HOLLAND & ZOAR UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES 205 N. 2nd Ave. Holland, IN Office:

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1 ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER Our Witness is the Parish Newsletter. Individuals, as well as organizations, committees, and church officers, are encouraged to submit information. Community events will also be published if the information is received. Articles and information for the JANUARY Newsletter should be submitted to the Church Office on or before DECEMBER15. Church office hours are 8:00 12:00 a.m. Mon, Tues, Thur. Fri Closed Wed. PLEASE inform the church office if you have a change of address. HOLLAND/ZOAR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 205 N 2ND AVE HOLLAND, IN RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PERMIT NO. 1 U.S. POSTAGE PAID HOLLAND, IN HOLLAND & ZOAR UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES 205 N. 2nd Ave. Holland, IN Office: humzum@psci.net: humzum@psci.net Rev. Keith Chanley, Pastor DECEMBER 2018

2 I was thinking about what to write for this month's newsletter and had pretty much decided to do something on Christmas. Obviously. I decided to do a quick check on Facebook before trying to write, and not very far in found this post. I thought it was pretty good and worth sharing. The holidays can sometimes become very harried with all we think we need to do. Let us indeed take time to love one another and to not forget the greatest Love of all that came down from heaven, died on the cross and rose again so we can be made right with God. Thank you, Jesus, for your great love. Pastor Keith 1 Corinthians 13 (A Christmas Version) If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn t envy another s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can t. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but the gift of love will endure. Every Penny Ignites Change Most of us carry change in a pocket or coin purse. Sometimes, we empty that change out daily or weekly into a container at home so that it doesn t get so heavy to carry. Just a few cents in our pockets, when collected, can really add up. Beginning on November 18, and continuing every 3rd Sunday of each month, the EPIC kids will help lighten your pockets a little. During children s moment, the kids will come around with cups to collect any change you d like to donate. This money will be used for EPIC projects, but also for a contribution to a charity of their choice. A different cause will be selected by the group each month and a percentage of what they collect will be set aside for that purpose. In addition, the kids will be sharing with you about the special projects and what else they enjoy about EPIC. So, plan to fill your pockets on the 3rd Sunday of each month and donate it to a good cause! All 1st thru 12th graders are welcome to join us for EPIC! This year s theme is Fully Clothed. Our theme verse is Colossians 3: Supper begins at 6:00 p.m. You re welcome to bring a friend! Please come in the east door of the church just follow the signs! Great food Enthusiastic worship Learning about Jesus in classtime Lots of fun with your friends! Eternal Purpose in Christ Special events EPIC Thanks to you, we were able to send out 108 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes this year. That s 108 kids who will feel the love of Jesus... maybe for the very first time!

3 Parmesan Zucchini Tots Come caroling with us! Sunday, December 16 3:00 p.m. Fellowship and food afterwards at the Brockriede s. Everyone is welcome! 1 1/2 c. shredded and lightly patted zucchini 1 c. panko bread crumbs 1/2 tbsp. dry Italian seasoning 1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese 1 large egg All children in the church are invited to a Christmas party on Sunday, December 2 after the morning worship service. Bring a $5 exchange gift. Recipes and tips for a healthy lifestyle By Patty Nance 1. Shred zucchini with a vegetable grater. When done, pat zucchini dry with paper towels. While you don't need to completely dry the zucchini, you do want to absorb some of the moisture. You want keep drying the zucchini until the stage where when you pat the shredded zucchini with a paper towel is moist but no longer soaking with water. 2. Preheat oven to 400. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of patted dry zucchini and add to a large bowl. Add egg, cheese, breadcrumbs. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined. 3. Take 1 Tablespoon of zucchini batter and squeeze between palm of hands, compressing it. Some water should also release out. Using both hands now, shape to resemble a cylinder tater tot shape. Place onto a baking sheet lined with silicone baking or parchment paper. 4. Bake for about minutes until bottoms are golden brown and crispy. Flip over and bake for another 5 minutes. Serve warm with dipping sauce of your choice WEEKLY ATTENDANCE WORSHIP S.S. Nov Nov Nov Nov The UMYF will go caroling in the community on December 7 at 5:00. Afterwards, they will come back to church for hot chocolate and cookies. Everyone is welcome to join them for caroling or at the church for refreshments. On December 9, the UMYF will leave right after church for Walthers and Gattitown. Each one should bring a $5 gift for the exchange. They will also go to the Ronald McDonald House and to the United Methodist Youth Home to present them with donations. Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:10 a.m. DECEMBER LITURGISTS Sara Kahle, Aaron Peters, Jody Kahle DECEMBER USHERS Lisa Montgomery Sara Kahle Shawn Neier Tonya Cox The Elves will fix breakfast on December 2. All proceeds will go to help families in the community. Please turn in any names of families that could use assistance to Deb, Dana, Lavonne or Bev. KIC is on break until January 9. Join us then for more fun and fellowship!

