DECEMBER Good News newsletter 2016 From Pastor Liz On behalf of Rick, Briannah, and I, we want to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This has been an exciting year for us as a church, and as a community of believers. Many new things have been accomplished - many more things will be done in the coming year. During this busy and hectic holiday season, I ask you to pause and remember the real reason we are celebrating Christmas - the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Please remember to take the time (and be intentional) to pray for our church, that its ministry might continue to advance and reach those who have never heard the Gospel message. Please also be in prayer for one another, and for me as your pastor. My prayer is that Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church and all of you, as its ministers, will continue to be doers and not just hearers of the Word. May God bless you and your family during Advent and the Christmas season. May you always remember to have Christ in your hearts. Blessings, Grace and Peace, Liz May you all have a Christmas blessed with the presence of Christ. Merry Christmas to all of our Chestnut Hill Church Family. Liz, Rick, & Briannah Ecklund Did You Know? After-Christmas Days Several days after Christmas are observed by many Christians around the world, including: ❄ Saint Stephen’s Day (Dec. 26) commemorates Stephen, the deacon and martyr whose story is recounted in Acts 6 and 7. This is the “feast of Stephen” referred to in the carol “Good King Wenceslaus.” ❄ Saint John’s Day (Dec. 27) commemorates John, apostle and evangelist, who reflected on the significance of Jesus’ coming as told in John 1. ❄ Holy Innocents (Dec. 28) commemorates the innocent children killed
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DECEMBER Good News newsletter 2016
From Pastor Liz On behalf of Rick, Briannah, and I, we want to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This has been an exciting year for us as a church, and as a community of believers. Many new things have been accomplished - many more things will be done in the coming year.
During this busy and hectic holiday season, I ask you to pause and remember the real reason we are celebrating Christmas - the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ.
Please remember to take the time (and be intentional) to pray for our church, that its ministry might continue to advance and reach those who have never heard the Gospel message. Please also be in prayer for one another, and for me as your pastor.
My prayer is that Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church and all of you, as its ministers, will continue to be doers and not just hearers of the Word. May God bless you and your family during Advent and the Christmas season. May you always remember to have Christ in your hearts.
Blessings, Grace and Peace, Liz
May you all have a Christmas blessed with the presence of Christ. Merry Christmas to all of our Chestnut Hill Church Family.
Liz, Rick, & Briannah Ecklund Did You Know? After-Christmas Days
Several days after Christmas are observed by many Christians around the world, including:❄ Saint Stephen’s Day (Dec. 26) commemorates Stephen, the deacon and martyr whose story is recounted in Acts 6 and 7. This is the “feast of Stephen” referred to in the carol “Good King Wenceslaus.”❄ Saint John’s Day (Dec. 27) commemorates John, apostle and evangelist, who reflected on the significance of Jesus’ coming as told in John 1.❄ Holy Innocents (Dec. 28) commemorates the innocent children killed by order of King Herod (Matthew 2:16-18) as he sought to destroy the Christ Child.❄ Holy Name of Jesus (Jan. 1) commemorates the circumcision and naming of Jesus on the eighth day of his life (Luke 2:21).❄ The Epiphany (Jan. 6) celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family (Matthew 2:1-12). “Epiphany” means “manifestation.”❄ The Presentation (Feb. 2) celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple on the 40 th day of his life (Luke 2:22-28). - The Rev. Hoyt Hickman
ATTENTION!! We will be publishing a January/February 2017 newsletter which will come out in mid January! Deadline for these articles will be Wednesday, December 28th!!
Sermon Series Starting! As a commitment to follow God this year, starting on January 15, Pastor Liz will be preaching a new and important sermon series, Learning to Hear God's Voice. We will cover such topics as: “How to Hear God Speak,” “How God Talks to You,” “How to Recognize God's Voice,” and finally, “Receiving Guidance from God.” We all have questions we want to ask God, and we especially need to hear His word for us. The question is: how do we know it is God, and how can we clear out all the secular noise and hear Him speak directly to us? This series will help you do that. After the
Covenant Service on the 8th , it may be the most important thing you do to start 2017 off right.
You are invited….
Combined Christmas Cantata“Once Upon a Night”
Featuring Chestnut Hill UMC & Timberlake UMC Choirs
Sunday, December 11, 20164:00 p.m.
