Today – Monday             

• Scouts meet in their room at 6:30 p.m.
• Church Council meets in meeting room 1 at 7:00 p.m.  The council didn’t meet in July but will meet this month.  All people involved in the life of this congregation are welcome and encouraged to attend.  All group and committee leaders are expected to attend.

Tuesday

• Active Listeners meet in the church library at 10:00 a.m.
• “Walking the Bible” study begins at 10:30 a.m. in the church library.  The study is such that one can join in at any time.  You don’t need to have attended the previous classes.

Thursday

• The United Methodist Men will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Scout room.  Their usual meeting is the 2^nd Thursday of each month but will be meeting this week.  All men of the church are welcome and encouraged to attend.  The men made some money providing parking during the Terry-Taylor garage sales and they have been very busy and active!  Come see what they are up to!

Saturday

• The monthly grounds work day is next Saturday.  The Trustees invite you to join them beginning at 9:00 a.m.  The forecast is for cooler weather by then.  One of the projects scheduled is painting the foundation of the Wesley Hall side of the church building.  Many hands will make the work go quicker!

Good news!  Joy has been discharged from the hospital and is getting rehabilitation care.  There is a direct phone line to her room is which you can get from the church office.  I think Joy would appreciate your calls and visits and of course your continued prayers

 I’ve been asked to pass along an invitation from the golfers of the church.  They are planning a trip to Chehalis for golf at the Newaukum golf course on Wednesday August 25^th.  The plan is to do 9 holes in the morning, break for lunch and do the other 9 holes in the afternoon.  Contact Dan Cadigan for more information and to let him know you will want to attend.  This sounds like a great opportunity for fun and fellowship!  All are welcome to join in.

The concession stand at “Art in the Park”  was a limited success.  Due to the excessive heat there were not too many attending the function and therefore not partaking in the brownie sundaes we had to offer.  They just about sold enough to meet their expenses and gained some experience.  This was good preparation for the Highlander Festival, which is Sept. 11^th & 12^th.  There will be a sign up available soon for that event. 

We have received notice from Arc of Clark County (the organization that handles the barrel for donated clothing and other textile items) that will not be able to service Cowlitz County after the end of August.  This is due to the cost of operations in traveling to our area.  I was not able to reach them by phone this morning, but I hope to schedule one more pick up before the end of the month.  I will let you know when I am able to reach them, if and when they will pick up from us.  This has been a small, but steady source of income to our Missions team at the church.

As Pastor Jerry so appropriately reminded us yesterday, the life of this church can and will go on even though we have lost one of the “pillars” holding us up over the years.  Jay’s leadership through all the roles he has had in the life of this church is one of the reasons we are as strong and vital as we are today.  He has helped show us all the way to calmly and efficiently “get the job done”, whatever the job at hand is.

A sign up list was distributed during fellowship following worship yesterday to provide Jay’s family with food this week.  I have that list in the office and if you would like to add to it you may call, email, leave a message, etc.  Basic dinners are covered, but there will be many people at the home all week and I know it will be a great comfort to Marsha and the rest of the family if they don’t have to be concerned about food.  Food may be brought to the church during the week.  The building should be open all mornings this week.

The memorial service will take place at this church Friday July 23^rd at 2:00 p.m.  Marsha has requested a meal be provided following the service.  We will handle this “potluck style”.  You may notify us, if you wish, by email or phone message what you will bring.  The building is sure to be full Friday afternoon.

There are a few other events coming up this week:

• There are no meetings tonight!  Church Council is taking a month off this summer.
• Tuesday               Active Listeners will meet at 10:00 a.m. in the church library.

“Walking the Bible” adult study will begin at 10:30 a.m. also in the library

• Thursday             Race to Reach Out team will meet at 1:00 p.m. in the library. 
• Next Sunday      The last Sunday of the month means it’s potluck day!  See you then.

Also next Sunday, the campfire meeting!  Come at 5:30 for hotdogs and s’mores and stay for singing and worship at 6:30.

• Church Council meets tonight at 7:00 p.m. in meeting room 1.  As always, anyone involved in the life of this congregation is welcome to attend.  Those who hold leadership positions are expected to attend. 
• Active Listeners meet Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the library.  A Tuesday morning study is going to begin next month. 
• Spring Fling is next Saturday!  Meet at the church at 10:15 to carpool to Hoffsadt Bluff for lunch at noon.  If you have not yet let us know you will attend, please do so soon.  Check your email from last week for the menu choices.  This does not need to be prepaid but we do need to let the restaurant know our menu choices very soon.

