The Journey May 2022 Issue

Telephone: (570) 342-8263 Email: [email protected] Website: elmparkumchurch.org Rev. Mike Bealla Senior Pastor “Uncertain Times!” Grace and Peace to you in Great Fifty Days.” For the shortages, inflation, disruption the name of the Risen Lord! disciples who were waiting of the stock market and now for the coming of the Holy the seemingly senseless war I hope the blessings of Spirit, these must have in Ukraine, I think it’s safe to this Easter season continue been “uncertain times” to be call these “uncertain times.” to flow in your lives. Easter sure. Sunday and the following Society has changed as weeks of what we call That phrase is one we well. Employees working “Eastertide,” remind us that hear often today. How from home looks like a trend Easter morning was not the many times does someone that will continue. More peo- end of the story, but rather say we are living in uncer- ple shopping online. Church- just the beginning. As the tain times trying to navigate es seeing online worship as a reality of the resurrection of our way forward? It certain- continuing and necessary Jesus began to spread, the ly seems to be the case as way to be in ministry. It disciples had to adjust to we hopefully are over the seems that many are content “following Jesus” and “fishing hurdle of the Covid-19 pan- isolating from others at a time for people” without direct ac- demic which has caused so when the comfort of commu- cess to the physical Jesus many changes in our daily nity life is needed. himself. The days between lives. Thinking about those the resurrection and the changes directly related to As I pondered this new coming of the promised Holy the disease causes enough reality, it made me wonder, if Spirit at Pentecost are some- anxiety by itself. And then these are “uncertain times”, times referred to as “The add to it the supply chain when exactly were the

2 The Journey - May 2022 “certain times?” Indeed, I’m not sure I ever remember a time in my life when everything was settled and sure. Perhaps in our younger years when we were loved and cared for by parents and grandparents, we were less aware of the changes and challenges around us. Still even back in those days there were times when our lives were not so “certain”. It occurs to me that such uncertainty is the backstory of much of the Bible. In fact, the greatest moments of the faith-filled and the faithful happened as they were led by God into and through such times of uncertainty. Even when people turned away and forgot God, God never forgot God’s children! Perhaps, faith in God and the Risen Christ is about living into change rather than fending it off. Change is how God creates the future… faith is how we get there! I’m not sure I would really want to live completely in “certain times.” The surprises of tomor- row give us the reason to strive to become more and more Christlike in all we say and do. Rather than be discouraged by “uncertain times”, we might better celebrate the idea the God is constantly doing something new! Until next time… See you in worship! Rev. Mike Bealla Welcome to Our Staff After a long search process, we are very pleased to announce the hiring of our new custodian! Rick (Ricardo) Bivens began working with us this month working alongside Mike Heffron. Rick is a member at Elm Park and has served as a volunteer van driver for an extended time prior to the pandemic. Please welcome him warmly when you see him around the building. He will be part of our Weekday Staff working Monday – Friday. For the latest news and event information, visit the Elm Park UMC website at www.elmparkumchurch.org

The Journey - May 2022 3 A Note From Our Associate Pastor Church Family, I enjoyed seeing many of you in worship during our Lenten season, including our Wednesday soup and sermon series. Sharing Holy Communion around the table on Holy Thursday was especially meaning- ful for me, as was the Good Friday Tenebrae service. Easter Sunday was especially meaningful with the special music and powerful message provided by Pastor Mike. It was joy to see so many in attendance. I continue making phone calls and sending cards instead if visiting in-person due to the continued rise in COVID-19 cases in our area. Even after receiving my second Moderna booster shot and wearing my mask whenever I venture out, I have made the decision to refrain from taking any chances of exposure. I hope to begin in-person visitation soon. Please contact me at the church at 570-342-8253 or by email at [email protected] with any needs or concerns. God Bless and be safe, Pastor Andy Mr. Rogers, to grads — and to us all Our world hangs like a magnificent jewel in the vastness of space. Every one of us is a part of that jewel, a facet of that jewel, and in the perspective of infinity, our differences are infin- itesimal. We are intimately related. May we never even pretend that we are not. … Deep down, we know that what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then. … [Roman philosopher] Boethius wrote this sentence: “Oh happy race of mortals if your hearts are ruled, as is the universe, by love.” … [There is a] deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive: love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed. So in all that you do, in all of your life, I wish you the strength and the grace to make those choices which will allow you — and your neighbor — to become the best of whoever you are. —Fred McFeely Rogers, 2002 Our Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

