The APPLESEED SEBASTOPOL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER

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1 The APPLESEED SEASTOPOL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMER 2018 NEWSLETTER WE ARE THE LESSED CHURCH with Purpose, Presence, & Power! The blessed church becomes a Kingdom of Joy Psalm 100 Peace on earth and goodwill to mankind. Grace and mercy upon you as we prepare to welcome the Prince of Peace. Here we are again at the end of the year, looking back at what we have done since the beginning of the year. We return to preparing for and Christmas, which seems to be the happiest time for most Christians. We look at this season as a time to relax, a time to worship, and a time to share; for some is a time just to be thankful for having the opportunity to be alive. We fasted, prayed, and strove first for His kingdom all year. In our ongoing worship, we have come to realize the presence of God, and we have thought about how to approach him. The author of Psalm 100 inspires us to sing praise with gladness to express our gratitude. It is the ultimate expression of grateful hearts which receive life abundantly. We make a choice to abide by his word and his leadership, and in his promise to lead us. The Lord nourishes our spiritual and physical needs along the way. Those who are in Him will be rewarded a thousand fold, and the best is yet to come. Psalm 100 calls us to seek our ultimate joy in God alone. It also enriches the delighted heart of inhabitants of this earth to make a joyful noise unto the Lord with voices raised in grateful songs of thanksgiving, with instruments if possible. Faithful believers are delighted when their king appears. Disciples strive to serve the Lord with gladness, for he is our Lord, and therefore he is to be served with joy. Luke writes about Mary praising God: With all my heart I glorify the Lord. In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look from now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name. Mary s is a voice full of delight and integrity. We are invited to enter his gates with thanksgiving. We must not comfort ourselves but glorify God with our joy and let him be praise for what we delight in. e thankful to him and bless his name. We are reminded to devote ourselves to his service in worship and live in obedience to his law. His is the law of love -- love one another, love your neighbor, love your enemies and attend to the needy as ourselves. He is the God of infinite mercy, truth and faithfulness. His truth endures for all generations. Remember: We are gifted with the Power of love but not the love of power. May you all have the blessings of the season, and a Prosperous New Year. Shalom, Pastor Iunisi Tovo Sebastopol United Methodist Church 500 North Main Street, Sebastopol CA office phone: (707) sebumc@sonic.net website: sebumc.org

2 golden rule Golden Rule meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in Epworthian Hall. We share a potluck meal and discuss religious and philosophical issues of mutual interest. For info please contact the church office. Next Meetings are 12/13 12/27 1/10 scrip news SATURDAY TALE Thank you to everyone who donates money, food, and/or time to help with Saturday Table your unstinting contributions directly help hungry people in our community. December 2018 Saturday Table is 12/22 January 2019 Saturday Table is 1/26 THANK YOU to all who help us to serve!! Our neighbors in need appreciate your generosity. SEARS Scrip Available! Last chance for Sears bargains Pat Schoch has some remaining Scrip available for the soon-to-close Sears store! Hunt for last-chance bargains while helping Sebastopol UMC! many other scrip options available See Pat at Sunday service, or call Poinsettia time! Honor your loved ones with a beautiful holiday floral tribute. Please see bulletin inserts during Sunday worship, call the office, or send to sebumc@sonic.net for Christmas Poinsettia sponsorship/tribute information. ZU ZUZ Family Party Friday, December 7th starting at 6:00 pm in Epworthian Hall advent STUDY GROUP Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph study continues on Thursday afternoons on December 6, 13, and 20 at 2:30 pm in the Chapel everyone is invited, men and women. Our text is Adam Hamilton's Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph. Info: Carol Wegner carolwegner@yahoo.com december worship leaders 12/2 Laura Williams 12/9 Matt Witteman 12/16 Pat Schoch 12/23 Vicky Ness 12/30 Worship Team

3 Community ulletin oard The bulletin board on the left wall of Epworthian Hall is for everyone to use for notices you want others to know about. Stop by and see what others are posting. Come, come Emmanuel alternative giving The Mission Team's 2018 Alternative Giving program continues on three Sundays this month please see the inserts in Sunday bulletins for more details. Visit the Mission Team's table in Epworthian Hall after worship on December 2, 9, and 16 to learn about and purchase "alternative gifts" for your friends and loved ones this Holiday season. Four wonderful organizations benefit from our contributions, including Sebastopol UMC! In addition to sharing information and helping us to select our alternative gifts for 2018, the team is collecting warm socks, hats, and neck scarves for men, women, and children in our community thank you for your generosity in helping to keep our needy neighbors warmer during this cold time of year. The Mission Team thanks everyone for continued benevolence and generosity which helps people in our community throughout the year through Alternative Giving, we also help people around the world! inter-church food pantry The Sebastopol Inter-Church Food Pantry needs more volunteers on Saturdays from 10am to noon. Sign up for one or more Saturdays a month. It s possible for a family or a group of friends to volunteer together and have a great hands-on Mission experience while helping our neighbors in need. Please contact Karen ohn for information: phone: ekbohn@comcast.net holiday music two special concerts take place in our sanctuary this month! saturday, december 8 at 2:00 pm SING-a-LONG MESSIAH sponsored by Sebastopol Center for the Arts tickets at the door: $6/person, $15/family concert & rehearsal info: and... sunday, december 16 at 3:00 pm old world carolers a cooperative benefit with the OWC with all proceeds going to assist Camp Fire relief efforts tickets at the door: $10 suggested donation

