Flannery O’Connor once said, “A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is. You tell a story because a statement would be inad- equate. When anybody asks what a story is about, the only proper thing is to tell them to read the story.” Flannery O’Connor was speaking Jesus’ language: mainly speaking about the importance of stories. Jesus taught and spoke in stories as a way to teach, illustrate, and describe the good news of the Kingdom of God. We are familiar with many of Jesus’ stories: the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Sheep and the Goats, the Persistent Widow, the Laborers in the Vineyard, etc.. Depending on which scholar you consult, the synop- c gospels (Mahew, Mark, and Luke) contain between thirty and forty sto- ries Jesus told. The author of Mark states in Mark 3.33-34, “With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fing the stories to their experiences and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorng out the tangles, untying the knots” (The Message). In each of these provocave stories, Jesus invites readers to imagine and engage in the story. Jesus invites readers to find an oſten unexpected in- terpretaon within each one. Different meanings emerge for each listener depending on where an individual finds themselves in the story. As O’Connor suggested, that meaning is ed up in each word in the story Jesus shared. Beginning Sunday, September 15, we will begin a new sermon series, “Short Stories With Jesus.” We will be exploring some of Jesus’ stories by placing them within their own cul- tural context, and then re-imagining them for our own modern context. We will aempt to sort out the tan- gles, and une the knots. So grab your coffee, and sele in for story me. Blessings, Amy Beth From Pastor Amy Beth September 2019 [email protected]When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorng out the tangles, untying the knots” (The Message).
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September 2019€¦ · gluten free. We also appreciate “no bake” contributions if you would like to give a financial donation! Questions? ontact Lynn Polstra at [email protected]
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Transcript
Flannery O’Connor once said, “A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is. You tell a story because a statement would be inad-equate. When anybody asks what a story is about, the only proper thing is to tell them to read the story.”
Flannery O’Connor was speaking Jesus’ language: mainly speaking about the importance of stories. Jesus taught and spoke in stories as a way to teach, illustrate, and describe the good news of the Kingdom of God. We are familiar with many of Jesus’ stories: the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Sheep and the Goats, the Persistent Widow, the Laborers in the Vineyard, etc.. Depending on which scholar you consult, the synop-tic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain between thirty and forty sto-ries Jesus told. The author of Mark states in Mark 3.33-34, “With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experiences and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots” (The Message).
In each of these provocative stories, Jesus invites readers to imagine and engage in the story. Jesus invites readers to find an often unexpected in-terpretation within each one. Different meanings emerge for each listener depending on where an individual finds themselves in the story. As O’Connor suggested, that
meaning is tied up in each word in the story Jesus shared.
Beginning Sunday, September 15, we will begin a new sermon series, “Short Stories With Jesus.” We will be exploring some of Jesus’ stories by placing them within their own cul-tural context, and then re-imagining them for our own modern context. We will attempt to sort out the tan-gles, and untie the knots. So grab your coffee, and settle in for story time.
A friendly, welcoming smile and perhaps a warm cup of coffee or a pastry is some-thing commonly seen at many churches as you first enter the doors. These are the first interactions a guest may have before they find their way into the sanctu-ary. At Heritage, I would say this can be found upon en-tering the narthex as well. Is this the extent of hospitality and is this all that it entails? Is it just about pleasing guests and hoping to in-crease membership rolls? To be authentic and mean-ingful, it must be about more.
Throughout the history of the church, welcoming peo-ple prior to a worship ser-vice is just one part of what being hospitable meant. Hospitality encompassed the physical, social, and spiritual realms as well. It was an essential part of everyday life for Christians because it was a vital way of connecting to another person. It was a way to re-flect God’s gracious wel-come. This is seen in the actions of Jesus throughout his ministry. In the Gospels, Jesus tended to strangers, sinners, poor, wealthy, be-
lievers, and nonbeliev-ers alike. It was Jesus’ presence and offer of the Kingdom that made the difference.
