Cross Talk Dear Church Family, I realize that it’s almost mandatory for pastors to bemoan the commercialization of Christmas, but retailers do seem to have turned the season of gift-giving into the season of debt-getting for too many people. With the annual holiday shopping frenzy loom- ing once again, I can’t help wondering, “How does spending more than I can afford on things that people don’t really need honor the one whom Christmas is supposed to celebrate?” It’s ironic that the biggest retail season of the year is based on the birth of someone who shunned materialism and urged his disciples to simplify their lives. So, what’s a Christian to do? As you may know, I’m a big fan of alternative gifts. That’s when a charitable donation is made in someone’s name instead of buying a tangible gift. So, for instance, I might make a donation to the animal shelter as a gift for my niece who loves animals instead of buying her a useless tchotchke. Or I could make a gift to Habitat for Humanity in honor of my carpenter friend Phil rather than buying him a sweater he doesn’t need. Or I could spare myself the stress of trying to figure out what to get my sister (perhaps the most difficult person in the world to buy for!) by making a dona- tion to the emergency fuel assistance fund in her name. You get the idea. Think of alternative giving as the best kind of “re- gifting”. This Christmas, consider cutting back on unnecessary gift-giving and use the money you save to purchase alternative gifts. You’ll not only be doing something thoughtful for the recipient; you’ll also be helping out those who are most in need. And I think Je- sus would like that very much. Grace and Peace, Pastor Arlene Bangor First United Methodist Church 703 Essex Street , Bangor Maine For Information... Phone: 207-945-9567 Email: [email protected]Website: www.fumcbangor.org (Sermon podcasts available) Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bangor First This ‘n That 2-4 Community meals 4 Meetings & Prayer Requests 5 Birthdays 6 Worship Assistants 7 Youth Group News Advent Series 8 10 Calendar 11 Included in this issue…. DECEMBER, 2016
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Bangor First United Methodist Church 703 Essex Street ......ADVENT EVENTS Advent Sermon Series: Each Sun-day at 10:30 during Advent. Christmas Eve December 24: Christmas Eve Family
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Transcript
Cross Talk
Dear Church Family, I realize that it’s almost mandatory for pastors to bemoan the commercialization of Christmas, but retailers do seem to have turned the season of gift-giving into the season of debt-getting for too many people. With the annual holiday shopping frenzy loom-ing once again, I can’t help wondering, “How does spending more than I can afford on things that people don’t really need honor the one whom Christmas is supposed to celebrate?” It’s ironic that the biggest retail season of the year is based on the birth of someone who shunned materialism and urged his disciples to simplify their
lives. So, what’s a Christian to do?
As you may know, I’m a big fan of alternative gifts. That’s when a charitable donation is made in someone’s name instead of buying a tangible gift. So, for instance, I might make a donation to the animal shelter as a gift for my niece who loves animals instead of buying her a useless tchotchke. Or I could make a gift to Habitat for Humanity in honor of my carpenter friend Phil rather than buying him a sweater he doesn’t need. Or I could spare myself the stress of trying to figure out what to get my sister (perhaps the most difficult person in the world to buy for!) by making a dona-tion to the emergency fuel assistance fund in her name. You get the idea. Think of alternative giving as the best kind of “re-
gifting”.
This Christmas, consider cutting back on unnecessary gift-giving and use the money you save to purchase alternative gifts. You’ll not only be doing something thoughtful for the recipient; you’ll also be helping out those who are most in need. And I think Je-
During the month of December we are asking for dona-
tions of the following items for the food cupboard:
Canned tuna, chicken & Vienna sausages
Boxed Mac & Cheese or Hamburger Helper
Spaghetti Sauce & Pasta
Canned Veggies
Baking supplies….sugar, flour,
Mustard, ketchup, relish, dressings,
Also toiletry items are always in demand.
Please place items in our food cart in the narthex.
Check the Sunday bulletin inserts
for need changes.
DECEMBER MEALS
December 1: Chicken casserole
December 8: Seafood Chowder
December 15: Breakfast for Dinner
December 22: Beef Stew
December 29: Pot Luck
DECEMBER NEEDS
December 1: Desserts
December 8: Desserts
December 15: Desserts
December 22: Christmas themed desserts
December 29: Desserts
COMMUNITY MEALS FOR DECEMBER
PAGE 4 CROSS TALK
Mission Trip Donations
The Missions Committee is
asking for donations to send a
representative to the Domini-
can Republic in January. You offering can go in the
offering plate, be mailed, or dropped off at the office.
The total cost is $2000 per representative. Thanks
for your support!
The heart of the
giver makes the gift
dear and precious.
Luther
December Meetings / Events at Bangor First UMC
Events:
Informal Worship Thursdays at
6:00
Sundays at 8:30: Pathways to God
Sundays at 9:15: Bible Study
Sunday School/ Christian Educa-tion 10:45 (2nd-4th Sundays)
Children’s Christmas Even Ser-
vice: Dec. 24 at 6:00 pm
Candlelight Christmas service:
Dec. 24 at 9:00 pm
Ongoing Group Meetings
Food Addicts in Recovery
meet each Monday at 6:30
Bangor Community Chorus
rehearses every Tuesday at
6:30 (Sept-May)
Toymakers meet each Mon-
day evening at 6:00
Cub Scouts meet on Wednes-
days at 6:00 (Sept-June)
Delta Kappa Gamma meets
monthly (Sept–June) on the
first Monday.
EAAA Café: Tuesdays; Noon
Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Naz-areth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to enroll together with Mary, his wife who was with child. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in
a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
Luke 2: 4-7
Meetings:
Dec. 4: Worship Committee
Dec. 10: UMW
Dec. 15: Piburn; 1:00
Dec. 18: Missions
Dec. 8 DCOM; 9-3:00 and
DMT; 6--8:00
Into your hands Heavenly Father we entrust these people
who are in need of your healing touch, knowledge of
your presence, and your comfort.
Sustain them in good days and bad. Help them to feel
your loving presence with them during every difficulty,
for you are always there ahead of any circumstance.
Watch over all those who are in need. Help them to feel
that you are always near them and know that all they
need do is look to you for comfort and for strength.
In Your loving name we pray. Amen
Page C.
Tom C.
Mary Jane T
Dawn R.
Nancy C. & daughter
Eliana
Bob L.
Lonna, Chuck & Family
Bill & Tammy
Family of Marsha C.
Sister of Rachel
Parker W.
Marie & Sherwood
Stephen T.
Bob C.
Benjamin C.
Peg S.
Rozario family
Dennis & Pat S.
Family of Fred S.
Family of Pat B.
Family of Louise B.
Our church leaders
The Bangor Area
Street Pastors
Prayer Requests
PAGE 5 CROSS TALK
Happy Birthday to you, to Jesus be true.
God Bless you and keep you the whole year through!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Nancy Isaacs
Diane Moody
2
Cynthia
Commeau
3
4 5
6
Jaddah Swett
7 8
Ben Commeau
9
George Wallace
10
Jeff Fister
11
12
Jackie LaFlamme
Susan Leach
13 14
15
David Pelkey
Matt Nye
16
17
18
Bob Worcester
19 20
21
David Swett
Hillson Beal
Joe Haskins
22
23
Phillip Frost
24
Ane Christensen
25
26 27 28
Glenn Mower
Scott Leach
Michael Downs
29 30 31
Sue Edwards
December, 2016
Birthdays
PAGE 6 CROSS TALK
Readers Media & Sound Techs
Sanctuary Door
4 Kerry & Pat Woodbury
11 Dan & Louise Hatch
18 Dale & Julie Brownie
25 Skippy Valentine
Essex Street Back Door
Trustees
Greeters for the 10:30 am Traditional Worship
Jesus,
Light of the world...
Deadline for information
for the January newslet-
ter is December 19.
Information may be
submitted in written form,
via email or by phone.
Pathways to God 8:30
Traditional Worship Service: 10:30
Christian Ed for children at 10:45 (2nd-4th Sundays)
Informal Worship: Thursdays at 6:00
Readers
4 Stephen Ritz-Perkins
11 Lesley Whittington
18 John Haskell
25 Bob Worcester
Trustees
4 Andy Moody
11 Pat Woodbury
18 Andy Moody
25 Gregg Stewart
Media
Geoff Dapice
Wayne Griffith-Hurst
Sound
Jim Burkhart
Worship Assistants for December 2016 ***If you are unable to cover the date for which you are scheduled please arrange for a
substitute or call Sue White.
Newsletter Deadline Worship Schedule
Essex Street Door
4 Polly Goding
11 Sylvia Moore
18 Ruth Shepardson
25 Barbara Warner
Back Door
4 Gary & Jane Shaffer
11 Barbara Wais
18 Charlotte Witham
25 Gary & Jane Shaffer
PAGE 7 CROSS TALK
UPCOMING EVENTS……
PAGE 8 CROSS TALK
Youth Group Leaders: Coralie Cross, Nick & Cheryl Guay,
Pastor Arlene Tully
December 2nd Peer lead Bible Study - Morgan Downs has volunteered to prepare a Bible study for us to read and then talk about. December 16th Christmas Party - We will be doing such things as making crafts, and wrapping presents for Angel Tree. In the New Year'.. January 13th or 14th The Youth Group hopes to host a game night for the church, friends and families. Donations for refreshments will be ac-cepted. January 28th Winter fun - sledding, tubing, ice skating, and building a snow fort in front of the church... Dress warmly! February (around Valentines Day) Youth Group Babysits - Parents can drop their kids off and for a donation the youth group plans a night to entertain them. Age limits and time limits TBD. Parents can then have a date night to celebrate Valentines’ Day. Other ideas for the 2017
• Make a meal for the homeless
• Volunteer at Thursday Night Meals
• Rake Leaves or Basic Lawn/Yard work for Donations
• Faith Linking in Action - Public transportation month in November
• Trampoline Park
• Extreme Adventures/ Playland Adventure
• Bowling
• Hiking
• Crafts
COME JOIN US!
PAGE 9 CROSS TALK
Advent 2016: “Awed & Odd” We Christians believe in “folly” – that there is peace, love, joy and hope in the midst of both the good and the
difficult times. We believe that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This
makes us “odd” according to those who proclaim the victory of decline and death all around. It is especially in
this season of expectant hope that we can instead proclaim the awe-inspiring presence of God’s reign that con-
tinually makes all things new. This is a season of odd “juxtapositions” – swords into plowshares, wolves and
lambs resting peacefully together, and those without a voice singing for joy!
First Sunday of Advent – November 27
“Peace in the Midst of Conflict”
Isaiah 2:1-5 and Psalm 122
To keep awake is to open our eyes in awe at the works of the Holy in our midst and to the promises of God to
continually make all things new. We introduce the theme of “Awed & Odd” for this season of anticipation and
expectation. This first Sunday of Advent we focus on the practices of peace to which we are called, making us
“odd” in the eyes of a world that lets fear drive our actions toward one another.
Second Sunday of Advent – December 4
“Love in the Midst of Hate”
Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12
The Hebrew word translated in the First Testament as “fear” is probably closer to our word “awe”. Those who
are open to the awe of God will be delighted at the love they witness blooming where once was fear and ha-
tred. Isaiah’s prophecy of unlikely combinations (wolves and lambs, calves and lions, cows and bears) can point
us toward the awesome power of God to create more love and understanding in the world.
Third Sunday of Advent – December 11
“Joy in the Midst of Despair”
Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55
We wonder what one person, or one church, can do, and we despair at the injustices of the world. When help-
lessness makes us feel weak in the hands or feeble in the knees, we are reminded of the power of the “lowly
servants” as Mary’s prophetic voice rings out in the “Magnificat” (the song of one awe-struck young woman!).
Things in the reign of God are topsy-turvy. As the Body of Christ, we must be “born again” this Advent into the
awe of God that leads to the joy of liberating service.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 18
“Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness”
Sacred Drama: “Voices of Advent”
Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25
Nothing about this pregnancy was “usual.” Add to that signs and wonders and angel visits and the birth of Je-
sus can be called “odd” at best. But the message is clear – things can be born when you least expect it. So it is
ADVENT….2016
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Bangor First United Methodist Church Calendar for…...