Salem United Methodist Church

Newsletter

Summer / Fall 2008
 
                                                                                                                                                        

 

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. The People of the United Methodist Church

 

Message from Pastor Tom

 

In June of 1975, I was stationed on Terceira Island in the Azores.  You might enjoy ‘googling’ it.  We lived in a small house with three young children.  We had been active in the base chapel for about a year.  On Sundays, we took the children to Sunday School, and Vivian and I would go to breakfast.  Later, we would all go to the Protestant worship service.  Then, Vivian began to express interest in the Adult Sunday School class – I didn’t.  So, on Sunday mornings, we took the kids to Sunday School, Vivian went to the Adult class, and I went to breakfast by myself – or I would go to Catholic Mass during the Sunday School hour.  Vivian was enjoying the Sunday School class, and was urging me to come – I resisted.  Actually, at the time, I was also an Episcopal Lay Reader, and with the help of the Protestant Chaplain I was conducting a ‘liturgical’ worship service on Sunday mornings before the Sunday School hour.

 

Several years before this, I was stationed in California, and it was at that time I began to sense God’s call to ministry.  I was an Episcopalian and thought that was the direction that God was leading me.  I was in for a big surprise.

 

Sunday School hour in the Azores – Vivian and the kids in Sunday School, and me at breakfast or the Catholic Mass (my dad was Catholic, and my mother was Episcopalian, so it didn’t seem so strange).  Vivian was hooked, and continued to urge me to come – I finally gave in.  Well, sort of.  I went to the class, went in the back door, and sat as near to the door as I could – just in case I had to get away in a hurry – after all, these people were Baptists and Methodists, and who knows what all.

 

But I came back – the people were friendly, the class was stimulating, and I heard a lot more about Jesus and John 3:16 than I had ever heard while I was growing up.  I was hooked.  I moved from the back of the room to sit with Vivian.  I began asking questions, and when questions were asked, I found myself answering.

 

From the Azores to Spain, from Spain to Maryland – and we were looking for a Spirit led congregation that read, taught and understood the Bible and who knew Jesus as Savior and Lord.  IN the United Methodist Church, we found people who loved the Lord.  And I found a pastor who was my mentor and friend.  The next thing I knew, I was enrolled at Wesley Seminary as a part-time student while still serving in the US Navy.  The seminary was two blocks from where I worked, and a gracious and understanding boss allowed me to shuffle my time at work to attend classes.

 

I retired from the Navy in 1983, and came to the Eastern Shore as a Student Pastor for the Whaleyville Charge.  I was ordained an Elder in 1989 and served Antioch Church in Princess Anne for six years.  Then I was appointed to Asbury and Mariners Churches in Crisfield for eight years.  After twenty years in the Navy and twenty years in ministry, I thought it was time to retire – God had other plans.  So, for the past five years, I have been serving in interim positions at Rockawalkin Church and Christ Church in the Salisbury area.

 

Of course, there is much more to the story, and you will probably hear bits and pieces in my sermons in the coming year.  For now, let me just say that it is my privilege to be with you, and pray for God’s grace and love to be evident in our time together.

 

God is good, and always will be.  In Christ’s Love,

 

 

Tom Blakelock, Pastor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ministries of the Church

 

Salem Youth News

Hey everyone, Youth Group resumes Sept 4 Thursdays at 7:00

Our ASP team recently served a family in West Virginia. It was an extraordinary experience.

We became very close to them.  Once again it was a privilege to represent the church in

service to Christ. Thanks to all of our many stockholders!

Wake up Wednesdays at The Chamberlain’s Home – 7 AM in September. 10 AM during summer.

 

Ezekiel Drama Team

Ezekiel’s Vision   Salem UMC Drama Team “Center Stage for God”

Mission statement: To inspire people with the Holy Spirit and to accept the Word of God as

truth.  Meets Monday nights 7:00 – 8:30 PM   Ages: 6th grade to HS Contact: Kathryn Redden

443-614-0830   Mary Chamberlain 443-735-0185. We will resume on September 8.

 

 

 

Sunday School Notes

Text Box: All are welcome Classes after worship 10:45 – 11:45 AM Christian Fellowship Class                                           

Young and the Rest of Us                                             

Pre K and K                                                                    

Grades 1-3                                                                      

Grades 4-5                                                                      

Grades 6-8                                                                      

High School                                                                   

 

FROM THE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CLASS

 

The Christian Fellowship Class will have their Summer picnic on Sunday, August 10th, at the

home of Wayne and Joy Parsons, beginning at 6 PM.  Hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks will be

furnished.  Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.  Join us for a time of food and fellowship.

The Christian Fellowship Class will be holding their annual roast beef dinner on

September 20th from 4 – 8 PM.  Menu consists of roast beef, baked potato, peas, salad,

bread, tea or coffee and homemade deserts.  All for $10.00 for adults, and $5.00 for children 4

– 8 years old.  This is our one money making event of the year.  We are trying to raise money

to purchase some new furniture for the Church Lounge, including sofa, 2 companion chairs

and stacking chairs. So come out for a delicious meal and at the same time help refurbish the

Lounge!  See any member of the class for tickets or leave your name with Judy in the Office

and she will see that you get them.

