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Letter From the Pastor

Envisioning Our Future Together

As the new year was coming around, I had been reflecting on some of the things we could do as a congregation to help us start on a more positive and reflective note. There have been so many things happening in our country and world that I felt I needed to speak about them, but more importantly, I needed to help us through our own discernments and circumstances. In a conversation with Wanda, over the Christmas holiday, she gave me the idea of addressing things people need to let go of. So, I came up with a simple question: What do we need to hold onto, and what do we need to let go?

As you know that question shaped our recent sermon series. It was my attempt to help us discern what truly gives life and what drains us from it. The series was an invitation to renew our minds, our hearts, and our shared vision as a church. Of course, there is so much more to celebrate in our church’s life right now. Our Thrift Shop Team is preparing for a grand opening in February. We are currently awaiting the architect’s plan for preparing the Wesley House, and we are looking forward to sharing more as the vision takes shape.

We recently gathered a group of church members as an Emergency Readiness Team, to begin the work of creating a plan for emergencies and crisis. One of the key tools in this effort will be our church app, which will serve as a primary way to communicate quickly and effectively with the congregation. I do want to say that I am grateful to the people who have taken the lead on this effort, [thank you Lianne and Dianne] especially the one person who even before we had this in mind, anonymously donated funds to make this happen. 

Our Social Justice Team continues to build meaningful partnerships in our wider community. Following up with the creation of the Falmouth Interfaith Collaborative on Homelessness this past October, they convened faith and nonprofit leaders to explore concrete ways we can continue to respond to the current homelessness crisis. One beautiful outcome of this collaboration has been the Monday Breakfast, a simple but powerful act of hospitality and solidarity with those in need.

Meanwhile, our Worship Ministry Team is already preparing for Lent. They will be shaping our worship services based on a series by Marcia McPhee titled “The Way,” inspired by the 2010 film with the same name. Our goal is to invite us to reflect on discipleship as a lived journey, marked by grace, struggle, hope and transformation.

On another note, in an effort to be more transparent about our life together, you should know that the Leadership Team has approved the church budget, though we did not fully meet our financial goal. To balance the budget, we may need to draw from our reserves. But this is not a crisis, it’s a reminder that sustaining the many aspects of our church ministry requires our shared commitment, generosity, and a long-term vision. Which leads me to encourage those of you who are not yet serving in any particular mission or ministry to get involved. We continue to need people to serve on several teams, including Spiritual Growth, Finance, and Family Ministries. These are not just positions to fill—they are opportunities to shape the spiritual and practical future of our church.

I believe this season is calling us not only to maintain what we love, but to imagine what God might be calling us into next. The future of this church will not be shaped by one voice or one group, but by our shared prayer, discernment, generosity, and service. Last but not least, in a week, we will be welcoming new members into our church. I hope that we can each show them what it means to be a part of a community that welcomes, loves, serves and leads others to an encounter with Jesus Christ.  Let’s continue to hold on to what gives life. Let’s have the faith to let go of what no longer does. And let’s envision—together—the future God is unfolding among us.



In Christ,

Pastor René

The office will be closed from February 18th to February 24th.

Voicemails left on the church phone number will not be heard until 2/29.

If something is urgent please email the office and Lyndsey will respond when she is back on the 24th.

What an exciting time it is at John Wesley UMC! We’ve had the joy of welcoming several new families and their little ones into our church family over the past couple of months.

Will you please join the team who help care for our little "lambs"? You can assist with Sunday School or volunteer in the nursery. If you’re interested, please reach out to Lyndsey in the Church Office so we can get you set up with a CORI check, and don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss how you'd like to interact with our children and their families. 

For our current CORI’ed volunteers, the Nursery sign-up sheet is waiting for your name at the Connect desk! I know committing weeks in advance can feel like a tall order, but if you could sign up a week or two ahead, it will help our greeters and Family Ministry Team know who to expect when our visitors arrive. 

If you’re looking for a simple yet meaningful way to engage with our kids, check out the question posted on the bulletin board at the end of the Fellowship Hall. Your thoughts will spark delightful conversations as we dive into the lessons together! Let’s make this a fantastic experience for our little ones and their families!

Thank you

Amy Clatanoff Brown 

Email: amyclatanoffbrown@gmail.com

Where has the time gone? It feels like we’ve just wrapped up Advent—and suddenly, Lent is upon us.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18. We’ll mark the start of the season with a 12:00 PM Noon Service in the Chapel.

Later that night from 5PM to 7PM, we will have a simple soup supper and movie night centered on our Lenten theme, "The Way". We’ll begin our Lenten journey by watching "The Way", starring Martin Sheen. The film will be shown in four parts, with reflections from Pastor René at each segment. The evening will include the Imposition of Ashes.

Please RSVP to Dianne Belamarich at the CONNECT Desk, via email at

dianne@johnwesleyumc.org. Please be sure to tell me how many members will be attending.

In Peace,

Dianne

Would you like to honor a loved one or give thanks for a special blessing? You are invited to place flowers on the altar for someone or something meaningful to you. The cost is $60, and you are welcome to take the flowers home after the service. Envelopes and forms are available on the door across from the sanctuary entrance. Simply fill one out, place it in the offering plate, and don’t forget to write your name on the poster on the door.

Spiritual Growth ~ Jenn Linton

LENT IN PLAIN SIGHT; A devotion through ten objects

Monday Evening's

February 16 – March 30 at 6:00 PM

Join us on Monday evenings at 6:00 PM from February 17 through March 30 for a meaningful Lenten book study on Lent in Plain Sight by Jill J. Duffield.

In this Lenten devotion, Duffield invites readers to slow down and reflect on ten ordinary objects that Jesus would have encountered on his journey to Jerusalem—dust, bread, the cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and stones. Through Scripture, prayer, and thoughtful reflection, each week focuses on a different object, uncovering its deeper meaning within the biblical story of Jesus’ final days.

From Ash Wednesday to Easter, Lent in Plain Sight encourages us to open our eyes, hearts, and lives to the presence of God’s kingdom in the everyday. All are welcome to participate in this reflective and enriching Lenten journey.

GIVE IT UP; A lenten study for Adults

Tuesday Morning's

February 17 – March 31 at 10:00 AM

Engage in spiritual practices and grow in faith during Lent 2026 with Give It Up!, a seven-session Bible study designed to help prepare your heart as you journey through the Lenten season and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This study includes one session for each Sunday in Lent and one for Easter Sunday. Each session features a key Scripture passage, a brief reflection connected to the weekly theme, discussion and reflection questions, a focus for the coming week, and a closing prayer.

Give It Up! invites participants to deepen their faith, reflect intentionally, and walk thoughtfully through Lent with others in community.

Thrift Shop News

Volunteer Update, Orientation and Next Steps! Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Volunteer Orientation. We had a great turnout, engaging conversations and very constructive sharing.

Missed Orientation? If you couldn't make it, please see Cynthia Syverson Mercer or Dianne Belamarich to get a copy of the Volunteer Handbook or a brief synopsis of what was covered.

Interested in joining us? If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Cynthia or Dianne to get started. The Thrift Shop meeting will be Friday, February 6 at 10am at the Wesley House. This was due to the extreme cold and for everyone's safety. 

Building Progress: We recently met with the architect regarding our space and hope to have more to share soon.  

Please keep this mission in your prayers as we move forward. We truly appreciate your ongoing support.

With gratitude, 

Cynthia on behalf on the entire Thrift Shop Team

Men's Breakfast ~ Matt O'Connor

Women's Breakfast ~ Carolyn Reynolds

Coffee Hour Fellowship

Join us after worship for Coffee Hour—a wonderful time to connect, catch up, and enjoy fellowship together. We’re thankful for all the volunteers and teams who make this time possible!

Hospitality will be covering Coffee Hour throughout the month of February, and we are inviting parishioners to help make this time of fellowship welcoming and enjoyable for everyone. Christine is in Florida for the season, so Maryellen is kindly requesting volunteers who are not currently serving on a ministry team to take one week in February. Families are encouraged to consider partnering together to host a week if that works better for you. Hospitality will be happy to assist and coordinate as needed. Maryellen will ensure there is enough cream, juice, cheese, and crackers, and she is also happy to bring in a dish or two to help support our hosts. If you are able to help with a week in February, please consider signing up — your participation is greatly appreciated and helps strengthen our community.


Thank you for your generosity and support!

The new year is in full swing, and we’re happy to take a moment to shout out to some

“Stewards in Action.” We proudly recognize the Wesley House Thrift Shop Volunteer Team. When the decision was made in mid to late 2025 to open a thrift store in The Wesley House, this growing, dedicated team stepped forward with enthusiasm and

commitment. They have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to turn that vision

into reality, offering their time, energy, and hearts in service. Way to go team!

