NEW CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TIDINGS 76 Congers Rd. www.newcityumc.org Rev. Barbara Hoffman, Pastor New City, NY 10956 New City United Methodist Church revbarbarahoffman@gmail.com 845-634-1758 Parsonage 845-323-4814 Cell 609-744-2485 Volume 42, No. 3 Mary H. Gardella, Editor 845-634-9381 Email:mhg0112@verizon.net March 2017 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends, As we enter this season of Lent, it is customary for us to give something up as a sacrifice for Lent. We vow not to eat cake or sweets, or to stop smoking, or give up going out to dinner and give the money saved to the poor, and so forth. We fast from something we love. This is an historic Christian tradition. For a period of six weeks we put on sackcloth and ashes, beginning with receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday. We give up something that we love as a means of contrition and self-denial and to take Lent seriously as a period of inner reflection on our sins. We sacrifice in remembrance of Christ s sacrifice for us. This year, however, I would like to suggest that rather than give something UP, we instead vow to DO something positive for the Lord. In other words, we give a sacrifice of Christian service. I suggest that we vow to do something positive for someone in need. We can do random acts of kindness for others daily. We can do hands on mission work. We can volunteer at CUMAC or People to People. We can help out at Habitat for Humanity. We can volunteer at a women s shelter, at a homeless shelter, or at an animal shelter. If we cannot do hands on missions we could send cards or make phone calls to shut ins or those who need cheering up. We could offer rides for those who cannot drive. We could volunteer for service in our community. Contd. At Pastor p.2 1
Contd. From Pastor, p.1 Or, we could even do mission work at the church. We could volunteer for Angel s Attic, or to clean, paint, fix, replace, refresh, the church in areas that get neglected. [The Trustees are looking for people to help clean out the janitors closet, for instance]. If we re artistic we could make banners for the Church. We could even volunteer to lead a small group or a Lenten study or start a youth group. There are so many things that we could do as a sacrifice of service to our Lord. Let us use our imaginations! Let s make our sacrifice of service a series of life-changing actions that not only change us, but also change all those who are touched by our service. Put your thinking caps on! Blessings, Pastor Barbara PRAYER CORNER "And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea "Peace! Be still!". And the wind ceased and there was great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this that even the wind and sea obey him?" ---Mark 4: 38-41 "Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows." ---Native American proverb 2
Sunday, March 5 Worship-Holy Communion and Sunday School 10 a.m. Confirmation Class Presentation Confirm Your Faith Choir Practice Sunday, March 12 Worship and Sunday School 10 a.m. Choir Practice DON T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS SPRING FORWARD Sunday, March 19 Worship-Holy Communion and Sunday School 10 a.m. Choir Practice Sunday, March 26 Worship and Sunday School 10 a.m. UMCOR Sunday Choir Practice 3
The younger Sunday school class are learning about, Jesus Shows Love. March 5 th (To Ten Lepers) *March 12 th (To Zacchaeus) March 19 th (At the Last Supper) *March 26 th (In the Garden) Here are the CORE PRINCIPLES: Wow, what a great Confirmation class! *Confirmation is the continuation of one s faith journey (a journey begun at baptism) and the beginning of one s covenant relationship with the church- not an end unto itself. *Confirmation is more than just a series of classes. Confirmands must be fully engaged in the life of the church through worship, service, small groups, and involvement in other ministries. *Confirmands should emerge from their confirmation experience prepared for a life of Christian discipleship. *On February 5 th Jenna Rozicer, John Ripani and Jonathan Rozicer gave a wonderful power point presentation, KNOW YOUR STORY in church. *We thank Dan Hoffman for running the powerpoint* *Then the whole confirmation class had a FUN time bowling after church. *The Confirmation class and Sunday school class gave an inspiring Valentine s skit from Galatians 5:22-23 about the nine Fruits of the Spirits. Take a LOOK at it on the wall next to the back door **March 5 th CONFIRM YOUR FAITH, power point presentation will be given by Shana Christian and James Covert. **March 19 th the Confirmation class will be collect food for People to People at De Cicco s from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Please come and HELP US out! ***March 26 th the children will sing a surprise song in church. Peace Be With You All, Patricia Javenes, Sunday School Superintendent 4
The Trustees completed several projects. A major one was the installation of air conditioning in Fellowship Hall. In addition to church functions, the space is used by a number of groups who provide significant donations to the church funds. This past summer s heat highlighted the need to provide a more comfortable environment for their participants. It also provides a comfortable alternative space for church services should the temperature in the sanctuary be too uncomfortable in the heat of the summer. After numerous complaints about the lack of heat in the hallway leading to the sanctuary, the Trustees arranged for wall (cove) heating to be installed in that area. The cold hallway also had impacted our ability to maintain comfortable temperatures in the offices and choir room despite their independent heating systems. Finally, a contractor was hired to reinstall the lighting on the outside crosses. As part of that project, they installed a new junction box, a photocell control for the lights on the crosses, underground wiring and new outdoor fixtures to illuminate the front sign and crosses. Dust in the sanctuary was traced to dirty filters in the heating system which have now been replaced. Thanks to Larry Harper and Jeannine Alexandro. Next on the agenda are plans to update the utility closet by cleaning out and discarding unnecessary and outdated equipment, installing a new utility sink and purchasing new cleaning equipment for our contract cleaners. If you have any issues the Trustees need to address, please let one of the Trustees know: Burt Renfroe, Roy Kepler, Frank Brooks, Mary Gardella, Joann Hegarty, Jocelyn Hughes, Dan Hoffman, Matt Svensen, Larry Harper. 5
