The Messenger | June 2015 - Montgomery United Methodist Church

Sunday,
June 14th
Please join us for the
It’s not too late to register for our summer fitness
church picnic sponsored
camp!
by the Together in Life Committee on Sunday, June
14th from 3:00 to 6:00pm.
Fitness camp is designed for children ages 4-7 and
will be held June 29th through July 3rd, from 9:30 to
Enjoy good food, good fellowship, and fun for the
whole family! Fried chicken will be provided, and we 11:00am each day.
are asking that families bring dishes based on the first
Don’t let your kids miss out on this wonderful
letter of your last name:
opportunity! Karen Skidmore’s education, training,
experience, and enthusiasm for kids make her the
A-G - Side Dish (salad, pasta, beans)
perfect person to motivate and inspire your kids to be
H-O - Fruit or Veggie Tray
P-Z - Dessert
the best they can be!
Please contact Kim Kelley if you have any questions.
The cost for each camper is $25. Camp applications
are available in church office or on the church
website, montumc.org.
Holiday Food Baskets - (4th of July Picnic)
Summer is coming quickly and we are preparing a picnic basket for the Holiday Food
Basket families. The Holiday Food Basket Committee realizes that Independence Day is
not a religious holiday, but the summertime is very difficult for these families. Many of
them depend on food programs through the schools that don’t run in the summer.
Traditionally food banks are low this time of year. So the 4th of July seemed like a perfect
holiday to help these families one more time.
The committee will be putting together a picnic basket with all the fixings: hot dogs, hamburgers, pickles,
potato salad, baked beans, chips, watermelon etc. We also want to help fill the families' pantries with food for
breakfasts and lunches for the children. You can help by making monetary donations for the perishable foods
or by bringing in one of the non-perishable items below. Sunday School classes are being asked to help with
specific items but all donations are accepted. Please place all food items in the coatroom or in classroom B.
Monetary donations can be put in Rosa Mandich’s mailbox in the coatroom; please mark it as being for the
“Holiday Food Baskets.”
(continued on page 12)
Page 2
June 1
June 7
June 14
Newsletter submission deadline for the J uly-August edition
Summer Sunday School schedule begins. See ar ticle on
page 7.
Church Picnic, 3:00pm to 6:00pm
June 19
Frederick Keys baseball game vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks, 7:00pm at Har r y Gr ove
Stadium. Gates open at 6:00pm.
June 20
Men's Breakfast, 7:37am in the Fellowship Hall
June 21
Happy Father's Day!
Deadline for donations for 4th of July Holiday Food Baskets
June 22
Heritage Circle Luncheon, 12:00 noon at Mountain Gate Restaur ant. Meet at chur ch at
11:00am to carpool.
June 29 through July 3
Summer Fitness Camp for childr en ages 4-7, 9:30 to 11:00am
each day at the church
July 4
Happy Independence Day!
July 6 through July 10
Vacation Bible School, 9:00am to 12:00
noon each day
Attention, Guys! Men’s Breakfast June 20th
The next Men’s Breakfast, and our last one prior to September, is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th, at
7:37am, in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us for some really good food and a great time of fellowship!
Dress is extremely casual. We’re usually done by 9:00, so you have plenty of time to get things done the rest
of the day. Hope to see you there!
Heritage Circle News -- Luncheon June 22nd
The annual Heritage Circle luncheon will be held on June 22rd at the Mountain Gate Restaurant in Thurmont.
Lunch begins at 12:00 pm. Those who wish to drive or ride with others should plan to meet at 11:00am at the
church. Please contact Kate Warfield or Gloria Warfield if you plan to attend and if you will be meeting at
11:00am for transportation.
Vacation Bible School -- Excitement Building!
Test tubes are bubbling and excitement is building for our 2015 Vacation
Bible School, scheduled for July 6th through July 10th. More than 200
children and volunteers will fill the hallways and grounds of our church
building from 9:00am to 12:00 noon each day as we discover God’s Plan
4U=Jesus! at Son Sparks Labs. Each fun-filled day will include a Bible
lesson, a craft, music, snack, recreation, and a hilarious theme-based skit.
Most classes are filled to overflowing, but if your child is not registered and would like to attend, please
contact Marti Seraphin at 301-253-4460 x107.
