APRIL 2014

The monthly newsletter of the the acorn Fair Oaks United Methodist Church

IN THIS ISSUE... Palm Sunday, April 13 Rummage Sale Maundy Thursday, April 17 Page 5 Good Friday, April 18 Easter Sunday, April 20 Spring Clean Up 8:30 and 10:00 am Day Easter Egg Hunt between services. Page 6 Easter Flowers Soup’s On! If you would like to Thursdays Little Methodist order spring flowers for through April 17 Easter Sunday, please see School News page 16. We will also 6:00 — 7:30 pm Page 7 need several volunteers to No Soup Supper on April 3 purchase and deliver the due to Rummage Sale. flowers on the Friday and Everyone is invited to attend and participate Saturday before Easter in a simple meal and fellowship time. You can Support Groups Sunday. Please contact come to one or all of the suppers. the Church Office if you Child care opens at 6:30 each evening so kids Page 8 are interested in helping. can share supper with their family. As usual, volunteers are Wanted: Easter Candy for welcome. Every meal we SWAG need 2 or 3 loaves of bread, Annual Easter Egg Hunt some peanut butter Page 10 sandwiches, and 2 large pots Our youth in SWAG (Students of yummy soup. Help Worshipping an Awesome God) will once setting up and cleaning up is again head up and coordinate our annual also needed. Easter Egg Hunt. They will stuff the Easter eggs and hide them on Easter Sunday For more information, or 2014 Acorn morning for our younger children to find. to volunteer, contact Deadlines Donations of wrapped candy will be Kathy Glass at [email protected], Page 20 greatly appreciated and will be collected in the Easter basket in the Narthex or in 916-454-5335, or call the the Church Office. Church Office.

Fair Oaks United Methodist Church 9849 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628 | 916.961.6631 | www.fairoaksumc.org Page 2 We are the Church Together By Pastor Mary McCollum

When baby Joshua made an earlier than We commissioned Joy Gilberg to serve on a expected appearance many of us needed to mission team to Tacloban, to rebuild after the jump into Plan B mode quickly. And so we hurricane. We celebrated the presence of our did. We know how to be the church. Brownie and Daisy Girl Scout troop. We Everyone has done what needed to be done appreciated Bob Gilberg for filling the pulpit and we have steered a steady course. Some of for a series of Sundays to get the feel for how us work the galley. Some stand watch in the it is for a pastor. His relaxed, personal crow’s nest. Others take turns at the helm or presence, coupled with his grounding in even pulling the Scripture and sharing oars, or swabbing from the heart has the deck. Our been, well, heart- spiritual leader, who warming. We look set the course, forward to the counts on us to inspiring message Rev. keep a steady aim. Don Fado is sure to For me it meant bring. And we have action before I been a presence at the counted on it. The press conference first week was most around the reconciling challenging. First issue. with Holy So it has been an Communion, which active time and it has felt familiar, then taken the combined with the Ash Wednesday service which took efforts of many people (not to mention the some more thoughtful consideration. efficient and ever-present administrative Comments from first time attendees included, assistant, Dedra) to keep our ship afloat and “This was a piece of the journey I had been on course. God is our guide and we are missing. It’s a perfect start to the season—a keeping a Holy Lent as we prepare to be way to say and show that this is how we start transformed, with Jesus on Easter Sunday. something we take seriously.” I have felt through all this somewhat like Then came an experience worth Onesimus (check out the meaning of his experiencing (see article to follow in this issue name in the Epistle of Philemon). Paul left of the Acorn). Our Tongan members hosted his new churches in the hands of the people their confederations Women’s World Day of and trusted them to carry on as God would Prayer. This was a very memorable wish it. We have been the church– experience for me and not to be forgotten. TOGETHER. It is a very good feeling, and a We can be proud of all their efforts to prepare great Lenten offering. for the six congregations who joined together. Page 3

Prayer Requests Vicki Walker is back in Joyce Lane , a very dear friend of Sacramento. She's looking for an Nancy Klanjac, has been diagnosed inexpensive room to rent and/or with breast cancer and is having housesitting jobs. Please pray for surgery. Please pray for Joyce's her success. successful surgery and strength, Ruby Wicker asked for prayers comfort and peace of mind as she because she was out of medication goes through chemo and radiation to control her epilepsy. She has after surgery. since received her new prescription Betty Phillips underwent surgery and is very thankful and relieved. to repair a hernia. She is doing fine She wishes to thank everyone for but will be in the hospital a little bit their prayers and concerns during longer than originally expected. this stressful time. Please pray for healing and recovery.

Do you have prayer requests? Ongoing Prayer Concerns Contact Nancy Klanjac ([email protected]; 967-5427), so the Please keep Jewel Gilmore, Sue McGee, Stan members of our prayer chain can pray for and Alma Andrus, Lola Morphis, Roger and you, or contact the Church Office Norma Bennett, Margy Lauritzen, and all of our ([email protected]; 961-6631) to church members and friends who may not make it have your requests printed in the Acorn. to church regularly in your prayers.

Prayer Works! From an article on prayer by a heart surgeon named Dr. Chauncey Crandall: It's not only direct prayer that works. Studies also indicate that prayer can be beneficial even when it's indirect. This is known as intercessary prayers, which refers to the act of being prayed for by someone else. One study conducted at San Francisco General Hospital looked at the effect of prayer on 393 cardiac patients. The patients were divided into two groups. Although both groups were told that people were praying for them, in fact, prayers were being said for only one group. This study, published in the Southern Medical Journal found that the patients who were prayed for had more favorable outcomes, including fewer complications, fewer cases of pneumonia, and they required less drug treatment. Another more recent study done at Duke University Medical School looked at 150 cardiac patients who were admitted for coronary stenting. They were given the following nonmedical therapies: guided imagery, stress relaxation, healing touch, or intercessory prayer. Researchers found that only the patients that were being prayed for had lower complication rates and a quicker recovery. Page 4

To: Fair Oaks UMC From: Roland Fernandez and Shawn Bakker, UMCOR On November 24, 2013, FOUMC collected a special offering for UMCOR.

Extra Thanks To: • Dale Doty, Ellen To: Fair Oaks UMC Frosch, and Glenn Howard for their From: Schuyler Rhodes, District Superintendent work on upgrading our computers as part of Glenn’s Eagle Scout project. • Kathy Glass and volunteers for organizing Lenten Soup Suppers each Thursday. • Ruby Wicker and Bob Gilberg for chairing this year’s Rummage Sale. Page 5

Fair Oaks UMC Annual Rummage Sale By Ruby Wicker Sale dates and times: Thursday, April 3rd: 8am-1pm Friday, April 4th: 8am-1pm Saturday, April 5th: 8am-1pm

Collection dates and times (and by appointment): Monday, March 31st: 9am-2pm and 6pm-8pm Tuesday, April 1st: 9am-7pm Wednesday, April 2nd: 9am-2pm and 6pm-8pm

Volunteers Needed! • Food/hospitality committee to provide food and beverages. • Volunteers need to pick up items and bring them to the church. • Dedicated people to make sure that our outreach ministries are promoted and that we are available to pray with people. These people will also be free to decide whether someone is in need and have the power to donate items to people who may not be able to afford them. • Cashiers and counters.

Sign up sheets for volunteering and donating are available in the Narthex.

We welcome/request your clean and gently used items as well as new/unused items as generous donations to support the life and mission of our church. Items needed include: clothing, bedding, pillows, towels, seasonal items, books, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, players, children’s toys, high chairs, car seats, playpens, kitchen and household items, computers, sports equipment, furniture, and much more. Please try to avoid bringing broken damaged or unusable items to donate. This event is staffed in its entirety by volunteers so we welcome/request your time as well. If you still want to help and neither of these options suit you, this year it has been decided that food is necessary to the disposition of the volunteers that will be representing our church to our local community. Our goal this year is not only "Open Hearts Open Minds and Open Doors" but also smiling happy people with welcoming faces. Also, new this year we will be setting up information tables and have persons available to discuss our various outreach and caring ministries. These people will make sure that our outreach ministries are promoted and that we are available to pray with people. These people will be free to decide whether someone is in need of any of the items for sale and have the power to donate items to people who may not be able to afford them. For Love Growth and Service We Reach Out.

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Our Trustees by Tom Wold ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN UP DAY Don’t miss out on the fun and fellowship!

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend so the church and grounds are ready for the celebration of Easter. • When : April 12, Saturday, 9 am to 2 pm • Where : Meet in the Sanctuary at 9:00 for opening prayer and sign in. • What to bring : Work gloves, window washing materials, shovels, rakes, pruning equipment and wheel barrels always come in handy. We will issue what equipment we have from the maintenance shed.

Work to be done includes: • Kitchen help with lunch and clean up after. This is being organized by Joanne Cossairt. • Light jobs: washing windows, sweeping, etc. (Please bring extra cleaning supplies if you have them!) • Medium jobs: weeding, raking, seeding, light pruning, painting, etc. • Heavy jobs: moving dirt, bark, heavy pruning, cleaning rain gutters, etc. (Please bring a wheelbarrow, shovel or trowel, weed eater, power blower, etc. if you have them!)

We are hoping for a great turn out and we anticipate folks of all ages and abilities to join in on another giving opportunity. Giving of our time and efforts to keep our “Little Church On The Hill” in good running order. We have invited members of the Korean Central Presbyterian Church, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and parents from our Little Methodist School to join all of us for a very productive day.

Schedule is as follows: • 9:00 am: Opening prayer, sign in and start work • 11:45 am (approximate): Sit down lunch and fellowship inside the church. • 12:30-2:00 pm: Finish work projects and clean up.

We need people to sign up in advance so we can have approximate numbers for food preparation. But we will be pleased to have extra drop-in workers on the day of the event and we know the Lord will provide. Look forward to seeing you on April 12th! Page 7 Little Methodist School News By Elizabeth Avery-Hammond, Director

Arbonne Fundraiser to Benefit Little Methodist School! Come support a Little Methodist School mom and learn about Arbonne’s incredible Swiss formulated and vegan certified skincare that is gluten free, dairy free, and non-GMO, as well as, vegan nutrition for the whole family. Feeling tired? Need more energy? Can’t lose unwanted pounds? Want your skin to get that youthful glow back? We will explore tips on how to get healthy from the inside out! Come enjoy some coffee, tea, and muffins while finding out how Arbonne’s products can help you! Katherine will be in Wesley Hall on Wednesday, May 14 th and Thursday, May 15 th from 9:30 - 11:30 AM. Proceeds from this event will be donated to Little Methodist School! Arbonne is a 34-year old natural and vegan friendly health and wellness company. All products are botanically based and free of harmful chemicals such as mineral oil, parabens, artificial dyes and fragrances.

Little Methodist School’s Annual Trike-a-Thon We are having our annual Trike-a-Thon on Saturday, April 26 th from 9:30 - 11:30 am in the side parking lot, to the left of the church. For those who are not familiar with the Trike-a-Thon, it is a fun event where the children bring their tricycles or bikes and ride laps for donations. We will be selling breakfast goodies as part of our fundraiser. All family and friends are invited.

Coffee with Pastor Jeong and New Membership Classes Coffee with Pastor Jeong will be held on Sunday, April 6, after worship in Spencer. Join Pastor Jeong and members of our Hospitality Ministry to learn more about our church and becoming a member. New membership classes will be held in June after Pastor Jeong’s paternity leave has ended. Contact the Church Office if you have any questions. Page 8

Women’s Support Group, Mondays, April 14 and 28

Viriginia Grabbe, licensed marriage and family counselor, leads the Women’s Support Group on alternating Monday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Teen Room (backside of Potter next to the Nursery). The focus of the Women’s Support Group is to identify hurts, habits or hang-ups that hinder our being in relationship with God. Also, to experience the benefit of fellowship that comes from being in a small group. Please contact Laurel Jensen for more information: [email protected] or call (916) 903-6061.

