The Flame. In This Issue. Pastor s Moment. Our Vision: Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

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1 The Flame Monthly Newsletter of Port Byron 1 st United Methodist Church December 2017 Volume 7, Issue 12 In This Issue Pastor s Moment Announcements & Upcoming Events Advent 2018 Youth Mission Trip Youth Advent Church Calendar Spotlight On Missions Church Family Special Days G.R.O.W. A Retreat 2018 Youth Events Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world Pastor s Moment By Pastor Jim At some point in our lives, most of us have been in the awkward position of receiving a picture from a toddler. Parent or not, we ve been there. Proud as a peacock or matter of factly, we re handed a picture that we haven t the faintest idea what it is. We don t even know if we re looking at it from the right angle. Without insulting the child or appearing to look like we don t know anything, we start the process of drawing the information from the child that will give us an idea of what we re looking at. Eventually we can get to the correct answer and all will be well until the next time. Continued on page 2... Our Vision: by Plugging In Charging Up Living Out.

2 Pastor s Moment Continued For me, coloring is cool. It settles me down, focuses my attention, and allows me to be creative. I used to color things within the lines that someone else gave me but lately I ve gone to drawing freehand sketches which is way cooler. That way I can color in pictures where I created the whole picture. We got a letter the other day from our Compassion International child in Burkina Faso, Africa. His name is Serge Windigoundi Stephan Ouedraogo and he is 9 years old. We have a lot to talk about and it s fun to watch him grow up. Most of the time Serge draws a picture on the letter he sends. That s how we watch him grow up. This last time we got a picture of a house, a tree, a fish, a bowl, and something on three wheels. I m not quite sure what that is. This year we got a picture to color also and we sent it back to him. It was his Christmas present. I thought that was pretty cool of Compassion to think of that. Anyway, back to the toddler and that awkward silence as you try to figure out what you re seeing in the picture he just drew. He knows what it is but you don t. I think that s a little like Christmas. We ve created something and we re showing it to Jesus and there s that awkward silence as he tries to figure out what he s looking at. I don t think I d tell him it s a picture of what we do to get ready for his birthday. He d probably flip out or something similar to that. Maybe that s why I like the picture exchange we do with Serge. No stress, pretty inexpensive and a whole lot easier to explain to Jesus if he asked what we were doing. Just sayin. 3 A voice cries out: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 40:3-5 (NRSV)

Announcements and Upcoming Events Prayers! Prayers! Prayers! We are having a Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, December 9, at Pastor Becky and Chad Butterfield s home from 9:00-10:30 am.

If you are currently part of the church s prayer ministry or want to know more about it, please join us! Parent s Night Out An opportunity for mom s and dad s to have a date night!

All money raised will go towards the Youth Mission Trip. Children must be registered by Sunday December 10, 2017 by turning this form into the church office.

It is Christmas Is Not Your Birthday by Mike Slaughter. This study goes along with the advent sermon series. All are welcome to join us.

3 Announcements and Upcoming Events Prayers! Prayers! Prayers! We are having a Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, December 9, at Pastor Becky and Chad Butterfield s home from 9:00-10:30 am. All who are interested in revitalizing the prayer ministry of our church are invited. Pastor Kathy will be leading a brief study on prayer. If you are currently part of the church s prayer ministry or want to know more about it, please join us! Parent s Night Out An opportunity for mom s and dad s to have a date night! The Port Byron First United Methodist Youth Group, under the supervision of other adults, will be offering an evening of child care for a donation Saturday December 16, :30-8:30. All money raised will go towards the Youth Mission Trip. Children must be registered by Sunday December 10, 2017 by turning this form into the church office. Join us for worship Sunday December 17 th as the Children of PB First UMC present: Adult Sunday School The adult Sunday School will be starting a new study during advent. It is Christmas Is Not Your Birthday by Mike Slaughter. This study goes along with the advent sermon series. All are welcome to join us. December UMW The December UMW meeting will be lunch at Bev Smith s home at 12:00 on Thursday, December 7. All Friendship Circle and UMW members are invited. Please note the date. It is not the normal date for either circle or UMW meetings. Please RSVP to Bev if you plan to attend. We are serving a 5th Sunday lunch on Dec. 31. It will be a baked potato bar.

Advent By Pastor Jim The word advent means coming. We call this season of the Christian calendar Advent because we are preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ into the world.

Please join us for worship this Advent season for our sermon series Christmas Is Not Your Birthday.

Because we have such a wide variety of ages in our Sunday morning worship service, the issues around the secular figure Santa Claus will be omitted.

