Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
December MONMOUTH 1ST UMC CALLER
It’s that time of year again! Light Nights will be December 2, 9 & 16. Supper will be served at 5:30 PM The children will practice for the Christmas Program while the
adults enjoy a bible study led by Pastor Jon. Come Join Us!
Mission Breakfast
For unto us a child is born, …
His name shall be cal led
wonderful counselor, the Mighty
God, the Everlasting Father, the
Prince of Peace . Isaiah 9:6
Phone: 309-‐734-‐9437
Email:
LeAnn Murk: [email protected]
Office Hours Mon – Fri
8:00am – Noon
If you need immediate assistance please call
(309) 734-6007
Contact Info
The Next Mission Breakfast will be Sunday, December 6th from 8:00am – 10:00am in the Lower Parlors. All proceeds will go to Baby Fold.
Light Night
Holiday Schedule Children’s Christmas Program
• 10:30am Service -‐ Sunday, December 13th
Christmas Eve Service -‐ Thur. December 24th • 7pm -‐ Praise Service & Holy Communion Traditional Candle
Lighting Service
• 11pm -‐ Holy Communion Traditional Candle Lighting Service
December 2015
2
Usually for the December newsletter my jottings are about Christmas. And why wouldn’t they be? After all Christmas is the highlight of the year! It’s the day we remember our dear Savior was born and of course it is the day we give and get presents! It is the day when our salvation came to be and of course it is the day when our economy is saved as well. (OK that was a bit of an exaggeration perhaps but it is an
important day for businesses throughout our land). But this year I decided to talk about Advent. Advent; ad·vent ˈadˌvent/ noun: advent; plural noun: advents 1.
The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. Advent marks the start of the new Christian year it is the season when we remember the arrival of the Christ child and it is also the season when we look forward to the arrival of Christ again or as we often call it the “Second Coming” of Christ. But for me it is much more than that. I enjoy the four main themes of Advent and the promise that this season holds for us to receive and to give Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Our world is torn apart by terrorism, war, hatred, and violence and yet we remember that it was into such a world that the Christ child was born and it is into such a world that the next arrival of Christ is promised. This year we are particularly blessed that Linda and Bryan Murray are taking the time to help many of us to make our own Advent wreaths. We will use these wreaths in our homes to remind us to look for Hope, Love, Joy and Peace and to be reminded that it is only through God’s love in the person of Jesus Christ that we truly receive those gifts and it is through his Spirit that we take them into our hearts and wondrously appreciate them. Several years ago when Anita and I were serving in our first appointment I had a great idea! An idea that I was sure would inspire our entire congregation. We decided to only put up a “Jesse” Tree that year during the season of Advent and to wait till just before Christmas Eve to actually put up our beautiful Christmas tree in our sanctuary. If you have never seen a Jesse tree, well, they are stark. It is basically a regular tree, with no leaves, just bear branches and on those branches one puts signs of the prophecies, which foretold the arrival of Jesus. Suffice it to say the people didn’t really take to the whole no Christmas tree till Christmas Eve idea. They did enjoy the Jesse tree to some extent though but only when it was used along with a Christmas tree.
So, I get it…I really do. Christmas is what we all want to focus on as December approaches. But for this year I hope you and your families take the time to truly prepare for the Advent of the Christmas season. Embrace each week the theme of the week and once again remember how even in the darkness the light will shine and the gifts of advent arrive. May you truly know the Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace of Christ this Advent! And I hope your Christmas is a blessed one as well! Shalom,
Jon
Jon’s Jottings
December 2015
3
G.R.A.C.E. Place
No United Methodist Women Executive Team meeting in December. Resume at 3:00 on January 7th 2016. Deborah Circle will meet in the home of Mary Kelly on December 9th at 9:30. The program is to “Share a Christmas Thought”. Priscilla Circle will meet at Legacy at 6:30 on December 21st. The program will be a Christmas Show and Share. COOKIES NEEDED DECEMBER 12th Cookies are needed for the Annual Cookie Gifts for the FUMC Staff and the Homebound. A sign up sheet is in the main hallway. You can help at 9:00 on Saturday, December 12th in the Chapel to get them ready to be distributed. THANK YOU!
In September the candy bar winner was Alexa Andrews! Earlier in November we began studying the life of Moses. However, with the Christmas program coming up we are taking a little break, but will finish the unit on Moses after the holiday. While working very hard on the Christmas program we still found time to learn about Thanksgiving. In Children's Church (God's Light) we just finished our study on Communion. The children each have a workbook to work on at home. Once they have completed the booklet and brought it back to me they receive 15 Bible Bucks The Bible Buck store will be open on December 20th which the children are always anxious to spend their hard earned Bible Bucks
We are looking forward to seeing all the kids at G.R.A.C.E Place and God’s Light this month! Blessings, Miss Chris and The G.R.A.C.E Place Gang
December 2015
4
COURTYARD ESTATES: Once again our church provided a time of worship and fellowship for the residents at Courtyard. Marlene Edwards was at the piano and Stephanie Sims led the singing. A devotion was presented by Joyce Clark.
PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY: Prayer for the church (open to all) is in the chapel every Wed. @ 9:30. Bible study (open to all women) is in the chapel every Wed. @ 10AM. We are in the book of Genesis.
WOMEN'S MONDAY FELLOWSHIP BREAKFASTS: All women are invited to enjoy this time of food and fellowship. We meet each Monday at 9 AM at Maple City Restaurant. There is always room for more.
RECENT TRIP: On November 12 a senior group from our church enjoyed lunch and a time of fellowship at Hammers in Galesburg. UPCOMING EVENTS: December 10th -‐ Dream Team Christmas Party at the Barnstormer -‐ 6PM OPPORTUNITY: Weekly about 20 of our shut-‐in members receive a printed copy, or a CD, of the Sunday worship service. Also there are several who receive communion at their place of residence during the first week of each month. This ministry is important and a blessing to both the receiver and the ones who make deliveries and short visits. If there are any who are willing to participate, please let me know (309-‐299-‐5682) The good new is -‐ you can choose the day and time that works for you -‐ as well as how many you'd like to deliver. DREAM TEAM: The next meeting is in 2016 List of those will to give rides: If there are any who need to have your name removed from this list, please let me know. Joyce Clark 309-‐299-‐5682 Lois Cook 309-‐337-‐4922 Linda Edwards 734-‐3767 or 203-‐451-‐2549 Beth Farwell 734-‐6978
December 2015
5
Beth Farwell 734-‐6978 Anita Sims 309-‐299-‐4816 Jane Watkins 734-‐8984 or 309-‐224-‐8436 Bobbi Uddin 734-‐3867 or 309-‐371-‐3867 Your suggestions for Senior Ministries are always welcome. THANKS: My thanks to all who deliver sermons, take communion, send notes, make prayer shawls, provide rides, put up bulletin boards and call on our senior members!
THE COMMUNION/PRAYER ROOM is open for use in various ways. 1. Every day it is open for prayer. 2. On the first Sunday of each month there will be someone from
the Healing Team present in the room after FIRST SERVICE. 3. On every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month you may come to the room
for private communion and prayer.
Joyce Clark, Ray Clark and Chris Moore are available for those who would like to experience Healing Touch. If you would like to volunteer for an HT session, call Clark’s for an appointment. (309-‐299-‐5682)
Penny Vaughn is also a part of the Healing Ministry Team but has chosen to be available for anyone who may just prefer to have Healing Prayer, rather than an HT session. Call 309-‐371-‐3596 to request prayer.
A Place of Healing During the Season of Advent, allow the Holy Spirit to bless your life with the gifts of Light and Peace. Come to a quiet place, the Chapel, for Healing Touch with Bev Crede. Call 734-‐8471 for an appointment.
CARE NOTES RACK Care Notes are available on a variety of topics related to Healing and also provide information on several areas of interest to Seniors as well as other age groups. They are FREE! The Care Notes Rack is located near the Senior Bulletin Board. Several pamphlets are on the table in front of the Care Notes Rack for those dealing with loss during the Holiday Season.
Healing Ministries
December 2015
6
CHRISTMAS LOVE GIFT FOR STAFF In appreciation for all the staff does, the Staff/Parish Ministry team is asking the congregation to consider contributing to
a Christmas Love Gift to be divided among the staff. Donations can be
dropped off in the church office or placed in the offering plate on Sunday mornings through December 20th. Please make
checks out to the church and mark “Staff Love Gift” on the memo line.
Once again this year our beautiful silk poinsettias will grace our altar for
Christmas. In keeping with tradition, we would like to offer you the opportunity to remember your loved ones this holiday season by making a donation which will be given to Jamieson Center. As in years past, you may donate in honor or in
memory of your loved one (s) and their names will be presented in the Sunday
bulletin on December 20th. A donation of $5.00 is suggested. Poinsettia forms are available in the hallway (please return to the office by Wednesday, December 16th).
Choral Dynamics Christmas Show Choral Dynamics presents “Glad Tidings We Bring” at the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4th and 5th and at 2:00 p.m. on Dec. 6. Guest choirs are Monmouth-‐Roseville High School Men’s Glee Club (Fri.), Williamsfield High School Choir (Sat.) and District #205 Singing Streaks (Sun.) Since 1976, Choral dynamics has raised over $450,000 in advertising sales for local nonprofits. The beneficiary for “Glad Tidings We Bring” is Knox County Teen Court. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for youth 13-‐18. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult ticket. Group discounts are available. For tickets, call 309-‐342-‐2299 or visit www.theorpheum.org
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS If you have a birthday in December and you’re not listed here, please give the
church office a call.