For updates on their opening schedule, visit the church website and click on the “Community Service” tab, followed by the “Thrift Shop” tab.

Invitation and Connection ~ Lianne Carbone

We continue to be delighted by the number of people using and enjoying the new church APP. (johnwesleyfalmouthconnects - in your smart phone app store). The calendar feature may be the best part.  Slowly that calendar will have sign-up sheets for events embedded right in the event on the calendar. There is also Bible Reading and sermons to listen to and much more. You may notice that there is an "APP tip of the week" in the bulletin, but you can always stop by the Connect Desk during coffee hour for assistance and tips. 

We are having our first ever Newcomers Gathering on February 8th! 32 people will be invited. These are people who are new to us during the last year, some of whom have contacted us via the website.  

We hope your 2026 is going well so far.  As always, we'd love to have you join our team. There are various ways to do so. Come see us at one of the desks!

Outreach and Missions ~ Donna Fish

Each month our team discusses the many ways we can support missionary work locally and internationally. We update our Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Hall to show various missions including Thank You Letters. Posted are new updates from two Missionaries our team and church support, Allison Deyo and Dr. Bella.

We are looking for a gently used suitcase to help transport donated goods to Africa with Dr. Bella in the New Year. If you have a suitcase you no longer need and would be willing to donate, please let us know. Thank you for your support!

All are welcomed to our meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 2:00 pm in the Fitzgerald room.

If interested or willing to join our team please contact any member of our Team:

Marge Dean, Penny Dean, Kate Finemore, Tracy Jackel, Nancy Peterson, Marie Syverson, Anne Tupper, Bonnie Valade, and Donna Fish, Chairperson

Changing our World for February is Belonging to Each Other (BTEO). BTEO is an organization what provides housing for the homeless during the winter months. Additionally, they provide meals to the homeless who are housed in a local motel in the winter during freezing temperatures.

Thank you for all your contributions to all our Changing Our World programs. Please review the bulletin board and learn how your Mission Dollars are spent.

As always, the box for food donations is in the Fellowship Hall near our Bulletin Board. Please donate food for the Falmouth Service Center on Gifford Street by placing your donations in the box.  The food most needed for the month is posted on the box.

Someone would like to recognize

Russ Brown as their "Person of the Year" for his heartfelt act of kindness. 

Russ was placing a sign on the door of the church to let everyone know the Monday Morning Breakfast was cancelled due to the weather conditions. Four people were there to come to the table for a breakfast. Russ removed the sign and led them into the hall and seated them and then Russ went into the kitchen and prepared a great breakfast for all of them. WOW - God Bless You Russ - You are a gift to our church and THANK YOU !!!!

The Monday Craft Group will be having their first get together the first Monday of March. 
We will meet in the Fitzgerald Room at 1:00PM. 
We will discuss what sold and what we could do for the coming year. Please join us.

Any questions, please see Marge Dean, Cynthia Smith or Linda Duane.

CALL FOR ARTISTS

Artists of all ages and abilities are invited to be part of The Art of Kindness — a non-juried art exhibition reflecting Hope, Love & Joy!

Categories of artwork accepted: Painting • Photography • Ceramics • Sculpture • Fiber • Mixed Media & more

Artwork Drop-Off: March 6 | 2–7 PM

Opening Reception: March 7 | 5–7 PM

$5 submission fee | Limit 2 pieces per artist

Come share your creativity and help spread kindness through art. All are welcome!

Wednesday Prayer Group 

On Wednesdays at 11am, there is a prayer group to pray for those who would like to have prayers for themselves or others. If you are interested in joining as a prayer group member or have prayer requests, contact the pastor or the church office.

Prayer Chain

If you are interested in joining in praying for others, contact Karen Camp at 508-737-1636 

or nerakpmac13@gmail.com.

This is an email confidential prayer chain list of 18. The prayer requests are sent out, and the team prayer warriors are asked to pray for those requests for the whole month. 

Please pray on it to see if this is a way in which you can serve our Lord.

Prayer Team

If you are interested in joining in praying for others, contact Karen Camp at 508-737-1636 

or nerakpmac13@gmail.com.

The Lord said that wherever 2 or 3 are gathered …

On the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month, there is a prayer team to pray for those who would like to have confidential prayers for themselves or as proxy for others. The teams are usually up at the front on the pulpit side by the wall. The prayers continue for the week.

Prayer Box

Located under the TV on a table in the narthex is a prayer box that is available to you for which you can make a prayer request.

