Viewpoint - West View United Methodist Church

December/Januar y
2012/2013
OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS...
WVUMC
Viewpoint
How to Find the Perfect Gift:
A Christian’s Guide to a
Happier Holiday
Ever find yourself stressing over
what to get your loved-ones,
friends, and co-workers for
Christmas? Are you tired of
mounds of sales flyers, clipping
coupons, and camping out in front
of department stores in pursuit of
the thriftiest way to express your
love and care? This sermon series
is for you!
Sermon Series for December
Week 1: Unexpected Gift
John 3:16 For God so loved the
world that he gave His only Son.
There are some gifts that everyone needs but no one gets too
excited about. Before the gift is
opened, your expectations are
high, but once you take off the
wrapping your excitement turns
to disappointment. Instead of the
gift that you had been hoping for,
you find socks and underwear—a
gift that you really need, but it is
not the one you were hoping for.
This is true of the first Christmas,
because Jesus is the gift that everyone needs, but He wasn’t the
gift that everyone wanted.
Week 2: Gift Return
John 1:11 He came to that which
was his own, but his own did not
receive him.
Christmas is the celebration of the
greatest gift — "God so loved the
world that he gave his only son."
The question is, how would that
gift be received? Many of us
know what it is like to open a gift
and discover is it something that
you don’t need or want. That is
the reason that 1 in 3 of us will be
returning at least one gift after
Christmas. In John chapter 1 we
are told that Jesus, began fully
God, laid aside his crown and the
privileges of being God, and
came to this earth in the flesh.
Week 3: Children’s Christmas
Pageant / Gift Received
John 1:11-13 Yet to all who
received him, he gave the right to
become children of God.
Enjoy the mystery of the story of
Jesus’s birth as told though a
pageant featuring the children of
our church. Remember that in
Jesus, God gave us exactly what
we needed.
Week 4: Best Gift Ever
Luke 2:10-11… “Do not be
afraid. I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all
people. Today in the town of
David a Savior has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord.
On Christmas Eve or Christmas
Day, many of you will give gifts
and receive some as well. What is
a quality that makes a Christmas
gift a great gift?
In Jesus we are given the gift of
unconditional love, compassion,
mercy, and true joy...Jesus really
is the perfect gift!
Shalom – Pastor Brenda
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Viewpoint
Making A Difference In Your Church And Your Community!
Enough: Discovering Joy
Through Simplicity and
Generosity
During November our church
engaged in a meaningful and
challenging dialogue and study
about our personal and corporate
approach to stewardship. We
also explored the implications that
our financial choices have on our
spiritual heath.
Receiving your 2013 estimate of
giving helps make it possible for
us to budget, plan, and provide
resources for our ministries. I am
grateful for so many who support
ministry at West View UMC, and I
invite you to join us by returning
your estimate of giving.
My hope is that your prayerful
discernment will be an important
step in your faith. Giving to the
church isn’t meant to be a burden
or a source of guilt. Generosity is
a personal act of worship where
we express our gratitude to God
and experience God’s blessings
and joy.
I am aware that some families are
facing difficult financial times. If
your finances are uncertain, a 10
percent tithe may not be possible.
So, I encourage you to estimate
whatever percentage you
realistically think you will be able
to contribute in support of the
church’s ministries. You may
return your estimate of giving in
the offering any Sunday, or send it
to the church by mail.
I am so grateful for you and how
you make the ministries of the
church possible!
Pastor Brenda
Six Key Financial Principles to Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity
1. Put God first in your living and giving.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
4. Provide immediately for an emergency fund.
(1 Timothy 6:9-12)
2. Prepare a spending plan and track all expenses
monthly. (Proverbs 27:23-24)
5. Pay off all credit card debt and use cash, not
credit cards. (Proverbs 22:7)
3. Simplify your lifestyle; live below your means.
(Matthew 6:19-33)
6. Practice long-range saving and investing habits.
(Luke 14:28)
Estimate of Giving
We pray that you may find the level of giving that is right for you as you progress in your journey of faith and
commitment. Like any household, the finance team of the church needs to know what the projected income
will be for the upcoming year in order to make a budget. Your pledge helps us to make decisions about what
ministry opportunities we are able to offer. Your contributions are a critical part of how we can make a
difference in our church, our community, and our world.
