November/December 2013

Transcription

1 November/December

2 November/December 2013 Greetings Fellow Christians! Take a moment and mull over these words. Expectation, waiting, listening, creation, new creation, preparation, proclamation, hope and redemption. These are the words of the season soon upon us once we ve given thanks and downed the last of the turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. That season twixt and tween, if you will, the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holy days of Advent. Now take a moment and go back over those words. Yes, those are what Advent is about. A coming, an approach toward us! Whether we are prepared or not! It would be so much more appreciated and welcomed if one were to go about making the right preparations. What might the right preparations be? How could any of us better prepare ourselves for the coming? The Advent? Join us every Sunday to hear more and find out! Remember: Your PAST DOES NOT dictate your FUTURE! Happy Holidays! Pastor John, Angela and the clan 2

3 WORSHIP TOPICS for NOVEMBER November 3 Communion Out on a Limb Luke 19: 1-10 November 10 STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY Securing Our Faith 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-5 November 17 The END is Near! Luke 21: 5-19 November 24 THANKSGIVING SUNDAY HARVEST HOME Guest Speaker, Anthony Vigile LAMA ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING WORSHIP Wednesday, November 27-7 p.m. Our Lady of Grace, Penndel PA Guest Speaker: Bill Bryan 3

4 WORSHIP TOPICS for DECEMBER December 1 ADVENT I Guest Speaker, Anthony Vigile December 8 Communion ADVENT II Challenging Confrontations Matthew 3: 1-12 December 15 ADVENT III CHRISTMAS CANTATA (9:30 only) Total Reclamation Isaiah 35: 1-10 December 22 ADVENT IV CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS CANTATA (11:00 only) Christmas Connection Romans 1: 1-7 December 29 Dear Diary Isaiah 63: 7-9 4

5 CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP 4:00 p.m. Contemporary 7:00 p.m. Children s Service 9:30 p.m. Candlelight & Communion NO 11 pm service. December 24 Receive the Light Isaiah 9: 2-7 December 22, 23 & 24 6:00-9:00 p.m. Each year our Living Nativity brings the love of the Christmas Story to our community. This annual event is much loved and anticipated. So that we may continue to provide this outreach this year we are asking for donations to cover the expense of the live animals (which will cost around $1,250). Baskets will be placed at the back of the church for your donations, or you can give your donations directly to Pastor John. The sign-up for volunteers for the Living Nativity for the nights of December 22, 23 & 24, 6-9:00 p.m., will be available soon. Look for the sign-up poster in Fellowship Hall. 5

6 November/December Sanctuary Servants NOVEMBER November 3 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Jerry Hill Worship Assistants, 9:30... Ron Cookson Greeters, 8:00... Babs Wiley & George Jenca Greeters, 9:30... Madge Laughlin & Tim Eick Ushers, 9:30... Ron & Louise Cookson Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The O Neill Family November 10 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Erika Paton Worship Assistants, 9:30... Holly Rogerson Greeters, 8:00... Erika Paton Greeters, 9:30... Joe & Helen McDonald Ushers, 9:30... Kris & Mike Torchia Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Boyle Family November 17 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Tom Romspert Worship Assistants, 9:30... Jeannette Hesser Greeters, 8:00... Ken MacAlister Greeters, 9:30... Elmer & Marybeth States Ushers, 9:30... The Rowlands & Stockburger Families Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Letham Family November 24 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Erika Paton Worship Assistants, 9:30... Jerry Hill Greeters, 8:00... Audrey Kent Greeters, 9:30... Kathy Megahan Ushers, 9:30... The Hansen Family Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Stewart Family 6

7 DECEMBER December 1 - ADVENT 1 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Lyn Wallace Worship Assistants, 9:30... Jerry Hill Greeters, 8:00... Joan Jones & Wendi Flanagan Greeters, 9:30... Vince Belmont & Carol Nielsen Ushers, 9:30... Chuck & Beth Lotocki Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... Bev Eick & Carol Annucci December 8 - ADVENT 2 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Jerry Hill Worship Assistants, 9:30... Ron Cookson Greeters, 8:00... Dot Gannon Greeters, 9:30... Mike & Lynda Pritchard Ushers, 9:30... Stacy & Tami Lewis Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Deibler Family December 15 - ADVENT 3 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Tom Romspert Worship Assistants, 9:30... Holly Rogerson Greeters, 8:00... Bob & Charlotte Downs Greeters, 9:30... Betty Bunting & Bettie Foster Ushers, 9:30... Vince Belmont & Carol Nielsen Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Raab Family December 22 - ADVENT 4 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Erika Paton Worship Assistants, 9:30... Jeannette Hesser Greeters, 8:00... Kathy DiGregorio Greeters, 9:30... Vic & Ruth Campo Ushers, 9:30... Bob & Cheryl Fryer Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Peiffer Family December 29 Worship Assistants, 8:00... Lyn Wallace Worship Assistants, 9:30... Jerry Hill Greeters, 8:00... Lyn Wallace Greeters, 9:30... Ron & Louise Cookson Ushers, 9:30... The Hansen Family Contemporary Assistants, 11:00... The Tyler Family 7

8 Join us for a delicious ham dinner along with all the fixings, sides and dessert, followed by our wonderful holiday tradition, the Christmas Band performance. We ask that you bring a favorite holiday dessert to share (pies are popular!). Christmas Dinner, December 8th In order to make it a success, help is needed. The meal and set-up are covered. Family Ministries needs help to serve the meal (2 sittings) and a cleanup crew is required. Volunteers to help with set-up, serving and clean-up are encouraged and welcome. Dinner for the band is at 5:00p.m.; dinner for all others, 6:00 p.m. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. The 2013 Christmas Festival will be held on Sunday, December 8th. The program will once again feature a 25 to 30-piece band made up of church members with Tri-County Band members filling out the sections. The Christmas Band is a special time of Christian fellowship and fun that is enjoyable for all who participate. Those interested in participating in the band should contact Dale Habel at Vocal selections will be performed by various groups from the church. Those performing will have dinner at 5:00 pm followed by a band rehearsal until about 6:45 pm. The Festival program will begin around 7:00 pm. All members of our congregation are invited to this fun family evening which will include the singing of many familiar Christmas carols. 8

9 CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS 2013 In Memory of: In Honor of: By: Phone/ I would like to order Poinsettias (6 pot; 4-6 $9.00 ea. (indicate # of each type): Red White Pink Marble Total # Poinsettias: x $9.00 ea. = $ I will pick up my poinsettia(s) on Christmas Eve: After the 4 p.m. Contemporary Service After the 7 p.m. Children s Service After the 9:30 p.m. Service All order forms along with payment must be received in the church office by Sunday, December 1st WILL YOU BE A SECRET SANTA? W e will once again be participating in the Woods Services Secret Santa program which provides students at Woods a gift at Christmastime and lets them know they are remembered. We will need SIX volunteers to buy gifts of no more than $25 per student; each of them provides a Wish List to choose from. If you wish to purchase gifts for one of the six students we will be supporting, please let the office know. 9

10 NEWS & NOTES HARVEST HOME FOOD COLLECTION NOVEMBER 24, 2013 Church Cemetery Our Church Cemetery, located off Bellevue Avenue behind the former sanctuary, has graves and headstones dating back well into the 1800 s. The cemetery has received basic maintenance over the years; however, the ground has settled, headstones have eroded and, in some cases, broken off entirely. As stewards of the cemetery, the Trustees have retained a specialist in the field to secure markers and monuments and perform repairs needed to make the overall appearance of the cemetery aesthetically pleasing and as historically correct as possible, to provide overall ease of future maintenance and to make the cemetery safer for visitation. The cost of the work will be drawn from the Cemetery Maintenance Fund. Coming Soon Look for this in our next Friendly Voice publication. Visitation Notes and Voices We will be sharing what is going on with our Visitation Ministry as well as highlighting the voices of our homebound as they share some stories with you! Perhaps you will want to join us in this ministry. We also meet monthly as a group to share ideas. 10

