Our new year begins with a new us! January is a time when we reflect on

the past year and focus on what is to come. For many of us we make

promises that fall into three basic categories. We want things to make us look

better and live longer, ways to make us have more, and ways to help us get

along with everyone. It is longevity, prosperity and peace.

King Solomon, who was the wisest man who ever lived, offers an insight

into how we can achieve the promises of a happy new year in Proverbs 3:3-31.

Let us meditate on the following to begin a new us in a new year!

LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS NEVER LEAVE YOU, (vs. 3)

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART, (vs. 5)

DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES, (vs. 7)

HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH, (vs. 9)

DO NOT DESPISE THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE, (vs. 11)

SEARCH DILIGENTLY FOR WISDOM AND FIND IT (Vs. 13)

HAVE NO FEAR, (vs. 25)

DON’T WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE WHO DESERVE IT, (vs. 27)

DO NOT PLOT HARM AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR, (vs. 29)

DO NOT ENVY A VIOLENT MAN OR CHOOSE ANY OF HIS WAYS, (vs. 31)

I challenge you during the month of January and throughout the rest of

2017, to resolve today to pay close attention and adhere to these principles,

and together we can see what God will do in our lives.

Blessings and Peace!

~Rev. Bill

5289 McKinley Parkway Hamburg, NY 14075 716-649-1532 Email: stmattucc@verizon.net Website: stmattsucc.org

January’s

Scripture

Memory Verse

“Do not fear, for I

have redeemed you; I

have called you by

name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:1 (MEV)

Happy New

Year!

P A G E 2

Acolytes

1/1 Emily Rich

1/8 Casey Nistor

1/15 Sabrina Hoffritz

1/22 Nate Capasso

1/29 Blake Shrout

Altar Guild

Sue Rich

Child Care—TBD

1/1 Sue Rich

1/8 Jeff Rich

1/15 Joyce Corlett

1/22 Dawn Goetz

1/29 Tammy Kruszka

Greeters & Coffee Hour Hosts

1/1 Joe & Andrea Capasso

1/8 Dave & Joy Burger

1/15 Brandi Whytas (Greeter)

Joy Burger (Coffee Hour)

1/22 Bill & Mary Hamm

1/29 Tracy Meyers

Lay Readers

1/1 Shirley Jones

1/8 Perry Kaupa

1/15 Karen Cuddihy

1/22 Beth Stormer

1/29 Jeff Rich

Ushers: Team 1

Andy Federmann - Leader

Clayton Errington

Donn Mergenhagen

Kurt/Luke Rich

Jeff Rich

Sunday Morning

Participants

January 2017

Sunday, January 1

No Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship, includes Holy Communion,

worship led by Pastor Alva Looze

In Rev. Bill’s absence, please contact Pastor Alva for pastoral care

(866-5121 or 998-7341) from December 30 through January 7.

Sunday, January 8

9:00 AM Prayer Circle

9:15 AM Children / Adult Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship, including installation of

new committee members

11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship

Sunday, January 15

9:00 AM Prayer Circle

9:15 AM Children / Adult Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship

Sunday, January 22

9:00 AM Prayer Circle

9:15 AM Children / Adult Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30 AM Coffee Fellowship

Sunday, January 22

9:00 AM Prayer Circle

9:15 AM Children / Adult Sunday School

10:30 AM Worship Service

11:30am Coffee Fellowship

December

4 111 11 96 18 139 24 - 25 -

WORSHIP

Rev. Bill will be on vacation January 1 through

January 6. If you need pastoral care, please

contact Rev. Alva Looze (866-5121 or 998-7341).

Family & friends of Gary Rich

John Fogle (Denise Woodruff’s father)

Karen Kaitanowski

Those in the Military & Veterans

Stephen Ministers & their Care Receivers

Those Residing in Assisted Living: Maxine Helm Lois McMoil Jan Poppendeck Miriam Sheffield

P A G E 3

Birthdays

Ryan McMillan

Brook’Lynn Clausell

Clayton Errington

Donn Mergenhagen

Paul Rich

Kim Hamm

Jane Duewiger

Sharon Mooney

Gail Burdick

Barbara Middaugh

Chris Kolodziej

Paul Federmann David & Natalie Bell Tracy Meyers & Marna Pritchard January 2, 1993 January 22, 1985

Heartfelt “Thanks” to all the

Shrout’s for a lovely Open

House. Food, decorations and especially the warm and loving

hospitality shown was a Christmas joy.

God bless them all!

Dear Rev. Bill and my Church Family,

Thank you sincerely for all your prayers, cards, calls

and concerns regarding my recent back surgery.

God bless,

Kathee Simon

On behalf of myself and

the Altar Guild, I want

to thank everyone who

supported our

Poinsettia Garden. The

plants certainly added

much beauty to the

Sanctuary for the

holiday season.

We wish you a happy,

healthy 2017!

Shirley Haberman and

the Altar Guild

Thank you so very much for remembering me at St. Matthew’s. I

really miss not attending every Sunday but without transportation!

I’m looking forward to using the mug daily and enjoy the logo on

the side of it. The treats were very good also.

Thank you so much and God bless you all.

Love, Ruth Bernhardt

To the St. Matthew’s Family,

Everything worked out so well for our father’s 90th birthday celebration in the Fellowship Hall, and everyone

was so helpful! He enjoyed it so much (so did we!) and we wanted to thank all of you for your help and for

being there with him as he rang in his new decade. It truly meant a lot to him, and we all really appreciate

your support.

With peace and love, The Family of Donald Ruff

F.I.R.S.T.

Friendly Independent Restaurants

of the South Towns

F.I.R.S.T. certificates will be an ON-GOING

PARKING LOT/DRIVEWAY fundraiser!!!

GREAT GIFT IDEA & NO EXPIRATION DATE!!

The following restaurants included:

J.P. Fitzgerald’s Old Orchard Inn

Roycroft Inn Daniel’s Restaurant

Ilio DiPaolo’s Curley’s Grill 52

Rodney’s Lucia’s on the Lake

Danny’s South Coyote Café

Julie’s Pizzeria Apple Dumplin

J&M’s West End Inn

See Nancy Jankowski before church of after church

in the counting room — or call 826-0012.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!

Activity Group

Activity Group does not meet during the

winter months of January and February.

See you in March!

“I have decided to stick

with love. Hate is too great

a burden to bear.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

Jan. 16th

“So lift up your voice and sing

out His praise!

It’s Christmas!” “Born is the King” by Hillsong, sung by the

youth of St. Matthew’s!

2016 Christmas Pageant

“Thank you for your generous support of Meals on

Wheels.”

Sincerely,

Lisa Woodring, Chief Development Officer

(Note: Lisa’s full letter is posted on the Missions/Outreach

bulletin board by the Fellowship Hall.)

Dear Church Members,

Thank you once again for your recent

donation of food that you brought over

this week. As always, it is greatly

appreciated!

God bless all of you!

Sincerely,

Judy Jacobek

UPC Food Ministry

UPC Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry

Union Presbyterian Church, Blasdell

Note: St. Matthew’s receives a hand-

written letter from Judy every month in

appreciation for all your donations,

including the $500 donation from our

Mission Fund.

Dear Congregation of St. Matthew’s

United Church of Christ:

Thank you very much for your very

generous donation of $1,000 to

Churches in Action. We thank you for

your continued support of our

missions. As you know, we have helped many in our

community as well as in Haiti. It is through your support that

we will be able to carry on supporting those in need.

Peace,

Your Friends at Churches in Action

A Simple Way to Serve

For the winter months, we’re offering a daytime study called…

Hoodwinked: Ten Myths Moms Believe & Why We All Need to Knock It Off

This six-session video-based study will encourage and inspire women to embrace their roles as

mothers wholeheartedly yet realistically, whether they work outside the home, have a home business,

or are stay-at-home moms. Mothers will find a fresh new vision for an age-old calling as they tackle

the challenges and embrace the blessings of motherhood.

Meeting time: We’ll meet every other Friday morning at 10am, beginning January 13th.

Bring your children too! We plan to meet in the nursery so kids can play while we meet.

Questions? Call or text Joy Burger (997-4900) or Lyn Rich (863-8635).

