THE BEACON WE GOT GOALS! Pastor Seth GNADENHUTTEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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Christiana Griffin
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1 GNADENHUTTEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THE BEACON NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 WE GOT GOALS! It is hard to believe that 2016 is coming to an end. I am excited about some of the opportunities that we have had in the past year to participate in ministry together, to grow in our faith together, and to fellowship together in Christian community. As 2016 come to a close, I would like to look forward to 2017 and bring to everyone s attention the GOALS we have for the coming year. These are specific goals from the leadership of this church for making and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ in We cannot accomplish these on our own and would welcome any suggestions and participation that you all would like to offer. Our first goal is to offer a Confirmation Class for the youth of our church. This class has already started meeting Wednesday nights at 6pm and we have 9 youth in the class. Our second goal is to offer a Church-Wide, open to all ages, Mission Trip. The details of this ministry opportunity will come together in early 2017 and will provide anyone who would like to take a few days and engage in mission an opportunity to do so. Our third goal is to establish a visitation team. This group would look at care of people in various care facilities, serving in the military, going to college, and others throughout our community and congregation that are in need of encouragement, visits, and any other acts of Radical Hospitality that we can offer in the name of Jesus to others. I believe that we can accomplish these goals together with Christ s help. As 2016 comes to a close, let us finish well and press onward towards the goals that we feel God has called us to in 2017 together. Amen! In Christ, Pastor Seth KEEP IN MIND! Entrusted Study meets first & third Tuesday at 7pm Men s Group meets second & fourth Tuesday at 7pm Trustee Meetings Nov 2 & Dec 7 at 5:30pm Mission Site Tour of Flat Rock Homes Nov 5 Mission Committee Meeting Nov 7 at 7pm Nov 20 Hanging of the Greens following the worship service Watch A Christmas Carol at the church Nov 20 at 6:30 pm Be Thankful Nov 24 Nov 27 is the first Sunday of Advent Christmas Bazaar Dec 3 Ad Council Dec 13 at 6pm Christmas Eve Services at 2 pm & 7pm Dec 25 10:30 am worship service only Jan 1 9:30 breakfast & 10:30 worship service only

PAGE 2 THE BEACON UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Our Fall schedule started with our book study on September 19. This study was the spiritual growth book, The Bible and Sexuality: Claiming God s Good Gift.

On October 8 the Tuscarawas District United Methodist Women gathered for their fall meeting here at GUMC. 50 women attended! The program focused on sleeping sacks for babies and a love gift was given.

Jane Miller will lead our pledge service meeting in November. THE REDEMPTION OF SCROOGE~ADVENT STUDY Matt Rawle, lead pastor at Asbury UMC in Louisiana, loves to tell an old story in a new way.

2 PAGE 2 THE BEACON UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Our Fall schedule started with our book study on September 19. This study was the spiritual growth book, The Bible and Sexuality: Claiming God s Good Gift. We voted to have the Bazaar December 3. Candy making has already started. Peanut Brittle will be made November 8. Please watch the bulletin for coffee cake & chocolate making dates. On October 8 the Tuscarawas District United Methodist Women gathered for their fall meeting here at GUMC. 50 women attended! The program focused on sleeping sacks for babies and a love gift was given. Our own unit gave $150. Jane Modon led the program for October 17. Her program was titled Prayer & Self-Denial. A memorial gift will be given to Hospice in memory of Raymond Miller. Jane Miller will lead our pledge service meeting in November. THE REDEMPTION OF SCROOGE~ADVENT STUDY Matt Rawle, lead pastor at Asbury UMC in Louisiana, loves to tell an old story in a new way. The Redemption of Scrooge, based on Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, will explore the world of Ebenezer Scrooge, and all the characters from Dickens famous story. If God can redeem Scrooge, surely He can redeem me?, will be the central theme. The four Sundays of Advent will be as follows: 1. Bah Humbug! 2. The Remembrance of Christmas Past 3. The Life of Christmas Present 4. The Hope of Christmas Future On November 20, we ll gather in the sanctuary at 6:30 to watch the movie. Popcorn will be provided. If you cannot attend the movie showing, brush up on movie with your family at home. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Many of us have no idea what it s like to not have our own toothbrush, comb, or silverware. Few of us have never received a gift. Imagine receiving a gift for the very first time at age 14 and it s from people you ve never met! The love Christ in a shoebox filled with trinkets & toys freely given. The Sugarcreek Family Dollar offers an aisle specific to Operation Christmas Child. Most of the items are under $5. Check it out if you re filling a box this year. Your box needs to be returned to the church no later than November 20 so that we can deliver the boxes to the correct pick up place.

