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SALMON CREEK
UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
12217 NE HWY 99
Vancouver, WA 98686-3621
(360) 573-3111
www.salmoncreekchurch.org
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
PAID
PERMIT #610
VANCOUVER, WA
Check us out online for more pictures, information about the ministries, and to subscribe to our online version of the Circuit Rider Salmoncreekchurch.org
Pastor [email protected] Church Secretary [email protected] [email protected] Youth and Young Adults [email protected] Communications [email protected] communications@salmoncreekchurch Dayschool [email protected]
Sundays at 8:30 and 10:00
Sunday School at 9:50
Nursery Care Provided
Contact Us Join Us For Worship
June 2015 Feature
the
Coming Home
Finance Report
Spiritual Growth
Dispatches From
Youth Culture
Spiritual Gifts
Dayschool News
Messages from
Our Pastor
Creation Care
Missions Team
Calendar
UMW News
Children’s Ministry
Ministry Spotlight: Women’s Ministry The adopted theme of Women’s Ministry is “Women Supporting Women,” Teresa Wilson, continues to explain, “Our hope is that new women can feel connected and want to stay and be a part of the church, and that our events foster a relationship between ladies who attend both
worship services.”
Where UMW (our feature ministry last month) is an international women’s community with organizations world-wide, Women’s Ministry is a
community built and maintained by women here in our local congregation. Women’s Ministry is an organization open to all women.
When Teresa Wilson was asked about how Women’s Ministry strives to help all women feel welcome she responded “Our activities and events provide opportunities to plug in and meet other women. Our mainstay events include the annual women’s retreat and Naomi Sisters
Luncheons, with occasional teas and other gatherings. We also support JOY and Branches bible study groups.”
Julie Hildreth shares a personal story, about her experience in Women’s Ministries:
The call came last April.
Have you ever had one of those times when you felt God asking you to do something and you thought, “No, really, God, you have the wrong
person…” Kind of like Jonah, or Moses…
The caller is one of my favorite people. She had prayed about who to ask, and felt God directing her to me. She said she had faith in my abilities, and explained how I had a lot to offer this project. She really wanted to work with me. While I was very flattered, my mind raced and protested. Even after I relayed the unusually large mountain of tasks under which I was currently buried, the caller was patient, understanding,
and flexible. She suggested I pray about it. Of course this was a great idea. I did.
God assured me I could do it. As I pondered the information the caller shared with me about the project, God seemed to hint to me that I would be blessed by being involved. “How can that be?” I thought. I was going to have to put in a large amount of time. I had no experience,
which meant a bigger learning curve and more effort. It was a long-term commitment. How could all of this possibly bless me?
Well, as you may have guessed, “bless me” it did indeed.
“It” was the 2014 Women’s Retreat at Ocean Park. Joan Stuart was the caller, and the retreat was a big success. It was an amazing inter-weaving of generations. It had so much laughter, love, testimony of faith, and multi-generational wisdom, that God blessed me many measures beyond anything I could have imagined. I had a blast helping to plan it, and I even had the fun of appearing with Joan in not just
one, but two skits in front of the whole congregation!
Women’s Ministries members have been incredibly supportive, encouraging, and hands-on helpful as I navigated my position as Joan’s “right hand” in planning the retreat last year. I am honored to be part of this ministry and look forward to serving with them, women supporting
women, in the future.
Women’s Ministry welcomes all women who are interested in joining to come and see what it’s all about. Teresa helps explain how you might go about joining Women’s Ministry, “We have a Board to direct Women’s Ministries, which is always open to visitors and new members, but there are also women not on the Board who lead and participate in many activities. We would very much like new ladies to be involved in the Board and specific events, either short- or long-term. Come and find out more! We meet every third Sunday of each month in the Library after the 10:00 service (with occasional exceptions noted in church media) to plan activities and support for ministries, and everyone is welcome to come listen or participate – no need to RSVP. Aside from the meetings, please contact Susan Scott or other ladies on the Board if you would like to help with an activity or ministry. If you feel led to take something on, you will have the experienced support of the Board to make it happen!”
Photos From Women’s
Retreat 2014
For more pictures, visit
us online at
salmoncreekchurch.org
It’s Easy to Ignore the Real Pain of Real People
“A riot is the language of the unheard.” —Martin Luther King My cellphone chimed at the baggage claim at Baltimore’s BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport a few weeks ago. Having heard that I was traveling through Maryland’s largest city on the way to a conference in New Jersey, friends and loved ones were texting me, urging me to be careful and stay safe in light of what they were hearing on the news.
