ARMA/GRACE/MULBERRY

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

     DECEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER

8:00 am Worship Service -- Mulberry

9:30 am Worship Service -- Grace

 11:00 am Worship Service – Arma

Church School – following Children’s Moment -- Arma

COME WORSHIP WITH US!!!

************************************************************************

Pastor Don Foster’s Contact Information:               620-347-8336 (office)

            P. O. Box 489                                                 620-249-4313 (cell)

            Arma, KS  66712                                            620-347-8540 (home)

                                                                                    Email:  def@ckt.net

************************************************************************

            THE SONG OF PEACE

            “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace and good will among all people’.”

            Are we ready to listen?  What difference would it make for you, for your family, for the leaders of this country, the leaders of the world, if instead of concentrating on our differences, we came together in our unity of needing the love of God, and sharing it with each other?

            The promise from God through our Lord Jesus Christ is not only a gift, it is a claim.  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God, like Jesus.

            You cannot force peace.  You can use force to restrain the hostilities, so that there is an absence of violence, but that is not peace.  Peace comes as God gave it, with the expression of unconditional love.  We have tried so many ways, so many things, to learn how to live together, and still persons are fragmented, families are fractured, and racism is still a problem.  There are struggles and pain throughout the world.

            Why not try Jesus?  Why not listen to what the angel and the heavenly hosts said?  Why not make a decision this Christmas for yourself to be a peacemaker, not simply to claim the peace God has offered you in Christ, but to be a peacemaker.  Then, as you leave each encounter, you can say as Jesus did, “My peace I leave with you.” “Shalom” was the word Jesus used.  It means solidarity with God, at-oneness, communion with God, with myself, and with the world.  “Peace I leave with you.”

Pastor Don Foster

******************************************************************************

*****************************************************************************

GRACE NEWS

PRAYERS:   Please keep LaMoince Kabonic, Irene Jones, Vera Little, Evelyn Cole, George and Vivian Tretbar in your prayers.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Dec 24             6:30 pm – Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

During the month of December the choir will present special music every Sunday.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Dec 1               Morgan Brown

Dec 3               Debbie Grisolano

Dec 9               Drake Plain

Dec 9               Betty Eurit

Dec 10             Isaac Plain

Dec 16             Della McDaniel

Dec 21             Royce Taylor

Dec 29             Earl Trahan\

Dec 29             Justin Brown

DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Dec 3               Kathryn and David George

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126.3 NIV

ARMA NEWS

DATES TO REMEMBER:

Nov 30                        “Bring a Friend Sunday” – refreshments at 10:15 a.m.

Dec  7              Community Cantata – 7:00 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church

Dec 24             Christmas Eve service at 9:00 p.m.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Dec 7               T. J. Baker                             Dec 17             Dana Turgeon

Dec 9               McCarly Mason                    Dec 17             Zach Garrison

Dec 9               Nadine Comley                      Dec 20             Bob Adams

Dec 11             Terri Harris                           Dec 23             Joseph Hartzfeld

Dec 15             Dick Cleland                          Dec 25             Mary Kovacic

Dec 15             Sydney Webb                                    Dec 29             Hilary Unruch

Dec 15             Clare Garrett

DECEMBER  ANNIVERSARIES

Dec 11             Frances & Daniel Ryder

Dec 26             June & Phil Harris

DECEMBER GREETERS

Dec      7          June and Phil Harris

Dec      14        Carol Kessler and Wilma Lollar

Dec      21        Youth

Dec      28        Angie Fletcher and Phyllis Hay

U.M.W.

            The next meeting of the U.M.W. will be December 17.  Meet at the church at 11:00 am to carpool to the Pepper Mill Café for lunch.  The meeting will be held at the home of June Harris.  The item for Wesley House is soup.

            Try this menu from the Heavenly Delights Cookbook:

                        Stew (page 37)

                        Shelly’s salad (page 13)

                        Martha Gilmour’s biscuits (page 52)

                        Rice Pudding (page 58)

            The annual U.M.W. Christmas cookie sale will be Sunday, December 21.  Cookies will be on sale in the Nartex after the Worship Service.  Buy a container and fill it with your choice of cookies from a large selection.

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY

            A four-session Advent Bible Study will be offered at the Arma and Grace churches during the weeks of Advent.  The Arma group will gather on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m., beginning on November 30^th.  The study at Grace will be held on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. beginning December 1.

            The study will be based on the book If God Has a Refrigerator, Your Picture Is on It.  The sessions will focus on the qualities of God and the gifts that God gives each one of us.  Books will be available in the worship or at the studies (cost is $13.50).  The study based on this book will continue during the Lenten season.

            Everyone who wants to spend some special time during Advent focusing on what God says to us is welcome to attend either of the studies.

******************************************************************************

FINANCE COMMITTEE

            The coins for October and November are being given for the community Christmas baskets.  December coins are designated for benevolences.  Thank you.

UPCOMING EVENTS

“Bring a Friend Sunday” is scheduled for November 30 at the Arma UMC.  This is a great time to ask someone you’ve missed seeing at church or maybe someone new to join in our worship service.  By popular demand we are hosting a “coffee and cookie social” the same Sunday from 10:15 – 10:45 a.m.  Invitation cards are available from Linda Roberts.

The annual Christmas Cantata will be held at 7:00 p.m. on December 7 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  A social will be held afterwards in the adjoining hall.  This year’s cantata “Evening in December” is a delightful collection of new songs and favorite hymns drawn together with a meaningful narration.  Please make plans to join the community choir directed by Mike Doue with participants from Arma, Frontenac, Girard, Pittsburg and other neighboring towns.  A free will offering will go to Christmas baskets for needy families in our community.  A second performance will be held at South Broadway Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 10, at 6:45 p.m.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

United Methodist Church                                        U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Arma/Grace/Mulberry                                             ARMA, KS  66712

P. O. Box 489 PERMIT 6

Arma, KS  66712-0489 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED