December 2017 Circuit Writer Jesse Lee United Methodist Church 25 Flat Rock Rd. Easton, Ct 06612 203 372-8250 www.jesselee.org Jesselee.umc@gmail.com A Message from Reverend Jim Stinson The problem is not the existence of stressors, which cannot be avoided; stress is simply the brain s way of signaling that something is important. The problem - or perhaps the opportunity - is how we respond to the stress. (The Book of Joy, His Holiness, the Dakar Lama and Archbishop Desmond, with Douglas Abrams) Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you. (con t on page 4) Church Calendar Church Council - Jan. 14 Christmas Cantata - Dec.17-10:00am Christmas Cookie Walk- Dec. 17-11:15am Christmas Eve Services- 10:00 AM & 10:00 PM, Christmas concert precedes each service at 9:30 Choir Rehearsal- Dec. 7, 14, 21-7:00 Wednesday Afternoon Music Club Scholarship Concert-Jan 7-3:00 Jesse Lee Birthdays Bob Caterson-Dec. 1 John Herlihy-Dec. 4 Jennifer Berg-Dec.22 Andree Halcott-Dec. 26 Kim Breda-Dec. 26 Ben Sabia-Dec. 27 Amelie Lin-Dec. 28 Avery Lin-Dec. 28 Page 1 of 6
Poinsettia Sale-Deadline Dec. 17 If you would like to buy plants for the altar the cost is $13 per plant. You have a choice of red, white, or pink. You can take your poinsettias home with you or have them delivered to a shut-in. Order forms can be found in your bulletin or on the Jesse Lee website. Our Annual Cookie Walk will be Dec. 17 Bring a plate of cookies to share! Pack up a box of your favorites to take home or give as a gift! $5.00/container. Money raised will go to a local charity. Amazing Grace at Shubert Theater Jan. 20 at 2:00 For tickets make out a check for $46 each to Connecticut District Council and send it to: Rev. Paul Fleck 15 Church St. Hamden, CT 06514. If you would like to join Jesse Lee members for lunch before the show please contact Suzanne Herlihy. Annual Angel Appeal By honoring an Angel in your life with a gift to Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, you will help touch thousands of lives every day through the Janus Center for Youth in Risk, the FEED Center, Projecto Nueva Vida and Bridge Building programs! Donations may be made at http://www.ccgb.org/angelappeal or by check to CCGB 1718 Capitol Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06604. Christmas Cantata Mark your calendars for Dec. 17 at 11:00. As part of the Advent Service our wonderful choir will be presenting A New Birth, A New Beginning by John Purifoy under the able direction of our organist and choir director-joe Swindon. This is a service you won t want to miss! Page 2 of 6
Holiday Craft Fair Thank you Carrie June for leading a fun and successful Craft Fair, bringing $1654.83 to Jesse Lee! Carrie Thanks-Dean Haines led the Sunday School children in making Christmas ornaments. Michelle Wendt-made chicken soup, mac and cheese, lentil soup and stuffing. Steve Wendt helped slice the turkey that Johnny June (Mickey s Restaurant in Bridgeport) donated. Joe Swindon made about 75 turkey sandwiches and helped get the coffee and hot water going. Lorraine made the cranberry sauce for the sandwiches and would have helped out all day if she didn t get sick. Andree Halcott and Pam Raskin helped set up the tables. Donna and Norman Smith donated items and helped run the bake sale table. Thank you to all who donated baked items and special treats. Stephanie Christie and Victoria Biafore donated most of their day helping out in the kitchen. Joelle and Gabby Johnston helped children assemble Christmas ornaments in the Kids Craft Corner. Kay managed the Silent Auction table. Jim Riling, Jim and Barbara Stinson spent a lot of the day hosting. A special thank you to Lois Halzak and Andree Halcott for keeping me updated on the applications and fees as they came in. Page 3 of 6
(Stinson, con t from page 1) In a world filled with stressors, some more important than others, a world with deep life threatening divisions, a world where terrorism is all too common, with deep wells of bigotry and oppression, not to mention personal crises that come at some point to everyone, how can anyone actually wish another, Merry Christmas? I was struck by the observation, that the problem with such stressful things might be in our response to them. When seen as opportunities they tend to be less stressful. Imagine if, in response to terrorism and the bigotry and hatred that often prompts such behavior we, collectively and individually, were busy loving our neighbor, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, language, orientation, religion. What a powerful message of hope that would send! Imagine, if in every instance of personal crisis, our response was to get busy doing whatever it took to get through it, or busied ourselves being with, and present, to others who were facing tough moments. What a powerful message of love that would demonstrate. Imagine, if in every instance of doubt, we allowed ourselves to respond as if we were not alone, relying on the mysterious love we call God. What a powerful message of possibility that would be. It would witness to a joy, even in the midst of despair and grief, a joy born of the Christmas promise of Emmanuel, of Love, of the God who is with us. How can anyone in such times wish another Merry Christmas? Because I have experienced that love, and so have you, l say again, Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. Jim Church Council Meeting Summary Nov. 12, 2017 Celebrated two successful fundraising projects-the Turkey Dinner and the Holiday Craft Fair Concern-Three falls at the church in recent weeks Pastor s report-charge conference went well except for the lack of financial reports. Finance committee will meet next week to work on report. Jim Riling and Michelle Wendt were reappointed to Trustees and Sam Berg was newly elected. On Christmas eve there will be services at 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Easton ACTS reports that we may be receiving a refugee family this winter. Global Migration Sunday is Dec. 3 and we will be taking a collection for Easton ACTS. District Training Days- Feb. 3 9-12 and Feb. 11 2-5, Location TBA. Covering Howie s duties-there was a discussion of the many duties Howie was covering and these were allocated to other council members. Finance Committee-A decision was made to switch our payroll program to Quick Books. There was a discussion of key finance positions. Communications-e-mail, Facebook, Circuit Writer, Newspapers Page 4 of 6
Gifts That Give Back These gifts are extra special because they have the added benefit of helping people in need. Sea Salt Candle www.handinhandsoap.com for every candle they will donate one bar of soap and a month of clean water to a child in need. Super Trooper High Impact Tote www.swordandplough.com all products made from military surplus, 10% of profits are given to veterans organizations Independence necklace www.beadforlife partners with impoverished women in Uganda Charity Pot Body Lotion www.lush.com all profits go to grass roots organizations working in the areas of environmental conservation, animal welfare and human rights You can pick your own cause to shop for at www.shopnectar.com/pages/shop-by-cause Page 5 of 6
Giving Tree Update With all the hustle and bustle around this time of year, it is easy to forget the true meaning of the spirit of the Christmas season. One great reminder to all of us is our Annual Giving Tree, which allows for members of Jesse Lee to remember those who have less and reach out to those who think they are forgotten. It is a reminder to all of us, in our own small way, that we do care and want to reach out and help. We collected a large amount of fun toys, games, books, art supplies and sports gear for the many children who await to receive them from Golden Hill UMC in Bridgeport. You can see all the donations in the photo below. And, as a congregation we contributed $160 to Bishop Wicke Health Center that will allow them to send 16 residents out on one of the special outings they offer to their residents. Shampoos and Hand creams were also donated for senior residents. And lastly, we have sent monies off to Heifer International that will allow them to purchase: 2 Tree Seedlings that will grow into a source of income - 1 Trio of Rabbits that multiply quickly and get passed along and 2 Flocks of Chicks that will grow and provide a source of eggs and - 3 Honey Bee's that will produce honey. So, thank you to everyone who made a contribution(s). You should feel good that your generosity will touch someone in a positive way this holiday season. Sincerely yours, Amy McKeon Page 6 of 6