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Davis United Methodist Church
Crossection Newsletter
May 2015
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A "LOVE" NOTE... (from your pastor)
For some time now I have been very interested in this idea of how we listen to God, or listen for God's voice. This interest has been sparked in part by the Pathway process's efforts to practice discernment by which we seek God's guidance for the ministries of the church.
It's a mystery, this idea that we could listen to, or for, God. In my experience we rarely hear anything so clear and direct as to let us know for sure that God is speaking - and what God is saying. And yet - the conviction runs deep in the Christian tradition that there are in fact ways to discern and distinguish God's voice and God's guidance.
Puzzling over these questions, and trying to practice discernment, have led me to choose a Centering Prayer retreat for a week of my time off this month. The spiritual discipline of Centering Prayer is said to (among other things) cultivate an openness to listening to and hearing God. You can learn more about Centering Prayer here.
In any case - I very much look forward to the experience! I'll let you know how it goes.
See you in church!
In Faith,
p.s. Thank you all so much for the outpouring of support after our dog Tilden's somewhat sudden death this week. You all have been so kind, and it has been a balm.
p.p.s. You may remember that in this appointment year (July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015) I have the benefit of the quadrennial leave allotted to United Methodist clergy - one year out of every four when I receive an extra month for study. I will be finishing out that time in May. I will participate in the Festival of Homiletics in Denver, May 11-16, followed by a week-long silent retreat in Centering Prayer May 17-24 at the Mercy Center, Burlingame. This is such a treat - thanks for the support! (A week of vacation follows.)
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May at a Glance
May 2nd Master Gardener Class: Container
Gardens - Fellowship Hall, 9:00 am
May 3rd Bicycle Blessing - after both services
Davis Pride - Visit the DUMC Booth!
May 11th-31st Pastor Kelly away
See Church Calendar for details and more events.
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May 17th Special Offering:
Peace with Justice Sunday
Peace with Justice Sunday is one of the six church-wide special Sundays of the United Methodist Church. Donations support a broad range of programs in the US and around the world. The annual conference keeps one-half of the donations received in this offering for ministries in the conference, and the remaining one-half is distributed by the General Board of Church and Society.
Examples of programs supported by this offering in the past are:
* The Ohio-based faith communities uniting for peace encourages Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs "to live from a vision of peace rooted in faith."
* In Liberia, in partnership with other religious and humanitarian groups, the United Methodist Church provides a place for former child soldiers to live, recreational activities to address war trauma, and basic necessities such as fresh drinking water and medical treatment.
Please give generously to support this important mission.
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Adult Sunday School Classes in April
Sunday mornings, 9:45-10:45 am
Adult Bible Study - Rothe Room
May 3rd " Coworkers With the Truth"
May 10th "Gifts Of the Spirit"
May 17th "The Spirit Creates One Body"
May 24th "Gift Of Languages"
May 31st "The Greatest Gift Is Love"
Contemporary Issues Forum - Walker Room
Meets between services on Sundays (9:45-10:50). If you have an idea for a forum or an issue you would like to speak about, please contact Susan Padgett at sdpadgett@sbcglobal.net.
May 3rd Resolving Conflicts In Ways That Build Community
with Orit Kalman, Executive Director, Yolo Conflict Resolution Center (YCRC)
How would our lives be different if, instead of avoiding conflict, we saw it as an opportunity to encourage dialogue and build community? Mediation, restorative practices, and discussion of our differences seem more and more important as tools for peace in our polarized world. In today's forum, Orit Kalman will share how conflicts can be resolved in creative, peaceful, and respectful ways. Orit will also talk about the services of YCRC, an affordable community-based resource to help people resolve conflicts with restorative practices including mediation, facilitation, and education.
May 10th Waking in Oak Creek: A Community's Response to the Massacre at a Sikh Temple
with Helen Roland, Human Relations Commission, Celebration of Abraham
The video Waking in Oak Creek profiles a suburban town rocked by hate after six worshipers at the Sikh Temple of Oak Creek, Wisconsin are killed by a white supremacist. In the year following the attack, the major and the chief of police lead the community as they forge new bonds with their Sikh neighbors. A young temple member and a police lieutenant shot 17 times in the attack inspire thousands to gather to honor the victims. After one of the deadliest hate crimes in recent US history, the film highlights the community and law enforcement agency working together to overcome this tragedy, stand up to hate, and create a safe town for all. The video is a project of the partnership between Not in Our Town and the Department of Justice's Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services.
May 17th Mini-Bike Clinic
with Peggy and Dave Gill, Rev. Tim Leighton, and others
May is bike month! Ride your bike to church and come to the clinic for help with minor repairs and adjustments.
May 24th Memorial Day Weekend -- No Forum
May 31st Understanding Advance Directives for Health Care
with Dr. Carol Grench, Family Medicine, Sutter Medical Group
As medical interventions have become increasingly common and complex, many patients wish to have a say in their end-of-life medical care. Advance Directives for Health Care allow you to choose who will be your medical decision maker when you can no longer make decisions. POLST (Physician Ordered Life-Sustaining Treatment) forms are an order from your doctor to medical workers regarding medical treatment, extraordinary measures (such as a ventilator or feeding tube) and CPR.
If you've been putting off completing a form, or if your forms are out of date, delay no longer. At this forum we will have copies of the most current forms and Dr. Carol Grench will explain the choices and answer any questions you might have. If you would like to sign a form indicating your preferences for end-of-life care at the end of the forum, we can witness signatures for each other.
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Davis Death Cafe
May 2nd, 2-4 pm
Davis Cemetery District
 The Death Cafe is a dedicated space and time (with cake!) for folks to gather without a program, agenda, or speaker, and simply to have conversation about death and dying. The only assumption is that we will all die someday; that alone is enough to prompt meaningful conversation. Learn more at www.deathcafe.com |
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Bicycle Blessing and May Is Bike Month!
Come one, come all! Bring your bicycles to church this Sunday, May 3rd. Pastor Kelly will bless the bikes at the end of each service.
 This blessing will be our "kick-off" for May Is Bike Month! This is a month-long effort to encourage each other to ride our bikes more often and drive less.
On Sunday, May 17th, we will have a Bike Clinic, where you can bring your bike for help with simple repairs and adjustments.
You can still sign up online to log your bike miles, along with our DUMC team and thousands of other bicyclists around the greater Sacramento area. Let's see if we can raise the total to over 2 million miles this year (last year we almost made it)! Join our team! For more information, speak with Karen Hudson-Bates.
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New Adam Hamilton Study Starts May 6th
Wednesdays, 1:30-3:00 pm
Revival: Faith As Wesley Lived It -- by Pastor Adam Hamilton
Wesley's message and his faith continue to speak to 21st-century Christians-calling for a revival of our hearts and souls so that our world might be changed.
Join Adam Hamilton as he travels to England, following the life of John Wesley and exploring his defining characteristics of a Wesleyan Christian. Wesley's story is our story. It defines our faith and it challenges us to rediscover our spiritual passion.
Video segments with Pastor Hamilton highlight this journey through John Wesley's life and faith that always circles back to our own faith journey today.
If you are available at our "matinee" meeting time, don't miss it!
Call Rosa Washington at 753-2088 or email golson7373@aol.com to join in, or just come on May 6.
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Race Justice -
A Bridges District Event
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Attend if you are looking for a deep and meaningful time of reflection and conversation as a Christian community to actively and pro-actively address issues of race and justice. The day will be filled with participatory engagement that will empower all present to build God's Beloved Community and be change-makers in the world.
Two dates are available (cost is free and lunch is provided at both gatherings):
May 9th from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at Lake Merritt UMC in Oakland, open to EVERYONE
June 6th from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at Genesis UMC in Milpitas, especially for ETHNIC persons to address specific concerns.
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"Elder Spirituality Sage-ing Circle" to start week of May 11th
Are you interested in embarking on the sacred and spiritual tasks of harvesting the wisdom of your life experiences, reframing the rough spots as lessons, effecting healing, living your elder years with purpose and grace and sharing the wisdom of your life with those you care about?
If so, this six week small group experience is for you. These gatherings will serve those new to Sage-ing as well as those who have attended prior sessions and wish to go deeper. We will meet weekly in circle for 2 1/2  hours each session using the tools of ritual, meditation, journaling, deep listening and sharing, music and creative expression.
There will be suggested "homework" and readings to assist you on your journey to discover a spiritually radiant and socially responsible elderhood. Suggested reading before class: "From Age-ing to Sage-ing" by Rabbi Zalman Schacter.
We will determine day of the week and time based on what works best for those interested. Please contact Mary Anne Ingenthron to enroll, maingenthron@att.net or call 520-360-0326.
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VBC 2015
Cooking and the Bible: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits
June 22nd - 26th, 2015
9:15 am to noon
Ages 4 to 12
Registration: $45/child by June 1st
$55/child after June 1st
Scholarships available for those who need financial assistance.
