CHURCH COUNCIL APPROVED NEW SPUMC VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

Monday, July 11th Church Council unanimously approved Pastor Jim's motion to change our Mission Statement to:

We will soon be putting our new Vision and Mission statement in practice in everything we do.

UMM Presents 2010 Man of-the-Year Award John Covington received the 2010 SPUMC United Methodist Men (UMM) Bob Sutton Man-of-the-Year Award at the 9:30 service on July 18th.  This was the second presentation of the annual award (Reid Reininger was the 2009 recipient), which goes to men at SPUMC who exemplify the values of the UMM.   John has been active in many facets of the life of SPUMC for many years. He has been a member of the Church Council, led adult Bible study classes, participated in VIM trips, volunteered at Carpenter’s Kitchen, and (along with Senn Wise) founded and leads the SPUMC employment network.  His record of leadership and commitment serves as a model for the men and boys of SPUMC.   Our congratulations and thanks to John Covington, the 2010 Man of the Year.

CRIBBERY COORDINATOR POSITION FILLED

We have great news! Regina Ross has accepted the cribbery position and for the first time in a very long time our staff is complete. Regina comes with high recommendations from both Rev. Lee and Beth among others and we are happy to have her. Our young children will again have a familiar person greeting them each week. Please take the opportunity to greet Regina and welcome her to the SPUMC family.
 
Shalom,
Pastor Jim

WOMEN'S SUIT DRIVE
A SUCCESS - THANKS TO THOSE WHO DONATED

 Many thanks to all those who so generously donated professional attire to our "Women's Suit Drive" this spring to benefit the Suited To Succeed organization. Over 100 suits and separates were donated by our congregation alone, for a total of 300 outfits countywide!  Our girl scout troop made two trips to Baltimore in June to deliver the clothing.  We were greeted by several grateful women who assisted us in unloading our vans and in hanging up all the lovely attire which will outfit women getting ready to enter the workplace.

Suited to Succeed has helped change the lives and appearances of nearly 1400 women this past year, and over 8000 women since it began in 1997. Please know that through your clothing donation you have helped remove the last obstacle to unemployment for many women! 

With gratitude, Jenny and Nancy Proebstle for Cadette GS Troop #298  

INTRODUCING ERICA BENJAMIN

OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES

Erica Benjamin spent the majority of her childhood in Northeast Pennsylvania.  Prior to moving to Pennsylvania she lived in Kobe, Japan, Knoxville, TN and Atlanta, GA.  The daughter of a United Methodist pastor she lived in several places in Pennsylvania, but considers Noxen, Pennsylvania home.  Her parents now live in Deposit, NY. 
 
She moved to Washington, DC in 2001 to attend American University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  During college she spent a semester studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic.  After graduation she taught for 2 years at Gibbs Elementary School in DC.  She then enrolled at Wesley Theological Seminary in DC.  While in Seminary she completed her internship at Central Union Mission, a homeless shelter and transitional housing program for men where she wrote literacy and Biblically based curriculum for the men in the Spiritual Transformation Program.  She graduated from Seminary in May 2010 with a Masters of Divinity specializing in Urban Ministry.  She is a Certified Candidate in the Baltimore Washington Conference.
 
Erica enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece Ellie who lives in Rochester, NY.  She also enjoys swimming, reading, traveling, and cooking.

Have you been involved or are you interested in becoming involved in children’s ministries at SPUMC?  Come meet Erica July 8 or July 20 at 7:00 PM in Room 206.  Share your stories, share your vision, and learn about new opportunities to get involved.  If you will need child care or have any questions please contact Erica Benjamin ebenjamin@severnaparkumc.org. 

Beginnings is a small-group spiritual journey for seekers, new believers, and longtime Christians who want to explore the basics of Christianity in a relaxed, nurturing atmosphere. Participants can bring questions, gain knowledge, and form or deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
 

An Introduction to Christian Faith centers around a question for each session:

• So, is this all there is? (Introduction) 

• Who is Jesus, and why should I care? (Jesus Christ)

• Why am I not where I want to be? (Sin and the Cross)

• What happens when I die? (Death and Resurrection)

• Can I trust God? (Providence and Suffering)

• How does God speak to me? (The Bible)

• If I don’t feel lost, why do I need to be found? (Salvation and Conversion)

• Can I start again? (Forgiveness and Wholeness)

• How do I speak to God? (Prayer)

• How can I make a life and not just a living? (The Good Life)

• Why should I join any group that will have me as a member? (Church Membership)

• Love feast! (Remembering, Sharing, and Continuing the Journey)

This DVD and discussion based 12 week study will begin the week of September 12 and continue until the week of November 28. Days of the week and times will be announced soon. If you have questions, contact Rev. Martha Meredith at 410-987-4700 or mmeredith@severnaparkumc.org.

OUR MISSIONARIES NEED YOUR PRAYERS

By: Heather Beal

Greetings in the Name of our Lord to all the Saints at SPUMC!  Thank you all for continuing to be a major part of the team that is reaching out with us to people in Southern Mexico – we cannot go if we are not sent, and could not be sent without your support – so if you ever wonder if you are making a difference in anyone’s life – know that you are making a difference in our lives – and in the lives of people in Mexico. 

It’s exciting to see our kids getting ready for summer vacation – a time of rest and play – getting the body and mind ready to take in the information of another school year.  I’m excited for them – and wish I could be joining them!  This summer instead of being a time of vacation from school for me, will be a time of intense focus – hopefully my last summer in school!  Lord willing I am hoping to complete the rough draft of my dissertation by July which will give my professors time to evaluate it and my time to revise so that I can finish in the Fall.  So, as you see kids playing and enjoying – remember me as I take my final lap in this marathon race of a dissertation that I have been running.  Hopefully soon we will be rejoicing together in its completion!  Have a great summer – we hope to see you in the Fall and bring a good report.  

WORSHIP Video Ministry

 Thanks to financial memorial donations and the purchase of new equipment, we are able to video worship services. We have DVDs available beginning with Palm Sunday 2010! Call or stop by the office for details. If you requested a copy of the Confirmation Service, it is ready.

Volunteers have been trained on the new equipment! And, if video and sound is something you are interested in, we would love for you to be part of this ministry. Call the church office and let us know!

UMW Summer Read

The UMW’s fourth annual summer read will be The Faithful One by Michele Hartlove.  It’s a great book, plus the author will be joining us for a discussion of the book on Monday, September 27 at 6:30 PM.  You may sign up and purchase a copy of the book for $10 in Fellowship Hall (part of cost subsidized by UMW).

Seth Jacobs has it all-looks, fame, wealth, a beautiful wife and three children, a mansion in greater Boston, a highly successful restaurant business, lots of friends, loyal employees.  And in a series of reversals of fortune beyond his control, Seth loses it all - his family, home, business, reputation - even his health when he finds out he is dying of cancer.  Seth's faith is challenged by his friends who suggest perhaps God has a reason for inflicting so much loss and pain upon him.  Suffering, he asks God, like we all do, "Why is this happening to me?"  Wanting his life to end, with some help he finally finds an unexpected "answer" to his despair.  A modern-day story based on the Bible's Book of Job, The Faithful One inspires us all to have a little more faith, no matter what.

Don't have time for a Bible study during the school year?  Looking for a way to get closer to God this summer?  We have just the study for you!  Join us to read Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.   The class will meet on Wednesday mornings for 6 weeks, from June 23 through July 28.  (It's okay if you have to miss a class!)  There will be a fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:25 and class from 9:30 to 11:00.  Sign up in Fellowship Hall on Sundays.  For more info, contact Ann Chaffee, achaffee@severnaparkumc.org or Suzanne Steiner, ssteiner@severnaparkumc.org.