Announcements for July 6, 2008

...Dr. James Driscoll, our new Senior Pastor, his wife Katheryn, and children Rebecca and Michael

and

...Rev. Marc Rickabaugh, our new Associate Pastor, his wife Nancy, and children Layne, Sydney and Molly.

This Week at Church

The Welcome Committee invites the congregation to join us for coffee and fellowship in Fellowship Hall before and after Sunday School.

…to share in the Lord’s Supper. Everyone – young or old, member or non-member – is invited to come. For those who may have food allergies, there are gluten and lactose-free wafers available on the altar rail. Please ask one of the pastors if you need assistance. If you want to receive communion in your pew, the pastors will be glad to bring the elements to you; please speak to an usher. ...to bring canned and dry food items each Communion Sunday and place them in the basket located in the Narthex.  During the service, the ushers will bring this basket forward to the communion table with the offering, to be blessed and then donated to the FISH food bank. Jesus said, "Feed my Lambs." Through this ministry, our Church and FISH are helping to do this for those in need in the Greater Williamsburg Area.

Respite Care is seeking volunteers for Thursdays and Fridays. Interested? Contact John Tressler (229-1771 x354). 

Our next Moms’ Lunch will be Tuesday, July 15, 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.  Childcare is provided. Contact Cindy Banek (229-1771 x258).

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet July 21, Rm. 171, 2:00 p.m. Questions? Call Nancy Brown (564-3047) or Penny Harriger (259-0754).

July 27 and August 31 have been designated as Family Choir Sundays for parents and their children, ages 5 and up to join the Sanctuary Choir in a Sunday morning anthem. If your family would like to participate, plan to attend the corresponding Thursday evening rehearsal for one hour on July 24 and/or August

28 (7:15 – 8:15 p.m.) Please let us know, in advance, if your family will be participating. Contact Cindy Freeman: (229-1771 x108).

C.A.R.E. (Congregation Actively Reaching Everyone) helps when there is a funeral reception, sickness, or gives a ride to the doctor. July coordinators: Evelyn Lee (565-1789) or Barbara Hubbard (258-9388).

"Agape" is the New Testament word for "Christian Love." Our Agape fund helps members of the church family in times of crisis and special need. Your extra gift marked "Agape" will be appreciated by another in the congregation.

FISH (food and clothing pantry) donations are needed; especially food. Place items in the designated bin.

We are planning some Extreme Makeover improvements to our Education wing and we need people with imaginative and artistic skill to help us. Contact Cindy Banek (228-1771 x258).

Please check the Lost and Found box located on top of the Welcome Desk just inside the back door and claim what is yours. Thanks!

Summer is a great time for reading and new adult and children's books abound in our Church Library. Stop in this morning and check out some for your reading pleasure.

Mother’s Day Out  Sept. 08 - May 09 Playgroups, 12 mo - 3 yrs old by Sept. 1, 2008. Provider Type - Registered Religious Exempt Early ¨Teachers - Certificate in Child Development and Managing Early Childhood Programs ¨Curriculum - Social & Creative/Monthly Themes/Learning thru Play ¨Parent Cooperative - Adult-to-Child ratio is one-to-three ¨Learning Centers-Book/Art/Discovery/Dramatic Play/Language/Block ¨Grouptime - Music & Songs/Fingerplays & Poems/Stories Routine Times/Playground & Games/Snack Time Call Lee Munden (229-1771 x209) to register.

What’s Coming Up?

Vacation Bible School – Power Lab – July 21 – 25 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Children ages 3 through rising 6^th grade are invited to join us for the MOST FUN you will have all summer! (Are you ready for some slime?) This is not your average VBS – don’t miss out! And there is fun to spare for adult and youth! We still need additional volunteers to meet our goal of bringing the love of Jesus to 100 children. Look for Mr. Fizz in the atrium to register children and to volunteer – he is looking for you to be at Power Lab VBS! Contact Cindy Banek (229-1771 x258).

Earth Stewards II: Earth, Water and Life is coming on August 10, 11 and 12. We will begin with a church picnic at New Quarter Park on Sunday afternoon with activities beginning at 4:00 p.m. and a potluck supper at 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday evenings will include dinner and related earth-friendly programs for children, youth and adults. This is an intergenerational event hosted by the Education and Green Committees. Contact Cindy Banek (229-1771 x258).

Virginia Conference School of Christian Mission will be held July 25-27 and July 28-31 in Blackstone. Studies include: Israel and Palestine, I Believe in Jesus and Giving Our Hearts Away (Native American Survival). Everyone is invited to participate. Applications are posted on the UMW bulletin board. Call Kim Barbee (345-6407).

Mentors needed: choose one week-long overnight summer camp for children ages 7-12. Training will be held on Sunday mornings before the campers arrive.

August 3-8: Camp Highroad in Middleburg

August 10-15: Westview on the James in Goochland

August 17-22: Occohannock on the Bay in Belle Haven

We’re collecting pool/swim shoes – all sizes – children’s to adults’ and girls’ swim suits – size 12-16 for older girls.  Contact Nikki Tingen (566-1097) or www.vaumc.org for info and mentor applications.

The Staff Parish Relations Committee would like to express its gratitude to the Fellowship Sunday School Class for hosting the farewell reception for Steve and Marion. Special thanks to our coordinator, Wilma Vachal, Divine Janitorial for set-up and all those who provided food and helped clean up.

FISH, INC. 220-9379, 312 Waller Mill Road Emergency Services, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185 Food; Clothing; Transportation

Dear Members of the Congregation,

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Volunteers and the Clients of FISH, INC., please accept our sincere thanks for the outpouring of non- perishable food items you provided June 29 at the farewell reception for Steve and Marion. Their request for these items resulted in a pickup truck and a van packed full of boxes and bags.

We also want to thank all those who helped load Charlie Clark’s truck and Pat Clark’s van so the food could be transferred to the FISH Food Pantry. I want to personally thank them for the use of their vehicles and Charlie for all the work he did in stowing the goods at the pantry.

As you are aware, requests for food have increased at FISH due to the current economic conditions. Food requests were up 29% in May 2008 over May 2007. We are grateful for this latest show of support from the congregation of Williamsburg United Methodist Church as well as the continuing contributions that are made through the year.

Thank you all!

Gratefully,

Bud Voorhess