Woodland Park UMC

The following appeared in the February edition of our conference newsletter “Channels.” This was Pastor Mark’s contribution to a series of articles written by delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences. All the delegates were asked to respond to the same topic: “Why I am a United Methodist…”

I was baptized on Palm Sunday, 1971, at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. I was less than a year old when Pastor Turley poured water upon my head and proclaimed me baptized in the name of the triune God. When he handed me back into my father’s arms, I promptly reached up and ripped off the clip-on tie my father wore that day. And thus began my life lived nurtured in the loving, gracious embrace of the United Methodist Church.

My parents modeled for my three older brothers and me a faithful commitment to the church. We attended Crossroads UMC as a family every Sunday. When I was five, I attended the church pre-school and learned about colors and shapes and about how to treat each other with kindness and respect. I attended Junior Chapel when I was seven, where I learned about prayer, the sacraments, and the other parts of worship.

When my family moved to Longview, Washington, I was nine years old. We immediately began attending the Longview UMC. In Sunday school and in worship I learned about a God who is awesomely powerful, and at the same time intimately personal and compassionate. My Sunday school teachers and pastors taught me that the Christian faith compels us to work to bring greater justice and love to the world. I learned that God is in heaven, but that God is also and at the same time in our hearts, and in the world, and mindful of the suffering and injustices that happen all around us. And I learned that I am called by God to address the suffering and injustices of the world, to extend the compassion and hope of Jesus Christ, and to be part of the marvelous plan that God has of recreating what our human sinfulness has broken.

When I was fifteen years old, our Sunday school superintendent announced in worship the need for a new teacher for the pre-school class. She said that she was sure God was placing the call upon someone’s heart to teach. And I heard God speak to my heart and tell me that I was that person being called. I taught the little ones bible stories every Sunday morning for two years. And I recognized the great joy and responsibility of sharing the good news of God’s love in Christ to others.

As an adult, I studied other Christian traditions and other religions. I found my faith enriched by these studies, but over and over I was reminded how deeply I am a United Methodist. Even when the church has taken positions with which I disagree, it has not changed my identity as a United Methodist that literally has been with me all of my life. I not only understand Wesley’s quadrilateral; I think it. It is simply ingrained in my worldview and self-understanding. I not only know the Social Principles; I believe that it is absolutely essential for the church to engage in faithful conversation about important social issues facing the world today. To do less would be to reduce the church to an irrelevant relic. I not only endorse the representative democratic ideals that govern our church structure, I believe that the opportunity to debate, to disagree, and to vote on important matters before the church is essential to fully engage people in both the awesome joy and responsibility of being a Christian today. It is a gift and a privilege to call myself a United Methodist. I am a United Methodist because it is my heritage, my worldview, and my calling from God.

The Lenten Study Series will focus on key issues facing General Conference this spring. Class members will review the history and procedures behind General Conference, as well as examine petitions and proposals coming before the conference this year.

Current issues such as the denomination’s budget, homosexuality, war, racism, and many others will be covered. Learn how the General Conference may directly impact your church’s ministry and the shape of our common ministries to come.

The next quarter starts March 7. The first six lessons entitled “Jesus Fulfills His Mission,” lead us through the final days of Jesus’ life, follow him to the cross, and rejoice with his followers after the Resurrection. Unit one deals with the meaning of Jesus’ approaching death as we examine the roles various people played in that experience. Unit two offers an opportunity to meditate on the meaning of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection for our lives and the contrast between power and weakness, love and hate.

The remaining seven lessons entitled “Living Expectantly,” are divided into two units. The first unit gives us a look at Paul’s missionary journey with a focus on the church he founded in Thessalonica. First and Second Thessalonians offer a view of the problems and triumphs of the early churches in microcosm. They remind us of our need to remain in Christ no matter what our circumstances.

The second unit provides a brief study of four visions found in the Book of Revelation. The visions present images of hope for those who believe and whose faith endures. They bring the quarter’s study to a close on a note of great promise and expectation.

