september 2015 newsletter

BerkeleyBuzz

Berkeley United Methodist Church

September 2015

COMING UP THIS MONTH: UMW District Meeting, Health Fair

and more!

Pastor’s Perspective

“What’s happening with the Healthy Church Initiative? Where are

with our MAP (Ministry Action Plan)?” Here’s the latest:

Vision Statement. To direct our planning for ministry, the church

council worked carefully with the input from 31 members on the

Day of Visioning on May 23. On July 28, this vision (printed on

every week’s bulletin) was adopted: Empowered by the Holy Spirit,

Berkeley will show our community and the world the transforming power

of faith in Jesus Christ by sharing God’s love in ministry with our

neighbors. We will offer pathways for new and committed disciples to

grow in faithfulness. We will joyfully share our faith, resources and

energies in partnership with our community and the world.

Coordinator of Family Ministry Outreach. The church council

approved this part-time staff position at its meeting on August 25,

“to initiate and develop connections in the church and surrounding

neighborhood; to create and nurture relationships with Jesus Christ

and one another; to help children, youth and families grow in

Christian discipleship.” The position is being advertised within and

beyond Berkeley UMC; a complete job description is available on

the church website. Please encourage anyone you may know with a

heart for people not yet connected to Christ and the church to apply.

Leadership and Organization Training. The elaborate structures of

the past no longer work. Churches are simplifying their leadership

structure to enable decision-making and action. On Saturday,

September 12, our coach, Rev. Wade Lindstrom, will lead the church

council and the committee on nominations and lay leadership in a

workshop to streamline our structure for 2016, so we have fewer

meetings and more ministry and mission.

Everyone is encouraged to read the MAP (copies available in lobby),

and to consider how you play a part in our Healthy Church

Initiative. May God bless us as we move into God’s future and

accomplish God’s purpose for Berkeley UMC.

Your pastor,

Jeanne Devine

BERKELEY STAFF

Ministers Members of the Congregation

Pastor Rev. Jeanne Devine

[email protected]

Director of Music Vikki Schwarz

[email protected]

Pianist Dr. Tyler Mabry

[email protected]

Neighborhood Outreach Rev. Teresa Santillana

[email protected]

Administrative Assistant

Liz Smith

[email protected]

Childcare Director Allison McGillicuddy

[email protected]

Church Office Hours: Monday-Thursday

8:45am to 3:15pm

Closed Daily for lunch from 12-12:30pm

Church Church HappeningsHappenings

Birthdays

Owen Burnett 9/2

Stacy Bradshaw 9/3

Elizabeth Wrigley 9/3

Stephanie Seuser 9/3

Elizabeth Walters 9/5

Betty Thigpen 9/6

Doris Lyon 9/8

Letha Peters 9/12

Irma Trevino 9/12

Glenn Bostick 9/13

Liz Smith 9/15

Daniel Shank 9/19

Barbara Huff 9/21

Jim Barnes 9/28

Marietta Karnes 9/28

Emma Huff-Sifuentes 9/29

Cheryl Johnson 9/30

Anniversaries

Jeff & Anne Marie Schultz 9/4

Ray & Roz Hodson 9/7

Tyler Mabry & Meredith Orf 9/14

Josh & Amy Gibbs 9/24

Bryon & Julie Burns 9/25

Berkeley Buzz, September 2015,

New Children’s Sunday School Coming!

Berkeley UMC’s Chil-

dren’s Sunday School

program will be changing

this fall. Our teachers are

studying and being

trained in a new curricu-

lum called Godly Play.

They are also working to

prepare Room 8 in the

CLC to use for Children’s

Sunday School. Beginning

sometime this fall, we will move children’s Sunday School from Room 6 to

Room 8. We will meet with the children at the Sunday school hour, 9:40-

10:30, and will no longer teach Sunday School during the 10:50 worship

service. We will release more information when we are closer to im-

plementing this change. Stay tuned for updates!

The Godly Play curriculum has been used in thousands of

churches in the United States and Europe. “Based on Montessori

principles …, the Godly Play method serves children through early,

middle and late childhood …. Godly Play teaches us to listen for

God and to make authentic and creative responses to God’s call in

our lives.” (GodlyPlayFoundation.org)

There will be an opportunity scheduled for parents/grandparents

and other interested adults to observe and/or participate in a dem-

onstration lesson of Godly Play.

Please pray for our teachers and children as we go forward with

this new program.

New Permanent Office Hours

Upon recommendation by the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, the

Church Council approved a 4-day work week for the administrative

assistant. The office will be open year-round from Monday through

Thursday, 8:45am—3:15pm, closed daily for lunch from 12-12:30pm.

http://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/

Church Church HappeningsHappenings


You are invited …...

All ladies of the church are invited to attend

the Capital District United Methodist

Women's annual meeting on Saturday, Sep-

tember 26, at Crestview UMC in north Aus-

tin. Registration will occur from 8:30 to 9:15

and the session will convene in the church

sanctuary promptly at 9:30. (This is the same

event we hosted last year at Berkeley). This meeting will draw women from throughout the Capital Dis-

trict (from as far away as Lampasas, Liberty Hill, Cedar Park, all of Austin, with Berkeley being on the

southern edge) to celebrate accomplishments within the district. Berkeley UMW will be recognized as one

of the 18 5-Star UMW units (which is a BIG deal) during the business and worship portion of this

event. Afterwards, participants will choose one of the break-out sessions (one is on Latin America, others

are being firmed up) which are always very informative. The event will culminate with a luncheon (you

may either brown bag it OR pay $8 for the church-prepared luncheon). This annual meeting is such a

wonderful way to interact with other women who are involved in mission outreach throughout our dis-

trict. I anticipate that there will be carpools leaving from our parking lot. More details in the DAILY

BUZZ as the event gets closer. I hope that we have a strong Berkeley presence at this annual meeting.

Submitted by Berkeley UMW

Book Review: Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman

Submitted by Carolyn Brown

As you enjoy your restaurant meal, have you ever wondered what’s behind the

kitchen door? Blending personal narrative and investigative journalism,

Saru Jayaraman shows us that the quality of food that arrives at the table de-

pends not only on the ingredients’ sources but on the attention and skill of the

people who prepare and serve. Restaurant workers are subject to poor working

conditions and live on some of the lowest wages in America.

Eye-Opening!

UMW Category: Social Action

Bonus Book (can count as two books)

Available at the Austin Public Library

Thank Thank YouYou


Berkeley UMC received a big thank you from Cunningham and Widen Elementary Schools for full backpacks of school supplies and two checks from Berkeley UMC. These were delivered by Myrna Cavender, Iliana Gonzalez and Susan Curtis during the week of August 16.

“Thank you so much for your generous donation of school supplies and monies to Widen Elementary. As you know as a school community, we always rely on support from organizations such as BUMC. We have been blessed to be supported by your organization for many years. Thank you for your monetary gifts and your blessings. With Kind Regards,

Kimberly Royal, Principal”

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, We are truly grateful, and our hungry neighbors are blessed by your caring hearts and prayerful generosity. Through BUMC’s gift of $560, 28,000 servings of healthy, nour-ishing food will reach the plates of those who need good food most. You are making a real difference in so very many lives! Thank you for this gift, and thank you for ALL the ways that Berkeley UMC reaches out as the hands and feet of Christ. We’re glad you’ve chosen the Society of St. Andrew as one of your partners in ministry! Together, we share health and hope in Christ’s name.

Every Blessings, Lynette Johnson

Dear Members of Berkeley United Methodist Church, Thank you for the beautiful dresses you have made for the girls in Liberia. They will be greatly appreciated by girls who may never before had a new dress made for them. Your love and generosity are blessings for these girls.

May God Bless You, The Board of Dignity:Liberia.

The residents of Elmcroft and Englewood send their sincere Thank You’s for the Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social!

“Thank you for having us again for your hymn sing and ice cream social! We had a great time as always. You are most gracious to include us. Thank you, Laurie Green & Elmcroft” “Thank you for the time of music, fellowship, ice cream and fun. We feel so blessed! ~ Rebecca” “Thank you for sharing a wonderful evening of great ice cream, friendship and singing some old fashioned hymns. ~ Marie S.” “The ice cream was good, but you people are awesome! Many thanks for inviting us to share. ~ Johnnie S.” “Thank you for being such welcoming hosts. It gave us all a night packed with joy and love—the true mean-ing of the Word. ~ Dick B.”

With Principal Kim Royal, Widen Elementary School

With Principal Amy Lloyd, Cunningham Elementary School

Reaching Reaching OutOut


HONDURAS MISSION TRIP NEEDS Submitted by Carolyn Brown

In preparation for our next trip to Honduras, we are asking for a few items that you might have

around the house:

Calendars - any year. We will be using the pictures.

Plastic bottle caps - all sizes and colors.

Reading glasses you no longer need.

Coupons for Harbor Freight - we will be purchasing 40 25'x1" measuring tapes and the

discount from the coupon will help.

12" rulers with both inches and cm.

We will be collecting these things until the

end of the year. You may place your items

in the box in the narthex at any time.

Thank you for your continued support of

this mission, both from the team and from

the Honduran teachers and students.

Honduras Mission Trip 2016

Plans are being made for the January Honduras Mission Trip. Will you consider joining us?

There is a place for everyone to serve. We will again be travelling with members of Tarrytown

United Methodist Church. As always, we will work in education, construction, and medicine

(interpreting for the doctors.) The ability to speak Spanish, while nice, is not necessary. (A smile

goes a long way!)

The Honduran people are delightful, and you may have an opportunity to meet Juan Carlos,

whom the church has sponsored for 5 years, or Daymara, the young girl sponsored by our UMW.

Dates: Jan. 23 – 31, 2016

For more information contact Carolyn Brown at 512-443-2600 or [email protected].