Christine Pohl, author of the book Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, states in her book, “The contemporary church hungers for models of a more authentic Chris-tian life in which glimps-es of the Kingdom can be seen and the Promise of the Kingdom is em-bodied.” It is about see-ing Jesus in every per-son. When we begin to see Christ in each per-son who walks through the doors of Heritage, our perception changes. As John Wesley be-lieved, the love of neigh-bor meant “universal benevolence” because every soul was made by God.
When we connect hos-pitality to its divine con-nections, we begin to connect on a physical, spiritual, and social ba-sis. This enables us to be authentic disciples who
see each person as val-uable and loved chil-dren of God. We will continue to strengthen our connection with one another and our community by building deeper relationships. Over the next few months, one of my roles as Associate Pas-tor will be to focus on hospitality at Heritage. I will be implementing a team focused on building upon what we currently do and devel-oping new ways we can connect in body, mind, and spirit. May we be open to the ways God is leading us and transforming us.
Linda Tower Pevey leads readers in a seven-week study of the book of Acts, taking a close look at the early church. The people mentioned in Acts were the first followers of Christ, and their story was the beginning of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church as we know it. How did these early churches get it right, and where did they stumble? What can we learn from their experiences of bringing the gospel into the world that might help us be better disciples in our world today? Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., beginning September 18, in room 206. Class will be led by Rev. Amy Beth Coleman. Please let the church office know if you are planning to attend.
Please wear a stick-on name tag!
We would appreciate everyone taking a moment, each Sunday, to fill out a name tag and put it on. Let us practice hospitality by making everyone feel welcome! Name tags are located in the Welcome Center, Narthex, entrance to the Education Wing, and Sunday School rooms. If you don’t have your picture on our Instant Church Directory app - please send it to [email protected]!
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Disciple Fast Track - Old Testament. 12 week study
DISCIPLE is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing strong Chris-tian leaders. The study gives the Old and New Testaments equal time, emphasiz-ing the wholeness of the Bible as a revelation of God. DISCIPLE draws upon the work of scholars, the personal Bible reading and study of the participant, and dy-namic group discussion to aid understanding of the Bible. Mondays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., beginning September 9, in room 206. Class will be led by Rev. Bob Michalides. Please let the church office know if you are planning to attend.
Pre-priced items in air-tight wrapping can be dropped off at the Disci-ple Center on the Friday before or early morning day of the sale. Please indicate if your contribu-tion contains nuts or is
The U.M.W. will be spon-soring a Bake Sale for Mis-sions during the HUMC yard sale on October 5. We are asking for your dona-tions of baked goods and treats.
gluten free. We also appreciate “no bake” contributions if you would like to give a financial donation!
Acolytes are for those who are in the 5th-8th grades and Cruci-fers are for those who are in 9th-12th grades! If you have any questions, please call Don-na Brown 841-4418!
There will be a training session for new Acolytes and Crucifers at 10:00 a.m. on September 8 in the sanctuary.
Serving as an Acolyte bringing in the light of Christ’s spirit or as a Crucifer bringing in the cross for the 11:00 Worship service is demonstrating your
Plan to attend Sunday, September 15 at 8:00 a.m. when HUMC will host a meal packaging event in partnership with Rise Against Hunger. The event is open to all ages and the community-at-large and will take place in HUMC’s Disciple Center be-ginning at 8 a.m. until completion (approximately noon) so that everyone can participate at times convenient to their other activities. Each meal’s contents are provided in part-nership with Kraft Heinz and incorporated into 21 different recipes to offer variety and supply a day’s worth of nutrition. The 10,000 meals we package will likely be sent to Haiti where other relief efforts in-clude establishing schools and training
programs, irrigation systems, and most recently a shipment of solar panels and medical aid funded by partners in central Virginia in sup-port of a Haitian hospital. The result of unified partnerships is communi-ties united in a common goal that fosters hope and sustainable devel-opment. From a child’s perspective, their thoughts are no longer centered on where their next meal might come from; but are instead inspired to pursue becoming pilots, teachers, nurses, and leaders like the heroes they witness in their own villages. Read their stories at riseagainsthun-ger.org.
