March, 2019 Page 1

1

Pastor’s Pen

2That’s A Bright IdeaSunday SchoolAdult Fellowship PotluckWorkshop in May. . .

3Family Corner:Birthdays and AnniversariesSpecial DaysLay Servant ClassFree Community DinnerAddition Connection

4Sexton’s BroomBook Club NewsBe a Heart FriendScooter update

5Thrift Shop NewsTiconderoga Food Pantry

6Letter from the Bishop

7Calendar

8Sunday VolunteersAcolytesCoffee Greeters&UshersLay Readers’ ScheduleGrace Notes

March, 2018Pastor’s Pen

Dear Friends, I have been struggling the last few days since the special session of General Conference with my deep disappointment with our denomination. We have been praying for two years for a ‘Way Forward’ for all of God’s children to be loved, cherished, and invited to be in ministry with Jesus. I encourage us to continue to be in prayer.

The question of the hour is what do the actions and inactions of the General Conference in St. Louis mean for us as a people called Methodist both globally and locally here in Ticonderoga in the Adirondack District of the Upper New York Annual Conference. Next Saturday, March 9th I will travel to Rochester NY along with every pastor in our Conference to meet with Bishop Webb at Asbury First UMC, the largest church in our Conference, so that we can worship God together in a church rather than a hotel conference center, and then discern together God’s direction for being in loving ministry together. Bishop Webb will come to Shenendehoah UMC in Clifton Park on Thursday March 21 at 6:30-8:30 PM to speak to the laity and clergy of our district. I encourage you to read the Bishop’s pastoral response letter to General Conference on page 6.

This Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday with a 7 PM service, will be an especially powerful Lent as we search our hearts and lives for ways to change and be in alignment with God’s ever loving presence with us.

I invite you to join with me in a Max Lucado Lenten Bible Study titled He Chose the Nails. I will be offering this study on Sunday evenings at 7PM beginning on March 10th, and on Tuesdays at noon beginning on March 12th. It will run five weeks. You can come to either session, ie. mix and match as fits your schedule. I have the books we will be using on the shelf next to my office door, please take one if you would like to participate. If you cannot make every session you are still welcome to participate as you are able.

Remember Friends, we are the church of Jesus Christ and our mission will not change: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Please contact me at any time to talk and pray.Peace, Love, and Blessings,

Pastor Scott

First United Methodist Church

March, 2019 Page 2

Now That’s A Bright IdeaMany things run smooth around the church. Donnie keeps everything sparkling, The kitchen crew headed by Joan and Penny fill us with God’s bounty each month and sometimes oftener, Bridget keeps the office running without a hitch, and Scott keeps us all on the right track with our maker.

That said we do run into some bumps in the road. Our heating system was just such a bump this past month. A remote control valve that is part of the system for the sanctuary had broken. We had it replaced this month and bled each of the four sections of radiators. That along with some modifications to the control computer should have the 8:30 service warm.

The trustees will start a new column this month to keep you up to date on the addition and repairs to the church. “Addition Creation” will answer questions brought up and give you ideas how you can help.

As always if you see something that needs attention, contact Donnie, Pastor Scott or myself and we’ll do our best to “get ‘r’ done” or at least put it on the list!

Bill Westervelt, Chair

Adult Fellowship Potluck DinnerMarch 25

Rolls- Scott, Dessert- AnnProgram Family Story

April 29

Rolls- AnnDessert- Ann

Program Easter Customs

Save the Date! May 11, 2019

In Fellowship Hall8:30-noon

Life Changes and Transitions

A workshop withRev. Bruce Tamlyn

A faith based look at ways to deal with changes in your life, and ways to

move forward.Come to learn, laugh, and share.

Watch for more information.

Sunday SchoolWe have something new in the classroom!! Comfy chairs for students have been added to our Bible study area. Fun for students to settle in as they listen and participate in the weekly lesson.

On February 3rd, we had a guest actor performance the role of Jairus as he presented his relationship with Jesus. Thank you Alex Fingland for your outstanding performance, complete with Biblical attire!!

