The Tower Monthly

The monthly newsletter of Lovely Lane UMC

July/August 2010

CONTENTS

 

From the Pastor

What would make you dance?  What gift would you have to receive?
Merlyn Cox has written:
          Can I let my spirit soar, O God?
          Or must I bow to the conscience of responsibility
              the cultural accruement that informs
              and limits my perception of the world around me.
          Where do I tie in and do my faith?
          Where is the freedom, Lord?
          How can I know the measure of joyful responsibility
              if I have not danced; danced as captivated...
              for no reason...nothing but celebrating the harmony,
              the providential hand that offers life and smiles,
              blesses and rejoices at the joy
              we have in accepting the gift.

What would make you dance today? 
What would fill your hearts with overwhelming joy...
          an illness bravely fought
          a death courageously faced
          a challenge encountered with creative imagination
          a disappointment met with prayerful trust
          a love gladly accepted
          an act of justice applauded
          a savior devoutly followed...

Gertrud Mueller Nelson tells this story. Some years ago I spent an afternoon caught up in a piece of sewing I was doing. The waste basket near my sewing
machine was filled with scraps of fabric cut away from my project. This basket of discards was a fascination to my daughter, Annika, who, at the time was three years old. She rooted through the scraps searching out the long bright strips of cloth, collected them to herself, and went off. When it had been silent too long, I took a moment to check on her and tracked her whereabouts to the back garden.

I found her there, sitting in the grass with a long pole she had gotten from the garage. She was fixing scraps to the top of the pole with great sticky wads of tape.  Mothers sometimes ask foolish questions. I asked what she was doing. Without taking her eyes from her work she said, “I’m making a banner for a precession [sic]. I need a precession so that God will
come down and dance with us.” With that, she solemnly lifted her banner to flutter in the wind, and slowly she got up to dance.
                              
Can you let your spirit soar? Can you accept God’s eternal presence in all the circumstances of life? We are invited to participate in the dance of joy, the dance of life.

Uniforms for Margaret Brent School

School is out for the summer for many students but needs continue that demand our attention. Lovely Lane has a long and deep connection to the Margaret Brent school. Currently there are 285 students of which all but seven qualify for free or reduced lunch.  Many of the families of the students are unable to  afford uniforms for their growing children.

A Charles Village community member and one of the parents are working on a Uniform Drive to provide all 285 Margaret Brent Pre-K through 8th grade students with one free uniform, sell additional uniforms at a nominal cost to benefit the school, and set up a stocked uniform closet in the school.

Lovely Lane participated in a similar drive a couple of years ago. The need remains. The school is looking for donations of the clothing listed below or a cash donation to help purchase new uniforms.

Clothing Needs:
Khaki or Navy Pants, Skirts, and Jumpers (4T - size 8 women) (4T - size 32x32 men)
White or Light Blue collared shirts (4T - adult medium)
Black collared shirts (youth large - adult medium only)

Financial Donations:
Clothing Suggested Donation:  $25 -- this will buy a new top and bottom
Storage Suggested Donation:  $15 -- this will help us buy/build shelves and racks for the uniform closet

Volunteer Opportunities:
Yard Sale/Thrift Store shoppers willing to shop for uniforms
Clothing Washers -- wash, dry, fold a load of donated clothing
Sorters -- Sort and Inventory Clothing Donations
Event Workers -- Work the Back to School event on August 21
    to hand out uniforms to students

 

Lovely Lane Game Night July 16

        Friday, July 16th
  Stop in anytime between 7pm and 10pm
Lovely Lane United Methodist Church

Bring a Board Game, Snack, or Just Yourself…and Company
All are welcome to play:
Scrabble, Cranium, Pegs and Jokers, Cards
plus much more or
just hang out, eat snacks, and have a good time! 
If you can’t make July 16th, join us for the next one:
August 20th, same time (third Friday of the month) and place (Lovely Lane).

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Macklin at Lnarmac@yahoo.com.

 

 

Manna House Needs Your Help

The mission of Manna House is to offer assistance and support to the homeless, poor and needy of Baltimore with services contributing toward their independence and stability.

I know that most people have made their plans for summer vacation. This message is to ask to be part of your plans. At the end of the fiscal year, there are unexpected, but necessary financial obligations. Would you please send a check before you leave for your well-deserved change of environment? You have no idea how much your financial support, your volunteer time and your prayers mean to our clients and their chance to survive the mean streets of Baltimore.  Thank you for your help.

Cost to operate the soup kitchen for one day  $550
One breakfast for one person  $3

                                           Esther R. Reaves, Executive Director

Lovely Lane is a partner church
with Manna House.

Funds are needed for operational expenses.
Your support is important. Thank you!

Manna House
435 E. 25th St
Baltimore  MD 21218

410-889-3001

 

Manna House Needs

These are the items in need:

Staples            Hygiene items                  
Sugar                Deodorant                          
Coffee                Toothbrush/Paste                
Rice                    Shaving Cream/Razors         
Potatoes              Shampoo/Lotion                 
Pasta/Sauce         Washcloths/Towels             

 

 

 

Altar Flowers and Tower Lighting

There are open dates available as a way to honor someone’s birthday, anniversary or special event. The flowers grace the altar for worship each Sunday from September through June. The church tower is lighted for the week.

Both are vibrant expressions of honor and remembrance for our loved ones.

The cost for providing the flowers is $60 and the tower lighting is $30. Please call the church office if you would like to remember someone in this way.  The phone number is 410-889-1512.

 

 

 

Prayer Vine Requests

If you would like to be added to our prayer vine, call
Sally Knapp 410-667-9514 Carol Curtis 410-377-0695

 

Join the Prayer Vine

We would like to increase the number of people who are participating in the prayer vine. When petitions for prayers are received, these requests are passed on to those who include these joys and concerns in their prayer life. If you would like to be involved in this ministry, please contact Sally Knapp at the above phone number. If you would like to be included via e-mail, her address is <sjk17@verizon.net>.
          
Holy God, too great to be trifled with and too wise to be deceived by insincerity; compose our thoughts as we enter your presence, order our minds as we bring our petitions, and grant us grace to offer you the loving sacrifice of hearts both steadfast and obedient; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                                                                      Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742

 

 

 

 

 

 

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