As we finished our Disciple Fast Track Bible study, we heard the message of the prophets. Often we think of prophets as those who are foretelling the future, as in the coming of the Messiah. They are beautiful passages that we read during this season, passages of hope and promise. For unto us a child is born…You shall call his name Immanuel, which means God with us…He shall be called Wonderful,

Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace…

Yet the prophetic message is much deeper than this. The prophets’ role is not so much to foretell the future, as it is to tell forth God’s message to his people. Mixed in with these words of hope are words of warning and judgment. In fact, the judgment prophecies are far more numerous than the words of hope!

Advent is the season of preparation. Mostly, it seems, it is preparation for the family gatherings, the presents, the parties, the decorations. But for us, it is also a time of preparation of our souls to welcome once again the birth of our Savior. So often I have said that we have two tracks for the celebrations of Christmas: the secular and the religious. The secular is the presents, parties, and gatherings. The religious includes these things, but the overarching preparation is for the birth of Jesus into our lives once again. For us, all those secular events are great, but the spiritual preparation is vital!

As I sit this year amidst the wrappings and presents, the toys and clothing and gadgets, I will remember that in the middle of all this, once again, almost unnoticed, Jesus was born. Will I be ready? Will I, like the shepherds, drop everything and go to gaze once again upon the face of my Savior? Will I, like the wise men, once again travel the long distance from my “ordinary” life, to greet the King with the gifts of my soul?

Watch, wait, be prepared. This is the message of Advent. During your preparation, don’t forget your prayers, your devotions, your confession, your meditation, your gifts, and your service. In these ways, prepare for the coming of the Lord into your life once again.

Pastor Bruce Weiman

ONGOING

Sunday

8:00 am: Worship

9:00 am Sunday School

10:00 am Worship

4:00 pm: Small Group

5:30 pm: Prayer

6:00 pm: J r /Sr . High UTH

6:00 pm Women’s Bible Study

Monday

6:30 pm Scouts

Tuesday

1:00 pm Project Linus

6:30 pm Scouts

7:00 pm Crafty Crafters

Wednesday

3:00 pm God’s Closet

3:30 pm K-5 UTH

4:30 pm Community Meals

6:00 pm J r . High UTH

6:00 pm Praise Band

7:00 pm: Choir

Friday

7:00pm: AA

Saturday @7am: Chris K. Music

EVENTS

Dec. 2: Hanging of the Greens

@9:00 am. Brunch following.

Dec 21: Blue Chr istmas Service

@ 7:00 pm

Dec. 23: March to the Manger

Dec 24: Christmas Eve Services

5:00 pm Contemporary

Christmas Service @ AUMC

7:00 pm: Barn Chr istmas

Service @ Seegmillers

11:00 pm: Candlelight

Christmas Service @ AUMC

Arthur United Methodist Church

DECEMBER 2018

Scripture of the Month

“The true light that gives light to everyone was

coming into the world. He was in the world, and

though the world was made through him, the world

did not recognize him .”

JOHN 1: 9-10

PAGE 2/ DECEMBER 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

Welcome to God’s Closet in

December 2018. We were

very happy to receive a nice

donation of bedding.

Blankets are needed for the winter weather.

We still have several winter coats for small

children up to size 5 and 6. A nice donation of

men’s blue jeans were also welcomed. Household

items go out fast and are very appreciated.

Howard and I are very happy at our house to

welcome our fourth great-grandchild in Tulsa,

OK. His name is Huck Lewis Ramsey 8 lbs and

6 0z, 20 3/4 “ long. He is the son of Steven &

Erin Ramsey and brother of Jack and Allie

Elaine.

We are all thankful for the support given in the

past year. Thanks to all for their support of the

Crafty Crafter’s Bazaar as well!

“Do all the good you can.” - John Wesley

In His Service, Iris Ramsey

The pantry continues to be

busy. The people who visit it

are thrilled with how full it is

and the wide variety of items it has. This is all

thanks to our youth group's food drive.

I appreciate their effort each fall! We continue to

get new families all the time. It makes me very

happy to be able to offer them so much food!

In His Service, Jill Strawn

**********************************************

Thank you!

I would like to thank our youth group and their

leaders for conducting the community food drive.

Our pantry is very full because of it! I appreciate

their effort as well as the community support of

this project!

Sincerely,

Jill Strawn,

Outreach Chairman

Advent and Christmas is a great time to invite people to worship with us. This is one of the three times of the year that people most feel the tugging of their hearts of God’s love, and the desire to connect with the mysterious eternal.

Our sermon series will be about birth: the birth of promise, the birth of hope, the birth of Joy, the birth of salvation, and the birth of Jesus. They are about how Jesus addresses these basic longings of our hearts.

When Bishop Beard was with us he spoke about invitation. He told us that the average United Methodist invites someone to church about once every 4 years! W e really should do better . W e all know the joy it is to be a part of this worshipping and serving community. Why not this Advent invite someone who is not a church person, or who once was, to share in that joy?

PAGE 3 / DECEMBER 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

Counting Team this Month

Charlie Steck & Karen Oye

An early Christian

practice, from our Jewish

heritage, was to dedicate

the day to God through

prayer at specific times

during the day. This became known as the

Liturgy of the Hours. As a devotion during the

Sundays of Advent, we are offering a time for

us to gather together for Evening Prayer,

during which time we simply pray, read a

Psalm together, read and reflect on scripture,

and perhaps sing a song. It is a short service,

but can be a wonderful addition to your

preparation for Christmas.

We will offer Evening Prayer at 4:00pm

each Sunday of Advent, December 2, 9,

16 and 23. We would be happy for you to

join us.

FYI FOR

K-5 YOUTH

The last day of K-5 Youth

for 2018 will be Dec12.

It will then resume on

January 9, 2019.

Card/letter received from Joyce Garner

Dear friends in Christ,

I’ve been in California nearly three months now, living with my son

Matthew and his wife Suzanne and former husband, Bob. I’m here to help

with Bob’s Alzheimer’s and Matthew not being able to ever work again at

age 54. He has inoperable spine issues and lives with brutal pain. We are a

family who draws on God’s love and peace moment by moment! God is

good! I miss you and pray for you. Thanks for all your prayers through

Marilyn Allison.

God bless and keep you,

Joyce Garner. (971 Borden Road #106; San Marcos, CA 92069-2152)

DECEMBER USHERS

Dec 2 & 9: Seegmiller Family

Dec 16 & 23: Ed & Ruth Miller

family

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21

@ 7:00 pm

PAGE 4/ December 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

The Crafty Crafters wrapped up another successful Christmas Bazaar this year and they are still

selling items in the lounge as well as pecans. They still have pecan pieces left but are out of the

halves. As of November 26, the Crafty Crafters have totaled $7,300 from this year’s bazaar.

The Crafty Crafters would like to thank everyone who helped out with the bazaar and the lunch in

any way. Their help was much appreciated!

PAGE 5 / DECEMBER THE METHODIST MEMO

The Youth did a

wonderful job serving and

helping out at the Youth

Spaghetti Dinner

Fundraiser. There were

many youth present that

evening and every one of

them were busy.

They raised a little over

$700 that night.

The youth should all be

very proud of their

efforts. Thank you to all

of the youth leaders and

the other volunteers who

also helped out as well.

PAGE 6/ December 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

The Jr/Sr High Youth ventured out into the cold weather to put out sacks and pick back

up the donated food for their the annual food drive. The food donated was a wonderful

help for the food pantry and community for those in need. The Thanksgiving Basket

Outreach Ministry distributed 65 baskets for Thanksgiving this year. Thanks to the youth

and volunteers who helped with the food drive and Thanksgiving basket delivery.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such

sacrifices God is pleased. “ - Hebrews 13:16

PAGE 7 / DECEMBER 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

New Women’s Bible Study starting in January 2019

The crooked punctuation mark at the end of a sentence speaks of curiosity, interest, and perhaps

doubt. A question is an invitation to vulnerability, to intimacy. The Bible does not shy away from

such an invite. Over and over we see the people of God asking questions of their Creator. We also see

the God of the universe asking questions of His creation.

STARTING SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2019 @ 6:00 pm. Call the church at 543-3159 or

email aumchurch@consolidated.net to reserve your workbook.

Not everyone is jolly and cheery for the Christmas holidays.

Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after

divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with

cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over

the future, and a number of other human situations make

parties and joviality painful for many people in our

congregation and community, even years after the event. There

is a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue

at Christmas.

Our church is creating a sacred space for people who are living

through dark times, and those who support them. Our Blue Christmas service is reflective, accepting of

where we really are, and holding out healing and hope.

Come out, and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that

God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle—and that God’s Word comes to shine light

into our darkness. Our Blue Christmas Worship Service will be held on Friday, December 21 at 7:00pm.

Please join us, whether you yourself are blue during this Christmas season, but especially if

you would support someone who is, and share with your friends this opportunity to worship.

PAGE 8 / DECEMBER 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

(Although we are trying to get these lists updated as best we can, we always seem to miss somebody. Please be sure to contact the office with any information you might have. Thanks! –Ariana)

1 - Jill Cohan 14 - Michele Price

3 - Marcy Petersheim 16 - Jace Green

5 - Andrew Allison 17 - Karl Brown

6 - Bill Brown 18 - Vickie Clark

Scott Seegmiller 19 - Janece Dicks

7 - Isaac and Ellis Platzbecker 20 - Marilu Hafer

Dalton John Vanausdoll

8 - Haley Allison

9 - Laura Jurgens 25 - Hannah Miller

Charity Oye 26 - Corrine Chancellor

Evan Seegmiller Gabrielle Chancellor Morrow

10 - Ken Brown 27 - Grace Mast

Nelson Herschberger 30 - Jacob Cohan

Taylor Stone Ed Coller

11 - Allison Chancellor Zowie Kauffman

Ervin Miller

Bruce Weiman 31 - Gene Good

13 - Zachary Bartholomew Jim Jurgens

Janice Wilson

ANNIVERSARIES

10 - Bill & Lynn Salrin 16 - Bruce & Kathy Oye

27 - Don & Sally McCarthy

PAGE 9 / DECEMBER 2018 THE METHODIST MEMO

2018 March to the Manger Offering Arthur United Methodist Church

On Sunday, December 23, we will receive this special offering. Please prayerfully consider a gift to missions at this time.

Enclose your gift in an envelope along with this sheet completed and bring it to either Worship Service, 8:00 a.m. or

10:00 a.m., on December 23 and place it in the manger at the designated time. In order to have this offering recorded with

your regular giving, you will need to sign the sheet to identify it with the financial secretary. All funds will be distributed by

the church treasurer as you have designated. Following is a list of projects for your consideration. Undesignated gifts will be

directed to special projects by the Outreach Team.

ARTHUR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OUTREACH: Due to the needs of several families for food and clothing recently, our funds can

always use replenishing. We give these families what they can use from the food pantry but use our funds to provide vouchers for perishables. We

also give out children’s clothing from God’s Closet and use the funds to provide things we do not have. Community meals have been a

blessing for both our community and the people of the church. Your gifts help us to continue to provide assistance where needed.

FOOD PANTRY: GOD’S CLOSET: COMMUNITY MEALS :_________________

ARTHUR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BUILDING FUND: This money will go towards paying off the loan for our completed

Fellowship Hall building.

Amount$________________________________

CAMPING SCHOLARSHIPS: W e have many in our congregation who have benefited greatly from their experiences in this area.

Your donation will help allow more of our young people to go to camp.

Amount$________________________________

BABY FOLD: Located in Normal, Ill., founded in 1902 and supported by the M ethodist Church, Baby Fold serves 1,000 children &

families annually. Many of our youth have enjoyed spending a week there in the summer as part of their camping experience.

Amount$________________________________

CUNNINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOME: Operated by the United Methodist Women of the Conference, Cunningham Home has been in

assistance to troubled children for many years. Your gifts to this project will help to continue the work of CCH.

Amount$________________________________

RED BIRD MISSION: Red Bird Mission and Clinic have been providing ministries in this region of the Appalachian Mountains since 1921.

Chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing, and rugged mountainous terrain provide obstacles to a fuller life for the residents of this area. Red

Bird Mission and Clinic strives to meet these needs through ministry in five areas: Education, Health and Wellness, Community Outreach,

Economic Opportunity, and Community Housing Improvement.

Amount$________________________________

UMCOR: The United Methodist Committee on Relief is one of the first responders on the scene after acts of terrorism and natural disasters.

This mission arm of our denomination reached far and wide. The recent hurricanes have taken their toll on the resources of organizations that

provided aid in these emergency situations. Your offering will help to allow UMCOR to continue giving help where needed.

Amount$____________________

YOUTH Donations are welcomed to help pay for snacks, trips or supplies that are needed within the ministry.

Amount$____________________

COMMUNITY BACKPACK PROGRAM The Arthur Community Backpack Program sends a bag of food home in some grade school

kids backpacks each weekend. $100 will support a child for the months of January– May. Your donations will help kids whose families may

sometimes be short on food.

Amount$____________________

You may wish to give to a project of your own choosing. If so, you may do so in the following spaces:

Project Name:__________________________________ Amount $_______________________

Undesignated Amount $ _______________________ Name________________________

The United Methodist MEMO

The United Methodist Church

128 East Illinois St.

Arthur, IL 61911

Look for the Arthur United Methodist Church on Facebook

Our page is Arthur United Methodist Church.

Need to contact Bruce? Call his cell at 217-649-2678 or email him: bruceweiman@gmail.com