At Last Week’s Service
There were 24 people in service last week where they enjoyed listening to the bells. Thank you to the bell ensemble for playing. This week features a duet sung in two languages, and a contemporary song sung by another musical duet.
World Communion Sunday
We celebrated World Communion Sunday 0n Oct. 4. Celebrated the first Sunday in October, this Special Sunday with offering focuses our attention on the universal and inclusive nature of the church. We look forward to this celebration annually when we partake of Holy Communion together and share our gifts to support racial-ethnic students and others in their quest to become leaders who embody the mission of The United Methodist Church.
The offering facilitates the educational preparation and training of United Methodists from around the world and bolsters recruitment, training, and retention of racial-ethnic people for leadership positions at every level of the church.
You can contribute online to World Communion Sunday at UMC.org/SSGive!
Thank you for your generous gifts.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
This Saturday, October 10th, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County will be holding a Bed Build Day with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. This is when a group of volunteers unite in building beds for children who have none. They will be using our parking lot for this and all the wood is donated. Let’s hope they have good weather and are able to make the number of beds needed.
End of Summer Picnic
We will be holding our End of Summer picnic this Saturday, October 10th, from 11 am to 1 pm. It will be held at Kelley Park this year. Originally, Kelley Park had been reserved for our Falling Leaves 5K run, but since that had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, it became available for the picnic. Covid-19 has also changed the format of the picnic. It will be strictly BYOF…Bring Your Own Food. We will not be having a potluck. Masks must be worn, and social distancing must be observed. No bathrooms will be available.
Annual Charge Conference Coming Soon
On October 17 at 1 PM in the church sanctuary, we will have our annual charge conference with District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl.
This meeting will be offered in person and through Zoom; we will communicate more about how to connect virtually in the near future. All are welcome to attend but those who are eligible to vote must be members of our church council. There will be a vote on the pastor’s salary, elections of trustees and other key leaders of teams, and the approval of lay ministers.
It's Clergy Appreciation Month!
Please take the time to greet, call, or email Pastor Kelly and thank her for the work she is doing for the church.
Ilah's and Breta's hands are never idle
I have been asked to share a little about the knitting ministry that my sister, Breta, and I do. We were taught at a very young age to knit and have been doing it ever since. Breta, who is a member of the Sand Hill United Methodist Church, continues to make mittens and hats for many outreach charities. I was a member of the same church until I moved to Ballston Spa in the early 1970's. Our roots go deep into the fiber of the Otsego County soil. I continue to knit hats of all sizes and colors. I have been asked about how I get yarn. Fortunately, we have been given yarn by several friends over the past several months, so we are knitting with the great help of our family friends. We share our knitting as a way of helping others, most of whom we will never know or meet - something our mother and father taught us to do.
We have distributed 933 items so far this year, 98% being from Breta's and my needles. Additionally, we are hopeful in the next few days of sending two cartons to the United Methodist Economic Ministries in Maine, and a couple more cartons to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in partnership with the South Glens Falls UMC. BSUMC funds will be used to ship the cartons to Salem, Maine.
No matter what the situation with COVID into the winter season, there will still be children and adults who will be cold and in need of warm hats, mittens, and scarves. The BSUMC Food Pantry already has a supply of hats for the coming winter.
Back to knitting, Ilah Sisson Walser
Note: Thank you to Lynne Blake for taking the cartons of knitting to the post office.
Upper NY Annual Conference
Upper NY Annual Conference was held via ZOOM this Saturday, October 3rd. Stay tuned for a news article sharing highlights from this important annual gathering of laity and clergy.
The Most Dangerous Thing Disaster Survivors Stand to Lose is…Hope
We may run out of letters this year. It’s only September, and already we’re nearly through the alphabet!
