A Note from Pastor Susan

Dear Family - How in the world are you? In the midst of all that is going on, I thought this week, we all could use a moment to take a breath and a reminder that things will not always be this way. There is a coming day friends, when all things will be as they should be. Now, I am not just talking about viruses or elections or racial division or oppressed peoples. I am talking about when ALL things will be as they should be. Perhaps, you are fed up with it all. Tired of being tired. Well, the Bible continuously reminds us we are all ON OUR WAY. On our way through this life to the one prepared for us by God where there is no more war - no more strife - no more tears and even no more death. Many may think this happens in heaven and it is true that in our heavenly home, there will be none of those things. However, the Bible says that one day Jesus will come back to this earth and reclaim it for God. It is one of the promises of God and we know God ALWAYS keeps his promises. It is the day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The victory of God in Christ was accomplished on the cross and at the empty tomb. Our job until that day when all shall be revealed, is to stand firm and be faithful. To put our trust in Jesus Christ and make him Lord of our lives. The Holy Spirit will give us the power to overcome in this crazy time if we seek the Spirit and rely on God's power and plan and not our own. Things will not always be this way, friends. I promise. More importantly, God promises and because of that, I live in HOPE today. How about you? I Remain His... and Yours, Pastor Susan

The Grapevine Weekly Newsletter of La Plata United Methodist Church

June 25, 2020

In This Issue

Celebrating 50 Years! June 28 8:30am Drive-In Service The 10 Commandments Charles County Cares Initiative - Updated The Plan! The Plan! Survey Says! Prayer Mask Ministry Employment Opportunity - Deadline Aug 1 DIY Face Masks We Are One Text Your Tithe Kids’ Korner Let’s Celebrate! Let Us Pray With God Nothing is Too Hard Facebook Find

3 Port Tobacco Road La Plata, MD 20646

301.934.2288 laplataumc.org

laplataumc@gmail.com

Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. Susan E. Boehl

Summer Sunday Worship Service:

10am Facebook Live Online Worship

Courage Corner

Give God your fears and let God perform the impossible

in your life.

June 28 8:30am Drive-In Service - The 10 Commandments You are invited to our OUTDOOR service to celebrate together in the parking lot of La Plata Church! Please know that if you feel uncomfortable in any way with this service option or its requirements, please do not come. We want your comfort level to be first priority. Our 10am service will be on Facebook Live as always. NOTE: The 10am service will NOT be outside. Please do not come to the church for the 10am service. Lastly, if you are ill, please stay at home. We know you will be with us in spirit. For those who will be "driving in," in order to be safe and confident in this gathering together, please be mindful of the following rules we lovingly call our 10 Commandments: 1. THOU SHALT STAY IN YOUR CAR. If there are any questions, flash your lights and one of our trained volunteers will come to you. If it is an emergency, honk your horn. 2. THOU SHALT FOLLOW THE LEADER. If an emergency arises, a volunteer will escort you in the building. 3. THOU SHALT PARK IN THE PROPER PLACE. You will be directed to a parking space. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and Trucks will be parked further back, so other smaller vehicles will be able to view the service. 4. THOU SHALT TUNE IN. Our frequency is 87.9 FM. The transmitter will only work for approximately 2.5 miles. Therefore, you will not be able to tune into that frequency from your home if you are out of the area of transmission. Tune your radio to 87.9 FM when you enter the church lot. 5. THOU SHALT WEAR A MASK. Masks MUST be worn. 6. THOU SHALT PROTECT THE FINGERS. Anyone that MUST enter the building will need a mask and gloves. 7. THOU SHALT COMMUNICATE. If you have not already RSVP'd to the Signup Genius invitation, call the church office and let us know to expect you! 8. THOU SHALT NOT FORGET. Wrap a string around your finger if you need to. Don't miss out! 9. THOU SHALT BE KIND. Be gracious. We are all trying to do the best we can under new and difficult circumstances. Follow the directions of those who are trying to help you. 10. THOU SHALT CELEBRATE. Enjoy the day! Receive the BLESSINGS God has in store for you and rejoice!

Celebrating 50 Years!

The family of Addison and Sue Herbert will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 27, 2020. Still in love after 50 years, they have been blessed with 4 children and 4 grandchildren. We would like to wish them many more years of love and happiness.

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.”

The Grapevine Editor: Sherri Hastings

Publisher: Karen Hamner Circulation: 750

Weekly deadline for submitting articles is Wed. at 4pm.

