Our WUMC Community

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 read the monthly article on the Behind the Scenes page of this Web site to learn more about people who help our church and worship services run smoothly. You can also see photos of recent events and/or services at WUMC on the Photos of Our WUMC Community page.

As a church of open hearts, open doors, and open minds, we welcome you to join us in our journey.

WUMC Book Club

Book Club members are looking forward to better weather and continued good reads. You are welcome to join us whenever a book catches your attention. We meet once a month on a Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Book Club Meetings

March 19, 7:30 p.m., at the home of Bud and Sally Jost

Book Selection: The Shack by William P. Young

Have you ever asked, “Where is God when the world is filled with pain and suffering….when I am filled with pain?” The main character in this novel meets God in person – in Hi Def and Technicolor – to confront God with questions that have caused him to lose his faith..

April (date TBD), 7:30 p.m., at the home of Holly and Phil Reynolds

Book Selection: Buffalo Gal by Laura Pederson

The author grew up in Buffalo’s snowblower world and was the neighborhood wild child. She went on to become the youngest person seated on the American Stock Exchange and was very rich by the age of twenty-one. Now living in NYC, she sees that her childhood in Buffalo prepared her for her career.

May (date TBD), 7:30 p.m., at the home of Karen and Jon Patterson

Book Selection: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
At first glance, this nonfiction book might be off-putting since it deals with Chicago, circa 1893, intertwining two lives: the good guy, who was the architect of the 1893 World’s Fair, and the bad guy, who was a murderer. This book provides suspense, entertainment, and history that is well researched and written in a reader-friendly form.

If any or all of these books look interesting, join us for the discussion. Watch for April and May meeting dates in the Weekly Messenger. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Ann Killian.

WUMC Prayer Chain Ministry
Bob and Irene Hayman

I would like to start by quoting in part from the pen of Helen Steiner Rice. These lines are taken from A Special Glow: Prayers and Meditations by Helen Steiner Rice.

"Prayers can't be Answered unless they are Prayed.....
No one ever sought the Father and found He was not There.
And no burden is too heavy to be lightened by a prayer.
No problem it too intricate and no sorrow that we face
Is too deep and devastating
to be softened by His grace..."

The purpose of this article is to explain how our church's Prayer Chain works and to invite others to join and contribute in this endeavor.

We accept prayer requests for friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers. One does not necessarily need to be a member of our church to ask for prayers. Many times the church office or the ministers will request prayers for certain individuals. While all information received is confidential, we make sure both pastors are aware of specific prayer requests or needs.

Usually Irene or I start the prayer request on the two lists of Prayer Chain members. We wait to hear from the last person on each list to know everyone has received the prayer request, and then we close the Prayer Chain. While Prayer Chain members may leave a short message on an answering machine, they call the next number on the list until they reach a live person. This keeps the Prayer Chain from being broken and assures us that this part of our work is complete. We convey to each member of the Prayer Chain the necessity of the prayer request without going into too much detail in order to protect one’s privacy.

We find that prayer requests started early in the evening receive the best coverage since we are able to reach more Prayer Chain members. 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 involving members that are more rewarding.

Listed below are the instructions and suggestions we provide every member of the Prayer Chain.

When a Prayer Chain member receives a call, they should write down the prayer request, and then call the person’s phone number below theirs. If that person does not answer, then call the next number on the list until you reach someone personally. On the other hand, if you get someone’s answering machine, leave a short message and state you are calling the next number on the list. It is important to identify yourself since some people screen all calls for various reasons. If you are unable to make your call promptly, ask the caller to continue the process for you by calling the next person on the list. It is important not to allow the chain to be broken for any reason.

Any information received in a prayer request is considered confidential and is to be shared only with the pastors and other members of the Prayer Chain. Feel free to call Bob or Irene Hayman if you have a prayer request or need any additional information.

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 to learn more about the programs and projects they support.

At WUMC we have two active UMW circles, the Dorcas Circle and Rachel Circle, that generally meet monthly. In additional to providing fellowship and support, these circles work on several projects each year including fundraising projects that support the UMW projects. Through their efforts, these circles are able to donate approximately $1,000 each year to the Niagara Frontier District UMW.

