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MINISTRIES
AND PROGRAMS
Our Vision StatementThe First United Methodist Church of Delmar has a vision statement that serves as the North Star, to keep us focused on our goal. It also helps others to know who we are and what we are about. Every program we plan, every ministry we undertake, every dollar we spend, is all measured against our vision statement to make sure we are staying true to our purpose.
Our vision statement is: The key words are: Community, Faith, and Service. Each of these is interwoven with the others. A loving community helps us grow in faith. A growing faith leads to working in service to God. Working in service together helps build community. Our ministries and programs incorporate all three components (Community, Faith, and Service) into their meetings and events. We strive to build close relationships with each other so that we can grow together in our relationship with God and reach out in service to the world in order to bring God’s kingdom. In this way
we follow Jesus’ words: “Love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second
most important commandment is: “Love your neighbor as you
love yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-40. In Community we build loving relationships within the church and outside the church by: inviting and welcoming others to become part of our community; knowing and caring about each other by spending meaningful time together in small groups and helping each other face the joys and trials of life; and by respecting and forgiving each other as we recognize and celebrate our differences and acknowledge our human feelings. In Faith we build loving relationships with God through: regular worship, both as a community and as individuals; regular and intentional prayer; regular study of God and His relationship with humankind through Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason. In Service we build loving relationships with the world through: mission and social justice programs to help individuals in crisis and to change social systems such as poverty and racism; stewardship of God’s gifts of time, talents, and nature; and by witnessing to all the ways Christ has transformed our lives. Please join us! Expect Great Things to HappenThis directory of Ministries and Programs represents who we are and what we are doing, here and now, at the First United Methodist Church of Delmar. As God continues to move through us, we grow deeper in faith, we broaden our service to God and others, and we help our community to flourish. As we exercise our faith through action, great things start to happen.
We pray and expect our spiritual growth and development to become evident in the enrichment and expansion of our ministries and programs and, as they do, we will be pleased to periodically provide updated versions of this directory to reflect those exciting changes. Pastoral Care TeamOur pastors are here for you! They provide counseling and pastoral care in the most respectful, understanding and supportive ways, regardless of what a person's spiritual nee may be. Pastoral contacts are:
Ministries and ProgramsWe offer a number of Community, Service, and Faith Groups for both adults and youth. These groups became self-selecting as of July 1, 2003. The self-selecting process eliminates the more formal process of being nominated and serving for a specific length of time. Self-selection frees people from feeling obligated, bored, and resentful. Instead, it encourages them to follow their hearts, utilize their spiritual gifts, and do what they most enjoy. This process results in powerful and exciting ministries and programs, as people are faithfully administering God's grace in ways that are personally satisfying and fulfilling. Community (Fellowship)-Focused GroupsFellowship is a vital part of the life of any church. While most of our ministries and programs enjoy the benefits of fellowship, the groups listed below were developed with a focus on fellowship. We invite you to join at least one fellowship group. Church Family Life: The Church Family Life Team plans wonderful activities and events for all members of our church family. They also extend invitations, through our church members, to those outside our church congregation. All are encouraged to participate. You are welcome to suggest and/or coordinate a Church Family Life event or just tag along for the fun and fellowship!
Friendship Club: This group plans and organizes monthly events for both married and single adults. The events are usually scheduled for the fourth Friday evening during the months of September through April, with the exception of November. The get-togethers typically include a potluck meal and some type of entertaining and/or educational program. All adults are welcome to come and enjoy an evening out!
J.U.M.P. (Junior United Methodist People): This youth group is open to all sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. The group usually meets twice a month throughout the school year for fellowship and service activities.
Men's Fellowship Breakfast: It's been said, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Well, this group obviously enjoys a good meal and wonderful fellowship as well. They meet on Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. at the Four Corners restaurant. All men are welcome. Bring your sense of humor and have fun solving all the problems of the world!
Playgroups: Meet on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:30 to noon in the Church Nursery. These meetings provide wonderful social opportunities for caretakers and their children. The adults talk, listen, support, and encourage each other in roles of parenthood and friendship while their children are afforded a safe play environment and the opportunity to build relationships with other children. Playgroup welcomes members of the church as well as friends from the community.
R.P.M.s: This ecumenical group is open to all students who are in grades nine through twelve. Bi-weekly meetings are usually held with youth from the Reformed, Presbyterian, and Methodist Churches (hence the name "R.P.M.s"), but high school kids from other churches are also welcome to attend and participate. Recreational activities, as well as mission programs and events, are led by professional staff.
Softball Teams: Our church has two teams that play in the Cooper-Varney Softball League with other church teams in our area. All are welcome to play ball or to cheer for the teams.
Theological & Social Issues: This group meets on Sunday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in the Lounge to discuss current social issues and their ethical implications. New perspectives are always welcome.
Women In The Middle: This group of women meets once a month for breakfast at an area restaurant. They network and bond with others in the group who are experiencing similar life issues, which are common to those in their "middle years" (40s, 50s, and 60s). Some of the many topics of discussion have been: dealing with teenagers, breast cancer, and preparing for college.
