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THE CHIMES Digital Edition Dear Friends By now you have probably learned that Rita Stewart has resigned her position of Director of Spiritual Formation at our church. While this is a huge loss for our church it is a faithful response to the leading of the Spirit on Rita’s part. She knows that God is calling her to more and needs some time and space to explore the next steps in her walk with Christ. Rita’s contributions to our spiritual formation are many and profound. She took a good Sunday School program and a few small groups and developed a vision and process to help all of us not just learn more about Christ but grow in our friendship with him. She helped us to see that information about the Bible is not our goal, rather transformation by the Word of God is our goal. She integrated our church-wide ministries into spiritual formation plans tailored to our individual needs. And she helped us to make all of this simple and clear. As we now search for a new Director of Spiritual Formation, please be in prayer. We trust that if God led Rita away from here for a purpose that God also has somebody waiting in the wings for Chester UMC. Thank you, Rita, for loving us and leading us closer to the heart of God. The gentle footprints we see on our spiritual journey surely resemble your sole (or is that soul?). Pastor Marg The summer flew by and it was filled with great fun and fellowship. There were outings, a beach trip, and tye-dyeing party in preparation of the 9/11 Community Service Day. To the amazing youth and parents involved in making the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11 a special memory. What a wonderful day watching the youth of Chester UMC work hard and with such love to put together baked goodies and banners for the local police and fire stations.
** Looking for a way to support the youth?? Snack donations (chips, baked goods, drinks, paper products) would be greatly appreciated for the weekly high school youth meetings beginning in October. There will be a youth bin in the donation closet for any snack donations! Thank you for your support! hsyouthdirector@chesterumc.org DASHers! (3rd, 4th, and 5th graders) : Our first regular meeting will be October 16 at 2:30 PM. We will play some "Minute to Win It" games, get to know each other, and talk about our first mission project—Operation Christmas Child. We will talk about what supplies/gifts to include in your shoe box. The gifts you include in your shoe box will go to children around the world. You do not have to participate. This is an opportunity to join in a ministry of the church. Shoe boxes will be turned in to the church in the middle of November. I hope to see you there! For questions, please contact Carolyn Landis at 796-1860 or LandisFamily05@gmail.com. NOTE: All children participating in DASH must fill out a participation form. You should have already received this via email from Rita. Please notify Carolyn if you still need a form. CUMC hosting CARITAS Families: October 29-November 5 CARITAS is an acronym for Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter. The program began in the mid 1980’s as a response to the growing need for shelter for homeless. In addition to food and shelter, CARITAS offers support and guidance through full-time case managers who work with each willing client to take the necessary financial, legal, medical and emotional steps toward self-sufficiency. Through CARITAS, congregations serve as the first line of community support for anyone in need of emergency shelter. We will be hosting approximately 26 homeless individual family members from Saturday, October 29th through Saturday morning November 5th. In addition to overnight shelter we will provide dinners, breakfasts, bagged lunches, snacks, laundry services, toiletries, showers, and fellowship. Please pray for our week hosting CARITAS, for our guests and volunteers. Prayerfully consider how you can become involved to serve the homeless in our own community. You may also view our CARITAS volunteer board on the CUMC website. If you have any questions, contact Julie Ferry at 530-5009 or juliejferry@gmail.com. The theme for the 2010 Fall Stewardship Campaign has been set at T3 referring to the"time, talents, and treasures" of the members of Chester United Methodist Church (CUMC). The term "stewardship" stems from the Greek word "Oikonomia" which refers to the management of a house or a household. The term "stewardship" may also be defined as that aspect of a church's administration that deals with a person's hring systematically and proportionally with his or her time, talents, and financial resources. In turn, financial stewardship may be thought of as an important element in a person's spiritual relationship with God. It is bsed on the concept that God is the true and ultimate owner of a person's possessions nd that each person is accountable to God for the proper and acceptable use of those possessions. Volunteer Opportunities at the Broadwater Community (Address)
Backpack Mission Last school year, CUMC fed 29 children from Friday night to Sunday night totaling 7 meals plus snacks. Please continue to contribute the following items: Pop Tarts; cereal bars, boxes of cereal; oatmeal; peanut butter (plastic jars); soups; mac & cheese; canned spaghetti, ravioli, and beefaroni; complete box meals; fruit snacks; and snack foods. Put donations in the labeled bins in the Mission Closet. Questions? Contact Sandra Dishman (748-2790 or sandradishman@comcast.net .) The children are very grateful for the food they receive. Wednesday, October 12, at 6:15 PM in Davis Fellowship Hall. Cost of the dinner: $5 adults; $3 children; $20 family maximum As the summer winds down and the fall gears up with kids returning to school, activities of all sorts getting started, and work picking up there is a different feel in the air that indicates change and expectations. This contributes to people feeling as if they are being pulled in numerous directions and to a feeling of being unbalanced. I have had a number of people talking about work-life balance. What does work-life balance mean for you? Creating work-life balance starts with defining what this means in your life and recognizing if your life is out of balance. This interactive program will define work-life balance and offer realistic ways to create more balance in your life. It will have you thinking about making some changes in how you manage your life. This program is appropriate for families, couples and singles. Work-life balance is a basic principle and looks different for each individual. Join us as Pamela Waitkus, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage &Family Therapist presents this program. You will leave with insight and ideas about how to create work-life balance. Pamela A. Waitkus, Ed.S, has a private counseling practice in the Colonial Heights area. She has worked as a counselor and educator. Pamela has had extensive experience working with individuals, couples and families on wide-ranging issues including depression, anxiety, grief/loss, substance abuse, personal growth/life transition issues and marriage / pre-marriage counseling and divorce. She holds the credentials of Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage &Family Therapist, National Certified Counselor. She is involved with the Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce as well as the Alzheimer's Association Tri-Cities Advisory Board. Pamela believes that we all have noble struggles and that we all can learn to help ourselves as well as others. Administrative Council Minutes The Administrative Council met on August 15, 2011. The council heard reports from Finance, Trustees, Stewardship, and Staff Parish. The Nursery School policy was reviewed and further revisions were suggested. A small committee was assigned to incorporate these revisions into the policy. Financially, we are meeting our obligations. All bills have been paid with the exception of apportionments, which are 3 months behind. Finance hopes that our members’ giving will allow us to catch those up in the fall, as we have done in the past. Committee and team chairs will be working on goals and budget requests for 2012, in preparation for charge conference on November 13. Trustees reported on ongoing roof repairs. Stewardship reported on the plans for the fall campaign. Staff Parish announced the new youth directors, Jenni and Jason Deckert. Volunteers are needed to fill the void left by the Martinko family’s move from the area. Victoria Martinko was a vital part of our children’s ministry. Council voted to hire a Children’s Coordinator. Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome to attend. Fresh Start Sunday Morning Group New Room, New Book, Fresh Start! Join the Fresh Start Sunday School Class in Study, Fellowship and Service:
Innisbrook Wrapping Paper and Chocolates on Sale Now Christmas and All-Occasion Gift Wrap and Chocolate Gift Collections will be on sale through October 16. Items will be delivered before Thanksgiving. Proceeds will help support the mission projects of the United Methodist Women. Order yours at the Innisbrook display in the atrium. UMW members are encouraged to pick up order forms from Susan Petrey, 275-9258. Yes, I want to be informed! Get uniquely connected with The Virginia Advocate The Advocate, the full-color monthly newsmagazine of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, is designed to help our congregation build disciples more effectively. Every issue will help you stay connected through:
Subscription rates are $15 for one year (12 issues), $25 for 2 years, and $36 for 3 years. On-line options are now available! See the display in the Atrium to sign up or call Susan Petrey, 275-9258, for more information. Turkey Pot Pie Dinner and the Music of All4ONE Saturday, November 12, 6:00 PM ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHESTER COMMUNITY are invited to feast on Turkey Pot Pie and all the trimmings and enjoy Chester UMC’s own men’s quintet, All4ONE. Proceeds will help support the mission projects of the United Methodist Women. Tickets are $10 per person (checks made payable to Chester UMW) and are available from Susan Petrey (275-9258) or the church office (748-6006). INNISBROOK WRAPPING PAPER order forms are due to Susan Petrey no later than October 16. UMW ANNUAL MEETING CONFERENCE AT VUMAC: October 29-30. Susan Petrey will be attedning for the day on Saturday. To carpool, meet in the CUMC parking lot at 10:30 AM. Registration is required. Call Susan Petrey for details (275-9258) DISTRICT UMW FALL DAY APART: Sunday, November 6, at 3 PM; place TBA. Mark your calendar and plan to travel together. Details forthcoming. TURKEY POT PIE DINNER: Saturday, November 12. 9 AM preparation; 6 PM dinner. Watch for details on how you can help. SALAD LUNCHEON: Sunday, December 4, General Membership Meeting and luncheon. Details will follow Call Susan Petrey (275-9258) to learn more about UMW, our three participating fellowwhips, and how you can become involved. FELLOWSHIPS:
Dear Church Family, It is hard for me to believe that we are nearly through with the first month of school. What a great time we have had. The majority of the children have settled in nicely and the teachers have already immersed them in their daily schedules. I am pleased to announce that although our enrollment is low this year (the economy has finally caught up with us) the children and parents that we do have seem so happy with the program. We have added two new staff members this year: we welcome Karan Peterson who is teaching a 3 year old class and her assistant Donna Currier. These ladies, along with our existing staff, do a phenomenal job for the school and for the children. I have had many of our members ask how they can support our preschool ministry. My first response would be by keeping us in prayer. Another way that you can support our school is by contributing your Campbell’s products. What is needed are the UPC codes with the little Campbell soup person beside it. Example: Feel free to put your Campbells labels in my church mailbox. If you are interested in seeing what other items are accepted, check out the website www.labelsforeducation.com. For every item we are able to purchase with our points, it is money we have saved in our budget that can be used for the children. At this time, we still have a limited number of openings in our program. We have five(5) openings in the four year old class. These children attend Monday through Thursday. We also have three (3) openings in the 3 year old class which attend school Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday and five (5) in 2 ½ year old class. The 2 1/2 year old class is held on Tuesday and Thursday and provides an excellent way for you to introduce your little one to socialization skills and beginning academic development. Applications are available in the school office or on our website, www.cumcns.com. Don’t hesitate to call if I can answer any questions for you. We have scheduled a Nursery School Yard Sale on Saturday, October 15 from 8 AM to 1 PM. Our sale will be held in the Fellowship Hall so inclement weather will not be a problem. I know that we have many members with "home based" businesses and I encourage you to consider renting a spot to showcase it. Spots will rent for $10. We are also accepting donations of any kind (these are tax deductible) so please call me if you have things that you would like us to pick up. You may also bring donations to my office (Room 237). Thank you so much for your support. In closing, I would like to say thank you once again to the many members of my church family who have continued to offer me words of encouragement. Beginning from scratch has been a daunting task, but your thoughtfulness has gone a long way to support me! I take great pride in our school, our staff, our parents and most of all, our children. Chester Methodist is so blessed to be able to offer this ministry to our community and our community is blessed to be able to receive it. If you are in the building, please run upstairs and say hi! Blessings, Dee Fisher - Director - CUMCNS Looking Back on Community Service Day (9-11-2011) 9/11-A Day of Service & Remembrance by Maureen Vilak Sunday, September 11, 2011 was a beautiful, sunny day, just like that fateful Tuesday ten years earlier. This year, fortunately, the day did not end in shock, sorrow, loss, and devastation. Churches and civic groups around the country, including Chester United Methodist Church, encouraged their members to join them for a day of service and remembrance. For several weeks leading up to the ten year anniversary, Chester UMC invited its members to volunteer in a number of ways: writing thank you letters, making homemade treats or going out in public on 9/11 either to visit local heroes or to promote patriotism. Over 200 volunteers showed up: church members, Kiwanis Club of Chester members, Key Club members, and others. All told, the volunteers visited six fire stations, the Chester Police station, the local rescue squad, McGuire Hospital and eleven military families at Fort Lee. The volunteers brought plaques of appreciation, thank you cards and wonderful baked goods. Flags were distributed at IHOP and Cracker Barrel. As a special treat, a “flash mob” surprised the folks at Kroger and Cracker Barrel with patriotic songs. In the spirit of “pay it forward” and random acts of kindness, Flagstop gave free carwashes while volunteers vacuumed cars, volunteers took groceries to shoppers' cars, and quarters were distributed at a local laundromat. A special service was conducted at Chester United Methodist Church to honor all those who lost their lives or their loved ones. They also honored local firefighters, policemen, EMT’s and other first responders. It truly was a COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE to honor 9/11. SHOWN BELOW: Members from Chester United Methodist Church, the Thomas Dale Key Club and the Kiwanis Club of Chester are shown presenting Enon Fire Station #18 firefighters with cup cakes, cookies and other goodies; notes; and