The Messenger

First & Wesley United

Methodist Church

89 Center Street

West Haven, Connecticut 06516

203-933-8795

July and August 2017

As I recall my ministry at our church during the past three years, I am thankful to

God for God’s guidance and to each of you for your faithful service: there have

been a lot of good memories!

Yet, it is true that there were some tough moments, and I am also thankful for them

because you and I have matured in spirit through difficulties. What is important is

that we experience God’s presence both in happy moments and tough moments.

I often say it is very difficult to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, because we sometimes fight

against human nature. We just want to take it easy on Sunday morning or go on a picnic, but to be

followers of Jesus Christ, we go to church, worshipping God, experiencing God’s grace, and sharing it

with our neighbors.

I feel that going to church is like doing exercise: I sometimes REALLY do not want to go to gym, but

when I come back home, I have never regretted it, feeling better and happier. Summer is the time to slow

down, but please do not take too much of a break from Sunday worship. If you do not want to worship

regularly or serve with the people of God, it is a sign of serious spiritual crisis. You may have to see your

pastor for counselling.

About three years ago, when I had the introduction meeting with the Committee on Staff-Parish Relations,

I said, “I will not bring a magic lamp to our church, but I am sure you and I will become a miracle.” With

the help of the Holy Spirit you and I have made a big difference, and I would like us to keep doing faithful

work. If you have tried to lose weight, you would agree with me: It is relatively easy to lose the first 3 or

4 pounds, but it is getting tougher to lose more. It sometimes requires more energy and more time to keep

doing good work.

During the summer let us take a rest, energize ourselves, be uplifted in spirit, be closer to God, and help

others in need, so that we may continually make our church extraordinary in the sight of God. Happy

summer!

Sungmu Lee

Lectionary Readings for July & August 2017

July 2, 2017 • Genesis 22:1-14 and Psalm 13 • Jeremiah 28:5-9 and Psalm 89:1-4,

15-18 • Romans 6:12-23 • Matthew 10:40-42 July 9, 2017

• Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13 • Zechariah 9:9-12 and Psalm 145:8-14 • Romans 7:15-25a • Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

July 16, 2017 • Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112 • Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13 •

Romans 8:1-11 • Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 July 23, 2017

• Genesis 28:10-19a and Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 • Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8 and Psalm 86:11-17 • Romans 8:12-25 • Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

July 30, 2017 • Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128 • 1 Kings 3:5-12 and Psalm 119:129-136 • • Romans 8:26-39 • Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

August 6, 2017 • Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 17:1-7, 15 • Isaiah 55:1-5 and Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 • • Romans 9:1-5 • Matthew 14:13-21

August 13, 2017 • Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 and Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b • 1 Kings 19:9-18 and Psalm 85:8-13 • • Romans 10:5-15 • Matthew 14:22-33

August 20, 2017 • Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133 • Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 and Psalm 67 • Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 •

Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 August 27, 2017

• Exodus 1:8-2:10 and Psalm 124 • Isaiah 51:1-6 and Psalm 138 • Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20

Committee of Native American Ministry CoNAM

The Annual Conference of 2017 was held at Hoffstra University. Walter and Myrna Clinton attended in

the capacity of Committee of Native American Ministry CoNAM. We were in the Group of information

venders. We were there to enlighten the public about the Native American situation. Our station attracted

many people from the convention. The one person that stood out in our minds was a woman from

Argentina. She told us her story, about the indigent people that are being displaced by the government.

The natives in her country are being treated about the same as the natives in our country. We saw

someone we had met previously, he was from Mexico. He renewed our friendship. He legally lives in

New York, his son has gone to college and he gave us his views on the non-native people in Mexico.

JULY 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 9:30 Independence Day Worship & Communion 10:30 Celebration Coffee Hour

3

4 Independence Day

5

6

7

8 8:30-10 Men’s Breakfast 3:30-5p Craft Corner

9 “UMARMY” Mission Week

9:30 Worship 10:30 Coffee Hour

10

11 10-12p Prayer Group (101 Bellevue Ave., West Haven) 7:30p Finance Meeting

12

13

14

15

16 09:30 Worship & Communion 10:30 Coffee Hour

17

18

19

20

21

22

4-5p Community

Prayer

23 VBS (5:30-8:30p)

9:30 Worship 10:30 Anointing for Healing and wholeness 10:30 Coffee Hour

24

25 7p Trustees Meeting

26

27

28

29

30

9:30 Worship & Communion 10:30 Coffee Hour

31

* As of June 21, 2017. For further updates, visit www.firstwesleyumc.org/calendar.

AUGUST 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 10-12p Prayer Group (101 Bellevue Ave., West Haven)

2

3

4

5

6 9:30 Worship 10:30 Celebration Coffee Hour

7

8 7:30p Finance Meeting

9

10

11

12 8:30-10 Men’s Breakfast

13 9:30 Worship 10:30 Coffee Hour

*Donations due for “Backpack Drive”

14

15 6:30p Missions and Outreach Meeting

16

17

18

19

20 09:30 Worship & Communion 10:30 Coffee Hour

*Messenger Articles Due

21

22 7p Trustees Meeting

23

24

25

26 4-5p Community Prayer

27 9:30 Worship 10:30 Anointing for Healing and wholeness 10:30 Coffee Hour

28 29

30

31 6p Bell Choir 7p Adult Choir

* As of June 21, 2017. For further updates, visit www.firstwesleyumc.org/calendar.

There is no Sunday School during the summer. Come to

Vacation Bible School. It begins on Sunday, July 23 and

runs through Thursday, July 27. Rally Day and Sunday

School Kick-Off are on Sunday, September 10.

More information to come

Fundraiser

Just a reminder that Dave

Smith is selling Stop and Shop cards to members and

friends of First and Wesley. Whether for buying groceries

or to give as a gift, as an added bonus, you can earn Stop &

Shop gas rewards for every $1 spent on gift cards. It is hard

to believe that more people don’t take advantage of this

marvelous way to raise money for the church. If you buy a

gift card from Dave Smith you get the full face value at the

register and Stop & Shop sends a percentage to the church.

It couldn’t be simpler and it doesn’t cost you a dime.

Youth Choir and

Youth Group News

The church has two youth groups. I/M (Intermediate

& Middle School) and Senior High (grades 9-12)

There are no activities planned until September.

Rehearsals will begin again in September for the

Youth Choir.

BIBLE STUDY

We will take a break during July and August

and resume in September.

PRAYER GROUP

Prayer Group will meet in July on Tuesday, July 11th, and

in August on Tuesday, August 1st from 10:00 to Noon at

home of Richard and Thelma Reid, 101 Bellevue Avenue,

West Haven, CT. You are so welcome on these days to

come and enjoy a time of fellowship, a time of study and

a time of prayer.

(Philippians 2:15)- In the midst of a crooked and perverse

nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

A Christian person should so shine in their life that a

person could not live with them a week without knowing

the gospel. Their conversation should be such that all

who are around them would clearly perceive whose they

are and whom they serve. People should see the image of

Jesus reflected in their daily actions.

Lights are intended for 'guidance'. We are to help those

around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth the

Word of life to them. We are to point sinners to the

Savior and the weary to a divine resting place. Folks

sometimes read their Bibles and fail to understand them.

We should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in

the meaning of God's word, the way of salvation, and the

life of godliness. Lights are also used for 'warning'.

Christians should know that there are many false lights

shining everywhere in the world and therefore the right

light is needed. The wreckers of Satan, are always abroad,

tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure.

They hoist the wrong light. It our responsibility to put up

the true light on every dangerous rock, to point out every

sin, and tell what it leads to as we may be clean of the

blood of all men. Lights also have a very 'cheering'

influence and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be

comforter with kind words on their lips and sympathy in

their hearts. They should carry sunshine wherever they go

and diffuse happiness around themselves.

Volleyball

Volleyball season is over. It runs from October

thru May. Hopefully more will join up for fun

and fellowship.

Laurie Simone

Missions and Outreach

Several current and future projects were discussed at our June 20th meeting.

Our high school students will be participating in a mission trip from July 9 to 15. The UMARMY youth will work and

repair homes and yards in Wethersfield, CT, and have fellowship and worship in the evenings.

Vacation Bible School will be held from July 23 to 27. Each evening dinner will be provided at 5:30, followed by group

worship and 5 stations--art, music, Bible story, snack, and science. Anyone who wants to help, please speak to Jen Werle

or Gail Bartozzi. In addition, please see if there is anything that you might donate on the bulletin board in Fellowship

Hall.

Once again, we will be bringing school supplies for backpacks in conjunction with VBS. Items needed are: #2 pencils

with erasers, red, blue, and black pens, pencil sharpener with reservoirs, folders with pockets, spiral notebooks--single

and multi-subject, boxes of 24 crayons, boxes of colored pencils, boxes of markers, rulers with both inches and

centimeters, glue sticks, white glue, safety scissors, individual tissue packets, individual hand sanitizer, 16 oz. bottled

water, and snacks (no peanut butter, please).

