Thompson UMC P.O. Box 29 Thompson, OH 44086 December 2018 Published monthly by: Thompson United Methodist Church Deadline for Articles: 23rd of the Month Thompson UMC P.O. Box 29 6758 Madison Road Thompson, OH 44086 Phone: 440-298-3033 E-Mail: tumc29@windstream.net Church Office Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Closed Fridays Pastor Dennis Laferty Pastors Cell: 419-561-7341 We re on the Web! Visit us at: www.thompsonumc.org VISION STATEMENT To make Disciples of Jesus Christ MISSION STATEMENT To Live Our Faith To Share our Faith and To Serve
L L Thompson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 29, Thompson, OH 44086 www.thompsonumc.org tumc29@windstream.net 440-298-3033 December 2018 December is here and with it the first snow fall has already happened; as the new guy I hear it only gets deeper from here. With that in mind though as I walk the short distance from the parsonage to the office each morning, I think about that long walk Mary and Joseph took some 2000 plus years ago. Sure, I may be walking a whole one hundred yards in the cold and snow, real hard, but think about the blistering heat and the dry conditions they walked in for approximately one hundred miles to Jerusalem from Nazareth. Let s not forget that they made this journey while Mary was in the final stages of pregnancy with Jesus. This was no small feat. This was just the beginning though. The beginning of a story that would change the world and last for all eternity. It is the story that continued with Mary giving birth to Jesus in a stable. The Prince of the Universe, the Son of the Creator, born in less than adequate conditions and announced to the world by shepherds! Why? Jesus performed, what would be a miracle by today s standards, humility. He was born that we might all have access to salvation. He showed that all people are worthy of the love and grace of God. if He had been born in a palace where He deserved then the common and the poor could never reach Him. Jesus came for us all and still does today. This Christmas I challenge all of you to reach out with that thought and that love to everyone and be Jesus to someone different than you. John 13:34-35 (CEB) 34 I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other. Sermon Schedule Dec 2nd Christmas in July Luke 2:1-4 Matthew 1:18-25 Dec 9th A Child is Coming Dec 16th No Really the Child is Coming Dec 23rd Mary Did You Know Dec 24th What are You Willing to Give him Christmas Eve Service Dec 30th A Prophecy Now! Dec 31st Making All Thing New New Years Eve Service Malachi 3:1-4 Isaiah11:1-10 Jeremiah 23:1-6 Luke 1:26-38 Mark 3:20-35 Luke2:1-7 Leviticus 12:4-8 Luke 2:25-40 Galatians 6:14-15 Sunday Worship Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School for all Ages 9:00 a.m. Kid Kare every Sunday Ages: Pre K 5th Grade following the Children s Message Nursery available for children up to 3 years old Page 2
December Missions Page 3 December 2018 Sponsor a Family 2018 In the back of the sanctuary you will see a li&le tree. This tree has some very special ornaments on it. Simple paper shapes with a li&le descrip'on of a small gi( to be donated to a child or family this holiday season. Nothing crazy or overwhelming in size or cost. With your help of picking one off the tree and filling its request you have done something magical. You have turned this simple paper shape into a child's smile, a mothers tear of thankfulness and a physical representa'on of love. A selfless act that ripples on. From a doll, to boots, or gloves that make outside play possible; the child will smile more because of your gi(. To see those smiles will give the parents some happiness in what might be a difficult 'me for them. Help us spread a li&le Christmas magic this season. Lets turn those simple paper shapes into a joyful and blessed Christmas miracle. ** Vic and Mabel would like to remind everyone to drop your pop cans in the bin by the storage shed if you do not already recycle at home. They collect them and recycle every part. The money from recycling the cans comes back to the church and the tabs go to help support the Grange group. Thank you for your help. **The Lannings are collecting plastic bottle caps for a Girl Scout friend. If you happen to share a Coke or any beverage with a plastic cap, any color, please save it and pass it on to Steve Lanning. They will be recycled and turned into picnic tables. Thank you so much for your help :)
Page 4 December 2018 Bible studies have returned! Pastor s Bible study is every Wed 7:00 p.m. Women s Bible Study 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tues 7:00 p.m. Advent bible study starts Thursday November 29th 7:00pm Center Stage Drama News This year the drama group will be performing a series of one act plays. The performance of all three will be Friday December 7th and Saturday December 8th both a 7:00pm. These shows are free and open the public, donations to continue this fun ministry are accepted. The shows are all from Focus on the Family s Adventures in Odyssey: BTV: Redeeming the Season, Where Love is, there God is, and Unto Us A Child Is Born. We hope you and your family will come and join us is celebrating the reason for the season. If anyone would like to purchase a poinsettia in honor of a loved one, please see Pam or Margaret Byers Christmas Eve Services will be held December 24th at 5:00pm and again at 7:00pm
Page 5 December 2018 Education Meeting: Monday December 3 rd at 7:00 P M We will be planning and preparing for our Family Christmas Program & Potluck on Sunday, December 16 th. Any and all who would like to help or be part of this program are welcome to attend this meeting. If unable to attend to contact Sheryl Roessner 440-223-6446. Family Sunday 10:00 am Service, December 16 th Time to bring your family and friends and join in celebra'ng the JOY of Christmas! There will be a Potluck meal a(er the service. Bring a dish to share and let s enjoy this 'me of fellowship with all.
Page 6 December 2018 Special Youth Dates to remember Tuesday December 18th Youth Group Christmas party Tuesday December 25th No Youth Group Tuesday January 1st No Youth Group TUMC Youth Group 6th 12th grade Every Tuesday 6-8 p.m. Hosea 10:12 A great big THANK YOU to all donations, support and participation that made this year s Trunk or Treat a Huge success. On this day a child was born He did endure all our scorn This blessed thing we so easily forget We hit the stores; Walmart and Target We shop aisles, clearing the shelves Ask for many things, thinking only of ourselves But during this Christmas season We need to remember the reason That precious little baby s birth Should be celebrated all across the earth Merry Christmas ~Colin Youth Director
Page 57 December January 2015 2018 B I R T H D A Y S 1. Linnie Lausin 2. Audrey Buterbaugh Ashton Dean Cecil Thompson 6. Steve Lanning 10. Rich Turner 11. Amy Collen 13. Josiah Huber 14. Carl Doer 15. Glenn Huber Michael Hopkins 20. Phyllis Rudesill 21. Ami Sherer 22. Ivan Garrabrant 23. Lori Self 24. Jacqueline Alyssa Coon 25. Steve Roessner 27. Jacee Turnbull 28. Lucas Rolf 30. Eric Simpson 31. Eric Toth Anniversaries 17 Richard & Darlene Harvey (1977) 20 Vic & Mabel Collen (1964) 22 Kirk & Tonia Fowler (1973) 23 Thomas & Tricia Hart (2006) 28 Ray & Eleanor Dillworth (1942) Ma& & Teagan Coffman (2002) Upcoming Meetings & Events Dec 1st Garden club 11am-3pm Dec 2nd Blossom Hill 2pm Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal 1:50-5:30pm Dec 3rd Al-anon 7:30pm Dec 4th Youth group 6-8pm Woman s Bible study Dec 5th Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal 6-8:30pm Pastor s Bible Study Dec 6th Advent Bible Study Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal 6-9pm A-A 6pm Dec 7th Christmas Plays Dec 8th Christmas Plays Dec 10th Trustees meeting 6:30pm Council meeting 7:30pm Al-anon 7:30pm Dec 11th Youth group 6-8pm Woman s Bible Study Dec 12th Pastor s Bible Study Dec 13th Advent Bible Study Quiz practice A-A 6pm Dec 16th Family Christmas Program 10am Pot-luck meal Dec 17th Al-anon 7:30pm Dec 18th Youth group 6-8pm Woman s Bible Study Dec 19th Pastor s Bible Study Dec 20th Advent Bible Study Quiz practice A-A 6pm Dec 23rd Ugly Sweater Sunday Dec 24th Christmas Eve Service 5 and Dec 25th Happy Birthday Jesus Dec 26th Pastor s Bible Study Dec 27th Advent Bible Study Quiz practice A-A 6pm Dec 31st Al-anon 7:30pm Would you like us to pray for you? Start a Prayer Chain at Thompson United Methodist Church by calling any of these prayer chain numbers: Pastor Dennis Laferty: 419-561-7341 Church office: 440-298-3033 Sharron Moon: 440-813-8835 (cell) 440-307-4043 (home) Maxine Gibson: 440-298-3517 Please call and remember to send cards and visit our friends! At Home Shirley Childress Carl Doerr Blossom Hill Eva Gibson Maplewood Lois Mascorella Cardinal Woods Sally Coe Winona Webber Precious Care Assisted Living Roy Burkholder If you know of addions, deleons, or correcons to the birthday or anniversary lists, please let the church office know. Thank you! LampLighter Submissions Submission deadline is the 23rd of each month. Drop off your input at the church office, call or email. Let the congregation know what your committee or church group is doing in support of our ministry and mission!