The Mountain View February 2008

Pastor's Ponderings

The Mountain View

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven on Earth.

February 2008

Pastor's Ponderings....

Falling Into the Arms of God

In Mourning into Dancing, Walter Wangerin Jr. tells story from his childhood.

When I was a boy, I told people that my father was stronger than anyone else in the world …. In those days a cherry tree grew in our back yard. This was my hiding place. Ten feet above the ground a stout limb made a horizontal fork, a cradle on which I could lie face down, reading, thinking, being alone. Nobody bothered me here. Even my parents didn't know where I went to hide. Sometimes Daddy would come out and call for me, but he didn’t see me in the leaves. I felt very tricky.

Then came the thunderstorm … It was usual for me to dream in my tree and therefore not to notice changes in the weather. So if the sky grew dark or gave any warning, I didn't see it.

The wind tore through the backyard and hit the tree with such force that it tore the book Walt was reading from his hands and threw him from his limb.

I locked my arms around the forking branches and hung on. My head hung down between them. I tried to wind my legs around the limb, but the whole tree was wallowing in the wind.

"Daddy!"

As the wind blew he felt that his arms were going to slip from the branches.

"Daddeeeee!"

Then he saw his face at the back door, peering out.

Daddy saw me, and right away he came out into the wind and weather, and I felt so relieved because I just took it for granted that he would climb up the tree to get me. But that wasn't his plan at all. He came to a spot right below me and lifted his arms and shouted, "Jump!"

"What?"

"Jump. I'll catch you."

I screamed, "No!"

But as the wind continued to blow, he changed his mind. He let go.

In a fast eternal moment I despaired and I plummeted. "This, I thought, is what it is like to die?"

But my father’s arms caught me.

Oh, my daddy — he had strong arms indeed. Very strong arms. But it wasn't until I actually experienced the strength that I also believed in it.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. –Luke 23:46

Jesus hung from the tree and called out to his Father in his time of desperation. For most of us, it is only in those times of trouble that we truly experience the power and presence of God. May we learn to recognize our God who is with us in times of peace and calm as well—when our feet are planted firmly on solid ground.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Steve

REFLECTIONS

Leveling the Playing Field
Acts 11: 1-17

In a recent Reflections article I talked about feeling special because we have a position of privilege with God.

In this account, the religious leaders of the Way, the name given to the early followers of Christ, have called Peter on the carpet. They were indignant about Peter associating with non-believers and non-Jews. They were concerned about their reputation and the rumors that would abound from his actions. Reading the 13th chapter of Acts will give additional information for our understanding.

This attitude of indignation is also reflected in much of the practice of churches today. We are so afraid of what people might say, afraid of the effects of rumors, and focused on our place of privilege that instead of attracting people to the God of love and understanding we reject people who don't fit into our value system. We pretend to be open and affirming, but are we really? Why must we inform all who come to the service of the sexual orientation of another follower? You might say, but the vision in the text was about food. Yes, but the implications of the vision go much farther than food. It includes how we present ourselves to others. Do we really need to make an issue of some of the differences we have with other denominations? What about people of color, different beliefs, different customs, different languages?

One of the sayings often heard about sporting events is having a level playing field. Everyone has the same chance to succeed (win).

I really believe this is the message of the vision that Peter saw that day. The playing field is level, we all have the same chance. Don’t be distracted by peripheral issues. See others as equals in God's sight.

The field is level, there is opportunity for everyone.

Peace
Duane

Committee Reports

The Finance Committee met this month to take a final look at the 2008 budget so that a recommendation could be made to the Administrative Council for its approval. With prayerful consideration, the committee has recommended a small deficit in the budget for this year, noting that we have successfully managed to meet or exceed our revenue estimates in the past while we have continued to be frugal in our expenditure patterns as the years have progressed. God Delivers! Also, the committee has noted two additional rough spots inside the budget: (1) there is a new and somewhat uncertain process for sending our obligations to the Rocky Mountain Conference in 2008 and (2) we will likely have a new building with a new mortgage and new levels of building operating expenses. The committee believes that we need to budget adequate support levels for these items, though the actual results may be different as the year progresses. The committee will keep a close watch over the development of all aspects of the budget to make sure we don't run into trouble!

The Administrative Committee had its monthly meeting and took some important steps for 2008:

The Finance Committee's budget recommendations were discussed and approved. A copy of the summary page is included in the newsletter for your review.
The new Rocky Mountain Conference Tithing process was discussed at length. The Council decided to support the principle of the conference's request, though the Council needs to receive and carefully review a regular report from the Treasurer as each month's payments are calculated and submitted.
The Council decided to change its regular meeting dates to the Second Wednesday of every month, at 7:00 p.m., in the Large Meeting Room of the church building. The Council is encouraging each committee to schedule its meeting prior to the Administrative Council meetings so that the topics being delivered to the Council will be as timely as possible. These date changes should also make it easier for every committee chair to prepare news communication for inclusion in the monthly MVUMC Newsletter.
The Council heard reports from each of the committees.
There was active support for the new worship plans for the 11:45 a.m. services, which include an open communion experience every week.

Lay Leader Letter

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" …From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
—John 6:60, 66, NIV

We avoid Lent and Holy Week because it isn't a happy and uplifting time—but to be honest, neither is most of life. Sometimes we come to church all scrubbed up, dressed nicely, with smiles on our faces, and when people ask how we are, we reply that everything is fine and we even boast how wonderful things are—but it is all a lie. Life is not always uplifting, or wonderful, or pleasant, or joyous—but we have been taught the lie that for spiritual people like us, it must be so. So we become play actors, hypocrites—telling ourselves that by lying, we are having faith, and that if we lie enough, the bad things will fade away, like a dream upon awakening.
But in this we miss the whole point of the incarnation! God became flesh in Jesus Christ. Jesus faced temptation, He suffered hunger and thirst, He suffered the agony of crucifixion. Jesus our God did not face these things so that we would be exempt from them, He faced these things so that we would have dignity in them.

We think ourselves so modern and enlightened when we read of lepers walking through crowds, crying out "Unclean, unclean!" so that others could avoid touching them and thus protect themselves from ritual impurity. We tell ourselves we would do no such thing, but we do the same thing! When a person in our society becomes sad, or depressed, or out of sorts—our modern form of social leprosy—they cry out, "I want to be alone, I want to be alone." In truth, they want company, but they tell people to go away to avoid rejection and to make it easier to restore relationships when they are feeling chipper again. We laugh when we remember the days when people dressed to the nines for church and stayed home when their attire wasn't fancy enough, but we stupidly do the same thing with our emotions. We stay away when our emotions aren't presentable.

Yet when Jesus came in the flesh and dwelt among us, and suffered hunger and thirst and heat and cold and betrayal and loneliness, and finally also pain and agony and death upon the cross, He gave dignity to His little ones who suffer. He gave dignity to us! Everyone avoids a sad person, except Jesus Himself who is much acquainted with sorrow. Jesus was the only person who gave the demoniac of the Gadarenes his dignity, the only one who could exorcise him. Jesus faced the man who lived in a cemetery, naked and screaming all day and night and calmed his spirit and healed his soul. How can you think that this same Jesus would be repelled by your pessimism or your cynicism or your sadness or your grief? How could a man who seeks the company of demoniacs be repelled by you?

The people of this world believe in the power of positive thinking and in happiness, and in believing these things, they are very shrewd. For people of this world have only the present moment, and if they are unhappy in it, they have lost something. But we who are Christians can endure unhappiness and sadness and loneliness and backstabbing and betrayal and friendlessness and poverty and hunger and thirst; we can face mourning and grief and even death, because Jesus faced all those things. As Christians, we know that Jesus' suffering was His way to glory, and his Crucifixion was the door to His Resurrection. We know that He ascended on high and sits, alive and well, at the right hand of His Father, where He rules over all things. We can face our own crucifixions in life, because we know that we will share in His Resurrection on the Last Day!