For only the second time in history, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is so intense that the U.S. National Hurricane Center may resort to naming new storms using letters from the Greek alphabet. And even as millions on the Gulf coasts are deluged with wind, rain, and flooding, as of this writing millions more out West flee massive wildfires. Across the globe, 2020 has seen massive monsoon flooding in South and Central Asia and torrential rains and catastrophic flooding throughout the African continent. To give, please make checks payable to UMCOR Advance GCFA, or visit the United Methodist Committee on Relief website at https://advance.umcor.org/p-620-umcor-us-disaster-response-and-recovery.aspx
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.
Joyce Cook (53 Margaret Drive, Ballston Spa) and Bob Elbertson (91 Church Avenue, Apt. 211, Ballston Spa) are both home now. They would enjoy receiving your cards and short phone calls.
Please pray for safe travels for Cathy King, who is returning from Denverafter a trip to tend to her mom. Cathy’s mother could also use our prayers.
Please pray for Melissa Taylor and her family as they undergo health issues and challenges.
Many Thanks!
Linda Sheeran and her mom, Carolyn, would like to thank everyone who sent a 90th birthday card. She was overwhelmed with joy! It all made her feel very loved.
Supporting Our Church Together
We currently have a financial shortfall due to the decreased attendance at worship services. Cost cutting measures are being implemented wherever possible. We have an ongoing fundraiser for Hoffman Car washes that we hope you will support. However, what is most needed is consistent givers. If you are already using VANCO to send your gifts to the church, we are grateful; you can also give online securely on our website. You can also use a “BillPay” option from your bank at no cost. You can designate that a certain amount be sent to us by mail and they will write a check as part of their customer service. All it takes is to contact your bank. And if you need the church’s mailing address, it is 101 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Thank you for your help in meeting our needs.
Weekly Sermons on Facebook
The sermon can be found in print (as well as video) on the Recent Posts page of this site. If you do not have access to that, a print copy can be mailed to you from our church office. Please let the office (518-885-6886) know if you would like it mailed to you and are not currently receiving it that way.
Worship Schedule for October
Oct. 4 World Communion Sunday
Scripture: Psalm 19:7-14
Sermon: “God’s Word Guides, Revives and Rewards”
Theme: The word of God is valuable for Christians
Oct. 11
Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9
Sermon: “Ready and Steady Christians”
Theme: Learning how to be a strong Christian
Oct. 18 Laity Sunday
Oct. 25 Reformation Sunday
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Sermon: “We Seek to Please God, Not People”
Theme: Being faithful in faith matters
Fair Trade
Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are still available from Stan Lockwood. If interested, please contact him at 518-885-1552 or via email at sdlock2008@hotmail.com.
Music for Services
At present, we are not permitted to sing hymns as a congregation, so we would like to feature instrumentalists as much as possible. If you are interested in playing during the service, please contact Cathy King at 518 584-2865 or cathys.notes@gmail.com with your availability. She would need a few dates that work for you so she can schedule things appropriately.
Many thanks for sharing your gifts of music!
Basic Lay Servant Course to be offered via ZOOM in October
Interested in becoming a Certified Lay Servant, Certified Lay Speaker or Certified Lay Minister*? Here is how you start!
This course is foundational for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship." (2020 Lay Servant Catalog)
Mondays, October 19 and 26: 5:30-8:30
Thursdays, October 22 and 29: 5:30-8:30
Cost: $15
Instructors: Arlene Schmidt, CLM, and Jacqueline Kim, CLS
To register contact Adirondack District registrar Arlene Schmidt at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com. Class size will be limited to 12 participants and must purchase the book "Lay Servant Ministries: Basic", by Sandy Jackson with Brian Jackson.
Dates for additional courses in the Certified Lay Ministry are to be scheduled.
Beware of phishing attempts
Please be aware of scammers attempting to get personal information from you via your email account. This is referred to as phishing. We have been made aware of the fact that many pastors in the UNY Conference have received such emails, as well as people of our church. A lot of these emails ask for money, gift cards, credit card numbers, etc. Many of these emails are from recognizable names, such as Bishop Webb, but if you look closely at the email address, it is not the person's actual address.
Have a blessed week
There were 24 people in service last week where they enjoyed listening to the bells. Thank you to the bell ensemble for playing. This week features a duet sung in two languages, and a contemporary song sung by another musical duet.
