HUGHSON UNITED METHODIST NEWS

 2007 Sixth Street                 Worship 10:30am                  Denice Leslie, Pastor

P.O. Box 129Hughson, CA 95326     (209) 883-4952      office@hughsonumc.com      www.hughsonumc.com

DECEMBER 2014

 

 

 

LESLIE’S SALT SHAKER    

 

     Advent is a world changing time.  Because Hope was born on Christmas Day. And as Pastor Oura-Lila Ochoa said recently, “All people need hope.”  Yes! God is the hope giver, the peace giver, the joy giver, the way that leads to life!  God comes to remake the world in Jesus; to remake us once more in the image of God. To transform this old world into a place where all families are whole and without need, and where every person may be loved and live with dignity. As we look around the reality of our world today, there is a deep wistfulness in our spirits, longing for that day to be.

     Advent is the time for wistful thinking as we reflect on how God is breaking in to save us in Jesus.  To mark the time of this season, we make time to count time. By the time you receive this, one Sunday of Advent will be past. So rustle around and find your old Advent candles, put a circle of living greens around them, light two and sing the first line of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,”:

 

“O come, O come , Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

 

     The next Sunday light three and the last Sunday of Advent, light all four. Each Sunday that you light the candles and sing, remember that you are called to be a part of God’s mission to bring hope into the world. Each time you light the candles and sing, remember that all of our wistfulness is answered in Jesus Christ. 

 

         Merry Christmas!  Pastor Denice Leslie

 

 

 

  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Dec 14    Children's Christmas Pageant, 7pm

Dec 21    Christmas Caroling, meet at the church, 3pm

Dec 24    Christmas Eve Service, 8pm

 

CONTINUING ACTIVITIES

Youth Group (4th grade & up) 9am, Youth Room

Parenting Class  9am, Classroom

Adult Sunday School  9:15am, Esther Room

Sunday Worship 10:30am

Children’s Sunday School  during Worship, Social Hall

Stretch Class  Mondays & Thursdays 10:30am, Social Hall

Boy Scout Troop 27  Mondays 6:30pm, Social Hall

Bible Study  Wednesdays 10am, Esther Room

Chime Practice  Wednesdays 5:30pm, Social Hall

Choir Practice  Wednesdays 7pm, Choir Room

Redeemed Practice  Thursdays 5pm, Sanctuary

Soup & Study  Thursdays 6pm; 6:30pm

AA  Fridays 7:30pm, Gathering Center

 

MUSIC NOTES

 

"King of Heaven, come down;

King of heaven, come now

Let your glory reign, shining like the day, King of heaven come."

 

     The Chancel Choir, Cheerful Chimers, Children's Choir and Redeemed will be sharing their gifts of music and leading you in worship throughout this season. 

     If you would like to learn more about any of these music ministry groups, please contact Diana Browning.

 

Reminder: Please bring your Box Top$ for Education.

 

                                         Diana Browning

                                                Music Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY MORNING 10AM BIBLE STUDY

Advent Study: "The Women of Christmas" 

 

Our class enjoys such a great time of

study, fellowship and prayer. 

We would love for you to join us.

 

Contact the Church Office or Kay Short

for further information or to order a book. 

 

 

 

 

 

THERE'S STILL TIME:

2015 ESTIMATE OF GIVING

     In case you missed Gratitude Sunday November 16, our Finance leadership would be very grateful if everyone who plans to significantly change their giving for 2015 would complete an Estimate of Giving form so they can work up the new budget.

     If you prefer, simply give Financial Secretary Robert Fisher a call and let him know. Otherwise an Estimate of Giving form is located in the church entry.  Please consider our responsibility and need for due diligence and turn in your estimate. Remember, as your financial conditions change through the year,  a simple confidential note or call to Robert is all that is needed.  With thanksgiving for all you do!

                                    Pastor Denice

 

 

 

 

 

TALENT PROJECT A SUCCESS

     Once again, our Sunday School children were able to multiply their Talents beyond expectation.    What a joy to see our young people and their families make such creative treasures and yummy goodies!

     Thanks to your purchases at the Talent Sale and Noisy Collection donations, the Sunday School children will donate over $800 worth of clothes, toys and gift cards to the Community Christmas Basket Project.   

 

"His master replied,

'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'"

 

Matthew 25:21

    

 

CHRISTMAS CAROLING

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 21

     We will gather at 3pm at the church (yes, earlier than usual so more folks can participate).  We will carol at Samaritan Village in the Dining Room at 5pm, but before that we will do our best to get by to carol for a few of our shut-in members.

 

 

 

CANDLELIGHT DINNER, 5:30PM

SUNDAY, DEC. 14

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, 7PM 

SUNDAY, DEC. 14

     The time is fast approaching! So sign up at the Information Desk for this year’s festive Candlelight Dinner. Tickets must be purchased in advance.  Adults $14; Children (8 & younger) $7.   Host/esses are needed to decorate tables. This is a great dinner to invite extended family and friends! The program for the evening is the Sunday School Christmas Pageant that follows at 7pm.  And it is THE highlight of the year!! Don’t miss out. Our young people have been working so hard and we got a sneak peek on Sunday, November 30 during Worship, and at the Community Thanksgiving Dinner when Austin and Brayden sang and invited everyone present to come.

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 24  8PM

     There is truly nothing quite like Christmas Eve worship. Carols, communion, a special time with the children, special music, and at the end, the lighting of candles out in the Gathering Center as we make a big circle and sing "Silent Night!"  Come and make a memory with your loved ones. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hughson UMC © 2012

www.hughsonumc.com