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Fa irwood Community

United Methodist

Church 20 1 6

Fall Sunday

Worship Schedule

Begins September 11

Celebration Worship Service at 9:00 a.m.

Classic Worship

Service at 10:30 a.m.

Yarn Happening 2nd & 4th Sunday

11:45 a.m. Join in the fun of knitting or crocheting

All skill levels are welcome!

Feel the

excitement!

T H E E P I S T L E

Small group discussions will be held at both services. Children will go directly to Sunday school upon arrival. Youth will also be participating in the discussions during Breakfast Club. This is a Sunday you don’t want to miss!

Quilt Raffle & Bake Sale! Silent Auction! Invite Friends & Neighbors

WE ARE THE CHURCH

Mark your calendars for a very special Sunday

service on September 25th. We will be exploring the ways we connect with one another within our church community. Everyone’s thoughts and ideas are needed.

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Chasing the Wild Goose

Pastor Joyce O’Connor-Magee

Can you feel it? Taste it? Smell it? It is time to come home to

church and ...drum roll please: the Chicken BBQ!

I am so appreciative of the gift of time to be on a month long sabbatical for rest and spiritual renewal. During August I completed my formal training as a grief counselor with a week long training entitled: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Grief. Yes, I have a certificate suitable for framing! From that enriching event I went to a Monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho. The first three days were in a workshop on Centering Prayer - a process of prayer in deep silence. Then I was able to spend a week in the wonderful rhythm of silence, prayer and worship with the Benedictine Sisters of St. Gertrude. We were in worship three times a day, and by the end of the week Sister Lillian said I was her best pupil. (I could find my way around their prayer book without her help!) It was a treat to follow along in worship and allow myself to get lost in prayer. Also, on August 7th we were able to celebrate with daughter Jessica and her new husband, Mike, at their wedding in Bellingham. At the end of the month we were able to participate in the beautiful blessing of our “retirement” house in Spokane where Pastor Flora is living. It is now time to come home!!

This summer has been full of activities for all of us - camps, work camp, vacations, baseball, swimming, golf and a different (wonderful) rhythm at church. Thank you to all who helped this summer with the Center of Hope Shelter. It was great to spend time with the incredible moms and families that stayed in our Benedict Hall. They were appreciative for the great hospitality and the sense of peace at our church. This time was a blessing for them and us!

Now we are also gearing up for our HOME ministry, feeding homeless men in Kent during the last two weeks of September. There are still places to sign up now that our fall schedules are falling into place. And, of course, our Chicken BBQ is coming up. This is an incredible church tradition that asks us all to pitch in to put on a fun community wide event. The (holy?) smoke calls neighbors to come and share in our life together, and maybe to accept the invitation to join us all year round. Slots are still available to help out. Please make sure your friends and neighbors know to join us on Saturday, September 10 2-7 p.m. for a delicious meal. Save some room for the desserts the UMW will be selling. I already have my raffle tickets for the beautiful quilt and other delights being raffled off on that day!

I’m looking forward to being back on September 1st ! What a great summer...how good it is to be home!

Get to Know Fairwood Staff Member

Janice McMorris What’s your picture of an ideal preschool teacher? Perhaps it is someone who is warm, creative, a good listener, and appreciates the spontaneity of children…These attributes well describe Janice McMorris, lead teacher for the Joyful Hearts pre-kindergarten class. Janice has been a teacher in our program for two years. She also worked as a para-educator in the Kent District for a number of years. Prior to teaching, she was the Supplements Editor for Seattle’s Child. When asked what she liked most about her job, Janice enthusiastically replied, “I love working with preschool children. Four-year-olds have always been my favorite age. At our preschool, we create our own lesson plans. We are able to really listen to the children and get to know their interests. We direct the learning to things that they are excited about. We are creative, messy, and we have fun…” Janice also enjoys forming relationships with the children and serving as a mentor to their parents. Janice is married and has three children. Her daughter, Jackie, age 34, is a high school biology teacher in Seattle. Ryan, age 24, a chemical engineer, lives in Boise. Joshua, age 19, is a sophomore at SPU. Her husband, Len, an engineer, works for a telecommunications firm. The McMorrises are proud UW Huskies. Janice and two children attended college there. They are also avid Seahawks fans. Their family worships in Covington, at Cornerstone United Methodist, where she has served as a Sunday school teacher for many years. When she is not busy with her family or her preschool students, Janice enjoys reading historical fiction, children’s literature, art, gardening and travel. When asked to divulge something that others might not know about her, she revealed that she once went on safari in South Africa, where a baboon quite unexpectedly snatched the sugar bowl from her dinner table! Stop by and meet Janice this fall. After a few moments of conversation, you’ll know that our preschoolers are in good hands.

