eChurchlight, May 2010 

Upcoming Events
May 2:  Consecration Sunday, catered lunch following the service
May 8:  May Fair, 10:00-3:00
May 9:  Mother's Day Breakfast, 8:00am
May 13:  Coffee Circle, 10:30am, parlor
May 27:  Women's Book Group, 7:30pm, parlor

The submission deadline for the next edition of the Churchlight is
Sunday May 23

through the looking glass
L.L.Wimmer

Your new pastor and his family came by this week. They are delightful and lovely people and you are going to be blessed by their presence with you. We toured the parsonage and the church and I was reminded how much you all mean to me and how much I will miss the places that have become my place in the world. I am also reminded that God is a place and so wherever I go that is where I reside and I found some comfort in the idea that no matter where we are God is with us and if we can just remember that we will always be at home. There is peace in that just as there is peace in knowing that amidst all the changes that life must always be there is just the one God who set it all in motion and who still to this day holds us all steadfast and true now and forever.  May the next few weeks be a time of celebration as we invite God to be with us and see us through all the comings and goings of this great adventure on which we all find ourselves.

May is a beautiful and busy time for us. We begin the month with Consecration Sunday when we will offer our promises to God for another year of ministry here at Belmont UMC.  As we each decide the measure of our prayers and presence, gifts and service that we can bring we will be offered the opportunity to open our hearts to God and the abundance of life that is God’s promise to us. Also this month we are preparing a nominations report to secure our leaders for the new program year. I am so grateful for those of you who will step up and take leadership as we move on to something new and all the challenges and promise of what lies ahead.  On the 23rd of May this year’s class will be confirmed. What joy to see our children taking their place in the congregation. 

There is also the May Fair on the 8th and Mother’s Day and Holy Communion on the 9th, the Youth’s Holy Humor Sunday on the 30th. The Bishop’s Day on the district is the 15th, a great opportunity to connect with other Methodists to be all we can be.  I hope some of you will be able to attend at Greenwood Memorial in Dorchester for the afternoon session.

As I said, this is a busy time and is also beautiful. May we be always mindful that we are walking on holy ground and that the time we are given is gift beyond measure.

With a grateful heart,
Larry

Fourth Annual May Fair
Sunday May 8, 2010 10am – 3pm

For those of you who have not yet experienced our May Fair, it is a crafts and vendor fair, where we rent tables to crafters and vendors who then sell their products. We also have tables for the church, and will be collecting nonperishable items for the Belmont Food Pantry to help them through the summer.

We are looking for products to put on the tables sponsored by the church. We have a crafts table, a bake sale table, and a plant sale table. The Youth Group will also have a table where the proceeds go to their own mission projects. We welcome any donations you would like to make!

Crafts can be anything – cards, pictures, knitting, crocheting, woodworking, candles, soaps…whatever you make that other people will enjoy.

Baked goods are also needed but because of Health Department rules please do not make custard type items. Small baked goods sell better than the larger items and we may turn cakes and pies into individual servings. Popular items are small breads, brownies, and cookies. If you like decorative baking people enjoy fancy baked goods.

The plant table will sell any plants. We are looking for transplants from your gardens. Day Lilies, Pachysandra, Hosta, Ferns, Lilies of the Valley, and any other spreading plants you may want to remove are welcome.  This is an ideal way to share the plants you love but which are taking over your garden. These yard plants should be placed in containers at the end of April to give them time to adapt to the container and the shock of transplanting. That way they will look healthy and be more inviting to purchase. If you have a house plant you want to donate that is also welcome.

This year’s vendor products include several kinds of Hand Crafted Jewelry, Knit Items, Crocheted Items, Teas, Candy Bouquets, Ukrainian Eggs, Hand Made Books, Soaps and Lotions, Tupperware, Tastefully Simple …and more. We will have an author signing his children’s book titled "I SAW WILD PARROTS IN NEW YORK CITY!" 

All the proceeds will be used for mission.   All our tables have been rented.  We have created a waiting list.  Anyone interested in being on the waiting list is welcome to contact Louise Halstead.

Please plan to participate in the Fair by helping out and/or shopping.  Invite your friends to come look around -- the more the merrier as the vendors like to have lots of traffic through the building.  This is a fun fund raiser and social event.  Entree is free.  We will collect cash donations and nonperishable items for the Belmont Food Pantry to help them through the summer.

From Barbara…
What’s Happening?

Coming soon…Hurry Less, Worry Less!  Are you tired of the frantic pace that gets you nowhere?  Do you wonder if perhaps this is not what God had in mind for you? Would you like to make some changes to your life?  We are putting together some small groups to work on these questions, using the book “Hurry Less, Worry Less” by Judy Pace Christie.  Each group will set up its own schedule (or perhaps nonschedule?) to meet, starting in June and going through the summer.  There are no rules – if your group wants to get together over Saturday morning coffee one week, have a picnic lunch the next, and skip the week after that, it’s fine!  The book will provide some guidance and spiritual background for specific things you can do  to look at  your life and start making some changes, step by step – and the small group format will allow for you to get support, sympathy, encouragement, or whatever you need as you progress on this journey together.  We’ll put groups together based on when people can meet – see Barbara during coffee hours in May to sign up or to get more information!

May Fair – May 8th – Volunteer to help out, or just come and bring your friends!  There will be a variety of craftspeople present, selling everything from jewelry to children’s clothing, along with our famous bake sale.  Also present will be author George Sommers with his new children’s book “I Saw Wild Parrots in New York City!”  Admission is free, but we will be accepting donations of nonperishable food or cash for the Belmont Food Pantry.  10:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Gym and Social Hall.

Mother’s Day Breakfast – May 9th – Our annual breakfast, honoring all the women of the church, will be Sunday morning May 9th starting at 8:00 and running until 9:30.  There is no charge for women – men are invited to make a donation.  Many thanks to Joel Grimm and crew for preparing and serving!

Coffee Circle – May 13th – We meet in the Parlor on the second Thursday of the month at 10:30 in the morning for an informal get together.  It usually lasts about an hour, but everyone is welcome to come and go as needed. 

Women’s Book Group Thursday May 27th – This month the group is reading The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.  Join us in the parlor at 7:30 p.m. for a lively discussion.

Adult Sunday School – Every Sunday from 11:30-12:15 the adult class meets in the parlor.  After Easter we will be reading and discussing the Bible readings that will be used in the next week’s worship service. Everyone is welcome – no advance reading required!

Vespers every Wednesday – What are vespers?  They’re evening prayers. Every Wednesday evening from 7:00 to about 7:30 we gather in the chapel for vespers using the Upper Room Worshipbook.  It’s an informal, contemplative service that includes prayer, song, and readings.  If you’re seeking a quiet moment in the midst of your busy week, this is the place!

Check out the calendar section for other meetings of committees and groups.

Missions News

Continuing Missions

Bristol Kitchen -  BUMC continues to provide a nutritious, evening meal to the men and women at Bristol Kitchen on the first Saturday of each month.  Volunteers gather in the church kitchen at 1:30 to prepare casserole, salad, bread, and dessert for the soup kitchen located in Waltham, MA.  Those transporting and serving the meal meet at 4:30.   We provide a meal for approximately 50 men and women, for some it is their only meal of the day.  Upcoming meal dates are May 1st, June 5th and July 3rd.   If you would like to volunteer, please talk to Terri Kolenbrander.

BUMC encourages our members to participate in mission. Here are some missions you can perform at home during your daily schedule.

Shopping at Amazon?  Go to www.umcbelmont.org (our website) and link to Amazon from the Amazon icon. The church receives a percentage of sales when you link through our site.

OR, go to www.freerice.com, where you can practice vocabulary, math, geography, and more! At the same time you are feeding the poor through the United Nations World Food Program. Take a look and explore the web site.

Make a baby blanket while you watch TV (by crocheting, knitting, or sewing) and leave it in the office to be taken to Children’s Hospital for newborns. The blanket can be any size but 30 to 36 inches square are good sizes. It takes about 2 skeins to knit one blanket. There is yarn in the church office or you can use your own left over yarn – the blankets may have as many colors as you like. Yes, any kind of baby blanket works so you are welcome to make them from fleece or to make small quilts.

While grocery shopping, pick up one or two items to donate to the Belmont Food Pantry. Drop the cans and boxes in the cart in the Narthex.

Submitted by Louise Halstead, Mission’s Chair

May Sunshine Page

Please contact the church office with any additions or corrections.  Thank you!

Birthdays

1:    Erica Albert
       Casey Hannan
4:    Abigail Hamilton
5:    Jessica Rosenstein
7:    Malia Matson
8:    Caitlyn Chisholm
10:    Charlie Gore
12:    Alan Walsh
          Lisa Rosales Moura
13:    Owen Grimm
         Aram Koumjian
14:    Emil Wieher
15:    Marguerite Muirhead
         Caroline Marchetta
16:    Giancarla Perugini
         Virginia Stockwood
17:    Elinor Rumery
         Linda Atkins
18:    Sandy Thompson
         Ryan Ashford
         Ethan Ashford
         Lia Rosenstein
22:   Jordan Pohlman
24:   Robert Wainwright
26:   Dorothy Backman
        Barbara Ryther
27:  Deirdre Savarese
29:  Neal Touzjian
30:  Amanda Sullivan

Anniversaries
23:    Mark & Jocelyn Milton
24:    Bert & Louise Halstead


Thank Yous

Words cannot adequately express how much the many cards, calls, visits, and cooked food from my church family has mean to be during my illness. Especially appreciated was Larry’s visits. My heartfelt thanks, and I look forward to returning to church soon.
     Priscilla Grindell


On behalf of the Cushing Square Neighborhood Association, I want to thank you and your staff, particularly Kevin, your custodian, and members of the Belmont United Methodist Church for your generosity in allowing us to use your function hall for our meeting on March 31, 2010. The event was a success because of your courtesy and assistance.
     Best wishes,
     Donald L. Becker

Coffee Hour Schedule for May 2010
May 2       no coffee hour
May 9:      Mother's Day team
May 16    Group HIJKL, coordinated by Terry Grimm
May 23    Group MNOPQ, coordinated by Linda Rodi
May 30    Group RSTU, coordinated by Kathy Touzjian and Donna Esposito

Lectionary for May 2010
May 2
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148 (UMH 861)
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35

May 9
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm 67 (UMH 791)
Revelation 21:10, 22–22:5
John 14:23-29

May 16
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 97 (UMH 816)
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
John 17:20-26

May 23
Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b (UMH 826)
Romans 8:14-17
John 14:8-17 (25-27)

May 30
Trinity Sunday (First Sunday after Pentecost)
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalm 8 (UMH 743)
Romans 5:1-5
John 16:12-15