No In-Person Services Through February
The Ballston Spa United Methodist Church has paused in-person worship at the church. It has been decided that the pause will be continued through February, at which time it will again be reviewed. Concern of the spread of the COVID virus and the very high positivity rates in Saratoga County were the benchmark criteria for the decision. The decision was made with a great deal of care and concern for our congregation and for the community at large.
We will be having worship each Sunday via Facebook, and on our website. While the building may not be open, we will continue to worship and share God's love. For the current time, the Food Pantry will continue to serve on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to Noon, using the rear entrance to the Church House off the parking lot.
11:00 a.m. Sunday Coffee Hour is on ZOOM and by Phone
Join us for a virtual coffee fellowship via Zoom (either by computer or ipad or phone). Bring your own refreshment and enjoy seeing each other via Zoom. This is the link through May at 11:00 AM Eastern Time:
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.
Finance Team Reports
The Finance Team reports that our receipts for January were $5,364.00 and our expenses were $10,355.59, for a current deficit of $4,991.59.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is on February 17th this year. Since we will not be able to meet in person, Pastor Kelly is sharing a recommendation that we consider a special online worship service. It is called “A Night with New Room”, a live-streamed event from 7-9 PM with various leaders speaking and inviting us to confess, repent, and re-commit to God during the 40 days of Lent. The link will be shared next week. Pastor Kelly will also post her own short Ash Wednesday service online for those who wish to mark the beginning of Lent.
Life Lessons from 6 Women in the Old Testament
We will be having a new weekly Bible Study highlighting six women in the Old Testament each Wednesday from February 24 through March 31. It will be held between 7:30 and 8:30 pm via Zoom. The subject of each week’s study is below.
February 24 - Keturah: A Wise Second Wife
Readings: Genesis 25:1-4; I Chronicles 1:32-33
Abraham married Keturah late in life; her example shows us how to counter jealousy, fear, and resentment in a blended family.
March 3 - Naaman’s Little Maid: A Teenager Who Believed in Miracles
Reading: 2 Kings 5
Despite trauma in her childhood a young girl grows up to become a devoted and compassionate servant. She convinces her Master, Namaan, that God has the power to heal him.
March 10 - Miriam: A Gifted and Beloved Leader
Readings: Exodus 2:1-11, 15:20-21; Numbers 12; Numbers 20:1; Micah 6:4
Moses’ courageous older sister was an important leader in the journey toward the Promised Land. Her tragic flaw was jealousy, but when God confronted her, she was remorseful.
March 17 - Rahab: From Shame to Fame
Reading: Joshua 2:1-24; 6:1-25
A prostitute becomes a heroine by helping two of God’s servants with a dramatic escape. She later becomes a believer and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
March 24 - Michal: A Critical Wife Loses Sight of What Matters Most
Readings: 1 Samuel 18:20-29, 19:1-17, 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:1,12-16; 2 Samuel 6: 5, 14-23
David’s wife was once very much in love with her husband. Her focus shifted away from what was most important and she became bitter.
Week 6 Abigail: How to Capably Deal with Difficult Men
Reading: I Samuel 25
She selflessly risked her life to save her husband Nabaal. She frequently handled tense situations with calmness and wise words.
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:
Ann Heffernan’s Memorials
It is with great sadness that we share that Ann Heffernan died on Friday afternoon, January 22nd. Plans for a future gathering when family and friends can be present are being made. Gifts in Ann’s memory can be sent to the Ballston Spa UMC (or the Saratoga County Animal Shelter). Please make a note on the check that it is a gift in Ann’s memory and not include it with your regular offering.
Hat and Prayer Shawl Missions
So what have you been doing during the pandemic? There have been some nimble hands working making hats and prayer shawls for mission. During January, we sent 110 hats to the Four Corners Native American Ministry in Shiprock NM (Ilah made 51, Breta 46, Estelle 9, Dolores 3, and Pat B 1). Normally the Director at 4 Corners takes a picture of the box when it arrives out there and posts it to their Facebook page. She wrote and said that she put the box out and the hats were gone before she could get a picture. So we know the hats are already being used and appreciated. From the pictures, it looks like it is very cold there.
The congregation of the BSUMC is participating in this ministry through your offerings which support the costs of shipping. The costs of the yarn are donations by the crafters and friends of the project.
We have also over the past few months shared 16 Prayer Shawls with our sister church in Rock City Falls (Ilah 12, Breta 4). These shawls have been distributed locally or sent as far as Florida carrying with them the prayers of comfort and peace. Prayer shawls are available from Ilah if you would like to share one with someone in need of those prayers. During this COVID season, we have also made virtual prayer shawls available. A card with a picture of a prayer shawl is sent as a reminder of the prayers from this congregation. This is not a physical prayer shawl but certainly a visual one that conveys our healing and comforting prayers.
