from the Pastor’s Pen…
Many of you know that the theology of the late Henri Nouwen has been extremely influential in my faith journey. Here is what he wrote about gratitude.
“To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives-the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections-that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let’s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.”
As we approach this Thanksgiving holiday and share time, fellowship and food with those close to us, I hope we will take his advice to acknowledge that, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “All things work together for good.” Embrace all of life and give thanks for it, so that you can claim the fullness of the life God has given you!
Peace,
Pastor Jan
UPCOMING NEWS AND EVENTS
WESLEY T-SHIRTS Would you like a T-shirt that shows your love for Wesley Memorial? There is a sign up sheet in the Aldersgate room to order one (or more), along with a visual representation of both men’s and women’s shirts. Cost is $25 per shirt, and orders must be placed by November 26.
PACEM is holding a fundraiser at Jason’s Deli on November 30 from 5pm –10pm. They need a minimum of 20 people to commit and show up in order to receive 15% of those orders placed when PACEM is mentioned. Please RSVP at https://www.groupraise.com/events/42893
EMERGENCY FOOD BANK The holidays are upon us! With all the events & family gatherings, this is the busiest time of the year. For some people, though, the holiday season is the same as the rest of the year-they are worried about where they will find the food they need for their families. Let’s fill the Food Bank on December 3 so all can celebrate this season. bring your favorites for the holiday season with healthy foods (& some treats!) Any donations are always welcome!
ADULT FORUM meets every Sunday at 9:30 AM in Room 102. We are viewing the DVD and discussion-based program Violence Divine. For more information, please contact Audrey Heivly (434.202.2410) or Pat Rader (434.973.3831).
BIBLE STUDY will meet on Wednesday, November 29 at 11AM in the Aldersgate Room. We are studying 1 and 2Peter. All are welcome.
HELP WANTED our outstanding nursery attendant, Chrissy McDaniel, begins nurse’s training this fall. In order to focus on her studies, she will be leaving our children and our staff by the end of December. We are looking for a new nursery attendant who has a love for children. If you know of someone who might be interested, please direct them to Pastor Jan.
WEDDING COORDINATORS—Carolyn Newsome and Jean McDonald serve as our faithful wedding coordinators, assisting officiants and wedding parties to have a meaningful and smooth church ceremony. We need one or two more willing to serve in this capacity. Wesley does not host many weddings, so it is not a huge time commitment. If you are interested please see Pastor Jan.
READERS & COUNTERS NEEDED FOR THE NEW YEAR Do you enjoy hearing different voices reading the scripture passages during worship? We need a few new voices, and yours could be one of them! You’d only need to commit to twice a year! If public speaking isn’t your thing, we are in need offering counters. It does not require a Finance degree— you will be trained on the procedures, and you will be part of a team. The current schedule is every six weeks. The more teams we have, the less frequently you will be needed. Please let Sue Lewis know by December 15 if you can start in January. Sue Lewis – 434-295-1485 – swlcvlle@gmail.com
LAY LEADERS, NOVEMBER 26, 2017
Liturgist: Rocky Shoemaker
Lay Reader: TBD
Offering Counters: Sandra Morrissette, Henry Shelton, Ann Shelton
Children’s Moment: Rocky Shoemaker
Ushers: Patti Wilson, Bill Wilson, Walter Newsome, Fred O’Bryant
Fellowship: Audrey Heivly, Michael Heivly, Ann Shelton, Henry Shelton