This was April 27th, the night of the worst unrest in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. As it happened, my flight landed just as events in Baltimore neighborhoods were unfolding on the T.V. screens of America.
But BWI sits several miles south of town, and I was lodging closer to D.C. that night anyway, so my itinerary didn’t call for me to go into Baltimore and I didn’t see anything firsthand. I was able to stay “safe” without even trying.
In fact, my only occasions for being inside the city limits were on trains to and from the conference. Since most of Amtrak’s passage through downtown is underground, I couldn’t see any evidence of unrest, other than some helicopters in the late-morning sky on Tuesday.
That second night, though, I heard from someone who had been an eyewitness. Attending our seminar was a pastor who had grown up in Baltimore and had felt God tugging at his heart that he needed to go into the city to be a pastoral presence amid the unrest Monday night. By the time he addressed our gathering of youth workers the day after, he had been awake for about 48 hours, having spent all of Monday night in the city, hearing people out, coming alongside them as a servant of the God who cares for his sheep (John 21:17). He must have been exhausted when he spoke to us, but he led an incredible time of reflection on what had happened and the root justice issues involved.
If I’m honest with myself, my reaction to passing through Baltimore on the train included a nervous watchfulness, wondering how long the station-stop would last. This was my “safety” impulse—possibly an outgrowth of a desire to live life and do ministry without having to take risks, not really encountering injustice firsthand or wrestling with real issues. It’s the same impulse I felt in the Egyptian countryside several years ago, confronted with abject, majority-world poverty for the first time in my adult life: get me out of here, back where it’s safe.
In the church of suburban America, it’s easy to retreat inside the walls of a building, never dealing with the realities that God’s people face on the street and in the schools every day—racism, oppression, poverty, and other forms of injustice.
John Harrell, Ministry Associate
Dispatches From Youth: We Can’t Stay On the Train
To paraphrase Steve Fitzhugh, a youth speaker and former NFL player I heard as a teen, we can live our Christian lives and chill with our Christian friends and our Christian family members, listen to our Christian radio, drive our Christian car, roll up our Christian windows . . . and drive directly past the Kingdom of God. That’s the easy route. And some days as a Christ-follower, I’m tempted to play it as safe as possible: put a smile on, say something about God’s love, send everybody home with surface-level happiness—without really inquiring about the things that really matter in kids’ lives, the burdens they carry, the hurt and frustration that often comes with being a teen in 21st-century America. It’s an un-risky approach, perhaps even vaguely “religious”—but almost completely irrelevant for real kids with real struggles, and not at all reflective of a God who stepped into our world as one of us to prove how well he understands our condition.
Teens, as Kenda Creasy Dean might remind us, are looking for something transcendent, some sign of hope in a world that often feels and looks hopeless. As Christ-followers, we’re invited to get off the train—to understand the realities of our broken world, whether it’s on the streets of Baltimore or in the hallways of Clark County’s schools—just like Jesus got off the train for us, risk and all (Phil. 2:6–7).
In my life, I want more of that Baltimore pastor’s boldness—to follow where the Holy Spirit leads, even into places and spaces that aren’t smiley or churchy at all but where real people live—where kids are crying out to know that they’re heard and that they belong, that someone cares about what they have to say. That’s the other impulse I felt at Penn Station, Baltimore, and what I feel on the days when God breaks through my need for security: what would God do with me if I had the guts to get off the train and just listen?
High School Senior Recognition
Sunday, June 7th, 2015
We’ll recognize our graduating seniors during the 10 a.m. service. Afterward, come to the fellowship hall to enjoy some refreshments and attend a brief reception as we congratulate our seniors on a job well-done and commission them for their next steps
in life! Open to all; finished by 12:30 p.m
Can You Help??
Small Groups are needed to serve tasty food to the Youth Group on
the last Sunday of each month this fall!
Can your Small Group volunteer to bless our students this way?
Please contact Karen Beilsmith to sign up your Small Group to
make dinner for the students!”
By Lucille Harwood
“Fukushima: Respite from Radiation” was the theme of the program Carolyn Fox presented at the United Methodist Women’s monthly meeting, April 17. The underwater earthquake on May 20, 2011 killed almost 19,000 people, flattened communities, and
poisoned farm land in Fukushima, Japan. Carolyn said, “It’s sad, but there is a certain stigma from that hurricane that damaged Nuclear Reactors in that entire area of Japan.” Women asked questions, Carolyn answered them. She mentioned her son’s
comments about nuclear happenings.
