The Circuit Writer

State Street United Methodist Church 1101 State Street

P.O. Box 3340 Bowling Green, KY 42102-3340

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit Number 325 Bowling Green, KY

State Street Staff

Senior Pastor ~ Dr. Jay Smith

Pastor of Visitation ~ Dr. Robert Rice

Pastor of Children & Families ~ Rev. Cindy Bright

Interim Minister of Student Formation ~ Jami Unland

Minister of Music & Worship ~ Lee Young

Children’s Music ~ Lee Young

Organist ~ Julie Pride

Church Secretary ~ Suzy Muzyka

Finance Manager ~ Tricia Hendrix

Church Hostess ~ Betty Lee

Housekeeping ~ Pam Fitzgerald Maintenance ~ Dennis Jones

Return Service Requested

May 30

State Street Staff

Senior Pastor ~ Dr. Jay Smith

Associate Pastor for Faith Formation ~ Rev. Cindy Bright

Minister of Music, Worship, and Congregational Care ~ Lee Young

Minister of Student Formation ~ Jami Unland

Pastor for Small Group Development ~ Rev. Kevin Mays

Children’s Ministry Assistant ~Gina Bingham

Organist ~ Julie Pride

Office Manager ~ Tricia Hendrix

Church Hostess ~ Betty Lee

Housekeeping ~ Pam Fitzgerald

Maintenance ~ Dennis Jones

Fifth Sunday Special Guest Speaker May 29th

at Both Services

Rev. Randy Coy

CEO and President

Kentucky United Methodist Homes for Children & Youth

Mark Your Calendar! Rev. Dr. Don Rankin

Former Pastor at State Street

Returning to preach both services

Sunday, June 12th

Plan to be present to welcome back home Don and his wife Pat!

Pentecost/Confirmation Sunday May 15th

We will confirm and receive as professing members our confirmands at the 10:00 a.m. service.

**Wear Red that day in honor of Pentecost and help celebrate our confirmands!**

May 1

Student Sunday

Youth lead the 10:00

Worship Service

Making disciples of Jesus Christ around the corner and around the world!

1101 State Street | Bowling Green, KY (270) 842-8171 | www.statestreetumc.org

May 20

12:00 p.m. Circuit Writer Deadline

May 11

Final WNG

Children’s Talent Show

May 8

Happy

Mother’s

Day!

May 30

Memorial Day

Church Offices Closed

May 7

Youth Yard Sale

6:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

1512 Crossbreeze Court

May 24

7:00 p.m. Administrative Board

May 15

Confirmation Sunday

“Grace Moments”

Each Tuesday afternoon, we begin our church staff meetings the exact same

way. Before we pray together, we share with one another “grace moments,”

those moments “Where we have seen God at work.” Something in worship,

something in nature, something in a conversation or encounter, something that

has made us aware of the presence of God and God’s grace in our lives and

ministries.

For me, it’s a weekly reminder that if I am not very careful, I can get so busy,

so hurried, so rushed that my “grace radar” is completely shut down. Most days,

I need to be reminded to slow down and notice the grace of God in my life and

all around my life.

Now I am not talking about, as someone said in staff meeting this week,

“something big” or “miraculous.” As Albert Einstein once observed, “There

are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The

other is as though everything is a miracle.” “Grace moments” are most often

little signs, little actions, little observations that bless our lives in big ways if we

are attuned and open to them. Hearing the laughter of a child, seeing the beauty

of a bird, feeling the coolness of a breeze, really tasting (not devouring in a

rush) a favorite dessert—these and so many more can be “grace moments.”

Being aware of “grace moments” is a reminder that God is at work and seeks to

be made known to us every day, throughout the day. Again, if we will slow

down, have our “radar up” and pay attention.

When was the last time you took the time to take some time to notice a “grace

moment”? I would encourage you to do so especially this time of year as the

earth springs back to life and the signs of God’s good creation and God’s good

presence in this world are all around us. I would encourage you to pay attention

to acts of kindness and mercy and compassion that happen all around us all the

time, but so often get overshadowed by the shadow side of life, the noisier and

often more noticed acts of violence and greed and hatred.

If I asked you to share a “grace moment,” what would it be? Where have you

seen God at work in your life and in the world? May God give you and me the

sense and sensibility to see God’s grace every day, and to give God thanks for

these “grace moments.”

Much grace and peace!

Dr. Jay

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Gifts Given to the Church

Faith Builders

May 15

3:00 p.m. Phoenix Theater 545 Morris Alley

Fountain Square Players presentation of

Foreigner. Our own Elizabeth Honeycutt

will be in the play. Tickets are $14. Please

call Phylis Robe (270) 991-9509, if you

need transportation. Everyone is welcome.

June 26 5 p.m. Eaglestone Villas Club House

(2500 Crossings Blvd., off of Cave Mill Rd.)

Join us at for a Potluck Meal and the

Election of Officers for 2016-2017.

In Memory of...

In Memory of Dick Hoffman

Given for Help Ministries by The Discussion Class.

Given for Endowment Fund by Dot Brown, Don & Kim Williams,

and Mr. and Mrs. Dan Modlin.

Given for Music/Chancel Choir by Juanita Denham, Jim & Glynda

Stone and Alan & Jane Cannon.

In Memory of Juanita Reber

Given for the Endowment Fund by Don & Kim Williams.

In Memory of Anna Smith

Given for the Endowment Fund by Mr. & Mrs. Herb Harkelroad

Given for the Room in the Inn by Jim & Nancy Kinsner.

In Memory of Peggy Clark

Given for the Endowment Fund by Chip & Polly Lawson and Don

& Kim Williams.

In Memory of June Cooper

Given for the Endowment Fund by Mr. & Mrs. Herb Harkleroad,

Kenneth Whitfield, Mr. & Mrs. Carol Lee, Alan Yungbluth, Chip &

Polly Lawson, James & Eric McGee, Adam Mosley, Ned & LuAnn

Farrar, Allen & JoAnn Lawshae, Ron & Debbie Sowell, Jim & Nan-

cy Kinsner, Mr. & Mrs. Steven Reed, Steve & Phyllis Schnacke, Dot

Brown, Trent & Lee Young, Alan & Jane Cannon, Roy & Sherry

Tarwater, Don & Kim Williams, Karl Crandall, Judy Martin.

Given for the Music/Chancel Choir by Juanita Denham, Jim &

Glynda Stone and Lavinia Rogers.

Given for the Help Ministries by Dr. and Mrs. Vernon Martin, The

Discussion Class.

Given for the Parking Lot Fund by Betty Bostick.

Given for the Food Ministries by Rachel Allen.

In Memory of Mark Craig

Given for the Endowment Fund by Harriett Downing.

In Memory of Charles Helm

Given for the Endowment Fund by Don & Kim Williams

In Memory of Mattie Magee

Given for the Music/Chancel Choir by Lavinia Rogers

In Memory of Marcella Brashear

Given for the Music/Chancel Choir by Lavinia Rogers

In Memory of Joe Wright, Herschel & Doris Webb

Given for the Music/Chancel Choir by Ina Ree Wright

In Memory of Vivian Wendt

Given for the Help Ministries by Phylis Robe

Gifts Given to the Church Continued

In Memory of Harry Robe

Given for the Help Ministries by The Fulcher Family and

Phylis Robe, Children & Grandchildren.

In Honor of…

In Honor of Rick Shreve

Given for the Endowment Fund by The Westray Family

Thank you for all your generosity! We are off to a really good

financial start in 2016. After the first quarter, even with one

Sunday missed due to snow in February, our actual income and

actual expenses are almost even. (nearly an exact $2000 differ-

ence) Had we not missed that Sunday in February, we would

be even or ahead in actual income verses budgeted income.

Complete financial statements are available in the church of-

fice for anyone who would like to see them. Just see our office

manager/financial secretary, Tricia, for a copy. On behalf of

our Finance Team, thank you so much for your ongoing gener-

osity! Your faithfulness makes our ministry and witness possi-

ble in this community and beyond.

