bumc december 2015 newsletter
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Berkeley UMC's December 2015 NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Pastor’s Perspective: Keeping Christ in Christmas
One of my cousins posted this on Facebook:
Want to keep Christ in Christmas?
Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty,
welcome the stranger and the unwanted child,
care for the ill, love your enemies.
The source is listed as “uCatholic”, but I think they got it from the New
Testament, don’t you? It’s up to Christians to keep Christ in Christmas
because it is a holy day for us. It’s our job, not that of the merchants and
the culture. Let’s walk our talk when it comes to celebrating Christ’s
birth.
Pastor Mike Slaughter wrote Christmas Is Not Your Birthday. His blog
encourages us to “make a difference this Christmas”. How? By
spending only half as much as we might think about spending for our
own “holly jolly Christmas”, and instead giving the other half to serve
the refugees we see in our world (the Christmas Miracle Offering of the
Advance), families served by the Methodist Mission Home (our
December mission offering), and other neighbors who really are Christ
in our midst right here.
He writes, “Every December we celebrate the birth of the Messiah who
was born, not only to die sacrificially for us, but also to show us how to
live sacrificially.” May Christmas 2015 be a different kind of
Christmas—one that truly honors Christ, that keeps Christ in Christmas.
Your pastor,
Jeanne Devine
COMING UP THIS MONTH: Church Conference, Las Posadas,
Choir Cantata, and more!
BerkeleyBuzz Berkeley United Methodist Church
December 2015
BERKELEY STAFF Ministers
Members of the Congregation
Pastor
Rev. Jeanne Devine [email protected]
Director of Music Vikki Schwarz
Pianist Dr. Tyler Mabry
Administrative Assistant Liz Smith
Childcare Director Allison McGillicuddy
Nursery Supervisor
Sami Burns [email protected]
Church Office Hours
Monday—Thursday 8:45am to 3:15pm
Closed Daily for Lunch from 12 noon to 12:30pm
Warmest Wishes from the Berkeley Staff! May the Peace of Christ rest on you and yours in all you do this Christmas season.
From all of us…..
Sami Burns
Church
Happenings
Anniversaries
Roy & Doyce Holsenbeck 12/5
Raymond & Margaret Whitaker 12/12
Charles & Dorothy Slusher 12/21
Alan & Elma Clapper 12/23
Steve & Beth Collins 12/28
Glenn & Ineke Dunn 12/29
Brian & Letha Peters 12/29
Glenn & Donna Bostick 12/31
Birthdays
Marilee Smith 12/1
Jamie Justus 12/2
Raylene Johnson 12/4
Elizabeth Royal 12/6
Nazreen Wenzel 12/8
Alan Clapper 12/10
Wesley Dittlinger 12/11
Bill Rittenberry 12/12
Ray Hodson 12/14
JB Wrigley 12/14
Mary Margaret Hennig 12/17
Alex Noll 12/18
Elma Clapper 12/22
Kimberly Gamble 12/23
Julia Hamilton 12/23
Pat Noll 12/24
Sarah Laramore 12/25
Angela Bonner 12/26
Nathaniel Skiles 12/26
Church Office Schedule for the Holidays
December 24, Christmas Eve: Office closed.
December 25, Christmas Day: Office closed.
December 31, New Year’s Eve: Office Closed
January 1, New Year’s Day: Office closed.
Year-End Financial Gifts
All gifts for 2015 must be received or postmarked by December
31. We want to offer you several options: make your
contribution in worship on Sunday, December 27; bring it to
the office by 3pm on December 30; or mail it by December 31.
Your generosity is always appreciated.
Advent and Christmas Events
December 6: 9:30-1pm Crafts and Cookies
in the Fellowship Hall.
December 11: 9pm “Mananitas”
on BUMC grounds.
December 13: Christmas Cantata:
“Born a Savior, Born a King”
during both Worship Services.
December 15: 6:30pm Christmas Carols & Cookies
in the Fellowship Hall.
December 24: 6pm “Posadas” starting
at Cunningham Elementary School.
December 24: 7pm Christmas Eve Candlelight
Worship Service.
December 27: 10am Worship (one service only)
Berkeley Buzz December 2015 Page 2
Church
Happenings
Berkeley Buzz December 2015 Page 3
Staff Christmas Bonus Gifts
The Staff-Parish Relations Committee invites you to express
your appreciation to our staff in the form of a Christmas
bonus gift. Your contribution will be shared among the staff,
and as an end-of-year bonus is considered taxable income.
Please mark checks “staff gift” or enclose cash in marked
offering envelope. Deadline for gifts is December 13. (You
are always free to give personal gifts to individual staff members. These are not
taxable to the recipients, nor are they charitable contributions.)
Crafts and Cookies Sunday, December 6, 2015
Christian Life Center
9:30-10:50am and noon to 1:00pm
Beautiful, Handmade Crafts: Jewelry, Christmas decorations, prayer beads, crocheted
items, wooden and glass items are all among the treasures you’ll find!
Delicious Goodies: Our talented bakers will have a variety of breads, cookies and other
delicious treats for holiday eating, giving and sharing.
Sponsored by Berkeley United Methodist Women to fund mission giving
and support local and global mission projects.
The women of our church are cordially invited to the
Berkeley UMW Winter Tea Saturday, January 9, 2016 1:30-3:30pm
in the Fellowship Hall.
Please mark your calendars now for Saturday, Jan. 9,
2016, for the Ladies' Winter Tea which will include
delicious nibbles & tea, delightful conversations,
followed by the election and then the installation of the 2016 UMW officers and
mission coordinators.
For more information contact Myrna Cavender at 512-280-0963.
