Community. Glorify God. Encourage One Another. Share Jesus. United Methodist Church. the newsletter of. Pastor Bill. All Things Considered

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1 the newsletter of Community United Methodist Church Glorify God Encourage One Another Share Jesus All Things Considered December 2016 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; grace that provides divine assistance for daily living and peace to comfort us through all circumstances of life! That is an introduction that the Apostle Paul used as he opened many of his letters and one I like to use frequently. With that said, think about how peace came into the world that first Christmas. On a still, cool night outside of Bethlehem, something was up... something extraordinary... something supernatural. The shepherds raced into the City of David and found their Savior, just as an angel had told them... swaddled and lying in a feeding trough; they found the Promised One, the Messiah! God had finally come to dwell with His people, and in such an unexpected way. Just who was this holy Child the shepherds gazed upon? Make no mistake: He was incarnate deity. The newborn Jesus existed in eternity past as God the Son. He was coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. However, Jesus relinquished the privileges and powers of His existence in heaven when He took upon Himself the limitations of humanity (Philippians 2:6-7). In emptying Himself, Jesus voluntarily set aside the prerogatives and prerequisites of life as He had known it, an existence He had enjoyed; He released His right to that kind of life, saying to the Father, I will go. Go where? To Bethlehem - He took the form of a bond-servant, and [was] made in the likeness of men. Allow yourself to picture what the shepherds saw - there He is, the baby. With ten fingers and ten toes, a little button nose! Imagine hearing him cry, there s humanity. In this holy infant is the beginning of an earthly life; but if one would look deep into His eyes, the beginning of life itself would be seen! Later, this divine man, completely unique in His nature and in the perfect life that He lived, humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Isn t that amazing? Of all ways to die, He died on a cross---the most humiliating and painful kind of death. God the Son lowered Himself, took on the flesh of an infant, and later died a humiliating death. As a result, God the Father highly exalted Him so that one day, all will bow in worship of the risen Lord, to the glory of God the Father. It s all about His glory. What a plan. What an execution. What a perfect, awesome wrapping! The God-man Jesus, undiminished deity and true humanity; two distinct natures in one person, forever; that s the baby in the manger! That is also the One who brings to each of us and offers each of us the gift of grace, a promise of eternal life that will transform the one would receive it, both in life today and life in eternity! I invite you to join us in upcoming Sundays of December as we prepare for Christmas, and look at the story of promise that the Lord offers each of us personally! We will look at various co-stars of this amazing story; Mary the chosen, Joseph the confused, Gabriel the heaven sent, and the star of the story - Emmanuel the promised One! Our hope is that you will get a fresh perspective on this amazing story. You are also invited to join us on Saturday, Christmas Eve at 4pm for a Candlelight Service, and Sunday, Christmas Day at 9:30am. 2 days that will help you to better understand the promise of salvation and help that the Babe in the manger offers us! I hope that you will join us for this sermon series as you grow as a disciple of Christ, and merry Christmas! May God richly bless and keep you. Pastor Bill

2 DECEMBER WORSHIP THEMES Stars of Bethlehem Christmas Sermon Series December 4 - Mary, the Favored One Luke 1:1-26 December 11 - Joseph, the Confused One Matthew 1:18-25 December 18 - Gabriel, the Heaven Sent One Luke 1:11-28,38 December Emmanuel, the Promised One Luke 2:1-14 Communion December 4, 2016 December Noisy Can Open Doors December 18 For over 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world s most oppressive countries, empowering Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs through programs like Bible & Gospel Development, Women & Children Advancement and Community Restoration. They strive to raise awareness of global persecution, mobilizing prayer, support and action among the Christians around the world. Every year, Open Doors publishes our World Watch List,which ranks countries by the severity of persecution. Learnmore about World Watch List and how Open Doors ranks countries where Christians are persecuted. Find out more at Afternoon Circle Christmas Mission Project Collecting items for Love, Inc. in Burlington to give out at Christmas to families in need in our area. Unwrapped items will be accepted until December 11. Please contact Phyllis Bixler if you have questions. Ministry Opportunities Have you taken the SHAPE Analysis? Which Spritual Gift(s) has God Blessed you with? Are you Ready to put your Gift(s) into Action? Here are some opportunities for you to pray about and consider: Serving Communion Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month, and on a rotation based on the number of volunteers. You can choose between the 8 & 9:30 AM Services. If this is a Ministry area you are interested in, please contact Phyllis Bixler at Greeting people at the door, or Ushering during services is another important Ministry here. Please contact Norm or Carla Keeker at to get involved. Serving coffee, helping with setup or cleanup. This is a fun way to get involved, and have the opportunity to get to know people! Contact Kris Joehnk at to get started! Welcome Ministry This is the place to connect with our visitors! Sharing information about what we believe, and things that go on here. Contact Fay Tichy The Nursery is open for the 8 am service for you to go with your children as needed. We will staff the Nursery for the 9:30 service so that parents can attend service, or a Sunday School Class. If you are interested in volunteering for the nursery one hour every three months contact Cindy Umnus or Patty Bernau Other opportunities... Children, Youth, Kitchen, Food Pantry, Grief Share, Adult Ministries. The possibilities are endless! Where is God directing your path?

