“Created To Love”

Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.  1 John 4:8

Have you ever wondered if your life has a purpose? The Word of God says it does – one that is both noble and desirable: Every human is created by God to love and be loved. God loves you personally and individually, without limit or qualification. God desires to shower you with love.

The most important attribute we can know about God is God’s love. The very essence of God’s being, God’s personality and nature, is love. It is the reason Jesus came to earth, lived a victorious life, and then die to restore humanities relationship with God (John 3:16). The most important decision we can ever make is to receive God’s love.

The Lord’s affection is absolute, unwavering, and sacrificial.  God’s love is not subject to favoritism. God loves the sinner the same as the saint. In our human pride or our desire to be “somebody special,” we may find that fact difficult to swallow. But God loves each person with the same quantity and quality of love.

The Bible tells us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, and the sun shines on the righteous and the wicked (Matthew 5:45). This means that with or without faith in God, everyone experiences benefits and blessings from God. But the person who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior is in a position to reap the blessings that accompany a loving relationship with God here and now.

The Lord’s love is not based upon what we do, what we have, or what we achieve. God gives it to us simply because we are God’s creation. You cannot win or earn more of God’s favor – God’s unconditional love has nothing to do with performance. Accept and delight in that truth.

John said it simply and eloquently: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). And Jesus said the first and foremost commandment was this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). The only logical response to God’s great outpouring of love toward you is to love God back.

Those who embrace and reciprocate God’s love enjoy an inner freedom and peace they never imagined. They develop as individuals, discovering hidden talents and abilities. They experience true delight in God’s creation and know the joy of perpetual discovery. Does this sound inviting? Is this what you would like for your life?

When we choose to love and obey God, we can be sure God will guide us toward doing what will bring about the greatest fulfillment in our life. Open your heart and let God shower more love into your life. You won’t regret yielding your life to God.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Bob

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. 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!

Sunday school: Sunday School, Sundays 9:00-9:45 AM in person in the children’s Sunday School room, ages Pre-K – Sixth grade in room B5 (Education side – sign on door). Also any Middle/High School students who would like to help and mentor our younger students are invited. Volunteers are needed to fill in for teachers as well. Please contact Robin Stolarcyk or Teddi Black with questions or call the church office (648-4339) for more information.

Adult Sunday School 9 AM, Sundays. Please contact Shirley Prentice if you would like more information. Please join us for learning & fellowship in Room B6 (Adult SS Room).

Monday Evening Ladies Group: Monday evening 6:30-7:30 PM. In Person (DR – B4) & online. The study is TBA when decided. Robin Stolarcyk & Erica Melly will be leading this group.  Please contact Robin Stolarcyk or Erica Melly for more information.

Unity Circle: 11:00 a.m. the 2nd Monday of each month in the Disciple Room (B4). All ladies are welcome to attend. For questions please contact Alvaire Michael.

Rachel Circle: 10:00 a.m. the 3rd Tuesday of every month in the Disciple Room (B4). All ladies are welcome to attend. For questions please contact Marita Root at (607) 743-0279.

Knitting for the Lord: Every Tuesday at 6:00 PM in the KFL room (B2). Everyone is invited to join. For questions please contact Sue Alcott at 607-648-6340 or Lynne Masland at 607-648-7177.

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

November Mission: Thanksgiving Baskets. We will be working with Catholic Charities to distribute Thanksgiving Baskets. There will be a reusable bag to fill, with a list of items on the outside of the bag. (Please leave those stapled to the bag.) Donations of Money will also be accepted to put toward the baskets.  

Barnes and Noble Book Fair:  Take this voucher (to the right) or get one from the church office. You will need to give this to B&N when you check out. Based on the amount of sales, First United Methodist Church of Chenango Bridge will receive money!

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.