4/4/25 News Flash

Hamburg United Methodist Church

116 Union St

Hamburg, New York, 14075

(716) 649-8080

Worship Sundays at 10 am

Attention Confirmands and Sponsors: Dress Rehearsal for Confirmation Ceremony will take place this Sunday April 6, 2025, at 9am in the Sanctuary

Reminder that the Church Charge Conference will take place on this Sunday at 12:30pm.

All members are encouraged to attend. Although the meeting will be live-streamed no absentee or online voting is permissible. You must be present to vote.

Dear Friends

As many of you know, I'm a board member for The Salvation Army, an organization I deeply believe in. I'm reaching out to our HUMC community for your support of a couple of upcoming events. The Salvation Army does so much to support individuals and families in our neighborhood, and any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Events & Ways to Get Involved:

Red Kettle Open Golf Tournament:

Join fellow golfers on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Diamond Hawk Golf Course in Cheektowaga for the annual Red Kettle Open. This fun event raises crucial funds for our local Salvation Army programs.

• Register as a golfer ($275)or a foursome( $1,000). It's a great way to enjoy a day on the course and support a worthy cause!

• 
  

• Become a sponsor. Several sponsorship levels are available, offering various recognition benefits (ranging from $150 - $3,000). It's a wonderful way for businesses to show their support.

Donations: Even if you're not a golfer, we'd gratefully accept donations of gift cards or certificates, which can be used as prizes.

Sign-Up: Registration is open online now! To register or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please return the registration on the event flyer

Please register by May 1, 2025.

Buffalo's Amazing Race

July 19, 2025

• Join the Salvation Army for the 10th annual Amazing Race, a day of fun challenges, and it's being presented by the Buffalo Bills!

• Meet at Buffalo Riverworks for challenges such as kayaking, hatch throwing or rope/zip line.

• Consider fielding a team or sponsoring this fun event!

Your participation and support of these events directly enable the Salvation Army to continue its vital work right here in our community. Whether it's providing meals, shelter, education, or employment assistance, our combined efforts can truly make a difference in the lives of countless individuals and families.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how you can support these initiatives, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly at vickiweixlmann918@gmail.com. Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can support the Salvation Army's mission!

Vicki Weixlmann

Family Promise Need - A Chance to Help

Some may remember and others may not know this, but Hamburg UMC for a number of years hosted families here in our church several times a year for a week at a time. We supported and assisted families by providing a place to stay and meals. These families were seeking to be rehoused through the local non-profit Family Promise of WNY, an emergency shelter for homeless families. A few years ago, Family Promise opened its own facility in Buffalo where they are now able to house the families. As a church, we still support Family Promise through Missions giving and United Women in Faith giving.

We thought perhaps our church members might appreciate the chance to contribute to this great ministry as well. LuAnne Firestone, Family Promise executive director, said that they are now low on "bed-in-a-bags" for twin and queen beds. Bed-in-a-bags are complete sets that include twin and fitted sheets, comforter and pillow cases.

Our Sarah Circle of United Women in Faith is scheduled to visit and tour the facility on Thursday, April 10 at 11:30 a.m. We would like to take with us any of these bed-in-a-bags that can be donated by Sunday, April 6. A bin labeled for this purpose will be in the coat room area of the Gathering Space.

Also, we invite any women of the church to attend the Family Promise visit as well.

See Rose Caldwell or Sue Gagne, Sarah Circle co-chairs, for more information and to join us.

The mission of Family Promise of WNY is:  Alongside our partners, we keep families experiencing homelessness together by offering emergency housing and compassionate support as they work to find their way back home.  

Join our Communion team.

Bring your passion for baking to our Communion bread-baking group and connect with like-minded individuals! Our six-week rotation schedule allows for flexibility and we provide a contact sheet to facilitate communication. If you're unavailable on your scheduled date, simply arrange a switch with a fellow member.

To join, contact Sue Gagne at 716-648-3460.

Easter Flowers

Spring flowers displayed in our sanctuary on Easter truly add to the joyous feeling of the Resurrection! Once again, we can make this happen by purchasing a flower (or more) to be placed at the front of the church on Easter -- yours to take home after the service, of course.

Choose from:

• tulips, hyacinths or daffodils at $11 each

• white lilies and mums at $15 each

• colored lilies at $16 each.
  

The flowers can be designated in memory of loved ones, in honor of loved ones or for blessings received.

They will be sold March 23, 30 and April 6 after the service. Deadline for ordering flowers is April 6. Cash or checks are accepted.

Please contact Rose Caldwell for further questions. Thank you!

FISH FRY!  THIS Friday and Every Friday ‘til Easter! (Last Fish Fry April 18th)

                                WE NEED YOUR BAKING SKILLS!

PIES and

       CAKES and

              BROWNIES and

                      CUPCAKES / COOKIES

The Church’s Next Fish Fry is Today! 

Your baking skills have ALWAYS been appreciated. 

Please help us out again.

Deliver your favorite home-made dessert to the church next Thursday or Friday.

Pies, cakes, brownies and cookies.  Drop them off at the kitchen.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Julia Platt Memorial Scholarship- Applications Now Open

We are thrilled to announce that the Julia Platt Memorial Scholarship application is open through April 30, 2025  This scholarship honors the memory of Julia Platt and aims to support deserving individuals within our greater United Methodist congregation in their pursuit of higher education.

Multiple scholarship awards are available, with monetary amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000+, depending on the number of applicants.

To be considered for this esteemed award, applicants must meet the following prerequisites:

• Confirmed Membership in a United Methodist Church

• Status as a senior or high school graduate enrolled in a college, university, or trade school.

• Age under 26 years old as of May 31st.

• Exclusion from enrollment in a second bachelor's or graduate degree program.

  
  

Required documents for application include:

• High school transcript.

• College transcript or acceptance letter.

• Applicant photo.

Three submitted references.

Scholarships will be awarded in person on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Hamburg United Methodist Church. Recipients will receive an email invitation and are expected to attend the ceremony to receive their scholarship. Please make arrangements to be present and avoid scheduling conflicts.

Interested candidates can apply through the following link: https://form.jotform.com/243025669321151

No paper applications available or accepted 

Join Us in Reading Through the Bible in 2025

Would you consider reading through the Bible in 2025? Together as a church community, we can embark on this yearlong journey of faith and discovery. A Bible in a Year reading plan is available outside the church office and will also be published monthly in the newsletter. You can also access it online here: Bible in a year reading plan

Dedicating about 20 minutes a day to Scripture is a wonderful way to grow closer to God. Many who have done this discipline before share how it reveals surprising connections between different parts of the Bible and provides a deeper understanding of God’s love and guidance.

We hope you’ll join us on this meaningful journey of faith and exploration!

You can also Read and Listen to Today's Reading Online (FREE!)

Lenten Study for Adult Sunday School

John Meader’s Sunday School class will use Adam Hamilton’s book and DVD “The Message of Jesus- Words that Changed the World” for our Lenten study. All are

welcome to join the discussion Sundays at 9am in the Parlor.

April 9th  Session 3 of 8 Ezekiel 16-20

April 16th  Session 4 of 8 Ezekiel 21-26

April 23rd  Session 5 of 8 Ezekiel 27-31

April 30th Session 6 of 8 Ezekiel 32-37

May 7th Session 7 of 8 Ezekiel 38-43

May 14th  Session 8 of 8 Ezekiel 44-48

Tai Chi will be utilizing Zoom once again for the remainder of the Winter.

Please contact Caroline Schneggenburger for access

Due to continued technical issues with Facbeook Live, We will be streaming solely to Youtube for the foreseeable future.

Please make sure to "Like" and "Subscribe"

Coffee Hour Schedule April- Sarah Circle

April 6. Cozy Quilts & Moe Park

April 13 Barb & Greg Crispell ( Sue Gagne Assisting)

April 20 Joyce Wasnock (Sue Gagne Assisting) Happy Easter!

April 27 Krell Family ( Jason Krell Assisting)

May- Men's Group

Groups are to provide goodies/ snacks

each Sunday of the month they are scheduled.

CALLING FOR COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS

Did you know HUMC has committees whose members volunteer to host coffee hour once or twice a month? Most of these volunteers are on several committees where they are repeatedly hosting to provide goodies each Sunday.

We are opening this ministry up to Individuals or families who would be willing to occasionally be hosts or hostesses.

It’s simply making coffee, lemonade, bringing homemade or store bought items, and cleaning up afterwards.

A sign-up sheet is located on the counter in the gathering space, outside the front office

Where you can pick a Sunday of your choosing.

Would you consider joining in this time of fellowship?

Please get in touch with Sue Gagne with any questions.

Order of Worship

Sunday, April 6,  2025 | 10 am

Youtube Live:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxRWld9XtaLY0WpX7JsXEcw

Google Meet Dial-In: 617-675-4444  PIN: 301 463 603 6721#

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP   

Your light has filled our lives, but we have not shared it with others.

Lord have mercy on us.

You have marked us as your own in baptism, but we have not lived as your faithful people. Lord have mercy on us.

You have called us to be a light to the nations but we have hidden our light under a bushel .Lord have mercy on us.

Transform us by the power of your Holy Spirit so that we may live out our baptism as your new creations, forgiven as made whole by your matchless love in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

OPENING MUSIC: “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” #340 UMG

OPENING PRAYER: God of new beginnings, you wipe away our tears and call us to care of another. Give us eyes to see your gifts, hearts to embrace all creation, and hands to serve you every day of our lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 5:9-12 (CEB), Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (CEB)  Read by: Sue Gagne

SERMON:“Change is Hard”     Rev.Dr. David Nicol

Choir Anthem: “We Will Pray”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE PEACE 

TITHES & OFFERINGS tithes.hamburgumc.org/Give

DOXOLOGY “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow” #95 UMH

The Great Thanksgiving For Sung responses, please refer to slides

THE LORD'S PRAYER

SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP

CLOSING HYMN:  “This is the Day of New Beginnings” #383 UMH

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE