DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER 2014 LANGHORNE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. 301 E. Maple Ave., Langhorne, PA (215)

Transcription

1 DECEMBER 2014 DECEMBER 2014 LANGHORNE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 301 E. Maple Ave., Langhorne, PA (215)

2 WORSHI P TOPI CS f or December December 7 COMMUNI ON SUNDAY Walking in Circles Mark 1:1-8 December 14 Are You Ready Luke 2: 1-14 December 21 Are You Ready Luke 2: :00 Service Contemporary Cantata A Christmas Cantata Presented by the LUMC Wesleyan Choir 9:00 a.m. (There will be no 8:00 a.m. Service) December 28 Standing In the Gap Luke 2:22-40 Contemporary Service 11 a.m. 2

3 Christmas Eve Worship 4:00 p.m. Contemporary 7:00 p.m. Children s service 9:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight & Communion 24 December Love s True Light December 22, 23 & 24 6: 00-9: 00 p. m. Each year our Living Nativity brings the love of the Christmas Story to our community. This annual event is much loved and anticipated. So that we may continue to provide this outreach this year we are asking for donations to cover the expense of the live animals. Containers will be placed at the back of the church for your donations. The sign-up for volunteers for the Living Nativity for the nights of December 22, 23 & 24, 6-9:00 p.m., is available in Fellowship Hall, or call the Church Office at

4 December 2014 agencies had a concept. It s that time! The Christmas season is upon us. Tis the season of anticipation. We are urged on really way before any stores or commercials or advertising In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14 NIV Are we really ever ready, really prepared? We try to get all the gifts purchased early and at the best times. We plan on getting the decorations up on the days with the most decent weather. We strive to get all the items on the grocery list to bake those cookies and that very special Christmas dinner. We even prepare ourselves spiritually by observing the four Sundays of Advent. But then it all comes and goes so fast! Swoosh! Like some gust of a snow squall during a blizzard. And just like that, we find ourselves stepping over the threshold into a new year and onto a track already in motion! Talk about hitting the ground running. Now it s something else we need to get prepared for. Which leads me to encourage all of you to do some of these things over the holidays: Enjoy yourself and your loved ones. Find some time to relax Give God thanks as you come to His house and worship Give God thanks as others gather at your house Look ahead in the issue of the Friendly Voice and on the calendar and take note of what s coming up and what opportunities are available for you to be blessed, be a blessing and be the Church! 4

5 Some things to look for: Christmas Cantatas Christmas Band & Dinner Christmas Eve Services Wesley Covenant Renewal The SEARCH is on! Pastor John is looking for youth wanting to join the church and go through Confirmation classes. Also, people of any age wanting to reaffirm their faith; also mature Christians willing to be Mentors for the Confirmands. Merry Christmas Pastor John 5

6 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Tuesday, December 9, :00 P.M. - Fellowship Hall Let s Get Together for the Holidays Please join us for our festive UMW December 9th meeting, 7:00 p.m., in Fellowship Hall. Anyone who wishes to bring a finger food or cookies to add to our Hostesses fellowship table is welcome to do so. We will share Christmas songs. We will not only be getting together, but coming together with Purpose in our creative, supportive fellowship by expanding our concepts of mission: The Mission Outreach this month is donations of new jeans for our Jean Tree that will be donated to the family service association (FSA), any size for men, women or children. Also we ask if you could bring a monetary donation wrapped in an ornament to give to Pastor John for a church family in need in these tough economic times. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our church family from the United Methodist Women. May your spirit rejoice in all of the blessings of this beautiful season. 6

7 COOKIE WALK Sunday 12/14/ :00 am Fellowship Hall Sponsored by Stewardship, UMW, Women s Retreat Come and purchase homemade Christmas Cookies of all types and flavors made by church members. Cookies will be on display in Fellowship Hall You will receive a container to use and then proceed around to the tables adding cookies to your container. Cost $6.00 per pound Specialty Wrapping Cost: additional $2.00 per pound Perfect for: Those who don t bake Gifts for friends, neighbors & family To Our Church Family, A Special Christmas Prayer that God above will bless you and your family with peace and happiness. Season s Greetings to our Church Family and a Very Happy New Year! Donna Goodwin & Carol Nielsen 7

