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Harbor United Methodist Church 55 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA 02066 Church office: 781.545.0818 Marshfield United Methodist Church 185 Plain Street, Marshfield, MA 02050 Reverend Rick McKinley is also available by appointment Volume 60 Issue 6 Dear friends: I read an article recently that said that John Calvin, 16th century theologian and principal figure behind the sys- tem that came to be known as Calvinism, was touted in 2009 by 3 major magazines as the “come back kid,” declaring him one of the 10 most-often quoted people in America. One of the central tenets of Calvinism is predestination - that God has a plan for your life - that everything is preordained, preprogrammed, and predetermined. One popular author in recent years wrote in his book: “Because God made you for a reason, he also decided when you would be born, every single detail of your body and the uniqueness of your personality, and how long you will live. He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and your death.” This way of thinking about God has had tremendous appeal, and I think for good reason. In a world that often seems out of control, it’s comforting to think that someone is in control. In a time of social, economic, and political up- heaval, it’s comforting to think that somehow, despite of how unsettled and anxious we might feel, there is a greater pur- pose to it all and that things are happening just like they are supposed to. There are significant problems with this theology, however, (and one of the contributions of the people called Methodists though they are certainly not the only ones who offer this), is that it fails to account for human freedom. You and I were created in the image of God. Therefore, the spark of divinity is alive in each person, a spark that includes freedom, the freedom to love or to not love, the freedom to choose God or to reject God. If that were not the case, then our so-called “choice” to love God and love each other is really no choice at all! As John Wesley once wrote in a ser- mon: Without true freedom, “the stones of the earth would be as capable of reward and as liable to punishment as [human beings.] Yea it would be as absurd to ascribe either virtue or vice to him [sic] as to ascribe it to the stock of a tree.” Maybe you’re thinking, “What does all of this matter? It seems like theological babble to me, just splitting hairs about this belief or that. How does this impact my life?” Consider these examples: In the last 24 hours, 30,000 children died somewhere in the world because of factors related to malnutrition. They died because they didn’t have enough food. Somewhere in the world, a parent prayed over their child as they lay dying of cancer. Somewhere in the world, one per- son acted in violence toward another, or toward themselves. On the streets of cities around the world, including the streets of Boston, thousands of families slept on sidewalks because they had no home of their own. Are all of these things “preordained, preprogrammed, and predetermined?” Is this “God’s plan,” and all of these details were set before the foundations of the earth? Is that what God was taking joy in planning? (See Ephesians 1: 4 - 6, The Message version) My understanding of God and how God fits in with the examples listed above is that as children die without food, God weeps. At every hand raised in violence, God weeps. As each person goes to sleep curled around a heating grate on the sidewalk, God weeps. When a child grows weaker as the cancer spreads, God’s heart breaks. And God’s heart breaks when any of us choose to center our lives on things other than God. This heart that breaks for humanity is revealed most fully in Jesus, who, when looking upon the city of Jerusalem, people living without an awareness of God’s love, or people choosing another way, longed to gather them like a mother hen gathers her chicks. (Matthew 23:36-38) I guess the message I most want you to hear is: God is love. God is love. God is love. And this God who is love desperately loves you. That may be the one thing that is “preordained, preprogrammed, and predetermined” that we can count on. Grace and peace, Rick June 2010 PAGE 2 VOLUME 60 ISSUE 6 Financial Report as of April 30, 2010 Operating income for April $ 13,351.87 Operating expense for April 14,737.38 Surplus/(Deficit) (13,85.51) Beginning checkbook balance 4/1 33,315.24 Total income this month 17,734.87 Total expense this month 22,202.91 Ending checkbook balance 4/30 28,847.20 Less Special Funds Accounts 10,291.82 Cash for Budget 18,555.38 June Birthdays David Evans 10 Janet Ryan 10 Jack Gage 18 Rick McKinley 20 Siobhan Sweeney 27 Ian Crovella 29 Colin Crovella 29 