Walkersville United Methodist Church

                               A Community of Faith that is
           Christ Centered … Bible Based … People Focused

Announcements...

WUMC PRAYER LIST

Please advise Pastor Steve if you know of anyone who needs to be added to or deleted from the Prayer List.

Our prayers go out to Billie Rutten; Jay Groff ; Sharon Rohrer’s sister, Priscilla; Bonnie Connelly;  Fred Richenaker; George Hood; Dan Sansbury; Terri Stull, Beth Churco; Valerie Stewart; Dorothy Fisher; Rick Magaha; Anna Heflin; Kim Jackson; and Winnie Mount.

NURSING CENTERS OR HOMEBOUND
Remember our members who are homebound or who reside in nursing and rehabilitation centers.

MILITARY PERSONNEL
Send your prayers and support to our military members, and their families, who are serving their country:   Darrell White; Devin White; Dave Berry; Steve Morris, Bret Purcell, Kerry Wertz, Jon Wertz, Benjamin Wilson, Gary Lee Wilson, and Tom Trueblood.

22 Main Street

Walkersville, MD  21793

Monday - Friday

9:00 am - 2:00 pm

In an emergency, contact

Pastor Humphrey,
cell phone  240-422-2179

OCTOBER 2010 SADDLEBAG:  Information to be inserted for the October 2010 SADDLEBAG needs to be in the Church office NLT Friday, September 17.  Information can be e-mailed to sheila.gould@comcast.net, faxed to

301-845-9863, or dropped off at the Church office in hard copy

YEAR-TO-DATE FINANCIAL STATUS:  Our operating cash has reached a critical level as general fund giving is $16,000 below budget and building fund giving is $3,000 below budget. The total shortfall is $19,000 and with overall expenses close to budget the result is a cash shortage.  Please catch-up your summer giving if you have missed Sunday's due to vacation, ASP, etc. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you. Dave Teach

NEW ARRIVALS:  WUMC welcomes our newest additions:

Cole Dylan Berkey was born on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 to John and Christie Berkey.  Cole weighed in at 9lbs. 3 ozs., 20-1/2 ".   He was welcomed by his brother Johnny and sisters Piper and Gillian. Cole was baptized on Sunday, August 8, 2010.   He is the grandson of Sandra and Ian McDonald and Annette and Byron Berkey.  The Berkey family resides in Woodsboro.  Congratulations to the Berkey and McDonald families.

Cadence Annmarie Boller was born to Jon & Kate Boller on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Cadence weighed in at 7lbs. 4 ozs., 20".  Congratulations to the Boller family.

John Oliver Holland, son of John Holland and Amanda Lightner, arrived on Wednesday, August 18, 2010.  He is welcomed home by sister, Amber and brothers, Anthony and Brennen.

DAYTIME ADULT BIBLE STUDY lead by Pastor Steve will begin on Tuesday, September 7 at 1:30 p.m. at Victoria Park.  Everyone is invited--you do not need to be a member of WUMC to attend.  Please spread the word to your friends, neighbors, and family members who may be interested in attending a daytime bible study group.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for future Red Cross Blood Drive dates:  September 21 and November 18, 2010.   All will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Georgetown Hall.  Please contact either Donna at 301-845-6024 or Betty at 301-682-7255 to schedule your life-saving donation or to volunteer to assist.

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT CLASS:  Are you married?  Is your marriage perfect?  If not, come to our marriage enrichment class which begins on Wednesday, September 22 at 6:30-8:00 in the PH.  Child care will be provided.  Please e-mail Pastor Steve at Preacher_Steve@verizon.net if you plan to attend.

FALL OYSTER, TURKEY, and HAM DINNER:  The fall Oyster, Turkey, and Ham Dinner will be held on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9, 2010.   This year’s chairmen are Charlie Nicodemus, Jim Hyatt, and Mike Slawter.  If you plan to donate something for the craft table, now is the time to start working on it!  For additional information on the dinner, the craft table, or to volunteer to help, contact one of the chairmen.

CHARGE CONFERENCE is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Middletown UMC beginning at 11 a.m.  Everyone is invited to attend the Conference.

DONATIONS NEEDED:  Jenny Crawford and Kathleen White are accepting monetary donations to assist with the cost of food for the shut-in meal project sponsored by the Youth Group. Due to budget constraints, any help in funding or ingredients you can spare will be greatly appreciated. 

AN INVITATION FOR WOMEN.  Celebrate Womanhood and join us for a Tea on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 2:00-4:00 in Georgetown Hall.  Women have always played an important role throughout the ages.  As our lives become busier we need more than ever to connect with our sisters, learn about our past and bond together for strength in the future.  Dr. Connie Devilbiss, Doctor of Ministry, Educator, Writer and former WUMC Youth Pastor shares some thoughts into women’s roles in the Bible and how they relate in today’s world.  Brenda Hedges will provide musical inspiration.  Tea and light refreshments served (donations gladly accepted).  Please contact Cindy Friedman (301) 845-6903) or Leslie Baker (labbaker@gmail.com). We hope there will be enough interest to make the beginning of a new women’s group within the church.  See you there!

