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December 2012 The Reminder 1
Laramie, Wyoming The Reminder December 2012 First United Methodist Church
Rev. Jeff Rainwater 1215 E Gibbon St. 307-460-3858 (Home) 307-742-8121 [email protected] [email protected]
www.laramie-umc.com
Sing We Now of Christmas Advent 2012
Does it seem to you like there are two Christmases we celebrate each year? There is the secular Christmas filled with shopping and decorating presided over by the jolly old elf himself. And, of course, there is the sacred Christmas that speaks of events long past – a manger, sages traveling long distances, lots of farm animals, and a precious baby. Sometimes we are told that one of these Christmases is bad, the other is good. Sometimes we feel one wears us out and the other, while promising, always seems out of reach.
I must admit I used to feel that way too. Then a few years ago I read a wonderful Advent devotional by Albert Holtz, O.S.B., entitled From Holidays to Holy Days: A Benedictine Walk through Advent. Brother Holtz has a wonderful way of finding the sacred amidst the secular (even a holiday traffic jam!). His words offer an important reminder that Christmas is exactly about God interjecting a little sacred into the secular. There was nothing particularly “holy” about that manger until the Christ arrived. Or perhaps Christ’s arrival showed us that what we thought was so very mundane and ordinary was indeed holy to God as we are all holy and precious to God. So I hope Christmas can be about reflecting on God at work when we look at wrapping paper and flashing lights and considering our part in God’s continuing work to redeem and renew all of God’s world.
We may not be able to pull this off as well as Brother Holtz, but this Advent we as a worshipping congregation are going to make the attempt. There is one common theme to both the secular and sacred Christmases we celebrate – in both we sing! This Advent we will listen for hints of the sacred in a few new and not-so-new “secular” Christmas songs while we also enjoy the great carols of ages past. Might the theme of “Sleigh Ride” spark in us a reflection on another long journey and all of our journeys this Advent? Could “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” help us consider how God interrupted the dreams of a Jewish carpenter so that God’s Son would find a safe home and a protective, loving, human father?
We hope you can join us this Advent in the many ways we plan on preparing our hearts and minds for the sacred presence of a Savior to once again visit upon our lives to change our perspective on all of life. And I pray you may have a blessed Advent and a very Merry Christmas!
Yours in Christ, Pastor Jeff
ADVENT EVENTS
December 2 9 & 10:30 am Advent Worship: “Sleigh Bells Ring: The Journey of Advent” December 9 9 am Choir Cantata: “Shout the Good News!” December 9 10:30 am Advent Worship: “Silver Bells: How Do We Hear About the Gift?” December 9 6:00 pm A Family Christmas (our children & family Christmas program) December 16 9 & 10:30 am Advent Worship: “White Christmas: Making God’s Dreams our Dreams” December 16 6 pm Blue Christmas Service: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?” December 23 9 & 10:30 am Advent Worship: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas: Refresh & Recreate This Christmas” December 24 5:30 & 7:30pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
December 2012 The Reminder 2
Kids’ Choir The Kids’ Choir continues to meet in the Video Room (Room 201, upstairs) from
10:15-10:45 am. New members are always welcome! Children’s choir will NOT meet Sunday Dec. 23 or 30. We will resume on Sunday, Jan. 6! Have a great holiday season!
Operation Christmas Child Update
As of November 12, a total of 59 boxes have been turned in for Operation Christmas Child! Thank you for all your help!
Halloween Carnival Update
Thank you to all who attended and helped put on our annual Halloween carnival! We served 81 meals and raised $235.50 for UNICEF. Thank you also to all who donated canned food items for Interfaith! Your generosity is most appreciated!
A Family Christmas Event! On Sunday, December 9 at 6 pm in Wilson Hall, we are trying something new this year……a family Christmas event as opposed to a formal Christmas program. We will be hearing the Christmas story,
singing carols, and participating in various craft and game activities. Also included will be a talent show for any who wish to share their talents with us. If you play an instrument, want to recite a poem you wrote, or sing a song, the stage will be open for you! If you would like to perform, please contact Holly Steinkraus ([email protected], 760-2815) to get on the schedule. Come and enjoy a wonderful evening with both of your families…..your immediate family AND your church family! We hope to see you there!
