The Bell Ringer of the United Methodist Church of Cooperstown 66 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown NY 13326 Telephone: (607) 547-9540 MAY 2014 Email: ctownumc@gmail.com Editor: Brenda Alton stdx06@gmail.com RUMMAGE SALE The United Methodist Women will hold their annual Spring Rummage Sale on FRIDAY, June 6th, from 9 AM-4 PM and on SATURDAY, June 7 th, from 9-11 AM in the Fellowship Rooms. Please bring your donated items to the church STARTING WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 th NOT BEFORE. The room will be in use by another group. UMW SUNDAY May 18 th, join us as the women conduct the service EASTER FLOWERS Lilies and Tulips were given by the Clark Greenhouses. In Loving Memory of Bill Highfield Given By Carol, Ann and Jay In Memory of Loved Ones from the Davis Family. In Memory of Ted & Kathryn Feury and Wes and Ruth Graham Given By The Graham and Feury Families. USHERS AND GREETERS Joan Ackerman is our coordinator of greeters and ushers. If you would like to volunteer for either/both, please call her at 965-8778. LITURGISTS Alice Stiles is our coordinator of liturgists. Youth and adults are invited to serve during worship. Please call her at 547-9008. BIBLE STUDY Our Friday morning Bible study continues reading the book of Philippians. We expect to finish this study by the end of May. A new study will begin in June watch for sign-up sheets in fellowship hall.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Pam Key 01 st Ed Reynolds 02 nd Abigail Hull 03 rd Grant Davine 06 th Carol Highfield 09 th Frank Toth 09 th Brenda Alton 10 th Ashley Ruthe Glockler 11 th Lachlan Walker Morgan 11 th Quentin Powers 12 th Lisa Casler 12 th Raymond Key, Sr. 13 th Bruce Dunn 15 th Jason Harter 16 th Teddy Sternberg 19 th Orilee Basile 20 th Chad Banner 21 st Sue Ann Jenkins 22 nd Clark Clapper 22 nd Sharon Dutton 22 nd John Santello 22 nd Susan Otis 23 rd Edie Jennings 24 th Adrienne Ila Holmes 24 th Carol Harter 24 th Joseph Powers, Sr. 25 th Luke Vernon Offen 30 th Ellen Hanson 27 th Helen Pat Roberts 28 th Joseph Powers, Jr. 30 th Adam Joseph Casler 31 st HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Earle & Janet Hayford 08 th Geoff & Christine Becker 19 th Stewardship Report 2014 General Fund Budget $136,500 Budget through March $ 34,125 Offerings through March $ 24,261 Below Budget ($ 9,864) COFFEE FELLOWSHIP We all love it and we want to keep it going strong! Many thanks go out to those who regularly provide us with goodies and beverages after church. More people are needed to prepare for coffee fellowship. Please consider donating supplies (coffee, juice, creamer), sharing the duties for a week with 1 or 2 other people, or bringing in goodies to use or freeze for later. Look for our new sign up sheet soon! ANNUAL CONFERENCE Our Upper New York Annual Conference will be meeting in session May 29-31 in Syracuse. Please keep the conference in prayer in this time of holy conferencing. If you would like more information about the session speak to Helen Moore our Lay Member to Conference or to Pastor Bill who will also be attending.
RAY STEES MINISTRY We have been working with Rev. Ray Stees this year discovering what God has in mind for our church, dreaming about how we can live into that vision and now we are ready to design a plan for our future. At the first session, we came up with a long list of things we love about our church. At the second session we compiled the following list of things to consider changing or doing to help us live into God s vision for us: More praise music in worship Take church outside the building more often Have more people actively involved in church, not just attending services More children in church and Sunday School More focused ministry maybe a signature ministry More creativity and art in church and the environment More social situations for adults Encourage one-on-one minstiry Increase number of families with children of all ages Strengthen our church family s confidence in one another Offer one free meal a week to the hungry A bawl room so parents of young children could still be involved in services Reduce focus on money Christian Recovery Group for people with troubles (mental illness, alcohol, drugs) Youth Group to meet regularly on weekends or evenings Have room for Sunday School classes Our third session with Rev. Stees on Wednesday, May 7 will help us build on the outcomes of the first two sessions and begin to design the future we think God hopes for us. We will begin at 6:00pm with a light supper and then work together to envision our future. Whether or not you took part in the first two sessions, you are invited and encouraged to be part of this session. We need the collective wisdom and hopes of all the congregation to help us shape the future of Cooperstown UMC. Please sign-up on the sheet in the fellowship hall so we can prepare food and materials for the meeting. See you there! DEVOTIONAL READING "Upper Room" (also large print copies), "Alive Now," "devozine" (for teens by teens) for May-June, and "Our Daily Bread" for May-June-July, are in the literature racks in the church entrance. Please help yourself to this devotional reading -- take a copy to a homebound church member. WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS We will have the joy of welcoming new members in May and want to extend the invitation to any of you who have not officially become members of Cooperstown UMC. The process is simple and painless, whether you are transferring membership from another United Methodist Congregation, joining from another denomination or even if you have never been a member of church. The first step is to contact Pastor Bill and let him know that you may be interested in joining. Pastor Bill can be reached by email at pastorbilldelia@gmail.com or (607) 547-9540 or cell phone (518) 466-7283.
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE Our church will be hosting the Ecumenical Baccalaureate Service for Cooperstown Central School graduating class of 2014. The service is slated for Sunday, June 22 beginning at 7:00pm. As host church we will want to make everyone feel welcome which includes greeters and ushers and of course cookie bakers to provide refreshments for the reception following the service. Watch for more details about the service and how you can show your support for our graduating seniors! MEN S BREAKFAST CLUB All men are invited to join for breakfast on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at the Doubleday Café, Main Street, Cooperstown. It s a great time with good conversation and good food. There wil be no Sunday School on Mother s Day, May 11 th. SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED Ray and Lorie Hillhouse continue to do wonderful work with our children each week in Sunday School. We have seen growth in attendance and increase involvement of the children in Sunday worship services. We are looking to include some other adult leaders in the Sunday School program to work with Ray and Lorie and to be able to fill-in for them when illness or other circumstances make it impossible for them to be here on a Sunday. Please consider volunteering to help you will be blessed by the experience of working with our children and you will be helping them to grow into the people God hopes for them to become. Please speak with Lorie and Ray or with Pastor Bill if you are interested or if you have questions. COFFEE & CHIT-CHAT On Wednesdays at 10 AM our church women meet for coffee and conversation at Batter s Up (formerly TJs). Hope to see you there bring a friend! LIVING IN THE WORD BLOG Pastor Bill s Living in the Word blog continues on our Cooperstown UMC website at http://www.cooperstownumc.org/blogsp ot.html. Each week he posts a new reflection or conversation starter. He also sends out a Mid-Week Message via email as a reminder about the blog, and other announcements and prayer concerns. If you are not receiving the email, please send Pastor Bill an email requesting to be added to the list.
starting Monday, June 2 nd 9 AM. There will be a sign up sheet in the Fellowship Room or just come when you can. Even an hour or two of your time will be appreciated greatly!!! If there are any questions contact Jan Kerr 547-9365 or Dawne Dietz 547-2430. UMW NEWS Sky Lake Campership scholarships are available, see Nancy Davis, 45 Delaware Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326; 547-6137. REGULAR MEETING, May 6 th 6 PM meet at Mary Beekman s for pot luck supper. A program on organic food will be presented by Dana and Kirsten Leonard. MOTHER S DAY BOOKLETS May 11 th. The UMW will present devotional booklets to our mothers-physical and spiritual. UMW SUNDAY Members of the UMW will lead the worship service on Sunday, May 18 th. HERITAGE BOOKS will be passed out during Worship on May 18 th. RUMMAGE SALE Will be held June 6 th 9 AM-4 PM and June 7 th 9-11 AM in the Fellowship Rooms. Please bring your donated items to the church STARTING WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 th, NOT BEFORE and drop off ends Tuesday, June 3 rd at 4 PM. Good clean clothing should be sorted, folded or on hangers, and not crammed into garbage bags. Appliances, etc. should be in working order (as we have to pay for any appliances taken to the landfill). Your help at home will make a difference here! And will help us to maintain our BEST RUMMAGE SALE reputation. See Jan Kerr or Dawn Dietz if you need to have donated items picked up. Many volunteers are needed The UMW is embarking on a new project involving Opportunities for Otsego s Emergency Housing Shelter in Oneonta. To start, we are assembling a CARE package for a young woman with two small children who is leaving the shelter for permanent housing. Next, we have a goal of filling up to 20 shopping bags with necessities for others to take with them when they transition from the shelter to a permanent home. During the year, we will replenish the shelter with bags as needed. Third, the shelter itself has an ongoing need for Twin XLong Sheet Sets, towels and washcloths, and black socks in all sizes, child to adult. There is a wicker basket in the back of the sanctuary for collection. Monetary donations can be given to Mary Beekman, Ingrid Graham, Nancy Davis or Pastor Bill. Suggestions for the CARE bags: dish soap, sponge, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, disinfectant wipes, garbage bags, allpurpose spray cleaner, paper towels, toilet paper, hand-held can opener, dish towels, Wal-Mart cards. For more information about the Emergency Housing Shelter, contact OFO at 607-433-8318 or 800-986-5463