Please complete this estimate of giving, and return it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office.
Thank you for prayerfully considering your part in the stewardship of our church.
___ Yes! I/We will support West View UMC in 2013.
Choose One:
$_____________ weekly for 52 weeks
$_____________ semi-monthly for 24 periods
$_____________ monthly for 12 months
$_____________ as follows ________________________________
Name (optional) ________________________________
Open hearts, open minds, open doors
Page 3
Traditional Christmas Eve Worship
NEW TIME!
5:30 p.m.
Can’t make the 5:30 Traditional Service?
Please join us for worship at 10:00 p.m.
This service will also be traditional. Although this
service will not feature the organ or the choirs, it will
include the gospel readings, classic hymns, candlelight,
candle lighting during silent night, pastoral message,
and of course the fellowship of your church friends.
This Traditional Worship Service will include:
* The Story of Jesus’ Birth as Told in the Gospel
of Luke
* Musical Accompaniment Featuring Our Brand
New Organ
* Classic Hymns
* Special Music by Our Chancel Choir
* Special Music by Our Handbell Choir
* Candlelight Sanctuary
* Singing Silent Night with Candles
* Message by the Pastor
* Church and Neighborhood Luminaries
* Your Church Friends!
Charge Conference
Monday, December 3 @ 7:30 p.m.
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Allison Park
All members are welcome and church council members are especially encouraged to attend this conference.
District Superintendent, Don Scandrol will lead the conference with a devotion and a time of prayer. He will be
presiding over four separate church conferences which will include West View, St Paul's, Epworth, and
Milllvale UM Churches. We will electing and blessing our church leadership for 2013. Please pray for our
elected church leadership for 2013.
(*) required by Discipline to be elected at Church Conference (Paragraph 249) 11 or more
members
Church Council 2012
Church Council Chairperson: Robert Dangel
Church Council Secretary: TBA
Lay Leader: Richard Wehling
Lay Member to Annual Conference: Nancy Jones
Church Treasurer (Para. 258.4b): Peggy Huwe
SPRC Chair: TBA
Trustee Chair: Glenn Ulrich
Finance Chair: Jeff Baumbach
UMW President: Nancy Jones
UMM President: Bill Neusch
Members At-Large: David and Sheila Postell
Pastor: Brenda Walker
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Christmas Party & Puppet Show
The annual UMW Christmas
Party is scheduled for Sunday,
December 9, in Townsend Hall
immediately after the Sunday
worship service. The Sunday
school class has been studying
with Patty Figura and the
“Son”Shine Praise Puppets to
put on a Christmas spectacu-
lar!
A covered dish
luncheon will be
provided by members of the U.M.W.
ALL CHURCH
MEMBERS (men,
women and children) are invited.
Members of the congregation enjoying the 2011
Christmas Party and Puppet Show
Please sign the
back of a blue
pew card with
name and number
attending.
After the performance, UMW
Youth perform for the crowd at the Christmas Party members are
asked to stay for a few minutes
to elect officers for 2013 and
approve a budget for the coming year.
This party will get your Holiday Season off to a rousing
start. We look forward to seeing you on the 9th!
Midweek Communion Service
Wednesday Evenings in December & January,
Sanctuary Chapel 7:45 p.m.
This service includes time for quiet mediation, prayer, a short
reflection offered by the pastor or a church member, and communion. The pastor will also be available to pray with individuals
who are seeking healing. Service is ½ hour.
Epiphany Luncheon
Sunday, January 6th
Immediately following church
Townsend Hall
MENU:
Soup, salad, rolls & butter, hot
& cold drinks and dessert
Join us as we begin the new year!
Mark the back of a blue card with name and
number attending so that we can get an idea of
how much food we need to prepare.
Won’t be in church? You can also
contact the church office with your information.
A free-will offering will be taken to cover the cost of
this luncheon and for future fellowship events!
Open hearts, open minds, open doors
Flowers are available in
Red, White & Pink!
Make check payable to the
church for $8.00 for each flower
ordered. Also please include in
who’s honor or memory the
flower is placed.
The order must be received
by December 2nd.
Please contact the office for
more information.
New Members of Our West View UMC Family
Our church was blessed to receive new members on November
17th and 18th.
The reception of new members is a great time for all of us to remember our own promise as members to uphold the church by
our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service.
Jack and Pam Fickes
Karen Steare
Andrea, Gil, John, Melanie, and Heather Zeitler
Short Term
Small Group Bible Studies
For December and January
Nativity
Wednesdays, December 5, 12, 19—6:30 p.m.
A look at the story of the birth of Jesus as told by the three gospel writers;
Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
1 Corinthians
Wednesdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30—6:30 p.m.
A study of Paul’s letter to people who were struggling to understand what it
meant to be the church and live out God’s purpose for their lives.
Wednesday Bible Study is open to everyone and does not require a long-term
commitment. Our December study is only 3 weeks long and our January
study is only 4 weeks long. Why not take some time to reflect and be
stretched in your faith, to receive encouragement from friends, and to ask
those questions that have been on your mind?
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December/January Birthdays & Anniversaries
Name
Date
Name
Date
Name
Date
Margaret Adams
Dec. 1st
Jim Miller
25th
Jordan Medlin
13th
Jeff Masartis
1st
Morrison Rudy
25th
Deborah Herrle
15th
Scott Seapker
2nd
Mark Rudy
27th
Barb Lucot
15th
Shelia Postell
2nd
Christopher Myers
28th
Dennis Bernard
15th
Kathy Barnes
5th
Katie Remele
29th
Judy Braden
16th
Amanda Burt
7th
Ray Appleton, Jr.
31st
Roberta Rolshouse
16th
Madeline Kort
7th
Melissa Masartis
31st
Amanda Formhals
16th
Geraldine Dalton
9th
Sally Hilderhoff
Jan. 1st
Autumn Mandell
17th
Jill Mialki
9th
Steve Calhoun
2nd
Nancy Hollobaugh
17th
Doug Hirth
11th
Rachel Bodenlos
5th
Stacy Formhals
18th
Kyle Brunick
14th
Anne Marie Herm
5th
Nettie Baumbach
19th
Elizabeth Weaver
15th
Darlene Calhoun
6th
Peggy Huwe
20th
Kelly Murphy
17th
Natalie Collins
7th
Ronald Zierenberg
26th
Kathy Kline
17th
Jane Heinze
8th
Robert Kort
26th
Brandon Riggs
17th
Joe Reddick
10th
John Feitl
26th
Myles Bradley
18th
Norah Masartis
11th
Rocco D’Ambrosio
26th
Don Woelke
18th
Bob Rieger
12th
Reynold Obrosky
26th
Nancy Klink
19th
Susan Formhals
12th
David Miller
27th
David Wire
23rd
Joe Miller
12th
Paul Ayres, Jr.
28th
John Lawley
28th
Sean Wire
31st
Name
Date
Name
Date
John & Alice Feitl
Dec. 4th
Scott & Margaret Adams
Jan. 8th
Thom & Grace Freese
11th
David & Kathleen Wire
23rd
Brian & Jo Ann Weaver
12th
Robert & Christina Kapolka
24th
Joe & Linda Miller
27th
Terry & Lora Laverty
29th
Reynold & Carol Obrosky
30th
Open hearts, open minds, open doors
Page 7
Bigger Than WVUMC
The Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference, also known as the Western PA Conference or WPAUMC,
includes all or part of 23 counties in the western third of Pennsylvania. The Conference has 10 districts and is
entirely within the region known as Appalachia. The geography is diverse, from plains around Lake Erie to
rolling foothills and mountains, with thick, native woodlands in the Allegheny National Forest and the vibrant
urban center of Pittsburgh -- the second largest city in PA.
The Conference administrative offices, as well as the Bishop's office, are located in The United Methodist
Center in Cranberry Township, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh along the Interstate 79 corridor.
Hurricane Sandy Response: More than 1500 cleaning buckets left the Mission Barn last week bound for the
New Jersey/New York areas hard-hit by the recent storms. Many more are needed. Although New Jersey has
invited in Early Response Teams from other areas to help, it will be some time before the area can host regular Volunteers in Mission teams from other conferences.
How to Help Now: Greg Forrester, the UMVIM Coordinator for the Northeastern Jurisdiction, asks that we
continue to collect supplies for Cleaning Buckets and Health Kits. “We have already distributed thousands
and will need thousands more!” he said. He also asked for prayer and noted that gifts to UMCOR US Disaster
Response, Hurricanes 2012, Advance #3021787, will help UMCOR to be with storm survivors over the long
term of their recovery.
Involve Community in Sandy Response: The Meadville Tribune reported in detail on Stone UMC’s “bucket
drive” for UMCOR. Let your local newspaper, radio station or “Patch” reporter know about your church’s efforts to help in clean-up and recovery after Superstorm Sandy. Be sure to invite those in the community to
help! Ask your members to invite their friends on Facebook to help.
Devastation and Chaos: In a message to the Greater New Jersey Conference, Bishop John Schol told
members that he has “traveled to most of the communities that have been significantly impacted (by Hurricane Sandy) and there is only one word to describe what I have seen, it is a DISASTER. Words cannot describe the devastation, chaos and the deep emotional impact Superstorm Sandy is having on many people.”
Check out wpaumc.org for more information and about other ministries they impact.
United Methodist Center, PO Box 5002, Cranberry TWP., PA 16066-0002 |800-886-3382 wpaumc.org
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Just For Fun
Jesus' Dad's Name
A Sunday School teacher asked
her class, "What was Jesus' mother's name?
One child answered, "Mary."
The teacher then asked, "Who
knows what Jesus' father's name
was?"
A little kid said, "Verge."
Confused, the teacher asked,
"Where did you get that?"
The kid said, "Well, you know they
are always talking about Verge n'
Mary.
The Day After Christmas
The pastor was looking over the
crèche the day after Christmas
when he noticed that the baby
Jesus was missing. He went outside and saw a little boy pulling a
new red wagon. In the wagon was
Jesus.
We walked up to the boy and
said, "Hi, there. Where did you get
the baby Jesus?"

The boy answered honestly, "In
the church."
"Why did you take him?" the pastor asked.
"Well," said the boy, "I prayed to
the Lord Jesus and asked him for
a wagon for Christmas. I told Him
that if He gave me one, I'd take
Him for a ride in it."
Fractured Christmas Carols
No one can fracture a Christmas
carol better than a kid. Sing along
with these new takes on old favorites:
 Deck the Halls with Buddy
Holly
 We three kings of porridge
and tar
 On the first day of Christmas
my tulip gave to me
 Later on we'll perspire, as we
dream by the fire.
 He's makin' a list, chicken and
rice.








Noel. Noel, Barney's the king
of Israel.
With the jelly toast proclaim
Olive, the other reindeer.
Sleep in heavenly peas
In the meadow we can build a
snowman, Then pretend that
he is sparse and brown
You'll go down in listerine
Oh, what fun it is to ride with
one horse, soap and hay
Come, froggy faithful
Good tidings we bring to you
and your kid
Modern Christmas
Pageant
Did you hear about the Beverly
Hills school Christmas pageant?
Two kids dressed as Mary and
Joseph and they are on their way
to the inn in Bethlehem. On the
other side of the stage, a boy in a
shepherd's outfit is on a mobile/
cellular phone, calling for reservations.
Open hearts, open minds, open doors
Page 9
Hymn Devotional Reading
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Savior
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!
In Bethlehem in Jewry
This blessed babe was born,
And laid within the manger
Upon this blessed morn:
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn.
From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks afeeding
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
The blessed babe to find.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
Traditional English Carol (18th century)
This carol was first published in 1827, but
even then it was introduced as “an ancient carol, sung in the streets of London.” In fact, old
London had municipal watchmen who were licensed to perform certain tasks, including the
singing of Christmas carols. This was one of
their songs.
In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens,
Ebenezer Scrooge hears this song sung joyously
in the street and tells the singer he’ll hit him
with a ruler unless he stops singing. Of course
that was not the intended response to this carol.
The point is that joy reigns on Christmas Day because of God’s great gift of His Son, Jesus
Christ. We can “rest merry” in the knowledge
that Christ has paid our penalty for going astray
and has set us free from the power of evil.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this
way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together
she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man
and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to
divorce her quietly. But as he considered this,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in
a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not
fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1: 18-20
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Viewpoint
Church Undecorated
for another year. We need
help all over the church
Sunday,
(inside and out). So, if you
January 6, 2012
following worship are afraid of heights, don’t
worry you don’t have to
Help us as we
climb any ladders. You could
take down all of the Christmas
help taking decorations off of a
decorations and put them away tree or carefully wrapping the
manger scene. As the
saying
goes...Many
hands,
make light
work!
Sharing Holiday Warmth
Please join us in helping our neighbors in need this
holiday season.

The gift of warmth (gas certificate)

The gift of light (electric certificate)

The gift of nourishment (grocery certificate)
North Hills community Outreach will provide more
than 500 local families in crisis and hardship with up
to $50 in certificates towards food and utilities.
Knowing they are receiving this assistance, the families are able to purchase their own gifts for their
children.
Thanks to the Sylvia & Martin Snow Charitable
Foundation for providing a substantial lead gift for
this year’s Sharing Holiday Warmth. Additional
funds from the community are needed to meet requests for help. Your tax deductible contribution in
any amount is appreciated!
“We live paycheck to
Here are some thank you’s
paycheck making just
from the people that this
enough to maintain the bills;
program helped in 2011.
however there’s no room in
our budget for extras. With
“You have been my
your kind and generous gift,
Santa for a long time.
we were able to pay our bills
Love and peace to all
and provide our kids with a
of you at NHCO.”
wonderful Christmas.”
—Avalon
—Ross
“Thank you for everything. The gas bill, the food…. I praise
God for such a nice organization.”—McCandless
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping
me make Christmas so special for my family. It’s nice
to know that there are good people still out there. We
are grateful for everything.”
—Hampton
Open hearts, open minds, open doors
Page 11
Viewpoint History
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF!
Back in May, during a lightning
storm, we lost the use of our organ due to apparent electrical
problems. It has been diagnosed
(by two organ repair technicians)
and finally, after some back and
forth debate, our insurance company came through with the funds
for us to replace our completely
unusable instrument.
Beginning on December 3rd, installation of a new organ will
begin. It will take the better part
of the week, but it should be completed in time for the December
9th worship service!
This article from the Viewpoint
comes to us from January of
1967. Ironically, it speaks of the
replacement of the old pipe organ
with a new Baldwin Electronic Organ. The cost in 1967? $5,795.
In 2012? $45,000, but completely
covered by our insurance. We
look forward to having our organ
back as we journey through the
advent season.
Picture of what our new organ will
look like. It is an Ahlborn-Galanti
2300 with 278 independently
voiceable stops!
West View United Methodist Church
146 Cornell Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15229
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PITTSBURGH, PA
PERMIT #1842
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Church: 412-766-2223
[email protected]
Parsonage: 412-421-0221
[email protected]
We’re on the web!
www.wvumc.net
Pastor
Brenda Walker
Pastor Emeritus
Lee W. Parker
Program Coordinator
Brian Weaver
Vision Statement
We will be a visible, praying, caring and
loving church praising and glorifying God, the
Creator of the universe.
We will strive as members to follow the path
to salvation and eternal life taught by Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. Alive with the Holy
Spirit, we will demonstrate our faith to others by our words and actions.
We will join with other Christians in carrying
Christ’s gospel, love and grace throughout our
community and the world.