November 14 is Consecration Sunday
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Thanks to Rev. Steve Butler, who grew up as part of this church, for serving as our guest preacher.
Important Announcement
We ask that all people wear masks. Please enter through the south door and exit through the north door. Please maintain social distancing. Once seated you may remove your masks if vaccinated. We acknowledge that this continues to be a challenging time and appreciate everyone’s efforts and caring for one another.
Sunday School this week
Join us for Sunday School! We will meet as one group approximately two Sundays a month through the end of the year. We have some fun projects and activities to share with the kids to make it exciting. The dates we plan to have Sunday School are 11/21 and 12/12.
Church Building Restoration Fund
Significant repairs that are required to maintain the church’s structural stability have been scheduled. Please consider contributing to help us work towards paying for this $71,500 project. Although there are investments which were received through generous bequests, the extent and cost of these repairs would significantly deplete church investments if not replenished. You can give online by clicking here (use the pull down menu to give to the Restoration Fund) OR give with cash or check through the weekly offering. Please clearly identify that the money is to be used for the Church Building Restoration Fund. Thank you for your support.
Adopt a Family for Christmas
Each year we adopt a family for Christmas. This year we have two children, a 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. Their wishes are on the tags of the Christmas tree located in the front of the sanctuary. Please take a tag or two as you are able and return the unwrapped gifts with the tag attached to the church by December 5th. There will be bins located in the back of the sanctuary in which to place your gifts. You may contact Mary Drake (518-478-5804) or Marcy Wilson (518-885-7472) with any questions.
Winterwear Mission
It is time to start our Winterwear Mission which will be held through January. Hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves will be collected to be given to people through our Food Pantry and sent to the Navajo people and the Church Without Walls. Your donations may be left in the marked basket in the sanctuary. Your gifts of warmth are greatly needed and genuinely appreciated.
December's First Friday Parade is Back!
On December 3rd, the Village of Ballston Spa will be having their First Friday Event: the Christmas Parade. We will be having an Open House with music in the sanctuary and sharing cookies and cocoa outside. If you are able to help in any way (baking, pouring cocoa, serving cookies, etc.) please contact the office (518-885-6886 or bsumc@albany.twcbc.com) to let us know how you can help. This is a big event in town, and we would like to let the people know we are still here.
Fair Trade
Fair Trade coffee and tea are still available for those who wish to purchase it. Just call or email Stan Lockwood to make arrangements (518.885.1552 or stosh964@gmail.com) . Also, dark chocolate bars will be available before the holidays to keep all who are chocolate lovers happy!! Thank you to those who support this ministry at BSUMC.
Thrift Shop and Food Pantry
The Thrift Shop has reopened! Come shop on Tuesdays from 9:30 till noon. The Food Pantry remains open on Wednesdays from 9:30 till noon. Thank you to the people who continue to donate their time for both of these worthwhile missions.
United Methodist Student Day
Thank you for your generosity in 2020. United Methodists gave $236,828 towards the ministries funded by the United Methodist Student Day Sunday offering. This offering helps provide for over 70 scholarships available for United Methodist students to further their education and enrich the life of the Church. This year's collection, one of the UMC's six yearly Special Offerings, will be taken on November 28th.
Let’s Decorate!
At 7 pm Friday, November 26th, all are invited to meet in the sanctuary to decorate the church for Christmas. Wear your ugly Christmas sweater - you might win a prize! Let’s start the holidays off right with music and decorating. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Did You Know?
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 Recent Posts page of this site (https://www.ballstonspaumchurch.org/recent-posts), which is where the service is posted weekly. This would be spreading the Word of God, as we are told to do in the Bible.
Sunday Coffee Hour is on ZOOM or by Phone
Join us for the 9:00 am Sunday Coffee Fellowship on Zoom. Please meet by computer or phone by connecting with the following information:
In the Zoom app or by phone at 929-205-6099, you can use Meeting ID: 963 0143 0502 / Passcode: 956579. Or simply click here to join Zoom Meeting.
Thank You from Bishop Mark J. Webb
Thank you for paying 100 % of your shared ministries in 2020. This is a significant achievement, and I am very mindful you have accomplished this only through great effort and steadfast commitment. In any normal year, paying 100% of your shared ministries request is noteworthy. In 2020, it is amazing. Thank you for this and for all the other ways you serve Christ through your church and in your community.
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:
Please reach out to people who are alone during this time. A card or phone call will let them know they are not alone or forgotten.
Ballston Spa Ecumenical Thanksgiving Bag Ministry
Once again, the First Presbyterian Church of Ballston Spa would like to invite you to participate in the Ballston Spa Ecumenical Thanksgiving Bag Ministry. Last year over 100 dinners were provided to families in need. You can help by filling a bag with items needed for a basic and healthy Thanksgiving meal and delivering the bag and turkey to the First Presbyterian Church this Sunday, November 21, from 11:30 am – 2 pm. The items to be included in the bag are:
Thank you for your help as we seek to be a blessing to those in need this Thanksgiving.
Let’s Change the World, One Bouquet at a Time!
The Bloomin' 4 Good Program is a program from Hannaford that works to give back in our local communities. For the month of December 2021, Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Food Pantry has been selected to receive a $1 donation for every $12.00 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold at the store located at 43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake NY.
The Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet is a grower's choice floral bouquet. This means that the assortment of flowers within the bouquet will change. Be sure to look for the bouquet with the red circle sticker on it to be sure the purchase will support our food pantry.
Upcoming Events
November 20 - Youth Group 6:30-8:30 pm
November 21 - Sunday School
November 21-27 - Pastor Kelly on vacation
November 25 - Thanksgiving
November 26 - Decorating the sanctuary
November 28 - 1st Sunday of Advent - The Sunday of Hope
November 28 - United Methodist Student Day (special offering)
December 3 - 1st Friday Open House
Celebrations!
This week's birthday:
There are no anniversaries 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!
Next week in worship:
Sound Riley Schmidt
Projection Katie Warner
Liturgist Danielle Coffey
Children’s Time Jason Behnke
Ushers Mary Drake
Community events
Simpson United Methodist Church is having their famous steamed brown bread and bake sale. Order your brown bread by November 15th by calling 518-885-4794. The cost is $6.50 per loaf. Pick-up dates are Friday, November 19th from 4 to 6 pm and Saturday, November 20th from 9 am to 2 pm at the Simpson UMC in Rock City Falls.
Have a blessed week
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Thanks to Rev. Steve Butler, who grew up as part of this church, for serving as our guest preacher.
Important Announcement
We ask that all people wear masks. Please enter through the south door and exit through the north door. Please maintain social distancing. Once seated you may remove your masks if vaccinated. We acknowledge that this continues to be a challenging time and appreciate everyone’s efforts and caring for one another.
Sunday School this week
Join us for Sunday School! We will meet as one group approximately two Sundays a month through the end of the year. We have some fun projects and activities to share with the kids to make it exciting. The dates we plan to have Sunday School are 11/21 and 12/12.
Church Building Restoration Fund
Significant repairs that are required to maintain the church’s structural stability have been scheduled. Please consider contributing to help us work towards paying for this $71,500 project. Although there are investments which were received through generous bequests, the extent and cost of these repairs would significantly deplete church investments if not replenished. You can give online by clicking here (use the pull down menu to give to the Restoration Fund) OR give with cash or check through the weekly offering. Please clearly identify that the money is to be used for the Church Building Restoration Fund. Thank you for your support.
Adopt a Family for Christmas
Each year we adopt a family for Christmas. This year we have two children, a 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. Their wishes are on the tags of the Christmas tree located in the front of the sanctuary. Please take a tag or two as you are able and return the unwrapped gifts with the tag attached to the church by December 5th. There will be bins located in the back of the sanctuary in which to place your gifts. You may contact Mary Drake (518-478-5804) or Marcy Wilson (518-885-7472) with any questions.
Winterwear Mission
It is time to start our Winterwear Mission which will be held through January. Hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves will be collected to be given to people through our Food Pantry and sent to the Navajo people and the Church Without Walls. Your donations may be left in the marked basket in the sanctuary. Your gifts of warmth are greatly needed and genuinely appreciated.
December's First Friday Parade is Back!
On December 3rd, the Village of Ballston Spa will be having their First Friday Event: the Christmas Parade. We will be having an Open House with music in the sanctuary and sharing cookies and cocoa outside. If you are able to help in any way (baking, pouring cocoa, serving cookies, etc.) please contact the office (518-885-6886 or bsumc@albany.twcbc.com) to let us know how you can help. This is a big event in town, and we would like to let the people know we are still here.
Fair Trade
Fair Trade coffee and tea are still available for those who wish to purchase it. Just call or email Stan Lockwood to make arrangements (518.885.1552 or stosh964@gmail.com) . Also, dark chocolate bars will be available before the holidays to keep all who are chocolate lovers happy!! Thank you to those who support this ministry at BSUMC.
Thrift Shop and Food Pantry
The Thrift Shop has reopened! Come shop on Tuesdays from 9:30 till noon. The Food Pantry remains open on Wednesdays from 9:30 till noon. Thank you to the people who continue to donate their time for both of these worthwhile missions.
United Methodist Student Day
Thank you for your generosity in 2020. United Methodists gave $236,828 towards the ministries funded by the United Methodist Student Day Sunday offering. This offering helps provide for over 70 scholarships available for United Methodist students to further their education and enrich the life of the Church. This year's collection, one of the UMC's six yearly Special Offerings, will be taken on November 28th.
Let’s Decorate!
