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Footprints

A publication of UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF LUDINGTON 5810 Bryant Road, Ludington, MI 49431 (231) 843-8340 Email: office@ludingtonumc.org www.ludingtonumc.org Believers seeking and sharing the character of Christ

2011

UMC Special Events

and Committee Meetings 1 XYZ 12:00 pm, Finance Committee 5:30 pm 1,8,15,22,29 Chancel Choir 7:00 pm, Praise Choir 8:00 pm 4 Communion, Food Pantry 5,12,19 Woodworking class 7:00 pm 6,13,20,27 Intercessory Prayer 9:30 am, Bell Choir Rehearsal 5:00 pm 6 Trustees 7:00 pm 7 Family Meal 6:00 pm 7,14,21,28 Rug & Sleeping Bag Ladies 9:00 am, Confirmation Class 6:30-8:00 pm, Praise Band Re-hearsal 7:00 pm 10 Children‟s Christmas Program Practice 10:00 am-12:00 pm 11 Children‟s Christmas Program 11:00 am 15 Office Volunteer Christmas Party 2:00 pm, Youth Board 7:00 pm 16 Choir Christmas Cantata 7:00 pm 18 Choir Christmas Cantata and Youth Con-firmation 11:00 am 19 Evangelism Committee 6:30 pm 24 Services at 6:00, 7:30 & 9:00 pm 25 ONE Service of Lessons & Carols 10:00 am 26,27,30 Office closed Please see page 2 for community activities, page 3 for Legacy, and page 7 for United Methodist Women.

Sunday, December 11 9:30 am Contemporary Worship & Sunday School

11:00 am Children’s Christmas Program

Friday, December 16 7:00 pm Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata

Sunday, December 18 9:30 am Contemporary Worship & Sunday School

11:00 am Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata and

Youth Confirmation

Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve 6:00 pm Children’s Service

7:30 pm Candlelight Service with Bell Choir

9:00 pm Candlelight Service with Chancel Choir

Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day 10:00 am Service of Lessons and Carols

Sunday, January 1 9:30 am Contemporary Service

11:00 am Traditional Service

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Community Events in Our Church This Month

3—Emmaus Group 3:00-8:00 pm 4,11,18,25—Hispanic Church 5:00-7:00 pm 5—MOMSnext 9:00-11:00 am 7,14,21,28—Business Network International (BNI) 6:30-9:00 am, Recorder Group 7:00 pm 8—PEO 4:00-8:00 pm, Emmaus Board 6:00 pm 9—HELP Christmas party 6:00 pm 14—Habitat Board 12:00 pm 15—Mason Co. Historical Society 4:30-10:00 pm 19—Cub Scouts 7:00 pm

If you‟re looking for the true spirit of Christmas we can tell you where to find it. It will be there for you to capture at the Children’s Christmas Eve ser-vice at 6 pm at the church on the night before Christmas. Wonder! Laughter! Love! Joy! In a celebration of Jesus‟ birth for children of all ages. We were there last year with our granddaughter, age 2. You could say the service was for her, but I think we adults felt the Spirit as much as did the children. If you attend you‟ll be glad you did. John & Joan Nelson

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Winter Women’s Bible Study begins Thursday, January 5 at 9:30 am in the 4th/5th grade classroom. This will be a 12 week study: “Senior Saints - Growing Older in God‟s Family”. Please sign up in the of-

fice by Monday, December 12. For more informa-tion contact Lynne Gohn @ 843-4746.

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Outdoor Christmas lights were put out along the front of the building following Sunday School on November 6. Marcus, Cameron and Jonette Wilson, Allison, Heather and Michaele Kaatz with Mackenzie and Clint McKinven-Copus helped Betty Tabor untangle cords and lights while decorating the small shrubs and trees. Everyone enjoyed cocoa and cookies af-terwards.

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Travel back in time and experience the small town of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Victory Baptist Church presents Walk Through Bethlehem, an outdoor living nativity, on Saturday, December 17, 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm. After the walk-through you can enjoy refreshments and Christmas music and chat with some of the cast. Victory Bap-tist is at 4353 N. Stiles Rd.

