News & Notes 11/26/08
Happy Thanksgiving to all receiving this note!!
I am writing a day early, to make sure you get this note before the weekend. I hope it finds all who receive it well, and with plans for a good Thanksgiving Day. But I know that may not be the case across the board. At a recent meeting some folks were talking about the possibility of St. John’s Church hosting a Thanksgiving Day dinner in future years. This could be an event for those who would simply be alone - those who don’t have extended family to spend the day with - those who have recently experienced the death of a loved one - those who can’t afford the whole meal - those who might be new to the community and interested in getting to know others better - or those who don’t like to cook a big meal for one or two people, but would like to share the responsibility with others - and more. Would that interest any of you? Drop me a note, and I’ll keep a list for future reference.
Brenda Borchers wrote this after the Youth Group completed “construction” and delivery of Thanksgiving Baskets last Sunday: “Many thanks to our congregation for their generosity to the Thanksgiving Basket program this year. Twenty-four local families were blessed with the fixings for a wonderful holiday thanks to you and the hard work of our youth group. This number represents a 50% increase over last year’s and was only possible because of your loving concern for your neighbor, and it was much appreciated by each recipient. Also, a big thank you to Sandy Dearborn for coordinating the lists and taking all the phone calls. Her organization makes our job so much easier. May God bless each of you this Thanksgiving season.”
This Sunday we will adorn our sanctuary with its Advent and Christmas apparel. At our single service - note the worship time of 9:30 AM this Sunday - we’ll do a “Hanging of the Greens,” where we’ll decorate the sanctuary, explain the meaning of the symbols and sing some of our favorite Christmas Carols. If you’re in town, I hope you’ll make an extra effort to be in church. There’s no Sunday School this week, and the kids will be involved in the service (hanging ornaments on the tree, and creating a living nativity scene). This would be a wonderful service to invite friends and family members to as well.
No one has signed up for Coffee Fellowship for this Sunday. Is that something you, or you and a friend could take on? If so, please call Ann K., the Chair of our Hospitality Committee. I’m sure she’ll take the first volunteer who calls . . . so don’t delay!!
The York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church will be hosting an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s in Portsmouth, NH on Saturday, December 6, from 8:00am to 10:00am to benefit the mission and ministry of their church. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased ahead of time at the York/Ogunquit Church office (M-F 9am-12:30pm or call 207-363-2749) or at the door on the day of the event. A nice way to start out a winter Saturday! You’re invited to join them for some great fellowship and a delicious breakfast!
Later that evening (on December 6th), our Mission Team will be presenting their Louisiana Style Chicken Public Supper, from 4:30 till 6 PM. The team will be doing all the work for the dinner, but they would love to have donations of food items toward the meal. The sign-up sheet is on the rolling bulletin board in Hartford Hall. And they would love to have you come to dinner. There’ll be live music played off and on through the meal - by the Praise Band from First UMC, in Rochester. It’ll be a great evening. Please be part of it!!
On December 7th, we’ll be observing World AIDS Sabbath. There was an article in our December issue of “The Bell-Wether.” I would share, also, the following note from our Bishop:
THE GLOBAL AIDS FUND IS “IT”…I’ve seen it in Nigeria, where our United Methodist Conference, which has grown from 15,000 to over 500,00 members in the last 15 years, has a staff person organizing community workers for AIDS education, prevention and care. I’ve seen it in the last church I served where members volunteered to be on our “AIDS Care Teams” ministering with the sick and dying in our own congregation and community. I’ve seen it in a church supper and support group gathering every other Friday night for those who have AIDS, their families and friends. And the list goes on…
What is the “it?” The unconditional love of Christ!
There are times when we all need such unconditional and healing love.
This is a time when we all can help in sharing such unconditional and healing love through the UNITED METHODIST GLOBAL AIDS FUND…ONE DOLLAR PER MEMBER OF YOUR CHURCH WILL HELP SHARE “IT.”
As you know, I rarely use “Partners in Ministry” (Note: that is the Bishop’s version of “News & Notes”) to promote our financial appeals. But this is one that I feel deeply about. You and your congregation can make a difference now. World AIDS Day is December 1. Our UM Global AIDS fund is in need of your and my response immediately. Sunday I was preaching in Aldersgate UMC, Worcester, MA, which is involved in many critical ministries among the needy in their neighborhood. But without my knowing it ahead of time, and without any apology they took up a second offering…yes, they passed the plates a second time…so that they could do their fair share for our Global AIDS Fund…so they could share “it”, the unconditional love of Christ.
Prayerfully do your part…as a partner in this ministry.
Our Adult Choir and Band will present their 2008 Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 7th, at 3:30 PM. It’s a great work, with lots of different musical styles - all proclaiming the good news of Emmanuel . . . God with us! I hope you’ll make a point of attending. You’ll be glad that you did.
We received some bad news this week . . . our Office Manager, Sandy Dearborn, is going to jail!! Someone turned her in to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and they’re putting her under arrest on December 10th, and she has to raise her own bail, to be released. As you may know, it’s all in fun - as a fund raiser for the MDA. Sandy would love to have your help. Look in this Sunday’s bulletin to discover how.
There’s still room in the collection box for the Jail Ministry - for trial sized personal care items as well as individually wrapped small packages of crackers or cookies - for the Jail’s Christmas gifts to the inmates. Many items have been donated, but it would be a wonderful thing for more to be given. The collection box is in Hartford Hall - just around the corner from Sandy’s office.
And the yellow stars on the “Angel Tree” in the narthex have been seriously reduced in number!! Many thanks to all those who picked them off the tree. If you have not heard, the stars contain suggested Christmas gifts for children in our area who would go without this year. Some of the children are in institutions and some are in very needy families. If you haven’t gotten your star(s) yet, please do so soon. And remember, the gifts (with the star[s] attached) need to be back at the church by December 9th at the VERY latest. What a wonderfully generous congregation St. John’s is!! Thanks.
Pledges continue to arrive at the church, for our 2009 Current Expense budget. So far, the dollar figure for increase is 5.86% — and there are potentially at least 17 more pledges to arrive! I think in today’s economy, this is nothing short of a miracle! Praise God! If you haven’t sent/brought your pledge card to church, and you intend to do so, please do it soon if possible. The Finance Committee will be meeting on Monday, to finish their proposed revenue and expense budget to present to the Church Council later in December. It would be HUGELY beneficial for the Finance Committee to have on Monday as many pledges as possible!! Thanks in advance.
Instead of sharing a joke with you, to end this issue of “News & Notes,” I thought I’d share part of an email I received this week from Darryl Couchon. As a lead in, let me mention that I used Lego Megablocks in my children’s sermon a week ago. Darryl wrote “As you might or might not know, our 5-year-old daughter, Emily, was among those who sang in the Cherub Choir this past Sunday. On the way home we asked her how she liked singing in front of the congregation. Her reply was ‘It was different but I like it better when we sit out front with that old guy. He talks about Megablocks.’”
That just about sums it up, doesn’t it? Have a blessed Thanksgiving! See you in church - at our single service (9:30 AM)! Peace, Mark (a.k.a. “That Old Guy”)
The following item comes from our Conference Office:
Opportunity to join a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) Team to Sierra Leone
Please consider joining the April 2-12, 2009 UMVIM Team to Sierra Leone. nursing, pharmacy and clinic support staff are needed for pediatric clinics led by Dr. Debi Selby. Trip cost is $3200, which includes airfare, visa, lodging, transportation, most meals and medical insurance. A deposit of $600 is due upon joining the team. Help with team fundraising activities is appreciated. Other work opportunities in schools and orphanages is also available. The goal is to fill 10 vacancies by December 15th. We are all a part of the global community and this is an opportunity to witness to your faith in Jesus Christ and serve in areas of need in Africa. Vicki Jo Stevens-Valentine will serve as team leader and Samuel Pieh is the in-country team leader. To contact Vicki use either phone (731-247-3388) or e-mail (vickijo95 [at] aol [dot] com ). Deposits may be sent to the church office: 1st United Methodist Church, Attn: Vicki Valentine, P.O. Box 25, Paris, TN 38242.