THE SPIRE RENNICK S REFLECTIONS. Listen! DEC 2014/JAN Share the Journey ipraise iconnect iserve. Volume 45, Issue 9

Transcription

1 Volume 45, Issue 9 DEC 2014/JAN 2015 Special points of interest: Our Vision Publication THE SPIRE Spire Deadline Altar flowers Church hours Electronic giving Church calendar Inside this issue: Sermon Schedule 2 Church Council 3 Announcements 4 Children s Ministries 4 Youth Ministries 5 Birthday & Anniversary Corner 6-7 RENNICK S REFLECTIONS Listen! As a child I had heard somewhere from someone that animals could speak on Christmas Eve. Kid you not, but kid I was. Little did I know that it may not be in the human language that I assumed but one only could hope. So stretching out the hours of Christmas Eve before Mom would tell me to go to bed or Santa would not be coming for Christmas, I went outside to the backyard of our home to have a conversation with the family dog. After staring at the family dog for what seemed like several minutes I decided I should be the one to initiate the conversation saying, Hey Dog, are you going to say something? A panting tongue and a set of beady eyes were our dog s only attempt at response. Although not sure if our dog would speak that Christmas Eve I turned in for the night, still holding onto the hope that perhaps animals do speak at Christmas. But just maybe, I didn t know how to listen? Christmas is about hope. A hope that God is revealed to the world through a baby born in a humble setting. We read in the Gospel of Luke an account of angels visiting shepherds to announce the birth of the Messiah, I am bringing good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Maybe this was the message our family dog was trying to convey to me? It has been said hope is more than optimism. Hope informs the way we view reality. Therefore all of our dreams, desires, passions, and goals help to point us in a direction in which we come to listen to a voice speak to us, and in us on some day, new life is born. I ve come to believe that Christmas is not only about the birth of Jesus, but also about the hope of a new birth in my life too. From the whispers of a silent night to the echoes of angelic joys across the world, Christmas stares back as us and says, Don t forget to listen! It is my prayer through all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Season we too take a moment to pause, to listen, and to look into the eyes of the one who brings us new life. Merry Christmas! Pastor David firstchurchofmesa.com Share the Journey ipraise iconnect iserve

2 Page 2 OUR VISION We strive to reach out to the community through: A ministry of continuous spiritual growth; A ministry with children, youth, and families in all their diversity, and; A ministry of music and the arts. LIKED THE SERMON? You can now download the sermons onto your Ipod or listen via your computer. Visit firstchurchofmesa.com and start reaching out electronically to friends, family, and those who are looking for God! UPCOMING SERVICES December 14th Third Sunday of Advent Christ in Christmas Offering 9:00 & 11:11 am A Candlelight Christmas Cantata performed by the Chancel Choir December 21st Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:00 & 11:11 am BB Guns and The Baby Jesus December 24th Christmas Eve 7:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. A Mother s Wish This Little Light January 4th Communion Sunday 9:00 & 11:11 a.m. Letting Go Letting Go of Weight January 11th 9:00 & 11:11 a.m. Letting Go Letting Go of Debt January 18th 9:00 & 11:11 a.m. Letting Go Letting Go of Worry Pastor Bob Mitchell preaching January 25th 9:00 & 11:11 a.m. Letting Go Letting Go of Myself December 28th 9:00 & 11:11 am Pastor Bob Mitchell preaching

