Articles of Interest - Timonium United Methodist Church

Vol 6 Issues 12
DECEMBER
Articles
of
Interest
Church News.……………………...p2
Pastor’s Ponderings………..………p3
December Worship Schedule……..…p4
UMCOR and Ebola Crisis………...p5
Music & Art Director’s Corner ….....p6
Technology and Worship…………..p6
Sunday School News…………….....p7
Food for Area Children……………p7
Director of Children’s and Youth
Ministries…………………...p8
Children’s Ministry………………...p9
Rock 2015………………………....p9
Youth Calendar……………………p9
UMW Circles ………………...….p10
Midways…………………………p10
Single Christian Adult Gathering...p10
Calendar…………………….…...p11
2300 Pot Spring Road • Timonium, MD 21093 • 410-252-5500
Website: www.timoniumumc.org • E-mail: [email protected] • “Like” us on Facebook!
2014
DECEMBER 2014
TUMC Tidings Monthly
Church News….
Reverend Francie Dailey
Pastor
Death
Mike Keller
Director of Music , Worship Design and Multi-Media Ministries
Our member, Marilyn Bailey, went home to be
with the Lord on October 27, 2014. in Scottsdale,
Arizona. Our thoughts and prayers are with her
family and friends.
Rob Pierson
Minister of Visitation
Terri Seitz Parrish
Children & Youth Ministries Director
Carol Wirth
Nursery School Director
UMCOR GIVING TUESDAY
DECEMBER 2nd!
All gifts given to Timonium UMC prior to
December 2nd will be submitted that day and
will be matched.
See page 5 for more details.
Sara Sergent
Christian Education Director
Ginny Rutherford
Staff Accountant/Finances
Ann Hill
Administrative Assistant
Tanya Hairston/Mike Sullivan
Housekeeper/Custodian
2015 Pledge Update:
Lay Ministry
Church Council: Chair, Gwen Kelley
Lay Leader: Nancy Hudec
Lay Leader Emeritus: Beverly Ruppersberger
At the publication of this issue of Tidings we are
pleased to report the 2015 pledge total to date is
87 pledges totaling $282,010.
Celebrating Ministries
Worship: Tabitha Timity
Hospitality: Mary Lou Brown
This is encouraging when compared to the final
2014 figures of 85 pledges totaling $256,718.
Sharing Ministries
Evangelism: Bev Abraham
Missions: Linda Barone & Kelly Gray
UMW: Kathy Hirata
Stephen Ministry: Rob Johns
Thank you to our faithful pledgers, and if you
have not yet submitted your pledge for 2015
please do so as soon as possible, as the Church
Council we be confirming the 2015 budget and
knowing what we can expect in gifts and
offerings helps us set a realistic budget.
Discipling Ministries
Children & Youth Ministries: Terri Seitz Parrish
Young Adults’ Ministries: Bryan DeStefano
Adult Ministries: Sara Sergent
Parish Nurse: Eudell Matthews
Support Ministries
Trustees: Dave Guetler
SPRC: Kathy Smith
Finance: Bruce Wilcox
Treasurer: Cheryl Tillman
Leadership Development: Pastor Francie Dailey
Communications: Scott Lucas
Submitted on behalf of
the Finance Team by
Bruce Wilcox, chairperson
2
TUMC Tidings Monthly
DECEMBER 2014
Dear Friends,
Preparing for worship in Advent, and heading to Christmas always leads me to reminisce about prior
Christmases. And the older I get the less it is about all the trimmings and the more it is about spending
time reflecting on God’s gift in Christ and my relationships with loved ones.
Last Christmas I was given a gift that I decided to save for this Advent. It is a book titled “Take A Deep
Breath…It’s Christmas, A 40 Day Journey Toward the Heart of Christmas.” As I write this I anticipate
beginning my journey in Advent on November 16th, 40 days before Christmas. That is an ironic day for me
to begin as it is the 30th anniversary of my first husband Bill’s death.
