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The Family Circle A Publication of Fairview United Methodist Church

254 Robinson Street Binghamton, New York

607-724-6886 FairviewUMChurch1@gmail.com Website: www.fairviewumcbinghamton.wordpress.com

May 2017

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From Pastor Jan "Give thanks with a grateful heart!" We sing it but do we live it? My mother taught me the art of writing thank you notes. One time I admitted that I had forgotten to send a thank you note to a person for a gift. "Is it too late, I asked?" Her reply "It's never too late to offer thanks!" How often do you remember (or take the time) to tell people how much you admire or appreciate them? It is actually a random act of kindness that takes very little effort but is life giving to another. Richard Carlson says it's a gesture of loving kindness. It means that your thoughts are geared toward what's right with someone. You can even be gracious and compliment those you don't even know. The other day I was in a department store waiting in line at the cash register. The person in front of me was being very rude to the cashier. She was angry and loud and bordering on belligerent. Clearly the problem at hand wasn't the fault of the person waiting on her. The salesclerk remained calm and answered her with respect. She took all the time that was needed to help the woman solve her concern. When the woman left (finally) I moved to the counter and said "wow you handled that very well and kept your cool. I am impressed. Good job." She paused, then responded "wow no one has ever complimented me at this store before-thanks!" That compliment took about 30 seconds and who knows, maybe it helped a frazzled cashier have a little hope. So here's my challenge. For the month of May, seek ways each day to compliment someone on something. What do you admire? What great thing can you point to and celebrate? It can be someone close to you or someone you never met. May the Spirit of the living Lord lead us to chances to spread love through the land. Pastor Jan

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Leading Us in Worship-May 2017 May 7 Holy Communion Greeter: Gail Merritt Liturgist: Joe Coons Ushers: Dave Tyler, Kevin Emmons, Dave Gardiner, Sue Barton Acolyte: Nathaniel Evans Crucifer: Mike Purdy Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, John 10:1-10 Psalm 23 Sermon: “Hearing the voice of God”

May 14 Mother’s Day Greeter: Debbie Tweedie Liturgist: Jesssica Spencer Ushers: Jeremy Kimball, Jim Burlingame, Sandy Burlingame, Linda Merritt Acolyte: Isabella Ross Crucifer: Jessica Spencer Scripture: Acts 7:55-60, John 14:1-14 Serrmon: “A certain companion in uncertain times” Friends & Family Evening Worship (6pm) Theme: What is blossoming in your life? (last evening worship for the season) May 21 Woman’s Sunday Greeter: Sandy Burlingame Liturgist: Blenda Smith Ushers: Alan Slocum, Mark Slocum Mike Purdy, Michael Garren Acolyte: Riley Spencer Message by Celeste Keefe May 28 Greeter: Blenda Smith Liturgist: Kevin Emmons Ushers: Joan Murray, Penny Daugherty, Karon Lewis, Linda Purdy Acolyte: Zoe Case Crucifer: Erin Bentley Scripture: Acts 1:6-14, John 17:1-11 Sermon: “A Call to Unity”

Remember Our “Seniors”

Make a call, write a note or visit! Elizabeth Church Manor Dorothy Crane 863 Upper Front Street Binghamton NY 13901 NY State Veterans Home Bucky Merritt Oak Village Room 405 4207 State Hwy 220 Oxford NY 13830-4305 Bridgewater Center Jeanne Randall Room 263 159 Front Street Binghamton NY 13905 At Home Betty Buck 209 East Frederick Street Binghamton NY 13904 Louise Disbro 110 Chenango Place Apt 4A Binghamton NY 13901 Evelyn Evans 130 Robinson Street Binghamton NY 13904 Nellie Hickok 156 Bigelow Street Binghamton NY 13904 John Hillard 54 Bigelow Street Binghamton NY 13904 Katherine Roe 33 Riverside Street Binghamton NY 13904

Our Worship Attendance

March 26 108 April 2 115 9 128 Palm Sunday 41 Evening Worship 13 80 Maundy Thursday 16 178 Easter Sunday 23 70

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A special THANK YOU goes to: ~ all the choirs for their time and talents in offering wonderful music throughout Lent and on Easter ~ all who participated in our Lenten study groups ~ the youth who presented the message at the April Contemporary Worship ~ to Dave Gardiner, Robin Eastman and Jerry Eastman for the crosses they made during Lent ~ to Marge Eastman for the beautiful white paraments OTHER SPECIAL THANK YOUS……. I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all the wonderful cards, gifts, office decorations, calls and goodies that were offered to me on my birthday. You made me feel very special. I am just wondering how you knew it was my birthday? Thanks again! Pastor Jan I would like to take this time to thank my mother, Marge Eastman, for making the new white paraments and to USA Athletics for the beautiful embroidery. Thanks also to my father, Jerry Eastman, for the cross and helping me make it at the last minute! Finally I want to thank my “right hand” Debbie McMichael for all her help, support and ideas for Advent and Lent. Without her help I would be lost. God Bless, Robin Eastman Our Family would like to extend a HUGE “THANK YOU” to our Fairview Church Family. All of your thoughts, prayers and well wishes have helped us get through Bill’s cancer disgnosis, surgery and now CANCER FREE Moment! The power of prayer has brought healing to our home and we are most grateful. Thank you to Pastor Jan for her visit to the hospital and her constant contact….it was most appreciated. God Bless you All, The Papastrat Family

