Memos from Memorial. Kevin s Korner. I ll see you in church and as the church in the world. Peace, Kevin MEMORIAL UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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1 MEMORIAL UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Memos from Memorial Kevin s Korner I remember when I first learned of the Church Calendar I thought it was an unnecessary addition that only made church more confusing than it already can be. No, I m not referring to the calendar of events we publish that lets you know when Bible Study meets or when the Bags For Beds folks get together. The Church Calendar, also known as the Liturgical Year or the Christian Year is the annual cycle of special days and seasons of the church. The Church Calendar roughly traces the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ and then the coming of the Holy Spirit and the life of the church thereafter. So, one would logically assume that it would begin with Christmas, the birthday of Jesus. But it doesn t. The Church Year begins four weeks before Christmas with the season of Advent. WHAT!!! We have to WAIT??? When I was a kid I would collect box tops (now UPC codes) until I had enough to send them off to get some nifty little trinket from the cereal company. Then I would wait and wait and wait, checking the mailbox everyday, until that long awaited thing-a-mabob would finally showup. While I waited, I imagined all the fun I would have with that gizmo. Many times the anticipation of the gadget was a whole lot better than the thing itself. That s what Advent is all about; waiting, anticipating. During the season of Advent we are reminded of how the ancient Jewish people had waited for centuries for the Messiah, the savior of Israel. But Advent is much more than just a season of remembering the waiting others did. It s about learning the value of waiting for ourselves. I hate to wait. Most of us do. So, waiting is not something we do well in our culture of fast-food, 2-day delivery or instant oatmeal and mashed potatoes. Perhaps we lose something important in our impatient efforts to speed through life. Advent invites us to slow down to think about the meaning of God coming to earth and that s a lot to think about. The God of the entire universe, all heaven and earth, loves us so much and wants us to love each other so much that a divine gift is given us to guide us into right paths for living and loving the gift of God s own Son, Jesus! Wow! That is a lot to think about! Maybe we need more than four weeks to prepare us to receive that gift. As we travel these next four weeks together that lead us to Bethlehem, I invite you to slow down and relish the waiting. Appreciate your loved ones near and far. Be thankful for the gifts and abilities God has given you. Enjoy the beauty of the music, lights and sights of the season. Try not to get too wrapped-up in giving the perfect gift. Instead rest in the knowledge that you, the giver, are worth so much more than any thing you might give. Pray deeply and listen for God s special words meant only for you I love you. Receive my Son into the center of your being. Let him direct your life. I ll see you in church and as the church in the world. Peace, Kevin V OLUME 8, I SSUE 12 DECEMBER 2018 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Children/Youth News The Spoken Word Advent and Christmas 3 Missions 4 What s Going On 5 Volunteers - Birthdays 6 Appreciations/ Information Calendar 8 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: Dec. 5 and 19- Kid s Night Out Dec. 2 - Hanging of the Greens Dec. 9 - Sunday Café and Alternative Gift Market Dec Christmas Eve Service and Concert Dec Sunday Worship at Westminster 2 7

2 P AGE 2 V OLUME 8, I SSUE 12 News for the Younger Set Children and Youth News Kid s Night Out for this month will be Wednesday, December 5 and 19 from 5:30-7. Please bring your children and grandchildren for Faith, Fun, and Friends! Our lessons will concentrate on the Birth of Jesus and working on holiday related crafts! Starting on Sunday, November 25, The Children and Youth will collect warm winter items for the Mitten Tree Project. We will collect winter hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens for children in size small, medium, and large. The Greene County Combined Health District will distribute the items we collect to thousands of children in need here in Greene County. There will be a large decorated Christmas box in the Narthex for you to put your donations. We will also be collecting monetary donations. With your support, we can help keep many children warm this winter. Thank you! This month the Youth have a few art projects that they are working on and a game night planned. We think that the Church Family Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday November 11, was a great success! With the help of Mary Quinn, we had so much fun preparing the meal on Saturday and serving all of our friends on Sunday. Our younger children had fun making the placemats during Kid s Night Out. The Spiritual Growth Team helped with the table decorations and making the delicious pumpkin pies. Thank you to the entire congregation for joining us! We would love to do it again next year!! To our families with children and youth, please consider helping us decorate the Children s Christmas tree in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 2. That is our annual Hanging of the Green day! It is always so much fun and helps to put us all in the Holiday spirit! From the Children and Youth December 2 First Sunday of Advent Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Jeremiah 33:14-16 Matthew 25:31-40 Expecting Jesus December 9 Second Sunday of Advent Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 3:1-6 Making Straight God s Path Sunday Café and Alt. Gift Market The Spoken Word December 16 Third Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3:14-20 Mark 13:24-37 Watching and Waiting December 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas Joy Offering Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:39-55 Justice and Joy December 24 Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols December 30 First Sunday after Christmas Day 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Luke 2:41-52 Starting Young Worship at Westminster

3 P AGE 3 V OLUME 8, I SSUE 12 Celebrating Advent and Christmas Hanging of the Greens and Potluck Lunch December 2, following worship. Sunday Café and Mission Gift Market December 9, following worship Christmas Joy Offering December 23 at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Eve Worship December 24 Christmas Music at 6:30 p.m. Candlelight Service at 7:00 p.m. Cooking on Saturday morning Church Family Thanksgiving Dinner! Ready to Go on Sunday Pass the Pumpkin Pie!

