Greetings!

How is it with your soul? These are the words John Wesley used in class meetings for all who would gather. Is it well with your soul? I find for myself; it takes intentionality to care for one’s soul. Spending time in the presence of the Lord is the best medicine, the Word, prayer, worship, studying, meditation, acts of kindness, and serving God.  
Life in general calls for balance. It’s not good to be overburdened, and we certainly have plenty of things that could overburden us if we allow it. Summer is a time of slowing down, vacations, and time with our families. The kids are out of school, and we live out of a whole different rhythm.
Our spiritual life needs to be in balance by doing all the things that nurture us in our relationship with the Lord. I gave you a few suggestions I use, but you may have some things that nurture your spirit, not on the list, like hiking and spending time in God’s beautiful creation. Maybe your garden and seeing how God brings flowers and vegetables out of tiny seeds are an amazing way to experience God. We can read of this cultivating activity throughout the scriptures. Sunday worship is a means of connection with God and with one another. If we allow ourselves to get into a summer slump or out of this rhythm, we can find ourselves out of balance spiritually.
Our physical life, again hiking, is great or some activity of movement benefits our bodies. Food that is healthy and beneficial and keeps our engines running is good. We need to expend energy to get energy and so whatever floats your boat in this area helps keep you in balance.
Our emotional life needs to be in balance, as well. How are you caring for yourself in growing in your understanding of how you see things, hear things, and react to things? Are you self-aware of when you are tense in your neck, your shoulders, your stomach, your chest, and anywhere else you tend to hold tension? What is causing this? I try to meet with a spiritual director once a month. This relationship has turned out to be one of my staples in working towards balance. The questions she can glean from my ramblings is amazing! She helps me see God in it all.
We have many tools available to us to help us balance our lives. You see, we need godly wisdom from those God places around us to help us. Otherwise, we will get caught up in the web the Adversary would like to wrap around us and steal our joy, our emotions, our physical health, and our spiritual foundations which in turn steals from our relationships—God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), our families, our church families, our friends, and the many other relationships. Don’t allow him to prowl around stealing who you are and the life God desires for you. Press into the One who can carry your cares, help you live a disciplined life, and nurture your mind, body, and spirit. Align yourself in a way that takes care of all of you spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
A great tool is the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). Put it on every day! Join us for a time of digging into what this really means on the first Tuesday of each month (see newsletter article).
I'm looking forward to shining up my armor and making sure everything is just where it needs to be. How about you!
 

Chair of Council:  Steve Showers

Nurture, Evangelism:  Genia Ortiz

Adult Discipleship:  Sal Ortiz
Nominations:  Pastor Terry (Chair), Ruth Ann Rector, Helen Kenney, Maureen Dunford, Sal Ortiz, Dawn Bueno
Trustees:  Loyd Dunford, Steve Showers, Mary Potter, Lou Ann Bennett, Stuart Showers, Zachery Bueno
Parsonage Trustees:  Loyd Dunford (Chair), Steve Showers (Co-Chair), Zachery Bueno
Finance:  Chair Vacancy, Pastor Terry, Sal Ortiz, Dawn Bueno, Steve Showers, Loyd Dunford

SPRC:  Bonnie Schmidt (Chair), Brook Middleton, Edith Middleton, John Fedorchak
Finance Chair:  Debbie Jo Foster

Finance:  Chair Vacancy, Pastor Terry, Edith Middleton, John Fedorchak, Bonnie Schmidt, Brook Middleton, Nancy Sickel
Council Secretary:  Theresa Malinsky

To Everything There Is A Season

If you ask most Christians what is the busiest time of the year, most would say the Season of Advent followed by the Season of Lent. The rest of the year to most people is about enjoying life. Summer which will be upon us before we know it, is about going to the beach, fishing, swimming, hiking, picnics, barbecue parties, working in the garden, and yard work.

I was preparing the music last week for my jail ministry when I came across one of my favorite songs Turn! Turn! Turn by The Byrds. I am sure that most of you know that the lyrics for this song came from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. The NIV version titles it,” A Time for Everything “. Verse 1 states, “ There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

This June for me, is all about Annual Conference in Roanoke. It is from June 20th through the 22nd. I am excited to be the delegate from the Linden / Markham / Marshall Cooperative Parish. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to see our Pastor Terry Hendricks be ordained.

As you all are aware of, our cooperative parish will be collecting Kits for Conference. The kits needed will be Cleaning Kits, Hygiene Kits, and School Kits. I think it is awesome that our conference collects these kits for those who are unfortunate to be involved in disasters. One of the keys to effective recovery is to be ready at all times for a quick response.  If we are going to be the hands and feet of Christ, we must be ready at all times. You can go to the website vaumc.org. Click on annual conference. Then click on kits for conference.

The big picture of course is that each of us must be ready for the return of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 tells us, “ for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Matthew 24:44 states,” so you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

I pray you all enjoy this time of year. Warm weather, radiant sunlight, and spending time with family and friends excites me. Just don’t forget about God. He does so much for us and loves us unconditionally. Being the hands and feet of Christ is not a seasonal event. It is a lifetime commitment with huge rewards.

The Markham Church directories are now available in the back of the Markham Church.  We thank Tom Falkowski for sharing his artistic talent and taking the wonderful photos for us. 

Congregational Care
We have started the process of creating a Congregational Care team.  This would include prayer, visitations, writing notes, and sometimes just sitting and listening to someone.  More information will be available in the near future.   Please be prayerfully thinking if this is something you would like to be involved with.  

 

There are so many exciting opportunities to learn, study and become connected.  Please consider joining one (or more) of the studies listed below:

Traditional Bible/groups studies:
 
Women’s Bible Study: TBD

Adult Sunday School: Galatians

Children’s Church: All Together Now (during Sunday morning 11:00 a.m. service)
 
Methodist studies - coming soon:
 
A Disciple’s Path, James A. Harnish (July 10 – Aug 21).  Studies will be held at Linden (2 pm); Marshall (6:30-8:00).  Sign up by 6/23.  A 7-week study, led by Pastor Terry focusing on discipleship within the context of the UM heritage and tradition.  Following this study, you will deepen your personal relationship with Christ and within the Church. 

A Disciple’s Heart, James A Harnish (September 11 – Oct 23).  Studies will be held at Marshall in the evenings only (6:30-8:00) and will be facilitated by Mike Taylor and Cheryl Kowalczyk.

If you have a topic of study you'd like to explore further, please see either Mike Taylor or Cheryl Kowalczyk to see how we can get it on the study calendar.  Also, if you feel led to 'teach' disciples, please let us know -- we would love to provide you with an opportunity to share your talent.

One of our congregation’s goals for 2019 is to support our preschool families by providing financial assistance as needed.
Last summer, our planning team had a stated goal to raise at least $3,600 this school year to support two students who had already been identified.  We developed a written application and guidelines for awarding assistance.  The Preschool Board will review the applications and allocate contributions to families who may need tuition assistance for one month, several months or the entire school year. 
We’ve received many generous contributions but we do need help to make this a reality!  If you’re able to assist, please notate “MUMPS tuition contribution” on your checks made payable to MUMC.
Questions may be directed to Donna Thomas, Preschool Director (marshallmumps@verizon.net)  or Wendy Emery (wendyemery@verizon.net).  As always, your generosity is appreciated. 

Travel to Berkeley Springs, WV and enjoy lunch at Tari’s Café Inn.  We will leave church at 10:30am.