visioning meeting december 2 the tidings · honor someone you love with gifts from the heart. study...

Dates of interest in December:

4th Church/Charge Conference

8th Youth Holiday Parade

24th Christmas Eve

31th New Year’s Eve

Stewrdship 2

Financial State of the Church 2

Alternative Christmas Market 3

From the Worship Committee 4

Small Groups 5

Inside this issue: Th

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Volume 20, Issue 12

December 2018

Our United Methodist Women (UMW) has

hosted the lovely and delicious Mood Setter on the

first Sunday of December for a number of

years. However, this year they are unable to do so. Therefore,

SAM is hosting the event in honor of the UMW and all they have

given to us. It will be a holiday potluck so bring your dishes to

share as well as your table service. Together we will say thank

you to the ladies who have so graciously led us into December for

so many enjoyable years

You Are Invited to Attend the Holiday Potluck ~ December 2

Visioning Meeting ~ December 2

The next meeting of the

UMW will be after the potluck

and cleanup on December 2. We will finalize details for the cook-

ie exchange that will be held on December 23. A variety of cook-

ies will be offered for mixing and matching. If you would like to

make a donation to the UMW to help with their mission goal of

aiding women and children, make your check out to UMW or put

cash in an envelope and label UMW. Then place in the offering

plate and it will be delivered to the UMW.

On Tuesday, December 4, beginning at 7:00 p.m. we will

hold our 2018 Church Conference. The Rev. Scott Andrews, pas-

tor of the Murrieta UMC will be our presiding elder. The Church

Conference is an opportunity for us to gather and share the mis-

sion and ministry in which we have been engaged during the pre-

ceding year, learn what our apportionment asking will be in the

next year, and set the pastor’s annual salary and benefits pack-

age. Please come and share in the evening, as everyone’s vote is

important.

Church/Charge Conference ~ December 4

Financial State of the Church

THESE ARE THE COMPARITIVE FIGURES THROUGH OCTOBER

T HE TI DI NGS

2017 2018 Difference

Income $ 176,452 $ 183,158 6,707 $

Expenses $ 184,276 $ 182,964 -1,313 $

Net Income $ -7,825 $ 195 8,020 $

Stewardship

Christmas Parade Festivities ~

December 8

The Adult and Family Ministries will be collecting children’s

shoes for the Christmas Season until December 16th. We will

then take the shoes to the Chino Neighborhood House to assist in

making some Chino children’s Christmas a little brighter.

Our 2019 Stewardship campaign theme is “It’s Time to

Move.” You have already received two letters, urging you to look

for ways in which you may be able to help Chino UMC move into

our future. The campaign will wrap up with a Consecration Cele-

bration in worship on Sunday, December 9. During that service,

everyone is asked to make their Estimate of Giving to our congre-

gation for 2019. We will collect these estimates, total them and let everyone know our financial

outlook for next year.

We are in need of members/friends of the Chino United

Methodist Church to help with the ministry of providing c

coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts to the community.

The Annual Youth Holiday Parade is on Saturday,

December 8. We need volunteers to arrive by 7:30 a.m. as you won’t be able to park near the

church due to the street closures. We need help making coffee, setting up the tables in front of

the church, manning the doughnuts, napkins, cups, etc. Please consider helping with service

to the community. Thank you so much,

M & M Small Group

Annual Shoe Drive ~ Thru December 16

V OLU ME 20, ISS UE 1 2

We Are in Mission Alternative Christmas Market ~ December 9 and 16

This is my commandment. Love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

Choose gifts that make a difference long after the holidays are over. Again this year we

can give back in a meaningful way while also helping us check things off our shopping lists

with gifts to any of our following projects: Imagine No Malaria (bed

nets), Habitat for Humanity (dwellings), Heifer Project Internation-

al (animals), Church World Service (blankets), and David and Mar-

garet (help for girls in

need). With a simple contribu-

tion to a mission project you can

help an individual or family

while honoring a friend or loved

one. What's not to love? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Choose the gift amount that is right for you.

2. Select a brochure and a card to send or give to your recipients letting them know of your

gifts.

3. Pay at the cashier then sit back and enjoy the holidays knowing you've given great gifts

with long lasting impact.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY has the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to

live. The foundation of a stable, secure life begins with safe, adequate housing. Our gifts to

HABITAT helps to build suitable housing here in the Inland Empire. The people receiving the

houses help to build the houses with “sweat equity.”

There will also be crafts from 3rd World Hand Arts as well as food items from Homeboys and

Homegirls.

Honor someone you love with Gifts from the heart.

Study Class

Please join with others from our Mission Area (Chino, Ontario,

Upland, Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga UMCs) for a study of the

book, “The Anatomy of Peace: resolving the heart of conflict,” as we antic-

ipate the Special General Conference in February of 2019.

This class will be held at Ontario First UMC, and co-led by Ontar-

io’s pastor, the Rev. Blair Trygstad-Stowe, and our own Matt Seargeant.

We plan to meet for six successive afternoons, dates and times to be de-

termined.

If we have enough interest, we can arrange a carpool from Chino

to Ontario First UMC.

For more information, please contact Matt Seargeant.

T HE TI DI NGS

From the Worship Committee

The mews this month is that our animal blessing service on November 17 was a howling success. This was our

first attempt at such a service, and it was successful because everyone went home with healthy pets (no pet cats

ate pet birds, etc.). There were only three dogs, but some folks brought photographs of their “fur babies” to be

blessed. The service was lay-prepared, but Pastor Matt graciously led it so pets could be blessed by an actual

clergyperson.

Attendees heard Robert Phillips and Jennifer McDermott tell true stories about a herd of elephants

that mourned the death of their human friend and a little girl who gives food to crows and is given small gifts in

return by the crows, such as stones, hairclips, etc. The little girl’s mother, a photographer, lost a lens cap, which

the crows found and returned to her after washing it off in a birdbath.

Handouts were provided at the service which included recipes for dog, cat, and bird treats; information

about wildlife centers and animal shelters and how to become a volunteer; and funny poems and other short piec-

es. If you would like the handouts, ask me (Kathleen Phillips), and I can e-mail them to you or print out a hard

copy.

Saturday, December 1, starting at 10 a.m., is when we will decorate the church for Christmas, send out

for lunch, and then join together for a Christmas singalong. We will start at 10 and continue with the events un-

til we’re done.

We will be deciding, during our next meeting, what activities and special services we will do during the

first six months of next year. If you have any ideas, let me know!

ABOUT SOME CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS…

People sometimes give fruit baskets as gifts. In colder climates, children used to receive their only orange

of the year as a Christmas gift. As a Christmas symbol, fruit recalls the twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity

(Love), Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity (Kindness), Goodness, Long-Suffering (Patiently Bearing Suffering), Mild-

ness, Faith, Modesty, Continency (Purity), and Chastity.

Mistletoe is an aerial parasite that has no roots of its own. It lives off the tree to which it attaches itself

and, without that tree, it would die. Mistletoe is a Christmas symbol of our love, which derives from and exists

only because God loves us. God, who is love, created us in love and caused us to be able to love. Just as mistletoe

may not acknowledge the tree which sustains it, people may not acknowledge that the love of God sustains them.

But if mistletoe were taken from the tree, and if a person were separated from God’s love, both would die.

Many pagan cultures worshipped evergreens, saw them as symbols of immortality, and used them to

ward off evil spirits. In the early 700s, Saint Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, demol-

ished the Oak of Thor, the mighty sacred tree worshipped by the Saxons. From its roots grew a fir tree which

Boniface took as a sign of the Christian faith. In the 11th century, Paradise plays portrayed the tree of Paradise,

decorated with red apples. During the 15th century, the faithful began to erect trees in their homes on December

24, the feast day of Adam and Eve. About the year 1500, inspired by a snow-covered fir tree, a small tree was

brought indoors and decorated with candles in honor of Christ’s birth. By the 18th century, the custom of decorat-

ing a Christmas tree was well established in France, Germany, and Austria. Thus, the Christmas tree represents

the original Tree of Paradise, the burning bush which spoke to Moses, the branch of Jesse from which Jesus was

born, the life-giving tree of the cross of Christ, and the tree which St. John the Apostle saw in the Book of Revela-

tions whose leaves have medicine for the people and which yields fruit each month for the healing of the nations.

Because it is green all year, the evergreen tree represents hope. Its needles and its narrow crest point upward,

turning our thoughts to heaven. Because the tree is cut down and then erected again, it is a symbol of Christ’s

resurrection.

Tinsel, the thin, metallic strands that are used in Christmas decorations, comes from a legend about a

poor, faithful family who wished to decorate a Christmas tree in honor of the Christ child but had no money for

decorations. In the night, spiders came and spun webs across the tree. Then the Christ child, honoring the fami-

ly’s faith, turned the threads into silver. When we want to give our all to Christ, but we think that we have noth-

ing of value to give, God gives value to our offerings. God does not measure worth by worldly standards, but by

spiritual ones.

Bells were part of the hemline of a Jewish high priest’s garb. This was so his entering and leaving the

sanctuary would be noticed. Christmas bells not only symbolize the joy of Christmas; they also remind us that

Christ is the high priest.

The candy cane is shaped like a shepherd’s crook, reminding us that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came into

our world at Christmas. The red stripe symbolizes Christ's sacrifice, and the white background his purity. The

V OLU ME 20, ISS UE 1 2

Small Groups—

Grateful Cleaners

Tuesday

8:00a.m. -

Social Hall

M & M Groupo

Monday

9:00a.m. -

Parlor

Messengers

Tuesday

1:30p.m. -

Social Hall

Thursday Morning Bible Study

Thursday 9:00a.m. - Social Hall

Crocheting &

More

1st & 3rd

Saturday

9:00a.m. -

Parlor

From the Worship Committee - cont.

candy cane reminds us of Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant who was led like a lamb to the slaugh-

ter (Isaiah 53:7), and that, by the stripes (whip marks) Christ endured, we were healed (Isaiah 53:5). Candy canes

have a peppermint flavor, reminiscent of hyssop, which had medicinal purposes. Jesus came to heal our ills and to

purge us of sin. The candy cane is meant to be broken and shared, just as Jesus’ body is broken and shared at every

Holy Communion.

The gingerbread man does not create himself. but is created. Gingerbread people remind us of God's crea-

tion of Adam in the Garden of Eden. Spices, reminiscent of those mentioned in the Old Testament, make the gin-

gerbread man the color of earth (Adam was created from the dust of the earth). Like us, gingerbread people are not

immortal. They are destined to be eaten and thus to unite with their creators. Our mortal bodies, like that of the

gingerbread man, will not live forever. God created us for eternal union with him after we die. Gingerbread people

remind us to look beyond ourselves to our Creator.

Christmas cards began when school children in England drew Christmas greetings for their parents. In

1843, the first director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum commissioned an artist to create the first profes-

sional Christmas card so that he could send greetings to his friends. Christmas cards serve as miniature Gospel

tracts, reminding both sender and receiver that Christ was born at Christmas.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

On Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24 at 7:00 p.m. we will

celebrate a “Lessons and Carols” Service. We plan to conclude our wor-

ship will with the lighting of REAL candles out on the front lawn, as

we pray for peace and blessing in our world, and witness to our com-

munity. What better way to usher in this joyous season? Please join us

for this worship experience.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 9:00 a.m.

Crocheting & More

10:00 a.m.

Decorate for

Christmas

2 10:30 a.m.

Worship

12:30 p.m.

UMW 1:00 p.m. Potters House

1:00 p.m. Iglesia Cristiana

4:00 p.m. Mt. Zion Church

6:30 p.m.

Prayer and Meditation for

AA

3 9:00 a.m.

M&M Groupo

7:00 p.m. Scouts

4 8:00 a.m.

Grateful Cleaners

7:00 p.m.

Church/Charge

Conference

1:30 p.m.

Messengers

5 7:30 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 p.m.

Potters House

6 9:00 a.m.

Bible Study

7:00 p.m.

Iglesia Cristiana

7

Pastor’s Day Off

8 7:30 a.m.

Annual Youth

Holiday Parade

Noon

Alternative

Christmas Set-up

9 10:30 a.m. Worship 1:00 p.m. Potters House



6:30 p.m.


AA

10 9:00 a.m.

M&M Groupo

7:30 p.m.