 Painting began on the parsonage this morning.  Several people are hard at work right now.  I know they can use more help.  Painting will continue each day beginning at 9:00 a.m. until the project is finished.  Come on down and bring brushes if you have them

The meeting schedule is really scaled down for the summer months, but there are still plenty of opportunities for fellowship. 

Remember you can bring your clean reusable items for the UMW rummage sale to the church any time.  Items can be placed in the choir room.  The sale is scheduled for July 9^th & 10^th.  You can help support the UMW, which supports many areas of the life of this congregation, by donated merchandise to sell, helping to set up for the sale (the week prior) and by shopping at the sale and encouraging your friends to do the same!  This is one on two major fundraisers the UMW does that allows us to support many local and international mission causes as well as many areas of our own church and it’s local mission.

Speaking of fund raising, we have a great opportunity coming up this summer!  The following message tells how you can help.

Our fund-raising committee has signed up to serve ice cream and brownies at Art in the Park on Saturday, Aug. 14. We had hoped to sell our delicious desserts at Go 4th, but vendors from last year’s event got first priority and we didn’t quite make the cut.

The Aug. 15 event is new and will give us a chance to test our food vending skills prior to the Hilander Festival in September, where we are also signed up. The art event is sponsored by the Columbian Artists Association and the Longview Parks & Recreation Dept. — they are looking for fine-art and fine-crafts artists for the juried event.  It will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lake Sacajawea Park.

We need volunteers to help — Crews that will spend a few hours selling or scooping ice cream, baking brownies or helping to set up or take down our booth.

Our fund-raising functions this year are an important part of our budgeting efforts and our ministry. Please check your calendars — we will have sign-up sheets at the church beginning next Sunday.

Thanks,

Margaret Vockrodt and the Fund-raising committee

I have great news!  The summer campfire services are beginning next Sunday, June 29^th!!  If you came to these events at all the last two summers you won’t want to miss it this year!  If you didn’t come before, you still should not miss this!  It’s great fun and a wonderful way to have fun, fellowship and worship in a very informal setting.  We’ll meet at 5:30 at the outdoor worship area just west of the church building.  We’ll roast hot dogs and eat and then begin an informal worship service with lots of singing accompanied by Pastor Jerry’s guitar.  It’s a wonderful way to enrich your spiritual life and a good opportunity to invite others, especially those who might not be as comfortable in the more traditional worship setting.  The campfire services will be held every-other Sunday evening through July and August. 

Newsletter articles are due to the church office by Wednesday.  Anyone who has information they would like to share is welcome to submit an article.  The preferred way to receive articles is by email but can also be presented in writing to the office.

Monday – tonight

• The Missions team will not meet tonight as previously announced. 
• Church Council meets at 6:45 pm in meeting room 1.  All who head teams and committees of the church are expected to attend.  Anyone involved and interested in the life of this congregation is welcome to attend.

Tuesday

• Active Listeners meet in the church library at 10:00 am.  New “listeners” are welcome!
• The Edith Allen circle of the UMW meets at Jan Hatt’s home at 11:30 .m. for lunch and visiting.  Please let Jan know if you plan to attend.

Wednesday

• Choir practice begins at 6:30 pm. in the sanctuary.  New voices are always welcome!

Saturday

• Grounds work at the church begins at 9:00 am.  The Trustees are scheduling these work days each month.  All who are involved in the life of this church are encouraged to come and help.  It is hoped that work will be finished by about noon.  If a lot of people show up, they could finish sooner –  OR get more projects finished!

What a wonderful Sunday we had yesterday!  First, we had a great worship service in the morning.  Jerry’s message was timely and important as we observed our 7^th anniversary as a Reconciling Congregation.  The choir had a wonderful anthem for the occasion and it’s always special to get to sing “The Reconciliation Song”. 

Many of us were here to listen to Ron Rassmusen tell about his efforts to have the U.S. military “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy repealed.  He is a wonderful speaker and brought us a great message.  Thanks to Ron and thanks to our own Robert and Gary for bringing him to speak to us.  If you missed the discussion yesterday and would like to show your support to this issue you can contact your government representatives and let them know you want them to support the following bills:  In the House of Representatives, HR-1283 and in the Senate, S-3065.  For more information on these issues on the internet, check out  VfHR.org  (Veterans for Human Rights)

What a good time we had Friday evening at the church auction!  The dinner was delicious and the company was beyond compare.  All that, and we raised a lot of money that will go a long ways to help our general fund.  About $2800 came in from the auction plus what the Mission team was given for the dinner.  It was a fun evening and profitable too!  I’m already hearing that we should do this again next year!

This weeks schedule -

Monday

• Missions Team will meet in the church library at 6 pm
• Church Council will meet  in the new meeting room at 7:00 pm

Tuesday

• Active Listeners will meet in the church library at 10:00 am.
• Edith Allen Circle meets for lunch at“The Brits” at 11:30 am. 
• Quilt and sew group will meet in the new meeting room. at 1:00 pm.  Bring your own project to work on.
• “The Language of God” will hold the first class in the meeting room and the sanctuary at 6:30 pm.

Wednesday

• Choir practice at in the sanctuary at 6:30 pm.

Thursday

• All-church potluck at in the fellowship hall at 5:30 pm.  Special guest is Mary Kelly, missionary to Tonga.  She will share some of her experiences.  I think you’ll be hearing more about that later in the week.
• Leadership Team meets at 7:00p.m. in the Pastor’s office.

There is a need for people who are willing to serve as greeters before & after the worship service and usher during the service.  If you are willing to serve your church in this way, please contact Margaret Vockrodt.  Contact information is in your directory.  Sign up lists will be circulated soon, but in the meantime, please contact Margaret who is our Worship Committee chairperson.

First, some sad news to pass along.  Brad Euren reported this morning that all the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) personnel were had come the Haitian earthquake unharmed.  Sadly, that is not the case.  I’ll copy here the information he passed along from email he received.

Friends – I have a disturbing message to share with you. Rev. Clint
 Rabb - the leader of Mission Volunteers and the Primetimers program
 has died from injuries sustained during the earthquake in Haiti. He
 was trapped in the Montana Hotel for 55 hours – rescued and airlifted
 to a Florida hospital – he died there early this morning. Prior to
 this, Sam Dixon, the leader of UMCOR had also died before being
 rescued from the same hotel. Such sadness, but the outpouring of love
 and support for both these special men is incredible – as is the
 sharing of resources for the people of Haiti – still dying, hurting
 and hungry. Please remember Clint, Sam and their friends they have
 loved and served all over the world.
  Nancy Eubanks

 Consultant – Primetimers
 Global Ministries

In case you were not in worship this morning to hear this, you may donate to UMCOR through this church and, as always, 100% of your donation will go to relief in Haiti.

There is happier news to report on the “home front”.  The sewer has been replaced to the east half of our building and the rest rooms and kitchen are again fully operational!  Thanks to many who worked long, hard, cold and wet to make this happen.  We were able to do almost all of the work with our volunteers and the part that had to be hired was done at a greatly reduced rate.  Thanks again to all who made this happen!  We would be in such trouble if we didn’t have our willing volunteers, headed by the Board of Trustees.

Monday          

• PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets in the fellowship hall at 7:00 p.m.  This is their Christmas party and we are all invited.

Tuesday                              

• Active Listeners meet in the church library at 10:00 a.m.
• The Edith Allen Circle of UMW meets at Mona Petersen’s home (4610 Windermere) for a potluck lunch and visiting at 11:30 a.m.  Please let Mona know if you plan to attend.
• Quilt & sew group meets at 1:00 p.m. in the southwest class room.  (This room still needs a name!)
• Children’s choir rehearses at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Wednesday                       

• Choir rehearsal begins at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Thursday                            

• The Leadership Team will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the church library.

Friday                                   

•  Newsletter articles due!

Saturday                             

• Choir will have their final rehearsal the Sunday’s cantata at 9:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Next Sunday will be a special one!  It is the last Sunday of Advent, we will hear from the children’s choir (I can hardly wait!) and the adult choir will present the cantata, “The Gift Goes On”.  The worship service will center around the two performances.  I know none of you will want to miss it!

A separate email has gone out to the Church Council, but just so everyone knows, the Council will be meeting a week from tonight.  We had determined last month that we would not need to meet in December but there is information to share from the Race to Reach Out!  As always, anyone involved in the life of this church is welcome and encouraged to attend the council meetings.

I do intend to publish a January newsletter.  If any of you would like to contribute an article, I must have it by this Friday, December 18^th.

 We should all be so proud of the very successful “Our Passion for Justice” we hosted last Saturday!  It was a wonderful day.  Many people worked long and hard to make the event the success that it was.  As some of you may know, I am secretary of the Vancouver District Administrative Council that sponsors the event and Jerry and I were part of the planning committee for this year’s event.  I can’t thank all of you enough for the way so many stepped up and made the event a great success!

