advent and christmas 2017 - bothell umc the witness december, 2017 volume 64, issue 12 december 15,...

1

The Witness December, 2017

Volume 64, Issue 12 December 15, 2017

Advent and Christmas 2017

Wednesday, December 20 Longest Night Service, at 7 pm

Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve Worship Services

9 am Roots style Worship

features the Chancel Choir, Sojourners and Bells

10:30 am Wings style Worship

features acoustic ensemble music

7 pm Roots style Worship

features the Chancel Choir and Brass

11 pm River style Worship

features the Chant Choir and communion

At 9 am and 7 pm, children are invited to a Birthday Party for Jesus

Monday, December 25, Christmas Day Pastor DJ has written a Christmas devotional

available in print at the church or online at www.bothellumc.org

2


The author of Ecclesiastes 3 wrote,

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under

heaven:

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

My dear church family,

Life can change as easily as the seasons change. Some seasons are more

enjoyable than others. Some are warmer. Some are sunnier. And some never stop

raining. Yet, just as the seasons move from sunny and warm to overcast and cold,

each new season holds its own challenges, adventures, and moments of grace.

As some of you know, I have been dealing with an illness for more than a year. It

was not until a few months ago that I was diagnosed with a rare vascular disease,

for which I began aggressive treatment the first week of November.

After consulting with District Superintendent (DS) Reverend Rich Lang, Bishop

Elaine Stanovsky, and our Bothell UMC Governing Board, it became clear that the

best decision is for me to take a three-month medical leave starting January 1.

The purpose of this leave is for me to rest, continue aggressive treatment, and

prepare to come back and join you in ministry when I am well.

DS Rev. Rich Lang will work with the Bishop and her Cabinet to appoint a part-

time interim pastor to support our amazing clergy, program staff and lay leaders

while I’m on leave.

I want to reiterate that I have every intention of returning to my job, healthy,

rested and ready to resume work as your Lead Pastor. I also want to thank you

for keeping the girls, Lainie and me in your prayers. Despite the challenges of

this year, we as a family have had many great moments of joy.

Please know that you’re always in my prayers and I consider myself blessed to

serve alongside you.

May the Peace of God be with you,

3


Boy Scout Christmas

Tree Sale

59th Annual Boy Scout

Troop & Venture Crew 420

Christmas Tree Sale in the Safeway

Parking Lot, 24040 Bothell-Everett Hwy

at the corner of 240th St SE, until

December 24. Open 6-8 pm Mon-Fri,

10 am-8 pm Sat-Sun. Choose from

Nobles, Firs, Grands, Fraziers and

Wreaths. New this year: Tree delivery

to your home on Saturdays! Thanks for

your support!

The Longest Night

Wednesday, December 20, 7 pm

The Longest Night Worship Service

invites us to lament that much is not

well with our world, and to offer our

sadness, grief and struggles to the

coming king. At the apex of our

darkness - the Christ is born. Worship

anoints us, comforts us and reminds us

that God walks through the darkness

with us. Come sing, light candles,

embrace silence, and listen for Spirit.

From our deepest darkness, Light

dawns!

College Scholarships

Attention high school seniors and

college students! The Trustees are

pleased to announce that

applications for Bothell UMC college

scholarships for the next school year

are now available in the church office.

Any individual attending Bothell UMC is

eligible, provided the award is used for

full-time attendance in an accredited

college or university during the 2018-

2019 school year. Applications must be

completed and returned to the

church office by February 28, 2018.

Parents of students now in college,

please make sure the office has an

email address for your student who

may be interested in applying.

2018 Flower Chart

The flower chart for 2018 is

posted by the information

center. By placing flowers

on the communion table,

you remember someone

or honor a special day. Sign up for the

date you want and fill out the

envelope on the chart. Leave the

envelope on the desk in the office. If

you buy the flowers yourself, have

them at church by noon on Friday or

before the first service on Sunday

morning. If you wish to have them

taken care of indicate so on the

envelope and include $40 to cover the

cost.

4


Please Keep In Your Prayers

All our home-bound friends

The Baxter family on Cecil’s passing

People living with chronic conditions

Linda Fatuma, Chadrack Ndembo

Kafeco and all the children at the

Jamaa Letu Orphanages

The Miller family on Betty’s passing

Kairos Prison Ministry

and Peace

Sunday Morning Classes

8 am Book Discussion meets in

the Lounge. All are welcome.

Contact Donita Payne for more

information. Or just drop in at class and

join us.

10:30 am Class: Digging Deeper meets

in the lounge each Sunday from 10:30

to 11:30 am. We continue our study of

The Apocryphal Jesus and his Jewish

Influences. Drop in and join us as we

become followers of the Way to

discover and discuss early Christian

history and its Jewish heritage. For more

information contact Jeff Staley

([email protected]) or Doug Will

([email protected]).

Cards for Pastor DJ

Pastor DJ will be on medical leave for

the next few months. To support him,

his wife Lainie, and their daughters, the

Governing Board will present them

with a bouquet of gift cards from

the congregation.

Gift cards can be dropped off in the

office, or given to Lynne Pearson. Lynne

will be in Fellowship Hall on Sunday,

December 17, specifically to receive

them. Cards from Starbucks, Amazon,

and grocery stores, in any amount

would be appreciated.

There will also be an opportunity to

write a note of encouragement. These

will be collected and presented to the

family as well.

Sage, Hazel, and Scarlett will each

receive an offering of envelopes. Each

envelope will be labelled "Open

when...you feel sad" or "Open

when...you need a laugh" or "Open

when...you feel stressed" and others

along that line. There will be ten

envelopes per child. You are welcome

to pick up an envelope, put a small

trinket, card, silly joke, or prayer, inside.

Please return the filled envelope to the

church by December 31, the date that

we will give the envelopes to the girls.

5


Breakfast with

the Bothell

United

Methodist Men

Please join us for

breakfast served by

the Bothell United Methodist Men! We

meet the third Saturday of most

months at 8:30 am in 210/211 for

fellowship, prayer, a brief meeting

and a program. We will take a break

in December and meet again

January 20, and February 17, 2018. All

are welcome to join us. Questions?

Contact Doug Will

([email protected]), Jim Carley

([email protected]), or Mark

Bailey ([email protected]).

The Bothell United Methodist Men

(BUMM) sponsor Scout Troop 420 and

a new Venture Crew 420 for senior

scouts, both young men and young

women (14-21 years old). Contact

Mark Bailey for more information

about these scouting programs.

Next Witness Deadline

Monday, January 22

Susanna Wesley

The next meeting of the

Susanna Wesley Group will

be Thursday, January 11,

2018, in the church lounge.

The meeting is from 10 am

to 11:30 am.

Celeste Deveney, Program Director at

Bothell UMC will share from her studies

regarding "Susanna Wesley, an

Inconvenient Woman.” In addition,

we will celebrate our "Pledge to

Mission" service. All are welcome.

Any questions, contact Judi Burcham

(425-485-1902) or Sandy Canniff (425-

486-9020).

Northstar

There will be no meeting in December.

Toy Drive Update

Donations to the Atlantic Street Center

Toy drive came to right around $1,300

this year. That’s $1,300 worth of toys,

books, accessories and equipment for

children and youth who otherwise

wouldn’t have had any presents under

the family tree. In addition, it’s estimated

that we also sent $791 worth of gloves,

mittens, scarves and hats from items

donated on the mitten tree. Thank you

all for your extravagant generosity!

6


BOTHELL UMC KIDS EXPLORE * GROW * SHARE

Mark your calendars!! Birthday Party for Jesus, 9 am & 7 pm December 24

Children’s Choirs (5:30 pm) & BUMY JV (6:30 pm) January 7

Children’s Ministry Team Retreat, 9 am-12 pm January 20

Children’s Choirs (5:30 pm) & BUMY JV (6:30 pm) January 21

BUMY JV Teams

up to Make

Sandwiches for

the Homeless

Our BUMY JV, 4th- 6th

grade "junior youth

group" meets twice a month for

games, projects and food and to

grow in faith together. About once a

month they incorporate a service

activity into those gatherings.

In November, they made over 80

sandwiches for a mission that delivers

food to hungry people that are

homeless in Seattle. It was an

awesome time of community and

reflection as we explored how God

calls us to care and provide for those

in need. "I was hungry, and you gave

me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you

gave me a drink. I was a stranger

and you welcomed me."

Matthew 25: 31-46

Birthday Party for Jesus!

Celebrate the

GREATEST Christmas

gift EVER...BABY

JESUS!

Have a blast with games, friends and of

course... delicious, fresh cupcakes! Bring

your friends for this awesome party and

we will see you there!

Connect with us!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

BothellUMCKids/

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.bothellumc.org

7


BOTHELL YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

Youth Calendar

Youth Ministry Schedule for the rest of the year:

December 17 Christmas Party and

White Elephant Gift Exchange

December 24 NO YOUTH GROUP

December 31 NO YOUTH GROUP

The Youth had a very full

Fall/Winter season!

Sunday mornings, we navigated through the Book

of Revelation while we journeyed with the Israelites

in the Book of Exodus during Sunday evening Youth

Group! We celebrated our very own Friendsgiving

and made Care Packages for those who

graduated in the last four years.

We also had the opportunity to go on our Fall Retreat fun games, small group

discussions and worship. Grounded in Romans 12:1-2, we learned from people in

the Bible who encountered Jesus so that our whole lives might be living sacrifices

holy and pleasing to God not conformed by the patterns of this world. We talked

about identity in Jesus and how our worth is in God who loves us just the way we

are!

Join us for the last Sunday evening Youth Group on December 17, when we will

have our Christmas Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange. Everyone is

encouraged to bring a gift to trade (no more than $15). We will have snacks, a time

of sharing, gifts and games!

8


We had twenty people help with Advent Decorating this year. On

that same Saturday morning, the United Methodist Women

prepared for the cookie walk, Mark Bailey built a gingerbread

house to collect toys for Atlantic Street Center, and we hosted two

different meetings. The church was jumpin’!

Please remember to invite friends or loved ones who may be

dealing with harder emotions such as sadness, grief, or worry to the Longest Night

service on Wednesday, December 20. The service is one of music, readings,

prayer and the emotional comfort of God’s Spirit sitting with us in our time of

darkness. It’s a service of hope, and we hope to see you there.

Faith and Fiction

All are invited to join us for our monthly book discussion. We meet

at the Greens' home, only a few short blocks from the church one

Wednesday a month, at 7 pm. Up next: December 20 --

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

We welcome you to join our Christmas appetizer potluck and

discussion of this 1911 classic.

Northshore Youth Chess Program Bothell UMC, Northshore Youth Enrichment Program and YaelsArt.com are

teaming together to provide a Friday evening chess club for kids and youth in the

community! No experience is needed. The coach will be Mr. Matthew Fleury, a

National Master with over 20 years’ experience. This session will be on Fridays

December 15, 22, January 5,12,19,26, Feb. 2 and 9 at 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm in room

210/211 at Bothell United Methodist Church, 18515 N.E. 92nd Ave. N.E., Bothell, WA

98011. Cost is $10 per class, or $55 for the 8-week

session. Scholarships are available. For questions, or

to preregister please contact Mr. Sharon Mittelman

at (316)768-7428 or [email protected].

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj33-mTqcHXAhVMQSYKHa9gDS4QjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rif.org%2Fliteracy-central%2Fbook%2Fsecret-garden&psig=AOvVaw0jQN34DRYcB-QvXhslFeUT&ust=1510860781683670

9


Library News

Singing has always been important to Methodists. Our

library’s Stories of Favorite Hymns by Kenneth Osbeck and

Then Sings My Soul by Robert Morgan are full of information

about the songs we sing every Sunday as well as many

others. Knowing the history behind hymns can bring a new

appreciation for them.

For instance, The United Methodist Hymnal features as its first

hymn Charles Wesley’s famous “O for a Thousand Tongues

to Sing” page #57. Written initially as a poem with eighteen

stanzas, the hymn commemorates his conversion on Pentecost, May 21, 1738.

Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns. While he did not mind others sharing his hymns he

took offense if anyone tinkered with his words.

Charles also wrote two universally known hymns, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

#240 and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Alleluia)” #302.

In 1855, English musician William H. Cummings adapted Felix Mendelssohn's secular

music from Festgesang to fit the ten verses of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" written

by Charles Wesley. Wesley had envisaged the song being

sung to the same tune as his Easter song "Christ the Lord Is

Risen Today". Some hymnals include that version along with

the more popular Mendelssohn-Cummings tune.

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” originally consisted of eleven

stanzas. The “Alleluia’s” were added later. Because Anglican

ministers spurned the Methodists for their fiery evangelistic

preaching they had to resort to preaching outdoors. This

robust hymn was meant to be sung loudly to let those around

know of their presence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festgesang

10


Becoming Christ in the Community

For the Transformation of the World

January 19-20, 2018

How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?

(Habakkuk 1:2)

It is easy to look around our world today and lose hope.

News of wars and mass-shootings, increases in homelessness, the effects of climate

change, testimonies of oppression and hate fill our minds and our souls. This cannot

be the way God intended for community, can it? Together, we can challenge the

status quo, for we believe that God is a God of love, of justice, of hope and of

peace. For two days, we’ll dream of a world that could be, and learn from one

another. And we’ll explore how we might partner with God in this work of justice

and mercy.

Leading us in this time of discovery and discernment will be Susan Greer Burton,

Director of Women’s and Children’s Advocacy of the General Board of Church

and Society of the United Methodist Church. Read more about her below.

Registration and more detailed information will be available soon. The cost for the

whole conference is $30. Scholarships and daily registration costs are also available.

