Newsletter - December 2017

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Reginald Hamilton
5 years ago
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unexpected and cherished kindnesses and loving support I have received from this community and especially this church family.

This weekend marks the beginning of the Christian Calendar, and with it the warmest and most sacred time of year in worship.

Sunday we will begin the slow, but accelerating march to Christmas Eve and Candlelit Silent Night.

Christmas is not meant to be a time of singular purpose.

1 Newsletter - December 2017 Greetings from our Pastor, My friends, There are likely very few of you reading this today who are not yet aware of the recent passing of my wife, Meghann. Rather than wait till the end of this missive, I thought I would begin with it, and acknowledge both the very real human pain and loss I feel, so familiar to many of you, as well as the many unexpected and cherished kindnesses and loving support I have received from this community and especially this church family. I would simply like to acknowledge this gift in my time of need, and say thank you, and God bless you to each of you. This weekend marks the beginning of the Christian Calendar, and with it the warmest and most sacred time of year in worship. Wednesday evening a troupe of several dozen, many of them new guests, decorated our magnificent sanctuary in the festive ornaments of the Christmas/Advent Season. Sunday we will begin the slow, but accelerating march to Christmas Eve and Candlelit Silent Night. There is much freight and meaning with which this season is packed, it stands for and reminds each of us of so many different things, and this is well and good. Christmas is not meant to be a time of singular purpose. Yes, we are reliving and remembering the story of Christ s birth God s coming into this world and beginning the road to our own redemption but we are also called to consider what this reality means in our lives on a daily basis. For you perhaps this means the 25 Days of Christmas (either as a social media challenge or a Hallmark Channel marathon), or maybe it is time spent finally reconnecting (Continued on p. 6.) Dec. 3 Dec. 9 Dec. 9 Dec. 24 Special Christmas Reminders Youth Christmas Nativity Pageant during worship service Display of Nativity Scenes before and after Worship UMW Cookie Walk - 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Community Room, Commercial Trust Building Christmas on the Square, Parade at 5 p.m. For information on participating in the church float, contact Jessica Quint (jessicaquint@hotmail.com ) Bring Poinsettias to church for 10:30 Worship Service Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7 p.m. Sanctuary Candlelight Service followed by a spread of Christmas treats & refreshments Pastor: Rev. David Hutchison drhutchi@centralmethodist.edu Cell: Associate Pastor Rev. Katilyn Walker katilyn@linnumc.org Cell: Barb Gregory, Music Director Ruth Spayde, Organist Church Office: info@linnumc.org Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m noon Administrative Assistant: Cindi Innes cindi@linnumc.org Coffee & Donuts - Sundays 10 a.m. & following service Sunday School- 9:15 a.m. Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m. Altar Guild in December Ms. Lynne Alexander Mrs. Debbie Hanson

Page 2 Rev. Walker to Accept New Calling: Linn Seeks Family Ministries Director At its regular meeting on Nov.

According to David, We have oodles of children & youth, and are taking steps to provide great ministry and programs for them and their parents.

The position of Family Ministries Director is one that plays a major role in the life of Linn UMC and in the faith development of all ages within the church, both as a leader and as an example.

to children, ages birth through Senior High. For a full description of the position and a comprehensive list of the duties involved, visit http://www.linnumc.org/employment.

During her tenure she has worked primarily with the children and youth of the church developing a strong Vacation Bible School Program, creating a new Children s Youth Group, Energize, and helping to

2 Page 2 Rev. Walker to Accept New Calling: Linn Seeks Family Ministries Director At its regular meeting on Nov. 1, the Linn Memorial Leadership Team approved the creation of a new position to begin in January at Linn UMC after learning that Rev. Katilyn Walker will be leaving Linn sometime later this year. According to David, We have oodles of children & youth, and are taking steps to provide great ministry and programs for them and their parents. Members are asked to help find a qualified person for this important position. The position of Family Ministries Director is one that plays a major role in the life of Linn UMC and in the faith development of all ages within the church, both as a leader and as an example. Linn Memorial UMC seeks someone who has a solid understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith and has a heart and passion for sharing that knowledge and nurturing the children and youth of our faith community, and their parents. The Family Ministries Director will have overall responsibility for the generation, direction and supervision of all official programming and ministry at Linn Memorial United Methodist Church related to children, ages birth through Senior High. For a full description of the position and a comprehensive list of the duties involved, visit Katilyn has served as Associate Pastor of Linn for almost two years. During her tenure she has worked primarily with the children and youth of the church developing a strong Vacation Bible School Program, creating a new Children s Youth Group, Energize, and helping to strengthen the existing youth group for middle and high school students, Quest. In addition she has worked with David, presenting portions of each Sunday s Worship Services and, on ocassion, providing the sermon. David thanked Katilyn for her work at Linn during the All-Saints service on Nov. 5. Mary Circle will meet at 5:30, Wednesday, Dec. 13 in the Parish House Parlor. Debbie Hanson is hostess. All attending are asked to share a special Christmas memory for the program that evening. Childcare is available. Let Ruth Spayde know if you will need childcare. Please let Debbie know if you will be attending. Lydia Circle Lydia Circle will meet at Emmet s on Dec. 1 at noon for its Christmas meeting. The members will meet on Jan. 5 in the sanctuary to polish the altar brass. The United Methodist Men will meet for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 16 in the Parish House basement. All men are welcome. The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet Sunday, December 3rd at 2:15 in the Parish House Parlor. We will not meet Wednesday, December 20th. Quest, the youth group for middle and high school students, will meet at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 and 17. Energize, the children s youth group, will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. On Wed., Dec. 13 the group will meet on the third floor of the Parish House. The group will not meet Dec. 27. Carry-In Dinner Come join the fun at the All-Church Carry- In Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Parish House Basement. Bring a dish to share. Invite a friend. Enjoy good food and good fellowship. POINSETTIAS If you plan to bring a poinsettia in honor or memory of someone for the Christmas Eve services, please send an to Cindi (cindi@linnumc.org) or bring a note to the church office with dedication information no later than M, Dec. 20. Bring your poinsettia to the church prior to the morning service on Christmas Eve.

