United Methodist Church of Hartford

Upon her death, Pat Coombs, a long-time member of our church, established a scholarship fund to help people of all ages to enhance their lives through higher education. This fund is administered by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving through their scholarship program. While there is a preference for members of our church, others will be considered as well. A church committee will work with the Hartford Foundation to provide input into the selection process. If you are interested in this scholarship, you may download an application here. The deadline for applications this year is March 30, 2012. We are grateful to Pat Coombs for remembering her church in her will, and we encourage you to consider your church as you plan your estate. A gift such as this can make a real difference for years to come.

United Methodist Church of Hartford, in conjunction with Greater Hartford’s Academy of the Arts, has undertaken a project which will pay for private music lessons for qualified high school music students. This new music scholar program, which will be funded by the church and administered by the school, will include performance opportunities at the church and updates on student progress, thus creating a true collaboration. This month, the church plans to donate $725.92 to the academy to pay for 11 to 15 private one-hour lessons. Gene Bozzi, chair of the Music Department of the Academy, and the administrative staff will select students to recommend for the award. To be considered, the students must be residents of Hartford, (preferably from the West End), have some facility on their chosen instrument, provide an essay about why he or she would like to study this instrument privately,be willing to contribute a small amount ($5-10) to each lesson and be available to perform at the church during worship or fellowship hour. Strict attendance practices will be followed and a periodic evaluation will be sent to the church. Qualified teachers selected from the Academy’s staff will be paid $40 - $60 per hour until the funds are expended. Lessons will take place after school at the Academy of the Arts’ downtown location on the campus of the Learning Corridor. Currently, the Academy’s faculty has recommended two students for consideration – a trumpet player and a vocalist. The winner will be selected by the church. United Methodist’s music director, Cheryl Wadsworth, says that she is excited about the program and that the need is great. Funding for this first-ever scholarship came from an organ recital by Cheryl presented last October in memory of her teacher, Virginia Herrmann. If you are interested in more details, contact Cheryl at: cheryl@umcofhartford.org.

With the difficult economy, basic financial needs have been tough to meet for many. As folks have challenges, our discretionary fund empowers our pastor to make immediate and confidential financial disbursements to people in need. You can support this work by writing a check to support the pastor’s discretionary fund.

The Chancel Choir does a wonderful job leading all of us in singing. New members may join us at any time. We have fun rehearsing on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9PM. We also share a prayer, a reading, or a favorite hymn at the end of each rehearsal and truly do as St Augustine said: “Those who sing, pray twice.” If you cannot commit to every week, we still would love you to be with us when you can. Speak with or email music Director Cheryl Wadsworth, or speak with any choir  member, to learn more.

Don’t forget to bring your canned and dry goods to church on Sundays. We collect the goods in the wheelbarrow in the narthex at the back of the sanctuary each week for our West End Food Pantry. The pantry provides food to over 100 families each month.

Our sanctuary is enhanced by flowers on the altar during worship on Sunday mornings. You can sign up now for an upcoming date on which you would like to honor or remember an event or loved one. The cost is $35, and you should note “flowers” on the memo line of your check. You can sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office, or by phoning or emailing the church.

The new medical privacy laws (HIPPA) restrict hospitals and nursing homes from alerting churches of admissions of its members. Patient rosters are no longer available to us either. So please notify the church office whenever you or a family member is admitted to a healthcare facility. This will allow the pastor to know the information and make a pastoral care visit.

Our various Feeding Ministries rely on contributions to keep serving hungry people. As a result, there are coin jars kept where we can drop spare change as we come to church service on Sunday mornings. One is at the back of the sanctuary as you enter; another is in the hallway heading toward the office. Over time this change adds up to amounts that help support our Loaves & Fishes and South Park Inn meals, and our West End Food Pantry.