Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church3900 George Washington Memorial HighwayP.O. Box 427Ordinary, VA 23131

Susanna’s VineWinter 2013-2014

Regularly scheduled weekly events:

Sunday Services: Traditional Worship Service 8:15amFellowship in the Atrium 9:15amSunday School/Bible study 9:30amContemporary Worship Service 10:30am(Nursery and Children’s Church provided)

Sunday: Kidz Kwire 8:45-9:15amAdministrative Council (1st Sunday) 12:00pm

Tuesday: Administrative Council (3rd Tuesday) 7:00pm*Note the change in meeting day – beginning Jan 2014

Wednesday: Food Pantry 10:30-11:30amKnit Pickers (1st and 3rd Wednesdays) 12:30pmWednesday’s Gathering 5:30-7:30pmUnited Methodist Men (2nd Wednesday)7:00pm

Saturday: Fish & Loaves (4th Saturdays) 3:00pm

See current bulletin or call the church officefor information of ongoing midweek Bible studies.

The mission of Susanna Wesley UMC is to make disciples of Jesus Christ through loving, serving, encouraging, and growing together.

“A church for those who…”

Susanna’s Vine is a quarterly newsletter published by Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church. It is published for the benefit of the members, friends, and families of the congregation. If you would like to correspond with us, submit an article, or comment on anything at all, please feel free to write or call Karl Miller, the editor, or the Church Office:

Susanna Wesley United Methodist ChurchRev. Garry Livermon

3900 George Washington Memorial HighwayP.O. Box 427

Ordinary, VA 23131(804) 642-7551

E-mail: susannawesumc@swumc.hrcoxmail.comWeb page: www.susannawesleyumc.org

Office hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Mon., Wed., & Fri.

Mr. Karl Miller2779 Tanglewood Drive

Hayes, VA 23072(804) 642-9651

E-mail: puzzles4you@hotmail.com

A letter from our pastor:

Dear SWUMC Family and Friends,

Christmas is upon us! Are you ready? Are you ready spiritually? Physically? Mentally? I don’t think I can help with your physical preparedness but I know God wants to help you prepare mentally and spiritually.

Advent is the season in which Christians prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We use this time to prepare our hearts and our homes for the event that literally changed the world forever. Let me share the plans for Advent 2013 at Susanna Wesley UMC:

Our Advent study, “Christmas; Light Splits the Night,” began On Wednesday, Nov 27th. This is a part of our Wednesday’s Gathering

where we offer a time for eating together starting at 5:30pm. Then, at 6:30, we will offer this study for adults as well as age-appropriate studies for children and youth. The studies will continue through December 18th and will culminate with our annual Christmas Eve service. Each weekly study has a theme that I will incorporate into the subsequent message on Sundays, as well as the lighting of our Advent candles.

The themes we will use are hope, love, joy, and peace. I encourage you to discover Scripture each week that reveals these themes as you prepare for this exciting time in the life of the church.

May God fill you with anticipation for this wonder-filled Christmas season!

His name is Jesus!

Pastor Garry

Please join us Sunday, Dec 15th at 10:30am as we present

Christian Education After serving for three years, Heather Patton will be stepping down at the end of December as Education Chairperson for

SWUMC. Cheryl Moore has graciously accepted the position for 2014.

We are currently seeking a director (or multiple people to divide the responsibilities) for 2014’s Vacation Bible School. In addition, there continue to

be opportunities for those who would like to assist with Children’s Ministries. We are always in need of volunteers in Sunday School, Children’s Church, and the nursery. If you feel called to help in any way, please contact the church office, Heather Patton (hdpatton@aol.com) or Cheryl Moore at (cheryljonesmoore@gmail.com).

Green CornerCaretakers of God's Creation is a United Methodist Church and Community Ministry dedicated to caring for and

healing God's creation. It works with congregations across the country to enable them to make the connection between Biblical theology and a sense of responsibility to be in relationship to God's creation. "The Green Church Initiative," a Virginia Conference ministry, is one way it provides Virginia congregations with the resources they need to live out their faith as caretakers of God's creation.

All churches are urged to become covenant participants in the Initiative. Joe Posey of St. Luke's UMC, Yorktown is establishing a support group for York River District Green Church advocates. All interested parties are welcome and encouraged to participate.

The group formational meeting is January 16th, 2014 from 7-8:30 at Susanna Wesley.This meeting is an opportunity to explore how to promote the Green Church Initiative and other environmental activities within our

district. The hope is to initiate a quarterly meeting of representatives from all interested churches in the district, including a discussion of successes and difficulties, and opportunities for joint activities.