Pastor Smith will preach during the 10:00 AM worship service, with a potluck dinner to follow. Bill Smith was pastor of Woodland Park UMC from 1992 – 1995. He and his wife Patricia are currently enjoying retirement in Ocean Shores, WA.

For the March 21st Potluck after Bill Smith’s sermon, Home Fellowship invites you to bring a dish to share that begins with the first letter of your first name. (For example, Cathy might bring a cake or a casserole, Mike might bring a meatloaf or muffins...you get the idea). In other words there will be lots of luck in the potluck.

Woodland Park’s Missions Committee selects a different organization each month to receive the special communion offering. Contributions in March will go to provide humanitarian assistance for earthquake victims in Iran through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). One hundred percent of your March communion offering will go toward this emergency.

In February $139 was collected and given to Strength for the Journey, a retreat sponsored by the United Methodist Church's Pacific Northwest Annual Conference for people living with AIDS.

Your old unwanted cell phone can aid communication in missions in countries around the world where land lines are not available. So while you are gathering stuff for the rummage sale next month, find your old cell phone, ask your friends and neighbors for their old ones and bring them all to church during March. Place the phones in the basket located in fellowship hall.

Later, we will add a new shoe box to the others in our other Shoebox Ministries which live in the church office. Shoebox Ministries are a great way to turn unwanted items into mission. We currently collect cancelled postage stamps cut from the envelope with a 1/4 inch border, old eye glasses and hearing aids, Campbell's soup labels and grocery receipts from Ballard and Greenwood Markets. Each of these items are used to help those in need.

WPUMC is having a BASEMENT SALE on April 17. Dig into your cupboards, closets, garages, basements and backrooms for those items you don't use or need anymore. Small kitchen appliances, utensils, knick-knacks, pictures, tools, craft & sewing items, games, books, and other smaller items are welcomed and appreciated. Pictures of larger items that you will keep at your home but want to sell. Please limit clothing to clean spring & summer items. No TVs or computers.

Deliver to church after April 5 or contact Candy Hamel (206) 533-8999
to arrange for pick-up.

Thanks to the Volunteers

Woodland Park Church through the years has been noted for members and friends who have seen something that needs doing, and they do it. Several recent projects have been done by our volunteers.

The following people volunteered their time by working on the Church grounds:

Todd Matthews designed and choose the new plantings; Dave Misner used his truck to pick up the plants in Woodinville; Anne Lewis bought the plants, put in manual labor pulling out the old plants , tilled in compost and planted the new plants; Arthur Campbell assisted Anne in this endeavor; as well as Tom Phinney and Suzette Birrell.

Let us join together in giving them thanks for a much needed face-lift.

One more round of applause for Wally Johnson, Walt Nicks, Bob Hutchinson, John Wejak and Arthur Campbell who did jobs in the parsonage prior to the new renters moving in.

Before Russ and Lori Fisher moved to California, Russ constructed a new storage unit for the VCR and videos in the multi-purpose room. Then they gave a party for the overnight guests.—What a blessing this was.

We are all safer thanks to Wally Johnson and Art Blattner for changing the batteries in the Smoke Alarm System.

Before long there will be a list of other projects that are planned for the Centennial year.

Watch for this and get out your pen!

-Arthur Campbell

March Home Fellowship Schedule

March 8

Cindy Rattray’ home
642 North 83rd Street
784-3725

Leader—Tom

Theme: Guide My Feet—Deut 26:1-11; Ps 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom 10:8b-13; Lk 4:1-13
Theme: Standing Firm—Gen 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps 27; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 13:31-35

March 22

Richard & Anne Lewis’ home
7720 Greenwood Avenue North, #105
329-3749

Leader—Kathy

Theme: Digging In—Isa 55:1-9; Ps 63:1-8; 1 Cor 10:1-13; Lk 13:1-9
Theme: Welcome Home—Josh 5:9-12; Ps 32; 2 Cor 5:16-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11b-32