Of special interest was a display by Clare Kennedy of information about UMW. It attracted attention as did the books Elaine Gilbert showed along with her comments. Linda Garrison took pictures. Marge Pound gave a financial report and mentioned pledges. Jan Hayden’s minutes of meetings are posted in the St. Paul Room. SCUMC members are asked to bring labels and certain coupons to a jar in the Narthex. Jan sorts and mails them to the Red Bird Mission. You may learn more about UMW by reading a full page feature by Phyllis Browning on Page 1 of the May Circuit
Rider.
Mission u 2015 is July 17-20, 2015 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg WA. There’s mission studies on Latin America, Your Life in God, and The Church and People with Disabilities. Contact Clare Kennedy if need forms. Register before
May 30 for lower rates. Our next UMW meeting is in September.
United Methodist Women
Youth Mission Trip Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Sunday, May 31st, 2015. 5-7 p.m. in the gym.
Like pasta? Like garlic bread? Come support our youth mission team and enjoy tasty food at the same time! Donations will be accepted at the door to raise money for our Youth Mission Trip
program. Bring the whole family!
“Church For Hire”
Saturday, June 20th, 2015 – 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
Open to all! To raise funds for the Youth Mission Trip program, we’ll be spending Saturday morning doing odd-jobs work for people in the church family. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at SCUMC, then disburse to work-sites in groups; finished by noon. Donations in exchange for labor will go toward the Youth Mission Trip program! If you have work you’d like done on your property (weeds pulled, fences mended, and other simple manual tasks), please contact John Harrell at [email protected] ASAP to be added to the
schedule!
Creation Care Recycling We had had to discontinue our food recycling program because it was not cost effective. So now recycling is pack to the basics—just like at home. You have two choices: 1. recycle clean paper, metal and plastic bottles in recycle bin. or 2. Trash, which is everything else. During coffee fellowship on Sunday please use the ceramic cups as they are reusable. Please put paper plates, napkins and cups, if used, in the garbage. I have put up new signs to help you. I am always impressed when I see people stop and think about which bin to throw waste in. The Creation Care Team appreciates all you do to help our church reduce our carbon footprint on the planet. God's FANN Garden The FANN group has expressed an interest in tending the garden this summer. We are in the process of training them to be gardeners. They will divide the crops between the families that are in FANN. If there is extra we will share with the congregation. Take a look at the garden when at the church, it already looks beautiful. We purchased plants at a really cheap price at Lewis and Clark High School
greenhouse because the teacher was so excited about the idea of teaching others to raise vegetables to feed their families. Help Needed The Creation Care Team is looking for a person to help us sell fair trade products the second Sunday of the month. If interested please call Carol at 360-609-7244 or email at [email protected]. This is a great ministry that helps small farmers get fair prices for their products and also supports UMCOR. Bird Walk Our Kiwa Trail bird walk was wonderful. The weather was perfect and the birds were abundant. We saw 40 species between the trail and the drive. It so relaxing and meditative to be in nature and appreciate the beauty and diversity of God's creation. Hope you can come next time. Thank you, Carol Peterson Creation Care Team
Messages From Our Pastor
By Joyce Emery
Pastor
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it.”
One of the jobs I inherited as Salmon Creek Pastor is the role of weekly Chapel host for the Dayschool each Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. Three of our Preschool classes gather in the Chapel or the Sanctuary for 30 minutes of song, prayer and a Bible story. We begin by singing “come into His presence singing Alleluia!” I add new rituals here and there. We’ve learned the parts of the sanctuary (the safe ship!) Now we have one of the children use the acolyte standards to light the two candles on the altar as we begin. They love this and can hardly wait to be chosen to light and “blow out.” We’re singing the old Sunday School favorites together. Our kids love to sing. “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me” prepares us to hear our Bible story. Before Easter I told all the “lost” parables – one each week. One Thursday, I had carefully planted one coin on the floor of the sanctuary before they arrived. Before I could even get to the Bible story one of the children raised his hand. He had offering in the pew envelope, he wanted me to know. He had found a coin on the floor and needed to give it to the Church! On Maundy Thursday I told them the story of the “Last Supper.” I brought communion bread to share. I described taking Holy Communion. Two of our Dayschool families came to worship on Easter Sunday. (Thanks to the Welcoming Team for providing such gracious hosting at the Easter Egg Hunt.) I was thrilled to watch several of our Dayschool children come forward with their parents for Holy Communion. They had their hands cupped and ready and they kept leaning out of the line to peek out at me as they progressed forward. Their precious faces were so ready to receive the gifts and graces of our Lord. Their faith is an inspiration to me. Each Chapel session ends with a prayer. We are working on memorizing the Lord’s Prayer. I then use the Aaronite benediction to bless each one by
touching a head per word. “May the Lord grant you peace, peace, peace….”
