Events

Lay Leader Letter

Youth News

Scout News

Kids

Missions

The Mountain View  

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven on Earth.

 April 2009

Give to Live

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. –2 Corinthians 9:6-8

During the Holy Land tour I experienced in February with 35 other pastors from around the United States, two of the sites we visited were the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Ezra, our tour guide, said, "I have a great sermon illustration for you." He explained that the Dead Sea has an inlet, but no outlet. It is made up of 33 percent salt, while the Great Salt Lake is 16 percent salt. The Dead Sea has no life around it. The land surrounding the Dead Sea is barren and desolate. The Dead Sea has no life in it—not even brine shrimp. The Sea of Galilee, on the other hand, has an inlet and an outlet. The Sea of Galilee receives and gives. It provides a full one-third of the fresh water for all of Israel. The Sea of Galilee has beautiful vegetation all around it.

The moral is pretty self-explanatory: If I'm only concerned about what's in it for me, I die inside. If I only care about myself and what I can get, my relationships also die.
I have to GIVE to LIVE.

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Steve

April 25 - Mountain Vista Auction

Don't Delay – Make Your Auction Item Commitment Today!
It may seem like the MVUMC Auction is long time away, but it's just around the corner, April 25! It's a tough economy out there and donations for our event are down. Right now we have about 30 items committed and we really need at least 100 (hopefully more). This year's event will include a Live Auction, Silent Auction and Chinese Auction, so there's room for items of all shapes, sizes and values.

The congregations' help and participation is more important than ever. In order to plan a successful event we need know auction item commitments as soon as possible. Sign-up on the big posterboard or fill out a green sheet and put it in the offering plate. Also, if you have businesses you frequent, how about asking them for an auction item donation? Business letters are available in the Fellowship Hall.

The proceeds of the auction will benefit our congregation and beyond. Funds raised through the auction will be dedicated to funding needs related to our new building, including landscaping, furnishings and a new sign. In addition, 10% of the auction proceeds will be gifted to the MVUMC Love Fund.

Thank you!
The MVUMC Auction Committee

Praying for:

Dave Grierson
The Word-Oliver Family
Ruth Elwell
The Chauza Family
Scott Sill & Family
Bill & Stella Chapman
Russ Madsen
The Wilson Family
The Coates Family
Jim Wilder
The Anderson and Reynolds Families
Kelly Fayerweather and Family
Michael Felise
Praying for all of those searching for employment and all in need of healing.

EVENTS:

Holy Week:
Check your weekly bulletins for times and events.

April 5 Palm Sunday – Choir Cantata all services (8:15, 9:45 & 11:15), and Youth Pancake Breakfast between services.

April 8 Mid Week Service 6:00 pm
April 9 Maundy Thursday 7:00 pm - Hand Washing Service
April 10 Good Friday 7:00 pm - Tenebrae Service
April 12 Easter Sunday - three services: 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 am

Wednesday Night Services are thriving!
Join Jean Ann Nohavec, Mitch Lambdin and a guest speaker each week at 6:00 pm for worship, music and Holy communion, followed by a light meal. Contact Jean Ann if you would like to be a speaker or provide a dinner for Wednesday nights.

Saturday, April 4th - Trinity UMC would like to invite everyone at Mountain Vista to an Easter Dinner fundraiser. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 3:30, followed by Easter Dinner at 5 pm with Music and Entertainment. (Gift Baskets for sale) Adults $10, Seniors and Students $8. Children under 12 $5, Families of 4 $25. RSVP 801-968-6891 Trinity UMC, 4290 West 5415 South, Kearns.

April 19, 6:30 pm - Speakers on Missions to Kenya
at Mountain Vista. Linda Milliman will talk about her Medical Mission work and Gwen Smith will speak about her work with the "In Our Own Quiet Way" program in the Kenyan schools.

April 25, at 6:00 pm - Mountain Vista Auction
Come enjoy the fun and excitement!
If you are interested in helping contact Cindie Selbo or the church office.

April 24-26 - UMW Spiritual Life Retreat in Estes Park, Colorado
Holy Wholeness with Linda Sperber.
www.rmcumw.org

Please key lock and double check all doors after every event.

INTO THE FUTURE!!

Annual Subdistrict Conference and Leadership
Training Event. Friday and Saturday at Christ UMC,
2375 E. 3300 South, Salt Lake City, UT

May 1, 6-8:00 pm Dinner ($7.50) Honor outgoing DS Glenda Ulmer and introduce Steve Goodier as our new DS.

May 2, 8:30 am-3:00 pm. The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations Training Event ($15.00 if registered by April 15 or $20 at the door-includes lunch)

PINECLIFF CAMP
Work Day - Sat. May 9
Open house - May 23
Women's retreat - June 5, 6, 7
Jr. High camp – June 12-14
Family camp - June 19, 20, 21
Elementary camp – July 20-24
http://www.heyletsgotocamp.org/camp-pinecliff.cfm

Family Promise date changes: June 14-21, August 23-30 and November 22-29, (Thanksgiving week)
These dates for hosting will be at Hilltop House.

Chrysalis: Boys July 16-19 & Girls July 23-26

Monday, Sept 14th, 3-8 pm - Next Blood Drive

Mountain Vista UMC Friends and Leaders:

Pay Pal
We finally got all the approvals completed with the PayPal organization and Marlene Reeves (our webmaster) added a "Donations""page with a PayPal "Donate" button to our Mountain Vista UMC website. Everything has been tested and seems to work just fine.

Be sure to go to our website scroll down the front page, click on the link to the Donations page, take a look, click on the PayPal "Donate" button, and, while you're at it, go ahead and make a donation!

Please let me know if you have any comments that you would like to share – especially ways we can improve the page and the process. If you have any problems or concerns, we would certainly like to know those RIGHT AWAY!

While I’m visiting with you, I would also like to ask that each of you with responsibility for any information on any of our other website pages PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PAGES and give us some updated information. The present status of many of our site pages is woefully inadequate and out-of-date, some by more than a year. Marlene wants to help us get our site to its maximum best position, but we have to help her by getting the right information to her ASAP and sooner! You can forward any and all information for website posting to me (pdporter@comcast.net) or to Marlene (webmaster@mtnvistaumc.org) and we will get your information posted just as soon as we can.

Thanks for your interest and your support!
Don

History of the Lenten Season - from The Upper Room

Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the day that Christians remember the gathering of Jesus and his disciples for the Last Supper. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning commandment, in reference to Jesus' teachings about a new commandment. "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35, NRSV).

In some churches, Maundy Thursday is commemorated with a symbolic washing of the feet. (See John 13:1-20.) Other traditions observe Maundy Thursday with a service of Holy Communion.

Good Friday
The source of our term for the Friday before Easter, "Good Friday," is not clear. It may be, says Professor Laurence Hull Stookey in Calendar: Christ's Time for the Church, "a corruption of the English phrase 'God's Friday.'" (p. 96) (It is the common name for the day among English and Dutch speaking people.) It is a day that proclaims God's purpose of loving and redeeming the world through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a day that is good because God was drawing the world to God's self in Christ. As seen in John's gospel, particularly, God was in control. God was not making the best of a bad situation but was working out God's intention for the world winning salvation for all people. We call it "good" because we look backward at the crucifixion through the lens of Easter!

"Good Friday" is not an universal name for the day. The liturgical title for the day in the Western church was "Friday of Preparation" since the time Jews used the work paraskeue (getting ready) for Friday, meaning the day of preparation. Popular names for the day are "Holy Friday" among the Latin nations, "Great Friday" among the Slavic peoples, "Friday of Mourning" in Germany, "Long Friday" in Norway, and "Holy Friday" (Viernes Santo) among Hispanic peoples.

Easter
Easter is the oldest festival of the Christian Church. In the early Church, new converts sat in vigil during the night before Easter. Then they were baptized and received their first Holy Communion on Easter Day.

According to St. Bede (673-735), the name "Easter" was derived from the Saxon spring goddess, "Eostre." As in the case of Christmas, the Christian observance of Easter took the place of an existing pagan ritual.

The date for Easter is set in relation to the Jewish Passover. Since Jesus' Last Supper and crucifixion occurred during the feast of the Passover, Christ is seen as the Paschal lamb, the new sacrifice. So the Christian observance of Jesus' death and resurrection are forever tied to the Jewish Passover feast.

The date for Easter in the Western Church is set in relation to the Passover full moon. (The Eastern Church calculates the date differently.) The date for Easter always falls between March 21 and April 25.

How can I repay the Lord my God for all God's Goodness to me? ~ 2 Samuel 24:24

help wanted

Volunteers Needed at Mountain Vista:
Get Involved: Share in the responsibility of maintaining our church. Many opportunities are available. Sign up to be a Sunday school teacher, bring refreshments, altar flowers, clean facilities, serve as ushers, get on a committee, plan events. The list goes on. Join in!

