FROM THE PASTOR'S PEN

Advent a Time for New Beginnings

"Behold I will make all things new." During this season of advent may each of us earnestly and diligently prepare our hearts and minds for a new beginning.

In these past months we have been engaged in a struggle to move forward. Moving forward while letting go of the past is not an easy endeavor. We tend to want to indulge ourselves in what has been familiar and has provided us with a sense of comfort.

It is a natural phenomenon to experience an inner resistance toward embracing something new and different. As a result of that inner resistance we labor ahead slowly. We lack the fortification which comes from having a sense of confidence. And our progress becomes slow and labored.

In our youth we began life full of anticipation anxious to experience change and newness. But as we grew older and life forced us to become increasingly more cautious; our anticipation dimmed

However, during this season of advent, it is imperative that we acknowledge change as the natural progression of life. As we begin the Christian Year, we also celebrate the Holy Season known as Advent. It is a time when we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Messiah. Advent means "Coming." We celebrate these days of Advent in expectation and preparation for Christ's arrival.

And so as we look forward to the birth of the Christ child let us embrace the holy mystery of new birth and new beginnings. As our faith encourages us to hope for that which is yet to come; and may we be open to a new thing that our God is doing.

Yours in Christ

Pastor Liz

A MESSAGE OF STEWARDSHIP Biblical Stewardship is personal responsibility for taking care of God’s property. The term continues to be used in these specific ways, but it is also used in a more general way to refer to a responsibility to take care of something one does not own. November is that time of year when our church focuses on the pledging of our gifts to God for the upcoming year. It is essentially our annual appeal for everyone to examine their personal relationship with the Lord to carefully and prayerfully consider what God has done for us and contributing your time and financial resources to church’s ministries is an important statement of your faith and an expression of thanks and gratitude for the blessings, which have been provided by our Lord. Malachi 3:10-11 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it and I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts.” I would like to share my testimony with regard to Tithing to the Lord. I prayerfully decided to trust God and put God’s word to the test. I can honestly say that we have never regretted obeying God with our offerings, tithes and time and have been blessed beyond measure in ways we would have never expected. Unfortunately, time will not allow me to share all the many ways God has blessed us at this moment without literally giving a whole sermon but I would love to share with anyone who would like to know how true God’s word is regarding this promise. Just imagine what this church would look like if everyone gave back a tenth of their income and time? Just imagine how much of an impact we could have within our community and beyond? I can only speak for myself but I am committed to continued tithing of my income and my time to the Lord. Oh, how true God’s word is and I invite everyone here who wants to experience God’s love to the fullest, to carefully and prayerfully consider bringing your tithes, offerings and time into the Storehouse, God’s house, our church and test Him to see what he has in store for you. Even if you can’t possibly see the way to take that total leap of faith in one step, then ask God to help you enter into His promise one step at a time. My goal in 2008 is to trust God beyond a tithe because He has been so generous with us just giving the bare minimal. I wonder how much more He will bless us if we trust Him even more then what’s required. Amen. Give joyfully: "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work." (II Corinthians 9:6-8) Grace Peace and Love Pastor Liz

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR DECEMBER What is the ecumenical or common lectionary? It is a three year cycle of scripture readings which each week includes a Psalm, a reading from the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament), and epistle reading and a reading from one of the gospels. The Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Episcopal and United Methodist churches are among those churches who share the common lectionary.

AROUND THE PARISH:

SHOPRITE 5% PROGRAM: Bellvale is participating in a Shop Rite fundraising program offered to churches and non-profit organizations. The grocery cards are purchased at a 5% discount and then sold at face value. The cards can be used at any Shop Rite or Shop Rite Pharmacy for any purchase amount. The unused balance remains on the card for up to two years. Kim or Scott Blumenberg will have the cards available every Sunday, following the church service.  Payment may be made in cash or by check payable to the Bellvale United Methodist Church.  Please support this program if you normally shop at one of the area Shop Rite supermarkets

 

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Part time Secretary needed:  The Bellvale / Sugar Loaf United Methodist churches are currently looking for a part time secretary.  The number of hours and days of the week are flexible and may vary week to week, but will typically average 3 to 6 hours per week.  Responsibilities of the position include organizing and printing the weekly bulletins and monthly newsletter for both churches and other secretarial tasks as requested and available (but not including answering the phone).  The wage is $10/hour.  For more information or to submit a resume for the position, please contact 986-1603.

