The Ties that Bind NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 The Ties that Bind NEWSLETTER United Methodist Church Babylon, New York Phone # Fax # address - babylonumc@yahoo.com Web Page - Dear Friends in Christ, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 It is a new year. I always want to hit the ground running. My daughters filled my stockings with new pens and pads so that I could write the best of new sermons and WHAM a cold and bronchitis knocked me for a loop. And each time I got up I fell down again. We are not invincible. We are mortal. We are finite. We are human. As I read the works of our founder John Wesley I hear him say how important it is that we realize both our shortcomings and our need of God; both our frailty and God s strength. And there in the meeting of our needs and God s love we find grace. And grace is what makes us real and makes us whole. Do you remember the story called The Velveteen Rabbit? The rabbit became real as the child loving him so closely wore his velvet fabric away. We become real people of God in the act of loving. When we arise each morning we should remind ourselves that we need God if we are going to do the things that God has called us to do like have patience, lead with forgiveness, notice the things that God and others are doing all around us, to speak for those who struggle to find their voice. The list goes on and on. Tomorrow when you arise, humble yourself and reach out to the God of grace and glory with the words I need you, Lord. Happy New Year! God bless you! Rev. Carney Pastor Tom OUR MISSION STATEMENT We are a community of Christ s followers. Our mission is to be worshipping, welcoming, inclusive, caring, growing in faith and to live and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world. Welcome to enewsletter Receiving your newsletter via will help us to save paper, postage and time. Please let us know your address if you have not already done so. us at babylonumc@yahoo.com. The Infant Toddler Nursery is for all children 3 years and under and is an important element of our church mission. Nursery care is available at 9:30 and 11 am. Our Infant Toddler Nursery is located in the Education Building. COFFEE HOUR Dates are available if your family would like to host the Coffee Hour held twice a month in Fellowship Hall. Please contact Katie Schrader at by phone or text or by ktocs88@gmail.com.

2 The United Methodist Men will hold their breakfast meeting on Sunday, February 14 and March 13. It will be at the Atlantis Dinner in West Islip at 7:30 am. All men of the congregation are invited to participate in this time of fellowship and food. We guarantee that you be able to make in time for the 9:30 am service. Please join us Mark your calendar, we will be looking for you! Bible Study Join an open Bible study and discussion group - Monday morning at 9:45 a.m. in Wesley Hall.. Sharon Niggemeier and Ed Tournu, facilitators. Tuesday Evening at 6:45 p.m. in the library with Rich Santoro, facilitator. For more information, call the church office. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Help with sending newsletters, Update collections in the library, help at Rotary food collections to benefit our food pantry, Teach and Substitute at Sunday School. Call the church office for additional information and/or offer to help in other areas. FOOD PANTRY We wish to thank everyone who has supported the Food Pantry. We appreciate your donations of food and gift cards, and especially wish to thank the people who volunteered their time for the food collections at Stop/Shop. Please continue to remember the Food Pantry when you are shopping Spam, corned beef hash, beef stew, tuna chili, jelly, peanut butter, dry milk, canned fruit, juice, spaghetti sauce, instant potatoes, rice(2 lb),and coffee. Shampoo, toothpaste, bar soap, disposable razors, dish detergent and laundry detergent are greatly appreciated. In addition to non-perishable items, cash donations and supermarket gift cards are gratefully accepted. Thank you! The Sharing & Caring Soup Kitchen is in need of donations of soup labeled with date and type. The New Year gives us opportunity for a new beginning. Are looking you for a new way for your life to be more meaningful, to serve our church and practice your stewardship? Are you finding you are in need of a hot meal and community? We could be your answer. If you would like further information, please call Rose Alfini at or Vicki Troise at MISSION TRIP My name is Craig Walters and I will be heading to Guatemala this July with a group of West Islip students on a mission trip through Common Hope to share our culture with the schools and build a house for a family in need. We are fundraising and would appreciate any donations you might be able to give. Please indicate it is for the West Islip team. The link is below OUR PARISH FAMILY BAPTISMS - The Sacrament of Baptism was administered to Kaylee May Heinz and Jackson William Heinz, children of Timothy and Lauren on November 15, 2015; to Willow Grace Elsmore, daughter of Jennifer Elsmore and Michael Engel on December 13, WEDDINGS Congratulations to Elizabeth Waters and Christian Fraker on their marriage on December 26, 2015; and to Jennifer Elsmore and Michael Engel IV on their marriage on December 26, SYMPATHY We extend our Christian sympathy to the family and friend of Marguerite Webster on her death on November 12, 2015; to Susan Neal, her family and friends on the death of her husband Charles on December 2, 2015 and her daughter, Kathy on December 3, 2015; to the family and friends of Elizabeth Stephenson on her death in Massachusetts on December 24, UPDATE(Sept. 2015): Zachary Smith, son of Jeff and Patti, was diagnosed with Dense Deposit Disease and C3GN in the summer of They are both rare conditions that affect the way his kidneys function. Currently there is no cure for these conditions. Zachary goes to Stony Brook Hospital every 2 weeks for treatment. If you would like to keep up to date on his progress and treatment please visit the Facebook page his parents have set up. Go to Facebook Care for Zachary. His parents are collecting aluminum tabs from soda and canned products. The tabs are sold to a scrap metal company for money. The money is sent to a foundation in Iowa that funds research for Zachary's condition. Zachary will be going to Iowa in October to meet those who are doing the research and meet people like him at the family conference that will be held. Between cash donations and selling of the tabs, over $1,000 has been donated. Thank you for your continued support.

