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10/2/26 News Flash

Oct 2

7 min read

Hamburg United Methodist Church

116 Union St

Hamburg, New York, 14075

(716) 649-8080

Worship Sundays at 10 am

Welcoming New Members to Our Faith Family!

We are delighted to share that Bob and Wendy Lampert officially joined Hamburg United Methodist Church on Sunday, September 13! They come to us as a transfer of membership from First United Methodist Church in Columbia, TN. Please take a moment to greet Bob and Wendy, give them a warm Hamburg UMC welcome, and help them feel right at home!

Our Little Lamb Preschool teachers, Mrs. Lisa Link, Mrs. Laura Herman and Mrs. Marcy Koch, put up a beautiful fall display of artwork made by the Multiage and Two’s classes today inside the Hamburg Public Library. It will be on display all of October. We hope that you will stop in and see it! Thank you children and teachers!

We always appreciate your help for the

Homespun Holiday Bazaar

And the shopping fun is Nov. 6-7

Let the holiday shopping begin at the popular Homespun Holiday Bazaar Friday, Nov. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Note that this year Friday hours are extended by one hour for your shopping pleasure!

United Women in Faith hosts the annual event and proceeds benefit ministries in our church, our Hamburg community and across Western New York, and often the church budget. A total of $4,750 was contributed to nine organizations from the 2025 bazaar proceeds.

Did you know that anyone involved at Hamburg UMC has the opportunity to join in and help make the bazaar a success! We can’t do this without a little bit of help from you and we are truly grateful for all of your support. We love your help with baking, crafts, set up before the bazaar and break down Saturday after 2 p.m. and Sunday about 11:45 a.m. Sign-up sheets will be in the Gathering Space on the counter. Thank you!

The bazaar will feature community vendors, handcrafted items from our UWF and church members, our large Granny's Attic area; lots of delectable baked goods including pies, cookies, coffee cakes and more, and our famous pecans and fruitcake for sale.

All of this fun is only about one month away! Yay!

RETIRED MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

The Retired Men’s Fellowship will be gathering for lunch on Tuesday, October 20 at 12 noon at ZJ’s Restaurant in the Hamburg Village Plaza. All retired men of our church are invited. Come and bring a friend for good fellowship and good food. Come and share your joys and concerns.

Any questions? See Dick Caldwell.

Dick Caldwell, facilitator

Adult Sunday School

John Meader’s Adult Sunday School class has resumed. We’re studying Rev. Tom Berlin’s book “Courage” which examines the life of Jesus, what true courage is, and how God works through those who step out in faith.

Books are provided and all are welcome to join for discussion and fellowship.

Sunday mornings at 9am in the church parlor.

Supporting Youth Mission: Phoebe’s Journey to Thailand

We are excited to announce that one of our own youth Phoebe has been selected to participate in the UMC North East Jurisdiction Mission of Peace trip to Thailand in February 2027! Building on her experience at the Global Young Persons Convocation in Ireland, this mission trip offers a wonderful opportunity to put faith into action through cultural immersion and community service.

To help cover travel, meal, and airfare expenses (totaling $5,200), a GoFundMe page has been established. Following her return, Phoebe looks forward to once again sharing her reflections and experiences with the congregation and the congregations of the Southern Tier Circuit.

To help Phoebe reach her fundraising goal of $5,200 for airfare, meals, and travel, please consider making a gift:

Donate online via her GoFundMe Page
Make out a check to Hamburg UMC (Memo Line: Mission of Peace)

Your prayers, encouragement, and support for our youth are deeply appreciated!

Book Club kicked off this year’s reading season with a discussion of Jack Mayer’s Life in a Jar. The difference one person can make for many others is shown in dramatic detail. Netflix is offering Irena’s Vow. It’s a different Irena but a compelling story of courage in the face of evil and one woman’s life-saving efforts to save Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

Our schedule for the next few months follows (4th Monday, 10:30 am) and subject to change with holidays! Stay tuned!

October 26: The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
November 23: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick (see The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan which was a bestseller in 1963)
December 28: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
January 25: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict (anyone ever hear of Rosalind Franklin?)

We welcome men and women to our discussions about a wide range of books and we’re always looking for different subjects and genres. Please join us! For those of you not able to come in person, Cristina has the Zoom link so just give her a call (716) 648-8080).

Knitting and Crochet Group is back in session Questions to Anne Brown

Join Our Music Ministry! Singers and Ringers Needed 🎵🔔

As we step into a new season of worship and fellowship, our Music Ministry warmly invites you to share your gifts with our congregation! Whether you love to sing or enjoy ringing, there is a place for you in our ensembles.

