21st Time

Mike Slaughter's Change the World Sparks Discussion of Core Values, Purpose

2012-01-23T22:24:00.004-06:00

We are three sessions into our six-session study of Mike Slaughter's Change the World DVD study. We've had some great discussions, and we'd recommend this study to others for use in a small-group setting; in fact, we'll likely share it with other classes in our church. Yet, this last session, which focused on Slaughter's home church's emphasis on international mission sparked our most lively discussion yet as our class (the 21st Time) has largely (almost excusively) seen our mission as local.

Is it time for us to revisit our class's core values and (re)develop a sort of mission statement that guides our practice of faith? Have been successful in our efforts to alleviate poverty? What could we be doing better?

The timing for such a discussion couldn't be better as Pastor Kelvin has discovered something that may help us to further develop our impact in the community. Please read the following email forwarded by Kelvin for further details:

Dear Pastor,

Is your church located in an area where social, economic, physical or mental-health issues affect a large number of neighboring residents? If your church members were trained to deal with tough leadership challenges, could you make a difference in your community? The Leadership and Faith Transforming Communities program has trained faith facilitators who will come to your church and work with your congregation (or a specific class or team) on the necessary skills for successful community leadership.

We have 21 trained Faith Facilitators across the state that have a purpose of: Helping UM churches make progress on something they care about that will contribute to the health of their community.

Assumptions that we make about churches that are ripe for this experience:

· The church believes that being more focused outside their church walls enhances church vitality

· The church believes that community health is part of a God given mission

If your congregation has this focus, please contact me today for more information about this opportunity. It is offered at no cost to UM congregations beyond the travel costs of the Faith Facilitator.

Thanks, Sue

Sue Dondlinger Project Director Leadership and Faith Transforming Communities

Kansas Leadership Center – To foster civic leadership for healthier Kansas communities.

300 North Main, Suite 100

Wichita, KS 67202

Phone: 316-712-4959

Fax: 316-712-4949

We've made the first steps at seeking a beginning point for this process, so we'll see what happens next!

DISCO in Action

2012-01-11T22:35:00.004-06:00

The Satanta United Methodist Youth will serve an enchilada dinner on Wednesday, January 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with proceeds to go toward the Lundblade family of Sublette who lost their home to a fire this past weekend.

They will need the help of adults, both physically and financially, so if you'd like to be a part of this event, please let Ryan or Karen know ASAP.

Literacy Fair Door Prizes

2012-01-02T17:19:00.005-06:00

We've agreed to provide door prizes for Satanta Elementary's upcoming literacy fair. We are looking at buying one prize each for the following age groups:

PK-K

1-2

3-4

5-6.

We need ideas for toys, books, games, etc. that would appeal to children in this age group. Start brainstorming, and post your ideas here.

New Year, New Study

2011-12-20T23:30:00.003-06:00

The Satanta United Methodist Church’s 21st Time Class invites you to join them in a six-session DVD-based study of Pastor Mike Slaughter’s book Change the World: Recovering the Message and Mission of Jesus. The study, beginning Sunday, January 8, will be held during the Sunday-school hour (at 9:45 a.m.) and will be led by Kelvin Heitmann. The course’s content “challenges church leaders to look at the future of their congregations and make tough but necessary choices,” centering on four primary questions:

• Will you send the church out into the world, or to attract the world into the church?

• Will you focus on building disciples or tallying decision?

• Will you multiply your impact or expand your facilities?

• Will you step out in courage or comply with the status quo?

According to Slaughter, “The answers to these and other questions determine how a church will focus its time, its energy, and its budget to work for real change in a hurting world.” All are welcome to join in the discussion.

More Toys for Girls and for Boys!

2011-12-17T09:49:00.004-06:00

Courtesy of the Satanta Girl Scouts, there will be a second Satanta toy distribution on Wednesday, December 21 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Satanta United Methodist Church. If you need a toy for a child but don't have the means to purchase one, stop by and see us. Message me if this time doesn't fit your schedule, and we can make other arrangements for pick-up.

Let me know if you can be there to help.

Ryan

Our New Year's Resolution

2011-12-11T15:08:00.002-06:00

Our attempts to utilize study materials have been, well, colossal failures. This must be remedied. Therefore, we intend to try again this January with a six-week DVD study of Mike Slaughter (I misspoke this morning when I called him Mike Savage) on his book Change the World.

The plan is to begin this study on Sunday, Jan. 8. The six-part DVD series will be used on the following dates:

Jan. 8
Jan. 15
Jan. 22
Jan. 29
Feb. 5
Feb. 12.

Kelvin may or may not teach this course, but we are hoping we will find a way to make this work. We will use Sunday, December 18 to familiarize ourselves with Mike Slaughter, including, perhaps, his work on Christmas.

Change of Plans

2011-12-08T22:08:00.002-06:00

We will deliver the angel tree gifts and the Christmas food baskets on Wednesday, December 14 instead of on Tuesday to allow the Pairs and Spares to get a better deal on the hams they will include in their giving. I'd like to meet at 5:00 if possible so that we can be out by 6:00 when DISCO will arrive.

Christmas Gift/Food Basket Distribution

2011-12-04T18:46:00.002-06:00

We will join forces with the Spares and Pairs class on Tuesday, December 13 @ 5:30 p.m. to coordinate our church's Christmas food baskets and angel tree gifts in the fellowship hall. Please plan to attend if possible.

Possible Study Materials for New Year

2011-11-27T12:43:00.001-06:00

Check out this DVD study series! It might be worth trying!

http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=921712

Linking Bible study to global mission and local service projects, this six-session small group resource enables congregations to discuss and act on the imperatives of scripture.

Each week, participants will read and discuss a gospel story, watch a video profiling an inspiring, world-changing mission effort, and envision together how they can change the world locally and globally. Participants won’t just read about Jesus feeding the 5000 or healing the lepers, but will be inspired by contemporary ministries feeding the poor and preventing malaria. Participants will be challenged to take a leading role in the congregation’s missional efforts, serving in a homeless shelter as a group, raising funds for disaster relief, or planning a church-wide day of service.

Jesus called us to follow him, to live a life of active faith, feeding the poor, healing the sick, welcoming the alien, and rescuing the desperate. It’s easy to get stuck in our religious habits of just going to church, tossing a few bucks in the offering plate, and occasionally reading our Bible—but Jesus has bigger plans for us. We are called to be his hands and feet in the world. He wants to use us to change the world.

Notes from Sunday, November 27

2011-11-27T12:00:00.002-06:00

Cupcakes for Coats is soon to be finalized. Leanne will take care of switching out one coat for one student that was too small. Nancy Lambert will help her facilitate this exchange. Leanne will also deliver (if she hasn't already) the few coats that were to go to homes in the country. Blake also reported that Mrs. Kowalke has one student who did not receive a coat. If Leanne's last delivery doesn't take care of this situation, Blake will report to Ryan the missing size so that this too can be taken care of. There are 5-7 extra coats that will be placed in the MAM room should other needs arise.

Our Sweet Shoppe will begin on Sunday, Dec. 4. Nicole will make caramels for the kick-off, but we could certainly use other items to fill in. We would welcome candy of any kind as well as baked goods, hot chocolate mixes, etc. The Sweet Shoppe will run three Sundays total: Dec. 4, 11, 18 with Ryan's mom doing peanut brittle on Dec. 11, and Leanne making toffee on Dec. 18.

Money raised from this project will go toward our Christmas Angel Project, which will include personal hygiene gift sets for those gift recipients in junior high or high school. We'll also want to pick up some infant and toddler gifts as back-ups. The deadline for the Christmas Angels is Dec. 11 with delivery slated for Dec. 13, which will coordinate with the delivery date of the Christmas food baskets by the Pairs and Spares. A time for this delivery has not been determined as of yet.

We are also planning to help out at the elementary school's February Literacy Night. We will provide cookies and punch as well has door prizes. We will use the following break-downs for door prizes:

PK-K
1-2
3-4
5-6
Adults.

Nicole also suggested that we could hand out pencils and erasers to every child in attendance. Ryan will take care of this.

We also discussed Assessment Incentives for this school year. Pool passes and carnival wristbands seem to work well at the elementary level, but we are considering moving to fewer, grander prizes at the junior high and high school. Flat-screen televisions and DVD players were discussed. This needs to be finalized at a later date after further discussion. Once this is done, perhaps we can revisit our concept of having an Assessment Achievement Recognition Banquet later in the spring of 2012.

Dates to Remember

2011-11-06T17:35:00.003-06:00

Coat delivery November 20 (coat delivery following Thanksgiving lunch at church)

Christmas Angel Launch November 9 (UMW Bazaar)
Christmas Angel Delivery December 14 (time TBA)

Christmas Sweet Shoppe December 4, 11, and 18.

Christmas Program at Church December 11.

Cupcakes for Coats

2011-10-23T15:27:00.004-05:00

Wow, we've now topped 60 dozen cupcakes with donations nearing $1,500 for our Cupcakes for Coats project. Please get additional orders to Ryan ASAP as he has taken on the job of cupcake order organizer. Leanne is now checking on supplies for this project: cupcake liners, cake mixes, boxes, etc., but we will need to borrow your cupcake pans for the day of the Great Bake, which is Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Three Tiers.

