TAWAS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

December 2016

Volume 43 Issue 12

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Once again the Christmas movies, continuous advertisements, the

reminders of the declining shopping days until Christmas, and the realization that another year is nearly past, will soon be upon us. What an exciting time of the year! While we have enjoyed a wonderful fall, before long the white flakes of snow will herald the winter

season. We are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place and in our community we have the opportunity to enjoy the four seasons. Please do not remind me of this in late March!

Advent is the time in the Christian Calendar year that we anticipate and wait for the arrival of the Christ Child. For hundreds of years, the Hebrew people awaited the coming of the messiah. Yet, in John 1: 11 the scripture indicates, “He (Jesus) came to what was

His own, and His own people did not accept Him.” (NRSV) The prophet Isaiah foretold in Isaiah 9: 6, “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” What a sad thought, to wait with great anticipation for many generations and then to miss the one that you longed for. God sent Jesus into this world and even today

some have not received this tremendous gift!

As we engage in the busyness and preparation for our Christmas holiday, let us also prepare to receive the one that God promised to the world through the scriptures. You do not want to miss the reality of the incarnate God coming to and then living among us; therefore, let us receive the reality of Jesus into hearts, lives, and with renewed devotion this Christmas. What greater gift can we bring to the One who has given us so much? As

we approach Christmas Day, let us commit to worship, to read God’s Word, to pray, and then to consider the wonder of the Christ Child who lived and continues to live among us.

On behalf of the Gonder family, our church staff and the members of this congregation, we wish you a Merry, Holy Christmas!

God Bless!

Pastor Dan

BIRTHDAYS 12/05 Kenneth Gillham 12/06 Grace Look 12/08 Jan Herrick 12/10 Patricia Fisher 12/12 Kathleen Bissonette 12/14 Mary Jane Bissonette 12/14 Julie Lockman 12/19 Anna Dalman 12/21 Terri Boudreau 12/21 Jamie Shaffer 12/24 Johanna Lixey 12/28 Courtney Bissonette 12/29 Ariana Peach

ANNIVERSARIES

12/08 Arthur & JoAnn Lamb 12/26 Tim & Kerri Burg 12/26 Ray & Pattie Van Horn 12/29 Robert & Barbara Ritsema 12/30 Ralph & Terri Boudreau

Mid-MI Emmaus www.midmichiganemmaus.com

TAWAS UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Angels Among us. Yes, indeed!!!!!!!

This past year has been eventful. Thanks to all for helping to make the Tawas UMW a star-studded group of women never lacking enthusiasm and always willing to say "sure I can help"!

Coming up: Visions of sugar (colored that is) all over the counter.... question: What cutters to use???...ugh.... they stuck to the tin!!! and to the family....DO NOT TOUCH EVEN ONE!! what is happening???? COOKIE FEST December 2nd: Set Up December 3rd: SALE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT OF THE YEAR (give away the theme.... never) CHRISTMAS TEA BE SURE TO SIGN UP December 13th Time: 6:00 pm (In advance: Thanks Faith Circle) PLEASE NOTE: NO UNIT MEETINGS JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH TAWAS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IS THE HOST CHURCH FOR WORLD DAY OF PRAYER. IT WILL BE HELD THE FIRST FRIDAY OF MARCH. LOOK FOR INFO NEXT YEAR. FEATURED COUNTRY: THE PHILLIPINES. Thank you for allowing me to be the president of the Tawas UMW. Judy Hills will be the new president in 2017. Enjoy another day in God’s presence. Blessed Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year. Barbara Ritsema President Tawas UMW

The Faith Circle will not meet in December or January.

UNITED METHODIST MEN’S ACTIVITY

For information please contact: Pastor Dan at pastortumc@outlook.com Gary Bushman at mr.bean405@sbcglobal.net or Ed Nagy at ednagy@chartermi.net

ONGOING EVENTS: SATURDAY WORSHIP, YOUTH GROUP, CHOIR AND BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study: Sunday at 9am.

Bible Study: Sunday at 11:30am.

Disciple Study: Tuesday at 2pm (Beginning Sept. 13).

Sewin’ Souls: 1st. and 3rd. Thursday from 10am-12noon in the Fireplace Room.

Wednesday Night Book Study: Wednesday at 7pm

Choir Practice: Thursday at 6pm.

Praise Choir Practice: Thursday at 6:30pmWednesday at 7pm.

Men’s Study: Friday at 6:30am in the Old Kitchen.

Praise Worship: Saturday at 6pm, come and join us for this informal, casual and uplifting worship experience.

FORWARDING ADDRESS

PLEASE provide the Church Office with your temporary address while you are away. The Post Office will only forward first class mail, the BEACON is mailed at a bulk rate which is a considerably lower postage rate. The Church is charged $0.59 to $1.25 per returned BEACON that does not have a correct address. Your assistance on this would be greatly appreciated.

DECEMBER 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

9:00am Sunday School 9:00am Bible Study 10:00am Worship 11:30am Bible Study

1 10 am–12noon Sewin’ Souls 6pm Choir Practice 6:30pm Praise Choir Civil Air Patrol (USAF Aux) Birthday

2 6:30am Men’s Study Group

3 9am UMW Cookie Fest 6pm Praise Worship

4 Communion Sunday 2nd Sunday of Advent

5 6:30pm Memorial Tree Lighting Mitten Tree Day

6 11am Mary Martha 2pm Disciple Study

7 7pm Advent Book Study Pearl Harbor Day

8 6pm Choir Practice 6:30pm Praise Choir

9 6:30am Men’s Study Group 6-8pm Euchre 7pm Special Dance

10 8am Men’s Breakfast 12-2pm Spectacular Saturday 6pm Praise Worship

11 10am Christmas Choir Cantata Noisy Offering 3rd. Sunday of Advent

12 6:30pm Trustee mtg Poinsettia Day

13 2pm Disciple Study 6pm Women’s Christmas Tea US National Guard Birthday

14 7pm Advent Book Study Full Moon

15 10 am–12noon Sewin’ Souls 6pm Choir Practice 6:30pm Praise Choir Bill of Rights Day

16 6:30am Men’s Study National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

17 6pm Praise Worship

18 10am Children’s Christmas Program Community Food Pantry (Nonperishable foods collection) 4th. Sunday of Advent

19

20 2pm Disciple Study

21 7pm Advent Book Study Winter Begins

22 6pm Choir Practice 6:30pm Praise Choir

23 6:30am Men’s Study Group

24 6:30pm Old Fashioned Christmas Eve Service 11pm Christmas Eve Communion Service

25 10am Christmas Day Worship Christmas Day

26

27 2pm Disciple Study National Fruitcake Day

28 1pm Visitation mtg 7pm Advent Book Study

29

30 6:30am Men’s Study Group

31 6pm Praise Worship New Year’s Eve

FISH Christmas Gift House

DO YOU KNOW?

Do you know that on Wednesday, November 30th at 7 pm we will start an Advent Study? Throughout the Advent season we will consider the book, “It’s Not Your Birthday” written by Rev. Mike Slaughter. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Do you know that our Church will worship on Christmas Day this year? Our Christmas Worship will include the option of casual attire (Robes, Sweat Pants/Shirts, or Pajamas). Our service will include lots of music, interaction, and celebration. We hope to see you there!

Special Advent Worship and Fellowship Tawas United Methodist Church

First Sunday of Advent, Sunday, November 27th. Advent Book Study, Wednesday, November 30th through December 28th at 7 pm. UMW Cookie Festival, Saturday, December 3rd at 9 am. FISH Christmas Gift house: Monday, December 5th through Wednesday, December 7th. Memorial Tree Lighting, Monday, December 5th at 6:30 pm. Christmas Choir Cantata: Sunday, December 11th at 10 am. Women’s Christmas Tea: Tuesday, December 13th at 6 pm. Children’s Christmas Program: Sunday, December 18th at 10 am. Christmas Eve Services: Old Fashioned Christmas Eve Service, Saturday, December 24th at 6:30 pm. Christmas Eve Communion Service, Saturday, December 24th at 11 pm. Christmas Day Worship, Sunday, December 25th at 10 am.

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

A new year will soon be upon us. The flower and memorial candle chart will be on the bulletin board in the Gathering Space. For the first quarter of 2017, the Worship Committee is offering something new for the congregation to provide live flowers for under the cross.

You simply call the Church Office by TUESDAY, Laura will call the Tawas Flower Shop to order your flowers. Cost will be $30.00, you will pay the Church, and then take the flowers home on Sunday after service. Many have expressed they would like to see more flowers, but just forget to call the florist before it is too late. Again, this will be a trial for the first

quarter of 2017 to see if there is an interest.

YOUR CHURCH MAILBOX

Everyone has a mailbox if you regularly attend

church. The mailboxes are in the main hallway of the Church. Please remember to check your mailbox every Sunday. There is

important information left there for you. There might be something there

for you today!

Please let the Church Office know if you change

your address.

MISSIONS CANDLE/FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR

You can support our Church's mission work while honoring or remembering an important person or event in your life by making a donation to light the Mission Candle on the altar. You would light the candle at 9:50 and extinguish it when the service is over. A note acknowledging your donation will

appear in the bulletin on that Sunday, your donation will be used to support our church's mission work. Sign up in the Gathering Space on the "Flowers for the Altar/ Mission Candle "form, and turn in your donation to the Church Office or put a check made out to TUMC Missions in Carol Westcott's mailbox.

