The
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November 2009 |
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“And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Take
care!’ Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not
consist in the abundance of possessions.”” (Luke 12:15) |
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From the Pastor
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No
matter where we turn we seem to be confronted with some evidence of the
recent economic crisis. As pastor, I
have had conversations with individuals who have lost jobs or whose businesses
are struggling to survive. We see far
too many “For Sale” signs posted on the lawns of homes in our
neighborhoods. We continually hear
reports on radio and television that remind us that the economy is still
struggling to get on its feet. It is a
fact that none of us can ignore. |
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In the midst of this climate, we
come to November - the time of the fall harvest and the Thanksgiving
holiday. That first Thanksgiving
celebration came after a very difficult year of hardship for those first
Pilgrims in |
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Our church-wide emphasis this
month will hopefully allow us as God’s people of |
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On Wednesday evenings from
6:30-7:30 I will be leading a study to look at these topics in more
detail. It will be an opportunity to
explore together what the Bible teaches about financial management. If you wish you may come at 5:00 to share
in our Fellowship meal. Just contact
the church office if you are interested.
We will also be hosting a one-time workshop, “Road to Financial
Fitness” on Thursday November 5. It
will be lead by Terri Stocki from Consumer Credit Counseling Service and will
offer practical information on creating a successful spending plan, setting
financial goals, improving your credit score and more. Contact the church office (842-7251) to
make your reservation so we have enough materials available. |
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Near
the end of the month you will be receiving an estimate of giving or
commitment card. This is an
opportunity to reflect God’s blessings and celebrate the joy of generosity to
God’s work through the work of the church.
We invite you to bring your card with you on Sunday, November 29th
for our Consecration Sunday as we come together to celebrate God’s
goodness. Our District Superintendent,
Rev. Bette Poe will be with us to share the message on that Sunday. |
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I do hope you will be able to join us for
this time of study, reflection and thanksgiving. May we all discover joy through simplicity
and generosity. |
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Your fellow servant on the
journey, |
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Pastor Jon |
November 1st –
22nd Sunday After Pentecost Scripture
Reader: Debbie Hafler Greeters/Usher: Doris & Stan Saylock Ushers: Alan Plociniak & Ann Sowers Nursery:
Betty Koss Special
Music: Adult Choir November 8th – 23rd Sunday After Pentecost Scripture
Reader: Michelle Elmquist Greeters/Usher: Consuelo & Rebecca Brown Ushers:
Pat & Holly Reid Nursery: Betty Koss Special
Music: Youth Choirs November 15th – 24th Sunday After Pentecost Scripture
Reader: Gary Wodder Greeters/Usher: Wendy Simons & Jack Carling Ushers:
Gus & Vicki
Herman Nursery: Betty Koss Special
Music: Adult Choir November 22nd – Last Sunday After Pentecost Scripture
Reader: Donna Mela Greeters/Usher: Keith & Donna Tucker Ushers:
Ed & Marge Sebring Nursery: Betty Koss Special
Music: November 24th – Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service 7:00pm @ November 29th – 1st Sunday of Advent UM Student Day (*offering) Scripture
Reader: Dan Schilling Greeters/Usher: Marquita Krause & Gary Boam Ushers:
Chuck & Gail
Johns Nursery: Betty Koss Special
Music: E-MAIL Updates/
Electronic Newsletter etc.. Please note that the church’s email address is moscowumc@verizon.net. If you have an email account or have an updated email address
and you are interested in receiving church information and/ or the church
newsletter via email please let the church office know. If
you have requested the newsletter via email you should be receiving it. Please let Michelle know that you received
it and all was okay. You will then be
removed from the paper mailing list.
Thank you! COMMITTEES Ad
Council: Next meeting will be held
on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 7:00
PM. P/SPRC Next meeting will be held
on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 6:00
PM. Trustees Next meeting will be held
on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7:00
PM. Lay Leadership Next meeting will be held
on Sunday Nov 1 after worship. Aluminum Collection: The
Wednesday morning work crew collects aluminum to raise money for various
areas of the church. Please support
them by placing your aluminum in the blue barrels located behind the church
and in our parking lot. |
United Methodist Student Day Where does your gift go? Your gift on United Methodist Student Day, the
last Sunday in November, means a brighter, more promising future for United
Methodist college, university and graduate student:
If You Are a Hospital Patient Please tell
the hospital that you are a member of the Moscow UMC. If you would like a visit from the pastor,
please give the hospital permission to notify the church/pastor. All information is kept confidential.
December / January Newsletter – Friday November 19th Please keep in mind
December and January information should be included in this issue. Address Changes Attention all church members and regular attendees. If your address has changed, or if you seasonally go away and forward your mail please let the church office know. Since newsletters are sent “bulk mail” they will not forward them. They are returned to us and we are charged 50 cents per returned newsletter. If you go away and want to continue receiving the newsletter we need the address and dates you will be gone. If you want the newsletter temporarily stopped while you are gone we can do that as well. Treasurer’s Report Linda
Verrastro ·
For the month
of September we received $11,383 in the offering for the General Fund account,
which included pledge income of $9,194. ·
Based on our
2009 budget, we need $13,688 per month to meet expenses. ·
As of
September 30, 2009 we were behind in our pledge income by $22,415. Please try to keep your pledge
current to help us narrow the gap.
November 1 – Daylight Saving Time ends November 5 – “Road to Financial Fitness” seminar 7 pm November 5
– Donations Due Fall Auction (except fresh goods) November 7 –
Joe Corbi Pick up: 11am – 12:30 pm November 7 – Fall Auction 6:00 pm November 21 –
P/SPRC Meeting w/ DS @ November 22 – Church Charge Conference At
Maple December 5 – Breakfast with Santa December 13 –
Christmas Pageant during 11:00 Worship Donna Tucker will be collecting blankets, sheets, pillows, (clean and in good condition) soap, shampoo etc for the shelter. This is a year round project, since the shelter is open all year. The items could be left at the church and Donna will pick them up on Sundays. |
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Mondays in Monday
night November 16th at
7:00, Mondays
In presents Guitar Society of Concert will be held at Moscow UMC |
There will be an Election
Day luncheon on Tuesday November 3rd. Various lunch items will be served
throughout the day. Also, a bake sale
is being held throughout the day as well.
So come out support our country
and vote, and support our church and eat! |
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Annual Charge Conference November 22, 2009 3:00 pm As we did last year we will be having our Church
Conference in “clusters”. We hope this
will prove meaningful as it will give us a chance to interact with people
from other churches, and to share ideas, to “pick each other’s brains.” Our
cluster will be hosted by Maple Lake UMC on November 22 from 3 – 5 pm. Please
join us and show your support.
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CCCS Consumer
Credit Counseling Service Of A Non-Profit Community Service Agency “Road to Financial Fitness” FREE Seminar Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Hear about:
Call the Moscow United
Methodist Church Office at 570-842-7252 to make your reservation. |
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Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These
words capture well the state of mind of many of us in A recent survey found that over three in four Americans
are stressed about the economy and their personal finances. Half were worried
about providing for their family’s basic needs. Over half of respondents
reported feeling angry and irritable, and reported lying awake at night
worried about this. The report concludes that, “The declining state of the
nation’s economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people
nationwide.”1 Join us in worship this November for a sermon series
entitled Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity.
Our nation is experiencing what many have described as the “American
Nightmare.” Increasing consumer debt, declines in savings, lower income
growth, and a volatile stock market are all a part of our economic
insecurity. We have lived in a society that tells us “you deserve it now,”
whether or not we can afford it or really even need it. All of us have struggled with these issues at one time or
another. They are important issues |
that we cannot ignore.
This is why, this November we will be having a churchwide study and
worship emphasis called enough: discovering Joy Through Simplicity and
Generosity. During this time we will
explore what the Bible teaches us about financial management through worship
and small group study. We’ll hear
expert advice and stories about what others have learned by working through
financial challenges. Each week we
will provide you with some practical tools you can use to assess your
financial situation and develop a financial plan with a biblical foundation. At the conclusion of the emphasis, we will have the opportunity
to make personal commitments of our offerings to God through our church in
the coming year. We will consecrate
these commitments during the worship service on the last Sunday in November. I hope you will join us in the coming weeks as we look at
how we can manage our financial resources and truly experience simplicity,
generosity, and joy. Sincerely, Pastor Jon and the Finance Committee |
Should I use Electronic
Funds Transfer? Electronic
Funds Transfer (EFT) is the easiest, most cost-effective
giving option for both you and the church. With
EFT, you can reinforce your commitment to give your
tithes and offerings to God first, before anything else.
One easy step each year guarantees that the church will receive your gifts
on a regular basis, even if you are out of town or you forget one week.
And on a practical note, EFT reduces the time to process offerings. If you
choose this option, you must return
an electronic funds transfer authorization. For more information contact
Glenn Czulada 842-8804. Stewardship Program of Events: Sunday Worship: Nov 1 When Dreams Become Nightmares Nov 8 Wisdom and Finance Nov 15 Cultivating
Contentment Nov 22 Defined by
Generosity Nov 29 Consecration Sunday Midweek Events: Oct. 28-Nov. 18 Wednesdays,
Small-Group Study Thurs. Nov Terri Stocki from Consumer Credit Counseling Services
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Project Joy NP community reaching out to NP families in need With the beginning of
November upon us and Thanksgiving around the corner, the Christmas season is closer
than you think. We have all felt the effects of the economy and there are
many families in our community that need our help. Project Joy will try and
meet these needs once again providing gifts for children as well as complete
fixin’s for a Christmas dinner. This ‘project’ is
successful every year thanks to the participation of the Minisink Lions Club,
the NP senior class, Bills Market, the Sr. High youth group and the
generosity of Moscow UMC. Here are three ways that
you can help. 1.
Monetary or food
donations. Checks should be
made payable to Project Joy 2.
Purchasing
gifts for a child 3.
Offering a
helping hand Project Joy is scheduled
for December 22nd in the church social hall from 3-6:30pm. If you would like to offer
your support, please contact Debbie Hafler (842-9644). Thanks in
advance for all that you do for this outreach.
November 8th - 12:15
Lunch and leaf raking (weather permitting). 22nd - Short
mtg immediately after church for those attending Nightwatch. December 11th - 12th Nightwatch retreat in NYC at the Cathedral of St John the Divine. |
November 8th
– Fun Activity/Community Service 13th-15th
– Youth Alive 22nd - ShoeBox Wrapping December 13th – Deliver
Breakfast with Santa December 5, 2009 9 & 11 AM Tickets: $5.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Children Children under 2:
FREE Pictures will be available Added Feature – COOKIE Reservations Required-Call 842-2495 Coffee Cans for Cookie We will be holding a
cookie sale during the Breakfast with Santa.
But we need your assistance. We
need LARGE coffee cans. We have enough of the 1 lb. cans left over
from last year. A box is located in
the mailroom. We will also be needing
cookie bakers. If you have any
questions please contact Lorie Reigal (842-7413). |
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The
Sunday School has had a great beginning this year. It has been a joy to see
the enthusiasm of the students each week as they enter the sanctuary for the opening
Sunday School service. Teachers
have worked very hard and have developed wonderful activities to tell of
God’s love and care for all. I want to thank everyone for the support
extended to me and the energy they have brought to the Sunday School program. The
Sunday School students will begin practicing for the Christmas pageant on
November 8, 2009 and rehearsals will continue for the next four weeks.
(November 13, 22, 29, and December 6.) The
Christmas pageant will be held during the church service on December 13, 2009
at 11:00 am. We hope your children will be able to attend Sunday School each
of these weeks in order to be well prepared for his or her role in the
pageant. If
your child is unable to be in the pageant on December 13 please let me know
as soon as possible . My phone number is 842-8805. Thank you for your
assistance with this matter. Diane Croom Nursery Note We are in need of volunteers to help Betty Koss in the nursery during Sunday Worship. Under Safe Sanctuary guidelines we need 2 adults present when supervising children or youth. If you would like to help volunteer please contact Michelle Elmquist or the church office. |
Greetings from the music staff Our Church music program
has begun. Once again all music activities are occurring on Wednesdays, in the hope that this single
night of music rehearsals will make family planning a little easier for
everyone. The music staff welcomes back our veteran ringers and
singers, but we want to extend a warm welcome to anyone desiring to add their
talents in musical praise to our Father above. Your participation will
only add to our Church's musical family. Scheduling will include: Youth
Choir--------------------5:30-6:00------room 102 Childrens
Choir---------------6:00-6:30------room 102 Children’s
Chime Choir-----5:30-6:00---music room Festrival
Bell Ringers--------6:30-7:15---music room Adult
Choir--------------------7:30-8:30---music room For more information:
Debbie Hafler--Youth Choirs 842-9644
Michael Shoff--
Norman Cambell--Adult Choir/Director of
Music 785-3274 United Way Campaign It is the time of the year
that the local United Way Chapters are working on the pledge
campaigns. Many companies, possibly
yours, participate in campaign drives of their own and may offer convenient
donation paths, like payroll deduction and matching practices. You may not realize, but you have the
opportunity donate to our church through the If you have any questions
please contact Chris Bassi at 842-3505. |
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Christmas Angel Project -2009 Both United Methodist Home
in The friends and their
churches have always stepped in to help complete this ministry. Our goal is that every resident will have a present to
open on Christmas morning. With your
help, this will be a special and blessed Christmas for all of us. The Wednesday Morning Work
Crew and United Methodist Women have been able to provide 10 to 15 gifts for If you’d like to make a
donation toward this project contact Carol Reuther 842-9383 or Paulette Fotta
842-9971.
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GIVE
HOPE-GIVE LIFE-GIVE BLOOD Thursday,
November 12, 2009 What
You Can Do to Stay Healthy!
Provided by Donna Mela from www.cdc.gov site. |
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HELP – We need your eyes and ears! If you know of anyone in our congregation
who needs or would like to be thought of by receiving a card from our church
we would be happy to send them one. Please call 842-7383 with the
information! Thank You, Cong. Care/Card
Ministry Dawn Biesecker &
Carol Spadea Volunteer in We are offering VIM Training this Fall for persons
going to If you are interested, contact Mike Willis at mwillis1@stny.rr.com
asap. |
One Sunday in church a
little boy took off his tie and put it into the offering plate. “What are you doing?” asked his
mother. “What the minister said,” answered
the little boy. “He told us to give
our ties and offerings.” A pastor asked a
youngster: “Johnny , do you know where
little boys go if they don’t put ther money in the collection plate?” “Yes, pastor,” the boy
answered. “They go to the movies.” A young girl wrote as a
grade school definition: “Syntax is
all the money collected at church from sinners.”
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Bring the
whole family – Enjoy a fun night out!!
Annual Fall Auction
Saturday, November 7th
6:00 p.m. – Preview at 5:30 p.m.
Lots of Great Items to Bid On -
Including
~Gift Certificates from Local
Business and Restaurants~
~Gift Baskets of all types and
sizes~
~Handpainted and handmade items
for your home~
~Tickets to
~Certificates for help and/or services~
~Plus – Much, much more!~
Light Supper Menu Available 
-Plus Coffee/Tea & Dessert-
