PASTOR’S PEN January 2017

As we begin a brand-new year, I carry with me the image of the Christ child, born anew in our lives, and promising us new life. As I reflect on this new life, I begin to pray about changes I’d like to make in my own life in the new year. I have some new habits I’d like to form, and some old habits I’d like to change or eliminate. Is that true for you also? Others often tell me of their wish for a habit of daily prayer or Bible study, or participation in other faith-related activities. I hear about the best-laid plans for making time for God, then plans go awry because of busy schedules. But occasionally, I hear a story of persistence that pays off with priceless new spiritual practices.

A former neighbor tried for months to start reading the Bible every day. She eventually found success when she formed a small-group Bible study that met in her home once a week. Knowing that her group would be prepared for weekly discussions, she was motivated to stick to her daily study

schedule. Over time, her new habit became an essential part of her daily life. This month, we are starting our new small groups here at Goldendale UMC, and these groups will help us form some new spiritual habits. Have you signed up for a small group? If not, it’s not too late. We also welcome your ideas as we begin planning for future groups. Soon, you’ll learn more about the Fast-Track Disciple Bible Study, a class I plan to lead starting in February. During this study, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Bible, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy new Bible study habits. Forming a healthy new habit usually isn’t easy, but when we have others around us who encourage us and support us, we’re much more likely to experience success. So, I encourage you to join our small groups, and to sign up for classes that will be offered at the church throughout the year. I believe you’ll form new faith habits that will enrich your life for many years to come! Grace and peace, Pastor Pat

GOLDENDALE

UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH

United Methodist Women News….

United Methodist Women….Faith, Hope, Love In Action!!

December was a very busy month! Thank you so much for preparing food, serving, and cleaning up after our sister Lucille Lefever’s funeral dinner. The Anderson family was very grateful. Thank you for helping serve refreshments and clean up after the Cantata, and for the dozens of cookies you provided for Dr. Jim Ogden’s jail ministry. Dr. Ogden expressed his gratitude when I delivered them to his office. Through your generosity, Goldendale United Methodist Women were able to provide Christmas love gifts to New Hope Farms, Dr. Ogden’s annual Optometric Mission Trip (Cambodia, 2017), Goldendale Ministeral Association, the Mealsite, Pateros Rebuild, a Heifer Project to Empower Women, four local children who would otherwise not have received a Christmas gift this year, missionary Katherine Parker, and our own Pastor Pat. It’s not too late to sign up for the Spiritual Retreat at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center, March 30-April 2nd. Lynn Wanless or I can provide you with an application form. Keep in mind, the lower bunks in the Skyline Building go fast!! The cost is $90 and that includes 6 meals, towels, sheets, fellowship, fun, worship, networking, sharing ideas…..!

As we look forward to 2017, I challenge each of you to invite one neighbor, friend, sister, or the woman who sits next to you in church to a UMW meeting. Share with her our purpose and our four focus areas. Share with her that UMW is a sisterhood of women like no other. The next general membership meeting will be on January 9th at 1 p.m. For those of you who want to participate in the Program Planning meeting, it will be held on the 5th of January, 10 a.m., at the church. Linda Hay

From the Mission Chair: The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We, at Goldendale UMC, often do that by being the hands and feet of God. For instance, many of us volunteer to cook at the meal site, pack bags of nourishing food in the Backpacks for Kids program, provide shoes and clothing to children who are enrolled in our local Head Start Center, provide food for the food bank, and more. We also support mission work through our financial gifts. The Book of Discipline suggests the six “Special Sundays” that we observe are intended to illustrate the nature and calling of the church as the people of God. On January 15th, we will observe Human Relations Day which supports the United Methodist Voluntary Service and Youth Offender Rehabilitation programs. When “Donna”, an active participant at Solomon Community Temple UM Church in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, became pregnant as a teen, she found herself enfolded in Blanket of Love, a Christ-centered ministry working to improve birth outcomes of African-American babies by teaching prenatal care, infant care and parenting skills to young women and their families. Director Julia Means, RN, says, “The first thing I teach them is – as a mother – you must teach them to pray. Children need to be brought up in church”. You will have an opportunity to give to programs such as Blanket of Love, on Human RelationsSunday, January 15th. We must have everything collected by the end of the first week of February for the 200 bags Goldendale UMC will provide to Dr. Ogden for his optometric mission trip to Cambodia in March. We need about 100 small pencil sharpeners, 100 six-inch rulers, and 50 pairs of barrettes. If you would find it easier to donate rather than shop, please give your financial gift to either Linda Hay or Lynn Wanless by the end of January. Linda Hay