4 Looking Back Things that happened at Holland United Methodist Church... by Shirley Kahle 1991 April 7 Zoar had a team from Asbury College and they had our morning worship service. After church, our Women s Society met and gave $500 to Sunday School to help pay for those going to church camp and $500 to church for a new copier. The church board met and Don Kemper had the lowest bid for church mowing. The Methodist Men met to make plans for a new shelter house and stand. This will be donated by Eloise Henke and family in memory of Hank Henke. Ron Henke donated a new Electrolux sweeper to the church. April 9 $5000 from Hank s memorial fund was taken out of the savings account and put in the building fund. This was the total given and was put in savings until the family decided what to do with it. The Youth Fellowship gave $200 to the building fund and $45 was given from Robert Wellemeyer memorials. April 19 The United Methodist Women had a bake and soup sale at the church today. Had fricassee, chili and chicken noodle soup plus all kinds of baked goods. Made a profit of $1060. April 21 Paul & Ray Lindsey, Doug, Jeff and Ken started on the new shelter house today. April 22 Bought a new copier for $3950. Zoar will pay half and Holland half. The Women s Society gave $500 and the Youth Fellowship $250. An anonymous donor gave $200. We have 3 months to pay for it. April 28 Fred Hemmer spoke at our church as Rev. Roeder was on vacation. All ladies of the church are invited to the UMW Christmas Party on Sunday, December 9 at 11:00 a.m. The theme of the party is My Favorite Things. Everyone should choose an item they really enjoy. Some examples, a kitchen utensil you like, a small bottle or tube of your favorite hand cream, some of your yummy homemade cookies or candy, a Christmas ornament, a pad of note paper that s so handy to have by the phone, a tube of your favorite lip balm, even your favorite recipe written out on a pretty card. You get the idea. Please bring 3 of the item (all the same) and keep the cost to $5 or less per item. You ll get to tell why this is your favorite things and then share the items with your friends. Each person will go home with 3 different items. A soup and sandwich lunch will be served. Please bring along some non-perishable items to donate to the food pantries. The first Sundays of February, March, May, June, August, September, November & December are Zoar s months to conduct the worship service at The Waters of Huntingburg. Suzie & Steve Hemmer lead the worship and would love to have several from the congregation join them. The time spent singing and greeting the residents that come means a lot. The service starts at 2:30 and lasts about 30 minutes. Our next opportunity for ministry is December 2. Come and be part of it. Women s Night of Worship Christmas has become a time of hurrying from one event to the next; of scrambling to get all the gifts on your list purchased, wrapped, and labeled; of making sure every last detail is done. When do we have time to stop and actually think about and give our worship to the One this season is all about? Where is the peace we re searching for? Ladies, on Friday night, December 14, get away from all the busyness of the season for a while and remember the real reason we celebrate. A Women s Night of Worship will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Zoar UMC. Candlelight, scripture, music. Just a time to relax and soak in God s goodness and love. All are welcome. A time of fellowship will follow the service.

5 ~ Weekly Group Events ~ Sunday morning worship service 9:00 a.m. Monday night Bible study 6:19 p.m. Tuesday Bible study 10:00 a.m. EPIC Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. Thursday Bible study 7:00 p.m. DECEMBER WORSHIP LEADERS Liturgist Sunday Morning Worship Service Kim Wampler WEEKLY ATTENDANCE Worship November 4 85 November November November The UMW Christmas party will be on December 4 at 6:30 at Old School Café in Huntingburg. Please RSVP by signing up in the fellowship hall or telling one of the committee members. The committee is Jennifer, Tresia, Dianne, Kathy P., Joni, Elaine, Steff, and Robin.... Visitation for December: Deb, Dana, Lavonne, Bev... Mission for December: Christmas needy fund, bingo prizes, Lange-Fuhs snacks, eyeglasses & cash for Shared Abundance Ushers, Greeters, Acolytes Diane Mason, Ruth Blackgrove, Patty Nance, Deb Frick Prayer card ministry Sherry Kamman Children s Message December 2 December 9 December 16 December 23 Pastor Keith Cheryl Hilsmeyer EPIC kids Erin Marshall December 30 Rhegann Fetter Our Christmas Day worship service will start at 10:00 a.m., with coffee and donuts served beforehand, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Come and join us for wonderful start to your Christmas Day activities. December Mission Offering Our 1st Sunday mission offering for December will be for Support Our Troops. Founded in 2003, Operation Support Our Troops - America (formerly Operation Support Our Troops - Illinois) has been a grassroots effort that's blossomed into one of the largest volunteer based military support organizations in the country. Our mission is to support the morale and wellbeing of American forces by providing comfort, resources and education to them and their families both while they are deployed in harm's way and after their return. We accomplish this by providing a link between the citizens and military personnel so that everyone has the opportunity to express their support. This allows us to send comfort packages of items that are not readily available to our troops in their deployed locations, along with personal letters, cards and notes of support from the community at large. Starting on December 2, the UMYF will again be delivering Christmas cards for you. Just bring your cards to church with the name of the person receiving the card on the envelope and they will see that your cards are delivered no postage needed! Christmas program practices will be held December 5, 12, & 19 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Supper will be provided. The Christmas program is December 23.

6 December s Reading Plan At the beginning of next year, a certificate of accomplishment will be given to those who have successfully read through the Bible in a year. If you have fallen behind, pick it back up. It won t take you long to catch up! Senior Balance Exercise Class The Senior Balance exercise meets at 2 PM on Thursdays in the HUM fellowship hall. Everyone is welcome! Sunday, December 2 Dec.3: Colossians 3 1 Thessalonians 2 Dec.4: 1 Thessalonians 3 2 Thess. 1 Dec.5: 2 Thessalonians 2 1 Timothy 2 Dec.6: 1 Timothy 3 6 Dec.7: 2 Timothy 1 4 Sunday, December 9 Dec.10: Titus 1 Philemon 1 Dec.11: Hebrews 1 4 Dec.12: Hebrews 5 8 Dec.13 Hebrews 9 12 Dec.14: Hebrews 13 James 3 Sunday, December 16 Dec.17: James 4 1 Peter 2 Dec.18: 1 Peter 3 2 Peter 1 Dec.19: 2 Peter 2 1 John 2 Dec.20: 1 John 3 2 John 1 Dec.21: 3 John 1 Revelation 2 Sunday, December 23 Dec.24: Revelation 3 6 Dec.25: Revelation 7 10 Dec.26: Revelation Dec.27: Revelation Dec.28: Revelation Sunday, December 30 Please inform the church office if you or a family member is being hospitalized or is otherwise in need of pastoral visitation. The church office phone number is If no one is in the office, please leave a message with the information and a phone number where you can be reached. For communication purposes, all events scheduled at the churches must be put on the office calendar as well as the calendars at the churches. Please call the church office ( ) when scheduling your event. Thank you! The church office will be closed December 24. through January 2. St. James Lutheran Church will present the advent candlelight service The Inn Crowd on Sunday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m. The senior, youth, and cherub choirs encourage you to come, as some very colorful characters at the inn remind us that God sent Jesus that we might all belong in His kingdom. An offering will be accepted for the Robert Rodenhouse family.