August 27th, 2026

Church News

Summer Office Hours

Summer office hours are in effect (Mondays to Thursdays from 10am - 1pm; Fridays Closed)
Sept 20th Welcome Back Sunday (see poster below for details)
October 4th Mike Maguire's last Sunday at CUMC

Prayers from Sunday

For students, teachers and administrators as they prepare for the new school year.
With gratitude for those caring for and fostering shelter pets.
Of healing for Barb M. who has been hospitalized again and is now in rehab - Hal and Sue B.
For the healing and comfort of the family and friends of Karoline Heintz who died tragically this week - Ron
Of concern for people in between jobs and not knowing what their next steps should be.
Of joy and blessings for baby Lilly born on August 21st, and for her parents and extended family.
For all affected by wildfires, earthquakes and floods, and with gratitude for first responders.
Of healing for the Savarese family on the passing of Alastaire - Steve D.

This Sunday’s 10:00 a.m. service will feature members of the Ukulele Orchestra singing John Denver’s Perhaps Love. Join us!

Do you have a previously used saxophone, in good repair, that might like to find a new home at Chatham UMC?

Contact Peter Hill, director of music ministries at petepiano@mac.com

if have that you would like to donate.

All saxophones welcome: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone!

Moving On With Our Thanks

and Blessings

Sadly, Chatham UMC will say goodbye to Mike Maguire as our organist and accompanist on the first Sunday in October. Mike will be moving to NYC and taking courses in engineering. We will be very sad as Mike leaves us and we will greatly miss him, but we thank him for his seven years with us. Beyond his prodigious skills at playing both organ and piano in many styles, he has played bass, guitar, and even drums! Mike has also been an integral part of the Men’s Group, organizing and helping the group get together. We will schedule a time to celebrate Mike and wish him well on his new journey as we get closer to his last Sunday in his position.

Peter Hill, director of music ministry, and Hal Burlingame, chair of the SPRC, as well as the entire SPRC team, has met and has begun working on the effort to find a new musician to work with us. More info and news about the search process to come!

Thank you, Mike for sharing your music with us. We wish you all the best!

Library News

Dreams: God’s Forgotten Language

by John A. Sanford

We tend to overlook our dreams and their value, finding them fleeting and hard to understand. Often, our dreams appear as a jumble of events or people, and we struggle to make sense of them.

Dreams come from our unconscious self and are filled with symbolism. My early dreams, years ago, were in black & white and included only animals. Over time they began to appear in color and, eventually, they included people, some of whom I recognize. Sometimes, I’m able to remember them long enough to write them down, giving me a chance to think about what they mean. But, what about all the symbolism? That likely depends upon the dreamer. For me, vehicles (cars, buses, and trucks) represent relationships – objects that carry people in close proximity. Who’s in the driver’s seat? What kind of vehicle (relationship) is it, and what’s the condition of the vehicle?

Sanford makes a point of merging Christianity with psychology; is God speaking to us through the dream? By bringing dreams into consciousness, we bring something hidden within us into the light. Understanding our dreams helps us understand what we are wrestling with as well as issues important to us. And there may be recurring themes. Why do they recur?

Dreams and visions abound in the Bible. Heeding the message of a dream has saved lives (Jesus’ flight into Egypt, the Magi’s return home by a different road, and Joseph’s interpretation of dreams for Pharoah) and changed lives (after Jacob wrestles with God, his name and identity have changed).

Similarly, Jesus used symbolism in the telling of a parable (e.g., the sower spreading seeds). Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. How can you be born again? The early church recognized that God is the maker of all that is “seen and unseen” (the Nicene Creed). Symbols help us understand the feelings or issues that may elude us otherwise.

Sanford provides case studies of dreams and cites examples of dreams and visions in the Bible, always attempting to bring the message into light. “If we exclude our unconscious reality we become blocked and frustrated in our progress.” Dreams: God’s Forgotten Language was orignally printed in 1968 and reprinted in 1989, but it’s message, like Jesus’ parables, is timeless.

Reviewed by Ronald Yarger

Altar Flowers

The flowers in the chancel

this Sunday are

in loving memory of

Edwin and Ruth Hughes

Jan Dvorkin

Summer Worship at CUMC

in our (air conditioned!) Sanctuary

Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

Beginning Sunday, July 5, while Pastor Jeff is on Renewal Leave, our Associate Pastor, Rev. Sharon C. Yarger and retired UMC pastor, Rev. Dan Gepford will lead worship, preach and preside at Holy Communion (first Sunday of the month). Pastor Sharon will be highlighting various women in the Bible – from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament – and reflecting on how their voice and their stories can help us grow in our own faith. Rev. Dan Gepford will be considering unexpected aspects of Jesus’ parables, on the theme “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: Surprises Among the Familiar.” Peter Hill, our Director of Music Ministry, will be sharing his musical gifts and leading congregational singing, chime-playing, and various guest musicians throughout the summer.

We hope to see you there!

Rev. Jeff Markay is on Renewal Leave during the summer. The Chatham UMC Staff Parish Relations Committee is supporting the posting of previously shared messages that we think will be meaningful at this time. We'll begin posting new content again in mid September 2026 upon Pastor Jeff's return.

August 23, 2026

The Storage Unit Sermon: The wisdom and humor Jesus shared about possessions. (Filmed at a storage unit in Chatham NJ)

Click the link below to listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ6zWUu1ztw

Originally posted on July 31, 2022.