Baden United Methodist Church 420 Dippold Avenue Baden, PA 15005-1716 D. Edward Bailey, Pastor

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The Gleam Baden United Methodist Church Monthly Newsletter (724) 869-2720 [email protected] (Office) [email protected] (Pastor)

Ronda F. Curcio, Editor

Monthly Volunteers Shirley Bruce, Nancy Dominick, Carol Harmotto Joyce Ickley, Patty King

December Issue Deadline – Nov. 10 Assembly Day – Nov. 19 Schedule of Services Sunday………………………………………………………………………………………………….Chapel – 8:15 a.m. Sunday……………………………………………………………………………………………..Sanctuary – 10:30 a.m. Saturday……………………………………………………………………….……………………Sanctuary – 6:00 p.m. Last Saturday of Each Month…………………………………………Contemporary Service - Sanctuary – 6:00 p.m. 1 Sunday Weight Worship: AA meets in Watchers 8:15am in Fellowship Chapel Café meets in Eaton Hall every open from 6:00p Worship Fellowship 9:00am until Chapel Sunday Service Hall every 10:30am in evening at 10:15am Wednesday at the 6:00pm sanctuary 6:00pm Sunday School: 9:15am Opening in the Sanctuary 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 C.L.U.E. DAY 9:30a LET Bible 9:00a Busy Study Bees 11:30 - 12:30 6:00p 6:00p Bell Choir Christmas Play Aldersgate 9:00a Men’s Practice practice prayer 7:30p breakfast Sanctuary 7:00p Trustees Choir Mtg. 6:00p Worship Service

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

9:30a LET Bible Gleam Study 6:00p Worship 9a -12n Deadline Pancake 12:30p UMW 6:00p Bell Choir Service Meeting Breakfast 6:00p 6:45p Finance 7:30p Aldersgate Committee 11:30 - 12:30 practice Sanctuary Christmas Play meeting Choir Practice 7:30p Church Council meeting 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 9:30a LET Bible Study 7:00p Friday 11:30a GEMS 5:30 – 8:30 pm Night meeting We Care Food 6:00p Bell Choir 9:00a Busy Diners 6:00p Worship Distribution 6:30p Christian Bees Club at Service 11:30 - 12:30 Believer Smokey Christmas Play 6:00p Bones Practice Aldersgate 7:30p Restaurant practice Sanctuary Choir 6:30p Boy Gleam Assembly Scouts in Fellowship Hall 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 11:30 - 12:30 Christmas Play 6:00p Practice Aldersgate 6:00p Worship 30 practice 6:00p Bell Choir Service

7:30p 7:30pm at OFFICE Sanctuary Concord Choir Presbyterian CLOSED 11:30 - Church 12:30 Christmas Play Practice 2008

Baden Church is a caring congregation dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the community through its joyful expression of love, fellowship and service. The Gleam November 2008

Baden United Methodist Church * 420 Dippold Avenue * Baden, Pennsylvania * (724) 869-2720

Dear Member and Friend of Baden UMC:

It was early April 1988 when I met Juan in Matamoros, Mexico. His face was wrinkled from grinning from all of the sunshine he had been in. He lived in a broken down bus without electricity and plumbing. He did not have a closet with clothes or cupboards with food. I shared with Juan in my best broken Spanish, “I’m a college student from the USA and I came down to help build a house for a pastor…I am here because of my faith to make a difference in the life of a pastor.” Juan looked at me and said, “Me too, amigo! I work here all day and watch over the worksite. At night I pray and watch the stars and moon dance across the sky. I wake up and do it all over again.”

Those two weeks in Mexico with Juan gave me a picture of life that was a big contrast to the life I was living at the time. I was a college student with three hot prepared meals a day. A room with plumbing and electricity and was employed as an over-paid youth worker at a Presbyterian Church.

On the flight home from Mexico I voluntarily got bumped for a future travel voucher as well as a First Class Ticket on the next flight to Chicago and on to Rochester, New York. While flying first class I met William. William was an investor who had several homes around the country. He assumed that my friends and I were coming back from South Padre Island for Spring Break, but was surprised to learn that we were college students who had gone to make a difference for a pastor in Mexico. He seemed to take great pride in talking about all of his homes and the wealth that he had accumulated over the years. As I sat and listened to him ramble on and on about his life and the power that he believed he had over others, I was not impressed. I have to confess to you, I was much more impressed with Juan. While there is plenty of room in the kingdom of God for people with varying social and economic backgrounds, from where I sat William’s life seemed boring!

