1. Art and Diseño

F IRST U NITED M ETHODIST C HURCH
WELCOMES ALL PEOPLE OF ANY AGE , GENDER , COLOR , ETHNICITY , SEXUAL ORIENTATION , ECONOMIC STATUS ,
OR PHYSICAL ABILITY INTO THE FULL LIFE AND MEMBERSHIP OF THIS CONGREGATION .
T OWER T IDINGS
The Seventh Epistle of John – “What Charlie Can Teach Us”
Recently, I came across a website that
was so vile, so disgusting, so
distasteful that it had me considering
sending my computer through the car
wash. It was not pornographic or
violent, nor did it include vulgar
language.
In my opinion, it was worse than that.
There were only one picture and nine
pages of small-font text. It was a
“Christian” site I stumbled upon in my
search for a particular theologian’s
writing, but it quickly became
apparent that the site was devoted to
the condemnation of this theologian as
“a dangerous man, whose writings
ought to be burned.”
The site continued to condemn
anyone who paid attention to this
writer, to condemn the various
denominations (other than this site’s
denomination, of course), to
condemn anyone who questioned
anything in Holy Scripture. It accused
this writer of sending many people to
burn in hell, where Continued on page 4
About Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, marks the
beginning of Lent, when
many Christians prepare
for Easter by observing a
period of fasting,
repentance, moderation
and spiritual discipline.
Soup Supper 6 p.m.
The soup-and-bread supper, served by
United Methodist Women, will
include choices of home-made soups
and breads and a light dessert.
Donations will go to UMW Missions.
and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During worship the minister will
lightly rub the sign of the cross with
ashes onto our foreheads. The use of
ashes as a sign of mortality and
repentance has a long tradition in
Jewish and Christian worship. Ashes
signified purification and sorrow for
sins.
Traditionally, the palm branches from
the previous Palm Sunday service are
burned to produce ashes for this
service. Sometimes a small card or
piece of paper is distributed on which
each person writes a sin or hurtful or
unjust characteristic. The cards are
then brought to the altar to be burned
with the palm branches. The ash cross
on the forehead is an outward sign of
our sorrow and repentance for sins.
Worship 7 p.m.
Ash Wednesday emphasizes our
sinfulness before God and our human
mortality. The service focuses on
both, helping us to realize that both
have been resolved through the death
Early worship service to be added Feb. 22
The Staff and Congregational
Worship Committees have agreed to
try a second service beginning with
Lent on Feb. 22 at 8:30 a.m. It will
be less formal, more experimental,
more intimate and simpler than the
10:30 service. The design will be
based on largely who attends. Please
join us and help make this service
interesting and inspirational.
L ECTIONARY

February 1 4th Sunday after the
Epiphany
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28
 February 8, 5th Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
 February 15, Transfiguration Sunday
2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
 February 18, Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Psalm 51:1-17
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

February 22, 1st Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15
P AGE 2
F EBRUARY 2015
FNO Come celebrate with us at Friday Night Out
Friday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. at Bob and Dorothy Avery's home,
1715 Ernest Ave. Please bring a dish for the pot luck and your
own plate and utensils so cleanup is easy. All are welcome.
If you need directions, call 549-7117.
Super Sundae
The Sunday School has asked
kids to bring food for the Food
Drive on Feb. 1. They can bring it
up with them to the children's
sermon, and then we will
celebrate Super Sundae with a
movie and ice cream sundaes for
the Sunday School. Don't miss
this fun Super Sundae and have a
chance to help those less
fortunate in our community!
Thanks, Sunday School families!
TOWER TIDINGS
DEADLINES AND
I NFO
March Issue: Tuesday,
Feb. 10, by noon
Special thanks to Tom Anderson and
Kay Duffield for helping edit Tower
Tidings.
Microsoft Word documents are
preferred and may be e-mailed to
[email protected]. Please send
graphics separately. Typed hard copies
may be mailed or left in the office.
Articles submitted after the deadline will
be printed in the following issue or, if the
material is dated, the information will be
included in the bulletin announcements or
posted on the hallway bulletin board. All
committees are highly encouraged to
submit articles. The newsletter is often
the only way some members can know
what is happening at the church!
Food Drive Celebration
The congregation is invited to celebrate
the conclusion of our successful Food
Drive on Sunday, Feb. 1, with food
donations by the children, and cake and
beverages in the Narthex after Worship.
A big thanks to Annelise and Jason
Hedahl for picking up and delivering
donations to the Missoula Food
Bank. Thank you to all who
donated for your generosity.
H OW
TO CONTACT US
O FFICE
C HURCH S TAFF
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Phone: 549-6118
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.missoulafumc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
fumcmissoula
P ASTOR J OHN
John Daniels, Pastor
Sharon Jackson and Rhanda Johnson,
Administrative Assistants
Leslie Lindley, Treasurer
Kay Duffield, Financial Secretary
John Schaff, Custodian
Greg Boris, Music and Chancel Choir Director
Brynn Bellingham, Handbell Choir Director
Rhanda Johnson, Joyful Noise Choir Director
Peter Edwards, Organist/Pianist
Audra Clark and Juliette Viera,
Nursery Attendants
Office: Available Monday-Friday
By phone: 549-6118 or
396-8966 (cell)
E-Mail: [email protected]
Newcomer visits: Monday or
Tuesday evening
Hospital visits: Please call John or the
Office if you know of someone in the For more information about First United
Methodist Church or to reach FUMC staff,
hospital.
please call the church office, 549-6118, or
Home visits: upon request
e-mail us, [email protected].
P
P AGE
AGE 3
3
F EBRUARY 2015
UMW GENERAL NEWS
General Meeting—February 5th at 1 p.m..
The Book Group will
meet Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. in
the church library. This
month’s book is A Girl Called
Problem by Katie Quick.
Vespers Circle
Vespers Circle will meet at Eula Rider's,
2321 42nd St., on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at
1 p.m. If you plan to attend, please let Eula
know.
————————————————Ruth Fellowship
Ruth Fellowship will meet Feb. 12 at 10 a.m.
in the church parlor. All women of the church
are invited to join in the fellowship of the
women in this Circle.
This month, the General Meeting of United
Methodist Women will be Feb. 5, 1 p.m. in the
Clara Smith Room. Hosts will be Vespers Circle.
The program will be “A Call to Prayer and Self
Denial, and Memorial Service.” All are welcome to
attend as we honor our members who have passed
away over the last year.
Ash Wednesday Soup Supper
The
United Methodist Women will serve a soup and bread
supper at 6 p.m., February 18, before
the 7 p. m. Ash Wednesday Service.
There will be several choices of homemade soups and breads and a light
dessert. Everyone is invited to attend
the soup supper and service. Donations
for UMW Missions are appreciated.
Fairmont Hot Springs Women’s Event
An inspirational retreat will be held at
Fairmont March 6-8. Registration and
scholarship applications are available on
YACUMC.org Come be rejuvenated with us!
Dancing with God author unknown
When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s
will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead nothing feels right.
The movement doesn’t flow with the music and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that
and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or
by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It’s as if two become one body moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw the ‘G’ I thought of God, followed by ‘u’ and ‘i’. “God,’ ‘u,’ and ‘i’
dance; God, you and I dance. As I lowered my head I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once
again I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies are upon you this day and every day. May you abide in God as
God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
GUIDANCE
F EBRUARY 2015
“W HAT C HARLIE C AN T EACH U S ”
P AGE 4
Continued from page 1
he is presently. The writer and theologian? Clive Staples
Lewis, foremost Christian apologist of the latter 20th
century.
There are many, many such sites out there, and by no
means only religious in nature, where hostile
judgmentalism saturates the text to an alarming degree.
It’s almost as if the creators of the content of such sites are
exhibiting a form of cyber-violence (my term) in the
attempt to convince others that they are right and
everyone else is wrong through repudiation, intimidation,
conflagration, and other such “-tions” that have everything
to do with hatefulness and attack.