Anniversaries Don & Laura O’Keefe 4 What the Pastor Is Reading Ten Most Common Mistakes made by New Church Starts by Jim Griffith and Bill Easum Jesus Manifesto by Len Sweet and Frank Viola Expect a Miracle Mary Ellen and I want to thank everyone for your prayers, letters, cards, and visits, while enjoying ten weeks in Florida on vacation. We’re home; the power of prayer ABSOLUTELY works; let no one tell you otherwise. Expect a miracle. John Ross Are you a…. New resident or Visitor or have a neighbor who is one of the above? Then please call Ken Cerny, Lay Leader at 781.749.5862. Thank you. Potluck Luncheon June 6, Christian Education Sunday Children will be recognized along with teachers during worship. All children completing second grade and new to HUMC will receive Bibles and the younger children will sing a song for the congregation. Plan to join us for a pot luck lunch immediately following worship. Scituate and Marshfield Interfaith Food Pantries Items requested this month include: mustard, ketchup, mayo, prepared pudding cups, dishwashing liquid, shampoo, and paper towels. Thanks again for your continued generous support. Thanks so much, Alice Hamer 781.545.4112 Proverbs 14:21b Blessed is he who is kind to the needy. PAGE 3 VOLUME 60 ISSUE 6 Sunday Worship Servants Jume Acolyte Liturgist Communion Servers Youth Liturgist/ Worship Assistant 6 Ian Sincoski M: Phyllis Pierson S: Valerie Sweeney Pastor Rick, Valerie Sweeney, Falon Sweeney, Dave Sincoski Falon Sweeney 13 Olivia Moura M:Wayne Thompson S: Paul Moura Pastor Rick, Paul Moura, Micaela Lovering, Sue Lovering Micaela Lovering 20 Madeline Ryan S:Christy Bruccoleri Pastor Rick, Christy Bruccoleri, Kelly O’Keefe, Melinda Cerny Kelly O’Keefe 27 Ben Pretzer S: Ken Cerny Pastor Rick, Ken Cerny, Max Pretzer, Pam Pretzer Max Pretzer Greeters for June are Bill and Colleen McCall. Ushers are Allison Crowell and Shelley Rinehart. The Thursday and Sunday Night Small Groups are providing coffee hour for the month of June. Please call to switch dates with the next person above, if you are not available to participate on your assigned day. Also kindly contact Ann White at 545-0815 to tell her of the change. Thank you. Jimmie McCall (Bills’ brother - pray for strength) Joe Davies (nephew of Mary Voelger) Sally Haines (Shirley’s cousin - cancer) Pam Pretzer’s mother and father and brother Brad Maria Jose - in orphanage in Nicaragua People and animals of Haiti Donna Roberts (health issues) Mimi Liu (healing for Rheumatoid Arthritis) Linda Huskisson (patience & strength in caring for elderly parent) Bryan Pretzer’s cousin Dean Hazel caring for mother PRAISE For Answered Prayers Mattie Dillon Steven O’Keefe Michelle and Family Duncan Sparrell Jack Gage (testing) Helen and Maynard Huntley Teri Hopkins Martin Rich Lynam (Shirley’s son) Star Bakery Project/NITCA Don and Dawn Evans John & Mary Ellen Ross Ann Borda David Richards Sally Naser Marissa Voelger Lucy Morris Olga Finnie Ruth Roberts Perley Griswold Ruth Stevens Ted & Suzy Zylinski Holly Silva Muriel Silva Betty Schmidt Thelma Corcoran Thelma Antoine Prayer Concerns Please lift the following in prayer, that they may be strengthened, guided, and healed… Consider visiting or sending a card. Please contact Alice Hamer at 781.545.4112 if you know of anyone who is ill, a recent shut in, has had a tough go, or suffered a loss . If we can get this information, an appropriate card will be sent to them. Adult Machias Mission Trip The dates are set for the adult mission trip to Downeast Maine. The team leaves July 25th and will stay until July 31st. This trip is open to all. Things you might do while on this trip: paint houses, build stairs, sort and fold clothes at the mi- grant Thrift Store. There is something for every skill level! You will also have a chance to see some of most beautiful parts of New England. The cost of the trip is typically around $200 per person, but the group will be doing fundraisers to help alleviate out of pockets costs. For more information, contact Rick at harborumc@verizon.net or Kevin and Joanne McNally at kspnally@gmail.com. Also, we continue to collect men’s clothes for the thrift shop. Place your donations in the box in Bruce Hall marked Machias Mission. Youth Group News The Youth Group is starting their fundraising push for the Machias Maine Mission trip July 11-17 this year. We will collect money at the transfer station on June 19-20, hold a car wash at Harbor Saturday, June 26th from 10am-1pm, and there might possibly be some "Flamingo Flocking" as well!! The youth are in desperate need of a female chaperone to join Bill McCall and Bryan Pretzer in leading the group and our projects. Our Safe Sanctuary policies require at least one female adult chaperone on any co-ed