News http://www.websterfirstumc.org/ en jastroud@swbell.net Copyright 2012 2012-05-11T00:12:12+00:00 Bike-a-Palooza Bike Safety Event May 19 http://www.websterfirstumc.org/bike_a_palooza_bike_safety_event_may_19 http://www.websterfirstumc.org/bike_a_palooza_bike_safety_event_may_19#When:00:12:12Z First United Methodist Church at 600 N. Bompart will host a bike safety event for all ages on May 19 from 10 a.m. to noon.

This fun event will be open to all in the neighborhood.

  • Ride through “Cycle City”
  • Visits by WG Police & Fire Dept
  • Free bike safety inspections by The Hub 
  • Helmet Decorating  Bike Parade  
  • Free helmet fittings by BJC Children’s Hospital*
  • “Fuel Station” with refreshments for sale
  • Drop off used bikes to be rehabbed for children in need (donate $ for helmets too!)

BJC Children's Hospital will have helmets available for purchase for $10. If you would like to purchase a helmet, please let us know how many by emailing eventsfumc@gmail.com or call 314-961-4133.

Registration forms can be downloaded here.

]]> 2012-05-11T00:12:12+00:00 Meditation Service Is May 19 http://www.websterfirstumc.org/meditation_service_is_may_19 http://www.websterfirstumc.org/meditation_service_is_may_19#When:23:37:10Z Our quarterly meditation service will be held at 5 p.m. on May 19th.  Please come and experience worship in a contemplative style.  We are planning to intersperse musical interludes, readings, and silences, followed by open-table Communion.  Please invite others to attend with you, as this worship style may speak to those unfamiliar with traditional church services.  See you there, Linda Shantz

]]> 2012-04-24T23:37:10+00:00 Dates For Healthy Church Initiative Events http://www.websterfirstumc.org/dates_for_healthy_church_initiative_events http://www.websterfirstumc.org/dates_for_healthy_church_initiative_events#When:23:34:52Z Our church will have its consultation on the Healthy Church Initiative the weekend of April 27-29. We invite you to come be a part of visioning for our future!

++++Weekend Schedule of Events:++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday, April 27,  9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Staff Interviews
   7 to 8:30p.m. Member Focus Group

Saturday, April 28,  9 – 10 a.m.  Church Council Meeting
10:15 a.m. - 3 p.m. - ALL CHURCH WORKSHOP (All Worshippers Welcome)

Sunday, April 29  9 -9:30 a.m. Coffee and Donut Fellowship
   9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Sunday School Hour
   10:45 -11:45 a.m. Shared (joint) Worship Service
   Noon-12:30 p.m. Reading of the HCI Report (All Worshippers Welcome)


+++++Town Hall Meetings: For questions and discussion.  Pick one or come to all ++++++

Sunday, May 6 12:15 - 1p.m. Potluck Dinner
   1- 2:30 p.m.          First Town Hall Meeting

Saturday, May 12th  8 - 9:30 a.m. Second Town Hall Meeting

Wed, May 23rd     6:30 - 8 p.m. Third Town Hall Meeting

++++++Church Conference Meeting, District Superintendent Presiding+++++++++++++

Tuesday, June 5  7- 7:30 p.m. All Church Member Vote
     
• This meeting is to vote to accept or reject the HCI Prescriptions (Recommendation)
• Must be present to vote
• Only Members can vote

]]> 2012-04-02T23:34:52+00:00 New Meeting Time For Prayer Group http://www.websterfirstumc.org/new_meeting_time_for_prayer_group http://www.websterfirstumc.org/new_meeting_time_for_prayer_group#When:19:37:41Z Our church’s prayer group has begun meeting on Thursday afternoons at 3:30, and invites all who wish to join at that time.  As usual, we meet at church in the small room off Fellowship Hall at the bottom of the stairs.  Come and practice the power of group prayer; it is really a blessing to the prayers as well as those for whom we pray!  Contact Linda Shantz, 314-962-5131, or Beth Anderson, 314-781-9923, with questions or if you'd like to join.

]]> 2011-11-04T19:37:41+00:00 Roselyn Lindsay Is Our New Student Pastor http://www.websterfirstumc.org/roselyn_lindsay_is_our_new_student_pastor http://www.websterfirstumc.org/roselyn_lindsay_is_our_new_student_pastor#When:17:45:15Z We welcome Roselyn Lindsay as our new student pastor for the 2011-12 school term. Roselyn is a second level student at Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves. She will be cultivating her skills in leading worship, preaching, pastoral care, and small group intentional faith formation. Look for her to be leading a study in the PALS class soon. Please be sure to extend a warm hand of hospitality to Roselyn!

]]> 2011-09-14T17:45:15+00:00 Webster First Moves Ahead On Elevator http://www.websterfirstumc.org/webster_first_moves_ahead_on_elevator http://www.websterfirstumc.org/webster_first_moves_ahead_on_elevator#When:05:33:24Z  On Sunday, August 28, our church overwhelmingly approved plans to move forward with construction of a new elevator and to extend a fundraising campaign to pay off construction expenses.

Our District Superintendent, Rev. Kurt Schuermann convened the  Church Conference where the vote was taken.

As we all know, this is not an easy project to undertake and complete, but all agreed that having an elevator will make it much easier for members and families and guests to get around the church, will make it possible for those with mobility issues to worship with us more comfortably, and will enable us to be the church for many who could not join us in the past.

