The Newsletter of the Saugerties United Methodist Church

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

Everywhere we look we are reminded that things are constantly being updated. Now, I don’t know about you but it is not easy for me to think about all that is taking place. I really can’t tell you what an I-Pod is or what a Blackberry is (at one time it was something I picked off a bush and ate but I don’t think that is what a Blackberry is anymore).

The computer is always updating the virus protection, the televisions are digital and all I know if you are not on cable you are in trouble in 2009 and need a “converter box” (Converter...now there is a good “church” term).

My cell phone company is always trying to get me to “update” my service and or phone. They don’t seem to realize that all I want to do is make a phone call and get a phone call with my phone.

How about you, do you need an update? Now I am not talking about your clothes, the color of you hair, more insurance or retirement program but I am talking (you knew that this was coming, don’t you) about a faith upgrade.

Children go to Sunday School and get as much information that assists them in building their faith, but if we stopped learning in elementary school we would be severally disadvantaged as an adult in the modern world and so it is with our faith. We need to build and expand upon that which we received when we were younger.

All of us as adults and children need to be involved in “Christian continuing education.” I urge you to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented. We need to know what the Good News is all about before we can share the good news with others.

In the text today Jesus assures us what will happen to those who cause harm to his little ones. There certainly are a vary of ways that people have hurt His little ones. Causing a little one to stumble spiritually is a major way that we cause harm to these people. Do you insure that your children are in church and Sunday School? Do you encourage them to become a part of the youth group? Do you encourage them to give of their own money to the work of the church? Dig through the files of the church for past photos of Confirmation classes. Who are the youngsters who have falled away from the church and its fellowship? Are these young people modeling their behavior on that of their parents and other older adults?

We speak these days of the importance of role models, but usually when someone has failed to live up to being a good role model. How about endeavoring to be a good role model to your children and others. Are you a good role model in the way you drive your vehicle? Do you mirror the patience of Jesus when someone cuts you off on the highway? When someone is slow pulling away from a changing traffic light?

Jesus saw his disciples as always being “on duty” reflecting the very best a person can be. Who are the little ones that Jesus is talking about? Does it depend upon: AGE, HEIGHT, WEIGHT, APPEARANCE?

Our New Testament reading is an account of two men on their way to Emmaus, tells us about people, like us, who see but don’t see. They were deflated because it appeared that Jesus had died just like everyone dies. They felt let down. This account raises a lot of questions for us. First: “Why didn’t they know and understand that it was Jesus beside them? Was it because they didn’t expect anything, let alone Jesus, to be with them? Was it because they were blinded to Him because of the sun or something over his face? Their eyes were suddenly opened when Jesus blessed and broke the bread. Does this account say something to us today?

Christianity is a faith of hearing, seeing and doing. Worship is not just the word but is the action upon the word. We leave worship to go out and spread the word, to show it in our lives, to love as Christ loved, to care as He cared.

The ordinary, everyday symbol of food...bread was used by Christ to convey his message. The bread of Christ is universal. There are no restrictions on the kind of person that Jesus invites to his table. It makes no difference who you are or what you’ve done. It makes no difference where you are from or how you got there. There is no official language at Christ’s table except the language of the heart.

The bread of Christ is intensely personal. It tells us how precious we are in his sight.

The bread of Christ is communal. Certainly the bread Christ offers is universal and personal. We rejoice in our acceptance by God and the indwelling of Christ’s Spirit and that experience does not happen in isolation but happens in the context of the Christian community.

The bread of Christ is time-sensitive and eternal. It is both to be kept and given away.

Vacation Bible School

The Saugerties Area Council of Churches will hold their Vacation Bible School program from Monday through Friday, July 21-25, from 9:00 a.m. until noon at Atonement Lutheran Church on Market Street (#100). The theme this year is “God’s Big Back Yard.”

The deadline for registrations to be in is July 11^th

The summer worship hours are at 9:30 a.m. from July 6^th through August 31^st.

We will return to the 10:45 a.m. worship schedule on Sept. 7^th.

Congratulations to our

2008 Graduates

Congratulations to the graduates of Saugerties High School & in particular those from our church:

1. Billie Jo Anderson

2. Teresa Gilmore

3. Teryn Squires

By the time you read this, the MYF will be capping another year of fun and service with a weekend campout at Camp Epworth. We did two work days at Epworth again this school year, waited tables at the church's roast beef dinners, assisted in setting up the Rummage Sale, supervised the Children's Room at the Church Fair, offered our annual babysitting service in December, lectored a church service, did a trail clean-up at the Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, and had a Bowl-a-Thon to raise money for the Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

For fun, we again ran our Haunted House and Halloween Party for the church and community, had a couple of game nights, went Christmas Carolling, saw a River Rats hockey game up in Albany, and the hands down favorite with the youth, held our first ever Lock-In at the church (thanks again to Doug Byrne for running games from 3am to 5:30am!).

Our Krause's candy fundraiser was a success, once again, thanks to the support of everyone in the congregation. We donate half of the proceeds from all of our fundraisers to the church's general fund.

The Methodist Youth Fellowship is open to any student from 7th grade up. Join us!

It’s never to early to think about hot dogs; especially when combined with parade watching. Our church has sold hot dogs, lemonade, etc. during the 4^th of July parade for quite a few years.

You can help hold expenses down for this fund raiser by donating to the cost of the hot dogs and paper products, or when you see individual bottled water on sale, (around 12oz. or 16oz. size) you can buy them and donate some to the sale. We could also use individual size packs of potato chips, etc.

Also, if anyone is available mid-day, any day, to assist me getting Tom out of his lift chair and on-to his walker and to spot him while he walks, I would so appreciate it. Tom is now considered a "two assist" patient and I am advised to not get him up without the assistance of another individual. Walking with us would be a matter of spotting. With the lift chair and hospital bed mobility is much more possible. To maintain the strength Tom has, he needs to be able to walk around as much as possible. Once a day, several times a week will be helpful. If anyone feels they could be available to help get Tom out of the hospital bed on Sat, I also need help with this. Several people are available late afternoon and early eve to help put him back to bed. If any other is so inclined I could space out the other volunteers.

NEW YORK, May 7, 2008—Cyclone Nargis tore through Myanmar (Burma) May 2 with unexpected fury, causing a tidal surge that swept inland that devastated Myanmar’s most populated regions leaving homes and businesses flattened and families forever changed. Current reports place the death toll over 20,000, with another 40,000 missing.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is responding to the widespread need in Myanmar. Working through partners such as Church World Service, one of the few agencies with permits to work in Myanmar, allows UMCOR to respond to disasters in some of the world’s most remote places.

Please pray for the people of Myanmar who have suffered great losses. Pray also for new venues for assistance to be opened to help those in need. Financial gifts will allow UMCOR to respond immediately and with generosity when the appropriate structures are in place to receive further assistance. Gifts to UMCOR will help survivors of Cyclone Nargis. Checks can be mailed to SUMC. Please make checks payable to SUMC and indicate on the memo line that it’s for Myanmar Relief. We will send one check to UMCOR.

If you heard the Russian singing group in 2003 and/or 2004 or if you were one of us who were privileged to have one of the individual singers as guests in our homes, I’m sure that you will be glad to hear that they will be here for another concert on Sept. 14 at 2 PM. For people who don’t know who they are, the Lyra folks are all professionally trained singers who sing Russia hymns and folk songs in an inspiring and beautiful way. Spread the word and let’s have a good turn out for this group.

Remember our friends that are home bound or residing in nursing homes. They and their families would appreciate a ‘Thinking of You’ card or a short note to know they are remembered.

Congratulations to Lee & Toni Kimble Klinkenberg on the birth of their son Daniel Carroll Klinkenberg on April 24, 2008. He weighed 7lbs. 1oz and measured 18" long. Dan & Audrey Klinkenberg are the proud grandparents. Mother and baby are doing fine!

Noah saw the first rainbow recorded in the Bible. It was shown to him by God as a sign of the promise that God made to him in reward for Noah’s faithfulness. Noah endured the ridicule of his neighbors and the hardships caused by the flood, but he knew that God was always with him. God calls us to be similarly faithful as individuals and as a community of faith. I know that many of you strive continually to serve God through your presence at worship, the use of your time and talents, and your financial giving. God is always there for us; let us be faithful to Him so we too may look for those rainbows as we continue our Christian journey.

Thanks again to everyone who helped with the roast beef dinner. We would like to extend a special thanks to the MYF and their friends; 16 of these young people helped in either preparing the food, serving the food, or running the dish washer. We made a record profit for a spring dinner of $1417.

A meeting to plan the church schedule for the 2008 – 09 year is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, following the worship service. Since the service will start at 9:30, the meeting should start around 10:30. A brunch will be available. Should you attend? Everyone is invited, and anyone who serves on one of the committees should try to attend. During the current year, many events were planned at the last minute and a few did not occur at all. The programs of our church are better served by some advanced planning. Please put this on your schedule.

At the recent meeting, Marcia Kemp presented a program on the history of some of the hymns that we sing and Nancy Dooley led us in singing them while playing the piano. UMW sent Mother’s Day cards to several women who are no longer able to be active in the church. We received a very warm letter from the son of Marion Miller, who told us how much his mother appreciated hearing from us and she was still able to recognize some of the names of folks who had signed the card. Individuals from the group are providing meals or other services to church members who have health problems. Nancy Dooley is the contact if anyone should need some help. As a fundraiser, the chapter helped Gerry Rosenberger with his yard sale as he starts to downsize. The next meeting will be on June 1 following the service.

Children’s Day is June 8. This is the last day of Sunday School for the current school year. The High School Class is planning the worship service, but all of the classes will participate in it. The students will be rehearsing during Sunday School on June 1 and 8. Sunday School will resume on September 7.

The Saugerties Area Council of Churches is sponsoring Vacation Bible School at Atonement Lutheran Church, 100 Market Street, during the week of July 21 – July 25. It will start each day at 9:00 with a general opening in the Sanctuary. Children will go to their classes at 9:30, where they may be picked up at 12:00. On Thursday evening (July 24), there will be a parade for the children and their families, which starts at 7:00 p.m. The theme this year is “God’s Big Backyard.” The materials look great and the children should have a lot of fun while learning more about the Bible. There will be classes for 4-year olds through 6^th grade. Children will be placed based on the grade that they have just finished. Older children may volunteer to be helpers. There will be crafts and snacks each day. Children who attended last year will receive registration information in the mail or parents may fill out the form below and mail it to Margaret Todd at 1030 Churchland Lane, Saugerties, NY 12477. For more information, call Margaret Todd at 246-5966. The deadline for registrations to be in is July 11^th.