Steve Sutton, Finance Chair

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May Focus: Backpack Food Ministry

More than 21 million children qualify for free or reduced-price

meals through the National School Lunch Program and the

National School Breakfast Program. For many of these children,

school meals may be the only meals they eat. What happens

when they go home over the weekend or over the summer? The

number of children helped during the summer drops down to 2.7 million. This

gap of 1 in 8 summer to school-time participants is the result of various barriers

experienced only during the summer, including a lack of access to meal sites,

insufficient program awareness, and limited resources when schools are closed

For more than 15 years, the Feeding America BackPack Program has been

helping children get the nutritious and easy-to-prepare food they need to get

enough to eat on the weekends. Today, bags of food are assembled at more than

160 local food banks and then distributed to more than 450,000 children at the

end of the week. Our donations go to the Kentucky Heartland center and will

benefit children in our community. With your help, we can provide more food

to more children in need.

Your donations left on the communion rail on May 1st will go to support

the Feeding America Backpack Program.

The Faithfulness and

Generosity Report

April Communion Offering

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to do-

nate $710 to our Churches United in Christ Help

Ministry to aid those in our community with

emergency needs such as utility and clothing as-

sistance, medicine and transportation. Thank you

for giving!

THANK YOU!

Dear Church Family,

The Mission and Service

Team (MAST) would like to

thank everyone who helped in

any way on Sunday to make

the Mission Celebration a

fantastic statement of State

Street's intention to serve

others outside our four walls.

On Sunday a hundred of our members joined

members of the Presbyterian Church in celebrat-

ing our combined and individual mission efforts.

We enjoyed beautiful weather, good music and

food, and the fellowship. None of this would

have been possible without the help of many

people---so many that we dare not try to mention

names. But, thank you to all who provided mu-

sic, set up and cleaned up the area, cooked,

worked the games, and to those of you who

came to support this celebration. A special

thanks to the men and the youth who did the

heavy moving of tables and chairs to and from

the parking lot.

Some of you may not have noticed during the

event that several of our friends around the

community joined us for a bit of food and

lingered to listen to the music. The bubble man

was a delight for the children. So even while we

were celebrating our various mission activities

we were engaging in a mission activity.

Thanks to all who were a part of this event!

Adult/Family Mission

Opportunities

May 7th— Habitat for Humanity. Join others from SSUMC as we par-

ticipate in an Apostle’s Build helping to complete a Habitat house right

here in Bowling Green.

June 14th— Afternoon of Service. United Methodists from across

Kentucky will be in Bowling Green for Annual Conference. All are

welcome to participate in the Afternoon of Service on Tuesday. Simply

go to www.kyumc.org , click on Annual Conference registration and

sign up under Afternoon of Service for family members. Register under

the tab for spouses and teenage children of clergy and lay members even

if you are not one!

More information for these projects can be found on the bulletin board

outside the church office.

Do Something This Summer! Your help is needed at the Foundry’s Summer Camps

Be a small group leader who stays with the campers throughout the day,

participates in the activities with the campers and gets to know them on a

personal level.

Be an activity leader who greets each group as they arrive, follows a provid-

ed lesson plan and leads them in either physical activity, hands-on projects, crafts, music or reading.

Be a supporter by dropping a check for the Foundry in the offering plate to

helping to cover their expenses.

For more info. or to volunteer contact Meghan Travis at

mtravis@thefoundrybg.org.

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Join the Music Ministry and share more than just a song. Share in fellowship, friendship, worship and prayer!

Bowling Green Retirement Village

Worship Service

Sunday, May 22nd @ 2:30

Fred Carter, message

Benjamin Carter, music

May Children’s Choir Schedule

1st - All Choirs Sing - “This Is the Day” 8th - Carolers Sing - “Sing with Joy” 11th - Children’s Talent Show See Mrs. Lee by May 1st if you want to participate.

