Cross & Flame NOVEMBER 2018-JANUARY 2019 A quarterly publication of Parker United Methodist Church Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation - Psalm 25:4-5a
Looking Forward Dear Friends, What an exciting fall we have had at Parker UMC! The Breakthrough Prayer Initiative is galvanizing us as together we pray, O God, break through our lives and Parker UMC with new opportunities, new life, and new power to do far more than we could ever imagine. In Jesus name. Amen. A new prayer wall is right outside the sanctuary and we invite you to share ways in which you see God at work in your life, in your community, and in our church. As we go through the various seasons of the church year, we will adapt our prayer to keep it alive and fresh so it doesn t become a rote experience, but continues to be filled with our desire for the Holy Spirit to breakthrough in ways beyond all that we could ask or imagine by the power of God at work within us! Many wonderful things happened this year at Parker United Methodist Church and they were all a result of your collective support of our Church through your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. It is traditional during this time of the year to reflect upon the harvest God provided to each of us. Through our Faithful Giving Stewardship drive we financially support the work of Parker UMC. In this stewardship season, you will receive correspondence from our Stewardship Team a hardworking, creative and committed team from our church inviting us to prayerfully consider our Estimates of Giving for 2019. Join us in November as we focus on Our Gifts and God s Ministry! culminating on November 18th, Commitment Sunday, when you will return your estimate of giving card for 2019. In a world that needs the voice of the church more than ever, we thank you for the support you have provided, and we look forward to continuing to be an essential voice in the Parker community as well as an active partner in many local, regional and global ministries. Finally, I am so excited to be with you during Advent and Christmas! This is the season that brings Christians such joy as we celebrate God s miraculous breaking through into humanity with the birth of the baby Jesus. From Advent and Christmas carols, to the stories of Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, the Shepherds, Angels, and the Wise Men, we will discover anew the angel s proclamation Do not be afraid, for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). This is a perfect time to invite neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family to church! It is also a time when many visitors join us for worship. Together, let s look for people we don t know and welcome them with a warm PUMC greeting. May God use each of us as the way to share the incarnational love of the Christ Child. May people see the face of Jesus through you and me. See you in worship dear friends! Pastor Barb 2
CHILDRENS MINISTRIES Activities and offerings for kids of all ages XYZ Thanksgiving Dinner The PUMC pre-teen group is hosting a Thanksgiving for the XYZ members on Friday, November 9th from 5:30 7:30. Sign-up for this wonderful evening of Thanksgiving and Sharing. All XYZ members and others within our church community AND all Preteens (4th-6th graders) are invited. Advent The first Sunday of Advent is December 2nd. Children s Ministry will be handing out family advent calendars to all children attending church. Preteen Christmas Party! On December 14th Each Preteen will bring a $5 unisex gift for our gift exchange. We ll also have a candle-lighting service where they will be presenting their own gift to give to God for the new year. Christmas Eve We hope you join us on Christmas Eve. Nursery care will be provided for the 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00 services. Please stop into the Fellowship Hall to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. There will be crafts, games and activities for children of all ages. 3
Family Movie Night STAR In Sony Pictures Animation s The Star, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told - the first Christmas. Join us December 9th. The doors open at 4:30. Bring a picnic dinner for your family and we ll start the movie at 5 p.m. Preteen Movie Night Preteens will gather on January 11th from 6-8:15 pm. No Dinner will be served, so be sure to eat beforehand. We ll be having ice cream sundaes for dessert! Feel free to bring a blanket and pillow if you like. We re watching a movie in the Fellowship Hall. Super Chill evening. 4
Christmas Cookie Workshop Children are invited to register for the Christmas Cookie Workshop happening on Friday, December 21st. Children will enjoy making Christmas goodies and crafts. Look for a sign up in early December. Winter Break Art Camp Children are invited to register for the Winter Break Art Camp happening the first week of January. Children will enjoy doing different art projects. Art camp is Friday, January 4th from 9-Noon. Look for a sign up in December. 5
STUDENT MINISTRIES Youth activities are open to students grades 6-12 Confirmation Classes 2019 Children are not full members of the church until they decide for themselves to join the church after learning about the Methodist religion through classes. At Parker UMC, these classes are for students in 7th grade (or older). The Confirmation Class of 2019 will begin on Sunday, January 13th and run through the end of April. Each month we will have one Sunday off. (Students will receive a full schedule on the first day of class, or you can email me if you need it prior: April@ParkerUMC.org) I do try to make this fun, reflective and interesting for the youth. We will meet each Sunday from 10:45-12:00 in room 137. Confirmation Sunday will be April 28th. TO REGISTER, email April and give her the student s name, grade, parents names, and a good phone number (and email address if you would call). Youth News Is Always Available Our calendar can always be found at the top of the Youth News Rack located in the narthex. It s always on lime green paper. If you d like to receive weekly Youth Happenings Emails about everything going on, please email or call April in the church office. April@ParkerUMC.org or call 303-841-3979 to be put on the email list. 6
MISSIONS Serving our community, our nation, and our world Please Help Us Provide shelter, meals and compassion to homeless women and children in Douglas County Winter Shelter Network Starting November 7 Volunteeer Starting November 1st Contact Jennifer Wright douglasenterprizes@msn.com (303-921-0692) or Steve Kascht kskascht@aol.com (720-934-3670) Financial Gifts Donate online using the PUMC website or drop a check in the offertory basket. If you write a check, please remember to write WSN in the memo line. Global Hope Giving Tree Provide a gift of Hope for orphan or vulnerable children in Romania, Kenya and India. Look for the Global Hope Christmas tree (near the Missions tables in the Narthex) and select an ornament with details on how to provide a special gift to one of the many children sponsored through Global Hope. Take your ornament home and place it on your tree. Pray for the child this Christmas, that he or she would come to know, or to grow in their faith in Jesus Christ, the Greatest Gift the world has been ever been given! You can also make an online donation at www.globalhope.org/giving 7
Come Help us Decorate! November 25th at 4 p.m. Each year on Christmas Eve, we welcome over 1,000 guests and visitors. We want the worship space, commons area and entryways to look their very best. Join us for Christmas music, fellowship and a light dinner afterward! (come between services if you like to help get decorations unpacked, moved to their locations, etc.). If you can help, even for a little bit, please join us! Many hands make light work. 8
Bring the Family Christmas Eve Services Parker United Methodist Church 2 pm 4 pm 6 pm 8 pm 10 pm Our 2 and 4 p.m. services are especially for children. Come and celebrate between services with a Happy Birthday Jesus Party. We ll have fun crafts and yummy treats! *All services include carols and candlelight. 11805 S. Pine Dr. 303-841-3979 www.parkerumc.org 9
Turkeys & Toys TURKEYS: Thanksgiving dinners for Parker Task Force clients. This year the Parker Task Force expects to provide Thanksgiving dinner to many families. To help you can either donate a food basket directly at PTF or provide money. 1. Compile complete Thanksgiving dinners that families can prepare at home, packaged in baskets/tubs/boxes for a family of 4-6 people. Deliver to the Parker Task Force building at 19105 Longs Way between 9:00 am & noon on Saturday Nov. 10, 2018. Baskets may also be dropped off between 9 a.m. and noon, Tues. Nov. 13, Wed. Nov. 14, and Fri. Nov. 16. What to provide for a complete Thanksgiving dinner: Frozen turkey Aluminum turkey pan Canned Green Beans Butter Stuffing Canned Mushroom Soup Dinner Rolls Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Pie Gravy, packets or jars Canned Fruit Cool Whip Cranberry Sauce 2. Monetary or Gift Card Donations Parker Task Force appreciates holiday donations in any amount, but they ask you to consider that a Thanksgiving dinner basket donation is valued at approximately $50.00. Checks may be made payable to the Parker UMC (memo: PTF-Thanksgiving) and put in the offering plate or left with the Church office. Funds will be used to provide limited financial assistance to clients, for example, the Task Force may help pay utilities to prevent shut-off or purchase a needed prescription. The Task Force can also use gift cards to local grocery stores. These are used to purchase perishable food for the food bank, for example, milk, eggs, cheese, meat, and produce. 10
TOYS: Share the joy, give a toy. The Denver Inner City Parish has been providing toys during the holidays to deserving families in Denver since 1978. Every year there is an increase of families in need. The program invites parents to shop their toy warehouse for one gift per child. They accept brand new toys for children of all ages 0-18. If you d like to help, please bring new unwrapped toys to church by noon on December 12. Look for collection boxes & more info at the Mission s table/display in the Narthex. Book Your Spot for our 2019 Haiti Trip We know it s only November but we also know how busy schedules get, how quickly spots fill up on your calendar. That s why we ve set the dates so early for our mission trip to Respire Haiti. The dates for our 2019 trip are March 17-24. Sign up before February 1, 2019 to reserve your spot. If you are interested in serving for one week in Gressier, Haiti at the school and medical clinic please email wendy. white.haiti@gmail.com or contact the church office. While builders, medical professionals and teachers are always in high demand we welcome volunteers with all kinds of skills. If you love helping do God s work through serving others then this trip will be a blessing to you. 11
