Advent at Spirit of Hope

Transcription

1 A monthly newsletter of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church DECEMBER 2015 Advent at Spirit of Hope Sunday, November 29 Advent Begins Advent is the four weeks before Christmas when we prepare for the gift of Jesus. This is a time for great celebration and hope. Each Sunday, we will light a candle on the Advent Wreath to mark this time of waiting and anticipation. We will also have many special events during this season, and we hope you make these wonderful opportunities a part of your Advent. Saturday, December 5 Santa s Workshop (5:00-8:00 p.m.) Enjoy a delicious meal while children have a photo and visit with Santa, holiday songs, festive Christmas activities and a bake sale This fundraiser will benefit Sunshine Valley Childcare. Sunday, December 6 Children s Christmas Pageant and Lunch (11:30 a.m.) Join us for this fun afternoon as the PreK - 6th grade kids share the wonderful Christmas message of Jesus birth through song and story. Sunday, December 13 Family Worship of Lessons and Carols Lessons and Carols is a wonderful, traditional offering of the Christmas promise through music and readings during the 10:00 a.m. worship service. Wednesday, December 16 Intergenerational Christmas Caroling; Deliver Christmas Bags Join us at the church at 6:30 p.m. for caroling until 8:30 p.m. Traditional Christmas bags for our homebound members will be ready for delivery. Thursday, December 17 Service of Light and Hope (3:30 p.m.) This is a special opportunity for those who are feeling overwhelmed or saddened during the holiday season to join in a quiet service of candlelight, words of hope, and to experience a bit of peace amidst all the activity. Sunday, December 20 A Taste of Christmas; Deliver Christmas Bags (11:00 a.m.) Share a favorite Christmas hors d oeuvre or treat at our annual Christmas holiday buffet! This festive event will begin immediately after worship. Traditional Christmas bags for our homebound members will be ready for delivery. Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve Worship Service (4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) Celebrate the birth of Jesus with music and candlelight worship. Friday, December 25 Christmas Day! Jesus is born! Let us give thanks. Sunday, December 27 New Year s Worship Service (10:00 a.m. only) A time for New Year s Celebration, Resolutions and Reflections

2 Pastor s Message Dear Friends, I wish it was toy animal puppy carnage I was writing about again. Sadly it s the real thing. By the time this reaches you the attacks carried out, in Paris on November 13 th will be one more page in the ever-expanding volume of hateful violence visited on unsuspecting people, in God s name. One hundred twenty-nine people were killed by ISIS in this case, purportedly because of France s involved in the wars in Iraq and Syria. Several years ago Thomas Friedman said that we in the west wouldn t be facing the sort of murderous bitterness that we are, had we not treated the whole Middle East as one big filling station where we go to gas up, while at the same time turning a blind eye to the brutal things the proprietors of that fuel stop (repressive governments) were doing to the citizenworkers who live out back. The politico-economic element is the fire here. Religion just adds its own fuel. However, in my limited understanding, this isn t about Islam per se, but fundamentalist religion. It s the sort of religion, whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian or Hindu, that fearfully circles the wagons around a certain set of God-given beliefs, documents, practices, and not only defends that holy core, but is hateful and homicidal, if not genocidal, toward those who don t subscribe to the same. Such fanaticism is not reasonable. So, what to do? Let s go get em! Bomb em into submission! Show them that such activity is indeed deadly for them! Well, we ve been doing that at least since the War on Terror was declared. So, how s that working out for us? I obviously don t have the solution. But, do we really believe that pouring on the incendiaries, and adding to the terror quotient in the world will relieve any of us of its accumulating weight? Won t it rather add to it? If your neighbor is angry enough at you to want to kill you, how is going over to his house at night and beating up his wife and children going to reduce his anger? You may intimidate him in the short term. But he will remember what you ve done. And so will his extended family, and his neighbors, and succeeding generations. So, again, what to do? Well, knowing this didn t develop overnight, the re-development won t be rapid either. Re-doing anything is never quick or easy. And bombs are poor tools. So, maybe a first step and pledge for us is to not become the very thing that appalls and grieves us violent, vengeful, hateful. We are made and meant for far better things. As people of faith, we are moving from an ending to a beginning. Into and through the season of Advent, with its stories of longing and expectation, of hope for an end to a long season of deep darkness, we are drawn towards an unassuming, unpromising, even unwanted birth in a quiet, out-of-the-way place, a birth that changed the world, that still can, still does. Why not give ourselves to the sort of hope that surrounds the expectation of birth? We all know how powerful and transformative that can be. In the midst of the vitriolic calls for war and walls, let us refuse to succumb to the angry fear that is so powerful, and so dark. Let us instead, small, unassuming, unpromising, and out-of-the-way as we may be, become a pregnant presence and voice of hope, peace, and the promise of new life. We do, every time we meet, gather under a cross and not one that we hoist others upon! It s ours, even at Christmas time. Shalom, Jeff - 2 -

3 A Taste of Christmas (formerly known as Coming Home for Christmas) Sunday, December 20 Share a favorite Christmas hors d oeuvre or treat at our annual Christmas holiday buffet! This festive event will begin immediately after 10:00 a.m. worship. Homebound Christmas Bags Once again we will be preparing Christmas bags for delivery to our homebound members on Wednesday, December 16. This is a wonderful way to spread the Christmas spirit with one of our members who is physically unable to attend worship services. There are several ways you can be involved in this wonderful outreach ministry. Sunday, December 13, from 9-10:00 a.m. Fireside Room Have fun designing a Christmas card. Sunday, December 13, in the Upper Lobby area before and after worship, sign your name to card inserts. Make a small sweet bread loaf and bring to church on or before Sunday, December 13. Personally deliver a Christmas bag to one of our homebound members. Sign up on the poster in the lobby or Joan Boger at joanwboger@gmail.com Santa s Workshop Saturday, December 5, 5-8 p.m. Spirit of Hope UMC ONLY $7 includes: Pizza, salad, dessert and beverage; photos and a visit with Santa! Also: Fun holiday songs, festive Christmas hands-on activities including gingerbread houses, a building project with Home Depot and bake sale! Designed especially for families with preschool through young elementary kids. No pre-registration necessary. A great event to invite your friends and neighbors! Fundraiser benefits Sunshine Valley Childcare. Women's Christmas Gathering Wednesday, December 9, 10:45 a.m. Our semi-annual woman s potluck is a wonderful opportunity for women of Spirit of Hope to spend time together, especially during the busy holiday season. Come, relax and enjoy the wonderful food and fellowship. Sunshine Valley children will put on their Christmas program for us. This is always delightful and entertaining. Hostesses are Marilyn Gresser and Jan Plager. Serving at Simpson Shelter To all past, present and future Simpson volunteers: we serve at Simpson on Wednesday, December 9. Please note this is a Wednesday, which may present some scheduling challenges, so please sign up and get on board for our December dinner. Also, Simpson can always use shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant. You are cordially invited to the Children s Christmas Pageant Featuring Spirit of Hope Sunday School Kids As they proudly present: The Light Shines Inn Sunday, December 6 11:30 a.m. Lunch 1:00 p.m. Pageant Please RSVP your reservation by Wednesday, December

4 Children s Ministry and Music Advent is here! Christmas is coming! "From generation to generation" (Luke 1:50) 1st and 2nd graders and their families gathered for a parent-child milestone event on Sunday, November 22 after church. Families began by gathering for a special lunch and welcoming special guests, Carolyn and Gene Miller and Joan Boger. The children got to go on a treasure hunt with Carolyn and Gene to discover the special places in church where our SOH Christmas treasures are stored. Carolyn and Gene taught the children about Advent and how to set up the church Advent wreath. Joan, talked to families about traditions and shared the SOH Christmas tradition of preparing and delivering Christmas gift bags to our SOH members who are homebound. This year we will deliver gift bags with Christmas caroling. All are welcome! The children with the help of their parents, made special ornaments to go in these gift bags. We concluded our event with children writing Advent prayers which will be shared in worship in the coming weeks before Christmas. These families will be lighting our Advent candles in worship this year. Thank you, Carolyn, Gene and Joan for sharing your gifts and love and for teaching our children. Friday, December 4, 1-5 p.m. Gingerbread Houses at Hospitality House, in North Minneapolis. You are invited to join Penny in setting up, preparing and helping 100 children build gingerbread houses. Hospitality House Youth Development is a Christian organization that provides after school and evening programming for inner city youth and their families. ( Ornament Making Saturday, December 5, Santa s Workshop at Spirit of Hope. Sunday, December 6, 11:30 a.m.: Lunch 1:00 p.m.: Children's Christmas pageant,...and yes it's the best Christmas ever! This year's Christmas play is inspired and written by the children of Spirit of Hope. Come support and hear how they tell the Christmas story! Please R.S.V.P. for lunch. Sunday, December 13: Lessons and Carols during worship. Sunday school will be in worship. Coloring books about the lessons will be provided for younger children as they listen to the music. Wednesday, December 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Christmas caroling and delivering Christmas bags. Sunday, December 27 and Sunday, January 3: Sunday school, children's choirs and music are off. Sunday, January 10: Sunday school, youth and instrumental music resumes. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, to you this Advent season. ~Penny Advent Wreath Writing Advent Prayers Christmas Traditions - 4 -