List of items needed is on page 4.
Page 3
June is the month for Father’s Day. As I think about what to say that can be of value to fathers, I recall a book,
Temptations Men Face, by Thomas Eisenmann. His book lists several temptations that can get in the way of
our being the fathers we should be and the fathers our Heavenly Father wants us to be. Let me share a few
thoughts based on his book.
The first temptation fathers need to face (and avoid) is the temptation to give things instead of giving ourselves
(our presence and our personal involvement). I saw a statistic which says the average father only spends 15
minutes a day with his children. Our children need our presence. This includes things like attending a ball
game, or a band concert, or church. It includes being there when homework calls for a father’s encouragement. We can’t always be present, but nothing takes the place of a father who gets involved.
Another temptation to avoid is to save our best for the workplace. We don’t have an endless supply of
emotional energy, enthusiasm, humor, etc. Sometimes fathers use up these things at work and leave virtually
nothing for the end of the day. The result: our wives and kids get only leftovers! What we fathers need to do
is to pace ourselves. Otherwise we will be lifeless, negative, and perhaps boring around the house. We rather
should think ahead, maintain our priorities, and keep our families joyfully surprised!
Next, we must avoid giving lectures, and learn to respect by listening and learning. God’s word tells us we
should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (see James 1:9). All too often, our normal
tendency is to first get mad, then to shout, and finally (perhaps) we listen. Dads must remember that our home
is not an extension of the office; our wife and children are not our employees. We may get respect at work
automatically. At home, we must earn it the old-fashion way. We must work for it!
The last temptation I want to consider, and that we need to avoid, is the temptation to demand perfection from
those under our roof. Remember that even an all-star baseball player who bats .350 still makes an out, 65 of
100 at-bats. It’s all too easy to set our expectations for our wife and our kids out of reach, expecting them to
bat a thousand. The Bible tells us (see Ephesians 6:4) not to exasperate our children. And a kid who can never
jump quite high enough is surely an exasperated kid. And the cause, perhaps, is a father who mistakenly
thinks good coaching is always raising the bar!
I must acknowledge no father is perfect either. But surely, dads, I hope you agree with me about our need to
avoid these temptations. Father’s Day is a day when we expect gifts. But just think: what greater gift can we
give our families than avoiding these temptations if they are a part of our lives.
Our fathers are not perfect, but one more thing he is: he’s your dad, the only one you will ever have! More
than any gift you can buy, what he really needs from you on this Father’s Day is to hear you say, “Dad, I love
you!” If it is possible, I hope you will tell him that on this special day.
Pastor Ken
Page 4
Vacation Bible School --
(Continued from page 2)
Help is needed providing snack items for each day. Items needed are:

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1000 5 oz. cups
1200 napkins
5 large canisters (Costco or Sam’s Club size) Country Time Lemonade
drink mix
7 boxes Ritz crackers
5 12 oz tubs whipped cream cheese
3 Large cans Reddi Whip (or alternate brand)
20 large pkg cherry jello
20 large pkg lemon jello
16 large pkg berry blue jello
10 boxes Nabisco Honey Grahams
4 cans white icing
2 boxes fruit by the foot (any flavor)
3 large boxes EACH—Cheerios, goldfish, mini pretzels, mini marshmallows
All items can be dropped off in the church office. Please leave items there by June 30th.
KITSS News (Keeping In Touch with Students and Service Members)
The school year flew by again this year. The kids will be home or maybe they are already home. Enjoy your
time with them. This past school year we sent packets to 26 college students and seven military personnel.
Each month we try to coordinate packet contents with a color or holiday for the month. As a service project,
the Confirmation Class took on the full task of completing the April packets.
We are now starting to prepare for our graduation acknowledgements in June. If your child is graduating or
graduated in the fall, please reach out to a team member and let us know. Our team contact information is
provided below. We have started compiling the graduation announcement and would like to include your
child and his or her future plans. If your child is heading on to graduate school, we would love to keep him/
her on our mailing list. Look for a graduation insert in the weekly church bulletin coming soon.
Over the summer months, we will continue to send monthly packets to our seven military personnel. We are
so grateful for their daily dedication, commitment and service they provide to our country.
