HERE S WHAT S COMING UP:

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1 CHRIST CHURCH Christ United Methodist Church NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 93 East Moline, IL U.S. East Moline Campus: th Street Phone: East Moline, IL Fax: Silvis Campus: nd Avenue Phone: Silvis, IL Website: YouTube Search: thecumcqc EAST MOLINE CAMPUS SATURDAY WORSHIP 5:00pm Contemporary SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:00am Traditional 9:15am Traditional 10:35am Contemporary & Sunday School Ministry Leadership Team Ministers of the Church Congregation Stephanie Rabe Parish Nurse Lindrew Johnson Music Ministry Karyn Robertson Children s Ministry Shaun Easton Youth and Worship Leader Carol Smith Financial Administration Jana Kindred Administrative Assistant-EM Mary Land Administrative Assistant-Silvis Rev. Joye Perry Associate Pastor Rev. Dr. Roger Perry Lead Pastor Rev. Dr. Joseph Gardiner Pastor Emeritus I wish to thank everyone for the encouraging words, prayers and cards for my final Medical Mission to Haiti. I was very surprised when Val gave me all the cards and letters from my church family. I plan to continue supporting Friends of the Children as they continue to serve the Haitians of LaMontagne. Although I will not be making the physical trip to the remote mountain top every six months with the group, I will continue to gather supplies and be a resource to them. I will still be sending my love to my Haitian and American friends on the mountain top 2000 miles away. Diana Lovett Thank you to the members of Christ Church for your generous donation of $280. United Marriage Encounter was honored to prepare and serve lunch on October 29th. The money will be used for scholarships for future UME weekends. Two Hearts Core Group SILVIS CAMPUS SUNDAY WORSHIP 9:15am Contemporary ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Sharing the love of Jesus Christ for the biblical purpose of making disciples for the transformation of the world. MANY THANKS goes out to ALL who attended the 6th Annual Fall Harvest Luncheon on Tuesday, October 17th which was hosted by the United Methodist Women. A big THANK YOU to all who helped prepare the soups and salads, helped in the kitchen, dining room and clean up room, helped decorate, and helped promote the luncheon to family and friends. THANK YOU also to those who donated funds to cover salad and soup expenses. With all of your help, we were able to put on a great fundraiser for our missions-locally, nationally and internationally. The fellowship among those working and/or attending is well worth the planning and executing our efforts. 10:45am Traditional 10:45am Kid s Sunday School HERE S WHAT S COMING UP: Nov 18 Prayer Walk Nov 30 Advent Bible Study Begins Dec 1 Christmas Concert Dec 8 & 9 Adore Dec 9 Cookie Walk Dec 10 Kids Christmas Program From: 6th Annual Fall Harvest Luncheon Committee Co-Chairs: Cheryl Henry & Alice Haben We would like to thank all those who came to help us celebrate at our 60th Wedding Anniversary. It was such a special time for us. We also appreciate all the cards and greetings we received. We are so proud to be a part of such a special group of people as the people in our church. A special thank you to the UMW who prepared and served the wonderful meal. We couldn't have done it without all of you. God is so good, Al & Juanita Sharp East Moline And Christmas Comes Once More Silvis NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 Phillips Brooks was one of the most outstanding and eloquent preachers that the United States has ever produced. He was the dominant pulpit force of all New England because he dared preach Jesus Christ in that Unitarian stronghold. He had a wonderful way with words. He once stated words that every speaker should learn--that people liked to be talked to rather than preached at. People of various faiths and backgrounds would gather to hear this man with the gift of eloquence. In 1865, Brooks spent Christmas in the Holy Land. On the day before Christmas he rode from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and went into From the pastor: the fields where the shepherds watched their flocks by night. That evening he Roger Perry attended a service at the Church of the Nativity, built over the place where Jesus was born. That experience deeply moved him and made a lasting impression. Three years later, while he was the pastor of the Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia, he wrote the words to a hymn for the Sunday school kids to sing at their Christmas program. Recalling the peaceful scene of the little town of Bethlehem, Brooks completed the writing of the hymn in one evening. The words he wrote are words that will never be forgotten, as O Little Town of Bethlehem is sung all over the world every year. I must admit, it is truly one of my favorite Christmas songs. I love the lyrics that Brooks wrote. The words are so insightful. His phrases like the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight demonstrate the power of the Christmas message and God s gift to the world. We all have hopes and we all have fears. Phillips Brooks reminds us where we need to take them. If one is paying attention, there is no way to miss the salvation message in this hymn. The words tell the story How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given; so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. As you sing the fourth verse this year, think about what you are singing. Take the opportunity to apply the message to your life. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. The four verses of O Little Town of Bethlehem are familiar to most. However, Phillips Brooks wrote a fifth verse that has not been included in hymnals. Though the verse is not known by many, it has its own significance as we look at the coming of Christmas once more. Here are the words: Where children, pure and happy, Pray to the Blessed Child; Where misery cries out to thee, Son of Mother mild; Where charity stands watching, And faith holds wide the door, The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, And Christmas comes once more. With a thankful heart, you will be filled with Faith, Hope and Love as Christmas comes once more..and that s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown. Merry Christmas, Roger Perry

2 Studies & Such Advent Bible Study During Advent, Panera Pals Bible study group will be using the book Why This Jubilee by James C. Howell. The book is a collection of 24 reflections on well-known carols and Christmas songs. The daily readings focus on four themes: The Place, The Men, The Mother, and the Child. Panera Pals meets on Thursdays, 6:15am at Panera Bread in Moline. This bible study runs Nov 30th through Dec 21st. If you would like to participate in this Advent study, please notify Janet Griffin, , by November 15 th so we can place the book order. Books cost $11 each; a Kindle version is also available. We invite you to come celebrate the joy of Advent with us! - Panera Pals P A G E 2 Christmas Scarf Project - Your Help is Needed! Once again CARE Ministry is sponsoring the Christmas Scarf Project. Scarves of all sizes are needed. They can be handmade or purchased. Hats and mittens can be used, too. Please bring your donations to the church mailroom by Friday, November 17 th. They will be dedicated at a worship service and then distributed to children in our tutoring program, children who are served through our Angel Tree outreach, clients of Winnie s Place, and families who come to our food pantries. Last year we received almost 600 items! With your help, this will be another successful year. For November and December, our prayer focus is all about developing a spirit of gratitude. A spirit of gratitude means to take nothing in life for granted. A University of Massachusetts Darmouth study reports that a spirit of gratitude has many benefits, physically, mentally, and emotionally; decreased coronary artery disease, increased daily exercise, alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, energy, and sleep duration and quality. Grateful people also report lower levels of depression and stress, although they do not deny or ignore the negative aspects of life. People who think about, talk about, or write about gratitude daily are more likely to report having helped someone with a personal problem or offered emotional support to another person. Those with a disposition towards gratitude are found to place less importance on material goods, are less likely to judge their own or others success in terms of possessions accumulated, are less envious of wealthy people, and are more likely to share their possessions with others. Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 12:41-44 November/December Prayer Focus P A G E 1 1 of what you re blessing, God, in my community and in Christ Church. Psalm 100, Psalm 136:26, Colossians 4:2, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 116:17, Psalm 95:2, Psalm 92:1, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Chronicles 29:10-13, Psalm 69:30, Psalm 105:1-2 Let me end this month s meditation with a reminder that God does not expect us to be thankful for all situations in our lives, but to praise and thank Him for the blessings He has given us in our difficulties. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 God expected us to be anxious and gave us scripture telling us what to do when worried. Philippians 4:6-7 When we seek after a heart for God and God alone, we can be nothing but gracious!! 1 Samuel 13:14, Psalm 19:14, Psalm 51:10, Acts 13:22 Prayer Walk Saturday, November 18th ~ 4pm Bishop Frank Beard has challenged our church conference to participate in a prayer walk on November 18th. The prayer team of Christ Church accepts this challenge and is making plans to walk in East Moline, Silvis, and Carbon Cliff. Please join us as we Prayer Walk (or drive) the neighborhoods surrounding our church buildings. If mobility is difficult, please feel free to pray within the walls of the church buildings. We will gather at 4pm at each of the campuses, Prayer Walk, then return to the East Moline Campus at 4:30pm for warm refreshments. A special praise celebration and worship time is being planned, to follow at 5pm. Our goal is to have 100 PRAYER WARRIORS!!!! The Christ Church Romania Mission team travels to central Romania, ministering with the orphaned, the Roma (otherwise known as the gypsy population) and many at-risk students and their families at the Point of Hope School located in Tarnaveni, Romania. In our past five missions, opportunities for the team have included spreading the seeds of Jesus, bringing these people God s word, and offering them the hope that comes from above. We have also completed work projects for the school such as installing flooring, hanging and finishing drywall, and painting a mural. It was especially fun planning a Vacation Bible School for the children. We took them to camp for a week at a retreat center in the Carpathian Mountains. This gave us time to build relationships, and helped to deepen their faith in the Lord. If the thought of joining us has ever occurred to you, please contact any team member. Team members include: Tricia Danley, Jim Power, Dawn Cook, Julie Gelaude, Julie Keegan, and others. We will keep you informed as plans come together for the next mission trip to Romania in the summer of Come One, Come All to the production of Adore presented by One Voice at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline on December 8th & 9th, 7pm. Some of our very own Christ Church choir members will be a part of this special event, plus, Lindrew Johnson will be directing!! One Voice utilizes Prayer, Praise and Training to unify the local church by sharing the Gospel to the community through an annual Christmas Celebration. Tickets are now on sale at the TaxSlayer Center (formerly iwireless Center) box office. Come and share in the love of Jesus Christ at this special and blessed event! The Bible speaks frequently of having a spirit of gratitude or thanksgiving. This month meditate on the many scriptures that focus on developing this spirit within you and within Christ Church as a whole. If being grateful is difficult for you, try writing down something you are grateful for every day this month. Each night before bed, thank God for what you have written and thank Him for all that Christ Church has to be grateful this year. Pray as Pastor Roger has stated so many times, help me to be a part Merry Sunshine News As our hearts are changed by God, we become better witnesses for Christ Jesus. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer & perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12: 1-2a We are very thankful for the super fun field trip we had at Shady Knoll Farm in East Moline. Farmer Gene is a genuine, kind man who did a super job with the classes. The kids each picked their own pumpkin to bring back to school, too. *** Seasons and shapes are things we are now experts on. Changes in the weather and temperature have helped us recognize how God s creation is different for every season of the year. Both classes had the homework assignment of bringing in nature items for a collage we made at school. *** We have enjoyed a couple of opportunities to have Shaun and Pastor Joye visit our classroom. Nurse Steph came and taught us about proper hand washing and germs. That was very fun. She did an experiment using oil, cinnamon, soap and water to show how to get the germs off! *** Our routine is well established and that means we can have volunteers and visitors in our classroom. Both classes have been lucky enough to have a mom or grandmother volunteer to lead an activity or craft. We love having them. *** Our Fall/Halloween Parties are scheduled for October 26 th and 27 th. We will be parading around the church in our costumes and having a party with our families here at school.

3 UMW East Moline Campus News and Updates Faith Hope and Love in Action This Month UMW would like to Spotlight one of our many missions we use to touch the lives of people. This month is Pockets of Love. Juanita Sharp heads up this group of women that sew dresses and shorts for children. Each garment contains a pocket to show love from one another. The group has made a total of 824 outfits since they started which equals out to 437 dresses and 387 shorts. These garments were given to children in Haiti, Mexico and Romania. Pictured is Donna Fox with some of the Haitian girls wearing these dresses. Our unit shows Love in Action with this mission. Juanita is always looking for ladies to help make dresses and shorts so, if you would like to help, give Juanita a call. The September Mission Box donation went to Ben Franklin School Fire Fund. We collected $ At the October Unit Meeting, the Mission Box was passed for World Thank Offering, collecting $ Church World Service kits collected from our ladies this year: Health 26, School 46 Great Job! Our Unit hosted SpRD Fall Fellowship on September 16. The conference UMW president was in attendance. UMW IL Conference President Camille McCaskill We hosted the Church Women United IA/IL Fall Fellowship on September 29th. We were honored to have the Illinois CWU President Edna Holloway, Chicago, and Iowa CWU president, Lynn Calvert, Iowa City, in attendance. Janet Lindstrom and Margaret Baumann attended IGR Conference in Springfield on October 7 th. Pat Reuter was present at CWU sponsored Common Table on Race Relations in East Moline on October 7th. The sympathy committee served a luncheon at the Silvis Campus on September 16 th for Irene Parks. The Mission Project for November and December is for Winnie s Place. Items needed: containers of coffee, coffee creamers and egg noodles. Please place them in the Good Sheep room on the counter. Nov 23 Thanksgiving Nov 28 Leadership meeting-10:00am Nov 28 Unit Luncheon-12 noon Pledge Day Program-A Community United by Giving- Doris Wasson P A G E 1 0 November Work Team Margaret Baumann, Janet Nelson November Narthex Table Glory Circle Dec 6 Circle Christmas Parties (see below) Dec 12 Prepare food/setup for Morning Connection-9am Dec 12 UMM-6pm Dec 13 Stonecroft Morning Connection-9:15am Dec 19 Leadership Meeting-10am Dec 19 Unit Luncheon-12 noon Installation of Officers 2018 Program Orphan Train Denise Braddy December Work Team Joyce Danley, Bobbi McCoy December Narthex Table Patience Circle Circle Christmas Parties: Faith: Captain s Table, 5:30pm; Guest Jana Kindred Glory: Windmill, 9:00am; Guest Pastor Joye Perry (change) Starting in January, we will meet in Fellowship Hall at 9:30am Patience: TPC Deere Run, 12:30pm; Guests-Rev. Roger Perry and Shaun Easton. Collection for mission to be taken. Hostesses: Sue Nurse, Doris Wasson (carpool from church north parking lot, 12pm) Pat Reuter Welcomed all to the UMW Table Sunday, October 1 Karyn Robertson spoke at CWU on September 29 November/December Happenings Free Thanksgiving Meal Thursday, November 23rd ~ 11:00am 1:30pm Christ Church s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner is fast approaching. The feast will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23rd from 11am-1:30pm in the East Moline Campus Fellowship Hall. This is a free meal and everyone is invited! We usually serve around 250 meals at this event and the numbers grow every year. We are truly reaching people for Christ. Many hands make for light work, so please mark your calendars and join us. The prep begins at 5pm on Wednesday, November 22nd. We will need lots of hands to set up the dining room, pull turkey meat, peel potatoes, and other food prep workers. Dessert donations are needed. Please bring them to the East Moline campus kitchen on Wednesday, Nov 22nd. Then on Thanksgiving Day, we need door greeters, food servers, plate carriers, dishwashers, and cleanup workers. This is a fun day at our church and a great outreach to the community. You will find it a blessing to experience. Please come! For any questions, please contact Tricia, Jon or Joyce Danley or any Outreach Team Member. Thank you for your support! The angels are in! Each Christmas, prison chaplains, Prison Fellowship and Christ Church makes available this program called the Angel Tree. This outreach provides gifts for children of incarcerated parents. Our church family purchases a gift ($25- $30 price range) which the child then receives as a gift from their missing parent. Look for the Angel Tree table in the East Moline Campus Fellowship Hall each Sunday in November to sign out your angel. Return unwrapped gifts back to the Angel Tree table no later than Sunday, November 26th. If you would like to be involved in this outreach, please consider helping out at the Open House on Monday, December 4th starting at 4pm. The children and families will be picking up their gifts between 5pm and 7:30pm. Due to the great needs of this program, we have doubled the amount of participants than we have had in the past. This means we need many helpers! Areas of service include greeters, serving cookies, snacks and punch, carrying gift bags to vehicles (strong, young men welcome), and clean up. Please consider devoting some time to this valuable community outreach. Christmas Concert Come Celebrate the Christmas Season with Music! On Friday, December 1st at 7pm, you are invited to attend a concert at Christ Church, East Moline Campus. The music will be of many different styles and the songs will be of Christmas Joy! The concert will begin at 7pm, with a time of fellowship afterwards. There is no cost but a free will donation will be taken for the Christ Church ministries. The groups performing are: Common Threads Josie DeWitt and Fishermen s Holler Shaun Easton The Called Mark your calendars for this special event that you won t want to miss! Your advent season will be enhanced through your presence at this concert. Invite your family and friends!! P A G E 3 We will be celebrating our 70th wedding anniversary on November 29th. In lieu of a party or cards, we ask that you say a prayer for us and donate an item to the Food Pantry. This will be the greatest gift you can give. Thank you so much. In Christ s Love, Tom & Alice Lynch

4 Silvis Happenings P A G E 4 God is good, all the time..... P A G E 9 UMW: Thursday, December 7th ~ 12:00 noon Fellowship Hall (meal will be catered) Friday, December 1st ~ 12:00 pm December s gathering will be held at the Silvis Campus Fellowship Hall The meal, catered by Mulkey s Restaurant, starts at 12:30 pm. Tickets for this event are $9.00 (payable at the door). Everyone is welcome to attend. Please call Jean or Norm Neely at (309) with any questions. There will NOT be a January meeting. Rebecca Circle: Thursday, December 14th ~ 8:30am Eating out (location will be published closer to the date) Please call Janet Oltman at (309) with any questions. SILVIS CAMPUS UMW S ANNUAL COOKIE WALK SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9th nd Avenue, Silvis 9:00 am until sold out (please-no purchases before this time) As in the past, these homemade treats (both cookies and chocolates) sell out fast! Be sure to arrive early! The price is only $7 per pound. Crafts, made by members of Silvis church, will also be available for purchase. Free coffee will be served throughout the day. For quite some time I have been picking up milk and eggs from the Silvis WalMart for our food pantries at both East Moline and Silvis campuses. I love this opportunity to volunteer and serve God and those that He loves. A few weeks ago a God moment happened at Walmart when I went to pick up my Tuesday run. As I walked into the store and went up to the service counter, Holly was working and she waved at me and immediately got on her radio to let the dairy department know I was there to pick up the milk and eggs. A few minutes later the supervisor of the dairy department came down the aisle with the cart of milk and eggs. I turned and looked at the service counter and noticed that Holly had stepped away. I told Sara, the dairy supervisor, that no one was at the service counter to check me out, which is the usual routine. She said "No problem, let's go over to a regular checkout." So the cashier began scanning the milk and eggs. As I was getting the tax exempt card and the credit card out, I noticed Holly walk up to the checkout counter. She walked up to the cashier and slipped something in the pocket of her smock. The cashier said, "What's this?" My reflex was to look up as the cashier pulled out some money from her pocket. I heard Holly reply, "For this." I didn't pay any attention as I was still fumbling to get my cards out. The cashier finished scanning the milk and eggs and handed me the receipt. Surprised I said, "Wait, I haven't given you the charge card yet." With a grin the size of Texas, she said, "It's been taken care of!" I stammered, "What.. wait... by who?" She nodded in the direction of Holly who was disappearing around the corner returning to the service counter. I hurried after her to the service counter and said, "Holly what...why, thank you, thank you!" Overcome with excitement and gratitude and before I could even think, I reached over the counter and gave her a big hug. I said, "Holly, God bless you!" She said, "No, God bless you and the food pantry for all you do!" There were tears of joy welling up in both