It’s hard to believe that Advent & Christmas are just around the corner. I always run behind on my Christ-mas shopping & cards with a promise to myself of doing better the next year. As a child I remember the Christmas tradition of one of my best friends & neighbors: each year his family spent Christmas Eve at a department store that stayed open all night. As the hours ticked away specials were run all over the store with great discounts to be had. Later on Christmas day as our house grew quiet I would run across the road to see what great bargains he got at the store. Our conversations went something like this: “I got all this for 7 dollars,” he would say. In great awe I would reply, “I wish I had been there.” Their last minute Christmas shopping always seemed to pay off.

I love the Christmas season & celebrating the birth of our Lord & Savior. Although I was in my thirties when I came to Jesus, I’m glad I didn’t wait to the last minute of life. Living each day in Christ is a true cele-bration. For me it’s like Christmas everyday! I know some people roll out of bed on Sundays saying, “come on lets go to church again.” But for me it’s always a day of joy & excitement. It feels like when I used to wait for my kids to get up for breakfast on a weekend, the pancakes were ready & I smiled as I gave them a great big, “Good Morning.”

It is my prayer for all of you that you can find joy each day in your God relationship. I look forward to this year’s celebration in the Christmas season. Pastor Jeff

Church update: It looks like we are holding our own on church finances with maybe $2000 in the general

fund. The finance committee has done a great job this year & put a lot of thought & effort into keeping us healthy for 2016.

As I write this I’m happy to say there were 15 children in the Junior High Youth Group last night. This is a new group with just 3 weeks under their belt of being together. This is on top of the regular youth group for the older kids.

But, at this time I feel if we are going to grow our youth pro-grams with activities & mission work, we need a transportation vehicle for our youth. Not just an old school bus, but something that says, “This is how much we love you & believe in you.” I wrestled with this for a while only to have Jennifer confirm she was feeling the same thing that I was. I’m proposing we buy a used 15 passenger vehicle & truly believe in my heart that it won’t be big enough in just two years. I’m not proposing we do anything right now, only that you think about it for a couple of months & see where God is leading us. Example of a 15Example of a 15--passenger vehiclepassenger vehicle

Information on all these things, Jennifer’s article—and more!!—can be found inside this

holiday edition of the Asbury Connection.

Just turn the page and read on….

Information for the January 2016 Newsletter

must be received before noon on December 18. The newsletter will mail on December 22

December After-Worship Fellowship Servers:

6—Nancy Bailey, Cindy Bailey

Remaining December dates not filled at this time. Please contact Pat T or Cindy F with

questions.

United Methodist Women Have you thought about Psalm 100:1 lately?: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!" As we approach the Christmas season most of us will be hearing and singing familiar carols. Be sure to stop and consider the message. Sometimes we seem to just skim through and enjoy the sounds and forget what they are telling us. Sing with joy! There is no Unit meeting for December since the date would be so close to Cookie Walk and we do hope you are busy baking. This is our major fund raiser as we look at our Mission commitments. Since it comes at year-end, funds raised make it possible to begin the next year in good order. Bakers and candy makers need to deliver their goodies to the church on Friday December 4, in preparation for Saturday's sale. Please remember to use icing that DOES NOT STAY SOFT when decorating. Soft icings cause cookies to stick together and thus they are spoiled. There is a recipe for Royal Icing on the table in the narthex by the sign-up sheet. It makes a safe and tasty finish. Merry Christmas! Have a blessed season. Norma Jeane

Join Jennifer at 6:15 on Tuesday evenings this Advent season as we explore a new way to celebrate Christmas. Using Mike Slaughter’s book Christmas Is Not Your

Birthday, the group will explore how to have a different kind of Christmas this year. We will learn how “to cut through the hype that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end

of the year.” We will learn how to “experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave every-

thing he had for us.” If this sounds appealing we would love to have you join us! Books

are available at the church office or in the narthex. Books are $9.

Please contact Jennifer if you have any questions.

32nd Annual Cookie Walk

December 5th, 9AM

Cookie makers are needed

Volunteer for the kitchen/dining room (Sign up sheet in the narthex at church)

All cookies need to be at the church Friday, December 4th, at 9am

Money donations greatly appreciated

Any questions please contact Kelly Akers 515-297-1543

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Each Sunday: Cereal bar for kids, 8:30am; Sunday School, 9am

Worship, 10am;

coffee after worship

1

*Comm. Chorus, 6:30pm

*Advent study, 6:15pm

2Each Wednesday:

See schedule below calendar

*Caroling, 6pm (cookies & beverages

after)

3

*Comm Chorus, 6:30pm

*Missions, 6:30pm

4

5 *UMW Cookie Walk, 9am *Comm. Chorus, 7p *Worship, 6pm

6 *Confirmation,

11:30-12:30 *Community Chorus, 3pm

7 Tutoring, 4-7pm

8 *Pastor @

Crestview, 9:20a *Advent Study, 6:15pm

9

10

*Care Team, 11a

*SPRC, 6:30p

11

12 *Program

rehearsal; Birthday party for Jesus *Worship, 6pm

13 *Sun. School

Xmas program, 10am *Confirmation, 11:30-12:30

14

Trustees, 6:30pm

15

*Advent Study, 6:15pm

16

Finance mtg, 7pm

17 *Alzheimer support group, 4pm

18 Newsletter info due b4 noon

19 *Kid’s Day Out *Worship, 6pm

20 *Confirmation,

11:30-12:30 *Blue Christmas worship, 7pm

21 22 Newsletter

mailed *No tutoring *Advent Study, 6:15pm

23 No WOW,

Awana, MS or HS Youth Group

24 Worship at 5 & 7pm

25 Merry

Christmas! 26 Worship, 6pm

27

28

29 No Tutoring

30 No Choir

31

Jan 1

Happy New Year! 2

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1, Christian Carleton, Jack Ferrell, Lois Larson 3, Shauna Elliott 4, Dwayne Draper 5, Claudia Van Diest, Rick Hupp, Grace Moothart, Joan Brown 6, Joe Corrow, Angela Crim, Jaime Gapp, Malaise Runyan, Trey Tesdahl, Ty Bingham 7, Wanda Cook, Suzanne Foster, Chad Leeper, Justin Mason, Henry Ehn 8, Kathleen Hemmen, Leah Mulholland, Linda Bahr 9, Eleanor Schumaker, Alley Odland 10, Robert Farley, Jamie Seiser, Ken Strunk 11, Sandy Krasean 12, Yvonne Johnson, John Middleton 13, Kortney Keane, Tracy Richardson 14, Makenzie Nokes, Patricia Trueblood 15, Terry Baker, David Burtnett, Jeff

Payne, Tanner Redman, Chris Scholtens 16, Caleb Bonjour, Mary Beth Mourlam, Patty Tempel, Monica Trujillo 17, Lynn McKinney, Cole Daniels, John Hoffman, Tom Osboe 18, Lois Olson 19, Randy Carden 20, Mallory Draeger 21, Sheryl Asmus 22, Abby Foster, Alex Nuehring, Cathi Griswold 23, Bruce Caquelin, Kay Klaver, Jolene Christensen, Jennifer Van Diest 24, Don Nibe, Acea Mortenson 25, Mackenzie Christian, Amy Stampka 26, Debra Park 27, Gail Kantak 28, Juan Trujillo, Landon Vaughn 29, Deloris Ayers, Virgil Grubbe, Sherry Lambi, Dylan Rossing, Ellen Timm 31, Betty Mordick, Doug Schaa

DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES Dec 1—Dick & Kathy Gibbs; Max & Elsie Smith Dec 3—Josh & Stephanie Christian; Bill & Diana Fielder; Duffy & Linda Christianson Dec 4—Glenn & Marie Cue Dec 9—Arlo & Claudia Van Diest Dec 11—Dustin & Sarah Elliott Dec 16—Dave & Ann Kennedy Dec 18—Don & Yvonne Johnson Dec 20—Dave & Kim Stoakes Dec 21—Chad & Suzanne Foster Dec 22—Kreg & Gail Kantak; Mark & Shauna Elliott Dec 23—Ken & Bonnie Kitterman; Paul & Kathy Runyan Dec 25—Ken & Virginia Tabor Dec 26—Matt & Amy Parrish Dec 27—Jon & Anita Gaul Dec 28—Glenn & Mary Tjaden Dec 31—Rick & Michelle Hupp

Follow us on Facebook!

#aumcwc Monthly Budget: $32,725 October income: $36,052.91

Each Wednesday: Man to Man, quarter to 7am: WOW, 9:30 coffee, 9:45am class; Middle School Youth Group, 3:30pm-5pm;

Awana, 5:30pm; Choir, 6pm; High School Youth Group, 7pm

As hard as it is to believe Christmas is right around the corner. It is easy to jump into the normal criticism of Christmas: the season is too busy; the commercial and secularism is destroying the true spirit; weather is turning; family discord; feel free to add in your own criticism here. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe we, as Christians, are part of the problem? That the fact that we glamorize the story of Bethlehem so greatly that it has lost much of its meaning? My favorite part of Christmas is truly examining the story of the birth of Jesus. I tend to become fascinated by the details in the story because it is in those details where we truly see the miracle of the plan? When was the last time you thought about how the pregnancy made both Mary and Joseph an outcast in the world around them? The fear and embarrassment that we felt by both as they moved forward? Have you stopped to think about how uncomfortable the stable must have been—both in the physical and olfactory sense? Or that Herod is searching for this child and is willing to kill so many others to find him? My guess is that for many the answer will be never. And that is okay. What I am advocating goes against tradition. I could try to explain the importance of the “messy” details but there is one who does it much better than I. In his article Let’s Keep Herod in Christmas, Brett Younger writes, “Every story admits that even in the midst of blinking decorations and flickering candles, darkness threatens the light. Ignoring the darkness is ignoring reality…[T]his part of the story that we’re used to leaving out—the sadness, suffering and death—is most important. It’s the hard part that explains why this child is a holy child.” Still not convinced? He continues, “When we remember, the story we need to remem-ber all of the story. God comes to the worst and most painful circumstances to share our suffering, to care for us in the midst of tragedy. Christ has come to bear our sorrows. We have not been left alone.” To me, that is the ultimate celebration of Christmas—when I realize what the alternative could have been. So, what do you say? Are you ready to celebrate a messy Christmas this year? Jennifer

What is better than going Christmas caroling? Going caroling with your faith community!!! On December 2, the middle and high school youth groups will sponsor an evening of carol-ing. We will leave from the church at 6 PM (Awana will still meet at 5:30 to do awards and book) and head to several care and as-sisted living facilities. We will then return to the church by 7:30 for cookies and caroling!!! Everyone is invited to attend!! We are trying to make sure that we have enough transpor-tation lined up for the evening so please let Jennifer know if you would be willing to drive that night.

On December 19, from 10 AM to 1 PM, we will be hosting a Kid’s Day Out. This event is for children ages birth through 10 years. Kids will come to the church for a great time of fun! There will be a short lesson, a craft & fun

for all ages! A light lunch will be provided! This is a great time for you to finish Christmas shopping or gift wrapping! This is an event that we would like a head count on to better plan for lunch so please RSVP to Jennifer if your child is planning on attending. She is also looking for volunteers to help with meal and activities.

The Memorial committee would like to invite all to take a look at the veterans honor boards that have been moved from the front of the church to a wall just west of the narthex (in the hall-way). We felt people could more readily see this. If you would look & feel there is someone that should be on the boards that isn’t, please leave their name at the church office. We would like to make sure it is updated. The display & flag are in honor & memory of Art Philbrook, a dedicated veteran of our church.

If anyone is interested in a mission trip, there may still be openings in the Iowa Team going to Baldwin for 1 or 2 weeks Feb. 7-19, (over Mardi Gras). Contact Karen Siler at karen-siler@uiowa.edu for lots of information or talk to the Rotschafers or the Rittschers at church for limited info.

Time is running out until the openings will be gone.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! This year’s Thanksgiving Ingathering was wonderful! Asbury worked together with 30 area youth from 4 area churches, & processed over $132,000 of money & in-kind gifts from area churches on Nov 7!! This included over 589 boxes of 6,776 kits for the semis. Asbury itself donated $4065, which included: $500 to Self-Help, $500 to Church World Service (blankets), 2 Personal Energy Trans-ports (PETS), a cow, 2 water buffalo, 6 chicken flocks, & 2 tree gifts.

We have so many thank yous to extend, that we can’t even list them all; but, thank you to everyone who helped with registration, office work, breakfast for the youth, morning coffee, lunch, set up, the lock-in, displays, the worship service & processing kits!

In addition to quarters for Heifer International, & the fall auction, Asbury donated 136 kits. Thank you to everyone who helped with our earlier Asbury auction, luncheon & special fundraisers throughout the year. We are looking forward to another great Thanks-giving Ingathering in 2016.