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Reconciling Church Project: Update

In May, a request went out for those who felt so inclined to join a small Core Team that would begin plans for an all-church dialogue on potentially becoming a Reconciling Congregation. The team has been formed and includes: Sarah Snyder, Dwight Clark, Cathy Russell, Jennifer Vangolen, Isobel Sturges, Lisa Sweet, Rochelle Long, Steve Kieta, Diana Green, Lisa Burns and Pastor Joyce. The team has met three times over the summer, and are beginning to form a framework for congregational dialogue and education. You will hear much more about this over the coming months. We hope that our focus on a more public inclusiveness for LGBTQ persons will start a larger discussion and make us a stronger church in many other areas. We look forward to sharing more with you! If you have questions, please contact one of the Core Team members.

UMW’s Annual BBQ Buzz!

UMW is even busier than usual, and we need your help. Not only

do we need your yummy baked goods, but also help in selling them! If you haven’t already, please sign up for a shift. There will also be a lot of excitement with the quilt raffle and silent auction. Auction items include an adorable bird bath from Poggi Bonsi, a cheesecake which you’ll never find in your local bakery, and other fun things. Any other items would be greatly appreciated. Funds earned will support our UMW charities. To donate, call Cathy Russell: 425-227-9938.

Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets and pull out your favorite recipes for the BBQ Bake Sale. If you have any questions about volunteering or contributing anything just contact anyone on the UMW team members (Jeanne Harmon, Willa Link, Jewel Andrew, Becky Clardy, Cynthia VanDevender, Vera Zimmerman, Jane Brooks, Donna Stock, & Linda Kopp). See you all at the Chicken BBQ!

The Epistle is published monthly by Fairwood Community

United Methodist Church, 15255 SE Fairwood Blvd, Renton, Washington 98058

Phone: 425-228-4577, E-mail: office@fairwoodumc.org, Web site: www.fairwoodumc.org Pastor: Joyce O’Connor-Magee Newsletter: Joletta Holman

Deadline for copy: 20th day of each month for the following month’s news.

Knit Together: a Prayer Shawl Ministry A Prayer Shawl Group is being formed in September at Luther’s Table. Ladies and men of all ages will knit or crochet shawls to be given to shut-ins, the hospital-bound, those in nursing homes, those who have lost a loved one...and the list goes on. When the shawls are completed, they will be blessed and sent on to the person in need. The shawl is a reminder that someone is praying for them and that God’s love encircles them. That group will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Luther’s Table, 419 S. 2nd St #1, Renton, WA 98057. Our first meeting is September 8. For more information contact Mary Ellen Langridge at 503-298-0018 or mlangridge00@hotmail.com

Joy Singers Children’s Choir All grade school age children are invited to join us on Sunday mornings during the 10:30 Joy School hour (start singing about 11:00 am) starting September 11th. We will sing some favorite action and bible songs, including some new songs to sing in church. We are looking forward to having a great

time singing with the kids. Contact Bill & Lori McEwen if you have questions about the Joy Singers choir (bill.mcewen@comcast.net).

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Fall Program Kick Off, BBQ Dinner and Parent Meeting Welcome Parents and Youth to our new 2016-17 Youth Ministry Programs. The Youth Council has planned an exciting year’s worth of Retreats, Outings, and Youth Programs. Learn about “What’s New” at the Fall Program Kick-off & BBQ on September 11th at 5:30.

The evening activities begin with a BBQ dinner for both youth and parents. After dinner, the youth will head off with the youth leaders for an evening of fun and games; while the parents will head-off to the Narthex and Sanctuary for fellowship and an informational meeting. The Youth Group activities will end at 8:15pm.

