The Joint Journal. December Associate Pastor: Rev. Marla Elifritz Brown (937)

Transcription

1 The Joint Journal December 2018 T h e C o l l a b o r a t i v e J o i n t C h u r c h e s o f Gordon United Methodist St. Matthew Lutheran Grace United Methodist 311 East Street, Gordon 6825 State Route 772, Ithaca 750 Otterbein-Ithaca Road, Ithaca Worship Worship Worship Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Sunday 8:45 a.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. 5:30 Meal 7:00 bible study Sunday School 10:45 am Lead Pastor Travis F. Qualls travis@gordonumc.com Associate Pastor: Rev. Marla Elifritz Brown revmarlaebrown@gmail.com (937) Associate Pastor: Christopher A. Stump christopher@stumpfamily.org Our Advent Sermon series will begin December 2nd and run through Christmas Eve. At Gordon, each Wednesday night, we will discuss what will be taught at Grace the upcoming Sunday. On December 30, both Grace and St. Matthew will enjoy a service of Lesson s and Carols. Grace 12/2 Wait for It 12/9 Did You Hear about the One? 12/16 Filled with Expectations 12/23 Peace on Earth 12/24 Messiah Comes St. Matthew 12/2 Did You Hear about the One? 12/9 Wait for It 12/16 Peace on Earth 12/23 Filled with Expectations 12/24 Messiah Comes

2 P a g e 2 Join us for our Christmas Services Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at St. Matthew Lutheran, Ithaca Monday 12/24 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Grace United Methodist, Ithaca Monday 12/24 9 p.m. Christmas Meal & Service with special music from our kids at Gordon United Methodist Wednesday 12/26 5:30 p.m. Christmas Poinsettia s Please sign up for your Christmas Poinsettia by December 9. This year s choice is either red, white or pink, and the cost is $12 each. The idea is that you buy them, allow the church to beautify the sanctuary with them on Christmas Eve, then you are invited to take them home.

3 P a g e 3 Are you thirsty? Are you thirsty for the living God? Are you thirsty to meet with God? You are invited to attend for our partnership-wide Thirsty Thursday hour of prayer on Thursday, December 13 at 9:00 am at Grace UMC in the upstairs conference room. We will gather for a time of spiritual refreshment, as together, we pray for our congregations, our community, our nation, our world. We will also pray for God to guide us and empower us to be the people God needs us to be for our living and our loving in these days. let those who are thirsty come Revelation 22:17 Women s Outing We will once again be meeting at Donna s Country Cooking on December 13 for a delicious meal and optional gift exchange. If you are interested in joining the women, please call Bonnie Feitshans from Grace at or by December 2. Cost is $14 per person and is due by December 6 (make checks out to Donna s Country Cooking). (Gift Exchange is optional and is an additional $10) The menu is Pork Loin, Chicken & Potpie, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Green Beans, House Dressing, Dinner Rolls. Donna s Country Cooking is located at 9582 Yount Road, Bradford

4 P a g e 4 From the Pastor I m sure it is no secret to anyone that Advent is my favorite time of year. From as early as I can remember, the month of December and the celebrations surrounding Christmas time have always held a special place in my heart. Of course as a child, much of that anticipation revolved around getting a whole heap of gifts, but there has always been one other thing about this time of year that has been special to me the Christmas lights. Every year (at least the years that I had been good) my dad would drive me and my brother around for hours looking at how different people had decorated their homes with lights to celebrate the season. Maybe it was because this was one of the few times my brother and I weren t fighting in the back seat of the car, but throughout the years it kind of became a tradition for us to drive by all our favorite homes from previous years and then look for new jewels along the way. The one home that I always begged my dad to drive by each year was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smedley. I had never met them and to this day don t know why I know that it was their home, but it left an impression on me. This was one of the few homes that invited families to park in their driveway, giving free candy canes to children, but the biggest draw for me and numerous other passersby was certainly the lights. This family must have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars ensuring that their home was as illuminated as possible, and people would drive from miles away just to get a glimpse of the sheer beauty. This week as I have been reflecting on these precious times, I ve found myself thinking deeply about the lights. People are attracted to light and I m sure many of you love looking at Christmas lights as well. The Smedley s understood this very well and they took advantage of that. I wonder if the same would be true for churches? I m not saying we should decorate the outside of the churches with lights (I m also not saying we shouldn t), but I am saying that Jesus is the light of the world and He has commissioned the Church to shine His light bright for all to see. So this Christmas, let us show our communities and neighbors the light of Christ in a bright and vibrant way, by living out the Gospel everywhere and everyday! Peace and Blessings, Travis

5 P a g e 5 DECEMBER CALENDAR 1 10:30 a.m. Grace Secret Pal Lunch 2 8:15 a.m. St. Matthew Choir Practice 8:45 a.m. St. Matthew worship with Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Grace worship 3 6:15 p.m. Grace Choir Practice 6:30 p.m. Grace hosts Boy Scouts 5 12 p.m. Grace hosts Soup kitchen 5:30 p.m. EIEIO Worship at Gordon 6 6:30 p.m. Grace hosts Cub Scout Meeting 7 p.m. Lifegroup at Gordon 9 8:15 a.m. St. Matthew Choir Practice 8:45 a.m. St. Matthew Worship 9:30 a.m. Grace Worship 12 p.m. Grace hosts Farm Power of the Past 5 p.m. Grace hosts 4H Meeting 10 4 p.m. Staff Meeting at Grace 6 p.m. Christmas Holiday Meal Packing at Castine Food Bank (Life Center) 6:15 p.m. Grace Choir Practice 11 6:30 p.m. Grace hosts Joyful Jets Meeting 12 5:30 p.m. EIEIO Worship at Gordon 13 9 a.m. Partnership Thirsty Thursday Prayer Meeting at Grace UMC 6 p.m. Women s outing at Donna s Country Cooking 6:30 p.m. Grace hosts Wayne Trace Round Table 15 9 a.m. Joint Men s Brotherhood at Huston s 16 8:15 a.m. St. Matthew Choir Practice 8:45 a.m. St. Matthew Worship & Installation of 2019 Officers 9:30 a.m. Grace Worship 11 a.m. Grace Ad Council Meeting p.m. Grace hosts GRCC Food Pantry 6:15 p.m. Grace Choir Practice 19 4 p.m. Staff Meeting at Grace 5:30 p.m. EIEIO Worship at Gordon 20 December Newsletter articles due 23 8:15 a.m. St. Matthew Choir Practice 8:45 a.m. St. Matthew Worship with Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Grace Worship 24 7 p.m. St. Matthew Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion 9 p.m. Grace Christmas Eve Service 26 5:30 p.m. EIEIO Christmas Worship at Gordon 30 8:15 a.m. St. Matthew Choir Practice 8:45 a.m. St. Matthew Lessons & Carols worship with Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Grace Lesson s & Carols worship ($5 on 5th Sunday)

6 P a g e 6 GORDON UMC NEWS One Ministry Castine Food Bank ONE person can make all the difference in the world for ONE other person. The idea is simple: ONE person. ONE item. ONE life made better. This ministry invites every person to get involved. Here's how it works. We designate one shopping item for every month of the year to help fill the shelves of the Castine Food Bank. Please prayerfully consider giving to this ministry each month. Our December item Sugar 2019 Administrative Council Council Chair Emily Harrison SPPRC Chair Peggy Foureman Trustee Chair Aaron Whittaker Recording Secretary Emily Harrison Membership Secretary Peggy Foureman Treasurer Julie Neitzelt Finance Chair Vicki Gilbert Financial Secretary Shannon McCullough Children s Ministry Co-Chairs: Kathy Brown & Jessica Qualls DECEMBER EIEIO MEAL SCHEDULE Below is a list of who will be providing our Wednesday night meals. If you have questions or comments, or would like to be included in a team for the next rotation, please see Peggy Foureman or dpfour@aol.com December 5 December 12 December 19 December 26 Grace Team #3 St. Matthew Team #3 Gordon Team #1 Grace Team #4 Gordon Administrative Assistant: Shannon McCullough gordonumc@gordonumc.com Church Phone: Home Phone:

