Montgomery United Methodist Church 117 Sunset Road, Belle Mead, New Jersey 08502 Church Office: 908.874.3273 <mumc@aol.com> <PastorTony@Montgomeryumc.org> The Weekly Reminder 6 December 2009 Second Sunday in Advent The Weekly Reminder can be read every week in PDF format on the church website <www.montgomeryumc.org> Thanks to our web editors Rich and Katie Specht. Count Me In for Christmas! There are many ways in which you and your family can participate in the life of the church, and especially during the Christmas season. Won t you take a moment to fill out the Count Me In form included in today s church bulletin? Christmas Pageant and Sunday School Rev. Marion Rehearsals for the Christmas pageant will be today, 6 December, during Sunday school. There will also be rehearsal from 11 AM until 12:30 AM on Saturday, 12 December. The children will put on their costumes, and the children will practice the play several times. The Christmas pageant will take place on 13 December during the 10:30 service, and again for those who can make it, at 4:30 PM on Christmas Eve. There is no Sunday school on 20 December so that the children and teachers can hear the Christmas Choir cantata. Christmas Poinsettias Deadline for Ordering is Today, 6 December Please see the order form for Christmas Poinsettias that has been included in today s bulletin. Barb has provided a sample of one of each of the plants available, and the plants, as well as extra forms, can be found on the table near the ushers. This is a lovely way to honor a loved one during the Christmas season. Voices of Christmas Annual Bus Trip Family Life There are still a few seats left on the bus to the Voices of Christmas Show on 19 December, 2009 at 2PM at the Living Waters Theater (by Sight and Sound) in Strasburg, PA. The bus will depart MUMC at 10 AM and the show will include a buffet dinner at the Hershey Farm Restaurant following the show. The cost is $65 per adult; $35 for teens ages 13 18; and $15 for children 12 and under. Please make your check payable to MUMC, and indicate, Bus Trip on the memo line. Reservations forms are on the table near the ushers. For further information, or if you have questions, please see Sandra Barnes at church or email her at <sandra@fabufest.com>.
Evensong Service: 5 PM 5 December 2009 New Spiritual Directions and Elements for Our Evensong Service Dear Friend in Christ, Iʹm inviting us to try something new (well, new to us) and enriching at our 5 PM Saturday Evensong services. In the spirit of our Bishopʹs invitation to experience more of the ecumenical style of worship of the Taize monastery in France, our November Evensong will feature some of the elements of this contemplative and prayerful style of worship. The service will be reflective and meditative in nature, an interesting contrast to our Sunday morning service. Some of the elements we will be trying at this service are: More focus on prayer and meditation. Expanded use of candles and other visual aids. Simple, meditative, modern songs. A period of Silent Prayer. Abbreviated sermon. Holy Communion will still be celebrated. We continue to welcome and encourage informal attire come as you are. The service will continue to be celebrated within one hour. We will work together and dialogue about these new spiritual elements as we seek to worship the Lord in new ways, while retaining the uniqueness of our Evensong experience here at MUMC. Please give it a try, and share your ideas with me. Please join us for Evensong on Saturday, 5 December 2009 at 5 PM. Blessings always, Pastor Tony United Methodist Women UMW invite you to gather at the church on Monday, 14 December, for fellowship, refreshments, and the making of Christmas gift bags of generous donations for an otherwise somber holiday for young ladies of Carrier Clinic. Help to brighten the holiday for these young ladies! Embracing Our Grief and the Light a Candle Service an Evening of Sharing and Prayer Holidays can be an especially stressful time for those experiencing grief and change. On Thursday, 17 December, at 7 PM, Pastor Tony will lead a workshop at the church called, Embracing Our Grief. It will be a time of reflection and openness to God s grace and love for those who are experiencing any kind of grief at this holiday time. A guided time of journaling will be one part of the experience, as well as sharing for those who wish. This will be followed by a Light a Candle service, a time of song and prayers of healing. Rev. Marion Sanders will also take part in the prayers of the service. Please bring a notebook to write in and some symbol of the loved one you are grieving or the situation that is changing for you. Please invite others you may feel would benefit from this time of blessing as well.
