GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

Pastor: Harun Gatobu - hgatobu@greatplainsumc.org December 2018/January 2019 St. Mark's United Methodist Saturday Worship 5:00 p.m. Chapel GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. Pastor: Harun Gatobu - hgatobu@greatplainsumc.org July 2018 The Angel told Mary not to be afraid for she had found favor with God. She was going to have a child. Mary wondered how that could be possible since she had no husband. The angel said, Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:26 38). As we come to the last two months of the year, there are many things to think about. One of the things we celebrate is Thanksgiving. We thank God for what he has done for us as individuals and as a church and especially for the sanctuary remodeling. Then we have the Advent season to think about. The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means coming or appearance. As a church, we celebrate the coming of Christ in three ways. 1. We celebrate Christ's birth at Christmas that took place over two thousand years ago. 2. We celebrate the coming of Christ into our lives encouraging others to accept him. 3. We celebrate, as we look forward to the Second and final Coming of Christ in victory. Each year, advent calls the church and the community of faith to prepare our souls to receive Christ in whatever way he comes. This season has so many things that are happening. For example, we are enjoying sports like football, basketball and baseball. Politically we just concluded our elections and we are still talking about it as new leaders prepare to take over. We are also thinking about the fires that have affected a big part of California with much loss of life. We also know that some families are planning to get together for holidays. Some people will be travelling. Shopping and exchange of gifts is a big part of this season. In addition, at the same time, there are some people who are lonely and discouraged. There some without food and others running away from their countries or are in refugee camps. All this, and many other things in our lives can be overwhelming. (continued on page 3) Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary Sunday School 10:40 a.m. Various Youth Group Various Youth Room CONTENTS Pastor s Pen 1 & 3 Dec. Servers 2 Advent Bible 2 Christmas Program 2 Christmas Eve 2 Jan. Servers 3 Sanctuary Renovation 4 Something to Eat 5 Dec. Calendar 6 Jan. Calendar 7 Poinsettias 8 Article deadline for the newsletter is the third Monday of the month. The deadline for the FEBRUARY issue is 9 A.M. or earlier, MON., JAN. 21 Articles received after that time will go in the next issue. This includes emailed articles time dated after 9 a.m.

2 WORSHIP SERVERS for December OPENERS/CLOSERS The Davidsons USHERS Marlin & Susie Zimmerman, Mike Lobb, Joe Spencer GREETERS Dec. 2 Dec. 9 Dec. 16 Dec. 23 Dec. 30 LAY READERS Dec. 2 Dec. 9 Dec. 16 Dec. 23 Dec. 30 Nadine Davidson Irene Cooper; Mary & Larry Kuhl Clayton & Phyllis Keller & Margie Whitney Don & Sylvia Wright, Margaret Ackley Nancy Hupp & Mark Lea Lisa Hanlon Beth Latschar Russ Mehl Keith Grochowsky Paul Lee ADVENT BIBLE STUDY With Pastor Harun Join us for a four-week Advent Bible beginning on Thursday, November 29, 7 p.m. in Flint 107. You can sign up in the sanctuary narthex or by calling the church office, 913.722.2310. CHILDREN S MESSAGE Dec. 2 Ted or Lisa Hanlon Dec. 9 Malinda McGuire Dec. 16 Pastor Harun Dec. 23 Keith Grochowsky Dec. 24 Debbie Winter Dec. 30 TBA KIDS' TIME WITH CHRIST Dec. 2 Marinda Carlson Dec. 9 Heather Sims Dec. 16 Katrina Anderton Dec. 23 Heather Sims Dec. 30 Keith & Laura Grochowsky KTWC VIDEO OPERATORS Dec. 2 Jacob Van den Berghe Dec. 9 Elena Thompson Dec. 16 Maggie McConnell Dec. 23 Caleb Van den Berghe Dec. 30 Jacob Van den Berghe FELLOWSHIP Dec. 2 Antioch Church of the Nazarene Dec. 9 Nurture Committee Dec. 16 Board of Trustees Dec. 23 TBA Dec. 24 St. Mark s Women Dec. 30 Staff Parish Relations SANCTUARY VIDEO BUILDERS Dec. 2 Rich Jewett Dec. 9 Beth Latschar Dec. 16 Janet Carter Dec. 23 Karen Myers Dec. 24 Karen Myers Dec. 30 Heather Sims SANCTUARY VIDEO OPERATORS Dec. 2 Heather Sims Dec. 9 John Robinson Dec. 16 Brian Beach Dec. 23 Ethan Van den Berghe Dec. 24 7 p. Heather Sims Dec. 30 John Robinson CHRISTMAS MUSIC & CHILDREN S PROGRAM Join us on Sunday, December 16th, 9:30 a.m. as the choirs and instrumentalists of St. Marks and Antioch Church of the Nazarene join together to sing God With Us and the children present a short Christmas program. CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 7:30 P.M. ST. MARK S SANCTUARY There will be only one Christmas Eve service this year, followed by fellowship time.