Check the clipboards or Contact the church office if you can help (801) 280-4148

WORSHIP AND STUDY

Bible Study

Sunday 9:45 am Adult Study @ Mtn Vista
Monday 6:30 pm Bible Study @ Mtn Vista
Wednesday 9:00 am Women's Bible Study @ Linda Kreib's

Saturday 8:00 am Men's Bible Study @ Mtn Vista

Emmaus 4th Day Reunion Groups
Monday 7:30 pm Women's Circle of Friends @ Tracy's
7:30 pm Women's Reunion @ Mtn Vista
Wednesday 7:00 pm Men's Reunion @ Mtn Vista
Friday 7:00 am Men's Reunion: @ Jim's Family Restaurant (7609 S. Redwood Rd.)
Saturday 8:30 am Women's Reunion @ Espresso Connection (4465 S. Redwood Road)

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and walked with them. -Luke 24:15

MISSION WORK
You are one of God's children; I see the resemblance!

REACHING OUTSIDE OUR COMMUNITY:

UMCOR
UMCOR depot in Salt Lake City. We will be a hub for UMCOR relief supplies to be shipped all over the west and many places overseas.
Volunteers needed! Call Brian (801) 635-7080

Collecting:
Soup labels for Redbird Mission (Please include the barcode and "label for education" mark.)
Eyeglasses in good condition for future Mexico, Central and South America Mission trips
Donations for Pakistan Mission trip – Pac My Bags
Books for a Navajo school library – see Tracy

Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 1 John 3:18 NRSV

OUTREACH IN OUR COMMUNITY:

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
On behalf of the Red Cross: THANK YOU!! to all that participated in the most recent blood drive. We had a total of 21 units donated, which was a little short of our goal but still very good! We had snow that night, and I'm sure the weather played a factor in our final numbers. Having a credible source of blood for patients of hospitals and emergency situations is something we don't normally think about, unless we have that emergency touch our own lives and then we realize how important it is. So thank you again for sharing the "gift of life", you are all so awesome! Mark your calendars for our next blood drive: Mon, Sept. 14, 2009.

Love Fund – Provides onetime assistance for families and individuals in need. We have helped several families with gasoline, housing and food pantry.
Thank you for replenishing the love fund.

Collecting:
Clothing for Crossroads Thrift Store
Canned goods for Crossroads food pantry
Trial size shampoo & lotion for South Valley Shelter.
Box Tops for Education for local community services
Pop Tops for SLC Ronald McDonald House
Aluminum cans for our Choir Music
Recycle paper for our Building Fund
Blankets for Project Linus
Lap quilts for the Veteran's Hospital
Clear Plastic bottles for science projects

Sandwich Mission
Sunday, April 19: Make/bring sandwiches to church
Monday, April 20: Bring sandwiches to the church before 3:00.
Deliver & Serve sandwiches, 4:45 pm at St Vincent DePaul Center, 500 West 200 South
For any questions, contact Lesa Stone at 598- 1767 or sean-stone@comcast.net.

"Oh yeah, these are the GOOD sandwiches! Where are you from? Yeah, the Methodists make good sandwiches."

CROSSROADS URBAN CENTER
Food Pantry: 347 S 400 E
Needed: protein items: peanut butter, canned meat & canned & dry beans. All food items needed!

Thrift Store: 1385 W Indiana Ave (850 S)
Needed: Spring clothes – light jackets, sweaters and sweats

Food Drive Needed:
Times are tough and budgets are tight for everyone. Client loads at our pantry continue to be high. It has been almost three months since the holidays and our food supplies are dwindling. Crossroads needs some faith communities to step up and conduct a food drive as soon as possible. We need every kind of canned and dry good. Please email linda@crossroads-u-c.org if you can help. Thanks!

Wish list for Crossroads projects, Food co-op, UMCOR warehouse and office. Pick up available.

Please let Linda Hilton at knowlinda@crossroads-u-c.org or (801) 364-7765 x133, what you have and if you need pickup. She will arrange pickup or let you know at which location to drop things off. Your help is always appreciated.

FAMILY PROMISE-SALT LAKE-MVUMC-TRINITYUMC MISSIONS/OUTREACH

These are the names of all the volunteers who were instrumental in helping to make the week of March 8-15, 2009, a very memorable and worthwhile week, for the families who have no other place to stay.