The congregation will also have the opportunity to view a display of nativity scenes before and after the service.

3 Page 3 Nativity Sunday - Dec. 3, 2017 The children and youth of Linn UMC will give a short Nativity presentation during worship on Dec. 3 under the direction of Jane Weiland with help from Katilyn Walker. The congregation will be invited to join in singing familiar Christmas carols as part of celebration. The congregation will also have the opportunity to view a display of nativity scenes before and after the service. If you are interested in bringing your nativity scene(s), contact Jane or bring them to the church between 9:30 and 10 that Sunday morning. In past years there have been up to thirty different nativity scenes on display from a number of different places and ranging in size from a few inches to several feet. They are made from a variety of materials including glass, porcelain and even Linn Memorial church pews! What s Happening in December Dec. 1 Lydia Circle- Noon - Emmett s Dec. 2 Celebration of Life - Meghann Hutchison 11 a.m. - Sanctuary Wake to follow at Pastor s Home Dec. 3 Nativity Pageant during Worship Service Display of Nativity Scenes before and after worship Prayer Shawl Ministry - 2:15 p.m. - Church Parlor CMU Choir Concert - 4 p.m. Quest - 6 p.m.- Fellowship Hall Dec. 6 Energize - 5:30 p.m. - Fellowship Hall Governing Board Meeting - 7 p.m. - Library Dec. 9 UMW Cookie Walk - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Community Room, Commercial Trust Building Christmas on Square Parade - 5 p.m. Dec. 10 CMU Band Concert - 4 p.m. - Sanctuary Quest p.m. - Fellowship Hall Dec. 13 Energize - 5:30 p.m. - 3rd floor of Parish House Mary Circle - 5:30 p.m. - Fellowship Hall Dec. 16 UMM Breakfast - 7:30 a.m. - Fellowship Hall Dec. 17 Quest p.m. - Fellowship Hall Dec. 20 Energize - 5:30 p.m. - Fellowship Hall Dec. 24 Sunday Morning Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 7 p.m. Dec. 25 Christmas Dec. 27 Fellowship Dinner - Fellowship Hall - 6 p.m. Tree Warms Heads, Hands Members of the Linn UMC congregation will be decorating the annual Mitten and Hat Tree with a variety of hats, gloves and mittens. These items will be taken to the public schools to be donated to students who need warm hats and mittens. Join the Christmas Parade The Fayette Christmas parade is Saturday, Dec 9 at 5 p.m. Jessica Quint is looking for volunteers to help create and ride on the church s float. Please contact Jessica for more information. As the parade s theme is Christmas Rocks she suggests using Jesus is our Rock for Linn s float. Anyone having a trailer and/or something to pull the trailer should also contact Jessica at jessicaquint@hotmail.com. Musical Notes. Special Music in December Bell Choir will perform on Dec. 10 Choir Selections Dec. 3 Where Shepherds Lately Knelt Dec. 10 Silent Stars Dec. 17 We Three Kings Dec. 24 Angelus Ad Pastoris Alt Choir & Handbell Choir Practice Schedule Sanctuary Choir Practice - 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20, Dec. 27 Handbell Choir Practice - 7:20 p.m. Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20, Dec. 27 Childcare is available for both Choir & Handball practices.

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5 Page 5 Hanging of the greens Photos by Shelby Alexander

6 Page 6 (Conntinued from p. 1.) with old friends or family, and repairing relationships worth the effort. It may mean time spent in silence and reflection, and wondering about the path before you, or the path behind you and how you got to this place. It may be a time of reevaluation, or retooling or making new prioritizing, and while Thanksgiving is now firmly behind us, there is nothing that says this cannot also be a season of thankfulness. As you prepare your homes and hearts for the coming of the Christ Child, I encourage you to invite others to join you here in worship. Our sanctuary is never more beautiful than it is during this season. The music is familiar Christmas Carols, the story a familiar one to most people s ears. Your friends and coworkers are more open to attending church this time of year than any time of the rest of the year. I encourage you to make an invitation, even if it is just one. Don t be shy about it, don t play it down or openly assume you ll be turned down. If you are excited about your church, this community of ours, then make your excited invitation and tell them to join you for lunch in town afterward. This weekend in worship we will witness the children s nativity, begin our Advent Sermon Series, host scores of Nativity displays in the sanctuary, and welcome a new member into the United Methodist faith, and our local church. It will be a good Sunday indeed. Why not share it? In Christ David 409 N. Church Street Fayette, MO Follow us on facebook.com/linnmemorialunitedmethodistchurch And visit our website at

Second Coming of Christ

Montgomery Square United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Max Jaouen, Pastor Rev. Dr. Menno Good, Pastor Emeritus November 25, 2018 Last Sunday after Pentecost Christ the King Sunday Second Coming of Christ THE