3 God is good All the time continued Like Mary we might feel troubled and afraid. The message of the angel to you is, do not be afraid for Nothing will be impossible with God. So whatever struggles or uncertainty that we might be facing this season, remember that God loves and cares for his children. Luke reminds us that there was no room for Jesus in the inn. They laid him in a manger. As we prepare for Christmas, let us create room for Jesus in our hearts. And when we exchange gifts, let us think of the greatest gift Jesus Christ himself. One of the things I like about Christmas is how the Christmas story portrays a God who can work with the unexpected to accomplish his mission. God chose to work with the natural, the ordinary and even the secular to prepare for the coming of Jesus. God chose the ordinary and common Mary and Joseph to be the parents. God chose the secular Caesar Augustus to call for a census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. God choose the ordinary shepherd to bring the news of the baby s birth. God choose the natural, the star to guide the wise men to the baby Jesus. As a church and even as individuals, how can God use us ordinary and common as we are? How can God use us to bring hope, and love, peace and joy to somebody? How can we experience that inner peace that Christ brings to the world? Yes, the angel s message to us this season is, Do not be afraid for nothing is impossible with God I wish you all a very blessed Christmas. Pastor Harun WORSHIP SERVERS for January OPENERS/CLOSERS Don Wright USHERS GREETERS Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Jan. 27 LAY READERS Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Jan. 27 Don Wright, Nancy Hupp Jean & Brian Beach Nadine Davidson Irene Cooper; Mary & Larry Kuhl Clayton & Phyllis Keller & Margie Whitney Don & Sylvia Wright, Margaret Ackley Rebecca Bennett Jeryn Miller TBA Carl Anderton CHILDREN S MESSAGE Jan. 6 Janet Carter Jan. 13 Malinda McGuire Jan. 20 Pastor Harun Jan. 27 Brian Beach KIDS' TIME WITH CHRIST Jan. 6 TBA Jan. 13 TBA Jan. 20 TBA Jan. 27 TBA KTWC VIDEO OPERATORS Jan. 6 Maggie McConnell Jan. 13 Elena Thompson Jan. 20 Caleb Van den Berghe Jan. 27 Jacob Van den Berghe FELLOWSHIP Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Jan. 27 SANCTUARY VIDEO BUILDERS Jan. 6 Rich Jewett Jan. 13 Beth Latschar Jan. 20 Karen Myers Jan. 27 Heather Sims Antioch Church of the Nazarene Staff Parish Relations Worship Committee Endowment/Memorial Committee SANCTUARY VIDEO OPERATORS Jan. 6 Brian Beach Jan. 13 Ethan Van den Berghe Jan. 20 John Robinson Jan. 27 Heather Sims

4 SANCTUARY RENOVATION What a transformation! Thank you to everyone who made it possible and may all we do here bring honor and glory to God.

5 Thank you to everybody who helped with our Something to Eat project on Sunday, October 28th. Members of the youth group, the Advocacy Group and the Missions Committee helped to package 2000 servings of cheesy rice and vegetables. These meals consist of rice, soy, dried vegetables, a cheesy sauce envelope and a vitamin envelope. The meals may be boosted with protein such as eggs or chicken and will be available in the Santa Fe Waystation food pantry. Check out our pictures on the Something to Eat facebook page. For more information go to somethingtoeat.org.

ST. MARK S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DECEMBER 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 11:30 a. Worship Committee 11:30 a. Missions Committee 3 1 st Day of Hanukkah 5 p. Chapter 10 4 7 p. Trustees 5 Jan Starling 6 7 p. Advent Bible Nick Thomann 7 Pearl Harbor Day 7 p. Game Night June Bartley 8 9 a. Organ Grp 9 a. Songwriters 9 3 p. Troop Comm. 10 1 p. Ladies Bible 5:30 p. Chapter 4 7 p. Finance Comm Jackie Haynie 11 7 p. KnitWits 12 11:30 a. Mommy Time 13 National Guard Anniversary 7 p. Advent Bible Phyllis Howell 14 Sara Evans 15 11 a. Oxford House Children s Christmas Party Reese Miller 16 10:30 a. SS Celebration 17 Elinor Kent 18 6 p. Chapter 9 7 p. Advocacy Grp Athena Fiedler 19 20 7 p. Advent Bible 21 Emma Arnold 22 23 24 5:30 p. Chapter 1 7:30 p. Christmas Eve Service Denise on Vacation 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 26 Denise& Janet on vacation Kwanzaa Boxing Day 27 Denise& Janet on vacation 28 Denise& Janet on vacation 29 Mary Kuhl 30 31 NEW YEAR S EVE Denise& Janet on vacation Monday: Wednesday Wednesday - Sunday: Thursday: Saturday: Sunday: Birthdays are in italics WEEKLY ONGOING EVENTS 9:00 a. Food Pantry; 5 p. Food Pantry; 5 p. 7 p Steeple Ringers; 7 p. Boy Scouts; 8 p. CMA; 6 p. Adult Bells; 7:30 p. Choir 8 p. CMA; 6:30 p. Cub Scouts 10 a. Irish Dance; 5 p. Neighborhood Worship; 8 p. CMA 9:30 a. Worship; 10:40 a. Sunday school; 8 p. CMA;

ST. MARK S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH JANUARY 2019 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 NEW YEAR S DAY Denise & Janet on Vacation Lucy Jewett Denise & Janet back AJ Howard Kenneth Kent Ashley Thomann Nadine Davidson Marilyn Anderton Teri Seward 7 p. Game Night Mike Lobb 6 Epiphany 7 5:30 p. Chapter 10 8 9:30 a. Crosslines Food Kitchen 7 p. KnitWits 9 11:30 a. Mommy Time Patty Shofner 10 11 12 9 a. Organ Group 9 a. Songwriters 13 3 p. Troop Comm. Ethan Van de Berghe 14 1 p. Ladies Bible 5:30 p. Chapter 4 7 p. Finance Comm. 15 6 p. Chapter 9 7 p. Advocacy Grp 16 17 18 Denise out of office 19 20 Peggy Thompson 21 Martin Luther King Day 22 7 p. KnitWits Malinda McGuire Tom Barrett John Robinson 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 p. Ladies Bible 5:30 p. Chapter 1 29 Kansas Day 30 31 Monday: Wednesday Wednesday - Sunday: Thursday: Saturday: Sunday: Birthdays are in italics WEEKLY ONGOING EVENTS 9:00 a. Food Pantry; 5 p. Food Pantry; 5 p. 7 p Steeple Ringers; 7 p. Boy Scouts; 8 p. CMA; 6 p. Adult Bells; 7:30 p. Choir 8 p. CMA; 6:30 p. Cub Scouts 10 a. Irish Dance; 5 p. Neighborhood Worship; 8 p. CMA 9:30 a. Worship; 10:40 a. Sunday school; 8 p. CMA;

To all the members of my wonderful church family: I appreciated so much all the visits and cards during and after my two most recent hospital stays. Your care and concern warms my heart. Special thanks to Pastor Harun for his visits. See you in church! Glenna Rau CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS St. Marks is taking orders for poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary December 23 and 24. Since we have no shut-ins to deliver poinsettias to, you can purchase a poinsettia for $10 in honor, or in memory of a loved one. All names will be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. We are asking that if you purchase a poinsettia to please take them home with you following the Christmas Eve service. If interested in placing an order, please fill out the form below completely, write Poinsettia on the memo line of your check and drop into the offering plate or bring to the church office BY DECEMBER 9th. Name: In memory of: In honor of: # of poinsettias Amount enclosed Order deadline December 9th, 2019