In a few weeks, November 21 and 22, you are invited to bring traditional Thanksgiving food items with you to worship for the annual FUMC Food Pounding. Look for details inside this edition of the Open Door listing ingredients needed for distribution along with opportunities to share the joy of grateful hearts with our neighbors. Nearly 380 residences have been identified in our community for this ministry. One of my Spiritual Disciplines is to end each day reflecting on the places that I have seen God at work that day. These thanksgivings range from the beauty of the orange maple trees along College Street to the privilege of praying for someone to the question from a child about her faith. During this time of reflection, my eyes are often opened to see where God has been working and if, perhaps, I missed it a question that didn t get asked, an unexpected person on my path, unresolved grief. One way to reflect more deeply on those things for which we are thankful is to keep a gratitude journal a little notebook used to list thanksgivings. Whatever the practice, stopping to give thanks leads to a glad and generous heart. Our FUMC gratitude journey this month includes: the birth of Eric Siwon Lee, son of Pastor Won and Young; the inspiring witness on Children s Sabbath and Stewardship Saturdays and Sundays; crafters preparing for the biannual bazaar; volunteers engaged in numerous ministries; children, youth, adult and handbell choirs sharing the gift of music; food pantry outreach; All Saints Day Foundation Concert and service of remembrance; FUMC members and friends sharing church news on Facebook; YOUR 2016 pledge and leadership commitment... Our Advent worship theme and small group study this year is Journey. With thanksgiving,
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PURPOSE OF UNITED METHODIST WOMEN... T he organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of Mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. 4
Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 A kindergartener makes a book about her own baptism. 5
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W e will meet every Monday until the Bazaar in November. Everyone is invited to these workshops in the Fellowship Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Items still needed: Men s Ties, old or broken jewelry or beads, left over 4 x 4 ceramic tiles. The beautiful and fun wreaths are hanging on doors throughout the main level of the church. We hope that each of you is taking the opportunity to participate in the Silent Bids. The final bids will be noon, Nov. 7, the Big Day of our BIENNIAL BAZAAR. Many thanks to the following talented people who made this event possible: Beckie Resio, Sharon Blancard, Vera Stevens, Brooke Miller, Judy Welsh, Trish Vaughan, Rona Costello, Alberta Hickman., Madeline Bickel, Davis Bradshaw, Sharon Deveney, Anne Underwood, Lola Scales, Jan Farrow, Georgia Kavina, Bonnie Cooper, Stacy Bywaters, Barbara Rackley, Kathy Simulcik, Claire Robbins, Sue Kavina, Jane Snead and Pat Coron. Without their generosity the Bazaar wouldn t be the success it always is in providing proceeds to help spread the word and mission of Jesus Christ. Fliers for locations and titles of wreaths are in Reception Areas with bidding cards on each wreath. To Fredericksburg United Methodist Foundation Robert Lloyd Bonshire Lucille Heflin Ingalls Reverend Jay and Ruth Luther Mary Alice Merchent 2015 Gifts to Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Memorials Committee Marguerite Ball Margaret Geraldine Belman Betty Irene Biler Robert Lloyd Bonshire Louise Copenhaver Gilliam Michele Booth Kreisman William Rayburn Mabe Mary Alice Merchant Sebastian Sam Vittoria Lucille English Williams Restoration of Sanctuary Stained Glass Windows (Overlooking the Methodist Green) In Memory of Glenn E. Lee by Glenna Lee 2015 Gifts to Fredericksburg United Methodist Foundation Robert Lloyd Bonshire Lucille Heflin Ingalls Reverend Jay and Ruth Luther Mary Alice Merchent 7 Ba c k b y p o p u l a r demand, we are reinstating the cookie walk at this year s bazaar. So we need your cookies! All shapes, all sizes, all kinds, as many as you can bake. The bazaar is Nov 7 th so, if possible, drop your donation off at the church on the 6 th (we ll still take them on the 7 th if you need to stay up all night baking your creations). Then come out and buy other peoples goodies. For more info contact Darlene Davis at ddavis@cowboykens.com or call 540-898-0898.
Our FUMC Bazaar is taking place on Saturday, November 7. As part of this tradition, we include a Bake Sale Shoppe that will feature homemade goodies created by our members or extended church family. Please consider helping out by baking/making a goody to sell at our shoppe. We really could use homemade brownies, cupcakes, and any other item, such as jellies/jams, fudge/candies, or other gourmet food items. Pies and cakes are also welcome. All cookies donated will be used for the Cookie Walk. Package two brownies in a baggie (or other container) and cupcakes individually. Candies can be wrapped with several pieces--depending on the type of candy/ fudge. Cookies can be left on a tray or in a tin. Drop off at Kobler Hall on November 6 or November 7. If you would like to donate something for the bake shoppe, please e-mail or call Carol and Janine Kuty at 540-898-0256 or janinekuty@yahoo.com. Please let us know your name, your contact information, and what you ll be providing. Thank you for your help in making the bake shoppe a success. T he Monday Morning Bible Study group, which meets in Room 210 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on first and third Mondays, except when the church is closed and during the summer, has begun an exciting, powerful 16 week study, Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado. This book is based on the beginning of the Christian church as related in the book of Acts. Each session will be selfcontained, so that missing a session or two won t limit one s benefits from the study. We welcome women and men to join us. Each participant is asked to obtain his/her own copy of the book. (The ISBN # is 978-0-8499-2069-1.) If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Carol Kuty (540-898-0256 or janinekuty@yahoo.com) or Charlotte Edge (540-371-1967 or candhedge@msn.com). Newcomers Class is a three-week class where you will discover answers about our denomination and our church in a friendly and fun environment. You can sign-up online at www. fumcva.org, or on the tear off sheet. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Won wonlee@fumcva.org, or Kitti Mann at (540-891-1671). Childcare is available during the class hours. November 4th What Does it Mean to Become United Methodist? I November 11th What Does It Mean to Become United Methodist? II November 18th Becoming FUMC Family 8
During November, FUMC Preschool will be busy with a number of activities, including one of the highlights of our preschool year: our annual Thanksgiving Feast! During Please come and join us for the joy of singing praise this event, our classes prepare costumes to the Lord. We meet every Wednesday at 7:15 and accessories and assemble together in Kobler Hall p.m. in the Choir Room (113). This choir sings for a shared meal. We have a wonderful time celebrating God s love and provisions with our Pilgrims, Nation, contact Bill McCoy at billmccoy@fumcva.org. for all 11:00 a.m. worship services. For informative Americans, and even our turkeys! This month, we will also have storytime with the Librarian and our monthly Chapel service with Pastor Won. Our Bible story is about Jesus feeding the multitudes, with the lesson that God provides all that we need. In addition, in support of the UMW, we will begin collecting new and gently used children s books for the Salvation Army to distribute through their Christmas programs. We have four openings in our classes for four-year-olds. Please contact Becky Patrick are underway to relaunch Stephen Ministry. in the Preschool Office (540- Please contact the Church Office if you are a 899-3172) for more information about enrollment. ing (MonaLamb@fumcva.org, 540 373-9021). trained Stephen Minister and interested in serv- 9Plans
Once again the time is here for the UMW s collection of new and gently used children s books for The Salvation Army s annual TOY- LAND project for underprivileged children in the greater Fredericksburg area. Your help is greatly appreciated as we hope to put books into the hands of nearly 3,000 children in need this Christmas. The collection box marked with The Salvation Army logo is in Mission Control and books will be accepted through December 1 in time for distribution at TOYLAND. Many, many thanks from the UMW and The Salvation Army of Fredericksburg! The FUMC Outreach Food Pantry is presently focusing on food products only. Our present inventory is in need of cereals, canned peas, canned fruit, canned soups, canned meat, pancake syrup and bread. Please place these items in the appropriate container in Mission Control. Since we now have an adequate supply, we do not need peanut butter, jelly, mashed potatoes and pasta. Monetary donations may also be made by writing Food Pantry in the memo section of your check. Contact Ed Sielski with questions. (540-786-8515) Breakfast Buddies is a program within the Fredericksburg City Public Schools serving both Hugh Mercer Elementary and Lafayette upper Elementary Schools. The program encourages community members to volunteer to eat breakfast with one of our students one time per week on a regular basis. Fred Camp is for high school youth and rising ninth The relationship is one which fosters care and commitment and which could positively impact a child for the graders. Please visit FREDCAMP.org to learn more about this awesome week. The deadline rest of his or her life. for registration is Dec 3, 2015. All payments After signing up to be a part of our program, you for FredCamp should be made with a check, payable to will be matched with a student within Hugh Mercer Fredericksburg United Methodist Church youth. Please School. You will be with that child for the entire year write your youth s name and FredCamp in the memo line or semester, whichever you are willing to commit to. and mail payments to Fredericksburg United Methodist Some Breakfast Buddy volunteers have found the program Church, 308 Hanover Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. so rewarding that they have continued to be a Make sure your payment will arrive the Friday prior to Breakfast Buddy in subsequent years and follow the the posted due dates. Checks will be deposited by the child as they move through each grade. church the week after payments are due. Email Carol If you are interested in being a part of Hugh Mercer Setteducato at csette32@gmail.com after you put your School s Breakfast Buddies program please contact payment in the mail. Nicole Belcher at 540-372-1115(ex 2023) or by email We are in need of an adult male camper. This is a at nbelcher@cityschools.com. The only thing we ask great opportunity to be with some amazing youth for of you is time and a generous heart. What you receive a week and see how God works through our youth. in return is beyond words and immeasurable but visible This experience will change your life for the better!! If every time you meet your buddy and see their eyes you have questions, please contact Carol Setteducato light up. You can make the difference in the life of a at 540-373-5472. child! 10
Nehamiah 2:18 I told them that the hand of my God has been gracious to me... Then they said, Let us start building! So they committed themselves to the common good. You are invited to become a part of the growing ministry of our District by enrolling in the Fredericksburg District Builder s Club. This District is one of the fastest growing in the Virginia Conference. As a newly formed group of vibrant churches, the District has been given a staggering opportunity to reach new people with the Good News of God s love. The Builder s Club is a group of Laity and Clergy from across the District whose members have pledged financial support for building new churches, renovating and expanding existing church facilities. The club raises money by issuing a call to its members two or three times a year. In the past, the Club has raised between $5,000 and $11,000 per call. There is no minimum or maximum pledge amount. All donations are tax exempt. No member receives more than three calls during any given year and a member can opt out of the Builder s Club any time if circumstances change. Many of our existing churches are located in growing areas and are embracing their new neighbors with the gospel. New congregations are particularly effective at evangelizing persons with little or no prior faith experience. In addition to supporting our established churches along I-95, our District will look toward new church growth in areas from Fauquier to lower Reedsville. Please prayerfully consider joining. Email Fredericksburgdistrict@vaumc.org to get all the information. Come experience the blessing! Meals on Wheels is a service which delivers prepared meals to persons who cannot do this for themselves. The program is self-sustaining when all clients can pay. However, there are a few clients who are not able to pay at this time but who still need the service. If you would like to help this program, you may write a check to FUMC with Meals on Wheels in the memo line and your donation will be forwarded to the appropriate person. November 19th December 13th November 19, 2015 Place Doves and Angels on the Christmas Wish Tree November 21/22, 28/29 & December 6 Select Doves and Angels December 13 Last date gifts must be returned to Parlor to distribute 11