for what we can get out of it. Jesus calls to par�cipate in the community of faith, as the place that receives our gi�s and gathers our gi�edness and is the body of Christ for a hur�ng world.

Through this campaign, we’ve ensured the las�ng legacy on this corner where we are equipped to care for others. And beyond our own ministries (several of which serve folks beyond our memberships), this building hosts mul�ple non-profit groups, a counselor, and, with the recent upgrades to the kitchen and renova�ons of the educa�on wing, we are poised to host even more community events. People who experience our building at funerals, weddings, showers, and fairs are some�mes surprised but o�en thrilled to experience a religious community with a wide welcome for all. The stereotype of churches as closed-minded and irrelevant s�ll pervades the secular community and ELUMC enjoys bus�ng those expecta�ons.

On September 30, it was wonderful to host the annual mee�ng of the Pioneer Valley Free Health Service in the Fellowship Hall where it began all those years ago.

In 2016, we’ll have a chance to con�nue to raise the level of hope through our Habitat focus. We’ll be part of a Circle of Faith, building a Habitat house in Springfield working with partners like Rabbi Mark Shapiro’s flock from Temple Sinai, Peter Swarr and our Episcopal kindred. We’ll branch out to include some Lutherans from Wilbraham, a congrega�on or two from Longmeadow, a few Catholics from Springfield, the business community, some public servants, maybe a firehouse or two, perhaps even a mosque. It will be a great opportunity to invite others to join us in this respected ministry.

Make it part of your stewardship commitment, make it your new year’s resolu�on if you need to, whatever it takes to be a part of this sign of hope.

For in a world divided, o�en along religious lines, in a environment of poli�cal extremism, and the rhetoric of despair, you can offer hope, be hope. Shalom, Pastor Kelly

(See more on back cover)

So many people have stepped up this fall to ensure the ministries of this building con�nue to be a sign of hope. I’m incredibly grateful and proud of this congrega�on’s efforts.

The capital campaign was a blessed opportunity to tell the stories of what ELUMC has meant to us and to dream about our plans for tomorrow. I’ve been impressed and surprised actually at all the different people who have contributed. You’d expect members to pledge, but we’ve also received gi�s from non-members, former members, former pastors, and friends of friends connected only through our online ministries.

You might also be surprised to realize that we’ve had generous giving from those on fixed incomes, young families with kids, individuals (as we used to say in Texas) with barely two nickels to rub together. Early on we had leadership gi�s from families pu�ng kids through college and those burdened by medical expenses. It seems everyone wanted to be part of the this history-making campaign. And we’ve been blessed by those without financial contribu�ons who have offered gi�s of �me and talent!

It’s been an exci�ng fall to be a part of this family of faith. At the recent wedding of two of our members, there was a new baby (an infant not much more than a week old) and at the recep�on I saw that �ny soul in the arms of so many members. I never saw Sammy in his own parents arms. I know that, eventually, the moms got their child back because there was a photo of the three of them dancing together– blessed family–on facebook.

And we con�nue to pray for Sammy and Jeff and so many others on our prayer list. A couple members have even stepped up to visit those in hospitals or home alone. It’s a beau�ful thing (and a Biblical impera�ve) and Sco� Grabowski or Eileen Brogan can tes�fy about how meaningful visi�ng can be.

All of your offerings of �me and money, energy and presence, remind us that we’re not part of a congrega�on

photo by Fred Gagnon N o v e m b e r 2015 { on-Line Edi�on }

A l e g a c y o f h o p e

T�� M�������� M��������

2

November 7

Diane & Bob

Ferguson

Eleanor G__ at Wingate Hampden, Marilyn B__ at LifeCare, Wilbraham, Dottie B__ (Joan M__ ’s mom) at Birch Manor in Chicopee,

Shirley P__ at Wingate E.L. and Arnold C__ at Emeritus in E.L.

Special health concerns: Edie B__ , Ken E__ (Denise’s dad), Barbara K__ (Carol J__ ’s mom), Helen L__ , Grace M__ , Phyllis R__ .

November 1

Turn your clocks back one hour on November 1.

Don’t miss out on any im-portant church e-mails. Please no�fy the church office if you change your e-mail address.

BABY NEWS!

Congratula�ons to the Gelinas family as they welcome new baby, Faye Iris to the family. Faye was born on 10/11, 7 lbs. 6 oz.