Chestnut Hill UMC
Annual Christmas LuncheonSunday, December 18, 2016 at 11:45 a.m.
Chestnut Hill United Methodist ChurchOur annual Church-Wide Christmas Luncheon will be covered dish. Be sure to watch upcoming Sunday bulletins for a RSVP form. Mark your calendar...
Candlelight Christmas Eve ServiceSaturday, December 24, 2016 @ 5:00 p.m.
Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church
2017 CHRISTMAS OFFERING
We set before you a goal to raise $8,000 this year with your Special Christmas Offering.
Our 2017 Offering is designated:
10% for Missions and
90% for the replacement of floors in the Commons, Offices, and Chancel area here at CHUMC.
Please pray about your gift to Christ’s church this Christmas, remembering that it is not your birthday, but the birth of Christ and his anticipated return in glory that we celebrate. Mail to Chestnut Hill UMC, 4660 Fort Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24502 and mark memo “Christmas Offering”. Envelopes will be placed in the Commons and the pew racks.
Top of the Hill will meet NOT meet in December. We will resume on Monday, January
23, 2017. More information will be provided later.
FRIENDS WHO CAREPlease send your reports of visits and phone calls each month to Scottie Nuckols, 1250
Jefferson Oaks Court, # 44, Forest, VA 24551. Or e-mail to [email protected]. On your report please note the month and year, names of those visited (or called) and the number of times visited or called that month and any comments of our pastor. Please try to get this information to Scottie by the 5th of the month. We express our appreciation to all the volunteers who participate in this ministry of compassion.
A total of 15 visits and 48 phone calls were made in OCTOBER.
Gifts & MemorialsIN MEMORY OF:
O. Murry UnruhGiven by: Adna Fainter
Virginia “Ginger” RobertsGiven by: Georgia Mason, Frances Unruh
Kate Duff (Mother)(For her birthday, November 14th)
Great success!! Thank you to everyone for your support for Operation Christmas Child. We prepared 33 boxes.
Mark your calendars! Kingdom Kids will start their Winter Session on January 8th and will run until February 19th.
On Sunday, Dec 11, during the 10:30 a.m. service the children and Youth of the church will bring us the Worship and the message. All children and Youth at the service will be invited to participate. If you have a child, grandchild or neighbor’s child who will be with us that Sunday, please let me know and encourage them to take part.
Mission News In October the food basket was full as usual. We gave 8 packs of toilet paper for a total of 156 rolls and 8 packs of diapers for a total of 150 diapers. We gave 39 cans of meat for a total of 25.5lbs; 9 cans of fruit for a total of 9lbs; and 8 misc. food items for a total of 8lbs. We are a generous and caring congregation and we help our neighbors. Park View Mission is grateful for all that we do.
For December/January we will collect canned vegetables, fruit, and meat. Also diapers sizes 4-5-6 and toilet paper.
~Thank-you from Linda Jessen & the Mission Committe
~Thank-you from Linda Jessen & the Mission Committee
FOOD CARTFor the month of DECEMBER/JANUARY we will be collecting items for the Food Cart for Park View Community Mission.
Food Cart for DECEMBER/JANUARY:“Canned vegetables, fruit, and meat.
Diapers sizes 4-5-6, and toilet paper.”
Please place in the food cart, located in the Commons. Help those in need. The Merry Marthas Circle Merry Marthas will not have a regular meeting in December, but hope all members can attend our unit UMW Christmas luncheon on Saturday, Dec. 10. Our circle will be doing the set-up, so please arrive by 10:15 if you can. Bring a covered dish to share, and homemade cookies for the shut-in baskets (6-8/baggie). We will have a musical program at 11:00 a.m. by Will Sperrazza.
Merry Marthas, January 11 meeting, will be at the home of Frances Unruh at 10:00 a.m. We will have a Prayer & Self-Denial program and offering, and planning for 2017.
