1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, the People of the United Methodist Church
Messiah United Methodist Church
408 Dominion Commons Way
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Messiah Messenger
January 2015
Volume 19, Issue 1
Did You Know?
The City of Chesapeake has created a Faith Based Disaster
Initiative. Some of the core functions identified were Refuge
of Last Resort, Family Assistance Center (FAC), Points of
Distribution, Food/Feeding Centers, Red Cross Certified
Shelter, and Rumor Control Center.
MUMC has been selected as 1 of 10 churches who will serve
as a Family Assistance Center, and 1 of 7 churches who are
“emergency ready” to serve as a Refuge of Last Resort.
This is some very exciting news for Messiah UMC’s ministry!
There are 28 churches that are FAC centers. They are willing
to open their churches when there is a mass disaster or
tragedy to provide news and assistance to families and the
public.
A refuge of last resort is a 24-48 hour emergency shelter if a
disaster requires shut-down of roads or closure of
neighborhoods near a designated shelter. The city has also
worked with the IT department to identify every church that
is 1000 feet from any highway ramp of the four major
transportation routes around the city.
Serving for the Month of January
Greeters
1/4
Susan Mitchell Guzzo
1/11 Jim Rugraff
1/18 Vicki Cartos
1/25 Donna Kumjian
Scripture Readers
1/4
Melody McPherson
1/11
1/18
1/25
Susan Rogers
Jennifer Applegate
Jan Lawrence
Communion Servers
Jan & David Lawrence
Acolytes
Josh Markham
Josh Bender
Josh Bender
Charlotte Lewter
K-2 Teacher
Martha Phillips/Amy
Turner
3rd-5th Grade
Cindy Rugraff
Children’s Church
Phyllis Lewter/Nan
Tarbell
Emma Johnston, Seminary student at Wesley Theological
Seminary in Washington D.C. will bring our Sunday Morning
message on January 18.
Emma is originally from Great Britain, graduated from
Ferrum College and is employed by Shenandoah University,
both Virginia United Methodist Schools. Come hear Emma
talk about her passion for mission and the church!
Mission and Service Opportunities
LIVE BIG in January: Children’s Sunday School
1.
container outside the Sanctuary.
B.I.G. Theme:
Adopt-a-lot . Hands on ministry with the homeless. Help 2 Saturdays a month in
the early a.m. by handing out a breakfast bag to those living in their cars at the
Stories About Jesus
2.
Walmart on Battlefield. See Jeff Rodeheaver, Messiah’s Lay Leader.
B.I.G. Idea:
We believe that the stories of Jesus growing
up help us understand that Jesus is the sone of God.
3.
Food Closet – The food closet item for January: canned soup. Place in the
Bible Verse:
Fair Trade/Equal Exchange food- for Sale - outside the church
kitchen.
Support small farmers world -wide and UMCOR’s loan program.I
Coffee (12oz ground - Mexican -Mind, Body & Soul ) K-cups (for a
“The child Jesus grew: He became strong and
wise and God blessed him.”
Luke 2:40
Keurig ). . (Breakfast Blend, French Roast, & Unwind (decaf))
Olive oil from Israel/Palestine , Tea Earl Grey & Chai –from India.
Missions
without Money
Lessons
Jan 4 :
Lesson:
The Wise Men
Activities:
A Star is born
Jesus Growing Up Chart
Jan 11:
Lesson:
Jesus in the Temple at 12
Activities:
Finding Jesus in the Temple
Making Haroseth
Jan 18:
Jan. 25:
Campbell soup labels are collected for the Wesley Community Center. This center
serves those through acts of advocacy and with programs designed to effect
reconciliation, collaboration, self-sufficiency and economic justice. There is a box in
the narthex for your labels.
Farm Fresh 123-4 Community Program - Save the bottom portion of your
receipts and help Crestwood Intermediate School get free stuff at the end of the
school year. There is a collection box in the narthex.
Lesson:
Jesus’ Baptism
Activity:
Many Uses for Water
these box tops on some of your favorite grocery items - Pillsbury, Ziploc, Hefty,
Descending Dove
Green Giant, Nestle, etc.
Lesson:
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Activities:
Make a class Scroll
Stories of Jesus Review
Box Tops for Education - for Crestwood Intermediate School. You can find
Postage Stamps for UMCOR (United Methodist Council on Relief) Save
your canceled postage stamps. The stamps are sold and the proceeds are
distributed through UMCOR. Stamps should be trimmed to a border no closer
than 1/4 inch around the outside edge. Do not peel the stamps from the envelope.
Place them in the collection box in the narthex.
Birthdays
The preschool staff had a great time hosting its
first Breakfast with Santa event! We served a
pancake breakfast to 60 preschool friends!
REGISTRATION TIME!
