February 2014 Page No. 1 Volume 46 No. 2

February 2014

The Herald

S I M I VA L L E Y

U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

ABOUT OUR CHURCH

Rev. Andy Mattick Senior Pastor

Rev. Rachel Tabutol Emerging Ministries

& Membership Pastor

Rev. Camille Mattick Children, Youth & Family Pastor

Debbie Post Administrative Secretary

Ryan Frye Front Office Assistant

Rob Courtney Music Director

Leslie Frank Organist

Mike Seckman Custodian

Susie Strombotne Child Care Provider

Laura Hole Wedding Coordinator

Mark Witman Wedding Custodian

CROSSROADS CHILDREN’S CENTER

Michelle Gordon Director

(805) 526-2887

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SIMI VALLEY

2394 Erringer Road, Simi Valley, CA 93065-2296

(805) 526-6231 svumc@pacbell.net

www.SimiValleyUMC.org

Messy Church will begin Friday, February 7th

from 5:30 - 7:30 PM in Witman Hall. Messy church is a multi-generational (All Ages!)

gathering of faith and fellowship happening once a month!

If an evening with kids, teenagers, adults, parents, grand-

parents and anyone else, where creativity, celebration and

hospitality are valued, then Messy Church is for you! Make

some noise, have fun with art and come as you are.

We will begin by sharing a meal together. Followed

by games, crafts, activities and art projects. Then we will

have a time of celebration together with music and a story. Afterwards, we will have a

wonderful dessert.

In February, our theme is Friendship and we will hear more about kindness,

love, honor and lessons in Friendship from the Bible!

PIONEER CLUB IS HERE! Pioneer Club is a midweek Bible study

and fellowship "Club" for children grades K-5. The Club runs

Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 pm.

Registration forms will be available in the church office or at the first meeting.

Pioneer Club kicks off Wednesday, February 5

th!

See details on Page 4

Acolyte Training Sunday, February 9th

after church,

in the Sanctuary.

ALL children in

grades 3 thru 6.

Questions, call

Michelle Gordon.

Administrative Council Meeting Sunday, February 9 @ 10:30 am in the Chapel

See details for other committee meetings on page 5

Women’s

Retreat

February

22-23

Serra Retreat Center

Malibu, CA

Last day to register, February 2

See details on Page 8

Burden or Blessing?

February 2014 Page No. 2

Pastor Andy

REGULAR SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Childcare: For infants & toddlers in the

Nursery thru the worship service.

9 a.m. Worship with Praise Band & Choir

Signing for Hearing Impaired

Children’s Sunday School

Youth Sunday School (Sep - May)

10 a.m. Coffee Fellowship

10:10 a.m. Children’s Choir Practice (Sep-May)

10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship

February 16

February brings on visions of cupids and hearts.

St. Valentine’s Day, smack dab in the middle of the month,

seems to anchor the culture experience of this our shortest

annual marker. It was not always so. Centuries before the

time of Jesus, winter was considered a monthless period of

darkness and, in many places, death. In other cultures it is

known as “mud-month” or with words that draw on images of ice, sleet, or

the need to seek warmth. But I digress.

In fourteen years of professional ministry, I have performed about 120

wedding ceremonies. Each is unique; many are memorable. All are an

opportunity to reflect on the nature of love. As someone with techno-joy

rather than techno-suspicion or techno-fear, I often turn to Google as a

window into our common psyche. There are 1,640,000,000 web results

for the word love (found in .36 seconds, mind you).1 That is a billion with

a B. 891,000 sites are returned for “finding love.” We are a culture

obsessed with love. The lists are incomplete and a snapshot for sure, but

there are about 3500 songs with love in the title and about 100 movies to

boot. These are not songs and movies about love, mind you. We are a

culture obsessed with love.

Given this cultural quest for love, I take hope in our witness as a church.

As a place where we are inviting people into a life-changing relationship

with the God of All Love, we help to answer the eternal question - what is

love and where can I find it? Our Wesleyan heritage holds that love is

God’s reigning attribute. It defines how God and we understand all other

theological ideas - forgiveness, justice, holiness and grace are all rooted

in God’s immeasurable and eternal love. And as creatures of this Divine

Loving Creator, love is sown into the fabric of our existence. We are

created with the capacity and deep longing for relationships - first, with

God our creator, and second, with others.

