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“And you, , in the land of

Judah, are my no means least among

the rulers of Judah; for from you

shall come a ruler who is to shepherd

my people .”

--Matthew 2:6

The Ministry, Program, and Preschool Staffs of

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church wish you all the blessings of peace, joy, and hope

that our loving God sent into the world…

wrapped in swaddling clothes…

and lying in a manger.

Merry !

Dear Friends,

We are so grateful for the friendship and love that we have experienced here at Good Shepherd. As we finish another year of service, worship, and fellowship together, we pray that the joy we share as we gather around the manger will put spring in our step and a smile on our lips as we live our faith among people who struggle and seek meaning and hope. Our families wish you all joy and peace as you celebrate the birth of our Messiah.

Love always, The Strouds & The Fosters

Church-Wide Project: Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1:00 – 3:00 pm Lunch will be provided for all who join us to help prepare packaged blessings for our homebound and our neighbors (to be delivered when we go Christmas caroling on Sunday, Dec. 14!).

United Methodist Women : , Dec. 12 at 7:00 pm at the home, 13410 Keating Drive, Dale City. All women are welcome to join in this potluck dinner.

Christmas Cantata A Child This Day, by Tom Fettke, directed by Pam McInturff: Sunday, Dec. 14 at 8:45 am service. Come enjoy this seasonal blessing, shared by our combined Christmas Choir. 11:15 am service will be a preaching service.

Community Christmas Caroling: Sunday, Dec. 14 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm followed by coffee and hot chocolate at the church. Join us as we spread joyous cheer to our neighbors, delivering gifts and invitations along the way. Bring the whole family, and your friends, as well!

Good Shepherd’s Staff Christmas Dinner: Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 pm at the Freeze home; bring a “white elephant” gift per person (P) to exchange.

A Night in Bethlehem: Sunday, Dec. 21 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Good Shepherd. This year, Bethlehem will be back in our sanctuary, with all the wondrous, ancient trappings of the market place. Please invite your neighbors to this unique and memorable nativity event.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES (Dec. 24):

6:00 pm Children’s Service (not candlelight) – Families with young children will especially enjoy this celebration of ’ birth, which will feature a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” party, with cake, fun activities, the Christmas story, and carols.

8:00 pm Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols – This candlelight service is a most meaningful time of Scripture, story, and song.

11:00 pm Christmas Communion Service – This candlelight service will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Final Sunday of 2014, Dec. 28 at 10:45 am, there will be only one worship service. Fellowship and potluck snacks will be enjoyed during the Sunday School hour at 9:30 am.

Birthdays in December Birthdays in January 2nd Ray Bethea 18th Dixie Elk 2nd Jane Glinka 17th Sharon O’Hearn Melody Walker Joelle Jakubowski Claye Avera 18th Fred Hoff Harrison Johnson Thomas Moore Heather Holst Nancy Griggs 4th Brenda Nelum Cheri Sherry 3rd Ernest Brown 19th Mark Cohen Mary Smith Jimmy Reed, Jr. Robert Meares Kevin Christensen Kendra Chambers 19th Louise King Aria Gee Lydia Obeng Christy Genova Linda Bras Dejon Gee Angelina Edmonds- Joshua Byrd Amber Christensen James Meares VanMarter 5th Michael Nelson Evan Shively 4th Jim Chambers 20th Sunny Johnson Marcus Battle 20th Pat O’Hearn Mari Lillie Rich Elms 6th David Lloyd Mike Foshay Josephine McMillian Brandon Lord Penny Desmarais Rachael McMullen Dave Styles Sebastian Juliet Mason Chanse Walker Erin Parker Sepulveda- Ella Vandergrift Wesley Walker 6th Carl Coppadge Yevenes 7th Matt Hayes 21st Kathe Rice Barb Styles 21st Todd Bruno Victoria Shepard 22nd Debbie Campbell John Volz Nathan 8th Mark Neal Danielle Duren Jennifer Harris Gittens-DeSilva Wesley Kingrey JoLonnie Reed Makayla Elms 22nd Lydia Schnack 9th Michele Nicholson 25th Jesus of Nazareth 7th Lois Cohen Esther Cho Jocelyn Shively 26th Terry Freeze Chloe Koulefianou 23rd Tony Ardiente Zach Endy Jasmine Reed Matthew Macon Stephanie Hilbert 10th Michael Davis 27th Ben Green 8th Carolina Michelle Schaeffer Rudy Walker Jane Martin Sepulveda-Yevens Aidan Murphy Ranee Elter Sarah Shively 11th Taylor Styles 24th Lonnie Atkins Tracy Cloninger 28th Glenda 12th Jackie Brown Ryan Schaeffer 11th Elizabeth Laskey Brokeshoulder Tara Jennings-May 26th Pat Osborne 12th Keith Douglas Mike Finegan Terri Elms Lee Fair 13th Burnell Davis 29th Phyllis Coleman Michael Parmelee 27th Isabella Stephens 14th Mia Lawrence Martha Kobliska Tasha Harris 28th Carole Mess 15th Briana Coffie Jamie Johnson Toya Harris Ann Finch-Johnston Joshua Foster Ben Chwirut Mariah Gardner 29th Jaime Salgado 16th Tina Cech Paige Crispino 13th Tommy Kenny Bedford Janae Tschudi-Evatt 30th Gary Smialek Panzo-Russell Monica White Janelle Scribner Talitha Ling 14th Vicki Cook Heather Quentin Powell Shania Gardner Adam Cloninger Christensen 17th John Donley 31st Jennifer Lauer 15th Yvonne Reid 30th Jimmy Reed Alex Ling Meghan Bruns Jen Hurlocker Drew Farber Kali Gaskill 31st Theo Salnave