3 ! PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY If you know of someone who is experiencing a loss, illness or special joy and you would like to request a blessed prayer shawl or lap robe for them, please fill in a prayer shawl request card found in the pew racks and place it in the offering plate, or priscilla1629@optonline.net or mardowning@optonline.net. Please include, recipients name, address, and event also include your name and tel # and if you can deliver it. We have yarn available for those who would like to create a shawl or lap robe. Call Priscilla Schlegel or Marlene Downing and we will arrange for you to get the yarn. Suggested sizes are: rectangular shawls, 19 x 69 or 14 x 70, triangular shawls 65 W x 32 center, Lap robes 36 X 42. Please do not put fringe on any pieces. We appreciate and thank all of you who support this ministry with your time, talents and gifts. Please remember to include all those who have received these gifts of God s love in your prayers. ****************************************************************************************** Missions Committee wishes to sincerely thank our Church Family and friends for their generosity in providing 116 Operation Christmas Child boxes filled to delight the many children who received them. Continued thanks for all the 137 Angels" that were taken for gift cards to Target stores for the teenagers in St. Christopher Ottilie in Brentwood. A request went out to congregation requesting warm coats, gloves and hats and you provided 20 bagfuls for St. Christopher Ottilie(SCO).You are a very caring group, and again, many, many thanks. On Sunday, March 13th, 2016, Katherine Parker, a missionary in Nepal and with whom we have a Covenant Relationship, will be coming to our Church. Many of you may remember her last visit, where she shared the Mission work being done there. We look forward to her visit. Who likes Food? Well, Missions is planning our 2nd Annual "Taste Of Home" event. Anyone who likes to eat come, but those that like to cook, get out your recipes, wear your aprons and come make this as successful as the first. It's fun, it's easy and a prize will be given to the winners in each of the four categories. Thank you. ***************************************************************************************** Church Finances Thank you for all of your pledges for Your pledges and our church budget will be tracked within our new software and will be reported on a regular basis. Phyllis has done a tremendous job preparing for the transition and learning how to use our new software. What you can expect in 2016: Monthly reporting of Total Church Giving versus our Budget Quarterly detailed report of the church finances Quarterly individual report showing your year-to-date giving. Contact the church office if you do not have an envelope number assigned and would like the church to track your giving. Finally, we will be looking into online giving in 2016 to provide another option for anyone who is interested. May God bless all of you with a safe and prosperous 2016! Scott Kavitt, Chair of Finance Committee Peter Owh, Treasurer

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12 COME ONE COME ALL SHROVE TUESDAY FAT TUESDAY PANCAKE TUESDAY Call it whatever you like, it is the day before Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the 40 days of Lent. We will be serving wonderful homemade pancakes with several chefs at the griddles TIME: 5:30PM TO 7:00PM DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRAURY 9, 2016 PLACE: FELLOWSHIP HALL PRICE: $5.00 Adults $1:00 Children under 10 We ask that you please make a reservation so we may plan for the right amount of these delicious pancakes, We want to make sure we have enough for everyone. Please fill in the bottom of this page and place it in the offering plate or call the church office with your reservation by February 7th NAME PHONE FOR PANCAKE DINNER: ADULTS CHILDREN Could you help with: Set Up Tuesday 4:00pm 5:15 Clean Up ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE February 10, :30 PM IN THE SANCTUARY INCLUDING IMPOSITION OF ASHES

13 " MYF January/February Schedule! Grades Please join us! January 24 - Sunday - 10:45am-12:00pm: MYF Bagel Meeting - Music Room, 2 nd floor of the Education Building * Grades 6 th -12th: bagels, breakfast, chill, and fun January 31 - Sunday - 9:30am-10:30am: MYF Assembly: Fellowship Hall, Grades 5 th -12 th (instead of attending/teaching Sunday School) January 31 - Sunday - 6:00pm-7:30pm: MYF Meeting: Sunday School Chapel, 2 nd floor of the Education Building - Grades 6th - 12 th February Friday, Saturday, Sunday: MYF Concessions at James Street Players Show - Grades 6 th - 12 th Show Times: Friday (8pm), Saturday (3pm & 8pm), Sunday (3pm) February 14 - Sunday - 6:00pm-7:30pm: MYF Meeting: Fellowship Hall - Grades 6 th - 12 th February 21 - Sunday - 6:00pm-7:30pm: MYF Meeting: Fellowship Hall - Grades 6 th - 12 th February 27 - Saturday - 6:00pm-8:00pm: MYF Movie Night: Sunday School Chapel, 2 nd floor of the Education Building - Grades 6 th - 12 th