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The Link May 2020 Newsletter
Covid-19 edition Valley United Methodist Church
25133 E. Broadway, PO Box 337 Veneta, OR 97487
541-935-1614 [email protected]
Valley-United-Methodist-Church www.valleychurchveneta.org
Valley United Methodist Church PO Box 337 Veneta, OR 97487
Special Edition – Postscript Wow. So much has
happened since we did our last LINK. Who knew that our world would become virtual in such a short time? I do not know about you, but this has been challenging for me. How do we remain connected when we are unable to get any closer than 6 feet from anyone who does not live with us? There also is the challenge of living life, being careful, but not living in fear. That can be difficult for many, especially if you have underlying health conditions, or if you live with someone who is at higher risk.
For me, this also was complicated by mom’s journey. I knew she would not make Easter, but I never imagined she would choose Holy Week to enter her forever home with God. Mom lived at the Pete Moore Hospice House for the last 3 weeks of her life and was tenderly and passionately cared for the staff there. Now, I walk the journey of grief alone. Grief is always difficult,
but when you add physical distancing and the inability to have people come and give you hugs…. I am glad that God does not leave me. Her obituary is right after this.
Mom was and is an incredible person, who
Special Edition – Postscript (cont.) gave me everything that I needed to be an adult. The pain is deep, and my tears are many. Maybe I feel this grief deeper because I am grieving at many layers. I am grieving my changed world. Mom was always there for me. When I was afraid, I could call her, whether that was on the phone, or that was in person. Now the world seems so much a darker and scarier place. I hold tight to the lessons I have learned over the last 6 years of walking in the dark. Now, I talk to both parents frequently. As I mentioned in my message about the Road to Emmaus, I am walking away from my Jerusalem, and I have not yet arrived at my Emmaus. I had hoped to be able to get away for a few days after her death to process. Instead, because of CV-19, I stay home and now work from home. If I want to see someone’s face, it is by ZOOM.
So, what do you do when your world is so radically changed? Change is inevitable, pain in inevitable, but suffering is optional. I can choose to feel my emotions and give myself compassion. The world is grieving in so many ways. Our lives have been turned upside down and things that seemed so important just a few short weeks
ago now pale in comparison. I was given the gift of 5
Special Edition – Postscript (cont.) months with mom to create some memories and have some deep conversations. Life and relationships became so precious and important.
My hope moving forward, not just with my life, but also when we finally come out of quarantine is that we remember what is profoundly important. That we will not put off the letter, or phone call or visit that is important. That grudges will be forgiven, and relationships restored. That the church can come together in unity to reflect the love of God which has continued throughout the epidemic. In this issue you will find a new shepherding chart. The thought was for us to connect at least via phone or letter, continuing once we can gather again – hopefully sooner than later. As of the beginning of May, our bishop has asked we not resume in person worship until May 31st at the earliest. That is Pentecost
Sunday…and if we get to worship together, what a wonderful day that will be. But if not, we will have to get creative in how to celebrate the church’s birthday.
I would love to hear from you. How are you finding hope and life in this
time of difficulty? Please send me an e-mail to [email protected]. Call the church phone at 541-935-1614 and leave a message. Send a card to our
Special Edition – Postscript (cont.) mailbox of PO Box 337. I would love to be able to share your stories together.
The Friday before mom’s death I was sitting next to her in her room. She was resting quietly and was no longer responding verbally. She had been talking about “the many people in the room” for several days before this. I had a picture of all those people who love her standing in a line, like a reception line, and waiting to guide her to Jesus. I felt such incredible love and peace. I was afraid to move or whisper lest I break the moment. If that was my glimpse of heaven, I better understand Paul’s comment of “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” I still have work to do on this earth. I miss mom terribly, but I am relieved she does not have to continue to experience our current reality. We look forward to gathering safely to celebrate her life – perhaps in the later summertime. Mom truly made the world a better place because she was in it. May I be able to follow in her footsteps. Thank you to so many of you who have
reached out to me via phone calls, e-mail and snail mail. I appreciate knowing that even though we are not physically together, we are held together in spirit. If you have a story you would like to share about mom, please
Special Edition – Postscript (cont.) send those to me. I want to collect those and share them again when we gather. I also will keep them as special memories of her and what she meant to so many. I know that today my brother and I do not grieve alone.
