Chimes

Which holds more uncertainty, “Hello” or “Goodbye”? I suspect that depends on whether you are in this case the pastor or the parishioner. I’ve always prayed that the pastor who followed me would be more effective than I have been. That would mean that the ministry of the congregation would continue to grow and flourish.

Valid ministries should never cease or diminish because a pastor comes or goes. God will continue to bless a ministry regardless of a participant’s length of service. If we think of the church as a team, members of the team may change position periodically or be drafted into service elsewhere.

I will be serving on another team in the same division and league as of July 1 with the same uniform and playbook since the opposition has not changed for centuries. These past three years have been filled with joys, a few sorrows and some frustrations. Ministry and society seem very different from what I knew as a child, what I experienced after graduation from seminary and what I experience today. It seems as if something external seeks to lay claim to every waking moment of our lives. Some days I long for the Sundays that were experienced as Sabbath. Sundays that were a day of rest not a day to jam full of anything but worship and time with God and God’s word.

Have we succeeded in making a difference in people’s lives these past three years? In some, absolutely, in others only slightly while in others we may never know. My prayers have been for forward, positive movement in the lives of all in our churches and in our communities. However, an awareness of ministries that the larger community yearns for needs to be cultivated so that the church will be vital, vibrant and attractive to those in need of grace and mercy as they recognize not only their need to nurture and grow their faith but to live it out in community with others.

There are many people and things that I will miss as I leave this beautiful part of the Hudson Valley to take up residence down river in Buchanan literally one-half mile from Indian Point Energy Center. However, I believe God will provide new people and things that I will eventually miss there as I have in every place I have been appointed over the past 26 years.

I encourage you to get to know your next pastor quickly so that you may be a source of blessing to each other during the uneasy time of transition. Invite your next pastor into your home and you will find your way into each other’s hearts.

Kim & I would like to thank you for the wonderful party and generous gifts. We loved the tree!

May God’s grace, mercy, strength, comfort, and blessings be known to you daily!

Our Bishop, NYAC Conference Staff & Cabinet, Clergy, Military Troops, World Leaders, and any who believe we are their enemies, Our friends, families, and all in need around the world.

A simple call to our church office puts a person on our congregational prayer list found in our weekly bulletin. Confidential prayer requests can also be made.

If you have surgery scheduled or a family member is hospitalized, let the church office know. We would like to be there for you.

There will be a short Burial Service for Eleanore Buerkert on July 23, 2010 at 11:00am at the Union Cemetery in East Park. The cemetery is located on the East side of Rt. 9G, just South of North Cross Road (CR 37).

There will be a gathering at Joeann's brother's house (Neal Silvernail) for lunch following the service.

George McKinley Reid, 83, passed away peacefully in the company of his family, at home in Red Hook, on Monday, May 3, 2010.

Our condolences and Christian love are offered to Marty and her family. May God hold you in the palm of His Hand.

Hans-Joachin Mueller, Joined his parents and brothers in Heaven on Thursday, May 20, 2010.

Our condolences and Christian love are offered to Gretta and her family. May God hold you in the palm of His Hand

Arnold J. Simmons, 80, of Red Hook, NY, died Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the Thompson House in Rhinebeck, NY.

Our condolences and Christian love are offered to the entire family. May God always hold you in the palm of His hand.

June 6, 2010 [Green]                                                 June 13, 2010 [Green]
Second Sunday After Pentecost                               Third Sunday After Pentecost]
1 Kings 17:8-24                                                          1 Kings 21:1-21a
Psalm 146 (UMH 858)                                                Psalm 5:1-8 (UMH 742)
Galatians 1:11-24                                                        Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:11-17                                                               Luke 7:36–8:3

June 20, 2010 [Green]                                              June 27, 2010 [Green]
Fourth Sunday After Pentecost]                              Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
1 Kings 19:1-15a                                                         2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 42 (UMH 777)                                                 Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 (UMH 798)
Galatians 3:23-29                                                        Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 8:26-39                                                               Luke 9:51-62

As the weather becomes warmer, I (Kristi) am reminded that summer is soon approaching. As students, including me, we look forward to the summer. No more school, including Sunday School. Most of the time, I love this time of year. This year I am saddened because I have to say goodbye to my “kids”. Usually it is easier to depart knowing that I will see them in September, however, as previously written, I will be moving in July or August to Wappingers Falls. I can’t possibly commute to Red Hook UMC from Wappingers Falls every Sunday and be here on time for church. As Stephen reminds me weekly, “You’re late again.”

For my last newsletter article as the SS Superintendent, I’m encouraging EVERYONE to continue to be disciples for the youth of our church. Help them in their walk as they learn about Jesus and his teachings. Sarah and Stephen are two terrific Christians. Not only are they our brother and sister in Christ, they are part of our Church family. So my plea is to embrace them in love and encourage them to continue to come to church, read their bible, and fellowship with you.