Registration Form
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 MONTHLY UPDATE
FROM GRACE GARDEN
April 11th was our Annual Plant Sale. This year we had lots of tomatoes, squash, melons, herbs, and eggplants. All the vegetables were started from seed in the hoop house. We propagated a few drought tolerant plants including geraniums, succulents, and iris. The sale was moved to the front parking lot with street view and was continued on Sunday after services. Some people have decided not to grow vegetables this year because of the drought. We always learn ways to improve. And next year we'll discuss a few fresh ideas.
The fava beans have been pulled out and the beds will be rototilled in the next week or so. Then we will start planting the vegetables. Most of the fruit trees are loaded with fruit. We have spent a fair amount of time thinning the fruit. A few trees have very few fruit and will be monitored. We are looking forward to some sweet, juicy apricots, plums, pluots, nectarines and peaches this summer. We had a donation of strawberries last fall and they are looking good. The fruit is large, sweet and juicy. The artichokes are unbelievable! Sunday we harvested 23 pounds and many more are coming!
There are several projects coming up. Besides planting the vegetables we are redoing theorchard irrigation, sorting out supplies that have collected in and around the sheds (do we keep or toss them), painting the big shed, and creating a walkway with donated stepping stones. Later this spring/early summer we will look at improving the hoop house. Come see the garden and volunteer. There's never a dull moment.
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Summer 2015
From Davis to the Delta! The youth group is going on a service trip to the Mississippi Delta in early August! We will repair homes for seniors and disabled people in one of the poorest regions of our country. The Delta Grace UMC mission will be hosting us in Sunflower, Mississippi--home of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer.
In our busy adult lives, we rarely get the chance to embark on a week-long service trip but you can volunteer through us by investing in a teen. We will give more information at services, but consider whether you are able to "buy a share" of this service project by donating $25, $50, or more to send a teen to the Delta on your behalf.
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Pathway Hospitality Team Needs Your Help!
The "Pathway" Hospitality Team needs your help in gathering Best Practices from other churches. We are collecting ideas on how to make people feel welcome, comfortable and included. This spring and summer, when you go on vacation, if you attend services at other churches, remember to notice things that make you glad you went there! If you pick up ideas that could benefit Davis UMC, write the ideas down. If you see something welcoming in a bulletin or other print material, pick up a copy and circle the item. If you remember something from a church you have attended in the past, send us those ideas, too. Finally, let us know about the actions and practices of Davis UMC members that make you feel welcomed as part of our church community.
You can put ideas and print materials in the "Pathway" mail cubby in the office hallway OR email Janice Morand jxmorand@ucdavis.edu OR call Kathy Schinski (530-756-8893). When you aid us in gathering important information, you help us as we strive to make your Davis UMC experience as positive as possible! Also, we encourage you to continue wearing name tags and meeting new people.
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Volunteers Needed for Youth Group on Sundays
Our youth group has a good problem to have: we're growing! Last Sunday, we had ten young people gathered in Grace Cafe. Youth Director Kelly Wilkerson is leading the teens but needs good-natured and patient adults as helpers. Let Kelly know at wilkerson.kelly.a@gmail.com if you'd like to help regularly, on a one-time basis, or be "on call" in case of a last minute cancellation. |
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Do you have ideas for improving our church campus?
When we think of our church campus, we plan for normal expenses such as water, gas and electricity and small maintenance items. And we have recently begun to think long-term and plan for repairs/replacement of major items like roofs and furnaces.
But what about those improvements that would make our campus better? Here are a few of your ideas:
- An electrical upgrade for our kitchen or a commercial kitchen
- New carpet for some rooms
- New surface (tile?) for the Fellowship Hall
- Signs that would greet a visitor and clearly show where things are, including how to find our office
- Office remodel suggested by Pastor Kelly that would make it more welcoming to first time visitors
How can we get started? We can start by collecting ideas and then getting an idea of what they would cost. At that point the Church Council would then consider how the various ideas fit with our vision (Pathway?) and the ministry priorities of the church. If approved, the question of funding and identification of a champion would follow.
How can you help? If you have an idea for an improvement please send a short email to: trustees@davisumc.org and give us a title, a short description, and why you think this improvement would be beneficial.
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From Your Finance Ministry
| | MARCH ACTUAL | YEAR TO DATE ACTUAL | | | | | | INCOME | $30,775 | $85,122 | | | | | | EXPENSE | $31,331 | $80,238 | | | | | | NET | -$556 | $4,884 |
Contribution statements are emailed quarterly.