Every once in a while I think about Juan’s life. When I check my email and respond to several each day. When I check the messages on the machine only to find five new messages since the last time I checked, which was only a few hours earlier. When I hear the alarm of my cell phone that reminds me that there are more calls to make, those calls are people with real needs that need a prayer or a visit. When there are multiple events to be present at and I have to choose one. When I am up past midnight writing an article for a newsletter, to offer some words of hope, yes there are times I think about the simplicity of Juan’s life. “To work all day and watch over the worksite. At night I pray and watch the stars and moon dance across the sky. I wake up and do it all over again.”

I was walking out of the church late one evening and looked up at the stars in the clear sky, and took a deep breath of the cool air and gave thanks to God! I thanked God for the blessings I have in family, friends, a congregation and a community to serve. I am so blessed! It is all too easy to complain and lose focus of what life is about…Is it not? This month we celebrate thanksgiving! What are you thankful for? Why not take time and make a list…literally write down what you are grateful for?”

It’s great to be your pastor!

Ed Bailey, Pastor [email protected]

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Tuesday, November 11, 2008 12:30 pm

Greeters...... Everyone Devotions...... Betty Vagias Hostesses...... Florence Dzikowski Mary Ann Cottom Program...... Pat McCaslin - Thank Offering Program

The GEMS We will have our meeting on Sunday, November 16, 2008 after the 10:30 church service. Note this is a change because of the church retreat. Our speaker is from the Layette Ministry program. All church members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to Sue Meade at 724-775-6796 or Christy Sheaffer at 724-857-4522 because a light lunch will be served. Please remember to bring your thank offering.

The Busy Bee sewers will gather on the Thursdays of November 6th and 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the church parlor.

Please note the change in meeting place. 19 Larry Musgrave Regina Wachtel Regina Wilson

20 Rachel Bailey

21 David Harmon

22 Don Fleming

23 Joanne Harmon 1 Brian Bisceglia 24 Mary Lewis November 4 2 Krista Tucker Chris Braner John & Peggy Evanko Dana Bucci 25 Brian Grimes November 4 3 Scott Mazur Zoe Futato Dave & Danna Smith Grant Miller 29 Margaret Cannon November 5 4 Darcee Gamble Marie McCartney Bobby & Tracy Cheryl Logan Eric Evanko Charlovich Shania Short 5 Leslie Fox November 11 30 Judith Irwin Scott & Beverly 6 Kathy Heist Dawson

9 Ace Stephansky November 18 Dale & Christy Sheaffer 10 Julie Walsh Please help us keep Dale DiCicco our November 21 Johanna Sheets birthday and Mike & Beth Lokomski anniversary list 11 Louis Gardner current. November 23 Larney Santry If you or someone you Joe & Kathleen Barsic know has a November 14 Meloni Lubic birthday or anniversary November 28 and is not included on, Jerry & Barbara 15 Jesse DiCicco or would like to be Ferguson removed from our list, 16 Francis McCartney please contact the November 29 church office. Thank Don & Linda Fleming you. 17 Pat McCaslin Tabitha Bailey Liturgists Acolytes 2...... Donna Brynczak 9...... Fred Zajac 2...... Melissa Jones, Candle 16...... Bob Blanarik Isaac Jones, 23...... Nancy VanDeCar Bible 30...... Alan Freed 9...... Jacob Charlovich, Candle 2...... Fred & Viki Zajac 9...... Alan, Amy & Carrie Freed Bible 16...... Joyce Hudson 16...... Sarah Alberts, Candle 23...... the Woodling Family Burke Sheets, 30...... Betty & Walter Szymoniak Bible 23...... Bradley Wayne, Candle

Bible 30...... Sarah Alberts, Candle Burke Sheets, Bible November Meetings & Events

Ushers Nov 2 11:30am Christmas Play Practice Nov 3 7:00pm Trustees Meeting 2 8:15...... Timothy Smith Nov 6 6:00pm Kidz Club 10:30...... Walt King, John Krepps Nov 7-9 Church Retreat John Parkhurst, Bobby Nov 8 9:00am Men’s Prayer Breakfast Charlovich Nov 9 9a-12n Pancake Breakfast 9 8:15...... Gerald Ferguson 11:30am Christmas Play Practice 10:30...... Bill VanDeCar, Don Fleming Nov 10 Gleam Deadline Bill Ickley, Jeff McClure Nov 11 12:30pm United Methodist Women 6:45pm Finance Comm. Meeting 7:30pm Church Council 16 8:15...... Gerald Dunstan 10:30…...... John Parkhurst, Joe Fausti Nov 13 6:00pm Kidz Club Dave Smith, Dale Nov 16 11:30am GEMS Sheaffer 11:30am Christmas Play Practice

