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Home , Winter solstice

12, 2019 Our vision is to be a diverse faith family seeking to love, grow, and serve. Our mission is to make new disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Sundays: 9a Learning l 10a Fellowship l 10:30a Worship

Pastor Rev. Sharon Kichline [email protected]

Assistant Pastor Josh Krakos [email protected] The Webster United Methodist and

Music Ministry Maplewood Youth are gearing up for Lamar Fitzgerald our annual Cookie Marketplace! [email protected]

Youth Ministry Paige Foster Join us on Dec 14 to get your [email protected] delicious holiday cookies! Children’s Ministry [email protected] Cookies will be sold by the pound and the earnings will help Secretary fund our 2020 Mission Trip to Louisville KY. Holly Graham [email protected]

Custodian Monica Jasper

600 N. Bompart Webster Groves MO 63119 314-961-4133

Office Hours: If you can bake cookies, email [email protected] M through F, 8:30a—3p We will need cookies by Dec. 13 at 12PM (Noon) Web Site: websterunitedmethodist.org/

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Network: WebsterUM Password: LoveGrowServe!

SoundCloud sermon access: https://soundcloud.com/user-832854756

News and Notes... December 15 of Advent March to the Manger

Be part of our Worship as we join the journey leading to the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord.

For a complete list of Worship Services, please view our web page - https://websterunitedmethodist.org/worship/

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From Pastor Sharon...

Longest Worship

In the midst of the Christmas tree trimming, present wrapping, and all that fa-la-la’ing, many among us carry burdens from which the holiday tinsel can only distract us for a moment.

We hurt. We’re sick, or angry, or victimized. Maybe it is a health issue that has become undeniable. Or an untimely loss that has left survivors in shock. A job has ended, a crime committed, or new life interrupted.

These crises of life leave those who sufferer feeling out of step with our joyful friends, and even isolated in our sadness during a season characterized by happy celebrations.

Pastor Paige and Pastor Josh have created a special worship service on Saturday, December 21st, for those who are experiencing pain and sadness during this Christmas season.

On that day, December 21st, the will experience the longest night of the year, known as our . It is the day when the is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky, and at the pole, there is continuous darkness or .

Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures. In ancient days, it signified the turning of , measured by the giant celestial clocks of in England and in Ireland. For our purposes, we will be recognizing that grief doesn’t just disappear because the calendar tells us it’s time to celebrate. Sometimes, the darkness lasts a long time. But God is in the darkness too.

Are you struggling to find joy through the pain during this season of cheer? Please know you are not alone. God cares. And so does your church.

Come and find solace in God’s Spirit at the Longest Night Worship Service. December 21st at 6:00pm.

May the Peace of Christ be with you,

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News and Notes... Christmas Offering on December 22 Will Be Shared With Epworth Street Outreach Services

The recent “Light the Night” event held at Epworth on No- vember 19th called our community’s attention to the critical The Longest Night situation of teen homelessness in St. Louis County and St. Louis City. Epworth has committed to ending homelessness This Holiday season Josh and through several related programs: Street Outreach Services, I have designed a special Youth Emergency Shelters, and Supportive Housing Pro- service for December 21st at grams. They also have a Drop In Center where youth can re- 6:00. Some may have heard ceive services and a hot meal. This year, we at Webster of a '' Service, United Methodist will assist Epworth with this goal by this Longest Night service sharing half of our generous Christmas offering with them. will be similar, but will also coincide with the Winter One in ten young people 18-25 experience homelessness Solstice...the longest night of every year, and LGBTQ youth have a 120% higher risk than the year inviting us to any other teens of experiencing homelessness! 7,900+ explore the darkness before children and youth experience homelessness in St. Louis the Christ Light comes to County each year, ( Missouri Kids Count, 2017). And, in St. birth. We often get wrapped Louis City, 17% of the children & youth experience up in the presents and homelessness each year. parties of the season, but what about those other Please think prayerfully about your Christmas offering this feelings we have. The grief. year and be assured that your generosity will help Epworth The sadness. The to move closer to their goal of ending teen homelessness. uncertainty. This service will be the space for those Have a Blessed Christmas, feelings. Come worship with Jan McCurley, Mission Team Chair us Saturday at 6:00pm!

There will be Hot Cocoa! Our Children's Christmas Choir is scheduled to sing during worship Pastor Paige December 24th at 4p.

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News and Notes... December!

December 13, 5p Set up for tomorrow's cookie sale

December 14, 9a Cookie Marketplace! We need all hands on deck and we need all the cookies, tell your friends now!