Health News

Our Deepest Our Homebound: Sunny Johnson, Mary Miller, Sympathy Virginia Moyer, Vivian Aub uchon, Ray Bethea, Irv Watkins, Doc Nelum ...is extended to Rossie and Todd Alston and their families, at Ongoing treatment and rehab: the death of their father Rossie D. Alston on Nellie McLeod—Burke Healthcare 23. Graveside services with military Eleanor Palmer—Emeritis honors were held at Quantico Cemetery on Ellen Davis—recovering at home December 1. Please remember all the Alstons Austin Owen—chemotherapy in your prayers.

Anniversaries What’s the Word? Dec. 15th Hans & Renee Salnave Sermon Themes for December th 16 Martin & Deborah Bomar Dec. 7 Anticipation (Mark 1:1-8); Pastor 29th Jim & Tina Cech Levi (Holy Communion) 30th Al & Shirley Simons Dec. 14 8:45 A Child This Day (Christmas th Jan. 4 Daniel Amoah & Lydia Obeng Cantata); Christmas Choir 8th Buddy & Pat Bruce 11:15 Simply to Witness (John th 20 Dale & Julie Loftis 1:6-8, 19-28); Pastor Keiko 21st Austin & Alicia Owen Dec. 21 (Luke 1:29-38); Pastor Levi

Shailesh & Anita Gohel Dec. 24 6:00 pm Children’s Service st 31 Vic & Dixie Elk (Happy Birthday, Jesus) 8:00 pm Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols New Arrival 11:00 pm Worship with Holy CONGRATULATIONS to Communion; “Let’s confirm Mike and Megan Foshay at what the Lord has made known the birth of their son Logan to us” (Luke 2:1-20); Pastor Keiko Michael on Monday, Dec. 28 Festival Schedule with fellowship November 17. Proud family at 9:30 am and Worship at 10:45, includes grandparents Jay and Lee Fair, aunt led by Rossie Alston Allyson Fair, great-grandmother Barbara Newhart, and great-aunt Claudia Newhart.

2015 Offering Envelopes are HERE! UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Your new offering envelopes will be available

for pickup in the narthex on Sunday mornings Reminder: The UMW Bake during December and January. If you need Sale is Sunday, Dec. 14. Members are asked to bring envelopes or have questions, please contact baked goods to the church by Jean Holt, Financial Secretary. 10:00 that morning. See you there! Our Faithfulness in Giving to God—November UMW Christmas Dinner Party Worship Sunday Weekly Friday - December 12 - 7:00 pm Attend. School Offering at the Chiles home, located at November 2 173 74 $17,079.00 13410 Keating Drive, Dale City. November 9 186 63 $12,449.71 Please bring a gift card to be November 16 150 58 $7,549.45 donated to Rising Hope Mission Church for 139 56 $4,980.30 their ministry. November 30 178 50 $11,162.84 All women are welcome! Call President Pam McInturff (703-670-3302) for more information Totals for Nov. 826 301 $53,221.30 Weekly Avg. 165 60 $10,644.26 about United Methodist Women. Other Giving: Building Repair—$2,112; MCBF—$139; Pastor’s Discretionary Fund— Salvation Army Christmas Stockings $967; Expansion Fund—$245; Communion Salvation Army Christmas Offering—$152; Roof—$20; Sign—$820.61

stockings are to be turned in th Sunday December 7 . Thank Please help us pay for our new you for your generosity and sign! We still need $17,000! cooperation. Janae’s Christian Education Corner A Night in Bethlehem DECEMBER 7 (SUNDAY) FROM 1:00 – 3:00 PM Take your family back in time… Everyone is invited to join us for a Make memories you’ll treasure forever… gift-making luncheon in the Upper Education. We will enjoy lunch and fellowship Reserve Sunday, while assembling small Christmas gifts to share st with homebound members, those that need a December 21 for this special “pick-me-up” this season, and our special event at Good Shepherd neighbors.

The “gates” open at 6:00 pm and we’ll DECEMBER 14 (SUNDAY) FROM 2:00 – 4:00 PM keep them open until 8:00 pm. We will have a church-wide Community Christmas Caroling event while delivering and sharing gifts with personal invitations to the There’s something for everyone, so Cloverdale Neighborhood to A Night in please bring your family, friends, Bethlehem. Coffee and hot chocolate at the neighbors, and relatives. As soon as you church will close this evening’s fun! set foot in the marketplace area, you will travel back to ancient Bethlehem. You’ll DECEMBER 21 (SUNDAY) FROM 6:00 – 8:00 PM taste, see, and smell what daily life was like “A Night in Bethlehem” will be in the church when Jesus was born. You’ll find stations sanctuary with an outdoor live Nativity on the in the marketplace of activities for kids and church lawn (weather permitting). A wonderful, adults. You’ll sample the fresh baked unique experience! bread from the bakery, view the stars through a telescope, visit the apothecary DECEMBER 24 SERVICES shop, apprentice with a stonemason, and (WEDNESDAY) see shepherds and Roman guards. You 6:00 PM FAMILY/CHILDREN’S SERVICE may even have to sign in with the census We host a birthday party for Jesus for all ages, taker! There will also be a special time to with cake, games and prizes, all concluding meet Mary and Joseph and hear their with a casual, meaningful time of worship. story. Cameras are welcome! You may bring a gift for Jesus’ birthday of an unwrapped baby item, which will be donated Children’s Service Help Needed to a local charity. Think about Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm. We are in 8:00 PM TRADITIONAL SERVICE OF LESSONS need of 4 volunteers (older teens or adults) to set up AND CAROLS at 4:30 and to present a small scripted part as part of This candlelight service is a most meaningful the new game played during the Birthday Party for time of Scripture, story, and song. A nursery Jesus. Scripts and supplies provided. Please is available for this service. contact Ms. Janae right away for more details. 11:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE COMMUNION [email protected] SERVICE This candlelight service will include the Covenant Bible Study Sacrament of Holy Communion. The next NEW group will begin in January. This DECEMBER 28 9:30 AM FELLOWSHIP HOUR group will be held outside of the church with the 10:45 AM WORSHIP day and time to be decided. If you are interested There are no formal Sunday School classes on and would like further details, please contact Ms. this day. Please come for fellowship and Janae or Tom Smith [email protected] . There worship. January 4th resumes all regular are 3 individual 8 weeks sessions to be taught as the schedules. group plans the schedule. Stewardship for December 2014 church sign, emergency disaster relief, feeding the homeless, and the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. Who are you supporting this year? How are you From the Finance Committee, a huge thanks for supporting this year? your continued support through your prayers, your “” has been touted as a case presence, your gifts and your service. We continue study in community organizing in the 21st century, to be truly blessed, and sincerely appreciate your following the traditions established for or by involvement helping to pave the way to reach God’s consumers for Friday and . goals. Please don’t let up now!! Help us to have But Giving Tuesday has been intended to offer a the best December ever! moment or date on the calendar to encourage Let us continue to Connect, Grow, and Serve, Americans to reflect, to provide support, and to give and to Love God, Love others, and Serve the world. back to charities or organizations that have meaning Invite others to join us in this journey! to each individual. Some might choose to volunteer YOUR PRAYERS ARE STILL NEEDED!! their time and talents. Some might make charitable On behalf of the Finance Committee, financial contributions. Dwain McMullen, Stewardship Chair Giving Tuesday, reportedly pioneered in America, has emerged as a potent new model of From Fund Raising Coordinator online and offline engagement that has now taken You still have time to order your gift cards for root around the world. Experts agree that through friends, family, and co-workers. We have a list of millions of online clicks and offline acts, Giving over 700 merchants. All you need to do is see Tuesday is expected to take many forms, but will be Barbara Newhart in the narthex on Sunday morning, energized by a common impulse to make life better, check the list, and make your order. Orders are especially for those in need…..ultimately creating placed on Monday, and the cards are here by world changing impact. Friday. Good Shepherd receives a percentage of the So how will you celebrate Giving Tuesday? face value of the cards. You can also call Claudia Ideally, Good Shepherd would like you to consider in the church office. donations to help us meet our mission goals and objectives. While we still need to make progress in Greeters online giving connectivity, we encourage you to Greeters are needed on Sunday mornings before the make year-end donations for significantly second service. This is an activity that can be done worthwhile opportunities. Although you may wish by anyone (youth and adult). All you need is a to also contribute to other worthwhile charities, warm smile and heartfelt greeting. Please contact please consider contributing to Good Shepherd. the church office if you would like more Maybe Giving Tuesday is the time to make your information and would like to help. Thank you for contribution for the new sign; perhaps in honor of your prayerful consideration. someone or in memory of a loved one? Thanks to all of you who have volunteered and/or assisted with the successes and achievements Bi-District Training Day is this year. The many activities and accomplishments are true testaments to God’s plan for the use of your January 10, 2015! time, talents and treasures. Surely you have seen Register online today for just $30! God’s Holy Spirit moving among the people of Get your first choice of workshops! Good Shepherd! I am sure you can add some of Deadline is December 18 your own thoughts on service and sacrifice throughout the year to help accomplish these many The brochure, which includes all workshop successes. descriptions and a mail-in registration form, is The annual budget (operating expenses) available on-line at provides only part of what we need to accomplish www.novaumc.org/bdtd.html Online God’s plans for Good Shepherd. Additionally, registration is also available via that link. other programs, activities and missions that you Questions? Contact Registrar Sharon Sheldon at help fund include Vacation Bible School, youth and 703-820-7200 or email to adult mission trips, building improvements, our new [email protected] GSUMC Youth Fellowship News December 2014

An afternoon trip to a corn maze November 9, 2014

Youth helped set up Chrismon Tree November 30, 2014

 Mark your Calendar NOW! Youth Fellowship in December

December 7: Youth join “Gift-making” luncheon, 1:00 -3:00 pm (the time is different) After the 2nd service, youth will join the lunch (thank you, Ms. Janae!). Then, we will make small Christmas gifts for our friends and neighbors.

December 14: Youth join church-wide caroling (2 – 4 pm) & Christmas Party (4 – 6 pm) First, youth will join church-wide caroling, to bring cheer to our local neighbors. Then, we will have a fun time of fellowship together (location is to be announced).

December 21: Youth join “Night in Bethlehem” event, 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the CHURCH Come and experience Bethlehem around the time Jesus was born. Please note that this event will happen at church this year.

Also, Mark your Calendar NOW…! Upcoming Events in 2015 Youth Ski Retreat: Friday-Sunday, January 23-25, 2015 “Super Bowl Sub” fundraising project: February 1, 2015 World Vision 30-Hour Famine: Friday - Saturday, February 27-28, 2015

Questions? Please email Keiko ([email protected]). Check us out in Facebook: Type in “Good Shepherd UMC Youth Fellowship”! You can also obtain Youth Fellowship info at www.gsumc.net

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church 14999 Birchdale Avenue Woodbridge, VA 22193

2014

Important Numbers to Remember Weekly Sunday Schedule at a glance Church Telephone (703) 670-6127 Church FAX (571) 285-3500 8:45 & 11:15 am Worship (with infant-2 nursery) Preschool Telephone (703) 670-4244 10:00 am Sunday School (all ages) Center for Pastoral Counseling (888) 903-9696 1:30 pm Abundant Life Church Worship Web Page www.gsumc.net 5:00 pm Gospel Choir Rehearsal 5:30 – 7:30 pm UMYF (6th – 12th grade youth— Our Church Staff dinner, fellowship, fun) Pastor Levi Stroud

[email protected] Weekly Regular Meetings at a glance Associate Pastor Keiko Foster [email protected] Preschool Weekdays 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Administrative Assistant Claudia Newhart Ruth Circle Disciple Study LEd Wed. @ 9:30 am [email protected] Weekday Bible Study LEd Wed. @ 10:00 am Christian Educator Janae Tschudi-Evatt Boy Scout Troop 1400 Wed. @ 7:00 pm [email protected] Abundant Life Church Worship Wed. @ 7:00 pm Music Coordinator Jimmy Reed Kid Kare 1st Thurs. of month @ 7:30 pm th [email protected] 7 Day Adventist Bible Study Thur. @ 7:00 pm Preschool Administrator Juli McMullen Alcoholics Anonymous Friday @ 7:00 pm [email protected] th 7 Day Adventist Worship Saturday @ 8:30 am Treasurer Theresa Freeze th 7 Day Adventist Eve. Worship Saturday @ 4:00 pm [email protected] Abundant Life Church Prayer Saturday @ 7:00 pm