e-newsletter May 18 2018

The Moscow United Methodist Church126 Church Street Office Phone: 570-842-7251Moscow, PA 18444 e-newsletter May 18, 2018 Pentecost – Sunday, May 20 – Heritage Sunday What better Sunday to celebrate our Heritage as United Methodists than Pentecost Sunday? Scriptures tells us that after Jesus ascended to heaven (Matthew 28), Jesus’ followers were all together in Jerusalem. Huddled in a room, they were praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit to come as Jesus had promised them it would (Acts 2). Suddenly the sound of a mighty wind arose and flames of fire danced on their heads and they were filled with great spiritual power. Filled with a fiery passion to proclaim the gospel to all the world, they beganimmediately to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with anyone within earshot. That first morning, 3000 people came to know Christ. Thechurch was born and has been doing God’s work ever since. Scripture promises the church will exist until the end of time.Come, celebrate your heritage as a follower of Christ this Sunday, May 20 – Sunday school for all ages at 9:30 a.m. – Worship 11 a.m. –Coffee hour and a display of church history and artifacts after worship.

MUMC neighbors, the Lewis family (on Church Street), have requested we post this notice.Please share this request, and help if you can. The need is urgent.



There's a church member who lives in Madison Township who is need of transportation to and from Church. It would not be every week but just at times when she is feeling up to attending. Her name isRoseanna Van Dyke. If anyone is interested in helping they can contact me at 570-842-3363 or e-mail [email protected]. Thank you, Vicki Herman For information, contact Sarah Shoff 570-430-1094

Start-up Meeting of the MUMC Page Turners Book ClubNEW DATE: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – All Welcome !! 6 pm in MUMC’s Social Hall Call 570-842-7251 for more information Like to read? Pick one or both of the books below (paper or electronic) and join with friends to discuss. Book Copies available for any who wish to borrow one Led by Kelly Pulice The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katerina BivaldA New York Times and USA Today Bestseller. A heartwarming tale about literature's power to transform.\" ―People A reminder of why we are booklovers, this is a sweet, smart story about how books find us, changeus, and connect us. Once you let a book into your life, the most unexpected things can happen... Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley Sensitive, hilarious, and emotionally rewarding.... The intimacy of pet ownership is sweetly suffusedthroughout this heartwarming autobiographical fiction... In generous helpings of bittersweet humanity, Rowley has written an immensely poignant and touchingly relatable tale that readers (particularly animal lovers) will love.” — Publishers Weekly

A monthly article, suggested by a church member, to educate our congregation about Moscow United Methodist Church’s financesMUMC’s Financing of Ministries for Christ Giving to God: Going the 1st Mile, then the 2nd Mile God’s Word in Holy Scripture encourages us to give to God out of gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s gifts of life, love and nurture, family and friends, home and purpose, and the gift of eternal life and happiness with God. Giving that helps our church provide worship, pastoral care, Christian education and mission ministries on a weekly basis is called 1st mile giving. Giving that helps our church continue in ministry over years and decades is called 2nd mile giving. This month’s finance article explains these two types of giving and why each is important in saying “Thank you” to God for your many blessings. 1st Mile Giving – Going the 1st mile means that we first we give to God on a regular basis as an expression of our heartfelt thanksgiving. Moscow UMC’s tradition has been to have an autumn stewardship program, which asks us, “What God is calling us to give to the ministry work of our congregation?” This giving is often recorded as a spiritual commitment to God on an estimate of giving card and handed in to our financial secretary who keeps the records for giving. Of course, finances can change over the course of a year, and this confidential amount can always be adjusted as needed. Dated weekly envelopes are provided for any who wish for 1st mile giving. These envelopes ask you to note the portion of your donation meant for the church general fund and for the trustees’ maintenance fund. These can also be used to for monthly, quarterly, or annual donations. While most people place their 1st mile gifts into the offering plate on Sunday, but others prefer to mail them in or use the automatic bank giving method. Automatic bank giving is easy and also extremely helpful to the church as our treasurer can count on a certain amount coming into the church’s bank account on a regular basis to pay bills. This method withdraws an amount once a month from your account and deposits it directly into the church bank account. Regular 1st mile giving is what allows us to provide all the many ministries Moscow UMC offers to help us grow in faith and reach new people for Jesus Christ. “How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” - Psalm 116:12

2nd Mile Giving – 2nd mile giving comes after the 1st mile. It is giving above your regulargiving. Often 2nd mile giving is for special ministry needs such as:The capital improvement fund – Contributions to this fund can be given at any timethrough a monthly envelope provided in the giving envelope packet, the large collectionjar at the entrance to the Sanctuary, mailing into the church office, or simply placing intothe offering plate. Currently, the capital improvement fund is saving money to repair theparsonage garage floor. When is cared for, the fund will save for future repairs as needed.The memorial fund – Donations given in memory of a loved one to the memorial fund helpprovide items that enhance our worship, our buildings and Sanctuary, or help in mission.MUMC’s memorial fund helped in the purchase of our new church carillon in 2016.Legacy giving through the Permanent Endowment Fund – The permanent endowmentfund, established in 2000, gathers together legacy gifts for church ministries use overlonger periods of time. They include bequests, estate donations, willed donations, materialand monetary gifts, etc. Cash donations can made in honor or memory of a loved one atspecial times: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, births and baptisms, specialbirthdays, marriages, anniversaries, life events. Trusts, stock, bonds, annuities, valuableproperty, willed donations, etc. are best given in coordination with our church trusteesthey often need to be handled is special ways. A recent example of the ministry use of thepermanent endowment fund was a 2016 start-up loan to the Learning Tree preschool, tobe paid back to the fund over time with interest.Other Funds – Opportunities for giving to the flower fund, the Sunday school fund, theyouth group fund, our camp and mission scholarship fund, and our pastor’s discretionaryfund are highlighted from time to time. Your 2nd mile giving adds so much to our Christianlife together at MUMC. Thank you!Our church treasurers and leaders are available to answer any questions you might haveabout our church funds. For inquiries into weekly or yearly giving, please contact ourfinancial secretary, Diane Kanavy, 570-351-4827/ [email protected]. For questionsabout automatic bank giving, please contact our bank administrator, Linda Verrastro 570-689-2843/[email protected]. For questions about our capital improvement fund orlegacy gifts, please contact our trustees chair, Dan Schilling at 570-842-0835/[email protected]. Thanks you for your support of our churches mission and ministry.