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From the Christ and Williamsville Collaboration Team: (shared in worship on Sunday Aug 30, 2026)

We’re glad to share a brief update on the collaboration between our two churches. We are exploring how God may be calling us to work more closely together. I’m grateful to be joined here today by our friend Alison from Christ United Methodist Church. Some of you may recognize Alison because she was here last week and her children were active in the VBS programming.

We believe God is calling us to find new ways to continue the work Jesus began and to share the Good News of Christ with more people. Our churches, district, conference, and the wider United Methodist Church are changing, and our conversations are continuing. No firm decisions have been made about the consolidation of our two congregations. Over the next six to nine months, we will pray, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and listen to the hopes, dreams and concerns of both congregations as we discern the future together. We are excited about the new opportunities for ministry that joining our congregations would create, something fresh and new that meets the needs of our community while honoring the traditions and strengths of both congregations and the United Methodist Church. We held our first organizational meeting less than two weeks ago to focus on our goals and logistics. As a next step, we are inviting our mission and outreach teams to develop ways for both churches to serve our community together. We are also planning 
shared worship and collaborative Christian education so that our congregations can build relationships with one another and with the pastors who are shepherding us through this process, and we hope to begin deep￾er collaborative efforts after the first of the year.

In the meantime, we’re excited to build relationships through shared worship, Christian education, mission, and community outreach. Both churches have vibrant programs planned through the fall which will largely be open to members of both congregations. For instance, all have been invited to join Christ UMC's monthly Crafting for a Cause, and we are forming a new Bible Study on Adam Hamilton's book "Half Truths" beginning September 21st at Williamsville. We also hope you’ll join us for a Hymn Festival on November 8th at 4:00 p.m. We believe God has meaningful new opportunities ahead, and we look forward to discovering them together. Please feel free to reach out via email to our laity representing Williamsville UMC with any questions you may have: Bethany Fabian, Dave Reichard, Mina Rohde, Doug Young.