Wesley United Methodist Church

Wesley United Methodist Church is a church family that seeks to live into John Wesley's three simple rules- to do good, to do no harm, and to stay in love with God. http://www.wumcsf.org

One of my favorite musicals, RENT, includes the lyric, “No Day but Today!” This lyric perfectly leads into what I pray is a breathing and a reset moment for Wesley United Methodist Church. It is my joy and honor to pen this, my first newsletter message to you all as your newly commissioned and appointed Pastor and embrace a “No Day but Today” view of ministry.

Up until almost a month ago, I would have introduced myself as Cindy A. Heidelberger, but on July 6, 2024, I married R. Duane Coates. Duane pastors Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City, ND. This means, that yes, we will be living apart for our first year of marriage, yet we believe both appointments are God’s will. I officially became Cindy Heidelberger Coates, “CC” in a service held at Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls.

I am the proud mother of 2 sons, Xavier (20) and Atticus (17), 1 dog son, Oliver, and 1 fur kitty, Luna. Xavier, an aspiring drummer, is taking classes with a focus on Psychology from SDSU and works full time at LifeScape in Sioux Falls. Atticus, a high school senior, is knee-deep in varsity football practice at Lennox High School, where he hopes to clinch a State Title and coast through a rapid senior year.

An alumnus of South Dakota State University, I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication Studies/Theatre, English, and Education and I continue to hold a secondary education teacher certification. I am a graduate of Sioux Falls Seminary with an MDiv in Pastoral Care and Counseling and Community Development. My focus is on education and mental health, building bridges, and strengthening communities.

In addition to shepherding Wesley United Methodist, I have also been appointed to local non-profit, GroundWorks Connect, where I serve as the executive director. GroundWorks Connect brings education and agriculture together to help students and teachers understand where their food is coming from, the importance of stewarding our resources, and the basics of community development. What started with a card table, $25, and the question “What if” 14 years ago now boasts teaching gardens in elementary and middle schools and an educational platform whose impact is statewide.

That question, “What if” is the same question I hope to contemplate at Wesley. With every conversation, meeting, worship opportunity, and planning session, I seek to open with “What if” and invite the Spirit to lead. There is no day, but today to consider what Wesley, the neighborhood, and leadership can do together. There is no day but today to dream, envision, and pray about the direction God would have us go. We have the chance to lean into a new chapter here and as I have always instructed my children, “to leave people, places, and situations better than when we found them.” I invite us to dream big and be ready for the ways God will answer them.

Together with you,

Pastor CC.

This last week in my pastoral visiting I met a person who I had not met before. Interested in who he was I asked him about his family and his employment. He told me a little bit about his family with some pride, but when it came to talking about his job, he said, “I’m just a ……” and told me what he did. Last night in the middle of the night when you sometimes wake up and can’t go back to sleep right away that conversation came back into my mind, and as I thought about how he had talked about what he did with much of his time (his job), I became both sad and upset. As I thought about the work he did, I knew that even though he might not get much recognition for his labor, what he did was critical for his employer. This person and work he did was important even if he did not feel that way. And as I thought about this man’s perception of his own life, I wondered how often we diminish our own worth saying to ourselves, “I’m just a (senior citizen, youth, or how ever we may describe ourselves.) Or we think about our church and ourselves as powerless and of not having much value. And thus, we give ourselves an excuse to simply sit back and do little or nothing. But what we need to know is that God never thinks about us as “just a ……”. Each of us in precious in God’s sight. God has a purpose and a use for each of us in the bringing in of God’s kingdom.

Two places in the Bible remind us of that. In the Old Testament, God comes to a young Jeremiah with a task and Jeremiah’s response is to say, “I’m just a youth.” But God would not accept his excuse and laid upon him a task that I’m sure Jeremiah felt was overwhelming. And as Jeremiah would live into the work God gave him, it would make a difference.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he reminds that church and each of us that God has gifted each of us in very different ways and that each of us is critical to the bringing in of God’s kingdom. Paul reminds us that God values each of us and is able to use us no matter our age or station in life or physical or mental abilities. And God is also able to use each church no matter its size or resources to make a difference in the world. We are all needed parts of the body of Christ. And so, the next time you are tempted to think of yourself or our church as “just a ….”, I hope you will stop and instead give thanks for the gifts God has given you and that God see value in you and your work. Howard Grinager.

In case you missed the worship services and messages in July, go to http://wumcsf.org and click on the “Video Archive” tab to view the following:

July 7 "An Act of Hope"

July 14 "The Challenge of being a Good Neighbor"

July 21 "What the Church needs to Remember"

July 28 "What is it Worth?"

August 4 Pastor Cindy's first official Sunday @ Wesley as our new Pastor

To watch services “live” each Sunday at 10 AM, go to http://wumcsf.org and click on the “Livestream” tab.

We are also grateful for the opportunities we have to “host” these additional congregations within our Wesley UMC building:

• Pentecostal Slavic Congregation of Sioux Falls-Meets in our Sanctuary on Sundays 12:00-2:00 , and on Fridays 7:00-9:00
• Lirio de los Valles-Meets in our former nursery room on Sundays 12:00-2:00 and Thursdays 7:00-8:30

• The Whittier Association continues to meet every Saturday morning at 10am in Wesley's Fellowship Hall everyone is welcome.
• Tuesday August 6th is National Night Out. We are hosting a sight for this event at Meldrum Park. It runs from 5pm to 8pm with food, games prizes and a visit from the police and fire department. The main purpose of this event is to promote good neighborhood and public servant relationships and to build community through fun times.
• Wesley is receiving a wonderful gift from Habitat for Humanity (one of the Whittier Association partners). Habitat is donation to Wesley new carpet for our Fellowship Hall. Our relationship with Habitat is so uplifting and encouraging. Thank You Habitat!
• WNO Continues its partnership with Terry Redlin school through the Pantry. We will once again share the duties with King of Glory church. We will supply volunteers every other month throughout the school year. Your help is always appreciated. Signup sheets will be in the Narthex. Donations for Milk always needed, just designate on the memo line Milk.
• Wesley's next date to serve the Nightwatch Canteen is Sunday August 18th. Signup sheets are in the Narthex. The donation tote will remain in the Narthex along with a list of needed items. Your gifts are greatly appreciated. An interesting sidenote- our friends from the Slavic congregation asked to help serve the Canteen and will start in September. Welcome on board!
• Thank you to Carmen Britt for continuing to be our contact person for the St Francis House. Carmen has been a faithful in this position for many years. She will find volunteers to help when it is Wesley's turn to serve supper at St Francis House and she is always there to help!
• Check out the planters in the parking lot and see if there is anything ripe! The produce is for anyone who wants it.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Income 6 months 2024----- ----------------------------------$ 46,073.70

Expense 6 months 2024 ------------------------------------- ($45,593.27)

Income exceed expense @ 6.30.2024 --------------------------$480.43

Don Armstrong, Treasurer

Balance 5/31/2024-----------------------------------------------------$21,456.44

Donations June 2024 ------------------------------------------------------$230.00

Interest earned June 2024 ---------------------------------------------------$6.58

Balance 5/31/2024 -----------------------------------------------------$21,693.02

Don Armstrong, Treasurer

Wesley's softball team is winding up their scheduled games with the last one an August 1st. Thank you to Rich Paez for his team leadership. You can also go to the website https://www.sfchurchsoftball.com/home.

Aug 1 - Field E @ 6:30, Field E @ 7:30

Tuff Home in Hills, MN: Jackie Dreyer

Good Sam / Hill: Linda Varud,

Avantara: Guy Varud

Rushmore Mn: Marian Hoek

Stoney Brooke: Maxine Ingalls, Audrey Hullinger

Prairie Crossing: Bernie McCabe

Dow Rummel: Nila Hendriks

Luther Manor: Donna Hoh

Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion, SD: Margeann Dewes

Sympathy: For the family of Earl Pringle who passed away Saturday, July 20, 2024 at his home. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, August 25, 2024,

Prayers:

Ernie Griner - back to Minneapolis for tests and then developed Pneumonia

Aleene WIlliams - cancer treatments

Sue Ness - Knee replacement

Mary Wilcox - a lot of discomfort and pain

Kim Wahl- another surgery - and a lot of discomfort

Zelda Kirkvold - cancer

Kolby Bohmbach - hopeful for good test results

Carole Anderson -Home!

Trish Garcia - back home!

Sandy - Bernie McCabe's daughter, ongoing illness

Kolby Bohmbach – Continued prayers for good test results

Karen Renken- continued prayers for healing

Bob Whiting’s daughter Robyn –doing well after a kidney transplant

Nila & Karen’s sister-in-law Karen - continued prayers

There are many misconceptions about what part protein plays in our overall health. So, let’s look at some of the myths a little more closely.

Myth 1: The belief that consuming excessive amounts of protein automatically translates to increased muscle mass. While protein is essential for muscle growth, the body has it limits in utilizing it effectively. So, consuming excessive amounts of protein will only lead to weight gain due to protein being converted to fat.

Myth 2: All protein sources the same benefits for muscle-building. A lot depends on the composition of amino acids and digestibility of the protein.

Myth 3: Protein supplements are essential. While supplements may be convenient, they are not inherently superior to whole food sources of protein. Most people can meet their protein needs through a well-balanced diet. High quality protein sources may include: lean meats (poultry, beef), fish, eggs, legumes (beans, lentils), soy products, certain grains (quinoa, buckwheat, etc.), nuts

So, what can you do to improve the balance of proteins in your diet? Include a source of protein in each meal and snack to support muscle repair and growth. Prioritize post-workout nutrition by consuming a protein-rich snack. Choose whole foods over supplements. And…stay hydrated.

Dawn Armstrong, Health Ministry Team

Tuesday August 6th is National Night Out. Whittier Neighborhood Association is hosting a sight for this event at Meldrum Park. It runs from 5pm to 8pm with food, games prizes and a visit from the police and fire department. Hot Dogs and a drink are provided, bring chips or a dish to share. The main purpose of this event is to promote good neighborhood and public servant relationships and to build community through fun times.