Loving and Learning in Lodi Sunday - August 30, 2020

We complete our look this August at the power of prayer to transform those who pray by taking time with The Lord's Prayer. Many of us may have memorized these life-giving words as little children, others may have had these words "engraved upon their hearts" as adults. Whenever the prayer Jesus taught us came into our lives, it is central to our lives as people who follow the way of the Lord. It is a prayer of deep connection from the first disciples through centuries of Christian faith across the Earth to us today. It is a prayer that connects us to all people and to our Creator: Our Father, and it is a prayer that connects who we are today with who God calls us to become—as individuals and as a faith community. I encourage all of us to sit with The Lord's Prayer this week and to  listen for the small, still voice of God calling us to live more deeply into the words our Savior gave us.      ~Pastor Pam 

Scripture:     Matthew 6:9-13

⁹ “Pray then in this way:  Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.
¹⁰     Your kingdom come.
    Your will be done,
        on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹     Give us this day our daily bread.^[a]
12     And forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³     And do not bring us to the time of trial,^[b]
        but rescue us from the evil one.^[c]

The Word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Hymns:  “Blessed Assurance”           #369            “Take Time to Be Holy”      #395  verses 1 and 2

  “Trust and Obey”                 #467  verses 1 and 3

**Come as You Are in the Family Car       Sunday Worship   10 a.m.**

Come with your mask, bring a lawn chair, a cup of coffee  ...or a friend !

School My Sheep:

We had fewer than expected at the actual event, but still sent 91 kids back to school with book bags and supplies!  That's a huge success.  We aren't sure if the low turn-out was due to Covid-19. virtual schooling or just a strange 2020. However, we are not deterred! 

We are in contact with principals from Cloverleaf, Black River and North Western School districts and will be dropping off supplies this week. We will also make supplies and book bags available at our clothing give-away scheduled for October 15th.  That date is closer to the students returning to school in-person, and anticipate supplies being more popular at that time. 

Thank you for your support of this important community outreach program. Please keep it in your thoughts and prayers as we figure out how to move forward. 

Lodi United Methodist Church on Facebook:

Did you know we have a Facebook page?  If not please check us out. In this ever changing world, we've upped our presence on Facebook and are including more pictures and even a live video feed of our church services on Sunday.  Many are not comfortable meeting in-person yet. Facebook offers an opportunity to still be involved in our church and see many of the faces you love and miss!  If not on Facebook, the church is still offering the audio of our service. 

Be patient, as we are new to much of this and are constantly tweaking and upgrading.  

PS  63 people “watched” our service on Facebook this past Sunday!!  The Word and Love of God is far-reaching!

“I Pray” Wednesday – there will be no “I Pray” this week.  (A late summer vacation)

 We Celebrate and Give Thanks!

~We celebrate the wonderful School My Sheep Event held on Saturday August 22; many children will learn a bit easier because of our Love in Lodi! Thanks to Katrina Morgan and all of our volunteers and donors.

~We celebrate Lodi Hospital for Feeding My Sheep with a “Grab and Go” dinner on August 20! We look forward to resuming our dinner ministry.

~We celebrate our Trustees for all of their work on the church building.

Coming soon: THE RAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Frank Nehls Masonry has begun our ramp project!  All the permits have cleared the county.  Thank you to the trustees for all their work to help make this happen.

Offering:  Remember to mail your offerings to Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH 44254 

During these trying times of uncertainty, the ministries of the church continue daily, even though the physical doors are closed.  We need to remain mindful of the church’s financial obligations.  Please keep the church in your continued prayers and with your financial support, remembering, also, your pledge to “Celebrate 100”.  Thank you,      

 Jeff Van Loon   Finance Chairman  

Offering:   Celebrate “100”  $1170    Capital  $50   General    $1045  

Balances in the church accounts:  Capital  $6513.43      Celebrate “100”  $15,060.40  (the down payment was made to begin the ramp)   General  $206.32      Memorial  $863.40       Youth  $1070.17      Youth Work Missions   $1633.32

Rev. Pamela Buzalka       (216)-704-0307        pamelab23@hotmail.com

BIRTHDAY DRIVE BY:    

****SHHHHHH – it’s Ruth Anderson’s 92^nd birthday, September 2.  So, let’s do a birthday drive-by!

Wednesday, September 2 between 6-6:30pm  (Nurse Pam – our nurse from Feed My Sheep – shares dinner with Ruth at 5:00pm, Pam will sit outside, in the driveway, with Ruth at 6:00pm.)  Please remember to stay in your cars.  135 Grove Street, Lodi ******SHHHHHHHH – it’s a surprise!******

PS  Ruth did not get this copy of the e-mail :) 

            Loving and Learning in Lodi, for Sunday, August 23, 2020  

Lodi United Methodist Church             

Many of us of a certain age may remember the message from Popeye the Sailor: eat your spinach and you will grow big and strong! Strong is generally a good thing: a strong faith, two strong arms, a strong foundation. Yet the other day as I reflected upon a recent conversation with a friend whose body is becoming weak from the effects of cancer and chemo, I recalled the words from St. Paul written in his second letter to the church in Corinth which affirm
that  often when we are  “weakest “ God is stronger within us. ( 2 Cor. 9-10 )  Paul himself had gone from being a powerful and respected Pharisee to a follower of Jesus who did time in jail and who was at times the object  of disrespect because he was not one of the original twelve apostles.  This week as we explore the notion of prayer as the power of powerlessness in Acts 2, the Pentecost narrative, I hope we will reflect on the true nature of power in Christ ... and eat our spinach!  Hope to see you Sunday!       Pastor Pam

Acts 2: 1-18  The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

The Word of God for the people of God.  Thanks be to God.

 Hymns   “Be Still, My Soul”         #534

               “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”     #334

   “I Surrender All”  #354

Come as You Are in the Family Car - Worship, Sunday 10am  

Hope to see you, with your mask, of course! Bring your lawn chair.

We were so excited to “see” so many of you last week – looking forward to this week!  See you Sunday!

(Please be patient, as each week in a work in progress.)

I Pray Wednesdays    

God is always listening!      God hears me when I pray.  Psalm 66: 19

Wednesday evenings 7-8

Fellowship Hall     MASKS are a must and social distancing

This is a unique time for our spirits; for some it is very emotional; others may just feel out of tune.  I Pray will explore Jesus and his emotions as we learn ways to grow spiritually.

To keep us safe, there is a limit of ten people per week.
Pastor Pam will offer various learning, praying, faith and fellowship topics each week.
RSVP to Pastor Pam, (216) 704-0307, call or text 

     School My Sheep Update from Katrina: 8am – noon THIS SATURDAY

Set up will take place Friday at 10:00 in Fellowship Hall

It's been another busy week! Fliers have been placed, schools notified and additional advertising done on Facebook.

We are READY!  We now have enough supplies to send 244 students back to school! God is good.

Thanks to all the donations, we now have more than 150 book bags as well, which is great! Not every student takes one, as the older ones tend to reuse them from year to year. 

 WOW! Thank you so much for your generosity!

August 21st 10 a.m. Set up in Fellowship Hall

August 22nd 8-Noon School Supply Give-away (we have enough volunteers!)

Volunteers need to be in place no later than 7:30 a.m.

October 15th    Clothing Give-away - More on this later  (LeRoy UMC kids, in virtual VBS, collected 345 pair of new socks for our clothing giveaway!)

Please continue to keep this in your prayers as it's an enormous need, and one we hope to fill.

This Thursday, August 20 – Lodi Hospital will be doing a “grab a bag and go” dinner.  They are able to have a company (Panera, Jimmy Johns etc.) make and package soups and sandwiches, which they will bag (feeding two people per bag).  The community can drive through the church parking lot and pick up dinner.  They want to feed the community, but realize we cannot do our free dinners, as in the past.  (At this time, we, as a church, will not be doing any type of our free dinners. We sure wish we were able to!)

Coming soon: THE RAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Offering:  Remember to mail your offerings to Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH 44254 

During these trying times of uncertainty, the ministries of the church continue daily, even though the physical doors are closed.  We need to remain mindful of the church’s financial obligations.  Please keep the church in your continued prayers and with your financial support, remembering, also, your pledge to “Celebrate 100”.  Thank you,       Jeff Van Loon   Finance Chairman  

Rev. Pamela Buzalka       (216)-704-0307        pamelab23@hotmail.com

             Loving and Learning in Lodi, for Sunday, August 16, 2020  

Lodi United Methodist Church

        How wonderful to be in worship together!! When we gathered on Sunday, we said the Lord's prayer together.  As our church family spoke the very words Jesus taught us, I quieted my own voice to savor the beautiful blending of voices and hearts. Sometimes all the voices moved together; sometimes the voices moved to their own sacred rhythm. As members of the Body of Christ in our time and place, we truly make a unique and holy joyful noise together as we pray, laugh, talk and serve God- each person an essential note in the Spirit’s great symphony of grace.   Even as we miss our singing in worship, we create great hymns of praise in the ways we live the Great Love of Jesus on our daily lives! 

                                                                                                Pastor Pam

Luke 18: 9-14 

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

⁹ To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

¹⁴ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”                                                

The Word of God for the people of God.  Thanks be to God.

 Hymns   “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service”         #581

               “It Is Well with My Soul”                                         #377

   “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”                                #382

I Pray Wednesdays    

God is always listening!      God hears me when I pray.  Psalm 66: 19

Wednesday evenings 7-8

Fellowship Hall     MASKS are a must and social distancing

This is a unique time for our spirits; for some it is very emotional; others may just feel out of tune.  I Pray will explore Jesus and his emotions as we learn ways to grow spiritually.

To keep us safe, there is a limit of ten people per week.
Pastor Pam will offer various learning, praying, faith and fellowship topics each week.
RSVP to Pastor Pam, (216) 704-0307, call or text 

Thank you to everyone who attended last evening.   

Come as You Are in the Family Car - Worship, Sunday 10am  

Hope to see you, with your mask, of course! Bring your lawn chair.

We were so excited to “see” so many of you last week – looking forward to this week!  See you Sunday!

(Please be patient, as each week in a work in progress.)

     School My Sheep Update from Katrina:    August 22 - 8am – noon

Set up will take place August 21st at 10:00 in Fellowship Hall

Event will take place August 22nd 8-Noon.

It's been another busy week! Fliers have been placed, schools notified and additional advertising done on Facebook.

We are ready!

We now have enough supplies to send 244 students back to school! God is good.

Thanks to all the donations, we now have more than 150 book bags as well, which is great! Not every student takes one, as the older ones tend to reuse them from year to year.

There shouldn't be any more expenses.  Amount spent $3155.00 Amount collected $3055.00 

 Unbelievable! Thank you so much for your generosity!

August 21st 10 a.m. Set up in Fellowship Hall

August 22nd 8-Noon School Supply Give-away (we have enough volunteers!)

Volunteers need to be in place no later than 7:30 a.m.

October 15th    Clothing Give-away. More on this later  (LeRoy UMC kids, in virtual VBS, collected 345 pair of new socks for our clothing giveaway!)

Please continue to keep this in your prayers as it's an enormous need, and one we hope to fill.

Thursday, August 20 – Lodi Hospital will be doing a “grab a bag and go” dinner.  They are able to have a company (Panera, Jimmy Johns etc.) make and package soups and sandwiches, which they will bag (feeding two people per bag).  The community can drive through the church parking lot and pick up dinner.  They want to feed the community, but realize we cannot do our free dinners, as in the past.  (At this time, we, as a church, will not be doing any type of dinners.)

Offering:  Remember to mail your offerings to Lodi UMC, PO Box 3, Lodi, OH 44254 

During these trying times of uncertainty, the ministries of the church continue daily, even though the physical doors are closed.  We need to remain mindful of the church’s financial obligations.  Please keep the church in your continued prayers and with your financial support.      Jeff Van Loon   Finance Chairman  

*****Pastor Pam’s office is set up and she is being “schooled” on different programs on the computer.  Be patient with her! Her phone number and e-mail (which she gets on her phone and computer) are open to everyone! 

Rev. Pamela Buzalka       (216)-704-0307        pamelab23@hotmail.com

             Loving and Learning in Lodi, for Sunday, August 9, 2020  

Lodi United Methodist Church

     This week we are exploring prayers of praise as we look at Luke 1: 46-55.  We recall that like Mary we are called to “magnify the Lord.”  We are also reminded that “Our Spirits are to rejoice in God our Savior.”  The rest of this beautiful hymn of praise captures so much of the Bible’s message about the nature and purpose of God known most fully in Jesus.
     As I read these words of praise, I ask myself who or what do I praise or value in my daily life? Are my praises and values consistent with the Way of Jesus?  Who did Jesus praise? What values did He magnify?
     As we gather for our first driveway service: Come as You Are in Your Car, I praise God for our Lodi United Methodist Church family of faith. May we grow in grace and goodness together - magnifying the Lord whose grandeur is not the palace of Herod, but the cross and whose power is always love. Pastor Pam                                                                                        

Scripture     Luke 1:  46-55    Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

The Word of God for the people of God.  Thanks be to God.

 Hymns   “His Name is Wonderful”                               #174

   “Many Gifts, One Spirit”                               #114

   “To God Be the Glory”                                    #98

     School My Sheep Update from Katrina:    August 22 - 8am – noon

Set up will take place August 21st at 10:00 in Fellowship Hall

Event will take place August 22nd 8-Noon.

*Event Volunteers need to be in place prior to 7:30! (yep that's a.m.!)

To date 210 students will receive supplies and book bags. Fantastic!  We have spent $2335.00 and Collected $2145.00. Thank you!  Any monies received over the budget will be applied to additional. book bags for

elementary students.  We currently have 63 for Elementary and 61 for MS/HS Communications have gone out on Facebook, with local advertisers, and to area churches.  Fliers will be placed around the community this week.

Share the word! Keep it in your thoughts and prayers please, as 2020 is

well....an odd year to say the least and we want to make an impact for struggling area families. Be safe!  Be Well!

Thank you:

~Carl and Janet Freiburg wish to thank LUMC for all the kindnesses and especially prayers! They affirm that God answers prayers. Carl is now at home and will receive outpatient physical therapy from Lodi Hospital. 

 ~Thank you to Bob, Missy, Larry, and Pastor Pam for venturing into the cyber unknown with all the recordings and videos they work on each week.  It’s a work in progress – let’s be patient as they work out the kinks!

~Ruth Anderson would like to thank everyone for the loving support she is receiving through calls, cards and window visits. She is getting stronger every day and can’t wait to get home.

***Meet and greets with Pastor Pam***

    If you have not received a call from a SPRC member about a meet and greet with Pastor Pam, PLEASE call or text Joan at 330-421-4860, so she can get you into a meeting.  We do not want anyone to be overlooked!

*****Pastor Pam’s office is set up and she is being “schooled” on different programs on the computer.  Be patient with her! Her phone number and e-mail (which she gets on her phone and computer) are open to everyone! 

Rev. Pamela Buzalka       (216)-704-0307        pamelab23@hotmail.com