ATWATER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER

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1 ATWATER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 6380 Waterloo Rd. Atwater, Ohio December 2018 January Rev. Ruth Roth Church Family Christmas Dinner SUNDAY, DECEMBER Dinner will begin at 5:00 PM Program will follow We will join with our sister church Deerfield UMC for an evening of fun and fellowship. We will gather for dinner followed by a program. The dinner will be held at the Atwater UMC (this year). Meat and beverage will be provided. Everyone is asked to bring a covered dish to share and/or a dessert. There will be a program to follow. Be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. Church Office Hours Church office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 am till 2:00 pm. At other times leave a message and Carey or Rev. Ruth will get back to you. Prayer Chain You can start the prayer chain by calling Kathy Elson at or Martha Simons at Bible Studies : meets on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. at Atwater UMC and at 1:00 pm at Deerfield UMC. Book Club Book Club will meet at 5:30 pm on December 26 at Kinsey s Restaurant. New Years Eve Ugly Sweater Party 5:30 pm Covered Dish Dinner Pork, Sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes provided. Bring side dishes or dessert. Come for the food, fellowship and a variety of activities. Photo Fun! Prizes for the best ugly sweater!! a ISSION STATEMENT: TO LOVE, CARE, AND SHARE THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US. M

2 Project Feed 2018 Youth Group recently participated in Project Feed where 450 volunteers packed 40,000 meals. Total meals packed over the 2 day event was 80,000. Thanks to Nichole, Norm, Kristi, Brian, James, Clay, Mack and Alex who participated from our youth group. Bible Sunday Congratulations to our third grade bible recipients Garrett, Cole and Bailey. They received bibles on Bible Sunday November 18th. Trustees Just a note of thanks to all, and you know who you are, who have done things for the church this year. A BIG THANK YOU for your support. May God Bless you and shine his light upon you. May the coming year be a great one for all of us. Bless You, Martha Bevard, Trustee Chair Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 PM at the Atwater UMC 9:00 PM at the Deerfield UMC See you at the service that best fits your family s schedule.

3 Worship in December Calm and Bright This year is the 200th anniversary of the debut of "Silent Night, Holy Night." This hymn has become the best-loved worship moment of many Christians even those who only come to church once a year. Something mystical occurs as we light our candles and sing the hope of "all is calm, all is bright" peace and light for the world. This worship series will celebrate the carol's message over the entire season of Advent and highlight its call for our lives that can guide us all year long. First Sunday in Advent December 2 Sleep in Peace PEACE Second Sunday in Advent December 9 Glories Stream JOY Third Sunday in Advent December 16 Redeeming Grace LOVE Fourth Sunday in Advent December 23 Let us Sing HOPE Christmas Eve December 24 Calm and Bright First Sunday after Christmas December 30 Christmas: Is Born End of Year Notes Our Church financial records for 2018 will close on December 31. Please keep in mind if you wish to make a financial contribution to the church for the 2018 year, your gifts MUST BE RECEIVED in the church office no later than December 30, Anything received after this date will be post to your 2019 giving statements. If you are in need of giving envelops for 2019, please contact Gracie Myers, so that she can prepare them for you. Advent Bible Study In preparation for the coming of the Christ Child an Advent Bible Study will be held on Thursdays. We will meet Nov. 29, December 6, 13, and 20. The study will meet at the Deerfield UMC at 1:00 PM and Atwater UMC at 7:00 PM. Pick the time that best meets your schedule. Giving Tree AUMC, in conjunction with the Randolph Atwater Suffield Food Shelf, will be participating in the Giving Tree program again this year There will be 35 tags available for you to pick with a person s age, size, and desired gift. You shop for that gift, wrap it, place the tag on the package and place the gift under the Christmas tree in the sanctuary. You may take as many tags as you like. You have an opportunity to make Christmas special for people who are in need of some help at this time of year.

