Sunday Morning Announcements 9-17-17

A Message about Hunger and Poverty

I just wanted to share this with anyone who may be inclined to do this. If you aren’t then please disregard. Thanks…

Kellie Milhollen

Administrative Assistant

Perry First United Methodist Church

35 Covington St

Perry, NY 14530

(585) 237-5369

Good news — hunger and poverty have declined in the United States! But many people in need are still at risk. Call (800-826-3688) or email Rep. Chris Collins and Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today. Urge Congress to oppose budget cuts to critical programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), refundable tax credits, and school meals. Email Congress New data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Census Bureau show that in 2016, only 12.3 percent of U.S. households lived at risk of hunger, compared to a peak of 14.9 percent of households in 2011. We also saw a drop in the poverty rate from 13.5 percent in 2015 to 12.7 percent in 2016. This is good news! But our work isn't over. There are still more Americans living in poverty and at risk of hunger than before the recession. If Congress decides to cut programs that help struggling families, we'll certainly see hunger and poverty increase — effectively erasing the progress we've made. Programs that help people in need lifted millions out of poverty last year. Call (800-826-3688)or email Rep. Chris Collins and Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand today. Tell Congress not to take assistance away from millions of American families still struggling to get by. Sincerely, Christine Meléndez Ashley Deputy Director of Government Relations, Bread for the World P.S. Read our statement on the latest data, and stay tuned for further analysis of hunger and poverty rates in your home state.

As the Fall Begins ...

Please keep all of those who have been and are currently in the path of Hurricane Irma in your prayers. After the flooding in Houston and the raging fires in the Pacific North/Midwest we need to remember that God wants us to “Love our neighbors as we love ourselves” (~ Romans 13.9, Mark 12.3, Galatians 5.14, Matthew 22.39, Leviticus 19.18, Luke 10.27 just to name a few spots we are told that in the bible) and prayers are powerful things that we can all afford to do!!!  “Bad things happen in the world, but out of those things arise stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Small acts, when multiplied by many can transform the world.” ~ unknown

Remember…the worship service starts at 11 AM now. Sunday School classes (both adult and children’s), choir and bell choir begin again on Sunday.  The newsletter is online too…be sure to check it out or pick up a copy at church. It is full of information. 

Kellie Milhollen

Administrative Assistant

Sunday Morning Announcements 9-10-17

Sunday Morning Announcements 9-3-17

Texas Needs Help

Kellie Millholen	1:04 PM (19 hours ago)
to Administrative

Please let Pastor Ray know if you are interested in going…he will be going to be recertified. This way the $25 fee can be waived!

Kellie Milhollen

Administrative Assistant

Perry First United Methodist Church

35 Covington St

Perry, NY 14530

(585) 237-5369

From: Brian Greenwald [mailto:bngreenwald@windstream.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2017 9:38 AM
To: perryumc@frontiernet.net
Subject: UMC & Texas flooding

We are all aware of the damage and flooding occurring in Texas due to hurricane Harvey.  Many people will feel called to do something to help those affected, but lack the training and skills needed to assist.  Instead of rushing into the area untrained, we are presenting an opportunity to be trained to respond appropriately to any natural disaster, which includes floods.  OnSaturday Sept. 9th, in Eden UMC, Eden ,NY, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, known as UMCOR, will present a Basic Early Response Team training course staring at 8 AM and concluding at 5 PM.  This course includes an ERT manual, snacks, lunch, an UMCOR photo ID badge, and a Safe Sanctuaries background check for only $25.00.  The facilitators for the course are Roger and Donna Cullen, who are experienced in disaster recovery and are approved by UMCOR as our UNY Conference Early Response Trainers.

This course prepares us to work with survivors of natural disasters in cleaning up houses, knowing what to remove and what can be saved, how to work and stay properly protected, what tools and equipment should be taken on a trip, and how to be self sufficient and self sustaining rather than becoming a further burden on a devastated community already short on housing, supplies, food, and fuel.

If interested in becoming trained, please register online at http://tinyurl.com/EdenERT,  or call Donna Cullen at 585-582-6375 (hm), or 585-737-5239 (cell).

Brian Greenwald

UNY Conference ERT Trainer

Cornerstone District Disaster Response Coordinator

A Letter from Our Bishop

Upper New York Conference, 7481 Henry Clay Blvd., Liverpool, NY 13088 July 12, 2017

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As you are aware, Hurricane Harvey continues to cause tremendous devastation to the greater Houston area, forcing thousands to evacuate. When the waters subside, many people will return to discover their homes and businesses have been destroyed. Rebuilding will take weeks, months, even years. I know you have been keeping these people in your prayers; I ask you to continue. And I ask you to allow God to make you part of the answer to these prayers. I have been in conversation with Bishop Scott Jones of the Texas Conference, and have reached out to Bishop Robert Schnase of the Rio Texas Conference assuring them of our prayers and to determine specific ways we can assist in the future, but right now there are two immediate material needs you and your congregation can meet: 1. Invite your congregation to take up a special collection one Sunday in September. Announce to your people which Sunday you will do this and ask them to be especially generous. You may forward these funds to the Conference Office with a single check, made out to Upper New York Conference with FUND # 481 - "2017 Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief" on the memo line. 2. Assemble Cleaning Kits (Flood Buckets) and bring these to the Mission Central Hub at the United Methodist Center. Click here for instructions. In the future, Volunteers in Mission (VIM) will also be needed to help with the recovery. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will let us know when teams can be sent. When I see the images of flooded homes and distraught people, my heart breaks, but I am reminded of God's promise in Isaiah, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you," (Isaiah 42:3). God does not abandon, but stands with us in the midst of the wreckage and will enable the people to recover. We are called and privileged to be part of God's presence and work in this. And so, I ask you to offer your prayers, your dollars, and your time. Grace and peace,   Bishop Mark J. Webb