XYZ EXTRA YEARS OF ZEST Everyone is invited to join us for our events and outings! Monthly XYZ Breakfast 3rd Friday of each month at Village Inn in Parker at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join us for food and conversation. XYZ Preteen Thanksgiving Dinner 5:30pm Fri, November 9th Heifer Project Fund Raiser Sunday, November 11th, between services in the Narthex. Wayne Lance will be selling his hand crafted jewelry with all proceeds going to the Heifer Project. He will have his items marked with a suggested donation price which would be about twice the cost of the raw materials used in making the jewelry. Come and shop for beautiful handmade Christmas gifts and support the Heifer Project. Annual XYZ Christmas Carol/Pizza Party Please join us Sunday, December 16th Noon-1:45 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone attending PUMC is invited to join the XYZ Fellowship for this fun Holiday Event. We will have food, fun and music. We will also be decorating a small Christmas Tree with ornaments that everyone attending bring in and then the Tree will be taken to the Parker Task Force and will be given to a local family in need of 12
a beautiful tree. Watch for the Sign-up sheets in the Narthex and be thinking about whether you would like to bring a salad or a dessert and which ornament you would like to bring. Meals for Eight ADULT EDUCATION Class Updates and Information Meals for Eight will begin again in the New Year. We offer several ways for families and couples to get acquainted over a meal. Join us for good food, good fellowship, and good fun! Sign ups will take place in January, with the groups starting in February. There are three groups: Dinners for Eight will meet at member s homes. Restaurants Out for Eight will meet at local restaurants. Lunch Bunch also meets at local restaurants. If you have questions, contact Lorraine Seepers at lkseep944@aol.com UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Faith, Hope and Love in Action The UMW Bake Sale is Coming! UMW Annual Bake Sale and Card Sale Please stop by our beautiful tables Sunday November 18th all morning and purchase some delicious baked goods and homemade cards. Proceeds go to mission giving and UMW projects. 13
LITTLE BLESSINGS Preschool and Kindergarten Save the Date for 2 Fun Events in December 2018 Christmas Program The 2018 Christmas Program is scheduled for Sunday, December 2nd. Little Blessings classrooms will share two different presentations of God Gave Us Christmas at 2:00 & 4:00 pm. Little Blessings Gingerbread Night Thursday, December 6th at 5:30 pm. Bring your canned foods for Parker Task Force and join us for a fun evening filled with food, fellowship and decorating. Gingerbread decorating kits are provided. Please email Tricia at tricia@parkerumc.org to RSVP or with any questions. Tricia Woods, Program Director: Tricia@ParkerUMC.org, 720-204-4420 Candi Robinson, Asst. Director: Candi@ParkerUMC.org, 720-204-4423 Emily Shaffer, Plaza Campus Director: Emily@ParkerUMC.org, 303-840-6196 14
UNITED METHODIST MEN Fellowship, Service Opportunities and Christian Living for Men Monthly Men s Breakfast The monthly group meeting is the 2nd Saturday of each month from 8:00-9:00am for breakfast, fellowship, laughter, and some business. We continue to invite all men to come and join us at the 2nd Saturday of each month. 2019 Mens Retreat The 2019 Mens Retreat will be held again at the Ponderosa Retreat & Conference Center, 15235 Furrow Rd, Larkspur, CO on February 22nd and 23rd. We ll get started at 6:30 Friday evening with a pot-luck supper followed by fellowship time. The theme is about Setting Boundaries in Our Living. (Acceptable/unacceptable relationships at work, at play, in social settings; not over-committing ourselves to others; (just a few examples.) The accommodations are really nice and the food is excellent! All men attending PUMC are invited. Registration will begin Jan 27th, 2019. Come Be a Part of Handel s Messiah Every December Parker United Methodist Church hosts an annual Messiah Sing! Rehearsals are Wednesday December 5 2018 @ 7pm and Saturday December 8, 2018 @ 9am. Just show up! We have extra copies of the music and welcome singers age high school through adult from the community, local churches, and high schools. The Messiah is presented on Sunday December 9th at the at the 8 and 9:30am Services with a live orchestra. We would love to have lots of singers join us! Please come and sing, share the info, or come and be a part of the morning! Please email kurt@parkerumc.org if you have any additional questions! 15