member of the northern flow district of the upper new york ...€¦ · 2015-10-08 · district...

The Epistle Sandy Creek United Methodist Church

2031 Harwood Drive P.O. Box 158 Sandy Creek, NY 13145

[email protected]

www.sandycreekumc.org

Member of the Northern Flow District

of the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Bishop Mark Webb District Superintendent Rev. Mike Weeden

Rev. Daniel Bradley Secretary Corine Mautz

Parsonage: 315.387.5228 Office: 315.387.5111

“The Great Unknown” “Rejoice in the Lord Always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is

near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving

present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard

your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

September 22, 2017

Dear Church Family,

Grace and Peace to you this day from God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

Fall can be an anxious time of year in the life of the church. It is the beginning of the last

quarter. Finances are tight as we brace for the winter months. As you know we face higher heating

and now plowing bills that we hadn’t had throughout the year. The budget has to be prepared and

Charge Conference forms are due! Ugh!

All of this produces a level of unhealthy anxiety and stress which is totally unnecessary. I am

not suggesting that we forget all that needs to be done, but what I am suggesting is that if we

approach these things with an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving that we might save our spirits from

coming unglued. God is in control and knows the circumstances that this congregation finds itself in

this year.

Fall can also be a beautiful time in the life of the church as we prepare for World Communion

Sunday, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, and Advent. These things keep me anchored in the reality that

no matter how anxious I get I still have time to pause and reflect on the goodness of God. The

Apostle Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving present your requests to God.” Let’s be thankful when we are preparing the budget or

filing those dreaded charge conference forms (yes I am preaching to myself.)

Anxiety only produces panic and with panic comes fear; the fear of the great unknown. I want

to be honest with you. I don’t know what the future will hold for this church. What I do know is that

God is not finished with this congregation. There is still work to be done. We are called to be

harvesters of souls or fishers of men and women. We are called to make disciples for Jesus Christ.

That is our primary task.

The 2016 Book of Discipline says this about the local church:

Paragraph 201 “The local church provides the most significant arena through which

disciple-making occurs. It is a community of true believers under the Lordship of Christ. It is the

redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is administered according to Christ’s own

appointment. Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit, the church exists for the maintenance of

worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.”

This is a tall order for a small congregation. However, with God’s help it is possible. We will

accomplish this task one at a time starting small and increasing as our faith in God grows. We cannot

ignore the mission of the church. For with following the mission of the church we will bring about

redemption of the world.

I imagine if I asked, “What is the greatest fear about our church?” The responses would be

concerns about finances and the future of this church. The finances of the church are of concern as

well as the future of the church, but they should not be detracting us from our primary mission of

making disciples of Jesus Christ.

When John and Charles Wesley started the Methodist Movement in England during the 1700’s

it was never meant to become an institutionalized church. It was a movement that was developed to

bring about reform to the Anglican Church which had lost its way. It was a movement of “lay

persons” not “clergy” that defined Methodism. Meetings and preaching houses were established for

worship and the development of personal and social holiness. It wasn’t until Francis Asbury became

the first General Superintendent (Bishop) of The Methodist movement in America that it became an

institutional church. Time has long since passed and through divisions and unions with other

branches of Methodism we still remain under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I do not fear for this

church and what the future might hold. I fear not because I know that God is not finished with any of

us!

It’s hard not to be anxious when we don’t know what the future holds. However, if we did

know what the future held would we ever really live? I believe with my whole heart that Jesus wants

us to live in this moment for this time. I believe that when Jesus said, “I have come to give them life

and life abundantly,” (John 10:10) he meant it. We all have the opportunity to live in fear of the great

unknown or trust God. Fear, Panic, and Anxiety will cause us great distress and wear our spirits down

to the point that we will bring about our own demise.

Following the events of the resurrection Jesus gave the disciples what we call the great

commission:

“All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of

all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and

teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely am with you always, to the very

end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-19

Our congregation, Bishop Mark Webb, District Superintendent Rev. Mike Weeden, Rev. Daniel

Bradley, United Methodist Churches and their communities, Upper NY Cabinet, Soldiers in

uniform and their families: Fran Masuicca, Andrew Gemmell, Jim Horth Sr., Freida Janacek,

Paul Lasher, Johnny Lewis, Stella McCabe, Sharon Reese, Nancy Ridgeway, Maggie Potish,

Mary Ann Reed, Kevin Seabury, Abe Allen, Brooke Grant, Amy Waterman-Albrecht, Lena

Sinesi Fitzgerald, Lillian Ridgeway, Nancy Sanderson, Stratt Killam, Betsy Murphy, Pat

Atkinson, Austin Miller, Rosalind Bidwell, Cheryl Stagl, Charlie Peter, and Eileen Lobdell

Short-Term Prayer Concerns: Marv Joyner, family and friends of Walt Cobb, Terry Slater, the Family of Jim Clark, Shirley

Hence, James Porter, Irene Fuller, the family of Doris Potter

Bible Study Elaine Pierce

The women’s Bible Study is well under way with 17 women studying the book “Twelve Women of the Bible.” The study meets on Monday at 2:00 and again at 7:00 at the home of Elaine Pierce. We will study six of the women this fall and pick up with the other six in the spring.

Elaine Pierce

We have 27 prayer warriors on our prayer chain. Prayer requests are given to either Irene Fuller or Elaine Pierce and then passed by email to all 27 names on the prayer chain. We encourage you to become a prayer warrior as well. Just let Irene or Elaine know you would like to be added to the list. We are also adding a new service! If you would like to pray specifically with a person, we have

3 persons available: Marsha Gerhart at [email protected] or at 382-1362 Sharon Podgers at [email protected] or at (585) 507-5794 Elaine Pierce at [email protected] or at 298-4086 or 430-8712

Please feel free to contact any of the above 3 people and they will be glad to pray with and for you.

Operation Christmas Child Edie Joyner

NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK Nov. 13-20

Good News. Great Joy. Boys and Girls in over 130 Countries will get an Operation

Christmas shoebox gift. A shoebox packed with gifts seems like such a simple thing. But God takes that simple gift and turns it into a powerful tool to reach boys and girls for Him.

There are pamphlets on how to pack your shoebox gift (very important) and other information about the mission in the Narthex. We need your shoebox gift back at church by Sunday, Nov. 12th. If you have any questions, you can call Edie at (315) 529-9827 or email [email protected]. You also can go to www.samritanspurse.org.

Samaritan's Purse is the organization that works with many churches like us to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ.

Gift Ideas that might be on sale this time of year- flip flops, sunglasses

Choir Elaine Pierce

Choir will once again be part of our worship experience this fall and through Christmas. Rehearsals are on Thursday at 7:00 P.M. and Sunday at 10:30 A.M. before morning worship. Choir is open to anyone with a desire to sing and a willingness to be faithful to our schedule as much as possible. There are no auditions. Choir is open to children (grades 4 and up) and adults. Please contact Elaine Pierce at 298-4086 or at [email protected] if you have questions.

Adult Sunday School Sandy Comstock

The Adult Sunday School has started back up for the school year. We begin at 9:30 am in the Narthex (the place we have cookies after church) and end at 10:30 when our choir people leave to warm up. Those that are left can visit until church starts at 11:00 (sometimes that is their favorite part).

We use a service called the Wired Word which explores current events and how those concern us as Christians. You can look at examples of past weeks at www.thewiredword.com . Please join us! There is always coffee~

Music & Worship

Elaine Pierce

Choir is well under way again rehearsing on Thursday evening at 7:00 and singing for worship on Sunday. We have slightly changed the format of the worship order. We now follow Sharing of God’s Peace with a time praise and worship music involving both the choir and the congregation. This has been favorably received so far.