On that day, we will stop for lunch around noon and eat Mexican food that was purchased and frozen from a fundraiser at the Catholic Church. Please feel free to pitch in by bringing a dessert or a side dish. Plates, cups, napkins, etc. will be provided. We will then work into the afternoon, probably in two groups: bakers and sorters.

Deliveries and pick-ups will take place on Sunday, Oct. 30 following morning worship at the Satanta United Methodist Church. For ease and convenience, sandwiches will be served for lunch that day.

Then it will be time to purchase coats. Bi-lingual forms were distributed at parent-teacher conferences, and we are anticipating the purchase of as many as 50 coats. In the event that our revenue tops our need, we will discuss alternatives for purchasing coats with the remaining total. We could, perhaps, expand into Sublette, or we could also use some of our funds to help the kids at Youthville purchase coats or other cold-weather apparel.

One thing is for sure, there will be many children this winter who know the joy of a warm coat and, hopefully, a warm heart.

Possible Source for Coat Purchases

2011-10-09T21:17:00.003-05:00

These coats (boys and girls) from walmart.com run $17.97 each with free shipping for orders totaling more than $45.00. Buying from one source would be ideal.

Notes from Sunday, October 1

2011-10-02T15:07:00.003-05:00

Cupcakes for Coats is a go! We'll need to work on getting the word out this week. Ryan will put something in the newspaper and hang signs as a start. Remember, we plan to bake at Three Tiers on Saturday, Oct. 29. Delivery and pick-up will take place on Sunday, Oct. 30 following lunch at the church. We'll talk menus later!Leanne will take coat application forms to the grade school to be distributed by individual classroom teachers.

We have donated a lovely winter scene decorative set to Russell Child Development for its annual Fantasy Tree Festival. Stephanie will take care of pick-up and delivery.

We still plan to provide food for the yearbook kids' Nov. 10 Parcel Post Auction fundraiser. At this point, Ryan will make chili, and Leanne will make taco soup. We will provide relishes and cheese, paper goods, drinks, and desserts as well.

We've also begun brainstorming ways to develop our assessment incentive program for the Satanta schools. Karen thinks the junior high and school students would like some time off rather than the traditional assessment prizes. Nicole thinks that we should consider an assessment banquet at which we recognize all those who met and exceeded the standards. This is an idea that is certainly worth exploring. We'll discuss it further next Sunday!

Cupcakes for Coats

2011-10-02T00:13:00.002-05:00

Possible Donation to Russell Child Development's Fantasy Tree Festival 2011

2011-09-22T18:09:00.006-05:00

Last year the 21st Time donated money to RCDC's Fantasy Tree Festival. This year, I was thinking something different, perhaps an item for their fundraising auction. With this in mind, I contacted Heather Davis of Davis Designs. She came up with the items in the photo I've posted here. It is in keeping with the theme of mirrors, which is RCDC theme for this round of fundraising. Let me know what you think.

Ryan

Heather has offered it to us via Facebook with the following message:

For the whole set up is $157.75 with tax then with a 20% off the entire purchase would be $126.19 and that's with tax.

Item Regular, 20% off

Mirror $49.99 $39.99

Tall Tree $28.99 $23.19

Small Tree(2) $21.99 each $17.59 each

White Bird(3) $7.50 each $6.00 each

Updated and Corrected Notes for Upcoming Activities

2011-09-18T13:10:00.003-05:00

Cupcakes for Coats

Video Launch (or skit if time won't allow for a video project) of cupcake sales on Sunday, Oct. 2 (sales begin)
Sales through Oct. 28 (sales end)
Baking at Three Tiers Oct. 29 (time TBA)
Delivery Oct. 30 after lunch in fellowship hall

Coat applications will be distributed on Monday, Oct. 3 via the post office, grocery store, etc.
Coat application deadline: Sunday, Oct. 30
Coat delivery on Sunday, Nov. 20

Yearbook Parcel Post Auction

Thursday, Nov. 10—Provide food for meal
Ryan and Karen, Brent and Leanne, and Steve and Carrie are in.
Suggested menu: Chili, cheese and crackers, relishes, and desserts (perhaps Leanne's taco soup for variety?) We'll provide beverages and paper goods as well.
Suggested date to cook: Tuesday, November 8 (Nov. 9 is the UMW Bazaar.)

Christmas Angel Tree

Wednesday, Nov. 9 launch @ UMW Bazaar
Gifts purchased, placed in gift bags, and delivered to church by Sunday, Dec. 11
Delivery to children (with Santa?) on December 14

Upcoming 21st Time Dates

2011-09-17T16:56:00.003-05:00

Cupcakes for Coats

Video Launch of cupcake sales on Sunday, Oct. 2 (sales begin)

Sales through Oct. 29 (sales end)

Delivery Oct. 30 after lunch in fellowship hall

Coat applications will be distributed on Monday, Oct. 3

Coat application deadline: Sunday, Oct. 30

Coat delivery on Sunday, Nov. 20

Yearbook Parcel Post Auction

Thursday, Nov. 10—Provide food for meal (for those who are interested in pitching in)

Christmas Angel Tree

Wednesday, Nov. 9 launch @ UMW Bazaar

Gifts purchased, placed in gift bags, and delivered to church by Sunday, Dec. 11

Delivery to children (with Santa?) on December 14

Some scheduling details

2011-09-04T16:45:00.003-05:00

October 2: Kick-off date for Cupcakes for Coats (possible skit in church?)
Asking for a $20 donation for either a dozen or half dozen cupcakes (combination of white and chocolate, maybe frosted in fall colors?)

October 29: Bake day for cupcakes (Three Tiers)
Leanne has cupcake liners, but we'll need everyone to bring cupcake pans. The more pans we have, the faster we can bake. We'll figure out other supplies as the date approaches.

October 30: Delivery day for cupcakes
We'll put an option on the order form for pick-up at church or delivery; NHS will help us deliver.

November 9: UMW Bazaar--Angel Tree ready to go

December 11: Deadline for Angel Tree gifts

December 14: Angel Tree delivery

Final Push for School Supplies

2011-08-07T22:59:00.002-05:00

We plan to organize and deliver school supplies next Sunday (August 14). Let's plan on organizing during the Sunday School hour and making deliveries after church. We could even make plans to have lunch together at the church. This may or may not entail an emergency run to Dollar General to finalize purchases.

If anyone asks, we are still short on Kleenex and cigar-box-size pencil boxes.

We have an abundance of crayons, so we've thought up a couple of creative ways to distribute them. For example, we could place a note on them that says "Teachers color their students' worlds" and give them to the grade school teachers as a welcome-back gift to the GS faculty. We might then want to do something similar with dry-erase markers for the JH and HS.

School Supply Assistance Now Available

2011-08-03T00:10:00.001-05:00

The Satanta United Methodist Church is now accepting requests for school supply assistance from students residing in the USD 507 school district. Contact Ryan Burrows at 649-3416 to get your child's name on the list or for information about how you can support this important project.

My Three-Dollar Lesson in Christianity

2011-08-03T00:08:00.002-05:00

Leanne came across this online, and I think it's worth sharing. Somehow it has a lot to say about the work of our class.
--Ryan

"My Three-Dollar Lesson in Christianity"

by Matthew Archbold Sunday, July 31, 2011 10:45 PM

The southern heat hit me as I got off the train. It must have been 115 degrees. A wet 115 degrees. Northerners like me don’t do that kind of heat. It felt like the sun was visiting Virginia and came via the sewer.

I was down there for business a few days ago. A small town. Real small. When I got off the train I didn’t know which direction to walk. I spotted a man sitting on the bench inside the station. I call it a station but it’s not really a station. It’s more like they put a roof on top of the place where the train stops.

The man I asked for directions had a big belly, perfectly parted gray hair, and a furry mustache. If you were making a movie about an old time Southern lawyer, this was your guy. He looked out the window for a moment and then gave me perfect directions. I mean, he didn’t just tell me how to get to the street. He told me about the street. Everything he knew about it. And he told me everything about the things that if I saw, it would mean I’d gone too far. And then in case I did go too far he gave me directions from the possible places where I might get lost.

He offered to walk me over but I refused. I guess, being a Northerner, I figured anyone being this nice was selling something. I left him sitting there.

I found my destination easily and was pretty happy, mainly because it was an air conditioned office. Did I mention it was hot outside? It was like practice for Hell kind of hot.

The meeting went well and I was back at the train station fifteen minutes early for my train. I sat down on the bench outside, took out a book, and listened for the sound of a train. I waited. And waited.

And waited.

There were about nine other people waiting on the two benches inside, under the air condition that whirred to life at random moments. There was a woman using a walker who’d just returned from her brother’s funeral, her husband, a Russian woman continuously snapping photos of her son who was excited about taking his first train ride, and a father waiting for his son.

I didn’t want to take up any room on the benches in the slightly air conditioned station so I stood outside on the platform. Soon, my friend with the mustache and the perfectly parted hair returned. He asked me how my meeting went. I said fine.

“Fine” is pretty much my standard response. Being from the north, it is actually impolite to give a real answer. No one wants to know. The question itself is just a polite acknowledgment that you are taking up the space near them. So I always answer “fine.” I honestly could be holding my severed foot in my arms and I’d say “fine” if you asked me how I was doing. It’s not an answer. It’s a response. There’s a difference.