Our Passion for Justice was the second big event of the week here at the church.  Last Thursday was our annual Charge Conference with our District Superintendent.  Mike Graef presided over that meeting.  He is completing his 8^th and final as superintendent of the Vancouver District.  We all owe gratitude to Mike as it he who advocated and succeeded in getting financial support from the Conference Board of Congregational Development so that we could have a full time pastor and be able to grow as we have over the last 7 years.  Thanks to Jay Gregory for putting together and presenting a slide show of pictures of our many activities over the last year.  It was a nice “trip down memory lane”! 

 Here’s what’s happening at Longview UMC in the coming week:

Monday            

• Church Council meets at 7:00 p.m.  Everyone involved in the life of this church is welcome to attend.  All elected and appointed church leaders are expected to attend.

 Tuesday              

• Active Listeners meet in the church library at 10:00 a.m.
•  Quilt & sew group meets in the large class room at church
• “First Light” study at Christensen’s at 7:00 p.m.

 Wednesday       

• “First Light” study at the church at 10:00 am
• Choir practice at the church at 6:30 pm

 Thursday            

• Leadership Team meets at the church at 7:00 p.m.

 Save Saturday Nov. 28^th for  helping to decorate the church for Advent and Christmas!

Monday

• Mission Team meets at the church at 6:00 pm
• Church Council meets at the church at 7:00 pm. This is an important meeting as the 2010 budget will be discussed, along with other business. As always, the elected officers are expected to attend and everyone involved in the church life is welcomed to attend.

Tuesday

• Active Listeners group meets at the church at 10:00 am
• Edith Allen Circle meets at 11:30 am at the Carousel restaurant (formerly Henri’s at 4545 Ocean Beach Hwy.
• The Quilt and Sew group meets at the church at 1:00 pm. All are welcomed.
• “First Light” study will meet at the Christensen’s home at 7:00 pm.

Wednesday

• “First Light” study meets at the church at  10:00 am.
• Choir practice meets at the church at 6:30 pm.

Thursday

• Bazaar planning meeting at the church at  10:30 am.
• “Our Passion for Justice” planning meeting at the church at 7:00 pm.

If you have not heard, Florence Covel passed away late Saturday night.  Please keep her family in your prayers as they make her final arrangements.

Pastor Jerry is away through Wednesday.  He is attending an annual meeting of all Conference clergy with the Bishop.

Monday

• Church Council meets tonight in the fellowship hall at 7:00 pm.  All members of the council are expected to attend.  Anyone involved and interested in the life of this congregation is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting.

Tuesday

• Active Listeners will meet in the library at 10:00 am.
• The quilt and sew group will meet in the fellowship hall at 1:00 pm.  Bring your project and stitch with us or just come to visit.

Wednesday

• Choir will be in the sanctuary at 6:30 pm.  New choir members are welcome.  New praise team members are also welcome.

Next Sunday

• Evening campfire service at 5:30.  Behind the church.

Monday

• Mission Team will meet at the church at 6:00 pm.  Anyone interested in the mission outreach of our church is welcomed to attend.
• Church Council will meet at the church at 7:00 pm.  Those holding leadership positions in the church are expected to attend – all who are interested in the life of the congregation are welcome to attend. 

Tuesday

• Quilt and Sew group meets in the fellowship hall at 1:00 pm.  Everyone is welcomed to join in.  Bring your project to work on while we visit.
• Disciple Bible study will not meet to night but instead will meet on Thursday.

Wednesday

• Disciple Bible study will meet in Pastor Jerry’s office at 10:00 am.
• Choir practice will meet in the sanctuary at 6:30 pm.

Thursday

• Women’s book group will meet at Barb and Niis’s home at 7:00 p m.  We will be discussing “The Healing Quilt”.  Next month the book is “Blink”.
• Disciple Bible will meet this week only, at Pastor Jerry’s home at 6:30 pm.

Saturday

• UMW district officer’s training is at Vancouver 1st UMC.  Meet at the church at 8:30 am to carpool.
• Medieval feast will be in the fellowship hall beginning at 5:30 pm.  If you haven’t yet purchased your tickets, call the church office to reserve your ticket.  Price is $12.50 per person.  Profits will go to fund our Christian Education program.

Sunday

• This is the last Sunday of the month and is our monthly potluck lunch.

Newsletter articles are due tomorrow.  Please email anything you would like to share in the newsletter to the church office.