from the Pastor’s Pen…
A group of about fifteen of us here at Wesley have gathered on and off for about eighteen months to discuss the issue of race. In the middle of it, August 11 & 12 happened and we learned a lot more than we imagined. Since then I have continued to immerse myself in work and relationships and study that have all broadened my perspective on this issue. Every day I learn something new about slavery or
oppression or the way in which “whitewashing” is as mainstream in our culture as
grocery stores.
Moving a culture to another way of being and doing is a long and painful process. No one wants to give up privilege. And yet as Christ followers we have an obligation to take a long hard look at our culture. We need to hear stories of descendants of the enslaved. We need to understand the kind of injustice we inherited through no fault of our own. We need to examine the systems of privilege which shape our lives while keeping others down. We can’t erase history but we can learn from it. We need to take steps to make our country reflect that founding belief that all people are created equal.
I am reading Waking Up White by Debby Irving. In my opinion this is a must read for every white American. It is the memoir of a woman who grew up in an affluent Boston suburb and how she came to realize not only her privilege but how she got it. If you care at all about this issue, if you continue to be concerned about the healing of
Charlottesville after last summer, if you want to be prepared for the long and painful transition that has begun, I strongly encourage you to read this book.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jan
NEWS AND EVENTS
WMUMC SPRING CLEANUP DAY on Saturday, May 12 from 8am to 11am. Please join us in beautifying our church campus and buildings. Various tasks, including landscaping and interior maintenance of the church need to be addressed. Refreshments will be served and a sign-up sheet is in the Aldersgate Room. If you have any questions, contact Jim Lambert, at 434.531.4529
PACEM BENEFIT CONCERT. FIRE, an eclectic program of music for women’s a capella voices, will perform at First United Methodist Church, 101 E. Jefferson Street, on Sunday, May 13 at 3:30 pm
IMPACT JUSTICE MINISTRY CELEBRATION Tuesday May 15 at Ivy Creek United Methodist Church, 674 Woodlands Rd. We start with a pot luck at 6PM followed by program from 7-8PM. Come enjoy food and interfaith fellowship while celebrating successes on the recent IMPACT initiatives including: Region Ten Women’s Residential Treatment Center, and city and county steps toward more affordable housing. We can car pool from Wesley Memorial at 5:30PM. If you are interested in car-pooling, contact Maury Early at maury.early@vnb.com
IMPACT INVESTMENT DRIVE This is also the time of year when we commit our investments to IMPACT. IMPACT’s budget is largely supported by its member congregations. Our church goal for individual investments is $6,500. To help achieve this goal, the suggested individual investment is $250. Make your check payable to Wesley Memorial and include IMPACT in the memo line.
CITY MARKET. Our next date at City Market is slated for May 19. If you’d like to spend an hour at our table, meeting your neighbors and talking about Wesley, please sign up for a time-slot on the sign-up sheet in the Aldersgate Room.
2018 KITS FOR CONFERENCE collection is being conducted to replenish the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) supply from now to June 10. We are concentrating on health kits and need the following items: 1 hand towel (15”x25” up to 17”x27”, no kitchen towels); 1 washcloth; 1 comb (large & sturdy, no picks); 1 metal nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards); 1 bath-sized bar of soap (3 oz. and up, no Ivory or Jergens soap); 1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes); 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages, ¾ to 1 inch size (Band-Aids). Lay towel flat and put all items inside the towel. Roll tightly and seal in a 1-gallon plastic bag. All items included in kits must be NEW items. If you prefer to give money for UMCOR to provide kits for you, you can donate to the church: $12 provides a health kit. Please make your check to church and mark it “UMCOR”. Any questions, contact Maury Early, 974-6871 or Sue Lewis 295-1485.
ADULT FORUM meets every Sunday at 9:30 AM in Room 102. A new study began on April 8. For more information, please contact Audrey Heivly (434.202.2410) or Pat Rader (434.973.3831).
YOUNG ADULT FORUM meets every Sunday at 9:30 AM in Room 203 for Bible Study, Coffee and Conversation. For more information, contact Rosie Snow via email at rmpohlmann@gmail.com
PRAYER GROUP meets every Wednesday at noon. If you have a prayer request you would like lifted up you can call the church office or email it to Pastor Jan. You can also write it in the prayer book found in the Thomson Road Narthex throughout the week, or submit a Prayer Request Card, found in the pews, with your offering.
PEACE COMMITTEE meets the first Thursday of every month at 7PM in Aldersgate Room. The committee shares ideas about creating peace within ourselves and for our church and community. All are welcome.
OFFICE HOURS are Monday through Friday from 9am to noon.
LAY LEADERS, MAY 13, 2018
Liturgist: Rosie Snow
Lay Reader: Todd Shelton
Offering Counters: Sandra Morrissette, Ted Homyk, Mona Homyk
Children’s Moment: Stella Pool
Ushers: Ted Bidwell, Roger McDonald, Beth Frackleton, Wayne Malbon
Hospitality: Stella Pool, Sue Lewis, Patti Wilson