Women s Christmas Brunch. Angel Voices. Saturday, December 6, :00 a.m. in Jack s Place

Transcription

1 Women s Christmas Brunch Angel Voices Saturday, December 6, :00 a.m. in Jack s Place

2 Welcome to the Women s Christmas Brunch! We are delighted that you could join us as we begin our preparations for the Christmas season. The Women s Ministries Planning Board invites you to stroll through our 24 decorated tables in Jack s Place. The tables are all numbered and their descriptions are included on pages 4 & 5. Our special project this year is to collect items for the ACCESS program. If you were unable to bring a donation today, financial gifts can be sent to Emmanuel United Methodist Church with ACCESS on the memo line. Mail your donations to EUMC, 322 Cleveland Ave. Ashland, OH Our special guest presenter, Cathy Thiemens is here today to give us more information on ACCESS. Special Thanks Trinity Women s Chorus and soloists: Mariely Dawson, Kim Wolbert, and Pam Prezioso, Rita s Catering, National Honor Society Students, and the Women s Ministries Planning Board: Beth Davis, Penny Hamilton, Vella King, Wendy Shreffler, Kathy Shelly, Becky Swartz and Kim Tanner. 2

3 Women s Christmas Brunch Angel Voices Saturday, December 6, :00 a.m. in Jack s Place Welcome and Thanks Outreach Project, ACCESS Devotion & Prayer Brunch Introduction of Angel Voices Dawn Forbes Cathy Thiemens Kathy Kollar Rita s Catering Kim Tanner Mariely Dawson Kim Wolbert Pam Prezioso Women s Chorus Stiffened felt Chrismons In Luther Hall Christmas Praise I Believe O Holy Night Merry Christmas to All Medley A Prayer for Tomorrow Led by Dee Pinkley Wendy Shreffler 3

4 CENTERPIECES & DECORATORS Table 1 TREASURES IN HEAVEN Gracie Vermillion, Tina Burns A centerpiece of glass, greenery and an array of colors representing jewels is used to encourage others to focus not on treasure on earth but those God has laid up for us in heaven. Rev. 21:19 Table 2 PURITY Gracie Vermillion, Tina Burns This table is decorated with mostly white decorations. The theme, purity was chosen to encourage and remind others of the purity of the real meaning of Christmas. Matt 5:8 Table 3 TELL THE GOOD NEWS Wendy Shreffler In our modern world, newspapers are an old-fashioned way of receiving news. This table is decorated with recycled books and newspapers to proclaim the good news of the birth of Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews12:2 Table 4 ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH Wendy Packard, Barb Swartz As we celebrate Christ s birth, we rejoice in the message the angels delivered to the wise men but also the message of peace, hope, protection and salvation in Christ Jesus. Psalm 91:11, Luke 15;10, Luke 4:10, Psalm 103:5, Luke 2:9-14. Table 5 LIGHT UNTO YOUR PATH Flower Gardeners of Ashland, Diana Scott A picture in a magazine inspired this table centerpiece. John 8:12 Table 6 ANGELS WATCH OVER US Barbara Zimmerman The angels will hold you (Christ) up so you will not dash your foot on a stone. Theme for this Christmas table is based on a statue of an angel hold a lamb. Isaiah 40:11 Table 7 GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY Kathy Kollar The decorations on table 7 are all in gold and white and the angel represents the angelic messenger bringing the good news of the Messiah's birth to the shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem. The candles represent the light coming into the world. The gold represents heaven, which we now can enter, and the white represents the purity He gives believers as new creations in Him. Luke 2:10 Table 8 ANGELS Stefanie Briggs Stefanie lost her sister-in-law a few days before Christmas in 2013 and this table decoration is dedicated to her memory. During Christmas we are reminded of the angels in heaven, watching over us. Psalm 91:11 Table 9 THE WORD OF GOD STANDS FOREVER Rebecca and Robin Swartz This table features things in Nature and the beauty that God created for us. Isaiah 40:8 Table 10 WINTER TOPIARY Diana Scott This table focuses on the beauty of the tree in winter with the snow or on the branches and how it sparkles in the sunlight. John 15:5 4

5 CENTERPIECES & DECORATORS Table 11 LIVING WATER Carol Obrecht, Kathy Shelly, Emily Smith Just as the deer requires water for life, and will thirst for it, so also should we thirst for the living water of God. Psalm 42:1 Table 12 LET US REJOICE Julie Sattler Ribbons and ice skates are highlighted on this table that features a cranberry vase, fresh flowers and holiday greens. Psalm 118:24 Table 13 GIFTS Megan Mitchell This table s focus of a Christmas tree and presents can be a reminder to us of what we're supposed to do with the gifts God gives us. 1 Peter 4:10. Table 14 WINTER WONDERLAND Wendy Shreffler, Carolyn Yannayon In a winter wonderland of snow and cold, ice skating is at its best. With red cheeks, cold noses and frozen fingers, we rush inside where we are welcomed with mugs of steaming hot cocoa. Memories like these create a present-day season of warmth and anticipation as loved ones are invited into our home. Acts 21:17 Table 15 GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST Deb Carmoney Three candles represent Jesus as the light of the world and are surrounded by greens, glitter branches and ornaments. Luke 2 13:14 Table 16 THE STAR IN THE EAST Vella King, Jessica Murawski Painted glass blocks featuring stars are the focus of this table. Stars also glitter on the glasses, cookie cutter napkin holders and ironstone dinnerware; all reminders of the star that the wise men followed to find the Christ child. Matthew 2: 9-10 Table 17 LIGHT OF THE WORLD Becky Steele, Carol Meininger Greenery surrounds three large glass candleholders that feature red and green accents. John 8:12 Table 18 CHRIST IS OUR LIGHT Christian Women s Sunday School Class This Sunday School Class is currently studying 1Peter and had an ah-ha moment when they came to this verse. Candles from the Altar Guild were recycled to make new candles for the table. 1Peter 2:9 Table 19 THE LORD IS WITH THEE Pam Tresh Red placemats, red napkins and red poinsettias are featured in this centerpiece that focuses on angels. Luke 1:28 Table 20 LIKE FINE SILVER Mary Johnson s D-Group Rather than using traditional red, gold and green, this table uses silver to focus on purity. The fact that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary is of great significance in this season, because it reveals his divinity. We are reminded that we too must live lives of purity. Psalm 66:10 5

