JANUARY Bangor First United Methodist Church 703 Essex Street, Bangor Maine

Transcription

1 Bangor First United Methodist Church 703 Essex Street, Bangor Maine Cross Talk For Information... Phone: Website: (Sermon podcasts available) Facebook: First Included in this issue. This n That New Book group Coffee Schedule 3 My / Memory Community meal 4 Meetings / Events 5 Prayer requests Birthdays Worship Assistants Youth events Series on Race Calendar Dear Church Family, Now that Christmas is over, most of us have some work to do. The tree has to come down and the ornaments carefully put back in their boxes. The yard decorations and strings of lights need to be brought in (assuming they re not frozen in place until the spring thaw!). All the wrapping paper and gift boxes are piled up to go to the recycling center. The nativity figurines are waiting to be put back into their proper slots in the Styrofoam. And the red and green storage bins need to go back in the attic. The bad news is, Christmas is over. The good news is, our lives are back to their normal stress levels and we've turned our attention to New Year's resolutions. But these words by poet and theologian Howard Thurman are a reminder that there is yet more to do. We ve been given a post-christmas agenda: The Work of Christmas When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and the princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among people, To make music in the heart. As Thurman suggests, we haven t properly observed Christmas unless we ve committed ourselves anew to honoring the Christ child by reaching out to those who are suffering, working to make peace, and radiating Christ s love. So from our kneeling place beside the manger, let us slowly rise and step back out into the cold January air and to the world from which we came. Let each of us be bearers of the nativity light into all the needful places in our lives and in our world. Let us get on with the work of Christmas and then we will have truly celebrated Jesus birth. Grace and Peace, Pastor Arlene JANUARY 2017

2 PAGE 2 Informal Worship Service Thursday evenings at 6:00 Coffee and Conversation Each week we meet on Wednesday from 2:00-3:00 PM at Tim Horton's on Broadway to share in a book discussion. Our next Coffee and Conversation will begin on January 18 with a discussion of Listening for God: Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith, Volume 1. Please read Chapter 1 for the first meeting. Books are available through Amazon and other book sellers. If you would like the church office to order a book for you, please call and allow at least 2 business days for delivery. Publisher's Description: Where do you listen for God? In this collection of stories and essays from writers such as Flannery O'Connor, Frederick Buechner, and Annie Dillard, the challenge is to pay attention everywhere. Listening for God is a resource intended to help you investigate how life and faith merge in surprising ways and places. Contemporary American literature may not be the most predictable place to listen for God, but it may well turn out to be among the most rewarding.

3 PAGE 3 This N That... Your Merry Christmas may depend upon what others do for you...but your Happy New Year depends upon what you do for others. Author Unknown We are always looking for volunteers. Sunday school...teachers, assistants, nursery volunteers and substitutes. We follow the FUMC Safe Sanctuary Policy that requires 2 certified adults in each classroom and the nursery. All workers in our Christian Ed groups must have Safe Sanctuaries training and training sessions are ongoing as needed. If you are interested in volunteering during the year, please speak with Co-Christian Ed Directors Nancy Isaacs or Rachel Downs. Fundraising While You Shop The Scrip fundraising program enables people to raise money for their non-profit organization. Scrip is just another way to pay for everyday purchases using gift cards in place of cash, checks, and credit cards and support the church through your purchases. Scrip Center offers over 300 of the country s biggest brands, including grocery, department stores, gas stations, restaurants and the like. If you are interested in ordering a card from the Scipt Center, contact Rachel Downs via at fumcbangorscrip@gmail.com or by phone at Coffee Fellowship Schedule January: Trustees February: Piburn March: Worship April: SPRC May: UMW June: Choir July: Sunday School August: Mission September: Handbells October: Finance November: Evangelism December: Administrative Council Snacks should be ready by 11: 15. Groups need to make sure all dishes are washed and the dishwasher turned off when finished. QR code for smart phones that will take you directly to the FUMC electronic donation page. Orders go out every other Monday. Family Enrollment Code: 4F488C5A49938

4 PAGE 4 COMMUNITY MEALS FOR JANUARY JANUARY MEALS January 5: Hot dogs & chioi January 12: Chicken stew January 19: Soup & sub sandwich January 26: Pot luck JANUARY NEEDS January 5: Desserts or corn chips January 12: Desserts January 19: Desserts or plain chips January 26: Desserts Happy New Year from My and Memory! My and Memory are planning an exciting year ahead. We continue to have a full house and an active waiting list. We have two new volunteers joining us this year from our church family and our community. My January themes are Polar Bears, Snowmen March, Birds in Winter, It s Winter, Welcome 2017, Have a Ball, Dogs of our Lives and Chinese New Year. Memory kicks of the year with Hodge Podge, Opposites, Winter Sports and Penguins. I will also be presenting a program at Memory on Wednesday January 11 th, at 1:00 pm on the basics of Tai Chi. If you have an interest or want to experience the health benefits of Tai Chi, please join us in the fireside room. We are in the process of updating our website and should be up and running by January 31 st. Also around that time you will be able to Like us on Facebook...Stay tuned. Blessings, Dottie England, Director A New Year s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other! FOOD CUPBOARD FOCUS FOR JANUARY During the month of January we are asking for donations of the following items for the food cupboard: *Canned tuna, chicken & Vienna sausages *Boxed Mac & Cheese or Hamburger Helper *Canned Veggies *Cereals *Toiletry items Please place items in our food cart in the narthex. KEENAGERS January 23rd at Noon Lunch will be served at a cost of $5.00

5 PAGE 5 January Meetings / Events at Bangor First UMC Ongoing Group Meetings Food Addicts in Recovery meet each Monday at 6:30 Meetings: Jan 14: UMW Jan 19:: Piburn; 1:00 Jan 15: Missions Jan 24: Ad Board Jan 29: Evangelism Committee Events: Informal Worship Thursdays at 6:00 Sundays at 8:30: Pathways to God Sundays at 9:15: Bible Study Sunday School/ Christian Education 10:45 (2nd-4th Sundays) Bangor Community Chorus rehearses every Tuesday at 6:30 (Sept-May) Toymakers meet each Monday evening at 6:00 Cub Scouts meet on Wednesdays at 6:00 (Sept-June) Delta Kappa Gamma meets monthly (Sept June) on the first Monday. EAAA Café: Tuesdays; Noon Page C. Tom C. Mary Jane T Dawn R. Nancy C. & daughter Eliana Bob L. Lonna, Chuck & Family Bill & Tammy Family of Marsha C. Sister of Rachel Parker W. Marie & Sherwood Stephen T. Bob C. Benjamin C. Peg S. Parker W. Devon S. Our church leaders The Bangor Area Street Pastors Prayer Requests Into your hands Heavenly Father we entrust these people who are in need of your healing touch, knowledge of your presence, and your comfort. Sustain them in good days and bad. Help them to feel your loving presence with them during every difficulty, for you are always there ahead of any circumstance. Watch over all those who are in need. Help them to feel that you are always near them and know that all they need do is look to you for comfort and for strength. In Your loving name we pray. Amen In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn t extinguish the light. John 1::1-5

6 PAGE 6 Birthdays January, 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Makayla Sennett 4 5 Pat Woodbury 6 7 Julie Antworth Michael Harrington 8 9 John Kolenik Linda Folsom Priscilla Soucie Judith Hastings Pat Arey Leona Snow Anne Porter Scott Smith Lorena Fenlason Dorothy Warren Heather Christensen Jessie Stanhope Albert Snow Phyllis Goss Elizabeth Downs Cooper Nye Happy Birthday to you, to Jesus be true. God Bless you and keep you the whole year through!