4 From the Pastor Dear Friends, This month I want to share the annual Pastor and Lay Leader report submitted for Charge Conference. It gives a good snapshot of our ministry here in Atwater. If you have questions or comments, please contact me. Blessings Rev. Ruth Pastor and Lay Leader Report 2018 The Atwater Church continues with much of the same ministries as past years. All meaningful and touching lives with the gospel. Vacation Bible School was a huge success. Outreach endeavors in which the church participates, such as Trunk or Treat, Food Pantry, Angel Tree. Youth Group for grades 6 12, which is a joint ministry with our sister church Deerfield UMC. Children s Church began a year ago and is doing well. We are pleased with the upgrades to all of the restrooms in the church that occurred this past year. We have added a few new ministries Partnered with Deerfield UMC to provide outreach lunches at Loaves and Fishes ministry in Ravenna. Local outreach ministries by providing supplies for Waterloo Schools, Alliance Domestic Violence Shelter, continues support of UMCOR health kits and flood buckets. Our connection with the Deerfield Church is going well. The yoking of these two churches continue to bring financial benefit to each church. The leadership from both churches meet annually. We are making plans to do more cooperative ministry and more fellowship together. The ongoing concern is the aging of our congregation and declining attendance on Sunday. Although we have several new families attending, we need to work more to keep them involved and see more people in worship. Secondly we are concerned about the willingness of individuals to step into leadership roles. We recognize that our ministry can only grow as we have people willing to lead and get involved. This past year we have looked at ways to engage with our community. We have three new programs in mind, one is How To classes. The first class was held in October of this year and was a huge success. We are encouraged for the other monthly classes. The other two programs will begin in the new year and are hopeful to provide meaningful ministry in our area. Atwater UMC Goals for 2019 Review and Implement Safety Procedures and educate the congregation Improve church signage Update our locks Update Safe Sanctuaries policy Continue to holding joint social and mission focused events with Deerfield Ex: Loaves and Fishes, Worship Opportunities, Financially Support Farmer to Farmer each month Develop and Implement Support group for Kinship Care and Dementia Caregivers

5 Operation Christmas Child Thanks to all who contributed to Operation Christmas Child. Your generosity allowed us to provide shoebox gifts to needy children around the world. Worship Workers December Liturgist: Amber Milam Ushers: Greeters: Gracie Myers & Kate Wise Acolyte: Alex Bunker Elevette: Bonny Bowker Fellowship: Pam Roeder Bell Ringer: Communion Helpers: Pam Roeder & Charlotte Jermy January TBA UMW News December UMW/Coburn Circle: Dec:19, 5:00 pm, Dinner Out January UMW/Coburn Circle: No Meeting in January Outreach Enough donations were received to fill 3 flood buckets. They will be taken to the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) collection site and from there distributed to flood victim from the recent hurricanes. Thanks to all who donated to this mission. Remember any donations to UMCOR to help victims of natural disasters, goes 100% to the victims. Harvest Dinner Thank You I want to thank everyone that helped with the church dinner November 3. Whether it was time, food or monetary donations it was greatly appreciated and a big success!!! The church made a profit of approximately $1700. Thank you again Kristi Bunker Youth News December 2 Meeting at AUMC 6 8 December 9 Church Family Christmas Dinner 5:30 PM at Deerfield UMC December 16 Christmas Party 6 8 at the church Everyone is to bring a wrapped gift ($12 limit). January 6 Bowling at Bill White s Open to all ages Time 1:30 PM (meet at the bowling alley) January 18 YMCA Overnighter Barberton YMCA 8 PM 6 AM Leave from Atwater UMC 6:00 PM Cost $10 per person V ISION STATEMENT: REACHING OUT TO OTHERS TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE FAITH IN CHRIST.

6 December 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat * denotes birthday Worship 9:25am Sunday School10:30 *Martha Howard *Fred Martz *Corey Simons * 9 Sunday School 10:30 10 Quilt Club 10:00am 11 *Carey Meissner *John Hutchison *Frank Clites *Holly Saxe *Cambrie Sasinouski 15 Men s Breakfast 8:00 am 16 Worship 9:25am Sunday School 10: *Mike Bowker *Steve King *Kyrstin Conrad 23 Worship 9:25am Sunday School 10: Candlelight Service 7:oo pm Christmas *Amber Boyd 26 Book Club 5:30 Kinsey s *Amber Milam

7 January 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat *Martha Bevard Sunday School 10:30am UMW *Allison Stroll *Cathy Willis *Linda Hollendonner * Jeff Herman Quilt Club 10:00am Sunday School 10:30am Men s Breakfast 8:00am *Don Moore *Debbie Marshall *Don Howard Fellowship 10:30 am Newsletter info due *Bob Elson *Gerald Loudin *Tylyn Strecker *Jamie Dittmer *Lori Simons *Greg Slattery *Joan Toth *Garry Stroll *Peighton Kelly Sunday School 10:30am Book Club 5:30 Kinsey s *Norm Jacobs * Shirley Biles *Clayton Jacobs