As we start this New Year together we do so prayerfully! We can thank the Lord for a smooth as possible pastoral transition.

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1 January, 2013 Volume 5, Issue 1 Phone: Fax degraffumc@embarqmail.com Kym James, Pastor Kymtjames1976@gmail.com The Circuit Writer! Dear DeGraff: As we start this New Year together we do so prayerfully! We can thank the Lord for a smooth as possible pastoral transition. We can thank the Lord for a plant that was built for our quickly multiplying ministries such as 5 th Quarter, Hanging of the Greens, the Children s Pageant which filled every single chair in the Sanctuary, etc. But most of all we must thank the Lord for the new people who are attending each week and coming to know Christ as their Savior!!! I cry tears of joy. This past Saturday night at the Dinner Theatre, I beheld what I believe to be the biggest ministry event since you have been in your new building. From the luminaries that welcomed us in, to some our littlest ministers checking in coats for our guests, watching our youth group serve, and people of all ages jumping in to help behind the scenes, I am amazed at what together with God we can accomplish! The hours that the cast practiced while other family members kept the home fires burning by helping kids with homework and tucking them in bed. I am sure that some of you had additional chores to do while the cast practiced. Thank you for your joyful sacrifice! Thank you for your contagious joy!! Thank God for His leadership and the power of the Holy Spirit that compels us to follow!!! Yesterday for a Sending Forth in Worship I composed a song that we sung together. Although I admit I am not a Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (my favorite contemporary hymn writer) I close this letter with this song. (found on the next page)

2 Kym: Said the Spirit to the country church Do you see what I see? People: Do you see what I see? Kym: Far beyond your doors, country church Do you see what I see? People: Do you see what I see? Kym: A world, a world, searching in the night for a glimpse of the Glory of God. People: For a glimpse of the glory of God. Kym: Said the pastor to her country church do you hear what I hear? People: Do you hear what I hear? Kym: Piercing through the night country church Do you hear what I hear? People: Do you hear what I hear? Kym: A cry, a cry, just within our reach with a sorrow as deep as the sea. With a sorrow as deep as the sea. People: Said the little church to their pastors cry Yes we see what you see From our church building we can see Yes we see what you see A world, a world searching in the night We will bring to them His light! We will bring to them His light! Kym: Kym: We will bring to them His light! Said the pastor to people of DeGraff Listen to what God says Listen to what God says Pray for peace, people everywhere Listen to what God says All: The Lord, the Lord, born one holy night. He will bring us goodness and light. He will bring us goodness and light.

3 The Five Love Languages By Gary Chapman Did you know that each person has their very own love language? In Gary Smalley s book he introduces us to the five main ones: Words of Affirmation Quality Time Receiving Gifts Acts of Service Physical Touch During the first six weeks of the new year we will be exploring these in Worship. There will be surveys to help each person (even children) discover their very own love language. I believe this will help strengthen individuals, families, marriages, our faith community and especially those we are trying to reach out to. In addition Pastors Kym and Frank James will be leading a small group on Sunday nights. Both DeGraff and Quincy UMC s are invited. Depending on the response, the group may meet in the parsonage or meet the first three weeks at Quincy and the last three weeks at DeGraff. This would be a wonderful small group to invite family, friends, and co-workers to. If needed, childcare will be provided. The cost is seven dollars a book. A couple may share a book if they like. In the past many of our students have just paid a dollar a week to purchase their book. **Please look for the Sign-Up Poster in the Welcome Center**

4 Please also remember to pray for the family of- Nancy Lanza, age 52 and Adam Lanza, 20. Acolytes Children s Sermons Jan. 6 Nadine Tussing Jan. 13 Greeters Martha Jackson Esther Mohr Martha Siders Pat Bonar Lay Reader Bruce Weeks Karol Rader Jan. 20 Alan & Sue Walls Pat Bonar Jan. 27 Warren & Jean Carey Connie Madden Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Jan. 27 Jr. Church Shelley Perk Nursery Steph Knight

5 2012 was another busy year for DeGraff UMC Missions Team. We kicked off the year in our new building with a birthday dinner held in the great room. It was a great success and enjoyed by all. This will possibly be held every other year. February brought a souper bowl food drive to help the food pantry and valentines were passed out to the congregation to share with others. In Spring the Missions Team undertook a project to ship care packages to local residents serving overseas in combat areas. Six military members from our community received boxes of donated items while serving in Afghanistan. In May free spaces were offered in the old Church parking lot again for community yard sale day. August saw another Free Sale. This was the first one to be held in the great room and was very successful again. Many people found needed items and lots of hot dogs and drinks were served for free. With October came Beggar's Night and Missions was on hand again to pass out fresh popcorn and hot cocoa. Over 200 were given out. To wind up this year a prayer shawl ministry is ongoing and LuCinda Holycross has details for anyone interested in helping with this. Also warm coats and blankets were collected and taken to a homeless shelter and some were given locally. Operation Christmas Child was organized by Deb Orr and many packages were sent on their way around the country and world. Secret Santa Christmas Cookie Baskets were also assembled and delivered throughout our community during December. (and 6 Flood Buckets were sent to the east coast!) Thanks to all who have helped with these outreach projects. We value and appreciate your support! As we begin a new and challenging year serving God's people in our own community and beyond, let us start by offering a prayer of thanks, praise and a plea for strength, wisdom and guidance: Heavenly Father, we give you all the praise, glory and thanks for many blessings we have experienced. We know that all things work together towards your good and perfect purpose in our lives. We beseech you to fill us with your love, compassion, mercy, strength and wisdom as we reach out to our brothers and sisters. Give us guidance to wisely use our time, talents and resources to truly be your hands and feet in a hurting world. We ask these things in your precious Son's name. Amen.

6 Volume 5, Issue 1 Second Sundays Free Community Breakfast Sunday, January 13. We will serve scrambled eggs, pancakes, and ham starting at 8:00 and ending at 10:00. Everyone is invited. Those who come can stay and worship, leave to go to their own church, or leave to pursue other activities. Our objective is to be inviting to all and to serve our congregation and community. The plan is to do this the second Sunday of each month. A sign- up sheet will be available for you to volunteer to help on one of the Sundays. Please consider being a servant for this outreach project. For more information, contact Dave Knight. The dinner theatre was a HUGE success! There was between 175 and 200 in attendance, the food was wonderful (as always) and the players were outstanding! All in all, a great time was had in Cricket County! We re looking forward to doing this again in the future. Thanks to: The cast and crew who put this event together The friends and family of the cast and crew who graciously let us use their items for our set and put up with our very busy schedule the last month The Village Chameleon for donating the use of hair products for the set Alan Walls for his carpentry work Stephanie Shoe for her seamstress abilities All of our wonderful cooks and bakers The Youth of the church for serving Marilu Clute and Jerry Haas for their technical abilities The exercise group for giving up their area so we could practice Everyone that stayed after to pitch in to help clean up, tear down and set back up for Sunday service And all who attended

7 Youth group has been very busy as they continue the community service they are so dedicated to. They raked the leaves of approximately 15 yards in DeGraff of elderly and shut ins and got the leaves all in piles at the curbside for the village to pick up. The signs for the CR 24 in front of the church that the DUMC Youth has adopted and will be cleaning the side ditches on a regular basis. The kids didn't put their names on the sign but chose a Bible verse that is their motto. So please look it up when you see the signs. The kids helped out with 5th quarter all football season and loved doing such. What a wonderful community outreach. You may have seen the youth throwing rocks in the church yard one Sunday evening. The lesson was on giving your worries to God and letting him handle it and not picking it up again. So Dan had them all write their worries and troubles on rocks and throw them as far an hard as they could, knowing that if they wanted to pick it up again, only God knew where it was. The youth served dinner at the dinner theater and got to watch an awesome Christmas show. The youth has adopted a local family for Christmas and will be anonymously delivering a basket of goodies for the family to enjoy this week. We would like to welcome Matthew and Selena as our 2 newest members of the group. The youth will be making homemade gifts for a youth group exchange we will have the Sunday before Christmas. The kids have numerous planned activities for the following year, Christian rock and bowl, Winter Jam 2013, to name a couple. We look forward to continuing to serve the Lord in the year to come and want to remind everyone youth group is Sunday nights at 7:00 pm and open to all youth 7 th grade through college. May you find peace and love this holiday season and throughout the new year. Jenn and Dan faithful leaders and joyful followers We are in the process of moving the Head start refrigerator to the east end classroom to facilitate a revamping of our kitchen. We will be adding a stove to help with various food preparation activities. Also, we have purchased $2,500 worth of "sound panels" to be installed on the back wall of the Great Room. The purpose is to "help" with the sound quality so that people can hear better what is being said. If you would like to contribute toward this project, please so note that on your giving envelop. The ceiling peak in the narthex has had minor repair work completed. The "stained glass Christ window" from the old church has been repaired and reframed. It is BEAUTIFUL! Merry Christmas from your Trustees

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11 Thank you church family for your fabulous rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas..ode to Kris!!!! Summarized, it was as follows (in case you missed it!) 12 church newsletters, 11 kids a waving, 10 years with Kris, 9 volunteers, 8 page church programs, 7 lengthy s, 6 cell phones texting, 5 telephone ringing., 4 UM pastors, 3 wise guys, 2 church buildings and an Administration Assistant we love!!! Your participation in celebrating Kris s 10th anniversary as Administrative Assistant at DeGraff UMC was the perfect intro to part II of the celebration on Monday, December 10, Members of the SPRC committee, Pastor Kym, your church treasurer and a faithful church member, celebrated Kris s 10 years as Administrative Assistant at the DeGraff UMC at lunch. We had a wonderful time and look forward to her next 10 years of ministry to our local church and community. We love you, Kris. Thanks for everything you do!!! Prayerfully submitted, Connie Madden, SPRC Chair I want to thank all who have made not only that day, but all my days before an absolute joy to be here. From the angel I received to the cards, s, phone calls and well wishes, I am humbled that I am loved so much!!!! You are my friends, no, let me rephrase that, you are my family and I am blessed!!!! Love, Kris

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14 Mission Statement: To grow spiritually and show Christ s love through action in our community.