7 P a g e 7 ST. MATTHEW NEWS December Worship Assistants Greeters: Keri & Kerigan Covert Bread Baker: Anita Schneider Lectors Acolyte Advent Wreath 2 Rhonda Kress Alysson Pahl Rhonda Kress 9 Anita Schneider Karr Stump Anita Schneider 16 Sherry Marten Josie McCullough Sherry Marten 23 Mickie Ary Hailey Pahl 24 Julia McCullough Anna Stump Mickie Ary 2019 Worship Assistant Needs! We are in need of the following worship assistants in 2019! March Bread Baker April Greeter Please let Shannon know if you are willing to fill these important duties. Directory Updates Directory Updates will be printed soon. If you want a new picture, or have a phone, address or change, please submit one to the office by December 15! Thanks to Keri Covert for finding us a family this year! Our family is from the Englewood area and includes two girls, ages 13 and 12 and one boy, age 7. There are slips on our tree at church with items that you can purchase, or you can give cash to Keri and she will purchase something. St. Matthew Administrative Assistant: Shannon McCullough skmcullough@earthlink.net Cell:

8 P a g e 8 ST. MATTHEW NEWS If you are meeting at the church please schedule the thermostat changes with Terry Birt. Please consider a donation to one or more of the following projects. Canned meat for Castine Food Bank One Ministry Castine Food Bank Christmas Meal boxes see list on page 11 Mittens for Head Start Mitten Tree Donations for our Adoptive family Partnership E-I-E-I-O Service Yes, it s at Gordon, but it replaces our Sunday School with Wednesday night meal, a short worship service and bible study for adults, youth and kids. If you have given to Sunday School funds in the past, please consider giving that donation to the Gordon EIEIO service. Restroom Project As long as our handicapped restroom is still a possibility, we would like to continue to allow this fund to grow. Thanks to Pastor Marla and everyone for prayers, cards and phone calls during the illness and passing of my mother. Floyd Hoke Thank you so very much for your recent gift. It is already having an impact and helping us to change the lives of the youth in our care. Stories are shared on our website at Pastor Cliff Nunn

9 P a g e 9 GRACE NEWS METTINGS & EVENTS December 01-Secret Pal Lunch 10:30a 03-Choir Practice 6:15p 05-Soup Kitchen-12:00p 06-Cub Scouts-6:30p 09-1st Day of Winter 09-Farm Power of the Past- Noon 09-4H 5p 10-Choir Practice 6:15p 11-Joyful Jets 4h 6:30 13-Are You Thirsty 9:00a 13-UMW 13-Wayne Trace Round Table 16-Ad Council 11a 17-Food Pantry 17-Choir Practice 6:15p Altar Flowers Nelda Morris 30- Front Door Greeters 02-Marilyn & John Hosbrook Gene Morris 23-JoAnn Welbaum, Donna Stickley 30-Sue Frame Greeters 02-Wayne & Vickie Edmonds Gene & Nelda Morris 30- Kitchen Contacts January, Mach, May, July, September, November: Kate Longenecker: or Cub Scouts 6:30p 30-$5 on 5th Sunday January Cub Scouts 6:30p 06-Choir Sings 10-Cub Scouts 6:30p 14-Boy Scouts 6:30p 17-Cub Scouts 6:30p February, April, June, August, October, December: Bonnie Feitshans: or Readers: 02-Ron Hoover 09-Pat Baker 16-Charlotte Mitchell 23-Jim Longenecker 30-MaryAnne Furlong Sunday Refreshments 02-Ron & Pam Hoover, Kate Longenecker 09-Charlotte Laughman, Charlotte Mitchell 16-Donna Stickley, JoAnn Welbaum Worship Center PH: grace.um.ithaca@ outlook.com Administrative Assistant: Nancy L. Baker 23-Wendy Thompson, Kate Longenecker 30-Kathy Brown, Cindy Emrick SERVICE PERSONNEL LT. COL JOHN KRELLNER KYLE ROSSI LT. COL. CHRIS HOLLINGER PRODUCT OF THE MONTH-GRCC BOXED POTATOES Sunday School Teachers 02-Charlotte Mitchell, Bonnie Millard 09-Diana Saltz 16-Nelda Morris 23-Sue Stammen 30-Anita Myers USHERS USHERS ARE NEED FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER Worship Center PH: grace.um.ithaca@ outlook.com Administrative Assistant: Nancy L. Baker

10 P a g e 10 GRACE NEWS GRACE UMC ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL 2019 SENIOR PASTOR-TRAVIS F. QUALLS COUNCIL CHAIR: WENDY THOMPSON LAY LEADER: JIM LONGENECKER LAY DELEGATE: RON HOOVER SECRETARY: CHARLOTTE MITCHELL TREASURER: AMANDA BAKER SPRC: DOUG THOMPSON FINANCE: BONNIE MILLARD TRUSTEES: DUANE CAMPBELL WORSHIP: LORA RODEHAMEL MEMBERSHIP: BONNIE MILLARD MISSIONS: WENDY THOMPSON EDUCATION: MARSHA BRANHAM Updated addresses: Ivalou Crossley Village Green Health Campus, 1315 KitchenAid Way, Greenville, OH PH: Keith & Karen Besecker 7 Edgewood Drive, Arcanum, OH Clayton & Reta Ballinger 5457 Otterbein-Ithaca Road, Arcanum, OH Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I want to give a praise report that I am healing nicely from my foot surgery. Prior to the surgery on the 6th, I had some times of anxiety. The Holy Spirit dropped into my spirit to pray: "Father God, Let Dr. Schwartz and my foot have great success." When Dr. Schwartz visited before surgery, I asked if I could share my faith and took his hands to say the prayer. I want to thank everyone for the encouraging cards and the prayers on my behalf. It may be a bit before I'm able to attend as I still have stitches and a pin in place but I pray for God's blessings for Grace. Reta Ballinger

11 P a g e 11 COMMUNITY NEWS Castine Food Bank Needs for Christmas Boxes Packing at the food bank will be Monday December 10 at 6 p.m. in the Life Center at the Castine Church of the Brethren. Koolaid Sweet potatoes chicken broth noodles green beans corn fruit cocktail jello Evaporated milk 4 roll toilet paper laundry soap dish soap bath soap Shampoo tooth brushes Monetary donations for meat/perishables QUARTER AUCTION TO BENEFIT ARCANUM BAND Please join Arcanum A# Music Boosters on Sunday December 2 at for a fun afternoon of food, raffles and bidding in order to raise funds to help our kids go to Disney for a music workshop and to march in the parade next fall. 1 p.m. lunch $5 /person Soup, hot dog, chips, desert and drink (or buy separately) 2 p.m. Auction begins $50 all in paddle or $5 pay per bid paddle Several great gifts will be auctioned (including Scene 75, Escape Rooms, Usborne, LipSense, Golf Outing for 4, Gift Baskets, Crafts, Toys and MORE There will be separate raffles for an Apple Watch, Red s Tickets and a Dayton Weekend Package Volunteers Needed Grace Resurrection Community Center is in need of volunteers who can do the food donation pick-ups each Wednesday from Walmart and Aldi's. You must have a valid driver's license and car insurance. If you are interested, please contact (info below )Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thank you! Sharon Fellers GRCC Executive Director (937) sharonf@grccenter.org Final Bow Center for Children s Performing Arts presents Polar Express December 15th at 4 p.m. at Versailles Performing ArtsCenter Mark your calendars to attend this performance. You might see a few of our youth performing!

12 P a g e 12 IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS St. Matthew Frank & Mary Flint Jessica Qualls Ralph Whittaker Eldene Lambert Kirk Zimmer Sylvia Stryker Charles Meier Sue Wolfe Dorla Chumney Brandon & Christina Moyer and family All affected in Pittsburgh PA tragedy Jessi Klosterman Dick & Linda Kinninger Jane Brown Bob Mendenhall Donna Miller Don Schneider Pastor Jim Castello Gloria Scheiding Sandy Thompson Dorothy Hunt Phyllis Fisher Ralph Stutz Tom Knick Blessing Mickie Ary Retirement blessing Neil Stump Addie Cass TJ Kress Janice Berger Keyra Stump Pat Spicer Bill & Pat Stephenson Stan Lamb Girl Scouts (esp. troop in Wisconsin) California wildfire victims Families of: Lottie Hoke Virginia Dyer Jerry Linder Larry Feitshans Randy Post Richard Weherley Jess Baker Elsie (Morris) Young Allen Rismiller Gail McGuire Jim & Sue Ary Janet (Farmer) Adams Ivor Gene Adams Missy Michael For St. Matthew Prayer Chain, please contact Rhonda Kress at or rhonda.j.kress@gmail.com Grace Pat Baker s co-worker, Cheryl & a friend who is awaiting test results Reta Ballinger Marsha Branham Mike Branham Landon Brehm Jane Brown Bruce Cain Chris Cross Jack Davis Wayne & Vickie Edmonds Linda Feitshans Tom Feitshans Garry Fourman David Harbison Bettie Hendl Carolyn Henry Dean & Phyllis Lambert Don Magee Tammy McAlpin Bill Metzcar Margie Nolte Becky Oliver Bill Printz family Jessica Qualls Zane Rhodehammel Louise & Robert Riffell Tyler Roberts Shari Rottman Colbert Shellenberger Colton Shellenberger Annette Sheppard Sylvia Stryker THANKSGIVING FAMILY & FRIENDS Doris Tielbur Carrol Thompson TRAVEL MERCIES FOR ALL FAMILIES & FRIENDS Unspoken Prayer Requests Unmentioned praise and thanks to God for healing. Unspoken requests for healing, support, guidance. OUR CHURCH, OUR CHILDREN, OUR COUNTRY, OUR PRESIDENT (KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE) Those who have lost loved ones. Those who are serving in the military. Updates as of 11/02/18 Grace s Prayer List will be updated through the connect-up cards

13 P a g e 13 Grace 01-David Baker 02-John & Marilyn Hosbrook 03-Billie Brehm 05-Mary Beth Printz Alan Stastny & Joan Chapman 07-Bill Young 10-Marsha Branham 14-Ken & Diana Saltz 17-Heather Medve 18-Linda Feitshans 20-Olivia Medve 20-Sandra Brehm 21-Kate Longenecker 24-Bruce Bryson 24-Ken Saltz 31-Susan Oaks St. Matthew 03-Kim Guttadore 07-Judy Small Linda Kinninger 10-Pam Yeomans 15-Ken Bailey 18-Jim & Carol Castello 19 Hailey Pahl 21-Beverly Zimmer Ron & Sharon Rismiller 24-Dorothy Hunt Rick Harman 26-Phyllis Fisher Gordon 01-Jay Chrisman 03-Jim Gilbert 06-Haley Pavelka 14-Joe Stockton 16 Rod Sease 19 Tony & Amy Gostomsky 21-Julie Neitzelt 24-Michael Lee 28-Tina Shuttleworth Tyler Neitzelt 29-Scott Harrison Jayme Hangen

14 St. Matthew Lutheran Church Ithaca 7820 State Route 722 Arcanum, Ohio Dated Material Church Address 6825 St. Route 722 Ithaca, OH Office Address: 7820 State Route 722, Arcanum Office Phone/Fax: W h e e l c h a i r a c c e s s i b l e + E l e v a t o r o n p r e m i s e s + H o l y C o m m u n i o n c e l e b r a t e d - 1 s t S u n d a y o f e v e r y m o n t h a n d m a j o r c h u r c h f e s t i v a l s Sunday Worship services: 9 am Traditional worship 10 am Coffee Break (food & fellowship)

15 Gordon United Methodist Church 311 East St. Gordon, Ohio Dated Material Wednesday Worship services: 5:30 p.m. Meal 6:30 p.m. Worship 7-7:45 p.m. Breakout Study Groups Adults, Teens, and kids

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