Methodist Motion Anyone interested in being involved with the Methodist Motion Laity Clergy Committee is asked to contact Pastor Tony or send an email to <mm@methodist motion.org>. This is just the beginning of an exciting new concept for Methodists everywhere. A website has been established and will serve as the catalyst for our mission. Log on to <www.methodist motion.org> to find out just what Methodist Motion is all about. The website will be updated regularly and will include a monthly series with Pastor Tony speaking to the world s laity. Food and Other Needed Donations Missions & Social Concerns In addition to a food pantry at the church where you are welcome to donate or use the provisions for yourself, donations are collected in the large basket at the door and are taken to local food banks. Monetary donations are also appreciated in order to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for Crawford House. Hillsborough Township has provided this list of needed items: Non perishable foods such as peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, rice, pasta sauce, pasta, fruit cans, tomato sauce, cereal, condiments, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, cream of mushroom soup; Personal Care Items such as toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo and conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine care products; laundry detergent in small containers and dishwashing liquid. Bible Study All women of the church are cordially invited to the home of Alba Lucia on the first and third Wednesday of each month for Bible Study. A new class will begin in January. For directions or for more information, please call Alba Lucia at (908) 904 0749, or email her at alps (at) gosargon.com. Men s Bible Study classes led by Stephen Thomas! Nourishment for the body and soul is provided by Stephen and friends, and you are most welcome to attend this informal class between church services. For further information, please call Stephen at (908) 904 0749, or email him at sht (at) gosargon.com. First Friday Day Star Study First Friday of Every Month at Noon There is an ongoing First Friday Day Star Bible Study on the first Friday of every month at Noon. A reminder from last week s announcements, that Advent and our Prayer Life Mark 13 is the topic for December. Everyone is cordially invited to attend and feel welcome to bring along a friend to this informative and interesting study group led by Reverend Dave Housten. Bring a bag lunch if you wish! New Opportunity for Holy Communion Rev. Marion will be conducting a brief service of Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month from 11:30 to 11:55, just prior to Rev. Dave s Bible Study. You are warmly encouraged to attend this new opportunity to be blessed by the Lord s Supper.
Unto Life Eternal Mrs. Janet Collas Let us surround our dear member, Denise Roth, and her family with love and prayers on the passing of her mother, Janet Collas. Denise, our prayers, love and condolences are with you. Consecration Sunday Folks have been asking, What happened to Consecration Sunday? When will we have a chance to make our pledges for the upcoming year? Our annual Stewardship Campaign will take place in January of 2010. You will be hearing more about it from our Stewardship Team soon. Thank you for faithfully maintaining your financial commitment each week as you have been doing. We will be back to you with ideas about renewing our stewardship pledge in the New Year. Thank you, and God bless you. Your Finance Team Catch Up Sunday Your Finance and Stewardship team wishes to thank you for your faithful contributions to the work of our church. If your contributions are up to date, we are especially grateful. If not, won t you please consider bringing your pledge current? Won t you set a personal Catch Up Sunday, perhaps next week to help our church meet its commitments? Thank you, and God bless you. MUMC Finance and Stewardship Team Give the Gift of Life 8 December There will be a Blood Drive here at church on Tuesday, December 8 th, from 3PM to 7PM. For further information, please see Sally Piller. There is a sign up sheet posted in Fellowship Hall. Won t you give the gift of life? Administrative Council Meeting Tuesday, 8 December There will be an Administrative Council Meeting at 7 PM at the church on 8 December, 2009. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! The Starlite Chorale Presents, An Enchanted Christmas The Starlite Chorale, a sixteen voice vocal ensemble under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Tony Godlefski, will perform a concert of festive Christmas music at 4:30 PM on Sunday afternoon, 6 December, at the Reformed Church of Linden, 600 North Wood Avenue, Linden, NJ. The program is called, An Enchanted Christmas, and features the traditional music of the season with a Christmas in days of old flair. This year s program will feature a medieval theme with fascinating costumes of rich color.