Life’s Challenges Support Group for Men and Women April 2 and 16, 6 pm in the Library Life's Challenges provides support for persons coping with difficult challenges such as divorce, unemployment, loss of a loved one, financial problems and more. We offer opportunities for renewal, restoration and kinship in a safe, nurturing and confidential environment. Call the Church Office 961-6631 or contact Loretta Dodge or Bob Gilberg for more information.

Caring Ministry by Betty Phillips

East Lawn Mortuary offers luncheon seminars for funeral planning including benefit information. The seminars are FREE and lunch is FREE. They have many dates available . I have the literature if you are interested in particulars. They also offer a grief support group if our church’s groups do not meet your needs. Call Betty Phillips, 482-3514, or email me at [email protected] if you would like additional information. Page 9

Adult Bible Study & Sunday School By Loren Guffey What did the prophets foretell about Jesus' days just before the Crucifixion? Were they right? Read with us for a week: • Mon. Apr 7th: 1 Chronicles 17:7-14 • Tue. Apr 8th: Matthew 4:12-17 • Wed. Apr 9th: Matthew 19:23-30 • Thu. Apr 10th: Colossians 1:9-14 • Fri. Apr 11th: Hebrews 7:11-19 • Sat. Apr 12th: Revelation 19:11-16 • Sun. Apr 13th: Jeremiah 23:5-6, Zechariah 6:9-15, John 19:1-5 We will talk about these questions in the library at 9:00 a.m. Sunday the 13th. Please join us!

Ladies’ Luncheon At Sunrise 2 Sunset Grill Friday, April 11 at Noon Joann Owens and Linda Robinson are hosting the next women's luncheon on April 11, 2014, 12:00 at Sunrise 2 Sunset Grill, 10113 Folsom Blvd. in Rancho Cordova. Please join us!

Finance Ministry by Ellen Frosch Below is the report of income and expenses for the month of February. There is a Task Team forming that will be looking at our options to bridge the gap between income and expenses. February 2014 Year-to-Date Income $14,081 $24,769 Expenses $14,189 $36,207 $(11,438) Shortfall Page 10

Youth Ministries Unite St. Mark’s and Fair Oaks UMC SWAG By Bob Gilberg

With great excitement our Youth Pastor Joy and St. Mark’s Youth Pastor Sade met last month to plan joint youth meetings and events with St. Mark’s, Fair Oaks UMC and other UMC churches in the area. Their meeting culminated in a visit by St. Mark’s youth ministry team and students with our SWAG group at our church campus. Sade from St. Mark’s, along with a group of confirmands and mentors, met with our SWAG group on March 13 th to share the meaning of Christian Confirmation and their experiences with the confirmation process including the Confirmands Bishops Retreat at Camp Monte Toyon. Our youth room was packed full of people and excitement as we gathered together in fellowship, came to know each other through the sharing of our passions, and sought to understand more deeply how the Spirit of God works in us for renewal and transformation. We are filled with anticipation and awe as we move forward in planning more youth events and gatherings in the future with St. Mark’s and other churches in our area. “We declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1.3 On another note, four of our SWAG youth along with our youth leaders went to see the blockbuster release God’s Not Dead at the UA Olympus Pointe Stadium 12 in Roseville. Movie Synopsis: “After he refuses to disavow his faith, a devout Christian student (Shane Harper) must prove the existence of God or else his college philosophy professor (Kevin Sorbo) will fail him.” After a blockbuster opening, the movie has been rated the #1 Christian movie in America, ranking #4 of all movies released the weekend of March 23, 2014. It is a blessing to see more and more Christian movies being released in mainstream theaters across the country. God’s Not Dead was originally planned for a single weekend release and now has been continued for a second week. If you have a chance to see it, it is highly recommended. Every ticket purchase is a vote for more Christian Box Office movies. You can read more at http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/ . “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit” 1 Peter 3.18 Thursdays at 7:00 pm in the Teen Room

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Fill an Ark Feature of the Month: Heifer/Sharing Table By Virginia Guffey We will join Heifer International in April to celebrate “Pass on the Gift” month which is about people sharing with others around the world and here at home. Our “gift” will be sharing with each other items we no longer use or need. Then, of course, if you take something home from the Heifer/Sharing Table, we hope you will leave a contribution in the “Fill an Ark” cup. We’re entering a favorite time for sharing. Many of you have gardens and/or small orchards. Fruits and vegetables are always scooped up weekly. (Bags to take them home in are between the table and the pew.) Another part of the Heifer/Sharing Table is BOOKS. Bring any you have finished reading, select one from the table and leave a contribution, if you are able. When you finish the book, bring it back; and we’ll “pass it on” again. Books will be left for a month or so. Then we sell them to a used bookstore and the money goes directly to “Fill an Ark.” Many of the books are by best-selling authors, such as Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, Iris Johansen, Anita Shreve, Barbara Taylor Bradford, and more. Feel free to take a “World Ark” magazine. Also, remember the free “In Honor” and “In Memory” cards. QUESTION: Does anyone know how many Arks FOUMC has filled? And when? Give me a call at 916-390-4340. (Or see me after church—I’m usually “hovering” around the Heifer/Sharing Table!)

Fill an Ark Feature of the Month: Tree seedlings and garden seeds were featured in March. There are still seed packets on the Heifer/Sharing Table.

Fast Fact Heifer distributes one package of 500 Leucaena seedlings to up to 50 families. Tended well, each will produce a tree that provides an ongoing source of seeds—too many to count— that can be germinated to plant for more trees or to share with others. Test Your Knowledge 1. The world’s tallest and oldest trees are found in ______. 2. A tree feeds on ______made by its leaves. 3. Trees provide flowers, fruit, fences, furniture, firewood and ______. 4. In scripture, judge (a) Deborah (b) Delilah (c) Dorcas tried cases under a palm tree. 5. Some trees enrich the soil by putting helium into it from the air. True or False?

Test Your Knowledge Answers

4) 5.False; they put back nitrogen. nitrogen. back put they 5.False; 4) 4: (Judges Deborah 4. Fodder 3. Sap 2. California 1.

Fast Fact and Test Your Knowledge taken from “Animal Crackers”, a free resource provided by Heifer International. Page 12

ENDOWMENT MINISTRY Life Insurance by Susan Peters Insuring a Plan for the Future If you are like most individuals, you will own insurance sometime during your life. However, as time goes on, your life insurance policy may no longer be needed for its original use. For individuals who desire to help your church, there are a number of charitable life insurance options to consider.

Insurance Gift Benefits The benefit of making a charitable gift of life insurance is a current charitable income tax deduction with tax savings that may be enjoyed for up to six years. You also have the satisfaction of knowing that your policy proceeds are going to benefit your church.

Making a Gift of Life Insurance It’s easy to make an outright gift of a life insurance policy. Simply contact your insurance company and fill out the proper change of ownership form, designating your church as the new owner. If the church decides to hold onto the policy, you may make cash contributions each year to pay the policy premiums. You will be entitled to an additional charitable income tax deduction for each of these gifts.

Bequest of Insurance Life insurance proceeds can make a wonderful gift to charity. The gift of life insurance can be made by simply naming your church as the beneficiary of your policy. Your life insurance proceeds will help further the good work of your church and your estate will benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction based on the value of the proceeds paid. Minute for Mission by Mary McCollum Katherine Parker is our Annual Conference’s missionary. She comes from Marin County. Last year, when she was home from Malaysia she visited us in our library. We found her delightful and her program in word and slide form very enriching. We “connected” in a real way. Now she has transitioned to Nepal. She works with the Health Team, most particularly in the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health training program. Through their parallel Christian Family Life Education program, youths explore their values and a transformation occurs in their self esteem . What a worthy undertaking. Katherine appreciates your prayers (and support through conference support) as she joins with the people of Nepal to realize Christ’s promise of fullness of life for all. She is situated in Kathmandu, Nepal. Page 13

