October 5, 2025 Service
October 16, 2025
So nice to have the kids help today in our Sunday service! They so enjoy participating in church and we all love them!
Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich
10/16/2025
Pastor Jeannine lugged a heavy backpack across the sanctuary. She had been hiking and the weight of her backpack was exhausting. She asked the kids if they often went hiking with a heavy backpack with too much stuff to carry. She opened the backpack and showed she had a stuffed animal, a Bible, iPad cover and many other items. She decided she needed the Bible and some of the important things but that she had really overpacked. She made the backpack much lighter. We need to carry what’s in our heart and what is important to us and not all of the stuff.
Our scripture was read by Charlotte Tones, from John 2: 1-11. The scripture is about Jesus‘s first miracle when he turned water into wine at a wedding after the participants ran out of wine. Mary had faith to ask Jesus to do this. Do you have faith to ask Jesus, and put your needs into Jesus‘s hands? Pastor Jeannine also suggested when we speak to others to use the word "and" instead of the word "but". For example, I love Jesus and want to share it with others. While speaking to others the word "but" can be deflating.
Don’t forget to return your pledge for next year to church. Stewardship month is an important time for church leaders to plan for the next year.
We have several in our congregation who are healing and in the need of prayer. Don’t forget to send out cards and check on those that are currently homebound.
Shirl Burnham set up a lovely photo display on the altar, thanking our farms and our farmers for all they do in this rural community. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 10/09/2025 Pastor Jeannine started out the service talking to the kids. She asked the kids how many of them had an alarm clock. Sometimes this is to wake us up to go to school or even to church on Sunday. Jesus always calls us to wake up and follow him, and listen to his teachings! Pastor Jeannine spoke to the adults about being a neighbor. This was based on the scripture of Luke 16: 19-31. The rich man in the scripture lived behind a wall of indifference. He was not mean to Lazarus, but just ignored him. Lazarus was poor, and he had many sores on his body. When he died, he was comforted in heaven. The rich man was self absorbed in life- he did not care for his neighborly brother who was in need. Pastor Jeannine and her husband Phil have a shared driveway with their neighbor. Fortunately they have a wonderful neighbor and handle the driveway situation without any issue. Pastor went on to share with us that anyone can be our neighbor, they don’t have to live next to us. Anyone we can encounter is a neighbor whom we can help. People need to know that someone cares and we can be giving to share the love of Christ. One of our missions is through the Adopt-a-Highway program is to pick up litter on a two mile section of 54-A near our church twice a year. Our next opportunity will be on Wednesday October 8, at 10 AM. Please join us at church and make our mission an easy one! It usually takes about an hour to accomplish our goal! Happy fall!!! Where did summer go? The leaves are turning and showing us the beauty of the season.
Thanks to Leah, Blanche and Helen for tasty treats after church. Our congregation has some magnificent bakers! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 10/02/2025 We are into stewardship month. It is important to look at what we will continue due for our church this coming year, not only financially, but in terms of time, talent and gifts. Many of us help with nursery or teach Sunday school. Others share their musical talents in our choir, some help with gardening or cleaning the roadside. Others support our missions such as Yates County Christmas. Many participate as scripture readers, greeters, or ushers. How will you support our church this next year? Phil Pearce shared with us a graph of how our monies are used within our church and community. Pastor Jeannine asked the children about honesty. If your mother gave you cookies for the neighbors but promised you cookies for yourself if you finish lunch, would you eat a cookie on the way to your neighbors home? If you were shopping for grandma, do you keep the change for a toy? One little girl said she would because her grandmother would want her to have a toy. If you find a lost wallet, would you keep the money or turn it in to authority? Lots of things for the children to think about. Our scripture today was Luke 16: 1-13. Pastor Jeannine relayed to us sharing that God is the owner of all we have. We are the stewards of our assets. We are told to circulate money and not hoard it. God‘s gifts are a trust. Stewardship makes us look at how we live as Christians-no servant can serve two masters. We can not serve God and also serve our money. We need to personally take stock of who we love and who we serve. We will be baptizing children, and adults later in October. Please let Pastor Jeannine know if you are interested in being baptized into the church. We are so happy for our congregation and new visitors that have been joining us the past few months. We certainly have had some recent trying times and welcome all those who wish to join us to worship together for prayer, and sharing. 9am Sundays!
The kids always help out with worship Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 9/25/2025 Pastor Jeannine asked the kids if they ever lost anything. She told The kids that she lost her car key soon after she got her first car. After she spent a lot of money to get a replacement key, she found the first key on her dresser. She gave the children each a pocket Jesus telling them she had lost her pocket Jesus. One of the children, little August found it in the sanctuary and brought it back to her. The adult sermon was based on Luke 15: 1-10. It also was about lost objects. A woman in this scripture had lost a coin. She swept the floor and looked all over for it, finally finding it. The coin was probably a days wages. It also might have had sentimental value for her. The parable of the lost sheep and lost coin shows us how important each individual is to God. God pursues those who are lost. He knows when we need help. There is the most joy in heaven over one who repents. When we lose something, it often is at the first place we looked. If you lose your cell phone, you can always use another device to find it. God knows how it feels when something is lost. He’s always searching for us. He knows where we are. He knows that we need to take the steps toward him whenever we need help. Choir practice is each Tuesday at 7:00pm. We can always use more voices to praise the Lord. See you Sunday at 9 AM!
Thank you, Barb Bailey and Marilyn Sands, for tasty treats after church. We all look forward to fellowship. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 9/18/2025 Pastor Jeannine showed the kids containers of play dough in her kids message. She showed them how she was not very artistic and could only make a snake. Jesus is the potter and we are the clay. It’s not easy to mold things, but God can mold us into all we can be. The sermon was from Jeremiah 18: 1-11. Pastor Jeannine asked the adults if any of us had skill in the art of pottery. Pastor Jeannine felt she never was very skillful and molding anything with clay, but one but one of her daughters as a young girl free-formed pottery and now can make a bowl after years of practice. What does it take God to mold us? God does mold us, but we have to be willing to be molded and shaped. We get to be what God wants us to be. We need to not lose our faith however. Once fired, pottery cannot be reshaped, but it can be broken. Pastor Jeannine added that God does not make junk. We are all worthy of God‘s love. God is there in every step of our lives. He’s our Potter, and is always accepting of us. We are back into our church fall schedule. This includes monthly brunch after church and fellowship weekly after the service. Every other week at 9 AM beginning September 10 is woman’s breakfast at the Wagner. The men meet for coffee every Tuesday at Oak Hill at 10 o’clock. Come join us for coffee and conversation! The children all had a successful first week back at school. We have two young ones that are kindergarten age, and both were very excited to talk about their experiences! See you Sunday at 9 AM
Ron Miller looks on as Pastor Jeannine blesses the backpacks and all of the children returning to school this week! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 9/11/25/2025 Music Sunday! Always so special with our musical talent! Thanks to Ron and Marguerite for coordinating this on our 5th Sundays! Our choir preformed several numbers, and Meridyn Whitford and Charlotte Tones sang two duets! All the kids had a number at the end entitled Beanie Bag Dance, which was really cute! We thank the choir, the kids, and all of that helped put the program together. Buckets were passed on the fifth Sunday. This time we collected money for Yates County Hope Walk. Our scripture lesson today was from Matthew 5: 1-12, the Beatitudes, how we are to be. She asked the kids if they ever cooked. She told them that God was here for us and we needed to follow his instructions. God holds us together. She then demonstrate to the kids how to make trail mix, and some of the ingredients. The first ingredient was honeycomb cereal with seven holes, the second ingredient was cheese crackers. Sometimes we have a cheesy day. The third ingredient was pretzels. God wants us to have a straight path. The next ingredient was yogurt covered raisins. Sometimes things are covered in substances we might not like, but the insides are sweet. The next ingredient was Chex mix. They included a variety of items, reminding us that everyone has different talents. The last ingredient were chocolate M&Ms. They come in multiple colors. This reminds us that we need to accept everyone. The kids mixed all this together and were giving a bag of treats following the service. We have resumed fellowship time after church. How much we enjoy having conversation and snacks with our friends! Thanks to all for a successful music Sunday. We are happy to have had several visitors join us on this day, and hope they will return! 9am Sundays- see you here!
