February 15, 2024

Prayers Lifted on

Sunday Feb 11th, 2024

During last Sunday's worship service, we received the following requests for prayers...

Of healing, for Alex as his days become better
Of healing, for a friend who is having back surgery this week
Prayers for a friend who's awaiting medical test results
Of gratitude, for all who are feeding hungry people, and those caring for sick and injured people

Church News

Chatham UMC has been invited once again to host an Iftar Dinner which ends the fast of each day in the season of Ramadan for observant Muslim believers.

The Iftar Dinner begins after the sun goes down. On March 11th that will be at 6:57 PM. Before we eat we’ll have a brief program that will explain some of the history of Ramadan, as well as some time for interfaith Q+A.

The Peace Islands Institute, who are also our partners for the Interfaith Abraham Lunches, have graciously offered to bring Turkish dinner for all who come.

Spaces are limited to the first 100 people to sign up. To RSVP click here.

The Church office will be closed next week from Monday to Friday. If there is a pastoral emergency between February 19-23, please call the church office at 973-635-7740 and select the prompts for the Senior Pastor, who will respond to your message.

Lenten Small Groups

Sunday's and Monday's February - March

Wherever you may be on your faith journey, we welcome you to connect with fellow pilgrims for conversation, study, prayer, and community in a Lenten Small Group. Each group meeting lasts approximately one hour.

Through the Valley: a Lenten Series on Lament explores the biblical and spiritual practice of lament: crying out to God when we are troubled, confused, or in pain.

Using passages from both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures we’ll consider topics including Lament and Honesty, Lament and Hope, Lament and Community, Lament and Action.

While this is a series, each session also stands on its own, so it is fine to attend one, some, or all sessions. No book, no homework, just show up!

Groups will meet:

Sundays (2/18 – 3/23) at 11:15 am (Ron Yarger, facilitator)

Mondays (2/19 – 3/24) at noon (Pastor Sharon Yarger, facilitator)

Groups will meet in “hybrid” format – in person in the Asbury Room as well as via Zoom.

For further information, or to receive the Zoom invitations, contact Associate Pastor Sharon Yarger at scyarger@optonline.net

Black History Month at CUMC

For the month of February, all are invited to a special Prayer Station in the sanctuary. There, is a display of cards with the names, pictures and stories of some of the martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement.

We are invited to pick up a card, pray for the person’s family, congregation and community as they continue to grieve their loss, and do the work of racial healing, racial justice and racial reconciliation.

Faith Formation Matters

Adult Discussion Group

For Lent we’re focusing on Lament, the grief and sorrow we feel from time to time. For our work on Sunday read Psalm 13. What questions does the Psalmist ask of God? When have you asked similar questions? What is the significance of moving from lament to thanksgiving? And how do you find comfort during a period of sorrow?

Come join us in the Asbury Room after worship at 11:15am.

Chatham UMC Podcast Spirituality Group

Wednesday evenings in Lent, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom

February 21, 28, March 6, 13, 20, 27

Focus of discussion:

The podcast is called "Another Name for Every Thing" with Richard Rohr. Participants are invited to listen to the podcast during the week. During our hour long Zoom meeting we’ll talk about what we found interesting, helpful, challenging and wise about Richard Rohr’s description of the Universal Christ. Richard Rohr’s book of the same title is steeped in Christian tradition and the natural world, affirmed with good science, neuroscience, astrophysics and illumined with ancient wisdom. Link to register below.

Here are the links to the first podcast:

On Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rCyhdctnmn27HpxpZ0Nww?si=Hc8NvNXAQbm-JUEXKfU-Qw

On Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/another-name-for-every-thing-with-richard-rohr/id1452609613?i=1000430498126

Pastor Jeff will be facilitating these online small group discussions.

Tom Franklin will be our technical host with the sign ups.

To participate, register by going to our Eventbrite page and reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/richard-rohr-another-name-for-everything-discussion-group-tickets-827709450247

This Sunday’s 10:00 a.m. service the Covenant Choir will sing Karen Marolli’s Be Still.' Join us!

The Ukulele Orchestra will next practice together on Saturday, February 24th at 10:00 a.m. online and in person. For more information contact Peter Hill, Director of Music Ministries at petepiano@mac.com

Church Office Administrative Assistant

The Chatham United Methodist Church is actively seeking an organized and detail-oriented Church Office Administrative Assistant to keep our church running smoothly and efficiently. This is a great opportunity to assist the church staff, congregation and ministries with its diverse activities and provide general administrative support on a part time basis (22 hours/week).

Applicants should possess strong communication and recordkeeping skills along with financial and light bookkeeping skills to assist the Financial Manager. Solid computers skills are also required- working knowledge in Word, QuickBooks, and Excel. This position will also support the Community Relations & Communications Coordinator with the church's interface with outside groups and the greater community. Resumes may be sent to our church office at Chatham UMC, 460 Main Street, Chatham NJ 07928, or to our Office Manager at csmith@chathamumc.org. For more information about our church please visit: www.chathamumc.org

Ministry Opportunity at CUMC!

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is looking to hire a Director of Children's Education and Youth Ministry. This is a part time job of 25-27 hours per week, with salary commensurate with experience.

Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone you believe may be interested in this position and in becoming a part of the new thing that God is doing here at CUMC!

Click here for job description.

Questions, interest, and resumes can be sent to:

Rev. Jeff Markay, Senior Pastor

460 Main Street

Chatham, NJ 07928

www.chathamumc.org

revjmarkay@earthlink.net

office: 973-635-7740

Altar Flowers

The flowers in the chancel on

Sunday, February 11th

were given to the glory of God and in celebration of the 65^th wedding anniversary of

Bill and Marion Williams

~Marion Williams

Pancake Supper

Here are some pictures of our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Special thanks for Chef Carl Andreassen for making such delicious pancakes, syrup, ham, fruit and drinks.

This dinner was a fundraiser for the 2024 RISE Mission Trip to make homes safer warmer and dryer. We collected $250! The Hansbury Team has bragging rites for the rest of the year as their team finished first in the pancake races. We ended the night with a Lenten ritual of burning the palm leaves from last year’s Palm Sunday, from which we made the ashes for Ash Wednesday. Each of us received a “Shrove” with a special message for a Holy Lent written on it.

Thank you to those who made soup/chili for our first ever Souper Bowl Fundraiser for the Ministries of Chatham UMC! It was a wonderful success. Not only did we raise $591 dollars towards our budget, but we enjoyed feeding each other, sharing recipes, and getting to know each other through this delightful process. We sold out of soup quickly!

When would you like to have another soup/chili fundraiser?

Below are some pictures of the team that sold the soup after church on February 11, 2024: (left to right) Kelly, Chris, Dave, Becky and Hal

Letters of Appreciation Received

CUMC Food Pantry

Bagged Lunches

Last weekend we welcomed a den of young boy scouts who worked hard to decorate over 100 paper bags and fill them with lunch goodies. They were given a tour of the Food Pantry and store room and learned about how it operates and who we serve. The bagged lunches will be given out at Wednesday's food distribution.

Thank You, Boy Scouts!