813 West Myrtle Street Stillwater, MN 55082 phone: 651.439.1880 email: [email protected]HAPPY BIRTHDAY We’re on the web! www.fumcstillwater.org NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PERMIT NO. 132 U.S. POSTAGE PAID STILLWATER, MN 55082 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Dec. 2 Deb Auer, Robert Erickson, Marshall White, Meara White; Dec. 3 Jennifer Bye, Dec. 4 Abraham Anderson, Judy Holst; Dec. 7 Cole Funck; Dec. 8 Ann Haraldson, Gail Martell; Dec. 10 Sharon McAuliffe; Dec. 11 Abby Helwig, Blair Smith; Dec. 13 Bernie Darling; Dec. 14 Karla Keller; Dec. 20 Drew Keller; Dec. 23 Natalie Janssen; Dec. 24 Kris Huntley, Diane Jackson, Jane Krentz, Ray Marshall; Dec. 25 Jessica Holst; Dec. 26 Sue Niethammer; Dec. 27 William Bickner; Dec. 28 Kristine Bruggemann, Erin Hoff; Dec. 30 Maurice Grogan, Brett Hartman, Jason Haugen, Teresa Myhra, Elias Roll. Jan. 2 Anita Carter, Mary Harcey; Jan. 4 Ellen Campbell, Angie Deaton, Brett Keller; Jan. 7 Sabrina Myrah, Jacki Butterfield, Jenny Heaton; Jan.8 Joe Haines, Sarah Joyal; Jan. 11 Myrtle Potter; Jan. 12 Joe Hibberd; Jan. 17 Jackson Wright; Jan. 20 Benjamin Tabios; Jan. 21 Doreen Miller, Kathleen Ramsay; Jan. 24 Lor- raine Weber; Jan. 25 Sarah Norheim; Jan. 26 Diane Petterson; Jan. 27 Allison Hibberd, Ernie Jones; Jan. 28 Taylor Tabios; Jan. 29 Parker Tabios, Helen To- relle; Jan. 30 Alan Salmela. December January Pastors: Marty Raths & Donna Buell Organist: Kathy Hartman Music Director: Becca Bellman Youth Director: Cynthia Frederick Office Manager: Monica Basaker DEC - JAN 2017/18 From the desk of the Pastors This Advent season our theme is CHRISTMAS COMES and is inspired by the refrain of “Star Child” which is a song in The Faith We Sing. We will be singing that refrain as we light our Advent candles of hope, peace, love and joy this season. This song is a prayer for the day when “Christmas comes for everyone alive.” We invite you to join us in offering this prayer throughout the Advent season, that all might have the opportunity to experience the great good news of God’s Word and God’s love made flesh. And in keeping with our theme, we share with you a poem by Ann Weems called “The Coming of God.” The Coming of God - by Ann Weems Our God is the One who comes to us in a burning bush, in an angel’s song. in a newborn child. Our God is the One who cannot be found locked in the church, not even in the sanctuary. Our God will be where God will be with no constraints, no predictability. Our God lives where our God lives, and destruction has no power and even death cannot stop the living. Our God will be born where God will be born, but there is no place to look for the One who comes to us. When God is ready God will come even to a godforsaken place like a stable in Bethlehem. Watch . . . for you know not when God comes. Watch, that you might be found whenever wherever God comes. Growing in Love of God and Neighbor, Pastors Marty and Donna
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This year, rather than purchasing a new Cantata, we have dug into our choir anthem files and selected a
variety of Christmas anthems and Carol arrangements. This music will be woven throughout our wor-
ship service. Something a little different but equally lovely! It isn’t too late to join our rehearsals. Look-
ing ahead, we are planning to purchase an Easter Cantata to share during the Easter season!
We are grateful to all of our musicians for sharing special music through this holy Advent/Christmas sea-
son and all year round!
Give the Gift of Reading
As you are shopping for the elementary age school children in your life (children, grandchildren, nieces,
nephews, neighbors…), please consider giving the gift of reading. And to help you choose a book, our
church-school partnership team has created a brochure, in consultation with the Lily
Lake Media Specialist, with lists of suggested books that Elementary School readers will
enjoy. If you have children grades K-5 in your family, please pick up a copy of the bro-chure at church or print it from the link on our website. We are also making this bro-
chure available to the families of Lily Lake Elementary School
Christmas Project
Sunny Hill Preschool
Christmas is not that far off, and every year our Mission Committee recom-
mends a special project for our congregation to include in our holiday giving.
This Christmas Season they are recommending that we support the special relationship
that we have with our Sunny Hill Preschool.
There are three ways that we can support them:
* We can make a monetary gift (please make the gift out to First UMC) that Sunny Hill can
use to purchase the things that they need.
* We can make a gift of gift cards purchased through our church’s Scrip Program. Preferred
cards would be a Visa gift card or gift cards for Target or WalMart.
* We can give items from Sunny Hill’s wish list which includes the following items: big paint
magnitiles (Amazon), playdough, glue sticks, gallon of glue, white paper plates, construction
trucks, Thomas trains, Cooties game, Operation game, Paw Patrol toys, baby dolls, good
masking tape, bleach, toilet bowl cleaner with bleach, toilet paper, and kitchen size trash bags.
We have a long standing and special relationship with Sunny Hill that we want to nurture in some new
ways. This fall our Welcoming Committee served ice cream at their open house, and recently our Mis-
sion Committee provided gift cards to their teachers (along with the teachers at Lily Lake), so
that they could purchase something special for their classrooms. And our Christmas Project
is another way for us to give our support to their efforts to work with children and families
in our community.
WOMENS MINISTRIES
UNITED METHODIST MEN (UMM)
The UMM will meet for breakfast at the Lowell
Inn on Saturday, December 9th and
January 13th, at 8:00 am. All men of the
church are invited.
The Ada/Ruth Circle will meet on Friday,
December 1st and Friday, January 5th at 9:30
am.
New Beginnings Circle Candy Sale
December 10, before and after Church.
Take part in the traditional Candy Sale
sponsored by the New Beginnings Circle. As
always you will be impressed by the variety
and quality of the candy. A generous free will
offering is encouraged. Proceeds will go to a
mission project.
New Beginnings Circle meets at 1:00 pm
the third Monday of each month at the church
and all are welcome! The January 15th
meeting on “The Art of Listening” will be
hosted by Jeanette Nelson. This is Chapter 8
from the book we’ve been using, “One Simple
Act - Discovering the Power of
Generosity.” The meeting will be held at
church.
Winner’s Circle will sponsor a bake-sale
December 17th before and after church with
all proceeds going to UMCOR.
Winner’s Circle will meet December 14th
10:00 am at church. Sarmita Peterson will
present the program “Jesus Christ, the Light
of My Life”. All are welcome.
A note from VALLEY OUTREACH
“Thank you First United Methodist
Church of Stillwater! You collected 262
pairs of socks or underwear on behalf of
Valley Outreach Clothing Closet! Our
6th annual UNDIE SUNDAY, we collect-
ed over 7,449 pairs of underwear for
people in need. Thank you for making
Valley Outreach a priority in your chari-
table giving.
A note from UMCOR
We are grateful you are partnering with
us through The United Methodist Com-
mittee on Relief (UMCOR). Thank you
for your gift received on 10/25/2017 for
$2,086.00 for the recent Hurricanes
Harvey and Irma flood relief.
MISSION THANK YOU’S
FINANCE
THANK YOU’S
Many thanks to all who helped
out with this year’s Festa di Pasta!
We served 276 people and raised
$3,722
We sold 87 tickets for our beautiful quilt, and raised
$300. Congratulations to Loretta and Ed Allen!
The Country Store raised $1,318
The Silent Auction raised $2,633
Donations received (including for leftover food) $214
Total receipts: $8,187
After expenses, we were able to contribute $7,111 to
our General Fund, in support of the ongoing ministry
and mission of our church here at the corner of Greeley
and Myrtle.
Many thanks to our coordinating team: Jim Nelson
(chair person and publicity), Mary Harcey and Shelley
Carter (dining room), Anita Carter, Tito Reyna and Tom
Brown (kitchen), Bev Walmar (Country Store), Linda
Ash (Silent Auction), Sandy and Mark Ridgway, Diane
Jackson, Ellen Campbell, Pastors Marty and Donna. We
are also grateful to over 70 volunteers who helped in so
many ways to make this event a great success. The fel-
lowship we shared as we worked together was a blessing
to us all, as well.
SAVE THE DATE for the 13th Annual Festa di
Pasta … October 27, 2018
Church family~
Thank you to all who
helped, made goodies,
made crafts, helped with
set up and take down, sold, and
most of all to everyone who sup-
ported the Country Store.
Bev Walmar
Thanks so much for the expressions of
support during my recent surgery. I ap-
preciate the visits, cards & emails. My
recovery from my total hip replacement
has been smooth & is progressing quickly.
Your loving support played a big part in this success!
Most sincerely,
Sue Niethammer
I want to thank everyone for the cards
and prayers. The ladies, kids club and Pat-
sy for bringing me the cookies.
Angie Deaton
We appreciate the kindness
and support you have shown us
during our grief over the loss
of Frank’s mother. We are
blessed to be part of this com-
passionate church. Frank and
Vicky Anderson
Stewardship Update
We are grateful for the continued financial support of our congregation. Through the month of October we
have had income of $234,418 and expenses of $236,709, leaving us with a modest shortfall of $2291 in our
General Fund. This is encouraging for us so far, and it compares favorably to 2016, when at this same time
we had income of $230,418 and expenses of $237,180. So again, we are grateful to our congregation for its
generous support of our church and its ministries.
Finance Committee
HOLIDAY GIFY CARDS!! Now is the time to purchase
Christmas gift cards. Teenagers, young people and just about
everyone else LOVES getting a gift card. Take the guesswork out of what to give. Tons of
choices, plus Every card purchase provides much needed funding for First UMC pro-
grams. Scrip cards can be ordered in the Fellowship Hall following worship every Sunday.
Click here to view many low denomination cards that give back big percentages. https://shop.shopwithscrip.com/About/WhatsNew/2016/October/1973/free-shipping-bbw
SCRIP PROGRAM
YOUTH NEWS
KID’ S CLUB
Please join us for Kids Club on
December 13h from 6:15 to 7:15
pm. There will be Christmas
decorations to make and take home, fun
games to play and some snacks to eat.
Feel free to bring friends!
Let’s Go Tubing
Youth, families and everyone else you are invited to join in some tubing
fun at Green Acres on Sunday, January 14 from 1:00 - 3:00. Don’t worry, they
make snow! Any questions? Call Cynthia Frederick, 651-214-9323.
Youth News!
On November 1st, we had 8 youth participate in a fun night of games and planning activities for the rest of
the year. The youth want to continue traditions from previous years, including sponsoring a family or two for
Christmas, filling the Easter Eggs for the younger children of the church, Lock – Ins and planning a Youth Sun-
day Service. They also want to bring back preparing a meal for Wednesday night dinner and look for ways to
be of service to the building and grounds. Plus, have fun together and with other youth of the Stillwater area
and the United Methodist Conference! Youth Group will happen at least two Wednesday nights a month and
is open to all youth, 6th grade on up. Cynthia Frederick ~Interim Youth Director
Youth Group meetings for December
6 – A movie night (“Millions”) or Sledding
10 – Caroling (Sunday) – all church event, meet at 4:00 pm at church
20 – All Youth Christmas Party (bring a Secret Santa gift)
Youth Group meetings for January
10 - Church Improvement projects / Movie discussion / Epiphany
14 - Tubing at Green Acres (Sunday) – all church event
17 – All church game night! (Kid’s Club / Youth Group combined, with adults)
26 – Late Night Lock In / Big Thrill Factory
January 17th 2018 – Inter-generational Game Night!
We’re taking over the fellowship hall for fun and games and to beat the winter blues. Kid’s Club, Youth
group and Wednesday night fellowship participants can join in the fun, after dinner. Bring a game, bring a
friend!
Update on Abigail Ozanne
Abigail is settling in to her new home and she is off to a great start with her new congregations. If you want
to keep in touch, her mailing address is: 605 Fifth Avenue West, Sisseton, SD 57262