Cokesbury United Methodist Church December 2007 14806 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA Volume 46, No. 12 A Savior Is Born Cokesbury has a number of occasions to celebrate the Christmas season. There are events to lift us spiritually and others to amuse and entertain us. We hope that you will share in some of these experiences with us. Beginning on Tuesday, November 27, at 10 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 2, at 9:45, the pastor will lead an Advent Study entitled “Rejoicing in Hope.” This 4-week study will follow the experiences of characters from the book of Luke and will help you maintain a spiritual focus during the Advent season. The Hanging of the Greens on December 1st will be the first event of the season. Come to the church at 9 a.m. and help ready the church for the holidays. A free lunch will be provided to those who help. On December 2nd, Helping Hands will enhance their Christmas spirit with a potluck and their annual Christmas party. There will be a gift exchange and other surprises. Everybody looks forward to the annual Christmas cookie sale being held on Saturday, December 8 th . There will be many different kinds of cookies and other goodies to purchase. You can save yourself a lot of baking time. After you have spent the day shopping for cookies and other Christmas gifts, you can come back to the fellowship hall and enjoy the “Stress Buster” holiday ham dinner put on by the Finance Committee. It is a delicious occasion for fellowship from 5-7 p.m. The cost is $7 for those 12 and older, $3 for children 3-11, and free for children under 3. On Monday evening, December 10 th , the United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women will host their annual Christmas party. The meal will be catered by Carrabba’s Restaurant for only $10 per person. The fellowship hall will be decorated, as will the ladies in their holiday finery. A really fun ornament exchange will be the highlight of the evening. A COKESBURY ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS It wouldn’t be Christmas without a children’s program and a visit from Santa. On Saturday, December 22nd, at 4 p.m., there will be a Christmas Pageant. Immediately following the program, the United Methodist Men will host a Christmas party for all children. To further celebrate the season, the Chancel Choir will delight us with the Christmas Cantata at 10:00 on Sunday, December 23 rd . There will be only one service on that date. On Christmas Eve, December 24 th , Pastor Russ will present inspiring Christmas Eve candlelight and communion services at 7 and 11 p.m. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 … ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS Worship Services 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM Nursery available both services The 11am worship service features a children’s worship for 4-9 year olds. On months with 5 Sundays, Service begins at 10 AM on the 5 th Sunday Sunday School 9:45 AM (For children, youth, and adults) Cokesbury UMC Web Site : http://www.CokesburyUMC.us
Transcript
Cokesbury United Methodist Church December 2007 14806 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA Volume 46, No. 12
A Savior Is Born
Cokesbury has a number of occasions to celebrate the Christmas season. There are events to lift us spiritually and others to amuse and entertain us. We hope that you will share in some of these experiences with us. Beginning on Tuesday, November 27, at 10 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 2, at 9:45, the pastor will lead an Advent Study entitled “Rejoicing in Hope.” This 4-week study will follow the experiences of characters from the book of Luke and will help you maintain a spiritual focus during the Advent season. The Hanging of the Greens on December 1st will be the first event of the season. Come to the church at 9 a.m. and help ready the church for the holidays. A free lunch will be provided to those who help. On December 2nd, Helping Hands will enhance their Christmas spirit with a potluck and their annual Christmas party. There will be a gift exchange and other surprises. Everybody looks forward to the annual Christmas cookie sale being held on Saturday, December 8th. There will be many different kinds of cookies and other goodies to purchase. You can save yourself a lot of baking time. After you have spent the day shopping for cookies and other Christmas gifts, you can come back to the fellowship hall and enjoy the “Stress Buster” holiday ham dinner put on by the Finance Committee. It is a delicious occasion for fellowship from 5-7 p.m. The cost is $7 for those 12 and older, $3 for children 3-11, and free for children under 3. On Monday evening, December 10th, the United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women will host their annual Christmas party.
The meal will be catered by Carrabba’s Restaurant for only $10 per person. The fellowship hall will be decorated, as will the ladies in their holiday finery. A really fun ornament exchange will be the highlight of the evening.
A COKESBURY ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a children’s program and a visit from Santa. On Saturday, December 22nd, at 4 p.m., there will be a Christmas Pageant. Immediately following the program, the United Methodist Men will host a Christmas party for all children. To further celebrate the season, the Chancel Choir will delight us with the Christmas Cantata at 10:00 on Sunday, December 23rd. There will be only one service on that date. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, Pastor Russ will present inspiring Christmas Eve candlelight and communion services at 7 and 11 p.m. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 … ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
Worship Services 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM
Nursery available both services The 11am worship service features a children’s worship for 4-9 year olds. On months with 5 Sundays, Service begins at 10 AM on the 5th Sunday
Sunday School 9:45 AM (For children, youth, and adults)
Cokesbury UMC Web Site: http://www.CokesburyUMC.us
Last, but certainly not least, there will be a Christmas Vespers service on Christmas day from 7-8 p.m. The vespers service will be a
meditative time after the rush and excitement of Christmas day to reflect God’s love and grace. Let us be ever mindful of the blessed gift we all received on Christmas the gift of our Savior!
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE December 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Hanging of the Greens December 2, 9:45 – Advent Study, “Rejoicing in Hope” (each Tues. at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:45) December 2, 12:15 p.m. – Helping Hands Christmas Party December 8, 9 a.m. – Annual Cookie Sale December 8, 5-7 p.m. – Annual Ham Dinner December 10, 6:30 p.m. – UMM/UMW Christmas Party December 22, 4:00 p.m. – Children’s Program and Christmas Party December 23, 10:00 a.m. – One Service - Christmas Cantata by Chancel Choir December 24, 7 & 11 p.m. - Christmas Eve Candlelight & Communion Service December 25, 7:00 p.m. – Christmas Vespers Service December 30, 8:30 & 11 a.m. – Christmas Hymn Sing
Annual Christmas Cookie Sale Saturday December 8, 2007
By Cheryl Petitt
Start digging out your favorite recipes! The Family Care Committee and the Worship Committee will be having their Annual Christmas Cookie Sale on Saturday December 8th
between 9 a.m. and Noon. You can support this fundraiser by cooking 2 dozen (or more) of your favorite cookies and
donating them to be sold at the Cookie Sale.
You may drop off your delicious cookies on Friday night, December 7th between 6 – 8 pm or Saturday morning,
December 8th between 8 – 9 am.
The cost for cookies will be $5.25 a pound.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
2 Suzie and Ronnie Hawes 5 Marsha and Mike Eland Blanch and Jerry Wade 14 Lori and Mark Butman 19 Betty and Joe Greene 22 Cheryl and Michael Petitt 27 Monica and Roy Arredondo 29 Virginia and Richard Lamb
1 Dorothy Cooper Lawrence Kotei 4 Bernadette Baiden-Amissah 5 Karen Glass Casey Commerce 8 Thomas Lewis 13 Martin Atta Kenneth Stoudt 15 Jesse Simmons Rebecca Ash 16 Suzette Fulton Wanda Lawson 18 Michael Petitt 19 Elaine Forry 20 Andrew Yoho Russ Urban 21 Judith McCain 22 Debbie Clark 23 Terry Edmonds Denise Ritenour 24 Marian Gherke Bill Mahan 26 Christopher Jeffries Michael DeRose 27 Pam Herin Jason Owen 28 Barbara Saleiro 29 Kasey Cox Michael Gribik 30 Richard Lamb Robert Schaver
Copyright 1999 from Christianity Today, Inc. Used with permission
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Come One, Come All! The Ham Dinner Calls!
By Don Dorton Chairman, Finance Committee The Finance Committee will hold their annual Ham Dinner Fund Raiser on Saturday, December 8th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All monies raises will go toward the general budget. The Committee could use HELP in putting this event on. Help is needed in the following areas: Set up, kitchen help and clean up! If you can help with this event please call the Church Office and let us know when you will be available to help. The Committee would also appreciate your participation in this event (see ad on page 3). Please pass the word and invite a friend.
SAFEWAY ESCRIP ENROLLMENT
By Walter Blair
If you have a Safeway store card you can help Cokesbury each time you make a purchase. Safeway and eScrip have a program where a portion of each qualifying purchase (usually 2-3%) at Safeway will be donated to Cokesbury. Even if you have signed up in the past, you need to renew your enrollment each Fall - and NOW is the time to do it! So next time you are at Safeway, please verify your enrollment in the program and that Cokesbury is your designated organization. Cokesbury's Group ID is 1046056.