Berkeley Buzz,
December 2015 Page 2
Church
Happenings
Worship Schedule in 2016
Following the ministry audit in October, the church council voted in November to consolidate the two
worship services we currently offer on Sunday morning. (The Spanish worship service will continue
in the afternoon.)
Beginning on April 3, 2016, we will worship at 10 a.m. Adult Sunday School classes will decide for
themselves whether to meet at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Godly Play for children will meet at 9 a.m.
The ministry audit noted that the current, nearly identical worship services have vacancies of 40% to
66%. The sanctuary will still offer room to grow at one consolidated service. Beginning the new
schedule on the Sunday after Easter allows sufficient notification time.
It is hoped that consolidation will strengthen our worship. This decision was reached after many
months of study, in the belief that a single service with more people in attendance will offer a better
worship experience to our members and a more inviting atmosphere for visitors.
Church
Happenings
Berkeley Buzz December 2015 Page 4
Church
Happenings
Berkeley Buzz December 2015 Page 5
Church
Happenings
Latino Ministry Advent
and Christmas Events
All members and friends of Berkeley UMC are invited to these events!
Friday, December 11, 9pm.
“Mananitas” is celebrated on the eve of
the traditional Mexican celebration of the
Virgin Mary to the native, Juan Diego, on
December 12, 1531. We will gather at 9
p.m. in front of the sanctuary. Children
from the folklorico dance group will
dance. You’re welcome to stay as long as
you wish; refreshments will be served.
Thursday, December 24, 6pm.
“Posadas”, the re-enactment of Mary and
Joseph’s search for shelter before Jesus’
birth, takes place over nine nights, culmi-
nating on Christmas Eve. We will gather
at 6 p.m. in front of Cunningham Elementary School and walk to Berkeley
UMC, arriving just before 7 p.m. We will ask for Posada at the sanctuary
entrance and then enter to begin the candlelight communion service.
For more information, contact Rev. Teresa Santillana: (626) 786-2912 or email
Berkeley Buzz December 2015, Page 6
December 2015
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 6:30pm ESL (9)
2 4pm Prayer
Ministry (Sanc)
4pm Ballet (FH)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)
3 7pm CHURCH
CONFERENCE
(FH)
4 9am ESL (7)
4:30pm Girl Scouts
Ornament Event
(FH)
5:30pm Spanish
Bible Study (7)
6:45pm Know Your
Rights (9)
5 9am Cantata
Rehearsal (Sanc.
& FH)
2pm Set up for
Crafts and
Cookies (FH)
6 Communion Sunday
8:30am Worship 9:30am Crafts and Cookies (FH) 9:40am Sunday School 10:50am Worship 1pm Spanish Worship 2:30pm Piano Recital (Sanc) 3pm Advent Study (9) 4pm Tai Chi (FH) 5pm Covenant Group (9) 5pm UT Student Leadership (FH)
7 10am Women’s Group (7)
8 10am Hope
Cohorts (7)
5:30pm Prime
Timers (FH)
6:30pm ESL (9)
7pm SPRC (7)
9 9:30am UMW
Women in Action
(FH)
4pm Ballet (FH)
4pm Prayer
Ministry (Sanc)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)
10 5:30pm St. Louise
House (CLC)
7pm Advent
Study (9)
11 9am ESL (7)
5pm Folklorico
(FH)
5:30pm Spanish
Bible Study (7)
6pm Ballet (FH)
6:45pm Know Your
Rights (9)
9pm Mananitas
(BUMC grounds)
12
13 Choir Cantata 8:30am Worship 9:40am Sunday School 10:50am Worship 1pm Spanish Worship 3pm Advent Study (9) 4pm Tai Chi (FH) 5pm Covenant Group (9)
14 10am Women’s Group (7) 6:15pm Childcare Mgmt (7)
15 6:30pm Caroling and Cookies (FH) 6:30pm ESL (9)
16 4pm Prayer
Ministry (Sanc)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)
17 4pm Childcare
Christmas Carols
(Sanc)
5:30pm St. Louise
House (CLC)
7pm Advent
Study (9)
18 9am ESL (7)
5:30pm Spanish
Bible Study (7)
6:45pm Know Your
Rights (9)
19 7:28am UMM
Breakfast (FH)
9am Trustees (9)
20 8:30am Worship 9:40am Sunday School 10:50am Worship 1pm Spanish Worship 3pm Advent Study (9) 4pm Tai Chi (FH) 5pm Covenant Group (9)
21 10am Women’s Group (7) 4:30pm Outreach Team (7) 7pm Finance (7)
22 5:45pm Spritual Care (7) 6:30pm ESL (9) 7pm Church Council (FH)
23 4pm Prayer Min-
istry (Sanc)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)
24 Church Office Closed
6pm Posadas (Cunningham Elem. School) 7pm Christmas Eve Worship
25 Church
Office Closed
26
27 10:00am Worship 1pm Spanish Worship 3pm Advent Study (7) 4pm Tai Chi (FH) 5pm Covenant Group (9)
28 10am Women’s Group (7) 6pm Girl Scouts (FH & 7)
29 6:30pm ESL (9)
30 4pm Prayer Min-
istry (Sanc)
6pm Handbell
Choir (Sanc)
7pm Chancel
Choir (Sanc)
31 Church
Office Closed
1 Church Office
Closed
BERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2407 Berkeley Ave.
Austin, TX. 78745
512-447-6633
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Monthly Income $ 29,263
Monthly Expenses $ 20,528
Year-to-Date Income $ 215,848
Year-to-Date Expenses $ 230,131
Gifts as of October 31
October 2015 YTD 2014
Worship 107 104 116
Sunday
School
30 30 30
Average Attendance
The choir will be presenting their Christmas Cantata, “Born a Savior, Born a King”
on Sunday, December 13th, at both services.
We hope you will join us and invite your friends!