Cambridge United Methodist Church Loving God, Loving Others, Serving Both

DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER 120 West Exchange Street, Cambridge, IL 61238 Phone 309-937-2018

Celebrations The child stood outside of the fancy restaurant on that cold December day

wondering what it would be like to be invited to that grand party that was

occurring inside. She was wondering what the food would taste like, what the

people would be talking about, what it would be like to be so loved that she would

be invited. She wondered what it would be like to not be so hungry that it hurt.

As the people arrived, and walked past her, she did not even understand what they

were talking about. They spoke the same language, but they were using words that she didn’t understand.

As it was getting later, and colder outside, she could see that there were only three chairs left at the party. She

began to wonder, who would be the last three to arrive. What would they look like? How fancy would their

clothes be? How important those last three would be, that the party would be delayed until those three arrived?

The little child heard other little girls and boys inside singing, she heard music playing and she grew sadder.

She had stood outside of this restaurant for many years now with the same result, she told herself this would be

the last year she would do this.

As the little child was getting ready to leave to go home hungry, two more people arrived to the party. By now

the little child was cold, hungry and angry. She thought to herself that these people are all alike, they are happy,

laughing and smiling while they are inside the restaurant, but once they get outside, they are just like everyone

else, grumpy, and they don’t even see me.

As the little child turned and began to walk away, the two people who just arrived at the party saw her and

asked, “Don’t you want to come inside”? The little child said with tears in her eyes “I’m not invited.” The two

kind people replied, “Our Host wants everyone to come in”. “Why didn’t the others invite me to come with

them?” the little child said.

The two kind people replied, “Sometimes we forget what it was like to be outside, wandering around without a

home. We get so caught up in our rejoicing with our family, that we forget that our Host wants us to invite

others. At other times we are afraid to invite because our invitations have been rejected so often. We have

forgotten how happy our Host is when someone new joins us.”

The two kind people took the child’s hand and the three of them walked into the party when one of them

laughed and said, “One time our Host walked out of the party leaving the ninety-nine of us there waiting for

Him because He said one was lost and that He needed to go and get them. What a guy He is”.

During the month of December, as always, we will be celebrating the goodness and grace of our

God, and we will wrap up with two very special worship services on Christmas Eve. At 5PM our

Awana and other children will be singing and we will serve cake in celebration of Jesus’ birthday. At

11pm we will have a candlelight service.

By the way, in 2008 I was that child wandering around without a church until a friend invited me to

attend New Hope United Methodist Church in De Pere Wisconsin. I am afraid to think where I

would be today if she hadn’t risked the chance of being rejected and ridiculed by a sarcastic and

foulmouthed creature like I was, and invited me to worship there. People need us to invite them to

the party, let’s see how many people we can invite to Jesus’ birthday party this December.

Greetings Men of God!

BASE CAMP MEN’S BREAKFAST

The monthly men’s breakfast will be Sunday, December 9th at 7 AM in the fellowship Café.

All women are invited to come have breakfast, enjoy fellowship and pray for the men.

BASE CAMP MEN’S DINNER

The monthly men’s meeting & dinner on Tuesday, December 11th @ 6 PM. It will be held

at Geneseo First UMC.

Cambridge men will meet at our church to carpool

PASTOR PRAYER PARTNERS

The December meeting for the Cambridge and Geneseo Pastor Prayer Partners will be Saturday,

December 8th at 7 AM in Cambridge.

December 13th Love Baskets will be ready to deliver

December 13th Wesleyan Group 7 PM Hostess Loreen Borkhart

December 18th Priscilla Group 12 Noon at the church

Hostess Sally Vincent –Bring a dish & a Christmas story to share

NEED A LAST MINUTE GIFT… OR JUST A THANK YOU!

SHOP IN THE GOURMET SHOP! STOP BY ON SUNDAY

MORNING AND PURCHASE A FEW THINGS TO HAVE ON HAND

FOR THOSE GIFT EMERGANCIES.

IF YOU NEED HELP JUST ASK ONE OF OUR FALL REVIEW

LADIES AND THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO ASSIST YOU.

FOOT CARE CLINIC DECEMBER 4TH Foot Clinics are held each month on the first Tuesday from 9 – 12 the cost is $32.

There was a cost increase due to the cost of travel to Clinic Sites. This includes

getting your feet soaked, toenails trimmed and feet, ankles and calves lotioned.

LADIES – if you bring your polish they will paint your toes also!

UPCOMING CLINIC: January 8th 2019

Food Pantry News The Cambridge Food Pantry will be open at the following times

Sunday, December 16th from 3 - 5 PM

Monday, December 17th from 9 -10 AM.

St. John Vianney Catholic Church will be in charge this month.

December Birthdays

1 - Judy Anderson

2 - Duane Else

5 – Todd Myers

6 - Molly Limer

8 – Joyce Martin

11 - Linda Denison

16 – Damian DeKezel

17 - Dee Evans

18 – Claire Yenor

19 – Curt Brown

25 – Jesus of Nazareth,

Karen Lain, Michael Secymore,

26 – Logan Nodine

27 - Rachel Kessinger

28 - Wilbur Wigant

29 - Ray Young, Shawn Gallens

30 – Celia Streight

December Anniversaries

2 - Dennis & Alice Barman

17 - Don & Donna Jo Mungerson

Rick & Suzanne Franck

26 – Larry & Linda Charlet

28 - Richard & Virginia Nelson

Thank you for the cards and

for those that attended the celebration for our 60th

Wedding Anniversary.

Your kindness was appreciated!

Ray & Isabelle Young

If your birthday or anniversary is not

on this list or is incorrect please

contact the office. Thank you.

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

GOD’S NATURE CORNER

. Christmas is the time to enjoy poinsettia plants. Poinsettias are native to Central America and were cultivated by the Aztec.

The people of Southern Mexico living in Taxco Alaracon extracted a purple dye from the bracts. The dye was used to color textiles and in cosmetics. The sap was used to control fevers.

Poinsettias are also known as Flowers of the Holy Night. The shape of the flower and leaves are thought of as a symbol for the Star of Bethlehem. The red blooms symbolize the blood of Christ.

The Mexican legend tells of a poor girl who could only find weeds as a gift to Jesus. The “Weeds” became beautiful red poinsettias.

Poinsettias were first introduced to the USA in 1828 by Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Poinsett. He dabbled in botany and sent cuttings to his South Carolina home. By the 20th Century, poinsettias became a major Christmas symbol.

Poinsettias are one of the most important floriculture crops in the USA. Botanists’ work transformed the wild tree poinsettia into a small house plant in white, pink and red colors.

Wishing you abundant JOY and PEACE in this Holy season.

God’s Bless You, Abigail Possum

October 2018 Finances Checking/General Budget: October Income was $10,942 October Expense was $12,660 Cash balance was $27,196

This resulted in a net loss for the month of $1,718 compared to a net income of $3,503 in September.

Savings/Reserve Funds: Youth balance $2,202 Awana (formerly Ignite) $6,418 Sunday School/VBS/Children $3,300

Missions currently has $6,274 with $430 set aside for the Thanksgiving meal.

Trustees ($35,153 available)

$9,260 Lift Project/Handicap Access

$5,000 Boiler fund

$15,301 Memorial fund

$3,592 Building fund for new projects

$2,000 Kitchen Ramp

Backpack Blessings $15,209

Fall Review $23,349

DECEMBER 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Christmas On the Square

Holy Communion 2 1st Sunday of Advent

9 AM EDUC. HOUR 10:30 AM WORSHIP Christmas on Square

6 PM Celebrate Christmas at Geneseo

3 4

9 AM Exercise 9-12 Foot Clinic 6:30 PM Bible 101

5 2-4 PM Womens Bible Study

6 9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp 3:15-5:30 AWANA 7 PM Confirmation

7

8 7 AM PPP Mtg. Cambridge

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

2nd Sunday of Advent

7AM Men’s Bkfast 9 AM EDUC. HOUR

10:30 AM WORSHIP

9 AM Exercise 6 PM Forge Dinner/mtg 6:30 PM Bible 101

2-4 PM Womens Bible Study

Love Boxes pkg. Today

9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp NO AWANA 7 PM Confirmation 7PM Wesleyan Grp

16 3rd Sunday of Advent

9 AM EDUC. HOUR 10:30 AM WORSHIP

3-5 PM Food Pantry

17

9-10 AM Food Pantry

18 9 AM Exercise

12 Noon Priscilla Group

at church 6:30 PM Bible 101

19 2-4 PM Womens Bible Study

20 9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp

NO AWANA NO CONFIRMATION

21

22

Noisy Offering 23

4th Sunday of Advent 9 AM EDUC. HOUR

10:30 AM WORSHIP

24 5 PM & 11 PM

Christmas Eve Services

25 Merry

Christmas! Office Closed

26

2-4 PM Womens Bible Study

27 9 AM Exercise 10 AM Prayer Grp

NO AWANA NO CONFIRMATION

28

29

30 No Sunday School 10:30 AM WORSHIP

31 HAPPY NEW

YEAR’S EVE!

JANUARY 1 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

OUR SUNDAY SCHEDULE

8:45 – 10:45 AM FRIENDSHIP CAFÉ OPEN

9 AM EDUCATION HOUR

10:30 AM WORSHIP

Cambridge Christmas on the Square 2018

Saturday December 1st

Community Hall: 11am - Cambridge High School Music Dept. Luncheon and music 6:45 - Mystic dance team performance and bake sale Cambridge Methodist Church:

1pm - 4pm - Carnival games; human foosball tournament;

cookie decorating and face painting

2pm - 4pm Sing along in the sanctuary

Village Light Church Office - 4pm - 6pm Community taco dinner

Toy Museum Santa arrives by firetruck at 5:30pm.

He will be around the festival till 8 pm

College Square Park

Family sleigh pictures; hayrack rides; live nativity scene; remembrance luminaries:

6:15pm - 6:30pm lighting of the village tree and music

Food Pantry – All day, bring a coat or food items for free snacks

Sunday December 2nd

Lutheran Church

11:30am - 1:30pm - Lutheran BBQ luncheon & Swedish bake sale

Baptist Church

5pm dinner followed by Grace Notes Concert at 7 pm c