DOVETALES – MARCH 2015

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
223 Hillside Street
Asheville  NC  28801

The Rev. Dr. In-Yong Lee, Pastor
252-6512

Bill and Patsy Pott, Editors

 

Contents

From the Pastor

Counters

Mission/ Outreach

Birthdays/Anniversaries

United Methodist Women

Church Calendar

Permanent Endowment Fund

Wish List for Claxton School

“My Trip to Mozambique”

Many of you asked me how my trip was to Mozambique. Every time I said, “It was fantastic!” you would say, “I want to hear all about it!” I’m so glad that we have Dovetales, through which I can share it with all of you at once.

Starting from the basic logistics. I left on Sunday, Feb. 1 right after the worship service, and flew from Asheville to Charlotte, and then to Washington D.C., where I stayed overnight. It was quite cold there. When I left the hotel the next morning, I wore layers of clothes, knowing that I would have to shed layer after layer as I got closer to Africa. It worked out really well, and I did the exact reverse on my way home. During the 17-hour-flight in Ethiopian Airlines, I wore long, tight airplane stockings, which I had prepared this time, having experienced painfully swollen legs after a similarly long flight back from Hungary in Oct. 2013. Thanks to them, my legs were totally all right this time. Also, a few friends advised me to stand up and move around in the plane from time to time. That helped, too. The last flight from Ethiopia to Mozambique was five hours long. Different atmospheres at each airport were intriguing. Even though I saw people from all over the world wherever I went, the majority makeup of people at each airport changed as I moved on.

The hotel that the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters stayed and had meetings at was called Hotel Africa Maputo Business in downtown Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. The streets were not too impressive, but the hotel was wonderful. Especially the hotel room was beautiful, clean, neatly kept every day, with good A/C, and very convenient. The only thing we needed to be very careful about was tap water. It was good water, making our skin feel moisturized and smooth, but we were not supposed to drink it or even use it for rinsing after brushing teeth because of Malaria. The committee members were strongly advised to have Yellow Fever and other vaccines before travel and to take Malaria pills which I started taking a day before my departure and continued until a week after I returned home. At first, using bottled water for rinsing felt inconvenient, but soon I got used to it.

The main job of the Standing Committee in Mozambique was to finalize the draft of the Global Book of Discipline, before we present it for review to the 2016 General Conference delegates. The Feb. 19 article, “Plans Under Way to Make Discipline Truly Global” in United Methodist Insight, the online forum for the United Methodist Church,¹ clearly delineates what the mandate for the committee was at this particular meeting. I quote Heather Hahn, “What are the essentials that bind all United Methodists and what can be adapted for use outside the United States? That is the heart of the debate before an international body of church leaders, who met this past week in Maputo, Mozambique.”

The 2012 General Conference assigned the Standing Committee to work on developing a truly global Book of Discipline, reflecting the worldwide nature of the United Methodist Church. That decision is written in the 2012 Book of Discipline p. 43, “Part II Global Book of Discipline.”² On top of Parts I, III-V that are considered essential to the denomination, GC asked the committee to work on Part VI, Organization and Administration, that directly deals with organizing ministry in central conferences. We examined it and made specific suggestions except for chapters 5 and 7, which will be done in the next quadrennium and presented to the 2020 General Conference. Until then, its approval and adoption will not be proposed legislatively. The only thing the committee will ask the GC in Portland, Oregon in 2016 is whether they approve the direction in which the committee has been working. The frequently asked question whether its work has to do with changing the denomination’s stance on homosexuality will be answered no. It is beyond the scope of this committee’s work, and we do not change any content of the Book of Discipline.

Throughout the meeting, the most frequently used term by the committee members was “a paradigm shift.” It indicated the committee’s clear recognition that the United Methodist Church needs a paradigm shift from its self-understanding as a US-centric church, which made the UM churches outside the US some “additions,” to a truly worldwide church, celebrating the global nature of the UMC. Months, even years, before the meeting, Standing Committee members worked in three subgroups to reexamine our denomination’s law book to see which portions of it cannot be adapted and changed, and which portions can be adapted and changed according to different cultural/political/legal situations especially outside the US.

After a few days’ work alone, the Standing Committee was joined by the Connectional Table, for Sunday (Feb. 8)’s worship service at local churches and the cultural celebration, and for Monday’s joint meeting at Hotel Pestana Rovuma. Basically, the committee shared with the CT what we had decided on earlier. CT then stayed for their own meeting, and the Standing Committee members left the next day. Throughout the meetings, special guests including the General Conference Secretary, Chair of the Commission on the General Conference, General Secretary of the United Methodist Women, and General Secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, were present. It was so delightful to see friends again and to deepen our friendships. The fact that we are doing something that is so timely for the denomination and that all of us are dedicated to its work, strengthened our mutual appreciation. I had the privilege to preach during morning devotion on Saturday, Feb. 7, and it was a special occasion for me to share my excitement in the committee’s joining in what God is doing in our church.

