“Sole to Soul” dancing lessons for beginners

Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 PM, Keislar Hall, El Sobrante UMC Dance class for beginners. Led by Jacqueline Seidel. Call Jacqueline at 510-913-8274 for more information.
(Note change of time)

Study Groups

Book Study - "Deepening your Effectiveness",
* 7 p.m. Thursday evenings, in Room 1.
Leader - Laurie Corl

Book Study - "A Hop, Skip and a Jump Through the Bible" (New Testament section),
* 11 a.m. Wednesday mornings, in Room 1,
Leader - Pastor Benson

CHAT - sermon discussion
* 12:30 p.m. (Room 1) Sundays,
Leader - Jacqueline Seidel

Adult Bible Class - "The Letter to the Hebrews"
This class will be led by John Davies until Mike Butler returns.
Sundays 10:10 - 10:50 a.m. in Room 1.

This article by Pastor Gaye is taken from the July "Wayfarer"

Exciting, exhilarating, enlivening, … and exhausting--those terms and still more could all apply to the July 18 “ReThink Church” all church retreat. District Superintendent Rev. Renae Extrum- Fernandez’ whirlwind tour through 2,000 years of Christian history gave most of us a new perspective of where we’ve been and new insight into where we might be going.
Encouraging and exciting as that was, we don’t want to leave anyone behind. We have lots of discussion and discernment before us and hope each of you will choose to participate in the ongoing discovery.
First, if you’ve not already done so, read “Changing the Conversation”--a quick look at 10 important discussions about the situation and choices we face.
For instance, #1 is “It’s all about us” while #2 is “It’s not about us”. How can both be true? Read the article and find out. Copies are available at church, on this website ( see below), and can be sent to you (by e-mail or postal service)--just call the office (510-223-0790).
Second, watch for information about opportunities to participate in small group discussion of themes raised at the retreat. Many participants cited the small groups and experiences shared there as high points of the retreat. They were moved by the depth and openness of faith sharing and the new closeness they felt with others. We look forward to continuing and building on that experience.
In the meantime, Administrative Council chairperson Thomas Gradie is editing the DVD recordings of the day’s proceedings. We will soon have retreat DVDs available. They can be used in the small groups, shown during after-service fellowship, viewed individually, etc. Let us know if you would like a copy. (Call church office at 510-223- 0790.)
Many retreat participants came away with a new understanding of the issues and needs before us and, often, a sense of urgency as well. New insight, new vision, new openness were experienced and expressed in many ways. We saw new possibilities… and old possibilities from new perspectives….
Our chief task now is one of discernment. Supt. Renae described discernment as "that posture (attitude) that allows God to work in and on us." Join us in the process of discerning God's purposes for ESUMC.
The Spirit of God is moving

To see the opinion surveys, and the "ReThink Church" article just click on the links below:-
First Survey (all members, taken prior to the Retreat)
Changing the Conversation
Exit Survey (Retreat attendees)

Special Offerings

We are recognizing the "Special Sunday", One Great Hour of Sharing, on March 14th. The donations provide administrative support for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Then all donations for relief projects can go 100% to their recipients.

HELP!

Share Manna Basket is in need of the following:
• Juice – any size
• 1 pound packages of rice and beans (domestic)
• Spaghetti sauce
• 1 pound packages of spaghetti
• Any sugar free foods
• Jell-O
• Cereal
• Jams, jellies
Please bring to church and put in basket in narthex, thank you.

GRIP report and invitations

The Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) is one of ESUMC's most important local ministries. Joining efforts with 40 other congregations produces amazing results. Join us in our next turn serving lunch at GRIP's Souper Center: March 19th, from 10 a.m. to approximately 12:45 p.m.

In addition to our regular session, five church members were among those helping Christ Lutheran Church serve the meal on Christmas Day

The Souper Center is at 165 22nd Street, Richmond. Call John Davies (223-0428) for further information.

Landscaping and Maintenance

A new job list of ongoing needs has been published by the Trustees and the Environmental Education and Action Committee, a copy is posted in the Narthex.
Volunteers are asked to form small groups to tackle these jobs on an on-going basis - this is a great time to start. Please contact Ron Kamb and Marilyn Mangle about which jobs you are willing to undertake so that the work can stay co-ordinated.

The Men's group continued the clearing work on the East side of the main parking lot on February 15th.

News from Macedonia

January 5, 2010 - Strumica, Macedonia
Dear friends and family,
Snow is falling steadily as I write this, so it looks like our Christmas on Thursday will be white.
I hope your Christmases were joyful and that your New Year is already filling with blessings.

For weeks now I have been working with the children in Strumica to prepare their Christmas program. We are rehearsing the play everyday now that school is out (as of December 31). The big performance is set for Christmas evening, January 7. The children have also been lighting the Advent wreath for the past four Sundays. You can see photos of them at this web address: (You do not have to be a member of Facebook.)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=165161&id=1095500209&l=9cfd524365

On December 25, which is a work day in Macedonia and not a holiday, in the evening at a meeting of the women in Strumica (UMW), Christina Cekov and I planned and implemented a special Advent program. Women from our nearby village congregations as well as Catholic and Orthodox friends were invited. We had an exhibit of nativities made of different materials and from different countries. There were Advent readings and songs, as well as refreshments and fellowships. It was a joyous time.
Photos of this event can be seen at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=166484&id=1095500209&l=4934280b71

I have been back in Macedonia since early December. It is good to be home, although I will be happier when my husband Lee arrives in just a few days. He has been in the US since mid-October, but not in the same places I was. We thought he would have knee replacement surgery in early November, but the insurance approval did not come in time. The surgery will happen... probably later this year. We discovered it is not easy to schedule health care from a distance. But he did have the opportunity to visit his two sons and daughter-in-law in California, his daughter and her family in Virginia and his mother in Arkansas, so the time was well spent.
Since I have been back in Macedonia, I have received many Christmas cards and greetings. I thank you all for thinking of me and for keeping the UMC in Macedonia in your prayers.
I very much enjoyed my time in the US in October and November, visiting churches in the eastern US. I was welcomed very graciously in central Texas, Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Again, I thank all the lovely people and churches who hosted me. I was also graciously welcomed in North Carolina where I took part in the In-Mission-Together consultation in early November. Participating countries were Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia. There were representatives from many US churches, some who already have a partnership with a church in Eastern Europe and others who are considering forming one.
In-Mission-Together has a Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&ref=ts&gid=171409653540
where you can see photos and film clips of the conference. Anyone can see this page; you do not have to belong to Facebook.

While I was in the US, I also (briefly) visited my three sisters and their families in Texas, Georgia and Florida. It is always a blessing for me to spend time with them. They encourage me, befriend me and give me space to relax. At the first worship service of the year, we have the custom of choosing a Bible verse, taken at random one from a basketful of different verses. The verse I got was “So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us...” 2 Corinthians 5:20a. Not a bad choice for a missionary!

Thank you all for your prayers and financial support as I endeavor to be an ambassador for Christ here in Macedonia.
Blessings to all,

Carol

PS - A new newsletter (Nov 09) has been posted to my website: http://www.carolpartridge.com

"Our friends, we want you to know what God's grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia." 2 Corinthians 8:1 (GNB)