Methodist The

VineChurch

Different Faces, One Family: Sharing, Caring, Growing

November 2017Galt UMC Receives Award

Last month Galt UMC received notice that we had been selected to receive the Galt Community of Character Coalition Award for Pride in Community for 2017. The notice

makes mention that we were nominated by one or more community members who recognized that we exemplify the definition of Pride in Community, as an outstanding organization that: *participates in events that promotes character in our community; *appreciates and celebrates diversity; and *works to keep our community clean, safe and together.

The Galt Community of Character Coalition is a community-based organization that seeks to create a community culture based on values, goodwill, and accepted character traits by inspiring and motivating

individuals, families and organizations to take responsibility for their choices and actions, to make a difference in the community, and to display and recognize good It’s once again time to start planning for our participation in the Community Thanksgiving Baskets. In years past we have helped provide pancake mix, canned yams, dinner rolls, and canned chicken. This year we have been asked to furnish canned tuna. The number needed is 110, although 220 would be nice. Start collecting now. We will need them by November 12. You can bring them to the church most any time.

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O u r A n n u a l h

Conference will be held on Sunday, November 26, with District Superintendent

UnitedGalt

Debra Brady presiding. Business to be discussed: approval of 2018 slate of officers, and approval

of 2018 budget. All members of the church are urged to attend. Time is 4:30pm, with a light supper to follow the meeting.

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character.

Our nomination was submitted to the Coalition by Betty and Denny Yoder. It included a description and photos of our work in the Sunshine Pantry. Although the pantry is housed here at Galt UMC, this is truly a community project with, at least, 6 other Galt churches and their members providing food, funds, and help.

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St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will hold their 104th Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 2, from 9 to 2.

Coming in DecemberWe will be starting an Advent Study

Suzy Wickland and Pastor Norm will co-teach an Advent Study titled The Redemption of Scrooge.This is the ‘Bah! Humbug’ guy from Charles Dickens’ novel, A Christmas Carol. It is a story about brokenness and redemption. Scrooge begins the story as an unrepentant miser whose greed has caused harm to himself and others and ends with him a changed -- a redeemed -- man. This study will take place on Sunday mornings at 11:30am on December 3, 10, 17, and 24. All are invited to join us.

Count Your

2Blessings……Name

them One by One

On this beautiful autumn day, as the song says, I am counting my blessings and naming them one by one. When I was young I never imagined that life would be so good or that I would feel as blessed as I do right now. In many ways I feel like this is the best time in my life.

Yes, I am thankful for good health, Linda, my

children and grandchildren, our home and

much more. But even more I am thankful for

the peace and happiness that I experience.

It’s the little things that I enjoy the most:

• chatting with the people who came to receive food this morning

• bantering with William Diego

• sitting on Tom Hulse’s new Spyder thinking I could drive it

• riding my bike from Lodi to Galt with a friend

• sitting with Doris Knauss’s family as we planned her service

• attending a three-hour finance team meeting (really!)

• working hand in hand with friends in the church

• walking Pixie around the block

• having coffee with Joe and Pam Carmichael

Life is good.We are blessed.Let’s enjoy every moment.

This Thanksgiving Day I will be giving God thanks for you…...my church family.

With gratefulness, Norm

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SaturdayNovember 18

(Notice the time change)

5:00pmWorship Schedule

*November 5 -- All Saints Sunday with Holy

Communion. Message: “Let’s Be Reasonable”

*November 12 -- Guest Pastor, Dave Thompson

*November 19 -- Thanksgiving Sunday, Message by

Leesa Klotz *November 26 -- Message: “How My

Faith Survived the Church”

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to enjoy one or all of the following All Church tours

Visit the Rae House Museum, 204 Oak Ave. Galt. Earl Arrants will be leading a tour on Sunday, November 5, at 11:30am following morning worship.

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Mike Eaton will be leading an all church viewing of Sand Hill Cranes on Staten Island on Sunday, November 5. The tour starts with a “tail gate party” at 4:30. Be careful - it will be dark and the ground will be uneven, and there are no restrooms. Sounds like fun! Let Mike kingbirdfarms@gmail.com know if you will participate. Meet at the church at 4:00pm.

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Leesa Klotz will be leading on a tour of Cal Waste on Saturday, November 18. Time is 11:30am. Join Pastor Norm and Linda at the dump!Actually this will be fun and educational. Watch for more information in the weekly e-mail.

