Leighton`s Levity - First United Methodist Church

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May 2015
Celebration
Times
Contemporary
8:00 AM Sundays
9:15 AM Bible Study
Worship—
Sunday School for all
ages – Sept. - May
Traditional
10:30 AM Sundays
“We are God’s
People Sharing the
Love of Christ!”
Website:
www.fumcgreeley.org
Email:
office@fumcgreeley.org
Leighton’s Levity
"The best way to garden is to put on a wide-brimmed straw hat and
some old clothes. And with a hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other,
tell somebody else where to dig."- Texas Bix Bender, Don't Throw in the
Trowel. This was one of the great philosophies my Dad used to practice
with great regularity. He would supervise all gardening that we three kids
would do while reclined in a lounge chair in our backyard. His other great
requirement in the spring and summer was to have us pick a bucket full of
dandelions before we headed out for any adventures.
We are heading into one of the best times of the year. May is the
traditional time here in Colorado that we can start to get or hands dirty. As
Christians, there should be no one more thankful than us for creation. What
a gift, and we have been charged with its care for a very long time.
Remember Adam and Eve? “God said, See, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree… And
every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air…God saw everything
that he made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Gen.1: 29-31). How are we
doing? I pose the question not to go through the endless debate about what
we are or aren’t doing to the planet, but to remind us of the amazing gift
God gave us in creation. One of the easiest ways to remind ourselves is to
plant something. Take the time to care for something and see what comes
up? We might say; it is very good! Enjoy your Spring.
Happy Easter!
Grace and Peace,
Leighton
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Rev. Leighton Mekeal
Senior Pastor
Debbie Hull
Minister of Congregational
Care and Development
Greetings,
T. J. Jackson
Music Director
Kathy Trevino
Director of Operations
Nathan Fry
Organist
Ginny Gingrich
Pianist
Erik Elliott
JP Trevino
Sound Technicians
Marilyn Morgan
Savannah Womer
Nursery Staff
Ray Garcia
Custodian
Travis Andersen
Security
Ginger Jansson
Newsletter Editor
tgjansson@gmail.com
Lydia Pyle
Parish Nurse
I can't believe it is already May. It's funny how time goes so quickly
the older I get. I remember looking forward to May 1st. I would spend
the day with my sisters and the neighborhood kids making construction
paper baskets. Then we would go around the neighborhood picking
flowers for the baskets. And then of course we would sneak up onto the
porch, set the basket down, ring the doorbell and run to hide.
We weren't good at hiding because we wanted to see the smile on the
faces of those receiving the flowers.
I think May Day was the beginning of "Random Acts of Kindness." At
least it was for me. I just found out there is a Random Acts of Kindness
week in February. I wonder what it would be like if we declared a year
or more for Acts of Kindness. News stations would have to start and
end their broadcasts showing someone doing an act of kindness. Each
day each person would be asked to perform an act of kindness. Maybe
we could begin to change our world for the better.
So for the month of May I'm asking you to help me make my dream
into a reality. Oh, I know we can't change the news broadcast but each
of us can do at least one act of kindness each day. Maybe it will be
helping someone you meet on the streets or in a store, or maybe it will
be as simple as calling someone you haven't talked to in a while. Or
maybe you will find your inner child and deliver a May basket to a
neighbor. You decide. But be sure to look for the opportunities each
and every day for the month of May.
Let’s start changing our world together!
Shalom, Rev. Deb
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
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News from the Giftz Clinic
I am sitting here typing the newsletter with my foot elevated, ice applied, and realizing how falls can be serious problems
as we get a little older. I felt this an appropriate subject, as I have a fractured foot due to a fall.
A fall can be life changing. If you're elderly, it can lead to disability and a loss of independence. If your bones are fragile from osteoporosis, you
could break a bone, often a hip. Aging alone doesn't make people fall. Diabetes and heart disease affect balance. So do problems with circulation,
thyroid or nervous systems. Some medicines make people dizzy. Eye problems or alcohol can be factors. Any of these things can make a fall more
likely. Babies and young children are also at risk of falling - off of furniture and down stairs, for example.