1 Craig Armstrong 18 Melissa Oaks 2 Griffin Ferguson 19 Donna Smith Eric Nicol Pam Stinemates 3 Anita Anderson 20 Lisa Ankle Laine Ferguson Arley McGill 6 Dee Armstrong Maxine Reynolds Ray Brodrick 21 Landon Andrews 7 Sarah Clayton Dereck Lemley 8 Missy Roberts 22 Bernie Troutwine 9 Phil Betz 23 Julie Brodrick 10 Lillian Edwards Mary K. Robinson 11 Larry Ryner 24 J. R. Andrews 12 Theresa Vail 25 Marilyn Bruch 13 Marilyn Evans Richard Bruch 15 Larry Myers 28 Anita Sims 16 Jordan Lemley 29 Dorothy Nelson Jim O’Brien Sharon Steffel 17 Holly Yocum 18 Daniel Edwards
December 2015
7
For each card sold in the Scrip program, our church gets a percentage of the sale so when you use Scrip cards for Christmas, birthdays or wedding gifts (as well as a treat for yourself) it helps Monmouth First United Methodist Church with needed funds. A list of participating retailers for you to take is on the table in the hallway. Cards on hand right now in the church office are, iTunes, Bath & Body Works, Bergner’s, Subway, Burger King, Dairy Queen, and Maurices. Many other cards are also available by filling out a form in the office or online.
Daniel Barger & Kelsey Barnes are enrolled at the Lincoln Memorial University in the DCOM Physician Assistant Program Class of 2017. They are embarking on a medical mission trip to Pachacutec, Peru during spring break of next year. They are excited to serve the people of this community through a Christian church called Iglesia Cristiana de Pachacutec. Their group of LMU PA students and faculty will be operating a primary care clinic for five days. They hope to serve upwards of 500 patients and provide basic surgical services to those in need. They all will be paired up and have a different job each day in each part of a medical clinic from receptionist, to nurse, to doctor, and even pharmacist. This trip will throw them right into the action and we will be forced to learn and adapt to patients giving them great insight and skills for their future practice in medicine. In the evenings they will be holding a church service for the adults, as well as one for children. As Daniel & Kelsey are very excited to take part in this significant opportunity, but cannot do it alone. The total cost of the trip is $1,600.00 per person, which covers housing, food, and travel. If you would like to donate please put your donation in the offering plate clearly marked for Daniel or Kelsey.
The Fresh Start Committee has been continuing the pursuit of a feasible site for a new building. On December 4, 2011, 64% of the congregation voted for the committee to come up with a feasible location for a One Story Building on a new site. On June 7th, 2015, a proposed site was presented for a congregational vote but did not exceed the vote threshold that the committee desired and did not pass. The Committee has continued in the direction voted on in 2011. We have looked at a number of different properties and discussed whether or not they would be feasible locations for a church matching our mission goals. Challenges are trying to find property of a proper size for the type of project we are looking for, which would need to be a minimum of 5 acres. The property would need to be easily accessible by congregation members and also have access to public utilities and services. The property would need to be sized to fit a building, appropriate parking and green space for use by youth and family programs. We appreciate any input or assistance with our mission so if you have ideas and/or leads on potential properties we would love to hear from you. Outreach/Mission: Thanks to all who were able to attend the November mission breakfast. With the donations of $202 we were able to purchase 20 gifts, wrapping paper and tape for the local Angel tree. What a great mission for this time of year! We are pleased to say that through our monthly mission breakfasts we have been able to distribute $1,858.35 for the 2015 year, with December yet to come. Please know that if you are not able to attend one of the monthly breakfasts but would still like to contribute, you can place your donation in the offering plate with a notation that is is for mission breakfast. The Charlie Brown tree is up and still looking for your decorations of hats, scarves, gloves, socks, etc.; and the book basket is still available for book giving, as well as small fleece throws. Thanks to all of you for your kind donations! The next mission breakfast will be Sun., Dec. 6 with donations going to Baby Fold.
Announcements Continued
A Record of Our Faithfulness
First UMC Ministry Team Rev. Jon Sims, Directing Pastor
Janet Gebauer, Treasurer LeAnn Murk, Secretary/Financial Secretary Joyce Clark, Senior Ministries Coordinator Dan Marlin, Website Coordinator Missy Roberts, Music Director Elizabeth Walker, Organist Joy Boostrom, Keyboard Anita Anderson, Certified Lay Servant Joyce Clark, Certified Lay Servant Sue Clark, Certified Lay Servant Linda Dean, Certified Lay Servant Doug Ray, Custodian Jeff Uddin, Certified Lay Servant Adam & Michelle Carlson, Youth Coordinators
Church School 8:30 AM 10:30 AM Total Worship
11/1/15 80 96 66 162
11/8/15 66 114 60 174
11/15/15 66 93 96 189
11/22/15 64 88 54 142
Average 69 98 69 167
For Unto you is born this day in the City of David a savior, which is
Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