11 RUBY TUESDAY FUNDRAISER! Let someone else do the cooking! Why not stop in at Ruby Tuesday s after a grueling day or evening of Christmas shopping? Use the coupon below on Sunday, Dec. 15 through Tuesday, Dec. 17, anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., and present it to your server at the time of receiving your bill. If you do, LUMC will receive 20% of your total bill. A win-win situation. You get a break from the kitchen and our church receives some much needed funds. 11

12 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Tuesday, Nov. 12th and Tuesday, Dec.10th, :00 P.M. Fellowship Hall The United Methodist Women will meet in November on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Ginny Rowlands will lead us in our World Thank Offering and Pledge Service. Jane Schmidt and Brenda Tyler will be our hostesses for the evening. World Thank Offering is giving above and beyond the regular pledge a thanks for abundance granted to so many. It is an affirmation of the need for us to give so that others may share in a little of what we have. A special collection will be taken at the November meeting. World Thank Offering banks are available from the UMW for the use of those who prefer to save daily at home, please contact Madge Laughlin if you would like to contribute. Mission Outreach: Toys for Children and Youth Let s Get Together for the Holidays with United Methodist Women at our December meeting on Tuesday, December 10, It s a wonderful time to be together during the holiday season. As we always enjoy this special time of year, our program for this meeting will be Our Own Christmas Stories. Everyone should bring your favorite Christmas memories, stories and songs, and a small present for your Prayer Partner. Anyone who wishes to bring a finger food or cookies to add to our Hostesses fellowship table is welcome to do so. We will not only be getting together, but coming together with Purpose in our creative, supportive fellowship by expanding our concepts of mission: The Mission Outreaches this month include : 1) providing cards and poinsettias for our church homebound members and persons of concern; 2) a second Mission Outreach where we bring a monetary gift wrapped as a Christmas ornament for our annual tree these will be given to Pastor John for a church family in need in these tough economic times; 3) donations of new pairs of blue jeans to the Bucks County Homeless Shelter any size for men, women or children. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our church family from the United Methodist Women. May your spirit rejoice in all of the blessings of this beautiful season. 12

13 Tuesday, November 19-12:00 noon PROGRAM: Auction & Christmas Crafts DEVOTIONS: Ginny Rowlands OUTREACH: Paper & Cleaning Products Tuesday, December 17-12:00 noon PROGRAM: Christmas Meeting at Lyn s DEVOTIONS: Doris Zimmerman New Members Welcome! We are looking for women who would like to share Christian fellowship. Bring a bagged lunch, and join us for friendship and devotions. The Forward Look Class meets on the third Tuesday of the month. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER SENIOR BIRTHDAYS 11/4 Larry Danas 11/7 Lorlina Agoncillo 11/8 Bob Stott 11/11 Vince Belmont 11/14 Dolores Chemey 11/17 Peggy Hacker 11/20 William Gill 11/20 Joan Rooth 12/1 George Schmidt 12/3 Ron Megahan 12/7 Harold Hacker 12/7 Doris Tonzini 12/10 Bob Slotterback 12/22 Dot Gannon 12/26 Fred Calkins 12/26 Judy Hardie 12/31 Janis Goldman 13

14 Baptized on October 27, 2013 Natalie Kay Neubauer, born May 25, 2010, and Wesley Robert Neubauer, born April 16, 2013, children of Edward & Jen Neubauer; Peyton Helmlinger, born April 26, 2013, son of Joe & Kristi Helmlinger; Mateo Camillo Saraulla, born February 10, 2013, son of Matthew & Lacey Saraulla; and Ryan Alexander Bachmann, born July 31, 2013, son of Derek & Katie Bachmann. Congratulations to Nicole [Liebert] & Tony Panno on the birth of their twins, Andre James and Adrianna Marie Panno, on October 7, Proud Grandmother is Joanne Liebert and Great-Grandmother, Cynthia Schick. We express our condolences to Chuck Boyle and family on the passing of his mother, Ruth Boyle, on September 26, Thank you to my church family for the cards, prayers, support, and visits during my recent hospitalization and recovery. It was greatly appreciated. Cynthia Schick Rev. Nancy M. Ludwig 420 South York Road C 46 Hatboro, PA (H) Naomi Rogerson 290 E. Winchester Ave. #413W Langhorne PA

15 Sat., Nov LBE/UMM Men s Group, 8:30 a.m. Sun., Nov ALL SAINTS SUNDAY Girl Scouts Campfire & Songs, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Mon., Nov Trustees Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Fri.-Sun., Nov MEN S RETREAT Sat., Nov Wedding, 2:30 p.m. Mon., Nov Finance Committee Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Nov United Methodist Women (UMW), 7:00 p.m. Fri., Nov Senior Lunch, 12:00 p.m. Bryan Wedding, 5:30 p.m. Sat., Nov Men s Prayer Breakfast (MPB), 7:30 a.m. Mon., Nov Administrative Board Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Nov Forward Look, 12:00 p.m. Staff Parish Relations (SPR) Committee, 7:00 p.m. Sat., Nov LBE/UMM Men s Group, 8:30 a.m. Sun., Nov HARVEST HOME SUNDAY Mon., Nov Shared Meal, 6:00 p.m. COM Coordinators Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Nov Senior Citizens, 11:00 a.m. Wed., Nov LAMA Thanksgiving Community Service at Our Lady of Grace, 7:00 p.m. Thrs., Nov HAPPY THANKSGIVING! OFFICE CLOSED THURSDAY & FRIDAY (Continued on page 16) 15

16 Mon., Dec Trustees Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Wed., Dec Steeple Kids Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m. Sat., Dec LBE/UMM Men s Group, 8:30 a.m. Sun., Dec Children s Christmas Party, 11:00 a.m. CHRISTMAS DINNER & MUSIC FESTIVAL, 5:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. Mon., Dec Finance Committee Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Dec United Methodist Women (UMW), 7:00 p.m. Sun., Dec CHRISTMAS CANTATA, 9:30 a.m. Sun.-Tues., Dec RUBY TUESDAY S FUNDRAISER, 10 a.m p.m. Mon., Dec Administrative Board Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Dec Forward Look, 12 p.m. SPR Committee Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Fri., Dec Senior Lunch, 12 p.m. Sat., Dec Men s Prayer Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Sun., Dec CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS CANTATA, 11 a.m. LIVING NATIVITY, 6-9:00 p.m. Mon., Dec Shared Meal, 6:00 p.m. LIVING NATIVITY, 6-9:00 p.m. COM Mtg., 7:00 p.m. Tues., Dec CHRISTMAS EVE... LIVING NATIVITY, 6-9:00 p.m. Contemporary Christmas Worship, 4:00 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Worship, 7:00 p.m. Candlelight & Communion Christmas Eve Worship, 9:00 p.m. Sat., Dec LBE/UMM, 8:30 a.m. 16

17 (Please check your weekly bulletin announcements for any date, time or location changes.) WEEKLY EVENTS Every Sunday: Traditional Worship, 8:00 a.m. Traditional Worship, 9:30 a.m. Genesis Choir Rehearsal, 10:00 a.m. Sunday School, 10:00 a.m. Cookson Adult SS Class, 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship, 11:00 a.m. Youth Group, 6:30 p.m. Every Tuesday: Squires Barbershop Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. Every Wednesday: Wed. Night Supper, 5-7:00 p.m. Pastor s Bible Study, 7:00 p.m. Every Thursday: Men s Breakfast Club, 7:00 a.m., (American Diner) Pastor s Bible Study, 2:00 p.m. Adult Bell Choir Rehearsal, 6:15 p.m. Crusader Choir Rehearsal, 6:45 p.m. Wesleyan Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 5 Wesley Covenant Service Wednesday, March 5 ASH WEDNESDAY 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 9 SCOUT SUNDAY Sat.-Sun., March MISSIONS CONFERENCE 17