Falls and accidents seldom "just happen." Taking care of your health by exercising and getting regular eye exams and physicals may help reduce
your chance of falling. Getting rid of tripping hazards in your home and wearing nonskid shoes may also help. To reduce the chances of breaking a
bone if you do fall, make sure that you get enough calcium and Vitamin D.
A simple thing can change your life—like tripping on a rug or slipping on a wet floor. If you fall, you could break a bone, like thousands of older
men and women do each year. A broken bone might not sound awful. But, for older people, a break can be the start of more serious problems.
Many things can cause a fall as previously mentioned, but don’t let a fear of falling keep you from being active. It is important to remain active with
activities such as gardening, getting together with friends, or walking.
You can take steps to prevent and lower your risks of falls. Here are a few hints to help you avoid falls:
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Stay physically active. Plan an exercise program that is right for you. Regular exercise improves muscles and makes you
stronger. It also helps keep your joints, tendons, and ligaments flexible. Mild weight-bearing activities, such as walking or
climbing stairs, may slow bone loss from osteoporosis.
Have your eyes and hearing tested. Even small changes in sight and hearing may cause you to fall. When you get new
eyeglasses, take time to get used to them. Always wear your glasses when you need them. If you have a hearing aid, be
sure it fits well, and wear it.
Find out about the side effects of any medicine you take. If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, tell your doctor or
pharmacist.
Get enough sleep. If you are sleepy, you are more likely to fall.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Even a small amount of alcohol can affect your balance and reflexes.
Stand up slowly. Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure to drop. That can make you feel wobbly.
Use a walking stick if you need help feeling steady when you walk. If your doctor tells you to use a cane or walker, make
sure it is the right size for you and the wheels roll smoothly. This is very important when you're walking in areas you don't
know well or in places where the walkways are uneven.
Be very careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces. They can be very slippery! Try to have sand or salt spread on icy
areas by your front or back door.
Wear non-skid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes, or lace-up shoes with non-skid soles that fully support your feet. It is
important that the soles are not too thin or too thick. Don't walk around on stairs or floors in socks or in shoes and slippers
with smooth soles.
There are many changes you can make to your home that will help you avoid falls and ensure your safety.
Hallways, stairways, and pathways:
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Have handrails on both sides of the stairs, and make sure they are tightly fastened. Hold the handrails when you use the
stairs, going up or down. If you must carry something while you're on the stairs, hold it in one hand and use the handrail
with the other. Don't let what you're carrying block your view of the steps.
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Make sure there is good lighting with light switches at the top and bottom of stairs and on each end of a long hallway.
Remember to use the lights!
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Keep areas where you walk tidy. Don't leave books, papers, clothes, and shoes on the floor or stairs.
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Check that all carpets are fixed firmly to the floor so they won't slip. Put no-slip strips on tile and wooden floors. You can
buy these strips at the hardware store.
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Don't use throw rugs or small area rugs.
In Bathrooms and Powder Rooms:
 Mount grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower.
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Place non-skid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet.
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Remember to turn on night lights.
In Your Bedroom:
 Put night lights and light switches close to your bed.
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Keep your telephone near your bed.
In Other Living Areas
 Keep electric cords and telephone wires near walls and away from walking paths.
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Tack down all carpets and large area rugs firmly to the floor.
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Arrange your furniture (especially low coffee tables) and other objects so they are not in your way when you walk.
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Make sure your sofas and chairs are the right height for you to get in and out of them easily.
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Don't walk on newly washed floors—they are slippery.
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Keep items you use often within easy reach
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Don't stand on a chair or table to reach something that's too high—use a "reach stick" instead or ask for help. Reach
sticks are special grabbing tools that you can buy at many hardware or medical-supply stores. If you use a step stool,
make sure it is steady and has a handrail on top. Have someone stand next to you.
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Don't let your cat or dog trip you. Know where your pet is whenever you're standing or walking.
