Church Events

12.02 - United Methodist

Women Breakfast

12.05 - Worship at Hart

Heritage Assisted Living

12.05 - Mom2Mom

12.06 - Youth Zone

12.09 - Breakfast with Santa

12.10 - Choir Cantata

12.10 - Adult Fellowship

Christmas Party

12.10 - Tree Lighting

12.14 - Blue Christmas

Worship Service

12.24 - Christmas Eve

Worship Services

“The Word became flesh and blood, and God moved

into the neighborhood.”

John 1: 14

The advent season was created to give Christians time to prepare for the greatest gift the world has ever seen—the gift of love in Jesus Christ. God took extra care as the pieces were all put together one by one. What a great love story! We are loved so much, that this amazing, miraculous, powerful story is our story. As you spend time decorating, reflecting on God’s love, celebrating, entertaining, remember the real reason for the season is that God couldn’t stand to see us separated from Him

because of sin…so 600 years before the birth of Jesus, God began preparing for the Messiah, as predicted by the prophets of old, so that we might be saved from sin through his death and resurrection. May people see joy and gratitude in your spirit this season. May you have strength and grace for the tough days and the wonderful ones. May God give you patience, peace, and hope as you move through the season.

Blessings,

Karin

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | FALLSTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ENLIGHTENER

December 2017

1509 Fallston Road, Fallston, MD 21047 *410-877-7255

www.fallstonumc.org

Gift tags are available for our Christmas Adopt-a-Family

program. Pick up a tag in the Welcome

Center and return your gift by December 17. Place the present in a gift bag, along with the

tag. Thank you for your generosity!

We are collecting hats, mittens, and

gloves for local children in need. Please hang your

donation to the tree in the

Welcome Center. Thank you!

Manna House would like to

start serving 2 cups of coffee

to their neighbors in

need. We are collecting cans

of coffee (regular only)

for them. Help us build a “tree”

of coffee!

Help at OCC Processing Center

After Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are collected they are taken to the local processing center located at 8700 Robert Fulton Drive in Columbia. Volunteers are needed to help get boxes ready for worldwide distribution. FUMC has 3 dates and we need 10 people for each time frame; we will meet at church and carpool. Dates are Monday, December 11 from 1-5 pm and 6-10 pm; and Tuesday, December 12 from 2-10 pm. Sign-up in the Welcome Center.

We are continuing our annual tradition of providing mailboxes for our church family. You are welcome to put your Christmas cards in the appropriate slots (below the lettered boxes) addressed to anyone within our church family. Check to see if you have received any cards!

Nursery Sunday School Schedule

Sunday, December 24: Nursery and toddler care will be available for the 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm services. Children 3 and older can enjoy family-friendly services at 4:00 and 7:00 pm

Sunday, December 31: Nursery and toddler care will be available during the 9:00 am and 10:15 am services. Pre-k through 5th grade will enjoy holiday games in Friendship Center after the Impact Message during the 10:15 service. Confirmation, middle and high school students are encouraged to enjoy the services with their families.

Regular Sunday school classes will resume on Sunday January 7.

Glory to God in the highest, and on

earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:14

There will be no

Saturday night

coffeehouse worship on

December 23 and December 30.

Our regular worship schedule will resume on New Year’s Eve at 9:00 and 10:15 am.

At the Thanksgiving evening service, people were asked to write down things they are grateful and post them on a board. This a general list – most people are grateful for the same things—family, friends, faith community, health!

• Christ’s sovereign grace

• Grandchildren, children, family, friends

• Family—the one I live with and the one I worship with

• Health

• Our country—its beauty, fall colors

• Our faith

• Friends to lean on

• Doctors and nurses who work with cancer patients and folks with dementia

• Freedom

• Freedom to worship without fear of persecution

• Sitting up and taking nourishment each day

• Our military around the world

• Music!!!

• Diversity, innovation, kindness

• Heated blankets, flavored coffee creamer, lambs, kittens, and my dog

• Employment

• The Saints who have gone on before us

• Sharing a meal and worship with others from various faith communities

• Every breath I take

• Everything!

Join us for worship as we celebrate Jesus’ birth:

11:00 am - First service of Christmas!; stay for coffee and cookies after the service

4:00 pm - 45-minute worship designed with families in mind; includes “candlelight” with lightsticks

7:00 pm - Candlelight worship with lightsticks and candles

10:30 pm - Concert - join us for a great variety of music followed by worship service

11:00 pm - Candlelight worship; usher in Christmas Day!

Many of you have an opportunity to interact with our staff.

They are a wonderful team and work hard throughout the

week to make sure things run smoothly. Some of our staff are

on duty during the week and on weekends. A few work

specifically during the week and enjoy worshipping on the

weekends!

Our office administrator, custodian, and treasurer do most of

their work during the week and like to worship on weekends

just like you. Please help and save business for the week.

Appreciation of Our Staff

CHRISTMAS EVE

Worship

Schedule

“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put in you. I’ll remove the

stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-

willed.”

Ezekiel 36:26 (Message)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10

The great evangelist, Billy Graham said: "We’re suffering from only one disease in the world. Our basic problem is not a race problem. Our basic problem is not a poverty problem. Our basic problem is not a war problem. Our basic problem is a heart problem. We need to get the heart

changed, the heart transformed." The only way for that to happen is for us to surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only one who can transform us, he is the only one who can soften our hearts…and our words. Jesus is our only hope for a clean heart and a right spirit within us. Jesus is the only one who can save us.

Matthew 15:18 states: “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” Be aware and know that the words that we speak are indicative of what is in our hearts. No matter who we are our words broadcast to the world whether we have a heart that is God-willed or self-willed, whether we have a heart of stone or a God-filled heart. May our prayer always be, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, December 2 - UMW Christmas Breakfast, 9:00 am in Providence Hall

Scripture: John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. God did

a lot of preparation before he saved the world and all humanity from the evils of sin. There is a

tremendous back story to the coronation of Jesus as Lord. Join us during the season of advent and

hear how the prophets foretold His coming 600 years before His birth, how the angels prepared a

Virgin and her betrothed for the Gift; how Elizabeth and Zechariah became important “god-parents”

to Jesus, how a baby born in a manger would be spread through all the earth, starting with the region

of Judea, and wise men from a nation far away—all of this happening before God moved into the

neighborhood.

Advent Series: Angels Watching Over Me

At the 10:15 service on

December 10, our chancel choir

will present the Christmas

cantata, “Were You There on that

Christmas Night.” The cantata includes many

traditional and contemporary carols as it

brings the story of Jesus’ birth from the

perspective of His earthly parents, Mary and

Joseph.

Join us Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 pm for a special service of Christmas. We will acknowledge the

complicated and mixed feelings that Christmas brings in light of the losses and difficulties we may be experiencing this season. Come and reflect on God’s Word with others who are in similar circumstances. Join us afterward for refreshments and fellowship.

Christmas Apparel Day Beautiful or ugly - unique or traditional - wear your favorite Christmas apparel to church on December 16/17 for worship! And bring a plate of Christmas

cookies or fruit cake to share. We will have an impromptu hullaballoo in the welcome center after each service!

Join us for caroling to folks in our congregation . We will meet at church and return for hot chocolate following our trip.

1. Manna House Coffee (can) – $20 2. Linens for Sanctuary – $25 (4 available) 3. Kitchen Cookware/Utensils – $30 (4 available) 4. Gift for a Yearbook – $45 5. One Night of Shelter/Payment of BGE Bill –

$75 6. Banner for New Welcome Desk – $100 7. Gift for Young Adult/Youth Mission Trip to

Puerto Rico – $100-$900 8. Gift Card for a Tuxedo for the Senior Prom –

$150 (or gifts of $50) 9. Gift Card for a Dress for the Senior Prom –

$150 (or gifts of $50) 10. Support a Youth to ROCK Retreat – $160 (or

gifts of $40) 11. Walkie-Talkies for Sunday Morning Safety –

$160 12. Sponsor a Camp Awesome Sunday Special

Program – $200 (or any amount) 13. Support a Youth to Appalachian Service Project

Trip – $300 (or gifts of $100) 14. Worship Flags for Sidewalk Outside the

Sanctuary – $300 (or gifts of $100) 15. Wooden Stand for Lectern Use – $400 16. Vacation Bible School (so it’s free for children)

– $400 (or gifts of $100) 17. Vacuum Backpack – $450 18. Manna House Breakfast Day – $500 (or gift of

any amount) 19. Video Camera – $1,800 20. Gifts for Storm Damage – any amount 21. Monitoring System (we are researching this - it

will be larger expense; if you are interested in donating this, please contact Tom Sheckells or Pastor Karin)

Proverbs 22:17

“A merry heart does good like medicine”

Have someone on your list who is hard to buy a gift for? Each year, we provide opportunities to support missions and various gifts for the use of the church in honor of someone (see list below). Forms are available in the wel-come center to purchase a gift. A card will be sent to the person you are honoring let-ting them know about the gift. Or, you can take it with you.

ANGEL GIFTS

Youth Mission Trip July 1-7, 2018 We are currently accepting registrations for our 2018 trip, which will take place from Sunday, July 1 to

Saturday, July 7. Who can attend? Youth who have completed 8

th grade through 12

th grade (and

who will be 14 before July 1, 2018). Adults are also needed – no construction skill is necessary. All are welcome, whether or not you attend Fallston UMC or any church – bring your friends! The cost of the trip this year is $300 per person. All monies are non-refundable. A $150 deposit is due at our February meeting. The balance of $150 will be due at our March meeting. Nobody will be turned away because of inability to pay – if cost is an issue please let us know. Your enquiry will be confidential. Come join us! This is a fabulous opportunity to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus and have a lot of fun at the same time. Contact Jamie Bobo at jamieabobo@verizon.net or Annabel Lusardi at aelusardi@comcast.net with inquiries or to reserve your spot.

Please note all cash and check contributions must be received no later

than Sunday, December 24 to be considered a 2017 charitable

donation.

E-giving participants should plan their transaction to be received in the

church checking account by December 29. Note: some may take two

days. For those who wish to change the amount of their contributions

through EFT please sign in to your account through the E-giving button

on the Fallston UMC website to process the change. E-giving

participants using a credit card for their transfers should be careful to note expiration dates.

If you are planning to make a stock contribution, please contact Debby Lawrence and she will be happy

to assist you. Please try to make any stock transfers prior to December 15.

Giving statements will be completed and mailed in January. Contact Debby Lawrence if you should have

any questions about your 2017 record of giving at debby.lawrence@fallstonumc.org.

The youth have been very busy this fall learning

about being a light in their part of the world and

by serving others. They have made flood

buckets and health kits for hurricane torn areas,

sent blankets to college freshmen, and helped at

the Christmas Bazaar. They are looking

forward to a wide variety of fun and service

oriented events this coming December and

January. Please see below for the schedule of

events and feel free to invite the youths in your

life to attend. For questions, email

joybufano@gmail.com.

Upcoming Youth Events

• Wednesday, December 6: Youth Zone

• Friday, December 15: Senior High

Christmas Party at Pastor Karin’s house

• Sunday, December 17: This will be a busy

day! We will organize gifts for our

community members in need and then go

Christmas caroling at 5:00 pm. We will

have lunch for anyone who wants to stay for

both!

• Wednesday, December 20: Middle School

Christmas Party. Senior highs are invited to

assist – please let Joy know if you can help.

• Wednesday, January 3 and 17: Youth Zone

• Sunday, January 7: ROCK chaperone

meeting after church

• Sunday, January 21: Final ROCK chaperone

meeting

• January 26-28: ROCK!

Sunday school continues each Sunday at 10:15

with classes for confirmation, middle school,

and high school! Youth are invited whenever

they are able to come! Just stop in.

Fallston Child Care Center

Happy Holidays! What a wonderful time of year. There is truly nothing more exciting and meaningful than to experience the season through the eyes of a child. During the month of December, we will offer the little ones lots of exciting memories!

American Education Week was a huge success! We had about 40 parents and grandparents come and spend some time in our little one’s world. The connection between home and school is such an important component of education.

On Monday, December 4th, personal trainer,

Karen Emmett of Emmett Fitness will be here to present “Healthy Kids Day”. Our little ones will spend the morning engaging in exercise based activities, but will be having so much fun, they won’t even know they are exercising!

Fallston Child Care Center will again be participating in Fallston United Methodist’s Adopt-A-Family. Our school always takes a family to sponsor for the holidays. My family and I deliver on the due date. This has become a family tradition that we all look forward to. After all, it is the season of giving!

JOIN THE SCOUTING PROGRAM Are you ready for new adventures? Cub Scout Pack 899 and Boy Scout Troop 899

are accepting new members. Pack 899 is for boys in 1st through 5th grades. Cub

Scouting combines outdoor activities, sports, academics, and more in a fun and

exciting program that helps boys become more confident, grow spiritually, become

better citizens, and learn valuable life skills while having fun. Boy Scout Troop 899 is

for boys in middle school and high school. Boy Scouts have bigger adventures,

spend more time outdoors, develop leadership skills, learn about future occupations,

hobbies, and more.

For additional information, please contact: Sharon Gardner (sh1ar2on3@gmail.com;

443-570-4689), Debbie Sheckells (codakitty@hotmail.com; 410-838-1606), or Lee

Lefkowitz (lee_lefkowitz@hotmail.com; 410-937-7162).

Additional information is available at:

http://pack899fallston.org and http://troop899fallston.org

The holidays in our classrooms will be filled with cookie baking, caroling, decorating, and writing letters to Santa! The class Christmas parties will be held on Wednesday, December 20

th. We are going to have a very

special visitor!!

Fallston Child Care Center will be closed on Monday, December 25

th and Tuesday,

December 26th for the Christmas holiday and

Monday, January 1st for the New Year’s

holiday.

We are still searching for the perfect teacher for our school age group. If you, or anyone you know is looking for part time teaching work, please have them call Valeree Imperiale at 410-879-4399 or email to valeree.imperiale@fallstonumc.org.

From the school staff to our church family: May you have a very peaceful and blessed holiday!

Valeree K. Imperiale, Director

Covering of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry: The spiritual comforting your actions provided me was wonderful – and continue to do so! I had never heard of such a caring and thoughtful program, it is so very wonderful. Please give Janice Easter a special “thank you” for her beautiful and caring work of “comfort”. I. H.

Prayer Shawl Ministry at Fallston UMC: Your kindness is appreciated much more than words can say. Thank you so much for the prayer shawl. It is very lovely, and what a wonderful gift to receive. I will think of your church when I use it. Again, thank you. U. C.

To the Covering of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry at Fallston: Sending a warm and special “thank you” for putting me on your prayer chain. Prayer is powerful and healing. The prayer shawl was such a beautiful surprise and I appreciate being included in such wonderful ministry. The shawl is getting a lot of needed use and truly has a calming and comforting effect on me. Your church is doing great things. S.M.

Thank You!!! Again, thank you for the beautiful prayer shawl. Each time I wrap it around me I will be reminded of all the prayers that went into each stitch. Thank you for your care and concern in my time of need. May God bless all of you. C. L

The Prayer Shawl Ministry: Thank you for being so thoughtful and including me in your ministry, and for all your prayers on my behalf. Thank you also for the beautiful shawl I received. I love it and will especially use it during my prayer time. It brings me comfort. P.B.

Hello Mrs. Greenlund: I’m writing to thank you and all the members of the “Covering of Love Ministry” for my beautiful hand knitted prayer shawl. My mother-in-law brought it to me, and it was such a lovely surprise. To know it was made with love and blessed with prayer is truly comforting. Thank you for thinking of me as I travel down this road, but I feel so supported and loved – God is on my side and I will be just fine! Sincerely, N. R.

Proverbs 22:17

“A merry heart does god like medicine”

Fallston Church and the Prayer Shawl Ministry: My nephew was so surprised and pleased for your support, people he has never ever met. He is thankful for all the ways the Lord provides for our needs through his people. Thank you again for the difference you are making for my nephew in this difficult time. Praise God that he is able to see the positive with all the help he is receiving from so many. With my love and appreciation, J. L. M.

Testimonies to the Power of Prayer

These are some of the many thank you cards received from folks who have been given a prayer shawl/lap robe/blanket or quilt from the Covering of Love Prayer

Shawl Ministry.

Dear Prayer Shawl Ministry Volunteers: I can’t tell you enough how touched I was to receive your prayer shawl. It is beautiful! I am feeling much better, thanks to everyone’s prayers. Thanks again for your time and thoughtfulness. D. W.

FUMC is happy to provide this ministry to our congregation. A Stephen Minister is trained to listen and provide confidential, distinctively Christian care to our members who are experiencing challenging life situations. Stephen Ministers walk along side, pray with and support our members in need. They are there “after” the relationship falls apart, “after" the baby arrives and demand so much of you, “after" the pink slip you hoped would not come, “after" the diagnosis that is so painful. Please contact Pastor Karin or see a Stephen Minister (they are wearing gold, metal name tags) for more information.