15^th ANNUAL WALKERSVILLE AREA CROP WALK.  The 2010 Walkersville area CROP Walk will be held Sunday, September 26, 2010.  Registration at Walkersville Elementary School starts at 1:30 p.m. and the walk starts at 2:00 p.m.  Walkers must bring the top sheet of their registration form to the walk.  You can sign up to participate and get your registration form from Wanda Heurich.  This year’s goal for the Walkersville area is 120 walkers, 120 canned food items, $10,000 ($2,500 which would go to the Glade Valley Food Bank). There is a website where you can register to use it for online fundraising.  The CROP Hunger Walk is a unique response to the needs of the poor and hungry people in our community as well as around the world.  25% of the money raised goes to the Glade Valley Food Bank in Walkersville..along with all canned food brought to the walk.

THANK YOU

My Dear Shawl Ministry Sisters, I want to express my sincerest thanks to you for the beautiful shawl you all made for me as a farewell gift.  I see each of you and your individual talents represented so clearly in the work.  Specially thanks to Betsy for piecing your squares together.  I will cherish it always.  This group has become more than I ever imagined when I suggested it.  While we have given of our talents to lift others, I feel we have all gained so much ourselves from the fellowship and support of the group.  I hold each of you in my heart and pray for the continued success of the group.  May you continue to bless others with your gifts for a long time.   Your Sister in Christ, Marni

To My Wonderful Walkersville Church Family, Words cannot express how much I appreciated all your farewell cards, gifts and wishes.  I am especially grateful for the great friends who planned such a heartwarming farewell celebration.  The party, the words spoken there, the pictures shared and the memory book so lovingly composed all touched my heart deeply.  I have been truly blessed to have been a part of the WUMC community for the last decade and to be able to faithfully serve you for the last nine years.  You have been my family, my friends, my support system and my joy during that time.  I will hold you all in my hearts forever.

I am most grateful for the opportunity to share your joys, your sorrows and most of all your children.  This experience has helped me to identify God’s call in my life and you have all supported me as I have explored that call through education and in practice at Walkersville.  I pray each day for the church and all of you and will continue to do so.  Thank you all for the ways in which each of you has touched my life.  Always Your Sister in Christ, Marni

AND THE SURVEY SAID…..

Over the weeks in June and July, we included a survey in the Saddlebag and in Sunday bulletins based on some “Adam Hamilton questions.”  Adam Hamilton is the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas. He grew a church from 4 people (his family) in 1990 to over 12,000 adult members in 2008 (with an average weekly worship attendance of over 7,500). He spoke to laity and clergy at the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference this spring about the lessons he’s learned about growing his church.  Hamilton suggests that churches assess the attitudes of the congregation as they are now to help plan for the journey into the future.  Hamilton suggests that churches be aware of how their congregations answer the following questions: 

1. Why do people need Christ?

2. Why do people need the church?

3. Why do people need this particular church?

4. When I worship on Sunday morning with this congregation, I expect to encounter God.

5.  In five years, I hope/ dream that this church will……….. (Input as many hopes / dreams that you can think of. Include what others may be hoping / dreaming for).

While there wasn’t enough participation in this survey to draw conclusions about the general perspectives of the congregation, and certainly not enough to set a goal for our future, there were some comments where it would be helpful to get some additional feedback.  If you have opinions on the following topics (for or against) feel free to drop a comment into the collection plate during worship or mail to the church office.  Commenting on other topics not necessarily listed here is also welcomed. Comments may be anonymous. 

Survey comments:

·         There were a number of comments that reflect an appreciation for the fellowship within the congregation and some concern about the reduced fellowship time between services on Sunday morning.   Ironically, there were also some comments that hinted at a feeling of disconnection.

·         A number of comments were made about the Sunday morning worship schedule.  Some appreciated the opportunity that the schedule offered for adult Bible study, some were having difficulty adjusting to the time changes and some were interested in switching the times for the traditional and contemporary services. 

·         A number were interested in Bible study and would be interested in more short-term (4-6 weeks) studies throughout the year. 

·         There was some interest in a traditional service that was more traditional – with more scripture readings, responsive readings and creeds. 

·         While opportunities for fellowship during pot luck gatherings were appreciated, the need to prepare food for the event was considered burdensome for some and it was suggested food be provided for events with the cost covered by a freewill offering. 

·         A number expressed an interest in increased outreach  - both mission opportunities organized and arranged for by church staff for adults and young adults and outreach projects supported by congregational giving.

·         Some expressed a need for more directed activities for young adults, for empty nesters, and/or for seniors.

·         Issues of communication were raised, with a hope for better communication in the future.

For those of you that participated in the survey, thanks! Please continue to comment. 

Sandy Gibson, Church Council Chair

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