Joyce and Charlotte fill luminaire bags with sand for the Hope Walk. Over 600 bags were lit at dusk and memory, and an honor of people who have faced cancer. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 8/4/25/2025 We had a busy week! Many of us supported the Yates County Hope Walk. All money is raised stay in Yates County to help those who are receiving cancer treatment. They were over 600 luminary bags that were lit at dusk in memory and an honor of those that we know that faced cancer. We also enjoyed a tour boat ride on the Erie Canal between Waterloo, going through three locks, passed Seneca Falls. Many of the kids had never seen the locks work before and were quite inspired that the canal was built 200 years ago and dug by hand! In church, Pastor Jeannine asked the children if they found new things being scary. God gives us skills and abilities and with practice we can do the tough things. She continued with her message to the adults, asking them if they had ever been asked to do something they didn’t want to do or felt they didn’t have the skill set for. Our scripture lesson was from Jeremiah 1: 4-10. Jeremiah did that choose to be a prophet. This was not his career move, but it was God‘s word. God made the choice to call Jeremiah. Jeremiah, however, made many excuses of why he should not do this role, but God did not take no for an answer. Sometimes we ignore nudges from God, however we need to trust in God and not doubt ourselves. What were you called to be? Pastor Jeannine wanted to be a youth leader is a young girl. God was patient and kept nudging her until is an adult she went into the ministry. We are glad she took that nudge in is our pastor! So her sermon was called Yahbut! God does not want to hear our excuses! Say yes to the Lord, not Yahbut! We are back on track with choir practice and fellowship after church, now that the summer season is turned into fall! Please consider joining the choir. All the choir members have a great time as they learn the new music for our services. See you in church 9 AM Sundays!
Carole Clow has been our scripture reader this month. Thank you Carole! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 8/28/2025 Pastor Jeannine asked the kids if they ever had a temper tantrum or a bad day. Jesus had bad days too. Jesus taught us to learn from bad days and if we’re feeling bad to try to hug someone and show love. We had a video shown in church today of the first aid closet in Dresden, starring narrator Deb Flood. Ray Welker started this closet many years ago and it has grown out of its original home. All sorts of things are available, from canes, crutches, medical supplies, wheelchairs and hospital beds. What an amazing community lending facility, created from love. Pastor Jeannine dissected the scripture today from Luke 12: 49-56. We see a household divided- from father against son and mother against daughter. When things become ugly in a household, we need to pray about it and listen to what God says. Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life. We have had such a warm, sunny summer. Soon the school buses will be on the roads! Mark your calendars for Sunday on August 31! Bring your neighbors and family to this wonderful musical Sunday. We also will have blessing of the backpacks for the kids returning to classes on that day.
Pat and Don McQuay traveled from Penfield to join our event. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 8/21/2025 This past Sunday, Bluff Point, Dresden, and Milo Center United Methodist churches joined together for a worship service and church picnic at Climbing Bines. The pavilion was nearly filled with people from all three churches, wishing to worship the Lord and enjoy a wonderful brunch together. We appreciate that we could be at this beautiful pavilion for our event. Pastor Jeannine spoke to the kids about money. She asked them if they spent money or saved money. She told them that sometimes we need to leave what we treasure behind to follow Jesus. Some things that we have in life do not cost money. This includes visiting the sick, being cheerful to someone who is sad, praying for someone, and forgiving someone. Sometimes the hardest thing is to say you are sorry to someone. We need to use our treasures for Jesus. Our scripture was from Luke 12: 32-40. Pastor Jeannine spoke to us about whether or not we have anxiety. We need to be alert, we need to be ready for what may come. Sometimes things just happen. God is always there. Our treasure is family, friends, our lives, and God. Don’t forget to decorate your luminary bags for the Hope Walk! It’s coming up soon- August 23rd, to honor and raise money for people who have survived cancer and others that have passed from this disease. At the end of the event, the luminaries are lit and cancer survivors walk around the path of the luminaries. It’s a very touching ceremony. See you back in church at 9 AM on Sundays!