All Who Follow Jesus, All Around the World By Mary McCollum

March 7 was a huge day for our Tongan members at Fair Oaks UMC! They worked so long and hard at hosting the Women’s Day of World Wide Prayer here. They did superbly and we can be so proud of their efforts. I was asked by Daniel Palu (their elected leader) to give the invocation in the absence of our Pastor. I agreed, of course, never realizing what I would be experiencing. So I prepared some words of welcome and explanation of where our pastor was and some thought of how the power of prayer for a sinful world was appropriate during this time of Lent. I arrived 15 minutes early to get my bearings and meet whomever was leading the evening. As it was, this latter was a lovely woman, elected as noble lady of their confederation. She was most gracious and charming, and efficient. Daniel announced to me that their members had wished to honor me so I would need to process in with the president and acolytes. This certainly altered my plans to do my part and then slip out, unobserved, through the side door and go sit in the back of the congregation. There were, perhaps, six congregations coming and their areas were marked so they could sit together as some of them offered hymns. Daniel explained we would start on “island time” which meant when all had arrived. An d in they came, all dressed in their beautiful ceremonial clothing. A brass band arrived and set up in the back of the sanctuary. Finally 45 minutes later we began. All this time I was very anxious as I needed to use my walker and then negotiate the 3 steps up to the chancel area. Daniel said they would lift me. (I had other thoughts, not doubting that they could.) So I countered with a request for just an arm to help me up and then they could lift the walker up. Well the chancel area had been totally changed. Imagine, if you will, everything (EVERYTHING) covered in grass matting. The pulpit, the altar, the organ, the piano, all along the communion rails, and the two pulpit chairs which were prominently placed left of center. They looked like thrones! And here, the noble lady and I were to sit through the service! I looked out on a sea (a full house with chairs in the aisles) of beautiful islanders. I was the only pale face present. And the music began. Our members had significant roles throughout the 2 hour service. The only way I could tell where we were in the printed order of worship was to note the names of our members participating for I couldn’t understand a word spoken or sung. But I could read the people. And I was so impressed with their zeal and the intense acts of worship through song (which nearly lifted the roof!), and spoken word, the reading of scripture and prayer. Their total devotion was an overwhelming sight to behold. I was caught up in the spirit of it all. At one point the president leaned over to me and said everyone was to share with their neighbor their understanding of the scripture. Then she told me it had been the conversation Jesus had with the woman at the well and being ‘living water’ for the world. So she and I had a meaningful exchange about that well known passage.

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When it was over everyone present was given an aluminum roaster pan filled with Tongan cooking as a take home treat. I think there were 15 different items in that. What hospitality they practiced and what an endeavor they had undertaken. I had the added pleasure with reconnecting with Losaline Tuiileila’s beautiful grandchildren (now 2 years older than when I had made monthly trips to take their grandfather communion each month). They came to me with arms outstretched and hugged me. A sure heart stealing experience. As you can see it was an overwhelming experience and a memorable one. Wasn’t I fortunate to stand in for our pastor?

Pastoral Leave By Gretchen Hatfield, Staff Parish Relations Committee We have been blessed with the arrival of a new child. The Pastor and his wife had a beautiful baby boy on February 27 th . His name is Joshua and he was 7 lbs 9 oz and 19 inches long. As a result of this delivery, our pastor is allowed 8 weeks of paid paternity leave. He is choosing to take the 8 weeks in pieces and began his leave on Friday, February 28 th. He remains on leave for the month of March. He then plans to return for the month of April and lead us through Easter. After Easter he will return to his leave status and take the remaining time. It is very gracious of him to split his time in order to be present during Easter. During this leave period, the church is responsible for his paid salary. In addition, members are responsible for the administration of our church services, activities and day to day business. This is something we know how to do well. Arrangements have been made for Sunday services. Don Fado, Bob Gilberg and Mary McCollum will be our guest preachers. Mary has also graciously offered to keep office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 12 noon. In addition, Mary and Betty Phillips will be available for any pastoral care needs that our pastor would normally handle. Our District Superintendent has also assured us that he is available if we need any assistance from the District. He should be contacted through the Staff Parish Relations Committee During this period Pastor Jeong should not be contacted for any church business. Leave means that he has been temporarily relieved of his church responsibilities. Contacting him about Joshua or other personal details is between you and the pastor. Please honor this time he has with his family.

