Leesburg Return Address Service Requested! Service Address Return 45135 OH Leesburg, 333 Box O. P. United Methodist Church UMC Leesburg and East Monroe Charge Pastor Rich Allen ~ 780-9381 December, 2020 All are welcome to worship the Lord Jesus with us! Decmber, 2020 Hillsboro, Permit # US Postage Non Profit 45133 Paid LEESBURG UMC EAST MONROE UMC Corner of Rt. 28 and Church St. Monroe Rd. off of Rt. 28 119 Church Street 12524 Monroe Road 19 OH Leesburg, OH 45135 Leesburg, OH 45135 Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 9:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM Sunday School 10:15 AM Pastor’s cell: 614-309-1800 Pastor’s email: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] - Visit our webpage at: www.thelumc.com “What Gift to Bring” e will celebrate Jesus in W worship Sundays throughout Advent and on Christmas Eve at 4:30 pm as well. ll of us have those people in our lives who are I hope you will make it a priority A difficult to know what to get them for for you and your family to come Christmas. As we head through the Advent season and worship this King as the Wise leading to Christmas, have you given any thought of Men of old did. what gift to give Jesus? I think that is a fair thing to think about considering it is His birth that we are rateful for the gift of Jesus, celebrating. It would need to be a special gift worthy G of a King, the King of the universe, that is. Really smart people have pondered what they might give this King. any years ago, some really intelligent Leesburg Luminaria – Sunday, December 13 M gentleman travelled long distance to see There will be a Live Nativity from 5:00-7:00 Jesus. Matthew 2:11 in NIV says, “On coming into the PM in front of LUMC. Afterward, we will be house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and hosting the Luminaria Worship Service at they bowed down and worshipped Him.” We often LUMC, 7:00 PM. Once again, LUMC will be think that the gifts the Wise Men brought to this King providing cookies, snacks & beverages in our basement Fellowship Hall for those touring the in celebration of His birth were gold, frankincense, Luminaria celebration in Leesburg. Please let Val Stuckey know if and myrrh. The gift they really offered Him was you could donate cookies and/or snack items. worship and adoration. The gold, frankincense, and Thank you! myrrh were just outward aspects of their worship. ight I suggest that through the Advent M season, the gift Jesus would desire from each of us is the gift of worship. Our worship is revealed in our daily lives through obedience to His Word but is also given in our gathering together to worship Christmas Eve Services corporately with those in the family He came to Leesburg UMC Family Candlelight Service 4:30pm create. East Monroe Candlelight Service 8:00pm Christmas Bells — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow —Kim Hiatt I heard the bells on Christmas Day Thankfulness Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet December brings us to a close of 2020 with much gratitude for our church The words repeat family. Throughout the year we have made a difference in the lives of children & Of peace on earth, good-will to men! adults from our home town of Leesburg to a shoebox that traveled thousands of miles to just the right child. Those living in poverty in the Appalachia area have And thought how, as the day had come, benefited from our Christian love. We pray that all of these people feel God’s love The belfries of all Christendom through our outreach. We will not be having a December Mission Offering, due to Had rolled along our church Christmas offering. The unbroken song To recap our Shoebox ministry with Operation Christmas Child, our church Of peace on earth, good-will to men! donated 218 shoeboxes! Additional shoeboxes had been turned in when we arrived in Hillsboro on Sunday after dedication. This year, due to the skill of several Till ringing, singing on its way, church servants, we were able to include dresses in each of the girl boxes. These The world revolved from night to day, colorful dresses will be a blessing to just the right girl. As our youth packed these A voice, a chime, shoeboxes, we prayed over the boxes and were reminded of all the love put forth in A chant sublime God’s name. We know many of you also selected just the right needed items for Of peace on earth, good-will to men! your own shoeboxes with love. For all of you, big and small, we thank you! Then from each black, accursed mouth An Update from Travis & Erin Brubaker The cannon thundered in the South, Servants in Fellowship- Haiti And with the sound This info comes from their most recent newsletter. “2020 hasn’t turned out The carols drowned as any of us expected, and yet, God is good. I, along with many others, have Of peace on earth, good-will to men! struggled at times to see how God’s goodness is prevailing this year. The year began well for us. In January and February, we were able to host 3 construction It was as if an earthquake rent teams and 2 medical teams. During this time 20 homes were built, providing a safe, The hearth-stones of a continent, durable, dry home for a family brings hope to many who feel hopeless. Having a And made forlorn lock on the door means they can sleep soundly with no worry of being robbed or The households born worse. It also means they can lock up their home and leave to find work. As our Of peace on earth, good-will to men! plans for the year changed drastically, we took some time to pray and speak with community leaders in the areas we serve. We simply asked them how we could And in despair I bowed my head; best serve them as the economic fall-out from Covid-19 began to hit hard. Ways to "There is no peace on earth," I said; help were found, such as 60 Handwashing stations, made from 5 gallon buckets For hate is strong, with a spout at the bottom, were distributed to areas in Kago, Rue Frere, Croix des And mocks the song Bouquets, Montreal and Lafferonney. We purchase the buckets from a small local Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" “hardware” depot. Any chance we get to purchase locally from small business owners is an opportunity to invest in their lives as well as the Haitian economy. Masks became mandatory in all public areas in May, with fines and jail time Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: possible for those who didn’t comply. We were happy to partner with TeachHaiti’s "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; sewing program. By purchasing our masks from them we were not only meeting the The Wrong shall fail, pressing need of masks for community members, but also able to provide The Right prevail, employment for those doing the sewing. We purchased and distributed 1150 With peace on earth, good-will to men." masks! “ Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/christmas-bells-by-henry- To read more about Servants in Fellowship, visit https://www.sifministries.org wadsworth-longfellow Leesburg/East Monroe December, 2020 Bible Reading Plan Date Chapter/Verses Tues, Dec 1 1 Corinthians 9-11 Wed, Dec 2 1 Corinthians 12-14 Serving at Leesburg Thurs, Dec 3 1 Corinthians 15-16 If you are unable to serve on the date you are scheduled below, please Fri, Dec 4 2 Corinthians 1-4 find a replacement and let Elaine know, [email protected] Sat, Dec 5 2 Corinthians 5-9 Dec 6 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 27 Sun, Dec 6 2 Corinthians 10-13 Mon, Dec 7 Acts 20:1-3; Romans 1-3 Lay Leader John Welling Tues, Dec 8 Romans 4-7 Prayer Partner Kay Gross Jim Stuckey Amanda Keviin Gebhart Zimmerman Wed, Dec 9 Romans 8-10 Ushers Cap & Elaine Cap & Elaine Ken Davis & Ken Davis & Paul Thurs, Dec 10 Romans 11-13 Balsley; Ike Balsley; Ike & Paul Henson; Dick & Fri, Dec 11 Romans 14-16 & Cindy Cindy Hodson Henson; Kim Hiatt Hodson Dick & Kim Sat, Dec 12 Acts 20:4-23:35 Hiatt Sun, Dec 13 Acts 24-26 Greeters Dick & Kim Sue Barrett & Marcie Kip & Megan Mon, Dec 14 Acts 27-28 Hiatt Stella Lytle Bishop & Shoemaker Jennie Tues, Dec 15 Colossians; Philemon Weaver Wed, Dec 16 Ephesians Welcome Larry & Twana Jeff & Lydia Greg & Sharon Center Alicia Britain Zimmerman Duncan Purvis Thurs, Dec 17 Philippians (No Welcome Fri, Dec 18 1 Timothy Center in Nov Sat, Dec 19 Titus unless otherwise Sun, Dec 20 1 Peter announced.) Mon, Dec 21 Hebrews 1-6 Nursery Twana Micki Davis & Micki Davis Laura Hannah & Tues, Dec 22 Hebrews 7-10 Zimmerman Sharon Purvis & Sharon Daizey Smith & Ashley Purvis Wed, Dec 23 Hebrews 11-13 Leach Thurs, Dec 24 2 Timothy JAM Kids' Val Stuckey Marta Allen & Marta Allen Marta Allen & Kay Christmas Eve Worship & Amber Daizey Smith & Daizey Henson Foster Smith Fri, Dec 25 2 Peter, Jude Christmas Day Cookie Baker Stella Lytle Elaine Balsley Sue Barrett Micki Davis Serving Holy May still be served in pre-packaged elements, complying with Sat, Dec 26 1 John Communion health safety measures.) Sun, Dec 27 2 & 3 John Kevin & Twana Zimmerman; Julie Stauffer & Jodie Van Winkle; Cap Dec 20 Mon, Dec 28 Revelation 1-5 & Elaine Balsley; Art & Deanne Link Tues, Dec 29 Revelation 6-11 Wed, Dec 30 Revelation 12-18 Thurs, Dec 31 Revelation 19-22 New Year’s Eve LEESBURG UNITED METHODIST CHURCH EAST MONROE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Prayer Guide for December 2020 Daily: Pastor Rich and Marta Prayer Guide for December 2020 Our nation and its leaders & for God to powerfully use our church! Daily: Pastor Rich and Marta 1 Church Family – Richard & Kim Hiatt Our nation and its leaders & for God to powerfully use our church! 2 Church Family – Ike & Cindy Hodson 1 Young Adults – Alex Haines 3 Our Youth Leaders & Youth – Marcie Bishop; Eve Keir, John Keir, 2 Church Family – Kellis & Joyce