Calvary United Methodist Church Rev. Arnie McFarland, Pastor 239 West Church Street Somerset, PA 15501 (814) 445-2577 calvarysomerset@gmail.com www.somersetcalvary.org - God Does the Healing Calvary Does the Caring Calvary crossroads Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Somerset, PA Permit No. 9 VOLUME 30, ISSUE 1 January 2019 Calvary United Methodist Church Return Service Requested Inside this Issue: Calvary News January Events Mission Update January Calendar Birthdays & Anniversaries From Our Pastor.. Dear Church Family, We face some interesting times as this new year begins. I want to address them. First, I want to say thank you to the congregation of Calvary United Methodist Church. Your generous gift this year has made it possible for me to pay off some nuisance credit card debt and to be ready to pay my income tax when it comes due in April. Being considered self-employed by the IRS is sometimes a burden that is hard to bear, but you have helped me tremendously this year. About what is coming in February, the special General Conference of the United Methodist Church is going to come and go with no changes in my opinion. Despite the best efforts of a minority of liberals, the vast majority of the Western PA Conference of the United Methodist Church are not in favor of allowing the ordination of homosexuals or allowing same sex wedding to be performed in our churches. That represents only 18 delegates out of more than 300. The other delegates are composed of the other conferences in the US and from The Philippines, Europe, Africa and Asia. Since the same delegates that were at the General 12 1
Conference of 2016 will be in St. Louis in 2019, it is very unlikely that there will be a different outcome in the voting. My suggestion is that we just continue to minister to our community where we can make a difference, and let God sort out the details. Calvary is making a difference and we are growing. Like Jesus says to the churches of A prayer for new beginnings Philadelphia in Revelation 3: 11 I am coming soon, hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. In Christian Hope and Love, In his book Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth (Fortress Press), Walter Brueggemann writes in an Epiphany poem:... this is a time to be born. So we turn to you, God of our life God of all our years, God of our beginning... We dare pray that you will do for us and among us and through us what is needful for our newness. Give us the power to be receptive, to take the newness you give... There is a time to be born, and it is now. We sense the pangs and groans of your newness. Come here now in the name of Jesus. Amen. How fitting that the Epiphany season and the new year coincide! Epiphany reveals a new King, the beginning of his ministry, his new disciples, his first healings, his new teaching with authority (Mark 1:27). We, too, experience newness, now and year-round. But newness can be tough. So we trust that God, who [makes] all things new while banishing mourning and crying and pain (Revelation 21:4-5), walks with us in this new year and always. Calendar- 2 Women & Men s Breakfast at King s Restaurant 9 AM 3 Sunday Worship with Communion by Intinction 9 Game Day 2 to 5 PM with Valentines 10-Boy Scout Sunday 12 Church Council Meeting 7 PM 14 Valentine s Day 18 President s Day Banks Closed; NEWSLETTER ITEMS DUE 24 Last Sunday Praise 27 UM Men s Dinner 6 PM Flowers for February 3 Open 10 Open 17 Open 24 Open Bulletin Covers Other Activities T.O.P.S. Tuesdays 9:30 AM Boy Scouts Tuesdays 7 PM Next Step Center Board Meetings 2nd Thursday 9 AM Thank you to everyone who signed up for Altar Flowers & Bulletin Covers! Lord Jesus, the Magi brought you precious gifts. Help me also give you my very best always. Open Sundays 10, 17, 24 We very much appreciate your support! 2 11
Calvary s shows Missions Giving Monthly Report November YTD 2018 Caring Fund $130.00 $2,324.64 Chinese Outreach (Conference) $165.00 Meals on Wheels $5.00 $370.00 Next Step Center, Inc. $30.00 $290.00 Oklahoma Indians (Conference) $35.00 $205.00 Salvation Army $25.00 $1,112.50 Somerset County Mobile Food Bank SAM Van $5.00 $363.00 $5.00 $95.00 Somerset Food Pantry $45.00 $210.00 Bishop s Camping Program $103.16 $408.57 District & Local Disasters $20.00 TOTALS $383.16 $5,563.71 PASTOR S REPORT 2018 Visits 1 Patriot Manor 1 Siemons 1 Hospice 1 Hospital 1 Out of Town Hospital Calls 0 District Activities 1 Cluster Activities 1 Sermons 4 Classes Taught 3 Staff Meeting 1 Local Church Meetings 2 Administrative Meetings 1 Choir Practices 4 United Methodist Men 1 PASTOR S REPORT 2018 United Methodist Women 1 Youth Activities 0 Ministerium 3 Counseling 2 Baptisms/Confirmation 0 Funerals 1 Weddings 1 Communion Calls 2 Sick Days Off 3 Days Off 3 Vacation Days 0 Planning Meeting 1 Out of Town Visits 1 Businesses Visited 3 Other Activities 9 Bible Quiz What did Jesus say brings greater joy in heaven than 99 righteous people? A. The singing of angels B. One sinner who repents C. 100 righteous people D. None of the above Lions Club Meeting-2 Sang for Laurel Highlands Chorale-2 Next Step Board Meeting-1 Sang for Rotary Club-1 SAM Meeting-1 Preformed with Dulcimer Group-1 Sang for Bullskin Twp. Lions-1 Answer: B (See Luke 15:7.) 10 3
1st Saturday of each month AT 9 AM Come & join us! This Month s date January 5th Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone's life. Be the light that helps others see. Roy T. Bennett 1-Haven Purbaugh 4 Vi Lloyd Mary Lee Platt Arthur Wright 6-Shannon Lauer Wyatt McFarland 21-JoAnn McGonigle 23-Eric Brant Marte Urban 26-Leonard Friedline Doris Houpt 28-Caysen Brightwell 8-Barb Tiffany 29-Joshua Henry 12-Rachael Baldwin 30-Scott Bittner 13-Caitlin Barkman Lucas Richard Wade McClintock 31-Alyssa Brant 20-Alice Deist Marion Miller No Meetings through winter. Have a safe & Happy New Year Dinner - Wednesday, January 30th, 2019 6 PM Menu: Pork & Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Applesauce, Egg Custard Pie & Beverage Tickets available now Any complaints? While serving as a chaplain at a children s hospital, Lisa Anderson once found a young mother kneeling in the chapel. When Anderson apologized for disrupting, the woman said, That s okay. I was just complaining to the Lord. I figure it worked for the Israelites! After laughing, the women began discussing how God listens to his people regardless of our approach. Indeed, Moses tells Aaron, Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining (Exodus 16:9, NRSV). And as David hid in a cave from Saul, he wrote, I pour out my complaint before [the Lord] (Psalm 142:2). No matter what we say or pray our allpowerful God certainly can handle it. And no matter what s troubling us, we can take heart! because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33, ESV). 4 9
For the Month of January Flowers 6 Open 13 Open 20 Schrock 27 Open Servers Lee Ann Schrock Friday Crew Dick & Judy Wagner Liturgist Bonnie Berkley Offering Counters Dave Hagy, Lydia Welsh, Doug Shultz Greeters 6 Dick & Judy Wagner 13 Lee Ann Schrock 20 Lydia Welsh 27 Paula Isenman Open Sundays for Bulletin Covers 13, 20, 27 The cost for Bulletin Covers is $8.00. If you desire to have them in Honor of or in Memory of someone, please contact the Church office. Ushers Lydia Welsh Tracy Shultz Paula Isenman Susan Schrock Secret Prayer Partner Dinner Friday, January 4, 2019 at 6 PM Calvary has the privilege of supplying desserts for Meals on Wheels the week of January 7th through the 11th. Below is a list of what is needed, when and how many. You may bring your donations in on Sunday the 6th or deliver them when they are due between the hours of 6:30 to 8:30 AM. If you are not able to bake of purchase items, we will be happy to accept a monetary donation. There will be a sign-up sheet in the greeting room for you to select what you can give. Thanks for your help! Betty McGee Menu Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Green Beans Ice Cream & Beverage Date Needed Baked Goods Needed Amt. Needed Monday, January 7th Plain Cakes (No Icing) 10 Tuesday, January 8th Cookies 20 Doz Wednesday, January 9th Quick Breads 15 Thursday, January 10th Angel Food Cakes 12 Last Sunday of the Month Refreshments: January 27th Tina McCoy Friday, January 11th Muffins or Cupcakes 15 Doz 8 5
Holiday Cards Fire & Ice Festival - Uptown Somerset Weekend of January 18th - 20th, 2019 Ice Carving Demonstrations - Fire Pits - Live Entertainment and More! For those of you asking about recycling your holiday cards, we do not have all the details but we do know this. You can send the FRONT ONLY of cards with no writing of any kind on them. Also Hallmark, American Greeting and Disney cards will NOT be accepted. If you are going to participate, please have your cards BANDED so we know you understand and read the rules. A box will be placed in the overflow room from Sunday, January 13th through Sunday, January 27th. Thank you, Lydia Welsh 6 Dear Friends of Calvary UM Church, With the Thanksgiving season over and Christmas around the corner, it also means the academic semester is coming to an end. Finals and papers are the main activities of the Chinese students and scholars. It gives me some time to reflect on the Chinese individuals God has brought into my life. The following are two of these people, both living in China, and the impact God has made on their lives. One is the father of a student I meet with weekly. I first met the student when he was an undergraduate (now a graduate student) after he attended our Labor Day Weekend, and meeting weekly with me he became a Christian in his junior year. His parents came for his undergraduate graduation and this is where I met the father. The son explained his new life in Christ to his parents, and his father began reading the Bible for the first time in his life. The father is not yet a believer but he recently sent me this message: Hello Ken, thank you for your concern and care for our Ken Wagoner, 1027 N. Saint Clair Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206 kenwagoner@verizon.net 555 Gettysburg Pike, A-200, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 7 son all the time. On the occasion of Thanksgiving, I wish you and your family good health and all the best. God bless you all. The son, although still studying here, has made an impact on his father! The second may became a believer here before returning home to a position in a university. He writes this: The most rewarding thing for me during my one year stay in the U.S. is that I had the chance to study the Bible and chose to follow Jesus! These men are two of the answers to your prayers, and beneficiaries of your generosity making it possible for us to meet them here! We thank you for your faithful gifts. I will be giving a Bible study to our group of Chinese students using an Advent devotional. Rosie and I thank you for considering us worthy of your time, financial giving and prayers as together we thank God for all He has given to us. In Christ s service, Ken Wagoner
January 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year s Day Church Office Closed 2 3 4 5 Women & Men of Calvary Breakfast at King s Restaurant 9 AM 6 Epiphany Sunday Communion by Intinction 7 Meals on Wheels Board Meeting 7 PM 8 T.O.P.S. 9:30 AM Pastor Away Vacation 8th - 22nd 9 10 Next Step Center Board Meeting 9 AM 11 12 Calvary Church Has Desserts for Meals on Wheels This Week Monday thru Friday 13 Pulpit Fill Needed Baptism of our Lord 14 15 T.O.P.S 9:30 AM 16 Planning Meeting 6:30 PM 17 18 19 Fire & Ice Weekend 18th thru 20th 20 21 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Banks Closed NEWSLETTER ITEMS DUE 22 T.O.P.S. 9:30 AM 23 24 Trustee Meeting 7 PM 25 26 27 Ecumenical Sunday Last Sunday Praise 28 29 T.O.P.S. 9:30 AM 30 UMM Dinner 6 PM 31