File - Elma United Methodist Church

www..ElmaUnitedMethodist.com • ELMA, NY • 716-652-5427
METHODELMA
ELMA
UNITED
METHODIST
September 2016
Contact:
elmaumoffice@gmail.com
Letter from the Pastor
Walls
The ancient world was full of walls to keep people out. Not only were walls around towns, but walls ran
across the centuries. In 1900 BC the Babylonians built a 175-mile wall to keep invaders out, and the Egyptians built a 100-mile wall about the same time. In the second century AD the Romans built two walls in
Britain: one 70 miles, the other 33 miles. Then, of course, in the third century the Great Wall of China
stretched to 1,500 miles.
In our time we've seen a wall dividing East and West Berlin. All these walls are to keep some in and others
out, to insulate one people from another. Walls make distinctions between one region and another. Walls
separate into different sections; and that is one of the elementary distinctions of Old Testament Law—to
make distinctions about right and wrong, to fence in this particular behavior as acceptable but to consign
everything outside the walls to be unacceptable.
As apostle Paul, quoted below, writes to the church in Galatia, he reflects on the Law as given by the Old
Testament but transcended by Christ. He is in the middle of a struggle with people who want to remain under the discipline of the Law. This is Paul's heart and soul. He believes firmly that Christ Jesus did away with
all distinctions between people, toppled the walls like they were made of styrofoam.
Sadly, there remain many walls in our churches today. One important item to discover is that our church
is no worse than others. All churches are pretty much the same, even though we pretend to be different. Every church is exactly the same at its foundation. The bottom line is that we must depend on the
grace of our God in Christ our Lord. We need to live within the love of Christ. If the church doesn't, then all
that Paul has said is worthless, and all that Christ has done is in vain.
Paul is concerned that we live as God's children, “there is no longer Democrat or Republican, rich or poor,
black, white, or brown, hawk or dove, there is no longer native-born or immigrant, city or country, college or
high school graduates.” Our place is out in the world showing how children of God live. We know the only
reason to walk with our head held high into the world is God's love in Jesus Christ, a love that won't build
walls of exclusion but will draw all people to Christ. Heaven knows there have been enough times the Christian church has done just the opposite, but let's do it right now.
God bless all of you! I can't wait to see everyone as we begin our new church school year September 11th!
“Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be
revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by
faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are
all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized
into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor
free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you
are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. ”
—Galatians 3:23-29.
Pastor Wayne
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Announcements
Missions/Outreach
The EUMC Lunch Bunch will meet September 19th at 12:30
at the Elma Towne Grill. A sign-up sheet is posted outside
Fellowship hall. Any questions please see or call Judi Wollen (684-0213). All women (& friends) of EUMC are welcome!
You are making a difference-locally and in other
parts of our country and world:
ELMA PAGE TURNERS
The Elma Page Turners Book Clubs meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7 PM in the Church library. The
books selected for discussion are:
 September 7. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
 October 5. The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L.
Carter
 November 2, Once we were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson
 December 7, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
 January 4, The Hummingbird by Stephen Kieman
Everyone is invited.
FISH
Bazaar Craft Session
September 15th at 9:30 in the Library, Eileen Holden will
teach making a Nativity Craft. No prior experience is needed.
Fleece Blankets for Veterans will meet in the Library at 9:30
on September 8th and October 13th (the 2nd Thursday of the
month). All are welcome.
The FISH items
for September are canned hash, stew and chili. Your
generous offerings throughout the year mean so
much to those in need in our area.
Thank you for the many back-to-school supplies for the children of their clients-needs have increased this year and these supplies are an added
stress on households.
Giving Garden
Thank you to the Girl Scouts of Troop 39140,
under the leadership of Carrie Schmitz and Mandy
Nicholson, who have faithfully tended the garden
this summer. The bountiful harvests of lettuce, zucchini, chard, kale, summer squash, green beans, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes delivered weekly to
FISH have been gladly received to supplement the
canned and dry foods distributed to their clients.
Cleaning Buckets
New or gently used Jackets and Boots are being collected for
Homeless Veterans. Please keep them in mind as you are
sorting your Fall/Winter clothes.
Marilyn Hartman is collecting small, travel or hotel size personal care items (toiletries).
