Summertime!
It is July and we are moving into that summer rhythm of vacations and visitors, picnics and a more relaxed schedule for some. For United Methodists with Annual Conference completed, Pastor Sun Hee and I are reappointed to St. Paul for another year of ministry together.
A while back our youth group had an exercise where they thought about when they feel valued – “when people listen and talk to me, when people understand what I am trying to say, when someone cheers me up when I am sad.” These are things we all want! A place to belong and be loved and heard. A community that encourages and knows me. A place where I have something to contribute and learn. This is the kind of place we want St. Paul to be with Jesus at the center!
Many of our ministries and small groups take breaks or daytrips in the summer while others will be getting even busier! I pray that God’s Spirit continues to move among us, guiding and growing us closer to the Lord and one another. That you will find a place to learn, grown, serve and be known through St. Paul UMC!
Take some time to try something new, meet new people and see what others are doing. I give God thanks for the many people who are using their gifts to serve God and spread the gospel through St. Paul!
• July 20th 7 p.m., SPY Showcase (all ages are invited to come and share your talents!)
• July 21st, Shawl Ministry (come learn and bring your knitted, sewn or crocheted items)
• July 21st, Ice Cream Social (United Methodist Women-UMW)
• July 23rd- 27th mornings, Vacation Bible School (VBS by Children’s Ministry)
• August 18th, Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser (St. Paul Youth-SPY) for Christmas Institute
New ministry possibility…
St. Paul is part of CityServe, Faith Communities United in Jesus. It is a Tri-City (Fremont, Newark and Union City) network of churches, pastors and ministry. Compassion Network is an outreach of this group to be the church in the community. Recently the Youth Network (youth ministers) shared a vision – “to have every school in the Tri City Area adopted by a Church for a sustainable, relational outreach, bringing more kids into the Kingdom and therefore increasing academic performance, restoring lives.” This is for public schools from elementary to high school.
I know many of you care about children and our schools and the declining funds going towards nurturing our community’s children. Many of you are active or retired teachers and coaches, can tutor a student or play games and listen. You may want support at your school.
We know that Jesus loves children! And they are among the most vulnerable in challenging times.
If you are interested in caring for children and youth in our community, please contact me. There will be an exploratory meeting Sunday, July 22nd from 4-6 p.m. We will talk and pray together and hear what others have done and learned and seen God do. See me for more details. I pray that St. Paul will gather a team to reach out to a school in our community.
St. Paul United Methodist Church 