The True Sabbath Rest

In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them at that time against selling food. Nehemiah 13:15

Nehemiah was concerned by this disregard for the Law. He is trying to correct the difficulties that had caused problems for Israel in the past. So, he orders the gates to be closed at sunset on Friday.  He requires the Levites to cleanse themselves and to guard the gates so that no one violates the Sabbath.

Should we also keep the Sabbath by refraining from work and travel? As seen throughout the book of Nehemiah, these regulations imposed upon Israel were what the New Testament calls shadows, pictures of something even more important that God wants observed. You observe the Sabbath when you fulfill what the Sabbath portrays.

At the heart of the Sabbath is the word rest. The Sabbath is intended for people, that they may learn to rest. The Sabbath is God’s stress management program! It is how to prevent burnout-how to recover from too much pressure and catch up with yourself. It is how to gather yourself together and become able to handle the work you must do.

There are two primary reasons given in Scripture for the Sabbath. The first one is found in Exodus 20:11. There we are told that because God finished creation in six days and then rested on the seventh day, He asked His people to rest after six days of labor. Why did God rest? He accomplished His objective. People too must recognize a limit to their work. There is a need to stop, to allow the body, mind, and spirit to recognize their limitations.

The second reason the Sabbath was given is often ignored. God said to Israel, Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day (Deuteronomy 5:15). They were to rest in order to reflect on God’s ability to work beyond the labors they had already completed. A chance to remember that God is God and they are not.

So, there are two aspects of the Sabbath-creation and redemption. There is a rest of cessation, a ceasing from our own works our own creative activities. But then there is the rest of rejoicing in the mighty delivering power of God. A time of resting in peace where we can just be the creation and acknowledge God as the creator.

I leave you with this quote from Mathew Sleeth as he is talking about the creation story, “Up to this point, everything has been created out of nothing, but on the morning of the seventh day, God makes nothing out of something. Rest is brought into being.” May we learn to rejoice in Sabbath Rest.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Bob

Sunday school will be starting up in person on Sunday September 12th. There will be more information to follow.

Stepping In Faith – Come & Walk with us!

Where – Otsiningo Park. Starting Wednesday, May 12th; 5:30 PM. “Every Wednesday, weather permitting. Bring a face mask or one can be provided. Sponsored by The United Methodist Church of Chenango Bridge.

Meeting Place—North Entrance of the Park, take Howell Drive to Parking Lot. Bottled water & fruit will be available on a first come first served basis.

Led by: Michelle Stoll & Kathy Smith, for questions call 648-4339 (Church Office)

“Bring a friend, Make a friend” – Just do it!

Finance information:

We are once again meeting for Worship but the church is strongly recommending that you still mail your donations into the church due to the Covid19 virus restrictions there will be no offertory during worship but we will dedicate your gifts to God. If you bring your offering into church with you, the usher will direct you to the offering basket.
   * Monday’s of every week we will collect, record and deposit any pledges, Donations and Loose Funds.                 Please mail to the church at: 1st UMC of Chenango Bridge, PO Box 501, Chenango Bridge, 13745.
    * Bank Accounts and Expenses will be reviewed weekly to ensure Bills are paid in a timely manner.
    * Any financial questions should be directed to David Lewis at 607.727.0250.
    * Search for any potential financial opportunities that will provide additional income to meet the continue          operation expenses through this unknown period.
God Bless & Stay Safe, FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, CHENANGO BRIDGE-CHURCH COUNCIL   

Small Groups

Pastor’s Study & Prayer Group (Online Only): Sunday mornings 11:30 AM. Everyone is welcome to join. Contact Pastor Bob at 648-4326 or rclark@nccumc.org for password or more details to join the group. Everyone is welcome!

Ladies Monday Night Book Study: Monday evenings 6:30-8:00 pm. (Online Only) Please contact Karen MacKenzie for details if you would like to join the group via Zoom (online). Please Note: This group has ended for summer. They may meet occasionally throughout the summer, contact Karen MacKenzie at 845-729-0857 for more information. This group will resume meeting in the fall.

Upper Room, devotionals available, contact the church office, 648-4339 & we will mail you one. The Upper Room Devotional online: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals. If you do not pay for long distance you can call 1.615.212.2013 or a free call 1.877.600.7218

Other online devotionals: Our Daily Bread link: https://odb.org/ Girl Friends in God link: https://girlfriendsingod.com/. 

Note: Contact the church office at chenbridgeumc@outlook.com or 607-648-4339 for more information on church groups.

Missions & Fundraisers

Our mission for August is to support the School supplies for Chenango Bridge Elementary Schools.  Lists will be posted in the fellowship hall of needed items.  

Other mission opportunities:

Annual Ice Cream Social for the Wyoming Children’s Home. The event is August 10, 5-8 PM at the Home on Chenango Street in Hillcrest.  We will have a booth with children’s crafts to make their evening more enjoyable! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, please!

BLOOD DRIVE at the church, August 12, 1- 6 PM.  Sign up at www.redcrossblood.org, CHENANGOUMC.  We have donated 157 units to date- can we hit 200 by year end? Please ask a friend or family member to donate also!

The 4th Wednesday of each month we support the Men’s Rescue Mission on Whitney Avenue by delivering a PIZZA for the men to enjoy. Please call Donna and Tom James (607-648-7934) for additional information.

4th Sunday food donations are continuing to support CHOW as well as local food pantries. Please leave the food in the fellowship hall on the Missions Cart.

We have been supporting the St. Patrick’s Feeding and Clothing Ministry. One Thursday, they fed 47 families (1-8 people/family).  We have had several parishioners and family members volunteer on Thursdays, 9:30- 12 PM. Make some sandwiches, pack some food, help unload the CHOW truck- volunteers are needed! Please contact Wes or Karen if you are interested in finding out more information.  

Rolling suitcases. There are many homeless that need to carry all of their belongings in a suitcase. If you have a used, rolling suitcase that you would like to donate, please leave it in the Fellowship Hall. We will make sure it gets to an agency that will be able to distribute it!  

Knitting for the Lord has prayer shawls & prayer blankets available for those in need please contact Sue Alcott or Lynne Masland if you know of someone in need. Knitting for the Lord is once again accepting machine washable yarn. Thank you for all of your help & support in our missions.

Maines Give Back Program Fundraiser: For every twenty (20) dollars spent, our church receives $1.00. Obtain your Maines membership card application from the church secretary Monday – Thursday 8 AM – 1 PM or email: chenbridgeumc@outlook.com or from our website here. You may also apply directly at Maines store. If you apply directly in the store please give us your name so that we may add you to our list. Thank you!

Quality Steam Cleaning Fund Raiser for First United Methodist Church of Chenango Bridge. 10% of all work done will be donated to the church. Coupon is available from the church office or from our website here. You may also let Quality Steam Cleaning know that it is for our church fundraiser. For all questions and appointments please contact Quality Steam Cleaning: (607) 754-3462 or qualitysteamcln@aol.com.