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There is still time to make donations for flood and fire victims through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Just place a check or envelope in the offering plate. Be sure to mark it for UMCOR.

United Methodist Women

Margaret Luginbill, reporting

November's meeting will be on Nov 18 at 10 am at Margaret Duecker's home at 604 Village Drive. It is located in the gated community behind Raleys. We shall be discussing 2018's changes and then Margaret will be presenting the "Mothers In Action" from our "A Call to Community" program book. Don't forget to bring canned fruit for the food pantry. Luncheon will be served afterwards.

UMW is selling cookbooks from our famous Galt UMC chefs. These recipes are classics and truly a gourmet feast. Please pick one up for only $3.00. They make great gifts, too and the holidays are coming up!! See

Margaret or any of the UMW members.

We are now starting to make and collect Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes. We shall be having videos during our church services,

table/posters in our narthex and inserts into our church bulletins. OCC has operated for many years and each year the amount of boxes grow for children around the world.It is easy to pack and the ages range from 2 to 14. Grab an old shoe box or buy a plastic one at the dollar store, fill it with school supplies, toys, hygiene items (but no toothpaste or liquids), write a note if you wish and then Pray for the child who will receive your box. Include $9 for the shipping or go online so you can follow your box and discover the destination of where your shoe box goes. For 2016 we had 43 shoeboxes and our shoe boxes traveled to the Philippines, Peru, Mongolia and a hard to reach area. Bring your boxes to church on Sundays Nov 5, 12, and 19. On Nov 19 we shall bless the shoe boxes and take them to the next stop. For more information visit samaritanspurse.org/occ or talk with Margaret L. Let me know, also if you would like to come along to deliver the boxes on Nov 19 to the "next stop". This is an important outreach to show God's love so please join in with making a shoe box - gather the whole family and get them involved. My grandchildren love making the boxes. As Margaret Meade said "There is no greater insight into

the future than recognizing..when we save our children, we save ourselves."

Special Note: Our “Daughters of the Dawn” Bible Study group which has been meeting for the past 8+ years early on Friday mornings has changed their name to “Jesus Always” Bible Group. This is the devotional book we were studying with Doris over the past several months. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to continue with it and change our group name in honor of our spiritual mentor. We will still meet early on Friday mornings at 8am. You are invited to join us. Please see or call Margaret Luginbill (745-5571) for meeting locations as they do change from time to time.

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Galt UMC 2018 Leadership and Ministry Teams

Support:

Have you ever wondered how decisions are made

in your church? And you would like

to get in on the 'scoop' of all that goes on, but don't know how. Well this is it!! Join one of the Leadership Teams (Staff Parish, Church Council, Finance, Trustees) or one of the ministry teams (Worship, Fellowship, Nurture/Caring, Outreach/ Marketing, Small Groups) and you will be able to help with the decisions. Training is available for all. Your presence will be a blessing to each team. See Pastor Norm to volunteer and let him know which team might be of interest to you or just let him know you want to help somehow-he will find the perfect slot for your passions, your gifts, your interests.

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A friend who leads the Children’s program in her local Lutheran chuch was telling the children about the rescue of Moses by Pharaoh’s daughter. She used it as an object lesson to remind them of how so much in life needs to be rescued, including the animals in the local rescue shelter. Following a brief prayer, the children began to file out of the sanctuary for Sunday school when a small girl broke ranks and ran down the aisle fervently announcing, “Mommy, Mommy, the Bible says we have to get a dog!”

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photographs and through memories.o t h e r s w e r e r e m e m b e r e d t h r o u g h Norm. Some were blessed in person, while A number of pets were blessed by Pastor

releasedwere blessed and earth - Lady bugs Taking care of our

Francis Blessing of the Animals dayA sizable gathering met for the Saint

Appreciation DayAn observance for Pastor’s

Activities from around Galt UMCThe Roving Camera Eye

5

Denny Yoder asks Emma Silvestri some important questions before she regales us with special music

Farmer John Houck was seen recently riding around on his tractor in the former Community Garden lot.Doing lots of manual labor also was Ike Luginbill. Rototilling was completed and ground leveled out so mowing can be done in Spring.

