Announcements, March 7, 2010

In just two weeks we'll have the Turkey and Biscuit Dinner after worship (Free will offering, combined with a talent show and a silent auction! Items for the auction can be left in the nave (entryway). We look forward to seeing your talents!

The deadline approaches for the Oneonta District Spring Lay Speaking school in Greene on April 10th and 17th is TODAY. Pastor Sara is teaching basic and would love to have you in the class. Click here for more info.

On April 24th we'll be heading on Oneonta to build with Habitat. Please come! Sign up by e-mail, comment on the blog, or on the sheet on the clipboard table.

We're still looking for people willing to brainstorm about a Community Meal. If you are willing, talk to Mike Virgil!

Is there anyone out there willing to coordinate Local Church? Its not a hard job, really!

Signs ups are in the nave for cleaning the church, hour with Sara, and the Habitat Day!

Next week we'll receive the “One Great Hour of Sharing” offering.

Appointment Announcement

As announced in worship this morning, it is Bishop Hassinger's intention to appoint me to the Park Terrace United Methodist Church in Apalachin, NY as of July 1, 2010. It is a profound joy in my life to be the pastor of the Morris United Methodist Church, and I will always be grateful for my time here. I expect God to be doing great things both here in Morris and in Apalachin in the years to come.

- Sara

Announcements, February 28, 2010

Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us. Talk to Sara for more information!

Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23rd. Tuesdays in Lent: A Lent Communion Worship Service. 6 to 6:30 PM. Come to one or both!

On March 21st we'll have Turkey and Biscuit for lunch, a talent show, and a chinese auction! Its time to get talents ready and auction items considered!

Lay Speaking School - April 10th & 17th @ Greene UMC - Basic course is being taught by Pastor Sara Baron. See Pastor Sara or any of our lay speakers for info (Barb S, Barb V, Steve M, Patty H). Registration deadline is March 10th.

We are still looking for Pancake Breakfast workers and coordinators!

Does anyone have a button making machine we could use?

April 24th – Habitat Day. Mark your calendars!!

We need a coordinator for Local Church. Can you do it?

The Lenten Devotional Booklets are here! Feel free to grab one to share! (Or read here)

There is no one signed up for fellowship time for the next two weeks!

Do you want to work on our new community meal? Talk to Mike Virgil or Sara.

Thank you to Rev. Allyson Ellis for being half of today's pulpit exchange!

Announcements, February 21, 2010

Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us. Talk to Sara for more information!

Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23rd. Tuesdays in Lent: A Lent Communion Worship Service. 6 to 6:30 PM. Come to one or both!

On March 21st we'll have Turkey and Biscuit for lunch, a talent show, and a chinese auction! Its time to get talents ready and auction items considered!

Lay Speaking School - April 10th & 17th @ Greene UMC - Basic course is being taught by Pastor Sara Baron. See Pastor Sara or any of our lay speakers for info (Barb S, Barb V, Steve M, Patty H). Registration deadline is March 10th.

We are still looking for Pancake Breakfast workers and coordinators!

Does anyone have a button making machine we could use?

April 24th – Habitat Day. Mark your calendars!!

We need a coordinator for Local Church. Can you do it?

The Lenten Devotional Booklets are here! Feel free to grab one to share! (Or read here)

There is no one signed up for fellowship time for the next two weeks!

Do you want to work on our new community meal? Talk to Mike Virgil or Sara.

Announcements, February 14, 2010

Sign ups available: cleaning the church, Hour with Sara, Fellowship, and pancake breakfast coordinators, volunteers, and for food.

Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us. Talk to Sara for more information!

Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23rd at 6:30 PM.

Tuesdays in Lent: A Lent Communion Worship Service at 6 PM.

On March 21st we'll have Turkey and Biscuit for lunch, a talent show, and a chinese auction! (All after worship) Its time to get talents ready and auction items considered!

We are looking for a group of people to work on creating a Community Meal at our church.  Talk to Pastor Sara or Mike Virgil if you have interest. 

Lay Speaking School- April 10th & 17th @ Greene UMC - Basic course is being taught by Pastor Sara Baron. See Pastor Sara or any of our lay speakers for info (Barb S, Barb V, Steve M, Patty H). Registration deadline is March 10th.

