January In Touch. Inside This Issue: Jesus Christ

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1 In Touch Also available online at Inside This Issue: Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 JOY Club 3 We Care Kid s Corner 5 Missions 6,7 Prayer January 2017 Opportunities District Training Day 8 9 Youth News 10 Happy New Year! I am very grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to see another year. Around the globe, different countries have different ways to celebrate New Year s Day. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is a holy time when people consider things they have done wrong in the past and promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in synagogues. The Roman New Year festival was called the Calends, and people decorated their homes and gave each other gifts. The Chinese New Year is celebrated sometime between January 17 and February 19, at the time of the new moon. It is a time of parades and street processions involving large costumes and thousands of lanterns which light the way for the New Year. Firecrackers are used to frighten the spirits away. The Korean New Year begins with a ceremony of ringing the giant bell 33 times at Boshin-Gak park in Seoul. This is to honor 33 martyred patriots at the time of Korean Independence. And people go to the eastern shore to see the first sunrise of the New Year, making their wishes. As we greet the New Year, I would like to encourage you to make a Christian custom of starting the New Year with God s Word. John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The ultimate beginning started with the Word and it is very appropriate for us to start the New Year with the Word of God. And let us increase our knowledge and intimacy of Jesus Christ by reading and meditating on the Word of God throughout the year. And I hope and pray that you would grow deeper this year in love with Jesus Christ who is the Word, the Light and the Life. Blessings, Pastor Won New Sermon Series: Why & How? January 8 th (1) Why & How Meditation January 15 th (2) Why & How Prayer January 29 th (3) Why & How Witness February 5 th (4) Why & How Small Group February 12 th (5) Why & How Service Special Sundays in January January 1 st - New Year s Day / Epiphany Sunday January 22 nd - Stephen Ministry Recognition Sunday Jesus Christ the Word the Light the Life

2 P a g e 2 4 Aaron & Jamie Roehrs 25 Dennis & Katherine Pearson 30 Brian & Romelle Webber Please log onto Facebook to search Ebenezer United Methodist Church and LIKE our page for the latest updates. Contact Lou Pollard at lbpollard@aol.com to have your event added to our page. 1 Emma Harward Pum Tep Maxine Zimmerman 2 Michaela Banks 3 Linda Briley Shellie Carlin Dorothy Davis Cheryl LePore Hunter Ward 4 Kenly Smith Jeanette Voorhies 6 Betty Lamonea Ava Sims Elli Sims 7 Tammy Feldt 8 Rich Corey Jeff Davis 9 Cameron Barnette 10 Scott Ange Ava Bowles Nora Johnson Kayleigh McQueen Patti O Brien Bob Patton Haley Saks Addison Spady 11 Lisa Bono Rylee Bono 14 Kyra Burnor 15 Parker Jennette 16 Robbie Horton Willard Moger Sunday, January 1, 2017 Start the New Year right! Join us for worship: 8:00 (traditional) 9:30 (contemporary) 17 Kait Bridgeforth Nora Edwards 18 Dick Barry 19 Bill Cary 22 David Bennett Janie Murrell Cassidy Spencer 24 Steven Ange Olivia Newman Brent Seusy 25 Ann Vance 26 Josie Ketten Jocelyn Lamonea Vickilynn Pabalan 28 Bill Dunning 29 Adrienne Corron Stanley Dennis Mark Hawley 11:00 (traditional with choir)

3 P a g e 3 (Just Older Youth 50+) Your planning group have been busy scheduling the following activities for the first quarter Add these dates to your 2017 calendar so you don t miss an opportunity. January 16 Monday, 6:30pm dinner at Mario s, Airline Blvd., Portsmouth; group menu options, reservations through Rich Corey February 4 Saturday, 7:00pm ODU basketball, Ted Constant Center Need a head count mid-january March 10 Friday, 6:30pm Covered dish & fellowship, main building More to come later April movie May river cruise June head boat fishing trip JUST OLDER YOUTH!

4 P a g e 4 POST-CHRISTMAS PRAYER Author unknown Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the magi journey home, and the great star sets, Jesus remains. The Child in whom we rediscover God s great love for humanity becomes the adult Redeemer who challenges us to imitate his selflessness and compassion in order that we might transform our world in love. May we allow the miracle of Christmas to continue long after the Holiday trappings have been packed away. May we welcome the adult Messiah and his challenging Gospel to recreate our lives making the peace, justice, and hope of this holy season a reality in every season of the new year. Epiphany Sunday, January 1, 2017

5 P a g e 5 WE CARE Here is important information for those sweet friends who want to help We Care: Baby blankets should be 36 x36 Lap blankets should be 36 x42 Prayer shawls should be x60 Check the cradle or the mission corner for kits to take home and complete. Blankets and shawls for comfort are also available in both buildings for you to take to someone in need. We thank our new volunteers who provided blankets, scarves and baby hats in December. Our next meeting is January 10 from noon in Rm. 126 (FLC). Our hands serve Christ, Janie Murrell TWEENS Bible Study begins February 5th 10:45-11:45 (FLC) Creation Station will start back in January look for new, fun art projects on Sunday morn ings no need to sign up, just show up a little early before the 9:30 service! We are hoping to start a children's choir. They would perform once month at the 9:30 and 11:00 services. If you would like help get this started please let me know. The children will began a new 2017 mission project called "Nothing But Nets" We will have information on this coming soon. 5th Sunday is Special Sunday at Sunday School! We will learn Bible verses and play games! Please feel free to call or me if you have any questions or if you would like to serve in Children's Ministry at EUMC!! Need more info? Contact: Athena Rhodes athenaeumc@gmail.com or

6 P a g e 6 OneHarvest Ceases Operations Below is the text of an received on 12/16/2016: It is with much regret that OneHarvest has decided to discontinue our Food Box Program after the December Distribution. We will continue to offer the Thanksgiving and Christmas Box delivery during the holidays. Thank you one and all for your loyalty and dedication to the program and Merry Christmas to you all. Sharon Barts Customer Service OneHarvest Ministries Thank you to all of you at Ebenezer who have volunteered money and your time in this ministry. We have transitioned like this before and the Lord has filled earthly needs with another food ministry. We will continue to pray and listen for His next plan! Chris & Berni We are looking for a new coordinator and volunteers for this ministry. This position entails coordinating with MoW office at Obici Hospital for our church team. Calendar dates and delivery routes will be set for teams so that food can be picked up and delivered on certain days monthly. Additional information available. For more information regarding coordinating the 2017 events, please contact Keith Compton at and klshcompton@verizon.net or Chris Keltner at and cokeltner@aol.com

7 P a g e 7 The Missions Corner Our next meeting: Wednesday, January 18th 7 PM Room 127, FLC THANK YOU to all who became angels to those on our Angel Tree this year. Your generous giving provided Christmas gifts for area children through the Salvation Army and elderly adults in Autumn Care Nursing Home in Suffolk.

8 P a g e 8 You are invited to come and worship the Lord through Prayer and Thanksgiving on: Tuesdays Wednesdays 1:00-2:00 PM 6:00-6:30 AM Chapel, Rm 5 Sanctuary

9 P a g e 9 Elizabeth River District Training Day When: Saturday, January 21, 2017 Where: Oak Grove United Methodist Church 472 N Battlefield Boulevard Chesapeake VA Cost: $12 for box lunch catered by Panera Bread Deadline: January 8, 2017 Register: Online at elizabethriverdistrict.org (or use the downloadable form to mail in) Workshops include: SPRC, Trustees, Finance, VBS Preview, MissionInSite, Nominations, Small Groups, Stewardship, and more! The Schedule: 9:00am - Registration 9:30am - Worship 10:00am - Session 1 11:30am - Break 11:45am - Lunch 12:15pm - Session 2 1:45pm Depart There are a number of excellent leadership workshops being offered, ideal for new leaders and volunteers. There will be a Child Abuse Seminar offered that will count as Safe Sanctuaries training for church staff, preschool staff, and volunteers.

10 P a g e 10 Soulfire YOUTH Calendar January Ms. Connie will be out for a few weeks in January. Mr. James and Ms. Hobson will be teaching classes when they resume on January 8 th! As for youth group you guys are going Bowling with Mr. James on Jan 15th More info will be given out soon. Y 0 Sat. Jan 28 th - Hope and Happiness Winter dance. Dress in Black and White. U T H CELEBRATING 10 YEARS of Upward Basketball & Cheerleading at Ebenezer!!! K-8 th grade It is that time of year! Practice will begin the week of January 3 and the season will run through March 10 th. We are partnering with Smithfield Baptist Church again which promises to be another great league. The churches will be home sites for specific teams but games will be played at both facilities. Coaches, Referees and scorekeepers are needed! Come out and watch Saturday mornings!!! Confirmation classes will begin January 22nd for all youth 5 th grade and up that would like to learn more about their faith, what it means to be a Methodist and a MEMBER of the church. Connie if you want to be a part of this program! connie@ebenezerchurch.net

11 P a g e 11 Activities for Kids Bible Quiz In Matthew 13, to what does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven? A. A farmer sowing seed B. A mustard seed C. Yeast D. Hidden treasure E. A merchant who finds a pearl F. A fishing net G. All of the above Answer: G (See Matthew 13:24-51.)

12 Ebenezer United Methodist Church The Church that L O V E is building...one life at a time Steeple Drive Suffolk, Virginia Phone: (757) Fax: (757) sheila@ebenezerchurch.net Join us in Worship! Sunday Worship 8:00 AM Traditional Worship 9:15 AM Coffee Fellowship (FLC) 9:30 AM Christian Education (all ages) 9:30 AM Contemporary Worship 10:45 AM Adult Christian Education 11:00 AM Traditional Worship Our Staff OPEN MINDS, OPEN HEARTS, OPEN DOORS Please see your church directory for contact information for the following church staff or call the church office. Won Lee, Pastor won@ebenezerchurch.net Cell: Connie Schau, Director of Youth & Preschool connie@ebenezerchurch.net Cell: Athena Rhodes, Director of Primary Christian Ed. athenaeumc@gmail.com Cell: Sheila Smith, Administrative Assistant sheila@ebenezerchurch.net Office: Office Hours 9-5 Monday thru Friday The deadline for newsletter submissions for the F e b r u a r y issue is Friday, January 10, Send newsletter submissions to: sheila@ebenezerchurch.net Reminder: All activities requiring the use of church facilities must be cleared through the church office. Doug Shomaker, Director of Music Linda Rodgers, Pianist Connie Palmer, Organist Pam Saks, Nursery Coordinator Jeni Millikin, Director of Contemporary Worship Brett Stoddard, Dir. Sound/Media, Contemporary Worship Contact the church office to reach these staff members.