The Messenger

First & Wesley United Methodist Church

89 Center Street West Haven, Connecticut 06516

203-933-8795

February 2021

Recently, I watched on DVD an old movie, titled “Titanic.” The movie described a short period of time on a gigantic ship, but it provided me with a lot of meaningful moments. The ship, Titanic, began to sink after colliding with an iceberg, and the number of lifeboats was limited. Only a few people got into the lifeboats, leaving the others to die in the cold Atlantic Ocean. There was an argument among the people who got on a lifeboat: One lady insisted that they go back to save some who were dying in the cold sea, but most of them disagreed with her. The boat was too small to save all the people, and their lives were still not secure. They did not want to risk their lives. Yet, one boat did go back and rescue the

main female character.

The people in the lifeboat came back and saved a person and survived together. However, if someone must die to save a person in the ocean, who is willing to do that? While watching the movie, I imagined someone jumping into the freezing sea to save all the people who were dying. No one was able to save all the people, but God Himself who is almighty. Thus, God decided to come back and died painfully to save those who were dying in the freezing sea. When I was dying in a cold sea because of my sins, Jesus Christ came to me with a lifeboat. He rescued me, jumped into the sea, and died painfully. How great sacrificial love is!

For Christians, the concrete revelation of God is made in Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christmas (His birth) and Easter (His death and resurrection) are important and meaningful in Christianity. As Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas, so Lent is a time for Christians to prepare for Easter as in the early Christian centuries. Our Christian ancestors realized the grace of Jesus Christ and wanted to participate in his sufferings. At the beginning of the sixth century, out of desire to have forty days of actual fasting before Easter (Sunday being non-fast days), the fast began on the Wednesday of the seventh week before Easter; thereafter this Wednesday marked the start of Lent. The first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, derives its name from the ceremonial imposition of putting ashes on the foreheads of worshipers in the liturgy of the day, a rite that goes back to at least the tenth century. We begin the season of Lent on February 17th. As ashes are a symbol of purification and penitence, let us convert from our sins. Then, God will make us pure. Jesus Christ came back and saved us who were dying in a freezing ocean because of our sins. He jumped into the cold sea and died painfully for us. Because of his

sacrificial love, we were able to get on the lifeboat and be saved. During Lent, let us remember the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, share his sufferings, and convert ourselves from sins so that we may be well prepared for a joyful Easter. Amen. Sungmu Lee

Lectionary Readings for February 2021

February 7, 2021

• Isaiah 40:21-31 • Psalm 147:1-11, 20c • 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 • Mark 1:29-39

February 14, 2021 • 2 Kings 2:1-12 • Psalm 50:1-6 • 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 • Mark 9:2-9

February 21, 2021 • Genesis 9:8-17 • Psalm 25:1-10 • 1 Peter 3:18-22 • Mark 1:9-15

February 28, 2021 • Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 • Psalm 22:23-31 • Romans 4:13-25 • Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

NEW GROUP ~ BIBLE STUDY

Our zoom study begins on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 7:30pm with “ROMANS CHAPTER EIGHT”. A Four Session video-based study by Tom Holladay led by Pastor Lee. We will journey together to greater faith. The Four sessions will help us clearly see the journey from doubt to faith – from discouragement to hope – that God has for us.

Session 1: No Condemnation! Session 2: No Frustration! Session 3: No Desperation! Session 4: No Separation!

You are invited to join in and enjoy good discussion and fellowship. Everyone is welcome! If you would like a book please let Pastor Lee or the church office know so we can arrange to get you a copy. LENTEN BIBLE STUDY

The Wednesday Lenten Bible Study will begin on February 3rd at 7:30pm via Zoom. We will be using the book “FINAL WORDS from the Cross” by Adam Hamilton. In this book, Hamilton explores Jesus’ final words. Each chapter begins with the biblical account followed by a first-person story as might have been told from the viewpoint of one of the characters at the cross. Leading the group study will be Pastor Sungmu Lee (Chapters 1 & 6), Pastor Art Yost (Chapters 2 & 4) and Pastor Cynthia Dodd (Chapters 3 & 5). You are invited to join in and enjoy good discussion and fellowship. Everyone is welcome! If you would like a book please let Pastor Lee or the church office know so we can arrange to get you a copy.

