The Front Pew Volume 6, Issue 11

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1 In this Issue... The Front Pew Volume 6, Issue 11 December 2017 Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 Contact Information 2 Announcements 3/4 Compassionate Christmas Fair Christian Education 6 Calendar 7 Virtual Poinsettias 8 Stone Column 1 5 The Stone Column Each year we designate a focus of missional giving for funds raised in selling both living and virtual poinsettias. The choice of where to designate these proceeds has been giving to me. The choice this year seemed obvious UMCOR hurricane relief. I d like to tweak that just a bit. I d like it to go toward our Bishop s Advent Offering. Bishop David Bard has designated this year s Advent Offering for Disaster Relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief as follows: 40% for UMCOR Domestic Disaster Relief victims of hurricanes in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico or fires in California could benefit 40% for UMCOR International Disaster Relief rebuilds after Mexican earthquakes and mud slides in Sierra Leone could be supported 20% for a Michigan Area Disaster Response Fund for use when disaster strikes in our midst or to send volunteers and supplies to scenes of trouble In his appeal to Michigan United Methodists Bishop Bard writes; Even if you don t purchase a poinsettia (live or virtual) I hope you will join with other Michigan United Methodists journeying in solidarity with those who have suffered disaster from water, wind, fire, and mud. One of our alternative giving options at the Compassionate Christmas Fair is UMCOR. No gift is too small. Together, we can offer hope and light to those who are struggling in darkness. peace and blessings, Eric It has been a year of remarkable natural disasters hurricanes and floods in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, in addition to earthquakes, avalanches and landslides in Africa, Asia and South America. Thousands of lives have been lost and tens of thousands have been displaced, living without electricity, sanitation and clean water. In this season of joy, as we await the coming of Jesus, we can also remember that for Mary and Joseph, the birth of our savior was a time of anxiety and hardship. Advent is a time to remember this journey and to live out God s calling to care for those in need.

2 Page 2 December Birthdays 4 Bob Hogan 7 Rev. Eric Stone 9 Marjorie Holsinger 12 Hiram Stojic 13 Daniel Bruck Joye Kramer 14 Jeanne Connell 18 Taylor Trudell 20 Nellie Vandemark 21 John Barriger 26 Layla VanTol 27 Connor Dowd 28 Andrew Felch 30 Betty Luce December Anniversaries December 3 Gene & Nellie Vandemark December 8 Robert & Joann Kulka December 19 Christopher & Paula Bruck December 30 Neal & Ruth Felch Merry TubaChristmas The Front Pew Sunday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m. We are hosting a free carol sing-along with a Tuba Choir. O Come All Ye Faithful Tuba, Sousaphone, Baritone, & Euphonium Players Join the Merry TubaChristmas Ensemble! Registration-$10 1:00 p.m. Rehearsal 1:30 p.m. Carol books available for purchase $20. Student discount available upon request. United Methodist Church Mailing Address: 206 Scheurmann St. Essexville, MI Telephone: (989) Fax: (989) Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office office@stlukesumcmi.org Contact Information Pastor: Rev. Eric A. Stone pastor@stlukesumcmi.org Church Accountant: Donna Gross accountant@stlukesumcmi.org Christian Education Workers: Gloria Gonzales & Kelli Stojic christianed@stlukesumcmi.org Music Director: Melissa Rookus music@stlukesumcmi.org Office Staff: Cora McKeon office@stlukesumcmi.org Organist: Vicki Ahlberg-Ives organist@stlukesumcmi.org Webmaster: Sheila Good webmaster@stlukesumcmi.org

3 Page 3 Scrip Tip Starting today, we will have a limited number of the following special small denomination gift cards available, perfect for stocking stuffers and holiday gift-giving. These cards will only be available while supplies last, so don t wait to place your orders! Amazon $10 Applebee s $10 Barnes & Noble $5 CVS $10 Target $10 Olive Garden $10 Home Depot $10 IHOP $10 Meijer $10 Walmart $10 Outback $10 Panera Bread $5 Red Lobster $10 Starbucks $5 In addition, we have hundreds of other gift cards to choose from. Meijer $25 and Grampa Tony s $10 cards are available on a cash (or check) and carry basis. Bay Animal Hospital also offers a 5% donation for your four-legged family members. See Joye Kramer or Julie Nelson with any questions. United Methodist Women News United Methodist Women will be meeting on December 13 at 6:30. There will be a brief meeting followed by a holiday tea. This is a great opportunity to include someone who would like to know more about United Methodist Women. There will be more information about this meeting in the bulletin. Coming up in January we will be installing our new officers will be a year of changes for our unit as we implement some of the suggestions we received in our survey. Stay tuned for information about exciting things to come. Christmas Eve Services 9:30 a.m. Family Service 8:00 p.m. Carols & Scripture 11:00 p.m. Candle light

