I was talking with a pastor friend of mine recently

about the exciting things that are happening in our church. As I was describing some of the conversations we are having and the things we are doing he asked me? Are you trying to become a “missional church”?

The term “missional church” is very popular right now among pastors and church leaders. We all use it, we want our churches to become “missional,” our leadership is pushing it. What is it? To be honest this is often just another “churchy” word that we use a lot without having a clear and consistent meaning, the lat-est buzz- word. In a lecture during my seminary educa-tion I once heard Darryl Guder, one of the principal ar-chitects of the missional church movement, confess that even he was at times confused by what we mean when we talk about the “missional church.”

I do think that we can identify and discuss some of the hallmarks of the missional church. I also think that the discussion can help us to be the church God wants us to be.

The missional church is concerned with the mission-ary nature of God and God’s church. “Missional” churches are more concerned with their mission as the church than their own comfort or preferences. They are outward focused, focused on reaching out, going out, sending out, sharing, and serving. These

churches are committed to drawing people into a relationship with God and their church only to send them out again as disciples and messengers of the Kingdom of God. Our conference’s recent missional emphasis can be seen in the theme for the special session of Annual Conference we held in March: “Every church a mission outpost, every Methodist a missionary.”

In some ways the missional church movement is asking churches to be real churches , to act like the church God calls us to be. It calls on churches to foster Christians that strive to be real disciples of Christ committed to serving Christ and Christ's church by spreading the good news and making disciples wher-ever they go. At times however “missional” can be just the buzzword used to sell programs and books with the latest system to grow the church.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that as a church here in Ephrata we are trying to be a “missional church.” I would say that we are simply striving hard to recon-nect to God’s mission for us. We are trying hard to be a church that is actively engaged in drawing people into a relationship with God only to send them out into the world again as disciples. If that makes us look “missional,” then ok.

May God guide us as we strive to be a faithful church here in Ephrata.

THE UPDATE May 2011

“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”

Are We a Missional Church? By Pastor Geoff Helton

PAGE 2

May 2011

SUNDAY, MAY 1

Food Bank Donations Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM No Youth Group

MONDAY, May 2 Inter-Church Council Meeting: 12:00 Noon Seven Simple Truths: 6:30 PM

TUESDAY, MAY 3

Fabric Sale: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM No Quilter's Grief Talks: 4:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

National Day of Prayer: 12:00 Noon Ephrata Recreation Center No Youth Group @ Bookery No Praise Band Choir: 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, MAY 7

Church Yard Sale: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM SUNDAY, MAY 8 (Mother’s Day)

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM No Youth Group

MONDAY, MAY 9

Seven Simple Truths: 6:30 PM TUESDAY, MAY 10

Quilters: 9:00 AM Trustees Meeting: 6:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

Youth Group @ Bookery: 3:33 PM Praise Band: 6:00 PM Choir: 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 12 Fun & Fellowship: 6:00 PM SATURDAY, MAY 14

Men’s Fellowship: 7:30 AM SUNDAY, MAY 15

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Youth Group at Foursquare: 6:00 PM

MONDAY, MAY 16

Scholarship Committee Meeting: 1:30 PM Seven Simple Truths: 6:30 PM SPR Committee Meeting: 6:30 PM

TUESDAY, MAY 17

Quilters: 9:00 AM Church Council: 6:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

Update Deadline: 12:00 Noon Youth Group @ Bookery: 3:33 PM Praise Band: 6:00 PM Choir: 7:00 PM

SUNDAY, MAY 22

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Youth Group: 6:00 PM

MONDAY, MAY 23

United Methodist Woman: 12:00 Noon Seven Simple Truths: 6:30 PM

TUESDAY, MAY 24 Quilters: 9:00 AM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

Update Folding: 9:00 AM Youth Group @ Bookery: 3:33 PM Praise Band: 6:00 PM Choir: 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 26 Community Dinner: 5:30 PM

FRIDAY, MAY 27

Office Closed (Sam on vacation) SUNDAY, MAY 29

Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM No Youth Group

MONDAY, MAY 30

Office Closed (Memorial Day Holiday) TUESDAY, MAY 31

Quilters: 9:00 AM

REMEMBER May 7, 2011

Annual Church Yard Sale. It will be held in the Fellowship Hall from

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

PAGE 3

A new sermon series beginning May 1st 2011

Real life, like the board games we played as children, is filled with twists and turns, setbacks and surprises. We play the cards we're dealt; we take risks, face adversity, suffer losses and sometimes reap rewards. And, like a board game, real life eventually comes to an end. How are we meant to play the game? In this new series of messages Pastor Geoff Helton will explore seven of life's most important lessons—lessons that make the difference between bitterness and peace, sorrow and joy, despair and hope. Join us on Sunday mornings beginning May 1st as we uncover Seven Simple Truths about LIFE.