Celebrate this active ministry and these gifts that reach beyond our congregation and share our love and God given talents. Anyone can participate in this active ministry of our church. Contact Ilah Sisson Walser for further details.
Fair Trade
Thinking about Valentine's Day for your Sweetheart or another loved one? Consider some Fair Trade Chocolates -- Panama Extra Dark, Orange, Sea Salt with Almonds, and Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt are available for purchase (Sea Salt w/Almonds are $3.50, the others are $3.00). 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.
Musical Offerings
Annual Conference
This year’s Annual Conference will be held remotely June 17 – 19. The dates have been changed to utilize the services of a resource to conduct the sessions. The Committee on Agenda and the Committee on Sessions will continue to create the framework of our time together during these three days.
Direct Care Volunteers Needed
The Gateway House of Peace, an end of life home that provides hospice care and emotional support to families managing with the last few months of life, is in great need of licensed or retired health care volunteers capable of providing direct care.
Other volunteers are needed as well, for facility management and event planning support.
Please contact Executive Director, Bethany Gonyea at bgonyea@gatewayhouseofpeace.org for more information.
Celebrations!
We have two birthdays this week. Happy Birthday t0:
Have a blessed week
The Ballston Spa United Methodist Church has paused in-person worship at the church. It has been decided that the pause will be continued through February, at which time it will again be reviewed. Concern of the spread of the COVID virus and the very high positivity rates in Saratoga County were the benchmark criteria for the decision. The decision was made with a great deal of care and concern for our congregation and for the community at large.
We will be having worship each Sunday via Facebook, and on our website. While the building may not be open, we will continue to worship and share God's love. For the current time, the Food Pantry will continue to serve on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 to Noon, using the rear entrance to the Church House off the parking lot.
11:00 a.m. Sunday Coffee Hour is on ZOOM and by Phone
Join us for a virtual coffee fellowship via Zoom (either by computer or ipad or phone). Bring your own refreshment and enjoy seeing each other via Zoom. This is the link through May at 11:00 AM Eastern Time:
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.
Finance Team Reports
The Finance Team reports that our receipts for January were $5,364.00 and our expenses were $10,355.59, for a current deficit of $4,991.59.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is on February 17th this year. Since we will not be able to meet in person, Pastor Kelly is sharing a recommendation that we consider a special online worship service. It is called “A Night with New Room”, a live-streamed event from 7-9 PM with various leaders speaking and inviting us to confess, repent, and re-commit to God during the 40 days of Lent. The link will be shared next week. Pastor Kelly will also post her own short Ash Wednesday service online for those who wish to mark the beginning of Lent.
Life Lessons from 6 Women in the Old Testament
We will be having a new weekly Bible Study highlighting six women in the Old Testament each Wednesday from February 24 through March 31. It will be held between 7:30 and 8:30 pm via Zoom. The subject of each week’s study is below.
February 24 - Keturah: A Wise Second Wife
Readings: Genesis 25:1-4; I Chronicles 1:32-33
Abraham married Keturah late in life; her example shows us how to counter jealousy, fear, and resentment in a blended family.
March 3 - Naaman’s Little Maid: A Teenager Who Believed in Miracles
Reading: 2 Kings 5
Despite trauma in her childhood a young girl grows up to become a devoted and compassionate servant. She convinces her Master, Namaan, that God has the power to heal him.
March 10 - Miriam: A Gifted and Beloved Leader
Readings: Exodus 2:1-11, 15:20-21; Numbers 12; Numbers 20:1; Micah 6:4
Moses’ courageous older sister was an important leader in the journey toward the Promised Land. Her tragic flaw was jealousy, but when God confronted her, she was remorseful.
March 17 - Rahab: From Shame to Fame
Reading: Joshua 2:1-24; 6:1-25
A prostitute becomes a heroine by helping two of God’s servants with a dramatic escape. She later becomes a believer and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
March 24 - Michal: A Critical Wife Loses Sight of What Matters Most
Readings: 1 Samuel 18:20-29, 19:1-17, 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:1,12-16; 2 Samuel 6: 5, 14-23
David’s wife was once very much in love with her husband. Her focus shifted away from what was most important and she became bitter.
Week 6 Abigail: How to Capably Deal with Difficult Men
Reading: I Samuel 25
She selflessly risked her life to save her husband Nabaal. She frequently handled tense situations with calmness and wise words.
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:
- Rose Warner, Mark Warner’s mother, died on Feb 2nd - she was 92 years old and spent the last 30 years retired and living in Edgewater, Florida. Her husband, Rev. Charles Warner, was a UM pastor that served Troy Annual Conference for 38 years.
- Mark Warner is very thankful for his sister, who is on disability herself and lives hundreds of miles away but used all of her energy trying to help & manage Mom from afar.
- Peter Flint, a longtime active member of this church before moving South, passed away at his home in South Carolina after a long illness. For those of you who remember Pete, condolences can be sent to his wife Peg at 132 Longlea Drive, Clover SC 29710.