of our eyes. As we looked at each other and held hands, there were no words. None were needed. The bill for the milk and eggs, was $ I don't know what she makes and I don't care. That was a huge donation on her part. A huge commitment. A huge act of love. Yeah, a huge God moment!! For those of you who remember Paul Harvey, the famous American radio newscaster,.... "and now the rest of the story!" In the busy month of November, this energetic dynamic group, along with the new Middle School Ministry group, decorated pumpkins. Instead of collecting non-perishable foods to be given to the annual QC Student Hunger Drive, all collections of either cash or canned goods were given directly to the Silvis Campus Food Pantry. In December, activities include baking and decorating Christmas cookies on Sunday, December 3rd and then delivering these extra special goodies to our area shut-ins on Sunday, December 10th. Both will take place during their usual meeting time of 6:00 pm. December 17th will be the last meeting in 2017 for the teens. After the holidays, they will gather together again on Sunday, January 8th. December 12th will mark the end of the gatherings for the Middle School Ministry for this year. They will start up again after the holidays on January 9th for more fun and festivities! Our next newsletter will encompass January and February and will be mailed out around January 15th. Due to the holiday season, the deadline for the January/February Courier is Friday, December 22nd. Please submit all articles for the January newsletter to office@christchurcheastmoline.org. Word documents preferred. Thank you! A few days later, Sue Swartz was with me when we made our next pick up. I introduced Sue to Holly, who happened to be working that day. (or maybe not by chance, thank you God!) Again many thank yous and God bless yous were exchanged. There were no customers waiting, so we had a chance to visit with Holly. (Hey, God! Thanks again.) Holly told us how she and people she knew had been helped by food pantries in the past, and how much she appreciated ministries like ours. She shared with us that she had struggles in her past and she had anger issues that she was trying to work thru. She said she was searching for a church, but had not felt comfortable or welcome in the ones she had visited. I could see the light bulb go on above Sue's head and I'm sure she saw the one above mine, as well! God was giving us a huge opportunity, and neither one of us wanted to blow it. In the brief few minutes we had with Holly, we shared all we could about Christ Church, the opportunities for worship, and the activities and ministries for her kids. And Open Hearts Cafe. We told her we would bring material and information about our church. We would love for her and her family to give us an opportunity to welcome them. She was excited and said she would like that. Sue and I left with our hearts bursting with excitement. Holly was hoping to come to the 10:35am service a couple of weeks ago, but she didn't make it. No worries. We're not giving up on her, and God isn't giving up on her either. And He is not giving up on all of us either. Our new sister is having a tough time. We will be there for her, and God will wrap His arms around all of us. How awesome is that? (Post script): Holly and her family have since visited our church. She was overwhelmed at the hospitality and kindness she and her children received. Her kids loved the children's sermon and Sunday School class. They told her, "Mom we have to come back!" Hey, Christ Church. You did it! But then, no surprise. I knew you would. Your love and warmth is amazing! I am so glad to be a member of this family of Christ. I am so happy Holly has chosen us!! Amen, Dennis Huston....And all the time, God is good!!

5 Parish Nurse News Thank you to all who donated fabric for the Lenten project! The donations were a success! P A G E 8 As you all are thinking of what insurance plan you are going to need in 2018, please be thinking who your primary care provider or family doctor will be. For those of you that have been fortunate to be well and healthy and feel you have no need for a family doctor, please rethink this thought. No matter how healthy one feels, there will be a time that you will need to see a doctor. It may be for a simple cold that will not go away, a stomach problem that occurs unexpectedly, or an injury. It can be very important that you have a well visit with your PCP before an emergency or sick visit occurs. This way you know and feel comfortable with your physician or nurse practitioner and they learn about you and your health needs and history. Then when the need arises and you need to be seen, you are an established patient with a PCP and, depending on the concern, an appointment will be made easier and quicker. Flu season is upon us. Whether you received your flu shot or not, viruses are everywhere. Please wash your hands often. Please remember what we teach our Sunday school, Merry Sunshine, and tutoring kiddos cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze and use your elbow please! Hand shaking is great, but this shares germs. In church, a fist bump, touching the shoulder, just acknowledging each other during greeting time can be done. Be creative! Please do not feel offended if someone says that they would rather not shake your hand. If you don t carry hand sanitizer on you, hand sanitizer is located throughout our church. Please use it it is there for you! As decorations go up for our Christmas season, please notice the traditional Memorial tree in the narthex at the East Moline Campus. It is there to remember our loved ones who have passed. The CARE Ministry will have ornaments available for you to sign a loved one s name and hang it on the tree. Lifetree Cafe Lifetree Café is a weekly, hour-long interactive experience that features real people s real stories on film. Through guided conversation and biblical insights, Lifetree s topics will not only make you think but they ll also inspire you. Please review the upcoming topics for one that you might find appealing. Maybe you see a topic that a relative, friend, or neighbor may be interested in. Please invite them to join you for an hour at this conversation café where everyone s thoughts are welcome and relationships are formed. In November, Lifetree Café will continue to meet on Monday evenings from 6:30pm- 7:30pm at Christ United Methodist Church, East Moline Campus, Room #5. We are pleased to announce that, in December, Lifetree will be moving to a new location, new time!!! Starting December 4th, we will meet at the Java Lab Café (inside Moline Public Library), st Street, Moline. The start time will move 1/2 hour earlier to 6pm-7pm. We are excited to have more space, be off campus and in the community, and have the option to order food and drinks. We will continue to provide complimentary coffee. Please watch your Sunday bulletin and midweek news for more information. Participants are always welcome to stick around after the sessions to continue the conversation. Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 20 P A G E 5 May your days be blessed with Love, Joy and Peace, Steph Blood pressures will be taken November 5 & 19 and December 3 & 17 With two big holidays upon us, please remember to be thankful. Like a path through the forest, Sabbath creates a marker for ourselves so, if we are lost, we can find our way back to our center Remember that everything you have received is a blessing. Remember to delight in your life, in the fruits of your labor. Remember to stop and offer thanks for the wonder of it. Nov 27 Dec 4 Dec 11 Wayne Muller, Sabbath: Find Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives Jan 2 Did you know that if you have a 401K investment plan from your place of employment and have reached the age of 70 1/2, the Federal government mandates that you have to start taking withdrawals from your plan? These withdrawals have to be done every year starting in the year you turn 70 1/2. Yep, that means you pay taxes on that withdrawal. But, you have a great option! If you choose to move that withdrawal directly from a 401K plan to a charitable organization, you don't have to pay those taxes. Churches are an example of qualified charitable organizations. Do you know a church that would be blessed to receive such a generous donation? Yeah, me too!! Visit with your tax consultant or financial counselor to see how this can benefit you and your family. So if you have turned 70 1/2 this year, and this is something that might interest you, do this first. Pray. Pray that God will touch your heart to make a decision that is right for you. So, now you know. Continue to be blessed and to bless! Dennis Huston Finance Chair Dec 18 Dec 26 Want to know more about Lifetree? Visit the website or like the Lifetree Cafe - East Moline, Illinois Facebook page for news and session topics. You can also contact Dean Sutton at dls61244@gmail.com or Deb Bomberry at deb712@gmail.com. Christ Church Coffee House The stage is yours for the taking Saturday, December 2nd (and the 1st Saturday of each month) at CUMC's Open Mic Night! Come sing your favorite songs, tell your favorite jokes, read your favorite poem, or kick back and take it all in! The fun begins at 6:00pm at the East Moline Campus, Fellowship Hall and goes 'til 8pm. For more info, call or text Josie at (309) No karaoke please.

6 Holy Communion Sundays On the first Sunday of each month, children stay with their parents in the sanctuary to participate in Holy Communion. Afterwards, they go downstairs for classroom instruction. Children s Ministry Nursery - 6 th Grade: We are dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for children, infants through 6 th Grade. Our classroom focuses on creative play, sharing the stories of the Bible, and introducing them to the love of Jesus Christ. Through age appropriate lessons and activities, your child will be able to explore the Bible and learn in a space designed for them. Even if it s your child s first visit, they re invited to join us and make new friends while singing, playing, and learning. Nursery is available for babies through age five at all three services: 8am, 9:15am, & 10:35am. We want our babies & toddlers to know about Jesus, too so fifteen minutes of Bible story time, songs, snacks, & crafts are offered each hour. Each child must have a current registration form. Please sign your child in and out of the registration book outside the nursery door. The nursery is located in Room #9 on the main floor. Come join us for a Kid s night of FUN!!! Preschool through 5 th grade meet in God s Playground from 6:00pm-7:30pm. We will have Bible instruction, games, crafts, and snacks!! Each 4 th Wednesday is Kids in Mission Night helping kids in the church and community. Sunday School: P A G E 6 Children, please join us each Sunday for the Small Talk at the 10:35am service. Sunday School follows with group time in the Chapel and then downstairs into the Education Wing. Please follow Ms. Karyn and the teachers out of the Sanctuary. Parents, please sign your child s first and last name into the Registration books. Preschool Room #19 ~ Ms. Reine (ages 3 and up-must be potty trained) K-1 st Grade Room #16 ~ Ms. Jeanie, Connie, Dawn or Holly 2 nd -3 rd Grade Room #18 ~ Ms. Debbie, Mr. Ernie, Ms. Steph 4 th -5 th -6 th grade Room #20 ~ Ms. Karyn, Ms. Theresa Hospitality Corner Want an opportunity to serve with your family? We welcome and encourage families (mom/dad, grandma/grandpa, and kids between 1 st and 6 th grade) to hand out bulletins prior to the 10:35am service. We also need adults to be at the Kiosk for Children s Registration and to direct new families. We ask that you arrive at least ten minutes before the 10:35am service begins. For more information, contact Karyn at krobertson@christchurcheastmoline.org. Samaritan s Purse: Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Donations On Sunday, November 19th, all the Sunday School kids will have a packing party to pack as many shoeboxes as possible. Last year we packed 150 boxes. This year s goal is 200!! Donations are being accepted for small stuffed animals, gently used McDonald s toys, Playdoh, glow sticks, rubber balls, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, washcloths, notebook paper, school supplies, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, crayons just to name a few. No toothpaste, candy, breakable items, lotions, or military figures will be accepted. As in the past, half of the boxes will be shipped globally, and half will stay as Christmas gifts for the children of our Food Pantry guests. Please leave donations in the mailroom no later than November 17th. For more information, contact Karyn Robertson at the East Moline Campus. Parents are welcome to help at the packing party. We also encourage you to pack your own shoeboxes as a family. Please mark your boxes if for a boy or a girl. Save the Date The Kids Christmas Program will be held on Sunday, December 10th during the 10:35am service. For those who would like a speaking/singing part, mandatory program rehearsal will be held on Saturday, December 9th, 9-11:30am. All children will participate in the manger scene with no rehearsal needed. Adult helpers are needed on both days. Do you shop at Amazon.com? Books Galore Did you know our church can benefit from your purchase? AmazonSmile allows you to shop the same way you always do, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization, Christ United Methodist Church!!! All you need to do is log in to Amazon this way: then start shopping! That s all there is to it! It costs you nothing and Christ Church benefits! And, once you ve logged in, you can save it in your favorites or bookmark it so each time you shop, you simply click on the page through your favorites and you re right there! It s a pretty simple and amazing way to earn $$$ for our ministry! If you have questions, or need help setting up, call Jana at the church office, Did You know?? Maddie s Closet is a mother/daughter duo providing a girls clothing Boutique on Wheels - actually a Big Red Bus! They offer clothing, accessories, and necessities to area school-aged children in need. They travel to area schools and have donation drop off locations. They accept donations of gently used girls clothing and any girls toiletries. Spread the word and check out their Facebook page for more info and drop off locations! P A G E 7 Books Galore is a book ministry being started to help spread literacy among children. Please help us out by donating gently used books for preschool through 6th grade. The books will be handed out to our Food Pantry guests for their children at Christmas. Spanish books accepted! We are especially low on board books for preschool through 2nd grades. Please leave your donations in the mailroom at the East Moline Campus with a note marked for book ministry.