We have returned to the Old Testament and now I am telling the stories of the great Patriarchs. Both Dayschool Director Gayle Horwitz and I have been trained in “Godly Play.” We continue to hope to use this method to share the biblical stories of our faith. For we seek to “train up
our children in the way they should go…”
To God be the Glory,
Pastor Joyce
Spiritual Gifts
As we celebrate the birthday of the church of Jesus Christ, we give thanks for the Holy Spirit that gives us life together and gifts us for the building up of the Body of Christ. Have you thought recently about what spiritual gift God is giving to you now to use? Our spiritual gifts change through-out our lives. It is always important to be put ourselves in places, usually out of our comfort zone, where God can have full access to use us. Mighty and marvelous works are performed. We know that our are trusting the Holy Spirit for the work of gifts, when we know that we have no capacity to do that work of ministry on our own. What a thrill it is to see God work through us! Our Spiritual Growth Team and Pastor are encouraging us to take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory by May 31 or June 7. Our own United Methodist Church provides us a good tool which can be found on our webpage, under Spiritual Growth. Take the inventory and print out your results and then talk to someone you trust about what gift has been identified. Take time in your small group to have this discussion. Make an appointment with your Pastor Joyce Emery, John Harrell, another staff person or a Lay Leader, Melissa Ralston, Travis White or Weston Beilsmith to talk about where God
is guiding.
We need every gift that God has provided for building up the Body of
Christ.
Summer Mission Trip to the Carlton Complex Fire Area God needs you and so do they... Last summer a devastating
forest fire hit the North Central area of Washington – area around Pateros/Brewster and to the north. It is called the Carlton Complex Fire Area which is equal to the size of the state of Connecticut. This is the largest fire in Washington state history. The need for rebuilding is immense. Over the next 4 years a total of 45 homes will be rebuilt. Salmon Creek Mission Team has committed to help and is currently forming a group to participate in a week long rebuild to the area from July 25 to August 1, 2015. This is your chance to help folks in our own state rebuild their lives, they are loosing hope. They need to see and feel God's love through volunteers. A variety of skills will be needed – from novice to experienced. Pray for these victims and please consider joining our team. If you are interested and/or would like more information contact Larry Siewert, Steve Enyeart, Cindy Harrington or the church office.
Missions Team
Coming Home
Every person has a story to tell about how they were born and brought to their very first home. There are stories of anticipation and preparation. It requires work to build a Christian home where Christ is glorified. We are raised to leave home. Some people are searching for a home. Many people around the globe have lost their home. What does it mean to be “at home with the Lord?” What will it be like to “go home to glory.” What has Jesus prepared for us? We will explore aspects of each of these realities as we move through the summer sermon
series. Our Summer Sermon and Sunday School Series begins June 14 and ends September 7.
Special focuses and events associated with this series:
Our children, Kindergarten through fifth grade will be using Lego to build all kinds of symbols of our faith and home this summer during
Sunday School.
Our Youth will be traveling to Post Falls, Idaho, July 10-18, to help build up a new church development Sky Prairie as they lead a Vacation
Bible School with them.
Adults and Youth will be traveling to the Carlton Complex (Okanogan Valley) July 25 to August 1 to help rebuild homes.
THE LEGO MOVIE. Friday night, July 31, 6:30 p.m. Gym. Come and enjoy a “night at the movies.” Popcorn – soda. Everyone is invited. “Everything is Awesome!” August 10-14. Vacation Bible School. We will build Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth and learn what it
was like to be at home in Nazareth.
TRUTH BE TOLD – a live concert, Saturday night, August 22, 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary. Come and enjoy! This is Oregon’s only classic
rock Christian parody band. Invite your friends and neighbors! A freewill offering will be taken.