There was never a person that adored Christmas more than Bill. His Mom made about twenty cookie
recipes from scratch each year he was growing up, and his favorite Christmas was the year his parents gave
him a long yearned for puppy, a beagle named Shadow. A favorite keepsake of mine is his pencil sketch of
his dog, dated 1967, which would have made Bill 16 years old. His celebration of anticipation fulfilled; may
we all have that experience at Christmas.
Bill’s most remarkable gift to me was a hand-carved nativity made out of olive wood in Jerusalem. The
church he was serving at the time always had a table at their Christmas Bazaar of things from SERRV, a
non-profit organization that sold third world country items at a fair market value and made sure the profit
returned to the craftsperson. He saw me fondly caressing the various pieces and secreted away a set at the
Bazaar. The baby Jesus in that set has always been nestled in a gold foil jewelry box in the top of Micah’s
Christmas stocking each year, so that the gift of the Christ Child is always the first gift to be unwrapped
every Christmas.
And isn’t that what Christmas is all about, a reminder that the gift we never expected has been sent by God
to change our lives, to change the world.
We can come though Advent to Christmas with great anticipation, with incredible expectations, sometimes
not very realistic. A very bittersweet Christmas when I was a child was the year Silky; a beloved family cat
returned home after a month of absence, with paw pads worn down to bloodied blisters, skinny and frail.
My sister screamed, “she’s come home”, and my father immediately thought our oldest sister, estranged
from the family for quite a few years, had returned to surprise us.
Each of us has different expectations; different gifts we anticipate, and is it not true that from the first
Christmas until this Christmas of 2014 Jesus the Christ continues to be the gift we never expected. He has
the capacity to change our lives each and every day, to bring hope to despair, healing to hurt, eternal life to
our fragile beings.
Dear friends, may the gift of Jesus be the very gift you never expected, and may you be blessed in the
discovery of the one who came to earth for you, for me, for a world hungry to be transformed by Divine
love.
Merry Christmas from me and mine to you and yours,
Pastor Francie
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DECEMBER 2014
TUMC Tidings Monthly
Worship Celebration Schedule
Come and join us on our faith journey together, and invite your friends and neighbors.
There is nursery care for infants and toddlers at all services.
*** We have two Worship opportunities:
*On Sunday at the 9:25 a.m. Traditional Service: children, pre-school through elementary school,
begin in worship in the Sanctuary, and Middle and High School Youth go directly to their class in the
youth room *
*Following the first worship service please join us for Fellowship Café, a time to meet new friend
and visit with each other. *
*The Walk Worship Celebration begins with snacks at 11:45, and worship with The Walk praise
band from 12:00 noon until 12:45 p.m. (All in Fellowship Hall). *
*Children (Pre-K through elementary school) begin in The Walk and after the Praise Celebration
are dismissed to the Pyke Chapel for Sunday School.
DECEMBER Worship Theme
Christmas Under Wraps
November 30th – First Sunday of Advent
Final “You are Not Alone” - God with Us in Our Judgmentalism and Our Expectations of Others
December 7th – Second Sunday of Advent
God is Faithful
December 14th – Third Sunday of Advent
Festival Christmas Service @ 9:25a.m. - with choir, brass and handbells
The Walk @ 11:45 a.m. - The Gift of Grace
December 21st - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
December 24th - Christmas Eve Worship - Have You Found Him Yet?
4:00 p.m. Informal worship experience in Fellowship Hall that will involve children and include
The Walk band
10:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service.
Also, if these times do not work for you, please consider that Rob Pierson will be leading a Christmas
Eve service at our Cooperative Parish church, Fairview UMC at 7 p.m.
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TUMC Tidings Monthly
DECEMBER 2014
HOW IS TIMONIUM UMC CONNECTED TO THE EBOLA CRISIS?
We are connected through our relationships – a covenant with our missionary in Liberia and TUMC
members with families in Sierra Leone. A covenant relationship with a United Methodist missionary,
promises financial and prayer support. TUMC had covenanted with Baltimore missionary, Susan Porter,
during her six years service at the United Methodist Hospital in Ganta, Liberia. She guided the hospital’s
expansion of medical services, while directing the nurse training program. She trained Victor Doolakeh
Taryor to assume her responsibilities; and we’ve continued our covenant support for him. The following is
an edited newsletter from Victor D. Taryor, dated October 31, 2014. An unedited copy is available thru
our Church Office.