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Our last Wednesday Night Dinner this fall will be at 6:00 pm Wednesday, December 7. We will resume these din-ners in January, date to be announced. Allan Carlson

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On December 15 at 7:00 pm, Cornerstone Church hosts 33 Miles and Master Illusionist Harris III. For ticket information, see the small red poster on the bulletin boards in the church office or Fellow-ship Hall, or go to cbcludington.org.

DECEMBER 2011 XYZ MEETING

The XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest) Group will meet at noon on Thursday, December 1 in Fellowship Hall. The meeting will begin with a potluck lunch. Fol-lowing lunch Phyllis and Gregg Heimall will lead us in a Christmas Carol Sing. Please join us for a time of good food, fellowship and what I‟m sure will be a fun program. Allan Carlson

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LEGACY LIVE NATIVITY

On December 11 all youth in grades 6-12 will be

traveling to Tustin, MI to participate in a live out-

door nativity. Dinner will be served and the event

is completely free! Students must have a permis-

sion slip or note from their parents saying they can

participate in order to go. This will be instead of

youth group. We will

leave around 5pm and re-

turn to the church around

9:45pm.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING

We will be caroling around Luding-

ton on December 18 during regular

Legacy times. Once we return from

caroling we will have hot chocolate

and Christmas cookies while cele-

brating the holiday together. Please

plan to participate even if singing is

not your thing. It will be fun and I

have a gift for each of the youth.

Monthly Calendar

12/4—MS Legacy 5pm

HS Legacy 7pm

12/11—Trip to Live Nativity

5-9:45pm

12/18– Confirmation Sunday

MS Caroling 5pm

HS Caroling 7pm

12/25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS

Special Thanks to my

wonderful youth board

members for a great year.

You all made my first

year here so great and

your help, support and

love were truly a blessing

to this ministry.

THANKS!

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December 2011

MISSIONS

The money collected in the

children’s offering for the months of

November-December will go

towards Toys For Tots. We have

done this in the past and hope to

purchase many wonderful toys

which will be delivered to the

Salvation Army. Once the toys are

all collected they will be distributed

to children who wouldn’t otherwise

receive any presents.

SS MONTHLY CALENDAR

12/4 - Sunday School 9:30am

Christmas Program Practice

12/11 - Sunday School 9:30am

Christmas Program 11:00am

12/18 - Sunday School 9:30am

12/25 - NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

Merry Christmas to you all!

ONCE UPON A

STARRY NIGHT

Our annual children’s

Christmas program will be

on December 11 at the 11:00

service. Please plan to at-

tend as the children are

working very hard on this

production. We are asking

that the children please have

faithful attendance to Sun-

day School as this is when

we rehearse. On December

10 there will be a special

practice from 10-noon.

Please make sure you child

attends. Thanks!

LIBRARY

Make sure you check out

the children’s library in the

Sunday school gathering

room. There are some

great Christmas stories!

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December 11, 2011 at 11am

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To Everyone at LUMC - Thank you so much for everything you have done for our family the past two months! From the love offering,

to the use of the trailer, and especially all the prayers. There is without a doubt no way we could have made it this far without the prayers and God‟s help! Y‟all have been so good to us and we will truly miss you down in Georgia! We hope to one day be back here in Ludington, MI. God bless y‟all! The Hubbs Family Chris, Keashi, Brady, & Jackson (& Avery)

I would like to thank Pastor Tom, the Prayer Team, and members of the church who have so faithfully lifted me and my family members up in prayer. Thank heaven, all are on the mend and I praise God for that! Being a member of the intercessory prayer group, it is wonderful seeing God‟s hand at work in the many prayers for lives that are lifted up. Thanks once again! Sandy Sgro A very special thank you to my church family at UMCL for all your prayers and thoughtfulness dur-ing my recent surgery and recovery, and during our children‟s being ill at the same time, while my hus-band was out of town...I couldn‟t have done it with-out your help! Thanks especially to Pastor Tom for his visit and calls; Betty Tabor for her visit; the Knit-ting Committee for the prayer shawl; the Casserole Committee for the wonderful homemade delivered dinners (Jane Clark, Nanette Kibbey-Scribner, Vi DeMeester, Linda Johnson, Mary Bullock, Lynne Gohn, Sandy Sgro, the Fredericks, Karen Genson, Sheila McCallum, Katherine Johnson and Kay Neal); the UM Women for the flowers; and Laurie and Clint McKinven-Copus for their constant words of encouragement and concern. You all are truly “family” in every sense of the word. Love, Amy Patterson

A great big thank you to those who made our church yards so beautiful. The front lawn was done by Jeanne and Don Worm, Lee Vaught and Bill Nickelson. The church school area was done by Betty Tabor and the children. Dennis Genson helped with light timers. Off Fellowship Hall was done by Lee Vaught.