- Carrie (Sheeran) Adserias had asked us to pray for a coworker named Cathy with cancer. She died recently, at age 54, and will be very much missed by all who were blessed to have her in their life.
- Please pray for healing and comfort for Robin, Melody Babcock’s niece. She is going to be extubated (removed from the ventilator) tomorrow. Prayers for her COVID-19 to be leaving her body & successful medical treatments.
- Let's continue to keep Bill & Kathy Haege in our prayers as they face multiple health challenges.
- Thank you for holding John Castiglione in your prayers. He passed away last weekend at Ellis Hospital from complications related to COVID. Please hold his wife Carol and her extended family in your prayers.
- Cherrie Sanders asks for prayers for McKensie (age 5) who has full hearing loss in her left ear and is going in for her scheduled check-up with her audiologist (who monitors for any further hearing loss in her right ear).
- Cherrie is also asking for prayers for a co-worker’s young wife whose breast cancer is spreading. Her radiation treatment will be 5 days a week for three weeks. They are consulting with specialists in Boston.
- Thanksgiving for those people who have been able to get COVID vaccine shots.
- Requesting continued prayers for Walter Thiem, his wife Courtney, and parents Sue and Al Thiem. Walter will be continuing medication and treatments.
- Please pray for Dorothy Collins. She would appreciate prayers for a quick and full recovery.
- Please keep Janice Green in your prayers. Although she is not sick, she is in Wesley and staying well is becoming increasingly difficult. Cards would be appreciated.
- Please keep Richard Babcock in your prayers for continued healing. He is home from the hospital after receiving a stent for his heart.
- Please continue prayers for Gary Persons who has two more treatments of immune therapy.
- Please continue to pray for Pat Jones. She continues to struggle with the effects of pneumonia.
- Please pray for Melissa Taylor who is experiencing medical issues.
- 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. Lord, hear our prayers.
Ann Heffernan’s Memorials
It is with great sadness that we share that Ann Heffernan died on Friday afternoon, January 22nd. Plans for a future gathering when family and friends can be present are being made. Gifts in Ann’s memory can be sent to the Ballston Spa UMC (or the Saratoga County Animal Shelter). Please make a note on the check that it is a gift in Ann’s memory and not include it with your regular offering.
Hat and Prayer Shawl Missions
So what have you been doing during the pandemic? There have been some nimble hands working making hats and prayer shawls for mission. During January, we sent 110 hats to the Four Corners Native American Ministry in Shiprock NM (Ilah made 51, Breta 46, Estelle 9, Dolores 3, and Pat B 1). Normally the Director at 4 Corners takes a picture of the box when it arrives out there and posts it to their Facebook page. She wrote and said that she put the box out and the hats were gone before she could get a picture. So we know the hats are already being used and appreciated. From the pictures, it looks like it is very cold there.
The congregation of the BSUMC is participating in this ministry through your offerings which support the costs of shipping. The costs of the yarn are donations by the crafters and friends of the project.
We have also over the past few months shared 16 Prayer Shawls with our sister church in Rock City Falls (Ilah 12, Breta 4). These shawls have been distributed locally or sent as far as Florida carrying with them the prayers of comfort and peace. Prayer shawls are available from Ilah if you would like to share one with someone in need of those prayers. During this COVID season, we have also made virtual prayer shawls available. A card with a picture of a prayer shawl is sent as a reminder of the prayers from this congregation. This is not a physical prayer shawl but certainly a visual one that conveys our healing and comforting prayers.
Celebrate this active ministry and these gifts that reach beyond our congregation and share our love and God given talents. Anyone can participate in this active ministry of our church. Contact Ilah Sisson Walser for further details.
Fair Trade
Thinking about Valentine's Day for your Sweetheart or another loved one? Consider some Fair Trade Chocolates -- Panama Extra Dark, Orange, Sea Salt with Almonds, and Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt are available for purchase (Sea Salt w/Almonds are $3.50, the others are $3.00). 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.
Musical Offerings
- Do you sing or play an instrument?
- Are you able to record yourself while you sing or play?
- Would you be willing to provide some music for our Sunday Services?
Annual Conference
This year’s Annual Conference will be held remotely June 17 – 19. The dates have been changed to utilize the services of a resource to conduct the sessions. The Committee on Agenda and the Committee on Sessions will continue to create the framework of our time together during these three days.
Direct Care Volunteers Needed
The Gateway House of Peace, an end of life home that provides hospice care and emotional support to families managing with the last few months of life, is in great need of licensed or retired health care volunteers capable of providing direct care.
Other volunteers are needed as well, for facility management and event planning support.
Please contact Executive Director, Bethany Gonyea at bgonyea@gatewayhouseofpeace.org for more information.
Celebrations!
We have two birthdays this week. Happy Birthday t0:
- Kathy Haege (2/7)
- T.C. Wolsey (2/7)
Have a blessed week