Message From Our Board President
Spring arrived in Western New York. Of course, that still means snow, ice, and wind, but it also means maple syrup, songbirds, and budding foliage. Nature is just beginning to show off. Soon the beauty of our region will be on full display.
Soon, the beauty of Chautauqua, and it’s programming will begin. The United Methodist House is looking forward to sharing this season with many of you. Whether you are staying at the house or stopping by the porch for lemon-aid and conversation, we look forward to seeing you. Our new host couple will make you feel right at home. They are already in dialog with the other denominational houses for shared programming, and they are planning our weekly house events. Our chaplains are also gearing up with excitement, to build community and spirit.
In February, the UM House Board lost one of our faithful members. Barry Lewis was welcomed through heaven’s gates at 81 years old. He left an amazing mark on the world. He also invested himself in the ministry of the house. Through his faithful service, we are better equipped to offer the ministry of hospitality we love. I am sure many of us will sense his legacy as we visit.
Having recently celebrated the Resurrection, and watching new life emerge around us, we embrace the hope of what’s to come. We look forward seeing you, or hearing from you, this summer. We all want to be a part of what God is bringing forth in the 2022 season at Chautauqua, and at the United Methodist House.
Peace,
Rev. Chuck Smith
Sad News
Barry Lewis, the Vice President of the United Methodist House Board and a trustee of the House since 2013 passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on February 8, 2022. Barry was very active on work weekends and was a pleasure to know and work with. I, Clara Wilder, newsletter editor, never met Barry but he was a tremendous help to me in this new position.
Barry Lamont Lewis, November 25, 1940-February 8, 2022, leaves his love and memories behind with his beloved family and his dear friends from all walks of his life. He is survived by his wife Andrea, his daughters Krista (Jeff) and Rebecca, his son Michael, his grandchildren Greg and Kyle, and his loving sisters Sylvia and Brenda (Vince). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and his dear pets Benny and Misty.
Spring Greetings from the Finance Committee!
Spring has been late arriving here in Chautauqua this year, but the temperatures have recently been rising, flowers are blooming and that can mean just one thing: “The Season” will soon be here! I often drive past the House on my way to or from my home church, Hurlbut Memorial Community UMC, here on the grounds. It’s quiet here right now, but getting busier with builders and landscapers, day by day.
This July marks my end as a Trustee on the UMH Board, as well as your Treasurer, after ten years of service. It’s been a wonderful experience and I have met so many great people: on the Board, on the Porch and on the Grounds. As I turn over my responsibilities, I still plan on being active at the House.
In closing, I will say once more that the Board truly appreciates your continued support of the United Methodist House. On behalf of the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors, I would ask you to prayerfully consider a financial gift this year.
Mike Corey, Treasurer & Finance Chair
Greetings From Our United Methodist House Host Couple
Dear Friends of the United Methodist House
We are becoming increasingly excited as the start of our first season as Hosts of the UM House gets ever closer. Our plan is to arrive in Chautauqua on June 10th and do what we can to assist the Property Committee in getting the House ready for the season. We are thrilled that Debbie Caruso has informed us that all rooms in the House are now booked for the entire 9-week season.
Jan has spent countless hours on the phone in the last two months talking with representatives of numerous NY and PA Methodist church groups about participating in the weekly Tuesday afternoon “teas” – often referred to as the “cookie crawls.” GREAT NEWS! All nine weeks will have a church sponsored tea!! The churches that will offer the teas are:
week 1 – Lakewood UMC, Lakewood, NY; week 2 – Trinity UMC, Amherst NY; week 3 – Sugar Grove UMC, Sugar Grove, PA; week 4 – Lakewood UMC, Erie, PA; week 5 – First UMC, Youngsville, PA; week 6 – Orchard Park UMC, Orchard Park, NY; week 7 – First UMC of Westfield, Westfield, NY; week 8 – Park UMC, North East PA; week 9 – Fredonia First UMC, Fredonia, NY.
At the end of March, we participated in a Zoom call with the Institution’s Senior VP for Community Relations, Shannon Rozner. One topic she discussed was Covid protocols for 2022. Her summary of that discussion follows:
The administration has not made any big decisions on COVID protocols because we are closely watching the UK (we normally follow their waves) and our own numbers to gauge what summer may be like. We will likely wait until May to finalize some decisions. Some big open questions are:
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- Vaccine requirements for patrons? Some unions may require it but NYS likely won’t. Some artists/speakers may require it. We may require it for certain venues depending on crowd size, indoor/outdoor, activity type.
- While no decision has been made, do not be surprised if the Amp has full vaccine requirement – it was so difficult to administer last season.
- A few community leaders shared that they are requiring vaccination for their activities.
Your United Methodist House Host Couple
Jan and Mike Yauch
United Methodist House at Chautauqua Chaplains for the Summer of 2022
Week 1: June 25 – July 2 Rev. Jeffrey Sterling, retired Elder in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Week 2: July 2 – 9 Rev. Ed Glaize, Pastor of Boone United Methodist Church, Boone, NC, an Elder in the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference
Week 3: July 9 – 16 Rev. Kristen Roth Allen, Pastor of Penn Yan United Methodist Church, Penn Yan, NY, an Elder in the Upper New York Annual Conference.
Week 4: July 16 – 23 Rev. Angelique Bradford, Associate Pastor of Faith United Methodist Church, Fox Chapel, PA, an Elder in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Week 5: July 23 – 30 Rev. William (B.T.) Gilligan, pastor of Nixon United Methodist Church, Nixon, PA, an Elder in the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Week 6: July 30 – August 6 Rev James Carroll, retired Elder from Upper New York Annual Conference
Week 7: August 6 – 13 Rev. Raymond J. Kovach, retired Elder in the East Ohio Annual Conference
Week 8: August 13 – 20 Rev. Rebekah Sweet, Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Ithaca, NY an Elder in the Upper New York Annual Conference
Week 9: August 20 – 27 Rev. Ann Willet, pastor of Northaven United Methodist Church in Dallas Texas, an Elder in the North Texas Annual Conference
Final Weekend August 27– 28 Rev. Dennis Swineford, Erie-Meadville District Superintendent, an Elder in the Western PA Annual Conference.
From the Property Committee
As the snow melts and we get some warmer temperatures we start to think about our summer season and how great it will be to gather on the porch. Before that happens there is a lot work to be done to get the house ready.
We will be having two work weekends in June. We are hoping for good weather as we will need to do some outside painting of trim and around some windows. Another project we need to do is to repaint the sign in the front lawn, which we were unable to do in the fall because of rainy weather.
The work weekends will be June 9th and 10th, and June 17th and 18th. We start around 1 pm on Friday and at 9am on Saturday. Our work weekends are open to all who would like to come help. The House will be available to all who work, just call Debbie at 716-357-4045 to reserve a room. We do get a lot of work done but we also have fun and good fellowship.
The property committee looks forward to seeing you at the Methodist House. If you have any questions, please feel free to me a call at 716-269-4564.
THANK YOU
With gratitude, we thank
Those who have made possible the ministry of
The United Methodist House at Chautauqua
In the year January 2021 – January 2022
Benefactors of $500 and Up
Rev. Larry and Brenda Baird, Gary and Willow Brost, Roger Brumagin, Chautauqua Catholic Community, Bob and Karen Douds, The Erie Community Foundation for M. Fletcher & Elsie Gornall Fund, Karen Greenwaldt and Russ Harris, Richard and Karen Heitzenrater, Gerald P. Maloney, Tim Mattocks, Robert and Carol McKiernan, Iris November, Stephen Parker, Paul Snyder Family and Sharon Allen Family, Bishop Peter and Linda Weaver, Doug and Patsy Wilson.
Sustaining Members $250-$499
Donald and Shirley Bloomster, Margaret Dietly, Ann Marie Evanko, David Green, Kenneth and Beverly Humbert, Ernest and Lois Lawrence, Craig, and Kathy Lopus, Judy Loveless, Nancy Richards, Christine and Gerald Siess, Shirley Struchen, United Methodist Women of Warren Pa, Henry and Eleanor Watts, Mike and Jan Yauch.
Patrons $100-$249
Linda Almasy-Hohmann, Rev. Suzanne Block, Kay Brown, Catherine Cassidy, Nancy and Frank Cerny, Rev. J Fay and Ruth Cleveland, Laura Coombs, Michael and Laura Corey, GA and Deborah Fleming, Hazel Getman, Doug and Susan Grove-DeJarnett, Elizabeth and Michael Hansen, Rev. Natalie Hanson, Marilyn Henning, Austin and Sara Hale Henry, John and Juanita Jackson, Sarah Jerome, Ardelle Johnson, Bruce and Mary Urban Keary, Peggy Kelly, Robert E and Mary Kemmerer, Alice and David LaGraves, Ann Marie and Duane Lenhardt, Dr Allan and Ruth Lindstrom, Robert and Gloria Merenick, Beth Nelson, Christine Nieman, Janet Northrup, Judie Peterson, Rev. Frank and Rebecca Sherman, David and Cindy Shuff, Margaret Stoll, Rev. Douglas and Celia Thompson, Jan Swinehart, Don Weaver, Howard and Nancy Wilcox, Rev. Paul Womack, Howard and Carol Wright, Zonta Club of Jamestown.
Donors of $50-$99
Doran and Dawn Lynn Check, Tamara Deal, Janet Campbell Kuhl, Harold and Pam Christie, David and Beverly Anne Doupe, Larkin Dudley, Pauline George, Robert and Sue Kaiser, Marian and David Lubba, Barbara Manhardt, Charles and Ruth Ann McChesney, Garner and Louise McNett, Victor and Barbara Metivier, Anna and James Neutrelle, Doris Wardell Nichols, Jonathan and Mary Odin, The Overlook at Chautauqua, Alice and Richard Pedersen, Judith Sether, Thomas and Kathy Woodske, YWCA of Jamestown, Anna Zaragoza.
Friends up to $49
Kenneth and Janet Burd, Debbie Caruso, Peg Keach, David and Mary Keller, Catherine Kolker, James and Marcia Maloni, Lisa Marchal, Mary Beth Parrinello, John and Susan Pilshaw, Chris and Susan Redmond, Evangeline Van Tries, Philip Wilson,
Gifts to the Endowment Fund
Austin and Sara Hale Henry
Gifts to the House Building and Restoration Fund
Harold and Pamela Christie, David and Cindy Shuff,
In Memory of Finn
Linda Almasy-Hohmann,
In Memory of Jack Getman
Hazel Getman
Gift in Memory of Rev Bob Richards
Nancy Richards
Gift in Memory of Rev Eldon and Virginia Snyder
Paul Snyder Family and Sharon Allen Family
Gift in Honor of Chuck and Bonnie Bolan
Roger Brumagin
Gift in Honor of Karen and Bob Douds
Karen Greenwaldt, Russ Harris, Mary Beth Parrinello, Gerald and Christine Siess, Shirley Struchen, Mike and Jan Yauch.
The kindness and generosity of our many donors throughout the year is most sincerely appreciated. It is with deepest gratitude that we thank each and every one of you who make possible the ministry of the United Methodist House in Chautauqua, and we welcome you to share in the hospitality found here as often as possible. If we have inadvertently missed anyone, please forgive our mistake, and let us know so we can say thank you and correct our records. May many blessings be yours.
Debbie Caruso, Financial Secretary
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