Rolling Plains Church Non-Profit Organization RPUMC NEWSLETTER December, 2019 3350 Moxahala Park Rd US Postage PAID Zanesville, OH 43701 Zanesville OH 43701 rollingplainsumc.com Permit No. 447 Maranatha Sisters and Brothers,

Return Service Requested Just a few short weeks ago, we launched a brand new Break Through Prayer initiative here at Rolling Plains based on Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world, a town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” The purpose of this prayer is to get our congregation praying in unity together a single prayer that cries out to God for His Spirit to bring the next season of His fruitfulness in and through us. Our Break Through prayer is:

God, Awaken the people of Rolling Plains Church to breakthrough into a new season of fruitfulness. Forgive us of our sins and fill us with a hunger for Your Word. Give us the courage to step out of the darkness of fear and let Your light shine. Show us the favor of Your great light, so that Your Glory would shine through us as a beacon of love and hope to a broken and hurting world. In name, Amen!

Think about the impact this prayer will have, as God’s people cry out in unison for Him to shine His great light through us, out into our community and world. I can’t wait to see the new thing of what God does when His heart is moved by our prayers. Come on God! As a result of this season of focused prayer in the light of God, our sermon series will focus on the light of Christ.

What is without lights? We decorate our houses inside and out. We decorate trees, our cars, our pets, even ourselves with lights. We drive long distances to see that light display. We do all this, because Jesus came as the light of the world. The birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, that the people who walked in darkness Join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus have seen a great light. Jesus quotes this prophecy at the beginning of His public ministry to make a point. It’s Me! I am the fulfillment of this! I am the light of the world. th on , December 24 … Of all the great gift-giving that happens around Christmas time, no gift is greater than the gift of the light of salvation, the light of hope, the light of grace, the light of peace, and the light of joy that comes with the birth of Christmas Eve Candlelight Services our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Praise be to God! In fact, there is a verse of Scripture that will carry our Advent sermon series as we reflect on the wise men, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, the manger scene, and all that 5:00 PM Family Service surrounded that wonderful delivery. It is James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Children's Moment, Nursery provided

Christmas is the celebration of the Father of the heavenly lights, gifting us with the light of the world. This is a 6:00 Dinner light that is trustworthy, pure, steadfast, and powerful for all the generations to come. It is light that will always

shine and never dim. It is a light that does not require an additional power source. It is powered by the love of 7:00 PM Family Service the God of the universe who holds all things in His hands. This great gift of light is for you and me. For unto us Children's Moment, Nursery provided a child is born. Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man, because He has been born for us. God’s great desire is for Jesus’ light to shine in us so that God would shine through us. 11:00 PM Traditional Service No Nursery will be provided This Christmas we are going to let it shine. We are going be reminded of the great light that covers over us and fills us in Christ; and we are going to be reminded that, just as Jesus is the light of the world, so He calls us to be the same. We are the light of the world and we are believing that God is going to conquer our fears of letting His light shine. We are going take the bushel off and let our light shine. As a church, we are going to be His city on A Local Missional Outpost a hill, as a beacon of hope for all to see in this dark world.Crossworks As our Break Through prayer cries out for God to 126 Ontario Street | Zanesville shine through us in this new season of life and ministry, we are going to let it shine. So bring your family and friends to experience God’s presence through this sermon series Mission and many inof theEurope other programs and events we have planned for December. What a time we will have togetherDecember, reflecting 2019 on the great Light of the World that came in the birth of Jesus! I look forward to worshiping with you. Receiving and Giving

Come on God! At Christmas time, the kids at Bethel certainly look forward to our December 14 Annual Family Christmas Celebration with Santa, gifts, fun, and food. They will receive the gifts from Santa and his helper with excitement, but we are also so proud that these kids are learning the joy of giving. The local VFW, our Pastor John Putnam neighbor just across the street, often supports Bethel with their presence and donations. To show their appreciation for this support and for their service to our country, the Bethel kids recently presented the veterans with a poster of appreciation. The poster with the children’s hands also illustrates how we are working to instill the core value of generosity and giving.

Rolling Plains Church Cares

At Rolling Plains, we are blessed by several care ministries that prove our caring heart. We have Road to Recovery, led by Michele Dobbins who supports anyone suffering from an addiction, by using strength found in God. Our Prayer Team, led by Kelly Lee, provides prayer support for the many concerns that are raised by the prayer cards shared during each service, calls to the office, and numerous other ways. Pastor Dick Newlon is our Pastor of Congregational Care. Dick and his Congregational Care Team strive to visit our area homebound patients, as well as nursing home and other care facility residents.

We ask that you reach out to any of our care teams, to let us know about anyone in our church family who would appreciate a visit, prayers, or communion. We are blessed to reach out to them, and you may be the only one who knows of their need. We can be the hands and feet of Rolling Plains Church, but only with your help. You are welcome to call Dick on his cell phone at 740-607-1491 or call the church office at 740-453-4192. We WILL Merry Christmas from Bethel get back to you or the Rolling Plains family member you refer us to. As 2019 comes to an end, the Bethel Board of Directors, children, and youth send our appreciation to all those who have volunteered and donated food, supplies, and funds, so that we can open our doors to serve the Putnam

neighborhood. We do believe it “takes a village” to raise a child. We look forward to 2020 with hope and the expectation that we will continue to be a welcoming community center.

Kay Miller, Board Member

Inclement Weather Policy

As winter has finally caught up to us here in Ohio, we'd like to remind everyone that Rolling Plains will continue to hold Sunday services as scheduled during inclement weather, unless Muskingum County is under a Level Three Snow Emergency.

Bethel Community Center We encourage you to take precaution and use your best judgement when deciding to venture out to church in bad weather. The Lord knows your will and your heart, but also your limitations.

Monday Night Prayer Each Monday evening @ 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Needle Crafters for Christ Each Monday evening @ 6:00

November Praises & Highlights: Road to Recovery Each Friday evening @ 6:30 PM • Praising God for Spain’s decision to allow me to live here for 5 more years. Soon, I will be the proud owner of a Five RP Youth Fresh Start year/Permanent Residence Card. I just need to give my Each Thursday, 6:45 – 7:15 AM @ Tim Hortons fingerprints and submit some final paperwork. Yay! • Love serving with this group of missionaries here in Spain. Grief Share (Picture to the left) On Nov. 7-10 our ECM Spain field met Each Wednesday @ 5:00 PM (Begins on the 4th)

for our annual Prayer Days. This retreat was especially Fusion important as we voted to change our leadership structure to Prayers needed for: a 3-man team instead of a single director. I am excited for Each Thursday @ 6:30 PM (Except for the 31st)

• ECM International Leaders Consortium in Sinsheim, the future possibilities. 12/1 ~ KidStufFX @ 9:45 AM, Children’s Chapel Germany, November 30 – December 4, 2019

• Vision / Leadership Structure Meeting – Belfast, 12/1 ~ UMM Mtg/Breakfast 7:00 AM, Embers Room Northern Ireland – December 10 – 14, 2019 DONATE: ECMI-USA, PO Box 2217 Monument, CO 12/4 ~ Nursery Play Date 6:00 PM, Embers Room • Safe travels to US and time home with family and 80132. (Sharon Graves # 4060)

friends during Christmas Holidays. http://www.ecmi-usa.org/get-involved/give/ 12/7 ~ Youth Caroling at The Oaks

12/8 ~ RP Choir Christmas Musical, 6:00 PM

12/15 ~ Family Ministry Christmas Program 6:00 PM

12/17 ~ UMW Meeting 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Embers Room Anniversaries 12/20 ~ Family Ministry Movie Night, 6:00 PM

1 Terry & Sheila Weaver 12/24~ Christmas Eve Services

Thoughts from the Prayer Team 7 Brian & Sheila Smith All services will be candlelight services

24 Larry Jones & Pat Wiseman-Jones 5:00 PM (Nursery and Children's message) T’is the season for Presents John & Linda Kirkbride 6:00 PM Dinner 28 Rod & Amy McDaniel 7:00 PM (Nursery and Children's message) But the angel reassured them. ”Don’t be afraid!” 29 Steve & Shelly Dodge 11:00PM (No Nursery or Children's message) he said. ”I bring you good news that will bring 30 Roger & Carla Samson Office closed on Christmas Day great joy to all people.

Luke 2:10

This was the announcement of the greatest

present given to all of us. God gave us the

“Once there was searching, present of salvation through Christ Jesus. This

desperate and aimless. season, give as God gave to us. Give a listening ear, volunteer, give to a charity or a food bank, Lost in confusion, wisdom had failed. help a neighbor, or give to your church. Shine Greetings Brothers in Christ! Into the chaos, the answer God gave us; your Light for others to see.

His name is Jesus. We are hoping you're getting ready for the upcoming holiday season, and that you didn't overdo it on What kind of Present will you be? Now all is well!” Thanksgiving. We will be having our regular meeting on the first Sunday in December (12-1-19) at December Christmas Blessings 7:00 AM in the Embers room. We hope to see you then! Cathy Collins Birthdays In His service, Tim Collins, UMM Secretary 1 Brian Smith 2 Mathew Browning

NORTH KATANGA PROJECT

The North Katanga Conference has over 850,000 members. Their model of

ministry integrates personal piety and social holiness, resulting in congregations

providing health care, education, food, and clean water along with faith formation. In the midst of this vital witness of faith, the average salary for clergy is less than $30 per month, with many receiving no cash salary. Bishop Mande has made clergy wellness a priority in his conference. One area of focus within clergy wellness is Advent Conspiracy was founded on the radical idea that we can celebrate Christmas raising the monthly salary of clergy to $100, or $1,200 per year. If they were able to humbly, beautifully, and generously. Advent is the story of a wondrous moment when institute a minimum salary for their clergy, families would be able to send their God entered our world to make things right. It is the greatest story ever told and it children to school and provide healthcare for their families. In the DR Congo, changes everything—including the way we celebrate Christmas. education is not free – resulting in low literacy rates, especially among girls. The government charges tuition for primary and secondary school. The average yearly Advent Conspiracy reminds us that Christmas is a time to spend less on us and generously give to God’s people in tuition for primary school is $200, and $400 for secondary school. need. It is a period to give more relationally to one another, as God gave His Son to us at Christmas. Following are the projects chosen for Rolling Plains to support this year. We encourage you to read about each one, pray about Despite having no guaranteed minimum salary, the clergy of North Katanga continue how God wants you to participate, and give generously. to serve with joy, impacting the lives of people and whole villages. Imagine the gift

of hope and joy you can provide by supporting this critical initiative! The lives of pastors and their children will never be the same.

•Your gift of $100.00 would provide a family the ability to send their children to school and provide necessities of life. CASA MITSPA PROJECT COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL Casa Mitspa is a missional outreach in Romania that is supported by ECMI

- the organization that our Missionary to Spain, Sharon Graves, works with This Christmas, Rolling Plains will once again be joining with Orange and Compassion International to provide kids and throughout Europe. Last December, Sharon's missionary work took her families financial security through the gift of chickens, goats, pigs, and cows! Every child who receives aid, spends into Romania where she saw first-hand the abject poverty exacerbated by significant time each week with a leader who knows their name, family circumstances, future dreams, and immediate a very shame based culture. needs!

We invite you to share some Christmas JOY, which we define as finding a way to be happy, even when things don’t go In Romania, nearly 1/3 of every pregnancy ends in abortion. Many young women become in desperate situations with their families putting your way. Many kids around the wor•Chickensld are choosing –$40: A joygift evenof chickens though forthey a don’tfamily have in poverty enough ensures food to thateat, aa safechild place will pressure on them to have abortions. Choosing life for their baby to live, or a way to go to school! That’shave a where steady Compassion source of protein International and plenty comes of eggs in. toIn selladdition in the to market. directly By sponsoring providing a gift of live chickens, you give families the opportunity to sell the eggs and also hatch oftentimes leaves the young mother homeless and on the streets. Over kids, Compassion provides animals to many of their families to create a stable source of income through the sale of eggs, more chickens to sell to generate income. 1/2 of the children in foster care go into the program before they're 3 milk, and meat. We’re inviting your family to join with us to create an animal gift bonanza for these families! years old. •Goats – $100: A gift of goats means a family can have milk, which they can both

consume and sell to earn money for other necessities. By providing a gift of live goats, Casa Mitspa provides safety, housing, mentoring, spiritual care and hope you give families the opportunity to breed more goats, increase the size of their herd, for young mothers as they bond with their children and become better and sell the additional goats and goats’ milk to generate income. able to care for them. Mothers and their children can stay in this •Pigs – $200: When a family receives a gift of pigs, there is very little upkeep or need residential facility for as long as they need. for a large plot of land. Pigs reproduce quickly and can be sold for a profit. By providing a gift of live pigs, you empower families to increase the size of their herd What an awesome way to help God’s glory shine through us as a beacon of and sell the additional pigs to generate income. love and hope to a broken and hurting world!

•Cows – $450: The gift of a cow brings sustainable nutrition, farming productivity, •Your contribution of $100.00 to Casa Mitspa will go directly towards and cash flow to a child and his or her family. By providing a gift of a cow, you give providing a safe haven, medical care, and food for these young women and families the opportunity to have good milk to drink and sell. Additionally, families their children. will have a work animal to help fertilize crops. Eventually the livestock will produce offspring, and the families will have income when they sell calves.

Journey through Advent

Discipleship Pathways – December 2019 The Beginning of the Christian Year

3

In any journey of length, there will come times Journeys begin with a choice – Shall I go or when questions arise. A question such as, “Are not? Shall I go or not? Shall I stay and embrace we there yet?” is only one possibility. Other the known and the comfortable; or shall I go questions such as, “Should we turn around?” or and maybe find something wonderful, or “Do we really want to make this journey?” or maybe be unsettled, upset, or uncertain? even “Are we making progress?” may occur.

The third week of Advent is a time of Joy, a Perhaps you, too, have become suspicious of time of thankfulness for all that has been your GPS. You’re following the directions to a given—the promise of the Savior who has come, destination where you have never been and then who is present, and who promises a return. you’re directed to make a turn that doesn’t feel Each Sunday of Advent a candle is lit. The right. You’re in an area of the city that doesn’t Candle for Joy is often pink. The center candle look right. The directions keep coming, but they is always white (the Christ Candle), and is don’t seem to be on the right path. traditionally lit during Christmas Eve Services. Source: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/are-we-there-yet

December 1-24, 2019

Journey through Advent An Online Discipleship Pathway Study

Sunday, December 1, 2019 begins the church’s liturgical calendar with the season of Advent. Advent is a time of 3 joy, color, light, and anticipation, and it is a time of worship. This is a season that calls us to fall to our knees in worship of the awesome God.

Advent is the season where we remember that God chose to put on flesh and dwell among us. God reached down from heaven to touch the life we live. God chose to be born in the humblest of ways, in a manger, in a barn, or a cave, or on the side of the road. As we reflect upon The Creator God Almighty crying in the prickly hay, there is no proper response, other than worship.

At the same time, Advent is a reminder that there is more to come – that we are on a journey toward a new reality, a new way of being. It is less a remembrance of the first coming of Christ and more an anticipation of the completion of the promised kingdom. Yet, the seeds of the return and reign of Christ were planted in the first coming, which is why the power of Christmas is so strong. Our constant struggle is to pay attention and to anticipate the return of Christ and the fulfillment of the promised kingdom, even when our culture would rather us focus on the commercialization of Christmas.

So, how do we live in the balance? How do we anticipate what is to come, even as we celebrate the familiar traditions and the excitement and the wonder that is Christmas?

Join Pastor Alethea on a Weekly Online Journey throughout the Season of Advent as she weaves through the Gospel and the Hebrew Scriptures exploring the places of Peace, Hope, Joy, and Trust that our hearts long for. We will not be on this journey alone; many have been on this journey and longing for these destinations since the beginning of people following God. All those who have journeyed this way before will be our partners and companions as we travel.

http://www.rollingplainsumc.com/online-classes

As we travel together, some may find themselves more anxious than others. Some may prefer to stay where they are. Others may become so hopeful they may outrun and even overwhelm the rest of us! Some will just want the journey to be over. Others will be content to enjoy the ride. Journeys impact us in different ways, I simply pray that you will journey along with us.

Connect Online Sunday Evenings during the Season of Advent for study, reflection, and prayer for God to break into our reality and bring us the glorious fulfillment of His Promise! May our Hope remain steadfast that God is in charge, despite the conditions of the roads that we travel. May every event on this journey be a call to work and to worship in this season of Light.

Source: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/are-we-there-yet