The Messenger
First United Methodist Church of Mexico
August,
2011
From
the pastor…
Did you know that hunger is on the rise in Upstate New York. Nearly 15% of people living in Upstate New York do not have enough food to meet their needs. The face of hunger is growing and changing. Did you know that last year Upper New York food banks served more children and senior citizens than ever before? Neighbors around us are going hungry and need our help.
- What if together we took one year to address hunger issues in our communities, joined not by buildings, places or programs, but by heartfelt compassion for all of God’s children who are suffering from hunger?
- What if we did our own thing in our own way - in our own community, but joined our hearts in one effort?
- And what if on one day we invited the community to partner with us, shoulder to shoulder, in our fight against hunger?
We would be the church mobilized. We would be God’s hands and feet, gathered together in one accord to impact hunger.
Our Upper New York Annual Conference is
doing exactly that! Beginning in June 2011, we United Methodists are being
challenged to “Feed
1 million people in 1 year!!”
A million people! You might be thinking “That’s impossible”. But it isn’t.
Starting in June our churches began counting up all the ways that we help fight hunger: like food pantry collections and Crop Walks and serving meals to the hungry. We will keep counting until June 2012, with the goal of one million persons fed. And, on October 15 we will join together with our fellow churches around the conference for a one-day event to highlight our efforts. (Watch for lots more details of our local Mexico event, to be held here at First UMC.)
Bishop Marcus Matthews has said “With God holding our collective hands in Upstate New York, let’s begin this journey together to alleviate hunger in our communities.”
The prophecy of Isaiah made this promise, “Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” (Isaiah 58:10 NLT)
(Continued from page one.)
We
are calling this huge effort Hands4NY. Our conference has asked Sharon Bassett,
from Cicero UMC (hands4ny@unyumc.org)
to coordinate this work, and Rev. Elyse Skiles is working locally to make the
October 15 event happen.
Our annual
conference’s website (unyumc.org) has information on Hands4NY, and each local
church will be sharing details as they happen.
It seems so simple.
People around us are hungry, and we can help them. All we need to do is work
together, and the world around us can be changed!
And, for the skeptics among us, if all 940 churches in our conference took up this challenge we could meet the one million person goal by helping THREE people a day! Take a look some Monday at the Monday’s Meal here at First UMC, and be amazed!!
Feeding 1 million people in 1 year
June 2011-June 2012
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An
Update on the Buck Bequest Funds As
you probably already know, our church last spring accepted an extremely
generous bequest from the estate of Donald and Marie Buck. What you might
not know is the way that plans have been made to care for, and use, these
dollars as we receive them. |
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Baby
Bottle Report… A
terrific amount of $551.00 was collected in the baby bottles between
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year.
With these monies the ladies of the Friendship Unit will make
improvements and updates to the church’s nursery room and lullaby room.
Thank you to all who donated. Hopefully by September or early October we
will have an “Open Room” to show off our remodeling efforts.
By: Sue Morton |
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Who’s
Cooking at Monday’s Meals??? August
1: Jeanne Revette
& Julie Osborn contribute, and to all who come to eat soup. |
Coffee
Hours… August 7:
Lunch at Mexico Point Park |
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ASAP
UPDATE The balance in the ASAP fund is now $43,571.39!!! This money together with money from the Buck Bequest means we can begin the elevet project. John Aldrich and members of the trustees met with the Woodford Bros. Co., some time ago and are still waiting for an estimate. This company does good work and are much in demand, thus we must wait. Soon, we hope. |
Congratulations
on the Baptism of: Benjamin
Edward Parker On |
United
Methodist Men’s Church Camp Scholarships
Now
that the weeks of summer church camps are drawing to a close, the United
Methodist Men are requesting that parents contact them to receive the church
camp scholarships. The men have
designated funds to cover 30 percent of the cost of camp for every child that is
connected to our church that attended Camp Aldersgate or Camp Casowasco this
summer. Please contact either Mike
Freihofer (963-3936) or Niles Greenhouse (963-7383) with your child’s name,
the camp they attended, and the cost of the camp.
