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Thoughts: Author Jean Kerr wrote that it happened every autumn when she was happily shopping in a department store. Suddenly, she would see signs announcing Christmas lay-aways, Christmas sales. Counters were heaped with Christmas tree decorations. Wreaths covered store walls, and pillars were wrapped in red and green garlands. Christmas music blared over the loudspeakers.
With trembling hands, Jean would replace the bath towels she was considering. “Christmas is almost here,” she would sob, “and I am not ready!” Discussion: How do you get ready for Christmas? Activity: “Angels and archangels must have gathered there. Songs of alleluia filled the air. But his mother Mary, in her maiden bliss, Worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.” -Rosetti “Be ye also ready” to share Christmas love. ______________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Karen Belt, Vivian Hansard, Mary Jo Johnston, Mildred Parker, and Doug Smith. Tonight is the Troy Clergy Thanksgiving service with ten churches and choirs at 7:00pm. Please join us and bring a friend. Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent where children and adults will receive an Advent devotional. It’s also United Methodist Student Sunday. Special envelopes are in the pew pads. There are also Christmas offering envelopes and pledge cards in case you need one in the pew pads. This Sunday in the Christian Life Center, you may order a poinsettia to decorate our sanctuary, sign up to bring your crèche for display, sign up for the Christmas Tea, sign up to bake cookies for the cookie walk, and even have your blood pressure checked. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!
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Thoughts: Most of the time we have the power to dispel darkness easily. We can have light 24 hours a day, if we choose. But occasionally, there is a power failure, and we are plunged into darkness.
Candles cast small circles of light. An open fire provides both warmth and light, albeit flickering and inconstant. After the power failure last summer, Jane Egermann said she had new respect for Abraham Lincoln, who read and studied by firelight. Paul reminds the Colossians that “… the Father has rescued us from the power of darkness … and has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Discussion: Why is it significant that god created light on the first day? Activity: Fill in the blanks. “God that madest earth and heaven, ____________ and light.” “The morning light, the _______ ________, declare their Maker’s praise.” “And to the ____________, it gave great light.” “We ________ in the light, and we echo the song ….” “Yet in thy ________ _______ shineth the everlasting light….” “_________ us to thy perfect light.” _____________________________________________________________________________________Remember in prayer this week Shirley Geggie, Bob Grusnick, Vivian Hansard, Mildred Parker, Doug Smith and Tom Stevens. This Thursday, November 17th, Connections will be meeting in the Chapel at 7 p.m. to discuss Forgiveness. Pastor Vince Messina from Woodside Bible Church will be leading us in discussion. At some point in our lives we are faced with forgiving…whether it be forgiving someone else or forgiving ourselves. We appreciate Pastor Vince's commitment to help us in that sometimes difficult task. Please feel free to join us. Hanging of the Greens is this Saturday morning at 9:00am. Come for breakfast and decorating our church. All are welcome. Families, children and multi-generational decorators are needed. This Sunday, November 20th, is Commitment Sunday. Please check your email for a letter and Commitment card. Please prayerfully consider your 2017 pledge and bring your Commitment card this Sunday. Additional cards will be available in the pew pads. Thoughts: Isaiah tells us that God is our salvation, our strength, and our song, adding that He has done “excellent things.”
In the Troy Corners Cemetery there is a modest gravestone for a lady who lived from 1820 to 1920. Etched below these dates are the words “She hath done what she could.” And what could she do? Probably she cooked thousands of good meals – made without packaged helpers – and hundreds of little clothes made by hand and later patched, as well as socks she knitted and then darned, mounds of laundry, scrubbed and wrung out by hand and then hung up to dry, laboriously pressed with flat irons heated on the cook stove. Countless childish hurts kissed away, and patient help with the intricacies of long division, and Bible stories read aloud before the grate fire. She hath done “excellent things.” Discussion: What six words would you choose for your epitaph? Activity: Pray that we may some day know this peace: “…sustained and soothed by unfaltering trust, Approach thy grave like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him And lies down to pleasant dreams.” -William Cullen Bryant _____________________________________________________________________________ Remember in prayer this week Jackie Braidwood, Audrey Cowsert, Jim Kuszmaul, Mildred Parker, Doug Smith, Jimmy who comes with Terri Watson. GOT CANDY? Our youth will be making care packages for our college students on November 20th. Surely you have extra Halloween candy to donate to this cause. Start your diet today, bring your extra Halloween candy to church! Our college students will be so thankful. Men’s Breakfast meets this Saturday at 8:00am. Come for fellowship, food and Bible Study. MEN ONLY! Don’t forget our Annual Church Charge Conference this Sunday at 7:00pm. All members have voice and vote. This meeting is held once a year with the District Superintendent to review the status of our church and vote on nominated committee members of the church. The Tidings deadline has been changed to Monday, November 14th, because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Thoughts: I love the King James version of the Bible. It has depth and warmth and sonorousness and precious memories.
But when I read Proverbs 11:24-25, I admit to thinking “Huh?” The first verse seemed to lack recognizable sub jects, and the second verse contained dubious promises. Do we want to be fat and watered? For those of you not blessed with a King James Bible, here are the two verses: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that with holdeth more than is Meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Then I began to understand. Generous people will be blessed. Discussion: In this season when we are besieged with requests from charities, how do we decide where and what to give? Activity: Give a Christmas gift to our minister’s discretionary fund. Remember in prayer this week Judy Conley, Lisa Hall, Jim Kuszmaul, Mildred Parker, Sally Schaper and Tom Stevens. A reminder that 2016 Church Charge Conference reports are due TODAY! Don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend, on Saturday night – FALL B-HIND. This Sunday is Veterans’ Day and Communion. Veterans will be greeting and helping in the service so wear any part of your uniform that still fits. Come at 9:00am to line up for military inspection. A group photo will be taken before you march into the sanctuary for service. Don’t miss our patriotic video tribute honoring our past and present veterans. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, our December newsletter deadline will be November 14 instead of November 21. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Articles concerning the entire month of December will be included in this issue. |
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March 2020
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