Music will include, Hear the Glad Tidings, a medley of Polish carols, a newly arranged processional by Music Director Tony Godlefski on an ancient carol, In Sweetest Joy ; also, The Carol of the Bells ; Joy to the World ; Wassail, Wassail, All Over the Town ; and some mysteriously beautiful carols from Ireland and Scotland will be included. The lovely violin music of Maria and Emily, The Gabryszewska Sisters, will add beauty and joy to the show. An Enchanted Christmas will put the spirit of the Season in your heart. Please make reservations by calling 973.768.6720. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and children are free. There will be two additional performances: The Jersey Shore Arts Center, Main Street and Main Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ on Saturday, 12 December, 2009, 1:00 PM St. Matthews RC Church, Edison, NJ, Sunday, 3 January, 2010, 4:30 PM Please join the Starlite Chorale for this festive afternoon of Christmas music and fun. Raritan Valley Chorus Concert Sunday 13 December You re Invited! Won t you come to enjoy beautiful music on Sunday, 13, December, at the Hillsborough Reformed Church where our own Margaret Daggett, Karen Lawrence, and Margie Mutchler will be singing with the Raritan Valley Chorus Concert? Please see the flyer in this morning s bulletin for further information. Do you like to sing? Speak with Margaret, Karen, or Margie about this fantastic, enthusiastic group! Save the Date! 30 January 2010 Dr. Laura Bell will be holding her student piano recital at the church on Saturday afternoon, 30 January, and everyone is cordially invited. Thanks to Elaine Mallett of our Outreach Committee, everyone who submits his/her birthday to the church office will receive a special birthday greeting card. Please join in celebrating the birthdays of these special people on their special day in December! Heidi Runnels 3 Natalia Lefebvre 18 Mike Thompson 7 Bob Bjornsen 21 Claire Heath 8 Gloria Lagerman 21 David Lawrence 14 Chari Zeiss 21 Doug Mallett 14 Don Coffey 22 Shelly Cincotta 15 Vyola Willson 22 Claire Solonick 15 Ali Specht 27 David Drakes 16 C.J. Benito 28 Gavin Lawrence 16 Len Thompson 29 Margaret Rodgers 17 Leo Felix Jurado 31 Wade Cardinal 18
Church Calendar Every Sunday Services of Worship at 8:45 and 10:30 AM with Nursery Care provided Holy Communion the first Sunday of the month Sunday School 10:30 AM except for the first Sunday of the month which is Family Worship Day First Saturday of the month is Evensong at 5 PM Friday, 4 December First Friday Bible Study with Rev. Dave at Noon Saturday, 5 December Evensong at 5 PM Sunday, 6 December Holy Communion Deadline for Ordering Poinsettias Tuesday, 8 December Blood Drive 3 7 PM Administrative Council Meeting 7 PM Thursday, 10 December Boy Scouts Pack 185 7 8 PM Sunday, 13 December Children s Pageant Raritan Valley Choral Concert 3 PM Hillsborough Reformed Church Monday, 14 December United Methodist Women 7 PM Wednesday, 16 Dec. Troop 850 Adults 7:30 9 PM Thursday, 17 Dec. Embracing Our Grief & Light a Candle Service 7PM 9PM Saturday, 19 December Family Life Christmas Bus Trip to Lancaster (Sandra and Mass Barnes) Sunday, 20 December Sermon in Song CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES 4:30 PM Children s Pageant 7:30 and 10:30 PM Traditional Candlelight Service Every Monday 7:30 9 PM Boy Scouts Pack 850 Tuesday 6:15 7:30 PM Brownie Troop 625 Barb Kocsis October 6, 20, November 3, 17, December 1, 15, January 12, 26, February 9, 23, March 9, 23, April 6, 20, May 4, 18 Wednesdays as Marked on Calendar Troop 850 Adults 7:30 9 PM Every other Thursday beginning 24 September 6 7:30 PM Girl Scouts (11 4 th graders) Beth Whitlock First Friday of each month Pack 185 Adults (L. Meyers) First Sunday of each month beginning 4 October 4 6 PM Troop 817 Sonal Bagaria Sundays, Occasionally 7 8:30 PM Debbie Ridder s Girl Scout Troop 2010 Calendar 30 January Laura Bell s Recital 22 February Boy Scouts Pack 850 for Court of Honor in Sanctuary and old sanctuary 24 May Boy Scouts Pack 850 for Court of Honor in Sanctuary and old sanctuary Peace and grace to you and your loved ones.