World Communion Sunday
We celebrated World Communion Sunday 0n Oct. 4. Celebrated the first Sunday in October, this Special Sunday with offering focuses our attention on the universal and inclusive nature of the church. We look forward to this celebration annually when we partake of Holy Communion together and share our gifts to support racial-ethnic students and others in their quest to become leaders who embody the mission of The United Methodist Church.
The offering facilitates the educational preparation and training of United Methodists from around the world and bolsters recruitment, training, and retention of racial-ethnic people for leadership positions at every level of the church.
You can contribute online to World Communion Sunday at UMC.org/SSGive!
Thank you for your generous gifts.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
This Saturday, October 10th, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County will be holding a Bed Build Day with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. This is when a group of volunteers unite in building beds for children who have none. They will be using our parking lot for this and all the wood is donated. Let’s hope they have good weather and are able to make the number of beds needed.
End of Summer Picnic
We will be holding our End of Summer picnic this Saturday, October 10th, from 11 am to 1 pm. It will be held at Kelley Park this year. Originally, Kelley Park had been reserved for our Falling Leaves 5K run, but since that had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, it became available for the picnic. Covid-19 has also changed the format of the picnic. It will be strictly BYOF…Bring Your Own Food. We will not be having a potluck. Masks must be worn, and social distancing must be observed. No bathrooms will be available.
Annual Charge Conference Coming Soon
On October 17 at 1 PM in the church sanctuary, we will have our annual charge conference with District Superintendent Debbie Earthrowl.
This meeting will be offered in person and through Zoom; we will communicate more about how to connect virtually in the near future. All are welcome to attend but those who are eligible to vote must be members of our church council. There will be a vote on the pastor’s salary, elections of trustees and other key leaders of teams, and the approval of lay ministers.
It's Clergy Appreciation Month!
Please take the time to greet, call, or email Pastor Kelly and thank her for the work she is doing for the church.
Ilah's and Breta's hands are never idle
I have been asked to share a little about the knitting ministry that my sister, Breta, and I do. We were taught at a very young age to knit and have been doing it ever since. Breta, who is a member of the Sand Hill United Methodist Church, continues to make mittens and hats for many outreach charities. I was a member of the same church until I moved to Ballston Spa in the early 1970's. Our roots go deep into the fiber of the Otsego County soil. I continue to knit hats of all sizes and colors. I have been asked about how I get yarn. Fortunately, we have been given yarn by several friends over the past several months, so we are knitting with the great help of our family friends. We share our knitting as a way of helping others, most of whom we will never know or meet - something our mother and father taught us to do.
We have distributed 933 items so far this year, 98% being from Breta's and my needles. Additionally, we are hopeful in the next few days of sending two cartons to the United Methodist Economic Ministries in Maine, and a couple more cartons to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in partnership with the South Glens Falls UMC. BSUMC funds will be used to ship the cartons to Salem, Maine.
No matter what the situation with COVID into the winter season, there will still be children and adults who will be cold and in need of warm hats, mittens, and scarves. The BSUMC Food Pantry already has a supply of hats for the coming winter.
Back to knitting, Ilah Sisson Walser
Note: Thank you to Lynne Blake for taking the cartons of knitting to the post office.
Upper NY Annual Conference
Upper NY Annual Conference was held via ZOOM this Saturday, October 3rd. Stay tuned for a news article sharing highlights from this important annual gathering of laity and clergy.
The Most Dangerous Thing Disaster Survivors Stand to Lose is…Hope
We may run out of letters this year. It’s only September, and already we’re nearly through the alphabet!
For only the second time in history, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is so intense that the U.S. National Hurricane Center may resort to naming new storms using letters from the Greek alphabet. And even as millions on the Gulf coasts are deluged with wind, rain, and flooding, as of this writing millions more out West flee massive wildfires. Across the globe, 2020 has seen massive monsoon flooding in South and Central Asia and torrential rains and catastrophic flooding throughout the African continent. To give, please make checks payable to UMCOR Advance GCFA, or visit the United Methodist Committee on Relief website at https://advance.umcor.org/p-620-umcor-us-disaster-response-and-recovery.aspx
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.
