CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 1
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 1
HOPE, JOY AND LOVE RISING
AUGUST 2024
SAT AUG 3 9:00 AM UMM Breakfast at
Hilton Garden Inn. $20 includes
breakfast. Speaker Molly Kern, CEO
SLO Food Bank. All are welcome.
SAT AUG 3 10 AM SLO Botanical Garden Visit.
Meet at church at 9:20 AM to carpool
or meet at the Garden. $8 fee.
SUN AUG 25 4PM Movie, Criswell Hall
"Unsung Hero" Free movie, popcorn,
refreshments. Give free tickets to
invite your family and friends!
WED SEP 11 9:30 AM Camp Arroyo Grande Discovery
Hike and Tour. Meet at the church at
9:15 AM to carpool. The camp was
originally founded and operated by the
Methodist Church. It is also the location
of our 140th Anniversary Celebration.
140th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, Oct. 20 at 4pm
in the Tabernacle
Save the date! Our church will celebrate its 140th Anniversary on Sunday, October 20
at 4PM in the Tabernacle at Camp Arroyo Grande. Camp Arroyo Grande was established
by our church in 1885, just one year after the church's founding in Arroyo Grande. The
historic 12-sided Tabernacle was built by church members in 1897. This brings us in a
full circle. Planned festivities include old-time camp songs, a visit by John Wesley and
refreshments. More details to follow. Please invite your friends and family to this fun
and historic event.
CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2024 PAGE 2
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 2
Book Club participants will discuss Horse, a novel
by Geraldine Brooks, at the Friday, August 16th
meeting at 10:30 A.M. in the church library.
Based on the true story of the racehorse,
Lexington, it follows the lives of his enslaved
groom from the Civil War era, a young artist
who painted a portrait of the horse, and an
art collector from the 1950’s interested in
equestrian paintings.
Finally two young students in 2019 become
intrigued with Lexington, one studying his
powerful bone structure and the other
uncovering the unknown story of the groom.
Throughout the
story the reader
encounters
injustices in
American history as well as the remarkable story
and impact of the extraordinary racehorse,
Lexington.
See Judy Leonard if you would like to read a library
copy of Horse.
submitted by Judy Leonard
August UWF Book Club Selection:
HORSE
The Trustees have
spent a lot of time this
last month on security
issues. They are
especially concerned
because over the last
six months, our security
volunteers, David and
Dorine Bolterman, have found over 80 times
that there were unlocked doors, lights left
on, heaters left on, and gates left open!
This is of great concern for the members of
the Trustees and should be a concern for all.
It is the responsibility of all who use the church
to make sure that all doors are locked, lights are
turned o and heaters or fans are turned o
when they leave.
We are very thankful that the Boltermans have
volunteered to get their exercise by walking
around the church building each evening, but
we must all take responsibility for making sure
our facilities are secure. The Trustees
appreciate everyone’s help in this matter.
If you have concerns or questions, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
~submitted by Dick Melsheimer, President
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 3
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 3
AUGUST 04
8:30 a.m.-------------------Joe Brown
10:30 a.m.-------------Priscilla Alquist
AUGUST 11
8:30 a.m.--------------Sharon Roemer
10:30 a.m.-------Michelle Richardson
AUGUST 18
8:30 a.m.-------Mary Throndson
10:30 a.m.------Rose Ann Steiner
AUGUST 25
8:30 a.m.------Susan Throndson
10:30 a.m.------Nancy St. Laurent
~ submitted by Carolyn Anderson
WORSHIP
LITURGISTS
NORTH DISTRICT WEEKLY COVENANT PRAYER LIST FOR AUGUST 4 - AUGUST 25, 2024
Pray for the continued vision of the UMC in the California-Pacic Conference:
"Ending spiritual and physical hunger."
--Incoming DS Reverend Garth Gilliam
Prayer
week
begins on: Church/Ministry Clergy Leader(s)
8/04/24
Bardsdale UMC
Crescenta Valley UMC
Pastor Jaime Torres
Pastor Kevin Kang
8/11/24
Big Pine Community UMC
Pioneer Memorial UMC
Pastor Kate Hunter
Pastor Kate Hunter
8/18/24
St. Matthew's UMC of Newbury Park
Camarillo UMC
Pastor Jim Powell
Pastor Elbert Kim
8/25/24
Friendly Valley Community UMC
Christ Our Savior UMC
Pastor Stephen Meadors
Pastor Glenn Hoskins
There is an urgent need for ushers to
participate in our 2nd service! Several of
our steadfast ushers of many years have
asked to retire from this service. We are
so grateful for their time, welcoming
hands and friendship. In honoring their
request, we must rebuild our faithful
Team of Ushers this year.
I ask as you go about your weekly
schedule that you include in your prayers consideration
of joining the Team of Ushers.
Both men and women, also couples, are encouraged to
give it a try. This is a great opportunity to greet and assist
ALL who enter our doors.
We are a “Welcoming Church” with many
opportunities for worship, fellowship and
service. Our ushers are the rst ones people
meet as they enter our church. Please see
Kerren Brown, who is usually in the Narthex
each Sunday morning, to explore joining our
Team of Ushers.
~ submitted by Kerren Brown
CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2024 PAGE 4
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 4
From the Pastor:
Connie and Mike's 45th Anniversary Bud's 90th Birthday Kitchen Crew for Pizza & Bingo
Fun Fellowship Times in Criswell Hall
AUGUST WORSHIP!
August 4th, 2024
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
BREAD OF LIFE
Ephesians 4:1-8, John 6:24-35
August 11th, 2024
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
WALK IN LOVE
Ephesians 4:25-5:2, John 6:35, 41-51
August 18th, 2024
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
MAKE TODAY COUNT
Ephesians 5"15-20. John 6:51-58
August 25th, 2024
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
NO GOSPEL LITE
Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 5
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 5
United Women in Faith seeks to connect and
nurture women through Christian spiritual
formation, leadership development, creative
fellowship, and education so that they can inspire,
inuence and impact local and global communities.
August, 2024
Wow! Did we ever have a great Pizza and Bingo
Party. The attendance
was more than we could
have expected. Rich
Neufeld was at his best
as our caller for Bingo.
Lots of prize winners!
Guess we need to have
Bingo more often, right!
Look in the next issue
for coming activities for
the big 140th Anniversary Celebration of our
church. Many activities are being planned.
September will begin the Craft Workshops on
Thursdays from 10 – 12, in the McMillen Room.
All women are invited to attend.
Mary, Martha Esther Circle meets the last Wednesday
of each month at 10 am in the McMillen Room. Come
join us, we’d love to have you!
Contact Mary Throndson.
Joy Circle has the summer o. See you in September.
Book Club meets 3rd Fridays in the Library at 10:30 am.
Contact Judy Leonard for information.
Sew And Sews meet every Tuesday in the McMillen
Room 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Bring a sandwich
if you want to stay for lunch. We encourage all
interested in quilting, crocheting, knitting and just
plain visiting and sharing to attend.
~submitted by Gerry McGuire, UWF President
Lila, Marjorie and Jan with their Bingo cards! Gerry making announcements!
And look at these encing bags of prizes!
However, per Gerry, these are only HALF of the prizes!
CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2024 PAGE 6
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 6
THE "EASTER BERNIE"
Our 2023-24 Fiscal Year ended June 30 with a $3,500
surplus. This will partially oset the $7,168 decit
from the 2022-23 Fiscal Year. Overall stewardship was
104% of plan. Thank you to our wonderful, generous
congregation!
Expenses were 103% of plan due to higher than
expected expenses due to ination and the need
to purchase a new computer . A number of
expenses went up during this past year, including
cost of insurance, employee benets, apportion-
ments, postage, utilities and the Servant Keeper
software which tracks membership and contributions.
I am asking everyone to increase their regular giving if
it is at all possible. Even if it is just a little bit - every
little bit helps. We DID NOT have a pledge drive this
year. Increasing your giving without being asked is
one way to show your appreciation for not having a
pledge drive, and shows your love and appreciation of
the First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande.
Joel Anderson
Acting Treasurer
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 7
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 7
ELT Scholarship News
Dear ELT Scholarship Committee,
Thank you for awarding me the Everett Lee
Taylor Scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year.
I appreciate your support and trust in my academic
success. This year, I hope to make new friends, learn
a multitude of new subjects, and participate in new
activities and clubs that I thought I would never try.
Although my courses will be dicult this year, I
know I can be successful in all of them. I greatly
appreciate your generous contribution towards my
college journey, and I will put it towards my tuition
as well as my housing and fees. I will be back to visit
during breaks like last year, and I will always look
forward to playing on the Praise Team over
Christmas and summer breaks.
Thank you again.
