The

Messenger

The Newsletter of the Saugerties United Methodist Church

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

    “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10b

“I Promise”

            How many times in our lives do we promise someone something? I can remember the old phrase we had as children when we made a promise to someone and said “cross my heart and hope to die.” This indeed was a serious statement as it meant we would do something and if we didn’t do it we risk death itself.

            Or our parents had instructed to do something and we responded by saying “I promise.” To this day it is important when we tell someone we will do something to do it, or it reflects upon our character and truthfulness.

            In court we promise to tell the truth and the whole truth so help me God. When we are united in marriage we pledge our faith to each other. The minister says “will you have this person to be your husband/wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him/her, comfort him/her, honor and keep him/her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him/her as long as you both shall live?”

            When an employer invites us to work for them we promise to show up on time, give a good day’s work to the best of our ability.

            Yes, there are many ways that we make promises to others. We stand before the pastor when we have our child receive the sacrament of baptism and he/she says “will you nurture this child in Christ’s holy church, that by your teaching and example this child may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?

            Now how important is our word? It seems that in our world today it has become cheap. People tell their friends, their parents and others they will do something, then don’t. People lie in court under oath, marriage vows are broken by one or both partners, we are hired to do a job then don’t do what we pledged, we promise to bring up our children in the church following baptism then forget about it until the next child comes along.

Cicero said “faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind.” William Shakespeare said those immortal words:

        “This above all: to thine own self be true,

        And it must follow, as the night the day,

        Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

A promise is a promise is a promise so the old saying goes. We are as good as our word so let’s do our very best to keep our word with people.

Sermon Snapshots

Sept. 10^th - “A Crisis in Confidence”

                    Mark 11: 1-11

It was Toynbee, the British historian, who first popularized the phrase, “crisis in confidence.” He said that people are losing confidence in the capability of democratic institutions to meet the challenges of the day successfully.

Life, however, has always been hard, each age having its crisis, with each period bringing new hazards to the great democracies. It has been said that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and we forget that.

We lack confidence in our public officials, our clergy, our medical institutions and we become mistrustful if not out right cynical.

We, as Christians, are called not to panic when all doesn’t go well, but to deepen our faith, developing a more realistic and sophisticated faith. God will pour out his grace on all who try to serve him to the best of their ability.

Sept. 17^th - “Trying Times” Matthew 11: 25-30

Sometimes life just doesn’t make much sense. Some things don’t seem fair. In today’s Gospel, Jesus demonstrates his response to our questions: How much to try in trying times. The verses of today’s passage from Matthew are known as a “Hymn of Jubilation.” What is so extraordinary about these verses, though, is their context. Jesus has just faced a series of rejections by the leaders in the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida. In the midst of trying times, instead of being moved to depression or anger, Jesus cries out in prayer to the Father and then, in invitation to His disciples.

    We need to see ourselves as God’s instruments, humble instruments who allow ourselves to be used. Jesus came to lift those         who are the outcasts, the lame who cannot walk. He will carry with Him those who cannot seem to succeed, who find life to be     trying.

    Jesus showed us to have total confidence in the Father– especially in trying times, then, we will discover the inner peace and             strength to bear our already existing burdens in such a manner that we can find the freedom of the Spirit of which Paul speaks.

Sept. 24^th - “Ask For Help” Matthew 5: 1-12

For all you do-it-yourselfers out there I ask: How are you on asking for help? Sometimes because of our pride and stubbornness we are unable to ask for help. In today’s sermon on the Beatitudes, our Lord highlights the opposite of this attitude as He shares that willingness to admit our needs is the doorway to happiness in the kingdom of heaven.

In order to be willing to ask for help it is necessary for one thing to happen and that is the ability to trust in others. If you don’t do that you won’t ask.

Maybe a good beatitude would be:

    Blessed are you who admit your needs, who are poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.

                                                 
                                                         Charge Conference Date

Our District Superintendent, Dr. Mark Chatterton, has set Monday, October 30^th as the date for this year’s Charge Conference which will be held at St. James UMC in Kingston at 7:00 p.m. This is a joint charge conference for 7 Charges. Due to the early date we will need our reports in early. The Nominations Committee will meet Sept. 6^th at 7:30 p.m.

   

☺We welcome, officially, Melissa Jacob into full church membership on letter of transfer from the Alpena First United Methodist Church in Alpena, Michigan on July 10^th, 2006.

☺Mrs. Marion Miller has had her church membership letter sent from the Windsor United Methodist Church in Columbia, South Carolina on July 18^th, 2006. We welcome her back into the official membership of our church.

Pastor Buddle wishes to express his heartfelt appreciation to our congregation on the recent gift of $1,855 he received for the extensive dental work which he has undergone. It was an emotional moment for him when this gift was received.

   Goes To...

✞Bruce Freligh and family on the death of his wife Dee Ellen who died the end of May 2006. She joined the church on April 13^th, 1955.

✞Emily Arter on the death of her grandmother, Lillian Misner in June. She was 93 years old.

✞Bob Britten on the death of his sister, Mrs. Renee Donaghy on Thursday, June 22^nd.

In Appreciation

✰Appreciation goes to Bob Jestand for making the new (temporary) bulletin board on the outside of our church. He is working on the old one repairing it so it can once again be placed into service. He and other members of the Tuesday crew have been working on this project.

✰Appreciation goes to George Pardonner for clearing away the bush that covered the bulletin board.