Thank you Grady Bray for your inspirational messages while Pastor Jeannine and Phil Biehls enjoyed a well-deserved vacation. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 8/14/2025 I can not believe that in a few weeks we will hear school bells in the air. We certainly will enjoy our last few weeks of summer, but know that fall is beautiful in this area of the country as well. Jeff Stempien gave the children’s message today- he asked the children how they received their news, whether on TV, through mom and dad, through the radio, telephones or the Internet. He explained that in the Bible times bells and instruments were used to alert people to lnewa events. Hear ye, hear ye, extra, extra, what is the topic of the day? He told the children that God sent the prophet Isaiah who told the crowds that someone was coming. I will send someone to give the message, a voice coming from the wilderness Clear the road for the coming of the Lord. John the Baptist was also sent to give a message. 1 is coming with greater than me. We can all be messengers even something small as a little Bell can give a message. The children all enjoyed clanging their bells before leaving church for their lessons. Our scripture this week was from John 8: 1-11. In Grady’s message he told how Jesus went to the temple. People brought a woman to temple who had committed adultery. Some people felt she should be stoned for her actions. Jesus didn’t condem this woman, or any person who is done wrong, but neither did he condone what she had done. The lesson is to listen. Listen more than you talk. Listen to the story. Jesus had many opportunities to listen and teach. Grady told us that he has had the opportunity to meet both presidents and kings. They are just people like us. They are not people that we should be in awe of. We need to accept all people as they are, as Jesus did. Jesus even accepted Matthew, a tax collector, and people that had committed crimes or broken Commandments. We all need to be more like Jesus. Please come worship with us. We can always use more voices in choir. Choir practice has restarted for the fall season. See you Sunday!
Jeff Stempien gives the kids a lesson in reflection! A mirror redirects the light. Jesus is our light, that we need to reflect. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 8/7/2025 Where has July gone? Soon we will be talking about going back to school. We have enjoyed these summer days. Jeff Stempien gave the kids a lesson in reflection. He brought a lot of flashlights and a mirror and had the kids shine their light. He showed how a mirror can be used to redirect the light. God sent John as a witness. Jesus was born of the light. We need to reflect Jesus‘s light in the word of Christ, by taking our light and going out to others. Jeff told his kids to live by an example and do something nice for others. Our message today was by Grady Bray. He reflected a story when he and his wife Marjorie lived in warm Springs. He was working with young children who had been diagnosed with mental retardation, a term used at that time. He instead found that 30% of the kids were deaf or hard of hearing, and had normal intellect. Grady felt he was the one that was deficient in dealing with the kids, and learned sign language so he could better communicate with them. He explained that sign language involves thinking, saying words, and putting your body into action. He taught all of us how to sign the word Alleluia! This involves clapping your hands twice showing honor and praise, next making two r’s with your fingers and then two circles, and finally opening your hands upwards, your gift to God. He spoke of the Methodist quadrilateral, the movement of spirit, which includes scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. This was John Wesley‘s approach to theology. Thank you Grady for a wonderful message. He showed us how God in Christ is always with us. People see God through Christ. Our worship service and summer church picnic is coming up soon. It will be 10:30 August 10 at the Climbing Bines, with two of our sister churches. Bring your table service and a dish to pass. It will be a great time. Our Canal boat ride has been rescheduled. Check with Ronald Miller to make sure that you can still make that day. Our ice cream social will be Saturday, August 9 at 2-4 pm at church. Many of us went to see the PYTCO Youth Theatre performance of Seussical, this past week The kids did a great job, with so many singing and dancing numbers. Our Meridyn Whitford was a joy to watch as she performed with the group. See at church at 9 AM Sunday! There will be no service in our sanctuary on August 10 because of the church picnic and service at the outside site.