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1
WESLEY UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
DECEMBER 2016
HERALD
A Word from Pastor Charles Williams
Greetings my brothers and sisters in Christ!
We come to this time of the year once again, the very
beginning of Advent. The World waits in hopeful expectation of
the coming of a Savior. A Savior born many years ago in a distant
land, but yet, so real to us today.
As we prepare for this Advent celebration, let's keep in
mind the true meaning of the season.
Jesus is the light of the world!
Rev. Williams
2
SAVE THE DATE!!
Family Promise volunteers are needed for the week of January 1 –8.
See Mary Hackett if you are able to help!
Advent Soup & Bread
What: Food, Fellowship, short Bible study.
When: Four Wednesdays in Advent:
Remaining Dates: December 7, 14, 21
Where: at Wesley UMC
Time: 6:30 pm
Join us for our
Christmas Eve Worship Service
on Saturday,
December 24th at 7:00pm
3
The Caring Corner December 2016
"God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December." J. M. Barrie
Congratulations go out to Danielle Hoyt on completing four years of college in just three and a half years! Her major was in psychology and over the past few years, Danielle has been a high honors student in all her classes. Her final thesis for graduation is titled “Optimism as a Mediating Factor in the Relationship between Anxiety and News Media Exposure in College Students”. She has spent many months preparing for this paper, researching, collecting data from various people, collating the results, and presenting this to the faculty for their review and acceptance. The final stages will be this month, and we know that Danielle will receive high praises for her work! She will go through her formal graduation in May with her fellow classmates. Word was received the end of October that Pastor Carol Ann Parsons passed away. She had served churches in Southwick and Putnam Connecticut before coming to Massachusetts to serve in Melrose and retire from Wesley in 2006. Dave Rundlett is scheduled to retire from FEDEX after 27 years as a full-time employee. We wish him well as he finds a new path to keep him busy, and wish him health to enjoy this new chapter of his life with Julie, their children and grandchildren. For those of us from the 1970’s choir days that was under the wonderful leadership of Elsie Meeker, you may remember Marge and Joe Evans. They were part of Wesley for a few years before their retirement and move to North Carolina. We received word that Marge passed away in July, and three days later, Joe joined her. God richly blessed them with a long happy marriage, four wonderful children, and many grandchildren. Fran Gardner has become a “snow bird” moving to Florida (along with her cat) to live with a niece. We are glad that Fran will be in an area where it is warmer in the winter months, while she’ll have family close by. Lisa and Phil LaVigne will be spending New Year’s Eve in Bethlehem, PA at the wedding of their son Michael to Caitlyn Monaghan. Kyle will be the best man for this joyous occasion! A trip to South Africa will take place sometime in 2017. The bride and groom met while students at Leigh University and will be married in the Packer Memorial Church, a part of the campus.
4
Caring corner continued
Our condolences to the family of Joy Noble, a longtime active member at Wesley. Charlie, her husband of 53 years, along with Joy raised their four children, Edward, Bill, Nancy, and Patricia in Framingham. They moved to Guilford, New Hampshire in their retirement years. Emerson (Emmie) Sophia Rebello was born on November 9th to Kathy (Snow) and her husband Steve. Grandparents Bill and Janis Snow report that big brother Ben is being a very good helper. What a wonderful gift from God for Great-Grandmother Elise Meeker! When we first came to Wesley, there was a lovely, feisty, lady by the name of Phoebe Moore who wrote the Sunshine Report each month for the Herald. It was filled with news and love about members and friends of Wesley. Seven years ago, this was part of the Wesley Herald: “I don’t know about you, but when I opened my Herald last winter and didn’t find the Caring and Sharing column, I knew something was missing. As the months have gone by, I have pondered the loss of this column due to Nancy’s fall and felt a part of Wesley was missing. God has been nudging me, and finally I am giving in to those nudges and will attempt to put together a Caring Corner. I will try hard to get news from many sources, but I will need YOU to pass on news you would like printed about the happenings in your life, because we at Wesley do care, whether the news is happy, sad, thought provoking, or just what you’re up to.”
Now it is time for someone new to pick up the tradition that was started over 50 years ago. Wesley Church is made up of a group of dedicated people who first love God, His Son Jesus Christ, and their fellow “man”. Wesley cares deeply for others and shows it through the many causes that you have sup-ported over the years. I pray that someone within this congregation will feel the same nudge I did, turn on their computer, and write news that will reach out to others about the people of Wesley. I thank you for the news that has been shared, along with your many positive comments. I will look forward to reading a new column filled with the happenings within the wonderful Wesley family.
God be with you ‘til we meet again!
Charlotte "May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love." Ada V. Hendricks
5
A Thank you note from Elsie Meeker:
I would like to thank my Wesley Family for all the lovely
birthday cards I received for my 97th birthday! It was so wonderful to
receive so many beautiful cards. All 29 of them!! It is very humbling to read
them all! After many years of service to God through Wesley, I was kept busy,
but I loved it all!
God bless you all for the cards from near and far.
-Elsie Meeker-
STEWARDSHIP OF HOPE The season of Advent is also a season of HOPE. We have just finished our Financial Stewardship Drive for the coming year, and now we are looking to fulfill those commitments that we have made. So, as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and stewards of all
God’s gifts, we should now look at what it means to be stewards of the Hope we have in God. After reading an article written by Bruce C. Birch in one of our past advent studies, we shared with each other the ways we intend to live as God’s stewards in the future that He has promised. He spoke of TIME as one of the gifts God has given into our care as stewards, which is the framework of our days. Thus, time for the community of God’s stewards is not merely the quantity of our days. Time for the community of God’s stewards has a quality… it is the quality of HOPE. Our knowledge that time is God’s gift -intended for our good -makes us hopeful, even in the midst of crisis. HOPE is the confidence that time is in God’s hands, and that our past, present, and future are filled with God’s possibilities for wholeness, even in the midst of brokenness. As stewards of time, we are also stewards of HOPE! To lose sight of this in moments of despair is to lose touch with the very gift of our life. As we approach the end of 2016, the Finance Committee would like to extend our thanks for your faithful stewardship to our church community. We hope that this stewardship will be part of your faith journey as you continue to change lives, and make disciples in this community, or where ever life journey takes you. Blessings, Art McNeil / Chair Finance.
6
United Methodist Women All women are invited to join us for our "Christmas Medley" program on Wednesday evening, December 14, at 7:30 pm. in the CUMC Fellowship Hall. UMW members will gather at 7:00 pm to have a short business meeting voting on our slate of officers, distribution of special money gifts to mission projects, and our 2017 budget. Then we will move into our Holiday program. Please bring 2 dozen cookies to share and pack for our homebound and nursing home friends. Wear your holiday garb and come enjoy an evening with friends. See you then!
This year's "Christmas Carousel" Fair is now a recent memory. What a special fair, as always! It was indeed a day of working together, fellowship, seeing old friends, making new ones, enjoying beautiful decorations and tables filled with wonderful gifts, crafts, baked items, and much more…..
During the next three weeks, the "Gift Shop" on the stage in Fellowship Hall at CUMC will be open for the shopping convenience of anyone who is looking for wonderful handcrafted items and decorations for holiday giving. Money for items bought can be given to Sara in the church office during the morning from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm. Checks should be written to United Methodist Women. All net proceeds are designated for mission and social justice programs that benefit many people in need both in our area and around the globe.
A special note of appreciation goes to the Ora Dunbar family for their generous gift to our UMW dedicated to the memory of their mother Ora, who was our lobster roll maker for many years. We also want to acknowledge the following for their annual support of our Fair: Roche Bros.-Sudbury Farms, Stop & Shop-Wayland, and Shaw's Supermarkets, The Villa Restaurant, Kelly's Roast Beef, and Willow Tree Farms.
Thank you to all of you who gave your time and effort to making our "Christmas Carousel" Fair a success. We began our plans last January, then you met in workshops for weeks before the event, made pies until you were exhausted, baked cookies and pies and breads "at all hours", donated items to various "shops", prepared foods for 'good eating' at the luncheon, spent hours pricing, helped with the setting up, selling, and the tearing down. You are too many to count and name! So THANK YOU, THANK YOU from the fullness of our hearts. You are wonderful, supportive folks!
Sherry Anne Bryant, President
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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS
Each year, we decorate the altar at Christmas with poinsettias. If you would like to give a plant this Christmas, please send this form and a check to the church office before Monday, December 19th, or place it in the morning offering plate before that date. The cost of the plants this year will be $8.00 each. A plant may be given "In Memory Of " or "In Honor Of " someone. Names will be included in the Christmas Sunday bulletin. Plants may be picked up after the service on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. If you prefer, money may be given to the "General Memorial Fund" or to a "Named Fund" instead of a plant. These checks may be sent to the church of-fice as well. Donor's Name_________________________________________________ Envelope #__________ In Memory Of:___________________________________________________ In Honor Of:_____________________________________________________
Number of Plants: ________ @ $8.00 each Total:$___________
Red:________ White:________ Surprise Me:_________ OR MEMORIAL FUND: Please check one General Memorial Fund_______ Named Memorial Fund________ Name of Fund:________________________________
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PONDER THIS December 2016
Advent…Prepare
I Peter 4:7-9, 11 “…be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” Until you are at peace with whose you are, you will not be at peace with who you are. You are God’s child, be at peace!
In preparation,
Marie Frasier
The Choirs of Wesley, First and Community UMC
invite you to their
22nd Annual Joint Christmas Concert
On Saturday, December 10th at 3:00pm at Wesley, UMC
A joyous way to begin the celebration of the birth of our Savior
(A free-will offering will be taken)
9
Since this is a month for a lot of baking… you might like to try this recipe for
“Bible Cake” or “Scripture Cake” Cream together 1 1/2 cups Psalm 55:21 2 cups Jeremiah 6:20 6 Jeremiah 17:11 1/2 Judges 5:25 2 tblsp. 1 Samuel 14:25
Mix 4 1/2 cups 1 Kings 4:22 1/8 tsp. Leviticus 2:13
Season to taste 11 Chronicles 9:9
2 tblsp. Amos 4:5 2 cups 1 Samuel 30:12 1/2 cup Numbers 17:8 1/2 cup Nahum 3:12 Heat oven to 325 degrees. Bake one hour in greased and floured pan until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Spices: 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp. cloves, 1/2 tsp allspice. Leavening: baking powerder
Sweet Hour of Prayer (aka SHOP)
Our dedicated hour of prayer at Wesley UMC is on Wednesdays at
12 Noon. This hour of prayer will include personal spoken prayers,
devotions, lectiodivina (scripture reading) and silence. All are welcome to
attend this disciplined time of prayer. If you cannot attend in person,
please join us in prayerful solidarity at home or where ever you are by offering prayer
at Noon on Wednesday. Please pray for your sisters & brothers in Christ and for your
own walk with Jesus Christ as a disciple.
10
MONTHLY HERALDS:
The deadline for information to be included in the
weekly Sunday Bulletin is always the Wednesday
before.
Articles for upcoming Heralds are listed below.
Please make note of the following deadlines:
January 2017 Herald—December 16th February 2017 Herald—January 25th
Please email your articles to: [email protected],
BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS FOR DECEMBER 12/03 Phil LaVigne 12/04 Bill Snow 12/04 Daniel Subrimaniyam 12/14 Rev. Don Hegeman 12/23 Julie-Ann Vose 12/24 Fred Batey 12/24 Alina Gotal 12/27 Marilyn Barrows
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
12/14 Arthur & Gloria McNeil
DECEMBER GREETERS
4 Margaret Rowe 10 Beth & John Howard (concert) 11 Julie Tebo 18 Linda Chase 24 Patricia & Mary Ann Mufute (Christmas Eve) 25 Cecelia & Oscar Mobley
DECEMBER LITURGISTS
4 Art McNeil 11 Patricia Mufute 18 Mary Anne Mufute 24 Mary Hackett (Christmas Eve) 25 George Shaw
MONTHLY USHERS
1st Sunday Visa Subrimaniyam & Carl Mighty 2nd Sunday Phillip LaVigne & Chris McKaughan 3rd Sunday Glenn Opela 4th Sunday Art McNeil & Visa Subrimaniyam If needed: 5th Sunday Margaret Rowe & Julie Tebo DECEMBER ALTAR GUILD
Art & Gloria McNeil
FUMC BOOK CLUB
Everyone is invited to the newly reorganized Metrowest Commu-nity Book Club the 4th Monday of each month at 7:15 PM at FUMC! Come for a stimulating discussion.
The books are available at the local library or at any bookstore. If you are not able to come once a month, that’s OK. Just join us the following month! Book List:
Dec. 26th -Cash, by Johnny Cash Jan. 23rd The Black Widow, by Daniel Silva Feb. 27th The Wild Girl: The Notebooks of Ned Giles, 1932, by Jim Fergus Mar. 27th The Soul of an Octopus, by Sy Montgomery Apr. 24th The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, by Vishen Lakhiani May 22nd In the Language of Miracles, by Rajia Hassib Jun. 26th Truly Madly Guilty, by Liane Moriarty Jul. 24th Let Me Die in His Footsteps, by Lori Roy
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WESLEY U
NIT
ED
METH
OD
IST C
HU
RCH
80 B
eaco
n S
treet, F
ram
ingham
, MA 0
1701
508-8
75-3
850
Rev. D
on H
egem
an
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Rev. D
on H
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508-8
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Parso
nage: 8
Fairb
anks W
ay
508-8
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Rev. L
eslie
Walse
man: D
eaco
n
774-2
79-2
926
Fax (w
hen o
ffice is o
pen):
508-8
75-3
853
Marie
Fra
sier: L
ay L
eader
508-4
35-4
668
Marg
are
t Row
e: P
rayer C
hain
508-8
79-2
575
Judy B
orto
lotti: A
dm
inistra
tive A
ssistant 5
08 8
75-3
850
Em
ail: w
esu
mcfra
m@
rcn.co
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Julie
Rundle
tt: Choir D
irecto
r
508-8
77-7
283
Em
ail: jlo
rundle
m
Ste
ve D
ow
& W
alte
r Sm
ith: C
usto
dia
ns
Dr. B
elin
da F
orb
es: N
icara
gua
Church
Em
ail: w
esu
mcfra
m@
rcn.co
m
Website
: ww
w.fra
min
gham
um
c.com
________________________________________________________________
CH
UR
CH
OFFIC
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Monday, W
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riday
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Wesley United Methodist Church 80 Beacon Street Framingham, MA 01701
FIRST CLASS MAIL
WESLEY U
NIT
ED
METH
OD
IST C
HU
RCH
80 B
eaco
n S
treet, F
ram
ingham
, MA 0
1701
508-8
75-3
850
Rev. C
harle
s Willia
ms, P
asto
r_
Sunday S
chedule
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508-8
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ay
5
08-8
75-5
345
Rev. L
eslie
Walse
man: D
eaco
n
774-2
79-2
926
Judy B
orto
lotti: A
dm
inistra
tive A
ssistant 5
08 8
75-3
850
Em
ail: w
esu
mcfra
m@
rcn.co
m
Fax lin
e
508-8
75-3
853
Mary
Hack
ett: L
ay L
eader
508-4
35-4
668
Marg
are
t Row
e: P
rayer C
hain
508-8
79-2
575
Julie
Rundle
tt: Choir D
irecto
r
508-8
77-7
283
Em
ail: jlo
rundle
m
Ste
ve D
ow
: Custo
dia
n
Dr. B
elin
da F
orb
es: N
icara
gua
Church
Em
ail: w
esu
mcfra
m@
rcn.co
m
Website
: ww
w.fra
min
gham
um
c.com
________________________________________________________________
CH
UR
CH
OFFIC
E H
OU
RS
The C
hurch
Office
is open M
ondays, W
ednesd
ays,
Thursd
ay’s a
nd F
ridays
from
8:3
0 A
M—
12:3
0 P
M
Rev. W
illiam
s’ office
hours a
re b
y a
ppoin
tment o
nly