I took a lot of pictures, and they show how happy we all were in Mozambique. I will show you those pictures, if you want to see them. Food was mostly westernized, and was delicious at every meal time. Because the Indian Ocean was five minutes away from the hotel by car, which I could see only from a distance, there always was sea food. People there were very kind and spoke Portuguese, because Mozambique was occupied by Portugal from 1498 until it gained its independence in 1975. I learned to say, “Bom dia!” for “Good morning!” and “Obrigado” for “Thank you.” Because Mozambique was briefly a communist state (1975-1990), the street names near the hotel had all the world communist leaders’ names such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Tse-tung.

My trip back home – again in four different airplanes – was very pleasant and smooth. I landed at Asheville Airport on Wednesday, Feb. 11. I was very thankful when I found the church and the family all safe and sound. I am amazed at the exceptional opportunities that have been given to me to serve God’s church and our denomination on a global level. I accept them with humbled heart and try to do my best to do the task that is given to me. Thank you for praying for my trip and for supporting me in these special ministry opportunities. Thank you.

In-Yong

Annual Report of the Permanent Endowment 2014

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church has two endowment funds which are each divided into a principal and an income account. The principal is used to generate income and may not be spent. The income is available to be used within the spending limit policy. The General Endowment Fund has a balance of $ 56,224 as of December 31, 2014 ; of this amount, $ 40,359 is the principal balance and $ 15,865 is the income balance. The Sonja Raynette Whitt Endowment Fund has a balance of $ 9,923 as of December 31, 2014; of this amount. $ 6,849 is the principal balance and $ 3,074 is the income balance.

The assets of the funds are kept by The United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina, Inc. They provide a monthly financial report of all activity in the funds. These reports do not separate the principal and income. The Permanent Endowment Committee makes this separation. The principal comprises all contributions. The income is comprised of the dividends and interest, trustee fees, distributions and changes in market values. The United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina reported the total return for their Diversified Fund (of which we are a member) was 8.32% for the year.

The income of The General Endowment Fund is unrestricted except that its use is discouraged for use on budget items regularly provided for by the operating budget. The income of The Sonja Raynette Whitt Endowment Fund is designated for the Cartright Class as long as the need exists.

One of the responsibilities of The Permanent Endowment Committee is the dissemination of the financial information and the education of the church members. To this end, several articles have been published periodically in our newsletter relative to the Endowment, both to educate and to encourage contributions to the Endowment . During the year, The General Endowment Fund had $ 150 in contributions and The Sonja Raynette Whitt Endowment Fund had no contributions. Other than the trustees fees, one other distribution was made during the year–$1,800 for the Church Web page Project. Also $ 2,000 has been approved for the Multi-Ethnic Congregation Project. This has not yet been paid by The Endowment, pending the meeting of certain requirements.

Anyone wishing a copy of the financial statements may e-mail me at billnpat28@aol.com.

Respectfully submitted,

William H. Pott, Secretary

Upcoming Birthdays

March	3	Lula Myres
March	9	Lucy Smith
March	12	Patricia Murphy
March	13	Adam Sullivan DeGroot
March	15	Graylyn Loomis
March	17	Sandra Crouch
March	17	Evan Penland
March	17	Michael Doucette
March	18	Matthew Noelke
March	23	Eva Hook
March	24	Dana Tyson
March	25	Epifanio Sanchez
March	29	John Thompson
March	30	Maurice Bates
March	31	Cynthia Beard
April	3	James Shannon Roof
April	3	James Shawn Roof

None in March

Counters for March

March 1 Betty Letzig/Barbara Campbell

March 8 Bill and Patsy Pott

March 15 Jeannette Byrd/Bobbye Henry

March 22 Sandra Crouch/Holly Elledge

March 29 Bill and Patsy Pott

Wish List for Claxton School

Throughout this school year, volunteers from St. Paul’s, along with other churches in the “Loving Neighbors” group, have been reading to kindergarteners and first graders at Claxton to help them with “reading comprehension.” Recently. Librarian Jamie Allbach gave us a wish list of books for the library. If you would like to purchase a book, bring it to the church and we will make sure to gets to Claxton. See Jeannette Byrd for more information.

Dork Diaries series Diary of a Wimpy Kid series Liberty Porter series

39 Clues series Goosebumps series Stick dog series

Bone series by Jeff Smith

Magic School Bus series Any books by Mo Willems

March Calendar (Heart Month)

1 Chick’s w/a Mission after worship

3 8:30 Prayer; 5:30 Steadfast House “Our Circle” in Fellowship Hall

4 10:00UMW@B/H; 7:00 Choir

7 8:00 NA

8 Daylight Savings Time begins(set clock up one hour on Saturday March 7)

10 8:30 Prayer; 7:00 Boy Scouts

11 7:00 Choir

14 8:00 NA

15 Flame Builders Multi-Ethnic Celebration after worship@ B/H

16 1:30 Nance Circle@B/H

17 8:30 Prayer

18 7:00 Choir

19 6:30 Ad Council in Ballard Room

21 8:15 UMW Prayer Breakfast @ Mills River Church

22 1:00 Loving Neighbors in Fellowship Hall, last date to order Easter Lillies for Sanctuary

24 8:30 Prayer

25 7:00 Choir

28 8:00 NA

29 Cantata

31 8:30 Prayer

March 7

Some Church Humor

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: “I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is , it’s still in your pockets.”

A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly but there were many cars ahead of him. Finally the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, “I’m so sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.” The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

“Call to Prayer and Self-Denial:

A Gesture of Gratitude”

March 4^th – 10:a.m., Brooks-Howell

2^nd Floor Lounge

Leader: Grace Estel

“Call to Prayer and Self-Denial” has a long history. The basic concepts of prayer and sacrificial giving have remained constant amid a century of organizational and cultural changes.

Today’s “Call to Prayer “ service with its special offering originated in women’s missionary societies of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in the 1880’s. First offerings were for new buildings, “non-recurring items and not the budget” An exception in 1918 designated the offering for “Retirement and Relief for Workers.” Exceptions were made again in 1918, 1929, 1937 and 1939.

The original plan was a “Week of Prayer.” with a ‘day’ within the “Week” for “special supplication.” April 23rd was to be a day of fasting and prayer, “that the societies and all friends of the work may pray for blessings on our meetings and for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the councils” – a time of meditation, intercession and sacrificial giving.

In 1909 the woman’s missionary societies instituted a pension plan for their workers. Each local member was asked to contribute 35 cents per year for pensions. Early payments to workers varied, but much later new policies set the rate at “$300 per year for the first 10 years of service, and $15 for each additional year of service.” A growing personnel force could not be sustained by individual giving; so in 1918 the Week of Prayer offering was for mission personnel benefits, not building construction.

As the three denominations came together in 1940, and as the United Methodist Church was created in 1968, many policies, procedures and plans had to be coordinated. With hundreds of workers and increasing costs of living, the Call to Prayer offering has been designated for “retiree benefits” once every four years ever since.

The 2015 offering supports “The “Retired Deaconess, Missionary Pension Fund” of United Methodist Women.

Members of St. Paul’s unit who served under appointment of the Women’s Division are recipients of these funds.

Barbara E. Campbell, President

MISSIONS/OUTREACH

Human Relations Day

“Thank you” to all who contributed to the January Human Relations Day offering. The total received was $292.50. This was the first of the Six Special Sundays with Offerings.

UMCOR: 1940-2015

“75 Years of Being with Those in Times of Crisis”

This is the theme of the New World Outlook (magazine) January/February issue with 39-pages of UMCOR’s history, presented by decades, with narrative, diagrams and extensive photography and a look to the future.

UMCOR was created by the 1940 General Conference in response to a request presented by Retired Bishop Herbert Welch on behalf of the Committee on China Relief which he chaired. He served as the first director of UMCOR for eight years.

Bishop Welch said of the new Committee, “Our motto is “giving by Christians for the needy, without distinction for race, creed or color. We bear witness to Christ by serving all in the name of Christ.”

The administrative costs of UMCOR are covered through the “One Great Hour of Sharing” annual offering. This enables UNCOR to allocate 100%of money raised for disaster response or development work to go directly t the projects designated by the donors.

One Great Hour of Sharing

March 15, 2015

Offering envelopes will be in the church bulletin. A Mission Minute will highlight both the offering and anniversary. The 2014 offering was $748.50.

Easter/Lenten Offering

Work of Fran Lynch, Willow, AK

Covenant Missionary

Fran Lynch, St. Paul’s Covenant Missionary, is a deaconess Church and Community Worker appointed to the Willow (UMC) Church and Community Ministry in the small town of Willow, Alaska. She oversees and coordinates a comprehensive program including a food pantry, cloths closet, fire-wood distribution, transportation and a book mobile.

Our Covenant offering seeks $1410.

Please give generously when the Lenten/Easter offering envelopes are in the church bulletin.

Barbara E. Campbell

Missions/Outreach Chairperson