Breakfast Club Begins September 11th

Breakfast Club is the Sunday School program at Fairwood Community UMC which starts September 11th at 10:30am. Middle School youth, grades 6 through 8, meet in the Middle School youth room and dig into the Bible and study their faith. Senior High youth, grades 9 through 12, meet in the Sr. High room and explore the Bible using a multi-media approach. Breakfast Club Feast is a combined breakfast potluck where each youth provide a breakfast item. The first Breakfast feast is scheduled for Sept. 18th at 10:30. Middle School Youth Leader: Donna Stock Senior High Youth Leader: Curt Stock

Youth Group Held on Sunday Evenings Youth Group is held Sunday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:15pm, starting Sept. 11th. All youth, grades 6 to 12, are invited to attend. The evening is filled with fun and games, music, and laughter. Throughout the year, the Youth Group Leaders provide a theme for each Sunday and lead the youth in planned activities. September’s theme is Teamwork & Friendship Middle School Youth Leaders: Tom Kelley, Tom Foulds, Amy Keough Senior High Youth Leaders: Bill McEwen, Lori McEwen, Stephen Spates, Trista Wilson, Christina Kerstetter-Fischer. Camp Gilead Retreat on Sept. 30

th – Oct. 1st

Join us for our Annual Camp Gilead Retreat! The theme for the retreat is “Changed By Grace.” Grace is the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it. Youth will explore God’s amazing grace through the story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well, and how John Wesley broke down grace to create a more meaningful Christian life. This year the fall youth retreat will be Friday,

September 30-Saturday October 1 at Camp Gilead in Carnation. Registration brochures can be found on the youth bulletin boards or online at the church web page, http://www.fairwoodumc.org/Programs/Youth.aspx The cost of the retreat is $40. Scholarships are available. Accommodations can be made for those needing to join late or return early, so please talk with a youth leader about your particular circumstances. The Camp Gilead Retreat is for the FCUMC youth only and is an opportunity for them to establish a fellowship bond at the beginning of the school year, which can then continue to build.

Youth Vocal Band Start September 18th Calling all singers in grades 6 to 12! You are invited to join Youth Vocal Band on Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 6:25 pm, starting Sept. 18th. We have a great time singing some favorite contemporary worship songs, and learning some new songs to share in church. No prior experience is required. If you have any questions please contact Bill & Lori McEwen. Hope to see you there!

Youth Missions Join us for our first youth and parent missions meeting of the year at 7pm on September 1 in the Sanctuary. We will discuss the results of the survey and decide summer 2017 trip locations and weeks. Please bring your calendars! To keep up on the latest in youth missions, check out the youth missions website at https://sites.google.com/site/fcumcyouthmissions/home or contact Christina Kerstetter-Fischer, Amy Keough or Curt Stock.

TNT: Tuesday Nights Together TNT starts Oct. 4th at 6:00PM to 7:00PM in the Senior High Room. TNT is a drop-in, friendly bible study for youth in grades 6 through 12. We learn about incredible

people (Esther, Daniel, John Wesley, etc...) and tackle the same issues they faced (reputation, self-esteem, sibling rivalry and more). Come spend an hour learning, laughing and growing with other youth from Fairwood Community UMC! TNT Youth Leader: Christian Kerstetter-Fischer

Youth Council Meeting: September 18

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The Youth Council generally meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The first council meeting of the school year is scheduled for September 18th at 11:45am. The Youth Council is responsible for all FCUMC Youth Ministry activities for youth in grades 6 through 12. The Youth Council is made up of all Youth Leaders who volunteer to lead specific youth programs. They work hard to plan the ministry activities and events throughout the year. Anyone is welcome to attend Youth Council meetings; interested youth are especially encouraged to attend.

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SEPTEMBER YOUTH CALENDAR 9/1 Thursday 7:00 Youth Missions Parent & Youth Meeting

(Sanctuary) 9/6 Monday 6:00 Youth Rooms Decorating 9/13 Tuesday 7:00 Gilead Planning Meeting 9/11 Sunday 10:30 MS and SH Breakfast Club 5:30 Youth Group BBQ Dinner 6:30 Youth Group Kickoff, BBQ Dinner and Parent

Meeting 9/18 Sunday 10:30 MS and SH Breakfast Club Feast/Potluck 11:45 Youth Council 5:30 Youth Vocal Band 6:30 Youth Group Sunday Evening 9/25 Sunday 10:30 MS and SH Breakfast Club 5:30 Youth Vocal Band 6:30 Youth Group Sunday Evening 9/30 & 10/1 Friday & Saturday Camp Gilead Retreat (Meet at Church 4:30pm on

9/30) 10/2 Sunday 8:30 (arrival) Youth Vocal Band Sings No Evening YVB or Youth Groups ************************************************************** JOYFUL HEARTS PRESCHOOL is seeking a part time a.m. assistant. Contact the preschool office if interested in applying. **************************************************************

Renton CROP Hunger Walk 2016 Total

$31,541 Thank you everyone! Our teamwork with other Renton churches and the community is making many lives better in Renton and around the world. CWS reports: “The spring and fall walks this past fiscal year have already raised $9.95 million, and you are on pace to cross the $10 million threshold shortly! Your walking and donations made a huge difference…thank you for being a part of this!”