A question: Does this ever work?
Such “cyber-violence” is perhaps just the latest
manifestation of human nature’s darker side, so fully
evident in the constant, sad saga of our tendency to
undermine, control, or destroy each other for the sake of
self- or group-promotion,.
 From the murders at Charlie Hebdo to the practices of
Boko Haram; from the Syrian Civil war to the suicide
attacks of Al Qaeda, we see the global horrors that
group-promotion can produce when that group is
bent on exclusionary philosophies or goals (i.e.,
“either us or them”).
 From the domestic abuse victim recently hospitalized
at St. Patrick’s, to the individual requesting assistance
from our church while hiding a violent past; from the
hostile interaction I witnessed one day as one person
in the grocery line chewed out the person in front of
them for taking too long, to my own overly-hostile
words toward one of my family members who didn’t
do what I wanted, we see the undermining effects of
self-promotion as it pays little attention to the needs
and realities of others.
God says, “stop.”
Jesus says we don’t need to do these things.
There is a better way. A way meant for anyone who not
only worships, but follows, Christ. A way that all who
follow should be determined to adopt as their life
practice. A way of trading one thing for another – love for
hate, peace for violence, patience for misunderstanding,
forgiveness for revenge. As one parishioner said to me one
Sunday after a sermon that I preached on the peace of
God-“such peace is very hard,” we know that such trades
do not come easily. They go against our human nature,
which is so prone to strike back at differences, so easily
given to defense and exclusion. But such trades are the
only things that move us – individual, community,
society, or civilization itself – toward collective and
realized hope.
And there is indeed hope. The millions of marchers in
France holding signs saying “Je Suis Charlie” are trading
solidarity for violence; the practices of Boko Haram are
increasingly being condemned by leaders of Islam who
speak of trading guns for conversation; the grocery lines
are mostly filled with patient, understanding people
trading expediency for civility; your pastor has apologized
to the family member, trading ego for compromise, and
things are much better.
Jesus taught that, if there is one thing the Christian faith
ought to oppose, it is the destructive practices of human
against human, whatever form they take. There is no place
for any of us in the condemnation of another – that is
God’s job, not ours. Let us strive, rather, to recognize the
things that undermine, limit, or diminish life, and replace
them with the things that uplift, expand, and fulfill life,
not only for some, but for all. For, after all, don’t we who
claim Christ as Lord hold our own sign, saying
“J'appartiens à Jésus” (“I belong to Jesus”)?
God’s Grace Be With You,
A MAZING G RAYS
Amazing Grays will take a trip to the Double Arrow Ranch on Thursday,
Feb. 12, leaving the CVS Drug Store at 11 a.m. They will return to
Missoula by 4 p.m. The lunch menu is turkey sandwich, cream of potato
soup and green salad. The trip will cost between $30 and $40.
Come have a nice lunch. relax by the fireplace and play some board
games, read or visit. Call Verle Johnson, 549-4765, Kay Norum,
721-5750, or Marge Magstadt, 543-4082, to sign up.
F EBRUARY 2015
Like a Little Child
P AGE 5
Submitted by Theresa Cox
With all the finesse of 21-month old fingers, he places the
blue and green, Tonka garbage truck on the two-piece
flatbed. Sometimes the balance is good enough that he can
drive the semi for a bit before the garbage truck falls from
its perch. Sometimes the garbage truck falls quickly, and he
patiently replaces it. Occasionally, the flatbed comes apart
from the cab and the resulting puzzle is too much for him
to solve. He looks up, with sweet brown eyes, and says,
“hep,” knowing that his adult-of-the-moment is happy to
help him manage his vehicles.
towers to be knocked down again and again. Examining
ants crawling over the sidewalk. All of these things are
prone to produce a hail of giggles, an unabashed, allconsuming expression of glee. Anyone who has heard a
child helpless with giggles has heard the sound of complete
joy.
