hopewell news 2016-1mvhopewellumc.org/wp-hopewell/uploads/2014/01/... · seasons. the first season...
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HOPEWELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
‘A Place to Find Hope and Be Well’ 20220 Hopewell Road
Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Our mission is to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ and minister to the needs of others in His name.
January – February, 2016
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Pastor’sPonderings–PastorLeeCubie
SeasonsofProvidenceThelastSundayofNovemberbeginsanewyearfortheChristianChurch
whichhasitsowncalendar.TheChristiancalendarisbrokenintodifferentseasons.ThefirstseasonisAdvent.ItisfollowedbytheSeasonofChristmas.FollowingtheChristmasSeasonistheSeasonofEpiphanyfollowedbyLent.AfterLentcomestheEasterSeasonfollowedbytheSeasonofAfterPentecost.TheseseasonsareintendedtoremindusofGod’sprovidence,awordthatmeansGod’sprotectivecare,yearround.Weliveinanationthathasitsowncalendar.Onitscalendarareeventsthatmeetitsnationalconcernssuchasthe4thofJuly,VeteransDay,MemorialDay,Mother’sDay,andThanksgivingDay,allholidaysrootedinournationsstruggletogainandretainthefreedomsweenjoy.InawaybothcalendarscelebratetheprovidenceofGod:onecelebratesGod’sprovidenceforournation,andtheChurchcalendarcelebratesGod’sprovidenceforallthepeopleoftheworldandforhiscreation.
SincewefindourselvesmovingintotheSeasonofChristmasandoutoftheSeasonofAdvent,itisimportanttorememberwhytheChurchcalendarbeginswithAdvent.AstheUnitedMethodistBookofWorshipdescribesit,
Advent“isaseasonoffourweeksincludingfourSundays.AdventderivesfromtheLatinadventus,whichmeans‘coming.’TheseasonproclaimsthecomingsoftheChrist—whosebirthwepreparetocelebrateonceagain,whocomescontinuallyinWordandSpirit,andwhosereturninfinalvictoryweanticipate.EachyearAdventcallsthecommunityoffaithtoprepareforthesecomings;historically,theseasonwasmarkedbyfastsforpreparation.EachSundayofAdventhasitsdistinctivetheme:Christ’scominginfinalvictory,JohntheBaptist[fortwoSundays],andtheeventsimmediatelyprecedingthebirthofJesusChrist.”Tomakeitclearer,AdventisatimewhenwegetreadyforthetwocomingsofJesusChrist.Thefirst
oneisthebirthoftheChristChild,Jesus.ThesecondcomingiswhenJesuscomesinallhisglory--whatwecall‘TheSecondComingofChrist.’
TheSecondComingofChrist,adaythatisdescribedinscriptureasthe‘GreatandTerribleDayoftheLORD.’Thisphrase,‘TheGreatandTerribleDayoftheLORD,’comesoutofthebookofJoel,oneoftheprophetsofGod,calledaminorprophet,notbecausewhathehadtosaywasn’tasimportantasthemajorprophets,butbecausehedidnotwriteasbigabook.Thepassagereads,
“AndIwillgiveportentsintheheavensandontheearth,bloodandfireandcolumnsofsmoke.Thesunshallbeturnedtodarkness,andthegreatandterribledayoftheLORDcomes.”[Joel3:30-31]
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TheApostlePeterquotesJoelinhissermononthedayofPentecost.TherePeter,insteadofusingthewordterrible,usesaGreekwordmeaninggloriousreferringtothejudgmentofGod.[Acts2:20]InbothJoelandActsthereferenceistotheDayofJudgment,whenGodwilljudgethenations.ThisjudgmentisdescribedintheApocalypseofJohn,ortheRevelationofJohn.
Adventincludes,then,thesetwogreateventsdealingwiththejudgmentofGoduponallthenationsoftheearth.Weoftenforget,thatthecomingofJesusasachildinthemangerispartofGod’splantojudgethenations.AsSimeontoldMaryandJosephuponseeingthebabyJesus,“Behold,thischildissetforthefallandrisingofmanyinIsrael,andforasignthatisspokenagainst(andaswordwillpiercethroughyourownsoulalso),thatthethoughtsoutofmanyheartsmayberevealed.”[Luke2:34b-35]
Advent,inthelifeofthechurch,isaseasonofpreparationforthecomingGod’sjudgment.Whatneedstoberememberedintheideaofjudgmentisthehopeofredemption.ItisbecauseofthisredemptionthatthechurchcelebratesthebirthoftheChristChildwithgiftsandsymbolsofjoy.
