sermon series: sing we now of christmas · to see family on christmas eve. on christmas eve we will...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 24, Number 12
December 1st, 2018
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inclement weather
that may cause
services to cancel,
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www.eastcross.org,
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Church Office:
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are due in the church office by
noon on Thursday,
December 13th.
Email articles to [email protected]
East Cross News
Monthly Publication of East Cross United
Methodist Church
December 2
1st Sunday of Advent, Communion
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Hope—John the Baptist and Jesus John 1:1-14
December 9
2nd Sunday of Advent
Joy to the World
Joy—Mary and Elizabeth Luke 1:39-56
December 16
3rd Sunday of Advent
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Peace—Zechariah and Baby John Luke 1:57-80
December 23
4th Sunday of Advent
Away in a Manger
Love—Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus Luke 2:1-20
December 30
We Three Kings
Magi, Mary, Joseph, Jesus Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon Series:
Sing We Now Of Christmas
Christmas Eve Services at East Cross
Little Drummer Boy / Silent Night, Holy Night
I Bring My Gift Matthew 1:18-25
Sunday, December 23
4pm Traditional Christmas Eve Service & Communion, Sanctuary
Monday, December 24
4pm Children’s Service, Christian Life Center
6pm, 8pm, 11pm Candlelight & Communion, Sanctuary
Gather to hear the Christmas story through scripture and song,
share in Communion and light candles in celebration of Christ’s
birth. Nursery available for infants through preschool on Sunday,
December 23 at 4pm and on Monday, December 24 at 6pm.
C hristmas is always a
big deal around East
Cross. When I
arrived here almost
eight years ago, we had two
Christmas Eve services and the
6:00pm service was so
crowded it was uncomfortable
to be here. We went to work to
better meet the needs of this
congregation and our
community. We immediately
added an 8:00pm service which
allowed us to serve more
persons and so families could
be more comfortable
worshipping together.
A few years ago I had a vision
of beginning a Christmas Eve
worship experience specifically
for our children. So we began a
4:00pm service, totally centered
around our children, which gets
larger every year.
A couple of years ago I noticed
that many of our senior adults
who cannot drive after dark
were being left out, so we
started a “traditional” style
Christmas Eve Candlelight
Service at 4:00pm so people
could worship and get back
home before dark. This service
also continues to grow each
year.
This year, we are making one
more change to our Christmas
Eve Service schedule. We are
moving our “daylight” or
“traditional” 4:00pm Candlelight
service up one day to Sunday,
December 23, at 4:00pm. This
will also serve those who travel
to see family on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve we will still
have our Children’s Christmas
Eve service at 4:00pm in the
CLC or Gym, then our 6, 8 and
11pm Candlelight services will
be in the Sanctuary or Worship
Center.
Invite a friend and another
family to join you this year as
we celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ in our Christmas Eve
Candlelight Services. There’s a
place here for you.
Merry Christmas a few days
early,
Pastor Jeff
The Journey Continues… - 2 -
Another step in our journey…
Traditional Worship
E ast Cross will have their
2nd annual Christmas
Sampler December 12
during the last
Wednesday of Connections. Last
year, we had such a wonderful
time celebrating the holiday as a
church family. Once again, you
are guaranteed to have a fun
evening as the live studio
audience on the KBEC radio
show. K-Bartlesville East Cross is
the perfect place to hear DJ
Santa C spin all the greatest
Christmas hits with the EC Studio
Singers (the Sanctuary Choir),
the EC Praise Band, the EC Kids,
and special guests, the BHS Jazz
Choir. Everyone has a must-have
treat or snack that is a tradition
during the holidays. Bring your
favorite must-have holiday treat
for sampling. You can even
include recipe cards to exchange
your favorite and then find many
new favorites after sampling all
the goodies. Don’t forget to wear
your Christmas sweaters! This is
one Christmas event you will not
want to miss! Mark your
calendars on December 12 for
the Christmas Sampler. Dinner
and treats will begin at 5:30pm
and the program will follow. Tune
in to KBEC…Join the Journey!