3 9:30 AM 4 PM 2016 Advent Devotionals are in the Lobby! Pick some up to share with friends and family! Enjoy the daily devotions written by church family! Potluck! Sunday, December 11 at Noon You are ALL invited! Come and celebrate all that God is doing here! We will have our annual church meeting, and lunch together. Please bring either a dessert or cold salad to share! BBQ & Ann s homemade rolls will be provided! :)

4 An Update from The Way to Grow Preschool Jesus is God s Son We are hoping the Christmas story will come alive for the children through all the activities in the classroom this month. Our Science Center will be our focus as we display the Nativity. The children are always interested in the stable with all the animals to move around and to re-enact the Christmas story. There is a lot of conversation and imagination happening in Bethlehem! In the Dramatic Play Center, we will be preparing for Jesus birthday with Christmas baking. The sensory table will be filled with Christmas bows with tongs for grasping and jars for filling and sorting. Writing centers will be fit with cards, writing tools, and list making. The blocks will be another place to play with a Nativity set and to practice sorting and naming shapes. All our songs will be in preparation for singing to Baby Jesus at our celebration on Dec. 21st. It is our hope that the children will be so immersed in the fact that Christmas is Jesus birthday; they will understand its true meaning. PLEASE COME TO OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Wednesday December 21 at 10:30 am The children will be singing in the church Afterwards we will share cookies and milk together in the church lobby. Grandmas and Grandpas are welcome as well as friends & family to hear the children sing to Baby Jesus. This is a regular scheduled school day but all children are invited to school regardless of their scheduled days so they can be a part of our celebration. Dismissal will be at regular time; after cookies & milk. We hope you can come, and if you can, please bring one dozen cookies to share. Cookies may be dropped off at class time or brought at 10:30 am. THANK YOU, FOR A VERY SUCCESSFUL KRINGLE FUNDRAISER. WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE $1, FOR the preschool. THAT IS AMAZING!! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD S BLESSINGS IN THE NEW YEAR, Mrs. Cindy, Mrs. Jen and Mrs. Anne Thursday s Thursday s from 9-11 AM (on going, newcomers always welcome!) Women s Study - at the home of Cleo Hollingsworth 856 Augusta St. Waterford, WI Phone: Living Free Learning to Pray God s Word by Beth Moore Explores the somewhat-radical idea that we cannot please God by being perfect. The study begins by defining false strongholds, then focuses on five key benefits for every believer, including how to find satisfaction in God and experience God s peace. Participants can learn how to develop a Godward focus in life, while beginning to incorporate the key benefits in their lives through practices of prayer and Bible study. Ladies Afternoon Circle The first Thursday of each month (April - December) at 1:00 PM here at Community UMC. You are welcome to join anytime for devotions, fellowship, service projects and yummy desserts! Thursday s from 6:30-8 PM (on going year-round, newcomers always welcome!) Men s Study, at Java Jo z Led by Mike Biesiadny Evergreen Dr. Waterford, WI Currently studying the Gospel of Mark. Verse by verse discussion as this group of men work their way through books of the Bible. Bring a Bible and join them any time! The main theme of Mark s Gospel may be the shortest of the four Gospels, but it is packed full of the progression of events that reached their climax in the Cross. Weaving its way through this gospel is the question of Jesus identity, and it is clear that Mark wants his readers to understand properly who Jesus is.

