Connec. December Mediapolis. Sperry. 601 North Street Mediapolis, IA Sperry Road Sperry, IA 52650

Transcription

1 Connec A Publication of Mediapolis and Sperry United Methodist Churches. December 2018 Mediapolis 601 North Street Mediapolis, IA :00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship Sperry Sperry Road Sperry, IA :00 AM Sunday Worship 10:15 AM Adult Sunday School Mailing Address PO Box 38 Mediapolis, IA Office Telephone After hours emergency phone number: Office Hours Tuesday Friday 9:00 AM 4:00 PM Office mepomethch@mepotelco.net Pastor Bruce Smith pastorbrucesmith@gmail.com Deacon Tracey Burgus tburgus@mepotelco.net Web Site Facebook Brrrrr! November sure gave us a taste of winter, didn t it? It started off pretty nice, but it wasn t long before we had snow and ice along with some really frigid air! Sometimes that s how the Christmas season starts too. Well, of course it gets colder, but sometimes the same kind of thing happens in our hearts and minds. We warm up to the idea of a joyous season, and then it slips away. As our schedules fill up, sometimes things happen that take our minds off the hope, love, joy, and peace that we can experience during Christmas. This is a busy time of year for many. We have various holiday meals to prepare and attend, community events taking place, bad weather to contend with, and a whole host of other things that can t always wait until after the holidays. However; when we can do something extra to help us prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, we just might find it to be more beneficial than not. It can be so much more rewarding going into all these extra gatherings (and extra work) when our hearts and our minds are geared up to celebrate God s love through the Nativity. Find that extra thing. Whatever it takes to help you get into the fullblown spirit of Christmas, find it and do it. There are many opportunities the communities around us, and within each of the churches. We re about to begin The Christmas Experience, devotionals are available, there are community Christmas programs taking place, and other community events throughout the month. If you don t feel like any of this is going to help and there s a deeper reason your Christmas seems colder this year, please know that you re not alone. We have an evening set aside, just for you, called the Longest Night Service. This is a community event beginning at 6:30 PM on Friday, December 21st. We ll gather at the Mediapolis United Methodist Church for a time of reflection and prayer for those who are struggling this Christmas season. If things seem hopeless right now, if you ve lost a loved one recently, if joy is the furthest thing from your mind, join us as we go to the Prince of Peace that He might help us as we face the pain life often brings. Whatever you choose to do this Christmas season, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Christ,

2 This Month Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, December 2 nd Old Stone Church Christmas Service Sunday, December 2 nd 2:00 PM Guest Speaker: Wally Reynolds Refreshments & fellowship will follow the service. Game Prairie Ridge Tuesday, December 4 th 3:30 PM Prayer Mediapolis Tuesday, December 4 th 6:30 PM Sperry UMW Wednesday, December 12 th 12:00 PM Christmas Luncheon Prayer Sperry Thursday, December 13 th & 27 th 6:15 PM Lay Visitation Ministries Updates and Information From the Desk of Tracey Burgus I love Christmas and the celebration of Christ s birth and I look forward to that with anticipation. The fact that the weather turns cold, it snows, and the wind blows are all a part of the season in which we celebrate. Truth be told, this is one of my favorite seasons of the year. When winter weather arrives my anticipation level for the celebration seems to rise. One of the reasons that I love winter is the fact that sometimes God calls a halt to our crazy and busy lives through times when we are snowed in and cannot go anywhere. On those days it does not really seem to matter what deadlines are looming at work or what chores need to be accomplished, because we have to stay put! While I may enjoy the winter season, some are filled with anxiousness and dread by the arrival of ice and snow. This fact seems especially true if it is difficult for them to physically get around or to find transportation to and from appointments, etc. People who have been able to get out from time to time in milder seasons, often will become house bound by oppressing PAGE 2 CONNECT weather,illness, or by choice to avoid the possibilities of falling on ice and snow, etc. This is also the time of year when the words Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression are used more frequently due to the hours of available sunlight being reduced. Sunlight is believed to be directly linked to certain vitamin levels that help recharge our body s operating system in regard to the affect/mood that we find ourselves in when alone and when we interact with others. If you find yourself or someone that you know in a situation of being housebound for an extended period of time, please let the church know as we have team members who would enjoy stopping in to visit and/or offer blessings in other simple ways. The winter season remains an opportune time for us to reach out and be the hands and feet of Christ to those who are in situations that might cause them to feel isolated, anxious, depressed or lonely. Visits, cards, notes, phone calls, meals, etc. are welcome diversions from loneliness and boredom! Blessings to you! Breakfast by the Boys Sunday, December 16 th 8:00-9:00 AM Sperry Fellowship Hall Everyone is welcome! Blue Christmas Service Friday, December 21 st 6:30 PM Mediapolis UMC Join us as we reflect, pray, sing, and hear from Scripture how God is present with those who mourn and brings light into our darkness. This short service will be followed by a brief time of fellowship. Sponsored by the Mediapolis Area Churches MEAL MINISTRY The purpose of our Meal Ministry is to provide meals for families in our congregation who are recovering from an illness, surgery or childbirth. If you are aware of anyone who may need meals, please contact the church office. NEED PRAYER OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES? Organized prayer teams are available to minister to your needs. Please contact the church office with your prayer requests. Please call the church office if you or a family member will be admitted into the hospital. DECEMBER 2018 Thank You!

3 Christmas Cookie Exchange Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Monday, December 24 5:30 PM Mediapolis (nursery provided) 7:00 PM Sperry 11:00 PM Mediapolis Thursday, December 13 6:30-8:00 PM Mediapolis UM Church Bring 3 dozen of your favorite cookie to share as we enjoy some fun fellowship! Please RSVP to the church office ( ) by Thursday, December 6th. Hosted by Shine Women s Ministry Looking for a way to connect with us? Visit our More content is available if you set up an account and login. To make the sign-up process easier, please be sure to use the address that the church has on file when you set up your account. Church Directory Update Contact Information Online Contributions Keep connected with us while on the move using your Apple or Android device! Church Calendar See what s going on this week at the church through the Connect link. Online Contributions Search for Elexio My Church in the App or Play store using to connect. An easy way to get started with online giving and review your giving records. Church Directory Connect with the church family through this pictorial directory. Scripture for Sunday Follow along with the Scripture readings on Sunday on the Connect link. OCTOBER 2018 CONNECT PAGE 3

4 Senior High (Betzina Yaley During the month of November, SrHi learned how to live a life less self-focused & more othersfocused through a series entitled After You. In a culture obsessed with selfies, celebrities, money, and success, its not difficult to understand why so many of us struggle with being a little self-centered at times. But while me first may be the norm for the rest of the world, Jesus showed us what it looks like to live a generous, compassionate, selfless, after you kind of life. We do this by noticing needs, opening our hands, using our gifts & sharing our joy. Here s what s coming up in December: Wednesday, Dec 26 NO YOUTH GROUP MERRY CHRISTMAS! Looking farther ahead: 30 Hour Famine --- tentatively set for Friday-Saturday, Feb. Presbyterian Church Mission Trip to Puerto Rico June 1-7, 2019 **Remember, if school is canceled on a Wednesday due to weather, MCYG will ALSO be canceled. **Sign up to receive SrHi Remind texts: to Junior High (Jenny McGhee mcygjr@gmail.com) In November we went through a series called Tricked. A series about the tricky nature of temptation and how God frees us from the negative feelings that can accompany our unwise choices. We discussed how temptation can trick us into doing things we know we shouldn't but how forgiveness frees us. We also took a group of kids to Big Church Night Out, going to Pizza Ranch first and then down to Burlington Memorial Auditorium for the concert. A fun time was had by all who attended. THANK YOU! MCYG would like to say thank you to all who participated in our Envelope Fundraiser! It was a huge success and we couldn't have done it without YOU! We greatly appreciate your generosity and support! DAY/DATE TIME EVENT/LOCATION Wednesday, Dec 5 th 8-9:15pm Youth Presbyterian Church Wednesday, Dec 12 th 8-9:15pm Youth Presbyterian Church Wednesday, Dec :15pm Christmas Presbyterian Church Day of week Date Time Event/Location Wednesday 12/5/18 6:15p-7:45p Youth Presbyterian Church Wednesday 12/12/18 6:15p-7:45p Youth Presbyterian Church Wednesday 12/19/18 6:15p-7:45p Christmas Party in the lounge Students have requested a $10 or less gift exchange. Anyone willing to bring an appetizer/snack would be appreciated. Wednesday 12/26/18 CHRISTMAS BREAK - NO YOUTH GROUP PAGE 4 CONNECT DECEMBER 2018

