Lest It be Forgotten Prayer played an important role in the

American struggle for independence.

The First Continental Congress met for

the first time, in September 1774. In a

letter to his wife, John Adams

described the spiritual backdrop as

the colonies were about to launch the

Revolutionary War for independence.

Adams wrote to Abigail, “When the Congress met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that

it should be opened with prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay of New York and Mr.

Rutledge of South Carolina because we were so divided in religious sentiments —

some Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Anabaptists, some Presbyterians, and

some Congregationalists — that we could not join in the same act of worship.

Samuel Adams arose and said that he was no bigot and could hear a prayer from

any gentleman of piety and virtue who was at the same time a friend to his country.

He moved that Mr. Duche, an Episcopal clergyman, might read prayers to Congress

the next morning. The motion was seconded and passed.

Accordingly, next morning the Rev. Duche appeared with his Episcopal vestments

and read the 85th Psalm. I never saw a greater effect produced upon an audience.

It seemed as if heaven had ordained that psalm to be read on that morning.

George Washington was kneeling there, alongside him Patrick Henry, James

Madison, and John Hancock. By their side there stood, bowed in reverence, the

Puritan patriots of New England, who at that moment had reason to believe that

an armed soldiery was wasting their humble households. They prayed fervently for

America, for Congress, for the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially for

the town of Boston [whose port had been closed and in which British troops were

being quartered.] And who can realize the emotions with which they turned

imploringly to heaven for divine help. It was enough to melt a heart of stone. I

saw the tears gush into the eyes of the old, grave, pacifist Quakers of Philadelphia.”

This is an appropriate time to remind ourselves of the final line of the Declaration

of Independence: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance

on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our

Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

The Christian Progress Dahlgren United Methodist Church

JULY 2020

Our Vision:

Reaching All

with the Love

of Christ

Thomas G. Lee, Sr.,

Pastor

P.O. Box 1797

Dahlgren, VA 22448

Office Hours:

Working from home

Call or email 24/7

Church: (540) 663-2230

Emergency Contact:

(540) 263-2238

tomlee@vaumc.org

Email:

office@dahlgrenumc.org

Website:

www.dahlgrenumc.org

Happy Independence Day – Well Almost This coming Saturday marks the 244th anniversary of the founding of the America. There will be fewer parties,

back-yard barbecues, and fireworks this year. This most significant national holiday on the American calendar will

instead be marked by socially-distancing gatherings and cancelled public events as we slowly emerge from months

of the pandemic lockdown.

For many weeks now, we have witnessed unrest in our country, from riots and looting to the destruction of historic

monuments. So much for traditional expressions of patriotic pride on the 4th this year.

This is a time to remember. Lest we forget, this is all we need to know.

On July 1, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, and on the following day 12 of the 13

colonies voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee’s motion to renounce the British Empire and declare North America

free and independent. The delegates spent the next two days debating and revising the language of the official

statement drafted by Thomas Jefferson. On July 4th 56 colonial statesmen signed our founding proclamation.

America was born.

By the 18th century, North America had been governed by England and consisted of 13 Colonies: Delaware,

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New

Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

While relations between settlers and the English Crown were at first amicable, tensions began to escalate under

King George III over opposition to the imposition of British laws and taxes. A growing spirit of nationalism increased

among the native-born. By 1765, Americans began to demand an end to "taxation without representation” and

called for their voices to be heard in the Houses of Parliament.

Acts of dissent followed, notably the Boston Tea Party in 1773. A protest against the Tea Act, which gave the

East India Company a monopoly, resulted in a group known as the “Sons of Liberty” dressed in Native Americans

attire dumping an entire shipment of imported British tea leaves at Griffin's Wharf in Boston Harbor. The

demonstration was both a joyful satire of the ruling power's obsession with its national beverage and a call to arms

against the entitlement of England.

What followed was what came to be known as the American War of Independence, with open combat erupting in

Concord, Massachusetts, the following April. The conflict raged for eight long years on American soil, until the

signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This Treaty was drafted by the “Committee of Five” -- Jefferson, Franklin,

John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston -- and further established citizens' "unalienable" rights, based

on the conviction that "all men are created equal" and enshrining individual’s entitlement to "life, liberty and the

pursuit of happiness".

The first readings of the Declaration of Independence were made in Philadelphia squares accompanied by bonfires

and the ringing of church bells. In Bristol, Rhode Island, a salute of 13 gunshots in the morning and evening

marked the day in 1777, the country's first formal 4 July celebration, which has held an annual celebration parade

since 1785. In 1778, George Washington, then a general in the Revolutionary Army, issued a double rum ration

to his troops to cheer the day. The first recorded music commemorating independence was the "Psalm of Joy",

written by Johann Friedrich Peter of Salem, North Carolina, in 1783. In 1870 congress made the day an unpaid

national holiday for federal workers. In 1938 the 4th became a paid vacation day.

This Saturday, while all major cities traditionally celebrate Independence Day with grand fireworks displays, the

coronavirus pandemic has led to events being cancelled all together or replaced by smaller-scale alternatives to

conform to CDC guidelines for public gatherings. While community gatherings will be rare, there will be a televised

fireworks display from Mount Rushmore this Friday, and a "2020 Salute to America", in DC with music, military

demonstrations and flyovers as well as

fireworks over the National Mall.

….continued on next page

With everything that has occurred here in America over the course of the last four months, the usual patriotic pride

may be less. Maybe that’s as it should be. Maybe this is the time to substitute our pride and bow our heads in

humility to the God who bequeathed this “Great experiment” that is America to us.

According to legend, as Ben Franklin was walking out of Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention in

1787, someone shouted out, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A Republic!

If you can keep it!”

Legend or not, those words are as timely today as they were on the day America was born.

Happy 4th!

TGL, SR

Talking in the Dark Steve Harper, contributing author for the Upper Room, wrote a book in 2007, following hurricane Katrina titled, “Talking in the Dark - Praying When Life Doesn’t Make Sense”. These days this book seems much more appropriate than when I first read it. I returned to it last month to refresh my memory on what Harper had to say.

I don’t know about you, but these days I find myself either dwelling on the past when life was comfortable and predictable or pondering life as it may be in the unpredictable future. Both are exercises that produce little but anxiety for me. Harper points to an alternative way of thinking: He advises his readers to practice the presence of God in the present moment.

Of the Bible verses I tried to put in my children’s quiver that they might find useful as adults is Proverbs 23:7. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Thankfully, my daughters were not tripped up by Solomon’s use of the masculine pronoun.) The point here is the revelation that our thoughts are what govern our lives. “You will only rise as high or sink as low as your thoughts take you”, I explained. It’s been interesting watching what my children have done with that advice. Most of them do much better than I at living in the moment and focusing mainly on what is immediately happening around them. Maybe it’s just a hazard of growing older that makes most of us more circumspect.

Recently I sat with one of my daughters on a front porch in deep conversation when she was suddenly deflected by a robin singing in a nearby tree. “Dad, do you hear that?” she said. “Hear what?” I responded. She pointed to the bird. We both sat there, taking in the beauty of that moment. The subject we were discussing suddenly was not at all important.

When is the last time you listened to a bird singing, watched the children next door playing, read Scripture or your favorite literature? When is the last time you listened to music or pondered classic poetry… some activity you genuinely enjoy? All these experiences and more can serve to remind us that in all our present moments God is with us.

When Jesus said, “I will be with you always”, we can be reasonably sure he wasn’t just talking about when we sit in church on Sundays. That “always” is about our present moments. We cannot go back. We cannot predict what is next. If we experience God at all, it’s in the here and now. Every moment is a God moment if we can but listen and look.