trip. Please let us know if the Spirit is moving you to help out this year! Yours in Christ, Senior Youth Group Leaders, Bryan Pretzer and Shelley Rinehart Ye Olde Village Fair Needs YOU! No Experience Necessary! Looking for new leadership for Ye Olde Village Fair this fall! Bryan and Pam Pretzer are handing over the organizer reigns after 10+ years. New ideas? New marketing? Same amazing food! This wonderful church fund raiser, usually the first weekend in November, pro- vides great fellowship, fun and food for our faith community and the community at large! Be a part of the fun! Contact Bryan, Pam or Rick to volunteer! Shirat Hayam Birthday Congregation Shirat Hayam will observe its 13th birthday with a Bar Mitzvah celebration on Saturday, June 5, beginning at 10 am with a service at the Temple, 185 Plain Street, Marshfield, followed by a luncheon and reception at the John Carver Inn in Plymouth. Pro- spective members, friends and family are invited. Cost for the reception is $25 for adults and $12 for children 12 and younger. For more information, call 781-582-2700, info@shirathayam.net, or visit shirathayam.net. (CSH shares liturgical space with MUMC and the First Alliance Brazilian Church. The Harbor and Marshfield is warmly invited to this event.) *** Remember that services start at 9:30 as of June 13th! *** June 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Steve Smith) 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 10 to 11:30 AM - Small Group (Mary Ellen Ross) 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Melinda Cerny) 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Scituate 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Rick McKinley) Small group leader training 8 AM to 1 PM Shirat Hayam Birthday 10 AM Marshfield 9 AM Marshfield 9:30 AM East Breakfast Scituate 10:45 AM Scitu- ate Pot Luck Lunch 9AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Steve Smith) 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 10 to 11:30 AM - Small Group (Mary Ellen Ross) 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Melinda Cerny) 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Scituate 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Rick McKinley) Small group leader training 8 AM to 1 PM 9:30 AM Scituate 11 AM Marshfield Small group picnic 9AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 10 to 11:30 AM - Small Group (Mary Ellen Ross) 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Melinda Cerny) 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Scituate 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Rick McKinley) 9:30 AM Scituate Children’s Ministry Meeting after services 6 to7:30 PM - Small Group (Diane Evans) 9AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in M 10 to 11:30 AM - Small Group (Mary Ellen Ross) 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Melinda Cerny) 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Scituate Youth Group Car Wash 10AM to 2PM Scituate 9:30 AM Scituate 6 to7:30 PM - Small Group (Diane Evans) 9AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in Marshfield 9 AM to noon - Office hours in M 10 to 11:30 AM - Small Group (Mary Ellen Ross) 7 to 8:30 PM - Small Group (Melinda Cerny) 1 2 3 4 5 6 –Christian Ed. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Small groups meet in various homes and at both campuses so please visit the website to get more details about connecting with a small group. www.harbormarsh.org <—Pastor Rick is on vacation from June 21 to June 27 —> Vacation -> Pastor: Reverend Rick McKinley Church Office: 781.545.0818/781.837.2746 Office Email: harborumc@verizon.net THE HARBOR & MARSHFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 55 First Parish Road Scituate, MA 02066 185 Plain Street Marshfield, MA 02050 Connect - Grow - Serve harbormarsh.org Office Hours: Mo, Tu, We: 9 AM to noon - Marshfield Th: 9 AM to noon - Scituate Also available by appointment. Children's Ministry Planning Meeting: June 20 after worship In the fall we will have Children’s Church at 9:30 AM, the same time as church. We have some exciting ideas for making the time with our children exciting and fun but we need your help. We are having a planning meeting on June 20, after worship, and welcome anyone interested in being a part of this ex- citing new change. The more people we have, the better we will be able to rotate the leadership so peo- ple only miss a few weeks of worship with the larger community. The plan right now is to schedule adults to match each series, four to six weeks at a time, since we'll be tying the children's curriculum to the themes of the main worship experience. Any questions contact Allison Crowell at 781.545.3002 or allisonmcrowell@comcast.net.
