The Wesleyan December 2016

Transcription

1 The Wesleyan December 2016 Westwood United Methodist Church Connecting and Caring Friends in Christ, It is December and we find ourselves in the midst of Advent. Advent is the season for preparing ourselves to receive once again the gift of God in Jesus Christ. What do we do to prepare ourselves for Christmas? What do we do to prepare our hearts, souls and minds to celebrate the gift God gives to us on Christmas? As we prepare for Christmas are we focused on giving and receiving gifts, or are we focused on drawing closer to God, who is the giver of every good gift? I challenge us this Advent to spend time finding ways to draw closer to God so we can truly celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ this Christmas! December also brings us the season of Christmas. The season of Christmas begins on December 25 and lasts through January 5. That is twelve days. Advent is for preparation and Christmas is for celebration. Please join us as we prepare for Christmas on the Sunday s of Advent. December 18, is the fourth Sunday of Advent and we will be having our lessons and carols service and the brass quintet will be joining us that Sunday as well. We will begin our service that day at 9:45 am. Then the community band will be performing at 3:00 pm that same afternoon in our sanctuary. Christmas eve we will celebrate with the Sunday School Christmas pageant, Christmas communion and candle lighting. This service will begin at 7:00 pm. Christmas Day is a Sunday this year and we will be celebrating with a relaxed come as you are service, beginning at 10:00 am. So, let us prepare, celebrate and rejoice, for God is with us! Merry Christmas, Wayne

2 DEADLINE FOR THE JANUARY-FEBRUARY WESLEYAN TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH Westwood UMC is actively on Facebook as Public Group listed as: Westwood Church. Join the chatter and inspiration! TAKE ACTION PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS NEEDED - LET US HELP "CUMAC has an ongoing great need for plastic grocery bags that they use to pack food." Please help them restock by donating your surplus. Every donation counts! Please leave your donations in the Narthex on Sundays or at the church office. WUMC Online We will be posting an interactive version of the upcoming Sunday s bulletin on our website on Friday morning. You will be able to see the entire bulletin before coming on Sunday. Also, following the weekend, we will be posting a recording of that Sunday s sermon along with the images used. Check it out and let us know what else you would like to see on our website. WESTWOOD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Church Office: (201) Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-12 noon westwoodumcoffice@gmail.com Web: Fairview Avenue, Westwood, NJ SUNDAY AT OUR CHURCH Worship: 10:00 am CHURCH STAFF Pastor: The Reverend Wayne M. Jones revwaysr@msn.com Office Administrator: Jay Schwartz Director of Music: E. Joanne Reed Music Ministry: Bonnie Harley, Robert Harley, Marianne S. Neville Church Facility: Vanguard Cleaning Systems Ministers: All Members and Friends of Westwood UMC

3 Please Join us for lunch, Sunday, December 11, 2016, at Noon, at the Recovery Room, on Old Hook Rd., Westwood WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GUN VIOLENCE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? November 13 15, Bonnie Harley attended the Faith and Guns Forum, along with 50 representatives from various areas of the United States, including 6 others from New Jersey, at the United Methodist Building in Washington D.C. This Sunday is an opportunity to discuss the presentations of the Forum, and the issue of Gun Violence in the U.S. (on an average day, about 90 people men, women, and children die from firearms). The Lunch will be Dutch, with each ordering from the menu. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex for those who will be attending, or they can call Bonnie s home at Music Notes Announcement: Dec The Westwood Community Band Brass Quintet will take part in the Sunday morning service, with, as in years past, an extended prelude, starting at 9:45. Also, on the same day, there will be a concert featuring brass ensembles playing Christmas music in our Sanctuary at 3:00. All brass band, quintet, trombone quartet, etc. Bergen Highlands United Methodist Church 318 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, NJ invites you to: BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21 7:00P.M. This quiet, meditative worship service is designed, not only for those who have suffered loss, but also for anyone who struggles with sadness, depression or anxiety during the holidays. It can be a reflective respite from the busy-ness of the season. The Blue Christmas service will stress prayer, reflection and musical selections to assist in remembering and dealing with losses, whether family-, job-, or illness-related. The worship is designed to be ecumenical and is open to anyone.

4 FAITHWORKS THRIFT SHOP Do you still have Christmas shopping to do? FaithWorks is chocked full of great gift ideas and decorating items. We also have a good supply of wrapping paper and Christmas cards. The cards are the everyday low price of 25 each. Please visit us soon. You will be sure to find a treasure for yourself as well as someone on your Christmas list. In case you need a teen/adult bicycle, we have two for sale. Both are in good condition. FaithWorks is open Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm and the first and third Saturdays from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Donations are received the hours we are open. We look forward to seeing you.. Friday, December 16, 2016 at 8pm Heavenly Christmas Bells Ridgewood United Methodist Church 100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ Free Will Offering

5 Day Date Event Time Wednesday Dec 7 United Methodist Women, Wesley Hall 10:30 am Tuesday Dec 8 Finance Committee, Library 7:30 pm Tuesday Dec 13 Sunrise of Old Tappan Worship Service 2:00 pm Wednesday Dec 14 Prayer and Bible Breakfast, Wesley Hall 9:30 am Wednesday Dec 21 HGT, Rhinesmith Chapel 11:30 am Saturday Dec 24 Christmas Eve Service 7:00 pm In this holiday season, please consider sending a card to one of our homebound: Rita Dublin Lucille R. Jorgensen Tappan Zee Manor, Suite 223 Promenade at Blue Hill 51 Mountainside Avenue 582 Veterans Memorial Dr Nyack, NY Pearl River, NY Ray Mercado Robert Myers 40 Sycamore Avenue Veterans Home, Room N 106 D Hillsdale, NJ Veterans Drive Paramus, NJ Jack Robinson Lucille Seeley Bristol Glen Apt 378 The Bald Eagle 200 Bristol Glen Drive 197 Cahill Cross Road Newton, NJ West Milford, NJ Douglas A & Emily Wilson Francis Asbury Manor 70 Stockton Avenue Apt 325 Ocean Grove, NJ

6 PRAYER CONCERNS Prayer requests are left on for 4 weeks; you can then resubmit them if you like. Any prayer requests during the week can be added to the prayer concerns list by contacting the church office by Noon, Thursday or office. Our Church Family Carol Caputo, Lynn Christensen, Rita Dublin, Ethel Frey, Ray Mercado, Robert Myers, Josefina Moises, Rev. Lou Springsteen, Ruth Starkins Our Extended Church Family Ray Broek, in-law of Gene and Bob Myers George Chien, friend of Marianne Neville Ralph Caputo and family, brother of Ed & Carol Caputo Dennis Fitzsimmons, nephew of Heather Fitzsimmons Chris Green, Juanita Rowland s nephew lb Jenson, cousin of Gene Myers Pete Mahler, former member of Westwood UMC, friend of Bob and Bonnie Harley Grayson Langdon, son of Rev. Dennis C. Langdon of Morgan Pk UMC, Chicago Rita Petraglia, friend of Joanna Reed Marisa Roscio, sister/sister-in-law to Ron and Judy Fringuello Douglas Rowland, son of Juanita Rowland Michael Villegas, grandson of Gene and Bob Myers Our Homebound Please remember with prayer all those who are now residing in nursing homes or reside out of state and are no longer able to worship with us: Rita Dublin, Ming Johnson, Lucille Jorgensen, Ray Mercado, Robert Myers, Jack Robinson, Barbara Van Saders, Douglas & Emly Wilson, Lucille Seeley