a certificate of appreciation which was part of the church's outreach to first responders (fire, po9lice and rescue squad stations) and military families in teh Chester area. Click on the photo to view more pictures. I Can Do That! When each of us joined Chester United Methodist Church, we promised to support the church with out prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service. There are many opportunites for service in each month's issue of the CHIMES as well as in the weekly bulletin. We need your help! What skills can you share with your church? Can you answers phones; help in the nursery; substitue as a Sunday school teacher; set up or take down charis; serve as a driver, usher, greeter, editor/writer, chaperone, sponsor, painter, acolyte; or maybe even lead a small group? Can you share a couple of hours each month to help with maintenance projects around the church? You will grow in community with other church members by becoming an active, volunteering member. Come join us in service to our church! Please call the church office to volunteer (748-6006 or churchadmin@chesterumc.org). The Power of a Simple Gift I would like to invite you to join in this year’s Operation Christmas Child project, a worldwide outreach of Samaritan’s Purse that touches the lives of millions of hurting children each year through the “Power of a Simple Gift”. Shoe boxes filled with presents by caring people can bring love, joy and hope to little ones living in some of the most desperate circumstances imaginable. Operation Christmas Child is ultimately about sharing the life-changing message of God’s greatest gift-His Son, Jesus Christ. Instructional brochures providing ages and gift suggestions will be available October 2 in the Atrium. The same small donation of $7.00 (payable to Samaritan’s Purse) provides Gospel Booklets written in the child’s language and covers shipping. Return the filled boxes to the church by Tuesday, November 15 (Mission Closet). Questions, please contact Sharon Buchanan @748.9657. Baptism: Sawyer Kelton Walters was born February 12, 2011 and is the son of Lori and Brian Walters. Death: Evelyn Gay Bain Sanders (December 26, 1927-September 19, 2011) Notes of Appreciation
DINNER FOR 6 + 2 Our Fall dinner groups are gearing up for the months of October through December. If you would like to be a part of the fellowship and fun that our dinners offer, now is the time to sign up! Anyone can be a part of them! The groups meet once a month with the host family providing the entree, bread and beverage. Participants bring the vegetables, side dishes and desserts. Please register in the pew pad and indicate if you would like to be a host family or a single. You are always welcome at our tables! Questions? Contact Janis Hargrave (526-4156). WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CUMC FOR YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 22-35) Who says there’s nothing here for people our age? Meet me at Don Papa Grande (next to K-mart) in Chester at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, October 19. After dinner we’ll face off in a few fierce rounds at Holiday Bowl. Bum a few bucks off the ‘rents (cuz hey, it’s keeping you involved with church folks!) and bring a friend. For more info, or to let me know you’re coming, send an email to Joshua Wortham at music@chesterumc.org or Jennifer Brooks at jrbrooksieee@gmail.com.
OAK GROVE HELPING HANDS CARNIVAL October 1, 2011 Rives Ruritan Club, S Crater Rd, Prince George Co. 10:00 AM-4:00 PM The proceeds from the carnival reach numerous lives with mission programs for the homeless, nursing home residents, special needs persons, local shut ins, and the children of incarcerated parents. In the past sixteen years, the Oak Grove Carnival has provided over $250,000 in assistance. This year the carnival will also be helping Dustin Wray. Dustin, and his wife Amanda, are residents of Chesterfield County. They have 2 children, ages 3 years and 18 months. Dustin was diagnosed with cancer behind his eye at the age of 10. The cancer returned about a year ago and resulted in Dustin losing his eye. Since that time, the cancer has progressed to stage 4 bone cancer and has metastasized to his brain. The entire family has shouldered this burden, with love for Dustin. All proceeds will be used to assist the Wray family and for mission work in the Tri-Cities area. Checks can be made payable to "Helping Hands Carnival". For information or to volunteer, please contact Diane Seeberger at 804-526-3547. RICHMOND DISTRICT MISSION CELEBRATION Saturday, October 15
Come enjoy displays by Mission Interpreters from around the state and country; Performances by Asbury Drum Line and Ramsey Memorial Praise Band; Food Concessions by Asbury United Methodist Men Mission Celebration Banquet
Come enjoy Guest Speaker, Glenn Rowley; Emmaus Praise Band; and Mission Interpreters. To purchase tickets: Send checks payable to Richmond District UMC (memo: Mission Banquet) to Donna Patterson; 4903 Sulky Drive; Apt. 203; Richmond, VA 23228 For more information call 674-5220 or 521-1124. CCHASM THANKSGIVING MEAL PROGRAM 2011 This year's CCHASM Thanksgiving Meal Gift Package Program will be held, as usual, at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds in the Exhibition Center, 10200 Courthouse Rd., Chesterfield.
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