We are a Christian community reaching out to others with Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors

Transcription

1 We are a Christian community reaching out to others with Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors Serving this month: Usher: Dave Mott Liturgists: Shirley Anderson Next Newsletter Deadline January 22, 2017 Full of the Dickens This Christmas Season the New York Public Library has taken out some of their treasured holiday items and put them on display. The centerpiece is Charles Dickens's own copy of A Christmas Carol, which he used for public readings. His edits, voice instruction, and notes on audience reaction are in the margins. Dickens had no idea when he wrote A Christmas Carol that his story form would be repeated over and over through the years with many differing plots. Because there is so much to be thankful for this second day of Christmas (12/26/16), I have put together my thanks using a bit of the same story form. The only ghosts in this article, are of the Holy Ghost variety, with signs of God s Spirit at work. Like Dickens, we begin by looking into the past can it be 6 months already that I have been your pastor? Thank you for being a committed part of the Church: Your Prayers Thank you for those of you who took time to pray for your church and your church family and many beyond us, this past year. This does mean a lot to others. Your Presence Thank you for coming to worship and other programming. This makes us a community together seeking God. Your Gifts - Thank you your financial giving during We finished the year with all of the bills paid and some to begin the New Year! Many of you have also been very generous toward the Missions of the Church and the Community. What a difference we can make in ministry together Your Service Thank you for service on Committees and Teams, for stepping up when called upon. It takes all of us together to make ministry happen. Your Witness Thank You for sharing your faith, just by being who you are for others and for going into the community in many ways to let others know where you come to share the warmth. Next are current Thank Yous : Thank you for the generous Christmas gifts that I received from the church family and numerous other gifts I received, like good sports that dove right in with parts at the Christmas Pageant and singing Silent Night with me by candlelight on Christmas Eve. As to the future: There is anticipation left over from Advent. Thanksgiving for the solid base of faith I see in all of you for whatever is ahead. Thanksgiving in a new year always brings new opportunities for all of us to get a do over on some things and another step in the right direction as we journey together. Come, Holy Spirit, Come! As Always, Pastor Cathy

2 A big thank you for all this congregation has done for others in Our outreach in this community and throughout the world would not be possible without each one of you and your continued prayers, commitment to volunteer time and generous financial support. Operation Christmas 2016 Operation Christmas was an awesome example of what can be accomplished when people of faith work together. Over $10,000 was spent to purchase food for 200 families and gifts were given to over 800 children. Here at HUMC you supplied presents for the 45 names on our giving tree and the loose change offering total for the quarter was $ st Quarter Loose Change Loose change offerings this quarter will go to St. Francis mission school on the LCO Reservation where the need is great. We will begin the quarter by collecting hats and gloves to be taken to the mission in late January. There are 6-8 children in the K-1 group and 6 in the upper grades with ages Other specific needs will be itemized for you throughout the quarter. Giving Envelopes/ Electronic Giving Boxes of giving envelopes are available and can be picked up in the church narthex. Or consider signing up for electronic giving. This enables an automatic transfer of whatever amount you decide to be transferred each month to the church account. It is easier for you and more stable for the church. A one time form is available at the church. Summary of Operating Revenue & Expenses Year to Date as of November 30, 2016 Income $ 126,118 Expenses (114,722) $ 11,396 All bills, including apportionments, are paid to date. Finishing the Year in the black When all of the gifts are counted at the end of the year we should be in the black financially and have some funds to begin the new year with. Thank You for your faithful stewardship. Good Start We are off to a good start for The congregation has committed to contributing $106,580 to support the general ministry budget of $135,787. This means that 79% of the budget will likely be covered by regular giving, which may be a pledging record! It also means that the remaining 21% will be met by fundraising and additional contributions an achievable challenge. Thank you to all those who are supporting the message and mission of HUMC.

3 The Trustees Corner Caring for Our Facilities As a congregation we invite everyone to Come Share the Warmth. While we have plenty of spiritual warmth to share, Trustees and volunteers have been working to also provide more physical warmth. The heat issue in the sanctuary has been resolved so it will be warmer when folks arrive to worship. In addition, our thanks go out to Mike and Connie Hatch for putting some plastic over Pastor Cathy s window to help reduce the cold by her desk. The Ad Hoc Landscape Group has met to begin working on a long term plan for our church grounds. Anyone with ideas or suggestions is encouraged to contact Dick Rainville. Give to Grow Spiritually "For a child has been born -- for us!... and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings." (Isaiah 9:6-7, The Message.) Jesus is counting on us all of us to care for all the children of the world. How do we as United Methodists do that best? When we place our gifts in the church s offering plates, 84.6 cents of every dollar, on average, will remain in our local church to provide for utilities, building maintenance, pastoral and staff salaries, children s and youth ministries, etc. Another 12.7 cents out of every dollar we give will provide signs of hope to children, youth and adults who participate in the ministries of Northcott Neighborhood House, United Methodist Children s Services, Harbor House Crisis Shelters, our United Methodist camps and new ministries in the state. Signs of hope are shared through over 1,000 mission personnel supported through the General Board of Global Ministries, in over 150 countries, for just 2.7 cents out of every dollar given. As United Methodists we are connected. We are called to THINK GREATER! We see that vision come alive right now as people work together to respond to the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew throughout the Caribbean and the northeastern section of the United States. Even in the midst of such tragedy, UMCOR is there on our behalf sharing the love and hope that is ours in Christ. As United Methodists, let s celebrate the many ways hope is shared through our connectional giving all year round. IRA Charitable Rollover Now Permanent Congress reinstated a law that allows a person to make a tax-free gift from an individual retirement account (IRA). Known as the IRA charitable rollover, this law no longer has an expiration date so you are free to make annual gifts to the charity of your choice from your IRA this year and well into the future. The recently reinstated law allows individuals 70 ½ years and older the ability to transfer up to $100,000 from their individual retirement(s) directly to a qualified charitable organization without being subject to income taxes on the distribution. If you would like more details, call Bill Wiberg at or talk to your financial advisor.

4 Children s Church Is ready every Sunday during service after the Children s Message January Bible Study: After a couple of Sundays without a class for Christmas and New Year s Days, we will begin again on January 8 at 8:30am with an Adam Hamilton Study entitled Half Truths: Explore popular sayings that miss the point. 1. Everything happens for a reason. 2. God helps those who help themselves. 3. God won t give you more than you can handle. 4. God said it, I believe it, that settles it. 5. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Hamilton exposes well-worn clichés that lead us down unfaithful and sometimes dangerous paths. Most importantly, he points to what scripture really says, and how that truth can set us free. Sermons & Pictures Online Take time to go online to our web page ( and to see pictures, newsletters, sermons, and what is happening at HUMC. Weather Cancellations If the worst happens (too cold or too much snow) listen to the local radio for a cancellation or even more important, don t risk life or car. Thinking greater sometimes mean: plan ahead Worship Attendance for December December 4-60 December December December December Dear HUMC Family, A note of appreciation and thanks for the Chamber of Commerce gift certificate. I am grateful for your thoughtfulness shown to me at Christmas and throughout the entire year. It is a privilege and my joy to serve with you as a part of our faith family. Love and Blessings, Jan Erickson Upcoming Worship Themes In January 1-1 Epiphany/Communion Matthew 2:1-12 Hanging on a Star 1-8 Baptism of the Lord Luke 3:15-17,21-22 Fire & Water 1-15 John 2:1-11 The First Sign 1-29 I Corinthians 8:1-13 Choosing an American Idol

5 Christmas Greetings We have received a number of Christmas greetings from people who are away from Hayward. Check them out on the bulletin board. Especially Ray & Marcia Whaley with their new grandson, John Book Club Book Club meets on January 30th at 11:15am At Flat Creek Eatery Scream Quietly by Elizabeth W. Carlson will be discussed. Everyone is welcome! To all my HUMC Family, Thank you for the beautiful card and the Chamber Dollars. May you all find God s peace in Love & hugs, Shirley Anderson Thank you HUMC Family for sharing the warmth of Christmas with a beautiful card and Chamber Gift Certificate. Bless you all in Carol The Hayward Library has copies available each month. Just ask for the Methodist Book Club book. Liturgists and Ushers Anyone interested in reading the liturgy during service or serving as usher, please contact Robin Frame at rframe@centurytel.net or home phone Men s Group meets the first Saturday of every month. Breakfast and conversation at 8:00 am. Helping Hands If you are in need of help with winter projects, please contact Pastor Cathy. pastor@haywardumc.org or call with your requests for help. Ruby s Pantry Jan 19 5:30pm Every month people come to Ruby s Pantry at the Wesleyan Church. When they pay $20 they get as much as $100 or more of food from grocery warehouse overstock. Anyone can come. Signing up ahead online saves waiting time, but walk-ins are welcome. If you have questions talk to Pastor Cathy. It is always the 3 rd Thursday at 5:30pm. Attention all women of the church! Women in Conversation invites you to join us Monday, January 9th.

6 Meet Dick Kuhns One of our newest members is Dick Kuhns who grew up in South Dakota and Minnesota. He had an extensive education in engineering from South Dakota State University and St. Thomas University, and started a 40 year career in 1960 in the computer industry. He worked as an electrical engineer, computer system engineer, and a project engineer on defense related projects. He has worked in California, Prague, and Vienna, in addition to his work at Sperry Univac and Lockheed Martin. He has 3 sons and seven grandchildren who live in Malaysia, Elmo, MN, and Two Harbors, MN. He likes golf, some tennis, reading (history) and genealogy research. He was married to Sharon for 54 years until her death in April2016. Dick was a member of the Hayward Habit for Humanity board of directors for 6 years and is currently an active Lions Club member. We welcomed Dick into our church membership in November The James Company HUMC has been asked by the Conference to host a forum on Friday, January 27 at 1:30pm for the United Methodist Churches of this area. People from the James Company are doing a feasibility study to see if the UMC people of Wisconsin are ready and able to support a Capital Campaign to fund ministry in Wisconsin. Please save this date so that your voices can be heard. There will be more information to follow Pulpit Exchange During February, we will have a pulpit exchange with the other churches in our Circuit. This means that Pastor Jack Starr will be here one Sunday, and Pastor Steve Miller will be here one Sunday, while I am at their churches. Discretionary Fund/Salvation Army We have been using the discretionary fund mostly to help Salvation Army screen and administer funds to those in need, by sending them a regular amount. Currently that fund only has enough to help them help others for a few more months. If you see this as an opportunity to share, mark your gift discretionary Fund. Thank you!

7 BLACK MAIL (Previously known as: TALES FROM THE BLACK FOREST) And Hope Does Not Disappoint Us I was sitting at the computer in Illinois iced in. In the woods of the Black Forest, in upper Wisconsin where I lived for 16 years, I can only remember one time, years ago, when I was unable to drive out to get something because of ice on the road. We had snow, and lots of it, but the roads were soon cleaned-up. As soon as I could get the driveway cleared (about a football field in length) we were on our way. Someone told me, when I was headed back to Illinois, to remember that the snows in Illinois are more slippery than the snows in Wisconsin, because the snows there are wet, whereas the snows in Wisconsin are drier. And also, to beware of the ice. I remember how we got used to ice in Central and Southern Illinois. One time when I was about Junior High age, after a nighttime of freezing rain, my buddy, Ed, and I got our ice skates out the next morning and skated on the ice covered alley ways. Normally, on ice, we just slid around on our shoes. That was great fun, when we didn t have to worry about falling. But, here we are, only a year in Illinois, iced in. No one in the neighborhood even tried to drive. The main roads were cleared but the neighborhood roads and the country roads were covered with slick, black ice. Since it was Sunday, most of the churches were closed, and on Monday the schools were reported to be closed. However, I never heard of a tavern being closed for business. When I was an active Pastor I used to tell my congregations at the beginning of winter, If there were ice and snow, I would somehow get to church on Sunday morning, and if I couldn t make it, when you get there, sing a few hymns, take a collection, and then call it a day; the church would be open as long as the taverns were. I always thought it was more important for the church to be open for worship than it was for the business of taking a drink. I always suspected that some of the members had different opinions. Nonetheless, I stood firm (and gained a few drinkers). In spite of the ice, the mail has gotten through. It has been pleasant to receive so many Christmas cards and letters from those we have come to care for, even though miles separate us. The letters and notes keep us up to date with your family, and lets us know some of your joys, as well as the sorrows you have endured. I have just watched the interview between Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. What graceful ladies they both are. Michele said her greatest achievement in the eight years she has been the First Lady is the hope she has inspired. This presidential campaign has been bad, but History informs us there have been others more vicious, and yet our country has endured. This has been one of the worst campaigns we have seen, perhaps even causing an epic changing event for our country. Who knows? As divided as our country is, as we enter the New Year let us not lose hope. Let us not move back from the inclusiveness we have achieved, back from the justice we set in motion, back from our hope for the future. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, hope does not disappointment us, because God s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Romans 5:5). That is my hope. See you in church, in person or spirit. Pastor Black (retired)

8 Hayward United Methodist Church P.O. Box 587 Hayward, WI Mailing Address Goes Here ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Mark Your Calendars January 3 12:00 PM Staff Parish Meeting January 7 8:00 AM Men s Breakfast January 8 8:30 AM Adult Study Half Truths January 9 10:00 AM Women s Group January 9 11:30 AM Witness & Growth January 16 10:00 AM Ad Council Meeting January 19 5:30 PM Ruby s Pantry Distribution January 22 Newsletter Articles Due January 27 11:15 AM Book Club January 31 2:30 PM & 3:15 PM Nursing Home Services