FELLOWSHIP UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 

 

 

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SOMETHING SPECIAL



 

 

DECEMBER 2009

THE FELLOWSHIP FLAME

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR (Johnny Liles)

 

ADVENT.  The dictionary meaning is “1. The coming or arrival, especially of something momentous”.  As in the advent of the computer.  “2. a. The birth of Christ.  b. The four Sundays before Christmas.”

 

I think of these four Sundays as a time of getting ready for the celebration of the coming of Christ – Christmas.  I don’t know for sure, but I have an idea when these four Sundays were first called Advent, that is what was intended.  I don’t know when that happened and it doesn’t matter.  What matters is how we prepare in our hearts for that celebration.  All of us will do a lot of thinking about Christmas.  It may be that most of our thoughts will be about the gifts, the dinners, the parties, friends and family.  It is my desire there will be some serious and significant thought about what God has done for all people with the birth of Jesus the Christ.

 

Maybe this will help you to think about the meaning of Christmas.  You are invited to write down your favorite Christmas Carol that is in the Hymnal or The Faith We Sing.  On Christmas Eve at 4:00 PM we will use many of your selections for the time of worship.  The scripture related to the Carol, or the scripture on which it is based, will be read as an introduction to each selection.  The “sermon” will be with the children.

 

Some of your selections will be used in the four Sundays of Advent.  I have to save “some of your selections” because I am sure you will select more than we can use.  We will also be singing Christmas Carols on the Sunday after Christmas.  It IS the Christmas Season, no matter what the commercial establishments tell us.

There are three other activities to be emphasized with you.  The first one is the service of “Carols and Choirs” on Sunday, December 6, 7:00 PM at Big Beaver United Methodist Church.  There are at least eight choirs from eight different churches participating.  Each choir will sing a Christmas Anthem.  All of the choirs will join in singing the “Hallelujah Chorus.”  That alone will be worth your effort to attend.  Between the anthems the congregation will sing a carol.  We are promised a visit by Saint Nicholas.  That is Saint Nicholas not Santa Claus.

 

The next emphasis is the Children’s Christmas program as the closing of worship on December 13.  It has been several years since we have had children to present a program.  I hope you will attend.

 

The last date of emphasis is the Liles Open House.  Wednesday, December 30 beginning at 3:00 PM, Lynda and I will be welcoming you to our home for food, fun and fellowship (we furnish the food and you furnish the fun and fellowship).  If you stay past our bedtime, we may go on to bed so you can go home when you get ready (last one out, put the dog out and turn out the lights).  Our address is 434 Taylor Avenue, Rochester.  Most of you will be coming from south of Rochester.  The simplest directions are: go north on Rochester Road; in Downtown Rochester, turn left (west) on Fourth Street and go until it ends at Taylor; turn right and our house is at the next corner on your right (a brick ranch with a brick paver driveway.)  We will be delighted to have any of your family and friends you will bring with you.

 

Lynda joins me in wishing you the most wonderful Christmas of your life.

 

The peace of Christ be with you.


UNITED METHODIST WOMEN (Liz Travis)

 

There is the usual reminder about Campbell labels and Education points (used by Redbird Mission). And don’t forget the UMCOR coffee – makes a great gift for a host/hostess during the holidays. But the most important thing to put on your calendar is the Annual Christmas Lunch on Tuesday, December 8 at 11 AM. Always a good time; a Christmas program is planned. RSVP to Liz Travis or Norma Wesch. (Lasagna and rolls – yumm!)

 



WORSHIP (Jeff Walker and James Sawyer)

By now, you’ve ordered your poinsettias and have the Christmas Concert December 6 marked on your calendars. Christmas Eve service will be at 4 PM on December 24; the “unhanging of the greens” will be January 3, 2010 following Worship. We’ll probably feed you as well.

 

 

A WORD FROM THE TREASURER (Pamela Kyle)

We had a very busy Fall Season at Fellowship!  There was much activity around maintaining the Church through painting of the exterior,  stain and paint in the Sanctuary, replacement of the broken sign covers on the road sign, and stripping and waxing of the tile floors.  The Church is shining like a new penny – and all of the bills have come due (just like at home!).  In order to complete this work, we took $5000 from our savings and when we were all done, we had spent all of that and were down to about $300 in the checking account!  These much needed maintenance / repairs depleted our "cushion". These repairs, as voted on by the Trustees, were not an extravagance.  It is critically important to protect the exterior of the building and the sign from weather damage and the floors are protected through proper maintenance, not to mention that all of these actions give us a great "first impression".    As we look ahead to Christmas and the New Year, consider  2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and reflect on God's love of a cheerful giver.   As always, a copy of the Treasurer's Report is available to anyone upon request.

 

A PRAYER FOR THOSE SERVING OUR COUNTRY (Jill Biden in USA Weekend, November 8)

“Dear God: I pray to give all of our soldiers the courage and strength to do the duty that is required of them. May they always remember our appreciation for the sacrifice they are making for us. We are thankful for the men and women who are willing to risk their lives to protect our freedom. I ask you to go with each one of them and protect them wherever they go. Amen.”

May we always remember how precious their gifts are and be aware of how much we support them.




PASSION PLAY IN OBERAMMERGAU, GERMANY (Joyce and Karl Henn)

Like to travel? Beginning July 27, 2010, the United Methodist Michigan Conference in offering a 9-day trip to the world-famous 400-year-old Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, and to other Alpine Wonders.

The play is presented only every 10 years. Joyce and Karl Henn of Troy First UMC are co-host (#52113) for this Christian-based Educational Opportunities tour. Phone Joyce and Karl Henn at 248.214.3119 or kmhenn248@yahoo.com. Brochures are available in Fellowship Hall.

 

 

 

 

WORDS OF WISDOM FOR DECEMBER

 

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors,
but they all have to live in the same box.

 

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
TO ONE AND ALL

 

 



 

 


This page was updated on December 5, 2009