- Nov 2, 2023
- 9 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
Dear Saints,
I am blessed to serve among all of you! Hamburg, Four Corners, Gowanda, and Versailles are filled with people seeking to follow Jesus and gifted for ministry to the world. Not only are our congregations wonderful places to join in worshiping God, but together we have wonderful opportunities to serve the world in the name of Christ, and to grow in Christian discipleship. These are great congregations to call home!
As a member or friend, I hope you have found our community encourages you to grow in your faith in many ways, and to give of yourself in the work of Christ’s Kingdom. Each year at Hamburg UMC, we develop a budget as a community and plan how best to use our resources to do the work of Christ in the world. The Finance Committee is working on that process now, and I hope will present it to the Church Council for approval in December. Because of all those who have given faithfully this year, we have continued to witness to Christ in throughout our region and the world through Bible Studies, community outreach activities, special services targeted at growing in our faith, adding a director for Sparks of Hope, giving generously to domestic and foreign mission work, and numerous other activities throughout the year. We have seen fruit through new participants in worship, weddings, and other exciting moments in our collective life!
Each of us is on a journey to living out Christian generosity. Giving is both a spiritual practice, and a vital resource for the church. What we spend and where we give says a great deal about what we, as individuals, value. As always, I want to encourage you to give generously, and to consider how you might increase your giving in the upcoming year so that we can do even more than we have “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.” To that end, I want to invite you to make an estimated commitment. Sometimes we don’t quite make them—I get it! In the first year of my divorce, my finances were complicated and tight, and my giving was delayed. When life circumstances change, our goals might need to do the same. However, other times we exceed those estimates—in either case, I would encourage you to prayerfully how much you can plan to give to the work of Christ through your congregation. Because of all the ways God has blessed each of us, together we have the opportunity to give beyond that to bless the world through our wonderful congregations!
For all you do, for all you give, and for all you help us do for Christ together, THANK YOU!
In Christ’s Service, with you,
Pastor David Nicol
Announcements from the Office
The office will be putting together an announcement slideshow for the gathering space. Content 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- Thursday: 9am-2pm
Friday: 9 am-Noon
Email us!!
Pastor David: PastorDavid@hamburgumc.org
Jeannine Vanwey: Music@hamburgumc.org
Lisa Link: ChristianEd@hamburgumc.org
Kathy Manguso: Treasurer@hamburgumc.org
Patrick Fitzgerald: AV@hamburgumc.org
Cristina Glover: Office@hamburgumc.org
CHRISTMAS PLANTS Poinsettia plants for Christmas will be available for purchase after the worship services Sundays, November 26 and December 3 and 10. A variety of plants – red, pink, white, marble and glitter – is available for $15 per plant. When purchasing your plant, you may designate the plant “in memory of” or “in honor of” someone special. The poinsettia plants will be on the altar for Christmas Eve.
Operation Christmas Child is coming!
Collection dates TBD
Contact Ginger and Leo Jensen for more information
716-880-5882
Adult Sunday School
John Meader’s Adult Sunday School class meets each Sunday at 9 a.m. in the
Parlor. Presently, we are using Max Lucado’s book, Help is Here, and the
accompanying DVD to learn more about the Holy Spirit. All are welcome!
FUN FUNDRAISER FOR LITTLE LAMB PRESCHOOL Returning your cans and bottles can be an easy way to donate $$ to Little Lamb Pre-School. Just take them to Can & Bottle Return, 4255 Clark Street in Hamburg (next to the former Vara Cleaners) and designate your refund to Little Lamb. They keep the money on record and periodically send Little Lamb a check. Easy for you…easy for them…and much appreciated by Little Lamb Pre-School.
Book Club will meet on November 27, 2023 at 10:30 am in the Library
We will be discussing "Lost Souls" by Sandra Dallas
Here are the future selections:
December: "Slammed" by Colleen Hoover
January: "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus
February: "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver
Zoom is available for those who wish to attend virtually. Don't hesitate to get in touch with the church office to receive a link
Questions to Karen Klimecko
Hello everyone,
We're thrilled to share some important details about our upcoming Lenten FishFry Dinners. Ash Wednesday is approaching, falling on February 14 next year. That means our beloved Friday night FishFry Lenten Dinners will kick off on Friday, February 16, and continue for seven consecutive Fridays until we reach Good Friday.
This event is more than just a meal; it's an opportunity for our entire Church Congregation to come together and actively participate in its success. From planning and ordering to cooking, baking, preparation, set-up, clean-up, and greeting our cherished customers, there's a role for everyone. The excitement is already building in Hamburg and HUMC, with people eager to know if we'll host these dinners next Spring.
The Lenten FishFry Dinners play a vital role in our budget as a significant fundraiser, but they hold even more significance as a chance for our community to come together. It's an opportunity to connect, build camaraderie, and share fun moments with new and familiar faces.
We're fortunate to have Rick Park leading the coordination efforts, but he can't do it alone. The success of these dinners depends on a dedicated working committee. We're calling on you to get involved and make this event a reality. Please get in touch with Rick or me to let us know how you'd like to contribute. We'll soon arrange a meeting to get everything set up, but Rick requires some volunteers to step forward soon.