Thanks to VBS families for supplying 26
cleaning buckets for UMCOR as their mission project. These, along with the 14 supplied by you this
spring, will certainly make a difference to those experiencing flooding in West Virginia, Louisiana, Texas and other areas in our country.
Towels and sheets are being collected for the Zoo.
Offerings
If you have Box Tops for Education a collection box is on the
UMW Table.
BRICKS FOR THE MEMORIAL WALK
Orders are being taken for the engraved bricks for the Memorial Walk leading to the Spiritual Labyrinth. They can be
in memory of someone, in honor of someone, or a Bible
verse. Each stone can have three lines with 17 spaces in
each line. Punctuation and spaces count. The cost is $100
and checks are made out to Elma United Methodist Church
with ‘brick’ or ‘labyrinth’ in the memo line. The forms are
available on the table by the entrance and the forms can be
dropped off in the Church office . If there are questions, call
Shirley Schildkamp 652-9412.
Thank you for the Mother’s Day offering of
$272 for “Imagine No Malaria,” a mission outreach
of the United Methodist Church in Africa, and the
Father’s Day offering of $178 for Central City Café to
provide coffee with the daily lunches they serve to
those in need in the Durham AME Church area in
Buffalo.
Please take a moment to check out the Missions bulletin board for thank you notes from some of the
missions we have supported by your support of the
church budget.
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Christian Education & Youth Ministry
Rally Day: September 11th starting at 9:30
Please stop by the Christian Education table and sign-up for Discipleship Hour for all ages, Youth Groups, adult and youth Toddler Time
Volunteers, and Acolyte.
Toddler Time: For ages 2—5 years during the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. We are in need of volunteers during for Toddler Time. Two
adults are required each day. If you have a conflict on your scheduled Sunday please switch with another volunteer and notify Deb.
Please visit the CE table at Rally Day for information, or contact Deb
Coatsworth.
Senior Youth Group: Led by Deb Coatsworth, Corrin Pudlewski & Alan
Stier
Sept 18, 12:00 – 1:30, meet in the Youth Room for all in 9th -12th
grades. The first hour of the meeting is for Youth. Parents please
join the meeting at 1:00. Please be thinking about dates that will
work for you if we decide to take a Mission Trip. We are looking forward to seeing all of you!
Mini Youth Group: Led by Deb Coatsworth. Sept 25, 12:00 – 1:30, Meet in
the Library for all in 5th – 8th grade. The first hour of the meeting is
for the Mini Youth. Parents please join the meeting at 1:00. See you
then!
Discipleship Hour (Sunday School)
Discipleship Hour for ages 3 and up will begin on September 18th
from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Learning how to become better disciples
in our challenging world will help each of us to mold Christian character and to cultivate a relationship with God.
Discipleship Hour (DH) will address these five areas:
(1) DH helps us to respect, appreciate and utilize the Bible: Reverence
for God’s written words doesn’t come naturally, sadly. A classroom
environment, centered on the Bible, will elevate its importance in a
person’s life.
(2) DH teaches us how to navigate the Bible: Our teachers don’t just
teach Bible stories, they give a basic understanding of the Bible’s
books and overall format.
(3) Chance to ask questions: We are a safe place to ask in-depth questions and at times debate. We learn by asking questions.
(4) Develop a community of believers: In a class setting, we are available to help one another and push each other along in our growth. A
community of learners, worshipping, learning the Bible and discovering God together creates a bond that single study can’t accomplish.
(5) Spiritual seeds are planted: No matter our age, seeds are planted
within us. Our purpose is to learn values and principles of faith that
God desires. Becoming Christ-like is the ultimate goal for the wellformed, informed, and transformed Christian disciple. Dedicating
ourselves daily in the word and being with others is how we grow as
loving people.
CE & Worship
Rally Day Potluck Brunch
Rally day is quickly approaching! On Sunday, September 11, a
potluck brunch will take place
in the fellowship hall with the
meal beginning at 9:30am between the services. Please bring
your favorite breakfast or lunch
dish to pass and place settings
for all your family members.
Table set up will be on Saturday
the 10th (time TBA). Help with
clean up after the brunch is appreciated.