Nov 19 6:30pm Christian Believer class 23 8:15...... Dave Woodling Gleam Assembly 10:30...... Fred Zajac, Brandon Short Nov 21 7:00pm Friday Night Diner’s @ Bobby Charlovich, Joe Fausti Smokey Bones

30 8:15...... Paula Hazelwood Nov 23 11:30am Christmas Play Practice 10:30...... Joyce Hudson, Teresa Fausti Nov 26 7:30pm Community Worship Phyllis Parkhurst, Carol Service at Concord Presbyterian Church Walker Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed

Greeters Nov 30 11:30am Christmas Play Practice

It has come to our attention that it is time Sanctuary Choir: to send our bells back to the Malmark Company for refurbishing. This means that The choir will once again be singing at the they will inspect the bells for any damage Community Thanksgiving Eve services and clean and repair all of the bells with with the combined choirs of the Baden, new parts. Of course, all of this will have a Economy Ministerial at Concord cost to it, not to mention the shipping costs Presbyterian Church in Economy Borough th. of sending the bells on Wednesday, November 26 It is always a pleasure to join with over 50 voices singing praise to the Lord! back to Malmark. Therefore, we are going We have begun rehearsals for our to be starting a fundraiser just in Christmas Cantata; “Noel Celebration”. time for your Christmas card mailing. The choir will present this special There are cards of the front of the church Christmas gift to the congregation on that were printed a few years ago that we th Saturday evening, December 13 at the are going to be selling on Sunday 6:00 service, and also on Sunday mornings. You can receive a package of th December 14 during the 10:30 worship 20 cards for the low, low price of $1.00! service. If you would like to join us for the This is a considerable savings compared cantata, we practice on Wednesday to what you would pay for store bought evenings from 8:00-9:00 in the choir Christmas cards. You will also be showing room. We are always looking for a few off the beautiful Sanctuary to all of your more voices in each section to compliment family and friends, while helping the bell the fabulous ones that we already have. choir at the same time. Cards will be packaged and ready to go the second Praise Ringers: Sunday in November. Just look for our display table located in Chapel Café, or Our Praise Ringers are eagerly getting see one of our Praise Ringers who will . ready to play for the congregation this gladly assist you month. We are also working on our Christmas music for the Christmas Eve Children’s choir: candlelight worship service at 11:00pm. The Children’s choir will rehearse on Sunday mornings from 9:15-9:30 in the Cherub Choir: Chapel. The children will then be dismissed to their Sunday school The cherubs will continue to rehearse on classrooms. Anyone in grades one through Sunday mornings from 9:15-9:30 in the six is encouraged to come and join our front of the Sanctuary. We thank our choir. If you have any questions you may Cherubs for singing for us on our Sunday call Miss Linda at 724-869-4430, or talk Anniversary service. You were great! to our children’s choir director, Tabitha Bailey.

the first Sunday of every month, other wise Celebration Sunday: you go straight to your classrooms for

Sunday school to begin at 9:15! A change in our “OPENING” time! The Children’s choir will rehearse from Our Sunday School 9:00-9:30 in the chapel every Sunday Teachers and CE Board have decided to and the Cherubs choir will rehearse from have our Opening the first Sunday of each 9:15-9:30 in the front of the Sanctuary month in the Sanctuary, beginning with the every Sunday. first Sunday of November. On the following Sunday’s the children, and youth will report Harvest Party at “Yeck directly to their Sunday school classrooms at 9:15 sharp! Celebration Sunday will be Farms”: just that! We will celebrate everyone’s Our annual trip to the pumpkin patch, at birthday in that month, pass out perfect Yeck’s Farm was held on Sunday, October attendance awards, have the special box th 26 . This year it was all together different, feature, sing songs, and conclude with with a new corn maze, hayride route and refreshments in Chapel café. So don’t general store. We had a blast on the forget, you only report to the Sanctuary on hayrides and running through the corn maze. We also had hotdogs and snacks, congregation on Bible Sunday, November and a bonfire 23rd. Each child will receive a “Hands on Bible” just like the ones that their teachers use during Sunday school class. It is a to sit around. The children enjoyed the very special day for our third graders, and costume parade, games, and picking out a for our congregation to be putting the word pumpkin. There was fun for everyone, of God in the hands of our children. Please even if you are not the hayride type. join us for this special moment in their Christian lives.

