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Your Messenger for December 2010
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A Monthly Publication of the First United Methodist Church of Bridgveille
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Outreach Opportunities
Flood Buckets - The Mission Continues!
The December items are one household cleaner 12-16 oz bottle, and a disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz bottle. If you would rather we did the shopping, we can accept your donation with your offering. Make a note on your check “FLOOD BUCKETS.”
Next Outreach meeting: Tues. Dec 14, 2010
Newsletter Deadline
Thursday December 23 at noon. Please submit all articles in writing.
Pumpkin Patch Thank You
I want to thank everyone who helped with the pumpkin patch in anyway--to thosse who unloaded pumpkin
from the truck, to those who worked the patch, to those who brought pumpkins, and to those who cleaned
and hauled away the remaining pumpkins in the patch. The outpouring of help was wonderful and
greatly appreciated. Thanks again and Happy Holidays!
Nancy Huber
Alice Mills donated her car to the church. The donation was applied to the church budget.
Thanks to all who donated to the Community Thanksgiving Dinner offering. The Dinner
was a wonderful opportunity to minister, and we had significant volunteers and pies from our church.
Thanks again!
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News From Nurture
**NURTURE’S NUGGETS**
Grace isn't a little prayer you say before receiving a meal.
It's a way to live.
Jackie Windspear
Nurture Team will be meeting Dec 7, 2010 at 7pm
NURTURE’S**NUTRIENTS
Recipe for Christmas All Year Long
Take a heap of child-like wonder That opens up our eyes
To the unexpected gifts in life-Each day a sweet surprise
Mix in fond appreciation For the people whom we know,
Like festive Christmas candles, Each one has a special glow.
And some giggles and some laughter, A dash of Christmas food
Amazing how a piece of pie Improves our attitude!
Stir it all with human kindness; Wrap it up in love and peace,
Decorate with optimism, and Our joy will never cease.
If we use this healhy recipe, We know we will remember
To be in the Christmas spirit, Even when it's not December
-Joanna Fuchs
NURTURE’S**NUTRIENTS
Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
Ingredients:
2 packages (14-1/2 ounces each) gingerbread cake mix
1 package (4.6 ounces) cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix
3 cups whole milk
1 can (29 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
Directions:
Prepare and bake gingerbread according to package directions, using two greased
9-in. round baking pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Meanwhile, for pudding, in a
large saucepan, combine pudding mix and milk; stir until smooth. Cook and stir over
medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes longer or
until thickened. Remove from the heat; cool to room temperature. Combine
pumpkin and brown sugar; stir into pudding. In a 4-qt. glass serving bowl, crumble
one gingerbread cake; gently press down. Top with half of pudding mixture and
whipped topping. Repeat layers. Cover and refrigerate overnigh.
Enjoy!
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Gift/Shopping Cards
Our church is still selling gift/shopping cards which many may have forgetten.
The church gets a commission on each and every card which goes to the building fund.
These cards could make great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers
We have in stock the following:
Giant Eagle = $100 and $25
Walgreen's = $100 and $25
Pizza Hut = $25
Kentucky Fried Chicken = $25
Lowes = $100 and $25
Outback = $25
K Mart = $25
Bob Evans = $10
Wendy's = $10
Chuck E Cheese = $10
In addition, the following cards are available on an order basis through the church office.
Please keep these in mind, and purchase from our church to help the building fund.
Please see the Shopping Certificate Program on the next page.
Thank you!
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FROM THE PASTOR'S HEART
GOD BECAME FLESH
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 NRSV
On the first Christmas, God became a little baby, entirely dependent upon his parents and other caregivers. God, who created the heavens and the earth and all therein, became human and unable to eat, drink, walk, talk, play or work without many people’s help. God chose to become dependent upon humans and demonstrated to us that His mission on earth was co-dependent upon our tender love and care.
Each year as we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that Jesus is still co-dependent upon us to carry His mission of telling the Good News, that Jesus our Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord has been born. Not only was he born, but he also died and rose again to save the world from sin. All who receive Him as Savior will be granted abundant and eternal life. No Christmas is complete without the joyful news that Jesus has returned to the Father, but at God’s appointed time, He will return and be united to all the faithful followers who await his Second coming.
The Good News, of Jesus the living Christ, over shadows all the bad news of the world. divorces, world disasters, crime, sickness, job losses, and a recessed economy, pales in comparison to our powerful and soon returning King. It is the Good News that enables us to have hope in the midst of despair, joy in spite of sorrow, peace during chaos, strength even though weak.
We as Christians, re-live the experience of the Shepherds, as we continue to glorify and praise God for all that we have heard, seen and experienced, with the living Christ. We join the ranks of the 3 wise men that worshiped Christ and we bring Him our gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Our greatest gifts, we can give to the risen King, are ourselves and to express love and forgiveness to others. We like the Apostle Paul and others who have gone before us, are witnesses to the world that Christmas is about Jesus Christ, and we are not ashamed of the Gospel.
In our world that is obsessed with Santa and giving worldly gifts, let us remember to keep JESUS CHRIST as the center of our Advent and CHRIST-MAS celebrations.
In Christian love and joy,
Pastor Jo
Have a very Blessed and Spirit-Filled CHRISTMAS!!
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December Birthdays
Amy Puglisi - December 2
Walter Johnson - December 8
Terri Schillinger - December 8
Mae Bockstoce - December 9
Margaret Lachman - December 9
Mitch Susnjer - December 9
Michael Rennie - December 11
Amanda Lukasik - December 17
Matthew Sarver - December 17
Garret Ammon - December 19
Ian Overmier - December 20
Anthony Mulholland - December 23
John McCans - December 27
Lisa Wolf - December 29
Beth Cancilla - December 30
Steve Rickert - December 30
Megan Cengia December 31
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SPIRITUAL GROWTH/NURTURE TEAM &
OUTREACH/NEW MEMBER TEAM
The Spiritual Growth/Nurture Team and the Outreach/New Member Team met together during the month of November, because many of our ministries overlapped and we wanted to maximize the opportunities for ministry by planning together.
We rejoice in the opportunity to serve the Lord and our congregation with ministries that foster spiritual growth and nurture us in our faith. We have many things that we are working on that will delight our members in being part of our church family. Please give attention to these ministries and we pray for your prayerful support and participation.
· December 4 at 10:00 am Decoration of our Christmas Trees. Christmas is such a meaningful time of celebration in the life of our church. We remember the joy of our Salvation as we trim our beautiful trees, hang our tinsel, place our candles in meaningful places, and prepare for our Christmas season. We enjoy each other’s company and sing happy tunes in our hearts as we express our love for Christ through our Ministry of Decoration. Please come and help with this Ministry opportunity.
· Dec. 5: 10:45 am Leadership Appreciation Sunday. Recognition and expressions of appreciation for those who have served on the Ministry Teams and those who have served on Auxillary Worship areas (choir, liturgists, acolytes, greeters, ushers). Conversation over Coffee will be a time for fellowship with those who have ministered on our behalf for the year 2010.
· December 12: 1 - 3pm Members of the two Ministry Teams and members of the choir will visit the sick and shut-ins, sing Christmas carols to inspire and uplift the spirits of our loved ones.
· December 18: 9:30 am Complimentary Christmas Breakfast. We are happy to share that we will provide a delicious Christmas meal for the members and their families. This will be an excellent time for fellowship during the Advent/Christmas season. The menu will include Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, Hash Browns, Bagels, Donuts, Juice, Coffee, and Tea. Come out and enjoy a wonderful meal. The meal is complimentary through the Spiritual Growth/Nurture, Outreach/NewMember Teams. A free-will offering will be accepted and the entire offering will help fund our mission project “Imagine No Malaria”. This project provides treated nets and other health services to help eradicate the killer-disease-Malaria in Africa. Count this as one of your Christmas gifts to suffering humanity.
Kerry Fox, Cindy Womer, Ted Miscovey, Chairs
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Stewardship Saturday/Sunday
December 18/19, 2010
The Joy of Giving!
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 3:44 NRSV
This Matthew passage demonstrates a biblical basis for the joy of surrendering lesser treasures(money) to find greater ones (heavenly treasures). Jesus said a lot about money in his teaching to His disciples. In fact, Biblical research has indicated that 15% of everything Christ taught related to the way we use money and possessions. This significant emphasis is designed to enable us to see the fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle our money. There is a spiritual marriage between faith and finances.
Randy Alcorn, in his book entitled “The Treasure Principle”, outlines several principles that will assist us in relating properly to our money while preparing us for the Joy of Giving:
1. God owns everything. We are His money managers.
Matthew 25:14-30
2. God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7, Philippians 4:4; Exodus 36: 5-7; 1 Chronicles 29:14
3. We give our Tithes and Offering to the Lord, first and foremost.
Numbers 18:24, 2 Corinthians 8:5
4. Our heart goes where we put our money.
Matthew 6:21
5. Heaven, not earth, is our home.
Hebrews 11:13, Philippians 3:20
6. Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
7. God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11.
As we prepare for Stewardship Saturday/Sunday, we are encouraged to pray and meditate on these principles, and make our JOYFUL pledges for 2011.
In Christian love and joy,
Pastor Jo
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