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:
Prayers for Pat Jones and her family following the passing of her son.
Peace with Justice Sunday
Peace with Justice Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost. Join us next week as we gather for our online worship service to celebrate this important churchwide ministry. We will collect a special offering to change lives in places where the joy of knowing Christ is mixed with the tragedy of violence.
As a connectional church, we combine our resources so that we have a larger impact in the world. In 2019, United Methodist churches gave $433,437 toward ministries funded by the Peace with Justice Sunday offering. Thank you for your generous gifts. Fifty percent of the offering remains in the annual conference to support local and regional justice efforts, and 50 percent supports justice ministries through the General Board of Church and Society.
Reopening the Church
The following note was sent on behalf of the Upper New York Conference Cabinet on May 21, 2020:
As we continue to move into the reopening phase throughout the state of New York, we know that many are anxious to return to in-person gatherings, while maintaining a commitment to care for the safety and health of our church and community members.
Recognizing that Governor Cuomo has stated that the state is now allowing religious gatherings up to ten people, we continue to strongly urge all congregations to not hold in person worship through the end of May. At the beginning of June, we encourage all churches to follow the guidelines of their county or local municipality regarding the number of people who can gather and strictly follow those guidelines. If you do gather according to the numbers allowed, we remind you that the use of masks is required, along with practicing strict social distancing. The Governor's plan indicates that full congregation religious services would reopen as part of phase four of the governor's four-phase plan.
We also remind churches of the necessity and requirement to follow guidelines provided by the annual conference regarding preparing your building for reopening and important safety practices to follow. If you have specific questions or concerns related to the guidelines, please contact your district superintendent.
Even as we move through the various phases of reopening, we recognize that some situations require continuing online worship only and we offer our full support for those who make that decision.
We continue to give thanks to God for your ministry and leadership in these days! Be assured of our continued prayers.
A Quote from John Wesley Shared by Bishop Webb
“To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, I give up myself entirely. May I no longer serve myself, but you, all the days of my life.
I give you my understanding. May it be my only care to know you, your perfections, your works, and your will. Let all things else be as dross unto me, for the excellency of this knowledge, and let me silence all reasonings against whatsoever you teach me, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
I give you my will. May I have no will of my own. Whatsoever you will, may I will and that only. May I will your glory in all things, as you do, and make that my end in everything. May I ever say with the Psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.” May I delight to do your will, O God, and rejoice to accept it. Whatever threatens me, let me say, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.” And whatever befalls me, let me give thanks, since it is your will concerning me.
I give you my affections. Dispose of them all. Be my love, my fear, my joy; and may nothing have any share in them, but with respect to you and for your sake. What you love, may I love; what you hate, may I hate; and that in such measures as you are pleased to prescribe for me.
I give you my body. May I glorify you with it, and preserve it holy, fit for you, O God, to dwell in. May I neither indulge it, nor use too much rigor toward it; but keep it as far as in me lies, healthy, vigorous, and active, and fit to do you all manner of service that you shall call for.
I give you all my worldly goods. May I prize them and use them only for you. May I faithfully restore to you, in the poor, all you have entrusted me with, above the necessaries of life; and be content to part with them too, whenever you, my Lord, shall require them at my hands.
I give you my credit and reputation. May I never value it, but only in respect of you; nor endeavor to maintain it, but as it may do the service and advance your honor in the world.
I give you myself and my all. Let me look upon myself to be nothing, and to have nothing, apart from you. Be the sole disposer and governor of myself and all; be my portion and my all.
O my God and my all, when hereafter I shall be tempted to break this solemn engagement, when I shall be pressed to conform to the world and to the company and customs that surround me, may my answer be: “I am not my own. I am not for myself, not for the world, but for my God. I will give unto God the things that are God’s. God, be merciful to me a sinner.” AMEN.
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. The District page is 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.
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
Lynne Blake and Stan Lockwood sent out 46 “thinking of you” BSUMC postcards to Falling Leaves 5K sponsors and other generous contributors and also thanked them for their support in past years.
The lawn at the parsonage has been regraded and seeded after the replacement of the septic system. Pastor Kelly and Mark will be able to cut their new backyard lawn when it gets 4 inches high but would like to know who might lend them a mower with a bagger. The lawn company recommends having the clippings picked up to enhance growth of the new lawn.
This week the Wilson and Lotto families are helping prepare books for donation to a RED (Read Every Day) bookshelf. Their time and help are much appreciated.
Several people have asked for the address of Arthur Howie, in the loss of his wife Linda. For anyone wishing to send him condolences, his address is: 30 Rockrose Way, Apt #110, Ballston Spa, New York 12020.
Pastor Kelly will be on vacation from June 10 -16. During her absence (on Sunday June 14th) a video worship service led by Bishop Webb and members of his Cabinet will be posted on our church’s website and Facebook page. Be sure to tune in for that uplifting service! Glenn Harrison will provide emergency pastoral coverage.
Our custodian Tom Chase has been painting the metal rails at the front entrances to the church this week. They are looking great!
In Need of Prayer
A young boy called the pastor of a local “corner” church to ask the pastor to come by to pray for his mother who had been extremely ill with the flu.
The pastor knew the family and was aware they had been attending another church down the road. So the pastor asked, “Shouldn’t you be asking Brother Simon down the road to come by to pray with your mom?”
The young boy replied, “Yeah, but we didn’t want to take the chance that he might catch whatever this is that Mom has.”
Have a blessed week !
