Faith United Methodist Church http://chicopeeumc.org open minds, open hearts, open doors Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:41:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Weekly Invitation Jan 19 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-jan-19 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-jan-19#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:32:37 +0000 Pastor Heather http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=959 Dear Friends,
When my grandparents first got married, Grandma didn’t know how to cook.  At one of their first meals she served what you might call, “hockey puck rolls.”  They were hard as a rock.  But, as grandma tells it, you wouldn’t have known it  watching my grandfather.  A young man in love, he ate his dinner, and the hardened rolls, told her how delicious the meal was and discreetly talked with his mother about teaching Grandma to cook.  He affirmed her efforts and helped her improve with gentleness and love.  More than fifty years later, Grandma remembers that meal and Granddad’s affirmation.
I love a good compliment, don’t you?  Personal, professional, parental (I’m Ellie’s favorite mom) I love them all.  And while the best ones are thoughtful and heartfelt, I even enjoy the irrelevant, disingenuous compliments.  Who doesn’t enjoy affirmation?  Humans crave praise and when it’s not forthcoming, it’s all too easy to question our worth.   Am I smart enough, pretty enough?  Am I a good parent, a good cook, a good wife, and on and on and on.     This Sunday, as we continue to explore the basics of Christianity, we see how Jesus interacts with adulterers, tax collectors, and other sinners.
Who is good enough to hang out with Jesus?

I’ll see you on Sunday,

Pastor Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-jan-19/feed 0 Weekly Invitation January 4 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-january-4 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-january-4#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:49:52 +0000 Pastor Heather http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=951 Dear Friends,
This Sunday as we hear the story of Jesus’ baptism, we pause to remember our own. We remember the promises that were made for us, to us, and by us.  We also begin our new series: What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still be a Christian?  Based on Martin Thielen’s book of the same name, we’ll be exploring the most basic of Christian belief.  This week, I hope you’ll spend some time asking yourself, are there some beliefs that can be left behind by faithful Christians?
I’ll see you on Sunday,
Pastor Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-january-4/feed 0 Weekly Invitation Dec 21 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-dec-21 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-dec-21#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:34:50 +0000 Pastor Heather http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=939 Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the Old Man’s Hat.
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do.  If you haven’t got a ha’penny then God bless you.

Here we are, the week of Christmas.  How are you feeling?  Joyful, relieved (if you’re done shopping), anxious (if you’re not quite done), frustrated, overwhelmed, stressed, tired?  What about blessed?  Anybody feeling blessed this week?

One of the awesome privileges of my job is playing the part of Santa’s elf.  Sharing the gifts you bring with our Christmas Neighbors.    And every year, you blow me away with  your generosity.   This year, in spite of the recession, our church has helped thirteen families have a little brighter Christmas.  Gifts, toys, gift cards, financial support, it all comes together, and somehow multiplies to become more than enough.  Your generosity touched the lives of fifty people and that is amazing and inspiring.  Thank you for being the body of Christ.  Thank you for sharing what you have, so that others might have too.  Thank you for living the gospel, the good news, the ministry of Jesus.

The Christmas story tells us of young parents who didn’t have much, not even a room in an inn.   And yet, kings brought them gifts.  The Christmas story reminds us to place our trust in God, who loves us enough to become flesh and bone.   Come what may, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, freak snow storms, God is with us, Immanuel.  I’m feeling blessed!

Merry Christmas!
I’ll see you on Saturday and Sunday,
Pastor Heather

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What’s your favorite Christmas song?  For holiday cheer, as far as I’m concerned, nothing beats Burl Ives singing, “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas.”  As for carols, give me “O Come All Ye Faithful” with a packed sanctuary, a choir on fire, and a big, big organ.  But for understanding the power, the absurdity, the impossibility, the deep, deep love of of God made flesh, then I pick, “Mary, Did You Know?” If you don’t know it, or just want to hear again, check out this version, sung by fellow West Virginian, Kathy Mattea.   Mark Lowry’s words get to the heart of the impossible task before Mary.  The virgin birth may have been the easy part.  Mary was called, chosen, selected by God to mother the son of God.
This Sunday we hear again the Angel Gabriel’s message to Mary and her beautiful response.  “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1: 38  Come leave all the hustle and bustle, the long lines and to-do lists, and just soak in the mystery and the awesome depth of God’s love.

I’ll see you on Sunday,

Pastor Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-dec-15-2/feed 0 Weekly Invitation Dec 8 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weely-invitation-dec-8 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weely-invitation-dec-8#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:29:56 +0000 Pastor Heather http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=918 120 years ago, a group of committed disciples decided that Fairview, the northernmost neighborhood in Chicopee, needed a Sunday School.  The Sunday School grew.  Those that gathered determined that they needed a place to worship, to gather as a community of disciples.  A chapel was built and in time, the building we use today.   Our church has at times flourished and at times struggled.  There have been times of conflict, and times when the community came together to support one another, or meet a pressing need.  Through prayer, faithful discipleship, and sacrificial giving our church has grown and weathered the challenges of the last 120 years.

