Madras United Methodist Church September 2020 MADRAS

Madras United Methodist ChurchSeptember 2020MADRAS MESSENGERNote From the Preacher WomanBeloved:As a kid, I always hated to see summer end, but I also alwaysloved the rituals of getting ready for school to start. There werefour children in my family, and one working parent, so shoppingfor school clothes and school supplies were a big deal. At the endof August each year, we would jam into the car for the annual tripto Monkey Wards (aka Montgomery Wards) in Portland. I’m notsure how my brothers felt about it, but my sister and I lovedgetting to try on clothes and choose a dress and some pants and atop. We weren’t that enthused about the obligatory saddle shoes,but the rest of it was wonderful. If we had behaved ourselves inthe store ( I can’t imagine herding four children in a bigdepartment store!) dad would then drive over to Lloyds Center (abig deal back then) and we would browse around for a bit, andthen hit the candy store. (I can still smell the caramel corn.) Dadalways purchased chocolate covered orange sticks, and mom got her favorite burntpeanuts. We would go home exhausted, but bringing our new treasures into the house, mysister and I would be re-energized into trying everything on. It is one of my favoritechildhood memories.Sometime before the actual start of school, mom would get the supply list in the mail fromour schools, and then we would shop for school supplies (I’m pretty sure my brothersdidn’t come for this part). This was not quite as exciting as going to Montgomery Wards,but I loved getting the fresh notebooks, new pencils, a pen, and those Pee Chee folders(younger people can Google that one). Oh, and a new box of crayons. The list usually onlyincluded a smallish box, and if we were lucky, my mom might splurge for the big one—theone that had the crayon sharpener on it. Oh! The joys of a pristine box of crayons! (It reallydoesn’t take much to make me happy.)I’ve always been someone who loves the beginnings of things—the new school year, a newcourse of study, beginning a new journal, starting a new sermon series. There are so manypossibilities, it just fills me with a bubble of anticipation.Fall, in the life of the church has always offered me the same kind of feeling. Folks in thewest generally use summer as a time to travel, to play, to visit, or just be outdoors. We maynot see a lot of each other over the summer—so fall offers a kind of re-gathering, a renewalof relationship, and a type of anticipation of what the “new” year may bring. We oftenmark this season by special celebrations—we might call it Rally day, or HomecomingSunday, or Family Reunion. Pastors try to remind their folks that it is time to come on backand be with the community of faith. I love to get creative in helping us all re-engage.(Continued on Page 2)1

Madras United Methodist ChurchSeptember 2020Note From The Preacher Woman(con't)To state the obvious—this has been a very different kind of summer. I hate to even drawattention to this, since it is one of those things we find ourselves saying way to often. Formonths we have talked about the “new normal,” or the weirdness of this season, or all the othersynonyms describing the uncomfortable realities of living in a changed world. Yup. We know.Now what?But here is the thing Beloved of God—we did it! We survived the spring and summer of“Covid” and we created a new way of being the community of faith. We stayed connected. Weworshipped, prayed, even played! We continued important mission and ministry. We wereresilient! Creative! Faithful! Tired! (oh yeah, well, that last one is to be expected, don’t youthink?)So here we are, oh Best Beloved, coming into a new season—Fall! It will not look like last year.AND (not, But) we will, with God’s help, do amazing and wonderful things. We are going tobuild new containers (okay, okay, “paradigms,” if you insist on being technical). Or, to betheological, we are going to make new goat skins for this new wine that is being made allaround us. In the next few weeks, you will be invited into gatherings (in small and safe ways),opportunities for learning, listening, engaging, serving and loving. It won’t look like it did. Butit will be glorious, and we will do it together. Hm. Maybe I will order some chocolate coveredorange sticks and a box of 64 crayons to celebrate!We are a vital and growing congregation, grounded in faith and in the gospel that compels usto serve our community. We will thrive. This is a glorious time of new beginnings, and I amglad we have each other to take the journey together.Blessings and peace, Pastor NancyThank You for Stepping up!!!As most of you know our foodpantry has been operating on amuch larger scale since we got hitby CORONAVIRUS. Many peoplehave gone above and beyond. Oneway folks were asked to help was todonate lunch to our 15 to 20 FoodPantry volunteers. Both SharonComingore and Kay Wiles pickedup the charge and supplied twogreat lunches for our volunteers.Sharon did a wonderful chickensalad while Kay supplied AbbysPizza. Both meals were very muchappreciated. Thanks Sharon andKay!2