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Communion Stewards Needed By Elaine Bach

Communion Stewards duty is to provide the bread and juice, set up the altar and help serve communion. Each steward is usually called on no more than twice a year. On Sunday, May 4th, at 9:30 AM I will provide a class for anyone who is interested in learning more. It will be held in the church kitchen. There are written instructions (and lots of help) concerning the duties. If you are interested in being a Communion Steward or have any questions please contact Elaine Bach after church, or phone 361-0155 or e-mail [email protected]

You CAN be a Jiffy Fixer! By Jim Allen

Renee Meyer had a job interview recently. If it works out, we will need a replacement Jiffy Fixer. She has been a real help and we'll miss her. We need someone that can regularly come on Wednesday mornings. A retiree would be a good candidate but anyone with flexible hours could work out as well. No special skill is required but helpful. One with electrical skills would be especially helpful. Contact Jim Allen at [email protected] or 916-966-2094. Jiffy Fixer Renee Meyer on top of the new lumber rack behind the maintenance shed.

Over 80s Group by Mary McCollum Don’t miss the May 3 luncheon at Mary’s home. We promise laughs! Page 16

Spring Flowers for Easter Help beautify our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday by ordering Spring flowering plants now. Each plant will be full of colorful blooms. The cost is $10 per plant. Please place your order by filling in this form and placing it, along with your payment, in the offering plate or mailing it to the church. Orders are due Palm Sunday, April 13. Plants may be taken home after the 10 am worship service on Easter, April 20. If you wish, you may instead bring a plant of your own to place with the others on the Chancel for Easter Sunday. Label it with your name if you wish to take it home with you after worship.

Name

I would like plant(s).

Enclosed $

In loving memory of

In honor of

In celebration of

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Annual Yard Sale Saturday, April 5

After the Fair Oaks UMC Rummage Sale, head over to Rancho Cordova for their Annual Yard Sale! Proceeds benefit UMCOR and SSP mission trips.

Lenten Prayer Walks Saturdays, March 1-April 12, 10:00 am

Meet in the UMC of Rancho Cordova parking lot and join us as we walk the neighborhood and get to know more about the people of our community. Strollers and dogs and humans of all sizes are welcome!

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Joshua Park Born February 27, 2014 7 lbs., 9 oz. 19 inches

Congratulations Pastor Jeong Youngjae and Big Brother Jacob!

Church Note Cards Room to Rent Available Needed Church note cards created Vicki Walker is coming home by Mary McCollum are to us and needs a temporary available in the Narthex after room to rent so she can get worship and in Spencer transitioned. If you can provide during the week. They are $4 this please call the Church Office each or $20 for 6 cards. All at 961-6631 or Mary McCollum proceeds go to the church at 481-3320. budget. Page 20

ACORN NEWSLETTER

(Usually the 4th Wednesday of the month at 9 am. Exceptions noted below.) For May Acorn — Wednesday, April 23 , 9 am

For June Acorn — Wednesday, May 28 , 9 am

For July Acorn — Wednesday, June 25 , 9 am

For August Acorn — Wednesday, July 23 , 9 am

For September Acorn — Wednesday, August 27 , 9 am

For October Acorn — Wednesday, September 24 , 9 am

For November Acorn — Wednesday, October 22 , 9 am For December Acorn — Friday, November 21 , 9am (Note: This is the Friday before Church Council & before Thanksgiving.)

For January 2015 Acorn — Monday, January 5 , 9 am (Note: This is the first Monday in January.)