If you haven't received yours, please contact our Financial Secretaries (Zora Fowler and Rita Mt. Joy) at financial@davisumc.org.
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Historical Notes: Wesleyan Dress
By Kathy Schinski, DUMC Historian
As I write this, I am looking forward to the UMW "Elegant Tea" (now past) which will feature vintage hats, so I decided to research what types of hats were popular during John Wesley's lifetime. Since he lived from 1703 to 1791, the research pretty much encompasses all of 18th Century fashion.
In an era of extravagant clothing for the wealthy and entitled,and few clothes for the working classes and poor, Wesley was quite adamant that Methodists be clean, simple and frugal in their manner of dress. In his dress, Wesley was described as "..a pattern of neatness and simplicity: a narrow plaited stock, a coat with small upright collar, no buckles at his knees, no silk or velvet in any part of his apparel..."
Wigs were popular for men throughout the 18th century, being at times larger or smaller, plain or powdered. Hats were at times larger or smaller as well, to balance out the wigs, and sometimes only necessary as an object of manners, to be carried in the crook of the arm. In most pictures and portrayals of the Wesley men, John appears not to be wearing a wig but to have grown out his own hair in the style of a moderate wig. Some pictures of Charles look like he is wearing a moderate wig.
Men's hats were largely made of animal felt for extravagant styles and wool felt for other uses. Most hats were known as "cocked,"which meant with the brim lifted up like the ubiquitous "tricorn" of the day. Some hats were "uncocked," with their brims sticking out to protect the wearer from sun and rain (tricorns could also become uncocked). Outdoor portrayals of the Wesley men show them in medium-sized tricorns, with the round brimmed hat, so familiar in later circuit rider pictures, occasionally shown. There were also a variety of cloth caps to be worn indoors to avoid drafts and dust, but none of these have been in any Wesley portrayals I have seen.
Most women wore some type of cap indoors, usually made of linen with some lace. The hair styles for the wealthy went from curls close to the head at the beginning of the century to elaborate head dresses and wigs by the end, but indoor caps stayed the same. Outdoor hats could be elaborate "shepherdess" style or simple bonnets. Portraits of the Wesley women that I have seen usually show them with close coiffed hair, in caps or bonnets, in keeping with John Wesley's Methodist dress recommendations. Wesley did not mandate a severe style of dress as some sects did, but there were times when he stated that he wished he had!
Sources:( 1,) Wikipedia, 2.) AmericanRevolution.org" Clothing, 1700-1800", 3) nnu.edu/wesleycenteronline" the True John Wesley", 4.)Hatbox.com"Hat History"
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New Volunteer Opportunity at
Davis Community Meals
Davis Community Meals (DCM) has started a new meal each week on Mondays at Cesar Chavez Plaza (1220 Olive Drive, Davis). The meal has consistently had 15-20 people attending.
A group of 3-5 volunteers is needed each Monday to cook, serve and clean up the meal. The volunteers can buy the food themselves and/or use random donations from week to week. We are looking for a main dish and two side dishes. No dessert is necessary unless something has been donated. The meal is served at 6 pm. Meals can be cooked at Cesar Chavez or cooked elsewhere and delivered. Clean-up is usually finished by 7 pm.
If you or your group would like to volunteer, please sign up at
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4cacaf28a3fc1-monday
Or contact Harmony Scopazzi at volunteersatdcm@sbcglobal.net (530-220-4089)
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Caring Congregation
Ways we can support one another
Meals Ministry
 What is the meals ministry? When a family member is ill, hospitalized or grieving, not having to worry about meals can be a great blessing. So, church members often make meals for individuals or families as a way of caring for members of our church family. How do I request meals for my family or myself? Call or email the church office during the week or call or email Helen Roland (756-3973 hroland2@gmail.com) How can I get involved in the meals ministry? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A GOURMET COOK. Let Helen know you're interested in being on her list of potential caregivers. When a church member or family needs meals, Helen will contact you. She'll let you know who needs food and any dietary concerns. If you can provide a meal, that's great. If you are unable, no problem - Helen will contact you another time. You should know that you don't always have to provide a home cooked meal; you can purchase precooked meals. Most of the grocery stores in town have delis with delicious options.
