By the time you read this, the 4th of July will have come and gone. If all goes as planned, Linda and I will have seen the fireworks from a hometown vantage point overlooking the muddy Maumee River in northwestern Ohio. We probably won't "ooh" and "ahh" or fall down as if shot by the booming cannon sounds of the fireworks as we did as little children, but I'm confident we will have enjoyed ourselves and celebrated our freedom just the same.
Freedom is the most precious heritage our Founding Fathers have left us. How often do you remember to give thanks for the freedom to assemble with whom and for whatever cause you desire? Or for a free press that can report facts for the benefit of the public even if it is not politically expedient for the party in power? Or for the freedom to worship the God of your own understanding and experience rather than the state or nationally approved version?
The issue of the "Separation of Church and State", as it is often called, is a controversial one. It is now; it always has been. It was the issue our Founding Fathers wrangled over the most. (Too bad we didn't have the official involvement of the Founding Mothers in the process. Dolly Madison and Abigail Adams had to come in via the back door by "advising" their husbands at home and by letters. And they did!) Today conservative Christians claim that the Founding Fathers were all Christian men who founded a "Christian Nation." The Secular Humanists contend that they were Deists, Infidels, or Enlightenment Philosophers who wanted God completely out of the picture. They are both wrong. In actuality, they were all of the above, and hence the struggle to define the role of religion in the new nation they were founding.
Of the most part, the majority felt that a religious populace was essential for peace, tranquility, and morality. But they were well aware of the history of dissent and violence in Europe and in the New England and Virginia colonies caused by having an established religion. The question was: How do we promote religion without being involved in religion as a government? The answer they worked out was inspired. It had never been tried before. It is not perfect, but it has done its job for over 200 years. The first amendment to the Constitution states: "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." They decided it was best to promote religion by staying out of religion.
In my opinion, they were right. The proof is in the religious diversity of our country and the freedom we enjoy to worship God as we understand God to be. And to prevent anyone who would prevent us because, in their opinion, we aren't doing God right.
The Founding Fathers drew the proverbial "line in the sand" between government and religion, between "Church and State," and that is why it is an aberration instead of a commonplace when one religion or denomination gets in the way of another in America. The next time you hear about a Shia Moslem bombing a Sunni Moslem's Mosque (or vice versa), give thanks for the First Amendment. It has probably kept the Methodists and the Mormons from doing the same.
I conclude with a statement from Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and Birth of Religious Freedom in America
by Steven Waldman.
"The birth of religious freedom was not inevitable. The Founding Fathers contemplated the approach taken by their grandfathers for more than a century-and rejected it. Through a variety of battles-some local, some national, some born of enlightenment and some of parochialism-these men and women helped create a radical new three-part creed:
The Founding Faith, then, was not Christianity, and it was not Secularism. It was religious liberty-a revolutionary formula for promoting faith by leaving it alone."
- Religion is essential to the flourishing of a republic
- To thrive, religion needs less help, not more, from the state
- God gave all humans the right to full religious freedom
(From the Introduction, p. xvi)
See you in Church, APUMC! And God bless America!
Pastor Carl
8:15 a.m. Worship
9:00 a.m. Adult Nooma Study
10:00 a.m. Worship
Summer Office Hours:
The church office is on summer schedule. The office will be open from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Congratulations to David Goble, who recently graduated from Spokane Falls Community College with an AA as an accounting assistant. This is a second career choice for Dave...we applaud you, Dave!
Congratulations to Pastor Carl and Linda Martin on the birth of their new grandson, Devon Kincade Martin, on June 25th. He joins parents Andy and Ericka, and brother, Wyatt, at home.
Everyone is welcome to come to a "one time only" Bible Study with Rev. Alissa Bertsch Johnson, Campus Minister at WSU. Friday, July 10th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the church.
This group meets on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. at Karen Peacock's home, 5604 N. Elm Street. The scripture to ponder for July 15 is Psalm 119. All are invited!
The church has a Child Care position open for Sunday mornings to take care of our little ones. This person must be 18 years or older; preferably a non-church member. If you know of anyone interested in this position, have them call the church office at 325-4541.
The MIDIS Group will be meeting Saturday, July 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the church. Plan to bring a dish to share for the potluck and your own table service.
Sunday, July 12 There will be a change this month as we will be serving communion to home-bound people on the second Sunday of the month.
We invite you to take part in this meaningful time. If you have any questions or would like a team member to come to your home for this service, please call the church office at 325-4541.
The next 2 Sundays we will have an index card in our worship bulletins so you can write down a few of your favorite hymns and songs from our worship hymnals. We can't promise that everyone will soon hear their favorites but it will sure increase the odds!
The pews in our sanctuary have been in need of re-covering for some time. Our plan is to reupholster the pews this summer. $6,000 of the cost will be covered by a generous gift from the estate of Inez Engstrom. The remaining amount of approximately $2,500 in cash or pledges is needed before we contract with the Waggoner Corporation. Completion in sixty to ninety days is guaranteed.
Below is a commitment pledge for this project. Please fill out the information below with your name and commitment to this project. This commitment card can be placed in the offering plate this morning or mailed to the church office. Thank you in advance for your support!
In addition, the Church Council has instructed the Board of Trustees to obtain estimates for refurbishing the sanctuary. As money becomes available, the altar railings will be made removable for when the Bell Choir plays and/or other times when space and accessibility to the chancel are deemed expedient. A list of other improvements will be made available when the Trustees have had time to estimate the costs. If gifts/pledges for the pew reupholstery exceeds $2,500 the money will be used for the other projects.
Name:
Yes, I/We will help with the sanctuary refurbishing. My/Our intention is to donate $_____________.
The payment(s) will be made on or before
August 1, 2009 ______________________
In the June 4th edition of the District newsletter, The Inland Steeples, there was an article about an United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) group going to Nepal to work with Devi Bahadur Bhujel and help build a new concrete block United Methodist Church. Devi is our featured missionary in this issue.
Devi's wife, Karuna, was scheduled to be here in the Pacific NW Conference in October, 2005. She died in April of 2005 and Devi came in her place to fulfill her commitments and speaking engagements. I was privileged to hear him speak at the annual meeting of the United Methodist Women in Coeur d' Alene. Devi is a devoted servant to God and the Church. Here is a little information about his work in Nepal.
Devi Bahadur Bhujel is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist, assigned as a church worker in Kathmandu, Nepal. His responsibilities include church planting, community development and theological education in Nepal.
Speaking of his assignment, Devi explains that "Nepal is a Hindu country and church is just emerging as minority community. Serving the church I am convinced that the Lord has put me in the right place to strengthen His church by all possible means of ministry."
Devi served the church as en elder from 1990-2000, and worked as a college lecturer and principal of the Theological College and Bible School, Nepal, from 1986-1997.
-Submitted by Ann Fritz, Inland District Mission Secretary
School supplies are always needed at elementary schools, but especially at the beginning of the school year when kids come back to school. We have offered to help with this need at Audubon and Finch schools. To this end we have placed boxes in the parlor labeled with the following school supply needs:
We may learn of more needs and will keep you posted.
Let's all pitch in this summer to help stock these boxes so that we can deliver the supplies to the schools around the end of August, the time when they will be most needed. Your participation will be appreciated! Thank you!
Donations to charitable causes in the United States exceeded $300 billion in 2008; but this represented a 2 percent drop in current dollars from 2007. The 2008 number is the first decline in charitable giving in current dollars since 1987 and only the second since Giving USA began publishing annual reports in 1956, says their most recent report on philanthropy. Two-thirds of public charities receiving donations saw decreases in 2008.
However, an encouraging sign for church leaders is that giving to religion was one of the few exceptions to the downward trend.
Summer Fun: June, July and August
Super
Sunday
Cinema
Spectacular
The children will be having movies and snacks during the 10:00 a.m. worship time in the
summer beginning June 14th. Be sure to bring your friends!
Join in the Journey
to the Center of the Bible!
July 13-17
*5:30 p.m. Simple Supper
*6:15-8:15 p.m. Classes:
Grades K-6: Vacation Bible School
Adult Study: "Parenting and Grandparenting By Heart"
Led by Pastor Carl
NOTICE TO ALL VBS VOLUNTEERS:
The rooms to be used for Vacation Bible School need to be completely set up before Monday evening, July 13th.
Set up times are:
Sunday, July 12th following worship service
Monday, July 13th, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
All those needing costumes, please go to the Fellowship hall during these times.
A gentle reminder that the Lamplighters for the next weeks are:
July 12 Roger Bertsch
July 19 Jennifer Ash & Judy Ritz
The following people are scheduled to have this sweeping duty in the coming weeks:
July 12 Stan Banks
July 19 Jeff Johnson
Below are the ushers for worship in the upcoming weeks:
July 12 George Hartman
July 19 Sunny Day Thompson
July 12 Marion Anderson
July 12 Don and Carolyn Wilson
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. July 23, August 6, August 20
Want to help pass out water bottles with the church's info on them before the concert? Call the church office to volunteer.
Send us your digital pictures of our church in mission to be included in our new web-page soon to be revealed.
Start bringing a camera or your cell phone camera to church events and say "Smile you're on our website!".
Send pics to Don Holm, our webmaster, at Donald.holm53@yahoo.com as a mail attachment.