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Summer Worship Schedule
 

Beginning Sunday, June 1, we will be moving to our summer schedule. Worship will be at 10 a.m. Youth Sunday School will continue to meet during the worship hour for the summer. Adult classes will resume in the fall.
 

There are several empty spaces on the Coffee Hour sign-up sheet this summer. If there’s a Sunday you can provide the coffee hour treats, find a spot for your name.

The group known as “Women’s Fellowship” is an important part of Smyrna Church. In the past it has had different names but the focus and the work of the group seems to have stayed the same —support the work of the church.

Women’s Fellowship is working today with a much smaller active group than in the past. All women in the church are considered to be part of this group and in fact, all men are also part of the group due to the support they give. Josette and I are currently the co-presidents of this group. The number who actively attend formal meetings is small, but the support from the general congregation is large.

Our main money-making activities are the yearly Bazaar and twice monthly luncheons. The centerpiece of the Bazaar is a beautiful quilt with all its hand quilting completed by the quilting group. This year’s quilt is almost finished and is a spectacular red, white and blue star theme. Those attending the luncheons have witnessed the progress of this beauty.

Women’s Fellowship pays most of the utility bills for the church, buys other needed items for the church and helps those in need. 2/3 of the cost for children attending Camp Adams comes from a special scholarship collection raised at the annual Bazaar. Cards and gifts to support those with personal challenges are also a part of this ministry.

We want to thank and acknowledge all who have helped this group with its work. The truth is, that with the small numbers of this group, it could not do what it does without the help of all of you. Right now the challenge for the group is to continue with the Thursday luncheons and to have a yearly Bazaar with attractive items to auction besides the centerpiece quilt.

We continue to ask for your support in the future with your attendance and help with the Thursday luncheons. Some of these on-going needs are, setting tables, clearing dishes, dishwashing & bringing great dishes to share. Our congregation has exhibited many individuals with special talents and we appreciate your generous gifts for our auctions in the past. We hope that you will consider donating again to benefit Smyrna’s November auction.

We will take the summer off from luncheons and meetings. We will resume on September 25th.

On Sunday, May 18, we also thanked the teachers: Audrey Yoder, Rebecca Yoder, Ann Marie Schuebel, Carly Sether, Sandra Mahar and Angela Gano with small gifts of appreciation. Without all of them and their great teachings, we wouldn't have all the children we have today coming to Sunday School. We also want to thank Rev. Dave Akers for teaching the Adult Sunday School this year.
 

Sermon Feedback

Preachers get feedback in a number of ways— including yawns, and people checking their watch. We even occasionally get a compliment.

One of my recent sermons on love prompted an email with a list of statements children aged 4 to 8 have made on the meaning of love. Since one of Jesus’ sayings was that we need to be like children to enter the kingdom, I thought the children’s quote were worth sharing:

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know your name is safe in their mouth.
Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your fries without making them give you any of theirs.
Love is that makes you smile when you are tired.
Love is when my mommy makes coffee for daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.
Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.
Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you have left him alone all day.
Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.

More than just words, sometimes children teach us by their actions. One 4-year-old child had a next door neighbor who was an elderly gentleman who recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man crying, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked what he said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

My prayer is that we will continue to be a community of faith that learns from our children and loves one another. Thanks for all the feedback.

--- Pastor Dave

DavidAkers@smyrna-ucc.org

 

Men's Breakfast

The men’s group will hold an organizing breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 7th. Our agenda will include deciding how often to meet, when to meet, and where to focus our energies over the next few months. Pastor Dave will provide the breakfast.

Travel Presentation and Dessert

Sunday evening, June 29, at 7 p.m., Joel and crew will make a slide/powerpoint presentation on their trip to Australia and New Zealand earlier this year. This will be a dessert benefit for those in our congregation who will be going on a work trip to the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi in September. Barbara Daniels, Mary Lee Schuebel and Roger Engle will join others from the Central Pacific Conference participating in this endeavor. For more information on Back Bay Mission and all they do go to: www.backbaymission.com.

Building Project Update

PGE was out mid-May and drilled under the parking lot and the road for a new service to the building required by the county. We are expecting the permit to be in place in the next few days and for the construction to begin. At the May 21 meeting, the Church Council approved several change orders to the contract made necessary by requirements of Clackamas County.

There was some discussion at the Church Council about whether it was a good idea to go ahead with the Strawberry Festival, June 21, in light of the construction and its effect on parking. We decided to go ahead and ask the contractor to have his equipment out of the way for that evening.

We are very pleased to announce that we have received additional donations and now have $166,558 in the bank. In addition to pledges, we have secured loans to make up the balance we need so that we will not need to go outside the church to borrow money. We are still accepting pledges and donations to reduce the amount we will need to borrow from our members.

Thank you members and friends who have stepped forward to support this project.

Chad Williams & Alisa Poul are finally settled in their newly remodeled home!

Please drop in for
Refreshments & appetizers at our
Housewarming Party

Sunday, June 22, 2008
From 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

16316 NE 77th Circle
Vancouver WA 98682

R.S.V.P. Alisa at 971-219-4992
Or
Chad at 503-880-1032

Last year was our learning year. We have tried to be more organized and hopefully, we can overcome some of the difficulties we had last year. We surely appreciated all the help from our Smyrna family.

"Cruizin' 4 Life" 's success depends on donations through generous people like you. It is our hope we can once again rely on you.

A few needs for our car show include:

*Hand crafted items

*Working capital

*Gift Items for the silent auction

*Weekend getaways

*donations of services

*Trophy and Dash Plaque sponsors

*Food sponsors

*Art work *MAN POWER

*Items for the raffle

If you choose to donate, we request receipt by June 30, in order to accurately catalog each item and to be sure you get the recognition you deserve.

We have posted a list of positions and shifts in the Narthex.

Please call Mickey at 503-266-9581 or 503-799-7150, Tom at 971-219-5192 or for the tractor pull, Helen or Skip at 503-634-2284.
 

Dear Congregation

Tank you for your prayers and cards. They mean so much to me. My back is better and I know that it is the love you have sent my way as well as the back shot.

Thanks,

---DaNelda Strode