Music Happenings
Rise Against Hunger
Orchestra Schedule: September 29!
Many Thanks for the love, prayers, cards, visits, calls and flowers during my recent recovery. The Heritage Family is a real blessing.
Sandra Matthes,
Minister of Music
Choir Rehearsals begin
September 5!
Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
in the Choir Room.
Handbells begin September 12!
Rehearsals are Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. [email protected]
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It is gleaning time!! Everyone is invited to go apple gleaning on Saturday, September 21. We will gather the apples from the orchard beginning at 9:00 a.m. and finishing by noon. All groups, individuals and families are welcome! Please bring any personal items you may need such as suntan lotion, gloves, etc. Also wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Please park across the road from the market, gather at the market near the picnic tables, and we will go to the orchard together. The address is: J. Gross and Sons,
6817 Wheats Valley Road, Bedford, VA Contact Sarah Ramey at [email protected] with any
Bring your donated items to the Disciple Center beginning Saturday Sept 28 (no earlier!). Please place the items in the appropriate ar-ea/table. Please have all items on site by 7:00 p.m. the following Fri-day, in order to be sorted and priced in time for the sale.
Suggested items include: Men’s/Women’s/Children’s Clothing and Shoes, Toys, Books, Appliances, Linens, Dishes, Holiday Items, Furni-ture, Tools, Guy Stuff, Etc.
Do not bring: T.Vs with tubes or desktop computers
Clothing should be clean (not musty) and in good repair. Placement on hangers is highly encouraged. Spare hangers are welcome.
If you need donated items picked up, please call the church office.
If you can pick up donated items, please let the church office know.
Please donate a few hours of your time to help during the week. This spreads the work, lets more people become involved, and helps ensure the success of the sale:
Organizers – Any Time Saturday Sept. 28 - Friday October 4.
Individuals to sort and arrange sale items, fold or hang clothes, unload cars, etc. Mission team members will be there to help!
Sales Assistants – Saturday Oct. 5 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Friendly peo-ple to assist customers with picking, packing, and loading purchases.
Takedown/Cleanup – Saturday Oct. 5 after 2:00 p.m.. Dedicated people and those individuals with pickups, vans, or station wagons are espe-cially needed. We must take down in a few hours what it took an entire week to set up! We send unsold items of value to local charities, gather and dispose of trash, fold tables and chairs, put away clothing racks, and sweep up.
Please tell your neighbors, friends, co-workers, family, and person next to you in line..!
Please pick up a flyer in the narthex and put it up at your grocery store, ice cream shop, hardware store , etc...!
29 Mission Yard Sale Scavenger Hunt and Sorting 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 28
This is a free event hosted by Heritage United Methodist Church. Why? At Heritage United Methodist Church we believe in supporting and encouraging families. We hope this evening will encourage and support you as par-ents and give your children a great place to have fun. Children will be fed dinner starting at 5:00 p.m. and will enjoy an evening of games, story time, crafts, a short movie, and fun. Infant through 2 year olds will be in the nursery. Registration will be open soon! Contact Jenna Bush with any questions. Partners in ministry - We are growing! Participation in the Parents Night Out has increased at each event. Additional volunteers are needed. If you would like to help during the Parents Night Out, please contact Jenna Bush.
Partnership in Education with Heritage High School
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Thank you to all who donated school supplies for our partnership with Heritage High School. The teachers and staff were very appreciative. Thanks to your generosity we donated: 5950 sheets of notebook paper
51 spiral notebooks
40 ring binders
27 packages of dividers
964 pens
412 pencils
41 bottles of hand sanitizer
62 boxes of tissues
And an assortment of other supplies, such as rulers and pencil sharpeners
Several individuals also helped with a request from the school nurse for athletic socks, deodorant, and peppermints.
In November and December, we will be collecting warm hats, gloves, and scarves and in March and April we will collect breakfast items for SOL test days. Thank you again for serving our community. For more information about how you can help, contact Kathy Spradlin at [email protected] or 444-3055.