5 Spirit of Hope UMC December 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 2nd Sunday of Advent 8:30 am Chapel Service (CH) 10:00 am Worship/Sunday School 11:30 pm Children s Christmas Pageant and Meal 13 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:30 am Chapel Service (CH) 10:00 am Worship/Lessons and Carols 11:15 am Youth Choir (FH) 6:30 pm Women s Book Club 20 4th Sunday of Advent 8:30 am Chapel Service (CH) 10:00 am Worship/Sunday School A Taste of Christmas 27 No Chapel Service 10:00 am Worship/No Sunday School 7 12:30 pm Homeschool Science Class (AR) 6:00 pm Reserved (FC) 6:30 pm Book Study (FR) 7:00 pm Boy Scouts #476 (FH) 14 6:30 pm Book Study (FR) 7:00 pm Boy Scouts #476 (FH) 1 9:30 am Bible Study (UL) 8 9:30 am Bible Study (UL) 15 9:30 am Bible Study (UL) :30 am Dinner at Your Door :00 am Staff (FC) 6:00 pm Spirit A Peal (SA) 6:00 pm Mini Spirits (CH) 6:30 pm Holy Spirits (CH) 6:15 pm Youth Group (FH) 6:30 pm Outreach (FC) 7:00 pm Confirmation (FR) 7:00 pm Choir (SA) 9 10:00 am Staff (FC) 10:45 am Women s Christmas Gathering (UL) 6:00 pm Serving at Simpson 6:00 pm Spirit A Peal (SA) 6:00 pm Mini Spirits (CH) 6:30 pm Holy Spirits (CH) 6:15 pm Youth Group (FH) 7:00 pm Confirmation (FR) 7:00 pm Choir (SA) 16 10:00 am Staff (FC) 6:00 pm Spirit A Peal (SA) 6:00 pm Mini Spirits (CH) 6:30 pm Trustees (FC) 6:30 pm Holy Spirits (CH) 6:30 pm Christmas Caroling 3 4:00 pm Grief Coalition (FH, CH, FR, YR) 6:00 pm Little Hands Ring and Sing (CH) 6:30 pm Ad Council (FC) 10 4:00 pm Grief Coalition (FH, CH, FR, YR) 5:00 pm Sunshine Valley Christmas Program (FH, SA) 6:00 pm Little Hands Ring and Sing (CH) 17 10:30 am Dinner at Your Door 3:30 pm Service of Light and Hope 4:00 pm Grief Coalition (FH, CH, FR, YR) 6:00 pm Little Hands Ring and Sing (CH) 6:30 pm SPR (FC) Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Worship Service (no nursery) 7:00 pm Worship Service (no nursery) :30 am Dinner at Your Door 4 5 8:30 am Women s Breakfast (OCB) in Crystal 9:30 am Creative Spirits & Prayer Shawl Ministry (LL) 5:00 pm Santa s Workshop (LL) :00 am Men s Breakfast (FH) Noon 5 p.m. Reserved (CA) 18 9:00 am Second Harvest (FH) 25 Christmas Day (offices closed) Room Location Key: CA Café CH Chapel FC Footitt Conference Room FH Fellowship Hall 19 9:30 am Creative Spirits & Prayer Shawl Ministry (LL) 26 FR Fireside Room LL Lower Lobby N Nursery SA Sanctuary UL Upper Lobby OCB Old County Buffet - 5 -