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:
Prayers for Pat Jones and her family following the passing of her son.
Peace with Justice Sunday
Peace with Justice Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost. Join us next week as we gather for our online worship service to celebrate this important churchwide ministry. We will collect a special offering to change lives in places where the joy of knowing Christ is mixed with the tragedy of violence.
As a connectional church, we combine our resources so that we have a larger impact in the world. In 2019, United Methodist churches gave $433,437 toward ministries funded by the Peace with Justice Sunday offering. Thank you for your generous gifts. Fifty percent of the offering remains in the annual conference to support local and regional justice efforts, and 50 percent supports justice ministries through the General Board of Church and Society.
Reopening the Church
The following note was sent on behalf of the Upper New York Conference Cabinet on May 21, 2020:
As we continue to move into the reopening phase throughout the state of New York, we know that many are anxious to return to in-person gatherings, while maintaining a commitment to care for the safety and health of our church and community members.
Recognizing that Governor Cuomo has stated that the state is now allowing religious gatherings up to ten people, we continue to strongly urge all congregations to not hold in person worship through the end of May. At the beginning of June, we encourage all churches to follow the guidelines of their county or local municipality regarding the number of people who can gather and strictly follow those guidelines. If you do gather according to the numbers allowed, we remind you that the use of masks is required, along with practicing strict social distancing. The Governor's plan indicates that full congregation religious services would reopen as part of phase four of the governor's four-phase plan.
We also remind churches of the necessity and requirement to follow guidelines provided by the annual conference regarding preparing your building for reopening and important safety practices to follow. If you have specific questions or concerns related to the guidelines, please contact your district superintendent.
Even as we move through the various phases of reopening, we recognize that some situations require continuing online worship only and we offer our full support for those who make that decision.
We continue to give thanks to God for your ministry and leadership in these days! Be assured of our continued prayers.
A Quote from John Wesley Shared by Bishop Webb
“To you, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, I give up myself entirely. May I no longer serve myself, but you, all the days of my life.
I give you my understanding. May it be my only care to know you, your perfections, your works, and your will. Let all things else be as dross unto me, for the excellency of this knowledge, and let me silence all reasonings against whatsoever you teach me, who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
I give you my will. May I have no will of my own. Whatsoever you will, may I will and that only. May I will your glory in all things, as you do, and make that my end in everything. May I ever say with the Psalmist, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.” May I delight to do your will, O God, and rejoice to accept it. Whatever threatens me, let me say, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.” And whatever befalls me, let me give thanks, since it is your will concerning me.
I give you my affections. Dispose of them all. Be my love, my fear, my joy; and may nothing have any share in them, but with respect to you and for your sake. What you love, may I love; what you hate, may I hate; and that in such measures as you are pleased to prescribe for me.
I give you my body. May I glorify you with it, and preserve it holy, fit for you, O God, to dwell in. May I neither indulge it, nor use too much rigor toward it; but keep it as far as in me lies, healthy, vigorous, and active, and fit to do you all manner of service that you shall call for.
I give you all my worldly goods. May I prize them and use them only for you. May I faithfully restore to you, in the poor, all you have entrusted me with, above the necessaries of life; and be content to part with them too, whenever you, my Lord, shall require them at my hands.
I give you my credit and reputation. May I never value it, but only in respect of you; nor endeavor to maintain it, but as it may do the service and advance your honor in the world.
I give you myself and my all. Let me look upon myself to be nothing, and to have nothing, apart from you. Be the sole disposer and governor of myself and all; be my portion and my all.
O my God and my all, when hereafter I shall be tempted to break this solemn engagement, when I shall be pressed to conform to the world and to the company and customs that surround me, may my answer be: “I am not my own. I am not for myself, not for the world, but for my God. I will give unto God the things that are God’s. God, be merciful to me a sinner.” AMEN.
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. The District page is 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.
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
Lynne Blake and Stan Lockwood sent out 46 “thinking of you” BSUMC postcards to Falling Leaves 5K sponsors and other generous contributors and also thanked them for their support in past years.
The lawn at the parsonage has been regraded and seeded after the replacement of the septic system. Pastor Kelly and Mark will be able to cut their new backyard lawn when it gets 4 inches high but would like to know who might lend them a mower with a bagger. The lawn company recommends having the clippings picked up to enhance growth of the new lawn.
This week the Wilson and Lotto families are helping prepare books for donation to a RED (Read Every Day) bookshelf. Their time and help are much appreciated.
Several people have asked for the address of Arthur Howie, in the loss of his wife Linda. For anyone wishing to send him condolences, his address is: 30 Rockrose Way, Apt #110, Ballston Spa, New York 12020.
Pastor Kelly will be on vacation from June 10 -16. During her absence (on Sunday June 14th) a video worship service led by Bishop Webb and members of his Cabinet will be posted on our church’s website and Facebook page. Be sure to tune in for that uplifting service! Glenn Harrison will provide emergency pastoral coverage.
Our custodian Tom Chase has been painting the metal rails at the front entrances to the church this week. They are looking great!
In Need of Prayer
A young boy called the pastor of a local “corner” church to ask the pastor to come by to pray for his mother who had been extremely ill with the flu.
The pastor knew the family and was aware they had been attending another church down the road. So the pastor asked, “Shouldn’t you be asking Brother Simon down the road to come by to pray with your mom?”
The young boy replied, “Yeah, but we didn’t want to take the chance that he might catch whatever this is that Mom has.”
Have a blessed week !
