Fourth Sunday Evening Worship Service Nov. 23 at SSUMC

A Latvian Methodist gatering was held at Kuldiga Methodist Church in August.  Guests were from the USA, IReland and Latvian congregations.  Afterwards the group met at Igitas Kocinas home for singing, fellowship and worship.  The Latvian Methodist Church conference was very good and took place at Camp Wesley where alot of events were held during the summer.  It was a blessed place for children and youth.  Some Kuldiga children attended Wesley days and camping day, Edgars said.

A Sunday school for children began Oct. 12th and will be very special for the congregation.  A Harvest celebration was also held.  On this day they give thanks to God for all good gifts received from Him.

Edgars served the church in Sept. for the last time.  Inese Budnika has finished her one year study and will continue to serve Kuldiga congregation.  She will speak to congregation members and hen be able to send their ideas to Norris/Sinking Springs UMC for next year.

Edgars said "I am thankful God for opportunity to serve in Kuldiga.  During this time I had good relationship with members of gongregation.  It was not easy for me to serve in Kuldiga because I am full ime pastor in Matras and Tasi, too.  I an very thankful to you for your care about me when I had problem with my car.  God bless all of you richly and be wih you everyday."

Sept. 21st, 2008  Attending:  Jim Hayes, John and Mary Copeland, Jenny Harshbarger, Kristen Boshers.

We discussed the recent card from Courtney Randal, and how glad we are that some of the money remaining after funding the Vacation Bible School was used to sedn children to Camp Wesley.

Our three year commitment to support the Kuldiga Methodist Churh will end in December, 2008.  We discussed our interest in continuing our relationship with Kuldiga another three years.  Other churches were mentioned that might join with un to support the Kuldiga church; we discussed Andersonville and Mt. Pleasant UMC, Friendsville UMC and the Methodist church in Maine where Leigh Ann Cox-Payne is a member.  Jenny Harshbarger will schedule a meeting with the ANdersonville/Mt. Pleasant UMC pastor to discuss joining our partnership.  Jim Hayes will contact Friendsvile and the church in Maine about joining us.

Jim told the group that he had asked Rev. Edgars Sneiders to give us some ways we can support his inistry in 2009 and is awaiting a reply.  He will share information from Edgars when it is received.

The gathering discussed some areas we might contribute at Kuldiga and elsewhere in Latvia.  The Hope Center (for unwed mothers), and at Kuldiga Methodist:  a new church organ, finish replacing the heating system, and work on foundation problems.

A second mission team to Kuldiga in July 2009 is being planned.  Some thoughts we would like to consider during the trip are Bible Study, more interaction with members of the Kuldiga church, and evening church meetings to invite prospective church members and discuss "what it means to be a Methodist", prepare a typical Southern meal for the church members, have Communion, send two persons ahead of the groupt to publicize the Vacation Bible School and plan the work projects, provide for certain members of the group to go to Camp Wesley to work after being in Kuldiga.

We began thinking about fundraisers to help send a team to Kuldiga in 2009.  Some ideas we are considering are a Kuldiga Craft Bazaar (sell items made by members of the Kuldiga Church, a Valentine's Banquet, a spring yard sale at Sinking Springs, and a Chili Supper.  We hope that other supporting churches will plan fundraisers to support the mission trip and work projects at the Kuldiga Methodist Church.

Jim Hayes closed the meeting with a prayer.

Anna Ruth Offutt, Mildred Hill, Hazel Wallace, Onelda Human, Nancy Jerrell, Wendy Miller, Mary Giles, Barbara Inger family, James Copeland, Virginia Dagley, Dillon Glandon, Nora Copeland-Welsh, Ann Cox, George Elliott, Annette Stooksbury, the Kuldiga Methodist Church, Janice Foster, Mary Beth Cates, Juanita Stooksbury,Bill Draney, Joe Inger and Kathy Ayres

Military:

Joey Evans, Briscoe Kuhlman, Brian Voorhees