Pastor's Welcome Letter

Dear Friends,

Welcome from the Fishkill United Methodist church. The church welcomes you to be a part of our ministry for Jesus Christ. We hope that you will join us as we journey together on the quest to know God and to serve Christ faithfully.

I am excited about the many opportunities for worship, study, and fellowship that are available through the Fishkill UMC. Please join us for worship on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. as we offer God praise and seek to hear God’s word for us today. Children and youth share in the opening of our worship service and then are invited to go to Sunday School. Classes are available for all children with nursery toddler care for the littlest ones. Following worship and church school, all are invited to share in fellowship time together. We hope you will join us for a cup of coffee, a cookie, and some conversation. Take time to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances. At 11:15 there is Sunday School for adults who wish to feast together on God’s word.

Confirmation, a study aimed at bringing young people to a greater knowledge of God and commitment to Christ, will be offered for 8th graders beginning in October.

If you are looking for a place to plug in with other committed Christians, we invite you to explore the various fellowship groups within this congregation. The Men’s Prayer Breakfast meets on the first Saturday of the month at 7:30 a.m., giving the men of the congregation a chance to engage in Bible study, prayer and Christian conversation. The United Methodist Women embrace and welcome all women to become involved in mission for Jesus Christ. They meet at various times each month. Three youth fellowships for grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 provide young people with a place to fit in and the opportunity to connect with other children and teenagers who are seeking God in their lives.

Our choir program gives all ages a chance to worship God with voice and song. Four vocal choirs and a bell choir wait to welcome you. Surely those with a musical gift can find a place for service and fellowship in our midst.

Sharing Christ’s love with the world is another important facet of our life together. Whether volunteering at a soup kitchen or raising money for the needy, reaching out to the sick and elderly or visiting in a nursing home, we hope to share Christ’s love with a hurting world. We thank God for opportunities to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those in need of God’s tender care.

The people of the UMC identify themselves as a people with open hearts, open minds, and open doors. I confess to you that given the realities of our modern world, the doors of the Fishkill UMC are not always open; but we still want to welcome you. Give us a call, ring the door bell, or walk on in on a Sunday morning and let us receive you with open hearts.

Yours in Christ’s love,
Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff