WORSHIP BY TELEPHONE 8 Prayer is vital to a Love Feast. A fixed form of HUFFMAN MEMORIAL UMC or via Facebook May, 2020 Newsletter prayer may be used, especially something like During COVID-19 lockdown, we the Lord's Prayer or Be present at our table, 2802 Renick Street, St Joseph, MO 64507 began using FB LIVE and a Lord, that is familiar to the people. Spontaneous Office: (816) 233-0239 Fax: (816) 233-5427 telephone conferencing service prayer requests and prayers may come from the Emails: [email protected] people. Website: huffman-umc.org Facebook: Huffman Memorial United Methodist so we could worship remotely and stay connected within our Scripture is also important. There may be scrip- MUSINGS congregation. We plan to continue ture readings, or persons may quote Scripture offering these methods for you to lis- spontaneously as the Spirit moves. There may None of us ever dreamed we would be told to not go to church for 7 Sundays in a row. But ten to, or view, worship when you be a sermon, an exhortation, or an address; but here we are. May 3 will be the seventh Sunday that we have not gathered at Huffman to wor- cannot physically come to it should be informal and consist of the leader's ship and praise God. Unfortunately, we do not yet know when we will be able to worship in church, even after the end of the adding personal witness to what spontaneously person. We must wait until the time is right. The safety and health of everyone around us comes from the congregation. stay at home order. Details will remains our priority, our response to the Gospel mandate “to love one another.” be posted on Facebook about the Most Love Feasts include the sharing of food. It LIVE sessions. is customary not to use communion bread, I acknowledge that it has felt odd to not see one another, to not share the coffee and cookies, wine, or grape juice because to do so might to not hear the stories of what happened during the past week, to not sing hymns, to not hear For the telephone link, keep these confuse the Love Feast with the Lord's Supper. the choir, the piano, the organ and to not hear the Word proclaimed while sitting in “your numbers handy. These remain The bread may be a loaf of ordinary bread, the same for every Sunday's pew” in the sanctuary. During our online virtual worship times, it is just weird for me to be crackers, rolls, or a sweet bread baked especial- talking to the camera that never reacts, never gives me back a smile or a nod. The thumbs up worship. ly for this service. If a loaf of bread, it may be Dial in to 1-571-317-3122. broken in two or more pieces and then passed and heart icons, as well as comment messages are appreciated, yet tough to follow as they Then input this Access Code”261 from hand to hand as each person breaks off a scroll by when the computer screen is 20 paces away.

404 613 followed by #, and enter a piece. Crackers, rolls, or slices of bread may be We miss each other. We long to be in each other’s company. We are hopeful and itching for second # when asked for a PIN. passed in a basket. The beverage has usually the end of the shelter-in-place order. (This is a world-wide phenomenon. See article about Once in the "virtual room," mute been water, but other beverages such as lemon- your microphone and adjust your vol- ade, tea, or coffee have been used. Early Meth- COVID in Angola.) And at the same time, we have felt connected and linked; bound togeth- ume. odists commonly passed a loving cup with two er, working toward our common goal of health and wholeness. I thank God for the Spirit that handles from person to person, but later the wa- binds us together, and for the technology available today that helps us communicate regard- Love Feast-(continued from pg. 7) ter was served in individual glasses. The food is less of distance. served quietly without interrupting the service. Testimonies and praise are the focal point in most Love Feasts. Testimonies may in- The Love Feast may also be followed by a full Perhaps we are like Noah after the rains stopped. I imagine that after sheltering-in-place for clude personal witness to God's grace or meal, in which case persons or families may all that time, he wondered, “When will I get out of this boat and get back to the life I remem- accounts of what God has been doing in the bring dishes of food for all to share. During the ber?” You will recall that he first “tested the waters” by sending out a dove. He had to do lives of others. meal there may be informal conversation in that multiple times before the it was clear that he could safely end his family’s quaran-

Praise may take the form of hymns, songs, Christian fellowship, or the leader may direct tine. (BTW, quarantine comes from the Italian word for a period of 40 days. We associate choruses, or spoken exclamations and may the conversation by suggesting matters of mutu- 40 days with the Noah story. Check out the story in Genesis, chapters 6-9, to learn how long vary from the relative formality of an open- al concern, or there may be spontaneous wit- nessing and praise. If there is food left over, it he and his family spent together on the Ark.) ing and closing hymn to spontaneous call- ing out of requests and singing as the Spirit may be taken as an expression of love to per- I suspect we too will ease back into a new normal. Please be patient. Trust in God and wait sons not present. moves. Sometimes the leader guides those for the signs that confirm it is time to go out again. present alternating spontaneous singing and https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/the- sharing in free and familiar conversation love-feast Shalom, for as long as the Spirit moves. Wesley counseled that all the above be done de- Larry cently and in order.

2 7 Why is the Easter season 50 days long? WHEN IN THE HOSPITAL

Easter for Christians is not just one day - it's a 50-day period. The season of Easter, or Please notify the church office and/or : Eastertide, begins at sunset on the eve of Easter [April 12, 2020] and ends on Pentecost when you are admitted to the hospital; [May 31, 2020], the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the while being diagnosed and treated in the emergency room; or Church (see Acts 2). have a scheduled procedure/surgery; and

Easter season is more than just an extended celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. In the when you transfer to a rehab or other health care facility. We want to support you during a health incident or crisis – through visits and prayers. We early church, Lent was a season for new converts to learn about the faith and prepare for cannot when we are not informed. baptism on Easter Sunday. The initial purpose of the 50-day Easter season was to contin- ue the faith formation of these new Christians. You cannot depend on Mosaic Life Care to contact the church after your admission. Their process has a number of variables that may short-circuit a call reaching the church office, Today, this extended season gives us time to rejoice and experience what it means when especially around weekends and holidays. And when all systems work well, we might be we say Christ is risen. It’s the season when we remember our baptisms and how, through called the morning after your admission. this sacrament, we are “incorporated into Christ’s mighty acts of salvation.” As “Easter people,” we celebrate and ponder the birth of the Church and gifts of the Spirit It is always better for you, a family member or a friend to alert us. We would rather get (Pentecost), and how we are to live as faithful disciples of Christ. multiple notifications than miss the chance of supporting and being present with you. And, yes it is ok to call your pastor directly (816-646-1466) when you need pastoral care in a Many churches use these weeks to teach the theology of the sacraments and help peo- crisis, no matter the time. ple discern their spiritual gifts and callings. Congregations may have a service of commissioning laypersons into ministry as part of their Pentecost celebration. It is also appropriate to include your wishes, which we strive to honor. If you want the no- tification to be confidential and limited to only the pastor, say so. If you want our prayer Have questions? Ask The UMC or talk with a pastor near you. And check out oth- team to be engaged, ask. If you don’t want visitors, let us know. er recent Q&As. This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications [https://www.umc.org/en/what-we-believe/ask-the-umc-faqs]. Love Feast-(continued from pg. 6) As Methodists immigrated to North America they made Love Feasts an important part of early American .

Church university in Angola to be used in COVID-19 fight While Love Feasts became less frequent in the years that followed, they continued to be held in By Orlando da Cruz some places; and in recent years the Love Feast has been revived. Love Feasts have often been April 24, 2020 | LUANDA, Angola (UM News) held at Annual Conferences and Charge Conferences, where persons may report on what God

has been doing in their lives and on the hope and trust they place in God for the future. The A campus of the Methodist University of Angola is being turned into a Love Feast is also an important part of the practice of Covenant Discipleship groups. Christ- testing and treatment center for COVID-19. mas, New Year's Eve or Day, the weekdays of Holy Week, and the Day of Pentecost are also

There have been 24 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and two deaths in Angola, which fitting occasions for a Love Feast. A Love Feast may also be held during a congregational sup- per. has been under a state of emergency since March 23. Churches are closed, university stu- dents have been sent home and a curfew has been established to reduce the spread of the The Love Feast has often been held on occasions when the celebration of the Lord's Supper virus. would be inappropriate—where there is no one present authorized to administer the Sacrament, when persons of different denominations are present who do not feel free to take Holy Com- There have been more than 25,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Africa and more munion together, when there is a desire for a service more informal and spontaneous than the than 1,200 deaths, according to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Pre- communion ritual, or at a full meal or some other setting to which it would be difficult to adapt vention. the Lord's Supper.