Minister of Music, Worship and Congregational Care lyoung@statestreetumc.org 270-535-4910

The Hand Bell Choir will Play the prelude

On Sunday, May 22nd

Music Ministry Birthday Dinner Monday, May 9th

6:00 @ Lee’s House

Fred Carter, Anita Lowe, Debbie Robb, Amanda Shreve, Nevil Speer

May Scripture Reader/Offertory Prayer Schedule

8th Shellie Allen (8:08) Cathy Bishop (10:00) Keith Skiles (Prayer) 15th Brad Knee (8:08) Mike Bishop (10:00) Larry Snyder (Prayer) 22nd Judy Knee (8:08) Jim Bullington(10:00) Marian Smith (Prayer) 29th Evan Rudolph (8:08)

Valerie Bullington (10:00)

Mike Bishop (Prayer)

April Greeter Schedule

1st Frank/Celia Conley (8:08)

STUDENT SUNDAY(10:00)

8th Gail Dycus/Marilyn Laney (8:08)

Elizabeth Honeycutt/Anna Jo (10:00)

15th Bill Franklin/Steve Schnacke (8:08)

Linda/Don Howell (10:00)

22nd Pam Funk/Mary Hutchins (8:08)

Heather Lasley/Becky Leavy (10:00)

29th Georganna/Gail Dycus (8:08)

Gera Nelson/Bill Parks (10:00)

Stephen’s Ministry

I would love to meet with your Sunday

School Class, small group, UMW Circle,

or any other group to share with you about

the amazing caring ministry of Stephen’s

Ministry. This program is used

throughout the world to help

congregation members learn how to

minister to one another in times of need.

We would love to start this ministry at

SSUMC in the near future. Please

contact me if you would like me to come

to your group and share with you how this

ministry could impact and transform our

congregation.

Please Note: The names of persons for whom prayer has been requested will remain on our prayer list for one month unless we are notified otherwise.

The names of the homebound and ill of our church family as well as our church leaders and military will be kept on our list indefinitely.

Please Remember Our Special Friends in Prayer:

T HE C IRCUIT WRITER 3

Birthdays!

Anniversaries

Prayer Requests

Jim & Amy DeCesare 02

Dan & Sandy Riley 04

Derek & Lauren Wester 05

Mike & Terri Bessette 09

Mike & Cathy Bishop 09

Frank & Betty Tee Smith 09

Michael & Shannon Vitale 09

Glenn & Pam Eisert 13

Mike & Michelle Wyatt 15

John & Tricia Renfrow 16

Nathan & Emily Harlan 20

Burton & Shannon Vaughan 23

David & Dalla Emerson 27

Tom & Judy Moore 27

Bob & Pat Markle 28

Bob & Jane Gillaspie 30

Wade & Jennay Westerholt 30

Bob & Catherine Holderfield 31

Bob & Vivian Rice 31

Kyle & Lindsey Summers 31

Adam Burden 01

Pat Hewitt 01

Betty Bostick 02

Brent Lawson 02

Sarah Bright 03

Suzanne Moore 04

Tucker Greer 05

Marilyn Hopkins 05

Melissa Napier 05

Chandler Jefferson 06

Amanda Shreve 06

Craig Stahl 06

Kate McGill 07

Stephen Schnacke 07

Sue Bullington 09

Don Turner 09

Katie Clark 10

Katie Lawson McKee 10

Tara Martin 10

Ashley Parks 10

Allie Hanks 12

Hannah Jukes 12

Don Wendt 12

Danny Zoller 13

Joshua Kelley 14

Paul Shirley 15

Katie Stinnett 15

Georgeanna Hagerman 16

Jane Cannon 17

Paul Duvall 17

Chloe Kelley 17

Kendall Beth Simmons 19

Debbie Robb 20

Sally Skiles 20

Nevil Speer 20

Kim Potter 21

Mary Burrell 22

Sherrill Carr 22

Norb Stegeman 22

Callie Ann Duvall 23

April Fulcher 23

Daulton Potter 25

Thomas Fentress 27

Larry Snyder 29

Sarah Watson 29

Mary Nahm 29

Recent Requests:

Shawn Angel

Tom Lett

Donna Dakich

Debbie Drake Davis

Kathryn Loy

Ryan Martin

Dan Riley

Ina Ree Wright

Arthur Carman

Chris Tinsley

On Going Requests: (Church Family)

