The

Messenger

The Newsletter of the Saugerties United Methodist Church

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

“I have learned to be content with whatever I have.” Philippians 4:11

“The Importance of Contentment”

    One of the great gifts each of us can be given is contentment. Remember the old Carnation commercial of years ago telling us their condensed milk came from “contented cows” which meant that, that made the milk better. So contentment makes our lives go better as well as the lives of cows. Then it takes more to make people contented than it does cows. How much does it take to make you contented?

    We cannot be contented unless we are satisfied with what is going on in our lives. On the other hand, if we wait until our lives are going smoothly and everything is in order, (when does that ever happen?) then we are going to wait a very long time. The other option is to make an effort to be contented not matter what the circumstances of our lives are.

    We cannot be contented if we believe that we are oppressed by someone or something. We cannot be content if we want MORE OF THE THINGS OF LIFE, such as money, property, cars and so on and on. The Apostle Paul said that he had “learned to be content with whatever he had.” (Philippians 4:11) That meant property, it meant money, it meant the way he was treated.

    The question is how was Paul able to live this way? My answer is that it was because of his focus. His focus was on Christ and not the material world. REMEMBER Paul had money, power, prestige which he gave up at his conversion. “Be content with what you have.” (Hebrews 13:5b) If we are ever going to be contented with what we have, then it requires a change in focus or what is important to us. Sir J. Mackintosh has written “it is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are.”

    Without that change in our lives like that of the Apostle Paul we will never be able to live contented lives. Why is it important to have contentment? So that we will feel better? NO! Because when we are contented we are in Christ our Lord.

Duane D. Buddle, Pastor

Sermon Snapshots

Sept. 11th - “Christ and Troubled Hearts”
           John 16: 15-33

Trouble is one experience all of us have in common. Sometimes we think that we have been singled out for many troubles while others seem to go scot free. There are two kinds of trouble in the world and in our lives. First, there is the trouble which we bring upon ourselves. Then there is the kind of troubles that come into our lives uninvited, unwelcome, and for the most part, unexplained. The real difference between people is not that some have troubles while others have none; the real difference is the attitude in which people meet trouble and what they make of it in their lives.

We can:
    1. Resent it
    2. Try to escape it
    3. Break under it
    4. Use it for some good

The message of the Gospel is that we will not have a life without trouble, but we will have a power to stand up to the trouble of life.

Sept. 18th - “Great Truths” Exodus 5: 1-4

Great truths are often expressed as answers to questions. This is the case in the truths that are conveyed to those reading the book of Exodus, for in that book, focal questions are asked which point us to God’s answers to humanity’s questioning. Among the questions asked are: Who am I that I should go? Why should I heed the voice of the Lord? The author of Exodus manifests the God of history as he reveals himself in holy history. For truly God does reveal himself in personal history and in the family and church history as well as in national and world history.

In the scriptures God reveals himself. In Genesis he is the God of creation. He creates the world and all that there is. He makes humanity and then they spend their time getting into trouble and hiding from God.

This Lord is the ruler of history, the lover of humankind and the redeemer of the world.

Sept. 25th - “Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve” Joshua 24: 14-24, John 17: 20-26

Let us look this morning at Joshua and see ourselves reflected there. Here is a great convocation at Shechem. The warriors still flushed with victory from marching into and conquering the Promised Land. But they are called together to be reminded who it was who gave them the victory for the Israelites had already started to congratulate themselves on their brilliant victory. They had started to forget the Lord. Joshua says “choose this day whom you will serve.”

Whom do you serve? Do you serve your money or your job? Do you serve your security, your house? Is it progress? The idea that things will get better. We need to make hard choices in serving the Lord.

Luke 24:45

Luke 24:45

Congratulations to...

Brian & Stephanie (Topple) Robinson on their Saturday, June 25th wedding.

William & Nancy (Ebel) Robinson on their July 30th wedding.

September Birthdays

1/ 1961 - Greg Squires
2/ 1992 - Kevin Byrne
3 - Aleda Stamboulian
7/ 1918 - Barkley Van Tassel
8 - Cathy Graves
15/ 1920 - Vera Van Tassel
16 - Bill Bucher
16/ 1990 - Teresa Gilmore
22/ 1918 - Norm Nitschke
23/ 1994 - Ian Byrne
24/ 1938 - Mary Pardonner
30 - Millie Rosenberger

Return to Regular Worship Hours

September 11th at 10:45 a.m.

Roast Beef Dinner

Saturday, October 1, 2005

Servings at 5 & 6:30

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, September 29,
    6:00 - 7:30 pm to peel carrots
    - Friday, September 30, 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.

SING TO THE LORD

Sing to the Lord a song of new life,
Sing to the Lord with woodblock and fife.
Sing to the Lord that God can rejoice
To hear songs sung with your own voice!

