Pastor’s Walk

Merry Christmas!

It seems this time of year just lends itself to taking short walks down memory lane. The other day, I was thinking about growing-up and having Christmas on Grandmother and Grandfather Kurt’s farm. Farm is a bit of a misnomer as the only thing my grandparents grew in great quantity was grass for hay. However, it was 120 acres of farm land out in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma and it was a great place for us grandchildren to explore and enjoy nature.

My grandmother was a bit of a cookie maker…not a great one mind you but more than good enough. One of her specialties was pfeffernusse cookies. No…I did not just have a keyboard moment…that is what they are called…pfeffernusse (it is a fun word to say over and over again). Anyway, her pfeffernusse cookies were little rounded over dark brown cookies about the size of a quarter and as hard as a rock. She made these things by the dozens and at every Christmas we would find in her kitchen tins and tins of the things….and we all loved them.

Now, I know what you all are thinking….if they were as hard as rocks why did you all love them so much. And I will tell you…because they were perfect for dunking. Actually, you didn’t dunk them as much as you had to soak them in order to eat them. We would all gather around the dining room table with milk glass or coffee mug in hand and a pile of pfeffernuse cookies in the middle of the table. We would each pick one…examining it for density and float worthiness and then we would count down. At three, we would each place our cookie in our milk or coffee and then wait with great intensity. The race was on…the race to be the last one to have their pfeffernusse cookie sink. As each cookie sank, we would oh and ah and laugh and watch and trash talk and…well…have a grand old time. And then we would fish out our cookies and eat them telling each other how hard our cookies were still in the center and then do it all over again. Now…I am here to tell you this was not just a kid thing…the adults joined in on this competition. As a matter of fact, I think it was my Uncle Carl who came up with the game.

It is one of my fondest Christmas memories. And you want to know why, because it was silly and fun and filled with laughter!

This time of year can quickly become about all that needs to be done before the big day…about the perfect gift…the decorations…the shopping…the traffic…the wrapping…the events…the parties…the rude cashier…the rude drivers…the so many things we need to get done before the end of the year. If we are honest, usually about this time in the season many of us are thinking, “How much longer before all of this is over!” We just want the stress to end…the pressure to let up…Christmas day to hurry up and arrive so we can get back to normal.

Well, here is my Christmas wish for each an everyone of you…I hope that you each find time this season to sit with friends or family around a table and just be silly for a moment…just be a kid and do something silly like having a cookie sinking race. Don’t worry about the calories or what you need to do tomorrow. Just live into the moment and create a memory…a silly memory that you will never forget…no matter how grown-up and old you get.

Grace,Pastor Steve

December 22: 4th Sunday of AdventMusic Program

December 24: Christmas Eve ServiceCommunion

December 29: 1st Sunday after Christmas

January 5: Epiphany SundayCommunion

January 12: 1st Sunday after the EpiphanyBaptism of the Lord

January 19: 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany

Our Sympathy

The Commonwealth church family would like to express its sympathy to the Family of Amelia Anne Lever who passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. She joined Commonwealth on April 1, 2001.

May God comfort them in this time of grief and sorrow.

Choir Christmas ProgramSunday, December 22nd at 11am

Christmas Eve ServiceTuesday, December 24th at 5:00pm

Church Office will be Closed for ChristmasWednesday and Thursday

December 25th and 26th

God Bless – everyone

We are still collecting food in December for our food drive. Please bring your non-perishable food items to the church and place them in the narthex. Thank you so much.

Happy Holidays

The Staff of Commonwealth Church wishes each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of our church family.

Steve Kurt - PastorPatience Brumley - Minister of Pastoral Care

Janice Rose - Choir Director and OrganistMargie Medure - Secretary

Ron Medure – Treasurer

20202020

Church Office ClosedNew Year’s Day

Wednesday, January 1st, 2020

UpdateStarting January 2020

Due to the time it takes to create, update and maintain the yearly calendar, Birthdays and Anniversaries will no longer be noted on the calendar. They will however, still be in the Newsletter.

A separate document will be provided listing individual birthdays and anniversaries for the year.

January Birthdays

1 Leonard Laye1 Esther Pakala7 Leigh Beaver8 Jack Parrish30 Glen Garlick

Wesleyan CircleTuesday, January 14, 2020

12:30pm in the Church Office

Administrative Council MeetingSunday, January 26th at 12pm

Fellowship Hall

2020 List of Acolytes,Stewards and Ushers

Bell Ringers:

Grace and Hannah Beaver

Acolytes:

Jan Robert KurtFeb Grace BeaverMar Hannah BeaverApr Robert KurtMay Grace BeaverJun Hannah BeaverJuly Robert KurtAug Grace BeaverSept Hannah BeaverOct Robert KurtNov Grace BeaverDec Hannah Beaver

Stewards:

Jan John BeaverFeb Gene HartsellMar Perry BeaverApr John BeaverMay Gene HartsellJun Perry BeaverJuly John BeaverAug Gene HartsellSept Perry BeaverOct John BeaverNov Gene HartsellDec Perry Beaver

Ushers and Greeters:

Jan Billie Gardner and Trena WilliamsFeb Curtis and Susan BlountMar Connie and Gene HartsellApr Phyllis Batts and Esther PakalaMay Bill and Carol PainterJun Ruby Agnew and Sarah HaiglerJuly Jackie Samuels and Kay LittleAug Billie Gardner and Trena WilliamsSept Perry and Gracie BeaverOct Connie and Gene HartsellNov Sandy and Robert KurtDec Adriane and Leigh Beaver

Commonwealth Leadership for 2020

Thank-you to everyone who said yes to the call to leadership for our church in the coming year…we have many who will be staying on at their post for 2020. Also, the Administrative Council will have a new member joining them in 2020 Mrs. Marie Rich who will be tackling the job of Nurture. In this council there is still one opened spot and that is for Member at Large. Our Member at Large position is there to help round out the council and give it another voice that is purely that of the congregation. That is, give this council a broader view of the needs of the congregation and the community. If you are interested in fulfilling this position for 2020 please let me know.

Those who volunteered for the Kitchen Committee will continue on that committee if they choose…Marie Rich will continue to head-up and recruit for that committee also.

Grace,Rev. Steve Kurt

Administrative Council:Chair: Perry BeaverTrustees: Sandra Pearre

Gene HartsellFinance: Alice Shepherd

Leigh BeaverWorship: Adriane BeaverSPRC Rep: Dawn BeaverMission/Outreach: Sandy Painter-KurtNurture: Marie RichAt-Large Member: TBDYouth Reps: Robert Kurt and

Gracie BeaverLay Leader: Phyllis BattsAnnual Conference Rep: Phyllis Batts

Staff Parish Relations Committee:Dawn Beaver Phyllis Batts Adriane Beaver

Kitchen:Marie RichBillie GardnerPhyllis BattsJackie Samuels

Church Historian:Mary PearreRosemary Lands

Youth and Children:Dawn BeaverSandy Painter-Kurt

Wednesday is Day of PrayerRemember to pray for those in need.

Prayer box located in the Narthex

Our Prayer List

Jack Harwell (brother of Ruby Agnew), Alma Horne, Nancy Hoy (sister-in-law of Margie Medure), Pat Inman (sister of Jackie Samuels), Maxine Kincaid, Mary Reid (sister of Billie Gardner), Rosemary Lands, Martha Lee, Hue Parnell, Jean Stoneman

Legacy Fund

In Memory of: Gene HelmsBy: Kay H. Little

In Memory of: Ec LittleBy: Kay H. Little

November 24, 2019Sunday school - n/a

Church Attendance - 27Offering - $930.00

December 1, 2019Sunday school - 10

Church Attendance - 22Offering - $1,821.05

December 8, 2019Sunday school - 8

Church Attendance - 31Offering - $2,111.98

December 15, 2019Sunday school - 11

Church Attendance - 41Offering - $3,298.00

CommonwealthUnited Methodist Church

2434 Commonwealth Ave.Charlotte, NC 28205-5132

704-376-4924

December 17, 2019

Steve Kurt - PastorPatience Brumley - Pastoral Care

Sunday School - 10:00amWorship Service - 11:00am

Office HoursMon. - Thurs. 9am to 1pm