Park View Mission Dinner on Nov. 2 went very well. Thanks to all my wonderful helpers: Sylvia & Hylton Glass, Linda Jessen, Jane White, Frances Unruh, Dan Robertson, Linda Wright, Ruth Ann Harris, Eleanor Maxham, Ramona Akins, Carolyn & Frank Stewart, Ann Robbins, and Judy Lease. We will plan to do it again in the spring. ~Judy Robertson
Angel Tree
THE ANGEL TREE WILL BE PLACED IN THE COMMONS AGAIN THIS YEAR. BE SURE to include the child’s name on “EVERY” package, item, or bag for your angel and remember to fill out the Angel Tree Information sheet that has been placed in the Commons. Deadline for Angels will be Thursday, December 15th, 12:00 noon, and NO later!
ATTENTION ALL ANGELS
We will be decorating God’s house on Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. in preparation for the birth of our Savior. Come, help and bring a friend. For more information contact Pat Short.
Read Ahead Each Sunday The lectionary provides us with readings from the Gospel, the Epistles (Letters) the Old Testament and the Psalms. The lectionary follows a three year cycle, which when finished will have covered the majority of the Bible. Pastor Liz believes that reading ahead will increase your understanding and enjoyment of the service.
December 4, 2016: Second Sunday of Advent the Scriptures are Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13 & Psalm 72. The sermon text is Matthew 3:1-12 and the message is “Hope”.
December 11, 2016: Third Sunday of Advent the Scriptures are James 5:7-10, Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11 & Psalm 55. We are blessed to have bringing us our message today the Youth and Children of the Church!
December 18, 2016: Fourth Sunday of Advent the Scriptures are Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7. The sermon text is Matthew 1:18-25 and the message is “Joseph”
December 24, Christmas Eve, 2016, the Scriptures are Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14 & Psalm 96. The sermon text is Luke 2:1-20 (MSG) and the message is “Such a Babe in Such a Place”.
December 25, 2016: Christmas Day, the Scriptures are Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-4 & Psalm 98 The sermon text is John 1:1-14 and the message is “Unfinished Story”.
United Methodist Women
1) Annual Lynchburg District UMW Advent Breakfast & Program @ Timberlake UMC - on Saturday, December 3rd. 8:30 a.m. Registration, 9:00 a.m.- Breakfast & Program @ 10:00 a.m.. The United Methodist Men will be cooking breakfast !2) Our UMW Luncheon & Baskets for our "shut-ins" will be Saturday, December 10th in the Fellowship Hall. As always, we need your "homemade cookies", 6-8 per Zip-Lock bag for the Baskets. Please have your cookies @ the Church between 10:30 - 10-45 am. Also, bring a dish for our Lunch. I think we all look forward to the wonderful food
prepared by our ladies - I sure do !Thanks for all you do for our Church & beyond.
~Sincerely, Linda Wright, President
Our CondolencesChestnut Hill United Methodist Church extends Christian love and sympathy to the family of Virginia
“Ginger” Roberts and especially to her children, Jay, Tracey and Amy. Mrs. Roberts passed away on October 30, 2016.
Mitten Tree TrunkDon’t forget we need Mittens. Place them in the trunk that will be provided in the Commons. DEADLINE for bringing mittens will be after Christmas.
Thank you for your support!Our total collected for Homecoming was $3,788.85.Our total collected for Park View Community Mission Ramp was $375.00.
UPDATE ON CHURCHES FOR URBAN MINISTRY FRUIT SALE We would like to thank you for all the support we have received this year.We sold 16 boxes of fruit this year and 11 boxes were donated. This is one
of the main fund raisers for Churches for Urban Ministry.**NOTE: Fruit is to be picked up on Thursday, December 15, 6:00-7:30
p.m. at CHUMC or give us a call to make other arrangements.Thanks Again!! Eleanor Maxham, Tammy Balderson
“A BIG Thank You “We thank the following for their participation in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army Kettle
Drive on the first two Saturdays in November: Neta Pearson and Marsha Burks, Robbie Perrow and Liz Ashworth, Gloria Coleman, Ruth Ann Harris, Pat Short, Judy Lease and Jo Edgreen, Linda Wright, Frank and Carolyn Stewart, Eleanor and David Maxham, Frances Unruh, Jody Underwood, Sue Norvelle, Margo Allen and Judy Marshall, Jane White, Kay Allen, Ann Ruhland and K.J., Heather and Dario Stanzini, Tammy Balderson and Jackie Vest, Ann Robbins and Judy Robertson, and Al and Micajah Mason.
VITAL PLANNING RETREAT!Mark your calendars now for Saturday, January 21, from 10:00 until 1:00 p.m., here at CHUMC.
We will be having a planning retreat to work on strategies to meet our goals, to develop our focus for 2017and to set our calendar for the new year. It is imperative that all officers, committee members and anyone interested in the health and growth of Chestnut Hill plan to attend. Lunch will be provided.
Very Special Covenant Service Coming January 8th This service comes to us through John Wesley, the forefather of our theological tradition. For
him, what it meant to be a mature disciple of Christ was the joining of believers in a covenant "to serve God with all our heart and with all our soul." He urged his Methodist followers to renew, "at every point, our covenant, that the Lord should be our God." On January 8, we will have a very special service, a Wesleyan Covenant service in which we recognize again, not only our great need of the grace of God, but our need to express our community covenant and our personal covenant – that in 2017, we will love and serve the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. From time to time, all Christians need to make a solemn renewal of the covenant, lest we hold back from God what we once gave to God but over time have hoarded for ourselves.
What is Advent?*Advent begins on the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 (November 27 this year) and ends at sunset on Christmas Eve, always including four Sundays.
*The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year.
*Both purple and blue are traditional colors of Advent and are both recognized in The United Methodist Book of Worship. Purple is used because, as the color of royalty, it is fitting for Christ our King. Blue signifies hope and also is traditionally associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus.
*In some traditions the color rose is associated with the third Sunday of Advent to signify joy. Sometimes one rose candle is used in Advent wreaths.
*White is the color of the Christmas season, which begins with Christmas Eve services, and is used through the Sunday after January 6, the day celebrating the baptism of the Lord.
*Christmas Eve is not part of Advent but is the beginning of Christmas itself, since days in the Christian calendar begin at sunset the day before, as they do in the Jewish calendar. The practice of beginning and ending days at midnight in our secular calendar began with the ancient Romans.
An Ordinary Night An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an "extra" on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away. But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz. The black sky exploded with brightness. ... Sheep that had been silent became a chorus of curiosity. One minute the shepherd was dead asleep, the next he was rubbing his eyes and staring into the face of an alien. The night was ordinary no more. The angel came in the night because that is when lights are best seen and that is when they are most needed. God comes into the common for the same reason. -- Max Lucado in The Applause of Heaven.
Happy Birthday ~DECEMBER Happy Birthday ~ January
01 Mary Gibson02 LeAnn Glass
Brenda Torian04 Daniel Kennen05 Gloria Coleman
Ryan Lacy06 Brenda Lyons
Those Who Serve ~ DECEMBER Our Church Financial PictureThrough the end of October 2016
CHILDREN’S CHURCH (Ages 4-11)December 4 ~Stay in Service.December 11 ~Children’s ChurchDecember 18 ~Stay in Service.December 25 ~Children’s Church
OFFERING COUNTERS:
Ann Robbins, Wesley Robbins, Linda Wright* * * * * * * * * * * *
GOOD NEWS is published monthly for members and friends of Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church. Send articles to the church office by the 15th of the month.
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OUR ATTENDANCE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORSHIP
9/25 34 4810/2 36 6310/9 40 6510/16 33 61
General Operating Funds:
Needed to meet our 2016 Budget $ 240,042
Needed to meet our budget to date $ 200,035
Actual receipts to date $ 184,022
Shortfall to meet budget to date $ 16,013
Actual expenditures to date $ 160,666
Overage meet expenses to date $ 23,356
Joy In Missions Funds:
Our Giving Goal for 2016 $ 11,600
Needed to meet our goal to date $ 9,667
Actual receipts to date $ 9,495
Special Offerings* (not budgeted):
Received to date $ 6,216
Dispersed to date $ 4,960
*Christmas, Easter, Annual Conference,
World Communion, etc.
2016 Joy In Mission Donations
To date, the following amounts have been paid to the missions indicated.
DIRECTORY OF CHESTNUT HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Sharma Lewis Richmond Area Resident BishopScott Davis Lynchburg District SuperintendentLiz Ecklund MinisterVernie Barrow Minister EmeritusMonica C. Campbell Administrative AssistantWilliam Sperrazza Director of Music MinistryJudy Martin BookkeeperElaine Clarke Lay LeaderJody Underwood Lay Children’s Ministry CoordinatorChris Glass Lay Youth Ministry Coordinator
