The

Messenger

The Newsletter of the Saugerties United Methodist Church

Church Office # 845-246-7802 Dr. Buddle’s Cell Phone # 1-845-706-0418

“Making the most of time...” Ephesians 5:16a

Marking Time

I don’t know about you but one of the great joys I have is marking time. I write things down in my appointment book, crossing out or checking off things as they are accomplished. I place an X on the calendar as the day is completed. I enjoy starting a new month with a clean calendar and getting a new appointment book for the next year, and writing the appointments and the meetings that are ahead.

Now if you had to ask me WHY do I enjoy doing these things I could not give you and answer... I just do...it is a part of who I am, time is important to me.

John Wesley, the Founder of Methodism, advised his circuit riders to be wise in the way that they spent their time, but I probably waste a lot of time doing things that really are either not that important or could be done by others with more skill. I guess if we are busy or if we are not, we still are “marking off time” instead of “making the most of time” as Ephesians encourages us.

People say “I don’t have time!” While it is true that many people live very busy lives, it is also true that all of us have time to do the things that are very important to us or things that we enjoy doing. The question is: What is important to us? What do we want to accomplish with the time left in our lives?

I turn 65 years of age in January so time is running out. I have lived more years than I have left to live so “making the most of the time” is becoming more important to me. How about you?

2007 has 365 days in it, how are you going to mark time this year?

In Christ,

Duane D. Buddle

Sermon Snapshots

Jan. 14^th - “The Training of an Evangelist”

Mark 3: 7-13

Today we shall consider the subject of evangelism, this great fundamental mandate of the church to proclaim in word and by deed that God has come to His world and redeemed it, calling it and every person to new life through Jesus Christ.

To speak of evangelism leads one to consider the Evangelist. There must be those who proclaim and declare this message. Some that we think of were John Wesley, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham. Because of this image of an evangelist, our understanding is often tragically limited. This understanding needs to be changed because every person who confesses Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is in a very real sense an evangelist.

We are all evangelists. We are marked persons; there is no choice in this matter, only the choice as to whether or not we will be responsible witnesses, whether our actions, our attitudes, our words, will be a true reflection of the One we confess as Lord.

If we are all evangelists, then we must be concerned to receive the proper training for our task. A good clue to what is involved is to be found in three accounts of the calling of the 12 Apostles. Two emphases in the training of an evangelist: The first is the call to be with Jesus, the second is the sending out of this person into the world to preach and to act in power. The training involves true compassion, a life of prayer and to engage in active witness, going forth boldly knowing that He accompanies and sustains us as we speak and act in His name.

Jan. 21^st - “Weaving the Pattern of Life”

John 21: 15-19

Today I call attention to verse 18 of our scripture reading that reads “very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”

It’s wonderful to be young! I can remember what it was like...just barely. As we grow a little older, but still are young, we feel that life is ours and we can choose what we please. That doesn’t last, however because as we age so we depend on others to do things for us that we have done ourselves.

Leslie Badham has written: “If you look closely at life, you will see that it is woven of two-ply– one strand of it of your own choosing, the other strand not of our own choosing at all. Consider first that strand which is our own choosing. It is a gift from God. We have the freedom to choose in ply one, but when ply two of life comes along, things happen to us without choosing, that which we would avoid if we could, but cannot. You know these as sickness, handicaps, failure, burdens, broken relationships, rejection, death of loved ones, calamities.

If you and I are to weave into the fabric of life the strand of circumstance, as well as the strand of choice, we must learn to say that our lives are in the hands of God. Then we will be able to see the whole plan of God.

Jan. 28^th -“Hey, Pilgrim! How’s Your Progress?”

Geneses 12: 1-9, Hebrews 11: 1-12

John Bunyan found himself in a dark prison where he was taken because he preached without a license. The year was 1678 and from this place he wrote a monumental work entitled “Pilgrim’s Progress.” This book is an allegorical story of one man’s journey-a pilgrim’s progress-in the Christian life. The man, Christian by name, has to fight giants which are the doubts of his life; he carries burdens on his back-the sins of his years. But he has the Bible as his chart and he is ministered unto by a friend called Evangelist.

We all have our giants to battle, “Hey, pilgrim, how’s your progress?” is a question we ask of others and others ask of us. Why can’t I be that kind of faithful follower? Why? Why? Why?

The first question is “WHY NOT?” Why aren’t we making more progress? What hinders us?

Confirmation Class

Plans are underway for the 2007 Confirmation Class for our young people who are in 7^th grade or at least 12 years of age. If you are interested in being part of this class, please call the church office, see the pastor or Mrs. Meggison.

Classes begin on February 11 and continue
            February 18, 25
            March 4, 11, 18, 25
           April 1,15,22,29
            May 6, 20

The class will be received into full church membership on May 27, 2007.

We need to know of your interest (registration) by January 17, 2007 so the materials can be ordered.

Class time is 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on the dates above which are on Sunday.

Sunday School News

On Super Bowl Sunday, the Sunday School will be collecting food for the food pantry. This collection is called the Souper Bowl of Caring. We hope you will join us in helping those in our community who are in need.

On February 11 the Sunday School will participate in the worship service, celebrating the story of Noah’s Ark. Students can bring a favorite stuffed animal to church that day.

A reminder – If bad weather causes the cancellation of Sunday School, each family will receive a phone call from one of the teachers.

Finance

I am pleased to report that all the bills for 2006 have been paid and we are ending the year in the black. I feel that God has blessed us in our endeavors over the last year and you, my church family, have supported this church financially through the weekly offerings and through the other fund-raisers that we have sponsored. January will bring changes to the Finance Committee. Joe Arter will replace me as Finance Chair; Arlene Cotich will replace Joe as Treasurer; and Millie Rosenberger will retire as Finance Secretary. I would like to thank Millie on behalf of the entire congregation for serving in this capacity for many years. Arlene is providing new software for our office computer so that the computer will generate those quarterly statements that Millie did by hand.

Joan Robinson, Chair

Sympathy goes to...

Millie Rosenberger on the death of her brother Robert L. Milam who passed away on Thanksgiving Eve. His life was celebrated by a Military Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006.

Member Care

Nine members of our church family attended Louise Wipper’s 100^th birthday party on December 3. We presented her with the flowers from the altar, which were dedicated to her on that Sunday, and the cards, which many of you signed. Louise looks great and thanked us for attending. She was presented with a congratulatory letter from the President and Laura Bush and also one from Rep. Maurice Hinchey. The Committee is planning other visitations to shut-ins and members in nursing homes. The next one will be on December 30 (Saturday) when we will visit our two members at Golden Hill – Norma Ponko and Dorothy Faulkner. We will meet at the church at 1:30 to go to Golden Hill. Everyone is invited to join us for these visitations. The January visitation schedule will be announced in church. If you know of anyone who may like a visitation or a card from the Committee, please let Joan Robinson or Karen Reynolds know.

January Birthdays

3 - Duane D. Buddle

7 - Cindy Travis Herriman

12 - Lisa Machione

19 - Tim Graves

22 - Dolores Kurtz

23 - Audrey Klinkenberg
31 - Justin Mentz

2006 Holiday Fair Results

The results are still being finalized, but the results from the 2006 Holiday Fair to date show that we beat our total for the Fair last year. Here are the results so far:

Crafts $1,377.70

Recycled Treasures $716.75

Kitchen $505

Electronics $411

Bake Table $260

Recycled Toys $165

Jewelry $159.25

Used Books $138

New Books $56.49

Cook Books $24

Face Painting Tips $7.11

Pecans still being finalized

That’s a total of $3,820.30 so far that goes into the Church treasury. This compares to a total for the Fair last year of $3,366. Also, profits from SERRV are not included in this total since this money goes directly back to SERRV.

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the success of the Fair!

Co-chairs Marilyn Bucher, Joan Robinson,

& Diane McDowell

Monday Night Bible Study

This proposal is for all who would like to continue and for any of you other folks who would like to join the Monday Bible Study Group.

Current thinking is that we will use the second half of Disciple 4 to tailor a course of study more to the needs of those who participated in the Fall.

The subject study is based on the writings of John – The Gospel of John, the letters of John and Revelations. The Gospel of John is covered in the first 8 weeks. The proposal is to cover only this material in the winter and spring A short orientation meeting would be held on Jan. 8 with the materials given out, the outline of each week’s format presented and the schedule for the 8 classes throughout the winter and spring decided. The reading assignments for each week will be reduced and the material to be covered each week will be targeted for no more than an hour and forty–five minutes. These goals will require considerable modification of the Disc. 4 plans.

If this study is meaningful for most of the participants, We would go on with the study of John’s letters and Revelations in the Fall.

Please address your comments and questions to Gerry R. @ 246-7160.