Sue Bullington

Valerie Bullington

Bob & Jane Gillaspie

Suzanne Vitale

Pam Buck

Bill Franklin

Sarah Lowe

Ronna Lee Hunter

Marilyn Laney

Juanita Denham

Betty Satterfield

Joyce Pershing

Debbie Modlin

Jenks Britt

Jenna Binion

Carrie Gilreath

Lavinia Rogers

Kay Willis

Virginia Fullen

Ed & Helen Henderson

Joyce Robertson

Bob Rice

Von Rey

Our Military:

Schuyler Purdue

(Marines)

Our Sympathy:

The Family of

Bill McCormack

Retirement Village

Lovell Parsons

Jackie Mathison

Ken Whitfield

Magnolia Village

Nancy Napier

Village Manor Frederica Williamson

Sarah Watson

Ed & Barbara Neale

Colonial Manor

Sue Bullington

Homebound Greenwood

Madge Bailey Nursing Home

Geneva Duff Mary Ann Slate

Ina Ree Wright

Bridgepointe Carolyn Brake

Massey Springs Sally Mayfield

4 THE C IRCUIT WRITER

1st 8:08 am Come As You Are Worship

10:00 am STUDENT SUNDAY worship

9:00 am Sunday school

No Children’s Church

1:00 pm Kids arrive for Tea

2:00 pm Ladies’ Spring Tea

4th 5:30 pm Potluck meal

5:50 - 7:10 pm Choir/classes

7:15 pm Commitment Night for

Confirmation Class

8th Mother’s Day

8:08 and 10:00 am Worship

9:00 am Sunday school

11th LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT GATHERING

5:30 pm Dinner

6:00—7:00 pm Children’s Talent Show

15th CONFIRMATION SUNDAY

8:08 and 10:00 am Worship

9:00 am Sunday school

18th 5:30 - 7:00 pm Choir picnic

22nd 8:08 and 10:00 am Worship

9:00 am Sunday school

TBD VBS Orientation

29th MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

8:08 and 10:00 am Worship

9:00 am MISSION TOOLBOX

MAY AT A GLANCE

Need more info? Contact Rev. Cindy Bright, Assoc. Pastor for Faith Formation at cbright@statestreetumc.org or at 270 842-8171

ACOLYTE SCHEDULE

May 1—Kendall Simmons/Owen Renfrow May 8— Hailey Fulcher/ Emily Burrell May 15— Natalie and Kathryn Porter May 22- Caleb Wagoner/ Jack Butler

CHILDREN’S CHURCH HELPERS May 8— Sally Elmes/ Kim Williams, Remy Mays May 15— CONFIRMATION/ No Children’s Church May 22—Gina/ Marianne/ Tanner Martin May 29— Lucretia Carter, Sally Elmes, Lydia Speer

HEY, KIDS - Great job on our Lenten

fundraiser! You collected $121.89 to send to...

Many thanks to Anne and Charlie Newton

for hosting the Easter Egg hunt and to

the youth and their sponsors for stuffing

and hiding all the eggs!

2016 Vacation Bible

School

July 11—15 Surfers and lifeguards will experience a week long adventure of beach-themed music, sci-ence, games, Bible stories and more! Children and volunteer registration now online through the church website or at www.cokesburyvbs.com/SSUMCkids.

THE C IRCUIT WRITER THE C IRCUIT WRITER 5

The Sunday Night UMYF Schedule

MAY 1st “Summer is Here” . . . 5:00 until 7:15 p.m.

Come join us for a celebration of food and fun as we celebrate the completion of another school year. We will

kick off this event with a snack supper. We will be playing games, games, and more games. This will be our

last Sunday night until August.

~Student SUNDAY IS MAY 1st ~

Upcoming Events

“Student Sunday” - May 1st during 10am service (Graduation Recognition)

“Yard Sale” - May 7th the High School Mission Trip Team will be having a yard sale at 1512

Crossbreeze Ct. 6am to 1pm. All High School Mission Trip Students must work at least 1

shift.

“High School Mission Trip Meeting” - If you or your child are going on mission trip we will

be having an information meeting June 5th at 4pm in the youth room

Class of 2016 Rachel Bright

Alex Gaither

Remi Mays

Nathan Nelson

Nicholas Samardzia

Allie Young

May 29th is 5th Sunday

Youth Usher