Prayers & Squares • Gloria Bickel

We will have canceled the workshop scheduled for Friday, October 25th. The undercover angels were able to complete their work ahead of schedule.

Thank you to all our undercover angels working on our projects behind the scenes.

Administrative Council • Kathy Duschen

The next Council meeting is scheduled for December 4 @ 6:30pm

Finance • Vern Tryon

Here are the usual treasurer’s reports for September 2024.

Treasurer’s report of current expenses

Account balances as of October 3, 2024:

  • Current expense checking – $8,374.75
  • Current expense savings – $28,326.30
  • Capital campaign checking – $3,131.63
  • Checkbook balance – $6,246.89

Our monthly income for September from all sources exceeded expectations by over $1,800 and our year-to-date income exceeded expectations by $5,200.

September’s expenditures were $4,000 below projections and most program areas spent less than was budgeted. The year-to-date expenses were a bit over half of what was budgeted.

Considering only our finances and recognizing that there are many factors involved, I think we can be cautiously optimistic that we are regaining some of the ground we lost during Covid 19.

Carrie and Steve have made good progress in getting our financial secretary’s records moved to Tithe.ly. We are still working on bringing our congregation list up to date.

Please let me know if you spot any shortcomings or have questions about this report.

Missions • Carla & Steve Salisbury

Fall Rummage & Bake Sale

The annual Fall Rummage and Bake Sale always begins with a prayer offered by Pastor Maureen via telephone this year before the doors open and customers come in.

Lynne Hawksby and I were happy once again to co-chair this fall’s rummage / bake sale. It was a great success. Lynne and I would like to thank all who participated, volunteered, moved furniture, purchased, cleaned up, baked, etc.

Miss Ellie Sereno, Karen Poole and Vivian DeMent are seen discussing all the delicious baked goods for sale at their table.

We raised about $1800 and the fellowship was priceless!

Photos courtesy of Mark & Nancy Prarie.

Noisy Can

October’s Noisy Can is in support of ClearPath for Veterans, enhancing lives, confronting challenges head-on and opening doors for personal growth, healing and connections for every veteran whether active duty, or a military family member.

Nurture, Care & Health • Karen Poole & Judy Bradt

October Birthdays

  • 1 – Jeannie Loveless
  • 7 – Don Gifford, Cheyanne Dumas
  • 10 – Sean Simonson
  • 14 – Becky Craig
  • 15 – Neal Loveless
  • 17 – Jeff Martin
  • 20 – Cailynn & Marc Fellows
  • 25 – Steven Tryon
  • 31 – Sue Comerford

Coffee Hours

Coffee hours are held on the first and third Sunday of the month in the Mowry Lounge. If you would like to host one of these coffee hours, you can sign up with Nancy Prarie.

  • October 6 • Karen Papay
  • October 20 • Gloria Bickel

Church Service Assistants

Altar Stewards for October, Karen Poole & Nancy Prarie. For November, Wynnette Dohse

Thank you!

Thank you to all who helped with the rummage sale. It is always fun and a great time for fellowship.

Also, thank you to everyone who helped set-up, supplied food and worked at the funeral luncheon on October 7th for Kay Shaver. It is always an honor to do this for members of our church family. The family is so appreciative of this meal during such a difficult time.

Members of Nurture, Care and Health continue to provide meals, visits and transportation to those who request it. If you or someone you know from our church needs assistance, please let Karen Poole know (315) 343-0826.

Christian Education • Wynnette Dohse & Karen Papay

Sunday School for 3 year olds to high school has begun.

We have two classes available 3 years to third grade and 4th grade to high school! All are welcome!

Free Will Dinners

Free Will Dinners Are Back at Minetto UMC

Thanks to everyone that has contributed and worked to prep or serve the meal for our previous freewill dinners! The fellowship that takes place for those dining in and amongst the workers is rewarding to watch!

Freewill Dinners are the 3rd Wednesday of the month serving in the dining hall eat-in or take out 4:00-5:30pm

  • October 16 • Ham and scalloped potatoes, green beans, dessert and, beverages
  • November 20 • Chicken and rice, corn, dessert and beverages

“Angels Among Us”

Thank you to everyone that contributed to our bulletin board and area remembering our beloved sister, June Tryon. Our next angel will be Mary Cipra so please start gathering pictures or mementos of Mary and get them to me. It would be helpful if you could put your name or initials on items so I can make sure everyone gets them back. I spoke with Deb Farden and she is going to send me some things.

