MINISTRIES
SUNDAY DINNER
Sunday Dinner remains an important ministry to create connection and offer nourishment to those in need in the community. Volunteers make sandwiches and desserts, bring fruit, snacks, drinks and other goodies to fill lunch bags. All food is made at home and brought to the church on Sunday afternoon. Volunteers assemble bags at 1:00pm in a safe and socially distanced manner. Sunday Dinner guests are given the bags of food at the gate at 2:00pm each Sunday. We also coordinate with and support neighborhood food distribution with volunteers, storage, staging area, and reheating food.
We are looking for volunteers to help with Sunday Dinner! Please contact Claire Pamplin at claire.pamplin@gmail.com if you are able to help with making part of the meal or help serve on a Sunday afternoon.
CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP
The Caregivers Support Group meets via zoom once a month before church. The group shares encouragement and support with others who are caring for aging loved ones, those with chronic illness or other life issues. ​
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For more information:
Doris Strugatz at dstrugatz@nyc.rr.com or 718-638-3417
Liz Opoka at lizopoka@earthlink.net or 718-965-4142
Michael Perreca at michaelperreca@gmail.com or 718-344-7980.
STEPHEN MINISTRY
Stephen Ministers are assigned to be in a supportive relationship with those who request someone to speak with on a regular basis and with confidentially. They are trained to offer a listening ear without judgement. Many in our congregation have found this a meaningful and helpful way to process times of crisis in their lives.
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If you—or someone you know—could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister; if you are interested in possibly becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact:​ Leslie Soha, leslie.soha@gmail.com
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS CARE
An intentional method of connection that provides the confidentiality and care our community members need. Our volunteer team, in collaboration with our clergy, work together to create connections that meet the needs and longings within our community. Visits, accompaniment, shopping help, meals; all help to forge connections with one another.
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FRIDAY PRAYER CIRCLE
A weekly prayer circle every Friday at 12 noon to lift prayers from the Sunday Service, prayer requests from the broader community, and to pray for justice, peace, and community worldwide. For more information contact emwhite77@aol.com.
SOCIAL ACTION
The PSUMC Social Action Committee strives to bring Jesus’s vision of a just, joyous, and compassionate world into present-day lives and politics. Members have participated in protests and marches for environmental, racial justice, and social-justice causes in addition to writing letters to legislators and coordinating watch parties to discuss meaningful films. PSUMC is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network and Methodists for Social Action.
SMALL GROUPS MINISTRIES
We offer several seasonal small group studies for a set number of weeks in addition to two ongoing Bible studies and weekly Taize services. If you are interested in leading a class or have suggestions for future offerings, please contact Rev. Melissa or the church office.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Following a customized curriculum that focuses on Jesus’ love, the children explore how to be more loving and just as followers of Jesus. Rev. Melissa is available to families and invites conversation about the process for baptism and confirmation for those who feel ready.
MUSIC MINISTRY
We celebrate music in worship through soloists, ensembles, and instrumentalists who participate as featured music leaders in our Sunday service, both in-person and virtually. We encourage members and friends of PSUMC, near and far, to consider sharing their musical gifts and we appreciate all skill levels and styles of music. We look forward to a time when we can again come together -- in fellowship and song -- as a choir. While the future will look different, our Church Choir remains a steadfast part of our community.
ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE
A significant focus is the ongoing development of an anti-racism task force. At the end of a six week anti racism Lenten study, participants requested that the church offer a service of repentance as a first step in becoming an anti racist church. The service was on Pentecost which coincided with the uprising following the police murder of George Floyd. In the weeks following, Rev. Melissa held listening sessions in small groups with about 25 people over the summer, the weekly church email includes new anti racism resources each week, a number of people engaged in dismantling racism training sessions, and the task force convened a town hall meeting in October 2020 to help to guide us through this work as a congregation. We continue to learn and grow on a journey of becoming an anti-racist congregation.