1 Methodelma 2018 Contact: Church Secretary: ElmaUMoffice@gmail.com Lay Leader: Marilyn Hartman amja1201@gmail.com 716-949-8844 Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. Passionate Worship Isaiah 6: 3 (NIV) Worship, very simply, is not for us. Worship is a gift that we give to someone else. Worship is for God. But we can lose sight of this truth. We form opinions about all of life; we are comparison shoppers, and we make most of our decisions in this way. This has spilled over into worship over the past two decades. At our Worship Committee Meetings, we usually focus on how our Sunday worship services are. We constantly ask what can we do different or improve. Are we are going to try several different things in worship pertaining to music, singing, hymns, video clips using our new screen, sermons, etc? Worship is unique in that it is not about your preference or mine. It is something else altogether. It is not for us. It is for God. It is offering our very best selves to God. When we worship God, we are somehow changed. This is not the purpose of worship; it is not about us, but by experiencing God we are transformed. Then there is good news, an intervention: When we confess our sins, our guilt is taken away, our sins are forgiven. The God of the Bible is powerful and mighty, holy and beyond us, but at the same time gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. When worship is authentic, when it is an experience of the holy, we realize there is unfinished business and God then has our Elma UMC 2991 Bowen Road Elma, NY 14059 716-652-5427 www..elmaumc.org continued
2 attention. Worship is not about us; yet when we have worshiped God, we are transformed, we have begun to experience the new creation, and we are filled with a deep desire to reflect God s glory in the world. Without worship, everything else is threatened. We see our gifts as our own possessions, the world as a resource to be used, our neighbor as competition for the goods that we would seek for ourselves, and the truth as whatever spin we can put on it. Without worship, we easily deceive ourselves and ignore others. Without worship, we can wander off into all kinds of places, and none of them is the destination that God wants for us. Passionate worship changes all of life. I will confess to you that I consider worship to be something of a miracle. I always ask the ushers what the attendance was at the end of each Sunday service. Usually I am a bit disappointed, especially after summer services when many people are away enjoying the beautiful weather. Lately, however, my thought has changed and I am amazed that anyone would come to worship. Why would anyone leave the comfort and warmth of their bed on a Sunday morning, put down an interesting article in the Sunday newspaper, put expensive gasoline in their cars, drink coffee that may not be as good as you make at home, sit in a sanctuary that is usually either too hot or too cold, sometimes sit next to people you don t even know? Why would people do this? It makes no sense, unless there is a God who is real, who is above us and beyond us but also beside us, who created and sustains all things, who is worthy of our worship. I don t know where summer went, but I enjoyed all of our grandchildren spending extended time with us at the Parsonage. The Fall schedule is now upon us with new Bible Studies, Special Music, Discipleship Hour, Youth Events, our Church Conference
3 with our new D.S., A Way Forward presentation with Bishop Webb, Creation Care study, Stewardship Campaign, Confirmation Classes, and many other church events! As always, I can t wait to see you in Church this Sunday! Pastor Wayne Musings from Marilyn... The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for. Are You Ready to Rally?! Join in on Sunday, September 16! We return to our normal worship times of 8:00 am and 10:30 am. There are many things for everyone. Feel free to bring your family and friends and show them what we are all about! Brunch will be served from 9:15 am - 10:00 am. This will be catered by the Olive Tree Restaurant. We need help with a few things to round out the menu and also with set up and clean up. Look for the sign up sheets on the bulletin board. Flu Shots will be available from 9 to 11 am on Sunday, Sept 16. Please sign up on the bulletin board. A Praise Band will perform at the 8 am and 10:30 am Worship Services and will also be downstairs in the Fellowship Hall between services. Sign up for Discipleship hour, the Pastor s Fall Bible Study (and get your book!) and many other areas. Free laminating for your new Medicare card
FISH The FISH items for September are canned hash, stew and chili. 4 Missions/Outreach Our Giving Garden has been producing abundantly with lots of green beans, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes supplementing the non-perishables provided to their clients. Thank you to the Girl Scouts for assisting with this mission! FISH will be having its first annual fundraiser on Saturday, September 22 from 4-7 p.m. It will feature a Soup and Bread dinner, with a bake sale, gift baskets and a silent auction. Please put the date on your calendar-it s sure to be an amazing, delightful evening for a very important organization providing for those in need in our community! Seneca Street UMC Thanks to all who helped prepare and/or serve the weekly pre-service dinner on Sunday, August 19. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all our friends there! Please see the information on the Missions table for ways you can volunteer/help support Seneca Street as they serve the children and families in the Seneca-Babcock neighborhood. It is the only Mission Church in our Niagara Frontier District. Thank- you Elma UMC! Please take a moment to check out the thank you letters from organizations your Missions team supports on your behalf with your generous support of our church budget. We assist children, youth and adults; the homeless, refugees, prisoners and the hungry locally, nationally and internationally.
5 Mission Opportunity Help pack weekend food backpacks for Buffalo city school children on Saturday, October 27 from 9-12 at the Western New York Food Bank as we participate in this meaningful, fun and eye-opening experience! Hello again to all as we gear up for another church year. Hope you all had a wonderful summer. I d like to emphasize two items: 1) On Saturday, Sept 22, 2018 EUMC will send a team to help Habitat for Humanity. We d like to send at least 10 people and you don t have to be a Trustee to join! It s a great cause, it s one day only, and you won t be asked to do anything that makes you nervous. Please Join Us! 2) The Stewardship Drive for 2019 will start on September 23, 2018 and end on Sunday, November 4, 2018. (unless we take in $500,000.00 the first week). The theme will be Why Are You Here? We d like you to think about that as to yourself, your family, your church, our larger community and globally. EUMC strives to serve all these communities and more. We ask that you consider a pledge amount as God speaks to you and remember that God loves a cheerful giver (2nd Corinthians, 9:7 for those who feel I made it up.) Please give some thought to this as our pledges were down over 23% this year as compared to 2017 and we need your support. Thanks, George Blair Ad Council Chair Ad Council Notes:
6 Creation Care In last month s MethodElma, we introduced Earth Overshoot Day, the day each year when humanity has expended the resources Earth can supply for the entire year. In 2017, EOD was on August 2, meaning that, for about 5 months, we were borrowing (to put a rosy light on the matter) from future generations. Even more astonishingly, if all people lived as Americans do, EOD would have been March 15; we are (ahem) borrowing from others alive even now! In Isaiah 58, God s design was that His people Israel would set the oppressed free, and tear off every yoke share your bread with the hungry, bring the poor and homeless into your home, clothe the naked when you see him Now, in the 21 st Century, too, there are oppressed, hungry, poor, homeless and naked; often, their plight is caused or exacerbated by environmental overshoot. What, then, is God s design for us? It could entail eating less meat, downsizing our houses, recycling materials, traveling less or by a smaller vehicle, switching to energy efficient devices in our homes, taking vacations locally and so on. With these and similar steps, we can push our EOD later each year. Creation Care Thought for the Month: Part of how we love others is by loving the environment they depend on. Seek to live simply, so that others can simply live. Electronics Recycling Drop off Event, Saturday, September 8th 9:30 am 1:00 pm (or capacity reached) at the Elma Town Hall, 1600 Bowen Road https://www.umccreationcare.org
7 WORKINGTOGETHER TO END HUNGER IN OUR LIFETIME It is with great pleasure that we announce the destination of the Rise Against Hunger meals you helped package on 5/20/2018. A shipping container, holding 285,120 meals, has been sent to Swaziland for our partner Adventist Development and Relief Agency. If you happen to receive more than one of these announcements, your meals have gone to impact multiple partners. Adventist Development and Relief Agency is an organization that nourishes lives through food assistance and other services in Swaziland. To learn more, please visit our partner/country spotlight on the Impact Stories tab and click and drag on our World Aid Map at https://www.riseagainsthunger.org/world-aid/. Ending hunger is only possible if we continue to grow the movement. We encourage you to share the news about this shipment. Since 2005, volunteers like you have helped us distribute over 310 million meals worldwide. We can end hunger by 2030, but we can't do it without you. Please visit our website www.riseagainsthunger.org and continue your involvement. Consider making a donation, planning another meal packaging event (at your place of worship, school, company, civic club, etc), joining our advocacy efforts, or even inviting us to speak to a group.
Christian Education & Youth Ministry 8 Rally Day: September 16 starting at 9:00 am A table will be set up by Christian Education. Please come and signup for Discipleship Hour for ALL AGES, Youth Groups, Adult Toddler Time Volunteers, and Youth Toddler Time Volunteers and being an Acolyte. Toddler Time: For ages 2 5 years old offered during the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. We need volunteers during Toddler Time. Two adults are required in this area for our church to be Safe Sanctuary compliant. A schedule will be provided to you and it will also be listed in the Methodelma and weekly Worship bulletin. If you have a conflict on your scheduled Sunday please switch with another volunteer on the schedule. Please let Deb know of the change as well. A sign-up sheet is on the Christian Education table in the main hallway or come to the CE table at Rally Day to get further information. Please see Deb Coatsworth if you have any questions or if you can help out. Senior Youth Group: September 16 at 12:00 1:30, we will meet in the Youth Room for anyone in 9 th 12 th grade. The first hour of the meeting is for Youth. Parents please join the meeting at 1:00. Please be thinking about dates that will work for you, if we decide to take a Mission Trip. We are looking forward to seeing all of you! Mini Youth Group: September 23 at 12:00 1:30, we will meet in the Library for anyone in 5 th 8 th grade. The first hour of the meeting is for the Mini Youth. Parents please join the meeting at 1:00. We can t wait to see all of you! Discipleship Hour: Begins September 23 at 9:00 10:00 for ALL AGES! 3 years old 1 st grade: Mark Room 2 nd 4 th grade: Matthew Room 5 th 8 th grade: Luke Room 9 th 12 th grade: Youth Room Adult Class: Library We are in need of teachers! In order to be Safe Sanctuary compliant, we need two teachers in each class. If you can help in any way, please see Deb Coatsworth.
9 Vacation Bible School 2018 Update Rolling River Rampage was the theme to this year s Vacation Bible School. The children were invited on a white-water rafting adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God! Along the river, children discovered that life with God is an adventure full of wonder and surprise, and that they can trust God to be with them through anything. Relevant music, exciting science, creative crafts, fun recreation, and memorable Bible stories, were part of an exciting time together, helping kids know that God is always with them! We served 70 children from ages 3 years old through 6 th grade. Thank you to all the volunteers who shared their gifts with the children. We totally knocked the VBS Mission out of this world! Our mission was Mobility Worldwide. Mobility Worldwide is a faithbased, volunteer-powered, humanitarian, and world-wide organization. Mobility Worldwide began in 1994 when Larry Hills, missionary in Zaire (now Congo), Africa, told Reverend Mel West of the great need for three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs for victims of polio and landmines. Mel contacted Earl Miner, product designer and long-time friend and mission partner, and the process of the prototype design began. In 1995, when prototype development was ready for field testing, four were shipped to Larry Hills with the instructions to put these in the worst place you can find and see if they pass the test. Larry did, and the Mobility Carts passed. Shipments began to Zaire, where Larry had set up a place to receive the frames, put on the wooden beds, and distribute them. The best part of this Mission was hearing the stories from the families and children as to how they raised money to help support each cart. We gave each of the families the following Mission schedule for the week. The goal was the Gift of Mobility for all of God s people in need. $300.00 is the cost of a Mobility Cart. We told the families in the beginning of the week that our goal was to raise enough money to purchase 2 Carts. We also said to them, we look forward to seeing the Spirit move within each of you in hopes we can exceed our goal. The following chart were some fun ways the children were able to raise money for this incredibly important Mission. We continually emphasized how life changing this Mission was for all those who are need of a cart.
