Please know our church and facilities remain closed due to the attempt at physical distancing to curb COVID-19.
Important News
Online Christmas Eve Service will air on our Chatham UMC website, Facebook page, and YouTube Channel at 12Noon on December 24, 2020. The service will feature videos filmed at the homes of 40+ members of our church, helping to tell the story of Jesus birth, as well as sharing the light of Christ. You will be able to view it anytime after that. Feel free to share the link with friends or family who can’t get out to church, or who don’t have a church.

Outdoor Christmas Eve Service is tentatively scheduled for December 24th,
at 5PM in our back parking lot.
People will be encouraged to stay in their cars, tune in to our Chatham UMC Facebook page for a live broadcast, listen in from their car radios to an FM station that will be broadcasting our brief outdoor worship service, or crack the windows of their cars and listen to the service through our loud speakers. It will be a brief, masked, socially distant, holy experience with some scriptures, a message, the soft music of Silent Night played by guitars as we pass the light of Christ. At the end of our 20-25 minute service, people will be invited to get out of their cars, take a candle and share the light of Christ from a safe distance from one person to the next. If you would like to bring flashlights to bring light into the night sky, you are welcome to do that too. Updates about the service will be communicated on our website. Please log on before coming to the back parking lot on Christmas Eve. www.chathamumc.org
A Message from The Stewardship Committee:
On behalf of the Stewardship Committee, Thank You to all who submitted a 2021 Pledge Card. If you did not receive the letter and pledge card, please go to the CUMC website, www.chathamumc.org and click on Worship & Ministries and then click Stewardship. Click Here Now for a direct link to the page. Stewardship information is available there for you to review and print. 
An Update on 2020 Pledges and Giving:
As we close out 2020, our pledges and giving are significantly under budget by at least $60,000. There is an urgent need for you to bring your gifts and offering up to date so that we can cover current expenses. Thank you for being one in ministry of the faith-filled, generous people at CUMC. 

Faithfully, The Stewardship Committee- Doug Bryant, Ronald Yarger, Katie Hill, Hal Burlingame and Edit Ostrom
Coming Soon...
Blue Christmas~
an Online Worship Service of Comfort and Hope
A Blue Christmas Service is a time to acknowledge the feelings that surrounds Christmas for some of us, a time to remember the reason for those feelings, and a time to offer those feelings to God. This service traditionally offers a haven for people who desire a special touch from God during the holidays, and promises to be a time of quiet reflection, candle lighting, readings, music, and prayer. In this most challenging of years, we invite you to join us through a special online service of comfort and rest.
UPDATE: The link to view this service will be emailed out within the next two weeks.
You may view this service on Facebook, YouTube, and our Website.
Blue Christmas Service is hosted by CUMC’s Congregational Care Ministry Team.
Advent Small Groups
All Are Invited to attend one of our 3 Online Advent
Small Group Discussions.
We’re delighted to offer an opportunity to grow in faith by being part of a virtual small group on Sundays and Mondays.
We have two topics to chose from this year.
Incarnation: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, by United Methodist pastor Rev. Adam Hamilton.
  • Sundays 11:00 AM (Facilitated by Janice Szarko and Ron Yarger) To join this group, please email Ron at ryarger@optonline.net
  • Mondays at noon (Facilitated by Associate Pastor Sharon Yarger) To join this group and receive the Zoom Invitation, please contact Pastor Sharon at scyarger@optonline.net

Incarnation books (both print and digital versions) may be purchased by clicking: https://www.cokesbury.com/Incarnation-1-2, or through amazon.com. Questions? Contact Pastor Sharon at the above email address.
Seeking Jesus, the Advent of Justice and Peace 
  • Mondays 7:30 PM on Zoom: (Facilitated by Simpson Seminarian, Alyssa Keifer) If you wish to receive the Zoom link to attend, sign-up here. If you have any questions, please email Alyssa agkeifer@gmail.com. We look forward to journeying with you!
This Week
The scriptures and prayers that are being shared were emailed earlier this week.
If you would like to be added to this list, please click here and let us know.
Thursday, December 10th
To view last night's Prayers Live @5 on Facebook Please Click Here. You don't need to be on Facebook to watch this link.
Sunday, December 13th
Online Worship Service
Third Sunday of Advent - Joy
We invite you to our online worship service. Service is posted weekly on Facebook, YouTube, and our Website by Saturday mornings.
If you would like to help create our Sunday online worship, please scroll down to CUMC Outreach and sign up today!
Sunday Zoom “Virtual Coffee & Conversation”
Join Us at 10:00am by clicking below:


