Bozeman United Methodist Church

WORSHIP OUTLINE October 4, 2020    8:30am Our journey through ancient spirituality continues as we find ourselves on the road searching for God amidst the chaos and confusion. By being rooted in creation, we find God always present with us. Paul says in the letter to the Colossians, “You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to be the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted.” _____________________________________ Thank you for your financial and prayerful support, which allows this community to continue to offer hope in the world. You can give by check in the narthex offering box, our online giving platform, bozemanumc.org/give or text-to-give at 406-530-8999. _____________________________________ The Gathering Music Lynn Kirtley Organist/Pianist The Welcome & Introduction Rev. Eric Strader THE PATH OF AWE The Peace The Reading  The Singing Be Still and Know                                  Kath Crumrine THE PATH OF RELEASE The Prayer  THE PATH OF CREATIVITY    The Scripture   Matthew 22:34-39 The Meditation THE PATH OF TRANSFORMATION The Communion The Song Nearer My God to Thee Words: Sarah Adams Music: Lowell Mason Reprinted under One License !-70436 Source: United Methodist Hymnal 528 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone; yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! 4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! The Blessing

Pastor Alison Skillman

This month there are three opportunities to worship LIVE with Methodists in the Gallatin Valley! Same message, same feel, different experiences based on your comfortability and risk- level. 1) 8:30 am in person at BUMC bring a mask and email Rev. Eric eric@bozemanumc.org. 2) 9:30 am via Facebook LIVE or Youtube later 3) 10:00am in person at Living Waters. Bring your Lawn Chair www.bozemanumc.org/live

Live worship also available at our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNntk2TSkQnodnI4eh7pGw

https://youtu.be/-HiGSyfkfs0

Sunday July 7, 2020 Worship at BUMC: Welcome! We are currently having limited seating “in person” worship Sundays at 9:30am. Because of our strict (Re)entry plan, please communicate with Rev. Eric@bozemanumc.org if you would like to join us on Sundays. Online Worship continues: Please make sure that you like or comment on this video so we know you are here today! We would appreciate it if you would share this post on your own social media so that you can share the experience with your friends and family. Today’s Worship Bulletin can be found here: www.bozemanumc.org/live Today’s Offering: we appreciate your continued giving and support! You’re faithful giving supports not our church family and its ministries but it also helps us serve the most vulnerable in our community and in the world. Here is how you can give today: www.bozemanumc.org/giving BUMC now has an app available in the Apple Store or Google Apps With links to online worship, electronic bulletins and a Bible... you can now connect anywhere you have wifi access! How to download to your device: 1. Go to your phone or device's app store. 2. Search "The Sharefaith App" and download 3. Once downloaded, open "The Sharefaith App" 4. Under "Find Your Church | Ministry type "Bozeman United Methodist" Click SAVE. 5. A dialog box will come up asking to save as default app OR "My Ministry" -- Click "My Ministry". You will now see the BUMC logo as your app icon. 6. Allow for notifications: this is how we will send you emergency updates and worship notifications.

Worship live online: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNntk2TSkQnodnI4eh7pGw/ Bulletin: www.bozemanumc.org/live  

Worship live online https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNntk2TSkQnodnI4eh7pGw/

26 Confirmation Students 3 Baptisms 1 Adult Member Joining.   All video files can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNntk2TSkQnodnI4eh7pGw

Our live video and Worship Bulletin is available at www.bozemanumc.org/live

Audio from this Sunday's worship.  Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZpLLiWIgWU Bulletin available at www.bozemanumc.org/live  

Easter Sunday Bulletin: https://www.bozemanumc.org/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/April-12-2020-Easter-Bulletin.pdf Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzpDwA3K2a4&t=15s  

Download the Online Bulletin:  www.bozemanumc.org/live Psalter Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever. Let Israel say:    “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say:    “His love endures forever.” It is better to take refuge in the Lord    than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord    than to trust in princes. I was pushed back and about to fall,    but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense    he has become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,    and it is marvelous in our eyes.  The Lord has done it this very day;    let us rejoice today and be glad. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his love endures forever.

Bozeman UMC LIVE, SUNDAY MARCH 15 2020 “Stones of Grace” Today’s Scripture: John 8:1-11 (CEB) And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he returned to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them. The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?” They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” Bending down again, he wrote on the ground. Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?” She said, “No one, sir.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.” Rock of AgesSource: United Methodist Hymnal 361 verse belowWords: Augustus TopladyMusic: Thomas HastingsStreaming under CCLI 2530819A Lenten DoxologySource - GBOD, UMCWords: G.W. Dub ShepherdMusic: Arr. Louis BourgeoisStreaming under CCLI 2530819Grace AloneSource: UMC, 2162 v. 1,2 (no fancy ending refrain)Words & music: Scott Wesley Brown & Jeff NelsonStreaming under CCLI 2530819Jesus Is A Rock In A Weary Land, 7068840Authors Mark Leslie HayesThe Lorenz Corporation ©Copyright2016 The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)Streaming under CCLI 2530819

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704363 Sermon: “Stones of Punishment” Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:1-9 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake. How terrible it is for the world because of the things that cause people to trip and fall into sin! Such things have to happen, but how terrible it is for the person who causes those things to happen! If your hand or your foot causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter into life crippled or lame than to be thrown into the eternal fire with two hands or two feet. If your eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter into life with one eye than to be cast into a burning hell with two eyes.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704363 Sermon: “Stones of Punishment” Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:1-9 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake. How terrible it is for the world because of the things that cause people to trip and fall into sin! Such things have to happen, but how terrible it is for the person who causes those things to happen! If your hand or your foot causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter into life crippled or lame than to be thrown into the eternal fire with two hands or two feet. If your eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter into life with one eye than to be cast into a burning hell with two eyes.

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.” Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.” For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.” 10 Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” 11 The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs.

Community Conversation Panel: Rev. Eric Amanda Komoto-Hendrix Jordan Komoto Charlie Billy Allie Zanieri-Hale Scripture Reading Intro: James was the brother of Jesus, so it is reasonable to assume he experienced the challenges of a family where God was the favorite child. No discrepant to Mary and Jospeh, but life will always be unfair when your brother can turn water into wine at a party. And so it is even more powerful that James invites us NOT to have partiality or favorites in ministry and life. James 2: 1-4 My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?

John 4:1-42 (CEB) Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was making more disciples and baptizing more than John (although Jesus’ disciples were baptizing, not Jesus himself). Therefore, he left Judea and went back to Galilee. Jesus had to go through Samaria. He came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, which was near the land Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his journey, so he sat down at the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” His disciples had gone into the city to buy him some food. The Samaritan woman asked, “Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with each other.) Jesus responded, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket and the well is deep. Where would you get this living water? You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave this well to us, and he drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will never be thirsty and will never need to come here to draw water!” Jesus said to her, “Go, get your husband, and come back here.” The woman replied, “I don’t have a husband.” “You are right to say, ‘I don’t have a husband,’” Jesus answered. “You’ve had five husbands, and the man you are with now isn’t your husband. You’ve spoken the truth.” The woman said, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you and your people say that it is necessary to worship in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you and your people will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You and your people worship what you don’t know; we worship what we know because salvation is from the Jews. But the time is coming—and is here!—when true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth. The Father looks for those who worship him this way. God is spirit, and it is necessary to worship God in spirit and truth.” The woman said, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one who is called the Christ. When he comes, he will teach everything to us.” Jesus said to her, “I Am—the one who speaks with you.” Just then, Jesus’ disciples arrived and were shocked that he was talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman put down her water jar and went into the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who has told me everything I’ve done! Could this man be the Christ?” They left the city and were on their way to see Jesus. In the meantime the disciples spoke to Jesus, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” The disciples asked each other, “Has someone brought him food?” Jesus said to them, “I am fed by doing the will of the one who sent me and by completing his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then it’s time for harvest’? Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest. Those who harvest are receiving their pay and gathering fruit for eternal life so that those who sow and those who harvest can celebrate together. This is a true saying, that one sows and another harvests. I have sent you to harvest what you didn’t work hard for; others worked hard, and you will share in their hard work.” Many Samaritans in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman’s word when she testified, “He told me everything I’ve ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this one is truly the savior of the world.”

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:23-24 Intro: This teaching from Jesus challenging our revenge-oriented world to seek reconciliation. And in Matthew's gospel, it means immediately, we never know what tomorrow brings, Christ’s return or our arrival into eternity. "Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift."   A word of God for a people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Mark 7:24-30 Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. In fact, a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him right away. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was Greek, Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to throw the demon out of her daughter. He responded, “The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” But she answered, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” “Good answer!” he said. “Go on home. The demon has already left your daughter.” When she returned to her house, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

Eric Hastings shared his understanding and hopes for the BUMC Legacy.