Parsonage Bible Study
The next Parsonage Bible Study
will begin on Thursday, October
6th at 7:00 pm at the Parsonage,
1451 Rice Road, Ela. The 5
week DVD based study by Philip
Yancey is entitled, Vanishing
Grace; What Ever Happened to
the Good News. A sign up sheet
will be posted outside the
Pastor’s office
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Discipleship Hour offerings:
 3 yr. olds – 8th grades:
“In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.” Luke 1 : 4 7 . Our classes will continue using
the curriculum Deep Blue. Our young people will
make Bible stories, Bible people, and Bible passages a part of their lives, and know the Bible as
their book and find ways to let the Bible speak to
them!
 Senior High (9-12 grades): The High School class
will learn and work through the 10 Commandments using the curriculum Liquid: The Ten 1-5
and Liquid: The Ten 6-10.
 Adult Study:
 Sunday 9am—10 am, led by Rev. Joan Zimmerman. “ASK, Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age” by
Scott J Jones and Arthur D. Jones. This program is
an 8 week study based on Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and
you will receive” and is about difficult questions
and faithful answers. Questions are good. Questions challenge us, prod us, encourage us. If questions are asked with a seeker’s heart, they can
lead to faith.
 Tuesday 9:30 to 10:30, led by Shirley Schildkamp.
All are welcome and a perfect attendance is NOT
required.
Did You Know?
Mental illness affects nearly 60 million Americans
every year. Regardless of race, age, religion or economic status, mental illness impacts the lives of at
least one in four adults and one in 10 children across
the United States. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia,
bipolar disorder and other conditions are among the
health conditions many journey with on a daily basis.
Faith and spirituality are essential elements of healing
and recovery for many, yet many clergy and people of
faith feel ill-equipped to provide appropriate support,
education and assistance to persons living with mental illness.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is offering a
class for those interested in learning about mental
illness and appropriate ways of caring for those with a
mental illness. This class is an intensive 12 week
course that will meet for two hours each week as follows:
Dates:
Every Wednesday starting September 7,
2016 through November 23, 2016
Time:
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Place:
Elma United Methodist Church, Fellowship
Hall, 2991 Bowen Road, Elma, NY
Contact: Daryl Bennett at 716-380-6706
Annual Conference
The Investment Committee is close to presenting their recommendations, based on input from the congregation. Because any changes to the investments will need to be voted
on by the congregation, an individual conference was requested for our church’s Annual Conference. Please mark
your calendars for Monday, November 28th at 7pm when
we will welcome the District Superintendent for our Annual Conference.
Parsonage Open House
This year’s Parsonage Open House will be held on Sunday,
October 16th immediately following the 10:30 Worship
Service. The Parsonage Family hopes that you will join us
in this Fellowship Time and also look around the Parsonage and see the wonderful work that continues there to
improve the property!
Helpers Needed!
A few Communion Stewards are needed to finish the year. Please sign up
on the Bulletin Board.
Please check the Bulletin Board for the Liturgist schedule.
Delete your name if you do not want to continue. If you are
not on the list but would like to be a liturgist, please add
your name.
We are in need of a new coordinator for the Liturgist
scheduling. This position takes very little time but is vitally
important. If you can help, please contact Marilyn Hartman
(current scheduler), Wendie Stockton (head of Worship
Committee), or contact information the office.
There are a few places open on the Altar flower schedule if
you would like sign up. Please make a note if the flowers
are in memory or honor of someone or an occasion. The
arrangements are $20 and the payment may be placed into
the collection or in the office in an envelope marked Flowers, with your name and the date you have chosen.
Bell Choir is looking for new members to join and ring during Sunday services (~4 times/year). Rehearsals are held
once a week for an hour (day & time TBA) from September
-May. If you're interested, please contact Laura Buechi at
675-6428, orlabuechi@gmail.com.
