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N � � I � � � � � � � fluid. Some of them are transgender and consider themselves in transi�on from one gender iden�ty to another (and there have been several high profile transi�ons in the news lately), but many more iden�fy as trans* (that broad umbrella term used to refer to all of the iden��es within the gender iden�ty spectrum) and are defining a new way of being in the world–one that is not bound by rigid gender norms.

And so we were all invited to name, for ourselves, our preferred pronouns on our name tags. And for a few folks

that meant choosing beyond the binary of he/him or she/her and they chose a plural pronoun of they/them (in the long tradi�on of American Indians and other cultures who recognize 2-spirit people) or the new designa�on is ze/zir. Media outlets struggling to correctly describe the experience of trans* people say “When it comes to pronouns or gendered descriptors, it's be�er to allow people autonomy over their iden��es rather than impose

your own preconcep�ons.” Sounds almost like Biblical advice.

We are a people of transforma�on. We are a counter-cultural band of disciples who are called to move beyond our ordinary ways of thinking, to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the power of the spirit. And these young folks were certainly helping – their devo�on and passion were on display as they demanded the church catch up with their experience. And it occurred to me that they may just be the best chance for the church to be transformed–to be saved from cynicism and to repent of our clericalism. If we listen to who they are, they will rescue us from dead and bri�le religion into a more malleable iden�ty.

Who gets to say who you are? –what you are called? Outside forces, cultural norms, rigid tradi�ons o�en claim that privilege, but the truth is, we get to claim our iden�ty for ourselves. We get to name who we will be as God-created persons. And we worship a God of transforma�on so that iden�ty may just change over �me.

A�er all, Abraham and Sarah, called barren and childless, became the ancestors of genera�ons.

Mary Magdalene, called promiscuous by tradi�on, seemed to consider herself a close follower of Jesus and now we know her as the first witness to the resurrec�on.

Saul, once named a persecutor of the faithful, became Paul the apostle.

The Ethiopian Eunuch was dismissed as a sexual deviant, unworthy to worship, and yet Philip assured him he had the power to declare himself a disciple of Christ..

At the Gather at the River conference this summer, there was a group of young people–teenagers, college students, seminarians and 20-somethings–desperate to determine for themselves who they are. Tired of being called by denomina�on “the future,” they declared their leadership and service to be the “present” of the church. Rejec�ng a culture that o�en names them “selfish” or “apathe�c,” they declared themselves “caring” and “passionate.” Dismissed by the church as being “uninterested in religious tradi�ons,” they asserted their engagement in ancient rituals and relevant ministries of jus�ce and reconcilia�on.

And rejec�ng gender binaries of either male or female, they defined their experience of gender as something more much

OCTOBER 2015 - ( On-Line Edition )

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Eleanor G__ at Wingate Hampden, Marilyn B__ at LifeCare, Wilbraham, Dottie B__ (Joan M__ ’s mom) at Birch Manor in Chicopee, Shirley P__ & Joe M__ at Wingate E.L. and Arnold C__

at Emeritus in E.L.

Special health concerns: Edie B__ , Ken E__ (Denise’s dad), Barbara K__ (Carol J__ ’s mom), Helen L__ , Grace M__ , Phyllis R__ .

October Anniversaries

20 Jean & Joe Merton

Thanks to all who donated backpacks and school supplies for elementary, middle school & high school students.

A total of 12 backpacks, 6 binders, 7 folders, 12 notebooks, 6 packs of �s-sues, 2 dispensers of moist wipes along with dozens of markers, pencils, glue s�cks, highlighters, eraser caps,

note cards, pens, crayons and chalk were donated.

Your generosity will help students with financial need start the school year with much needed supplies.

Editor’s Note: Gordon C. Smith, Superintendent Of Schools for East Longmeadow sent a special thank you:

Thank you so much for this incredible generosity and effort. This is a fantas�c benefit for our students.

We appreciate all of your support. Please pass along a large "Thank You" to everyone involved.

Gree�ng visitors at church is such an important part of the hospitality ministry of the church. Church Greeters form part of the first impression that a visitor receives.

Make your fellow worshipers feel welcome with a warm handshake or a friendly smile. And everyone should wear a name tag as a sign you’re willing to be known to visitors. Please consider becoming a Greeter. To learn more see the Pastor or call the church office.

C���� ������!! Thanks to Bob Grimaldi of Grimaldi’s Cleaning Inc. for a great job cleaning the Social Hall, kitchen and bathroom floors. Bob had to work in over 90° degree weather to get the job done.

BABY NEWS!

Vera & Stephanie Denyko welcome new baby Samuel Antonio Denyko. Born at 6:30 pm, on September 22. 7lbs. 4 oz. 21 inches long.