Ian Beard
Note from the editor:
Chloe Keith also sent a message of thanks for the
Everett Lee Taylor Scholarship that was awarded to her
this year, and in a unique way! It was in the form of the
video of her and her horse, Legend, that was shown at
an 8:30 AM worship service. Since many of you have not
seen the video, Susan Throndson reminds us that the
video can be seen in the YouTube church video from
July 7th. Susan has also given us her paraphrase of
Chloe's thanks:
"Hi everyone, Legend and I want to say hi from Texas.
Thank you so much for the scholarship this year. It's
really going to help me in my last year of college. I
can't wait to nish up my degrees and get everything
done. Thank you guys so much for your love and
support always. It's been so amazing to know you are
there for me and that you are always cheering me on.
So thank you so much!"
Chloe Keith
MEET NEW MEMBER, JOYCE SINGELMAN
Joyce Singelman joined our church on June 23. She is a
familiar face to many, as she has been attending 2nd
service with her twin sister Evelyn for some
time. Familiar to the Central Coast, she grew up in Santa
Barbara and was active in Disciples of Christ, Girl Scouts
and Y Club. She attended UCSB, started teaching
primary grades, married and started her family. After
retirement, she enjoyed RV camping and traveling,
dancing, watercolor lessons and church activities. She
has also been busy with many children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren! Recently she
moved to Pismo Beach to be close to her daughter Lynlee in Grover and found our church. She stays
busy with yoga, gym classes, walks and hikes. We are blessed to have her as our newest member!
~submitted by Priscilla Alquist
CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2024 PAGE 8
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 8
Nancy, Mary, Cristy & Madeline
Julia, Mark Hayes & Ed
Carol, Julia, Roz, Ed, Sandy & Marianne
LATEST SCAM ALERTS
The scammers have been busy this past month. The Tribune recently reported about Seniors who lost
thousands of dollars to scammers. Some things to watch for:
* Scammers always press you with a sense of urgency, so you don't have time to think.
* No legitimate organization demands payment in gift cards, crypto currency such as Bitcoin.
* No legitimate organization is going to send a courier to pick up cash, gold bars, etc.
* Scammer e-mails often do not address you by name, just something generic like Dear Customer.
* Some scammers use the name in your e-mail address. I get e-mails to Dear FUMCAGcommunications.
* Look at the return e-mail address (Apple makes this dicult for reasons known only to them). The e-
mail address should correspond to the company that sent it. Bank of America is not going to send you an
e-mail that from a Russian or Indian domain (.ru or .in)
* Scammers often send out bulk e-mails using BCC (Blind Carbon Copy). Be cautious if the e-mail indicates
it is also going out to "Undisclosed Recipients
Here are a few of the recent scams going around:
Fake on-line bills: Members have been getting fake e-mails claiming to be from PayPal, We Transfer,
Norton Lifelock Security, Best Buy , etc. The thing they have in common is that they provide a phone
number to call to cancel the transaction. DO NOT CALL THAT NUMBER. The scammers want to get your
bank account information so they can rob you blind. Legitimate on-line payments do not list a phone
number to cancel. They do not need your bank account or credit card information as they would
already have it to make the transaction in the rst place.
FastTrak: A number of people have been getting texts supposedly from FastTrak or similar toll road
providers saying they owe a toll. They don't say exactly when, where or the license plate number of the
vehicle. Legitimate FastTrak tolls include this information. Unless you specically gave FastTrak your
phone number, you can delete it. FastTrak sends notices by U.S. mail. If you have not been on a toll road
or bridge recently you can delete it.
Fake Facebook Friend Requests: Scammers have been sending out fake Facebook Friend requests. Some
of these even come from people who passed away. If you get a friend request from someone you are
already connected with in Facebook, it is probably safe to ignore it. If unsure, contact the person. The
false friend Facebook pages will show few if any connections.
Docusign requests: Requests to sign documents on-line. These are typically done as part of real estate
transactions or nancial transactions. In a legitimate transaction the sender will usually notify you before
sending any Docusign documents. If you are not in the middle of a transaction you should delete it. Even
if you are in the middle of a transaction make sure it is actually from the rm you are dealing with and not
a scammer. A phone call to the rm could save you a lot of grief.
~ Communications Committee
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 9
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 9
Dear Congregation, your Mission Team is pleased
to introduce you to Katherine Parker, a United
Methodist Missionary serving in Nepal. We have
chosen her to be in a Covenant relationship with
our congregation and will be helping to support
her work nancially with a pledge donation of
$2,500 this year from our Mission Endowment
account. Katherine visited our team last fall and
we were impressed with the community develop-
ment work she is doing in Nepal and look forward
to sharing that with you in the year to come.
Methodists have been a part of the United
Mission to Nepal (UMN) since it was founded
in 1954. Katherine’s work in Nepal involves the
development of frameworks for helping the
community determine how they would like their
lives to change and giving them the tools to enable
them to achieve those changes. The UMN work in
transformation is in ve areas: education, health,
peacebuilding, good governance and sustainable
livelihoods. She works with groups from each
community as they focus on issues important to
them such as water, sanitation and hygiene,
maternal and child health and adolescent sexual
reproduction and rights. Katherine was previously
based in one of UMN's eld oces in western Nepal
and now works in participatory research across the
organization from a base in Kathmandu, where she is
also a part of the UMN leadership team.
Katherine is passionate about the process of linking
values to action. She believes in telling the stories of
our lives and exploring the stories of our faith. These
enable us to give voice to our shared values and work
together across cultural and other divisive barriers.
She believes together we can progress towards a
world where every person can live to his or her
fullest potential.
In Nepal since 2013, Katherine formerly served in
Cambodia with the Community Health and
Agricultural Development program of the Methodist
Mission there. She has been a missionary since
2007. Out of college in 2000, she became a mission
intern for three years with the Asian Rural Institute in
Japan and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Her home church is Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist
Church in Mill Valley, CA.
~submitted by Priscilla Alquist, Mission Team Chair
Katherine Parker,
photographed
in Nepal.
CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2024 PAGE 10
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 10
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
2
3
9:00 AM UMM
Breakfast & Speaker at
Hilton Garden Inn, $20
includes breakfast.
9:20 AM Meet at
church to carpool to
SLO Botanical Garden,
10 AM tour. $8 fee.
Both events have sign-
ups at Connection desk
4
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
5
6:00 PM Gerry's
Quilt Class-CH
6
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10:00 AM Sew &
Sews- MMR
11:00 AM Chair
Yoga-CH
7:00 PM Board of
Trustees-MMR
7
9:00 AM Church Work
Morning-CH
10:00 AM Fellowship
Committee-L
8
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
9
10
11
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
12
6:00 PM Gerry's
Quilt Class-CH
13
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10:00 AM Sew &
Sews-MMR
11:00 AM Chair
Yoga-CH
14
9:00 AM Church Work
Morning -CH
10:00 AM UWF
Steering-L
1:30 PM Mission
Team-MMR
15
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10:30 AM Staff
Parish--PS
4:00 PM Children's
Center Board-MMR
16
10:30 AM UWF
Book Club-L
17
18
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
19
6:00 PM Gerry's
Quilt Class-CH
20
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10:00 AM Sew &
Sews-MMR
11:00 AM Chair
Yoga-CH
1:30 PM Finance-L
21
9:00 AM Church Work
Morning-CH
2:00 Church Council-
MMR
22
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
23
11:00 AM
Nominations-PS
24
25
8:30 AM
Contemporary
Worship Service
10:30 AM
Traditional
Worship Service
4:00 PM
Free Movie-CH
26
4:30 PM Commu-
nications-L
6:00 PM Gerry's
Quilt Class-CH
27
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
10 AM Sew & Sews-
MMR
11:00 AM Chair
Yoga-CH
28
9:00 AM Church Work
Morning-CH
10:00 AM Mary-
Martha-Esther
Circle-MMR
29
9:00 AM Senior
Exercise-CH
30 31
Abbreviation Legend
CH-Criswell Hall S-Sanctuary K-
Kitchen
L-Library Room #123
MMR-McMillen Room #113
PS-Pastor’s Study HR-Handbell Room #115
CAST~A~NET JULY 2022 PAGE 11
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 11
Layout Editor: Frances Robertson
Proofreading, Mailing and
Oce Assistance:
Mary Whitson, Dave Bolterman
Dorine Bolterman
Other contributors:
Teams /Committees/
Oce Angels
Tina Moore 08/01
Priscilla Alquist 08/02
Jacqueline Ridge 08/02
Rosslyn Clauson 08/04
Patty Williams 08/07
Nancy St. Laurent 08/08
Gerry McGuire 08/10
Frank Ridge 08/10
John MacKeen 08/12
Bill Gerrish 08/13
Bob Underwood 08/15
Nancy Gerrish 08/17
Betty Stephens 08/17
Carol Gary 08/19
Nancy Burns 08/20
Dorine Bolterman 08/22
Joe Brown 08/23
Frank Williams 08/23
Cristy Van Hook 08/24
Niki Raetz 08/26
Sharon Roemer 08/27
Peter Paredes 08/28
Cecile Huggins 08/30
Wyatt Russell 08/31
Church Oce: (805) 481-2692
E-mail: fumcag@yahoo.com
Website: www.worshipweekly.com
Find us on Facebook at: United
Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande
www.facebook.com/fumcag
Pastor: Rev. Mary B. Birgelaitis
E-mail: mbirgelaitis@gmail.com
Oce Administrator:
Frances Robertson
Website Manager: Jamie Foster
Children’s Education Director:
Carolyn Russell
Music Director: Julia Burns
Praise Team Director: Mike Clark
Choral Pianist: Dennis Eiler
Handbell Choir Director:
Leonard Lutz
Worship Video Editor:
Susan Throndson
Bishop: Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank
District Superintendent
Incoming DS Rev. Garth Gilliam
Preschool Director:
Madrigale Quaglino
E-mail: agumcc@sbcglobal.net
Preschool Oce: (805) 481-2223
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER
FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP?