As the office will be closed between Christmas and the New Year, the �������� for the J������ Methodist Messenger will be D������� 3. If you plan to have an article in that issue, please submit it by the deadline.

The deadline for the December issue will remain November 15.

Need a custom deco-rated cake for a special occasion? A wide range of flavors, as well as some gluten free and vegan op�ons, are available in a variety of

sizes including cupcakes. Please see Vance Gagnon for details. Thanks!

Dear Friends, Thank you so much for the dona�on in Joe’s memory to the building fund. With Love Jean Merton & Family

Dear friends of the ELUMC: It is a joy to offer this small gi� to your “Growing Today” Campaign. I’d like to give it in memory of my dear friend & spiritual mentor Florence Pomeroy. I will never forget the many ways she and others in this dear church en-couraged me as I took my first uncertain steps in my ministry. May you all accomplish your hopes for this building campaign and, more importantly, in your minis-tries both within & beyond the church building. Blessings Pastor Ricki Aiello

T�� M�������� M��������

3

G�� -by Brian Doyle

By purest chance I was out in our

street when the kindergarten

Bus mumbled past going slow and I looked up just as all seven

Kids on my side of the bus looked at me and I grinned and they

Lit up and all this crap

about God being dead

and where is God

And who owns God and

who hears God be�er

than whom is the

Most egregiously stupid

crap imaginable because

if you want to

See God and have God see you and have this mutual percep�on

Be completely untrammeled by blather and greed and comment,

Go stand in the street as the kindergarten bus murmurs past. I’m

Not kidding and this is not a metaphor. I am completely serious.

Everyone babbles about God but I saw God this morning just as

The bus slowed down for the stop on Maple Street. God was six

Girls and one boy with a bright green and purple stegosaurus hat.

Of course God would wear a brilliantly colored tall dinosaur hat!

If you were the Imagina�on that dreamed up everything that ever

Was in this blistering perfect terrible world, wouldn’t you wear a

Hat celebra�ng some of the wildest most amazing developments?

--printed in Chris�an Century, Oct 14, 2015

N � � � � � � � U M Y M � � �� �� D � �� �

11/1 6:30 - 8:00 pm

11/8 6:30 - 8:00 pm

11/14 8:30 am-3:00 pm (Food Concessions- Cra�y Apple Fair)

11/22 6:30 - 8:00 pm

O������� S���� A��������. R�����, ���� ����� ���!

If we sound desperate, it’s because we are. We have a growing number of kids

and a need for another Sunday School class but no teachers. We need a team of teachers for each class so that in the midst of our busy lives and schedules, we can provide consistent leadership. With a team, no one person need worry about being available each week, schedules can be accommodated.

No skills, no Biblical knowledge, no problem.

We have a good curriculum that leads the way and an Educa�on Team excited and willing to help with class management, supplies, ac�vi�es–whatever is needed. And what be�er way to learn the Bible than teaching the stories? We’ve heard, over and over again from past teachers, who felt completely unqualified to teach and yet, who gained so much more from the experience.

Don’t know what church can offer you? Or how you fit in to the ministries here? Here’s what you can get out of church, an opportunity to focus on something beyond your own impossible lists of good and worthy projects and immerse yourself in learning with the next genera�on how faith can nourish your life.

Talk with Laurie Conz about the possibili�es of seeing God in our youngest disciples.

P.S. Other teams also need your input: Outreach/Stewardship, Reconciling, Media, and Finance/Endowment are always looking for interested souls.

COLLEGE STUDENT

ADDRESSES

In order for us to keep track of all of our college students,

please send their addresses to the office as soon as possible.

Pledges have poured in from regular members and inac�ve folks, from former pastors and those who have moved away. We received dona�ons from friends or family of members who have only been connected to ELUMC through our online ministries.

And even those who couldn’t give financial support, discov-ered other ways to offer the gi�s they have to offer.

On October 25, we celebrated pledges

of $277,420!

WE CRUSHED OUR GOAL! The generosity of this church is a testament to all the great things that are bubbling up in our church.

You will see the work star�ng soon as we will be replacing

windows in our Educa�on Wing before the snow comes.

In the Spring, we will start the siding, and complete the re-

placement of the remaining windows.

