San Saba First United Methodist Church August 2013 Newsletter San Saba First United Methodist Church 204 W. Brown 325-372-3120 www.sansabafirstumc.com Rev. Dan Harrington, Pastor We bid you welcome In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray with us, Sing with us, rejoice with us Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Ministers: Entire Congregation Worship Leader: Tracey Thomas Accompanist: Nettie Oma Carpenter Choir Director: Tracey Thomas Church Secretary: Karen Alexsnder Custodian: Mario Mendiola From the Pastor’s Desk…….. .Godly Play Workshop On July 25th, 26th, and 27th 2013, I had the wonderful blessing of at- tending a Godly Play Core training at St. Martins Lutheran Church in Austin. Godly play is the creation of the Rev. Dr. Jerome W Berryman and his late wife, Thea. It has been his work for over 40 years. "The goal of Godly Play is for children to move through the spiral curriculum during early, middle and late childhood in such a way that they will enter adolescence with an inner working model of the classic Christian lan- guage system to route them deeply in the tradition and at the same time allowing them to be open to the future." (Teaching godly play, Berryman, 2009. Page. 21) Godly Play informs our gathering in the following ways: Getting ready We recognize that we need to prepare, to slow down, open our hearts and anticipate that of God in each other and in our coming together. We check ourselves to see if we are ready. Crossing the threshold We choose to leave one space and enter another, bringing our whole selves to the circle and choosing to be present as fully as possible. We come with our doubts, fears, and failings as well as our convictions, joys and successes, our listening as well as our speaking. Building the circle We extend and receive welcome. We do best in hospitable places. In this circle we support each others learning by giving and receiving hospi- tality. We take our place and make room for all to take their place. Telling and Listening to the Stories We need and use story to listen to our own story. We use an economy of words and an economy of gestures so that we provide uncluttered and open access to the story. Wondering We invite dialogue with open, honest questions. No fixing, saving, advis- ing, or correcting each other. When there are differences and we feel judgemental or defensive we turn to wonder. "I wonder what brought them to this belief – I wonder how they are feeling now? I wonder what my reaction teaches me about myself?" We strive to put aside judgment to listen to others and to ourselves more deeply. 1
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San Saba
First United Methodist Church
August 2013 Newsletter
San Saba
First United Methodist Church
204 W. Brown
325-372-3120 www.sansabafirstumc.com
Rev. Dan Harrington, Pastor
We bid you welcome
In the name of
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray with us,
Sing with us, rejoice
with us
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship 10:00 a.m.
Ministers: Entire Congregation
Worship Leader: Tracey Thomas
Accompanist: Nettie Oma Carpenter
Choir Director: Tracey Thomas
Church Secretary: Karen Alexsnder
Custodian: Mario Mendiola
From the Pastor’s Desk…….. .Godly Play Workshop
On July 25th, 26th, and 27th 2013, I had the wonderful blessing of at-
tending a Godly Play Core training at St. Martins Lutheran Church in
Austin. Godly play is the creation of the Rev. Dr. Jerome W Berryman
and his late wife, Thea. It has been his work for over 40 years. "The
goal of Godly Play is for children to move through the spiral curriculum
during early, middle and late childhood in such a way that they will enter
adolescence with an inner working model of the classic Christian lan-
guage system to route them deeply in the tradition and at the same time
allowing them to be open to the future." (Teaching godly play, Berryman,
2009. Page. 21)
Godly Play informs our gathering in the following ways:
Getting ready
We recognize that we need to prepare, to slow down, open our hearts
and anticipate that of God in each other and in our coming together. We
check ourselves to see if we are ready.
Crossing the threshold
We choose to leave one space and enter another, bringing our whole
selves to the circle and choosing to be present as fully as possible. We
come with our doubts, fears, and failings as well as our convictions, joys
and successes, our listening as well as our speaking.
Building the circle
We extend and receive welcome. We do best in hospitable places. In
this circle we support each others learning by giving and receiving hospi-
tality. We take our place and make room for all to take their place.
Telling and Listening to the Stories
We need and use story to listen to our own story. We use an economy of
words and an economy of gestures so that we provide uncluttered and
open access to the story.
