GUMC Dec 2018
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Greece United Methodist Church THE ENLIGHTENER Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny - a ha’penny will do. If you haven’t got a ha’penny – God bless you! Many of us know this song from our childhood. It’s a Christmas classic that should never be lost. It speaks to our me – when some of us have fat geese, some have geese that are skin and bones because their food had to go to feed the children, and others – well, their goose is cooked. It speaks of charity – a word that lost a lot of its oom-pah" when the King $ames Version of the Bible gave way to modern translaons which changed the translaon of 1 Corinthians 13. It no longer spoke of charity,” but of love." ) Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity [ Love ]; but the greatest of these is Charity [ Love ]") It’s sll the same word in the original Greek – agape )pronounced ah-gah-pay) – the same word that e,uals God in 1 $ohn 4.8 - God is love )agape )." 0ll, modern translators agree that charity" is a less-than-correct translaon of agape. 1hat comes of our scholarly correctness is a loss of the knowledge that Chrisan love" is not a feeling, but an acon. 2ove in acon takes many forms, and may be limited by one’s abilies and resources. 3ew of us could a4ord to feed the hungry of Greece ) much less Rochester) for a year, or probably even a day. But almost all of us can donate a can of tuna to the Greece 3ood 0helf. $ust about any of us can serve a meal at the 0alem Nutrion Center or prepare gi7s for the youth at the Villa of 8ope. And those who cannot can pray for themselves and others alongside the more a:uent. If you haven’t got a penny, a half-penny will do; if you haven’t got a half-penny, God bless you ." This Christmas, )if not always), find a way to turn your love into charity. Put a few coins in the hand of someone asking for help along the road, or a greenback in the Ke>le, or a check in the mail to your favorite organizaon. Put a toy in the barrel; put food in the pantry; put a pair of mi>ens on the tree; cut your hair for kids with cancer. Aonate clothing, or swing a hammer for 8abitat for 8umanity. Invite a single person to dinner, and listen to their story. Ao something concrete instead of something symbolic. And for God’s sake - as well as your own and others’ – let someone love you in the way you need it most. Be a charity case." 1e are all charity cases,” you know. God so loved ( agapao ) the world that he gave his only bego%en son.& God gave, not because we deserved it, but because we needed it – that’s charity. Brothers and sisters if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another& ( (ohn 4:11) . This year, we invite you to Boin us in celebrang Advent and Christmas with your church family. Cn 0atur- day, Aecember 1st, at D.00 a.m., we will have a "8anging of the Greens,” decorang the church. Cn 0unday, Ae- cember 2nd, we will begin our celebraon of Advent with the lighng of the Advent wreath. Cn 0aturday, Ae- cember 8th at 7.00 p.m ., and on 0unday Aecember D at 3.00 p.m ., we will present an old-me radio" version of the classic t’s , -onderful .ife , starring members of our church and the community. Cn Aecember 20th, at 7.00 at Messiah 2utheran Church, the churches of Greece will gather for a Blue Christmas’ service. This is a Christmas worship for those who are feeling a li>le blue" this Christmas, because of loneliness, or grief, or loss. It is a profound acknowledgement of the 2ove of God who has been given to us in the person of $esus – love that transcends the trouble of this world. Cn Christmas Eve, Tuesday Aecember 24 th , we will have our tradional candlelight service of 0cripture and carols at 7.00 p.m. May God bless you and yours, at Christmas, and always. n Christ’s love (agape), Pastor Matt Stengel Table of Contents: A PRAYER CHAIN REMINDER: We have an acve prayer chain, both thro gh e-mails and phone. Yo 're invited 1eekly 0cripture Pg. 3 to be part of that) j st call Bill and ,ail Mason at Aiscipleship 8our 0chedule Pg. 3 3.9-0912. Also, if yo have a prayer concern of any kind that 1idows I 1idowers Pg. 3 yo want to share, contact Bill and ,ail at the n mber above or 8anging of the Greens Pg. 3 Blue Christmas Pg. 3 by e-mail at wmason32036gmail.com. We only send o t prayer Christmas Eve 0ervice Pg. 3 concerns when we receive direct re7 ests. New Year Potluck Breakfast Pg. 3 Altar 8lowers: If yo wo ld like a formal arrangement 3ellowship Planning Mtg. Pg. 4 placed in honor9memory of a loved one, contact 1omen’s Christmas Breakfast Pg. 4 Be:y LaMonica. Arrangements are $30. 0alvaon Army Bell Campaign Pg. 4 Christmas Cantata Pg. 4 Anniversary Ministry: Please contact me of yo r 0alem Nutrional Pg. 4 special day at 61.-2032. Thank yo , Dick Hamblin 3ood 0helf Re,uest Pg. 4 Birthday Ministry: We wo ld love to recognize yo r 3inance Pg. 4 special day. All Church Read Events Pg. 5 It’s a 1onderful 2ife Pg. 5 Please e-mail the o?ce to let s know if yo r birthday is 201D Aevoonal Crder Pg. 5 not on o r calendar. greece mc6fronernet.net Tuesday Book 0tudy Pg. 6 Ainner I Aevoons Pg. 6 Deadline for all newsle:er arcles is the .0th of each Page Turners Pg. 6 month by .1:00pm. Please e-mail to Red 2e>er Challenge Pg. 6 Deb Babbage at dbabbage6rochester.rr.com. MM1 Pg. 7 Cutreach Pg. 8 2018 Fundraiser Updates Power of Change Pg. 8 Thank you to all who have helped in some way to make our fundraising successful. These fundraisers help support our 2ay 2eader Message Pg. D church and the many ministries we have to offer our Trunk or Treat Pg. 10 community. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed! 8abitat for 8umanity Pg. 11 175 Pavilion Pg. 11 Thank you for your support this year! 2e>er of Gratude Pg. 12 BirthdaysNAnniversaries Pg. 12 Pasta Ainner Bu4et O425.78 Congregaonal Mpdates Pg. 12 0ub 0ale O226.30 0unday 1orship 0ervants Pg. 12 Chicken I Biscuits Ainner O600.04 0t. Patrick’s Aay Ainner O525.21 Chicken BBP )April) Cancelled due to weather Let’s Get Connected! Chicken BBP )May) O1012.58 Book 0ale O502.50 Excellent opportunity to share with 0ummerfest O457.75 your friends and family all the Chicken BBP )$une) O1135.21 GUMC has to offer. Chicken BBP )$uly) O1528.27 Website: greeceumc.org Chicken BBP )August) O1444.10 Chicken BBP )0eptember) O1604.71 Facebook: Greece UMC Pulled Pork BBP O1035.77 Twitter @GreeceUMC Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Hanging of the Greens Sat. December 1st 7:00PM 9:00AM: Continental All are invited to join sE Breakfast 9:30AM: Decorate New Year Fellowship Breakfast, Sunday, December 30th Blue Christmas Service 10:00-11:00am, Fellowship Hall Thursday, December 20 Bring a dish to pass, if you can. @ 7PM Messiah Lutheran All are welcomed!!!! Church We will observe a “Blue Christmas”, Church Office Closed together with area churches at Messiah 12/24 & 12/25 Lutheran Church. This is a Christmas 12/30 & 1/1 worship for those who are feeling a little “blue” this Christmas, because of loneliness, or grief, or loss. It is a Worship Scripture December 2018: profound acknowledgement of the Love of What follows are the Lectionary Readings for each God who has been given to us in the Sunday. Each week, the theme of the services will person of Jesus – love that transcends the usually emerge from one of the prescribed readings trouble of this world. (often the Gospel). We invite you to read through the lessons prior to Sunday. It can be a healthy discipline and enhance the experience of worship. Discipleship Ho r .0-..am 12/2: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 Join s S nday mornings for 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Bible st dy B fellowship. 12/9: Malachi 3:1-4 Luke 1:68-79 Ad lt St dy: Cerrison Room Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 Cara DownD8acilitator 12/16: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Isaiah 12:2-6 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-18 12/23: Micah 5:2-5a Luke 1:47-55 Jesus & Me: Grades 1-5 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 Instructors: Jeni Barth & 12/24: Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Karen Ingle, Room 5 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-20 By Faith: Grades 6-12 12/25: Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 98 Instructor: Debbie Babbage Hebrews 1:1-12 John 1:1-14 Nurturing Ministry Room 12/30: 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26 Psalm 148 Colossians 3:12-17 Luke 2:41-52 Widows & Widowers: 12/31: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Psalm 8 Group will be meeting Sunday, December Revelations 21:1-6a Matthew 25:31-46 23th at 2:00pm in the Kerrison Room.