The Friendly Flyer. Pastor Alice Ann Sandy Collins Del Roberts. From the Pastor s Desk ~

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1 Volume 6, Issue 5 November-December 2017 Ac k e r m a n v i l l e U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h From the Pastor s Desk ~ On Saturday, October 14 th the members of Ackermanville United Methodist Church met for a Church Conference facilitated by The Rev. Joe Tyson, assisting elder to the District Superintendent. The meeting had been announced in various ways to allow as many people to attend as possible. This meeting was to discuss the financial state of the church and how to move forward effectively. The meeting focused around three facts: 1. Ackermanville is a small church, with a big mortgage/loan that is held by the Conference Loan Board. For the last 16 months we have made no payments on the principal balance. The interest payments are up to date. 2. Since January 2017, we have been up to $5,000 short of meeting our monthly budget each month. 3. Our membership presence on Sundays has dropped by about 20% over the past 3 4 years. During the meeting, SPRC (Staff-Parish Relations Committee) and the Finance Team presented all of this information. The members of the congregation asked many questions and made many comments. At the end of this time, SPRC made a recommendation that the congregation move to change pastoral leadership to a part-time or shared minister. When Rev. Tyson called for the vote all voices returned YAY, with no NAY s being heard. How this change gets implemented is at the discretion and direction of Bishop Peggy Johnson and the appointment Cabinet. There are several possible ways that it may be accomplished. This information will be provided, by our District Superintendent, The Rev. Dr. Irving Cotto, to the SPRC when it is available. No change will take place until July 1, In the meantime, everything will continue at AUMC. We will continue to worship and fellowship together. Special events like the Thanksgiving Feast, The Christmas Cookie Walk, Soup Bowl, and the INSIDE: Community Meals 2 Acolyte 3 Anniversaries 3 Birthdays 3 Ushers 3 Calendar 4 Celebrate 5 Advent Quiz 5 Answers 6 UMCOR 5 Ushers 7 Liturgists 8 Mother s Day Tea will still happen. The Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter worship services will continue to touch the hearts and lives of all who attend with the love and grace of God, as Jesus has shown us, and as the Spirit gives us direction. If you have questions or concerns, ASK THEM. This is not a time to sit and worry needlessly. There is an expectation that there will be lots of questions and concerns. The leadership of the congregation is here to help with all of them. If they do not know an answer they will find the answer. Help us help you through this time. Remember, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. In Christ s love and work, Pastor Alice Ann Sandy Collins Del Roberts SPRC Chair Ad Council Chair

2 Page 2 Ackermanville UMC is once again collecting items for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Hygiene Kits. Hygiene kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. All items must be new. Do not wash any of the items as they will be considered used. Please deposit items in the collection containers in the church narthex or in Young Hall hallway. Thank you so very much. Please donate items exactly as they are described. Any other items will not be accepted. 1 hand towel 15 x 25 inches to 17 x 27 inches Kitchen, cleaning, and microfiber towels not acceptable 1 washcloth 1 comb Comb needs to be sturdy and longer than 6 inches long No pocket combs or picks please Rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable with a minimum of 6 inches of teeth 1 metal nail file or nail clippers No emery boards, please 1 bath-size soap 3 oz. and larger sizes only No Ivory or Jergens soap due to moisture content Do not remove from original packaging 1 toothbrush Adult size only Do not remove from original packaging 6 adhesive bandages ¾ inch to 1 inch-size Common household Band-Aids 1 plastic bag One-gallon size sealable bag only ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please place items in label containers in Young Hall and in the library THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! Grave Blankets Hygiene Kit Materials A.) Simple grave blanket - mixed greens with a red velvet bow $15.00 B.) Natural grave blanket - mixed greens, pine cones and red relvet bow $20.00 each C.) Grand grave blanket - mixed greens, pine cones, silk flowers and red velvet bow$25.00 each Ackermanville United Methodist Church Mission Statement: Growing in Faith by sharing God s Love Slate Belt Free Community Meals 1 st Sunday of every month: East Bangor United Methodist 4:00 pm 6:00 pm nd Sunday of every month: Crossroad Baptist S. 2 nd St., Bangor 4:00 pm 5:30 pm rd Sunday of every month: Ackermanville United Methodist 1410 Ackermanville Rd., Bangor 4:00 pm 6:00 pm th Sunday of every month: First United Methodist 3 rd St., Bangor 12:30 pm -? Last Saturday of every month Hospitality Luncheon: Faith United Presbyterian Church 218 W. Penna. Ave., Pen Argyl 11:30 am 1:30 pm Please share this information so that those who are in need can find a free meal. If there is any doubt, please call the respective churches. We Made It! Thank you! Sponsoring Flowers and Bulletins 2017 Flower and Bulletin sponsorship charts are now in the narthex. Sponsoring altar flowers is a simple way to glorify God and beautify the altar. They can be placed in honor of someone, in memory of someone, in celebration of a birthday, anniversary, or other milestone, or just to give thanks for God's blessings. Your sponsorship and dedication will be printed in the bulletin for that Sunday. The same goes for sponsoring bulletins. The cost for sponsoring altar flowers is $40 (quoted recently by Albanese Florist) and the cost for sponsoring bulletins is $10. Please consider signing up. First, write your name and dedication on the chart. Second, if sponsoring flowers, call Albanese Florist ( ) or J.C. Bloom Designs ( ) and place an order with them under the Ackermanville UMC account. Third, place the cost of flowers (or bulletins) in the offering plate on Sunday in a separate envelope, designating that it is for the cost of the flowers or bulletins. Thank you.