6Galt UMC Prayer Lift

Editor’s Note: For many years, Doris Knauss has filled this space with Galt UMC Prayer Lift. She did it faithfully

month in and month out. Doris graduated from "Spirit University" to the "Arms of our Lord" at 1:30 on the afternoon of October 16. Her last texts to several of her friends were that she was feeling good and was "laying in the arms of Jesus". She truly was. The stars are shining brighter tonight, with one especially bright as she is smiling and dancing with the Lord. Her last devotional that was read on that morning was from the book "Jesus Always". I thought it was especially appropriate that this space be filled one final time with that devotional. - - Earl

"Challenging circumstances come and go, but I am constantly with you. I'm writing the storyline of your life through good times and hard times. I can see the big picture: from before your birth to beyond the grave. I know exactly what you will be like when heaven becomes your forever-home, and

the church last SundayNine new members joined

Weinel Straton Stockham Scoleri Albrecht Jones Kelly Lightfoot Sir Chief

Michele Alan Mona Chuck Carolyn Anne Clarence JoAnn

I'm continually working to transform you into this perfect creation. You are royalty in My kingdom! The constancy of My Presence is a glorious treasure that is underrated by most Christians. They've been taught that I am continually with them, but they often think and act as if they're alone. How this grieves Me! When you lovingly whisper My Name - drawing near Me even in tough times - both you and I are blessed. This simple prayer demonstrates your trust that I am indeed with you and I am taking care of you. The reality of My Presence outweighs the difficulties you are facing, no matter how heavy they seem. So come to Me when you're feeling weary and heavy laden. I will give you rest."

The scripture that goes with that is Psalm 73:23 which says "Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou dost hold my right hand"

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There is still time to make donations for flood and fire victims through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Just place a check or envelope in the offering plate. Be sure to mark it for UMCOR.

A Mini-Grant StoryBy Betty Yoder

Once upon a time there was a pastor, his name was Norm, and he asked if I could write a MiniGrant request on our behalf for money to “do” the front and back lawn at the church office. The first thing a new visitor sees as they

park in our parking lot or knock on the door of the church office is dead grass and sorry looking little iris looking down at the ground in shame.

Our fellowship hall is a bit dreary and we can use some colorful table covers to brighten up the atmosphere. Yellow, orange, pink and green would be cheerful!

I wrote the story on a sheet of paper, the Church Extension Society granted our wish, and seven of us went off to UMC Modesto to have dinner with these magic folks and pick up our check. I handed the check to Pastor Norm and told him to get to work. He handed it back to me. And we all lived happily ever after?

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Angry judge to jury: “What reason do

you have for acquitting this defendent?” November

Jury foreman: “Insanity, your honor.”

Judge: “All twelve of you?”

___________________________________________________ Birthdays

2 Hollywood Jones

6 Emma Mowery Typos that gnash the teeth 7 Norm Mowery

8 Beverly Sigafoos

Mickey told his mom he was afraid 11 Jim Parrish the pastor would throw an egg at 14 Cal Courtnier him because in his sermon he said: 29 Anita Courtnier “Take my yoke upon you.”

Anniversaries___________________________________________________ None listed

If your name should have been on this monthʼs list, please call the church office at 745-4133.

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Sign on a plumber’s truck:“We repair what your husband fixed.”

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October First four Attendance Sundays

onlyAverage weekly 51

General Fund, excluding designated Total offering for August $ 6175. Needed each

month 6233. -- $ 58.

NovemberSun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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clocks! Fall BackNovember 5, 2:00am change

StatementVision

Norm Mowery Margaret Luginbill

Doris Knauss Contributing Editors:News Editor: Earl ArrantsNovember, 2017

About this issue of THE VINE

one life at a time.!“Building a community of Faith, Hope, and Love

23

UMW 10:00amat Margaret Dueckerʼs

pm5:30-7:30NA Group

23

11:30amTrusteesChurch Council/

am8:00Jesus Always

donationscanned tunaLast day for

am11:30to Cal Waste

4:30pmConferenceAnnual Church

Thanksgiving

5pmGame Night Potluck &

pm7-8:00AA Group

Worship

Worship

3029

5:30pmRecoveryBabes in

am9:15-10:45NSG Group

9:15-10:45amNSG Group

pm5:30RecoveryBabes in

26 -- Sir Chief Lightfoot -- Chuck Stockham19

12 -- Rosie Kumar -- Mariah Diego5

Liturgists for this month

church8:00am at the Mens Breakfast

5:30pmRecoveryBabes in

7-8:00pmAA Group

pm7-8:00AA Group

pm5:30-7:30NA Group

pm5:30-7:30NA Group

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