MUSICIANS??? Do you enjoy music? Do you have a hidden musical gift? Do you play a musical instrument or enjoy singing? Do you use your musical interests and abilities to serve God? Pastor Bill is looking for new ways to bring music into our times of worship. Of course, singers are always welcome in our choir but other instruments and musical gifts can also enrich our experience of worship and bring greater glory to God. If you have a musical gift to share please contact Pastor Bill. Together we can make a joyful noise to the Lord! SKY LAKE EVENTS The Sky Lake Brochure announces camping opportunities for all ages. The 2014 Sky Lake Summer Camp Guide is now available by contacting the Sky Lake Office at (607) 467-2750 or info@skylakecenter.org. If there is any child who is interested in attending Sky Lake, there is a scholarship which the UMW gives for children to attend. Info., Nancy Davis at 547-6137. May 3 rd Volunteer Work Day May 18 th Open House May 23 rd -26 th Spring Fling and Special Needs Camp. RELAY FOR LIFE It is time to start a Team or Volunteer for the 16 th Annual Cooperstown Relay for Life. It will be held May 16-17 th, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. at Cooperstown Dreams Park. Also, mark your calendars for Paint the Town Purple on Friday, May 9 th. Luminary forms can be purchased from Dawne Dietz, Jan Kerr, and Rena Lull at the church each Sunday until May 11 th. They will also accept monetary donations. For more information call Rena 547-5149 or Dawne 547-2430, or visit www.event.cancer.org/rflcooperstown NY. SATURDAY S BREAD Our church has volunteered at Saturday s Bread for many years. We now volunteer four Saturdays a year. There are 2 dates left in 2014 for us to work. The dates are June 28 th and October 25 th 9:30 AM to 2 PM at First United Methodist Church, Oneonta. This is an opportunity to help set up, prepare and serve a hot meal for others less fortunate than us. If you have never volunteered for Saturday's Bread please consider helping. Call Rena at 547-5149
Sat. November 15, 4:30-7 p.m. -- Harvest Dinner. Chair: Linda Smirk 547-2532 2014 FUNDRAISING CALENDAR The schedule includes Chairperson(s) and their contact information, and where help is needed. Some event details are not complete yet. Sat. May 24, 9 a.m.--until. Hall of Fame Classic Parade and Game Car Parking at Church. Rena Lull 547-5149 and HELPER. Wed. May 14, rummage sale drop-off begins. ABSOLUTELY NOT BEFORE FELLOWSHIP ROOM IN USE. Fri. June 6, 9-4 p.m. & Sat. June 7, 9-11 a.m. UMW Rummage Sale. Co- Chairs: Jan Kerr 547-9365 and Dawne Dietz 547-2430 June 12-14, HOF 75 th Anniversary Events -- Car Parking at Church (?) Sat. July 26, time TBA Hall of Fame Brooks Chicken Barbecue. Co-Chairs: Winnie Denny Smith 435-6193 and Nancy Davis 547-6137. Consultant Lona Smith. Sun. July 27, 9 a.m. until. Hall of Fame Induction Day Car Parking at Church. Rena Lull 547-5149 and HELPER. Sat. August 2, Boston Pops at Clark Sports Center. A Fundraising opportunity, tent will still be up. Contact Rena Lull 547-5149 with your ideas. Sept. No church pie sale Labor Day craft show has been discontinued. Fri. October 3, 9-4 p.m. & Sat. October 4, 9-11 a.m. UMW Rummage Sale. Co-Chairs: Jan Kerr 547-9365 and Dawne Dietz 547-2430 Sat. December 6, 1-4 p.m. UMW Christmas Tea and Bazaar. It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God s design. But I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine. And the secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I. God opens this flower so sweetly, when in my hands it dies. If I cannot unfold a rosebud, this flower of God s design, Then how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine? So I ll trust in Him for leading each moment of my day. I will look to Him for His guidance each step of the pilgrim way. The pathway that lies before me, only my Heavenly Father knows. I ll trust Him to unfold the moments, just as He unfolds the rose. - - written by Darryl L. Brown at brownslord@hotmail.com
Pastor s Page Rev. William Bill H. Delia Pastor, United Methodist Church of Cooperstown 66 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Telephone (607) 547-9540 Cell Phone (607) 437-7466 Email pastorbilldelia@gmail.com Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9b The movie Noah, showing in theaters now, has been stirring up debate. As usual, when stories from the Bible are retold in the cinema something is lost in the translation. Often things are added in the translation, too. You can decide for yourself if the current does the story of Noah justice (personally, Russell Crowe is not the way I had always pictured Noah). Still, if a film like this can spark some interest in the Bible, maybe even encourage some people to read the story for themselves (Genesis 6:9-9:29) then it could be helpful. I m sure the old Bill Cosby routine about Noah did just that! The Bible gives us many examples of how to live a good life, but the story of Noah, sums up the good life beautifully Noah walked with God. It s a good lesson for us to learn from Noah you can t go wrong if you walk with God. I recently read some other lessons from the story of Noah and the ark. What do you think? Lessons from Noah and the Ark 1. Don't miss the boat. 2. Remember - we are all in the same boat! 3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. 4.: Stay fit. You never know when God may ask you to do something really big. 5. Don't listen to critics; just do the job that needs to be done. 6. Always build your future on high ground. 7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 9. Feeling stressed? Float awhile. 10. Don t forget, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic was built by professionals. 11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Bill Pastor Bill Deli