Photos from Macedonia: 2013

Saturday, November 23, 2013

In Mission Together Roundtable, Cincinnati, Ohio - Nov. 7 - 9

The In-Mission-Together Roundtable that Lee and I attended in Cincinnati was a good experience; it offered helpful information, worship and Bible study via the internet with hubs in Europe, interesting workshops, warm and friendly fellowship among the participants.

Participants in the Roundtable

Information is shared about the UMCs in the countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans

Worship with friends in Europe via the Internet

Fellowship among participants from Europe and the USA

Worship at Cheviot UMC

Here is the Advent devotional booklet from Eastern Europe and the Balkans

Thanksgiving for the Harvest - Sunday, October 13

On October 13, we celebrated “Thanksgiving for the Harvest” in our UMCs in Macedonia. At the morning worship in Strumica, the children presented a lively drama about Jonah and the whale. The church was decorated with fruits and vegetables and Holy Communion was celebrated.

Donations of fruits, vegetables and grains decorated the church. These were later given to the Meals on Wheels program.

The children present the story of Jonah and the whale. "It's Your fault, Jonah!" says one of the sailors.

The whale prepares to swallow Jonah.

The king and citizens of Nineveh listen to Jonah's warning.

Women's Seminar - September 10 - 13

A seminar for about 40 women from our UMCs in Macedonia was held at beautiful Lake Ohrid. The theme was “God’s YES for me.” The presenter, Heidi Streiff from Switzerland, used many visual aids, such as dolls, stones, mirrors and broken pottery, arranged and rearranged in different ways to emphasize the points of the Bible lessons. Worship, Bible lessons, singing and fellowship were enjoyed by all.

Coffee break overlooking the lake

BIble lesson - God heals our brokenness

Closing worship

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Saturday Fun through the Summer - June, July, August

During the summer our Saturday classes at the UMC in Strumica, Maccedonia have been filled with lots of fun projects!

Learning about Noah and the rainbow

Frosting cupcakes and adding candy rainbows

Making pretty paper rainbows, too

Helping each other

Making colorful plaster stones for the garden

Mixing the plaster

One day we made chocolate cupcakes!

Mixing the cupcakes

Filling balloons with flour to make funny little creatures!

Cute little creatures!

Painting plaster figures

Watercolors

Lovely beach scene

Nicely painted plaster figures

Making Jonah in the Big Fish!

Gluing the big fish to a clothespin

Look! There's Jonah inside the fish!

A picture of creation

A wheel showing the days of creation

A lesson about Adam and Eve

Eve and the snake - plus, a little book about adam and Eve

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Children's Meeting at Ponikva - July 19 - 21

A weekend meeting for Sunday school children with the theme "Jesus: the Best Friend" was held at the mountain resort Ponikva. About 50 children participated. They enjoyed Bible lessons, singing, arts and crafts, games and sports.

Coloring a picture of friends David and Jonathan

Fellowship at mealtime

Games

Singing at Karaoke Night

Volunteers from USA present VBS - June 24 - 28

A group of 8 United Methodist Women, representing 8 different churches in the CA-NV Conference arrived in Macedonia on June 21. On Sunday they worshipped with the congregation in Strumica, then met with the youth class, had coffee and sang a few songs with them. In the afternoon they visited some village churches and hiked to the beautiful Koleshino waterfall. VBS began on Monday in the village of Raklish. We took a few children from Strumica with us each day, for a total of 25 children who participated. The theme was "I Want to Follow Jesus" and each day featured a different Bible story: Mary and Martha, Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus at the tomb. The children learned songs in English, played games, enjoyed arts and crafts and had refreshments.