LAYETTE MINISTRY

The Layette Ministry is in desperate need. Items needed for Layettes; shirt boxes, bibs, sacks, sleepers (size 0-3 months), wash cloths, socks and blankets. If you are able to make a donation, please turn them in to the Church Office.

Our next Euchre night will be Friday December 9 from 6-8pm. This is a fun night of Christian fellowship. A light snack is provided. Won't you come and join us? A $5 donation is requested. Proceeds go to debt retirement. Howard

GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM 2016 St Joseph Health System provides a variety of Grief Support services for our patients, families, employees and members of the area community. They include Grief Support groups which are held monthly, on Thursday from 3:00 to 4:30 PM at St Joseph Hospital in Classroom C. These groups provide support and information for anyone whose life has been disrupted by a significant loss due to death of a loved one. All sessions are facilitated by qualified member of our Spiritual Care Team. There is no fee, however Advance Registration is appreciated. To register please call 362-9368 and talk with Chaplain Michael Sullivan, Manager Spiritual Care.

UMW LIBRARY

Ladies, the new books for 2017 for our UMW reading program have arrived. There are five new books—one in each category.

Come to our church library and “check them out!”

Candy Thomas

GIFT CARD PROGRAM

There appears our Gift Card program may have some members of our Saturday night and Sunday morning worship services very confused. Do you use gift/money

cards? Our program offers the same 300 different gift cards with 670 various denominations to anyone wishing to purchase these cards from us. They are the same

cards you can purchase at Walmart, Neiman’s or Rite-Aid stores. If you buy these cards from us, we can earn various percentage rebates for our church to help

fund special programs in our church. We want to thank everyone that desires to help us with this gift card program.

United Methodist Women Monthly Schedule

UMW sponsored Bible study: Monday, 2pm in the Library. UMW Executive Committee Meeting in the Library, as needed. UMW Unit meeting: Check monthly events for times. Mary Martha Circle meets: the 1st. Tuesday at 11:00am for March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December. Faith Circle meets the 4th. Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. (No meetings in January, July, August or December).

If you would like more information of the United Methodist Women activities, please contact: Barbara Ritsema ~~~~UMW President…..….. 362-0432 Judy Hills ~~~~~~~~~UMW Vice President….984-4154 Melissa Schirmer~~~ UMW Secretary………..362-5976 Candy Thomas ~~~~~UMW Treasurer…..…...739-2635 Sally Nagy~~~~~~~~ UMW Asst. Treasurer….362-7120

My personal note to you all

Tears of Joy come to me as I sit and type this!! I have been Overjoyed, Humbled, Overwhelmed at times Speechless. There is not enough space to express my excitement!!!!! Without your love, support and encouragement, I wouldn't be where I am today. I have not only my family! I have a CHURCH FAMILY who allow me to be me! You honour me with the privileges of Sharing my love of Christ with others as well. My Thanksgiving dinner was a huge success! We had more laughter and truly enjoyed the chance to fellowship with those that could attend and I pray it will be bigger even next year. Thank you Jesus for your Love shown in those blessings of fellowship! The children, I have my socks blown off when they share with me sometimes more knowledge then given credit for how Jesus is their friend and how they know about Him. Parents and family be proud, they are PHENOMINAL!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!! Merry Blessed Christmas From the Heart, Sue A.

YOUTH NEWS

It is hard to imagine when writing this and the sun is shining outside and even though the temperatures are a little cooler then they have been this Summer we are now in the season of Great Celebration and Waiting for the birth of a Savior Jesus Christ!

I want to say it has been the greatest pleasure ever working with our young children and oh how they make me smile and come alive with a new sense of wonderment and Joy!!! We have been working hard on our program and songs. Parents THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT and DEDICATION!! It has shown in their little faces. They come into Sunday school with anticipation and excitement refreshing the enthusiasm within me. Jesus loved the little children, He told us to be child like and I encourage you to watch and be amazed at how contagious their spirit is!

IMPORTANT DATES FOR DECEMBER

Spectacular Saturday When: December 10 2016

Time: Noon-2:00 p.m.

Christmas Program Rehearsal When: December 17 2016 Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Where: In the Sanctuary

Children's CHRISTMAS PROGRAM When: December 18 2016 Time: 9:00 a.m. Show up

10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Program We will have the refreshment after our program

The children will be not have Junior Church in the month of December because of the activities within the service. Their last day of Sunday School will be December 18 and they will return to class on January 8.

I pray you all enjoy the wonders of this Advent season and take advantage of being in the very special offerings and opportunities to be blessed by the spirit of Hope, Joy, Peace and Love. From my home to yours May God bless you, fill you and cause you to be giddy as a child to share the love that He so graciously gave us. It has been my pleasure and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year if not sooner.

In Christ Service, Sue Anderson.

"You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Our church never ceases to amaze the Missions team with their witnessing to others in Christ's name. We would like to thank those of you who got involved in the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox project. We had 40 shoe boxes that were taken to the drop-off site, which is absolutely AWESOME! That was 15 more than last year--YEAH!!!!! Forty children from around the world will be blessed by knowing Christians care, but also through this program the children will learn more about Jesus Christ. Thank you for witnessing to children who live at the ends of our earth! The Shoe Project is in full swing. We will have a better idea how many children were provided shoes later in December. Thank you for supporting our local school children through the School Shoe project. The Memorial Tree Lighting will be on Monday, December 5th at 6:30 p.m. Please be sure to get your Memorial Tree bulb information in to Pat Mielke by Sunday, December 4th. Please join us on December 5th at 6:30 p.m. for a very special tree lighting. It truly is an amazing night! The Angel Tree is now up in the Gathering Space. We have three families (7 children) whom we've adopted for this Christmas season. Please select a tag off the Angel Tree, purchase the item, wrap or bag it and remember to attach the Angel Tree tag to the wrapped Christmas gift. The Angel Tree gifts MUST BE UNDER THE ANGEL TREE by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18th. Thank you! Once again we are a blessed church community and the TUMC congregation has ALWAYS supported any Missions projects we have had. Thank you and may God bless you this Christmas season. Blessings!

The Tawas United Methodist Women will be hosting their Annual Christmas Tea.

Angels All Around Us

Tuesday, December 13 at 6:00pm

Dessert will be in the Family Life Center With a Program to follow in the Sanctuary.

Sign up sheets will be in the Gathering Space after church. Sincerely, Judy Hills and Margo Tetley co-chairman for

Faith Circle.

HOSPITALITY SNACKS AND COFFEE We are in need of SNACKS to serve after the Worship Services. Our snack sign up schedule has many available Sundays to fill. Please consider signing up! Pat Fisher

The T.U.M.C. presents Christmas

CHRISTMAS COOKIE FEST

Saturday, December 3 9am til cookies gone

MEMORIAL TREE LIGHTING

Monday, December 5 6:30pm

TUMC car port entrance

FISH CHRISTMAS GIFTHOUSE

Monday, December 5

9:00am to 3:00pm Tuesday, December 6

9:00am to 3:00p Wednesday, December 7

9:00am to 1:00pm

CHRISTMAS CANTATA

Sunday, December 11, 10:00am During worship

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Sunday, December 18

During the 10am Worship

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP

Saturday, December 24 Old Fashioned Christmas Eve Service

630pm Christmas Eve Communion Service

11pm

Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day Worship 10am

WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS TEA

Tuesday, December 13, 6pm. Desert, fellowship, reflection

MEMORIAL CHRISTMAS TREE

The Missions Committee will be putting up a tree outside the entrance to the Church. Tree bulbs will be in honor or in memory of loved ones for a

$10.00 donation per bulb. You may have more than one name on a bulb. Please fill out the form below and turn it in to Pat Mielke’s mailbox by Sunday, December 4. Please join us for the Lighting of the Memorial

Tree on December 5 at 6:30pm. . *********Cut here************************Cut here**************

Memorial Christmas Tree Bulb

will be in honor or in memory of a loved one.

In memory of __________________________________________

In honor of __________________________________________

By ____________________________________________________

(Your name)

phone number ________________________

I enclosed $10.00 for each bulb

(Checks to be made out to Tawas United Methodist Church;

on memo line "Missions Memorial Tree"). Please put in Pat

Mielki’s Church mailbox by Sunday, December 4, 2016.

Nonprofit

U.S. Postage Paid

Tawas City, MI

Permit No. 23

Tawas United Methodist Church

20 E M-55 Tawas City, MI 48763

Please share this newsletter with anyone you know who may be interested in visiting our Church.

Join us for Sunday Service Saturday 6pm Praise Worship

Sunday School 9:00am

Sunday 10:00 a.m. Worship

Nursery (staffed) 10:00am

Pastor: Rev. Daniel Gonder

Parsonage: 989-362-5399

Email: pastortumc@outlook.com

Youth Director:

Office Manager: Laura Loeffler

Music Director: Shawn Wygant

Custodian: Judy Hills

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am to 2:00 pm (Lunch: 11:30—Noon)

Friday Closed

Church Office: 989-362-4288

Fax: 989-362-6320

Email: tawasumc@outlook.com

Web: www.tawasumc.org

Our Purpose... To connect people to God and one another through Jesus Christ.

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