Subject: This Week at Medford UMC -- August 5, 2022


This week at Medford UMC for {today}.
Worship Schedule
9:00 am Contemporary Worship in the FLC
10:30 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

You can catch both services Facebook Live!

A Word from the Pastor

Friends in Christ,

Being from a long line of Methodists, I specifically chose to attend a seminary that was not Methodist (Princeton is Presbyterian) for one specific goal: to find out what a Methodist is. This may sound silly, but I found myself having trouble differentiating what was generally "Christian" from what is specifically "Methodist." It was the right choice for me, because there were so many traditions and theological perspectives that I just assumed were the same across the board, but as it turns out, were a very Wesleyan approach to faith. Going to a Presbyterian school made me a better Methodist.

We in the congregation span a wide range of exposure to Methodism - some have been Methodist all their lives, others are brand new to worshiping in a Methodist space, others have had periods in their life in Methodist circles mixed with periods of being amongst other faith practices. Each of these categories and everything in between may have one common question: What makes a Methodist?

This Sunday, we'll be starting a new series on this topic and it took me an embarrassingly long time to try to break down the main themes of Methodism into 5 short weeks but here's what we'll be focusing on: Grace, Social Awareness, Tolerance, Fire (or Zeal), and Discipline. I'm so excited about this because I could talk about Methodism forever! But I won't, don't worry - worship will still end at its normal time!

I hope you'll join me this Sunday as I introduce "What Makes a Methodist" with the core of our denominational lens: grace.

Peace,
Pastor Rachel 

 



 

Help Plan the Next Sermon Series

During the month of August, your pastors take time to plan worship series for the coming year. As they do this work, your input is valuable. Would you please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in a short survey? To participate, click here. Thank you! 

 



 

Opportunities to Serve & Give

 
5000 Items Delivered: Our food delivery team has transported over 5000 donated items from the Wawa on Route 70 in Medford to the Christian Caring Center in Browns Mills! We're looking for two more people to make once-a-month deliveries. If you can spare two hours once a month (on a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday) please consider joining us. Be a part of delivering the next 5000 items. For additional details or to sign up, contact Cathy Whiteacre
 
Share Lessons from Your Faith Journey: While each person's faith journey is unique, each journey can provide insights which others may find valuable as they traverse their own paths. We hope you would be willing to share what you've learned on your own journey by volunteering to help us write our daily devotions. You can choose to help for a few days, a week, or on an ongoing basis. New voices are welcomed! For information, please reach out to one of the pastors.
 
Join Our Team: Are you interested in helping to ensure our church has "curb appeal?” The hard work has already been done of pulling the major weeds; we're looking for a few people to assist with the continued upkeep of the flower beds. It could be just giving the flowers a few minutes of water; or it just walking around and pulling out the sporadic re-occurring weeds.  If you are available to help -- with a group or by yourself, at whatever time makes the most sense to you -- please be in touch with Barbara Gardner or Jeanne Hauser so they can fill you in regarding the most urgent needs and the current plan for our landscape. 
 

Thank You for Your Financial Support: Your support is so vital to our ministry. Your gifts provide for worship, programs for kids, care for the buildings and grounds so that we can be open and welcoming for the community, and outreach to support those in need. Giving is an expression of your faith and discipleship. Especially during the slower summer months, your generosity is so important. You can make a gift through our app (download by texting "medfordapp" to 833/700-2226), on the web (medfordumc.org/give), or by mail at 2 Hartford Road, Medford NJ 08055. Thank you! 

 



 

Small Groups & Spiritual Growth

 

Book Club News: The MUMC Book Club will take a break from meeting in August, but not from reading! Our next selection will be The Last Rose of Shanghai by Weina Dai Randel, an historical fiction novel set in Shanghai during WWII which depicts the plight of Jewish refugees and the unifying power of music. We will meet on Wednesday, September 14 at 4:00 pm. For more information contact Patty Rosvold or the church office.

 

Children & Youth Ministries: During our Summer Schedule, children in PreK - 5th grades are welcome to utilize our kids' materials while staying in worship. Coloring supplies and other activities will be available. Youth in Middle and High School can expect an email from Bethany in the next week for an End of Summer Event. Stay Tuned!

 



 

Fall Worship Schedule

At our July meeting, the Church Council discerned that we would return with two worship services in the fall: 9:00 am Contemporary Worship in the Family Life Center and 10:30 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary, with Coffee Hour between the services in the FLC lobby from 10:00 - 10:30 am. Both worship experiences will be live streamed. We'll kick off this fall schedule on September 18.

We recognize that this will come as a disappointment to those who faithfully worship at 8:15 am. We celebrate and honor the close ties of this small but mighty part of our fellowship, including these members' long history of leadership in the church, their deep concern for one another, and their genuine hospitality to those who visit with us. Upon considering all the factors, particularly the post-pandemic decrease in attendance, the council decided unanimously in favor of a two-service approach.

We plan to take advantage of the half-hour between the services to create an intentional time of fellowship and connection where people can form relationships and enjoy each other's company. We'll focus on practical ways we can encourage people to stay late or come early to meet together.

Thank you for your prayers and understanding in this transitional season. We look forward to our fall kick-off on September 18. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to speak with or email Pastor Joe. 

 



 

Weekly Calendar
 
Date Event / Registration Link Time Place
Fri Aug 5 Pickle Ball 3:00 pm  FLC / Lot
Sat Aug 6 Pickle Ball 10:00 am FLC / Lot
Sun Aug 7 Contemporary Worship 9:00 am FLC
  Traditional Worship 10:30 am Sanctuary
Tues Aug 9 Pickle Ball 3:00 pm FLC / Lot
Wed Aug 10  Nurture Committee 7:00 pm Bowker / Zoom
Band Rehearsal 7:30 pm FLC
Thurs Aug 11 Women's Bible Study 10:00 am Room 104 / Zoom

 



 

Get our app for easy access to worship videos, daily devotionals, giving, and all the latest news! Text "medfordapp" to 833/700-2226 to download.

 
 
 
Medford United Methodist Church
2 Hartford Road, Medford NJ 08055
609/654-8111

 

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