FROM THE PASTOR…

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2011

DURING THE 10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE

Chancel Choir Christmas Celebration

The Christmas Celebration will be held on Sunday, December 18^th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. It will include a potluck meal as part of this special musical presentation. Turkey will be provided and all those planning to attend will be asked to bring a potato, vegetable side dish, or bread. Sign-ups will be posted after church starting on December 4^th. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Viebrock, Andrea Knutter, or any of the choir members.

“THE GIFT OF LIGHT”

December 24, 2011

7:00 PM

Communion/Candlelight Service

PASTOR KATHY’S REFLECTIONS

During the month of November, just over forty members of SUMC met in small groups to participate in the 2012 Visioning meetings. How wonderful it was to “document” the stories of each person’s first memories of SUMC: how touching it was to experience the repeating themes of passionate hospitality, friendships that have blossomed, and study groups that have endured. What an awesome heritage of love, learning, support and caring in the name of God!

During the Visioning meetings we also reviewed a summary of the planning activities of church leaders that resulted in action steps for 2012. The forty persons in attendance were asked to indicate which action steps “stirred a fire within them.” I am delighted to report that several folks are “on fire” with the following 2012 goals:

Be part of team to visit/contact each member who has not attended church in the past year

Be part of a team to develop and implement strategies to provide outreach/ministries for children, youth, adults, families in the Smithville area.

Complete training for a visitation ministry: three 1 ½ hour sessions to develop a lay team to assist the pastor with hospital visitations, home visitations, and life transitions support.

Participate in a monthly Prayer and Renewal meeting/group

Build Showers in the church to provide opportunities for persons who are homeless

Create a Community Garden

Invite a Friend to Church

BE PREPARED: next steps for the above 2012 goals will be coming soon, in addition to updates on new small groups to start in 2012 and other goals for 2012. If you were unable to attend any of the Visioning groups and would like more information, please contact the church office, Sharon Fairlie, or me. Each member of SUMC is valued and invited to share his/her gifts and talents as the church family begins a new year in God’s service.

Please pray for the SUMC church leadership and every member of the church family, as we worship together during this holy Advent Season of preparation and expectation.

This year’s Advent theme is “Shine! Light for all People.”

1^st Sunday of Advent, November 27: “The Light in the Window”

2^nd Sunday of Advent, December 4: “The Light in the World”

3^rd Sunday of Advent, December 11: “Shine a Light”

4^th Sunday of Advent, December 18: “The Horizon is Bright”

Christmas Eve Service, December 24: “The Gift of Light”

Christmas Day, December 25: “Child of the Light”

Blessings,

Pastor Kathy

Words from your Lay Leader- Sharon Fairlie

I just finished reading Rev. Mike Slaughter’s book “Christmas is Not Your Birthday”. I heard Rev. Slaughter speak at the Annual United Methodist Conference two years ago and was blown away with his message. He quotes some of the statistics of Christmas spending in the United States which I find staggering.

He explained his idea of giving to the church the same amount spent for gifts and food on family and friends. In 2004, after hearing about the civil war, genocide and poverty in the Sudan, Rev. Slaughter challenged his congregation at Ginghamsburg to do just that, match dollar for dollar a gift to the Sudan with what was spent on their personal gift giving. That year they raised over $300,000! Thus the Sudan Project was born. Now, through the partnership of UMCOR and the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Sudan Project has fifty two hundred farming families restocked with seed and supplies, programs for child protection and development have been implemented, safe access to clean water and more. New schools have been built and many young men and women have received life skill training.

This project has caught on in other churches where the congregation would cut back on personal gift giving to give money to local missions. Some family members buy fewer presents for themselves so that they can provide gifts to children who otherwise wouldn’t receive anything.

For me the true meaning of Christmas gets harder and harder to pull to the forefront of the holiday mainly because of all the commercials urging us to spend, spend, spend, for ourselves: gift giving ideas.

So as Rev. Slaughter writes: “Get Creative! What new traditions and family practices could you start this year to make every Christmas a more authentic celebration of Jesus? What excuses do you need to overcome to truly honor Jesus with your financial resources? What would happen if you put as much time and energy into Jesus’ wish list each Christmas as you put into those in your family?”

Rev. Slaughter writes: “How funny that it can be so hard to find gifts that will please certain family members or friends---the people who seem to have everything---and yet it is so clear what the Lord of lords and King of kings wants for his birthday. God wants you---your time, your talent, and your treasure ---used in service to others.”

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thank you to Sue and Rodney Ehnen for the chili lunch that they brought to me on Tuesday, Nov. 8th. I really appreciated it. Barb Kravec

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Thank you to all whom help make the Chile/Soup Supper a success. We served about 170 and made $2300.00 before expenses.

USHERS FOR DECEMBER

The ushers for the month of December are: The Ron McClellan family.

UMW will have their annual Christmas Luncheon will be Thursday, December 8th at 11:30 am. Everyone is welcomed to attend. Please bring your favorite dish. Come enjoy the great conservation and fellowship!

SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING

SUMC will be ringing the bells for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 3rd from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. No age restrictions. Please sign up as soon as possible. If you have any questions please contact Kerry Winans.

SUMC Music Notes

I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 104: 33

The Chancel Choir is working very hard on several pieces to share during Worship! We are rehearsing on Wednesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. We have a wonderful time each Wednesday and invite new members to join us at anytime during the year. We have begun working on our pieces for our Christmas Celebration. All voices are encouraged to come and make a joyful noise with us!

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2011

INCOME EXPENSES

Debt Reduction Funds 2,675.00 Conference & Benevolence 2,436.80

Flexible Contribution 85.00

General Fund 10,897.50 Non Pastoral Compensation 3,969.12

Misc Contributions Total Office Expense 276.40

Altar Flowers 24.00 Total Outreach/Evangelism 7.72

Apportionment Contributions 270.00 Total Pastoral Compensation (5,966.90)

Sunday School Offering 69.86 Preschool Expense 340.58

Total Misc Contributions (2,032.36)

Mission: Car Show, etc. 637.00 Uncategorized Expenses 1,659.50

(pie auction money to UMM)

Preschool 1950.00 Total Trustees/Utilities/

Maintenance/Insurance/ 5,938.01

Interest on loan - 1,419.89

Worship

Altar Flowers 48.00

Total Income 18,576.86 Total Expense 20,415.57

October Net Income: (-1,838.71)

The Trustees expenses amount includes the $2500 we paid to have the hill on the east side of the property fixed. We also have not dispersed the Car Show money.

The Cornerstone and Quest Sunday school classes will have a Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 10th, beginning at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome even if you aren't in Sunday school class. Bring a side dish for the dinner, and a white elephant gift for the gift exchange. The white elephant should be some useable item from your home for which you have no use (but someone else might?); do not purchase anything special. We will also have a contest for the ugliest holiday sweater or shirt (no purchase necessary, find an old shirt and attach the trimmings). Ruth and Russell are hosting so come to 4223 NE 160th Street. Their phone number is 532-8724. Maps are available on the bulletin board in the Great Room.

OFFICE CLOSED FOR HOLIDAYS

The church office will be closed on Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th for the holidays. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

BOY SCOUT NEWS

Smithville Boy and Cub Scouts thank all those who contributed food and money to the Scouting for Food Campaign. All contributions were distributed to the two Smithville food pantries.