Love must anchor our work and worship. Our love for the community and

its people will shape how we serve and what forms our ministry will take in

the coming year. As we live into a year that represents 125 years of

Methodism in this valley, realize that we are here and every changed life,

sung hymn, baptized child and communion taken is a part of the sum of

the love of those who have come before. We have a story to tell to the

nations - it is about a God who is the answer to eight-hundred-thousand

attempts to find love. A God who so loves the world, that Christ is sent as

God Incarnate to invite us into the new kingdom, one whose bricks are

Spirit and whose mortar is love.

Blessings,

1 You may be curious to know by comparison: Jesus returns 181,000,000 results;

God - 356,000,000; and Andy Mattick about 2,690 - with most actually not about me.

Sunday, February 2, 2014 Sermon on the Mount

The Beatitudes Matthew 5: 1-12

Communion served Preaching: Rev. Andy Mattick

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Sermon on the Mount Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-20 Preaching: Rev. Rachel Tabutol

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sermon on the Mount But I Say to You... Matthew 5: 21-37

Preaching: Rev. Andy Mattick

Sunday, February 23, 2014 Sermon on the Mount Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5: 38-48 Preaching: Rev. Andy Mattick

February 2014 Page No. 3

Circle Meetings United

Methodist

Women

Seekers Circle - 2nd Monday, Feb. 10 @ 12:00 noon @ Frankie Turner’s BABYSITTING AVAILABLE.

Co-Chairs - Julie Brennan – 579-3905; LaVaun Campbell – 526-5449.

Teresa Circle - 2nd Tuesday, Feb. 11 @ 9:00 am at the Samaritan Center

to help serve brunch and pass out brown bag meals while continuing

to go in pairs to visit the homebound at other times during the month.

Co-Chairs Bonnie Bastian - 526-6636; Mary Fry - 582-1238.

Circle of Joy - 2nd Wednesday, Feb 12 @ 12:30 pm at Judy Thomson’s Co-Chairs Sally Stewart – 584-1070; Peggy Warren 527-2872 & Claudia West 376-9135..

Circle of Faith - 3rd Wednesday, Feb. 19 @ 12:30 pm at Laura Hole’s

Chair Jeanne Corr – 527-2256.

Fireside Friends - 3rd Wednesday, Feb. 19 @ 7 pm in the Chapel.

Co-Chairs Joyce Harding – 522-1150; Helen Loring – 583-4503.

UMW Board Meeting Wednesday, February 5 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel

All Officers and Circle Chairs, are asked to attend.

Prayer Quilt Ministry

NO Meeting in February!

Questions? Call Barbara Brown.

For more information on how you can help or to request a prayer quilt for someone,

visit our web site: simivalleyumc.org.

MARK YOUR

CALENDARS

Upcoming Events:

March 21 - 22 UMW Rummage Sale

April 3 - Turborman House Tour

Women's Winter Retreat February 22 - 23, 2014

Serra Retreat Center - Malibu, California Last chance to register is Sunday, Feb. 2

nd.

Download a Registration Forms from the UMW page on the church web site at www.simivalleychurch.com

Save the Date: Sunday, March 9th at 11:30 am

the SPRC & UMW will be hosting a Pre-Babies Potluck in honor of Rev. Rachel and Warren Tabutol. Gifts accepted but not expected.

More details to come in the March Herald.

Membership Recently, the Membership Committee met and

talked about their mission and goals for the

upcoming year. In an effort to find clarity

we started with the question of

What does " membership" mean to you?

Here are some of the answers that they came up with:

belong to

participation and support

feeling comfortable to be yourself with no judgment

service

fellowship

the feeling and being home and making others feel at home

being comfortable (enough to share faith)

involved

family

partnership

responsibility

inclusive and including

Do these definitions resonate with you?

Is there anything that you would add to the list?

If so, let Mary Fry or Pastor Rachel know! Thank you!!!

Answering

God’s

Call

February 2014 Page No. 4 Children’s &Youth News Important Youth Related Dates:

Youth Planning Council Meeting Sunday, Feb. 9th

AWWYAWWY MEETING (Adult Workers With Youth)

Mon. Feb. 11 @ 7 pm in Room 12

Youth Sunday School

Feb. 16 (3rd Sunday of Month)

RECYCLING RECYCLING

February 23February 23

Youth Music Youth Music (6th– 12th Grade)

“make a joyful noise to the Lord!”

Youth Handbells - Thursdays @ 7:30 pm. Questions ? - contact Stu Thomson

Little House “Hang Out”

Returns

New DayNew Day Tuesdays from 3 - 5pm. Drop in to snack and chat

with Pastor Camille at the Little House.

