eChurchlight, July/August 2008

 through the looking glass
L.L.Wimmer

(Printed in this space is the Pastor's Report to the Charge Conference) We are experiencing a time of change. It is a time for saying goodbye and hello. It is a time of celebrating what has been and the opportunities that are before us. More than ever we face the reality that nothing in this world ever really stays the same. It is not easy being a church in the world today. When I think about the number of us who are keeping this grand ship afloat I am moved by another reality, the one where God is still present in the world in part because God's Holy Spirit is still present in those of you who have committed yourselves to doing God's work in the community of Christ, in the United Methodist Church here in Belmont. I continue to marvel at your faithfulness as you unflinchingly invest in staff and program to do this work, to be all we can be even when all the numbers do not add up.

I am embarking on my tenth year as your senior pastor and I feel very blessed. We have come a long way together. We face complex and difficult challenges with a calm and confident resolve to do the right thing. We are blessed with leaders who not only are willing to step up and be present but who are competent and creative and faithful. It is an awesome thing to see the congregation working, doing all the good we can, making it happen. We have grown as a congregation. We are gaining emotional maturity with the ability to take on controversial and difficult matters in a spirit of peace and mutual concern and respect. This allows us to see reality better and to deal with it, to make the decisions that have to be made, to move on to perfection, to do God's will. As we grapple with the New Hampshire land deal and the Imler House property and the Nursery School contract, the Reconciling movement, the changes in staff and the budget deficit let us not lose sight of who we are and why we are here at all.

Bishop Reuben Job has written a little book to remind us and to guide us as we go forward. It is about the three simple rules of the Christian life from a Wesleyan perspective: Do no harm. Do all the good you can. Remain in love with God. We have unofficially adopted the do all the good you can goal as a motivation for mission. It will serve us well to incorporate the other two rules as well. It is a good reminder that doing good does no harm even to those who may oppose what we think is good. We exist because of God's mercy and when we practice mercy we draw near to the heart of God. And if we remain in love with God we keep our perspective in the right place. We remember what matters. We see the glory of God all around us. We see the light. We have hope. We are standing on holy ground.

We continue to work on process and communication, always a work in progress. We are seeking better ways to do our work together. We have new energy in this new season. I am expecting great things to happen. Thanks be to God.    Larry

Announcements

Electronic Churchlight
The Churchlight is now only mailed out to a few who do not have email or access to the web.  Please let the office know if you would like a paper copy mailed to you – or if you would like to pick it up at church. If you are not currently receiving the Churchlight by email please go to the Newsletter page on the church website at www.umcbelmont.org to subscribe.  Current and back issues are posted on the website in the Newsletter section.

Volunteers Need for VNA Hospice Care
For more information in learning about becoming a hospice volunteer, please contact Lisa Palais, Volunteer Coordinator at 1-866-279-7103 or at 781-569-2888.

Summer Office Hours
The office is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-3 for July and August.

Summer Coffee Hour
Please sign up to host coffee hour during the summer.  The weeks are divided by alphabet grouping for food donations but anyone can sign up to coordinate any week.  We will use the Parlor for the months of July and August, and a smaller amount of items is generally needed.  Ask Terry Grimm if you have questions.

Sunshine Page
New Members
Welcome to Kimberly Small, who joined BUMC on June 1, 2008.

New Address
Virginia Stockwood has a new address:
The Gables, Apt. 355
299 Cambridge Street
Winchester, MA 01890-2391

July Birthdays:

August Birthdays

July Anniversaries
1:         Brian and Stephanie Schaffhausen
2:            Deborah and David Blaisdell
11:       Kirk and Terri Kolenbrander
            Laurel Wainwright and Greg Diehl
12:       Jerome and Emily Farnsworth
14:       John and Ellen Canepa
15:       David and Ellen Sullivan

August Anniversaries
7:         Ian and Ann Ashford
8:         Larry and Liz Wimmer
            Jeff Rosenstein and Donna Esposito
9:         Dave and Ava Walsh
10:       Steve and Debi Rosales
17:       James and Pamela Vershbow
19:       Bill and Linda Rodi

July 2008 Worship Services
Please note: directions to St. John’s UMC are available in the Narthex.

July 6:10:00 a.m.   Worship in Watertown               Color: Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

July 13: 10:00 a.m.  Worship in Belmont            Color: Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 25:19-34, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

July 20: 10:00 a.m.  Worship in Watertown            Color: Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 28:10-19a, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

July 27: 10:00 a.m.  Worship in Belmont           Color: Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 29:15-28, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52


August 2008 Worship Services
August 3: 10:00 a.m. Worship in Watertown            Color: Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 32:22-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21

August 10: 10:00 a.m. Worship in Belmont            Color: Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew 14:22-33

August 17: 10:00 a.m. Worship in Watertown            Color:Green
Lectionary Readings: Genesis 45:1-15, Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32, Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

August 24: 10:00 a.m. Worship in Belmont            Color:Green
Lectionary Readings: Exodus 1:8-2:10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20

August 31: 10:00 a.m. Worship in Watertown            Color:Green
Lectionary Readings: Exodus 3:1-15, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28