We will speak more of Phase III of "Growing on God's Promises," and how you can do your part to bring this dream to a reality later this year, as the construction drawings are completed, the building permit and other city approvals are received, and the necessary coordinations are completed. (This would be a good time for all of us who have made financial pledges to Phases 1 and 11 of "Growing on God's Promises" to check and make sure we have done all we pledged to do.) Thank you for all you do in this church to witness for Jesus Christ.

]]> 2011-09-02T05:33:24+00:00 Calling All Singing Methodists (And Others) http://www.websterfirstumc.org/calling_all_singing_methodists_and_others http://www.websterfirstumc.org/calling_all_singing_methodists_and_others#When:00:26:26Z Have you been hoping, this year, to enjoy your Wednesday evenings much, much more than you have in bygone years and also desire to serve the congregation as music ministers on Sunday?  If so, you should probably join the Chancel Choir for fun, music, fellowship, and spiritual growth.  Try us out, if you like, and make your decision afterwards.  You DO need to be able to carry a tune, but you don't need to know how to play an instrument, etc.  The Chancel Choir will sing in the annual Christmas Candlelilght Concert on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 11 and, sometime in the spring, will perform the fabulously beautiful Requiem by Gabriel Faure.

We will begin the 2011-12 Chancel Choir year on Wednesday, August 24, from 7:30-9 p.m.

The following week (August 31), we will meet at Gene and Lettie Morse's home (411 Forest Green Drive) at 6 p.m. for a "Welcome-Back Party." For more information, call Gene or Lettie at 961-5174 or Director of Music Bob Hutcheson at 821-0325.

From then on, we will rehearse each Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.

The Chancel Choir sings at the 11a.m. Sunday service almost ever week from September through May and also provides stunning music for Christmas, Ash Wednesday, and other occasional services.  We have a choir chair reserved just for YOU, one that will remain empty if you don't show up.

In addition, if anyone is interested in learning to play one of the baroque recorders (soprano, alto, or tenor) in hopes of playing eventually with the Recorder Ensemble, just phone Bob Hutcheson (821-0325), and he will help you.  The recorder players rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 6:45-7:30 p.m., just before Chancel Choir.

]]> 2011-08-08T00:26:26+00:00 YouTube Video Of Room At The Inn http://www.websterfirstumc.org/youtube_video_of_room_at_the_inn http://www.websterfirstumc.org/youtube_video_of_room_at_the_inn#When:12:44:10Z Joan Ballam talks about Room at the InnA new YouTube video of setting up for Room at the Inn at our church is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMP7qB-t7Qo It fe.atures Joan Ballam, who is our coordinator. Our next time to host RATI is July 29-30. Contact Joan if you can help.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMP7qB-t7Qo.

]]> 2011-07-12T12:44:10+00:00 Kingdom House – Helping People Achieve Better Lives http://www.websterfirstumc.org/kingdom_house_helping_people_achieve_better_lives http://www.websterfirstumc.org/kingdom_house_helping_people_achieve_better_lives#When:16:55:19Z Our Easter offering will be designated for Kingdom House.

Kingdom House is a United Methodist social service agency located just south of downtown that offers comprehensive support services to meet the needs of low-income families living in the Near Southside. Clients receive brief counseling, case management, access to the food pantry and thrift store, referrals to other services, participation in the Annual Neighborhood Christmas Shop, and the United Way's "100 Neediest Cases" Program. Kingdom House also provides daycare for children from 3 months to 6 years old, programs for youth, employment placement services, job skills training, programs designed to prevent child abuse and neglect for at-risk families, and a senior companion program.

Volunteering at Kingdom House  By Linda Shantz

I believe I have been volunteering once a week in the infant room of Kingdom House’s daycare area since fall of 2004, mostly because I wanted to devote my time and energy to a place where I knew it would be needed.  My thinking at the time was to help the very young know someone cared about them.  But I learned fairly quickly that the most important thing I was doing was to support the staff who care for the children up to 40 hours a week.  The teachers there have opened my eyes to many things: problems associated with living below the poverty level, mostly involving the families of the children; both the difficulties and joys that come with being African-American; and amazing ways of dealing with challenges with faith and humor. I have seen many changes in staff, and it has been my pleasure to work with everyone.  A few of the women have become personal friends.  My appreciation for the strength of these women grows with every day I work there.

If any have questions about my volunteer experience, please give Linda Shantz a call at 962-5131.

]]> 2011-03-07T16:55:19+00:00 United Methodist Women Reading Program http://www.websterfirstumc.org/united_methodist_women_reading_program http://www.websterfirstumc.org/united_methodist_women_reading_program#When:22:44:27Z The United Methodist Reading program has a number of books that are recommended reading, including two reviewed here by Webster First UMW member Carol Gilker.                 

"Road of Innocence" by Somaly Man is a memoir of one woman's life after being sold into sexual slavery by relatives is stark, not for the faint-hearted.  It is available at the Webster Groves library on the reading list in the Social Action category.
 
"Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict" by Phyllis Bennis is a challenge.  This book is in question and answer form.  It answers questions such as "Why is there so much violence in the Middle East?"  "What does Israel want?"  "What is the international response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?"  Read this book (or pick and choose your questions) and see if you get a different perspective.  Phyllis Bennis is a long-time analyst of the region, a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC.  This is also in the Social Action category.
 
Read a book from each of 4 categories (5 to choose from this year).  In addition to Social Action, they are Missions, Spiritual Growth, Nurturing for Community, and Leadership Development.  There are certificates for reading 4, 10, 15, or 20 books on the list in a year.  But the real plus is what you will learn.  If you read one of these or one from the UMW reading shelf in the Fellowship Hall, record it or inform Carol Gilker. 
]]> 2011-01-22T22:44:27+00:00