There were 57 volunteers from Mountain Vista UMC and Trinity UMC, and Hilltop UMC, which includes 7 children, who overtly participated in the hosting for Family Promise-Salt Lake at Hilltop House, March 8-15, 2009. By participating in this week’s hosting, they showed GOD's love to people who are having a hard time with the economy situation. What an outpour of love, helping, and giving!!!

The volunteers not only provided meals, food/necessity items, and monetary donations; they provided themselves to help in any way they felt necessary. Many of the members served in more than one capacity (see above).

The meals provided were delicious, and the families really enjoyed them all. We had pot roast, spaghetti, lasagna, chicken Alfredo, turkey dinner, and ham. Much milk, both white and chocolate, was consumed, as were fruits and vegetables!!

We got to celebrate a one year birthday on Saturday to wish a little girl the best. She received many presents and a cake of her own. The parents expressed their gratitude for this outpouring of love to her. Appreciation was also expressed by all for the hard work and gifts of food and love that was shown to them by Mountain Vista UMC and Trinity UMC.

To each of you: THANK YOU! HOURS: APPROX. 300
The giving of selves, food/necessity provisions, monetary donations, and prayers showed so much of GOD's love with this worthwhile outreach/missions project.

GOD Bless each and every one of you.

P.S. If I have left anyone out, misspelled names, etc., please do not hesitate to contact me, Jane Tago or the church office.

SCOUT NEWS

Girl Scouts:
Girl Scouts - Troop 2120, Mondays 7:00 pm, Sept.– May
Girls kindergarten through high school
Brandee Fox or the church office

Cub Scouts:
Cub Scouts - Pack 4012, Tuesdays 7:00pm, Aug.– May
Boys age 7-11 (1st –5th grade)
Kristin VanStaveren or the church office
Tigers
Wolves Mike VanStaveren 1st, 2nd Tuesday
Bears Chris White 1st, 2nd Tues
Webelos Jim Goodrich 1st, 2nd Tues
Pack Mtg.  in Fellowship Hall last Tues of each month, 7 pm.
Annual Cake Auction Fundraiser
Tuesday March 31st, 7 pm at church EVERYONE Invited!!

We are looking for some leaders for the 2009/2010 scout year!! Scouts wanted!! 1st-5th grade age. For more info call Kristin or the church office.

See Dave Sauer or call the church office for "God & Me" program information, there is a small book fee. April 1, 7 pm.

Boy Scouts:
Boys 10 1/2 – 17, Troop 1012 meets year-round, Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. (no meeting the last Tuesday)
Boy Scout Court of Honors April 7

Boys lead boys. This is what the Troop is all about. The boys are playing their roles and taking charge. Many boys are climbing the ladder of ranks and leadership. 2009 has been a great year and I'm enjoying watching these boys. So far we have done so much more than any other year before. Winter Camping, Pow Wow, Klondike Derby, Winter fun-o-ree, and much, much more. April is right around the corner with fun activities.

April 17 & 18 - 2009 Pioneering Spring Camp-o-ree
April 25, 2009 Comcast Service Project
May 9, 2009 Special day for Troop and Mother's
June 20, 2009 Father's day Pinewood Derby.
You can start signing up now, contact the Scoutmaster via email. mvscoutmstr3@q.com
Check out the NEW website:  http://mvbstroop1012.scoutlander.com

Buy Brandon Elwell’s Emergency Flashlights
They're GREAT because they have two power sources:
Either batteries or shake-me-up generator.
They are waterproof and have a carabineer clip.
Cost is only $10 each - probably pay more in store.
All funds go to Brandon’s Scout Jamboree 2010 fund.
Call Brandon at 801-860-1717 and tell me how many!

Kids

Acolytes needed for all services! Contact Linda Hartney for information.

Angel Choir (ages 3-8) Angel Choir Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. Contact Robin Smugala or the church office. No experience is needed. Come practice for an Easter performance!

LIVE B.I.G. Sunday school classes 9:45 a.m. Join the fun!

VBS - TBA

Pinecliff Elementary Camp - Grade K-6, July 20-24 $130

YOUTH
Youth Blog:
http://mvumcyouth.blogspot.com/
 

Hey all you readers out there, it's Luke here with a lot of interesting things to tell you about. This month has been packed with a lot of things that have given us all a chance to grow closer to Christ, as well as each other.

