The
Messenger
The Newsletter of the Saugerties United Methodist Church
Church Office # 845-246-7802 Dr. Buddle’s Cell Phone # 1-845-706-0418
“...he
chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world to be holy and
blameless before him
in love.” Ephesians 1:4
“Our Four Congregations”
For seventeen years of my pastoral service I have served charges of 2 & 3 churches, had 2 or 3 of everything: Worship Services, Sunday School, Boards of Trustees, Youth groups, Finance Committees, Pastor-Parish Committees and on and on. It was a real challenge spreading myself over these congregations. For twenty-eight years I have served single point charges (one church). However, even with one church I have found that I still do not serve one congregation but four. I suggest to you that our four congregations are as follows:
1. The congregation composed of people who regularly worship each Sunday and is active in the life of the church during the week.
2. The congregation that comes on a semi-regular basis attending worship services perhaps one or two Sunday a month.
3. The congregation that doesn’t attend at all; or if they do come, attend only on special days such as Easter and Christmas.
4. The congregation who attends regularly but really doesn’t get involved in any of the functions or committees or ministries of the church fellowship.
Now I ask you this question: Which congregation of the Saugerties United Methodist Church do you belong to?
The congregation that is truly the Church is the first congregation. Why do I say that? It is because this group of people recognizes that their calling, as the People of God, is to worship God and to serve Him through His Body on earth which is the Church. This congregation hears the word of God and makes a sincere effort to act upon the Word. It doesn’t matter to these people what their personal schedules are, what the weather is, or what their moods are, for they know that they must worship and serve the Risen Savior, who is Jesus the Christ.
These people know that their calling is to be full-time Christians, not only in the Church, but in the community, and on the job. They live their lives as an example of what Christ means to them in their personal lives. In other words, they have a PERSONAL relationship with our Lord.
What hinders us, as four congregations, from fulfilling our calling as Christians? Perhaps, some might say, is the need for travel on Sundays, or the need for personal relaxation, or the need for personal time for doing other things.
We are starting a new year. It is that of 2006 and I wish those of you who are not in the congregation to make an active decision to become closer to Christ. You are good people for whom Christ gave his very life. Use 2006 as the year in which you come HOME TO CHRIST. Use this time of new beginnings as a time to draw ever closer to your Maker. Jesus deserves the very best in us. I invite you to join the congregation that is really NUMBER ONE!
Your Pastor,
Duane D. Buddle
Sermon Snapshots
January 8th- “It’s Just A Ceremony or is it?”
Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22
What difference does a ceremony make? Our sermon today is about baptism. Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist. Baptism was a rite widely used among ancient peoples. It was employed as a kind of initiation rite. This is the way you made public notice of your intention to be a part of a group. You waded into the water and were immersed. The exact procedure varied from one locality to another. But, in any case, the purpose of the rite was to formalize a vow.
Because Jesus himself underwent this rite of initiation, every Christian denomination has set baptism as a central requirement of Christian faith. We may differ as to how baptism is applied, but Christians agree on one thing: baptism is a requirement of the kingdom of God. It is a requirement of Christian discipleship. It is the ordination of every disciple into the ministry of Jesus.
But it is just a ceremony, someone will argue. Yes, but ceremonies are important. For one thing ceremonies are an act of community. We are part of a family.
Baptism is also an act of contrition, an act of humility, an act of repentance. Baptism is an acknowledgment that there is a flaw in human character. Ceremonies remind us of both responsibilities and realities. It reminds us of our humanness and our dependence upon God. Baptism is an act of commitment. It is a first step toward a new life. It is but a ceremony but what a significant ceremony. We could never place too much emphasis on this sacred rite. Baptism signifies all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ. It is at the heart of every Christian’s walk with God and is available to all who would confess their faith in Jesus Christ today.
Today we will have our chance to renew the vows of our baptism, it is just a ceremony but oh what a ceremony it is.
January 15th - “The Maturing of the Church”
1 Peter 2:1-10, Ephesians 4: 11-16
Life is a pilgrimage divided into five phases. Childhood, teenage years, young adulthood, the middle years, and old age. As we mature as human being people we need to mature as Christians and as Christians mature, so does the Church of Jesus Christ. First, what is maturity in one phase of life becomes immaturity if carried over into another phase of life. 2.The conscious shift from one phase of life to another always comes about in context of crisis. 3.The mixed feelings a person has causes one to hold back in fear.
