The Chimes a monthly publication of

St. John’s United Methodist Church

Sunday Nursery Attendants

In an effort to make St. John’s a more family friendly church, the Pastor Staff Parish Relations Com-

mittee is hiring two part time Nursery Attendants who will run the nursery every Sunday from 9:00 AM

to 12:00 PM and during special church events and services. Our first attendant, Maria Robles, started

her new position on Sunday, November 17, 2013. If you see Maria in the nursery, please make sure to

welcome her to St. John’s! If you have children between the ages of new born and 3 years, we hope you

will take advantage of this new service while you attend one of our Sunday School classes and the

Sunday Worship Service.

St. John’s United Methodist Church

5312 Backlick Road

Springfield, VA 22151

Return Service Requested

Friends, I found this “letter” in my files and thought its message timely:

My Dearest Children,

Stop worrying that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who

made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I

actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and our tasks. If you

have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1-8. If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my

birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write let-

ters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of

year. I know; they tell me all the time.

Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know

that someone cares about them.

Spend time, instead of so much money, with your children, telling them the story of my birth and

why I came. Tell them you love them, and so do I.

Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they

feel so alone and helpless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a

warm smile; it could make the difference

Be patient with all the retail workers. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas,”

you can wish them one. Then, stop shopping there on Sunday – and celebrate Sabbath with me! If

the store didn’t make so much money on that day, they’d close and let their employees spend the

day at home with their families.

Buy some food and a few gifts for those in your town who will have nothing to give or receive.

Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a

Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in my presence. Let people know by your

actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget: I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to

do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help

you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you

love.

I love you, Jesus

May you be blessed and be a blessing this Christmas –- Pastor Paula

Our Pastor’s Message

Advent is the name given by the church to the four weeks leading up to Jesus’ birth. It is the

beginning of the church year, and marks a new beginning in our lives, as we wait and hope and

pray for the coming of a Savior…. It is a time of longing for light, freedom, and a new way of

living in this world, as people seeking a King who is to come and reign in our hearts forever.

(From the Society of St. Andrew, “Miracle in the Manger”)_

Advent Study - "The Journey"

Beginning on December 1, St. John's will offer a 4-week Advent Study for adults and teens on Sunday

mornings (9:15-10:15 AM) in Donaldson Hall. Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Adam Hamil-

ton, renowned senior pastor of the Church of Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas and author. Along the

way you will encounter Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and the miracle of the Manger. The study uses histori-

cal information, archaeological findings and personal reflections. Sites from the Holy Land will be

shown. Registrants can pick up a free copy of “The Journey” from Brenda Romenius. Reading the book

is not required, but will offer additional insights to the study’s discussions.

Dec. 1 “Mary” -- Pastor Paula

Dec. 8 “Joseph” – Bob Winstead

Dec. 15 “Elizabeth” – Brenda Romenius

Dec. 22 “The Manger” – Barbara Turpyn

Children will study “The Journey” too! Children’s Sunday School (ages 4 years to 5th grade) will also

take “The Journey” during Advent, learning about the characters of the Christmas story through scrip-

ture and crafts. They will also sing songs as they practice for Advent and Christmas programs at St.

John’s.

December 1 – Fellowship Luncheon

Following Worship on December 1, St. John’s will host a casual Pizza lunch in Donaldson Hall. In addi-

tion to lunch, there will be advent crafts for all ages, and singing of Christmas carols. Come join the

fun as we start the Advent Season!

Advent Devotionals – “Miracle in the Manger”

A devotional booklet from the Society of St. Andrew will be distributed at Worship on December 1.

Written by church leaders, these devotionals offer a daily prayer and reflection for the season.

Journey toward Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph each day, as we wait for the “Miracle in the Manger.”

Christmas Eve

St. John’s will host two Christmas Eve services –

5:30 p.m. – “Christmas Wonder” – the story of Christmas told by the angel and characters who were

there. Children and Youth will read the Christmas story. Performances by the Children’s Choir and

Bells of Joy will also add to this meaningful evening.

7:30 p.m. – Traditional Christmas Eve worship service, with special music provided by choirs, Bells of

Praise and Youth Instrumentalists.

A Note from Christian Education

Children’s Choir in Advent Season

St. John’s Children’s Choir will continue to learn Christmas carols on Sundays in Advent season. Ms.

Pamela Eggerton will also lead the children in musical activities to learn about the four candles of

Advent. The Children’s Choir will participate in the Christmas concert and Christmas Eve worship

service.

St. John’s 2013 Christmas Concert – Sunday, December 8 at 4:30 p.m.

St. John’s Sanctuary Choir, Youth Choir, Senior Saints, Bells of Praise, Bells of Joy, and

Children’s Choir will present special music in the Christmas Concert. The community based

Annandale Strings, directed by Mrs. Ruth Erby and harpist Ms. Jaime Shermer from Pax Dei

Trio will accompany the choirs. In addition to the music presented by choirs, the audiences will sing

several Christmas carols. St. John’s Children’s Choir will sing “The Friendly Beasts” to support St.

John’s mission project “Let’s Buy a Goat – for Heifer International.” The concert is open free to the

public. A free will offering will be received to benefit the Heifer International.

Celebration Singers Christmas Concert

The award winning community women’s chorus Celebration Singers will perform a Christmas Concert on

Sunday, December 15 at 4:00 p.m. The Celebration Singers, founded and directed by St. John’s

former music director Mrs. Anne Miller is an all-volunteer non-profit women’s show chorus that has

been entertaining northern Virginia audiences for forty years. The concert is open free to the public.

Highlights from November 1 Halloween Concert for Children and Families

We received donation for Youth Choir Trip $293 from the Halloween Concert for Children and Families

on November 1. It was a great concert led by excellent Master of Ceremony Devin Moore. All audiences

was fascinated by Barbara Turpyn’s story telling and enjoyed great music performed by St. John’s

youth, harp ensemble from David Crookston Harp Studio, and Prelude Chamber Youth Strings.

Pictures by Carol Pratt

A “Note” about Music Ministry

St. John’s Bells of Praise Performed at the Orlean United Methodist Church

Bells of Praise performed at the Orlean UMC on Sunday, November 10. It was a beautiful

autumn day. We enjoyed playing bells in Orlean’s worship service and having fellowship pot luck

luncheon with the Orlean congregation. Pictures by Joan Barker

United Methodist Women

Come Deck the Hall (DH)

The UMW is kicking off the holiday season with a Christmas program on Tuesday, December 3, at

6:30 p.m. in Donaldson Hall. We have lots to celebrate, so all you women out there come join the par-

ty…bring a friend…and an ornament for the Christmas tree.

Year after year in December St. John’s UMW has donated toys, clothing, and other necessities for the

children and women at Bethany House. This year is no exception, as we continue the tradition of donat-

ing gifts to Bethany House for its Christmas wish list. Gifts are especially needed for pre-teen and

teenage boys, as well as women (the children receive many toys from Toys for Tots). Gift cards from

game shops, sports/electronic stores, Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Marshall’s, Ross and TJ Maxx would

be most welcome. Can you help? If so, please bring your Christmas gift (unwrapped) on the 3rd. Bethany

House is very grateful for our on-going support.

If you need childcare or a ride, please send an e-mail to Marty Bickford at martyb@martfour.com, or

call the church office.

UMW Dates to Remember:

January 5 – UMW Mini Retreat in the Library at Noon to set up 2014 schedule

January 11 – Bi-District Training Day at Floris UMC in Herndon – 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM; register by

December 18 for $30; fee doubles at the door

Circle Duties for December:

Kitchen/Cards – Faith

Greeters-Friends

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and a faith filled new year!

FALL CLEAN-UP

The Church Trustees/Property Committee is re-

questing volunteers to help remove tree

leaves and trash from around the

church grounds on December 7th,

from 9:00 am – 12 Noon. Lawn bags

and tarps shall be provided. Please come out with

your gloves and rakes to make our church look

beautiful for the upcoming holiday season. Con-

tact the church office at 703-256-6655.

Due to the holidays and the

planned activities, Zumba dates

and times will be emailed from

jasdub@cox.net each Tuesday and Thursday

morning. Check your emails please.

Social Hour Update

Thank you Methodist Men for sponsoring Coffee

Hour in November. Trustees will sponsor Coffee

Hour in December.

Christmas Eve Service

On Christmas Eve there will be two services both

with communion.

Family worship at 5:30 p.m. “Christmas Wonder” – the story of Christmas told by the angel and

characters who were there.

7:30 p.m. – Traditional Christmas Eve worship service, with special music

May your world be filled with warmth and

good cheer this Holy season, and through-

out the year!

We wish your Christmas be filled with peace and

love. Merry Christmas from, St. John’s Staff.

Prayer Ministry

Prayer Focus: Christmas Season

Question: Will you make sure Christ is the

focus of your Christmas?

St. John’s Chapel

Were you aware that St. John’s has a small, inti-

mate chapel located in the lower level of Don-

aldson Hall for the use of all church members?

Yes, for many years this chapel has been available

and offers a quiet retreat for prayer, meditation,

or just a place to get away from the hustle and

bustle and think. There are Bibles there, as well

as helpful prayer material to help you focus your

thoughts. Since many members of our church,

especially new members, may not even know the

chapel exists, your Prayer Ministry encourages

you to drop by and get acquainted with it. The

chapel is located in a corner of the lower level

next to Room 2. The power of prayer is immense

and our chapel offers a unique place to focus on

God.

St. John’s Prayer Ministry

News Around the Church

All are invited!

Open House at the Parsonage

2-4 pm, December 15

Looking forward to sharing time,

conversation and

refreshments with you.

Pastor Paula, Roy, Tenchoe and Tesa

COMING IN APRIL –

Sight and Sound Theatre ‘s “MOSES”

Wondering what to get for that “hard to find”

gift to give that special someone? Or looking for

something fun for the family to do during Spring

Break? Come and join us for a trip to beautiful

Hershey, PA and the renowned Sight and Sound

Theatre for the performance of “Moses” on April

15. Cost of the ticket includes transportation in

a comfortable coach bus; Lunch at the Moorish

style Hotel Hershey in the Milton Hershey dining

room; and excellent seats at the Sight and Sound

Theatre for “Moses.” The bus departs at 9:30

a.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m. Costs: Adult $150

Teen 13/18 $133 Children u/12 $123

Tickets must be purchased before February 28.

No Refund after February 28 unless a passenger

replaces with a replacement. Registration flyer is

attached. Please make check out to “Leisure

Destination” and give the check to

Brenda Romenius.

Thank You

St. John’s received a “thank you’” letter from

FACETS, a nonprofit organization that touches

and improves the lives of thousands of families

and individuals every year. St. John’s sent over

$125. worth of toiletries. They could not have

such positive impact in the lives of the people

they work with if not for our generosity. Our vi-

tal role in helping, provides critical assistance to

families and individuals in Fairfax Co who struggle

to overcome the effects of poverty.

Bi-District Training Day

Don’t be left behind on January 11! Registra-

tions are starting to pick up and workshop space

is limited; $30 registration deadline is Dec. 18!

You will find all workshop descriptions and a mail-

in registration form, at www.novaumc.org/

bdtd.html. Online registration is also available via

that link.

News Around the Church

Sharing Some Christmas Joy

During December, St. John’s will be col-

lecting toys for the South East DC

Partners, an organization in Anacostia that helps

low-income and needy families. They host a San-

ta’s workshop for parents to come and pick out

two or three toys for their children. South East

DC Partners is run by Scott and Marilyn Dimock,

former members of St. John’s and we are happy

to support their work.

Please bring new-unwrapped toys and put in the

box in Donaldson Hall. Our collection will end on

Wednesday, December 18. Listed below are some

suggested items. If you have any questions, con-

tact Anne Moore at atrd@verizon.net or Anne

Hill at Anne_Hill@commerce.senate.gov.

Girls Dolls or doll accessories

Anything Hello Kitty

Tea sets, dishes, pots and pans, etc.

Fashion dolls

Mannequin heads (hair styling)

Pretend toys and dress-up

Boys Action figures, super heroes, Transformers

Basketballs, footballs, soccer balls

Hot Wheels, trucks, cars

Building toys, Legos

Airplanes, helicopters

Family Board games

Hats and gloves

Educational games

Youth News

Dec. 1st - Youth helping out make the Advent wreaths/logs

Dec. 8th - Youth singing in the Christmas Concert

Dec. 15th - Cookie baking during Sunday School and will be selling them after the service.

Dec. 21st - Caroling around the neighborhood

Dec. 29th - No Youth/Winter Break

Thank you to all the Youth who came out and helped us pack all these wonderful shoeboxes for Opera-

tion Christmas Child and packing up the cartons into the Trailers/Vans. We will have the numbers at a

later date for you.

We hope you all have a wonderful Winter Break and will see you in 2014!!!

Michael and Rachel Parker

December Birthdays

1 Louise Proctor, Shirley Wagner

2 Tricia Armentrout,

3 Candy Brassard, Matthew Halterman

4 Patrick Pacak

5 Walter Edwards, Alice Galloway,

Stephanie Reynolds

6 Robert DeBusk

7 Danny Whittle

8 Megan Fleming

9 Tanner Green, Regan Miller

10 Jada Burgess, Kevin Ledman

11 Jim Gray

13 Donna Perlish

14 Kathy Paulk

15 Justin Gray

16 Donna Griffin, Linda Griffin, Brenda Romenius

17 Noel Metcalfe, Pete Pederson

18 Anne Akridge, Eunice Blau

20 Raymond Cribbs, Robin Huebner

22 John Novack

24 Kitty Yang

25 Roger Rivera,

26 Christopher Chicarella, Stacy Stratton

27 Jennifer Gilchrist

28 Ellie Holcombe

29 Cameron Meyer

30 Wade Akridge

Congratulations on the birth of Alexandra Estelle

Lizarraga born November 4 to Kelly and Jaime,

granddaughter of Pastor Paula and Roy Werner.

December Anniversaries

4 Pete & Tina LaMon

11 Gerald & Mary Maxwell,

Harlin & Fran Matkins,

Ralph & Maxine Marshall

16 Jerry & Debbie Ashby

21 Dave & Pam Gallagher

23 Leonard & Audra Poling

In Our Prayers

Lois Augustad, Marguerite Bickers, Luke Catania

IV, Vicki Collins, Tiny Hartzell, Linda Hitchcock,

Ed Jones, Jonah Kuhlman, Margaret Marsh,

Hazel Marshall, Ernie Pappas, Ilene Patrick, Bet-

ty Rampy, Joann Raison, Anne Stegall, Macel

Thompson, and Connie Ward

Extended Family: Bridgett Barbarto, Tippy Cam-

eron, Steve Cooper, Norren Deholl, Lynn Foster,

Nancy Gonzales, Robert N. Giannini, Anita

Lawrence, Lin Mather, Dolores Martin,

irk Marshall, Myles Jonathon McLaughlin, Virginia

Rainey, Bill and Betty Smith, Bert Wood Jr., Dan-

ny VanGorder, William Weist, and Ray

Wardlow.

Law Enforcement and those Serving in the

Armed Forces

Chris Shephard, deployed to Afghanistan, neph-

ew of Fran & Harlin Matkins.

Jared Davis, serving in the Army Intelligence

Branch at Ft. Meade, MD.

Des Walton, serving with the Army in Bangkok,

Thailand.

Jeremy Honaker, nephew of Debbie & Jerry

Ashby, Warner Robins, GA.

Matt Stratton, serving in the Army, Ft. Collins,

CO.

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Friends

St John’s United Methodist Church

Preceded with Lunch at

The Circular – at Hotel Hershey

Tu e s d a y, A p r i l 1 5 , C o a c h , M o s e s & L u n c h

The parting of the Red Sea ... the Burning Bush ... the Plagues ... the Ten Commandments ... finally ... the greatest Biblical epic of the Old Testament comes to life on the Sight & Sound stage in Lancaster County, PA - Moses! Journey back through time and relive the golden splendor and pride of ancient Egypt, the poverty and oppression of the Hebrew slaves and the humble, broken man that God raised up to become their deliverer. Not only will you be completely immersed in the spectacular, epic events of the story, but you will experience the humanity of Moses and the children of Israel as they struggle for faith, freedom and belonging. This incredible adventure is like none other for this is when God breaks into history and reveals who He is and that He has come to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free! Before the performance start with lunch at The Moorish style Hotel Hershey in the Milton Hershey dining room -The Circular over looking the Rose Garden.

THE COST: Adult $ 1 5 0 Teen 13/18 $133 Child u/ 1 2 $ 1 2 3

THE TIMES: Departs 9:30 AM Returns 8:30 PM THE SCHEDULE: Lunch-Hotel Hershey 12:30 PM

Make Check Payable To: Leisure Destinations

Mail To: Brenda Romenius @ St John’s UMC, 5312 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA 22151

Questions Call Brenda 703-256-6655 ext. 101

No Refund after February 28 unless passenger replaces with a replacement

Reserve _____ spaces for Moses with Lunch Tuesday – April 15

Name

Address Telephone Email