Gooding United Methodist Church Volume 2017 Words of Faith and Community We are called together for worship and fellowship and for the up building of the Christian community. Issue 4 | December 3 rd From the Pastor… It seems as if all I did was blink and the lazy days of summer had given way to the hectic hubbub of the Holiday Season! It’s very easy to lose track of the sense of wonder even as the world around us amazes us with its extravagant celebrations in this season. Some of us… GET SO CAUGHT up in the preparations that we forget to pause and look for that star leading us to a savior. Cooking, cleaning, preparing guest rooms for visitors, holiday baking, gift shopping, parties, and family gatherings clog our view. FIND THE HOLIDAYS a time of hurtful memories and forget to look up to the heavens for a sign of salvation. Past losses, abuses, or abandonments keep our gaze focused only on the hurts of the moment. ARE DISTRACTED BY the state of the world. Even as I write this article my phone is buzzing to notify me that an attack on a place of worship in Egypt left over 200 Muslim worshippers dead. And that serves only to remind me of the Christian church in Texas that will be celebrating Christmas this year through the tears of grief and sorrow. It’s easy to forget about the power of forgiveness, mercy, and redemption when we see the power of evil and destruction all around us. That’s why we have this blessed season of Advent. It’s a season the world often sweeps under the carpet because the idea of “waiting” isn’t marketable. Instead, the focus is on Christmas Day with countdowns and limited time sales stoking our sense of hurry and impatience. But the Christian Church spends the four weeks (and sometimes longer) before Christmas Day reminding us to slow down, to calm down, and to look up for the signs of wonder. Even though our worship calendar fills up with all sorts of events during this month, it’s also a time in which our worship will begin to point to something far greater than anything in our lives or in this world. So take time in these next few weeks to pause. Wonder about the coming light breaking through the darkness of this world. Stand in awe of the beauty, which breaks forth from the dead of winter. Take time to gaze at the heavens and to seek out a babe in a manger. Let the world rush by as you stand in awesome amazement of love becoming flesh and salvation coming to earth. Blessings and Peace, Pastor Amanda Gayle Reed United Methodists throughout the world are bound together in a connectional covenant in which we support and hold each other accountable for faithful discipleship and mission.
Transcript
Gooding United Methodist Church Volume 2017
Words of Faith and Community
We are called together for worship and fellowship and for the up building of the Christian
community.
Issue 4 | December 3rd From the Pastor…
It seems as if all I did was blink and the lazy days of summer had given way to the hectic hubbub of the Holiday Season!
It’s very easy to lose track of the sense of wonder even as the world around us amazes us with its extravagant celebrations in this season. Some of us…
GET SO CAUGHT up in the preparations that we forget to pause and look for that star leading us to a savior. Cooking, cleaning, preparing guest rooms for visitors, holiday baking, gift shopping, parties, and family gatherings clog our view.
FIND THE HOLIDAYS a time of hurtful memories and forget to look up to the heavens for a sign of salvation. Past losses, abuses, or abandonments keep our gaze focused only on the hurts of the moment.
ARE DISTRACTED BY the state of the world. Even as I write this article my phone is buzzing to notify me that an attack on a place of worship in Egypt left over 200 Muslim worshippers dead. And that serves only to remind me of the Christian church in Texas that will be celebrating Christmas this year through the tears of grief and sorrow. It’s easy to forget about the power of forgiveness, mercy, and redemption when we see the power of evil and destruction all around us.
That’s why we have this blessed season of Advent. It’s a season the world often sweeps under the carpet because the idea of “waiting” isn’t marketable. Instead, the focus is on Christmas Day with countdowns and limited time sales stoking our sense of hurry and impatience. But the Christian Church spends the four weeks (and sometimes longer) before Christmas Day reminding us to slow down, to calm down, and to look up for the signs of wonder.
Even though our worship calendar fills up with all sorts of events during this month, it’s also a time in which our worship will begin to point to something far greater than anything in our lives or in this world. So take time in these next few weeks to pause. Wonder about the coming light breaking through the darkness of this world. Stand in awe of the beauty, which breaks forth from the dead of winter. Take time to gaze at the heavens and to seek out a babe in a manger.
Let the world rush by as you stand in awesome amazement of love becoming flesh and salvation coming to earth.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Amanda Gayle Reed
United Methodists throughout the world are bound together in a connectional
covenant in which we support and hold each other accountable for faithful
discipleship and mission.
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THE POWER OF POSITIVE…
Lectionary Readings | December
The Lectionary Readings are a sequence or list of lections (passages of scripture) to be read in church services during the year. The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is a three-year cycle of suggested scripture readings that follows the Christian year. Each Sunday, four passages of scripture are recommended, usually two from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. Thus, over a three-year period the Bible is covered in a systematic and balanced way.
December 3, 2017 1st Sunday of Advent Communion Sunday Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (UMH 801) 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 ** December 10, 2017 2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-11 Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (UMH 806) 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 ** December 17, 2017 3rd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 (UMH 847) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28** 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Luke 1:46b-55 Romans 16:25-27
Most of us yearn for a day when life is roses and glory; a piece of cake! Experience teaches us that is not what life is like… at least not every day. Life also teaches us that trying to sustain a perfect life is a worthy, yet unattainable goal—messy, human “stuff” just happens from time to time—not because of anything you did, but because life is life. You can choose to LOVE this life journey because along the way you will also find joyous, unexpected things to come along and surprise you—and for those who believe… miracles really can happen. This wisdom helps us appreciate that these tougher elements of life, which come in the form of challenges, actually benefit us… as they teach us essential life lessons. The task… be more objective about life challenges! The more open you are to riding life’s waves with grace, the more joyous and less complicated the journey becomes.
December 24, 2017 4th Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16 Luke 1: 46b-55 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1: 26-38
Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil Isaiah 9: 2-7 Psalms 28 (UMH 815) Titus 2: 11-14 Luke 1: 1-20
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Hello:
I am the social worker with the Gooding School District and also the Homeless Liaison for the district. We don't have homeless shelters or families living on the streets, but we do have several families that live together because they cannot afford to live as a single-family unit.
If, at any time, you become aware of a family/student that needs resources please contact me at (208) 934-4941 ext 153. We live in a wonderful community! Please let me know if you have any questions.
The holidays can be filled with stress and strife of varied nature… it is often how we are able to adapt that makes is possible for how we “carry on,” as noted in the poem written by Sharon Strickland…
CARRY ON
WHETHER YOU’RE WALKING IN HIS DUST
OR SORELY LACKING IN YOUR TRUST— CARRY ON
IF YOU SEEK HIM EVERY DAY
THOUGH YOU STUMBLE ON THE WAY—CARRY ON
CARRY ON WHEN YOU FALL DOWN
YOU CAN REACH UP FROM THE GROUND
HE’LL PULL YOU BACK WHERE YOU BELONG
WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, HE’LL BE YOUR STRONG
WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH, CARRYIN’ ON CAN BE ENOUGH
IF YOU LISTEN, YOU CAN HEAR HIM
FLOWING WATERS LEAD YOU NEAR HIM—CARRY ON
PUTTIN’ ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER
TELL YOUR SISTER—TELL YOUR BROTHER—CARRY ON
CARRY ON WHEN YOU FALL DOWN
YOU CAN REACH UP FROM THE GROUND
HE’LL PULL YOU BACK WHERE YOU BELONG
WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, HE’LL BE YOUR STRONG
WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH, CARRYIN’ ON CAN BE ENOUGH
Tami Anderson, MSW School Social Worker Gooding School Dist #231 (208) 934-4941
DECEMBER GRIEF GROUP
DATES:
December 7th, 14th, and 21st.
NEW GROUP begins on January
11th 10: am – Noon.
\
Ministry: The spiritual work or service of any Christian or a group of Christians, especially evangelism.
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KIDZ FIRST
Blessed are those who see Christmas through the eyes of a child.
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December ANNIVERSARIES 12/17 Larry and Carolyn Robertson BIRTHDAYS
12/06 Thomas McIlhargey 12/08 Jodi Faulkner 12/12 Pauline Jackson 12/23 Desaray Lily Ames 12/30 Alvina Colter
With all the changes in staffing the past several years, we may miss an anniversary or birthday here and there. If you have any concern yours may be missed, or have a loved one you want to honor, please email it to
GOODING COMMUNITY CHOGOODING COMMUNITY CHOGOODING COMMUNITY CHOGOODING COMMUNITY CHORALERALERALERALE AND ORCHESTRA AND ORCHESTRA AND ORCHESTRA AND ORCHESTRA
“GO SING IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”“GO SING IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”“GO SING IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”“GO SING IT ON THE MOUNTAIN” A Christmas Cantata A Christmas Cantata A Christmas Cantata A Christmas Cantata By Pepper ChoplinBy Pepper ChoplinBy Pepper ChoplinBy Pepper Choplin
Under the Direction of Rick StricklandUnder the Direction of Rick StricklandUnder the Direction of Rick StricklandUnder the Direction of Rick Strickland
The Walker Center Auditorium, Gooding, IdahoThe Walker Center Auditorium, Gooding, IdahoThe Walker Center Auditorium, Gooding, IdahoThe Walker Center Auditorium, Gooding, Idaho
December December December December 8888 and and and and 9999 at 7:00 o’clockat 7:00 o’clockat 7:00 o’clockat 7:00 o’clock p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.
December 10December 10December 10December 10 at 4:00 o’clock p.m. at 4:00 o’clock p.m. at 4:00 o’clock p.m. at 4:00 o’clock p.m.
FreeFreeFreeFree will donations are appreciatedwill donations are appreciatedwill donations are appreciatedwill donations are appreciated “A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.”
~ William Arthur Ward
Gooding United Methodist Church December 2017
Gooding United Methodist Church 805 Main ST Gooding, ID 83330 (208) 934-4633
Advent Calendar 2017 11/26 Advent Study on Joseph, 6:30pm, Sanctuary 12/2 Hanging of the Greens (Decorating the Church) 1:00 pm 12/3 First Sunday of Advent, Worship @ 11:00 am
Advent Study on Mary, 6:30pm, Sanctuary 12/8—12/10 Cantata
(Walker Center) 7:00 pm 12/10 Second Sunday of Advent, Worship @ 11:00 am
Advent Study on The Shepherds, 6:30pm, Sanctuary 12/15 Parent’s Night Out Christmas Party, 4pm-9pm 12/16 (or 12/23) Christmas Caroling Hayride and Hot Chocolate, 5pm
12/17 Third Sunday of Advent, Worship @ 11:00am Advent Study on The Magi, 6:30pm, Sanctuary
12/21 Blue Christmas Worship Service, 7pm, Memorial Chapel 12/24 Fourth Sunday of Advent, Worship @ 11:00 am Christmas Eve Candle-lighting Service, 7:00pm