I am happy to report, that we collected enough money to purchase 11 Carts. We are shy of 12 carts by $82.87. 10 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Collect bottles & cans. Cash them in at the store and make a donation. Make cookies for your neighbors and ask for a donation. Do a chore for a friend or relative and ask for a donation. Lemonade Stand. All proceeds would benefit a Cart. Search for spare change in your cars, chairs & couch. Mini Youth Group Work Camp 2018 Highlights 13 Mini Youth and 10 Adults participated in the Camp. Thank you to Mandi Nicholson, Carrie Schmitz, Erika Wargula, Cheryl Buechi, Rose Shiesley, Lisa Nowak, Kim Stromecki, Jean Kron, Rosanna & John Puleo for being leaders and taking time to teach our young people the importance of helping others! Our scripture focus was, Therefore if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION. The old things have PASSED AWAY. Behold, ALL THINGS have BECOME NEW. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 The Elma, Marilla, Wales Boys & Girls Club: Cleaned the entire inside of the building along with the gym. Weeded, trimmed bushes and mulched front beds. Made a $100.00 donation. Camp Asbury & Retreat Center: Cleared a large area of land by removing enormous amounts of weeds, vines, small trees and whatever else was in there. We also removed rocks and bigger rocks and huge rocks from this area. The area we cleared will be a future place for a Labyrinth. We all worked really hard! Made a $100.00 donation. Central City Cafe : We made food and served 140 people and about 50 people came back for second helpings. Elma United Methodist Church: We washed base boards upstairs, cleaned/washed pews, vacuumed, & did other little jobs. Mission Trip 2018 Highlights Our morning devotion, lunch time devotion and evening worship time theme focus was on Music. The youth & adults were divided into two teams and keeping with the Music theme were called the Septet Group and the Heptade Group. A group of 7 is called a septet. Another word for a group of 7 is a heptad. Sometimes, though rarely, the alternative spelling is used: heptade. Our scripture focus was, Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach
11 and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 We had 9 youth and 5 adults who accomplished a great amount of work in a week. Here is a brief overview of the 6 families we were blessed to work with. Dave & Germaine Clute Home The Septet Group began the week helping the Clute family. Dave had a wonderful personality and was extremely welcoming to all of us. Things we accomplished: Cleaning and painting inside porch Sanding, power washing and painting wheelchair ramp Linda Spencer Home The Heptade Group began the week helping Linda. Linda welcomed the group with open arms. Things we accomplished: Staining the wheelchair ramp Fixing front door Replacing front door lock and handle Frances & Sharon Lehman Home The Septet & Heptade Groups came together to work on a huge project for the Lehman family. We worked at this home for 3 days. There was a great deal of work to be done for this family. We were able to scratch the surface for them. Things we accomplished: Taking apart a very steep wheelchair ramp and rebuild it to make it safer Building new stairs on the side of the house Taking down old ceiling tiles in the kitchen and bathroom Replacing new ceiling tiles in the kitchen and the bathroom Removing old light fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom Putting in 3 new lights in the kitchen and bathroom Installing a new screen door Building a step out the side door Providing a hose reel Relationship ministry, thanks to Joan Joann McEvoy Home The Septet Group embarked upon Joann s lovely home. Joann was excited for us to do some jobs that she was not able to do.
12 Things we accomplished: Cleaning the Garage Cleaning the Patio Weeding & Trimming a Garden Building & Painting 2 Planter Boxes Catherine Souder Home The Septet Group finished the week at Catherine s by building a 6 x 8 deck and stairs for her to have a second way out of her home. Catherine was over joyed with what we did for her. Things we accomplished: Building a 6 x 8 deck & stairs Cleaned the Kitty Box Weeding Hanging some pictures, thanks to Tyler Linda Avberstien Home The Heptad Group finished their week at Linda s home. She lived across the road from Joann. Linda noticed what we were doing for Joann and asked if we could help her. Joann had multiple surgeries and was unable to financially and