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Our WUMC Community
We nurture active fellowship that encourages growth in a lifelong spiritual journey with Christ. Our community life at WUMC provides opportunities for service, ministry, and fellowship as we discover ways to serve God, our church, and the greater Buffalo community. As part of the larger United Methodist community, we are committed to social justice, ending hunger, eradicating diseases of poverty, and being the healing faith community God calls us to be.
On this page, you will learn about some of the ways individuals and groups at WUMC experience what it means to be part of a church community. Be sure to visit the WUMC Community Thoughts page to read uplifting articles and tidbits shared by those in our church community. Also, take a look at the photos of recent events and/or services at WUMC on the Photos of Our WUMC Community page.
Book Club Meeting - May 17
Ann Killian
The Book Club will complete its 2012-2013 reading year on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Yoteen Cameron. In The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, we meet Enzo who considers himself a human soul in a dog's body. From this vantage point and with his sensitivities, Enzo has special insight into human behavior, especially in the lives of his human family.
After reading this story, you will look at your own pet . . . and wonder, what if?
We hope you can join us for a good discussion of an interesting book. Please contact Ann Killian for more information.
 The Methodist Messenger Newsletter is Going Digital!
After considerable thought, discussion, and planning, we have decided to go digital with the monthly Methodist Messenger newsletter. In recent weeks, those of you on our e-mail list have received the weekly Methodist Messenger in digital format. The response to the weekly digital version has been positive. We hope for and expect a similar response to the monthly digital version. The upcoming July/August issue of the Methodist Messenger will be the first in digital format.
If you are on our e-mail list and receive the weekly Methodist Messenger, there is nothing you need to do to receive the July/August issue. If you are not on our e-mail list, please e-mail the Communications Team to sign up for the newsletter. We currently have approximately 250 e-mail subscribers. Please be sure to include the e-mail addresses of all family members who wish to receive the monthly Methodist Messenger - even those who live out of town.
We realize that some of you prefer the paper version including those who are not able to receive the digital version. If that applies to you, please complete the form on the outer page of the May 2013 issue of the Methodist Messenger and return it to the church office as soon as possible.
We hope you will become accustomed to and enjoy the new digital version of monthly Methodist Messenger newsletter. More on this topic in the near future.
 Huge Thanks for the Talent Auction's HUGE Success!
We would like to extend a huge Thank You to all those who helped make WUMC's first annual Talent Auction a huge success!
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Thank you to everyone who donated and prepared the delicious food and thank you to the youth group who made sure everyone got a taste!
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We thank the organizers who greeted and registered everyone and kept the event flowing smoothly.
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We thank our wonderful musicians who set the mood for a lovely shopping experience.
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Thank you to everyone who donated items and volunteered their talents! This event would not have been possible without your generous donations.
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We also thank everyone who attended and made it a great night that filled the church with laughter!
It's always amazing to see what great things happen when we work together in faith! We are blessed with so many talented members and now we are able to bless Gateway-Longview, Seneca St. UMC, Asbury Shalom Zone, and Niagara Frontier City Ministries with a generous donation. Thank you to everyone who made this a memorable and successful event. We can't wait for next year!
Women of Williamsville Update
Before taking a summer break, the WOW group met on May 6 for a Potluck and Game Night. We had a wonderful time sharing delicious food provided by the women, visiting during and after dinner, and even worked in a little game playing. We were having such a nice time visiting that we almost forgot to play the games! Those who stayed for the games played a noncompetitive (right!) game of Sequence followed by a lightening round of Banana Grams.
We are thinking about having a summer outing to someplace like Hurd Orchards in Holley, NY or maybe someplace closer. If you have an idea for a summer outing that the women would enjoy, please contact Sondra, Carol, or Denise Reichard with the information.
Speaking of Denise Reichard – we are pleased that she will be joining Sondra and Carol in September to help plan and lead WOW meetings. Not only does Denise have lots of creative ideas, but it’s nice to have an extra pair of hands during the times when Carol or Sondra is traveling. If you are interested in joining the WOW planning team, please contact Carol, Denise, or Sondra.
We are in the process of setting a time and place to give the donations we’ve gathered for Haven House to their Community Coordinator. Once again, we thank everyone for their generous donations to this organization that provides safe shelter for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. We will continue working with Haven House next fall to help meet the needs of women who are staying at their safe shelter.
We are already looking forward to our Kick-Off Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on September 9 (location TBD). Because of the Labor Day holiday, we will meet on the second Monday in September instead of our usual first Monday. Mark your calendars now for that dinner! In the meantime, we’ll see all of our WOW friends in church over the summer.
Other WUMC Community Activities
Our vibrant community at WUMC includes many other activities that meet the spiritual and fellowship needs of members and friends including:
- Annual Summer Church Picnic
- Hanging of the Greens in December
 WUMC Prayer Chain Ministry
The Prayer Chain at WUMC accepts prayer requests for friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers. You do not need to be a member of our church to ask for prayers.
As soon as we receive a prayer request from an individual or the pastor, we start the prayer request on the two lists of Prayer Chain members. Each member of the Prayer Chain calls the person below them to ensure the Prayer Chain is not broken. We convey the prayer request as succinctly as possible to protect one’s privacy. In fact, all prayer requests are considered confidential and are shared only with the pastor and other members of the Prayer Chain. Once we are notified that the last person on each list has received the prayer request, then we close the Prayer Chain.
While it takes only a few minutes of telephone conversation to pass along a prayer request, this is an important ministry to those in need of spiritual assistance with all of life’s many problems. I do not know of many other church activities that are more rewarding. Feel free to call Bob or Irene Hayman at 688-1258 if you have a prayer request or need additional information.
Forty Fellowship
On May 23, 1982, part of the worship service at Williamsville United Methodist was to recognize and pay tribute to those who had been members of our church for 40 years or more. On that day, 16 Charter Members of the “Forty Fellowship” were honored. During the worship service they were presented with a United Methodist pin and a Charter Member Certificate to the Forty Fellowship. A reception was held after the service and pictures were taken. Forming a Forty Fellowship was a small way to say, “We love you and appreciate your faithfulness."
The hope of the membership committee in 1982 (Mary Jane Haight-Eckert, Clifford Eckert, Gretchen Hall, Mary El Minich, Robert Oehmler, Frank Swansfefer, Irene Williams, and Lyn Wixom) was to make the Forty Fellowship a regular part of Heritage Sunday each year.
Almost 30 years later, WUMC continues this wonderful tradition of honoring these special members of our congregation. Congratulations to our new Forty Fellowship members and all who have been honored for this milestone over the years!!
Forty Fellowship Honored - June 2012
It was a beautiful summer morning on June 3, 2012, when Williamsville UMC recognized our 40+ year members. The fellowship began in 1982 with 16 members and honors those who have been continuous members of WUMC for 40 years or more. Our most recent inductees into the Forty Fellowship are Martin Truesdell and William Daw, Jr.
Once again this year, it was so nice to see the gathering of those who have graced our church for so many years. It is their ministries over the years that have allowed WUMC to move forward and be the terrific church it is. It is through their memories, wisdom, and experience that we too learn about faith. Our faith teaches us that time does not take away God's blessings. Scripture teaches us that God continues to use older adults for His purpose and mission on earth. The Bible also suggests that long life is a gift from God. It is His reward for faithfulness.
Proverbs 16:31 says: Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
Isaiah 46:3-4 says: Listen to me, O house of Jacob..... even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
May God walk with each of you as you continue on your faith journey.
Beechwood Service Guild
In October 2011, the Beechwood Service Guild began its 49th year of activities for the residents of the Beechwood Continuing Care. The goal of this guild is to continue the purpose set forth many years ago: Serve the Beechwood residents in all possible ways.
All thanks to God that we are able to serve in various ways. Our gratitude goes to you, our Guild members and friends, who have supported us each year. Annual dues to the Guild are only $3.00. Special envelopes are placed in the church bulletin today. You make a meaningful difference when you renew your support. Each year the Guild hosts a Christmas Tea in December that includes a mini bazaar. Proceeds go to the Activities Department to provide funds to purchase needed items for the residents. Proceeds from the June Tea go to the Living Care Fund that helps support the residents who have used up their personal resources.
Meetings for special programs are held the first Wednesday of October, November, January, and May at 10:30 AM. Coffee and snacks are served. We welcome you to our meetings and encourage you to BE A FRIEND. May God bless you abundantly. Questions may be directed to Edna Cabaltica.
 United Methodist Women
United Methodist Women (UMW) is an organization of approximately one million members worldwide whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders and advocate for justice. Members raise nearly $25 million each year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. Visit the UMW website at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umw/ to learn more about the programs and projects they support.
UMW Rachel Circle at WUMC
At WUMC, the Rachel Circle is an active UMW circle that meets on a monthly basis. In addition to providing fellowship and support, this circle works on several projects each year. For example, through their fundraising projects, these circles are able to donate approximately $1,000 each year to the Niagara Frontier District UMW.
In addition, the Rachel Circle is responsible for one of the cottages at Gateway-Longview. When a resident of their cottage has a birthday, the Rachel Circle makes a birthday cake and then delivers it. They usually provide about 10 cakes each year.
The women who participate in this circle enjoy special times of fellowship as they support worthy projects and plan fundraisers that contribute to the worldwide efforts of the UMW organization.
 Women of Williamsville (WOW) Group
The WOW (Women of Williamsville) group meets in the parlor at WUMC on the first Monday evening of the month, September through May, at 7:00 p.m. Our purpose is to strengthen our sense of community through friendship as we learn and grow together. The monthly programs vary, but always focus on deepening our faith through learning, renewal, and reaching out to others. Recently we assembled Flood Buckets for UMCOR, had a Christmas Cookie Exchange that included donating nearly 20 dozen cookies to the Seneca Street UMC Neighborhood Christmas Party, and providing holiday meal bags for needy families. Any change in our meeting time or location will be announced in advance of the meeting. For more information, contact Sondra Scott or Carol Forden.
WUMC's Church Library
Our church library is filled with study guides, Bible commentaries, Christian reading materials, and recordings of sermons. In addition to providing resources for faith formation, WUMC's library has a "Family Section" that provides materials that address the needs of families. In this section you will find books such as Sacred Stories of Ordinary Families: Living the Faith in Daily Life by Diana R. Garland. This book includes interviews with 110 families who were each asked, “What exactly is it that characterizes faith and spirituality in family life?” Take time to read one or two stories “from ordinary families whose lives together both reveal and rely on extraordinary faith!” New books are always being added to the library. So, feel free to peruse the books and check out one or two for your personal use.
A Quiet Place with God
When you need a respite from the fast pace of your busy life, the Prayer Corner in our church library is a place to spend some quiet time with God. Read and meditate on a passage of Scripture. Turn your worries and concerns over to God in prayer. Or simply be in silence and allow God's life-giving love to wash over you and renew your strength for the continuing journey. The Prayer Corner is available whenever the church is open during the day or evenings. Rest in God's promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age."
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Community News
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| Forty Fellowship Honored - June 9 Sunday, June 9, at the 10:00 a.m. service, new members will be inducted into the Forty Fellowship. We will honor all the other members of the Forty Fellowship for their 40+ years of continuous member-ship, service, and support of WUMC. A reception in the parlor will follow the service. |
| Sign Up for a Focus Group Don’t forget to sign up to participate in one of the five focus groups listed on the back of the Ritual of Friendship sheet. We need your ideas to help us plan for WUMC's future! |
| WUMC's New E-Mail Service
If you haven't received an e-mail from the church -that means we don't have your email address! Please be sure to include your current email address on your Ritual of Friendship slip so we can add you to the distribution list! |
| WUMC Food Pantry Our food pantry provides extra assistance to families and individuals who are experiencing hard times. Please remember this important ministry when you are in the grocery store this week. Some of the items we are especially in need of are: juice, coffee, canned pasta such as Spaghetti O’s and ravioli, oatmeal, canned fruit, Jell-O, peanut butter, jelly, and applesauce. Note: We do not need pasta, rice, or baby food at this time. |
| WUMC on Facebook!! Visiting WUMC's Facebook page is a great way to stay up-to-date on church news and events. If you have a Facebook account, please visit WUMC's Facebook page and be sure to “Like” us! |
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