First United Methodist Church

Canton United Methodist Church

1221 Wesley Drive, Rice Lake, WI 54868

Address Service Requested

December 2013

The Circuit Writer

NON-PROFIT ORGAN.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

RICE LAKE, WI PERMIT NO. 17

First United Methodist Church

1221 Wesley Dr., Rice Lake, WI 54868

(715) 234-3919

Fax: (715) 434-5848

Email: ricelake@wisconsinumc.org

Website: www.RiceLakeUMC.org

Sunday School: 9:00 am (2nd & 4th Sundays until Jan.)

Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 am

All our Rice Lake worship services can be heard on

your telephone by dialing (715) 458-3604.

Canton United Methodist Church

2408 15 3/8 Ave., Rice Lake, WI 54868

Office: 1221 Wesley Dr., Rice Lake, WI

(715) 234-3919

Email: ricelake@wisconsinumc.org

Sunday School: 9:00 am (2nd & 4th Sundays)

Worship Service: 9:00 am

Pastor– James Altman

Cell#- 715-864-6165 In Case of Emergency

Office Manager- Stephanie Byrnes-Hampton

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm

December Volunteers Ushers

1 Dave & Rayne Semple/ Donna Cook and Pat Turgeson

8 Bill & Nancy Zabel and The Hanaman Family

15 The Wille Family

22 Neil & Sue Tollander and George & Ruth Landis

29 Jerry & Shirley Olson and John & Lori Rae

Counters David Bandli and Ken George

Greeters Liturgists 1 Mavis Rimling 1 Jason Rae

8 TBA 8 Becki Lindeman

15 Connie Kilcoyne 15 Larry Neve

22 Dana Bundgaard 22 Karen Rindsig

29 Margaret Maust 29 Bruce Kaupanger

Committee of the Month *Bill & Nancy Zabel *Bonnie Starkey

Joe & Margie Haines Frank & Arlene Hougas

Herb & Mary Jane Melbye Lisa Mink

Brian & Kyra Larson Curtis & Jeanne Kemmitz

Effie Arnold

Acolytes

1 Anna Taylor 8 McKenna Maki

15 Taylor Maki 22 Anna Taylor

29 Taryn Maki

Reverend Jim Altman December 2013

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H O F R I C E L A K E C A N T O N U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

C I R C U I T W R I T E R

Scriptures &

Sermon Titles

December 1st

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

“Salvation Is Nearer”

December 8th

Romans 15:4-13

Matthew 3:1-12

“Living In Harmony”

December 15th

Isaiah 35:1-10

Luke 1:47-55

“Lo, How a Rose e’er

Blooming”

December 22nd

Isaiah 7:10-16

Matthew 1:18-25

“Signs and Omens”

December 29th

Hebrews 2:10-18

Matthew 2:13-23

“Triumph and Trag-

edy”

“Fast Away, the Old Year Passes”

A Cantata is a piece of choral music. Cantate means to sing.

What’s in a song?

For several years, the Chicago Tribune published a series of articles by William

Studwell, a librarian from Northern Illinois University, on Christmas Carols. Studwell

adopted this definition of the carol from The Oxford Book of Carols: “Carols are songs

with a religious impulse that are simple, hilarious, popular, and modern . . . The typical

carol gives voice to the common emotions of healthy people in language that can be un-

derstood and music that can be shared by all.” He believed the annual observance of

Christmas to be “the most important single phenomenon in the Western calendar” and that

Christmas Carols were “the most important single group (of songs) contributing to the

yearly functioning of Western Society. We may say that we weary of Christmas Carols,

but the fact is we Westerners need them to make sense of our world and sustain us

through the long months in between Christmases. Studwell found that the average Ameri-

can was familiar with only about fifty of the many hundreds of Christmas Carols, a fact

which made the cultural influence of the carol even more striking. However, as well as

we may know those old familiar carols, we may not always know what we’re singing and

why.

For example, the oldest meaning of the word carol is a dance. When we sing,

“Follow me in merry measure,” we are referring to a specific kind of dancing game.

Dancers would dance in a ring around a harpist. The verses would be extemporized (made

up on the spot), and a participant would drop out when he or she would fail to sing a new

verse. Originally, the harpist would play the "answering bars" but nonsense syllables (Fa

la la la la la, etc.) were substituted when harpers weren’t available. In the cold and snow,

minus central heat and proper insulation, keeping the dance going was often an important

part of surviving the chill of winter. "Troul (troll) the ancient Christmas carol" means to

sing loudly or boldly, and can also mean to sing a song's verses repeatedly, as in a round.

So, what’s your new 2014 verse? Can we keep the dance going another year?

A misplaced comma, has long obscured the true meaning of “God Rest Ye Merry,

Gentlemen (Gentle-people).” We’ve sung it, “God rest ye, merry gentlemen,” which

doesn’t really match the rest of the verse that encourages us to remember that Christ our

Savior was born on Christmas Day. “God rest ye merry” is an old English phrase that

means to rest without worry, not about the amount of merriment the gentlemen had before

they sought to rest. In the dim dark days of December, when common people worried if

they could survive the harshness of winter, they sang to each other, “God rest ye merry,”

to assure each other that Jesus was born in December to save us all from death. So,

“tidings of comfort and joy.” Visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads. T.S. Eliot

wrote, “At the still point of the turning world . . . there is the dance.” It takes at least two

to Tango and Christmas is meant to involve groups of comforting and rejoicing people

“doing the dance”; to sustain each other and, by virtue of this Jingle-Bell Rock, to sustain

our world.

1

9:00 Choir

6:30 Bless Me,

Father

2

6:30 Handbell

practice

DB @ St. Joseph

3

9:00 Pastor’s

Meeting

7:00 Choir

4

3:15 FUMY

6:00 UMW

5

1:30 Missions

6 7

8 Sunday School

9

6:30 Handbell

practice

DB @ RL

10

9:00 Pastor’s

Meeting

6:45-8:15 Choir

11

3:15 FUMY

12 13 14

15 RL Sunday

School

9:00 Choir

RL Cantata

Charge Confer-

ence 12:00 at

Canton– Potluck

16

Newsletter Dead-

line

6:30 Handbell

practice

DB @ St. Johns

17

9:00 Pastor’s

Meeting

18

3:15 FUMY

7:00 Ad Council

19

Building in Use–

Hilltop Teachers

Deadline for

Heritage Manor

Gifts

20 21

22 C Sunday

School

Canton Ornament

Day

9:45 Choir

23

6:30 Handbell

practice

24 Christmas Eve

Rice Lake

4:00 Tropical

Island Christmas

8:00 Traditional

Candle Light

Service

Canton

6:00 Traditional

Candle Light

Service

25

Christmas Day

Office Closed

26

Stephanie taking

vacation day.

27 28

29

Loud Offering for

PPP

Nursing Homes

30

6:30 Handbell

practice

31

9:00 Newsletter

folders

2013 Offerings

need to be turned

in by noon.

Jan. 1

Happy New Year

Office closed

2

Office open 9-4

3 4

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

December 2013

DB= Dartball FUMY= First United Methodist Youth UMW= United Methodist Women

The mitten

tree is in the

narthex.

Please do what

you can to

help.

Canton United Methodist Church News

Joshua 1:9 “Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go."

The anticipation of Canton's 2013 Homecoming was all that we

hoped and prayed for. Rev Arvid Moin related how important our mentors are in our lives as he recalled names and how each influ-enced him. Those lasting friends helped him in his relationship

with God and Jesus. Roger Harrison was the usual spirit filled vo-calist as he witnessed with the "older hymns". As the closing

hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" was sung, it was evident that the Lord had plans for the Canton Church to continue our minis-try. Thanks to everyone who made the day so special.

Charge Conference is December 15th, following Church in Can-ton...followed by "Pot-Luck". This is always a great time for both

churches to fellowship.

Advent begins December 1st! We are invited to open ourselves to God's seeking, active Spirit. Like Mary, we can ponder what God

says to us in Scripture. The busyness of the world is stilled: we pay attention, trust in

God's promises, and wait together in joyful anticipation. Enrich your Advent worship as we all gather together and await the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Love one another, and be a blessing!

December 22nd– Special Ornament Day. Place an ornament on the tree in honor or memory of someone special. Label the ornament with that special person’s name.

Christmas Eve Service will be a Traditional Candle Light Service at 6:00 pm.

December Birthdays 1- Cole Halvorson

6- Carole Crisler

17- Sharon Hagberg

20- Bill Jahnke

23- Mike Demers

30- Diane Siewert

A Tale of the Candy Cane

The account of the candy cane’s origins circulates every Christmas season and is more likely a fun story than

historical fact. No matter; tales often contain truth. This tasty treat can convey important elements of our

Christian faith.

The stripes remind us of the heart of Christmas, our Savior, Jesus: white for his pu-

rity; red for his blood shed on the cross. The candy cane resembles the curved staffs

of the shepherds — the first people to visit the Christ-Child and worship at the man-

ger. And when the cane is turned upside down, it becomes a letter J, for “Jesus.”

Indeed, Jesus turns our lives upside down and inverts our presumptions: A poor

baby born in a stable becomes King of kings and Lord of lords; enemies aren’t for

hating but loving; blessings aren’t for hoarding but sharing; the world works for war,

but Jesus calls us to live in peace; receiving is better than giving; sinners are made

saints; and death is conquered as God grants us eternal life.

December Birthdays

1- Alexis Scalzo

2- Linda Dufner

2- Bernie Kahl

3- Anna Taylor

4- Taryn Maki

5- Mary Jane Melbye

6- Brian Larson

8- Janet Kohel

9- Helen Bennett

9- Janelle Johnson

10- Lori Rae

11- Kathy Kurkiewicz

13- Wayne Henderson

15- Rebecca Kurkiewicz

16- Mike Madison

18- Jill Dietz

18- Adrianna Hanaman

20- David Bandli

22- Taylor Maki

23- Bill Bandli

23- Roger Sykes

23- Mark Toft

24- Erin Michels

26- Tawny Chandler

27- Erika Spear

29- Arlene Hougas

30- Taylor Chandler

31- Russell Johnson

31- Bob Lind

31- Kari Thome

December Anniversaries

2- Bill & Cheryl Aune

3- George & Ginny Swanson

5- Paul & Shirley Toft

12- Deb & Jeff Wille

23- Ron & Jeanne Parker

**if your birthday or anniversary is not

listed then please call the office to up-

date your info. ~Steph

UMW Meeting

December 4 at 6:00 The December meeting will be the Pot

Luck and Special Mission Recognition.

United Methodist Women A BIG THANK YOU to all of the wonderful women, men and

youth of our church who worked so hard at making our Holiday Tea and

Bazaar the great success that it was. People were greeted with a warm

welcome by a smiling doorman, better known as Rev Jim, and entered a

fall wonderland filled with the aroma of fresh baked goods, lefse, coffee

and tea, a myriad of hand crafted items, delectable candy, a deli filled to

overflowing with garden produce, plants, and canned goods, hundreds of

wonderful cookies, the lovely “Grandma’s Attic” and the smiles and

greetings of all the workers.

People cheerfully stood in line, talking and visiting with friends

and neighbors as they sipped on punch and waited to enter the enchanting

old fashion tea room. To walk through the church and see the magical

transformation of our church to this fall fantasyland was truly breathtak-

ing. Comments I overheard were about how beautiful our church was,

how “no one else does anything like this”, “this is the best bazaar” and

the truest of all “they can do this because they have so many people who

work on it”.

I thank you all, women, men and youth for not only the time that

it took to decorate, set-up, publicize, work at and clean-up after the ba-

zaar, but for the card tables, pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and center-

pieces used for decorating and the many hours and days that you put in to

making all of the exquisite items that we were able to offer for sale to the

people of our community. It was amazing how quickly things flew off

the many tables and how little was left at the end.

Thank you for making a vision become reality and giving our

UMW the ability to help women and children in our area and around the

world. To date we have a net income of $3,902.45. I hope everyone is

as proud of this church and the people in it as I am. You all worked so

hard and so wonderfully together. Thank you again from the bottom of

my heart. Karen Rindsig

Let It Shine

Whatever else be lost among the years,

Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing.

Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,

Let us hold close one day, remembering

Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.

Let us get back our childlike faith again.

—Grace Noll Crowell

Last year we gave Christmas gifts to the folks who

lived at Heritage Manor. Your response was won-

derful. We gave flannel shirts to the men, fleece

vests to the women, socks, after shave and perfume.

We gave $12.00 haircuts to men and $12.00 to the

women for a wash and set. Our gifts were a bless-

ing and filled a void badly needed at Christmas.

We received many appreciative comments from

family members of those getting our gifts and posi-

tive remarks from the staff at Heritage as well.

Our Missions Committee would like to do this

again. Please accept the challenge to make Christ-

mas a wonderful time of year for those folks at

Heritage Manor.

Please have your gifts to the church by Dec. 19th.

Please wrap the gifts. Put a tag which tells if the

gift is for a man or woman and also what the item

is. Envelopes will be pro-

vided for monetary gifts.

Thank you for caring for oth-

ers this time of the year.

Your Missions Committee

Choir Our cantata date is quickly ap-

proaching. I have scheduled

every possible rehearsal date so

that there are many opportunities

to practice. Please note a time

change on December 10 and 22.

We will practice on:

Sunday, Dec. 1 9:00 am

Tuesday, Dec. 3 7:00 pm

Tuesday, Dec. 10 6:45-8:15pm

Sunday, Dec. 15 9:00 am

Sunday, Dec. 22 9:45 am

We welcome special music for the Christmas Eve

services again this year. If you would like to share

music at either service contact Rev. Jim or Nancy

Kahl.

The First United Methodist Youth (FUMY or

F.U.M.Y.) would like to invite any middle or high

school students to come to our Wednesday gatherings

from, right after school until 5:30. If you are unable to

come to the church for the whole time, please come for

as long as you are able. We invite members of First

United Methodist Church or members of the greater

community, all youth are welcome!

FUMY is in the process of “reclaiming” the lower level

of First United Methodist Church. We have moved the

ping pong, foosball, and air hockey tables into the

“choir room” downstairs. The members of FUMY are

in the process of repainting the FUMY Clubhouse

(Southwest lower room) prior to adding our recently

purchased additional electronics. The room will boast

a gaming system, projector, sound bar, popcorn ma-

chine, couches, table and chairs. The new electronics

will allow the youth to play videogames and watch

movies.

The members of FUMY have

come up with some great ideas

for community volunteer oppor-

tunities, which we will look

into doing over the next year.

We look forward to FUMY

Wednesdays!

Matthew Hanaman

Missions

Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation

750 Windsor Street Ste. 305

Sun Prairie, WI 53590

1-888-903-9863 or wumf@wumf.org

A Stewardship Message for Your Church

December 2013

#296 Give to Grow Spiritually – "For a child has been

born -- for us! ... and there'll be no limits to the wholeness

he brings." (Isaiah 9:6-7, The Message.)

“What can I give him … if I were a shepherd, I would

bring a lamb”.

When I think of ways to honor the Christ Child during

this season, these words from the hymn “In the Bleak

Midwinter” often come to mind. And, I remember the

many wonderful teachers and caregivers who share the

love of Christ with the children in my life:

The nursery worker who welcomed my five year old

grandson to the nursery one day because he wanted to

be with her and not in the class where he didn’t know

anyone;

The many people at church who go out of their way to

say “Hi” to our youngest grandson and smile when he

offers a loud, little high-pitched “Hi” in return;

The Sunday School teachers who invite visiting chil-

dren to join the group and hold their hand until they

feel comfortable;

The usher who calls the children by name as they

come in to worship and offers a “high five” to every-

one who accepts;

The youth group leader who involves everyone in the

leadership of an activity and encourages those who

are a bit shyer than others;

And, the faithful attender who gives each week to the

church offering so that these ordinary ministries shar-

ing the love of Christ can continue to make a differ-

ence in people’s lives in your congregation and mine.

How will you honor the Christ Child this year? What is

Jesus calling you to give of your time, talent and treas-

ures? Remember that the ordinary is often extraordinary

and every gift, whether large or small, is a good and per-

fect gift.

Rev. Jean Ehnert Nicholas

Consider a “Simple Home” Christmas

without purchased gifts.

For coupons that give someone free child care or

another service check out www.buynothing

christmas.org

/resources/index.html. For free craft patterns go

to www.freepatterns.com.

During Advent, give them each a “charitable cer-

tificate” for a certain amount per day ($1.00/day =

$25, $2.00/day = $50) or whatever sum feels

right. Ask them to decide by Christmas what

good cause to give it to. Then give it in their

names.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

As we wait for Jesus birthday this year, your

Christmas gift to him includes a gift of $_______

per day from December 1-25, for a total of

$__________. And you get to decide who this gift

will help! Please decide by Christmas, which

good cause you want to receive this gift. We can

talk about it together if you want. It is up to you

how you will help others know the love of Jesus

through this gift. Merry Christmas, with Love

FROM:

TO:

Websites to consider when choosing a charity –

UM Committee on Relief UMCOR) Gift Catalog

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/give/gift-catalog/

Heifer International (www.heifer.org)

The Advance at www.advancinghope.org

Sunday School News

Sunday School students will be joining with the

Choir in presenting a Christmas pageant and Cantata

on Sunday, December 15th during the morning wor-

ship service. Sunday School Schedule for December

will be the 8th and the 15th, on those two days we

will be practicing for the program. We will then be

taking a holiday break and Sunday School Classes

will resume on January 5th.

Please make sure to turn in all bills for 2013 by De-

cember 16th. If they are not paid out in 2013 then it

comes out of the 2014 budget. Thanks!

Please remember all offerings must be turned into

the office no later than noon on December 31st in

order for it to be credited to 2013. Anything re-

ceived after noon will be credited to 2014. Thanks!

Some Important Dates in December

Rice Lake’s Cantata “Rise Up!” is December 15th

during the 10:30 Service.

Our annual Charge Conference is set for December

15th at 12 Noon at the Canton United Methodist

Church, 2408 15 3/8 Avenue. The Rev Mary Anne

Conklin from Barron 1st UMC will preside. A pot-

luck luncheon will be followed by the Confer-

ence, Bring a dish to pass.

Canton’s Ornament Sunday is December 22nd dur-

ing the 9:00 service. Please bring an ornament in

memory of honor of someone to hang on the tree.

Christmas Eve services will be held at 1st UMC at 4

PM and 8 PM, at Canton UMC at 6 PM. The two

later services will be traditional Candlelight Ser-

vices. The 8 PM service in Rice Lake will also in-

clude Communion. The 4 PM service will have an

alternative "Tropical Island Christmas" theme

and feature some traditional island music and car-

ols. Hawaiian-style clothing is welcomed.

Warren Milliman

Lillian Plahn

Dale Hanaman

Wilma Madison

Lisla Reali

Roberta Wright

Shirley Toft

Shirley Olson

Harold Quarderer

Hazel Severson

Barb Schullo

Laura Rettenmund

Mavis Rimling

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Norman Cox

and Martha Fox Families.

Norman passed away on November 17, 2013.

Martha passed away on November 21, 2013.

Many thinks for the cards, visits, phone calls, and

prayers as I recovered from a motor accident in

June— I’m almost there thanks to you well wishers.

God’s Blessings,

Eleanor Nielsen

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I know you are praying with me for the people of the

Philippines as they seek to recover from the terrible

typhoon Haiyan, which hit them last week Friday,

November 8. As President of the United Methodist

Committee on Relief (UMCOR), I, along with the

other bishops who are gathered for our Council of

Bishops meeting this week, have been kept up to

date on the recovery efforts. And, we have joined

often in prayer for all those affected, and for all of us

around the world who are responding to the needs of

others.

An immediate grant of $97,000 has been released to

provide emergency food, water, and water purifica-

tion tables to about 7,500 people in the Tacloban

City in Leyte, Province, one of the areas hardest hit

by the typhoon. I invite you to read more details

about our emergency efforts at: http://

www.wisconsinumc.org/enews/

PhilippinesUMCORGrant.pdf

But as you know, our UMCOR response is focused

on the long term needs of recovery and rebuilding. It

is currently estimated that more than 600,000 people

may be displaced because of the storm. Helping the

people of the Philippines rebuild will be a huge ef-

fort. That is why, in addition to our prayers for vic-

tims and our immediate response to deal with this

emergency, we as Wisconsin United Methodists will

respond with our financial gifts offered in love and

with our deep care and concern for those most af-

fected by the storm.

Please send your donations to the church or in-

clude with your offering. Please make your checks

out to the church with Typhoon Recovery on the

message line.

Because of our great United Methodist connection

and the generosity of Wisconsin United Methodists,

100 percent of the gift marked for this disaster re-

sponse will be used to help those in

need.

Grace and Peace,

Hee-Soo Jung, Ph.D.

Time to Order Your Poinsettias

It’s that time of the year again when we would like to

decorate our sanctuary with poinsettias for Christmas

Worship.

Below you will find a form which gives you an oppor-

tunity to order a plant and to dedicate it in memory or

in honor of a friend or loved one.

Once you have filled out your form, return it by plac-

ing it in the offering plate or you may return it to the

church office by noon on Monday, Dec. 2. If your

form is received after the deadline, it will be returned

to you and you will need to purchase your own.

Please pay when ordering. Make checks payable to

the church.

The cost for a poinsettia is $7.50.

If you would like to bring in a poinsettia to share, we

would appreciate knowing in whose honor or memory

it's for.

Poinsettias may be brought to the church anytime by

Thursday, December 12th.

Poinsettias must be picked up following the 10:30

am service on Sunday, Dec. 29th. Thank you.

I would like to donate a poinsettia for

Christmas Worship Services.

In Memory of:

____________________________________________

In Honor of:

____________________________________________

I will bring a poinsettia.

I will donate the cost of a poinsettia ($7.50).

Given by:

___________________________________________ Your Name(s)

Envelope # ___________

The 12 Days of the Prayer Shawl Ministry's Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my PSM gave to me one community project times 3

On the second day of Christmas my PSM gave to me two knit toy bears

On the third day of Christmas my PSM gave to me three pairs of socks

On the fourth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me four baby caps

On the fifth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me five crocheted rings

On the sixth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me six needles clacking

On the seventh day of Christmas my PSM gave to me seven coupons clipping

On the eighth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me eight balls a winding

On the ninth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me nine ladies laughing

On the tenth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me ten patterns flying

On the eleventh day of Christmas my PSM gave to me eleven rows a 'ripping

On the twelfth day of Christmas my PSM gave to me twelve projects finished

Written by: Pat Jones - Prayer Shawl Ministry at Unity Church Centre Girard, OH

Merry Christmas from First United Methodist Church’s Prayer Shawl Ministry

Melody Falkner

5729 166th St.

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Selma Jacobsen

633 Cameron Rd., #108

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Warren & Marge Milliman

633 Cameron Rd., #116

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Faye Paul

23 E. Eau Claire #322

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Lillian Plahn

1300 N. Wisconsin Ave #209

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Voyian Richards

1016 Lakeshore Dr. #237

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Barb Schullo

1120 Duke St.

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Sylvia Wildes

633 S. Cameron Rd., #24

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Roberta Wright

1461 17 1/2 St.

Barron, WI 54812

Helen Johnson

415 E. South St., #1

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Mary Halvorson

508 E. Monroe Ave., #4

Barron, WI 54812

Elaine Halvorson

19 W. Newton, #311

Rice Lake, WI 54868