(( 12.14.2008 summary ))

SUNDAY SUMMARY
December 14, 2008
3rd Sunday of Advent
Issue #374

NOTE: THERE WILL NOT BE A SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS AND PEOPLE BEING OUT OF TOWN.
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. -Jim Davidson Jr.


ALTAR FLOWERS: poinsettias provided by members of the congregation
to celebrate Jesus' birthday, and to remember loved ones.
The beautiful red poinsettias were arranged to form a tree on the altar.

FLOWER SIGN-UP FOR 2009: is available! First come, first "pick!"
January is filled. Let's work on February!

SERVANTS THIS WEEK:
Ushers: Diane White, Ron Austin, Bob Shepard, Jim Davidson Sr.
Greeters: Pat Sense, Marie Pless, Claire
Acolyte: Drew Davidson
Liturgist: Ruth Davidson
Children's Messages for December: Marie Pless (14 & 21); Pat Miller (28th)
Bell ringer: Robert Mueller
Scripture reader: Ralph Rohrer
Pianist: Mindy Jester
Soundman/Projectionist: Jim Davidson Jr.

PRELUDE:

PRAISE CHRISTMAS CAROLS: O Little Town of Bethlehem;
Good Christian Friends Rejoice; Sing We Now of Christmas;
Away in a Manger
Led by: The Christmas Choir

CHRISTMAS HYMNS: O Come, O Come Emmanuel; Angels We Have
Heard on High; That Boy Child of Mary

VISITORS: Tina Stratton had her friend Elizabeth Downard
with her today. It was good to see the Pattee family here today!

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: by Sam, Jamie & Tina Stratton with help
from Tina's friend Elizabeth.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ANGEL TREE PARTY REPORT: Jane Arnold let us know that five
of the 8 families attended the party. Thanks to all who
gave gifts or helped in any way. It's good to have such
a giving church!

SOCK DRIVE REPORT: 502 pairs of socks were delivered to the
Lebanon Children's Home on Saturday, by Nancy, Diane, Marie
and Linda L. Thanks to everyone who donated!
We have an 8 year total of: 3,542 pairs! Wouldn't it
be great that with the 9th and tenth years coming up we
could make that 5,000 pairs? There's our goal!

FIFTH SUNDAY OFFERING: $197 was collected to go towards
camp scholarships for BCUMC kids.

COMMUNION STEWARDS 2009: Time to sign up! Please see Lydia Mueller.
January 2009 is taken.

CHURCH COOKBOOK COPIES AVAILABLE AT CHURCH:
The Ladies Missionary Society sponsored a cookbook
and it is for sale with lots of yummy recipes!
There are several copies at the church for sale for $13 each.
A nice last minute Christmas gift!

SOUPER SERVERS: Pat Sense will be signing folks up to help
with food for the Irr family. Barb had surgery this last week.

GREEN JARS: Ruth reminds us that the green jars passed on
Sundays are for Food Pantry. The money you donate goes to
buy food to fill the shelves at the Food Pantry. They have
been running low. The day Ruth & Jim worked they served
28 families in an hour and a half. They have never seen it
so bare. Diane gives thanks to all who worked the Food Pantry.

ThIs WeEk:

UPCOMING:

Dec. 17: Choir/Music Practice 7pm
Dec. 19: Pastor Dwight's office hours
Dec. 20: NEWSLETTER DEADLINE for January issue - noon
Dec. 21: Men's Club Breakfast at Battle Ground UMC 7:30am
Let Bob Shepard know if you'll be attending
Dec. 21: Sunday School 9am; Worship 10:15am
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve service 8pm


SPECIAL MUSIC: String ensemble, Coley Sharp on cello,
Ralph Rohrer and Ruth Davidson on violins, with accompaniment
of Pastor Dwight on keyboards. A medley of It Came Upon
A Midnight Clear/Come All Ye Faithful. Very nice!

CHILDREN'S SERMON: Marie Pless
You know you all look so lovely today. You have the most beautiful
smiles. Keep it up! I have a story I'm going to tell you.
It's even older than me, from the 1880's.
A lamplighter went around the streets on a snowy Christmas Eve lighting the
lamps. It was a little town with one store where people could
buy their Christmas gifts. The light from it lit up the area.
As the lamplighter went around lighting up the candles, he
heard a sound coming from a box. At first he thought it was a dog.
When he looked, no there was no dog there. He really looked good
and it was a little boy in the box. The boy was shaking and
quivering from the cold. What are you doing in the box?
My mother and father put me here so they could go out and look
for a job. They've been gone a long time. The lamplighter said,
why don't you come out of the box and go home with me? We've
got some supper we can share. He took the boy home and told
his wife about the little boy in the box. The wife said,
I always keep some warm water on. Go in that room there and
you can take your clothes off and take a bath. By then I'll
have something good for you to eat. The bath warmed the little
boy up, but he was still shaking. When will your parents be back?
I don't know---when they find a job I guess. The little boy ate
supper then the wife said, we've got an extra bed and we'll give
you some extra clothes to keep you warm. You can sleep here.
The next day no parents came, nor the next...
The lamplighter said, I wonder if his parents will ever come back...

That's my story. I hope nothing like that ever happens to you.
If it does I hope someone will find you and take you home
with them. That's my story---I hope you learned something from it.
Dear Lord, thank You for bringing the children down for the
children's message. When we're enjoying Christmas,
let us think of those other children who won't have any
Christmas at all... Amen.


MOMENTS FOR MINISTRY:


JOYS/PRAYER CONCERNS

Please pray for Nancy Schnepp's niece Megan as she will have
sinus surgery on December 18th.

Diane asks prayers for her friend Nadine and family as Nadine
is now under hospice care. She visited her on Friday.
Nadine has been a good friend for a long time. Prayers for
Diane as it is very hard on her too.

Coley had a celebration that yesterday their choral group had more than enough
people come to help usher for the PMO Christmas show. Thanks
to everyone who helped. Thanks to Pat Sense and Faye and
Fred's cousin Sharon too. We had a great time and got to see
most of the show.

Nancy B. gave a praise that daughter Jeanne was born
42 years ago!

Carol asks prayers for her brother Glenn whose best friend
was killed in an accident. Prayers for the Sear family.
Prayers for Jen & Wes as they fly in next week.

Linda L. gave a praise and thank you for the flowers, meals,
cards and prayers for daughter Barbie after her surgery.
Prayers for her to heal quickly.

Ruth asks prayers for all those students taking finals
this week. Pastor Dwight asks prayers for those giving
finals too!

Willy asks prayers for her brother-in-law Roy who
lost his sister Mary Hayes this week. She used to
live in Woodcliff Acres and raised her family there.

Willy asks prayers for a nephew Jerry is heading back
to Iraq. They did get to have Christmas with him.
Prayers for Dean whose companion died of suicide and
it is very hard for him now. Prayers he will get the
help he needs.

Willy asks prayers for John's sister Sue who has a
tumor on her pituitary gland. Pray that it is benign.

Ron gave a praise that mom Linda is settled in Florida for
the winter and Derek is settled there for longer!
Linda was happy to see her house was painted after a couple
of days of being there! :)
Please send Derek a card:
Derek Austin, 10075 Gate Parkway North, Unit 501, Jacksonville, FL 32246.

Ron asks prayers for the Reagan and Wells families as Terry
Reagan died of cancer, the same kind Angie was diagnosed with.
Please keep them in your prayers.

Nancy S. asks prayers for one of her professors who will have
two aneurysms removed on Thursday. He has put it off since
last summer. (Professor Kim.)

Deb asks safe travel to Nebraska for Christmas.
She gives a praise for with all the hustling and bustling
around to this and that, they have had a wonderful time.
Deb had a praise that Spencer did real well in the Legos
tournament with the East Tipp team.

Prayers for those working overtime in the police department
to solve a case.

The pastor asks that when people hear Christmas carols, that
they will penetrate their hearts with the real meaning of
Christmas.

SCRIPTURES: Psalm 126(pew bible page 441);
Matt. 1:18-25, (pew bible page 681) read by Ralph Rohrer.

MESSAGE: "Christmas Angels: The Angel & Joseph" by Pastor Dwight Monical

I read an article about a 5 year old girl. She was raised by a
family that celebrated Christmas in a special way. They had
a birthday party for Jesus. They set the table, had a cake
and an empty chair for him. They had done this for a number of
years. The Christmas that she was 5, a friend came over and
asked her if she got everything she wanted for Christmas. She
answered him, "no, but it's not MY birthday." Wow! She understood
what Christmas is all about. The real meaning of Christmas, the
birth of Jesus. At this hectic time of year, we need to slow down
and reflect that Jesus is truly the reason for the season.

There's something that stood out for me as I read through the
Christmas story in the bible. See if you can tell what it is.
There's the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah. The angel came
to Zachariah and when he doubted him, he couldn't speak for
a while. But when his tongue was loosed after the birth of
John the Baptist he gave a wondrous song. When Mary visited
Elizabeth the baby in the womb was touched by the spirit and leapt.
The angel came to Mary and she spoke to him.
The angels came to the shepherds in
the fields. The first angel that came was Gabriel, bringing
glad tidings. Telling them to come to the manager and proclaim
the message of salvation. The other character in the story
is Joseph. What's the difference with Joseph than the other
characters? Nothing is recorded that he said. Everybody else
speaks something.

St. Francis of Assisi I think it was, that said, spread the
gospel all around you, and if necessary use words.
Actions instead of words. There was a monk who joined an order
that took a vow of silence. Every ten years they were allowed
to come before the order and speak what was on their heart.
After the first ten years, the monk said, "bed hard".
Ten more years "food cold." Ten more and he said "I quit."
The head said, no wonder---you've only complained since you've
been here! Actions speak louder than words---showing what's inside.
Do you say one thing and do another? Do you tell your kids,
do as I say, not as I do? Look at Joseph. He is a great example
of God speaking to man through angels. The word angels comes
from the Greek word Anglo-as, which means messenger. A person like
us who takes a message to someone else. Also means a message from
God. Messages come from God. The angels appears to Joseph in a
dream. Before Gabriel speaks to him, Joseph had been considering
divorcing Mary. Something had happened and she was pregnant.
In the Jewish culture when you pledge to be married, at that point
it was the same as being married. Joseph was a righteous man.
He didn't want to hurt Mary, and planned on quietly divorcing her,
not publicly. I'm sure he was heartbroken that Mary was pregnant.
He had to make up his mind to divorce her. He wanted to protect them both in a
bad situation. The angel said, you don't want to do that. Take
Mary as your wife. Now God's way is not always popular.
Were you ever motivated in school to want to be popular?
Sometimes I was the odd man out---I had friends in every group.
I wanted to be liked. Sometimes God comes to us and what he
wants you to do is not what you decided to do. I'm sure Joseph
wrestled with it. What did he do when he woke up? He did what
God said. He went and did it. Joseph knew exactly what other
people would think about his situation. They would call his son
illegitimate. Knowing that, how could he do what he was asked?
Because God said to. A message from God sometimes has us do things
that aren't popular. Not anything wrong or sinful, but just
different. He is a God of differences. God didn't give the
total picture. What he told Joseph was to take Mary as his wife.
What happened when he did? They went to Bethlehem. Then
Herod came on the scene. The angel said to Joseph, take Mary
and the child and go to Egypt. Egypt was their enemy, but God
said He would protect them. It's like saying to Israel, go to
Iran or Iraq to be safe. Joseph did, and they went to Egypt.

God has a plan for each of us. Do you know what yours is?
God, what am I called to do? What area of discomfort am I
to edge into? God's plan is always present for us individually,
and it is powerful, and will impact others if we do it His way...



QUOTES:

We pray that this joyous season continue to penetrate
our hearts and burst forth from us in words and actions
so others may be caught up in it...
-Pastor Dwight (prayer)

It's good to have the Choir today, wasn't it?
-Pastor Dwight

At this hectic time of year, we need to slow down and
reflect that Jesus is truly the reason for the season.
-Pastor Dwight (sermon)

God has a plan for each of us. Do you know what yours is?
-Pastor Dwight (sermon)


NOTES:

After church I was dawdling and was the last one to put my
choir robe away. It sure was good to have it on again, the
first time since Easter. Well, anyway, I opened the closet
and there were all the robes, and one plain little old wire hanger
left empty. All the other fancier hangers had been taken.
I took the little wire hanger and hung up my robe on it.
It might have been a humble little hanger, but much stronger
than some of those big pretty plastic ones! As the saying goes,
don't judge a book by its cover. We often do that with people
too, don't we? Oh, he looks like trouble, or she looks like
she came from the other side of the tracks... God wants us
to treat everyone equally. It's a challenge but I hope this
week you will tell someone you might not have, Merry Christmas!


See you in church!
-Nancy


I apologize for any errors or omissions.
Why not print out and deliver to someone who missed church this week?

December newsletter available at:
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/bcumcin
(Link on front page--click on
"December 2008 Newsletter")
If you can read online and do not require a
hard copy, please let me know.