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The Messenger The Messenger COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS A Newsletter of Portage United Methodist Church DECEMBER 2019 Rev. Tom Countryman, Pastor CHRISTMAS EVE Sunday Christmas Programs SERVICES A CARDBOARD CHRISTMAS And intergenerational, multi-media program, sharing the Christmas message with all. During the 9:15 Service, Sunday, December 8 A CHRIST-FILLED 3:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS CONCERT (held at Riley’s Bar featuring musicians from our 1314 West Wisconsin St., Portage) Congregation and our Community A Simple December 15, 10:00 a.m. Christmas Eve Service (This will be a One-Service-Only Sunday) 5:00 p.m. (held in our Sanctuary) Portage A Family Candlelight Pop-Up Christmas Eve Service Pantry Fresh Produce & 7:00 p.m. Perishables (held in our Sanctuary) December Pantry at a Special Date & Time: A Candlelight Wednesday, Christmas Eve Service December 18, 4:00-5:00 p.m. with Holy Communion 1804 New Pinery Rd., Portage Portage United Methodist Church t is easy for us to lament the Christmas gift-giving. Over time, but especially in current state of the Christmas the last 150 years, Saint Niclaus, the Christian season. We see the bishop, was transformed into the Jolly Old Elf Icommercialism, the empty secular Santa Claus who lives at the north pole and runs a traditions, the overwhelming set of toy manufacturing and delivery service. (It is stressors and expectations. It all interesting to note that Santa Claus is still dressed can make us wonder if there is any Christianity in red, the color of bishop’s clothing. left in Christmas. As modern culture co-opted Christmas and The early Christians did not actually celebrate secularized it (a nonreligious parallel to the Christmas. Their interest in the birth of Jesus manner in which Christianity co-opted the Pagan centered around a simple set of concerns: 1. That practices around solstice and christianized them) Jesus had been born in Bethlehem in accordance religious communities have reacted. Some have with prophecy; 2. That, while Jesus was not the pulled away from Christmas, de-emphasizing it or biological son of Joseph, Jesus was not to be even rejecting the celebration altogether (due to counted a bastard (being legally the son of its pagan origins). Other Christian communities Joseph, and being in fact the Son of God); 3. That have pushed to “Keep Christ in Christmas” and the birth of Jesus was an event of cosmic even gone so far as to claim that wishing someone significance. a “Happy holidays” is somehow an insult to Christianity. Those issues were about all the thought given by early Christians to Jesus’ birth. Mainly, they were But, maybe there is no need for despair or thinking on the events surrounding Jesus’ death histrionics. As it is, the modern customs of and resurrection. But, in the 4 th century CE , at a Christmas are, in many ways, a gift (pun intended) time when Christianity was becoming to those of us who hold to Jesus. mainstreamed into Roman society (that is, the Modern Christmas celebrations are really about beginning of the era of Christendom ) Christians family. The holidays become the time when began to celebrate Christmas as such. people are encouraged to gather together, to It had long been the missionary practice of receive back home even the difficult family Christians to “borrow” pagan customs and members. In this way, these celebrations invite reinterpret them in Christian terms, as a means of families to live out the parable of the prodigal relating Christian faith to foreign understandings. son’s return in their own households. So, Christians co-opted the Roman holidays of “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw Solstice, Saturnalia, Sol Invictus , Mithragan, etc., him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran as Christ’s mass. December 25 was chosen to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed because it was the calendar date of solstice (due to him.” Luke 15:17 a calculation error from the time of Julias When families of origin are beyond hope, Caesar – blame Sosigenes of Alexandria for Christmastime invites people to seek new forms of that) , and solstice is the time when death (the family. And so, people gather with neighbors, or shortening of days) gives way to life (the friends, find family at community Christmas Day lengthening of days). dinners. In this way, their experiences bring to Over the following centuries, Christmas life the very words of Jesus, accumulated a great many additional ideas and “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. stories and characters, including Saint Nicholas, Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Father Christmas, Krampus, Old Befana, to name Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and a few. For our society, it is the story of Saint mother.” Mark 3:33-35 Nicholas that has had the largest impact. The great emphasis on children and on gifts given Nicholas, or Niclaus, was the Bishop in Myra to children has the important result that adults (modern day Demre in Turkey) who lived 270- are pulled away from their varied preoccupations 342 CE . Nicholas was declared a saint and was and concerns. Children are placed front and considered the patron (patronage was a Roman center in the celebration, and the words of Jesus custom) saint of sailors, merchants, children, take on knew import. brewers, prostitutes, pawnbrokers and students. Jesus stood a child beside himself. Then he said to It was said that Niclaus had a custom of secret them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my gift-giving and this gave rise to the customs of name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me 3 welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:47-48 And as children write up their Christmas lists, and campaign for their wishes to be granted, they S become the living examples of what Jesus taught about the generosity of God. ound the trumpets “Which of you, if your child asks for bread, will give a P stone? Or if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how roclaim the glad tidings to give good gifts to your children, how much more L will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask!” Matthew 7:9-10 OVE has come! Maybe there is nothing to despair about. Maybe the questionable pagan origins of Christmas, or its modern commercialization and secularization, are not at all important. Maybe it is all a joy and opportunity, because, every year, at this time of year, peoples’ lives and experiences map out the working grace of God. And, come Christmas Eve A Blessed Christmas – the only time each year that many attend church – they have the chance to hear how the message to you all of the Gospel is an invitation to live in the holiday spirit of family, generosity, care for children, grace from the staff at PUMC mercy and forgiveness all year long. And that is truly Good News worth sharing. Pastor Tom CUB SCOUTS ☹ ☹ Rake a Difference Postponed Mother nature chose to throw us a curveball with the snow cover this year for our annual ‘rake a difference’ service project. For those that are expecting our help, fear not, we teach our kids the value of perseverance! So, the scouts will be out this spring (Date TBD) to help our neighbors in need in removing those pesky leaves. Upcoming Cub Scout Events: December 7th – Annual Space Derby December 14th – Living Windows January 18th – Annual Pinewood Derby January 3-5th – Webelo Moon Lake January 24-26th – Eagle Cave February 1st – Arrow of Light Crossover Ceremony Trustee Breakfast! Sunday, December 1, 8 - 10 am February 9th – Scout Sunday Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, Hashbrowns and February 22nd – Blue and Gold Banquet MORE! -Shane Kraucyk, Cub Scout Committee Chair Please make a donation to the We welcome all youth ages Trustees Fund for the upkeep of Kindergarten - 5th Grade the buildings and grounds at PUMC Call Shane Kraucyk: (608) 742-4843 Email: [email protected] 4 United Methodist Women December Odanah Circle meeting will be held at the church on Thursday, December 19, Articles for the at 9:00 am. Holly Powers, along with Clarice PORTAGE January newsletter Rosing, will be hosting. UNITED METHODIST are due December 9th Thank You: United Methodist women thanks all of you CHURCH who participated in our fall bazaar. We worked hard NEWS and had fun. Thanks for supporting us. The money we raised will go totally to missions, locally and abroad. Now You Can Donate Directly from Your Smartphone! Christmas Lunch Invitation: On another note, It’s simple and easy! we invite the women of the church and their Just text the amount you want to donate, friends to enjoy a Christmas lunch party with us at including the dollar sign (ex. $20) mber 8th, at Dino's. It's a to 844-556-1238 and click on the link they send you. noon on Sunday, Dece Follow the prompts to complete your donation. special time to relax and let someone else wait on us while we enjoy each other's company. The church office will be closed Wednesday & Thursday, A Note about Your December 25 & 26 Church Offerings/Donations for the Christmas holiday, and again on Jan 1. If it is your intention to fulfill your MERRY CHRISTMAS AND 2019 pledge, or to make any HAPPY NEW YEAR! other donation this calendar year, please try to have your 2019 financial giving completed by Sunday, December 29th, so it can be properly recorded in the 2019 records.
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