Pastor's Corner
Well the season is upon us, just look around at Wal-Mart or the Mall. We are quickly coming to Christmas. This year I’m encouraging the church to think of good memories of Christmas past. I have started to do so in preparation for the season, and I have found that very few of my memories have anything to do with the presents I received, but more with the people I’m blessed to be with.
My first memory is of Christmas Eve service 1979. I was asked to sing a solo in Church that night. I chose to sing, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,” and they let me! As I got up to sing, I was nervous and about to back out when Charlotte Richter the choir director, and a Saint of all Saints, pulled me aside. She told me to not look at the congregation but to look at the picture of Jesus in the back of the church knocking on a door. From that day on when I did anything in front of the church, I looked at that picture and found the comfort I needed to get through it. Every church I served, except this one, has had some picture of Jesus in the back that I have been able to look at during service.
Another memory comes from my Christmas Eve service on 2005. Just 18 days old I held Aubrie through the whole service, even during the sermon. I just didn’t want to let her go. She just lay in my arms and slept; how times change! I preached on what it must have been like for Joseph and Mary to know they were going to be responsible for raising the Savior of the world. I can’t imagine, can you? It is hard enough raising Aubrie much less Jesus!
My final memory comes from Christmas Eve 2007. It was just a little under a month before I had interviewed at Brook Park and I knew that I would be leaving the churches I was serving. It was a bittersweet service. On one hand I was excited about a new start and the wonderful church that was waiting for me, but on the other I was crushed that I had to leave the two churches that Harmony and I had grown so close to, and who had been with us since the birth of Aubrie. I remember crying all the way to church that night and trying to compose myself for service. I cannot remember what I preached on that night; all I remember is looking at Harmony and seeing the tears in her eyes. That was one of the worst Christmas services I can recall. I do remember looking at the picture of Jesus in the back of the church for comfort, and it worked!
This Christmas season instead of stressing out about the busyness or the cost, how about we just remember what makes Christmas what it is. It is about the birth of our Lord and Savior, and about spending quality time with friends and family. Neither one of those cost us a thing, but gives us all that we will ever need.
Until next Sunday,
Pastor Dan
Pastor Dan
Nuture
November cookie hour is on the first and then we will begin the traditional Advent Cookie Hours starting Nov 29 and go through each Sunday to Dec 20th. Please see a Nurture member if you can bring cookies in.
We will be doing the Hanging of the Greens a little early this year as the first Advent Sunday falls during Thanksgiving weekend. We will instead decorate the church Saturday, Nov 21st so as to not interfere with family gatherings during the next weekend. We will let you know what time soon.
On November 22nd at 7:00pm, we will be celebrating our Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. The United Methodist Church is hosting the service and Pastor Michael Oakley from the Lutheran Church will be sharing the message.
Christmas Eve Service will be a sharing of Christmas Memories Past. Service starts at 7:00pm. We would like illuminate the parking lot and walkway, so we are asking for all one gallon milk or juice jugs (clear) to make the luminaries.
Christian Education
Sunday School is moving ahead; we would like to see more children coming. The children and the teachers all have a good time learning together, so come on in and join them. We have classes for everyone.
Otherwise Christian Education is enjoying the quiet of the season.
Stewards
Plan on staying for the Congregational Business meeting on Nov 15th after worship, beginning at 1pm. This is the time to voice praise and concerns for the upcoming years’ ideas and plans. We will be voting on the budget for next year as well as the slate of names for the board. You should be receiving the minutes from last year’s meeting soon via e-mail so you can look them over before the meeting. We will hopefully have an update soon on the roof repairs and wall siding of the sanctuary.
Witness
Witness has started taking names of anyone in need of some extra help during the holidays. They will be putting together Thanksgiving Baskets to help fill out the holiday. If you have the name of someone you would like to help, please see Diane Pollock.
We also begin now to collect hats, gloves and socks to be given to the Berea Children’s Home for the Cold Weather that is soon upon us. Please start bringing in these items so that we can get them there when most needed.
The clothing giveaway was on Oct 24th and we had a good turnout. The tables were full and we enjoyed the camaraderie with the men’s fellowship who cooked breakfast for the giveaway volunteers.
Senior High & Junior High
The Senior High youth were not able to go to the Fall rally as it happened on Homecoming Weekend for most of our girls. We are looking forward to Winter Rally in January.
Our next dinner will be the SOUP SMORGASBORD. We will be serving on Nov 15th after worship just before the Congregational Business Meeting.
Then we will be taking orders for Super Bowl Hoagies after the first of the year.
We will be registering for NYC sometime in January and booking our flights probably in February. Our balance for NYC registration is due by April 1st. It is coming up fast, and the girls are excited.
A Word from Margi
I will be setting the offering envelopes for 2010 soon. If you aren’t getting envelopes and would like them, let me know.
I will also be passing out third quarter reports in about two weeks. If you see any mistakes, just let me know.
I am also trying to get together a group of ladies to attend the Women of Faith conference here in Cleveland in Sept. 2010. If we get a group of 10 or more the price is only $89.00 per person for the two day conference. Steven Curtis Chapman and Anita Renfroe will be presenting at the conference.
Keep up with the recycling. We are really doing well filling our boxes and bins.
From my desk to you - Karen
Wow, the holidays are almost here. I feel like I should be shopping already or doing something since the stores are filled with so much holiday stuff (you know like decorations and candy and gift ideas). Am I behind already? I haven’t even put up fall decorations yet. I am however waiting very patiently to start playing Christmas music on the car CD player (Nov 1st is my day). My children make fun of me, and Bud just shakes his head. I would start sooner, but that might be pushing my family over the edge. But I love Christmas music. I love to play it loudly in the car. It makes me feel good to hear of the joy and wonder and anticipation of the birth of the Savior. So forget feeling behind with shopping and decorating and baking, pull out that music and really feel on top of the season and experience it for as long as you can.