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=64#hebrew_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=64#psalm_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=64#epistle_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=64#gospel_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=69#hebrew_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=69#psalm_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=69#epistle_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=69#gospel_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=71#hebrew_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=71#psalm_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=71#epistle_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=71#gospel_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=72#hebrew_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=72#psalm_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=72#epistle_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=72#gospel_readinghttps://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=72#gospel_oth_reading

First & Wesley United Methodist Church February 2021

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

All Worship Services and other church activities will be held only virtually (via Zoom conferencing video & call) until further notice. *Sunday Worship Service – Link: https://zoom.us/j/147691027 / Call-in: 1-646-876-9923 *Meeting ID: 147691027#

*Children’s Sunday School – Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89213099413 / Call-in: 1-646-876-9923 *Meeting ID: 89213099413#

*Monday Adult School – Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88207725653 / Call-in: 1-646-876-9923 *Meeting ID: 88207725653#

*Wednesday Group Study – Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81010488582 / Call-in: 1-646-876-9923 *Meeting ID: 81010488582# *Virtual Koinonia Café – Link: https://zoom.us/j/337822774 / Call-in: 1-646-876-9923 *Meeting ID: 337822774#

1 First Day of Black History Month 7p Monday Adult School

2

3 7:30p Lenten Group Study

4 10:30-11:30 Virtual Koinonia Café

5

6 11-12p Communion Elements & Ashes for Ash Wednesday Pick-up 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House 6p Virtual Game Night (Scavenger Hunt)

7 10:30 Worship & Communion Birthday/Anniversary Celebration 1p Children’s Sunday School 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House

8 7p Monday Adult School

9 7p Finance Meeting

10

11 10:30-11:30 Virtual Koinonia Café

12

13 10 Worship Committee Meeting 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House

14 Valentine’s Day 10:30 Family Worship Service 1p Children’s Sunday School 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House

15 Presidents’ Day 7p Monday Adult School

16

17 Ash Wednesday 7p Ash Wednesday Service (the same Zoom link & Call-in numbers as Sunday Worship’s)

18 10:30-11:30 Virtual Koinonia Café 6:30p Missions & Outreach Meeting

19

20 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House 6p Virtual Game Night (Scattergories) *Messenger Articles Due

21 First Sunday In Lent 10:30 Family Worship Service 1p Children’s Sunday School 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House

22 7p Monday Adult School

23 7p Trustees Meeting

24 7:30p Lenten Group Study

25 10:30-11:30 Virtual Koinonia Café

26

27 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House

28 10:30 Family Worship Service 1p Children’s Sunday School 10-4p Sock & Underwear drop-off for Columbus House

* For further updates, visit www.firstwesleyumc.org/calendar.

From the Layleader, Helen Smith

I have been attending the adult “Monday” school since we have been virtual. The book we just finished was “At the End of the Day, How Will You Be Remembered” by James W. Moore. It is a good book and I recommend it. When we were at the end of the book, the discussion we were having reminded me of the poem below. We all know the first part of this, but the second part is very powerful.

Prayer for Seren i ty God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did,

this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will;

so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen

Reinhold Niebuhr

Communion Element, Ashes & Envelope Pickup Saturday, Feb 6th, 11 am – NOON

When you come to pick up your elements for Sunday, come to the back of the parking lot. We will be stationed at the handicap lift to try to stay out of the cold. Also, you may pick up a small container of ashes for Ash Wednesday virtual service and your envelopes for 2021 for your offerings. Small Group studies:

Every Sunday – Children’s Sunday School, 1 pm Every Monday – Adult Sunday School, 7 pm Every Wednesday – Bible Study, 7:30 pm

Meeting reminders:

Worship committee - Saturday, Feb. 13th,10 am Finance committee - Tuesday, Feb. 9th, 7 am Trustees meeting - Tuesday, Feb. 23rd 7 pm

Fellowship: Every Thursday - Koinonia Café, 10:30-11:30 am Virtual Scavenger Hunt – Saturday, 6:00 pm – THIS IS FOR ALL AGES!

Virtual Scattergories Game – Saturday, 6:00 pm – THIS IS FOR ALL AGES!