On Palm Sunday, there were crowds who cheered Jesus as the King, but where were all those fair-weather friends when Jesus prayed in agony on Gethsemane, and where were they when He hung upon the cross?

Therefore, let us show that we as Christians are not just Jesus' groupies, we are His disciples. Let us be bold to join Him, fasting in the wilderness for forty days during Lent; let us be bold to pray with Him in the garden on Maundy Thursday, let us fearlessly stand at the foot of His cross on Good Friday, so that we may witness His Resurrection and His Ascension, and join in His triumphant reign. And on that Last Day, let us be among His true disciples, whom He welcomes into His glory.

See you in Church- deb
Source. Ken Collins web site. www.kencollins.com
Copyright ©1995-2008 by the Rev. Kenneth W. Collins. Reprinted with permission.

2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

Prayers For
Wendy Haden
Jackie Curtright

Choir Begins Rehearsals For Easter Cantata

The Mountain Vista Chancel Choir, having just finished presenting it's Christmas cantata on Sunday, December 23, is now commencing work on its Easter cantata, which will be presented on Palm Sunday.

"This is a very rapid turnaround because Easter falls so early this year," said Bob Nohavec, director. "The cantata that we'll be doing is called Let All Heaven Rejoice and is probably the most challenging of anything we've ever done. It's a great one!" As in the past, the choir will also present the cantata at an area church on the Sunday following Easter.

Choir membership continues to grow, with three new members joining in January - Vickie Chapman, Ginny Smith, and Bob Porter. More than 30 individuals have been present at the January rehearsals. "It's great when so many of our members are willing to dedicate their effort and share their talent. I'm honored to conduct such an excellent group of people."

Choir membership is open to anyone who wants to sing. No skill required, just a desire and a willingness to commit to rehearsing at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings and singing at the first service on Sunday mornings. Questions may be directed to any choir member or to director Bob Nohavec (435) 649-6075 (email to nohavec@xmission.com).

MOUNTAIN VISTA RECYCLING! Help the environment!

PAPER
Green Fiber Recycling can now accept more than just newspaper! Bring your junk mail, colored paper, magazines, catalogs, even books and flattened cardboard as well as your newspapers. Tell your neighbors!

ALUMINUM CANS
Please bring your aluminum cans and place them in the bin marked for cans next to the shed. No trash please.

EVENTS

Girl Scout Cookies on sale through Feb 3rd! Check out the new flavor. Remember the cookies freeze well, buy some for now and some for later! Cookies will be delivered in mid March, payment is due at that time.

Valentine's Day Dinner & Dance: Feb 9th The Wesley Bell Ringers at Christ United Methodist Church invites us to join them in a four course dinner with entertainment, free babysitting and plenty of parking. LauraAnnGreen@hotmail.com

February 5, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Voting at Mountain Vista
Scouts check with Scout Masters for meeting locations.

Tuesday Feb 5, 9:00 a.m.
CORC invites you to participate in:
United Methodist Day at the Legislature!
Meet in Room W140 of the West Building (plaza level) – look for the CORC sign! Call Linda at 364-7765
You can also join other groups on Feb 14.

Ash Wednesday February 6th
The Mid-Week Service will be at 7:00 p.m. for Ash Wednesday. There will be special music!
Youth will meet at 6:00 p.m.

February 15-16 Girl Scout Lock in.

Family Promise Dates for 2008
Feb. 17-24, includes Presidents' Day
Provide meals, fellowship, overnight hosts and transportation for several families at Hilltop House. Contact Jane to get involved 282-9765 or sign up in the sanctuary.
Family Promise has a new web site: www.fpsl.org

WALK TO EMMAUS Come "walk" with Christ.
Walk to Emmaus dates:
Men's Walk Feb. 21-24, 2008
Women's Walk Feb. 28 -March 2, 2008
Space is limited, applications now being accepted in the office. This is a spiritual walk, not a physical walk.

INTO THE FUTURE!!

Blood Drive!
Put Mon., March 10 on your calendars for the next Mountain Vista Blood Drive from 3 to 8 pm. This is a small sacrifice that you can commit to, that can and does save lives. Please put your best arm forward and consider donating blood during this next drive. A clipboard will be available to sign up for specified times.