In 1953, with the appointment of Rev. Tom McKeown, our church had our first full time pastor.  During his ten years here, Tom and his wife Irma’s work with the youth group impacted our church in ways they couldn’t begin to imagine.  That youth group grew and became the leaders of our church today.  This Sunday, after 48 years serving in a variety of ministries, Tom returns to Fairview and Faith Church.  He’ll be preaching and staying for our potluck luncheon.

Come celebrate 120 years of ministry.  Come hear Tom preach.  Come for lunch.  Come home, to your church, for Christmas.

I’ll see you on Sunday,

Pastor Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weely-invitation-dec-8/feed 0 Weekly Invitation Nov 30 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-nov-30 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-nov-30#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:31:08 +0000 Pastor Heather http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=922   “Comfort, oh comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem…


-Isaiah 40: 1

This week, we hear a word of comfort from God.  Through Isaiah, God tells the Israelites “It’s time to come home.”  He tells those living in exile, afraid, broken, hopeless, desperate, there is reason to hope.  God, the great shepherd is in control.

Sometimes life is easy.  And sometimes, life is hard, really hard.  War, recession, cancer, depression, isolation, exhaustion, loss, death, burden upon burden…it can feel as if we face our mounting and seemingly unending trials alone.  This Sunday is for those who are struggling.  Come and hear a word of comfort, from God’s heart to your ear.  Come and be fed, on the word of life, and the bread and cup of blessing.

I’ll see you on Sunday,

Pastor Heather 

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-nov-30/feed 0 Weekly Invitation October 19 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-19 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-19#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:56:44 +0000 admin http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=898 Charge Conference is over! Last night’s meeting was productive, thought provoking, conversational, and believe it or not, we laughed together. There was humor at Charge Conference! Something was different last night. I’ll be sharing some of what we heard and shared next Sunday, October 30, including a message from our Bishop. Before then, if you want to see some of the decisions we made, and the slate of officers we elected for 2012, or the reports about all the awesome things that have been happening in our church, pick up a packet on the radiator by the front door. It’s full of important information and reason to celebrate. Thank you to those who were there, and especially those of you who cleaned up. Thank you to those who worked so hard all year. I’m eager to see what 2012 brings.

This week, we’ll be hearing from the 2011 Rural Mission Team in both Praise and Traditional Worship. The text comes from 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8. In verse 8, Paul tells the people of Thessalonica, We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did. In worship we’ll be hearing stories of how members of the Rural Mission team saw the gospel lived, and how they shared their hearts and lives with the people of South Carolina. Don’t miss it.

I’ll see you on Sunday,
Pastor Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-19/feed 0 Weekly Invitation October 6 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-6 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-6#comments Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:53:31 +0000 admin http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=894 This Sunday, we offer two unique worship opportunities. In our Praise Worship, we’ll be celebrating God’s furry and fuzzy gifts in our lives, with the Blessing of the Animals. At 8:30, bring any appropriately leashed or contained animals for a special blessing. Feel free to bring pictures of current and past loved pets, or symbols that remind you of them, collars, toys, etc. Every animal will be blessed by name. We’ll also be remembering pets we’ve loved and lost.

Then during Traditional Worship, we’ll hear from Emma Henry from the Hampden County Women’s Correctional Facility. She’ll be sharing with us about prison ministry. If you’re interested in this ministry, see me for an application for a background check, the first step in the process for joining our prison ministry team.

I’ll see you on Sunday,
Pastor Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-6/feed 0 Weekly Invitation October 10 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-10 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-10#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:54:29 +0000 admin http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=896 Dear Friends
Today kicks off a 10 day campaign highlighting some of the awesome ways the United Methodist Church is making a difference in the world. To find out more, check out 10-Fold. Just by clicking on the link each day, a dollar will be donated to the project of the day.

Sunday, as we prepare for CROP walk, we’ll explore Matthew 25 and Jesus’ reminder that every time we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked and visit the imprisoned, we’re showing our love for Jesus and our neighbor.

I’ll see you on Sunday,
Heather

]]> http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-october-10/feed 0 Weekly Invitation September 29 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-september-29 http://chicopeeumc.org/posts/weekly-invitation-september-29#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:52:22 +0000 admin http://chicopeeumc.org/?p=892 Dear Friends,
This Sunday, we celebrate World Communion Sunday, a reminder of our connectedness to Christians around the world. We also begin our “Month of Mission,” a reminder of our connectedness to God’s children around the world. Come feast and explore the seemingly simple concept of neighbor. Our scripture this week from Luke 10, invites us to reconsider the easy to quote but hard to live laws of God. Love God and love your neighbor.

We’re also entering the season of nominations, as we seek to discern who is called to the various ministries of our church. We’re not just filling slots, we prayerfully listening and looking for the right people, chosen by God, to lead our church. Is it you? I’m attaching a “nominations survey.” We’ll also be passing them out in church on Sunday. But if you won’t be in worship, or rather not think about it in worship, would you please take a moment to fill it out and send it back to me. You can also just send a regular email with the info. The survey describes each of our teams and committees in our new leadership structure, and asks your willingness to serve. There is no guarantee you will be asked to serve, and if you don’t fill it out, we’ll still call. So please spend some time in prayer, and let me know where you think God might be calling you to serve.

I’ll see you on Sunday.
pastor Heather

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