3 Page 3 CHURCH COUNCIL connecting our vi- The following reports reflect the goal of FUMC s Church Council - sion with our ministry: WELCOMING MINISTRY Thanks to the many people who assisted with the Volunteer Fair and the Harvest Luncheon. There are too many people to mention so please know how much The Welcoming Team and Vicki Thompson appreciated your help and time! Also, thanks to the Wednesday morning Bible Study ladies who baked cookies for our ecumenical service on Sunday evening, November 23. STAFF PARISH SPECIAL EVENT! Please join us as we celebrate Jeff Harris 21 years of service to the Music Ministry of First Church! Staff Parish is hosting a special luncheon for Jeff on Sunday, January 11th at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. There will not be a second service or Sunday School that day so please come to wish Jeff the best in his retirement. FINANCE FUMC s total income year to date as of November 30, 2014 is $531,731 as compared with $506,472 as of November 30, Year-to-date expenses as of November 30 total $547,327 versus $533,071 as of November 30, These figures include apportionments. Year to date we have a deficit of $15,596. We typically have strong year end giving and are hopeful that with a strong December we can close out the year with a small surplus. The finance committee is finalizing the 2015 budget planning and is using your pledges to help with that plan. Thanks to all for your faithful support. Rick Phillips Finance Chair WORSHIP COMMITTEE Fry s Community Rewards & Albertson s Rewards Please contact Peggy Tenney at to find out more information on these programs that earn some extra money for our church projects. Thank you to all who helped in our annual Hanging of the Greens! Publication Deadlines Sunday Bulletins / Announcements Wednesday Noon Spire Deadline All articles to be submitted to the church office no later than January 10th (Holidays and vacations may advance or delay these deadlines by a day or two.) Flowers To place flowers on the Lord s Table in honor or memory of someone special contact the Church Office at

4 Page 4 CHILDREN S MINISTRIES CHURCH OFFICE HOURS M-TH: 9 4:30 pm PH: Electronic Giving Electronic giving is a direct debit program where your contribution is debited automatically from your checking or savings account, either weekly or monthly. This is an easy way to fulfill your stewardship commitment, even when you are unable to attend church. You can pick up an authorization form in the church office, and talk to Lynn Adams for further details. CHECK OUT our new option to give with a debit/credit card on our website at firstchurchofmesa.com The Annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale to benefit Children s Ministry was held on Sunday, November 23rd. To each person that took the time and effort to provide baked goods, thank you! To each person that supported us by purchasing baked goods, we thank you as well! THANK YOU..to each and every person that made either monetary donations or who donated items needed for the Foster Youth Thanksgiving Dinner. ALSO, a huge thank you to everyone that came out and worked the dinner, providing not only food but also hospitality to the youth!!! It takes many dedicated volunteers to make such a large event successful and each one of you are greatly appreciated!!!

5 Page 5 YOUTH MINISTRIES Wednesday: 5 pm Dinner in Fellowshiip Hall (free to youth under 18) 5:45 Girl & Boy groups meet in FLC 7 pm Youth Choir practice Sunday: 10:15 a.m. Sunday school for Jr. & Sr. High in FLC 4 6 pm Youth Group On November 30th, the youth joined other church s youth groups for a scavenger hunt at Tempe Marketplace. Our church library is located in the Assembly Room. There are no check out cards just borrow a book and return once you ve read it. Donations of Christian books are needed! Our youth group s mission project for the Christmas season was to provide gifts for the kids attending the Head Start program that meets at our church.

6 Page 6 JOIN US FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE! Dinner served from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Free for kids under 18 $3.50 per adult PLUS Open Gym Spiritual Growth Class Personal Growth Class Choir Rehearsals Youth & Children s Activities DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 12/01 Hakaumotu, Tangilima 12/02 Bunning, Victor 12/02 Duffey, Marie 12/03 Baum, Sarah 12/04 Gurevitz, Ashley 12/04 Rizzo, Chloe 12/05 Hairston, McKenzie 12/05 Kuck, Aaron 12/06 Gorin, Janet 12/06 Lucchesi-Cook, Crystal 12/06 Portis, Jospeh 12/06 Tinsley, Jordyn 12/07 Robinson, Kevin 12/09 Haines, Lois 12/09 Harris, Jeff 12/09 Schreiber, Mason 12/09 Stevens, Ben 12/10 Connolly, Cynthia 12/10 Thatcher, Julia 12/10 Tyers, Stephanie 12/14 Cummings-John, Harriet 12/15 Hitchcock, Sheila 12/15 Warden, Marilyn 12/16 Knappenberger, Doug 12/17 Lewis, Pete 12/17 Orr, Susan 12/18 Ripley, Pam 12/20 Carbone, James 12/20 Chapman, Tim 12/20 Miller, Buford 12/20 Robinson, Scott 12/21 Reed, Margo 12/22 Kirby, Lorraine 12/22 Tone, David 12/22 Mozurkewich, Nicholas 12/22 Sellers, Winter 12/23 Broderick, Ashley 12/23 Ramsey, Malia 12/23 Tripoli, Lillian 12/25 Ramsey, Michelle 12/25 Nelson, Tatyana 12/25 Robinson, Laura 12/27 Blais, Tracy 12/29 Gardner, Kevin 12/29 Holt, Alita 12/30 Brouillette, Scott 12/30 Green, Marie 12/30 Jennison-Jones, Janna DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 12/05 Thompson, Alan & Vicki 12/27 Schreiber, Mason & Corrie 12/28 Boggess, Ken & Barbara