A small group based on the sermon series will meet Monday evenings at 6:30pm.

The Gold Standard for Life May 1, 2011

Six of Life's Most Important Words

May 8, 2011

Surviving the Setbacks and Storms May 15, 2011

This is My Father's World

May 22, 2011

Finding Contentment in a World Built for Greed May 29, 2011

Game Over: When It All Goes Back in the Box

June 5, 2011

Bonus Round! The Secret to Long Life June 12, 2011

For more info you can pick up a brochure located on the table in the church’s entry or go to our church’s website. Be sure to go to our website to watch an introductory video:

www.ephratamethodist.org.

PAGE 4

Our church’s soup kitchen ministry, Community Dinners will have a meal on May 26th. Please contact Camille and Christy Price to see how you can help our church share God’s love in this practical way.

Other News

www.ephratamethodist.org

Our church’s new website is up and running! Be sure to visit it and see what we’ve got up. It is still a work in progress but is well enough along to publish on the web. If you have comments, corrections or something you’d like up on the website email Pastor Geoff at geoff@ephratamethdodist.org.

In May our church will begin taking pictures for a new Church Photo Directory. Alan and Mary Fulk have graciously agreed to be our photographers. They will be taking photos on the following three Sundays:

May 8th, 15th and 22nd from 9:00-10:00 AM and from 11:00 AM-Noon

If these times do not work for you please contact us at the church office (754-4664) and we can arrange a weekday evening session to take your picture. We will also ask you to review our current contact info for you and your family and let us know of any changes.

Find us on Facebook!

Along with our website our church has a new Facebook page. Be sure to “like” our page to get updates, pics and info through Facebook! We need 25 fans to get our own url (something like www.facebook.com/UMCofEphrata). Help us out by liking our page and suggesting our page to your friends!

A few months ago the Inter-Church Council of Ephrata had practically ceased to exist. It is now, once again, alive and well. We are still reorganizing and remaking ourselves but we are definitely making progress. There are 10-12 churches in town participating and we have a three person steering committee comprised of the pastors from the Presbyterian Church, the Community Church and our own Pastor Geoff!

PAGE 5

KIDS’ SUMMER ENRICHMENT

The Witness Committee is sponsoring an event to demonstrate God’s love to the community in a practical way. The committee read “Conspiracy of Kindness” by Steve Sjogren which explores servant evangelism. This project is an example.

Kid’s Summer Enrichment is a giveaway to the children of our community to provide materials for continuing summer learning for fun. When? Wednesday, June 1st from 3:00 to 7:00 PM (Set-up on Tuesday & Wednesday, AM)

Who? For children ages 3 to 12 years old (Preschool through 6th Grade)

Where? Fellowship Hall

Donations Needed: Books – preschool to sixth grade Cards – decks of playing cards/ dice Games – age 12 and under Puzzles – 500 pieces or less Educational Toys – magnet letters and numbers Videos/DVD’s - children’s stories

Help Wanted: 1. Work Parties – May 11th, 18th and 25th at 9:30 AM

2. Yard Sale Searchers – to look for slightly used, age appropriate books, games, educational toys, etc. Don’t buy videos or old decks of cards.

3. Card Players – to help teach card games like solitaire to children on June 1st.

4. Refreshments – Serve Juice, cookies and fruit. Bake cookies.

5. Guides – to help students to the right age section and to help them choose.

In May, the community will be asked to donate their slightly used books, etc. We also need our congrega-tion to ask family and friends for their no longer used items. Also check your own kids and grandkids books, games, etc. which they have outgrown. If possible, wait until after the Yard Sale to bring your donations in. However, we can start sorting them out now.

CHURCH YARD SALE

Coming Soon! Saturday, May 7, 2011

8:00 AM to 2:00PM

Have you begun cleaning out those treasures? Have you thought of all the things that sell?

Books Clothes Furniture Kitchen Linens Garden Craft Items Pillows Garage Rugs Tools Office Supplies Bedding Toys Lighting Fixtures Dinner Ware

If you need pickup, call Tom Pheasant at 754-3119 or the church office at 754-4664.

Margaret Treiber will again be in charge of the set-up and pricing

Shirley Pederson is head cashier.

Dolores Pheasant will do advertising.

Vivian Winters will do Saturday lunch.

Tom Pheasant will direct the cleanup.