We have a great idea, but we need a button making machine.  Before we run out and buy one, does anyone have one we could use?

April 24^th – Habitat Day. Mark your calendars!!

Habitat Day

We have signed up for a work day with Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County!

We're going on April 24th and we need two teams:  one to work and one to feed the workers!  Can you go?  Sign up by commenting on the blog, answering an e-mail, or telling Pastor Sara.

Lay Speaking School

ONEONTA DISTRICT

LAY SPEAKING SCHOOL

“Leading, Caring &

Communicating”

at

Greene United Methodist Church

Greene, NY

April 10 & 17, 2010

Please Share this form with any who might be interested

Questions?

Call/e-mail

George Gallandorm (607) 674-2552 revgeorge@frontiernet.net

or

Richard Hanson (315) 858-3731

rhanson2@stny.rr.com

Basic Lay Speaking

Led by

Rev. Sara Baron and Tom Blake

Looking for inspired and inspiring leadership skills and personal growth? Laity attending lay speaker school for the first time (or after a long absence from the school) need to enroll in “Lay Speakers Ministry: Basic” This course helps students develop personal faith and life styles that proclaim the gospel. The course helps students grow in their abilities to witness, teach, lead, serve, and preach (revised course will not require you to prepare and present a devotional). Increase your skills, enjoy meeting and sharing with others, reinforce your faith journey.

Lay Speakers Tell Stories

Led by

Rev. Joyce Allen

Lay speakers will learn what makes a good story, discover their own style as a storyteller, learn and practice creating stories from their own experiences during their faith journey.

Sharing Your Faith - One-on-One

Led by

Rev. Benjamin Shaw

The purpose of this course is to provide some tools for sharing your faith with other individuals in a one-on-one basis. This course has been up-dated to reflect the new word “witness” in our membership vows. Also, there will be a segment on boundary and misconduct issues. All are invited to audit the course. Those who have completed the Basic Lay Speaker course will receive Advanced Lay Speaker Certificates.

Hymnody

Led by

Rev. George Gallandorm

This course is not only for the musically gifted, but the musically interested. The course will spend sometime on the history of music in the church. The major emphasis will however be the use of hymns and music in worship. Also developing worship services that integrate music as a vital and lively spiritual component. Time will be spent on use of the United Methodist hymnal and other resources available.

Daily Schedule

April 10

8:15-8:45 - Registration

8:45-9:00 - Worship

9-12 – Class time (w/break)

12-12:45 Lunch available

1-4 – Class time (w/break)

April 17

8:30-12 – Class Time (w/break)

12-1 – Lunch available

1-3 Class Time (w/break)

3-4 – Closing Worship

Registrar:

E.Elaine Gates

48 Pleasant Valley Road

Port Crane, NY 13833

eegates@frontier.com

Phone:607-226-7219 (day)

607-648-9790 (after 6 p.m.)

Send completed form and registration fee ($30 made out to Wyoming Annual Conference) to the registrar.

Cost of school is $30 – Lunch extra

Words about the School

All churches in the United Methodist connection require inspired, capable and trained leadership of both clergy and laity. It is our goal to assist and empower laity to lead, care and communicate with confidence and ability. Courses are provided for laity who are interested in expanding their faith journey and/or developing their skills as leaders.

THIS SCHOOL IS NOT ONLY FOR LAITY WHO DESIRE TO PREACH OR LEAD PUBLIC WORSHIP. Lay speakers throughout the Wyoming Annual Conference, and entire United Methodist connection have historically filled this role in obedience to God’s call on their lives. But God’s call is different to each of His created, and God has given each of us our own special gifts and graces, as the Apostle Paul so often mentioned. Lay Speaking Classes are developed to help individuals pursue their call, whatever it may be –teaching, caring, mission, evangelism, worship or preaching.

Deadline – March 10, 2010

Registration Form

(Deadline – March 10, 2010)

Name: __________________________

Address: ________________________

______________________________

Phone #: _________________

e-mail: _________________________

Local Church/District: _____________

COURSE SELECTION – Choose 1

Basic Lay Speaking* ____

Sharing Your Faith ___

Hymnody ___

Story Telling ___

Lunch will be available at the church each day for $ TBD

Lunch 4/10 ___ Lunch 4/17___

Reservation only for lunch. Money will be collected the days of classes.

