Morning Prayer

Have you ever thought about the private life of Jesus? You know the Jesus that was led into the wilderness. The Jesus who agonized over His impending suffering while in the Garden of Gethsemane. The many times when Jesus withdrew to quiet places to pray – each prayer time a compelling picture of the Son’s intimate connection with His Father.

Mark tells us that while it was still dark, Jesus slipped out of the house and went to a secluded place to meet with His Father. Mark doesn’t tell us what morning this was. But we do know this prayer time followed a full day of healing the sick and casting out demons.

After that kind of day, you would think Jesus might have slept in, at least for an hour or two. But not Jesus. He awakened before the sun peeked over the horizon to be refreshed and renewed for the ministry awaiting Him that day.

Do you ever wonder how long did Jesus pray? What did He pray? Could He audibly hear His Father’s response? Were the angels with Him? And more practically, did His mind wander? I know mine does.  Sometimes I find myself praying and my mind travels to my “to do” list. A good friend of mine would call it his “drunken monkeys” when his mind would jump from one thought to another without any connection to the previous thoughts.

I imagine Jesus’ mind did not wander because He knew, in those solitary places, He was sitting in the very presence of His Father. What we forget is that when we pray, we too sit in the very presence of God, our Father. Although our eyes cannot visibly see God, we can picture God drawing near, bending close to hear our every word. God’s Spirit surrounding us. God’s hands lifting our faces heavenward. God’s ears fixed on every cry of our hearts… the praises, the confessions, the anxieties, the fears, the doubts…God hears them all.

Sometimes it’s hard to awaken early. Hard to focus. And most of all, it’s hard to fathom that the God of the universe, who holds all of creation together, has time to hear our little prayers. But not only does God have the time, God calls us to come. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

So, as the business of fall begins, find a solitary place to pray each morning so that you maybe refreshed and renewed for the facing of your ministry that day.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Bob

Sunday school has started!

Sunday School has started, 9:00-9:45 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 has started at 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).

Unity Circle to is meeting again!

This women’s group will meet at 11:00 a.m. on 2nd Monday of each month in the Disciple Room (B4). All ladies are welcome to attend. For questions please contact Alvaire Michael.

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!

Monday Evening Ladies Group: has started, 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.

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

September Mission: while we may have the opportunity in December to participate in the Southern Tier Mobile Pack (Feed Our Starving Children), we would like to collect funds to pass on to them to buy food items for the mobile pack.  One meal costs $.24- so a little goes a long way!  Please consider donating- make checks out to FUMC- Chenango Bridge and put Southern Tier Mobile Pack in the memo line.  

American Red Cross Blood Drive, Here in Fellowship Hall: October 14th; 12-6 PM. There is a need for blood so, if you are able to give blood, please sign up by calling l:8007332767 or here: Schedule Your Blood Donation With The Red Cross (redcrossblood.org)

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.