MINI MESSENGER December 9th, 2018 Centenary United Methodist Church Witnessing in Jacksonville Since 1821 Phone (217) 245-8417 www.jaxcentenary.org Find us on Facebook! Office Information: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1-4 p.m. or by appointment. Email Bulletin or Messenger information to office@jaxcentenary.org. To Contact Pastor Mel please email meln@jaxcentenary.org or call 815-922-9161. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM On the Wings of Prayer - A Christmas Program will be held on Sunday, December 16 th at 6:00 p.m. Please join us for cookies and punch following the program and a visit with our special guest! CHRISTMASTIME WORSHIP SCHEDULE Worship Committee has decided to have 2 services on December 23 rd at our regular services times (8:15 and 10:45) and a combined 9:30 a.m. service on December 30 th. March to the Manger will be held on December 23 rd during both services. TUESDAY MORNING FELLOWSHIP Join Kevin Hinkle and others for donuts, coffee, devotions, and fellowship. Tuesday mornings between 6:00 and 9:00 am at SafeCo Donuts and Bakery. JACKSONVILLE FOOD BANK The Jacksonville Food Bank sees a large increase this time of year of people needing food to feed their families. There is a flyer on the bulletin board in the Narthex with a list of items that they need for the Christmas time. They appreciate any donations you can give. SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE Don t forget to bring your unwrapped gifts and place them under the small Christmas trees next to the entrance to the sanctuary by Monday December 10 th. CHRISTMAS BASKETS Our Centenary family will deliver food to local families on Saturday morning, December 22 nd. If you know someone who would benefit from receiving a basket contact the church office. Let Martha Vaché know if you will be willing to help deliver the food. 1
MMDC SUPPLY REQUEST Midwest Mission Distribution Center is looking for anyone who would be interested in donation new or laundered blankets of all sizes. These blankets will be going to the Food for the Poor to help the poorest & in need in Trinidad due to the mass flooding. All Blankets must be in their own bag washed and ready to go. YEAR END GIVING DEADLINE Karen Dirksmeyer, the Jacksonville Centenary Financial Secretary, is asking that all donations to the church be in her office no later than Friday, December 28 th at 4 pm. This includes all giving that you want recorded on the 2018 calendar year. She appreciates your attention on this. CHRISTMAS CAROLING Everyone is invited to go Christmas Caroling on Wednesday afternoon, December 19 with members of Hope Circle. We will meet in the Parlor at 1:30 p.m. to get organized. Come share a little Christmas JOY as we sing to members of our Centenary family. After caroling, we will return to the church for snacks and warm drinks. Contact Martha Vaché for more information. CHRISTMAS GIFT The long-established custom at Centenary has been to honor our Pastor with a love gift at Christmas. However, Pastor Mel has requested the gift be shared between our dedicated staff members. If you would like to share in the monetary gift for ALL Centenary employees you may put your gift in an envelope marked "Christmas Gift". Make checks payable to Centenary UMC. Place your envelope in the collection plate or mail it to the office on or before December 16. May you share many Christmas Blessings - SPRC BLUE CHRISTMAS Are you (or someone you know) mourning a loss, struggling with fears and doubts, or otherwise finding this holiday season (or parts of it) to be difficult? You are not alone! Centenary will hold a Blue Christmas service on Wednesday, December 19th at 6:00 p.m. The purpose is to recognize that the holiday season can be a time of greatly mixed emotions for many - and difficult for those dealing with grief, depression, worries, etc. The service moves from that recognition to a word of hope in closing. The service is open to the public. All are welcome to join in this time of remembrance and acceptance. 2
TORNADO DAMAGE ASSISTANCE REQUESTS Donations to assist with the tornado damage that occurred over the weekend in IGRC may be made to the IGRC Disaster Response Advance #6800. Checks should be made payable to IGRC with Advance # 6800 on the memo line and mailed to Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Attn: Treasurer's Office, PO Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794. Let us continue to pray for all who have homes damaged and for those responding. ADVENT ENVELOPE CORRECTION The information printed on the Advent Envelope that was included in the December Messenger is incorrect. This year's offering will be divided between Chaddock in Quincy and Big Brother/Big Sister in Jacksonville. Make checks to Centenary UMC with Advent offering in the memo line. Sorry for the confusion. It was my fault. Martha Vache, Missions chr. DEAF INTERPRETER At this point, we will not have an interpreter for our worship services on December 23rd and 24th. If you plan to join us (and we hope you will) and need an ASL interpreter, please contact the office ASAP, so we can make every effort to accommodate. Life at Centenary Last Week December 2nd, 2018 Worship Attendance Nursery 8 8:15 Service 70 10:45 Service 61 Total 131 5 Barbara Ferreira 9 Jacqueline Wilham 10 Rev. Janice Foulk Sunday School Attendance K.I.C.K. s 0 FUSION Focus 2 Disciples 11 Deaf 2 Total 15 Anniversaries known to us this week Birthdays known to us this week Professional Staff 3 10 Katie O Neil 14 Jake Kindred Pastor Melvin Nielsen, Pastor Kevin Hinkle, Coordinator Outreach & Growth Karen Dirksmeyer, Office Administrator Destiny Slater, Office Manager Terri Benz, Music Director Patti Adcock, Custodian Rachel Hinkle, Contemporary Worship Leader Jarice Crenshaw, Parish Visitor Kayleigh Dirden, Nursery Attendant Mark & Rebecca Smallwood Red Bird Mission, Kentucky Missionaries Dr. Vae Rose Fultz, Retired Deaconess Deaf Ministry, Jacksonville
THIS WEEK S ACTIVITIES Sunday 12/9 2nd Sunday of Advent 8:15 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Fellowship Hour Both Services Installation of New Members 10:45 a.m. Worship ASL interpreted 1:00 p.m. FUSION Lunch and Angel Tree Shopping Monday 12/10 10:00 a.m. Office Staff Meeting 6:30 p.m. Monday Night Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Tuesday 12/11 6:00 9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Fellowship at SafeCo 9:30 a.m. Barb Wooldridge Bible Study 4:00 p.m. Missions 6:00 p.m. Methodist Men s Group @ Grace UMC Wednesday 12/12 11:30 a.m. Ruth Circle Christmas Luncheon 5:00 p.m. Finance 5:00 p.m. Jacksonville Conference of Churches 7:30 p.m. Al-Anon (Fellowship Hall) Thursday 12/13 1:00 p.m. Advent Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Advent Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Barb Wooldridge Bible Study Friday 12/14 Saturday Sunday 12/15 1:00 p.m. Christmas Program Rehearsal 12/16 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:15 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School/Fellowship Hour 10:45 a.m. Worship ASL interpreted 6:00 p.m. Christmas Program Please make sure all activities and events are given to the office and put on the office calendar. Please submit to office@jaxcentenary.org 4
THOSE FOR WHOM WE PRAY: New This Week: Cheryl Terhark Last Week: Karen Houston, Bill Cummings Friends and Family (ongoing): Melba Welch, Kevin Brown, Margery Meyer, Vae Rose Fultz, Matthew Hinkle, Helen Ervin & Ruth Linebaugh (sisters of Sharon Lippert), Sadie (Karen Dirksmeyer s niece), Karen Houston, Janet Kroush, Kay Fairfield, Heather Spradlin-Gifford, Todd Hayes, Bob Northrop, Jennifer Bible, Jody Albers, Bill Cummings, Rene Strubbe, Mary Lou Fuller, Raymond Day Members and Family of Centenary: Charles Beddingfield Julie Belzer Carolyn Beddingfield Alaina Bell Mark Belzer Phil Benz Debbie Belzer Terri Benz Prayers for our Church family in military service: Air Force: Ryan Hembrough, Ben Pritchett Navy: Jason O Neal, Mimi O Neal, Michael Refuerzo Air National Guard: Richard Hembrough Marines: Dylan Fernandes Ongoing Prayers for Homebound: Lura Lene Smith Church of the Week Jacksonville Assembly of God Praise Reports: Sermon Notes: 5