We are also including and FYI (For Your Information) point in the bulletin each week. We realize that newcomers to Sunday morning worship may not know what everything in our worship bulletin means and we are attempting to make our bulletin be more accessible to all.

KNITTING BIBLE STUDY

Sandy Comstock

Proverbs 31:13

“She shops for the best yarns. She enjoys knitting (and crochet).” Col 2:2

“May your hearts be joined together, being knit together in love.”

I am very disappointed! We have started the knitting group back up again and I see that very few, if any, of the shawls and lapghans that we left in the Sloane room for people to take over the summer are gone. Please people – take them! Give them away to anyone and everyone you can think of that would like one. We want to make more but have no room. Ok – that sounded a little harsh but really – do take them and do join us. Any program for the year (other than just visiting with each other) has yet to be determined but the visiting is fun too. Remember – Wednesday night 7 – 8:30 in the Sloane Room. If we have people that want to come and have trouble with stairs we will move to the Fellowship Hall. If you need transportation let someone know and we will see to it that you are picked up. Don’t know how to knit? That is still not an excuse – we have had knitters, crocheters, quilters, colorors and talkers to name a few. See you on Wednesday!

A Trip To The Holy Land

Elaine Pierce

You are invited to attend the next UMW meeting on October 12 when Elaine Pierce will present a slide show of her trip to the Holy Land. The slide show will begin at 2:00.

Sunday School

Edie Joyner

"God Loves Me" Memory verses: 1 John 4:8b... God is love

Psalm 23:1... The LORD is my shepherd

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you that you care about each of us! Thank you that we are important to you! Thank you for loving us! We love you back! Amen

We ring the bell at 10:45a.m. Sunday school is right after children time. We hope you will bring your child to learn about God's Love.

If you have any questions, call Edie at (315)529-9827

Treasurer's Report Sandra Comstock

Checking Account: Beginning Balance 6/1: 2,461.12

Income:

Pledges & Loose Offering……….10,471.00

RBC Interest………………………….154.80

Building Use…………………………..950.00

Other…………………………………..190.00

Parsonage Support (from Orwell)…..300.00

Total Income to Checking 12,065.80

Expenses: Shared Ministry………………………….0.00

Retiree Health Ins…………………….250.05

Multi-Peril Ins…………………………993.30

Pastor’s Salary……………………..6,167.04

CRSP (Pension)……………………1,059.96

Pastor’s Reimbursable Expenses…..295.00

Secretary Salary……………………1,890.00

Church Utilities……………………..1,150.86

Church Repairs………………………...60.00

Parsonage Utilities…………………...877.35

Sunday School…………………………..7.55

Worship Supplies…………………….139.45

Total Expenses: 12,890.56

Ending Balance 8/31: $1,636.36

Fund Account: Income: Emergency Fund………………….25,000.00

Southern Sudan Health Project …….300.00

Peace with Justice ……………………..68.00

Altar Flowers……………………………39.00

25,407.00

Expenses: Care Group……………………………239.35

Altar Flowers……………………………35.85

Peace with Justice ……………………..68.00

343.20

I guess Jim, I and the grandchildren had way too much fun this summer. When attempting to do the report for the newsletter I saw that I did not do one for August and September. So sorry- but not really – I think time with family is very important. Anyway – this report is for June, July and August so don’t let the totals scare you.

We had a lovely donation come in to help us with our depleting Emergency Fund. Thank you so much! However – that does not mean that we can sit back and not continue to be good stewards of our money and our people! Keep giving, keep caring for each other and keep praying! Winter is coming!!!

Sandy

UMW

Irene Fuller

The United Methodist Women attended their annual picnic at the home of Marsha Gerhart. We had a delicious food, perfect chicken. Great conversation and a wonderful boat ride. We are still counting coins if anyone has a jar of coins to turn in. Put down hate. Pray for peace.

