SUMMER VBS FOOD DRIVE - As part of the VBS Program, a food drive will continue through August 8.  This is the Missions portion of VBS, and the staff all feel that it is important for the children to learn to help those who may be less fortunate.  Look for the bin in the narthex to deposit nonperishable food items.  The food will replenish area food banks. 

The VBS Staff thanks you for your help and generosity in advance.

SUMMER SANTA – It began on June 13^th, and will continue through September 26^th.  We are once again helping prepare ten children from the Red Cross Shelter in Levittown with back to school necessities.  The Morell Family and members of Outreach will shop and deliver the outfits and backpacks to the shelter in August for distribution before the kids return to school.   Stop by the Christmas tree in the narthex and take a tag.  In an envelope, return the tag along with the amount of money needed to purchase the item, and place it in the box provided.  (Please note that you are not to purchase the item.)  Checks or money orders can be made out to SUMC (memo: Summer Santa).  If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Morell  Thank you.  The recipients of your generosity are extremely grateful.

Before moving to South Carolina, Maureen Birkett asked me to coordinate Operation Christmas Child.  I am asking for everyone’s help.  Between now and August 29^th, in preparation for this year’s mission project, I am looking to collect sturdy shoeboxes with lids.  Please place them in the large box in the Narthex/lobby, and look forward to the kickoff on September 19^th at both services.  This mission project will run through October 31st. 

I am truly excited by this project and am looking forward to your participation.  Check those closets and bring in your empty shoeboxes with lids to church all summer long!  Thanks!  Patrice

Scottsville Merry Hearts Pillow Ministry

Since the beginning of the Scottsville Merry Hearts Pillow Ministry in May of 2005, volunteers have prepared and delivered a total of 7,925 cloth pillows to the St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne.  These pillows are given without cost to help patients in their recovery from surgery. This number includes 4,592 heart-shaped pillows for the cardiac care floor, and 3,333 rectangular ones for the medical-surgical floors.  A sincere word of thanks goes out to everyone involved.  We appreciate your participation in the making of the pillows, deliveries, contributions of fabric and labels, and monetary donations received from the Joyful Noise offering.

We are presently experiencing difficulty in purchasing bulk fiberfill as A.C. Moore has not had any in stock for several months.  We have had to switch to Walmart for lesser amounts at a greater price.  In addition, Walmart does not provide percentage off coupons to reduce the price.  If you know of any other supplier, please let us know.

Remember that we gather in the adult Sunday School room the second Saturday of every month to “stuff” the pillows.  The only months that we do not meet are August and November.

Detailed directions and patterns can be found in the stacked wicker baskets in Fellowship Hall.  Fabric is available in the adult Sunday School room.  If you have any questions, contact Sherry Landman  or Barb Gummo .  Thank you.

2010 AFF* Meal/Soup Mission Schedule

Scottsville UMC

Here is the 2010 schedule, which has been updated to relieve conflicts with some UMW scheduled events, so please update your calendars.

We appreciate all the help with the cooking of the meals, soup-making and putting meals into dinner trays from everyone at Scottsville.   You have made this mission a huge success in 2009, and your efforts will continue this mission through the coming year.   THANKS TO ALL!

*Note: AFF = Aid For Friends is a meal ministry for disabled and/or people in need based out of Philadelphia, and covers Philadelphia and its surrounding counties.  SUMC has been supporting this mission for over a decade.

Members of the congregation cooked and prepared 678 meals in January.  What a great way to start the new year!  Thank you all.

Wrapped in God’s Comfort

Scottsville Hat & Scarf Ministry

In 2009, I was asked to take over the Hat & Scarf Ministry.  We now have a name, bible verse, and logo for this ministry, “Wrapped In God’s Comfort” Hat & Scarf Ministry.”

Since May, I have been collecting, sorting and packing hats, scarves and mittens that this congregation so lovingly makes throughout the year.  In 2009, we collected 40 hats, 94 scarves, 20 sets, 17 mitten sets, one pair of slippers and six afghans.  With the help of Sherry Landman, we have prepared boxes for shipment/delivery to the following:

• A Woman’s Place          

• The Lower Bucks County Red Cross Shelter                   

• Frankford Group Ministries       

• Kensington Area Ministries          

• Wrapped By His Love Ministry                                                                                     

Everyone can contribute to this wonderful ministry.  Yarn is available in Fellowship Hall in the Wrapped in God’s Comfort cart.  If you can’t crochet or knit, but still want to contribute, we accept all donations of yarn, gift cards, and cash for yarn purchase.  Feel free to donate as God directs you.  If you donate by check, please mark your check “Wrapped in God’s Comfort Ministry.”

