December 2016 With the celebration of Thanksgiving, the holiday season has begun in America. Already, Christmas decorations are up on the streets and houses, and Christmas music is playing at shopping malls and stores. However, we Christians call this festive season not a Holiday, but Advent. The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church year. It begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is derived from the Latin word, adventus, meaning coming. It has a dual meaning of remembrance and anticipation. For Christians, Advent is a time to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and also a time to anticipate the return of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming. During Advent, the new worship series, First Carols of Christmas, will feature a Christmas carol each Sunday with reflections on the first two chapters of the gospel of Luke. On the next page, you can find the full worship schedule for this month including special services of the Longest Night (21st), Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. This year, the Illinois Brass Band will be with us in worship on the third Sunday of Advent, December 11th. Invite your family and friends to this annual special treat. Throughout the season of Advent, our church offers several different opportunities of social gatherings including: Breakfast with Santa for families with little children on Dec. 3; New Member Reception; United Methodist Women Christmas Tea on Dec. 6; Choirs Musical Outing on Dec. 9; Common Ground (social group) Christmas Party on Dec. 10; Student Fellowship Christmas Party on Dec. 18; and College Students Christmas Party on Dec. 22. As these wonderful events unfold, our church and homes will be filled with sweet aromas of great food and drink, as well as beautiful smiles and joyful laughter. During this very special time of the year, as we continue to come together in worship and fellowship, may we experience the joy, peace, love, and hope that Advent offers. In our acts of preparation and anticipation, may we create spaces and times of God s welcome and hospitality for all God s people. In Joy of the Lord s Service, Pastor Ouk-Yean 1
New Sermon Series, The First Christmas Carols Who does not love the Christmas Carols? ere s something about singing the story of the birth of the Savior that speaks to our hearts and souls. e scriptures tell us that, from the beginning, Christmas was led with music. God in the Highest, Christmas carols celebrated the birth of Christ. During the Advent season, you are invited to sing the familiar words and experience the message of Christmas through the carols. During this sermon series, we will enjoy some of the most beautiful Christmas music and re ect upon the meaning of the story we sing about. Worship Schedule, 9:30am November 27: Advent I Go Tell It on the Mountain - Luke 2:8-11, 16-18 December 4: December 11: Advent II Ave Maria - Luke 1:26-28, 39-42 Advent III December 18: Advent IV December 24: Christmas Eve December 25: Christmas Day Carols and Love Feast Special Worship Services Longest Night December 21, 7:30 pm Christmas Eve Services 4:00 pm Candlelight Service (children friendly) 7:30 pm Candlelight Service with Communion 11:00 pm Candlelight Service with Communion 2
Music for the Season guests and events. Your spirit will be refreshed, your focus gently guided back to a renewed appreciation of God s blessings on us all. 12/04 Exaltation Singers and Chancel Choir 12/11 Illinois Brass Band and Chancel Choir, and Joy to the World with choir and brass. 12/18 Kids Choirs, Family of God Handbell Choir and Chancel Choir 12/24 4:00 Kids Choirs 7:30 Exaltation Singers and Chancel Choir 11:00 Sound Foundation and soloists 12/25 Christmas Carols Longest Night Service Our Longest Night worship service is a time to recognize that Christmas can be a bittersweet time of together with family reminds many people of what anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, and the pain of isolation can make us feel very much alone in the midst of the festive season. We need space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we are not alone and recognize God s presence during this season. we invite you to join us on Wednesday, December 21, at 7:30 pm, as we sing songs, tell stories, and remind ourselves through the words of scripture and prayer that we are not, even on the longest night of the year, absent from God s love. Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope is one of our adult faith formation opportunities and meets in the Wesley Room (lower level) All adults and youth are welcome. December 4: Access ACS team, learn about innovations, and have your questions answered. You can even bring your mobile device and create your own Access ACS account and start interacting with the new church web site. December 11: Sagrada Familia Take a virtual tour of Barcelona s Sagrada Familia with Lynn Mikels. With all the new construction, you are likely to learn something new about this architectural treasure and its creator, Antoni Gaudi. show host hat as he tests everyone s knowledge of Christmas. It s all in fun and games. Be sure to join us! December 25 and January 1: Kaleidoscope will be on Christmas vacation. Plan to join us again on January 8. 3
