Vision: To Grow and Live in the Spirit of Christ. A Note from Pastor Gary. To all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Grace and Peace to you!

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1 January 2019 The Messenger United Methodist Church 2210 Sixth Avenue East, Alexandria, MN Gary Taylor Office: Website: Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world To all my Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Grace and Peace to you! Vision: To Grow and Live in the Spirit of Christ Editor: Colleen Schutte A Note from Pastor Gary As I write this, Christmas is a week away and New Year s Day is two weeks away has been a busy year for me and my family. It has also been busy for Alexandria UMC. Notably, you said goodbye to Pastor Craig and hello to me, Cheryl, Jennifer, Leighana, and Preston. Some of you may note that the parsonage hasn t been this full for a long time. Christmas Day marks the start of The Twelve Days of Christmas. That s when you can begin singing On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me... The thirteenth day after Christmas is Epiphany, which means manifestation or sudden understanding. This year is unusual in that Epiphany, which is always January 6, falls on a Sunday. The story of the visit of the magi (wisemen or kings) to Mary and Joseph to worship the child Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12) is the assigned text for Epiphany. God revealed in a star and manifested in a child. In addition to all of that, worship on Epiphany at Alexandria UMC will be a Covenant Renewal Service. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, believed that all Christians should renew the covenant they made with God in their Baptisms. This renewal should happen often, usually annually. He wrote about it and he celebrated it. On that day, we will Remember our Baptisms, Renew our Covenant, and Celebrate Holy Communion (aka the Lord s Supper, Eucharist, or Holy Mass ). This is a time to recognize and remember that Jesus died and rose for us and all sinners; to remember the commitment we made to follow in the Way of Christ, proclaim the Truth of Christ, and live the Life of Christ. Please join us in worship that day at 8:00 or 10:30 AM for this special service. Have a blessed Christmas (remember it is Christmas for 12 Days) and a wonderful 2019 as you follow Christ. Pastor Gary

2 Nursery is available on Sunday morning during worship services and coffee fellowship time. Nursery is for children 5 and younger. If you have an older child and need a place to go with them during worship time, the Youth Room is available. There is a speaker in the room to listen to the sermon. Toys are available in Cart Two. Reminder that we are following our Building Use Policy the church entrance doors will remain locked unless there are two people present in the building. Please call ahead before you come to church, as there are times when we are not in the building, even though we are working. Also, most days someone is in the office earlier than 9:00 a.m. and later than 1:00 p.m. Published by Alexandria United Methodist Church Telephone (320) Pastor: Gary Taylor pastorgary@alexumc.org Administrative Assistant: office@alexumc.org Director of Children s Ministries: Kayla Brunkow kayla@alexumc.org Director of Youth Ministries: Brenda Thomson brenda@alexumc.org Custodian: Denise Dropik Nursery: Karen Murphy Worship Attendance Service 1st 2nd 1st 2nd Dec Dec Dec Dec Office Hours Pastor Gary Tue-Friday Admin. Assist. Mon-Tue-Wed-Thurs-Fri Office is open (9:00-1:00) Kayla Tue (8:00-2:00) Wed (11:00-5:00), Thurs (9:00-12:00) Brenda Wed (5:30 8:30) Publication Date for the next Messenger: is the last week of January. Articles for the February issue need to be in the office by NOON on Thursday, January 17th. In your prayers, please remember all in positions of leadership, people serving in dangerous and difficult settings, returned and returning service people and their families, all who seek and await peace. Covenant Renewal John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement, believed that all Christians should take the time to renew their Baptismal Covenant and renew their lives for Jesus Christ. On Sunday, January 6, 2019, worship at Alexandria UMC will be a time for us who follow Christ, to renew our commitment, our covenant, with Him. On that day we will Remember our Baptisms, Recommit our lives to Jesus, and join together at the Table of the Lord. Please plan to join us that day. - Pastor Gary

3 SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday school resumes on January 6th and we will begin our second unit of the Winter curriculum, Healing Families. Our Bible Verse is God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds from Psalm 147:3. January 6th: Jesus Heals January 13th: Jesus Heals a Young Woman January 20st: Jesus Heals Ten Men January 27th: Families Remember God Wednesday night activities for 3rd-5th Grade students resume on January 9th. We will have a meal at 5:30 p.m. with worship and activities from 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. Camp Sunday is February 10th. We will have our annual Soup r Sundae lunch following the 10:30 worship service with freewill offering for camperships. Thank you to everyone who attended the Children s Christmas program on Sunday, December 9th. A special thanks to Tess Evink for co-directing and to our youth; Grace Evink, Abby Kor, and Bryce Vogt, for helping out! 2019 Camp Curriculum

4 January 2019 Youth Ministry Newsletter We will be having a Lock-In December 28th from 7 pm to 7 am. The lock-in will also be our Christmas Party so come ready to have fun plus Extreme White Elephant! We will also be going bowling!! There will be food, games and other activities. Let Brenda know if you are interested!! Don t forget the parent (and youth) meeting on January 9 th instead of Youth, we will be discussing the 2019 Summer Mission Trip. Two different ideas will be presented that night. Please be sure to attend!! Have you been to Stuff N Things Middle School & Beyond? Stop in the Lounge on the first Sunday of the month from 9:15-10:15 and see what is going on. Food will be available! The dates left for this school year are: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, and May 5. Revised calendars have available for the remainder of the school year. Make sure to check them out the changes and additions. January 23rd is Faith Night with the Alexandria Blizzard so Youth members get in free!! As in the past, we will not be eating at the church that night and parents are asked to drop off Youth at the RCC at 6:45. The game starts at 7:00. Parents are welcome to stay but will need to purchase tickets. Even if you cannot stay for the entire game consider attending. As always, friends are welcome to attend!! Let Brenda know if you are able to go by Jan. 9th!! We are looking for volunteers to sign up to provide meals for Wednesday night meals. The new meal sign up sheet and suggestion cards are in the Narthex!!

5 Coffee Fellowship If you are willing and interested in being part of assisting with Coffee Fellowship, please let the office know. Friends Circle will be meeting on Thursday, January 17th at 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Our program for the evening will be a presentation by Sherry Bruckner. Sherry recently visited El Paso, Texas, as part of a border awareness experience. You may learn about what is happening at the U.S./Mexican border. This presentation is open to all that are interested. Please join us! We are in transition.so this is a shortened version of the newsletter. Apologies if we missed anything! Urgent: Drivers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels from Alexandria Senior Center. If interested call or Pat Baustian 2 Marge Jensen Ron Reiber Brookelyn Scribner 4 Arlana Langner Sue Walker 6 Kathy Reiber Colin Reilly 7 Don Ahlstedt 9 Mike Denke 10 Jack Carpenter 11 Deloris Venekamp 12 Jessica Nelson 13 Toby Helgeson 14 Jim Bridenstine Dorothy Menk 17 Will Heydt 18 Brenda Thomson 19 Payten Kor 21 Shaunah Stanbra Brody Hruby 22 Karen McGinn Kathleen Pohlig Mason Zins 25 Chris Hayes 26 Lois Bonde Betty VanZomeren 27 Tasha Pitcher Geri Zabrosky 29 Diane Strehlow 30 Jena Dirkes Barb Keepers 31 Jennifer Cavers Jeremiah Denke Ashley Scribner Jeremy Scribner HAPPY BIRTHDAY

6 January Volunteers Liturgists: 8:00 Jan. 6, 13, 27 Connie Good Jan. 20 Darlene Lunemann 10:30 Jan 6 & 20 Bruce Jordan Jan. 13 & 27 RosAnn Flenner Ushers: 8:00 Brad and Kayla Brunkow, Pat Vickerman 10:30 Margaret Anderson, Chuck Holm Jan. 6 & 13 Kim Tryggeseth & Julie Schmidt Jan 20 & 27 Marsha Haugen, Tami Miller Greeters: Jan. 6 8:00 Chuck Bollen 10:30 Greg & Denise Dropik Jan. 13 8:00 Aaron & Kelly Bumgarner 10:30 Rick & Nancy Christenson Jan 20 8:00 Darlene Lunemann/Jessica Nelson 10:30 Otto & Phyllis Freier Jan 27 8:00 Jerry & Jeanne Miller 10:30 Helen Glade Coffee Servers: Jan 6 Aaron & Brenda Thomson; Heidi Becker Jan 13 Greg & Denise Dropik; Josh & Amanda Langner Jan 20 Keven & Beth Jansen; Heidi Ryan Jan 27 Dennis & Helen Dischler; Nancy Carroll Organists/Pianists: Jan. 6 Gale Maxwell Jan. 13 Kirk Landman Jan. 20 Kristin Wilson Jan. 27 Lonnie Kriel Nursery Workers: Jan 6 & 20 Jan 13 & 27 TBD Karen Murphy Acolytes: Jan 6 8:00 Nathan Brunkow 10:30 Logan Haburn Jan 13 8:00 Cora & Carson Bumgarner 10:30 Logan & Jolie Tung Jan 20 8:00 Olivia & Izzy Bartell 10:30 Justin Koehn Jan 27 8:00 Nathan Brunkow 10:30 Olivia Reilly & Chloe Loch

7 January 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year s Day Offices Closed 2 6:20 Youth 7:30 Youth Ministry Team :00 Worship 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 9:15 Preschool 5th Grade Sunday School & Adult Discipleship 10:30 Worship Youth Pie Social Fundraiser 7 8 9:30 B & P 9:30 Coffee 11:30 Staff 2:00 Prayer 3:00 Bible Study 4:30 Book Study 6:30 Children s Ministry Team 9 5:30 Trustees 6:00 Youth Parent 6:20 3rd-5th Activities 6:20 Youth 10 6:30 Church Council :00 Worship 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 9:15 Preschool 5th Grade Sunday School & Adult Discipleship 10:30 Worship :30 B & P 11:30 Staff 2:00 Prayer 3:00 Bible Study 4:30 Book Study 5:30 Mission Team 16 6:20 3rd-5th Activities 6:20 Confirmation 17 9:30 Joy Circle 6:30 Friends Circle :00 Worship 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 9:15 Preschool- 5th Grade Sunday School & Adult Discipleship 10:30 Worship :30 B & P 11:30 Staff 2:00 Prayer 3:00 Bible Study 4:30 Book Study 23 6:20 3rd-5th Activities 6:20 Youth :00 Worship 9:00 Coffee Fellowship 9:15 Preschool 5th Grade Sunday School & Adult Discipleship 10:30 Worship :30 B & P 11:30 Staff 2:00 Prayer 3:00 Bible Study 4:30 Book Study 30 6:20 3rd-5th Activities 6:20 Confirmation 31

8 The Messenger United Methodist Church 2210 Sixth Ave E Alexandria, MN Return Service Requested