But my clever response didn’t deter my new Southern friend. He asked me where I was from. I told him Philadelphia and he informed me it was a terrible place and he’d been to football games there and Philadelphians are just nasty people, present company excepted, of course. He asked me if I was married. Kids? How many? What I did? Where I went to college?

I think at some point he was all questioned out so he asked me what train I was waiting for. I told him I was waiting for the 4:46. Oh, he said.

And that’s when he told me that the train was delayed. Not just delayed. But DELAYED!!! He said he’d heard someone say it was delayed at least four hours due to some chemical spill a few towns over.

Oh nooooo. Four hours? Did I mention it was hot?

Then he started telling me that I might need to know that if the train didn’t come until after 9 p.m. the doors to the station locked automatically so one of us should make sure to stay inside to make sure all the other nice people waiting for the train didn’t get locked outside.

“What time is your train?” I asked him.

“Well,” he said. “That depends.” And then he told me that he’d come into town for his high school reunion from South Carolina the week before. Not only did he not know anyone there but shortly after, he suffered a heart attack. His tenth. Yup. His tenth. He joked that his gravestone would read, “It’s about time.”

By the time he was released from the hospital he missed his train and he couldn’t do anything with his non-refundable ticket. He had no money and had to wait until next week when a check he was expecting would clear. So he’d been living in, near, and around the station for a week waiting for a check to clear.

He called his sister who said she couldn’t afford to send him a check because her dog had worms. “If he’s got worms, take him fishing” he told her. “I’m your kin.” I’m guessing she didn’t think that was funny. And then he got off the phone quickly. He said he was afraid of “cussing at her” if he didn’t.

I asked him when the last time he ate and he said, “a while.” So I tried to give him ten dollars but he refused, saying three dollars would do him fine. He told me Virginia law’s stated that if you had money in your pocket you weren’t loitering. So he thanked me for helping him not be a lawbreaker and off he went. About an hour later he returned.

Within twenty minutes he had everyone talking. He talked about his time as an choir singer in college, he told us that Luciano Pavarotti had a heckuva voice but he was meaner than a cornered cat, he told us that the water off the Gulf was so clear that it made fishing so easy you felt you were cheating. The woman from Russia told us trains there were never late. A man originally from India said trains were always late there. And everyone offered condolences for the passing of that woman’s brother. There was more talk of “better places” and heaven than I’ve heard at half the homilies in my life.

Soon, everyone in the train station was talking like they’d known each other since the second grade. And I wouldn’t have been more uncomfortable if I was lying on a picket fence. I’m just not a sharer.

At around 9 p.m. and with no train in sight, my friend taught everyone how to close the station door while making sure the lock didn’t catch so nobody would get locked out. Then he started swallowing his medicines at the water fountain and he told everyone his story about his heart attack and he told them that the nurse had to stick him four times before she could find blood and then she had the gall to blame him.

About then a man walked into the station. He was pretty filthy and he looked like he’d cut his own hair. His clothes hung off him, way too big for him. He looked surprised to see us all there and he walked up to my train station bff and thanked him quietly for buying him a hotdog earlier. My friend kinda’ snuck a peek at me and told the other man not to worry about it. He said we’re here to help each other. When the man left, my friend leaned toward me and said that when he got to the store he saw that man and thought he’d help him out a bit. He said that he’d talked with him and it turned out he needed a hot dog a little more than he did.

He had three dollars and he bought another man a hot dog. That blew me away. Truly blew me away. And I thought to myself that while I may mean well by others, unless I actually talk to people I’ll never know if anyone needs help. Aren’t we always told about welcoming strangers because you might be entertaining angels. Well, I wonder how many angels I’ve walked by. Or how many angels I told I was fine.

Silence can sometimes mean selfishness.

My friend suddenly checked his phone, turned around, and told the room that his sister texted him that she’d Western Union the money sometime the next day. And then we joked about who would get on a train first.

About an hour later, my train came. Everyone in this little practice for Hell hot room shook hands and said, “God bless” as they got on the train. As I got to the door, I gave my friend the money I had in my pocket. He said it was too much and I told him to say nice things about Philadelphians in the future. He agreed that he would. And I believe he will. To anyone he comes in contact with.

As I got on the train I saw him laughing with the cleaning crew who came in every night around ten. I watched two men help to lift the lady with the walker onto the train. The Russian woman snapped photos of her son boarding the train. And as I got on the train, a man putting his three year old son to sleep on the seat across the aisle from me, asked me how was the wait. I started to say “fine” but I didn’t. I told him.

And now I’m telling you.

Thank You!