For the past two weeks, Sarah, Stephen Joan M., and I have been very busy outside. We are in the process of painting the rock garden on the eastern side of the education building. It has been a lot of fun and a great way to give back to the church. A lot of the stones were in need of repainting. We are in the process of completing it. We are definitely not finished yet. Hopefully, by the end of this month it will be completed.

As I close for the year, I’m not saying “goodbye” because I know I will see most of you this summer. Besides the RHUMC will always be my home church (member for 30+ years) and know “I’ll be back!” I continue to pray for a SS teacher for September. It is a rewarding experience. You don’t have to know all the answers. God will provide them. It’s a learning experience too. You learn about God just as the youth are learning. God has blessed us with wonderful, faithful, Sunday School youth. So please, pray about this, if you have any questions, please come and talk to Kristi Colburn or Joan Murray.

We met on May 26^th at Alma Bowman’s house at 7:30 pm. Joan Murray led a devotion and then we had our business meeting. Our program consisted of searching through Resource magazines and finding articles on mission work. We discussed our article and how we could participate in that particular mission. For instance, one woman discussed UMW going “green”. There were ideas of water conservation, using less or no Styrofoam, using cleaning supplies that were better for the environment. The discussion was thought provoking and educational.

Due to time constraints, we decided to wait until the fall to fill our “care packages” for the college students. So, look for information pertaining to that in further editions of the CHIMES. These boxes will be filled with “pick me up” type items. We want to show the college kids that we are thinking of and loving them in their absence.

Our next meeting is June 28^th at Joan Murray’s house at 6:00 pm. This meeting is our annual potluck picnic. Come enjoy good food and good company. If any ladies would like to join us, you are always welcome. If you need a ride, please call one of the Joan’s. (Murray 758-5189, Morrison 758-5375, Beuttler 758-9099)

The Food Panty continues to be used by many on Sunday Afternoons. We have been blessed by our many donations. We were the recipients of the Postal Hunger Drive. Thank your neighbors and especially your postal worker. Thank you all who donate, help stock the shelves, carry food upstairs, etc. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

On the 4^th Friday of each month, we will be having a potluck dinner at the RHUMC at 6:00 pm. Don’t forgot on JUNE 25^th potluck dinner.

Our weaving project has been restarted by the help of Pastor Tom, Kim, Lois, Pat, and others. Thank you all. We are most thankful for the weaving skills of Alice Seeger.

CROP Walk- there will be a meeting on June 14^th at Upper Red Hook Reformed Church. Please check with Pat Brammer for details. The CROP Walk will be October 17^th in Red Hook.

(editor’s note- if I (Kristi) forgot to include a name under the thank you’s, I apologize.

Thank you to all for all of your gifts and tithes! Keep praying for the finances of both our churches!

On Saturday, May 15, the crew who came for “Clean Up day” were extremely busy. Thank you all who helped out. All efforts are truly appreciated.

A reminder: our medical supply closet has a variety of items that are available to loan. We have walkers, commodes, canes, crutches, wheel chairs. These items are available to anyone in the community, not just church members, and can be kept as long as desired. Call the church office or Betty at 758-9011.

Since flowers are not offered on a regular basis, we cannot expect to receive a special price from the florist. Therefore, if you wish to place flowers on the altar on a given Sunday, please either purchase an arrangement from the florist of your choice or assemble your own arrangement either from your garden flowers or from flowers purchased at a local flower shop. Please write the date, your name, the occasion (birthday, anniversary, in memory of, in honor of) and name of recipient on the Flower Chart in the rear of the sanctuary. It helps if you also call Joan Beuttler with a reminder 758-9099.

After the 11:00 am service; a cup of coffee hits the spot especially when topped off with a goody. If this sounds good to you, sign up to sponsor coffee hour. The sign up sheet is in the lounge. Please check with Joan M. for details.

Roxanne is in the nursery to watch our little ones during the RHUMC’s 11:00 am service.

Fred Brammer and the Trustees have introduced a new system that plugs into the speaker system.

Please consider what assistance you might offer to this important fund raiser of the Red Hook UMC, either by helping prepare and/or serve the meal or by donating needed ingredients for the salads or donating cash to help defray the cost of the meat and other essential ingredients. Working together on a project like this is a great way of really getting to know others in the congregation. Call Betty A'Brial at 758-6900 or Lois Chenkus at 758-1714. A sign-up sheet for workers and ingredients/cash will be posted soon at the rear of the sanctuary. Closer to the event, calls will be made to fill the empty spaces! As usual, thanks in advance for all your help!

The Methodist Chimes June 2010

Red Hook & Rowe United Methodist Churches

“open minds, open hearts, open doors”

Pastor Rev. Thomas Theilmann Call pastor or secretary 845-758-6283 Organists: Keith Niver (Red Hook) Emergencies 845-758-5015 Secretary: Joan Beuttler Cora Marie Shook (Rowe)

Website www.redhookumc.org E-mail redhookumc@hvc.rr.com