March 2019Monthly Newsletter of The Methodist Church

VisitorStraight Talk With Steve

Growing Disciples, Loving Our Community for Christ

Peace,

Steve

Happy Springtime!! We have enjoyed a nice, wet winter and have seen our water supply fill up all around the Central Valley. It is a beautiful sight to see green all around and to know that parched land has been quenched. The same process is happening in our church in the lives of many people. They are parched from losses, disappointment, stress and sometimes tragedies. They come to The Methodist Church and find ministry and fellowship. Most importantly they connect with Jesus Christ and find themselves being restored! We are doing life changing ministry together and bringing the season of new life to many lives in our midst. Thank You to everyone who supports our church in these endeavors through their Prayers, Gifts and Service. We will be entering the season of Lent in March. Lent is a season of reflection on the deeper questions of life, death and resurrection. It is a great time to invite friends, families and others to join you in worship. If you ask someone and they decline please make sure that you give them our web address (www.visaliamethodist.org) and invite them to listen to one or more of our recent sermons. They can do that in the privacy of their own homes. It will give them a chance to judge what kind of worship services we provide and it may be the thing that encourages them to come and join us on a Sunday morning.

We are saying “Good bye” to Adam who has been our Worship Director for the last 6 years. He brought peace, joy and amazing music to our church during that time. Adam has accepted a job offer with the Hanford school district and we wish him all the best as he blesses them in the same way that he has blessed us. With Adam’s departure we will be looking for a new Worship Director. It will be a part time position at 20+ hours. If you know someone who has experience and might be interested please have them contact the Church office for directions on submitting a resume or application. New member classes are beginning soon. (See inside for more info) These classes will help you understand the Methodist traditions and the core values of our local church. New members will join the church on Easter morning. P lease watch and l i s ten for announcements on the upcoming General Conference decisions. Once we know what has happened and what it means for our church we will have several meetings to share information and prepare for our future. Grace Groups, Care Ministries and Worship are all invitable ministries. Please do your part to insure a bright future for our church by inviting people to all of these and more.

What Is A Grace Group? A small gathering of friends and neighbors who meet regularly on campus, in homes or coffee shops. Why Grace Groups? Our Grace Groups provide an environment for you to make life-changing relationships with others while growing in your relationship with Christ. How Do I Join A Grace Group? Everyone is invited! Choose a day and time that meets your schedule, contact the leader or Kelly Deditius 627-1660, kellyvumc@gmail.com.

Women’s Grace Groups2nd & 4th Mondays at 6:15 p.m. Jeanine Gaylor - jeaninemsnider@gmail.com2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Billie Young - bnutritious@comcast.net1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Kelly Deditius - kellyvumc@gmail.com2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Kelly Deditius - kellyvumc@gmail.comEvery Other Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Pastor Steve - pastorstevevumc@gmail.com2nd & 4th Thursdays at Noon Linda Galka - linda65@gmail.comEvery Other Friday at 10:00 a.m. Kim Gunter - kim4pop@gmail.com

Men’s Grace GroupsAlternating Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Pastor Steve - pastorstevevumc@gmail.com2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Dick Bayard - rbayard@sbcglobal.netEvery Other Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Pastor Steve - pastorstevevumc@gmail.com1st & 3rd Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. David Gaylor - dtgaylor@aol.com2nd & 4th Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Don - pastordonr@gmail.com2nd & 4th Sundays at 7:30 a.m. Tom Lockwood - tomlgeinc@gmail.comPara Varones en espanol Miercoles at 6:00 p.m. F20 - Ramon Olivares (559) 798-6711

Grace Groups

March 2019 2

Women’s BreakfastSaturday. March 9, 2019

9:00 to 10:30 a.m.Visalia Methodist Church

Family Life CenterCost $5.00

Childcare by reservation only. Last Day to register and reserve childcare, March 4.

Save The DateWomen’s Fall RetreatOctober 10 -13, 2019

Kelly Deditius Director of Care Ministries

and Small Groups kellyvumc@gmail.com

Care Ministries

Announcements

Administrative Council The next Administrative Council meeting is Sunday, March 24 at 12:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. This special meeting is to discuss and review the results of the General conference.

Clutter is a hot topic these days, there are books and articles, news casts and researchers all talking about the clutter that is taking over our lives. There are TV shows dedicated to Tidying Up peoples homes and lives, movements and societies living and promoting minimalism. I find myself intrigued and challenged by many of these ideas. Looking around my own home I can see that I have a tendency to hold on to things longer than they are needed or useful. I recently accepted a month long declutter challenge with my daughter, each day we remove the number of items of the date (Day 1 - 1 item, Day 2 - 2 items, Day 3 - 3 items and so on thru out the month, February only had 28 days, so Day 28 - 28 items.) I also found various Ted Talks and videos on YouTube, listening for tips about how to trash, donate, sell or other ways of ridding my home and life of clutter. In one of these Ted Talks, From Clutter to Clarity, Kerr y Thomas expanded the subject from the clutter of things in our homes and offices to include the clutter in our minds, digital clutter, emotional and even spiritual clutter. She talked about how we limit ourselves by our beliefs, thoughts and fears of what we can and can’t do, how we waste our time looking through our overcrowded email inboxes and computers files we don’t properly name or organize. Then she said “spiritual clutter is not talked about as much, but it can be caused by things like a lack of forgiveness or a lack of peace”…. that really caught my attention! I began to think about Grace Groups and how forgiveness is a key element of grace. That unmerited gift from God that began with forgiveness, forgiveness of our sins even before we believed. How Jesus instructed us to forgive as we have been forgiven. In our Grace Groups we consider forgiveness a core concept of faith and talk about the 4 steps to forgiveness. Many times in our discussions there is a struggle over giving grace to someone who doesn’t deserve it, we can be judgmental and it

often comes down to a need to forgive. How might this spiritual clutter keep us from seeing and being who we are really meant to be in Christ? Does the clutter become a barrier between our souls and God? Do we hang on to un-forgiveness the way we hang on to unnecessary things? Does this “spiritual clutter” get in the way of loving others and giving grace? Grace Groups are a great place to wrestle with these questions and more. My experience in Grace Groups has taught me that the more grace we give the more we receive and the more we receive the more we have to give. Join a Grace Group today and begin to clear the spiritual clutter from your life.

Stephen Ministry

Stephen MinistryStephen Ministry is one of the many programs available at The Methodist Church. This ministry is special as it is a “one on one” Christian based service for members and others who are seeking to deal with a special difficulty in their life. Many people need and want to talk with someone but don’t want to talk with a friend because they are worried that they will judge them or downplay the situation. Stephen Ministers have been trained to listen without judgment and to be there for the person seeking assistance. We are the care givers and the individual seeking services is the care receiver. There is total confidentiality in Stephen Ministry and there is no cost for the services. The meetings can be held anywhere where the care receiver and care giver can have quiet space. The commitment from Stephen Ministry is usually one hour a week. We will work with the care receiver until both parties agree there is no more need for the services. If you or someone you know is in need to this special service, please contact any Stephen Minister. A list of Stephen Ministers is available in the Church Office. The final decision for acceptance of a new care receiver will be made by Pastor Steve. The church will host a Stephen Ministry Introductory Workshop on May 4, 2019 for members of The Methodist Church and others from surrounding churches in order to get out the message of the great and wonderful services available through Stephen Ministry. Please let others know and plan to join us.

Theresa Speake, Stephen Ministry Leader.

New Member Classes

Looking to Belong?At the Methodist Church we Worship, Connect, Grow and Serve together. Interested in finding out more? New Member classes will be March 17, 24 and 31 at 10:30 a.m. Call Joanna to put your name on the list 627-1660.

Grace Groups - Clearing the Clutter…..

March 2019

Save The Dates!YeeHaw VBS is coming June 25 - 28 and we need your help. We have enjoyed having VBS in the evenings over the past few years. An evening program allows for more working parents to participate and the cooler evening temperatures make the games more enjoyable. This year, we have chosen a program called YeeHaw. The program includes two days of Bible stories with music, crafts, and games to enrich the experience and make it memorable. The kids have enjoyed these programs for the past two years, but they always want it to be a little longer. We are extending it by one day this year. Instead of beginning on a Wednesday, we will start on Tuesday. This first night will be a chance for the kids to get to know their group members and leaders. It will also be an opportunity for them to begin learning the awesome VBS music and to play some ice breaker games. We will run the regular program Wednesday and Thursday nights. As in the past two years, Friday night will be a family BBQ and we will share a video that captures the highlights of VBS. Those who are up for more fun, can campout in tents on the church lawn.

I am looking for people who would be willing to lead each station. We need a craft leader, a leader for games, and a leader for the Bible story rotation. The materials are very easy to use and I will help you in any way that I can. The kit is due to arrive the first week of March, so if you are interested in participating, let me know and we can start planning right away.