Galatians 6:2,18 Intro: Living a Christian life is not a solo act, we come here to be together, worship is how we affirm we need others on the journey of life. Hope is built as a communal act, not an individual belief. We affirm hope for one another. Every Paul letter ends with his blessing of hope, that there is enough grace for the journey of life. 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.  6:18 Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Scripture Reading Galatians 4:1-5   Intro: Paul is reinforcing his point from last week’s scripture, that all are welcomed into the body of Christ, whether they are minors or slaves.   The church in Galatia should be compared to a new church start, focused on a mission to a specific people, in this case the Gentiles. Bringing gentiles into a Jewish church has now caused conflict, and Paul is writing to point out how truly untied they are.   I’m saying that as long as the heirs are minors, they are no different from slaves, though they really are the owners of everything. 2 However, they are placed under trustees and guardians until the date set by the parents. 3 In the same way, when we were minors, we were also enslaved by this world’s system. 4 But when the fulfillment of the time came, God sent his Son, born through a woman, and born under the Law. 5 This was so he could redeem those under the Law so that we could be adopted. 6 Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and if you are his child, then you are also an heir through God.

Scripture: Galatians 3: 26-29 (Read by Carolyn Simser.) "You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Now if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise." -- Children's Time: "Prayer Shawls" (Pastor Eric Strader) -- Sermon: “Canoeing the Mountain" (Pastor Eric Strader)

Mission moment included details on how to support those suffering after repeated earthquakes in Puerto Rico. An update on the UMC team from the Mountain Sky Area that went to Puerto Rico last week. And some upcoming mission opportunities this spring.

While Pastor Amy is out of town, Brenda Anderson-Baker leads the prayers. 

Pastor Amy is out of town, so Fred (wearing his Fred Rogers cardigan) delivers the children/youth message on legacy and history.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-9 (CEB) The words of the Teacher of the Assembly, David’s son, king in Jerusalem: Perfectly pointless, says the Teacher, perfectly pointless.     Everything is pointless. What do people gain from all the hard work     that they work so hard at under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes,     but the earth remains as it always has. The sun rises, the sun sets;     it returns panting to the place where it dawns. The wind blows to the south,     goes around to the north;     around and around blows the wind;     the wind returns to its rounds again. All streams flow to the sea,     but the sea is never full;     to the place where the rivers flow,     there they continue to flow. All words are tiring;     no one is able to speak.     The eye isn’t satisfied with seeing,     neither is the ear filled up by hearing. Whatever has happened—that’s what will happen again;     whatever has occurred—that’s what will occur again. There’s nothing new under the sun.

This Sunday's Sermon was a video walking tour with Pastor Eric of Bozeman. The Video File is available on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAvJxeuS77o

PRELUDE—In the Bleak Midwinter INVOCATION—Poem, In the Bleak Midwinter HYMN—In the Bleak Midwinter  UMH 221 (v. 1, 2, & 5)                 WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER WREATH OF LIGHT HYMN, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH 211 (Adapted words on the screens) SCRIPTURE (Words on the screens)     Psalm 77: 1-5 (CEB)     Psalm 34: 18 (CEB)     John 1:1-5 (CEB) HYMN, Want To Walk as a Child of the Light UMH 206 (v. 1) VOICES       Our readers this evening are not necessarily reading stories that reflect their own experiences. SILENCE  LIGHTS OF HOPE, Canticle of Light and Dark    UMH 205 (Response 2)    SILENCE CLOSING PRAYER AND BLESSING SPECIAL MUSIC —Rescue POSTLUDE

Luke 2:8-15 (CEB) Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.”

Luke 1:39-55 (CEB) Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” Mary praises God Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!     In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.     Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored         because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.     He shows mercy to everyone,         from one generation to the next,         who honors him as God. He has shown strength with his arm.     He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.     He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones         and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things     and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,         remembering his mercy,     just as he promised to our ancestors,         to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”

Matthew 1:18-25 (CEB) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. When Mary his mother was engaged to Joseph, before they were married, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was a righteous man. Because he didn’t want to humiliate her, he decided to call off their engagement quietly. As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel. (Emmanuel means “God with us.”) When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus.

