Like any good hostess, she labored in the kitch-en while her guests reclined at the table. She bus-ily prepared the meal and later cleared the dishes while her mind anxiously bounced from one concern to the next. As she labored frantically, her heart became hardened toward her sister, who seemed to be oblivious to the mountain of work piling up in the kitchen. Finally, she could take it no more and asked the rabbi in her living room, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus answered her saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Lk. 10:38-42).

This time of year, it is easy to be distracted from the “one thing” that actually matters more than all the others. With various get-togethers, home decorating, shopping, baking, travel and

a host of other good things on our to-do lists; let us be mindful of Martha who substituted a good thing, for something that was far better. If every element of our Christmas season seems to go perfectly, but we fail to spend time knowing the Lord through prayer, through His Word, and through the fellowship of His people, we will have missed the point.

One of our Core Values at First United is Authentic Worship, and though there are times when it is authentic worship to serve like Martha in the kitchen, we must be diligent to see that our busy-ness does not trump restful time spent in-tentionally seeking to know Christ. It is my prayer that amidst all the good things of this season, we will know the joy that comes only from the “one thing”: knowing Christ the Lord.

December Church Calendar3 Christmas Store 9 am - 1:30 pm Family Center

11 Sunday School Christmas Program 10:30 a.m.

14 Sr. Citizens Coffee with Andy, Abby, & kids 8:30 am Fellowship Hall

20 Christmas Food Baskets distributed all day Little Lambs Christmas Program 6:00 pm Program in sanctuary; refreshments follow in Family Center

24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 pm 25 Christmas Service 9 :00 am No Sunday School

Volleyball Monday 6:00 pm See Kris Bridgers for info

Youth GroupsJr. High - Sunday 5:00 - 6:30 pmSr. High - Wednesday at 7:30 pm Not meeting 12/21 and 12/28

Sunday Worship ServicesMorning Worship 9 am - 10 amChildren’s Church 9 am - 10 am 1st & 3rd SundaySunday School 10:30 am - 11:15 am Fi

rst U

New

s Andy’s Letter • First United News • Spotlight on finishing the year

Milestones • Attendance • First U News • Church CalendarDecember 2011Andy Huette, Sr. Pastor Brett Monge, Jr. High Youth Director

407 W Seventh Street, PO Box 280, Gridley, IL 61744 309-747-2299 www.1stu.org

Dear Church Family,

2011 Harvest Party at First United

Grace and Peace,Andy

Thank you to Katie Zeller for the Harvest party photos.

Did you know “Joy to the World” was originally written in anticipation of Christ’s second coming? The joyous hymn was written by Isaac Watts in 1719 and is a paraphrase of the last part of Psalm 98.

According to Kenneth Osbeck’s book, “‘Amazing Grace’ 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devo-tions,” the song was intended by Watts to be a New Testament expression of praise. It was originally titled, “The Messiah’s Coming Kingdom,”and later adapted to be used at Christmas in expectation of Christ’s first coming as well as his second.

The Advent wreath is more than a decoration. Each part of the wreath carries meaning—pointing us to the redemptive purpose of Christ’s life and death.

Circle: God’s perfection and eternal nature.Evergreen: a symbol of eternity and of life.Holly: the points represent Christ’s crown of thorns, the red berries of His blood.Candles: The purple points to Christ’s royalty; the pink stands for “rejoice” from the Latin word, “gaudete;” and the white center candle is the Christ candle, which is lit on Christmas Eve.

Advent: The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important

JOy tO theWOrld !

Our Core Values Open Bibles One Another Beautiful Feet Spiritual Growth Authentic Worship

Spotlight on . . . finishing the year

2 3

Attendance & Offering11/6 305 $5,614 11/13 285 $6,995 11/20 340 $7,352 11/27 345 $5,099

December MilestonesBirthdays

2 Keri Hany 2 Jena Liggett 4 Isaac Porzelius 6 Linda Schoppet 9 Kim Edwards10 Ken Hall11 Dennis Foor12 Susan Laiming14 Jacob Richard17 Julie Blair17 Madison Rosenberger19 Lois Klein20 Drew Neal20 Gabby Stanhouse25 Ben Klein27 Jean Mollenbeck27 Bev Nelson29 Lily Wettstein30 Karmelle Meiss30 Hannah Wenger31 Tiffney Palmer

Anniversaries4 Mark & Stacy Ludy 4 Kevin & Kathy Yergler 7 Ben & Lois Klein 12 Bill & Denise Foor 28 Steve & Lisa Barnhart

Denise Foor delivered 84 shoeboxes in November.

Each year-end brings responsibilities and deadlines. Here is a description of some business that gets done each year.

Expenses/ReimbursementsPlease submit 2011 expense receipts for reimbursement by December 27 so they can be paid under the 2011 budget.

GivingPlease send your 2011 year-end giving to the church by Friday, December 30, 2011. Checks and offerings received in the office or offering plate after December will be credited to 2012 giving.

Ministry Team Reports The ministry reports for the Annual Statement are due Monday, December 19. Reports are needed from the leaders/ministries listed here.The reports will be included in the Annual State-ment and will be distributed on January 8. The An-nual Meeting will be January 15, 2012.

•Little Lambs Preschool•Team Chairs•Women’s Fellowship.

Christmas Post OfficeThe Sr. High Youth Group operates the First United Christmas “post office” every December.

On December 11 and 18, bring your Christmas cards for First United families. Drop them off in the Fellowship Hall. They will sort your cards and have them ready for pick-up after the morning worship service on those days.

Donations for their service are welcome but not necessary.

Youth Group BreaksThe Jr. High Youth Group will take a break and not meet on December 18, 25, and January 1. They will resume meeting on January 8.

The Sr. High Youth Group will take a break and not meet on December 21 and 28. They will resume on January 4.

Reports needed from:• Sr. Pastor• Youth Groups• Sunday School• Treasurer

If the weather is bad . . .1. Go to our website www.1stu.org and click on the “winter weather notice” tab on the home page. Closings will be listed there.

2. Watch WEEK channel 25 or HOI channel 19 for closings.

3. Callthechurchofficeat747-2299 and listen to Voice Mail. It will tell you if a service is cancelled.

4. Youth Group activities are cancelled on days when EPG schools are closed or close early for weather.

Postcards with this information are in the foyers for you take home.

Why Learn More About Missions?“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

—Jim Elliott, martyred missionary to the Auca Indians

Gain a better understanding and a new perspective on global missions in 2012. Perspectives classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m. beginning January 12 and ending May 3, 2012 at Eastview Christian Church.

The Missions team has scholarships available. The cost is:$275forcertificateorauditstudents$495 for graduate or undergrad creditThere is a $20 discount if registered by 1/1/2012

Please see Denny Foor if you are interested. First United has eleven alumni of Perspectives and we hope for that number to increase!

Sunday School Offering Offering Kids Fed11/6 $142.83 476 11/13 $114.36 381 11/20 No Sunday School11/27 $ 49.38 165

The First United Food Pantry and the Apostolic Christian Church delivered over 70 Thanksgiving food boxes on November 22. The Christmas boxes will be delivered December 20.

Jr. High FundraiserThe Jr. High Youth Group will sell candles on December 4 as a fundraiser for their Ice Camp retreat in February.

The candles cost $9 each and come in twelve different fragrances. Please see Lori Hardman or Katie Albritton with questions or to purchase more candles.

Thanksgiving at First UnitedTurkey Stats

At our Thanksgiving dinner on November 20, we served

362 peopleand ate 300 pounds of turkey, 100 pounds of ham,200 pounds of potatoes, and 450 dinner rolls.

Leftovers were sent to shut-ins, single men and families in Gridley.Thank you to Jennifer Morrison, Tammy Sanders, the kitchen crew and generous people of First United!

May the Spirit of Christmas abide with each of you in this holy season and throughout the coming year. Joan Widmer

Christmas Greetings

The baby bottle project raised $644.17 for the Pontiac Caring Pregnancy ministries.

Serving Together on Ministry TeamsWe have openings on our Missions, Worship, Local Outreach and Christian Education teams. TheNominatingTeamisworkingnowtofill theopenings.ThefinalslatewillbepostedonJanuary 1 and voted on at our Annual Meeting on January 15. Please contact the chairmen listed below if you are interested in joining one of these teams.

Missions: educate, inspire, encourage and pray for our missionaries, our congregation and our team. In 2012, will continue to develop plans to educate our congregation on the history of missionsaswellaseachof ourcurrentmissionariesinthefield.ContactDennyFoor.Worship: oversees the baby and toddler nurseries, coordinates Coffee Fellowship, communion anddecorating throughout theyear. In2012,will focusonthenursery:findingvolunteers,coordinating the schedule and implementing the new childcare policy. Contact Kris Bridgers.Local Outreach: provides support to individuals and families in whatever way is needed whether it be a simple phone call after the death of a loved one to helping with home repairs. Somespecificexamples:coordinatingRenovate,FirstUnited’sAdoptionfunds;HarvestParty,Easter Egg Hunt, and Benevolence Fund. In 2012, will place increased attention on helping people feel connected and building stronger relationships. Contact Todd Morrison.Christian Education: oversees Sunday school, youth group, small groups, Children’s Church, and Vacation Bible School. Looks for ways to help individuals grow in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Contact Brian Kurz.