1

December 2017 First United Methodist Church of Salida

“Love, Live, Give As You Have Received”

4th & D Streets (P.O. Box 945)

Salida, CO 81201 (719) 539-2755

Ministers: Everyone; Pastor: Calob Rundell 719-539-2755 (O), 720-879-2267(C); Office Administrator: Licia Iverson; Organist: Rod Schleicher; Choir Director: Mary Sandell 970-217-0051

Co-Lay Leaders: Burrell & Sherry Welton: Burrell 719-660-1652, Sherry 480-298-3132; Church Council Chair: Ken Leisher 719-221-3691; Treasurer: Randy Bergstrom 719-539-5305;

Financial Secretary: Paul Wilson 719-221-1923 Pastor’s e-mail: pastor@salidaumc.org Church website: www.salidaumc.org Church e-mail: office@salidaumc.org

Time To Get Ready Friends, as you are reading this, we have arrived at the season of Advent. It is a special time when we are getting ready for Christmas! Yay!

How many of you just went “ugh” and maybe said a swear word? How many of you mentally frowned, or actually physically frowned, when you thought about getting ready for Christmas? Did you imagine frantic shopping, hectic preparation of food, and stressful family gatherings?

If that was your reaction to the thought of Christmas, you are not alone. This time of year has been turned into one heck of a production. Many of us dread this time of year with all of its activities and spending money that are supposed to make us……..feel better? Think of Jesus? Have luscious dreams of eggnog?

Friends, amidst all the hustle and bustle of this season, I want to invite and encourage you to be really intentional about treating this as a sacred season. The season of Advent is a time not just for shopping and planning and eating, but it is a time of preparation. This is the time when we are preparing for Jesus to burst into our lives and into our world in unexpected, humble, glorious ways.

To help us prepare for the experience of Jesus on Christmas Day, and to help us navigate this unnecessarily stressful season, I am inviting all of us to join together in a Bible study for Advent.

Starting December 1st, read one chapter of Luke each day. As we get ready for Jesus, we will be engaging the story of the person that causes all this commotion. Starting December 1st, you’re invited to take time each day to read one chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Conveniently, there are 24 chapters, so that you’ll

finish the story on Christmas Eve. And when Jesus arrives at Christmas, you’ll know who is showing up, why He has come, what He has to teach us, and the work He has come to do.

As you read the story of Jesus in Luke, you are encouraged to engage with it and ask questions. And through your questions we’ll be engaging this story together. You can submit questions you

have four ways:

Post to the Facebook group “Luke Advent Study: Salida UMC” (part of the church’s page)

Email: pastor@salidaumc.org Text:720-879-2267 Call: 719-539-2755

Whatever questions you email, text, or call in will also be posted anonymously to the church Facebook group for others to see and engage with.

In your reading of the Gospel story, may you find the meaning and purpose of Christmas. (And you can still have luscious dreams of eggnog if you want to.)

Peace,

Rev. Calob Rundell pastor@salidaumc.org

2

Here are all the events happening through our church for the 2017 Christmas season.

(More details to come throughout the month…)

Hanging of the Greens, Saturday December 2nd, 9:00am. Come help us decorate the church as we put up the tree and prepare for the season while having fun!

Caroling, Sunday December 17th, 2:00pm. Please sign up on the Caroling sheet in Century Hall. We will meet at the church about 1:45pm and head out at 2:00pm. We’ll carpool to go out to spread Christmas cheer by singing loudly for all to hear! We plan to go to the hospital, nursing home, and other locations. Let Calob know if you have additional ideas. Following caroling we’ll gather at the home of Scott & Mary Sandell for a chili supper and desserts. If you’d like to bring a dessert, cornbread or beverage contact, Mary at (970) 217-0051.

Blue Christmas Worship Service, Thursday, December 21st, 7:00pm. The holiday season can be a mixed bag of emotions and experiences. While there's plenty of joy to go around, there can also be plenty of grief, loneliness, and anxiety. You're invited to come to this special worship service where we will name, acknowledge, and hold in the light of Christ all the emotions that we have with us. We will conclude the evening with light refreshments. (Location to be announced… we will be at either our church or the Episcopal Church)

Christmas Eve Morning Community Worship Service, Sunday December 24th, 11:00am…please note the time change. Join us as we gather at the First Christian Church to worship with our Disciples of Christ friends.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship, Sunday December 24th, 6:00pm. Come and experience the joy of Christmas with a service of scripture readings and carols that tell of the eternal hope that enters into the world with Jesus. We will take up an offering that will be used to support the ministries of the church and the ministries of The Grainery, our local community food pantry.

Faith Book Club Tuesday, December 5th at 10:00AM

This group meets at the home of Catherine Hayden. Please call Catherine for more information:

(719) 539-8561

Sharing Our Prayers, Praise, Needs & Celebrations

Roger Minke: Please keep the family and friends of Roger Minke in your prayers. Roger passed away on Monday, Nov. 20th. Roger Minke’s Obituary may be read here (in the blue link) or found in the Mountain Mail on Wednesday, Nov. 22nd. His service will be held at the Salida Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 2nd from 1:00-3:00pm. If you would like to send a card to his family, you may mail it to: Candy Minke & Family 1225 I Street Salida, CO 81201

Ken Leisher – Thank You to Ken Leisher for his many years of service as Chair of our Church Council.

Fudge Volunteers – Thank you to the many volunteers who have stepped up in support of this delicious annual fundraiser for our church. We are having an excellent year of sales, and at the time of this writing, we’re still going strong! In addition to thanking the Fudge Force Fundraiser Committee: Ralph & Judy Eyler, Debbie Jackson, Jerry Cunningham & Burrell Welton, we want to thank everyone who helped to make the fudge, sell the fudge, spread the word about the fudge or have purchased the fudge! You all have made this fundraiser a success!

Rhonda Plinske & Family – Please keep Rhonda, Rod and their family in your prayers. Rhonda’s mother passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 29th, one day before her 95th birthday. There will be no services. Interment will be in Mountainview Cemetery, Pueblo, CO. If you would like to send Rhonda a card, please mail it to: Rhonda & Rod Plinske 10648 W. Saratoga Cr. Sun City, AZ 85351

Please send your prayer requests, updates, celebrations and announcements to Licia at: office@salidaumc.org

3

Saturday, Dec. 2nd 9:00AM

Volunteers needed to help decorate the church for

the season! Hope you can

join us!

Faith Fudge Fundraiser!

Our Faith Fudge Fundraiser is well underway and thank-you to everyone who helped to put all the kits together. Here are a couple of ways you can still help with this fundraiser.

Sign-Up for Safeway Sales Shifts – Sign-up sheet is out for the 2 hour sales shifts at Safeway. We would like two volunteers for each shift! This year’s sales at Safeway started Saturday, November 18th and will continue until Tuesday, Dec. 19th, or while supplies last.

Purchase Fudge! Of course, we welcome your purchases of fudge for your own gift giving!

This fudge, with or without nuts, make for great gifts at $5 per half pound of fudge. Thank you for supporting this delicious fundraiser for the church!

Operation Spirit

From

The Heart of the Rockies Salida Troops Donations

We will not collect donations in December. Collection will resume in January 2017. Thank You!

We appreciated all your donations for the troops and we were able to send double packaging for Thanksgiving and Christmas on the 10th of November. All of the volunteers were excited and pleased to send so many goodies to the men and women serving our country. Just know they will be so happy receiving these gifts as it will bring a little bit of home this season.

Our blessings to all, Ginny Biglow, Ginny Cunningham, Linda Hayden, Barb Zechman and many other volunteers from the First Lutheran Church & the Salida United Methodist Church.

DECEMBER CELEBRATIONS

Birthdays Dec. 1 Julie Moss

Dec. 1 Julia Litz

Dec. 2 Larry Williams

Dec. 6 Susie Brown

Dec. 8 Julia Hanks

Dec. 8 Gayla Dunning

Dec. 11 Cynthia Hearn

Dec. 13 Gloria Mattix

Dec. 14 Eduardo Brummel

Dec. 14 Janice Montgomery

Dec. 27 Janet Murphy

Dec. 30 Meryl Ann Giles

Anniversaries Dec. 8 Gayle & Jim Greene

Dec. 18 Julia & John Hanks

֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎ Ever wondered how you might be of service to the church? Please consider being on the volunteer rotations for one of these three areas of service!

For more information, please contact the following coordinators:

Ushers Ginny Cunningham (719) 539-5243 Liturgists Karen Yerkey (719) 539-3427 Fellowship Barbara Zechman (719) 285-4251

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS

December Ushers - Coordinator: Ginny Cunningham December 3 Jerry & Ginny Cunningham December 10 Cynthia Hearn and Cindy Tietz December 17 Jim & Barbara Rees December 24 Larry & Barbara Williams – PM Service December 31 Paul & Cindy Wilson

December Liturgists - Coordinator: Karen Yerkey December 3 Sherry Welton December 10 Karen Yerkey December 17 Mary Reeves December 24 Mary Reeves – PM Service December 31 To be determined…

December Fellowship Hosts – Coordinator: Barb Zechman December 3 Barbara & Larry Williams December 10 Barb Zechman & Friends December 17 Available December 24 Not Needed December 31 Available

4

This month, Lori Isenberger has provided us with another

letter she came across from someone in our church during the

time that our church was celebrating its 50th Anniversary, in

1933. This letter is from:

DR. W. J. Axford, Chiropractor

Missoula, Montana

September 13, 1933

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SALIDA METHODIST

CHURCH:

It is a wonderful pleasure to me to have the opportunity to

answer your letter of greetings for your Fiftieth Anniversary

of your organization.

Memories and reminiscence is a thing that none of us should

forget.

Well, I do remember the first Sunday School ever held in

Salida, Colorado; well do I remember the first minister of

that church, Reverend McDade; well do I remember when

little Charlie Allen came second/ the greatest friend to me

was John L. Valoo. I remember when the little church house,

which I know not where it is today, was just a little frame

building. Many times the young folks would fill it to capacity.

There was a time when they needed an annex and so it was

built; this became too small and the new Methodist Church

was built, taking place of the small church house that my

mother helped to build. She was taken away from the little

church, and Reverend Grace was the minister.

I still remember when I sang in the choir with such men as the

Tomlin Bros. Grace and Clara Ayres, Mattie Simpson,

Charlie Hart, and Frank Rogers with Mr. Taggert as leader

of the choir. Then later days when I returned to Salida on

visits, all of these things were changed. They have all gone in

different directions of the world. The last time I was there, I

say my father’s body taken from the new church to its final

resting place.

So, after all these years, I am certainly pleased to have the

pleasure of sending you fond greetings from one who saw it

all in its infancy.

Respectfully yours, W. J. Axford

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Message from Lori, Larry & Licia….

If you have in your possession, any information documenting the history of this church, such as photos of past events at our church, any church records or any written information from any areas of the church, which you may have been of service. Please consider sending it to us at the church so that it may be included in our archives. We have the ability to scan photos and documents and would greatly appreciate your help with this.

To mail these items to us, you can send it to: Salida United Methodist Church PO Box 945 Salida, CO 81201, or call the office at: (719) 539-2755 to arrange to drop them off. Thank You!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ COME SEE WHAT

GOODNESS IS HAPPENING DURING

THESE EVENING SERVICES!

When: 2nd

and 4th

Sundays of each month, 6:30-7:15pm What: We sing, pray, talk about Jesus. And then we offer communion (optional) in the sanctuary. Where: At the church building in Century Hall.

EVERYONE IS INVITED BRING A FRIEND!

The Permanent Endowment Fund of Salida UMC

As we approach the end of the year, it is a good time to consider gifts to the Permanent Endowment Fund in honor of or in memory of loved ones. The fund was established in 2006 for the purpose of providing funding for outreach and programs that are not provided for in the regular budget. This funding comes from 90% of the earnings on the investments and the principle cannot be spent. The funds are invested with the Rocky Mountain United Methodist Foundation and High Country Bank. Expenditures from the Fund must be approved by the Endowment Committee. Past expenditures have gone for missions, expenses for the picnic with the Presbyterian Church following our joint service in the park, support of the Kairos Prison Ministry and Salida School Libraries. The current balance in all the funds is $63,210.13. The amount available for use at present is $1389.37 and we expect to add significantly to that at the end of the year. If you have questions please contact David Hearn at 719-530-9229. Gifts to the Endowment Fund may be made through the Church Office.

5

Trinity VIEWS

FROM OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT… Dear Friends,

For many years, the Message version of John 1:14 has summed up Christmas for me:

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.

We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,

generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

This is what we celebrate! THIS is what we await during the season of preparation… Advent. This is what sets Christianity apart from other world religions; the theological understanding that God so loved the world He not only sent his only son, but that the Divine became human in order to be as close to us as possible. God wanted to leave no gap between us, including our experience. How marvelous! How incredible! We have been given the gift of all gifts. No wonder we have so much to celebrate in this season! The question is, how shall we celebrate? How shall we mark our preparations? How shall we shape our anticipation? In addition to the Advent Calendar, Elf on the Shelf, daily rearranging of the Nativity set, cookie baking, popcorn stringing, or whatever your family traditions might be, I invite you to take on a new spiritual discipline this year that connects back to John 1:14. Jesus was, for us, God-with-skin-on. While none of us is God or Jesus, remembering that God IS love, we can certainly seek to be love-with-skin-on. How might we bless our neighbors, co-workers or strangers in this way? How could we be love-with-skin-on each day during Advent and Christmas? I’d love to hear what you do! Blessings on the Journey from your District Superintendent,

P.S. The Mountain Sky Area will be doing short early morning (6:30 am) digital devotionals, Monday through Friday, for the seasons of Advent, Christmas and the beginning of Epiphany. Each District is responsible for one week and Trinity has the first week of Advent! Please be on the lookout in conference communications via email and Facebook for the link to join with or without video by computer or phone. This twenty minutes of community worship will be a great way to start your day and to connect you to United Methodists across the area. Join us!

Bible Studies Available

The Men’s Bible Study meets on Thursdays at 10:00AM in Century Hall.

Our Women’s Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 9:30AM in Century Hall

Everyone is Invited!!

Meet us at the church on

Sunday, Dec. 17 t h at 1:45pm,

as we go caroling at 2:00pm to a few

specific locations and to visit some of

our members at their homes.

Please sign up on the sign-up sheet

in Century Hall, so we will

know how many to plan for.

Song sheets will be provided.

After Caroling, a ll are invited back to Mary

& Scott Sandell ’s home for a Chil i Supper

and Desserts. Let Mary know if you would

l ike to bring a dessert , cornbread or drinks.

The Sandells will provide the chil i!

6

Blue Christmas Worship Service Thursday, December 21st, 7:00pm

The holiday season can be a mixed bag of emotions and experiences. While there's plenty of joy to go around, there can also be plenty of grief, loneliness, and anxiety. You're invited to come to this special worship service where we will name, acknowledge, and hold in the light of Christ all the emotions that we have with us. Location for this service will be determined soon…it will either be held at our church or at the Episcopal Church. We will gather for light refreshments following the service.

By: Licia Iverson

I believe there are many ways that we

are constantly reminded of God’s

enduring and steadfast love…even in

the midst of what may feel like a

dormant and/or stagnant time of our

lives.

This plant, which lives in the church kitchen window, continues

year after year to remind me of God’s love, which is always

present within us and easier to recognize when it bursts forth in

full bloom…even if, we (or I) forget to water it for long

stretches of dormant and stagnant times.

In my life, it is in those dormant and/or stagnant times that I

know I am invited to remember the presence and promise of

God’s love…to trust and be patience for God’s love to blossom

and be made visible to the eye and the heart.

This Christmas cactus was a gift that

someone brought to the reception

following Agnes Thornton’s memorial

service, on Nov. 19, 2013…which was

held on her 107th birthday. Placed at her

favorite seating location in Century Hall

along with lovely decorations, it has

offered a constant reminder of her love

and faithful support of this church. Thank

you to Agnes and to the giver of the

Christmas cactus. Your gift has been a

constant reminder of God’s Love to me.

Remember … to purchase your Safeway cards in the Church office or from Barb Williams.

As we approach this time of the year, when many of us are planning delicious meals for family and friends, please consider using our Safeway gift cards for your purchases at Safeway.

You can also use Safeway cards to purchase other gift cards for Christmas gifts. Your Safeway card can also be used at the Safeway pharmacy or their gas station where available.

You may purchase a reloadable gift card for $10 and it has $10 available on it. Then just have the cashier (before scanning your items) add your desired amount to the gift card and you’re ready to go! You can also do this at the Customer Service desk before shopping! We also have gift cards in denominations of $50 or $100.

Our church receives 5% of your purchases. This is a very convenient fundraiser for our church and your participation is greatly appreciated!

If you have any questions, please see Barb Williams or you may inquire in the office.

Your gift cards are waiting for you….

Come One…Come All

Plan to join us on

Sunday, Dec. 24 t h at 6:00pm

for our Christmas Eve Candlel ight Service

7

2018

Our 2018 Financial Pledge Commitment Cards are currently available for your prayerful consideration. Thank you for your support! This year’s Commitment Sunday was held on Sunday, November 19th. Thank you to those who were in attendance and participated in the Commitment Liturgy. If you were unable to attend on Commitment Sunday, you may mail your pledge commitment card to Salida United Methodist Church, PO Box 945, Salida, CO; Attention: Finance Secretary. Additional letters and cards are also available in our church office and on the information table in Century Hall.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration regarding your financial support of our church for this next year. It is through your generosity, that we are able to do God’s work through this beautiful community of faith.

Please know that your pledge information is held in strict confidence. If you have any questions, please speak with our Finance Secretary: Paul Wilson. You may reach him via email at: pwilson54@aol.com or call on his cell: (719) 221-1923.

OUR CHILDREN’S PROGRAM Each Sunday, during the worship service, children in attendance have the opportunity to come up to the front of the sanctuary to spend time with Pastor Calob, during the Message for Young People.

Following the Message for Young Children, all children are invited to leave the sanctuary with our Sunday School teachers & volunteers, to go to the children’s classroom. Parents may pick them up there after worship. On Communion Sundays, children will return to the sanctuary to participate in Communion with their families.

We welcome new volunteers who would like to help with the Children’s Program. It is our policy to always have two volunteers with the children at all times. Age appropriate activities are provided each week. Children benefit from the small group and large group activities which include: exploring life lessons and virtues through Bible Stories, creative art projects,

playing with manipulatives (floor or table games), and experiencing the joy of music!

Come play, have fun, be inspired and help demonstrate to the children what living a life in faith can be about.

You will be blessed and will be a blessing!

If you are interested and/or need more information about the Children’s Program please speak with Pastor Calob, Licia Iverson or Ginny Biglow. Thank You!!

Order Your Memorial Poinsettias Today!

We are currently taking orders for poinsettias “In

Honor Of” or “In Memory Of” to

beautify our sanctuary during this Holy Season!

Order forms are available in Century Hall or in the office.

$15.00/each plant

Orders are due by: Tuesday, December 12 th!

Any Questions…Please see Licia in the office for more information

8

Larry Walrath shares the following chapter from a booklet titled: Salida Methodism 1883-1903. This booklet is available for you to see in the church office.

The Growth of Salida Methodism

Churches, like cities, are not built in a day. Churches must grow. The development of Salida Methodism has been at no time phenomenal. Its progress has not been meteoric. It has made no brilliant forward leaps. But it has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth. The report of the church to the Annual Conference meeting in Christ Church, Denver, August last, for the fiscal year 1902-3, is larger than that of the entire Colorado Conference in 1863. It has outgrown two buildings. The first a small, plain, frame structure, standing on the site of the present parsonage soon became inadequate for the accommodation of the increasing congregations. After worshipping in this building for five years it became necessary to build the annex. This provision made room for the next twelve years, when it again became necessary to build larger, and the present noble structure was erected. The new building will comfortably seat five hundred people. It is electrically lighted, and is heated by a modern warm air process. On the ground floor are three rooms – the auditorium, the lecture room, and the class room. On the second floor are, aside from the gallery, two rooms – a parlor, with an alcove, in which the Gaby Memorial Library has been placed, and the pastor’s study, which is located in the tower. The basement contains three rooms. Beside the furnace room is a large room used for Sunday school purposes and social gatherings of various sorts. A smaller room serves for a class room and dining area. The present building is none too large to accommodate the needs of an active and growing church. Although Methodism began in this city in a very small way, its influence has kept pace with its growth. Its pulpit has always stood fearlessly for truth, reform and public progress. This Church stands for the social improvement of its members. It this it differentiates between the fallacy of social fads and eccentricities and a genuine and sincere social life. It has no room for caste. It aims to furnish an unartificial welcome for every stranger within the gates. It believes in the democracy and the brotherhood of Christianity. This Church stands for educational and intellectual advancement. It believes in the broad principle of Methodism at large, that the best and most useful type of Christianity is thoroughly ballasted with a broad, liberal educational policy. Salida Methodism helps to support its own denominational school. So thoroughly has he identified himself with our state and local Church interests, that any souvenir of this sort would not be complete without some mention of Chancellor Buchtel. This Church stands for the best type of spiritual life. It believes in spiritual religion. It advocates practical Christian living. It believes in perpetuating everything of value that has come down from tradition, but does not bind itself to embrace ideas merely because they are traditional. The prayer meeting and the class meeting flourish. With a strong emphasis placed

upon the three-fold object of its steady effort – social, intellectual and spiritual development – The First Methodist Church of Salida hopes to continue to turn out a worthy product in the form of earnest Christian men and women.

(Mark your calendars NOW!)

Typical Ongoing Weekly Scheduled Items Include:

Sundays: Choir Practice, 9:15am Worship 10:30am Children’s Program is held during worship Youth Program – High School, 6:30-8:30, Collaborative Program with First Presbyterian Church

Wednesdays: Women’s Bible Study, 9:30am, Century Hall Youth Program – Middle School, 7:00-8:30, Collaborative Program with First Presbyterian Church

Thursdays: Men’s Bible Study, 10:00am, Century Hall Church is closed for cleaning, 12:00-2:00pm Salida Brass, 6:30pm, Choir Room Fridays: Church Office is Closed

Sat, Dec. 2 Decorate the Church, 9:00am, Volunteers Needed

Sun, Dec. 3 Worship Service with Communion

Tues, Dec. 5 Faith Book Club, 10:00am, Catherine Hayden’s Hm.

Thurs, Dec. 7 League of Women Voters, 2:00-5:00, CH

Sat, Dec. 9 Salida/Aspen Concert Bd. Mtg, 9:00-11:00, CH

Sun, Dec. 10 Sunday Eve. Worship Svs, 6:30-7:15pm, CH

Mon, Dec. 11 League of Women Voters, 10:00-2:00, CH

Tues, Dec. 12 Poinsettia Orders Due with payment

Wed, Dec. 13 Finance Mtg, 1:00pm, Century Hall

Sun, Dec. 17 Caroling, 2:00pm – Chili Supper & Desserts to follow at Mary & Scott Sandell’s Home

Mon, Dec. 18 Monitor Articles Due!

Thurs, Dec. 21 Blue Christmas Service, 7:00pm, Location TBD

Sun, Dec. 24 Community Christmas Eve Morning Worship 11:00 at First Christian Church

Sun, Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Svs, 6:00pm, Sanctuary

Wed – Sat, Dec. 27-30 Baton Rouge UMC, Overnight, Basement

Save these Dates: Wednesday, January 10th - 2017 Committee Reports are due.

Committee Chairs are asked to have your annual reports to Licia by January 10th so that they may be included in our celebration packet.

Sunday, January 28, 2018 - Year End/Year Start Celebration As a compliment to the Saturday, November 18th - Circuit Church Conference in Monte Vista, we’ll be having our own gathering on Sunday, January 28th after worship. On this day we’ll get together as a congregation to celebrate and talk about all that 2017 had for us (it’s been a really good year! Amen!) and we’ll envision what the year 2018 will look like for us (it’s looking pretty good Amen!). There will also be some business matters the Church Council will share with the whole congregation as we get together. We’ll also have a potluck lunch with this gathering!