Small plastic bottles were distributed to collect coins this summer for Native Americans.

On Sunday, June 11 we heard from a member of IRIS--Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services. We are exploring the

possibility of assisting newcomers to our community.

We are also exploring the possibility of participating in Stop Hunger Now. This is an intergenerational project to package

meals to be shipped to where they are needed.

The Agape meals will return on the third Saturday in September.

Our next meeting will be at 6:30 on Tuesday, August 15, where everyone is welcome, and all ideas considered!

SPREAD THE WORD VBS IS ALMOST HERE!!!

COME JOIN THE FUN at HERO CENTRAL!

Date - Sunday July 23rd - Thursday July 27th

The program is for Pre K – 6th Cost is Free

Dinner will be served at 5:30 and the program will be from 6:00 to 8:30

Our numbers went down last year for youth participation and we are looking to GROW so please

remember to invite family, friends and neighbors!! For any information regarding donations or information

on VBS please see the bulletin board labeled “Vacation Bible School” in fellowship hall. There are small

notes with the information located at the table underneath the board that you can hand to people with the

times and dates. Talk to Jen Werle (203)430-7116 or Gail Bartozzi (203) 747-6039 to get involved.

We will need walkers and kitchen/clean up help. I hope we can make this the best VBS yet!!!

DON’T FORGET TO SPREAD THE WORD!!

Thank you for all your support

Pill Bottle Donations

A ministry known as Matthew 25 Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies so people can have a safe & secure way to carry their pills. The pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.

Collection items include large and small prescription pill bottles -washed with labels removed.

Pill bottles that are not appropriate to include with shipments of medical supplies are recycled for cash that goes towards Matthew 25: Ministries’ programs.

First & Wesley will be collecting pill bottles for the next few months. Collection box is in Fellowship hall.

For more information about Matthew 25 ministries go to http://m25m.org.

***************************************************************************************

Battery Collection for HazWaste Management

We will be collecting small batteries to keep them out of landfills until October 22. Collection box is in Fellowship Hall.

Reusable Grocery Bags donated by West Haven Stop & Shop

One bag per family unit. Bags located in Fellowship Hall.

Stop & Shop also accepts plastic bags for recycling. The collection box is inside the entrance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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

Have you visited our Church Website lately? It is truly beautiful and informative of meetings and

events.

Website is: firstwesleyumc.org. Check it out!

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Articles for the September Newsletter are due

by August 20th. Please mark your calendars.

EVERYONE IS A REPORTER

If you give me the- who, what, when, where

and why, I will write your article for you –

Email to dollar.signs@snet.net or call

203-213-6363 and leave a message. Please

send me your email address to speed up

delivery of the newsletter.

REMINDER: July and August are a

combined newsletter!

Thank you, Bill Hunt (Phyllis)

Isaiah Singleton’s Awards

1. An Award for Completion of a Field Trip to the

Connecticut Science Center in Hartford,

Connecticut

2. Isaiah’s second grade class won an Honorable

mention for the Science Fair at Yale. (Blue

Ribbon)

3. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NEW HAVEN

Certificate of Recognition for Academic

Success awarded to Isaiah Singleton for

demonstrating a love for books and reading

4. New Haven Public Schools -- Title I District

Wide Parent Advisory Council Certificate of

Achievement for Outstanding Achievement in

Reading May 17, 2017

5. This Award is presented to Isaiah Singleton for

Excellence in Reading On this date, November

23, 2016 at Hill Central School.

6. Student of the month - Golden Hawk

McDonald presents this Certificate to the

Hill Central School Student of the Month

Isaiah Singleton on December 8, 2016

Cafe will resume in September.

The Craft Corner

The Craft Corner, a group

of youth grades 5 and up,

continues to meet on the

second Saturday of each month from 3:30 –

5:00. We will meet on July 8, but will take a

break in August. Contact Gail Bartozzi (203)

747-6039 or Jen Werle (203)430-7116 for

more information.

Congratulations

West Haven High School

Anna Bartozzi

Joscyln Moscato

Bailey Middle School

Emma Franson

Arlyn Memmott

Tyler Moscato

Carrigan Intermediate School

Julia Werle

Strong School in Durham 8th Grade

Jacob Jerrell

Pennies From Heaven

The Native American

Penny Collection for

Conam is ongoing to

provide very much

needed food and fuel. Please help the

Sunday school students by giving them

your loose change each week to support

those in need.

