The Mountain View June 2004

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.

Acts 2:17-19. In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below...

The first two years I was pastor at Mountain Vista, I drove by our seven-acre property two or three times every day as I went about my daily routine. As I drove by, I always looked out over the big, open, empty field and said a prayer for God's guidance in the building of our new church facility. As I said that prayer, there was never any doubt in my mind that the facility would be built in the near future.

Funny thing. Now that we have our first building, whenever I drive by, I just look at the building. Whenever I pull into the parking lot, I just look at the building. My vision somehow is narrower. It is true what Winston Churchill once said: "We shape our buildings, then our buildings shape us."

I mentioned this observation at the Administrative Council meeting the other night. I encouraged everyone, "Look at the field! Remind others to look at the field!" Continue to look at the broader vision for ministry that God has for the Mountain Vista United Methodist Church. With a property as large as this at a location as accessible and visible as this, our church has the capacity to be a 2,000-member church within the next ten years!

No matter how big our vision, God always surprises us by how much bigger yet God's vision is. The next time you have the opportunity... "Be out standing in your field!" Get a glimpse of God's vision as you look around this wonderful property and imagine the possibilities for expanding God's love in an area with a population that is growing in leaps and bounds.

Hi - this is Barb McClellan - new Church Events Coordinator VOLUNTEER. As many of you know our church facility is being used all the time. This includes not only the sanctuary and Sunday school rooms, but many times the kitchen is also used as a meeting place. There are several evenings each week where every room is being used.

In order to best accommodate not only our own church committees and events, but also community events or community groups we sponsor - I am asking ALL groups to fill out an Event Form (even if you meet once a week or once a month - you can mark this on the form) and return to me prior to the 20th of each month. If you do meet weekly or monthly, one form will suffice from now until next May 2005.

If you have any weeks/months when you will NOT be meeting, please let me know in advance so we can schedule another group to meet in your place. If you have any questions or would like a form, please feel free to contact me. Thanks for your assistance!!!

We like to give our fall-spring children’s Sunday School teachers a summer break. We combine preschool through 5th grade into one class and are in need of two or three people each Sunday (June – August) to teach the “One Room Sunday School” curriculum. If you are interested, please sign up on the poster in the church hallway. You can sign up for one or more Sundays. Your help is very much appreciated. For more information, please contact Wendy Haden. Thanks!!

It’s time for another week of VBS fun!! Last year we had a really great time joining Trinity UMC for Bible stories, crafts, snacks and recreation. This year promises to be even bigger and better!! Registration forms will be available soon.

We are in need of lots of help also. Needed are: Teachers, teacher’s aids, kitchen help, refreshment and craft material donations, music leader/helpers, recreation leader/helpers, craft leader/helpers and nursery. There’s a spot for anyone who would like to help! Contact Nancy Peralez if you would like to be part of this very important children’s ministry and outreach.

May 30, June 6	Dean Murphy
June 13, 20	Mikala Ackerschott
June 27, July 4	AJ McClellan
July 11, 18	Nicholas Coe
July 25, August 1	Emily Hartney
August 8, 15	Kaitlynn Coward
August 22, 29	Malory Curtiss

God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and doest live in temples made by human hands.
Acts 17:24

Is Mountain Vista UMC living up to its name? Come find out at the outside 9:45 Worship service. This is a great excuse to praise our Creator and Savior with the Wasatch Front as cathedral. It is also a short-term solution to some growth issues. We are outgrowing our building and summer weather offers some great possibilities.

This worship service offers a blend of traditional and contemporary worship services. It will use the elements of a traditional Methodist liturgy, Bible readings from the Old, New Testaments and the Gospels. a responsive reading of a Psalm, and classic hymns played with guitar. The same message will be shared as at the other worship services, but I have to admit it isn't quite the same as an indoor service when Pastor Steve is talking about Noah's dove and a dove flies by (how did you pull that off, Steve?)

A 9:45 service offers some options for summer schedules or a little extra sleep. It also blends the best of both services with options that everyone can celebrate their salvation with. PRAISE THE LORD! This service time also give parents of busy youngsters a chance to praise the King while their children are in Sunday school, but children are welcome as usual, as always. An awning is set up so shade is available or you can spread out a blanket in the sun (or with the SON).

The 9:45 worship will continue through the summer, weather permitting until fall puts us back inside. Our first service was a blessing; we look forward to many Sundays that are more special. If anyone would like help, they are welcome. We could use more musicians, liturgists, (worship leaders), set up & clean up. Please let Cory Coward or our divine ad-ministers in the office know you would like to help.

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1

After writing about Mothers/Women last month I was challenged to write about Fathers/Men for Father’s Day. I admit, I proceed with a sense of intimidation, since this sets men up—including me—as role models. As we look around us, we ask ourselves, What role models/heroes do our youth have today? You can think of the famous athletes in the NBA, NFL and other pro teams and the astronomical salaries they demand. Yet when approached by a reporter and asked about what kind of role model one athlete was being for the youth who admired him, the athlete replied, “I’m not a role model.” A nice evasive answer, refusing to accept any responsibility for his behavior!

To think of us as role models is a scary thought. If I am like most men/fathers out there I can do a better job of telling you what I did wrong and I would have to admit that I have not received my “just deserts.”

Heroes are usually stereotyped as people who have done acts of courage that will give them a place in history; role models are people who have lived a life one would like to emulate. I believe that the two titles are not exclusive and that our role models are often our heroes. However, I believe there are many unsung heroes/role models that are overlooked, never receiving the recognition they so richly deserve until it is too late to tell them how much they have influenced us with their caring and protective attitude.

I think of my father as a “hero/role model” not because he never made a mistake or because he made some earthshaking discovery, but because of his tenacity and willingness to face hardships and still maintain a caring attitude for those around him and never wavering in his faith. Dropping out of school while in the seventh grade to help support a family of younger children who had just lost their father. A man who spent his youth helping to raise a family, putting the rest of the children through school, two even through college. Pay for a farm/ranch and then raise a family of his own.

Maybe, just maybe, when I think about it, maybe we look in the wrong places for our heroes and role models. There may be one a lot closer than you realize. Perfect, no; caring and loving, yes. Willing to sacrifice for the well-being of those around him, yes.

Just to let you know—our cub scouts will be doing a service project of weeding and cleaning up the field outside the church. The ones who will be weeding will bring their own small garden tools.

Tuesday, June 1 — 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Tigers will pick up garbage in the field

Do you want to share your Christian faith with your Mormon friends in a way that is faithful to Christ yet respectful to them? Do you long for the Good News of Jesus to sound like good news to them?

David Pascoe from the Salt Lake Theological Seminary has offered to teach this nine-hour course at Mountain Vista.

Date: Friday, June 25, 6pm - 9pm
Saturday, June 26, 8am - 2pm
Cost: $20 -- this includes the workbook fee

Pre-register no later than Sunday, June 20. Please contact Barb McClellan with any questions and to pre-register as soon as possible. Invite other Christian friends to attend !!

REMINDER
Sandwich Mission
Sunday, June 20 – make and bring sandwiches
Monday, June 21 – serve sandwiches, 5 p.m.
St. Vincent DePaul Center (500 West 200 South)
For more information contact Peggy Porter.

NEXT POTLUCK

Sunday, June 27
Immediately Following the 11:00 Service
Please join us for food and fellowship.

Dinner size paper or foam plates
Small paper plates
Decaffeinated coffee
Sugar
Plastic forks
Napkins
8 oz. Hot/cold drinking cups
Aluminum foil
Leaf bags
30-gallon garbage bags

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 (mtnvista@aros.net) preferred.