Mini-Walk for Wesley Housing By Robin BeMiller
On October 28th, 13 adults and 1 youth joined together to raise funds for Wesley
Housing and awareness of the Homelessness in our community. We began by warming up with some stretching exercises led by Ruth Ennis. Then the walkers began their journey by walking from the Church to Maryland Avenue, turning right on Maryland Avenue and walking to Route 1, turning right on Route 1 and walking to Reddy Drive, and finally turning right on Reddy Drive and walking into the Church parking lot. We carried signs to let the community know that we were walking to raise awareness of homelessness in our community. While we were walking, Ruth Ennis, continued her stretching and exercises with those who were exercising. Afterwards we all gathered in the Fellowship Hall for some light refreshments and an educational forum led by Rev. Joanne Maughlin of Wesley Housing. We learned that most families who live in a Wesley Housing apartments have jobs; many have several jobs. A few residents receive public assistance. Many seniors and disabled residents receive social security or have small pensions. We learned that each apartment community operated by Wesley Housing has their own requirements for resident incomes but nearly all residents earn less than 60% of the Area Median Income. The median annual household income is $23,240. Who lives in Wesley Housing apartments? Some communities have apartments for families, children, the elderly, and the disabled. Certain communities are designed specifically for seniors, or those with physical disabilities. Residents are ethnically diverse, including Hispanic, African American, East and West African, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Caucasian. Many are New Americans. And finally, we learned that Wesley Housing operates in Prince William County (Quarry Station Senior Apartments in Manassas) and is still seeking new areas in Prince William.
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Money Matters By Don Dorton, Finance Committee
The table below shows Cokesbury’s financial picture as of October 31, 2007. 2007 Funded Annual Budget = $210,400
Month-to-Date Year-to-Date Income Year-to-Date Expenses
Month
Required to meet the
Budget
Budgeted Income
Received
Required to meet the Budget
Budgeted Income
Received
Percentage of the Budget
Funded
Budgeted Expenses
Income to
Expenses January $16,185 $12,593 $16,185 $12,593 77.8% $12,512 100.6%
February $16,185 $12,670 $32,370 $25,263 94.1% $30,462 82.9% March $16,185 $17,078 $48,555 $42,341 88.9% $43,181 98.1% April $20,230 $22,421 $68,785 $64,762 94.2% $58,130 111.4% May $16,185 $15,897 $84,970 $78,529 92.4% $85,730 91.6% June $16,185 $15,782 $101,155 $94,311 93.2% $109,830 85.9% July $20,230 $20,759 $121,385 $115,106 94.8% $121,521 94.7%
August $16,185 $15,873 $137,570 $130,979 95.2% $140,090 93.5% September $20,230 $19,424 $157,800 $150,403 95.3% $160,524 93.6%
October $16,185 $15,594 $173,985 $165,997 94.7% $178,554 92.9% November $16,185 $190,170 December $20,230 $210,400
** As of September 30 we have paid back $22,216 toward our $28,638 debt, leaving a balance of $6,422. $643 was received in September **
• Month to Date: Required to meet the Budget – Amount the church needs to meet its projected funding. These figures are based on the projected monthly revenues based on offering history and projected fundraisers.
• Month to Date: Budgeted Income Received - Amount the church has received toward the budget for the month indicated. • Year to Date: Required to meet the Budget - Cumulative budget needs to date. • Year to Date: Budgeted Income Received – Cumulative amount the church has received toward the budget. • Year to Date: Percentage of the Budget Funded - Comparison of budgeted offerings received vs budget needs. • Year to Date: Budgeted Expenses - Year-to-Date amount the church has spent against the budget. ‘N/A’ indicates that
expenditures have not been updated since the last end-of-month period. • Year to Date: Budgeted Income vs Budgeted Expenses – Percent of income received to expenses received.
The annual Christmas party hosted by the United Methodist Men and Women will be on Monday, December 10th, starting at 6:30 p.m. The meal provided by Carrabba’s Grill will be served at 7 p.m. The price of the event is $10 per person. Please RSVP to and give your payment to Emmett or Mary Wright. Everyone is welcome! In addition to fine dining and fellowship, there will be an ornament exchange. Each person who brings a gift-wrapped ornament is eligible to enter into the fun-filled, back-and-forth competition to end up with the “best” ornament. (The “best” ornament clearly is open to each person’s interpretation as the ornaments run the range from the ornate to the silly.)
By Linda Ennis Christmas in other lands and cultures – On Sunday evening, December 16th, during the youth program time, we will be celebrating Christmas and learning about celebrations from other countries. If you have celebrated Christmas in another country and have experiences that are different from our American Christmas traditions, you are invited to come and share your cultural Christmas with our youth. We currently have adults who have come from Ghana, Germany, etc. who will be there. If you can come, please let the office or one of the Adult Leaders know so that we can prepare for our “Cultural Christmas Celebration.” Youth Leadership Team -In December, we formed a Youth Leadership Team, one representative each from middle high girls, middle high boys, high school boys, and high school girls. They will help with making decisions about youth activities and in the planning process. At our first meeting held in November, we discussed the activities that have taken place this year and looked forward to future events and discovered that we have a balanced youth program in the areas of fun, fellowship, service and worship. They will also represent Cokesbury Youth on the Alexandria District Youth Council in planning their events. Judge Knot Series - In December, we will wrap up our “Judge Knot” series with Judgment Day. “Soul Food: The good news is that in the end, God will triumph over evil and those who have been faithful will be with God eternally. Exactly when the day of final judgment will come no one knows. Our job is to be ready—every day.” The next series, “Titians Remembered” will begin again in January after the holidays. Here’s a brief look at this series: Titians Remembered-- We’re in this together. God created us as unique persons, but one thing we all have in common is that we need one another. Friendships, especially those grounded in the Greatest Friend, help us be our best, get through life’s hardships, and “move mountains”!
Synergy – With the desegregation order of 1971 came the challenge to put aside racial differences at T.C. Williams High School. Their football team, the Titans, struggled through and went on to win the state
championship in football. Youth today can let differences divide them, but finding unity in Christ makes us all winners!
Youth Corner
No Need to Fear! Underdog Is Here!—Coach Boone and the Titans were considered underdogs, but they rose above the obstacles. Christians are also underdogs in the world, but we have help! Friends 4U – Coach Boone cracked open the barriers within the team by making them get to know one another; playing together took them to a deeper level of friendship. In Jesus we find both a friend and a model for our friendships. Left Side! Strong Side!—Teams try to find the weakness in the defense. Usually, a team’s right guard and tackle will be better than the left guard and tackle (or vice versa). In Remember the Titans, Gerry was the captain of the defense; and Julius played on the left side. So when Gerry got pumped up about the way the left side of the defense held up, he butted Julious with a “left side” slap so that Julius would respond with, “Strong side!” That recognition of their working together was, indeed, the turning point of the movie. In real life, we too need the help of others defending us in our weak places.
While the High School youth are attending their Virginia Conference Youth Retreat at Eagle Eyrie on December 7, 8, and 9, the Middle School youth will be serving for the Ham Dinner scheduled for December 8th.
December Schedule Dec 2 – Last in the Series of “Judge Knot,” Judgment Day Dec 7, 8, 9 –VA Conference High School Retreat at Eagle Eyrie Dec 8 – Middle High Youth serving at the Ham Dinner Dec 9 – No Youth Program scheduled Dec 16 – Cultural Christmas Party Dec 23 and 30 – No Youth Program scheduled due to Christmas and New Year’s Holidays
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Do you know that shelter just down the road on Route 1? You know ... the one that houses several adults and children that have hit hard times. Cokesbury United Methodist Church recently provided food service for those folks, under the watchful eye of our beloved Marian Benson and the folks down there sent us a very nice card that we’d like to share with you now …
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF TRUSTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
We feel the following recommendations will enhance the security at Cokesbury United Methodist Church and help deter criminal activity in the area. The recommendations are based on the accepted principles of "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" (CPTED), which includes Territoriality, Access Control and Natural Surveillance. We have added a few recommendations, which will help enhance security in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster as well.
Natural Surveillance
• Trim all shrubs that are close to doorways. Shrubs should be less than 3 feet in height to decrease possible hiding areas. Trees should be limbed up to 6 feet or higher.
• Clear out the wooded area on the west side of the building near the storage sheds. All dense underbrush should be thinned out. Refuse which has collected in the woods throughout the winter months should be cleaned up.
• Additional spot lights should be installed on large trees facing the parking lot on both the north side and the south side of the parking lot.
• Motion sensor lights should be installed on the north side of the building facing Reddy Drive. • All lights should be checked to ensure they are functioning properly. • All wall pack lighting lenses should be cleaned on a regular schedule. • The lights above the front doorway closest to the offices should be turned on during evening
hours to provide better lighting coverage in the entranceway. • A spotlight on the Cokesbury signs at both entrances/exits would increase territoriality. •
Natural Access Control
• Secure all construction materials and wooden pallets inside the storage shed. . Keep a list of those individuals who have the alarm code and keys readily available in the secretary's office. See key control handout for more recommendations.
• Consider replacing old doors with doors that are made of metal or solid wood with deadbolt locks. Consider removing the glass panels surrounding the south side entrance doorways.
• Consider security window film, particularly for those windows which are very close to the ground.
•
Territorial Reinforcement
• Clean up the wooded area to the south and west sides of the building by thinning the overgrown thicket and disposing of refuse which has built up over the winter months.
