24751 W. EAMES, CHANNAHON IL 60410 / 815-467-5275 WWW ... · 24751 W. EAMES, CHANNAHON IL 60410 / 815-467-5275 ... my journey of faith. God is with us and we are with each other.

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At a Glance

CHANNAHON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 24751 W. EAMES, CHANNAHON IL 60410 / 815-467-5275

WWW.CHANNAHONUMC.ORG

Our mission is to create disciples who nourish faith and work in ministering to the community.

December/ 2017 VOL. 63 No. 12

A Woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her

Christmas cards. "What Denomination?" Asked the clerk. "Oh,

good heavens! Have we come to this?" said the woman. "Well,

give me 50 Methodist and 50 Catholic ones."

Christmas is not a Baptist, Roman Catholic, or Methodist thing.

It is for all disciples of Jesus Christ. Something in the

neighborhood of 1.8 billion people around the world will do

something special to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Of course, like

most things, each denomination or congregation has its own

set of traditions. Nevertheless, the celebration of Jesus' birth is

second only to Easter in its importance for most Christians.

This was true, even before Madison Avenue commercialized it.

Christmas is special. It is one of those times of the year when

the power of the day transcends what we do with it.

I like to think of Christmas as an occasion when all believers

everywhere lend their voices to a mighty choir. In praise and

adoration, we sing with new commitment the ancient hymn of

"Peace on Earth, Good Will to All." I hope you experience the

joy of God's presence and peace this Christmas.

CrossTalk continued…

Dec 3 – Christmas Concert

Annual Church Conference

Dec 6 Senior Luncheon

Dec 9 – Men’s Breakfast

Dec 17 – CUMC Christmas Program

Dec 24 – 9a & 10:45a Worship Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 4:30pm & 11pm

Dec 25 – Church Office Closed

Dec 28-29 Church Office Closed

Acts 4:32

The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them

would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held

everything in common

Let it be an opportunity to connect with your brothers and sisters everywhere. Emanuel means,

"God with us" rather than "God with me." I find great comfort in knowing that I am not alone in

my journey of faith. God is with us and we are with each other. Amen.

Of course, in the weeks to come, our church and community will have a variety of events to get

us ready for Christmas as we observe Advent. The Season of Advent is all about preparing for

Christmas. Specifically, we look to Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah

and then recount the pregnancy of Mary, the misgivings of Joseph, the journey to Bethlehem, a

host of angels, and shepherds keeping watch over their sheep by night. No matter how often I

hear and read the story, I never get tired of it.

I hope you will prepare for Christmas in one fashion or another. One way you can get ready for

Christmas is by joining our Adult Advent Study. Our study, The Redemption of Scrooge by Matt

Rawle, uses the journey of Ebenezer Scrooge from the Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas

Carol to demonstrate the true purpose for Emanuel. The book, The Redemption of Scrooge is

available for $11. Our class will meet for four weeks on Wednesday nights beginning November

29 at 6:30 PM. My guess is that most of you have read the book, A Christmas Carol, or have seen

one or more of the movies. If it’s been a while, I recommend reading the book or watching the

movie again. It is, however, not necessary if you already know the story.

I hope you have a blessed and Merry Christmas,

December Communion Offering – December 3rd

Offering will support D.B.O.M – Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries

Their mission is to develop and strengthen Bible study ministries in local churches and in outreach settings - especially prisons - which will

transform lives, make disciples, and empower Christians for outreach ministry." Checks can be made payable to CUMC – Memo: DBOM

Adult Advent Study

Wednesday Nights 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Led by Pastor Tim

Sign up and books are available in the Narthex. Participant books are $11ea.

Sunday, December 24th 9am & 10:45am worship

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICES

4:30pm & 11pm

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Church & Community News

CUMC Shirts Still Available! They Make a GREAT Christmas Gift!

Outreach is still selling

Polo shirts and T-shirts with a CUMC Logo This is a great idea for Church Events!

If you are interested in purchasing shirts – Please call the church office for assistance.

$20 - T-Shirts (Adult Small – 2x)

$30 – Polo Shirt w/collar (Adult Small – 2x)

They make great Christmas Gifts!

Café Worship (2nd Service)

Sunday Mornings at 10:45am

Do you want to worship in a casual setting? Maybe have a cup of coffee and a chocolate marshmallow cookie while listening to the sermon? If so, come to

Café Worship on Sundays at 10:45 am. Café Worship takes place while the kids are in Sunday School from 10:45 am to 11:45 am. If you are a

parent who wants to be in worship and have your children be in Sunday School, this is the service for

you! Come check it out.

Anyone is welcome to join the worship leaders at any time! Just email Matthew Miller at

[email protected] to put your name on the weekly email list so you’ll have the songs for whichever weeks you’d like to bring your instrument and/or voice! Rehearsals are held in the sanctuary

on Sundays around 10:15am (following 9am service)

December 17th Christmas Cantata

9am Service

Come celebrate as the CUMC Choir will be performing a Christmas Cantata

‘Were You There on That Christmas Night?” by Lloyd Larson

Making Time for Prayer…

Join us in the Narthex for dedicated prayer on Wednesday mornings at

8:45am to 9:15am.

Featuring choirs, soloists, & ensembles from our Community!

Sunday, December 3rd

@ 3:00pm

at Channahon United Methodist Church ~ 24751 W. Eames (Rt 6)

Family and Friends are invited to celebrate with us!

Let the ‘REASON FOR THE SEASON’ begin

We look forward to seeing you!

We will have an afternoon filled with the Christmas Spirit thru sing a-longs, choirs, soloist, instrumental ensembles, etc.

Postcards are available in the Narthex, for inviting friends & family

All are welcome to participate and join! If you have a Christmas reading, song(s), ensemble, choir, etc that you would like to share or perform

please let Brittany know by December 1st.

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Meets December 9th

The Men of CUMC meet the 2nd Saturday of the month at 7:45am at

Grandma’s Pancake House – 669 Minooka Rd - Minooka

All men (High School and older) are invited!

LOOKING TO HELP? Outreach Team would like to thank

you so much for your continued contributions/donations to the needs

we are trying to meet.

Our DONATION CENTRAL is located in the Church Narthex!

Including A Giving Tree for hats, gloves, scarves, pj’s, & socks.

At Channahon UMC

Wednesday – December 6th

@ 11:30am Suggested Meal Donation is $4 per person

Reservations are requested by the Monday prior

call 815-726-0094 ext 322

Please Note: Senior Luncheon will continue to be held

on the FIRST Wednesday of each month (Except in November – 2nd Wednesday)

2017 Annual Church Conference

The date for our annual church conference is set

for Sunday, December 3rd

at 10am

between services. Our District Superintendent,

Dick Wisdom will be preaching at both services

that day.

We encourage all to come to support the life and

growth of our church, so mark your calendar.

Was November 12th This is the Sunday when we were invited to prayerfully consider our 2018 gifts and offering pledges and present our "Estimate of Giving" cards for our 2018 offerings.

Members and regular attendees of the church received a letter of invitation and an ESTIMATE OF GIVING card. You can turn your card in at any time in the offering plate, drop it by the office or mail it in. Extra envelopes are available in the Narthex, or call the office. .

The 55 & Alive Group is planning a Holiday Dinner together at

Syl’s Restaurant – 829 Moen Ave- Rockdale

Friday, January 5th @ 6:00pm

Please RSVP by January 2nd (for Reservations) Call the church office or see

Sharon Hedgren - 815-521-9032

An active community group of men & women 55 and older!

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Hannah Jessup Dec. 12

Dinner Out

December Shop Dates

Sunday Dec 3 10a – 11a Wednesday Dec 6 11a-12n

Senior Luncheon Thursday Dec 7 10a – 2p Monday Dec 11 6p - 8p Thursday Dec 21 10a – 2p

Thrift Shop will be closed

Dec. 22 – Jan 3 for the Holidays Will reopen on Jan. 4th 10a – 2p

Ladies-Aid would like to invite anyone interested in volunteering with the Thrift Shop

to see Lana Stafford, Susie Eaton or Donna Buckley for more information!