The Missions Team
COLLECTIVE ACTIONS REQUIRED TO END EBOLA
I am reporting from Ganta, the epicenter of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nimba County. Nimba is the second largest
county in terms of population and Ganta is the second populous town in Liberia, next to the capital Monrovia. The
population of Ganta is over 50,000. It has one mission hospital that lacks the infrastructure and material capacity to
effectively manage Ebola or any epidemic of this proportion. There are a few privately owned clinics and a
government dispensary. The spread of the virus in Ganta came from poor hygienic practices in some of the clinics.
Many basic social facilities are lacking, especially in the face of this outbreak. Ganta is a dangerous place to live
right now due to the scourge of Ebola. In just 2 months (August and September), Ebola killed over 70 persons in
Ganta alone. These 2 months witnessed the peak of the outbreak. On one day, we buried 13 dead bodies in Ganta,
recorded over 36 sick persons and 250 contacts.
Since the Ebola outbreak, we have faced more questions than answers. The recommendation from a General Board
of Global Ministries related assessment suggested full closure of the hospital at Ganta, since it did not have the
technical capacity to face this difficult situation. The GBGM advised missionaries to consider the offer to leave
Liberia, to a free Ebola zone. Even though it was meant to protect the missionary community, most missionaries who
are Liberian nationals, including me, find it difficult to choose between leaving and staying in Liberia. My
experience with Ebola’s victims influenced my decision to stay in Liberia. Moreover, the scripture from St. John
15:13 kept coming loud and clear to me more forcefully and repeatedly: “greater love has no one than this, that he lay
down his life for his friends.” The Lord is helping us to endure the challenge we face.
What were the challenges from the onset of the outbreak? The hospital lacked the proper isolation
environment to admit and care for Ebola patients. One of the main challenges was fear among health workers and
the general public. Lack of knowledge about the disease among the population also posed a greater threat.
What have we done about these challenges? We convened a meeting with the leadership of the Nimba
County local government authorities to find a way forward. As a result of that conference, massive renovation work
has been done on the Eye Clinic and it was converted to an Ebola Treatment Unit, ETU. Additional renovation is
ongoing at the Fistula Center, in order to create more space for the Ebola containment efforts.
The ETU is complete and open to the public. The supplies for the operations and the salaries for staff at the ETU
are provided by the government of Liberia, through our negotiation.
We worked with our health service providers to keep safe by using all the needed gears before touching patients or
carrying out any bedside care. As a result, we lost no health workers. We are the only hospital in this region, which
has remained open throughout the crisis. Moreover, we are the only EVD affected hospital that has not lost health
workers in Liberia. We give God the glory. Thank you for your support of missions in general and Ganta United
Methodist Hospital in particular!
Victor Doolakeh Taryor
United Methodist Missionary
We may support the efforts to defeat the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Our gifts may be made payable
to Timonium UMC, designated for Ebola or Ganta United Methodist Hospital with the Advance
# 15080N and will be sent through our General Board of Global Ministries. All donations made prior to
December 2nd will be submitted on December 2nd, which is UMCOR Giving Tuesday. Gifts are
matched on that day.
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DECEMBER 2014
TUMC Tidings Monthly
Technology, The Sanctuary, and
Worship at TUMC
The philosopher Heraclitus (535-475 BCE)
receives credit for, “The only constant is change.”
Indeed, nothing stays the same. There are pluses
and minuses regarding this truth. But we get over
it. Like it or not, change remains constant.
Mark Your Calendars!
The Festival Christmas Service with Organ, Brass,
Handbells and Choir will be Sunday, December 14,
at 9:25 a.m. Invite your friends!
We need to keep up with the changes and with the
spirituality and thinking of our younger
generations while accepting and respecting the
older generations’ points of view.
Meet The Walk Band
A number of people have talked about how
favorably impressed they are with the members of
The Walk Band. Many of you know our Chancel
Choir members, but don’t know much about the
band, so I thought I’d tell you a little bit about
each of them.
Andrew Bilbrey is our drummer. He’s a junior
music major at Towson University. This isn’t just
a gig for him; he actively participates in the service
and our activities.
Anthony Falbo is the band’s director and our
Worship Leader. He has a strong spiritual side to
him, and frequently shares his faith during
worship. He’s a college student as well, and also
serves on our Worship Planning Team.
You already know our keyboard player, JoAnn
Krach. She plays in the band and coordinates the
activities related to the meals served prior to the
service. A member of the Worship Planning
Team, she has served this church with faith and
passion for many years.
Dan Skeen is our bass player. A graduate of
several Sheffield Institute programs, he has
devoted many hours to improving the Fellowship
Hall sound system, saving this church a
substantial amount of money.
TUMC has been evolving since the start and will
continue to do so. We have all experienced it.
Among the latest is the appearance of screens
(monitors) in the sanctuary as aids to enhance our
worship.
The use of the screens enhances my own worship
experience. I like looking up to receive the
messages and the liturgy on the screens. An added
benefit is seeing the Cross, the altar, the pipes, the
banners, the choir members, and the people in the
pews in front of me. I have a better feel and
perspective for God’s Presence in our community
of worshippers.
Looking down and reading from the worship
bulletin and singing from the hymnal is not as
satisfying as looking up towards the altar, while
reading and singing words from the screen and
seeing the panorama and that wider perspective.
Looking up is more inspiring for me.
There is added potential for cost-savings with
fewer bulletins to print each Sunday and fewer
hymnals to purchase, providing environmentally
sound use of paper and savings of funds to use in
other areas of mission. There is no need to pick up
the hymnal and look for the correct page or
looking in the worship bulletin to follow the
liturgy.
We’re very fortunate to have such outstanding
people leading one of our worship services, and I
couldn’t be happier that people are noticing!
Video Technicians Needed
We are going to need people to run the slides
during the 9:25 a.m. worship service. The training
will only take five minutes, then all you do is click
on the slide to be displayed. If you’re interested,
please see Mike.
The placement of the screens above and to the side
of the choir loft, with the banners to the side of the
lectern and pulpit allows the Cross and the Altar to
be central and unobstructed throughout worship.
That was thoughtful planning, further enhancing
worship for me. I believe this is progress in the
spiritual life at TUMC. I like it.
Mike Keller
Director of Music , Worship Design and
Multi-Media Ministries
Blessings and Peace,
Richard M. Hirata
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TUMC Tidings Monthly
DECEMBER 2014
“Christmas time is here” starts the song from the Charlie Brown Christmas
special. As I look forward to this holiday season, I share a little of the same
feelings only Charlie Brown had at the beginning of the show. Stores had their
Christmas sales items ready before Halloween this year! I am starting to wonder if this “rushing the season” is leading to Christmas burnout when the day
finally arrives.
This month in Sunday School we will be looking at the story of Jesus’ birth
through the eyes of some famous men and women in the Bible. Students at both service times are using
the “Grow, Proclaim, Serve” curriculum.
December 7: Mary and Joseph
December 14: Mary and Elizabeth (3rd grade and above will stay for the Music
Festival, all others will meet in Room 3 for one room Sunday School at 9:25 a.m.)
December 21: The Birth of Jesus (followed by a birthday Cake for Jesus in the
Fellowship Hall)
December 24: Christmas Eve - 4:00 p.m. Informal worship experience in Fellowship Hall that will
involve children and include The Walk band. Children
involved in the service are asked to arrive at 3:30 p.m.
10:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service.
December 28: The Wise Men (Room 3 for one room Sunday School)
I wish you and your family a peace-filled Christmas season.
See you in the classroom,
Sara Sergent
Christian Education Director
Please Donate Food For Area Children
Twice a month, TUMC provides food to area schoolchildren who might otherwise have nothing to eat
over the weekends. We can only provide small portions of food each time, because the children take it
home from school in their backpacks.
Please consider donating food to support this important project. The box to collect the food will be in
the downstairs hallway until Sunday, Dec. 13. The items listed below are especially needed. Thank you
so much!
Single servings of Cheerios or Life cereal
Tru-Moo shelf-stable milk boxes, plain or chocolate
Tuna in flip-top cans (with or without crackers)
Baked beans in flip-top cans
Craisins
Apple sauce, in 6 single servings
Goldfish crackers
Raisins, in single-serving boxes
Chef Boyardee microwavable lasagna or ravioli
Graham crackers, in individual servings
Chicken breast, in flip-top cans
Macaroni and cheese, prepared, such as Hormel’s
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The MissionsTeam
DECEMBER 2014
TUMC Tidings Monthly
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From the Director…….
Buy some candy canes and share this Christian tale !!
The candy cane is a long-time Christmas tradition. Everywhere we look we see them. They are used as
decorations on Christmas trees and they are one of the most popular of all Christmas treats. There are
several stories about the history and meaning of the candy cane. Not sure if they are true, but the
candy cane can teach us a few things about the true meaning of Christmas.
First , if you look at the candy cane upside down, it looks like the letter J. Jesus starts with the
letter J, so that should remind us of Jesus and help us to remember that Christmas is
Jesus' birthday.
If you look at the candy cane right side up, it looks like a shepherd's crook. The shepherd used
his crook to keep the sheep from wandering away from the flock and getting lost or eaten by a
wild animal. The Bible says, "The Lord is my shepherd." The candy cane should remind us
that Jesus is our shepherd and he will keep us from wandering away and getting lost or hurt.
The candy cane is mostly white. White is a symbol of purity. That should remind us that Jesus was the
spotless Lamb of God and that because he came to be the sacrifice for our sin, we can become as white as
snow.
The candy cane has red stripes. The Bible tells us that before he was crucified, Jesus was hit, which made
red stripes across his back. The Bible says that we are healed by those stripes. The stripes on the candy
cane should remind us that Jesus suffered and died, so that we can have everlasting life.
To many people, the candy cane is a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time or just a piece of candy
to be eaten and enjoyed. This year, every time you see a candy cane, think of the true meaning of
Christmas! And share a candy cane and the true meaning of Christmas with someone who may not be a
believer!
Many thanks this Holiday Season to those who have supported and prayed for the Children and Youth
Ministries here at Timonium United Methodist Church.
Terri Seitz Parrish, Director of Children and Youth Ministries
410-971-5999 [email protected]
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TUMC Tidings Monthly
DECEMBER 2014
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY AT TUMC



EEE Exciting Elementary Events meets once a month
Fun and Fellowship activities for elementary aged kids
Community service & outreach like collecting cans of food for those less fortunate, raising money to
eliminate hunger (CROP WALK) and collecting socks & hygiene products for a local shelter.
More information – contact Miss Terri at 410-971-5999 or [email protected] Tweet @
TUMCYouthNKids
CHILDREN’S CALENDAR
DECEMBER 13, 2014 - Early Christmas Celebration in the Youth Room 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
(Take a “tag” from the Giving Tree & bring a gift to the party.)
JANUARY 25, 2015 - Rock Climbing at Earth Treks - Time TBA
(Bring non perishable canned good for our Deacons Trunk.)
FEBRUARY, 2015 - Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline TBA– in Timonium!
(Bring some men’s toiletries for the Helping Up Mission.)
ROCK 2015 ~ Weekend and Video Contest!
ROCK is a powerful and fun-filled weekend in Ocean City, The event allows youth and adults to take a
step back from their busy lives and learn about the amazing love of Jesus Christ. It is an awesome
experience for folks to more fully connect with God and their friends while listening to great bands and
speakers. You will leave ROCK renewed and ready to spread the word about God’s great love for us.
ROCK website www.bwcumc.org/rock.
Video Contest – Based on 2015 Scripture “Show kindness, forgiveness and compassion just as God has
shown you through Jesus Christ” Ephesians 4:32 Video Due Dec 5 – to be posted on YouTube. Nick
Myers will film our Video. For more info: [email protected].
Dynamic Speaker Reggie Dabbs!!
Music provided by BJ Putnam and Jimmy Needham
WHEN : February 6-8, 2015. Van and Cars will leave TUMC Friday 2/6 at 4:00 pm
WHERE: Ocean City Convention Center HOTEL: Best Western Suites 5501 Coastal Highway
WHO : Pre teens in Middle School, Teens in High School and Young Adults
Questions or more information – 410-971-5999 [email protected] Church Website
www.timoniumumc.org Follow me on twitter @ TUMCYouthNKids
YOUTH CALENDAR
December
January
5
6
19
18
ROCK Video Link from YouTube due to [email protected]
Serve at Helping Up Mission. We will leave the Church at 4:00 p.m. and return at 7:00.
Middle & High School Christmas Celebration in the Youth Room at 7:00 p.m.
ROCK Planning Meeting – all forms due. Fellowship Hall at 1:00 p.m.
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DECEMBER 2014
TUMC Tidings Monthly
United
Methodist
Women
Come and join us for good food and
Christian fellowship.
You’ll feel right at home.
The next Midways’ Dinners will be
UMW PURPOSE: The organized unit of United
~
Methodist Women shall be a community of women
whose purpose is to know God and to experience
freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to
develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to
expand concepts of mission through participation in
the global ministries of the church.
Sunday December 7th, 11:00 a.m.
Brunch at Christopher Daniel
Contact: Trudy & Dave Guetler, 410-252-5345
~
Thursday January 15th
To be announced
All dinners are held at 6:00 p.m.
on the 3rd Thursday (unless otherwise listed)
Please call the contact person to make
reservations.
UMW CIRCLES
Visit or join any Circle, you are always welcome
at any of our meetings!
Frances Pyke Circle, Chairperson: June Royer,
410-823-4301. Meets on the SECOND Tuesday of
the month at 12:30 p.m. in the church library. Bring
a bag lunch; drinks and refreshments served.
Single Christian Adult Gathering
Have you ever felt a little lonely, hurt or
frustrated as a single, widowed or divorced
individual? Ever think that the church doesn’t
really know what to do with mature singles like
you who are past college age and not part of a
couple? This group is for you!
Circle of L.I.G.H.T. (Living In Great Hope
Together), Chairperson: Kay Ruppersberger, her
email is [email protected]. For December, the
Circle will be getting together for dinner on
December 11th at 6:30 p.m. at Christopher
Daniel’s.
Our first single adult meeting will be on Sunday,
December 14th from 2 - 4 p.m. at St. Paul's
Lutheran Church (1609 Kurtz Avenue,
Lutherville MD) in our Spangler Hall for a
Christmas caroling, cookie eating, cocoa drinking
party. Please join us for this inaugural meeting of
ecumenical Christian singles.
Ruth Circle, Chairperson: Virginia Hook,
410-828-7368. The Circle meets on the second
Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in members’
homes. Dessert is served. In December, the Circle
will be having dinner at Pappas Restaurant on
Cranbrook Road at 11:30 a.m.
This is not about dating; this is about fellowship,
worship, service, dining, going to movies or
whatever else the group would like to do. Come
ready to enjoy an event just for you and bring
your ideas about future events we can plan to do
together. Be part of a group that understands
who you are, values you, and shares a love for
Christ.
Sunshine Girls, Chairperson: Mary Ellen Menzel,
410-252-4649. Meets on the first Wednesday of the
month at 10:00 a.m. at the church or occasionally in
members’ homes. Treats and coffee served. The
December meeting will be our Christmas Lunch.
Watch the bulletin for time and place.
For more information, visit and like our Facebook
page - Single Christian Adults of Baltimore or
contact St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church,
1609 Kurtz Ave. Lutherville, MD 21093-5314,
[email protected], 410-252-3768
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