Pride Event
On Sunday, June 1st, members of our congregation participated in Belchertown’s Pride event. We wore t-shirts proclaiming that “You are Created in God’s Image” to let others know that our church is a welcoming, inclusive place for everyone. With the intention of spreading some joy, we handed out pride bracelets, flags and stickers to attendees.
It was six years ago this month that Hope UMC voted to become a member of Reconciling Ministries, making a firm commitment to be not only welcoming but affirming to everyone!
UMCOR Cleaning Kits
Our church collected items this spring to put together seven “Cleaning Kits” (also known as Flood Buckets). Each bucket is filled with items that a person or family would need to begin the process of cleaning up after a flooding disaster. Included are various types of cleaning products, laundry supplies and personal protection items such as masks, gloves and insect repellant.
The kits are collected by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). They are stockpiled in several warehouses across the country to be sent in large quantities to areas of the country when they are affected by hurricanes and floods. Over the past couple of years, New England United Methodist churches have begun keeping a few buckets on hand in case disaster relief is needed locally. We will likely be keeping some of our buckets here for accessibility in New England.
UMCOR is a unit of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. They are a humanitarian organization that assists with disaster relief, has programs to help migrants and refugees and addresses health issues. They work both domestically and internationally helping vulnerable populations.
Noah’s Ark Print Donated
Rev. John (Jack) Moss donated this Japanese print of Noah’s Ark to the church. The print is done by a well-known Christian print artist in Japan, Watanabe Sadao. The picture was a farewell gift to him and his wife, Hatsumi from the United Church of Christ in Japan. Jack and Hatsumi were missionaries in Japan for many years. The print hung in their home for many years.
Thank you, Jack! We will enjoy it for many years to come!
