March 28, 2024

Church News

Prayers Lifted on

Sunday March 24th, 2024

During last Sunday's worship service, we received the following

requests for prayers...

For the people of Ukraine.
For the people of Gaza, and decision makers everywhere.
For the people of Moscow, after this week's terror attacks.
For the people of Nashville, TN, as they remember the one year anniversary of the shooting, and for all who grieve the losses and suffering of gun violence.
For the people of Haiti.
Of Joy for successful surgery and ongoing recovery - Paul B.
Of Joy and congratulations to our Choral Scholars, Charley, Niamh, and Matt, on their outstanding and fantastic performance of Les Miserables - NC
Of gratitude, for the many women we celebrate throughout Women's History Month, especially those of our prayer station.

Women's History Month

Throughout this Women's History Month we've offered a Prayer Station featuring Women in Methodism Through the Years. We give God thanks for these courageous and faithful trailblazing women, and we lift in prayer the causes they championed, including Women's Equality, Voting Rights, Healthcare Access, Social Justice, Immigrant Rights and Ecumenism.

Book Review!

How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply

and Being Deeply Seen

by David Brooks

David Brooks is a regular commentaor for the PBS NewsHour, a writer for The Atlantic, and a op-ed columnist for The New York Times. He’s also authored a half dozen books. In How to Know A Person, Brooks draws upon his many years as a journalist and interviewer, describing techniques for getting to understand and know others, as well as how to better understand ourselves.

The book is divided into three parts: I See You, I See You in Your Struggles, and I See You with Your Strengths. Brooks begins by characterizing people as Diminishers (people who make others feel small and unseen) and Illuminators (people who are curious about others and are good at showing respect for others). To get to know someone deeply it’s necessary to be able to describe their behaviors and attitudes, so Brooks illustrates, for example, how people can be seen as receptive, generous, curious, affectionate, and inspiring. What makes someone a good manager, a good minister, or a good teacher? His book is replete with examples and comments from others that illustrate his ideas and that describe various personality types.

Asking good questions is an effective way to better understand someone, and most people like being asked to ‘tell their story’. Being able to see someone’s struggles helps us to know them better; are they lonely, sad, distrusting of others, defensive, angry, or mean-spirited? Has this person been marginalized? How can you be present to this person? Are you able to ask the hard questions? How do you speak with someone who has a different reality from yours?

I found the chapter on empathy to be especially helpful in understanding someone’s emotions. How do you distinguish different emotional states? Is this person depressed or in despair? How do you show caring towards another, and what does that person really need right now?

David Brooks concludes with a chapter about wisdom, citing stories of people sharing their wisdom about seeing and knowing others, as Brooks does in the final pages about himself.

How to Know A Person will be added to the CUMC library. It’s highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ronald Yarger

Faith Formation Matters

Our Faith Formation Groups for

Kindergarten through High School

will not meet on Easter Sunday

Fifth Grade and younger are invited to our Easter Egg Hunt which will take place immediately following our 10:00 am Easter Sunday Service!

Adult Discussion Group

The Adult Discussion Group will not meet this Sunday, Easter Sunday. Please join us the following Sunday, April 7^th, in the Asbury Room, after worship. We’ll explore the gospel lesson for that day.

Come join the Adult Discussion Group in the Asbury Room

after worship at 11:15 AM on Sunday.

Chatham UMC Podcast Spirituality Group

(Continuing through May 15! Join Us!)

Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom

March 27. Continuing April 3, 10, 17, 27 and May 1, 8 & 15

Focus of discussion:

Originally only intended to take place through Lent, the discussion group participants have decided to discuss all 13 of the Season 1 podcast episodes, lasting through May 15. JOIN US!

The podcast is called "Another Name for Every Thing" with Richard Rohr, based on his book The Universal Christ. Participants are invited to listen to the podcast episode during the week. During our hour long Zoom meeting we’ll talk about what we found interesting, helpful, challenging and wise about Richard Rohr’s discussion during the episode. Richard Rohr’s book The Universal Christ is steeped in Christian tradition and the natural world, affirmed with good science, neuroscience, astrophysics and illumined with ancient wisdom. Link to register for the discussions below.

Pastor Jeff will be facilitating these online small group discussions.

Tom Franklin will be our technical host with the sign ups.

To participate, register by going to our Humanitix page and reserve your spot:

The CUMC Richard Rohr, Another Name for Every Thing Discussion Group event page

Here are the links to the upcoming podcast episodes:

Season 1. Episode 6: An Embodied Path (Discussion via Zoom on March 27, 2024)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1s5XocmxMZ2aOBV4u42nm3?si=6269a5898acc45d1

4/3 Discussion: "Nonviolent Atonement" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

4/10 Discussion: "Practice Resurrection" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

4/17 Discussion: "Peter, Paul & Mary (minus Peter)" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

4/24 Discussion: "From Me to We" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

5/1 Discussion: "An Incarnational Way" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

5/8 Discussion: "Feast on Your Life" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

5/15 Discussion: "Bonus: Roots & Formation" (Spotify Link) (Apple Link)

CUMC’s Easter Sunday 10:00 AM service will feature The Covenant Choir singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives by Benjamin David Knoedler and The Gabrieli Brass Quintet performing prelude music. All will be invited to join in singing along with Handel's Hallelujah Chorus!

The Ukulele Orchestra will next practice together on Saturday, April 13th at 10:00 AM online and in person. For more information contact Peter Hill, Director of Music Ministries at petepiano@mac.com.

The next performance taking place in our CUMC sanctuary, will be the Suburban Music Study Club, presenting Music For the Spring, on Thursday morning, April 11th at 10:30 AM. All are invited to this free recital to hear light and sweet music ushering you in to the new season!

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Sanctuary Flowers

We encourage all to sign up on our Flower Calendar

(located across from Pastor Jeff's office)

and help to beautify our Sanctuary

on a Sunday morning of your choosing.

You may either request an arrangement provided by Sunnywoods Florist, at a cost of $50, or provide the flowers yourself. Flowers may be dedicated in honor or in memory of special person/s or a special occasion.

After the service, you may take the flowers if you wish, or the Congregational Care Ministry Team will deliver them to homebound or hospitalized CUMC folks, as an expression of God's love, and ours.

Questions? Contact Associate Pastor Rev. Sharon C. Yarger at scyarger@optonline.net

Easter Festivities!

Sarah Circle

The Sarah Circle will meet on April 2 at 10:00 AM in the Asbury Room. The program follows the theme of “Getting To Know You” and our speaker will be

Catriona Smith, Communications Coordinator at CUMC.

All are Welcome!

Church Office Administrative Assistant

The Chatham United Methodist Church is actively seeking an organized and detail-oriented Church Office Administrative Assistant to keep our church running smoothly and efficiently. This is a great opportunity to assist the church staff, congregation and ministries with its diverse activities and provide general administrative support on a part time basis (22 hours/week).

Applicants should possess strong communication and recordkeeping skills along with financial and light bookkeeping skills to assist the Financial Manager. Solid computers skills are also required- working knowledge in Word, QuickBooks, and Excel. This position will also support the Community Relations & Communications Coordinator with the church's interface with outside groups and the greater community. Resumes may be sent to our church office at Chatham UMC, 460 Main Street, Chatham NJ 07928, or to our Office Manager at csmith@chathamumc.org. For more information about our church please visit: www.chathamumc.org

Ministry Opportunity at CUMC!

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is looking to hire a Director of Children's Education and Youth Ministry. This is a part time job of 25-27 hours per week, with salary commensurate with experience.

Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone you believe may be interested in this position and in becoming a part of the new thing that God is doing here at CUMC!

Click here for job description.

Questions, interest, and resumes can be sent to:

Rev. Jeff Markay, Senior Pastor

460 Main Street

Chatham, NJ 07928

www.chathamumc.org

revjmarkay@earthlink.net

office: 973-635-7740