This year is truly flying by it is hard to believe that there are only two months left in I feel like I blinked, and now all of a sudden, it s

Transcription

1 This year is truly flying by it is hard to believe that there are only two months left in I feel like I blinked, and now all of a sudden, it s almost the end of the year. November is always an exciting month, especially since it brings cooler temperatures and the festivities of Thanksgiving. One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving, and really just the holidays in general, is all the traditions that accompany it. Over time, those traditions might change a little bit as we go through different seasons of life, but we still have some sort of rhythms that we associate with the holidays. When I was little, my favorite tradition of Thanksgiving was probably the snack table my Nana would set up to tide everyone over until the big dinner. She would set up assorted chips, crackers, dips, and most importantly cookies that the family munched on while spending time together. When I was in my teens, my favorite tradition became watching the Macy s Parade with my parents and seeing what exciting new balloon animals were added to the line-up that year. More recently, my favorite traditions have been going for a run in the morning before spending time with family. Shane and I are responsible for making the apple pies, and have started an unofficial contest for the best design. I love these new traditions, but I also miss some of my old ones. I miss sneaking tastes of the stuffing before my Nana put it in to the oven. I miss sitting by the fire with coffee and watching the parade with my parents. As much as I miss these things, I also know that it is natural for traditions to change over time. Our traditions grow and change, just as we grow, change, and mature. And the same can be said of our traditions in the church. There are probably things that used to be done a certain way that we deeply miss, but I imagine that there are also new traditions that you have come to love and appreciate. As we enter into the beginning of the holiday season, I encourage you to find ways to remember and celebrate the old traditions while also finding ways to embrace and welcome the new traditions. Because there is beauty in all of our traditions, both old and new. Grace and peace,

2 Come join Pastor Sarah from noon to 1:00PM in the Conference Room on Tuesdays. We discuss a variety of themes and topics, but there is always rich discussion. All are welcome and we would love to have you join us! We will salute our veterans on Sunday, November 11th, during the worship service with a patriotic slideshow. It s that time again Don t forget to set your clock back one hour on Saturday, November 3rd before you go to bed. But if you do goof up and get to church early on the 4th, go visit the Sunday School class. They d love to have you! Wesley United Methodist Church Mission Statement: 826 NW 23rd Avenue Gainesville, FL Office: Fax: We are on Facebook!!! Pastor s PastorSarah@wumc.cfcoxmail.com Secretary s Terri Manche secretary@wumc.cfcoxmail.com Witness Articles Sharren Gibbs sharren2@cox.net Deadline for articles: 15th of each month! Website: Weekly Sunday Activities Sunday School Adult 9:30AM Sunday School in the 10:00AM (Greentree Park) 10:45AM (Sanctuary)

3 Barbara Baldwin Agnes Burke Carolyn Clarke Joan Croft Betty Dees John Easter Kay Frazier Betty Holder Paula Mathis Pam McCormick Barb Loehr Beth Loehr-Moody Pompili family Clydia Reichert Beth Senn Margaret Singh Dale Smith Polly Teele Donna Weseman Lester Wigglesworth Jr George Winburn Clarence Witt GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES Thanksgiving is coming soon! GCM needs your help in collecting the items listed below for our holiday boxes. Each year we receive more requests for food during the holidays, but we can t meet the need without your help. Items needed: Gift certificates for meat ($10.00) Rice Canned Pumpkin Pie Filling Peanut Butter Evaporated Milk Sugar Canned Fruit Stuffing Mix Canned Vegetables Flour Dry Milk Envelope Boxed Jell-O Collection containers are provided in the narthex and fellowship hall. HISTORY OF GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES: For over 30 years GCM has provided emergency help and hope to families and individuals in crisis. Early in their history (when they were located in a little house behind First Baptist Church), a number of local churches (Wesley included) decided to unite to provide as much support as possible to GCM, in money and goods, with the plan that they would be the distribution site for services instead of each church separately trying to provide on-site services. This coordination helped considerably with prevention of duplication of services. Participating churches are invited to have a representative on the GCM Board. Throughout the year and particularly in the month of November, when GCM is the Mission of the Month, we encourage your wholehearted support. As always thanks!

4 Adult Class 9:30AM Sunday School in the Park 10:00AM Worship Service 10:45AM Wesley Wednesday Dinner 5:30 PM Committee Meetings 6:00PM Choir Practice 7:00 PM 826 Northwest 23rd Avenue Gainesville, Florida Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 All Saints Sunday Communion Sunday UMW General Meeting FH 5 7:00PM Bell Choir Veteran s Day Office Closed :00PM Bell Choir 7:00PM Bell Choir 6 Noon Pastor s Class 6:30PM Nightingales 13 Noon Pastor s Class 20 Noon Pastor s Class 10AM Morning Stars 27 Noon Pastor s Class 7 6:00PM Admin subcommittee 2:30PM Wesley Whittlers 6PM Trustees :30AM DAR Luncheon 2:30PM Whittlers 5:30PM WWS 6PM Worship 21 2:30PM Wesley Whittlers 28 2:30PM Wesley Whittlers 6PM Admin Council 1 Noon Card Club 8 Noon Card Club 15 Noon Card Club Office Closed Noon Card Club 11:30AM YAHs covered dish at the Weseman home Office Closed :00AM-4:00PM Veterans Plant and Yard Sale 24

5 The Board of Trustees continues to serve WUMC with the sacred responsibility to keep God s House in order and oversee all related facilities. Several projects have come to our attention during the last several months and all concerns have been addressed. The projects included: The ceiling in the Sanctuary over the pulpit/choir areas and the peak of the entire ceiling running north to south had several board lengths sanded and re-sealed with polyurethane. The age of the structure plus the heat that rises to ceiling height without proper ventilation caused mildew to form, causing extensive discoloration of the ceiling boards. AAA Ice Machine Company repaired and cleaned the ice maker in Fellowship Hall. Calcium sediments had collected on the filter and stopped the machine from making ice. Hurm and Co. repaired the A/C unit in the Nursery. There was a short in the wiring keeping the thermostat from functioning properly. Plumber replaced clean-out drain and buried it at ground level at 901 NW 24 th Avenue (rental house). The drain was run over by some heavy object and crushed. Two new water drinking fountains have been installed. A cold drink can be found at the fountain in the hallway between the two bathrooms. And a refreshing drink of cool clear water is offered at the fountain by the sanctuary. Thanks to Danny Agulia and crew for installing both fountains! Sandy Miller, Chair WESLEY'S PRAYER CHAIN NEEDS YOU!! One of the ministries sponsored by United Methodist Women is the prayer chain, an amazing ministry that allows you to participate without leaving home. There are two prayer chains, one via telephone and the other via . If you elect to participate in the telephone chain, when you get a call take down the information, call the next person and then pray. If you elect to participate in the chain, pray for the request when you receive the . To join the prayer chain ministry for 2019, contact Yvonne Hodges at by Sunday November 24. Anyone with a prayer request should call Yvonne Hodges or send an to secretary@wumc.cfcoxmail.com with the prayer request and Wesley's prayer warriors will start praying! There is also a box on the homepage of our church website where you can request prayer it goes directly to our church secretary, Terri.

6 Storytime in the Park We have resumed Story Time in the Park at Greentree Park off of NW 39th Avenue. We have been having much fun with stories, crafts, games and of course the playground. The kids are having so much fun. We are still looking for volunteers to help at the park. If you are interested, please contact Sherry, Joyce or Diane. Spread the word to children from preschool up to and including 5th grade! We ask for prayers from our congregation that this ministry will spread and be fruitful. Anyone needing information, please contact Joyce at Here are some of the ways you can help: Blessings, Come read a story Be a helper Help lead craft time Help us spread the word Bring your kids/grandkids Donate snacks Volunteer to lead a Sunday Pray for this new ministry Joyce Welsh, Sherry Adams, and Diane Blucher

7 The Women s Bible Study Finding I AM by Lysa TerKeurst concluded on October 15 th after six weeks of an in-depth study of the seven I AM statements spoken by Jesus and recorded in the Gospel of John. It was indeed an excellent study that challenged everyone as together we discovered that Jesus is the key in filling those empty cries of our hearts and, perhaps, that need in our life that God may not be meeting right now. Through these seven I AM statements (I AM the Bread of Life, I AM the Light of the World, I AM the Gate, I AM the Good Shepherd, I AM the Resurrection and the Life, I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life, and I AM the True Vine) provided the insight and knowledge that Jesus is the key to life and the satisfaction only HE can bring to our daily lives. Jesus not only provides the way but HIS WORD provides the blueprint for living an abundant life each and every day. The videos that accompanied the study took us to places in the Holy Land where Jesus walked and close to places where HE uttered the seven I AM statements. This was a beautiful and added bonus to a wonderful Bible study. Please join us for the next Women s Bible Study as we continue to share God s Word in building our faith journey together. Be Blessed, Sandy Miller ALACHUA GIRLS ACADEMY We will continue to collect gently used jewelry, new makeup, and nail polish. Goody bags will be delivered the week before Thanksgiving this year. The girls are allowed to wear makeup when they go on "days out." The holiday season will hopefully give them opportunity to get dressed up and use the goody bags. Remember to put them on your prayer list that they will be successful in this program and grow into God-loving young ladies. These young ladies have had a tough time in life at their young age. The Lord can do the rest!! Many thanks for your continued efforts this year. May God bless you. Joyce Welsh

8 What a great crowd we had for our October Wesley Wednesday dinner, even with Hurricane Michael bearing down on us! Our next dinner will be on November 14th. If you are not on the regular attendee list, be sure to contact the office by Sunday, November 11, with your RSVP. We want to make sure there is enough food for all! Donna Weseman On Sunday November 4th at noon, the Wesley United Methodist Women will host a pizza lunch in the fellowship hall. Everyone is invited. Emily Campbell, Awareness and Operations Coordinator for Created Gainesville, will be our guest speaker. Created Gainesville is a local organization committed to reaching and restoring women caught in sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. The cost for lunch is $5.00 and can be paid at the door. A short general meeting will follow lunch. Please RSVP to Susie Aguila at or the Church Office at before November 1st. Dale and Linda Smith would like to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers and many cards. Dale has had his last chemo treatment and his surgery is scheduled for November 6 th. They hope to get back to church soon. I happened to go in the sanctuary in the middle of the repair work on the ceiling. Wow they were waaaaay up there! So of course I had to take a photo. They did a great job without impacting on any scheduled events in the building. Way to go!

9 Thanks, Wesley family, for your donations to Operation Christmas Child. Andrew and I delivered 34 shoeboxes to the collection point. This ministry goes out to children all over the world to let them know they are not forgotten at Christmas time. We met on October 5th at Northwest Grille. It was a light turnout, but everyone enjoyed both their lunches and the fellowship. On November 16th at 11:30 AM we will gather for our annual covered dish Thanksgiving luncheon at the Weseman home. Bring a covered side dish to share, and I will provide meat and beverages. Blessings, ~Donna Joan, Donna, Paula, Irma, and June

10 2019 Florida Conference Women s Retreats got Joy? Please prayerfully consider joining us in 2019 for a glorious weekend, a time to pull away from your daily responsibilities and truly relax in the peace and beauty of the Life Enrichment Center. Be inspired by the assembly of leaders providing spiritual guidance, and experience the very presence of the Lord. You will join like-minded women and surely strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. There are two sessions from which to choose. While each session is similar, each has very different speakers who will set distinctive vibes for the weekend. If you can t decide, attend more than one! The theme for 2019 is got Joy? The Old Testament verse is Psalm 5:11 NLT But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. The New Testament key verse is James 1:2-3 NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. Weekend 1 - February 8-10, 2019: Keynote Speaker: Rev. Emily Knight Bible Study Leader: Rev. Rachel Hughes Music Leader: Cindy & Casey Cleveland & Family Devotions: Sierra Clarke and Kim Fisackerly Enrichments: Rev. Jackie Leveron, Rev. Valerie Goddard, Marilyn King, Margie Anderson, Kimberli Jones, and Roxie Haas Weekend 2 - March 8-10, 2019: Keynote Speaker: Rev. Lisa Stamp Bible Study Leader: Rev. Sara McKinley Music Leader: Sue Sommer Devotions: Tabatha Parish and Gladyanne Hood Enrichments: Rev. Tamara Isidore, Karen Taylor, Rev. Mary Ashcraft, Margie Anderson, Kathy DeLozier, and Maureen Corristan Register early to get your preferred weekend. Registration opens on 1 November Commemorative T-Shirts will be available for purchase at the time of your online registration.

11 Retreat Weekend Schedule: Friday: 3:00PM Registration and check-in starts 5:30PM - 7:00PM Dinner 7:30PM Welcome & General Session Saturday: 7:30AM 8:45AM Breakfast 8:45AM 9:00AM Morning Devotion 9:00AM 11:00AM General Session 12:00PM 1:45PM Lunch 1:45PM 5:15PM Enrichments 5:30PM 7:15PM Dinner 7:30PM General Session Sunday: 7:30AM 8:45AM Breakfast 8:45AM 9:00AM Morning Devotion 9:00AM General Session 10:00AM Worship Service with Communion Retreat Cost: LEC cost is $ (per person, based on double occupancy, including all meals + snacks). Commuter w/meals is $145 Commuter w/no meals are $95. You must register online, floridaconferencewomensretreats. It ll be wonderful to see you there! If you have any questions, please check the website or contact Jennifer McCullough 4991 Picciola Road, Fruitland Park, FL jmccullough@flumc.org. Phone: (352)

12 11/7 6:00PM Trustees 11/14 6:00PM Worship Committee 11/28 6:00PM Administrative Council 1 st Matt Alday Kitty Manasco 5 th Wyatt Alday 7 th Alex Reeves 9 th Austin Sapp 10 th Lisa Tatum-Alday 11 th Margie Sapp 12 th Noah Boyle 17 th Jim Carlin Pam McCormick 18 th Harley Christensen 19 th Jordan Newstadt 23 rd John Easter 30 th William R. Dees Clarence Witt None FUN AND GAMES Join the Canasta card club at Wesley United Methodist Church! Have fun and meet great people! Invite family and friends, the more the merrier! When: Thursdays, 12:00 Noon (except holidays) Where: Wesley United Methodist Church 826 Northwest 23rd Avenue Fellowship Hall Call Harley or Pamela Christensen at for information. We have wonderful members waiting to teach you Hand and Foot Canasta! Card Club Guidelines Bring a sack lunch and beverage if you wish. Please arrive on time if possible. Please help clean up after the games end. Please give us your address and phone number in case of scheduling changes. A sign-up sheet will be passed for volunteers to come at 11:30AM to set up and make coffee.