Always praying that our class will grow. If you know of any children (family or neighbor) please give me their names and addresses, and I will write them a personal note inviting them to join us.

There is a new sign-up for teachers on the bulletin board. It is a slightly different approach. Many have found it difficult to commit to a full month, so we will sign up on a weekly basis. Pleas sign up for any weeks you may be interested in serving as a teacher.

March, 2019 Page 3

Family CornerHappy Birthday

Dylan Manning March 3Scott Manning March 4Enid Bousfield March 7Carolyn Buckland March 9Jerry Cooper March 13Kristian Gibbs March 16Ann Westervelt March 16Joe Michela March 21Margot Anello March 22Penny Mason March 22Joe Sawyer March 24Marjorie Hurlburt March 29

Save the date! July 20 for

Christmas in July!

Free Community Dinner

Pork Loin, Brussels Sprouts

Glazed carrots, desserts

March 34:30-6:00pm

All are welcome! Donations are not required, but are always welcome.

Addition ConnectionWe’re on our way. After a meeting with Travis Whitford of TRW construction, we now have a handshake on a firm date for the start of our project. Making the Christmas in July people happy beyond belief, work will begin the last week in July. The impact then should be from that date to the end of September. We then will get help for Betty to put the gardens back together before winter.

As you were told at the Church Conference, We have a nest egg of $76,000.00. While this seems like a lot, the trustees do not believe that it will be enough. In the months to come we will be giving you all a chance to help by listing small items, and some not so small items as we get firm prices. There are hundreds of pieces to our addition and repairs. Some like a tile for the floor may be only a few dollars, others like a new door to match our front doors will be quite a bit more. When we get a handle on some prices, we will let you know how you can become part of the addition.

Alma Thomson and Horace Moses’s gifts gave us a great start and we are very grateful to them. We now hope that all of us can help put the puzzle together.

March 6

Service at 7:00pm

March 10

March 31UMCOR Sunday(offering)

March 23

9-3 Lay Servant Class

Books are here!

March, 2019 Page 4

Sexton’s BroomHello Friends! March is here, Spring is on the horizon! (Just keep believin’!) Warm temperatures, sunshine, rain, mud. . . (maybe I need to rethink this. . .)

Seriously though, I will be glad to see the arrival of spring. I have spent an awful lot of time in February doing Snow & Ice Removal duties! It's time to move on.

As I said last month, a lot of my spring & summer projects are going to be contingent on the progress of the addition, which starts in late July. As Bill said in Addition Creation, it’s an opportunity for each of us to contribute in our own way to the improvement of our beautiful building.

Champlain Valley Chorale has started rehearsals, always a joy to set up Fellowship Hall for them, anticipating the great performance that awaits us in June!

It’s going to be a busy & exciting time, with Lent arriving this month. Lots of things going on.

As always, if you see something that needs my attention, let me know. I’m not hard to find!

Donnie NortonSexton

Book ClubMarch 11 at 5 pm

at Sandy Sprague’s house. The book is Becoming

by Michele Obama

Be all you can beBe a Heart Friend.

This is sort of a secret pal.Take a heart and fill in your information. (only

as much as you wish to fill in)Then put your heart in the basket at the back of

the church.Then we will draw out a heart the following

week and the person on the heart you get will be your heart friend for one year.

We ask that you send your heart friend a card or a note on their special days and on any

holidays you wish to. If you know they are sick or could use encouragement – send an

extra card. Or at any other time. Have fun with these notes and cards. The Thrift Shop has

cards on sale for 10 cents. We are also going to fill out a heart for any of our people who are not able to send out cards. We hope that some of you will take a second

heart, (from a second basket) and send cards to a second person.

This heart friend/secret pal is voluntary. I have seen this done in another church. They had so much fun in doing it, they even had a luncheon

to reveal who the secret friend was.