In Harmony, Pastor Deena Wolfe 541-556-2773 [email protected]
Dorene Louise Fuller Wolfe Dorene Louise (Fuller) Wolfe died peacefully on April 7, 2020 at the Pete Moore Hospice House from cancer. She was born to Lewis Eugene “Gene” and Dorothy “Dot” Fuller on May 26, 1937 in San Francisco, CA. She was the oldest of 4 children. Dorene grew up in San Mateo, CA where she lived until she married Daniel Wolfe at the San Mateo Congregational Church on
October 10, 1959 and they had almost 56 wonderful years together. After marriage, they lived in San Francisco, and then moved to Concord, California where they lived until 1987. Dorene initially worked for the phone company, but after marriage focused on raising her two children, son Dan and daughter Deena. She was a school crossing guard for Bancroft Elementary School in Walnut Creek for 12 years and worked part time in a local bookstore.
Upon Daniel’s retirement, they relocated to Corvallis, Oregon in 1987. During her years in Oregon, she lived in Corvallis, Philomath, Springfield and most recently in Veneta. Dorene loved animals, especially horses. She never had a horse of her own but had an impressive model horse collection for years. She also had a fond love of carousels and was a charter member of the Hallmark Ornament Club. It was very important to Dorene to take great care of the various cats which shared her household over the years. She was active in local churches in the area where she lived, most recently at Valley-Veneta United Methodist Church where her daughter is the pastor. She served as the church custodian and was present every Sunday morning to greet those coming to worship. She loved being active and could be seen walking from her home to the Veneta post office many days per week. She was an active volunteer in many different organizations in addition to the church. She
volunteered for Cascade Health Hospice, the Cascade Chorus of the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Pride of Portland Chorus of Sweet Adelines International. She supported organizations that her grown children were involved with. She loved to be involved in local activities and had a generous and loving heart.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Dot Fuller, a brother Eugene “Skipper” Fuller, and her husband Daniel Wolfe. She is survived by her brother, Layne Fuller (Grazyna) of Orlando, FL and their children Layne Jr, Rena, Lucian and Lance; sister Cheryl Fuller of Half Moon Bay, CA, son Dan Wolfe of Corvallis OR and daughter Deena Wolfe of Veneta, OR. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pete Moore Hospice House or to Greenhill Humane Society. The family wishes to thank everyone with Cascade Health Hospice and the Pete Moore Hospice House for their extraordinary care of Dorene as well as the care provided to family, especially in these exceptional times. A celebration of life will be held at Valley United Methodist Church on a future date yet to be determined.
Upcoming Worship Schedule Services via ZOOM
May 3
Road to Emmaus re-visited (communion)
Jessie Connor
May 10
Mother’s Day John 14:1-14
Pastor Deena
May 17
John 14:15-21 Acts 17:22-31
Pastor Deena
May 24
Ascension Day Luke 24:44-53
Pastor Deena
May 31
Pentecost Acts 2:1-21
Pastor Deena
Thoughts from Your Lay Leader Well May is here and our trip to California has been cancelled. The biggest disappointment is that our granddaughter Emily’s graduation from nursing school in Bakersfield was cancelled. Due to the closing of most medical offices, she was unable to complete the necessary clinical hours to get her degree and take the required board exams. Supposedly the class will have a
virtual “pinning” ceremony which we hopefully will at least be able to view online. But after all her work she will not have the credentials to get a radiation nursing job. Please keep her and all the “graduates” who were “robbed” of the usual celebration activities in your prayers..I continue to pray almost hourly that we all learn to live in harmony and stay safe in the new and challenging environment we live in. Our prayer candle burns 24/7 now. I am thankful for the health and safety of our family. I am grateful for zoom and u-tube ways to be in church. Although Dave and I do not have the camera to utilize100% in zoom, we can at least see others and feel a sense of togetherness. Thank you, Deena, for all your efforts in this regard!
Peace be with you. Be safe.