When he wants something to happen that is beyond his
abilities, he knows asking for ‘hep’ from one of his
grownups will quickly solve the problem. There is no
shame in asking for help; in fact, it presents another
opportunity for interaction with someone he loves and
allows the adult an opportunity to show love and share
knowledge.
willing to ask His help, again and again, without thinking
we are too smart or strong or important to turn over
control of an out-of-control situation. We must be willing
~ perhaps even eager ~ to find absolute joy in the simple
things God puts in our path.
When did we lose the ability to let go all of our cares and
worries in a torrent of helpless giggles? The fortunate
among us devolve into giggles on occasion, but not many of
us live our lives seeking joy and allowing ourselves to be
As I watch him, I begin to wonder when I became so easily overtaken by it.
frustrated by tasks, and when I decided I was no longer
In the book of Mark, Chapter 10, Verse 15, Jesus tells us,
going to ask for help. As he manipulates his toy trucks, my “[A]nyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a
grandson learns how to make things happen the way he
little child will never enter it.” When I think of how my
wants them to. He is patient. If the truck falls off, he
grandson is willing to try and try again, to ask for help, to
replaces it ~ over and over again ~ without complaint. In find joy in simple things, I believe I understand what Jesus
fact, sometimes it makes him giggle. Where an adult might is saying. We must seek the truth and to do what is right
find frustration, he just enjoys watching the truck fall.
again and again, without being frustrated. We must be
When we are too easily frustrated by a task within our
capabilities, or when we refuse to ask for help with
something that is difficult or impossible to do on our own,
we miss an opportunity to learn and to reinforce our
relationship with another human being.
Talking like a duck. Pushing him endlessly on a tricycle
with pedals a bit too far away for his feet to reach. Building
It is time to learn from the children; to watch their work,
to listen to their questions, to enjoy their giggles, to
become people who will be welcomed into the Kingdom
“like a little child,” and perhaps to enjoy our time in this life
a bit more in the process.
Giggles,
Theresa
Our Bible give-away to third graders and older!
Our church family loves to give Bibles to our children in the third grade. We
also want to give Bibles to any child in fourth grade or above who was not
with us in the third grade and does not have a Bible. Please call the Office
and let us know if your child needs a Bible. We will present the Bibles during
worship on Sunday, Feb. 15.
F EBRUARY 2015
W ORSHIP FACILITATORS
P AGE 6
Special thanks to all of our volunteers!
February 1
Brad’s Communion: Joe Loos
Coffee Hosts: Carolyn Abbott and Marge Magstadt
Communion Prep: Marilyn Olivarez
Communion Servers: Marilyn Olivarez and Cindy Thiel
Greeters: Karen and Joe Loos
Nursery: Amanda James
Reader: Joe Loos
Stephen Ministers: Barbara and Pat Mahoney
February 15
Brad’s Communion: Carole Addis
Coffee Hosts: Jo and Bill Reynolds
Communion Prep: Maeve Ball
Communion Servers: Ira and Kay Robison
Greeters: Eula and Don Rider
Nursery: Amy Griffin
Reader: Jude Monson
Stephen Ministers: Lorraine Carlson and Kay Duffield
February 8
Brad’s Communion: Rich Eudy
Coffee Hosts: Phyllis and Dan Browder
Communion Prep: Lisa Jackson
Communion Servers: Lisa and Scott Jackson
Greeters: Claudia Pratt and Daniel Viehland
Nursery: Annelise Hedahl
Reader: Don McCammon
Stephen Ministers: Lorraine Carlson and Peg Plimpton
February 22
Brad’s Communion: Pastor John
Coffee Hosts: Nancy Crabtree and Ruth Drummond
Communion Prep: Donna McCammon
Communion Servers: Donna and Don McCammon
Greeters: Laela and Dick Shimer
Nursery: Maeve Ball
Reader: Kathy Muckala
Stephen Ministers: Jane Kisselbach and Pam Sterling
I N O UR P RAYERS .