This Past Week

295

251

Facebook Views Preacher’s Pop Up Prayer

Church Income

$ $ $ $

7,259 10,207 10,393 9,127

May 31 June 7

June 14 June 21

“Charles County Cares” Initiative - Updated End Hunger in Charles County, LifeStyles, and other organizations continue to work with the community to provide food, toiletries and information about resources during this COVID 19 Crisis through: • Community Cabanas • Meal deliveries • School meal sites • Curb-side Food Pantries • Groceries • Hot meals The following volunteer opportunities available are: • Sign-up to volunteer to help in the Community

Cabanas at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094FA4A92BA4FB6-charles1

• Donate food for the Anytime Bags/Lunch Bags, toiletries, and items for hygiene kits. Please call LifeStyles or End Hunger to schedule delivery. Donations can be made daily from 8:00am – 4:00pm.

You can also make a monetary donation. Checks should be made payable to End Hunger in Charles County. Please write COVID19 food in the memo line and drop it off at the Fuller House located at 3470 Rockefeller Ct., Waldorf, MD 20202. If you have any questions, or would like more information, please call End Hunger in Charles County at 301-383-3683 or LifeStyles at 301-609-9900.

Text Your Tithe

Text 844-905-2671 enter the amount as the message

and send the text

The Plan! The Plan! Remember Tattoo, the aide to Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island?? Yes, I know I am dating myself. He would exclaim, The Plane! The Plane!, when he saw it come into view. Well I am excited to proclaim, The Plan! The Plan! Our church has put the final touches on a plan for re-opening safely and confidently! Much time, work, and prayer has gone into this plan. It is a working document that will be continuously monitored for specifics as they change in relationship to state, health, and denominational guidelines. Please check your email with the Plan contained therein. Constructive suggestions are always welcome and all feedback is taken seriously. We understand that there are those who think we will open too soon and those who think we are not opening fast enough. We ask for your understanding that we are all learning as we go and are doing everything we can so that all may come in safely. The Plan will be available on our website, by postal delivery to those who do not have electronic access, and in email form to everyone with an email address in our system. If your email has changed, PLEASE alert the church office. Having said that, please be advised that THE BUILDING IS STILL CLOSED. With a Plan in place, now comes the work of training our volunteers. As a reminder, please email or call the church office to put your name down as someone who will help us move the church forward in these challenging times. ALL OF US are essential workers to the Kingdom of God. Join in and make a difference!

Survey Says! 109 persons responded to our survey about re-opening La Plata UMC for in-person worship! Some surveys were representative of families, so a good portion of our church family was heard from! To help us understand how our brothers and sisters are feeling about re-opening, we would like to share an overview of responses from our survey: 32 percent of our church family are ready to return to in person worship now, or sometime in June. Add to that those ready to return in July and we increase the percentage to 43 percent. Of those safety measures deemed very important to re-opening:

No shaking hands – 80 percent Masks – 70 percent No Passing of the Peace – 70 percent Hand sanitizer – 70 percent Sanitizing between services – 62 percent Social distancing – 62 percent No sharing items, communion, offering – 60 percent No nursery/Sunday School – 47 percent No fellowship time – 45 percent No Hand held/Printed items – 45 percent One way traffic in and out – 42 percent No singing – 40 percent Temperature checks – 20 percent 64 percent of our responses came from those who are at high risk or at home with a person of high

risk 90.3 percent of responders believe our online services meet or exceed expectations The largest age group responding are those between 64 and 75 38.5 percent of responses will be worshipping more online in the future

As you can see, we are well on the way! Another survey will be coming out in the next week or so. Please keep an eye out for it.

Getting Prepared to Re-Open: DIY Face Masks As La Plata UMC prepares to re-open its doors, we want you to be prepared too. Everyone entering the building will need to wear a face mask to meet the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. While fabric face masks are not as effective as the CDC-approved ones, like surgical masks or N-95 respirators, wearing a mask can help prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus from people that are contagious without knowing it. Here are quick and easy instructions for making the CDC’s no-sew face mask with supplies you likely have at home: What you need:

a bandana or a piece of cotton fabric cut 22” x 22” (Note: The best fabric is tightly woven, 100% cotton) a flat coffee filter two rubber bands or hair ties

What to do: Lay out the bandana or fabric Fold bandana in half Place the coffee filter in the center of the rectangle Fold the top and bottom in towards the center. Fold the sides in towards the center. At the folded creases, loop your rubber bands or hair ties. Tuck one end of the fabric into the other. Lift the mask to your face and secure the straps by looping the rubber bands or hair ties over each ear. Adjust as needed. Make sure that your mouth and nose are completely covered.

