03/24/2026
Just going to point out a couple of things in letter coming up.
First we will be celebrating Maundy Thursday on April 2.
Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with His disciples and His commandment to love one another. We do this by coming together to share a meal of soup and bread, perhaps a little service, singing and communion all done at the tables. All is provided so just come join us.
Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, is observed on the Thursday before Easter and marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, the three-day period leading up to Easter Sunday. The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin word
mandatum, meaning "commandment," referring to Jesus’ instruction to His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34),.
Second Easter Sunday, April 5, will have only one service this year a 9am. During this time the Sunday School children have been working on a little play to put on.
EAST HAMILTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER
1760 State Route 12, Hubbardsville, NY 13355
Mailing Address: 8145 Green Road, Hubbardsville, NY 13355
APRIL and MAY 2026
Pastor: Rev. Thomas Van Hatten Phone: 315-736-8037
Lay Leader:
Writer: Jane Loop
Editor & Art: Janice Fontaine
APRIL IMPORTANT DATES
April 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 - Bible Study - 1:30 p.m. @ Fontaines - Lunch followed by Bible Study
April 1 - Church Council - 6:30 All are welcome
April 2 - Soup Supper, 6:00 - All are invited.
April 4 - Egg hunt for all Hubbardsville area children - 10:00 sharp for children through age 6.
Children through age 12, immediately following.
April 5 - Easter Sunday. NO SUNRISE SERVICE. Worship at 9:00 a.m. led by the Sunday School
attendees.
April 12, 19 & 26. Worship and Sunday School at 9:00
April 19 – Brunch following Sunday Service – All welcome (bring your favorite dish to share)
April 25 – Food Cupboard 10-11am
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Apr. 7 - Cathy Stashluk
Apr. 11 - Grace Wratten
Apr. 12 - Isaiah Pelky
Apr. 14 - Joyce Wratten
Apr. 19 - Josh Clark
MAY IMPORTANT DATES
May 3 - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.- Worship & Sunday School including Communion.
May 10, 17, 24, 31 - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Worship & Sunday School-
May 7,14,21,28 - Lunch, 1:30 p.m. Bible Study. Immediately following
May 7 - 6:30 p.m. Church Council, all are welcome
May 17 - After church brunch. Bring a dish to pass & table service
May 23 - Food Cupboard 10-11am
MAY BIRTHDAYS
May 4 - Barb Nelson
May 12 - Carolyn Gronlund
May 14 - Dawn Blinebry
May 15 - Wendy Marcellus
May 22 - Vicki Griffin
May 25 - Larry Crumb & Eleanor Furner
May 31 - Blayke Valentine
PRAYER LIST
Rex Lane, Jamie Goedell, Sue Elsasser, Kari Buck, Dana Wratten, Emerson Buell, Wesley Weaver, Mark Reynolds, Roy Crossway, Kip Wheeler, Elizabeth Bice, Debbie Putnam, Stacy Legacy, Larry Sherwood, Larry & Esther Crumb, Miranda Hadlock, Abrahham Bouchard, Deborah Colver, Ronnie Mason, Daniel Harvey, Roger Wheeler, Cheri Wallace-Tyler, Cathy Stashluk, Patty Whipple, Linda Gorton, the Wheeler family, Ashley Townsend, Vicki Griffin, Leah Woodcock, Vera Haver, Sharon Roberts, Stephanie Lanfair, our service men & women.
This letter was written and printed for distribution in memory of Lucinda Albright, 1916-2014
PASTOR'S PIECE:
2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that we walk by faith, not by sight.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that we cannot earn salvation through our works. We are saved by our faith. Faith is believing all God has said in His Word. Faith is having the assurance that what we hope for in Christ will certainly come to pass. Our salvation is a free gift of God’s grace. Walking by faith in this life means we are to rely completely on all that God has said in His Word. We are to listen to the Holy Spirit, follow His directions and trust in the Lord with all our heart. Living by faith means, we can accept all the storms and problems of life knowing that we are being conformed into the image of Jesus. When we use life’s stumbling blocks as stepping stones and opportunities, we can live a victorious Christian life trusting all that God has said.
I will be retiring at the end of June. Our conference has mandatory retirement at age 72 that I will reach this year. Thank you for eleven years of support at East Hamilton.
We continue in person services, Sunday school, and coffee and snack time after church each Sunday. The service can be watched live on Zoom (893 897 817).
If anyone is interested in joining or transferring his or her membership to East Hamilton UMC, please let me know. I can be reached at 315-736-8037 or email me at [email protected].
We have recently been told by Pastor Tom that he will be retiring June 30th. No more of those difficult drives from Marcy and then from East Hamilton on to Leonardsville and hopefully, without incident, back to home in Marcy.
As soon as we hear what the conference has in store for us, we will let you know.
MISSIONS:
Backpacks - This was Candie's idea and she heads this mission. Her report for 2025 states that in this year, 30 fully stocked packs were distributed to youthful prisoners who are released at midnight with nothing but maybe just shorts and a t-shirt in inclement weather. Also included are daily needs which we hope will help get them going down the right path. Already in this year, 2026, 12 have been given. We appreciate the people who find this so important that they give it extra support either by buying things on the list Candie provided or, designating some of their donations to go to the Mission Fund.
Clothing Giveaway - Bettyann Miller presented this idea years ago and it helped many people. Some even internationally! This year the event was held Feb. 14. There were so many good choices left for all sizes that we went over to the next Saturday and gave away many more.
Bettyann has always been able to glean things that were needed in coordination with the medical needs that were taken care of by the team on her medical mission trips to Nicaragua. This year that trip was not possible due to political discord. Bettyann has sorted and put sizes for adults and children in sealed totes in the church attic. Anyone who has emergency needs due to something like a fire can choose a "new" wardrobe.
Food Cupboard - The 4th Saturday of each month, our back door is open from 10:00 - 11:00am. We have bags of food, enough for several days of meals. They are for anyone who is feeling a bit of a crunch (who isn't?). No proof of need is required.
We are always happy to find bags or boxes of returnable bottles on our back porch. In 2025, $256.00 was realized from just that. It all went into the food cupboard fund. Thanks to all of you who take the time to do that.
Easter Time Happenings - Altar flowers. If you would like to remember loved ones by placing a plant on the altar for Easter Sunday please let Bettyann Miller know. When you call her to leave your message at 315-691-2939 please leave the following. First, your name and are you bringing your own plant, if so, whom are your remembering? If you want Bettyann to purchase your plant, give her the same information. She will have the price ready for you after church on Easter Sunday.
Maundy Thursday Soup Supper - April 2nd our supper of soup and bread will commemorate the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. Join us at 6:00 p.m. The supper will be furnished. Pastor Tom will serve communion right at the tables.
Church worship will take place ONLY at 9:00 on Easter Sunday. There will be no after church brunch buffet this year.
An Easter Story
By M.E. Crumb
This is Maggie’s Story of how colored eggs, baskets, rabbits and chicks might be connected to
Easter the resurrection.
When Jesus was a young boy in Nazareth he had a pet hen called Chick” and a friendly Rabbit called “Bunny”. These little friends followed Jesus everywhere he went and were with him all of his days while he was teaching the word of God.
The day came when the Roman King and the people decided that they did not want Jesus teaching about God any longer. The King wanted no more preaching of God’s word. Jesus was so sad that he went to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed with the disciples. Little Chick and Bunny also prayed because they knew that Judas Iscariot had told the cruel soldiers where to find Jesus. Chick and Bunny watched as the soldiers came and they were so full of sadness.
As the cross was loaded on his back and a crown of thorns was placed on His head, He walked on the path to Golgotha. Jesus was nailed to the cross and it was placed in the ground. Jesus pleaded to God to forgive the sinners. During the night, Bunny and Chick stayed by the cross. Jesus wept and continued to ask forgiveness as he drew his last breath. Bunny and Chick also prayed and cried.
After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in a linen cloth and carried him to Joseph’s family tomb – a cave nearby. Bunny and Chick went into the cave, too. Then Joseph placed a large rock at the opening of the cave so that Jesus would be safe. Bunny and Chick were very sad and they stayed very quiet in the dark.
Some of Jesus’ blood dripped on the gravely ground inside the cave. Bunny and Chick’s tears of sadness were also falling on the ground. About that time, Chick decided she had to lay her eggs and asked Bunny to bring over Jesus’ crown of thorns. She found some grass and leaves inside the cave and made a soft nest. She laid her eggs. They rolled out of the nest and across the ground through the blood stained gravel and tears. Bunny and Chick rolled the eggs back across the ground and into the nest.
When Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the tomb, they found that Jesus had risen to heaven and was not there. What they did find was a nest of beautifully colored eggs that Chick and Bunny had prepared.
The women gathered the eggs in baskets and took them to the village. Chick and Bunny scurried behind them gleefully crying, “He has risen, He has risen.” The women gave the baskets with the eggs to the delighted children in the village as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus gave the people. To this day chicks, bunnies, baskets and colored eggs are a reminder of Easter and the love Jesus gave the world.
We will continue the "after church brunches", the 3rd Sunday of each month unless otherwise stated. Bring a dish to pass and your table service and enjoy a varied meal each week. You will be home in plenty of time for you to do your chores or make it in time to organize your next meal at home.
HAPPY SPRING AND EASTER EVERYONE