Giving God a ChanceBy Barbara McGlohn

Last year before my husband of almost 24 years had begun to come to church with me on Sundays he had ordered six pegs to stabilize a golf net. His cost was $56.00. He received the bill with the items, but it said he owed $5,600. He had ordered it on the internet, no phone number was responding; he couldn’t reach the company online and he kept getting bills with added fees and suggestions that he really should pay what he owed! At his wits end, he said before walking out the lane to get the mail one day, “I guess I’m going to have to fly to Indiana to get this mess straight!”

Three months had passed and with all avenues exhausted, I suggested maybe he could pray about it. He didn’t answer me as he went out the front door. Soon the phone rang and before he was halfway back to the house from the mailbox, I began to run to meet him with phone in hand. He began to talk with the man on the other end who was owner of the company my husband had been trying to reach. The man offered sincere apology for so much trouble having been caused by a type-o.

When my husband got back to the house he told me as he walked out the door earlier he decided all else had failed so he would pray. Before his prayer was completed God answered it. “Come unto me, all ye who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The burden that had made him weak was lifted and he got instant rest from the worry he had been experiencing. He was so humbled that his speech was softer and gentler for the rest of the day.

Often God waits to be asked for help from us who need Him so much.

Samaritan’s PurseSWUMC sent 94 shoeboxes forward with love and prayers. The message below from David and Tammy Presnall (OCC Church Relations Coordinators, Virginia Peninsula Area) says it all.

Thank you for prayers, donations of boxes, and financial support. Look for the 2013 Shoebox ornament on the atrium Christmas tree.

Monday's Shoebox StoryDuring a family Bible study this week, David read a verse that seemed to stand out from the rest. It comes from the book of Proverbs, chapter 15, verse 8. The second half reads, "...but the prayer of the upright is His delight." What an amazing thought that we can delight God with our prayer, our fellowship with Him. As you take time to do this, I would like to encourage you to continue in prayer over the boxes that were packed. Pray that each one that goes out will meet a specific need for the one who receives it; and that in so doing, the love of Jesus Christ will be made known.

Today's story is about a six year old boy whose name is Paul. Each person in his family packed a box and was encouraged to pray over it. Paul decided that he wanted to do so privately. His mother tells what happened next.....“With box in hand and backpack on his back, off he went to the bathroom – his room of choice! Mother that I am, I tip-toed to the door and listened for just a moment. As I stood there, it was as if I could hear God hushing the angels saying, “Shh, just a minute. I am listening to my child talk to me.” To my surprise, Paul was praying not only for the child, but for each item in the box. This is what I heard… “And God, please let the boy have a pond near him because there is soap in here and he needs water to take a bath. And God, please let him know how to use these colored pencils and paper. And God, please let his tummy have enough food. And God, when he is playing with his bouncy ball, please don’t let it bounce into the street where he could get hit by a car. And God, please let the doggie soft friend I picked out be a good friend to him.” And on and on he prayed – but only he and the Lord know the rest. He was in there a long time."When he came out, he looked a bit tired. He said one word, “Finished.” He brought his box back to the kitchen table where we were and set it down. After all of the boxes and children who will receive them had been prayed over, Paul said, “There’s one more thing we need to do…a hug.” He wrapped his little arms around the box and squeezed it until his face turned red..."As happy as I am to participate in the gift boxes, Paul’s seriousness, his prayer, and his love for a boy he’ll never meet in this lifetime made this outreach very personal for me. I was reminded that there truly are faces behind the hands that will receive these boxes...What an extremely humbling thought it is that these simple boxes may carry small treasures, but they are wrapped in Jesus’ love. Long after the boxes and things are used up, may Jesus live in the hearts of all who received them."

Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church

2014 Church Officers and Leaders

Administrative Council Chairperson Traci NoahAdministrative Council Recording Secretary Ginny Miller

Board of Trustees Chair TBDCapital Campaign Committee Chair Sonnie LeonardChurch Treasurer Kristie BrookshireCommunications Committee Coordinator Kristie BrookshireDisaster Relief Representative Jim BaughmanDistrict Communications Coordinator Julia ScarboroughDistrict Representative to the Board of Missions Randy Stacey

Terry StaceyDistrict Steward and Delegate TBDDistrict Youth Delegate *Katlyn JordanEducation Committee Chair *Cheryl MooreFinance Committee Chair TBDFinancial Secretary Vicki BarnesHelping Hands Director Terry StaceyHospitality Team Chair Dinah RegensburgIntentional Faith Development Becky LivermonLay Delegate to Annual Conference Ginny MillerLay Delegate to Annual Conference (Reserve) TBDLay Leader *Karl MillerLay Leadership Committee Chair Garry LivermonMembership Secretary Virginia MeyerMissions Committee Chair Bobby ScarboroughPreschool Director Susie PhaupScholarship Committee Chair Karl MillerSecretary Beth GollerSextant Brenda FairbanksStaff-Parish Relations Chair Janet CochranUnited Methodist Men – President Ray ChurchUnited Methodist Women – President TBDUnited Methodist Youth Fellowship Emily Boone

Terry StaceyKatrina SmithTim Smith

Worship Co-Chairs *Val Hart*Britinie Jordan

*New Chairperson

Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church 2014 Budget

2013 2014ADMINISTRATION 32,475.00 38,325.00CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE 500.00 250.00

COMMUNICATIONS 1,200.00 1,130.00CONFERENCE 39,589.00 43,775.00DISTRICT 1,508.00 1,798.00EDUCATION COMMITTEE 4,850.00 5,200.00HELPING HANDS 2,500.00 2,500.00HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE 1,300.00 1,300.00INTENTIONAL FAITH DEVELOPMENT 1,500.00 1,500.00MINISTERIAL AND STAFF SUPPORT 99,765.00 107,413.00MISSIONS COMMITTEE 2,300.00 3,300.00PASTOR PARRISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE 525.00PRESCHOOL 1,000.00 2,000.00WORSHIP COMMITTEE 3,800.00 3,350.00YOUTH 1,545.00

TOTAL BUDGET 192,287.00 213,911.00

$3,698.00 $4,114.00Needed weekly Needed weekly$16,024.00 $17,826.00Needed monthly Needed monthly

The SnowBy Barbara McGlohn

I open my eyes early – just as the first ray of sunlight focuses on snow glistening and resting softly on a green bush with red berries. Stillness reigns supreme with only a cardinal hopping gently waist deep on this frozen bush, thus showing beauty beyond all the eloquent words of great poets, storytellers and sages.

As I blink quietly to avoid any chance of missing the supreme pomp and circumstance of this moment, more rays cause profuse sparkle and bling to be sucked into my soul and if I were Superwoman I would be able to blast through the roof and fly!

O, my God, did you make this just for me - with no one else to join in this moment? Please keep me alert to all the blessings you put before my eyes; don’t let me hurry to look away or miss the gifts you don’t announce in a loud and robust voice.

The snow is glistening on my beautiful bush so I don’t have to do anything but wipe a small tear from my face that makes my cheek itch as it rolls down. The cardinal looks at me but I don’t move, so he doesn’t fly. We stand in amazement and awe – together – and peace reigns.

Susanna Wesley’s 25th Anniversary Celebration

November 3, 2013

Consultation Three Generations

Acolyte at work SWUMC kids

Worship

Welcoming the masses

Preparing for the masses…

The masses arrive!

Honored Guests

*Disclaimer: Captions by Karl Miller

Was I in charge? Nope! We were!

Happy Anniversary!

Worship – A Psalm of PraiseBy Barbara McGlohn

How have we worshipped you, O Lord; we have presented ourselves or have been presented as infants to you for the Sacrament of Baptism; to grow in grace and wisdom and fellowship with You and others in the faith.

We were confirmed in the church, taught by Elders who cared about us, so we learned to study and pray and be faithful stewards of time, talent, gifts, and service.

We celebrate Holy Communion, the observance of the Last Supper Jesus shared of bread and wine, in remembrance of His body and blood, broken and shed for us.

You, O Lord, have made us to worship You, to love Your words and our sisters and brothers on this Earth.

We believe worship to be an action of service and ministry to the one true God, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In faith we believe through divine awareness of the will of God. We pray to worship with joyful obedience.

We gather for prayer, teaching and preaching, reading Scripture, and giving our money to help ease the poverty of others; and this becomes our joy; O Lord to you, our joy.

Then our lives as believers will be known by our service to God in whom we live and move and have our being.

Open our hearts, Lord, as we remain in the posture of worship; open our minds in our daily walk, always directed by Your will and purpose for us.

We worship You with our whole hearts. Accept our worship, fill us. O Lord.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:9-14