✰Appreciation goes to David Jones for his work on washing the windows and blinds in the Mother Goose rooms this past summer.

✰Appreciation goes to Norm Nitschke for the donation and installation of the United Methodist cross and flame in the front entrance way in memory of his wife Miriam Mitschke.

✰Appreciation goes to the Trustees for the purchase of two air conditioners for the offices, and two t.v. sets for the church.

Tour of Churches

Come with us on a tour of some of the most beautiful Churches in the Hudson Valley. Wonder at the Tiffany & Vanderpoel window. Come visit the Church so rich in history that it has the sword of Jeremiah Snyder, who was chased by the Indians. Visit the Churches that were and are the center of life to the Hamlets.

This tour is a fund raiser for the Saugerties Historical Society. Tickets are $15.00 in advance, $25.00 the day of tour if available. Price includes light refreshment at the Kiersted House following the tour. Tickets available at: Smith Hardware (227 Main St.), English Garden Custom Framing (71 Partition St.), Hope Farm Press & Publishing (252 Main St.).

For more information call: 246-0784 or 246-6211. Buses donated by Lezette will be available on a limited basis. Tour starts at 1:00 p.m. on September 16^th, 2006 at the Kiersted House on 119 Main St.

September Birthdays

  1 - Greg Squires

  2 - Kevin Byrne

  3 - Aleda Stamboulian

  7 - Barkley Van Tassel

  8 - Cathy Graves

15 - Vera Van Tassel

16 - Bill Bucher

16 - Teresa Gilmore

22 - Norm Nitschke

23 - Ian Byrne

24 - Mary Pardonner

30 - Millie Rosenberger

Sunday School News

Sunday School begins on September 10 at 9:15. There will be classes for young people from 3 years old through high school. Registration will take place in the lobby and children who have attended in the past only need to update their information. The High School Class will be on hand to help with registration and show new students where they should go. Nursery through 4^th grade will gather in the chapel area following registration to meet their teachers, celebrate summer birthdays, and share some songs. All other students will go directly to their classes following registration. Sunday school ends at 10:30. It is our policy that students in Nursery through 2^nd grade must be picked up from their classroom by a parent or by a person authorized by the parents.

Parents are invited to join either the Parenting Class, which meets in the lounge, or the Adult Bible Study, which meets in the Pastor’s office.

Christian Education Sunday will be celebrated on September 24. As a part of this celebration, the Sunday School Staff will be recognized during the service and the third graders will receive their own Bibles. We encourage the third graders and their parents to attend the service on this special day.

Your Superintendents,

                        Joan Robinson and Karin Squires

Ismael & Michele (Travis) Cora on their Saturday, June 22^nd wedding.

Holiday in the Village

Church Fair

It seems hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner! And it is time to start planning for our 2006 Church Fair. The dates for the Fair this year are:

Friday, Nov. 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We will have all of the favorite goodies returning this year. Here is what you can expect:

Crafts

Baked goods and homemade food

Gift Books

Recycled Treasures

Recycled Jewelry

Recycled Toys

Pecans

SERRV Gifts from Around the World

There will be good things to eat, see and do! More plans are in the making, so we’ll keep you informed of all the details once they are finalized.

Here’s what you can do now to help:

·   Left-overs from a yard sale? Cleaning out the garage? Call Al McDowell (246-4888) if you need help in transporting items to the Church to donate for Recycled Treasures.

·   If you are crafty, start now to make some items to donate to the craft section at the Fair.

·   And start making your list of holiday shopping needs. Shopping at the Fair helps support the Church – and isn’t it more fun than shopping at the Mall?

Please contact one of the chairpersons if you would like to volunteer. There will be an organizing meeting for the Fair after Church on Sunday, Sept. 17, so join us to see how you can participate. We do have a lot of fun!

                        Marilyn Bucher, Joan Robinson,

                        and Diane McDowell

Hospice Volunteers Needed

Hospice is looking for volunteers with certified therapy dogs, and others to take the September Patient Care Volunteer Training. It will be held September 21^st from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. After 21 hours of training, only 3-4 hours per week of volunteering is required.

Volunteers are also needed to provide medication deliveries to our patient’s homes throughout Ulster and Dutchess counties. You will need your own vehicle and one day a week. Mileage is reimbursed.

For more information or to apply, please call Terri St. John, Assistant Director of Volunteer Services at 338-2273, ext. 2207.

MYF Welcomes

New Youth Advisor

Barbara Hammerstone, a soon-to-be new member of our church, has volunteered to become an advisor to our youth group.  Barbara moved to Saugerties two years ago with her husband, Steve, and has been attending our church for about a year.  Alisa Jones and her assistant, Kristen Heuvel, are thrilled with Barbara's interest in the youth group, and very much look forward to working with her this year.  We also want to take a moment to thank Kim Heuvel for all the years she put in making phone calls for us and helping out whenever we needed her.  Kim "graduates" from her youth group duties with the graduation of her youngest daughter, Lindsey, from high school. 

The youth group finished out the school year with a wonderful camping experience at Camp Epworth and a day trip hiking at Mohonk.  We did our last-ever highway clean-up in May.  After participating in the Adopt-A-Highway program for 10 years, we "resigned" our stretch of road in favor of doing future community service projects for Epworth and the Esopus Creek Conservancy.

Just a reminder, membership in the MYF is open to anyone in 7th grade and up.  Hope to see a lot of new and familiar faces in September!

 Alisa Jones