In these days of a continuing pandemic scare, with the world around us changing so rapidly, seemingly spiraling downward further into chaos, with so many uncertainties about tomorrow, living in the present, with our eyes and ears tuned in to God presents a great alternative way to be. To just be!

Practicing the presence of God in this moment in time may be a challenge, but it sure beats dwelling in darkness. I think this must be what Mrs. Kathleen Thomerson, Music Director at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas had in mind when she wrote Hymn #206 in our Hymnal: “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light.” The words of that hymn go like this:

I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus God sent the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus. In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus.

Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path. And show me the way to the Father. In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

CCLI # 1926345

The peace of God be with you all,

Pastor Tom

Pastoral Letter Dear Faithful Friends,

How wonderful it has been to have many worshiping with us these days on our Church Facebook and

Webpage. Your prayers in preparing our virtual worship services have been felt. Thank you! Due to the

current escalation of COVID-19 cases in our county, our church facilities will remain closed for Sunday

morning worship. Small groups and Sunday School classes will need to continue using ZOOM or other

creative ways to meet safely with one another. Please be in prayer for our team of volunteers which is

monitoring developments to determine when best to resume activities at church. Thank you especially for

your patience as we continue exercise due diligence in caring for one another by abstaining from in-person

worship. Our being apart for fellowship and worship is not taken lightly. We all long for the day when we

can be together again. God willing, we are almost there! Please stay tuned and do not lose heart.

As always, I am available to serve in every way I can. And please let your prayer concerns be known.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Tom

DUMC Financial Update

The Coronavirus has brought us some trying and uncertain times. Without weekly church worship we have experienced reduced giving. Our June offerings reflect that.

We appreciate your continued support through donations as it is vital to meet the rest of our current budget numbers including enabling the mission team to address urgent needs in the community. Please see the current numbers below:

JUNE 2020 Finances as of 6/29/2020: Donations $17,557

Expenses for June: $23,358 General Fund Monthly Goal: $28,322

Please continue to give via mail or the church website. The “Ways to Donate” information is on the last page of this newsletter. Thank you for your support.

SCAMMING ALERT – STAY VIGILENT

Scams are continuing to happen. Pastors including Pastor Tom are being targeted. Many church members are receiving fake emails asking for gift cards to help needy persons in their congregations. The emails look like they are from the pastor. The addresses are very similar to the correct ones, but they are not the same! Don’t be fooled. Our Pastor will never ask you for any donations through email or text message.

The church office continues to be closed until further notice. Pastor Tom continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation to ascertain when the building will resume normal operating in-person hours and offer guidance to leadership. Rayeann continues to work from home during the building closure. To reach Rayeann regarding an administrative matter, you may contact her at 540-903-6060. She will be monitoring email as they come in from Church email (office@dahlgrenumc.org) and telephone messages. To reach Pastor Tom regarding a Pastoral matter, please call (540) 263-2238 or email (tomlee@vaumc.org). May we trust God to watch over us and our households and keep us safe. May His Spirit bring calm and wise counsel to all. May we be in

constant prayer for each other and the world, until this storm passes, and we enjoy clear skies again. Upper Room Daily Devotionals for July/August are in the office. Please call 540-663-2230 and leave a message, or

email office@dahlgrenumc.org if you would like one. You can make an appointment and we’ll meet you at the church

to pick it up, or gladly mail it to you.

Minding Health Matters

Are you worried, depressed, fearful, restless. grinding your teeth, leery, munching and sleepless? You are not alone. These feelings / symptoms are not unusual in our current state of affairs. Throughout the day we are inundated with grave news about earthquakes, fires, flooding, hurricanes, the pandemic and strife. In news there is a slogan that ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ or ‘the worst is first’. In essence, this is a state of distress or challenges without relief or relaxation. None of these human responses are surprising. The human body’s ingrained reaction to danger /stressors is flight or fight. The body goes on alert, releasing hormones [adrenaline, cortisol and nor- epinephrine] that ‘rev’ us up, raising

the heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension to put us in a self-protective mode. In more primitive times we would fight the ‘saber-tooth tiger’ or run from an ‘enemy’. Thus, the body would use up the chemicals released and later ease back into a more normal state. Our threats today are not ones we can physically attack thus depleting the excessive stress hormones. It is hard to ‘club’ the pandemic, ‘knock out’ a hurricane or ‘beat’ sleeplessness. The brain is not constructed to adapt to constant uncertain fears and challenges. Energy is expended beyond the physical. One may find themselves tired and “resting” more, but this rest is not restorative. Long term stress causes wear and tear on the body and leads to many physical / health changes. (high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, headaches, muscle spasms and depression.) The pandemic is not going away soon. Hurricane season has just started. Turmoil is a fact of life. We cannot change these situations, but we can learn coping mechanisms to handle them better. Let us consider some simple ones. A basic skill is to limit the exposure to incoming stressors to once or twice a day. This primarily refers to news casts. Limiting exposure to the blue light of electronic devices in the evening is critical. Many studies show this interferes with the body’s circadian rhythm and interferes with sleep patterns. Have a routine. There is comfort in knowing what is next. This helps all ages. Limit worry by having a worry jar. Take slips of paper and write one item that you are worried about on each slip of paper. Fold twice, place in the jar, put on the lid and shake. Pick a time each day to pull out a slip and set a timer for 5 minutes. Worry all you want about this issue, until the timer goes off. Put the slip back in the jar. And let the worry go for the day. Humans are resilient and adaptable. Each of us is unique. Stop comparing yourself to others. Pace your work/ duties. Take breaks. It’s okay if you don’t finish something in one session. Congratulate yourself on tasks completed. Enjoy music, hobbies, humor and activities that bring you comfort and ease. Exercising is a keyway to counter stress. Repetitive, non-competitive, non-destructive activities such as walking or shooting hoops are recommended. Eating a healthy variety of foods-- with some treats-- helps to maintain health and well-being. Grounding has several variations. The idea is to be totally present or grounded in one’s current situation using your senses. It consists of taking a comfortable position in a quiet area and then taking a few slow deep breaths. Eyes can be open or closed. First focus on 5 things that you can see. Next focus on 4 things you can hear, followed by 3 things you can smell. Finally recognize an emotion you feel. End by with a few slower deep breaths. Four square breathing also has several versions. It consists of taking a comfortable position with the eyes closed. Breathe in through the nose, pause, blow out through pursed lips, and pause. This four step pattern is repeated four times. The steps can be lengthened to a count of four each, as one is able. At the end of each day remember five good things/blessings that happened during that time. As always contact your health care provider if symptoms are interfering with your daily functioning or you feel overwhelmed or depressed. [National Suicide Prevention lifeline: 1-800-273- 8255] You are not alone! That is taking good care of God’s temple. Brought to you by your Parish nurse, Kathy Phillips RN, This information is consistent with and sourced from articles related to the effects of stress on the body via websites of the Mayo Clinic, UCLA, Health Line, AARP, Huff Post and Mindful Body.

DUMC TENDING THE FLOCK PROJECT

Assisting a Church member in Need

Last Fall 2019, it came to the attention of the DUMC Mission Group that congregation member, Gloria

Cusimano was experiencing difficulties in safely maneuvering the back steps of her house. The solution

to her problem would require several upgrades to her back-deck area. Mission Group offered to provide

the talent and labor time if Gloria would acquire the materials for

the upgrades. Starting this year, Bob Cunningham volunteered to

assist Gloria determine the upgrades needed and the materials

required. Between June 10 -17 2020, DUMC volunteers, under the

guidance and direction of Bob Cunningham, assembled and

implemented the upgrades needed to allow her to safely enter and

exit her house. DUMC Volunteers participating in the project

were: Bob Cunningham, Stephen Grossen, Dave and Daniel

Hanger, Gair and Madison Brown, Devin Drake, Tom DelGuidice,

and Steve Boyle. The volunteers worked hard. Through their

fellowship, they provided humble service to another with their

combined gifts from God of time and talent.

DUMC YOUTH GROUP

Greetings to you, DUMC Youth!

We have missed you and look forward to a time (hopefully soon!) when we can all be together again. We would love to plan a camping trip when we are able to do so.

Please remember Dillan, Eric and Justin in your prayers. Their grandfather, Gerald Carter, passed away last week. He will truly be missed.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

The Dahlgren UMC Youth Group meets at church every 1st and 3rd Sunday from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

We plan to resume this schedule when we are able to meet again.

A NOTE FROM STEPHEN VOYNAR

I have decided to end my job with the Navy. I need to focus on rebuilding my health

and life from this chronic Lyme disease. I will be moving Berea, Kentucky (where

my parents and both brothers' families now live) for a time of extended vacation,

improving my health and spirit, and rediscovering myself. Hopefully I will be there

by end of July, the start of my next adventure. My email is

rhombusfish@gmail.com. Note that the old ones (rhombusfish@verizon.net,

stephen.voynar@navy.mil) will soon be deleted after I move.

I have been blessed beyond measure with my DUMC family, and I thank you for

all you do behind-the-scenes, fighting the good fight. It is time for me to carry some

of your reflected Light to other lands. Or as I prefer to say it, "Carry the Lord's will

with you as your torch, and with it, destroy the shadows."

Stephen

Join us on-line for virtual VBS 2020 July 13-17!

In order to keep everyone safe and healthy this summer, VBS

has been moved to an on-line venue this year. Each night of

VBS will feature new videos posted – the nightly Bible story

with Bible point, downloadable craft project, music video (including John 3:16, of course), and God

Sighting stories.

The theme is still Serengeti Trek by Group Publishing (2005) and you may view the videos at the

church’s website (www.dahlgrenumc.org) or the church’s Facebook page.

If you have any questions, please contact the VBS director, April Getty, at

vbsdirector@gettyfamily.com, or call the church office at 540-663-2230.

VBS Food Drive on July 17th! Normally during the week of VBS we have a food drive

where the different crews of kids compete against each other to see which group

can donate the most food, by weight, to the King George Department of Social

Services Food Bank. Even though we are not meeting in person this year, we are

still collecting food for the Food Bank. They have been closed since March, but

plan to re-open in mid-July and they would greatly appreciate any donations that

we can provide.

On Friday, July 17th (the last day of VBS) I will be collecting food

donations at the front of the church in the parking lot from 11am –

2pm. I’ll wear a mask and gloves, and all you have to do is drive up and

drop your items into the large plastic bin I’ll hold towards you. Please

only donate non-perishable food items (not beverages) that are not

expired or past the “best by” date. Foods that are high in protein are

best, and baby food and formula are also greatly appreciated. Thanks

so much for your support!

PRAYER CHAIN REMINDER

Did you know that Dahlgren UMC offers a prayer chain that provides up to date information on folks asking for immediate prayer? This email chain is used within the church only; and is available to our DUMC church family. Jackie Kunstmann lovingly volunteers her time to administrate this ministry. If you are a prayer warrior and would like to participate in receiving the prayer chain requests please email dumcprayerchain@yahoo.com and asked to be added to the email list.

DUMC offers our sincere condolences to the Carter and Suon Families on the loss of

Gerald Carter on June 19th 2020. You were loved and will be missed!

JUNE 2020

General Fund Giving: 17,557.00

Expenses: $23,358.55

General Fund Monthly Goal: $28,322.00

**These amounts do not reflect gifts given for missions, mortgages or any other designated

funds.

Mail to P.O. Box

1797 Dahlgren, VA

22448 until COVID

crisis is past

DUMC Website

(dahlgrenumc.org)

click on “Donate”

Donor arranged

through

personal on-line

banking

WAYS TO DONATE TO

DAHLGREN UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH

Financial Update

JUNE 2020