Advent Gathering at the Parsonage

Sunday, December 3, 2023

4:30-6:PM

48 Elmwood Ave in Chatham

Dear Friends in the Chatham UMC,

Julie and I would like to invite you over to the parsonage for a time of fellowship, refreshments, conversation, singing and prayer. We hope you will bring an Hors d'oeuvre to share. We’ll have some hot apple cider on the stove, some punch on the table, a fire in the fireplace, and the Christmas décor up. At about 5:30 we’ll light some Advent Candles, have some brief Advent devotions, and sing some favorite Christmas carols around the piano. We’ll be finished about 6PM which will give everyone time to finish homework and get ready for Monday. We hope you can come!

Peace,

Jeff Markay

From the Greater NJ Conference of the UMC:

NJ Medicaid Recipients Must

Re-enroll For 2024

(Corrected from our November 8 issue of Digest)

A recent gathering of the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders, which GNJ supports, raised a concern about the renewed re-enrollment requirement for state Medicaid coverage, known as NJ Family Care. To be eligible, enrollees have always had to reapply annually—that is until the Covid pandemic, during which the re-enrollment rule was suspended. Now, however, re-enrollment will be required again before 2024.

“Thousands of NJ residents could lose their Medicaid if they do not fill out a substantial packet, which they have not needed to complete for several years,” reports Eric Drew, GNJ’s Connectional Ministries Director. He attended the meeting along with Bishop John Schol and other, elected conference leaders. “The state Department of Health is worried about very low return rates. We need to get the word out in every way we can.” Here is the webpage for information about re-enrollment: https://nj.gov/humanservices/dmahs/staycoverednj/coverage/. Churches and leaders are asked to please pass on this urgent information.

You’re Invited!

Advent Small Groups Begin Sunday, December 3!

All Are Welcome – in Person or via Zoom

Our Small Groups offer an opportunity to connect more deeply with God and with one another. Groups will gather weekly for one hour to discuss

“Amy Ekeh’s Advent, Season of Divine Encounter helps us look closely at three key Scripture passages to recall, recognize, and anticipate the ways God comes into our lives and our world.” Print and electronic editions of the book may be purchased at amazon.com, and a wide variety of other online booksellers.



Groups will meet in hybrid format in-person in the Asbury Room and via Zoom:

Sundays (12/3, 10 and 17) at 11:15 am, facilitated by Ron Yarger. To participate, contact Ron at ryarger@optonline.net

Mondays (12/4, 11 and 18) at noon facilitated by Pastor Sharon Yarger. To participate, contact Sharon at scyarger@optonline.net

Adult Discussion Group

During Advent we are using Amy Ekeh’s study: “Advent, Season of Encounter”.  This week, we Encounter God in the Incarnate Word. Do you recognize God’s presence in your past? How do you understand God’s grace, and how do you experience it? Meet with us in the Asbury Room at 11:15am after worship or on Zoom. Any questions? Contact Ron Yarger at ryarger@optonline.net. 

Sunday December 3rd's 10:00am service will feature the Covenant Choir singing Karen Marrolli’s O Dayspring with Dorothy McCorry, flute. Join us!

The Ukulele Orchestra will next meet in-person and online Saturday, December 2nd at 10:00am in the Asbury Room and on Zoom. For more information contact Peter Hill at petepiano@mac.com.

The Suburban Music Study Club will host a recital on Thursday, December 14th at 10:30 a.m. in our very own CUMC sanctuary featuring Mike Maguire, organ and piano, Lauryn Boyle, voice, with Peter Hill, piano, and Carol Walker, dulcimer. All are invited to this free “Music For the Holidays” themed recital. Refreshments will be served following. 

Christmas Poinsettia Order Forms are available!

The CUMC Missions Committee has selected the following organizations to receive

this year's contributions:

Local: CUMC Food Pantry

National: UMCOR Disaster Response

International: Hospital #5 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The beautiful poinsettia display at Christmas time has always been the hallmark of the Advent Celebration. If you wish to participate you can pick up an order form from outside the Sanctuary, from the Church Office, or if you prefer, you can download one here and print it at home.

Order forms must be returned to the office by Sunday, December 17^th

Welcoming New Members to the Chatham UMC

Sunday, December 10, 2023

If you would like to become a member of the Chatham UMC, please contact Rev. Jeff Markay at 973-635-7740 or revjmarkay@earthlink.net.

We thank God for the new people whom God leads to the Chatham UMC. Every new member of this community, makes God’s dreams for this community that much more complete!

Sarah Circle

December 5 at 10am

The Sarah Circle will meet on December 5th at 10:00am in the Asbury Room. Our program will include singing of Christmas Carols and reading of a left/right story. Please bring some canned goods to pass left and right as the story is read and then we will donate these to the Food Distribution storage. All are welcome. Any questions, call Nan Canfield, 973-635-2408

Chatham United Methodist Church operates a high quality indoor air purifier that removes contaminants and kills microorganisms. We look forward to celebrating with you during this holiday season!

All are invited for fun, fellowship, and cookies! CUMC will be providing decorated Christmas cookies for the inmates and staff at the Morris County Correctional Facility as part of their Chaplaincy’s Christmas Gift Collection. We’ll gather in Rodda Hall to bake, decorate, and package about 500 cookies. A fun event for all ages – feel free to bring friends!

Can’t be there? Consider donating plain homemade cookies for us to decorate. Questions? contact Pastor Sharon Yarger at the church office or at scyarger@optonline.net.

Get your orders in, folks!

We are hosting a sticky bun sale to benefit our group of RISE youth volunteers — and to provide something delicious for your Christmas morning.

Pre-orders are open NOW! Sign-up sheets are available at the church, or here via Google form: https://forms.gle/7BErUheSQnZxjuMq8

Interested in paying ahead of pick-up? You can make your donation here via our website: www.chathamumc.com/ and indicate it is for RISE Youth / Sticky Bun Fundraiser.



Pick-up for all orders will be Sunday, Dec. 17th following service. Won't be around that day? Contact Sami Main to set up an alternate date.

Masterwork Presents

Messiah Sing

Sunday, December 3, 2023

2:00 pm

Chatham United Methodist Church

460 Main Street, Chatham NJ

Conductor: Carol Walker

Celebrate the season! Sing those fabulous choruses from Handel’s Messiah with members of The Masterwork Chorus. Messiah is Masterwork’s signature piece. Each year since 1961, the chorus has presented its exhilarating performance of the classic at Carnegie Hall, always to standing ovations and often to a nearly full house.

Patterned after Masterwork’s popular Summer Sings, the Messiah Sing–Along will be conducted by Masterwork’s own Carol Walker. Following the singing, singers are invited to the church hall for holiday fellowship and a complimentary afternoon tea.

Reservations are not necessary, but please bring your own Messiah score if possible. A limited number of loaner scores will be available at the door. For further information, call Katherine Becker of The Masterwork Chorus at 973-919-2507.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Masterwork Presents

Sounds of the Season

Sunday, December 10, 2023

4:00 pm

Chatham United Methodist Church

Conductor: Chris Shepard

Our holiday concert will feature music by conductors Chris Shepard and Martin Sedek, as well as Bach’s Advent Cantata, “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland”, BWV61. The Masterwork Women’s Ensemble will sing the original version of Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols”, led by Carol Walker.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Chatham United Methodist Church

460 Main Street

Chatham, NJ 07928

(973) 635-7740

Email: info@chathamumc.org