December Mission : Poinsettias with Purpose For the last few years, rather than purchasing poinsettias to decorate our altar in honor of or in memory of our loved ones, we at FUMCAH have encouraged members to make a donation instead. This idea has become a tradition now, and our Missions Committee has decided it s time to give this concept a name: Poinsettias With Purpose! This year, our Poinsettias with Purpose cause will be Imagine No Malaria. This cause is committed to ending death and suffering from malaria through prevention, communication, trained health workers and facilities, and grass-roots education. The United Methodist Church has made a three year commitment to raise 75 million dollars to achieve this goal. Our own congregation s participation in this endeavor is a contribution of $30,000 over the three-year period (2014-2016). To date, we have raised 88% of this goal. It is our hope to raise the final $3,343 to fulfill our goal by the end of 2016. (Please note, if our goal is met, the Missions Committee intends to select a new cause, rather than Imagine No Malaria, for our 2017 valentine cards). Our Poinsettias with Purpose will be paper rather than real poinsettia plants. For each $10 donation, not only will a malaria net be sent to a family in Africa, but the Missions Committee will hang a paper poinsettia on a symbolic malaria net on the wall near the parlor. On these paper poinsettias, we will write your name, as well as the name(s) of your loved one(s) that your donation is in honor of or in memory of. These names will also be printed in the Christmas Eve bulletin. In addition, we will have honor cards from Imagine No Malaria that you can use to send to your loved one and let them know about your donation. Forms for Poinsettias with Purpose will be in the Sunday bulletins. Use the mission envelope or pew envelope, include your gift and name of your loved one, and place it in the offering plate. You can also drop your envelope off in the office or mail it to the church. A member of the Missions Committee will transcribe your information to a poinsettia to hang on our net for all to see. Help us put some purpose into our poinsettias this year! Help us Imagine a world with no malaria! 4
Annual Missions Cookie Sale Bakers are needed to donate homemade cookies for our Annual Missions Cookie Sale. Please drop off your delicious cookies to the church office on Friday, December 16. The Missions Commission will pack up festive boxes of attractive cookies and have them for sale on Sunday, December 18. Proceeds of the sale will be donated to Imagine No Malaria. 4 x 8 Eight People Four Meals Connect with New Friends at Church As part of the family of God at First United Methodist Church, you join in the Sunday morning worship celebration, you may serve on a committee, maybe you sing in choir but you wish you knew more people in the congregation, you wish you could match that name to that face. Sound familiar? 4 x 8 is a meal fellowship program that helps First Church people make connections and get to know one another better. Eight people agree to meet together four times during the course of four to five months. Groups are formed by the Adult Faith Formation Committee with the intent of connecting persons with others. Each group has a convener who plans the first meeting; group members set up subsequent meetings according to members schedules. Groups are potluck (hosted at church or in one s home). Registration forms are available at the church office and on the website. The only agenda for the groups is to help folks get better acquainted. Please register by calling the church office at 847-255-5112. Most groups will begin meeting in January, 2017. 5
Register Now for ASP 2017 Are you thinking about serving with Appalachia Service Project this summer? This year FUMCAH students will travel to Kentucky on June 10 and return on June 18. While there, they will provide home repair for families in need, engage in evening gatherings that connect our service to our faith, and learn a bit about life in the Appalachian mountains. You are invited participate in this transformational week of faith, fellowship, and service. Please attend the second meeting to discuss details and logistics on December 11. The deadline to sign up is February 1. The cost to participate this year is $315, and financial assistance is available. Please contact Anthony via text (414-331-3146) or email (a.livoti@fumcah.com) with questions or to register. Student Ministry Christmas Party FUMCAH Students in 7th-12th grades are invited to Pastor Ouk-Yean s house (the parsonage right next to the church) for our annual Christmas party on December 18, from 5:00-7:00 pm. There will be games, food, and a white elephant gift exchange (no gifts over $5, please). Youth are asked to bring a gift to pass and food to share. Please contact Anthony via text (414-331-3146) or email (a.livoti@fumcah.com) with questions or to RSVP! ASP Pancake Breakfast Save the Date! Mark your calendars for the Annual ASP Pancake Breakfast. January 22, after Sunday worship. 6
Advent and Christmas in the Church School The reason for the season shines brightly as children celebrate Advent and Christmas in our Sunday morning faith formation programs. Younger children meet in their own classrooms: Room 100 for two and three-year old s, Room 200 for four-year old s and kindergartners. Children in first through sixth grades join in Festival moving among our weekly workshops to experience the Christmas story in a variety of ways. Room schedules are posted in the education wing stairwells. Beginning on December 2, the children will use computers, drama, games, video, ornament making and cooking to learn about Jesus birth. Come experience it! ChildServ Holiday Gift Project Christmas is my favorite holiday. I used to wait in anticipation for Santa Claus to climb down that cardboard fireplace my dad would put up every year, you know, the one with the realistic fire glow effect -- so I could wake up to toys and candy canes. Yes, we went to Church, too, but getting presents was much better than anything in the world when I was little. Sadly many children don t have cardboard fireplaces where Santa can leave them gifts but all of us at FUMCAH can remedy that. We can participate in the magic of Christmas by sponsoring a child as part of our annual ChildServ Holiday Gift Program and ensure that 150 children receive a Christmas gift this year. - Roylene Gallas Pick up a child s gift tag(s) in the Loggia. In addition, you can purchase gift cards for the Youth Group s ASP Gift Card Fundraiser! Purchasing gift cards for ChildServ helps your gift count twice. Return purchased gifts/gift cards to Church for delivery to ChildServ by Sunday, December 4. For more information, contact Roylene Gallas (847-222-1071 or Roylene.gallas@gmail.com). 7
Breakfast with Santa Crossroads Join this festive observance of the Christmas season: with St. Nicholas all in a friendly atmosphere that celebrates the true spirit of the day. Bring your cameras!! Register online at www.fumcah.com/ (847-255-5112). We ask that you contribute an item to the Northwest Compass food pantry in exchange for free entry. That way, the morning will be a treat for. your family and for a family in need. Crossroads is the 4th, 5th and 6th grade fellowship group for FUMCAH pre-teens and their friends. No longer little kids, but not quite old enough for Crossroads), group members get together about once a month during the school year for a variety of activities. In November, we enjoyed Movie Night. Now that it is December, it must be time for a party! Watch for your email announcement and be sure to RSVP. Not getting our emails? Contact the church Christmas Tea Join the United Methodist Women for this annual event on Tuesday, December 6, at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome! Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided by the Madrigal Singers, an acapella group comprised of students from Rolling Meadows High School. Please bring new or gently used children s shoes to be donated to La Victorie, Haiti. In need of childcare? Please email shunter26@hotmail.com to make reservations. 8
Book Study: The Relationship Principles of Jesus All ladies are invited for a 40 Day adventure with Tom Holladay s Book, Relationship Principles of Jesus. Start the New Year improving your relationships for a discussion on Tuesdays, 9:00-10:30am, January 10 - February 28. Purchase the book on-line or call or text Terry Clements (847-687-2696). Winter Warming Join FUMCAH on January 14, from 10am to 4pm. We will host Winter Warming, the annual Reconciling Training and Workshop event in Northern Illinois. We will gather for a time of learning, training, and education. Join Bishop Karen Oliveto as she brings us a message of hope and restoration during these challenging times. Worship will begin at 11:00am followed by lunch and two sets of workshops. Bishop Oliveto is the first consecrated lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church. She began serving the Rocky Mountains Conference September 1, 2016. Prior to this, she spent many years as the lead pastor of Glide Memorial Church one of the largest and most vibrant in our denomination. We are thrilled that she ll be joining us and hope you will, too! An offering will be taken that will go towards the Reconciling Ministries Network of the Northern Illinois Conference. Online registration can be found at www.winterwarming2017.eventbrite.com. Common Ground Adult Christmas Party Jingle on over to the Clements home on Saturday, December 10, for an adult Christmas party from 7:00-11:30pm! Please bring a dish or dessert to share and a funny, inexpensive gi to swap. e Clements live at 5332 Oak Grove Drive in Long Grove. RSVP to Terry (847-687-2696). 9
FaithLink The new and revised FaithLink meets in Room 31 after worship on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Grab a cup of tea or coffee, if you wish, and join the conversation which revolves around current events. Based on timely news, the FaithLink resource is emailed to leaders each week. While there is no guarantee about what will be discussed, the discussion is guaranteed to be open and thought provoking. Childcare for preschoolers and Celebration Station for older children is available during this and other programs until 11:45am. Parents of a confirmand? Take some time to enrich your spiritual journey while your children are growing in faith. Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Faith in Action Assembly Join the FUMCAH Faith in Action Team and other northwest Community Renewal Society churches at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Faith in Action Assembly on Monday, January 16, 9 am - 12:30 pm. The 2017 Assembly will be held at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave. Chicago, IL 60619. We, with CRS, a faith-based organization, work to address racism and poverty and transform society towards greater justice and compassion. The Assembly is an opportunity to share our priorities with our elected officials. Winter Farmers Market The FUMCAH Winter Farmers Market will be coming Sunday, February 26. Enjoy fall and winter produce, honey, jams, meats, and and more while supporting local farmers. If you d like to help promote our market event or assist with set-up or take-down, contact Allison Anderson on our Faith in Action Team at allison.anderson.1804@gmail.com or call or text 847-525-7518. 10
Congregation News The FUMCAH Family lost one of our longtime members, Francy Bearden, who died on November 11. Francy received her B.A. from the University of Illinois and a nursing diploma from St. Francis Hospital, Evanston. Francy was also a lifelong musician with vocal performance training and conducting experience. She selflessly shared her gifts with our church as she lead hand bells for adults and youth and served as the children s music coordinator. Francy was a bright light and joy in our community and she will be missed. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 10, at 10:00am, at the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights. Memorial contributions may be given to the First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights for music and reconciling ministries. 11
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