If you know of someone we should be keeping in touch with, we would love to add that person to our
mailings. We know that the kids enjoy getting our packets and are thankful for our ministry to them.
In Christ’s Love,
Sharyl Corsetto and Susan King, KITSS Co-Chairs
You may contact any KITSS team member or the church office @301-253-4460:
Page 5
The halls are quiet now as our 31st school year finished up on Friday, May 29th. We had a busy month, with
outdoor days, “Muffin’s with Mom” for our 4 year old students and their Moms, the school picnic, the end of
the year “Moving On" ceremonies for our 4’s and Pre-K’s, and of course all our regular monthly units.
In June we reorganize as we clean up and put away from this past year and start looking forward to the 201516 school year. We do have a few afternoon spots available for the fall in our 3’s and 4’s classes. If you
know of anyone interested, please ask them to contact the school office at 301-253-4884 or email the director
at msolsen@mmchildrenscenter.org.
It was a great year! We hate saying good-bye to our students but look forward to seeing many of them again
in the fall. We will truly miss all those MMCC students (and their families) who are graduating and moving
on to the next step in their educational journey. Our hope is that when leaving MMCC, each of our students
will take with them a love of God, a love of school, and the knowledge that they are a special child of our
loving God.
Have a blessed summer!
Margaret Olsen
May 6, 2015 - Muffins with Mom
Page 6
Confirmation Class 2015
Our 2015 Confirmation class has been meeting weekly since the beginning of
February. Members of this group, led by Eric and Laura Stancliff, were received
into full membership in the church during the 9:30am worship service on May 17th.
God has truly blessed all of us with these fantastic young people. We ask for your
continued prayers for them, for their leaders and for their parents.
Members of our 2015 Confirmation Class
Christy Powell (joined on May 10th)
Matthew Apostolico
Megan DeGrouchy
Emma France
Richi Salters
Vicki Salters
Bri Skidmore
Payton Smith
Payton Twiford
Hannah Walters
Thanks, Eric & Laura, for all the time, energy, and love you gave to all the members of this class!
Page 7
Help Wanted!
To ensure the best possible Christian Education program for our congregation this fall, we need YOU to
volunteer. Here are some of our needs:

Teachers and helpers for our Sunday School program for children and youth

Adults who are interested in facilitating adult groups, either on Sundays, Wednesday nights or at any other
time during the week.

Leaders for Children’s Church during the 11:00 worship celebration.
Please prayerfully consider your spiritual gifts, your interests, and your time. Especially this year, when we
will be transitioning to a new Christian Education Director, if you feel called to help in any of these
areas, please contact the church office, 301-253-4460. It’s not too early to plan for the fall!
Summer Sunday School
As we approach the summer vacation season, here are the plans for our summer
Sunday School program:
For children, toddler through 3rd grade: Sunday School will continue through the
summer.
Beginning on June 7th, we will combine some classes:
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Toddlers will meet in Room 2.
Preschool 3’s & 4’s will meet in Room 7/9.
Kindergarten and first grade will meet in Room 4.
Second and third grade will meet in Room 8/10.
For 4th/5th graders, middle school and high school youth:



May 31st will be the last day for regular Sunday School for these youth until the
fall.
Beginning on June 7th, all of this group are encouraged to attend 9:30 worship together or with their
families.
Activities will continue for the youth throughout the summer. These activities will be announced well in
advance.
For Adults:

Our adult study groups will set their own meeting schedules for the summer.
Upcoming National Christian Choir Patriotic Concert
You are invited to join the National Christian Choir in worship at a patriotic concert on Sunday, June 28th,
6:00pm, at Victory Church, 2870 Middle Road, Winchester, Virginia. Please see Sandy Day, Nancy Hood, or
Donna or Skip Isaacs if you need additional information or directions to the church.
Page 8
Health Ministry Monthly Tips…
With the business of our spring season and all that comes with it…STRESS may play a bigger part in your
life than you realize. Take a look at some fun facts about this phenomenon and tips for how to manage it.
Shake, Shake, Shake It Off!
Whether it is pressure at work, financial worries or relationship difficulties, most of us experience stress at
some point in our lives. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, about 75% of
Americans reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress within the past month.
Many who have experienced pressurized situations may have found that we perform better under such
circumstances. This instant boost in concentration and determination is due to a “flight-or-fight” response;
a process that identifies a threat and quickly releases hormones that encourage us to protect ourselves from
perceived harm. When our “fight-or-flight” response overreacts as a result of constant threat exposures,
detrimental health problems can arise.
According to the American Institute on Stress, approximately two out of three doctor visits are stress related.
The common effects of stress can impact not only our mood and behavior, but our bodies too. Have you
ever experienced headaches, inability to sleep, chest pain, muscle tension, or an upset stomach when
stressed? This was not a coincidence. It’s our body’s way of telling us it is time slow down and relax.
By utilizing stress management techniques, we can decrease blood pressure, lower heart rate, slow breathing
rate, and reduce muscle tension. Shake off your stress for a healthier quality of life!
Did You Know?
43% of all adults suffer adverse
health effects from stress, based on
studies conducted by the APA.
The National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH) defines stress as the
“brain’s response to any demand”.
Stress costs the American industry
more than $300 billion annually.
Managing stress is about taking
charge of your thoughts, emotions,
schedule, and the way you deal with
problems.
The Four A's of Dealing with
a Stressful Situation
1. Avoid Unnecessary Stressors
– Learn how to say “no”
– Distinguish the “shoulds” and “musts”
2. Alter the Situation
– Manage your time and plan ahead
– Express your feelings to prevent a buildup of feelings and
concerns
3. Adapt to the Stressor
– Regain a sense of control by changing your expectations and
attitudes
– Look at situations from a positive perspective
4. Accept the Stressor and Situation
– Accept situations you cannot change
– Focus on how you choose to react to the stressful situation.
Source: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stressmanagement.htm
Page 9
Sources: Mental Health America, American Psychological Association, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, National
Institute of Mental Health, American Institute of Stress, the Mayo Clinic, WebMD, LifeWork Strategies EAP, and Adventist
HealthCare. The Health Tip of the Week is for educational purposes only. For medical advice, consult your physician. Feel free to
copy and distribute this health resource.
Fun Food Fact for the Month of June… (courtesy of Audrey Van Deusen!)
Pomegranate
One of the superfoods of the Bible
Abraham lived to 175 years, Isaac lived to 180 years, Jacob lived to 130 years -- Why can't we?
I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley to see if the vines had budded or
the pomegranate were in bloom.
Song of Songs 6:11
The pomegranate is a primary source of ellagitannins, which have cancer researchers optimistic about future
studies. Pomegranates are one of the earliest cultivated fruits, dating back to 3000 BC. They have now
become the new “superfood.” One pomegranate delivers 40% of an adult’s daily vitamin C requirement.
Benefits
Helps boost DNA health to protect against cancer, heart disease, and other age-related diseases. May support healthy skin, prostate and immune function.
The season for pomegranates are between September and January.
Recipe for an Antioxidant Rich Smoothie:
8 C. organic baby spinach
1 C. pomegranate juice
1 C. blueberries, frozen
1 C. strawberries
8 dates, cut in half
2 Tbs flaxseeds, ground
Blend together and enjoy a delicious healthy drink!
Dawn Reardon, Chairperson
MUMC Health Ministry
Page 10
Ladies Tea - May 9, 2015
Page 11
Missions at Montgomery -- A History
By Helen Mahylis
Montgomery UMC has always supported missions. Historically, the women of the church were the leaders in
this effort and early in the 20th century most of the budget of the women's group went to missions. Records
show the Ladies Aid Society in 1921 collected dues of 5 cents a month for foreign and local missions. The
society's meetings were held in homes where there was always an educational program about missions and
refreshments were served. The average attendance was 25.
By 1939 the Ladies Aid Society had become the Women's Society of Christian Service. The dues were 25
cents per month and the average attendance was 50. In addition to dues, the women held fundraisers such as
strawberry festivals with strawberries from their own gardens. They also sold vanilla, dish cloths, crafts, and
lunches at local auctions.
