Foothills United Methodist ~ We Welcome Everyone -- REALLY, Everyone

October 2011

2011-10-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

October 2011 - After the Solstice

Here are lines from a poem about October that sets us into gratefulness for this change to Fall, even as the Church Season of Pentecost stays with us.

October's Bright Blue Weather

O sun and skies and clouds of June

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October's bright blue weather;

When all the lovely wayside things

Their white-winged seeds are sowing,

And in the fields, still green and fair,

Late aftermaths are growing;

When comrades seek sweet country haunt

By twos and twos together,

And count like misers hour by hour

October's bright blue weather.

O sun and skies and flowers of June,

Count all your boasts together,

Love loveth best of all the year

October's bright blue weather. (by Helen Hunt Jackson)

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Also on my heart is my recent experience with silence. Silence is one of those things that I stumbled across and love but still thrash around for the right words of encouragement for others to experiment with.

One of our contemporary prophets of silence is the Trappist Monk Fr. Thomas Keating founded the centering prayer movement in the 80’s and has continued to teach and lecture. For him centering prayer (silent prayer) is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental, or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with the ever present Christ. Try it, you will like it! “Silence is the language God speaks. Everything else is a broad translation.” (by Thomas Keating)

Monty

Blessing of the Animals - October 2011

2011-10-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

Free Soup Suppers Each Wednesday of Lent

2011-03-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Foothills UMC is marking Lent by following Jesus' call to get on our feet and meet people where they live. Our 6pm Wednesday night gatherings for soup are happening around the Bonney Lake/Buckley plateau.

It is Free!!! 6-7pm

March 23rd: Buckley Senior Center

March 30th: Bonney Lake Senior Center

April 6th: Prairie Ridge Community Center

April 13th: Finn Hall, 10411 234th Ave. East in Buckley

Bring your own bowl and spoon and we'll provide the soup, bread, and drink. There may also be after-dinner entertainment!

Before Lent: MARDI GRAS!

2011-03-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Pancakes & sausage for dinner!

Great Eats!

See our beautifully decorated tables.

Art by Barb McQuage

Kids had a great time!

Food Bank Bingo a Great Success!

2011-02-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

We made over $500.00 dollars with Bingo and the Silent Auction.

We collected over 275 cans of food for the Buckley Food Bank.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

Food Collection!

Folks Enjoying Bingo

Ethan's a Winner!

Jenny is the Grand Prize Winner of the Chocolate Basket

Food Drive and Mitten Tree Bonanza

2010-12-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, December 19th, bring your donations for the food bank collection and the mitten tree. The clothing donations will go to Lions 4 Kids in Bonney Lake and the food will go to the Buckley Kiwanis Food Bank.

Generous toy donations were distributed on Sunday, December 12th by the Key Club from White River High School at their annual holiday party. Over 100 kids from needy families on the plateau played games, sat on Santa's lap, and picked out a toy. Their parents were also able to select a few items for under their tree. Thank you, high schoolers, for serving our community!

Celebrate Christmas with Us -- Everyone is Welcome

2010-11-28T08:13:00.000-08:00

11/28: First Sunday in Advent -- Isaiah 2: 1-5, Matthew. We begin again to prepare for the birth of Christ and hear our church family of origin story.

First Candle -- The Way

12/5: Second Sunday in Advent -- Isaiah 11: 1-10; Matthew 1: 1-2, 17-9.

Second Candle -- Hope

12/12: Third Sunday in Advent -- Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1: 46-55.

Third Candle -- Joy

12/19: Fourth Sunday in Advent -- Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19

Fourth Candle -- Peace ((Christmas Play -- 4 pm))

12/24: Christmas Eve -- 7pm Worship with Lessons and Carols

12/26: 1st Sunday after Christmas -- Matthew 2:13-23 -- A service of Carols and Stories that we bring to share of our Christmas joys and hopes.

Fall Festival was lots of fun!

2010-10-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

Bonfire! Costumes!

Games! Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

S'mores!

Foothillians Put One Foot in Front of Another for Hungry Neighbors

2010-10-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

10 members of Foothills UMC joined more than 900 others who ran, walked, shuffled and pedaled around Waughop Lake at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood on Sunday, October 3rd, all to combat escalating hunger here in Pierce County and abroad.

"Though donations are still coming in, it's estimated that the Associated Ministries' Hunger Walk raised between $225,000- $250,000 for hunger relief in our community and abroad, said Rev. Chris Morton, executive director for Associated Ministries."

The walkers and supports from Foothills UMC contributed over $600.

"We are elated with the turn-out, especially from the more than 50 Pierce County churches that sported teams, and the business community, led by Tucci & Sons, with more than 35 walkers", Morton said.

Half of the proceeds from Hunger Walk will benefit the Emergency Food Network (EFN), Pierce County's non-profit distribution center for nearly 70 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters. The other 50 percent of the funds raised by the Hunger Walk will go to local and international hunger relief agencies designated by each walker, including FISH Food Banks, St. Leo's Food Connection and several other food banks in the area. Funds not designated by walkers go to Church World Service to distribute internationally where need is greatest.

Executive Director of the Emergency Food Network, Helen McGovern said, "Money raised through the Hunger Walk will allow us to purchase at least seven semi-trucks full of nutritious food for those in need." According to McGovern, they have never seen the demand on local food banks as high as it is right now. "Due to the recession and high unemployment rate, she said, more and more middle-class families are showing-up for assistance".

Foothills UMC Welcomes You

2010-08-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

We welcome all who seek to live a transformed life as a disciple of Jesus Christ, recognizing everyone as children of God regardless of age, physical condition, race, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status. God loves you and we love you. With love, generosity, and hospitality we support each other on our faith journeys as we minister to one another, the community, and the world. We seek to be an inclusive congregation and proclaim our commitment to the reconciliation of all persons to God and to each other through Jesus Christ.

A Message from Pastor Monty Smith

2010-07-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Warm greetings -

    I'm looking forward to sharing ministry in Bonney Lake. Like some of your ministers before me, I have a diverse background. Prior to United Methodist ministry I served as an Army officer, practiced poverty and Civil Rights law, and worked in Ashram projects in North India and Crestone, Colorado. These Ashram projects fed an enduring interest in creation care that is now blooming into part time environmental ministry. Personal Coaching for human and organizational growth is a continuing interest.
    I grew up in Spokane where I attended Gonzaga U.for both undergraduate and Law School. I have two teenagers Isaac (who will be a freshman at Lewis and Clark College) and Hannah (a senior at Stadium High school). Snow boarding/skiing, swimming, gardening, exercise, music, humor, good movies and books are mostly high on our to do lists. We have lived in Tacoma for 15 years where I have served First U.M.C. and Browns Point U.M.C. My only sister and her family live in New Jersey. A long time friend, Mary Lynn and I will marry in the fall. She is the executive director of Puget Sound Revels.
    I am interested in hearing your stories and doing the work of Christ together. Grace and peace Monty

Wanted: Christian Seekers

2010-01-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

Foothills United Methodist Church reaches out to people who need a church environment:

* that provides them the opportunity to experience freedom in Christ as they move toward a deeper relationship with Christ,

*where they are accepted and valued for who they are,

*that affirms that they are already loved by God,

*where it is safe to ask questions,

*where all opinions are listened to and valued,

*that values active discipleship, and

*that provides a place they are with other seekers in order for them to continue their journey into discipleship.