People-to People Food Collection Sundays March 5 And April 2 CUMAC Food Collection Sunday March 19 Thanks to Linda Morano and her family for donating a console organ now located in Fellowship Hall. The organ originally belonged to Linda s grandmother, Lee Mazza s mom. This generous gift will allow us to have organ music on any day we worship in Fellowship Hall. Good Gift Card Program First, thank you to all the loyal supporters of the Food Certificate program. Second, to those who do not participate, this is an easy fundraiser for our Church, not really a Gift Card Program. We sell each week, gift cards for the full face value from Shop Rite, Stop 'n' Shop, FoodTown, and DeCicco's supermarkets. When the committee purchases these upfront, we automatically get a 5% discount. We sell to parishioners and friends at face value. If you do not attend Church, we can make arrangements to leave them with our Church Secretary, Jeanmarie Grahn, who has kindly offered her assistance :). When you shop, just hand the cashier the gift card. You do not need to use the whole amount, the balance will remain on the card until you finish it. You can also swipe them at self-serve lines. 6
Our heartiest thank you to both Martin Shapiro and Mr. Klinger who have both been loyal customers since before we took this on! They call ahead and we meet them. You can pay by check, made out to the Church, or cash. In 2015, we deposited $2,713.00 in profits. In 2016, it was only $2,402.50. But, most of the $328.00 difference was due to the closing of all A&P and Pathmark grocery stores. A few generous persons purchased the remaining cards so we would not take a major hit, and donated the food evenly to C.U.M.A.C. and to People to People. Please consider purchasing cards, everyone eats (hopefully at home...)! Cannot close without thanking Lyn Harper who has covered us as needed and to Gayle Raso and Doris Atzl who have also assisted! Thank you again for your support, Kristen and Debby Sandberg Committee Chairs It's been a somewhat quiet month but we are looking forward to daylight savings time and warmer weather. Please remember the shop when you're doing your spring cleaning. On Saturday March 11 th we will be having our winter bag sale. If you have an hour or two and would like to help, please stop by. We especially need help at 2:00 p.m. to clean up from the day. Sue Delo & Pat Javenes Watch for further information on a district wide UMW meeting scheduled for April 29 th Last year, we hosted a district wide UMW meeting that was both moving and informative. Please plan to attend. We expect to car pool to the location in New Jersey. Native Plant Sale April 29 One of the best things we can do to "help out creation" is to have native plants in our yards. They provide food and shelter for hundreds of kinds of bees, butterflies, and other critters that then in turn feed baby birds and other critters. But, where can we find beautiful native flowers, trees, shrubs, and vines? Go to the Westchester Community College's Native Plant Center on Saturday April 29 th! Save the date. And, if you have any questions, Jeannine Alexandro would be happy to answer as many as she can. 7
March 3 March 12 SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 2, 2017 8
SMALL GROUP ROUNDUP Book Club Our small group is meeting March 22 nd at 10:30 a.m. at Jeannine Alexandro's home to discuss Mind's Eye by Hakan Nesser. If you are interested in trying the club, give Jeannine a call. You will be more than welcome! Lunch Bunch The Lunch Bunch meets once a month to sample lunch at various local restaurants. Thirteen of us met on February 23 rd at the Golden Mushroom for a delightful lunch. Our next meeting will be March 30 th at Bailey s Smokehouse at 136 Eire St., Blauvelt 845-398-1454. If you would like more information or would like to join us, please let Mary Gardella know at 845-634-9381 or mhg0112@verizon.net. Focus on Health New Group Be sure to stay after worship on March 5 th as Dr.Norbert Rainford leads a small group on health and spirituality. Hiking Keep the faith! Spring will come and so will hiking season! Bible Study Our Bible Study small group wrapped up its six week session and will take a hiatus before resuming its studies after Easter. Watch for further information and consider joining this group to deepen your faith in fellowship with fellow members. 9
The following letter sent by Bishop John Schol emphasizes the importance of our shared ministry commitment to the important mission work of the Greater New Jersey Conference and indeed to the wider Methodist church missions. Dear Barbara, Police officers in Delanco had their badges blessed by the congregation of Dobbins UMC because our first responders, much like our churches, are a vital link to our communities. A homeless child in Atlantic City has warm socks because the Leesburg and Delmont United Methodist Churches in Cape Atlantic hold an annual Sock Rock to provide thousands of pairs of socks to the homeless each year. Native American youth from our congregations were transformed by visiting reservations in North Dakota to deepen their faith and understanding of their heritage. A young person in Camden is learning how to be an auto mechanic for Subaru at Respond Inc, a United Methodist social services agency which was birthed from Haddonfield United Methodist Church 50 years ago. These ministries are just a tiny fraction of the ministry in Greater New Jersey that is being supported by your shared ministry giving. United Methodists are blessed to have the work of Church and Society through the conference and denomination to provide resources for ministries that align with our social beliefs. Thank you and the congregation of UMC of New City for contributing 100% of your shared ministry funds in 2016. Your service and your gifts help make sure that United Methodists are on the front lines of the ministry that is needed in today s world through the work of Church and Society, one of the many agencies that are supported by our shared ministry funds. United Methodists are making a difference through the ministry of Christ as a result of your commitment to shared ministries. Thank you. In Christ, John John Schol, Bishop The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey 10