Faith-Focused GroupsOur relationship with God is strengthened over time through participation in worship, prayer, and study of Scripture and other relevant readings. While most of our ministries and programs incorporate a faith component into their meetings, the following groups were developed with an emphasis on faith building through Christian Education. In addition to the groups listed below, group book studies are offered periodically. The study topics vary, but all offer the opportunity for spiritual reflection and growth. We encourage you to participate in at least one faith-focused group. Church School: This program serves the members of First United Methodist Church in two very important ways. Church School provides an educational foundation of Christian principles to the children and youth of the church in a safe and friendly environment, and it allows parents and guardians the opportunity to worship as a congregation without the responsibility of childcare during that time. Infant care is provided in the nursery from 9:20 to 10:45 a.m.
Confirmation: This is open to those who are at least twelve years of age or in eighth grade. The program is designed to help participants understand their faith as they prepare for church membership.
Ecumenical Bible Study Group: This group meets at Delmar Place adult home on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. for a combined study of Scripture and other Christian writings. This is an ecumenical group, with as many as eight different denominations having been represented at one time. New participants are always welcome.
Upper Room Study and Prayer Group: This group meets on Tuesday evenings to review and discuss the Upper Room devotionals, and any related readings, from the previous week. This is a great opportunity to relax and reflect. All are invited to participate.
Vacation Bible School: We offer a summer week full of Bible stories, activities, and fun to children in our church and community (age 4 up to those entering 5th grade in the Fall). For three hours, Monday through Friday, the children enjoy games, crafts, music, and snack that are creatively centered around a particular Bible verse and theme. Children learn about a specific mission program, then work together to support it. A Friday evening celebration enables the children to show their parents what they've learned.
Service-Focused Groups
We exercise our faith by serving others, and we should serve as we feel called to do so. Some help out on a regular basis, while others prefer to lend a hand with special projects. People often help in ways that are easy, natural, and interesting to them. Whether it is through compassionate visitation with a homebound person for a half-hour per month (CARE Corps), periodically transporting donations to another location (Missions), audio/video recording of our worship services (Worship), taking photos of church events (Communications), baking or offering child care (Hospitality), or any other way, serving others is a way to grow closer to God and others. We offer many opportunities to get involved, but you are not limited to the groups listed below. Acolytes: This young group of people assists with preparations for worship service, such as lighting the altar candles.
Altar Angels: This team prepares the altar for worship by arranging the candles and flowers and changing the altar linens as needed. Altar Flowers: The Altar Flowers Coordinator follows up on requests from those folks who would like to celebrate or memorialize loved ones with a donation of altar flowers.
Audio/Video: This team is responsible for the audio and video recording of our worship services. This service enables people, who are physically unable to attend church on a particular date, to reap the benefits of the service. The audiotapes and videotapes are available for loan, in person or through a messenger, from the church office. Bereavement Ministry: The Bereavement Ministry team responds gracefully and quickly, to comfort and support grieving families and friends. They do so by providing beautiful receptions for the bereaved in Fellowship Hall, or in the Lounge, following a funeral or memorial service.
CARE Corps: Members of this ministry team visit those who are elderly, ill, or home bound. If you enjoy visiting people, and have thirty minutes a month to spend with someone who would appreciate a visit, this may be the ministry for you.
Church and Society: This group has a strong educational mission. They bring social and policy issues to the congregation for discussion and action. They raise social awareness and seek to encourage the church to consider how Christian faith can shape involvement in social action and policy making. They promote fair and direct trade products through monthly sales of coffee and tea products and they organize a Fair Trade Fair each year. New participants are always welcome. Communications: This team helps to bring the vision and the mission of our church to life. This team conveys the history, culture, ministries, and programs of our church in ways that are inviting and sustaining. Our web site, www.delmarmethodist.org, and our newsletter, The Telescope, are two examples of our ongoing communications.
Communion: This team prepares the elements for communion. Communion is offered on the first Sunday of each month.
Confirmation Breakfast Reception: This group works together on a once-a -year celebratory breakfast reception that honors the new confirmands and their family members.
Fall Fair: The Fall Fair is a wonderful annual event that is usually held on the first Saturday of each November. It is a huge extravaganza and is enjoyed by the community and beyond. Although many people are involved, the Fall Fair Team is at the core of this event. The Fall Fair Team meets weekly throughout the year to sort, organize, and prepare thousands of items for sale to the community at incredibly affordable prices. They combine their knowledge of antiques, books, collectibles, electronics, furniture, sporting goods, linens, small appliances, and other items to best market these goods at the fair. This group also holds a Children's Fair each October. Besides raising money to support our church and its ministries and programs, this team contributes many items to our mission programs.
Fellowship Hour: Everyone can enjoy the satisfaction of hosting Fellowship Hour. Just choose a date and sign up! Hosts make coffee and bring in goodies to share with fellow church members and visitors who come together for fellowship after Sunday worship services.
Greeters: Greeters offer a warm welcome to visitors and church members at the front and West entrances to the church before worship services. Sign up for a chance to welcome others to our church.