Chris Rider Birthdays
May: Mary Grossmiller 19-May Millie Graves 24-May Paul Tallman 25-May Dorene Wolfe 26-May
Valley UMC Shepherds & Flocks Updated May 2, 2020
Monica Sheeler Graves Larson Marcom (Christopher) Padden Runyons Woolley
Dave & Chris Rider Adank Grillo Murphys (prayers only) Podpeskar Rexses Roberts Sylvester Ward Webster Wendt
Margie & Phil Groshong Adams (contact/confirm) Heitz Fairchilds Mattsons McKinneys Povenmires Rude Schecter Welsh
Mary & Michael Foster Craigs Grossmillers Kisers Kloehns Olson Pietromonaco Smiths Watkins
Pastor Deena Wolfe Forvillys Fosters Groshongs Riders Sheeler Watanabe
Teri Watanabe Outreach Minister Heinecke (Dezaray & Katherine)
Notes Italics = to contact/confirm
LINK only: Burch - withdrawn Wheeler
Shepherds: Please let me know of any deletions, additions or changes. I can re-arrange as needed. In these difficult times, hopefully we can stay connected, even if only by phone or mail. Please pass along to Pastor Deena any prayer or pastoral care needs.
Prayers • From Teri – Healthcare Workers
• From Monica: Joys about her home
• From Cheryl Fuller – concerns about heartbeat
• From Mary – stay strong for all of us
• From Margie – Prayers for family with cancer
• From Chris Rider – Prayers for niece who works at the hospital.
• From Nicholas – all frontline workers
From Dave – continued healing for Chris after her fall. • From Michael and Mary – prayers for Eric, the son of
friends had two strokes. Prayers for healing.
• From Michael – withstanding isolation. That we can stay connected even in this time.
• From Chris Rider – for granddaughter Laura
• From Cheryl Fuller – prayers for UMC pastor in Half Moon Bay who has shingles on her face – Rev Lisa
• From Cheryl Fuller – praise to be able to spend time with a couple of friends.
• From Monica – prayers for pastor Deena as she grieves her mom.
• From Monica – joy of walking in her boot. Glad her foot is getting better.
• From Monica – joy of spending time with family.
• Prayers for Millie Graves
Prayers from Monroe:
• Becky Bowman is asking for continued prayers for her brother with cancer and thankfulness for prayers answered
• Janice is thankful that her friend Teresa is home recovering from her bout of COVID-19.
• Chris Johnson is thankful that her father gets to come home to finish recovering from a broken leg.
• Arlene Looney is home recovering well from her operation. and a concern for Cindy Roler who is back at work at the hospital. • From John Dillard: Prayers for friends and family affected by the tornado in Louisiana.
Recommendations from Right Now Media
A New Year often brings a desire for new ways to improve our health—physical, emotional, spiritual. Start this new year with a new devotional. Here are two recommendations.
“There is a deep sense of unease in our rapidly changing world. Our distorted view of God is at the root of all our problems.” Chip Ingram discusses 7 attributes of God in an 8-video family devotional series, as well as small group explorations and sermons.
You and your child can discover the real God. See what God has to say about who He truly is through His word. Because to know the real God—
changes everything. Enjoying Jesus is an immensely
practical way to be with God. This devotional series focuses on the spiritual disciplines, where theology (the study of God) meets everyday life. But only you can put them into practice. “The spiritual disciplines aren’t meant to simply be studied,
they are meant to be put into action. Their power is in their practice.”
To subscribe, go to http://bit.ly/ValleyUMC
or text “RIGHTNOW VALLEYUMC” to 41411
Blessings in Christ, Teri Watanabe Outreach Minister
Community Dinner News The community meal continues despite the CV-19.
It has been converted to a take-out only outside venture. We were fortunate to receive a hand sanitizing station from the county so we can have our guests wash their hands prior to receiving a meal. We also have not needed as many volunteers to serve. Thank you to so many of you who have stepped up to volunteer. We have received a grant from the district to help pay for some of the additional expenses for the meal. We also received a small grant to be able to purchase gift cards from WinCo, which were distributed through Sweet Cheeks. We have applied for another small grant from United Way to support the meal, and we may receive another small amount from the district for additional food cards. The need continues to grow with so many out of work.