3 Page 3 2 Donald Butz Sr Andrea Lane 3 Kristen Reid 4 Beverly Hopstetter Mary Hawes 6 Janice Roberts 8 David Speer 10 Diane Richards Mark Hopstetter 14 Erica Nicoletti November Birthdays 15 Charlotte Loccarini 19 Steve Beck Nick DeAngelis 29 Bill Bright 30 Linda Zellner November Anniversaries 7 Alice & Donald Butz 14 Holly & Joel Sussick 25 Alenda & Charles Gardner 27 Donna & Joe Carcione 29 Jean & Thomas Ackerman 2 Sean Commins Lindsay Ginther 3 Karen Parry 6 Chimene Reid 7 Tyler Tarr 8 Landon Dugey 15 Josh Riggs 16 Donna Hopstetter Meagan Ackerman 17 Carolyn Figlioli Nadine Hughes 19 Lori Tarr 21 Kay Young 23 Carl Moosch December Birthdays 24 Ferlin Harris 25 Holly Sussick Tenley Kopp 28 Tyler Brescancine Sandy Collins 30 Rylee Jade Kopp December Anniversaries 7 Doris & Ed Vroom 8 Debi & Fred D Alessio 11 Lenore & Herbert Rutt 23 Sherry & Bruce Ott Please don t forget those in need of our prayers. We will have an updated list in the bulletins each Sunday. November Greeters & Ushers November 5 Kay & Nell November 12 Linda & Bill Zellner November 19 Nadine Hughes & Ann Scagliotta November 26 Alyssa Kruszka & Mia Herman December Greeters & Ushers December 3 Carol Berger & Don Rafferty December 10 Ruth Ann & Barry Mueller December 17 Nadine & Ridge Hughes December 24 (Morning) Jane & Shirt Williams December 24 (Eve) Kay Young & Mia Herman Publicity If you have an event that you would like publicized, please contact Holly Sussick. Change: holly.sussick@foxroach.com Phone: Keep Them Coming Ink Cartridges Weis Receipts Box Tops for Education Old Prescription Glasses Toilet Paper Paper Towels Postage Stamps Birthday and Anniversary cards to be sent out our faithful lawn mowing crew to the men and their devotion to maintenance of the church building and grounds everyone who contributed to "Pave the Way", and to Chad Roberts, Holly Sussick, and the Trustees for all the work that's been done getting this project underway all who made Boscov's "Friends Helping Friends" event a success everyone who contributed to or helped out with the community meals. A special thank you to Barry & Kay Young for their dedication to this important outreach. Jeff Sandercock, and others who made our Rally Day breakfast Jane Ruggiero for playing the piano at charge conference. Bill Ruggiero for his stirring October 15th sermon for Laity Sunday Meagan Ackerman for stepping up and filling in for Pastor Alice Ann, and doing a fantastic job! Bill Bright, Cindy Doll, and the Spaghetti Supper workers. Under Bill's tutelage, another delicious and successful Spaghetti Supper was accomplished. Thanks so much to Bill, Cindy, and everyone one who helped/ participated. Prayer Chain We are blessed here at AUMC with a prayer chain. You can submit prayer requests through Pastor Alice Ann and receive prayer requests through or phone. If you are not a part of the prayer chain and would like to be, please contact Pastor Alice Ann for the portion and Janice Roberts for the phone portion. Upper Room The November-December Upper Rooms are now available in the Narthex. Please help yourself!

