Twenty-five Zwickauers, ranging in age from 10 - 55, visited us from October 5 - 15. This partnership with the Friedenskirche (Peace Church) was begun at the suggestion of Rev. Jeff Miller in 1995. This year’s visit was filled with mission work, cultural events, and common worship events. Language does not seem to matter, but our common beliefs and values do matter!  Lori and Deanna would also like to thank everyone who has supported the Zwickau partnership and the Zwickau Committee work through our Schnitzel lunches, our election day bake sales, and, of course, our Mission/Outreach donations. Because of this help we already have a fund begun for our 2027 Zwickau trip. Planning will begin in 2026. Consider joining up! Questions? Contact Lori Barr (lbarr@mlumc.org), or Deanna Baird (fraubaird@aol.com)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NRSV) Whenever I read this passage of Scripture, my mind is immediately filled with memories from Vacation Bible Schools past. I can see the faces of children, many of them now grown to adulthood, singing that old Sunday School song – “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!” In my experience, young children have always liked the second verse of that old song the best – “Hide it under a bushel . . . NO! I’m gonna let it shine!” With gusto they would always shout that word “NO” at the suggestion of hiding it under a bushel. I’m gonna let it shine! I’ve loved the way that some of the leaders would then personalize the song by leading the children in singing: “Shine all over (insert the name of your town here) , I’m gonna let it shine!” We all love that old song, but I have a question for you today – Do we really let it shine? As individual Christians, and as a congregation, how do we let the light of Christ shine through our lives? Ten years ago, several of us had the opportunity to tour some United Methodist historic sites with a group that was visiting from our church’s partner congregation in the city of Zwickau in eastern Germany. On one beautiful day, we visited Old Otterbein UMC in the city of Baltimore. Located mid-way between Camden Yards ballpark and the Inner Harbor, this was the place where Philip William Otterbein spent the last thirty-nine years of his life and ministry. During his long pastorate there, Otterbein was known for his very direct (some might say “meddling”) pastoral style. He was determined to ensure that all of his parishioners actually lived the faith which they professed. In the spring of 1807, Otterbein was informed that one of his sheep had strayed quite dramatically from the path of the Christian life. This man, by the name of Hoefflich, had left his wife and family in Baltimore while he traveled to a town some miles away for his business. Word soon began to reach the 81 year old no-nonsense preacher that Hoefflich was bringing dishonor to his family and to his faith by his lifestyle away from home. On June 5 th of that year, old Otterbein wrote his wayward parishioner a scathing pastoral letter that included these words: “ A man that knows the truth and confesses it fallen so awfully! This we had not expected. We hoped that you would be salt in your neighborhood – a light and a leader. Alas, it is to the contrary.” I continue to be challenged by those words. Be salt in your neighborhood, a light and a leader! Those old words, written by one of our denomination’s founders, are good advice for us today. Salt, light, and leaders have one thing in common – when present, they fundamentally change the circumstance into which they have been placed for the better. Your church leadership continues to investigate ways in which we can be salt, light, and leaders in our neighborhood from our very prominent location on the corner of Scott Road and West Liberty Avenue. Consult the other pages of this newsletter for more information about our congregation’s work of mission and outreach and help us to shine the Light of Christ throughout our community in the weeks ahead. Yours in Christ, Thomas Q. Strandburg Pastor

Have you ever wondered where the church stands on social issues facing the world today? What does God expect from us in an ever more divisive society? The 2025-2026 program year at MLUMC will be full of learning and action as we consider the UMC Social Principles, the denomination’s guidebook for such questions. The Social Principles have been revised and updated, and were officially adopted at the 2024 General Conference. Our local church has had an active DEI committee for several years, which has recently been rebranded as the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging (DEB) committee. Under the leadership of Louanne Baily, Laura Ward, and Kim Rhoton, this group is sponsoring a year-long exploration of the UMC social principles. Each month from September 2025 through August 2026, we will focus on a different topic. Opportunities for the whole church, such as book groups, discussions, expert lectures, and community activities have been planned. In addition, we hope that for some of these topics you will hear God’s call to action and will find new ways to make a difference in the world. Because there is so much to cover, we cannot address all of the social principles in this year-long study. However, we encourage you to read the entire Social Principles document; you can borrow a paperback version from Kim Rhoton or order your own at Cokesbury. Or you can download a free digital copy at www.umcjustice.org/documents/124. On the next page is the list of topics we will focus on for the year. Please watch church announcements for specific activities and discussions. If you would like to get more involved in this project, please contact Kim Rhoton (krhoton@mlumc.org).

This fall, we will joyfully rededicate our church library as the Weals-Watson Memorial Library, honoring the memory of two beloved associate pastors, Rev. Ernest Weals and Rev. Dr. David Watson. Rev. Weals, for whom the library is currently named, served from 1954 to 1962. His ecumenical theological library became the core of our church collection when his family graciously donated it after his passing. Dr. Watson served faithfully from 1979 until his death in 2022, blessing our congregation with his unprecedented 43 years of continuous service as both associate pastor and pastor emeritus. Both men were gifted preachers, devoted scholars, and deeply compassionate pastors who touched many lives through their teaching, counseling, and care. In preparation for this rededication, the library has been reorganized by members of the Kerygma Class - Martha Clarke, Andrea Sherwin, and John Conti - who have also incorporated many new volumes. While the library generally follows the Dewey Decimal System, you will also find a bookcase devoted entirely to Methodism, as well as a new special section featuring recent additions from the libraries of Dr. Watson, the late Dr. H. Pat Albright, and the late Bishop George Bashore. Located on the fourth floor near the balcony, the library is a warm and inviting space furnished in the Arts & Crafts style, designed to evoke the early 1900s, when our congregation was established.  We invite you to visit, reflect, and be inspired by the legacy of these faithful servants of Christ.