8 Christmas Dinner, December 7 th Join us for a delicious ham dinner along with all the fixings, sides and dessert, followed by our wonderful holiday tradition, the Christmas Band performance. We ask that you bring a favorite holiday dessert to share. In order to make it a success help is needed. The meal and set-up are covered. Family Ministries needs help to serve the meal (2 sittings) and a clean-up crew is required. Volunteers to help with set-up, serving and clean-up are encouraged and welcome. Dinner for the band is at 5:00p.m.; dinner for all others, 6:00 p.m. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. The 2014 Christmas Festival will be held on Sunday, December 7th. The program will once again feature a 25 to 30-piece band made up of church members with Tri- County Band members filling out the sections. The Christmas Band is a special time of Christian fellowship and fun that is enjoyable for all who participate. Vocal selections will be performed by various groups from the church. Those performing will have diner at 5:00 pm followed by a band rehearsal until about 6:45 pm. The Festival program will begin around 7:00 pm. All members of our congregation are invited to this family fun evening which will include the singing of many familiar Christmas carols. 8

9 Miss Bonnie s class has been learning about prayer. They have been learning when to pray and what to pray about. Miss Bonnie has been showing them all the different areas of our church! They are finishing up on learning about Thanksgiving and praising God for all he has given us! 9

10 This holiday season help LUMC earn up to 15%! HOW DOES IT WORK? Gift card fundraising is an easy hassle free way to help support Langhorne United Methodist Church. It s easy for anyone to take part in this fundraiser. Just purchase gift cards for the places you shop at. These gift cards can be used to purchase everyday items, given as gifts to family, friends and coworkers, or used to purchase holiday gifts. You will receive full face value gift cards and LUMC will earn up to a 15% rebate on each purchase. The gift cards you purchase will be the same gift cards you would get when you purchase them at your local retail store or online. Gift cards are available for everything from grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, movie theaters, home improvement stores, and much more. A list of participating stores are on the next page. WHERE AND WHEN CAN I ORDER GIFT CARDS? Orders will be taken before and after church. We will be selling the gift cards on a pre-sold basis. This means you have to think ahead and order your gift cards a week in advance. Orders placed on Sunday will be available for pick up the following Sunday before and after church. WHEN DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE GIFT CARDS? All orders are pre-sold which means payment is due when you order your gift cards. Both cash and checks will be taken. Please make checks payable to LUMC (Langhorne United Methodist Church). HOW WILL LUMC SPEND THE MONEY RAISED? All funds raised from the Holiday gift card program will go toward the Langhorne United Methodist Church general fund. The general fund is used to pay general bills; such as electric, water and sewer and internet, staffs salaries as well as all other everyday expenses the church faces. If you have any questions about the holiday gift card program please contact Amy Hansen at lumctreasurer@comcast.net or call

11 Here s a list of participating stores in the LUMC Gift Card Fundraiser Amazon.com AMC Theatres Applebee's Banana Republic Barnes & Noble Bed Bath & Beyond Best Buy Burger King Cheesecake Factory Children's Place Chuck E Cheese Cracker Barrel CVS Pharmacy Dell Computers Disney Dunkin' Donuts Einstein Bros Bagels Express Exxon GAP Hallmark Home Depot itunes JCPenney Kmart Kohl's Lane Bryant Lowe's Macey's Michaels Office Depot Office Max Old Navy Olive Garden On the Border Panera Bread Payless Shoes Pep Boys PetSmart Pizzeria Uno Red Lobster Red Robin Rite Aid Ruby Tuesday Sam's Club Sears Shell Staples Starbucks Subway Sunoco Target TGI Friday's Toys-R-Us United Artist Theatres Walgreens Walmart Wawa Wendy's 11

12 Mon., Dec Trustees Mtg. 7 p.m. Wed., Dec Community Dinner, 5 p.m. Bell Choir, 6 p.m. Wesleyan Choir 7:30 p.m. Thur., Dec. 4...Praise Team, 7 p.m. Sat., Dec LBE, 9 p.m. Sun., Dec Christmas Dinner & Music Festival Tue., Dec UMW, 7 p.m. Wed., Dec LAMA, 12 p.m. Bell Choir, 6 p.m. Wesleyan Choir 7:30 p.m. Thur., Dec Praise Team, 7 p.m. Sun., Dec (Combined Worship Service) Choir Cantata, 9 a.m. Contemporary Service,11 a.m. Mon., Dec Stewardship Mtg., 5:45 p.m. Administrative Bd. Mtg. 7 p.m. Tue., Dec Forward Look, 12 p.m. SPR Mtg., 7 p.m. Wed., Dec Community Dinner, 5 p.m. Bell Choir, 6 p.m. Wesleyan Choir, 7:30 p.m. Thur., Dec. 18.Praise Team 7 p.m. Fri., Dec Senior Lunch & Meal packing, 12 p.m. Sat., Dec Prayer Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. Mon., Dec Shared Lunch, 12:00 p.m. LIVING NATIVITY, 6-9 p.m. Tue., Dec LIVING NATIVITY, 6-9 p.m. Wed., Dec LIVING NATIVITY, 6-9 p.m. Contemporary Christmas Eve Worship, 4 p.m. Children s Christmas Eve Program, 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion, 9:00 p.m. Thur., Dec MERRY CHRISTMAS! Sat., Dec. 27.LBE., 9:00 a.m. Wed., Dec. 31.HAPPY NEW YEAR! 12

13 Sanctuary Servants For December DECEMBER 7 Worship Assistant, 8:00... Erika Paton Worship Assistant, 9:00... Jerry Hill Greeters, 8:00... Dot Gannon Greeters, 9:00... Vince Belmont & Carol Nielsen Ushers, 9:00... Hansen Family Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Letham Family DECEMBER 14 Worship Assistant, 8:00... Lyn Wallace Worship Assistant, 9:00... Jeannette Hesser Greeters, 8:00... Bob & Charlotte Downs Greeters, 9:00... Mike & Lynda Pritchard Ushers, 9:00... Chuck & Beth Lotocki Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Raab Family DECEMBER 21 Worship Assistant, 8:00... Dolores Chemey Worship Assistant, 9:00... Holly Rogerson Greeters, 8:00... Kathy DiGregorio Greeters, 9:00... Betty Bunting & Bettie Foster Ushers, 9:00... Stacy & Tami Lewis Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... Bev Eick & Carol Annucci DECEMBER 28 Worship Assistant, 8:00... Tom Romspert Worship Assistant, 9:00... Ron Cookson Greeters, 8:00... Lyn Wallace Greeters, 9:00... Vic & Ruth Campo Ushers, 9:00... Marty & Marlene Kalbach Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Peiffer Family 13

14 Items for the January 2015 Friendly Voice newsletter are due in the church office no later than DECEMBER 15TH. You may submit your article by to: 14

15 Langhorne United Methodist Church 301 East Maple Ave., Langhorne PA, (215) lumc-online.org Rev. John Lutz, Pastor, JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP! Sunday Worship Hours: Traditional Worship, 8:00 & 9:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship, 11:00 a.m. Sunday School, 10:00 a.m. John Lutz, Senior Pastor, Bill Bryan, Minister of Congregational Care,, Tom Romspert, Lay Leader, Church Secretary, Zachary Beeksma, Choir Director, Anthony Vigile, Contemporary Worship Leader, Kerry Fenton, Organist, Pete Curtin, Youth Director, Amy Hansen, Treasurer, Amy Rodda, Steeple Kids Director, 15