Join us as we listen and share, challenge and grow. Join us as we put our faith into

action for the transformation of the world!

Susan Greer Burton, Director of Women’s and Children’s Advocacy for the General

Board of Church and Society, encourages and equips people of faith to stand up for

the health, safety and rights of women and girls around the world. A multi-

generational Methodist, Susan comes to Church and Society from the world of

higher education. There she worked with faculty to integrate service learning and

cultural competency into the curriculum.

(Cont’d on Page 13)

11


New Ground Bothell

Exciting things are happening at New Ground Bothell! Chef, Sheri Vahey, cooked

with five moms from New Ground Bothell in the BUMC kitchen. In addition to many

tips as they chopped, sliced, and stirred, the ladies went away with recipes for

Chicken Enchiladas and Chicken Soup. Also, each mom received a grater as a

gift for participating. Everyone had a good time, not only learning new skills, but

sharing their memories and experiences as they revolved around food. They also

had requests for future classes addressing specific skills and dishes. Thank you to

Sheri for sharing her time and talent with these ladies.

As the families transition out of New Ground Bothell, there other families transition-

ing in that still need us. The following items are needed to fill the Welcome Baskets:

• Mixing bowls

• Saucepan (non-stick 3 qt)

• Skillet (non-stick 12")

• Crib blanket

• Duvet Covers

• Mixing and cooking utensils that are non-stick-pan-friendly

• Silverware (2 sets)

Place your donations in the bin in the narthex, or designate "New Ground Bothell"

on your monetary donation. Please note, we can only accept new items for New

Ground Bothell. Thank you for your continued generous support of New Ground

Bothell.

(Continued from Page 12)

Susan believes that increasing her own self-awareness and changing her attitudes

and behaviors in order to live justly are essential parts of a life-giving journey. She is

grateful for the people whom God has placed in her life to broaden her worldview.

12


Bothell United Methodist Church Endowment Grant

The Endowment Committee is accepting applications for grants from the permanent

Endowment Fund. Money for the grants is generated from the interest earned on this

account and becomes available at the end of January each year. Endowment

Grant Applications are due on or before Sunday, February 18. Applications will be

reviewed by the Committee shortly after that period and specific grants will be

determined.

According to the terms of the endowment, all requests for funds must be for

charitable purposes (primarily the promotion and development of religious, charitable

and educational activities) or for expenditures related to maintenance and upkeep

of church property, including equipment.

An application form and complete instructions can be found in the church office or

at bothellumc.org.

Trees

The church has been blessed for years with large, beautiful,

trees on our property. To be good stewards of our land, and to

ensure the safety of all, the church periodically engages the

services of professional arborists to assess the health of our

trees. Recently, the arborists told us that in addition to some pruning (to diminish the

danger of falling branches to electric and phone lines) we must take down some

trees entirely that have begun to rot from the inside. The birch in the Chapel garden

needs to be removed, as well as the large cedar in the playground. With trees such

as these, it’s not a question of whether they will fall, but when.

Please note, in all cases trees will be removed in the interest of long-term safety for

all who visit the church, and for our surrounding neighbors. Plans are already being

made to replace them to ensure the aesthetic beauty of our property while keeping

it as safe as possible.

13


Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary

December 17 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:47-55; Romans 16:25-27;

Luke 1:26-38

December 24 Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20

December 31 Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Psalm 148; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:22-40

January 7 Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Epheians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

January 14 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20); Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18;

1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51

January 21 Johan 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12;

1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20

Coming Soon - Community Bulletin Board!!

Soon, you will have the opportunity to connect with people in our community in a

new way! A large bulletin board will be installed in Fellowship Hall for you to post

and read fliers about community events and information! The purpose is to add a

way for us to connect, so feel free to post events such as:

• Your business card or brochure

• Searching for - room mate, housing or service

• Community event invitations

• Items for sale

Your personal contact information will need to be on the announcement as well

as the date you post. Please take responsibility for taking down your post if it is no

longer timely. If you have any questions, please contact Kristin at

[email protected].

14


Worship Services 8 am River Service (Communion)

9 am Roots Service

10:30 am Wings Service

Children’s Church

9 am

Nursery Available

9 & 10:30 a.m. Services

Next Witness Deadline ~ January 22, 2018

TIME DATED MATERIAL

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BOTHELL, WA

PERMIT NO. 29

DECEMBER 15, 2017

Mailing Label Here

18515~92nd Avenue NE

Bothell, WA 98011

Phone: 425.486.7132

Fax: 425.486.0303

www.bothellumc.org

advent and christmas 2017 - bothell umc the witness december, 2017 volume 64, issue 12 december 15,...

Documents