Hamburg United Methodist Church

116 Union St

Hamburg, New York, 14075

(716) 649-8080

Worship Sundays at 10 am

Church Charge Conference 12/27/23

Dear Saints,

As your Pastor, I have had the opportunity to do a variety of exciting things. This Summer, we hired a part-time director for Sparks of Hope and saw exciting ministry developing there. I have been blessed to see exciting signs of spiritual growth at the Hamburg Church, and in partnership with Gowanda, Four Corners, and Versailles. Sometimes, God does things that seem unbelievable—miraculous circumstances occur and offer us opportunities to provide for the future of ministry in exciting ways.

Saturday, we received three bequests at Charge Conference, augmenting the principal of the General Endowment and, surprisingly, paying off our indebtedness to the Parsonage Fund! Many thanks to the gracious gifts from Dick Bish, Bob Montgomery, Donna, and Edwin Tomaka to provide for the future of ministry!

In a wondrous turn of events, a property that can be made to meet parsonage standards according to ¶2544 of the 2016 Book of Discipline is available in the Village of Hamburg, and we are pre-emptively negotiating with the owners who would like to see it become the parsonage for Hamburg UMC. However, even if this property falls through, the Church Council, in discussion with the Board of Trustees and SPRC would like to move forward in finding an appropriate parsonage. We can do this with funds on hand that are restricted to purchasing a parsonage, likely with a residual fund to assist with future maintenance. Once necessary renovations are completed and your pastor is housed, likely reduce the annual budget by a non-trivial margin. We can afford to do this, and with the gifts and skills within the congregation, we may be able to reduce the cost of contractors by working together to do the work.

With the authorization of the District Superintendent, I am announcing a Church-Charge Conference for Hamburg UMC at 6:00 PM on December 27, 2023, to be held in the Sanctuary under ¶247 and ¶248 of the Book of Discipline for the sole purpose of authorizing the Board of Trustees to comply with all provision of ¶2544 in the purchase and, if necessary, renovation of a parsonage for the use of the Pastor of Hamburg UMC, utilizing whatever portion of the Parsonage Fund is necessary for that purpose.

God is doing amazing things among us and through us—and I hope you will join me in being excited about God’s miraculous provision!

In Christ’s Service, with You,

Pastor David Nicol

Attention Everyone!

Cozy Quilts of Hamburg is in need of your help.

We have sent out 15 Cozy Quilts to cancer recipients and 3 'Friends and Family' quilts since November 6th 2023!! 

We are in need of "Boots on the Ground." 

Anyone who is interested in assisting with the project of making a quilt, such as:

• Sewing the fleece backing onto the top...(straight sewing on a machine),

• cutting squares

• cutting strips for borders,

• ironing,

• organizing

• picking out material for the quilts,

• tying ties to adhere the quilt top to the backing

• cutting bags

• sewing bags

All materials are provided and some of these tasks can be done from home!

Need some lessons? No problem, Maureen will be happy to make time for you and "learn ya the ropes"!!

We are also in need of some good used sewing machines...Got any?

Call Maureen at 716-912-9625 for more information, and remember, Maureen HATES to quilt!  So there's lots to do besides quilt!

Adult Sunday School

John Meader’s Adult Sunday School class is meeting each Sunday at 9am 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!

Our little pantry at Sparks of Hope is nearly empty, and our shelves are bare. Members of our recovery community rely on your generosity to see them through the hard times. Please drop off nonperishable groceries when Sparks is open, or leave them inside the pantry.

The Church office is glad to announce that services going forward will be streamed via YouTube Live, in addition to the current Facebook Live services. You can access the Youtube live stream on our Youtube Channel, or directly on our church website homepage.

Please make sure to "Like" and "Subscribe"

Coffee Hour Schedule

Groups are to provide goodies/ snacks

each Sunday of the month they are scheduled.

Please get in touch with Sue Gagne or Joyce Spencer with any questions.

Order of Worship

Sunday, December 17, 2023 

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/HamburgNYUMC/live_videosYoutube Live:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRWld9XtaLY0WpX7JsXEcw

Google Meet Dial-In: 617-675-4444  PIN: 301 463 603 6721#

HANDBELL CHOIR: “Coventry Carol”

ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP 

Do not be afraid;

For see- I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all the people.

to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

OPENING MUSIC: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” #203 UMH

OPENING PRAYER: 

Lord, can salvation really be so easy?

Is there not some price to pay,

some contract to uphold?

Is confessing you with our lips,

and believe in our hearts, all that is really necessary?

Is there not some fine print, something we have not been told? This is too easy. Is it not? If we were God, instead of you, there would be hell to pay. No one would get off so easy.But we, thankfully are not God; and you are unlike any of us. There is no price tag on your love.though we live like heathens, disobeying you at every turn, you wrap us in your salvation.“Come,” you say to us, “Come.

Enjoy the miracle of my live.” And we come, Lord. We come. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1-13, 24-25 Read by: Rose Caldwell

Matthew 1:1, 6b

SERMON: “Roots: Redemption even for the Chief of Sinners”     Rev. David Nicol

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE PEACETITHES & OFFERINGS tithes.hamburgumc.org/Give DOXOLOGY “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow” #94 UMH

CAROL COMMUNION For sung responses, please refer to slides

THE LORD'S PRAYER

SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP 

CLOSING HYMN: “Blessed by the God of Israel” #209 UMH

BENEDICTIONPOSTLUDE