Site Co-Chairs, Nicole Chamness & Cathi Griswold

In the busyness of Advent it can be easy to throw your family God time to the side. As a part of our Deuteronomy 6 ministry, the church has a way to try to help combat the busyness. Using the booklet Love Life Live Advent, we are trying to help families engage in a special activity or thought each day of Advent. That authors say it best when they write, “This book isn’t trying to give you more things to do, but to encourage you to take time to be ready for Christmas.” There is no charge for this booklet!!! They are available in the Narthex of the church. Contact Jennifer if you have any questions!!!

Christmas Program Practice/Birthday Party for Jesus

On December 12th we will have our last practice for the Christmas program! While I know it is a busy time of year it would be helpful to

have as many children/youth there as possible. Following practice we will head downstairs for fun, food and so much more as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Please contact me if you are

willing to help with the Birthday Party for Jesus. This could be by volunteering to be here during that time or by bringing cupcakes!

Winter Weather Reminder:

If school is canceled due to bad weather on a day when Asbury has planned evening activities for

kids (eg: Awana or Youth Group on Wed.), Asbury activities will be canceled as well. Word will be spread ASAP via Quick Bits, Facebook, KQWC

(Mon-Fri), KCCI, WHO-TV, & Asbury’s answering machine message.

Be safe this winter!

Asbury United Methodist Church Administrative Board Meeting—Thursday, October 15, 2015

Leonard Rotschafer opened the meeting at 6:30pm with a prayer. Those present for the meeting were Tom & Pat Rittscher, Crystal Gordon, Gayle Andrson, Norma Jeane Bell, Colleen Rotschafer, Dan Corrow, Jennifer Peterson, Cathi Griswold, Pat Tempel, Sharon Hassebrock, Leonard Rotschafer, Pastor Jeff Flagg, and Jan Faint

Education—Jennifer reported Sunday School is started, Awana has finished its 4th week. She looks for ways to grow.

Pat Tempel moved to accept the minutes as written. Norma Jeane seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Endowment and SPRC—No reports

Fellowship—Pat Tempel reported the InGathering meal was successful. She stated if they were going to continue doing meals they would need more members on the committee.

Finance—Gayle Anderson reported that all bills are paid and are working on stewardship campaign.

Memorial—Sharon Hassebrock—They have not had a meeting. No memorials have come in since last meeting. They are working on moving the veterans honor boards from the front of the church to the narthex. Plaque for the piano is being taken care of.

Missions—Dan Corrow—They had a meeting and discussed the InGathering. Pat Rittscher had given a request for some funds to ship goods for the orphanage. They had a discussion on the Ecumenical Human Needs Funds. It came to us that they have a fund almost identical to our EMT fund. Dan and Pastor Jeff discussed this and Pastor Jeff went to the Human Needs Fund. It has been decided at the end of this year our EMT fund will be closed and whatever is in the account will go to the Ecumenical Human Needs Fund. There will be a speaker in church on No-vember 15 on the Sukup houses. Discussion has been held on whether the Christmas dinner will be held this year and if it will be at Asbury.

Trustees—(Gary Scholtens) Work continues on the stained glass. The windows are supposed to be done and reinstalled by Christmas. Radon tests came back above acceptable ranges for the multi-purpose room and basement of the parsonage. Second tests will be taken to check the validity of the first ones. The roof valleys on the connecting link were leaking. Widick came in installed new flashing and shingles. The whole roof needs to be replaced. We are in the process of getting bids. Jennifer’s printer and computer are being replaced as they are old and won’t run current software needs. Others in the building need to be replaced, but her need was immediate. We are looking into replacing current bulbs around the church with LED in the interest of energy savings. We approved Mike to buy 2 new Shark vacuums. Pastor Jeff has renegotiated the copier contract so it now is saving us approx. 2/3s of the previous expenses.

UMW—Norma Jeane reported they have filled most of their offices and Colleen Rotschafer will be president next year.

Worship—Crystal Gordon said that Colby Gochanour is the new pianist and bell choir director. When surveys are in they will fill spaces for ushers, etc. They worked with SPRC on a reception for Adele.

Learning Center—Cathi Griswold stated they started October 6 and are full. Hope to have 26 sessions again this year. They will end May 3.