5 Mediapolis 9:00 AM Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship Sperry 9:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:15 AM Adult Sunday School Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Christmas Craft Open House 10:00 AM, Mepo 2 Communion 1st Week of Old Stone Christmas Service, 2:00 PM 9 2nd Week of 3 4 Game Time 3:30 PM, Prairie Ridge Prayer Group 6:30 PM, Mepo 5 Awana 6:15 PM, Mepo UMW 12:00 PM, Sperry Awana 6:15 PM, Mepo Prayer Group 6:15 PM, Sperry rd Week of Breakfast By the Boys 8:00 AM, Sperry Awana 6:15 PM, Mepo Blue Christmas Service 6:30 PM, Mepo th Week of 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 5:30 PM, Mepo 7:00 PM, Sperry 11:00 PM, Mepo Church Office Closed 27 Church Office Closed Prayer Group 6:15 PM, Sperry 28 Church Office Closed

6 DECEMBER DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE Dec-01 Nehemiah 7; Acts 20 Dec-02 Nehemiah 8-9; Acts 21 Dec-03 Nehemiah 10; Acts 22 Dec-04 Nehemiah 11; Acts 23 Dec-05 Nehemiah 12-13; Acts 24 Dec-06 Esther 1-2; Acts 25 Dec-07 Esther 3-5; Ps.10; Acts 26 Dec-08 Esther 6-7; Ps. 9; Acts 27 Dec-09 Esther 8-10; Acts 28 Dec-10 Micah 1-4; Psalms 46; Revelation 1 Dec-11 Micah 5-7; Psalms 130; Revelation 2 Dec-12 Isaiah 1-2; Psalms 146; Revelation 3 Dec-13 Isaiah 3-6; Revelation 4; Psalms 93 Dec-14 Isaiah 7-9; Revelation 5; Psalms 150 Dec-15 Isaiah 10-13; Rev. 6 Dec-16 Isaiah 14-16; Psalms 23; Revelation 7 Dec-17 Isaiah 17-21; Rev. 8 Dec-18 Isaiah 22-24; Rev. 9 Dec-19 Isaiah 25-28; Rev. 10 Dec-20 Isaiah 29-31; Rev. 11 Dec-21 Isaiah 32-35; Rev. 12 Dec-22 Isaiah 36-38; Rev. 13 Dec-23 Isaiah 39-41; Rev. 14 Dec-24 Isaiah 42-44; Rev. 15 Dec-25 Isaiah 45-48; Rev. 16 Dec-26 Isaiah 49-52; Rev. 17 Dec-27 Isaiah 53-55; Psalms 65; Revelation 18 Dec-28 Isaiah 56-59; Rev. 19 Dec-29 Isaiah 60-64; Rev. 20 Dec-30 Isaiah 65-66; Rev Dec-31 Zephaniah 1-3; Ps /01 Alan Edmonds, Abby Housman 12/02 Tyler Aamodt, Carsyn Bush, Dane Kennedy 12/03 Wayne Garrison 12/05 Ellen Bruegger, Kendra Keitzer 12/06 LeAnn Stout 12/07 Charlie Chenoweth 12/09 Bryce Klenk, Charles Powers 12/10 Mika Chenoweth, Peggy Hassett, Bev Petersen, Hadley Smith, Judy Weyer 12/11 Russ Hutchinson, Patrick Lord 12/12 Ben Carhoff, Graham Whitaker, Roger Wyss 12/13 Julie Moehle 12/15 Bill Dideriksen, Jacob Schnedler 12/16 Tracey Burgus, Jacqueline Steffener 12/17 Jan Keitzer, Sandra Lord 12/18 Nathan Carhoff, Austin Renfro 12/19 Abigail Coates 12/21 Travis Mumme 12/23 Anna Dziulko, Diane Powers 12/24 Jane Crouch, Deb Holsteen 12/29 Drake Coates, Wyatt Elder, Jennifer Tonne 12/31 Austin Ball 12/04 Don & Jan Fischer 12/18 Bob & Dale Nelson 12/21 Corky & Wanda Cover Brad & Jennifer Lane In case of bad weather, cancellations or changes to the service schedules will be posted on KBUR-KGRS and on the home page of our church website