OWER OPICS. Upcoming Events. Service Times

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1 VOL. 47, No. 24 November 21, 2012 OWER OPICS Upcoming Events Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day Worship Nov. 23 Office Closed Dec. 2 First Sunday of Advent - Lowell & Claudia Wertz from Joy In the Harvest here Dec. 9 Bake Sale in the Parlor Dec. 9 Blood Drive Bell Ringing Sign up now to ring bells for the Salvation Army. High Street Church will be ringing bells on Dec. 10, 11, 12, and 13 at the Marsh on Wheeling at the west door. This is a great opportunity to support our community. Ringing with a child or grandchild builds memories lasting a lifetime! Sign up today on the board in the main hallway or see Jerry McNary for more information. Special Charge Conference A special Charge Conference will be held on Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. Members of Church Council will be discussing the loan on the Muncie Music Center and also disposition of property given to the church. Anyone is welcome to attend, but only members of the Church Council will be able to vote. Tower Topics is a bi-weekly publication of High Street UMC. Send items for Tower Topics to Lori Gibson, editor, by mail or to rebelnomo@munciehighstreet.com Please put Tower Topics in your subject line. Articles cannot be taken over the telephone! High Street United Methodist Church 219 S. Hi g h St. Mu n c i e, IN Church: Fax: info@munciehighstreet.com Service Times 8:30-9:30 Traditional Worship 9:45-10:45 Sunday School 9:45-10:30 Chapel Worship 11:00-Noon Faith Growing Traditional Worship Broadcast at 11 a.m. on WXFN AM WHAT S INSIDE... Advent Decorations... page 6 Advent Help Wanted... page 3 Alternative Christmas... page 6 Angel Tree Children... page 4 Blood Drive... page 7 Calendar... page 5 Cookies Needed... page 3 Prayer Chain... page 7 Food Pantry Needs... page 7 Joy In the Harvest Ministry... page 4 My Choice... page 2 Sound Room Personnel... page 7 UMW Information... page 4 Wisdom People for December... page 3

2 My Choice! Life is so full of choices. Some choices are easy, while some present challenges. Shortly after the Lord came into my life I faced my first challenge as a Seeker when I went looking for a church to call home. At the time, I thought my search would be somewhat short, but it ended up being somewhat futile! Up and coming mega-churches were the big thing back then, but they all seemed to come up a little short for me. My best friend was a little frustrated with me because I never asked about his church, and I never invited myself along for a ride with him and his family on any given Sunday morning to experience worship with his congregation. Of course, he should have invited me to his church long before I had an opportunity to get frustrated with my search, but he did not. Well, eventually he did, and it changed my life! I found something I did not find at the churches I had been visiting: family. Those folks made me feel valued and welcomed, and they became my extended family. I had several not for real mothers and fathers throughout that congregation, and people in my age range who made me feel like one of their siblings it was great! When I became a pastor almost a decade later things changed in ways I could not have predicted. I was still a member of my home congregation, but was no longer interactive with that church family. To say the least, there was a lot of anxiety in that situation for me because they had been part of my support system. Not only were they part of my support system, but a big part of my cheering section as well. They were everything a family should be to one of its members, and I felt a great loss when that changed. It has been ten years this month since I set foot in a United Methodist Church as a pastor. Prior to coming to High Street Church I was considered part time (is there such a thing as a part-time pastor?), and my status was that of a part-time local pastor. My status changed last summer at annual conference when I was commission and became a Provisional Elder. This is also my Pastor Daryl Gilbert second year living outside the Indianapolis area, and away from my friends and family. People move away from home every day to attend college, start new jobs, change of scenery, etc., but for a pastor it is a little different for we are making a statement of total dependence on God. We rarely find ourselves appointed to congregations and locales where there might be a familiar support system in place; we never know how things are going to work out we just have to trust and depend on God. When I was appointed to High Street Church I had no idea what God was getting me into. Speaking of the appointment process, our Bishop and the cabinet are very prayerful when it comes to matching a church s passions with a pastor s gifts. When it comes to someone like me who has been newly commissioned our choices are extremely limited when it comes to making a choice where one might like to serve. This goes back to what I mentioned previously about depending on God, and trusting that the leadership of our conference is diligently seeking God s Will. A Provisional Elder s lack of choice changes when Charge Conference paperwork becomes available early in the fall. All pastors receive paperwork that may be filled out if a pastor feels that it is time for a change. Well, my choice is High Street Church! Why? Because in the short time I have been here the members of this congregation has made me feel like family! Members of this congregation have gone out of their way to make me feel valued and welcomed, and when it comes to choices I wouldn t have things any other way. So, if someone were to ask ( and someone just might!), what is the number one reason you chose to come to High Street United Methodist Church? Blessings, Pastor Daryl 2.

3 Wisdom People for December Please send these wonderful folks a card and wish them many more active, healthy years. Katy Geckler 98 on December W. North St. Muncie, IN Jim Barnell 90 on December N. Everett Rd. Muncie, IN Mary Alice Huffman 93 on December E. Heritage Cir. Muncie, IN Mildred Estabrook 94 on December W. Ace St. Muncie, IN Maxine Clark 97 on December 23 c/o Jan Whealy W CR 1000 S Losantville, IN So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 TOWER TOPICS DEADLINES Deadline for Submission is 12:00 Noon on Fridays before the Wednesday Issue Date Submit By: Issue Date: November 30 December 5 December 5th will be the last issue for 2012 December 28 January 3 (Thursday) Your Tower Topics Don t forget, you can now receive your Tower Topics newsletter by way of ! Just send your name and address to: info@munciehighstreet.com Contact Lori Gibson, editor, at rebelnomo@ munciehighsgtreet.com or call Advent Is Coming! With the approach of Advent (Nov Dec. 18) Donna McNary will be looking for more volunteers to help with Advent activities. Several volunteers are already on board, but a call to Donna at and the perfect, FUN Advent Job can be yours! Won t you call today!? Cookies, Please! There will be two receptions held at the church just days apart. The first will be held on Dec. 21 at the Longest Night of the Year service, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and after the worship service. Your donation of cookies, cheese balls, crackers or other small finger foods would be appreciated. The second reception in our annual Christmas Eve Open House Reception in Parish Hall. Again, cookies, finger foods, cheese balls, crackers, cheese, etc. are needed. Donations for the Longest Night must be delivered to the church by 12:00 Noon on Friday, Dec. 21. Donations for the Christmas Eve Reception may be received on Sunday, Dec. 23 or Before 12:00 Noon on Monday, Dec. 24. (The church office closes at 12:00 Noon on Monday, Christmas Eve.) Thanks For Your Patience! After several frustrating weeks, the imac is back up and running... almost. I still have a few programs to reinstall, but for the most part our printing and communications are back to normal. I am just thankful that I still had the old G4 in my office to carry me through those two miserable weeks! A little history on the G4: it was sold by Apple from 1999 to My specific model was a Quicksilver Power Mac G4. I can t remember exactly but I think it was purchased around So, for an 11 or 12 year old computer, it s still great to use in a pinch!

4 UMW All circles have open memberships and warmly welcome guests! Circles meet in the church parlor unless otherwise noted. Nov. 20: Martha/Mary Circle - 5:30 PM at Panera s Bread Nov. 30: UMW Executive Mtg. - 1:00 PM Dec. 4: Mary Circle Salad/Dessert Carry- In - 11:30 AM Dec. 6: Wesleyan Circle Christmas Tea - 4:30 PM Dec. 9: Bake Sale in the Parlor AM Dec. 14: Westminster Fellowship - 10 AM Communion with High Street Church Pastors Dec. 14: Naomi Circle - 12 Noon at Peggy Adams House Dec. 14: UMW Exec. Board - 1 PM Dec. 18: Martha/Mary Circle - 5:30 PM at Thai Smile Angel Tree Ministry When mom or dad is in prison, their children are often the silent sufferers. You can let them know they re not forgotten by giving the child the joy of Christmas this year. The first Angel Tree children s names will be available for selection on Sunday, Nov. 25 in the main floor hallway beginning at 9 A.M. Do you have trouble getting out and shopping but you d still like to sponsor a child? Take advantage of a Shopping Helper! Donate $15 or more on your behalf, choose a child to sponsor, and we ll make sure a savvy Christmas shopper takes care of the rest for you! For more information about Angel Tree and the ways you can make a difference in the life of a child or a prisoner, contact Mary Ruble at mjruble@ yahoo.com or OFFICE CLOSED Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 22 We will reopen at 8 AM Monday Nov Joy in the Harvest Lowell and Claudia Wertz will be presenting the message during worship services on Sunday, December 2nd. The Wertzes began their missionary service in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) where they served under the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist from 1980 to Since 1993 they have served the Lord in Tanzania with Joy in the Harvest, a Christian mission organization they organized. Claudia has a B.A. degree in Sociology and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree with a specialization in World Mission. Lowell was an amateur radio operation for many years and became a pilot in preparation for missionary service in Africa. Lowell and Claudia are from the Chicago are. At the training facility organized in Zaire, Lowell served as a radio technician, pilot, printer, and pioneered using the Jesus movie for village evangelism. Lowell is an ordained United Methodist minister and an elder in the Tanganyika-Tanzania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in Africa. For 26 years he flew a single engine plane as a bush pilot. In 1990 they evacuated their mission station twice both times under gunfire. In 1993 they founded the Joy in the Harvest mission organization. The Wertzes live in the strategic location of Kigoma, Tanzania near the countries of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda. They are currently involved in many ministries such as feeding street people, providing assistance to people in crisis, and supporting a destitute camp for the handicapped. They are currently building a two story community center that will hold a lending library, radio studio, offices, kitchen, washrooms, and an auditorium that will seat over 350 people. Lowell and Claudia have two married children who were both born and raised in Africa.

5 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY November :00 AM SHIP 10:15 AM Blood Pres. Ck 11:30 AM Thurs. Lunch 12 Noon TT Deadline 6:00 PM Kids Nite Out 4:00 PM MJ Luick Comm Election Day :30 AM Trad. Worship 6:45 AM Renovaré 9:00 AM M & M s 8:00 AM SHIP 9:00 AM AAUW Set-up 9:30 AM Coffee 9:30 AM Bridge For Fun 8:30 AM Staff 10:00 AM AAUW Group 9:45 AM Worship 10:00 AM Pastoral Staff 9:15 AM Wm. Bible Study 10:15 AM Lunch Activity 10:00 AM Westminster 12 PM Slime Time Setup 9:45 AM Sunday Sch. 5:45 PM Handbells 12 Noon Mah Jongg 11:30 AM Thurs. Lunch Fellowship - Westminster 2:00 PM Slime Time 10:30 AM Coffee 6:00 PM Kids Choirs 1:30 PM Food Pantry 1:30 PM Naomi Circle Village 11:00 AM 9:00 AM Mary Circle 600 PM Praise Band 4:15 PM Childcare Board 1:30 PM Food Pantry 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir 6:30 PM Advisory Group 4:00 PM SAF - 5:00 PM Sr. Supper - at 4:00 PM Meeting w/dale 7:45 PM Al-Anon s Riverside UMC MCL Cafeteria 8:00 PM AA s 5:30 PM Womens Study 11 Stewardship :30 AM Trad. Worship 6:45 AM Renovaré 9:00 AM M & M s 8:00 AM SHIP 9:30 AM Coffee 10:00 AM Bridge For Fun 8:30 AM Staff 9:45 AM Worship 9:00 AM Elder-Law Counsel. 10:00 AM Pastoral Staff 9:45 AM Sunday Sch 9:00 AM Ruth Circle 9:15 AM Wm. Bible Study Study 10:15 AM Lunch Activity 12 Noon TT Deadline 10:30 AM Coffee 12 Noon Mah Jongg 10:00 AM Travelers to 11:30 AM Thurs. Lunch 6:00 PM Kids Nite Out - 11:00 AM 1:30 PM Food Pantry 10:30 AM UMW Mtg & Lunch Boggstown Cabaret - leave from 38th Anniv./Thanksgiving Giving Thanks Theme 1:00 PM Archives Comm. Gethsemane 1:30 PM Food Pantry 2:00 PM Travelers Preview 6:00 PM The Clearing 5:00 PM Youth Council 5:45 PM Handbells 3:30 PM Trustees 5:30 PM Womens Study 6:00 PM Kids Choirs 7:00 PM Staff/Parish 6:00 PM The Grove 6:00 PM Praise Band 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir 7:45 PM Al-Anon s 8:00 PM AA s Thanksgiving :00 AM Make Cheese 6:45 AM Renovaré 9:00 AM Worship Service OFFICE CLOSED Balls 9:00 AM PrSch Setup for 8:30 AM Staff 8:30 AM Trad. Worship Thanksgiving Dinner 9:30 AM Coffee 10:00 AM Pastoral Staff 9:45 AM Worship 10:00 AM Bridge For Fun 1:30 PM Food Pantry 9:45 AM Sunday Sch 10:30 AM PreSchool s 5:30 PM Martha/Mary Cir. 10:30 AM Coffee Thanksgiving Feast at Panera Bread 11:00 AM 12 Noon Mah Jongg 5:30 PM Missions 1:30 PM Food Pantry 6:00 PM Kids Choirs 5:30 PM Womens Study 6:30 PM Charge Conf. 6:00 PM The Grove 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir at Riverside UMC 25 Communion :30 AM Trad. Worship 6:45 AM Renovaré 8:00 AM SHIP 9:30 AM Coffee 10:00 AM Bridge for Fun 8:30 AM Staff 9:45 AM Worship 10:00 AM Pastoral Staff 10:15 AM Lunch Activity 9:45 AM Sunday Sch 12 Noon Mah Jongg 11:00 AM Presch. Chapel 10:30 AM Coffee 12:30 PM Bridge 11:00 AM Presch. Chapel 11:30 AM Thurs. Lunch 11:00 AM 1:30 PM Food Pantry 1:30 PM Food Pantry 7:00 PM Charge Conf. 4:00 PM Presch. Board 6:00 PM Child Ministries 4:30 PM Stephen Ministry 9:00 AM M & M Play Day 9:15 AM Wm. Bible Study 11:00 AM Presch. Chapel 5:45 PM Handbells 6:00 PM Kids Choirs 6:00 PM Praise Band 6:00 PM Welcome Comm. 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir 7:45 PM Al-Anon s 8:00 PM AA s 12 Noon TT Deadline 1:00 PM UMW Board 5.

6 Alternative Christmas From November 18 to December 16, High Street Church will again have you join the growing number of people who wish to follow Christ during this time and are choosing to make Christmas what it should be a joyous celebration of Jesus birth that enriches our hearts and the world around us. Here s how to substitute compassion for consumerism by participating in Alternative Christmas. Here s how it works: 1) Take the money you would normally spend on a friend or loved one and come to the Alternative Christmas booth located in Garden Court. 2) Pick a mission outreach program that fits your friend or loved one and give to that organization what you would have spent on a gift. If your special person loves children, maybe a donation to the local Children s Clothing Center would be appropriate. 3) Take the card and envelope from the mission program you wish to support and send or wrap the card for your loved one. 4) Watch how that gift is received with joy! Your loved ones will be thrilled you thought of a great outreach, the mission outreach is thankful for the gift, and the recipient of the monetary gift will be so grateful to have whatever is might be that your money purchased for them. And, you didn t have to fight the crowds of Christmas shoppers. It s a win-win situation! Still not sure? Stop by the table in Garden Court to have your questions answered. This mission outreach programs supported this year include: Heifer International Operation Classroom Joy In the Harvest Samaritan Fund High Street Food Pantry Rebuilding Together Delaware County Children s Clothing Center of Delaware Co. ADVENT DECORATIONS Advent is a special time of year at High Street Church. Please consider this an opportunity to give a gift In Appreciation/Honor or In Memory of someone special to you. Your gifts help provide the funds necessary to purchase the poinsettias and decorations which help us prepare for this Holy Season. Please place your gift in an envelope, along with the Advent Decoration form and place the envelope in the offering plate, or you can mail your offering to: High Street UMC 219 S. High St. Muncie, IN Advent Decorations 2012 Please PRINT! Name Phone # Address This gift is given: q In Appreciation/Honor q In Memory 6

7 The High Street Food Pantry The High Street Food Pantry needs: Instant Potatoes Canned Potatoes Macaroni & Cheese Donations may be left in the wicker baskets at the North Door entrance and in the Narthex. HOSPITALIZED RECENTLY and giving High Street Church as their preference: John Robinson, Marti Troyer (Ball Memorial Hospital). She s A Birthday Girl! Happy 95th, Neoma Colpitts! Dear Friends and Family - She had a great special day! Thank you for all your cards, phone calls, flowers, gifts, thoughts and prayers! Sarah Hall and Neoma Colpitts Sound Room Personnel Needed Our current co-chair, Joe Kennedy, is leaving the state and we need additional Sound Room personnel. We serve on a rotating schedule. We have been broadcasting our Sunday morning services on WLBC/WXFN AM since Please help us continue bringing our ministry to Delaware County. We will provide all the training (sound board, radio procedures). This is basically for the 8:30 service, but there is also opportunity to assist with other services. Please call or talk to Mike Overmyer, or Joe Kennedy, , or the church office, Thank You! Dear High Street Church family, The prayers, visits and cards were so very comforting during my recent stay in the hospital. The daily visits from Pastors Dale and Daryl were very comforting and reassuring. Earl R. Williams 7. In Sympathy Our love and condolences are offered to the family and friends Jerry McNary and Family on the death of his brother David W. McNary. Mourn with those who mourn... Romans 12:15 Red Cross Blood Drive This holiday season, give something that means something by donating blood through the American Red Cross. Each time you give blood you can help save three lives. Help spread this hope by giving something that doesn t cost a thing but an hour of your time. Please schedule your blood donation appointment through the church office, or call RED-CROSS, or go to redcrossblood.org The drive will be held Dec. 9 from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. in Parish Hall. Kids Night Out The next Kids Night Out will be held on Friday, December 14th from 6:00-9:00 P.M. This will be our annual Christmas Party. Kids ages infant through 9 years old are welcomed! We ll have pizza, games, and crafts. Sign up in the church office Wednesday, December 12. (There is an extra $2 charge per child for pizza.) Prayer Chain If you would like to receive an listing of High Street Church s Joys/Concerns/Prayer Requests for which you can pray, please send your name and address to Lori Gibson at: info@munciehighstreet.com Altar Flowers Would you like to honor someone or remember someone on a Sunday morning during the year? You can by providing the Altar flowers on a date that is special to you. Call Casey Headland in the church office, , to schedule a Sunday during 2011.

8 High Street United Methodist Church 219 S Hi g h Street Muncie IN Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Muncie, IN Permit No. 679 NOVEMBER 25, 2012 Christ The King Sunday Scripture Revelation 1:1b-4 and John 18:33-37 DECEMBER 2, 2012 The First Sunday of Advent Reign Joy in the Harvest Ministries Pastor Dale Mendenhall Pastor Lowell and Claudia Wertz