I am trying to schedule a Saturday morning get-together to show people how to crochet a scarf (the fellowship and camaraderie is an added bonus).  Please keep an eye on the bulletin for the date.  Anyone can crochet.  Come out and learn how.

God has truly blessed the Scottsville family with the talent to create these beautiful articles of clothing, and continues to bless this outreach ministry as it serves our community in sharing the love of God and the comfort that can be found in a life believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Patrice Matthews, Coordinator

E-PRAYER CHAIN COORDINATOR FOUND:  Scottsville would like to thank Sue Britsch for volunteering to fill this position.  Beginning immediately, please forward prayer concerns and joys to Sue.  Her email address is:  sbritsch1@mtb.com

Prayer Request forms are available every Sunday morning at church.  Just ask a greeter or usher when entering the church.

If you have a prayer concern you would like to share with the congregation, please fill out the form and hand it to the usher during collection.  Pastor Keen will include the prayer request with joys and concerns.  The prayers will also be circulated through the e-mail prayer chain, unless otherwise noted. 

Applying Bible Principles

We’ve all heard the expression, “Money talks.” That’s true. Money does talk. Oh, not in words or phrases that constitute a language, but money talks. Because it is valuable to us, how we use it communicates volumes to those about us. People tend to spend their money on things that are important to them. With the exception perhaps of taxes, all of us vote with the contents of our purses, wallets, and checkbooks concerning what means the most to us.

In fact, we could even go so far as to say that a person who does not spend money on something which is supposedly very important in his or her life really does not place much value on that item or activity. Suppose for a moment that you think “little league” baseball for kids is very important. You talk about it wherever you go. You attend the games. You enroll your own children in the program. But when someone calls you to ask you to be a sponsor of a team, or when someone “passes the hat” at a game to pay for equipment, you refuse to participate.

Would you not agree that an impartial observer of such behavior would conclude correctly that little league baseball really does not mean much to you? Your lack of financial support would outweigh the other positive aspects of your attendance, enthusiasm, and participation.

The same thing is true in the spiritual realm. It is one thing to talk about Christianity. It is yet another to demonstrate our faith by how we use the money which God has entrusted to us. And that is especially true in our support of the ministry of Scottsville United Methodist Church. As someone said recently in one church just before the offering was received, “Lord, in spite of all we say and do, this is what we think of you.”

Or as the Lord Jesus put it, “ . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Summer Special Offerings

“Neighborhood Services” will benefit from July’s Communion Offering.  This organization continues to provide a myriad of services to the community of Philadelphia: an after-school program, summer enrichment camps,  clothing and food for needy persons, and a place of safety for those in need of it.

The August Communion offering will go to the Merry Heart Pillow Ministry.  The Merry Heart Pillow Ministry here at Scottsville, active since May of 2005, has provided St. Mary Medical Center with pillows for use in post-surgical recovery.  We have a fine group of ladies who put their time and effort into making these pillows monthly.   Thank you ladies.

The Joyful Noise offering for July and August will support Aid For Friends.  Aid For Friends goal is to ensure that everyone in need through poverty, disability, illness, or age, has three meals a day.

The SAM team would like the congregation to know that there are still several open slots for the summer mission trip to Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Project scheduled Sunday, August 1^st through Saturday, August 7^th.  Our team will be involved with helping inner city residents whose houses are in need of repair.   

After a week of serving others and being spiritually renewed with awesome worship throughout the week, we will enjoy a visit to Kennywood Amusement Park on Saturday afternoon.   Ben Keen’s church will be our host church in Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

Our team will leave Scottsville’s parking lot the morning of Sunday, August 1^st, and return the afternoon of Sunday, August 8^th.   

If you or anyone you know would be interested in helping others, please contact any member of the SAM committee (Georgeanne Toner, Laura Bittner, Joe McKairnes, Diane McKairnes) or the church office (215) 355-2474.   We would love to have you join us.

And don’t forget, as in years past, SAM is offering stock in the “Pittsburgh Project” mission trip. One share of stock sells for $20.  It entitles the owner to a dinner and slideshow presentation of the trip in September.  (Look for us in the Narthex after worship.)  Thank you.

His Servant,

Georgeanne Toner