Susan Curtis Teaching in Honduras, January 2015

mailto:[email protected]

CHANGEThe World


Book Review: Beyond Cotabato

by Rev. Curran L. Spottswood

Submitted by Kathy Beth Stavinoha

Rev. Curran Spottswood, his wife Mariam, and their three

small boys moved to the Philippine island of Luzon in the

post second-World War era, in order to spread the Gospel

of Christ and to grow the United Methodist church.

Americans and Filipinos, both ordained ministers and lay

volunteers, traveled to remote areas of the Philippine archi-

pelago in the name of the Holy Trinity. Rev. Spottswood

was a pilot and they flew in his small plane when there was

a landing strip available, but frequently they hiked through

rugged tropical jungles and up steep mountains on 100-mile

journeys to reach isolated villages.

They endured hunger, danger, weariness, illness, lack of

privacy, financial difficulty, and other hardships, but also

amazing hospitality and great joy as they ministered to oth-

ers’ physical and spiritual needs.

“There is no hope of winning this world to Christ through the

efforts of professional missionaries and ministers only. It is far

too big a job…every lay man and woman must be Christ’s ambas-

sador.”

--Curran L. Spottswood

In one small town, the pastor invited to give that evening’s

sermon got cold feet because of the rough crowd. The small

Filipina nurse who was on that mission was determined

that the crowd would hear about Jesus, so she witnessed to

them. She described the security and comfort of the nursing

job she had had in Manila, and then related how she had

given it up in order to teach about Christ’s love and do His

work. (This same young volunteer had previously been

involved in the physically demanding job of building the

Methodist Rural Center in Kidapawan.)

This account of the Methodist expansion in the Philippines

is inspirational in and of itself, but even more so to me,

because that young nurse is Berkeley’s very own Rebecca

Thomas.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 7pm Chancel Choir (Sanc. and FH)

3 5:30pm St. Louise House (CLC)

4 9am ESL (9) 5:30pm Spanish Bible Study (7)

5 6:30pm Amen Austin! Church (CLC)

6 Communion

Sunday 8:30am Worship 9:40am Sunday School 10:50am Worship 4pm Tai Chi (FH) 5pm Covenant Group (9)

7 Labor Day

Church Office Closed 10am Women’s Group (7)

8 5:30pm Prime Timers (FH) 6pm ESL (9)

9 9:30am UMW Women in Action Circle (FH) 6pm Handbell Choir (Sanc.) 7pm Chancel Choir (Sanc.)


11 9am ESL (9) 4pm Ballet 1 (FH) 5:30pm Spanish Bible Study (7) 6pm Ballet 1 (FH)

12 9am HCI Leader-ship Training (FH) 6:30pm Amen Aus-tin! Church (CLC)

13 8:30am Worship 9:40am Sunday School 10:50am Worship 4pm Tai Chi (FH) 5pm Covenant Group (9)

14 10am Women’s Group (7) 6:15pm Childcare Mgmt (7)

15 6pm ESL (9)

16 6pm Handbell Choir (Sanc.) 7pm Chancel Choir (Sanc.) 7pm SPRC (7)



19 7:28am UMM Breakfast (FH) 9am Trustees (9) 9am Greeter/Usher Training (FH) 6:30pm Amen Austin! Church (CLC)


21 10am Women’s Group (7) 6:45pm Girl Scouts Executive Commit-tee (FH) 7pm Finance (7)

22 5:45pm Spiritual Care (7) 6pm ESL (9) 7pm Church Council (FH)

23 6pm Handbell Choir (Sanc.) 7pm Chancel Choir (Sanc.)



26 8:30am UMW Dis-trict Meeting at Crestview UMC 10am Health Fair (FH) 6:30pm Amen Austin! Church (CLC)


28 10am Women’s Group (7) 6pm Girl Scouts (7) 6:45 Girl Scouts Exec. Meeting (FH)

29 6pm ESL (9)

30 6pm Handbell Choir (Sanc.) 7pm Chancel Choir (Sanc.)

September 2015 Berkeley Buzz, September 2015,

BERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

2407 Berkeley Ave.

Austin, TX. 78745

512-447-6633

[email protected]

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Monthly Income $ 18,548

Monthly Expenses $ 25,702

Year-to-Date Income $ 158,017

Year-to-Date Expenses $ 164,231

Gifts as of July 31

July 2015 YTD 2014

Worship 103 105 100

Sunday

School

30 35 30

Average Attendance

Our Vision:

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Berkeley will show our community and the world the

transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ by sharing God’s love in ministry with our

neighbors. We will offer pathways for new and committed disciples to grow in faithful-

ness. We will joyfully share our faith, resources and energies in partnership with our

community and the world.

Our Mission: To make new disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transformation of the world.

september 2015 newsletter

Documents

church council

church website

healthy church initiative

church office hours

berkeley buzz

berkeley umcs chil

jesus christ

map ministry action