United Women in Faith

The United Methodist Women organization rebranded as United Women in Faith on March 2, 2022. The rebranding was part of an effort to attract new members, update programs and reflect the organization’s true nature. With the name change comes a new logo, website, digital access, new programs and e-newsletters. The organization’s core mission to care for the welfare of women, children and youth remained the same. The new purpose is to seek to connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship and education so that they can inspire, influence and impact local and global communities.

On Saturday, September 14, I attended the Fall Annual Crossroads District United Women in Faith meeting at Bremerton United Methodist Church. The speaker was Debra Robinson on United Nations Human Rights and You. Pastor Omar Hall of Bremerton Food Pantry, which is in the Bremerton United Methodist Church. After lunch, the business meeting was held, installation of officers for 2025, reports were given, awards were handed out, a memorial service for those that had passed and a social action / mission statement was read. There are two United Women in Faith social action campaigns: 1. Just Energy4All and 2. Mass Incarceration, I will report more about these in the November newsletter.

In the November newsletter, I will explain the Reading Program and incentives and awards associated with that program. Also keep your eyes open for a future meeting of the United Women in Faith at our church or possibly with one of our other local churches.

Red Bird Mission

The Lawrences are again going to be delivering boxes and items to Kentucky after Thanksgiving to be given out as Christmas gifts in the Appalachian Mountains. These boxes need to be the plastic ones. I have 50 for us to send again this year. I will, after summer, put them out for individuals to fill on their own if you choose. Be looking out for bargains this summer. You can also get your own plastic container the size of a regular shoebox if you want. These boxes have no restrictions except they should be new items, useful as well as gift worthy, packed for a specific gender and approximate age category.

Love Bags

The Thursday morning Bible Study group has put together “Love Bags” to hand out to our unfortunate friends standing on corners or elsewhere that need a hand out and kind encounter. The bag is a gallon freezer bag. Our first batch of 20 have a granola bar, a pack of crackers, lollipops and candies, applesauce, pretzels, a bottle of water, a pack of kleenex with Bible verses on it and a homemade card with a handwritten note of love and kindness. If you have a desire to pass one on or would like to hear more about the program, talk to Pastor Maureen or anyone in the Bible Study group.

Operation Christmas Child

We will be sending boxes again this year. Our hope is to reach at least 100 like we did last year. If you have any shoe boxes please bring them to church. It saves the cost of buying boxes. We will wrap them to make them extra special. You can leave the boxes on the table by the attendance stand. We also, as always, encourage you to donate items or pack one yourself and add them to the ones we pack for the church.

Special Celebration!

A BIG congratulations to our own Tom Putnam who celebrated his 100th birthday on Monday, September 30th!

Beyond Minetto

Sterling UMC is having their Fall Pizza Sale Fundraiser. Pre-order until October 27th. Cheese $12 and Pepperoni $15, txt to 315 591 5472. Pick-up is November 2, Joe & Pastor will deliver orders to the Minetto UMC family at the church.

Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) welcomes everyone to its free will dinner on Sunday, October 6th from 4:30-5:30 p.m. or until gone. The menu includes meatloaf, macaroni & cheese, vegetable, cookie, and beverages. The free will dinners usually occur the first Sunday of each month starting at 4:30. The eat-in dinner will be served downstairs (use Utica Street entrance). Donations are accepted, but never expected. The church is located at 45 East Utica Street, corner of East 4th and Utica, Oswego. Everyone is welcome to attend in person worship on Sunday starting at 10:00 a.m. For further information, please call and leave a message at (315) 343-1715 or visit https://www.facebook.com/OswegoNYTrinityUMC.

An Alzheimer’s / dementia Support Group meets every month on the first Wednesday at 7:pm at the Cicero UMC. Their goal is to provide information to “newbie” caregivers and support for “veteran” caregivers. For further information, contact Diana Rockhill (315) 297 5498.

Just A Thought

My father made a good point when he said: when a flashlight grows dim or quits working, you don’t throw it away, you change the batteries. When a person messes up and finds themselves in a dark place. Do you cast them aside? Of course not, you help them change their batteries!

  • Some need AA batteries, attention and affection;
  • Some need AAA, attention, affection and acceptance;
  • Some need C, compassion
  • Some need D, direction,
  • And if they still don’t seem to shine, simply sit with them quietly and share your light.