4 Page 4 Christmas Program Rehearsal for all parts - December 9 a.m. Rehearsal for all parts - December 9 a.m. The Front Pew Christmas Potluck Christmas Eve can make for a very long evening if you re working at several worship services or spend your whole night at the church. To help out, we will be holding a potluck between services. All are welcome to join in the food and fellowship! Golden Friends Golden Friends will be meeting for a potluck at St. Luke s on Monday, December 4 th at noon. We will also be doing a $5 gift exchange! Sign up on the bulletin board across from the fellowship hall with the dish you will be bringing to pass. Please provide your own table service. Library Check ou t all t hat i s a vailabl e i n t he Chu rc h li brary f or A dv ent a nd Christ mas. There are sev eral new Chri st mas DV Ds a nd b ooks for all a ges. A sp eci al display ha s b een set up on t he Library s mobile c art. Book Club Start t he N ew Year off with a good b ook a nd grea t f ellow ship! T he Breakfast Book Cl ub meet s Janu ary 1 3t h a t 10:00 a.m. i n t he Café. Book s a re av ai labl e t o rea d a nd return at t he Churc h li brary l oc at ed i n t he nort h/ south ha llway across f rom t he main ent ra nce t o t he F ellow ship Ha ll. All a re w elcome! Watch Night Party Sunday, December 31 st at 9 p.m. Family, Friends, Fun, and Food- Ring in the new year at St. Luke s!

5 The Saginaw Bay District Southeast Discipleship Zone December events that may interest you: Auburn UMC Third Annual Kids Christmas Make & Take Night: December 13, :30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Dinner for families as you are invited to come for a free night of making Christmas crafts for family and friends which are wrapped at the wrapping station in preparation for Christmas. Anyone who d like to assist with craft making or in other ways may contact Auburn UMC at or office@auburnumc.org. Saginaw First UMC: FREE Community Meal Tuesday, December 12, 5:00 pm-6:30 pm. Everyone welcome! Because no one should have to go hungry, and no one should have to eat alone. Free Community meal happens the 2 nd Tuesday of EVERY MONTH!!! Saginaw State Street UMC Holiday open house -- December 2, 2-4pm (meet/greet Community resource fair) November Year to Date Income: 181, Expenses: 179, Net Income: 2, Outstanding Liabilities $8, Did You Know? The season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The word Advent comes from the Latin word "Adventus" meaning coming or visit. During Advent we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for and need of forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming. The color for Advent has traditionally been purple, although some churches have adopted blue. Purple signifies penitence and royalty. Blue is the color of hope. (Information from the November/December issue of "Interpreter" magazine). --Barb Bovee Pierogi Sale On December 16 a group of us will be making homemade pierogi to sell on December 17 after worship. There will be three kinds of pierogi for sale: potato & cheese, cheese, and sauerkraut. Cost is $7.50 per dozen. These are a great addition to your holiday and everyday meals They can be frozen for future use. In case you don't know what a pierogi is, it is a filled dumpling of Central and Eastern European origin. They are delicious! You will have an opportunity to order your pierogi after worship in the fellowship hall. Proceeds from the pierogi sale will benefit our general fund. Compassionate Christmas Fair A Compassionate Christmas Fair will be held in the fellowship hall on Saturday, December 2, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 3, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fair Trade gifts will be available for sale, and you will have an opportunity to donate to support other missions and outreach around the world as well. Give the gift of hope to help people in need, promote peace and justice, and share the true meaning of Christmas. We will also be serving a variety of soups. Come join us for a bowl of soup, and shop for gifts for yourself or others for Christmas! --Outreach Ministry Team

6 C H R I S T I A N E D U C A T I The Advent Season is upon us and we have many things planned for this season. This year we are doing a Family Holiday Challenge. There are some things for just the parents to do, some things for just the kids to do and some things for the family together to do. Contest rules can be picked up from the office or by contacting Gloria Gonzales. The contest begins on December 1 and continues until January 7. Contest winners will be announced on our Facebook page and in the Church bulletin. FUN FACT: Did you know that in many countries in the World Christmas is celebrated on January 7? Give yourself an extra point if you find out why that is so. The Christmas Program will be on December 17 at 6 p.m. The title of the program is That Starry Night. This musical Nativity Story was inspired by Sara, a little girl who loves to sing, dance, draw and create. Please join us for this enjoyable Children s Christmas musical. We will be practicing on Saturday December 9 and December 16 at 9 a.m. The Monday Night Men s Study Group will be doing an Adam Hamilton study entitled Faithful, Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph. If you are interested, the men group meets on Monday night at 7 p.m. in Esther s Parlor. This study will focus on Joseph, his life and his role in the birth and life of Jesus. We will find that there is more to Joseph than what meets the eye in the New Testament accounts of Joseph s life. Come and join in this interesting study lead by Brian Scramlin. The Sunday Morning Women s Study Group will also be doing an Adam Hamilton study entitled Not a Silent Night - Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem. In this study Adam Hamilton begins at the end with Mary at the Crucifixion and Resurrection and travels back in time as she is a witness to Jesus life and ministry and ends at the beginning with the Christ Child born in a stable. Please join us for this fascinating journey on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. The FaithWalk class will be doing a James Moore study entitled Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam. Christmas always happens in the midst of confusion. God breaks into the confusion and makes himself known in Jesus Christ. Sometimes we forget how much confusion there was when Jesus was born. That is what this study is about. A reminder that Jesus breaks into our confusion and brings us Christmas. Bethlehem always happens in the midst of bedlam. The FaithWalk class meets on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in Esther s Parlor

