EVANGELICAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2006
Pastor: RonKapalka
Evangelical United Methodist is like a strong tree, rooted in the soil of Jesus' love and promise. Trees serve others in many ways. Trees provide homes and shelters for a variety of animals. Trees are also capable of bearing fruit and food. Trees provide comfort to people on a hot day as well as display the beauty of creation. And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground — trees that were pleasant to the eye and good for food. (Genesis 2:9) The Evangelical tree continues to grow, to bear fruit, and to offer shelter and comfort to the people.
The branches of the Evangelical tree are diverse as they reached out in many directions of outreach. Monthly offerings throughout the year were designated to Friendship House, Care Net, One Great Hour of Sharing, Broadwater School, Jeff and Christine Standfield, Billings Food Bank, Pastor Discretionary Fund, LD.E.A. (International Deaf Education Association), McCurdy School, Habitat for Humanity, World Communion Sunday, and Women's Shelter of the Montana Rescue Mission.
The trunk of the Evangelical tree is sturdy and strong. Its strength comes from the soil and deep roots over the years. The women's groups: Friendship Circle, Anna Happle Circle, and Roukema Circle have supported missions as well as special projects throughout the year. A women's retreat was held this year with Betty McKinney, daughter-in-law of Bess Barrett, presenting a study on Ruth. Also, District Superintendent, Dick Storment, presented a workshop focusing on the dynamics of church health and growth.
Leaves, by their very nature, reflect the creative power and beauty of God. The leaves on the Evangelical tree displayed the beauty of God through gatherings and people. The leaves represent the many members who gathered together for special occasions of fellowship and service given to the church. The Young at Heart group met monthly for games and lunch. The annual Mother/Daughter luncheon was held in May. In December, the United Methodist Women held their Christmas celebration for all women in the EUM family. The Men's Club was reorganized under the supervision of Larry Shriver having a good response. The Christmas tree is a symbol of faith with lights as it tells us that Peace and Love will prevail. The choir, under the direction of Bev Thorn, expressed the Christmas message through the cantata, "One Small Child". The Sunday School children, under the direction of Twila Frichtl, shared the Christmas message behind the symbolism of the candy cane. Tillie Friesz, Mary Lou Spencer, and Nellie Vegge were honored for their many years of service to the church and for the Lord. Some leaves were carried by the wind to other parts of the country as the EUM family sent best wishes and bid fond farewell to Skip, Jennifer, and Calvin Burns who moved to Pennsylvania.
The roots of Evangelical are strong and well grounded in scripture with several Bible studies being conducted throughout the year. The Pastor's Bible study, the Discovery Group, and the Tuesday morning women's Bible study all delved into the scripture. During Lent, services were held following a Soup/Bread supper. There were also opportunities to attend the CCN Seminars and the Financial Peace University classes. In June, the children attended Vacation Bible School under the direction of Crisse Hall. From these opportunities, the family of BUM became better prepared to "Go ye into all the world...."
The seeds of the Evangelical tree brought different forms of new life through:
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New Members: Geneal Anderson(2/12/06), Jim & Roberta Fuller (Reinstated: 4/19/06), and VinceCaton (4/30/06).
Marriages: Jess. A. Baffin & Ginger S. Olson (July 22)s Aaron A. Gotfredson & Angela Karis (August 19), and Brandon Hoagland & Erin Abrahamson (August 22).
Births: Lillian Mae Zahn (September 27) and Gage Jackson Moore (October 30) Baptisms: Hunter Michael-Ross Campbell (1/3/06) and Devin Jordan Nelson (7/9/06) Lillian Mae Zahn (12/31/06)
Jesus, himself, bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; By His wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24) Jesus endured the wooden cross for each of us. The tree of .life is the promise we all have and Maxine Henderson has moved to the eternal shelter. (May 13,2006)
Like a tree, our Lord provides sustenance for His creatures. He gives us a safe place to live and He is our shelter and refuge. The Evangelical tree provided shelter and comfort to those who came seeking fellowship. The tree also withstood the storm of meeting financial obligations. The EUM family tree reached up to a greater height by their financial support.
The age of a tree is determined by rings in the trunk. The rings' width and character tell a lot about the times the tree has lived through. What kind of spiritual growth rings are you forming?
The Lord feeds us, nurtures us, and helps us to grow so that our marks will show a mature faith, a life of spiritual fervor. (Luke 8:52)
Carol Vegge Historian