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it. God sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning… Face it, friend. God is crazy about you! ” ~ Max Lucado

Prayer Group will resume on Wednesday, May 1st. Join a group of “Prayer Warriors” to pray for those requests collected from our prayer stations, as well as our church community and beyond. Bring a bag lunch and join us in the chapel from 11:00 – 12:30 every Wednesday. ~ Karon Lewis, Co-ordinator SISTERS OF LYDIA Our group continues to grow as we share some amazing moments with each other and with our discussions about women of the Bible. We hope to see you at our next meeting on May 3rd at 6:30pm. Read Chapter 3. Happy Spring! ~ Sue Papastrat Youth Group The youth group is looking forward to some nice weather. We will be going to Sky Lake Open House on Sunday, May 21st. There will be a 5k Trail Run and Walk to benefit Sky Lake Camperships. There is a fee involved with participation. Please let Katie or Jenn for information and if you are interested in attending.

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Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom.

—Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

UNITED METHODIST MEN

MEN we need to hear from you!! What are your thoughts? Are you interested in a monthly Saturday breakfast meeting with church work projects? An occasional work project? A monthly evening or Saturday morning Bible Study? Maybe a quarterly gathering of men with a program of interest for men of all ages? The sky is the limit !! What are your ideas?

Please share your thoughts with us. Joe Coons coons0422@yahoo.com 724-0976 Alan Slocum aslocum913@gmail.com 648-2662 We would like to hear from men of all ages in the church, even if have not attended one of our gatherings. Please share your thoughts with us by May 30th. Thank you. Joe Coons, Co-Chair

MUSICAL NOTES FROM PASTOR JAN Many thanks to all our choirs for the beautiful music they offered us during the Lenten Season. We enjoyed joining with the Windsor choir during our combined Holy Week services.

Sunday, June 4th

UNITED METHODIST WOMENWe are winding down to some time off for Summer but still we have a few things planned. First...Saturday, May 20 at 5 pm is our Annual Mother/ Child Dinner. Chef Dave is planning something amazing for dinner..Tickets are on sale and Must be purchased NO later than Sunday, May 14. Adults 13yrs and older are:$7.00, Kids 6-12 yrs. are $3.50 and kids 5 and under are free. Johnny Only is this year's entertainment. Our theme is Down by the Pond. You don't have to be a mother or have children to attend. For questions please contact Judy Becker @ 724-3804. Secondly...our Birthday Tea is Tuesday, June 13..table preview is @ 6:45 and we will start the evening off at 7:00pm. If you are a lady from 12yrs. - Mature adult and have not been asked to attend please contact Sue Boucher @ 724-5084. The cost is $3.00/person. We are excited to have Rick Pedro as our entertainment for this special event. WE would love to have you all attend. ~ Sue Boucher, UMW President

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depts, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139-7-9

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Annual Conference The annual gathering of the Upper NY Conference will be held in Syracuse June 1-3. Pastor Jan, Cindy Emmons, Blenda Smith and Bryant Clark will be attending.

LOOKING AHEAD to activities you won’t want to miss! May 5 – Family Craft Night @ 6:00 May 6 – Whitney Place Meal May 13 – Chicken BBQ May 14 – Mother’s Day Krispy Kreme Donut Delivery May 20 – Mother & Child Banquet @ 6:00pm May 21 – Sky Lake Open House See the enclosed calendar for May church meetings and additional activities.

The grasses are green, daffodils and crocuses (or is it croci?) are blooming, and robins are everywhere! It must be spring! We have had a typical month for the food pantry. I know we say this every month, but thank you so much for all your food and money donations to continue this wonderful mission. Philippians 2:4 says, "Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing." (NLT) Fairview UMC certainly does this, in many ways! Praise be to God. One thing we did during Lent was to have prayer request cards available for our Monday clients. We encouraged them to share by writing their prayer requests and during our Wednesday prayer group, we prayed for them. And then we continued to pray for them during Lent. This was greatly appreciated by some and we continue to have the request cards available to them. Please check our Facebook page every week for possible food buys in our local stores. (There might be other little tidbits for you also.) Love in Christ, Sue Barton and Michelle Newkirk

I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen.

