We Methodists love to eat! We have a pass-dish brunch after church the second Sunday of the month. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 04-25-2024 This Sunday we looked back on God’s Creation. Pastor Jeannine asked the kids if God needs our help caring for his creation. They told her that one of God’s special creations was them! They discussed recycling, growing plants, and picking up trash to help our environment. Welcome back to more Snowbirds- the Hunt’s, Jean Morehouse, and Skip and Sherl! Pastor Jeannine looked at how we can nurture God’s creations- for example, our garden, and each other. Worshiping others is a model for the worship of God. We live in an amazing place. Our environment is our responsibility. We need to consume responsibly and encourage recycling. God’s message began with Genesis. Our scripture today was Genesis 1: 28-31. Don’t forget Bible Study, Mondays at noon! People are welcome to join in! Another reminder is that if you have youngsters or grandchildren interested in Summer camp at Casowasco, we have registration forms you can fill out. It is a great opportunity for summer camp for kids, and there are several themed camps available to choose from. As soon as things dry up a bit we will be once again doing road clean-up on our stretch of 54-a, likely early May- one of our missions to help the environment! Date will be chosen soon. Spring is coming. So wonderful to see the daffodils and flowering trees popping open. And soon even more of our snowbirds will be returning to our fold.

Cathy Albertson Green came to church ready for the total solar eclipse! Let the sun shine! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 04-18-2024 Pastor Jeannine’s message this past Sunday was on creativity, based on the scripture from Psalm 104, read by Helen Schillinger. Pastor Jeannine looked at the creativity of artists, using and re-creating colors. God‘s creativity is huge, and abilities that he gave us to use our talents are never-ending. Psalm 104 gives praise for creation. To be creative, we need to stop and smell the roses, consider small things like bugs, butterflies and sand. We need to breathe in and out and touch and feel God‘s objects. We need to re-capture the wow factors of amazement for all of God’s s creations. We need to watch a sunset, watch an eclipse, go to a museum or a concert, take a hike or a long drive and glorify in nature. At all these moments we can listen for God and appreciate what he has made for us. Pastor Jeannine looked at her own talents. She wants to learn more about quilting, having recently made one basic quilt. Scrapbook materials she bought years ago are waiting for resurgence, in her attic. She feels she has not had or used a lot of creative blood in those endeavors, but feels God gave her talents for communication, despite being utterly fearful of public speaking earlier in her life. We so appreciate her speaking talents today, as she uses them in her pastoring abilities for and with us at BPUMC. We are invited on April 26 and 27th to the Dresden United Methodist Church bazaar and luncheon. The church folks have been using their talents to showcase their creations. More of our snowbirds are returning- the Hunt’s will be back this week! Happy Spring!

What a beautiful Easter service we had with Communion at Bluff Point United Methodist Church. He is Risen! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 04-11-2024 We had a beautiful Easter service with music and anthems to celebrate our risen Lord. Jesus had been nailed to the cross. Pastor Jeannine asked us if we thought that Jesus could have stopped it. He could have, but he didn’t because he died for us and our sins. The face cloth was found folded; the living body of Jesus was gone from the tomb and the remaining laundry was left. Mary was crying as the stone had been rolled away, and Jesus was gone. Peter and John saw the laundry; Mary saw two angels in the tomb. Mary turned, and saw the image of Jesus, who called to her by name. Jesus’s death may have been the worst thing but not the last thing, as his resurrection had occurred. This is made all the difference to us in our Christian lives. The church women met the Wednesday after Easter for coffee and conversation at the Wagner. This will now be every other Wednesday at 9am at the Wagner. 14 people were in attendance for sharing. Second Sunday brunch is planned on April 14. Other things coming up include April 28th, when Eric Detar and Keuka College students that went on a mission trip during their school break will share their experiences with us. We are sure this will be a very interesting presentation. Come worship with us at 9am Sundays. We also have nursery for the little ones and Sunday school for the school-age children.

Charlotte and Brylee enjoyed reading and sharing the story of Jesus’s last week, including the Last Supper with his followers and disciples. The children later made crosses during Sunday School, and talked about the Christian events leading to Easter! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 04-04-2024 Pastor Jeannine shared so much with us on Palm Sunday, as palms were distributed. We reflected on the ways Jesus went to his death to set us free. Jesus gave us a new life and a new humanity with the example of what we are to be like. He offered himself up as a sacrificial lamb. Following the resurrection of Jesus, God sent the disciples to teach forgiveness. We are all able to be forgiven. Jesus demonstrated his forgiveness even from the cross. Pastor Jeannine asked us do we forgive those who bully us? Are we forgiven? We are to live big lives and follow the example of Jesus. Pastor Jeannine encouraged all of us to sing Psalm 22. Jesus sang that psalm on the cross as he was dying. We need to pray for forgiveness. We can talk to God any place where we are, and at any time. We must ask God to help us. The church women have decided to meet for coffee at 9 AM every other Wednesday at the Wagner. The next coffee date will be Wednesday, April 3. All are welcome. We will be collecting pet food for a local pet food drive. Many people that hardly have enough food for themselves will feed their pets first. Collecting pet food for those in need helps keep pets with their families. The choir anthem this Sunday was beautiful. It was entitled THE CROSS with lyrics by Bruce Westerdahl and music by Ron Miller. Thank you choir for this inspirational piece. Our Madelyn Rose (Mosch) has signed for several local musical events at nearby venues this spring and summer. She will at them, singing her specialty, country music. She has had several recordings in Nashville. Check her site on Facebook! You can listen to the recordings online, but even better is to go and hear her in person. She has wonderful talent and so enjoys performing. Madelyn also sings in our choir and frequently has done solos in church. Happy Spring and Easter, although this past Sunday was blanketed with 5 inches of snow, we are expecting spring flowers, warmer weather and sunshine soon! Come join us at our 9 AM Sunday services. We love having visitors join us.

Thank you Brylee and Parker for helping with our service today. Grandpa Mike rang this bell as a young boy at this church. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 03-28-2024 Snowbirds are returning! Welcome back Carol Clow! We are readying for Easter! This past Sunday our lesson was from John 12: 20-33. We see the Greeks at a festival. Andrew and Philip went to Jesus. Jesus came to this hour. Jesus, the person healing people, teaching his disciples l, and eating with people that others thought he should not be associated with. An Angel spoke, not for Jesus but for the people. Jesus knew his time had come. Certain people had been seeking him out. His message had reached the foreigners. Humanity was composed of Christians and the rest of the world. This should not have been recognized, as we are all children of God, not us and them. We often sense what is coming in our daily lives. Pastor Jeannine and Phil have two daughters who are polar opposites in politics. They are both passionate in their views. When they get going, Pastor Jeannine takes a deep breath, as she knows what is coming! St Patrick’s Day! Pastor Jeannine asked if we knew what the shamrock represented - it’s the Trinity- father, son and Holy Ghost. In addition to the announcements of community services, Pastor Jeannine is starting a girls coffee time at Oak Hill, at 10:30 Wednesdays- the men have had theirs for years, and the girls will not be left out. Come join in!

Happy March birthdays to many from our congregation and also those in the community! Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 03-21-2024 The 4th Sunday in Lent. What a dark time but also one that we need to learn and study. The scripture reading was from March 15: 15-23. In this passage, 300-600 soldiers beat Jesus and spat on him. They were mean and brutal. Jesus did not ask for God to come and rescue him. He went through his suffering for us. So much suffering and death. The disciples were there, but fled in fear. Pastor Jeannine asked how many of us have reached out and help those who are bullied? We are often broken in need of forgiveness. God proves his love to us as Christ died for us from the days of torture to days of salvation and peace. Don’t forget to sign up for the Maundy Thursday service at 6 PM on March 28. we will be having a light meal followed by a short service where we will be leaving the service in silence, commemorating this day. Are your kids or grandkids interested in going to camp this summer at Casowasco? There are several camps available for children from 7 to 17. An experience for children to learn about Jesus and have a fun week at camp. Please see Phil Pearce, or Pastor Jeannine, if you are interested. There are lots of community events leading to Easter, as well as those in our own church. Please feel free to join us!

Happy 95th birthday to Art Wunder. Many of us attended his wonderful birthday party that Judy organized for his special birthday. Judy White-Wunder was a long time pastor in our church and she and Art are wonderful friends. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 03-14-2024 Bible study continues on Mondays with a Lenten study based on Ephesians, Whar makes a Hero? We continue in church with the Lenten stories, many which are very sad and lead us to Christ‘s untimely death, and then his glorious resurrection. Pastor Jeannine showed us how the murderer Barabbas was released from prison, by Pontius Pilate. Jesus was more popular than others, and Pilate knew that he was not guilty of anything. He was handed over to be crucified. Pilate followed what was told to him as the crowd was yelling to crucify Jesus. Pastor Jeannine wondered how many of us are controlled by peer pressure? What have we done? Just listening to and following the crowd when we could’ve made better decisions on our own. Some people always want to fit in and join the groups that are more popular. Others want to stand out. Pastor Jeannine shared that in her own family she had one daughter growing up that always wanted to be frugal and spent her money wisely while her other daughter wanted to dress with everything stylish, which was often more expensive, but buying things that were more popular with the in-group. Some people go in debt just to keep up with the Joneses. In some instances, peer pressure can make one betray God. We ponder the Easter story. When it comes right down to it, God knew the plan for Jesus, and knows the plans for us in our lives. Come join us, as we discover more about the end of Jesus’s life-the story of Christ, who died to save us. All are welcome at church at 9 AM Sundays. Our address is 3044 Kinneys Corners Rd., Keuka Park, New York. Learn more about us on our website www.bluffpointumc.com

Marilyn James reads scripture- she is the scripture reader for this past month. Thank you, Marilyn. Our readings lately have been from the New Testament book of Mark. Article by Joyce L. Wiedrich 03-07-2024 Pastor Jeannine talked to us this past Sunday about fear. Sometimes we can see danger when there is none. Pastor Jeannine related to us that she has a fear of heights. However, when she was 15 she got her private pilots license. That to her was different because she had control, where if she’s in a tall building or overlooking something low on the ground from a window, she could be petrified. Is that rational? Perhaps not, but it is real to her fear turn us into control freaks. Onto our scripture, Peter had a fear of the persecution he would face by knowing Jesus for three years. Peter denied him three times, before the rooster crowed twice. Jesus had told him that this would happen. This was all in God‘s plan. Took hold of Peter. Peter did recognize his wrongs and followed Christ. In the end, Peter was hung upside down for his beliefs. Pastor Jeannine reminded us that where we live in this country, we fortunately are not crucified for our faith and are free to believe. The Detar family recently returned from a Disney cruise where they saw their son Noah perform in many acts, including Peter Pan. How exciting for them - they must be very proud. Eric is now taking a group from Keuka College on an alternative spring break. We hope to hear of their adventures, what they learned, and how they helped others on their journey. Congratulations to Emmaleigh Stempien for making the dean's list in her first semester at Nazareth University. Good work! See you in church at 9 o’clock on Sundays.