Trustees   

Trustees maintain the physical assets of JWUMC. Each Sunday after church, a trustee secures the doors, closes the doors, makes sure that the lights are off, and checks the water level in the chapel.

If you are leaving the church, please feel free to close the fellowship doors, sanctuary doors, Sunday School wing doors, and the library doors. This is a fire prevention task and is encouraged.

The Trustees’ bulletin board (near the kitchen) shows some of the recent accomplishments. Currently, some projects are in process, but we will let you know when they are completed!  

Christmas Thoughts on Trustees:

When you think of the nativity story, you don’t always think of all the trustees that were needed. There are lots of people in the background that just take care of things, almost invisible. That’s just like our JWUMC trustees!

- Someone had to PAVE/prep the dirt path for Mary, Joseph, & the donkey. 

- Some carpenter had to build a manger. Somebody had to MAINTAIN it.

- There had to be somebody taking care of the animals & getting the fences UP. 

- Someone had to TAKE CARE OF the camels, as well as to LOAD & UNLOAD all the equipment/gifts. 

- Somebody had to MAKE the staffs for the shepherds so they could run swiftly through the night. 

- Did anybody think of the people that BUILT the stable or carved out the cave as well as MAINTAIN either/both (depending which way you believe). 

- We all know how much work it is to MAINTAIN a building. 

- The trustees probably had to put the tents UP & DOWN each time there was a census to be taken. 

- Who was working to set up torches & CANDLES so that the guards could let all the weary travelers get safely through the city? 

- Somebody was preparing the food, but you know it was the trustees who were SETTING UP & PUTTING AWAY the tables, chairs, benches, and/or loungers. 

- Who were the trustees making sure the guards had KEYS and LOCKED UP the city to secure it?

Anyway, you get my drift, my point. Trustees are very important! On behalf of the JWUMC congregation, WE thank all of YOU TRUSTEES VERY MUCH!

- Karen Camp 

Card Ministry 

Happy birthday to you! There is a 2026 on the hospitality bulletin board in the fellowship hall for you to put your birthday on, if you haven’t already been receiving cards or are new to JWUMC. This is what is used to update the birthday card list. Thank you very much!

If you know of someone who’s ill, has lost a loved one, or could use a “thinking of you” card, etc.: let Karen Camp: 508-737-1636 or 

nerakpmac13@gmail.com. At JWUMC we like to care for each other, & cards are one way to do so. 

Greeters

“Hi! Good morning! Hello! Welcome! Thanks for coming to JWUMC! Would you like to know where anything is located?”  

Greeters are the first impression to our church. You can choose to greet monthly/seasonally. There is availability to pick which Sunday of the month works best for you. You could also choose to be a substitute. If you are interested in being part of the JW welcome, contact Karen Camp 508-737-1636 or nerakpmac13@gmail.com.

Library

Read on! Enjoy some quiet time, read in the library, or take a book home to read, enjoy, peruse, share, or return!

Please feel free to use a Post-it note to write a review or comments & put it inside the book. It’s so great for the person that reads the book next.

There’s also a sample basket below the missions/music bulletin board to peruse.

Hallelujah! Praise our Lord! I have noticed so much that has been going on at our John Wesley United Methodist Church! 

I hope you were able to partake of some of the special January events.

Check out the back wall for some lovely attic treasures!

I can’t wait to see what Bible studies or book studies start up this winter and/or Lent! 

A big thank you to everybody who remembers to turn down the thermostats to 62° when the building is not in active use! I don’t have to tell you how expensive heating is!

Hey, did you hear that there were some openings on the altar guild?!?! If only I could reach the candles!

I wonder what the Sunday school is going to be doing &/or studying this winter??

You might want to check out the missions bulletin board to see all the thank you notes from all the organizations to whom we have donated. Most of the thank you notes/letters are very heartfelt and have a personal note. You can also read Allison‘s newsletter if you don’t get it your own email.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have a fabulous & blessed February!

In Christ, 

Your JWUMC mouse

Birthday Wishes for February: 

Let us celebrate life among our church family.

 ~ 4^th Dee Francis ~ 7^th Fred Sivert ~ 9^th Colleen Barrows ~ 14^th Larry Ward ~ 18^th Linda Stivaletta ~ 19^th Penny Dean ~ 21^st Jan Dahl ~ 27^th Tim Cline



It's a great thing to have a birthday, a gift from God. Please give your birthday information by recording it on the calendar in the Church Office or emailing the church office.