physically take care of some very needed projects. Things we accomplished: Taking apart a very large deck & replacing the deck with new boards Walking her dog thanks to D Lynn Relationship ministry, thanks to Joan Savor the Moment (Mindfulness Based Eating) Imagine what it would be like to lose weight without the struggle and without giving up your favorite food; to be able to enjoy a warm dinner roll, a glass of wine, a slice of pizza, or a piece of chocolate cake without experiencing that familiar tugof-war between your will-power and your desire. ~Jean Kristeller, PhD., Founder of MB-EAT program This September, Annette DeNies, LMSW, MBSR & MB-EAT Teacher will be offering a new mindful eating program called Savor the Moment. It is a non-diet, weight neutral, mindfulness-based approach to eating and living. The truth of the matter is that 95% of people who lose weight through dieting gain it back and often more. For the vast majority of people, diets simply don t work. It s time continued
13 for a new approach. Mindful eating is not about following a set of rules, but rather tuning into our hunger and satiety cues. It is learning to trust our inner wisdom about what the body needs. It is about self-care and living a wellnourished life. Please join me on Sunday, September 9 th at 9am in the Library for an orientation, where we will explore this exciting, new program offering a new relationship with eating and food. The Elma Page Turner Book Club will meet, Wednesday, September 5, at 7 PM in the Church library. The book for September is Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. The books for the following months are: October 3, Lilac Girl by Martha Hall Kelley. November 7. Bull Mountain by Brian Panowich December 5. Astor Orphans by Alexandria Aldritch. From Martha Stewart Living, Sept 18: A richer vocabulary, a deeper understanding of others, and a longer life span (by nearly two more years, according to a 2016 Yale School of Public Health study) are all at your fingertips if you do one simple thing: read a book for at least 30 minutes a day. The habit has also been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, make us feel part of a community, and help stave off dementia. Bazaar 7th Annual Holiday Bazaar December 1st 10am 2 pm Tables are still available - see Judi Wollen. Please be creating items to be sold in the Church Library. All proceeds go directly to the General Fund. More information upcoming soon. Help is needed to make this fundraiser a success. Thank you - Judi, Eileen Holden, Jean Kron, Sue Echwahl, Dave Wainwright, Kevin McCarthy, Ryan Schmitz, etc. etc. & YOU!!!!
9/3 Chris & Cheryl Zelasko 9/6 Mark & Cheryl Kowalski 9/8 Carl & Mylinda Plauman 9/14 Amanda & Billy Nolan 9/22 Jim & Deb Coatsworth 9/23 Brian & Shawn Strausbaugh 9/25 Fred & Judith Baumgartner 9/29 Kevin & Ann Marie McCarthy 9/3 Olivia Kowalski (4) 9/3 Austin Zelasko (22) 9/5 Barry Hunt 9/6 William Black 9/6 Bruce Stockton II (29) 9/6 David Wainwright 9/6 Nina Wargula (15) 9/7 Sheri Mort 14 9/7 Kristen Sugrue (10) 9/8 Richard Doster 9/8 Samantha Wilson (26) 9/11 Casey Everhart (26) 9/15 Hanna Wargula (20) 9/16 Carter Wright 9/18 Fred Baumgartner 9/18 Thomas Wantuck 9/20 Julie Everhart 9/20 Gary Kegler 9/21 Thomas Plauman (2) 9/21 Matthew Zimmerman (24) 9/22 Michael Ball 9/23 Stephen Buechi 9/23 Sue Lawrence 9/23 Will Monrian (26) 9/24 Gayle Radder 9/25 Marion Molenda 9/25 Wayne Parks (13) 9/26 Gregg Parete 9/27 Roselyn McCarthy (15) 9/28 Tanner Zak (6) 9/26 Alan Walker Groups to Join/Things to Do Rally Day Sept 16th: Breakfast from 9:15-10 am, Flu Shots from 9 to 11 am Praise Band will perform at the 8 am and 10:30 am Worship Services and More! Join us Sunday, September 16th and remember Worship services return to 8 am and 10:30 am. Lunch Bunch meets next on Monday September 18, 2018 at 12:30 at the Olive Tree Restaurant, 5240 Broadway in Lancaster. Please sign up at the Bulletin Board so an accurate reservation may be made. All are welcome and separate checks are available. F-cubed (fun fellowship food) Tuesday September 19, at 6:30pm at the American Grill, 7901 Seneca Street, East Aurora, 14052. Please sign up at the Bulletin Board to ensure accurate reservations. Everyone is welcome! Tuesday morning Bible Study meets at 9:30 in the Library. All are welcome, perfect attendance is NOT required. Pastor s Bible Study, will be studying Mark. This will be in the Library Thursday 7 pm, beginning Sept 20th. Please sign up on the CE table. Books will be available on Rally Day.