Basic students need signature of your pastor and Church Council

Chairperson.

Pastor: _____________________

Chair: _____________________

Pancake Breakfast

Somehow or another, I'm told it started with an intention to "feed the hungry," we've ended up with a tradition of having Pancake Breakfasts during Lent.  Each week a person or couple signs up to be the "coordinators" and they make sure that there are enough volunteers, plenty of food, and the coffee gets started really early!  Others sign up to bring food or volunteers.  As a team, pancakes and french toast, eggs, bacon, and sausage, are made, apple sause and drinks are served, and dishes get washed.  The kitchen is always full of fun, and many people come to enjoy the good food and atmosphere.

This runs from the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Palm Sunday because, really, we don't want the Sanctuary to smell like pancakes on Easter.  At least we're honest!

Announcements, February 7, 2010

Sign ups: cleaning the church, Hour with Sara, Fellowship, and the Lent Booklets!


Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us. Talk to Sara for more information!


Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23rd.


Mark your calendars for the Ash Wednesday service this year at 7 PM on Feb. 17th. Start the season of Lent with a time to remember and let go!

Tuesdays in Lent: A Lent Communion Worship Service.


On March 21st we'll have Turkey and Biscuit for lunch, a talent show, and a chinese auction! (All after worship) Its time to get talents ready and auction items considered!

Pastor Sara is going skiing! If you need a pastor, please call Rev. Allyson Ellis of the New Berlin UMC at 847-6350. Sara will be back for Sunday worship.

We are still looking for people to be coordinators for the Pancake Breakfasts - sign-up sheets are in the Narthex.  If you have questions or need more information, please talk with Elaine M. or Elaine F. after Church.  (Saturday mornings in Lent)

We are looking for a group of people to work on creating a Community Meal at our church.  Talk to Pastor Sara or Mike Virgil if you have interest.

Community Meal

What can we do as a church to build up the community in and around Morris, to give people a place to eat together, and to make sure that warm food is available for anyone and everyone?

Well, we can offer food and a place to eat it!

We're looking for a group of people to think about the best way we can have a meal - when?  where will we get the food?  how will we serve it?

The goal is to communicate that donations are welcome but not expected.

Mike Virgil and Pastor Sara are looking forward to compiling a list of interested people - and we'll go from there!

Ash Wednesday

The Ash Wednesday Service will be at 7 PM on Wednesday, February 17th. It lasts a little under an hour most years. The service is meant to focus worshipers at the beginning of Lent. Pastor Sara uses the traditional Yom Kippur prayer of atonement as the "sermon" for the evening, which is used to allow all present to name and let go of the sins and mistakes of the past. Then, the past being let go, and God's forgiveness being let in, life starts anew - fresh! The service also includes Communion, and imposition of Ashes, which serve as a reminder of our mortality.

The service is quiet, reflective, and deep. It is, perhaps, one of the most important worship services of the year.

Good News Gals

The Good News Gals are the women's group of the Morris United Methodist Church. They usually meet mid-day on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Usually the 1st Wednesday is a time to go out and eat and talk ("breath in") and the 3rd Wednesday is a time to share good gifts with others ("breath out"). Women of all ages are welcome. Barb Smith is the person to talk to for more information!

Lent Communion Worship

On Tuesday nights from 6-6:30 we'll have an extra communion service during Lent. The service will happen every week starting February 23rd, and will give ample time to focus on the great gifts given to us in the Great Thanksgiving.

In the United Methodist Church you don't have to be old enough, or good enough, to receive God's blessings!

You are welcome!

And, if you wish, you can then stay for a while and join the Lenten Adult Studies on Death and Resurrection!

Adult Studies

This year our “Adult Studies” will become a “Lenten Study.” It is meant for youth and adults, and deals with some of the big questions of faith:

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS: Marcus Borg shares his understanding of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In a straightforward and gracious way, he directs the viewer away from doctrines and towards a relationship through Jesus with God. Six 20-minute sessions: 1. What Happened on Good Friday? 2. What Happened At Easter? 3. Jesus is Lord, 4. Jesus is the Way, 5. Jesus as Sacrifice, 6. Jesus, God's son revealed.