The circuit breaker that the kitchen refrigerator is on will trip if other appliances are plugged into outlets on that side of the kitchen. This means the kitchen refrigerator and freezer will be off and food inside will spoil. Please plug any crock pots, rice cookers, etc. into outlets on the opposite side of the kitchen from the refrigerator to avoid tripping the circuit breaker. Thank you! Page 21

Book Club April’s Book Club selection is South of Broad by Pat Conroy . From Amazon.com: “Leopold Bloom King has been raised in a family shattered—and shadowed—by tragedy. Lonely and Pinochle adrift, he searches for something to sustain him and finds it among a tightly knit group of high school outsiders. Surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, as well as Charleston, South Carolina’s dark legacy of racism and class divisions, these friends will endure until a final test Roy and Gay Anderson will host forces them to face something none of them are prepared pinochle on Friday, April 11 at 6:30 for. ” pm in the Sanctuary. Come on out for a night of fellowship and fun. We will Bring a sack lunch and join us teach you to play Pinochle if you have on April 28 at noon in the library! never played before!

Mark Your Calendar With Local Art Showing These Upcoming Dates…. Joan Mayberry is having a show of her 4/03 Rummage Sale Begins paintings downtown at Capitol Artworks, 1215 21st St., Suite B, 4/11 Ladies’ Luncheon Sacramento. The dates are March 8: 4/12 Spring Work Day 6:00-9:00 p.m. and April 12: 6:00-9:00 4/13 Palm Sunday p.m. 4/17 Maundy Thursday Please show your support of our talented artists and their works! 4/18 Good Friday 4/20 Easter Sunday, 8:30 and 10:00 am services 4/26 Little Methodist School Trike-a-Thon 4/26 SWAG Talent Show and Ice Cream Social 5/03 Over 80s Group Gathering Page 22

APRIL MINISTRIES Use this page as a reminder of what you’ve signed up for. GREETERS COFFEE FELLOWSHIP HOSTS 6 Jeff Cherney 6 Tongan Congregation 13 Gay and Roy Anderson 13 Phinney/Couch/Floyd Team 20/8:30 am 20 Mary and Joe Maret 20/10 am 27 Ruby Wicker and Lora Allen 27 SWAG Youth Group COUNTERS LITURGISTS 6 Elaine Bach & Pat Eichner 6 Betty Phillips 13 Ellen Frosch & Judy Shearer 13 Sue Easterbrook 20 Renee Meyer 20/8:30 am 27 Bill Floyd 20/10 am Betty Phillips

27 SWAG Youth Group SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS CHILDREN’S TIME Lower Grades Upper Grades 6 Pastor Jeong 6 Phyllis Martin Ruby Wicker 13 13 Adriane Samcoff 20/8:30 am 20 Mary Maret 20/10 am 27 Mary Ellen Milne Nancy Klanjac 27 SWAG Youth Group

FLOWERS EASY WORSHIP OPERATORS 6 no altar flowers during Lent 6 Andrew Maret 13 no altar flowers during Lent 20/8:30 am Easter flowers 13 20/8:30 am 20/10 am Easter flowers 20/10 am Andrew Maret 27 27 SWAG Youth Group/Andrew Maret COMMUNION STEWARD Nancy Klanjac HOW TO SIGN UP COMMUNION SERVERS on April 6 Ellen Couch You can help out – try to sign up a month or more ahead of time. You can call the Church Office or Linda Robinson sign up on the clipboard located on the Narthex Bulletin Board. Thanks for your help! Page 23 Fair Oaks United Methodist Church

9849 Fair Oaks Blvd. Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Phone: (916) 961-6631 Fax: (916) 961-1572 E-mail: [email protected]

Promoting the love of Christ and nurturing spiritual growth for each individual, the church and the community.

We’re on the web! www.fairoaksumc.org

The Fair Oaks’ ACORN is published monthly by the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church and is distributed at the end of each month. Newsletters are also online at FairOaksUMC.org/#/find-out-more/newsletters. Next Deadline: Wed., Apr. 23, 2014 at 9:00 am. Submit articles to the Church Office in person or by email at [email protected]. Submissions may be edited for accuracy, length or clarity.