W ith joy and gra�tude for our 45 years in ministry at the corner

of Chestnut Street & Somers Road, the East Longmeadow United

Methodist Church has launched a capital fund raising campaign to meet the future needs of our grow-ing ministries and to provide a more functional and wel-coming environment for our members and the many visi-tors we’ve been receiving. Like any 45-year-old home, our building requires upda�ng to make it safe and sus-tainable. A�er addressing our immediate needs concern-ing the exterior of the building and accessibility improve-ments to meet building code requirements, we will make improvements to support our growing Sunday School, upgrade our worship space, and explore green energy to be be�er stewards of crea�on and lower u�lity costs. We’re also overdue on our parsonage garage commit-ment and need to protect our investment in that proper-ty. Finally, we will �the 10% of the monies raised for out-reach through the New Hope Regional Ministry sup-por�ng collabora�ve urban ministries in Greater Spring-field. You may have no�ced a new bu�on on our webpage. We've created a way for those far away who care about the legacy of this place to give online through PayPal. But there is a cost to this service 2.2% of the dona�on plus .45 fee per transac�on so just know that if you're using this method to donate to the church that the amount the church receives will be reduced by that much. Just call it the price of convenience. For ongoing giving, you might also consider arranging with your bank to handle auto bank pay.... that way, your financial ins�tu�on cuts the church a check every month according to your schedule and mails it for you. Several members find this a convenient way to give.

We thought we needed $250,000 conserva�vely to accomplish all the projects we wanted to do, but

the Campaign team thought that was beyond our means. A�er all, in our 163-year history, we have never met a Capital Campaign goal, so we decided to set a stretch goal of $225,000, and we shared the vision, we hosted conversa�ons, we celebrated our history, proclaimed the wide welcome of our present, and dreamed of our shared future, and then we waited and we prayed . . .

T�� M�������� M��������

4

Now we turn our a�en�on to that other kind of financial giving—annual stewardship commitments,

or front pocket giving (as we’ve been calling it) to dis�nguish it from back pocket capital dona�ons. And as we move from one campaign to another, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to shout . . .

are you kidding?

In fact , R U Kidding is the name of our stewardship series but the “kidding” part isn’t really a reference to the

fact that we’re star�ng an annual giving campaign on the heels of a capital campaign, that’s just a clever coincidence. We’re actually reflec�ng on what Jesus had to say about the kin-dom of God which, Jesus said, required us to become more like children to understand it all.

T�� M�������� M��������

5

G������ T���� F�� T������� On Sunday, October 25th, ELUMC was joined by District Superintendent, David Calhoun, to celebrate the success of the

Growing Today for Tomorrow campaign, and to kick off our “R U Kidding?” stewardship campaign.

David Calhoun joins the Growing Today team of Pastor Kelly, Kelly Greene, Joan McGowan, Rick Hutchison, Bob Ferguson, Paul Kinney, John Dunlop, & Kaitlin (KC) Leveille to celebrate this historic moment in the life of the church.

Because when you think of the family of faith you think about the Brady Bunch opening theme song, right? “Mom” is lay leader Christ Hutchison with “Dad” (Jesus) played by none other than Bob Ferguson. The rowdy kids who come together to form this hopeful bunch include John Dunlop, Julie Dunlop, Kaitlin Leveille, Kelly Greene, Paul Kinney & Joan McGowan. (Song lyrics on ELUMC’s Facebook page)

With MUCH GRATITUDE to the Capital Campaign Team Paul Kinney & Kelly Greene, Co-Chairs

Rick Hutchinson, Co-Lay-Leader John Dunlop, Council Chair, Joan McGowan, Trustees

Kaitlin Leveille, Safe Sanctuary Coordinator Bob Ferguson, Endowment Guru

Kelly Turney, Pastor

Standing ova�on and dancing’ Alleluias when it was announced that we crushed our goal.

T�� M�������� M�������� 6

In the discussion of Being Mortal, we covered a number of issues for us as we age and those who care for us. There is a conversa�on starter available on-line to guide families through difficult planning for aging discussions and here is a checklist that can make life easier in case of emergency.

Health emergencies with our elders can o�en become complicated by the sheer number of medica�ons, doctors, insurance

coverage and degree of chronic or acute illness(es) involved. Below is a comprehensive list of informa�on and documents to keep on hand, so you'll be prepared.

