Announcements

The flowers on the altar are in celebration of John Jones, who was born a few years ago on this day! Love, Wanda

Tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 27, Quad Preaching Schedule
SUM - Barry Kline (Pastor Gene & Deacon Deb observing)
Copper Hill UMC - Sue Gannon
North Canton Community UMC - Mary Brevigleiri

Easter Envelopes
If you missed our Easter services last Sunday and would still like to make a donation for Easter, envelopes will be in the sanctuary. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

An invitation to prayer from the NYAC Board of Laity
All laity and clergy are encouraged to take part in a six-week time of intentional prayer for Annual Conference 2025 via Zoom from April 21 to May 30, 2025, Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-7:15 am. This daily time of prayer will be led by our district lay leaders. Click here for the Zoom link and full details.

The Gathering Table Event
For All Ages is partnering with Healing Meals for a free community event on Monday, April 28th from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Healing Meals (140 Nod Rd., Weatogue). This event is in celebration of Global Intergenerational Week. We will gather together to cook, create, and connect over a meal (ages 14+). Anyone interested can sign up here (space is limited).

Farmington Valley Chorale Spring Concerts
The Farmington Valley Chorale presents their Spring Concerts: Better Together: Music for Choir and Piano Four-Hands – Featuring the Shelest Duo. Come listen to beloved tunes such as “Shenandoah.” Performances are Friday, May 2nd, at 8 PM at Bethany Covenant Church in Berlin and Saturday, May 3rd, at 8 PM at First Church of Christ, Simsbury. Tickets are $25.00 and may be purchased online here or directly from Lori Catlin Garcia for a $5.00 discount.

SUMC Spring Clean-up 2025
SUMC Spring clean-up will be held on Saturday, May 3rd, starting at 8:00 AM. Our primary goal is to cut back, rake out, and mulch the flower beds around the church buildings and parking areas. Folks interested in weeding the beds, pruning shrubs, or other spring ‘clean-up’ activities are welcome to join us as well! A few of our dedicated volunteer gardeners will be present to help guide efforts as needed. Please, bring your own gloves and your preferred gardening tools. We hope to see you there - lots of helpers always make the work go faster!

Welcoming Project Fundraiser
The Welcoming Project is having a Fundraiser on Saturday, May 10, at 7:00 PM, featuring music by the Steve O’Brien Band. Save the date. We are looking for bigger ticket items to use in a silent auction to raise funds for supporting refugees and other newcomers. Email Mike and Sue Sames at refugee@sumct.org if you can help. 

Sing Together Choir
All are welcome to join in an open choir for the 10:30 service on May 11th. Arrive early at 9:30 in Wesley Hall to learn a song which will then be sung as a special anthem. All ages are welcome, and the ability to read music is not required. If you’ve thought about joining the choir but are hesitant about the commitment, or want to sample life as a choir singer, or just love to sing…come make music as we sing together. Contact Bridget Scarlato if you have any questions. 

Ecumenical Liturgy of Lament and Hope - Wednesday, May 14th, 7 PM
Join us for a special worship service that creates space for honest lament, courageous hope, and renewed commitment to love as Christ loves. In a world marked by division and injustice, this liturgy invites us to reflect, pray, and act in solidarity with the vulnerable. Through scripture, music, and shared experience, we will draw strength from God’s presence and one another. All are welcome.

Welcome our New Pastor, DH Choi
We will be welcoming Pastor DH Choi, who will officially join us on July 1. Please watch for information in The Messenger and on the kiosk in Wesley Hall about upcoming welcoming events for DH! This will be an opportunity to get involved and to add your own ideas to the mix. 

Adult Spiritual Growth Classes
We are offering new Adult Spiritual Growth classes this spring. Each offers a different perspective on the Bible, life, and spiritual growth. You can read about each class in more detail on our website. Please also use this opportunity to register for one or more classes.

Attention Gardeners!
We are still looking for volunteers to help with gardening. If you are interested in being on our general gardening volunteer list, please contact Debbie Dunn. You will get emails about the dates we are working on the pollinator gardens or special projects. We appreciate all the help we can get. Contact Debbie Dunn for more details.

Eagle Scout Project
One of our scouts, Ben Pourkavoos, is working on his Eagle Scout Project. Ben will be putting together backpacks full of food, toiletries, and other necessities to give out to Torrington’s homeless. Monetary donations and basic personal item donations are both accepted and very much appreciated. Online donations can be paid to the troop via Venmo: @Simsbury-BSA-Troop-174. Please title the monetary donation “Ben’s Eagle Project.” Personal item donations can be dropped in the box on the stage in Wesley Hall. Here is the flyer. For questions, please contact John O’Neal. Thank you.

Urgent Need for Church School Volunteers
We urgently need volunteers to assist Elizabeth Webber with church school for just one hour on Sundays. Without additional help, we may be forced to cancel church school, which would be a great loss for our children. No experience or preparation is required—just a willingness to lend a hand. If we take turns, the commitment will be light and manageable. Please step up and help us keep this vital ministry alive—our children’s spiritual growth depends on it!

Office Hours
SUM office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9–3. Deb Reid works remotely on Wednesdays and Fridays and will check emails and voicemail messages on those days.

Praying for the Entire SUM Family
Each week, we will publish five SUM directory entries to the Messenger so that you can add these people to your prayers. By the end of the year, we will have prayed for the entire SUM family. This week, please pray for the following: Cindi Dietlin, Nancy & Taylor Discipio, David Dixon, Marge Dixon, and the Dolch family (Erin, Scott, Mason, Teagan, and Harper).

The Prayer Chain is Ready for Your Requests
The SUM reinvigorated Prayer Chain is ready for your requests. We have a dedicated team of Prayer Warriors who will receive them. To submit a prayer request, email our Prayer Warriors. Please let our Prayer Chain team know if the prayers are no longer needed by sending an update to the same email address.