In addition, the circles identify local projects they support. For example, the Dorcas Circle provides bags of toiletry products to the Haven House. 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 these circles enjoy special times of fellowship as they support worthy projects and plan fundraisers that contribute to the worldwide efforts of the UMW organization.

Events for United Methodist Women

The Niagara Frontier District United Methodist Women (UMW) held Morning Apart on February 6 at Grand Island Trinity UMC. The theme of "Time Began in a Garden" featured Gail Culver, Master Gardener, who presented a program on Butterfly Gardening.

All women are welcome to attend the following UMW events:

March 27, 9:30 a.m. - Communion Breakfasts and Memorial Services for those we lost in 2009 will be held at both Faith Lancaster UMC and Medina UMC
April 21, 9:30 a.m. – Gift Day at Batavia First UMC is a day to bring items needed by our local agencies. See Carol Forden for a list of needed items. Two agencies that receive grants from our Conference UMW will speak on the services they provide to women, children, and youth.
May 22 - UMW Celebration Conference at Houghton College. Watch for details in the weekly announcements and the April issue of The Messenger.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, please contact Carol Forden for more information.

Elderteens

This committed, vigorous group of older adults meets once a month for fellowship, activities, and mutual support. Activities range from gathering for lunch to taking day trips. Once a year we are privileged to honor our Forty Fellows, which includes more than 30 members who have been part of WUMC for 40 years or more.

Reflections from 2009 Women's Retreat

Once a year, WUMC women gather from Friday evening through late Saturday afternoon for a special time of retreat. During this time, we focus on a topic to help us consider some spiritual truths that we can apply to our lives. We also take time to rest, meditate, and deepen friendships.

During this year’s retreat at the Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara on September 11 and 12, we used excerpts from Sue Monk Kidd’s book, When The Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life’s Sacred Questions, as the focus of our discussions. Our discussions ranged from recalling times when God called us to a deeper spiritual life – sometimes through difficult circumstances, the importance of learning to “be still and know that I am God,” and we even got a little philosophical when we discussed the concept of “fertile emptiness.”

We also set aside plenty of time for singing, a craft project which was making beaded bookmarks this year, walks along the Niagara River, and laughing – always plenty of laughing! This year the sisters of the Stella Niagara Convent let us use their recently renovated chapel, which is located in their private living quarters, during our quiet time on Saturday afternoon. What a lovely spot for prayer and meditation.

Why do we take time away from family, friends, and our busy schedules for this retreat? Here are a few thoughts shared by some of the women who attended this year’s retreat:

“I found the retreat to be both relaxing and enjoyable. It was a blessing to share fellowship with all who attended. Also, I was able to get to know myself a little bit better.”

“I enjoy attending the retreats because it gives me an opportunity to get to know other female members of the church on a more personal level, instead of the quick hello on Sunday morning. You have a chance to discover the similarities and differences in each person's life story.”

“Quite frankly, there are few things so special as relaxing, discussing, sharing, and communing with a group of Christian women.”

“I attend the retreats because I like the interactions with other women in the church. It is good to meet outside of Sunday worship and committee meetings. Also, I was in need of a retreat from my rather active semi-retired life.”

“It is so refreshing to my soul and a much needed respite with girlfriends.”

“The time we share together at our Women’s Retreat never fails to lift my spirit. The singing, discussions, laughter, and quiet times of contemplation help me refocus on God’s love and blessings in a new and deeper way.”

“I look forward to the women's retreat, which allows me to connect and reconnect with women of our congregation on a more 1:1 personal level. We usually have at least one person who has not attended before and this always adds to the group interaction. The Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara is a beautiful place, both the grounds and facilities. For two short days, I realize that I have too much ‘stuff’ cluttering my life – mentally, physically, and spiritually.”

“Attending a women's retreat allows you to bond with other women of the church on an emotional and spiritual level that is difficult to do during Sunday services or committee meetings.”

“I found the weekend very holy and spiritual. The feelings that I have for the women at the retreat is one of sisterhood, because we are sisters in faith. I liked the fact that we could take off our masks and be ourselves. To all my sisters I say thank you, blessings, and love.”

“I needed that special time away with other women and our Savior. I felt the absolute acceptance of everyone there and a wellspring of love for all the participants. A most treasured time.”

We have already started thinking about our next Women’s Retreat in September 2010! So, watch for information in June or July, and plan to join us for this special time together.

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."