4 Page 4 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 5 - Communion-All Saints Anniversary Sunday Thanksgiving Feast Medical Center 2:15 12 Sunday School 900 Worship 1:00 19 Harvest Home Community Meal 4-6 Community Thanksgiving Service - First UM Church, N. 3rd St. Bangor November Happy Thanksgiving No 9 am-noon Men s Breakfast 7:30 TKs Turn Clocks Back Tonight SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 3 Hanging of the Greens service, followed by milk and cookies SB Medical Center 2:15 10 Caroling at Chandler Community Thanksgiving Service 6:00 pm Sunday, November 19th First UM Church North Third Street, Bangor Sunday School Christmas Program December 17 During Worship Christmas Eve Service 7:00 pm 4 11 December January-February Newspaper Articles Due Men s Breakfast TK s 7:30 am Followed by decorating church for Christmas 16 Christmas Cookie Walk 9:00 am until sold out 17 Sunday School Christmas program During Worship Community Meal Christmas Eve Service 7: Merry Christmas - Wear your Christmas Sweaters!!!

5 Page Advent & Christmas Quiz 1. True or False: Like the 40 days of Lent, Advent is a fixed number of days before Christmas. True False 2. One of the Wise Men gave the gift of myrrh, which is... Middle Eastern money A brewed drink An easily shaped metal A perfume Rare, expensive food 3. What is the Mexican traditional living Nativity celebration called? Feliz Navidad Las Posadas Nochebuena All of the above None of the above 4. Which of these Advent hymns was written by Charles Wesley? Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Hail to the Lord s Anointed 5. Why didn t Joseph divorce Mary after he found out she was pregnant? Divorces 2,000 years ago were very expensive An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream He didn t want to lose the dowry All of the above None of the above 6. What happened in December of 1914? The first living Nativity scene was enacted Macy s held the first Christmas Parade featuring Santa Claus A Christmas truce went into effect between British and German soldiers A Canadian inventor broadcast the first radio program, which included the carol O Holy Night Hallmark released its first series of holiday cards 7. Which historic period(s) mention fruitcake? Ancient Egypt Roman Empire Middle Ages Victorian England All of the above 8. Who originated Watch Night services? John the Baptist Martin Luther King Henry VIII John Wesley President William McKinley 9. What was the shepherds first reaction when an angel of the Lord appeared to them? They began dancing with joy They ignored the angels because they were tired They were terrified All of the above None of the above 10. According to tradition, approximately how far did Mary travel to visit Elizabeth? 10 miles 50 miles 100 miles 500 miles For more Advent quiz questions or to take one of our other quizzes, visit (Answers on page 6) Time to Order Poinsettias Time to Celebrate Something to Think About! Did you know that on November 1, 2020, our church turns 150 years old?? How would you like to see this momentous event celebrated? Planning needs to start now. It was proposed at the last Administrative Council meeting, that a 150 th Anniversary Committee should be formed. Would you like to be involved? Please let Pastor Alice Ann, or Lauranette know if you would like to be involved. Thank you! Poinsettias will be $9.00 each. Please place your orders by December 3, 2017 They will be placed in sanctuary for Sunday the 17th Give money and order to Kay Young or place in offering plate.

