The MESSENGER. December 2018 & January Eastman Fall Dinner

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1 December 2018 & January 2019 What s INSIDE 1 Fall Dinner 1 Christmas Brunch 1 Christmas Eve Services 2 Pastor s Christmas Letter 2 Advent Series 3 Important News! 4 Christmas Pageant 4 Ordering Poinsettias 4 Christmas Families 5 December Calendar 6 ALB News 6 January Events 7 January Calendar Shared Ministry of Eastman Salem & Prairie du Chien UMC s Eastman Fall Dinner Wednesday, December 5th 4:30-7:00pm at Eastman UMC $8 per person, 5-12 $3.50, pre-school free Carry Out s.50 Extra Homemade Turkey & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Vegetable, Salad Bar, Rolls & Butter, Apple Dessert & Ice Cream, Coffee, Milk & Juice at PdC UMC Big thanks to Eastman and PdC for ringing the bell over Thanksgiving weekend! We are off to a wonderful start. There are still plenty of open shifts. If you can give an hour or two, please let Jen Kapinus know. Help is greatly needed. A Christmas Brunch will be held on Sunday, December 9 after the Sunday morning 9am worship service. Ham, a variety of egg casseroles, juice, breads, rolls, and beverages will be served. It will be free to the church family. We do ask you to bring a can of food or any non-perishable food item to be given to the local food pantry. Mark the date on your calendar and plan to enjoy a time of fellowship together. Everyone is welcome! Christmas Eve Services Our traditional Christmas Eve Services will be held on Monday, December 24th. Please join us: 3:00pm at Eastman UMC 5:00pm at Prairie du Chien UMC 8:30pm at Eastman UMC

2 volume 6 Calm & Bright Advent Series Please join Pastor Barb each Sunday of Advent as she leads us in the Advent Series, Calm & Bright. Join us at 9am at PdC 10:30am at Eastman Special thanks to Dave and Pastor Barb Cook for the donation of the Christmas Tree to Eastman UMC! I Corinthians 1: God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. This means that no one can boast in God's presence. By Christ we are put right with God. [Good News Version] The year the Great Depression. But for Robert May it was a year of personal tragedy. His young wife, Evelyn, was very sick and would die before year s end. His meager salary with Montgomery Wards barely paid the bills. The only joy in his life was the couple s 4 year old daughter, Barbara. Robert created for her a story about a little reindeer that faced difficulty and insurmountable odds. He shared the story with his coworkers at a Christmas party. They loved it and so did Robert s boss, who purchased the story from him. The following year (1939) each child who visited Santa Claus at Montgomery Wards was given a copy of Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer. In fact, over 2 million copies were given away that year alone. Then, in 1946 after 6 million copies had been distributed, Montgomery Ward gave back to Robert May all publishing rights to the story. By this time, Robert had remarried and his new brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made the story of Rudolph into a song. No famous singer would take a chance on a children s Christmas song... until the wife of movie star and singingcowboy Gene Autry heard it and persuaded her husband to record it in The tune soon became the 2 nd best-selling Christmas song of all-time, behind White Christmas. As Paul Harvey used to say, That my friend, is the rest of the story. What does this red-nosed reindeer have to do with the real Christmas story about the birth of Jesus? Some would say not much. And some parents are afraid that stories like Rudolph confuse children, making it hard to distinguish between the truth of Christmas and the fanciful tales of Santa Claus. However, I don t think we have to protect our children from all the popular stories of Christmas which add delight to children everywhere. In fact, I believe we would do well to think about the ways in which non-christian stories do, in some sense, mirror elements of the Gospel story. Author Kathleen O. Chesto writes about her family s Christmas tradition lighting a candle, singing a song, and reading Scripture. One night it was 5 year old Becky s turn to choose a Jesus song. She chose Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Mama Kathleen patiently explained this was not a Jesus song. Becky insisted it WAS a Jesus song, but couldn t explain what that meant. As her eyes filled with tears, Papa pointed out that anything could be a prayer and of course they would sing it. Kathleen listened to the words more closely this time: All of the other reindeer use to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games. She realized Rudolph really was an outcast, excluded from his own kind. It made her think of the prophecies of Jesus = he would be despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3). And how did Jesus come on Christmas Eve? Was it not as a light bringing the gift of salvation? The people walking in darkness have seen a great light (Isaiah 9:2). So Kathleen turned excitedly to her 5 year old daughter and said, You meant that Jesus suffered too and he comes as a great light on Christmas. Yes, Mommy, said Becky delighted that her mother had finally overcome her ignorance. Our children can teach us many things about God if we only listen. If we let them start in their world and reveal to us what they are seeing then we can help them interpret that world. Then their world and ours become great learning centers about God and God s matchless love for us all! May you experience the birth of Christ anew through the heart of a child! Pastor Lynn

3 Big Thanks! On Wednesday, November 21st a Community Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service was held at the PdC UMC. A collection was taken to support the Community Christmas Dinner. An outstanding $704 was collected! All proceeds were sent to the Community Christmas Dinner. The annual dinner serves a free Christmas dinner to approximately 500 people. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! Advent Fair Mission Kits On Sunday, November 25th annual Advent Fair was held at Friendship Hall in Eastman. This year we added an adult mission project. Supplies were collected for Fleece Tie Blankets and First Responder Kits. A lot of dedication and hard work was put into making a total of 28 blankets and 45 kits! Holiday Scrip Ordering If you are planning to order Scrip gift cards for Christmas to use as gifts or for shopping, orders must be placed by Monday, Dec. 17th at 10am. This will be the last order before Christmas and for the year. The next order will be January 7th. Pies Needed Eastman and PdC are asked to supply 20 pies to the free Community Christmas Dinner in PdC on Christmas Day. We need 5 cherry, 5 lemon, 5 pumpkin and 5 apple. If you can bake a pie, please call the office to sign-up( ). Details about delivery will be made available in upcoming bulletins. Items will be on the altar during Advent and then distributed to the very appreciative Eastman First Responders, PdC Fire Department and Crossing Rivers EMS. Thanks to all who helped make this a wonderful time for all! Orders in both Eastman and PdC can be placed during worship, by phone or by . Orders are placed on Monday mornings and available on Thursday s during office hours or picked up on Sunday s during worship times. Youth Mission Trip The PdC/Eastman/Wauzeka joint Youth Group is having a bake sale fundraiser to support their Mission Trip The youth will be traveling to Hopkinsville, KY to assist low-income residents with home repairs. Tasks such as construction, concrete, roofing, painting and landscaping give the youth the opportunity to learn some new skills as well as serve as the hands and feet of the Lord. The Youth Group will be at Johnson s in Seneca on Saturday, December 22nd from 9am-3pm. Be sure to stop by and see us! For those that pre-ordered, orders will be available on the 21st and 22nd in Eastman. Orders from PdC will be available before and after worship on the 23rd. If you need your order before the 23rd, let Jen Kapinus know. Thanks to the PdC United Methodist Women for their donation of $1000 to the general budget. Donation was made from proceeds from the Pasty Dinner. Watch for the next Pasty Dinner coming February 19, 2019! Juanita Dyer & Sandy McCluskey presenting the check.

4 A Christmas to Believe In PdC Christmas Poinsettias are available for ordering in honor or in memory of someone. As in the past we will order from The Blooming Basket. The cost is $8 each. The deadline is December 10th. Call the office or sign-up during worship to place your order. Eastman Poinsettias: To help adorn the sanctuary in celebration of Christ's birth, families are invited to bring a poinsettia on Christmas Eve to share. To include the names of those being remembered or honored in the Christmas Eve bulletin, please contact secretary Jen Kapinus ( ) or Pastor Lynn. Please join us on Sunday, December 16th for the Children s Christmas Program at Eastman UMC. The show begins at 10:30am and everyone is invited! You won t want to miss this performance! In the event of snow, we will have the program the following Wednesday, December 19th. Time will be announced. (PdC) Donations are needed to help adopt a family for Christmas. Money will be used to purchase clothes, toys and food for a family in need this holiday season. Please mark, Christmas Family, on your check or envelope. Thank you! If enough donations are collected we will be sponsoring a family of 4 that had been homeless earlier this year. OPERATION GIVING CROSS (Eastman): Our church will again take on the challenge (8th year) of providing Christmas for families in need in Crawford County. This year we will sponsor THREE FAMILIES. Volunteer coordinator, Jill Sheckler, will receive from Salvation Army Coor, Jen Kapinus the wish list of 3 families. These will be families who were NOT recipients of Operation Santa Claus. The individual items on that wish list will be placed on the 2 Giving Crosses (on landing outside sanctuary door and ramp door) November 25. pers can participate by choosing an item to purchase and returning it to the church by December 9th. Children s Rehearsal Times at Eastman December 5th at 5:30pm Children will eat for free at the Fall Dinner December 9th following worship at 11:30 December 12th 5:30pm-7pm (Rock Solid)

5 1 Zachery Hafke 1 Heath Stuckey 1 Bob Sullivan 1 Vicki Linder 2 Bob Scheckler 3 Scott Schreck 5 Pete Payne 6 Emersyn Smethurst 7 Jonathan Payne 7 Brian Gillitzer 7 Pat Yager 8 Irelynn Smethurst 9 Elsie Martin 15 Don Hafke 15 Allyson McCumber 17 Delia Cooley 19 Derek Griswold 19 Harold Hutson 20 Vicki Hand 20 Barb Cook 21 Bonnie Sheckler 23 RJ Atkinson 27 Vince Feye 29 Hannah Atkinson 31 Don Hand Jr 31 Jeff Sinram 31 Sharon Anderson 31 Lauren Steiber Happy Anniversary! 1 Mark & Judene Schlee 1 Ed & Nola Nagel 2 Don & Vicki Hand 10 Ricky & Brenda Fabert 15 John & Mary Shaw 16 Harold & Gloria Hutson 19 Jim & Darlene Payne 22 Charles & Juanita Dyer Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 + Sunday School am PdC Brunch 11:30 (E) Play Rehearsal :30pm Eastman Fall Dinner 5:30 Play Rehearsal at Eastman Sunday School Children s Christmas Play 10 6:45 PdC Trustees Meeting pm ALB meets at PdC 5:30 Rock Solid at Eastman :45 Devotions at Prairie Maison 10:30 Hymn Sing at Bluffhaven :30am Eastman am PdC Prayer Circle at Huckleberry s 19 2:30pm at Prairie Maison 6:30 PdC Confirmation 20 6pm Youth Group Baking at PdC 21 Youth Group baking all day at PdC pm Bake Sale at Johnson s 30 10:30am Eastman 24 Christmas Eve Services 3pm Eastman 5pm PdC 8:30pm Eastman 25 Merry Christmas!

6 Accountable Leadership Board Meeting Summary October 10, 2018 at PdC UMC 1. Spiritual Growth Meeting opened with a prayer. Spiritual Growth was presented by Pastor Barb. 2. Strategic Goal & Minutes Minutes were read and amended with additions to the finance report. Finance Report Motion was made and approved to pay 2.5% of the weekly general fund offering to apportionments. September 23 combined church picnic was discussed and found a success. The hosting of Come to Supper is set for October 18 at St. Peter s Lutheran Church. Advent Fait at Eastman will be November 25. Blankets and first responder kits will be assembled. December project was discusses and will be finalized at the next meeting. Planning a Secret Santa between the two churches and Bell Ringing. Work Areas Budget recommendations for salaries and benefits from Barb, Lynn, Jen and the new minister coming on July 1, 2019, was explained by Monte. The budget was reviewed and updated. The church conference is set for 10/27 at 3pm at Mt.Hope UMC. The nominations report was reviewed and updated. Trustee report was given. Lynn reported on the education committee Hay Ride on 10/21 at Sheckler s Farm. report was given by Barb brief explanation of the Advent Series Calm and Bright. Christmas Eve services were tentatively set for 3pm at Eastman, 5pm at PdC and 8:30 at Eastman. Bonnie reported the net profit for Pasty Dinner was $ Closing Next meeting was set for 11/14 at 5:30 in Eastman. Pastor Lynn closed in prayer. Treasurer s Report General Fund Receipts October 2018: $12, Expenses for October 2018: $11, Year to Date Apportionments paid: Eastman: PdC: Eastman & PdC Please join us for a Parsonage Party! Sunday, January 20th 2:00-4:00pm at the Church Parsonage 901 E. Dunn St. in PdC Take a tour of the newly remodeled home. Enjoy refreshments and fellowship! Watch the bulletin for details! Eastman & PdC UMC s January is Soup for the Super Bowl Month! Please bring in non-perishable food donations and place them on the altar each Sunday through Super Bowl, February 3rd Donations will be delivered to the Food Pantry on Monday, February 4th. Mark your JANUARY Calendars: Jan. 20 Sock it 2 Me Sunday (& Undies)= Bring new socks an undies for donation to the Salvation Army, and join in the tossing competition.

7 2 Brett Kerscher 3 Zachary Wachter 10 Gayle McIntosh 10 Jacob Payne 11 Lynn Schreck 12 Donna Hand 13 April Fabert 17 Ken Meyer 18 Keegan Owens 19 Marilyn Bouzek 19 Daniel Kerscher 19 Brittany Payne 20 Mary Ahrens 20 Ilene Wilkinson 22 Nicholas Sinram 22 Owen Feye 25 Jerry Wilkinson 26 Rose Fischer 26 Mike Granzow 27 Holden Stuckey 28 Vikki Hafke 28 Sharon Martin 28 Tom Floyd 28 Jayden Glasbrenner 29 Nancy Wachter Happy Anniversary 1 Burt & Sharon Anderson 17 Jerry & Ilene Wilkinson 24 Luke & Nikki Baker Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sunday School pm PdC UMW 5pm ALB meets at PdC 5:30 Rock Solid :45 Devotions at Prairie Maison 10:30 Hymn Sing at Bluffhaven :45 PdC Trustees Meeting 15 9am PdC Prayer Circle at Huckleberry s 16 2:30pm at Prairie Maison 6:30 PdC Confirmation Sunday School + Sunday School 2-4pm Parsonage Party :30 PdC Confirmation 24 6pm Youth Group Baking at PdC 25 Youth Group baking all day at PdC :30am Eastman

8 Shared Ministry of Eastman & PdC UMC s 625 S. Dousman St. Prairie du Chien, WI Phone: (608) volume 5 Do we have your current phone number, address, , birthday, anniversary? Please keep the church office updated with all your current information or pdcumc@mhtc.net