18 YOUR CHURCH FINANCES By Joe Wachstetter, Finance Chair As shown in the following graph, the total income for August was $93 over budget thanks to receipts from funeral dinners and the Wednesday Night Dinners. This coupled with expenses below budget by -$1,051 resulted in a negative net ordinary income of -$14,750 which was better than the -$15,893 budgeted. The envelope offerings were -$1,110 below budget. The total income for September was $3,349 over budget mainly due to a generous $5,000 gifting donation from the Steeple Kids. Expenses were -$43 under budget. The result of all this is a net ordinary income of $8,512 for the month. The envelope offerings were -$2,099 below budget. Thank you for your dedicated and faithful support. A special thank you to the Steeple Kids program for their generous gift and all they do to keep the education wing in excellent condition! 18

19 For the year to date, total income is -$12,000 below budget. This makes it very difficult to keep up with our bills and pay 100% of our conference apportionments. Each of United Methodism s 63 annual conferences has a budget apportioned to local congregations. These conference apportionments are most commonly called conference benevolences. Apportionments provide for us avenues for giving in order that we not only can be strong local churches and annual conferences, but that we can be connected together, seeking to be in mission together, seeking to be God s people at home and around the world. The United Methodist Church continues to fulfill John Wesley s adage to Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can. We have cut expenses wherever possible without impacting necessary operations and obligations. If offerings don t increase, we will need to make some difficult decisions about what other expenses can be cut. Offering envelopes for 2014 will be available at the end of November. Look for your box on the tables in Fellowship Hall. If you do not require envelopes, or if your box is not there, please contact the church office. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11). PS: If you like shopping online Local Churches and UM Organizations Can Increase Ministry Funds by Shopping Online at UMCMarket.org. To participate in the program, online shoppers will log into register, and select the church or other United Methodist organization they want their donations to go to and then continue from the UMCMarket.org website to shop at hundreds of well-known retailers. The retailers will donate a portion of the total sale to the organization chosen. Churches will receive a check in the mail from Zebraplace once the total of percentages donated reaches $100. It's that simple! 19

20 Raise the Roof Update Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2) The loan principle for the Roof Replacement Project is $178,086 after the August and September loan payments. Thank you for your generous support for the Roof Replacement Project. We cannot use money from the General Fund to make the Roof Replacement Loan payment. Please follow the weekly roof loan updates listed on the insert in the Sunday church service bulletin. The monthly donations continue to average about $628 short of the needed $3,093 payment. The donations were $1,737 for August and $2,316 plus $630 from fund raisers for September. This reduces the reserve loan fund balance to $20, 513. Only 67 payments to go! DID YOU FORGET? Have you ordered altar flowers and forgotten to pay for them? Paying for altar flowers is on the honor system you get no invoice. However, if you do not pay, the cost comes out of our already strained general fund. Flowers are $20 per vase. Please check your records. If you have not paid, please remit and clearly mark that the donation is for flowers. Thank you. Finance Committee 20

21 FEATURED WRITER: Pastor John Lutz EDITOR: Judy Hardie REPORTERS: Joe Wachstetter Kathy Meghan Donna Goodwin Carol Deibler Dale Habel Babs Wiley Items for the January/February 2014 Friendly Voice newsletter are due in the church office before the DECEMBER 23RD publication date. Items received after that date will only be printed in the newsletter if space allows; or may be printed in the weekly bulletin announcements only. You may submit your article by to 21

22 Langhorne United Methodist Church 301 East Maple Ave., Langhorne PA, (215) lumc-online.org Rev. John Lutz, Pastor, JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP! Sunday Worship Hours: Traditional Worship, 8:00 & 9:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship, 11:00 a.m. Sunday School, 10:00 a.m. Langhorne United Methodist Church 301 E. Maple Ave. Langhorne PA Bill Bryan, Minister of Congregational Care,, Jerry Hill, Lay Leader, Judy Hardie, Secretary, Aimee O Neill, Director of Music Ministries, aimbabe88@comcast.net Anthony Vigile, Contemporary Worship Leader, avigile@comcast.net Kerry Fenton, Organist, kerryafenton@yahoo.com Pete Curtin, Youth Director, physed7383@comcast.net Amy Hansen, Treasurer, lumctreasurer@comcast.net 22