Today, I wish to relate these factors to the Church. In Paul’s writings the church is seen as a living organism, the body of Christ. In Ephesians the author wrote of the building up of the body of Christ. Should not this be seen as the maturing of the Church over the centuries? We will look at this, this morning, as the pilgrimages of the Church.
January 22nd - “The Amen People”
Matt 21: 28-32
Those of us who profess a religion are in a rather precarious position. We are among those whom a non church-going people refer to as the Amen People or the Alleluia Folks. We are told that we are meant to be brothers and sisters without exception and we say “amen.” But the gospel reading suggests that our “Amen” is simply a beginning. It is presumed, that people who go to church are by that fact closer to God than those who do not go to church. Even within the church we see the presumptions at work. All of the presumptions are not in regard to the people who go to church. Some of them are made by the churchgoers among us about various groups of people who no not follow our program or who do not see things as we do. This is not to suggest who is right or wrong. But it is to say that perhaps God does not draw lines the way we do. Being baptized, or taking part in the Lord’s Supper, singing a hymn, or reciting a prayer, may be akin to the son in the field who said yes to his father. But as Jesus made clear in today’s gospel reading, it is what follows that makes the difference.
Despite all of this, today’s gospel is not nearly as much a reprimand as it is an invitation. Jesus is looking at you and me and he is saying, I’m not necessarily impressed that you said ‘Amen’, but neither am I concerned that you didn’t. I am not weighing how much you did or did not do. I am inviting you to follow me now. Perhaps you do not think that you are worthy. But that does not concern me. I think you are worthy and I want you to be with me where I am.
January 29th - “Good and Bad News”
Luke 4: 21-30
The people of Nazareth, Jesus’ home town in the verses just before today’s gospel reading, Jesus came back to the place where he had grown up. In the synagogue on the Sabbath day he read a few verses from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” The words go on and Jesus says “This prophecy has been fulfilled– today, you heard it.” The people wonder who does he think he is? They begin to get angry. A passage is read about the poor hearing good news, about blind eyes being opened and prisoners being set free. Why is he saying we’re poor and blind. He’s telling us that we are prisoners and we are not. We’re the people who have been given God’s revelation.
The people had eyes to see but couldn’t see what was before them. In spite of all the things Jesus had done they thought that God was only concerned with them and their kind of people. They could not see the scope of God’s love for the world. Jesus has come, as he said, to bring “good news,” but it wasn’t received as good news to them. They needed to see and hear what Jesus was saying and so do we.
From Finance
Finance is pleased to announce that the Church has paid all of its bills for 2005. We are working to finalize the budget for 2006. Stewardship reports that as of December 15, 2005, 67 pledges have been received totaling $101,843. We are about $4,500 behind last year’s drive. We thank everyone who has pledged for his or her support, and encourage anyone who has not pledged to do so. A letter will be going out in January to all that pledged confirming their pledge.
Joan
Robinson, Chair
HOLIDAY FAIR RESULTS
Thank you again to
everyone that participated in the 2005 Holiday Fair. Here are the
results:
Area
$
Pecans
99.6
Jewelry
80
Recycled Toys
132
Used Books
113.2
Bake Table
301.25
Recycled
Treasures
662.35
Crafts
1020.75
√Please remember that our mailing address is 40 Finger Street. We do not use the church’s address.
√The transfer of Bill Mergendahl, Jr. was made on December 6th, 2005 from the Saugerties UMC to the Old South United Methodist Church in Reading, Massachusetts. We commend Bill to their care.
√An Adult Membership
Class will take place on January
8, 15, 22 from noon until
1:00 p.m. in room # 17. If you are interested please let the
pastor know. To date we
have at least four adults interested.
Member Care
Member Care had a great time on December 4 at the Lodge wishing Louise Wipper a happy 99th birthday. The Lodge provided the group with cake and ice cream and we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Louise. We are doing Christmas cards for our shut-ins and are planning home visitations that will be announced in church. If you know of someone who needs special attention from the Member Care Committee, please contact the Pastor, the Church Office or Joan Robinson.