6 Special Christmas Offering This season, our special Christmas offering will benefit Good Neighbor Fund, PRISM, Loaves and Fishes and UMCOR. The following provides more information about these organizations. Good Neighbor Fund This fund is available for those in crisis situations in our Spirit of Hope community. PRISM (People Responding in Social Ministry). PRISM provides food, clothing, school supplies, holiday gifts, and more to low-income families in our area. PRISM has taken on the work that our Good Neighbor Fund formerly performed (i.e. gasoline and food vouchers, assisting with rent). PRISM is able to do this in a more holistic fashion with more services than we were able to provide. Loaves and Fishes This program provides dinner every Wednesday and Thursday to all who come to Brunswick United Methodist Church on 42nd Avenue North. Members of our church have helped prepare and serve dinner there seven times this year. Money from this offering will be used to pay for the food served. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to help migrants and refugees in Europe and the Middle East. Creative Spirits Once again members of Creative Spirits will be donating handmade hats, mittens and gloves made by members for the Division of Indian Works and PRISM. We also would like to invite all church members to assist with donations of new store bought or even handmade hats, mittens or gloves which will be distributed to these worthy charities. A large box will be available for these donations towards the end of November plus we re hoping to display some of our lovingly handmade items for viewing as well. God bless and many thanks for your help in keeping our fellow Minnesotans warm! PRISM Holiday Gift Distribution PRISM needs your help by Sunday, December 13. All age groups need your gifts, but especially teenagers (e.g.: ear buds, XL jerseys, charging stations, yoga pants. etc.) $25 gift cards from Target and Walmart, Disney/Barbie sets (pet shops, pools, doll houses), Lego sets, superhero items, electronics, Muppets, Frozen (brand name things kids love), bracelet makers (rainbow loom), Minecraft anything, Monster High dolls, Dr. Who toys, Freaky Fusion, headphones, speakers for a phone, scooters/skateboards, science kits, video games, bedroom décor (lamps, rugs, art), reading tablet. New wrapping paper is also appreciated. Put your gifts under the church Christmas tree after Thanksgiving. If you would like to help sort or distribute gifts, contact Allysen Hoberg at ahoberg@prismmpls.org or Any questions please call Toni Peters at Loaves and Fishes Loaves and Fishes could use your help on: Thursday, January 21 Thursday, February 18 Thursday, March p.m. Setup and food prep 5-7 p.m. Serve and clean-up Signup sheets are on the bulletin board in the upper lobby. Volunteers can call Linda Henry with any questions at PRISM Holidays are a time of sharing - family, food, and generosity. Poverty in the Twin Cities suburbs has nearly doubled in recent years, and there are now more neighbors that need your help. You can answer the call by empowering folks to be resilient and helping PRISM have plenty of food on hand so celebrations across cultures are happy and hearty. In both November and December, we expect visits from more than 500 families that are looking for help. While universal staples like vegetable oil, eggs, nuts, and fresh, seasonal produce are the base of good meals in many cultures (and make great donations!), try donating culturally specific foods. Visit the global foods section at your grocer to find things like coconut milk, fufu flour, or garri. And remember spices (variety is the spice of life!): ginger, coriander, thyme, and dried chilies are highly sought after at PRISM's Marketplace Food Shelf. Holiday food ideas for donation Black beans, Black eyed peas, Coconut milk, Corn flour, Corn tortillas, Curry powder, Fufu Flour, Garri, Grits, Kidney beans, Lentils Oatmeal, Peanut butter, Peanuts, Rice, Spices (consider coriander, ginger, thyme, and dried chilies), Turkey stuffing and Vegetable oil. Friend us on Facebook at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church

7 Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church 7600 Harold Avenue Golden Valley, MN FAX Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No Change Change Service Service Requested Requested The Newsletter is a monthly publication of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church Jeff Hansen, Pastor Penny Meschke, Children & Family Ministries and Music David Hodd, Youth Ministries Director Peggy Bocklund, Finance Administrator Janine Hall, Administrative Assistant Sharon Seiter, Administrative Assistant Colette Gorra, Nursery Attendant Jerry Rubino, Minister of Music Paul David Stanko, Instrumental Music Coordinator Melissa O Neill, Soprano Susan Hofflander, Mezzo Soprano Max Wojtanowicz, Tenor Tom Witry, Bass Sunshine Valley Childcare (763) Sharon Gebell and Diane Maney, Co-directors We will leave the light on Statement of Call: We are called by God to be a radically inclusive, caring community of faith offering personal and social transformation through Jesus Christ. Reconciling Statement: We are a reconciling congregation welcoming people of all sexual orientations