Messiah Preschool will begin registration for the 2015-2016
School Year for all current Messiah students, alumni, and
Messiah Church Families on Monday, February 2nd.
Registration for all “NEW” families will begin Monday,
February 9th. We are now scheduling tours of our preschool.
Please tell your neighbors and friends about our wonderful
preschool, our quality curriculum and our loving, nurturing
staff!
1/1
1/4
1/6
1/9
1/9
1/9
1/13
1/15
1/25
Donna Denette
Phyllis Abeshaheen
Jim Farley
David Lawrence
Haley Riddle
Debbie White
Ethan Harrison
Nick Gionis
Kerry Gionis
COME TO YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY!
WHEN:
Sunday, January 25th
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Messiah United Methodist Church
Come celebrate everyone’s birthday with a birthday
party, games and cake!
M.Y. YOUTH NEWS!
Each week our youth are involved in something!
Military News
Friday, Feb. 6th --Sunday, Feb. 8th Our Youth are going to the
District Youth Retreat held at the United Methodist Assembly
Center in Blackstone VA (not Blacksburg!)
The Military Committee would like to thank everyone who
helped with the Christmas packages!
Rev. Kori Robbins,- from Deep Creek -featured
speaker. Brightwork brings the music!
~ Skip and Sarah Harrison and their 3 children live in Naples,
Italy. Mail usually takes two weeks to arrive.
There is still time to sign up to go. Contact Amy Turner.
art8680@earthlink.net
Lt. Frank Harrison
PSC 817 Box 4112
FPO AE 09622 0042
They still need a male chaperone. If this is something you are
interested in, and you’re over 21, please see P. Ellen ASAP!
Youth( 6th grade thru 12th grades) meet every
Sunday morning with Pastor Ellen for Bible Study, (10
am) AND at 6:00 p.m. for programs, mission and
~Mark Parks is living in Yokosuka, Japan. Mail usually takes 3
weeks to a month to reach him.
CTRCS Parks, Mark T
COMCARSTRKGRU FIVE
Unit 25660
FPO AP 96601-4305
Cindy Parks
fellowship Come and bring a friend!
Feb. 15 Winter Jam!
@ Scope Arena (tickets $10) more info on times to come.
.
Confirmation class! Learn about the UMC & ask questions.
Maybe join as a full member of Messiah. 6th grade and up.
Begins the week of Jan 18 (while school is out!) times
flexible-talk to Pastor Ellen! (ewcoms@verizon.net)
M.Y. Life, M.Y. Zone Contact info:
Messiah church email: Messiahumc1989@gmail.com
.Messiah Church office: 436-1682
karandkids@cox.net
art8680@earthlink.net
Messiah’s team is going to school…
How do we make faith “stick” in young adults?
Mothers and fathers who practice what they preach and preach what
HOW TO REACH NEW PEOPLE
they practice are far and away the biggest influence related to
adolescents keeping the faith into their twenties, according to new
findings from a landmark study of youth and religion.
With Jim Griffith, Consultant
Who:
Just 1% of teens ages 15 to 17 raised by parents who attached little
importance to religion were highly religious in their mid to late twenties.
In contrast, 82% of children raised by parents who talked about faith at
home, attached great importance to their beliefs, and were active in
their congregations were religiously active as young adults, according to
data from the latest wave of the National study of Youth and religion.
The connection is “nearly deterministic,” said Christian Smith, lead
researcher for the study and a sociologist at the University of Notre
Dame in Indiana.
Other factors such as youth ministry, clergy or service projects, or
religious schools pale in comparison.
In research using data from the National Longitudinal study of
Adolescent Health, sociologists Christopher Bader and Scott Desmond
found that children of parents who believe that religious is very
Your team of 5-8.
Teams must include the senior pastor and at least
three key lay members.
Our Leader will be Jim Griffith, a consultant
who works with hundreds of congregations all
over the country on issues of church vitality.
What: This workshop is for church teams to learn:
~How to reconnect with your mission field
~How to get more members in your church
~Why the old ways to growth no longer work & what
works now
~Why most Pastors want to reach new people but can’t
~What new people look for when selecting a church
When:
March 14-15, 2015 Registration begins @ 8:45 am
Workshop runs Saturday, 9:30 – 5:30; and
Sunday 8-1
important and display their commitment by attending services are most
Where:
Virginia Wesleyan College
1584 Wesleyan Drive
likely to transmit religiosity to their children.
Norfolk, VA 23502
In interviews, many mainline Protestant parents said they “feel guilty if
they think they are doing anything to direct their children toward their
religion as opposed to any other possibility,” Smith said. They question
if they should tell their child ‘what I believe is right.”
Yet if parents and faith communities are not able to communicate their
beliefs, Smith said later, ‘the game’s over, already.” ~Christian Century,
December 24, 2014
Cost:
Covered by the Church
From Pastor Ellen:
At our January 5th Administrative Council meeting, our District
Superintendent and former pastor, Wayne Snead joined us for a brief
time of visioning for the future.
We learned:
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
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Our church is in a position to reach new people!
The demographic data for our area of Chesapeake indicates that
our population is growing, 1st with older adults (boomers) and
2nd with families who have young children. Single family homes
and multifamily homes are being built, and our commercial areas
are expanding.
It takes 7-15 efforts – (flyers, signs, advertisements, newspaper
ads, etc.) to have people recognize the church without personal
invitation.
People are most likely to come to church and stay when they are
invited by someone that they know through school, work,
sports or neighborhood.
We do not need to be overwhelmed, but focus on small groups
(Everyone knows 5 people who don’t attend church that may fit
with us).
Suggestion: let Pastor Ellen know if you live near a new microdevelopment – an additional street or two in your neighborhood.
Here is a chance to offer a friendly welcome with a smile and an
invitation to join us!
If you are living near a new development, help us establish a
Facebook group or other ways to pray together and support each
other as we reach out to new friends and help people feel
welcome.
Host a neighborhood gathering (tasting party, like Wine to Water
maybe?) and include some of your church friends and new those
new to the neighborhood.
Invite a new neighbor or two to your Dinner group.
Be ready…to think beyond what we learned in the 1980’s and 1990’s!
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time of the Year!
Brownie Troop 895 is now taking orders for your favorite
cookies. They are still $3.50 a box and will be delivered in
late February. Please support our troop by ordering from
Charlotte Lewter or Callie Gionis. There is also an order
form on the church kitchen table, or you may contact Kerry
Gionis at 966-5212 or kgionis@cox.net. Thank You!
JANUARY 2015
Sunday
4
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Youth Bible
11:00 Worship – Communion
6:00 MYouth
Monday
5
Tuesday
6
Wednesday
7
M.Y. Group – 6:30
Praise Team – 6:30
Choir – 7:30
Council Meeting-7.30
Thursday
Friday
1
2
Office Closed
8
Office Closed
9
Saturday
3
10
Adopt-a-Lot
Donna - out
Office Closed
11
12
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Youth Bible
11:00 Worship
6:00 MYouth
13
Meals on Wheels
Donna – out
14
15
M.Y. Group – 6:30
Praise Team – 6:30
Choir – 7:30
Donna – out
UMM Dinner
16
17
District
Leadership
Training
Office Closed
18 Emma Johnson – Guest
Preacher
19
20
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Youth Bible
11:00 Worship
6:00 MYouth
Donna – out
21
22
23
M.Y. Group – 6:30
Praise Team – 6:30
Choir – 7:30
Adopt-a-Lot
Office Closed
25
9:00 Church Breakfast
26
9:45 Sunday School
10:00 Youth Bible
11:00 Worship
2:00-4:00 – Church Birthdays
Celebration
6:00 MYouth
Trustees Meeting –
7:30
27
28
24
31
30
M.Y. Group – 6:30
Praise Team – 6:30
Choir – 7:30
Office Closed
Set up for Church
Birthday
celebration
2015 CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEES
CHURCH COUNCIL
Church Council Chairperson
Secretary, Church Council
Church Treasurer
Church Financial Secretary
Lay Leader
Staff Parish Relations Chairperson
Trustee Chairperson
Lay Delegate to Annual Conference
At Large
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Finance Chairperson
Church Council Chairperson
Church Treasurer
Church Financial Secretary
Lay Leader
Staff Parish Relations Chairperson
Trustee Chairperson
Lay Delegate to Annual Conference
At Large
STAFF PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Larry Kumjian
Debbie White
Alton Forbes
Scott Pontz
Jeff Rodeheaver
Linda Forbes
(?Steve Waltner)
Marjorie Markham
Dan Tarbell
Glenn McGrath
Larry Kumjian
Alton Forbes
Scott Pontz
Jeff Rodeheaver
Linda Forbes
?Steve Waltner
Marjorie Markham
Dan Tarbell
Chairperson
Member
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
Linda Forbes
Linda Forbes
Phyllis Lewter
Gage Waltner
Lay Leader
Annual Conference Delegate
Krista Centric
Annette Kellum
Jeff Rodeheaver
Marjorie Markham
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chairperson
Member
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
2017
2017
?Steve Waltner
Beth Reitz
Danny Reitz
Donna Kumjian
Steve Centric
Rick Applegate
Steve Waltner
P.J. Gates
COMMITTEE ON LAY LEADERSHIP
Chairperson
Rev. Ellen Comstock
Members
2015
Larry Kumjian
2015
Alton Forbes
2016
Becky Maples
2016
Bev Parrish
2017
Ed West
2017
Marjorie Markham
Lay Leader
Jeff Rodeheaver