Beginning Sunday, July 11, following the 10:00 A.M. worship service Dr. Jim and Joy Durlesser invite everyone to stay after worship and have a cold drink and some fellowship and conversation with the summertime congregation.
COLLEGE STUDENTS
It's almost time to head off to school. Do you have your school address yet? Please call or email the church office or put a note in the offering plate. We will be sure to send you mail - the monthly newsletter!
THIRD AND SEVENTH GRADERS
Please call the church office if your child will be entering third or seventh grade this fall. We want to make sure we have enough Bibles purchased for Rally Day.
SHEPHERDING
Our congregation is making a renewed effort to keep in touch consistently and thoroughly with all those of our church family. Such efforts are referred to as ‘Shepherding’, in church lingo. Once an individual has become a part of the life of our church (even briefly or infrequently), we must make every effort to continue to make that person feel welcome. And, in the busyness of our lives and ministries, we must never ‘lose track’ of people. Awareness and communication are the key features of Shepherding.
We are asking the congregation to assist by doing a few simple things. These most typically apply to Sunday morning worship, but are applicable for any church event:
Please always sign the attendance pads so that your attendance may be recorded
Please keep an eye out for newcomers and infrequent attendees and make sure they are welcomed (greet everyone warmly, of course)
Please be aware of absentees – especially consecutive and/or more frequent absences and alert church to your concern. Also, please try to contact them to let them know that you miss them and are thinking about them.
Please give the Shepherding Team a heads up on attendance issues that you notice and/or you have information on (newcomers, absentees, etc.)
Please let the Shepherding Team know about your own situation as it may relate to your own absence
Let’s work together to care for one another in a manner that is enriching to the body and pleasing to the Lord.
Thank you,
The Shepherding Team,
Church Office: Phone: 724-758-6278; Email: firstumcec@zoominternet.net
Dave Hinckley: Phone: 724-657-2440; Email: dlh2731@comcast.net
Jerry Rectenwald: Phone: 724-944-2215; Email: jerry@rectenwald.com
CARE TEAM
Ray and Sandy Miller (724-758-5025) will be taking the September Care Team calls.
SAFE SANCTUARIES
A copy of the revised Safe Sanctuaries book by Joy Thornberg Melton is in the church office. If you are an officer of the church, please feel free to take this new book home to read.
I have been involved in boundary issues and the Safe Sanctuaries program of the Western PA Conference of the UnitedMethodistChurch for twenty years. The program has grown since its inception under Bishop Bashore. Safe Sanctuaries now looks at appropriate behavior and guidelines for all ages. The newest concerns are for older adults and vulnerable adults. If you wish to explore issues pertaining to Safe Sanctuaries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Joy Durlesser
Safe Sanctuaries Confidential Counselor,
EllwoodCity First United Methodist Church
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Would the church members be able to contact your loved ones if needed while you were in the church building? Those wishing to share the information are asked to complete an informational card that is located in the narthex and by the church office, seal it in the attached envelope and drop the information in the boxes in the narthex or library areas. You may also call the church office.
KNOW YOUR CHURCH COMMITTEES:
THE STAFF-PASTOR/PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Staff-Pastor/Parish Relations Committee (formerly ‘Pastor-Parish Relations Committee’ or ‘PPR’) is the administrative unit in a local church where staff and congregational interests are integrated to focus on the mission of the church.
As the connecting point between the church’s paid staff and the congregation, the SPPRC facilitates the kind of communication that encourages unity and enhances the smooth functioning of our church and its ministries.
Each paid staff person is assigned a Liaison from the committee, who is charged with assisting his/her staff person in the performance of their job: specifically in terms of making sure they have the resources they need; and making sure they are in good, healthy communication with the SPPRC. The Liaison assignments for this year are as follows:
Dr. Jim Durlesser, Pastor – Jerry Rectenwald (SPPRC Chair)
Cindy Rosaci, Secretary - Pam Watterson
Candace Aikins, Organist/Choir Director - Lisa Fox
Sandy Miller, Treasurer - Al Campman
Rachael Sharketti, Financial Secretary – Jessica Gordon
Della Scalla, Custodian – Dave Hinckley
If you have a comment or concern regarding the job performance of a staff person, please direct that comment or concern to that staff person’s Liaison. This is the most appropriate and efficient way to communicate and address issues. And I’m sure everyone can appreciate that our staff would prefer not to have ‘150 bosses’.
As we are called by Christ to be good people, we unite to be a good congregation. And in the spirit of that calling, our congregation simply must be a good employer. That goal can only be achieved with the support of the entire congregation.
Please pray for our committee as we seek to serve our congregation well.
Thank you,
Jerry Rectenwald,
SPPRC Chair
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
Family Hospice and Palliative Care and the Ellwood City Hospital are teaming up to offer a free monthly community bereavement support group for those who have lost a loved one. The support group will meet the third Tuesday of every month (started June 15) at 2 p.m. at the Tree of Life Wellness Center. It will be facilitated by Rev. Jeff Harter, Spiritual Care Specialist with Family Hospice, Hermitage office. To register, or for more information, please call 724-983-6020.