We pray for…
Anne and Earl Reinsel recovering the from the flu
Diane Pruden in Virginia who has just been diagnosed with
cancer
Hugh Herbert in the hospital with the flu
Success in finding a job for a friend, Kim, who has been
searching for 10 months
Helen Rummel’s daughter, Ruth Taylor in Erie, CO, for
respiratory healing
A friend, Sue, having shoulder surgery
A more compassionate world
A healthy birth for Rhanda’s daughter, Sarisa’s, baby due
Jan. 26
A friend who is battling multiple myeloma and has exhausted
medical treatments. Blessings on her and her family
A friend whose brother has just been diagnosed with cancer.
~In Sympathy~
The family of Mary Decker
The family of longtime UMW member, Geri Kennedy
Kay Robison’s cousin who recently lost her husband and for
her children and grandchildren
The family of Roybelle Phillips
The family of Albert Hull, Laurie Ball’s father
The family of Rose McKay
Barb Blanchard Mahoney and family who recently lost her
former father-in-law
~Praises~
Birthday Blessings for Bob Barnes celebrating his 92nd
birthday
Gratitude for a friend who survived a plane crash this past
week.
Praise for prayers answered for our son-in-law’s new job!
F EBRUARY 2015
P AGE 7
Family Promise Feb.15-22
The week of Feb. 15, FUMC will have another opportunity to host families for Family Promise. Here are the volunteer needs we have:
Sunday, Feb. 15:
Team 1- 2 Overnight Hosts, 8:15 p.m. -7:15 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 20
Team 1 - Evening Greeter, 5:15 -8:15 p.m.
Team 2 - Dinner Prep., serve (at 6 p.m.), and clean up
Team 3 - Two Overnight Hosts, 8:15 p.m. -7:15 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21
Team 1 - Carousel, Evening Greeter, Snacks
Team 2 - Two Overnight Hosts, 8:15 p.m. -7:15 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22
Team 1 – Tow vehicle needed to p/u and deliver small trailer, 12:30/1:30 p.m.
Team 2 - Load cots and family bags on trailer, 12:45 p.m.
Tzedakah Pocket Update
“There are those who struggle every day with challenges. Let us extend to them our concern, as
well as a helping hand. As we care for each other, we will be blessed.” Thomas S. Monson
The winter months always bring us more
assistance requests because there are fewer jobs
available, hours are cut for many people who have
jobs, utility and medical costs increase, and
camping is no longer a viable lodging option.
Responding to the increased need is a challenge
for our small assistance ministry. Coordination
with other churches through CCA (Congregations
Type of assistance
Coordinating Assistance) extends our capability to
help, but we can’t help everyone. We do make a
real difference, however, for many individuals and
families. For all who come to us, we can always
offer compassion and prayer and that can also
make a difference. A recap of assistance provided
by the FUMC Tzedakah Pocket Ministry so far in
2015 is provided below.
Families/Individuals
Helped
7 (12 children)
Amount Provided
Rent/Security Deposit
6 (2 children)
$340.00
Other (Power bills, storage unit rental, phone minutes, propane, etc.)
4 (9 children)
$257.85
Lodging (interim housing assistance)
Total
17 (23 children)
$745.52
$1,343.37
300 E. Main St.
First United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 7646
Missoula, MT 59807
PH: 406.549.6118
Website: fumcmissoula.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID Permit
#293 Missoula,
MT 59802
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fumcmissoula
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.
Sunday Worship Service
10:30 a.m.
New Worship Service begins Su0nday,
Feb 22 at 8:80 a.m.
FEBRUARY EVENTS
February 1
Food Drive Celebration and Sunday School Super Sundae
2
Administrative Council , Clara Smith Room
7 p.m.
5
UMW General Meeting and Memorial Service
1 p.m.
12 Ruth Fellowship
10 a.m.
12 Amazing Grays
11 a.m.
13 Friday Night Out
6 p.m.
15 Bibles presented to third graders
15 Family Promise Week
18 Vesper’s Circle
1 p.m.
18 Ash Wednesday worship and fellowship opportunities :
Soup Supper
6 p.m.
Worship Service
7 p.m.
22 New Worship Service starts
8:30 a.m.