Adventistrulyaseasonofhope.Adventgroundsourlivesandournationtoarealitybeyondourselves.Adventremindsusofwhereourblessingscomefromandwhattheyaretobeusedfor.Itisgoodtorememberhowblessedweareinthisgreatnationofours.Ournationhastrulybeenamiraculousbirth.Wehavebeenblessedwithgreatresources:fertileland,mineralwealth,greatinstitutionsoflearning,aneconomicsystemthattrulyknowsnoequal,andperhapsmostimportantly,asystemofgovernmentthataffordsitscitizensunparalleledfreedoms.TheseresourceshavebeensaltedwithapeoplededicatedtoaGodwhoislovingandjust.Itisthisblessing,ajustandlovingGod,thatbringshope.ItisthisblessingofalovingandjustGodthatgivesmeaningandpurposetoalltheotherblessingsthatGodhasgivenus.
TheSeasonofAdvent,likenootherseason,remindsusofthemightofGodandourplacebeforehim.Isaiah,inproclaiminghopetothepeopleofIsrael,remindsthemofwhotheirGodis,somethingthatwouldbegoodforustoremember.Hewritesinchapter40,
Avoicesays,“Cry!”AndIsaid,“WhatshallIcry?”Allfleshisgrass,andallitsbeautyisliketheflowerofthefield.Thegrasswithers,theflowerfades,whenthebreathoftheLORDblowsuponit;surelythepeopleisgrass.Thegrasswithers,theflowerfades;butthewordofourGodwillstandforever.
Getuptoahighmountain,OZion,heraldofgoodtidings;liftupyourvoicewithstrength,OJerusalem,heraldofgoodtidings,liftitup,fearnot;saytothecitiesofJudah,“BeholdyourGod!”Behold,theLORDGodcomeswithmight,andhisarmrulesforhim;behold,hisrewardiswithhim,andhisrecompensebeforehim.Hewillfeedhisflocklikeashepherd,hewillgatherthelambsinhisarms,hewillcarrytheminhisbosom,andgentlyleadthosethatarewithyoung.
Whohasmeasuredthewatersinthehollowofhishandandmarkedofftheheavenswithaspan,enclosedthedustoftheearthinameasureandweighedthemountainsinscalesandthehillsinabalance?WhohasdirectedtheSpiritoftheLORD,orashiscounselorhasinstructedhim?Whomdidheconsultforhisenlightenment,andwhotaughthimthepathofjustice,andtaughthimknowledge,andshowedhimthewayofunderstanding?Beholdthenationsarelikeadropfromabucket,andareaccountedasthedustonthescales;behold,hetakesuptheisleslikefinedust.Lebanonwouldnotsufficeforfuel,norareitsbeastsenoughforaburntoffering.Allthenationsareasnothingbeforehim,theyareaccountedbyhimaslessthannothingandemptiness.
TowhomthenwillyoulikenGod,orwhatlikenesscomparewithhim?Theidol!Aworkmancastsit,andagoldsmithoverlaysitwithgold,andcastsforitsilverchains.Hewhoisimpoverishedchoosesforanofferingwoodthatwillnotrot;heseeksoutaskillfulcraftsmantosetupanimagethatwillnotmove.
Haveyounotknown?Haveyounotheard?Hasitnotbeentoldyoufromthe
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UMWReport-MarshaClayborne,SecretaryEveryNovembertheUMWhasachurchoutingforthecongregationandtheirfamilies.The
MulletsonDealRoadhasbeentheplacethelastfewyearstoenjoyanAmish-styledinner.DoorprizesweregivenbyBarbButlerfortheeventonNov.10.
TheUMWmetatthehomeofJoanCoonandEleanorDoupfortheDecembermeeting.Aftertheluncheonthemeetingbegan.DevotionswerereadbyJoanCoonandtheprogramwasledbyJoanCoonandEleanorDoup.
TheChristmasprogramforTrim-a-TreenightonDecember6washostedbytheUMW.Christmasmusic,achildren’sprogram,asilentauction,andfoodtoenjoyhighlightedtheevent.Thesilentauctionnetted$269.WelearnedaboutChristmasastheHopewellcongregationwouldhavecelebratedit100yearsago.AspecialthankyoutoBarbButlerforputtingtheprogramtogetherandtoBobJosephforvolunteeringhistimetobeauctioneer.ThankstoIrmaNewland,BobJoseph,andDonNewlandforthebeautifulChristmashymns.TheUMWgavethechildrenbagsofcandyandhadthemdecoratethetreewithpopcornandcranberriesthatweremadeforthemtoputonthetree.
TherewillbenoJanuaryandFebruarymeetingssincetheweatheriscoldandsnowy.TheUMWladiesinviteallwhowouldliketojoinusinfellowshipatournextMarchmeeting.Thankstoeveryonethisyearwhohasdonatedinourschoolsuppliesandwinterclothingdrive.ThecongregationatHopewellisaverygenerouschurch.
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beginning?Haveyounotunderstoodfromthefoundationsoftheearth?Itishewhositsabovethecircleoftheearth,anditsinhabitantsarelikegrasshoppers;whostretchesouttheheavenslikeacurtain,andspreadsthemlikeatenttodwellin;whobringsprincestonaught,andmakestherulersoftheearthasnothing.
Scarcelyaretheyplanted,scarcelyhastheirstemtakenrootintheearth,whenheblowsuponthem,andtheywither,andthetempestcarriesthemofflikestubble.
Towhomthenwillyoucompareme,thatIshouldbelikehim?SaystheHolyOne.Liftupyoureyesonhighandsee:whocreatedthese?Hewhobringsouttheirhostsbynumber,callingthembyname;bythegreatnessofhismight,andbecauseheisstronginpowernotoneismissing.
Whydoyousay,OJacob,andspeak,OIsrael,“MywayishidfromtheLORD,andmyrightisdisregardedbymyGod”?Haveyounotknown?Haveyounotheard?TheLORDistheeverlastingGod,theCreatoroftheendsoftheearth.Hedoesnotfaintorgrowweary,hisunderstandingisunsearchable.Hegivespowertothefaint,andtohimwhohasnomighthegivesstrength.Evenyouthsshallfaintandbeweary,andyoungmenshallfallexhausted;buttheywhowaitfortheLORDshallrenewtheirstrength,theyshallmountupwithwingslikeeagles,theyshallrunandnotbeweary,theyshallwalkandnotfaint.[Isaiah40:6-31]
Thischapter,likenoother,speaksofGod’smajestyandourpositiontohim.GodsenthisSononChristmasmorningtoremindusofhisterriblemajesty.WonderandhopebeginwhenwerealizethatthisGodwouldsostooptobringusintoalovingrelationshipwithhim.WithoutAdventtherecouldnotbeaChristmasmorning.TherecouldnotbeanEastermorning.Wehavebegunanewyearinthechurch;letusbehumblebeforeourGod.Amen.
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FollowHopewellUMC……ontheWeb: www.mvhopewellumc.org …onFacebook: www.facebook.com/HopewellUMCMtVernonFollowThreeRiversDistrict… http://3riversumc.org
FinancialReport(asofDecember22,2015)–BarbButler,Treasurer
GeneralFund $39,224BuildingCapitalMaintenanceFund $14,828CentennialCapitalCampaignFund: Paidpledges $20,970
BirthdaysJanuary 4D.J.Johnson
5MaryellenAranda 8JeanCampbellFebruary 1DonNewland 1JulieZimmerman
4AnneRussell 9ShadBevington 11BradCoon 11AmyYashnyk 13HowardWorkman 18LeahGourley 20DonnaLybarger 23AliviaZimmerman 28MichaelPadula
NextVisionTeammeeting:Wednesday,February3,7–8:30PM.WewillmeetfordessertanddiscussionatBobEvansrestaurantonCoshoctonRoad.AllmembersandfriendsofHUMCareinvited.