Dear Friends, Thank you for your generous contribu�on of $100 to benefit our Loaves & Fishes Community Kitchen. In our con�nuing struggle to maintain our services, your concern and support for those who are less fortunate is most welcome and much appreciated.

Sincerely Allison Maynard, Director

Open Pantry Community Services, Inc.

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On November 1st we are remembering our loved ones who have died this last year.

Send the office the names of the loved ones you would like listed in the bulle�n and please include their rela�onship to you and date of death.

S AV E T H E D AT E S

CT/WMA Alleluia Sunday October 18, 2015

3:00 p.m. WESLEY UMC 741 State Street Springfield, MA

Greater Springfield

CROP Hunger Walk

Sunday, October 18

Trinity UMC, 361 Sumner Ave Springfield, MA

Registration: 1:00 PM Start time: 2:00 PM

CWM Resource Day with Bill Easum

Saturday, November 7

Trinity UMC 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield Save the date, details to be

announced soon.

New Hope Regional Ministry Purchases Passenger Van for Ministry Work

(submi�ed by Tom McGowan)

At the April mee�ng for the New Hope Regional Ministry, the

Board of Directors voted unanimously to purchase a 12-passenger van. This marked the end of a near 6-month adventure into the process of

purchasing a capital project request and all the steps toward insur-ing and registering a vehicle under the guid-ance of the United Methodist Church New England Conference.

The van is a 2006 Ford E350 12-passenger van with 139,000 miles in very good interior and exterior features for the purchase price of $8600.00 and formerly operated by Baystate Medical Center. Jim Kahle, a Board member who owners an auto trim and accessory shop on State Street in Springfield spent several months searching various opera�ons and brought this vehicle to the Board’s a�en�on.

The ini�al use of the van will be to transport women from the correc�on department which was recently relocated in Holyoke from Springfield to Wesley United Methodist Church on State Street in Springfield for Power Breakfasts and Sunday Service, a tradi�on the folks at Wesley have provided for several years but were using personal vehicles and making several trips each way every Saturday and Sunday.

Once purchased, the next steps in the process included acquiring insurance and registering it with the state Department of Motor Vehicles. With the help of Church Insurance, who provides insurance for the en�re New England Con-ference, the vehicle and its drivers are insured. The drivers are not required to hold a special license but are ve�ed for safe driving prac�c-es.

The Board is made up of several area United Methodist Churches, in-cluding East Longmeadow United Methodist Church. Funds for the pur-chase, insurance, registra�on and opera�onal expenses for the van come from the legacy endowments of a couple of areas UM churches and supported by the New England Conference.

Other ministry opportuni�es New Hope is involved in include Revitalize (formerly Rebuild Together Springfield); Mar�n Luther King, Jr. Memori-al Breakfast and Scholarship; Jus�ce for Our Neighbors (JFON); Family United Methodist Church Brazilian Ministry and La Mision La Restauracion.

Tom McGowan pu�ng the plates on the New Hope van.

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ELUMC held an all-church camping adventure at Partridge Hollow Campground in Monson August 28-30. The week-

end included games, hiking at nearby Dean Pond, and Bible stories with worship and communion around the campfire. A special thanks to Rick Hutchinson for organizing the event and to all those who shared their crea�vity.

First �me tenters Missy & Efrain Quinones do a great set-up job.

Theo G__ watches Demitre Quinones closely as he uses the Tibetan singing bowl during prayer �me.

Camp leader, Rick Hutchinson, takes an ice cream break. Yum!! Laura Kinney medita�ng in color.

Everyone lends a hand cleaning and packing up a�er a FUN weekend.

Tom McGowan, Rev. Kelly and Denise Evans, at the Worship Design Studio retreat in Maine planning meaningful and memorable worship for the year ahead at ELUMC.

Three very full, rich, inspiring days.

W������ D����� S�����

Camping photos by Kelly Greene & Kelly Turney

A great day for a hike around Dean Pond in Brimfield State Forest.

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Gree�ngs ELUMC family!

It is with exci�ng memories of Regathering Sunday, of Moonlight and Morningstar and our wonderful Chancel choir singing, clapping, moving and praising God in song that I write

to you. Our year is off to a great start, energized in Spirit, with our Tie that Binds series, and as we move into our Capital Campaign and then Advent, my heart is full of special plans, plans for music that I hope you will find moving and enjoyable.

We have amended our rehearsal schedule ever-so-slightly: Bell choir will now rehearse from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursdays, and Chancel choir will follow from 7:30 to 9:00. As usual, new members are always welcome in both choirs. In par�cular, I encourage all you singers out there to join us for the Christmas cantata, The Memory of Angels. This year, as in past years, it will feature guest singers and instrumentalists, but there will be an extra added delight: the return of our Holiday Bake Sale! This wonderful event used to accompany our Holiday Coffeehouse, which was a fantas�c concert but also difficult and burdensome at the holidays. Now, we already have a standing event so why not add something very special to it Please let me or one of the choir members know if you would like to provide baked goods or special holiday sweets!

If you want to sing with us, please plan to start a�ending regular Thursday night rehearsals at 7:30 this year (1/2 hour later than previous years) and also a special kickoff rehearsal and luncheon on Sunday October 24 from 10:30 to 1:30. We will probably schedule a similar block rehearsal some�me in November (perhaps a�er church some Sunday?). The Christmas cantata will be presented on Sunday, December 13th during regular worship at 10:00 am.

It is a joy and a privilege for me to con�nue as your music director - thank you. Feedback in the form of cri�ques or compliments is always welcome, and knowing what you like or doesn’t move you helps in planning future music. So let's keep the lines of communica�on open so we can con�nue to make a joyful noise together!

Peace and blessings, JT

For their September get together, the Singles Ministry group went hik-ing on Tea Bagg trail at Mt. Tom. A�er the hike, everyone enjoyed a fun lakeside lunch.

The Singles group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. On October 15th the group will be having a potluck at 6:00 pm in the Social Hall.

Pictured from le� to right: Rev. Kelly, Lesley Hampton, Cindy Bai-ley, Gary Conz, Denise Evans, Vance Gagnon, Beth Fisk & Marion Tombri Photo by Kelly Greene

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October 4th October 11th

October 18th October 25th

All mee�ngs are from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the Youth Room

K������� N����

November 4, 6:30 p.m. parlor come learn how to create pocket prayer squares for the

upcoming holiday season so we'll have them to bless and distribute to those at home and in assisted living.

Supplies provided (remnant yarn welcome).

Transporta�on available (call the office). 413.525.7416

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M��� O�� M��������� Katherine T. Parker (submi�ed by Lois Harris)

Katherine T. Parker, a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, began serving in 2013 as part of the Health Team of the United Mission to Nepal, focusing on water, sanita�on, and

hygiene. The United Mission to Nepal (UMN) is an ecumenical ministry that has a vision of a “fullness of life for all in a transformed Nepali society.” United Methodists have been involved with UMN since it was founded in 1954. Prior to going to Nepal, Katherine worked in Cambodia where she was involved in developing the Social Concerns Commi�ee of the emerging Methodist Church in Cambodia, and helped develop food security and “livelihood” coopera�ve projects such as cow, pig, chicken and duck raising, rice co-ops, vegetable farming, and various small business projects. Katherine is from California, received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Harvey Mudd College, and her Master of Science degree also in biology from California State University. She started her mission service as an intern in 2000, and completed her mission intern service in 2003. You can read more about Katherine’s work and the UMN efforts for earthquake relief on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bokashi Katherine T. Parker is one of the many missionaries the mission shares help support.

In addi�on to sending in your pledges here are a few more sugges�ons for dona�ons that will help our ministries.

Roll of stamps

Ba�eries for the sanctuary microphones (9 volt & AA)

Donate non-perishable food for the E.L. senior center

Name-brand corkscrew pasta for Our Place meals

Deposit cans and bo�les for youth (side porch)

Pet food for animal shelter

Use your imagina�on to come up with even more ideas.

Thanks for your con�nued support!

S���’� O�

The Mission Shares Marketplace for October will be set up in the social hall following the service on Sunday, October 18th. Feel free to stop by, pick up some delicious soup and bread to go, and help

support the church's global missions.  Thanks.

CRAFTY APPLE FAIR

Saturday, November 14

9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

H��� ��� �� �! The youth group will be working food concessions for the

Cra�y Apple Fair again this year. We are looking for a few more adults to help out.

Please contact Laura Kinney if you can work that day or make a soup/chili for the event. Thank you!

N����� A������� F���� (Submi�ed by Jim Harris)

Thursday, September 17th was the first mee�ng of the “Friends of the Na�ve American Flute” group, led

by Jim and Lois Harris. We didn’t know what to expect —seasoned players or beginners, and we had three of the la�er. We told the legend of the first flute and had a les-son. A fun �me was had by all.

The next session will be on Thursday, October 15th from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. All are invited.