Old Business—Pat Rittscher said there were still many kits to be filled. They will pass out the kits on Sunday and a hat for postage money.

New Business—Pastor Jeff discussed committees for next year. Leonard agreed to stay on as chairman, Pat Rittscher as lay leader, UMW president Colleen Rotschafer. Tom Rittscher will go to the conference. Jan Faint as recording secretary. He went through all the other committees and named or asked for names of people to fill as chair people and members, to be finalized at Charge Conference.

Pastor Jeff attended the Strengthening Families program at the Extension Office. He was impressed and possibly will have some training in the spring here. He has introduced Jennifer to Power Up Youth. They are about a month out on getting spiritual care at the hospital.

Dan Corrow reported that Man to Man meets on Wednesday mornings. They have good balance in their check book if there is anyone you know who might need some money.

Crystal closed the meeting with a prayer. Norma Jeane moved to adjourn. Dan seconded. Carried. Respectfully submitted, Jan Faint.

Introducing Colby & Amy: We want to welcome this amazing young couple to Asbury. Colby is playing piano & organ Saturday nights & most Sunday mornings, sharing the spotlight with Lynn Corrow. He is also directing that wonderful bell choir. Colby was born in Des Moines & moved to Eagle Grove in 1998. He began studying piano & organ when he was in the 3rd grade. His expertise came under the tutorage of Roiann Gearhart, who has been his only teacher. He also enjoys playing the American Ukulele in his spare time. Amy was born & raised in the Indianola/Norwalk area. She is the activities director at Crestview. They met in May of 2013 at "Crepe's Coffee Shop" while they were both studying at ISU. They were married May 23, 2015. They've adopted a puppy named "Libby" & have a kitten named "Patch." Colby came to faith in God when a minister came to his house & invited him to attend confirmation class. His faith journey has continued since then. Amy came to faith through Awana & Veggie Tales & then in college through the "Navigators." They now live here in Webster City & Colby hopes to be a Director of Music Ministry sometime in the future. Again, we are so glad to have them here at Asbury & pray that their faith will grow with the piano, organ, & bell choir ministry through this church & through its people. Welcome Colby & Amy to the family!

Asbury Learning Center

We are having a great year with our 33 students! Due to busy holiday schedules, we are changing our Tuesday, Dec. 8 tutoring session to Monday, Dec. 7. Sessions on Dec 1 and 15 will remain the same. Please contact Cathi (515-573-0630 cell phone) with any questions. Thanks

Facts and Figures From the Finance

Committee 2016 Pledge Drive

408 pledge card mailings sent out……..107 returned

$277,112 pledged for 2016.....2016 budget $433,839

Thanks to all who returned their estimate of giving card for 2016, and also those that returned the “Growth and Serving Opportunity” sheet. It is through your financial support and sharing of your time that Asbury can continue to offer the MANY programs that are the foundation of our church.

It’s never too late to make a pledge or volunteer your time. These commitment cards/sheets can be dropped in the large box in the narthex or at the office. There are extra forms at these locations.

“Each of you, as a good manager (Steward) of God’s gifts, shall use for the good of others the

special gifts you received from God.” 1 Peter 4:10

The Joy of Giving

Asbury United Methodist Church 921 Des Moines St

Webster City, IA 50595

“Return Service Requested”

Phone: 515-832-5369 www.asburywc.org

Pastor Jeff Flagg

Non-Profit Organization

U. S Postage

PAID

Webster City, Iowa

Permit No. 142

5-year report 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

School Kits 100 90 104 75 66

Cloth School Bags 106 116 155 73 92

Sewing Kits 21 4 10 19 8

Health Kits 36 43 33 35 36

Birthing Kits 24 31 44 36 12

Layettes 14

Jackets 0

Amy & Colby Gochanour. Article inside!

What a Blessing!! The kits are filled & have arrived at the depot in Baldwin, LA, where they will be sorted, repacked & shipped where the need exists. What a blessing you are for ANY contribution to the UMCOR kits! As you can see from the chart, we were ahead in some areas & behind in others from last year. Remember, anytime of the year that you might find a sale or "good deal" think of UMCOR kits! Put the donation on the back table with Pat Rittscher on it, & I will put it to use for next year.

Poinsettia order forms are in the narthex for those wishing to order a holiday poinsettia. Plants are $13 each.