Hamburg United Methodist Church 116 Union St Hamburg, New York, 14075 (716) 649-8080 Sundays at 10 am
Also Streamed Via Facebook Live & Youtube
Merry Christmas!
Christ is born! Hallelujah! Christmas begins on the evening of December 24th each year and runs until Epiphany (January 6). May the Twelve Days of Christmas be merry, bright, and filled with the grace of God. Each year, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the coming of Emmanuel, God with Us, whose life, death, and resurrection have transformed our lives.
As the year draws to a close, the services for Advent and Christmas have ended, the longest night of the year has turned, and daylight is growing. We have celebrated Christ’s birth, the mystery of God becoming one of us, and we have sung the praises of Christ our Lord! I want to take the opportunity to thank you all for what you have done for Christ and His Church in 2024 and to invite you to prayerfully consider a shared discipline for 2025.
This year, I want to specifically thank all of you who have helped lead worship on the Circuit: Dave Rood, Chris Klimecko, Jessica Shaw, Moe Park, Anne Nicol, and Andrea Turton, who have shared the Good News tirelessly, and the Revs. Greg Crispell and Carl Nicol, who have assured God’s people were able to celebrate Communion in its fullness. For all those at Four Corners, Gowanda, and Versailles who have made the year successful, thank you for all you do. Versailles UMC will not meet on Sundays until later in Lent—please watch for an official update as we prepare for Easter. I look forward to continuing to envision a fruitful future with Versailles, as well as with Gowanda and Four Corners in the days ahead.
Special thanks to all who have made worship at Hamburg UMC so meaningful this year. I am grateful for our committee chairs, members, and officers who have kept our life together functioning. Your time and talents are deeply appreciated. I extend special thanks to Rollin Shoemaker and the Windows Committee for completing the yearlong window project and hosting a beautiful dedication. This generational achievement is a rare gift that will benefit our congregation and those who come after us.
Hamburg UMC has had a remarkable year. Our average weekly worship attendance increased over 20%, from 81 to 97. We welcomed five new members, celebrated several weddings, and had a couple of baptisms. We also have three confirmands preparing for confirmation. To all who have joined or are considering joining in 2025, we are thrilled to have you as part of our community seeking Christ together.
We also faced challenges. While we will end 2024 in the black using proceeds from the Endowment, we face a year-end deficit of approximately $18,000. Without increased giving, we project a $38,000 shortfall in 2025. Our 70 pledging families currently give an average of $3,000 per year—an increase of $500 per pledge could close the gap. Please prayerfully consider what you can do to help.
The Annual Conference invited me to participate in monthly meetings with other pastors serving cross-cultural and cross-racial appointments. These gatherings have been an invaluable source of support and guidance. At the December meeting, we worked through a values matrix that I think would help us all better understand our own responses and how we interact with others whose motivations differ from ours. I hope to share this at our next Circuit quarterly meeting, as well as with the Church Council and SPRC at Hamburg UMC.
As of December 2024, the necessary permits and variance approvals from the Town of Hamburg have been acquired, allowing us to move forward on the parsonage project. The Parsonage Committee will meet on January 4, 2025, at 11:00 AM via Zoom and in person (weather permitting). Information will be prepared for the Trustees meeting on January 6th at 6:30 PM, followed by a full discussion at Church Council at 7:00 PM.
And now, an invitation: Would you join me in reading through the Bible in 2025? A yearlong 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. Having done this discipline before, I can attest to the surprising connections you’ll find between different parts of the Bible. I hope you’ll consider this meaningful journey.
Thank you for the privilege of serving Christ alongside you. Let us strengthen our ministries and embrace the year ahead with hope and faith. May the joy of Christmas buoy your spirits and prepare you for a blessed 2025.
Christ is with us! Hallelujah!
Pastor David Nicol
Announcements from the Office
The Church office will be open on New Years Eve (December 31)
and Closed on New Years Day (January 1, 2025)
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As winter weather approaches please make sure to keep an eye out for
weather related closings for HUMC and Little Lamb Preschool :
on WIVB News 4 and WKBW Channel 7
As a general rule, if Hamburg And/ Or City Of Buffalo Public Schools are closed, then the Church and Little Lamb Preschool will also be closed.
__________
Content for the gathering space slide show is accepted weekly
and due on Wednesday Morning to the church office.
**Please note for repeating slides, the last Sunday it should be run.
Office hours
Monday- Thursday: 9am-2pm
Friday: 9 am-Noon
Email us!!
Pastor David: PastorDavid@hamburgumc.org
Jeannine Vanwey: Music@hamburgumc.org
Emily Slocum: Treasurer@hamburgumc.org
Patrick Fitzgerald: AV@hamburgumc.org
Cristina Glover: Office@hamburgumc.org
CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
NEW MEMBERS:
On Sunday November 24, 2024 We welcomed the following individuals into our congregation as members: Leo Jensen, Steve Hobbs, Susan Hobbs, Joyce Wasnock and Brenda Hyman (not pictured)
WEDDING:
Danielle (Mulhisen) and Steven Minotti – married in our sanctuary on December 7.
Our prayers and best wishes for all of God’s blessings with much joy and happiness in the years ahead.
January Birthdays
Betty Lou Mesnard 1/1 100!
Rev David Nicol 1/1
Elaine DeLisle 1/12
Betty Fox 1/17
George Fox 1/24
Douglas Bushnell 1/25
Red Bird Mission Shoeboxes Initiative – A Heartfelt Thank You!
Leo & Ginger Jensen would like to thank the entire congregation for their overwhelming generosity in supporting the Red Bird Mission Shoeboxes Initiative. Through your kindness, we collected:
57 completed shoeboxes
7 pillows
3 large bags of knit and crochet items lovingly made by hand.
A special thank you goes to Cristina and Phoebe Glover, who contributed over 10 shoeboxes themselves!
In total, 2,900 shoeboxes and additional items have been delivered to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky. This mission, founded in 1921 as an answer to prayer, serves one of our nation's most isolated and distressed regions, providing much-needed support in areas like education, health, housing improvement, outreach, and economic opportunity.
The generosity of our church community helps to bring hope, comfort, and resources to those in need. We will try again to travel to Red Bird Mission next month and will keep everyone posted.
Thank you again for sharing God’s love and making this initiative a success!
Dive into a Good Book- Join the HUMC Book Club.
We meet in the church library on the 4th Monday of the month at 10:30 am.
The following are the upcoming book selections:
January: Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
February: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Book Club is Zoom-friendly. Contact Karen Klimecko for more information
Human Relations Day
Sunday, January 19, 2025
We are all family. When we walk past our neighbor who is hiding in plain sight, we limit the gifts and graces that our sisters and brothers in Christ bring to the table. We limit the experiences, the voices and the beloved community that take place through mutual sharing of gifts. With a special offering celebrating Human Relations Day, we join with United Methodists around the world, remembering that the size of the table of divine love is unlimited.
Across the United Methodist connection, we come together to help bridge the gap between church and community by participating in an offering set aside for Human Relations Day. For more than half a century, United Methodists have observed this churchwide special Sunday in recognition of the message Jesus demonstrated during his life: all of God’s children are important.
One of the wonderful aspects of The United Methodist Church is that we can do so much more together than we ever could do on our own. On Human Relations Day, we join other UMC congregations in a special offering to support neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk youth through the Youth Offender
Rehabilitation Programs.
In recognizing Human Relations Day, we are called to make an impact in communities where people struggle because they don’t have the tools or resources to reach their God-given potential. Our gifts are part of building beloved community through faith-based volunteer programs, community developers and programs that work with at-risk teens.
Sunday, January 19 is Human Relations Day in the United Methodist Church. You can respond to the needs of others with your special gift. Offering envelopes will be available on the table as you enter the sanctuary and at the Welcome Center. You may also use electronic giving or your personal check sent to the church designating an amount for “Human Relations Day.” Offerings can be given any time in January or February.
January 8th Session 1 of 9 Jeremiah 1-5
January 15th Session 2 of 9 Jeremiah 6-10
January 22nd Session 3 of 9 Jeremiah 11- 16
January 29th Session 4 of 9 Jeremiah 17-23
February 5th Session 5 of 9 Jeremiah 24-30
February 12th Session 6 of 9 Jeremiah 31-34
February 19th Session 7 of 9 Jeremiah 35-41
February 26th Session 8 of 9 Jeremiah 42-48
March 5th Ash Wednesday Service No Study
March 12th Session 9 of 9 Jeremiah 49-52
March 19th Session 1 of 1 Lamentations 1-5
March 26th Session 1 of 8 Ezekiel 1-8
April 2nd Session 2 of 8 Ezekiel 9-15
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
Coffee Hour Schedule January 2025- Missions/ Outreach
February 2025 - Finance
March 2025- SPRC
Groups are to provide goodies/ snacks each Sunday of the month they are scheduled.
Please get in touch with Sue Gagne or Joyce Spencer with any questions.
Medical Equipment Lending Closet
Hamburg UMC has a medical equipment lending closet. It is located in Room 18 in the basement. Please check the closet before purchasing wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, crutches, canes, etc. The equipment available constantly changes. If you have medical equipment you are no longer using, you may donate them. We cannot take soft items such as gauze pads, diabetic supplies, incontinence, bandages, etc. For questions, please call Caroline Schneggenburger at 716-289-0541.
RETIRED MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
The Retired Men’s Fellowship of Hamburg UMC will gather for their monthly lunch on Tuesday, January 21 at 12 Noon at at ZJ’s Restaurant in the Hamburg Village Plaza. All retired men are invited. Come and bring a friend for good food and good fellowship. Any questions? See Dick Caldwell, facilitator
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
John Meader’s Sunday school class is following a series of lessons using Rev. Adam Hamilton’s book and DVD “Christianity and World Religions”. All are welcome to come join in the discussions every Sunday at 9:00 in the parlor.
Join us for a virtual fellowship! This group is a place to share prayer requests, devotions, concerns, joys, and even some humor with your church family. Join the Hamburg UMC Fellowship group on Facebook.
PRAYER CONCERNS?
If you would like someone added to our church prayer list, call or text Barb Meader at 716-548-4139 or email her at bmeader712017@gmail.com, or contact anyone who is a Prayer, Care, and Share member, or Cristina in the church office. Our ministry is to pray daily for the concerns that have been shared with us.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 4:4-7)