The Beacon. Christmas Services. Children s Ministry

Transcription

1 Volume 41 Number 13 November 28, 2016 Larry Holder, Pastor Putnam City United Methodist Church The Beacon 5819 NW 41st St. Oklahoma City, OK Serving as a beacon of light in the name of Jesus Christ Marriage, children, finances.all of these things can be overwhelming at times. I would encourage you to take an hour out of your week so you can have a group to talk to and study what the Bible says to help us in these areas of lie. We meet at 6:30 on Sunday nights. Child care is provided. Call for information. Christmas Services Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Sat., Dec. 24th 6:30pm Christmas Brunch and Service Sunday, Dec. 25th 10:00am ( no first service or Sunday School Christmas Day) Sunday, December 11th during the 10:45 Service Everyone is welcome! Bring a Friend! Children s Ministry Advent Season is here and I want to let you know about some special activities for children in Sunday school and worship. Dec 4 What is a Jesse Tree? Children s Christmas Play during 10:45 service Dec 11 Christmas Traditions around the world. Dec 18 Happy Birthday Party for Jesus!!! Complete with games, cake and candles. Dec 25 No Sunday School. We will be celebrating Christmas with brunch at 10:00am in the parlor and then the regular 10:45 service. Karen Styers, Children s Minister

2 Dear Friends, As I sit here writing these words, there are only 26 days to Christmas. Black Friday is behind us and now the rush is on. And the question that you and I keep avoiding is heard running through my head, Are you ready? Or is this Christmas going to be like all the rest, a frantic rush to get everything done before Christmas, and then we collapse and wonder if it all was worth it. It s about this time of year that I pull out a poem I received a few years ago. It was printed in the Bowie News and was given to me by Jackie Matthews, a long time friend and co-worker in ministry. It is something that helps keep me centered during this seasons rush. And, it is my gift to you, once again, this Christmas Season. We Need Two Days of Christmas We need two day of Christmas One for Santa and one for Christ Perhaps then we could distinguish The Fiction from the Facts. One day to let our imaginations Envision Santa and his sleigh Flying through a starlight wintry night Delivering toys for Christmas day. One day to honor our dear Savior To in humble adoration kneel With grateful hearts for the greatest gift That only God could forgive One day for fun and folly Santa songs and mistletoe For magical flying reindeer And a man that s made of snow One day to remember a tiny baby Of whom Heavens angels proclaimed Unto you this day is born, your King and Savior And Jesus is His name One day for a tradition Born of folklore and magnified One day for a mythical character That s unrelated to the true yuletide One day to celebrate the birthday With none else to steal the light Of Christ our King and Savior That was born on Christmas night By Joyce Shurbet, December 1995 That is the struggle at Christmas isn t it. Trying to decide which holiday we will celebrate, the man in red or the man who bled. The older I get, the more important is the true meaning of Christmas in my life. And yet, a part of me, the child that will never grow up, needs to keep Santa in the mix. And so, when Jackie shared this poem with me, I made the commitment to share it with each church I served because it hit at the heart of the struggle of Christmas. And so today, I hold true to the meaning of Christmas. And on Christmas Eve, while we worship, we will share in Holy Communion and light the candles to remind us why we worship and why we celebrate the birth of this special child. And then, as we open our gifts on Christmas Day, we will celebrate family, the love of family, the growth of family and the joy that family can bring in the midst of the sharing. And there is a special way that each of us can keep Jesus in Christmas this year, even as we share the gifts that Santa brings and that our families share. After the joy of Santa has slowed, take a minute to open your Bibles and read from the opening chapters of Matthew or Luke the real Christmas story. It will add to your celebration and maybe, just maybe, change the focus for you and yours to where you truly feel the spirit of Christ in your midst as you enjoy this wonderful holy day. Larry

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5 LINK STUDENT MINISTRIES DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES and PCUMC Youth Director Jody Caruthers Sunday, Dec. 18, Link Youth along with the Young Adult Ministries would like to invite everyone to meet in the youth room at 6:30pm to go Christmas Caroling. We will be traveling to various homes and retirement centers to bring the JOY of the season to those that can use a good dose of the spirit. Afterward, we will travel back to the youth room for cookies and cider! If you have any questions please contact Jody Caruthers at STAFF BONUS Please consider giving a donation to our Staff Christmas Blessing Fund by putting your donation in the red envelopes placed in the pews. We have a wonderful staff and would love to have the opportunity to bless them with a financial gift from our congregation. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! Jonette Gadd, SPRC POINSETTIAS This year we will be purchasing 2 to 4 large poinsettia plants for the Communion Table area. If you wish to remember or honor a loved one, you can make a donation of $8 to the Worship Committee to help cover the cost of the flowers We will be putting together a list of remembrances in the Christmas Eve Bulletins. A sign up sheet is at the Welcome Center Desk or you can call the office to put your remembrance on the list for the insert. Gift Acknowledgments A financial gift has been made to the Disciples of Light Sunday School Class in Memory of Verne Brummett. The amount gifted equaled to the age Verne would have been in October of this year. The money will go to our Missions Fund which Verne helped establish when he was a member of our class. Our Mission Fund is used to help needy families in our community at any time, but especially at Christmas Best Choice Labels Continue to save Best Choice labels. We need about 130 more to meet our goal for the year. Thanks for supporting the UMW/Knitwits mini bazaar. Profits were over $1,000. UMW I want to say a special Thank You to all who provided candy and cars for trunk or treat. It was a great evening! Karen Styers Family Christmas Tree Ornaments We would like to invite you to bring your 2016 FAMILY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT to hang on the tree in the Welcome Center. In keeping with our Christian heritage, we would like these ornaments to be a cross, star, an angel, nativity or Christian in theme (Bible, crown, words like PEACE, LOVE, etc.). Please put your family s name and the year on the back or bottom of the ornament and hang it directly on the tree in the Welcome Center. These will be used year after year.

6 Newsletter published bi-weekly by Putnam City United Methodist Church 5819 NW 41st St. Oklahoma City, OK Postmaster: Send address change to the above address Periodical Postage paid Oklahoma City, OK (USPS ) Adler, Alberta Appling, Wayne Blevens, Helen Brintnall, Alvena Cates, JoAnne Cavaness, Hazel DeLong, Betty Demaree, Carolyn Dunn, Bonnie Galaway, Cliff Galpin, Jana Garrison, Ramona Gibbs, Mary Jane Harlan, Charlene Kanary, Lynne Keas, Dottie Johnson, Betty Lackey, Mary Lee & Homer LeBeouf, Diana Marlowe, John McDonald, George Prayers for: Beverly Beesley Carl Conley Carolyn Demaree Mary Lee Lackey George McDonald Woodna Nutt Pat Aldredge Bill Shelton Betty Thompson Jana Galpin Phyllis Thomas John Marlowe Wayne Appling Marvin Seal Charles Williams Jim Moon Member Shut-Ins (Nursing Homes, Illnesses, etc.) Betty Johnson JoAnne Cates Hazel Caveness Jane Conway Lucy Shields Dottie Keas Bill McClary Wilburn Terrell Chris Wagner Lynne Kanary Woody Hawkins Carolyn Chilless Leta Nees Fred & Glyn Templin Mckenzie Asher Nila Gibbs, Bill Davis son Mark Andy Vrooman Alvena Brintnall Dianna Lebeouf McLemore, Roosevelt & Tona McGuinn, Nola Muret, Oleta Nees, Leta Nutt, Woodna Osburn, Teri Randle, Jim Reddick, Imogene Rollins, Robert Russell, Willa Simmons, Ann Steward, Ruth Stone, Jody Templin, Glyn & Freda Thompson, Betty Wagner, Chris William, Charles If you d like to send a card, please call the office for the address. SKYLINE CHRISTMAS GIFTS Members in Service of our Country Katie Gritzmaker Derek Ligon Angela Nieman Daniel Pierce Tyler Duncan There is a great need at Skyline Urban Ministries for NEW, unwrapped Christmas presents (toys, gloves, socks, etc) for adults and children. A box for donated gifts is located in the east hallway through Dec. 11th (wrapping paper is also needed). Lets see that they have a Merry Christmas!