CUMC Newsletter December 2017 Sermon Series December 3 Keep Awake! December 10 Brave & Startling Truths December 17 Who Is This Man, and Who Are You? December 24 Templed in Flesh December 24 Christmas Eve The Christmas Gift December 31 New Year s Eve The Marriage of Spirituality and Religion Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: As I write this letter we once again are coming to the end of another year. Advent begins on December 3 rd and the birth of our Savior isn t far off. As with many of you, I find that this time of year brings the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and we seem to forget the true meaning of the season. This being our first Christmas together, I wanted to send you a letter that would help all of us remember what Christmas is about. So I thought I would reprint a story from The Christian Reader with the hope that it will inspire all of us to remember. Mommy, what is Christmas? ask the three-year-old girl. Her mother carefully explained that Christmas is Jesus birthday. Then why do we not give gifts to Jesus if it s His birthday? The mother explained the tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts as expressions of our love for each other, and that seemed to end the matter. It didn t come up again until Christmas Eve when a sleepy little girl placed a package under the Christmas tree on her way to bed and explained that it was a birthday gift for Jesus, which she was sure He would open during the night while she slept. After she was asleep, the mother, not wanting her daughter to be disappointed, opened the clumsily wrapped package and found the box empty. On Christmas morning the little girl was thrilled to find the package had been opened and her gift was gone. What was it? asked the confused mother. It was a box full of love, came the answer. How childlike! How Christlike! (Continued on page 2) 1
that it is the birthday of Jesus Christ. What will you give Him this year? I invite you to bring your birthday gift for Jesus to our Advent and Christmas Eve services as we open the greatest gift that we have ever been given. The Christmas Eve service will be held at 7:00 PM on December 24 th. Come and share the love of Christ as we worship the babe in the manger. This, my brothers and sisters, is what Christmas is all about. The love which first was given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and which we are to share with others. During your hustle and bustle this year, please take time to share the love that came from Jesus with someone else. As you purchase your gifts, don t forget Finally, I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year from Shadow and me. May the blessings of God be with you now and always. See you in church! Pastor Chuck Christmas Eve Day December 24, 2017 Invite your family and friends! 9:15 Carry-in Breakfast 10:30 Worship Service 7:00 Preservice Music for Christmas Eve 7:30 Christmas Eve Service Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 Nancy Cera 9 Martha Denlinger 9 Kathy Ferriell 11 Mackenzie Hoover 12 Dale Creamer 13 Mike & Kathy Ferriell 16 Roger & Judy Hoover 24 Judy Wolfe 27 Lois Cobb 27 Don & Joan Thokey 28 Dale & Becky Vaughn 30 Julia Cavey 31 Karen Osswald 2
Member of the Month Judy Wolfe Judith Delores Wolfe was born on Christmas Eve, 1934 in Dayton, Ohio. She was the only daughter of Harry and Theresa Lehman. Her Cathy Alber, also lives in Brookville and is active at brothers were Donald and Norman (both now deceased). Judy graduated from Northridge High School in 1952. She graduated from Christ Hospital Community UMC. They have a total of 14 grandchildren: Cindi (3), Dave (5), Don (3), and Cathy (3). Most are graduates of Brookville High School. Judy loves to read fiction. She loves basketball, especially her teams: University of Dayton, Duke Nursing School in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a Registered Nurse. She worked at these local hospitals: Greene Memorial, Miami Valley, and Good Samaritan, from where she retired in 1990. Judy married fellow classmate, Wayne Wolfe on April 6, 1957 at Victory Methodist Church in Northridge. Wayne took Judy with him to El Paso, Texas, where he was stationed while serving in the Army. They returned and Notre Dame. She has spent a lot of hours supporting her grandchildren s sport activities. She and Wayne have been members at Community United Methodist Church since 1975. She supports his involvement in the Chancel Choir and arranging flowers for special holidays. She has been active in service projects, funeral dinners and blood drives. For many years they participated in the bus travel trips. Their favorite place to visit was the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Judy is the first to be recognized as Community s Member of the Month. to Ohio and raised their family in Xenia, where Wayne taught horticulture at the Greene County Joint Vocational School. In 1974, they moved to their current home at 363 Baker Street, Brookville. Judy and Wayne have 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls). Cindi Watts lives in Englewood, Ohio. David, an Army veteran, has been working as a civilian government employee in South Korea for many years. Donald lives in Brookville. Their youngest, 3
Trunk-Or-Treat We were attended by (L-R) Brookville Fire, Brookville Police, and Perry Township Police. 4
Celebrate the Season! Church Decorating Come and help make our church festive for the season. We will be decorating the church on December 2, 2017. A carry-in breakfast will begin at 8:00 a.m., with decorating beginning at 9:00. Many hands make light work. Christmas Concert We are pleased to present the annual OLOG (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Library Project Christmas Concert. Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. Bring your friends and join us for some wonderful Christmas music followed by cookies and refreshments. Cookie Decorating and Caroling You re all invited as we come together as a church to celebrate Christmas on Saturday, December 16. At 10:00 a.m. in the church basement there will be cookie baking and decorating. After the cookies are baked, decorated and packaged we will be going Christmas caroling and delivering the cookies to spread holiday cheer to those in our church. To wrap up the day, we will be going to Bob and Bev s beautifully decorated barn for pizza. Let s come together as a church family to enjoy the Christmas holiday. Hope to see everyone on Saturday, December 16! If you have any questions, please see Nicole. Mark your calendars! Album Party Watch for more information coming out in January! 5
Celebrating Families Doug and grandkids Bob & Bev ready to take a ride in Hawaii. Game Night! 6
United Methodist Vocabulary Quiz 1. What is the person called who assists in a worship service, including the lighting of candles? Server Acolyte Greeter Usher 2. A way to partake of the elements in the Lord s Supper is: Intinction Carefully Reaffirmation of faith 3. If you are outside the church and want to enter the sanctuary, what do you usually go through? The front porch The threshold The upper room The narthex 4. What is a station? A military checkpoint A cable television channel A pastor s only church 5. When local churches send part of their offerings to their district and conference, it is called Tithe Apportionment Investment 6. Before we have a relationship with God, He offers us what kind of grace? Prevenient grace Amazing grace Justifying grace 7. What s the name of the four-year period after each General Conference? Olympiad Fortnight Quartet Quadrennium 8. If you want to serve as a local pastor, deacon, or elder, you would apply for what? Permit Candidacy Admission 9. What do we call the bread and wine used in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper? Components Elements Delicious 7
10. If you want to know what United Methodists believe, you would start with what section of The Book of Discipline? Answers: The index Articles of Religion List of bishops Nicene Creed 7. What s the name of the four-year period after each 1. What is the person called who assists in a worship service, including the lighting of candles? The correct answer is acolyte. Typically, the role of acolyte is filled by a young person, but adults are allowed to serve as acolytes, too. The local pastor can decide who serves and what duties are appropriate. 2. A way to partake of the elements in the Lord s Supper is: The correct answer is intinction, the act of dipping the bread into a chalice filled with wine, then eating the moistened bread. 3. If you are outside the church and want to enter the sanctuary, what do you usually go through? The correct answer is the narthex, the part of the church building that connects to the entrance door of the sanctuary. 4. What is a station? The answer is a pastor s only church. A station is a pastoral assignment that is made of only one local church. This is in contrast to a circuit, which contains two or more churches. 5. When local churches send part of their offerings to their district and conference, it is called The correct answer is apportionment, a long-standing tradition in The United Methodist Church. General Conference? The correct answer is quadrennium. The quadrennium is the four-year period after each General Conference during which the church carries out the policy and plans approved during that General Conference. 8. If you want to serve as a local pastor, deacon, or elder, you would apply for what? The correct answer is candidacy, a discerning and preparatory period of time for the candidate. Those who want to serve as local pastors, deacons or elders use this time to explore their calling. During this time, the candidates also guided and evaluated by their annual conference. 9. What do we call the bread and wine used in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper? The correct answer is elements, the bread and wine used in the Lord s Supper. 10. If you want to know what United Methodists believe, you would start with what section of The Book of Discipline? In 1808, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church passed the first Restrictive Rule, ensuring that the Articles of Religion may not be changed. To this day, the articles are printed unchanged in each edition of The Book of Discipline. 6. Before we have a relationship with God, He offers us what kind of grace? The correct answer is prevenient grace, a presence that does not depend upon our actions or response. 8
Preschool Harvest Party Preschool Christmas Program The Preschool Christmas programs are on Wednesday, December 20 and Thursday, December 21, 2017. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. If you would like to help with the programs, please put your name on the sign-up sheet on the credenza or see Jill Bowers. We will need greeters and help serving refreshments. Preschool Prayer Partners Last day for Christmas cards will be Mon. Dec. 18 9
Merry Christmas December 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 8:00 Church Decorating 10:00 Saturday Bible School 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9:15 Sunday School 10:30 Worship 11:30 Because of Bethlehem 7:00 Scouts 6:30 Preschool Board 5:40 Praise Team 6:30 Bells 7:30 Chancel Choir 9:30 Piecemakers 3:30 Cookie bakers in basement OLOG 10:00 Practice 1:00 Snacks with Santa 7:00 Concert 2:00 4-H Party 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9:15 Sunday School 10:30 Worship 11:30 Because of Bethlehem 7:00 Scouts 5:40 Praise Team 6:30 Bells 7:30 Chancel Choir 9:30 Piecemakers 10:00 Cookie Decorating & Caroling 6:00 Basement Rented 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 9:15 Sunday School 10:30 Worship 11:30 Because of Bethlehem 6:30 Leadership Team 7:00 Scouts 5:40 Praise Team 6:30 Bells 7:30 Chancel Choir 9:30 Piecemakers Preschool Christmas Programs 6:30 doors open, 7:00 Program No Preschool 8:00 Men s Prayer Breakfast 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 9:15 Breakfast Carry-in 10:30 Worship 7:00 Christmas Eve Worship Merry Christmas Blood Drive Preschool Christmas Break 9:30 Piecemakers 31 9:15 Sunday School 10:30 Worship Happy New Year Community UMC Pastor Chuck Eagle Phone: (937) 770-1212-home Office Hours Mon.-Thurs. 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Secretary: Sylvia Koeller Phone: (937) 833-3262 E-mail: bcumchurch@gmail.com Church Web Page: BrookvilleCUMC.org 10
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