Harvest Dinner: This event provides our church family an opportunity to celebrate our many blessings and break bread together. It is typically held on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. The Harvest Dinner Team sets up Fellowship Hall, supplies food, cooks, and cleans up. Church members are asked to bring desserts and help clean up. They are also invited to donate food or money to the Albany United Methodist Society (AUMS) food baskets.
Lay Readers: Lay members of the church are welcome to participate in worship by reading scripture passages during our services.
Library Ministry: This team is working to inventory, organize, and update our church library. The major goal of this team is to provide our church family with relevant and current resources that will further our learning and enhance our spiritual growth.
Mary Marthas: This group has been in existence for 45 years. They meet on the second Thursday of each month from October through June to support and encourage each other in faith and fellowship. Some of the things this group enjoys are: inviting different people to their meetings to speak on topics of interest, holding periodic Bible studies, baking and delivering Christmas cookies to the homebound, assisting a church family on a weekly basis, and holding a potluck picnic every year.
Membership & Evangelism Ministry: This team helps to welcome people into our community and then opens the doors of our church to them. Membership in the First United Methodist Church is open to all. Members may be received by profession of faith or by letter of transfer from other churches.
Missions Ministry: The First United Methodist Church is committed to mission work, and this ministry provides numerous opportunities to exercise our faith by reaching out to those in need. People who need our help are all around, close to home and halfway around the globe. There are far more needs than we can possibly meet so we choose to help where the need is the greatest and most urgent. There are many ways to participate in the Mission Ministry and some of the programs we are involved with are listed below. Let's work to make this world a better place!
Music Ministry: This ministry has a place for just about everyone.
Senior Ministry: This Ministry focuses on members of the congregation who are at least 50 years of age. The Team explores and initiates programs that encourage, involve, and support "seniors." Our church is blessed with many wonderful, active "senior" people and this team helps them to find areas of interest and service.
Special Events: This group currently supports two special events at the church: Homecoming Sunday in September, and the Leadership Retreat in January. Telly Tacklers: This group meets weekly to fold and sort our church newsletter, The Telescope, for mailing.
Treasure Cove: This group gracefully accepts and carefully sorts through thousands of donated items of clothing, accessories, and books to find "treasures" to offer to our community at very affordable prices. They generously donate hundreds of clothing items to various mission groups such as the Grain Train, which takes the clothing donations to those in need all around the world. For the past eleven years, this group has consistently, and amazingly, transformed our Lounge into the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop every Tuesday. Anyone who likes to organize, merchandize, or greet the public is welcome to participate. For more, click here.
Ushers for Funeral and Memorial Services: This group accommodates the wishes of the bereaved family with care and sensitivity. They ensure that arrangements for the lighting, microphones, flowers, candles, and guest book are in order. Ushers escort family and friends of the deceased to the appropriate pews, operate the elevator, and direct people to the receiving line after the service.
Ushers for Worship Services: This group is always ready to pass out bulletins, escort our members and visitors to pews, distribute hearing devices and large-print bulletins as needed, collect prayer cards, and pass the offering plates. Our church welcomes both male and female ushers.
Worship: The goal of this team is to prepare and enhance our worship experiences in ways that best promote meaning and spiritual depth.
Elected Positions and Administrative TeamsOur Administrative Council provides guidance for those who hold administrative roles in our church. Administrative Coordinators, Chairpersons, Lay Leader, and Lay Members of Conference, as well as the Administrative Teams (Trustees, Finance, Staff Parish, and Nominating), support our church in important ways. Unlike our self-selecting ministries and programs, members of these positions and teams are nominated by the Nominating Team and elected at a special church conference. Members belonging to the subcommittees of the Administrative Teams do not have to be nominated and elected. Administrative Coordinators, Chairpersons, Lay Leader, and Lay Member of Conference
Board of Trustees: This group is entrusted with the management and maintenance of all church property, equipment, and insurance.
Finance Team: This team monitors and manages the financial matters of the church. They work with all other ministry teams to develop a balanced budget.
Nominating Team: This team meets towards the end of the program year to consider those who would like to be nominated for the next administrative term. The team prayerfully deliberates over those candidates and presents the names of those who are felt to best serve the interests of the church. The names of the nominees are brought forward to the congregation at a special church conference where the elections are made.
Staff Parish: This team is involved with the personnel staffing of the church to ensure the church will have the resources it needs to move forward. They respond to the needs of the church by restructuring workloads, redefining job responsibilities, and developing new positions when necessary. This team is also responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of new staff, when the budget allows.
Community ProgramsThe following groups, though not officially ministries or programs of our church, are community programs offered at our church. Boy Scout Troop #75: Scouts meet weekly on Wednesday evenings. Boys must be at least eleven years old or entering sixth grade. For more, click here.
Tri-Village Nursery School: Tri-Village Nursery School (TVN), which opened in 1946, is a cooperative, secular non-profit pre-school located in the lower floor of the First United Methodist Church. TVN offers pre-school classes for thre-e and four-year-old children that include music, physical education, field trips and much more.
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- First United Methodist Church - 428 Kenwood Ave. Delmar NY 12054 - 518.439.9976 -