4 We couldn't have said it better ourselves! SebUMC Sunday School students recently paid a tasty and loving tribute to Pastor Iunisi, who is starting her FOURTH year here with us. Congratulations, Pastor Iunisi, and thank you for being so... SWEET to us! b advent is a time of waiting for the arrival of Jesus HOSPITALITY NEWS FOR DECEMER Everyone is invited to share in our fellowship time following the Sunday services. Our December Sundays are going to be joyful and delicious! December 9: Sharing Sunday. Everyone is invited, if you would like, to contribute a treat or appetizer. Vicki Amtower will be handling the set-up and table duties. December 16: Pastor Iunisi will be providing a lunch for the entire congregation! If it s anything like last year, you definitely don t want to miss it. The Hospitality team will be assisting. Jennie Chestier will provide her yummy punch. Everyone who would like to do so is invited to bring a dessert to share. December 23: The Worship Committee is hosting a brunch for everyone in appreciation of our wonderful church family. You can look forward to French toast and Eggs enedict casseroles, Gravenstein apple hot cider, fresh fruit plate, and other special holiday treats. December 30: Another Sharing Day. It s our tradition that everyone bring left-over Holiday goodies - cookies, pie, cake, candy - to share. You are invited to bring whatever you have left over from the holiday celebrations that you know you shouldn t eat all by yourself!

5 Daily Readings december 2018 Saturday, December 1, 2018: Psalm 25:1-10; Nehemiah 9:26-31; Luke 21:20-24 Sunday, December 2, 2018: First Sunday of Monday, December 3, 2018: Psalm 90; Numbers 17:1-11; 2 Peter 3:1-18 Tuesday, December 4, 2018: Psalm 90; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; Revelation 22:12-16 Wednesday, December 5, 2018: Psalm 90; Isaiah 1:24-31; Luke 11:29-32 Thursday, December 6, 2018: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:5-12; Philippians 1:12-18a Friday, December 7, 2018: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 3:13-18; Philippians 1:18b-26 Saturday, December 8, 2018: Luke 1:68-79; Malachi 4:1-6; Luke 9:1-6 Sunday, December 9, 2018: Second Sunday of Monday, December 10, 2018: Psalm 126; Isaiah 40:1-11; Romans 8:22-25 Tuesday, December 11, 2018: Psalm 126; Isaiah 19:18-25; 2 Peter 1:2-15 Wednesday, December 12, 2018: Psalm 126; Isaiah 35:3-7; Luke 7:18-30 Thursday, December 13, 2018: Isaiah 12:2-6; Amos 6:1-8; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Friday, December 14, 2018: Isaiah 12:2-6; Amos 8:4-12; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Saturday, December 15, 2018: Isaiah 12:2-6; Amos 9:8-15; Luke 1:57-66 Sunday, December 16, 2018: Third Sunday of Monday, December 17, 2018: Isaiah 11:1-9; Numbers 16:1-19; Hebrews 13:7-17 Tuesday, December 18, 2018: Isaiah 11:1-9; Numbers 16:20-35; Acts 28:23-31 Wednesday, December 19, 2018: Isaiah 11:1-9; Micah 4:8-13; Luke 7:31-35 Thursday, December 20, 2018: Psalm 80:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:10-18 Friday, December 21, 2018: Psalm 80:1-7; Isaiah 42:10-18; Hebrews 10:32-39 Saturday, December 22, 2018: Psalm 80:1-7; Isaiah 66:7-11; Luke 13:31-35 Sunday, December 23, 2018: Fourth Sunday of Monday, December 24 & 25, 2018: Nativity of the Lord - Proper I Monday, December 24 & 25, 2018: Nativity of the Lord - Proper II Monday, December 24 & 25, 2018: Nativity of the Lord - Proper III Wednesday, December 26, 2018: Psalm 148; 2 Chronicles 24:17-24; Acts 6:1-7; 7:51-60 Thursday, December 27, 2018: Psalm 148; Proverbs 8:32-36; John 21:19b-24 Friday, December 28, 2018: Psalm 148; Isaiah 54:1-13; Revelation 21:1-7 Saturday, December 29, 2018: Psalm 147:12-20; 1 Chronicles 28:1-10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 Sunday, December 30, 2018: First Sunday after Christmas Day Monday, December 31, 2018: Psalm 147:12-20; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19 Tuesday, January 1, 2019: New Year's Day

6 december 2018 Christ is orn sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday Worship 10:30 am ADVENT Worship 10:30 ADVENT 2 SHARING SUNDAY Worship 10:30 ADVENT 3 PAGEANT Church Celebration OWCarolers 3pm send your submissions for january appleseed! Worship 10:30 am ADVENT 4 CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 5:30pm CHRISTMAS DAY 2:30 Study (2 of 4) 11:30 Golden Rule 2:30 Study (3 of 4) 2:30 Study (4 of 4) 11:30 Golden Rule 12-1 Open Prayer 6pm FAMILY ADVENT PARTY Open Prayer Open Prayer Open Prayer Sing-a-long MESSIAH 2pm Saturday Table Worship 10:30 happy new year Sebastopol United Methodist Church 500 North Main Street, Sebastopol CA office phone: (707) sebumc@sonic.net website: sebumc.org scrip sales support seb umc! thank you!!