7 PAGE 7 Worship Assistants for January 2017 ***If you are unable to cover the date for which you are scheduled please arrange for a substitute or call Sue White. Readers Trustees Media & Media Sound Techs 1 Jan Ashton 8 Barbara Fister 15 Mary Smith 22 Bob Worcester 29 Julie Brownie 1 Gregg Stewart 8 Pat Woodbury 15 Andy Moody 22 Gregg Stewart 29 Pat Woodbury Geoff Dapice Wayne Griffith-Hurst Sound Jim Burkhart Greeters for the 10:30 am Traditional Worship Sanctuary Door Essex Essex Street Street Door Back Door 1 Ritz-Perkins family 8 Croce family 15 Keith & Linda Caler 22 Debbie, Hannah & Rebekah Frienman 29 Haskins family 1 Jan Ashton 8 Barbara Fister 15 Dottie England 22 David Hastings 29 Clyde & Judy Pelkey 1 Bob & Tammy Worcester 8 Joyce Mallery 15 Cowperthwaite family 22 Lorena Fenlason 29 Patti & Silvia Wright Newsletter Deadline Worship Schedule Deadline for information for the February newsletter is January 23. Information may be submitted in written form, via or by phone. Pathways to God 8:30 Traditional Worship Service: 10:30 Christian Ed for children at 10:45 (2nd-4th Sundays) Informal Worship: Thursdays at 6:00

8 PAGE 8 UPCOMING EVENTS Youth Group Leaders: Coralie Cross, Nick & Cheryl Guay, Pastor Arlene Tully January 13th or 14th The Youth Group hopes to host a game night for the church, friends and families. Donations for refreshments will be accepted. January 28th Winter fun - sledding, tubing, ice skating, and building a snow fort in front of the church... Dress warmly! February (around Valentines Day) Youth Group Babysits - Parents can drop their kids off and for a donation the youth group plans a night to entertain them. Age limits and time limits TBD. Parents can then have a date night to celebrate Valentines Day. Other ideas for the 2017 Make a meal for the homeless Volunteer at Thursday Night s Rake Leaves or Basic Lawn/Yard work for Donations Faith Linking in Action - Public transportation month in November Trampoline Park Extreme Adventures/ Playland Adventure Bowling Hiking Crafts Talking About Race Mark your calendar for Sunday evenings in February from 6:30 8:30 for Talking About Race, a 4-week study and discussion series hosted by Bangor First, Orono, and Hampden Highlands United Methodist Churches. This series is based on the powerful documentary, Race: The Power of an Illusion, which explores beliefs about race, privilege, policy, and justice. We will meet each week in the sanctuary to view an installment of the video, followed by small group discussion in the family room. Refreshments and childcare will be available.

9 Bangor First United Methodist Church Calendar for... January, 2017 PAGE 10 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30 Pathways No Worship Committee meeting this month Office closed Bible Study; 1:00 6:00 Toymakers 6:00 FAIR 10:00: My Café 7:00 Choir 6:45 Bells District UMW Executive Team DCOM :30 Pathways 10:45 Christian Ed 15 Office closed (training) Bible Study 1:00 6:00: Toymakers 6:00: FAIR 16 10:00: My Cafe 6:00 BCC 17 7:00 Choir 18 6:30: DMT 6:45 Bells UMW 9:30 (District UMW Executive Team Snow date) 21 8:30 Pathways 10:45 Christian Ed Office closed Bible Study 1:00 6:00: Toymakers 6:00: FAIR 10:00: My Café 6:00: BCC 7:00: Choir 1:00 Piburn 22 8:30 Pathways 10:45 Christian Ed 11:45 Missions committee 23 Keenagers; 12:00 Bible Study; 1:00 6:00 Toymakers 6:00 FAIR 24 10:00: My Café 6:00 BCC 6:00-8:30 Ad Council 25 7:00 Choir 26 6:45: Bells :30 Pathways :45: Christian Ed 11:45 Evangelism Committee Bible Study; 1:00 6:00 Toymakers 6:00 FAIR 10:00: My Café 7:00 Choir 6:45: Bells