Please consider supporting the ministries at Valley UMC. Bills continue to need to be paid and because of the pandemic, Sweet Cheeks has been unable to continue with regular lease payments. You can give online to the meal via the venetadinners.org page. You can mail in a donation for the church to PO Box 337, Veneta, OR 97487. The AA groups stated they were going to continue supporting the church as they could. Hopefully, activities will be able to resume in the church in the next few weeks.
As a reminder, if you are interested in volunteering for the community dinner, contact Tina Mourer at [email protected].
We can always use volunteers! If you would consider heading up a cooking team or a serving team, or just want more information about what a “team lead” does, send an e-mail to [email protected] or let Pastor Deena know and she or Janet can do some individual training for these key positions each week.
Sign up to volunteer at www.venetadinners.org. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered and continues to volunteer to make this a fantastic way to show God’s love to the community.
We are still seeking a Public Relations (PR)/Recruiter. Average time commitment is 6–8 hours per month. Must have
Internet access. Training and ongoing support will be provided. Contact [email protected].
Contribute to the Go Fund Me at https://www.gofundme.com/CommunityDin
ner-Shelter. You can volunteer your financial support at any time!
Bishop’s COVID-19 Notice #5.1 – Amended April 27, 2020 United Methodist Clergy and Laity of the Greater Northwest Area,
By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in
the shadow of death, guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79
April 24, 2020 Elaine
Stanovsky
EXTENSION OF WORSHIP SUSPENSION AND BUILDING CLOSURES As bishop of the Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church, I am extending the suspension of in- person worship in United Methodist Churches and other ministries and the closure of church facilities to all but essential services throughout the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences through May 30, 2020, despite the loosening of restrictions in some or all of the sates of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. This date may be reconsidered as circumstances change.
How did I come to this decision, and what does it mean?
MARCH 24: Suspension of In-Person Worship and Closure of Buildings. On March 24 I directed that in-person worship and other gatherings be postponed in United Methodist Churches and other ministries through April 30, 2020. At the
same time, I directed that all Church facilities were to be closed except for essential services. These actions were taken to protect the health of vulnerable people, to slow the spread of the disease, and to prevent health care systems from becoming overwhelmed by a sudden surge of cases needing hospital beds and equipment.
You helped keep people HEALTHY! You did it! You made adjustments and found ways to be church without gathering for in-person worship. Your actions, and the general population’s compliance with the orders of the governors appear to have slowed the spread, fattened the curve of the crisis, and averted a crisis in our health care systems. I thank God for the incredible ways you have contributed to these outcomes. At the same time, we grieve over people who have contracted COVID-19, some of whom have been hospitalized and even died. And we continue to hold in our hearts and prayers all who are at risk for this disease because they render essential services, or have compromising health conditions, or who, because of systemic inequities in our society live with little or no social safety net.
EASTER: You celebrated Resurrection in the Shadow of Death. Alleluia! You found ways to overcome all kinds of obstacles to celebrating Easer. Your clergy and lay leaders have demonstrated an adventuresome spirit, as you learned how to care for one another, conduct worship and support vulnerable people in your neighborhoods, while maintaining physical distancing and suspending all gatherings. Chris the Lord was Risen again this Easer, with shouts of Alleluia! prayers for strength and healing, and acts of generosity. Well done, good and faithful servants.
MAY 1 We are now approaching the end of the directives I gave on March 24 and many of you are eager to know whether the restrictions will be lifted or extended. I am closely monitoring the guidance and criteria for loosening restrictions in each of our four Greater Northwest states, as well as the daily reports of new cases, deaths and health system capacity. As you know, the disease has unfolded at different rates
across the area. And the cultural and political climates across our region are varied, leading to different assessments of the risks involved. I find myself leading in the midst of continued uncertainty and significant controversy about the best course of action. Three value-based priorities inform my leadership as your bishop.
1. Do No Harm: Protect the public health 2. Do Good: Share the financial burden with persons most vulnerable to economic
impacts 3. Stay in Love with God: Promote the life-giving ministries of the Church
DO NO HARM. Protect Public Health Following the leadership of four very different governors, our four states are all weathering the pandemic better than expected. All four governors have laid out the criteria that must be met before incremental, phased loosening of restrictions within their sates begins. I am pre-disposed to trust the governors of each sate to listen to their health care advisors, know their regions and give prudent guidance. At present none of these four governors has reported that the criteria within their sate have been met. As Christians and citizens committed to protecting public health, we are responsible both to abide by the guidance of government and health officials, and to assess whether the Church holds itself to a higher standard of caution than the sates direct.
Firs, we need to evaluate whether the governors’ own criteria have been met before loosening restrictions. As of this writing (4/27/2020) Alaska and Idaho have begun to loosen restrictions on gatherings of faith communities. Oregon and Washington have not taken similar actions at this time. Despite the affirmation by governors that testing and case tracking are necessary to protect public health, based upon their own published documents and reports, I cannot verify that each state has the capacity for testing and case tracking necessary to prevent spread of the disease.
Second, if a state meets its own criteria, and loosens restrictions, I will continue to ask whether it is prudent for the Churches to do likewise. Without adequate testing and case tracking, church gatherings may allow the virus to spread unchecked and
expose people who are at most risk for severe illness, due to age, access to health care or compromising health conditions.
DO GOOD. Share the Burdens of Most Vulnerable Persons During this season of closed buildings and postponed in-person worship, I hope that every congregation will re- engage its neighbors, by partnering with community organizations that are directly involved with people who are most vulnerable to the economic impacts of the pandemic. How this neighborhood engagement looks will be specific to your congregation, its context, and the partnerships you are able to form to serve people most at risk during this crisis. I heard the other day of a church in a small town that set up a “tab” with the local grocer so that people who needed food could “shop” for what they needed and charge it to a tab that the Church paid. In this win- win-win arrangement, people get food, the church serves people in need whom they may not even know, and the grocer’s business is supported in the process. There is no recipe for this kind of innovative response. It is all based on local relationships that can become networks of care.
STAY IN LOVE WITH GOD. Promote the Life-Giving Ministries of the Church.
While I know that the effectiveness of ministry and health of congregational life suffer when people are not able to gather for worship, this hardship does not justify taking the risk of spreading the disease through church gatherings, or exposing older and health-compromised people to infection and possible death by re-opening our church gatherings too soon. I trust and know that the leaders and people in each church are finding creative ways to continue to serve God’s promise of abundant life for all people and the whole creation despite these extreme circumstances. When the time is right, we will gather again and re-build and renew our ministries. MAY 31 – PENTECOST As we enter another month of some level of physical separation, let us hope that we will be able to gather in our churches on Pentecost, May 31. Pentecost is considered the
birthday of the Church, when people from many nations gathered in Jerusalem to hear Peter preach. The book of Acts describes how the people understood what he said, even though they spoke many different languages. I hope that we will be able to gather in worship that day – maybe sooner. Let us hold it as a date to hope for, to pray for, to work for. And if it cannot be May 31 – if it comes sooner, or later – then, we will adjust, just as we have been adjusting for these many weeks. I do not need to remind you that God is with us and at work. I do not need to remind you that miracles happen every day, even in the midst of disease and death, as people of generous hearts pour their lives out in love and service where there is need. We are blessed to be a blessing. Thanks be to God, who opens the way of life before us. May God bless you and keep you today and through the days ahead. Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky
May 2020 Calendar Valley United Methodist Church
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WORSHIP 10:30 am ZOOM COMMUNITY MEAL 3-7pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WORSHIP 10:30 am ZOOM ROAM MED. CLINIC
3-6 pm COMMUNITY MEAL 3-7 pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm COMMUNITY DINNER PLANNING MTG. 6:00-7:00 pm Email ZOOM?
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
25133 E. Broadway, Veneta, OR 97487 Phone: 541-935-1614
E-mail: [email protected]
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 WORSHIP 10:30 am ZOOM COMMUNITY MEAL 3-7 pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 WORSHIP 10:30 am ZOOMl COMMUNITY MEAL 3-7 pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
SWEET CHEEKS 8am-4pm
31 Pentecost WORSHIP 10:30 am Sanctuary Fellowship Hall COMMUNITY MEAL 3-7pm Fellowship Hall AA 5-6 pm Sanctuary
Last updated: 5/2/2020
To schedule, contact Deena Wolfe:
541-935-1614
Note: AA meeting times also include ½ hour before and after for setup and gathering.