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Keep emergency numbers in large print near each telephone
Source: National Institute of Health, 2014
Blessings, Lydia Pyle
Giftz Clinic Schedule
May 17, 2015
June 7, 2015
July 5, 2015
August 2, 2015
Blood Pressure Clinic, 9-11 AM
Prevnar vaccination 9-noon
Blood Pressure Clinic, 9-11 AM
Blood Pressure Clinic, 9-11 AM
Blood Pressure Clinic, 9-11 AM
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Happy Birthday!
Mary Jo Hall
Casey Tebbs
Lois Curtis
Betty Ault
Wilda Burkhart
Merle Smith
Marian Voelz
Ben Lawrence
Gwen Quick
Jody Scholfield
Dee Jacoby
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88
102
85
88
94
86
87
87
86
91
05/01
05/02
05/04
05/10
05/11
05/13
05/13
05/14
05/17
05/23
05/27
Anniversaries
Gene & Joan Hammer
Ken & Ruth Fischer
51 yrs. 05/16
68 yrs. 05/28
FUMC FINANCIALS
COMMITTEE EXPENSES YTD THRU Mar. 2015
Conference Apportionment
$ 5,980.00
Communication
$ 1,791.63
Personnel
$ 74,955.98
Education
$
504.99
Caring & Evangelism
$
0
Membership Activity
$
176.28
Worship
$
446.56
Board of Trustees
$ 29,026.67
Administration
$ 1,862.23
Finance
$
9.66
Youth/College
$
623.63
TOTAL EXPENSES
$ 115,377.63
GIFTS RECEIVED YTD THRU Mar.
$ 108,941.29
BALANCE
$ -6,436.34
Members Visit Other Churches
Jerry & Lynette Wassemiller – March 29,
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Victoria, BC
New Members: Joined Sunday April 19th
Deaths
April 17 - Gordon Sawatzky
Stacey O'Rourke
Marion and Virginia Gunderson
LUNCH AND A MOVIE –
Thursday, May 7th, Noon
On Thursday, May 7th, at noon we will be watching The Imitation Game. This movie chronicles
mathematical wizard Alan Turing's key role in Britain's successful effort to crack Germany's Enigma
code during World War II. This historical biopic also recounts how his groundbreaking work helped
launch the computer age. Based on a true story.
So as always, bring your lunch and I will bring the drinks as we sit back and watch a great
movie.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AT THE ROCKIES
See you there. ~
Deb
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Youth News
GRADUATION SUNDAY
On Sunday May 17th we will be recognizing all of our high school and college graduates. If you know
of such a graduate, please call the church office and let us know. We don't wish to leave anyone out!
The Youth Group is headed to Youth 2015 – the quadrennial national Methodist Youth
Conference- in Orlando, Florida in June. We greatly appreciate your support to help get us there.
Please keep us in your prayers.
SAVE THE DATES
Mark your calendars now so you don't miss out on our exciting activities!
Habitat for Humanity - May 2nd
Vacation Bible School - June 15 - 19, 5:30 - 8pm
All Church Picnic - Sunday, June 28th right after the 3rd service
Wildlife Sanctuary - July 17th (8:00am), July 18th (5:00pm)
Faith Day at the Rockies - July 26th, 11:45am
For more information on any of the activities, please call Debbie 353-5522
THE VALENTINE BARBERSHOP &
SWEET ADELINES CHORUS CONCERT
On Friday, May 8th, at 2:00pm the Valentine Barbershop and the Sweet Adelines Chorus "The Blend"
will be presenting "God and Country" concert in Loveland. The cost is free if we have 10 or
more attending. Our own Gary and Maxine Bracken are in the chorus. We will meet at the church
at 12:45 and leave by 1pm. Come and take a ride in the new bus and hear some wonderful music. There
is a signup sheet outside the office door, or call the church office and let us know you are coming!