PAGE 3 NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Happy Birthday to: 24 Ellie McPeek 2 Amy Wolf Apfel 25 Rhonda Gardner, Marilyn Domer 3 Zoe Blickensderfer 26 Sarah Cady 4 Ryan Vickers, Aris Modon 6 Dave

21 Ryan & Kristy Vickers 19 Gary Eckhardt 30 Dan & Amy Blickensderfer DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Happy Birthday to: 1 Alexis Long 4 Stephanie Carroll 10 Jessica Palmer 14 Denise Toole 15

3 PAGE 3 NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Happy Birthday to: 24 Ellie McPeek 2 Amy Wolf Apfel 25 Rhonda Gardner, Marilyn Domer 3 Zoe Blickensderfer 26 Sarah Cady 4 Ryan Vickers, Aris Modon 6 Dave McPeek Happy Anniversary to: 8 Melanie Johnson 2 Wayne & Cam Peoples 10 Shirley Gilmore 10 John & JoAnna Kelly 12 Brian Williamson, Hallie Schreiner, Tanner Smart 14 Don & Joann Tyson 16 Chad Holland 21 Ryan & Kristy Vickers 19 Gary Eckhardt 30 Dan & Amy Blickensderfer DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Happy Birthday to: 1 Alexis Long 4 Stephanie Carroll 10 Jessica Palmer 14 Denise Toole 15 Jessica McDonald 16 Kathy Hamilton 17 Paul Hanner 18 Nick Leeper 19 Amanda Wright 24 Jessie Marlatt-Russell 29 Bruce Kettlewell 30 Noah Bryant 31 Josh Raynak Happy Anniversary to: 20 Aaron & Tina Kissinger 27 John & Pearl Hanner 29 Tom & Sharon Frank POINSETTIA ORDERS If you would like to order Poinsettias for the advent season, please fill out an order slip or call the church office at This year we are only offering Red Poinsettias, and they are $12 per plant. Please specify who the plant is in honor of or in memory of. Thank you!

PAGE 4 THE BEACON BAPTISM On this past September 11 a small corner of a family pond became a holy

Over 30 guests, including the immediate families of the youth, attended to witness their baptism.

around the church basement. Candy making has started!

zaar. So if you can be there, please talk to Evelyn Long about where you can best help!

4 PAGE 4 THE BEACON BAPTISM On this past September 11 a small corner of a family pond became a holy spot. Four of our youth-eddie & Andy Johnson and Aaron & Kaitlyn Border-were baptized. Over 30 guests, including the immediate families of the youth, attended to witness their baptism. At the end of the service everyone surrounded the youth to cover them in prayer. What a special moment! ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR The smell of cinnamon, mint, butter rum, and orange have been swirling around the church basement. Candy making has started! This year the Bazaar will be December 3, 10 am to 2pm. Please come early to get the best selection! zaar. So if you can be there, please talk to Evelyn Long about where you can best help! Soup is a popular on the menu at the Bazaar. It s cooked the day of, and these ladies are here by 5am!! Come out December 3 to help us out, to shop, to wash a plate or two, or be There is always help needed the day of the Bain prayer that UMW have a great Bazaar!