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Continued Support for Wildfire Survivors

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) continues to offer support to those affected by the wildfires in Southern California.

How You Can Help

To give to UMCOR’s work in response to the California wildfires, please make out your check to UMCOR and mail it to UMCOR PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write "UMCOR Advance #901670, Domestic Disaster Response, California Wildfires" on the memo line of your check. Visit UMCOR’s website at www.umcor.org for online giving information or call 1-800-554-8583 to give over the telephone. One hundred percent of every donation to any appeal, including appeals for California wildfires, goes to support the designated program.

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Do you want to

	Enrich your spiritual life?
	Discover your spiritual gifts?
	Find a special ministry for your talents?
	Lead your church in new ways?

Then the district Lay Speaking course is for you!

The program includes classes on Planning and Developing a Sermon, Teaching and Preaching the Old and New Testaments, Healing Ministry, Discerning Spiritual Gifts, How to Pray, Methodist History, Interactive Preaching, Methodist Doctrine and Polity, and Evangelism. You will receive instruction and mentoring from people who are passionate about this full certification course. The program costs $35. The course runs for 6 Saturdays from 8:30am – 3:45pm Jan. 5, 19, Feb. 2, 16, March1, 15 in Danbury CT. You can register by emailing Elaine Winward at ewinward@optonline.net, or see Pastor Liz.

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Paulie Heath (www.paulieheath.com) will be at WVCN on Saturday, December 8th at 7 PM for a wonderful advent season concert. She's just returned from a concert trip in Africa, and her message is timely, seasonal, and inspirational. Paulie will perform music from her celebrated Christmas album, "Let Us Adore Him", which features timeless Christian classics as well as her own material. The concert is free and open to the public. Please join us for a wonderful hour of Christmas music and refreshments afterwards. For questions or directions, please call 986-3013 or email office@wvcn.org.

 

A WORD IN PASSING: By Joyce Bruner

"That my heart may sing to you and not be silent O Lord my God I will give you thanks forever."  Psalm 30, Verse 12

When my children were tiny tots, the big excitement of Christmas was The Tree….for my husband and I….a challenge. First, to find the perfect tree…tall, round and bushy, fresh cut from a Wonderland Forest, hopefully priced right for our budget. The children watched as we tightly-secured the prized Christmas Tree to the roof of our Volkswagon Beetle...the huge evergreen gracefully draped atop our tiny VW. Over mountains we drove home fifty miles squeezing the tree into the small-cramped elevator, ascending the basement slowly, to our second-floor apartment. Mission Accomplished! The beautiful Christmas Tree stood tied in the living room til Christmas Eve. After dinner, the over-tired children were bathed early, dressed in their new pajamas, tucked in bed with a Christmas bed-time story. Safely asleep, out came the treasured ornaments…strands of lights…yards of bright-tissue paper garland…. I quite happily decorated. The natural beauty of the tree was wondrous, it’s Woodland-fragrance gently permeating throughout the still apartment, unfolding a Peaceful Christmas atmosphere. The living room began to sparkle softly, radiating, from the tree’s hundred of mini white lights. Sitting totally exhausted yet happy amongst the mess of red-ribbon, wrapping paper, empty ornament boxes..I was enraptured by The Beauty and The Spirit Of The Season, my grateful heart overflowing for my young sleeping children, family, friends. For me, the simple magnificent Christmas Eve decades ago will always remain a precious gift….Wishing you
A Blessed Christmas of Glorious Beauty and Wonder.