Welcoming Word

September/October 2015 Monthly Newsletter Issue

of The Barrington United Methodist Church

Over the past few months, some of our members have expressed their concerns about the future of

our congregation. Probably most of you might have the same worry, and it has been one of my major pastoral concerns.

When asked about the future of the Methodist movement, John Wesley answered: “I am not afraid

that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am

afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without power.”

As more and more churches are struggling to

maintain its ministry and mission, it is both

natural and necessary for us to ask the question

about our future as a church. But what God

calls us to ask and reflect as the disciples of

our Lord Jesus is not about our existence in the

future as a church but about our vitality as the

body of Christ.

What makes our church and any church really

strong as a body of Christ is not about the size

of our building or budget but about the size of

our heart for God and for people. It is our passion for God and compassion for the least that makes

the church alive and powerful. It is the power of love that keeps us from becoming a dead religion.

Concerning our future is a good time for us to remember that the greatest gift given to us is the love

of God in Christ Jesus. It is a time for us to reflect on the power of love in our lives.

Is it the love of Christ that motivates my desire and moves my feet?

Is it the love for others that guides my heart and opens my hands?

Is it the passion for God and compassion for the least that moves our congregation?

These are the questions that we need to answer as John Wesley did.

I wish and pray that God’s power of love pours upon each of you and gather together to worship to

God on our Rally Day as a body of Christ.

Peace & Grace,

Moo

Save

the

Dates:

Friday, October 9th at Noon

Friday, December 11th at Noon As always, all are welcome to join us in Fellowship Hall at

BUMC! There will be a good will donation basket. Please

RSVP to the Church Office (245-2395) if you plan to

attend so that food can be prepared accordingly. If you

need a ride, please let us know!

Music is a meaningful and

powerful means of worship. New

members are always welcome to

join the choir for rehearsal on

Thursdays at 7:00 PM. If you

would like to provide Special

Music (solo, instrumental, etc.)

during the worship service,

please speak with Rod Luther,

Music Director.

Worship

Committee

News: The Worship Committee is excited

to announce that beginning Sunday,

October 4th, we will reintroduce the

Family Service the first Sunday of

every month. This service will be

family oriented with a shorter

sermon geared towards children and

youth, as well as well-known songs,

and the inclusion of children and

youth throughout the service.

The next meeting of the Worship

Committee is Thursday, October

1st at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!

A thank you came in the mail from our sister church in Warren regarding our last luncheon in August (below). Thank you to all who are dedicated in this

ministry. We love our church family and neighbors!

If you would

like to

schedule a

visitation,

please call

either the

Church

Office or

Rev. Moo.

Mobile Loaves

& Fishes (MLF)

Opportunities:

Setting up crews for

each run

Keeping track of

grocery inventory

Grocery shopping

We Share Hope—Ordering/pick up for bread

Milk ordering/pick up

Maintaining clothes closet/sorting

Packing bins for each run

Preparing & overseeing PB & J team

Recycling after prep

If you are able to assist in any of these areas,

please contact Faythe Herdrich or Allen Scott.

Thank you to all who help maintain this ongoing

ministry!

Items Needed: We are asking that people donate

current seasonal clothing only. Men’s clothing is

especially needed as well as travel-sized toiletries.

Sunscreen, sunglasses, chapstick, and baseball

caps are also be very gratefully received.

Thank you for your time, donations, & support!

As kids go back to school or college, let’s

consider where we, as individuals, are

going. This will be the topic of discussion

for the Women’s Spirituality Group;

Jean Marie Josephson will be our moderator.

Please mark your calendars: Tuesday,

September 1st at 7:00 PM.

Also, the October meeting (Tuesday, October 6th) will be led

by Debbie Robertson. Topic to be announced.

BUMC

Lego Club: Saturday, Sept. 26th

from 2—3:30 PM

in Fellowship Hall

FREE & FUN for

all ages. Snacks and

Legos provided.

Rally Sunday is

September 11th! Please join us as we begin a new

Sunday school year at BUMC. In

order to proceed on time, we need

help with teachers, teacher’s

assistants, and

assisting in the

nursery. If you

would like to

help with

Sunday school,

please see Emily

or Coni.

2015 NEUMC Annual Conference By Debbie Humm

I once again represented the Barrington United Methodist Church at this year’s Annual Conference

(June 17-20, 2015), which was held at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire (a change

from Gordon College). The theme was: “Circle of Hope: Powered by Witness and Service.”

We sadly learned about the massacre at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston,

South Carolina during the opening of the Conference. We prayed often for the victims and their

families, friends and congregation throughout the Conference. One of the guest preachers, Bishop

Gregory Palmer of the Ohio West Area, reminded us in one of his sermons that the people of Charleston

were praying and coming together, determined not to allow this to overtake and narrate the rest of our

lives – that they will get the last words in of HOPE and LOVE. Bishop Palmer was a gifted preacher –

he also reminded us to stay the course: “If you don’t give up, Jesus will show up.”

The opening worship service was led by Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett of the Upper New York

Conference and included an Act of Repentance with Native Peoples. He concluded with something

that could apply to all relationships: “And though we often speak of reconciliation and restoration,

the Church rarely talks about repentance, but that is what is needed along with finding a way to see each

other as connected and look on each other as ‘Mitakuye Oyesin’ (matakquiase) or ‘all my relations.’”

Bishop Devadhar, who is interested in furthering interreligious connections, introduced Bishop James

Hazelwood of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). A

new church start called Sanctuary in Marshfield, MA, is the first church in the nation that is both United

Methodist and ELCA. Sanctuary is in the Metro Boston Hope District, and District Superintendent

LaTrelle Easterling said, “To God be the glory, and thanks to both of our bishops who trusted us enough

to do this.” Bishop Devadhar said he hopes to see more churches like this one.

During the conferencing sessions, we heard committee reports and updates about various missions and

ministries throughout the New England Conference. This year, we voted for Delegates to the 2016

General Conference (clergy vote for clergy, and laity vote for laity). It was the first time we used hand-

held electronic devices for voting and received immediate voting results.

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar recommended these four books to clergy and laity during his 2015

Episcopal Address: 1) Churchless: Understanding Today’s Unchurched and How to Connect with Them

by George Barna and David Kinnaman; 2) 40 Days with the Holy Spirit: Fresh Air for Every Day by

Jack Levinson; 3) Celebrating God’s Love: Living Into Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships

by Don Messer; and 4) Foundations: An Introduction to Christian Practices by Phil Maynard.

If anyone would like to attend the Annual Conference in June 2016, please let me know. It is a great

opportunity to experience our church beyond Barrington!

MOBILE LOAVES &

FISHES SERVING GOODNESS.

5th Annual Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) Auction Fundraiser

October 22, 2015, from 6:00-9:00 pm

Metacomet Country Club

500 Veteran’s Memorial Parkway, East Providence, RI.

Hors d’oeuvres & cash bar

$40.00

There are many ways to support this ministry that serves our brothers and sisters in need.

Buy a ticket to the MLF Auction Fundraiser

Donate an item for the auction. Consider asking businesses you have a relationship with

to donate an item or a gift certificate redeemable for goods and/or services. If you have

season tickets for an event that you are unable to attended, consider donating them for the

auction. (I asked my gym for a donation, and they offered $100 gift certificate without

any hesitation!)

Consider making a gift basket. Popular themes include “Movie Night,” “Dog/Cat

Lovers,” “Chocolate Lovers.”

Make a cash donation. If you are able to attend the auction, but would like to support this

ministry, please consider a cash donation in any amount.

Last year's event raised almost $20,000 to benefit this amazing social outreach ministry and

this year's auction is shaping up to be even more successful!

World Communion Sunday is

October 4, 2015

Around the globe, countless gifted and qualified people face

financial obstacles that hinder them from preparing for the

vocation God has given them, especially youth and young

adults. For ethnic students who will be the first generation in

their families to attend college, or for those people of color

who haven’t historically had access to resources that make

higher education possible, the road toward education has

often been unwieldy.

What would it look like if the church today imitated Jesus’

affirmation of the full dignity and God-given potential of all

women and men—especially those who’ve historically been

assigned to the world’s margins? On World Communion

Sunday your giving helps to provide scholarships for national

and international graduate students whom God has gifted to

learn and to serve.

Equipping Disciples Like Mary Grace to Serve in Jesus’ Name

As a small child Mary Grace Galapon labored as a housemaid in exchange for food and clothing. Yet, allowed

to attend church, she found hope. As a member of The United Methodist Church, your giving on World

Communion Sunday has allowed this deaconess, of the Mindanao Phillipines Annual Conference, to pursue an

education that is now changing her community as she works to eliminate poverty.

Mary Grace’s work, and the impact of hundreds more like her, are possible because you give.

Will You Equip World-Changers?

Will you give generously on World Communion Sunday to make education and vocational impact possible for

more students, like Mary Grace? Will you equip gifted and qualified students from around the globe to become

the world-changers God created them to be?

Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” And

because the people of The United Methodist Church believe that all of God’s children have been created and

gifted to build the kingdom Jesus ushered in, we’re resourcing them to do just that. Because of your giving on

World Communion Sunday, the most powerful tool to change the world is in more hands.

There will be a special UM Offering Envelope in your bulletin on October 4th. Please write “World

Communion Sunday” in the memo field of your check. All contributions will show on your giving

statement. If you would like to give by mail:

Send checks to: GCFA

P.O. Box 340029

Nashville, TN 37203

Please put “World Communion Sunday” in the memo field.

Pastors and Laity are welcome to join us for a workshop and

fellowship with Bishop Violet Fisher on

September 12, 2015 at Plymouth UMC, Plymouth, Ma

Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Please RSVP to the RISEM District Office no later

than September 5, 2015

401-246-1100 or rim@neumc.org

A light Lunch will be provided.

Theme: Back to Basics!

How can we experience God deeply in the midst of ministry?

How rich is our spiritual oxygen?

How do we take care of ourselves as a Christian, a church leader,

and a pastor?

How can we strengthen our original call or first love of God?

“We hear again and again, both from the unchurched and from local churches that are deeply engaged with

the unchurched in their communities, that loving, genuine relationships are the only remaining currency

readily exchanged between the churched and the churchless. For the sake of the life-changing message of

Jesus, and of the Great Commission to share that message entrusted to us, the Christian community has

an obligation to understand the unchurched. We believe that now, more than ever, it is urgent for church

leaders and all Christians to understand cultural dynamics, to understand the times, in order to respond”

( Churchless: Understanding Today's Unchurched and How to Connect with Them )

However, before we engage in the dialogue with the unchurched and think about how to preach the Gospel,

we have to remember the fact that we cannot give what we don’t have, which is close to our God. The

church must take care of themselves before they can do anything for anyone or the churchless. The church

leaders, therefore, should concentrate on feeding themselves enough to have passions for spreading the

Gospel and to be contagious and equipping lay people for their own ministry.

The workshop will concentrated on practical questions:

How to experience God deeply in the midst of ministries and with the ministries?

How rich is our spiritual oxygen?

How do we take care of ourselves as a Christian, a church leader, and a pastor?

How can we strengthen our original call or first love of God?

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:00 PM

Women’s

Spirituality Group

2 7:00 PM Church

Council Meeting

3 7:00 PM Worship

Committee

Meeting

4 5

6 Communion

Sunday

7 Labor Day;

Office Closed

8

9 10

7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

11 Rev. Moo Back

from Vacation

12

13 Rally Sunday

14 15 16 17 7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

18 19

20 21 22 7:00 PM

Barrington

Emmaus

Fellowship

23

24

6:00 PM Annual

SPRC Meeging

with D.S.

7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

25 26 2-3:30 PM

BUMC Lego Club

in Fellowship Hall

27 10:30 AM MLF

Food Prep/Run

28 29 30

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:00 PM Worship

Committee

Meeting

7:30 PM Choir

Rehearsal

2 3

4 Communion

Sunday

5 6 7:00 PM

Women’s

Spirituality Group

7 7:00 PM Church

Council Meeting

8 6-9:00 PM

Hameho Garden

Club Meeting in

Fellowship Hall

7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

9 12:00 PM

Fellowship

Luncheon

10

11 12 Columbus Day;

Office Closed

13 14 15 7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

16 17

18 Laity Sunday

19 20 21 22

6-9:00 PM MLF

of RI Annual

Fundraiser at

Metacomet

Country Club

7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

23 24

25

26 27

7:00 PM

Barrington

Emmaus

Fellowship

28 1:00 PB&J Team

4:30 PM MLF

Food Prep/Run

29 7:00 PM Choir

Rehearsal

30 31

Save the Date: BUMC Annual Church Conference will be Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM with Rev. Lynn McCracken as Presiding Elder.

Welcoming Word

September/October 2015

Barrington United Methodist Church

Rev. Byungmoo Lee

230 Washington Road

Barrington, RI 02806

Office Hours:

Administrator: Monday — Friday: 10 am—2 pm

Pastor: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 am—1 pm; by appointment

Sunday Worship Service: 9:00 AM

Phone: 401-245-2385

Parsonage: 401-247-9702

Church: bumcchurchoffice@gmail.com

Pastor: bmlee66@gmail.com

Church Website: www.bumcri.org

Facebook: Barrington Umc

Lovingly mailed with prayers and blessings to:

Blessing for Family

May our family be blessed with comforts of the physical

And riches of the spirit.

May our paths be lit with sunshine

And sorrow ne’er darken our doors.

May our harvest be bountiful

And our hearth ever welcoming.

May we celebrate together in times of joy

And comfort one another in times of sorrow.

And mostly:

May we always stay together

And share the laughter, the love, and the tears

As only family can.

-Danielle Brigante