SCRAPBOOKING “PLUS” Elaine Pierce

What do you like to do? Wouldn’t it be more fun to gather with friends while you work on your favorite project? The Fellowship Hall affords us a lot of space to spread out all the

materials we need as we work. Lunch is, of course, always delicious and good conversation abounds. How can you possibly stay away?

We always have a table reserved for wrapping boxes for the Community Christmas Project. By the way, we are in need of boxes to wrap. We prefer the kind with separate tops and bottoms.

Hours are 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. with the possibility of staying later if there are enough who desire to do so. Scrapbooking “Plus” is a project of the United Methodist Women. We charge a small reservation fee to cover costs for use of the facility.

Lunch is served at 12:30 and the price is $7.00. Reservation fee, if you reserve by the previous Thursday, is $3.00. After Thursday, it is

$5.00. There is no registration fee for those working on church or community projects. There is no registration fee for children attending with an adult.

Reservations may be made by contacting Elaine Pierce at 315-298-4086 or [email protected].

SCHEDULE FOR- 2017 October 7 November 4 December 2 2018 January 6 February 3 March 3 April 7 May 5 June 2

October Anniversaries* and Birthdays

2 Elaine Pierce Melva Hilliker Nichole Fuller Mike Callahan 6 Terry Slater 8 Edie Joyner

8 Devin Bryant Virginia Peter 10 Kelsie Ridgeway Alex Howland 12 Shirley Hull 14 Sherry Stern

15 Katie Malinowski 17 Fritz & Virginia Peter* 25 MaryEllen Neal 26 Dan Malinowski 28 Marie Randall 29 Richard Griffith

Who We Are About Us Supporting Hungry children in the

Sandy Creek Central School District.

Contact Us Phone: 315.387.5111

Office hours are M-F: 8-11 am Email: [email protected]

Web: www.sandycreekumc.org Or

Elaine Pierce (315)298-4086

[email protected]

“Jesus said: Feed my sheep”

John 21:17

BACKPACK PROJECT

2031 Harwood Drive

Sandy Creek, NY

13145

BACKPACK PROJECT

Sandy Creek United Methodist Church

http://www.sandycreekumc.org/

Food Suggestions: (No Glass Containers please)

Granola Bars Applesauce

Ramen Noodles Jello-O Cups

Juice Boxes Pudding Cups

Cereal Macaroni & Cheese

Jelly Tuna Fish

Small Raisin Boxes Saltines

Soup Spaghetti Sauce

Pork & Beans Peanut Butter

Spaghetti O’s, Ravioli, Etc

Before Packing

What is the backpack Project?

After Packing

“We now have 35 families on our list that receive

backpacks”

Backpack Project Pledge

Sponsor’s Name:

_____________ Mailing Address:

__________________

__________________

Amount Pledged:

$_____

Please Fill-in One:

o Per Week

o Per Month

o One-time Only

Donation

Please Make checks

payable to:

The United Methodist Church of Sandy Creek

Backpack Project

P.O. Box 158 Sandy Creek, NY 13145

2017 October Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9:30 Adult Sunday School 11 am Worship

2 Fresh Food 4:45 pm Chair

Yoga

3

7 pm Boy Scouts

4 10 am Yoga With Anne 7 pm Knitters

5 7 pm

Choir Practice

6 7

Scrapbooking


9 4:45 pm Chair

Yoga

10 7 pm Boy

Scouts

11 10 am Yoga With Anne 7 pm Knitters 8:30 pm AA

12 1 pm UMW 7 pm Choir

Practice

13 14 Girl Scout Can Drive


16 4:45 pm Chair Yoga

17 7 pm Boy

Scouts


19 7 pm Choir

Practice

20 21

22 9:30 Adult Sunday School 11 am

Worship


24 7 pm Boy

Scouts 7 pm Trustee

Mtg


26

7 pm Choir Practice

27 6 pm Senior

Dinner

28

29 9:30 Adult Sunday School 11 am

Worship


31 7 pm Boy

Scouts

member of the northern flow district of the upper new york ...€¦ · 2015-10-08 · district...

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