The Care Team wishes to thank everyone for donating to the Souper Bowl by purchasing soup! We raised $760 which will be divided between Wildlife in Need and for camperships for youth who wish to attend camp this summer.

Also, the Care Team extends a big thank you to our soup makers for the excellent soups they provided. Our soup makers were Barb Baker, Pastor Kendra Balliet, Diane Craven, Sue DeArment, Jan Edmonds, Cindy Karns, Debbie Knapp, Pat Loutzenhiser, Joyce Minnis, Nancy Pears, Joyce Rhoades and Darlene Ross.

The General Commission on Race and Religion invites you to use the Lenten devotional, "Transform Us: Journeying with Jesus Towards a New Church." This devotional was inspired by themes from the GCORR's Racial Justice Prayer and Action Challenge in 2022 and 2023: lament, repentance, hope, liberation, healing, and reconciliation. Download it with the link below.

What really happened Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday? Why does Matthew say this and John say that? Join Pastors Kendra and John Balliet as we open our Bibles, and we look at some of our commentaries and resources to put it all together.

Requirements: Someone who wants to learn and draw nearer to the Lord. This study is for everyone who is interested; no need to be a scholar! It is helpful to have a Bible and notepaper. Ask the questions you always wanted to know!

A soup and sandwich meal will be served at both day and evening sessions.

Choose Morning or Evening Session Times:

March 16, 23, & 30 - 6:00 PM at Harmonsburg UMC with Soup and Sandwich Supper

March 16, 23, & 30 10:30 AM at Stone UMC

Sign up on the Stone UMC Church Information Board by Miller Parlor or scanning the QR code below.

This UMCOR Sunday, join us in supporting the incredible work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Your gifts cover UMCORs operational costs, ensuring 100% of other donations go directly to relief efforts. Together, we can bring hope to those in need worldwide.

When you set up your giving through Tithely, you can give a one-time gift to one designated area or set up a recurring offering.  Recurring offering giving through Tithely saves you the hassle of dealing with offering envelopes each week and helps the church in its' work to plan, budget and be good financial stewards. 

Sharing An Attitude of Gratitude

So many of you give of your time and talents each month at Stone UMC...if you would like to recognize the generosity and service you see at Stone UMC please, visit the office and put a note in our Attitude of Gratitude jar on the counter or send Jen an email at churchoffice@stoneumc.org so we may include the person or group in our next newsletter THANK YOUS.

As we continue to confront the financial challenges of our operating expenses, the Finance Committee would like to take a moment to highlight some of the wonderful generosity that we have seen throughout the past year here at Stone UMC.

• Our Tree of Light shone brightly in the side yard of the church building again in the 2025 holiday season in remembrance of all the saints of Stone UMC who celebrate Christmas in heaven. This ongoing display is made possible through an anonymous donation to our Memorials Fund.
• The Care Team and others have served many delicious meals this year from our newly renovated Teubert Kitchen across from Miller Parlor. These upgrades and renovations have made serving large groups in Miller Parlor in a catering style much easier for our church. We have even had individuals rent the space to host a holiday meal for extended family! This welcoming and functional space was made possible by monies designated expressly for kitchen upgrades from the Teubert Endowment Fund.
• Our Ministry/Mission Fair event was held on February 21, 2026. A special thanks to the Welcoming Committee members who paid for all the expenses related to the event.
• A very special thanks to Salt Painting who donated all the labor costs for the recent painting updates throughout the church building during December. The paint (valued at more than $400) was generously donated by a church member.

The Finance Committee carefully monitors all expenses to ensure we are being good stewards of the funds entrusted the church. We continue to explore ways to reduce costs and enhance our revenue. The examples above are just a small portion of the many gifts of time and finance that the church receives throughout the year. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Finance Chairperson Jane Smith at (814-337-6377 or grandmagjane@zoominternet.net) or any member of the Finance Committee.

Warmer weather will be here soon, and with it will come the sight of little ones playing along our yard and sidewalks at the church. The pitter patter (and sometimes elephant stomps!) of little feet is a wonderful reminder throughout the week of the great work happening in our building. The Stone Children's Center located on the second floor of our church building operates Monday - Friday from 7am-5:30pm providing quality care and early education for children ages 0-5 years of age.

Originally proposed in 1997, the first program was presented to the congregation to provide childcare to families transitioning from welfare to work and low-income households who made just slightly too much and so were disqualified from subsidy programs. The congregation subsidized the program by providing all space at no cost including utilities and equipment.

The program was rejuvenated in 2007 through a bequest from member Elizabeth Whiting. These funds provided for upgrades to the facility and allowed the Children's Center program to be restarted once again as a ministry of Stone UMC.

Today, the Stone Children's Center operates financially independently of the church. Church oversight is provided by Church Representative Pat Loutzenhiser and Trustee Representative Jim Schlosser who are members of the Stone Children's Center Board. While still a ministry of the church, the center currently provides Stone UMC a monthly building usage fee.

Through the hard work of the dedicated staff and Director Laura Potter, Stone Children's Center maintains a four-star rating the highest level of certification under PA's Quality Rating and Improvement System. Four-star facilities provide a whole child approach to meet the needs of each child and family, have knowledgeable and responsive early childhood education professional staff, and value building and sustaining ongoing positive relationships for the growth and development of children.

Want to know more about how you can help this family-strengthening ministry of the church? Contact Pat Loutzenhiser or Director Laura Potter at childrenscenter@stoneumc.org.

Albright-Deering Lectures in Methodist Studies

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Celebrating 70 Years of Full Clergy Rights for Women in the United Methodist Church

with presenters the Rev. Stephanie York Arnold, general secretary for The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women of the United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain, assistant professor of Christian history and Methodist studies at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Details and registration coming soon at www.pts.edu/albright-deering-2026.

The Men's Bible Study Group continues their discussion of the bible study "Discussing Mere Christianity" - any men interested in strengthening their relationship with Christ is welcome to join the discussion.   There will be no meeting in the 1st and 2nd week of March.  The next meeting is Thursday, March 19.  Please visit the church calendar online for updated meeting dates and times. 

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball invites all clergy and laity to join her as she shares updates on how we have been moving as a people empowered by God's Spirit. Please feel free to attend whichever gathering works best for you.

• Saturday, March 14th; 3 PM to 5 PM (Edinboro UMC)
• Sunday, March 15th; 3 PM to 5 PM (Monroeville UMC)
• Monday, March 16th; 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (McMurray: Trinity UMC)
• Thursday, March 19th; 6 PM to 8 PM (Warren: Grace UMC)

View more details and register.

A heartfelt thanks to: All who bring joy and order to worship each Sunday morning including ushers, communion stewards, musicians, counters, florists and youth ministry volunteers; to our new committee members and laity who serve the church, to all who join us in worship in person or online, and to all who give, pray and serve!

Pastor

Rev. Kendra Balliet

pastor@stoneumc.org

814-299-9129 cell

Office Administrator

Jennifer Royer

churchoffice@stoneumc.org

Director of Music

Jim Ross

music@stoneumc.org

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