Cross Talk

Dear Church Family,

Now that Christmas is over, most of us have some work to do. The tree has to come

down and the ornaments carefully put back in their boxes. The yard decorations and

strings of lights need to be brought in (assuming they’re not frozen in place until the

spring thaw!). All the wrapping paper and gift boxes are piled up to go to the recycling

center. The nativity figurines are waiting to be put back into their proper slots in the

Styrofoam. And the red and green storage bins need to go back in the attic. The bad

news is, Christmas is over. The good news is, our lives are back to their normal stress

levels and we've turned our attention to New Year's resolutions.

But these words by poet and theologian Howard Thurman are a reminder that there is

yet more to do. We’ve been given a post-Christmas agenda:

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and the princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among people,

To make music in the heart.

As Thurman suggests, we haven’t properly observed Christmas unless we’ve commit-

ted ourselves anew to honoring the Christ child by reaching out to those who are suf-

fering, working to make peace, and radiating Christ’s love.

So from our kneeling place beside the manger, let us slowly rise and step back out into

the cold January air and to the world from which we came. Let each of us be bearers of

the nativity light into all the needful places in our lives and in our world. Let us get on

with “the work of Christmas” – and then we will have truly celebrated Jesus’ birth.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Arlene

Bangor First United Methodist Church

703 Essex Street , Bangor Maine

For Information...

Phone: 207-945-9567

Email:

fumcbgr@myfairpont.net

Website:

www.fumcbangor.org

(Sermon podcasts available)

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/Bangor

First

This ‘n That New Book group

3

4

Coffee Schedule 3

My Friend’s Place/Memory Joggers

4

Community meal 4

Meetings / Events 5

Prayer requests Birthdays Worship Assistants

5

6

7

Youth events Series on Race Calendar

8

8

10

Included in this

issue….

JANUARY 2017

Thursday evenings at 6:00

Informal

Worship

Service

PAGE 2 CROSS TALK

Coffee and Conversation

Each week we meet on Wednesday from 2:00 -

3:00 PM at Tim Horton's on Broadway to share in

a book discussion. Our next “Coffee and Conversation”

will begin on January 18 with a discussion

of Listening for God: Contemporary Literature and the

Life of Faith, Volume 1 . Please read Chapter 1 for the

first meeting. Books are available through Amazon

and other book sellers. If you would like the church

office to order a book for you, please call 945-9567 and

allow at least 2 business days for delivery.

Publisher's Description:

Where do you listen for God? In this collection of

stories and essays from writers such as Flannery

O'Connor, Frederick Buechner, and Annie Dillard, the

challenge is to pay attention everywhere. Listening for

God is a resource intended to help you investigate how

life and faith merge in surprising ways and places.

Contemporary American literature may not be the

most predictable place to listen for God, but it may

well turn out to be among the most rewarding.

This ‘N That...

Coffee Fellowship Schedule

January: Trustees

February: Piburn

March: Worship

April: SPRC

May: UMW

June: Choir

July: Sunday School

August: Mission

September: Handbells

October: Finance

November: Evangelism

December: Administrative Council

Snacks should be ready by 11: 15.

Groups need to make sure all dishes are

washed and the dishwasher turned off

when finished.

Fundraising While You Shop

The Scrip fundraising program enables people to raise

money for their non-profit organization. Scrip is just an-

other way to pay for everyday purchases using gift cards in

place of cash, checks, and credit cards and support the

church through your purchases.

Scrip Center offers over 300 of the country’s big-

gest brands, including grocery, department stores, gas sta-

tions, restaurants and the like.

If you are interested in ordering a card from the

Scipt Center, contact Rachel Downs via email at

fumcbangorscrip@gmail.com or by phone at 249-5719.

Orders go out every other Monday.

Family Enrollment Code: 4F488C5A49938

We are always looking for volunteers. Sunday

school...teachers, assistants, nursery volun-

teers and substitutes.

We follow the FUMC Safe Sanctuary Policy

that requires 2 certified adults in each class-

room and the nursery. All workers in our

Christian Ed groups must have Safe Sanctuar-

ies training and training sessions are ongoing

as needed.

If you are interested in volunteering during

the year, please speak with Co-Christian Ed

Directors Nancy Isaacs or Rachel Downs.

QR code for smart phones that will take you

directly to the FUMC electronic donation

page.

PAGE 3 CROSS TALK

Your Merry Christmas may depend upon what

others do for you...but your Happy New Year

depends upon what you do for others. Author Unknown

KEENAGERS

January 23rd at Noon

Lunch will be served at a cost of

$5.00

FOOD CUPBOARD FOCUS FOR

JANUARY

During the month of January we are ask-

ing for donations of the following items for

the food cupboard:

*Canned tuna, chicken & Vienna sau-

sages

*Boxed Mac & Cheese or Hamburger

Helper

*Canned Veggies

*Cereals

*Toiletry items

Please place items in our food

cart in the narthex.

JANUARY MEALS

January 5: Hot dogs & chioi

January 12: Chicken stew

January 19: Soup & sub sandwich

January 26: Pot luck

JANUARY NEEDS

January 5: Desserts or corn chips

January 12: Desserts

January 19: Desserts or plain chips

January 26: Desserts

COMMUNITY MEALS FOR JANUARY

PAGE 4 CROSS TALK

Happy New Year from My

Friend’s Place and Memory

Joggers!

My Friend’s Place and Memory Jog-

gers are planning an exciting year

ahead. We continue to have a full

house and an active waiting list. We have two new

volunteers joining us this year from our church fam-

ily and our community.

My Friend’s Place January themes are Polar

Bears, Snowmen March, Birds in Winter, It’s Win-

ter, Welcome 2017, Have a “Ball”, Dogs of our Lives

and Chinese New Year. Memory Joggers kicks of

the year with Hodge Podge, Opposites, Winter

Sports and Penguins.

I will also be presenting a program at Memory

Joggers on Wednesday January 11th, at 1:00 pm on

the basics of Tai Chi. If you have an interest or

want to experience the health benefits of Tai Chi,

please join us in the fireside room.

We are in the process of updating our website

and should be up and running by January 31st.

Also around that time you will be able to “Like us”

on Facebook...Stay tuned.

Blessings,

Dottie England, Director

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one

year and out the other!

January Meetings / Events at Bangor First UMC

Events:

Informal Worship Thursdays at

6:00

Sundays at 8:30: Pathways to God

Sundays at 9:15: Bible Study

Sunday School/ Christian Educa-tion 10:45 (2nd-4th Sundays)

Ongoing Group Meetings

Food Addicts in Recovery

meet each Monday at 6:30

Bangor Community Chorus

rehearses every Tuesday at

6:30 (Sept-May)

Toymakers meet each Mon-

day evening at 6:00

Cub Scouts meet on Wednes-

days at 6:00 (Sept-June)

Delta Kappa Gamma meets

monthly (Sept–June) on the

first Monday.

EAAA Café: Tuesdays; Noon

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through the Word, and

without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness

doesn’t extinguish the light.

John 1::1-5

Meetings:

Jan 14: UMW

Jan 19:: Piburn; 1:00

Jan 15: Missions

Jan 24: Ad Board

Jan 29: Evangelism Committee

Into your hands Heavenly Father we entrust these people

who are in need of your healing touch, knowledge of

your presence, and your comfort.

Sustain them in good days and bad. Help them to feel

your loving presence with them during every difficulty,

for you are always there ahead of any circumstance.

Watch over all those who are in need. Help them to feel

that you are always near them and know that all they

need do is look to you for comfort and for strength.

In Your loving name we pray. Amen

Page C.

Tom C.

Mary Jane T

Dawn R.

Nancy C. & daughter

Eliana

Bob L.

Lonna, Chuck & Family

Bill & Tammy

Family of Marsha C.

Sister of Rachel

Parker W.

Marie & Sherwood

Stephen T.

Bob C.

Benjamin C.

Peg S.

Parker W.

Devon S.

Our church leaders

The Bangor Area

Street Pastors

Prayer Requests

PAGE 5 CROSS TALK

Happy Birthday to you, to Jesus be true.

God Bless you and keep you the whole year through!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3

Makayla Sennett

4

5

Pat Woodbury

6

7

Julie Antworth

Michael

Harrington

8

9

John Kolenik

10 11 12 13

Linda Folsom

Priscilla Soucie

14

15

16

Judith Hastings

17

Pat Arey

18

19

Leona Snow

Scott Smith

20

Anne Porter

21

22

23

Lorena Fenlason

24

25 Dorothy

Warren

Heather

Christensen

Cooper Nye

26

27

Jessie Stanhope

Albert Snow

28

29

Phyllis Goss

Elizabeth

Downs

30 31

January, 2017

Birthdays

PAGE 6 CROSS TALK

Readers Media & Sound Techs

Sanctuary Door

1 Ritz-Perkins family

8 Croce family

15 Keith & Linda Caler

22 Debbie, Hannah & Rebekah

Frienman

29 Haskins family

Essex Street Back Door

Trustees

Greeters for the 10:30 am Traditional Worship

Deadline for information

for the February newslet-

ter is January 23.

Information may be

submitted in written form,

via email or by phone.

Pathways to God 8:30

Traditional Worship Service: 10:30

Christian Ed for children at 10:45 (2nd-4th Sundays)

Informal Worship: Thursdays at 6:00

Readers

1 Jan Ashton

8 Barbara Fister

15 Mary Smith

22 Bob Worcester

29 Julie Brownie

Trustees

1 Gregg Stewart

8 Pat Woodbury

15 Andy Moody

22 Gregg Stewart

29 Pat Woodbury

Media

Geoff Dapice

Wayne Griffith-Hurst

Sound

Jim Burkhart

Worship Assistants for January 2017 ***If you are unable to cover the date for which you are scheduled please arrange for a

substitute or call Sue White.