You must weigh 110 lbs, not donated within the last 56 days, be 18 years old (17 year olds can donate with a consent form from a parent). If you have any questions, call the Red Cross Donor Health Counselors @ 1-800-737-0902.

Friday, March 14 @ Mountain Vista UMC
Church Women United Celebration:
"Human Rights Celebration"
Registration: 9:30 a.m.
Program: 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Lunch: Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Holy Week

March 16 - Palm Sunday: Easter Cantata performed by the Mountain Vista Chancel Choir
March 19 Mid Week Service
March 20 Maundy Thursday
March 21 Good Friday
March 23 Easter

Family Promise Dates for 2008
June 8-15
Sept. 21-28- Wonder if this will be at Hilltop House or MV!?

WORSHIP AND STUDY
Weekly Events in the Life of Our Church
See Calendar page.

Changes**: Ad Council will meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Building committee will meet on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Trustees will meet on the 1st Thursday of each month.

Book Club
Feb- "When Elephants Dance" by Tess Uriza Holthe
Mar- "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
Apr – "Eat Pray & Live"
May – "12 Golden Threads"

Adult Study - Living the Good Life Together
The focus for this unit is “Forgiveness: Letting Go”. For more information, call Holly J at 282-2695.

Couples Bible Study - 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, 4 p.m., in the kitchen at the Church.
This is a one-hour Bible study focused on growing in our faith and enjoying fellowship. No homework, just come and share and learn. Also, don’t worry if you can't be there every meeting – join us whenever you can – each chapter focuses on a separate topic! Right now we're using a study called "Faith is the Answer, But What are the Questions?" Contact Peggy and Don Porter for more information: 849-0814.

MISSION WORK
You are one of God's children; I see the resemblance!

REACHING OUTSIDE OUR COMMUNITY:
Mission Trips: Contact Chris Weis 254-1169
- Greenburg, Kansas - March 8-15 Help repair tornado damage.
- Waveland, Mississippi - April 19-26 Continued help with rebuilding from Katrina damage.

OUTREACH IN OUR COMMUNITY:
Collecting
Trial size shampoo & lotion for South Valley Shelter.
Box Tops for Education for local community services
Pop Tops for SLC Ronald McDonald House
Clothing for Crossroads Thrift Store
Canned goods for Crossroads food pantry.
Aluminum cans for our Choir Music
Recycle paper for our Building Fund
Soup labels for Redbird Mission (Please include the barcode and "label for education" mark.)

CROSSROADS URBAN CENTER
Thrift Store: 1385 W Indiana Ave (850 S)
Pantry: 347 S 400 E
Foods of the month for February are powdered or canned milk.
Thrift store items for February are warm clothing: long sleeve shirts, coats, gloves and hats.

Please bring items to the church and they will be delivered to Crossroads.

Sandwich Mission
Sunday, Feb 17: Make/bring sandwiches to church
Monday, Feb 18: Deliver & Serve sandwiches, 5:00 p.m. at St Vincent DePaul Center, 500 West 200 South.
For any questions, contact Geniel Woodward 233-8681

"Oh yeah, these are the GOOD sandwiches! Where are you from? Yeah, the Methodists make good sandwiches."

Love Fund – Provides one time assistance for families and individuals in need.
During January the Love Fund provided food pantry, housing and transportation assistance for 3 families. Thank you for your generous support so that we can reach out to others in need.

Project Linus
Project Linus has 2 "Make a Blanket Days" each month - bring a pair of sharp scissors.
-North Valley- the 1st Monday from 10-2. Our Savior's Lutheran Church 2500 E. 3900 S
-South Valley – the 3rd Tuesday from 5-8 South Jordan Library 10673 S. Redwood
Project Linus delivers donated blankets to Primary Children's Hospital, The Candy Cane Corner, The Road Home, South Jordan Police Dept. and the Children's Justice Center.
Mountain Vista women's craft group again provided several quilts to Project Linus. Thank you!

THANK YOU!

Thank you for the special Christmas gifts from our Mountain Vista family! You are all so thoughtful.
Lorraine and Raedell

SCOUT NEWS

Boy Scouts
Come join our Scout Troop 1012, bring a friend. Boys from 10 ½ to 17 years are invited to join the fun!

Court of Honors 1st Tuesday of every other month in the Sanctuary. The 2nd Tuesday meeting will be in the large meeting room. Contact Sheila for other meeting locations.

Events: Winter Fun-O-Ree, tubing & POW WOW.
Boy Scouts - Troop 1012 Tuesdays 6:00 p.m., year-round

God & Country Programs
Ages: 11 to 17 – 2nd & 4th Sundays
Ages: 7 to 11 – 1st & 3rd Sundays
Time: 1:00 p.m. in Large Room.
Scouts are encouraged to come and learn. Make a commitment to "Duty to God"
For additional information go to
www.praypub.org/DutytoGod.htm

Cub Scouts
Committee meetings will be on the 3rd Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the kitchen or office.
Pack meetings will be on the 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Bring any friends age 7-11 (1st –5th grade) to Cub Scout meetings on Tuesdays.
Cub Scouts - Pack 4012 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Aug.– June

Girl Scouts:
Cookie time! Order forms are on the bulletin board.
Lock in Friday Feb 15 6:30 pm – Sat 10:00 a.m.
Meeting Mondays @ 7:00 p.m. Girls kindergarten through high school are welcome!
Girl Scouts - Troop 2120 Mondays 7:00pm, Sept.– May

For more Scout-related information, please contact:
Brandee Fox (573-3515) - Girl Scouts
Kristin VanStaveren (282-5378) – Cub Scouts
Sheila Anderson (280-6343) - Boy Scouts
http://troop1012.clubspaces.com/

YOUTH

Hello Mt Vista!!

I hope that all of you have had a great January. The weather has definitely made this past month interesting!! Well the youth continue to bless my socks off with their gifts, effort, and oh so many talents. I was lucky enough to have a front row seat to our youth compete in the first Dodge Ball Tournament at CUMC. Team "Black Thunder" fought with much ferocity and were able to pull out a 3rd place trophy as a result.

We recently started our confirmation class on Jan 13. This class is a great place to learn Christianity and Methodism 101. I want to let you know that there is still time to sign up your youth (if they are Jr. High age or older). The Deadline that we will not be able to accept any more kids is Feb 10th.

Our Wednesday night service continues to thrive in so many ways. Our population seems to be increasing and we continue to get so much support from all of you. That means a lot to our youth and myself. We have been talking about how to be "real" with one another in a way that inspires change and transformation in our lives. I know the term "real" can sound kind of vague, but we've been discussing 3 key ingredients of what realness looks like. These 3 things are Vulnerability, Accountability, and Encouragement. It's really neat to hear what our youth have to say about the question, "what does it take be real"? I invite anyone with interest to explore what this realness looks like to join us for a Wednesday. We would love to see you!!

We will continue to have upcoming events and future fund raisers posted on the Youth Board in the Hall. I also wanted to include you with a list of weekly activities we have for the Youth.

God Bless!!
Jason ><>

Wednesday: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Worship Service (Led by High School Praise Team)
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Youth Activity Lesson (Jr. and Sr. High)
Thursday: 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm - Youth Praise team practice for Sunday Service (Jr. High)
Sunday: 11:15 am - 12:00 pm - Sr. High Sunday School
11:15 am - 12:30 pm - Jr. High Sunday School
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm - Confirmation Class (Jr. High and older)

Youth Super Bowl Extravaganza!! Feb 3rd
Come to the Smagala’s for fellowship and fun!
Bring warm clothes and a sled.

1 John 3:18 NRSV
Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Due Dates for Sunday Bulletin and Newsletter
For the Sunday Bulletin: Information due Wednesday of each week.
For the Mountain View: Articles due the 20th of every month. Articles on disk or e-mailed (office@mtnvistaumc.org) preferred.