Wondering
We invite dialogue with open, honest questions. No fixing, saving, advis-
ing, or correcting each other. When there are differences and we feel
judgemental or defensive we turn to wonder. "I wonder what brought
them to this belief – I wonder how they are feeling now? I wonder what
my reaction teaches me about myself?" We strive to put aside judgment
to listen to others and to ourselves more deeply. 1
2
Church Council Changes Policy
After much discussion and with the best interests of the Church in mind, at its March meet-ing the Church Council voted to cancel the policy of lending church equipment, especially tables and chairs to either members or non-members. This action was reviewed and af-firmed by the Council at its July meeting. The use of tables and chairs will be limited to church activities on church property. Exceptions to this policy may be granted on a case by case basis by the Board of Trustees and the Pastor allowing the use of the church’s long tables and metal chairs by community groups such as the EMS or the Band Boosters when they use our backyard for an event such as the steak supper. Following approval of an exception to the stated policy by the Board of Trustees and the Pastor, the community group shall make proper arrangements in the office including signing a Request Form and placing the event on the church calendar. The upholstered chairs are not to be removed from the church building under any circumstances. The use of the round tables shall be limited to church ac-tivities on church property or person or groups paying a fee to use the church building for an event such as a wedding. In the case of a church activity not on church property-such as the sunrise service at Easter-the pastor and the chairperson of the Board of Trustees may approve an exception to the policy.
Living Thanks
“Thank you!” I eluded, after receiving a hefty bag of home-
grown tomatoes. I set the produce on the kitchen floor. I would
attend to it shortly. But I got distracted—for days.
Finally I lifted the bag to make use of the gift, and the bottom
fell out. Many of the tomatoes had become squishy, their juices
soaking the paper beneath them. Instead of making good use of
the generous gift, I was left cleaning up rotten tomatoes and
throwing many of the veggies away.
We do the same with God’s gifts. “I’ll practice piano tomor-
row...next week….next week….next month…”until soon we don’t
remember how to play at all. We pass up chances to visit
someone dear and, when she moves away, we regret squander-
ing the friendship. We opt to sleep in instead of attending wor-
ship, unaware of what gifts of God’s Word
and Christian fellowship we’ll miss.
Next time I receive something from God
—or anyone else—may the Spirit help me
not just given thanks but live thanks by us-
ing and enjoying the gift! Heidi Mann.
Newest Church Family
Members
Grant & Christi Mays
Libby, Noah, Emily
Grasshopper the Dog
Prayer
Concerns
Charles Belk
Suzanne Walters
Raymond Barrier
Peter Hald
Charles Simmon
Gene Hinyard
Ronnie Schmidt
Lylah (Stephanie and Chase’s
daughter)
Stan Burnham
Johnnie Golden (Tracey’s friend)
Stephanie Conner (Nettie Oma’s
fam.)
Bettye McLaughlin
Elsie Millican
Edgar Gaddison
Mark Owens (safety)
Katie Andreas (in hospital, continu-
ing prayer)
Joe Mack Tilson
Ray Forrester (Grace Hollis’ Hus-
band)
Jeannette & Jeff Toole &Family
Layton Sanford
James and Pat Reavis
Gordan Hall (prostate cancer)
Kathren Wolfe (Martha Schanhals)
Mrs. McDowell (Mike’s Mom)
Margaret Ann Seiders (Celia Bell’s
Mom)
Landon Yarbrough
Pete Hemenway (friends of Trish
Warren)
Mitchell, Johna, Madison and Mat-
thew Moss
Our City, Our Nation, Our
Church Please Pray for Our Troops, All Our Military Men and
Women
3 3
Continued from page 1………………..
Prayers and Feast
We take time to express what is most deeply true and important
(prayer). We recognize that feasting is who we are with
(relationships) – not what or how much we get (product).
Blessing
We both give and receive blessing. We genuinely see each other.
We look for and call out the best in each other and affirm who
each person most authentically is. We each are called to have the
courage to be who we most authentically and uniquely are.
Goodbye
We have all the time we need. We believe that it is possible to
leave the circle with whatever it is that we needed when we joined
the circle and that what we receive will continue to grow in the
days ahead.
In the next few weeks I (Pastor Dan) will be sharing more of this with you as we build our Godly Play Classroom. We will need a creative and talented team to put this together. please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry. For more information please email or call Pastor Dan 512-777-9678 [email protected]