Newsletter Deadline Worship Schedule

Essex Street Door

1 Jan Ashton

8 Barbara Fister

15 Dottie England

22 David Hastings

29 Clyde & Judy Pelkey

Back Door

1 Bob & Tammy Worcester

8 Joyce Mallery

15 Cowperthwaite family

22 Lorena Fenlason

29 Patti & Silvia Wright

PAGE 7 CROSS TALK

UPCOMING EVENTS……

PAGE 8 CROSS TALK

Youth Group Leaders: Coralie Cross, Nick

& Cheryl Guay, Pastor Arlene Tully

January 13th or 14th The Youth Group hopes to host a game night for the church, friends and families. Donations for re-freshments will be accepted. January 28th Winter fun - sledding, tubing, ice skating, and building a snow fort in front of the church... Dress warmly! February (around Valentines Day) Youth Group Babysits - Parents can drop their kids off and for a donation the youth group plans a night to entertain them. Age limits and time limits TBD. Parents can then have a date night to cele-brate Valentines’ Day. Other ideas for the 2017

• Make a meal for the homeless

• Volunteer at Thursday Night Meals

• Rake Leaves or Basic Lawn/Yard work for Donations

• Faith Linking in Action - Public transportation month in November

• Trampoline Park

• Extreme Adventures/ Playland Adventure

• Bowling

• Hiking

• Crafts

Talking About Race

Mark your calendar for Sunday evenings in February from

6:30 – 8:30 for “Talking About Race”, a 4-week study and

discussion series hosted by Bangor First, Orono, and

Hampden Highlands United Methodist Churches. This se-

ries is based on the powerful documentary, “Race: The

Power of an Illusion”, which explores beliefs about race,

privilege, policy, and justice. We will meet each week in the

sanctuary to view an installment of the video, followed by

small group discussion in the family room. Refreshments

and childcare will be available.

PAGE 10

Bangor First United Methodist Church Calendar for…...

January, 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

8:30 Pathways

10:30 Worship

No Worship Com-

mittee meeting

this month

2

Office closed

Bible Study; 1:00

6:00 Toymakers

6:00 FAIR

3

10:00: My

Friend’s Place

12:00 EAAA

Café

4

9:00 Memory

Joggers

6:00 Scouts

7:00 Choir

5

4:00 Commu-

nity Meal

6:00: Worship

6:45 Bells

6

10:00 My

Friend’s Place

7

District UMW

Executive Team

8

8:30 Pathways

10:30 Worship

10:45 Christian

Ed

9

Office closed

(training)

Bible Study 1:00

6:00: Toymakers

6:00: FAIR

10

10:00: My

Friend’s Place

12:00 EAAA

Cafe

6:00 BCC

11

9:00 Memory

Joggers

6:00 Scouts

7:00 Choir

12 DCOM

4:00 Commu-

nity Meal

6:00: Worship

6:30: DMT

6:45 Bells

13

10:00 My

Friend’s Place

14

UMW 9:30

(District UMW

Executive Team

Snow date)

15

8:30 Pathways

10:30 Worship

10:45 Christian

Ed

16

Office closed

Bible Study 1:00

6:00: Toymakers

6:00: FAIR

17

10:00: My

Friend’s Place

12:00 EAAA

Café

6:00: BCC

18

9:00 Memory

Joggers

6:00 Scouts

7:00: Choir

19

1:00 Piburn

4:00 Commu-

nity Meal

6:00: Worship

20

10:00 My

Friend’s Place

21

22 8:30 Pathways

10:30 Worship

10:45 Christian

Ed

11:45 Missions

committee

23

Keenagers; 12:00

Bible Study; 1:00

6:00 Toymakers

6:00 FAIR

24 10:00: My

Friend’s Place

12:00 EAAA

Café

6:00 BCC

6:00-8:30 Ad

Council

25

9:00 Memory

Joggers

6:00 Scouts

7:00 Choir

26

4:00 Commu-

nity Meal

6:00: Worship

6:45: Bells

27

10:00 My

Friend’s Place

28

29 8:30 Pathways

10:30 Worship

10:45: Christian

Ed

11:45 Evangelism

Committee

30

Bible Study; 1:00

6:00 Toymakers

6:00 FAIR

31

10:00: My

Friend’s Place

12:00 EAAA

Café

28

9:00 Memory

Joggers

6:00 Scouts

7:00 Choir

29

4:00 Commu-

nity Meal

6:00: Worship

6:45: Bells

30

10:00 My

Friend’s Place

31

CROSS TALK