This Week at Sydenstricker

May 12, 2024

Connecting, Learning, Serving

Are you graduating from high school or college this year, or do you have a child, grandchild or other loved one who is? If so, please email Pastor Don by Sunday, May 26, to let him know the graduate’s name, school, and, if applicable, degree being conferred. We would like to honor our graduates at an upcoming service.

Show Our Staff You Care— Every year, we take the opportunity to show our awesome pastors and staff how much they are appreciated. The Leadership Board invites you to help recognize the SUMC pastors and their spouses, the staff and several volunteers by signing your name and/or writing messages of appreciation on cards provided by the Board. The cards will be placed in colored folders in the entryway outside the sanctuary before and after Sunday services and will be available in the church office during the week. If you are unable to make it to the church over the next few weeks, please email Clint Miller and he will sign your name on your behalf. The cards will be presented during morning worship services on a Sunday in June.

  • During the week, the bread trays and milk crates that are used to transport food gleaned from the Huntsman Giant for distribution at The Food Corner pile up and become an eyesore. We are looking for two volunteers with a hatchback vehicle to help remove the empty bread trays and milk crates from Hottle Hall and deliver them to the rear of the store. The obligation would be an hour or so once a month, preferably on a Friday or Saturday. If this sounds like something you could help with, please contact Amy Dannemiller.


  • As part of the contractual agreement with the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), the Food Corner and other food pantries who purchase CAFB products will soon begin registering families who receive food. While waiting for their food order to be processed, each family will fill out an intake form. We need volunteers to review the forms to ensure legibility and answer questions. Training will be provided. Having a background with the Spanish language would be an asset, but not required. The Food Corner is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, and the shifts for this task will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m. We hope to get the initial registration done during June and July (June 11 and 25 and July 9 and 23). If this is something that interests you, please contact Amy Dannemiller.


This small group sponsored by United Women in Faith will meet in room H4 on Saturday, May 18, at 10:00 a.m. for fellowship and to discuss “30 Days with E. Stanley Jones: Global Preacher, Social Justice Prophet,” by the Rev. Dr. John E. Harnish. This inspiring book contains 30 true short stories about the life of E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973), described in his day as the “greatest missionary since Saint Paul.” Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his ministry work in India, Jones was an author, statesman, interfaith leader, and a spokesman for peace, racial inclusion, and social justice.  Harnish writes, "From Jones' life and work, we can hear a word which is as relevant today as it was 75 years ago. In a day when tensions between races and religions are on the rise globally and the message of the Christian faith seems to be either weak or aligned with a political agenda, the voice of a true World Christian needs to be heard once again."  For more information, please contact Nancy Miller, for additional information. 

In recognition of our call to care for God's creation, we are embracing the need to follow the three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle. Our first initiative focuses on the worship bulletins. If you are not taking your bulletin home, please place it in the BLUE bin in the Narthex for recycling. Also, to help reduce the number of bulletins needed each week, consider taking one bulletin per family. Or, if you feel comfortable reading from the screens in the Sanctuary, forgo the bulletin altogether. Each of these simple tasks will reduce the number of bulletins printed each week and ensure that used bulletins are recycled.

We are blessed to have beautiful flowers in our sanctuary each Sunday and we would like to spread that beauty and cheer to those in our church family who might need a little light and joy. Our Petite Bouquets ministry makes small bouquets out of leftover altar flowers to be delivered to those in need of cheering up and volunteers are currently needed to make deliveries. Addresses are provided and deliveries are made at the door. If you can help with this ministry, please contact Carol Oakes.

Sneak Peek—Anyone interested in enrolling a new student at TOT Preschool for the 2024-2025 school year is invited to attend an Open House and Groovy Nate concert on Friday, May 24, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The event is FREE, but we ask that you click below to register so that we know how many to expect.


Groovy Nate Is Coming! Groovy Nate®, a Grammy nominated children’s entertainer whose shows encourage children and adults to move, sing, and play creatively with one another, will be visiting SUMC on Friday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m. The event is FREE, but we ask that you click below to register so that we know how many to expect.


Family Fun Day—Stop by for some family fun on Thursday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The day’s events are sponsored by TOT Preschool and will include activities appropriate for preschool-age children, such as Chapel Time with Pastor Don, a magic show by The Great Zucchini, playground time and treats from the Kona Ice truck. The event is FREE, but we ask that you click below to register so that we know how many to expect.


Playground Play Dates—Come by the church playground on Wednesday, June 5 and/or June 12, at 10:00 a.m. for some fun with friends. TOT Preschool staff will host these events but at least one adult must stay with children participating. All ages are welcome, but please keep in mind that the equipment is for children age three to six. Playground Play Dates are a great opportunity for past and new TOT Preschool families to connect with friends old and new in a fun, familiar environment before school starts in September. Tours of TOT Preschool will also be available during these times for new families with preschool-age children.

Sneak Peek
Groovy Nate
Family Fun Day
Volunteer for VBS
Register for VBS
Email Jen Sparlin
Donate Snack or Craft Items
Leadership Board Agenda

SUNDAY, MAY 12

MOTHER’S DAY

8:30 AM Worship Service (S)

9:45 AM Children’s Sunday School (GR)

9:45 AM Youth Sunday School (AH)

9:45 AM Chapel Class (H4/Zoom)

9:45 AM Kitchen Class (C3/Zoom)

9:45 AM Red School House Class (Lib/Zoom)

9:45 AM Fellowship Time (HH)

11:00 AM Worship Service and Live Stream (S)

2:00 PM Food Corner Work (HH/K)

2:00 PM Pack 1853 Webelos (AH)

7:00 PM Order of the Arrow (C3)


MONDAY, MAY 13

8:00 AM Italian Classes (C1)

8:00 AM Food Corner Work (HH/K)

9:00 AM TOT Preschool (GR/S3, 7, 8, H9)

6:30 PM Troop 1518 Meeting (HH/Grove)

6:30 PM Troop 158 Adventure (H4)

7:00 PM Pack 1853 AOL Den (AH)

7:00 PM Girl Scout Troop 6211 (C3)

7:00 PM AA Meeting (FH)

7:30 PM Children and Family Team (Zoom)

7:30 PM Troop 1518 Board of Review (H4)

7:30 PM Troop 1176 Meeting (Lib)


TUESDAY, MAY 14

8:00 AM Italian Classes (C1)

8:00 AM Food Corner Prep (HH/K)

9:00 AM TOT Preschool (GR/S3, 7, 8, H9)

10:00 AM Staff Meeting (H8)

3:30 PM Food Corner Distribution (HH/K)

6:30 PM Girl Scout Troop 52018 (FH)


WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

8:00 AM Food Corner Work (HH/K)

9:00 AM TOT Preschool (GR/S3, 7, 8, H9)

9:15 AM Companions in Christ (H4)

11:00 AM Green Church Initiative (Zoom)

5:00 PM Wonders on Wednesdays (HH/K/GR/S)

6:30 PM Youth Fellowship (AH)

7:30 PM Theological Discussion (HH)

7:30 PM Stephen Ministry (Lib)


THURSDAY, MAY 16

8:00 AM Italian Classes (C1)

9:00 AM TOT Preschool (GR/S3, 7, 8, H9)

11:45 AM TOT Luncheon (HH/K)

6:00 PM Girl Scout Troop 1722 (AH)

6:20 PM Jubilate Handbell Rehearsal (MR)

7:30 PM Pack 1853 Meeting (HH)

7:00 PM Pack 1853 Lions (H4)

7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal (MR)

8:30 PM AA Meeting (FH)


FRIDAY, MAY 17

9:00 AM TOT Preschool (GR/S3, 7, 8, H9)

8:00 PM AA Meeting (FH)


SATURDAY, MAY 18

7:30 AM Men’s Breakfast (HH/K)

9:00 AM Methodist Men Meeting (Lib)

10:00 AM Beyond the Book (H4)

10:00 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry (Lib)

10:00 AM Girl Scout Troop 52135 (AH)


SUNDAY, MAY 19

PENTECOST

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY

8:30 AM Worship Service (S)

9:45 AM Children’s Sunday School (GR)

9:45 AM Youth Sunday School (AH)

9:45 AM Chapel Class (H4/Zoom)

9:45 AM Kitchen Class (C3/Zoom)

9:45 AM Red School House Class (Lib/Zoom)

9:45 AM Fellowship Time (HH)

11:00 AM Worship Service and Live Stream (S)

12:30 PM Leadership Board (HH)

2:00 PM Pack 1853 Webelos (AH)

2:30 PM Girl Scout Troop 52045 (GR)

5:00 PM Worship Service and Live Stream (S)

7:00 PM Order of the Arrow (C3) 

This Week's Prayer List
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