Weekly Tidings

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The Staff Parish Committee is excited to announce that November has been designated as Staff Appreciation Month. This is our chance to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the incredible ways our staff blesses and supports our church community. Below, you’ll find a list of our dedicated staff members and the roles they fulfill:

• Daniel Shinabarger – Director of Music: Daniel is responsible for the development, oversight, and direction of the church’s music program.  He works with the Pastor to select and provide music for worship and other gatherings( Christmas Eve, Lent, Maundy Thursday, Beach church, etc) He directs the church Choirs, and works with various music groups. 
• Rachel Young – Manager, Rainbow’s End: Rachel manages the Thrift shop, works with volunteers, consigners, and customers, and oversees day-to-day operation and management of the store. This includes managing the volunteer schedule, coordination substitutes, overseeing the pricing of items, depositing monies at the end of the day, accepting donations, etc..She also educates customers on upcoming specials, programs, and church events.
• Jane Gray – Operations Manager: Jane provides secretarial and administrative support to the Pastor, and the Church community.   She develops, produces, and distributes bulletins, newsletters, inserts, directories, etc.   She takes care of all of the financial secretary’s duties including weekly deposits, recording individual giving records, maintaining membership records and maintains computer records of all financial and individual information.
• Ann German – Church Bookkeeper: Ann works with the Finance Committee, the Finance Secretary/Treasurer(Jane Gray) to support the financial sustainability of the church.  She pays all bills, reimbursement requests, interprets monthly reports provided by payroll provider, enters data into Quickbooks, issues 1099’s, distributes monthly and quarterly financial reports to the Finance committee, reconciles bank statements, and many other financial duties.
• Sonja Sheasley – Communications Manager: Sonja manages the website, keeps the social media channels active, ensures timely distribution of tidings, as well as various side projects including designing flyers, advertisements, and supporting events like the church auction.  She has done significant work on the church website, including a new church brochure.

Throughout the month, the congregation is invited to write notes of appreciation, which can be placed in a designated basket at the church. These tokens of thanks will be presented during the 10 AM service on Sunday, November 24. We hope you can join us for this special moment!

Harvest Dinner Tickets Now Available Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Harvest Dinner on Saturday, November 9th at 6 PM! Tickets are available on Sundays or by calling the office. Prices: $15 for adults and $7 for children.

Secret Prayer Pals Reminder! We encourage you to send your anonymous notes to your Secret Prayer Pal! The big reveal will take place at the Harvest Supper on November 9th, or if you can’t attend, during church on November 10th.  As Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” We hope you’ll participate in this meaningful and fun opportunity to lift each other up in prayer!

Join us at the Holiday Fair at the United Methodist Church in Osterville!

New Directories are available. You may pick one up in the office. They will be on the counter under in in house mailboxes.

2025 Pledge Campaign Sunday, November 3 is the day to pick up your Pledge Packets: Please come to the solarium before or after the service to pick up your pledge packet envelope. They are in alphabetical order on the kiosk next to the entry door into the solarium. Someone will be standing by to help you find yours. If you do not see one with your name on it, please ask as we have many extras. In the packet is a brochure, letter, pledge card, and return envelope for your card. If you cannot be present this Sunday, Your packet envelope will be mailed to you. On November 10, we will return our pledge cards to be blessed. If you cannot be present that Sunday, you can mail your card to the church. On the card you will also find additional ways to make your pledge on our website or through your bank. Watch for the “thermometer” in the solarium to track our progress toward our goal of $242,000.- The Stewardship Team – Jackie and Trace Schrafft, Jack Cotton, Heather Wolfe

Last Sunday, October 27, Jack Cotton shared an inspiring message during the Stewardship moment, drawing on the story of David and Goliath—a tale of courage, faith, and the incredible strength found within a united community. Jack encouraged us to identify our own “five stones”—personal qualities to help us face life’s giants—and reminded us that one of those stones is our church: a place of faith, support, and belonging.

We invite you to watch the video of Jack’s message to reflect on how we, as a church family, can each contribute to the strength of Osterville UMC.

• • Rainbow’s End Shop Hours & Donation Information Open: Wednesday through Saturday, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Donations: Treasures you no longer need can be dropped off anytime the shop is open until 2:00 PM. We’re excited to offer Inspire T-shirts for sale — $10 for adults and $7 for children. Thank you for supporting the shop, and we look forward to your visit! Note: We’re also in need of newspapers, packing paper, and paper bags to wrap items for our customers.

    

    Food Pantry: For October, our focus is on collecting stuffing mix and cranberry sauce. These items are in high demand as we prepare for the upcoming holiday season, and your donations will help ensure that families have the ingredients they need for a warm and festive meal.

  • Greeters and Ushers: Volunteers needed. Call Mary Ann Farley at (774) 487-0719.
  • Miracle Kitchen Needs Y Help prepare sandwiches, salads, and desserts for the monthly luncheon. Contact Patty Kilmain at 617-894-4858.
  • UMC-Osterville Prayer Shawl Ministry: Meets the 1st Sunday of each month from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM in the Solarium (October to June). All are welcome. Let us know if someone is in need of a prayer.
    
• HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH THE HOLIDAY FAIR:
  • Calling all Bakers! The Holiday Fair is November 23, and we would love to have your delicious, homemade baked goods at the bake table. Quick breads, pies (Please no apple pies.), and cakes do well at the bake table, but brownies don’t usually sell. If cookies are your specialty, we need many at the cookie table. Please make small sized cookies. Please label whether your items contain nuts or not and if they are gluten free. You may drop your cookies and other baked goods off the day before the fair. Oh, what fun!! Call Laura Dunn 508-221-3100 for questions about cookies and Jeanine Farrell 508-524-5830 with questions about the bake table
  • Join a Holiday Fair Workshop: Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Annex to work on crafts for the November fair. Contact Sue DeMartino at 508-648-4844.
  • The ‘Oh What Fun’ Gallery is seeking donations of handcrafted items from our talented congregation for the upcoming Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 23rd. We’re looking for woodworking, artwork, stained glass, quilts, pillows, needlepoint, jewelry, sea glass, knitted goods, woven baskets, and artistic floral arrangements. Put your creativity to work and contribute to this festive event! For more information or to donate, please contact Jackie Schrafft at 908-377-4811 or Sharlene Moran at 774-487-1619. Thank you for your support!
  • Contribute to our Gift Basket Room at the Holiday Fair!
    Thank you for your donations!  We have had several donations already, as are listed below – BUT we could use more! See the baskets ideas in the second part of the list!

• • Coffee Hour Donation Basket: Contributions towards supplies can be made at the coffee hour table.
  • Altar Flowers: To donate, sign up on the bulletin board by the restroom in the solarium. Arrangements are $50.
  • Outreach Team: From the Outreach Team: A million thanks, Church Family, for the new backpacks and school supplies! Your generosity has blessed students in need at Barnstable Community Innovation School (K-3), Barnstable United Elementary (grades 4 & 5), and Barnstable Intermediate School. Now, for September, let’s see how many boxes of macaroni and cheese we can collect for the guests of the Salvation Army, Safe Harbor Women’s Shelter, CHAMP Homes, and the Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center. Thank you for your continued support!

Fellowship Opportunities for You!

• Men’s Fellowship: Every Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. All men are welcome.
• Bible Study: Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM. We study the scripture for the upcoming Sunday.
• Youth Group: Sundays from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. 
• Online Prayer Group: Email Mary Anne at booklover126@comcast.net to join.
• Book Group: The Church Book Group will be meeting on October 29^th at 11:00 am in the Parlor. The book that we are reading this month is Deman Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. The book is a Pulitzer Prize winner.
• Mindfulness Yoga: Thursdays at 2:00 PM. All levels are welcome. Contact Karen Cheromcha at 508-397-7938.
• Choir: Interested in joining the choir? Contact Daniel Shinabarger at 857-919-0238.
• Children/Youth Choir Rehearsals: After the 10:00 AM service.