Coffee Hour

Please help us keep the Coffee Hour going. Coffee

hour is needed. We all need the chance to meet after

church and chat with our friends. We need kind-

hearted souls to take a turn at serving coffee after

church services. Coffee, punch, milk and sugar are set

up for you ahead of time, all you need do is put it all

out just before the service is over. Please see Myrna

Clinton, or call our church secretary at 203-934-1316.

You may also sign up on the clipboard at the coffee

hour table in Fellowship Hall.

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.

July Birthdays

1 - Sam Werle

4 - Leah Burbridge

Melissa Simone

7 - Elaine Schwag

9 - Art Yost

Laura Skipper

10 - Verna Marshall

Dominic Moscato

12 - Jim Ammon

Joe DelFranco

14 - Richard Pyrdol

15 - Kim (Lentini) Moscato

Jacki McKim

Marge Ambrose

16 - Edith Warner

17 - Vicki Soule

18 - Peggy Spagone

27 – Josephine Dondorful-Amos

29 - Cynthia Dodd

30 - Richard Wetmore

August Birthdays

2 - Lisa Kiesinger

Evan Corbin

3 - Joan Sablone

8 - Kimberly Geiger

11 - Geoffrey Danz

13 - Derek Baker

Michele Gertsch

14 - Tricia Spagone

Ryan Abekah

15 - Tara Rapuano (Lentini)

Laura Marshall

Richard Memmott

16 - Marcelyn Danz

22 - Jim Stuhlman

24 - Gail Bartozzi

25 - Michele Burbridge

26 - Edith Mulligan

28 - Helen Smith

31 - Robert Skipper

Brooke Moscato

July Anniversaries

7 - Edith and David Warner

15 - Gail and Al Bartozzi

20 - Raymond and Jodi Memmott

24 - Bill and Phyllis Hunt

26 - Chris and Jian Chan

August Anniversaries

There are no Anniversaries in August

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.

Unofficial Summary of Council Meeting on June 25, 2017

Minutes of January 7 and April 2 were accepted.

Treasurer, Jackie McKim reported that all bills including apportionments received to date have been

paid. We have spent over $13,000 more than we have collected for the budget. The extra money was

pulled from the reserves left over from 2016. The summer months are here when collections are lower.

Staff Parish reported parsonage review with Trustees scheduled for July. SPPR is gathering information

to request the hiring of a sexton for cleaning, minor repairs and security for use of the building by

outside groups.

Trustee Chair, Jim Jerrell reported on repairs done since last council meeting – parking lot signage, flat

roof by basement entrance repaired, pastor’s entrance door repair, and Center mailbox door repaired.

Also sheetrock was added to finish off firewall in furnace room. Trustee Treasurers report showed

endowment amounts and balances. Jim also informed council that their endowment money is going to

Frontier Foundation as revocable trust (which means Trustees have access to the money) to receive a

bigger return on their investments.

Lay Leader, Peggy Jerrell reported that she along with the Pastor, Myrna & Walter Clinton and Rev.

Cynthia Dodd attended the New York Annual Conference the beginning of June. A report will be given

at the next Council Meeting.

Stewardship reported on new initiatives that started in June. Every 4th Sunday will have a Stewardship

Moment. This Sunday began a reduce, reuse and recycle program. Reduce -batteries will be collected

to take to HazWaste in New Haven, Reuse- Stop & Shop donated 50 reusable grocery bags for each

family unit (S&S also takes back plastic bags) and Recycle -pill bottles will be collected from June to

December to send to developing countries who have no containers to distribute pills.

Nurture Groups

Worship will set a meeting schedule for 4 times a year to reduce the number of Church meetings.

Ushers reported attendance for April and May was down slightly. Pastor reminded us to notice when

someone is not in church and let him know for follow-up.

Altar Guild – MaryAnne Hawkes was thanked for her beautiful altar work.

Communication/Publicity Committee – Hyeonjin Lee, Myrna Clinton, Peggy Jerrell met to discuss

formalizing the standards to keep costs down for posters, etc. Bill Hunt, Kathy Hulse and Helen Smith

are also a part of the committee. Pictorial Directory will be ready in July. All who have a picture in the

directory will get 1 free. If you don’t have a picture in directory or want another the cost will be $5.00.

Pastor reported he is very happy to start a 4th year of ministry at First & Wesley. October 1 has been set

as the date for confirmation.

Next meeting will be Sunday, September 24th.

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: 9:30 am

The July and August Newsletter