Confirmation begins in February 2014! All youth - 6th grade through 12th - who have not been

confirmed are invited to join the 2014 Confirmation Corps!

Confirmation is a chance to explore what it truly means to be

a Christian, a United Methodist and a Child of God.

It is an 8-session course, plus a retreat, beginning

February 23th thru June 8th. We will cover a bunch of topics

to prepare you to be confirmed as members of this church. Join us,

Sunday, February 9th, @ 10:30 p.m. in Room 8/9 for information and to

get started. Please bring at least one parent or guardian, if not both, as we

have important roles and information for them too.

DEEP DISH on GOD’s WORD! Youth Bible Study is BACK! This time—we are meeting on THURSDAYS from 6 -7:00 pm at the Little House. Come, have come pizza and study God’s word —then head over to Youth Bells at 7:30pm. Deep Dish with God begins on February 6th.

PIONEER CLUB IS HERE! Pioneer Club is a midweek Bible study and fellowship "Club" for children grades K-5.

The Club runs Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 pm. On arrival the children gather

for dinner and a large group opening where they are introduced to a Bible lesson and real

life application through storytelling and skits. Next they move into small group studies.

Where they will delve deeper into the story, fellowship with their peers, and have the

opportunity to be in mission to our community and world. Each week will also have opportunities for activities such

as cooking, crafts, or science experiments. As children come to Club, complete the assigned lessons and

participate in the activities, they earn badges.

There is a $20.00 registration fee for the first child and $5.00 fee for any additional children (scholarships are avail-

able). This fee covers the cost of the Club t-shirt, badges and workbooks.

Registration forms will be available in the church office or at the first meeting.

Pioneer Club will kick off on Wednesday, February 5th

!

UMYF SUPER BOWL PARTY! February 2nd - 3pm - end of game.

Meet at the Mattick Parsonage.

Bring a 2 liter drink and a snack to share.

We will watch the game, laugh at commercials, hang out

and maybe even play our own football game!

February 2014 Page No. 5

Pancake Breakfast Everyone is invited to enjoy some delicious pancakes and eggs cooked by our men on the 4th Sunday of each month.

Sunday, February 23 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. in Witman Hall.

UMM Breakfast Meeting The next Monthly Breakfast Meeting will be

Saturday, February 15 @ 8:30 a.m. in Witman Hall

Men’s Donut Fellowship

Donuts Plus on Erringer Rd.

Thursday, February 6 @ 8 a.m. Drop by and enjoy some fellowship with the guys!

“Genesis to Revelation” Sundays @ 10:15 a.m. in Rm 10.

They are studying the book of Psalms. Led by Emily Walker.

You can join this class at anytime!

Adult Study Classes

Drop In Anytime to see what these

classes are all about!

Administrative Council Mtg. Sunday, Feb. 9 @ 10:30 am - Chapel

Committee Meetings SPRC - Tues, Feb. 4 @ 7 pm - Chapel

AWWY - Monday, Feb. 11 @ 7 pm - Rm 12 Membership - Mon, Feb. 17 @ 7 pm - Chapel

Pre-School Board - Tues, Feb. 18 @ 6 pm - in the Chapel

Wednesday, Feb. 12 @ 7 pm Worship -Rm 10 ; Finance - Rm 5

Trustees - Fireside Room; MEOW - Rm 12; Education - Rm 11

Be sure to check with your committee chair

to verify your next meeting!

Coffee Chat Mondays 3 - 6 pm Starbucks at Sycamore & Cochran. All are welcome to chat, visit, pray, etc. for a few minutes or the whole time.

Pastor Rachel looks forward to seeing you there!

Starbucks

Breakfast Bunch Join us on Tuesdays @ 7:30 am

at Panera, as we explore "The Shack" by Wm. Paul Young. We will reflect on this story and talk about how it impacts our lives and

understanding of God. Questions, contact Rev. Rachel.

Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed

Please help by signing up for a Sunday in March or later in the year, on the Coffee Hour Chart in the Narthex. You can do it as a family or ask

others to join you. The church provides the coffee and punch, and if you want to bring munchies that

is always nice. Questions, call Mary Fry.

Book Nook As Valentines approaches, the featured library books this month focus on love: • The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman • Love is an Everyday Thing by Colleen Townsend Evans • Love: A Fruit Always in Season, Daily Meditations by Mother Teresa Check out these books and others from the church library located in the office lobby.

1 Corinthians 13:13: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

Curious about what it means to

be United Methodist? Wondering what

it means to be a member of SVUMC?

