FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
NEWSLETTER
December 2011
Our Mission statement: Accepting, Loving, Sharing
and Serving Jesus Christ
Pastor: Michele
Somerville
Worship & Sunday School 10:30 AM
108 N. Williamson Road
Parsonage
PO Box 17
315 Granger Street
Blossburg, PA 16912
Phone: (570)638-2008
Phone: (570)638-3046
Email:
Web: http://www.feelthesonshine.com/
msomerville@susumc.org
Dear Friends,
As
we prepare together to embark on the Season that is Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, I want to take the time to wish you the
very best the Season has to offer. I pray that you will experience God's love and presence in your life in many ways.
I pray that you will grow closer to God this year than you ever thought possible. I pray that God will use you in new
and wonderful ways and that you will experience God's grace. It is a busy time of year with lots of opportunities for activities.
The only way to get through it unscathed is to choose wisely. However you chose to spend your time, I hope that you experience
the blessing of God. It's been an exciting year in the New Visions Parish and in the Blossburg Church. God has blessed
us with new families and new ministry opportunities and challenges us to venture on.
In addition
to the opportunities listed below, let me encourage you to check the school schedule for concerts and special events.
"A Night in Bethlehem" will be held Sunday, December 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the
Blossburg Memorial Library. Come to the Village of Bethlehem, experience the census, and talk with the shopkeepers and townspeople.
Bring the children; there are crafts for small children and gifts for each family.
Saturday, December
10th there will be a Cookie Walk and soup sale and Nativity display in the social room of the Blossburg Church.
Proceeds from this event will go to our Mission Fund.
Sunday, December 11th the Youth
will be leading us in worship as they share the play God with Us? Our Church family Christmas lunch will be
held after worship. On Sunday evening at 5:00 the youth will gather to make gingerbread houses and do some Christmas
caroling at Riverside Park Apartments.
Our Christmas Eve service will be held at 8:00 p.m. This
service includes the play The Innkeeper's Dilemma. This service also will include candlelight and communion.
There will be a service at 6:00 p.m. at Covington UMC.
There will just be one service on Christmas
Day at 9:00 a.m. at Covington UMC. Children are invited to bring a small quiet toy for the Christmas Gift Blessing. Adults
are welcome to participate.
As you look toward the New Year and consider New Year's resolutions,
resolve to grow closer to God by participating in a small group study. For more information about The Story you can go to
http://www.thestory.org/. Small groups will begin in January.
In Christ,
Rev. A. Michele Somerville
Think Strategically. Think Missionally.
What's Your Vision for Living Out Our Mission?
December Altar Flowers
Dec. 4
- Available
Dec. 11 - Presented by: Bill & Penny
Swope
In honor of our wedding anniversary on the 29th.
Dec. 18 - Presented by: Connie & Daina Dawes
In memory of John & Mary Mattison
Dec. 25 -
Presented by: BUMC Family
In honor of Jesus Christ
Friendship
WOW!
Are we excited at F.C. At our last meeting we expanded our circle by five members. Our motto has always been: Love is
a circle round and round, the more you give the more comes around. Imagine what we can accomplish with God's help and five
more pairs of hands. When you are reading this, our first project will be completed. Our college students will be searching
in their goody bags to find just the right treat to get them through the next final. We trust they can feel the God hugs in
each of the items we packed. The Hope House items for December are body wash, lotion, and shampoo. If you would
like to help out, bring your items to the church, and we will take care of the delivery. Our Christmas party will be
at the Wren's Nest in Mansfield on Wed., Dec.7 at 6:00 pm. Members will be contacted about reservations. Bring a $10.00 wrapped
gift to exchange. On Sunday, Dec.18 following worship we will pack our traditional Christmas Love Baskets with fresh
fruit and homemade cookies to be delivered to some very special people. We hope that all of our church family will have
a blessed Advent and Christmas.
The ever-expanding Friendship Circle
Thank you!
We hosted our second annual Parish Veteran Dinner on Sunday, November
13th. Everyone enjoyed the delicious spaghetti and brownie sundae desserts. Thank you to all who donated
money, supplies and labor for the dinner. It takes a team of great people to host this successful event each year, and
I am eternally grateful!
Carmen
A Night in Bethlehem
Looking for a way to celebrate Christmas with your family without spending any money?
Come to "A Night in Bethlehem" at the Blossburg Memorial Library Community Room on Sunday, December 4th
from 6:00 p.m .to 8:00 p.m. and walk into the Village of Bethlehem. "A Night in Bethlehem" is a special program
from Group Publishing. You and your family will have the chance to go through the Census, have your pictures taken if
you wish, and visit a variety of Bethlehem villagers and craft persons. Your children will be able to try out a variety
of crafts. There are gifts for the whole family, and everything is free. Visit the Village Blacksmith at his shop, talk with
the bread maker, and take home a small loaf of bread. Visit the well for a drink of refreshing water or cocoa and more.
This event is sponsored by leaders and members of eight Blossburg area Christian Churches. All are welcome. For more
information contact Pastor Michele Somerville, New Visions United Methodist Parish at (570) 630-3046.
Church Family Christmas Party
A pot luck lunch will be held on Sunday, December 11th immediately following worship.
Christmas Adopt-a-family
Our Church family will again be adopting a local family for Christmas. A sign-up
sheet will be placed in the back of the Sanctuary for anyone who would like to share their blessings with a needy family.
If interested, you will sign up to purchase a gift for a parent or child (a list of needed items will be on the paper). The
sign up sheet should be available on Sunday, November 27. If you have questions, please call Shelby Kinsey at 638-0328
or 404-0047.
COOKIE & SOUP SALE
&
Nativity Display
Blossburg United Methodist Church
December 10th (Saturday) 12 ‘til 5
Home
Made Cookies For Sale by the Dozen (12 ‘til gone)
Home Made Soup by the Quart or the Bowl (12 ‘til gone)
Come and see the many beautiful Nativities
that will be displayed in the Church Social Hall
(Admission Donations
will be accepted for the Mission Fund)
Call Wendy @ 659-5649 for
more details
or to add your Nativity to this beautiful display!!
December Birthdays
1 Betty
Lou Johnston
5 Dean Hall
Alice Sillaman
6
Betty Kuster
15 Tom Augustine
Chelsea
Wood
16 Tim Kinsey
19
Bill Swope
25 Jesus the Christ
27
Jeff Herbst
Camden Wilcox
29 Daniel Hicks-Lee
Celebrating Anniversaries
1
Wendy & Les Albor
22 Julie & Mike Johnston
25 LuRilla & Dick Kraly
29
Penny & Bill Swope
December Nursery Attendants
4th Amy Augustine & Kathy Brooks
11th June Otis
& Peggy Schmouder
18th Lauren Brooks & Rose Wesneski
25th
WORSHIP AT COVINGTON UMC
Advent
means "coming," of course, and the promise of Advent is that what is coming is an unimaginable invasion. The mythology
of our age has to do with flying saucers and invasions from outer space, and that is unimaginable enough. But what is upon
us now is even more so - a close encounter not of the third kind but of a different kind altogether. An invasion of holiness.
That's what Advent is all about.
- Frederick Buechner, Listening to Your Life
A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away;
While
quite unselfish, it grows small.
- Eva K. Logue
Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child,
a good example.
To yourself, respect.
- Oren Arnold
Christmas is about much more than a baby in a stable. It is about being found in a stable.
It is about being found by God. God has chosen to be with us, wherever we are, whatever we have done, and in God's good time
we will be fully restored to our lost home. We will climb back into the lap of the One who loves us, and be held, embraced
and fed.
- Gretchen Wolff Pritchard,
Christian Century
December
FLOOD RECOVERY
IN
BRADFORD COUNTY
- Organized
by the Wellsboro District Volunteers In Mission (VIM)
- Many work dates:
Wednesday, Nov. 30 Thursday, Dec. 1
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Saturday, Dec. 10
Tuesday, Dec. 13 & Wednesday,
Dec. 14
Wednesday, Dec. 21 Thursday, Dec. 22
- There will be work but at this time where and when are yet to be determined.
- The ladies of the Athens UMC provide lunch
- Wear long pants and long sleeves, boots,
hats, eye protection, gloves
- Bring tools for rebuilding
- Please
call or e-mail Carl Koch at 570- 418-0318 or ckoch@epix.net to let him know you are coming.
- For more information contact Carl Koch
- Please pray for all of those affected by the flooding.
- There will be many volunteer
opportunities in the coming months
Alpha circle
Four of our circle enjoyed lunch and a brief business meeting at Momma's Restaurant on Friday, November 4. Since we
are so few in number, we decided to forgo a catered Christmas lunch this year. The date for getting together will be
on December 14. Plans were made to have a gift exchange and also have gifts to deliver to our shut-ins and nursing home
friends. Please join us with your prayers for Doris LeBlanc as she recovers from a mini-stroke. She has begun
therapy at Broad Acres in Wellsboro. We pray that she will make a good recovery and be able to be home soon.
May God richly bless
you in the coming holiday season as he has each member of our circle. We look forward to celebrating a New Year.
Hugs & God bless
Alphas
LOOKING AHEAD TO JANUARY
Senior Citizen's
Luncheon -Wed., Jan.18, 2012. We serve a hot lunch at 12:00 with a program to follow. What could be better
on a cold January day than food and fellowship? We don't have a good definition for a Senior Citizen, so if you are
available at noon on a Wednesday, chances are you are one. Whoever you are--you are welcome at Blossburg United Methodist
Church. Reservations are always appreciated. Joann Ogden
The Community Blood Bank has changed our date to January 27, 2012 (Noon-5:00 pm)
Please keep this date in your memory or write it on your calendar. Pray for no snow
Alphas
Coming
in January!
Get
ahead of the crowd and register for a transforming experience. Grow! Study! Pray!
Cost of the book is $20.00, but scholarship assistance is available. Don't let a lack of funds keep you from
this opportunity.
Check out the website http://www.thestory.com/
Register by emailing, calling Pastor Michele, or completing form in Sunday's
bulletin.
Small group sessions begin the week of January 4, 2012.
HOLA!!! Me llamo es Alejandra !!! Hello!
My name is Alejandra !!!
The Mission Team met a few weeks ago, and we were very excited about sponsoring Alejandra! The amount that is needed
for her sponsorship is $500. We will be selling paper apples to be placed on the tree inside the sanctuary for the next
4 weeks. Your donation of any amount can be placed in the basket, and an apple will be added! Please feel free to write
your name on the apple or if you would like....a small note to Alejandra could be written. The $500 that we will raise will
pay for Alejandra's school uniform, school supplies and tuition for her 2nd grade school year. She will be
attending a very well respected private Christian school named Covanic.
Alejandra is part of the Mission Work of Kathy August and El Farito (Kathy's pre-school). I have worked with Kathy for
the past 8 years when I have been in Nicaragua. She is a licensed Elementary Teacher in the states and operates her Nicaraguan
pre-school much like they are here in the states. She prepares her students for Kindergarten and has found the need
to send them on to private schools in the area. These schools, especially Covanic, provide an education that is comparable
to ours here in the states! This is a tremendous gift! Kathy had no idea that she would be sponsoring more than 30 students
in private school when she started this program 10 years ago. Kathy needs our help! Wendy will take the money with her when
she goes to Nicaragua in January and will get to meet Alejandra! Let's start a relationship with Alejandra that will
last for years! Thank you for your support! (Visit
http://www.alongsideministries.org/ ) |
. I am 7 years
old. My birthday is June 12th. I will be going into 2nd grade when I go back to school in
February! I live in a small village outside of Managua, Nicaragua
called Cedro Galan! Our Mission Team has chosen Alejandra as one of your sponsorships for the year 2012 and beyond! |
Donate any amount and place a Red Paper
Apple on the tree in the Sanctuary! Please write a note to Alejandra on the apple and it will be given to her in January! Take a picture of Alejandra home with you and pray for her and her family! |
Christmas Flowers 2011
As in the past, you may give a monetary gift "to honor" or
"in memory" of a loved one by sponsoring a silk poinsettia or wall wreath which we will use to decorate the sanctuary
during this and future Advent Seasons.
Please place your order in the collection
plate or mail to the church office by December 18, 2011.
Silk Poinsettias
$10.00_________
Wall Wreaths
$20.00_________
Book of Memory Donation
_______________
Total Amount _____
Given by ____________________________________________________
In Honor or Memory of ________________________________________
Given
by ____________________________________________________
In Honor or Memory of ________________________________________
Given by ____________________________________________________
In
Honor or Memory of ________________________________________
Please make all checks payable to FUMC Book of Memory. Your order may be placed in the
offering plate on Sunday morning or mailed to FUMC, PO Box 17, Blossburg, PA 16912