Jesus is the light of the world - thanks to those who helped bring his light to us. Anonymous

To Laurie, Pastor Tom and my church family,

I would like to thank you all for the prayers, cards, visits and flowers while I spent three months at

Tendercare, and for the prayer shawl from those wonderful ladies who make them. I did feel all the prayers when I was there. I am home now and feel a lot better. Love to you all. Viola Christopherson

10/25/11 Community Table Note:

Once again, many volunteers assisted with serving a fine meal to the public when our turn arose. Many volunteers are “regulars” who take on their same task each time and also assist newcomers. These people (you know who you are) and new folks ex-ceed the expectations of the tasks at hand. As a group, we work, laugh, serve and genuinely enjoy what we are doing and why. This is another among many examples the people of our congregation are so fortunate to have. Thank you each and every one for giving of your time, talents and energy to this cause and our church. May God richly bless you all.

Sincerely,

Jean Burtch and Ruth Wheeler

The Andre Bosse Center is deeply appreciative of your generous donation. With your support, children of our community will be better served by the Andre Bosse Center. continued on page 8

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Would you like to help the church keep track of im-portant events in its life? We need a Church Histo-rian. Contact Pastor Tom for more information.

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Hands Extended Loving People (HELP) Minis-try needs help! HELP Ministry is a local Christian organization that provides goods and services to many people whose needs are not met by other social services networks. These goods and services are provided to recipients free of charge as HELP Ministry‟s gift to them in honor of Jesus Christ, who gave so freely to us all. Several of our members have supported HELP Ministry through donations of money/furniture/needed goods, constructing bunk beds and ramps, and delivering furniture and other needed items to families. HELP Ministry needs volunteers to follow up with clients who have indicated they want help with their spiritual needs. The volunteer would pray for the client and/or deliver a copy of the Bible or a Jesus video. Please call Allan Carlson at 843-7071 to vol-unteer for this aspect of HELP Ministry.

Sign up to ring bells for the Salvation Army! It‟s that time of year again! Bell ringers from our church will ring at Wal-Mart‟s west door (food side) every day, Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm through Friday, December 23. Bev and Dave Hamman will have a sign-up sheet in the nar-thex before and after each Sunday worship service, or you may call them at 845-0174.

United Methodist

Women

December 2 Executive Board 1:00 pm

December 9 UMW serving at the West Shore Bank Open House, 9 am to 5 pm

December 12 Christmas Tea 1:30 pm

Set aside some time in your busy schedule to enjoy the UMW Christmas Tea on Monday, December 12. Bruce Rillema has graciously agreed to entertain us with music of the season. In addition to his vocal musical treat for us, the UMW Executive Board will be serving a fancy, delicious Christmas Tea for all to enjoy. What a fine Christmas treat! Don‟t miss it!

A big huge thank you to everyone in the church who made the United Methodist Women‟s Bazaar such a success! That includes everyone who made and donated items to sell, cleaned out closets and garages to donate to the Second Time Around Shop, helped with the delicious lunch, set up or worked the booths, and made or distributed posters, as well as those who came to shop and eat lunch. A special thank you goes to all the men who helped set up on Thursday afternoon and/or tear down on Saturday after the bazaar ended. Many hands do, indeed, make light work! As a result of all this, approxi-mately $3400.00 was made for missions! Karen Genson, UMW Chairperson

Donna Peterson and Jane Clark talk with Luella Burke at one of the booths at the October 29 UMW bazaar. See the next page for another photo.

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Thank you to everyone who participated in our November 8 American Red Cross blood drive. We had 35 presenting donors resulting in 30 suc-cessful donations, with one double-red. Janice Wolff and Laurie McKinven-Copus received 1-gallon pins, Dan Sleeman a 2-gallon pin, and Nancy Kelley a 5-gallon pin. Janice Wolff and Larry Stewart won the $25 Wesco gift cards. Many thanks to donors who gave or tried to give; to Canteen Coordinator Cris Wegener and those who donated cookies; to Linda Johnson for recruitment and publicity; to Lee Vaught, Norm Lyon, Gail Niethe, Avery Benedict, Gregg Heimall, Marcie Anderson, and Don and Jeanne Worm who did setup and takedown; and to Registration Table staffers Monica Stewart, Bev Hamman, Bill McBeth, Marian Riffle, Nancy Kelley and Al Carl-son. Our next blood drive will be Friday, February 24, 2012.

Kay Neal assists a customer at the UMW Bazaar October 29.

Welcome to Donna Possehn and Pat and Melissa Patterson, who joined our fellowship November 20!

Various Items Submitted by Our Members

From Lyn Pingle Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you -- not because they are nice, but because you are. Author Unknown From Erma Rodgers God wants full custody, not just weekend visits! From Bonnie Vaught A seminary student was preaching his first sermon. He meant to say, “God called me to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out evil.” However, he was quite nervous and what he actually said was “God called me to heal the dead, cast out the sick, and raise the devil!” From the Editor, who read it someplace Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. Then when you criticize him, you‟ll be a mile away and you‟ll have his shoes!

Stew Page: A Little of Everything

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2011 Poinsettia Order Form

It’s time to order poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary! You may place your completed order form and check in

the offering plate, or bring or mail them to the church office. Make checks out to United Methodist Church of

Ludington. ORDERS AND CHECKS MUST BE IN BY DECEMBER 11. All poinsettias will be red this

year. They will be placed in the sanctuary on Saturday, December 17.

____ 4” plant (s) $7.00 each = $________

____ 6” plant(s) $15.50 each = $________

____ double(s) $27.00 each = $________

Given by (your name) ___________________________________________________________

In HONOR of ___________________________________________________________

and/or

In MEMORY of ___________________________________________________________

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Send Christmas Cards to Our Nursing Home Residents and to Our Military

Nursing Home Addresses Cherry Blossom Manor, 611 E. Main Street, Hart, MI 49421 Margie Cauchie Ludington Woods, 502 N. Sherman, Ludington, MI 49431 Warren Abrahamson, Don & Iva Randall Pine Crest, 1316 E. Chauvez Rd., Scottville, MI 49454 Helen Blum

Clark Retirement Community, 1151 Franklin SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 Emma VanHorn Oakview, 1001 E. Diana, Ludington, MI 49431 Leone Benedict, Margaret Lunde, Eileen Thiel Tendercare, 1000 E. Tinkham, Ludington, MI 49431 Frieda Hansen, Billie Jabrocki, Tom McCumber

Tech Sgt. Matt Bowling 609 Highland Dr. Waukomis, OK 73773 Christina Collins 263 Pearl Ct. Apt. 3 Port Hueneme, CA 93041 Col. George Cone, Jr. (son-in-law of Vaughts) 765 Orlando Circle Sumter, SC 29154 Captain & Mrs. Travis DeMeester HMH-464-S-3 (grandson of Vi DeMeester) UNIT #77012 FPO AE 09510-7012 LCDR Greg Heimall, Jr. (son of Heimalls) PSC 482 Box 222 FPO AP 96362 Tyler & Nicole Iteen (son-in-law of Begnoches) 4517-A Ben Franklin Dr. Scott AFB, IL 62225 PFC Keyser, Seth DTAP 5th CAL. FOB Frontenac APO AE 09380

SPC Luteyn, Eric (grandson of Hammans) 2100 Rebekah Lane Waynesville, MO 65583 SPC Miller, Adam (son of Linda Miller) 15256A Schowalter Fort Polk, LA 71459 SGT Oliver, Jonathan 530 Coffman St. Longmont, CO 80501 Prez, Richard N-KAIAIJC-CJ-1 APO-AE09320 SPC Stevens, Christopher 1720 Laurel Ave. Solvang, CA 93456 STGC Anthony Wagner (son of Ramona Myers) 2209 Cinnabar Court Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Military Addresses

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Jerry Beers Amy Campbell Patterson Todd Courtland Stu Gartside The Grimm Family Aiden Harper Brady Hubbs Phil & Carol Hunt Arlene Kelsey Carolann Klinkhammer Shirley Larson Debbie MacDonald Craig Mantey Don Miller Dick Nelson Sean Nelson Joseph Penrod People of Haiti Donna Rathert Brittany Kay Roat Pat Shinn‟s sister Amy Sayers Priscilla Shaw Dale Swanson Rev. Ken Tabor Victims of war and violence worldwide Linda & Jason Wolven

MILITARY Matt Bowling, OK Christina Collins, CA George Cone, SC Travis DeMeester, Afghan. Benjamin Gottwald, NC Jonathan Gottwald, TX Gregg Heimall, Jr Tyler Iteen, IL PFC Seth Keyser Eric Luteyn, MO Adam Miller, LA Jonathan Oliver, CO

Richard Prez Christopher Stevens, CA Anthony (Tony) Wagner, VA MISSIONARIES Bob & Sue Martin Paul Webster Pastor Bernard & Betty Lumene Delbert & Sandy Groves NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING Warren Abrahamson Leone Benedict Helen Blum Margie Cauchie Frieda Hansen Billie Jabrocki Margaret Lunde Tom McCumber Don & Iva Randall Eileen Thiel Emma Van Horn Soweto-Kapisha UMC and Front Porch Orphanage, Zambia; Baudin School, Haiti; Bwafwano Care Pro-ject, Zambia; Ranquitte Methodist Church, Haiti

COLLEGE Nathan Allen, Trine Univ. Ashley Betke, MSU Brent Gillett, CMU Jenna Luke, Baker College Courtney Marshall, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA Thomas Marshall, MSU Mallory Pehrson, MSU Kate Post, Ferris Emma Post, Alma Darren Quillan, MSU Bethany Sonefeld, Ferris Matt Sonefeld, CMU Emily Sparks, MSU Ian Stubbs, U of M Jenni Stubbs, WSCC Rachael Sparks, U of MT Julie Swanson, WSCC SEMINARY Corey Young

Ongoing Prayer Concerns

PRAYER REQUEST CARDS are located in the pews, the narthex and the Volunteer‟s Desk. Requests are prayed over on Tuesday mornings and are kept confidential. They are prayed over for 30 days unless updated for a

longer period of time. All prayer requests are kept in the office. If you have an urgent prayer request, you may activate the prayer chains by calling the church office at 843-8340. If the church office is closed, you may call either Lynne Gohn (843-4746) or Anne Estle (843-6263).

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INSIDE THE DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE OF FOOTPRINTS

Footprints A publication of UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF LUDINGTON

United Methodist Church of Ludington

5810 Bryant Rd., Ludington, Michigan 49431 (231) 843-8340 Fax: (231) 843-0070

Email: office@ludingtonumc.org Web site: www.ludingtonumc.org

Rev. Tom Evans, Pastor

Jennifer Courtland, Youth and Christian Education Director Laurie McKinven-Copus, Office Manager /Footprints Editor

Rebecca Sopha, Music Director Deb Wooster, Handbell Choir Director

Jac Russell, Praise Band Director Sharon Dostal and Jordyn Sanders, Nursery

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

SUNDAY EVENTS Contemporary Worship and Sunday School for

Pre-Kindergarten through Adults 9:30 am Fellowship 10:15 am

Traditional Worship 11:00 am Nursery 9:30 am - 12:15 pm

The Footprints deadline is the third Monday of each month.

United Methodist Church of Ludington 5810 Bryant Road Ludington, MI 49431 Address Service Requested

Non-Profit US Postage

PAID Ludington, MI Permit No. 163

Bits „N Pieces………….…........2 Calendar/Birthdays…..…..…..13 Christmas Card Addresses...…10 Financial Report…………...….9

Kids‟ Page…………..……….12 Legacy…………..…………….3 Poinsettia Order Form………..9 Prayer Ministry……...…......…11

Sunday School Report……..………...4 Thanks…………..……...…...………6 United Methodist Women…………..7 You Can Help……...………………..7

from your

Church Staff