At 7 pm Friday, November 26th, all are invited to meet in the sanctuary to decorate the church for Christmas. Wear your ugly Christmas sweater - you might win a prize! Let’s start the holidays off right with music and decorating. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Did You Know?
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 Recent Posts page of this site (https://www.ballstonspaumchurch.org/recent-posts), which is where the service is posted weekly. This would be spreading the Word of God, as we are told to do in the Bible.
Sunday Coffee Hour is on ZOOM or by Phone
Join us for the 9:00 am Sunday Coffee Fellowship on Zoom. Please meet by computer or phone by connecting with the following information:
In the Zoom app or by phone at 929-205-6099, you can use Meeting ID: 963 0143 0502 / Passcode: 956579. Or simply click here to join Zoom Meeting.
Thank You from Bishop Mark J. Webb
Thank you for paying 100 % of your shared ministries in 2020. This is a significant achievement, and I am very mindful you have accomplished this only through great effort and steadfast commitment. In any normal year, paying 100% of your shared ministries request is noteworthy. In 2020, it is amazing. Thank you for this and for all the other ways you serve Christ through your church and in your community.
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:
- Prayers for the family of Kathy McCann who passed away on November 6th.
- Ruth Persons asks for prayer for her friend Tina who is having major dental issues.
- Please keep Eleanor in prayer. She suffered a heart attack and had a stent put in.
- Prayers go out to Jean Keehan on the loss of her companion, Jim Daley.
- Please keep Kelly Schmidt and her family in prayer. Kelly’s grandmother is not doing well.
- Please also pray for Dorothy’s friend Sharon that her doctors find the right medications and treatments for her.
- Prayers are requested for Cherrie Sander’s friend John Hulbert. He found out he has pancreatic cancer and had a biopsy done.
- Pat Jones would like prayers of comfort and healing for her sister Doris Diamond who has health issues.
- Please continue prayers for Olivia. She has been missing since June 20th.
- Pat Jones asks for prayers of comfort for Jim, a local man of ninety-three, who is in ill health.
- Carrie Adserias requests prayers for Kyle's Grandma Carleen who has been battling with spreading cancer and treatments for a while now and is currently suffering with complications.
- Ilah Sisson Walser asks for prayers for a family friend who is going through another bout with cancer with specialized treatments. Please add her to your prayers. Thank you.
- Please continue to keep Bill Haege, Marilynn Peterson, and Bob Elbertson in your prayers.
Please reach out to people who are alone during this time. A card or phone call will let them know they are not alone or forgotten.
Ballston Spa Ecumenical Thanksgiving Bag Ministry
Once again, the First Presbyterian Church of Ballston Spa would like to invite you to participate in the Ballston Spa Ecumenical Thanksgiving Bag Ministry. Last year over 100 dinners were provided to families in need. You can help by filling a bag with items needed for a basic and healthy Thanksgiving meal and delivering the bag and turkey to the First Presbyterian Church this Sunday, November 21, from 11:30 am – 2 pm. The items to be included in the bag are:
- $10 gift card to a local grocery store, OR an 8-14 pound frozen turkey
- 2 boxes seasoned stuffing mix
- 2 boxes instant mashed potatoes
- 2 cans of gravy (no glass please)
- 3-4 cans of vegetables
- 1 can cranberry sauce
- 1 boxed dessert mix
Thank you for your help as we seek to be a blessing to those in need this Thanksgiving.
Let’s Change the World, One Bouquet at a Time!
The Bloomin' 4 Good Program is a program from Hannaford that works to give back in our local communities. For the month of December 2021, Ballston Spa United Methodist Church Food Pantry has been selected to receive a $1 donation for every $12.00 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold at the store located at 43 Round Lake Road, Ballston Lake NY.
The Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet is a grower's choice floral bouquet. This means that the assortment of flowers within the bouquet will change. Be sure to look for the bouquet with the red circle sticker on it to be sure the purchase will support our food pantry.
Upcoming Events
November 20 - Youth Group 6:30-8:30 pm
November 21 - Sunday School
November 21-27 - Pastor Kelly on vacation
November 25 - Thanksgiving
November 26 - Decorating the sanctuary
November 28 - 1st Sunday of Advent - The Sunday of Hope
November 28 - United Methodist Student Day (special offering)
December 3 - 1st Friday Open House
Celebrations!
This week's birthday:
- Dolores Wilson (11/17)
There are no anniversaries 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!
Next week in worship:
Sound Riley Schmidt
Projection Katie Warner
Liturgist Danielle Coffey
Children’s Time Jason Behnke
Ushers Mary Drake
Community events
Simpson United Methodist Church is having their famous steamed brown bread and bake sale. Order your brown bread by November 15th by calling 518-885-4794. The cost is $6.50 per loaf. Pick-up dates are Friday, November 19th from 4 to 6 pm and Saturday, November 20th from 9 am to 2 pm at the Simpson UMC in Rock City Falls.
Have a blessed week