Employment Opportunity - Deadline August 1 Children and Youth are our greatest resource. They are not only the future of the Church, they are the PRESENT! La Plata Church is currently accepting applicants for the position of Director Of Christian Education and Youth Ministry. Corrie Roberts, who will hold this position until May 31, has tendered her resignation to serve God in other ways. This is a 20 hr/wk PART-TIME staff position. Applicants should submit a resume and references. At least one year experience working with children and/or youth or comparable training is preferred. If you have a heart for children and youth or know someone who does and may have an interest, please contact the church office for more information. Make a difference in the life of our church and in the lives of the younger members of our church family. Position specifics are available upon request. Deadline for applicants is August 1. Thank you!

We Are One La Plata UMC is a church family and when one hurts, we all hurt. If this extended time of hardship has impacted you in financial ways, we want to help. Please call the Pastor or Karen at the church office number and let us know. Your information will remain confidential and NO ONE except the pastor and/or our Administrator will be informed. La Plata Church wants to walk alongside you!

Prayer Mask Ministry The Prayer Mask Ministry of La Plata United Methodist Women is off to a strong, blessed beginning! In order to support the "Re-opening Well" efforts of our church building, we are sewing face masks and praying now for the people who will eventually wear them. If you are interested in joining this ministry through sewing, cutting out materials, or providing for supplies, please contact Kathy Cox at mrskathylcox@yahoo.com. Best yet, pray for this ministry to grow and perhaps provide masks for others in our community in Jesus' name.

Text your Tithe

In less time than it takes to write a check, you can make weekly offerings by sending a text message. Just read the instructions below of how to get started and you can continue to support the work of our church by texting your tithe.

Kids’ Korner

Thursday, June 25 Jerry & Charlotte Bowie-37 Gloria Beatty Friday, June 26 John Bohner & Jane Beswick-21 Kyle Beckett Jane Beswick Cecil Deihl Saturday, June 27 Christine Barber Bruce McAfee John Schaecher

Sunday, June 28 Cecil & Cora Deihl-62 Brian & Jenifer Pyle-12 Monday, June 29 John & Jessica Tompkins-18 Orville Davis David Simone Eli Stevens-13 Tuesday, June 30 Joseph Dietrich Tina Donaldson Pat Sullivan

Wednesday, July 1 Jim & Susanne Wills-20 Hank Davis-11 Iris Dickerson Friday, July 3 Mary Boggs Saturday, July 4 Dave Bayles & Cheryl Reckeweg-15 Dave Bowling Sunday, July 5 Schuster Vance Paige Wheeler-18

For our friends and family who are living in nursing homes, and assisted living or home bound:

Tom Berry Wade Beswick Karyl Beverage Margaret Bowie Frank Brinson Patricia Buckler Sue Carns Jennifer Carpenter Jerome Church Cathy Compton Harolly Coombs Joyce Dean Sandra Fykes Remy Zachary Gordon Carl Greene

Laurie Hamilton Peggy Hamilton Randy Hill Christina Kingsbury Francis Lewis Patti Lincoln Donna McKenzie Ed McKenzie Johnny McPherson Renee Nash Carl Occhipinti Frank Quinn Mary Beth Reckeweg Bonnie Richards John Richards

Melissa Faith Rollins Crystal Rupprecht Patty Rupprecht Donna Sarnacki Tabitha Schneider Carol Sorenson Rosalie Snyder Don Stapleson Michael Stewart Brian Thomason Jeanette Tull Sandy Tull Linda Valente Cora Westmoreland Mike Williams

Let Us Pray

Ann Bergerstock Lennis Bridgett

Iris Dickerson Sharon Ferguson

Mike Merritt

Our Law Enforcement Officers as they risk their lives each day to protect their communities. Medical personal as the put their lives at risk caring for those with Covid19. Researchers as they strive to develop a cure for this virus. The leaders of our country, may the Holy Spirit be present at every meeting as they keep us informed. Our Pastors as the continue to find new ways to minister to their flock and keep us all connected. For each other that Christ will calm our fears and keep us safe.

Continue to pray for:

Let’s Celebrate! Birthdays & Anniversaries

For our friends and family who have medical issues:

For our friends and family who are grieving:

The family of James "Arlo" Arlo Bowie, Jr., the father of Karen Coombs, as they mourn his passing.

With God Nothing is Too Hard

By Deborah Ann Belka

Facebook Find

What is impossible, for me and you to God it’s not too hard to do.

There is no promise,

God can’t fulfill there is no fear He can’t distill.

There is no prayer, God can’t answer there is no storm He can’t anchor.

There is no problem, God can’t resolve

there is no sin He can’t absolve.

There is no place,

God can’t send revival there is no enemy

He can’t bridle.

What is too hard, for each one of us is much easier . . .

when in God we trust!