Snack Foods for “We Care”: Kidz Club:

Kidz Club Cookie Bake: During the month of November, the Come and join us for Kidz Club every Sunday school classes will be collecting Thursday evening in Chapel Café from snack foods for the children of our We 6:00-7:30. (With the exception of the Care food cupboard families. Each week Thursdays that the Boy Scouts hold pack we will have our snack basket up front meetings) This month’s special event will for you to put your snacks in. Mrs. Linda th be on Thursday, November 13 when we Fleming, our “We Care” food coordinator, make and bake cookies! We had so much was telling of the need for the children to fun last year making our very own cookies have snacks that they can take to school, from scratch that we decided to go for it and be available for them when they arrive again this year! (We just may bake some home from school. A few popular ones are cookies for Pastor B. this time!) Our the instant brown sugar oatmeal packets, special cookie bake will begin at 6:00 that fruit rollups, marshmallow squares, etc. evening in Chapel Cafe, with pickup at Think of what your child likes to have, and 7:30. Be prepared to get messy! We are send one in for our Sunday school snack going to have a lot of fun, and we want basket! you to be a part of it. If you are in Preschool through Jr. High, you are Bible Sunday: welcome to join our Kidz Club. A special reminder to all of our parents: Our third graders will be We are moving Kidz Club to the Chapel presented bibles from the Café area to help save on the heating We will begin rehearsals on Sunday, th and energy costs. So, don’t forget to November 9 and will continue every come to the Chapel Café doors, instead Sunday unless otherwise noted. of Fellowship Hall.

Friday Night Diners Club: Sunday School Christmas Play Our Friday Night Diners had a great time Rehearsals: at Rainaldi’s Restaurant in October. In

Oh yes, it is time for play practice! November, our Diners will make a return This year we are going to try something visit to Smokey Bones in Cranberry st NEW! Our Christmas Play will take place Township on Friday the 21 . Reservations th st on Sunday, December 21 in place of the must be placed by Sunday, November 16 . 10:30 worship service. After the play is A signup sheet will be placed on the board over then we will have a covered dish next to the church nursery. Anyone age 18 luncheon for all in Fellowship hall. This and older is welcome to join us for some allows those who would like to come see great food and a night out of relaxation our children and youth in their Christmas with our Friday Diner’s. You never know plays, but are uncertain of the evening what will happen with our group! weather or driving in the dark, to be able to join us for this special event. Our play Chrismon Patterns: will be under the direction of Mr. Jeff DeSantis, with the help of our Children and Christmas is just around the corner. A Youth Sunday school teachers. number of Chrismon patterns are in this Play rehearsals will be held immediately issue (pages 12-20) for you to use in following the 10:30 worship service on creating a Chrismon ornament. Copies of Sunday mornings. All children and youth these patterns are also available in the are to report to the front of the Sanctuary Narthex. Chrismons are white in color, to as soon as the service is over. Rehearsals signify purity. they are made from felt, will be over at 12:15. cloth material, or foam. They are Parents are welcome to stay in the chapel traditionally decorated with gold or silver café area to wait for their children while ornamentation; also clear rehearsals are in session. decorations/beads have been used. These Chrismons will be used to decorate the Sanctuary Christmas tree.

Floral this year and the cost will be $8.50 each. The flowers will come in 61/2 inch pots and you will have a choice of red, white or pink. There is an order form in the narthex for your convenience. All orders must be placed by December 15th. Congratulations to our recent baptismal candidates. William Steven Dobich was baptized on October 5, 2008. William is the son of Andy and Patricia Dobich.

Alexis “Lexi” Lynn Watt was baptized on October 19, 2008. Lexi is the daughter of A note of Janine Parkhurst and Chad Watt. thanks and Garrett James Litzinger was baptized on appreciation to October 19, 2008. Garrett is the son of Pastor Bailey James and Jennifer Litzinger. and everyone who gave of their time and talent to make the We welcome them into our faith family. church’s 150th Anniversary Celebration so memorable. The Baden United Methodist Church and its’ members truly make it someplace special. Congratulations to Kristen Bogati and ~ Carmel Thomas Kapinski who were married on McCreary October 4th.

CHRISTIAN BELIEVER COURSE: Christian Believer will begin on November 19th at 6:30pm. If you did not attend the informational meeting or Congratulations to Nathan and Sarah speak to Pastor Ed, and you are Harmon on the birth of their son Gideon interested, please see him today. Moon Harmon. He is also welcomed by his grandparents Dave and Joanne The UMW continue to sell Harmon. RADA Cutlery. If you would like to purchase cutlery for IT IS TIME TO ORDER Christmas, please see Sue Meade to YOUR POINSETTIAS! place your order. The order will be placed through Beaver Valley PLEASE PRAY FOR.... Christina Blinn; Judy Blinn; Pauline Bruning; Margaret Bucci; Howard Carrodus; Katherine Collingwood; Dan Cook; Doug Craig; Dale Dishong; Evelyn Domenick; Ryan Dorrier; Veronica Emmerson; Charles Fennell; Esther Fox; Maggie Gall; Jean Garlitz; Shane Glatt; Jack Hayes; Jason Hazelwood; Mary Jo Hess; Janet Johns; James Johnston; Ken Jones; Alice Keister; Susan Kickle; Lindsey Kinkel; Lucas Kline; Ellen Lawrence; Lance Cpl. Zachary Livengood; Jeff Marsh; Amber Mazur; Spc. Jeanette McDonald; Brian Mickey; Dustin Miller; Mark Montagna; Dave Morgan; Norma Mustake; Diana Paymer; Virginia Salak; Lt. Col. Tim Seamon; Christine Smith; Charlotte Stumpf; Eva Swerdi; Marge Tillery; Walt Tillery; Betty Vagias; Matthew Wadd; David Waxler; Sherri Zdunek; Ally; David; Doug; Gloria; Lori; Pam; Stacey. Please help keep our prayer list current. If you know someone who needs prayer, call the office and let us know. If you know someone on the list who is doing better, please let us know so that we may remove his or her name. All names will remain on the list for no more than six weeks unless the office is notified otherwise.

News from the We Care Food Pantry

“Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor..” ~ Proverbs 22:9

Leaves are falling and chilling winds are blowing, and the time for thanksgiving is upon us.

The food pantry is in need of replenishing. Our financial funds are also down. So once again we look to our church family for help. We had 13 new families in October, and expect more than 85 families in November.

These are some of the items we are in need of. Baking Products: frosting muffin mix cake mix pie filling cookie mix brownie mix pudding mix

Pantry Items: pickles olives peanut butter salad dressing jelly ketchup mustard juice tuna canned fruits canned chicken ravioli olives spaghettios rice cereal baked beans canned potatoes crackers spaghetti mayonnaise macaroni stuffing spaghetti sauce cranberry sauce egg noodles boxed dinners Cleaning Products: liquid laundry detergent softener sheets or liquid Hygiene Items: bar soap deodorant tooth brushes sanitary napkins toothpaste shampoo shaving needs lotion body powder

We the helpers of the pantry thank you for your continuing support. We also appreciate any monetary donations. Please make checks payable to We Care.

In Christ; Donald and Linda Fleming, Co-Directors CHRISMON PATTERNS

Three Fish - One of the early signs of Christendom was the fish. The Greek word for fish is IXTHUS. This is an acrostic for the Greek words for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

Fish and Bread - We are reminded of the breakfast on the beach to which Jesus called his disciples following his resurrection. Also, Jesus fed the multitudes with loaves and fishes. The Eight Pointed Star symbolizes the Kingdom of God.

Angels heralded the birth of our Savior

Celtic Cross #1- This cross is seen quite often. Celtic Cross #2 - This cross is the same as Celtic Cross #1, but more decorative.

Chi Rho - Two Greek letters which are the first letters in the Greek work for Christ. The Circle - Symbolizes the world, God’s wholeness, and eternity.

Cross & Chi - Two chi’s superimposed upon one another. The chi in its normal position represents Christ (chi is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ). The chi in the position of the cross represents Christ’s crucifixion. Together, they remind us of what the baby in the manger came to earth to do.

Crown - Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Cross and the Crown - We are reminded that if we would have the crown of eternal life; we must take up the cross of Christ. The letters “NIKA” spell out the Greek word for “victor”.

Eternity - The cross is inside a circle composed of circles. Circles represent eternity. We are reminded that to have God’s gift of eternal life means being committed to the way of the cross.

Greek Cross - The Greek cross has arms of equal length. This particular Chrismon has circles on the arms, representing eternity.

Latin Cross with Alpha and Omega - We are reminded that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who died on the cross for us.

Iota, Eta, Sigma - These three Greek letters on the cross remind us that Jesus died for us on the cross. Jerusalem Cross - The crusader’s cross. This cross was worn by the crusaders going to Jerusalem.

John 14:7 - Jesus telling the disciples that if he knows Him (Jesus) he has met God. Luke 11:5-14 - The parable of how God provides for us through prayer

Luke 12:24 - God feeds even the birds of the air

The Southern Cross - A constellation seen only in the Southern Hemisphere. Triumphant Church - The world (as seen by the latitude and longitude lines) with the cross on top, reminds us that Christ is triumphant over the challenges presented by living in the world.

IXTHUS - The Greek word for fish. This is an acrostic for the Greek words meaning Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.