The
Messenger
First United Methodist Church of
Mexico
December, 2010
From
the pastor…
I
offer to each of you both these words, and the art work.
They say exactly what I want to send to you for Christmas.
Blessings.
Bill
To
Listen, To Look
by Ann Weems
Is
it all sewn up – my life?
Is it at this point so predictable,
so orderly,
so neat,
so arranged,
so right,
that I don’t have time or space
for listening for the rustle of angels’ wings
or running to stables to see a baby?
Could this be what he meant when he said
Listen, those who have ears to hear…
Look, those who have eyes to see?
O God, give me the humbleness of those shepherds
who saw in the cold December darkness
the Coming of Light
the Advent of Love!
----------------------------
Sing
a New Song!
Psalm 96
Gordon Churchyard
(Pastor’s
Note: This Psalm is often heard in churches on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
This is the end of our Psalm commentaries; if you have a suggestion for a
Scripture help during 2011, please let us know.)
v1
Sing a new song to the *LORD!
Sing to the *LORD, all the world!
v2
Sing to the *LORD and say good things about him!
Every day, say that he has made us safe!
v3
Tell every *nation that he is very great!
Tell everybody the *wonderful things that he has
done!
v4
Because the *LORD is great, and everybody should say that he is great!
People should be more afraid of him than of all
(other) gods.
v5
Because all the gods of every country are false.
But the *LORD made everything.
v6
(People that) are near him can see that he is a very great king.
(People that) are in his house can see that he is
strong and beautiful.
v7
Say to the *LORD, you families of *nations,
say to the *LORD that he is *glorious and powerful.
v8
Say that the *LORD has a *glorious name.
Bring a gift and come near his house.
v9
Fall down in front of the *LORD who is beautiful and *holy.
Be afraid of him, everyone (that lives) on the earth.
v10
Tell all the *nations that the *LORD is King!
(He has) fixed the world so that nothing can move it.
He will be a fair *judge of the people.
v11
Earth and sky, be happy!
Sea and everything in it, *roar (because you are
happy!)
v
12 Fields, you be
happy as well, and everything in you!
Then, all the trees in the forests will sing because they are so happy!
v13
(They will sing) to the *Lord when he comes.
He
will come to be a *judge of the earth.
He will be a good *judge and he will be fair to the people.
***************************************************
“Amazing Grace”
In this holiday season, when thoughts turn to
celebrations, and lights, and music (especially music!), I am reminded of
Grace E. Moore. Grace passed away
in October of this year, after several years of declining health. For
many years she served as choir director “emerita” of our church, and for
many, many more years she was the choir director and the heart of our music
program. Anyone who ever heard and
saw Grace, either playing her beloved piano or directing the many choirs she
led, has no doubt about her passion and love for music - and for people.
Grace’s memory will be forever cherished by all
of us at First UMC. Several years
ago we established the Grace E. Moore Scholarship Fund, to provide financial
assistance for future leaders in the music professions.
I had the honor of escorting Grace on several occasions as she
presented these awards; and, didn’t she have the greatest time sharing the
spotlight with these young people!
Grace was known as the “First Lady of Music in
Mexico”. She continues to hold
that place in many hearts. Who
hasn’t heard her say “I love you, I love you, I love you!”
We love you, too, Grace. Enjoy directing the
choirs of Heaven!
Rev Bill Palmer
*******************************************
IMPORTANT
DATES
Dececember 4: Craft/Bake Sale and Lunch – Fellowship
Hall. 9am-3pm
5: Charge Conference with District Superintendent
Darryl Barrow
5: Christmas Concert-Pres Church 3:00
5: Live Nativity @ Freihofer Farm Drive-by between 5-6:30pm
9: Angelfood Orders due by Noon
10: January Newsletter Deadline
10: Women Within Cookie Exchange, 7pm
12: Christmas Cookie Delivery to the homebound by the Junior and Senior UMYouth Fellowships.
18: UMMen’s Breakfast, 8am
18:
Angelfood Delivery Day
19: Sunday School
Christmas Program, 9
:45am
21:
Blue Christmas Service, 7pm
24: Christmas Eve services, 7pm & Candlelight Service at 11:pm
25: CHRISTMAS-HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS
31: New Year’s Eve Service &Party
*****************************************
MONDAY’S
MEAL UPDATE
December
6: Kelly Freihofer and team.
December 13: Maggie Palmer
and team.
December 20: Open – cooks
needed.
December 27: Jeanne Revette and
team.
Many
thanks to those who cook, serve, donate, and support Monday’s Meal in any
way. Special thanks to the Bake
Shop Eatery in Mexico for donating bread every week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THANK
YOU, THANK YOU TO…
~
Karen Ringwald for organizing the very successful concert by The Tug
Hill Players on Sunday, November 7.
~
to
all who helped at the pancake supper, supplying food, working in the kitchen
and serving, as well as those who came to eat the pancakes.
~
Dotty Parker for making aprons for the workers at Monday’s Meal.
~
the six women who so generously baked pies for the Senior High Youth Group’s
pie tasting contest on Sunday, November 14.
~
Norma Dunkley for knitting 40 pairs of mittens for this year’s “Giving
Tree”.
~
Mike Freihofer for making a sturdy sign for Monday’s Meal.
~
the Angelfood team for ensuring the food boxes are picked up and delivered
each month.
~ the Friendship Unit for their kitchen paper goods donation.
**********************************************
CONGRATULATIONS
TO…
Orion & Jessica Behling on the birth of a son,
Noah
Michael Behling
Born October 16, 2010
Grandparents are Eric & Lori Behling
There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
The United Methodist Hymnal, page 249
**********************************************
2010
ADVENT CALENDER
November
28
Chrismon Tree; Decorating the Church, Advent Candle – 9:45am Worship
December 12
Lessons & Carols – During 9:45am Worship
December 19
Sunday School Christmas program – During 9:45am Worship
December 21
“Blue Christmas” Service - 7 pm
December 24
Christmas Eve family Service - 7 pm; Candlelight Communion - 11 pm
December 25
A joyous and blessed Christmas to all.
December 26
“Casual Christmas” Service - 9:45 am Worship
December 31
New Year’s/Watch Night “Party” & Worship - 7:30 pm
January 2
Parsonage Open House - 2 pm
**************************************
CHRISTMAS
IN MEXICO CHURCH BAZAAR
Again this December, our church will be participating in the town-wide “Christmas in Mexico” celebration on Saturday, December 4th. Please come to the Fellowship Hall between 9 am and 3pm that day to enjoy a delicious lunch, then browse and purchase hand-made gift items from the various craft vendors. The women’s Friendship Unit of our church will also be sponsoring a homemade pie sale that day. Thank you for your generous food donations to the bake sale table or kitchen. The Friendship Unit will use all proceeds to benefit our church and its programs. Come and enjoy the festivities!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MACY’s Shop for a
Cause
Thank you to those who bought Macy’s tickets (coupons). A big thank you to Marge Vautrin, who made many phone calls for the tickets. This fundraiser brought in $575 for the general church budget.
A Van Going to Unity Acres
During the week before Christmas, Connie Day and Sue Morton will travel to Unity Acres to deliver our gifts of coffee and laundry detergent to the men. They have also offered to take extra items, or boxes of clothing, that anyone has to donate to the men. All items should be at the church by Sunday, December 19.
SHARING AT CHRISTMASTIME…
Operation
Christmas Child Update
Thank
you to the many who filled the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.
shoeboxes
left our church on Sunday November 21, on the first leg of their journey to
waiting and eager children around the world.
Our boxes were delivered to the Vorea Community Church in Orwell, and
from this drop off location they will be transported by a large tractor
trailer to the North Carolina processing center.
From this center each box will be inspected by volunteers who
will
then insert the Gospel booklet “the Greatest Gift of All” written in the
language used in the location the box is destined to go.
This year Wayne & Rose Ann Myers from our church are traveling to
North Carolina to volunteer their time at the center. The shoebox ministry is
a wonderful way to show God’s love to needy children and share the true
meaning of Christmas.
CHRISTMAS
GIVING TREE
Again this Christmas season, the women’s Friendship Unit will be hosting a “GIVING TREE”. From November 28 - December 19, this Christmas tree will be set up in the narthex ready to be decorated with donated hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves that will then be given to the local food pantry and to Operation Reindeer for distribution to needy families in our community. Last year several warm winter hats, and scarves, pairs of mittens, and gloves from this collection were taken to the Mexico Food Pantry for distribution to those in need. As of this writing, we already have 40 pair of mittens crafted by Norma Dunkley to add to the tree. Thank you all for sharing with those less fortunate. Merry Christmas!
~~
UNITY
ACRES COLLECTION
Every
year at Christmas time our church prepares a gift of laundry detergent and
coffee for our friends at Unity Acres in Orwell.
The coffee pot will be out for monetary donations on Sunday, December 12. These donations will be used to purchase the coffee and laundry detergent for the men – who appreciate it very much. Thank you.
~~
The
Arks are on Our Tables
Heifer Project International Arks were distributed to members of the congregation on Sunday, November 21. When the arks return at the beginning of the New Year, the total sum of our giving will be sent to Heifer Project to purchase livestock, and the training of such, for families in need here in our country and around the world. Many heifers, sheep, goats, chickens, and other animals have ‘left’ our church in past years to help the hungry toward self-sufficiency.
~~
CHRISTIMAS
COOKIE DELIVERY
On Sunday, December 12, the Junior and Senior UMYouth Fellowship Groups will decorate Christmas cookies and deliver them to the homebound in our area. If you know someone who would appreciate a visit from the youth and Christmas cookies from our church please ask Sue Morton to add their name and address to the list. Sue’s number is 963-3566.
~~
ANGELFOOD
MINISTRIES
A
total of 19 Angelfood boxes were donated to local families in need for the
Thanksgiving holiday.
Many of these food boxes included a turkey, thanks to the generous
donations by members of our congregation.
“What
we say does not matter,
only what God says to souls through us.”
Mother Theresa, In My Own Words
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONGRATULATIONS
TO...
The
most recent Mexico High School National Honor Society Inductees:
Jenna
Behling, Louis Arena, Elliot Ringwald,
Cooper
Sheldon, Alyssa Sprague, Emily Yerdon and Steven Watros.
These
seven youth, of the 26 total inducted,
are all connected to our church congregation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RECIPE
CORNER:
This
festive holiday recipe for a Red and Green Christmas Casserole comes to us from
Marilyn Marks. Thank
you for sharing, Marilyn.
RED
AND GREEN CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE
2
packages frozen, chopped spinach
½ lb. sliced, fresh mushrooms
2
Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon white wine or lemon juice
½
cup sour cream
2 teaspoons black pepper
¼
teaspoon salt
3 fresh tomatoes, peeled and sliced
½
cup grated parmesan cheese
Boil spinach slightly and drain. Sauté mushrooms in butter, add lemon juice. Combine spinach, mushroom mixture (not drained), sour cream, salt and pepper, and turn into butter 2 quart casserole. Cover with tomato slices and thick layer of parmesan cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes at 325 degrees.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stewardship
Campaign Update
Our
stewardship campaign-Called & Sent-officially
was concluded on November 7. To date we have received 29 responses, totaling
$57,390. To all those who completed an estimate-of-giving card, thank you so
much! Your decision to help in the financial planning for 2011 is most
appreciated.
It
isn’t too late! If you would like to complete an estimate-of-giving for 2011,
you can do it in two ways: either use the one that was mailed to you or pick one
up in the church entrance. They can be mailed to the church, or placed in the
offering any Sunday.
Thank
you, and may God continue to bless you.
The members of the Finance team
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks
everybody! Because of your pledges, memorials, donations and the Seed
Money Project (over $5,000.), Candles in the Windows Project (to date
$390), sale of cookbooks, and the Tug Hill Players Concert ($753.75), the
balance in the ASAP account, exceeds $37,000!
We thank The Tug Hill musicians who donated their time and talents.
The church was nearly filled, with many from out of town, and everyone
thought it was a great program.
Accessibility
and Safety Achievement Project Gift Card Request
I
request a gift card in honor or memory (please circle one) of:
Person
Honoring or Memorialzing:___________________________________________________________________
Address (in honor
only):___________________________________________________________________________
Occasion:________________________________________________________Amount:________________________
Donor
Name:____________________________________________________________________________________
Donor
Address:__________________________________________________________________________________
Please deliver this form and check (with “ASAP” in memo section) to the church office or mail it to: Mexico First United Methodist Church, PO Box 255, Mexico, New York 13114
*********************************************
ASAP
Jewelry
The ASAP committee still has three beautiful pieces of Silpada Designs jewelry remaining from our Fall fundraiser. Contact Linda Fravor or Carol Aldrich if interested in purchasing a cross necklace, a mustard seed necklace, or a pearl bracelet.
For
Sale
An
electric table top rotisserie/barbecue. $40.00
or best offer. Please contact Diane
Tupper
@
963-8415. Thank
you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This
month’s newsletter brought to you by Ed and Nancy Murray.