Argos United Methodist Church

Transcription

1 Argos United Methodist Church From Pastor Heather The Overwhelming Love of God Blaide is one of our youngest parishioners. One day in Children s Church, his teacher looked him in the eye and said, God loves you. Blaide confidently and quickly responded, I know! DO YOU REALLY KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED? Feeling loved and accepted is essential for every person. So much in this world works against us and causes worry, temptation, disappointment, and helplessness. Our self-worth must be rooted and established in the thing that is unconditional and unfailing, God s love. I heard a new song this week that powerfully captures the truth of prevenient grace, which is the love of God that comes before us. God loves us immeasurably before we accept him and without us doing any good work first and as imperfect as we are. I cannot get these lyrics out of my head. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. It chases me down, fights til I m found, leaves the ninety-nine. I couldn t earn it, I don t deserve it, still you give yourself away. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. There s no shadow you won t light up, mountain you won t climb up coming after me. There s no wall you won t kick down, lie you won t tear down coming after me. Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. Reckless Love by Bethel Worship 2017 During this Advent and Christmas season I pray that you pause often to open your heart to God s love for you. God was not satisfied to be separated from his people while they lived in darkness and despair. God came to us as Jesus so that we might have an image of his love and once again desire a relationship with him that is life-changing. Won t you receive his gift? Shalom, Heather

2 PAGE 2 December 2017 Greeters: December 3 & 10: Rick & Shelly Shafer Visitor Greeter: Kathy Casper December 17 & 24: Warren & Kathy Casper December 31: Mat & Laura Smith Ushers: Jerry Gates, Walt Gordon, Andy & Caleb Lemler Offering Counters: Connie & Dale PowerPoint: Hank Ullery Worship Leaders Acolytes Nursery Dec. 3: Warren Casper Monte & Barb McCollough Laura Smith Dec. 10: Kathy Casper Monte & Barb McCollough Joyce & Hannah Gibbons Dec. 17: Connie Lemler Luke & Haley Shafer Jessie Dixon Dec. 24: Joe Krom Luke & Haley Shafer Darleen VanDerWeele Dec. 31: Tracey Leeper Mike & Tristen Dixon Portia Wampler Dec. 3: Dec. 10: Dec. 17: Dec. 24: Dec. 31: Children s Church Kathy Casper & Jodie Vermillion Jessica Dixon & Janice Cooper Cindy Taber & Elizabeth Beatty Tracey Leeper & April Leeper Laura Smith & Phyllis Shivers In order for our services to run smoothly, it is important that all positions are filled. If you are unable to fulfill your obligation, please find someone to take your place. Thank you for your service. CHRISTMAS FOOD BASKETS AND GIFTS We are gearing up to do our annual Christmas Food Baskets & Christmas gifts. At this time we have about 20 families that we, along with the Church of Jesus Christ, will we be giving to. The Christmas tree with the ornaments that have the names of the children and gift ideas for them, is up in the front hallway and ready for you choose who you would like to purchase gifts for this year. Names can be taken on Sunday mornings December 3 & 10. Phyllis and Pasty will be by the tree, and will record who you have chosen. Gifts need to be back at the church by December 15. The Food Baskets will be done differently this year. Instead of packing and delivering, the families will be invited to come to the pantry and shop for what they need, pick up their gifts, and stay to have a light meal with us. The dates for shopping are: Monday, December 18, Tuesday, December 19, and Wednesday, December 20 from 5:30-7:00. Pantry volunteers are need for each night (check Opportunities Table to sign up), and people in the congregation are encouraged to come visit and eat with the families. There will be a sign up sheet on the Opportunities Table where you need sign up for the nights you are attending. Please bring a salad or dessert to share.

3 PAGE 3 Worship Series, Dec 3 - Jan 7 PRESCHOOL NEWS Both classes enjoyed a Thanksgiving Feast dressed up as Pilgrims and Native Americans. (Olivia and Waylon are pictured either side.) All together, our preschoolers collected 66 cans for the Food Pantry! Our activities this month helped us practice thankfulness and generosity. You are all invited to join us for our Christmas Program called Counting down to Christmas on December 10 th at 2:00pm in the sanctuary.

