​Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
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  • How We Serve
    • Food Pantry
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     Welcome as we worship online and in person.  Share a warm welcome to others.  Coffee hour is held in the Connections Café following the service.  Coloring sheets, offering envelopes, and mission baskets are located near both entrances to the church.  We ask that you maintain social distancing to keep everyone safe. 

Church Council Meeting
     We are having a Church Council meeting via Zoom at 7 pm on Tuesday, September 13.  At this meeting we will be discussing the progress of the Food Pantry move to the church building.  Please join us to see what else will be discussed.  

Church Building Restoration Fund
      The work on the restoration project will be completed soon.  We are waiting on the contractor’s availability.  We have not yet met our financial needs to defray the costs of the project.  Any help you may give will be greatly appreciated.  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, or mail your contribution to the church at 101 Milton Ave.  Please clearly identify that the money is to be used for the Church Building Restoration Fund.  Thank you for your support.

Join Our Music Program
     Choir practice has resumed.  Rehearsals are at 6 pm in the sanctuary and last an hour to an hour and a half.  Come be part of this wonderful group of dedicated singers who add so much to our services.  We are planning to not only sing special anthems for Sunday services but will soon begin rehearsals for a cantata to be presented in December.  All are welcome.
     We are exploring the possibility of a handbell choir.  If you are interested in ringing, please see Cathy King or contact her at cathys.notes@gmail.com.  Rehearsal days and times have not yet been determined.  No previous ringing experience is necessary - all are welcome.

Red Bird Mission Collection
     We are collecting for the Red Bird Mission Collection.  This is something we did last year with great success.  Shoeboxes will be filled with hygiene supplies and small gifts to send to the Red Bird Mission.  You may donate supplies or fill a box on your own…the choice is yours.
     The items to be packed in each box should be full size and in their original containers.  To help items fit in the box, purchase flat bottles and small round cans of shaving cream.  Suggested items are:
Adult Shoebox
Child's Shoebox
Comb and/or hairbrush
Comb and/or hairbrush
Hand lotion
Hand lotion
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Child's toothbrush and toothpaste
Lip balm
Lip balm
Full-size bar of soap
Full-size bar of soap
Washcloth
Washcloth
​Socks
Socks
Disposable razors
2 or 3 small toys
Shaving cream
2 or 3 school items
Work gloves or mittens
Mittens
Nail care items
​Small flashlight with batteries
Christian bookmarks, wristbands, and other spiritual items are also appreciated
Christian bookmarks, wristbands, and other spiritual items are also appreciated
Thank you for your generosity!  For more information, please contact Ilah Sisson Walser, 518-885-1275.

Flowers for Food Pantry
     Also this month, Hannaford has selected the BSUMC Food Pantry as the recipient of their Bloomin’ 4 Good Program.  The Food Pantry will receive $1 from every Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet sold during September at the Hannaford located at 43 Round Lake Road in Ballston Lake.  Each bouquet must display the Bloomin’ 4 Good label.  Please consider buying that special someone some flowers…and help the Food Pantry too!

Church Conference Coming Soon
     We are entering the season when we gather for Church Conferences. Each year as we gather for these required meetings, we try to bring a focus that will move ministry forward in a meaningful way. This year, our focus will be on increasing discipleship through collaboration, so most of our Church Conferences will be held jointly with other congregations. Much of the required business we will do will have been considered by the appropriate teams in the congregation before we gather for formal approval at the Church Conference, leaving time to have some meaningful time to vision together and/or to move forward with collaboration that is already taking place. I look forward to seeing how God might be at work among us in this way.
Rev. Debbie Earthrowl, District Superintendent
***The original October 3rd date is being rescheduled. More details as they become available.

Fair Trade
     We still have Breakfast Blend and Hazelnut Coffee, Decaf Coffee, tea and hot cocoa for sale.  If interested, please contact Stan Lockwood (518.885.1552 0r stosh964@gmail.com) .  The dark chocolate bars are gone but will return in the fall. Thank you to those who support this ministry at BSUMC.
 
​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 This Week's Service page of this site (https://www.ballstonspaumchurch.org/this-weeks-service.html), 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.  

Thrift Shop and Food Pantry
     The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays from 9:30 till noon; the Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays, also from 9:30 till noon.
     Thank you to the people who donate their time and effort to make all of these offerings possible.  There are many clients and they appreciate your help.

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 keep Peggy Traver in your prayers.  She fell in her home and has a broken hip and some other injuries.   She is receiving care at Albany Medical Center and her hip surgery went well.  Please keep her husband Dick in your prayers as well.
  • Ruth Persons asks for prayers for her cousin and his family after losing the oldest son unexpectedly.  She also thanks God for the car passing inspection.
  • Mary Drake is thankful that her friend Bev Clark is recovering at home.
  • Bob Elbertson has fallen; please pray for his healing. 
  • Continue prayers for Anne Marie Williams and her daughter Laurie.
  • Terri Knowlton offers prayers of thanksgiving for her co-worker, Dr. Meghan Brown-Leggett, on the birth of her baby boy, Oliver ("Ollie")!  Although he came 5 weeks early, he is healthy and weighs over 6 pounds.  She also asks for prayers for Tiarra and Andy, and Renee and Dan, who are also expecting babies in December and March, respectively.  Please pray for Mike Lawson and his dog, Abby who is having some health issues.
  • Please continue to keep Bill Haege, Marilynn Peterson, and Pat Jones 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.

Supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine
     The General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church is deeply troubled by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ominous implications it has for escalating tensions between Russia and Western nations.  They join many Christian leaders and organizations worldwide in deploring the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, and they ardently pray for a redirection of military action toward diplomatic measures to resolve grievances.
     The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the humanitarian relief arm of Global Ministries, is in communication with partners in the region and actively exploring the coordination of humanitarian response in Ukraine.  You can support UMCOR’s international disaster response efforts by writing a check with either Advance#982450/Ukraine or UMCOR/Ukraine written in the memo line, or by visiting UMCOR's disaster response webpage.
 
Purchase Hoffman Car Wash Tickets to Help Ukraine
     The Helping Hands/Hoffman car wash site is active if you would like to purchase car wash tickets!  BSUMC + Hoffman Car Wash + UMCOR Ukraine.  Buy car wash tickets and our church receives 50% of the sale!!  100% of the money BSUMC receives will go to UMCOR Ukraine.  WIN - WIN!!!  Clean Car and money to help the people of Ukraine.  These car wash tickets never expire!!  Purchase for teachers, babysitters, newspaper deliverers, gifts, etc.  
    Click here to purchase on-line and print out your car wash coupons immediately. Make sure the UPC code is showing BEFORE printing.
  • Exterior only:  $13 - Your vehicle enters a modern car wash bay where it receives a soft-cloth wash followed by touch-free air drying.
  • Full Service Car wash:  $43 - Your vehicle first receives an Exterior Car Wash.  Car care attendants then vacuum the carpets, seats and ashtrays and wipe the interior windows, dashboard and doorjambs.  Finally, they add an air freshener of your choice, and the exterior of your vehicle is hand dried. 
Full service tickets cannot be used at the exit 15 location but may be used at:
  • 1672 Route 9, Clifton Park
  • 1757 Central Avenue, Colonie
  • 753 New Loudon Road, Latham 
Any Questions?  Call/email Lynne Blake at 518-885-9821 or BSUMCTreasurer@gmail.com.  
 
Adirondack/Albany District Day
"Informed to Transform" is a series of workshops designed to nurture and grow disciples of Jesus Christ.  This will be held on October 22 from 8:45 to 3 pm at the Saratoga Springs UMC.  Registration begins at 8:15 am.  For more information, pick up a flyer from the table outside one of the sanctuary doors.

Upcoming Events
​
September 11 - Patriot Day/Grandparents Day
September 13 - Church Council, 7 pm via Zoom
September 17 - Memorial service, 2 pm
September 18 - Guest speaker Arlene Schmidt
October 22 - Albany/Adirondack District Day, "Informed to Transform"

Celebrations!
     If you have a birthday, anniversary, or graduation to celebrate, please send it to the office.  We love to celebrate!
This week's birthdays: 
  • Pamela Hannan (9/13)
  • Joan Glossner (9/14)
  • Dorothy Clark (9/14)
  • Sheri Litchfield (9/16)
  • Bill Parlapiano (9/16)
Happy birthday to all of you!
​
     There is one anniversary: Maria & Keith Dickerson (9/16). Happy anniversary!

Next week in worship
Sound                         
Riley Schmidt
Projection                AJ Schmidt
Liturgist                    Danielle Coffey
Ushers                        Conrad Dorau & Melody Babcock
Music                          Cathy King
Coffee Hour             Jan & George Mallette

If you would like to volunteer to help with Sunday services or Coffee Hour, please contact Ruth Persons after church. 

Community news
There will be a Drive-thru Chicken and Biscuit Dinner, Saturday, Sept. 17 at Simpson UMC in Rock City Falls from 4:30 pm to 7 pm.  Our dinner is made from scratch with chicken breast, country gravy, buttermilk biscuits, real mashed potatoes, a vegetable and two homemade oatmeal raisin cookies.  Adults: $12; Children under 12: $9.  Call (518) 885-4794 to place your order.  Please leave your name, telephone number and the number of adult and/or children tickets you would like to reserve.  A representative from Simpson will call back to confirm your order. 

On Saturday, Oct. 1, Calvary UMC, 15 Ridge Place, Latham, in partnership with JGS recycling, will hold an Electronics and Metals recycling event.  Your $10 (or more) donation, along with a portion of the proceeds will benefit the ministries and missions of the church. *Please note: There is a set cost for TV’s and monitors.

​​​Have a blessed week

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