Dear Friends and Family in Faith,

Hello all, attached this week is the Luccock newsletter. Be sure to check it out!

Transitions

As we navigate through our transition between pastors, the Parish Council will work to keep things running as smoothly as possible. We will strive to keep you informed and up-to-date through the monthly bulletin and weekly emails. If you have announcements or information, please let your Parish Council representative know so they can make sure it gets shared. Parish Council Members include:

For Grace - Tom Shellenberg, Bob Daniel, Bob Jovick
For Holbrook - Helen Wilson, Jim Baskett, Anita Brawner
For Pine Creek - Jim Durgan, Dee Durgan, Penny McNeil
For Shields Valley - Lisa Held

Luccock Park

Right now Luccock Park is looking for a plumber to assist with some repairs.  If you know a plumber who would be willing to help or at least has a reference for who to call, that would be appreciated. Email Jack at [email protected] with any information.

Worship 
July 17th – Nancy MacCracken - 8:00am Grace, 9:30am Pine Creek/Zoom, 11:00am Holbrook
July 24th – Brunch, Songs, and Surprises hosted by Pine Creek at 9:30am
July 31st – 5th Sunday. Outside work will be performed at Alberta’s house and the parsonage.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,

~ Park County United Methodist Ministries

Dear Friends and Family in Faith,

As we navigate through our transition between pastors, the Parish Council will work to keep things running as smoothly as possible. We will strive to keep you informed and up-to-date through the monthly bulletin and weekly emails. If you have announcements or information, please let your Parish Council representative know so they can make sure it gets shared. Parish Council Members include:

Dear Friends and Family in Faith,

This is my last email to you before I head to my new appointment at Smoky Hill UMC in southeast Aurora, Colorado. I will pull out of Livingston on Tuesday, June 21st. As I drive to Colorado and look in the review mirror, I am sad for it is hard to leave you all and Montana. You have captured a piece of my heart. But as I look ahead down the road, I am really happy to be moving closer to family, especially my dad. I pray God’s blessings upon you as you continue to rebuild after the floods.
 
Here is the benediction I shared at the close of worship yesterday:

Dear Friends and Family in Faith,

My prayers have been with you all this week as we experienced the flood. As fast as the waters came and as powerful as the currents are, it feels miraculous that no lives were lost or significant injuries sustained. In the midst of the threat and danger, I have seen so much love, support, and kindness. I have always felt Livingston is the most generous community I’ve ever lived in and once more you all proved that to me. Now is the time to be the love of God in tangible ways as we all come together to support one another through the long recovery. The Amborn’s house was flooded, so they will need our care for many months to come.

Thank You

Thank you for the wonderful farewell picnic last Sunday! The rain held off and allowed us to have an enjoyable hour or so to eat the scrumptious food and visit with one another. You are special people and I will miss you as I move on to Colorado. I appreciate your generosity, love, and kindness. My last Sunday will be June 19th. Hope to see you then!

Dear Friends and Family in Faith,

Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. We can complain and pout. We can get angry and resist. We can wait and trust. We can force things and push. We can get passive and sit back. Each of these responses is appropriate depending on the circumstances. There is a certain amount of wisdom and maturity that guides us when life doesn’t pan out the way we hope or expect. This year is a very unusual year for clergy appointments. For the first time since I began ministry, there are not enough pastors to serve our churches. It looks like there will not be a pastor appointed here in Livingston by July 1. There are at least 12 other United Methodist churches in Montana in the same position.

I am struggling this morning coming up with words to share. My heart is broken by this recent string of mass shootings. So many lives lost. Each one a precious person. Yes, we pray God brings comfort and strength to all those impacted by the tragic violence. But we have to do more. We have a problem in our country. It is complex. There is not one single solution. We must start working together. Of all the scripture verses that come to mind this morning, the one that touches me deepest is, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.