Important Upcoming Dates: Sunday, December 9 – Family Christmas Event, 6 pm in Wilson Hall Sunday, December 16 – NO formal Sunday school. The new Veggie Tales movie (The League of
Incredible Vegetables) will be shown in the video room during the Sunday school hour. Sunday, December 23 and 30 – NO formal Sunday school and NO Kids’ Choir
Sunday, January 6 – Sunday school and Kids’ Choir resume
December 2012 The Reminder 3
STAY CONNECTED
ONLINE Do you ‘do’ Facebook? Follow folks on Twitter? Surf the web regularly? We invite you to stay in touch with
First UMC’s happenings in a variety of ways: ‘Like us’ on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/laramie.fumc www.facebook.com/WyomingWesleyFoundation
Follow us on Twitter: @LaramieUMC @Wesley_Wyoming
See what’s new on our websites: www.laramie-umc.com www.laramiewesley.com
Check out Pastor’s blogs: thispastorspensieve.wordpress.com laurarainwater.wordpress.com
Do You Know Someone
Going Through a
Difficult Time? Do you have a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or relative who has been struggling with the loss of a loved one, loneliness, cancer, a layoff, relocation, divorce, a spiritual crisis, recuperation, single parenthood, or any of countless other life challenges? Our Stephen Ministers can provide them with the focused care, encouragement, and support they need to make it through the crisis. If you know of someone who is hurting, talk with Lynn Erickson or Pastor Laura. They can talk with you about how we can connect the person you know with one of our Stephen Ministers. It's a great way for you to show how much you care!
December Worship Schedule Mark your calendars for these special Christmas worship events occurring in December! Dec 9 9 am Christmas Cantata
10:30 am Worship Service 6 pm Family Christmas Event in Wilson Hall Dec 16 6 pm Blue Christmas Service in
the Upper Room 7 pm Reception Dec 23 9 am Worship Service 10:30 am Worship Service Dec 24 5:30 pm Candlelight Service 7:30 am Candlelight Service Dec 30 9 am One Worship Service
Wesley Wreaths Pickup
P r e - o r d e r e d Christmas wreaths are available to be picked up from the Upper Room. If you did not order a wreath, extras will be available at the UMW Country Fair Bazaar on Dec. 1.
Wesley and Phoneraiser
Phoneraiser is still happening. Wesley
Foundation will recycle your used cell phones, mp3 players, digital cameras, and inkjet cartridges. Just place them in the red box in the church lobby. Help us help you after Christmas!
Blue Christmas
Service Dec. 16 The church and community are invited to attend a Blue Christmas Worship Service on Sunday, December 16, 6:00 pm in the Upper Room. This service will
provide an opportunity to recognize that the holidays are not always so joyous. Stephen Ministers will be available.
December 2012 The Reminder 4
Unit Meeting/Christmas Party
We will have ONE meeting in December a combination Unit meeting and Christmas party. This function will be held on Wednesday, December 12, which is the SECOND Wednesday of the month, at 9:30 am in Wesley Hall with the Paxton Circle serving as hostesses. The festivities will include a musical program. The installation of officers for 2013 will be held as well as a short business meeting. There will be an optional gift exchange at the party. If you wish to participate, please bring a wrapped gift that morning. Gifts can include baked goods, items from the Bazaar, and purchased items. If you have any questions, please Contact Sidney Walter or Susan McGraw who are in charge of the gift exchange. For our community service project, a cash collection will be taken for the Caring Foundation of Wyoming, an organization which funds health care for uninsured children in Wyoming. All women of the church are cordially invited to attend and enjoy delicious refreshments, an inspiring program, and a time of warm fellowship.
Annual
Christmas
Bazaar
Un i t ed Me t h o d i s t Women will be holding their annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 1, from 8 am to 1 pm.
All food type items should be brought to Wilson Hall by 7:30 am on Saturday, Dec. 1. They should be ready to sell. The proceeds from the bazaar are used to support missions, both here at home and around the world. If you have any questions, please contact one of the co-chairs: Lorraine Lupton, Carol Lane, Darlene Olson, Linda Van Ekeren, Lynn or Lou Ann Erickson. Thanks for your support.
Reading Program Anyone who still has books from the Reading Program should return them to the UMW Box in the Church Office as soon as possible, but no later than the Unit/Circle Party on December 12. Members who have completed the Reading Program for 2012, but
have not informed Carol Lane should do so immediately.
December 2012 The Reminder 5
Video Tech Schedule
9:00 am December 2 Greg Jordan December 9 Denny Coon December 16 Greg Jordan December 23 Harold Colby December 30 Denny Coon
Usher Schedule 9:00 am December 2 Doug Hendricks Harold Colby Jim Anderson December 9 Don & Betty Stinson Randy Anderson December 16 Don Merriam
Norm Merriam December 23 Phil & Sandy Kerr Rollin & Carolyn Abernethy December 30 UMW Ladies
Liturgist Schedule Here is the liturgist schedule for upcoming weeks. If you have any conflict with these dates or service times, please contact Rev. Jeff or Barb in the church office.
December 2 Jan Mahlum December 9 Norm Merriam December 16 Greg Jordan December 23 Dale Eslinger December 30 Betty Stinson
(The text for the day will be mailed (or e-mailed) to each liturgist in advance so it can be reviewed ahead of time!)
Greeter Schedule
December 2 9:00 am East Door Bob & Sylvia Hansen Harney Door Barbara Fresquez December 9 East Door Don & Sigrid Merriam Harney Door Dave Earnshaw
December 16 East Door Laurie Marquardt-Westlake Harney Door Barbara Fresquez
December 23 East Door Bob & Sylvia Hansen Harney Door Don & Sigrid Merriam
December 30 East Door Dave Earnshaw Harney Door Laurie Marquardt-Westlake
Worship Attendance
October 28 126 November 4 147 November 11 128 November 18 134 November 25 131 YTD Average 141
The January 2013 Newsletter
deadline is December 9. Be sure to
s e n d a l l y o u r
Newsletter articles to
the Office by this
date.
Worship
Volunteers
Needed! Would you like to help
out during our worship services? If you are interested in volunteering to be an usher, greeter, or liturgist, or would like more information on what these positions entail, please contact the church office (742-8121)!
December 2012 The Reminder 6
Time has changed and the nights come earlier. There’s something about the darkness that seems more harsh this time of the year. For most of you, there is another time of darkness looming on the horizon . . . final exams. All of us at Wesley (and First UMC) pray that your final exams, final papers & projects will be completed in such a way that peace and relief prevail. In order to provide a bit of light, Wesley is providing Food for Finals once again. Eat a meal (prepared by someone else) to keep your health and sanity intact. More information is listed below. We also pray for safe travels, wherever they may take you in December. For those who will graduate and head on down the road, congratulations. For those who will return in January, we look forward to seeing you again. Until then, may the love and gift of Jesus be present in your life and in all that life brings. Grace and peace, Pastor Laura
FOOD FOR FINALS is one way Wesley helps you as the semester wraps up. We provide food and fellowship in Wesley Hall: Nightly, Sun., Dec. 9 through Thursday, Dec. 13, 5:00 – 7:00 pm. CONGRATULATIONS to those of you who are graduating – from UW or WyoTech. If you’d like to become part of the Alumni List, just send me an e-mail or text. UPDATED STUDENT INFO, PLEASE. I send out emails almost weekly. If you’ve changed your email and aren’t receiving stuff from me, please let me know. I don’t anyone to be missed! Email me at [email protected].
December 2012 The Reminder 7
The Church Mouse There’s been lots of activity around the church since I last wrote. The Education Building has a new roof, which seemed to go on in short order and with very little disturbance of my afternoon naps. The annual Church Conference has been held, accompanied with a potluck luncheon. And it has snowed, so I got to watch people outside with shovels and tractors clearing the walkways and parking lots, which doesn’t look to be as much fun as mowing the lawn or watering the garden plots.
The result of the Church Conference vote for the building was to tear down the existing Sanctuary and put up a new one and install insulation on the Education Building. A Building Committee has been chosen to acquire funding, hire an architect, and hire a contractor. They have a big job ahead of them but know they can handle it. Also at the Church Conference, new members for the various teams for church operations were named. There are some new names, which is great! Show your appreciation for those who volunteer to serve on the teams. Some of the teams can take a bit of time and thought.
I overheard Rev. Jeff say that the spring adult class format will be similar to the fall format. If you didn’t attend a fall class because of a busy schedule, try a spring class. Reading the Bible for a Bible study class or reading the text for one of the other classes is a good way to spend a cold winter evening. I like to read during the day by a window so I can look out at the cold snowy landscape and remind myself how blessed I am to have a warm home and an ample supply of food.
Speaking of blessings, did you fill a shoe box with goodies for a child so you can share your blessings? Or take a tag from the Christmas tree to provide a gift for a needy family? Or donate canned goods or other food to Interfaith so a family can have a decent Christmas dinner? There’s still time if you would like to do any of these. The Wesley Thanksgiving dinner will probably be over by the time you read this. I hope many of you came, donated, and/or worked to make the dinner special. Dropping a few extra crumbs for me is nice, not just at Thanksgiving, but anytime you have food in the building.
Advent starts Dec. 2. I hear the commercial side of Christmas started right after Halloween. I’m glad I’m not a human and have to deal with all the commercialization of Christmas for two months or more. One early Christmas preparation I really enjoy, is the choir’s preparing special music for the Christmas season. You get to hear the finished product, I get to hear the stops and starts and laughter and see the friendships that are formed during practices, plus the final version in church.
The ministers' new sermon series is interesting with their asking for commitments from the congregation for praying and for worship. It will be interesting to see where they go from here.
The Christmas tree with the gift tags for a needy family will be in the Lobby for several more Sundays. Also, mark your calendar for the annual UMW Christmas Bazaar Dec. 1, which features food plus other gifts for sale. (I love the cinnamon rolls) Elsewhere in the Reminder are the times and dates for Christmas Eve services, the hanging of the greens, and other Christmas happenings.
Stay warm!
Yours, The Mouse
December 2012 The Reminder 8
The Reminder First United Methodist Church
1215 E Gibbon Street
Laramie, WY 82072-2845
(307) 742-8121
www.laramie-umc.com
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Your December 2012
Newsletter is here!
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Laramie, WY
82070
Weekly Events Sunday 9:00 am Traditional Worship 9:15 am Children’s Sunday School 10:00 am Refreshments & Fellowship 10:15 am Adult Classes 10:15 am Kids Choir 10:30 am Traditional Worship 11:30 am Wesley Lunch (Not on Dec. 30) 12:30 pm Intro to the Old Testament (Dec. 2 only)
Monday 10:00 am Strong Was Her Faith (Dec. 3 only)
Tuesday 9:00 am Membership/Care 2:00 pm A Course in Miracles 6:30 pm Christians on the Move (Dec. 4 & 11)
Wednesday 6:30 pm Financial Peace University 6:30 pm Bell Choir 7:30 pm Chancel Choir
Thursday 6:30 pm He Said...She Said (Dec. 6 & 13)
Monthly Happenings Dec. 2 — 6:00 pm Pizza with the Pastors Dec. 3 — 12:00 pm Endowment Team Dec. 5 — 6:30 pm Stephen Ministry Dec. 9 — 9:00 am Choir Cantata Dec. 9 — 10:30 am Worship & Communion Service Dec. 9 — DECEMBER NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Dec. 9 — 6:00 pm Family Christmas Event Dec. 9-13 — 5-7 pm Food For Finals Dec. 16 — 6:00 pm Blue Christmas Dec. 16 — 7:00 pm Reception after Blue Christmas Dec. 17 — 6:30 pm Finance Team Dec. 18 — 6:30 pm Church Council Dec. 23 — 9 am & 10:30 am Worship Services Dec. 24 — 5:30 pm Candle-light Worship Service Dec. 24 — 7:30 pm Candle-light Worship Service Dec. 30— 9:00 am 1 Worship Service Jan. 6 — 9 am & 10:30 am Worship Services Jan. 6 — Sunday school and Kids’ Choir resume Jan. 6 — 6:00 pm Pizza with the Pastors