Wednesday Walks September September 7 - Cedar River Trail. Meet at back door (facing I-405) of Renton Community Center, 1715 SE Maple Valley Hwy, to walk east towards Maple Valley. September 14 - Soos Creek Trail. Meet at Gary Grant Park on SE 208th, 5 blocks east of 132nd Ave SE to walk southerly. September 21 - Coulon Park. For today's self-led walk, meet at Kidd Valley to walk northerly. September 28 - Cedar River Trail. Meet at the downtown Renton Library front doors to walk towards Lake Washington. Walks start at 10:00 a.m. Steady rain cancels. Call Marilyn May at 425-271-8226 or 206-617-2443 (cell on Weds. mornings) if you have questions. We hope to see you on the trail. GREENING CONGREGATION NEWS

Green Team Fairwood, GTF by Sharon Kenyon

If you would like to be on our “Green Team”, call Sharon Kenyon. No meetings required, just lots of hands-on activities caring for and enjoying God’s Creation. Call 425-271-2080. HIKING- We hope to be doing a few last-minute-planned hikes locally this fall, so be sure to get on the hiker’s email list for hiking plans and changes, and also for making suggestions on your favorite hike. To sign up, contact Sharon at kenyonjs@comcast.net. GREEN TEAM Helpers Thank You!!! Children in Creation Care and everyone for helping with planting the butterfly garden, planting natives and watering them, making all those weeds/horsetails disappear, picking blackberries for Sunday berry sundaes, and for doing other jobs.

A big thank you to Donna Worden, Jeff Kenyon, and many others for making our playground, forest, and church grounds look so beautiful! We always need more help with grounds and forest. There is something for all ages and all abilities. Call Sharon Kenyon 425-271-2080 (H), 425-306-7089 (C) or email.

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Contact Information Office Hours 9-12, 1-4 M-Th 9-12 Fridays Office 425-228-4577 Pastor’s Cell 509-389-1406

Web site: www.fairwoodumc.org

Pastor Joyce O’Connor-Magee pastor@fairwoodumc.org

Office Manager, Joletta Holman office@fairwoodumc.org

REACH - Center of Hope Shelter During July and August (through Labor Day weekend), we

provided overnight shelter for homeless families in the REACH Center of Hope program. It required a lot of volunteers and support from the congregation. For much of that time, we were providing a safe place for fifteen people to sleep – four women (one with her husband) and ten children, ranging in ages from 1 to 15 years old. We were open for them from 7:00pm until 8:00am the next morning. The kids loved the gym, enjoyed watching TV (even the Olympics) and videos, and we got to celebrate several birthdays here, too! Thank you to the Fairwood volunteers who acted as welcoming hosts for the families: Kathy Porter, John Melvin, Joanne Flagel, Lisa Burns, Diana Green, Heather Smith, Kartha Heinz, Pastor Joyce and Donna Stock. Also, thank you to Kathy and John for being Donna’s backup and all-around-wonderful support as the “building liaison.” Finally, thank you to everyone who donated food and other items, adjusted their meeting locations, did more cleaning or shopping for supplies, or supported us with your prayers. The night shelter moves to Lakeridge Lutheran church (off Rainier Avenue on the southwest side of Lake Washington) on Monday, September 5

th. Volunteers are encouraged to

continue volunteering there since they are a smaller, older congregation. Volunteers are also welcome at the Day Center (at Renton City Hall) on Mondays through Fridays.

Contact Donna Stock (425-226-9023, soupstock2@msn.com) for more info. Finally, please keep the families of Patrice, Nata, Melaya, and Imura (and other Center of Hope moms) in your prayers. They long to have a home of their own. It’s so hard on the children, especially those starting school now. It can take parents a very long time at low-paying jobs to earn enough for deposits and other housing expenses, making it very difficult to find a new place to call home. For more about any of the REACH programs, visit www.reachrenton.org.

Sign up for HOME (Homeless Outreach

Mobilization Effort)

Our church will be preparing meals again for homeless men from September 18 (Sunday) to September 30

th (Friday). 2016 The host church

is Holy Spirit Parish located at 310 3rd

Ave. So.( between Titus and Saar ) in downtown Kent next to the Kent Police station. Please stop by the signup table in the narthex. Two or more families provide a hot dinner and sack lunch for up to 25 men. You can also sign up, letting Ed and Deanna Hirota know which night you would like to serve. Send an email to e.hirota@comcast.net. requesting the date you will be available and you will be notified if it is open. Thank you.

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September 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

We host the Center of Hope Shelter in Benedict Hall until September 5

1 10 UMW Board - Parlor 7 Youth/Parent Mission Trip meeting - Sanctuary

2 Pastor’s Day Off

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4 9:30 Synergy Worship 10:50 Music/Worship Leaders Planning - Narthex or Pastor’s office

5 Office Closed

8:30 Pack up Center of Hope Shelter - BH 5 Renton Community Supper - SA Headqtrs 7 Boy Scouts - M7, Sanctuary, MPR

6 Welcome Joyful Hearts Preschool Students!

12 Staff mtg - Parlor 6 Redecorate Youth rooms 7 Writer’s Group - BH-5 7 Sept. 25th Planning - Parlor

7 10 Wednesday Walk - Cedar River Trail 5:30 Pack 455 Recruitment - lawn 7 Choir practice - Sanctuary, choir room 7 Trustees - Parlor 7 Cub Scout Committee - BH-5

8 7 Church Council - Parlor

9 Pastor’s Day Off

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Annual

2:00-7:00 MPR

Bake Sale too!

11 Fall Schedule

Communion 9 Celebration Worship 10:30 Classic Worship 11:45 Yarn Happening - Parlor 5:30 Youth Kick-Off BBQ 6:30 Youth Groups & Parent Meeting

12 7 Boy Scouts - M7, Sanctuary 7 Signs for Glory - Parlor

13 9:30 Bible Study - Parlor 3:45 Preschool Council - M-7 5:45 Yoga for the Rest of Us - Narthex

7:30 Opening the Bible - BH-2

14 10 Wednesday Walk - Soos Creek Trail 7 Choir practice - Sanctuary, choir room

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5:45 Yoga & Meditation

7 SPRC - BH-5

16 Pastor’s Day Off

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18 Guest Preacher: Rev. Golden Neal 9 Celebration Worship 10:30 Classic Worship 11:45 Youth Council 5:30 Youth Vocal Band 6:30 Youth Groups

19 5 Renton Community Supper - SA Headqtrs 7 Boy Scouts - M7, Sanctuary

20 Epistle Deadline

9:30 Bible Study - Parlor

4 M&E - Parlor

5:45 Yoga for the Rest of Us - Narthex

21 10 Wednesday Walk - Coulon Park 6 Cub Scout Pack 455 - MPR 7 Choir practice - Sanctuary, choir room

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5:45 Yoga & Meditation

23 Pastor’s Day Off

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25 We Are the Church

9 Celebration Worship 10:30 Classic Worship 11:45 Yarn Happening - Parlor 5:30 Youth Vocal Band 6:30 Youth Groups

26 7 Boy Scouts - M7, Sanctuary 7 Signs for Glory - Parlor 7 Woodside HOA - BH-5

27 9:30 Bible Study - Parlor 5:45 Yoga for the Rest of Us - Narthex

28 10 Wednesday Walk - Cedar River Trail 7 Choir practice - Sanctuary, choir room

29 5:45 Yoga & Meditation - Narthex

7 SPRC - Parlor

30 Pastor’s Day Off

October 1

The complete Youth Calendar is available on p. 5 of The Epistle.

Every T & Th 7pm AA - M-7 Every Wed 6:45pm Al Anon - B-4

Pastor Joyce on vacation September 12-18

Camp Gilead Retreat

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Fairwood Community

United Methodist Church

15255 SE Fairwood Blvd.

Renton, WA 98058-8645

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

September 2016

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Renton, WA

Permit No. 143

Worship With Us This Sunday September 4 @ 9:30

Regular Schedule: 9:00 Celebration Worship & 10:30 Classic Worship Service

Fall Sunday Morning Schedule Resumes September 11

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Starting Sunday, September 11th, the Sunday after Labor Day weekend, we return to our regular schedule of two worship services. The “Celebration Service” is at 9:00 and features more contemporary music and less liturgy. The “Classic Service” is at 10:30 and features more traditional music from our hymnal and our adult choir. Nursery care for the little ones is during both worship services. Sunday School classes for children (through 5th grade) are at both services, with the children first dismissed from the worship service after the children’s moment. Youth classes for 6th grade and up (a.k.a. “Breakfast Club”) start at 10:30 in the youth rooms. An adult Sunday School class is held at 9:00 in the parlor. We encourage you to join us for fellowship and light refreshments in Benedict Hall after both services. Come be with your church family on Sunday mornings!

SEPTEMBER 11