Margie Green,
Traditional Worship
W hat is the greatest
gift that you have
ever received?
Take a moment and
really think about it. I know the
answer to this question ranges
from the deep and sentimental to
the wow and the exciting. For
some, it is just the gift of being
born or the macaroni picture that
one of the kids made in first
grade that hold the honor of the
“greatest gift ever”. While for
others the title of “greatest gift
ever” goes to the time that your
parents surprised you with a trip
to Disney World or a brand new
car. For me, there are so many to
choose from — when Lesli said
“I Do”, when Riley and Cameron
were born, or even the G.I. Joe
“U.S.S. Flag” Aircraft Carrier (one
of the greatest toys ever) that I
received one bright Christmas
morning. However, the greatest
gift I ever received came a few
years before my birth, actually it
came 1,976 years before I was
born (give or take a few years
depending on historical records)
but a gift that I did not open until I
was 9 years old at church camp.
That is because the greatest gift
of my life is the love of God
revealed in the birth, life and
death of Jesus. This amazing gift
is the reason that we celebrate
Christmas. This sacrificial gift has
transformed the world, and this
gift has the power to transform us
as well — as long as we open it
and truly receive it.
One thing for us to keep in mind
during this Christmas season is
that a gift does no good if it sits
under the tree and is never
opened. The giver of the gift did
not intend for it to go unopened
or unused, because the whole
reason for giving a gift is to bless
the one receiving it. The same is
true of the gift of the baby Jesus
born so long ago in the most
humble of circumstances to two
everyday people who were no
different than you or me. God did
not send Jesus just to Mary and
Joseph, but to the entirety of
humanity for all time. God gave
each of us the gift of Jesus so
that our lives did not have to be
the same. The “Greatest Gift
Ever” was given so that we, as
John 10:10 says, can not only
have life, but life to the fullest!
However, even the “Greatest Gift
Ever” needs to be opened and
fully received if we are going to
experience life to the fullest. So
as you open your gifts this
coming Christmas morning, take
time to think about the “Greatest
Gift Ever” and the impact that it
has had on your life. It might be
that you still have yet to open it. It
might be that you have opened it
and have set is aside. It even
might be that you have opened it,
received it and you have seen
how God’s love has transformed
your life.
Let me leave you with a scripture
to ponder as you approach this
year’s Christmas celebration.
James 1:17 (CEB) says, “Every
good gift, every perfect gift,
comes from above. These gifts
come down from the Father, the
creator of the heavenly lights, in
whose character there is no
change at all.”
Have a Merry and Blessed
Christmas!
Pastor Chad
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From Pastor Chad…
Student Ministry
Christmas Beyond Gifts
This month I’m sure we all will be
preparing Christmas trees,
wearing Christmas sweaters, and
anticipating what gifts we will be
receiving from loved ones. On
top of all that, we will be
celebrating the birth of Jesus
Christ the Lord! Isn’t that funny
that our minds usually think about
Christmas in that order of detail?
We care so much about the gifts
we give or receive but we tend to
put something even greater
behind that.
Last year, our students got
together on a Wednesday night
and walked over to the blue
apartments next to the church
and went caroling door to door.
We handed out hot chocolate
and candy canes and brought
some Christmas cheer to each
door that we could. What I
noticed is that not only did we
bless the families that we visited
with gifts but we also received
something in return. Something
we could not have planned or
even thought of asking for. Let
me explain. We started by filling
up on some hot chocolate and
hanging out by the doors of the
church. We were laughing
together as we waited for others
to show up. We talked about the
amazing Angel Tree program that
our church puts on every year.
Once everyone showed up, we
took off together talking about
Christmas and how excited we
were for all that comes with it. As
we walked and sang, I looked
around at all of us serving
together. It was really something
special. We were enjoying our
time together even with freezing
cold temperatures. We were
really having just a great time
being together. And that’s what I
realized we received.
We were together. Connected.
Because of Christ in our lives, we
were connected together through
our Savior and we were sharing
that with others. We shared it
through our gifts of singing and
hot chocolate, sure, but mostly it
was through our smiles, laughs,
and our “oneness” in Christ. It
helped me to remember
especially during this time of year
that sometimes the greatest gift
you can receive may not be a
tangible physical box but
something entirely deeper and
more meaningful. Being
connected with Christ!
Evan Holmes,
Director of Youth Ministries
The Journey Continues… - 4 -
T hank you so much to all
those who have donated
Christmas trees for our
Christmas stage design
this year! Like many of you, I am
looking forward to seeing the
finished product throughout our
Advent series, and during our
Christmas Eve services! Don’t
forget that our traditional
Christmas Eve service will be at
4pm on December 23, and our
children’s and contemporary
services on December 24. We
look forward to seeing you there!
This Advent series is especially
exciting, as it centers around the
music that makes Christmas so
special. Most of us have those
special songs on our playlist this
time of year that take us back to
a special time and place that
warms our hearts. We hope that
our music this month has that
effect on you and reminds us all
of the true reason we celebrate.
Come let us adore, let us bring
our best for Him, let us receive
our King!
Wishing you the merriest of
Christmases,
Zack Michel , Contemporary Worship
Contemporary Worship
G uys, we were
messing up. Big
time. But instead of
giving up on us,
God did something about our
greatest need by giving us the
greatest gift imaginable. God’s
compassion for the people He
created led to the greatest act
of love the world has ever
seen. He sent His only Son to
make us right with Him. Jesus!
This month our focus is
Compassion: caring enough to
do something about someone
else’s need. And there’s no
greater example of
compassion than of God
giving us Jesus! We will learn
what compassion means in
our own lives and that we
show our compassion when
we care about others and
show them how much God
loves them.
Our month is also full of lots of
fun events. Check out the
dates below!
December 1st: EC Kids
participate in the Bartlesville
Christmas Parade
December 2nd
: CIA – Angel
Tree Shopping from 3-5pm
December 5th: Connections
Christmas Mug Exchange
Party
December 12th: EC Kids
performing at our 2nd
Annual
Christmas Sampler
December 16th: Baby Jesus
Birthday Party during
Children’s Church
December 24th: Kids’
Christmas Eve Service at 4pm
– come enjoy our video
starring our very own children!
December 30th: Pancakes and
Pajama Party during Sunday
School
It will be such an exciting
month and I can’t wait to share
it with your kids! Merry
Christmas from my family to
yours!
Aimee Hall, Director of
Children’s Ministries
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EC Kids
STAFF APPRECIATION GIFTS…
We are so thankful for our pastors and staff members and would like to provide an
opportunity for all of us to show our gratitude. If you would like to participate, simply
make a donation by Sunday, December 16 and note “Staff Appreciation” on the memo
line of the check or giving envelope. Staff Parish Relations Committee will distribute
your gifts to our staff before Christmas.
Your generosity is appreciated.
Sharon LaFerry, SPRC Chair
O ur program will again be offering, for
its ninth year, “Count Your Blessings”
fundraiser during the month of
December which provides each of our
classroom teachers a small “holiday bonus” that
is solely and directly provided for by each of the
Early Childhood Center program’s families! All
contributions are a very nice way to show
gratitude for the time the teachers are working
with each of their classroom children—thank you!
Parent Day Out Program:
Ms. Lacey—Infant classroom
Ms. Chandler and Ms. Liz—Toddler classroom
Ms. Persia and Ms. Lindsay—Two-Year-Old’s
Ms. Colleen and Ms. Jennifer—Young 3’s
Preschool Program—Three and Four Year Olds:
Ms. Christy and Ms. Nancy;
Ms. Valerie and Ms. Gloria;
Ms. Melissa and Ms. Tasha;
Ms. Sonia and Ms. Genna and Ms. Lisa
Director’s Assistant and Classroom Substitute:
Ms. Nora
Happy Holidays!
~ Coleen Williams, Director @ East Cross
Early Childhood Center
Email: [email protected] Phone: 918-333-3814
The Journey Continues… - 6 -
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
C hristmas is the most
wonderful time of the
year, particularly when
we get to celebrate it
with children. The wonder on
their faces is just magical. One of
my favorite things is all the
decorations especially the lights.
