December 2015 Volume 56 Issue 12. Inside This Issue. Dear Friend,

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1 Inside This Issue Christmas 3 Small Groups 4 Invasion Students 5 Children s Ministry 6 Music Ministry 7 Top Notchers 8 Announcements 8 Online Giving 11 AUMC App 12 Contact Us Pastor John Gaulke johng@altoonaumc.org Steve McLellan Minister of Creative Arts & Pastoral Care stevem@altoonaumc.org Brandon Lindsey Children s Ministry Director brandonl@altoonaumc.org Travis Wentworth Youth Director Travisw@altoonaumc.org LeAnn Gaulke Director of Small Groups & Assimilation leanngaulke@hotmail.com Jane Burns Financial Manager janeb@altoonaumc.org Sue Bennett Administrative Assistant sueb@altoonaumc.org Heather Mahoney Executive Assistant heatherm@altoonaumc.org Dear Friend, December 2015 LeAnn and I were recently walking in Jordan Creek Mall. As we strolled past stores, begging us to come inside with promises of up to 50% off, I looked up and noticed some beautiful hanging Christmas decorations. I pointed them out to LeAnn and she said just one word, Elegant. The more I thought about her one-word description the odder it sounded to me. There is no doubt that Elegant was the perfect word to describe the decorations that we saw. I suppose she could have also used majestic, regal, or stately as well, but elegant fit best. Put elegant in the back of your mind as you picture this scene from Luke s gospel: And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. (Luke 2:6 7, NLT) I have been in several mangers over the years, and I don t think the word elegant ever popped into my mind once. I did try to make the barn look as good as I could. My grandfather had repeatedly said that I should be willing to sleep where the livestock did. In other words, keep it clean and soft. But though we rewired the barn, put in new windows, and reinforced the corners with new cement I never saw anything that even remotely resembled elegant. Listen to the way Max Lucado describes the birth of Jesus in a manger: The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay is scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor. A more lowly place of birth could not exist. Continued on page 2

2 Page 2 As I picture that scene in my mind, I see a lot of things, but elegant isn t one of them. I can t find elegant because I focus on the peripherals. I see straw and sheep, cows and manure, but if you look closer look closely inside the manger the one wrapped in cloths rags. That little boy is everything elegant, majestic, regal, and stately. That s why the scripture says that Mary treasured this moment in her heart. She focused on her child her king her Lord and Savior. Just think what our Christmas could be if we did the same. Excited to celebrate Christmas with you, Pastor John Celebrate Christmas this year by purchasing a gift for a student at Teen Challenge of the Midlands. Names and gift requests will be available in the entryway starting November 29. Pick one up Sunday! Gifts need to be wrapped and returned to the entryway by December 16. You can also participate by donating items for the students stockings. Suggested items for the men are deodorant, razors, shaving cream, socks, body spray, hair comb, hard candy, gloves, hat. Bring these items (unwrapped) to the table in the entryway by December 16. Contact Heather Mahoney at heatherm@altoonaumc.org or with questions. Christmas Eve Offering Each year, the offering collected on Christmas Eve goes to help children in our community and around the world.

3 Page 3 Hope Has Come Sunday December 13th 8:15, 9:45 & 11:00 a.m. December 23rd at 7:00 p.m. December 24th at 3:00, 5:00, 7:00 p.m. Each service will be approximately one hour in length. Nursery available at all four services.

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5 Page 5 Parents, Let s talk about December, Invasion Youth Ministry, and Justin Bieber I don t know if you like music, or even if you like good music, but Justin s new album is awesome. It is a work of absolutely stunning production and a fascinating combination of dance, tremendous vocals, and Christ-like lyrics! Justin Bieber just takes the time on his new album to tell of his Purpose, his purpose as defined by Jesus. Justin Bieber is a Christian. Can you believe that? And better yet, he s a Christian who is on fire for Jesus! Justin has been mentored by some of the brightest Christian minds and pastors of our generation. These brave men who are a few ages and stages ahead of Justin have stuck by his side through all of the nonsense and have seen him develop into one of the best Christian influences that today s students may ever behold. Okay, stick with me. Students don t go to YouTube to listen to an amazing pastor; they go to YouTube for the next music video! So when Justin comes out with that new music video, and proceeds to preach the gospel in it students everywhere will start to investigate more about this Jesus guy! So what does Justin Bieber have to do with Invasion Students? Justin has had Christians lovingly and graciously walk alongside him through, and despite, the nonsense. In the same way, all of us need this type of community-- especially students. Students are at a brilliant crossroads in their life; they are becoming who their parents raised them to be and doing it by discovering who they want to be. I don t know about you, but my goal is to walk alongside students, carry them when they stumble, give them a high five when they score, and hold them tight as they cry. I wonder if your goals are similar to mine, and if so, I have some practical ways to take next steps in December. So what are ways students need parents to walk alongside of them? You may: Lead a small group on Wednesday nights. There is no better way to walk alongside them than to discover answers to hard questions that help apply meaningful truth to our everyday lives. Make food for get-togethers where students and leaders spend time enjoying games and community. (and stick around to play games and enjoy community) Attending Invasion Parent s Night on December 16th Volunteer at various events coming up including: Late-Night Fellowship (Like a Lock-Out Taking place on Dec. 31st) Grade by Grade Invasion Sessions (Hang out at the Wentworths starting in 2016) PURPOSE Wednesday night s Wish We Had Invasion (Monica and Travis will be around to hang out with those that are in the area and wish they could have had Invasion) For information on these events, please me at Travisw@altoonaumc.org

