Mistakes or Opportunities?

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I am sure you have heard the story of Ivory soap, the “soap that floats.” However, it was not always that way. Years ago, this soap was just another brand among many until a factory foreman made a mistake. He left a fresh batch of soap in the cooking vat and went to lunch. When he was late getting back and the soap had overcooked, the foreman frantically examined the burned soap. It seemed to clean the same. The only difference he could see was in the weight. The burned soap was just lighter. He could either report the mistake and risk being fired, or he could make the best of it and ship the soap out as if nothing had happened. He shipped it out. The results surprised everyone. Instead of complaints, the company was deluged with orders for this new “floating soap,” and the foreman was promoted.

God works the same way, taking our mistakes and our sins and bringing good out of them. Paul said it well in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose”. If we let Him, God will use the pain of our sin and the results of our mistakes as the foundation upon which He can build a new life.

God works through our mistakes, knowing there is strength in pain that can be gained no other way. God does not eliminate mistakes, but He does step into the midst of the mistakes we bring to Him. At our invitation, God’s very presence fills those mistakes with power and fresh hope, redeeming them for new truth and insight. God is not committed to our comfort, but He is committed to our character, to making us more like Jesus, and He will use every part of our life to make it happen. God does not waste a single experience, and there are no “scraps” of life to be thrown away. He uses even our mistakes for our good.

Take a closer look at your life. Have your mistakes become a burden, constantly reminding you of your failure and inadequacy? Do past mistakes keep you from stepping out in faith today? It is time to realize a new reality that God is at work in us, even in our mistakes, even when we do not recognize Him or understand His process. Someone once said, “Success can be measured not only in achievements, but in lessons learned, lives touched and moments shared along the way.”

Grace & Peace,

Rev. Bob Clark

Small Groups

Sunday School. Sunday mornings 9:00 AM. Starting September 16th. Open to all youth pre-k through high school. Robin Stolarcyk is looking for volunteers to help. Please contact Robin if you can help or would like more information.

Christian Fellowship Class. Sunday mornings 9:00 AM. Room B6.  Please join us. Leader: Shirley Prentice.

Pastor’s Study & Prayer Group: Sunday mornings 11:30 AM, Room B6. Everyone is welcome to join.  Questions contact Pastor Bob.

Unity Circle: Ladies Group, 2nd Monday of every month 11:00 AM. All ladies are invited to join. Contact Bev Hamm at 723-2864 for more information.

Monday Evening Ladies Book Study Group: Will resume on September 10th, Monday evenings at 6:30 pm. In the Disciple Room (B4). Contact Karen MacKenzie at for more information.

Rachel Circle: Ladies Group, 3rd Tuesday of every month 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM in the Frazer Room (B18). All ladies are invited to join. Contact Marita Root for more information.

Tuesday Women’s Group: Join us in Tuesday’s at 12:45, Disciple Room (B4).  A time of friendship, good food, & great conversation. Contact Dottie Brownlow or Pat Winters for more information.

Knitting for the Lord: Tuesday evenings, starting in September 6:00 – 7:00 PM, Room B2. Contact Sue Alcott 648-6340 or Lynne Masland at 648-7177 or 743-9115 for more information.

WordGirls: Wednesdays, starting September 12th, 9:15 – 11:15 a.m.  All ladies are welcome to join. Questions contact Amy O’Brien.

Choir. New Time, Thursdays 4:00 – 5:00 PM.  Everyone is welcome to join. Contact Carla Fako.

Please contact the church office if you need contact information for the leaders at 648-4339. 

Mission Moment: All Saints Church does a Soup/Sandwich feeding Ministry every Saturday from 12-1.  They are especially in need of help August 11.  No age requirements so youth are welcome with a parent or guardian!  Contact Karen MacKenzie. (Contact the church office for Karen’s information).

The 4th Sunday of the Month is Food Pantry Sunday. Non-perishable non-expired donations will be gathered during the first hymn and blessed during service. The mission team will be rotating the donations to food pantries in the local area. Please help to feed those less fortunate. Items will be collected, August 26th.

Children’s Home 60th Annual                Ice Cream Social                                  Hillcrest Campus                                Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018                  5:00—8:00 PM

We will be running a table for children to make a small craft at the ice cream social. Please contact Karen MacKenzie if you are interested in volunteering, contact the church office for Karen’s information.

Wi-Fi Access at Church: If you would like access to wireless at the church please contact Mike Howard at: cbfumc@hotmail.com. Thank you

Volunteers requested: We will be providing dinners for the Men’s  Rescue Mission at 5 PM every 4th Wednesday.  Please join us as we cook and serve!   Questions?  contact Karen and Wes MacKenzie (contact the church office 648-4339 for Karen’s contact information).

Coupons to Care: Our program has helped many families, individuals & organizations. Please save your coupons. Put them in Sharon Quackenbush or Karen Hojsik’s mailbox. Help feed our neighbors through food banks and emergency requests. Shoppers are needed. For more information please contact Sharon Quackenbush, Karen Hojsik or Joyce Neumann.

Trustees Project Board in the back of the Narthex for those of you that may want to sign up for projects or may wish to contribute to a project. Please contact Hudda Aswad if you have any questions. Thank you.

Liturgists Needed: If you would like to volunteer to be a liturgist please contact Pam Wasley or the church office 648-4339. If you cannot do a month at a time, that is fine. We will fill in the weeks around what you can do.

Audio & Video Volunteers are Needed: Training will be provided. Please contact the church office; 648-4339 or Mike Howard (contact the church office for Mike’s contact information)  if you would be able to help.

Reminder: 1st United Methodist Church of Chenango Bridge / Maines GiveBack Program: For every twenty (20) dollars spent, God’s church receives $1.00. Obtain your application of a Maines membership card from the church secretary Monday – Thursday 8 AM – 1 PM or you may request it by email from the church office as well at chenbridgeumc@outlook.com or you may get one from our forms & applications tab above. Our Maines account is “Chenango Bridge UMC” in order to receive the proper credit.

Fund Raiser for First United Methodist Church of Chenango Bridge.     Present this advertistment (below) and 10% of all work done will be donated to the church. For all questions and appointments please contact Quality Steam Cleaning. (You may also find this coupon in the back of the church or contact the church office.