We are currently welcoming new members for both our Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir:

Handbell Choir: Rehearses on Tuesdays. Handbells bring a beautiful, unique texture to our worship services throughout the year. Ability to read basic sheet music or rhythmic notation is helpful, but we are more than happy to teach you as we go!
Chancel Choir: Rehearses on the first Tuesday of the month (October through May) from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and meets Sundays at 9:00 AM to prepare for morning worship. No formal vocal training is needed—just a love for singing and praising God together!

Joining the music team is a wonderful way to deepen your faith, build lasting friendships, and serve our church community. Even if you can only commit for a specific season or holiday period, we would love to have you.

Interested or have questions? Contact Music Director Jeannine Vanwey at Vanwey@roadrunner.com or stop by the choir room before Sunday service.

Congregation, We are looking for old photos and photo albums from Little Lamb Preschool. Apparently, there had been an orange colored photo album that had been in the Parlor but has been moved. If anyone has photos or would be willing to give a “testimonial” about having attended the program, or having had children or grandchildren attend, that would be wonderful to be able to share in future articles. Please contact Pat Adema at: ptadema@aol.com. Thank you.

NEW H.U.M.C ‘s Book Exchange

Effective immediately any member may On your honor Take one book leave/one book from our book case located on the mezzanine 2nd floor by the elevator.

(This experiment has no connection with the Church Library

located off the Gathering Space)

These will be books you personally own and trade

for one available in the bookcase. If you have other current in good condition books you wish to donate they would be appreciated to maintain this experiment.

Thanks for helping. Any question ask Pam Walters or Jerry Schneggenburger

Ongoing Fundraiser For Little Lamb

Please consider donating your empty bottles and cans to the Bottle & Can Redemption Center at 4255 Clark Street in Hamburg. Thank you!

Christmas in the Country — Come Help CIA Raise Some Money!

One of the biggest fundraisers Churches In Action does each year is Christmas in the Country at the Hamburg Fairgrounds—and it’s a really simple way to help.

We sell $2 bags, and Churches In Action gets to keep $1 from every bag sold. The best part? The volunteer shifts are short—generally three hours or less.

We’ll be volunteering Thursday, November 5 through Sunday, November 8, and we’d love to have you join us for a shift. You can volunteer by yourself, with a friend, or bring someone from your church.

Want to help?

Call Sue Rich at 716-648-5785 or, even easier, text Sue at 716-912-1495 and she’ll get you signed up.

Tai Chi is back in person in the fellowship or Zoom Weather Dependent, Please contact Caroline Schneggenburger for details.

Due to continued technical issues with Facebook Live, We will be streaming solely to Youtube for the foreseeable future.

Please make sure to "Like" and "Subscribe"

COFFEE HOUR COMMITTEES

OCTOBER: MEN’S GROUP

NOVEMBER: FINANCE

DECEMBER: SPRC

Groups are to provide goodies/ snacks

each Sunday of the month they are scheduled.

CALLING FOR COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS

Did you know HUMC has committees whose members volunteer to host coffee hour once or twice a month? Most of these volunteers are on several committees where they are repeatedly hosting to provide goodies each Sunday.

We are opening this ministry up to Individuals or families who would be willing to occasionally be hosts or hostesses.

It’s simply making coffee, lemonade, bringing homemade or store bought items, and cleaning up afterwards.

A sign-up sheet is located on the counter in the gathering space, outside the front office

Where you can pick a Sunday of your choosing.

Would you consider joining in this time of fellowship?

Please get in touch with Sue Gagne with any questions.

Order of Worship

Sunday, October 4, 2026 10 amYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@hamburgumc/streams

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP

What happens in our hearts when what we intend for good is not well received by others?

Jesus, may we trust you with the outcomes when we are faithful to do what is right.

What does trust look like when doing the right things is what gets us into trouble?

Spirit, lead us in the way that is right and to stand firm when that path leads to storms.

Jesus loves us in bold ways, pouring our grace when we do not deserve it. What will our response be to God’s gifts in our lives?

May we love boldly, and find how God will use that love to change the world. AMEN.

OPENING HYMN: “The Voice of the Lord Is Calling #436 UMH

OPENING PRAYER

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,

Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things

to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SCRIPTURE: Acts 5:17-42 (CEB) Luke 9:22-26 (CEB) Read by: P/S Gagne

SERMON: “Worthy to Suffer” Rev. Dr. David Nicol

CHOIR ANTHEM: “Covenant Prayer”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE PEACE TITHES & OFFERINGS tithes.hamburgumc.org/Give

DOXOLOGY “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow” #94 UMH

The Great Thanksgiving

Sung Responses

THE LORD'S PRAYER

SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP

CLOSING HYMN: “Fill My Cup Lord” #3093 Worship & Song

BENEDICTION

October 2026 Newsletter

Oct 1

18 min read

Hamburg United Methodist Church 116 Union St Hamburg, New York, 14075 (716) 649-8080 Sundays at 10 am

Also Streamed Via Facebook Live & Youtube

Church Calendar

Worship Live Stream

Online Giving

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I wrote last month, we are sharing in a sermon series based on the Book of Acts for the next several weeks. This is not accidental! Among the most pressing matters for Christian life and community is understanding discipleship and the call to live as disciples of Jesus Christ! If you join a local Church, your first priority is not to the congregation, to the building, or even to the ministries that the congregation offers to the community, it ought to be to Jesus. I don’t think many people who call themselves Christian would argue that. One of the reasons I remain glad to be a United Methodist is the way we have laid claim to our mission: “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches and extension ministries of the Church provide the most significant arenas through which disciple-making of the Church provide the most significant arenas through which disciple-making occurs.” That is a strong statement of what the Church ought to be!

Hamburg UMC, Four Corners UMC, and Versailles UMC are not just gatherings of people who love each other and who may be open to inviting new people to be a part of the community–they are (as all United Methodist congregations are supposed to be) places where anyone can meet Jesus, grow as followers of him, and grow in grace in ways their lives look more like his, so the world around us is different because of how we live in it. We are privileged to be a part of this work together, and to have a ministry like Sparks of Hope (which is, in most ways, a kind of extension ministry) to offer opportunities for people to experience the grace of God in Jesus Christ, to become disciples, and to continue to grow into the new life he offers us freely!

Acts gives us a window into the life of the early Christian community, into the way our earliest forebears understood what it meant to be disciples of Jesus after the Ascension, and how they announced the reign of God that could transform both individuals and the world. It tells us stories of persecution, of compassion for each other and strangers, and of growth driven by living differently because if Jesus is Lord that means his ways are more important than whatever the rest of the world tells us matters. Yet, the earliest disciples lived within the Roman empire, many in Judea, among both followers of the God of Israel and those who had no idea what God had commanded Israel to be as a light to the nations. I am excited to share these stories with you until November, and to pick up again after Epiphany so that together we might learn to follow Jesus more boldly in our current world.

One of the most profound challenges for me in the New Testament is the way generosity played out in the early Church. The followers of Jesus shared meals, they shared time, they shared money, and they even collected to care for other local communities and the poor in their midst! Acts talks about it, the early Church invented the office of Deacon to support the community in caring for those most in need (Acts 6). If we only had the New Testament, the call for us to share of our time, our talents, and our treasure so the world could see Christ’s reign at work among us would be profound. However, outside sources speak of the way Christians in the Roman world shared among themselves to assure no one was hungry, and no one was left behind, and tell stories of Christians caring for those with terrifying diseases when Roman doctors and nobles fled to the hills (lepers, always, and those suffering from deadly plagues when they struck). This is what we are called to be in the world–the kind of people who quietly care for those struggling with hardships in life, with social stigmatization, with fears and anxieties, with poverty, with illness, with addiction, not because it benefits us, but because that’s the way of Jesus.

I’m sure there were times early Christian communities struggled financially. Paul repeatedly asked Christians to collect for the church in Jerusalem, whose need to help those in their care must have exceeded local resources (1 Cor 16:1–4; 2 Cor 8:1–9:15; Rom 15:14–32 ). Today, we are invited to give to provide for the ministries of our local congregation, and through our budget, through our Missions giving, through special giving to Sparks of Hope, through Special Sundays, and through our Ministry Shares that support the work of our Annual Conference (and through it other churches in our area) and the General Church. In November, we will have three weeks of special emphasis on Stewardship with our Consecration Sunday when we hope to have pledged estimates of giving to support the work of Christ and His Church on November 22. This year, that is the celebration of Christ the King, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and a wonderful time to commit ourselves to the mission of Christ before Advent begins and to prepare for the 2027 budget year.

This year has not been without financial challenges for us either. A loophole in the tax code allows tax-exempt properties to remain on the tax roll for a year following the application for tax exempt status (based on taxable status date). Next year, the parsonage will be free of town, county, and school taxes, but this year the continuation of those payments have created a financial hardship for us (the cost of paying and housing your pastor has been about the same, with those factored in, as when paying housing allowance, but next year and following years we will see a real savings to the budget as a result of the purchase). Additionally, some other unexpected costs have left us farther behind than expected this year. If you have been blessed financially in ways that allow you to help offset that this year, I would invite you to prayerfully consider doing so. Recognizing ongoing financial challenges, the Church Council, SPRC, the Board of Trustees, and the Finance Committee have been working diligently to explore creative ways to reduce the cost of offering ministry to the world and to strengthen giving and explore creative ways to increase revenue to provide for our ministries. This may lead to some difficult decisions to manage the costs of resourcing ministry in terms of staff and facilities use, but I hope will also lead to exciting new opportunities for connecting with our community and the world.

If you are a regular giver to Hamburg UMC, you will be receiving a letter from the Finance Committee and from me in early November, inviting you to prayerfully consider your part in financially supporting our shared ministry to Hamburg and the wider world. I hope you will see that as an invitation to live out discipleship in your financial life of giving, as your prayers, presence, service, and witness are lived out in worship, study, hands on ministry and sharing your faith in other parts of your life as well. God is faithful, and walks with us in all aspects of our lives, and for that we can be grateful!

Serving Christ, with you,

Pastor David Nicol

Important Announcements from the Church Office

The Church Office will be closed on Monday October 19th

Content for the gathering space slide show is accepted weekly

and due on Wednesday Morning to the church office.

**Please note for repeating slides, the last Sunday it should be run.

Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8am-3pm

Tuesday/Thursday: Closed

Email us!!

Pastor David: PastorDavid@hamburgumc.org

Jeannine Vanwey: Music@hamburgumc.org

Emily Slocum: Treasurer@hamburgumc.org

Patrick Fitzgerald: AV@hamburgumc.org

Cristina Glover: Office@hamburgumc.org

HUMC CELEBRATES OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

DONNA SUMMERS Oct 11

SHE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM HER CHURCH FAMILY

Equip Future Leaders on World Communion Sunday

On Sunday, October 4, United Methodists around the globe come together to celebrate World Communion Sunday—a powerful reminder that we are one in Christ across every culture, language, and background.

Beyond celebrating Holy Communion together, this Special Sunday directly supports racial-ethnic education and leadership development across our denomination. Half of the funds raised provide scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students of color pursuing ordained ministry, while the remainder funds diversity training and leadership development programs worldwide.

How You Can Give

You can make a difference through your giving at any time during the month of October:

In Person: Place your gift in the offering plate on Sunday, October 4 (or any Sunday in October), designated for World Communion Sunday.
By Check: Mail a check to Hamburg UMC with "World Communion Sunday" in the memo line.
Online or Direct Mail: You can also donate online directly at donate.gcfa.org/wcs or mail a check to the General Commission on Finance and Administration (P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203).

Thank you for investing in the future of the Church and empowering the next generation of leaders!

Our schedule for the next few months follows (4th Monday, 10:30 am) and subject to change with holidays! Stay tuned!

October 26: The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
November 23: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick (see The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan which was a bestseller in 1963)
December 28: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
January 25: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict (anyone ever hear of Rosalind Franklin?)

The History and Importance of Little Lamb Preschool to HUMC

and the Community

The following article ran in “The Sun” on June 10, 2004. It was part of the “Out of the Past” section.

“In June 1963 Hamburg Methodist Church member Jack Fionzor was asked to head up a committee to look into the possibility of establishing a Pre-Kindergarten Day School. It was felt that with only one other pre-school in Hamburg, a church- sponsored pre-school would serve church members and the community while building the image of the church. It’s interesting that today (6/10/2004)

there are numerous pre-k schools, but in the early 1960’s there was but one in the village.”

“Official board approval was given in September 1963 and in October of that year, Ruth Crocker was introduced as the school’s first director, Ruth Garrison as its first teacher and Wendy (Daugherty) Grove as the art teacher. Mrs. Garrison came to Hamburg from Lincoln, Nebraska in 1942. While in Lincoln, she taught at a junior high school before coming east with her husband, Maurice, who took a job as an engineer with Ross Heater on Walden Avenue.”

“The Church’s Pre-K Day School opened its doors for the first time in January 1964 in its present location in two rooms on the second floor of the church building. Although connected to the church, the school was independent in its rules and regulations. For the first few years, the school offered classes for four-year-olds only, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to 11:30 am. Later, Tuesday and Thursday classes were added for those children who were classified as young four-year-olds, and by 1980 those who were three years old were admitted. Today (6/10/2004 and currently) the school is open to two-,three-, and four-year-old children.”

“In 1990 the Church’s Day School committee dropped the ‘Pre-Kindergarten’ from its name and changed the name to ‘Little Lamb Preschool’ to better reflect its purpose as a school with a Christian atmosphere. It may be of interest to some that when the school opened in 1964, tuition was $14.00 per month.” When this was written, the school’s director was Pam Stornelli and Amy Rydholm and Lynn Merkel were the teachers. Although retired five years ago, Lynn Merkel continues to be on the Little Lamb Board.

“Today the Little Lamb Preschool program is but one of many in Hamburg, but the church can be proud of the fact that it was one of the first to recognize the need and in doing so it has for the last forty years established an enduring legacy, creating a foundation for hundreds of children starting school for the first time.” This information had been compiled from the Little Lamb staff by Hamburg Town Historian, Jim Baker.

The following comments are memories from Amy Rydholm who taught at Little Lamb Preschool for 30 years and is an active member of our church. “I taught at Little Lamb Preschool for 30 years and loved every minute of it! Being one of the first teachers to help open little minds to education is very special and at that age they are so excited to learn.”

“Having the school in my very own church made teaching even better for me. We opened each day with a little prayer and also said grace before our daily snack. In October a trip to a green house where everybody picked out a pumpkin, Thanksgiving feast, visiting Santa at Chestnut Ridge and acting out the Christmas story in our classrooms.”

“A big favorite time was Father’s night and a special Mother’s Day morning. Usually once a month we would go down to visit Mrs. Rood’s Respite program and sing a few of our favorite songs for them”

“Truthfully the thing I loved most were all the hugs and love I received and the joy of watching them grow during the time they were with me.”

The following comments are from Kurt Nelson, a member of the very first Pre-Kindergarten Day School in January 1964 and an active member of our church today. A photo from the past shows him with his classmates! Thank you Ruth Garrison for keeping these treasured memories!

“Greetings to my brothers and sisters of 1st United Methodist Church in Hamburg, NY! I thought I’d take this time to reflect back on my early formative years. We have all had certain moments in our ’story’ that stand apart from the more mundane memories that tend to fade over time. Specifically, those early ones that helped define our self-awareness…of who we are and what we would like to become.”

“I was fortunate to have parents who understood the value of attending (and more importantly: ‘BELONGING’ to) a faith community, such as the one we have established here at LITTLE LAMB NURSERY that they enrolled me into the inaugural class (of ‘64?). There are two aspects of that experience that resonate with me to this day:

First and foremost was a feeling of acceptance & belonging with an emerging sense of what we call ‘fellowship’. I loved our communal activities, like when we all pretended to be cars, obeying the large traffic signs that were set out to mark our roadway (complete with a railroad crossing sign, still vivid in my mind). It was an excellent intro to a harmonious sense of equanimity…a place where rules existed, and behavior was predictable. I liked that sense of order and was shaped by that dynamic.”

The second most poignant memory wasn’t particularly pleasant but was instrumental none the less. That wonderful harmony was briefly disrupted by a fellow 4 yr. old (whose name I still recall lol!) who kicked over my stellar tower of blocks, laughed, then left. What I learned then was of incalculable value: I didn’t sit there and cry, I figured that this must be the way to deal with things, so proceeded to calmly walk over and kick his blocks down (and of course he cried!)

Thank you Amy and Kurt for your memories!

I also had a lovely conversation with Mary Murray, Ruth Garrison’s daughter who lives in Orchard Park and has many close friends at HUMC! She even remembers how Alice Say use to babysit her! Mary gave me similar details that I have related from Jim Baker’s article, but also shared how many wonderful memories she has of growing up in this church and her parents love and involvement in Hamburg Methodist Church. Our church is stronger because of the disciples Ruth and Maurice Garrison were and Mary Murray is.

Please share memories, photos and testimonials with Pat Adema at: ptadema@aol.com.

I look forward to continuing past and present stories of Little Lamb Preschool with the congregation and community!

Pat Adema, Board Member

Church Council

August 24, 2026

Present: Pastor David, Rollin Shoemaker, Jerry Schneggenburger, Caroline Schneggenburger, Matt Edie, Bob Cook, David Rood, Rick Park, Cheryl Bell, Dan Paskie, Pat Adema, Emily Slocum

Pastor David opened with a prayer.