It’s great to take a drive around
the neighborhoods and take a
look at all the homes that have
been lit up. It can be so easy to
get caught up in the beauty of the
lights that we might think that is
what Christmas is all about. But
the lights aren’t Christmas; the
lights are just reminders of the
True Light that came to bring light
into the world.
This Christmas as you enjoy the
beautiful Christmas lights, let’s
remember that while they are
beautiful they are only reminders
of the one true light—Jesus.
May you enjoy this Christmas
time and may you create
memories that will last a lifetime.
Merry Christmas!
Liz VanDeVenter, Nursery Director
EAST CROSS NURSERY
Jeff Burress, Pastor Chad Perceful, Pastor Evan Holmes, Youth Ministries Aimee Hall, Children’s Ministries Linda Smith, Ministerial Coordinator Linda Thornton, Treasurer-Membership Coleen Williams, Early Childhood Center
Liz VanDeVenter, Nursery and Childcare Margie Green, Traditional Worship Jan Watt, Pianist Zack Michel, Contemporary Worship Charles Binau, Audio Coordinator Jon Colliver, Building and Maintenance Crystal McCollam, Custodian
Merry Christmas from your East Cross
Staff!
learning to follow Jesus,
inviting others to join the journey - 7 -
Mountain of Food
M atthew 25:40 says “Whatever you do
for the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine you do for me”. Our
annual MOF drive raised over $17,000
and we donated 932 cases of food to our three
local agencies. We are serving people in our
community by feeding the hungry at Agape and
the Lighthouse and stocking the food pantry at
Concern which lasts them 2-3 months.
God Bless each one of you and your families for
your generosity carrying out God’s mission to
provide for local people in need.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped
receive food from Homeland on Madison on
Saturdays. The manager at Homeland delivered
our order each week to the church which
made the job so much easier.
A big thank you to the many volunteers who
helped deliver on Thursday, November 15.
We are a blessed congregation….
We Are Truly Rich!!!
Kay Ruehlen and the Outreach Committee
Angel Tree
Angels are on the tree! We
have 84 children from Big
Brothers and Big Sisters, and
Foster children from DHS.
Pick one or more that you
want to purchase for: girl or
boy, preferred age, register on
the sign up sheet the number
on the angel and your phone
number. Help a less fortunate
child have a Blessed day.
Return to church December 9
in a gift bag, not wrapped
please. Add another blessing
to your life.
VIM (Volunteers In Mission)
Want to take a mission trip to
help the less fortunate? Costa
Rica plans are in the works. If
interested contact Jeretta
Amburn. There will be a sign
up meeting on December 2 at
2:00pm in Fellowship Hall.
Wesley Foundation
This Mission project will help
at University of Arkansas, OU,
and OSU. We are so blessed
at East Cross to be able to
serve our Lord’s directives.
Love one another and serve
where you can. We do!
Chili Cook-off
is just around the corner (end
of January). Are you going to
enter your favorite recipe? We
can always use
items for the
“Silent Auction”.
Do you have
something you
would like to provide? Let
Jeretta Amburn know what
you feel you want to do.
To carry the theme of the Chili
Cook-off, new tablecloths are
being made for this fun
project.
Outreach Committee
We had two couples checkout
the Outreach Committee at
our meeting in November. Are
you serving on a committee?
Want to join us? Contact
Jeretta Amburn to get
information.
All new white tablecloths have
been purchased for our
church. The old ones were
well used. Please help keep
the new ones nice for as long
as we can. Thank You!
“We are learning to follow
Jesus, inviting others to join
the journey”. Have you invited
anyone to join us?
Continue to Love one another
and Pray, Pray and Pray some
more for all things! God has
blessed us soooo much.
GENEROSITY BOXES
Our local mission outreach for
the month of December 2018
will be the FOOD 4 KIDS
program!! Your fantastic
kindness in helping to meet
the needs of many of our
Bartlesville kids is appreciated
more than you realize! While
visiting with the director, she
mentioned that they pack
about 650 packets a week to
be sent home to those in need
each weekend which is close
to 2,600 food packs a month.
This program is in need of the
following items to supplement
that which they are able to
obtain from the local food
bank.
Pudding cups –
vanilla or chocolate;
fruit cups;
raisins – small boxes;
fruit snacks – the ones with
100% fruit juice;
cereal bars;
boxes of regular cereal
So while you are shopping,
won’t you grab a few of these
items and toss them in your
cart? These items can be
dropped into the Generosity
Boxes that are conveniently
located at EACH entrance to
ECUMC!
The Journey Continues… - 8-
December Outreach News
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inviting others to join the journey - 9 -
Announcing the birth of…
Lindy Jane Brammer born October 27 at 3:02 pm.
Lindy weighed 7lbs 12.5 oz and was 20.5 inches
long!
Proud family is Lee, Amanda and big brother
Hollis, and, grandparents Bob and Paula Lindblom,
Cynthia and the late Dr. Stan DeFehr, and David
and Annette Brammer.
Congratulations to all!
Dear East Cross Family,
Thank you to those of you that signed up to be prayer partners with our college
students. We have 31 students that are being prayed for by East Cross church
members. Our students are spread from California to Georgia. We appreciate the
time you spend sending prayers and notes their way. For the month of October,
the ministry team sent all the students a $10 Braum’s gift card for a “treat” on us.
Thank you,
Kim Wood and Kendra Deffenbaugh, College Ministry Team
Dear East Cross,
Words cannot express to you how much we appreciate all the wonderful
food and the wonderful offering! This helps us so much! May God richly
bless each and everyone for their giving.
God Bless,
Sherri Smith, Agape Mission
The church office will be… CLOSED: Tuesday, December 25
OPEN: Limited Hours — call ahead
Wednesday, December 26
Thursday, December 27
Monday, December 31
CLOSED: Tuesday, January 1, 2019
OPEN: Wednesday, January 2, 2019 If you have an emergency, please call:
Jeff Burress 1-918-977-0658
Chad Perceful 1-918-850-4402
PRAYER LIST
New Prayer Requests…
Luci Black (Clyde and Connie’s daughter-in-law), Matt Miller (Clyde and Connie’s son-in-law), Greg Spears (Charlene’s son), Carol Warden (Connie Black’s mother), Michele Willoughby
————————————————————–——————-
Vanna Baddley, Annie Bollinger (daughter of Charlie and LeAnne Christensen), Paul Broerman, Kathy Christian, Joan Collins (friend of Pam Knuth), Doris and Eddie Danford (Brenda Commons’ parents), Dave Faust (Melda and Gary Howard’s son-in-law), Muriel Faust (Dave Faust’s mother), Don Fleming (Teresa Dietz’ friend), Blaine Fraser (Bob Fraser’s dad), Marcia Goode, Amy Kelton (Teresa Dietz’ friend), Barry Knuth, James Kuntz, Louis and Emily Kuntz, Bob Murnan, Leslie Neff, Mike Paxson (brother-in-law of Coleen Williams), Marie Puckett, Euela Randall, Spence Rigdon, Helen Shell, Jeana Smith (Tim Smith’s sister), Isabella Sousa, Rosy and Leelani Swisher (daughter-in-law and granddaughter of Sharon), Kermit Tanzey, Joyce Taylor, Jeremy Waldorf, Chris Watson (Chad Perceful’s aunt), Glenna Wright (Steve Wright’s mother), Keith Wyrick (Erville Orndorff’s newphew), Allie Zoldoske
Condolences to…
Glenn and Susie Harbison on the death of his mother, Edna Harbison, on November 10.
If you know someone that needs to be
added or removed from the Prayer List,
call the church office at 918-333-0810.
ONLINE GIVING...You can give electronically by going to our website
www.eastcross.org. Click the menu tab on top of the Welcome page
and click on “Give Online” OR scroll to the bottom of our Welcome
page and click on “Give.” Funds can also be withdrawn automatically
weekly or monthly by completing a request form available in the
treasurer’s office.
