September
2004
SIGN
UP OR SIGN OFF?...by
Janie Polm, ASK Coordinator
After School
Kids (ASK) is going into its fourth year at our church
-- IF we have enough volunteers for this ministry to
students at Columbia Valley Garden Elementary School
who are struggling some with mathematics.
Most volunteers
are from our church though we have been fortunate to
have some from Epsilon Sigma Alpha and other friends
I recruit.
This has been a very worthwhile program, according to
parents, teachers and Cheryl Kolano, school principal.
They say they can see a real difference in the children’s
understanding and improvement. They also can see that
the children feel better about themselves.
Some of the kids,
when they first come, cry when they make a mistake.
We quickly address that with kindness and patience and
understanding. We assure them we all make mistakes and
that is how we learn, even we tutors. It does not take
them long to realize that! (Math has never been my best
subject.)
I really appreciate
all who have given of their time as volunteers. I also
appreciate all the goodies donated from members of the
church. The kids do enjoy the cookies and juice -- they
are usually ready for a snack when they arrive.
This brings me to my request from the congregation:
We need more tutors!
I would like as
many people as possible to experience this program.
You will get as much out of it as the children, maybe
more! I would like to have 12 volunteers. We have about
six now. We tutor every Thursday and Friday afternoon
from about 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. We are usually ready
to leave by 5 p.m. Please look into your heart and try
and find some time to commit to this worthwhile program!
Anyone interested please see Sharon Fosburg or me. This
year, there will be a signup sheet in the office. That
way we can rotate our time.
Back
to School, Back to Church...by
Pastor Bruce
I
loved the start of school. The start of a new school
year always meant a new beginning, a new opportunity.
There were new clothes, new school supplies, and new
chances to do better than last year.
This year
Brianna begins kindergarten. She begins with some anxiety
about making new friends, where her classroom will be,
what the teacher expects and of course what to wear!
Remember
when you were the new kid? What did you need to help
you feel welcome? My guess is that you primarily needed
someone to show interest in who you were.
This September
there are also folks who look at back to school time
as an opportunity for new beginnings; for some that
new beginning might be to start this year off by coming
back to church. This is a great time of year for you
to extend the invitation to a friend, relative, associate
or neighbor to come to church. Ask them if they have
seen the ads for the United Methodist Church on television.
Talk about the interesting sermon series your pastor
is doing this fall. Talk about the great people who
are helping you grow in faith.
I think
there is that school-child-like urge to start over in
most of us. I believe that the gospels call us to recognize
God’s invitation to repent and begin again. God’s
grace gives us a free opportunity to learn from the
past and to have a new start. Whether we are like Simon
and Andrew in the wrong job or the “Woman at the
Well” with a series of past mistakes, Jesus invites
us to begin again.
We are
getting ready to receive those who will look to us for
an opportunity to begin again. They will come with similar
anxiety that they felt as children starting school.
Will anyone like me? What am I supposed to do? Will
the people be nice? What should I wear?
We are
given a great opportunity to walk alongside others who
want to start over this fall. It is up to those of us
who have been here before to welcome and walk with those
who are new.
Grace and
Peace,
Bruce
SIGN
LANGUAGE LESSONS START IN OCTOBER
The
first lesson of a six-week American Sign Language (ASL)
course will start the first Thursday in October, either
in a city parks and recreation building or, if possible,
in our church. The course is comprised of a one-hour
lesson each week, beginning at 6 p.m. It is taught by
Jo Blunk, a certified sign language instructor with
13 years of signing, seven of interpreting and four
years of teaching experience. She needs at least five
students to hold the class. The cost is $23. For information,
call 431-8006(c).
The church is seeking people who know ASL and can sign
during worship services but at this point still has
not found anyone. If you interpret or know of someone
who does, please let Bruce know as soon as possible
by calling the church office at 425-4927.
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