2011-08-02T16:14:00.002-05:00

July 21, 2011

Dear 21st Time Class,

I am truly humbled. What an invigorating and encouraging day it was when Julie Smith gave me your supportive letter and check for $250 earlier this week. Just when I felt I had it so good . . . you made it BETTER! It is a wonderful feeling to know that there's a young, healthy group in this town that cares so deeply about alleviating ignorance and poverty, that they not only put money toward designated projects, but are not hesitant to put their feet and back in too! You are an amazing blessing.

'Thank you" hardly seems adequate, but I know the Saviour that honors your efforts. May he bless you beyond human words and give you the desires of your heart.

Most sincerely with you,

Lennet

MAM Clean . . . Could Use a Re-stocking

2011-07-24T00:00:00.004-05:00

Mendy, Monet, and Ryan have whipped the MAM room back into shape. But, in doing so, they uncovered some needs:

Men's clothing
Children's clothing
Baby clothing

Canned meats, such as Spam
Pasta
Rice
Cereal
Pinto beans
Tuna

Bar soap
Shampoo
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes

Please prayerfully consider donating some of these items to allow us to continue to serve those who are less fortunate than we are.

It's Clean Up Time . . .

2011-07-13T01:01:00.003-05:00

Ok, this isn't an actual picture of the MAM room, but it might as well be. What a mess! It's time PURGE, keeping only the best items and shipping the rest off to Goodwill. Then we can restock the food pantry and begin offering a clean, attractive place to seek assistance once again!

Check those calendars and see when you might be able to help next week.

Our Condolences to the Family of Holly (Wilson) Boese

2011-07-13T00:55:00.002-05:00

The 21st Time Class has given a $200 gift card to Holly (Wilson) Boese and her family to help defray expenses from the fire that destroyed the family's home and took the life of Holly's two-year-old son. The little boy's funeral will be held at the Satanta United Methodist Church this coming Saturday, July 16. Our hearts go out to the Wilsons as they face this tragedy.

Pool Party

2011-07-10T17:44:00.002-05:00

The 21st Time will host a pool party on July 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Bring food and/or beverages to share, and invite a friend. We're always looking for new class members!

School Supply Project Update

2011-07-10T17:19:00.004-05:00

We will begin fundraising for our annual school supply project this coming Sunday with an announcement in church followed by the posting of signs around town and note being placed in the paper describing the project. Our materials indicate that we'll take monetary donations through August 8.

We will begin advertising that we are offering school supplies around the first of August with the expectation that we that giving will end August 12, which the weekend before school starts in Satanta.

Tiffany suggested that we might be able to get corporate support for our project by writing Crayola, Mead, Rose Art, Elmer's, and Kleenex. She will look into undertaking this project as soon as possible.

We also discussed purchasing drawstring bags to give along with our supplies, but at $200, many thought this money could be better spent on supplies.

School Supply Project Update

2011-06-27T12:34:00.003-05:00

We've finalized our school-supply project plans. This year we will offer to purchase school supplies to any student in the USD 507 school district who needs them, but rather than offering a form to every family at enrollment, we'll print up business cards that Nancy and Shelley will offer at enrollment to families in need during the enrollment process. These families can then contact us directly.

We have also discussed using drawstring backpacks to deliver the school supplies in. These could be purchased via a website like www.4allpromos.com, but first we will inquire to see if Mary Oliver and her UMW sewers might be able to make these for us.

To finance this program, we will post flyers around town (and at local churches) with bookmark reminders asking community members to donate $10 (or more) to our group in support of our "Erase Poverty" school supply campaign. These flyers/bookmarks have already been created and prepared for posting around town. We'll post them as August draws nearer.

What We're Working on Now

2011-06-20T09:37:00.002-05:00

Our garage sale proceeds have already allowed us the freedom to make an impact in our community. So far, we've done/planned to do the following:

Re-stocked the food pantry with food items that are easy for children to prepare. (We worked on the assumption that many children in our community feed themselves during the summer months.)
Donated $250 the Dudley Township Library in support of the Summer Reading Program to allow Julie Smith to have a July 28 pizza party to celebrate the successful end of the program's run. Julie plans to provide school-supply goodie bags to each child in attendance.
Begun the discussion of the 2011 school-supply project with an emphasis on providing for individual children in our community. The latest version of this idea would have Nancy and Shelley provide a business card with contact information for our class to those in need of school supplies.

Let us pray that each of these projects touches the life of someone who needs to hear the most important message of all: "You are loved."

Thank You

2011-06-20T09:30:00.002-05:00

Dear 21st Time Class,

Thank you so much for the goodies and the itunes gift card. While on the 10-day trip, new songs on my ipod were needed, and I also enjoyed and shared the snacks.

The METour let me grow stronger in my faith, and I also met 47 other girls who were very strong Christians. I had the opportunity to tour DenUM and interact with people in homeless shelters and with low-income children. I also had the opportunity to help UMCOR pack birthday kits for African children. I also volunteered at and toured several clothing and food pantries. We ended the trip by visiting Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore.

The main focus of the trip was poverty and living in a small community. This trip opened my eyes to the needs the country has. I will definitely have to share more about my trip when I am home in July. Thanks again so much.

Love,

Katy Clawson

Garage Sale Success!

2011-06-13T12:03:00.003-05:00

Thanks to all who contributed toward the Satanta United Methodist Church garage sale. We raised over $1,400, which we will re-invest in our community food bank, the Dudley Township Library, and our local school. Our commitment to end poverty through education continues as we seek new ways to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

June 11 Garage Sale

2011-05-27T13:35:00.003-05:00

Our June 11 garage sale is a go. We'll start collecting items the week before the garage sale, which will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Satanta Community Building. Items will be sold by free-will donation, and proceeds will go to support our many local mission projects with emphasis given to our upcoming school supply project, whatever form that project might take this year.

Ryan and Leanne will take care of picking up items around town, getting the items ready for sale,and doing some basic advertising, but we will definitely need help the day of the actual sale because several of our class members will be out of town that weekend. Brent will be available that day, but we don't want him to have to go it alone. Please let him know if you can help out that day.

We will clean up sometime Sunday evening or Monday morning, whichever works best for everyone.

Help Needed at Graduation Lunch 5/22/11

2011-05-16T21:49:00.002-05:00

Jean Ann Troutt has asked that we make ourselves available to work in the kitchen, especially during the Sunday school hour, to help the education committee pull off its lunch honoring Kurtis Clawson.

Instead of having class, we'll meet in the kitchen and get done whatever needs to be done. She might not need us to help serve, but we'll likely be needed to help clean up after its all done.

2011-05-16T17:24:00.004-05:00

On May 13, 2011, USD 507 students gathered at both the elementary and junior-senior high school in the hope of winning one of several prizes provided by the Satanta United Methodist Church’s 21^st Time Class via a generous donation made by the late Sharon Kisker. The prizes—which (at the high school and junior high)included Satanta Day carnival wristbands, Pizza Shack gift certificates, El Indio gift certificates, Corner Bucks, and season passes to the Satanta City pool— were raffled off with students receiving chances based on individual performances on annual state assessments in reading, math, science, and social studies. Those scoring exemplary on a given assessment received three chances; exceeds standards, two; and meets standards, one. The following students won prizes at the junior high and high school:Jesus Salcido (7^th grade)—season pass to city pool

Rikki Rickers (7^th grade)—carnival wristband

Jesus Salcido (7th grade)--season pass to pool

Brandon Smith (7^th grade)—El Indio gift certificate

Matt Pickens (8^th grade)—Corner Bucks

Adrian Longoria (8^th grade)—Corner Bucks

Alejandra Escarsega (8^th grade)—Corner Bucks

Haru Obushi (10^th grade)—Pizza Shack gift certificate

Oceanna Vogts (11^th grade)—carnival wristband

Jordan Penner (11^th grade)—carnival wristband

Gary Berges (11^th grade)—carnival wristband

Casey Henderson (11^th grade)—carnival wristband

Raul Pando (11^th grade)—season pass to city pool

That same day, a similar prize-giveaway happened at Satanta Elementary. Prizes winners there are listed below:

3^rd Grade:

Pizza – Rene Urquidi

Pizza – Alan Olivas

Carnival Bracelet – Andy Heimerich

Carnival Bracelet – Sami Small

4^th Grade:

Pizza – Polo Salcido

Pizza – Anthony Carlock

Carnival Bracelet – Wyatt Wade

Carnival Bracelet – Blanche Keesee

5^th Grade:

Pizza – Morgan Calderon

Pizza – Annalisa Miller

Carnival Bracelet – Maria Contreras

Carnival Bracelet – Alex Howie

6^th Grade:

Pizza – Angel Meza

Pizza – Kacey Johnson

Carnival Bracelet – Eduardo Miramontes

Carnival Bracelet – Natalia Gonzalez

Time for a New Set of Goals?

2011-05-15T16:58:00.003-05:00

Our mission has always been simple: to combat poverty in our community through whatever means necessary. Perhaps John Wesley said it better when he said

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

With this in mind, it's time to begin thinking about our future plans. Here are some items to consider:

Our MAM food pantry and clothes closet is an ongoing project. How could it be made more effective?
June 2011—Benefit Garage Sale
August 2011—School supply project. Does this need to be re-envisioned?
December 2011—Christmas Angel Tree/Candy Shop + food baskets
April 2012—Easter Egg Hunt with Chamber

Other possibilities for service projects and fundraisers (add your ideas here):

Literacy Fair
Teacher grants
Dinner and Show Night
Other ideas?