FAITH DAY AT THE ROCKIES
Sunday, July 26th is Faith Day at the Rockies. Besides watching a fantastic ballgame you will be
treated to a concert by Christian artist Michael W. Smith. Cost of the tickets is $15. We will leave for
the game immediately after the 3rd service (approx. 11:45). The game begins at 2:10. We might even
get there early enough to receive a Nolan Arenado Gold Glove bobblehead! We need to have 25
people sign up to get the $15 tickets. So bring your friends to church and then let’s head to the game.
Signup sheets are outside the office door!
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UMW Awareness Update
The Leadership team for Greeley FUMC United Methodist Women would like to thank all who participated in our
first fund raiser for 2015 - our Palm Sunday bake sale. Even though we have fewer women with access to ovens and
supplies, we had an abundance of goodies and a goodly supply of you to purchase them and take them home for
enjoyment. Thank you again for your support.
We have also introduced a special fund raising opportunity - Pennies for Mission which is off to a healthy start. We
have over $8.00 in just two Sunday mornings and will continue this project through the first part of December. There is
plenty of time to participate and we will keep you updated with the total and with the places it will be used in future
newsletter notes and in the bulletin.
United Methodist Women is organized to be a community learning to serve God and be in mission around the globe.
Your participation in our fund raising is helping with these goals.
Forget-Me-Not Ministry
The Forget-me-not Ministry is continuing the work of becoming an important part of First United Methodist
Church of Greeley. Our thanks go to all who have volunteered to work with this ministry.
We want to remind everyone that we are here to be a link between the members who are able to participate in
the services each week and the ones who are no longer able to do so. We can also visit those who are
temporarily limited in getting out to participate, but we need to know who you are and how we can help. Please
call the church office to keep the staff informed so we can get you or someone you know added to our list.
Thanks for all the co-operation we have been given.
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WEAR THE FAITH – SHARE THE FAITH
Wear the Faith – Share the Faith shirts and aprons can be ordered in the church office now. Stop by the
office at your convenience and look through the notebook labeled Wear the Faith – Share the Faith, which
shows a variety of the following:
T-shirts, short and long sleeved
Sweatshirts, crew, hooded, and zip front
Polo shirts
Twill shirts
Denim shirts
Fleece vests and zip jackets
Aprons
The fleece vests are a different style this year—no elastic around the bottom.
The aprons are a new item this year. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a logo apron for when you work in the
church kitchen?
If you would like to purchase an item, please print your name and telephone number on the order form
(found by the notebook in the church office)) and fill in the columns with the description, size, color, and
price. Items should be paid for when they are ordered. A pricing sheet is provided in the notebook. Be sure
to add $3.00 to the price of each item when ordering sizes 2XL or larger. The sale ends Sunday, May 17th.
If you have any questions, please call Pat Pringle at 353-7984.
A BIG thank you to everyone who made the sadness and beauty of Holy week and
Easter Sunday possible for all of us.
All our music~~the combined choir on Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, our organist, our
pianists, the bell choir, the contribution of beautiful flowers, and the tastefully decorated sanctuary
for Easter. Last, but not least, the messages received during all of these services. Thank you to our
staff and volunteers for making our church special.
A faithful follower, Lynette
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I Didn’t Know That!
Luella and I have begun the next phase of looking and sorting the historical files after a long hiatus. We
found a Sunday School book that the superintendent used to plan lessons in 1900. It is possible that the
class each had their own book. Look at how tiny the print is.
How many of us could read the material without our glasses. I venture to say not many. And the song
books were even smaller. We'll try to show you one next time. Happy reading!
In Christ,
Nancy Morgan
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You're Invited to a CELEBRATIONThe Greeley Chorale's 50th Anniversary Concert
Please consider this as your personal invitation to attend one of your community's premier
chorale groups-The Greeley Chorale 50th Anniversary Concert, Saturday evening, May 9th,
7:30p.m., at the Union Colony Civic Center. Tickets can be purchased at the UCCC or on-line
atwww.greeleychorale.org. This concert will be the culmination of our celebratory 50thyear
anniversary. We are including the The Greeley Children's chorale which we helped to form; Dr.