Your participation is crucial in ensuring the success of this cherished tradition. Let's unite as a congregation and make the upcoming Lenten FishFry Dinners an incredible experience for all.
Dave Engberg
Finance Committee
CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WEDDINGS:
Emily VanWey and Jordan Spielman married on October 10 in Aruba.
Prayers and best wishes to these couples now and for the years ahead.
***
IN REMEMBRANCE:
James F. Wade (brother of Lynda Sentz) – born into this life November 19, 1959, passed on to his heavenly resting place August 20, 2023
Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends for comfort and peace.
***
MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY:
Lorie and Jim Flynn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 5.
Dear Church Family,
We want to express our deep gratitude for the love and blessings we received on our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Your thoughtful cards, generous gifts, and warm wishes made this milestone unforgettable.
Thank you for being a part of our lives and sharing in our joyous celebration. Your love and care mean the world to us.
With love and appreciation,
Jim and Lori Flynn
SS. Peter and Paul Social Ministry are having their Christmas Bazaar once again this year! It includes an amazing Bake Sale, a beautiful Quilt Raffle, and Basket Raffle! We are also having a terrific 50/50 Squares table this year!! There will be treasures beyond belief in our Kid's Corner; Holiday decorations, Jewelry, Books, Household items, collectibles, and a smattering of just about everything!
Saturday, December 2nd, 9 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday, December 3rd, 8 AM to 2 PM
The Parish Social Center, 68 E. Main / Pine Streets in Hamburg, NY.
Delicious breakfast sandwiches, chili, and beverages will be available.
Bring your shopping bags-lots to be had!
All proceeds go to local charities.
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 items. We cannot take soft items such as gauze pads, diabetic supplies, incontinence, bandages, etc. For questions, please call Caroline Schneggenburger at 716-289-0541.
United Methodist Student Day – November 28, 2023
Across the country, the people of The United Methodist Church are serving the people God loves in Jesus’ name. We’re doing it at home, but so often we’d like to do more.
We want to serve those in other places who are suffering.
We want to offer spiritual words of hope and life.
And we want to be well-equipped to do both!
But the reality for most of us is that our responsibilities—home, family, work—don’t allow us to engage with every need we’d like to meet. Right now there are UMC young people—who might not have had the resources to attend a school of their choice, or, for some, any school at all—who’ve been sent by you into the world God loves because of your giving to United Methodist Student Day. When you give generously you are supporting these students as they prepare for a life that unites faith with knowledge.
Nurturing Christian Leaders Like Ricky Blue
The son of two addicted parents, Ricky Blue had grown up without much hope for a future. But when Ricky’s church family—Louisiana’s Luling UMC—raised $4000 for Ricky to begin college, hope was born. Then, the Gift of Hope Scholarship, made possible only by your generous giving to United Methodist Student Day, allowed Ricky to continue. Today Ricky is a certified candidate for ministry in the Illinois-Great Rivers Annual Conference.
When you support United Methodist Student Day, you make it possible for more students like Ricky to serve the world God loves. Offering envelopes will be on the table as you enter the sanctuary and at the Welcome Center beginning November 28. You can make your donation that day or any Sunday after that. You may also send your donation by check to the church or through online banking.
RETIRED MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
The Retired Men’s Fellowship of Hamburg UMC will celebrate the Thanksgiving season at their monthly lunch gathering on Tuesday, November 21 at 12 Noon at ZJ’s Restaurant in the Hamburg Village Plaza. All retired men are invited. Come and bring a friend for food and fellowship.
Dick Caldwell, facilitator
Celebrate Joy! by Velma Seawell Daniels. Perhaps the greatest expression of joy in this book is the author’s obvious delight in making others aware of that rare and precious quality and showing them how they can use it to enhance their daily lives. Celebrate Joy is chock-full of anecdotes about all kinds of people, some well-known and some who are new to you. All of them have found a recipe for faith that will help others to find and celebrate the joy in their lives. A delightful book that is sure to brighten your day.
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. Taylor Greer is clear-eyed and spirited. She grew up poor in rural Kentucky with two goals: to avoid pregnancy and to get away. She succeeds on both counts, buys a car and heads west. She arrives in Tucson, Arizona at an auto repair shop called “Jesus Is Lord Used Tires” that happens to be a sanctuary for Central American refugees. Along the way she inherits” a 3-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle. What follows is the heart of this novel – love and friendship, abandonment and belonging and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places.
It’s Not About Me, Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy Max Lucado. They all told us it was, and we took them up on it. We thought self-celebration would make us happy. But believing that has created chaos – noisy homes, stress-filled businesses, cutthroat relationships. Through it all we may have missed the God-centered life. We need to shift into high gear and realize that life makes sense when we accept our place. Our pleasures, our problems, our gifts and talents…when they’re all for the one who created us , we suddenly gain what we’ve been missing and find what we’ve been seeking. Find out how to make the shift and experience the meaning-charged life you were meant to have.
With the cooler days of autumn, there will be time to find a comfortable place to relax and read. Our church library has a good collection of books for your reading enjoyment.
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 Barb Meader (648-1273) or email her at bmeader712017@gmail.com, or contact anyone who is a Prayer, Care, and Share member. Daily we lift 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.” (Philippians 4: 4-7)