~ Anne Lamott

Saturday, May 13 11:00 a.m. till Sold Out

$9.00 Take-out Only

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MISSION AND OUTREACH Get your calendars out to write down our upcoming activities... Sunday, June 11 and June 18 we will be collecting for Blanket the World with Love. Each year we collect money to send to Church World Service to buy blankets . These blankets are sent to disaster areas to help with shelter and warmth. Each blanket costs $5.00. As you recall during the last flood many of these blankets were given out to families in Broome County. Starting Wednesday, July 5 thru Wednesday, August 9 we will be having our Read a Story-Take a Story from 1-2:30 pm. We will read several books, do a craft and have a snack. Each week the children will be able to take a book home to keep. It would be nice if more families could come for this summer fun. Volunteers are always welcome to read, hand out snacks and help with crafts. Check out the Narthex table for sign up sheets coming soon. June 3, 2017 marks our five year.anniversary with making meals for the men at the Rescue Mission. It doesn't seem that it could be been that long!!! We have made many wonderful friendships among the cookers and the attendees. Our Food Pantry continues to pass out 30-36 bags per week. Summer time will be busier with kids out of school. So we have planned another Food Challenge. This time from Sunday July 2- July 30 it will be the Men vs. the Women of the church. Boxes will be placed in the back of the church for food donations. Never a dull moment at Fairview...Thank God! ~ Sue Boucher , Chair

The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also. -Harriet Ann Jacobs

Sky Lake News! (Cindy Emmons Annual Conference Lay Member) Spring is here and that means there are a lot of events at Sky Lake to plan for!

May 6th - Volunteer Work Day 8:30 am. - ? Complimentary lunch if you RSVP by May 2nd. Help get Sky Lake ready for summer! May 21st Annual Sky Lake Open House & 5K Boating, crafts, registration for summer camp. 5K Trail Run and Walk at 3:30 pm: register at http://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Windsor/SkyLake5K Hot Dog Roast: $5 presale, $6 at the door (meal ticket included in registration fee for runners)

And of course Sky Lake Summer Camp registration is ongoing! More information can be found at: www.skylakecenter.org, Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center Facebook Page or by contacting them at 607-467-2750

CONTEMPORARY

EVENING WORSHIP (final service of the season)

Sunday, May l4th

“What is blossiming in your life?

Music by the Praise Band

6:00pm Light refreshments 6:30 Service

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SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT Our committee is extremely busy this time of year and we would like you to be aware of some important dates and events! Rada Cutlery and Flower Power fundraiser goods are in. Should you have a question about your order, please see Jamie Andres or Amy Kehoe. Our committee is happy to be able to announce Sky Lake scholarships on May 7th during our church service. It is our hope to be able to provide those who wish for more spiritual growth with the wonderment of the spirit of God through our beautiful Sky Lake. There will be a camp-themed Social Hour in the Fellowship Hall. Join us…the treats are worth it!

Please remember the date of our Annual Church Picnic which is on June 4th at 1:00 at Kirkwood Park, Pavilion #1. Drinks, hamburgers and hotdogs, buns, as well as tableware. We will also be providing lawn games for every one of all ages to enjoy. If you are attending, please bring a dish to share. Sign-up sheets will be on the table in the back of the narthex soon. Please sign up if you are attending and also let us know what dish you are willing to share. Do you have someone special that you wish to recognize as a recent or upcoming graduate of high school, college, or higher education? Please let the church office know of your special someone as soon as possible. We would like to recognize graduates on June 4th as this is truly a special occasion and scholars should be recognized and celebrated! This summer, Pastor Jan will be facilitating an invigorating Bible Study in the park. Please let her know if you are interested in attending so that she can be sure to have enough materials for all who attend. In Christ’s Love, Amy Kehoe, co-chair

FINANCE COMMITTEE ~ Blenda Smith, Finance Committee Scribe You’ll smell that delicious aroma of barbequed chicken if you are near the church on Saturday, May 13th at 11:00am until the chefs run out (& they usually do). Treat yourself to an awesome take out dinner and support Fairview! Last chance for Krispy Kremes! We will take orders until Sunday, May 7th with delivery to the church on Mother’s Day, May 14th. Donuts will have been baked early that morning of the 14th!! They are $8/dozen and about half of that goes to the church as a fundraiser. Please consider buying what you & your family will enjoy & then buying extra dozens for friends, neighbors, people at work, and in the community. Yes, they can be frozen as well. Order on Sunday, mail the form below, or call the church office (724-6886). ============================================================================KRISPY KREME DONUT ORDER

Name ___________________________________________________ Phone # ___________________________ Number of boxes at $8/dozen? _________ Total due = $ _______________ (Write # boxes in Memo Line of check)