6 CENTERPIECES & DECORATORS Table 21 BE STILL Wendy Anderson The focus of this table is the stillness of the winter landscape. Glittery white bottles hold unadorned winter branches and remind us to take the time to appreciate the stillness of the season. Psalm 46:10 Table 22 SAVIORS BIRTH Julie Guenther This centerpiece is purposefully simple and natural to remind us what Christmas is truly about - a baby born in a manger. A simple candle that represents the star that was followed, and a simple box that represents the manger that was used to hold the Christ Child. All visible reminders of the birth of our Lord. Luke 2:8 Table 23 JOY, JOY, JOY Vanessa Ebert Burlap surrounds a Fisher Price Little People nativity set to remind us to celebrate Christmas with the joy of a child and not get caught up in the secular rush. Mathew 2:10 Table 24 WAITING Children s Ministries Planning Board Silver and blue satin glistens under a greenery wreath decorated with blue and silver Christmas ornaments and candles. This table decoration was originally used by the Children s Ministries Planning Board at our annual Advent Workshop. White symbolizes the purity of Christ, and blue represents hope and the joyful anticipation we have as we wait to celebrate Christ s birth on Christmas Day. Isaiah 40:31 SERVICE PROJECT The ACCESS Program stands for Ashland Church Community Emergency Shelter Services. This program houses women and children who are temporarily homeless. When they exit the program they are given a laundry basket full of items that will help them as they settle into a new place. Items that are collected on a routine basis include household cleaning supplies such as mop and buckets, brooms and dust pans, spay cleaners, spray bleach, window cleaner, sponges, dishcloths and dish towels, liquid dish detergent, paper towels, laundry detergent, bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, trash cans and garbage bags. In addition, persona hygiene items are also needed. Donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, towels and washcloths, hand soap, hand santitizer, hand lotion, bars of soap, shower gel/body wash, toilet paper and tissue are all welcome. General items such as small alarm clock, aluminum foil, gift cards, plastic wrap, sandwich baggies and gallon-size storage bags are also needed. 6

7 CHRISMONS All Chrismons are made in a combination of white and gold, because white, the liturgical color for Christmas, refers to our Lord s purity and perfection, and the gold refers to his majesty and glory. We point to Christ as the Light of the world by using tiny white lights on the tree. In 1956, at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, VA, a woman named Frances Kipp Spencer could not ignore that there was a Christmas tree in the church that was decorated with colored lights and balls that you could see anywhere at Christmas time. She appreciated that someone had taken their time and cared enough to decorate it, but she felt it was out of place in a church. The following is from one of their Chrismon books: While searching for a way to honor the Christ, I (Mrs. Spencer) came across some drawings of designs called Chrismons. Chrismon is a combination of parts of two words: CHRISt and MONogram. A Chrismon is just that, a monogram of Christ. The sketches I (she) found were copies of Chrismons designed and carved or drawn by some of the earliest Christians. The monograms were found in many places some on jewelry and utensils, others on doors or in catacombs or in buildings. Early Christians used them to identify themselves to one another, to designate meeting places of the church, and, sometimes, to show unbelievers where they stood. Even more important, these symbols of the early church served to transmit the faith and beliefs of the artist-teacher to the viewer. In our sanctuary during Advent, you ll see that the trees are decorated with Chrismons which are all made in the same style. The new tree in the Gathering Space will be slightly different because we are asking volunteers to craft Chrismons using whatever craft they are most comfortable with and enjoy. So far we have knitted, crocheted, quilted, paper-folded, stitched and beaded Chrismons, and they are all beautiful symbols of Christ. We are excited that they also represent that our congregation is made up of many people with different strengths and talents who come together to worship together as one. 7

8 Opportunities for Women at Trinity Women s Sunday School Class Meets every Sunday at 9:35 a.m. in the South Sunroom. This group offers a variety of discussions and studies focused on different aspects of the faith journey. Moms in Prayer International This prayer group meets Monday mornings during the school year from 8:30-9:30 a.m. to pray for our children and their schools, and strives to be a positive encouragement to public and private schools. Contact Michelle Vanderzyden at for further info. Prayer Shawl Ministry This group of ladies comes together on the 2nd Tuesday of the month (from September to May) at 2:30 p.m. to knit and crochet the prayer shawls that are given to shut-ins and new babies. Experience is welcome, and those wishing to learn will be taught. Contact Pam Tresh at Bible Conversations This women s Bible study, led by Pastor Mitchell, meets weekly on Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. to explore various books of the Bible. Contact Dawn Forbes at Expressions of Faith Stamping Group Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. to create hand-stamped cards for various ministries. This group is for beginning and experienced stampers alike. Supplies are provided or bring yours to share with others. Contact Wendy Shreffler at Piece Makers Quilt Group Meets the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Mondays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Together women piece, sew, and tie quilts to give to nursing homes, the women s shelter, Ohio Disaster Relief, and other various causes. Bring a sack lunch. Contact Diana Scott at Women s Ministries Planning Board Plans yearly women s growth and fellowship events including retreats, speakers, All Daughter Banquet and Christmas Brunch. Contact Dawn Forbes at