
Native American Ministries Sunday
This Sunday was Native American Ministries Sunday. Please be generous in your support for our Native American siblings in Upper New York Annual Conference and throughout the denomination. Our congregation has also been supportive in our ministries with the Native Americans in South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, and New York State.
This offering funds scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians, strengthens and develops Native American ministries and communities, both urban and rural, and supports Native American outreach at the annual conference level.
You can give by sending a check to the church designated for Native American Ministries, or on our giving page.
Welcome Back!
We have opened our doors for in-person worship! Masks are required at all times while in the building; seating will be at least 6 feet apart. Please enter by the south (ramp) door. You will be guided to a seat, and at the end of the service you will be dismissed via the north door by an usher. We will continue not singing as a congregation.
For anyone wishing to remain at home we will continue posting worship services on Facebook and our website.
Change in Pastor Kelly’s Availability
The Staff Parish Committee wants to share that Pastor Kelly began serving half-time at the church on April 1st. She has been at 3/4 time for just over 3 years now. Here are some details on what 1/2 time will mean for our Church and its ministries:
11:30 a.m. Sunday Coffee Hour is on ZOOM or by Phone
Join us for a virtual coffee fellowship via Zoom (either by computer/iPad or phone). Bring your own refreshment and enjoy seeing each other via Zoom. This is the link through May at 11:30 AM Eastern Time (note the new time as of March 14):
In the Zoom app, you can use Meeting ID: 963 0143 0502 / Passcode: 956579
Or simply click here to join Zoom Meeting
You are also welcome to dial in via phone at 929-205-6099 using Meeting ID: 963 0143 0502 / Passcode: 956579
Add the invitation to your electronic calendar by clicking here.
Prayer Group
Please consider joining our prayer group. This is an on-line way of praying for each other’s needs and praising God for what is happening in each other’s lives. If you would be interested in being involved, please either call or email the office and you can be set up.
This week's prayer concerns:
Equalization Member Applications
The Upper New York Annual Conference will be held virtually this year from Thursday, June 17th to Saturday, June 19th. If you would like to be an Equalization Member, you may contact Carrie in the District office at 518-480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org for an application. Equalization members are laypersons from local churches who serve as delegates to Annual Conference in order to maintain an equal number of lay & clergy voting delegates. Applications must be completed and received at the district office by April 15th.
This Sunday was Native American Ministries Sunday. Please be generous in your support for our Native American siblings in Upper New York Annual Conference and throughout the denomination. Our congregation has also been supportive in our ministries with the Native Americans in South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, and New York State.
This offering funds scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians, strengthens and develops Native American ministries and communities, both urban and rural, and supports Native American outreach at the annual conference level.
You can give by sending a check to the church designated for Native American Ministries, or on our giving page.
Welcome Back!
We have opened our doors for in-person worship! Masks are required at all times while in the building; seating will be at least 6 feet apart. Please enter by the south (ramp) door. You will be guided to a seat, and at the end of the service you will be dismissed via the north door by an usher. We will continue not singing as a congregation.
For anyone wishing to remain at home we will continue posting worship services on Facebook and our website.
Change in Pastor Kelly’s Availability
The Staff Parish Committee wants to share that Pastor Kelly began serving half-time at the church on April 1st. She has been at 3/4 time for just over 3 years now. Here are some details on what 1/2 time will mean for our Church and its ministries:
- Her primary ministry hours will be full days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and until 2 p.m. on Thursdays
- She will lead weekly worship and have some limited time on Sundays for wedding/baptism counseling and meetings
- She will continue to perform weddings and funerals for members of the church
- She will continue to lead the Nominations team, and attend Church Council, Finance, and Staff-Parish Relations meetings. She will consult with key leaders of other ministry teams, attend their meetings if needed, and read their meeting minutes.
- Typically she will be at the church office on Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m., primarily to work with the Office Manager Sue Cramer. All requests or questions for the pastor that are not urgent should be sent to Sue Cramer. She will share those with the pastor on Tuesday morning.
- Prayer requests need to be sent to the office; they will be posted to our Prayer Chain as soon as possible. Please remember that the office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- Whenever possible she will be present for our church’s fundraising efforts, fellowship events, mission activities, and youth group happenings.
11:30 a.m. Sunday Coffee Hour is on ZOOM or by Phone
Join us for a virtual coffee fellowship via Zoom (either by computer/iPad or phone). Bring your own refreshment and enjoy seeing each other via Zoom. This is the link through May at 11:30 AM Eastern Time (note the new time as of March 14):
In the Zoom app, you can use Meeting ID: 963 0143 0502 / Passcode: 956579
Or simply click here to join Zoom Meeting
You are also welcome to dial in via phone at 929-205-6099 using Meeting ID: 963 0143 0502 / Passcode: 956579
Add the invitation to your electronic calendar by clicking here.
Prayer Group
Please consider joining our prayer group. This is an on-line way of praying for each other’s needs and praising God for what is happening in each other’s lives. If you would be interested in being involved, please either call or email the office and you can be set up.
This week's prayer concerns:
- Lou Cook is able to visit Joyce in the hospice unit each day. They are grateful for their time together.
- Please pray for the son of one of Bonnie Keehan’s relatives. He died from an overdose and the grief his loved ones are feeling is profound.
- An update on Melody Babcock’s prayer request for a friend's 14 year old grandson, Gavin, who had 5 hours of spinal surgery on 4/6/21. He is home from the hospital, walking, sitting and gained 2 inches in height! My friend thanks you all for the prayers!!
