FAMILY SUNDAY FUN DAYS

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1 G O T H E N B U R G F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T L A K E A V E N U E G O T H E N B U R G, N E R E V. J A M I E N O R W I C H M C L E N N O N FAMILY SUNDAY FUN Lake Ave Bring your whole family to these Sunday afternoon Fun-Days! Plan to eat and have fun at a church where open doors and open hearts has become our mission. SUNDAY, DEC. 3 KICKOFF WITH THE STAR MOVIE RESERVED SEATING AT 1:30 THE SUN THEATER All attendees, young and old, will receive a free popcorn/candy. Methodist Church will have a block of seats saved for families. SUNDAY, JAN. 21 FAMILY BINGO 11:45 AM FOLLOWED BY BINGO IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL B-15! N-9! Let your kids call the numbers! Get competitive with various games like parents vs. kids, girls vs. boys, pastor vs. congregation. Let s play Bingo after a fun lunch provided by us! SUNDAY, FEB. 18 LOVE IS IN THE AIR FAMILY FUN 11:45 FOLLOWED BY HEART DAY UMC SANCTUARY Bring the kids to learn new dessert recipes, make heart doilies, write love notes to the kids or to the love of your life. Dessert bar to be held after all the lovely, red and pink and full of love activities. 1

2 The Beat Sunday School Scoop Thanks to Kristi Connelley, Jami Brundage, Lynnette Stevens, and Ann Foster for teaching the students about the Lord s Prayer during November. Also thanks to Lisa Jorgenson in leading the junior-senior high youth each Sunday. Christmas letters were written by all of the youth on the 19th. These will be sent to the residents of Stone Hearth Estates in a couple of weeks. (pictures to the right) With the Sunday School Christmas program being held on January 7, the students will learn songs and parts for the program December 3, 10, and 17th. Kimberly Bartruff will help the younger students. Lindsey Tederman will direct the Christmas program once again. December Birthday s Happy Birthday 1 Sharron Mathieu 26 Harry Brown 2 Kay Olmsted, Noah Gugelman 30 Bodey Tederman 6 Susan Lunkwitz, Taci Bartlett, Lorri Weiss 31 Cliff Bartlett 7 Uriah Blauvelt 8 Terri Moore, Brodee Gugelman 9 Luke Edson 12 Duane Sukraw, Zane Fecht 15 Megan Edson, Javan Ristine 17 Melissa Sabin 18 Ava Foster 19 Mary Ostergard 20 Sam Advey 21 Evan Peterson 22 Richard Ristine, Karole Pokorny 23 Phylis Garner, Stacy Jefferies 24 Virjean Foster, Robin Stevens, Lynn Taylor, Penny Holm 2

3 The Beat I took a quick drive around Gothenburg last night, and was delighted to see that so many of you have taken the unseasonably warm weather of this past weekend to put up outdoor Christmas lights. Lovely light displays are such a treat during this time of year when darkness comes early. The twinkling lights bring a smile to many of us and bring light into our hearts. Putting up those displays outside our homes is often just one of many steps we make in getting ready for Christmas in our homes. As Christians in American society, this is a very important season for us as we prepare for the birth of the Christ Child. Interestingly enough, this was not true for the earliest Christians. In fact, Christmas was not even celebrated until well into the 4th century of Common Era (CE) when Christianity became the state religion and Christians went from being a persecuted minority to being the powerful majority. Up until that time, Easter was the primary annual celebration, but The Lord s Day was the most important focus because Jesus was expected to return at any moment. I share this as a reminder that our cultural practices around our faith come and go. In modern society, we run into far more C and E Christians (Christmas and Easter) than we do those who faithfully attend every Sunday. We run into friends and neighbors who happily celebrate any and all holidays (holy days), and those who prefer to not celebrate any. In such a time and place, it becomes important to be aware of the purpose of our practices, and to name them as our own. Sometimes that means standing in a very counter-cultural place as we practice the ancient traditions of our faith. Advent is the beginning of the Christian year. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, and the days are counted as beginning at sunset which is why we have Christmas Eve services; we are actually celebrating Christmas Day beginning with sundown. In modern America, I think this is the only time we actually practice this most ancient tradition and I have learned that here in Gothenburg, we actually have our service just at sundown! And this year, we have the somewhat unusual experience of celebrating the 4th Sunday of Advent on the morning of December 24th and then Christmas Eve services that evening. This year we will have only one morning service at 9:30 and I invite you to attend that service as well as our Lessons and Carols candle service in the evening. This is the season of hope for Christians around the world. As we prepare for Christmas with light displays and the purchasing of presents, may we also practice the traditions of Advent as we prepare our hearts for the re-birth of Love. Emmanuel! God with us we proclaim as we remember that the birth of Jesus is the birth of God among us. God comes to earth at Christmas but is present all year round. May we live in such a way that our friends and neighbors can recognize that birth within us. Blessings and peace this Advent and Christmas season Pastor Jamie 3

4 More fun days!! SUNDAY, MAY 20 FAMILY OLYMPICS LUNCH AT 11:45 AM FOLLOWED BY FAMILY OLYMPICS IN PARKING LOT Egg Toss, Relay Rock Climbing Wall on the church s playground equipment. We will get creative and include fun family fames for the first ever UMC Family Olympics! Come to our parking lot to enter! There might just be a trophy up for grabs for bragging rights! SUNDAY, JUNE 17 POOL PARTY Caribbean Christmas Who doesn t want to be on an island in the winter? The Sunday School kids will be presenting a Caribbean Christmas on January 7th at the late worship service. Practice for the kids in grades 2nd thru 8th (with some assistance by the high school students) will begin on Sunday, Dec. 3rd and continue through January 7th during the entire Sunday School hour from 9:30 am to 10:20 am. Students in pre-school thru 1st grades will go to Sunday School class as usual. A dress rehearsal will take place on Jan. 5th right after school. Any questions, please contact Lindsey Tederman at (308) or at lindseyatederman@hotmail.com POOL PARTY AT CAMP COMECA IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH Grab your suit, goggles and every flamingo floatie you can find to swim at our church s very own indoor pool at our very own church camp. More info on this event will follow. Music Minute Tis the season...for music...the sounds of the season fill the air. Our choir will present out annual Cantata Child of Hope on December 17th at the 10:30 am service, so please join us for the Christmas celebration! Tis the season...for thanks...thanks to all of you who provided special music for our worship services throughout the year-many thanks to Barry McDiarmid, the band, the choir, and to those who run the sound and power points. I do appreciate ALL of you and all you do! Tis the season...for joy, peace, hope and love. As we rush through the preparations for Christmas-and yes, the list does seem endless-let us make it a priority to spend time with family and friends and worry less about your shopping list. Have a blessed Christmas~Karla 4

5 The Beat November 2017 Volume 28 Issue 11 Figures and Finances Mission Shares Percent of Budget 73.9% Paid to date $12,888 YTD General Expenses (through Nov 30) $155,336 YTD Budgeted Expenses (through Nov 30) $177,386 % of Budget 87.6% YTD General Giving (through Nov 30) $147,317 YTD Budgeted Giving (through Nov 30) $157,481 % of Budget 93.7% 5

6 The Beat Mark your Calendars! Retired Persons Lunch Bunch Lunch Bunch Retirement Group will ring in the holiday season on Wednesday, December 6th at 11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite Christmas food and join us for the holiday festivities. A grand time will be held. Hanging of the Greens Please join us to prepare our church for the Christmas season. We will be decorating on December 2nd at 4:00 pm with a soup supper to follow. Many hand make light work. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ~Luke 2:11 FAMILY SUNDAY FUN DAYS continued SUNDAY, MARCH 18 FAMILY EASTER 11:45 AM FOLLOWED BY EASTER EGG EHMEN PARK Our Easter Bunny will do the hiding! You and the kids can do the finding at the park we call our own. We will travel to Ehmen Park for the hunt. Learn about the Easter Story along the way! SUNDAY, APRIL 15 FAMILY DOOR DECOR 11:45 AM FOLLOWED BY DOOR DÉCOR IN FELLOWSHIP HALL Daughter paints a unicorn for her bedroom door, son paints a football to hang in his room while mom and dad paint a coffee mug to hang on the coffee cupboard door! Door decorating is for the whole family. 6