WBS Mission…Mark your calendars: February 4th, 10 am. In keeping with WBS’s mission to serve

our shut-ins, let’s get together on the 4th and make a Valentine gift for our shut-ins so they feel loved

and remembered. More details to follow!

Women’s

Bible Study

MISSIONS

Monthly Food Drive

On the first Sunday of the month, we welcome

you to bring in nonperishable food items for the

UPC Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry in Blasdell.

If you’d like to take a turn delivering the food

during the week, sign up on the bulletin board.

P A G E 6

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers provide confidential one-to-one Christian

care to people experiencing a crisis or going through a difficult

time. They listen, empathize, encourage, pray and provide

emotional and spiritual support on a weekly basis to hurting

people. If you, or someone you know, can benefit from this

ministry, please contact Lyn Rich (863-8635).

Caregivers

Do you or someone you know need a Caregiver service—a ride

to a doctor’s appointment? a home cooked meal? house or

yard work? Call LaDonna Painter or the church office.

If you are interested in being a caregiver, please fill out the or call

LaDonna.

Support Through Prayer

Circle Prayer - Join in the circle of prayer at 9am in the

Fellowship Hall. (Sunday School classes follow at 9:15.)

Prayer Chain - Call Rev. Bill (336-596-1868), Dolly Errington

(823-6210), Jane Duewiger (649-2085) or text Lyn Rich (863-

8636) to begin the chain of texts/phone calls to those

committed to pray when they receive the request. Text/call Lyn

if you’d like to be a link in the prayer chain.

Friends of Night People

Sign up for Wednesday, January 4 to serve at FoNP. Questions?

Contact Tom Schaner at 998-3138.

Collection bins are in the hallway near the Fellowship Hall for

children’s books, winter clothing, toiletries.

Pastor:

The Rev. Dr. William B. Shrout, Jr. 1-336-596-1868 revdrbillshrout@yahoo.com In office: Mon. 9am-2pm & Wed. 9-11am Parsonage: 4388 Richwood Drive

Director of Music:

Norman D. Wahl 716-440-5176 normwahl@gmail.com

Administrative Assistant:

Michelle Kemp Office: 649-1532 In office: Mon. & Wed. 9am-2pm, Thurs. 9-12, & Fri. 12:30-3:30pm

Custodians:

Pamela & David Kaznica

Change to cell phones only.

716-913-6927 (David) 716-913-7504 (Pamela)

Church Council President:

Howard Rich 716-863-8636 hrich@rich.com

In the event of a winter storm, go to:

WKBW Channel 7 - wkbw.com

WGRZ Channel 2 - wgrz.com

5289 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 716-649-1532; stmattucc@verizon.net Website: stmattsucc.org

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Worship 10:30 ~Communion ~Pastor Alva Looze

2 3

BCE 7 PM

4 AA 10:30AM 5 6 7

8

Sunday School 9:15 AM

WORSHIP 10:30 AM Installation of new committee members

9

Church Council 7 PM

10

Stephen Ministry 4 PM

11 AA 10:30AM 12 13 14

15

Sunday School 9:15 AM

WORSHIP 10:30 AM

16

Martin Luther King Jr., Day

17 18 AA 10:30AM 19 20 21

22

Sunday School 9:15 AM

WORSHIP 10:30 AM

23

Spiritual Life 6:30 PM

24

Stephen Ministry 4 PM

25 AA 10:30AM 26 27 28

29

Sunday School 9:15 AM

WORSHIP 10:30 AM Spaghetti Lunch “Caring for Caleb” 11:30

30 31

January 2017

Sunday

7:30 AM

7:30 AM

7:30 AM

7:30 AM

OA 7:30 PM

OA 7:30 PM

OA 7:30 PM

OA 7:30 PM

Women’s Bib le S tud y

10 AM (N )

Women’s Bib le S tud y

10 AM (N)

Rev. Bill’s Vacation

St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ 5289 McKinley Parkway Hamburg, NY 14075

5289 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075 Phone: 649-1532

Email: officestmattucc@verizon.net Website: stmattsucc.org

Our church building is fully accessible.

No matter where you are in your life’s journey, you are welcome here!

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