Greetings, ambassadors for Christ. Greetings, the peacemaker children of God. Greetings, fellow members of the royal priesthood, you people for God’s own possession. I trust this message finds you safe and well. The letter of Paul to the Galatians, chapter 6, verse 9 is a verse of encouragement: “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” Having seen lots of trucks and smelled lots of grapes, I know our local farmers are rejoicing for the harvest time. Our time of harvest will come, if we do not give up, and remain faithful to Him who has called us.
Two follow ups: what major event resulted in the establishment of the Methodist Church? The Revolutionary War. Early Methodism was a group within the Church of England. As antagonism towards the British grew, the Church of England ordained pastors mostly left back to England. The Methodist movement was carried on by colonist lay preachers. In 1784, at a Christmas-time conference held in Baltimore, the “superintendents” of the American Methodist movement established the Methodist Episcopal Church, the forerunner of the Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church.
Other follow up: in the good old days, we could print lists on pieces of paper and put them in bulletins. Ah, the good old days. Towards the end of last Sunday’s message, I read a short list of things we could do to help build up each other as part of the Body of Christ. Here’s the list:
● “you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
● “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
● “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
● “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
● “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
● “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace”. (Zechariah 8:16)
● “love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10)
Take care, be well, stay safe. And God bless.
Joe Kwiatkowski
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October 25 Annual Budget Review and Conversation 12:00 Zoom Meeting
585-859-3440
Password: Ffumcgroup
November 1 Charge Conference Zoom Option
585-859-3440
Password: Ffumcgroup
In-Person Worship Information
FALL WORSHIP BEGINS SEPTEMBER 27TH
Doors will Open at 9:30 am for 10:00 am In-Person Worship.
All Worship Services will be streamed live on Facebook and uploaded to YouTube.
In-Person Worship Guidelines
Beginning September 27, We will have our 10:00 am in-person worship as well as on Facebook live and later uploaded to YouTube. What will In-Person Worship Look Like? Well, it will be different, so here is what to expect when you arrive at church for worship…
- MASKS ARE MANDATORY -- and must remain on for the entire worship (except if taking communion). If you don’t have a mask, one will be provided for you.
- Motion Hand Sanitizing Stations are located at ALL entrances and throughout the building. Please use them frequently.
- Doors will not open until 9:30 am for our 10:00 am worship – Please don’t plan on arriving early for coffee or mingling. UNFORTUNATELY, because of the virus, we will not have coffee and treats. You will need to go directly to your seat.
- At the entrance, a greeter will check your registration information to see if anything has changed. All that registered will have their temperature taken—If your temperature is 100.0 or higher, you will not be allowed to come in. Please monitor your temperature and if it remains high please contact your family doctor.
- In order to adhere to the 6-foot physical distancing requirement, upon entering the Narthex, an usher will seat you according to our established seating pattern.
- To ensure you will have a seat, you must register online the week before worship to reserve your spot. If you don’t have internet access, you will need to call the office. If you have not registered, you will not be able to attend worship as our guidelines limit our capacity to 60 people.
- There will be no Children’s Moment. Parents interested in Nursery Care, Children’s Church or Youth Group, MUST have Registered their children online. Families will check their children in at the educational entrance and then proceed to worship. If you have any questions please call the office.
- Once you are seated, we ask you remain in your pew…you may turn to talk to your neighbor; however, we ask YOU DO NOT GET UP AND WALK AROUND THE SANTUARY. As Ecclesiastes 3:5 reminds us, there is a time to refrain from embracing. We encourage you to express your love and fellowship with prayer hands or waving
- At the end of the worship you will be ushered out, please remain in your pew until the usher directs you to leave—again we have a specific process so folks don’t walk past on another or congregating. When leaving please be respectful of the 6-foot physical distancing. Please DO NOT CONGREGATE at the doors to talk, there are people behind you who still need to leave safely. There is a season for all things. Let this be a season where we communicate our love through phone conversations, email messages, first class mail, facetime, skype, and zoom video conferencing so we will be alive when a vaccine becomes available.
Anyone who does not feel comfortable with these guidelines or is immunocompromised should continue to shelter in place and continue to engage in online services.
Online Sunday Service
Join us for Sunday Service on Facebook!
Online Donations
A gift to FFUMC allows us to continue our work within our walls and out in the community (while maintaining a safe social distance, of course). If you feel led to donate, and it will not negatively impact your family financially at this time, please click here.
Talent Survey & Stewardship Pledge Form
The 2020 Gifts/Talents Survey and Stewardship Pledge Form is now online!
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