The Pastor s Pen. Upcoming Worship Services. GRATITUDE and ANTICIPATION hallmarks of the seasons. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

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1 Upcoming Worship Services November 4 Light Works! Deuteronomy 6:1-9 & Mk 12:28-34; What kind of light best illuminates our path in life? All Saints Sunday; 1 st Sunday Holy Communion November Years of John 8:31-36 & Hebrews 9:24-28; The importance of remembering. Fall Harvest Food collection for local Pantry November 18 Lines That Shape Our Lives Ruth 1:1-8 & Mark 12:28-34 Memorable lines that influence us. Collecting Thank Offering Boxes November 25 Two Busy For God Psalm 132:1-12 & John 18:33-37 Finding peace in hectic schedules. December 2 Beginning with the End Acts 1:8-14; Lk 21:25-36, Jer. 33:14-16 Part 1 Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem Advent Candle: HOPE 1 st Sunday, Holy Communion. December 9 The Piercing of Mary s Soul Luke 2:22-35, Isaiah 53:1-5; Philippians 1:3-11 Part 2 Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem Advent Candle: LOVE December 16 - Amazed, Astounded, & Astonished Luke 2:41-51; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7 Part 3 Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem Advent Candle - JOY December 23 Mary, Full of Grace Luke 1:26-33 and Micah 5:2-5a Part 4 Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem Advent Candle: PEACE December 24 It Was Not a Quiet Night 7:00 pm, Christmas Eve/Candlelight, Children 11:00 pm, Christmas Eve/Candlelight, Choir Luke 2:1-20 and Isaiah 9:1, 6-7 Part 5 Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem Advent Candle: CHRIST December 30 Two Boys in Church; 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26; Luke 2: Samuel and Jesus, in church without their parents, were on a spiritual journey. We are, too. The Pastor s Pen The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in God. (Lamentations 3:22-24) November and December contain vital holidays ( holy -days) that strengthen the human soul: Thanksgiving, with its theme of gratitude to God for the provision of all our needs (see Psalm 103), & Christmas, with its theme of anticipation of One who reveals God s love for humanity (see John 3:16). If ever there was a time to give thanks for God s blessings and to long for the coming of Jesus Christ, it is in these days a time of change, the resulting stress, and concern for the future. Sadly, this is nothing new! The people in the Old Testament, the early church in the New Testament, and Jesus parents Joseph and Mary all met significant transitions in their time. Presently, more people are aware that the United Methodist Church is in a time of transition about its response to the issue of human sexuality. Anxiety abounds, but patient trust in God is needed! On the next page is a pastoral letter from Rev. Barry Robison, our District Superintendent, about waiting on the Lord. And, in an effort to provide precise information about what is before the United Methodist Church, we will sponsor a seminar, General Conference 2019 Update, led by the Rev. Dr. Lewis Parks. This will be held at our church on Sunday, November 4, 2-3:30 pm. In the meantime, we strive to be faithful and trusting in God. The work of Jesus Christ continues! We gather to worship God, we meet for Christian Education, and we reach out in various missions. GRATITUDE and ANTICIPATION hallmarks of the seasons. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

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3 Prayer Shawl Ministry expands its outreach! The knitting group celebrates its 5 th year of outreach this November providing comfort to humans and wildlife alike throughout the world. Here is a tally of items they made over the years. 68 shawls 52 hats to Sierra Leone 89 baby hats 169 baby blankets 44 lap covers 11 bags for wheelchairs 25 scarfs for halfway women s house 90 scarfs for homeless in Harrisburg 8 afghans for our graduates 22 items for Spring Creek 38 mommy mats 55 nests for Pennsylvania Game Commission 26 fiddle mats for Alzheimer patients Anyone interested in knitting and crocheting or would like to learn, are welcome! The group meets 2-4 p.m. Tuesday afternoons in Meeting Room 1 in the Bossler Education Building. Pictures of Yarn Nests in Use Hi John (Burkholder), This morning I received the attached photos that I thought you and the knitting group would enjoy. Check out their nests in action! These photographs came from a wildlife rehabilitator in Pittsburgh who is using the nests for various bird and mammal species like squirrels, cardinals and chickadees. Hope the ladies enjoy seeing how their craft is being put to use. Many thanks to you and the group for all of your efforts. We are so lucky to have folks like you all in our community who help make a difference with your thoughtful actions. Best, Olivia A. Braun Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management Division of Environmental Planning & Habitat Protection 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA Figure 1 Unknown hatchling Figure 2 Baby Squirrel

4 Figure 3 Baby Squirrels Figure 6 Carolina Wren or House Wren chicks Figure 4 Mourning Dove Figure 7 Too young to identify Figure 5 Baby Squirrel Figure 8 Older Baby Squirrels

5 GENERAL CONFERENCE 2019 UPDATE by Rev. Dr. Lewis Parks, presenter, Sunday, November 4, 2018, 2-3:30pm, Evangelical UMC. Dr. Parks, retired pastor, district superintendent, and seminary professor on church polity, will provide information and answer questions about recommendations from the Commission on the Way Forward (concerning human sexuality and options to maintain the unity of the church). Please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board to attend so a count for materials can be determined. Charge Conference to meet as Church Conference, November 18, 11:30 pm. This year, each congregation will hold individual charge conferences at their churches. Evangelical s meeting will be held after the worship service on November 18, The Rev. Karen Atanasoff, assisting elder, will be with us. The primary responsibility of the charge conference is to review and evaluate the total mission and ministry of the church; and, receive reports and adopt objectives and goals. Our District Superintendent, Rev. Barry Robison authorized the charge conference to be convened as a church conference which extends the vote to all professing members of the local church. Your presence is important hope you can be present for the one hour event! Pastor Lee and the EUMC family, I want to thank you so very much for the use of The United Methodist Hymnal Compact Disc (CD) Accompaniment Edition resource at the church. This past month I was called upon to officiate at my 91-yearold Aunt s funeral up in the Poconos. The service was held at a funeral home, and there was a need for prerecorded accompaniment for the several hymns requested by the family. After speaking with several persons at the church about the possibility of getting taped accompaniment for hymns, I learned the entire UMC Hymnal Accompaniment resource was donated to the church some years ago and is available for just such a purpose. I want to especially thank John Burkholder for his time assisting with the specific hymns required for the funeral service. I also give thanks for this shared resource and wanted to let others know of its availability. Very much appreciated! Sincerely, Cliff Flick 2019 COMMUNITY DINNER SCHEDULE Evangelical United Methodist Church 4:30-6:30 p.m. Take out available Call for curb side pickup $9 adults; $3 children under 12 Jan. 21 Feb. 18 Mar. 18 Apr. 15 May 20 Sept. 16 Oct. 14 Roast beef Roast turkey Baked ham Baked chicken Roast turkey Roast pork Roast turkey

6 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in desperate situations around the world through giftfilled shoeboxes and Christian literature. This program provides an opportunity for individuals of all ages to be involved in a simple, hands-on missions project that reaches out to suffering children while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus Christ, God's greatest gift. The youth fellowship will be sponsoring this mission project. We would like to invite the congregation to participate as well by donating any of the items listed below and the youth will put together the boxes. If you would like to make your own shoebox, please follow the instructions listed below. When your box is completed please bring it to the church no later than Sunday, November 11, Pick up a container from the youth in the vestibule, purchase a container at Target or fill a shoebox. 2. Decide whether your gift will be for a boy or girl (2-4), (5-9) or (10-14) years old. 3. Fill the shoebox with a variety of gifts: a. Toys - toy cars, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls, toys that light up and make noise (with extra batteries), beautiful doll and accessories, a deflated soccer ball with pump, plush stuffed animal, musical instruments, puzzles, small Etch-a-Sketch, slinky, etc,. b. School supplies - pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, stamps and ink pad sets, etc. c. Non-liquid Hygiene items - toothbrush, bar soap, comb, wash clothes, deodorant, etc. d. Other- socks, hats, t-shirts, flip-flops, hair bands, sunglasses, toy jewelry sets, hair clips, watches, blankets, flashlights (with extra batteries), make your own items such as hair bows, finger puppets, and friendship bracelets etc. e. Do not include: Candy; toothpaste; gum; used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives, or military figures; chocolate or food; seeds; fruit rolls or other fruit snacks; drink mixes (powdered or liquid); liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans. Monetary donations can be made to offset the $9.00/box mailing cost or for the youth to make extra boxes - please place it in an envelope, mark it Christmas Child and give to a youth advisor. See Kim Schlicher or Lori Keller with questions.

7 Advent Offering Envelope A Prayer Meditation by Safiyah Fosua 1 We give you thanks, O God, for all the saints who ever worshiped you Whether in brush arbors or cathedrals, Weathered wooden churches or crumbling cement meeting houses Where your name was lifted and adored. We give you thanks, O God, for hands lifted in praise: Manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil, Strong hands and those gnarled with age Holy hands Used as wave offerings across the land. We thank you, God, for hardworking saints; Whether hard-hatted or steel-booted, Head ragged or aproned, Blue-collared or three-piece-suited They left their mark on the earth for you, for us, for our children to come. Thank you, God, for the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have gone before us. Bless the memories of your saints, God. May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love. 1 Safiyah Fosua is the Assistant Professor of Christian Worship and Christian Ministry, Wesley Seminary, Washington, D.C. Enclosed with this newsletter is a way to help Evangelical Church end the year with a strong financial balance to begin the New Year of Please prayerfully consider what you can contribute to God s work through the church. Thank you. Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are excellent times to invite a friend to church!

8 Evangelical United Methodist Church 157 E. Water Street Middletown, PA :00 a.m., Sunday School 10:15 a.m., Worship Service Non-Profit Org. U. S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO. 33 ELIZABETHTOWN, PA RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED Inside The Messenger November/December 2018 From the Pastor s Pen Upcoming Worship Services Prayer Shawl Ministry photos Mary Looks Back Advent Sermon Series Important Upcoming Conference Dates Deadline for Mar/Apr articles Monday, February 11, Volunteers are welcome to help assemble the newsletter on Thursday, February, 21, 2019.