Benefit Garage Sale

2011-05-15T14:46:00.005-05:00

The 21st Time Class is seeking donations for a benefit garage sale to be held on Saturday, June 11. Donations will be accepted at the Community Building beginning June 6.

Contact Ryan Burrows or Brent Howie if you need to arrange for a pick-up.

If Anyone Asks . . .

2011-05-12T07:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, we did provide materials to promote the summer reading program at the Dudley Township Library.

Yes, we did provide prizes from local business for assessment incentives at Satanta Elementary, Junior High, and High School.

Yes, we did allow the JH girls on the summer ball club to use our cotton machine to make cotton candy to sell at Satanta Day as a fundraiser.

Yes, we are making a difference, and it feels good.

What We're Up to Now . . .

2011-05-01T13:34:00.002-05:00

In anticipation of Easter 2012, we have made the purchase of over 1,500 filled Easter eggs from the Target clearance aisle at a cost of about $100. We have also purchased most of the items we'll need for next year's grand-prize baskets on clearance. These items are being stored in the storage room off the kitchen at church.

We are also looking forward to providing assessment incentive rewards to the students at Satanta Elementary, Junior High, and High School. Elementary students who proved successful on the recent assessments, will be entered in a raffle to win Satanta Day carnival wristbands: five each for grades3-4 and 5-6. At the JH/HS students will be entered in a similar raffle (for students in grades 7-12) with prizes to include five Satanta Day carnival wristbands and 10 ten-dollar gift certificates from local businesses. Brent will take care of getting the carnival bands via the Chamber, while Ryan will shop for the gift certificates from local businesses.

We have also been asked to consider donating money towards the purchase of items (bookmarks or pencils, perhaps) to help the Dudley Township (Satanta) Library advertise its summer reading program, which will be led this year by Julie Smith. This is something that we'll need to discuss further.

Please note that we have committed to hosting a 21st Time garage sale at the Community Building on June 11. Start saving items for this sale, and help us by spreading the word others that we'll be accepting (and even picking up) donations for this sale.

Hopefully, we can return to our Adam Hamilton DVD series next Sunday. We're ready to watch and discuss the third section, which covers how Christians should respond to other religions. Once this DVD is complete, we could consider purchasing the one based on Hamilton's newest book called Why?

Easter Egg Hunt Winners

2011-04-17T21:03:00.001-05:00

Monet Howe

Mylen Howe

Hunter Waggoner

Egg Hunt

2011-04-10T12:23:00.002-05:00

The Easter Egg hunt is on for next week at 1:00 p.m., but there are still many things left to be done.

First, we must get the remaining eggs stuffed with candy or quarters. Steve will pick up more candy to stuff the remaining the eggs; Leanne will take care of getting quarters from Centera.

Cathy has organized the grand prizes baskets, and Brent has offered to get some Satanta Bucks to place inside them. When this is done, Cathy will cellophane the three baskets up. These prizes will be awarded to the child who finds the golden egg (which Ryan has) in each of the following divisions: birth to pre-K, K-2, 3-6.

Someone (perhaps Stacey?) should send an email to all the GS teachers asking them to remind their students of the event, or a note could be sent home if someone is feeling that industrious.

Because the hunt is at 1:00, we'll stay for lunch in the fellowship hall. Ryan will pick up sandwich fixings, chips, and some paper goods at the store. Those who wish to pitch in could provide drinks, sides, or desserts.

If all goes well, we'll be "hiding" the eggs by 12:30 p.m. for the 1:00 start. After that, we'll have to stand guard and direct children to their designated hunting areas. We'll also want to make sure that we let everyone know that while they may keep their candy and prizes, we'd like to have their eggs back for use at next year's hunt.

We will return to our Adam Hamilton series following this event.

Easter Egg Hunt Preparations

2011-03-27T14:01:00.003-05:00

The annual Easter Egg Hunt (co-sponsored by the 21st Time and the Satanta Chamber of Commerce) will be held on Sunday, April 17 @ 1:00 p.m.

Ryan has purchased what he hopes is enough candy to fill the eggs. We can do this the couple of Sundays before the event.

Leanne will speak with Matt Lee at Centera about the possibility of the bank donating rolled change, preferably quarters. We will NOT be giving away savings bonds this year; instead, we will offer one large prize per age group. Ryan will pick these prizes up. We will use three golden eggs to determine who wins these prizes. We will need to set age groupings and areas before the event, but that's something we've already pretty much discussed.

Mark will provide two bicycles to be given away. A raffle might work well for this as we want all participants to have a chance to win. Plus, the bikes will be gender-specific: one for a boy and one for a girl.

Because of the early start time of the event, we may have lunch at the church immediately following service that day. Ryan suggested sandwiches. He will pick these items up if this is something everyone else is interested in.