Rollin made the motion to approve the minutes of July 27, 2026. Bob seconded the motion. Motion approved.

Matt reported that there has been a positive $1,000 change to our budget status, but nothing else is significantly changed in the last month. HUMANGO made $100 more than budgeted. Pat reported that the basket and gift card raffles and silent auctions were successful. There were a few new people who helped with HUMANGO. Pat Adema, and Paul and Sue Gagne are stepping away from HUMANGO. We thank them for all the work done over the years to make this a successful fund raiser.

Matt also reported that Finance will be meeting in September. Agenda items will include the stewardship campaign and the ongoing audits.

Rick reported that a new safe has been ordered and should be delivered soon.

Rollin continues to work on the windows campaign summary. He hopes it will be completed next month.

Pastor David is hopeful that the parsonage open house and dedication can be held at the end of September.

Rick reported that a new monitor for the fire doors will be installed on Friday at a cost of $1,000.

Emily reported that Cristina has researched work room printer lease options to replace the Xerox lease we currently have. Emily presented lease with Usherwood which would be 5 years and save us $900 over the length of the lease. Trustees will look into this.

Dave Rood reported that the roof repairs are being completed.

Rollin hopes to be able to reschedule the cancelled August 22 Bison game outing.

Rick and Rollin reported that research is being done to recoup the property tax we had to pay on the Center Street purchase due to errors made by the lawyer who handled the purchase. They are drafting a letter to that attorney to begin the process of receiving that reimbursement. It will be delivered before the statute of limitations runs out.

Jerry reported that Sparks is working on how to handle the Voices of Addiction program scheduled for Sept.13, It conflicts with a Bills game.

Pat reported that the Little Lamb 2 year old class is full with a waiting list. UPK may affect enrollment in the multi age class going forward. She also gave the news that Lisa and Laura will be resigning at the end of the year so a search will begin to fill those positions for the next school year.

GROW will begin on Sept. 16.

Matt reported that we received a $20,000 donation to be used in specific ways. He will be meeting with the donor to discuss exactly how the donor intends to direct the money and how to invest it. Safe Sanctuary training is a possible use. Pastor David is researching dates to schedule the training.

Pastor David held a Zoom meeting with a company that helps churches utilize unused spaces for creating revenue. He will speak with the DS about this possibility, and hopefully have a proposal for our next meeting.

Our next meeting is scheduled for September 28, 2026.

David Rood closed with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted.

Cheryl Bell

Sandwich Ministry is an Outreach Program that represents HUMC people in action. Our church helping others in our community.

These families suffer from food insecurities, housing instability, lack of transportation and anxieties. We serve sandwiches and fruit to the people living in hotels within the Hamburg Area. Come Join Us!

We meet every Friday at 2:00 pm in the church kitchen. At 3:00pm we deliver to the families. At that time we offer hope and shine a little of God's love. This is God's grace to all.

We would like to thank our congregation for their prayers and support. We have the faith to continue. Sandwich Ministry operates on the generosity of individuals of our church who providing the supplies for the ministry.

Questions ask Ginger & Leo

NEW H.U.M.C ‘s Book Exchange

Effective immediately any member may On your honor Take one book leave/one book from our book case located on the mezzanine 2nd floor by the elevator.

(This experiment has no connection with the Church Library

located off the Gathering Space)

These will be books you personally own and trade

for one available in the bookcase. If you have other current in good condition books you wish to donate they would be appreciated to maintain this experiment.

Thanks for helping. Any question ask Pam Walters or Jerry Schneggenburger

Please join us with any project you are working on. The more the merrier.

Contact Anne Brown with any questions

Due to continued technical issues with Facebook Live, We will be streaming solely to Youtube for the foreseeable future.

Please make sure to "Like" and "Subscribe"

Ongoing Fundraiser Little Lamb Fundraiser:

Please consider donating your empty bottles and cans to the Bottle & Can Redemption Center at 4255 Clark Street in Hamburg. Thank you!

We always appreciate your help for the

Homespun Holiday Bazaar

And the shopping fun is Nov. 6-7

All of this fun is only about one month away! Yay!

BAKERS NEEDED FOR BAZAAR BAKE SALE NOV 6-7

Our Homespun Holiday Bazaar always has a huge bake sale. It’s not too

early to make and freeze some goods to sell. What to make?

Pies are our biggest seller – large and small. Small pie tins are on the

counter in the Gathering Space for you to take as many as you need.

(People who live alone are eager to buy small pies)

Quick breads – very much in demand - small loaves sell better than large-

banana , zucchini, pumpkin , cranberry, etc . – yum

Cookies – all kinds! We sell by the dozen usually but depends on the size

– you can let us do the packaging.

Sweet rolls, coffee cakes, and pastries
Peanut brittle, spiced nuts, fudge – not baked goods, but it sells well

We’ll appreciate anything you might like to make. There will be a sign-up

sheet on the counter in the Gathering Space. Please sign up to give us an

idea of what will be coming in.

Please bring your items to the church kitchen any time on Friday

(Nov.6) but no later than 5PM or on Saturday morning by 9:30. Please

use transparent wrapping so the goods are visible – LABEL if the kind

of pie, cookie, bread is not obvious – and please LABEL IF THE ITEM

CONTAINS NUTS (for people with allergies).

Thank you so much! If you have any questions, please call Barb Meader

(716-548-4139) or Amy Rydholm (585-429-0038)

RETIRED MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

Any questions? See Dick Caldwell.

Dick Caldwell, facilitator

Supporting Youth Mission: Phoebe’s Journey to Thailand

To help Phoebe reach her fundraising goal of $5,200 for airfare, meals, and travel, please consider making a gift:

Donate online via her GoFundMe Page
Make out a check to Hamburg UMC (Memo Line: Mission of Peace)

Your prayers, encouragement, and support for our youth are deeply appreciated!

Adult Sunday School

Books are provided and all are welcome to join for discussion and fellowship.

Sunday mornings at 9am in the church parlor.

Tai Chi is back to in-person practice in the Fellowship Hall

2026 Coffee Hour Schedule

OCTOBER: MEN’S GROUP

NOVEMBER: FINANCE

DECEMBER: SPRC

Groups are to provide goodies/ snacks

each Sunday of the month they are scheduled.

CALLING FOR COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS

We are opening this ministry up to Individuals or families who would be willing to occasionally be hosts or hostesses.

It’s simply making coffee, lemonade, bringing homemade or store bought items, and cleaning up afterwards.

A sign-up sheet is located on the counter in the gathering space, outside the front office

Where you can pick a Sunday of your choosing.

Would you consider joining in this time of fellowship?

Please get in touch with Sue Gagne with any questions.

Medical Equipment Lending Closet

Hamburg UMC has a medical equipment lending closet. It is located in Room 18 in the basement. Please check the closet before purchasing wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, crutches, canes, etc. The equipment available constantly changes. If you have medical equipment you are no longer using, you may donate them. We cannot take soft items such as gauze pads, diabetic supplies, incontinence, bandages, etc. For questions, please call Caroline Schneggenburger at 716-289-0541.

Join us for a virtual fellowship! This group is a place to share prayer requests, devotions, concerns, joys, and even some humor with your church family. Join the Hamburg UMC Fellowship group on Facebook.

PRAYER CONCERNS?

If you would like someone added to our church prayer list, call or text Barb Meader at 716-548-4139 or email her at bmeader712017@gmail.com, or contact anyone who is a Prayer, Care, and Share member, or Cristina in the church office. Our ministry is to pray daily for the concerns that have been shared with us.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 4:4-7)

9/25/26 News Flash

Sep 25

5 min read

Hamburg United Methodist Church

116 Union St

Hamburg, New York, 14075

(716) 649-8080

Worship Sundays at 10 am

Adult Sunday School

John Meader’s Sdult Sunday School class has resumed. We’re studying Rev. Tom Berlin’s book “Courage” which examines the life of Jesus, what true courage is, and how God works through those who step out in faith.

Books are provided and all are welcome to join for discussion and fellowship.

Sunday mornings at 9am in the church parlor.

Supporting Youth Mission: Phoebe’s Journey to Thailand

To help Phoebe reach her fundraising goal of $5,200 for airfare, meals, and travel, please consider making a gift:

Donate online via her GoFundMe Page
Make out a check to Hamburg UMC (Memo Line: Mission of Peace)

Your prayers, encouragement, and support for our youth are deeply appreciated!

The Return of Book Club

BOOK CLUB is back for a new year of interesting, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, illuminating, dreary, funny, and provocative books that expose us to new ideas and stretch our brains in many directions. Our discussions are fun because people read from different perspectives. We look forward to men and women joining us who enjoy reading or who haven’t read in a long time but would like to get back to it. The kick-off meeting for the new year will be MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, in the Library at 10:30 AM. The selection for September is Life in a Jar by Jack Mayer. It tells the true story of a WWII heroine who slipped into obscurity only to be found by a teenager in rural Kansas. Our discussion should be fun…join us!

P.S. if you would like to be included via Zoom, please contact Cristina in the office (716) 649-8080) for the link.

Knitting and Crochet Group is back in session Questions to Anne Brown

Starting Little Lamb Preschool’s 62nd year!

Hamburg United Methodist Church has a long lasting Ministry to be very proud of! Please watch for more history of Little Lamb Preschool (originally called Pre-Kindergarten Day School) in the October Newsletter. “Meet the teachers” days were this week on September 14th and 15th and the first day of school for the Multiage class of 3’s, 4’s and young 5’s was Wednesday, the 16th. The 2’s class first day was Thursday, the 17th. New families to the program and families returning from last year and who had had older children attend in the past are all part of this year’s enrollment. There were happy and excited faces as they met their teachers and saw their new classrooms!

The following photos show the teachers and classrooms and the inviting learning centers they have created. Mrs. Lisa Link is the Director and Lead Teacher, and Mrs. Laura Herman, the Assistant Teacher in the Multiage Class and Mrs. Marcy Koch is the Lead Teacher, and Mrs. Tina Paskie is the Assistant Teacher in the 2’s Class.

Thank you teachers for your love and dedication to this wonderful Ministry of the church!

Pat Adema, Chair of Little Lamb Preschool Board

NEW H.U.M.C ‘s Book Exchange

Effective immediately any member may On your honor Take one book leave/one book from our book case located on the mezzanine 2nd floor by the elevator.

(This experiment has no connection with the Church Library

located off the Gathering Space)

These will be books you personally own and trade

for one available in the bookcase. If you have other current in good condition books you wish to donate they would be appreciated to maintain this experiment.

Thanks for helping. Any question ask Pam Walters or Jerry Schneggenburger

Ongoing Fundraiser For Little Lamb

Please consider donating your empty bottles and cans to the Bottle & Can Redemption Center at 4255 Clark Street in Hamburg. Thank you!

Tai Chi is back in person in the fellowship or Zoom Weather Dependent, Please contact Caroline Schneggenburger for details.

Due to continued technical issues with Facebook Live, We will be streaming solely to Youtube for the foreseeable future.

Please make sure to "Like" and "Subscribe"

COFFEE HOUR COMMITTEES

SEPTEMBER: COLUMBARIUM

OCTOBER: MEN’S GROUP

NOVEMBER: FINANCE

DECEMBER: SPRC

Groups are to provide goodies/ snacks

each Sunday of the month they are scheduled.

CALLING FOR COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS

We are opening this ministry up to Individuals or families who would be willing to occasionally be hosts or hostesses.

It’s simply making coffee, lemonade, bringing homemade or store bought items, and cleaning up afterwards.

A sign-up sheet is located on the counter in the gathering space, outside the front office

Where you can pick a Sunday of your choosing.

Would you consider joining in this time of fellowship?

Please get in touch with Sue Gagne with any questions.

Order of Worship

Sunday, September 27, 2026 10 am Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hamburgumc/streams

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIPWhen the world divides us

Come, Holy Spirit, make us one.

When the world calls us orphaned

Come, Holy Spirit, make us family.

When the world leads us astray

Come, Holy Spirit, call us home.

Come, Holy Spirit, come! Come and fill this place!

OPENING HYMN: “I love to Tell the Story” #156 UMH

OPENING PRAYER

Here I am, Lord;

Here is my body,

Here is my heart,

Here is my soul.

Grant that I may be big enough to reach the world,

Strong enough to carry it,

Pure enough to embrace it without wanting to keep it.

Grant that I may be a meeting-place, but a temporary one,

A road that does not end in itself, because everything to be gathered there, everything human, leads to you. Amen.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SCRIPTURE: “Acts 4:1-13,23-31” Read by Phoebe Glover

SERMON: “The Power to Act and the Courage to Continue” Rev. Dr. David Nicol

CHOIR ANTHEM: I stand Amazed

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE PEACE TITHES & OFFERINGS tithes.hamburgumc.org/Give

DOXOLOGY “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow” #94 UMH

The Great Thanksgiving

Sung Responses

THE LORD'S PRAYER

SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP

CLOSING HYMN: “You are my All in All” #3040 Worship & Song

BENEDICTION

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