​Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
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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.  Prayers requested are:
    Cherrie Sanders asks for prayers for Marcia & Dan, for improved health.
 
Stay Safe Online
    Warnings are being posted about a number of scams designed to access personal information.  Details about some reported scams are provided here:
COVID-19 Payment Scam
    Scammers claiming to be from the federal government are contacting people and asking to verify personal information or bank account details in order to "release" stimulus payments.  Protect Yourself—No one will contact you to verify your information.  If you have questions about your stimulus payment, visit the IRS Get My Payment tool.  DO NOT respond to any emails on this topic.
Donation Request Scam
    Emails are received claiming to be from the CDC or World Health Organization (WHO) requesting donations.
Protect Yourself—Do your homework when it comes to donations. Never donate in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money.  Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. For information, visit sites like coronavirus.gov and usa.gov/coronavirus or go directly to the website of the organization you’d like to support.
Fake Product Scams
    Protect Yourself—There are no products proven to treat or prevent COVID-19 at this time. Be wary of ads for test kits. Most advertised online have not been approved by the FDA and may not be accurate. The FDA has approved one home test kit, but it requires a doctor’s order. If you believe you need a COVID-19 test, please contact your medical provider directly.
If you think you've been a victim of a coronavirus scam, contact law enforcement or go to https://www.fcc.gov/covid-scams.
 
News from the Food Pantry
      This week was our monthly Regional Food Bank truck delivery.  Thanks to the workers who unloaded the food and helped get it stocked on our shelves.  Our Facebook page has some great pictures of the now-full shelves.  In other news,  volunteers are using a digital, non-contact thermometer to take their temperature before serving clients. 
 
Quarterly Statements
      Cherrie Sanders asks that anyone who did not receive their quarterly statements please contact her.  She can be reached at (518) 419-5091 or by email at umc1267@gmail.com.
 
Start the day with Debbie
      Our District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl shares a devotion via Facebook Live at 7:30 AM every Monday through Saturday, and worship at 10 AM on Sundays.  The devotions and worship are also posted on her Facebook page and our District Facebook page, so you can tune in at any time.  We are also posting daily gospel readings from Rev. Bill Mudge.  To view, go to https://www.facebook.com/debbie.earthrowl or view it at the Adirondack District Facebook page.
 
Important notice regarding UNY Camp Ministries
      After consultation with the Upper New York Committee on Camp & Retreat Ministries and after several meetings with experts in the medical and camping fields, the UNY CRM lead team has decided to suspend all UNY-hosted summer programs at each of the CRM sites: Aldersgate, Asbury, Casowasco, Sky Lake, and Skye Farm.
      While this is disappointing news for campers, parents, volunteers, and staff (including the lead team), safety is not something the sites can confidently provide during this pandemic.
 
News From North Carolina
      Florence Harrison has been in touch and says that she is well and living in Newberg, North Carolina.  She attends a church with parking lot services and services on YouTube.  She sends everyone her love.
 
Access all the latest from the church online!
      If you are on Facebook, be sure to “like” the Ballston Spa United Methodist Church page, where the latest news, photos, and video messages from Pastor Kelly are posted. If you’re not on Facebook, but have Internet access, you can find the same content on our website at https://www.ballstonspaumchurch.org/recent-posts. Scroll down the page to see everything; be sure to leave a comment so we know you’re seeing us!
 
What Happened This Week
  •  Our church sign now says, “Today is another day to show kindness!”  Do you know that many people say they really enjoy seeing our sign’s message?  This past Sunday Pastor Kelly met a woman (from a nearby church) who comes by every week to take a picture of our sign, then she passes it along to others.  The good and hope-filled messages on display are put up by Linda Sheeran, who does this all year-round.  Thank you, Linda!
  •   Did you watch Pastor Kelly’s message on our church’s Facebook on Sunday, May 3rd about Domestic Violence?  She shared a compelling true story, described signs of abuse, ways to help someone, and how to access emergency assistance.  That message was watched by hundreds, with 6 people forwarding it.  It quickly went “viral” and was viewed in its entirety by almost 3,000 people in one week.  That high level of viewing is a sign of how real and relevant this issue is for many people these days.  (Pastor Kelly is disappointed to report that we cannot use viewer numbers for the attendance records we send to the Bishop.)
  •   What happens when the pastor crosses the road on Sunday morning to give a dog a home-made biscuit?  The person standing by the church, waving at vehicles, hails a local cab.  It took some explaining to reassure the cabbie - no ride was needed! 
  •    Kathy and Bill Haege have travelled back from Florida safely - do reach out to them with a “Welcome back”. 
 
'We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world." -- Helen Keller
 
    An ad for a Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."
 
The Bible Answer
      A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn’t find a space with a meter.  So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: “I have circled the block 100 times.  If I don’t park here, I’ll miss  my appointment.  FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES.”
      When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note.  “I’ve circled this block for 10 years.  If I don’t give you a ticket, I’ll lose my job.  LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.”
 
Between the Pages
    A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination and looked at the old pages as he turned them.  Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible, and he picked it up and looked at it closely.  It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages.
    “Momma look what I found,” the boy called out.
    “What have you got there, dear?” his mother asked.
    With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered: “I think it’s Adam’s suit!”
 
Have a blessed week!

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