SPECIAL SHORT WORSHIP SERVICE and TAILGATE PICNIC, 12:00 noon, September 7 (Labor Day Weekend) at our very own Salmon
Creek Cemetery. Celebrate and hear stories of those who now rest from their labors have gone home to be with the Lord.
Two books that are recommended for summer reading that support this series:
Searching for Home: Spirituality for Restless Souls by M. Craig Barnes
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr
Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben P. Job
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it
were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
The Lutheran Choral Association invites all choral singers (especially tenors) to be part of its 78th season. The 100+ voice choir rehearses
during the summer and has 5 concerts in the metropolitan area in the fall (beginning August 30 this year). There is no audition, but choral
experience is most helpful. The choir has a Lutheran tradition, but is open to all who love to sing God's praises.
Rehearsals are Monday evenings at 7 pm beginning June 1 at Peace Lutheran Church, 2201 N Rosa Parks Way (I-5 exit 304), Portland.
Please arrive early (about 6:30) for the first rehearsal for registration and music.
More information is available at lutheranchoral.org or by calling Ken Dale at 503-515-8935.
Day School News YOU are such a dedicated volunteer to serve our Pre School and Day Care. Thank YOU for your devotion to our church’s outreach mission as a volunteer and/or a board member. The annual fundraising event is the rummage sale. This sale will be held on Sat., June 13 and Sunday
June 14. We need much help in their major fundraising event.
JUNE 11th (Thurs.) and 12th (Friday) are the days we sort, price and place all the items folks have donated. Please come anytime between 10
and 4 to help on both or either days.
The SALE is on Sat, June 13th and Sunday, June 14th. We would love to have you help as you can. Please let me know of the times you will be available - Sat. (9:00 – 1:00 or 1:00 to 4:00) or Sunday after the first service (9:30 –Noon, noon – 3:00 or 3:00 - 5:00 which will include cleanup and packing items not sold. If you have ideas or can help develop the publicity for the sale, we would appreciate your help. Another
way to help is to bring friends to help set-up for the sale.
The truly fun part of being a volunteer is to help with is the GRADUATION CELEBRATION on Friday night, June 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the
gym. Volunteers are needed to welcome folks as they arrive and help serve refreshments. Let us know if you can help with this.
YOU ARE SO APPRECIATED AND THANK YOU for all you do for our church and our SCCPD. Please contact me at [email protected],
or home phone 597-3294 or Gayle, our director at [email protected]. or 573-9541 of times you can help.
Together we serve,
Betty Selby
Volunteer Coordinator
Children’s Ministry
Roadmap to Spiritual Growth Our mission at Salmon Creek UMC is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. We encourage
everyone in our faith community to be intentional about your own personal spiritual growth. At Salmon Creek UMC we
promote using the spiritual growth framework called “The Roadmap to Spiritual Growth”, which comprises four areas of
focus,
Knowing Christ, Growing in Christ, Serving Christ, Sharing Christ
Here are a specific recommendation for investing in one, or more, of these four areas of the Roadmap to Spiritual Growth.
SERVING CHRIST
Develop Your Spiritual Gift!
There are many methods for discovering your spiritual gifts. But, if that’s all you do you are only part of the way there. To fully experience
God’s purpose for you in the Body of Christ, you need to intentionally develop the gift in a ministry that has impact. A video series titled, “Your
Divine Design”, by Pastor Chip Ingram is an excellent resource to consider.
This series unpacks key passages from Romans, Ephesians, and 1 Corinthians to explore the role of spiritual gifts in the believer's life, while helping you to pinpoint your own. With Biblical insight and practical steps, you'll learn how to discover, develop, and deploy your spiritual gifts so you can live a life of greater impact. The series is available on RightNow Media at www.rightnowmedia.com.
Summer Sunday School Our Summer Sunday School program is called "Coming Home". We would like Sunday School kids to bring their legos to church (preferably in a box with their name on it) the first Sunday after Move-Up Sunday (June 14th). Donated Legos will be welcomed. We’ll have a sign-up list requesting volunteers to work one Sunday this summer. The program will be 12 weeks long so we will need several people. Contact Patti Petersen.
VBS will be August 10-14, 2015. We chose the exciting group curriculum, “Nazareth.” Salmon Creek Church will be transformed into a Bible village, where children can learn first hand what it was like when
Jesus was a child. We are recruiting volunteers who have a heart for children. Contact Patti Petersen, John Harrell, or Joyce Emery if
you have questions or would like to volunteer.