4 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE DECEMBER 24 9:00 p.m. ARGOS UNITED METHODI ST CHURCH LADIES NIGHT OUT Thursday, December 7 Hacienda Restaurant in Plymouth 6:00 p.m. All ladies are invited to come and join in the food, fun, and fellowship. Be sure to sign up on the signup sheet on the Opportunities Table in front hallway. MAXINKUCKEE SINGERS Tuesday, December 5 7:30 p.m. SHEPHERD S PANTRY New volunteers would be appreciated to help on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. If you would like to volunteer contact either Patsy Singrey at or the church office. Pantry hours: Tuesday 9:00-11:00 & Thursday 5:30-6:30. Items that are needed at this time are: shampoo, canned pasta, and cereal. Remember, each person is encouraged to bring one item each Sunday. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit, than coming and enjoying their beautiful music? GARDEN COURT SINGING The Mission Committee invites you to join them at Argos Garden Court on Thursday, December 14 at 6:00 as they gather to sing Christmas carols with the residents.

5 ARGOS UNITED METHODI ST CHURCH LIBRARY Time to start enjoying Christmas novels and novellas. This month s book is An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti. Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their only grandson Micah, asks his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him in front of the whole Binder family. But things go terribly wrong when she says no. Now Katie is stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But, sometimes too much is just enough. Especially, when it s Christmas. Will Katie let herself love and be loved before it is too late? STAFF CHRISTMAS GIFTS If you would like to give a donation for gifts for the staff, please turn in your contributions to one of the Parish Staff Committee (Sandy Ringer, Janice Cooper, Mike Dixon, Rick Shafer, Barb Brown, Joe Krom, or Darleen VanDerWeele). All donations need to be turned in no later than Sunday, December 17. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS BUDGET Amount needed each month to make budget is $14,022. The amount collected in November, with one week to go is $12, Erica Beatty 9 Roger Thayer 11 Holly Moyer 12 Carl Prochno 13 Hannah Gibbons 14 Brinnley VDW 19 Ashli Prochno 20 TJ Kline 23 Cindy Taber 25 Barb Brown 26 Kathy Casper 27 Joe Krom Scott Harley Evan Haste Ben Ullery 28 Clara Winters Dave Shivers Rick Shafer 29 Valerie Gillespie 31 Bonnie Grossman PRAYER CONCERNS Barb Callahan Bonnie Grossman Julia Umbaugh Charlotte Lambert Erin Beatty Coplen Family SERVICE PERSONS Jeremy Hinkle John Cooley Scott Wagner Chad Wagner

6 ARGOS UNITED METHODI ST CHURCH Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00 Fellowship Hall in use 6:00 Community Parkside Church 4 6:00 Boy Scout 7:00 Cantata Practice 5 John 6 6:30 Disciple I 7 Val & Patsy 7:00 Ladies Night Out 7:30 N.A :00 CLC in use 10 2:00 Preschool Program :00 Christmas Eve 31 6:00 Boy Scout 7:00 Cantata Practice 6:00 Boy Scout 5:30-7:00 Food Basket Pick Up 12 Rita 6:30 Worship 7:30 Finance 19 Patsy 5:30-7:00 Food Basket Pick Up 7:00 Trustees Patsy 13 6:30 Disciple I 20 5:30-7:00 Food Basket Pick Up 6:30 Disciple I Dale & Janelle 6:00 Garden Court Sing 7:30 N.A.-Joyce 21 Tom & Barb 7:00 Council 7:30 N. A. 28 Gene & Janice 7:30 N.A

7 Methodist Monitor 570 N. Michigan Argos, IN Phone: December is a month filled with excitement, anticipation, events, parties, shopping, and all sorts of things that take up our time. There just doesn t seem to be enough time to do all that we would like to do, and so we must prioritize what we need to do and what we can let go of. Why is December so busy? Simple answer is, because of Christmas. What is Christmas? Simple answer is, the birth of Jesus our Savior. As we go through this month let us not loose focus on Jesus and how we can be honor Him. What does He want me to do with my time? If we do this we will have a more relaxed and fulfilling month, and be drawn closer to the One whose birthday we celebrate. Jesus is the Reason for the Season!