As some of you might have known we had a group of youth that went to YLC (Youth Leadership Conference) it was in Snow Mountain Ranch which is in Winter Park, Colorado. We had a group of nine people. Big thanks to Michelle VanLaningham for stepping in as our female chaperone. Jason Stevens was the chaperone for the guys. The Attendees were: Amber and Shay Cleveland, Kaity Coward, Luke and Emily Peralez, Mary Smugala, and Scott Reinhard. I always love these trips because it allows all of us that go a chance to get to know each other more and more. what other choice do you have when you are with people for a whole weekend. The theme for the weekend was Leadership: Is It In You?. The keynote speaker was Brad Laurvec and he did an amazing job.

Another event that occurred recently was the thirty hour famine. Jason Stevens, Izzy Sill, Scott Reinhard, and Sumner Greirson all participated in the event with Southeast Baptist Church. "I was hungry!" recalled Stevens. The event required for all participants to fast from Friday morning until the next morning. It was all to bring awareness for the hunger epidemic among most of the children living in Africa. In addition to a worship service featuring a woman from Kenya, the youth also participated in many activities to remember those who are less fortunate. I think that it was a moving experience for everyone.

Now some of the upcoming events you need to be aware of are the Palm Sunday Breakfast, and Spring Fling. We will be needing a lot of help with the breakfast. We will need ingredients and supplies to ensure that everything goes great. A sign up sheet will be posted for both so be looking on our youth bulletin board for that. Spring Fling is coming March 27th and will be a blast. For those of you who are not quite sure what Spring Fling is it's a youth event where there is a worship service and then an all night lock-in at a recreation center for a night full of fun and entertainment. The cost will be $16.00 and it will be a blast.

One more thing to fill you in on before I go: youth will be switching to a new format. The time and place will still be the same, but we are trying to revamp and bring back some zest and vitality. At seven o'clock we will be splitting up into groups of guys and girls for Bible-based lessons. After that both groups will meet together and participate in some sort of planned activity or game. The female teacher will be Geniel Woodward who currently is helping out with the Jr. High Sunday school class.

Well that's been what's going on with your youth group here at Mountain Vista. Keep checking back for more updates and even on our youth blog. You can find that link at the top of this section. Until next time! God Bless!

Luke Peralez

Jason's office hours: Mon: 1pm to 6pm, Tues: 1pm to 6pm, Wed: 2pm to 8pm, Thurs: off, Fri: 1pm to 6pm
jstevens4584@gmail.com (801) 598-1151
If there are any parents or youth that DON'T receive e-mails about youth activities, please send me your e-mail address!

Youth Serving Breakfast
Youth come Palm Sunday, April 5, to serve breakfast for the entire congregation between services!

Youth Cleaning Crew –May 8 and June 26.
You help keep our church a nice place to be!

Pinecliff Jr. High Retreat Weekend – Grade 7-9 June 12-14 $65

Youth age 14-17 needed at Annual Conference June 17-20 as a Sub-District Equalization Lay Member. Contact Mary Ann Allison (801) 278-9223

Chrysalis
Young Men - July 16-19, 2009 at Park City
Young Women - July 23-26, 2009 at Park City Hoot/Gathering – Date TBA at Park City Community
~Chrysalis® is the youth (9-12 grade) version of The Walk to Emmaus®. This three-day spiritual renewal time provides an opportunity for youth to learn more about faith, to experience Christian love and support, and to make new faith commitments.

Sweden Mission! August 1-14, 2009! Grades 9-12
This is an evangelical and relationship building effort.

YOUTH
Sunday:
9:45 ? am Sr. high Sunday School – Karyn
9:45 ? am Jr High Sunday School – Geniel
1:00 pm Young Women’s Dance Ministry – Samantha (801) 598-1344
Tuesday:
6:30 pm Jr. High Praise Team – Jayme (801) 613-5431

Wednesday:
7:00- 7:30 pm - Youth Activity Lesson (Jr. and Sr. High) - Jason

For Sr. High Praise Team, Confirmation Class and other Youth activities contact Jason Stevens (801) 598-1151

Due Dates for Sunday Bulletin and Newsletter
For the Sunday Bulletin: Information due Wednesday of each week.
For the Mountain View: Articles due the 20th of each month. Articles on disk or e-mailed (office@mtnvistaumc.org) preferred.

Going Green: Newsletters will be e-mailed unless regular mail is requested.

| Home | Worship | Audio of Sermons | Sunday School | Calendar | Youth | Music Ministry | Inspirations | Newsletter | Scouts | Special Ministries | Prayer Room | Committees | Construction Diary | Core Values |