December 15, Living Nativity. Youth arrive at 4:30p

December 22, TBA; December 29, Café Christmas 9:30a Fellowship Hall

Book Club We Are Joyful

"This Far by Faith" was Don’t want you to miss these end-of-the year birthdays reviewed by 9 readers. The because of the many celebrations of the birth that changed author, Faith Fowler, is the the world. I’m sure these birthdays changed their parents’ Faith of the title. Her short lives. Donna Johnson will be 83 on December 27, Geraldine “Gerry” Anderson will be 94 on the 28th, and Deane Looney stories are funny and th poignant and her will be 82 on the 30 . Happy Birthday to one and all! entrepreneurship gives a sense of hope. Change for Your Directory

On February 3 we'll review Brian & Jill Hendrickson "Hope Runs" by Claire-Diaz 10889 Bridle Trail and Samuel Guchagua. Chardon, OH 44024 Claire, a tourist and activist, met Sammy in a Kenyan There have been many address and membership changes orphanage and it changed since the last (white) church directory was published, fall, the course of their lives 2017. Plans to publish a new one this fall were delayed. I forever. will begin working on a new one after the annual report is finished in January. Thanks for your patience. We have 3 copies in our little library in Fellowship Hall. Beth Anderson, Membership Secretary Please read and pass them #314-781-9923, [email protected] on or return. As always, all are welcome. Carol Gilker

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Calendar Our Concerns

This week at Webster United Methodist: Prayer Concerns: Andrew and Caitlin, Nancy Apple and Greg Friday, December 13 Stubblefield (Connie Kroenung); 5p Cookie Sale SET-UP Michelle (Vicki Hoyer); Al Naegeli (Joel Kichline); Cheryl Eaton (Kris Scott); Ruth Day, Diana Nordlund, Saturday, December 14 Jan & Bobby Magers (Debbie Lund); 9a to Noon COOKIE MARKET PLACE! Bailey family’s loss (Jan McCurley); Donna Ash (Brenda Haverman); Sunday, December 15 Roseann (Gayle Fields); Baby Gary 9a Children’s Christmas Choir rehearsals (Eli); Yvette Hartsfield, Melissa Youth: Nooma Studies. Adult Education Hour. Prenger (Kris Scott); George Badway 10:30a Worship—March to the Manger (The Miceli family); Krakos family 5:30p Living Nativity (Paula Murphy); Richard Hamman 7p Statesmen Singers Vespers (Jean Ransdell); Kayla Kopp, 10p Newsletter Articles Due to [email protected]! Darlene Hyry, Bob Kopp, Jay (Vicki Hoyer); Bob Hale, Allen & Jan Johnson (Earl & Martha Jones); Monday, December 16 Linda & Chris Redmore (Carolyn Redmore); Andrew Kennon, Cheryl Tuesday, December 17 Kincade (Marcia Kennon); Mike, Lamar Fitzgerald’s Birthday! Kim, Joan & Gwen (John Romanko); 1:30p Prayer Group, Call 314-650-0615 for location Traci & Sandy; Mark Olinger (Linda Guth Stangl); Mike Long, Becca Wednesday, December 18 Stevens & family (Cindy Andrews); 7:30p Chancel Choir rehearsal Jacob Reeves, Jason Wright (Beverly 10p Bulletin Information Due to [email protected]! Mesey); Emma & Matt Haymos; Kristen Kremer; Phil Bryan; Brenda Thursday, December 19 Yost; Fran Allen; Jean Ransdell; Sandie Jost; Karen Clark; Len Burns; 7:30p The Mountain Service, with Community Meal Dave Coleman; Joe Krabbe; Joyce Simpson; Lorraine Bemis; Students taking finals; Those experiencing Remember the date: strained relationships; Students; December 21, 6p The Longest Night Worship Those traveling; Missionaries to December 22, 10:30a Chancel Choir Cantata in Worship Middle East; For our children’s December 24: ministry; Students nearing finals: 4p Family Friendly Christmas Eve Worship Pray for growth in our church; 7:30p Traditional Candle-lit Worship led by our Chancel Choir Understanding & acceptance of our 11p Silent Night Christmas Eve Acoustic Worship LGBT friends; For improved gun December 29, 10:30a Café Christmas in Fellowship Hall control in the US; Chiphongo UMC (our covenant January 5, 10a Pick Up Choir in Worship church in January 6, 7a Bake & Deliver Breakfast Casseroles to Avery Elementary Mozambique) January 7, 10a Quilters return! January 11, 8:30 to Noon, Leadership Convocation

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