Ash Wednesday:

This year we will have a virtual Ash Wednesday service on February 17th at 7:00pm over Zoom. Due to the pandemic, we will have individual 1 oz containers of ashes available for pickup, along with communion elements, on Saturday, February 6th between 11am-12pm. You may self-impose these ashes at the appropriate time during the Ash Wednesday service. If you have any questions you may contact the worship chair Christine Chan (203)927-4679, or our Lay Leader Helen Smith (203)444-2362. Virtual Choir:

Thank you to everyone who participated in the virtual choir music for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning services! I plan to continue doing virtual choir projects for upcoming services, so if you are interested in participating please feel free to join in the singing! The more voices we include, the better the sound! Upcoming services that will include virtual choir videos are Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, and Easter. Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and dedication! Christine Chan, Music Director

Game Nights, Saturday, February 20th 6-7:30 pm

We have had a lot of fun with our Christmas Scavenger Hunt and with our January Scattergories game. We would like to invite all who like to play games to join us in February for one or both of our planned game nights. Virtual Scavenger Hunt on February 6th at 6 pm. All ages are welcome - it is a lot of fun! If you have a house with more than one floor, position yourself so that when you are near your computer (starting position), you have quick access to what might be called out to find. The person who comes back to the computer screen first with the item gets 10 points, everyone else who comes back to the screen with the item gets 5 points. The one who gets the most points wins. Virtual Scattergories Game on February 20th at 6 pm. Again, all ages are welcome. You can join by computer, smartphone or regular phone. You will need a pad of paper, a pencil, and the lists in this newsletter. Households can work in teams. Below is a page of lists 7-12. Each round we use a different list and you will be given a different letter for each round to come up with answers that start with that letter. I will send out the link two days before that night and explain the rest when you join.

Ways to support the Church with no cost to you!

Amazon Smile

The church is now registered on Amazon Smile. Amazon Smile is a way for customers to support their favorite charitable organization every time they shop with Amazon. For the church to get the .5% from Amazon, make sure you start your shopping using https://smile.amazon.com/ch/06-0681807. If you have any questions, please contact Helen Smith. Stop & Shop Fundraiser (gift cards )

If you shop at Stop & Shop, please consider getting gift cards from Dave Smith (203-415-6092). Our church receives 5% of the value of the cards sold as a donation from Stop & Shop. Checks are made out to “Dave Smith”. ShopRite Fundraiser (gift cards )

This program is the same as our Stop & Shop program. The church receives 4% for each card sold. If interested, call Helen Smith at 203-444-2362. Checks made payable to “FWUMC”.

We appreciate your continued support!

Remember you would be spending money at these stores anyway and now the church can receive a percentage. Share with your family and friends this opportunity.

Adult Monday School

Class meets via Zoom each Monday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. (Check the church web site or e-mail announcements for the link.) We have enthusiastic, energetic, and enlightening discussions on topics designed to help us use our Christian faith in dealing with the challenges daily life brings. We have just started a four-part series on the parables of Jesus by the renowned pastor and author James W. Moore. The first section uses the book Jesus’ Parables of Grace. The class is open to anyone over the age of 0 and under the age of 275 that would like to join us. If you would like a copy of our study book or would like more information, please contact Thurmon Whitley, 203-877-6038. We look forward to seeing you. Average Weekly Church Attendance

2019 2020

November 65 59 December 64 60 Christmas Eve 2020 (6:00 p.m.) 78 Christmas Eve 2019 (4:00 and 7:00) 69 + 66 Christmas Morning 2020 (6:30 a.m.) 25 Christmas Morning 2019 (6:30 a.m.) 23

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/06-0681807

Our Church Facebook Page Do you know we have Facebook Page where we post our updates, share event details, and connect to our community? Check out our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/firstwesleyumc. Would you like our church to be more visible online? Our Facebook Page is a significant opportunity to open a digital front door of our church. Please visit our Facebook Page and click the “Like” button on the page. When you like our Facebook Page, you can follow our posts, boosting the visibility of our church. Also, your comments and shares of our posts with your social media friends will help increase our reach into our community and expand it. UMARMY 2021 We are putting together a UMARMY Local mission week in conjunction with Mary Taylor Methodist Church. We will be doing only outdoor projects in the Milford and West Haven area for families in need the week of 8/1-8/7. Participants will meet each morning at a designated parking lot at 9 AM to make sure they have what they need for the day and finish work at 3 PM. Participants will pack their own lunch. This will give everyone time to go home, shower and meet on Zoom for our worship for the day. Ages are if you are going into 7th grade – 99 years old. If would like to be part of this team or have any questions, contact Helen Smith at 203-444-2362 or drsmith@snet.net The Trustees met January 26th and approved a "Working Alone Policy" for people who are employed or volunteers who are working at the church or in the church. This is for your safety. If you have any questions, please call Will Arhin, Judy Jennette, Kathy Hulse, Abe McKim, Shelby Poe, Sungmu Lee or Laurie Simone, Helen Smith, or Jim Stuhlman. Thank you!