The Thrift Shop will be open the 1st Sunday of the month at 10am for shopping

convenience to our church family and friends.

United Methodist Women/Faith-Hope-Love in Action

UMW NEWS UMW World Thank Offering Service was November 19th. Thank you for your continued prayers & support. UMW CIRCLES: If you are interested in joining a UMW Circle, starting a new circle or learning about United Methodist Women, please contact Lana Stafford at 815-483-3796.

If you are on Instagram… Be sure to follow UM Women online www.unitedmethodistwomen.org .

Ladies Aid Dec. 7th @ 9a In Thrift Shop

Circle of Hope Syl’s Restaurant

Dec. 14 @ 6pm

Rachel Circle Dec. 12

Dinner Out

Ruth Circle Dec. 11

Dinner Out

UMW Circles

The church office will be CLOSED Monday, December 25th

Thursday, December 28th Friday, December 29th

in observance of the Christmas and New Year Holidays.

So much money, effort and time goes into baking for the

Holidays that UMW would like to try something new. A BAKELESS BAKE SALE!

Saving time, and effort by donating a monetary amount that would have been spent in baking.

A COOKIE JAR will be in the Narthex on December 3rd & 10th for anyone wishing to donate.

The monies raised will work towards helping women and children.

Jazz Concert &

Potluck Dinner

January 20th – 5pm

in Fellowship Hall

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From the desks of our Director of Christian Formation & Choir Director

and the EDUCATION TEAM

Brittany Alcantar

FYI…

KIDZ CLUB will NOT Meet on Dec. 27th or Jan 3rd.

Light snack will be provided Please let Brittany

know of any restrictions.

Kids Preschool – 5th Grade Wednesday Nights

6:30p –7:30p Beginning September 13th

GET PLUGGED IN…

Wednesday Nights / 6p-7:30pm Kids 6

th – 12

th grade

are invited to come experience

Youth Small Group.

Bring a friend –

it helps being in a group much easier!

Any questions – call the church office or

see Rachel Lynch-Kulisek.

FYI… Youth will NOT Meet on Dec. 27th or Jan 3rd.

Sunday Mornings 10:45a – 11:45a

Pre-School to 12th Grade!

Preschool thru 5th grade meet in Room 146. Jr. & Sr. High meet in Room 140.

We will spend this month recalling the Christmas story. We will concentrate on how the birth of Jesus affected Mary and Joseph, the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, the Shepherd’s visit , and end the month learning about Simeon and Anna.

Bible Verse for the month: "The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous descendant from David's line, and he will

rule as a wise king." Jeremiah 23:5

Sunday School Dec. 24th and 31st

at 10:45am – 11:45am

We will be showing a movie ( in 2parts) on these days.. so come comfy and ready for some fun.

Join us for our last 2017

KIDS MOVIE NIGHT & PARENT’S NIGHT OUT!

Craft, Game, Movie, Popcorn & Refreshments!

December 22nd 6p-8:30pm (Extra Holiday Shopping Time)

November Craft

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Consider purchasing a poinsettia plant that

includes an honorary or memorial dedication to be printed in our Christmas

Eve bulletin insert and to help beautify our Sanctuary for this Grand Celebration.

Order forms are available in the Narthex.

Our Sunday School Kids and the Education Team would like to thank everyone who helped us

with our Children’s Mission – being able to provide 12 Operation Christmas Boxes to

Samaritan Purse Ministry. The kids packed and prayed on each box!

BREAST CANCER PILLOWS Just a reminder. that the Joys and Concerns slips in the

sanctuary have a place to request a pillow for someone in your

family or friend who is or has faced breast cancer surgery.

The pillow is designed to comfort a patient by fitting under

their arm. The pillow will be presented and prayed over by

the pastor. God has richly blessed this ministry!