 

 

 

Security
Through the character of Linus Van Pelt, Charles Schultz introduced us to a lovable character 
who always has a security blanket. Some days all of us want to feel the security of a warm 
fuzzy hug. With over 400 Project Linus Chapters in 50 states, over 2.5 million handmade 
blankets have been wrapped around children needing a hug! That number is impressive, and 
on Lower DelMarVa, our local chapter, sponsored by Salem, has given more than 2700 
blankets in 5 ½ years. Before his death, Schultz gave the use of the Linus character to our organization.
 
As an outreach mission, we find our volunteer blanketeers in many ways. Just recently a 
handicapped lady in Fruitland asked me to stop by and talk with her about Project Linus. She 
has crocheted many blankets for us in a few recent months. Another woman contacted me 
from Ocean City after reading about Project Linus in Debbie Macomber’s book, Shop on 
Blossom Street. Women’s groups from 3 Ocean City and 2 Salisbury churches are making 
blankets regularly. Norma Foltz from Salem, makes many nice crocheted blankets. Every 
Thursday, quilters "hang out" on Market St in Pocomoke, at the quilt shop, making blankets 
for Project Linus! Corrine Wall and Gerry Villaume make sure that all the blankets have a 
label and tag.   Quilters from Virginia made quilts with a farm theme, displayed them at the 
Accomack Library for a month and have given them to us for the children we serve.  The 
UMW supports Project Linus with a monetary donation each year. Blankets are distributed to 
hospitals from Shore Memorial in Nassawadox Va to A I duPont in Wilmington DE. Thanks 
to Becky Shumaker, we have made a contact with the truck drivers at SYSCO, who are now 
willing to make the blankets deliveries to A I du Pont! Feedback from nurses through thank 
you notes and the enthusiastic response when we deliver to the area hospitals, tells us that the 
blankets not only help the kids, but help the healthcare providers who often have to do 
unpleasant things to their little patients! Corrine Wall & Donna Clarke attended the Project 
Linus Annual Conference in Bloomington IL in June. It was great fun! We carpooled with 
Mary and Carolyn, the coordinators from Charles County MD. During the month of July, a 
selection of Project Linus blankets are displayed in the Pocomoke Library, and will be moved 
to the Snow Hill Library in August. "All you need is love, but a hug now and then doesn’t 
hurt"...Charles Schultz
 
Donna Clarke: Project Linus of Lower DelMarVa, over 2700 lovable handmade 
blankets given to DelMarVa children in crisis read more   www.projectlinus.org
 
 
 
 

Upcoming Events Salem

This year we are celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Salem Church.

It is also the 225th Anniversary of Methodism in Pocomoke!

 

Aug 4th – 8th          6-8PM         VBS Surfin’ Through the Scriptures

 

Aug 20                  6 PM           Tent Meeting and Picnic Cypress Park

Bring a covered dish to share, your own utensils and a chair

 

Aug 23                  5 – 9 PM     Youth Group End of Summer Bonfire and Cookout, Assateague, VA

 

Sept 4                  7:30 PM      Trustees                                          

 

Sept 5-7                                   Youth Group Shad Landing             

 

Sept 7                  Rally Day    Vocal Music Program including:       

Four-Given, Kerusso, Frank Henry and a group led by Jay Burton

Music, drama & fellowship. Come meet the teachers, Special guests

and Refreshments!  3rd Grade Bibles and Grandparents Sunday.

 

Sept 10                7:30 PM      UMW     Church Lounge                   

 

Oct 2                    7:30 PM      Trustees                                          

 

Oct 5                                       World Communion Sunday               

 

Oct 8                   7:30 PM      UMW     Church Lounge                   

 

Oct 11                                     Instrumental Music Program           

Concert featuring: Gloria Wilkins, Wesley Lockfaw, and Frank Henry

 

Oct 19                                     Laity Sunday                                    

 

Oct 21                                     International Day of Peace             

 

Oct 26                                     Harvest Party and Supper               

 

Nov 2                                       Heritage Sunday                                                 

9:15 AM      Worship Service Speaker: Dale Brown      

6:00 PM      Dinner and Hymn Sing

Guests: Reverends Gordon Stapleton, Boyd Etter, and Russ Lehman

 

 

 

 

 

Contemporary Worship Services

Every Sunday night at 6:30 PM

Energized worship in a relaxed come as you are atmosphere. Music and message.

Fellowship and refreshments afterwards.

All welcome! Bring friends!

 

 

 

 

 

“And the God of all grace, who

called you to His eternal glory in

Christ, after you have suffered a

little while, will Himself restore you

and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

 

 

 

Fall – a season of renewal. The Cross – where renewal occurs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit us on the web at

http://www.sumc-pocomoke.org/