Dear Church Family,

Please join me in lifting a prayer of thanksgiving for everyone working in our Sunday morning basement ministries during the past school year.

I am thankful for Sophia G. (and Dilly!), who has spent many mornings over the past two years working with our elementary-age children. She spent time in my classroom as a child and returned to help nurture the present group of children. She has been a blessing to all of us.

I am also grateful for Jim C. and Roberta D. for all the time they spent guiding and growing children in our classroom this year.

I also extend congratulations to Miss Grace and Ben as they completed their first full year of bells ministry with the children. It has been a joy to hear them rehearsing and see the children running to their classroom.

I am also thankful for Laura H. and all the volunteers in the nursery who maintain their corner of the basement as a loving, nurturing space.

If anyone, after the Mother's Day services, felt enchanted and encouraged by the children and would like to join any of us in the new school year, please let Pastor Hannah or any of us know of your interest. There is room for you in the basement, too.

Blessings,
Bill Utterback

Dear Sewickley United Methodist Church:

Thank you very much for providing the Subway lunch for the “Sound the Alarm” event held at the Ambridge Fire Department on Saturday, May 15. The event was very successful in that we installed 194 smoke alarms in a total of 74 homes, making 181 people safer through these efforts. Your gracious assistance providing the lunch was very much appreciated by everyone. Thank you for your kind support.

Sincerely,
Mike Blessel, Coordinator – Home Fire Safety
American Red Cross, Beaver County Office

A huge shout-out to all of our wonderful volunteers who made the 11:00 Children’s Church possible! We had a great group of kids, some of whom are “graduating,” and we look forward to welcoming new children, ages 4-5th grade, next year!

Thank you to our great team: Kim Benjamin, Katie Buco, Diane Dripps, Ben Heinzl, Kandice Kramer, Lauren Lang, Owyn Loughman, and Krista Ream.

Thank you,
Andrea Lewis

Dear SUMC Family,

We would like to thank everyone for your support of our children’s ministry in May.

We are grateful for the space you created in your morning and in your hearts as our children led worship
on Mother’s Day. We would like to thank Pastor Hannah, Matt M., Lauren L., and everyone in Leap of Faith for providing opportunity, encouragement, and accompaniment. It was a joy to walk with you through this special event.

We would like to thank Pam H. for all the energy and insight she contributed toward shaping the worship services. We thank Andrea and the 11 am children’s church leadership team for accommodating and encouraging us.

We appreciate the families who shared your children with us. It was a joy to partner with you and feel the love your children have for God and church family.

We are grateful to everyone who participated in the prayer stations and demonstrated, for the children and for all of us, your faith in God and prayer.

Children and youth (Ben!), thank you for your enthusiasm for the Mother’s Day opportunity. We hope you were reminded that you are beloved members of God’s family and our church family, and we treasure your participation in all that we do.

In addition, we thank everyone who contributed to our traditional May flower-planting event with the children. The flowers planted around the church campus remind us of the beauty in His Creation and our responsibility to nurture, appreciate, and encourage all of it.

Sincerely,
Grace Rogansky
Pamela Mayo
Bill Utterback

The United Women in Faith (UWF, formerly UMW) thank all of you who made our Spring Rummage Sale for Missions a huge success. We raised $2,567 through sales and monetary donations over the course of two weekends. Thank you to all who donated items, donated money, bought items, sold items, carried items up and down stairs, unpacked bags, boxes, and totes, set up tables and filled them with treasures, took down tables, put up signs, took down signs, packed up the leftovers for further distribution, tore down and recycled cardboard boxes, or provided food, beverages, and/or treats for hungry workers. Every bit of help and support is appreciated. Thank you for helping us help others, especially women and children, in need here at home and around the world.

Kristine Swaney
412-716-5772

Photo by Nate Grigg