☀️☀️☀️☀️

Click on the stick figure at the top to enlarge the text. To enlarge a picture, click on it.

For over 150 years, we have been a church who loves the Lord Jesus Christ,

and we look forward to sharing the good news with you.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 34:8

• Bill Davis, Chairman of our Administrative Council, and Pastor Richard Bradshaw recently attended the Annual Conference held May 18 - 20, 2023 at the Community Arts Center, Williamsport, Pa. The theme for 2023 was "New & Improved through Christ."
• Each year an equal number of clergy members and lay members attend their conference's annual conference session for worship, fellowship, and to conduct the business of the conference, which may last 3-5 days. These sessions include reports of past and ongoing work; adoption of future goals, programs and budgets; ordination of clergy members as deacons and elders; and election of delegates to Jurisdictional and General Conferences (every 4 years). The bishop presides over these meetings.
• A conference is the "basic unit" of the UMC. The United States has 54 annual conferences, supervised by bishops in 46 episcopal areas.

• Our church received the One Matters Award. In presenting this award, the conference stated that "Forty Fort UMC increased significantly in membership and attendance in 2022 as well as expanded their ministries to the community around them with the goal of building relationships and intentionally sharing the good news of Jesus." Accepting the award is Pastor Richard Bradshaw and Lay Representative Bill Davis.

☀️☀️☀️☀️

Click on the text below the headings to read the articles.

Each month, we designate a group or charity for a love offering; it's a way to bring us together as a community and provide spiritual and financial support to those in need. Please consider making a love offering donation in the offering plate or by mail. June's recipient is Dinner for Kids: a service for at-risk children (in the greater Wyoming Valley) that provides freshly prepared, “kid approved” nutritious and balanced dinners in microwave-safe containers, accompanied by fresh fruit. The program delivers for each child six meals per week, year round.

Click on the picture to view the calendar. Calendars are on our website and also included in the monthly newsletters in the Congregational Care Corner.

• Saturday - June 10, 2023

• 1 to 3 p.m.

• Patterson Grove Campground
• Please sign up in the chandelier room.

• Wednesday
• June 28, 2023
• 6:30 p.m.

We could always use more volunteers at our annual community fair. (The church will be sponsoring a spot, too.) Join the fun! Contact the church or Ninaleigh Wozniak: (570)371-1460 or nwswimmer60@gmail.com to help.

"In 1974, shortly after we were married, Bill and I bought a home in Forty Fort. At that time we joined FFUMC. Bill was the administrator of the Luzerne County public defender's office, and I was an elementary teacher in Wyoming Valley West. Both of our sons, Billy and Andrew were baptized at FFUMC. On most Sundays, you can see Andrew’s sons, Camden and August running around!

Two years ago we moved to the Brooks Estates at Wesley Village. Bill enjoys his therapy, having lunch with friends, and attending the social activities there. I babysit, work at Back Mountain Auctions, and occasionally still do an estate sale.

Next year will be our 50th at FFUMC. We have made many good friends from the moment we joined and still enjoy making new ones as the church grows. FFUMC is welcoming, friendly, and always there to help someone in need."

One of the goals of the Congregational Care Team is to create a Favorite Bible Verse Devotional for our members. This is a project that they will be working on this summer.

1. First, they'll ask for suggestions from the congregation; entry forms will be in the bulletin and in the Congregational Care Corner.
2. You can make as many entries as you wish---anonymously or by giving your name.
3. All we need on the form is the location of your favorite verse(s)---for example, John 3:16. We'll take care of getting the exact quotation or passage correct.
4. The Care Team, working alongside Pastor Rich, will provide the remainder of the verses and hope to have this project completed in the fall!

Our choir sings beautiful music to praise God and to edify the congregation. Led by Mary Scheib (organist and director), they practice every Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. New members are always welcome!

Free at lunchtime? We'd love to see you every Wednesday at noon in the lounge for our "Bible Study" and spiritual formation group led by Pastor Bradshaw & Rev. Santos. PLEASE NOTE: There is no Bible study if there's a vesper service (evening prayers) during that week.

Please call the office if you want to be a member of the prayer chain or added to the list of people for whom they pray.

Church bulletins are available each week on our website: look for the tab at the top right corner (computer), OR click on the three-bar menu on the top right corner (cell phone).

Church newsletters (which include a monthly calendar) are available in print form in the Congregational Care Corner. They can also be found on our website and Facebook page. We have been sending them to those with email addresses. NOTE: If you haven’t been receiving the newsletter via email, please call the church office to update your contact information.

The "Knit Wits" is a group that meets every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. to make prayer shawls for those in need of comfort in our church and in our community; they also make winter hats and scarves. Call the office if you'd like to help.

This group meets every Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. to recycle plastic grocery bags and re-purpose them into waterproof mats for the homeless. Call the office if you'd like to help.

1. Any purchase made for the church must be accompanied by a voucher. Blank vouchers are available in the chandelier room near the mailboxes.
2. When you leave a room at the church, please don't forget to turn off the lights, close the water faucets, and lower the thermostats.
   

To show love, encouragement, & support to parishioners during a critical time in their lives, the Congregational Care Team will help with the following: visitations; Meals That Heal; rides to an appointment, when possible; and special projects at the direction of the pastor. Call the office or Pastor Rich for assistance OR to join the Care Team!

• Congregational Care Corner - Please check our table in the chandelier room. It has information and resources that you can use.

• CEO - The Commission on Economic Opportunity: Any member or visitor of our church who has daily living needs (rent, food, heating oil, etc.) should contact the CEO, a great local organization that responds to basic, material needs of children, adults, and seniors in poverty. Click HERE.
  

• Dial 211: PA 211: Get Connected. From help with a utilities bill, to housing assistance, after-school programs for kids, and more, you can dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 to talk with a resource specialist for free. Click HERE.

• Dial 988: If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, a new phone number was recently implemented to connect you with mental health and behavioral services. People who call, text, or chat with 988 will be directly connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Callers will receive phone-based support and connections to local resources based on their specific needs. For more information, go to dhs.pa.gov and search for 988.

• Family & Caregiver Support Group - Alzheimer's Association (Greater Pennsylvania Chapter)
• Offers peer or professionaly led groups for caregivers and others dealing with Alzheimer's
• All support groups are facilitated by trained individuals.
• Meetings are held once per month on the first Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
• 4 East Center Hill, Dallas, PA 18612 (The Meadows) - (570)675-8600

• Veterans - The Care Team has created a Veterans Support Services booklet for its parishioners and their families. It contains vital information that is not specifically medically related. Veterans and their families may not be aware of these services if they haven't had any direct association with the VA Hospital, or if they don't have online access to any of their resources.Paper copies can be found in the Congregational Care Corner.

• https://www.fortyfortchurch.org/
• past, present, & future events
• outreach programs
• calendar; bulletins; meetings; & newsletters
• news from The UMC

Click on and then complete the short form below. If you have already completed one during a Sunday service, thank you!

Pastor: Richard Bradshaw

Email: FortyFortUmc@gmail.com
Website: https://www.fortyfortchurch.org/
Location: Forty Fort United Methodist, 26 Yeager Avenue, Kingston, PA, USA
Phone: 570-287-3840
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Forty-Fort-United-Methodist-Church-138113291741