The powered scooter which was donated last

fall and posted for sale did not sell, but has been

given to Larry so he can get around locally. His

old scooter was not getting the job done for him.

March, 2019 Page 5

Thrift Shop NewsThe February sales are just about over, and our volunteers will make room for bright, cheery spring items early in March. Clothing and other things are going out on the racks and shelves continually. We may still have a few winter items on sale, because we know it is not over yet! The shop is decorated and ready for St. Patrick’s Day – stop in and maybe you’ll find that special item to help you celebrate!

The shop has been contacted by a representative of CVPH’s cancer education program. Educators will come to the shop periodically with information on breast and prostate cancer prevention. The first date will be Wednesday, April 3. We look forward to partnering with CVPH on this important outreach service.

If you want to get out of the house for a few hours, Sorting days are Monday & Thursday, 9-noon; Selling days are Wednesday & Saturday 9-2. We have a wonderful group of volunteers keeping the shop neat and organized– come and join us. You won’t be sorry!

Thrift Shop Committee Members:Ellen Ellor, Committee Chairperson

Jeanne Thatcher, Treasurer Joyce Barry, Assistant Treasurer

Jeanne B. Thatcher, Trustees Representative Margot Anello, Joyce Barry, Wanita Blanchard,

Stephanie Frazier, Beth Hanley, Betty Messier, Leona Simpson, Pam Thorne, Jeannine Wright, and Rev. Scott Tyler

Thrift Shop VolunteersThrift Shop VolunteersThrift Shop VolunteersThrift Shop VolunteersWednesday (9-2pm)Wednesday (9-2pm) Saturday (9-2pm)Saturday (9-2pm)

2 Carol B & Sandra T

6 Ellen, Pam, & Jeannine 9 Margot & Jeanne

13 Leona, & Margot 16 Joan & MaryLou

20 Joan & MaryLou 23 Ann & Judy G.

27 Betty R & Pam 30 June, Gloria, & Lee

The Ticonderoga Food Pantry

Hours of operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday:

11am-Noon.

Please be aware that filling a basket takes time, so don’t arrive at the last minute. Anyone seeking a food basket should bring a utility bill as proof of residency.

We have the 2018 figures: The Ti pantry offered food to 742 families in Ti and Putnam, which is 2,289 people.

We have food arriving monthly, with weights of a ton to a ton and a half.

We also received food donations from Walmart as part of the Feeding America Program of over 21, 000 pounds, perfectly good food items that were salvaged. Stewarts and other business, civic organizations, as well as schools all contribute to our success.

We have very generous individual folks who support us, throughout the year.

Thank you all for your continued support of the

Ticonderoga Food Pantry.

March, 2019 Page 6

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ! The Special Session of the General Conference has concluded with the passage of The Traditional Plan. No matter where you stand on the decision and the direction taken by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, the reality is that we are a Church in deep pain and great division. I want you to know I see and feel the hurt that many of you are feeling today-a feeling that your Church has let you down. These last few days have been emotional for all and deeply harmful for many. That reality grieves my spirit. I have been in deep prayer for all of you-for all of us. Yet, in this very present reality is a truth. Christ is with us, amid our pain. In the midst of our brokenness, the resurrected Christ is with us. The One who offers us the promise of abundant life has not forsaken us. We are the body of Christ, called to loving God, loving one another and offering the love of Jesus Christ to the world. The road ahead will not be an easy one for us as individuals and as a Church. I commit to traveling this road with each of you. Upper New York is a collection of beautiful people with a commitment to Christ and a potential for ministry that is endless. We can travel this road together. We can choose to stand against a culture of division and be a people who pray together, talk with one another, choose to love each other, and most importantly, help one another find the ways in which we live out God's call upon our individual lives and our life together with fruitfulness and faithfulness. Over the next few weeks and months, our commitment to Christ and one another will be tested and given an opportunity to be lived out in ways that we cannot imagine - ways that can witness to the healing presence of God. We are a people of different opinions and convictions, but our hope is a common one found in the person of Jesus Christ! May we pursue that hope with one another, in one another, and for one another. Let us remember that we are the Church and we can choose whether we will perpetuate the pain in one another or surround one another in a spirit of encouragement and love. I hope that the clergy of the Upper New York Conference will join me on Saturday, March 9th as we gather to be with one another and care for one another. I hope that laity and clergy will join me in one of the scheduled regional gatherings as we share a time of being with one another and reminding ourselves that God has called us to be the hands, feet and voice of Christ in the midst of the world. Know I deeply love you, am grateful for you, while holding you constantly in prayer. Pray for me.

Blessings,

Bishop Mark J. WebbUpper New York Area

March, 2019 Page 7

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

MarchMarchMarchMarchMarch1 2

MarchMarchMarchMarchMarch 8:00 Prayer Breakfasts in Silver Bay

9-2 Thrift Shop

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

8:30 Worship, Communion9:30 Sunday School10:30 Worship, Communion, Sunday School, Coffee4:30-6pm Free Community Dinner

5:30 Book Club7:00 Champlain Valley Chorale

9-2 Thrift Shop

Noon Prayer Service

7:00 Ash Wednesday

10:00 Worship Meeting7:30 Chancel Choir

9-2 Thrift Shop

10 Clocks spring forward!

11 12 13 14 15 16

8:30 Worship, Communion9:30 Sunday School10:30 Worship, Sunday School, Coffee7 Lenten Bible Study

1:00 Finance

6:30 Trustees

Noon Lenten Bible Study

7:00 Champlain Valley Chorale

9-2 Thrift Shop11:00 Bible StudyNoon Prayer ServiceUMW

7:30 Chancel Choir

9-2 Thrift Shop

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

8:30 Worship, Communion9:30 Sunday School10:30 Worship, Sunday School, Coffee7 Lenten Bible Study

1:00 Ad Council

Noon Lenten Bible Study

7:00 Champlain Valley Chorale

9-2 Thrift Shop11:00 Bible StudyNoon Prayer Service

6:30 Bell Choir resumes

7:30 Chancel Choir

9-2 Thrift Shop

9-3 Lay Servant Class

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

8:30 Worship, Communion9:30 Sunday School10:30 Worship, Sunday School, Coffee7 Lenten Bible Study

6:30 Adult Fellowship Potluck

Noon Lenten Bible Study

7:00 Champlain Valley Chorale

9-2 Thrift Shop

11:00 Bible StudyNoon Prayer Service6:30 Bell Choir

7:30 Chancel Choir

9-2 Thrift Shop

31 UMCOR

8:30 Worship, Communion9:30 Sunday School10:30 Worship, Sunday School, Family Coffee7 Lenten Bible Study

New Member Classes:Please contact Pastor Scott Tyler at 585-7995 if you are interested in joining the church as a new member.

March, 2019 Page 8

MarchUshers and

Greeters

3 Victoria Sawyer Zyleen Tyler

10 Xann Tyler Taylor Bolton

17 Roger Sawyer Victoria Sawyer

Kristine Gibbs & Ann Westervelt

24 Xann Tyler Zyleen Tyler

31 Roger Sawyer Taylor Bolton

Family Coffee

Sunday Volunteers

Lay Reader’s ScheduleLay Reader’s ScheduleLay Reader’s Schedule

March 8:30 10:30

3 Sandra Trepanier                                        Joyce Barry 10 Donnie Norton                                            Penny Mason17 Carole Potter                                   Betty Rettig24 Ann Westervelt Louise Goodwin31 Bob Bartlett Bill Westervelt

First United Methodist Church1045 Wicker StreetTiconderoga, NY 12883Church Phone: 518 585-7995Email: timethodist@gmail.comWebsite: www.tifumc.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tifumcEditor: Bridget M.M. Simpson, MBA

Singers needed in Chancel Choir

Bell Choir ResumesMarch 20

No Altar Flowers during

Lent-But watch for sprouts toward

the end of March out in the gardens!