Ring out Christ’s song of Love to the hills,
Ring out Christ’s song that the spirit fills.
Ring out Christ’s song that moves all to tell,
God is with us clear as a bell.

Sing for the Lord with songs we can share,
Sing for the Lord of His hope and care.
Sing for the Lord about all we face
To receive His undying grace.

Come join a choir and share in a ministry of music. Come give and receive the blessing and joy of music. If you have questions please contact a choir member, Matt Jones (845-687-8820), or the church office.

The Wesley Choir and Children’s choirs will begin rehearsing on Thursday Sept 8, 2005. The Cherubs at 6:00 PM, The King’s Kids at 6:30 PM and the Wesley (High School and Adult) Choir at 7:30 PM. The Wesley Choir’s first singing Sunday is Sept 11, 2005.

If your have questions about which choir your child might join please contact Matt and inquire. The cut –off point between the two children’s choirs varies depending on the number of children and where each fits best at the time. The Cherubs need to be in kindergarten and usually remain cherubs through 4th grade.

‘Holiday in the Village’ coming in November

Our church fair, ‘Holiday in the Village,’ is scheduled for Friday, November 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, November 19, from 10 am. to 2 p.m. The fair will include crafts, jewelry, trash and treasures, used electronics, books, nuts, baked goods and other homemade food items, used toys, and silent auction items. There will be unique items from around the world which we will offer for sale through SERRV. We are also open to any new ideas that anyone has. The kitchen will sell food both Friday evening and Saturday. A children’s activity room will provide entertainment and child care services for young children. A meeting to organize the event will be held in the lounge after the church service on September 18. Anyone interested in helping with the fair is encouraged to attend. Anyone who is working on crafts to donate or would like to work with the craft group should see Myrna Jones or Mary Pardonner. Anyone with used items to donate may leave them in the basement in the back of the Boy Scout area.

Marilyn Bucher, Diane Lisle, Joan Robinson

Disciple I...

Will reconvene on September 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the Lounge. We will begin the study of the New Testament (Lesson 18, Radical Discipleship).

You Oughta Be in Pictures!

Our church is producing a new pictorial directory. We hope to have our entire congregation represented in the book! Photography dates are Wednesday September 28th and Thursday September 29th. Appointment sign-ups will begin on Sunday August 28th.

As many of you know, the church directory is a great resource to have. Every family group or individual photographed receives a copy of the directory and a complimentary 8 x 10 photograph custom natural portrait from Olan Mills.

Karen Byrne, Directory Coordinator

A VISION WITHOUT A TASK IS A DREAM.
A TASK WITHOUT A VISION IS DRUDGERY.
A VISION WITH A TASK IS THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.
IS NOT THE GOSPEL, THE HOPE OF THE WORLD?
WILL OUR VISION MOVE OUT OF OUR FOUR WALLS AND JUST PAYING THE BILLS?

WITH AN ATTITUDE
OF
GRATITUDE,
GIVE THANKS
GIVE

-Karen Reynolds, for your stewardship committee

Sunday School News

It’s time for a new year of Sunday School! Registration and the first day of class will take place on Sunday, September 11th, starting at 9:15 a.m. Following registration, students will proceed to their regular classrooms. There are classes for children from nursery school through high school, as well as adults.

Students in the nursery through 4th grade will start out each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the chapel for fellowship, then will proceed to their classrooms. Grade 5 and up will meet in their classrooms at 9:15 each week. All classes meet from 9:15 to 10:30, and parents of students in grade 4 and lower must pick up their child at their classroom at the end of class.

All adults are invited to participate in one of two classes. The Parenting class meets in the lounge, and enjoys fellowship and discussion of parenting issues within Christian families. Books, study guides, and videos are often referred to. Parents of children of any age are encouraged to join this group.

An adult Bible study class is also offered during Sunday School hours. This class meets in the Pastor’s office, and welcomes new students.

If you have any questions regarding Sunday School, please contact Karen Black at 246-4249, or Emily Arter at 246-0456.

Our students in the third grade will be receiving their Bibles during the church service on Sept. 25th, 2005. Please plan to attend for this special presentation!

Free Futon

The lady who said she wanted the futon (frame and mattress) that we offered in a Messenger in the Spring seems to have moved out of the area –– at least we have not been able to contact her so the futon is still in the Rosenberger’s basement waiting for a new home. If interested, call 246-7160.

Story Telling Breakfast Meeting

An expert Biblical story teller, the Rev. Richard Rice, will be giving a story telling demonstration at the Overlook UMC in Woodstock on Oct. 29 at 9:30 AM. Rev. Rice has been doing and teaching story telling for many years and has developed an effective ministry in the process. The breakfasts are labeled for lay speakers and clergy, but because of the general interest in this subject, anyone interested may register thru Gerry R (246-7160) on a first come, first serve basis. The breakfast will be served at 9:30 with the story telling session to follow until close to noon. A $5 donation is suggested.