Event activities include:

• Special message from the Newtown UMC Ministry Team.
• Musical offerings by children’s & adult’s choirs, as well as a steel drum band
• Recognition of new lay servants
• Updates from Race & Religion and Vital Congregations

Car-pooling is recommended.  Churches are invited to bring a finger food to share at the reception.

Contact Heather Sinclair at 203-929-3537 or click on brochure for more information.

Link to original letter

Beloved New York Annual Conference Family:

By now you have heard of the tragic bombing connected with the Boston Marathon yesterday. Our prayers go out to the victims and families of those impacted by this senseless violence. Our prayers also go out to the City of Boston and to Mayor Thomas Menino, who checked himself out of the hospital to travel to the bomb site.

In the midst of calamity, our faith sustains us. The poignant words of the Psalmist ring true; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble”. (Psalm 46:1-2).

Let us walk in the strength of the Lord as we respond to this seemingly unspeakable tragedy. What follows is a list of suggestions that can be helpful as we journey in the aftermath of the bombing:

1) Pray. Prayer changes things and God meets us in the midst of prayer.
2) Send an email or a card to a Boston area church located near the marathon finish line:

• Union UMC (pastored by our own Reverend Jay Williams)
• Old South Church (pastored by the Reverend Nancy Taylor)
• Old West UMC (pastored by the Reverend Marion Easterling)
• Trinity Church (pastored by the Reverend Samuel T. Lloyd III)

3) Donate blood to the Red Cross as a tribute to the loss of life.
4) Volunteer time with an organization that fosters community building.
5) Address the tragic violence during worship; perhaps tweak an already finished sermon.
6) Pray some more.

As United Methodists, we have consistently held to our faith in times of trial. Let us continue to focus on our faith in Jesus Christ. Let our song be:
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine”.

All my prayers,

Bishop Martin D. McLee

Lifelong United Methodist?
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Melanie Gordon

Parents, teachers and caregivers are the key to helping children work through their feelings following a disaster.

Pray with children for the victims of the disaster. Simple prayers, like: Dear God, help and bless the people who lived through the storm. Guard them all with your care. Amen.

Discuss openly with children what your family and church are doing to help those who have been hurt by the disaster.

Limit trauma by protecting children from ongoing media images of the disaster that may only contribute to fear and helplessness. Limit exposure to continuing news stories and hold adult conversations only when children are not present.

Reassure children as you listen to their fears. Children experience the same feelings as adults, so it is important and reasonable to validate their feelings while keeping a positive future orientation.

Contact organizations in your area that address the needs of children.

Provide structure through routine and activity. Routines and activities help regain a sense of control when all else feels out of control.

Make objects that encourage play reenactment of the images children observe during and after a disaster.

Let children draw pictures or journal about the disaster. Ask children to draw or write whatever comes to their minds, or give them a question or topic to draw about. Create a group mural or collage that illustrates the images children have seen. Follow up with a discussion with a parent or small group.

Group discussions are helpful for validating children’s feelings about the images they see or the conversations they hear about the disaster. Most importantly, end the discussion on a positive note by assuring children of God’s love. Scripture, like “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” from Psalm 46 is one example of scripture that can bring children comfort.

Develop a family disaster plan for the types of natural disasters that may happen in your area. Role-play some possible situations. Knowing that you are prepared will help children cope with fears that they may find themselves separated from family in the event of a disaster.

Do good. Doing good for others help children overcome the sense of powerlessness. For example, let children help purchase and assemble health kits, layettes or flood buckets. See http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/flood-bucket for information on how to assemble kits.

Link to full invitation