5 Youth Ministries - Dinner (every week!) WiReD 7-8:30 PM Jr High - Grades 6-8 Sr High - Grades 9-12 Invite your friends to Youth Group! Remembering Tyler Arnold-Herwig Join us in celebrating the life Of Tyler on Sunday, December 4, 2016 At 4pm here at CUMC. When Tyler was still in Elementary school he would come to church by himself... Soon he started bringing his little brother Christian... Then he started to invite his friends... And his friends brought more friends... And some of those friends started bringing their parents... While none of us will know just how many lives were touched by Jesus love because of this young man, we are grateful for his life, his testimony, and for his love.

6 Connected Join a Small Group connecting equipping transforming Waterford Winter Wonderland Parade December 3 at 5:00 PM Community UMC will do something different this year! We will set up tents on the front lawn of Bill Czaja s State Farm office on the corner of Main St. & Milwaukee Ave. From there we will serve popcorn and warm beverages! Want to join the fun? Contact Lori Chobot at The Newsletter is available by and on the website at If you would like to stop receiving the newsletter by mail contact the office at or office@extremefaith.org to let us know. A new catalog will be available soon for classes that will begin Sunday, January 8, 2017! Grief Recovery Support Group New Group Beginning Monday s, January 9 - April :15-8:15 PM. Your journey from mourning to joy! Grief Share is a weekly seminar/support group for peoplegrieving the death of someone close. It is a place where you can be around people who understand how you feel and the pain of your loss. At Grief Share, you ll learn valuable information thatwill help you through this difficult time in your life. You are welcome to join this group anytime. We know it hurts, and we want to help! $15 Registration Fee includes workbook. Contact Ron or Fay Tichy for details - Ron , Fay Giving Made Easy! Options for Giving Place your envelop in the Offering Basket as it passes. You can arrange Automatic Giving through your personal bank. You may simplify your giving by filling out an Automated Giving Enrollment. Form that is available on the back counter in the Sanctuary. Coming soon: Giving through our website extremefaith.org & giving by Text!!! And thank you for supporting the ministry of making disciples of Jesus Christ through the Community United Methodist Church! Meets every Tuesday evening at, in room 13 on the lower level here at CUMC. My Grace is Sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness 2 Corinthians 1:9

7 December 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00 PM Afternoon Circle 6:30-8 PM 9-11:00 AM CR Step Study Groups 4 No WiReD 5 6:15-8:15 PM Grief Share 6 Celebrate Recovery Glory Singers Rehearsal 7 4-5:45 PM Food Pantry 8 Alzheimer Caregiver Support Group 6:00 PM Praise Team Practice :00 AM CR Step Study Groups 11 Noon Chruch Conference WiReD Dinner at 6:30 PM WiRed at 7-8 PM 12 Prayer Gathering 13 7:00 PM Trustee Meeting Celebrate Recovery Glory Singers 14 Men s Bible Study Women s Bible Church 15 Finance Meeting 6:00 PM Praise Team Practice :00 AM CR Step Study Groups 18 Noisy Can Offering Open Door WiReD Dinner at 6:30 PM WiRed at 7-8 PM Christmas Party! Glory Singers Celebrate Recover :45 PM Food Pantry 22 6:00 PM Praise Team Practice Christmas Eve Service at 4 PM 25 Christmas Day Service at 9:30 AM NO Sunday School No WiReD 26 Prayer Gathering 27 Glory Singers Celebrate Recovery Afternoon Circle is open to all women who are available during the day. They meet the first Thursday s in the Fellowship Hall at 1:00 PM

8 Community United Methodist Church 455 S. Jefferson St. Waterford, WI PM 9:30 AM Church Office Pastor Bill Busch or pbbusch@gmail.com - like us on facebook - office@extremefaith.org Summer Sunday Worship Services at 9:00 AM (May 29 - Sept. 4) The Way to Grow Preschool thewaytogrowpreschool.org