Maybe you would like to end this year with me in quiet reflection of the year gone by in the presence of our God and King.

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1 Happy New Year! Can you believe it? 2018 is gone and 2019 approaches. Where does the time go? Is it because I am moving slower that it seems to go faster? How do you prepare for the New Year? Are you a resolution maker? I am not one to make resolutions, but I am one for new beginnings. I love those times on the calendar or those opportunities to start over, to begin again. I think a New Year is a time for that. But, before I start over, I like to look back. I like to reflect on the time I have just come through and see where I have been. There is a spiritual practice, a spiritual discipline that helps with that. It is called the examine. The examine is an ancient practice, a prayer dating back to the 1500 s. I find the prayer very helpful at the end of a day to sit with my God and review the day. The examine may come in different forms. This is the prayer I use at night as I review my day. *Where did I feel the presence of God? *Where was I refreshed by someone? *When did I offer refreshment to someone else? *Where did I fall short today? *What do I need to let go of before I sleep tonight so that I may sleep well and wake ready for a new day? The key is to review your day in the presence of God. No judgment on yourself, just prayerful reflection. It keeps me from carrying the burdens and disappoints from one day into the next. I think the examine would be a good way to end a year and begin a new one. It would be a good way to start over, begin again. Maybe you would like to end this year with me in quiet reflection of the year gone by in the presence of our God and King. *Where did you feel the presence of God this last year? *Was it in a time of struggle, or a time of joy? *Was there a time when someone was there for you to bring you encouragement? *Can you think of a time this past year when you were able to be there for someone else? *Where did you fall short last year in being the person that you know God created you to be? *Was there a time that you acted or reacted in a way that you wish you could do over? Remember, no judgement of yourself here, just prayerful, honest reflection. 1

2 *Is there anything from this past year that you need to let go? Something that you need to leave in the old year so that you can move on to the new. *Is there a hurt you need to forgive, a mistake you need to let go of, a regret you have carried to long? Lay it down at the Lord s feet and move on. If God s grace is new every morning, then certainly it is new every year! Resolve, this year, to live each day in God s new and renewing grace. Because of the Lord s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. -Lamentations 3:

3 Thank you, Jesus, for the answers to prayer! We praise and thank You for new life, healing of the injured and sick, providing our daily needs! We lift up prayers for our family members who are sick, hospitalized, injured, and those who are in need. We ask for Your Presence in our community and in our world. SAVE THE DATE *A fund-raising party for the Youth mission trip supported by the Lisbon United Methodist Women will take place on January 26 th at 6pm. The theme is a Murder Mystery. The premise is the "unfortunate" death of a Baroness, and the setting takes place during the auctioning of her possessions. You will not be watching a show; you will be completely immersed in the action. In advance, each attendee will be given a character to portray, but no one is quite who he/she seems. Your job will be to find out what the other characters have been doing and what they know. Everyone will have a chance to make their accusations before the inspector reveals all. A sign up sheet and more information will be provided the first weekend in January. Any questions may be directed to Connie. 3

4 Higher Grounds: A Pre-Service Fellowship for All Sundays 8:00-9:40am LISBON UMC LIBRARY Jump start your morning with an informal Fellowship in a coffeehouse setting! All are welcome! NEW INFORMATION!! *Please send all February newsletter information to the church by Thursday, January 24th. *We are updating contact information. Please send information to the church . Name changes, address, , phone number, and the best way to contact you. THANK YOU!! Usher Nursery January 6 th Rasmussen/Miller Melissa R. January 13 th Richardson/Brus Daphne B. January 20 th Budde/Dolan Megan D. January 27 th Kruse/Alger Lisa M. 4

5 WOMEN S GROUPS Lisbon United Methodist Women (UMW) - What a great year the Lisbon United Methodist Women have had! We just did our Cookies For Christ event at the Southeast Linn Community Center... Awesome turnout of folks from around our community and fellowship galore! Thanks to Connie Costas and Barb Dolan for being such great chair people and all the ladies that helped and baked. I am looking forward to Mark your calendars for: SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 AT 11:00AM for our first UMW meeting of the year. there will be lots to talk about. Remember you are ALL United Methodist Women. I would love to have you come to our meetings of which we have at least 3 a year and hear your thoughts and your fresh new ideas. Also, word has it that a murder mystery theatre will be coming on January 26th... see more information on this within this newsletter. Connie Costas will be chairing this event. As always, if you have any questions please know that you may direct them to me at I appreciate all of you ladies and all that you do to support our group and church. May you all have a blessed holiday season and Happy New Year! In His Name, Wendy Johnson Sisters In Christian Service (SCS) - meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 pm for Bible study and fellowship. All are invited! Next meeting is Tuesday, January 21. SCS will finish working through the Bible study "Your Life In Christ" in January, and will be choosing the next study. Young Women Bible Study for women between the ages of will be held at 7:00 pm on the 2 nd Wednesday of every month. If you would like more information or have any questions please contact Daphne at 815/ Women In Christ (WIC) - meet the 3rd Friday of each month at 1:30 pm. No meetings in January or February. 5

6 Worship Schedule Sunday School: 8:30 am (Ages 2 through adult/ Sept - May) Sunday Worship: 9:45 am Office Hours Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 am 2:00 pm Office Phone: Church Staff Pastor: Karen Nelson Music Director: Paul Pleasant Administrative. Assistant: Andrea Hasselbusch Webmaster: Brad Miller Website: LISBONIOWAUMC.ORG lisbonumc@iowatelecom.net 6