~ Pastor Sarah

Hope for Haiti Meal Packing Event  

This Saturday, September 24th at Saddleback College. This is a great "hands-on" mission experience for families with young children; if your child can hold a cup and pour rice from it, they can help! More information can be found at www.hopeforhaitiproject.com. If you have any questions, please contact Sheri Callen at dolphin.sheri@cox.net or Paul Gates at paulg@kidsaroundtheworld.com or (949) 338-8035. 

Prayer Summit 2011-
This Weekend

You are cordially invited to our Prayer Ministry's inaugural Prayer Summit, "A Practical Look at Private and Corporate Prayer". Over the course of the weekend we will try to uncover the mysteries around prayer through the leadership of Paul Walterman.  

 

September 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th: Friday (7-9 pm) and Saturday (10 am to 3 pm) sessions will be held at SOTH.  Sunday's session is scheduled from 6-7:30 pm here at SMUMC.  Attend any or all of the sessions.  This is a FREE event, you only need to register if childcare is needed.  Find more details here.     

Fall Focus Groups

 

Groups begin the week of Sunday, October 9^th. The series is based on Rev. Mike Slaughter's book, Change the World: Recovering the Message and Mission of Jesus, and will last for four sessions. Small groups are offered at 5 different times of the week and sign-ups are at the Message Center.  For more information, please contact John Schoettger.       

Lazy W Ranch BBQ - Saturday, Oct. 15^th. This is an annual event full of fun, friends, fellowship and of course, delicious Spanish-style Deep Pit Barbecue.  There will be fun for all ages, and plenty of food to go around.  For the younger BBQ fans, there will be a bounce house and a rock-climbing wall!  Tickets are $15 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-11.  Contact Mark Burke or the church office for further ticket info.   

Positive Parenting Class

 

This fall Shepherd of the Hills (SOTH) will be offering a positive parenting class on Wednesday mornings. Improve parenting skills and increase family love and harmony!  Details here.     

Ralphs Community Contribution Program

 

If you are a Ralphs shopper, then SMUMC can benefit!!  Just shop, swipe your card and earn money for your church!  Participants are required to register or re-register for the new term starting September 1, 2011.

 

Instructions to register: Log in to your account (or create one first if you don't have one) at www.ralphs.com.  Go to 'My Account', then 'Account Settings', then 'Community Rewards', then if it asks for your address, provide it.  The next screen asks you to enter the name or number of the organization, our number is 91582.  Santa Margarita UMC should pop up to be selected and then click 'Save'!  Call Liz at our office if you have questions.       

Advent Devotional

 

This year the Prayer Ministry team will be compiling a Daily Advent Devotional that will start on Thanksgiving and end on Christmas, but we need your help.  We would like to include as many people as we can from Santa Margarita and Shepherd of the Hills.  We encourage you to consider submitting a story, poem, prayer, artwork, photo, etc or a combination of both, either by yourself, with your family, or with a friend.  More information will be coming in the next couple of weeks.  For now, please prayerfully consider taking part and discovering what a blessing it can be to open up and share your God experiences with your church family.  

Want to Know More About the Cooperative Parish? Check Out the Newsletter!

 
The development of blended practices and ministry programs are a key part of the Cooperative Parish transition, in anticipation of our unification as one church.  The plans for each ministry area will be presented to the entire congregation during the Congregational Checkpoint meetings, which are planned for November, February, and April.  Read about this and more in our August newsletter.