Pastor's Page

(updated 05-31-23)   “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”  John 16:4-11 NRSV 

Congregational Care & Family Ministries

Rev. Jeff Hodge  (updated 05-31-23)   Celebrate the Children on Sunday, June 11, 2023   Please bring the children and youth in your life with you to worship on June 11th! We will celebrate BFUMC’s children and youth on June 11 with a few fun surprises to help us see and celebrate God through the eyes of children.
Summer Camperships are available   BFUMC offers Camperships for summer camp. Aid will be determined by the number of applicants and the available funds. There are copies of the application in the May Visitor. We have not received any applications this year, so we are extending the deadline to Wednesday, June 7. If you have any questions, please see Pastor Bill, Pastor Jeff or Janet Brooks. The camperships will be awarded on Sunday, June 11. Check out these sites for more information about the camps:Casawasco.org, aldersgateny.org 

Church BBQ Chicken Fundraiser

Chicken BBQ Fundraiser  ~ ~  We are looking for volunteers to assist the U.M.M. in a Church BBQ chicken plate fundraiser.  This solicitation is for the entire congregation.  This will be a monthly fundraiser for the church during the summer.  The first sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 17 with a rain date the following Saturday, June 24.  Duties include kitchen help preparing baked beans and salt potatoes.  We also need helpers to plate the meals in the to-go containers.  Money collectors and plate delivery helpers are also needed along with assistance in cleaning up.  This sale will be a drive-thru only event and limited to 200 chicken halves.  The chicken cookers and kitchen helpers will begin at approximately 7:00 a.m. with the remaining helpers beginning at approximately 9:00 a.m.  The sale should end around 1:00 p.m.

Church on the Island

CHURCH ON THE ISLAND
Church on the Island begins June 18 and runs thru September 3. The season features a 30-minute service at 8:00 a.m. with different guest preachers and musicians each week.
June 18:           Rev. Jeff Hodge, COTI Coordinator, BFUMC/Pennellville UMC  
June 25:           Rev. Bill Mudge, Baldwinsville First UMC
July 2:              Rev. Michael Grinnals, Plainville Community Church
July 9:              Rev. Elizabeth Quick, The United Methodist Church

Eureka! Book Club

We meet monthly at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel at BFUMC. There is no membership requirement or need to be at all of the meetings.   
June 20: Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption by Bryan Stevenson. 2014 Written by the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit in Montgomery, Alabama, this book recounts true stories of their work serving the poor and voiceless.  Highlighted is the case of Walter McMillian, a black man who was accused of two murders and spent more than six years on death row despite compelling evidence of his innocence.  Powerful and thought-provoking as well as hopeful.  Released as a full-length movie starring Michael B. Jordan in 2019.

Vacation Bible School

“Hero Hotline” is the Theme of Vacation Bible School  ~~  June 26-June 30  
It’s time for another fun week of adventure and education as we don our capes and answer the “Hero Hotline” from 9:00 until 12:15 p.m. on Monday, June 26 thru Friday, June 30. You can register in advance or on opening day for this free Vacation Bible School held throughout the building at BFUMC. Get ready for a great week that includes:

  • Super Meer, the Meerkat Puppet

  • A new Story every day

  • A color of the day – Monday: Yellow, Tuesday: Green, Wednesday: Orange, Thursday, Blue, Friday, Red

  • Music, Crafts, Science, Recreation, and Snacks every day!

8-4-F

We are thinking of restarting the 8-4-F dinners in the Fall of 2023. Open to any person interested in meeting once a month with a group of eight people to eat, drink, and get to know each other in our church family. 
The host for the month will provide the entree and the guests will provide appetizer, side dishes, salad, bread, and dessert. You do not have to participate every month as many people are away in the winter months.
We need to find out how many are interested in doing this again.
Please email Eileen Rice at: Raylee73@aol.com or call Eileen at 315-635-9644 or Melba Lindsey at: lynb81@hotmail.com by August 15, 2023 so we can plan accordingly. We had a lot of fun and some really great meals before Covid, and we'd like to do it again. Looking forward to hearing from you. Eileen and Melba