Do you enjoy the beautiful ower
arrangements placed on the altar on
Sundays? Dates are available for Sunday
morning ower dedications in upcoming
months. Your oral tributes are
welcomed and will be placed on the altar
for both services on Sunday. You can pick
up your arrangement after the second
service. Just let us know.
The cost for altar owers is $30.
You have the option to have owers from
Grand Bouquet or have Brad Bettencourt
make your arrangement. Please contact
Frances in the Church Oce. She is the
liaison with both Grand Bouquet and Brad.
TUESDAY BIBLE
STUDY
Facilitated by Nancy St. Laurent
In June the Bible Study group completed
Matthew: The Gospel of Promised Blessings
by Matthew L. Skinner.
After taking a summer break the study
group will begin with a new book,
CALLED by Susan Robb--Hearing and
Responding to God's Voice--Lessons from
Six Biblical Characters.
Books are available NOW from Nancy.
Get a head start on reading!
Sessions begin at 1:00 PM on Tuesdays in
September (exact date TBD) with weekly
gatherings in Criswell Hall.
HOSPITALITY SNACK HOSTS
Trustees
Sta-Parish
Finance Team
Nominating
AUG 4
AUG 11
AUG 18
AUG 25
CAST~A~NET FEBRUARY 2024 PAGE 12
CAST~A~NET AUGUST 2024 PAGE 12
COVER STORY
Celebration & Summer Events
Activities & Events
Church Council, UWF Book Club............2
Liturgists, Ushers, Prayer List................3
August Worship, Fun Photos...................4
United Women in Faith..........................5
Treasurer Report, Financial Summary...6
ELT Scholarship News, New Member....7
Latest Scam Alerts..................................8
Mission Team..........................................9
August Calendar....................................10
Birthdays, Bible Study, Altar Flowers,
Hospitality Hosts....................................11
UMM, Fellowship Ministry....................12
Children’s Center Chronicle
First United Methodist Church
of Arroyo Grande
275 North Halcyon Road
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 (805) 481-2692
Find us on Facebook at United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande
www.facebook.com/fumcag
2024
The United Methodist Men are
having a breakfast meeting on
Saturday, August 3rd at 9:00 AM
at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The guest speaker is
Molly Kern, CEO of the
SLO Food Bank.
Admission, which includes
breakfast, is $20.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Sign up ASAP
~Paul Holden, President
Saturday, August 3rd, San Luis Botanical Garden is our next
garden tour. It is located near El Chorro campground and across
Highway 1 from Cuesta College at 3450 Dairy Creek Road. The tour
is scheduled for 10 AM, so meet at the garden entrance at 9:50 or
at the church at 9:30 to carpool. The gardens depict ve
Mediterranean climate regions of the world. There is an admission
fee of $8.
Movie, August 25 at 4:00 PM, “Unsung Hero”. Based on a true story,
we see a couple, after the collapse of their music business, move from
Down Under, along with their seven children. The movie shows the
power of Family. The movie is free, as is also popcorn & refreshments.
Nature Discovery Hike and Tour at Camp Arroyo Grande Sept. 11, 9:30 AM.
Meet at the church at 9:00 if you want to carpool. This camp was originally
founded and operated by the Methodist church. For those that don’t know, it
is located just above the village and close to the original First United Methodist
Church of Arroyo Grande. Ask Lorie Ford about the church.
~submitted by Gerry McGuire, Chair
FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY
Sign up at the Connections table on Sunday for any of these great activities.