First & Wesley United Methodist Church Policy on Working/Volunteering alone in church

January 28, 2021

In order to keep our employees and volunteers safe, the church has created the following policy and procedure: When working or volunteering alone in the church building or grounds, individuals are required to notify a church leader of the arrival and departure of the individual from the church premises. This notification can be done via electronic means (phone, message, or e-mail.) Church leaders are the Lay Leader, any Trustee, Church Council Chair or Pastor. In addition, when doing work using a ladder or hazardous equipment, two people must be present in case of an emergency. Notification to Church leaders is optional.

2021 contact numbers

Helen Smith 203-444-2362 Layleader Jim Stuhlman 203-435-1790 Trustee Vice-Chair Peggy Jerrell 203-641-0929 Church Council Chair Sungmu Lee 631-456-1713 Pastor

http://www.facebook.com/firstwesleyumcmailto:drsmith@snet.net

February Birthdays

1 - John Paul Thompson 5 - Jeremy Soule 7 - Linda Kopec James Ewen 10 - Andy Whitley 11 - Ruth Kreyoh 17 - Stephen Baker Gregory Baker 18 - Ashton Danz 21 - Catherine Gigola 22 - Edward Sperry 23 - Brett Dzikas Karl Kiesinger 25 - John Bobko 26 - Jason Jerrell 27 - Ashley Hulse

February Anniversaries

17 - Lori and Paul Franson 21 - Florence and Joseph Dzikas

If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed please let the church office know so we can update our list and make sure you are not missed. If you would like to include someone for birthdays or anniversaries, please see below. Example- name change, address change, marriage, birth, death, etc. Email: firstwesleyumc@gmail.com or send to church office. Pastors Discretionary Fund: Please consider giving a “Love Offering” to Pastor’s discretionary fund. You may place your gift in the container on the back table of the sanctuary. If you wish to write check to the church, please write “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo section. Tell us if you have a member information change: example-name change, address change, marriage, birth, death, etc. Email: firstwesleyumc@gmail.com or send to the Church office.

Join us for Sunday School each Sunday at 1:00 on Zoom to learn about God’s love. We will listen to stories, make art projects, and spend time together on Zoom. Materials will be ready for you to pick up each Saturday. E-mail or call Gail Bartozzi (gbartozzi@yahoo.com or text (203)747-6039) to sign up for Sunday School or to find out more information.

The Craft Corner

We have some Get Well and Thinking of You cards. Contact Gail if you would like a card sent to someone or have questions about the group. You can call the church office or e-mail Gail at gbartozzi@yahoo.com .

Native American Pennies Collection We deposited over $180 for the Native American’s mission. Thank you to the donor who gave up their penny collection! Thank you, Walt & Myrna, for rolling up all those pennies! Thank you and keep collecting those pennies!

Have you visited our Church Website lately?

It is truly beautiful and informative.

The Church calendar is updated as needed. and you can check on dates and times of

meetings and events.

Website is firstwesleyumc.org

Check it out!

mailto:firstmailto:wesleyumc@gmail.commailto:firstwesleyumc@gmail.commailto:gbartozzi@yahoo.commailto:gbartozzi@yahoo.com

The Messenger First & Wesley United Methodist Church 89 Center Street West Haven, CT 06516 Phone (203) 933-8795 www.firstwesleyumc.org Email: firstwesleyumc@gmail.com Reverend Sungmu Lee “Sunday Worship Time: 10:30am (online only)"

The February Newsletter

mailto:firstwesleyumc@gmail.comhttp://www.google.com/imgres?q=book+and+cross&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=594&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=7eQ2kgBzVOCO5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.stmarknc.org/education.html&docid=TS-rcaXMK0Bp0M&imgurl=http://www.stmarknc.org/images/re_book_and_cross.gif&w=594&h=521&ei=Qil3T4vZBMTX0QG4nKyQDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=849&vpy=131&dur=121&hovh=210&hovw=240&tx=143&ty=112&sig=115861285821043934331&page=1&tbnh=117&tbnw=133&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0