Have you ever been talking about SUM happenings and said to yourself or a friend, “Why are they doing ________?” (Fill in the blank…) And who is “they?” “They” are your current church leaders, clergy, and staff. “They” serve on the Staff Parish Relations Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Trustees Committee. These committees and your pastor and deacon work closely with the staff and the other committees that make this church run. “They” also make up the Little Lambs & Ivy (LLI) board and keep in contact with the LLI director. “They” consist of long-time SUM members as well as new on ..read more

On the first weekend in October (Sunday, October 6th this year), people all over the world will continue the tradition of bringing their pets to their local churches to celebrate the feast day of St Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis first blessed animals early in his ministry, sometime between 1210 and 1215. We will recognize the celebration on Saturday, October 5th, from 1– 3 p.m. The story goes that he was wandering around outdoors, full of self-doubt, when he noticed a flock of birds in his path. He immediately felt the need to first talk to them as though they were his equals and then preac ..read more

For such a time as this… Those words have stuck in my head since I started in ministry. They were a constant refrain from our then Bishop, Jeremiah J. Park, to the assembled clergy and laity at nearly every event I went to. Taken from Esther 4:14, they were a reminder to us that we were right where we were supposed to be, and that God had put us in that time and place for a reason. Those memories have been kicking around in my head as I think about my friend Gene Esch and his family. Gene and LeighAnn moved here at the height of COVID with their daughter Helana. Their son Archer would follow s ..read more

I know of no better way to get to know your neighbors than by sharing recipes! We all understand that SUM needs additional funding, so we are asking for your help in preparing a recipe book full of your favorite recipes that you would like to share with others. We all know we Methodists love to cook and eat, so a recipe book is a great way to raise money while sharing our favorite foods. Don’t be shy; submit as many recipes as you like. Submitting your favorite recipe(s) is easy: ·       Type up your recipe and it to Eileen at ebrogan1953@gmail.com ·  &n ..read more

I recently had the pleasure of getting to know Sandy Burger, who became a Simsbury United Methodist Church (SUM) member a few weeks ago. We met on a rainy Friday afternoon, settled in at my kitchen table, and began chatting about our families, careers, and interests. I learned that she’s had an interesting and varied career. Sandy grew up in Arcadia, California (just east of Pasadena). She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Although her career led her to the business world, she retains her interests in art, music, and the opera. Sandy’s lived all over the country, and along the way, sh ..read more

It's time for another season of good books, healthy discussions, and making new friends at the Adult Spiritual Growth classes. It is our time to open our minds and expand our worlds. Adult Spiritual Growth (ASG) is ideal for meeting new people. As always, we welcome all of the members of the Quad and beyond. Click here to read about and register for one or more classes. This fall, we are offering another interesting array of classes: Sep 23rd, Mon 4:30 – 6 with Susan Samuel and Tami LePageJames, What You Do Matters, by Margaret Feinberg  This a joy-filled, fresh study of the book of ..read more

Join us this year for great food and great company! SUM Food & Fellowship had a wonderful year last year as folks met and gathered over meals. Four times over eight months (Oct-May), about six to eight people assembled around the dinner table to laugh, tell stories, and get to know each other. We would love to have more of you join in the fun. It is easy: the host prepares the main dish, and the three guests or couples each bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert. Hopefully, each household will host once and be a guest at others three times. Some common questions: Would you like to join ..read more

There are many definitions for the word “rally” which include: to come together for a common purpose; to join to renew an effort; to arouse for action; to meet and ignite group enthusiasm. Yes! All sound fitting as we prepare for our Rally Day 2024!  September 8th will be filled with tremendous opportunities. We will return to worship in the sanctuary at 8, 9, and 10:30 AM. We will share a BBQ meal after the last service, prepared by none other than Tim Boswell and Sous Chef Pastor Gene. We will reconnect with those we’ve missed during the summer months. We will welcome each child of God ..read more

Did you miss confirmation when you were young?Perhaps you joined the Methodist church from another denomination? Do you wish you could refresh yourself on the basics of our faith from an adult perspective? Wait no more. Introducing… the Quad Adult Confirmation program created just for you! After learning a lot about running a meaningful youth confirmation class that meets the needs of busy families, Pastor Gene and Deacon Deb adapted the program for adults. Since youth confirmation runs every other year, we offered the adult version using the same format in 2022. It was a big hit. Here is what ..read more

Our Spiritual Quad Journey The root of the word ‘quad’ is Latin, meaning four. In the realm of spirituality, the number four holds great significance. It symbolizes the four elements of air, fire, water, and earth, representing the importance of collaboration and unity in achieving our goals.  In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his annual speech to Congress, now known as the Four Freedoms, to unite the citizens to secure their future and “look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms:” Norman Rockwell, an American painter and illustrator, was so taken with Roosev ..read more