6 Page 6 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13. Philippians 4:13 is by far one of my favorite scripture verses because it has so much relevance for my life. Over these last few months, it has become even more relevant to my life. I feel I ve been through the journey of a lifetime in the matter of just a few short months. From annual conference and trainings, to camp and LOUD Summit, to preaching and identifying my calling into ministry (WOAH, did I really just say that?), my life has become completely different because of God. I constantly go back to Philippians 4:13 because it is my reminder that God always helps us through any trial we may face and through any hard time we alone can t get through. Through these last few months, he s helped me to realize my calling into ministry and is still preparing me for the path I will follow. Preaching has been a step out of my comfort zone. It was a step that I needed to figure out where my life will go over these next few years. I have not said No. to God, but rather Yes, lead me where I am to go. and that s exactly what I m letting him do. So, what s next for my life? I m praying continually that God will reveal the plan that he has for me. There are many steps that a candidate for ministry must go through, and depending on what direction I will go, those steps may be a little different. I know whether I become a Deacon, Ordained Elder, or Local Licensed Pastor, that God will keep strengthening me and preparing me like he s already done. My journey is only just beginning! Meagan Ackerman Answers to the 2016 Advent & Christmas Quiz (Continued from page 5) 1. True or False: Like the 40 days of Lent, Advent is a fixed number of days before Christmas. False 2. One of the Wise Men gave the gift of myrrh, which is... A perfume 3. What is the Mexican traditional living Nativity celebration called? Las Posadas 4. Which of these Advent hymns were written by Charles Wesley? Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus 5. Why didn t Joseph divorce Mary after he found out she was pregnant? An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream 6. What happened in December of 1914? A Christmas truce went into effect between British and German soldiers 7. Which historic period(s) mention fruitcake? All of the above 8. Who originated Watch Night services? John Wesley 9. What was the shepherds first reaction when an angel of the Lord appeared to them? They were terrified 10. According to tradition, approximately how far did Mary travel to visit Elizabeth? 100 miles RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBER On October 15th we received Irene Chee Chee Fulmer into the United Methodist Church, and into our congregation. She s joining us from the Episcopal tradition. Welcome Chee Chee! Her contact info.: 63 Penny Lane, Easton PA cheechee1958@gmail.com CAMPBELLS (soup) LABELS & BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION The Campbell s Labels for Education program has just about come to an end. Since it is ending very soon, we are no longer collecting Campbell s labels. HOWEVER, we are still collecting BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION. Please put your box tops in the glass jar in Young Hall hallway. We will continue to send them to McCurdy Ministries/Mission/Schools in New Mexico. Thank you for your continuing support!! For Our Cookie Bakers (for the Cookie Walk) Saturday December 16 Please drop off your cookies before the Saturday of the walk. Wednesday, December 13 9 am-noon or 7:15 to 8:45 pm Thursday, December 14 9 am-noon or 7:15 to 8:45 pm Friday, December 15 5 pm to 8 pm

7 Page 7 t h e p Tha UMCOR Grants to Boost Hurricane Relief Efforts By Linda Bloom* Oct. 16, 2017 ATLANTA (UMNS) The United Methodist response to the devastating 2017 hurricane season is getting a boost through new grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. During their Oct meeting, directors of the denomination s Board of Global Ministries and UMCOR approved more than $7 million in grants for hurricane and other disaster-relief work and $1.86 million for global health projects. UMCOR already had received some $15 million from donors in recent months to respond to U.S. disasters. Full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times have highlighted the denomination s commitment to disaster relief and the fact that 100 percent of all donations go directly to relief efforts. Bishop Hector Ortiz, episcopal leader of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, normally would have been a part of the Global Ministries meeting. However, given the continuing dire situation there after Hurricane Maria, Ortiz had a brief livestream conversation on Oct. 12 with his fellow directors instead. The past three weeks have been truly heartbreaking, the bishop said. Thousands of families lost their homes. The Puerto Rican church s partnership with UMCOR and Global Ministries is of utmost importance, he added. Thomas Kemper, top executive for Global Ministries, announced that Luis Morales, disaster coordinator for the South Georgia Conference, was traveling to Puerto Rico on Oct. 13 as an UMCOR consultant. They (Puerto Rican Methodists) already have distribution centers in 20 local churches and are trying to stand with the people in Puerto Rico, he said. UMCOR sent a $100,000 grant to the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, and assessments are still in process for a larger grant for relief and recovery work. Ortiz finally was able to purchase a generator so the Puerto Rican church office can reopen, Kemper told United Methodist News Service. New York Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, UMCOR s president, said that by addressing the needs in Puerto Rico, The United Methodist Church has a way to extend its hand in the midst of an area where poverty and lack of infrastructure provide an opportunity for response. Puerto