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People of Shiloh,                                                                                            
 
Early in my time at Shiloh I heard the comment, “We leave politics at the door.”  
 
What has become abundantly clear in my time working with our community is that no one actually has an ability to do this.  Politics is a personal issue and just like any other part of our humanity, we never leave it behind.  When we enter the church, I fully expect each of you to bring with you everything that you carry during the week.  If we truly believe God can take away our sins, all those things standing between us and God, then all we can ask them to leave by the door are their physical belongings.  God is going to have to help relieve us of the other burdens.  
 
Once we are in our church, we have a responsibility as a part of a Christian community to offer everything of ourselves, the good, the bad, the difficult, and our desires to God.  This includes our politics.  Maybe God will move us to be in a new place when we leave.  Maybe God will confirm where we are.  That is something I expect each of us to work out with God.  If your politics come out in conversation within the church, just make sure you lead your statements with, “I” and not “you.”  And that you respectfully listen to all those who enter our space.
 
As your pastor, I expect that we all bring our joys, concerns, fears, hopes and even our politics to God in worship and prayer.
 
This year will be full of politics.  I have heard this week stories of people out in public berating some of our members for their views.  I have seen politics of fear shared by the leaders of our nation.  If we trust God to shape us, then we need to bring our politics to God in hopes God will shape us.  
 
If you have been disturbed by the change in the political rhetoric in our country, I encourage you to work on yourself first.  Consider taking a look at organizations like BraverAngels.Org that are working to encourage us to engage in a deeper civil debate over issues in these tumultuous times.  I know my daily prayer is that I gain a deeper respect for my neighbor in these times, even those I disagree with.
 
I pray that you will join me in this season in praying, hoping and working to better ourselves as people of Christ.
 
Enthusiastic Peace,
 
Pastor Tyler

…and the young shall see visions and the old shall dream dreams…
                                                                        Joel 2:28
 

Shiloh UMC News for September 24

Community Garage Sale – If you are interested in having a spot at our next Community Garage Sale, call the office or just be here and set up by 8:00 am on September 25 and 26.  Spots are $10 each.  The sale will be from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm each day.  

Free Store News – SEE YOU AT THE GARAGE SALE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SUMC PARKING LOT 8 AM – 2 PM!! The Free Store will have a table at the church garage sale. All funding for the Free Store comes from donations, gifts and the occasional fundraiser. The price of the items depends on what you are willing to pay. Help this valuable ministry!!

NEW SUMC Adult Bible Study – The new study will begin this Sunday, September 27. It is called “Companions in Christ”. This an Upper Room Books publication. The study focuses on your experience of God and your discovery of spiritual practices of prayer, scripture, ministry, worship, study, and Christian conversation in 18 lessons.  We meet on-line at 9:15 am on Sunday mornings for approximately an hour. If you want to join us, please call the church office.Attn: 

Community Gardeners!! – Garden cleanup/rototilling will happen on October 3.  Please have your gardens cleaned out on or before that day. You can drop your excess produce by the Food Bank (at the dock door) or Rescue Mission (ring the bell by the Minnesota Ave. door). Thank you for your cooperation. 

NEW All Billings UMC Adult Bible Study – Join with members from all 5 Billings UMCs on Wednesdays, October 7- November 11, from 6:30-7:30 pm to study Max Lucado’s “You Are Never Alone” in 6 weeks. We will meet over Zoom to watch a video and have group discussion. You can order the Study Guide from most on-line retailers (Cokesbury, Amazon, etc.). The book can be purchased as well, but is not required for the class. To join in this study: Email Beth Ayers (FUMC) at ayers517@msn.com or call Beth at 860-4473 or FUMC Office at 245-3001.

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Cleaning Buckets NEEDED!! – With all the fires, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters, it is more important than ever for us to lend a hand!!  Montana UMCs are joining together to collect supplies and money for cleaning buckets to be sent to the UMCOR-West in Salt Lake City.  Collection will happen now through October 18. You can donate a whole bucket of supplies (here is a list of the specific items they need), one or more of the individual items, or you can donate $75.00 per bucket, or any amount, to the church and we will send the money to UMCOR-West to purchase what they need (please note “UMCOR buckets” on your check).    

What Other Mission-Related Work is Happening?  Doing mission work in this environment has been challenging, but hasn’t stopped the crusaders of Shiloh UMC!!  Here are some of the things we are working on.  If you would like to join us, please call the office.

• Letters Written to Educators and Assisted Living Residents – The Community Worship Groups wrote letters to educators in the three schools we are supporting this year (Big Sky, Boulder and Meadowlark). They also wrote notes to our  folks who are living in assisted living facilities.  The church received many, many thank you notes from that effort!

• HUB – The HUB closed so Susan will contact Carmen to see what they are doing as an alternative to the services they provided, and that we supported (socks, sleeping bags, etc.).

• Tumbleweed – Susan will contact them to see what they need in the way of support (in prep for the Missions Tree).

• Rescue Mission – Susan will contact them to see if they would be interested in us sending the Peanut Butter, Jelly and Sandwich Bags we have left in the Sandwich Ministry cupboard and if they need any other support.

• UMCOR Buckets – We are starting a Cleaning Bucket Drive.  It includes all the Montana UMCs.  We will be collecting them here at Shiloh and at Bozeman UMC.  

• United Way Operation Supply – The schools we were going to support (Big Sky, Meadowlark and Boulder) had no idea what to ask for so we decided to support United Way’s “Operation Supply”.  Sandi Rogina sewed various sizes of kid’s masks to include with the other donations.

• Food Bank – Folks have been dropping Food Bank donations at the church.  We plan to begin advertising Food Bank Sunday/Week the first week of every month.  We will engage the Community Worship groups to support this program. We are also asking someone to volunteer to update the Food Bank barrel.  It needs a refresh!

• Free Store – Soup Mixes – We will start making soup mixes during/after Community Worship sometime in October/November.  Sleeping Bags – Susan will check with the Free Store on their need for sleeping bags. 

• Habitat for Humanity – We signed up to provide lunch for the crew on the last Saturday in March 2021.  Also, we will be one of the sponsors for the Apostles Built that will kickoff in Spring 2021. 

Extra Egg Cartons and Food Donations – Please bring any extra egg cartons to the church and put them in the Food Bank barrel or in the wood box by the front door.  We will get them to the Food Bank.  Also, we will be collecting Food Bank donations the first week of every month.  For October, that will be from October 1-7 (Thursday-Wednesday).  Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!!

Feeling Creative? We will go back to using the Food Bank barrel the first week of every month to collect food for the Food Bank. Our Food Bank barrel has been around for a LONG time and needs a face lift! If you/your family have some creative ideas and are willing to give it a try, please call the office to make arrangements.  

In-Person Community Worship Groups – Want to join us for in-person worship in a setting of 15 or less people?? We have two options for signup.  If folks want to regularly attend Sunday at 8am, 10:30am, or noon or Wednesday at 4pm, they should call the office or email Pastor Tyler to signup.  If they need more flexibility, or are looking for more kid-friendly services, they need to go to https://reopen.church/r/4kmmvoBM each week before service to sign up and make sure there is space for them.  

Youth Group Meetings – If you know a Middle or High Schooler…  Middle School Youth Group is meeting at Shiloh UMC at 4:00 pm Sundays.  High School Youth Group is meeting at Mazevo on Grand Wednesdays at 7:30 pm.  

Prayer Team –  If you have a prayer you would like to share, please fill out a prayer card,  use our website liz@ShilohBillings.Church, text your prayer to 794-3055, or call the church at 656-0050.  Prayers will be shared with the Prayer Team and Pastor Tyler.   

Our Covid-19 protocol and building use guidelines can be found here: www.shilohbillings.church/covid-19/

Updates on worship be posted to www.shilohbillings.church/summer-worship-2020/