4 Advent By Pastor Jim The word advent means coming. We call this season of the Christian calendar Advent because we are preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ into the world. We celebrate Advent for the four Sundays before Christmas. It is a time of great expectation and is used to prepare ourselves for God to become flesh. Please join us for worship this Advent season for our sermon series Christmas Is Not Your Birthday. If you would like to experience a more in depth study around this topic, please join us for Sunday School as we study the book Christmas Is Not Your Birthday by Mike Slaughter. Because we have such a wide variety of ages in our Sunday morning worship service, the issues around the secular figure Santa Claus will be omitted. This is not to minimize the damage done to Jesus birthday around the subject. The decision is instead based on the premise that parents are in a better place to discuss this issue with their children as they see fit Youth Mission Trip Sunday July 8-Friday July 13 th Limited space is still OPEN for youth in grades 6-12 to join the youth mission team! If you are interested, talk to Pastor Becky SOON before the spaces are taken. Adopt a Mile The 2018 Youth Mission Team needs some help getting down the road. Our round trip mileage from First UMC in Port Byron, Illinois to Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakatoa will be 1,144 miles. To cover the cost of the trip plus some gas it will cost us approximately $5 a mile. Will you help send us down the road by adopting a mile (or2, or 5, or 10, or 100? ). Green Adoption cards can be found at the Communication Center.

Don t let December 26 th show up without talking with your kids/grandkids about Jesus! Here are some ways you can be more intentional this Advent.

Share on social media if you d like and challenge others to also participate. Click the link for more information. http://www.rethinkchurch.

including a FREE Advent Calendar download! http://theparentcue.

5 Don t let December 26 th show up without talking with your kids/grandkids about Jesus! Here are some ways you can be more intentional this Advent. Take a picture each day that corresponds with the word of the day. Do it as a family. Talk about the word throughout the day. Share on social media if you d like and challenge others to also participate. Click the link for more information. icles/christmas/2017-adventphoto-a-day Find a great article with some ideas on how to bring the Christmas message to the forefront for your family including a FREE Advent Calendar download! 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7 (NRSV)

6 Spotlight on Missions The Spotlight on Missions for December is Heifer International. Heifer International s mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. For more than 70 years Heifer International has partnered with and helped communities in 125 countries. They have helped 30 million families lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. The core of Heifer International model is Passing on the Gift. Families are provided with the tools and training they need to sustain themselves. Animals provide food and reliable income. Agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market. In turn, the families share the training they receive and pass on the first female offspring of their livestock to another family. This extends the impact of the program, allowing a once impoverished family to become a full participant in improving their community. Additional information about Heifer International can be found at Church Family Special Days Birthdays 3 Jonni Munson 6 Dr. Stephie Burrows 7 - Sarah Hogren 11 Ida Marie Burkamper 14 Mike Walkowicz 15 Payton Gelande (Happy 13th) 16 Beth Peirce 16 Crystal Maring 19 Jeff Reig 20 Keira Gibbons 21 Tim Hogren 21 Ariana Vantieghem 26 Meredith Sowder (Happy 4 th ) 27 Dan Vermeulen Anniversaries 11 Joel & Nikki Stuart 18 Nick & Amy Anderson

7 What s been happening at GROW? Small groups each came up with a group covenant that will help form and guide who they are and who they want to GROW to be for the rest of the year. Dinner and a Movie night was held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Both current youth, friends, small group leaders, adults and alumni gathered for a great evening of fellowship, yummy food and a great movie.

The purpose of the retreat is to provide an immersion experience to help lay and clergy explore spiritual disciplines they may have never tried before and/or about which they wish to know more.

Each small group session will be one and one half hours long with a 45 minute presentation, 30 minute self-directed practice time on the discipline followed by 15 minutes of sharing and feedback.

8 The purpose of the retreat is to provide an immersion experience to help lay and clergy explore spiritual disciplines they may have never tried before and/or about which they wish to know more. It will be planned so that a large group of people can participate with a number of different leaders. Each small group session will be one and one half hours long with a 45 minute presentation, 30 minute self-directed practice time on the discipline followed by 15 minutes of sharing and feedback. Exact timing is flexible as long as all three parts are included. There are four such sessions over the retreat. In addition there will be a one hour presentation period on topics for which it isn t possible to do practice time. Title: Opening to God: A Retreat Date: Friday and Saturday, February 2-3, 2018 Place: East Bay Camp Cost: $75 Who: Lay and clergy of the conference Limited to first 75 registrants Bring: Bible, note taking items, Bedding, towels, personal hygiene items Deadline: Friday, January 19 Contact: Ann Champion, pastorann59@gmail.com, (Office) or register online Please pray for the students who are participating in a time of faith formation as they prepare to profess and proclaim. Students will be meeting until mid-may.

9 Youth Events Coming 2018 Friday February 9 th -Saturday February 10 th for students in grades 6-12 Saturday March 3 rd, Washington, IL for students in grades 1-5 Peoria, IL March 28 th for students in 6 th grade and up

The Flame. The Value of a Picture- By Pastor Jim. Our Vision: Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

The Flame. The Value of a Picture- By Pastor Jim. Our Vision: Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world The Flame MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF PORT BYRON 1 ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OCTOBER 2017 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 10 Our Mission: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world The Value of a