Senior Care Emergency Checklist Doctors' names, their special�es and phone numbers.

List of all medica�ons being taken and what the prescrip�ons are for (be sure to keep the informa�on updated -- as the medica�ons may change frequently).

Medical insurance and prescrip�on plans and iden�fica�on numbers.

Social security number -- many insurance companies won't talk to anyone without the pa�ent's social security number.

Durable power of a�orney -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to handle legal and financial issues if your parent or elderly rela�ve becomes incapacitated.

Health care proxy -- a legal document that gives someone the authority to make medical decisions for your parent or elderly rela�ve.

Specifica�on of your elderly parent's or rela�ve's wishes about resuscita�on orders. Do you know their wishes? Knowing this informa�on before a crisis can be crucial to the way in which you handle the crisis.

Basic financial records -- a list of assets, account numbers, names and contact informa�on for financial advisors or bank representa�ve.

Names and addresses of people to no�fy in case of an emergency -- such as children, grandchildren, close friends and neighbors who might be able to help out.

Names and contact informa�on for local clergy, if your parent or elderly rela�ve has a preferred religious affilia�on.

This informa�on should be placed in the home in an easy-to-find loca�on, such as near the phone in the kitchen, or in another commonly used area, as well as given to another family member or friend who agrees to keep a copy of the informa�on for you.

adapted from care.com by Ronnie Friedland. She has co-edited three books on paren�ng and interfaith family issues.

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Need some down time? Have some shopping to do? Lunch and a movie? It’s your day...spend it

how you like! The UMY will take your children for our annual childcare day

on Dec. 5th. Times to be announced. More details to follow.

NOVEMBER 23, 2015 with Gary Richards presiding.

United Methodist Youth 2016 Super Bowl Sunday

Grinders!!

Pre-order your meal beginning January 10th

More details to follow

S AV E T H E D ATE S !

K������� N���� N������� 4, 6:30 ��/������ Come help us create prayer

squares for those who can’t be with us in worship. This Christmas we want to show people we’re thinking about them. Supplies and instructions provided.

T�� M�������� M��������

7

CHRISTMAS CANTATA December 13, 2015

The Memory of Angels

Rehearsals, Thursdays 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Special rehearsals

11/1, 11:15 am-12:45 pm, 11/22, 11:15 am- 2:45 pm

12/1, 6:30- 8:30 pm

Dress Rehearsal 12/5, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

Presentation in Worship Dec. 13, 10 am

Come lift your voice with us during this joyous season!

The Board’s Head Festival Trinity United Methodist Church

Once again we are approaching one of the highlights of the Christmas season, The BOAR’S HEAD FESTIVAL. We at Trinity consider this drama�za�on of the Epiphany story to be our gi� to the greater Springfield Community.

General �cket sales will be available for orders post-marked November 1st or later. Credit card orders placed in person or by telephone will be accepted beginning November 9th at the Boar’s Head Fes�val Box Office (413-733-4759.)

Please see the bulle�n board for more informa�on.

The Trustees are asking for your help to

cleanup the area in and around the playground.

The fence area is in desperate need of having weeds pulled. We have a weedwacker in the garage to make the job easier. Perhaps several people could take this on. A key is necessary to open the garage and playground so please call Dave Ritchie (cell 896-3698) or Joan Clark so that a key can be provided. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

The Mission Shares Marketplace will be open following worship on Sunday, Novem-ber 8th. Feel free to stop by, pickup some delicious homemade soup and bread to go, and help support the church's global missions. Thank you!

M��� O�� M����������� Gordon and Ardell Graner

(submi�ed by Lois Harris)

Gordon and his wife, Ardell are working in church devel-opment with the Inglesia Evangelica Dominicana(Evangelical Church in the Dominican Republic) since

April 2013. Prior to that they served 23 years in a rural minis-try 20 miles outside of Cochabama in Bolivia. The Evangelical Church in the Dominican Republic is a united denomina�on of congrega�ons of Methodists, Presbyterians, Wesleyans and Moravians with roots going back to 1919, currently with 10,000 members and 70 churches.

Gordon makes this statement: “To be a missionary is to bridge cultures. Across the bridge we walk and meet our new neighbors sharing our lives with them and they with us.” He is a na�ve of Bismark, ND and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture/Animal Science from North Dakota State University in Fargo, and a Master of Arts degree in Reli-gion from Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY.

Ardell works in the area of Chris�an educa�on in the united denomina�on. She says “ We are visi�ng the 70 churches on the island and listening. The Dominican people are very beau�ful spiritually and in every other way. What is very ex-ci�ng is the passion and enthusiasm they share on a daily basis.” She is a na�ve of McHenry, ND and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hor�culture from North Dakota State University, and a Master of Educa�on degree from the Uni-versity of Minnesota.

Gordon and Ardell Graner are two of the missionaries that our Mission Shares help support.

MISSION SHARES FUNDS Blank gree�ng cards are on sale as a fund-raiser for our Mission Shares Funds. The cards are $3.00 each and are on display in the parlor.

The cards display original photos taken by Theda Cornbower.

H����� I� T�� F���

On October 24th & 25th church members enjoyed a week-end of Fall hiking in the area. On Saturday, the hike took place at Poet’s Seat in Greenfield. On Sunday, the Ludlow Reservoir was visited .

Louise House, and Laurie & Gary Conz enjoy the colors of Fall at the Ludlow Reservoir.

(photo by Fred Gagnon)

Pastor Kelly, Gary Conz, Beth Fisk and Vance Gagnon enjoy a day of hiking in Greenfield at Poet’s Seat.

(photo by Kelly Greene)

Fred Gagnon, Gary Conz, Laurie Conz & Louise House at the Ludlow Reservoir. (photo by Fred Gagnon)

The view from the tower window at

Poet’s Seat

(photo by Kelly Turney)

Gary Conz contemplates a peaceful scene at the Ludlow Reservoir. (photo by Fred Gagnon)

SAFE SANCTUARIES

T��� ������ �� ��������� �� ���������

� ���� ����� ��� ��� ��������.

Address Service Requested

East Longmeadow United Methodist Church 215 Somers Road, STE 2

East Longmeadow, MA 01028-2998 413-525-7416 • a reconciling congrega�on

www.elumc.org

THE SUNDAY EXPERIENCE

8:30 a.m. – Bible Study for Jr./Sr. High & Adults 10:00 a.m. – Worship & Church School (pre-schoolers through Grade 5) Professional child care is provided for “Cribs & Creepers”/“Toddlers & Twos.” 11:15 a.m. – Fellowship Time

The Methodist Messenger is a journal of the ministry of The East Longmeadow United Methodist Church. Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

O ur good stewardship is a response to the glorious, abundant kin-dom of God we’re

part of here, now. It’s about so much more than money—it’s about how we use our blessings—our �me, talents, witness, presence.

Join us in worship as we celebrate all the gi�s we bring in faith, and we bless our pledges of financial gi�s for the 2016 year of ministry at ELUMC .

Making a Habitat for Hope to Grow

There’s an overgrown lot on the corner of Allen St and Grov-eton in Springfield—but not for long. Congrega�ons & Habitat for Humanity are building a house on that property. Our work, alongside the homeowner, will be a sign of hope for the neighborhood and for the world. People of different faiths, and those who claim no faith will put down their differences and pick up a hammer. But you don’t need to swing a hammer to be involved, you can recruit others, talk about it among your circle, or, if you have access to contractors or building supplies, secure dona�ons of provisions or skilled labor.

It’s all a part of our greater legacy–crea�ng a habitat for hope. So we invite you to be part of the mission in some way: create a habitat of conversa�on with friends and co-workers about affordable

housing and how we can help, create a habitat for rela�onship working with others to support this mission, create a habitat for giving back by encouraging your workplace to get involved, create a habitat for service, recrui�ng non-church individuals and groups to

work alongside the circle of faith members, create a habitat of poli�cal common ground discussing President Carter’s com-

mitment to public service through Habitat for Humanity or the Carter Center, create a habitat of skill building by working construc�on alongside experienced

contractors, create a habitat of hospitality by offering support func�ons like refreshments to

on-site volunteers, create a habitat of joy by priori�zing mission in your busy schedule, create a habitat of change and make a difference in the community.

Share in the Share in the joy of

Consecration Sunday November 15

Photo by Laurel Manley

For the on-line church calendar follow this link:

http://57650311.view-events.com/