Weng, UNC Piano Professor; Dr. Howard Skinner, UNC Professor Emeritus and founder of the
Chorale; and an original arrangement by Mack Wilberg, conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
will be featured, as well as a piece written for the Children's Chorale/Greeley Chorale by Nathan
Howe, choral director at Fort Morgan High School, and grandson of FUMC members.
Several members of FUMC sing within the Chorale. The Greeley Chorale is a group which has
performed around the world. We were very honored to perform the Mozart Requiem in Rome in
2005 to a crowd of 2,000. Please allow us to share our joy of singing with you on what we believe
will be a special evening of history, reflection, great singing with guest artists, and a reception for
those in attendance to acknowledge our thanks to the Greeley community for 50years of support.
We look forward to seeing you in the audience on May 9th.
SPECIAL THANKS
This year has been a different year for the Alleluia Ringers with a move from the third floor to the lower
floor just outside of fellowship hall. We have also welcomed a new player-Amanda McCosh. We have been
grateful for Linda Kautz jumping onboard to fill in a spot within the ranks on a fulltime basis. Our group tries
to present music within our worship services once a month. We hope you will be present on Mother's Day as
we play-"What A Friend We Have in Jesus" and "What Wondrous Love Is This". It is a pleasure to make
music, share in joys and concerns in each other's lives, and give glory to God through sharing our talent with
you as often as possible. If you would like to consider learning more about how you might participate within
the bells please contact Connie Long at 970-371-5277. We are always looking to increase our players.
Thanks to Kathy Trevino, Barb Wolf, Laverne Dressor, Lisa Schnelzer, Linda Kautz, Andi Arizmendi, David
Pringle, Amanda McCosh, Marcia Walters, Cheryl Biwer, Erik Elliott, and subs-Don Kautz, Dee Kratochvil,
Susy Mekeal, Marian Rugge, for all your dedication and commitment.
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To the pastor and staff of the First United Methodist Church:
On behalf of all the students in Level 3 at The Global Refugee Center, we thank you very much for
allowing us to move to the larger room at the west end of the hallway on the third floor of your beautiful
church.
You have been so welcoming and helpful as we have all transitioned to your wonderful facility. The
students are nicely settled in, and have adjusted well and appreciate the new location for school.
The room we’ve been occupying has served us well, with the exception of days when all the students in
Level 3 attend, and then we’ve found ourselves crowded, and some days without enough places at one of
the tables for everyone to sit.
So, we do look forward to our move to a larger room and thank you again for being so accommodating to
us all.
Sincerely,
Mary Collins, Level 3 teacher
Dear Church,
Thank you for welcoming to your beautiful church.
Thanks, Lubna Abdela from Ethiopia
Dear Church,
We are very happy because we will get bigger room we have bee very crowded in old classroom. So we
are very happy to moving new classroom.
Thank you for welcoming us to your beautiful church.
Mohammad Faisal, from Burma
Dear Church,
We’re thanting you for letting us move to a bigger room. We have been very crowde in our other
classroom.
I’m Eveline Mengyimanyi from Cameroon
Dear Church,
Thank you for letting us move to a bigger room. I am happy. I like classroom.
Thank you for welcoming us to your beautiful church.
Nyo Nyo from Thailand
Dear Church,
Thank you for letting us move to a bigger room. We have been very crowded in our other classroom.
Thank you for welcoming us to you beautiful church.
My name is Ali Salat from Somalia
Dear Church,
I want thankful for to provide your installations to come to school. Tank you for us moving to a bigger
room. I’m happy for coming here.
I’m Veronica and I’m from Mexico
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PREACHING SCHEDULE
Sermon Series - Jesus Is The Way
May 3rd - "Planting Time" - John 12:20-26
May 10th - "Who Do You Say That I Am" - Matthew 16:13-20
May 17th - "Set, Go!" - Hebrews 12:1-2
May 24th - Pentecost - Acts 2:1-11
May 31st - Stay Tuned!