Private Event

7:00 p.m. Scouts

11 8:00 a.m.

Grateful Cleaners

1:30 p.m.

Messengers

12

7:30 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 p.m.

Potters House

13 9:00 a.m.

Bible Study

7:00 p.m.

Iglesia Cristiana

14

Pastor’s Day Off

7:00 p.m.

Game Night

15

9:00 a.m.

Crocheting & More

Noon

Alternative

Christmas Set-up

16 9:00 a.m. SAM

10:30 a.m.

Worship

Noon

Church Council 1:00 p.m. Potters House



6:30 p.m.


AA

17 9:00 a.m.

M&M Groupo

7:00 p.m. Scouts

18 8:00 a.m.

Grateful Cleaners

1:30 p.m.

Messengers

19

7:30 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 p.m.

Potters House

20 9:00 a.m.

Bible Study

7:00 p.m.

Iglesia Cristiana

21

Pastor’s Day Off

22

23 10:30 a.m.

Worship

Noon

Worship Committee 1:00 p.m. Potters House



6:30 p.m.


AA

24 9:00 a.m.

M&M Groupo

7:00 p.m.

Candlelight Service

7:00 p.m. Scouts

25

26

7:30 p.m.

Choir Rehearsal

7:00 p.m.

Potters House

27 9:00 a.m.

Bible Study

7:00 p.m.

Iglesia Cristiana

28

Pastor’s Day Off

7:00 p.m.

Movie Night

29

8:00 p.m.

Mt. Zion

Cleaning

30 10:30 a.m.

Worship 1:00 p.m. Potters House



6:30 p.m.


AA

31 9:00 a.m.

M&M Groupo

7:00 p.m. Scouts

C H I N O U M C — D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8

Please call the church office if you have corrections or additions.

1st Karifa Fofana

5th Bill Hogarth

6th Roseanne Callju

14th David Nerness

16th Betty Morrison

20th Sandy Miller

21st Jeri Dack

22nd Eric Cross

22nd Larry McFarland

31st Jackson DeShazer

2nd Steve & Carol Adams

9th Robert & Kathleen Phillips

24th Jonathon & Sandy Pryor

27th Alfred & Lupe Alcantar

29th Mike & Joy May

Coffee Fellowship

2nd Mood Setter

9th Messengers

16th Amigos

23rd Choir

30th M & M

Greeters

2nd Margaret Hogarth & Joy Boese

9th Sandy Miller & Vera Wall

16th Terry & Brinda Moffitt

23rd Rachel Houseberg & Nancy Nichols

30th Betty Morrison & Marcia Pine

Liturgists

2nd Beth Mendoza

9th Marion Proffitt

16th Greg Wolfe

23rd Steve Adams

30th Dan Bentley

Sunday School

2nd Carol McFarland

9th Sylvia Smith

16th Carol McFarland

Don Callju - Youth

23rd Sylvia Smith

30th No Sunday School

Communion Assistants

Dan Bentley & Mabel Cross

Blessers

Nancy Nichols & Carole Schuricht

Church Council

Trustee

Acolyte Coordinator

Worship

Outreach & Nurture

Finance

Treasurer

Staff-Parish Relations

Social and Mission Concerns

Grades 1-6

Adult & Family Ministries

Boy Scout Troop

United Methodist Women

Lay Leader

Pastor

Choir Director

Organist

Church Secretary

Terry Moffitt

Margaret Hogarth

Lupe Alcantar

Kathleen Phillips

Dan Bentley & Sue Rhodes

Beth Mendoza

Mac Brazelton

Dan Bentley

Marilyn Mohnike

Carol McFarland, Sylvia Smith

Paul & Judy McConnell

Larry McFarland

Wendy Waters

Jennifer McDermott

Rev. Matthew J. Seargeant

Carole Schuricht

Robert Phillips

Marcia Pine

We’re on the Web!

Chinoumc.org

Chino United Methodist Church

5201 Riverside Drive

Chino, CA 91710

RETURN SERVICE REQUEST

The next Tidings deadline is Sunday,

December 23rd. Please email articles

to [email protected] or leave

“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ who Love God and Love Neighbor”

visioning meeting december 2 the tidings · honor someone you love with gifts from the heart. study...

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