Its a video study, with one of the great explain-ers of all time!

We'll start at 6:30, end at 8, on Tuesday through Lent (as in 6 weeks starting the 23rd of February). If you'd like to come to the Lent Communion Service at 6 first you can, but you aren't obligated to do both just to do one!

Mission Trip

The Youth Group's intended trip to Peru will not happen, at least at this time. To make up for it, they have decided to take a mission trip to Meredith, New Hampshire. (Yes, they know its not the same!) They'll be staying at Camp Wanakee, a United Methodist Church camp of the New England Annual Conference, and working from there. (They have hot food, beds, showers, a lake to swim in, etc, etc, etc) We are still deciding on the particular missions we'll do. We are seeking something that will involve building and physical labor with tools as well as something that will involve working with people and using words as tools.

Youth who are going into grades 7 and up are most welcome to join us!
Adults are too! (Adults with younger children, talk to Pastor Sara!)
Its going to be a great experience, you don't want to miss it!
If you'd like to go, please let Sara know as soon as you can!

The more the merrier!

Lenten Devotional Booklets

This year we bring back the “Lenten Devotional Booklet” written by the Morris Untied Methodist Church! A scripture is a assigned for each day, and people are invited to look at the scripture and consider the question “Where do you see God at work” and then respond in ½ a page or less. The responses are e-mailed to Pastor Sara (s.baron@gmail.com) or turned in on paper, and the booklet will be available for all by Ash Wednesday. If you would like to contribute either sign up on the church clip board table or talk to Pastor Sara and she'll give you an assignment. You don't have to be old enough or young enough or smart enough or anything – everyone can handle this!

There are plenty of slots open - and if you want to contribute from afar, Sara will happily grab a scripture for you!

Fellowship Time

Fellowship time is also known as "coffee hour." Families, individuals, partners, or groups sign up to provide something to drink and something to eat after worship. There are a lot of us (and people REALLY like cheese), so it takes some preparation. In order to eliminate the arms races of ever nicer and nicer Fellowship Times, we're currently competing for simplicity. How easy can you make it?

Thank you to all those who provide the food that lets us pretend its why we're there - when really we just want time together!

Hour with Sara

Hour with Sara – strangely this is only a Morris UMC thing. You can sign up in the church entryway (“Narthex”) to have time with Pastor Sara whether or not you have a problem. Options often include morning, lunch, afternoon, dinner, or evening. We use this instead of other churches' office hours.

Clean the Church

A new sign up sheet has been added to the pile in the Nave (church entry way) this year.  Its the "Church Clean Up" sheet and it sits underneath the list of cleaning responsibilities.  We've decided to take on our own cleaning, and so far its been great!  People are signing up in pairs, and the church looks wonderful.  Those who have cleaned have seemed to enjoy the work, and noticed new things along the way. 

There are cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink and tools in the closet, but cleaners can also bring their own supplies!

If you have questions, or suggestions, feel free to talk to Linda Hillis!

Announcements (January 24, 2010)

Continuing this week: a 3 week course on Third Isaiah (Isaiah 60-66). Its one of the most beautiful parts of the Bible. Classes will be on Tuesdays from 6:30-8 at the church.

From Linda: The list of weekly cleaning duties is on the bulletin board above the clipboard ledge and there is a sign up sheet on the ledge! There are cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink and tools in the closet, but people should feel free to bring their own if they prefer. Cleaning teams make the job go much faster, so encourage at least 2 people to sign up each week!

On the 5^th Sunday of this month we'll be having a breakfast potluck before worship – at 8:30. You are encouraged to bring friends to both the potluck and to worship!

Are you ready to work? Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us.

An Ad Council Meeting has been called for Tuesday, February 2^nd at 6:30 PM.

Announcing the next Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23^rd. 

 

2010 Budget per week: $1659

Attendance Last Week: 53

Giving Last Sunday: $980

Month To Date: $3857.99

To Haiti last week: $583