RURAL AND MIGRANT MINISTRY

Church members go to local migrant worker camps and organize activities or donate foodstuffs and supplies. If you wish to help, please call Alice or Marilyn!

Many thanks to those who gave so generously toward
the scholarship for a migrant child to go to camp.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

For the victims of domestic violence, we hold
a Christmas Social, and a Turkey Drive.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Our facilities are available for AA meetings and
workshops, check the calendar for times.

We participate in the "Adopt a Highway" program on Route 28.

PRISON MINISTRY

Reservoir Goes to Prison
By Sue Ulrich

“‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or
a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison,
and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you
the truth, whatever you did not do for one of
the least of these, you did not do for me.’”
- Matt 25:44-45

 The Reservoir Church has been involved in ministry to those in prison and their families for several years now. A few years ago we helped an incarcerated woman as she was released after eight years of prison. More recently we have been taking part in the Angel Tree program, buying gifts for the children of incarcerated parents. At this time, Pastor Lucy, Sue and Jim Ulrich are actively participating in the Rising Hope Certificate in Ministry and Human Services, a year long program being offered at Woodbourne Correctional Facility. The school year begins in January, when men who have completed a semester in study and writing skills enter an intensive learning experience, with classes 5 evenings per week, covering Old and New Testament studies, Theology and Ethics, Church History, Counseling and Sociology. Instructors are inmates who have completed a Masters program at Sing Sing. Outside volunteers assist in teaching the classes. Lucy and Sue are involved in the Theology and Ethics Class and Jim is assisting in the New Testament Class. Special guest speakers are always welcome. The Holy Spirit is a powerful presence inside these walls and we encourage you to come with one of us to sit in on a class.

Our church has been invited to become part of a program being offered by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ulster County. This is a mentoring program which is being coordinated by Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Angel Tree. I will be meeting with the directors of the program in Kingston on August 16 at 1:30 pm. Does this spark your interest? It would be great if we could have a number from our church attending. If you would like to go, please contact Sue Ulrich (657-8314).

A Charge to Increase our Income

We can only spend for invoices if we have income! For the year July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005, we gave more than $4,000.00 under our pledged amount of $75,826.00. Twenty-three giving units were behind in their giving. As God supplies, I trust that the pledged amount can be made up.

Do you know how your gifts of money are serving the ministries of the Reservoir UMC? May you and I pray about shifting away from a “fund raising” mentality. Rather, may we focus on the number of pledging persons and families and increased giving by those pledging. We do occasionally talk about tithing income to the church and other charitable causes, but recently only four of our families indicated that they were tithing. What might happen if more people caught a vision of tithing and then acted upon it?

Let’s remember that we can’t out-give God. In God’s care-giving, He will take care of you and me when we trust him.

May God bless you in your giving for the support of your church during the new year July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. Thank you.

In God’s love, Cary Wood, Finance Chair