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Mission/Outreach Commission Presents Christmas Gifts that Make a Difference Looking for a Christmas Gift that will make a difference? Consider honoring a loved one by giving a gift to UMCOR in their name. Gifts that serve others honor the birth of Jesus and show our concern for the whole family of God. Remember God’s greatest gift by giving in Christ’s name to help members of our extended family around the world. Each dollar amount represents what your gift could buy, and gifts of any amount are welcomed. One hundred percent of all gifts will go to the program listed.
What Your Gift to UMCOR Could Buy $25.00 Help send school kits, health kits and other items to where they are needed most
by giving toward the cost to ship them there. (Contain Your Joy, UMCOR Shipping #982730)
$37.00 Serve a child in South Sudan a meal every school day for six months. (Sudan Emergency, UMCOR #184385)
$48.00 Supply a family of five in Africa with sufficient maize and beans for three months. (All Africa Famine Relief, UMCOR #101250)
$50.00 Help a refugee return home or find safety in a new location. (Global Refugee Response, UMCOR #682540)
$70.00 Provide a bee-keeping farmer in Liberia with a protective bee suit. (World Hunger/Poverty, UMCOR #982920)
$100.00 Provide breakfast every day for one month for 23 children living in institutions in Armenia. (Armenia Emergency, UMCOR #250225)
$150.00 Contribute to new ceilings and walls for a storm-damaged home in the US. (Domestic Disaster Response, UMCOR #901670)
$200.00 Provide temporary shelter for a family displaced by a disaster such as an earthquake or flood. (International Disaster Response, UMCOR #982450)
$250.00 Help with cost of legal work for an immigrant family in need of assistance and good counsel. (Justice for Our Neighbors, UMCOR #901285)
$300.00 Furnish a kilo of miraculous moringa seeds and training to improve the diet and income for two farm families. (Sustainable Agriculture and Development, UMCOR #982188)
$350.00 Give a gift directly to UMCOR! The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is UMCOR’s backbone and allows us to keep our promise of sending 100% of designated funds to their intended program. You can give to One Great Hour of Sharing at any time of the year. (One Great Hour of Sharing)
HOW TO GIVE
Please write the Advance number and name in the memo line of your check. If You Would Like to Make a Gift in Honor of Someone: Please call UMCOR toll free at
(800) 554-8583 and our staff can arrange for a card to be sent to the honoree notifying him or her of the gift Christmas delivery in the US is guaranteed for orders placed by December 12, 2007
By Offering For local church and Annual Conference credit, put your gift in the offering plate on Sunday.
By Check Make your check to UMCOR and mail to UMCOR,
PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087
By Credit Card Call toll-free (800) 554-8583
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The Mission/Outreach Commission is working on a mission trip to Red Bird Work Camp in Beverly Kentucky in August 2008. If you are interested in participating in this mission, please contact Robin
BeMiller at (703) 494-0088 or [email protected]. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potluck and Praise has a new format….. December 15, 2007
Dinner 6:00 p.m. Praise 7:00 p.m.
During the Praise section of Potluck & Praise, we follow a new format...which can include any of the
following combinations…..
We sing, we read and share our favorite scripture, we sing, we pray for our joys and concerns, we sing, we have a small devotion, we sing, we have special music presentation, we sing. We invite everyone to
joy us in a night of music and fellowship.
As we approach the end of 2007, we can look back over the year and see so many wonderful indicators of the vibrant and active ministry that is occurring at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. We had a record number of people participate in Bible studies and special classes, especially for adults. We had a wonderful Kids’ Fest with children participating from even more elementary schools surrounding the church, and Vacation Bible School (which was held in the morning this year) was our largest in recent years with 32 children and 16 adults attending classes. Our Helping Hands, United Methodist Women, and United Methodist Men have all had wonderful success with more and more people taking advantage of the fellowship and spiritual growth that these organizations provide. In fact, the UMW is forming a daytime circle beginning in 2008 giving additional opportunity for women to participate. The UMM provided the church with a 100 new pew Bibles to enhance our worship experience, and started what may turn in
to a new tradition by hosting a Thanksgiving meal for the church. With the congregation’s help, Helping Hands delivered 105 gift-filled boxes for Operation Christmas Child
End the Year Strong!
So, Cokesbury in 2007 had solid growth in our ongoing ministries and some new ministries. The one final thing we need in order to end the year strong is to ensure that we meet our financial obligations for the year. Our members who have made a commitment of giving to the church have given generously. They are on track to give everything that they have committed to, and in some case are even giving more, but revenue from other sources is behind what was planned for the year. If this remains, Cokesbury will be short of being able to pay all of our 2007 expenses. The shortfall is always hard to predict, but it can range from $3,000 to $6,000. Please give as you are able in this final month of the year so that we can meet all of our financial obligations.
