December 2015 Volume 6, Issue 12 Published Monthly Dyer United Methodist Church 2016 Church Street Dyer, IN 46311 219.865.8947 engaging the community with unconditional love Every year when December begins I find myself amazed and excited that Christmas is here again. I love Christmas! I love the lights, the sounds, the decorations, the traditions, the family gatherings and just about everything else this season has to offer. I realize I’m in the minority but I even love the hustle and bustle that comes with the Christmas Season. Sometimes though, the hustle and bustle, the chaos and bedlam, are permitted to get in the way of the experience we long to have with Jesus this time of the year. This year we’re planning to meet that danger head on through sermons and a Wednesday evening study based on the book, “Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam.” My hope is that we will come to realize Christmas has never come peacefully; not even the very first Christmas. There was chaos; there was bedlam; there was stress and fear and uncertainty and a thousand other things going on in that time and place. But somehow, right in the midst of it all, a miracle occurred; Jesus was born. And the people, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and many more, had a peaceful experience even in the midst of the bedlam. My prayer this Christmas is that you will find Bethlehem in the midst of the bedlam too. I pray that you will experience the peace, hope, love and joy of our Savior Jesus even as the world continues to be chaotic around you. I pray that you will see and experience God working in you and through you this Christmas, and beyond. May the peace of Christ be with you, Pastor Jim
Transcript
December 2015 Volume 6, Issue 12 Published Monthly
Dyer United Methodist Church
2016 Church Street Dyer, IN 46311 219.865.8947
engaging the community with unconditional love
Every year when December begins I find myself amazed and excited that
Christmas is here again. I love Christmas! I love the lights, the sounds, the
decorations, the traditions, the family gatherings and just about everything else
this season has to offer. I realize I’m in the minority but I even love the hustle
and bustle that comes with the Christmas Season. Sometimes though, the hustle
and bustle, the chaos and bedlam, are permitted to get in the way of the
experience we long to have with Jesus this time of the year. This year we’re
planning to meet that danger head on through sermons and a Wednesday
evening study based on the book, “Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of
Bedlam.” My hope is that we will come to realize Christmas has never come
peacefully; not even the very first Christmas. There was chaos; there was
bedlam; there was stress and fear and uncertainty and a thousand other things
going on in that time and place. But somehow, right in the midst of it all, a
miracle occurred; Jesus was born. And the people, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds
and many more, had a peaceful experience even in the midst of the bedlam. My
prayer this Christmas is that you will find Bethlehem in the midst of the bedlam
too. I pray that you will experience the peace, hope, love and joy of our Savior
Jesus even as the world continues to be chaotic around you. I pray that you will
see and experience God working in you and through you this Christmas, and
beyond.
May the peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jim
Page 2 “I” WI TNESS NEWSLETTER
Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam An Advent Series
November 29, 2015 Bethlehem or Bedlam Luke 2:8-14 It is no secret that Christmas time is not very peaceful. In fact, it might be said that Christmas time is one of the more chaotic times of the year. As we begin this Advent series based on the book, “Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam,” we’ll be reminded through scripture that even the very first Christmas wasn’t peaceful...but chaotic. In celebrating the coming of our Savior, Jesus, this Christmas; we can find peace in the midst of the chaos; we can find Bethlehem in the midst of bedlam. First though, we must understand what Bethlehem really is; we must understand the real meaning of Christmas...the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus. December 6, 2015 Christ Came to Set Us Free Galatians 5:13-15 James Moore, the author of, “Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam,” writes, “We find Bethlehem when we discover and claim the freedom given to us through Jesus Christ.” What are the prisons you need to be freed from? What are the things in life that have a hold on you? This week, as we continue the search for Bethlehem, we’ll look for it in the freedom we have in the Christ who was born there. December 13, 2015 Love Came Down in Bethlehem Matthew 11:1-6 One of my favorite ways to understand Christmas is by remembering that it’s the day true love was born. In our continuing effort to find Bethlehem in the midst of bedlam, this week we’ll focus on love. James Moore writes, “Christ came to us in this world in the power of love. The Word of God became flesh and blood. The Word of God was wrapped up in a person named Jesus, who came and dwelt among us full of grace, full of truth, full of love.” Finding Bethlehem in the midst of bedlam will mean recognizing His love for us, and loving others the same way. December 27, 2015 Keeping Bethlehem Luke 2:1-20 After spending the Advent Season finding Bethlehem in the midst of the bedlam Christmas can create, this week we’ll remember the important task of keeping Bethlehem at the center of our lives; keeping the spirit of Christmas as we prepare to move into a brand new year. The shepherds entered into the chaos of that first Christmas and found peace, love, joy and hope in Jesus. They didn’t leave it all at the manger though; Luke 2:20 says, “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” The shepherds “kept” Bethlehem even as they left it. What if we did the same?
