Lodi United Methodist Church December 2017
Angels Among Us
Angels play numerous important roles in the Biblical stories about the preparation for and
birth of Jesus, who is Emanuel, God With Us. We see a lot of angel decorations this time
of year, but do you really understand why they are part of the Christmas celebration?
Besides occasionally talking about “our Guardian Angel”, which I believe is actually the
Holy Spirit, who are the angels we read about in the Bible? Angels are messengers that
God has entrusted with important information that needs to be delivered. Often their
message begins “Do Not Be Afraid”.
During the Advent and Christmas seasons we prepare our hearts and
minds for the coming of Emanuel. This year, one of the opportunities
you have is to learn how to be open to “Angels Among Us”. We will
begin this series by looking at the angels who appeared to Zachariah,
Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and then Joseph again. You are encouraged
to bring your friends and neighbors with you to the whole series of
Angels Among Us: #DoNotBeAfraid, - five Sundays in December and
the two Christmas Eve services.
May your Advent and Christmas be filled with the strong conviction that we who love the Lord can also be messengers of hope, peace, joy, love and life for an anxious world.
Pastor Marge
CHRISTMAS EVE
SERVICES 12/24
Morning Advent
8:30 am & 10:30 am
Christmas Eve
3:30 pm Family Service
5:30 pm Candle Light
Christmas Events (See details on page…)
Cookie Festival - page 12
Lodi Light Parade - page 2
Children’s Program - page 3
Cantata - page 2
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The Chancel Choir
Singing the 4th Sunday of each month,
10:30am.
Please prayerfully consider joining
the Chancel Choir!
We would love to have you join us.
Rehearsals are every 3rd Wednesday
of the month, from 6:30pm - 8:00pm.
Please contact Mitch Richards,
Director at [email protected]
Christmas Cantata
Presented on
Sunday,
December 17
10:30am
Christmas Lights Parade Saturday, December 2, 6:00 pm
We will have a "float" in the Christmas Lights
Parade (6:00 pm this Saturday). This is a church
family activity. Call Pastor Marge if you would like
to ride on the float. Wear warm clothes & white or
light colors if possible.
3
Children's Christmas Program
“A Great Big Story”
Presented Sunday, December 10, 10:30AM
Come join the Sunday School Choir as they
present the musical "A Great Big Story".
The music and enthusiasm will surely get you
and your family in the Christmas spirit!
This year Ardy Smith will be making
her stage debut in the program.
Will she finally sing?? Come join us and see!
From The Music Ministry Team
If you haven't heard - there has been a lot of ringing, dinging and singing in our Worship services lately!
Many of our adults and young people have been sharing their "God Given Gift" of music to praise our Lord in many different ways.
Thank you to EVERYONE who has been participating in, sharing leadership of and listening to the beautiful sounds resounding through our Sanctuary.
As we enter into the Advent season and PREPARE for the most exciting and wonderful Christian event of the year, please join us for
ALL the special, joyful, uplifting music that will be shared.
YOU won't want to miss it!
THANK YOU!
Thanks to all those who participated in the
“Superhero” walk for Reach Out Lodi,
and also to the many church members who
supported them!
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Confirmation Class
Second Harvest Volunteer Work Day was a Blessing On Saturday, November 18, five youth: Emma Cakanic, Lydia Wilkes, Aryn Attoe, Brandon Grover, and Kaitlyn Sharkey, along with adults: Wendy Attoe, Mary Wilkes, Paul and Marlene Sharkey, and Brent and Gail Grover volunteered at Second Harvest repackaging food for distribution.
They had a variety of small projects for us. We started out by sorting fruits and vegetables; and then created crates for distribution with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Then, we weighed and packaged candy in
one-pound portions and packed for distribution. Finally, we
labeled cereal for distribution. It was a wonderful way to start out the holiday season!
We only have one class meeting in December on the 6th. Then a long break from classes
during this busy and exciting time. However, your helpful presence is needed during
the “Angels Among Us” worship services during the whole month of December. There
are both speaking and non-speaking parts. Check with your parents about when you can
participate in three or more of our December worship services and let me know.
There are plenty of other mission and service opportunities in this newsletter. Check
them out. I also encourage you to remember your mentor with a ‘thank you for your
prayers and support’ during this season of giving.
With the New Year, our class schedule resumes as follows:
God bless you all as you share your blessings with others.
Pastor Marge
Date Wed. evenings, 2018 6:00–7:30 pm Mentor / Helpers
Jan. 3 Renounce, Reject, Repent Sherrie Orcholski
Jan. 10 Accept Shawn Bahr
Jan. 17 Confess Shawn Bahr
Jan. 24 Tour of Gunderson Funeral Home Lodi
All mentors & Parents invited
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Hope/Mary Alice
Christmas Brunch
Hope/Mary Alice Circle and
friends Brunch Outing will be
held Thursday, December 28.
Meet at church at 10:00 am to
car pool to Blue Spoon Café,
Prairie du Sac. Following the
brunch, the group will meet
back at church for finalizing the
2018 UMW program book.
RED KETTLE SEASON IS HERE
If you would like to help us with the Salvation Army’s Bell Ringing Project at Main Street Market, please sign up in Fellowship Hall. We are scheduled for December 6, 8, 9, 13, 15 and 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please sign up for a shift that fits your schedule. The kettle and bells will be available for your shift at the grocery store. PLEASE SIGN UP BY DECEMBER 3, and then our open hours will be turned back to Salvation Army coordinator, so they can fill the spots. If you and your family would like to ring at a different time, please call Kathryn at (608) 617-3237 or e-mail [email protected].
NEW W.I.N.E. CAFÉ CONNECTION
Thanks to those who attended our November Café Connection. Listed is the game we played. Great to use for holiday gatherings (between the football games). Answers on page 8.
NUTS TO CRACK A dairy product BUTTERNUT A vegetable A country A girl’s name A structure A name often applied to one of the U.S. Presidents Every ocean has one That which often holds a treasure The names of two boys A letter of the alphabet and an article made of tin
Marge and Kevin Rice Myers would like to invite you to an
Epiphany Open House - at the Parsonage
131 Locust Street
Sunday, January 7th - any time between 1 and 4 pm
Come and see Town and Country Builders
good work from the outside and inside.
6
STUDENTS REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATES!
Thank you Middle & High school students and K-2 class.
You were so helpful at the Sandy Lake Bruch benefit. We
really appreciate all your help.
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Thank you to everyone who
saved their egg cartons for
Second Harvest. Please
continue to save your egg
cartons for future donation.
SCRIP...orders will be taken placed on December 3, 10, & 17.
All Church Meeting The Church Council & the Finance committee are
holding an all church meeting on December 7, 2017,
at 7:00 pm to have an open discussion about our
2018 financial budget.
All are invited to attend this meeting.
Sunday School in December - January December 17th & 24th—One room school-Sunday School.
December 17th IMPROMTU Live Nativity - in Sanctuary at 9:15 am.
December 24th Story’s & crafts downstairs in 4th & 5th grade room.
DECEMBER 31ST - No Sunday School
January 21st - first day of Sunday School in the NEW YEAR!
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CHRISTMAS CARD RACK There are now Christmas cards in the UMW rack in Fellowship
Hall. They are 5 for $1.00. Check them out if you need a
few more.
Bell Choir Schedule for 2018 January 3 - Practice
January 10 - Practice
January 14 - Playing in Worship
January 31 - Practice
February 7 - Practice
February 11 - Playing in Worship
February 28 - Practice
March 7 - Practice
March 11 - Playing in Worship
March 28 - Practice
April 4 - Practice
April 8 - Playing in Worship
GETTING TO KNOW US Our program book for 2018 is titled SACRED SPACES: ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD AND NEIGHBOR. We are looking forward to a new year with new program ideas. Please consider joining UMW next year as we present various speakers and topics that relate to our Purpose.
Merry Christmas to everyone and we thank you for supporting United Methodist Women.
ANSWERS NUTS TO CRACK BUTTERNUT PEANUT BRAZILNUT HAZELNUT WALNUT HICKORY NUT BEECHNUT CHESTNUT FILBERT PECAN
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Today my husband looked at the back of the
red dress I had worn to church. “You have a
hole”, he commented, running his finger along
the worn edge of my dress. I nodded. It is one
of my favorite dresses and I have patched
many holes in it. I do not want to stop wearing
this dress and so I keep plugging holes,
replacing buttons and mending tears. In many
ways the years I have worn this dress has made
it more precious to me, more
comfortable, more a part of my
personal expression than a new
dress would. In many ways, God’s
commitment to us is like that. We
may be frayed, marked, torn and
rough and yet God does not
discard us in favor of something
new. God’s handiwork is, in fact,
far superior to my own patch jobs.
God’s healing is restoring,
strengthening and renewing. God
seeks to create strength out of
brokenness, vision out of
hopelessness and beauty out of destruction. In
creating all things new, God does not
necessarily erase the flaws and wounds of the
past, yet He constantly seeks to transform the
people and things damaged by the world into
those who bring the good news and the kin(g)-
dom of God into reality.
In “Tattered and Mended: The Art of Healing
the Wounded Soul”, Cynthia Ruchti explores
this connection between God’s intentions to
heal the world and various art restoration
practices. Using scriptural examples of healing
as well as real-world examples of
transformative restorations in such media as
glass, fabrics, metal and canvas, Cynthia
brings alive God’s mindset to never to give up
on what might be remade and how the ways in
which mending/healing is done can be an
artistic/beauty creating practice. God seeks to
make things stronger, more beautiful and
useful in the restored state than the original
creation. God uses wounded healers to create a
more beautiful way, a more complete mosaic
and a more authentic vision of what it means
to follow the path of righteousness. The book
includes practices for healing and healthy
spirituality, ways to pray for
mending and also practical
exercises which promote healthy
growth as well as helpful
reminders of the patience and
attitudes needed to gain true
healing. A beautiful, yet realistic
view of how to live beyond
brokenness and the wear and tear
of life, this book is a lovely
testament to God’s artistry and
vision for us all.
Interested in other books about the
health and healing? Try these other
books from the United Methodist Women’s
reading list: “Good Health, Good Life” by
Joyce Myers, “Broken and Blessed: God
Changes the World One Person and One
Family at a Time” by Jessica LaGrone, “Fully
Awake and Truly Alive: Spiritual Practices to
Nurture Your Soul” by Rev. Jane Vennard,
“Wild in the Hollows: On Chasing Desire and
Finding the Broken Way Home” by Amber
Haines, “The Reason: How I Discovered a
Life Worth Living” by Lacey Sturm, “Cured
but Not Healed: How to Experience Deeper
Faith on Your Journey with God” by Kimberly
Clemons-Jones and “Break the Cycle: Healing
from an Abusive Relationship” by Tracy
Deitz.
God Restores
By Laura Pfeffer
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December Celebrations Birthday
Poinsettias Sponsor
for Christmas I wish to contribute to the purchase of
Poinsettias for the alter on Christmas Eve.
Name(s) of those sponsoring:
Sponsored by:__________________________
In Memory of:__________________________
In Honor of:___________________________
Love Gift for:__________________________
No more than 15-20 Poinsettias will be
purchased, but all sponsors
will be mentioned.
Suggested donation is $15.00.
Any extra contributions will be given to our
first mile mission giving.
You may pick up after the 5:30 pm service on
12/24. DEADLINE FOR ODERING 12/17
Dorothy Diane Landford 4
Logan Lochner 4
Shirley Froh 5
Steve Vanlanvelt 5
Scott Ness 6
Audrey Attoe 8
David Brereton 9
Brent Grover 9
Heidi Ness 9
Sandy Hoke 11
Ron Webster 11
Terry Martindale 12
Evan Clary 13
Don Easley 13
Candence Wipperfurth 14
Tom Word 15
Kramer Endres 16
George Miller 16
Roger Wetzel 16
Robby Boisen 17
Cindy Brooks 17
Sandy Davidson 18
Tharen Robson 18
Bill Dalrymple 19
Donald Ness 22
Charles Phipps 23
Tiffany Orcholski 24
Mary Jean Goeres 25
Kyle Attoe 27
Crystal Kurtz 28
Logan Bahr 30
Anniversary
Larry & Judy Wieland 3
Randy & Kris Attoe 8
Terry & Sally Martindale 15
Katie & Brad Day 16
Jack & Susan Frankland 20
Rhea & John Lind 21
Larry & Ardy Smith 28
Jack & Cindy Heal 30
Thomas & Jane Chamberlin 31
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1 2
8:00am UMW
Cookie Festival
9:00am
Children’s
Christmas
Program
Rehearsal
3
9:00am
Children’s
Christmas
Program
Rehearsal
4
9:00am Patricia
Project
5
6
6:00pm
Confirmation
6:30pm Choir
7
7:00pm
ALL CHURCH
MEETING
8
9
10
10:30am
Children’s
Christmas
Program
11
12 13
12:00pm
Pathfinder
Potluck
6:30pm Choir
14 15 16
17
10:30am
Christmas Cantata
18
9:00am Patricia
Project
19 20 21 22 23
24
8:00am Worship
10:30am Worship
3:30pm Family
Service
5:30pm
Candlelight
Service
25
26 27
10:00am
Hope/Mary Alice
Circle Brunch
28 29 30
31
No Sunday
School
December
2017
Sunday Morning Worship Service Times
8:00am 1-Worship Service 9:00am Sunday School
9:15am Adult Sunday School 10:30am 2-Worship Service
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Lodi United Methodist Church
130 Locust Street
Lodi, WI 53555
Address Service Requested
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Lodi, WI 53555
Permit #26
Label goes here
UMW CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
December 2, 2017, 8:00am - 2:00pm
We are all looking forward to the start of the Christmas season, with our Christmas festival. Please have you items at the church by 6:00 p.m. Friday if at all possible. However, we will still accept items Saturday morning as well. Please
invite friends and family to come. Come and enjoy a cinnamon roll and refreshments in our collection of
Christmas mugs. Thank you from United Methodist Women for all your support.