Kristi Boydstun, Youth Director, kristivumc@gmail.com

Goodbye and Thank YouFor the past six years I have had the great privilege of serving you as Music and Worship Arts Director here at The Methodist Church, working with our wonderful choir and musicians who take time out of their busy lives to come together to create a fantastic worship experience every week. The volunteers, staff, and pastors I have been blessed to work with have shown the utmost of guidance, friendship and grace, I have learned and grown so much through their influence. This is why I write this article with a heavy heart, as I am moving on to a new job in March, so sadly the time has come for me to say “farewell”…but even more importantly, thank you. Thanks to every one of you who have been singing along from the seats, praising with us, and showing

your gratitude through applause and thoughtful compliments after services. Thanks to anyone who ever got up on that platform to sing, play, or speak…it isn’t as easy as it might look! Thanks as well to all of those who volunteer in any capacity – this church truly could not get by without your effort and dedication. This church is doing great things for our community and I am so proud to have been a part of it while I could. I hope you are too, and will continue to show your support for The Methodist Church and our worship arts program. I will miss you all, and I leave you with one of my favorite lyrics:

Grace alone, which God suppliesStrength unknown He will provide

Christ in us, our CornerstoneWe will go forth in grace alone

With love, Adam Long

3

Children Youth Ministry

Debbie Pettydebbievumc@gmail.com

Worship Arts News

Winter Camp ReportOur youth just got back from Hartland Winter Camp. We had had an amazing weekend of fellowship and worship while developing new friendships and strengthening existing ones. One of the highlights was the chapel time because it gave our youth personal time to draw closer to Jesus. Plus, the worship band and speaker were outstanding! We had amazing discussions in the time given to us after each chapel time. Our memory verse for the weekend was Colossians 1:16 “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” There was plenty of time to have some fun in the snow as well. While we

were threr it snowed 10 inches and the temperature was a chilly 20 degrees. The snowball fights were so FUN! The kids had a blast and are all so much closer as friends. I’m so blessed to be able to work with your awesome kids. Looking ahead, our youth are having a See’s Candy fundraiser in March to raise funds for activities throughout the year. These fundraisers also help the youth raise funds for future winter camps! All youth will have an order form and you can also speak to me to get your order in and receive it just in time for Easter Sunday!

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March EventsMarch 9

Women’s Breakfast

March 13Pound of Love Food Distribution

March 23UMW General Meeting

March 24Special Administrative Council

Church Office HoursMonday - Thursday9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closed 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.Friday 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Phone (559) 627-1660 • Fax (559) 740-0801Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7360, Visalia, CA 93290

Web Site: www.visaliamethodist.org

Please e-mail special recognitions or articles for the April Visitor to judyvumc@gmail.com and

joannavumc@gmail.com before March 15.The weekly bulletin deadline is Wednesdays at Noon.

The Methodist Church

Visalia United Methodist Church • 5200 W. Caldwell Ave. • Visalia, CA 93277www.visaliamethodist.org • 559-627-1660 • visaliaumc@gmail.com

March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday Worship Schedule9:15 a.m. Traditions Worship Service

10:30 a.m. Sunday Connect Programs for all ages 10:30 a.m. Oasis Contemporary Service

10:30 a.m. Semilla Servicio de Adoracion y Alabanza

Wednesday Schedule6:00 p.m. Programs and Classes For all ages

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Lenten SeasonAsh Wednesday March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Jueves Santo jueves 18 de abril a las 6:30p.m. en el santuario

Good Friday Service April 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Viernes Santa viernes 19 de abril a las 6:30 p.m. en el FLC

Easter Sunrise Service (bilingual) at 6:30 a.m.

Easter Single Service at 9:15 a.m.

Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt at 10:30 a.m.

The Kingdom and the CrossJoin the Lenten Study starting March 10 at 10:30 a.m. in room F17. Why did Jesus have to die? We believe a lot of false narratives about the nature of God, things like “God helps those who help themselves”; “God blesses the righteous”; God might not be out for your good and you might be missing something.” But the author of “The Kingdom and the Cross” points us to the truth of who God is, revealed in Jesus. This book zooms in on Christ’s work on the cross and what is means about who God is and how we are to love as His people. Understanding Christ’s work on the cross is crucial for any apprentice of Jesus. Here is a resource to help you see - and believe – more fully, that you might live more faithfully in His kingdom.

Lenten Study