Brass, Christmas Carols *Hymn Angels We Have Heard on High  Welcome Morning Sounds w/ M.A. Bellingham and Sara Boom on Bells O Day of Peace  Brass Christmas Cortege  Children’s Choir Christmas Bells Are Ringing *Hymn Sing We Now of Christmas Celebration There Was the Word *Hymn The First Noel Men’s Group God Rest You Merry, Gentleman *Hymn Good Christian Friends, Rejoice Gospel Train A Gospel Song of Peace *Hymn Infant Lowly, Infant Holy Duet on Strings Oh, Come Little Children with Caden Jimmerson & Carter Lukes *Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem Puppet Show, Marvin Lansverk, Kath Crumrine, Eric Strader *Hymn What Child is This?  Morning Sounds Christmas Joy         Solo: Frank Johnson Offering 100% of what you give tonight supports HRDC’s warming shelter, a place of refuge from the cold, alongside the Fork & Spoon Cafe, an eatery for all. Elevate & Friends on Elementary School Instruments All I Want for Christmas Is You Story Llamas at Christmas *Hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/King of Heaven Women’s Trio A La Nanita Nana Presentation of the Pudding       Audrey McLain, Senior *Hymn We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Isaiah 11:1-10 A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse;  a branch will sprout from his roots. The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him,     a spirit of wisdom and understanding,     a spirit of planning and strength,     a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. He will delight in fearing the Lord. He won’t judge by appearances,     nor decide by hearsay. He will judge the needy with righteousness,     and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land. He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth;     by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. Righteousness will be the belt around his hips,     and faithfulness the belt around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb,     and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;     the calf and the young lion will feed together,     and a little child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze.     Their young will lie down together,     and a lion will eat straw like an ox. A nursing child will play over the snake’s hole;     toddlers will reach right over the serpent’s den. They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain.     The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the Lord,     just as the water covers the sea.

Message sent via email:   Dear sisters and brothers of Bozeman United Methodist Church, Grace and peace to you all as we begin the season of Advent.   It is my pleasure to share with you that, in response to the request of your Staff Parish Relations Committee,  Bishop Karen Oliveto has chosen to appoint the Rev. Amy Strader as full time pastor of Bozeman UMC as of January 1, 2020. Rev. Eric Strader will continue as part time pastor at Bozeman UMC and part time as Congregational Resource Minister for the Montana West District.  I am grateful for the gifts and graces that Rev. Amy brings to your congregation, and for the gifts and graces that Rev. Eric brings to your congregation and to the District CRM position.  I am excited about the possibilities for your ministry together, and trust that this will reflect good stewardship of financial resources and of gifts and skills.   Also, a Church Conference will be held, according to the Discipline, on Sunday, December 15, at 11:45 a.m. to approve the pastoral compensation for 2020. May the Holy Spirit guide your ministry to the people of your community.   Blessings, Jan Witman District Superintendent, Montana West   —————-   To that, the BUMC Personnel Team would add:   A reminder that when Rev. Amy and Rev. Eric were appointed 18 months ago to BUMC it was less than full time.   This shift allows for more clergy presence in the church to focus on the pastoral care of the community. In order to continue to be fiscally responsible, we will not be rehiring the Nurture Care position, held by Kim Broden, but instead dividing responsibilities between Rev. Amy and our new Office Coordinator, Allie Zanieri-Hale. Allie will coordinate office needs, alongside supporting database management, and recruiting volunteers - YOU - for ministry needs and opportunities.   Rev. Amy will continue to oversee discipleship ministries including; campus, youth, children, and mission, as well as retaining her role on the Board of Bozeman Health System and community needs. In addition, Rev. Amy will be taking over responsibilities of pastoral care and head up the Stephen Ministry Leadership team.   Rev. Eric will continue to oversee administration and worship while supporting the district in church vitality and clergy coaching as the Congregational Resource Minister.   Please join us to celebrate Kim’s ministry on Dec. 8th in between worship services!

Pastor Amy Strader Psalm 50: 7-14 (CEV) My people, I am God!     Israel, I am your God.     Listen to my charges     against you. Although you offer sacrifices     and always bring gifts,     I won’t accept your offerings     of bulls and goats. Every animal in the forest     belongs to me,     and so do the cattle     on a thousand hills. I know all the birds     in the mountains,     and every wild creature     is in my care. If I were hungry,     I wouldn’t tell you,     because I own the world     and everything in it. I don’t eat the meat of bulls     or drink the blood of goats. I am God Most High!     The only sacrifice I want     is for you to be thankful     and to keep your word.