Madras United Methodist ChurchSeptember 2020Food Pantry UpdatesJuly was a busy month for our Food Pantry. The30th was our last day of every Thursday fooddistribution. Our hard working group ofvolunteers have ben looking forward to everyother week off, as it has become apparent to usthat we will be continuing drive-up fooddistribution for another few months.We ae still receiving a truck on the 2nd andfourth Wednesdays from NeighborImpact. Ifany one has an interest in helping us off loadthe truck arrives at 3:00 pm.We would also love a few more able bodiedvolunteers to help us on Mondays andThursdays. On Mondays we pick up from 9000to 12,000 pounds of food fro NeghborImpact and off load it around 10:30 am at the church.On Thursdays we start at 8:00 am stocking and emptying our cooler and refrigerators so wecan build boxes of fresh produce and dairy items for distribution with our shelf stable boxes.We distribute food from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and we are continually restocking and buildingboxes during that time.Looking to the future we now have a full Board of Directors with Patty Lieuallen asChairperson. Other Board Members include, Paul Brown, Donna Hagedorn, Rob and PatHastings, Nancy Jolstead, Sharon Marvel and my self, Kathleen May. We have room for twomore people if anyone is interested.We have by-laws and our application is in for own 501C3 (non-Profit Status). We have abuilding committee comprised of myself, Kathleen May, Ed Hagedorn, Paul Brown, and DonJackson. We have preliminary plans and as soon as our incorporation is complete and wehave our non-profit status, we can start looking for grant money. To those who have donatedso generously over the past few months a big thank you for helping us to keep doing thiswork, feeding our community!Kathleen May, Food Pantry DirectorPatty Lieuallen, 8/1Connie Howland, 8/14Betty Ann Heydon, 8/3Justin Plant, 8/18Deane Jolstead, 8/5Jonathan DeChamplian, 8/28Owen Smith, 8/10Fritz Marvel, 8/28Larry Schmitz, 8/13Lynn Carroll, 8/30Leonard Aho, 8/143

Madras United Methodist ChurchSeptember 2020A Note From Our Finance TeamDear Friends,Thank you for your continued financial support of yourchurch. Because of your giving, salaries and bills have been paid.The important work of our church continues. Your generosity andsupport is greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work! Currentgiving statements will be sent out at the end of September.Blessings to you, Patty Lieuallen, Financial SecretaryWorking to helpour community wecollected diapers andcleaning suppliesfor the people ofWarm SpringsSeptember AnniversariesJan & Al Kozak 8/8Susan and Ron Mathney, 8/16/20Barbara and Mike McGowan 8/16Thank you to all ofyou who donatedand thanks toCasey Callan andJim & MicheleGemelas fordelivery service!Happy 53rd Anniversary toGary and Kathy HamletAugust 12th4

Madras United Methodist ChurchSeptember 2020Our Face Mask Contest: The Results!!Our mask contest, which ran for the month of August has concluded and the votes are in.Thanks you so much to our panel of judges, which consisted of various church volunteers. Anda huge thank you to all of you who participated in our contest, We are trying to come with funways to keep you all involved and connected, win or lose, thank you for taking part in ourcontest. So, here we go:1st Place Jan Hendriksen2nd Place Patty Lieuallen3rd Place Kathy MayHonorable MentionsNancy JolsteadAl KozakPat HastingsBible Study Returns!!Coffee with the PastorBible Study classes willbe resuming on Tuesday,September 8th (the dayafter Labor Day). Wewillmetoutside(weatherpermitting)and continue with socialp ro t o c o l s ,pleaseremember to bring yourmasks. It's been a few months since we last metso our first class will be a review of the first 6 (Ithink) lessons and then continue with ourregular weekly sessions until we finish thisstudy. Bring your study books (if you can stillfind them) and your Bibles.by Kathy HamletEasing ourselves backinto some sort of socialinteraction we are goingto schedule a couple ofcoffee dates with PastorNancy. The numbers willbe limited and safetyprotocolswillbefollowed. Sept. 2nd and 16th will be thefirst two dates. We will meet at 10:30 am. Ifyou are interested in attending you mustcall the office and get your name on the listfor the date you want, spots are limited!Our first couple of gatherings will be in thechurch courtyard (weather permitting).5