Joyce Cook (53 Margaret Drive, Ballston Spa) and Bob Elbertson (91 Church Avenue, Apt. 211, Ballston Spa) are both home now. They would enjoy receiving your cards and short phone calls.
Please pray for safe travels for Cathy King, who is returning from Denverafter a trip to tend to her mom. Cathy’s mother could also use our prayers.
Please pray for Melissa Taylor and her family as they undergo health issues and challenges.
Many Thanks!
Linda Sheeran and her mom, Carolyn, would like to thank everyone who sent a 90th birthday card. She was overwhelmed with joy! It all made her feel very loved.
Supporting Our Church Together
We currently have a financial shortfall due to the decreased attendance at worship services. Cost cutting measures are being implemented wherever possible. We have an ongoing fundraiser for Hoffman Car washes that we hope you will support. However, what is most needed is consistent givers. If you are already using VANCO to send your gifts to the church, we are grateful; you can also give online securely on our website. You can also use a “BillPay” option from your bank at no cost. You can designate that a certain amount be sent to us by mail and they will write a check as part of their customer service. All it takes is to contact your bank. And if you need the church’s mailing address, it is 101 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Thank you for your help in meeting our needs.
Weekly Sermons on Facebook
The sermon can be found in print (as well as video) on the Recent Posts page of this site. If you do not have access to that, a print copy can be mailed to you from our church office. Please let the office (518-885-6886) know if you would like it mailed to you and are not currently receiving it that way.
Worship Schedule for October
Oct. 4 World Communion Sunday
Scripture: Psalm 19:7-14
Sermon: “God’s Word Guides, Revives and Rewards”
Theme: The word of God is valuable for Christians
Oct. 11
Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9
Sermon: “Ready and Steady Christians”
Theme: Learning how to be a strong Christian
Oct. 18 Laity Sunday
Oct. 25 Reformation Sunday
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Sermon: “We Seek to Please God, Not People”
Theme: Being faithful in faith matters
Fair Trade
Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are still available from Stan Lockwood. If interested, please contact him at 518-885-1552 or via email at sdlock2008@hotmail.com.
Music for Services
At present, we are not permitted to sing hymns as a congregation, so we would like to feature instrumentalists as much as possible. If you are interested in playing during the service, please contact Cathy King at 518 584-2865 or cathys.notes@gmail.com with your availability. She would need a few dates that work for you so she can schedule things appropriately.
Many thanks for sharing your gifts of music!
Basic Lay Servant Course to be offered via ZOOM in October
Interested in becoming a Certified Lay Servant, Certified Lay Speaker or Certified Lay Minister*? Here is how you start!
This course is foundational for all courses in Lay Servant Ministries. Participants are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended and to consider the importance of exercising servant leadership, developing future leaders, remaining rooted in consistent spiritual practices, and being part of a group that holds members accountable in their discipleship." (2020 Lay Servant Catalog)
Mondays, October 19 and 26: 5:30-8:30
Thursdays, October 22 and 29: 5:30-8:30
Cost: $15
Instructors: Arlene Schmidt, CLM, and Jacqueline Kim, CLS
To register contact Adirondack District registrar Arlene Schmidt at adschmidt@nycap.rr.com. Class size will be limited to 12 participants and must purchase the book "Lay Servant Ministries: Basic", by Sandy Jackson with Brian Jackson.
Dates for additional courses in the Certified Lay Ministry are to be scheduled.
Beware of phishing attempts
Please be aware of scammers attempting to get personal information from you via your email account. This is referred to as phishing. We have been made aware of the fact that many pastors in the UNY Conference have received such emails, as well as people of our church. A lot of these emails ask for money, gift cards, credit card numbers, etc. Many of these emails are from recognizable names, such as Bishop Webb, but if you look closely at the email address, it is not the person's actual address.
Have a blessed week