7 Page 7 JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 01/01 Bell, Anna 01/01 Escobedo, Felipa 01/01 Harmon, Betty 01/01 Robinson, Justin 01/01 Tatom, Julia 01/03 Richgels, Rebekah 01/04 Buscas, Isabella 01/04 Craig, Rachael 01/04 Kilgore, Sue 01/04 O'Neal, John 01/05 Sublett, Naomi 01/06 Black, Betty 01/08 Cummings, Geoff 01/08 Lewis, Tom 01/08 Rennick, Shirley 01/09 Friederich, John 01/09 Switzer, Lola 01/10 Woodcock, Amanda 01/13 Day, Ella 01/13 Ferguson, Debbie 01/15 Snodgrass, Joshua 01/16 Weber, Nancy 01/18 Olges, Sherry 01/18 Phillips, Matthew 01/18 Sellers, Mike 01/19 Hitchcock, Sheryl 01/20 Davis, JoAnn 01/20 Snodgrass, Adam 01/21 Lackore, Cecil 01/21 Standage, Caleb 01/21 Standage, Kyle 01/22 Chenier, Larry 01/22 Haines, Dylan 01/23 Kramer, Hattie 01/24 Likens, Matthew 01/25 Woodcock, Brandon 01/26 McCraw, Shannon 01/26 Smith, Beverly 01/28 Schreiber, Warren 01/28 Strouse, Carol 01/28 Valenzuela, Michael 01/28 Wauneka, Shawn 01/30 Hook, Floyd 01/30 Portis, Devon 01/31 Smith, Kathleen 01/31 Wauneka, Dean JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES 01/10 Royer, Ryan & Tina 01/11 Reich, Travis & Rosey 01/17 Kopf, Harold & Mary 01/28 Smith, Kenneth & Beverly Congrats to all our birthdays & anniversaries! If your name is not on our list (or if you know of someone who should be), please call the church office so we may update our information. We truly do not mean to leave anyone out.

8 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE SPIRE, 15 E. 1st Ave., Mesa AZ DATED MATERIAL DO NOT DELAY Pastors: Rev. David C. Rennick Rev. Dr. Bob Mitchell Rev. Cecil Lackore - Pastor Emeritus THE SPIRE (USMC ) is published monthly, by the First United Methodist Church, 15 East First Avenue, Mesa AZ 85210, a nonprofit organization. Periodical postage paid at Mesa AZ THE SPIRE First United Methodist Church 15 E. First Ave. Mesa, AZ fax Spire Submissions: secretary@firstchurchofmesa.com Office Hours: 9 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Thursday Editorial Policies: The mission of The Spire is to be one communication source for the First United Methodist Church of Mesa. Other communication sources include s, the Sunday church bulletins and verbal announcements made at services or other official meetings. Chairpersons of Boards and Committees, coordinators, members and friends of First UMC may submit announcements, information or items of interest that relate to the mission of the church. The Editor shall reserve the right to either accept or reject articles, to edit for space, grammar and accuracy. Currently, the Spire is being published monthly. Deadline for submission of articles are published both in this newsletter and weekly bulletins. The deadline for submission of articles for the next issue is January 10, The Spire Newsletter Team Editors: Katie Mozurkewich and Linda Phillips Publisher: Linda Phillips Printers: Jo Ann Ramirez Davis, Kermit Davis Assemblers: Pam Rutkowski, Irene Risser, Carla Zwald, Linda Miller, & Margaret Desenberg