MARCH METHODELMA Elma United Methodist Church Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who was, who is, and who will come again. By the time you read this almost all will have heard the news of my appointment to the Kenmore UMC beginning July 1, 2015. Despite that there will be change, I am eager for what we can do together in the coming months. This has taken me back to a scripture which we have used throughout my time at Elma UMC. It reads, "Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). As you know, I run and race frequently. Part of the reality of a race, as the author of Hebrews is also laying out, is that it has a start and a finish. What matters is how we endure, how we run between those two times. We are still in the midst of our time together. My prayer and hope is that you will join with me in the remaining time that we have as we show in our faith how we endure in the race that is set before us. Know that as we work together, I will be leaning, striving, surging and hopefully inspiring in the way that I run this final leg of my race with you. But this is not about me and not even about what we have and can, or what we haven't and couldn't, do together. This is about our faith. Again from Hebrews, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish." Endure with me. Let us together grow in our faith, deepen in our commitment to Christ, and run together giving everything we have, leaning to the point of nearly falling as we wait to break the tape at the finish whenever that may come as "A Loving Church Serving A LOVING GOD!" Yours In Christ, Pastor Daven 2991 Bowen Road Elma, NY 14059 716-652-5427 eumcsecretary@gmail.com www.elmaunitedmethodist.com
Lenten Project Gateway-Longview Foster Care and Adoption Services has served the WNY community since 1890. Recently they put out a call for s so they can provide each teen a as they continue on their spiritual journey. Elma UMC s Mission Committee heard that call and is asking the congregation to provide one year s worth of s to our friends and neighbors at Gateway-Longview for their teen program. We can purchase the s for just $4 each. Throughout the month of March we will be collecting Money. On any Sunday, please place an envelope in the collection plate with $4 in it marked Money. We will gather the funds and purchase the s for Gateway. Watch the Bulletin Board outside the office to see the number of s we are able to purchase as the Extreme s go from a Black & White picture to color. Each Cover represents 1 case of 24 s. Our goal is to be able to send Gateway 4 cases by the end of March. Any additional funds will be used by Gateway for their teen program. Thank you for continuing to be A Loving Church Serving A Loving God. Easter Flower Orders In addition to having the option of CWS blankets, pink tulips, white lilies, regal geraniums, cineraria & senetti may be ordered for the Easter Altar (April 5th). Please place your order no later than March 22nd so the order may be placed with the Greenhouse. Order forms are available from an usher on Sunday morning or on our website under the announcement tab. Cineraria Senetti Service March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 Fellowship Erhardt Families & Gary & Sharon Renn Marilyn Hartman & Laura Buechi McCarthy Family, Rose Shiesley, Joan Zimmerman Fuer Family Nowak Family, Mylinda Plauman, Sue Brunner Flowers available Rose Shiesley available available available Greeters Ken & Carol Garland Brunner Family Fuer Family Kevin & Ann Marie McCarthy Rose Shiesley & Betty Wantuck Liturgist Keith Zimmerman Greg Schuetz Sue Brunner Hanna Wargula Annette DeNies Toddler Time Mylinda Plauman & Rob Coatsworth Amanda Ball, Cheryl Kowalski, Nina Wargula, Rose McCarthy Sue & Hans Brunner, Tammy Sugrue Laura & Charlotte Buechi, Nancy Gradwell Carrie & Leah Schmitz, Bev Hornung, Abby Kegler Ushers Coatsworth Family Rose Shiesley & Jerry Broska Wargula Family Judi & Sue Wollen, McCarthy Family Brunner Family 2015 College Scholarship Applications are now available on line under the announcement tab.
LENTEN SCHEDULE Palm Sunday - March 29th 8 am & Worship Services Holy Thursday - April 2nd 7 pm Communion/ Foot Washing Service Good Friday - April 3rd 7 pm Tenebrae Service Easter Sunday - April 5th Sunrise in the prayer garden 6:30 am, 8 am and 10:30 am Communion Services One Great Hour of Sharing When disaster strikes around the globe Haiti s 2010 earthquake or Hurricane Sandy of 2012 so many watching the drama unfold on our living room televisions feel entirely helpless. How could any one person make a difference in the wake of such widespread devastation? As responders around the globe scramble to help survivors, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR, is prepared to act. So don t be fooled by the word committee. Since 1940, when UMCOR s forerunner was established to meet the needs of those suffering overseas at the onset of World War II, we ve continued to respond to those in desperate need today throughout more than eighty countries around the world. The response of UMCOR isn t something they do, it s something we do. When You Give You Equip Christ s Body to Serve in His Name That s because your generous giving to One Great Hour of Sharing is what allows UMCOR to act as the arms and legs of Christ s church, moving toward the most vulnerable in their darkest days. Convinced that all people have God-given worth and dignity without regard to race, religion or gender together we are assisting those impacted by crisis or chronic need. Because you give, the United Methodist Church s compassionate response to human suffering continues today: When tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, we responded When children in Zimbabwe lost parents to AIDS, we responded When a massive tsunami devastated lives in Japan, we responded And when the next mass crisis occurs, we will be prepared to respond UMCOR will be able to offer aid in Jesus name to those who suffer because United Methodists give through One Great Hour of Sharing. In fact, it s your generous giving that allows us to respond when disaster strikes. Not they. We. Ensure the United Methodist Church Can Keep Helping Will you continue to give to One Great Hour of Sharing? Will you continue to meet the needs of the children, families and communities who ve experienced devastation in the wake of disaster? When we meet the needs of those who suffer we actually minister to Jesus, who said: I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me. (Mt. 25:35-36, CEB) As we respond, we recognize Jesus in those who are reeling in the wake of disaster. UMCOR Special Collection March 15
Missions FISH Wow! FISH was amazed by the 109 cans of tuna that were donated on Super Bowl Sunday! Thank you to everyone who contributed. It is such a great help to them this time of year when donations are sparse. The March item is canned ravioli. Friends of the Night People In coordination with our youth, we will again be providing unfrosted cupcakes for them to decorate on March 29. Please sign up to provide these and/or frosting and trimmings on the sign-up sheet on the Fellowship hall bulletin board. In addition, we are requesting fresh fruits and vegetables to deliver along with the cupcakes. These extras help stretch the healthy meals they serve every evening to the needy on the lower West Side, and are gratefully received. Brand New Bulletin Board Please take several minutes to look at the Missions/Outreach Bulletin Board. It is a graphic representation of the outreach Elma UMC provides in our community, our nation and our world, made possible by your support of the church budget and by giving in response to special offerings. Thank you! Independence Foundation One of the organizations we support is The Independence Foundation, founded right here in Elma, celebrating their ten year anniversary this month. We invite you to join us at any or all of our three Independence Houses on Wednesday, March 25 th from 6pm-8pm. Join us at each house! Speak directly with the people who benefit from our programs! The tenants have planned themed snacks, refreshments and decorations to add a festive flair! The houses are the Warren House, the Girard House, and the Chestnut House. Please call Chris at 685-3976 to RSVP (so they can plan) and to obtain the address of the houses. The Independence Foundation is dedicated to providing support and assistance to individuals with physical disabilities, so they may live independent and self-directed lives. The goal is to provide opportunities in accessible housing (by partnering with People, Inc.), employment, social activities, community involvement and recreation. It is run entirely by Volunteer staff to ensure that all donations go directly to the individuals they serve. Items from Administrative Council January and February 2015 The role of Administrative Council is to administer. The word administer is made of two words. ad: to move in the direction of minister: to perform service, care or aid This year, Ad Council has been exploring the ways Elma United Methodist Church might move further into ministry. We have brainstormed several ideas. If you have any ideas to suggest, please contact any ac council member and share your thoughts with us. In our January meeting, we accepted Kevin McCarthy as a member of the SPPRC committee. Joanne Harris Ad Council
2 Kings Answer Key UMW Hot Dog Sunday March 15 is Hot Dog Sunday! After the 10:30 service,enjoy a grilled hot dog, chips, cookie and drink for a donation to the United Methodist Women's camping scholarship fund. Your donation helps to provide money that the UMW gives to each young person in our church who attends a Methodist summer camp
Birthdays 1 Trustees 11:30 am 8 9 15 One Great Hour of Sharing UMW Hot Dog Sale 2 3 Ad Council 6:45 pm 16 Lunch Bunch 12:30 p Alton s Missions 7 pm F³ at Page s Grille 6 pm 10 17 22 23 24 29 Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast 30 31 4 Lectionary 10 am Book Club 7 pm Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland 11 Lectionary 10 am 5 6 7 12 Prayer Knots for Veterans Corned Beef Dinner 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 Lectionary 10 am 26 27 28 UMW Communion Breakfast 9 am Spaghetti Dinner & Train Show As has become our practice on Palm Sunday, please bring in fresh produce for Friends of Night People. Cupcakes will also be decorated by families after services to send as a special treat. George Blair 3/1 Patricia Sommersdorf 3/4 Ty Talty 3/4 Brittany Wojnar 3/5 Bryan Green 3/6 Cody Lombard 3/6 Charles Majeski 3/6 Kathy Majeski 3/7 Kyle Woods 3/9 Philip Hill 3/11 Kevin McCarthy 3/11 Martha Horohoe 3/12 Deborah Wilson 3/17 Chris Erhardt 3/18 Ray Piscitelli 3/19 George Beyer 3/22 David Guenther 3/22 Michael Coatsworth 3/24 Matthew Karp 3/24 Chloe Garbacz 3/25 George Hake 3/26 Brian Krah 3/26 Greg Fuer 3/28 David Schaaf 3/28 Belle Jacobs 3/29 Leah Schmitz 3/30 Emma Fisher 3/31 Barbara Jones 3/31 Scott Zimmerman 3/31 Anniversaries Joe & Betty Boofer 3/3 Jerry & Erika Felber 3/7 Karen Cordes 3/29 The annual UMW Communion Breakfast welcomes all women to come together and worship. Please gather at Christ UMC Synder, or Churchill Memorial UMC Boston on March 28th to share in Christ s table.