The weekly giving reported and compared to our weekly expenses and monthly report:

Weekly Expense Budget $5,472

Monthly Giving for October $23,206.50

Weekly Expense Actual (Avg Thru Oct. ) $4,352.48

Turkey Supper profit $7,586.42

378 Carry Out meals – 360 Dining Room Meals

MORE CHURCH NEWS

Ordering deadline is December 10th

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December 3 December 10 December 17 December 24 December 31

Greeters Stan & Sandy

Yenerich Jackie Goggins &

Lou McCoy Kathy & Tom

Koscik Jack & Vickie

Breen Ray & Dawn

Brick

Liturgists Lana Stafford Lou McCoy Janet Robb Donna Buckley Katie Hughes

A/V 1st Service

Anita Young& Mike Geldean

Tim Taylor & Steve Olson

Anita Young & Mark Lindstrom

Steve Olson & Mike Geldean

Tim Taylor & Mark Lindstrom

AV Café Worship

Dec 5 Nick 7 Cindy Pappas Dec 21 Robert & Jacquelyn Tupa Dec 27 Ron & Mary Ann Lehman

December Anniversaries

December Birthdays

12/3 Jacquelyn Tupa 12/6 Joey Hoffman 12/8 Sandy Fletcher Gwen Tunney 12/9 Jennie Olson 12/12 Joni Meyer 12/11 Diane McConnaughay 12/16 Henry Tupa 12/18 Paul Weller 12/20 Barb Wilkenson 12/22 Randy Platt 12/24 Brittany Alcantar 12/25 Marcia Kezerle Clay Schuler 12/26 Becky Casey Madison Leatherwood 12/27 Tammy Self 12/29 Christy Ridenour 12/30 Vickie Breen

If we have missed your birthday or anniversary and you would like it to be added to the weekly bulletin announcement and monthly Circuit Rider

calendar, please contact the church office @ 815-467-5275 or email: [email protected]

Thank You….. We would like to thank everyone for your prayers, cards and support. Getting back on track has been challenging but we are hopeful we are heading in the right direction. Brittany Alcantar & Breanna Anderson

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and blessings given in the beautiful prayer blanket. It is very comforting to use this symbol of your love and kindness Karen Dirst

Thank you everyone for your support and care. Rose Fields

Thank you all so much for the beautiful prayer blanket and your prayers. Lori Thompson

Thank you to all who serve the church in any way, especially in the office. I appreciate it so much. Such a blessing to have so many to count on. Kris Hayden

December 2017 Worship Service Volunteers

Church Ambassador: Witness/Worship Team Counters: Vickie Breen & Mike Geldean

Communion Servers - December 3rd Sonny & Sharon Hedgren, Donna Szoke, Rachel Kulisek, Lana Stafford (L)

Responsibilities of the Liturgist/Worship Ambassador: Call to Announcements, Lead Call to Worship, Reading of Joys and Concerns, Reading of Scriptures, assisting with the blessing of the offering, and assist with serving Communion (on Communion Sunday)

Christmas Eve Services A/V - 4:30pm – Tim Taylor / 11pm – Mike Geldean

Help is needed with the Café Worship AV Anyone interested, should talk to Pastor Tim

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We are especially grateful for:

CHANNAHON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 24751 W. Eames St. Channahon, IL 60410

The CIRCUIT RIDER

Volume 63, No. 12; December 2017

Editor: Kris Hayden CUMC reserves the right to edit all submitted materials.

WORSHIP SCHEDULE Worship: 9:00am 10:45am Coffee Fellowship 10:00am-10:45am Sunday School 10:45am – 11:45am

Sunday School is offered for children Pre-school – 12th grade

Follow us on FACEBOOK at www.Facebook.com/ChannahonUMC

Channahon

United Methodist Church

24751 W. Eames (Rt. 6), Channahon, IL 60410 815-467-5275 www.channahonumc.org

Pastor: Rev. Timothy Casey Ext. 12

[email protected] Youth Council

Youth @Channahonumc.org

Director of Christian Formation

Brittany Alcantar Ext. 11

[email protected] Treasurer: Barb Sweet Ext. 13

[email protected]

Office Ministry Assistant:

Kris Hayden Ext. 10

[email protected]

Office Hours Mon. – Fri.: 9:00am - 1:00pm Phone: 815-467-5275

A Savior is Born!