MARCH 26 TH IS UMCOR SUNDAY AT WHICH WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONS OF THE METHODIST CHURCH. BELOW IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT UMCOR AND ITS WORK TAKEN FROM THE UMCOR WEBSITE. God's Grace And Hope Available For All Christie R. House* Because God s image is present in every human being throughout the world, mission partnership embraces witness in all cultures, traditions, political arrangements, economic structures, and languages. Theology of Mission: God s Prior Presence, Our Current Response section The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the General Board of Global Ministries disaster response and development arm. Founded in 1940 amid the devastation and suffering resulting from World War II, the agency has gained much experience in its 77 years, realigning and refining its ministries over time. Yet its basic mission has remained the same to reach vulnerable people with life-saving ministries regardless of their race, religion, creed, origin, or culture. Currently, Global Ministries general secretary, Thomas Kemper, heads the unit along with Roland Fernandes, Global Ministries general treasurer and chief operating officer. A cornerstone of UMCOR s ministry is Disaster Response including both international and US-based disaster-response coordination. In either case, UMCOR works through partner organizations that are already present in a region annual conferences in the United States and Methodist or ecumenical connections internationally, as well as local or international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). UMCOR responds to requests for help in a variety of ways, sometimes providing grants or personnel to assess disaster situations. In the United States, UMCOR coordinates volunteer teams and the distribution of relief supplies, such as health kits, flood buckets, or other necessities. Case management is another area of US expertise that UMCOR has refined and developed through various response efforts. Responses differ according to the context of the disaster and available resources. The Rev. Jack Amick, UMCOR s senior director for Disaster Relief, recently traveled to Haiti to assess some of the damage after Hurricane Matthew struck in 2016. UMCOR opened a country office in Haiti shortly after the 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of the country. I had the opportunity to travel with the UMCOR Haiti team to the southwestern-most tip of Haiti, to the town of Port-Salut, he reported. Most of the families we visited were sleeping in hastily constructed structures. In front of these huts were piles of rubble, their former homes. 11
UMCOR Earns Coveted 4-STAR Rating From Charity Navigator UMCOR Earns Coveted 4-Star Rating From Charity Navigator Atlanta, GA (February 7, 2017) The strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the first time that UMCOR has earned this top distinction. Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4- star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. These Accountability & Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity s overall rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders. On June 1, 2016, Charity Navigator upgraded its methodology for rating each charity s financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiate the financial health of its 4-star charities. UMCOR s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public, according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds UMCOR to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support UMCOR. As a ministry of The United Methodist Church through the General Board of Global Ministries, UMCOR s goal is to assist the most vulnerable persons affected by crisis or chronic need. We believe all people have God-given worth and dignity. It is important our donors trust that we re using their donations wisely to accomplish this goal, said Thomas Kemper, chief executive of the General Board of Global Ministries. This 4-star Charity Navigator rating, along with the fact that UMCOR has met all 20 of the criteria set by the Better Business Bureau for charities, demonstrate to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability. 12
About Charity Navigator Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org, is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of more than 8,000 charities. Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501 (c) (3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America's charitable givers. Charity Navigator, can be reached directly by telephone at (201) 818-1288, or by mail at 139 Harristown Road, Suite 101, Glen Rock, N.J., 07452. About General Board of Global Ministries The General Board of Global Ministries, www.umcmission.org, is the global mission agency of The United Methodist Church. A major responsibility of Global Ministries is to connect the various parts of the Church as United Methodists engage in global mission. As a biblically-rooted and historically-informed organization, Global Ministries facilitates engagement in God's mission. As part of Global Ministries, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), www.umcor.org, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. Please consider donating generously this month as I have not had enough to bring to Patterson yet this year. If you have donated please know I am holding that at my house until the trip is warranted. Thank you so much! Sue Delo March 12 March 20 13
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