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7 Page 7 On Sunday, December 13, the Altoona United Methodist Choirs, Celebration Orchestra, Worship Band, and Christmas cast will present an incredible combination of music, drama, and memorable moments during each of the three worship services. We recommend the first and third service to have the best seating options. The second service is the only service to feature the pre-school choir. Our musicians would be honored if you invite a friend. This Christmas celebration is free and open to the public. You will hear standard favorites, along with contemporary Christian Christmas from Christ Tomlin, Mercy Me, and others. Children s ministry is making preparations for a beautiful nativity scene with some new surprises. You will want to put this event on your Christmas calendar now. In honor of our Heavenly Father who in the fullness of time gave us the gift of His Son, we pay it forward and offer this concert as a gift to each of you and the community. The HOPE of Christmas rehearsal schedule: December 2: 6:00 pm orchestra - 6:30 choir & orchestra - 7:40 Jr. Choir w/choir & orchestra Wednesday, December 9 is our dress rehearsal. The individual group schedules are below Preschool Choir 5:30 pm Full Jr. choir 5:45 pm Bell Choir - 6:00 pm Full Choir/Jr. Choir/Orchestra 6:15 pm Full Worship Band with Orchestra 8:00 pm *6:30 pm (Nativity cast also needed) The technical team will be needed for the entire evening rehearsal 5:15 until 8:30 pm CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES: We are doing an additional Christmas Eve Service this year. The 2015 schedule is: Wednesday, December 23 the service begins at 7:00 pm. The schedule is as follows: Worship Band arrives at 6:00 Orchestra: 6:20 pm Choir: 6:30 pm Christmas Eve Day services will be at 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. The schedule is as follows Worship Band: 2:15 pm Orchestra & Choir: 2:30 pm Worship In the two final services please find your place on the platform 15 minutes prior to the service! Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas! You all are the BEST! Steve McLellan If questions contact me at stevem@altoonaumc.org or

8 Page 8 Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+ Upcoming Get Togethers winter Tuesday, December 8, noon Potluck in the Family Life Center Host/Hostess: The Merkles & Joyce Cole Program: Heartland Singer s Christmas Program Please bring and extra dish to share to help feed the singers Bring a donation for the food pantry Free will offering for the entertainer Tuesday, January 12, noon Potluck in the Family Life Center Host/Hostess: Marilyn Cowell Program: Daniel Finney, The Register s Metro Voice Columnist Bring a donation for the food pantry Boxed Offering Envelopes for 2016 Boxed offering envelopes will be available at the Welcome Center the week of December 27th. The office will be closed on the following days for the Christmas and New Year s holidays: Thursday, December 24th Friday, December 25th Thursday December 31st & Friday, January 1st

9 Page 9 December 3rd * UMW 7 p.m. * Large Conference Room We will be having a cookie exchange. Bring cookies to chare for snack and exchange with others to take home. The mission project will be mittens, scarves, underwear and gift cards for Bidwell Riverside. 12/15 Abigail Circle 6:30 p.m.* Connie Ruggless s home for our Christmas dinner. Bring a dish to share. 12/17 Martha Circle Christmas lunch at Perkins Call Sherry for information at Men s Breakfast Saturday December 19th 8:00 a.m. Family Life Center Pas oral Partners If you or a family member would like prayer support or a hospital visit, please fill out a Connect card on Sunday morning or call the church office at or after hours. Consider sending a DVD to a homebound friend or loved one. DVD s may be purchased for $5 each by filling out a DVD card at the Welcome Center or calling the office. Contact Steve McLellan at to learn more about becoming involved.

10 Page 10 Adult Basketball AUMC Adult Basketball! Join us in the Family Life Center on Monday nights, at 6:30 for some pickup games. No prior NBA experience is necessary! Contact Paul Mahoney at or for more information Altar Flowers Sign up at the Welcome Center to provide altar flowers in honor or in memory of loved ones or to celebrate a special day in Christmas Poinsettias It is time to order poinsettias in honor or memory of someone for the Christmas Eve service. The cost this year is $8.00 per poinsettia. Envelope order forms are available at the Welcome Center. You may pick up your poinsettia after the Christmas Eve service. Baptism Class Join us on Sunday, December 20 th at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel with Pastor John. This one-session class is to help understand the significance of baptism and to schedule a date.

11 Page 11 Altoona United Methodist Church has two electronic options for giving. You can register to give regularly or make a one-time gift by going to our church website, Click on the Give tab. Once you have clicked on the Give Online button, choose to Register Now on the right side of the E-Giving Login page. Enter your information and create a Username and Password. You are then asked how you would like to make your donation. Your donation can come from your checking, savings, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. You will have the option of making a one-time gift or a recurring donation on a schedule that you set up. Once you have registered, you have the ability to adjust your giving as desired by logging in with your Username and Password. Another option for electronic giving is through our new church app. In the Worship menu, choose Give Online and then follow the instructions above. If you have any questions about this secure electronic giving option, please contact Heather Mahoney at or heatherm@altoonaumc.org. She is happy to meet with you to help you set up your account or answer any of your questions.

12 Page 12 Available for ios and Android. If you would like to receive our weekly updates via , please go to the church website, Under the Resources tab, choose E-Newsletter Signup, enter your address, choose the Weekly Newsletters list, and you will begin to receive our weekly newsletters on Thursday afternoons in your box! If you would like to be included on our prayer chain list, please go to the church website, choose Prayer Chain Signup under the Resources tab, enter your address, and choose the Prayer Chain list. If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact Sue in the office at or