Weekly News & Updates


February 16, 2023

Prayers Lifted on Sunday, February 12, 2023

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


  • Of Healing for Karen S. who is having surgery
  • Of Healing for Joe's sister, Lorraine, who is suffering from cancer

Announcements

Community Relations and Communications Coordinator 

We are actively seeking to fill a staff position that requires strong communications, relationship and organization skills. This position is part of a team that keeps our church running smoothly, efficiently, and with a clear motivation to welcome all people.

The role involves communications via e-newsletters and print media with the congregation and greater community. The community relations tasks involve coordination with outside organizations wishing to use the church facilities and volunteers who support the community food ministry.

This part time position (22 hours/week) also requires the ability to use social media and Microsoft Office. The position is part of a three-person office staff team that often shares tasks. Resumes may be sent to our church office at Chatham UMC, 460 Main Street, Chatham NJ 07928, or to our Office Manager at finmgr@chathamumc.org. For more information about our church please visit: www.chathamumc.org

Important Office Update

The church office will be closed the following dates:


  • Friday, February 17th
  • Monday, February 20th in observation of Presidents' Day
  • Friday, February 24th


We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause!

This Week and Beyond

Ash Wednesday


Ash Wednesday worship service and the distribution of ashes will be held in the Sanctuary at 7:30 PM on February 22nd.



Shrove Tuesday

Lenten Small Groups

All Are Welcome!

Lenten Small Groups

Begin Sunday February 26




Wherever you may be on your faith journey, during the season of Lent we invite you to connect with fellow pilgrims for conversation, study, prayer, and community in a Small Group. Groups will meet for six weeks to explore either the book and video The Difficult Words of Jesus by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine (Sundays at 11:15 am facilitated by Ron Yarger, Mondays at noon facilitated by Pastor Sharon) or Imago Dei: a Lenten Bible Study of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion using the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina (Wednesdays at 7:30 pm on Zoom facilitated by Pastor Sharon). Sunday and Monday groups will meet both in-person in the Asbury Room and on Zoom.  Dr. Levine’s book is available for purchase at cokesbury.com and amazon.com.  

 

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

Music News


This Sunday, February 19th’s 10:00 a.m. service will include the Covenant Choir singing Joel Raney’s We All Are One. This contemporary piece is an opportunity for singing friends to join the choir. If you would like to sing with the choir for this accessible anthem, please contact Peter Hill, music director at petepiano@mac.com.


The Ukulele Orchestra will next meet in-person and online on Saturday, February 25th at 10:00 a.m. in the Asbury Room and on Zoom. For more information contact, Peter Hill, music director at petepiano@mac.com.

Worhip for Children

Faith Formation (Sunday School) takes place on Sunday mornings at 11:15 for Kindergarteners and up!


Whirl Kids (K – 4th grade) Sundays at 11:15 am in Room 6.


Middle School (5th-8th grade) –Sundays at 11:15 am in the Library.  

High School Discussion – Sundays at 11:1am meet with David Gaitan (our Simpson seminarian) and Matthew Beland in the Wesley Room.

Questions?

Email Sharon Yarger at scyarger@optonline.net

or David Gaitán at dgaitan@drew.edu

More News

Book Review: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

By Charlie Mackesy


In this recent (2019) and charming book each of the characters in Charlie Mackesy’s book plays a role in supporting each of the others as they meet one another through a walk of life. The boy has many questions, while the mole – who is always ready to eat cake – is the voice of wisdom (as is the horse) for the young lad. “We often wait for kindness”, says the mole, “but being kind to yourself can start now”, adding “Often the hardest person to forgive is yourself.” The fox, hurt by life’s misfortunes, is largely silent, but rescues the mole when he falls into a creek and is almost swept away. In like fashion the horse rescues the boy when he falls off the swift-running horse.

 

Issues of loneliness, fear, courage, and sadness are addressed throughout the story. “What is the bravest thing you’ve ever said?”, asks the curious boy. “Help”, replies the horse. “Asking for help isn’t giving up. It’s refusing to give up”, adds the horse. “Always remember you matter. You’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can.”

 

Mackesy, also an artist, infuses the book with many drawings that illustrate the adventures and camaraderie experienced by the troupe. They discover what it means to love, and that home isn’t always a place. The book will soon find a home in our CUMC library.

 

Reviewed by Ronald Yarger

Current Masking Status & Links

The CUMC Church Council has voted unanimously to follow the CDC Covid Data tracker for Morris County to evaluate weekly Covid levels. This tracker is used to guide us in determining our indoor mask usage for all CUMC functions. Covid levels and recommendations are updated weekly on Thursday nights by the CDC. These updates will be used at CUMC from Friday-Friday and will state if masks required (high level) or optional (medium/low). You may check to see what the current Morris County Covid levels are prior to coming by clicking below.

Check Covid Level Here

CUMC Rides for David

We are scheduling rides for our seminarian, David Gaitan, to get to and from church from his home in Madison. Please follow this link to sign up. Thank you for your help!

Online Worship Liturgists Needed!

Please sign up to read and record yourself reading scriptures, this will be a blessing to our online worshiping community. 

Sign up here.

Bread Ministry

The bread ministry is looking for more volunteers to assist in collecting bread from Panera. Please contact the church office for more information.


Communities of Care

If you wish to receive a call, a text or an email from someone at the Chatham UMC community. Please contact the church office.

CUMC Food Pantry

Help keep our food pantry and weekly distribution sustained.

 

Want to know more about our Pop Up pantry and how to help? Check out our webpage.


Or, if you wish, you can contribute directly online by visiting our donation page.

Community Updates

Masterwork Chorus Presents: PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE


Saturday, March 11, 2023 7:30 pm

Chatham United Methodist Church

Chatham, NJ



For more information visit their website.

Chatham United Methodist Church

460 Main Street

Chatham, NJ 07928

(973) 635-7740

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