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Church
Signs “Honk if you love Jesus Text
if you want to meet Him.” |
On
Knowing God’s Word “So commit yourselves completely to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21 |
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THANK
YOU, THANK YOU TO…. ~Annette
Hulbert for her service to the church as office coordinator these past
years. |
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IMPORTANT
DATES… August 1: Administrative
Council Meeting, 6:30pm |
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OUTREACH/MISSIONS
COMMITTEE TO DONATE TO DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS As
previously reported the May Attic Treasure Sale was a big success and
increased the coffers of the Outreach/Missions fund. Thanks to all who
donated items to sell and to those who purchased them. At
a recent meeting of the Outreach Committee, members voted to send a check
for $500.00 to 'Doctors Without Borders', a most worthwhile organization,
which was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize. They have 40 years of
experience and logistical expertise and at least 85% of the money they
receive goes to their programs. Our
support will help Doctors Without Borders fight outbreaks of infectious
and deadly diseases around the world, such as measles (yes, measles is
still around), malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, and such and with programs
including mosquito netting, clean water and efforts to fight malnutrition
with a breakthrough known as RUF, a ready-to-use-food. RUF is a peanut
butter-like paste containing fortified milk and 40 essential nutrients
needed to bring a child back from the verge of starvation. RUF needs no
refrigeration, cooking or water. These
are but a few of the lifesaving things this organization does. They say,
"Together, we can save more children".
By: Madelyn
Schmidt
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RECIPE CORNER: Annette Hulburt shares the timely squash casserole recipe that was given to her by a friend. Thanks
Annette! Summer
Squash Casserole 2
medium size summer squash (sliced)
1 cup sour cream Cook
sliced squash in boiling water for five minutes; drain.
Combine cream of chicken soup, onion and sour cream.
Fold in drained squash. Combine
stuffing mix and margarine. (No
water). Spread half of
stuffing mix in bottom of 8x8 inch baking dish.
Spoon squash mixture on top. Sprinkle
remaining stuffing over squash. Bake
for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. |
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OPERATION CHIRSTMAS CHILD SHOE BOX MISSION TRIP Eight
people from our church plan to go to Charlotte, NC, in early December to
help with the processing of the Operation Christmas Child, Shoebox
Project. These boxes of many items i.e. school supplies, personal hygiene
things, small toys and stuffed animals and of course hard candy and gum
will go to children around the world.
One of the jobs the workers will do is to include a copy of the
true Christmas story in the appropriate language in each box.
Meanwhile, we can keep shopping for sale items of school supplies, toothbrushes and such, for the boxes we will be filling. What a fun and meaningful project . |
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A
MINK COAT TO BE SOLD AT THE AUCTION!! Need a full length mink coat? We'll be offering one at this year's Annual Auction. Perhaps the temperatures have been a bit too warm to think about fur coats, but we'll have lots of other things for you to consider. The committee plans to make this, the 19th Annual Auction, the best yet. Have you marked your calendar for Sat., Oct. 1st? Please bring a friend along to join in the fun! |
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“PREACH AT THE BEACH” Sunday, August 7, 2011 Worship Service and Picnic Lunch Mexico Point Park 9:45am Please bring a lawn chair, table setting, and a dish to pass. |
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The Pastor/Staff-Parish Relations Committee is looking to fill the position of Office Coordinator here at First UMC. Must possess excellent computer skills, strong organizational and communication skills, both verbal and written. This is a part-time position. Hours and salary to be discussed. Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to First UMC, P.O. Box 255, Mexico, NY 13114 by August 8. |
Need
to Contact our Church??
Our Church Phone Number:
315-963-3066
Our Church Website: www.mex1umc.com
Our Church email address: fumcmexico@verizon.net