TheWorkofChristmasWhenthesongoftheangelsisstilled,Whenthestarintheskyisgone,Whenthekingsandprincesarehome,Whentheshepherdsarebackwiththeirflock,TheworkofChristmasbegins: Tofindthelost, Tohealthebroken, Tofeedthehungry, Toreleasetheprisoner, Torebuildthenations, Tobringpeaceamongbrothers, Tomakemusicintheheart. --HowardThurmanfromWorthingtonUMCnewsletter(TheMessenger)
KrogerCommunityRewardsProgram–BarbButler,Treasurer
SinceenteringtheKrogerCommunityRewardsProgramjustovertwoyearsago,HopewellUMChurchhasreceivedatotalof$1,026.IfyoushopatKroger’sandwishtoparticipate,contactLindaJosephorBarbButler.ThemoneyyouspendongrocerieshelpsHUMCearncash.Yourhelpisappreciated.
NextChurchCouncilmeeting:Sunday,March6,8:30–9:30AM.
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BarbButlerwrites,“ThispoemwaswrittenbyMarshaClayborneandputinourChristmascardsometimeago.WithMarsha’spermission,Iwouldliketoshareitwithallofourreaders.”MyOldCountryChurch
--byMarshaClayborne
DownHopewellRoadsitsanOldCountryChurch inafieldbyitself,trimmedinwhite.FriendsgathereachSundaytoWorshipandPray knowingGodisourstrengthandourLight.Thecoloredglasswindows,asignofthepast, rememberthenamesleftbehind,Achurchthatstoodstillmanyyearsago hasaheartandasoulhardtofind.
ThisOldCountryChurchInowcallmyhome iswaitingforyouandforme.Ourspiritwillalwaysbehereevermore tocontinueHisSon’slegacy.
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VisionTeamUpdate–BobJoseph,TeamleaderTheVisionTeammetfordessertanddiscussionatBobEvansonNov.11.Welookedbackatthepasttwoyearsofvisioning,withafocusontheSWOT(Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats)analysis,andsomeoftheprogressmade.Strengths:Moststrengthsremainevident,with“growingdiversity”addedtothelist.Weaknesses:Someweaknessesarebeingovercome,e.g.,small/agingcongregation,fewinvolved,resistancetochange.Opportunities:(Seebelow)Threats:Potentialthreatsincludeaculturaldeparturefromreligion/church,complacency—andIrma’seventualretirementasorganist.Muchtimewasdevotedtorecallingtheoriginalopportunitiesandheadwaythat’sbeenmade.Followingisapartiallist:• Improvecommunications:HUMChaspublishedayearlycalendar(whichmustbeupdatedfor2016)andabi-monthlynewsletter;themembershiprollhasbeenupdated.
• Attractandretainchildren:YouthYak;youthinvolvedinlightingcandles,receivingoffering,singing;adultspreparedactivitybags;children’spageaddedtonewsletter.
• Improvefinancialstabilityandsecurity:ContinuedCESdinner,fundraisersandsilentauctions;conductedcentennialcampaign
• Increaseinvolvement/commitmentofcurrentmembers:Continued/expandedmissionprojects,e.g.,NursingoutreachministryandRicebowlchallenge;ActivetrusteesandSPPRcommittee
• Improveworshipexperienceformembersandvisitors:Themusicprogramhasbeenenhancedbymemberandguest‘artists’,e.g.,theWolfefamily,TimothyNoble,andtheSciotoRidgeBoys;YouthYak(again)
• Increasechurch‘visibility’:Anewsignboardandexteriorlightingwereadded;worshiptimesareadvertisedinKnoxWaysandCiderPress.HUMChasapresenceonFacebookandaWebsite.
ThenextteammeetingisplannedforFeb.3from7–8:30PMatBobEvans.Thetopicwillbe“HowdoesHopewellserveGodinthecommunityandtheworld.”
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Hoarfrostonthewroughtirongate,andeveryothernon-movingthing,greetedtheHopewell
congregationonDec6.
TheGourleyfamily(fromleft,Bitsi,Natalie,Leah,JesseandMickey)litthe2ndAdvent
candleonDec6.
DuringYouthYakonDec.6,theHopewellyouthbecamebranchesofaChristmastree.
DonnaSpinks’scarisinRudolfmode,thankstohergreat-niecesand-nephews.
JeanRiley,BevLahmon,andEllenKaiserwereAdventreadersandlitthe4thcandle,withan
assistfromPastorLeeonDec.20
Beautiful,redpoinsettias,placedinmemoryofHopewelllovedones,gracedthealtaronDec.20.