4 The Journey - May 2022 Vacation Bible School is back Hybrid again! Save the dates July 25th-29th, 2022 for Vacation Bible School. Our theme will be: “Food Truck Party: On A Roll With God!.” All children ages four throughout those who have finished fifth grade along with parents and other adults are welcome! All Young Adults and Teens grades 6th-12th are welcome to come as well July 22nd-23rd, 2022 to experience VBS them- selves before helping out. Many helpers are needed. Please consider sharing your tal- ents, skills, and energy. If you would like to volunteer in any aspect please let Wesley Bealla know by calling the church of- fice at (570) 342 –8263 ext. 4 Online Registration will begin May 30th, 2022 For the latest news and event information, visit the Elm Park UMC website at www.elmparkumchurch.org

The Journey - May 2022 5 Our Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

6 The Journey - May 2022 What Makes Our United M United Methodist Churches are unique in many ways. Elm Park UM Church shares these qualities as our members come together in worship, mission and ministry. Our emphasis on Scripture, Tradition, Experience and Reason is foundational in the way we understand being the church. Our commitment to understanding discipleship (following Jesus) is that we are called to continually grow and mature in our faith aim- ing to become more Christlike throughout our lives. Biblically based, mission minded, grace focused , and having a concern for social justice and the love of all people, the United Methodist Church has grown into a world-wide denomination sharing it’s mis- sion and ministry locally and all around the world. And most uniquely, we are a connectional church!! The UM Church is ONE CHURCH! We have a common Mission that is shared by all of our local congregations… that mission is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!” Think of the church like a single business with many different locations, yet all working toward the same goal! While no two con- gregations may be exactly alike, what we believe and how we are organized for effective ministry is shared by all. The diversity of our local church congregations provides for a variety of worship styles and mission opportunities so that all can find a church family where they can grow in their faith. Yet, despite differences, we share our work together with a sense of being one in purpose and mission… no local congregation ever stands alone. In a day of division and brokenness, we stand together with Christ valuing our dif- Soon after the birth of the church as recorded in the Book of Acts, the lead- ership (Jerusalem Council) realized that for the sake of mission the congre- gations needed to have a common connection. (Acts 6:1) The Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth (1st Corinthians 12:12) reminded the churches that they were the liv- ing body of Christ, although made up of many members like the human body, they were For the latest news and event information, visit the Elm Park UMC website at www.elmparkumchurch.org

The Journey - May 2022 7 Methodist Church Unique? First of all, each local church like Elm Park shares the Mission of the whole UMC but how it carries out that work is up to the local leadership. Each local church is part of the cluster of local congregations in their new by area who, working together, might share a particular mission in their cluster area. In addition, each local church is part of a wider area of mis- sion called a District. We are part of the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre District who God has called to serve this part of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Together we can also combine our efforts to accomplish more than any single church can. It’s Better Together! That’s Right! Our seven Districts come together under the umbrella of our Susquehanna Annual Conference. The Annual Conference is consid- ered to be the basic body of the church. Lay and Clergy Members come together annually to “Holy Conference” (a fancy word meaning we listen to each other and to God as we worship, report and plan for mission and ministry. Every local church is represented in the Annual Conference in which it is located. Our Susque- hanna Conference covers a large portion of Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania reaching north to the New York border and south to the Maryland Border. That’s over 800 congregations connected together in mission and ministry under the spiritual We’re not done yet! The America portion of our world-wide church is organized in Juris- dictional Conferences as well made of Annual Conferences gathered in similar regions. The Jurisdictional Conferences gather every four years to elect Bish- ops and discuss regional missional needs. Our Conference is part of the Northeastern Jurisdiction. Also, every four years, delegates elected by Annual Conferences gather with delegates from around the world to discern God’s will for the current and future mission and ministry of our church. You guessed it… That’s called General Conference… it here where the Our Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

8 The Journey - May 2022 For the latest news and event information, visit the Elm Park UMC website at www.elmparkumchurch.org

The Journey - May 2022 9 MAY ALTAR FLOWERS May 1st - Available May 8th - Mother’s Day May 15th - Available May 22nd - Available May 29th - Given in memory of Bill Jenkins & all veterans given by Mary Gordan AVAILABLE DATES FOR ALTAR FLOWERS: May 1, 15, 22, & 29. Please call Marie Priblo at 570-342- 8263 Ext. 10 if you are interested in any of these available dates. Thank you. Our Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

10 The Journey - May 2022 16 John Marazio 16 Merrill Mayenschein III 17 Linda Cole 01 Abigale Pabst 17 Andie Mikesell 02 Lisa Cruser 18 Brian Grassi 02 Robert Dakin 18 Robert Griffiths Jr 02 Lisa Mansour 18 Jacob Harron 02 Nicole Negvesky 18 Darren Wallace 03 Stephanie Adomiak 19 John Price 03 David E. Roberts 20 Edward Dippre 04 Craig Pabst 21 Evan Pabst 05 Robert Armbrust 21 Francis Nasiatka 05 Martha Resseguie 22 Wendy Brogan 06 Eric Hoover 22 Lydia Bunnell 06 Daniel Hubbard 22 Marie Muir 06 Robert Lishman 22 Andrea Mulrine 06 Ian Long 22 Juliana Napolitano 08 Dawn Conway 22 Walter Tucker III 08 Lorraine Newton 23 Mark Brier Jr 09 Ramona Bosley 23 Gianna Lamberti 09 Betty Long 24 Edward Caswell Sr 09 Colin Wilford 24 Andrew Gruden 10 Frank Buck 25 Eliose Janesko 10 Edward Caswell III 26 Serena Biko 10 Ethan Jones 26 Alan Cunningham 10 Chase Magnot 26 Richard Salmons 11 Kyle Reihner 26 Arnold Thompson Jr 12 Lindsay Barrett 27 Thomas E Brogan 12 Holly Donovan 27 Gerri Jesse 12 Coen Miller 28 William E C Speare 15 Linda Dugger 30 Carole Bauman 15 Kimberly Lee 31 Karlie Howe 15 Jacqueline Lishman 31 Walter Pabst Jr 15 Ava Pabst 15 Luke Warring For the latest news and event information, visit the Elm Park UMC website at www.elmparkumchurch.org

The Journey - May 2022 11 This is a snapshot of Events & Activities scheduled for the month of May. A full schedule is available on our website. Should you like to schedule an activity or have questions, please contact Marie Priblo at 570-342-8263 ext. 10. Weekly Events for May Rev. Mike Bealla - Senior Pastor Phone: (570) 342-8263 Ext. 2 Monday 10:00 AM Staff Meeting (L) Email: [email protected] Tuesday 10:00 AM Lectionary Meeting (L) [email protected] Wednesday 10:00 AM Bread Basket (MPR 1) Rev. Andrew Weidner Associate Pastor/Visitation Pastor Sunday 10:00 AM Sanctuary Service (Sanct./Online) Phone: (570) 342-8263 Ext. 3 12:00 PM African Prayer & Praise Service Email: [email protected] Funny Signs! Marie Priblo Sponsored by Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper Betsy Miller Phone: (570) 342-8263 Ext. 0 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Wesley Bealla Director of Communications and I.T. Phone: (570) 342-8263 Ext. 4 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Mike Heffron Director of Maintenance Phone: (570) 342-8263 Ext. 6 Email: [email protected] [email protected] George Simmons - Director of Music Phone: (570) 342-8263 Ext. 5 Email: [email protected] Our Mission: Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World

Elm Park UMC 712 Linden St. Scranton PA, 18510 Address Service Requested In This Issue Worship Times 8:30 AM Chapel Service A Message from our Senior Pastor 9:00 AM—10:00 AM Fellowship time A Note from our Associate Pastor 10:00 AM Sanctuary Service 12:00 PM African Service Easter Sunday Recap Vacation Bible School Announcement Staff Announcement We Are Connected