S PA RTA U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U RC H

NEWSLETTER May 2020

Inside This Issue:

Calendar 2 Mother’s Day 4

Church & Society 5,6,7 UMW 8

Church Mouse 8 Vacation Bible School 4

Food Pantry 9 Youth News 3

Dear Friends, Just this morning, I was listening to a History Unplugged podcast entitled, “What to do during a Pandemic.” One of the points that was being made was that pandemics are nothing new in history, nor are quarantines. Going back into the Bible, we see in the Levitical law various regulations that are, in effect, social distancing required during plague, illness, and particularly leprosy. It went on to point out that historians have traced that throughout history there was an amazing amount of creativity that emerged. Williams Shakespeare, for example, wrote some of his best work during times when the theaters were shut down due to illnesses and the fear of bringing crowds together. Sir Isaac Newton used time when he was unable to attend studies at Cambridge to develop some of his mathematical theories that changed scientific understanding from that time on. The point being made was that the challenges of the present moment open up possibilities that we may never have thought about or have let slide. Perhaps this can usher in a new wave of compassion for one another. Perhaps this is a time to develop new, healthier habits such as exercise or diet. Maybe this is a time to reconnect with family who we haven’t been in touch with for quite a while. Maybe this is a time for our nation and our world to start thinking about how we are better off working together rather than competing with one another. And maybe it’s time for us to focus on the words of Jesus who told us, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” so that when life gets wearisome, when there isn’t a wave of creativity coming through, when we are just tired of our current situation, we can know that Christ is walking with us and sharing the burdens of today until we find that renewed spirit in our hearts. Stay well, and know that I pray for you all every day. Steve

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ALL OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

LISTED BELOW IS INFORMATION REGARDING ZOOM MEETINGS.

BEYOND THE BASICS: “EXPLORING THE MYSTERIES” (ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL)

Sunday Mornings at 9:30 a.m. Join Zoom Video Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/719693907

One tap mobile (from Smart Phone): +16468769923, 719693907# Dial by your location (other phones: +1 646 876 9923 Meeting ID: 719 693 907

HEALTHY LIVING GROUP

Every Monday Morning at 10:00 a.m. Join Zoom Video Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/121943873

Phone in #: +1 646 876 9923: Meeting ID: 121 943 873

MONDAY NIGHT STUDY GROUP

NEW VIDEO STUDY

Richard Rohr’s The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective Meets each Monday night from 7:00 – 8:30. All are welcome to join via ZOOM

Video Link: https://zoom.us/j/771970415 Dial in by phone: +1 646 876 9923, Meeting # 771 970 415

WEDNESDAY MORNING MEN’S STUDY

Wednesday Mornings at 7:30 a.m. Currently the Wednesday morning group is meeting via ZOOM. All are welcome.

Join Zoom Video Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/716333645 One tap mobile phone: +16468769923,716333645 #

Dial by your location (other phones) +1 646 876 9923: Meeting ID: 716 333 645

READING TOGETHER/BIBLE STUDY

The Wednesday Study group will be reading Love Does by Bob Goff. We welcome all of you to join the Zoom meeting at 10:00 a.m.

Please let Laura Kempson know if you would like a book.

Join Zoom Video Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/389284226 Alternate Phone in #: +1 646 876 9923; Meeting ID: 389 284 226

SATURDAY BRUNCH GATHERING

Join a ZOOM gathering on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. just to touch base and connect with others from the congregation just to check in and share with each other

Join Zoom Video Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/826747498 Phone in #: +1 646 876 9923; Meeting ID: 826 747 498

UMW BOOK STUDY

Friday, May 8th at 10:00 a.m. Join Zoom Video Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/985342966 Phone in # : +1 646 876 9923; Meeting ID: 985 342 966

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Vacation Bible School

SAVE THE WEEK FOR VBS!!!

August 3-7...for all children ages 4 years-8th grade.

12 year olds through rising 8th graders will again "travel" and become mission workers in the community.

High School helpers and adults are needed for planning, decorating, clean up, supervising, and teaching.

Please see Pat Schutz or Melissa Lambert if you are willing to help.

We NEED YOU!

Mother’s Day

The leadership team of United Methodist Women at Sparta in this time of pandemic is holding in prayer on Mother's Day, May 10th, each mother in our midst and in our families. Normally we have collected names and printed them in the bulletin on that Sunday. This year is different in some ways, and the same in others. One of the things that doesn't change for United Methodist Women is our continuing mission to support, encourage, and care for mothers around the world. Feel our prayers that day.

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Church & Society

The Church and Society Committee

of the Sparta United Methodist Church

Pursuing Peace; Seeking Justice; Living Faith.

The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it. If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a river is one of the veins of the land, not potential irrigation water; if a forest is a sacred grove, not timber; if other species are biological kin, not resources; or if the planet is our mother, not an opportunity - then we will treat each other with greater respect. Thus is the challenge, to look at the world from a different perspective.—— David Takayoshi Suzuki is a Canadian Academic, Science Broadcaster and Environmental Activist.

PROTECTING THE WONDERS THAT GOD HATH WROUGHT

On April 22nd we commemorated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The Book of

Discipline of the United Methodist Church includes a reminder of the need for

responsible stewardship of our planet: “Our covenant with God calls us to stew-

ard, protect, and defend God’s creation.” With these thoughts as a guide, the

Church and Society committee has compiled a list of “tips” and resources from a

variety of organizations and publications that helps in our efforts to be faithful

trustees of God’s handiwork. At the end of the “tips” are internet links that offer

further guidance, as well as a list of authoritative, informative sources. Addi-

tionally, the committee has included a link to a “Seafood Watch” chart that

“helps consumers and businesses choose seafood that’s fished or farmed in ways

that support a healthy ocean, now and for future generations.”

HOW TO BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF OUR PLANET WE CAN MAKE

A DIFFERENCE.

“One individual cannot possibly make a difference, alone. It is individual efforts,

collectively, that make a noticeable difference—all the difference in the world!”

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, primatologist

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TIPS IN THE NATURAL WORLD: Plant a tree or donate a tree. Pull out invasive plants in your yard or garden and replace them with native ones. Conserve water outdoors by only watering your lawn in the early morning or late at night and only when necessary. Use drought-resistant plants in dry areas.

IN THE HOME: Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products. Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with efficient CFLs or LEDs. Use cloth towels instead of paper ones. Compost kitchen scraps for use in your garden — turning waste into fertilizer. Add coffee grounds and ground eggshells to your garden soil. Fix leaky faucets and showerheads. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full to save water and energy. Wash your clothes only when necessary; use cold water and line dry. Turn off and unplug electronics you’re not using. This includes turning off your computer at night. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Install solar panels on your roof. Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer to reduce your carbon foot-print by 2,000 pounds. Lower the temperature on your water heater. Contact your utility company and find out about renewable energy options. Use energy-efficient appliances and electronics. Recycle batteries from small appliances and your electronics. Use rechargeable batteries instead! Stop using plastic party supplies. Ban all Styrofoam from your home.

IN RECYCLYING CHOICES: Stop using disposable plastics, especially single-use plastics like bottles, bags and straws. Recycle paper, plastic, and glass. Donate your old clothes and home goods instead of throwing them out. When you need something, consider buying used items. When you need to use paper, make sure it’s 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

IN YOUR PERSONAL CHOICES: Carpool, ride your bike, use public transportation or drive an electric or hybrid car. Keep your tires properly inflated and get better gas mileage. Change your car’s air filter regularly. Change your paper bills to online billing. Read documents online instead of printing them. Use reusable bottles for water, and reusable mugs for coffee. Bring reusable bags when you shop. Take a shorter shower and use a water-saving shower head. Volunteer for a local environmental group and/or make a donation. Take the stairs instead of the elevator to save energy (and get exercise). Use reef-safe sunblock (mineral or physical sunblocks). Fourteen thousand tons of sunblock end up in the oceans each year, destroying coral reefs. Consider planning a “stay-cation” at times in place of fuel-guzzling airline vacations and car excursions.

IN THE WORKPLACE: Set your office printer to print two-sided. Collect used printer, fax, and copier cartridges to recycle. Pack your lunch in a reusable bag. Form a “green team” at your office to find cost-effective ways to conserve resources and promote sustainability.

IN THE SCHOOL: Convince your school district or office building to choose reusable utensils, trays, and dishes in the cafeteria. Organize to have healthy, locally-sourced food served at in your school district.

Church & Society

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Church & Society

LINKS TO USEFUL RESOURCES: https://www.dropps.com/ Laundry detergent that is plant based and comes in plastic free containers https://www.blueland.com/ Cleaning supplies and hand soap that are delivered plastic free. Little tabs of cleaning supplies and soap that dissolve in water https://ethique.com/ Shampoo and Conditioner BARS - delivered without plastic and no extra water. Last a LONG time. Much longer than your typical bottle of shampoo or conditioner http://www.toadshade.com/plants.html Native NJ seeds and plants conditioned to the NJ environment “SEAFOOD WATCH” LINK: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/ Science-based recommendations that help consumers and businesses make ocean-friendly seafood choices BOOKS ON CLIMATE CHANGE: Listing by Ann Freeman Price: Below are a few of the books I have read on climate change, and would recommend to others. I have given just a few comments on each book. Falter—Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out by Bill McKibben. McKibben wrote his first book on climate change in 1988 titled The End of Nature. Now he is following up with this powerful up-date. Ocean of Insight—A Sailor’s Voyage from Despair to Hope by Heather Lyn Mann. This is an insightful book both about mindfulness and about sailing. She relates some of the sailing evidence she and her husband found in a year or more of sailing in a small sloop. Early Spring—An ecologist and her children wake to a warming world by Amy Seidl. This is a quiet book that grew on me as I read about this woman and her family and her observations about climate change in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Earth Talk—Expert Answers to Everyday Questions About the Environment by E—The Environmental Magazine. This is a book of questions and answers about the environment. I’m browsing through it and finding that their answers are concise and helpful. Plus, at the end of each answer, they have a “Contacts” short paragraph which gives websites, or-ganizations, and phone numbers where you can learn more. This is just a beginning list. Your library has many more books on the subject.

TIPS (Continued)

IN WHAT WE EAT: Buy local food to reduce the distance from farm to fork. Buy straight from the farm, frequent your local farmers’ market, or join a local food co-op. Buy organic food to keep your body and the environment free of toxic pesticides. Support farmers and companies who use organic ingredients. Grow your own organic garden, or join a farm-share group. Reduce your meat consumption to curb carbon emissions from the livestock industry.

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Church Mouse Thrift Shop

United Methodist Women

UMW BOOK WORMS

Continues on Zoom Friday, May 8, at 10am on Zoom will be our next meeting of the BookWorm group for United Methodist Women. The book we will discuss is How the Woman at the Well Became the Well Woman by Donna Rhodes. Be sure to look at the church worship service email you receive on your computer the Sunday before and it will be a Zoom link for the book group. We will also decide on a book for May. Any questions email annfreemanprice@gmail.com or call her at 973-383-5014.

Be sure to join us.

Please be aware that the Church Mouse Thrift

Shop is closed until further notice.

No donations are being accepted at this time.

Thank you!

HEALTHIER LIVING NOW MEETING EVERY MONDAY ON ZOOM The Healthier Living group is meeting every Monday now at 10 a.m. on Zoom. Join us whether you’ve read the book or not. Here’s our probable schedule of chapters: May 4 - Chapter 23—Fad-Free Eating and Chapter 24—Pink Ribbons and Red Hearts and the con-clusion to that section: Is Your Body Healthy? May 11 - Introduction to the next section: Relationships and Health; Chapter 25—Exiting Stage Left and Chapter 26—Trigger Happy May 18 - Chapter 27—Vitamin T and Chapter 28—Me, You, and “i” May 25 - Chapter 29—Find Your People and Chapter 30—Crazy Runner Girl It’s a good time to meet together and encourage each other in staying as healthy as we possibly can.

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Food Pantry

Our state and nation have never been in a fight like this before. Our first responders and health care workers are saving lives every day -- so can you. Your family, your friends, your neighbors -- their lives are literally in your hands. How would you feel if you infected them? So: Wash your hands. Stay home. It's easy, it's simple. Do your part. Keep your distance, save a life. Together let's show the world we're Jersey Strong.

The Sparta Ecumenical Food Pantry urgently needs donations to meet increasing demand. Please remember your neighbors in need when you shop for your families.

As you can imagine, demand is up. In the current environment, we are unable to continue monthly collections at Stop & Shop, which yielded more than 15 full baskets of food and more than $500 cash contributions on a weekend collection.

Most needed are pasta & sauce, PB&J, mac & cheese, canned soup, canned tuna or chicken, meal-in-a-can (beef stew, ravioli, SpaghettiOs, beefaroni, etc.), cereal, coffee/tea, canned veggies and fruit, kid-friendly snacks, including pudding and jello. The Pantry can also use feminine hygiene products, shampoo & conditioner, diapers and pet food (smaller bags). If you come across toilet paper, hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes and can part with them, please do.

Remember that many of the Pantry families have kids who are now at home all day, so consider including kid-friendly snacks and cereals.

Donations can be dropped off at the Sparta Presbyterian Church during Pantry hours: Wednesdays - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Thursdays - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Fridays - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Thanks for your support of this important ministry.

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SPARTA

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 71 Sparta Avenue Sparta, NJ 07871 973.729.7773 spartaumc.org

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