Partners in. Pastor s Corner

Transcription

1 Partners in Pastor s Corner Remember the song All I want for Christmas is...? It seems Christmas over the years has become a series of I wants. It s nice to receive gifts we want but if this is what Christmas is reduced to then we ve missed its meaning, and its joy is fleeting. Christmas is not our birthday; it is the birthday of Jesus. As we are planning our Christmas gift list, we might ask ourselves what is on it for Jesus? In her hymn, In the Bleak Midwinter Christina Rossetti asks the question, What can I give Him, poor as I am? She immediately answers, If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart. This is what Jesus wants, this is all Jesus wants, because if we have given our hearts to the Lord then we will trust in God to provide in all our life situations. When we trust then all the completion and fighting stops. Trust is the basis of faith; trusting God is the source of our peace. When I think of Jesus birth, God could not have been more trusting of humanity, beginning with Mary and Joseph, making himself vulnerable in human form at a most dangerous time. This is an incredible act of love! This is what we celebrate! And through this act of love we know that God did not become incarnate in Christ to condemn the world, but the world through him might be saved. Saved from Rome, saved from Babylon and Assyria, saved from Hitler, and even from ourselves. The message of Christmas is this gift of incredible love that liberates and saves us, and gives us joy! Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. When we focus on Jesus and not on circumstances, our minds are renewed; our spirits are lifted. We are given strength to make this world a better place. This is exactly what Christians have been doing since that first Christmas. In difficult times the psalmist tells us, Rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. [Psalm 64:10]. Rejoicing in Christ our Savior this Christmas can be a time of healing and renewed strength. Christmas is not a day, it is a person, a baby, God Incarnate, that continues to seek a place in our hearts where he will be born. Offer him a place in your heart and you will know the true meaning of Christmas! Soli Deo Gloria, Hosuk

2 OUR MISSIONWORK Thanksgiving is over, but the Food Pantry is still alive and in need. Why not pick vegetables, fruits, tuna, or other canned goods and plan to bring a supply of that selection each month? We need consistency to keep the mission going. Greg, Sandy, and Nancy do a great job! They are busy every second and fourth Tuesday. And did you know that we have an outgrowth of this program? Already some of you have brought in clothing to help our new friends. Cheryl Watkins is heading up this program, and she will need your help. Volunteer! God s Closet needs you. Another program that will be an outreach of the Food Pantry is our annual Angel Tree. It will be in the back of the church with cards trimming it with suggestions for local kids to help them have a happy Christmas. Grab a card or two and bring back a wrapped gift with the suggestion written on it so the right child gets the right gift. Loads of Love will be December 27. Even though we are all busy after the Holidays, don t forget that we still go to the laundromat on the last Tuesday of the month and we always need help, financially and physically. CHRISTMAS CARDS By now you have noticed that Advent started in November, and you have seen the beautiful decorations in our building. We have also asked everyone to bring in a Christmas card to hang in the Sanctuary. This is a way for you to share Christmas wishes with your friends at church and save the cost of extra cards and postage. (Drop your savings in the Tide bottle.) The cards should be low enough for everyone to see.

3 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Attention all friends of PUMC: See Connie for order forms - Deadline December 6. Call your friends and neighbors and relatives. Sign up with Connie for pretzel dipping. Bags of 3, Bags of 6, or Tins of 13 White, Milk or Dark Chocolate or Mixed GOD S HELPERS It should be no surprise that we have a lot of secret helpers in our church. I ve noticed a few I would like to mention this month. I m sure you know of others. Please let me know so that each month we can thank them for all their work behind the scenes. Our Community Luncheon was prepared and served by Donald McMasters, Judy Ries, Kathy Allen, Dottie Green, and Roger Meyers. Our Memorial Garden was cleaned up by Justin Fort and Mariko and Tony Tabone, and Roger Meyers. Plus Ken Hoke keeps the flowers watered. Lynn, Sue, and Connie have been supplying the plants. CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING Pemberton Community Tree Lighting is on Thursday, December 1. ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING 1st Advent Butler Family 2nd Advent Rachel Hussman & Sandy Verner 3rd Advent Kelsy, Gary & Joan Fry 4th Advent Sue Conover & Connie Emmons Christmas Eve Shadman Family CHRISTMAS SPECIALS Christmas Pageant Sunday, Dec 18 Christmas Eve Service 8:00 pm

4 LUNCHEONS COMMUNITY LUNCHEON: December 8, 12:00 noon, in Chapel, preceded by Prayer Concerns at 11:30. Everyone is invited. FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON: December 18, following Christmas Pageant and Sunday Service. All women are asked to bring a plate of their favorite Christmas cookies to share. We will have punch to go with them. And we can celebrate December birthdays and anniversaries. Mac & Cheese will be served. NEWS FROM BOARD OF TRUSTEES Problems: For the last several weeks we have been dealing with problems sending s. Needless to say we were making the mistakes and hope we have them corrected. Trash/Carpet: Several people brought to my attention a long stain on the new carpet in the chapel that extended in to the entrance area outside chapel and sanctuary. When I asked what happened nobody really knows for sure but the stain had been there for a long time. My frustration is that nobody brought it to the Trustee's attention so it could be cleaned up. The longer the stain is left unattended the harder it is to remove. I worked on it for an hour today and hope after the carpet dries the stain will have disappeared. Trust me, that carpet will NOT clean itself. I believe the stain was caused when someone took a LEAKING bag of garbage from the trash can, walked to the side door and made a mess along the way. We will be getting new trash cans, and better bags. Please pay attention if you are taking out the trash. Administrative Board Meeting: The next Admin Board meeting will be held January 10, 2017 at 7PM. If you have items that need attention or you are a committee chairman please schedule your meetings prior to this date so we can have a meaningful board meeting. From Bob Butler

5 Pemberton UMC December 2016 Rev Hosuk Chung (Cell) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Bible Study 9:30 am Rich Chiovarou BD Bible Study 9:30 am Community Lunch 12:00 pm 9 Christian Bros 7:30 am 10 Breakfast with Santa 8 10 am 11 Phil Milliken BD Food Pantry Christmas Pageant Fellowship Lunch Judy Misner BD 23 Christian Bros 7:30 am 24 Christmas Eve 8 pm Food Pantry Loads of Love 7 pm Judy & Denny D.