The most successful fundraisers in the 1980s were the Spring and Fall luncheons. The women took orders
from businesses in Damascus and from teachers at local schools, including Montgomery College in Germantown, for lunches to be delivered at specified times. The women and a few men were kept busy running up
and down Route 27 delivering the meals at the right time. Joyce Rhodes ran the operation like a fine-tuned
production line with no glitches. It was hard work, but also a time of fun, fellowship, and much laughter with
a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day. When the United Methodist Women folded, so did this
fundraiser.
In 1976 a line item of $500 for missions was added to our church budget. In the 1980s, special projects also
helped raise funds for missions. We had several successful talent auctions that raised between $1000 and
$1500. One year we held a seed money project where those who wished to participate were given $10 to
multiply in whatever way they chose. Many talents were evident including crafts of many kinds, baking, etc.
Some of the men pooled their money to buy ingredients for making homemade ice cream to be sold at the
annual July fried chicken and country ham picnic. Who was to know that a severe thunderstorm and heavy
rains would cancel the evening festivities and the market for the ice cream profit-maker?
In 1985 we took on the first support of a full time missionary for $50 per month. We supported Gwen Mayne
from Laytonsville who was with Campus Crusade for Christ. In 1989 Pastor Mark Derby felt that it was time
for Montgomery UMC to have a regular missions budget. We held a missions weekend in October that we
called Mission Possible. The congregation was then given an opportunity to make a faith promise pledge. A
faith promise is a covenant between the individual and God to support persons, programs or projects in order
to fulfill the Great Commission; and an act of faith that God will supply the needed funds. Our goal was
$15,000 and the final pledge was $22,500!!! At that time we supported six missionaries.
Today we support twelve mission projects and our current missions budget is $43,900.
National Christian Choir's 7th Annual Golf Tournament
Thursday, June 18th - 8:30 AM - The Links at Gettysburg
Mark your calendar now to take part in The National Christian Choir's 7th Annual Golf Tournament on
Thursday, June 18, 2015. We will again tee off on the lush greens at the picturesque "The Links at Gettysburg" golf course, 601 Mason Dixon Road, in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The tournament will feature
a shotgun start beginning at 8:30am, numerous contests and several hole-in-one prizes including a year’s
lease of a new Ford vehicle! The day concludes with a bountiful awards banquet that includes a superb lunch
served by the staff at "The Links".
Last year we hosted 100 golfers and, thanks to your generosity, we raised funds to help further the ministry of
the National Christian Choir. The 7th Annual Golf Tournament will once again feature a full array of prizes
and the friendly competition and fellowship that are hallmarks of this tournament. And all of this is offered
for the reasonable entrance fee of $100 per golfer. Please join us at The Links, and share the fun of golfing
with the NCC. We may not all be the best golfers, but we enjoy ourselves!
For further information, go to the website: www.nationalchristianchoir.org and click on the links to find
forms to register; you may also contact Sandy Day, Nancy Hood, or Donna or Skip Isaacs.
In His Service,
Sandy Day
Page 12
Holiday Food Baskets - (4th of July Picnic-continued from page 1)
Summer is a busy time and two of our faithful helpers are not available for the summer baskets. If you can
help in any way, please fill out the form below and place it in Rosa Mandich’s mailbox in the coatroom.
We need to have all donations by Sunday, June 21st.
Thank you all again for your help and prayers.
In Him,
Rosa Mandich and Sue Lake
Donation List:
Nursery-
a bottle of catsup and mustard
Toddlers-
cans of Baked Beans
3 years-
cans of soup
4 years-
boxes of cereal
Kindergarten-
bottles of juice
1st grade-
boxes of cereal bars
2nd grade-
boxes of Mac and cheese and/or boxes of pasta
rd
3 gradeth
a jar of Spaghetti Sauce
th
4 and 5 grade-
cans of meat ie: tuna, chicken
6th grade-
Meals in a can is: spaghetti O’s. ravioli
th
th
7 and 8 grade-
Boxes of rice and a jar of pickles
Senor High-
a jar of Peanut Butter and a jar of jelly
Adult Classes-
$5 or more monetary donation for perishable items
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Holiday Food Baskets - (4th of July Picnic)
Name:_____________________________________________
Phone #:_______________________email:____________________________________
I can help by:
Making phone calls______ Sorting______ Shopping______
Delivering_______
Donating hamburger and/or hot dogs:_______
Grocery Store Gift Card ($25)_______