September is our annual food drive sponsored by the Mission Team. We will be col-
lecting food for area food pantries, including Churches for Urban Ministry and
Parkview Mission.
We are asking that each family or each small group within the church try to fill a
Food Lion grocery bag with the most-needed items. A list of these items is stapled
to each bag, and the bags are available in the narthex. Please get a bag as you leave
church and return the filled bag by the last Sunday in September. We hope that
each family here at Heritage will have a part in this special service project.
This has been a very successful program, filling well over 100 bags each of the last
several years. What an opportunity to respond to those in need!
Tuesday, September 10 6:30 p.m. Trustees Meeting - 206
Monday, September 16 7:00 p.m. Mission Outreach Team - Room 206
Tuesday, September 17 6:30 p.m. Finance Committee - Room 206
Monday, September 23 7:00 p.m. Preschool Ministry Team - Room 206
Tuesday, September 24 6:30 p.m. Church Council - Room 206
Thursday, September 26 6:00 p.m. Lay Leadership/Nominations - Room 206
Iva Scott 01-Sep
Glenn Tyree 02-Sep
Alice Fordham 02-Sep
Cathy Maggi 03-Sep
Michelle White 06-Sep
Cortland Coghill 08-Sep
Sonny Foster 08-Sep
Don Ogle 08-Sep
Frances Swart 10-Sep
Jackie Fitzgerald 10-Sep
Mike Friend 10-Sep
Ginna Hartsell 10-Sep
Sandra Alden 12-Sep
Richard Meyer 14-Sep
Jeff Brown 14-Sep
Jay Coulson III 14-Sep
Kell Mason 14-Sep
Lisa Lee 14-Sep
Haley Meade 16-Sep
Ginny Markham 17-Sep
Jason Hardie 17-Sep
Kristen Hardie 19-Sep
Anne Drewry 19-Sep
Beverly Wiley 20-Sep
Paul Baker 21-Sep
Amanda Wolfe 21-Sep
Robert Dixon 23-Sep
Jacqueline Greene 23-Sep
Beth Fowler 23-Sep
Jaden Trent 23-Sep
Jacob Lee 24-Sep
Joyce Markwood 26-Sep
Florida Davis 26-Sep
Bryan Penalva 26-Sep
Colin Mason 26-Sep
Daniel Newman 29-Sep
Schyler Higgins 29-Sep
Zach Higgins 29-Sep
Logan Machut 29-Sep
Kimberly Quarles 30-Sep
Luke Aukland 30-Sep
George & Linda McConnell 02-Sep
Ralph & Mary Sisk Jr. 06-Sep
Kent & Michelle White 07-Sep
Mac & Ashley Machut 10-Sep
Russell & Lucy Breeden 12-Sep
Glenn & Cam Gumpman 13-Sep
Kendall & Jenna Foster 13-Sep
Lee & Kathy Spradlin 15-Sep
Jeff & Karen Brown 19-Sep
Barry & Susan Brooks 20-Sep
Robert & Cathy Maggi 25-Sep
Amy Beth & Greg Coleman 26-Sep
Laura & Ricky Read 26-Sep
CHURCH PRAYER LIST
Members: Peggy Brewer, William and Lois Brown, Harriet Carey, Margaret Crews, Mildred Dawson, Dorothy Etheridge, Rosemary Hicks, E.T. and Shelby Hunt, Yvonne Malcolm, Joyce Markwood, Pat Neth, Sue Pacot, Pat Rorrer, Naomi Scarboro, Don & Angela Smith, Frances Swart, Peggy & Jimmy Thompson, Heidi Tollar, Carol Willard, Shirley Wooldridge.
Missionaries: Betsy Jack, Red Bird Mission Philip and Becca, Pioneers
Military: Claude Dixon
Prayers of the People We want to pray for you and your concerns!
We have a time of prayer on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 in the Welcome Center; all are invit-ed.
We will also begin to share prayer requests (unless you ask us not to) with a Heritage email prayer group.
If you would like to be part of this prayer group or would like us to pray for you, please let us know!
You can do so by completing a pray-er card, which can be found in the church pew rack, send an email to
We are also going to be praying for several families each week. The names are selected on an one year rotation basis and will be included with our prayer list in the weekly bulletin.
Text “givehumc” to 77977 Click on the link to give from your smart phone!
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Thank
You!
Budget requests for the 2020 church budget will be sent out soon. Thank you in advance for your assistance with completing all budget requests in a timely manner!
General Fund Receipts- 2019: $376,780
Transfer from the Foundation $22,773
Disbursements
Administration-Office $9,594
Annual Conference $1,058
Apportionments $61,108
Church Staff $213,675
Communications $1,307
Congregational Care $760
Education $1,633
Financial $5,111
General Ministries $6,872
Insurance $9,872
Missions Outreach $5,855
Trustees $87,759
Worship $4,634
Total Disbursements: $409,238
-$9,685 Balance in Budget 08/15/2019
Mortgage Loan with BB & T:
Balance as of 08/15/2019 $ 223,881.87
Billed Interest Paid 2019 6,358.92
Billed Principal Paid 2019 14,701.16
Extra Principal Paid 2019 17,368.28
Heritage of Hope Receipts:
Through 08/15/2019 $ 688,987
Week of July 28
General Fund $6,534
Heritage of Hope $105
Other $250
Week of August 4
General Fund $10,968
Heritage of Hope $785
Other $2,524
Week of August 11
General Fund $9,421
Heritage of Hope $400
Other $619
July 22-August 11 Push Pay
General Fund $3,630
Heritage of Hope $820
Other $100
Sunday Morning Laity
LAITY 9/1 9/8 9/15 9/22 9/29
Greeters
8:45/
11:00
Nathan & Adrienne Dalton, Graham
Cox/ Judith & Allie
Nagy, Chris Brown
Justin & Bethany Marsh,
Lisa Alderson/ Ken Marks
family
Eric & Lynn, Polstra/
Chris Davis family
Jamie & Pay-ton
Michalides/ Judith & Allie
Nagy, Chris Brown
Nathan & Adrienne Dalton,
Graham Cox/ Judith & Allie
Nagy, Chris Brown
Ushers
8:45 a.m. Mike Cox, John Mitchell, Barry Brooks 11:00 a.m. Larry & Kelsey Comerford; Beth McCoy; Tom McCraw; Ken Wade; Ken Marks
11:00
Prayer
Support
Susan
Comerford Jim Stetter Beth McCoy
Margaret
Martin
Ranny
Aultice
Crucifer TBA
Acolyte TBA
11:00
Communion
Assistant
9/1 - Andrew Aultice
8:45
Communion
Assistants
9/1 - Transcept Left - Randy & Sue Thrasher
Left Side - Eric Polstra
Right Side - Lynn Polstra
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8:45 a.m.
Children’s
Church
11a.m.
Children’s
Church
8:30 a.m.
Nursery
9:50 a.m.
Nursery
11:00 a.m.
Nursery
Kristen
Hardie
Jane
Sumerlin
Kevin Foster Adrienne
Dalton
Suzanne
Coulson
9/1
Stacey
Aukland
Lisa Lee Jenna Bush Jenna Bush Zan Davis 9/8
Jennifer
Williams
Libby
Roberts
Cindy Cox Teresa
Meade
Susan
Comerford
9/15
Jenna Bush Judith Nagy Patty Pollard Wanda
Higgins
Anne Archam-
beault
9/22
9/29 Lisa
Alderson
Donna
Brown
Cam
Gumpman
Colleen
Scott
Louise Gant
Volunteer
Opportunity
582 Leesville Rd. Lynchburg VA 24502
HERITAGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HERITAGE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 582 Leesville Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502 Office hours: Mon.-Thur. 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fri. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Office #434-239-4291 Web page: www.humclynchburg.org Lynchburg United Methodist District Rev. Scott Davis, District Superintendent [email protected] Virginia Conference of the United Meth-odist Church www.vaumc.org Presiding Bishop, Sharma D. Lewis National United Methodist Organization www.umc.org