Tidings from Tibbetts

Transcription

1 Tidings from Tibbetts Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown D e c e m b e r Founded 1909 I n f o r m a t i o n a n d I n s p i r a t i o n f r o m T i b b e t t s U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h Joanne s Jottings by Rev. Dr. Joanne Brown Richard W. Adams, who is a hymn text writer, and who is also the webmaster of the wonderful hymn website: cyberhymnal.org tells this story: While driving home to be with my family for Christmas, I heard a radio preacher tell a story from a bygone era, before refrigerators, when horse drawn wagons delivered ice from ice houses. The story is told of an ice house owner who lost his valuable watch, a family heirloom, and was frantic to find it. He had his employees rake through the ice house sawdust for an hour without success. Then one of the workers said, If everyone will leave the building, I think I can find your watch. The owner looked at him incredulously, but since his own efforts had failed, he ordered everyone else out. Ten minutes later, the employee emerged from the building with the watch in hand. How did you find that watch? the amazed owner exclaimed. Well, after everybody left, it got real quiet, so I just lay down and listened, and the watch found me! Continued to page 7 We Are Dancing with the Spirit Inside this issue: Youth News by Kathryn Ushimaru Youth Director December is always a busy time for our SALTy Tibs! This month, we will attend another Shabbat service at Kol Haneshama synagogue, perform in the Sunday School Christmas Pageant, volunteer at the West Seattle Food Bank, and celebrate Christmas at Tibbetts all month long. It wouldn t be the holiday season without our annual Parents Night Out! We invite all families to drop their children off at the church on December 9 th from 5:30pm-9:30pm. Enjoy dinner and a movie without interruptions, while the youth take care of the kids- believe me, they will be exhausted and ready for bed when they get home! Proceeds will go towards our next mission trip (Summer 2017). Continued to page 2 Joanne s Jottings 1 & 7 Youth News 1-2 Events Not To Miss 3 Holiday Schedule 5 Gratitude Corner 6 Christmas Party 8 And So Much More!

2 Page 2 Youth News Continued from page 1 Happy Holidays from S.A.L.T., and may we all Serve And Love Together this season! Kathryn Ushimaru-Youth Director youthdirector@tibbettsumchurch.org December Youth Events Shabbat at Kol Haneshama- 12/2 (7pm-8:30pm) Decorating the Sanctuary- 12/3 (10am-12pm) Hanging of the Greens Service- 12/4 (10am-11am) Parents Night Out: Happy Holidays!- 12/9 (5pm-10pm) Christmas Pageant- 12/18 (10am-11am) WS Food Bank Packing Party- 12/12 (7pm-8pm) Youth Christmas Party!- 12/17 (3pm-7pm) Kidnap Night!- 12/21 (7pm-9pm) Christmas Eve Service-12/24 Family Service from 5pm-6pm Celtic Service from 8pm-9:30pm **WINTER BREAK** (NO YOUTH GROUP 12/18, 12/25) Painting clay pots to celebrate Diwali Festival of Lights Church Office Closed The office will be closed from December 24 - January 2. If there is a pastoral emergency during that time please call Joanne s cell phone:

3 Page 3 Holiday Craft Bazaar This year the annual Holiday Craft Bazaar makes a repeat appearance on Sunday, December 4 th, immediately following the Hanging of the Greens worship service. Our UMW groups spent many hours this fall crafting and baking in support of this important way that we fund outreach and mission projects. We ll have baked goods, baskets, ornaments, Team Spirit items (Cougs, Dawgs, Hawks), decorations and many other items that make great stocking stuffers and gifts. We hope you can join us and support this important work of the United Methodist Women. December 11 - Important 30 Minute Tibbetts Business Meeting A business meeting that is just 30 minutes long? Sign me up! We will meet in the Parlor following the worship service on Sunday, December 11 th for a vote on the business items of the church. We met in late September with the Pacific Northwest Conference District Superintendent (Rich Lang) and reviewed how Tibbetts continues to live the way of Jesus in West Seattle and beyond. It was a productive meeting during which we discussed the ways our four ministry areas collectively support Tibbetts vital ministries. There are several items we vote on each year and the Dec 11 th meeting is to address them. It is our goal to be prompt and efficient, yet include all those who have a voice and vote. Please join us for what we plan will be a 30-minute meeting and since it will be held in the Parlor during Fellowship time, this meeting even includes coffee, tea & goodies. What could be better? See you then! Christmas Pageant December 18 It wouldn't be Christmas at Tibbetts without our annual Christmas pageant. This year we will be staging A Mary Carol by Katherine Willis Pershey on December 18 during the service. It will star our youth group and Sunday school scholars and any visiting children who want to wear an angel costume. There will be a rehearsal on Sat, December 17 at 10am. Holiday Special Handbell Concert by Bells of the Sound For children, the days leading up to Christmas are filled with much excitement and anticipation of the Big Day as they hope that Santa will bring everything that was asked for and try to stay on the Good List. Fortunately, they can count on the annual presentation of holiday specials on television to help pass the time away! Watching these animated programs, movies and musicals becomes a deep tradition that is passed on from generation to generation, and families gather together to watch beloved classics like "Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer", "The Year Without a Santa Claus" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas", sing along with the casts in "White Christmas" and "The Sound of Music", or ring a bell at the end of "The Polar Express". Join Bells of the Sound this holiday season as we reminisce about the songs from our favorite specials as we present "Holiday Special" at Tibbetts on Friday, December 16 at 7:30 pm. The suggested donation is $10 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors.

4 Page 4 Happy Birthday in December General United Methodist Woman s Meeting: Will meet December 7 at 10am in the Parlor. Please bring a sack lunch. Susanna Wesley Circle will provide tea, coffee and cookies. Circle Meetings Eileen Leader Circle- Will meet on Wed, Dec 14, at 11am at Micheala Hoppe's home for potluck lunch. The business meeting will be held before lunch, then the program will follow. Susanna Wesley Circle- Will meet on Wed, Dec 14 at 11am at Doris Barker's home. The business meeting and program will be held before lunch, which will be at Wesley home. Kolze Circle-No December meeting; Merry Christmas to all. The circle will meet again in January so stay tuned for location. Sewing Circle- Will not meet in December UMW Sewing Circle announcement: we are in need of spools of yarn for a project to be made for West Side Babies. Please give it to Virginia Kinch, thank you. Jackson Carney Steve Childress Rachael Phelps Semisi Langi Mary Wiener Liz Batchelor Louisa Gliko Lily Saini Riley Lehmann Don McKee Kylene Ushimaru Nicholas Branch Kyra-Lin Richman Abraham Allen-White Terry Holm Howard Hein Happy Anniversary in December Congratulations and many blessings! Julie Carney Sylvie Gliko Nico Bazakas Quinn Bazakas Carol Crawford Joanne & Christie Brown 3 years Doris & Terry Christian 38 years Wendy & Stephen Hughes-Jelen 19 years Adam Goodnight Sandi Ashenfelter Irene McCoy Al Maus

5 Page 5 Calling All Elves It s time to decorate the church for the Advent and Christmas Season. We will gather at the church Saturday, December 3 at 10am to transform our space into an even more beautiful space than it already is. There is lots to do and many hands make light work. There will be coffee, tea, and goodies to fortify us. Please plan on joining in the fun - you ll get to hear Christmas music while you work! Hanging of the Greens Hanging of the Greens is a long-standing tradition at Tibbetts when we complete the decorating of the sanctuary in a joyous service of stories about Christmas traditions and carols. It is December 4 during the 10am service. It is a favorite of ours and not to be missed. Longest Night Service For some people Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. It might stir up feelings of sadness and depression whether it will be the first Christmas without a loved one, or the person lost someone around the Christmas season and this is a painful reminder each year. It might be because of any other kinds of loss - loss of a job, a divorce or break-up, a feeling of grief and despair over the future of our country and the world, or even the loss of faith. There is a need for a space to not be forced to be jolly but will acknowledge our grief and pain and depression. The Longest Night Service is that place. It is a service of music, readings and prayers and candle lighting. It is open to everyone no matter the circumstance. If this would be of help to you this Christmas season or if you know someone who could benefit from being with us that night, please invite them and come along with them. It is held on the Longest Night of the year, December 21 at 7pm in the sanctuary. Christmas Eve At 5pm w e hold our Family Christmas Service. It is a time for families and those w ho don t want to be out later to come together and celebrate the birth of the babe of Bethlehem with retelling the Christmas story, special kid-friendly songs and carols, and glow lights. All are welcome and tell your friends and neighbors about this opportunity. At 8pm w e w ill gather to the call of the pipes as w e celebrate a Celtic Christmas Eve complete with prayers and litanies from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, carols, and of course, candle light. We ll carry the youngest child in our congregation on a lamb skin to the traditional Hail Christ litany. And of course, bagpipes! Act aye, laddies and lassies, tis the time to come together and celebrate the wee bairn born this night. Christmas Day Christmas day is on Sunday this year. We will be celebrating the birth of the babe of Bethlehem with a House of Bread service at 10am. We invite you to come as you are - including in pajamas - seriously, Joanne will have hers on. We will also be blessing gifts that were received so bring anything along you d like blessed. It will be a great time to get together with your church family. New Year s Day New Year s Day is also on a Sunday and we will gather at 10 am to do a version of John Wesley s Watchnight service traditionally done New Year s Eve. We will renew our covenant with God and with each other as we reflect on the year past and the new year to come. Join us for this time of reflection and renewal.

6 Page 6 Gratitude Corner Thank you to all the musical folks who volunteer to make our services full of the joy of music--everyone who sings in the choir, rings with the bells, and plays an instrument. We are blessed with beautiful music every Sunday. This couldn't happen without all of the musicians who volunteer their time and share their gifts. Not only do they perform Sunday mornings, they dedicate themselves to weekly practice. Thank you to the choir and the bell choir. Your beautiful music fills us with spirit. Pasta Sauce Cook-Off Results November 13th was the Finance Committee hosted Tibbetts UMC Pasta Sauce Cook-Off. Park West Care Center was the primary sponsor and generously donated funding for gift certificates and supplies. Other major contributors included Husky Deli (Ice Cream) and Gillian Allen-White (Artisan Bread). A tremendous thank you should be extended to all of these sponsors. The Tibbetts Top Chef contestants were Cheryl Jones, Sara Carter, Pat Ingram, Cathy Lehman, Douglas Hom, and Pastor Joanne Brown. The event was well attended, the sauces delicious, and after the final voting was tallied, the winners were: 1st Place Cheryl Jones, 2nd Place Douglas Hom, and 3rd Place Joanne Brown. Additional thanks should also be extended to the following people who helped to make this a successful and fun event: Cathy and Tom Lehman, Douglas Hom (ad hoc chair), Cheryl, Daniel, Katy & Silas Jones, Betsy Wharton, Alan Hoppe, Charlie Shelfer, Stephanie Roundhill, Pat Ingram Cheryl and James Cole. RMD Charitable Tax Break If you're required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA, you have the option to make some or all of that distribution tax free by directing it to the charity of your choice. This distribution can be a convenient way to support Tibbetts UMC and get a tax break while meeting tax requirements for IRAs. In understanding qualified charitable distributions (QCD), it's helpful to recall the basics of required minimum distributions (RMDs): If you're age 70½ or older, you generally must withdraw a minimum amount each year from your traditional IRAs (Roth IRAs are excluded) and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The money you're required to withdraw gets added to your taxable income. Failure to take your RMD by year-end could result in a stiff IRS penalty 50% of the amount you should have withdrawn. (Learn more about RMDs.) Under the QCD rule, beginning at age 70½, you can have all or part of your distribution made directly from your IRA to a qualified charity (up to $100,000 per taxpayer, per year). Unlike conventional RMDs, QCDs aren't subject to ordinary federal income taxes. To make a distribution to Tibbetts, contact your IRA trustee or talk to Stephanie Roundhill, who has done a distribution to Tibbetts for a couple of years.

7 Page 7 Joanne s Jottings continued Continued from page 1 I thought of Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. I am so grateful to Richard Adams for this story. It comes to me at just the right time, when all the hustle and bustle is commencing for Advent and Christmas and the New Year and it is this time of year when I start feeling overstressed. I feel certain that it is God s word for me, and I hope that in it, you might hear echoes of God s word for you. Last year around Christmas time I heard an NPR announcer telling about upcoming events related to Christmas. He talked about a sing-a -long of Handel s Messiah. I didn t hear when or where it would be, but one thing I did hear, and it struck me. The last line of his announcement was this: Don t miss the Messiah! It makes me reflect. Oooops! with all that we do around Christmas time, are we missing the Messiah? What are the noises and distractions that are getting in the way of our experiencing Christmas this year? Maybe we need to stop, and rest, and listen, and let the Messiah find us! My invitation to you, to all of us, is that we find time, this Christmas season to be still. To mute the sounds of tv ads. to silence the cries of those who would distort Christmas for their own purposes to quiet our inner nagging thoughts, that tell us what we think others are expecting us to be or do, during the weeks ahead to calm our hearts and minds. to breathe deeply of the present moment. to let all of the other distracting sounds leave us, so that we can find what all the world is seeking, the infant in the manger, who is the word of God, and speaks to us softly as the still, small voice of God. Merry Christmas! Bulletin blooper for December: Our next song is Angels We Have Heard Get High. A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible. Then one day she floored her grandmother by asking, Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin? Mark Your Calendar - January 8th Welcome Home Potluck and Area Meeting 2017 is fast approaching and we ll kick off our New Year on January 8 th by having a potluck and Ministry Area Meetings immediately following the worship service. We hope you ll join us for delicious food, warm conversation and a chance for you to join one of our four Ministry Areas: Worship (encompasses worship experience through music, Liturgical Arts, Prayer, Ushers, Liturgists, Greeters, Communion); Discipleship & Relationship (emphasizes Faith formation children, youth and adult, Nursery, Youth Group, Congregational Care, Fun, Fellowship, Koinonia Groups); Welcome and Outreach (includes Communications & marketing, Christians in Action, Mentors for new people, United Methodist Men and Women), and Stewardship ( good stew ardship of God s gifts, including talents/skills, financial, building, equipment, and other resources). ALL are Welcome Home! In Case of an Emergency on F r i / S a t / S u n c a l l J o a n n e Messages le ft a t t h e c hurch aft er 2pm on T h ursday s a r e n ot checke d u n t il Monday mo rn ings. T h an k you ve r y m uc h!

8 Tibbetts United Methodist Church st Ave. SW Seattle, WA We Are Dancing with the Spirit Phone: Church Members receive a lengthier printed version via US Mail. The Communications Committee has ensured addresses and phone numbers of church members who host events in their home are not published on the internet, and also protects the privacy of its Youth. Facebook.com/TibbettsUMChurch We welcome all people to celebrate and share God's love. Tibbetts Christmas Party Saturday December 3 rd 5 7 PM Adams Hall All are invited to what has become a Tibbetts tradition; decorating Gingerbread churches and eating Christmas cookies. The decoration of Gingerbread churches will start at 5pm with soup served at 6pm. The soup for the evening will be chili with corn bread muffins and a gluten free tomato soup. There will be Christmas music playing along with Christmas videos. It promises to be a fun evening for all. Even if you do not feel like decorating a Gingerbread church, stop by for some homemade soup, socializing and to check out the Gingerbread churches. It promises to be a fun evening. Christmas Season Special Services December 4 10am Hanging of the Greens December am Sunday School Pageant December 21 7pm Longest Night Service December 24 5pm Family Christmas Service December 24 8pm Celtic Christmas Eve Service January 1, am Covenant Renewal Service