The Western Angola Conference turned over the Cacuaco campus in the Funda region on The Love Feast is most naturally held around a table or with persons seated in a circle; but it is April 11 at the request of the Angolan government. possible to hold it with persons seated in rows. A church sanctuary, fellowship hall, or home is an appropriate location. During the handover ceremony, Sílvia Lutucuta, minister of health for Angola, said she was impressed with the quality of the infrastructure. One of the advantages of the Love Feast is that any Christian may conduct it. Congregational (Story continued on pg. 4) participation and leadership are usually extensive and important, especially involving children. (continued pg. 8)

6 3 Our Apportionments: The World Service Fund (continued from pg. 5) HONORS AND MEMORIALS Make a Difference Today

The needs around us often feel overwhelming. None of us can meet every one. But to- In Memory of: For the: gether, with the help of the World Service Fund, we’re sharing God’s love with the Steve Armes Given by: Don & Sue Trout Undesignated Gifts can be made as a one- Roger & Donna Unruh Undesignated Jim & Janet Loveless Undesignated time donation or set up as a Terry & Tracy Christie Apportionments recurring transaction of an ELECTRONIC GIVING Marilyn & Gene Bartels, Eldon Crawford, Joe amount and frequency of Three ways to make an electronic offering*. DeHart, Rev. Ray Grienke, Nadine Meyer, Joyce your choice. You can also Nixon, Roxie North, Joan Roumas, Bob Stinson Scan the QRcode to go directly to the page use your bank’s “bill pay- Given by: ·to submit your donation. ing” feature to send your Pat & Richard Spencer Budget one-time donation or re- URL: https://app.easytithe.com/App/ In Honor of: curring gifts. Church Staff Budget ·Giving/Huff2802858 Download the EasyTithe Giving app and THE LOVE FEAST The Love Feast, or Notes to and from ·use it. Agape Meal, is a Christian fellowship meal re- calling the meals Jesus shared with disciples Go to the church's website, click on the during his ministry and expressing the koinonia banner for online giving and prompts. (community, sharing, fellowship) enjoyed by the We wish to express our deep appreciation and To our church family, family of Christ. sincere thanks for your kind expression of sym- URL: www.huffman- We want to thank everyone for the Although its origins in the early church are pathy. Could you please pass our appreciation Easter card and for the Get Well card umc.org closely interconnected with the origins of the and thank you on to all those in the church who for Bob. It was so wonderful for him to Lord's Supper, the two services became quite made memorials in our Mother’s name. The get that. distinct and should not be confused with each different memorial locations remind us of the Bob & Shirley Rankin Donations can be made via other. While the Lord's Supper has been practi- many things she loved doing with her Church cally universal among Christians throughout Family. credit or debit cards; or ACH church history, the Love Feast has appeared on- NOTE: The church is charged a small pro- The Family of Nadine Meyer- ly at certain times and among certain denomina- Jennie Lowrey, Jeann Roed, Joann cessing fee. Fees range from 1 - 3% + tions. White & Families $0.39 per transaction. The smallest is for The modern history of the Love Feast began With Deepest Sympathy

ACH transfers. Debit & credit card transac- when Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians in Germany introduced a service of sharing food, Please let the friends of Huffman Church (Pat tions are slightly higher. To the Family of Clifton DeShon in prayer, religious conversation, and hymns in & Richard Spencer, Roger & Donna Unruh, & 1727. first experienced it among Memorium Mary Maker) know how much I appreciate the the Moravians in Savannah, Georgia, ten years donations they made to Huffman in Ray Thinking of you and extending sincere Your donation will be recorded as the amount later. His diary notes: "After evening prayers, sympathy. of your electronic gift. The church will receive we joined with the Germans in one of their love Grienke’s memory. Also, thanks Brenda Smith –feasts. It was begun and ended with thanksgiv- for the donation to First Christian Church. Mary and Irvin Holstine, Wayne, ing and prayer, and celebrated in so decent and * Huffman uses easyTithe.com for secure Ray loved all of you! Leigh, Lyne & Paul solemn a manner as a Christian of the apostolic processing of electronic donations. age would have allowed to be worthy of Christ." Beverly Grienke (continued pg. 7)

4 5 Easter Lily Memorials 2020 Our Apportionments: THE WORLD SERVICE FUND Serves as the financial lifeline to a long list of Christ's mission and ministry throughout the Given By: For: denomination.

Ruth Cunningham & Autumn Mizell Loved Ones If The were to reflect the ministry of Jesus in our life together, Steve DeHart Joseph DeHart & Charles DeHart we’d be doing the things he did: Larry & Linda DeShon Loved Ones  Jesus discipled those who would lead his church Kathy George My Family  Jesus welcomed those who didn’t know his Father, and those who did Janet Loveless Our Parents Mark Maugh Bill, Bev, & Brian Maugh  Jesus met the physical and spiritual needs of the poor  Jesus healed the sick Barbara Stinson Bob Stinson, Julia & Robert Stinson, Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Douglas Have you ever wondered if our church is doing those things?

(University story continued from pg. 2) “Despite the fact that I am a daughter of The (United) The people of The United Methodist Church are engaging the world by imitating the minis- Methodist Church and a professed member of this denomination, I had never known this im- try of Jesus. The World Service Fund makes our Christian outreach possible by providing the basic financial support to program-related general agencies, who are im- portant infrastructure of the university,” she said. “We praise God for this important step and portant to the common vision, mission, and ministry of The United Methodist Church. the church for always being ready to work with the government. I thank the university and The United Methodist Church for their efforts to work side by side with the Angolan execu- Through World Service funding, agencies support annual conferences and local congrega- tive in this struggle, and for making their facilities available as an institutional quarantine tions in living out God’s mission for the worldwide Church. General agencies also provide center,” Lutucuta said. essential services and ministries beyond the scope of individual local congregations and annual conferences through services and ministries that are highly focused, flexible, and She said the campus is strategically located for the flow of COVID-19 patients. capable of rapid response.

The Rev. Manuel André, an administrator at the university, said the Cacuaco campus has The UMC is building leaders, like Jesus did. We’re sharing his love with those who hunger more than 40 large rooms, 26 offices and smaller rooms that are suitable for COVID-19 test- for it and shepherding those who’ve already tasted it. Like Jesus, we’re ministering among ing and treatment. the poor. And we reflect his healing touch as we battle disease and fight to improve global health, all through the World Service Fund. “This campus also has meeting rooms, 20 rooms already prepared for individual accommoda- Accomplishing Christ’s Ministry In The World Today tion, a cafeteria, kitchen, gym, swimming pool, an auditorium for 316 people, wide sanitary facilities and changing rooms and laundry, among other facilities,” he said. Because of your giving, the UMC is being the church: Leaders in Africa are being educated and prepared to minster in Jesus’ name. 89 year-old Rev. Fred Jackson, in the Upper New The buildings also have wide corridors, and all rooms are equipped with air conditioning York Conference, has started a house church in the extended care facility where he lives. units and good natural ventilation, Andre said. St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, in Kensington, Maryland, has committed to making The campus’ water supply line will be reinforced to handle the possible influx of patients, their zip code the first “Hunger Free” zone in America. said Lucrécio Costa, the secretary of state for waters. Across the country and around the world, the World Service Fund empowers The United Andre said in addition to sharing the university campus, the conference is responding to those Methodist Church to be Christ’s body in the world. in need during the pandemic. Your Giving Changes Lives

“The United Methodist Church, through its pastoral charges, is developing a campaign to de- Your faithful giving makes the heart-changing and world-transforming ministry of Jesus liver food baskets to reduce scarcity of food for people in need in different communities,” possible today. Because of your generosity, The United Methodist Church continues to said Andre, who represented Gaspar Domingos at the handover ceremony. share good news with the world God loves.

He said 40 students from the university’s public health program also are being trained as vol- Bishop Mary Ann Swenson explained why the World Service Fund is so very vital to the unteers to work at the testing center and other places as necessary. ministry of the UMC, “It is a way in which neighbor helps neighbor, and it helps Christians reach out all around the world.” She continues, “World Service Fund is everything that de- With churches closed, United Methodists have been conducting worship services and Bible studies online and delivering messages of hope on Radio Kairos, part of the United Methodist Radio Network. fines our church. It is the way that we connect together, the way that we become powerful in our response to injustice and to poverty, and to tragedy, and to need.” Da Cruz is a communicator for the Western Angola Conference.

(continued pg. 6) News media contact: Vicki Brown at (615) 742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.