but general maintenance this month.
SPRC: The committee has met with Michael and has hired him for another year.
Pastor’s Report: Michael has completed the Ethical Training course that is required every four years.
New Business: $400.00 in Joe Cason’s memorial account will be given in support of the girls’ basketball team at the high school.
There being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectively Submitted,
Lee Allen, Secretary
Treasurer
THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO BE FINANCIALLY SOUND
August was another financially good month for GVUMC. The month added $1,550 to the yearly surplus which is now at $8,860. Next month, there will be an entry made to transfer the earnings from the Grand Valley Days to the Grand Valley Givers account. This may cause the month of September to show more expenses than income, but the surplus is there to handle it.
Our long-term investments went up $3,000 during the month (not including income) and for the year, it is up $12,000. Of course, this is dependent on how the market and economy does. We have invested a total of $106,575 and the current value is $158,795, an increase of $52,220. I don’t remember when we made the original investment, but Rich was pastor as he suggested it when the Church received a bequest and we had extra cash.
Thank you all for your support of GVUMC. May you continue to bless us with your giving.
Finishing up with some fun puns:
**Then there was the time Fruit of the Loom took Hanes to court….It was a brief case.
**How much does a chimney cost? Nothing. It’s on the house.
**My friend said she wouldn’t eat cow’s tongue because it came out of a cow’s mouth. I gave her an egg.
**Once upon a time there was a King who was only 12 inches tall. He was a terrible King, but made a great ruler.
**Ran out of toilet paper and now using lettuce leaves. Today was jut the tip of the iceberg, and tomorrow romaines to be seen.
**My friend Jack says he can communicate with vegetables. That’s right…Jack and the beans talk.
**I want to tell you about a girl who only eats plants. You probably have not heard of herbivore.
**I was struggling to understand how lightning works….And then it struck me.
**I went to the paint store to get thinner. It didn’t work.
Hope you enjoyed these!
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
office@grandvalleyumc.com
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon