July/August 2020 Newsletter
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Delaware Headwaters Parish Bloomville, Hobart, Stamford, Township UM Churches Through God's love and in community with one another, we welcome you! July/August 2020 Newsletter Delaware Headwaters Parish Welcome to the Rev. Kwang-il Kim & Pastor Paul Moller Delaware Headwaters Parish! Parsonage (Rev. Kim) & Parish Office (Thursdays) The Delaware Headwaters Parish has 607-538-9691 brought together Bloomville UMC, Rev. Kim’s email: [email protected] Hobart UMC, Stamford UMC, and Pastor Paul’s cell: 607-287-2462 Township UMC under the direction of Pastor Paul’s email: [email protected] Rev. Kwang-il Kim and Pastor Paul Moller. Bloomville United Methodist Church 35 Church St. The sudden arrival of chaos in our world has PO Box 3 intruded on the peace of our lives. It is Bloomville, NY 13739 Worship: 11am hard to know at this moment what the 607-538-9440 or 607-538-9691 upcoming weeks and months will hold. But God’s people know that our Lord remains Hobart United Methodist Church unchanged in His power and 204 Maple Avenue grace. Christians may have the confidence PO Box 205 Hobart, NY 13788 of Psalm 46:7, “The Lord of hosts is with us; Worship: 11am the God of Jacob is our fortress.” 607-538-9691 As we go through this uncertain time, we can Stamford United Methodist Church be certain that God is with us and that our 88 Main St. PO Box 133 Stamford, NY 12167 churches will do what we can to help each Worship: 9am other through this. Out of an overabundance 607-538-9691 of caution, we are making several changes for the coming weeks. The list is enclosed. Township United Methodist Church 3835 Town Brook Road This may include changes in worship times PO Box 205 for Bloomville and Stamford. Please continue Hobart, NY 13788 to check your email, or Facebook, or website Worship: 9am for the latest updates. We appreciate 607-538-9691 everyone’s patience and understanding during this unprecedented time. www.delawareheadwatersparish.com [email protected] Do not enter the church building if you experience fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. Wear a face mask during worship and Over the last months, we have been diligently other attendance in the church building. doing all we can to invite people on a journey Keep social distancing at least 6 feet with Jesus. But we realized that our old away from your neighbor in the pews normal is not going to happen… at least not and in other spaces of the building. right now. We have already started re-envision what it looks like to be Christ’s beloved Cover cough or sneeze and throw tissue community (the Church). We are still a in the trash. Go home immediately if community, working together to understand you feel sick during worship. what that means in this time and this place. At Know that each church will follow a this time we have an opportunity to open cleaning regiment and we have cleaning ourselves to the new things God wants us to supplies available. do. Thankfully, we are rooted in our strong Stay home when you are sick or not footing of Jesus Christ, and empowered by the feeling well and utilize online worship Holy Spirit! option. Observe the markings in the pews that Our church councils stand under the authority delineate social distancing. All family of our bishop, Thomas Bickerton, who has members will be encouraged to sit been working with many advisors to create together. Children will remain seated guidelines for how/when United Methodist with their families. No Sunday School. Churches in our conference can begin meeting Obey signage. in-person again. The reopening guidance Know an attendance log will be kept for closely follows our State’s phase–in plan. each service. Understand we will utilize “No touch” Gathering for worship isn’t going to look like it alternatives with “Passing of the Peace”, once did—what we all dreamed of and hoped collection of the offering. Hymnals and for. We begin by asking the most important Bibles will be removed from pews. question. why do we want to come back to Follow us on Facebook or our website in-person worship right now? The answer: where you can see online worship because we all miss the community and services connection that worshipping in person No congregation hymn singing. No provides. choir. No fellowship hour. No Holy Communion through intinction or with Here is The NYAC Guidelines/Protection the use of individual cups/breads. No Protocol for all congregations and visitors to Baptisms will be administered. Funeral Delaware Headwaters Parish Churches, services will be done within the latest developed in conjunction with the Bishop. state and CDC guidelines. All weddings will be delayed until further Please – notice. No VBS. No fundraisers or Use discretion. Use your best social activities involving food judgement. If you don’t feel preparation. comfortable, we have an online version for you. Especially if you are in the As you can see there are some challenges vulnerable category of 65 and older and ahead of us. This is not a perfect solution. have underlying medical conditions. Some confusion is sure to happen, but this is a start. We do realize that not all people feel Prayers as a congregation: comfortable gathering at this time, but thank For our nation as it confronts the COVID you for your patience and understanding as 19 virus and all that it entails we try to gather for worship. One of the For our local, state and national biggest responsibilities facing us as a leadership as they keep the needs of the congregation is this: How do we remain people at its forefront during this tumultuous time. connected and together, safe and healthy, and For the UMC as it makes decisions for its still find ways to worship the Living God? future, that they may exemplify the commands the Lord has given us in Finally, we want to tell you how much we miss preaching and teaching His Word and seeing you in person. So many of you have making disciples communicated the same to us. It’s been a For our families as they teach their hardship, but we are convinced that God can children at home. For our community members who had to make incredible good come from this time if modify their lives and adjust to the new we keep trusting Him, loving and supportive day to day living. one another, and serving our community and For celebrations and for grieving hearts. world. We are learning how to be the body of For those who cannot speak for Christ under new conditions - and we are themselves and need support For our Pastors who have learned to be mindful, as always, of Paul's words in I creative meeting the needs of the Corinthians 12 that "when one part of the body congregation suffers, we all suffer - and when one part For our churches as we cope with rejoices, we all rejoice!". supporting one another while we socially distance ourselves from each another. Good advice for the current crisis: For our front-line workers in all fields of Keep the Faith. Focus on God and His life. For all people as we examine the patterns Eternal Word in times of fear and of racism in our hearts and our world uncertainty. systems. Stay Connected. Be intentional about reaching out to check on others, and allowing them to check on you. Shine Your Light. Look for small acts of kindness and expect God to do great acts of faithfulness. Thank you to all who keep checking our Our church volunteers are the unsung Facebook page! heroes of our churches and the lifeblood of our Parish. ‘Thank you’ are two words Until the coronavirus pandemic is over and sometimes we don’t say enough especially during this crisis. Volunteers have the volunteers are able to gather and work, generously given their time and dedication Angel’s Attic will be closed, indefinitely. just to keep our churches running smoothly. We appreciate this selfless effort We will NOT be accepting any donations as you mowed lawns, fixed sidewalks, for a while. planted and tended gardens, ran errands, donated food, made and donated masks, PLEASE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY! delivered groceries and supplies, donated blood, tutored, donated to the animal shelter, attended in person and virtual meetings, kept the books, cleaned the churches, donated technology expertise and needs, donated financially, donated financial expertise, sent cards, called on shut-ins, fixed & painted, helped with construction projects, and served our children through technology to name a few of the acts of generosity we have witnessed, We are grateful to all the There are many ways to stay informed people who have given their time, energies about our Parish and the news that might and talents to see the kingdom advance. affect you. Visit our website at www.delawareheadwatersparish.com Follow us on Facebook. Facebook pages can be found by searching for Bloomville United Methodist Church, Delaware to our 2020-2021 Delaware Headwaters Parish, Hobart United County Dairy Princess Jillian Methodist Church, Angels’ Attic. Hungerford and Alternates Enjoy our newsletter. Notify us by email Jessica Coleman and Morgan to get added to the newsletter mailing at- Kuhn! Here's to the beginning [email protected] of a new year of advocating for the dairy industry! field. We have to filter out political motivations that attempt to take a situation like we are facing and use it to create political advantage or promote a political position.