HopeDecember.pdfPage 10 Volume 10, Issue 12 Hope Service Groups The service group for December is Group 1, 2, & 3. October Thank you so much to service group 3 for all of the ministries

Staff

Pastor Russ Jacobsen - Email: [email protected] 507-600-9155

Administrative Assistant Brandi Markey - E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Children’s Ministry Coordinator Mary Gustafson - E-mail: [email protected], Cell 507-381-5464 Home: 526-2585

Visitation Pastor Jan Redman - E-mail: [email protected]

Office

Office hours at Hope UMC are 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Office phone number is 526-2144 and email is [email protected].

Bulletin items are due 12:00 PM on Wednesday. Newsletter items are due the 17th of the month.

Please send announcements for the bulletin and the newsletter to the above email address or call the church office.

Please notify the church office of any changes in names, addresses, incorrect birthdays or anniversaries.

Sunday Services: 9 AM Worship Sunday School begins @ 10:10 AM

10 AM Fellowship Time Sunday 9 AM Service is broadcast on KBEW 1560 AM

Wednesday Services: 6:30 PM Worship Visit our Website at behopeumc.com to stay updated with

current events, bulletins & newsletters.

Non Profit Organization

US Postage

Blue Earth, MN

Permit No. 50

Hope United Methodist Church

12080 380th Ave.

PO Box 125

Blue Earth, MN 56013

Address Service Requested

Hope UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

News

Volume 10 , I ssue 12

December 2018

Advent & Christmas at Hope!

Sunday, December 2nd, 9 am - “Advent through the eyes of the Prophets”

Sunday, December 9th, 9 am – “Advent through the eyes of Children”. Children’s Christmas Program!

Wednesday, December 12th, 5:45 pm Supper & 6:30 pm Caroling in the Community. Everyone welcome!

Sunday, December 16th, 9 am - “Advent through the Centuries”

Wednesday, December 19th, 7 pm - Community Christmas Cantata

Sunday, December 23rd, 9 am - “The Second Advent”

Monday, Christmas Eve Service, 5 pm

Wednesday, December 26th – NO Midweek Service.

New Year’s Day Annual Community Soup &

Sandwich Lunch. See sign-up sheets in the

Narthex and / or call Brandi in the church office

to volunteer or provide food.

What is Advent?

In recent history, Advent has increasingly become a cozy countdown to Christmas: Carols, candles and calendars with pop-outs.

The Bible devotes roughly four chapters to the birth of Jesus. This pales in comparison to the many chapters devoted to His Second Coming.

Through-out most of the last two millennia, Advent wasn’t so much a time to sentimentally look for the Baby in a manger. Rather it was a starkly honest time to consider that in our evil infected world, we are to look for the King coming in majesty. Advent has traditionally been more about Christ’s Second Coming in glory than His first coming in obscurity.

Advent calls us to . . .

Honestly acknowledge the battle with evil in our world.

Face our days with realism and put our ultimate hope in Jesus.

Worship Jesus as the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.

Bethlehem points to the Jesus’ kingship. The magi point to Jesus’ universal lordship.

I don’t know about you, but I am deeply troubled by what I observe in our culture and country. I love the Christ-child in the manger. But I am increasingly longing for the return of the King.

Pastor Russ

Page 2 Volume 10 , I ssue 12

What is S.O.A.P.? S.O.A.P. stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. It is a way of getting more out of your time in God's word. How does it work? It's quite simple. Take time everyday to read and reflect on the passage for the day. Underline or note things that jump out at you with special significance. This is the basis for diving deeper and using S.O.A.P. > Scripture: Write out the verse(s) that stuck out to you. > Observation: What did you observe about that verse? This can be one sentence or just some notes you jot down. > Application: How can you apply the observation so that it affects your life today? Write your application down. > Prayer: Write out a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask him to help you apply this truth in your life. That’s all there is to it!

Online resources available for your convenience! Go to our website, www.behopeumc.com . Click on the tab “Ministries”, select “Adult Ministries”. There you will find a link to the February daily readings, as well as the following links listed below.

Daily Bible Readings for December, 2018:

December 12th - Isaiah 23-24

December 13th - Isaiah 25-26 December 14th - Isaiah 27-28

December 15th - Isaiah 29-30 December 16th - Isaiah 31-32 December 17th - Isaiah 33-34


December 21st - Isaiah 41-42 December 22nd - Isaiah 43-44

Boundaries Book Study

We will not have a Boundaries Book meeting in December. We will resume our normal meeting in January.

December 23rd - Isaiah 45-46



December 29th - Isaiah 57-58 December 30th - Isaiah 59-60 December 31st - Isaiah 61-62

December, 2018 - Daily Bible Reading & Bible Studies

December 1st - Isaiah 1-2

December 2nd - Isaiah 3-4 December 3rd - Isaiah 5-6




Hope United Methodist News Page 11

Announcements

2019 Radio Sponsorship

If you would like to support our radio ministry on KBEW the 2019 Sign-up sheet is now available in the narthex or you can call the office. Don’t forget to include a message on the second page if you are sponsoring for a special reason and would like that acknowledged. Donations can also be made to the Radio Angels Fund without sponsoring a specific date. Cost is $35 per date.

Charge conference books will be available in the office per request once the 2019 budget has been approved at the December Finance & Ad Board meetings.

Hope Choir Notes by Bonnie Miller December becomes a very busy month as we celebrate the advent season and prepare for Christmas. The Hope choir will sing during the 9:00 service on December 2nd, 16th, and 23rd. The choir will also sing at the 5:00 pm worship service on Christmas Eve. Anyone is welcome to join the choir for that service. Come at 4:30 pm for rehearsal. Wednesday rehearsals for Hope Choir are held each week at 6:30 pm. Cantata workshop times begin at 7:00 pm. Full cantata rehearsals (including instruments and narrators) will be held Sundays, December 2nd, 9th, and 16th beginning at 1:30 pm. Thank you all for your commitment to the choir ministry.

Cantata Notes Over 40 musicians and three narrators representing several area churches are preparing to present the Christmas musical God Came Near (The Miracle and Majesty of Christmas) by Max Lucado and Tom Fettke The accompaniment ensemble includes piano, violins, viola, cello and flute. Cantata Performances: 1. Tuesday, December 18th at 6:30 pm in the St. Luke’s chapel 2. Wednesday, December 19th at 7:00 pm in the Hope UMC sanctuary followed by refreshments in the Fellowship Hall.

Please share these dates with others and make certain to include at least one of the performances in your holiday plans.

Bonnie Miller

Thank you

Thank you for sending me to camp. I really liked the go-carts and critter getter.

Thanks again for sending me to camp, Wyatt Jones

Thank you for thinking of me and for the beautiful prayer shawl. Also for all of your prayers.

Lillian Eastvold

Thank you so much for the delicious meal! We very much appreciate the time and effort of making and delivering the meal to us! And it was fabulous!

Love, The Gustafsons


Hope Service Groups

The service group for December is Group 1, 2, & 3.

Thank you so much to service group 3 for all of the ministries you served in November.

If you have questions about serving please contact the Church Office

Worship Assignments

Liturgist December 2nd & 9th Ron Fox December 16th & 23rd Nancy Steinke December 24th - 5 pm Al Roesler December 30th Florence Hacklander

Greeters December 2nd & 9th Fran Fenske, Thelma Smith December 16th & 23rd Ann Hanna, Sue Reynolds December 24th - 5 pm Cory Milbrandt, Sarah Ferguson & Family December 30th Marilyn Anderson & Family

Ushers December 2nd & 9th Bruce & Bonnie Ankeny, Jean Nelson, Sharon Douglas, Lois Ankeny December 16th & 23rd David & Sandra Murray, Buzz & Pam Hanson December 24th - 5 pm Al & Nancy Thompson, Roger & LaDonna Dutton December 30th Lloyd & Deanne Wallace, AB Russ & TJ Lewis

Birthdays

1- Gracie Asmus

Jennifer Ihle

Simon Holland

Katelyn Storbeck

2- Sarah Ferguson

3 – Paula Winslow

4- Amy Schepers

Issac Goshorn

5- Eldon Beenken

Naomi Goshorn

6- Carma Sunken

7- Zachary Murphy

9- Steve Scheid

11- Kasey Kramer

Nicholas Uecker

13- Muriel Hanna

14- Betty Johnston

Riley Kaiser

15- Ryder Stauffer

16- Danny Fryman

18- Aidan Johnson

Cullen Holland

20- Sophia Hall

Lyndsey Borris

Travis Dann

Kathy Goodwin

22- Carol Grapevine

Betty Kay Hulsebus

Gaven Bruellman

Payten Sorbel

26- Chloe Groe

MacKenzie Darula

Ethon Steele

6– Jason & Rose Hall

12- Thomas & Cindy Steinke

17- Bill & Jan Farnham

Anniversaries

27- Amy Bussinger

29- Neil Eckles

Jay Smith

Diane Holland

Amelia Schepers

30- Blake Peterson

Dan Brod

Mackenzie Erichsrud

31- Jane Gray

Gerald Henke

Anthony Uecker


Finances October Year to Date

Offering for Budget 12,305.04 157,592.87

Budget Expenses paid 15,603.92 207,418.51

October Offering for Mission Projects

Income Expense

Bundle Up 315.00

Special Children’s Activities 320.00

Hope Local Missions 3.50

Summer Camps 1,000.00

UMCOR Sewing Project 3.50

School Supplies 235.00

World Communion 51.00 51.00

Puerto Rico 310.00 Totals 1,369.50 919.50

*Mission income is not always paid out in the month it was received for a variety of reasons. Therefore expenses do not always match income for the month examples are: Mission trips, summer camps, etc.

A note from the Finance Committee,

As we approach the Christmas season and the end of the year the Finance committee needs to look carefully at our church budget expenses and our income needed to keep the bills paid. We as Hope Church, are definitely behind in giving to pay for all the necessary items and programs that we as a church consider important for our presence in the community. Your financial response to last year’s Christmas letter was amazing, balancing the budget and giving us extra to carry us through to a point this year. The Finance committee will be sending a Christmas plea again this year asking for your prayers and support. Look for it in your mail.

Also, the committee will soon be drafting the 2019 budget. If you have any comments, concerns or questions please don’t hesitate to ask!! Call Finance Chair Daryl Murray at 507-526-2984 or Brandi in the Church office at 507-526-2144.


December Missions

B E N E V O L E N C E FUND Dictionaries define "Benevolence" as the quality of being well meaning; kindness. Our

December mission emphasis is to begin a Benevolence fund for local needs. What a great way to begin Advent !!!! The fund will be used specifically for those in crisis and need and one

way of showing love in our own local community. Simply write "benevolence" or "kindness" in the memo part of your offering check.

Blanket collection for Midwest Mission Distribution Center Trinidad, just off the northeastern coast of South America (Venezuela) has been ravaged by

flooding from hurricane activity in October. Our Midwest Missions Distribution Center (MMDC) in Pawnee, Illinois has issued an urgent appeal from supporting congregations for

blankets! Leon and Judith will be taking any donations of all sizes, of clean individually wrapped new or gently used blankets there, leaving on December 15. Please bring in and leave blankets by the

MMDC poster in the Narthex. We can also send donations to MMDC/Trinidad during the entire month of December. Any offering checks marked "MMDC" or "blankets" will go

toward the purchase in Illinois and sent directly to Trinidad.

New Year's Day Free Community Meal: 11 am to 1 pm An annual tradition to let the community know we care. Soup and Sandwich Lunch from 11 am to 1 pm. We will need volunteers to organize, greet, serve, clean up, & also volunteers to bring soup, crackers, & desserts! Please see the sign up sheet in the narthex and/or call the office. The bus will be available for those that wish to have a ride please contact the church

office by Friday, December 28th.

Lord’s Acre The 2018 Lord’s Acre signup is up near the drinking fountain. Please consider signing up! Farmers (don’t have to be actively farming to be a Farmer) contribute whatever returns from

an acre of crop and Renters each contribute a minimum of $70. Those who sign up – meet annually to decide which missions will receive the collective

funds. Our motto this year: Sharing Hope’s Abundance !!!!

Attention: Sewers & Cutters UMCOR Work Day will not meet in December.



Hope Youth Update from Pastor Russ & Janelle . . .

Wednesday ministry continues to go well! Several of the youth come to KBC and serve as teachers or assistants. Then we have some unstructured free time supervised by Pastor Russ, Gail Keck, and our newest team member, Signe Olson. Signe does a great job with the youth and they respond to her very well! We serve supper at 6 pm. Janelle lines up the main dish with people pitching in to help with preparation, sides and desserts. At 6:30 pm we worship together in the sanctuary. We start with contemporary worship songs and a simple liturgy. Around 7 pm we break into groups for instruction time. The Confirmation students and adults remain in the sanctuary. We are watching and discussing the “Alpha Youth Series”, which is an engaging introduction to basic Christianity. Janelle leads a break-out group for Senior High students. In recent weeks with offering a “Children’s Church” experience for preschool and elementary aged students. This time is led by Megan Asmus and Alesha Stauffer. Our hope is that families looking for an alternative to Sunday morning worship will make Wednesday nights their weekly worship time. Our normal attendance on Wednesdays is in the mid-50’s. Our highest attendance has been 68.

Hope helped spearhead the Blue Earth Ministerial’s showing of the film “Connect” at BEAHS on November 14. An estimated 200 people attended to learn about keeping technology in perspective. This event was aimed at parents and teens.

Wednesday night youth schedule:

December 5 – 5:45 pm Supper & 6:30 pm Worship December 12 – 5:45 pm Supper & 6:30 pm All Church Caroling. Come join the fun as we

spread the love of Jesus! 7:30 pm – Youth are invited back to the church for a “White Ele-phant Gift Exchange”. Children’s Church will not be offered.

December 19 – 7 pm – Community Christmas Cantata. Children’s Church will not be offered. December 26 – No church activities on this day. Enjoy time with your family!

Save the dates in 2019!

January 18-19 (Friday – Saturday) – Youth Lock-in. February 16-17 (Saturday – Sunday) – 30 Hour Famine March 29-31 (Friday - Sunday) – District Youth Retreat @ Prairie River June 9-15 (Sunday – Saturday) – Local Mission Trip. The date is a bit tentative. Participation on this trip

is a prerequisite to going on a “destination” trip in 2020.

July 10-14 (Wednesday – Sunday) – National Youth Gathering in Kansas City. Our camp donor will cover the costs of motel rooms and registration! The cost per student will only be a $75 non-refundable registration due January 16 plus out of pocket expense for several meals on the trip. This outstanding Conference only happens every three years and it is rarely this close! We encourage youth and parents to take advantage of this opportunity. Questions can be directed to Pastor Russ, Janelle or Brandi.


Please lift up in prayer….

Muriel Hanna Merre Kivlin Peter Ochs Angela (Steele) Powell

Lonny Schmidtke Michael Schuster Gerald Schutrop Newt Toland

Don True Jim Whitney

In the service of our country: Tucker Bottin, Aron Goshorn, Bryce Hanson, David Miller, Cole Steinke, Terry Keithahn, Michael Wohlrabe, and Brett Sandum.

Armed Services personnel and their families. Members and Friends in Health Care Centers and those at their homes including: Mary Fenske,

Mae Hove, John & Merna Karels, Helen Reko, June Scheid, and Betty Swant.

United Methodist Women

UMW Unit Meeting: Saturday, December 8th @ 9 am, Program: Christmas: “Incarnation: The Sacred Space of God With Us/In Us” Leader: Barb Hanson Serving: Marilyn Schaefer & Betty Kay Hulsebus

St Luke’s Bingo: Wednesday, December 5th @ 2 pm

Circle Meetings: Faith Circle: No Meetings: December, January, February Joy Circle: Bake Sale, December 9th Naomi Circle: Christmas Party, December 9th @ 6 pm @ Al & Nancy Thompson’s Rachel Circle: Potluck, December 30th @ 12:30 pm

VISITATION MINISTRY - Pastor Jan Redman

We have a fresh snowfall, pretty to look at, and enough to shovel. This morning I had dueling snow removal services! One, my neighbor who has a new snow blower and an offer to remove my snow this winter. The other, a local snow removal service Mom had once utilized, but they forgot I no longer require their services! My neighbor got the sidewalk and in front of the garage shoveled and went back to get his snow blower. In the meantime, here came a skid loader from the snow removal service and cleared the rest of the driveway! How wonderful to be heaped upon by blessings for a job my little electric shovel doesn't handle well!

This heap of blessings reminds me of all the ways we can heap blessings on others this Christmas season and throughout the year: is there someone who can use help in removing snow? Perhaps it's carrying boxes of tree decorations up from the basement. Maybe it's a warm meal or a friendly phone call.

I invite us all to remember God's blessings that abundantly pour upon us -- especially God's gift of the Christ Child-- and be a part of those blessings to share with others. Merry Christmas!

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

2 1st Sunday of Advent Communion Choir Sings 9 AM Worship 10:10 AM Sunday School 3:30 PM Cantata Rehearsal

3

5:30 PM Finance Cmte 6 PM Ministry Council 6:30 PM Ad Council

4

2 PM Communion @ St. Luke’s 4 PM Membership & History Cmte 7 PM Missions Cmte

5 7 AM Men2:15-4:15 PM KBC5:45 PM Meal6:30 PM Youth Worship Service/Confirmation6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

9 2nd Sunday of Advent Joy Circle Bake Sale 9 AM Worship & Children’s Christmas Program 2 PM Cantata Rehearsal

10

5:30 - 7 PM Couple’s Group

11

UMCOR Group will not meet

12 7 AM Men2:15-4:15 PM KBC5:45 PM Meal6:30 PM All Church Christmas Caroling 6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal7:30 PM Youth Party

16 3rd Sunday of Advent Choir Sings 9 AM Worship 10:10 AM Sunday School 1:30 PM Cantata Rehearsal

17

4:30 PM SPRC 7-8:30 Discipleship/Accountability

18

1-3 PM Interfaith Memory Café

19 7 AM Men2:15-4:15 PM KBC7 PM Cantata

23 4th Sunday of Advent Choir Sings 9 AM Worship 10:10 AM Sunday School ___________________________ 30 12:30 PM Rachel Circle Potluck

24 Office Closed 5 PM Christmas Eve. Service ___________________ 31

25 Christmas Office Closed

26 No Church Activities

Hope UMC ~ December 2018 “We are called to follow Jesus Christ and serve all people

as we make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 10 – Noon Bundle Up

7 AM Men’s Breakfast @ Mc Donald’s 4:15 PM KBC

5:45 PM Meal 6:30 PM Youth Worship Service/Confirmation 6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

6

7

8

9 AM UMW Unit Meeting


5:45 PM Meal 6:30 PM All Church Christmas Caroling 6:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 7:30 PM Youth Party

13

14

15


7 PM Cantata

20

21

22

No Church Activities 27

6:30 PM Prayer Shawl

28 29

Hope UMC ~ December 2018 We are called to follow Jesus Christ and serve all people

as we make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Documents

HopeDecember.pdfPage 10 Volume 10, Issue 12 Hope Service Groups The service group for December is Group 1, 2, & 3. October Thank you so much to service group 3 for all of the ministries