SUMC is an active church in our local community and in missions around the world. Here’s what’s going on.
The Outreach Committee purchased 5 cases of various sized diapers and 4 cases of baby wipes using its budget allocation. Those were delivered to Sewickley Community Center Food Pantry (Pantry) on April 6th, along with 11 Easter bags and 11 Giant Eagle gift cards. Sewickley UMC's liaison with the food pantry, Miriam Rader, was amazed that the church had been able to collect Easter bags during the current crisis.
Our monthly Soup & Hummus Sale continues, with 100% of the proceeds paying down the principal on our sanctuary renovation loan. Choices this month are Stuffed Pepper, Wedding, and Lentil soups, and Sandra's Hummus. Orders will be ready for pickup or delivery on May 7. You may order online by April 26 by clicking here.
Holy Week services are posted here on our website. For those who enjoy following and participating in the liturgy, the bulletins are provided with each service. The Easter bulletins also include the Prayer List and Easter “Flower” Dedications.
We were not able to hold our Lenten dinners and programs this year. Missing that fellowship (and food!) is one of many disappointments we’ve had to face in the current state of affairs. Might I suggest that in lieu of that, you look back and enjoy a program from the past? Here’s Leap of Faith’s production, Alive!, from 2014.
On Easter Sunday, we will hold a Sunday school class for the kids over Zoom at 11 am in order to let them celebrate together and see their friends. Parents are encouraged to pick up a goodie bag for each child through 5th grade from the box at door #7 by the church parking lot. The goodie bags will be available from Sunday, April 5 at 2 pm through Friday, April 10. Each bag will contain some eggs for a mini Easter egg hunt, sidewalk chalk, and other goodies for the kids to enjoy. Email Susie.fhnc@gmail.com for the zoom link or more information on how to participate!
Ms. Susie will post a Sunday school lesson, geared to preschool, but available to everyone, on the church homepage and YouTube channel each week we are not able to meet in person. Encourage your kids to watch, and feel free to share with friends and family!
This year, we won't be together to celebrate Easter, and the chancel won’t be adorned with beautiful Easter flowers. But, if you would like to make a “virtual dedication,” fill out the form here no later than Tuesday, April 7. There is no cost, and there won’t be any actual flowers. The dedications will be shared with our SUMC Church Family for the Easter service.
Nina and Noah Wiggins have both been selected as Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows and will participate with their parents Mark and Nancy at Crystal Eye Clinic in Ghana from May 16 – 23.
If you are in need of assistance, please reach out to the pastor or church office to see if the church can meet that need. Here’s a list of resources for assistance.
The needs have been great and will continue to be so. While some were able to purchase extra food and other necessities, many did not have the means to do so. In the ensuing weeks, many lower income families have struggled to buy/get not only food, but diapers, formula, baby food, and other household essentials.
As soon as we are able to worship together physically, Outreach will schedule an UMCOR Sunday observance, since we worshipped via the internet on March 22nd. Some congregants may have given in absence of physical worship services, but UMCOR’s work is so vital around the world. It is this offering that provides the operating funds for UMCOR, so that every dollar donated for a specific disaster or project gets directed to that.
The Western PA Annual Conference has a strong connection with the Nyadire Connection in Zimbabwe. This year, Lenten Fines will be collected and applied to the Fish Farming Program at the Nyadire United Mission to help families with food insecurity.
If you are filling a bag, please be sure to drop it off by April 5th – at this point, the custodian is still at the church from 8 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday.
I've just learned from a volunteer who signed up through the signup genius link in this email, that the Southern Baptist Disaster Response has passed along incorrect information for volunteering with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank.
Thank you to those who supported our sale in March. Your order will be ready for pickup at the church, Thursday, April 2, 11 am - 1 pm, and on Friday, April 3, 9 am - 4 pm. If you need your order to be delivered, let Pam Honeychurch know.
Pastor Russel has received some requests from families with financial hardships during this difficult and unprecedented time. If you are able to help with financial donations, please call Pastor Russel at 412-735-5072 or bring/mail your donation to the church, marking it “Pastoral Care.”
Until we are able to gather as a church again for worship, beginning this Sunday at 10 am, visit our website (sewickleyumc.org) for a blended 4th Sunday of Lent Worship Service, brought to us thanks to Pastor Russel, Leap of Faith, and Matt McTeague. The service will also be available on the church’s Facebook page. For those who enjoy following and participating in the liturgy, the bulletin is available here.
If you would like to purchase flowers to adorn the chancel on Easter Sunday, please complete this form and mail or bring to the church. The order deadline is March 29. If we are not able to hold Easter services, refunds will be given.
This is UMCOR Sunday (previously known as One Great Hour of Sharing). This special offering lays the foundation for UMCOR’s ministry of relief and hope.
The Sewickley Community Center Food Pantry will be open every Wednesday through April (and possibly longer) from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