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2017

Friday, Jan. 27th, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 28th, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

$25 - Includes Lunch

(Tickets available now)

Community Grace Brethren Church

1180 S. Roosevelt

Goldendale, WA www.goldendalegrace.com

509-773-3388

Life Change Happens In Small Groups

Walking

Led by Brian Wanless

Reading

Led by Joy Bradley

Arts and Crafts

Led by Margaret Burkhart

Gardening

Led by Lynn Wanless

Sewing and Quilting

Led by Nancy Campbell

Small groups will begin meeting

around the middle of January. Each

group will determine their own

meeting times. You can still sign up to

join a group. Just let the group leader

know.

“Exploring New Ways of Walking With One Another in Uncertain Times.”

Place: Moses Lake United Methodist Church Time: 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Date: Saturday, January 21st, 2017 Coordinator: Lyda Pierce, Hispanic/Latino Ministries In a reality where immigrants are threatened with deportation, Muslims with registration, and any stranger may be harassed as a danger, Jesus calls us to love our neighbors. A lot of discussion about “sanctuary” is being expressed and shared. As Church, we need to consider what “sanctuary” means, what it looks like, and how we may be able to offer it to those in need. Exploring other responses to these needs may help our communities to be safe places. You are invited to pray, study, and propose ways that we, as Church, can Be Hospitable, Offer Sanctuary, and Love One Another.

Please come with your experiences, questions, worries, and ideas. “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were there with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13: 1-3 Please prayerfully consider this opportunity for sharing time about an important aspect of our current culture—invite others and bring a team from your church! Details regarding registration will be forthcoming. For planning purposes, an RSVP will be required for attendees. Peace and blessings, Sarah sarahja13@gmail.com (509) 205-1953

DISCIPLE FAST TRACK at Goldendale UMC Bible Study for Busy Lives

For nearly thirty years, the original Disciple Bible Study has helped millions of people read through the Bible and grow their faith through a 34-week class. The new Disciple Fast Track study leads groups through the Bible in 24 weeks—12 on the Old Testament, and 12 on the New Testament. Study manuals and videos give participants tools to absorb and retain what they learn about the Bible. Our church is now forming a Disciple Fast Track group to go through the study together. Main Features of Disciple Fast Track:

Classes meet for a total of 24 weeks o 12 Weeks Old Testament o 12 Weeks New Testament

Each group session lasts 75 minutes

Please contact the church office for more information: 509-773-4461, or gumc12@centurylink.net.

Community Meal Site Gathers

Volunteers

In an effort to comply with our Safe

Sanctuaries Policy, Connie Pond has sent out

a plea for volunteer supervisors for the

community meal site program. People who

have volunteered will be assigned one night

(or more) to be present during the meal as a

supervisor. Their presence will help

maintain a safe and comfortable

environment for everyone who dines at the

meal site. Many of our diners are small

children or vulnerable adults. Our

supervisors will have had a background

check and will simply be a presence in the

dining room to help with any situations that

might arise and just to be there to visit with

the people who come in to eat. Thanks to all

those who have seen the need and have

answered the call to help with this very

important mission for our church and our

community.

Do differences make a difference?

Come explore this question as it relates to clergy and laity working in cross-racial cross cultural ministry settings. Kristina Gonzalez, Director of Leadership Development for an Inclusive Church for the Pacific Northwest Conference, will facilitate. She conducts workshops in the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area and beyond to help surface cultural similarities and differences to enhance and enliven ministry in the local church. This workshop is recommended for elected leaders in the church, but all are encouraged to attend and all are welcome. This workshop is scheduled for GUMC on Sunday, January 22nd. The time is from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Lunch will be provided from Subway. We will need to know who plans to attend so that we can order the food for lunch. Please RSVP to Lynn in the church office by Wednesday, January 18th. Let us know at that time if you have any special dietary restrictions.

Kathy Bryson

ERT Coordinator

PNW Conference of the United

Methodist Church 509-539-2978 (C)

Facebook | @PNWERT ert@pnwumc.orge

THI

Minot, ND 8/2011

Minot, ND 9/2011

Crisfield, MD 12/2012

Mi

Save the Date!

April 28 – 30, 2017

PNWUMC Early

Response Team

Spring Training

Lazy F UMC

Camp near

Ellensburg, Wa

Have fun in a beautiful

setting, learn new skills

and meet the ERT

community. Details and

registration information

coming soon.

Blessings, Kathy

To respond to this message,

click ert@pnwumc.org