Announcements

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  (Matthew 13:45)

This summer, Joy and I and some members of our family went out to eat at Skipper’s on South Shore Drive in Yarmouth. We sat outside on their upstairs deck, overlooking the water.   It was a perfect evening.  Our son wanted to order some seafood, since he doesn’t get too much of it living in Utah.    One of the things he ordered was a special for the night, Dennis oysters.  I had never heard of  Dennis oysters before.  When I asked the waitress what a “Dennis oyster” was, she said, “an oyster from Dennis!”   The waitress told me at certain times in the season, they have specials on oysters from different parts of the Cape.  Apparently, the water off different towns varies enough, that people can tell the difference in taste, between, say, a Wellfleet oyster and a Dennis oyster!

When the Finance Committee considered a theme for our annual fall stewardship campaign, we came up with the idea of “oysters.”  Of course, oysters are an important part of our community, culture, and economy here on Cape Cod.   Oystering is a popular recreational activity.  In addition, oysters are obviously important commercially.    Discriminating diners often prize the famous Wellfleet oyster.   Oyster farming is practiced in a variety of places, including the waters off Falmouth, Barnstable, Dennis, Brewster, Chatham, and Orleans.  I read that the Cape Cod Oyster Company is one of the largest oyster growers in New England, responsible for 10% of all Massachusetts oyster production.  

While there is a strong Cape connection to oysters, our committee wondered about a biblical connection too.  Then, the words of Jesus describing the nature of the kingdom of heaven came to mind.  “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  This brief parable is part of several Jesus told to describe the nature of the kingdom of heaven, or alternatively, the kingdom of God.

We know that a person needs to search for oysters, to be able to enjoy them, and to find a pearl of great value and beauty.  This parable invites us to reflect upon our own search for life with God, and to consider the value of what we have discovered in the process.  Jesus says, although there are other “fine pearls,” that exist in life, the pursuit and discovery of our life with God is so valuable, nothing else really can compare. 

Our oyster theme can prompt us to consider our on-going desire to seek out, to know, and to do God’s will.  In many ways this is what we are all about as the church.  Together, we are searching for this pearl of great value.  We celebrate what we have “found” in the process and eagerly invite others to join us.  

Our campaign this year prompts us to consider the value of what we share as the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church and to reflect upon how important this community of faith is to us, and to others.

During the month of October, we will once again invite people to make a financial pledge to support our life and ministry together in 2025.  Please prayerfully consider your commitment.  Throughout the month we’ll hear some testimonies, track the progress of our campaign, and celebrate people’s faithfulness with a special complimentary luncheon after worship on Sunday, October 27^th.  

What we share is both valuable and beautiful, like a pearl of great price.  Let’s continue to support the life we have together with our pledges and look forward to all God seeks to share with us in the coming year.

Blessings,

Pastor John

 Looking for choir members!

Thank you for welcoming the choir back!  Everyone is excited to start the season.  We have a strong foundation and hope to grow our numbers.  A large choir creates a wonderful sound around worship, and every voice counts.  Please consider joining us, or stop by at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays to watch a rehearsal

Don’t let concerns about your voice or musicianship hold you back.  We start from the basics and offer a great opportunity to learn new skills, read music (not required), and improve your vocal abilities.  If you have questions or reservations, please talk to me or email me at benjaminc518@gmail.com.  We’d love to have you, even if you are unsure, you will be warmly welcomed!

-Ben Colgan

On Tuesday evening, October 8^th, representatives from the Yarmouth Police Department will be with us to offer a presentation regarding things we can be thinking about to keep everyone safe in our church facilities, including the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, and the Sunday school classrooms.  This presentation is the result of conversations the leadership of our congregation has had  as well as the Safer Sanctuaries initiative in our Annual Conference.  All are welcome to attend.  The presentation will be held in our Parish Hall and start at 5:30 p.m.  It should be about an hour long.

Be sure to welcome our District Superintendent, Rev. Wanda Santos-Perez, as she joins our congregation for worship on Sunday, October 13^th.  Rev. Santos-Perez will be preaching on this Sunday, as Pastor John will be preaching at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Chelmsford, MA.  This is a great opportunity to hear a message from our District Superintendent, the first time that she will have been to worship with our congregation.

Our next church hike will be held on Saturday, October 19th.   Joy, Bailey, and Pastor John will meet all who are interested at our church’s parking lot at 10 a.m.  We plan to go to Chatham and the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.  This walk will give us great views of Stage Harbor Inlet, the old Stage Harbor Lighthouse, and the tip of Chatham.  All ages are welcome.  Feel free to invite a friend.   

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

the birds of the air, and they will tell you.”  (Job 12:7)

Be sure to come to our Blessing of the Animals Service, on Sunday, October 20^th at 3 p.m.  This service will be held outside on our front lawn.  It is being sponsored by our Christian Education Committee.  We’ll sing, read scripture, pray, and reflect upon the good gift God shares with us through all animals.  The service will include a procession, where every pet can receive a special blessing.  So, feel free to bring your dog, cat, rabbit, bird…or whatever pet you have.  If you’d rather not bring your pet, you can bring a photograph instead.  Feel free to tell your friends and invite them to come.  Our special guests for this service will be from the Companion Animal Program (CAP).  For over 35 years their all-volunteer member owned pets have been touching the lives of children and adults here on the Cape through this special pet therapy program.  We’ll be able to learn more about the good work this organization is doing in our community as well.  Be sure to come!

Although the weather was a bit challenging, we had over two dozen people offer significant time to help make our fall sale as successful as possible.  We are grateful for all who baked goodies, helped with set up and cleanup, who made salads, served food, who went on pickups, and who assisted with the sale throughout the day.  Although the rain discouraged some from attending, we still had a decent turnout.  Thank you to everyone who pitched in and helped make the day a good one.  It was especially notable how people remained positive, and in good spirits throughout the day.  Special thanks once again are in order for Connie Swedlund and Penny Bach, for all the behind the scenes planning and day of leadership that goes on for an event like this.  

We are having a new and prospective member gathering at the home of Cookie and Buzz on October 6^th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Everyone who is interested – especially if they have been visiting regularly for worship, is encouraged to attend.  Participating in a meeting like this is a great way to learn more about the congregation, ask questions, enjoy some refreshments and a special time of fellowship.  If you would like to attend, please speak with either Eve Hoffman or Cookie Barry, or call the church office.

For those who feel ready to formally join the congregation, we will be receiving new members again on Sunday, October 27^th during our 10 a.m. worship service.

Poverty and homelessness are two critical issues we  can overlook here on the Cape.  Yet stories persist about families being displaced or children going hungry because of changing economic or family circumstances.  Each of you us can probably share a story of a family in need and how  we reached out to assist.

As Christians we are called throughout the Bible, and directly by Jesus, to both remember the poor and act to assist their need.  “Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25: 40)

It is easy for us to “not see” the poor and homeless in our communities but they are a very real presence here in Yarmouth and our surrounding communities.  We are invited by Christ to assist in whatever ways possible including our prayers, our time, and our financial resources.

The Dennis Yarmouth Ecumenical Council for the Prevention of Homelessness (DYECH) is a committed group of area Christian churches working to assist the prevention of homelessness.  SYUMC participated in this endeavor previously and we are seeking to renew our support for this important mission project.

It works very simply and benefits all of us.  We are asked to think about how much money we would spend on food for a period of time, and to then bring a check or cash to the church on the DYECH DAY to purchase  food cards.  The cards are as good a cash and 5% goes directly to the Housing Assistance Corporation for the Prevention of Homelessness.  The cards can be transferred to friends, gifts, or students, and have no expiration date.

More information will follow and you can contact Tom Kerr if you have questions:  tkerr20@comcast.net

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to our congregation’s “R & R Fund.”   This fund was established for the sole purpose of raising money for the restoration   and   rehabilitation   of   the   church   siding.   A   substantial “seed money” gift was made to begin this effort, and it has been exciting to see the fund grow these past couple of months!  The R & R fund drive is now over.  Thanks to the generosity of many members and friends of our congregation the initial goal of raising over $10,000 has been surpassed.  To date, $13,650 has been raised!  These donations are necessary to complement the grant applications we are submitting, and to show the grantors that our church has a stake in the cost of this project, which is estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

While the dollar amount raised is important, it’s also key to have a large number of church members donate to demonstrate to the grantors that the burden is being shared by many. 

A subcommittee of the trustees, made up of Deborah Neel, Leslie Hathaway and Bill Glass, recently sent in a grant request for a significant amount of money from the Town of Yarmouth to assist us with this project, through the Community Preservation Act.  On this grant application, we shared the news of what the congregation raised through the R & R Fund.  We will be sure to keep everyone posted on how the grant application is received.  Thank you all for your generosity and faithfulness.