7 December 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat F.A. = Families Anonymous F.H. & K. = Fellowship Hall & Kitchen NA = Narcotics Anonymous UMM = United Methodist Men UMW = United Methodist Women S&S.=Stampers and Scrappers 1 2 9:00 a.m. U.M.M. 2:00 p.m. Compassionate Christmas Fair 3 9:30 a.m. Worship- Advent 1 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Compassionate Christmas Fair 4 Do-All Cleaning Day 12:00 p.m. Golden Friends- UMC 6:00 p.m. Trustee 5 4:30 p.m. S&S Christmas Party 5:00 p.m. Open Prayer 7:00 p.m. Taizé 6 7 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice N.A :00 a.m. Christmas Program Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. N.A. 10 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Cookie Walk 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 11 Do-All Cleaning Day 7:30 p.m. Bell Choir 12 11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting 5:00 p.m. Open Prayer 7:00 p.m. F.A. 13 6:30 p.m. U.M.W. Meeting 14 7:00 p.m. Choir Practice Peace Vigil N.A Pierogie Baking 9:00 a.m. U.M.M. 9:00 a.m. Christmas Program Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. N.A. 17 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 18 Newsletter Deadline Do-All Cleaning Day 19 4:00 p.m. Valley Scribes 5:00 p.m. Open Prayer :00 p.m. Choir Practice N.A. 22 7:00 p.m. December Movie Night-Prancer 23 7:00 p.m. N.A. 24 Christmas Eve 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 Fellowship 8:00 p.m. Lessons & 25 Christmas Day 26 5:00 p.m. Open Prayer 7:00 p.m. F.A :00 p.m. NA :00 p.m. N.A. 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship

8 Page 8 St. Luke s United Methodist Church Presents: MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS - ESSEXVILLE James Pawloski, Conducting Sunday, December 10, :00 p.m. A free carol sing-along with a Tuba Choir The Front Pew O Come All Ye Faithful Tuba, Sousaphone, Baritone, & Euphonium Players Join the Merry TubaChristmas Ensemble! Registration 1:00 p.m. - Rehearsal 1:30 p.m. $10 Registration Carol books available for purchase - $20 Student discount available upon request. St. Luke s United Methodist Church 206 Scheurmann Essexville (989) TUBACHRISTMAS concerts are presented with permission from the Harvey Phillips Foundation Inc. tubachristmas.com

9 #EndGunViolence Vigil St. Luke s United Methodist Church Thursday, December 14, :00-8:00PM Since the Sandy Hook tragedy five years ago, over 500,000 Americans have been killed or injured by guns. Join us in prayer, song and a call to action as we remember and lift up all lives impacted by gun violence. St. Luke s United Methodist Church 206 Scheurmann St. Essexville, MI stlukesumcmi.org #EndGunViolence Gun violence affects people regardless of age, income, location, religion and race. This event is one of hundreds in the 5th National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence.

10 St. Luke s United Methodist Church 206 Scheurmann St. Essexville, MI Return Service Requested December 2017 Phone: (989) Fax: (989) office@stlukesumcmi.org s t l u k e s u m c m i. o r g Our Vision Nurturing the world with God s love. Our Mission Called by God to reach out and welcome all. Virtual Poinsettia We will be taking orders for the Virtual Poinsettia on Sunday, December 3 and 10. All money raised will go toward the UMCOR Hurricane Relief. For your donation, your loved one s name will be placed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. If you have any questions, please see Edythe Juve. Checks may be made payable to St. Luke s. Please detach this portion and return with your payment on Sunday, December 4 or Sunday, December 11. Please Print Legibly Your Name: (as you would like it to appear in the bulletin) This Donation is... In honor of or In memory of (When donating for multiple people, please indicate separately.) Donation Amount: $