East Cross also offers a mobile version of our
online giving page to make it easy for you to
give anytime from your smart phone. Simply scan
the image to the left using your phone’s Quick
Response (QR) code reader.
The Journey Continues… - 10 -
All East Cross men are invited to meet for
breakfast and fellowship at Boulevard Diner
on Saturday, December 1 at 8am!
Pray for our Military
Please pray for all persons serving in the military and their families.
If you have a loved one or a friend currently on
active duty in the military and would like them
added to our Wall of Honor, please contact
Charlie and LeAnne Christensen at
[email protected] or 918-327-1226.
* SPC Luis Balli
* Robbie Lawson
* SSG Gary Mabry
* SSG Jared Seat
* CPT Derek Smith
* deployed
LTC Darrin Cox
Esn. Lisa Freeman
Mark Hathaway
LCDR Eric Rolfs CPT Daniel Smith
CDR Robert Staten
SFC Clifton White
Sunday Morning Van Ministry
Call the church office at 918-333-0810 and leave
a message on extension 105 before 7:30am on
Sunday mornings. You may also have a standing
request to be picked up each week.
Church Women United Annual Meeting and Tea
Friday, December 7 at 1:00pm
First Christian Church 520 SE Osage Ave
Sunday
8:30am Traditional Worship Service 9:45am Small Groups for all ages 11:00am Contemporary Worship Service 11:15am Children’s Church 12:00pm S.A.L.T. Lunch 5:00pm C3 Youth Ministry Monday
9:30am-3:00pm Early Childhood Center (not on 12/24 or 12/31) Tuesday
4:00pm Prayer Group
Wednesday
9:30am-3:00pm Early Childhood Center (not on 12/26) 7:00pm Sanctuary Choir (not on 12/19) 7:30pm Praise Band Practice Thursday
Friday
9:30am-12:00Noon Early Childhood Center PreK (not on 12/28)
Saturday
Weekly Activities at East Cross
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 8a Men’s
Breakfast at Boulevard Diner
6:30p Christmas Parade
2
1st Sunday of Advent
Communion
5p PG Small Group
3
6:30p Prayer Shawl Ministry
4
5
Connections
5:30p Meal
6p Discussion
on future of
the UMC
6
7
6:30p S.A.L.T. Fellowship
8
9
2nd Sunday of Advent
10
6:30p Young Adults
7p Miriam
11
7p Outreach
12
5:30p Meal
6p Christmas Sampler
13
14
7p Church Bridge
15
4p S.A.L.T.
Fellowship
16 3rd Sunday
of Advent
11a Baby Jesus Birthday Party
5p PG Small Group
17
6:30p Prayer Shawl Ministry
7p Trustees
18
6p Piecemaker Quilters
19
No Connections Tonight
20
9:30a Rebecca
21
6p Blue Christmas
22
23 4th Sunday of Advent
4p Traditional Christmas Eve
30
24 Services: 4p Children’s
6p, 8p, 11p
Christmas Eve
31
25
Christmas Day
Church Office
Closed
26
No Connections Tonight
27
28 29
December 2018
learning to follow Jesus,
inviting others to join the journey - 11 -
EAST CROSS NEWS (USPS 164-540) Published monthly
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
East Cross United Methodist Church 820 S. Madison Blvd. Bartlesville, OK 74006-8533
PERIODICALS U.S. POSTAGE PAID AT BARTLESVILLE, OK 74003
USPS 164-540
learning to fo l low Jesus, inv i t ing others to jo in the journey
Rev. Jeff Burress Pastor
Chad Perceful Pastor
Evan Holmes Director of Youth Ministries
Aimee Hall Director of Children’s Ministries
Linda Smith Ministerial Coordinator
Linda Thornton Treasurer-Membership
Coleen Williams Early Childhood Center Director
Liz VanDeVenter Nursery and Childcare Director
Margie Green
Traditional Worship Director
Jan Watt, Pianist
Zack Michel Contemporary Worship Director
Charles Binau Coordinator Audio Equipment/Volunteers
Jon Colliver Building & Maintenance Coordinator
Crystal McCollam, Custodian
Celebration Luncheon!