4 M EMOS FROM MEMORIAL P AGE 4 Missions of Memorial Starting Thanksgiving weekend, the children and youth began collecting warm winter items for the Mitten Tree Project. We will collect winter hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens for children in size small, medium, and large. The Greene County Combined Health District will distribute the items we collect to thousands of children in need here in Greene County. There will be a large decorated Christmas box in the Narthex for you to put your donations. We will be collecting through Dec. 16 and monetary donations are always welcome as well. With your support, we can help keep many children warm this winter. Thank you! FISH FOOD PANTRY Sunday, December 23 is collection day for the FISH Pantry. Please check to make sure that the food isn t expired! Monetary donations are always appreciated as well. Please place your food donations in the FISH boat in the Narthex. Specially marked envelopes are available in the pews and can be dropped in the offering plates. Looking for ideas on what kind of non-perishable foods to donate? Here s a list to get you started: Non-refrigerated puddings; pop top cans of soup, fruit, vegetables, tuna, chicken, stew, etc.; instant oatmeal; boxed or bottled juice; peanut butter and jelly; crackers; granola bars; dried pasta and canned or bottled sauce; cereal; basic pantry items. Foods that are easy to open and ready to eat are great choices as they are simple for kids and older adults who may need to fix their own snacks or meals. The ladies making mats for the homeless are taking a holiday break during December. Their project will resume on January 8, 2019 with another work day on January 22. A big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated plastic bags...the closet is full, but we will put out a call for more as needed. If you are looking for something to do during those winter doldrum days, join us for good fellowship as we continue this mission project.

5 M EMOS FROM MEMORIAL P AGE 5 What s Going On Sunday Café and Alternative Gift Market December 9 The Mission Ministry Team will be again holding our annual soup buffet, along with the holiday shopping opportunity from the Alternative Gift Market. There will be many delicious and warming soups from which to choose. The Alternative Gift Market this year will benefit LOCAL MISSIONS, and there will be a wide variety of items for selection. It is a good time to enjoy sitting down with our Church Family to discuss current and past holidays. The luncheon is free, but if you are interested in bringing a dessert to share, please contact Carol Ondercin at (937) Thank you in advance for participating. Memorial Ladies Lunch A group of ladies in our church who are single are getting together to eat out once a month. This month we will be gathering on December 17, to eat at Cherry House Café in Beavercreek. We will meet at noon at the restaurant. Call Linda Howey at if you are interested in joining us or car-pooling. Session Update, November 2018 This is a new column in The Memos to bring you information from the latest session meeting we think you would be interested in learning. If you want additional information on the topic(s) we present, please contact Mary in the office and she will attempt to find the information or person you need to contact. Session approved/accepted the following: * Documents from The Personnel Mission Team, including an amended Job Description of Office Administrator/Secretary, the revised Personnel Policy, and a new Child and Youth Protection Policy. Our thanks for the diligent work of Nancy Bigley and the Personnel Team. * The first reading of the 2019 budget. * Intent to gather information for each of Memorial s Ministry Teams, i.e. Mission, Nominating, Personnel, Spiritual Growth, Stewardship, Worship and Music. This is being put in place to have available to the congregation information about the teams, i.e. where and when they meet; their mission, members, and responsibilities; their functions and activities. * Report from Dixie Szalejo, her last as Director of the Preschool. On November 7th the Preschool had their annual inspection and due to several age related issues, the playground will be permanently closed. Dixie and a representative from session will look at the feasibility of replacing it. Anne Posey will become the Director in Information is available on our website,