Reprinted with permission from the newsletter of the PNW Conference: Channels 43 - April 2011

PAGE 6

NEW HEALTH PROBLEMS

Ed Hoople Verna Irving

Jan Reinmuth Judie

Hazel Scobey Dora

Joan Archer Rosie Cegnar

Janet Nelson Wilma

Bev Canfield Dean Albee

Steve Pederson Dave & Family

Madge Bonneville & Family DeAnna Baldwin &

David Clees Family

BEYOND OUR WALLS

Irene Armstrong

Opal Burck

Louise Gallaway

Eleanor Mordhorst

Bill Turner

Helen Ruth

Don & Arline Callan

Louise Moore

Lenora Walters

Jim & Ruth Walker

Linda Morris

ONGOING HEALTH

PROBLEMS Bob St. Clair Jr. Dee Gray

Bob St. Clair Sr Jean Stetner

Bill & Gwen Lowry Bill Black

Lee Ann Dean Albee

Cami Krumm Theresa Forster

Mary Beth Smits Rafael Montiel

Patsy Meyer-Odell Jim Walker

Prayer Requests “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing

songs of Praise” James 5:13

One of the most wonderful gifts we are given is the gift of prayer. We can pray for

one another in times of need as well as times of celebration.

PAGE 7

Wedding Anniversaries

May 3 Scott & Marna Kellams

May 5 Ed & Betty Rogers

May 25 Bob & Vivian Winters

May 29 Mike & Beverly Dell

Birthdays in May

May 5 Elmer Johnston

May 8 Edward Sivula

May 9 Carla Sue Ryan

May 13 Michaela Bassuer

May 20 Rev. Rich Coghill

May 21 Ellen White

May 23 Rosie Cegnar

May 23 Scott Kellams

May 27 Melissa McKnight

May 28 Charlotte Lennon

May 28 Della Moore

May 29 Sandy Archer

May 30 Mary Baird

May 30 Cammy Hatch

May 31 Shirley Pederson

For Grieving Families

Family & friends of Paul Ameny (husband of

Pederson’s niece, Nadine)

Treasurer’s Report

As of March 31, 2011

Income $ 31,019.16

Expense $ 30,910.61

Total $ 108.55

Congregational Notes

PAGE 8 Youth Ministries

Hundreds of Youth (grades 8-12) and adult youth workers will gather on Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-30, 2011) for three days of music, prayer, fun, learning and growth. CONVO is the biggest youth event of the year for our Annual Conference. We hope that both youth and adults will leave this event feeling recharged and better equipped to live as passionate disciples of Jesus Christ. The CONVO theme this year is “Any Questions?”. Together, we’ll be exploring together the role of questions in our journeys of faith. We are very excited to welcome Rev. Shalom Agtarap as our speaker this year. Shalom, an engaging speaker, is the pastor at Ellensburg First United Methodist Church. We are looking forward to hearing her engage our theme and challenge our minds. You can get more info & registration forms at www.pnwumc.org/convo or from outside the youth room.

Rev. Shalom Agtarap

PAGE 9

Wednesday Work Parties

In order to prepare for up-coming projects, in May, on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 AM to

noon, we will be having work parties. Show up, and be shown different jobs that you can do.

May 4th – Yard Sale set-up.

May 11th, 18th and 25th – need to sort, plan, and put stickers on books,

etc. for the “Kid’s Summer Enrichment Giveaway” set for June 1st from

3:00 to 7:00 PM.

Coffee and goodies make it a “party.”

Fun and Fellowship

May 12th will be the next meeting of Fun and Fellowship. A potluck will begin at 6:00 PM.

Please bring a hot dish and salad or dessert for couples. One item is OK for singles.

Program hosts will be Joan and Francis Jensen who will also be providing a program with

a Mother’s Day theme.

The April 14th meeting was really special. Dean and Marlene Albee were the hosts. Their

daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Craig Baldwin came to present the program about

their Short Term Mission to Poipet, Cambodia, a city on the border of Cambodia and

Thailand. This was through the Cambodian Hope Organization. The Baldwins told of the

people’s poverty, the program at Hope School, and their heartaches and joys from their

experience.

FABRIC SALE, TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011

9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

(In the Fellowship Hall)

Fabulous fabric stash, hundreds of yards at bargain prices. Wool, velveteen, taffeta, silky

polyester, flannel, corduroy, wool blends, knits, drapery fabric and upholstery. Three

dollars a yard or fill one of our boxes for $15. For more information, call 246-5302.

Many thanks go out to Linda Morris for her generous donation of all this beautiful fabric.

PAGE 10

May 23rd - Monday - at 12:00 Noon

Our annual salad luncheon date has been changed from May 16th to

May 23rd. The program will be a speaker from New Hope Domestic

Violence and Sexual Assault Services. Please bring a donation for

the New Hope

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services to help them better

serve their clients. Below on the “Wish List” are some suggestions.

Wish list: Personal Care Items

Gas Cards/Phone Cards

Walmart Cards

Baby Wipes and Disposable Diapers – Any Size

They will also take old cell phones and their chargers to recycle for 911 calls only.