Interested in joining the church? We will be

holding a Membership Inquiry Course on

Tuesdays (March 11, 18 and 25) for an hour

starting at 6:30 pm to answer your questions

and let you know about our church.

There will be a New Member Dinner on March 28 and if you like what you

hear, you will be invited to join the church on March 30th.

Childcare available upon request.

February 2014 Page No. 6

Good TIMES LUNCH @ Soup Plantation

Monday, February 3 @ 2 p.m. Lunch is $6.99 for seniors,

including drinks.

Come enjoy the

fellowship!

Wednesday, February 5 - Theology On Tap (21-35) will meet at Cronies at 7pm. We will enjoy an evening of fellowship, food and fun. See you there!!!

Wednesday, February 26 - Table Fellowship Group (Ages 18 - 35) we will meet at Pastor Rachel’s house @ 7 pm. We will have breakfast for dinner (with Rachel making two types of pancakes: plain and banana brown sugar). Bring a side or drink to share. After dinner we will watch a segment from "When Christians Get It Wrong" .

Watch our Facebook page for more details on ALL dates. Not a fan of "Simi Valley UMC Young Adults" on Facebook yet? Now is a good time to go find our page and "like" it so

that you can keep up to date on the happens of our young adult program!!

Young Adults NewsYoung Adults News

Check it out: We are now on Facebook & Twitter! Like us & Follow us!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SimiValleyUMC

Twitter: @SimiValleyUMC

WALKING GROUP! Join us on Monday, Wednesday

& Thursday. Watch the calendar each week for current times.

We meet in front of the Sanctuary to plot our course and

then begin our journey! Everyone is Welcome to walk!

P.A.D.S.

(Public Action to Deliver Shelter)

Sign up to volunteer to bring breakfast for the PADS season (Now - March 31).

A sign-up board is in the Narthex.

Questions, contact Barrie Davidson at bearee.davidson@gmail.com

or 805-297-3317.

Church Office CLOSED Monday, February 17

in observance of President’s Day

Grateful Thanks to all my dear

friends and UMC members who

prayed, sent cards and made visits and

phone calls during my recent recovery

from the mild

stroke I had at the

beginning of

November.

I am truly blessed

in having each and every one of you in

my life and thank you so much for

your support and encouragement dur-

ing the past couple of months.

Ellie Kokotos

Calling Liturgists!!! Have you been

watching other members of the church serve

as a liturgist and been wondering if that is

something you can do? Or wondering how

you might participate?

Come to a meeting and training on Sunday,

February 2 to learn more. This training is

open to adults, children, and youth who

might be interested in serving as a liturgist. For those who have already

served and been through the training, you are invited to share your availability

schedule with Pastor Rachel and then you can go on with your day. For those

who are new, plan to commit about an hour from 10:30 - 11:30 am to talk

through the expectations and duties. For our youth and children, we might

have extra time to practice and prepare for your assigned day. Thank you

for helping lead worship and the "work of the people".

North District Vision Meeting with Bishop Carcaño

Clergy and Laity are invited to be in conversation with Bishop Carcaño

about where they see the conference headed in this next season.

See dates, times and location below:

Sunday, March 2, 2014 3 - 6pm at Lancaster UMC in their Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 9, 2014 3-6pm at Santa Barbara First UMC in their Fellowship Hall

February 2014 Page No. 7

BY OUR SERVICE

Dinner Church: Dinner is served to the hungry every Saturday.

To help with this ministry call the church office at 805-526-6231.

Samaritan Center: Local resource center for the homeless is always in

need of personal care items, coffee supplies, etc. Call 805-579-9166.

Salvation Army has food items for those needing groceries. A box in the

Narthex receives your non-perishable donations. Call 805-527-1070.

PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) We house the homeless overnight Saturday, Nov. 1 - March

We Support Our

Church by Our...

PRAYERS

Prayer requests are submitted in Sunday

Worship. You may also post requests online at www.simivalleychurch.com/ prayer_request.htm.

JOYS

February Birthdays 2/1 Marilyn McFarren

2/2 Jim McClellan, Dan Hoffman

2/3 Jessica Milner

2/5 Sondra Adair, Vera Leach

2/6 Ada Jean Hautzenroeder

2/8 Marcy Pelz, Nancy Interior

2/9 Robert Benson, Barbara Witman

2/10 Vicky Laier, Juanita Ward,

Nadel Interior

2/11 Michael Cahn, Brandall Horney,

Kevin Milner

2/12 Barbara McLaren

2/13 Ken Seckman, Suk Wesski

2/14 Paula Lightfoot, Sharon Romano

2/15 Valerie Bergh, Rikka Tignac

2/16 Natalie Titcomb

2/17 Stella Zinto

2/18 Ronda Farr, Chris Michaelsen,

Shaila Horney

2/19 Maiah Interior, Laura Rae

2/20 Jackson Mattick

2/21 Nancy Calderone, Sandra Grewal,

Melody Walker

2/22 Clara Novak, Paul West

2/23 David Brennan, Olivia Sandoval

2/25 Jayden Baltazar, Bonnie Shaw,

Mary Truxal

2/26 Mike Pahls, Glenn Hunter

2/27 Lili Inoke, Peggy Spellman

February Anniversaries: 2/1 Joyce & Ken Hayes

2/15 Joye & Dick Grove

Prayers of healing for: Bill Campbell, Gary Spellman, Betty

Coletto, Susie Strombotne, Mary Collier, Virgil Stites, Dick Grove,

Ray Dempsey, Lorene Clinton, Marge Blanchard, Jim McClellan,

Jeannette Stites, Jim Buckley, Delores Kinsinger, Joyce Hayes,

Virginia Abbott, Dick Heileman, John Cannell, Dawn Hermance,

Doris Richardson, Dave Hautzenroeder, Bill Byard, George Pyfrom,

Eloise Patterson and Jane Seaman.

BY OUR PRESENCE

December 2013 22nd 241 24th 172 5 pm 358 7 pm 145 11pm 29th 242

January 2014 5th 266 12th 262 19th 249

Our Gifts

Offering income Needed each month

in 2013 to fund our current budget $ 46,421.85

Offering Received in December $ 55,665.50

Offering giving OVER budget for Dec. 2013 $ 9,243.65

Coin Drop Total for December 22 - January 19: $ 14.68

The Church Office is looking

for Volunteers to help with

folding and stuffing the

Orders of Worship and the

Herald on Fridays starting at

11:30 am.

If you are interested, please call

Debbie at 526-6231

Church Keys - Many individuals have church

keys signed out but are currently NOT using them. Please return them so they can be used by others.

CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of:

Mallory Jane Hole Born: Dec 26, 2013 7lb 10 ½” Parents: John Eric &Tonya Hole of Carmel, Indiana Grandparents: John and Laura Hole Great Grandmother: Charlotte Hole Aunt & Uncle: Carolyn & Tracy Pankratz Cousin: Jessica Shamam

February 2014 Page No. 8

The

Herald Simi Valley United Methodist Church 2394 Erringer Road Simi Valley CA 93065

805-526-6231 www.simivalleyumc.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Part 1: Do you have a task that needs to be done around your home that would be easier to manage with extra hands? Do you have a neighbor who you know could use some help with a project around your house? We are trying to collect a list of small service projects that we can complete as part of our February Workship. If you have a project, please let Pastor Rachel know by February 5th, so we can coordinate the details.

Part 2: Come out on February 8th to help complete the list of small service projects that we collected through the week. We will gather at 8:30 am for a brief worship service, then break into work teams to complete those tasks. We will meet back at the church at 12 noon for communion (and lunch for those who are interested). Please let Pastor Rachel know if you plan to volunteer by February 5th so that she can coordinate projects and people.

Part 3: Are you interested in assisting Pastor Rachel in planning the next few Workship opportunities so that we can keep the awesome momentum going while she is on Maternity Leave? If so, let her know and we will create a Workship team that can help bring these events to life. Our tentative first meeting will be February 24th at 6 pm at Starbucks after Coffee Chat. Come with tentative Workship ideas through July and we will make a game plan to continue our worship through service.

Burden or Blessing?

UMW WOMEN’SUMW WOMEN’S RETREATRETREAT

Serra Retreat Center Malibu, California

February 22-23, 2014

Saturday thru Sunday

Discerning and Responding to GOD’S CALL

Fellowship Personal Reflection

Prayer Worship

Music Creativity Laughter

COST: $100 includes: One night shared room Connecting shared bath

Linens provided Saturday Lunch & Dinner

Sunday Breakfast

$130 Private room with connecting shared bath

$35 Saturday only Includes lunch & dinner

LAST DAY TO REGISTER:

Feb. 2nd

Join with other volunteers and help beautify our church campus.

No experience necessary!

Saturday, February 1 8 a.m. to Noon

Thanks to all those who helped

make the Haiti Service Auction

such a success.

We raised

$2,726 for

the

Haiti Mission

Team trip

(Jan. 22 - Feb. 1)

Workship