Silverbrook UMC

Musings from Pastor Kim

Dear People of God,
    Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
    Psalm 63:1-3 - "O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.....". (the rest of it is pretty good too - maybe you can find a minute today to read it and then praise God for all of the good things we enjoy).

    So busy working in the life of the Body for the glory of God - please continue to keep Leona and Jerry in your prayers as they have their house fixed after the fire and please pray for their daughter Cindy who has surgery today. Please keep Clara and Lloyd in your prayers as they recuperate from the car accident. Please keep Ann and Buz in your prayers. Ann's surgery is Monday.   Thank you for watching over one another in love.

This Sunday the scriptures are: Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 3:14-21 - topic: Rethink Grace.....

Look whats coming: A class on spiritual gifts: during Lent, Kathy Brown will be leading a joint class of youth and adults on discovering our spiritual gifts. Everyone is welcome. If you can't come to Sunday School all the time you might want to try and make it to this one.
    Also during Lent we will have a Tuesday night study at 7 pm. Study will be announced soon.
    Lent begins with Ash Weds services Feb. 22nd at 7 pm.

Ministry Sign Up: Already thinking about your spiritual gifts? Do you want to help out this year with a one time project? Do you want to join a committee and help out all year long? (speak to Pastor Kim) Right now we have sheets posted on the closet doors in the Fellowship Hall. These are outlining all our ministries for the coming 2012 year. Please check them out and see if there is something you would like to help with. What is God calling you to do?   There are a variety of tasks from running the Easter Egg hunt to putting together Applefest. If you want to be team leader for that ministry then put your name in the blank. If you want to help with a ministry and see a team leader listed then speak with them now so they can compile a list of helpers. If you have any questions about a task - please speak to Pastor Kim, Terry Little, or Kathy Brown. Thank you in advance for progressing the Kingdom of God through our many ministries and outreaches.

Feb. 19th we begin a new ministry to reach out to young adults (20-40 if you need an age range - but really anyone is welcome). We are calling this a "Q and A" time. We will meet from 5-7 and eat some pizza, get to know one another, and have the opportunity to ask those questions about religion, Christianity, Jesus, the Church, The United Methodist Church etc. etc. Every question is welcome. We may not have an answer for every question but we will try. Tell your friends, neighbors, children, etc....

Youth Calendar and Activities:
            Confirmation class - every Sunday - 1-3 p.m.
            2nd and 4th Sunday - youth fellowship from 5-7 p.m.
            Youth Band - see Carolyn - 3-5 p.m.

Silverbrook Singers (our choir) meets every Thursday at 7:30 - see Carolyn.

February retreats:   topic: Anchorite, Julian of Norwich
            Sat. Feb. 11th from 9-2 p.m.
            Friday Feb. 24th from 10-2 p.m.

We are encouraging everyone to go and vote for our candidate Harold Wilson, former member of Silverbrook (he has gone onto his heavenly membership now) and Poet Laureate of Lorton. The www.Brugman.us/WilsonMiddleSchool and Facebook Wilson Middle School website now has some bio information about Mr. Wilson so as you encourage your neighbors and scout troops etc to know more about them you can direct them to our website. The Next PTSO Meeting is Monday, February 13th at 6:15 p.m. in the library. All are encouraged to attend to hear the latest updates from the PTSO Board and Committees, Administration, and Student Government. Following the PTSO meeting, there will be a meeting for naming of the new middle school at the South County site, at 7 p.m. in the SCSS auditorium. The community is invited to attend.

Silverbrook United Methodist Church and Retreat Center invites all to rest in the peace of Christ, to explore the word of God and to shine God’s light in the world.

Shalom, salaam and peace to you and to the world,
Rev, Kimberly Barker-Brugman
Phone 703-339-3948

Feb 5th Sermon: Rethink Church - Rethink Grace
The fifth in a series of sermons focusing on the "Rethinking Church" Campaign

Jan 29th Sermon: Rethink Church - Lay Members - Go and Do
The fourth in a series of sermons focusing on the "Rethinking Church" Campaign

Jan 22nd Sermon: Rethink Boundaries - The World is our Parish
The Third in a series of sermons focusing on the "Rethinking Church" Campaign

Jan 15th Sermon: Rethink Covenant - Reaffirmation of Our Baptism
The Second in a series of sermons focusing on the "Rethinking Church" Campaign

Jan 8th Sermon: Rethink Repentance - The Great Re-Do
The first in a series of sermons focusing on the "Rethinking Church" Campaign

Click Here for the 2011 Advent Sermon series

Open Heart - Open Minds - Open Doors
Silverbrook UMC is a faith community,
welcoming visitors,
engaged in making disciples of Christ
and working to reconcile the world
to the love of Jesus Christ.

Join Silverbrook UMC as they set off on a new ministry of becoming a Retreat Center as they offer quiet days for adults to reflect, be still, and find rest away from the stressful world as they seek to deepen their relationship with God.p>

Retreat Brochure

Do not be fooled into thinking that we are filled with white haired folks ready for the adjacent grave yard. We are mostly middle aged and young families. Most of the original families and members were bought out by the developers and moved, so at this time, we are essentially a 14 year old church. We are in a time of revitalization and growth as we transition from a dying church to a living one with a future. Won’t you come and join us?

UM WEB SITE OPENS CHURCH DOORS
There are thousands of ways to be church in the world, and UMs do not want to miss any of them in an innovative Web site inviting a new generation into a life of faith and service. The UMC launched http://www.rethinkchurch.org/ as part of the Rethink Church campaign using nontraditional methods to reach young adults and others in relevant ways. There are more ways to enter church and begin a spiritual journey than just coming into the front door of a building. “Faith itself is a bridge by which we see God and the work of God present in our world,” says the Rev. Larry Hollon, General Secretary of United Methodist Communications (UMCOM). “God is not contained in the walls of our sacred buildings. God is in the streets, at the well, in the least expected places.”