PAGE 5 CHRISTMAS JARS The Christmas Jar tradition is based on the 2005 New York Timesbestselling novel by Jason Wright.

All coins are dedicated to the jar all year long, and during the week before Christmas you carefully select someone to give it to anonymously. Was a neighbor laid off?

$50, $100, even $200, you ll be surprised how much change you can generate and how much you can impact someone s life (taken from Christmas Jar website) Our church is going to a part of this movement

5 PAGE 5 CHRISTMAS JARS The Christmas Jar tradition is based on the 2005 New York Timesbestselling novel by Jason Wright. A Christmas Jar is a pickle jar, peanut butter jar, Mason jar or anything else you have to collect spare change each day. All coins are dedicated to the jar all year long, and during the week before Christmas you carefully select someone to give it to anonymously. Was a neighbor laid off? Is a coworker struggling with health problems? Has a friend lost a loved one? Simply put your jar on their porch, in their car, on their desk wherever and you could change their life for good! $50, $100, even $200, you ll be surprised how much change you can generate and how much you can impact someone s life (taken from Christmas Jar website) Our church is going to a part of this movement this year. Watch for upcoming details!! MISSION SITE TOUR The Mission Committee is planning a tour of Flat Rock Homes in Flat Rock, Ohio on November 5. Flat Rock provides services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is also a United Methodist based Mission. Last year we toured two of the United Methodist sites, and were amazed at the work being done in Ohio. We d like to eventually tour each of the Ohio Methodist mission sites. If you would like to be part of the group that makes this visit, please sign up on the provided sheets at church. You can also call the church office to sign up ( ). A stop will be made to eat at some point during the day. Talk to John Kelly for more details. CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, NEW YEARS Whew!! It s a busy time. Family dinners being planned, shopping being done, relatives dropping in to visit, and all that hustle & bustle. Here are the service times for upcoming season of Advent: November 20~Hanging of the greens after the worship service. Christmas Eve ~this year we re going to offer two service times as a trial, one at 2pm and one at 7pm. Each service will be different, but open to everyone. Christmas Day~ there will be a 10:30 worship service only. New Years Day~ there will be a 10:30 worship service only, but at 9:30 we ll be offering food & fellowship. Join your church family for breakfast. At 10:30 we ll celebrate a Wesley Covenant service.

6 GNADENHUTTEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 220 North Walnut Street P.O. Box 37 Gnadenhutten, OH (home) Church Office Sunday Morning Worship Arise 8:30 Sunday School 9:30 Traditional 10:30 TRUTH Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17 ESV Have you ever heard someone say, That may be true for you, but not for me? The idea that truth is relative to every individual and culture is nothing new. In fact, it s been around a long time. In ancient Greece there was a group called the Stocis teaching exactly that. But what is interesting about the philosophy of relative truth is that there s never been a person in history who could live by it! Think about it: If someone walked in front of a moving bus there s a good chance it would be the end, whether the individ- ual believed in physics or not. The laws of gravity, thermodynamics, and mathematics were just as true in ancient Greece just as they are today. The truth or falsity of a thing isn t dependant on a person s belief in it, but rather it exists in reality; independent of that person s belief in it. Our world was created and ordered by the Master Designer, Jesus. The truths about our world uncovered each year have been in existence from the beginning, when God spoke the universe into existence. Don t let yourself be fooled; eternal truth exists, and it will forever point to Jesus. God has spoken in every direction of human existence, meaning that His word provides sure footing as we walk through life. Remember that God s word is a lamp to (our) feet and a light to (our) path ~Psalm 119:105 Taken from shortdailydevotions.com

THE BEACON NEWLY COMMISSIONED GNADENHUTTEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

THE BEACON NEWLY COMMISSIONED GNADENHUTTEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH GNADENHUTTEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THE BEACON JULY/AUGUST 2016 NEWLY COMMISSIONED On June 15 during the Annual Conference at Lakeside Pastor Seth was commissioned as a Provisional Elder. Ten church members