Rico s hurricane recovery is estimated to cost up to $95 billion, Bickerton noted. That, he told UMNS, is a signal to faith-based organizations that we need all hands on deck. It s important to view the United Methodist response in Puerto Rico as a long-term program, Kemper pointed out. I really hope, in the future, we can buy more locally instead of shipping, he said. We have a whole network (in Puerto Rico), which will be here for the long haul. UMCOR also will look to some of the other island nations affected by hurricanes this fall. Kemper is counting on the fact that UMCOR held a training in March for Methodist-related disaster coordinators in Central America and the Caribbean. This has become a very good opportunity for us to reach out now to these partners, he said. Several of the larger grants approved during the Global Ministries meeting relate to Hurricane Harvey, which dumped 40 to 52 inches of rain and caused catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas and part of Louisiana, and Hurricane Irma. The denomination s Texas Conference includes Houston and at least 20 of the 39 counties falling under the disaster declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Texas Conference will use its $1 million grant for the first phase of a long-term recovery process to assist 300 households. Fourteen counties in the church s Rio Texas Conference were affected by Harvey. Rio Texas will use its $816,418 grant to support two field offices and one satellite office for initial recovery efforts. A volunteer village is expected to open by Nov. 1 at First United Methodist Church in Sinton, Texas. Would you like to be a Liturgist? Or a counter? Or would you like to become a greeter/usher? It's easy! Just sign up, or put a note in the offering plate, or let Lauranette know. We would love for new people to get involved in these important aspects of the church. Thank you. Bulletin Information Weekly announcements for the worship bulletin can be sent to Lauranette at Lauranette@gmail.com. Thank You!!!! Dates to Remember! November 4 Men s Breakfast 7:30 at TK s (Remember to Change Your Clocks - 1 Hour Back) November 5 Communion - All Saints Sunday Anniversary Sunday - Thanksgiving Feast Slate Belt Nursing & Rehab Worship Service 2:15 November 19 Harvest Home Sunday - Free Community Meal 4-6 pm Community Thanksgiving Service to be held at First UM Church, North 3rd Street, Bangor at 6:00 pm December 2 Men s Breakfast at 7:30 am followed by decorating the church for Christmas December 3 Hanging of the Greens Service, followed by Milk and Cookies December 10 Caroling at Chandler December 16 Christmas Cookie Walk 9:00-11:30 am December 17 Sunday School Christmas program during 10:00 service December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 pm December 31 - Wear your Christmas Sweaters!!! Louisiana has received no FEMA assistance for flooding caused by the downgraded Tropical Storm Harvey. A $500,000 grant will allow the Louisiana Conference to fast-track recovery operations, UMCOR said. Winds, rain, flooding and loss of power caused by Hurricane Irma had a widespread, catastrophic impact on Florida. A $1 million grant to the Florida Conference will initiate the church s long-term recovery operation with the establishment of five regional centers Molly McEntire, an UMCOR director from Florida, shared her experiences as one of the volunteers staffing a call center set up by the conference. Nearly 250 United Methodist churches filed claims for hurricane damage and individuals who called the conference for help were paired with a local church in their area, she said.

8 Page 8 Join us on the web at: Ackermanville United Methodist Church 1410 Ackermanville Road Bangor PA The Rev. Alice Ann Bonham Church Phone: Parsonage Phone: aabonham@gmail.com Liturgists Nov. 5 Bill Ruggiero Nov. 12 Lauranette Grubb Nov. 19 Pete Nell Nov. 26 Sharon Herman Dec. 3 Jane Ruggiero Dec. 10 Barry Young Dec. 17 Jeff Sandercock Dec. 24 Sue Traviss Dec. 31 Meagan Ackerman Please contact someone on the list if you need to switch dates, and contact Lauranette with the change at lauranette@gmail.com or Remember our members in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities Ernest Bartholomew, Rm 135, 4100 Freemansburg Ave., Easton, PA Evelyn Jennings Bethany House Room 2013 Moravian Hall Square 175 North Street, Nazareth, PA Lorraine LaBarre Alexandria Monor, Rm S. New St., Nazareth PA Clara Schweitzer Gracedale 2 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth, PA Special Envelopes If you have a special offering/donation (Love Fund, Community Meal, Memorial Fund, etc.) please put it in an envelope (blue & white envelopes available in pews), and list your name and what you are donating to, on the envelope, so we can give you credit at the end of the year. Thank you. Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation On the first Sunday of the month, we offer worship at Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation at 2:15pm. We have been blessed by getting to know folks and develop relationships with them. Consider joining us to share the love of Christ with the folks at Slate Belt. During worship, we have BLAST bags available for children in the sanctuary. These bags are changed regularly and coordinate with the sermon series. Please help your children see the connections! Please let Pastor Alice Ann know if you or a loved one is in the hospital. She would love to support you and your family with a visit. She depends on you to share the information of which hospital the loved one is in. Please also let Pastor Alice Ann know of any other pastoral needs. She is available in the Church Office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9am-noon. The church phone number is You can reach her by aabonham@gmail.com. The parsonage number is for pastoral emergencies. If you do not reach her, please leave a message. Thank you!