Kresge News 12-09 - Anna Kresge United Methodist Church

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KRESGE Kourier
the
M A K I N G D I S C I P L E S - H E R E , T H E R E & E V E RY W H E R E
From the Pastor
Anna Kresge Memorial
United Methodist Church
15 Booger Hollow Road
Cedartown, GA 30125
office: 770-748-4308
cell: 404-457-9420
e-mail: [email protected]
website: kresgeumc.org
Reverend Rebecca Holmes
nnn
No matter how much we deny it, we Americans are fully indoctrinated in the
secular aspects of Christmas. Many lament the over commercialization of
this season, the ostentatious display of profiteering on the back of the baby of
Bethlehem, and the frenzied activity of parties, presents,
and cards to address and send. This makes some of us to
look longingly to the past, of days gone by when
Christmas was calm and simple, an uncomplicated time,
a down-to-earth, minimal celebration of “For unto us is
born this day in the town of David a Savior, which is
Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
History shows us a story of how both the religious and secular traditions have
existed side by side ever since Christmas was invented several centuries after
the birth of Jesus as an effort by the Church of Rome to, in part, compete
with the cults of popular pagan gods, including Sol Invictus, the sun god.
Since the Christmas celebration began as a reaction to pagan festivals, many
of the practices were adopted such as decorating branches and trees, hanging
evergreens, wearing of special hats, and exchanging presents. In more
extreme cases, men dressed up as women or put on skins of sacrificed
animals.
Centuries later merrymaking was the predominate activity of Christmas. Many local European locales prohibited
Christmas celebrations in the Middle Ages and by the 16th century, Anglican bishop Hugh Latimer wrote, “Men
dishonor Christ more in the twelve days of Christmas, than in all the twelve months besides.”
Christmas at that time meant enormous excess: dancing, singing, gambling, feasting, and drinking.
In early America, Puritan reformers believed that the church should not create traditions that
did not exist in the Scriptures. They felt that if God had wanted them to observe Christmas,
he would have told them to do so explicitly – and given them a special date for Christ’s birth,
but no such information exists.
Some early American localities outlawed Christmas festivities as blasphemous, but the
tradition proved stronger than the dogmatism of the early magistrates.
continued on Page 2...
PAGE 1
Remember
JESUS IS
...continued from Page 1
Christmas conspicuous consumption is distasteful, and
while the season borders on the sharp edge of the
secular, it has not “gone to the dogs” as some might say.
The celebration has an evolution of its own; a
meandering journey from pagan ties and Christian
meaning; from the profane of everyday to the
mysterious holy; rites both secular and religious. In the
end, Christmas is still what we make of it.
Both traditions – the religious and the secular – are
woven into our modern celebration. Who really wants
to do away with flying reindeer, Clarence – the angel
who was trying to earn his wings, Santa Claus, candy
canes, and snowmen?
But as we shop, bake, address cards, and clean to make
ready our homes, let us not lose sight of the true
message of Christmas: “For unto us is born…” Born
unto us is one who will grow and one day be crucified,
dead, and buried only to be risen by God on the third
day. Now that is what I call a Christmas gift!
May the Prince of Peace live and reign in your heart,
Rebecca
Questions About the Christmas Story
Many of us are familiar with the Christmas story telling of the birth of Jesus. We tend to put
all parts together to make one story. However, there are really two stories, two accounts of
the birth of Jesus. The purpose of this lesson is to help you realize there are two sources or
traditions behind the Christmas story and to understand the meaning of each story.
MATTHEW 1:18-2:12
QUESTIONS
LUKE 2:1-20
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1.
In what city was Jesus born? 1.
2.
Where was Jesus born?
3.
4.
5.
6.
Is a star mentioned?
6.
7.
Are angels mentioned?
7.
8.
Who shows up in Bethlehem?
8.
9.
What do they bring?
9.
10.
What voices of authority are quoted?
Where did Joseph and Mary live?
2.
3.
Why did Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem? 4.
What ruler is mentioned? 5.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
* Why do you think the two stories are so different?
* What is the most important point about both stories?
* What is your biggest question about Jesus’ birth?
PAGE 2
10.
Blue Christmas/Longest Night Worship With Those Who Mourn
Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As
in “I am feeling blue.” Not
everyone is up 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 congregations
and communities. There is a
growing attentiveness to the needs
of people who are blue at
Christmas. Increasing numbers of
churches are creating sacred space
for people living through dark
times. Such services are reflective,
struggle to believe the tale of
Jesus’ resurrection, the long nights
just before Christmas, and the
struggle with darkness and grief
faced by those living with loss.
accepting where we really are, and
holding out healing and hope.
Some churches hold a service of
worship on the longest night of
the year, which falls on or around
December 21st, the Winter
Solstice. There is an interesting
convergence for this day as it is
also the traditional feast day for
Saint Thomas the Apostle. This
linkage invites making some
connections between Thomas’s
For those who are interested, there
will be LONGEST NIGHT
WORSHIP service at Aragon
United Methodist Church in
Aragon on Monday, December
2 1st a t 7 : 0 0 p m . A n d y
Woolworth is the pastor. His wife,
Anjeanette, will be preaching the
service. She will go before the
Board of Ordained Ministry this
spring for approval to become
commissioned as a provisional
member of the Annual
Conference.
Fruitful Congregations
The Rome-Carrollton District will have a Training Event on the book: Five
Practices of Fruitful Congregations on Sunday, January 10th at 2:00 pm at
Carrollton First UMC.
If you are a member of the Administrative Council, please plan to attend this
event.
Workshops include:
* Radical Hospitality
* Passionate Worship
* Intentional Faith Development
* Risk Taking Mission & Service
* Extravagant Generosity
* Rethink Church
* Committee on Nominations &
Lay Leadership
* Confirmation
* Finance in the Local Church
* The Prayer Life & Role of the
Lay Leader in the Local Church
PAGE 3
* United Methodist Church
Structure
* Music in the Local Church
* The Role and Responsibilities of
the Board of Trustees
Samaritan House
Kresge is continuing to
collect donations for the
Samaritan House. If you
need grocery sacks, a list
of items to donate, or
would like to volunteer at
the Samaritan House
p l e a s e s e e To m m y
Dingler.
Children’s Christmas
Choir Cantata
The Choir will perform their annual Christmas
Cantata during the Worship Service on Sunday,
December 13th. Join us as we worship the Lord with
gladness and come before him with joyful songs!
Habitat for Humanity
The children’s annual Christmas Play will be
Saturday, December 19th at 6:00 pm.
Afterwards we will have refreshments and a
visit from Santa. For children 5th grade or
younger who will join us that evening, please
sign their names on the bulletin board. Due to
the church’s financial situation, for each child
who is not a regular attendee we are
requesting a $10 donation. This will help
cover the cost of their gift. You may give your
money to Krista Cooper or Jill Wells. Please
see them if you have any questions.
Polk County Habitat Project will
meet on Monday, January 11th
at 7:00 pm at Kresge UMC.
Staff Parish
Relations Training
Christmas Card Exchange The Spirit Believers have the Christmas Card
Boxes available for everyone to exchange
cards without having to use postage. The
boxes will be in the Narthex through
December 27th. Please make sure all of your
cards are completed by the 27th.
January 23 in Rome.
Time and Place will be
announced shortly.
rd
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Children’s Church
Dec 6
Lynda Rutland
Dec 13
CHOIR CANATA
Dec 20
Carol Upton
Dec 27
Jenny Watson
Flowers
Dec 6
In Honor of Allison Hicks
By Her Family
Dec 13
In Honor of Megan White’s
Children’s Time
Dec 6
Debbie Blanton
Dec 13
CHOIR CANTATA
Dec 20
Rebecca Holmes
Dec 27
____________
11th Birthday
By Her Family
Dec 20
OPEN
Dec 27
In Honor of Dan Teems:
A brother & best friend
By His Family
Prayer Requests
Immediate Needs Prayer List
Clara Jean David
Pam Youngblood
Sammy Green
Margie Holbrook
Pete Glenn
Curtis Reaves
Marty Boyd
Becky Williams
Carolyn Cox
Jimmy Holland
Heather Carter
Bob Temple
Katie Huffstutler
Joyce Couey
Ruth Johnson
Ellen Cobb & Her Family
Louise Casher
Betty Sue Kelly
Long Term Prayer List
Acolytes
Dec 6
Blair Bedford
Rayanna O’Neal
Dec 13 Brandon Denton
Megan White
Dev 20 Daniel Johnson
Lily Watson
Dev 27 Allison Hicks
Maddie Cooper
Greeters
Dec 6
Carol Upton, Sandra
Simpson
Dec 13 Virginia Pope, Minnie Loyd,
Ruth Fife, Anna Parker
Dec 20 Charles & Carmen Himes
Dec 27 Bob & Joyce Peppers
PAGE 5
Wayne Lee
Harry Lumpkin
Martha & Herman Youngblood
Lucille Wood
Hazel & Joe Cantrell
Mary Frances McClarty
Charlotte Blair
James “Nut” Camp
Allene Dawson
Bill & Helen Cheatwood
Flonnie Cooper
Rachel Derricott
Bobi Moler
Mac Pletcher
Gary Stroup
Dean Travis
Maggie Marr
Special Gifts to the Church
United Methodist Men
We acknowledge
with grateful appreciation
gifts
New officers have been elected and will take office January
1st: Tommy Dingler, President; Chris Himes, Vice
President; Terry Simpson, Treasurer.
IN MEMORY OF
United Methodist Women
The Spirit Believers’ Christmas Party will be at Backwoods
Restaurant on Thursday, December 10th at 6:30 pm. No
gift exchanges for ourselves, but we will make goody bags
for shut-ins and residents of local assisted living homes.
Harrison Popham
D. L. McCray
Given by
Bob & Joyce Peppers
Given by
Kam & Cathy Andrews
IN HONOR OF
C. E. & Clara Jean
David
David & Glenda
Johnson’s
50th Anniversary
Given by
Bob & Joyce Peppers
The Pathfinders’ Christmas Party will be at Lynda
Rutland’s home on Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30 pm.
Given by
James & Joyce Couey
December Birthdays
1
1
1
3
5
6
6
Kendra Cooper
Allene Dawson
Peggy McClure
Ruth Johnson
Linda Moody
Madeline Cooper
Katy Edge
7
8
8
11
12
13
15
John Teat
Randy Cook
Rebecca Holmes
Joe Cantrell
Allison Hicks
Blanche Kulp
Megan White
17
17
18
19
20
20
21
Charles Himes
Charles Wells
Kristin Teems
Katie Hughes
Doris Holcomb
Lou Pletcher
Pat O’Neal
December Anniversaries
1
14
16
19
Ken & Carol Upton
Keith & Lucy Cromer
John & Ann Bailey
Ken & Blanche Kulp
22
28
31
Wayne & Sherry Harris
David & Amy Cooper
Wayne & Holly Odom
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22
23
24
27
30
30
Atticus Glenn
Darryl Moler
Lamar Owens
Morgan Marr
Bobi Moler
Ronald Speight
Boy Scouts Troop 40
The Troop has purchased new
tents – six new Coleman
“Sundome” 7x7 3-person tents
with plastic floors. No more wet
sleeping bags,
and no more
arguments
about which
tent we get to
use – they’re
identical. Our
first chance to
try these out was on our November
13-15 camping trip to Camp
Westin on Lake Allatoona.
fingerprinting training on the 5th.
On this outing the boys can earn a
Fingerprinting Merit Badge. The
second outing on the 19th will be a
5 mile hike on either the Pinhoti
Tr a i l o r at B e r r y C o l l e g e,
depending on the weather.
In December we will have two day
outings. The first is our trip to the
Cedartown Police Department for
The weekend of January 22-25,
we’ll pipe “all hands on deck” for
our trip to the aircraft carrier
Our Pot-luck dinner is at 6:00 pm
on the 21st. That same evening
after the Court of Honor, we’ll
enjoy a brief Christmas Party in
the Fellowship Hall. We’ll draw
names for the gift exchange and
suggest Scout equipment for gifts.
Yorktown, in Charleston harbor,
where the boys will camp
over night.
Just like the
sailors, we’ll
sleep aboard
ship and
enjoy naval
food in the
dining hall
and a movie in the ship’s theatre.
We will also have an excursion by
motor launch to Ft. Sumter in the
harbor and a trip to the Naval
Museum there. Our bake sale
fundraiser on January 16th will
raise money to help the boys with
the cost of this trip.
Season of Giving
One definition of the word give is “to present voluntarily and without expecting
compensation; to bestow.” Giving can be simple yet so meaningful. It does not have to
require a lot of time, money or talent - it just requires love. As we prepare to give to
family and friends this Christmas, remember others who are in need of love as well.
•
Visit a shut-in or a nursing home. Take a pointsettia, some cookies, or simply a
few words to brighten a lonely day. And try not to forget these new friends the
rest of the year.
•
Share a pot of soup or a casserole with someone who deserves a break.
•
Drive an elderly person or a non-driver to the shopping center and back home
again. If you have time, help with the shopping.
•
Offer to house-sit or dog-sit for traveling friends or neighbors.
•
Adopt a family and give them a Christmas when they would ordinarily have none. Check with social services
agencies for names of the deserving.
•
Share some quiet, reflective time with those who have lost loved ones during the year. •
Look for the best way you can help ease someone else’s burden, brighten a lonely time, or simply make
someone happy.
Give as generously as you are able - confidently, happily and in the best of the Christmas spirit. After all, God gave us
His best Gift! The best gift you can give this Christmas is follow Christ’s example for us, and give of yourself.
PAGE 7
Anna Kresge Memorial UMC
Treasurer’s Report
10/23/09 through 11/19/09
AMOUNT RECEIVED
AMOUNT SPENT
DIFFERENCE
AMOUNT BUDGETED
GENERAL BUDGET
$14,586.25
$15,685.31
-$1,099.06
$18,846.15
BUILDING FUND
$11,262.13
$294.77
$10,967.36
$10,000.00
$862.53
$9,924.05
-$9,061.52
$0.00
DESIGNATED ITEMS
Frequently asked questions:
(Answers as of 11/19/09)
What is the balance in the General Account?...............................................$
Note: We have now paid our Conference Commitments for Jan-Nov.
-5,440.07 (Yes, this is a negative number again KEEP PRAYING)
What is the balance in the Money Market Account?....................................$ 40,805.11
Of this amount $30,789.00 is for the Building Fund.
Of this amount $10,016.11 is for Other Designated Funds.
How much do we owe on the church mortgage?..........................................$ 842,880.15
If you desire a more detailed Treasurer’s Report or Financial Secretary’s Report, please contact:
* Terry Simpson - Financial Secretary (money coming in)
* Linda Lee - Treasurer (money going out)
PAGE 8
Sunday
December 2009
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
2
8
9
Lectionary
Scripture Study
10 am
6
Breakfast 9:30 am
Sun School 10 am
Service 10:55 am
Choir Party @
the Petersmarck’s
6:00 pm
7
Girl Scouts
4:30-6:00 pm
Weight Watchers
5:30 pm
Lectionary
Scripture Study
10 am
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
3
4
10
11
Spirit Believers
UMW Party @
Backwoods
Restaurant
6:30 pm
5
12
Volunteer @
Operation
Christmas Child
Processing Ctr.
Atlanta 1-5 pm
Boy Scouts
7:00-8:30 pm
Jesus in the Gospels
6:30 pm
13
14
15
UMM 8 am
Breakfast 9:30 am
Sun School 10 am
Girl Scouts
Christmas Party
4:30-6:00 pm
Lectionary
Scripture Study
10 am
Worship Service &
Choir Cantata
10:55 am
Weight Watchers
5:30 pm
Pathfinders
UMW Party @
the Rutland’s
6:30 pm
Boy Scouts
7:00-8:30 pm
16
17
18
19
Praise Sunday
School Party @
Backwoods
Restaurant
Christmas Play
Dress
Rehearsal
Christmas Play
6 pm
24
25
26
Jesus in the Gospels
6:30 pm
20
Breakfast 9:30 am
Sun School 10 am
Service 10:55 am
Deadline for
newsletter info
21
Weight Watchers
5:30 pm
Boy Scouts
7:00-8:30 pm
22
23
29
30
Lectionary
Scripture Study
10 am
Christmas Eve
Service
5 pm
Longest Night
Worship Service
@ Aragon UMC
7 pm
27
Breakfast 9:30 am
Sun School 10 am
Service 10:55 am
28
Weight Watchers
5:30 pm
Lectionary
Scripture Study
10 am
Christmas
Card Boxes end
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KRESGE Kourier
the
M A K I N G D I S C I P L E S - H E R E , T H E R E & E V E RY W H E R E
KRESGE Kourier
Reverend Rebecca Holmes
Anna Kresge Memorial United Methodist Church
15 Booger Hollow Road
Cedartown, GA 30125