January, Vol. 22, No. 1 HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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1 FOR THE JOURNEY January, Vol. 22, No. 1 HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Robbservations And the one who was seated on the throne said, See, I am making all things new. Revelation 21:5a In the year 1850, the great poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson published a poem as part of a eulogy to his sister s fiancé who had died at the young age of 22. The story goes that Tennyson was staying at a place near Westminster Abbey when, hearing the bells ringing out by the winds of a storm, he penned this hope-filled poem about letting go of the old and embracing new and better ways of life. As we begin another year together in Hope we have in Jesus Christ, I invite you to take a moment and let go of what you need to leave behind and ponder, as you look ahead into 2015, God s promise to be with you. Ring out the bells of the old and ring in a new year of God s grace! Have a Very Happy and Blessed New Year! Pastor Robb Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.

2 MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS FOR JANUARY January 4 January 11 January 18 January 25 Lay Readers Robb McClintock Corey Fritz Stacey Curtis Jan Lorentz Children s Sermon Robb McClintock Anne Allen Allie Athas Cindy Peterson Host Team Chuck & Jan Chuck & Jan Cyndee Kaiser Cyndee Kaiser 8:15 Host Team 10:30 Coffee Fellowship Nursery Volunteers Lorentz Gary & Becky Gochanour Kelly Bischof Anna Nyland Lorentz Gary & Becky Gochanour Anne Allen Aaron Athas Shirl Gillette Bob Schwartz Cheryl Muller Allie Athas Amber Broughton Shirl Gillette Bob Schwartz Cheryl Muller Renee Marino Fritz Family HOPE CHURCH STAFF Pastor.... SS & VBS Volunteer Coordinator Office Manager... Pianist.. Choir Director Rev. Robb McClintock Renee Marino Betsy Larson Andrea Blaeser John Weiland... FOR THE JOURNEY articles should be submitted to the church office by the 20 th of each month. Contributions are welcome. Connecting with Our Pastor Pastor Robb s office hours are generally 11AM to 3PM, M, W, Th, depending upon other meetings and scheduled appointments. You can also reach him promptly by sending an to (robb_mcclintock@att.net) which he frequently checks or by sending a text to When the situation is less urgent, messages can be left with the church office or his home phone Due to HIPPA privacy laws, our ability to find out when persons are hospitalized is limited so please notify him whenever pastoral care is desired.

3 Preaching the Word Date Text Message 1/4/15 * John 1:1-9, Jesus the Christ 1/11/15 Mark 1:4-11 The Mark of Mud 1/18/15 John 1:43-51 Rules of the Road 1/25/15 Psalm 62:5-12 Choosing Trust * Communion Sunday Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, One of my favorite Christmas songs is, Star-Child, words by Shirley Erena Murray and based on the gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. It is found in The Faith We Sing #2095 with music by Carlton R. Young. The second verse is, Street child, beat child, no place left to go, hurt child, used child, no one want to know." Our hearts ache this Christmas because too many of the world s children are described by those words. Our hearts are heavy because so many in our nation are experiencing deep sadness and grief from events and reactions that tear at the fabric of our relationships with each other. Our hearts go out to those who feel beaten down by prejudice and racism, and to those hurt and misused, whose very being is ignored as those no one want to know. But, into our messed up, angry, conflicted world, neighborhoods, families, and individual lives, comes the Star Child: Hope-for-peace Child, God s stupendous sign, down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine. How will we receive the Star Child? With whom will we share the message of hope the Child has come to share? Where will we go to bring healing and joy to people? When will we find peace in our hearts and communities? At least the beginning of the answer to our questions is found in the refrain: This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive! This is our mission, our purpose, our task: To share the Star Child s message of hope, healing, joy, and peace with our neighbors near and far in what we say and what we do. May it be for all of us, Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!

4 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS FOR JANUARY Renee Marino-Hope UMC Sunday School Volunteer Coordinator All Church Christmas Program was performed on December 14 th. Thanks to Allie Athas for leading the program! And a great job by all who performed, participated or helped out in any way. Thank you for your support Our Mission project of Socks of Love was a huge success. We appreciate all the donations that came in from the congregation and from Oakwood hills Family Dental. We collected about 75 tube socks for men, women and children. And they were filled with toiletries for those that stay at the Beacon House in Eau Claire. All Sunday School classes will follow the Eau Claire area School District holiday vacation schedule and resume classes on January 4 th. Module Focus for January for 5 th grade and younger: Working for God. Our Key Bible verse: Work willingly at whatever you do Colossians 3:23. Weekly Bible Story is as follows: Week 1: Nehemiah rebuilds the Wall Week 2: Joseph becomes a ruler of Egypt Week 3: The Parable of the three servants Week 4: Paul presses on to the goal Happy Birthday to Alyssa Hysell....January 24 th Annika McClintock..January 27 th World Religions Class Starting January 11 th, 2015 a new Sunday School class on the various religions of the world will start. This class will be open to all adults and teen aged youth and will meet Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15. The person teaching/guiding this class will be Dr. Jerry Richards, a member of Hope UMC and a recently retired professor from UW-Eau Claire s Philosophy and Religious Studies Department. The structure of the class will be a brief presentation with discussion and questions. This class will be held in the Habitat for Humanity Room across from the Nursery. If you have any questions please contact Jerry Richards at

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