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about how to make a decision about how much to pledge. We know it can be scary and awkward to think how you can take a step toward giving more generously or perhaps even sacrificially and we have though�ul, nonjudgmental people available for one-on-one conversa�ons to help you think though the answer to that nagging ques�on, "how do I know what to give?" It will take every gi� of financial giving & prayers to help us reach our goal of $225,000. Please prayerfully consider how you can be a part of this effort to grow today for tomorrow.

Capital Campaign Team Paul Kinney & Kelly Greene, Co-Chairs

Rick Hutchinson, Co-Lay-Leader John Dunlop, Council Chair, Joan McGowan, Trustees

Kaitlin Leveille, Safe Sanctuary Coordinator Bob Ferguson, Endowment Guru

Kelly Turney, Pastor

Editor’s note: if you are not already a member of the so-cial jus�ce wing of the UMC, you are invited to become a member and subscribe at mfsa.org.

We have entered an important phase in the life of MFSA: the quadrennial gear up for General Conference. By this �me next year, Portland will be in the rear-view mirror and our newest Episcopal leaders will have been elected. And we have poten�al to have a United Methodist Church that looks very different from the one we currently know.

Are you ready for that change?

Change doesn't only happen in momentous ways; it also happens in small, mundane ways, too. Over the next few months, I'll be asking you to help me in the mundane tasks that prepare us for General Conference. Volunteers will be needed, dona�ons will be most welcome, and so-cial media ambassadors will be wrangled as we work to influence not only legisla�on, but also the culture of The United Methodist Church. Your part of this momentum is crucial.

Che� Pritche� Execu�ve Director che�@mfsaweb.org

We've heard lots of great stories about what

ELUMC has meant to you over the years and

the difference it has made in this community. It's been so fun to celebrate our history (thanks to all those historians who have kept and gathered those resources over the years). It's amazing to think of the sacrifice and efforts that have brought us to where we are now and how the task is now ours to be good stewards of the building not just for our current ministries but in passing on the work to those who will come a�er us. So far, we've been blessed with about 13 pledges for $162K. . . that's a tremendous start! And we have those who have already started sending in dona�ons so that we have collected around $40K. FANTASTIC! That speaks so loudly to the commitment folks have to this congrega�on and the confident support of our mission. We even have par�cipa�on from non-members or former members. Truly, there are lots of people who have been touched by this congrega�on over their years -- a child was nurtured through Sunday School and confirma�on, a loved one was memorialized, a meaningful wedding, a hospital visit, or Bible Study, a service that moved them, a prayer for them in hard �mes, a mission trip or project that touched a heart-- many folks have told such stories and now want to give back.

Return pledge cards by October 18 so we can bless

them all together with our District Superintendent, David Calhoun, preaching on October 25.

Following the October 25th service, we'll have a brief all-church conference to act on the

recommenda�on of the Endowment/Finance/Trustee teams to direct their efforts in using the Capital Campaign monies. Then we'll celebrate with an event in the hall (plans are s�ll in the works but it will involve good food and some silly fun) Our campaign team members stand ready to visit anyone who wishes to get more informa�on about this campaign or who would like a holy friend to help you think out loud

SAFE SANCTUARIES

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Address Service Requested

East Longmeadow United Methodist Church 215 Somers Road, STE 2

East Longmeadow, MA 01028-2998 413-525-7416 • a reconciling congrega�on

www.elumc.org

THE SUNDAY EXPERIENCE

8:30 a.m. – Bible Study for Jr./Sr. High & Adults 10:00 a.m. – Worship & Church School (pre-schoolers through Grade 5) Professional child care is provided for “Cribs & Creepers”/“Toddlers & Twos.” 11:15 a.m. – Fellowship Time

The Methodist Messenger is a journal of the ministry of The East Longmeadow United Methodist Church. Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

  Saturday

November 14

9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.

Congrega�on Bake Sale Dona�ons

Drop Off Schedule:

Friday, November 13, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. (Please leave dona�ons in the church kitchen)

Items needed include: breads, brownies, cakes, cookies,

cupcakes, fudge, muffins, pies, etc.

For the on-line church calendar follow this link:

http://57650311.view-events.com/

Being Mortal

Discussion Group October 28, 6:30 pm

8 Bartle� Ave. (Parsonage) East Longmeadow, MA

The Sunday morning discussion group decided they liked the book Being Mortal enough to spend 6 weeks reflec�ng on end-of-life issues, how the medical field deals with death and dying and how we can be the author of our own life.

This is a one-night only broad discussion of a topic that deserves the more in depth treatment for people who can’t make the Sunday morning class.

Photo by Tim Llewellyn

“Being Mortal is not only wise and deeply moving, it is an essen�al and insigh�ul book for our �mes, as one would expect from Atul Gawande, one of our finest physician writers.” – Oliver Sacks