​Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
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  • How We Serve
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     Welcome as we worship online and in person.  Share a warm welcome with others.  Coffee hour is held in the Connections Café following the service.  Coloring sheets, offering envelopes, and mission baskets are located near both entrances to the church. 
​
February Mission
     February is Dental Health Month, and we will again collect dental health items for the Food Pantry.  This may include toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash.  Unfortunately, many times when budgets are tight, items like this are disregarded as too expensive.  We want to add smiles to our neighbors who use the food pantry by giving them a gift of some dental health items.
     Please consider getting an extra item or two when you go to the store.  Then, drop it into the white wicker basket at the back of the sanctuary during (but not limited to) the month of February.
     Thank you for your caring and generosity.

Dinner & a Movie
     Don’t forget to sign up for dinner from Augie’s for February 16!  Sign-ups may be done in the café or by contacting Stan Lockwood.  The cost will be $12.  The movie will be “What Would Jesus Do”.  A big thank you to Estella Simmons for donating her television for our use!   And a big thank you to Mary Drake for the movie!

The Food Pantry Has Moved!
     The Food Pantry has been relocated to their new location in the church!   Recently over 30 people gathered to help in the move.  It is not only moved but organized and open for business, already serving the community.  Thank you to all who donated their time, talents, and gifts for this worthwhile endeavor. 

Bishop Hector Welcomes You
     As of January 1, Bishop Hector Burgos, who prefers to be addressed as Bishop Hector, is the new bishop of the Upper New York Conference.  Click here to read his welcome message.
     Bishop Hector is eager to meet laity and clergy throughout the Conference and has scheduled dates for regional meetings.  The meetings will be as follows:
  • February 16 – Northeast Region - New Hartford
  • March 2 – Northeast Region - Plattsburgh UMC
The clergy meetings will be from 1 – 3 pm.
The laity meetings will be from 7 – 8:30 pm.
 
Game Time is Here!
     On Friday, February 24 we will be meeting in the café from 1 to 4 pm for Game Time.  This is a chance to get together to play a game, chat and meet up with friends.  All are invited to join us for whatever length of time you choose.  If you have a particular game you would like to play, bring it along.  And bring a friend!  I know one person is looking for a game of pinocle.  Anyone interested??

Fair Trade Coffee or Chocolate
     Fair Trade products are available.  Chocolate bars (Extra Dark Panama, Sea Salt with Caramel Crunch and Sea Salt with Almonds), and coffees (Regular breakfast blend, Hazelnut, and Decaf) can be purchased by contacting Stan Lockwood at 518-885-1552 or at stosh964@gmail.com. Enjoy some soon!
 
Prayer Requests
     Please join our prayer group.  This is an on-line way of praying for each other and praising God for what is happening in our lives.  If you are interested in being involved, please contact the office to be set up.
  • Ilah Sisson Walser asks for continued prayers for the improvement of health and wellbeing for her son-in-law who is now home from the hospital.
  • Ruth Persons asks for prayers for her husband Gary who has 2 procedures coming.
  • Stan and Donna Lockwood ask for prayers for two of their neighbors:  one young man of 54 years who has inoperable cancer and another man who is receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments for brain cancer.
  • Mary Drake asks for continued prayers for her nephew Charlie.  He is in the hospital and the mass on his lung has gotten bigger.
  • Terri Knowlton thanks God for all the love and prayers for her family as they mourn the loss of her brother, Kyle Knowlton.
  • Dorothy Collins asks for prayers for her friend Amy’s dad who is in the hospital having heart surgery.  Also, prayers for the family.
  • Dorothy Collins also asks for prayers for her friend Susan’s husband who is also in the hospital.
  • Dorothy also asks for prayers for her friend Susan’s husband who is also in the hospital.

Department of Social Services Thanks You
     On behalf of The Saratoga County Children’s Christmas Program, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the thoughtfulness and generosity you bestowed upon the children in our program this Christmas.  The gifts and money donated to our program brought Christmas Joy to 277 children and their parents.  Your support was and continues to be very much appreciated. 
- Keith Kirchhoff, Supervisor, Adult & Family Services and Tina Potter, Commissioner of Social Services
 
UMCOR Thanks You
Dear Friends in Mission,
     Since 1940, the United Methodist Committee on Relief has served as the humanitarian agency of the United Methodist Church, providing disaster response and relief to areas impacted by natural and man-made disasters around the world.  Through your financial support, you are serving within a vital network of interactive relationships as UMCOR responds to increasingly-frequent destruction – sharing 100% of donations with those in need.  Thank you and together, may we continue to reveal the love of God for all and to demonstrate genuine love for our neighbors.                                                               
- Roland Fernandes, General Secretary

Thrift Shop and Food Pantry
     The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays from 9:30 till noon; the Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays -- now in its new location in the Fellowship Hall of the church -- also from 9:30 till noon.
     Thank you to the people who donate their time and effort to make all of these offerings possible.  There are many clients and they appreciate your help.

Hannaford Helps Our Food Pantry
     Thanks to everyone who purchased the Fight Hunger Bags from Hannaford during January.  Our Food Pantry received $88.  It was selected to receive $1 from every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag sold in Ballston Lake.  Thank you to all who participated in this.  Watch for more opportunities in March!

BSUMC's Online Presence
     Our services are posted to Facebook and on our website.  If you Like it on Facebook and share it, it will reach many more people than if it is just on our Facebook page.  You can also direct anyone to the This Week's Service page of this site, on the Videos tab (https://www.ballstonspaumchurch.org/this-weeks-service.html), where the service is posted weekly. 

The Confession
     On February 20 at the theatre in Colonie Center there will be a movie shown for one night only called “The Confession”.  This is a musical starring Chonda Pierce and John Schneider and is based on the books by Beverly Lewis.  You will “sing, laugh and gasp” as the story and the music takes you on a journey of adoption, hope and forgiveness.  We can get group rates if there are more than 10 people and we pre-order our tickets.  If interested, please contact the office and let Sue know.
 
Can you help?
  • We offer VHS tapes on our “Help yourself” table each Wednesday when we have our Food Pantry open.  People say they would enjoy the movies but don’t have a VHS player.  If you have one you’d like to donate, please bring it to church on Sunday morning.  
  • Pastor Kelly is also hopeful someone might have a synonym/antonym resource book they’d be willing to donate.   
  • Do you know where there might be another cork board to post information for the Food Pantry?  If one was there it would be put to good use.    

Upcoming Events
February 14 - Church Council meeting, 7 pm via Zoom
February 16 - Augie’s and a movie, 6 pm – Café
February 21 - Worship meeting, 6:30 pm via Zoom
February 22 - Ash Wednesday service, 7 pm
February 24 - Game time, Connections Cafe, 1-4 pm

Celebrations!
     One birthday this week:
  • Jeannine Kelley (2/14) 
Happy birthday to you! There are two anniversaries this week:
  • Heather & Tom Forster (2/14)
  • Michelle & Jason Greco (2/17)
Happy anniversary to all of you!   
     
     If you have a birthday, anniversary, or graduation to celebrate, please send it to the office.  We love to celebrate!

Volunteers for Next Sunday
Sound                     Riley Schmidt
Projection             AJ Schmidt
Liturgist                 Stan Lockwood
Ushers                    Melody Babcock & Conrad Dorau
Coffee Hour          Janet & George Mallette
Music                      Terri Knowlton

Community news
     The Malta Ridge UMC, 729 Malta Ave. Ext. Malta Ridge, will host a free soup and sandwich lunch from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 11.  All are welcome.  For additional information or directions please call the church at (518) 581-0210.


     The First United Methodist Church at 603 State Street in Schenectady is pleased to announce their 10th Annual Lenten Photo Show.  This starts on February 22 and is open to the public, free of charge.  Everyone is invited to participate.  For five weeks during Lent, a different theme has been chosen.  During each of these weeks, FUMC will be accepting one to three photos that the participant has taken that reflect the weekly themes, which are: 
  • February 22-28: It Is Ok to Be Different
  • March 1-8:  I Will
  • March 9-15:  I Have
  • March 16-22:  I Do Not Know
  • March 23-Apr. 1:  I Am Ascending
Anyone can participate in either or both of two ways:
1. Submit photos that you have taken to: fumcphotoshow@gmail.com with theme and a title/caption for the photo
2. View the show on the church's website, Facebook page, and as part of Easter Worship on April 9th.
For more information, visit their website or Facebook page, or contact the office at 518-374-4403.


​​​​Have a blessed week

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