Christmas Eve Services Come Let Us Adore Him
Thursday, December 24
Family Christmas Eve Service 5:00PM
You are invited to join us for our early service on Christmas Eve. We’ll sing our favorite Christmas carols and be blessed as the children retell the Christmas story through a program called, “And the Animals Talked.”
We hope you can join us as we remember the miracle of Christmas.
Traditional Candlelight Communion Service
11:00PM Join us for this traditional celebration as we remember the miracle of Christmas; the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Pastor Jim’s message, “Mind the Light,” will be focused
on the prelude to John’s Gospel and the idea that Jesus is the light of the world; the light we need in a world so full of darkness. Let’s celebrate Jesus together on this special
night with candlelight, communion and time spent together with each other.
“I” WI TNESS NEWSLETTER Page 4
News from the Wellness Ministry
From Johnny and Janice Tazbir
We all know that church has spiritual
benefits, but did you know it has health
benefits? Here are the some of the Health
Benefits of attending Church:
1. Significantly Lower Risk of Depression
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that the incidence of clinical
depression was 22% lower among those who attended religious services at least once a
month compared with those who never attend. At first they suspected this was merely a
result of socially supportive relationships. However, their research showed that there are
indeed protective factors that are exclusive to church services.
2. Better Time & Life Management
People who attend church have better ability to manage time and achieve their goals
(Freeman 1985). Perhaps its because we follow a God who calls us to “redeem the
time” (Eph 5). Also, church attendance has a direct effect on reducing deviant behavior,
such as drug use, violence, and delinquency among at risk youth (Fagan 2006).
3. Better grades / higher education prospects
Church attendance is correlated with higher math, reading scores and greater educational
aspirations (Regnerus 2000; Regnerus 2001). Church attenders are more likely to complete
homework and degree programs (Muller and Ellison 2001).
4. Significantly Lower Risk of Death / Longer life expectancy
Don’t get me wrong: The death rate for Christians right now is 100%. But apparently, some
people live longer. “Those who go to church more than once a week enjoy even better
health than those who attend only once a week. Overall, the reduction in mortality
attributable to churchgoing is twenty-five percent – a huge amount in epidemiological
studies.” Once again, researchers thought that, perhaps this was simply due to having
strong supportive relationships. But, non-church-centered groups didn’t experience the
same effect. Nor did people of worldviews other than Judeo-Christian. (One example: L.H.
Powell, L.Shahabit, and C.E. Thoresen, “Religion and spirituality: Linkages to physical
health,” American Psychologist 58 (2003): 36-52… as quoted in Lonliness, pg.261)
Source: http://www.peterhaas.org/
Page 5 “I” WI TNESS NEWSLETTER
Angel Tree 2015 is Underway!
Every year the people of Dyer UMC display
extravagant generosity by helping to provide
Christmas gifts to families in need in our area.
Ornaments that list the wants & needs of the
children are decorating a tree in our lobby. You
are invited to take an ornament, shop for a child,
and return the gifts to the church no later than
Sunday, December 13. God has moved in
amazing ways with this ministry! We can’t wait
to see what He has planned for this year.
Something New for this Year
Families have been given the option of receiving
a gift card to Target, WalMart or Meijer so they
can do the shopping for their children. This
makes the giving easy on us and also lets the
parents experience the joy of finding just the
right gift for their own child. You can purchase
the gift cards through the Scrips program we are
starting (see explanation of Scrips program in this
newsletter).
To Question or To Serve
We need people who would like to help
organize the gifts for the families as well as be at
the church on the pick-up days. If you have any
questions about this ministry or would like to serve
with this ministry throughout the Christmas
Season, please contact the church office 219-
865-8947 or Paul and Diane Meyer 219-865-6144.
PURCHASE GIFT CARDS FOR YOUR
FAVORITE STORES AND SUPPORT THE MISSION
GUATEMALA TEAM!
Your gift cards can be purchased online
www.shopwithscrip.com or by filling out an
order form at church.
Contact Courtney Myers for more information at
219.741.3063
Sunday
December 20
“Christmas Gift”
Page 6 “I” WI TNESS NEWSLETTER
DYER NURSING & REHABILITATION
CENTER
Sing a few songs…
Give-and get a few hugs…
Share the SONshine!
On the 4th Sundays
December 27th at 2PM
Please email or send any information for the newsletter by the 15th of each month to: [email protected].
Free
Community Breakfast Dyer United Methodist
Church
Monday December 21
8:30—10:30AM
Everyone is encouraged to participate
Advent Bible Study
Beginning Wednesday, November 25 at 6:00PM
Dinner and Childcare Provided. If you are interested in signing up or have questions, call the office at 219.865.8947 or [email protected]. The cost of the book is $10.00.
![[Enactus IU] Newletter, December 2012](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/568c2bdc1a28abd8328b8ff4/enactus-iu-newletter-december-2012.jpg)
