The

Messenger

The Newsletter of the Saugerties United Methodist Church

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

“This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15: 12

“Disappointment”

There are two kinds of disappointment. The kind we give to others and the kind that we receive from others. “I’m disappointed in you!” are crushing words to hear from another person be it a parent, a child, a friend, a fellow parishioner, a co-worker, etc.

Like it or not others have expectations of you and me, some are realistic and others are unrealistic. We endeavor to meet these expectations that are placed upon us sometimes failing miserable, sometimes succeeding greatly. We have been conditioned since we were children to live up to certain standards of conduct while at the same time falling short of the standards which we have been given. This has produced a tension in our lives and at times has forced us to be constantly looking for approval from others in our lives whom we value. This is an unfortunate way of life as I believe that God has called us to live free lives in His Spirit and in His love. Dr. Gerald Mann, senior pastor of Riverbend Baptist Church in Texas, has written “Jesus looks beyond our faults when our faults are all that people can see.”

Jesus, I believe, accept us just like we are and takes us to new heights that otherwise we would never meet.

Then there is the other kind of disappointment that we receive from others. Husbands and wives have “expectations” of each other as do other family members. Frequently these expectations are set so high that no one can reach them, then we are disappointed in that person(s). When others fail us we become discouraged, angry, and disheartened. The Hymn “Be Still, My Soul” (# 534 in our hymnal) has these in verse three “Be sill my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

Yes, as long as we reside in this world we will know disappointment. But one day we will not know disappointments any longer when we graduate to the next world.

What, then, are we to do if we will disappoint others and others will disappoint us? My answer is simply to accept others, accept yourself. I have a quote in my office, here at the church that reads: “Be not angry that you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” This was written by Thomas a Kempis in his “The Imitation of Christ.” It has been helpful to me and I hope it is to you.

Back to the hymnal again. Our hymnal has much of our theology in it. There is a hymn (#560) which reads:

Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; teach us as sister and brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us, and bring us to believe we are ourselves accepted and meat to love and live.

Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all, not just some, to love them as we find them, or as they may become.
Duane D. Buddle

New E-mail Address
Please note the church’s new email address:
saugumc@netstep.net

Rummage Sale Results

Our Rummage Sale had an excellent turn out on both Friday and Saturday, in spite of the weather. We made $812, our most ever. Thanks to everyone who donated things, helped set up and sort, worked the days of the sale, or helped with clean up. We had most of the Fellowship Hall back in order by 1:00 on Saturday.
Myrna Jones and Joan Robinson

Sermon Snapshots

April 10^th - “Make A List” Luke 18: 9-12

Today I want to speak for a short time about our need for approval. Sometimes this need is so great that if we do not get the approval of another person each day we are devastated. The Pharisee in today’s gospel is in the temple praying for God’s approval. “O God, he says, I give you thanks that I am not like the rest of men.” Like most self-righteous people, the pharisees in Jesus’ time were fond of putting others on their list of those who were unrespectable. The Jewish people did the same thing as well as the Romans.

Jesus teaches us that a person is in trouble when he begins to see himself or herself as the best of all possible persons. I invite you this week to make a list of all the persons you see as inferior to yourself and unworthy of your approval. Be honest, spare on one. When the list is complete (it may take a while), begin to say, over and over again, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner. And each time you say this, cross off one name, until every name is crossed off.

April 17^th - “Living By Love” I Cor. 13: 1-13

Everyone needs to be loved, whether they realize it or not. In Paul’s 13^th chapter (the love chapter) we find his definition of love. What is love? He tells us what love IS NOT: It is not:

Impatient

Possessive

Proud

Selfish

It is not miserable to love or superficial to love. True love never fails. Now is your love and my love perfect? You know the answer to that question but God’s love is perfect and thanks be to God for that.

April 24^th - “Facing A Crisis” Acts 27: 12-29

When we face a crisis a variety of things happen to us and within us. One of the things that comes to us is the feeling that life has lost its purpose and direction. What are some of the attitudes we can have?

1. We can become hysterical

2. Give up, life is not worthwhile anyway

3. Become concerned only about ourselves and what is happening to us

4. Take on the attitude of Paul who said “I BELIEVE IN GOD”

Like a ship we have anchors to use: The first one is HOPE, the second is DUTY, the third one is PRAYER and the fourth one is LOVE.

When in a crisis throw out the anchors and wait for a better day.

Hungry?

How about a greatly delicious
Spaghetti DinnerSaturday, April 16^th
Continuous seating from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Menu: Spaghetti w/Homemade Sauce
Meatballs
Salad
Italian Bread
Dessert
Adults: $8.00 Children: $4.00
Children under 5 - FreeAll proceeds will finance our Youth Ministries trip to Hartford, CT for the Revolve Tour Conference for Teen Girls on November 11^th & 12^th.for Reservations see Karin Squires or Alisa Jones.

Let’s Get Cooking!!

We will be creating a Church Cookbook, but to make this book a success we need one thing from the members of the church...
Recipes!!
Please copy down your favorite recipe(s) and give them to Karin Squires or drop them off at the church office. To really make it easy you can even email them to : TERYNSMA612@HVC.RR.COMMake sure to include your name with each submission. Deadline for submissions is April 25^th.These cookbooks will be sold for $7.00 each and if you’d like to pre-order yours, please contact Karin Squires @ 246-8944 or sign up on the order form located in the Narthex. Proceeds will be divided between our Youth Ministry Program and the General Fund.

Sympathy
goes to...

Freda Gilmore on the death of her mother Freda Martin on February 26^th at the age of 85. Pastor Buddle conducted her funeral on March 2^nd.

The family of Mary Myers who died on March 8^th, 2005. Mary had been a member of our church for 58 years joining in 1947 from the Episcopal Church of Great Britain.

Laura Holzhauer on the death of her Mother in New Jersey the middle of March.

Disaster Preparedness Program

The Ulster County Red Cross and the Ulster County Emergency Management are presenting the Disaster Preparedness Program here on April 13 at 7:30 p.m.This program is a slide show presentation lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes including questions and answers. It will help participants identify simple steps to prepare themselves and their homes for disasters.

Hospice Volunteers Needed!

Help support Hospice patients and their families by becoming a Hospice Volunteer! Call about the April/May Hospice Patient Volunteer Training to be held April 28^th (6-9 PM), April 30^th (9AM-6PM), May 12^th (6-9PM) and May 14^th (9AM-6PM). After 24 hours of training, only 4 hours per week of volunteering required.Volunteers are also needed to provide 3 hours of administrative support per week in our Poughkeepsie office-prepare mailings, do computer input, file or assist with other office tasks. There is no special training required for office volunteers.For more information or to apply, please call Terri St. John, Assistant Director of Volunteer Services At 338-2273, ext. 2207.

Honoring Women

We will have a special insert in the bulleting on May 8^th, Honoring All Women. Fill out the enclosed pink form and return it to the church office by May 4^th.

Roast Beef Dinner

Saturday, April 30^th, 2005
Servings at 5 & 6:30 p.m.
For Reservations call Emily Arter at 246-0456 or
Art or Blanche Cramer at 246-2998
The dinner includes roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, buttered carrots, cole slaw, Italian bread, relish tray, dessert, and beverage
Price per meal - Adults - $9
Children 5 - 12 - $4.50
Children under 5 are free.
Take out dinners are available.
Your help would be appreciated at any of the following times:
-Thursday evening 6:00 - 7:30 pm to peel carrots
- Friday, April 29, from 9 - noon to make cole slaw
- Saturday from 9 - noon for food preparation;
from 4:30 - 8 (to serve food, wait on tables, wash dishes, and clean up)
You can sign up to help. The sign up sheets will be available in the lobby when we get closer to the dinner.

A Big Thank you!
February 28^th, 2005

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the tribute. My feelings of appreciation are so deep down I can’t come up with adequate words to bring them to the surface, but I’ll try a few.
Overwhelmed - Definitely!
Surprised? - Biggest of my life. Deserving? - Only along with the parents and other church members for their support. Without them we Sunday School Teachers could do nothing.
Stunned? - Yes! After nearly a half-century in our church, serving on many committees, I would never, never, be able to plan, coordinate, and present such a wonderful evening of surprise and tribute.
Thank you for inviting my son and daughter-in-law. You even thought of that!
I’ve always known how much this Church Family loves the children of our church, their own and the children of others.
When the young adults have reached 7^th & 8^th grades they have already spent seven years of their lives receiving the love and devotion of the Sunday School staff. I like to think that our children feel the church is as
a second home to them.
Ruth Hain liked to use the phrase SUM (pronounced some) Church! to describe our church. I agree!
Thank you not only for my wonderful surprise, but for all the known and unrevealed (by you) service to our church, you all freely give.
I have told my son when he is left with only memories to remember that this past Saturday night was one of the happiest experiences of my life.
Thank you for the beautiful gifts and thank you, Matt and choir, for the music.
Grateful - Each Sunday morning as I ride down Rte. 212, towards the church, I think of how blessed I am to have this Special Place to go to.
May God bless all of you. I love you.
Gloria Meggison