Meeting ID: 680 233 812 Password: 015665

Sunday Advent Virtual Small Groups meet today at 11:00 AM.
Monday, December 14th Monday Advent Virtual Small Groups meet today at noon and 7:30 PM.
Wednesday, December 16th
Prayers Live at Five on Facebook
All are invited to tune into a brief Facebook Live event each Wednesday at 5:00 pm. If you have prayer requests that you would like lifted up, you can type them into the comments section of the FB Live event or you can email them to Pastor Jeff at revjmarkay@earthlink.net.
Youth and Kids News...
Sunday School welcomes new friends to join our active groups during AdventZoom log-in info for the following online classes will be emailed at the end of each week. If you would like to be added to the distribution group or have questions about which class is right for your children, please email Karen at
FamiliesThis week is the Third Sunday of Advent. With your family, light the third candle of your Advent wreath. You are encouraged to follow the daily devotions in the Wonders of His Love family devotion booklet. Whether you do this first thing in the morning, before dinner or at bedtime, it will only take a few minutes but will greatly enhance your journey to Bethlehem and preparedness for the rebirth of our Savior. (Families with only high school youth, use the Incarnation devotion booklet emailed last week.)

PreK / Early Elementary Sundays at 9:30am on Zoom. Last week we lit our Advent wreaths and we learned the meaning in names and that one of Jesus’ names - Emmanuel - means “God is with us.” This week in class we’ll light the third candle on our Advent wreaths. Our theme: Repent – John the Baptist Helps Us Prepare for Jesus and we’ll read the story from the Gospel (Good News) of Mark of how Jesus’ cousin John helped people get ready to follow Jesus – kind of like we are preparing in this season of Advent! Following Jesus, then and now, means we can repent and ask God for forgiveness when we make mistakes. That is good news!  

Submerge (4th-8th grade) - Sundays at 10:30am on ZoomThis week in class we’ll light the third candle on the Advent wreath. Then we’ll take a deeper dive into the story of Joseph, dreams and “what’s in a name?” Since the name “Jesus” means ‘God helps’ or ‘God saves’ but was also a somewhat common name at the time, does that indicate both his divine purpose and his common humanity? Have your Bible handy.

High School Discussion: Sundays at 11:45am on Zoom. For the remaining weeks of Advent we will work through the youth version of Adam Hamilton’s book “Incarnation – Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas” and examine the question “Who is Jesus?” Messiah, Lord, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Savior... What do these names tell us about who Jesus is and how can this make a difference to our understanding of Christmas 2020? This week’s chapter is entitled: Emmanuel in the Midst of a Pandemic.

ALL YOUTH (JYF and SYF) – Christmas mission activityObviously we can't go caroling this year (viral spread is especially bad when singing) so instead let's spread some Christmas cheer by delivering poinsettias. On Sunday, Dec. 13, we'll meet at the church at 3:00pm to pick up the poinsettias and cards to deliver. Now, again, because of the virus, we can't pile in the van so we will need people to provide their own transportation. Once our deliveries are complete, we'll meet back at the church parking lot for some socially distanced hot chocolate. We should be done by about 5:30pm.
Music News...
The Chatham UMC Ukulele Orchestra will meet for their next sing and play-a-long on Saturday, December 12th at 11:00 a.m.! For ukulele music and/or more information please contact Peter Hill at petepiano@mac.com.

CUMC Musicians will host a Christmas Zoom Sing-A-Long on Sunday, December 20th at 4:00 p.m. Join us for a time to sing hymns and songs of the season. To lead a song or for the Zoom information contact, Peter Hill at petepiano@mac.com.

If you are interested in being an online part of our other music groups: Youth Musicians, Praise Band, Covenant Choir, Wind Ensemble, Wesley Ringers, and Ukulele Orchestra, all are invited! Our online music program welcomes musicians from New Jersey and the wider world.
United in Prayer
You are invited to participate in some contemplative practices and prayer by clicking on the link to our Chatham UMC Facebook page:
Prayers lifted on December 9, 2020
For those who want to join hundreds of others who have been praying for the following people and situations, keep reading, and thank you.

Intercessory Prayers emailed or shared with us this week:
A Time of Silence together...
  • For John S. taken to the emergency room today with complications from Covid.
  • Anna, Joe and family as they deal with covid
  • For Rich with Covid and Shawn as she cares for him.
  • For Gary and Alison and their family as they slowly recover from covid.
  • For the millions infected with covid and those who are caring for them.
  • For Elise who is hospitalized in Nashville, and undergoing tests. Bless Elise and her family as they care for one another, and bless the doctors and nurses with wisdom, insight, and compassion.
  • For Sandy, who is living with stage 4 laryngeal cancer. Bless his family, and the doctors and nurses who are caring for him.
  • For Joann P. as she goes through rehabilitation after spinal surgery
  • For Mary Lou K, recovering from a broken bone and other complications
  • For Barbara’s Mother Jo, living with dementia and other complications. We give thanks for the gift of music that gives her moments of joy, memory and connection.
  • For Jana, battling cancer in Texas, and for her husband Tom, and their daughter Jacqueline as they care for her.
  • For the life of Frank Walters who entered Life Eternal this week. And For his Aunt Audrey and his Mother Katherine who are grieving his death and celebrating his life, that in your love has no end.
  • For the life of Sylvia Frank who died Thanksgiving Week. Bless her husband Daniel who grieves her death and gives thanks for her life, that in Christ lives on.
  • The life of Rev. Alfred Johnson, who served the Clinton Presbyterian Church in Newark. Bless the seeds of faith he sowed in his ministry and bless all who grieve his death and celebrate his homecoming into your loving arms.
  • Bless Arthur with your healing touch.
  • Bless Audrey with your healing touch.
  • Bless Keith with your healing touch as he recovers from back surgery, and bless Veronica as she cares for him.
  • For Ginny K as she prepares to make the passage from this world into the next.

If you have people and situations that you would like lifted up in prayer, please email them to: revjmarkay@earthlink.net and indicate whether you want the prayers to be confidential, or shared with the greater Chatham UMC community.
CUMC Outreach
Volunteers are always needed
A new way to help our Wednesday Community Food Distribution!

This 2020 Holiday Season, please remember to support our local businesses and restaurants. A great way to do this is by purchasing a $25 gift card from a local vendor; we will collect and distribute these gift cards to our neighbors in need during our weekly food distribution. Please mail all gift cards to the church office or hand deliver to us on Saturday, December 19th from 10:00 - 12 noon in the CUMC parking lot behind the church.

Additional information can be found on the flier to the right.
Pop Up Food Pantry 
Take what you need or leave what you can at our two pantry shelves. The shelves are now located across from the CMP Playground and are winter ready!
Help keep our distribution sustained:


We Need Your Help!
We’re reaching out to all church members for pre-recorded Gospel readings through November. (Please remember to film Sunday’s Gospel message by the previous Tuesday!)
Click Here to Sign Up for Your Slot Please note that dates are listed as Tuesdays on our Sign Up Genius because recordings are due on Tuesday.
If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Babbitt at bbabbitt@optimum.net or Jeff Markay at revjmarkay@earthlink.net
Bread Ministry: If you would like to be involved in our Bread Ministry, please contact Edit Ostrom at: nyuszi@mac.com or
Communities of Care do you wish to receive a call, a text or an email from someone at the Chatham UMC community? Please email the church office by clicking here.
We offer links to resources you may need to help you or your loved ones through this "storm" of Covid-19. Because CUMC has always been a loving community of dedicated ministry, we know you are also seeking ways to give back to those in need.
All submissions for next week's CUMC Weekly E-news are due by Tuesdays, 2:00 PM. Submissions may be emailed to Eileen Ruggiero.
460 Main Street
Chatham, NJ 07928
(973) 635-7740
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