From the Pastor’s Desk …
To the Gracious and Loving
On behalf of my wife, Jeanne, our children, Esther and Tim,
and myself, I want to sincerely thank all of you for the numerous ways you have
welcomed us into your lovely Church and community. From the moment we arrived
to the scent of fresh paint and cleaning fluid and the refrigerator filled with
food, we knew that the people of Round
Valley Church (and Changewater as well) were special, extending your
gracious hospitality to us after sacrificing many hours fixing and cleaning the parsonage from the front porch to the kitchen floor. We thank God
and thank each of you for receiving us to be part of your ministry here. You
are blessing to us, and we pray that we may bless your lives.
Summer means all kinds of wonderful things:
flowers and bugs, leisure and fun, cookouts, trips to the mountainside or shore
(I know we are already at the shore, so I mean the “beach”), plays in the park,
and best of all, vacation. It's time for us to lighten up both our clothing and
work schedules. After a long year of school and work, we all need some rest and
recreation. True recreation means to "RECREATE.” It is actually a very
holy and spiritual experience.
We take "time off" to rest, to be
"recreated." Some of us will go off to a busy street in a foreign
land and some to a quiet place locally. Others may stay where they are.
Wherever we might be, let’s try to be renewed both physically and spiritually
during this time of recreation. So we go on summer vacation with Jesus, never
from Jesus. To help us have a marvelous
Christian recreation this summer here are a
few spiritual suggestions:
- Enjoy some "holy” and “fun” things.
Allow your contemplative side to flower (watch a sailboat glide; listen to the
birds sing; make a sand castle; have close-up looks at nature).
- Deepen your devotional life (relish the
"Word of Life" in Holy Scripture; plunge into private prayer).
- Faithfully attend church either here at
home or elsewhere when you are away (and I MEAN IT!).
-
Remember the needy (invite a lonely neighbor over for a barbecue; help
sponsor an inner city youngster for summer camp, etc.).
- And don’t forget to include useful and spiritual books in your reading lists.
My recent reading from Hans Kung, one of the major Christian theologians of the 20th century, gave an important insight why and how I be a “committed” Christian. Kung says, “because I believe in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who is alive today, who is the Spirit of God himself who is the Holy Spirit. This living Spirit enables me and countless others to be truly human: not only to act in a truly human way, but also to suffer; not only to live, but also to die-because in everything, both positive and negative, in all happiness and unhappiness… (Why I am Still a Christian, Abingdon, 1987)
Yes, this living Spirit also works both during “regular” seasons as well as “off” seasons. This summer months can be a golden time for this spiritual experience. Wherever you go, please take this Spirit of Jesus with you.
God bless you even in your “RECREATION”!
Pastor
Paek
The Endless Summer– a note from the
editor
Many of you might remember the movie, The Endless Summer, a
tale of a couple of surfers who travel the world chasing the perfect wave. I only wish my life could be as romantic – my
endless summer is more like a just a lot of hot and humid days. By August we grow rather tired of the heat
and our gardens are no longer blooming with the abundance of spring and early
summer. The days are starting to grow
shorter and soon the kids will return to school and it will be time for the
annual celebration in
In spite of the heat, it has been a summer filled with wonderful music. From the Marching Bands on the Fourth of July, to Jennie and Tim Paek filling our church with amazing music to the Plymouth Fife and Drum corp – we have shared this music along with the fellowship of RVUMC.
I look forward to the cooler fall nights, football and the events that have become a tradition for our church. This year I would like to start a new tradition – Pork and Pies! The idea is simple, a savory Pork roast dinner with home made pies. I’ll be starting a sign up sheet in August and select a date in October for our dinner. Whether you dine or volunteer to help serve or cook, it’s bound to be a great event.
Deb
Don’t Forget – Mark Your Calendars!
Volunteer at
Norwescap Food bank in September – Saturday (date to be confirmed) – Youth welcome! Contact Deb Rosene for information.
September 11th
– 7a – 2p
Remember –
as you clean out your basement, attic, etc. – bring your gently used toys,
books, household items, small furniture items, clothes, etc. for the church to
sell.
Please keep
items at your home until the week of the sale.
We will mark the pews to organize merchandise. If possible, price and tag items before
bringing to chruch – this will be a tremendous help!!
We will also
have a food stand in front of the chruch selling hot dogs, soda, BBQ, and baked
goods.
Help is
needed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday – more information to follow. Contact
Have an
event you would like to include in the newsletter? Please provide information to Deb. Deadline for next newsletter is August 29th.
More Events!!
Youth Ice Cream
Social – Friday August 27 7-8:30p All children and youths are
invited to attend with their families
Sunday school
kick-off – Sunday September 12th
Installation Service
for Rev Andrew Paek followed by a pot-luck luncheon in Fellowship Hall. We will be joined by our sister churches
Changewater and High Bridge UMC
News from Staff Parish
RVUMC hosted the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps the first four days of August. The group is made up of 45-50 students ranging in age from 12 -18. They dress in Revolutionary war uniforms exactly the same as George Washington’s Life Guard which was the Secret Service of the time. Their music is performed with 10-holed wooden fifes, rope tensioned snare and base drums while additional members carry replica swords and muskets.
As a thank you to our church for providing lodging for three
nights, the group put on a performance at the
Supporting the students is a dedicated group of 10-15 parents who provide the organization needed to keep the corps on track and on schedule. Organizing a group of this size is similar to a small army and witnessing the precision involved in the simplest activities was quite amazing. Every detail was considered and every action was planned.
The Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps have been together over 25 years. They have a Facebook page and additional information is available on various internet sites via Google.
Youth Happenings Sandy
Dabb attended
Our mission here at
What a wonderful way to recreate. Four of
our youth attended.
Celebrations
8/11 Lorena and Tayllor Cuningham
8/18 Emma Patuto
8/19 Alice Mae Brokaw
8/22 Jennifer Patuto
8/23 Leona Burton