Prayer Chain
Do you love to pray? Particularly to pray for the concerns of others? If you
 are a person who prays, you can serve your church community by joining our prayer chain. It is often a great comfort to know people are praying for us or our loved ones or the cares of our world. Prayer chain participants are committed to praying for those in need. To join the prayer chain, contact coordinator Courtney Diedesch at courtney_ed@yahoo.com.
Do you need to be prayed for? Or would you like to request prayers for someone you care about? Our prayer chain is a
group of folks who are committed to praying for any need brought to their attention. To request prayers for yourself, or someone you care about, or a concern that is on your heart, contact coordinator Courtney Diedesch at courtney_ed@yahoo.com
Transportation Connection
We need more people willing to drive!!!!! PLEASE let us know if Gail can call you to ask for rides for church members.
As a church community we are called to take care of one another. If you need a ride to worship services and/or events, or if you can provide transportation, contact Gail Mitchell, our Transportation Connection coordinator. Gail can be contacted by phone at 530-574-1176 or by email at gailtalk@gmail.com.
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Altar Decoration Sign-up
The Worship Arts Committee is in need of more people to sign up to bring
 flowers or other decorations for the altar. There are two easy ways to sign up: 1) online or 2) by calling the church office at 756-2170. Do you like flowers but you're not the artsy type? If you would like to sponsor a flower arrangement for any amount of money contact Joyce Smuda about getting matched up with a volunteer arranger. |
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Volunteers Needed to Create New Photo Directory
 It has been about 3 years since DUMC updated the photo directory, which means that it is most likely time to do so again. Rather than go with a photo company as has been done in the past, it has been suggested that Anna create a photo directory using the membership database and personal photos that the congregation sends in to her. This project will require a volunteer (or group of volunteers) to initiate and organize. If this sounds like something you would be willing to do, please let Anna know by calling or emailing her. |
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"Little Jobs"
a little corner of your monthly newsletter
 There are so many ways to help support the ministries of your church, and some of them are quite small in scope!
- Typing. There are often little things around the office that need typing - hand-written notes from meetings or brainstorms, short poems or articles that we want in the computer in order to edit - things like that. Let us know if you'd be willing to have us call you when we simply need something typed.
- Reading. Many of our ministry areas have interesting resources available - sometimes more than current volunteers have time to read. If you like to read and might be willing to read and summarize information related to some ministry area in the church, let us know! Let us know whether your interest and time limit you to articles (for example) or whether you might be willing to take on a book.
- Phone calls. Phone calls are often the most effective way to convey information, but they take more time than a group email. Would you be willing to receive a list of people to call and some brief, simple information to convey (e.g. a meeting reminder)? This would be an enormous help!
 To express your interest in being called upon for any of these "little jobs," call the church office and Anna will take your name and connect you to the right people. Want to know more about how you might find your volunteer niche at Davis UMC? Let Anna know, and she will have a member of our Nominating Committee contact you to find out more about your interests.
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Invitation to United Methodist Women/Men (ongoing)
UMW meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month. Guests and new members are welcome. For more information, contact President Alice Lakin at 759-9978 or Vice President Rosa Washington-Olson at 753-2088.
The United Methodist Men
UMM will continue to meet weekly on Wednesdays from 7 - 8 am. Come join us for breakfast and fellowship at Black Bear Restaurant, 2nd & B Sts. Contact Jerry Beaman (753-4555) if you have questions or would like more information.
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May Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays
05/01 Rita Lundin
05/02 Paloma Campi
 05/02 Amanda Seguin 05/04 Terri Wegener 05/05 Sarah Williams 05/08 Estell Jones 05/11 Danny Stark 05/16 Win Sinclair 05/17 Bill Buchanan 05/17 Susan Padgett 05/18 Bob Medearis 05/20 Bob Fretwell 05/20 Megan Houpt 05/20 Blanche Shannon 05/22 Else Tollerup 05/23 Margot Clark 05/27 Annie Holte 05/27 Judith McKibben 05/31 Chuck Shannon 
Anniversaries 05/23 Blanche and Chuck Shannon 05/29 Jerry and Lorraine Beaman 05/29 Janice and Larry Morand If we don't have your birthday or anniversary please let us know. |
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For Your Information
The deadline for the monthly Crossection newsletter is the 20th of the previous month. Submissions may be edited for clarity, accuracy, or length.
Need A Church Directory?
Email or call Anna in the church office ( davisumc@davisumc.org; 756-2170) and she can provide you with an electronic or paper copy of the most up-to-date church directory.
Quick Links for more information:
Archive of past Crossection newsletters and weekly email news
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Contact Information
Phone: 530-756-2170
Church office
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