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Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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Friday
Saturday
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See the online calendar for details
on any event
http://www.elmaunitedmethodist.com/
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8:00 AM Worship
9:30 AM Worship
Communion at the rail
10:30 AM Trustee Meeting
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Preschool Starts
9:30 AM Fleece Blankets
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10
13
14
15
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19
20
21
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23
24
26
27
28
29
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9:30 AM Bible Study
9:30 AM Music with
10:30 AM Wool Gather- Mar
ers
6:00 PM NAMI
7:00 PM Elma Page
Turners
Rally Day 12
8:00 AM Worship
6:00 PM 4 H
9:30 AM Bible Study
9:30 AM Music with
6:45 PM Administrative 10:30 AM Wool Gather- Mar
Council Meeting
ers
6:00 PM NAMI
9:30 AM Potluck
brunch
9:00 AM Church Work
Day
9:30 AM Bazaar Craft
Day
10:30 AM Worship
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8:00 AM Worship
9:00 AM Flu Shots
DH begins all ages
10:30AM Worship
12-1:30 Senior Youth
METHODELMA
ARTICLES DUE
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8:00 AM Worship
10:30 AM Worship
12-1:30 Mini Youth
12:30 PM Lunch Bunch 9:30 AM Bible Study
9:30 AM Music with
10:30 AM Wool Gather- Mar
6:00 PM 4 H
ers
6:00 PM NAMI
7:00 PM Mission Committee Meeting
6:30 PM SPPRC Meeting
6:00 PM 4 H
9:30 AM Bible Study
9:30 AM Music with
10:30 AM Wool Gather- Mar
ers
6:00 PM NAMI
First Day of Autumn
Alden's Meals
on Wheels
Benefit
Flu Shots will be given Sunday, September 18, beginning at 9 am in the
Pastor’s office. Please sign up to help with the flow. (sign up on the Bulletin board) Children aged 9 thru 17 may receive a shot, but will need parental permission. Your insurance card is required. Please wear shot
sleeves. Also, NO Flu Mist is available this year (anywhere).
If you notice one of your pew “neighbors” is missing from service for more
than a week, please let the office know so someone can check on them. If
you will be having upcoming surgery or travel please also let the office
know so we can check in on you and/or keep you in our prayers.
9/4
9/11
Altar Flowers
Mort
Andrew
Liturgist
Annette DeNies
Doris Smith
Greeters
Nattrass/
Wantuck
Cheryl & Peter
Buechi
McCarthy Family
Ushers
Fellowship
Fuer Family
9/18
OPEN
Charlotte
Buechi
Schmitz Family
Coatsworth
Family
9/25
McCarthy
Peter Buechi, Jr.
McGoldrick
Family
DeNies Family
Potluck Brunch
9:30
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Lord, In Your wisdom You established Your
church as a place for us to love and care for
each other. Help me to extend the grace I’ve
received to others.
Chris & Cheryl Zelasko
9/3
Mark & Cheryl Kowalski
9/6
Susan & Donald Derr
9/8
Carl & Mylinda Plauman
9/8
Brian & Andrea Krah
9/10
Billy & Amanda Nolan
9/14
Jay & Lisa Nowak
9/18
Jim & Deb Coatsworth
9/22
Brian & Shawn Strausbaugh
9/23
Fred & Judith Baumgartner
9/25
Kevin & Ann Marie McCarthy
9/29
Check the Bulletin board outside the
office for updates on members, and
Thank you notes from the Scholarship recipients.
Olivia Kowalski
Austin Zelasko
9/3
9/3
William Black
9/6
Bruce Stockton II
9/6
Nina Wargula
9/6
Kristen Sugrue
9/7
Richard Doster
9/8
Samantha Wilson
9/8
Casey Everhart
9/11
William Julius
9/13
Hanna Wargula
9/15
Fred Baumgartner
9/18
Thomas Wantuck
9/18
Julie Everhart
9/20
Gary Kegler
9/20
Matthew Zimmerman
9/21
Michael Ball
9/22
Donald Dustin, Sr
9/22
Stephen Buechi
9/23
Rhoda Eagle
9/23
Sue Lawrence
9/23
Will Monrian
9/23
Gayle Radder
9/24
Marion Molenda
Wayne Parks
Roselyn McCarthy
Alan Walker
9/25
9/25
9/27
9/29
You may have noticed…
The Bulletin has a new look. The body of the worship is in the main section, with an inspirational message on the back cover. (suitable for posting to refer to during the week).
The Bible readings and Announcements are on separate pages. Please have all announcements to the office by Wednesday evening, either leave them on the voicemail, or preferably, write them down and leave in the office or email them to the church office:
elmaumoffice@gmail.com. Parishioners are asked to review the bulletin each week to
keep informed with the happenings in the church. Please take your bulletin home to refer to during the week and recycle once you are done with it.
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