- Sue Cramer asks for prayers for their granddaughter Megan who has a serious heart issue.
- Ilah asks for prayers for Garner who was born 9 weeks early and weighed in at just over 3 pounds. We pray for his continued gains and hold on life.
- Pat Jones asks for prayers for Russ, a family friend in his 80s with cancer.
- Prayers for Bill Haege’s health and adjustment to using his wheelchair. And prayers for Katie, his caregiver, who is struggling with her grandmother's death.
- Please pray for Amy in her early pregnancy.
- Melissa Taylor is praising God for helping her through her treatments and appreciates our prayers.
- Keep Bob Elbertson in your prayers.
- Ilah Sisson Walser asks: Heartfelt concern and prayers for those suffering from COVID 19 and their families. Give people strength to continue to safeguard against exposure and contacting the virus.
Equalization Member Applications
The Upper New York Annual Conference will be held virtually this year from Thursday, June 17th to Saturday, June 19th. If you would like to be an Equalization Member, you may contact Carrie in the District office at 518-480-4866 or adirondackdistrict@unyumc.org for an application. Equalization members are laypersons from local churches who serve as delegates to Annual Conference in order to maintain an equal number of lay & clergy voting delegates. Applications must be completed and received at the district office by April 15th.

Exploring a New Fundraiser
Have you ever been to a food truck event before? These have been growing in popularity in recent years. There’s a popular one in Glens Falls held each week at the Shirt Factory. Large crowds come out to sample a wide variety of food and desserts; plus there’s live music and lots of vendors both inside and out. Some weeks there’s even a petting zoo or pony rides!
At our recent Church Council meeting we talked about inviting a small number of food trucks or food vendors to use our parking lot. Naturally, we’d advertise this as much as possible, and schedule it for when we hope there would be a busy downtown day. What we need is some people willing to volunteer to investigate the possibilities. We’d need to find willing food vendors, plan out how the foot traffic would flow, and make sure vendors get an insurance rider. Coordination would also be needed with the village and our Trustees.
If this seems like an interesting idea and you’d be willing to be part of it, please leave your name and contact info at (518) 885-6886 or email the office. There will also be an ad hoc meeting right after church on April 25th.
Fair Trade
Sea Salt with Almonds ($3.50), and Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt ($3.00) varieties of Fair Trade chocolate are available for purchase. Organic Regular Coffee, Decaf Coffee, and various organic teas are also available. Please contact Stan Lockwood at 518.885.1552 or stosh964@gmail.com to arrange for delivery or pick-up.
A Directory is Being Planned
There will be a directory coming out soon but there are people whose pictures are missing. Emails will be sent to those people. If you would like a newer picture than what was taken three years ago, please feel free to send it in. You can email your picture to the office at bsumc@albany.twcbc.com for inclusion.
Musical Offerings
Do you sing or play an instrument? Would you be willing to provide some music for our Sunday Services?
If so, please contact Cathy King at cathys.notes@gmail.com or 518-538-4523. She will be happy to work with you and schedule a date for your musical offering to be included in a worship service.
Celebrations!
We have 4 birthdays to celebrate this week:
If there is a birthday or anniversary that you would like shared, please send it to the church office by email. Happy celebrations are always a blessing!
Have a blessed week
Have you ever been to a food truck event before? These have been growing in popularity in recent years. There’s a popular one in Glens Falls held each week at the Shirt Factory. Large crowds come out to sample a wide variety of food and desserts; plus there’s live music and lots of vendors both inside and out. Some weeks there’s even a petting zoo or pony rides!
At our recent Church Council meeting we talked about inviting a small number of food trucks or food vendors to use our parking lot. Naturally, we’d advertise this as much as possible, and schedule it for when we hope there would be a busy downtown day. What we need is some people willing to volunteer to investigate the possibilities. We’d need to find willing food vendors, plan out how the foot traffic would flow, and make sure vendors get an insurance rider. Coordination would also be needed with the village and our Trustees.
If this seems like an interesting idea and you’d be willing to be part of it, please leave your name and contact info at (518) 885-6886 or email the office. There will also be an ad hoc meeting right after church on April 25th.
Fair Trade
Sea Salt with Almonds ($3.50), and Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt ($3.00) varieties of Fair Trade chocolate are available for purchase. Organic Regular Coffee, Decaf Coffee, and various organic teas are also available. Please contact Stan Lockwood at 518.885.1552 or stosh964@gmail.com to arrange for delivery or pick-up.
A Directory is Being Planned
There will be a directory coming out soon but there are people whose pictures are missing. Emails will be sent to those people. If you would like a newer picture than what was taken three years ago, please feel free to send it in. You can email your picture to the office at bsumc@albany.twcbc.com for inclusion.
Musical Offerings
Do you sing or play an instrument? Would you be willing to provide some music for our Sunday Services?
If so, please contact Cathy King at cathys.notes@gmail.com or 518-538-4523. She will be happy to work with you and schedule a date for your musical offering to be included in a worship service.
Celebrations!
We have 4 birthdays to celebrate this week:
- Anna Taylor (4/18)
- Mia Lawrence (4/19)
- Debbie Zlotnick (4/19)
- Jennifer Taylor (4/21)
If there is a birthday or anniversary that you would like shared, please send it to the church office by email. Happy celebrations are always a blessing!
Have a blessed week