In addition, at this meeting, we plan to have gifts for everyone and door prizes.

Hostesses are Marilyn Grass and Vivian Winters. Everyone needs to bring a salad. Drinks and

dessert will be provided.

Recap of our April UMW Meeting

Six ladies got together to clean and organize the church

kitchen on April 18th. The work was followed by lunch at

Time Out Pizza. Thank you to Joan Jensen, Shirley Mor-

ris, Vivian Plew, Shirley Pederson, Ann Chandler and

Dolores Pheasant for all your help in getting this job

done.

The Bake Sale on April 17th earned $235. Many goodies

tempted our buyers. Thanks to those who baked and to

those who purchased items. Thanks to the bakers:

Charlotte Lennon, Marilyn Grass, Shirley Pederson,

Vivian Winters, Vivian Plew, Christy Price, Dixie Boy-

den, Ann Chandler and Dolores Pheasant.

Our sale of Easter car magnets and “Be Blessed” mugs

has brought in $200 profit so far.

Men’s Fellowship

Change of Date: May 14th rather

than May 7th due to the Yard

Sale.

Host will be Bob Winters who will

provide breakfast at 7:30 AM.

At the April 2nd meeting, Tom

Pheasant provided breakfast for

ten men. Please consider yourself

invited.

PAGE 11

WORSHIP SERVERS— MAY 1, 2011

Assistant of the Day: Darryl Pheasant Ushers: Gayle Price & Tura Yount Greeters: Gary & Sandy Archer Liturgist: Sandy Archer Sound Tech: Thomas Pheasant & Ken Slininger Coffee Hour: Vivian Winters Lead Counter: Denis Plew Assistant Counter: Marilyn Grass Flowers: Scott & Marna Kellams Activity Time: Mary Fulk Sunday School: Beverly Dell

WORSHIP SERVERS— MAY 8, 2011 Palm Sunday

Assistant of the Day: Lonny Holleman Ushers: Shirley Pederson & Shirley Morris Greeters: Lonny Holleman & Eleanor Hoople Liturgist: Beverly Dell Sound Tech: Thomas Pheasant & Ken Slininger Coffee Hour: Roberta Osborn Lead Counter: Shirley Pederson Assistant Counter: Linda Bryant-Smith Flowers: Ann Chandler Activity Time: Kathy Buhl Sunday School: Kathy Buhl

WORSHIP SERVERS— MAY 15, 2011 Palm Sunday

Assistant of the Day: Don Isaman Ushers: Denis & Vivian Plew Greeters: Jenni Bates & Kathy Buhl Liturgist: Cammy Hatch Sound Tech: Thomas Pheasant & Ken Slininger Coffee Hour: Meagan Helton Lead Counter: Kathy Buhl Assistant Counter: Georgia Bassuer Flowers: Louise Sivula & Jan Davisson Activity Time: Vivian Winters Sunday School: Linda Bryant-Smith

WORSHIP SERVERS— MAY 22, 2011

Assistant of the Day: Mike Dell Ushers: Bob & Marilyn Bluhm Greeters: Louise Ingebrigtson & Marj Burkhart Liturgist: Linda Bryant-Smith Sound Tech: Thomas Pheasant & Ken Slininger Coffee Hour: Christy Price Lead Counter: John Morris Assistant Counter: Marj Burkhart Flowers: Camille & Christy Price Activity Time: Jenni Bates Sunday School: Beverly Dell

WORSHIP SERVERS— MAY 29, 2011

Easter Sunday Assistant of the Day: Tom Pheasant Ushers: Darryl Pheasant & Allison Pheasant Greeters: Joan Warner & Joan Jensen Liturgist: Margaret Treiber Sound Tech: Thomas Pheasant & Ken Slininger Coffee Hour: Dolores Pheasant Lead Counter: Mary Mantz Assistant Counter: Alan Fulk Flowers: Mike & Beverly Dell Activity Time: Christy Price Sunday School: Christy Price

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

Paid

Ephrata, WA

Permit No. 5 Fax: 509-754-1433 - E-mail: info@ephratamethodist.org

The United Methodist Church of Ephrata

117 C. Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823 - (509) 754-4664

Information on a new sermon series beginning

May 1st with practical truths from scripture for

everyday life. See page 3.

Our front page article explores the missional church movement and

asks the question: Are we a missional church?

June Update Deadline May 18th

12:00 noon

Get your articles and announcements in!

Thank you for supporting the work of the church through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness as we pursue our mission:

“To make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

May 2011

To lean more about CONVO 2011, a youth

retreat on memorial day weekend, and to see the

youth group calendar, check out the Youth Page.