6 P AGE 6 Birthdays/Volunteers V OLUME 8, I SSUE 12 Remember in Prayer: Barbara Meade, Ann Edwards, Mary Jo Black, Carolyn and John Sparks, Joan Anderson, Ben White, Julie Martin, our shut-ins, and military personnel and their families who wait for them to come home. Please contact the church office ( or mquinn@xeniamemorial.org) to add a prayer or praise to the list in the bulletin. If you prefer your need to remain private, you may request that details not be included. Pastoral Needs Information If you are hospitalized, want to receive a pastoral visit, or know of someone who does, please call the church office at If it is after office hours, you may contact Elder Kathleen Strickland or Deacon Robin Fife-Riley and Pastor Murphy can be reached at (859) Morning Fellowship Coffee Schedule December 2 - *Hanging of the Greens December 9 - *Sunday Cafe December 16 - Worship and Music December 23 - Worship and Music December 30 - At Westminster December Birthdays Richard Spracklen Jennie Boggs Sally White Helen Beams John Bickett Erika Caraway Nathan Bradley David Brown Kathleen Strickland June Gorham Brigid Ashworth Phil Noble Bob Williams Erin Johnson Thad Smith Carole Davies Betsy Crandall Richard Cooper Ella Smith Shirley Barber Harrison Davis David Wilkinson Andrea Boyd Barr 3-Dec 8-Dec 10-Dec 12-Dec 12-Dec 12-Dec 14-Dec 17-Dec 18-Dec 20-Dec 21-Dec 21-Dec 21-Dec 23-Dec 24-Dec 25-Dec 26-Dec 27-Dec 27-Dec 30-Dec 30-Dec 30-Dec 31-Dec If I have missed anyone s birthday, please let me know in the office. Mary Lay Readers Children's Sermon Ushers 12/2 Carolyn Randall Brian Haines Betsy Crandall 12/9 Kevin Jacobs Kathleen Strickland 12/16 Norma King Kevin Jacobs 12/23 Betsy Crandall 12/30 At Westminster

7 Memorial United Presbyterian Church 343 West Ankeney Mill Road, Xenia, OH Church Office Office Hours: Monday- Friday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm Website: Memorial United Presbyterian Church Rev. Kevin Murphy Interim Pastor Nancy Beam, Director of Youth & Children s Ministries nbeam@xeniamemorial.org Michael Weller, Music Director Jill-Ann Bryant, Organist Dixie Szalejko, Memorial Preschool Director Mary Quinn, Secretary mquinn@xeniamemorial.org We re on the Web: xeniamemorial.org Appreciations On behalf of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, thank you for your recent gift to the Peace and Global Witness Offering. Your gift of $564 is instrumental in transforming cultures of violence into communities of peace. Bruce Wiebe, Director, Special Offerings *all thank you notes are posted on the bulletin board outside the office Ladies thank to a generous donation, we have many new light fiction books to check out! A Christmas selection can be found on the reading table in the Vestibule and more are on the metal cart in the Library. A good book and a cup of hot tea just the thing for a cold afternoon! Interim Pastor Contact Information: kmurphy@xeniamemorial.org Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday, 10-5 After Hours: please leave a message on office phone extension and he will return your call as soon as possible Bulletin information must be received in the office by Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. to guarantee inclusion in the next week s bulletin. Newsletter information and articles must be received in the office by the 22nd of each month to guarantee inclusion in the next Memos from Memorial. Committees and Teams, please let the office know of any meeting schedule changes. Prayer Circle We have a dedicated group of people here at Memorial who are part of our Prayer Circle. If you are in need of prayer, you can contact the office Monday-Friday from 9-2 or call Kathleen Strickland ( ), Robin Fife Riley ( )

8 DECEM BER (NON-CHURCH EVE NTS I N GREEN) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Let every heart prepare Him room :15 AM Christian Education Classes - East Wing & Parlor 10:30 AM Worship with Communion - Sanctuary 11:45 AM Hanging of the Greens and Potluck Lunch 9 9:15 AM Christian Education Classes - East Wing & Parlor 10:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary 11:45 AM Sunday Café and Alternative Gift Market - Fellowship Hall 3 10:30 AM Bible Study - Library 10 10:30 AM Bible Study - Library 1:30 PM Ruth Circle 4 4:00 PM Country Club Village Assoc. - Fellowship Hall 6:00 PM Staff Christmas Dinner - Narthex :30 PM Kid's Night Out - Art Room 7:30 AM Men's Fellowship Breakfast - Xenia Frisch's 4:00 PM Stewardship Team - Library :30 PM Homemakers Club Dinner 6:30 PM Bell Choir - Parlor 7:30 PM Chancel Choir - Choir Room 13 6:30 PM Bell Choir - Parlor 7:30 PM Chancel Choir - Choir Room :00 AM Leaf Clean up Day 16 9:15 AM Christian Education Classes - East Wing & Parlor 10:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary 11:45 AM Fellowship - Narthex 17 10:30 AM Bible Study - Library 12:00 PM Memorial Ladies Lunch :30 PM Kid's Night Out - Art Room 20 6:30 PM Bell Choir - Parlor 7:30 PM Chancel Choir - Choir Room 21 Deadline for Memos FISH Food Pantry Collection Day 9:15 AM Christian Education Classes - East Wing & Parlor 10:30 AM Worship - Sanctuary 11:45 AM Fellowship - Narthex 24 6:30 PM Special Christmas Music 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service Office Closed 27 Office Closed 28 Office Closed :15 AM Worship at Westminster 31 December